Dammit all! The story alerts are not working! -cries-
Chapter 7 : Silent Portrait
Yusuke and Keiko were bickering as they walked down the street minutes after their boss left the office. The day was an unusual one, as Hiei brought company in the form of a cute black kitten. Needless to say, none of the girls got much work done, although Hiei did not seem to mind as it took the playful kitten away from his hands. Oki, as Hiei had so bluntly replied when Yusuke had asked for the furry animal's name, was sweet and playful and cute and cuddly and so very fluffy, except when she was being forced into her cage.
Sadly, her cries and wails did not faze the three as they waltzed out the door for lunch.
Along the way, however, they spotted a very familiar, spiky black head standing stock still while he appeared to be conversing with a redhead. Their eyes grew wide when the redhead followed him by his side down the street.
It was definitely not a normal day, decided Yusuke.
Hiei was not known for his social skills. People he knew were not considered friends to him. People who knew him knew he didn't consider them as friends. Which is why most drifted away, except Yusuke. Yusuke liked his boss. His boss was a cool boss. His boss said what he liked and did what he liked, and Yusuke respected him for that. Yusuke himself behaved like that too, except he wasn't in such position to do so without having it hurled back into his face. Someday, he thought, he'll accept me as a friend. And soon after, Keiko and Botan too. And Japan's richest bachelor need no longer be saved.
But who was this mysterious redhead? What was Hiei's connection to him?
They trailed the two until they stopped at a florist, meeting with Hiei's sister and another girl. Again their curiousity was piqued. Perhaps there was more to him than what he projects to the world ... an introvert.
"Psst ... Yusuke, should we follow on some more?"
"Yeah, but I'm hungry!"
"Shut up!"
"What, may I ask, are you three doing here?" came a cold voice, effectively sending the temperature plummeting.
The three of them gulped simultaneously.
"Um... we're here for lunch?"
Hiei raised an eyebrow. They were indeed standing right outside the restaurant Hiei had walked in, but in the midst of their decision-making they did not notice Hiei come out.
"Yeah, let's have lunch together, boss!" said Yusuke hastily, trying to hide his nervousness. Keiko and Botan beamed for added effect.
"Do you mind?"
"Yes," snapped Hiei.
"Oniisan? What are you doing out here? We haven't even ordered yet..."
Hiei mentally slapped and kicked himself.
"Hello, Yukina-san," said Keiko and Botan warmly. Yusuke flashed a million-dollar smile at her and said, "We just bumped into our boss while deciding where to eat for lunch."
"Well, why don't you join us then?" said Yukina brightly. Hiei was smoldering, but safely protected by his sister, the three of them nodded and proceeded inside the restaurant.
"The more the merrier, I say," said Yusuke as he winked at his boss.
"That's right," chirped Yukina as they went back to their seats.
They reached the table where Shizuru was talking to Kurama while the latter just nodded and smiled.
"Friends of yours, Hiei?"
"My assistant. And secretaries."
They greeted and introduced each other, and soon it came to Kurama's turn.
"This is Kurama-san," said Yukina, gesturing to Kurama. Kurama stood up and bowed a little, before holding out a hand to shake. "He's not capable of speaking due to an accident."
Yusuke, Keiko and Botan's reaction, however, was not due to his disability.
"Um. He's not a girl?"
Kurama's eyebrow twitched, but his smile remained nevertheless.
"Keiko, I'm sorry, hon, but I think I've just turned gay," joked Yusuke and Kurama blushed the same colour as his hair. Hiei, however, felt his chest tighten, for reasons unknown to him. The rest of them laughed good-heartedly while Yusuke told Kurama not to worry, because he was only joking.
"Honestly, though, you're very, er, pretty, for a guy," he added as he winked. Kurama took it as a compliment and smiled.
As they sat down to eat, Hiei couldn't help but wonder what that weird feeling was when Yusuke tried to hit on Kurama. He didn't get very far in contemplating as the noisy chatter of the group made it hard to think.
Yusuke was telling all sorts of dirty jokes to Shizuru and Kurama. Hiei gave him a killer look when Yukina had asked him what was so funny, and luckily for him he decided not to corrupt the boss's innocent sister. Keiko and Botan then engaged Yukina in conversation, whereas Hiei was just stuck in between, but listening intently to both conversations.
"So, Oniisan, how is Oki?"
"She's fine. They played with her while I worked this morning," replied Hiei.
"She's so cute," gushed Keiko and Botan.
"Yeah, keep telling yourself that the next time you try to lock her into her cage," retorted Yusuke.
"I hope you didn't manhandle my cat, Urameshi," said Hiei darkly. Yusuke quickly shook his head 'No'. Eager to get off his boss's unrelenting glare, he turned his attention to Kurama.
"So, Kurama. How ya holding up?"
Kurama shrugged nonchalantly while munching on his food.
"What do you work as?"
Kurama lifted his fingers delicately and made a brush stroke motion. Yusuke blinked.
"Erh... Calligraphy?"
Kurama shook his head, this time making a dipping motion into his outstretched hand.
"Oh... I get it, painting!"
Kurama nodded, smiling. Then he gestured to Shizuru.
"He sells his paintings in the morning, he works part time in my shop in the afternoon. Selling flowers," said Shizuru.
"Why can't he just set his stand in your shop? That way, he can help you sell flowers and at the same time sell his paintings," suggested Keiko. Kurama smiled and clapped his hands, before looking to Shizuru for consent.
"You know, that's actually not such a bad idea..." said Shizuru thoughtfully. Then she laughed at the look on Kurama's face.
"Alright, alright, you can put your paintings up, as long as it doesn't make the place messy or take up too much space..."
Kurama's smile was genuine. Hiei saw it. And for some reason, that smile unnerved him.
"That was really fun, Oniisan," said Yukina sweetly to her brother before walking off with Shizuru and Kurama back to the shop. "I'll see you tonight."
"Okay. See you later," replied Hiei as he walked off with Yusuke, Keiko and Botan.
"Your sister is so nice, Jaganshi-san," said Keiko. Botan agreed as well; Yukina was so unlike their moody boss, and the fact that the two were twins was even more mind-boggling.
"Hn."
"So, Yusuke, you really dumping Keiko for Kurama?" asked Botan, giggling.
Yusuke made a lovestruck and lovesick expression, shielding his face from Keiko, clutching his heart and saying in a mournful voice...
"Keiko, I'm sorry ... but ... my heart has been captured... by another... man," said Yusuke dramatically, then burst out cackling as he dodged Keiko's punch.
"Aww ... you jealous, Keiko? Don't worry, you knoooow I love youuu..." crooned Yusuke, while Keiko tried to look annoyed.
"Shut up," growled Hiei, irritated.
"You jealous as well, boss?" said Yusuke incredulously. Then, grinning, he placed his arm around the shorter man's shoulders.
"I love you too, boss," he yelled for everyone to hear. "I love you! I love you! I looooove Y - accckkk!!"
"You asshole, you asked for it!" roared Hiei as he trapped Yusuke in a headlock.
"Get a room," remarked a passer-by.
"Get a life," snapped Hiei as he released Yusuke, before turning to walk faster back to the office.
"Oh, come on, I was only joking, Hiei. I'm straight," drawled Yusuke.
"Hn," came the monotonous reply.
"Serious! I'm as straight as you are! Kurama may be pretty and hot and sexy and all," said Yusuke, and Hiei winced and about five miles away Kurama sneezed (1), "but I'm not into guys."
"You actually think he's pretty and hot ... and sexy?" said Hiei incredulously as they walked into their office building.
"Well, he is! Man, if he was a girl ... eheheh, don't look at me like that, Keiko. For all I know, you might the one to dump me and go after him."
"What?!" sputtered Keiko. "I would never do such a thing! I'll just leave him for Botan..." she added, casting a glance at Botan.
"I wouldn't take him, Keiko."
"I was joking, Botan. We all know how attached you are to Koenma," said Keiko, giggling.
Botan blushed a bright red. Hiei, of course, did not know who this Koenma was, and did not particularly care. Something was nagging at his thoughts, but he pushed it aside, as he always did all the time.
Throughout the whole of that afternoon, Kurama couldn't help but feel guilty that he obtained a free meal for lunch again. He vowed to decline the next time he ever was invited. It wasn't as if he didn't have any money at all. A meal or two he could afford, just not that expensive. Hiei had paid the bill as always, since he was the only one with enough money to carelessly throw away.
Yusuke was a cheerful and happy guy, and Kurama knew he would get along well with him. I dread the day he and Kuwabara meet though, thought Kurama, shuddering. I wonder how Hiei puts up with Yusuke.
As his eyes caught sight of Yukina who was happily entertaining a customer, he also wondered why Hiei had such a pained look in his eyes earlier.
(1) - there's sort of like a 'tradition/custom/' thing, if people are talking about you, you sneeze. XD
There will be NO YusukeKurama romance. muahahaa. I like that pairing, but I prefer HieiKurama better XD And BotanKoenma ... well, I felt I had to bring Botan some lurrvee XD Review please! Thank you!
