Disclaimer: I don't own YYH
Continuity: English Version Anime

Cover Drawn By: GoodEnoughTheOpenDoor

"Talking"

'Thoughts'


Getting Soft

Chapter Nine: Gone Soft

X -x-x-x-x- X

She immediately ripped the sheets of the bed and tossed them in the wash. After those were done, she would do the colored clothing and blue blanket. She noticed he had folded up the clothes she let him borrow and placed them on the bathroom floor. How polite.

Next she threw herself into a frenzy of disinfecting the whole place. Everything got dusted and windexed and bleached. She even washed the floors by hand. She found herself cleaning spaces that he didn't even touch - places that she hadn't cleaned since she moved there. And it showed, too.

Hours went by for her siege and she thought of nothing else as she did. Yes, she knew that she was doing this to hide from what had happened - to distract herself. That reality came crashing down as she finished with a loud sigh, falling on the couch.

She let the whole thing sink in. True, nothing too special had happened, but somehow in the short amount of time he was there, he had become important to her. She shook her head and played with the tear-stone he had left.

Why would he leave this? That question came back over and over.

Well, it didn't matter because now she knew what she had to do. This thing didn't belong to her, and if he didn't want it anymore, then she had no other choice.

She had to return it to the original owner. Her washing machine beeped and she groaned.

Right after all the hours of laundry.


She wasn't sure if she would be welcomed so late, but that stupid old machine took forever. She even had time to clean out her and Kazuma's closets. Extra grossness on her brother's - she managed to find a half eaten ding-dong in there!

She shuddered and moaned. God, she hated this walk. As she neared the top, she could see Yukina watering flowers. The ice-maiden turned and grinned, happy to see her again. "Oh, Shizuru! Back so soon?"

"Yeah. Uh, you know that Hiei was staying with me, right?" She asked as she came to her. The smaller girl nodded, a sad smile on her lips. "Well, he left this behind." Shizuru showed the tear-gem in her hand and Yukina gasped. "I know it's yours because I sense its energy."

"Oh. He left it?" Shizuru nodded. "I see." She looked away, appearing deep in thought. Shizuru could see her thinking it over, that same sad expression on her features. "Well, then it's yours," she finally stated.

"W-What?" Shizuru stuttered, taken aback.

Yukina smiled a little, looking less sad. "When I gave it to Hiei, it no longer belonged to me - it became his. If he wishes to give it to you, that is his choice."

Shizuru held it out. "But it's yours."

Yukina shook her head. "Not anymore. I wanted Hiei to have it. He apparently wants you to have it. If that is his wish, I respect that." Shizuru pulled her hand back. "Perhaps it will do you some good. Or maybe if you wish to give it to someone, it will do them good. Either way, I'm glad that it can." She giggled softly and went back to the entrance. "Do you want to come inside?"

Shizuru shook her head. "Nah. I'm gonna go down to the beach. I'll talk to you later." She turned and paused. "And thanks."

"Don't thank me. Thank Hiei." Yukina went inside and Shizuru scoffed.

"Yeah, right."

When she made it to the beach the sun was setting, creating a beautiful array of colors. She took out her pack and lit a cigarette, relishing the taste as the smell burned all around her. She sat on a log, drawing in long drags. She knew she'd have to walk back soon and figured she'd at least enjoy this for a while.

She had spent all day avoiding her thoughts but now that she was alone, she had no choice. She put out her butt and pulled out the necklace again. It was very pretty and gazing at it brought a certain calmness to her. It also brought back that dream. She sighed. She knew Hiei was how he was because of his hard life. She could always tell he was that type of person; a person with deep pain and loneliness. If only he would let someone in...

She put the necklace around her neck and chuckled as she realized she wasn't alone. "What brings you here?"

"I haven't been here in a while. Genkai asked my help on her garden, and I would've been here sooner if I didn't have a life." He chuckled as his red hair flipped in the wind.

"You have a life? I need to get one of those. I hear they're really awesome," she joked pulling out another stick to smoke. He stepped closer and eyed the jewel she was wearing. She looked at him staring and looked down at it. "Yeah, Hiei left it behind."

"I see," was all he said.

"Why would he do that?" Her question hung in the air as the two of them watched the sun set.

"He has his reasons. I've said it before, he is a puzzle. In all my years, I haven't met a soul like his. Even I can't figure him out entirely."

"Must be frustrating; A puzzle that the great Kurama can't solve." She laughed at his face.

He shook his head and chuckled a bit. "I suppose. Trust me, he had a reason for leaving that behind." He tilted his head. "Are you alright?"

After a pregnant pause, she answered, "No." The wind blew and she clenched her fists. "Dammit, why do I care? He wasn't even there for that long. Not even a week. I hate this..." She looked up at Kurama chucking again and shot him a glare.

"Sorry. That's another piece of the puzzle I can't figure out."

"What?"

"The effect he has on people. He is the cruelest, rudest, most snide person I know and yet almost everyone he comes across gets attached to him somehow. Even I am not immune to it. Maybe we can all sense that he needs us, in a way."

She stood up and laughed. "Maybe. Or maybe I've just gone soft." She watched the waves and Kurama zipped up his jacket.

"Walk you back?" he offered.

Why couldn't it had been Kurama that had gotten sick for her to care over? That would've been much more fun. She bit back a laugh and nodded "Yeah, sure."


"You've been gone a while. What happened?" her brash voice asked as he entered her chambers.

"I was detained," he simply answered.

"Hm, I see." Mukuro stared down her most trusted demon and he looked up at her.

"I need my stone back," he said plainly.

She paused and was going to ask why, but stopped herself knowing she had no right. She pulled it off her and handed it to him. "Any particular reason why?" she asked as he took it, putting a hand in his pocket and turning away.

He kept walking away from her and as he reached the door, he snorted in what appeared to be amusement. "I don't know. Perhaps I've gone soft."


After she had replaced her linens and took a long, relaxing bath, she found herself snuggling on her fresh pillows in her bed. Man, it was nice to finally get this back! She was so exhausted and soon drifted into a peaceful slumber, clutching the tear-stone in her hand.

But do you know the feeling when you're not quite asleep but not quite awake? Drifting in between the two, aware of being asleep as well as being awake? She was in that place as she heard something click and slide in her bedroom.

She heard shoes hit the wooden floor and stand for a minute before coming closer in agonizingly slow steps. Soon a presence was next to her and she found herself wanting to wake up, but she couldn't. No matter how hard she tried, she could not open her eyes or fully come back to consciousness. Her hand gripping the gem was pried open and the stone taken away.

'I knew you knew this was Yukina's,' a low baritone voice soothed in her head. 'I'm glad you showed it to her. She'll think you have it.' She felt another gem enter her palm and warm fingers clasp hers shut. She instantly knew as she felt the energy course through her; It was his tear-stone. 'And as long as you don't say anything, she'll never know the difference.'

Now she really wanted to be awake, but try as she might, she still couldn't! It felt as if something was forcing her to stay unconscious.

Oh, duh. Bastard. He was keeping her asleep!

She heard a low chuckle emanate from his throat. Ooh, she just wanted to strangle him! Why didn't he have the balls to face her for real? She heard him shift his feet on the floor, and felt her stomach drop.

'No, don't leave...' she thought as clear as she could. His feet shifted back and it reamined silent for a while, her wondering if he was just gonna watch her sleep.

He moved again and fingers ran themselves through her bangs, pulling them aside from her face. A warm, soft pressure was placed on her cheek, staying for a second before pulling away.

"Thank you," she heard audibly whispered, his breath on her skin sending a shiver through her.

She heard his boots scuffle on the floor and the window slide open again, and soon his energy was gone. The wind blew in from the open window caressing her, bringing a calm like no other to her as she clutched the new stone in her hand.

She felt him retreat away and in her sleep state she smiled, knowing it wasn't the last time she'd ever feel that energy again.

But then another sensation started to happen. It was in the back of her sinuses and started small, building second after second soon erupting into an enormous itch that overpowered her breathing. Her breath hitched a few times and she was shot awake sitting up, the feeling overtaking her. "Huh..." It lingered, her face frozen in torture as she waited, soon rewarded by a huge explosion.

"IKISHUUUU!" She openly sneezed into the room and sniffed back, suddenly feeling congested and realizing only then her throat had a funny feeling developing in it. She groaned as her head started throbbing and another tickle came on. "Oh, no...heh...hih...ACKAHSHUU!" Sniff. "I'M GONNA KILL YOU, HIEI!"

She swore she could hear his laughter echo in the distance.

~End


A/N: TRIVIA!

Did you know that Hiei and Shizuru never speak to each other once in the series? Nope, not once. The closest is him reacting to Shizuru making fun of Kuwabara in the semi-finals and Hiei saying he'd like to hear more. That comment isn't aimed directly at her, but it is in response. Also, the only time they truly come face to face is in Nightmare Hakusho, in Yusuke's dream. But it's a dream so it doesn't count. So, if my fic is to be believed, this is the first time they've ever talked! Yay!

Thank you all for your kind support, it means so much to me. This is my first big work in a LONG time and I'm glad that it was taken well. I love you all that reviewed and faved and followed! -throws Hiei plushies at you- THANK YOU! AND THANK FOR FOR MY FIRST TRIPLE! XDDDDD

I've also edited the chaps to make them look more pretty and took out the old A/N's.

I might be back with more chappie fics after a few so keep an eye out.

Thankies!

-Dream