Story Title: In the Eyes of Angels
Disclaimer: Yuu Yuu Hakusho isn't mine.
Author's Notes: Gratitude goes out to Alexisminamino, littlelil1991, Moon Minamino, A Fan, Dragon77, LordOfTheWest, shiorifoxiesmom, Yuu-chi, washio the space demon, and bookgirl111 for reviewing.
In which Hiei's stubbornness frustrates even me. Thanks for reading.
-o-
Chapter Ten: You Are Capable of More
-o-
Kurama Minamino felt very pleased with his fortunes and let the world know with his smile, though to most his smile looked hardly different than usual but it was. Kurama's smile was of ordinary appearance and size but the intensity of cheer it radiated far surpassed its mediocre display. Kurama was the kind of person who could pour vast emotion and meaning into tiny gestures and expressions and he often did so. Not that they were always observed or deciphered. Truthfully, for his advantage, it was best that the majority remained ignorant of his true feelings and they stayed blissfully so.
His fellow classmates may not have noticed the distinction but they had certainly picked up on his good spirits and brightened on accord themselves. Amid his chatting classmates also waiting for class to begin, Kurama sat pretending to study his notes so he would not be disturbed. Kurama often pulled such a feint, mostly to allow himself alone space to think and also because it worked.
The Academy was protective of him, Kurama was aware of that and knew no one wanted to be blamed on jeopardizing his academic performance and have the Academy lose him as its perfect student celebrity. Because no one wanted to rally behind Kaitou. Along with his caustic personality, he was, quite frankly, not pretty. And at the Academy, or any high school really, that was all that truly mattered.
Not that it meant his classmates were quiet. Sure, he could ask them to lower their voices and by uniformity so would the rest of the class, however Kurama saw no desperate need to. He could, after all, tune the surrounding voices out and focus wholly on his thoughts. More so when he thought about Hiei Jaganshi.
This morning's breakfast after his and Hiei's conversation in the Tower earlier this week had been very subdued and cautious. All their meals together this week had been like that, though Kurama supposed he could be thankful that Hiei had let him sit by him with no great protest or without darting off. Not that he had seemed to like it when Kurama sat down beside him, however that was no great change at all.
Hiei had, however, hunched down into his school uniform and regularly eyed Kurama from his seat beside him. Hiei's very near a glare stare was very wary of Kurama and distrustful of their situation and watched Kurama intently when Hiei had saw fit to look over, mostly when he thought Kurama wouldn't notice. Or in other words, when Kurama had presented the opportunity for Hiei to look over while he was 'inattentive'.
Though Kurama had attempted at their usual sort of conversation, Hiei had not responded well. At most and best, all Kurama had received out of Hiei was the occasional grunt when he wasn't just scowling in silence. At least he was still but barely communicating with Kurama, though Kurama preferred he used actual words. Kurama supposed he couldn't be too disappointed. After all, it was clear to Kurama, especially when Hiei looked over, that Hiei was thinking very deeply.
Kurama had left breakfast this morning quite satisfied.
Hiei is hesitant, yes, Kurama thought as his first period teacher at last entered the room and the class quieted, but he is curious as well. How ever withdrawn he may act, Hiei is in fact more open than he has ever been. He is thinking. He is considering. I suspect he will require one last great persuasion before he is ready to accept my friendship. And I will wait, staying on this course of action until I see an opportunity to offer such.
Once Hiei is clear of all possible doubts, only then will he finally see.
-o-
Hiei sat barely attentive in Minamino's tutorial class as he waited for the final five minutes to pass and Minamino's dismissal. The rest of the class worked on assignments. Hiei had nothing. Well, he actually did, but it was just another one of Iwamoto's extra homework assignments and he wasn't entirely planning on doing it. Besides, there were other things in this room that were far more entertaining to look at. Like the clock.
Hiei watched with a complete lack of interest as Kuwabara and Yusuke regularly passed notes between one another, with a few occasionally almost landing onto Hiei's desk by Yusuke poorly aiming over his shoulder. If any note landed on his desk, Hiei swore it would cease to exist.
Yusuke and Kuwabara were in no danger of getting caught. Minamino was occupied with helping Eriko with her regular science assignment. In other words, he was too busy leaning in close in a fruitless attempt to hear and understand her stuttering whispers. She was quite vividly red—possibly even brighter than Minamino's hair—and she shook like a Toy Chihuahua desperately trying not to wet itself.
So Hiei sat watching the clock and remained the unwanted, unwelcomed third person in the middle of Yusuke and Kuwabara's papery discussion. Just as he predicted, a note fell onto Hiei's desk and, true to his word, the note simply ceased to exist. Kuwabara was hardly surprised by Hiei's reaction, though he looked over and frowned. Yusuke glowered over his shoulder and nodded his head in a cocky, intimidating manner, as if he telling Hiei to try, to just fucking try to do that again.
Yusuke was still angry with him. Not that Hiei cared. Even the slightest bit. Yusuke could go on being mad at him. He could continue believing Hiei was friends with Minamino because Hiei knew the truth. They weren't friends and Hiei wasn't like Yusuke said he was—fawning and adoring over Minamino like the rest of the Academy. Though Hiei would never admit this, he didn't necessarily hate Minamino at all as before, however, as a general rule, he still disliked him. There were some things he could admire about Minamino and bits and pieces of aspects of him he could even begrudgingly admit to possibly liking now, but he was far from the level of constant blind worship and esteem the Academy showered on Minamino.
Fact remained that Yusuke believed Hiei was friends with Minamino, which he wasn't, but Yusuke thought so. Minamino sitting beside him all week didn't help matters, not that Hiei wanted to repair his image in Yusuke's eyes. Again, Hiei cared less what Yusuke thought and he could go on being mad at him for his stupid reasons. It was simply that Hiei didn't mind having the option of sitting with Yusuke and Kuwabara, even if Minamino joined them soon after anyway. At least then, in their quartet, it wasn't all just Minamino focusing on him the entirety of the time.
But that wasn't a possibility anymore. Yusuke had made it blatant to him the next morning after his day in the Tower that he was no longer welcome. Kuwabara didn't seem to mind but he didn't want to get put in the middle. Not like he would even matter.
Unafraid and unconcerned by Yusuke's threat, Hiei huffed and raised his head haughtily in response. Yusuke threw a quick sneer at him before facing forward again in his seat and, after a momentary pause, restarted tossing notes to Kuwabara. From his oaf of a roommate's single restrained snicker, Hiei figured Yusuke's latest note contained an insult at him.
The immature idiot… As if that would bother me, Hiei huffed again, this time out of impatience. Five minutes was feeling like five hours. He was relieved when the time finally came and Minamino dismissed them. Hiei left quickly, which would have been quicker if Yusuke hadn't cut him off mid-step.
I don't care what his damn problem is, Hiei thought as he made his way slowly down the congested hall. He wanted to hurry on through but in order to do so would mean barging through so many people and the thought of that much physical contact made Hiei sick. So, much as he hated waiting and it irritated him, Hiei put up with the slow march. He would eventually get out of here.
Though not away from Minamino.
"Why are you following me?" Hiei asked as he scowled at the sight of Minamino next to him.
"I am not following you," Minamino denied. "I am walking beside you for a little while. It is, after all, on my way."
"You don't even know where I'm going."
"True," Minamino said in agreement. "However, I am certain it is on my way."
Hiei hated the way he was smiling—bright, cheery, and all too amused. Minamino was happy about something and that annoyed Hiei. If there was any way of crushing that smile, Hiei was ready to—
"…Jaganshi," Iwamoto croaked and then, turning to Minamino, said much more sweetly, "Ah, Minamino."
Hiei huffed and looked away as Minamino gave an acknowledging bow to Iwamoto and greeted him with a courtesy the brute hardly deserved. The show of respect to the pompous bastard made Hiei bridle in disgust. He knew Minamino would be polite to Iwamoto but he still didn't like seeing it happen.
Students exiting and entering the Science Hall shifted around the blockade Iwamoto caused and after a bit of awkward chitchat in which Iwamoto asked how Minamino was doing in his tutorial classes and if he was keeping to his studies all right (and also implied that, if Minamino wanted to, they could work things out to where he didn't have to devote as much time to helping the incompetent), Iwamoto finally got to his point of why he stopped them.
"Minamino, we're going to have to push your performance evaluation to a later date."
Hiei quirked an eyebrow at his words, two words in particular actually, but Minamino didn't react at all. He obviously knew what Iwamoto was talking about. "Very well then, sir. I understand," Minamino replied and offered a quick nod.
Iwamoto's eyes dropped to Hiei and narrowed. By now, it was purely his reflexive response to being in Hiei's presence. Hiei returned the bitter sentiments.
"Jaganshi, I've heard you'll be participating in tomorrow's meet. Why, it's a miracle of the Lord that you're even still on the team…" he sneered, as if he didn't believe that it would last for much longer. "I'd wish you good luck and offer a blessing but from how Niigano speaks of you, I doubt that will be needed. He appears confident in your ability to run in a straight line. …Glad to know."
Stringing a line of insults and curses so long he could hang Iwamoto with them, Hiei watched Iwamoto, partially to needle hateful glares at him and partially to keep an eye on his fists and feet, as the smug, darkly laughing to himself brute took his leave and barged in between Minamino and him. Hiei didn't think Iwamoto would try to do anything to him, what with so many students passing through and Minamino next to him, but he wasn't dropping the possibility.
As the bulk of Iwamoto disappeared into the crowd of students and Hiei no longer wanted to stare at him anyway, Hiei turned and faced forward. And as he did so, he glanced at Minamino. He had been watching Iwamoto leave as well and while his expression remained calm and impassive like usual, Hiei thought he noticed a certain, underlining tightness in his face and sternness in his eyes. Hiei almost thought Minamino was frowning at Iwamoto.
Hiei didn't think it was so because Hiei couldn't imagine Minamino showing any form of disrespect to a teacher, even a hateful slimeball like Iwamoto. The two simply did not equate in Hiei's mind.
And by the time Hiei looked again to verify for himself, Minamino was already smiling at him, albeit it was a tiny smile, and all the harshness in his eyes had vanished. Hiei accepted what he first thought—that he had imagined it.
They returned the walking flow back to its unobstructed current and headed toward the main doors. At first it seemed like they would walk in silence, but what Iwamoto had said to Minamino poked at Hiei's curiosity. That and he knew Minamino would break that silence anyway.
Hiei looked at Minamino. "Performance evaluation?"
"Ah, just a part of the tutorial program," Minamino said. "For tutors only. Nothing to concern yourself with."
Hiei looked away and smirked. "Though it would be advised that we be on our best behavior, wouldn't it?"
Minamino said nothing. He kept his gaze forward, his steps moving, and his smile bright and did not answer Hiei. He took Minamino's silence to mean yes.
"You are headed toward the track field, are you not?" Minamino asked. "Or are you not allowed to practice before a meet?"
"Light practice," Hiei said. "The stretch but don't strain yourself sort."
Hiei heard Minamino talk encouragingly about Hiei's participation in tomorrow's track meet but his attention was divided. As he and Minamino made their way gradually through the busy hall, there was a group of entering students who were chatting and laughing quite boisterously and they were making it quite difficult for Minamino's soft voice to reach Hiei and keep his focus.
Hiei wished the students in front of him would walk faster. He wanted to get out of the Science Hall. He wanted the openness of the outside. He felt confined being still inside and with so many people around him inviting the opportunity to touch him. Put simply, Hiei would have felt less ill at ease if he was outside.
And he would almost be there, once he passed by these laughing idiots. As their paths began to cross, Hiei looked toward them and readied a massive glare and scowl for them. And then, in response to whatever stupid subject they were making a loud to-do over, one girl playfully shoved the boy at her side and right toward Hiei.
There was no time or capability for Hiei to dodge. Shock and anger rushed through Hiei as his body tensed and prepared to respond how ever to the sudden, vile physical contact.
Only the boy and Hiei did not touch.
Somehow, they had managed not to collide into one another. Hiei couldn't understand why or how. After all, the moron had been stumbling right toward him. And fear had overwhelmed him as his mind and body realized and informed him that he was about to be touched. In the rush of events and loathed prospects, Hiei had been taken aback. However, if he even had the mindset to react, Hiei had only a spilt second to do so. It had been so quick. Had Hiei, perhaps, sidestepped instinctively?
Hiei thought so. It made sense to him. He was used to dodging people, used to avoiding their personal spaces and defending his. He never let most people get into touching range and, when he forced to, he usually kept constant awareness. It was quite possible his body was accustomed to evading when people came too close and he did it all the time and this one time happened to be the first Hiei ever thought about it.
That had to be it. It explained things perfectly.
…Except for the crawling, burning sensations on his back. The same sensations he felt whenever someone touched him.
Hiei wriggled and worked his back in discomfort. The crawling sensations always gave way into itching. Not that Hiei could reach the spot on his back anyway, but there really wasn't a way to stop the burning and itching. It would stop when it would stop. And Hiei would hate it until it did. But he had other things to hate over, like figuring out how in the hell he had been touched.
It couldn't have been the boy. He was at the wrong angle and position to touch him on his back, and for him to do so, Hiei would have noticed it coming. He was out of the question. But if it wasn't him then who else?
A thought dawned on Hiei, though he didn't want it to.
Minamino.
Did he? Had he? It couldn't have been. It just couldn't. It had gone too quickly. How would have Minamino had time to react? And for what reason would he have had? Even if Minamino had a reason, which he didn't because he didn't touch him, it would have been too stupid anyway and nothing Hiei would have found viable.
Hiei didn't think it had been Minamino. The thought of it stirred so many reactions out of Hiei, the principle being anger. Hiei did not like being touched. By anyone and that included Minamino. No, especially by Minamino. Just because he had offered Hiei his friendship didn't mean they were close and that didn't give him the right to touch him, even to guide him from something he abhorred.
So that was it. Hiei had decided—it had not been Minamino. As far as he knew, Hiei didn't know who it had been.
Hiei shot Minamino a sidelong glance. There was really nothing new to Minamino, nothing that would implicate he had any involvement in how Hiei missed getting bumped into. Minamino was looking ahead, walking, and wore his usual placid smile. But he wasn't talking. And Hiei couldn't remember when he had stopped. He did know Minamino had been talking before that boy stumbled toward him—
Hiei reminded himself that the matter had already been decided. He also ignored the underlining pleasure in Minamino's smile. Not that it didn't eat at him anyway.
"Why are you still following me?" Hiei asked, a great deal of irritation in his voice. "Don't you have to study?"
"Practices are not veiled in secrecy. Anyone can watch if they so wish and I have been intending to study outside more. After all…" Minamino held open a main door for Hiei. Sunlight poured into the door's threshold. "It is such a pretty day."
-o-
After serving his detention for the day, Hiei was on his way back to the dorms. Because of tomorrow's meet, Sister Midori, his supervising teacher for today's detention, let him off early and with a well-wish that he do his best tomorrow. Today's detention hadn't been that strenuous anyway. None of Sister Midori's ever were.
Really, most of the faculty's detentions hadn't been that grueling, just tedious and time-wasting. The only teacher Hiei hated to work for, to no surprise, was Iwamoto, though ratty Father Akashi too deserved to get his face bashed in. And Sister Genkai's detentions were as cruel and labor-intensive as Iwamoto's but her punishments were not at all out of pure spite as Iwamoto's. She broke Hiei's back and chops with hard work and stern words because he was there serving a punishment, nothing more and nothing less. Yes, she was a mean, tiny old hag, but at least she was an equal-opportunity mean, tiny old hag.
Some students passing by Hiei were talking about tomorrow's meet. In a joking way, and in complete obliviousness that they were near someone on the track team. They, and as the rest of the Academy agreed, did not believe Sacred Heart had a chance of winning. After all, the track team was notoriously pathetic and hadn't had a win—not even a third place—in years. From the way they talked, they seemed like they were only going to watch just because it was something to do (and apparently a few teachers offered extra credit).
Not that it mattered to Hiei if anybody came to see the meet. He actually preferred if students didn't show up. From what Hiei had been overhearing, no one was really planning on watching the meet. No one came out to watch practices either. In fact, the only people that had came to watch today's practice were friends of students on the team and Minamino. And without a doubt, it had been the most awkward practice.
Hiei had tried to stretch, tried to run, tried to do any of the usual things he did at practice, but he couldn't. The thought of Minamino up in the stands watching him made him uncomfortable. And more so than usual. And when Hiei's attentions weren't divided between what he was trying to do and watching the stands and determining whether Minamino's eyes were on his book or him, Hiei was screwing up in other ways, like false starting during a mock race.
Even the coach had noticed there was something off to Hiei's performance—the never-was-a-problem-before false starts had been a major flag, for instance. He had tried to get Hiei to explain why but Hiei evaded the truth and had Coach Niigano believing it was nothing more than pre-race jitters.
Heading quickly up the silent stairwell, Hiei considered his options for the rest of the evening. He didn't have much homework for this weekend—whether the track meet had anything to do with that, Hiei neither knew nor cared—and what he hadn't already completed, he planned to dodge anyway. His main assignment, Iwamoto's extra homework, had been not at all accidentally filed in a cabinet with all the other papers Sister Midori had him organizing for tonight's detention.
So Hiei had a few hours before he reasonably had to force himself to sleep. He wasn't quite certain on how to waste them. Running was a plausible answer, though the coach would probably frown on it. As long as he didn't injury himself, or even if he did just so he wouldn't have to run for the Academy's benefit, Hiei thought about doing it. He supposed he could provoke Kuwabara. That was always somewhat entertaining and it had been a while since the last time.
But, truthfully, as he made his way to his (and technically, Kuwabara's) room, Hiei felt lazy tonight. He didn't want to do anything. More than likely his evening plans would consist of laying spread out on his bed—the hard decision would be whether he would lie facing the ceiling or face down into his pillow—until he finally fell asleep. While it was a complete waste of time, it did have some entertainment value in unnerving Kuwabara. Which was always a plus for Hiei.
As he reached his room and his decision, Hiei opened the door to find his plans changed. Yusuke was sitting on his bed. In fact, when he saw Hiei at the door, he uncrossed his legs and stretched out in blatant defiance. Hiei ignored him. Removing only his recently renewed copy of Frankenstein, Hiei tossed his school briefcase to the floor and near his bed and turned to immediately leave.
"Hey Hiei," Yusuke said. "I wanna say I'm sorry."
Hiei paused in the doorway and directed a listening ear toward Yusuke. If he wanted to apologize, then fine. It was about time he finally figured things out and realized the truth.
"I'm sorry for thinking you were something that you're not," Yusuke continued. "It's become obvious to me that you've never been badass. You've always been like everyone else and I should've known that."
Hiei stood rigid, his arms tensing, and balled his hands into fists. Miraculously, Hiei still had a tenuous grip on his anger. Not much of it was left but it was enough to hold him back from slugging Yusuke right off. He knew Yusuke was just baiting him. He was trying to get him to fight but Hiei didn't have to give in.
Kuwabara tried to mediate, "Come on, Urameshi, not here…" He was ignored.
"What? You gonna hit me?" Yusuke got off Hiei's bed and stood. "No, you're not. Don't wanna lose your precious star on the track team. Yea, I've heard the rumors. Bet you love all this attention. I was joking before but now I really see that you really are like Minamino."
Hiei clenched his teeth tightly together. He wants me to react, he reminded himself.
"You're one of them, another flocking worshipper. I've seen you sitting together all week. I don't see how you stand him."
Hiei's restraint on his anger failed. He grabbed Yusuke by the shirt and pulled him down to his eye level. "How many times do I have to say this before it sinks into your thick head? He sits with me! And we are not friends!"
Yusuke shot Hiei an incredulous eye. "Really, Hiei? That old answer? You think I believe that one anymore?" He jerked Hiei's grip loose and shoved Hiei back. "You're friends with Minamino. You are. And I thought— I wanted to believe— You're a jerk but you seemed like—"
Yusuke opened and closed this mouth as he failed to say whatever he was trying to say. He sat back down on Hiei's bed and turned his head so that he faced the curtained window. "I want nothing to do with Minamino. Even his friends."
"I'm not his—" and then Hiei gave up. Clearly, Yusuke wasn't going to listen to reason. No matter what Hiei said, it wasn't going to make a difference.
"Idiot," Hiei muttered and with a derisive snort, he left.
He left not just his dorm room but the dormitory itself. He stormed across the streetlamp-lit campus pathways, his anger like stirring embers ready to set the nearest fuel ablaze or reared-back snakes prepared to strike. He told himself that he wouldn't let Yusuke get to him, that he wouldn't react. Then why was Yusuke getting at him?
'You're friends with Minamino,' repeated in Hiei's head. 'You are.'
No, I'm not! His body shook and tensed as he suppressed his anger. He wanted to yell. He wanted to yell for the entire Academy to hear and know once and for all that he was not friends with Minamino.
Hiei did not yell. It wasn't as if anyone was going to believe him. After all, he was surrounded by morons. Morons who didn't listen when you told them the truth and couldn't get it into their heads if you slapped them across the face with it.
Hiei entered the library, deciding to waste his time there until he figured Yusuke had vacated his bed. All of the third floor nooks were either occupied for study or…well, giggling was never a good sign. It was a better alert than some other noises though. It all disgusted Hiei. He couldn't see why anyone would want to get that close to someone…much less touch them.
After one snogging couple too many and, for his own entertainment, breaking one up—of course, how was Hiei supposed to know the chick had a cold sore and a previous history of herpes, Hiei checked the second and first floors. The selection really wasn't great on either floor either. The places he did find had too much foot-traffic for Hiei's preference and the one place that was relatively secluded and private was at a table. Occupied by Minamino.
Hiei growled low in his throat. Either choice left him getting constantly disturbed. One choice did seem more appealing than the other though. To Hiei's surprise, it was the table with Minamino.
Hiei was still angry. He could feel it, heavy and knotted, in his stomach. He wanted to argue with someone but not have it collapse into fists and he knew that Minamino would oblige. Minamino didn't even have to offer a counterpoint. He could listen while Hiei vented and that would serve Hiei's purposes well enough. He just wanted to throw his anger at Yusuke all onto him, that was all. And he had no one else to turn to. It wasn't like he would ever want to willingly sit near Minamino. Hiei was just pissed and Minamino happened to be the only warm-blooded body around that wouldn't freak out if he sat down and just started ranting at him.
Concealed among the bookcases, Hiei stood watching Minamino at an angle through a gap in the shelves. Minamino was focused on his work. He wrote some and then paused, in which Hiei stepped away from the space until he heard Minamino writing once more. The pause was more than likely just to compose his thoughts but Hiei wasn't taking a chance.
He stood, watching and waiting. For what, he didn't know. He supposed he was waiting for himself to decide whether he was going to sit with Minamino or not. He wasn't certain either way. Yes, he had a reason and it wasn't like his options were really that open, but sitting with Minamino would go against everything he was trying to tell others was the truth. His core example of why they weren't friends, after all, was that Minamino sat with him, that it was never the other way around. This would… It would prove they were friends and Hiei refused to let that happen.
But if no one saw me…Hiei reasoned. It would look like it always does. Except if anyone had seen that Minamino had been sitting there first.
So Hiei stood and watched Minamino in the gap and hid out of view whenever he paused, trapped between his reasons and inclination to sit with Minamino and his reasons and inclination to not. The two sides barreled into one another and gave convincing arguments, but the end result just amassed into giving Hiei a massive headache.
Tired of fighting, angry with Yusuke, and frustrated at his inability to make a decision, Hiei decided at last to hell at what others thought and that he would sit with Minamino just so he could pour out all this anger and frustration on him but not because they were friends.
Hiei took a step forward and heard, "Ah, Minamino. Should've known I'd find you here."
A boy, probably a classmate, walked over and started talking to Minamino. And Hiei disappeared back into the bookcases to search for an open nook, any nook. Even one surrounded by constant foot-traffic would do.
-o-
It was a perfect day to run in a track meet and a perfect day to watch a track meet as Kurama Minamino made his way to the upper middle of the stands and took his seat. A few of his classmates had come along and arranged themselves accordingly around him.
The unofficially sanctioned Sacred Heart section of the stands was, as expected, not as filled as the seating for the other participating schools. It did appear that there were more Sacred Heart students in the stands than ever before, though, to be honest, Kurama's data was not up to date. This was, in fact, the first time he had ever come out to watch Sacred Heart's track team perform. In his defense, he had no motivation to do so before. And at least he was out here genuinely to support the team (well, just Hiei Jaganshi) and not to pad his grade with extra credit. Of course, he didn't need to.
While his classmates around him talked, Kurama passed the time reading a book he had brought with him. If it was not for Kurama being who he was, his classmates might have thought he was rude to start reading and essentially giving them the notice that he did not want to talk to them. But Kurama Minamino was never rude and he was very studious, so his classmates thought nothing of Kurama burying himself in a book while they talked around him. Besides, if need be, Kurama could comment on topic when prompted and without losing his place.
After two and half chapters read, Kurama checked over the top of his book. It was getting close for the first event, and thus the meet, to start. Kurama figured the wait would not be much longer.
"Excuse me. Excuse me, everyone," broadcasted the student announcer, a boy whose voice Kurama recognized but could not place a face and name to. "Due to reasons that have not been given to this announcer, the boys' 400m sprint will be postponed until such delay can be resolved. Thank you."
"Bet someone failed their pee test and now they have to scramble for a replacement," said the girl to Kurama's right, eliciting laughs and disbelief from various individuals within their company. Kurama turned a page.
It was another twenty minutes before the first event started. Hiei was not participating in it, so Kurama kept on reading. Event after event and boys' lineup after boys' lineup was announced and yet Hiei was not a part of any of them. For their lackluster record not providing much of any expectation, Sacred Heart was doing well. They traded off first-places with one other school and as it were, they were one away from tying in number.
As they readied and prepared the track for the final boys' event and Kurama did not see Hiei anywhere, Kurama suspected that Hiei had been scheduled to run the boys' 400m.
Perhaps the delay is in finding Hiei, Kurama considered. It would not be surprising out of him if he did refuse to appear.
And then, there was an announcement. "Attention. Attention. After the boys' and girls' hurdle relay, the track will be cleared and the boys' 400m will take place. Thank you."
He would find out then if his speculation was correct, Kurama supposed. Until then, he would continue on with his book. The girls' came in second in their relay, but while they did do well, their overall wins did not compete with any of the other participating schools. The boys' did win their relay and now Sacred Heart was tied in wins overall with one other school. It was down to the 400m to determine which.
Track cleared of hurdles, the participating boys made their way to the starting line. Seeing a familiar splash of dark, unruly spiked hair finally make its appearance and watching its wearer begrudgingly drag his steps to his position in the lineup, Kurama noted his page number and set his book down onto his lap.
As final preparations were being made and another school's student celebrity—the delay apparently was for him to arrive—showboated to his school and the girls in the stand, Hiei waited impatiently in his lane, a sour look on his face and his hands clenched at his sides, what with no pockets in his yellow (except for a navy blue band down the sides) lightweight shorts.
Kurama had to admit that Hiei did not look like he belonged there. He looked the part, yes, in his track uniform in Sacred Heart's colors. However, he did not necessarily fit the mold of a runner's build. In comparison to his competition, he was shorter, smaller, and the least enthused to be there. Other students, including those in Kurama's company, were already sinking Sacred Heart's chances of taking the overall win for the boys. Kurama sat patiently and smiled or smirked—he made it too difficult to distinguish.
The runners took their marks. As they did so, their names and schools they represented were announced. It was all girlish shrieks and applause when it came to the famous boy, which spilled over into the applause for the rest of the participants. The stands were nearly silent, however, when it was Hiei's turn to be announced.
"…and in lane four, Hiei Jaganshi, Sacred Heart." The few that did applaud did it only out of politeness and discomfort. Hiei did get one encouraging shout from Botan, which he responded to with the harshest glower he had ever given at her audacity to cheer for him. After that, any other desire to show support was promptly discarded.
To the standard call of ready, set, go, the boys were off, accompanied by announcer commentary.
"And it's the fan favorite Tomona breaking away. He seems to be in prime form today, though we could expect nothing less from the Rising Prince of Track..." The student announcer did his job with the exuberance necessary, though his tone had a quality to it that the winner was already decided.
Kurama waited and watched Hiei, currently in third place and not running half as well as he had in supposed secrecy after the tryouts. There was a possibility that Hiei would not run to win just to spite the Academy, but if Kurama knew anything about Hiei Jaganshi, he knew that the boy's pride would not let him fail.
"Into the final stretch, it's Tomo—Holy S-Son of God…" The announcer's voice trailed off and joined the others in open-mouthed, stunned awe as Hiei passed the so-called Rising Prince. Kurama's smile turned more clearly into a smirk, not that anyone noticed.
After Hiei crossed the finish line, there was a distinct pause of silence from everyone, though not as profound as the silence from Sacred Heart.
Only the student announcer's staggered stutterings finally ended the silence. "Ja-Jaganshi wins. S-Sacred Heart wins overall for the boys'."
Every Sacred Heart student out there rose up and cheered. Kurama stood smiling within the fervent crowd. The cheering and school pride continued on even as students filed out of the stands. When he could and without notice, Kurama took his leave of his company and headed off to find Hiei.
It did not take long for Kurama to find Hiei. It was all a matter of following the roar of celebration, listening for the violent cursing at the center of it, and then looking up. A crowd of students and fellow track members were hoisting and carrying Hiei around in victory. And to say that Hiei was not pleased was an understatement.
Hiei kicked and screamed and cursed and fought in failed attempts for freedom. He writhed and bucked and arched away from their many touching hands but could not get away. He ordered to be put down and threatened to hurt anyone who had their hands on him, but none of his words were heard, or if they were, they weren't taken seriously. There was too much joy at hand for Hiei's negativity to be listened to.
Kurama hurried to reach the crowd and make his way through it. Perhaps if they did not listen to Hiei's clearly agonized demands, they would listen to him. And if not, perhaps Kurama could reach Hiei and bring him down himself.
But before Kurama could reach the crowd, Hiei's screaming stopped.
And soon after the hands fell and dropped Hiei.
"Someone! Get the nurse!" a student in the crowd shouted.
Students stood around, staring down in fear and uncertainty. Teachers came running. Someone finally paid attention and went to get the school nurse. Kurama slipped through and between the surrounding crowd of students to get to Hiei.
Kurama arrived to see Hiei lying on the ground, drawing and gasping for breath as if his airway was closing up, his eyes rolled back, his body rigid and convulsing.
-o-
Hiei awoke quite unsure of where he was or how he had gotten there. Much of his memory to a certain point after his win was blurry or not there at all. What he did remember was a lot of touching. A lot of touching all over his body at once. The crawling he normally felt became clawing, like layer after layer of skin was ripped raw to the muscle and then bone. His touched flesh had burned like acid thrown on his skin and the burn was steady, even, and at an all-consuming pace and one not particularly rushed to meet its end. And he had been trapped, forced to endure this pain, screaming for it to stop but no one had listened. His memory blacked from there.
He opened his eyes slowly, stopping at halfway. Hiei didn't see much, not that there was much to see. White sheets, white pillow, white walls were all that Hiei saw in his hooded view. The place did have a distinct sanitary smell, which explained more to Hiei about where he was than anything else.
Hearing the nearby sound of a book snapping shut and realizing he wasn't alone, Hiei fully opened his eyes. Sitting by his bedside was Minamino, his eyes and smile gentle.
"Good afternoon, Hiei," he said softly.
Hiei did not respond. Instead, he sat up in bed and looked around. Though he had never been here before, it was clearly the nurse's office. It was a rather plain room and nearly indistinguishable from any other school nurse's office.
"You were moved here and allowed to rest after the nurse treated your convulsion," Minamino explained. "…You gave everyone quite a fright. It was truly terrifying."
Hiei scoffed, "It's their own fault."
Minamino wore a pleasant smile. "Good to see you back to health." He offered Hiei a cup of ice water and Hiei took it.
Arguing voices outside the nurse's office grew louder and more recognizable as they drew nearer. It was no secret to either Hiei or Minamino as to who was outside. It was all a matter of them opening the door (or in their case, swinging it open and letting the door crack against the wall) and coming in.
Yusuke entered first, a bitter expression on his face that only grew worse at seeing Minamino sitting beside Hiei. "No surprise here," he grumbled.
He turned to leave immediately only to be blocked off by the door of Kuwabara's body. He fought with Kuwabara in angry, muttered voices. From what Hiei understood, Yusuke was backing out of an agreement the two had made, an agreement that seemed to involve Hiei.
"But you agreed," Kuwabara said as their voices rose to regular speaking tones.
"I agreed to nothing!" Yusuke said back and tried pushing Kuwabara out of the way.
Like an ox in mud, Kuwabara did not budge and held his ground. "Urameshi, you said you'd do it. Now be a man and do it."
Yusuke tried to be stubborn but Kuwabara pushed him toward Hiei. "All right, I'm doing it! Sheesh…" he growled and threw Kuwabara a look over his shoulder.
Putting his hands in his pockets, Yusuke stood glaring down at the floor. At first, he sulked and refused to finally do what he had said he would finally do until he at last gave in.
"I'm sorry, Hiei," Yusuke said, "for everything I said. For real this time."
Hiei did not believe him and watched him with a skeptical eye. Memories and embers of anger from his last 'apology' stirred in Hiei.
He better be telling the truth, Hiei thought. If Yusuke pulls the same shit as the last time…well, Minamino better not try to stop me from punching him.
"I saw what happened after the meet and for someone to react like that you're clearly not doing it for the attention. I guess you're not as much like…" His eyes darted over and narrowed at Minamino. "…Minamino as I thought. So I'm sorry I said it."
Hiei thought and considered and then turned his head to the side, briefly closed his eyes, and said, "Hn. No different than any other stupid thing you've said."
"Then it shouldn't be that hard to forgive me then."
"In theory," Hiei said, facing Yusuke once more. "In practice, I don't know."
Yusuke stifled a laugh and smiled wryly. "I'm glad nothing's happened to that winning personality of yours."
"Yea, what the hell happened to you anyway?" Kuwabara asked as he stepped away from the doorway and stood beside Yusuke. "It looked like it hurt. Does it?"
"Do I look like I'm in pain?" Hiei growled back.
"No, but I thought I'd ask…" he muttered defensively. "…Nice to know you're okay."
"Yea, same here," Yusuke concurred, his voice and broad smile both genuine.
Hiei could not stand to look at Yusuke's smile for too long and averted his stare only to find Minamino also smiling at him. The room was filled with an overwhelming good feeling, a relieved feeling. One that Hiei knew had been all for him. They had been concerned for him. That worry, with Kuwabara's urgings, had brought out an honest apology out of Yusuke.
And Minamino…
Well, what he had done hadn't been that important. All he had done was sit and wait for Hiei to wake up. Patiently at his bedside. And, if it wasn't for Yusuke and Kuwabara showing up, he would be the only one here with him. No one else would have cared to. Not that it mattered or bothered Hiei. He didn't care.
There was one thing he was certain about—Hiei was thankful he wasn't really sick at all so that he could get the hell out of here.