I am not a Kuwabara hater. Enough said. Lol. There will definitely be KuwaYuki romance. And murderous intents of a certain brother as well. And ... Okay, can't give away too much. Lol.

Anybody know how much rental costs are in Japan...?? I really hate it when I feel like I'm writing something wrong. Lol.

Oh, and someone give me a video game name that Yusuke would probably play.

OH, hehehe, I need to know when it snows in Japan! It snows in Japan, right? Right? I really need to know! It's essential to this fic! Please help! Thanks! Like, when is spring, summer, winter ... snowwwww... lol.

Chapter 10 : Silent Portrait

"I came down to find you after talking to Shizuru-san, Oniisan. She told me Kurama-kun went after you," said Yukina, walking beside her brother on the way back to their apartment.

"Yeah."

"I wonder though ... how did you two manage to talk?" asked Yukina, turning to look at him. Her eyes widened when she saw his face. Blinking, she tried to look again without her brother noticing, but he had turned away. Was that ... a blush...?

"That idiot wrote on my hand with his finger," said Hiei gruffly. "I hope there weren't any photographers or reporters snooping around."

"Oh..." That explains the blushing, thought Yukina, trying not to giggle.

They continued on in silence, passing by the florist's where Yukina smiled at Shizuru and Hiei gave a curt nod. He also made a mental note to thank Kurama yet again.

"Let's go somewhere for lunch..." suggested Hiei, breaking the silence for the first time in many years.

"Are you sure, Oniisan?" said Yukina uncertainly. She knew her brother disliked showing his face in public restaurants. Paparazzi didn't follow him around that often, but he remained repulsed by the idea that everyone would be staring at him. It gave a very vulnerable feeling.

Yukina had often wondered why her brother refused to hire a bodyguard.

"Hai. It's too late for you to cook anyway," replied Hiei.

Kurama sat there impatiently waiting for his food, tracing random words with his finger on the table. It took him awhile before he realized he was doing it. He held up his hand, examining it closely, before rubbing his palm with his other hand.

The arrival of his food jolted him from his thoughts of nothing in particular.

I hope those two are okay, thought Kurama absently as he munched on his food. He ate quickly so that he could return to the shop earlier.

The twins settled in a quiet, cozy, not too crowded restaurant tucked away in the corner of the block. They ordered, even though Hiei wasn't in the mood for eating. He was mentally preparing himself for the impending discussion, preparing for every honest answer he could give to his sister.

"So..." began Yukina.

"I will answer every question, Yukina," said Hiei at once.

"Eh? Um, okay..."

Silence.

"You're not going to freak out and run off, right ...?" said Yukina. Hiei shook his head.

"Okay, then... Oniisan, why do you think I would leave you?"

"Uh..."

Kurama rushed in the shop, and how he managed to do it while still looking as graceful as ever was beyond Shizuru and the other customers of the shop. Shrugging, she returned to haggling with an annoying customer. Said customer was complaining about everything in particular, and Shizuru was not one to believe in manners when dealing with an irate customer. Their argument filled the shop, with some of her regular customers siding her.

Kurama was about to go and break up the argument when someone tapped him on the back.

"Ah, Minamino-san!" chirped a voice. Kurama whirled around... and came face to face with his landlord.

"You working here now?" he said, inhaling deeply from his cigarette. Kurama nodded. He sneaked a glance back. Shizuru wasn't paying attention to him.

"Ah, I see. Is the pay good, now?"

Kurama shrugged, tilting his head to one side, all the while maintaining his smile.

"Right, then I can up the rent now."

Kurama's jaw dropped. His smile disappeared.

"You know, I actually charged you lower, because of your ... disability. Anyway, now that you've got a somewhat steady job, I'm afraid you'll have to pay the normal rate now. Well, normal by my standards, anyway," he said, then laughed at his own joke.

Kurama, of course, did not find it funny.

"So, an increase of another 1000 yen per month, okay? See you around. And don't delay in paying," said the man before waltzing off.

Kurama didn't even have the heart to protest. He didn't have the voice, anyway.

"I... I thought that, after meeting so many new friends, you would eventually want that type of attention from me... and, I'm not very good at ... at giving attention... so you might be irritated and get fed up and then leave..." said Hiei, and each word coming out of his mouth seemed to make his head droop lower and lower.

Yukina blinked. Then she laughed. Her laughter caused her brother to jerk his head up, bewildered.

"Oh, Oniisan. You can be so silly at times."

"... What...?"

"I've never even thought as far as that! And it's not that you're not very good at giving attention. You're the most attentive listener I know! That's enough attention from you that I need."

The food arrived, but Yukina continued on.

"You don't have to chatter away like they do. You don't have to be like them."

"...Really?"

"Hai!" said Yukina, beaming.

"Oh... right..."

"So, don't worry!"

Hiei felt, if possible, lighter than he previously felt he weighed.

"Will you be going back to the shop later?" asked Hiei, chewing on his food.

"Hmm, yes I think I should, but I'll leave early so I can cook dinner for us."

"Okay then. I'll..." Hiei trailed off, making the mistake of looking into his sister's eyes. "...go back to work...?"

"You'll head home and rest, Oniisan," said Yukina sternly. "You look very tired, and if you want to continue working properly tomorrow, you'd better rest."

"But I don't feel like staying at home alone," blurted Hiei. Yukina blinked. He's... whining. My big brother is whining... she thought incredulously, then began to giggle.

"Well, you can always follow me to the shop..."

Hiei paused. I do need to thank Kurama... and I don't want to stay at home alone, I'll get bored out of my wits and no doubt do something stupid and probably irreversible, but no one will know because everyone knows I don't do stupid things, so...

What the hell.

"Okay then... Only for a little while," said Hiei, though his mind was screaming WORK WORK WORK WORK DAMMIT WORK! A routine was a routine, and when one did not stick to it, things tended to turn messy and upside down.

Then he consoled himself with the thought that he was the megaboss in the company, so he too was entitled to a day off sometimes. He'd do well to enjoy it.

"I won't help out though," added Hiei stubbornly as they continued to finish their food. Yukina smiled, knowing that he'd help out anyway, because he was such a nice person at heart.

"Kurama, are you okay?"

Kurama started when he heard the sound of Shizuru's voice. He turned to the direction of the voice, at the counter where she was sitting and staring at him oddly.

"Helllooo? Are you all there, Kurama?" said Shizuru, chuckling. The man had been staring at the empty paper, his eyes unfocused with a palette and a brush on either hand, and it freaked her out a little. Kurama gave a weak smile, then nodded at her before returning to stare blankly at the expanse of white before him.

Paint. I have to paint. I have to earn more money. Paint.

He closed his eyes, concentrated on what he should paint, concentrated on something special and eye-catching.

Nothing came.

With a small cry of anguish, he dropped his brush and palette to the floor.

Shizuru got up immediately and hurried over to Kurama, who was attempting to calm himself down.

"Kurama, snap out of it!"

"..." came the eloquent reply. Shizuru sweatdropped. He shook his head, then pushed her away lightly while shaking his hand, indicating he was all right. He took a deep breath and decided to just paint something abstract.

Hesitant, Shizuru decided to leave him alone as he was beginning to paint, but she could somehow feel that Kurama's thoughts were a little bit messed up inside. Though what could be bothering him was the mystery. Was it even possible to get it out from the mute artist?

Shizuru wondered who could possibly help him if he had a breakdown like Hiei that morning. His lack of voice, too, would make things worse.

Bottling emotions up inside.

Would it explode one day? she thought, her face slightly worried as she saw the disturbed, unfocused look in Kurama's eyes.

"Shizuru-san, I'm here," came a cheerful voice, interrupting her from her thoughts.

"Ah, Yukina. And, oh, my my ... Hiei-saaan?" said Shizuru, saying the millionaire's name with a teasing tone. Hiei 'hn'ed and looked away, scowling.

"Since it's already halfway into the day, Oniisan decided he'd accompany me today," explained Yukina.

Hiei strode off to the corner where Kurama had set up his things, surveying the artist who seemed lost in thought and gave him a dazed nod and smile before returning to painting. Hiei watched for awhile as the artist made uncertain, random, strokes on the paper... it was as if he did not know what he was doing and wasn't sure either.

"Thank you..." Hiei finally managed to say, "...for... just now."

Kurama blinked, then turned to him with a smile that made Hiei's hand tingle, for yet another unknown reason.

Hiei didn't know why, but he felt the need to say something, anything…

"I've... begun to see things differently now."

Kurama gave a brief nod, and went back to concentrating on the painting. It doesn't look right… he thought, sighing

"What are you painting?" said Hiei, leaning closer to the piece. The question wasn't really directed at Kurama, but more of just a thought said out loud. The reaction that came though, after a few moments of unsettling silence and Kurama's frozen hand on the paper startled Hiei.

Kurama stared at Hiei unblinkingly. Hiei didn't flinch, but he did wonder what the crazy artist had in mind now.

The artist tore the paper away from the stretcher, and started anew. Hiei looked very much taken aback. He wondered what Kurama was painting now, but chose instead to watch the scenery unfold.

The backdrop of a snowy mountain could be seen. Hiei marveled at how easily Kurama's hands flew over the paper, dipping into his palette in seemingly abstract movements. Orange, red… ah, a sunset, perhaps? thought Hiei as he peered closer.

But the beautiful blend of orange and red Kurama had painted was only a little portion at the top. He took a different brush this time, dipping it into the white paint and then blue, then creating a mixture of light, sky blue, and began to paint what looked like a mountain.

Little by little as the painting began to look whole, Hiei realized the familiarity of the painting. It was the one Yukina bought from Kurama, the one hanging on the wall facing the dining table. But there was a slight difference to it... or perhaps it was a very big one.

It was a balcony the man seemed to be sitting on; not a room... and the side of his face obscured as always, with a clear view of the outside scenery, no longer caged in by windows or bars.

Review please! Tell me anything and everything you like or dislike about this story! Thank you!

Final word count – 1930 words