Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha nor any of the characters affiliated with it. Hirosuke, this story and the title poem for it are all mine, however.


By the Embers, We
"Kirara..."

"Hmmm?" Kirara redirected her attention from the still warm embers of the irori.

"I like your name."

She smiled.

"It's just right."

"I suppose."

"You suppose?"

"Well, it's just what I've been called all my life."

He moved closer to her.

"It's still beautiful." He whispered.

"Thank you."

His scent suddenly spiked with sadness, but it was gone as fast as it appeared.

"Are you alright?"

"Hmmm?" Something was hidden in his expressive eyes, something she couldn't quite grasp.

"You seemed sad."

He shook his head.

"I am most fortunate to be here, now, with the demoness-woman I love." He nuzzled her cheek.

"Fujihara-san!"

Again, that note in his scent appeared, making her nose twitch madly.

"You are a very bad liar, you know that."

"I do, which is why I endeavour not to lie." The smile didn't quite reach his eyes. Kirara bit her lip.

Something was obviously bothering him.

"Is it to do with Shizuka-san?" She did not mean to sound jealous.

"No." He was genuinely surprised. "Kirara, love, I do hope you are not waging some competition with her over my affections!"

"Of course not!" She shook her head emphatically. "But...you seem sad, and I can't think of anything else..." He hadn't meant to worry her over something quite so small.

"Kirara, you must know that no matter how many years pass a part of me will still belong to Shizuka; but, my dear, I am in love with you here and now and as long as the gods will grant us, I promise. Do not wound yourself meaninglessly. There is no need for you to fight for my emotions, or my heart. You have them, you do, my little flame."

She blushed at his openness and the nickname. She was not uncertain of herself, to be sure, but as a woman she couldn't help but wonder sometimes. His words soothed frets she hadn't been aware she had had.

"Then why will you not speak of what is ailing you?"

"Because it is pointless and I do not mean to upset you."

Her hand caressed his face tenderly.

"I want to know, please."

He sighed.

"It's just...I worry...that I'm not right for you; that you know I'm not good enough..."

She looked up at him, her thumb continuing its trail across his cheek.

"And...whether I can ever make you as happy as your previous lover." She felt the heat of his blush underneath her finger.

"And...I think perhaps...you care about me, but...not...not in that way; perhaps I'm taking advantage of your present vulnerability and, deep down, you know and that's why...why..."

"Why...?"

"That's why you won't let me close to you...I mean...that's why you won't...speak my name, or, truly rely on me..."

Kirara blinked, trying to take it all in. She was accustomed to relying on physical cues revealed by her heightened senses. She had forgotten that humans, not having such senses, required different cues such as petnames, and the use of names intimately, without suffixes.

His former statement suddenly sunk in and she stifled a giggle.

"Hirosuke..." She could hear the speeding up of his heart, could sense the flood of sweet-tinged joy into his scent. "My dear, dear, silly, Hirosuke. You had only to ask."

With a smile she began to explain to him the difference between human and demon behaviour.

"I do apologise. I'm just not accustomed to...but, do not think yourself unworthy of me in any way. Nor as a villain. You are no such thing."

"But..." He hung his head.

"Hi-ro-su-ke..." She chanted out his name. "I love you. You are the only man for me. Ever."

His eyes opened revealing his confusion.

"The person I loved, very much – the one who tragically passed on young, and to whom I owe a duty – that person was not my lover, she was my mistress."

"M-m-m...?"

He stumbled at the thought.

"Yes. She and I were a team of demon exterminators. She was a priestess, and I was her companion, her partner, if you will. I loved her as dearly as a sister."

"Oh..."

His embarrassment was palpable.

"Indeed, my dear."

His head lowered until his face was hidden in her shoulder.

"It is quite alright." She rubbed circles into his back soothingly. "But, you are also right. I don't tell you things. You see, I'm quite unaccustomed to having someone to share my thoughts with. I'm certain it will come, in time."

He grasped her tightly.

"I apologise."

She shook her head: "I ought to be the one apologising. Forgive me?"

He nodded languidly, face still hidden in her shoulder.

"Kirara...? Is...I mean...Is the form I saw you in what you really look like?"

Was he displeased?

"Not that I am trying to say you were unlovely or anything of the sort...but...well...I was wondering...if demons can only have one 'demon' and one 'human' appearance..." He babbled, hopelessly lost within his own question.

Kirara smiled.

"Not all demons can take human form, only the stronger ones. Even so, it is too energy consuming to constantly change one's features, thus, we don't. I can't imagine of a demon who could change his appearance at will without some sort of magical aid. I think they would have to possess a frightening amount of youki."

"So...what I saw...that was your true form, then?"

"One of them..."

"One? You've got others?" Then softer: "Could you show me?"

She shrugged and let go of him, moving away a fraction. The familiar changes began taking places until she was looking up at a flabbergasted Hirosuke.

I wonder if he dislikes this form...

He continued to stare, his mouth having fallen into an 'o' shape at her transformation.

She blinked. His fingers tremulously approached her flicking ears and ever-so-carefully scratched behind them. She, for one, was not going to pretend it was not enjoyable for her. There was so much awe caught in his gaze it made her want to laugh madly while flying across forests, racing breezes.

He continued to blink in utter amazement and a little something else. She cocked her head to the side.

It had been a while since she had been in her energy-efficient demon form.

Hirosuke's breathing accelerated. Her ears twitched faster and she moved closer to his hand, giving a small purr. He raised his hand to his mouth, suddenly quite red in the face. Concerned for him she instantly returned to her human form grabbing the discarded blanket with urgency before leaning in to look at him.

"Hirosuke? Are you alright?"

Tears had begun to shine in his eyes and Kirara was growing more frantic by the minute.

"Hirosuke!" She grabbed his hand.

"I'm sorry...I'm sorry." He mumbled garbledly before dissolving into a fit of giggles the likes of which Kirara had never thought a man possible.

She continued to watch him as he was shaken by laughter and the odd squeal.

"What's all this about?" She asked once he'd begun to calm down.

His gaze turned to her before a new wave of giggles broke over him. She patted his hand while he rested his head on her shoulder once more.

"You...cat...demon form...so...cute!!!!"

He managed to wheeze before more laughter overtook him once more.


Translation notes: Irori is the small, square fire-pit in Japanese houses of that period. Kind of like a hearth, but in the middle of the room.

A/N: Oh my...I think I may have temporarily turned Hirosuke into a woman O.o I do hope the chapter didn't feel forced - the image of Hirosuke giggling over a cutesy mini-Kirara just wouldn't leave my mind; it practically begged to be written. And, yes, I was attempting an ironic allusion to/foreshadowing of Naraku with Kirara's comment. :) Do let me know what you think! I'm always looking forward to comments from my readers :D Also, please pardon the typos - I really wanted to put this chapter up before another tempest swelled in my dictionary, so it's quite a bit more rushed than my usual. :o

Lastly, for those of you following "The You of Yore", a new chapter shall be up as soon as I manage to get the link (literary bond, that is) between the current plateau and the next twist.

Thank you very much to all of my reviewers - your comments keep me beaming for days! Luffles!