A.N. And here is chapter 11! I apologize for taking so long to update this! I hope you all enjoy and please forgive me for taking so long.
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho, but I do own the story line.
Thank you to everyone for being patient and for reviewing and reading! ^_^
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The way home was awkward..the silence was tense and unwelcoming and no matter how hard Hiei tried to forgive and forget about what happened, a part of him felt hurt, a deep part inside of him that he could not explain.
It had been just an animalistic instinct that had fueled the drive to rape. Hiei knew this well, but still a part of him could not stand to think of this. Everytime he tried to come to complete terms with what had happened, he felt an uneasy jab of pain.
"Where are we now? Can I trust him? Can I trust that he won't lose his instinct to me and try to hurt me once more?" Hiei tried to keep his unease down, but he knew the fox sensed everything. How he refused to stand directly beside him, how he couldn't look him in the eye any longer...
How was he supposed to handle this?
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Regret washed over Kurama's features as he watched Hiei walk along, looking anywhere but his person. He knew what had happened had really messed things up...and he doubted Hiei really forgave him for what happened.
Hell, he wouldn't forgive himself.
"Youko...why did you do this to him? Look at him...look at how terrified he looks to be standing beside us...how could you lose control like that?"
Youko didn't say anything back as he hunkered on the ground, looking at the 'floor' as if it was the most beautiful thing in the entire world. He had not said a word since leaving the building and he wasn't sure he wanted to. This was too painful, and he was ashamed of himself. The last thing he wanted to do was face Shuichi's anger.
With a sigh, Kurama disconnected from the stubborn mule. He would just have to come out and fix things later. Kurama watched sadly as Hiei literally raced up the drive way, putting as much space between himself and Kurama as he possibly could.
This had hurt more than Hiei had let on.
XXX
"Hiei…"
"Shut up."
"Hiei…please talk to me." Kurama gently rapped on the door with his knuckle as he tried once more, unsuccessfully, to bring the demon out of the room. He hadn't left it since yesterday and Kurama was getting concerned.
"I don't want to talk right now, just leave me be!" Hiei snarled, not even bothering to leave his perch from the window-sill.
Silence responded…good maybe that annoying pest left. Hiei settled back down, until he heard the door knob click, with a dramatic swing the door hit the wall and in paced the devil child himself.
Stupid fox.
"What the hell do you want? Haven't you heard of a thing called privacy?" Hiei sent him daggers through his eyes as he struggled not to flee the room in fear.
"Not in my own house, no. I came to see if you would come down and eat something…"
"If you're suggesting I actually am in the mood to stomach some garbage, you have another thing coming, now let me look outside in peace!"
"I'm sure Megumi would love to know her cooking is so disgusting to your high quality tastes!" Kurama spat back before sinking down onto the bed. This wasn't getting anywhere, no matter how many times he tried to correct the situation, Hiei was never for it.
"Maybe you should come out and apologize Youko, it might make things easier and better…" The human gently probed his quiet counterpart. "Or at least try…"
With a negative shake of his head, Youko continued to stare down at the 'floor' in silence, not thinking of anything really, just trying to get over what happened yesterday.
"Get. Out." Hiei snarled one last time. "I do not wish to see anyone at the present moment! So leave me be!" He nearly yelled, his hand twitching dangerously towards his katana. He was so ready to stab someone…and he didn't care who.
Trying to replace his hurt with anger, Hiei was trying to make Shuichi leave him be. He wasn't angry at Shuichi or Youko at all. Just hurt. The memory of seeing Youko's cruel, cold eyes really pierced him, especially after he had opened up so much to them.
He thought he could trust them.
Kurama sighed quietly and stood up, "I'll bring you up a tray anyways. If you decide to eat, which I hope you do, you can just leave it in the hall when you're done. Here…do you want me to gather your laundry and wash it?" He couldn't keep the hope out of his voice, and he didn't care that he sounded like a pathetic school girl.
He wanted to make things right.
"Just leave it the hell alone and get out. Stop acting like a whimpering puppy and go back to doing your things."
"Alright…." Reluctantly, Kurama turned and left the room, closing it with a soft snap he padded down the hall, feeling like a total bastard.
Hiei clenched his eyes shut and tried to shut out the memory of Youko looking cruelly down at him, as if he were a piece of cheap meat on display. "He's not like that…he's not like that…"
He hoped his fears weren't grounded.
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"Penny for your thoughts, my son?" Shiori leaned in his door way and looked at her obviously depressed boy. He hadn't eaten right since yesterday, and his mood was down right depressing. She was growing concerned for his lack of enthusiasm all of a sudden. "Is it about Hiei?"
Kurama could only nod as he pulled himself up onto the bed completely, laying his head on the pillow, he tried to shut out the feelings of guilt he was receiving…
"What happened?"
"Just a situation that could have been handled differently mother, that is all. Nothing to worry about…" He sighed softly, letting his eyes slip shut.
"You mean you almost raped him." She didn't sound angry or upset, rather she sounded concerned.
With a jolt, Kurama shot up and stared at her. "How did you…?" His eyes were wild with confusion as he tried to piece together the puzzle. Had someone seen? Told her? Had she been there? Did the office find out…?
"I could tell because Hiei was acting shy and nervous. A different kind of nervous. A nervous only a person who had gone through something traumatic could show." Shiori moved to sit beside her son on the bed. "I only know that too well."
"What do you mean…?" Kurama's voice dropped low, as if he was trying to keep the conversation to a low, keep it hidden from the walls that could hold many secrets.
"I was raped once a long time ago. Long before you were born. I was only 15." She sent him a half smile, though full of pain and unhappiness, there was some strength in there.
Kurama's body tensed and he growled deep in his throat, "Who?"
"Let me start at the beginning…" Shiori whispered, unbeknownst to the two humans, a curious fire demon stood out side the door, eaves dropping on the conversation.
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"She was raped?" Hiei stood stock still, his previous mission of talking this whole thing out with Kurama now gone from his head. He had to hear her tale.
"It was a long time ago…" She sounded so sad…it touched Hiei in a way he had never felt. He felt concerned, lost and almost…like he wanted to comfort her.
"He was a good friend of mine. His name is of no importance, but he offered to take me out on a date. Of course, naturally I agreed. He was handsome and he was always so gentle and I guess I harbored a bit of a crush for him. We went to this beautiful restaurant and he offered to walk me home. I was giddy and didn't see the danger signs all around me. Like how he stared at my chest all night, or how he kept watching my legs when they moved. I was a girl that was infatuated. I saw only the good things. He walked me alright. Right into an alley way where he had me pinned to the wall in under 10 seconds and was tearing my clothes to shreds."
She took a deep shuddering breath, Kurama instantly drew her into his arms, his body shaking with the vibrations of demonic growls he was holding in. What kind of bastard would do such a thing to his own mother? The kindest woman he knew?
Hiei was not in much better shape. He was downright pissed. He wanted to hunt down every ugly ass rapist out there and destroy them.
"He raped me right then and there, I screamed for help and no one heard. He delighted in the screams and when he was finished, he ran off. He disappeared from the city, no one saw him again. I never told anyone what happened, for fear of being judged. I kept it to myself." Shiori cuddled into her son's strong arms, it felt good to have a man hold her again, even if it was her baby, he was still there to protect her.
She liked that.
"I swear mother, I would hunt down every low life and find the one that did this to you if I could." Kurama kissed the top of her head in a loving gesture.
"You can't blame Hiei for being frightened darling. I understand what you did may have not been of your own choice, for sometimes we lose ourselves and you aren't a malicious person. Just understand Hiei is scared and not sure where to turn. He'll come round and everything will go back to normal. He really cares for you, a blind man could see it. Just give him time." She shut her eyes, content in staying right there to take a nap.
"I promise mother to give him time…" Kurama's eyes slipped up and he caught a pair of nervous, red eyes watching him from the doorway. With a tender smile, Kurama held out his hand.
Hiei hesitantly stepped in and looked at Shiori, "Is it true, Shiori? Were you raped?" Hiei asked, not moving an inch farther.
"Yes, Hiei, it was. I got over it as you can see. Forgive my baby boy, like I forgave that man. I know Shuichi didn't rape you. He just scared you. It happens. Come here." She, without opening her eyes, held out her hand too.
Hiei almost rushed across the room to sit down and hesitantly leaned into her embrace as he drew him for a hug. Not sure what to do, he looked up at Kurama nervously.
Kurama gave him a reassuring smile. "It's alright." He whispered as Shiori released the small demon with a smile.
"Hiei…you two really need to work things out. I promise it'll go good from there, okay? Don't let things come between you two. I know it's hard loving each other in different worlds like this…but love can conquer anything. Remember that." Shiori opened one eye and smiled brightly at them before closing it again to nap.
Silence thundered around the room before the fox nervously broke it. "Do you…"
"Forgive you? Yes. There was nothing to forgive." Hiei sighed as his eyes started to slip close. "Kurama?"
"Hmmm?" Kurama smiled at his little crush, admiring how cute he was when he was sleepy.
"May I sleep here?"
"Of course." Kurama opened his other arm and drew the demon in. It took Hiei a few minutes before he grew comfortable enough to finally slip into sleep.
As Kurama closed his eyes to join the two in a comfy nap he whispered for only the room to hear, "Thank you mother." Before drifting off.
Things were looking up after all.
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A.N. I know it was fast and I know it was more cutesy than normal. But I think this was a big step in their relationship, don't you? I hope you enjoyed! eHe
