Chapter 14
'Was it a dream?' He wondered, taking in the cool darkness. Though he didn't remember getting in bed, only walking in the door…'It had to have been an illusion'…he concluded now feeling the hardness, of what he assumed was the floor, under him. After a few seconds he could feel the now familiar sensation of the yacht's gentle rocking.
A demonic voice from his nightmares chuckled, telling him. 'It was more like a delusion.' Damn his pessimism and maybe the alcohol on an empty stomach, though did he even take a drink?
Blinking, green eyes thought they had opened, but it was still dark. There was a feeling of pressure on his face, making him start to panic. 'What?' Kurama thought as a hand quickly came up to try and figure out what was blocking his vision.
"Easy." A concerned sounding voice told him, an all too familiar voice, one he hadn't heard in over a month.
'Okay…this is definitely a dream.' He told himself.
The coolness he had been feeling was coming from the pressure on his face, his hand feeling a damp washcloth and…another hand pressing lightly on it.
With full blown panic setting in, the red head sat up startled, slapping the objects away which caused his head to swim. He managed to catch himself from feeling the floor against his back again by leaning against the wall.
"Don't move so fast." The voice scolded.
Noting it was still dark outside, Kurama slowing let his eyes adjust by looking around the room, taking in what the lamps were illuminating.
He ended up letting out a yelp as his vision was blocked by a figure talking in that familiar voice.
"Drink this." He was told.
Grabbing the bottle, Kurama gulped down the cold liquid.
"Not so fast, you'll…" The voice tried to tell him, but then just grabbed the bottle back.
Sucking in deep breaths, the red head tried to calm himself, his green eyes trying to accept the presence of the black haired figure, who he'd finally accepted he would most likely never see again, kneeling in front of him. He had to admit Hiei looked good, or was that the alcohol talking, though, again thinking, did he even take a drink? In the more than a month since he'd seen him, Hiei's hair was back to normal, there was no more gray and it was cut back into its normal spike with the white star burst as prominent as ever. His skin was not as pale, looking more healthier, even more tanned. He also seemed to have gained weight back and had built back up some muscles, though not as near as buffed as he used to be. He couldn't help but notice those unusual red eyes were not as sunken, hollowed looking as when he was sick. Though now they were filled with concern and maybe even some sadness.
Seeing Kurama calming, Hiei grabbed a wrist to check his pulse, asking "How do you feel?" When Kurama had fainted, hitting the wall and the table on his way down, he'd run over to make sure he was alright. Upon examining the red head, he could tell something wasn't right. It didn't take a doctor, or a formal EMT in his case, to tell the man had lost weight, was paler than normal and had been drinking, if his guess from the smell of the now spilled glass on the floor was correct. He'd thought about contacting Bui, but didn't know what he could have done. Maybe know of a hospital. But, seeing no visible signs of injury or distress, he did some searching, managing to find a mini fridge in one of the cabinets and retrieve a wet washcloth from the bathroom.
"How…" Kurama rasped, ignoring the question. Shaking his head, letting unknown bent up anger set in, he had his own questions. "How did you get here?" He asked, but then more importantly. "Why are you here?" He added through clenched teeth, maybe a little too harshly, as he saw Hiei wince.
"Sorry." The red head found himself apologizing, pushing the smaller figure away and standing, slowly with help from the wall.
"Here." Hiei offered, taking him by the arm and helping him to the bed.
When Kurama took a seat on the end of the bed, Remy, who had jumped on the bed, scared by the red head falling, came over and began head butting him, wanting petted.
"Hello you…sorry if I scared you." The red head muttered, scratching the cat in his favorite spots and receiving 'you're forgiven' purring in return. His green eyes finally looked back up at the black haired.
"To answer your questions." Hiei said. "I was given a number by Shizuru…that was given to her by Bui's sister…"
'Leave it to Shizuru.' Kurama thought, but now some things made sense. The last minute helicopter delivery, Bui not insisting he go to shore, like previous times, thus leaving him alone. Not to mention the last minute cancelled dinner plans, he'd not been the one to speak to his intended guest.
"I hope you don't fire him." Hiei tired to joke. "Or make him walk the plank."
Kurama took it as such, letting a soft smile come to his lips as he shook his head
"As for your other question." Hiei said in all seriousness, only to pause. Was Kurama mad at him for coming? What the hell 'was' he doing here?
The red head noted Hiei was becoming nervous as he watched the man seemingly struggle with the answer. Or was he looking more confused as if trying to figure out himself just why he was here.
"Did something happen?" Kurama asked. "To Yukina…to…"
"No." Hiei quickly answered then huffed. "I…I honestly don't know." He ended up saying softly. Sure he had had this conversation a million times in his head, knowing what he would say when, or if, he saw the red head again, but now with the reality that he was here, he suddenly didn't know what to say. Shrugging, he looked right at the red head saying with sadness laced with hesitancy. "I guess…I guess I just wanted…needed to know…why?"
He didn't give Kurama a chance to reply, seeming to find his voice, letting the pent up hurt he'd been holding in for over a month finally show through, he began rambling. "I guess I needed to know why you really left…why you said goodbye to everyone…but me…were you that mad at me for what I had done with Miy…" He couldn't even say the name as he watched the red head's face ashen.
Kurama watched Remy move away to the other side of the bed and begin bathing himself before putting his face in a hand. Taking in a deep shaking breath, he absorbed the spoken words he'd been silently asking himself all this time.
"No…no." He choked out, barely above a whisper. "It wasn't that." He admitted and it was the truth. Maybe it had been easier to blame it on that, but in truth, he had understood, so now it was time to face the real truth.
Taking a seat next to the red head on the bed, Hiei sighed, if it wasn't that, then what?
He'd thought the two of them had been happy, but apparently Kurama hadn't been. The two had been living together, but what had it meant? Just being there for each other only when it was needed or wanted? The two never faced their true feelings. At least Hiei knew he'd always avoided them. Though the "I love you" was spoken at the appropriate times during certain moments. He didn't fully question his feelings until he came home to an empty loft and realized he was alone, really alone. That Kurama was not just on some business trip and would be home in a week, or call him almost every day. He was truly alone for the first time in a long time. Something he'd taken for granted and maybe even advantage of without realizing it.
"I was afraid." He heard Kurama whisper.
"Of what?" He asked.
Lowering his hand, Kurama continued to look at the floor as he spoke softly. "So many times…so many times you have gotten hurt. So many times I kept telling myself 'its okay, it could have been worse'. I knew, no matter how much I wanted to, I couldn't ask you to quit, I couldn't put you in a protective bubble. You wouldn't be who you are…but then the accident happened, the one I feared the most…the one I thought I was truly going to lose you. I knew I couldn't go through something like that again. During that time…I finally accepted my true feelings for you and I'd come to realize…came to realize, if you were to die…I…I would die."
Hiei couldn't believe his ears. Would the red head have attempted suicide again? Not knowing what to say, he waited.
"But then." Kurama began, only to pause, seeming to think of how to say what he was thinking. "But then, you came home and I was so relieved, I wanted nothing more than to help you…but you…you kept pushing me away." He finally said shrugging. "So…"
"What?" Hiei gasped. "Why would you think that?" He ended up practically growling.
Kurama seemed to be just as taken aback by Hiei's question. Turning to face him, the red head exclaimed. "You wouldn't let me help you. Got mad when I did, you wouldn't talk to me…you even seemed to be disgusted when…when I touched you." He finished in a whisper, turning his head away. "I thought I was losing you all over again…you kept leaving."
Hiei just sat there dumbfounded. "You hadn't." He whispered knowing now he'd been acting that way because he'd felt repulsive with himself, not to mention the affects of the pain pills.
Sighing, the red head nodded. "I think deep down I knew that was the truth, but I also knew then something…someone…one of us needed to change, we weren't going anywhere."
Hiei couldn't argue with that. Only because of what Miyuki had told him, and made him see, was why he fought the addiction and vow to make things right.
"I wanted change and I was determined to do it with or without you. I was hoping with you, but after your reaction about traveling, I accepted I would be doing it without you. And believe me." Kurama said patting his chest. "It hurt, but one of us just needed to leave, before we hurt each other even more. Since you have family and friends, and I have, well…" He smirked softly. "I figured it would be easier if it was me…as with everything else that's happened in my life, I knew, given time, it too would fade. I could only hope you would move on, find someone special and live the life you wanted. As for not saying goodbye to you, I'll admit as I've said, I was afraid." Green eyes looked right into red ones. "I didn't want to see the disappointment in your eyes when you repudiate me for leaving."
"You thought I was disappointed in you." Hiei said with anger, where the hell did Kurama get that from? "Rejecting you." Even more ridicules. Standing, he faced the red head and gestured to his body. "I was rejecting this."
"Hiei?" Kurama said not quite understanding.
Hiei explained. "How do you think I felt…feel? Before the accident, you started leaving for weeks on end. You'd even quit asking me to go with you."
Kurama had always thought Hiei hadn't wanted to go.
"I thought you were getting tired of me, but didn't want to 'hurt my feelings' by kicking me out on the streets. After the accident, I saw the way you looked at me, those green eyes full of sympathy, like I was damaged goods. The disappointment, the how could this have happened, the how could I have let this happen…why would you want to touch a body like this? But most of all, it was mostly the pity. My pity at realizing you were willing to put your life on hold to take care of me. Pay any amount of money if it would help 'me'. Up to an including wanting to take me away if you thought it would make me happy. Only to then, without a second thought, up and leave without a word, just a damn letter leaving me everything like that, I didn't…still don't understand. If you wanted to leave fine, but why leave me with what you did? Did you feel that sorry for me? Did you think I couldn't support myself anymore...was I that broken? Hn." Hiei smirked. "But in the end, I guess I couldn't blame you." Red eyes looked down as a hand rested on his right leg. "I am broken…and not just physically."
"But that's…" The red head tried to cut in.
"I've never asked nor have I ever had someone just…do that for me." Hiei continued, lost in thought. "It never occurred to me that I deserved it or…was worth it. I didn't know how to accept it, or if I even wanted to accept it. I've always been by myself, taken care of myself. I never wanted a 'sugar daddy.' Or be kept like a spoiled mistress. And as I've said before, I'm not a charity case…and I sure as hell never deserved you." Chuckling sarcastically to himself, he wondered out loud. "I don't even know what you saw in me in the first place."
"Someone who saw me for who I was." Kurama quickly answered getting Hiei to pause. "Someone who didn't want me for my brain, my money, but mostly…my body." He admitted.
Images of Karasu came to mind, making the black haired feel sympathy for the red head.
"What did you see in me?" Kurama asked back.
"I…" Hiei started, but took a moment to really think, wanting to make sure what he said wasn't taken the wrong way. Remembering around the time they had first met, when he'd taken Kurama to the beach, what the red head had said, made him say. "You once said that relationships needed to be a give and take. When you were with Kuronue, you let the moment dictate who would dominate the other…that you like to both 'top' and 'bottom', which I always found rare in a relationship."
Kurama was nodding in agreement.
"When I heard you say those words, I knew you were different. That rare person I think I had been hoping existed. I didn't think anyone else thought like me, that I was the outcast asking for something which didn't exist." Hiei began pacing, thinking, still lost in thought. "I guess I ended up taking you for granted in the end. Not realizing how special of a 'catch' you were. I couldn't give you anything, though I wanted to, and yet you didn't care, rather…for some reason, you were willing to give me everything."
"And I still would if you ask or let me." Kurama said standing and grabbing Hiei's right arm to keep him from pacing again. Looking at the arm, the red head's fingers began lightly tracing the faint scar lines. They were so faded now no one else would know they were there unless they knew or really looked. The black haired had received them from a thorn bush when he'd risked his life to save him in car crash years ago. He had no idea a stupid decision on his part that day would change his life. "And you're not broken." He whispered.
"I could argue against that." Hiei muttered trying to control the goose bumps forming and the tingling sensations he was getting from the red head touching him. The feeling he was still maybe wanted, needed was causing his mind to race…what was it about this man that caused him to feel this way?
"No…you can't." Kurama whispered back, his hand had moved up along the arm to the shoulder to then cupping the back of Hiei's neck, which he lightly squeezed.
Standing firm, thinking this was too fast, Hiei's mind still chanted. 'No one else…want no one else…' Though as the red head kept squeezing, he closed his eyes and immediately let his guard down, relaxing into the all too familiar touch which yet had been so foreign for what seemed like forever.
Watching and sensing Hiei's reaction to his touch, the red head felt his own goose bumps. Squeezing his hand a little firmer, he tilted the black haired's neck back, but just as he was leaning in, there was a knock on the door.
The two took a step apart as Kurama called out. "Yes."
The door opened a crack, but no one stepped in. "Sir." Bui called out. He hadn't wanted to disturb his boss, but had seen lights on during his trip back to the yacht. Wanting to make sure Mr. Minamino was alright after finding his surprise and didn't need anything else…all the while hoping he didn't want to get rid of their newest passenger. He decided at the last minute, not to step into the room. In that faint hope the two had 'made up' and were currently…
"Yes Bui." Kurama said opening the door a little wider thus dashing his hope. He could just make out the black haired figure, still dressed, sitting at the end of a made bed.
"Sorry to bother you sir, but I just wanted to let you know we are back. We've cleared customs and are fully ready to leave first thing in the morning. Do you still wish to continue to the destination you requested?"
"Yes." Kurama answered.
"Very well…is there anything you need?" Bui asked, noting the red head was looking a little pale. He'd watched his boss fall into a pit of depression over the month and had wondered what had happened, yet knew it wasn't his place to ask. The only thing he could do was make sure the man ate, which noted by the meal still sitting in the warmer that he hadn't, and rest, which was something he couldn't really control. Only when Mr. Minamino suddenly requested a last minute course change, were his suspicions confirmed, even more so when he'd received the call from Mr. Jaganshi.
"No, but thank you…for everything." Kurama said gesturing with his eyes towards Hiei.
"You're welcome sir…goodnight." Bui said pulling the door closed.
When Kurama turned back, he saw Hiei sitting back on the bed stifling a yawn. "It's late." He said. "We should get some sleep." He knew he was tired, as he hadn't been sleeping well, but he could only guess how Hiei felt, it must have been a long trip to get here.
Jumping off the bed like it had shocked him, Hiei stammered. "Oh, okay…um…do you have a guest room?"
"Hiei." Kurama lightly chuckled, he looks so cute like this, he noted.
Seeing a couch, the black haired stated. "Or I can sleep on the couch."
"Hiieeii." The red head actually cooed this time.
Hearing that, Hiei said. "What."
"You came all this way… and we are two grown men." Kurama stated.
"Yes…yes but." Hiei said. He just didn't want to push anything, not wanting to cause more problems than he already had.
Knowing how Hiei was feeling, for he was feeling the same way, he informed. "It's a king size bed, there's more than enough room." Starting to turn off lights, he asked even though he knew it was a stupid question. "Did you bring clothes?"
"Yeah." Hiei said going over to a black duffle bag. "I'll go change."
After a few minutes, Hiei came out of the bathroom in his pajama bottoms. The only light on was the one next to Kurama's side of the bed, whom was already settled in. Remy had even found a spot at the end of the bed, already curled up asleep.
"I can't believe you brought him." Kurama said when he noticed Hiei looking at the cat.
"Why not?" He shrugged. "I thought about it. I didn't think it would be right to just leave him, hoping someone would check on him, since I didn't know how long I was going to be gone." He climbed into bed. "Besides." He admitted, giving Remy a pat on his rear. "I've kind of become attached to the fur ball."
The red head chuckled. "Softy." Composing himself, he commented. "He seems to have taken things in stride."
"Yeah, he did." Hiei agreed, settling in. "He had no problems with the crate, the plane ride or the helicopter." He had to admit, Remy was the most laid back, content animal he's ever seen, unlike the little terror he'd been when they'd first got him.
"I hope Bui took care of you two." Kurama said turning off the light and settling in, wondering when the man had found the time to pull off this little 'stunt' without him finding out.
"He did." Hiei said. Bui had made all the arrangements, including a passport, private plane, even dealing with customs to get Remy in with just a checkup/shots and no quarantine period.
When the light went out, the two could sense each other's presence, yet also hesitance laced with want. Neither one made a move however, each just turning their backs to the other and letting well deserved sleep take over.
a)a)a)a
Red eyes opened to a familiar pressure on his chest. "Okay, okay." He huffed pushing the cat off so he could sit up. Blinking in the morning light coming in from the almost panoramic windows, Hiei saw nothing but blue skies and open sea, followed by the low hum of churning engines. Remembering where he was, he realized they must he heading out to open waters. Well, at least he could feel relieved in the fact that he hadn't been asked to disembark before they left.
Noting the other side of the bed was empty. He got up and took care of business, even taking a quick shower before digging out some food and feeding Remy. He'd noted in the bathroom last night, as promised, there was a litter box already set up, along with a bowl on the counter, another one on the floor full of water and had even been told there would be a scratching post. The only thing Bui had asked him to bring was some cat food, for it might take him a few days to get some in stock.
With Remy crunching away on his breakfast and his own stomach grumbling, Hiei went in search of Kurama. It wasn't hard maneuvering on the yacht, when he'd first come aboard, Bui had showed him the paths to take to go up or down as he was led to the private quarters. Told that Mr. Minamino rarely went down to the servants or engine rooms, the black haired headed up to find the red head in the large open area sitting behind a familiar desk.
"Good Morning Sir." Chef greeted back, placing and uncovering dishes, he offered. "I hope you enjoy your stay and if there is anything you wish to request food wise, I'll try to accommodate it." He gathered up his now empty trays and headed to the door, adding. "The cat food has arrived as well, I'll have some stocked in the main quarters."
Not even seeing the man, for red eyes had been on Kurama, Hiei greeted back a little embarrassed. "Um…morning and thanks." He managed to say before Chef cleared the door.
Looking up from a stack of papers, the red head greeted him as well by asking. "Sleep well?"
"Yeah." Hiei said. He wasn't going to say he'd slept better than he thought or that maybe it was due to the fact the red head had been beside him.
Kurama cocked his head in confusion as he saw Hiei trying to suppress a grin, chuckle? "What?" He finally asked not able to control his own grin. He had to admit, having Hiei here was a 'welcoming' surprise. He hadn't realized just how much he'd miss the man until he'd woke up that morning noting he had slept, undisturbed by nightmares, for the first time in weeks. He had also realized he was laying rather close to the black haired, almost touching even. But had he slept so well because his body had finally told him he needed sleep or was it because he knew subconsciously Hiei was beside him? Glad he hadn't woke Hiei, he found himself just laying there staring at the sleeping figure and had even went to touch him, but seeing the man looking so peaceful, he decided not to disturb him and got up quietly. He'd only been up about an hour.
"Nothing." Hiei tried to dismiss. Eyeing the table full of food, he gestured to it and received a 'help yourself' gesture in return.
Getting a whiff of the food, Kurama's stomach actually growled. Dropping his papers, he joined Hiei at the table. As they ate, the red head couldn't help but notice he was still being stared at, though still had no idea why.
"Do I have a third eye growing or something?" He finally asked.
"Hn…" Hiei managed around a mouth full of food. Knowing it was irritating the red head not knowing what he was looking at. Swallowing first, he then pointed towards his head with a fork, saying. "Your…your hair…it looks like you stuck your finger in a light socket."
"Oh." Kurama mouthed, now understanding. "Well, yours always looked that way." He muttered. Fingering his frizzed hair he stated. "I don't really pay much attention to it anymore. After I wash it, the humidity of the open water takes over. There's absolutely nothing I can do to keep it from happening, not even blow drying or running the air conditioner seems to help. I've tried every product I can think of…nothings worked and I've actually thought about cutting it off."
"Don't do that!" Hiei choked out, not liking the thought.
Green eyes widened at that, but he said. "I've mostly been keeping it in a pony tail, but I have to let it completely dry first." Running fingers through his hair, Kurama nodded to himself before pulling a band off his wrist and gathering his red locks up in a high pony tail, leaving his forelocks loose to frame his face. Giving his head a shaking, making sure it was holding, he looked back at Hiei and asked. "Better?"
Never seeing the red head with his hair up like that, and liking what he saw, Hiei could only nod, open mouthed full of food, in response.
Finishing what little food he'd selected, Kurama wiped his mouth and placed the napkin on the plate before refilling his coffee mug and excusing himself, going back to his desk.
"Still staying busy." Hiei said, stopping himself from eating more. He realized he about gorged himself and felt a little embarrassed the cook might think he's a pig or something.
"Trying too." Kurama said. "I'm currently trying to catch up on the new research pertaining to the pancreatic cancer vaccine testing."
"Sounds like fun." Hiei said sarcastically, wiping his mouth before vacating the table.
The red head chuckled. "Well, it was either that or go over the spread sheet for the projected income and expenses for Shori's Place for the next few months."
Never being good with numbers Hiei agreed with the first choice. Coming over to the desk, the first thing that caught the black haired's attention was displayed on a long narrow table behind the desk, which turned out to be a bank of filing drawers.
Seeing where red eyes were looking, Kurama commented. "Found that in an antique shop in Paris, though I don't think it's as old as the dealer led me to believe."
"Really." Hiei stated, picking up the katana sword so he could get a better look at it. "What century did he say?" The scabbard was a dark red lacquer with faint black lines swirling around, almost looking like Chinese dragons, with the tip plated in gold and the knob wrapped with red cording holding a gold knob. The collar was made of gold in the shape of a Chinese dragon and the handle, also gold, was wrapped in dark red cording.
"The eighteenth." Kurama answered, knowing as soon as he had seen the sword in the window Hiei would love it. No matter if it was real or not, he had to have it, if just to remind him of the man.
Hiei was nodding. "The saya, sorry, the scabbard looks old, but seems to be a replica…may I?" He asked, placing his hand on the handle.
The red head gestured. "Be my guest." Knowing Hiei had great knowledge of such things.
Hiei walked out from around the desk, giving himself more room before unsheathing the sword. Looking closely for any visible markings, he mumbled to himself before saying out loud. "If the markings I can see are true, which I believe them to be, the sword is real. The only way to truly tell is to check under the handle. I would say it's just the scabbard that's a replica…which is not uncommon since it usually got damaged or corroded." He went on to explain. "Also the tsuka, the handle, seems to have had its ito redone, the braiding, but not recently. I'd say the sword is from the eighteenth century but the rest is from the nineteenth." He wasn't going to ask how much the red head paid for it. "What made you get this?" He asked instead, handling the sword with ease in a few practice moves.
"Oh." Kurama froze, taken off guard. Should he say it was because it reminded him of the black haired or. "I don't know…I just seemed to be in a spending mood that day." He ended up saying. "Glad to see it wasn't a waste of money." Also glad he had been right on his feelings about it.
Hiei didn't quite believe that, but didn't say anything as he replaced the blade and went to return it to its holder. Turning back, his eyes landed on the photos lining the back of the desk, recognizing all of them but the last two. In the first one, Kurama was knelling in the middle of a bunch of kids. By the look of the walls he assumed it was a hospital of some sort. His eyes couldn't help but notice a tall lanky blonde standing off in the back, a goofy smile on his face as he posed for the camera. The man had the sharpest blue eye he'd ever seen and wondered what had happened to the other as it was covered by a black eye patch. He couldn't help but gasp however when his eyes moved on to the second picture, that same blonde was in it along with Kurama and the two were…kissing. Had Kurama already found someone else?
Hearing and seeing Hiei's reaction to the picture, Kurama quickly explained. "It was an accident…on my part."
"Oh." Hiei said it really was none of his business. Maybe he shouldn't have come, but what about what 'almost' happened last night?
Kurama went on explaining. "His name is Fai…Dr. Fai D. Flowright. He's been a colleague for a few years now. I've talked to him on the phone, but never met him in person till I went to France. He's become one of the top leading doctors in the world when it comes to brain tumors. He's been researching them for years after losing his eye to a brain tumor. He invited me to a charity event and finding out he's a big tease and a flirt, he went to kiss me on the cheek, but I turned and well…" He left it at that, but did say something that he hoped would ease Hiei's doubts about it. "He's been in a serious relationship for several years. With someone he met when he was traveling, I've only met the man once, briefly. Come to think about it, Fai's never even mentioned the guy's occupation, at least not directly. All I know is the two split time between each other's countries." He came to realize he didn't know as much about Fai as he thought he had. "As for the picture, after it was taken, Fai made sure the photographer destroyed the negative, but obviously couldn't resist the joke of sending me a copy to remember my visit. The poor guy threw his hands up in the air and ran off spewing." Here the red head did his best Fai imitation. "Oh dear, I hope Kurgy didn't see me, he always gets so jealous." Going back to his normal voice, he said. "Funny thing was…'Kurgy' wasn't even there."
"Kurgy." Hiei said.
Kurama shook his head, saying. "Don't ask. I don't even know myself what his partner's name really is. Every time Fai's mentioned him, it's always something to the affects of…Kurgs…Kuro…though I don't think its Kuronue. The weirder ones are Kuro-poo, Kuro-sama and even Kuro-daddy." Seeing Hiei's eyebrows arch at that one, he shook his head. "Told you, I don't ask."
"Ooookay." Hiei said.
"Hiei." Kurama said standing and placing himself in front of him. "I wouldn't be honest if I said I wasn't hoping there was something more there, but…but he is in a serious relationship and I'm not the kind of person to do that to someone. I will say he helped me understand some things."
Maybe like what Miyuki had done for him, but he still couldn't help feeling a little jealous, so he said. "You don't have to explain, it's really none of my business."
Kurama surprised Hiei by grabbing him by the wrist. Pulling him closer, the red head told him. "I only have my heart set on one person, whether I could be with him or not, my heart will always belong to him." He leaned in even closer, whispering in his ear. "And only him." Then he kissed him, a kiss so out of the blue, so gentle, but in those seconds of shared breath, the pressure increased, almost burning, frantic. The battle for air was forgotten as the kiss grew more urgent, expressing cravings, pure want.
Hiei's head swooned, his knees buckled, but Kurama wrapped an arm around his waist and held him. It seemed like forever, like he would never breath air again, but that was fine with him, if he were to die of suffocation then doing it by way of the red head's lips on his was fine with him.
"Are you…okay?" He barely heard.
Taking in deep, ragged, breaths, Hiei tried to compose himself. "Ye...ah." He managed to get out.
"Shall we…continue this…downstairs?" Kurama managed to huff out between his own gasps for air. The red head couldn't control his feelings anymore. Hiei was here, back in his arms were he needed to be and though he tried not to rush it, he could no longer ignore the 'vibes' coming from the black haired since he'd tried this move last night. He could tell Hiei was trying to control his feelings, so one of them needed to make the move and he took the risk. Afraid of being rejected, he knew he'd done the right thing when Hiei relaxed into him and let him continue the kiss.
Hiei nodded, not trusting his voice, and grabbed Kurama's hand, to which the red head literally dragged him down the corridors to the main living quarters.
When the door closed, Hiei plastered the red head against it, pinning him with his smaller body so he could plunder the man's mouth. Their hands roamed over each other, over clothes, under clothes, it didn't matter. The two just had to touch each other, to prove to themselves that this was real, to prove they were here, together.
Hiei was glad Kurama had made the first move. He didn't know how much longer he could have controlled himself. The move reinforced his feelings that it had all been worth it to come here. The feeling of being wanted…needed…god he loved this man, but he had no idea why. Did there have to be a reason? What was it about this red head, whom he'd met in a wrecked car, make him do what he's done to get to this point in his life? Why had he gone to the hospital? Why had he turned to the red head after Jin's death? Why had he invited him to his place? What drove him to take the red head that night after the dance? How could he have ever thought about leaving when he'd accepted the job in Northern Yama? What had made him come back when he'd lost the job? Why had he'd moved in with him? Why had he not let this man be there for him after the accident? Why had he not just taken the risk and accepted the invitation to come on this excursion? So many whys…what if…if I'd only….
Kurama's mind was racing as well. Never being one to make stupid mistakes, he'd made a big one that day, one which caused him to wreck his car. He only remembered a gentle voice, keeping him calm, safe, talking to him. Then that same man showed up at the hospital and the two began to talk. Out of nowhere, he'd decided to go to the fire station. Even helped the man after his former lover had died. The time at the beach when he'd spilled his guts, out of the blue, about Kuronue which led to him accepting the invitation to go to the beach house. Finding the nerve to leave Karasu and going home, talking to his mom, who told him to go to the dance…letting Hiei take him that night. Why had he asked him to move in with him? How could he have even thought about traveling for work, even after telling Hiei he wouldn't, knowing how the man might perceive it? Willing to commit, what he was always told was the ultimate sin, suicide when he thought he'd lost Hiei when he'd accepted that job and left him, even willing to do it again if Hiei had died after the accident.
While their minds raced, they continued to kiss and, just like many times before, undressed each other without any thought. Though it seemed liked it had been an eternity, they were still old hands at it. Buttons were unbuttoned, a shirt was pulled over a head, a zipper and belts were undone. They could have done it with their eyes closed and most of the time they did, like now, for they were still kissing as clothing was dropped, like a trail, to the already made bed. If they would have taken a moment to look around, they would have saw no remnants of what had happened the night before, or the other pair of green eyes looking curiously down on them.
To Hiei, it had always been just sex, a primal instinct which needed to be satiated from time to time. Walk into a place, usually a bar, and find someone who needed the same thing at the time. All his one night stands had been like that, no personal talk, no lingering acts of potential attachments. Just fulfill each other's needs and move on, regrets left up to your discretion. Even though he had called Jin a lover, he had no personal attachment to the man. They met, fulfilled the need and went on with their lives. If they saw each other at work, nothing was said. That's why he hadn't known about Koto.
(I know your eyes in the morning sun…I feel you touch me in the pouring rain…and the moment that you wander far from me…I wanna feel you in my arms again…)
It had taken someone like Kurama to teach him the art of making love. The art of taking it slow, to tease and explore one's body to find likes and dislikes. To build up towards the climax so it was more intense.
(And you come to me on a summer breeze…keep me warm in your love, then you softly leave…and it's me you need to show…How deep is your love…)
When they'd reach the bed, the red head gently laid Hiei down and placed his taller body gently along the top of his. Still kissing him though now he had moved along the jaw line, across the collar bone where he nipped causing the black haired to gasp and moan.
(How deep is your love…I really need to learn…cause we're living in a world of fools, breaking us down…when they all should let us be…we belong to you and me…)
Kurama continued to kiss and nip down the chest, stopping at a nipple to suckle then giving the other one the same treatment before moving lower. Hiei squirmed at the sensation on his nipples, but stiffened when the kisses began landing on the scar running down his abdomen. Even though it had softened some, it was still red, irritated looking.
(I believe in you…you know the door to my very soul...you're the light in my deepest, darkest night…you're my savior when I fall…)
Grabbing the red head by the pony tail, he tugged just enough to get him to stop.
Looking up at him, Kurama asked. "Something wrong?"
"Don't…don't look at it." Hiei whispered.
(And you may not think that I care for you…when you know deep down inside that I really do…and it's me you need to show…How deep is your love…)
"Okay." The red head softly spoke, closing his eyes to the request, though he continued to kiss. Adding licks to the scar, starting at the top. He worked his way down towards the end near the black haired's pelvic area, stopping to plunge his tongue in the man's belly button. "I happen to find scars sexy." He said when he was done. To prove the scars didn't bother him, he moved on to the scar along Hiei's outer right leg. There he licked and kiss the length of it from the upper thigh down to the knee.
Hiei found himself moaning and panting despite not wanting to be touched there. Kurama continued his ministrations by parting his legs and kissing the inside of his thighs. "Despite what your mouth said, your body seems to be enjoying it." The red head mumbled, noting Hiei's erection, already weeping, by giving it a long quick lick before moving on to nibbling the inside of the other thigh.
Hiei didn't need to be told that, it had been so long, any touch from the red head would have had the same reaction. He'd practically creamed his pants when they'd first kiss. Over the years, Kurama had found ways of torturing him, sometimes to the point where he couldn't even last for the actual sex, so he had surprised the red head one day with a pair of cock-rings. He'd worn his more than the red head.
Knowing Hiei wouldn't last much longer, the red head moved up onto his knees and straddled the smaller figure. Lining himself up, he was about to impale himself.
"Wait." Hiei yelped, gripping the red head by the hips to keep him from any further movements.
"What now?" Kurama asked, leaning in and giving a kiss.
"You've not been prepared…do you have anything… gel…protection…" Hiei tried to explain.
Kurama sat back on his knees, a dead pan look on his face, making Hiei think he'd ruined the moment.
"You…you afraid I might get pregnant?" The red head asked in all seriousness.
"No…baka." Hiei spat, slapping the man on the ass. "I don't want you to hurt…"
He didn't finish as Kurama once again claimed is lips, biting and pulling on his bottom lip before muttering. "You're not going to last much longer." To prove his point, his hand gripped the black haired's erection.
Hiei's eyes rolled into the back of his head. "Just...finish me some other way…" He managed to rasp.
Kurama turned around, presenting his rear to the man's face. "Then prepare me, I'll keep myself busy." He smirked.
"Hn." Hiei smirked back, then without warning plunged his tongue into the red head's hole.
Kurama gasped and bucked at the sensation, but managed to maintain compose by concentrating on wrapping his fingers around the base of Hiei's erection, keeping him from release until he was ready. Though he still teased by licking and suckling on it while his other hand messaged the man's balls.
Between his tongue and fingers, Hiei prepared Kurama, keeping his other hand busy by playing with the red head's cock and balls, when he felt the man was ready, he again gave him a smack on the rear.
"When did you get kinky?" Kurama asked, turning around and lining himself back up again.
"When did you become a smart aleck?" Hiei asked back grabbing the red head's hips to keep him from moving too fast.
Making sure he went slowly, Hiei helped the red head down until he was fully sheathed inside the man. Kurama's head fell back, letting out a long moan when his pelvis met Hiei's. When he felt the red head was ready, Hiei began to thrust his hips.
Kurama responded by lifting his hips and putting his arms behind him for support as he met each thrust.
"I'm not…I'm not going to last mu…" Hiei tried to say, bending his knees up and planting his feet, allowing him to push up harder and get a better angle.
Again, Kurama only responded by leaning forward and locking his lips to his, pumping his hips harder, faster until the black haired stiffened, grunted in his mouth and released into the red head.
Sitting back up, Kurama didn't remove himself from Hiei's cock. Grabbing his own, he jerked himself to release, with red eyes watching, splattering his seed along the black haired's chest and stomach.
Collapsing against Hiei, the two lay there panting, hearts racing. Feeling Hiei squirming under him, the red head looked up to see the black haired's face looking pained.
"Did I hurt you?" Kurama asked in a panic, moving to get off and ended up hissing himself when he lifted himself off Hiei's limp cock.
"Just a leg cramp, happens." Hiei groaned, but seeing Kurama wince, he became more worried about the red head. "You okay?"
"A little sore, but I'll be okay." Kurama answered, positioning his body alongside Hiei's.
"Hn." Hiei chuckled. "We acted like two horny high school boys."
Snuggling into Hiei's chest, Kurama laughed too. "With your leg and my back, more like two horny old men."
The two laid there, the red head's fingers tracing lazy patterns along Hiei's chest while the black haired's fingers twisted red locks.
After a few more minutes of silence, Kurama finally looked up and said. "Thank you."
"Huh." Hiei said, twisting his head to look at the red head. "What for?"
Propping himself up on an elbow, Kurama said. "For coming."
"Is it time to throw me over board or something." Hiei joked.
"Now's who being the smart alack." Kurama said, slapping him half heartily. "It's just…" He paused.
Rolling onto his side to face him, Hiei continued to play with red hair, waiting patiently.
"After talking to Fai, I'd given it a lot of thought." Kurama said, looking to Hiei. "I was thinking about returning home."
"Really." Hiei said, eyebrows rising.
"I didn't know if you'd want me back, but I was willing to see. I've missed you more than I thought I would, I…I felt like I was dying inside…I love you Hiei Jaganshi…and I want to be with you for the rest of my life." Kurama declared.
Hiei would agree with the part about dying inside, seeing Kurama naked affirmed to him the red head had lost a lot of weight, more than he could afford, but he continued to joke. "Wait, you thought you could just waltz back into my life and tell me you love me after what you did?"
Leaning up to really look at him, Kurama took the comment for what it was. "Isn't that what you just did last night?" He countered.
"Good point, but I didn't declare my love for you, so…" Hiei rolled on top of Kurama, pinning him to the bed and giving him a deep hard kiss before declaring back. "I love you too…Shuiichi Minamino…and I want to spend the rest of my life with you…that is…if you can put up with me."
Remy, who had apparently been watching them during their coupling, and never having seen it, let out a 'meow' before jumping off the window sill above the headboard. Scampering across the bed, like he was attacking some invisible enemy, he then jumped off and attacked a shadow. He quickly lost interest in it and began licking his own crotch.
"I thought only humans were into voyeurism." Kurama said, causing Hiei to bury his head in the crook of the red head's shoulder as he busted out laughing. Finally pushing up, off the taller frame, the two felt the sticky, drying residue of their sex mixed with sweat and without even saying a word they both agreed they needed a shower.
Under the water, while the two washed each other, Hiei asked, making conversation. "So…where are you heading?"
"We." Kurama corrected. "Are heading home, I've made no other plans."
"But." Hiei couldn't believe it had been true. "You wanted to travel?"
Wrapping his arms, from behind, around the black haired's smaller frame, the red head nuzzled against his neck saying. "Well, if you don't want to go home, then pick a place…any place and that's where we'll go." He began licking and nibbling on the man's ear.
However, Kurama didn't allow Hiei much time to think about it, as his hands had moved down the black haired's rear, groping it before slipping a finger in his hole. To which Hiei's mind went blank, after a few more fingers, the red head took him from behind against the shower wall.
With the two otherwise engaged, neither one heard a light knock on the door.
Back out in the main living area, the door opened a crack, hearing no answer, a head quickly peeked in. Seeing no one, but hearing the shower, Bui quickly entered, leaving drinks, snacks and a small wrapped package on a table. He hoped the timing was right, but with the sounds coming from the shower, he might be just a little late.
Last night, when Bui had gotten back to the dock, preparing to return to the yacht, the gentleman, who was to be Mr. Minamino's guest that night, was waiting on him.
"I'm glad I caught you." The man had said. "I was wondering if you could give this to Shuiichi for me…a last minute parting gift…but please don't give it to him until the time is right." He had requested.
"And how would I know that?" Bui had asked, clearly confused.
"Oh…you'll know." The man had actually cooed.
Seeing the state of the bed, he quickly changed out the cover and even managed to give Remy a good scratching before straightening the discarded clothes. He was closing the door quietly behind him when the shower turned off.
Hiei and Kurama could do nothing but shake their heads when they stepped out of the bathroom to see a fresh cover on the bed, clothes laying neatly on it and food on the table. But then a small, red wrapped package, with Shuiichi's name on it caught their attention.
Picking up the attached card, Kurama could only smirk and shake his head. Handing the card to Hiei, the red head proceeded to open the gift.
Black eyebrows rose as Hiei read the note.
Dearest Shuiichi…
I hope you've enjoyed your time here and I wish you nothing but success and happiness. Don't worry about the dinner date, for I'm sure you were busy with something…or would that be, someone, else? Bring him the next time you visit, I would love to meet the man whose captured your heart. Please enjoy this little parting gift from me and Kuro-seme. We have 'cum' to enjoy this particular product very much, this is the newest scent and it reminded me of you.
Fai
PS: Happy cruising and more than just the waves of the ocean…
Hiei looked over to see what the red head had unwrapped. It was a French bottle of rose scented lubricate.
Kurama was right…the man was a tease.
End Chapter 14
The End
Lyrics to the song: How Deep is Your Love – By: The Bee Gees