Hiei returned with the fish to find that Kuwabara was now sitting on the edge of the pool, his jeans rolled up to above his knees. Keiko was standing just behind him, staring curiously at Kurama. Yusuke was tossing a blue and yellow coloured ball up and down in his hands.
Hiei parked the bucket beside Kuwabara. "Want to feed him?" he asked hopefully.
Watching Kurama feed was never a pleasant experience. There was no 'clean' way for the merman to consume the fish. The process reminded Hiei of a shark feeding frenzy, in that it was often just as bloody.
Whether Kurama was deliberately making as horrific a scene as possible in order to intimidate his observers was something that Hiei wasn't sure of. It would certainly be in character for the merman.
To Hiei's surprise, Kurama interrupted before Kuwabara could answer Hiei. He waved his hand in the air, drawing their attention. He then shook his head, spraying water droplets everywhere.
"Why?" Hiei asked in confusion. Kurama had made it clear that the fish fed to him were not of the quality he expected, but he had never outright turned them down.
Kurama pointed up at Keiko and the baby. Hiei didn't understand what he was trying to say. Kuwabara eyed the bucket doubtfully and edged away from it.
"They stink," he said.
"Of course they do. They're dead," Hiei retorted.
Keiko knelt down, smiling warily at Kurama.
"Hi," she said.
Kurama moved closer to her, water rippling around him. He leaned upwards, eyes fixed on the blue-wrapped bundle in Keiko's arms. After a tentative glance at Hiei, Keiko lowered the baby down towards Kurama so he could see.
Hiei watched Kurama inspect the sleeping, pudgy-faced baby boy with interest. Did merpeople breed like humans? Did they lay eggs? Did they breed at all?
Maybe the people who had been conducting experiments on Kurama knew the answer but Hiei certainly wasn't going to ask.
Asking Kurama was out of the question as well. That would be embarrassing.
He'd never considered the family structure of Kurama's culture before. Just who had he left behind? Siblings? Parents? Maybe a girlfriend?
A child?
Hiei pushed the last thought firmly out of his consciousness. It left him feeling sick. These people had taken Kurama with no thought for the impact that they had on his life.
The baby woke and began to cry. Kurama moved backwards, startled. Keiko held the baby to her as she rose to her feet. Yusuke put his arm around her.
"You know, nobody's come to ask what we're doing in here," Yusuke commented. There was a sly look in his brown eyes.
"Yeah," Hiei agreed.
"Don't suppose you've got a set of keys…?"
Kuwabara glanced up at them, looking curious as Yusuke pegged the ball into the pool. Kurama ignored it, drifting closer to listen to the conversation. He folded his arms on the platform's edge, face upraised.
"No," Hiei said. "But I think I can get them."
Hiei had gotten friendly with one of the security guards. He was sure that if he asked, he could talk the man into letting him borrow his set of keys. He'd just call him after hours and say that he'd left his phone or something and he needed to go get it. He'd actually done that once before. The guard had just let him borrow the keys with no questions asked.
"So, tonight, then?" Yusuke asked.
Kurama lifted himself out of the pool, using his arms to pull himself up. Kuwabara yelped as water splashed over him.
Kurama's long tail flopped on the platform as he settled himself. Keiko leaned over to have a closer look, her eyes wide as sunlight glittered off the scales. Hiei had to admit that it was a beautiful sight. Kurama rarely chose to leave the water but he always drew attention when he did.
Kurama stared up at her, his face expressionless. Hiei knew that he enjoyed her admiration, though. He'd learned that the merman was a bit vain.
"Tonight," Hiei agreed, directing the word at Yusuke, who nodded in reply.
Tonight they'd get Kurama out of here.
"Can I touch your tail?" Keiko asked in wonder.
Hiei didn't have to answer. Kurama nodded. Keiko passed her bundle to Yusuke before kneeling beside Kurama and carefully placing her hand on the ruby scales. She ran her hand up and down, fingers gliding over the tail.
"What happened here?" she asked, pausing at the scarred spot where some scales had clearly been removed.
Kurama's expression soured. He flicked his fin.
"Someone cut them out," Hiei said honestly.
"Oh, that's awful," Keiko said. "I'm sorry, Kurama."
Kurama's expression softened at the apology. Hesitantly, he reached out and put his hand over Keiko's.
Kuwabara's attention shifted from Kurama and Keiko to Yusuke and Hiei, who were standing side-by-side.
"What are you two scheming?" he asked suspiciously.
"Fill you in later," Yusuke told him.
They would certainly have to. They needed Kuwabara's help.