Chapter 28: Coming Clean

Kurama opened his eyes on a Saturday morning to find his boyfriend was already awake. That was a pretty rare occurrence, especially on the weekend, so the redhead wiped sleep from his eyes and propped himself up on his elbow. "Are you alright?" he asked.

Hiei was lying on his back with his eyes wide open. He nodded slowly. "Fine."

"You do realize that I am not convinced, right?"

"You do realize that you could have made the same statement in fewer words, right?" the shorter man retorted.

Kurama pursed his lips. He knew what Hiei was trying to do. "Yes, yes, I'm verbose. We established that months ago. Answer my question please."

Hiei sighed. "Should I tell Yukina today?"

Kurama's first impulse had been to berate his lover for answering a question with a question, but then the words sank in and he had to take a moment. "Well, that really is up to you, Hiei," was the only reply he could think of.

"I mean, I can't think of any reason why I shouldn't tell her today," Hiei plowed on as if the redhead hadn't spoken. "So I should just go ahead and do it."

"That is solid reasoning. I would say that the more you over think it, the harder it will be to do it."

"It's a little late for that little gem of wisdom, Kurama. I've been awake since four thinking about it."

The gardener took his boyfriend into his arms and kissed the top of his head. "Tell me what you're so afraid of."

"I am not afraid."

"Alright. What is your reluctance then?"

"What if she rejects me, Kurama?" Hiei asked in a small voice. "What if she's repulsed by what I've done and what was done to me?"

"She's your sister, darling," Kurama replied. "Yukina loves you; she's not going to abandon you because you've had misfortune in your life. Anyone who would abandon you for that is not worth having in your life in the first place."

Hiei sighed again. "You're right." He snuggled closer and closed his eyes. "You're not going to leave me, are you?"

"Not because of anything that's happened in your past. But if you ever 'accidentally' park your motorcycle on my lawn again, I don't know what might happen."

"You are not funny."

"Why do you always say that?" Kurama asked in a wounded voice.

"Because it's true."

"I'm offended."

Hiei yawned. "That's life."

Kurama chuckled and kissed the spiky black head again. "Get some sleep, Hiei. You have all day to talk to Yukina."


"Kuwabara residence." Yukina's cheery voice rang out as she answered the phone.

"Yukina, it's me."

"Oh, hello, Hiei. What can I do for you?"

"I…um…are you busy today?"

The pale haired twin frowned at the tremble she could hear in her brother's voice. "No. Why do you ask?"

"Because I wanted…I wanted to talk to you."

Yukina hardly dared to hope. "Alright. Is this something we can do over the phone?"

"Could you come over here? I need to tell you face to face. It's stuff about me and…could you come?"

"Of course I can. I'll be there in an hour."

"What was that about?" Kuwabara asked as his wife hung up the phone. He knew a little about Yukina's frustrations with her brother's taciturn nature.

"Hiei wants to talk to me," Yukina replied brightly.

"Huh. You think this is gonna be the big talk?"

"It might. He sounded like he was panicking a little, and under any other circumstances I think he'd have it together."

"Kurama probably has something to do with this, you know."

Yukina nodded. "Oh I know. He's been such a good influence on Hiei, and I don't think I've ever seen him this happy before."

"Kurama's been happier than usual too," Kuwabara remarked. "I never thought I'd say it, but I'm grateful to the shrimp. Urameshi and I used to think that Kurama was never going to date anyone again." He reached up and pulled his wife down beside him on the couch.

"They work very well together, don't they? Kazuma…I have an idea."

"What is it?"

"Don't you think it would be nice if the four of us all went out sometime? After all Hiei is my brother and Kurama is one of your best friends. We're all practically family."

"Yukinaaaaa," Kuwabara whined. "Hiei hates me."

"Oh he does not," Yukina replied. "He's just a loner by nature. He isn't used to dealing with your level of…exuberance."

"Exuberance huh?" the orange haired man responded. "I'll show you exuberance." He pounced on his wife, being careful of her delicate frame, and captured her lips in a kiss.


Hiei paced in front of the door, and Kurama tracked his progress with his eyes. "It's going to be fine, Hiei," he said.

"You can't know that."

"You'd be surprised what I know," the redhead replied.

Hiei glared at him. "You aren't helping."

Kurama smirked. "Sorry. Tell me what you want me to do."

"Tell her for me?"

"No. Anything else?"

Hiei sighed. "Just sit there and be pretty then."

"Can do."

The doorbell rang then, and Hiei paled. He took a deep breath and then opened the door. "Hey." He greeted his sister as he let her in.

She gave him a bright smile. "Good afternoon. Hello, Kurama."

"Yukina," The redhead returned. "Please have a seat."

"Okay." She sat down in one of the arm chairs and giggled. "I feel like I'm on trial."

"You're not!" Hiei said quickly. "This…this is about me."

"Good."

The three of them sat in awkward silence for a moment. Kurama took in the helpless look on Hiei's face and cleared his throat. "Yukina, Hiei asked you here today because he has things that he wants to tell you. Right, Hiei?"

The little brunette nodded weakly. He opened his mouth, and then snapped it closed again. Red eyes darted to Kurama's and filled with pleading. Green eyes stared back in determination. Kurama gripped Hiei's hand in support.

Hiei took another deep breath and tried again. "I killed a man." He blurted out. "Two men, actually."

Yukina's eyes widened. "What?" she gasped.

"It wasn't on purpose!" Hiei rushed to assure her. "Well one of them was…but he deserved it!"

"Start at the beginning," Yukina advised.

For the next hour and a half, Hiei talked about what had happened to him. He explained about going overseas and meeting Karasu. He talked about being drugged and raped and blackmailed. The story of Zeru's death was brought up and related, and Kurama and Yukina could hear the real regret in Hiei's voice. The rage was apparent when he spoke of Karasu and how he had ended his life. Once it was all out in the open, Hiei fell silent.

Kurama kissed him on the forehead lightly. "I'm proud of you." He whispered.

Yukina hadn't spoken in all the time that Hiei had been talking. Her large red eyes were full of tears, and she was staring at her brother in wonder. In a matter of seconds, she had thrown herself at Hiei and wrapped him in her arms. "How could you?" she sobbed. "How could you have gone through all of that alone?"

"I didn't think I had a choice," Hiei responded. He brought his arms around his sister awkwardly.

Kurama smiled and silently left them to it, heading back upstairs.

"Hiei, we're siblings," Yukina said firmly. "We're twins. Why would you think you couldn't tell me this?"

"I didn't want you to be disappointed in me, I guess. I wanted you to feel like I was a brother you could be proud of."

"I have always been proud of you, Hiei. You have been through so much in your life, and you're still living. So many people would have given up. They would have found it all too difficult and just taken the easy way out."

Hiei snorted. "I have never been one for that route."

"Which is why I could never be disappointed in you. No matter what, we are family, Hiei. Nothing is going to change that."

The swordsman clung to his sister as relief flooded every ounce of his being. So this was what Kurama had been talking about. The feeling of being completely open about everything with another person felt like nothing Hiei had experienced before. "I love you, Yukina." he whispered into her hair.

"I love you too, Hiei. Don't ever doubt that."

The twins separated and took deep breaths to calm themselves. "Can I ask you for a favor, brother?" Yukina asked softly. "I understand if you say no. You've already done so much for me by just telling me this today."

Red eyes softened. "I would do anything for you, Yukina. Ask."

"Well…Kazuma and I were talking before I came over here."

"That is not a question," Hiei replied, feeling very much like Kurama.

Yukina giggled. "Yes, I know. We were wondering if you and Kurama would like to come out with us sometime."

Hiei groaned. "Surely you know that your husband is not on my list of favorite people."

"I do. But maybe if you just spent more time with him your opinion of him would change."

"Spending time with people you find fundamentally annoying usually has the opposite effect."

Yukina gave him a wry grin. "Please?" she asked.

"Yes, Hiei, please?"

The little brunette turned to see Kurama leaning against the railing of the stairs with an amused look on his face. "You're in on this too?" Hiei accused.

"Not really. But Kuwabara is one of my best friends."

"Fine," Hiei accepted, not seeing where he had much choice. "We can double date with the oaf." The words had barely left his mouth when Yukina flew over and was in his arms again.

"Thank you, Hiei!" she squealed. "You've made me so happy today."

"I try." the swordsman muttered with no real malice.

Yukina released her brother and got to her feet. "I should go," she said. "Kazuma is going to be so pleased. And don't worry; I'm not going to say anything to him about what we talked about today."

"Thank you."

"Of course. I'll call you about going out?"

"Call Kurama," Hiei replied. "The less I have to do with this the better."

The woman smiled. "Of course," she said again. "Bye, you two."

Once she was gone, Kurama walked over to the couch and sat down next to his boyfriend. Hiei slumped and laid so his head was in the other man's lap. "What a day," he murmured.

"Indeed. You did excellently."

"I'm just so glad it's over."

"And that it went well?"

"Do I even need to answer that?"

"I suppose not. But really you should be congratulating me."

"For what?"

"For being right every single time that I told you telling Yukina would go well and that she wouldn't reject you."

"You are so arrogant sometimes."

Kurama shrugged. "I am a firm believer in credit where credit is due."

"Yeah, when you're the one getting the credit." Hiei shot back.

"Is it my fault that I am always right? I don't think so."

Hiei just rolled his eyes at that and reached up to toy with a lock of fiery red hair. "Do I really have to go out with Kuwabara?"

"No. I would prefer if you didn't cheat on me with him."

"Kurama! Can you be serious for just a minute please?"

The redhead smiled sheepishly. "Sorry. You certainly don't have to, Hiei. But you saw how happy it made Yukina."

"And you."

"Well I will admit that it would make my life easier if you and Kuwabara would get along, but I will not be overly upset if you don't want to do it."

Hiei sighed for what had to be the hundredth time that day. "I'll do it since it means so much to you two. I was planning on doing something for you since you made nice with Mukuro, but now we can call it even."

"Wait. What were you planning on doing?"

Hiei shrugged. "I don't know. Something sexy probably."

"There's no reason you still can't do that," Kurama reasoned.

"Nope. One reward per action. Wouldn't want you getting spoiled or anything. Imagine how insufferable you would be then."

Green eyes rolled, and Kurama stood up, dumping Hiei unceremoniously on the couch. "Fine then. I'm just going to go take a shower. After such a long day, I could certainly use the relaxation. You know how loose and pliable all that hot water makes me. Those warm drops sliding down my skin, caressing every inch of my body. Mmm. It's enough to make me release everything. Everything."

"You are shameless," Hiei said.

"Some call me effective." Kurama responded, waggling his eyebrows. "You know where to find me," he called over his shoulder in a sing song manner.

Hiei considered sitting on the couch for another two hours just to be obstinate. He knew that Kurama would be standing in the shower waiting for him with that stupid expectant smile on his face. Picturing the smile led to picturing other parts of Kurama in the shower. That led to a growing…er…issue…which of course led to him taking the stairs two at a time.


A/N: Teehee. I love Kurama. Love love love love love love love him. Every time he opens his mouth, I laugh. Anyway, here is the much anticipated confrontation between the twins. I'm sure it went much like you all expected it to. I briefly entertained having Yukina freak out and get mad or something like that, but I decided it wasn't in her nature and that Hiei didn't deserve that. Plus I just wanted Kurama to be able to gloat about being right. Which he did, emphatically. Anywho, hopefully this chapter is signifying a return to more regular updating. At least one chapter a week for this is what I am hoping for. If that proves to irritate my muse (or my workload) I'll do one of this every other week and one one shot on the weeks this doesn't update. We'll see. As always, thanks for the reviews, and let me know what you thought of this.