Guys, guys, calm down!! The story has gone this far --- there's no way I'm giving it up. I update slowly, but I'll never stop, okay? xD

Thanks for all your lovely reviews!!

Edit : I made revisions to Yukina's plan. It wouldn't have worked out lol.

Edit2: argh, why won't ffnet let me underline my chapter titles....................


Silent Portrait: Chapter 28

So there Hiei was, stuck with a purring kitty in his lap, on a dark and cold and stormy and starry night. Actually, it wasn't really all that cold, Hiei just sort of turned up the air-conditioning pretty high. It was summer after all. And stormy and starry wasn't exactly describing the weather outside; it was more of a self-justification as to how the weather should be like in accordance to his mood.

So, yeah. Hiei was pretty much alone, aside from the purring kitty in his lap.

He wondered what Yukina was doing.

This is pathetic, he spat at himself. She left like an hour ago. Stop being so pathetic!

Oki meowed in agreement.

He wondered what Yukina was doing.

This cycle continued on for quite some time, upon which many other odd questions interjected themselves randomly into Hiei's head, so much so he was beginning to really doubt himself. These questions started with 'I wonder what Yukina is doing' to 'I hope Kuwabara isn't trying anything funny on my sister' to 'I wonder if Yukina really loves Kuwabara' and then to 'I wonder if Kuwabara really loves Yukina' and...

And.

'I wonder if Kurama really loved me?'

Everyone wondered all the time, didn't they? About love, about life and the choices they make. The things to do and to not do. Whether or not to leave. To stay. To love, to hate, to regret and forget and repress because everything was uncertain and everything wasn't set in stone in black and white like how he liked it; where work was work and money was money and his sister would stay forever by his side and anyone or anything that tried to hurt her would go through him instead.

When did everything backfire against him?

Suddenly his position was a threat, suddenly his position labeled him a big shot person in society who wasn't married and therefore liable to much sex and money and various other things people wanted him to be.

Suddenly his sister started developing new friendships and relationships and just as suddenly he was reduced to being alone. With her, at least he was never truly alone before, but he was now.

Suddenly he found someone who probably loved him for some dumb reason or whatever, and just as suddenly he abruptly left.

Except, he sighed, thinking. It wasn't just as suddenly, was it?

Hiei may have forgotten most details about Kurama, about where they met or what he said and how it all happened; but the one thing he can't seem to forget is this something deep within him. Something he couldn't put a name to, something he might have once labeled jealousy or envy or desire, but they don't quite sound right. It faded away ever since the redhead had left, but then again it might have come back in the form of guilt.

When have I ever questioned myself so many times?

He was more certain now about what he wanted. He wasn't exactly sure what Kurama's position in his life would be; all he knew is that he had to be there somehow. The details could come in later.

He set Oki aside and grabbed the final paycheck that belonged to Kurama, before heading to his room to grab whatever things he might need. Best to do it now before anyone finds out. Yukina wouldn't be back till Sunday, so he had some time.

It was a rash and impulsive decision, but the details could come in later.

"Yusuke," he barked into the phone.

"Man, you call at all the wrong times," Yusuke growled into the phone. "Way to kill a boner – "

"YUSUKE – " a shriek emanated from the phone directly into Hiei's ear, making him cringe.

"I'm going to Osaka," said Hiei, using the hidden code only Yusuke knew, which usually meant he was going to do some business outside of the country which no one, absolutely no one knew of.

"When will you be back?"

"Saturday, probably. We'll see. Reschedule all my Friday appointments. Do as you see fit."

Without waiting for a reply, he hung up.

Hiei had only ridden on the shinkansen once. He had always suspected he might have a slight case of agoraphobia, what with him always being so uncomfortable and anxious in crowds. The bullet train, used by so many thousands of Japanese people daily, was fast enough so he could get to Kurama's hometown in only three hours and forty minutes. He would reach the house at approximately eleven at night; hopefully the Minamino household was alright with him staying overnight.

This, of course, was based on the assumption that Kurama was there.

He refused to consider that possibility.


Yukina watched fondly as the Kuwabara family as a whole chattered and talked amongst themselves. She answered sometimes when certain family members politely asked her how she had met Kazuma. Not many of them seemed to know that she was a famous multimillionaire's sister; though she preferred it like this. Blushing lightly, she remembered when Kazuma had introduced her as his girlfriend, stuttering all the while.

It wasn't a very big and spacious home; nor filled with expensive trinkets or devoid of any decoration, it was something quite unfamiliar yet it brought her comfort. Or perhaps it was Kuwabara's hand in hers, warm and strong, that made her feel the comfort she now felt. She gave a gentle squeeze, and chuckled lightly when he squeezed back. He was too busy talking to his parents to pay much attention to her other than holding hands.

"Enough!" Kuwabara said dramatically, getting up from the table. "God, ask Aniki all the questions, will ya? I'm taking Yukina for a walk."

Yukina bowed demurely and stood up with him. The remaining members of the family looked on fondly, before turning all their attention on Shizuru, who squawked in alarm when one of the elders told her to stop smoking. Kazuma snickered as he closed the door and continued walking.

"Let's see... we could just walk around the shops nearby... are you hungry? Nagano is pretty famous for their udon soup."

"No, I'm not. But we can go eat some if you want," said Yukina. "I might get a small bowl if they have some, or maybe I'll just have some of yours."

"Alright! More udon for me!"

"I wonder what your parents thought of me?" she said out loud, glancing slightly at him.

"I think they liked you," said Kuwabara, pondering. His family didn't react too badly; on the contrary they seemed somewhat delighted that he had brought a guest home.

"Hopefully..."

"Well, they certainly like you more than your brother likes me," said Kuwabara sourly. He immediately regretted it as he said it though, as Yukina froze in her tracks.

Kuwabara struggled for a moment between apologizing or defending himself, then finally settling for in between.

"I'm sorry, but it's the truth. I'm not your brother's favourite person in the world."

"No, I know," said Yukina sadly. "I know you're not. The only people he's ever been nice to is me... and Kurama."

"Yeah, Kurama... wonder what he's up to now."

I'll bring him back, thought Yukina, as they walked on in silence. He brought the most change in my brother's life - and he brought the most change as well when he left. He has to come back.

"Also, I wish you could stay here for a few more days. I can't believe you're leaving tomorrow..."

Yukina smiled guiltily, and subtly changed the topic.


"Arriving at Fukuyama Station... Fukuyama Station."

Hiei glanced at his watch as he stepped out of the train. It was ten past eleven. Suddenly he didn't feel quite as confident as he did when he made that impulsive decision to leave his safe haven (also known as home).

And he had, also, completely forgotten about Oki. Who was going to feed her while he was gone? He could just imagine returning home after successfully dragging Kurama back only to find her dead body splayed beside her woeful empty food bowl and Yukina would cry and Yukina would blame him and...

Well, that solved the matter, didn't it? All he had to do was drag Kurama back by the next day and Oki would only be slightly hungrier and at least not dead.

Feeling more confidence seep into him, he hailed a taxi and promptly seated himself comfortably in one. He wrinkled his nose in distaste at the shabbiness, but he gave Kurama's address to the taxi driver anyway. He sat back and looked out the window.

"You're not from around here, are you?" said the taxi driver conversationally.

"No," said Hiei shortly.

"Here on holiday?"

Hiei glanced at his very empty suitcase. He had grabbed some money, his identification card, his phone ... and some brief paperwork that he thought he might do while waiting for the train to arrive at Fukuyama... but didn't consider to bring a change of clothes at all. At all.

"No," said Hiei, trying not to sound miserable.

"Well, if it's your first time here, Fukuyama is known as the Rose City. There are roses planted everywhere."

"Really."

"Mmhmm. During the Second World War, an air attack destroyed most of the city. It was completely rebuilt, of course, but then the villagers, all of them gathered to plant roses. And then it just stuck."

"I see."

"Ever smelt roses before?"

"..."

"You should. They smell beautiful."

Hiei was about to retort that beautiful isn't a smell, but wisely kept his mouth shut.

"We're here," the driver eventually said. He pulled over and turned around to receive his payment.

"You should come back sometime in May. The Rose Festival's held at that time. The entire city turns into a garden."

"Thank you," Hiei said curtly before stepping out of the car. He watched as the taxi left, wondering what he was going to say to Kurama's family. Or Kurama himself, if he was there. Walking up to the door of the house, he rang the doorbell, hoping he wouldn't look too suspicious standing there at a quarter past midnight.

The streetlights were dim and the night was quiet. Hiei waited there for awhile, taking in the sight of the garden and the neighbourhood. The taxi driver was right; it really was the Rose City.

And suddenly a strong scent hit him right smack in the face; a scent he found so familiar, a scent he now recognized....

The door opened.


So yeah, I found the perfect city for Kurama. I was googling up cities in Japan for proper backgrounds for the characters, and when I randomly selected Fukuyama, and then it came out as Rose City, I was like OMG. Seriously. And yeah, major cliffhanger here. Hehehehehehehehehehehe.

Sorry it's been so long!! Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it, and it would be nice if you left a review! Thanks!