"We need to rethink our plan," Kurama announced, pacing around in the tavern's room they rented for the night.
Hiei raised an eyebrow. "What plan?"
Kurama glared at him through his lashes, before finally heaving a sigh. He threw himself onto the bed, back against the surface with his arms spread apart. "Why must Yusuke involved himself with all these trouble?"
Hiei snorted as he got up from his seat. "You think it's troublesome? Imagine my pain of knowing him for years."
Kurama casually let the reference about the Red String slide off of him and shrugged.
"He was a kid," Kurama said. "He gets into trouble. Yuki was like that as well."
"Yuki is your responsibility," Hiei said bluntly, "but Yusuke's not even under my care."
Kurama blinked at the ceiling, then lifted his head briefly to look at Hiei. "He's not?"
Hiei shook his head as he approached Kurama. "He's not. I think he is Genkai's."
A small smile curved Kurama's lips as he let his head fall back against the bed again. "Of course he is. Unpredictable yet steadfast. As expected from one of Lady Fate and Luck's."
Hiei scoffed as he came into Kurama's vision, blocking his view of the room's ceiling. He looked down on Kurama. "You speak as though it's a good thing."
"It keeps your life interesting, does it not?" Kurama commented as his eyes met Hiei. Their gaze locked and stayed.
"I suppose," Hiei said, his eyes never wavering from Kurama. There was a beat of silence, before Hiei slowly leaned down, filling Kurama's vision with just him. Blood drummed through Kurama's ears.
"Hiei," Kurama whispered, his voice a note husky, and Kurama longed to reach his hand into Hiei's hair. He didn't, not yet, wanting to see how Hiei would react.
Hiei swallowed, his adam's apple bobbing briefly, and a hand pressed down on the space beside Kurama's shoulder, bearing his weight.
Close. So close.
Kurama pushed himself up with his forearm, startling Hiei, and Kurama let out a small laugh as their heads nearly bump.
"Kiss me, Hiei," Kurama said, leaning forward. "Kiss me."
Hiei gazed at Kurama, before craning his head down to meet Kurama halfway for the long awaited kiss.
Their lips met perfectly, at the right angle with the just right amount of pressure. It was like two puzzles meeting back together. They had been separated for a long while, but their bodies never forgot and they would always fit. Seamlessly.
Hiei's hand was cradling Kurama's shoulder and his body pressed against Kurama. Kurama was sandwiched between the bed and Hiei, but rather than making him panic, the thought filled him with anticipation.
As Hiei's energy swirled gently in the air, it also filled him with some kind of illogical fear.
"Hiei," Kurama murmured against the other immortal's lips and the kiss was immediately broke off. Now Kurama saw how carefully Hiei was holding Kurama, how gently he was kissing him. Hiei didn't want to scare him off, didn't want to lose control over his energy.
Kurama found himself wishing the same thing because if Hiei did and if Kurama reacted with fear, Kurama didn't think their fragile relationship would ever recover from the new scar.
Kurama's lips quirked gently to a small smile as an idea came to him and mischievously, Kurama abruptly tugged Hiei down, making him lose his balance. The god of Underworld tumbled on top of Kurama.
"Kurama," Hiei said, sharp with surprise and a hint of careful caution.
"I know," Kurama said, bringing his arms around Hiei. Hiei tensed in his arms, but after a moment or so, he relaxed against Kurama's body. "We're not ready yet. One day we will be, but not now."
Hiei pushed himself up to look Kurama in the eye, and Kurama found himself missing the warmth Hiei's body emitted. Kurama didn't know what Hiei saw in Kurama's eyes, but Hiei nodded after a moment.
Hiei made a move to get off of Kurama.
Kurama's hand went to grip Hiei's wrist, stopping him. Hiei paused and looked at Kurama questioningly. "What is it?"
Kurama tugged Hiei back down and made him lie on the bed beside Kurama.
"We used to do this, didn't we?" Kurama asked, turning his head to face Hiei.
A hint of smile crossed Hiei's features as nostalgia drifted in his eyes. "Yeah," he replied, unconsciously turning his whole body to face Kurama. Kurama automatically followed the suit.
"I miss this," Kurama admitted as he leaned his head towards Hiei. His forehead gently bumped Hiei's as Kurama tucked his leg in.
Hiei chuckled softly. "Me tucking you in?" he asked, sweet laughter filling his eyes.
Kurama felt his face warmed. "That was a long time ago," Kurama hissed back softly, a pout hovering across his lips.
Hiei smiled at that familiar childish pout and brushed his thumb against it. Kurama's eyes fluttered close.
Hiei leaned forward and planted a kiss against Kurama's forehead. Kurama opened his eyes, revealing bright green. Some kind of disappointment lingered in them.
Hiei quirked an eyebrow. "I thought you missed this."
"Stop the teasing, Hiei," Kurama said a scowl. "You know what I want."
"You had no problem vocalizing that before," Hiei pointed out with the slightest smirk, tucking a strand of red hair behind Kurama's ear.
Annoyance flashed across Kurama's features, making Hiei's smirk widen.
"Kiss me," Kurama said and for a moment, this Kurama overlapped with a much younger Kurama demanding Hiei to kiss him for the first time. Determination filled both's green eyes, making them shine so brightly with life.
And just like what Hiei did back then, Hiei of today leaned forward, lips hovering teasingly over Kurama's for a bated moment.
"Gladly," he breathed, before he leaned forward to seal the kiss.
Kurama of back then was too inexperienced, too young to have known to what to do with his hands. He squeezed his eyes closed too tightly in anticipation, arms held firmly to his side like a tense soldier strung too tightly to be natural.
Hiei of back then had to gently coax Kurama's lips into moving against his, his fingers drumming gently with some kind of rhythm unheard by anyone but Hiei against Kurama's cheek.
Kurama of today slowly smiled as Hiei kissed him, hand moving behind Hiei's neck to gently hold him in place as Kurama kissed him back. His tongue brushed teasingly against Hiei's lips, teeth gently nipping and there was as much advancing as there was mischievous retreating.
Hiei of today let out a low annoyed noise at Kurama's playfulness, in spite of the smile that eventually spread across his face. Instead of guiding Kurama, Hiei let Kurama led and occasionally, he would take control as well.
They eventually parted, both parties breathing lightly and eyes shining brightly, so young and alive.
Kurama giggled a little as he looked meaningfully at Hiei's crotch.
Hiei scowled, raising a leg to nudge Kurama's in retaliation. Kurama moved his hand to block Hiei's knee, laughing.
"Would you like to take care of that?" Hiei growled rather menacingly, but Kurama grinned back at him, not feeling the slightest fear.
"No thank you," Kurama replied, eyes twinkling. Kurama deliberately shifted, thigh 'accidentally' jostling Hiei's legs.
Hiei glared and Kurama smiled back innocently at him. "I liked you better when you were a kid," Hiei growled, sitting up.
For the second time of the day, Kurama grasped Hiei's wrist. "Stay," Kurama said, looking earnestly up at Hiei.
Hiei paused. "Chu's going to speculate if I spend a night in your room."
Kurama shifted on the bed, shirt riding up just enough to reveal the pale skin beneath. "Since when did you care about that?" Kurama asked, tilting his head to the side.
"You wouldn't mind?" Hiei asked, eyes gazing rather resolutely at Kurama's eyes. "Your followers are going to bemoan about your lost of purity."
Kurama snorted rather inelegantly, and Hiei raised an eyebrow in mock surprise. "You can't lose something you don't have anymore, Hiei," Kurama replied. Kurama looked meaningfully at Hiei. "Although that would be thanks to you once again."
Now it was Hiei's turn to snort. "Please," Hiei said with the roll of his eyes, finally taking a seat on the bed, "you speak as though it was all my fault."
Kurama grinned up at Hiei, and his hand began to run up Hiei's forearm. "We both know that's not true."
"Exactly," Hiei said, flicking his finger against Kurama's forehead. A look of childish hurt crossed Kurama's face. "Stop touching my arm if you don't want me to do anything, you brat."
Kurama let go of Hiei's arm with a huff. "Fine," he said sulkily. "Must you call me a brat? You hadn't called me that in years."
A smirk crossed Hiei's face. "I don't even call Yusuke that anymore," Hiei said, watching in amusement as Kurama played along and feigned offended.
"I'm older than him, you realize," Kurama said, rolling so his stomach was against the bed. Kurama bit back a small noise at the pressure of his groin pressed against the bed and valiantly tried to ignore it. "What do you call him then?"
Hiei's smirk widened but continued their little banter since neither of them had any intention of taking the next step yet. His hand reached out to Kurama's long crimson hair, and Kurama had no idea whether to thank him for providing him a distraction or be annoyed at Hiei for being so close when Kurama was trying to control certain urges. But then again, Kurama was the one who told him to stay, wasn't he?
"Detective," Hiei answered Kurama, and Kurama blinked in genuine surprised.
"Detective?" Kurama echoed, curiosity coloring his words.
Hiei lay down on his side, facing Kurama with his hand still in the other immortal's hair. His smirk was tinted with fond amusement as he recalled what led him to call Yusuke 'Detective.' "Well," Hiei began and as Hiei talked, Kurama listened, attentive with a smile on his face and never once feeling jealous.