::sniff, sniff:: Last chapter, guys! But don't be sad. It's really kawaii! I pwomise!
Disclaimer for 7&8 : I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho, oh no!
8
Kurama sat his bag down by the front door, gazing out of the large window of the dining room. He turned back towards the kitchen, where Shiori was busy packing something away for him. Hiei stood next to him, also looking out the window. He glanced up at Kurama.
"You're not ready to go back, are you?" he asked.
"I don't want to leave, but I know I must," Kurama said. Though he didn't feel as out of it as he had the night before, Kurama was exhausted all over. As much as he liked it at his mother's house, he couldn't wait to go back home and rest a little more before going back to work. Truthfully, he was anxious about getting back to work. The action the previous night had him wanting to get back into the swing of things.
He and Hiei had talked quite a bit that night after everyone had left and all the housework was done. Shiori went to bed soon after Kurama and her had their talk, and when Kurama came back in the room, Hiei was waiting for him, ready to hear all of what Kurama wanted to tell him.
A lot of what Kurama talked about focused on his feelings about being in the ningenkai versus being in the makai. Hiei was comforting to him while he spoke, and Kurama was sure that he listened to every word. Kurama looked down at Hiei. Hiei looked a little anxious to get out as well. Shiori came from the kitchen quickly.
"Here we are..." she said, handing Kurama a small box. "Just a little something for if you get hungry," she said. She smiled at him. "I'm going to miss you Shuuichi..." she said, putting her arms around him.
"Don't forget to write me," he said. "I'll call you every week or so." Shiori nodded, patting him on the back before letting him go. Kurama picked up all of his things, getting himself situated before opening the door. "Goodbye, okaasan."
"Oh, don't say goodbye, Shuuichi," she said, reaching up to kiss his cheek. "We'll see each other soon." Kurama smiled at her.
"Of course," he said. He stepped out onto the porch. Hiei went to follow him but Shiori stopped him.
"I'll see you soon, too, Hiei," she said, leaning down to hug him. Hiei shot Kurama a confused look. Kurama smiled at him. "Take care of my boy for me in the meantime." Shiori stood up straight, watching the two walk down the porch before closing the door. Kurama looked up at the house one last time, seeing her standing in the window. He waved to her and she waved back, placing her hand over her mouth and pulling away from the window quickly.
"Why do ningens always cry?' Hiei asked as they began to walk away. "It's not like you're dying or anything." Kurama shook his head slightly, looking down at him.
"It's just how we are. You don't know how hard I'm fighting back tears right now."
"Well, suck it up, big boy," Hiei said. Kurama's face flinched a little. "Go ahead and laugh, what are you holding it in for?" Hiei asked.
"You'll be the death of me," Kurama said. He handed Hiei the lunch tin. "I can't believe she still has that," he said. "I'm almost afraid to eat out of it, it's so old." Hiei looked it over.
"Look's alright to me." Kurama nodded.
"I'm sure she's taken great care of it. I used to take that to school with me before I switched to paper bags. I'd figured it as good as gone." Hiei opened it.
"Mmm, sandwiches," he said, licking his lips.
"Later," Kurama said. Hiei closed it and handed it back to Kurama. They walked in silence the rest of the way to the train station. Hiei zipped up quickly to the platform to avoid having to go through the same process Kurama did. He was waiting near the train when Kurama came up the stairs.
"Alright, kitsune. I'll see you at home," he said.
"Ride with me...please?" Kurama asked. Hiei looked at Kurama as if he was nuts.
"I'm not stepping foot inside that thing, not for nothing," he said. Kurama pouted a little.
"It's such a long ride and...I always miss you when I'm on the train..."
"You're never on the train, what are you talking about?" Hiei asked. Kurama pouted a little more.
"Guess I'll just have to ride alone....without you..." Hiei folded his arms. "Eating the sandwiches..." Hiei's eyebrows shot up.
"Those are for me, too," he said.
"Not if you don't ride the rain with me..." Kurama said, going towards the door. "But if you'd rather run and miss out on the sandwiches, then I understand." Hiei looked as if he was fighting a serious battle with himself on whether or not he should join Kurama on the train. Kurama took another step towards the door.
"Fine," Hiei conceded. Kurama smiled at him.
"Great," he said. Hiei followed him on board. It was much warmer inside the train and it was not quite full yet. Kurama went towards the back of the train, choosing the pair of seats that were partially secluded. Hiei looked around the train anxiously.
"You'll be fine, Hiei," Kurama assured him. "Just have a seat here." Hiei sat down on the aisle seat, still glancing around the train. Kurama set his things beneath the train seat and sat down next to Hiei. He yawned as he looked out the window. Hiei sighed.
"How much longer?" he asked.
"Try not to think about," Kurama said. He laid down, placing his head on Hiei's lap. "I hope you don't mind," he said.
"You look uncomfortable," he said. Kurama sat up and took off his coat. He turned around on the seat so that when he laid down again, he was facing Hiei. Hiei pulled him up and cupped him in his arms. Kurama curled his legs up in the seat next to Hiei and placed his head on Hiei's chest. He draped himself in his coat and snuggled underneath it. He yawned again.
"If I'm still asleep when we enter the city, give me a shake," he said. Hiei nodded and looked out the window. Kurama slept during the majority of the ride, waking up when there were two stops away from their stop. He sat up, a little surprised. Hiei looked at him. "Hiei," Kurama said. "I told you to wake me."
"You didn't look like you were ready to wake up," Hiei said. "So I didn't. And besides...I know what the station looks like."
"By the time I got up and situated, the train would be pulling out of the station," Kurama said, putting on his coat. Hiei folded his arms and looked away. Kurama smiled. "Thanks, though," he said. He reached under the seat and got his bags and things. He stretched as he stood up. The train pulled to a stop. Kurama made his way through the crowd of people with Hiei following him. He stood near the door when the train began again.
"What's going happen when you get home?" Hiei asked.
"I think I'm going to take a nice relaxing bath...then sleep again. I'll start getting things together tomorrow." Hiei nodded. They left the train at the next stop. Kurama led Hiei down the steps and they began to walk to Kurama's apartment. Inside, Kurama dropped all his bags near the door and breathed in deep.
"Ah!" he said. "I'm home again..." Hiei closed the door behind them.
"Smells kinda stale," he said, plopping down on the couch. Kurama took off his coat and sat it on the couch next to Hiei.
"It's a bit chilly in here," he said, going over to his phone. He checked his messages, of which there weren't many. Several people had called about bills, other about potential cases. Kurama wrote down a few numbers and went into the kitchen. He poured himself a glass of juice, peeking into his bedroom. He sighed.
"It feels so good to be home again," he said, looking around. He managed to spiffy the place up a bit before he left so he wouldn't have to worry about it being messy when he returned home. But, a part of him wished that he had have left it dirty. Seeing things a little out of order calmed him down when he was in certain moods.
Standing there, Kurama felt tired again. Thinking about getting back to work lifted his spirits, but he couldn't avoid the fact that he wanted to relax a little first. He was glad that whatever had happened with Karasu was over and that Hiei would always be there for him. He was happy that he had visited his mother and that he got to see his friends again.
He expected to his social life to be a little more active because of this, and now that Shiori knew about Hiei and he, he wouldn't have to worry about lying to her anymore. But, thinking about that, he wasn't quite sure how he would fill up the photo album. Hiei wasn't one to take pictures and just when Kurama thought he had finally snapped one of him, when they were developed, Hiei was no where to be seen. Hiei got up from the couch.
"Kitsune?"
"Yes, Hiei?" Hiei stuck his hands in his pockets as he went over to Kurama.
"Watching you today was different from before," he said, stopping next to him. He took Kurama's juice and gulped it, handing it back to him. "Never really thought I'd like holding people, but I kinda do. Do you think I could hold you a little more...and watch some TV?" Kurama smiled.
"Of course," he said. Kurama went over to the television and turned it on. Hiei sat down on the couch, reaching for Kurama. Kurama put his cup on the coffee table and laid down next to Hiei. Hiei cupped him in his arms again. Hiei wasn't as tense as he used to be when he held Kurama. Kurama shivered, thinking about how perfect of a way this was for him to relax.
"You're so warm..." he said. Hiei looked down at him, his expression softening.
"Good..." he said. He reached a hand up close to Kurama's hair, but he hesitated.
"Please do..." Kurama said, closing his eyes and pressing his face into Hiei's chest. Hiei lightly touched Kurama's hair, letting his fingers barely graze the soft mass. Kurama sighed. Hiei's eyes widened, and he brought his hand through again, this time a little more roughly. Kurama didn't seem to be bothered by it. He lowered his head, kissing Kurama on the forehead.
"-Shiawase desu ka-?" Hiei asked him.
"Hai..." Kurama answered, sighing again.
"Good."
-Are you happy?-
Aww! It's over, it's over! But it was lots of fun to write. I hope you guys enjoyed it as much as I did. What's that? You didn't? Well, tell me why! Oh...you did enjoy it? Well...tell me why! I just gotta know. Please review to calm my curiosity!
J3