I do not own YYH. Usual disclaimers apply. Here is the second part to
Thorns. Hope you enjoy. Everything can be directed to midnyte_fox@yahoo.com
Please forgive any typos. I might have missed one or two. I don't know, but. It's a possibility. Have fun!
* * * * * * * * *
The night was warm, and a cool breeze whispered in through my open window. It was late spring, and I had taken to leaving the window open as soon as the weather had permitted it. In all truth, perhaps even a little earlier than had been practical. If it was for any other reason than to have better air circulation, who was to say? I certainly had no intention of disabusing anyone of the notion.
My hair was warm on the back of my neck, and I almost considered putting it up. I quickly changed my mind when I realized that Hiei could appear at any moment. I did not want to provide him with any cause to laugh at me. He would only tease me for a few moments, but I would see it in his smug smile for weeks.
Grumbling to myself, I looked down at the history book and papers in front of me. While I usually found ningen history a fascinating subject, I had no desire to write a report on the feudal era of Japan. I was too restless, and my attention kept wandering.
That it kept wandering, ever hopeful, to the open window was not something I was willing to admit, even to myself.
Deciding that I shouldn't force myself to work, I laid aside my pen and shoved my papers out of the way. Crossing my arms in front of me, I put my head down on my desk. The cool grain of the wood on my forehead had an oddly soothing effect, and I allowed my eyes to close. I sat like that, drifting in my mind, but not really thinking, for some time, before I heard the slight sound of feet hitting the floor.
I smiled. Hiei could move silently if he chose, and often did. He had seen me, and didn't want to startle. Sighing, I opened my eyes, sat up, and stretched languidly. No matter that my palms became warm and moist. I wiped them surreptitiously on my jeans. Even though Hiei's presence made my pulse race, I couldn't help but feel a little smug as I turned to face him. After all, I was on my own territory, and comfortable. Ningen items made Hiei unsure of himself, and it was a proclamation of friendship in and of itself that he even bothered to come into my room. Thus it was that I regarded him, secure in the fact that we were both a little uncomfortable, even if it was for completely different reasons.
I looked at him before speaking, my eyes scanning his body for any sign of injury. He often came to me after a fight, allowing me to practice my healing skills on him. When I didn't find anything wrong, I continued to look, scrutinizing him, allowing myself the rare pleasure of gazing at him uninterrupted. He, thankfully, took it as concern.
"Hn. I am not injured, Kurama. That is not why I am here." His surly tone was softened by the ease with which he stood. Normally he stood stiffly, hands shoved into invisible pockets beneath his cloak. Now he leaned against the windowsill, arms crossed in front of him casually. He looked straight ahead, and I regarded him in profile.
I frowned. "Is there anything wrong?" Hiei didn't usually stop by unless he wanted something. He couldn't possibly have come in just to be social.
"Hn." He looked around my bedroom, walking idly toward the bed. If I hadn't known better, I would have said he was dawdling, perhaps strolling. Not his usual swift pace. "I find myself growing tired of the ningens. They are so pathetically stupid that I get bored watching them. They make the same mistakes over and over again. They never learn. It's almost like they have no minds, no free will. No meaning."
I watched him sit on my bed, fingers toying with an edge of my blanket. His face was distant, and he had an almost wistful look in his eyes. I continued to watch him, waiting for him to speak. It was unusual for him to open up to me like this, and I didn't want to dispel his willing mood. When he didn't speak, I stayed silent as well, half loving and half dreading the tension that radiated off him in waves.
Finally, it got to me. I had to speak. "Hiei, what are you thinking about?"
He looked sharply at me. "Life. Death. Love. Hate. The inevitability that comes along with them. The reason behind existence."
I covered my confusion with curiosity. Hiei was not one to be random, let alone philosophical, and I found his words a little alarming. "What do you mean?"
He looked at me impatiently. "You're the one with all the answers. You tell me. Why is it that I feel unsettled every time I look at you?"
I blinked, surprised and bewildered at the direct question. Hiei stared at me, eyes holding all the pain of a thousand years torment. "I.Uh.What do you mean?" For once, my silver tongue turned to lead. I cursed my inability to respond with some semblance of wisdom. Thinking quickly, I sought for some piece of inspiration. My mind refused to cooperate. I cringed when I couldn't think of anything else to say.
"Never mind." Hiei's face became shuttered once again, the wistful look fading from his eyes. I felt the loss of his openness like a knife in my chest. I didn't want him to leave, but I couldn't bring myself to ask him to stay. Fear engulfed me, and clogged my throat.
He stood up, smoothing the blanket on my bed back down. With a single look over his shoulder, he started toward the window. And I, in all my knowledge and wisdom, was too surprised and rooted to the spot to do anything more than watch him go.
Please forgive any typos. I might have missed one or two. I don't know, but. It's a possibility. Have fun!
* * * * * * * * *
The night was warm, and a cool breeze whispered in through my open window. It was late spring, and I had taken to leaving the window open as soon as the weather had permitted it. In all truth, perhaps even a little earlier than had been practical. If it was for any other reason than to have better air circulation, who was to say? I certainly had no intention of disabusing anyone of the notion.
My hair was warm on the back of my neck, and I almost considered putting it up. I quickly changed my mind when I realized that Hiei could appear at any moment. I did not want to provide him with any cause to laugh at me. He would only tease me for a few moments, but I would see it in his smug smile for weeks.
Grumbling to myself, I looked down at the history book and papers in front of me. While I usually found ningen history a fascinating subject, I had no desire to write a report on the feudal era of Japan. I was too restless, and my attention kept wandering.
That it kept wandering, ever hopeful, to the open window was not something I was willing to admit, even to myself.
Deciding that I shouldn't force myself to work, I laid aside my pen and shoved my papers out of the way. Crossing my arms in front of me, I put my head down on my desk. The cool grain of the wood on my forehead had an oddly soothing effect, and I allowed my eyes to close. I sat like that, drifting in my mind, but not really thinking, for some time, before I heard the slight sound of feet hitting the floor.
I smiled. Hiei could move silently if he chose, and often did. He had seen me, and didn't want to startle. Sighing, I opened my eyes, sat up, and stretched languidly. No matter that my palms became warm and moist. I wiped them surreptitiously on my jeans. Even though Hiei's presence made my pulse race, I couldn't help but feel a little smug as I turned to face him. After all, I was on my own territory, and comfortable. Ningen items made Hiei unsure of himself, and it was a proclamation of friendship in and of itself that he even bothered to come into my room. Thus it was that I regarded him, secure in the fact that we were both a little uncomfortable, even if it was for completely different reasons.
I looked at him before speaking, my eyes scanning his body for any sign of injury. He often came to me after a fight, allowing me to practice my healing skills on him. When I didn't find anything wrong, I continued to look, scrutinizing him, allowing myself the rare pleasure of gazing at him uninterrupted. He, thankfully, took it as concern.
"Hn. I am not injured, Kurama. That is not why I am here." His surly tone was softened by the ease with which he stood. Normally he stood stiffly, hands shoved into invisible pockets beneath his cloak. Now he leaned against the windowsill, arms crossed in front of him casually. He looked straight ahead, and I regarded him in profile.
I frowned. "Is there anything wrong?" Hiei didn't usually stop by unless he wanted something. He couldn't possibly have come in just to be social.
"Hn." He looked around my bedroom, walking idly toward the bed. If I hadn't known better, I would have said he was dawdling, perhaps strolling. Not his usual swift pace. "I find myself growing tired of the ningens. They are so pathetically stupid that I get bored watching them. They make the same mistakes over and over again. They never learn. It's almost like they have no minds, no free will. No meaning."
I watched him sit on my bed, fingers toying with an edge of my blanket. His face was distant, and he had an almost wistful look in his eyes. I continued to watch him, waiting for him to speak. It was unusual for him to open up to me like this, and I didn't want to dispel his willing mood. When he didn't speak, I stayed silent as well, half loving and half dreading the tension that radiated off him in waves.
Finally, it got to me. I had to speak. "Hiei, what are you thinking about?"
He looked sharply at me. "Life. Death. Love. Hate. The inevitability that comes along with them. The reason behind existence."
I covered my confusion with curiosity. Hiei was not one to be random, let alone philosophical, and I found his words a little alarming. "What do you mean?"
He looked at me impatiently. "You're the one with all the answers. You tell me. Why is it that I feel unsettled every time I look at you?"
I blinked, surprised and bewildered at the direct question. Hiei stared at me, eyes holding all the pain of a thousand years torment. "I.Uh.What do you mean?" For once, my silver tongue turned to lead. I cursed my inability to respond with some semblance of wisdom. Thinking quickly, I sought for some piece of inspiration. My mind refused to cooperate. I cringed when I couldn't think of anything else to say.
"Never mind." Hiei's face became shuttered once again, the wistful look fading from his eyes. I felt the loss of his openness like a knife in my chest. I didn't want him to leave, but I couldn't bring myself to ask him to stay. Fear engulfed me, and clogged my throat.
He stood up, smoothing the blanket on my bed back down. With a single look over his shoulder, he started toward the window. And I, in all my knowledge and wisdom, was too surprised and rooted to the spot to do anything more than watch him go.