Inner Needs
CHAPTER FIVE: MINE
Hiei yawned, stretching his bandaged arm over his head. His back gave way with a pleasurable crack. He ran a hand through his hair, ruffling the black locks in a way that no one else would ever get away with. When his eyes cracked open the fire demon realized that he wasn't perched in a tree but curled up neatly on Kurama's windowsill.
That was when everything came crashing back. The jewel, Kurama's half morph, the pain the fox had been in the night before. Hiei leapt from the windowsill, landing a few feet from Kurama's bed. The kitsune was still out, but the pain had melted from his features. The fire demon sighed when he realized that Kurama still had his large silver fox ears and a soft lump under the covers showed that he also had the tail.
Hiei groaned as he sat gently on the end of the fox's bed. How was he going to explain to anyone about Kurama's current condition? Sure he could throw him to the wolves and allow him to fend for himself, but the fire demon doubted he'd last more then five minutes in the shape he was in. So what was he going to do? The minute he made a move for that jewel shard, Youko would be on him trying to tear him to shreds. But if he left it here it was Kurama would be shredded.
The only answer was to find that damn ningen and Halfling and have them come retrieve their lost prize. If that dumb half breed had managed to gather all the shards in the past, then recapturing this one piece shouldn't be hard.
There in lied the problem. He was too afraid to leave the damn kitsune alone for too long. Who knew what the jewel could do to him in the time it took him find the jewel's previous owners. He slammed his hand into the mattress with an angry cry.
"H-Hiei?"
Hiei jumped when he heard the soft voice drift up from the head of the bed. He looked over to spot Kurama peering back at him with sleep hazed eyes. The kitsune tried to rub the sleep out of his emerald orbs with a balled fist. His large ears drooped to the sides as he yawned, revealing his stubby but sharp fangs. He looked like a young child slowly rising from a deep sleep. Hiei winced when he saw the slight bruise on Kurama's temple.
"Sorry if I woke you." The fire demon raised his brows when he realized how many times he had apologized to the fox in the past two days. "How's your head?"
Kurama gingerly rubbed his temples and chuckled lightly. Most of the physical pain that had seared through him the other night was gone. But now a dull headache throbbed, pulsing harsher in the spot where Hiei had hit him.
"It's felt better." He shrugged. "Nothing a warm shower won't cure. But I thank you because you did what I asked you to. I'm sorry if I put you in an awkward position."
"Hn." Hiei shrugged, glad to be back to his more normal conversation. "You're going to take a shower?"
"Yeah," Kurama crawled out of bed and rose to shaky legs. "I reek of sweat and I feel dirty."
When he noticed his tail his green eyes widened slightly in shock. He whirled around in small circle, looking surprisingly like a dog chasing its own tail. His hands shot to the top of his head as he ran thin fingers over the silvery fur of his ears. He pulled at a strand of his own hair, examining the color.
"I'm half and half?" He asked more of himself then Hiei. But the fire demon still shrugged.
"I don't understand it either." Hiei answered. "Maybe you just need to relax. Try that shower."
Kurama nodded and headed towards the bathroom. He turned to the bathtub and turned the water on before pulling the tab and switching the water flow to the over head nozzle. Quickly shedding his clothing he stepped into the warm spray of water.
His ears immediately began flicking back and forth, trying to rid their fur of the damp droplets. He continued to shake his head in a desperate attempt to keep the liquid from getting inside his ears. The movements caused his wet tail to cling to the back of his legs like a second skin. He groaned as he pulled the damp fur from his skin.
Giving up, Kurama crawled out of the shower and wrapped a towel around his waist. Suddenly a canine instinct came over him and he shook from head to toe, spraying droplets all over his bathroom. With a low growl, he began to get dressed quickly. This whole thing was going to take some getting used to. He hadn't had to deal with modern inventions in his kitsune form yet.
He let out another growl as another problem came up. The back of his pants had no hole for his tail. He tried to stick the fuzzy lump in his pants but it left an uncomfortable bump. Next he tried to let the tail hang out over the top of his waist band but that was even more uncomfortable. Finally he just ripped the pants off and using his new fangs ripped a hole in the seat of pants. Slipping them back on, he let out a sigh of relief when his tail slipped easily through the hole. He flipped it back and forth easily, testing his new invention.
Opening the door he spotted Hiei sitting cross-legged on his bed. The fire demon was busy tending to his katana, gently sharpening then polishing the blade. Once sensing the kitsune's presence, he lifted his blood red eyes. He had to stifle the chuckle that tried to escape him after spotting the silver tail that poked out of the back of Kurama's jeans.
"That's going to be hard to explain." He nodded towards the furry appendage. "At least you can hide the ears under a hat or something."
Kurama pouted as he pulled a rarely used baseball cap from one of his bedposts. As soon as it was placed over his ears sounds became muffled. He scratched at his ears as the fabric folded them against his head, causing them to itch greatly. This was going to be annoying.
"I know plenty of ways to hide my tail." He grumped at the fire demon as he sheathed his katana.
"Does that mean you have plans to go out?" Hiei asked, crossing his legs and leaning back against the pillows.
Kurama raised a thin brow, both amused and confused by Hiei's questions. The short fire demon never cared if he had plans. Come to think off it, the night before seemed almost a dream. Hiei had been so gentle, so caring. It wasn't the black haired demon that Kurama had come to know and consider a friend. But he was thankful for it none the less. He tossed the idea of thanking him around before dropping on the thought that Hiei enjoyed a good banter more then words that could prove to be empty.
"If I did would you care to join me?" He offered the bait and waited patiently for Hiei to take it.
The fire demon fell for it hook, line, and sinker. His red eyes widened for a second before narrowing and turning away from the kitsune's smirking face.
"Hn," He responded gruffly. "I have no intentions of filling my day with silly ningen entertainment."
Kurama finally let go of the laughter that he had been holding in. There was the Hiei they all knew and loved. Said fire demon was watching with wide confused eyes. Kurama doubled over, the hat falling off showing his ears that were pressed against his head. Seeing this panic flared up in Hiei and he launched off the bed.
"Fox!" He cried out. "Are you okay? What's wrong?"
Kurama made a choking sound and Hiei saw water tracking down the fox's cheeks. Worry ate away at him as he tried to get a response out of the red head. His mind was wrapping around an unfamiliar mantra of 'let him be all right, let him be all right'. He never cared about anyone ever, never mind caring about someone this much in one day.
Finally the fox flopped down on his backside as laughter peeled out of him. Hiei snapped back letting out a surprised sound of his own. The fox was laughing? At him? He let out a low growl and turned away from the snickering red head.
"I'm sorry Hiei." Kurama forced out in-between laughs. "I-it's just no matter what I say, if it has to do with the human world you automatically hate it."
"Hn." Was the fire demon's only response as leapt back over the windowsill and settled down with back against the wall. He closed his almond eyes and turned his face towards the light breeze that blew in the open window.
"Oh come on." Kurama pouted from his spot on the floor. "If it were me you'd laugh."
Hiei snorted. "I don't laugh."
Kurama was about to comment when a familiar scent rose to meet him. He saw Hiei stiffen and knew that he had sensed the new arrival of demon of power. He started to stand on the windowsill, searching the surroundings. Suddenly a red blur slammed into the fire demon, knocking him to the floor. Hiei let out a tiny noise as air quickly fled his lungs. He looked up see a demon that looked surprisingly like Youko Kurama leaning over him, fangs bared.
"Who the hell are you?" The demon demanded, hand drifting to the sword that was tied at his waist.
"I could ask the same of you." Hiei gave a slight grin before bucking his hips quickly, sending the dog demon tumbling to the other side of the room. He quickly pulled his katana from his side and leveled the tip in the demon's face. "Why are you here?"
"I followed the scent and that stupid kitsune should be here!" The dog demon snapped back. "Not some sword wielding midget!"
Hiei's face darkened. Nobody called him a midget and lived to tell others. His fingers tightened on the hilt of his katana and the muscles rippled underneath the bandage. He pulled back, preparing to strike when the fox suddenly came to life on the other side of the room.
"Hiei no!" Kurama cried, lunging towards the angered demon. "Don't kill Inu Yasha!"
The dog demon, Inu Yasha made a low sound in his throat and jerked his gaze away from the fuming fire demon. His golden eyes were wide as pointed a clawed finger at Kurama's long time friend.
"Shorty is the demon you though I'd get along with?" He yelped.
"Keep going with the short jokes," Hiei threatened, "And I'll-"
"Inu Yasha! Don't hurt Kurama's little brother!"
Hiei felt something snap inside as he turned on the new voice. In the doorway stood a young girl with long black hair and large round brown eyes. His grip loosened on the hilt of his katana. He couldn't kill an innocent ningen girl. Even if she was asking for it.
"But Kagome he's a-" Inu Yasha started to object but Kagome leaned over him with a look in his eyes that even caused Hiei to shiver. The girl then turned to Kurama and Hiei who backed over closer to his friend for safety reasons. She titled her head to the side while she looked Hiei up and down.
"Your brother doesn't look that young, Kurama." Kagome mused, lowering herself to look into Hiei's blood red eyes. "But he sure is short. And he doesn't look anything like you."
Hiei growled lightly and took a step towards the girl. His knuckles turned white as gripped his katana with all the frustration that filtered through him at the moment. Inu Yasha saw this and lunged across the room, claws aimed at Hiei's throat. Both Kagome and Kurama saw it but Kurama shrugged. Hiei could defend himself. But obviously Kagome didn't feel the same reassurance towards the small fire demon. Before Inu Yasha's claws could reach Hiei's throat or Hiei's katana Inu Yasha's, the word slipped out.
"Sit Boy."
The beads glowed brightly and pulled down quickly. Inu Yasha let out a yelp as he slammed face first into Kurama's carpet. Upon seeing this, Hiei burst out into gales of pleased laughter. Kurama jerked back and looked at his friend. Hiei was laughing?
"Stupid halfling." The fire demon chuckled. "Being controlled in such a disrespecting way by a ningen."
Inu Yasha pulled his face up off the floor and growled at the youkai. "Keep it up half pint." The dog demon growled. "Pretty soon neither this damn necklace nor Kagome will stop me from kicking your ass!"
Hiei suddenly froze. Kagome…Inu Yasha? Those names, where had he heard those names? Glancing over at Kurama, he spotted his tail. A flash ran through him, setting off a light in his head. Koenma's words played over in his head.
"A girl named Kagome was reborn with the power to watch over the gem… She was teamed up with a half demon named Inu Yasha to collect them."
Hiei leapt at Kagome, immediately noticing the large half circle jewel hanging from a chain around her neck. It was made of the same pink/purple glass as the shard hidden deep in Kurama's drawer. He wanted to make a lunge for the shard, shove it into the baka ningen's hand and push her out the door and warn them never to return. But another part of him feared what would happened to Kurama's body if they moved too quickly and ripped away the jewel that seemed to have become a part of him.
Both ningen and hanyou became aware of Hiei's close inspection of Kagome at the same instant. Kagome gasped and pulled back while Inu Yasha crouched into a low sitting position and growled in a protective manor. Noticing what they were all worked up about, Hiei jerked back.
"You're the ones Koenma told me about." Hiei tried quickly to cover for what appeared to have been infatuation. Like he'd ever fall for a stupid ningen.
"Koenma?" Kagome cocked her head to the side, a clear sign that she was utterly confused. "Who's he?"
"Some stupid toddler who rules over spirit world and has made my life a living hell because of one damn mistake." Hiei mumbled under his breath so that only Kurama and Inu Yasha's sensitive ears could pick up the words.
"Hiei," Kurama scolded lightly. "We got a lenient punishment. Koenma could have had us killed or thrown in jail for a thousand years."
"Hn." Hiei crossed his arms and turned away from the kitsune. "Having to deal with that baka ningen Kuwabara is worse then prison and I'd rather enjoy the silence that would come with death!"
Kurama rolled his eyes and finally turned his attention back on the two that had somehow found and invaded his house. He was still thankful that his mother had taken up work on Saturday mornings. Inu Yasha regarded him with a cold indifference while Kagome smiled brightly.
"What brings you two here?" He asked politely. "I figured after the way Inu Yasha reacted yesterday that I would never see the two of you again."
Inu Yasha grunted before crossing his arms and turning away. Hiei rolled his eyes as he watched the immature acts performed by the Halfling. He was almost worse then a full-blooded ningen.
"Well, this will sound weird, but we had a different reason to approach you in the park the other day." Kagome scuffed the ground lightly. "You see, I have an ancient mission to protect this jewel called the Shikon no Tama that was reborn in my body and I travel back in time while Inu Yasha travels forward. We collect the shards of the jewel that I accidentally shattered while trying to save the whole thing. And the other day my cat some how got the jar and carried a shard somewhere else and I felt its presence on you the other day. So if you do have it could you please return it?"
All three demons blinked after Kagome rushed through her speech. Hiei gave Kurama a curious glance before whispering, "Did she breathe once during that speech?"
Inu Yasha made a noise in the back of his throat. "Feh, she always talks that fast. You get used to it." He quickly turned fierce golden eyes on Kurama. "And you heard her fox! Do you have the rotten jewel shard or what?"
Kurama nodded slowly. "I found it in the park the other day." He shrugged towards his desk. "It's in the top drawer there."
Kagome turned to retrieve their lost prize when Hiei sputtered to life. That stupid fox, had he forgotten about last night already? Or maybe he didn't remember or know that it was the jewel that was causing all his problems. Seeing Kagome reaching for the drawer suddenly filled Hiei with a horrid sense of foreboding.
"Wait!" He tried to launch himself at the desk but Inu Yasha caught him in mid air. "Let go! You don't understand what will happen when you open that drawer!"
"Sure we do." The dog demon scoffed. "Kagome will take the jewel and put it back with the others."
"NO!" Hiei screamed, trying to wrestle away from the taller demon. "That damn thing has some kind of hold on Kurama. When you open the drawer he'll be-"
Inu Yasha tightened his grip on Hiei, a low growl rumbling up from his throat. He put his face down close to the fire demon's.
"It seems you are the one who wishes to keep it badly." He quipped.
Hiei's eyes widened with horror when he heard that. He didn't want the damn jewel. He just wanted to protect the only creature in all the three worlds he could call a friend.
"What?" He sputtered. "I don't want the damn thing! I'd love for you to take it, but it hurts him. I don't know why but that fucking piece of broken jewelry tears him apart from the inside!"
Inu Yasha turned to Kurama who still stood in the same place. His emerald eyes blinked slowly as he digested Hiei's warning. But other than that he seemed perfectly normal.
"I don't see a problem." Kagome suddenly spoke up and then held the shard up in front of her face. "It's right here and he seems fine."
Suddenly the jewel burst with a bright pink light, drowning out the whole room. Inu Yasha finally let go of Hiei so the two of them could shield their eyes from the offending light. Hiei was vaguely aware of hearing a pained cry in the distance. His mind began racing. Was that Kurama or one of the others? He couldn't place it.
Finally the light died down and the fire demon frantically searched the room for the kitsune. He spotted him on his hands and knees, panting and trembling. Kagome was staring at the jewel shard as though she had never seen anything like it before.
"Kurama!" Hiei yelped, jumping to his friend's side. "Are you all right?"
The fox continued to tremble, shivers running up and down his spine. Pained whimpers escaped him as his ears lay flattened against his head. The tips of his red hair were beginning to fade to shimmering silver. Horror rushed through Hiei as he turned to the stunned ningen and dog demon.
"Get that fucking thing out of here!" He screamed, but when they only stared at him he added in a louder voice. "NOW!"
They spurred to life, Inu Yasha diving out the window and Kagome running through the door and slamming it behind her. Hiei let out a quick breath and moved to help his friend, stopping short when he realized that something was not right.
Kurama had pulled away, crouching away from Hiei. His emerald eyes were narrowed and ears still flat. But this time it wasn't in pain, it was in anger. His lips pulled back from his teeth in snarl.
"Kurama?" Hiei voiced his question. "What's wrong with you?"
"Mine." The angered kitsune answered. "It's mine."
Hiei pulled back slightly, fearing the answer he knew. He reached for his katana, fully prepared to knock the fox out again if needed. But Kurama flew into action. He slammed past Hiei, knocking the fire demon backwards. In an instant he was on the window sill, growling low in his throat. He turned fiery eyes back on Hiei.
"That jewel is mine." He hissed before leaping out the window.
Hiei let out a startled gasp and jumped at the open window. He was just able to catch a glimpse of Kurama's form melting away into the forest. His heart plummeted to the pit of his stomach as one word escaped him.
"Shit."
Next installment complete!! I don't know how my fast my next updates will be because I've got a lot of studying to do for my college midterms. I'm heading back to Vermont tomorrow and then I have studying and exams for the next two weeks before I'm off for a month and half for Christmas (I love the length of college Christmas Break!! n.n WOO!!)
Any way, it seems a lot of people want to know about pairings in this story. Well I'm going on record saying that there will be NO pairings in this story. It's not that I dislike pairings, I just think they would take away from the plot of this particular story. ((Hiei's worried about Kurama cause he views him as his only friend))
But I will say that I am a huge fan of Hiei/Kurama. I adore that couple and actually have a story with that pairing in the works. Once I get the plot and story line down pat I'll start on the first chapter. And once I get the first chapter done I'm going to switch on and off with these two. That means one chapter of this followed by one chapter of that, and then back to this.
And I'm still looking for fan fiction and fan art for my website. ((I accept Yaoi as can be noted because of my previous statement)) So please, if you have fan art, fan fiction that relates to either Hiei, Kurama, or Inu Yasha, e-mail and I'll give you my sites guide lines ((they aren't hard to follow at all!!))
Now please review!! Thank you!!!