Charm of the Forbidden

By: Hakai

Disclaimer: I [Hakai] don't own anything Yuu Yuu Hakusho related. They belong to their respectful owners. Beware bad writing skills. The song is "Kuchibue ga Kikoeru" sung by Hiyama Nobuyuki [Hiei's VA ^_~]

Chap. 2: Kowareta Bara [Broken Rose]

//The rose speaks of love silently, in a language known only to the heart//

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Kurama, Shuuichi Minamino, pushed his chair back as he stood up. The past week's assignment had been to translate a song into English. Nearly everyone in his class eagerly awaited to hear him. With a slight cough, he began reading:

I can hear a whistling farther than yesterday

I collect the scattered pieces

I hold them tightly in my right hand, and softly close my eyes

Knife-like moonlight rains down

On a night that freezes even the horizon

Alone in that wilderness, hugging my knee

I strain to hear the song of the wind

//He hadn't seen nor heard from Hiei. Hadn't even sensed his youki in a week. Where had he gone? What was he doing now? Was he thinking about him at all? Most likely not.//

Those who do not know a sleepless night

Cannot become strong; that is the rule

//Since then, every night had been sleepless. Did that make him strong? Somehow he didn't think so. Why couldn't he sleep? Tossing and turning all night. Maybe ignorance really is bliss. If he hadn't confessed to him, hadn't gone on a whim, waited patiently like he should have, maybe *then* he'd have been sleeping easier. Sleeping peacefully with the hopes of seeing his beloved the next day. Yes, he'd have been sleeping easier. Perhaps even sleeping with a special someone. He gave a pitiful half-smile. Not likely, not likely at all.//

I can hear whistling farther than the stars and the skies

It's the words of someone's prayer

I hold them tightly in my right hand, and softly close my eyes

//His heart seemed far away. Probably just as far as his youkai friend. He doubted he could hold onto any of the good times they'd had together. It was as though Hiei was slipping from his memory. His broken heart's sad attempt to dissolve his pain.//

A thing that's even sadder than loneliness

Is not realizing that loneliness

No matter how freezing the night, under the earth

Warmth is hidden

Rather than being a bird that is trapped in a cage

I would become a nameless stone

//Loneliness… he knew he was lonely. Had figured that out the night after, when Hiei hadn't shown up at his window. Warmth under the freezing night? Somehow trying to be happy just made him even more miserable. Trapped? He'd rather be trapped than some nameless stone to be kicked around. Who'd name their stones anyway?//

I can hear a whistling farther than yesterday

I collect the scattered pieces

And holding them tight in my right hand, I softly close my eyes

I can hear whistling from a distant yesterday

It's the words of someone's prayer

And holding them tight in my right hand, I softly close my eyes

Holding them tight in my right hand, I softly close my eyes

Kurama took a deep breath and sat back down. There was a pause of awe before the class and professor applauded him. He regretted picking that song now. He'd picked it long ago, and had been too distraught about recent events to find another. Somehow that song made him think too much about a certain spiky haired demon. Sung by Hiyama Nobuyuki, just some random voice actor who was a pretty good singer. Why had that song seemed to… hit so close to home? He sighed. He just wanted to go home. Go home and wallow like he'd been doing.

//Give it up already.// The youko said //You didn't get him, so what? That can either make the chase more exciting, or leave an opening for others. There are plenty of 'fish' in the sea. Or demons in the Makai.// Kurama sighed again. No. He wanted that demon fish. The one that went by the name of 'Hiei'. And if that fish didn't want to take the bait, Kurama would just have to reel in his fishing pole, pack up his gear, and head home. He wasn't about to force his feelings upon the poor koorime. He'd pushed Hiei to the edge already. No use casting his line out once more.

"I just want him to be happy. Even if I'm not a part of that happiness." Kurama murmured more for his own assurance than anything else. //You know that's a load of bullshit. Sure, you want him to be happy. Happy with YOU that is!// He grimaced as his weary legs brought him into one of his favorite restaurant. //Fine! You can get him in your own 'human' way. Just so long as you get him. You hear me?! That little fire demon's ass is mine!// The red-head groaned as he started on the soup he'd ordered. Sometimes the youko was so lustfully selfish. But at least he, unlike his human side, was decisive. He knew what he wanted and would go through any means to get it. Kurama opened up his science book in a vain attempt to block out the silver youko's voice.

Just when he thought the youko had finally shut up, he heard a rapping at the window next to his table. He looked up from his studies to see Yuusuke pressed up against the pane. Kurama gave a meek smile as his black-haired friend rushed around to the door.

"Yo Kurama!" Yuusuke greeted taking the seat across the redhead. "So how'd it go with…" he lowered his voice significantly. "Hiei."

The slight smile Kurama had attempted vanished. Apparently Yuusuke noticed this because his smiling and teasing came to a sudden halt. "What… happened?" he asked cautiously.

Kurama sighed as he attempted to tell him his story. And he proudly did this all without shedding a tear, almost.

"So that's it, eh?" Yuusuke whispered shaking his head. "I'm really sorry, Kurama. I didn't mean for it to end up like this."

The plant wielder shook his head. "It's not your fault. Don't worry about it. It was bound to happen. Couldn't be helped even if I'd waited. In fact, better sooner than later, right?" Kurama attempted a smile again.

Yuusuke took this as a way out and smiled too. "That's for sure. After all, it is Hiei we're talking about, right?" The kitsune nodded. "Well I'll be going, Kurama." Yuusuke said as tension grew. "Keiko will be expecting me soon. JA! And good luck!" Kurama waved and turned back to his soup. Suddenly, he wasn't hungry anymore.

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Kurama came to his home and closed the door softly, in case his mother was asleep. He was just about to go up to his room and maybe take a quick shower, when Shiori came downstairs to great him.

"Shuuichi. How are you, dear?"

"I'm fine, kaasan. You should go back to sleep." The red-head said with a smile.

"Shuu-chan, I don't think you're fine. You've hardly slept or ate all week, don't think I haven't noticed. Now I figured you were old enough to take care of your own problems. So I let it slid. But it's been a week, Shuu-chan. Will you tell me what's on your mind?" Shiori asked her only son with worry in her eyes. What had happened to him, she didn't know. But she intended to find out, now, if at all possible.

"It's nothing, kaasan… it's just…" Shiori waited for her son to speak again. "Well there's someone I love, very much. But… that person doesn't return my feelings. We used to be friends, but I'm not sure now… And I had some… harsh things said to me…" He'd wanted to avoid talking about this with his mother. But once he'd said it, he felt much better. As if the pain in his heart had somehow lessened.

"Oh Shuu-chan. I'm so sorry." Shiori sobbed wrapping him in a hug. "People come and people go. Perhaps you should fix your friendship if nothing else, ne?"

"Hai, kaasan. It'll just be hard to get things to the way they were before."

"I know!" She exclaimed clapping her hands together. "I rented a movie the other day. Why don't we make some popcorn and watch it together! Won't that be fun, Shuuichi?"

"Hai, kaasan. I'd like that." Kurama said finally giving the first true smile he'd had all week.

~Tsuzuku, To be Continued

A/N: Mothers are such great people. It's amazing how much help they can provide. I love my mother. I hope you do too. ^^ Should I continue? I think they next chapter would be about Hiei. What he's thinking, and what he's going through. Please comment. Fiction writers love getting feedback ^_~