Charm of the Forbidden
By: Hakai
Disclaimer: [[Insert disclaimer here]]
A/N: Awu~ Hakai isn't getting comments/reviews anymore. Thanks for those of you who have been following the story. It's very inspirational to me. ^^
Chap. 5: Nami no Namida [Common Tears]
//The bitterest tears shed are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone.//
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Kurama found himself wondering though his favorite park for the first time in what seemed an eternity. But there was something he had to do. The tree. The tree he'd broken a branch of just so Hiei would come down to him. It had been an unfair sacrifice considering the results. He owed it to that tree to pay his respects and lend some youki.
However, when he got there it wasn't at all what he had expected to see. The tree no longer stood there, broken branch or not, it was not there. In it's place were ashes and burnt grass. Kurama closed his eyes sensing the remains of a familiar youki.
"Karasu…" Kurama whispered unpleasantly. "I'm sorry ki-san. There is no good reason for destroying any living thing." the fox put his hands together and bent his head down in respect for the beautiful tree that had once stood before him.
"Well, well, if it isn't my favorite little youko, Kurama."
The red-head flinched at the sound of that well-known voice. The old crow hath return.
"What brings you here?" Karasu asked smiling at the youko.
"Why did you kill this tree, Karasu?" the emerald-eyed youkai said getting right to the point.
"It's an interesting story, really. In fact, there is no reason why I killed it. What's interesting, is the being whom I met soon after. Moody little demon he was."
"H-Hiei?" he gasped barely able to control his surprise.
"Yes, Hiei. We had a rather… intriguing conversation." The violet-eyed demon smirked rather smugly.
"What'd you tell him?" he glowered losing his calm. The tall youkai merely gave him a wider smirk.
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"Hiei-san!" Yukina called running up to the black haired demon. "Hiei-san!" The fire youkai came to a stop. "Hiei-san, have you spoken with Kurama-san?"
"Hn. What's the use." Hiei grunted continuing on.
"Hiei-san. If there was no use of it, I would not have suggested you speak with him." Hiei turned away. Yukina picked up her speed. "Hiei-san! Look at me. Hiei-san!" He slowly turned to face her. His eyes were getting blurry. Was it frustration? Lack of sleep? Or… tears? It couldn't be. Him, Hiei, cry? No, that was impossible. He quickly wiped his eyes with his sleeve before he brought himself completely face her. She was so sweet, so pure. As his crimson eyes met hers he was reminded that they were connected. She was his sister, his twin. "Sit." She gesturing. He sat.
Yukina placed herself next to him. "Are you cold, Hiei-san?"
"No."
"Have you ever been cold?"
"No."
"Have you ever been lonely?"
"…Yes."
"Loneliness makes the cold seem twice as harsh. I wonder if Kurama-san is cold without you."
"I--"
"Why won't you go to him?" She looked almost sad. As if… as if Kurama and Hiei's burden had been brought upon her. It was not her sorrow to bear. Why should she care what became of the two?
"I…I can't." Hiei replied.
"Why can't you?"
"Because… Hn. He's fine enough without me."
"Hie--"
"Don't think I haven't tried. I went to his house, merely to return his shirt, and when I got there, he was with a girl. They were on the couch. Together! Doing… STUFF!" He scowled looking away from the ice maiden. What had possessed him to yell at her? To shout at the sweet girl before him. She was not to blame. At that moment the fire demon detested Kurama more then ever. It was his fault he had gotten so angry and yelled at her. It was the stupid fox's fault. It was his…
"Hiei-san. Don't go jumping to conclusions. It may have not been what it appeared to be. Be reasonable. Hiei? Hiei? Are you listening?"
"Yes."
"Please Hiei. Don't be so stubborn. Won't you go to him? I know how you feel. But I also see how Kurama feels. You need to talk this out."
"Why do you care?" Hiei said more harshly then he meant.
"Because, Kurama's a good friend… And you're my brother." Hiei nearly had a heart attack. He swiftly turned to face her. She was smiling brightly at him, like she always did. He scowled again.
"How long have you known?" he asked, sulky at having been caught off guard.
"I've always known, Oniichan." The Ice maiden said sweetly. "But that's not what we're discussing right now." she cleared her throat. "So you've tried, Hiei-san. That was but one time. Persistence is a wonderful thing. Let go of your pride just this once and speak with him again. Do you want to resolve this or not?"
"I…I don't know." Hiei said miserably. He pulled his knees up to his chest. Why was it suddenly getting so cold. Hiei sniffed. "Why… why are my eyes burning."
"Let me see." The blue-haired youkai whispered lifting his face to hers. He squinted at her through blurry eyes. "You're crying, Hiei-san."
"C-crying? N-no. I can't be…"
"Shh…" She cooed wiping his tears away. "We don't want them to become a hiruiseki. Now, do you want to settle things between the two of you?"
"I…"
"Before you decide anything. Answer me this: Do you love him? Do you love Kurama-san?"
"No."
"I don't think you, of all people, would cry over someone you don't even care about, ne?"
Hiei paused to think about it. When he had left the human realm to go to the Makai all those years ago, Kurama had looked miserable. Truth be told, he had been miserable as well. And when he returned to the Ningenkai, Kurama's home had been the first place he'd gone to. Why? Was it because Kurama was the one he wanted to see most? Because he had missed him? Possibly… And all those times spent in Kurama's room, simply watching him. It made him smile just to see the youko smiling. Hiei didn't want to admit it, but he liked it when the fox was around. And those few occasions when he had had a rough day, he would talk to Hiei about it. If Kurama was sad, so Hiei became sad with him. Of course he wouldn't show it, but the feeling was still there. He hadn't spoken with Kurama since the fight. And that time when he had seen him with that girl, his chest had hurt. His heart had hurt. And then it clicked. "I want to be with Kurama…" the koorime whispered to himself.
"Did you say something, Hiei-san?" Yukina asked turning to her brother.
"I… I need to go." He nearly yelled as he hurriedly stood up. Yukina stared at him in blank confusion. He turned to her and smiled. "Thank you." he whispered throwing his arms around her. She beamed.
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//I think I understand… at least more than before.// Hiei thought as he wondered around. Somehow the fox had wormed his way into the koorime's heart. And whatever emotional barriers had been around Hiei's heart were slowly being undone. That, or now the sly youko finally held the key through them all. Now the question was what Hiei would do or say when he found Kurama. And did he even want to see him again? What would the red-head do when he saw Hiei? The fire demon became nervous. He now knew his feelings, but what about the youko's feelings? No, not the youko, but the human, Kurama. Kurama who was Shuichi and the Youko all rolled up into one being. That was the Kurama he had to speak with.
"I don't know." Hiei jumped when he heard a familiar voice. He turned to see Kurama and Karasu talking. Quickly the youkai hid out of view.
"Kurama. It will help, trust me." The black-haired youkai reassured the other. "I'm not charging you anything, so you've nothing to lose by trying it."
"I-I just don't know." The emerald-eyed human sighed almost desperately. "A drug?"
"A drug to cure your depression and help forget the one who hurt you."
"I…"
"You've nothing to fear and nothing to lose." Karasu assured silkily.
"I… I suppose." Kurama gave in reaching for the bottle.
"You've made the right decision." the bat said handing him the bottle. Hiei snorted. Had Kurama grown so weak that he would drink something that psycho had concocted?
The red-head uncorked the bottle and drained the glass with a single gulp. He scrunched his nose as he felt the hot liquid rush down his throat. When it finally settled, he sighed. And almost as suddenly as the fluid had disappeared from the bottle, his body became rigid. The glass shattered on the ground as Kurama fell to his knees in pain. Hiei's eyes shot open and Karasu cackled.
Hiei jumped out of his hiding place to the fox's side. He dared not touch him. If looks could kill, Karasu would've been dead. But he wasn't. He merely laughed again before saying. "So the little koorime arrives. But I'm afraid you come too late. He is beyond your reach now." and with that he left the two alone.
Hiei was contorted with mixed emotion. Go after Karasu, or help Kurama. The red-head screamed in pain as he clenched his fists. He went for the lather option.
"K-Kurama…?" Hiei called unsurely. The red-head turned to face the fire youkai. He winced at the effort. Kurama's breathing was uneven and heavy. Hiei watched as the red-head before him slowly and painfully transformed into the youko. As the transformation ended his breathing returned to normal. Slowly the silver youko stood up and appraised his surroundings. Unwillingly Hiei gulped. The Youko looked down at the small koorime sitting at his feet.
"Ah. So it's you." He smirked.
~Tsuzuku, To Be Continued
A/N: Never force yourself to write when under writer's block. This chapter came out worse than usual. ^^ Saa… When the muse is gone I'm forced to work of the alter-ego. Unfortunately, Touki had been rather… distraught recently and isn't much help.
