The Roots of a Rose by Kita — Part Five: Cards and Confusion
Kurama led a reluctant black-haired girl down the darkened street to the Urameshi's. He was wearing dark blue jeans and a baggy black t-shirt along with his usual coat. He had tried to coax the vixen into wearing a skirt, but she had flat-out refused. So Kashi had on a long, loose, cream-colored shirt with gold-lined bell sleeves (the latest style from America! ^-^) and sky-colored jeans.
"Kurama—"She almost whined. "Why do I have to meet the Reikai Tantei? I'll be arrested for impersonating a ningen . . ." The fox chuckled at her.
"Then don't impersonate one. Just be yourself. Besides—"He turned to her outside the door. "They've accepted *me*, after all." She scoffed.
"Yeah, but *you're* the one who risked his life for their only ningen detective." The kitsune was spared a retort by the door flying open. Botan gave him a happy smile.
"Kurama! We're so glad you could make it! Come in, come in!" The former fox bandit bowed his head.
"Konnichi wa, Botan." Yusuke's voice filtered in from the living room.
"Oi, Kurama! Get in here! Kuwabara's making an idiot out of himself!" He chuckled. "Sugu ni, Yusuke." The fox called, turning to his short-haired companion that the ferry girl was eyeing, puzzled. "This is my friend, Kashi . . . is it alright that I brought her?" Botan shook herself out of the stare.
"Oh! Of course, Kurama! Any friend of yours is a friend of ours." Botan took their coats away, and the two kitsune walked into the living room. Not all the guests had arrived, (Hiei was missing, after all, can't forget about him! ^-^) but Yusuke and Kuwabara had already started a card game. Apparently the carrot-topped youth had lost, and was now prancing around the room singing 'God Save the Queen' in a high-pitched imitation of a woman's voice. It was still early, and so (having not gotten drunk yet) he turned beet red when he saw Kurama and Kashi standing in the doorway, barely containing their laughter. Yusuke pushed him on, the bet not completed.
"C'mon, Kuwabara! You gotta sing the verse straight through!" In a more subdued tone, he tumbled out the rest of the song before sitting down on a chair and hiding behind his cards. Shaking his head, Kurama sat down on another chair opposite the embarrassed teenager. Kashi took the only remaining seat as she sat on the couch a good distance away from Yusuke.
"Hey, Kurama, who's the girl? She's cute." Kashi gave him a death glare.
"Touch me and I'll let Keiko kill you."
Later that night, after about six games of five-card-draw, Hiei showed up. The youkai stood, crouched, and Kashi, glancing over at the window, was the first to notice him. He scoffed, and turned to leave, but Kurama's voice stopped him.
"Hiei! Come join us, won't you?" The fire demon looked over his shoulder and flitted over to perch on the top of the chair Kurama was sitting on, leaning over to look at the fox's cards.
"Hn. What are you doing."
"Hey! Shorty can't look at Kurama's hand! It's against—"Kuwabara exclaimed, cut short by Yusuke whacking him on the head.
"Oh, nothing really, Hiei. Just playing cards." Yusuke said nonchalantly. A bump formed on Kuwabara's head as he raised it to speak angrily.
"Wha'd you do that for, Urameshi?!" Yusuke whacked him again.
"For acting like an idiot." A second bump grew out from the first one.
"It's impossible for him to *act* like an idiot." Hiei remarked disdainfully. Kuwabara's head snapped up and he was standing next to Hiei, eye-to-eye in an instant.
"Say that again, shorty, and I'll—"The Jaganashi gave him a devil-may-care look.
"It's impossible for you to *act* like an idiot, because you *are* one." The fire youkai stated coolly.
"Oh that's it!" Kuwabara lunged at him, but Kurama was suddenly between them, holding his hands up in front of him, green eyes sparkling with amusement.
"Now, now Kuwabara." He said with his most disarming smile. "Let's save it for the bad youkai, hai?"
"Kurama's right . . . stop acting like children. Besides, this is supposed to be a *party*, remember?" Yusuke added, not glancing up while shuffling the cards for another round. He suddenly cast a mischievous look up at the fire demon, who hadn't moved from his perch on Kurama's chair. "Want to try your luck, Hiei?" The youkai scoffed while looking up and away.
"Hn." Kuwabara, now back in his seat, took this chance to get revenge.
"Ohhh . . . I get it. Shorty's *scared* he'll loose." Cold ruby eyes focused on the carrot-top instantly.
"Hn. It's a waste of time." Yusuke shrugged, his hands still shuffling the deck.
"Well, it's not like we're doing anything anyway—"
"Yes, Hiei—"Kurama joined in, turning his head slightly to address the fire demon perched behind him. "You're already here, wasting time . . . why not spend it enjoying yourself?" Hiei met the fox's teasing emerald gaze, then 'hn'd and was suddenly sitting, cross-legged on the floor, directly opposite Yusuke and Kashi.
"How do you play."
Many hours later, Kashi was getting sleepy during their umpteenth round of five-card-draw. She yawned. Botan had left after the initial meeting, called away by her job of ferrying souls to the Reikai. Kurama cast a discreet glance up at his vixen and smiled quietly to himself. Hiei had lost the first few hands, but soon got the hang of it. Now Kashi, the amused champion of the night, was easily winning. Granted, at the beginning Kurama and Hiei hadn't made it easy for her, but the change of pace showed just how drunk they had all become. In the train of thought that they were all nearing the point of no memory, her normally clipped tongue had loosened. After the hand was over, herself winning this time, she spoke.
"Aren't you boys *tired* of this game yet?" Yusuke and Kuwabara were nearly wasted, and the carrot-top remarked sluggishly.
"Aww, c'mon baby. One more round." Hiei, who was holding his liberal amounts of alcohol curiously well, cocked an eyebrow at him, the oaf oblivious to the murderous look in Kashi's eyes. Kurama blinked, trying to clear his vision. He'd had too much sake as well. The kitsune stood, trying to regain his balance, but fell back into the chair.
"I think . . . we've had . . . too much sake, Yusuke." He hiccuped, confirming the fact. The black-haired boy nodded stupidly.
"Yeah . . . I guess . . . better get rid of the stuff . . ." And he shakily tipped the empty bottle over his mouth, the thing teetering out of his hand after a moment, falling to the floor with a dull thud.
"Hn . . . baka ningen." Hiei scoffed at the now passed-out spirit detective. Kuwabara, just barely conscious, lunged out of his chair at the sitting fire demon.
"Shu' up . . . you shrimp . . ." The sober-seeming youkai easily evaded him, and the carrot-top landed with his face on the floor, snoring away.
"Hnn . . ." Kashi managed to get herself up, and hauled the unconscious spirit detective onto her shoulder.
"I'll be right back . . ." Without a glance at the two demons, she went off, dragging Yusuke to his room. They heard her dump him on the futon unceremoniously. Then she was back, eyeing the flushed face of Kurama and the unfocused stare of the fire demon. She sighed, taking her gaze to the unconscious Kuwabara sprawled on the floor.
"Anyone know where this baka lives?" Kurama nodded, but soon stopped. The action made him dizzy. "Where?" She asked the drunk kitsune. He brought his fingers up, puzzled at the wavering motions lacking any direction. He looked at her, his normally clear green eyes clouded.
"Where?" She repeated, slightly impatient. / I have to get him home, he's *way* too drunk . . . but first I've got to take care of *this* baka . . . d—n . . . I hate being responsible . . . /
Kurama tried to think, his thoughts a jumbled mess. When he couldn't find the information he needed, he instead sought out Shizuru's ki. Though it wasn't as blatant as Kuwabara's, his sister still had heightened spirit awareness, and so gave off a limited amount of reiki. Kurama found it, and translated the directions to Kashi.
"Four blocks . . . northeast . . . second floor . . ." She nodded, not wanting to contribute to any confusion going on inside the fox's head. She would just have to deal with the vague information . . . then the vixen noticed Hiei swaying slightly, and decided to move him onto the couch. He resisted a little, but was no mach for her persistent efforts. She just had him settled when Kurama's arms embraced her from behind, his face buried in her short black hair.
"Don't . . . go . . ." She smiled softly and took his hands, twisting out of the hug to look him in the eye. His face was still flushed, the green orbs cloudy, and so she gently set him down on the other side of the couch, planting a kiss on his warm forehead.
"I'll be right back, baka kitsune. Then we can go home." She yawned again, covering her mouth. Though she hadn't had any sake, she was still tired from the late-night card game. Kashi scanned the mantel, finding the clock . . . it was two in the morning. / Thank Inari it's the weekend . . . / the vixen thought sleepily. Stepping around the table, she hoisted the snoring oaf onto her back, heading for the window. Glancing back at the green eyes that followed her, she gave a reassuring smile and disappeared into the night, going as fast as the heavy burden she carried would allow.
By some strange twist of fate, Hiei found himself alone, although drunk, with an equally drunk Kurama. The bishonen was massaging his forehead, trying to clear his thinking. The youkai smiled openly, the combination of his feelings for the kitsune and the affect of the sake overriding his restraints. The fox's red hair was splayed untidily over his back and shoulders, something Hiei found very . . . attractive. The Jaganashi scooted closer to the fox, speaking so clearly it belied his drunkenness.
"Have a headache, fox?" Emerald eyes focused on him, cloudy but still . . . so beautiful.
"Hai, Hiei." Kurama admitted without moving an inch. The half-koorime chuckled to himself. It probably hurt the fox to move his head . . . he scooted a bit closer.
"Do you want help?" Without waiting for an answer, Hiei perched himself behind the redhead, gently massaging the kitsune's temples for half a minute before speaking. "Is that better, Kurama?" The fox sighed, the headache diminishing under the deft fingers of the fire youkai.
"Hai . . . arigato, Hiei . . ."
Kurama eased into the soft touch working insistently at his temples. / I hadn't realized Hiei could be so gentle . . . / he thought sleepily . . .
Hiei felt Kurama relax in front of him. He slowed his fingers.
"Is it gone, Kurama?" He asked softly. The kitsune bandit nodded slightly.
"Hai. Domo arigato." Removing his hands, the youkai reluctantly slid down next to the fox, some small part of him wishing that he was still touching the slightly flushed skin. Going with the flow of the moment, he slipped out a trembling hand to caress the kitsune's arm, left bare by the short- sleeved shirt he wore . . .
His eyes already closed from the massage, Kurama felt an tentative touch on his skin. The hand was gentle enough, but he could feel rough calluses on the palm. / It must be Kashi . . . she's been practicing . . . too much . . . with that staff of hers . . . / He leaned into the fingers, which went around him, both arms embracing Kurama from the side. The fox felt a soft pressure on his shoulder as the vixen laid her head there. He inhaled, hardly able to wait for the familiar scent she bore . . . the scent of flowers and the Makai plant she used for cleansing . . . he frowned. That wasn't the scent that wafted up to him. He breathed deeper, trying to identify . . . the smell of rain . . . pine trees . . . ashes . . . this wasn't Kashi's scent . . . it was more like . . .
/ Hiei?!? . . . . . . what the h—l?!? /
The youkai felt Kurama tense under him, struggling to get away. The half-koorime was disinclined to loosen his grip, but he eventually did, letting his arms fall from the redhead's shoulders. Kurama retreated away from the puzzled demon, getting up from the couch. / Didn't Kurama just let me embrace him? / Then he noticed the astonished look the fox was giving him, and felt a chill run up his spine. / Why is he looking at me like that? /
"Hiei . . . " The kitsune whispered, emerald depths flashing with confusion. / K'so . . . what have I done? /
Kurama just looked down at the little demon, whose ruby eyes were now widening. Then the startled gaze dropped to his small, callused hands.
"Gomen nasai . . . Kurama." He looked up, and the unexpected sadness behind the normally hardened stare cut deeply into the fox. Hiei retreated to the other side of the couch, then heard Kurama sit down on a chair and take a deep breath.
"Hiei—"The kitsune began softly. The fire youkai chanced a look over his shoulder. Kurama was staring straight at him. He quickly turned his face away.
"Hiei." The fox repeated. "Look at me." Very slowly, feeling as though he rather have another go at Suzaku's minions than face Kurama right now . . . Hiei turned around, leaning his back against the soft cushion of the Urameshi's couch, trying to put the hardened, everyday mask of indifference back on his face.
"Why?" With that one word from the fox, Hiei's attempt failed miserably. He wrenched his gaze away from the confused eyes of his friend and remained silent. Kurama took another deep breath. "Why did you embrace me, Hiei?"
Almost completely sobered by the bizarre turn of events, Kurama sat, staring at the fire youkai determinedly keeping his ruby gaze from meeting the fox's emerald one. Then there was a sound at the window, and soon a very annoyed-looking girl appeared, grumbling something about 'security systems.' There were bits of leaves in her hair, and she ran her fingers through the black mess, suddenly looking up and realizing the two jewel- like stares directed unwaveringly at her.
"uh . . . Konnichi wa." She said quickly. Kurama's green eyes were conveying an emotion that wavered somewhere between confusion and relief, and he rose upon seeing her. Hiei's red gaze looked strangely unveiled and . . . frightened . . . the eyes just barely showing over the couch. Taking her fox as first priority, the vixen hastily rushed over to him.
"Kurama, what's wrong?"
Her concerned silvery gaze, directed only at him, full of love and worry, broke the strange spell he had been under. Without hesitation he reached out and pulled her to him, the girl's arms rising around him in a comforting embrace as he buried his face in her neck.
"Kashi—"He whispered, his voice breaking. She, however, was thinking to herself. / What the heck happened? What could have gotten him so upset—and sober—so quickly?? /
Hiei watched the two kitsune cling to each other, and felt his heart shattering. / I knew he loved her . . . I knew he didn't have feelings for me . . . I know he could never care for a cold, cruel, forbidden child like myself . . . but . . . I still managed to mess things up! Baka! Baka! Baka! / He retrieved his coat from the floor, and glanced at Kurama. The fox opened his eyes and raised his head. There were tears threatening to spill out of the green depths . . . he couldn't stay. He couldn't stand to see Kurama cry . . . and in that instant the fire youkai was gone.
The look on Hiei's face when he had apologized appeared before Kurama as he closed his eyes. / Did Hiei . . . perhaps . . . no! / He shook his head, and grasped Kashi tighter to him. / No! . . . he couldn't . . . they were best friends . . . and shonen ai was taboo. Shonen ai?! What the h—l was he thinking? He didn't seriously feel that way about Hiei . . . did he? / Kashi kissed his cheek softly, and he breathed in her scent, the familiarity of it calming his racing thoughts. / No . . . it's not ai . . . ai is what I feel for Kashi, and no one else . . . but . . . / the thought intruded into his mind, nagging at him / Hiei has always been there for me . . . and Shika . . . died . . . leaving me alone . . . / the bishonen shook himself mentally / No! . . . it wasn't *her* fault . . . /
"Kurama?" Her soft voice brought him back. "Shall we go now?" He nodded into her shoulder, allowing the vixen to lead him out to the hallway, wrap his coat around him, and take his left hand, walking out of the apartment and closing the door quietly behind them. He clutched tightly at her hand as they walked in the direction of the Saseka home. He dropped her off with a light kiss, then disappeared into the early morning, Kurama's mind whirling in a storm of confusion.
Hiei was sitting in a tree in the park, trying to sort out his thoughts, when he sensed Kurama's ki. He tensed, and hid his own, watching through the branches of the pine tree as said kitsune sat down on a wooden bench close by. After a while he was aware of the redhead drifting off, and simply watched as the bright emerald eyes gradually closed . . . and he slept.
Kurama led a reluctant black-haired girl down the darkened street to the Urameshi's. He was wearing dark blue jeans and a baggy black t-shirt along with his usual coat. He had tried to coax the vixen into wearing a skirt, but she had flat-out refused. So Kashi had on a long, loose, cream-colored shirt with gold-lined bell sleeves (the latest style from America! ^-^) and sky-colored jeans.
"Kurama—"She almost whined. "Why do I have to meet the Reikai Tantei? I'll be arrested for impersonating a ningen . . ." The fox chuckled at her.
"Then don't impersonate one. Just be yourself. Besides—"He turned to her outside the door. "They've accepted *me*, after all." She scoffed.
"Yeah, but *you're* the one who risked his life for their only ningen detective." The kitsune was spared a retort by the door flying open. Botan gave him a happy smile.
"Kurama! We're so glad you could make it! Come in, come in!" The former fox bandit bowed his head.
"Konnichi wa, Botan." Yusuke's voice filtered in from the living room.
"Oi, Kurama! Get in here! Kuwabara's making an idiot out of himself!" He chuckled. "Sugu ni, Yusuke." The fox called, turning to his short-haired companion that the ferry girl was eyeing, puzzled. "This is my friend, Kashi . . . is it alright that I brought her?" Botan shook herself out of the stare.
"Oh! Of course, Kurama! Any friend of yours is a friend of ours." Botan took their coats away, and the two kitsune walked into the living room. Not all the guests had arrived, (Hiei was missing, after all, can't forget about him! ^-^) but Yusuke and Kuwabara had already started a card game. Apparently the carrot-topped youth had lost, and was now prancing around the room singing 'God Save the Queen' in a high-pitched imitation of a woman's voice. It was still early, and so (having not gotten drunk yet) he turned beet red when he saw Kurama and Kashi standing in the doorway, barely containing their laughter. Yusuke pushed him on, the bet not completed.
"C'mon, Kuwabara! You gotta sing the verse straight through!" In a more subdued tone, he tumbled out the rest of the song before sitting down on a chair and hiding behind his cards. Shaking his head, Kurama sat down on another chair opposite the embarrassed teenager. Kashi took the only remaining seat as she sat on the couch a good distance away from Yusuke.
"Hey, Kurama, who's the girl? She's cute." Kashi gave him a death glare.
"Touch me and I'll let Keiko kill you."
Later that night, after about six games of five-card-draw, Hiei showed up. The youkai stood, crouched, and Kashi, glancing over at the window, was the first to notice him. He scoffed, and turned to leave, but Kurama's voice stopped him.
"Hiei! Come join us, won't you?" The fire demon looked over his shoulder and flitted over to perch on the top of the chair Kurama was sitting on, leaning over to look at the fox's cards.
"Hn. What are you doing."
"Hey! Shorty can't look at Kurama's hand! It's against—"Kuwabara exclaimed, cut short by Yusuke whacking him on the head.
"Oh, nothing really, Hiei. Just playing cards." Yusuke said nonchalantly. A bump formed on Kuwabara's head as he raised it to speak angrily.
"Wha'd you do that for, Urameshi?!" Yusuke whacked him again.
"For acting like an idiot." A second bump grew out from the first one.
"It's impossible for him to *act* like an idiot." Hiei remarked disdainfully. Kuwabara's head snapped up and he was standing next to Hiei, eye-to-eye in an instant.
"Say that again, shorty, and I'll—"The Jaganashi gave him a devil-may-care look.
"It's impossible for you to *act* like an idiot, because you *are* one." The fire youkai stated coolly.
"Oh that's it!" Kuwabara lunged at him, but Kurama was suddenly between them, holding his hands up in front of him, green eyes sparkling with amusement.
"Now, now Kuwabara." He said with his most disarming smile. "Let's save it for the bad youkai, hai?"
"Kurama's right . . . stop acting like children. Besides, this is supposed to be a *party*, remember?" Yusuke added, not glancing up while shuffling the cards for another round. He suddenly cast a mischievous look up at the fire demon, who hadn't moved from his perch on Kurama's chair. "Want to try your luck, Hiei?" The youkai scoffed while looking up and away.
"Hn." Kuwabara, now back in his seat, took this chance to get revenge.
"Ohhh . . . I get it. Shorty's *scared* he'll loose." Cold ruby eyes focused on the carrot-top instantly.
"Hn. It's a waste of time." Yusuke shrugged, his hands still shuffling the deck.
"Well, it's not like we're doing anything anyway—"
"Yes, Hiei—"Kurama joined in, turning his head slightly to address the fire demon perched behind him. "You're already here, wasting time . . . why not spend it enjoying yourself?" Hiei met the fox's teasing emerald gaze, then 'hn'd and was suddenly sitting, cross-legged on the floor, directly opposite Yusuke and Kashi.
"How do you play."
Many hours later, Kashi was getting sleepy during their umpteenth round of five-card-draw. She yawned. Botan had left after the initial meeting, called away by her job of ferrying souls to the Reikai. Kurama cast a discreet glance up at his vixen and smiled quietly to himself. Hiei had lost the first few hands, but soon got the hang of it. Now Kashi, the amused champion of the night, was easily winning. Granted, at the beginning Kurama and Hiei hadn't made it easy for her, but the change of pace showed just how drunk they had all become. In the train of thought that they were all nearing the point of no memory, her normally clipped tongue had loosened. After the hand was over, herself winning this time, she spoke.
"Aren't you boys *tired* of this game yet?" Yusuke and Kuwabara were nearly wasted, and the carrot-top remarked sluggishly.
"Aww, c'mon baby. One more round." Hiei, who was holding his liberal amounts of alcohol curiously well, cocked an eyebrow at him, the oaf oblivious to the murderous look in Kashi's eyes. Kurama blinked, trying to clear his vision. He'd had too much sake as well. The kitsune stood, trying to regain his balance, but fell back into the chair.
"I think . . . we've had . . . too much sake, Yusuke." He hiccuped, confirming the fact. The black-haired boy nodded stupidly.
"Yeah . . . I guess . . . better get rid of the stuff . . ." And he shakily tipped the empty bottle over his mouth, the thing teetering out of his hand after a moment, falling to the floor with a dull thud.
"Hn . . . baka ningen." Hiei scoffed at the now passed-out spirit detective. Kuwabara, just barely conscious, lunged out of his chair at the sitting fire demon.
"Shu' up . . . you shrimp . . ." The sober-seeming youkai easily evaded him, and the carrot-top landed with his face on the floor, snoring away.
"Hnn . . ." Kashi managed to get herself up, and hauled the unconscious spirit detective onto her shoulder.
"I'll be right back . . ." Without a glance at the two demons, she went off, dragging Yusuke to his room. They heard her dump him on the futon unceremoniously. Then she was back, eyeing the flushed face of Kurama and the unfocused stare of the fire demon. She sighed, taking her gaze to the unconscious Kuwabara sprawled on the floor.
"Anyone know where this baka lives?" Kurama nodded, but soon stopped. The action made him dizzy. "Where?" She asked the drunk kitsune. He brought his fingers up, puzzled at the wavering motions lacking any direction. He looked at her, his normally clear green eyes clouded.
"Where?" She repeated, slightly impatient. / I have to get him home, he's *way* too drunk . . . but first I've got to take care of *this* baka . . . d—n . . . I hate being responsible . . . /
Kurama tried to think, his thoughts a jumbled mess. When he couldn't find the information he needed, he instead sought out Shizuru's ki. Though it wasn't as blatant as Kuwabara's, his sister still had heightened spirit awareness, and so gave off a limited amount of reiki. Kurama found it, and translated the directions to Kashi.
"Four blocks . . . northeast . . . second floor . . ." She nodded, not wanting to contribute to any confusion going on inside the fox's head. She would just have to deal with the vague information . . . then the vixen noticed Hiei swaying slightly, and decided to move him onto the couch. He resisted a little, but was no mach for her persistent efforts. She just had him settled when Kurama's arms embraced her from behind, his face buried in her short black hair.
"Don't . . . go . . ." She smiled softly and took his hands, twisting out of the hug to look him in the eye. His face was still flushed, the green orbs cloudy, and so she gently set him down on the other side of the couch, planting a kiss on his warm forehead.
"I'll be right back, baka kitsune. Then we can go home." She yawned again, covering her mouth. Though she hadn't had any sake, she was still tired from the late-night card game. Kashi scanned the mantel, finding the clock . . . it was two in the morning. / Thank Inari it's the weekend . . . / the vixen thought sleepily. Stepping around the table, she hoisted the snoring oaf onto her back, heading for the window. Glancing back at the green eyes that followed her, she gave a reassuring smile and disappeared into the night, going as fast as the heavy burden she carried would allow.
By some strange twist of fate, Hiei found himself alone, although drunk, with an equally drunk Kurama. The bishonen was massaging his forehead, trying to clear his thinking. The youkai smiled openly, the combination of his feelings for the kitsune and the affect of the sake overriding his restraints. The fox's red hair was splayed untidily over his back and shoulders, something Hiei found very . . . attractive. The Jaganashi scooted closer to the fox, speaking so clearly it belied his drunkenness.
"Have a headache, fox?" Emerald eyes focused on him, cloudy but still . . . so beautiful.
"Hai, Hiei." Kurama admitted without moving an inch. The half-koorime chuckled to himself. It probably hurt the fox to move his head . . . he scooted a bit closer.
"Do you want help?" Without waiting for an answer, Hiei perched himself behind the redhead, gently massaging the kitsune's temples for half a minute before speaking. "Is that better, Kurama?" The fox sighed, the headache diminishing under the deft fingers of the fire youkai.
"Hai . . . arigato, Hiei . . ."
Kurama eased into the soft touch working insistently at his temples. / I hadn't realized Hiei could be so gentle . . . / he thought sleepily . . .
Hiei felt Kurama relax in front of him. He slowed his fingers.
"Is it gone, Kurama?" He asked softly. The kitsune bandit nodded slightly.
"Hai. Domo arigato." Removing his hands, the youkai reluctantly slid down next to the fox, some small part of him wishing that he was still touching the slightly flushed skin. Going with the flow of the moment, he slipped out a trembling hand to caress the kitsune's arm, left bare by the short- sleeved shirt he wore . . .
His eyes already closed from the massage, Kurama felt an tentative touch on his skin. The hand was gentle enough, but he could feel rough calluses on the palm. / It must be Kashi . . . she's been practicing . . . too much . . . with that staff of hers . . . / He leaned into the fingers, which went around him, both arms embracing Kurama from the side. The fox felt a soft pressure on his shoulder as the vixen laid her head there. He inhaled, hardly able to wait for the familiar scent she bore . . . the scent of flowers and the Makai plant she used for cleansing . . . he frowned. That wasn't the scent that wafted up to him. He breathed deeper, trying to identify . . . the smell of rain . . . pine trees . . . ashes . . . this wasn't Kashi's scent . . . it was more like . . .
/ Hiei?!? . . . . . . what the h—l?!? /
The youkai felt Kurama tense under him, struggling to get away. The half-koorime was disinclined to loosen his grip, but he eventually did, letting his arms fall from the redhead's shoulders. Kurama retreated away from the puzzled demon, getting up from the couch. / Didn't Kurama just let me embrace him? / Then he noticed the astonished look the fox was giving him, and felt a chill run up his spine. / Why is he looking at me like that? /
"Hiei . . . " The kitsune whispered, emerald depths flashing with confusion. / K'so . . . what have I done? /
Kurama just looked down at the little demon, whose ruby eyes were now widening. Then the startled gaze dropped to his small, callused hands.
"Gomen nasai . . . Kurama." He looked up, and the unexpected sadness behind the normally hardened stare cut deeply into the fox. Hiei retreated to the other side of the couch, then heard Kurama sit down on a chair and take a deep breath.
"Hiei—"The kitsune began softly. The fire youkai chanced a look over his shoulder. Kurama was staring straight at him. He quickly turned his face away.
"Hiei." The fox repeated. "Look at me." Very slowly, feeling as though he rather have another go at Suzaku's minions than face Kurama right now . . . Hiei turned around, leaning his back against the soft cushion of the Urameshi's couch, trying to put the hardened, everyday mask of indifference back on his face.
"Why?" With that one word from the fox, Hiei's attempt failed miserably. He wrenched his gaze away from the confused eyes of his friend and remained silent. Kurama took another deep breath. "Why did you embrace me, Hiei?"
Almost completely sobered by the bizarre turn of events, Kurama sat, staring at the fire youkai determinedly keeping his ruby gaze from meeting the fox's emerald one. Then there was a sound at the window, and soon a very annoyed-looking girl appeared, grumbling something about 'security systems.' There were bits of leaves in her hair, and she ran her fingers through the black mess, suddenly looking up and realizing the two jewel- like stares directed unwaveringly at her.
"uh . . . Konnichi wa." She said quickly. Kurama's green eyes were conveying an emotion that wavered somewhere between confusion and relief, and he rose upon seeing her. Hiei's red gaze looked strangely unveiled and . . . frightened . . . the eyes just barely showing over the couch. Taking her fox as first priority, the vixen hastily rushed over to him.
"Kurama, what's wrong?"
Her concerned silvery gaze, directed only at him, full of love and worry, broke the strange spell he had been under. Without hesitation he reached out and pulled her to him, the girl's arms rising around him in a comforting embrace as he buried his face in her neck.
"Kashi—"He whispered, his voice breaking. She, however, was thinking to herself. / What the heck happened? What could have gotten him so upset—and sober—so quickly?? /
Hiei watched the two kitsune cling to each other, and felt his heart shattering. / I knew he loved her . . . I knew he didn't have feelings for me . . . I know he could never care for a cold, cruel, forbidden child like myself . . . but . . . I still managed to mess things up! Baka! Baka! Baka! / He retrieved his coat from the floor, and glanced at Kurama. The fox opened his eyes and raised his head. There were tears threatening to spill out of the green depths . . . he couldn't stay. He couldn't stand to see Kurama cry . . . and in that instant the fire youkai was gone.
The look on Hiei's face when he had apologized appeared before Kurama as he closed his eyes. / Did Hiei . . . perhaps . . . no! / He shook his head, and grasped Kashi tighter to him. / No! . . . he couldn't . . . they were best friends . . . and shonen ai was taboo. Shonen ai?! What the h—l was he thinking? He didn't seriously feel that way about Hiei . . . did he? / Kashi kissed his cheek softly, and he breathed in her scent, the familiarity of it calming his racing thoughts. / No . . . it's not ai . . . ai is what I feel for Kashi, and no one else . . . but . . . / the thought intruded into his mind, nagging at him / Hiei has always been there for me . . . and Shika . . . died . . . leaving me alone . . . / the bishonen shook himself mentally / No! . . . it wasn't *her* fault . . . /
"Kurama?" Her soft voice brought him back. "Shall we go now?" He nodded into her shoulder, allowing the vixen to lead him out to the hallway, wrap his coat around him, and take his left hand, walking out of the apartment and closing the door quietly behind them. He clutched tightly at her hand as they walked in the direction of the Saseka home. He dropped her off with a light kiss, then disappeared into the early morning, Kurama's mind whirling in a storm of confusion.
Hiei was sitting in a tree in the park, trying to sort out his thoughts, when he sensed Kurama's ki. He tensed, and hid his own, watching through the branches of the pine tree as said kitsune sat down on a wooden bench close by. After a while he was aware of the redhead drifting off, and simply watched as the bright emerald eyes gradually closed . . . and he slept.