With you

Part 20: Fate

By: Sano

Standard YYH disclaimer

Note: Gomenasai for the late update! I've just been so busy with this Harry Potter fic that I'm writing with my sister and school that I haven't written an anime fic for a long time.

*^^*

"Tadaima! [I'm home!]" Maya's voice rang throughout their apartment as Kurama came out of the kitchen wearing an apron and a spatula in his left hand.

"Aa. Okaeri. [Welcome back]" Kurama greeted as Maya kissed him on the cheek. "Where were you? I was almost going to call you on your phone." He said as he walked in the kitchen, Maya trailing behind him.

"Oh, I was just at Yuusuke-kun's house. Hiei-san was there, he came down with the flu." She answered, she noted that Shuuichi seemed to stiffen at her words. She sat down on the kitchen table and leaned her chin on her hand.

"He did? So how was he?" Kurama stirred the curry he had been cooking in the pan. Hiei was sick? That was strange. In all of the years that he had known Hiei this was the first time he had heard that the Koorime was sick.

"He's fine. Nothing that a little rest won't cure." Kurama turned around to look at her. She seemed to be a little detached from the conversation, like there was something that troubled her. He turned off the stove and sat down on the kitchen table across from her. "Are you all right?" He asked. He had to make sure she was all right before he told her.

Maya was staring at him silently. Kurama could clearly see the turmoil in her brown eyes, and it bothered him greatly.

"Shuuichi…do you love Hiei-san?"

Kurama's eyes widened in shock, and he was at a loss for words. Did he just hear her right? The sudden urge to change into his fox form and run away seemed very appealing right now. But he was rooted at the spot.

"What?"

"Oh, nothing. Don't mind me." Maya stood up from her seat and gave him a small smile. "I'm sorry if I can't eat lunch with you. I'm a little tired." She said and strolled out of the kitchen and climbed up the stairs towards her room.

Kurama stood up as he heard the door to her room close with a slam. He wasn't mistaken, Maya did ask him. But why did she? His eyes fell on the curry. He suddenly didn't have any appetite. Something happened at Yuusuke's, and he had the inkling suspicion that Hiei had something to do with it.

He took off his apron and walked out of the house and into his car. He was going to Yuusuke's and talk to Hiei. He didn't care if Hiei ignored him.

He had to find out why Maya asked that question.

*^^*

"So, how do you feel?" Yuusuke asked as he placed a bowl of soup that Maya had brought earlier in front of Hiei. He leaned against the sink and picked up his own bowl and started eating.

"Better." Hiei replied and sipped a little of the soup. Actually, 'better' wasn't a term for it. Maybe 'miserable' and 'wanted to die' were much suited. But he wouldn't tell Yuusuke that, he didn't want him nosing in his personal business.

He needed to move on, to hell if Kurama didn't love him. He could live in Mukuro's castle and go on with his life. He didn't need that damn fox.

Now, if only he could convince himself that.

Yuusuke seemed to take in his bad mood and didn't bother him. That was something at least. Hiei was just content with the silence; he had to think for a while, now that all of his plans were completely changed.

Hiei had always thought that Kurama loved him. The fox was his first –and only- best friend. He was the only one who took care of him, he didn't irritate him, and he understood his feelings. Most of all, he made him happy.

That night three years ago changed his life; he didn't know if it was for the better or worse. But he was glad for it, because hearing Kurama say those three words that Hiei longed so much to hear made him see that someone actually cared for him.

But what did he do? He rejected the fox's proposal and even broke his heart in the process. And three years later, he came sauntering back into his life, only to find out that he had found someone else. In a sense, he deserved it. He had hurt Kurama. This was the price to pay for all the pain he had caused him.

The fire demon buried his face in his hands and rubbed his temples. All of this gave him a headache. He saw Yuusuke place a small white object together with a glass of water. "Drink that. It will make you feel better." He informed him.

Hiei picked up the small medicine. He recognized this, Kurama gave him something similar before, and he could vaguely remember that this was called an 'aspirin'. The memory of the event brought a knife of pain stabbing at his heart. He shook his head and gulped down the medicine. No use dwelling in useless memories.

"If your finished with that soup just put the bowl in the sink. I'll take care of it later; I'll just go to the store for a while." Yuusuke said as he placed hid bowl in the sink, he picked up his jacket from the chair it was draped on. "Are you staying?" He asked before walking out of the kitchen. At Hiei's nod, he left the kitchen, waving over his shoulder. "Ja." Then he was gone.

Hiei walked into the living room. He just wanted to sleep; he still had a slight fever. He wanted to be in good condition before he returned to the Makai so he could bury himself in work once he was there.

He lay back on the sofa and stared at the ceiling. What was he going to do now? He could continue working for Mukuro, but the idea seemed so boring. He didn't have any purpose to stay in the Ningenkai anymore, and he was retired from being a Reikai tantei, even if he were still working for Koenma he wouldn't have the courage to face Kurama again.

His crimson eyes fell on his katana, leaning against the doorway to the kitchen. Well, he could commit suicide. But he didn't want to do that here, besides, it sounded so cowardly of him. But he did consider the idea the night before.

The sound of the doorbell echoed around the apartment, and Hiei made no move to get up. But the person outside the door seemed persistent and continued to press the doorbell. Hiei growled in exasperation and got up from the sofa, if it was Yuusuke he would hit him. He should have keys to his own house. But if it was someone else, he'll just have to ignore it.

He arrived at the door and swung it open. "Who is it?" He asked. Then his heart stopped as he saw the person standing outside the door.

His eyes met the green orbs that haunted his dreams every night. He couldn't tear his eyes away from his face, holding a very surprised expression.

It was Kurama.

*^^*

Please review!!