Disclaimer: Still don't own YYH, nope….
Scribbles: Hm.. am upset by my grades. But hey, my fault, right? Gotta start being responsible now. I've finally accepted that I can't be a child forever. Hah! But who says I can't act childish once in a while?
Okay, finally, it's a chapter that delves on Hiei and Kurama's relationship. I know I promised 'If Only in Dreams' as the next chapter, but am still halfway done with it, so decided to write a side story, to sate those who have been waiting long.
This is a side-story, so it can also be a stand-alone. You can either find a chapter/occurrence in the story where you see it fit, or you can enjoy this individually. Or maybe you need a bit of a background of this story so it'll be meaningful.. Okay, this was too long already. Time to thank the reviewers:
cRysTaL – thanks for reminding me. Yep, raised the rating… Sorry, but you'll have to wait for the continuation, am in a slump right now. And if you came from Mars, we may know each other :p
Clow Angel – haha.. are you sure you're not bored yet? Thanks for reviewing, again!=)
Hiei-the-Fliei – interesting name.. and yet another interesting suggestion..:p
Sapphire angel – won't stop as long as ideas keep flowing Thanks for reviewing! Oh, have to thank you 2x (one signed, one anonymous :p)
Hedi Dracona – wah.. you thought it was Karasu? Me too! . (gets bopped in the head). Sorry it failed your expectations. But do you think this would do as well?
S2 – haha.. what if I put in a Yuusuke.. ermm.. Yuusuke x George thing here? . haha.. just kidding! Thanks for loving this story!
FluffysBijin05 - really important questions. I guess they'll be answered slowly. Will reply to one though: yup, you'll find out about Yomi (and yeah! How could he have asked Yuusuke all those favors?! The nerve.. I guess child molesters have weird thoughts..)
iceheart3000 - in truth, I was surprised at how this story turned out too…:p Please continue to read too.
Raining Petals – yeah, I can get pretty confusing sometimes.. Don't worry, will try to make it better! (Is it the timeline that makes it confusing? Or the long sentences…) Thanks for reviewing and commenting
Starflower Sakura – haha (rubs off your innocent look) :p Yeah.. I wanted Hiei to kick the stepfather's a too, but wanted to complicate things. It's in my nature..xx
What2callmysel - congratulations! You gave the longest review yet throws a box of used toothpicks at you. That's your prize Oh yeah, now that you mention it, this is beginning to sound like some soap opera.. gah! xx Yup, the barriers of Hiei were to prevent Kurama's emotions from leaking out so telepaths/empaths won't be affected by his strong emotions, etc.. gah! I rambled too much. But you'll find out more about that in the next chapter (er.. the eighth chapter, I think). And you'll know more about Yomi, promise, don't worry!=)
Argh! Wasn't able to make it on your birthday! It's exactly one week after…xx sighs here: throws you a REALLY large, live dolphin for compensation. BeLaTed HapPy BirThdaY! Hope you didn't miss your computer too much..
If I missed anyone, sorry! So finally, we proceed. Hope you enjoy:
&
"The loving starry sky
Should make you feel touched
I'm here by your side
Decorating a piece of heaven for you
If you have too much sadness
Leave your heart for me to protect.
The tired fireworks
I'll chase them away for you
Flowery words
Is only decorative
If I am silent
That's because I love you too much"
- "Liu Xing Yu", F4
It wasn't really that rare, but today, he felt it more strongly. Hiei wanted Kurama with him.
For the fire demon, there was something about the kitsune that makes him so addicting. Perhaps it's his scent? Maybe those tantalizing eyes, or that unnaturally high voice? It could be his touch – somehow, the koorime would gladly injure himself in battle, in the rosebushes, or while eating cookies, just so the redhead could tend to the wounds. Both knew that it was only Kurama who could touch Hiei so freely. And it was not only because of the danger doing that posed, but others flinch from the unnatural body temperature as well. Even Yukina is startled sometimes…
Okay, back to the fox. Anyone would laugh if it is presumed that what Hiei craved – yes, crave- was the conversation. He hardly spoke, being one to think that actions are so much better. So why waste saliva?
And even when the two were together.. THEY rarely speak. Silence between them was as comfortable as it could get. Of course, it's NOT the conversation!
You can call it, 'missing someone you've just seen less than thirty minutes ago'.
So now, Hiei's dilemma was how to get the fox closer without sounding like a screaming schoolgirl. What bait should he use?
Ah, that.
Hiei removed himself from his rather comfortable perch and proceeded to sprint or whiz by towards their own little haven: the old, almost disintegrated church with the statue of a saint offering a sword to the heavens. The koorime sat on those very familiar steps, gazing at the tree in front. It was Kurama's favorite. He loved the way the moon glimmered on the top leaves, the way the shadows blended below. For the redhead, the way the branches were arranged were perfect. Hah, take that from a plant-lover. But the things he absolutely liked were the ridiculously large stars hung on the boughs.
Hiei mentally rang, Do you want to bring your brushes and paint the tree with the dangling stars?
The bait was set.
The fire koorime knew that he didn't have to wait long. This church was only about 10 minutes away from the Hatanaka residence. He wanted to pick Kurama up, but that would seem like he was… impatiently desperate. So he waited.
Hiei was surprised when the half-youko arrived without his art materials. Oh, so he must know that I just wanted company. Immediately, he suppressed his subconscious, but a thought had already slipped through, Just wanted company, eh?
Shut up.
The two sat in pure silence on the stone steps. Hiei had leaned on the wall, right leg bent before his chest, the other, folded and tucked behind his right ankle, both hands holding the hilt of the katana, which rested on the loop of his left leg. He didn't know whether he should be annoyed that the other didn't bring those tubes of paint and brushes or to be thankful that they weren't there, as he watched from the corner of his eyes the redhead, who was staring straight ahead, and then up towards the night sky. The source of Hiei's uncertainty was that with his sensitive nose, the smell of the linseed oil and varnish was excruciating. But it was whenever Kurama painted, that the fire demon as free to look/stare for long periods of time. Brushing the unimportant topic off his mind, he was just thankful that the redhead was here, close to him.
It was merely quiet as they stayed there. Kurama, long, shapely legs stretched out on the steps had been observing the acacia tree before them, how silently its leaves shook, the gently swaying of the blue and white stars hung on the branches. He was mesmerized by the way the light shone off their reflective latex surfaces.
"And its leaves twinkled above the stars", he whispered softly, the poet in him surfacing.
Hiei tried thinking of a good reply, but he was not one to spout romantic nonsense. So he remained quiet. Kurama didn't mind. This was always how it has always been between them anyway. In their world, words were not needed.
But sometimes, when one is troubled, silence could be uncomfortable. So maybe that's why Kurama finally spoke directly to his friend, "What's on your mind, Hiei?"
He wasn't actually looking at the fire demon, he was still staring at the heavens. Waiting for some divine hand, perhaps. Hiei probably couldn't help himself when he began looking at the way those red locks fell back, revealing those smooth, pale cheeks, the titled chin, the half-closed eyes that further brought out those long, slightly-curled lashes, and whatever skin was exposed near his neck.
Call it a fetish of his, but to Hiei, the neck was the most enticing part a person could have. In Makai, to expose one's neck meant an offer of being claimed. Both youkai knew that. And yet surprisingly, Kurama had bared his neck to Hiei more than four times. Okay, make that five. Or maybe even more times than that.
Even when the fire demon admitted his feeling of attachment to the half-youko, the latter never feared showing off his creamy neck. Why?
Hiei has yet to ask him.
But for now, he was content in this silence.
To he outside world, they may as well have been invisible, because once they were in this state, nothing could penetrate through the world it formed around them. This old church, the tree in front with the huge stars hanging from it, these cold stone steps, the statue, the blowing night wind and the sounds of the night was their own. They could stay there forever, or until duty called. They could stay for hours without speaking.
Because in their own world, words were really not needed.
This was a world only for them, and where the stars in the heavens are the only witnesses.
Maybe they could stay here for a while.
Okay.. was that too fluffy? Just wanted a random scene..
Next up,
Chapter 7b: I, You
Yeah, it's another side story. Just in case I hit a road block again…xx
This time, it's a more elaborate description of how Yuusuke and Kurama became close.
Hm.. Happy summer vacation, everyone!
Please find time to review and comment and give suggestions!