Thanks for the reviews guys!
Disc'r: I don't own YYH.
It was Tetsuya. He wasn't at all shocked, but he made a sharp movement with his arm. Kurama wondered why he did that as he swung his legs around to the floor. Tetsuya stepped inside quickly and closed the door. He smiled.
"Hey," he said. "I didn't know you two were this hot an item." Kurama chuckled nervously as he picked his shirt up off the floor.
"What are you doing here?" he asked as he turned on the lamp.
"I brought a friend by to see the place. Believe me, if I had have known you were this busy, I wouldn't have bothered you." Tetsuya was dressed like a normal teenager, if teenagers had a normal way of dressing. He had on a pair of khakis that flared largely at his feet and covered his shoes, a t-shirt with a logo on the front and a loose jacket over it. His hair was combed down in an attractive sweep across his face. Kurama slipped his shirt on and stood up. He stretched. Hiei sat back against the wall and folded his arms. He made a noise of irritation and looked away. Kurama kissed at him. Hiei huffed.
"Sorry about him," Kurama said. He smiled at Tetsuya. "So where's this friend of yours?" Tetsuya turned and opened the door. He stepped out with Kurama behind him. His friend was about Kurama's height, with dark blue hair and brown eyes. He wore a pair of glasses with no rims. His face was long and handsome, with thin, even features. He was dressed more formally than Tetsuya, wearing a polo shirt, pressed slacks and shiny black shoes. He looked like a snob, and had the same poise Tetsuya would have had if his father were around. He held out his hand to Kurama. Kurama shook it.
"Way to go to break one of my ribs, Tsu-kun," he said and looked at Kurama. "I'm Ikeda Hiroshi. Shuuichi, right?"
"That's me," Kurama said. He put his hand in his pocket.
"This is my best friend from school," Tetsuya explained.
"Is this how you treat your best friends, Tsu-kun?" Hiroshi asked, rubbing his chest. "You hit me hard enough, huh?"
"Weakling," Tetsuya said. He looked at Kurama. "Mom and dad are gone, right?"
"Yeah."
"Good. Could we crash here for the night?"
"I thought you were staying at your mother's."
"Yeah, well...she's not really home yet."
"Where is she?"
"She went up north to see my...uh...a relative." Kurama nodded and looked down.
"Your grandmother?" Tetsuya nodded.
"I'm...I'm sorry, Shuu-kun," he said. Kurama shook his head.
"It's quite alright. I don't need you walking around on eggshells. Just say what you must." Tetsuya turned to Hiroshi.
"His grandma just passed," he explained. Hiroshi made a sympathetic face and took Kurama's free hand in his. He patted it.
"I'm sorry," he said. "I know it's hard. I lost my grandpa last summer to cancer. Did she die of cancer?" Kurama pulled his hand away quickly, feeling the familiar heartache return.
"You can stay, just don't eat us out of house and home," he said quickly and slipped into his room. He pressed his back against the door and sighed harshly. He heard Tetsuya hit Hiroshi again.
"Way to go, baka," he said. "Think you can be a little more sensitive next time?"
"What did I do?" Hiroshi asked. "People asked me that all the time back when gramps died and..." Their voices became faint as they walked away. Kurama shook his head.
"You ok?" Hiei asked from the bed. Kurama nodded and walked over. He sat down on the edge of the bed. Hiei scooted forward and put his arm around Kurama's waist.
"Tetsuya-chan brought a friend over. They're going to stay the night."
"Does...that mean we have to keep it down?" Hiei asked. Kurama looked at him blankly.
"You'll be the death of me," he said.
"What?" Hiei asked. "You don't want to anymore?"
"I'd rather not traumatize Tetsuya for life, Hiei." Hiei made a face then scooted back on the bed.
"I suppose we can wait until he leaves." Kurama shook his head at him. He went to his drawer and pulled out a pair of boxer shorts. Hiei perked up and he made a small noise of surprise.
"What is it?" Kurama asked.
"Uh...nothing..." Hiei said. His forehead was twitching. Kurama shut his drawer and went over to the bed.
"What is it?" he asked again. Hiei looked like he was hiding a secret. He looked away, pretending it was nothing big. Kurama could see right through him. "What is he doing to her?" Kurama asked.
"It's not them," Hiei said. "It's someone else."
"Someone like who?"
"I don't have to tell you about everything I see, Kurama," Hiei said. "It's my eye."
"Is it Yukina?" Hiei pursed his lips and looked away.
"None of your business," he said.
"Hiei," Kurama said, sitting on the bed again. "I care for Yukina almost as much as I care for mother. Whether you want to share her or not, I am concerned for her, and I do consider it my business." Hiei thought about it, then folded his arms and closed his eyes, pretending to look disinterested. Kurama waited. His forehead twitched again. Hiei's expression told Kurama that something serious was going on. "It is mother, isn't it? If it was Yukina, you would have left by now." Hiei didn't say anything. Kurama could see that he was right. "What is he doing to her?" Kurama asked. He grabbed Hiei by the forearm. "Tell me."
"Damnit!" Hiei said. He ripped his bandanna from his forehead and faced Kurama. His jagan eye opened and momentarily displayed the scene Hiei'd been tuned in to. Kurama watched as Shiori was being pulled from Masahiro's car. Masahiro grabbed her by her arms and flung her from the vehicle. They were on a roadside and it was still raining where they were. Shiori hit the ground and he stood above her.
"Apologize to me!" he demanded. Kurama's fists clenched. "Now!"
"I'm—I'm sorry, Masahiro," Shiori said, coughing. Masahiro bent next to her and struck her.
"You know better than that!" he said. "Who am I to you?!"
"Nakajima-sama," Shiori murmured. She coughed a little more. Kurama stood up.
"Make him stop," he said to Hiei. Hiei came from the bed quickly and went to slide on his shoes.
"Just let me, Kurama. I'll deal with my punishments, just let me."
"No!" Kurama said quickly. "I don't want to lose you, too. Just scare him...through telepathy." Hiei looked down, his chest heaving. He closed his eyes and his jagan went back to normal. He began to concentrate on whatever message he sent to Masahiro. After a short while, he calmed down.
"They're on the road again," he said, rubbing his temples. Kurama sighed heavily and plopped down in his computer chair. He covered his face with his hand and began to sob.
"What am I going to do?" he asked. Hiei shook his head.
"What does it matter if I end up in that stupid prison?" he asked. He was angry. "At least you'll get that woman back, and at least you'll be happy again."
"I'll never be happy without you," Kurama said.
"Who would you rather have? Me or your mother?"
"Hiei, don't do this to me!"
"Who? I know it's that woman, Kurama. I know she means more to you."
"No..."
"Then it's not true?" Hiei asked. "You love me more than her?" Hiei put his hand to Kurama's chin and made him look at him. "Don't be stupid, Kurama. I don't care that you love her more than me, she's your mother, for Inari's sake." Kurama shook his head.
"I don't want to make that decision."
"You can't always get what you want," Hiei said. "I know what's in your heart, but if you're too weak to accept it, then I'll make the decision for you." Hiei grabbed his katana and cape and went to leave.
"Don't you dare!" Kurama said. He stood up quickly. "I'm going to take care of this myself. I have spent too much time here for it all to come crumbling down on me now. I will have my cake and eat it, too, Hiei, I don't care what it takes!"
"Do you hear yourself?" Hiei asked. "What the hell are you prepared to do, then, Kurama?"
"I don't know damnit!" Kurama said. He grunted out of frustration and forcefully wiped his tears from his face. "I never just know. I'll know when the time comes, and that is always how I operate." Hiei set his things on the ground and sat down on the bed.
"I want to help you," he said, "but you're making it incredibly hard for me."
"I don't want you to do anything that will get you in trouble, Hiei. I just need you here with me."
"I'm not going anywhere," Hiei said. "I'm gonna be here, no matter what." He went over to Kurama's side and kissed his forehead.
"Thank you."
"Yeah," Hiei said. He took his boots off and laid down. "Come here." Kurama laid down on the bed next to him and scooted towards him. He rested his head on his chest.
"I hate crying," he said, and tried to wipe his face dry. Hiei patted his shoulder.
"You'll cry as long as you're human," he said. Kurama spent a lot of time pondering that, and didn't notice exactly when he fell asleep.
The next morning, Kurama left Hiei's side and tiptoed downstairs. Tetsuya and Hiroshi were asleep in the living room, Hiroshi neatly laying on the couch and Tetsuya in a lazy curl on the armchair. The television was on, but it was low, and there were several bowls around from what they'd snacked on. Kurama walked over and collected the bowls, feeling a pair of eyes on him meanwhile. He turned and looked over to Tetsuya. He was still asleep.
"You can leave those," Hiroshi said. "I'll take care of them."
"You just rest," Kurama said.
"Let me," Hiroshi said. He sat up, took his glasses from the coffee table and slipped them on. "As an apology for my actions last night."
"You didn't—" Before Kurama could finish, Hiroshi took the dishes from him. Kurama followed him into the kitchen. Hiroshi went to work washing them out and Kurama grabbed a banana from on top of the refrigerator.
"Want one?" he asked. Hiroshi shook his head.
"No, it's much too early. Thank you, though, Minamino-san."
"You...don't have to call me that," Kurama said. "Kurama will do just fine."
"Kurama?" Hiroshi asked. Kurama nodded. "That's an odd name."
"You think?" Kurama went back through the house and to the front door. He picked up the paper and brought it into the kitchen. He stood at the table as he looked through it. "What time do you usually eat?" he asked meanwhile.
"What do you mean?" Hiroshi asked.
"You said it was too early...when I offered you something to eat."
"Oh, that." Hiroshi finished the last dish and dried his hands. "I forgot to bring my medicine with me, and I shouldn't eat until after I take it."
"I see," Kurama said.
"Other than that, I eat at lunch time."
"No breakfast?"
"Not anymore."
"You get sick?"
"Yeah." Kurama nodded again. "So...you...how's..." Kurama looked up at him and waited. "You wanna go out with us today?"
"I'm sorry...I can't. I have a lot of work to do today."
"I know," Hiroshi said. "And...I'd like to help." Kurama lowered his banana and turned to him. "I saw it," he said. "I can help you."
"You saw what?" Kurama asked.
"What happened." Kurama lowered his eyes and rested his weight against the table.
"You saw what happened?" he asked. Hiroshi nodded. "Could you elaborate?"
"I'm not an ordinary person," Hiroshi said.
"Yeah, well, neither am I."
"You don't believe me?"
"I do. You don't have any reason to lie to me, as far as I'm concerned. I want to know what you saw."
"Well...I don't want to say it."
"Then how can you help me?"
"If you'd just come out with us today..." Kurama finished his banana and tossed the peel in the garbage.
"I really have a lot that I planned to do today," he said. "Promise me if I go out with you, I won't end the day regretting it."
"You won't," Hiroshi said, seeming excited now that he'd got Kurama to come along. "I see that you won't."
"When you say that you see it, you mean...visions?" Hiroshi nodded. "You're psychic?"
"Precog." Kurama's eyebrows lifted.
"Precognition?"
"Yeah. I apprentice with someone you know." Now, who could that be?
"Master Genkai?" Hiroshi's eyes lit up.
"Yes!" he said. He walked closer to Kurama. "So will you come with us? To her temple? We can help you."
"She put you up to this?"
"No...not exactly. She told me to follow my heart, and...I did."
"She put you up to it," Kurama murmured to himself. He nodded. "I will." Hiroshi looked about ready to jump for joy.
"Thank you," he said. Kurama had no idea why he was being thanked.
"I'll be upstairs."
"Okay." Kurama left to go to his room. Hiei was still asleep on his bed. He'd turned and faced the window while Kurama was gone. Kurama gathered some clothes together and took them with him to the bathroom. He used the bathroom and brushed his teeth, then stepped into the shower. Meanwhile, he heard someone walk in. Tetsuya had the habit of walking into places without knocking, and so initially, Kurama thought it was him. But it didn't take him long to realize that it was Hiei.
Hiei walked into the bathroom and closed the door behind him. He went over to the shower and pulled the curtain back slightly. Kurama gave him an annoyed looked as Hiei looked him over. Hiei smirked.
"Not bad," he said. "Not bad at all."
"Are you through?"
"Not nearly."
"What do you want?"
"To join you." Kurama sighed.
"I don't think that's a good idea. We've got company." Hiei shook his head.
"Nope. They left. The kid said they'd be back soon, though. I think we have enough time."
"What if I don't want to rush it?"
"What is it, really, Kurama?" Hiei asked. "You don't wanna do it anymore? I refuse to believe that."
"It's not that I don't want to," Kurama said. "Of course I want to. It's just hard right now, to focus on it. I don't want to think depressing thoughts while we're trying to make love."
"Oh, I see." Hiei remained where he stood.
"Now what?" Kurama asked.
"Don't you need someone to wash your back for you?"
"If you'd be so kind, I'd love for you to wash my back. But if you get in here with me, you've got to promise. No funny stuff."
"Scout's honor."
"That means absolutely nothing coming from you, you weird demon. You've never been a scout."
"So long as my intentions are pure, eh, Kurama?" Kurama rolled his eyes. Hiei slipped into the tub.
"You're...already naked?" Kurama asked.
"Like you would have turned me down," Hiei said. He hugged Kurama from behind.
"I will next time."
"I'll get in anyway." Kurama handed him the bar of soap.
"Just wash my back for me," he said, gathering his hair and swinging it over his shoulder. Hiei lathered the soap in his hands and ran them over Kurama's back. Kurama let the water run through his hair. He took his bottle of shampoo from the shower rack and lathered it through his hair.
"What's that stuff?" Hiei asked. "Smells good."
"It's my shampoo."
"Oh."
"It helps keep my hair full and shiny and..." Kurama breathed in deep. "...aromatic." Hiei chuckled and continued to run the soap over his back. He slowly ran his hands around Kurama's sides and towards the front. "I said no," Kurama said. Hiei chuckled at him.
"I'm just giving you a thorough scrub, that's all." Kurama didn't trust his chuckle. He rinsed the shampoo from his hair and then turned his back to the water to rinse off. Hiei's expression turned mischievous when Kurama turned his front to him. "Aren't you going to wash me, too?" he asked. Kurama smirked down at him.
"You can wash yourself, especially if you keep looking at me like that."
"Don't be that way, Kurama," Hiei said. He came forward and put his arms around Kurama.
"I don't know about you, but I'm just about done."
"Stay in with me, Kurama," Hiei urged. He kissed Kurama's chest.
"You're the worst." Hiei grinned. Kurama moved forward, turned and shut the water off.
"I'm getting out now," he said. Hiei sighed.
"Come on, Kurama. Is it really that bad of a request?"
"You don't want to shower," Kurama said. "You want to do it. And I have things to do today. When they come back, they're going to pick me up and then I'm going to go."
"Can I come, too?"
"You hate cars."
"I'll follow you."
"You'd follow me even if I said no."
"No... I promise I won't." Kurama pulled back the curtain and stepped out. Hiei followed him. Kurama opened the linen closet and took out a towel. He dried himself off with it, then lotioned up his body. Hiei dried himself off with Kurama's towel, then sat the towel on the toilet seat. He sat over it and waited for Kurama to get dressed. Kurama dried his hair and brushed it out, then put his clothes on.
There was a knock on the door as he was bringing the brush through his hair again. Hiei covered himself with the towel and folded his arms. Kurama opened the door. It was Hiroshi.
"You ready?" he asked.
"Where's Tetsuya?"
"I'm right here," Tetsuya said from the hall. He waved his hand at the door, where Kurama could see it.
"Yeah," Kurama said. "I'm just about done."
"Good," Hiroshi said. "We're running a little late. We didn't expect Kase-san to not be home last night...kinda set us back having to sleep here." Kurama set the brush down.
"We should head out right now, then," he said. Hiroshi nodded and he and Tetsuya walked away from the bathroom. Kurama turned to Hiei and waved.
"I'll be back later." Hiei made a face and looked out the window. Kurama went over and kissed his forehead. "Love ya."
"Hn."
If you're wondering how come I gave Hiei's jagan magical powers, it's all in the fiction. All in the fiction... Thanks for reading and please review!
J3