A Bond Set in Blood
Chapter Five
I awake the next morning to a gentle knock on the window. I'm surprised that such a tiny sound that woke me and tell myself that it was because I subconsciously sensed the yoki hovering outside my room. I get up and open the window. Hiei steps in.
"You two must have had fun last night if Kurama decided to stay the night," Hiei murmurs. It brings sick thoughts of an affair with Kurama into my head but I can tell it was just an innocent remark on Hiei's account.
"Why couldn't you knock on the door like normal people Hiei?" I ask.
"If I had, you wouldn't have heard me, now would you have?" Hiei tosses his bag down on the bed. "In any event, I'm back."
"I can see that," I nod. "Now, let's go downstairs and have some breakfast, hm?"
"I don't like the tone in your voice. I can tell you're hiding something," Hiei insists. I guess he didn't notice Kuroigure because he had a blanket thrown over him at the moment.
"It's nothing. Come along. Let's go downstairs and eat. After journeying back from the Makai, you must be famished," I laugh nervously and push him out the bedroom door. Hiei stops protesting and walks down the stairs of his own accord. "Wait here," I say when we reach the living room. "I'll bring you breakfast as soon as I'm done cooking."
I am just about to leave the room when he speaks up.
"There are three glasses here on the table," he observes, sitting on the sofa. "Who else was here last night?"
"Uh... no one. I just… um… there was a bug in my first drink so I went and got another, that's all. You read into things too much, Hiei."
"I see no bug," he insists. "And, to be honest, I think I'm not reading into things enough right now."
"You really must be famished. Let me get you some breakfast and then we can talk," I say, hoping to at least stall the conversation.
"What I need right now is an answer, not nourishment," he states sharply.
"But, Hiei, you look starv--"
"Tell me now."
"Oh alright," I sigh and walk over to him. I sit beside him on the sofa. "Where shall I begin?"
"Who was here last night?" he asks again.
"Kuroigure," I respond bluntly.
"And who is this Kuroigure?"
"He's the only child of the goddess Kuroni and Kurama's old partner Kuronue, both deceased."
"Why was he here?"
"He still is here. Belldandy's been taking care of him for several years but a half-demon doesn't easily blend in at Morisato residence. Besides, their home is a temple; many people go there and Kuroigure can't be seen by the humans because of his features. They'd put him in a freak show."
"But why is he here?"
"Hiei! I can't believe you! Kurama and I are this kid's only family and you want to kick him out!?"
"Well, why does he have to stay here? Don't they have foster homes for children of deceased goddesses? And don't even half-gods have mentors to stay with?" Hiei demands.
"If you're so insistent on Kuroigure having a foster home and a mentor, I'll go up to heaven right now and fill out applications for adoption and mentorship," I said angrily.
"You would dare to go against me?"
"It's a part of the code… We protect each other."
"And who else has sworn this code?"
"Just Kurama, Kuroigure, and myself."
"Let the child stay with Kurama then," Hiei insists.
"Hiei, you know damn well that I can't send Kuroigure into that house. It's a human home."
"So you think I'll let him stay here?"
"No, I know you'll let him stay here. That is, if you want to stay here."
"What are you insinuating?" Hiei demands.
"You kick Kuroigure out and I'll throw you to the curb so fast that you'll break the god damn sound barrier," I threaten.
"You wouldn't."
"I swear to God, I will!" I yelled at him. "Kuronue was like a father to me. He taught me all the essentials. He raised me. The least I can do is to raise his child for him."
"You're serious about this, huh?"
"Indeed I am."
"Well, it's considerably earlier than I expected and I certainly didn't expect him to be half-grown when he got here, but I'm going to have to get used to the idea of children at sometime during my life, seeing as you want us to have children so much. He can stay."
"Ooh really Hiei?!" I hug him tightly. "Thank you, thank you, thank you so very much!! I've gotta go tell Kurama he doesn't need to worry about being my defense council on the Kuroigure matter anymore!" I rush up the stairs and wake Kurama. I give him the good news and he congratulates me. Kuroigure stirs from all the noise.
"Quiet now," Kurama smiles. "We don't want to wake him."
"Oh isn't he just the sweetest little thing," I stroked the silver strands of hair away from Kuroigure's face.
"I'll say. I think all those years with Belldandy got to him," he chuckles softly. Kuroigure stirs again and this time his eyes flash open.
"Good morning," I smile down at him as I push the hair away from his face again.
"Good afternoon is more like it," Kurama states, looking over at the clock on the nightstand that reads 12:05.
"Kurama, Aneue," Kuroigure yawns. "G'morning."
"You two hungry? I was just about to make breakfast," I ask in a hushed voice. I always hated it when people spoke to me at normal or above normal volume while I was waking up, so I always tried to keep quiet for others when they were awakening.
"Yeah, I'm hungry," Kuroigure admits as he stretches his arms. He has a contented look on his face. I'm happy for him.
"Come downstairs with me, Kuroigure. It's about time you meet Hiei."
"Hiei? Who's he?"
"He's Alicia's lover."
"Kurama! You make it sound so scandalous!" I whisper.
"Well, it is true. You two were never married."
"Only because he refuses to accept the idea that a human has the authority to conduct our wedding and I can't track down a demon minister."
After that argument finishes, I lead Kuroigure downstairs and introduce him to Hiei. The two barely speak but I can tell they've started out as friends. I then leave the room to cook breakfast and Kurama follows shortly after.
"What did Hiei say to you when he agreed to taking in Kuroigure?" Kurama asks.
"He said, 'Well, it's considerably earlier than I expected and I certainly didn't expect him to be half-grown when he got here, but I'm going to have to get used to the idea of children at sometime during my life, seeing as you want us to have children so much. He can stay.'," I reply, readying a pot of hot water for tea.
"I hope you realize, by the way he phrased things, he intended for you to get a certain message."
"Oh really? What's that?"
"Hiei intends to get you pregnant, Alicia, so that you two can have children of your own to look after."
"You really think so."
"I know so," Kurama nodded.
Meanwhile, in the other room, Kuroigure and Hiei are sitting on the sofa together. Hiei's ears twitch and a discontented look crosses his face. He growls, "That damn fox is talking about me again."
"Nanda, Oniisan?" Kuroigure asks.
"What did you call me?"
"Oniisan. If you're Aneue's lover, then that makes you my Oniisan, right?"
"Aneue?"
"Yes, Aneue, Alicia-chan."
"Alicia's your sister, huh?"
"Well, as far as we're concerned, at least, Oniisan."