HIDDEN BEHIND THE EYES
By Starflower Sakura

DISCLAIMER: Yu Yu Hakusho doesn't belong to me in any way whatsoever. You can ask anybody, they'll give you the same answer…

To readers/reviewers: Sheesh, too many ideas, but I barely ever make it past the first chapter before I have another idea. This isn't my first Yu Yu Hakusho fic, but this is one that I hope I will finish first. Why? Don't know. *sighs* I'm listening to different varying music genres, so my typing might be affected, or it might not. Since that's done, have fun reading!

WARNING: This story contains yaoi, which also means m/m pairings. It's actually more shounen-ai, but I like typing yaoi better because it's shorter. Don't like don't read. Also, this is an AU fic and there are some people that don't like it so I'm just trying to warn you.

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HIDDEN BEHIND THE EYES
CHAPTER 1 - LOVE-IN-THE-MIST

"Shuuichi!"

"Hai, Okaa-san?"

"Will you please take care of the shop for about ten minutes. I need to go and fill out these forms for new flower seeds."

"Of course," Shuuichi answered, arranging another bouquet of flowers.

His blank green eyes stared straight ahead, but his smile was full of life. Ever since he was little, he had loved flowers and became a professional at growing and arranging them in no time at all. That's why, although his eyesight is gone, he can still assemble beautiful arrangements of flowers even without being able to see them. He can recognize the type of plant or flower just by the scent or by touch. He searched around for the ribbon that he had set down with the rest of the materials and tied it carefully around the vase. Another smile graced his lips as yet another vase full of flowers was done. He left it on the counter for Shiori to put it wherever she saw fit.

"Hello?" a harsh, and grumpy voice asked as the little bell above the door rang, addressing the person's entrance.

"Hello, sir. What is it that you need?" Shuuichi asked.

"I need flowers, of course. What kind of idiot are you?"

"I know you need flowers, sir, but do you know what type of flowers you want?" Shuuichi asked.

"No. It's for my sister. It's her birthday today."

"Hmm, I see…" Shuuichi said, beginning to make his way around the counter.

"See? How can you see? From what I can tell, you're blind," the customer rudely stated the obvious.

Shuuichi flinched a bit, "Well, since that little fact is out of the way. Would you mind describing your sister to me?"

"Hn. Why?"

"Because so I would know which flowers to get."

"Fine. She's…" he faltered a bit. "She's innocent and sweet." A choking could be heard. Shuuichi was mildly amused by the obvious fact that this person isn't used to saying such things. "She's beautiful, but somewhat shy at the same times."

The person was about to continue, but Shuuichi cut him short by walking over towards some flowers and picking a couple at a time and bringing them back to the counter. Without a word, he started to arrange them and when he was finished he could tell that the extremely rude customer was surprised at his skills with plants.

"Why did you pick those particular flowers?" he asked suspiciously.

Shuuichi laughed melodiously, flicking some wisp of red hair behind him.

"Amaryllis," holding up one of the leftover flowers after running others through his fingers, "means beautiful but timid. The Crocus means cheerfulness," he announced holding up another flower. The Flower-of-an-Hour means delicate beauty. I sprinkled it slightly with white daisies for it stands for innocence. Is anything not to your satisfaction?" Shuuichi asked.

"Shuuichi-chan," Shiori called, coming out from the backroom. "Your friend just called and said he's coming to pick you up to go to a fair or such."

"Oh? Do you mean Yuusuke?"

"Yes, I think that was him."

"Okay. I better go change out of this apron. Can you please help take care of this customer? I already fixed the flowers, you just need to figure out the price."

"Okay, Shuu-chan. Now go back and change. You don't want to keep them waiting."

During this conversation, the dear little customer was getting aggravated by the fact that he was in a hurry and they were ignoring him. He was about to do something to get their attention, but Shiori turned to him first.

"Now let's see here. Ahh, he has done yet another wonderful job on this bouquet. This would cost about $15.65."

He handed her the money and walked out the door with the bouquet in his hands, glad to have that over with. He was about to continue on his way when he sees Shuuichi sitting on a bench at the edge of the park across the street. Not knowing why, he walked across the street and stood in front of him.

"Yuusuke? Is that you?"

"No, idiot. It's me, the customer you just assisted."

"Oh! I had a feeling I'll be seeing you sooner or later. Here," with that Shuuichi pulled out a flower from his mass of red locks.

"What is that?"

"It's a flower," Shuuichi laughed.

"I don't need it."

"I know you don't need it, but I want you to have it."

"Why, what's it name and what does it mean?"

Shuuichi closed his eyes and a mischievous smile graced his lips, "It's called Love-in-the-Mist and the meaning… well… that's for me to know and you to find out."

"Hn."

"What is your name anyways?"

"Huh?"

"I asked what your name with."

A long silence followed after that only to be broke by a loud yelling from down the block, "Kurama!"

"Yuusuke," Shuuichi or Kurama greeted, grinning.

"Hiei."

"What?" Kurama asked, turning towards the place where the voice came from.

"My name is Hiei," Kurama then heard footsteps walking away as footsteps approached.

"Who was that, Kurama?"

Kurama turned toward Yuusuke or where he thought he was at least and grinned.

"He said his name was Hiei. He was a customer that just came by."

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"Happy Birthday, Yukina," Hiei said, handing her the bouquet of flowers and a present that he bought a few weeks ago.

"Arigato, Hiei-niichan! Onii-chan? What are you holding?" Yukina asked, pointing towards the Love-in-the-Mist that Hiei was holding.

Hiei shrugged, "The salesperson gave it to me for free. Do you know what this flower means, Yukina-chan?"

Yukina giggled slightly, her eyes twinkled with amusement.

"It means 'you are puzzling.'"

"Puzzling?" Hiei asked, staring at the flower.

"Yes, I'm sure that's what it means."

Hiei frowned at the flower like he usually frowned at everything else. After getting bored with glaring at the poor defenseless flower, he tossed it onto a nearby table.

"Like I told him, I have no need for flowers. Stupid blind idiot."

"Onii-chan! It's mean to talk about somebody like that!" Yukina cried.

Hiei winced, but replied, "It's not like it matters. He can't hear it."

"Did you say something mean to him while he was servicing you?" Yukina interrogated, tilting her head cutely to the side.

Damn, I hate that look, Hiei thought as he looked at Yukina's sweet and questioning face. He knows he can't answer untruthfully when that look is on her face.

"I wasn't that mean," Hiei huffed, turning away from his beloved twin sister.

Yukina giggled softly, "Since you were still mean, then as my birthday wish, you would bring me over to that flower shop and you'll have to apologize to him."

Hiei turned towards Yukina with a look of horror on his face, sputtering complete nonsense. He knew he couldn't disagree with his sister, but he was going to try with all his might to slip his way out of this one.

"No, you're not going to slip out of this one, Onii-chan," Yukina stated, smiling, her red eyes lighting up at her brother's reaction to the whole thing.

"How…?"

"You're the dearest thing to me, Onii-chan. Do you think I wouldn't know what you think in that mind of yours?"

"But Okaa-san didn't even bring back your birthday cake yet, Yukina-chan. So you can't be making a wish yet."

Yukina smiled, "Then when she does, you know what my wish is, ne?"

Yukina stared at Hiei, a loving grin on her face and it brightened as a surrendering sigh escaped from her older brother.

"Hn. Fine, I'll go, but it's only because of you Yukina-chan."

"I know," Yukina said as he watched Hiei ascend the stairs towards his room.

Yukina picked up the flower and played lightly with it between her fingers. All things must come to an end and for it to end it must have a beginning and Yukina had a feeling that something interesting was going to begin.

To be continued…

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o.0 Am I actually finished with the first chapter? Wow! This isn't the first YYH story that I have started on, but this is the first one that is ever going to be posted! I'm so happy and excited! I think the people are OOC so I'm extremely sorry! Remember I have never successfully finished writing a Yu Yu Hakusho fic before so please don't kill me. Tell me if you like or not. It would mean a lot to me. Also, flames because it's yaoi would be laughed at and ignored. I already gave you a warning so if you still flame me then you're an idiot. Anyways, to the other people who do not fit in the previous category, please review and tell me what you think!

Any comments? Questions? Suggestions? Reviews? Email me at--- xstarflowerx@hotmail.com if you want to ask me anything!

~* Starflower Sakura *~