X.X AHHH!! I just looked over the last chapter... (since I didn't have much time to proof it before posting) and there was this one sentence that confused me so much it wasn't even funny.
Kurama wasn't scared very often, and even when he was nothing could provide such an instant cure like this.
I stared at that for nearly ten minutes trying to figure what the hell I meant after "very often,"... Ahem, needless to say, it will now look like this!
Kurama wasn't scared very often, and even when he was, nothing could provide such an instant cure like this.
This is why I love punctuation....
--
Chapter Three: To be First.
--
Hiei looked around again, checking for anything suspicious for the fourth time in the last five minutes or so. You could say he was paranoid, but really, he just had nothing else to do. Kurama had been asleep for nearly three hours now. At first Hiei had occupied himself by cleaning up and organizing Kurama's things, killing an insect that had landed on Kurama's shoulder (very violent episode Hiei had there...), and taking a little trip ten feet down a slope to visit the river.
Kurama slept too much. But Hiei tolerated it, seeing as how he really did need rest. And amazingly, even though Kurama had to be in pain, he could still sleep with a contented smile across his lips. Somehow that felt comforting to Hiei.
Before Kurama was born a human, before he truly became Shuuichi Minamino, wasn't he a lot like Hiei in a way? He didn't hesitate to kill, to steal, and to do anything to survive. That was the way it worked, and Kurama did it for hundreds of years. How was it possible that one person, his human mother, could have changed all that in such a short while?
Hiei shifted his glance to his own wound: a small gash on his left hand. He closed his eyes, recalling that he had gotten it when he looked away from an attacking demon to make sure Kurama wasn't being attacked himself.
There were very few people one could truly like in the worlds, respect, and care about. Some people you grew to be annoyed with over time, and some just downright disgusted you. But the ones you cared for could always influence you.
If you could know everything about your own self then what use was there for friends...? Because whenever Hiei looked into Kurama's eyes... he saw more of himself than he ever did before.
Ever since Hiei had begun to hang around Kurama, he did begin to do things differently. Kurama treated Hiei's wounds, even when he didn't have to. He argued on Hiei's side. And Kurama always included him.... How could Hiei not trust him when Kurama smiled so kindly, for no reason other than because Hiei happened to look at him?
The two were close, and that had always been quite evident to Hiei. Kurama was his first friend, his first ally, the first one to ever be kind... and the first one to... Hiei shivered at the thought and jetted his eyes over in Kurama's direction, suddenly feeling nervous... or... excited.
"There are only two things you never forget: your first kill, and your latest one."
"Hiei, I don't see what this has to do with 'E.T.'...." Kurama spoke smugly, raising his eyebrow at Hiei with intent to mock.
"What's 'E.T.?" Hiei asked indifferently, glaring at the part kitsune with a very impatient expression on his face.
"It's the movie we've been watching for the past hour," Kurama replied, his sarcasm finally let loose.
"Ah... I'm just saying that there's no way that bratty human child is going to remember that alien like he claims he will."
"And why is that, exactly?"
"Because humans are close-minded idiots! When he grows older he'll lose his childish imagination and convince himself that this whole ordeal was just some sort of farfetched dream!" Hiei spat, sounding annoyed. "And that means that we've simply been wasting our time by watching this film."
Kurama stared blankly at his companion.
"I don't think you forget alien encounters that your entire family and their friends witness with you."
Hiei thought for a moment.
"Whatever... I guess that's three things, then."
"Ah, but you don't forget your first big heist either," Kurama added, smiling cheerfully.
"Four, then."
"Or your first time watching 'E.T.'" Kurama continued, directing the same smug look at Hiei.
"I wish I could..." Hiei mumbled, folding his arms.
"That makes five then. And of course, you never forget your first kiss," Kurama stated, shifting a little on the sofa he and Hiei shared.
"Ha! That one's not true. I don't remember my first kiss!" Hiei retorted, smirking victoriously.
"...Is that because you've never been kissed before?" Kurama accused, a devilish and all-knowing smirk occupying his expression.
Hiei glared angrily, but nonetheless he had "liar!" written all over his face.
"So what?" Hiei spat, avoiding eye contact with his companion. "It's not important."
"True, but it's fun."
"Says the youko..."
Kurama shifted his glance about the room for a moment, until finally he reached out and grabbed the smaller demon's shoulders, pulling him into a friendly but vigorous kiss.
Hiei merely stared in shock of Kurama's actions after the redhead pulled away, returning to his previous position, still with that smug look on his face.
"And don't you forget it."
Hiei bit his lip, a curious look on his face. Surely, he wouldn't be thinking about it if he'd forgotten.
Hiei took in a deep breath, his eyes wandering about.
"Is something wrong, Hiei?"
The small fire demon nearly jumped a mile at Kurama's voice.
"How long have you been awake?" Hiei asked, sounding a little angry.
"Mmm... about three seconds. Why?" Kurama replied, sleepily shifting to rest on his side, facing Hiei.
"How was the lime?"
"...What...?"
"Heh, never mind."
Kurama smiled a little, as confused as he was. He noted the odd sense of happiness Hiei was giving off around him... he liked that. Kurama always liked rare treasures, after all.
"Oh! That reminds me," Kurama started, calling Hiei's attention. "I'm just looking for a simple chest, that's all."
"What's in it?" Hiei asked suspiciously, aiming his best glare at Kurama.
"I don't rightly remember... jewels, most likely. You may have whatever it is if we find it."
"...Why?" Hiei asked, finding the whole thing a little crazy.
"Because I don't need it."
"So... you just want the chest itself?"
"No, not really... you can have that too, if you want."
"That's it, Kurama. You're insane," Hiei commented, shaking his head in disapproval.
"...Maybe..." Kurama agreed sarcastically, giving Hiei a mockingly thoughtful look.
Hiei sighed a slight laugh as he inched towards Kurama a bit, and then turned to face him. He looked much better, which meant Kurama was healing very quickly.
Kurama would be as good as new in no time at all.
"I guess you're feeling better," Hiei remarked quietly, avoiding eye contact with his friend in order to mask his concern. Did it work? No. But that wasn't the point.
"I'm fine. But you on the other hand look strained. Please, let me keep watch while you rest...."
Hiei contemplated for a moment.
"I promise to wake you if anything happens," Kurama added kindly.
"Okay, fox...." Hiei surrendered, and was suddenly grabbed by two soft and gentle hands placed delicately on his shoulders. Kurama carefully lowered Hiei down, and cradled his head affectionately in his arms.
Hiei closed his eyes, not minding when Kurama brought him closer. In fact, it felt nice, warm. And he felt safe, even being protected by someone who could barely lift his arms.
--
That was short again. And I was totally out of my mind while I wrote the last page or so, so please excuse it. X.X
Wow, I went three whole chapters without having anything related to the plot happen. Uh-oh. I guess this means the fic might be a little on the long side, huh? The plan was for it to have seven chapters... but I'm not sure if that will work. You guys wouldn't mind if it were longer, right? I hope not....
Please review! Reviewers get pasta! Yep! PASTA!
Kurama wasn't scared very often, and even when he was nothing could provide such an instant cure like this.
I stared at that for nearly ten minutes trying to figure what the hell I meant after "very often,"... Ahem, needless to say, it will now look like this!
Kurama wasn't scared very often, and even when he was, nothing could provide such an instant cure like this.
This is why I love punctuation....
--
Chapter Three: To be First.
--
Hiei looked around again, checking for anything suspicious for the fourth time in the last five minutes or so. You could say he was paranoid, but really, he just had nothing else to do. Kurama had been asleep for nearly three hours now. At first Hiei had occupied himself by cleaning up and organizing Kurama's things, killing an insect that had landed on Kurama's shoulder (very violent episode Hiei had there...), and taking a little trip ten feet down a slope to visit the river.
Kurama slept too much. But Hiei tolerated it, seeing as how he really did need rest. And amazingly, even though Kurama had to be in pain, he could still sleep with a contented smile across his lips. Somehow that felt comforting to Hiei.
Before Kurama was born a human, before he truly became Shuuichi Minamino, wasn't he a lot like Hiei in a way? He didn't hesitate to kill, to steal, and to do anything to survive. That was the way it worked, and Kurama did it for hundreds of years. How was it possible that one person, his human mother, could have changed all that in such a short while?
Hiei shifted his glance to his own wound: a small gash on his left hand. He closed his eyes, recalling that he had gotten it when he looked away from an attacking demon to make sure Kurama wasn't being attacked himself.
There were very few people one could truly like in the worlds, respect, and care about. Some people you grew to be annoyed with over time, and some just downright disgusted you. But the ones you cared for could always influence you.
If you could know everything about your own self then what use was there for friends...? Because whenever Hiei looked into Kurama's eyes... he saw more of himself than he ever did before.
Ever since Hiei had begun to hang around Kurama, he did begin to do things differently. Kurama treated Hiei's wounds, even when he didn't have to. He argued on Hiei's side. And Kurama always included him.... How could Hiei not trust him when Kurama smiled so kindly, for no reason other than because Hiei happened to look at him?
The two were close, and that had always been quite evident to Hiei. Kurama was his first friend, his first ally, the first one to ever be kind... and the first one to... Hiei shivered at the thought and jetted his eyes over in Kurama's direction, suddenly feeling nervous... or... excited.
"There are only two things you never forget: your first kill, and your latest one."
"Hiei, I don't see what this has to do with 'E.T.'...." Kurama spoke smugly, raising his eyebrow at Hiei with intent to mock.
"What's 'E.T.?" Hiei asked indifferently, glaring at the part kitsune with a very impatient expression on his face.
"It's the movie we've been watching for the past hour," Kurama replied, his sarcasm finally let loose.
"Ah... I'm just saying that there's no way that bratty human child is going to remember that alien like he claims he will."
"And why is that, exactly?"
"Because humans are close-minded idiots! When he grows older he'll lose his childish imagination and convince himself that this whole ordeal was just some sort of farfetched dream!" Hiei spat, sounding annoyed. "And that means that we've simply been wasting our time by watching this film."
Kurama stared blankly at his companion.
"I don't think you forget alien encounters that your entire family and their friends witness with you."
Hiei thought for a moment.
"Whatever... I guess that's three things, then."
"Ah, but you don't forget your first big heist either," Kurama added, smiling cheerfully.
"Four, then."
"Or your first time watching 'E.T.'" Kurama continued, directing the same smug look at Hiei.
"I wish I could..." Hiei mumbled, folding his arms.
"That makes five then. And of course, you never forget your first kiss," Kurama stated, shifting a little on the sofa he and Hiei shared.
"Ha! That one's not true. I don't remember my first kiss!" Hiei retorted, smirking victoriously.
"...Is that because you've never been kissed before?" Kurama accused, a devilish and all-knowing smirk occupying his expression.
Hiei glared angrily, but nonetheless he had "liar!" written all over his face.
"So what?" Hiei spat, avoiding eye contact with his companion. "It's not important."
"True, but it's fun."
"Says the youko..."
Kurama shifted his glance about the room for a moment, until finally he reached out and grabbed the smaller demon's shoulders, pulling him into a friendly but vigorous kiss.
Hiei merely stared in shock of Kurama's actions after the redhead pulled away, returning to his previous position, still with that smug look on his face.
"And don't you forget it."
Hiei bit his lip, a curious look on his face. Surely, he wouldn't be thinking about it if he'd forgotten.
Hiei took in a deep breath, his eyes wandering about.
"Is something wrong, Hiei?"
The small fire demon nearly jumped a mile at Kurama's voice.
"How long have you been awake?" Hiei asked, sounding a little angry.
"Mmm... about three seconds. Why?" Kurama replied, sleepily shifting to rest on his side, facing Hiei.
"How was the lime?"
"...What...?"
"Heh, never mind."
Kurama smiled a little, as confused as he was. He noted the odd sense of happiness Hiei was giving off around him... he liked that. Kurama always liked rare treasures, after all.
"Oh! That reminds me," Kurama started, calling Hiei's attention. "I'm just looking for a simple chest, that's all."
"What's in it?" Hiei asked suspiciously, aiming his best glare at Kurama.
"I don't rightly remember... jewels, most likely. You may have whatever it is if we find it."
"...Why?" Hiei asked, finding the whole thing a little crazy.
"Because I don't need it."
"So... you just want the chest itself?"
"No, not really... you can have that too, if you want."
"That's it, Kurama. You're insane," Hiei commented, shaking his head in disapproval.
"...Maybe..." Kurama agreed sarcastically, giving Hiei a mockingly thoughtful look.
Hiei sighed a slight laugh as he inched towards Kurama a bit, and then turned to face him. He looked much better, which meant Kurama was healing very quickly.
Kurama would be as good as new in no time at all.
"I guess you're feeling better," Hiei remarked quietly, avoiding eye contact with his friend in order to mask his concern. Did it work? No. But that wasn't the point.
"I'm fine. But you on the other hand look strained. Please, let me keep watch while you rest...."
Hiei contemplated for a moment.
"I promise to wake you if anything happens," Kurama added kindly.
"Okay, fox...." Hiei surrendered, and was suddenly grabbed by two soft and gentle hands placed delicately on his shoulders. Kurama carefully lowered Hiei down, and cradled his head affectionately in his arms.
Hiei closed his eyes, not minding when Kurama brought him closer. In fact, it felt nice, warm. And he felt safe, even being protected by someone who could barely lift his arms.
--
That was short again. And I was totally out of my mind while I wrote the last page or so, so please excuse it. X.X
Wow, I went three whole chapters without having anything related to the plot happen. Uh-oh. I guess this means the fic might be a little on the long side, huh? The plan was for it to have seven chapters... but I'm not sure if that will work. You guys wouldn't mind if it were longer, right? I hope not....
Please review! Reviewers get pasta! Yep! PASTA!