10 Years of Waiting
by Kurohi Tatsaki
Day 2a - Nightmare and Morning Conversations
Disclaimer: I don't own YYH, but I own Kurohi. This story is Yaoi! Male/Male relationships! Don't like it? Then leave.
"speaking" [thinking] {noise} ****** beginning/ending of dreams ********* flashback beginning/endings
-------------------------------------------
Kitchen utensils clattered softly in the kitchen as Kurama prepared breakfast, which was rice this time. He felt like preparing something light this morning, as he usually didn't stomach heavy things too well as of late. He knew Hiei wouldn't mind, and appreciated all kinds of food made by him... even if he didn't show it.
The previous night hadn't been much different than how it used to be. Nevertheless, it was something that the fox spirit cherished... in a sort of sick way.
To be honest, he had had a nightmare that night... a nightmare he wanted to forget, and yet, remember.
*********
"Hiei, do you want to sleep inside?" called Kurama.
The black-cloaked fire demon leaned against the rough, brown trunk of the tree as he sat on one of the highest branches that extended to the fox's window. A sliver or more of moon poked out of the dark night, but didn't dare show all of itself. Crickets chirped softly all around, but everything else was quiet save the two men talking. "I'm just fine out here," replied the demon, resting his forearms across his knees. The gentle breeze didn't deter Hiei's black and white spikes very much from their stuck up position at his forehead.
The silver-haired fox drummed his fingertips against the windowsill. Though, that description is only true to his youko form. "You're sure, Hiei?" He sounded hopeful. He sounded desperate.
The koorime crossbreed pondered which one he really was: desperate, or hopeful, or both? Now he doubted his decision to sleep farther from the kitsune on this branch. They were best friends, and probably shouldn't inflict pain upon the other. What kind of friendship would that be?
Well, he decided that there was no harm in entering the room and sleeping on the floor. He'd be closer to the fox but not so close as to weird the other male out. After all, the last thing he needed on his mind was the condition of their friendship - was it strong or weak?
Friendship... was that really all they had? And, exactly how strong was it?
Hiei himself deemed it pretty strong, though he believed it to be petty. Friendship was only a crutch for the weak, and partnerships could be betrayed.
...Then, if those opinions were actually true, what did *they* have?
Slowly enough to be seen, he got to his feet on the branch with ease and slipped inside the window. He stood just inside the room, lingering near the window but far enough away so if need be, the fox could quickly close it. The green-eyed beauty rewarded him with a very pleased grin and murmured rather huskily, "I'll be a moment. I need to change."
The fire demon watched as the elegant fox snagged something from his dresser and entered the bathroom. HE blinked, not understanding the huskiness in the fox's voice. Was his voice hoarse because of a ningen or youkai disease? Wait, they were demons - how could Kurama be sick?
Following suit of the fox, he removed his cloak, scarf and shoes, setting them in a heap to one side. He left the window open, as he tended to like the sounds of the night and the gentle, soft and cool breeze in his face.
The redhead came out in a pair of white pajamas. The short-sleeved, button- down shirt was only buttoned halfway from the middle to the bottom. The upper part exposed his collarbone and some of his strong, but still slightly feminine chest. The pants were baggy and he could almost step on the bottom of them with his heels. His bright green eyes took on an otherworldly glow in the moonlight peeking through the tree branches and leaves. Even more so as he sat down on the edge of the bed, moonlight filtering to caress those emerald gems.
[He looks amazing in white,] noted the demon, taking in every bit of his friend's body and aura.
"Do you want to be on the bed or the floor?" he asked.
Kurama sort of regretted the options, as Hiei stepped back and sat down against the wall just under the window, and folded his arms atop his propped-up knees just as he had while on the branch. He simply stared at the fox. The demon saw a flicker of disappointment go across his wonderful green eyes, and then disappear as if it never was there when he blinked.
The long-haired redhead then flopped on his back against the mattress almost soundlessly and stared up at the ceiling, knowing that the fire demon across from him was observing his every move. It was during these moments of insomnia that he felt that questions were best answered, as to put the one asking, and the one answering, more at ease. He turned his head slightly.
"Hiei?"
"Hn?" came the slightly drowsy, deep reply. It sounded like a purr to the fox.
"What do you plan on doing here for a whole month on leave?"
"A few things, here and there," said the demon enigmatically.
Kurama was surprised he even answered in the first place. Then again, they WERE best friends. [I wonder what he means by that...?] He shifted so that he could look at the demon. "Like what?"
He waved his hand to dismiss the question, his normal, blank façade still in place. "I might let you in later. Until then, don't worry yourself over it."
[Let me in on it all later, huh?] he thought, a small, playful smirk playing on his face. [Well, I know one thing I was planning to do with you, but I'm not so sure you want that...] the smirk faded. [and I seem to have run out of things to say... except...] "Well, I'm really, really glad you're back, Hiei. I missed you a great deal." [There... I feel a little better now.]
[Hn. Fox missed me?] "Me too." [Sometimes, I hate that half-metal-faced bitch... keeping me away from my fox...... Matte, "my fox"...?] His eyes opened slightly as he regarded the fox in question in silence.
Kurama folded his arms near his head and rested his head more or less against them than the pillow underneath him, oblivious to the ruby stare. His eyes, by now half-lidded with exhaustion, slowly closed. His breathing gradually became deep and even as he drifted into slumber even with those red orbs almost permanently riveted on his face.
The owner of those eyes mulled over the concept "my fox".
******
Kurama looked around in this sea of light blue mist. The ground beneath him seemed to stretch forever, as if walking on nothing and yet something with some sort of presence. It was hard and incapable of emitting sound. It was like walking on glass that, behind it, leads to an endless pit of darkness. Rather eerie...
Shuuichi didn't want to think about it. However, his darkness didn't scare the five-hundred-year old thief. Other things scared the youko, but not this darkness, no, not yet, at the very least.
Losing Kuronue was scary, though. But, that was all in the past.
But, Shuuichi Minamino? He *was* Youko, but he was still human; nightmares sometimes scared him every once and a while, but it didn't seem that this would be one of those. It seemed like another premonition dream or something to pass the time with. Nothing serious to worry about at all.
In the distance, he saw a dark figure with blazing red eyes and a purple iris between the red ones. The Jagan Eye was open and gazing at him, too... piercing his mind, his soul... He wasn't too scared about Hiei staring into his soul, but there was one secret that he desperately didn't, and yet did, want the Jaganshi to see. He wanted, and yet, didn't want, Hiei to see his undying love for the demon.
No matter how much he tried to move forward, the ground was simply grip- less, and he couldn't move an inch from his spot. His attempts were fruitless in the habit of walking, so he called out to the Jaganshi, who's Jagan Eye was turned against the youko.
[I wonder what he is going to do with his Eye open? I sense no danger...] "Hiei!" he called as his voice echoed in the dark purple and blue atmosphere. The figure in question blinked his blurred eyes and moved further into the mist with a slow turn, fading slowly out of sight.
Kurama wasn't scared of this, for he had had dreams akin to this before.
"Go away, fox," echoed Hiei's deep voice. Was it he who held the currently- redheaded kitsune at bay with his Jagan Eye?
"Nani? Doshite, Hiei?"
"Why don't you just start listening without question?! I don't want you here!" he snapped hatefully in his deep voice. That voice, though sexy, was also very frightening.
"D-demo Hiei!" he protested, reaching out to him. He wanted to hold Hiei and ask him why he was acting like this, but suddenly, the seemingly harmless mist grew searing hot. It started to burn his flesh, and more importantly, his soul.
He yelled in pain and bit his lip to stifle more cries. The reincarnated youko felt very, very frightened. Was he going to die this way? He didn't want to die this way!
"Hiei!! Help me, Hiei, kudasai!!" he pleaded. That gave him no response, so he yelled louder. "Hi--------ei!!" The light mist tore at his body inside out, and he could hear Hiei laughing faintly in the background.
The fox screamed, and he screamed even louder when he felt the familiar blade of Hiei's katana run through his chest, which... was dark gray and zigzagged? He managed to turn his head and look up at Hiei in a daze; eyes half-lidded with the encroaching darkness and terrible pain. The koorime's features were foggy. His eyes were even a darker shade than normal. They were so dark, they could mirror black.
"Hi... ei... how... could you...? I... thought you... were... my friend......."
"I have none, especially not from sissy youkos like you, you wimp"
Kurama's mind then stumbled and fell to oblivion.
******
The redhead sat up abruptly, panting hard. He clutched his chest, the very spot where the dream Hiei had stabbed him and sighed in relief. Yes, he wasn't dead. And Hiei was...
Near his face?!
Kurama cried out and stumbled back in surprise. He fell a little, banging his head on the wall behind him. He gave another faint cry of pain and rubbed the back of his head with a mutter of, "Itai". He opened one eye from its previously closed position and gazed at Hiei in his daze.
"Sorry 'bout that. Daijobu ka, Kurama?" asked the almost tender, deep and vibrating voice of the fire demon.
Still panting faintly, he nodded once and closed his eyes again, trying to stop the tears that flowed from the nightmare. He didn't want Hiei to kill him with a blade like that! He didn't want Hiei to kill him at all!
[Hiei wouldn't do that! Hiei's my friend!!] "Y...y-yeah... I'm okay..." He gripped his chest slightly again, and the other demon noticed this, and the pounding of his weak, but strong-sounding human heart. "I'm okay..."
"Kurama, you're sure?" He held the hand that the fox clutched to his chest. He felt the human heart rapidly beating with the aftereffects of pain and nightmare combined. Usually nightmares didn't faze the fox. Usually, nightmares never inflicted such pain. Why would they now?
Kurama's eyes remained closed in fatigue, but he pulled them fully open again once he was sure the tears had stopped. "Yes... I... I'll be fine..." [Please keep holding my hand... Hiei...]
"Nightmare, Kurama? I heard you yelling in your sleep." Instinctively, he tightened his grip a little as he felt shivers course through the fox's body. [I've never seen him like this before... His Reiki's going haywire!]
The fox hesitated. "...What did I yell?"
"My name, for one. Several times." [Were you in pain, fox? Was I the cause of your pain? Please tell me I wasn't. Even if it was just a dream, I don't want to be on the receiving end of anything negative about it.]
The emerald-eyed boy just now realized he was shaking. He tried closing his eyes against the horrible dream, but instead he just saw it happen a second time, and he opened his eyes, seeking the fire demon's.
They met, and it was the koorime crossbreed that spoke first. "You want to talk about it?" [After all, you were shouting my name, tossing and turning in your sleep... l-like I had... like I... Please tell me I didn't...]
"...I guess... um..." [Where to begin...?] "...It gives me the shivers just thinking about it... um, the area was kind of dark... you couldn't see the ground... though you knew it was there, supporting your weight. I saw you in the blue mist and called out to you... You told me to go away, and when I asked why... you told me to take orders without question. And then... the mist... it... started to burn me alive... I called out to you to help me, I kept on pleading... but you wouldn't help me... and then you... you..." Kurama paused as his voice cracked, and bit his lip against the tears again. He looked down, bangs falling into his eyes and shielding them from view. ".........y-you... you stabbed me through the chest..."
[Oh, Inari-sama, I *did* kill him in that... didn't I? I couldn't have, for I wasn't even asleep... let alone talking to him through my Jagan.] "Kurama...... You know I wouldn't..." The fox didn't do anything except grip the sheets with his free hand in a grip so tight his knuckles paled. "Kurama, please look at me..."
A tear-glossed gaze looked up. Hiei reassuringly tightened his grip on the kitsune's hand and used his other hand to hold the fox's right shoulder instead of holding the back of that long hand. "You know... you *know* I'd never kill you, fox. I would rather be the one to die first than murder my best friend."
"H...Hiei... would you..." Kurama swallowed, his throat being very dry at this time. "...will you stay by my side for a bit, until I go back to sleep? Onegai, Hiei..."
"Hai, Kurama," the demon yielded. He was more than willing to help "his" fox.
Awkwardly, the kitsune settled once more in the sheets as the other demon released his grip on the redhead. After a moment, Kurama's eyes closed and Hiei, not knowing very well what he was doing, gently grasped a crimson tendril of hair that had strayed near his hand. He ran it through his fingers in the same manner Kurama had done the day before.
[So soft... is this how he felt when he touched *my* hair? Pleasure coursing through his very being...]
Wait, was it really day?
He checked the clock; it read 3:11 A.M.
Yes, day had come, but it was much too early to rise.
Hiei settled himself beside the fox, his entire body facing away from the kitsune, and softly closed his eyes after giving him one long, slightly emotionless look, still pondering two words.
[My fox...]
*********
"I forgot to mention, Hiei, that we've been invited to Yusuke's Bachelor Part y tonight..." said Kurama cheerfully... or at least as cheerful one can ever get in the morning. After finishing preparing breakfast, he set down everything on the table and became seated himself across from the demon. The fire demon instantly began plowing through the food. "though Yusuke didn't know you'd be here yesterday."
"Hn. I suppose you'll be dragging me along?" he asked, swallowing a mouthful of rice.
Kurama smiled. "Well... not necessarily 'drag'..." He picked at his food a moment before adding, albeit a little slyly, "More like... 'convince'."
"Whatever," Hiei said with a slight shrug. "I'll go. You'll just get me to go along, anyway." [Though, it's sometimes fun to go through that whole "convince me" routine.]
"That's right."
The fire demon rolled his eyes. "Hn. Who else'll be there?"
"Ah," Kurama thought about ticking the people off on his fingers, but decided against it. "Kuwabara, and Koenma. Rather a small party, but fitting, ne?"
The Jaganshi rolled his eyes again, save the third one. Oh well, if things got boring he could always stare out the window. "Hn," he replied.
Kurama's eyes roved upon the demon's body. His long hair had been tied into a messy ponytail this morning, and he still wore the ningen clothing from yesterday. His gaze lingered upon the fire demon's child-like, but matured, face.
"Whot?" he demanded through a mouthful of rice when he noticed the stare.
"Nanda, Hiei," he replied slightly neutrally. He couldn't let Hiei into any of his desires just yet. He didn't seem quite ready for a relationship. But, Inari, he could still smell the demon's scent on his own clothing. It was a sort of pine scent adorned with a unique combination of rain and other outdoor aromas, with the exception of flowers.
His youko self was begging to come out. He could almost see the youko swishing his tail and whimpering like a puppy.
The redhead laughed softly. The image was absurd. His youko self? Begging? That would be the day when Hiei started to hate using his katana and fighting altogether.
That's right: an impossibility.
He cast his gaze down to the table.
"Kurama, have you taken yet *another* trip to la-la land?" [Demons'll come after you if you keep that up, eager to get a piece of the great Youko, Kurama.]
Slightly startled, he forced his green eyes up from the fascinating, wooden design of the table. He chuckled at the question. "Yes, and I was particularly enjoying myself, but I prefer your company over that. My, how rude of me, ne?" He winked once in a flirty fashion and continued to eat his rice, oblivious to the slight rose coloring that appeared on the Jaganshi's face. He stopped for a moment and looked up just as the color drained back to normal. "Oh, and 'kaasan and the others won't be back for a few more weeks from their vacation trip to America."
Hiei gave him a confused look, so the slender redhead continued, "At the time, I was more fascinated with tending to my roses, keeping things in order until they returned and going to work. Since it's summer, I get many weeks off."
"Jaa, what do you do, Kurama?"
"Em?" he stuttered, almost completely lost in the demon's voice before the question clicked. "Oh, I'm a biology teacher."
"Let's just hope you don't teach those baka koningen about those Makai plants... I'm quite certain they might be eaten." He laughed at this before returning to his meal.
Kurama feigned a look of indignation. "Of course not, Hiei. If anything, I'd be teaching Kuwabara and Yukina's daughter and son about those when they're older!"
Hiei choked on the rice and clapped a hand over his mouth. He struggled not to speak until his mouth was empty of anything that could be consumed. "Th... they had **kids**?! Nah-ah! Nai hoho! No way!!"
The youko chuckled softly. "Yes, they did. I'll introduce you to them during the wedding. And I'm sure everyone'll be happy to see you again, Hiei," he said softly, smiling.
Hiei looked down at his now-empty bowl of rice. He set his chopsticks to one side and sighed. He rested his head in one hand, elbow propped up on the table. "I don't know, Kurama. I've been gone a long time. They would probably be furious at me because I left in the first place..."
"They won't be mad; you're their friend," he reassured. "and besides..." He stood up and took both bowls and chopsticks. Kurama strode over to the Jaganshi's side, bent down, and whispered into the black-haired male's ear, "you kept your promise - you came back."
End Day 2's Morning
-------------------------------------------
Hope y'all didn't get too impatient! This was going to be the party itself but it got too outta control and the fic you have just read was gonna be much, much shorter! Dun hate me! Anyway, I might make the next chapter a bit more humorous since I'm in the mood. Waaa~! NO! Not that kinda mood you perverts! ...maybe... Though if I ever did any graphic scenes I probably won't post it. Ask for it if I don't and you want to read... that kinda stuff. Though, when I write it, I tend to get writers block easily, and when that happens...
daijobu ka = are you okay?
jaa = so
ko = baby
ningen = human
-tachi = (plural indicator... it looks like it's not used on nouns, so I removed it from "koningen-tachi")
ne = right? (asking for agreement)
hoho = way (pronounced houhou because the "o"s are long.)
The secret behind Kurohi? I created him by watching Yu-Gi-Oh! and I realized that a certain thought wouldn't escape my mind. I wanted a character to have some similar personality as myself that actually might last long. I have several drawings of him, but the scanner don't work. His hairstyle, though it used to look like Hiei's, was actually based on Yami's. The silver starburst WAS based from Hiei, and the eyes from Kurama. Blue eyes came from the fact that mine aren't... or at least cuz Seto Kaiba's eyes are blue! Though, the brown hair he has is in a lighter shade than my own. In most of my fics, Kurohi has a transformation ability like Ryu's of Breath of Fire 1-5... though I never played 5 before. I also have a half-done Wild Arms 3 fic with Kurohi but I don't know a name for it. (JetXKurohi, but I'm also a supporter of JetXVirginia). The plot-line behind that is that Kurohi has been recruited by Janus against his will or else his family dies! Janus already killed his sister and when he sees Jet... Oh, what the hell I think I'll post that sometime today cuz it's a snow-day! YAAAAAAAAY~!
And there might be one tomorrow so I'll get more time to work on next chapter!! R&R!! ......Onegai?
Day 2a completed 3/18/03, mid-morning.
Revisions: 10/9/03, 5/30/02
If anyone wants me to send them a picture of Kurohi I did, e-mail me about it and I will gladly do so! Some are crappy b/c they were done of the computer, but since we have a scanner, I have several up for grabs for those who wanna see some nice eye-candy! (No, no nudes... yet.)
BTW - that's "by the way", for those who don't know. Don't be ashamed, I used to be one of them -, I plan on removing the lemon scene so I don't get in trouble. Not to worry! As soon as I get old enough, I'll post it up on adultfanfiction.net! I'll have "Kurohi Tatsaki" as my user on that site, too, so you loyal fans will be able to find me!
by Kurohi Tatsaki
Day 2a - Nightmare and Morning Conversations
Disclaimer: I don't own YYH, but I own Kurohi. This story is Yaoi! Male/Male relationships! Don't like it? Then leave.
"speaking" [thinking] {noise} ****** beginning/ending of dreams ********* flashback beginning/endings
-------------------------------------------
Kitchen utensils clattered softly in the kitchen as Kurama prepared breakfast, which was rice this time. He felt like preparing something light this morning, as he usually didn't stomach heavy things too well as of late. He knew Hiei wouldn't mind, and appreciated all kinds of food made by him... even if he didn't show it.
The previous night hadn't been much different than how it used to be. Nevertheless, it was something that the fox spirit cherished... in a sort of sick way.
To be honest, he had had a nightmare that night... a nightmare he wanted to forget, and yet, remember.
*********
"Hiei, do you want to sleep inside?" called Kurama.
The black-cloaked fire demon leaned against the rough, brown trunk of the tree as he sat on one of the highest branches that extended to the fox's window. A sliver or more of moon poked out of the dark night, but didn't dare show all of itself. Crickets chirped softly all around, but everything else was quiet save the two men talking. "I'm just fine out here," replied the demon, resting his forearms across his knees. The gentle breeze didn't deter Hiei's black and white spikes very much from their stuck up position at his forehead.
The silver-haired fox drummed his fingertips against the windowsill. Though, that description is only true to his youko form. "You're sure, Hiei?" He sounded hopeful. He sounded desperate.
The koorime crossbreed pondered which one he really was: desperate, or hopeful, or both? Now he doubted his decision to sleep farther from the kitsune on this branch. They were best friends, and probably shouldn't inflict pain upon the other. What kind of friendship would that be?
Well, he decided that there was no harm in entering the room and sleeping on the floor. He'd be closer to the fox but not so close as to weird the other male out. After all, the last thing he needed on his mind was the condition of their friendship - was it strong or weak?
Friendship... was that really all they had? And, exactly how strong was it?
Hiei himself deemed it pretty strong, though he believed it to be petty. Friendship was only a crutch for the weak, and partnerships could be betrayed.
...Then, if those opinions were actually true, what did *they* have?
Slowly enough to be seen, he got to his feet on the branch with ease and slipped inside the window. He stood just inside the room, lingering near the window but far enough away so if need be, the fox could quickly close it. The green-eyed beauty rewarded him with a very pleased grin and murmured rather huskily, "I'll be a moment. I need to change."
The fire demon watched as the elegant fox snagged something from his dresser and entered the bathroom. HE blinked, not understanding the huskiness in the fox's voice. Was his voice hoarse because of a ningen or youkai disease? Wait, they were demons - how could Kurama be sick?
Following suit of the fox, he removed his cloak, scarf and shoes, setting them in a heap to one side. He left the window open, as he tended to like the sounds of the night and the gentle, soft and cool breeze in his face.
The redhead came out in a pair of white pajamas. The short-sleeved, button- down shirt was only buttoned halfway from the middle to the bottom. The upper part exposed his collarbone and some of his strong, but still slightly feminine chest. The pants were baggy and he could almost step on the bottom of them with his heels. His bright green eyes took on an otherworldly glow in the moonlight peeking through the tree branches and leaves. Even more so as he sat down on the edge of the bed, moonlight filtering to caress those emerald gems.
[He looks amazing in white,] noted the demon, taking in every bit of his friend's body and aura.
"Do you want to be on the bed or the floor?" he asked.
Kurama sort of regretted the options, as Hiei stepped back and sat down against the wall just under the window, and folded his arms atop his propped-up knees just as he had while on the branch. He simply stared at the fox. The demon saw a flicker of disappointment go across his wonderful green eyes, and then disappear as if it never was there when he blinked.
The long-haired redhead then flopped on his back against the mattress almost soundlessly and stared up at the ceiling, knowing that the fire demon across from him was observing his every move. It was during these moments of insomnia that he felt that questions were best answered, as to put the one asking, and the one answering, more at ease. He turned his head slightly.
"Hiei?"
"Hn?" came the slightly drowsy, deep reply. It sounded like a purr to the fox.
"What do you plan on doing here for a whole month on leave?"
"A few things, here and there," said the demon enigmatically.
Kurama was surprised he even answered in the first place. Then again, they WERE best friends. [I wonder what he means by that...?] He shifted so that he could look at the demon. "Like what?"
He waved his hand to dismiss the question, his normal, blank façade still in place. "I might let you in later. Until then, don't worry yourself over it."
[Let me in on it all later, huh?] he thought, a small, playful smirk playing on his face. [Well, I know one thing I was planning to do with you, but I'm not so sure you want that...] the smirk faded. [and I seem to have run out of things to say... except...] "Well, I'm really, really glad you're back, Hiei. I missed you a great deal." [There... I feel a little better now.]
[Hn. Fox missed me?] "Me too." [Sometimes, I hate that half-metal-faced bitch... keeping me away from my fox...... Matte, "my fox"...?] His eyes opened slightly as he regarded the fox in question in silence.
Kurama folded his arms near his head and rested his head more or less against them than the pillow underneath him, oblivious to the ruby stare. His eyes, by now half-lidded with exhaustion, slowly closed. His breathing gradually became deep and even as he drifted into slumber even with those red orbs almost permanently riveted on his face.
The owner of those eyes mulled over the concept "my fox".
******
Kurama looked around in this sea of light blue mist. The ground beneath him seemed to stretch forever, as if walking on nothing and yet something with some sort of presence. It was hard and incapable of emitting sound. It was like walking on glass that, behind it, leads to an endless pit of darkness. Rather eerie...
Shuuichi didn't want to think about it. However, his darkness didn't scare the five-hundred-year old thief. Other things scared the youko, but not this darkness, no, not yet, at the very least.
Losing Kuronue was scary, though. But, that was all in the past.
But, Shuuichi Minamino? He *was* Youko, but he was still human; nightmares sometimes scared him every once and a while, but it didn't seem that this would be one of those. It seemed like another premonition dream or something to pass the time with. Nothing serious to worry about at all.
In the distance, he saw a dark figure with blazing red eyes and a purple iris between the red ones. The Jagan Eye was open and gazing at him, too... piercing his mind, his soul... He wasn't too scared about Hiei staring into his soul, but there was one secret that he desperately didn't, and yet did, want the Jaganshi to see. He wanted, and yet, didn't want, Hiei to see his undying love for the demon.
No matter how much he tried to move forward, the ground was simply grip- less, and he couldn't move an inch from his spot. His attempts were fruitless in the habit of walking, so he called out to the Jaganshi, who's Jagan Eye was turned against the youko.
[I wonder what he is going to do with his Eye open? I sense no danger...] "Hiei!" he called as his voice echoed in the dark purple and blue atmosphere. The figure in question blinked his blurred eyes and moved further into the mist with a slow turn, fading slowly out of sight.
Kurama wasn't scared of this, for he had had dreams akin to this before.
"Go away, fox," echoed Hiei's deep voice. Was it he who held the currently- redheaded kitsune at bay with his Jagan Eye?
"Nani? Doshite, Hiei?"
"Why don't you just start listening without question?! I don't want you here!" he snapped hatefully in his deep voice. That voice, though sexy, was also very frightening.
"D-demo Hiei!" he protested, reaching out to him. He wanted to hold Hiei and ask him why he was acting like this, but suddenly, the seemingly harmless mist grew searing hot. It started to burn his flesh, and more importantly, his soul.
He yelled in pain and bit his lip to stifle more cries. The reincarnated youko felt very, very frightened. Was he going to die this way? He didn't want to die this way!
"Hiei!! Help me, Hiei, kudasai!!" he pleaded. That gave him no response, so he yelled louder. "Hi--------ei!!" The light mist tore at his body inside out, and he could hear Hiei laughing faintly in the background.
The fox screamed, and he screamed even louder when he felt the familiar blade of Hiei's katana run through his chest, which... was dark gray and zigzagged? He managed to turn his head and look up at Hiei in a daze; eyes half-lidded with the encroaching darkness and terrible pain. The koorime's features were foggy. His eyes were even a darker shade than normal. They were so dark, they could mirror black.
"Hi... ei... how... could you...? I... thought you... were... my friend......."
"I have none, especially not from sissy youkos like you, you wimp"
Kurama's mind then stumbled and fell to oblivion.
******
The redhead sat up abruptly, panting hard. He clutched his chest, the very spot where the dream Hiei had stabbed him and sighed in relief. Yes, he wasn't dead. And Hiei was...
Near his face?!
Kurama cried out and stumbled back in surprise. He fell a little, banging his head on the wall behind him. He gave another faint cry of pain and rubbed the back of his head with a mutter of, "Itai". He opened one eye from its previously closed position and gazed at Hiei in his daze.
"Sorry 'bout that. Daijobu ka, Kurama?" asked the almost tender, deep and vibrating voice of the fire demon.
Still panting faintly, he nodded once and closed his eyes again, trying to stop the tears that flowed from the nightmare. He didn't want Hiei to kill him with a blade like that! He didn't want Hiei to kill him at all!
[Hiei wouldn't do that! Hiei's my friend!!] "Y...y-yeah... I'm okay..." He gripped his chest slightly again, and the other demon noticed this, and the pounding of his weak, but strong-sounding human heart. "I'm okay..."
"Kurama, you're sure?" He held the hand that the fox clutched to his chest. He felt the human heart rapidly beating with the aftereffects of pain and nightmare combined. Usually nightmares didn't faze the fox. Usually, nightmares never inflicted such pain. Why would they now?
Kurama's eyes remained closed in fatigue, but he pulled them fully open again once he was sure the tears had stopped. "Yes... I... I'll be fine..." [Please keep holding my hand... Hiei...]
"Nightmare, Kurama? I heard you yelling in your sleep." Instinctively, he tightened his grip a little as he felt shivers course through the fox's body. [I've never seen him like this before... His Reiki's going haywire!]
The fox hesitated. "...What did I yell?"
"My name, for one. Several times." [Were you in pain, fox? Was I the cause of your pain? Please tell me I wasn't. Even if it was just a dream, I don't want to be on the receiving end of anything negative about it.]
The emerald-eyed boy just now realized he was shaking. He tried closing his eyes against the horrible dream, but instead he just saw it happen a second time, and he opened his eyes, seeking the fire demon's.
They met, and it was the koorime crossbreed that spoke first. "You want to talk about it?" [After all, you were shouting my name, tossing and turning in your sleep... l-like I had... like I... Please tell me I didn't...]
"...I guess... um..." [Where to begin...?] "...It gives me the shivers just thinking about it... um, the area was kind of dark... you couldn't see the ground... though you knew it was there, supporting your weight. I saw you in the blue mist and called out to you... You told me to go away, and when I asked why... you told me to take orders without question. And then... the mist... it... started to burn me alive... I called out to you to help me, I kept on pleading... but you wouldn't help me... and then you... you..." Kurama paused as his voice cracked, and bit his lip against the tears again. He looked down, bangs falling into his eyes and shielding them from view. ".........y-you... you stabbed me through the chest..."
[Oh, Inari-sama, I *did* kill him in that... didn't I? I couldn't have, for I wasn't even asleep... let alone talking to him through my Jagan.] "Kurama...... You know I wouldn't..." The fox didn't do anything except grip the sheets with his free hand in a grip so tight his knuckles paled. "Kurama, please look at me..."
A tear-glossed gaze looked up. Hiei reassuringly tightened his grip on the kitsune's hand and used his other hand to hold the fox's right shoulder instead of holding the back of that long hand. "You know... you *know* I'd never kill you, fox. I would rather be the one to die first than murder my best friend."
"H...Hiei... would you..." Kurama swallowed, his throat being very dry at this time. "...will you stay by my side for a bit, until I go back to sleep? Onegai, Hiei..."
"Hai, Kurama," the demon yielded. He was more than willing to help "his" fox.
Awkwardly, the kitsune settled once more in the sheets as the other demon released his grip on the redhead. After a moment, Kurama's eyes closed and Hiei, not knowing very well what he was doing, gently grasped a crimson tendril of hair that had strayed near his hand. He ran it through his fingers in the same manner Kurama had done the day before.
[So soft... is this how he felt when he touched *my* hair? Pleasure coursing through his very being...]
Wait, was it really day?
He checked the clock; it read 3:11 A.M.
Yes, day had come, but it was much too early to rise.
Hiei settled himself beside the fox, his entire body facing away from the kitsune, and softly closed his eyes after giving him one long, slightly emotionless look, still pondering two words.
[My fox...]
*********
"I forgot to mention, Hiei, that we've been invited to Yusuke's Bachelor Part y tonight..." said Kurama cheerfully... or at least as cheerful one can ever get in the morning. After finishing preparing breakfast, he set down everything on the table and became seated himself across from the demon. The fire demon instantly began plowing through the food. "though Yusuke didn't know you'd be here yesterday."
"Hn. I suppose you'll be dragging me along?" he asked, swallowing a mouthful of rice.
Kurama smiled. "Well... not necessarily 'drag'..." He picked at his food a moment before adding, albeit a little slyly, "More like... 'convince'."
"Whatever," Hiei said with a slight shrug. "I'll go. You'll just get me to go along, anyway." [Though, it's sometimes fun to go through that whole "convince me" routine.]
"That's right."
The fire demon rolled his eyes. "Hn. Who else'll be there?"
"Ah," Kurama thought about ticking the people off on his fingers, but decided against it. "Kuwabara, and Koenma. Rather a small party, but fitting, ne?"
The Jaganshi rolled his eyes again, save the third one. Oh well, if things got boring he could always stare out the window. "Hn," he replied.
Kurama's eyes roved upon the demon's body. His long hair had been tied into a messy ponytail this morning, and he still wore the ningen clothing from yesterday. His gaze lingered upon the fire demon's child-like, but matured, face.
"Whot?" he demanded through a mouthful of rice when he noticed the stare.
"Nanda, Hiei," he replied slightly neutrally. He couldn't let Hiei into any of his desires just yet. He didn't seem quite ready for a relationship. But, Inari, he could still smell the demon's scent on his own clothing. It was a sort of pine scent adorned with a unique combination of rain and other outdoor aromas, with the exception of flowers.
His youko self was begging to come out. He could almost see the youko swishing his tail and whimpering like a puppy.
The redhead laughed softly. The image was absurd. His youko self? Begging? That would be the day when Hiei started to hate using his katana and fighting altogether.
That's right: an impossibility.
He cast his gaze down to the table.
"Kurama, have you taken yet *another* trip to la-la land?" [Demons'll come after you if you keep that up, eager to get a piece of the great Youko, Kurama.]
Slightly startled, he forced his green eyes up from the fascinating, wooden design of the table. He chuckled at the question. "Yes, and I was particularly enjoying myself, but I prefer your company over that. My, how rude of me, ne?" He winked once in a flirty fashion and continued to eat his rice, oblivious to the slight rose coloring that appeared on the Jaganshi's face. He stopped for a moment and looked up just as the color drained back to normal. "Oh, and 'kaasan and the others won't be back for a few more weeks from their vacation trip to America."
Hiei gave him a confused look, so the slender redhead continued, "At the time, I was more fascinated with tending to my roses, keeping things in order until they returned and going to work. Since it's summer, I get many weeks off."
"Jaa, what do you do, Kurama?"
"Em?" he stuttered, almost completely lost in the demon's voice before the question clicked. "Oh, I'm a biology teacher."
"Let's just hope you don't teach those baka koningen about those Makai plants... I'm quite certain they might be eaten." He laughed at this before returning to his meal.
Kurama feigned a look of indignation. "Of course not, Hiei. If anything, I'd be teaching Kuwabara and Yukina's daughter and son about those when they're older!"
Hiei choked on the rice and clapped a hand over his mouth. He struggled not to speak until his mouth was empty of anything that could be consumed. "Th... they had **kids**?! Nah-ah! Nai hoho! No way!!"
The youko chuckled softly. "Yes, they did. I'll introduce you to them during the wedding. And I'm sure everyone'll be happy to see you again, Hiei," he said softly, smiling.
Hiei looked down at his now-empty bowl of rice. He set his chopsticks to one side and sighed. He rested his head in one hand, elbow propped up on the table. "I don't know, Kurama. I've been gone a long time. They would probably be furious at me because I left in the first place..."
"They won't be mad; you're their friend," he reassured. "and besides..." He stood up and took both bowls and chopsticks. Kurama strode over to the Jaganshi's side, bent down, and whispered into the black-haired male's ear, "you kept your promise - you came back."
End Day 2's Morning
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Hope y'all didn't get too impatient! This was going to be the party itself but it got too outta control and the fic you have just read was gonna be much, much shorter! Dun hate me! Anyway, I might make the next chapter a bit more humorous since I'm in the mood. Waaa~! NO! Not that kinda mood you perverts! ...maybe... Though if I ever did any graphic scenes I probably won't post it. Ask for it if I don't and you want to read... that kinda stuff. Though, when I write it, I tend to get writers block easily, and when that happens...
daijobu ka = are you okay?
jaa = so
ko = baby
ningen = human
-tachi = (plural indicator... it looks like it's not used on nouns, so I removed it from "koningen-tachi")
ne = right? (asking for agreement)
hoho = way (pronounced houhou because the "o"s are long.)
The secret behind Kurohi? I created him by watching Yu-Gi-Oh! and I realized that a certain thought wouldn't escape my mind. I wanted a character to have some similar personality as myself that actually might last long. I have several drawings of him, but the scanner don't work. His hairstyle, though it used to look like Hiei's, was actually based on Yami's. The silver starburst WAS based from Hiei, and the eyes from Kurama. Blue eyes came from the fact that mine aren't... or at least cuz Seto Kaiba's eyes are blue! Though, the brown hair he has is in a lighter shade than my own. In most of my fics, Kurohi has a transformation ability like Ryu's of Breath of Fire 1-5... though I never played 5 before. I also have a half-done Wild Arms 3 fic with Kurohi but I don't know a name for it. (JetXKurohi, but I'm also a supporter of JetXVirginia). The plot-line behind that is that Kurohi has been recruited by Janus against his will or else his family dies! Janus already killed his sister and when he sees Jet... Oh, what the hell I think I'll post that sometime today cuz it's a snow-day! YAAAAAAAAY~!
And there might be one tomorrow so I'll get more time to work on next chapter!! R&R!! ......Onegai?
Day 2a completed 3/18/03, mid-morning.
Revisions: 10/9/03, 5/30/02
If anyone wants me to send them a picture of Kurohi I did, e-mail me about it and I will gladly do so! Some are crappy b/c they were done of the computer, but since we have a scanner, I have several up for grabs for those who wanna see some nice eye-candy! (No, no nudes... yet.)
BTW - that's "by the way", for those who don't know. Don't be ashamed, I used to be one of them -, I plan on removing the lemon scene so I don't get in trouble. Not to worry! As soon as I get old enough, I'll post it up on adultfanfiction.net! I'll have "Kurohi Tatsaki" as my user on that site, too, so you loyal fans will be able to find me!