DESTRUCTION WORDS

It's been weeks since Hiei found out about Kurama and Shizuru's relationship. Even though he can't do much about it, he still mopes around. Poor Hiei…

It's another late night at Shizuru and Kurama's place. The day at work wasn't really tiresome so both can now spend some relaxing time together. Kurama sits up on his bed reading a book with Shizuru beside him smoking. (as usual)

"Shizuru? Can I ask you something?" Kurama closes his book and looks at her.

Shizuru inhales her cigarette. "Sure hun." She exhales. "What is it?" She looks at Kurama.

"It has to do with your smoking." Kurama's face was as serious as it could get.

"Oh?" She senses the seriousness within him. "What about it?"

"First, let me just say that I have been tolerable of it since you moved in. But lately, I have been thinking. And I have come to find out that my apartment has changed dramatically as well."

"Aside from Hiei coming and going here all the time?" A puff comes from Shizuru's mouth.

"Not him. It's the smell. The scent of smoke is all over. It's a very unpleasant aroma Shizuru."

"I see…" Shizuru looks annoyed.

"It would really make me happy if you quit." Kurama's smile cracks his serious facade.

An awkward silence hovers over for a while. When it passes over, Shizuru speaks. "I'm sorry Kurama-san. But…I cannot." She turns her head away.

"Sure you can. All you have to do is stop buying and smoking the cigarettes." Kurama sounds really encouraging to Shizuru.

"No, that's not what I meant. I can't for a different reason." Puff.

"Well, what is the reason?"

"I can't say."

"Of course you can." Kurama puts his arm around Shizuru. "You can tell me anything."

Shizuru brushes his hand off her shoulder and gets out of bed, cigarette still in mouth. "This one I cannot."

Now Kurama gets annoyed. "So you don't trust me, huh?"

Shizuru waves her hands in defense. "No no, I do trust you."

"Nah, nah I completely understand." Kurama opens his book and starts to read again.

"What the hell crawled up your ass and died!" Shizuru yelled. Seriously, what is up with Kurama?

"The scent! It's screwing up my sense of smell. I won't have my kitsune senses for much longer at this rate."

"Well, I happen to smoke for a very good reason!"

Kurama stands up and sets his book on the bed. "Is it good enough to risk getting sick over!"

"Yes! It's worth risking everything!"

"Everything? Even us?"

"Uh…" Shizuru remains silent.

Kurama calms himself down. "I only care for your health Shizuru. With smoking, you could get lung cancer and bronchitis and…"

Shizuru cuts him off. "And what if I like lung cancer! What if I want it! It's worth getting for what Sakyo had to go through!" Shizuru covers her mouth, blocking anymore she might have said.

Kurama folds his arms and glares at Shizuru. "Sakyo huh? From the Dark Tournament?" His glare was enough to penetrate through any barrier and cause anyone to speak the truth.

Shizuru removes her hand from her face. "Yes, from the tournament. I'm smoking…for the both of us."

"I see…so you're smoking double for a dead ningen?" Kurama's so annoyed. "You're killing yourself for someone who's already gone!"

"Shut up!" Shizuru picks up a nearby ashtray and hurls it towards Kurama.

He dodges it, causing it to shatter on the wall behind him. All the ashes fall to the ground and onto the silky carpet.

Kurama turns around and looks at the ashes. "My floor……"

Shizuru storms towards the door and violently opens it. "You care only about your floor! About your apartment!"

"You care only about Sakyo! About a dead ningen!" Kurama remains where he is. He can't risk lashing out at Shizuru and hurt her. His temper would overcome his common sense and he could possible kill her.

"Grr…" Shizuru storms out the door and down the stairs. She then walks to the front door, cursing at herself. She opens the door and slams it behind her.

"Shizuru!" Kurama quickly walks out his bedroom and leans over the ledge of the stairs. He sees she's already gone and sighs.

Ah yes, don't forget about Hiei. He's slouching on the couch, eating a pint of sweet snow, his favorite human treat. He leaves the spoon in his mouth but still holds onto the handle. He's watching a violent movie on TV. (It's really cute when you imagine it. I wish I could draw it but I can't draw to save my life)

Kurama buries his face into his hands.

"Woman troubles?" asked Hiei. He looks up at Kurama, still chewing on the spoon.

Kurama sighs and removes his hands. "You could say that." He folds his arms and looks down at Hiei.

"Who knew the great Youko Kurama would have girl troubles." Hiei returns to watching his TV.

"Well, I finally talked to Shizuru about her smoking. She blurted out something about Sakyo and we both got into an argument. One thing led to another and well, she's outside and I'm in here." As Kurama was saying all this, he was walking down his stairs and stands behind the couch where Hiei was at.

Good…my kitsune deserves so much better. He deserves someone who has experienced his pain before. Someone who's lived almost as long as he has. Someone who knows him best. Someone like…me…

What? What the hell am I thinking! Like me! Why am I thinking about Kurama that way? Baka! This is not me!

"This is not me…"

"Nani? Did you say something Hiei?" Kurama looks down at his little spikey-haired friend.

"Uh…" Hiei looks up. "No. No I didn't."

Kurama leans down, resting his elbows on the edge of the couch. He rests his chin on one hand and twirls his hair with the other. "What should I do Hiei?"

Hiei looks at the TV. He then picks up the remote and turns it off. He puts the spoon in his pint of sweet snow and sets it on the table in front of him. "If you ask me, you should break it off with Shizuru."

"Nani? Doushite?" Kurama sounded confused.

"Think about it. You'll be living with someone who doesn't love you. Plus she smokes. Do you really want to live in a place that smells of smoke constantly?" Hiei's very persuasive towards Kurama.

"No…" Kurama ponders about those facts.

"Exactly."

"But I don't want to break up with Shizuru just because I don't like the smell of our apartment. I could just get some incense or something."

"Then do it because she doesn't love you. She clearly still loves this Sakyo guy and she's willing to kill herself for him. And he's already dead! Deep love right there." Who knew Hiei knew so much about love and how it works. Wonder where he learned that.

"I guess. I suppose I never truly loved her as well. She just came to me when I was feeling lonely. My desires clouded my true feelings and I accepted her with open arms. I had never given any thought as to if I really loved her or not. It's just that…I didn't want to be alone anymore. And Shizuru just happened to come by and relieve me of my solitude."

Hiei stared up at Kurama while he was talking. He had a blank expression, very common for him. Kurama looks into his deep crimson eyes. Then, he smiles, just a sweet, innocent smile.

"Heh, why am I even talking to you about this Hiei? You've never been in love."

That's what you think. Baka no kitsune…if only you knew…

"You're right, I haven't." Hiei fully lies to the kitsune youkai's face, just to avoid revealing his true feelings.

"Well…" Kurama sits up. "…I'd better go tell Shizuru it's over. God I hate this part."

"You'll live kitsune." Hiei turns the TV back on and resumes eating his sweet snow.

Kurama walks to the front door. "Hopefully. Just hope that Shizuru won't bite off my head." He opens the front door and exits, closing the door behind him.

"I'll pray for you, in hopes you'll come back alive." Hiei scoops up some of his sweet snow and eats it, savoring every second of it's delicious flavor.

Mmm…good ice cream.

Wow, that was a long chapter. Hope u liked it! Hm…Destruction Words…I must say, that's a pretty kool title. It gives u an idea, kinda, about what could be said that can cause destruction. Lovely!