Disclaimer: I have done many things in my absence, crazy and not-so-crazy, but acquiring the rights to YYH was not one of them.
Warnings: You really ought to have learned that this is a shonen-ai (boy x boy) fic by now, but hey. Some people are stupid. Or just slow. (No offense to those who are.)
Wow. I think I deserve to be shot. Four months and eighteen days without even a peep from me. I'm such a terrible fic author; now I can't get mad at the people who don't update their own fics for long periods of time. –ashamed- My only consolation is that this chapter is longer than most of the others (almost 3 pages on Word this time!) and has some more interesting developments. –bows in apology- I'm so bad. -.-'
On a random note, I don't like these new rating systems. They're confusing, and I honestly don't know whether or not 9+ year olds should be reading fanfiction anyway. All stories have been changed to T just in case.
"Shuichi?"
Kurama stiffened as his mother poked her head in the door. How had she managed to approach without him hearing? Normally he could sense her long before she reached the door. Well, the circumstances were hardly normal, after all. Kurama closed his eyes, hoping to appear asleep. It was lucky that he had been facing the window, not the door, when she came in and that his sobbing had subsided into occasional sniffles.
Apparently his mother noted the calm rise and fall of his chest rather than the trail of tears on Kurama's face. Slipping over to the bed, she covered him gently with his comforter, then noiselessly left the room. Kurama felt a wave of sadness wash over him at her tender ministration, accompanied by a myriad of contradictory feelings. Although one part of him was touched by her love, another felt ashamed for not revealing his true identity to her, while still another, albeit much smaller, fraction secretly wished that somehow Hiei could show the same affection.
Kurama kept his eyes shut, ensuring that Shiori was safely back in her bed. After several minutes, he relaxed, eyes still closed. Slowly, his breathing evened, and he slipped into the blissful indifference of sleep.
.-.-.-.-.
Bright sunlight streamed through the window, rousing Kurama as effectively as any alarm clock. Even though they were on break from school, it appeared there would be no lazy mornings for Kurama. Usually this wouldn't be a problem, since he was generally an early riser, and the sun was the bright signal of a beautiful new day. This morning, however, the sun, still as dazzlingly brilliant as it had been yesterday, failed to cheer his spirits. Very slowly getting out of bed, he dejectedly headed into the bathroom for his morning routine. Staring at his face in the mirror, he noticed tear tracks still on his cheeks. Making a face, he thought bitterly, They told me this face was beautiful. Everybody told me so. Everybody. But how can it be if Hiei doesn't want me? Still gazing at his haggard reflection, he shook his head suddenly. No. Stop thinking like that. Hiei didn't reject you because of your face. He just didn't share your feelings. Ignoring the sudden twinge in his heart, he repeated to himself, He didn't share your feelings, and that is that. Deal with it, Kurama!
He soaked his washcloth with cold water and washed his face, feeling it revive him. After brushing his teeth and running a brush through his tangled hair, he stepped into his closet to change his clothes, noticing that he was wearing the outfit of the previous day and wrinkling his nose. Disheartened as he was, Kurama was still a finicky dresser. Resolutely thrusting away all thoughts of Hiei, he joined his family downstairs, determinedly cheerful.
"Ohayou, minna-san!" he greeted, only to observe with surprise that only his mother was in the kitchen, cooking breakfast. Empty plates at two of the places at the table gave evidence that his step-father and step-brother had already eaten breakfast and departed.
"Oh. Ohayou gozaimasu, okaa-san," he corrected.
Shiori looked up and her face brightened to see him. "Ohayou, Shuichi. Your step-father and –brother went out already. They decided to have a little father-son day at the amusement park." She smiled. "So I guess it's just you and me today. I hope you don't mind."
Kurama smiled back. "Of course I don't. To tell you the truth, I felt a little guilty for leaving you all by yourself the past couple of days," he confessed. "So today I'd like to help you out, if you need anything." He set the table as he spoke, clearing away the dirty dishes as well.
"Oh, that's fine," assured his mother. "It's good to see you out with your friends." She placed breakfast on the table. "Thank you, Shuichi," she said, noticing his actions.
"Itadakimasu," they chorused. They ate in companionable silence. When they had finished the meal, Kurama stood up, collecting the soiled tableware.
"What are you planning to do today?" he questioned as he stacked them by the sink.
"Well, I was going to go grocery shopping, and afterwards pick up your step-father and –brother," responded his mother, wiping down the table. "You're welcome to come with me, if you'd like."
"I would," ascertained Kurama. "I can help you carry the groceries. Just let me wash the dishes, and we can leave."
Having agreed on a course of action, mother and son set to their separate tasks, Kurama rinsing the dishes and placing them in the dishwasher, Shiori neatening up the rooms, humming cheerfully as she worked.
In less than a quarter of an hour, the pair headed toward the supermarket, strolling along in the pleasant sunshine. Kurama marveled at how easily he could keep up a cheerful conversation without actual conscious thought. He felt guilty for continuing to allow Shiori to believe that he was her biological son, and now the fact that he didn't even give her his full attention when they talked distressed him even more. He forced himself to listen to what she was saying, and as he answered without any other preoccupations, he felt himself ease. He began to enjoy the warm rays of the sun, the agreeable albeit mundane conversation, and simply the company of the affectionate woman next to him.
The rest of the day went by quickly. It had been a long time since Kurama had felt so freely comfortable, unencumbered by the worries and pressures of school and other depressing subjects. Grocery shopping turned out to be more than just buying food; rather, it was supplying materials needed for the art of creating a dinner that would please the entire family. Picking up the rest of the family wasn't just an hour-long drive from the amusement park, it was an period of bonding as complete unit that Kurama had rarely experienced, detached as he was to the ningen world.
Upon reaching home, the family prepared and ate dinner together. Kurama wondered if this was what all human families were like, and for a little bit, he imagined that he really was Shuichi Minamino. The fantasy left him sorely tempted to reveal his secret, but a section of him stubbornly refused to ruin the peace he was feeling. He therefore helped wash up after dinner and then quietly went upstairs to his room, feeling slightly sleepy.
All thoughts of sleep vanished, however, at the sight of the figure in front of his window.
His heart skipped a beat. His breath caught in his throat. He stared in utter disbelief. He'd finally managed to stop thinking about Hiei and resign himself to rejection, and here he was, back again. Nothing could have prepared him for such a sudden shock, and his first treacherous thought was that Hiei was here to spite him.
Just as the notion flashed through his mind, Hiei looked up at Kurama, and the piercing crimson eyes were filled with such an expression of unbearable longing that Kurama involuntarily took a step back.
"…H-Hiei?" he whispered brokenly. "You…you came back."
He took a tentative step forward, and suddenly Hiei was there, his arms wrapped tightly around Kurama's waist. Kurama stood stunned, his mind unable to grasp the fact that Hiei was embracing or even touching him. In all their years together, he had never seen Hiei show this much emotion, let alone outright affection. The idea that it was directed towards himself was even more staggering.
Hiei stepped back, searching Kurama's face, a question in his eyes. The answer came in the form of a kiss, gently administered by Kurama. The kiss lingered on, tongues exploring each other's mouths, savoring the sensation.
They separated with a slight gasp for air, each staring at the other as if amazed by the intensity of the kiss. Kurama felt a sudden rush of longing.
"Will you stay with me tonight?" His eyes, watching Hiei's steadily and hopefully, noticed that the normally cold scarlet eyes were soft and almost caring. He stared, captivated by their glow.
Hiei hesitated, then nodded. Kurama let out the breath that he had unconsciously been holding. He flopped onto the bed and patted a spot beside him.
"Sit down, then." Hiei cautiously seated himself at the end of the bed. Kurama laughed.
"Don't sit so far away. Or are you afraid to touch me?" he teased. With a recklessness born from love, he reached down and pulled Hiei toward him until they were nestled together. Hiei, stiff at first, gradually relaxed in Kurama's arms, his head resting on Kurama's chest. Kurama automatically began to stroke the fluffy black hair, sending shivers of delight through the little youkai. They lay together for a long time, content simply with the joy and warmth of each other's company.
"Hiei?" Kurama murmured, eyes half-closed with bliss. "I love you."
Barely, almost imperceptibly, Hiei tensed. Kurama, attuned to even the slightest change in Hiei's body, noticed and looked at him with concern.
"Is something wrong?" Not making eye contact, Hiei shook his head, then closed his eyes. About to press the matter further, Kurama suddenly felt sleepy. The heat from Hiei's body seemed to swell soothingly and combined with the emotional turmoil of the day to lull Kurama into a deep, peaceful sleep.
Kurama likes to sleep. I just realized a lot of the chapters have been ending with him sleeping. But Kurama is a good boy and probably gets nine hours of sleep every night just like you're supposed to (contrary to the popular belief that you only need 8 hours). Of course, Hiei making himself warmer (I'm assuming he can do this) helps. Most people feel sleepier when they're warm, and Kurama is no exception. Lucky boy, he gets to sleep with Hiei (in a strictly literal sense). I think ending the chapters with sleep makes the passing of the days stand out more. I believe it is Sunday night in the story. Jeez, still five days until the party? Whatever shall I do to pass the time? Unless I make a time warp. Would any of you mind a time warp from, say, Wednesday to Saturday? Well, too bad, because I think I'll have to. Mindless filler chapters aren't much fun. Oh yeah, and like I said in my other Getbackers fic, I'm not good at describing kisses. You're imaginative folk; I'm sure you can come up with the right idea.
Ohayou – Short for
ohayou gozaimasu, or good morning
Minna-san – everybody
Okaa-san – Mother
Itadakimasu – Thank
you for this meal/what you say before you eat a meal
Youkai - demon
