Finally the moment that Hiei and Kurama were both dreading came. The phone rang. It had rang before, but ther person on the other end hadn't been the doctor. The two were beginning to think that the doctor would never call, so the fox wasn't as hesitant to answer the phone. Kurama had been teaching Hiei how to play solitare. Hiei found the card game extremely confusing, and blamed the cards when he didn't win. He didn't even think to blame the fox's shuffling. The phone rang just as Hiei burned the ten of hearts in anger. The ringing startled the fox as he had been laughing at Hiei for taking the game so seriously. The phone had been lying on the table next to him. He answered cheerfully, not once thinking that it could be the doctor. Of course the one time he thought that, it had to be him.
Kurama's cheerful expression fell quickly and Hiei's followed suit. The now crisp, burnt, and black card fell out of his hand and onto the table, where it crumbled into thousands of tiny bits.
"Yes, this is him. How can I help you today doctor?" the fox asked, his voice crisp.
Hiei flitted into another room, like he had so many times before, and picked up the other phone.
"It's been a while, hasn't it Shuichii?"
"Yes it has been doctor. Though I can't say I'm excited to be talking to you again," Kurama replied dryly.
"Of course Shuichii, I know how you feel."
"No you really don't doctor. You have no idea of how I feel."
The other line was quiet for a moment before Kurama spoke up. "What is it you called me for?"
"Ah yes. I'd like to arrange another meeting between you and your mother."
"Will a journalist be present?"
"Possibly Shuichii."
"Whatever. When?" he asked simply.
"As soon as possible. I believe the sooner the better."
"Whatever you say. How about now?"
Hiei's eyes widened. Now? He wanted to finished punishing the cards!
"I'll go see if that's all right with Shiori... hold on a minute."
A few moments later the doctor returned. "Yes that'll be fine. Be here in an hour, is that okay?"
"I'm the one that suggested it so yes, it's fine."
Hiei grinned at Kurama's smart words.
"Okay then... see you then."
"Sure. Can't say I'm looking forward to it."
Hiei heard a click on Kurama's end, so he hung up and walked back to Kurama's room. The fox had the wierdest look of victory on his face, and Hiei couldn't help but laugh. Kurama and Hiei were both laughing a minute later when again the phone rang. It startled Kurama out of his laughter.
"If it's the doctor I'm just gonna hang up..." Kurama said icily as he pressed talk to answer it. "Hello?"
"Kuwabara?" Kurama replied with surprise.
The old fool? Hiei wondered. What in the hell could he want?
Hiei could hear the boy's loud voice from where he stood a few feet from the fox. "Yeah I was meaning to call you about this article I found in the paper a while ago, but I kept on forgetting..."
"Typical..." Hiei muttered under his breath, grinning at the other boy's foolishness.
"The one about my mother?"
"Yup. Is it true? Did you really try to kill her?"
Kurama'sface twisted with pain. "No Kuwabara, I did not try to kill her. When you read that article, who does it make you believe?"
"Um... I dunno, but I don't know why adults would lie like that."
Hiei sighed. God that boy was stupid.
"They aren't lying Kazuma, they truly believe I tried to kill her. But the truth is, I didn't."
"Oh I get it!" Kuwabara shouted triumphantly, and Hiei buried his face in his hands.
"Yes, so you see, don't blame me."
"All right Kurama. That's really all I was wondering. Talk to you later."
"Sure."
"Bye."
"Yeah."
"Oh. my. god." Kurama said once he hung up the phone. "That boy is pathetic. He just doesn't get anything, does he?"
"And you just realized that Kurama?"
"Shuddup Hiei. We should head over to the hospital."
Hiei nodded, scowling at the cards as he walked past them.
"You know Hiei, I don't think you'd make a good human. You take life way too seriously."
Hiei shot a glare at the fox. "It's not my fault! It's the cards! They made me mad! I don't know how you can play with such things!"
Kurama laughed.
"Hiei... like I said, you take life way to seriously."
The fire demon didn't reply that time, he just scowled up at the fox's face. It was then he remembered the day when he talked with Shiori. God he hoped he didn't waste his time on that damn woman for nothing.
Half an hour later Kurama pulled into the hospital parking lot, Hiei in the seat next to him.
"You're coming in again, right?" Kurama tried to confirm as he parked the car and turned off the engine.
Hiei wasn't sure. How would Shiori react when she saw him again?
"Yes." The word was out of his mouth before he could stop it.
"Thanks Hiei."
He was going to change his answer, but when the fox thanked him, he decided against it. Again, the fox needed him.
"Sure thing..." he muttered before stepping out of the car.
The fox smiled at him before he stepped out and locked the car.
The two headed for the hospital together, like usual. They entered together, and they walked up to room 501 together.
Kurama pushed open the door and greeted the doctor and unfortunatly, the journalist who sat at the table next to the bed. Shiori was in a wheelchair next to the window, the doctor standing next to her.
"Welcome Shuichii, and Hiei was it?"
The fire demon did not answer. Neither did Kurama.
"All right then..." the doctor started, "I'll need to ask you both some questions about..."
"No," A soft female voice replied. Everyone turned to face Shiori. A small smile lit her lips, as she looked at Kurama and Hiei.
"Shiori?" the doctor questioned.
"I just want things to go back to the way they were."
Everyone was confused, but Hiei wondered if this was his doing.
This can't be this simple! Kurama thought. My mother isn't one to just change her mind like that.
"Shiori, if you don't mind my asking, could you please explain?"
"Of course doctor. First of all, I want to thank that boy over there for helping me realize that I sitll love my son."
"That boy?" the doctor questioned again.
"Hiei."
"Hiei?" Kurama wondered, his voice rising several notches.
Pink tinted his cheeks but quickly went away. He dipped his chin and looked at the woman. Shiori was thanking him for calling her a bitch? Hiei knew this had something to do with the time he went behind the fox's back, and wether he liked it or not, Kurama would find out about what he did. Would he be mad, or would he thank him? For some reason Hiei was anxious to know the answer.
