Okay, me again. Sorry for my mistake last chapter. If anyone can get me a
description of what Hiei's mother is actually supposed to look like, I'll
go back and changer her name and stuff. I'll even make it a point to
explain why she's not dead. (I still need her around, you see.) Anyway,
apologies for anyone upset about the mistake, although, in my defense, it's
not exactly my fault. I've seen all the episodes shown on Cartoon Network
(to this date) and the only manga available right now isn't nearly as far
as the anime aired. Also, I can't find any videos of future episodes yet
(Sorry, I will not order them online) plus, I can't find a good webpage
with lots of pics, info, and spoilers to do my research on. (Let me know if
you know of one) Also, just me being picky, but this is fanfiction.
Creative license permits us to change things as needed. Anyway, that's all
I have to say, just an explanation. Thankies for all the help, and I'll get
it fixed as soon as I can. Also, how do you spell Yusuke's last name? I'm
not sure I have it right yet. . .Also, I know my ages for Hiei and Kurama
are not right, but I don't care. From what I've heard, the creator of YYH
isn't very constant with the years anyway, so it shouldn't matter. That's
it. Go read the chappie now.
WARNINGS: I own nothing, this is a yaoi fic, and also, I will be talking about Yusuke's demon form soon and IT WILL BE DIFFERENT. I wrote this part before I knew what the actual form looked like, and I'm not going to change it. I would, but I like mine too much, and anyway, this is a different situation, you know? So, no complaints, because I'll just ignore them anyway. (Grins)
~
"Well, that was certainly an experience." Yusuke muttered, tucking his hands behind his head and casting an appreciative glance at the dressing Hiei. He could still taste the small demon's lips on his own. The shorter boy seemed to be in one of his annoyed moods at the moment, but by now Yusuke was beginning to get used to the many sides of his traveling companion.
And looking forward to improving Hiei's mood.
He gave a small laugh, eyes scanning the lithe form without fear of getting caught. "Do they all dress like that when they're on their own land?"
"Only the warriors." He answered gruffly, busy with his clothing.
"I bet Kuwabara's nose would bleed for a month if he saw Yukina wearing something like that, if you know what I mean." He chuckled, idly wondering how long until sundown. He wondered if he and Hiei would get any sleep at all. The way things were going. . .
Hiei turned an icy glare on him. "Watch your tongue, detective, or I may have to rip it out of that pretty mouth of yours." He threatened coldly.
"Hey, I didn't mean nothing by it." Yuske said defensively. Hiei turned away and he sighed, touching the small demon's still-bare shoulder. "Hiei. . .hey, I'm sorry, man. I was just kidding. If I had a sister, I wouldn't wanna' think about her with that oaf, either."
"I don't care who she chooses." Hiei's voice was hard and bitter. "I'm just disappointed that she would want a mere human."
Yusuke blinked, withdrawing his hand. "Oh."
A muscle worked in Hiei's jaw; he didn't notice the hurt quiet in his companion's voice. "It infuriates me; someone of my blood, sinking so low." He continued, prepared to rant.
"I. . . I didn't know you hated humans so much."
"Cowardly weaklings influenced only by their own fear and greed." He spat, pulling his cloak on. "Human beings are so inferior; they should be numbered among the animals. Lower, even." He shouldered his pack and began to walk in stiff, ground eating strides, stopping when he realized he was alone. "Are you coming, detective, or do you plan to stand there until you rot?" He demanded. "They'll send someone to follow us and make sure we leave within good time. I don't know about you, but I would prefer to be alive when I next see Kurama."
Yusuke shook himself and began to follow, watching Hiei as if he had never seen him before. His chest felt funny, hollow. It. . . hurt. Hiei's adverse feelings toward humans were so strong, it was a wonder he even managed to touch him.
Obviously, he only insisted on keeping Yusuke warm in order to keep him alive for Kurama. The heat of his kiss must have been imagined, or else, Hiei was merely lonesome without the presence of his longtime lover.
Yusuke walked silently, unable to speak around the lump in his throat.
~
"Don't argue with me, detective. Come to bed now or you'll be too tired to make proper time tomorrow." Hiei commanded, swallowing his pride at having to actually ask the human boy to bed. For some reason the dark haired boy kept putting it off, finding other things to do.
Yusuke glanced at Hiei's bedroll, which was now zipped up connecting his own, and shifted. "You know, Hiei, I don't think it's as cold tonight as it's been. I'll be fine on my own."
"Ridiculous, it only grows colder the further we travel." He spat Why this aversion to sharing a bedroll? Was he afraid of what had almost happened to them before? "Don't worry." Despite his annoyance, he forced his voice to soften. It was a difficult task. "I don't plan on trying to get any tonight. You're perfectly safe."
"I just. . . I just don't want to, okay?"
"Are you concerned that Kurama will mind? He won't, trust me. I know him far better than you ever will. Now, come here."
Yusuke hesitated. "I. . . I'm not undressed yet. I don't need to sleep in my clothes, right? They'd get all wrinkly and. . . stuff. Yeah."
"Do I look like I care?" Hiei sighed, irritated with the boy's behavior. "I want to sleep, detective. Believe me; you do not want to be near when I haven't gotten enough rest - especially when the reason is due to such stupidity as yours."
Yusuke turned away and began to fumble with the buttons on his winter coat, freezing when Hiei crossed to lay a hand on his back.
"Don't try to tell me that this warmth does not feel good. You need me, detective, more than you will ever need the assistance of another being. Make it easy on yourself and admit it." Hiei smirked to himself as he watched the human nod, leading him over to the bedroll. "I trust you will not act so foolishly again." He said as they lay down side-by-side. "You are not a fool, Yusuke Urameshi, and I will not tolerate you acting as one." He reached for him, taking the human into his arms and holding him just a bit closer than what was really necessary. All that was really required was a simple touch, but he wanted the boy near him; wanted his scent around him and his skin against his own. A part of him knew he was beginning to fall for his fox's young human lover, but he was past caring.
He smiled to himself, closing his eyes.
~
For some reason Hiei couldn't explain, Yusuke grew more and more detached from him the longer they traveled through the woods. There were no more magical almost-moments - times when Hiei permitted his attraction for the spirit detective to show - and every morning he was up and out of Hiei's arms as soon as he woke.
And he was waking earlier each and every morning, no matter how far they had traveled that day.
After a week and a half's worth of travel, they reached the end of the ice demon's forest and, although he still felt the presence of the unseen eyes of the demoness who had undoubtedly been sent to watch them, he knew they were no longer being followed; it was just him being paranoid - a thing he was prone to do from time to time. He had waited expectantly for a time when he and his human were once more alone so that he could finish what he had begun the morning after he had first kept the human boy warm.
However now it seemed as if Yusuke was creating his own obstacles.
After living over six hundred years, Hiei was still seen as a rather young demon - had he been human, he probably would have been in his mid to late twenties - yet even a young demon should have learned not to keep his heart so open.
Well, fine, then. He would allow the stubborn human to have his way, even if that way did seem intended to keep them apart. If Kurama wanted to put up with such a trial, he was welcome to it, but Hiei was not about to permit some worthless human the chance to toy with his emotions.
He didn't need him, anyway. He was merely a. . . and amusement to pass the time with until he had Kurama back. In a few years he would be useless to either of them, anyway - who wanted a shriveled up old man? Kurama would forget about his infatuation then, and Hiei would laugh and wonder at how he had ever felt attraction to some pathetic, lowly, . . . brave, strong, amazing. . . nothing human.
"Hiei? Why the hell are you standing there grumbling to yourself?"
He shook himself out of his thoughts and glared his iciest, most hateful glare before striding past without a word of answer. He didn't need that punk. He didn't.
~
Yusuke cast an uneasy glance at Hiei, walking silently beside him. It had been nearly a week since the short demon had given him a glare worthy of freezing the deepest bowels of hades, and Hiei hadn't spoken a word to him since the rather unsettling incident.
Yusuke's tentative attempts at conversation had been met only with glares and rude noises, and/or gestures. He didn't even insist that Yusuke share his bedroll every night, despite the fact Yusuke knew that he wouldn't survive the night if he didn't. The short demon was keeping him warm during the day now, too, reaching over to touch his wrist every half hour or so, although it was perfectly obvious by the twist to his mouth that he didn't like doing it; no longer seemed to get his old perverse pleasure from forcing the human to depend on him to stay alive. He didn't appear to care at all.
Yusuke hated the change, even though it made things easier on him and his wounded heart. At least now he knew the truth about Hiei's feelings toward humans, at least Hiei wasn't pretending to care anymore.
But it still hurt. It hurt a lot.
Eyes daggers of ice that dared him to make a comment, Hiei reached toward him, and without even realizing what he was doing, the dark haired human pulled away.
"No." He found himself saying.
Hiei scowled darkly. "What do you think you are doing?" He demanded in a perfectly emotionless voice. Even with the coldness of it, Yusuke thrilled at the sound he hadn't heard in such a long stretch of time. This, however, did nothing to cool his anger.
"You heard me. If you're gonna' act like this, then I don't want none of your stinkin' help."
"Don't be a complete fool. Do you wish to freeze to death? Is that it?"
"Look, I know you hate me, but you don't have to be so obvious about it."
"Hate you?" Hiei echoed softly, eyes widening slightly.
Yusuke clamped his jaws shut; he hadn't meant to say that. Instead of an answer, he crossed his arms and looked away. "Look, let's get things clear. From now on, we're both on our own. If I can't keep myself alive long enough to find Kurama, then I don't deserve t' find him, so you can just keep your stinkin' hands to yourself." The cold was already beginning to sting his face, but he ignored it.
Hiei opened his mouth, a startled, almost vulnerable look on his face, but then he scowled abruptly. "Fine, have it your way." He spat quietly, the look in his eyes not matching the tone of his voice.
"I think ya' might change your mind about that one." An unfamiliar voice chuckled darkly. Yusuke's head jerked up and he stared, choking on his retort. They were surrounded by at least sixty raggedy demons, each one powerful-looking and armed to the teeth. He backed up until his back touched Hiei's and he realized that his short companion was tense. Very tense.
"Are you sure you do not wish to change your mind about being on your own from now on, Yusuke?" Hiei asked in a strangely quiet voice as he drew his sword and uncovered his jagan.
Yusuke scowled. "Positive." He replied automatically. "You and I are strangers now."
He grunted, and it sounded like he said "fool" and then the two were charging in opposite directions, attacking opposite flanks of the bandits. Yusuke threw all of his anger and hurt into his attacks, and his spirit energy flared more powerfully than it ever had. There was something different about it the angrier he grew, however he didn't have time to think about it.
The bandits weren't as interested in him as they were in Hiei, and he was soon free of enemies as they decided that the little demon would be much more fun than the strange human boy. He turned to find that Hiei had somehow manipulated his foes into fighting him one-on-one, the rest making a ring around him and his opponent.
Yusuke took a seat in the snow to watch and restore lost energy. He told himself that he didn't care if Hiei got hurt, that it was the demon's own fault for being stubborn and mean.
Hiei was locked in heavy combat with a bandit twice his size, their swords locked together as they fought, glaring at each other as if everything depended on who proved stronger. Hiei was toying with his enemy, which Yusuke could clearly see, and the human was filled first with a fond sort of amusement, then annoyance. Why did the small demon have to make it his personal duty to humiliate everyone who crossed his path?
One of the watching demons nudged the person beside him, fiddling with something under his heavy cloak. Yusuke stood, moving closer. He was only curious, that was all.
"This'll get that arrogant little runt." He chuckled quietly to his friend. The other apparition merely scratched his bulbous head, a confused expression on his face as he stared down at the strange glowing orb in the first demon's hands. "Haven't you ever seen a kokoro ball?" He huffed in annoyance, scowling at the dim-witted one. "This thing'll drain 'em of all his spirit energy and his live energy."
"Will it kill 'em?"
"Nah, not really, he'll just be locked inside himself - a useless vessel unable to move or speak for the rest of his life."
The two shared a grin.
"Do it." The second urged.
Yusuke grabbed the demon's arm. "Hey, that's cheating!" He protested, not even realizing he had moved.
He was shoved away carelessly.
"We never said we was fightin' fair." The demon answered in a sneering laugh, rearing back for the toss.
Yusuke picked himself up, and everything happened at one. He realized that he didn't care anymore how Hiei felt about him, the important thing was that he cared about the irritable apparition, and he wouldn't let something so horrible happen to him. He yelled his name as he threw himself into the circle, tackling the dark haired demon he cared so much for. Something struck his back.
~
To Be Continued
WARNINGS: I own nothing, this is a yaoi fic, and also, I will be talking about Yusuke's demon form soon and IT WILL BE DIFFERENT. I wrote this part before I knew what the actual form looked like, and I'm not going to change it. I would, but I like mine too much, and anyway, this is a different situation, you know? So, no complaints, because I'll just ignore them anyway. (Grins)
~
"Well, that was certainly an experience." Yusuke muttered, tucking his hands behind his head and casting an appreciative glance at the dressing Hiei. He could still taste the small demon's lips on his own. The shorter boy seemed to be in one of his annoyed moods at the moment, but by now Yusuke was beginning to get used to the many sides of his traveling companion.
And looking forward to improving Hiei's mood.
He gave a small laugh, eyes scanning the lithe form without fear of getting caught. "Do they all dress like that when they're on their own land?"
"Only the warriors." He answered gruffly, busy with his clothing.
"I bet Kuwabara's nose would bleed for a month if he saw Yukina wearing something like that, if you know what I mean." He chuckled, idly wondering how long until sundown. He wondered if he and Hiei would get any sleep at all. The way things were going. . .
Hiei turned an icy glare on him. "Watch your tongue, detective, or I may have to rip it out of that pretty mouth of yours." He threatened coldly.
"Hey, I didn't mean nothing by it." Yuske said defensively. Hiei turned away and he sighed, touching the small demon's still-bare shoulder. "Hiei. . .hey, I'm sorry, man. I was just kidding. If I had a sister, I wouldn't wanna' think about her with that oaf, either."
"I don't care who she chooses." Hiei's voice was hard and bitter. "I'm just disappointed that she would want a mere human."
Yusuke blinked, withdrawing his hand. "Oh."
A muscle worked in Hiei's jaw; he didn't notice the hurt quiet in his companion's voice. "It infuriates me; someone of my blood, sinking so low." He continued, prepared to rant.
"I. . . I didn't know you hated humans so much."
"Cowardly weaklings influenced only by their own fear and greed." He spat, pulling his cloak on. "Human beings are so inferior; they should be numbered among the animals. Lower, even." He shouldered his pack and began to walk in stiff, ground eating strides, stopping when he realized he was alone. "Are you coming, detective, or do you plan to stand there until you rot?" He demanded. "They'll send someone to follow us and make sure we leave within good time. I don't know about you, but I would prefer to be alive when I next see Kurama."
Yusuke shook himself and began to follow, watching Hiei as if he had never seen him before. His chest felt funny, hollow. It. . . hurt. Hiei's adverse feelings toward humans were so strong, it was a wonder he even managed to touch him.
Obviously, he only insisted on keeping Yusuke warm in order to keep him alive for Kurama. The heat of his kiss must have been imagined, or else, Hiei was merely lonesome without the presence of his longtime lover.
Yusuke walked silently, unable to speak around the lump in his throat.
~
"Don't argue with me, detective. Come to bed now or you'll be too tired to make proper time tomorrow." Hiei commanded, swallowing his pride at having to actually ask the human boy to bed. For some reason the dark haired boy kept putting it off, finding other things to do.
Yusuke glanced at Hiei's bedroll, which was now zipped up connecting his own, and shifted. "You know, Hiei, I don't think it's as cold tonight as it's been. I'll be fine on my own."
"Ridiculous, it only grows colder the further we travel." He spat Why this aversion to sharing a bedroll? Was he afraid of what had almost happened to them before? "Don't worry." Despite his annoyance, he forced his voice to soften. It was a difficult task. "I don't plan on trying to get any tonight. You're perfectly safe."
"I just. . . I just don't want to, okay?"
"Are you concerned that Kurama will mind? He won't, trust me. I know him far better than you ever will. Now, come here."
Yusuke hesitated. "I. . . I'm not undressed yet. I don't need to sleep in my clothes, right? They'd get all wrinkly and. . . stuff. Yeah."
"Do I look like I care?" Hiei sighed, irritated with the boy's behavior. "I want to sleep, detective. Believe me; you do not want to be near when I haven't gotten enough rest - especially when the reason is due to such stupidity as yours."
Yusuke turned away and began to fumble with the buttons on his winter coat, freezing when Hiei crossed to lay a hand on his back.
"Don't try to tell me that this warmth does not feel good. You need me, detective, more than you will ever need the assistance of another being. Make it easy on yourself and admit it." Hiei smirked to himself as he watched the human nod, leading him over to the bedroll. "I trust you will not act so foolishly again." He said as they lay down side-by-side. "You are not a fool, Yusuke Urameshi, and I will not tolerate you acting as one." He reached for him, taking the human into his arms and holding him just a bit closer than what was really necessary. All that was really required was a simple touch, but he wanted the boy near him; wanted his scent around him and his skin against his own. A part of him knew he was beginning to fall for his fox's young human lover, but he was past caring.
He smiled to himself, closing his eyes.
~
For some reason Hiei couldn't explain, Yusuke grew more and more detached from him the longer they traveled through the woods. There were no more magical almost-moments - times when Hiei permitted his attraction for the spirit detective to show - and every morning he was up and out of Hiei's arms as soon as he woke.
And he was waking earlier each and every morning, no matter how far they had traveled that day.
After a week and a half's worth of travel, they reached the end of the ice demon's forest and, although he still felt the presence of the unseen eyes of the demoness who had undoubtedly been sent to watch them, he knew they were no longer being followed; it was just him being paranoid - a thing he was prone to do from time to time. He had waited expectantly for a time when he and his human were once more alone so that he could finish what he had begun the morning after he had first kept the human boy warm.
However now it seemed as if Yusuke was creating his own obstacles.
After living over six hundred years, Hiei was still seen as a rather young demon - had he been human, he probably would have been in his mid to late twenties - yet even a young demon should have learned not to keep his heart so open.
Well, fine, then. He would allow the stubborn human to have his way, even if that way did seem intended to keep them apart. If Kurama wanted to put up with such a trial, he was welcome to it, but Hiei was not about to permit some worthless human the chance to toy with his emotions.
He didn't need him, anyway. He was merely a. . . and amusement to pass the time with until he had Kurama back. In a few years he would be useless to either of them, anyway - who wanted a shriveled up old man? Kurama would forget about his infatuation then, and Hiei would laugh and wonder at how he had ever felt attraction to some pathetic, lowly, . . . brave, strong, amazing. . . nothing human.
"Hiei? Why the hell are you standing there grumbling to yourself?"
He shook himself out of his thoughts and glared his iciest, most hateful glare before striding past without a word of answer. He didn't need that punk. He didn't.
~
Yusuke cast an uneasy glance at Hiei, walking silently beside him. It had been nearly a week since the short demon had given him a glare worthy of freezing the deepest bowels of hades, and Hiei hadn't spoken a word to him since the rather unsettling incident.
Yusuke's tentative attempts at conversation had been met only with glares and rude noises, and/or gestures. He didn't even insist that Yusuke share his bedroll every night, despite the fact Yusuke knew that he wouldn't survive the night if he didn't. The short demon was keeping him warm during the day now, too, reaching over to touch his wrist every half hour or so, although it was perfectly obvious by the twist to his mouth that he didn't like doing it; no longer seemed to get his old perverse pleasure from forcing the human to depend on him to stay alive. He didn't appear to care at all.
Yusuke hated the change, even though it made things easier on him and his wounded heart. At least now he knew the truth about Hiei's feelings toward humans, at least Hiei wasn't pretending to care anymore.
But it still hurt. It hurt a lot.
Eyes daggers of ice that dared him to make a comment, Hiei reached toward him, and without even realizing what he was doing, the dark haired human pulled away.
"No." He found himself saying.
Hiei scowled darkly. "What do you think you are doing?" He demanded in a perfectly emotionless voice. Even with the coldness of it, Yusuke thrilled at the sound he hadn't heard in such a long stretch of time. This, however, did nothing to cool his anger.
"You heard me. If you're gonna' act like this, then I don't want none of your stinkin' help."
"Don't be a complete fool. Do you wish to freeze to death? Is that it?"
"Look, I know you hate me, but you don't have to be so obvious about it."
"Hate you?" Hiei echoed softly, eyes widening slightly.
Yusuke clamped his jaws shut; he hadn't meant to say that. Instead of an answer, he crossed his arms and looked away. "Look, let's get things clear. From now on, we're both on our own. If I can't keep myself alive long enough to find Kurama, then I don't deserve t' find him, so you can just keep your stinkin' hands to yourself." The cold was already beginning to sting his face, but he ignored it.
Hiei opened his mouth, a startled, almost vulnerable look on his face, but then he scowled abruptly. "Fine, have it your way." He spat quietly, the look in his eyes not matching the tone of his voice.
"I think ya' might change your mind about that one." An unfamiliar voice chuckled darkly. Yusuke's head jerked up and he stared, choking on his retort. They were surrounded by at least sixty raggedy demons, each one powerful-looking and armed to the teeth. He backed up until his back touched Hiei's and he realized that his short companion was tense. Very tense.
"Are you sure you do not wish to change your mind about being on your own from now on, Yusuke?" Hiei asked in a strangely quiet voice as he drew his sword and uncovered his jagan.
Yusuke scowled. "Positive." He replied automatically. "You and I are strangers now."
He grunted, and it sounded like he said "fool" and then the two were charging in opposite directions, attacking opposite flanks of the bandits. Yusuke threw all of his anger and hurt into his attacks, and his spirit energy flared more powerfully than it ever had. There was something different about it the angrier he grew, however he didn't have time to think about it.
The bandits weren't as interested in him as they were in Hiei, and he was soon free of enemies as they decided that the little demon would be much more fun than the strange human boy. He turned to find that Hiei had somehow manipulated his foes into fighting him one-on-one, the rest making a ring around him and his opponent.
Yusuke took a seat in the snow to watch and restore lost energy. He told himself that he didn't care if Hiei got hurt, that it was the demon's own fault for being stubborn and mean.
Hiei was locked in heavy combat with a bandit twice his size, their swords locked together as they fought, glaring at each other as if everything depended on who proved stronger. Hiei was toying with his enemy, which Yusuke could clearly see, and the human was filled first with a fond sort of amusement, then annoyance. Why did the small demon have to make it his personal duty to humiliate everyone who crossed his path?
One of the watching demons nudged the person beside him, fiddling with something under his heavy cloak. Yusuke stood, moving closer. He was only curious, that was all.
"This'll get that arrogant little runt." He chuckled quietly to his friend. The other apparition merely scratched his bulbous head, a confused expression on his face as he stared down at the strange glowing orb in the first demon's hands. "Haven't you ever seen a kokoro ball?" He huffed in annoyance, scowling at the dim-witted one. "This thing'll drain 'em of all his spirit energy and his live energy."
"Will it kill 'em?"
"Nah, not really, he'll just be locked inside himself - a useless vessel unable to move or speak for the rest of his life."
The two shared a grin.
"Do it." The second urged.
Yusuke grabbed the demon's arm. "Hey, that's cheating!" He protested, not even realizing he had moved.
He was shoved away carelessly.
"We never said we was fightin' fair." The demon answered in a sneering laugh, rearing back for the toss.
Yusuke picked himself up, and everything happened at one. He realized that he didn't care anymore how Hiei felt about him, the important thing was that he cared about the irritable apparition, and he wouldn't let something so horrible happen to him. He yelled his name as he threw himself into the circle, tackling the dark haired demon he cared so much for. Something struck his back.
~
To Be Continued