Sorry I haven't updated this like I said I would. School has taken up so much more time then I thought it would and I have SO much homework. Anyway, I'm going to try to update this as often as possible from now on, mostly just because I already have an awesome idea for a sequel. :) Don't ask, I won't tell you, it gives away too much at this point. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this. ON WITH THE FIC!
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Hiei sighed as he stretched out on the couch and flipped aimlessly through the TV channels. Kurama had left to do some grocery shopping and Hiei was alone in the apartment, and would be for the next forty-five minutes. Or so he hoped. It wasn't that he didn't enjoy the fox's company, that would never be true, but the redhead was truly starting to try his patience.
It had been a week since the Father's Day fiasco. The very next day his katana mysteriously disappeared. He knew the fox took it, trying to keep him from fighting and possibly injuring himself, but it still mad Hiei angry. His katana was his lifeline, his security blanket. Without it he felt so vulnerable, so weak. Despite his having told the fox all this, however, Kurama still refused to disclose the location of the missing blade.
If it had been anyone else, Hiei would have simply pulled the information he needed from their mind with the Jagan, but he couldn't do that on Kurama. He trusted Kurama, fully trusted him as he had trusted no one else before, and it felt like a betrayal of that trust to use the Jagan to gain any information that Kurama wouldn't give freely. Still, not having his katana was not helping his mood.
The cursed morning sickness had all but stopped, thanks to a number of different plant mixtures Kurama had experimented with over the last few days. However, Hiei was tired of having such things added to his food. On top of the nausea prevention plants, Kurama also insisted on adding other things to his food, all of which the fox claimed were rich in vitamins and good for the baby. The fox had also put him on a diet of sorts, forbidding him to eat any excess of sweets, including ice cream. Hiei had almost put his food down then, but after a particularly enjoyable evening Kurama managed to persuade him otherwise.
Despite all these limitations and rules that now applied to the world of food, Hiei couldn't seem to get away from it. He was hungry constantly and was honestly starting to wonder how, after nearly a week of eating everything in sight, he had managed to avoid putting on a single ounce of weight. Kurama often teased him about the constant eating and the strange concoctions Hiei made (such as sushi and chocolate sauce) but it was Hiei's turn to laugh when it was the fox that had to restock everything. But even Hiei had to admit that it was getting slightly out of hand. Kurama had been to the grocery store three times already this week and it didn't look like his salary would stretch to cover the expenses for long.
On top of that there was the issue of their house. The idea of their child being confined to the tiny apartment was not something either demon liked. A young demon needed room to move. The only problem, as with most things in Ningenkai, was money. The grocery bills were draining them dry as it was. They could never afford a house. Kurama still had four months to go before the loan to buy the apartment was paid off. A house was a nice dream…but it was just that, a dream. Who said dreams come true?
Hiei yawned. Hungry wasn't the only thing he always was now. He was also tired. It didn't matter how much sleep he got at night, he almost always needed a nap during the day. The kid was really draining a lot of his energy. Perhaps it wasn't such a bad thing Kurama had taken his katana. He was in no shape to be fighting anyone. Aside from his slipping energy, a battle was just altogether too dangerous. A good kick or punch to the stomach and that was it. In a few more months, his unmatchable speed might even suffer thanks to the child.
He yawned again. Glancing at the clock he found he still had thirty-two minutes to go before the fox said he'd be back. He'd wanted to spend this alone time…well…enjoying being alone, but he highly doubted he could keep his eyelids opened for another half an hour. Admitting defeat, he curled up into a cat-like ball, his body involuntarily shielding his stomach from any harm that might come to it as he slept. In less then a minute he was asleep.
(xxx)
Hiei awoke to the feeling of being held. He was no longer on the couch but on the bed, that much he could tell from the softness of the mattress. Taking a deep breath his nose was filled with the scent of roses.
"Did you have a nice nap?" a gentle alto drifted over him, lips gracing his temple. Leaning up, he met those lips with his own, sharing a deep, passionate kiss.
"Hn," he smiled as he pulled away. "What are you doing, fox?" Even as he said this, he put his own arms around the one holding him, burying his head in the redhead's chest.
"You looked so cramped on the couch," Kurama explained softly, running his fingers through raven spikes. "I thought I'd move you to the bed. But once I had you in my arms, I didn't want to let go." Hiei snorted and Kurama chuckled lightly at the response.
"How are you feeling, Quickfire?" Hiei laughed quietly at the endearment, recalling the conversation just last night that had lead to it.
"Why don't I have a pet name for you?" Kurama had asked out of nowhere. Hiei blinked. He had been almost asleep. Why did the fox insist on confusing him when he was only half awake?
"What are you talking about?" he mumbled groggily, meeting the redhead's shining emeralds with drowsy rubies.
"You always call me 'fox'," Kurama elaborated, "I should call you something too." Hiei groaned.
"Why is this important right now?" he muttered, burying his head into the pillow and closing his eyes. Kurama chuckled, causing crimson orbs to crack open once more.
"I don't know," the fox admitted, "I guess the idea of a baby just makes me feel so much closer to you. Koi just isn't special enough." As he spoke he laid a hand on Hiei's stomach, rubbing gently. Hiei sighed.
"If you come up with a…a 'pet' name, will you let me sleep?" he asked wearily. Kurama chuckled, kissing his warded Jagan.
"Of course," the fox assured him.
"Hn. Quickfire then," Hiei said shortly, rolling over with the intension of going to sleep.
"Quickfire?" Kurama asked. Hiei sighed, turning back to face the fox.
"Yes, Quickfire," he confirmed.
"What made you think of that?"
"I didn't, you did," Hiei answered simply. Kurama blinked.
"What?" Hiei smirked slightly, a warm pulse of purple glowing from beneath his white bandana.
"The mind works out problems fairly easily," he explained simply, enjoying the fact that he was teaching Kurama something for a change. "Sometimes it just takes a while for you to consciously realize the answers. I speeded up the process by skimming through all the possible names your mind had created, without you consciously recognizing them, and chose my favorite. Quickfire." Hiei's smirk widened as Kurama blinked a few more times, processing all that. Finally the redhead smiled.
"Quickfire it is then," Kurama smiled. Hiei grunted.
"Now go to sleep, fox," he muttered, turning over once more.
"Goodnight…Quickfire."
Apparently, Kurama was going to stick with the name, not that Hiei minded.
"I feel fine, fox," he answered the redhead's question shortly. They spent the next few minutes in comfortable silence, simply enjoying being in each other's arms.
"Hiei, there's something I've been meaning to ask you," Kurama hesitantly broke the silence. Looking up, Hiei found a slightly embarrassed look on the fox's face. What did Kurama have to be embarrassed about?
"What, fox?" Crimson dusted the fox's cheeks.
"Anou…how…how are you going to give birth?" he asked quietly. Hiei blinked. He hadn't even thought about that. How was he going to give birth? He didn't much like the idea of having the baby cut out of him…but was there another option. He barely suppressed a blush as another idea came to him. He would most definitely not do that! The idea of an anal birth not only seemed painful and disgusting, but highly embarrassing. No, if that was the only other option, he would gladly have the child cut from him.
"I don't know," he answered truthfully. Silence rang between them again, although this time it wasn't quite so comfortable.
"Are we going to tell the others? I'm sure Genkai at least should know. She's the most qualified, not to mention trustworthy, to help deliver the baby," Kurama said after a moment.
"Hn. We'll tell them, but not right away," Hiei answered after a moment's contemplation. Taking the fox's hand in his he guided it down to his stomach. "For now, it'll just be our little secret." Kurama smiled, kissing the fire demon once more.
"Secrets don't make friends, Quickfire," Kurama chuckled as he pulled away.
"Hn. Who said I wanted friends?" Hiei smirked back.
"You don't want friends?" Kurama asked, faking a hurt look.
"No," Hiei shook his head.
"Why ever not?" Kurama asked, wondering where Hiei would go with their little game.
"Because I have something better," Hiei smirked.
"Oh yeah, what's better than friends?" Kurama inquired, a small smile forming on his face. Hiei pounced, rolling the redhead onto his back and straddling his hips. They shared a deep, loving kiss, moaning into each other's mouths before Hiei pulled away and lowered his head to suck at the junction between Kurama's neck and shoulder. The fox moaned again, tilting his head to give Hiei more access.
"I have the legendary Youko Kurama," Hiei smirked as he sat back, "all to myself." Kurama gave him a predatory grin.
"Oh really. And what makes you think you can handle me?" he asked huskily.
"This," Hiei replied simply, diving down to crush their lips together in another kiss.
(xxx) I may be getting more daring, but still no lemons. That's all you get. (xxx)
Hiei lay on his side next to his fox, waiting for his breathing to return to normal. Kurama looked absolutely ravishing lying next to him. The moonlight shone on his sweat covered body as he lay sprawled on his back, his hair a disheveled mess all around him. As his breathing began to calm, Hiei realized that the stunning fox had already drifted to sleep. Hiei felt his chest expand at the thought that he, the unwanted bane of the Koorime, was carrying this beautiful being's child. Smiling, he wrapped his arms around his unconscious lover.
"What did I do so right to deserve you?" he whispered in the redhead's ear. Kurama mumbled something in his sleep and snuggled closer to the one holding him. Hiei's smile broadened and he tightened his hold. Silently, he drifted off to sleep; blissfully unaware of the shadow crouched just outside the window on the fire escape.