Night Gazers

Chapter Two: Say You'll Speak...

-A quick note-

I've only seen a small clip of the device used near the end of this chapter from a music video... so, I actually have no official name for it . Therefore, I have dubbed it in my mind what it looks like: Demon Whistle. Be it true or not and having the wrong purpose, I... really don't care o.O; It serves my purpose and has a short amount of time in the spotlight. So... I just didn't want anyone being all NYAH O.O; when they saw it and I possibly had it wrong o.O;; Anyways... go nuts.

-

Bored emerald eyes stared out the large window of the third floor of Meiou High School, the teacher's voice at the head of the class becoming a low, obnoxious droning in his ears. Kurama was trying his best to pay attention to what the lecture was about. Something... something involving dehydration synthesis? Well, whatever it was, he could pick up on later. Right now, his mind was off focusing on the memory of the morning that had been plaguing him for the past two weeks...

Flashback

A sharp tingle in the back of his mind made him gasp, a small body tackling him to the ground. Sniffling, while feverishly trying to get back on his feet, the weight only increased, a soft voice calling his name.

Hesitating, Kurama slowly rose to his forearms and looked behind him, tears slipping down his cheeks. Hiei straddled his upper thighs, an unsure look carved into his face.

"Kurama..." He said again, his voice pained and confused, "...Don't... don't..." His head shook from side to side, his words unable to form. Darting forward, Hiei crushed his lips against Kurama's, pulling back and shouting, "Don't go Kurama! I need you!"

End flashback

Kurama couldn't remove the expression Hiei had worn on his face when he had said those six words out of his head. It was as if it had been forever burned into the lid of his mind's eye. His blood red eyes wide and frightened... confused...

The shrill ring of the bell signaled the end of classes for the day, startling Kurama out of his daze and back into the bustle of reality and his noisy classroom. Packing his papers into his book case, Kurama stood up and stretched lightly, before quickly making his way out and into the hallway.

Continuing his way down both flights of stairs, the red haired youkai pushed past the double doors, trotted down the front steps, and started down the walkway, when the bubbly giggles of young females caught his ears. Casting a curious glance over his shoulder, he saw a group of six uniformed women whispering and looking over at him. Internally rolling his eyes at the unwanted attention, his black shoes caught his eyes, finding one of the shoelaces to have become untied. Placing his case down, Kurama knelt, hastily setting to work.

Not noticing the giggles floating closer, Kurama stood back up, case in hand, when the sound of nervous feet shuffling behind him made him turn around.

Five of the girl's pushed the sixth forward, who hesitantly objected, a package in her hands. Kurama merely stared down at the shy girl, waiting for her to speak.

"Ah... h-hello S-Shuuichi-kun..." She greeted softly and blushed, keeping her gaze directed strictly to her shoes.

"Hello." Kurama responded politely, flashing the females a charming smile.

This caused the other women to flush and the nervous one to blush darker.

"I-I... um... I..." The girl began to nervously twirl a stray lock of her navy blue hair around her finger, before she continued. Taking a deep breath, she held up the rounded package topped with a red bow and finally met Kurama's gaze. "I made you some brownies, Shuuichi-kun; please accept them as a gift!"

Kurama smiled softly at the pink saran wrap that covered the brown treats, before taking the plate and looking at the girl again. Her once beat red face was now a small pink flush across her cheeks.

"Thank you very much, Ms...?"

A flash of surprise caught the girl's features for a moment, before she stuttered, "M-Mira! My name is Mira."

"Ah, well, thank you, Ms. Mira-chan. I'll be sure to enjoy these when I get home." Kurama gave them another smile, before turning and starting back down the walkway. The sound of the girls giggling and whispering soon faded, the silence of the trees around him a welcomed friend. But he could find no peace inside his mind; thoughts and memories of Hiei returning.

It had been two whole weeks since the close encounter and Kurama had yet to see the other demon's face. Hiei was avoiding him, had been his conclusion. And with good reason, too. It had been wrong for him to steal that kiss, as small as it had been, but still...

And then there was that point, after he had run, hoping to get back to the human world on quick legs, where he had been tackled, thrown to the ground, and all but laid upon. A small flush began to cross his cheeks at the memory of looking behind himself and seeing Hiei sitting on his legs, his fiery orbs wide and worried. Kurama could almost feel the warmth of Hiei's lips suddenly against his, his flush darkening.

"Kurama! Hey, wait up, Kurama!"

Shaking his head of his thoughts, Kurama turned to look over his shoulder, seeing a green figure running towards him. Adjusting the plate of brownies in his right hand, Kurama stopped walking, waiting patiently for the running figure to catch up.

Yusuke stopped in front of the taller boy, doubling over with his hands on his knees, dragging his breath in quickly. Once his breathing was somewhat recovered, the raven-haired male stood up, a goofy grin on his lips.

"Hey Kurama." Yusuke slapped his hand against the taller boy's shoulder, "Where are you headed?"

"I was just on my way home, Yusuke. I walk this way everyday, you know that."

Yusuke's eyes widened slightly when he suddenly lunged at the red-haired male, covering his mouth and darting his eyes around suspiciously.

"Shhh! I know, I know, but... I'm trying to find - "

"Hiei?" Kurama's muffled voice cut off Yusuke's sentence, his hand quickly removing itself, a sheepish grin spreading over his features again.

"Hey, Hiei! How's it going?"

"Hn." The small fire demon snorted off to his side, refusing to make eye contact with Kurama. "Detective, I..." His voice faltered, as if the words had evaporated from inside his throat. Crimson locked on emerald in a brief meeting, before another "Hn." was growled and the short figure was gone.

"Damnit, something's up with him, I just know it!" Yusuke scowled to himself. "Come on... let's go to your house and I'll explain it."

Kurama merely nodded, staring off to where the koorime had last been seen, jumping away. Realizing that Yusuke was leaving without him, he quickly hurried to catch up.

"Mmm! Damn, Kurama, you make really good brownies!" Yusuke munched happily on the dark square, finishing one and starting on another.

Kurama smiled slightly as he leaned back into one of the dining room chairs, his legs folded neatly and hands clasped in his lap. He watched silently as his friend devoured a little less than half his gift, before speaking.

"Thank you for the compliment, Yusuke, but I did not make them."

The head spirit detective stopped chewing and looked up at the youkai, blinking stupidly. "Then who did?"

Kurama chuckled softly, "Ms. Mira from school. It's apparent that she and her friends have a crush on me, just by the way they were flushing at my very words." He shook his head, glancing out the window next to him, a distant look beginning to glaze over his eyes.

Yusuke swallowed the last of his brownie, before grinning and saying teasingly, "Boy, Kurama, if I didn't know you any better, I'd say you're a player."

Kurama's delicate brows furrowed together at the words, his gaze connecting with the brown orbs across the table. "I would prefer it if you would not say things such as that. I have no interest in having a girlfriend."

"That's what I wanted to talk to talk to you about!" Yusuke snapped his fingers and pointed at the red-head, ignoring his slightly confused features and continuing. "Has Hiei been around here lately?"

Kurama was silent, but slowly shook his head 'no'.

"Before earlier, had you seen him?"

Again, Kurama shook his head, but felt his cheeks become warm.

Yusuke was grinning, his assumption almost completed.

"Why not? I mean, everyone knows he always hangs around here."

Kurama was having a bit of trouble keeping his emotions in check. He could feel the beginning of tears in the corners of his eyes, his teeth gently nibbling at his lower lip. Of course he knew why Hiei didn't come around anymore. He didn't want to tell anyone, he needed to fix this on his own. After all, it was his fault... wasn't it?

Standing up, Kurama leaned his arms against the table, liquid brimming his lower eyelids. Trying his best to keep his voice from cracking or giving away any sign that he was becoming upset, he said, "Yusuke, I'm beginning to feel a bit uncomfortable with this conversation. I would be most pleased if you took your leave now."

Yusuke held up his hands in defense, a stupid grin on his lips. "Whoa, whoa, whoa Kurama! Easy there, I was just asking. No need to get all huffy with me. But if you really want me to go..."

Kurama nodded slowly, his gaze lowering to the polished tabletop. "Please..."

"Yeah, ok." Yusuke stood up, stretching. "Don't worry, Kurama. He'll be around again."

The red-haired boy was silent, so Yusuke showed himself out. As soon as he heard the front door softly click shut, Kurama collapsed back down into his chair, his head landing in his curled arms to weep.

"Kuwabara! Hey, Kuwabara, open up!"

The door in front of him swung open on its hinges, revealing a tall, brutish-looking male, with a mop of orange hair atop his head. He was still dressed in his light blue school jumper, his expression confused.

"What is it, Urameshi?"

Yusuke pushed past the taller boy, making his way into the living room. Kuwabara shut the door, that confused look still hovering about his features.

"Hiei been here lately?" He asked, looking around as if he would find the dark koorime lounging about somewhere in the room.

Kuwabara shook his head. "No... haven't seen the shrimp since..." He scratched his head in thought, "Wow, come to think of it, I haven't seen him in weeks. Where's he been?"

"That's what I'm trying to find out. Kurama hasn't seen him either and you know how those two love birds are." Yusuke rubbed his chin, before a sudden thought occurred to him. Tensing slightly, he looked back over at Kuwabara.

"Love birds... what are you talkin' about, Urameshi? Are those two...?" The tall male scrunched up his features, as he attempted to figure out just what his friend was talking about.

"Nothing, Kuwabara, nothing!" Yusuke waved his hands in front of him, a stupid grin on his lips. Moving off the subject, he continued, "Seen Botan either?"

Kuwabara shook his head again. "Nope, why?"

Yusuke scowled lightly, before walking back to the door and opening it. Stepping out onto the front steps, he cupped his hands around his mouth, shouting, "BOOOOTTTAAAANNNNN!"

In a snap of air, a light blue haired girl appeared, floating on the oar of the River Styx. Smiling widely down at the pair a few feet below her, Botan's royal purple eyes sparkled with happiness.

"What is it, Boys?" She asked, shifting slightly.

"Whoa." Yusuke grinned, "Nothin' like poppin' outta no where. Anyways, have you seen Hiei around?"

"Yeah, Shorty's gone missing." Kuwabara interjected.

"Hiei's missing?" Botan repeated. She thought back, placing a long finger to her chin. "Hmm... come to think of it, I haven't. He hasn't been around the office, otherwise we would have all heard about it from Koenma."

Yusuke nodded in understanding, a sudden idea hitting him.

"Say, Botan... you don't happen to have that Demon Whistle thing on you, do you?"

The pilot lowered her oar until she floated in front of the pair, while reaching into her pink kimono.

"Actually, I do!" She produced the small silver device and held it out to the raven-haired boy. "What do you plan to do with it, Yusuke?"

Yusuke merely grinned that idiotic grin of his again and started running towards the city park, shouting over his shoulder, "If you hurry up and follow me, I'll tell you!"

The cloaked figure of a small demon rested his back against one of the larger trees in the park, arms crossed over his stomach. Hiei was scowling, his blood red eyes lowered to his lap, as his mind went over the earlier events from that day, all the way back to two weeks ago.

He could recall, vividly, the shocked expression Kurama's face had worn when he had tackled him to the ground and pulled back from that unexpected kiss he had stolen. He remembered standing up quickly and then bolting, never staying long enough to even find out if he had been rejected or not.

He had kept away from the kitsune after that, afraid to come near. He'd stayed in the park mostly, knowing that he would be safe there for a while at least, even if it meant enduring the cold, wet, heavy thunderstorms without the aid of the fox's roof...

But earlier that day, he had heard the last bell of Kurama school give way and a sudden urge to see the fox overtook him. He had hidden in the trees along the walkway, suppressing his Ki down as low as he could. He was surprised that Kurama hadn't noticed him; he was still detectable. But then he saw Yusuke coming down the path towards his fox. Hiei suddenly found his body acting on its own, felt his feet land silently against the ground, his name being uttered, yet muffled.

He didn't know what he planned to say, so he tried, "Detective, I..." He stopped, his focus lost, his eyes rising for a spit second to lock on Kurama's, before he took off.

Growling softly to himself, Hiei clenched his fist, the sounds of footsteps coming closer making him look behind him.

Yusuke, Botan, and the fool were coming towards him, but stopped, forming a small circle. Twisting his torso and leaning his hands against the branch he sat on, Hiei focused on listening in on the conversation taking place.

But he never got the chance.

A sudden, extremely high-pitched sound filled his ears, making his eyes go wide and then roll back into his head, his small form tipping forward and plummeting to the ground yards below.

-

To be continued...