Chapter 5: The Kiss, the Decision and the Fox
Kurama was sitting on the bed, the sheet covering his lower half. He was holding his clothes, at least what was left of them. A guard had brought them in when he delivered food that morning. Having eaten, Yusuke had asked Kuwabara to go and see if Koenma had contacted them and to tell him that they were waiting to see what Kurama wanted to do.
From where he was leaning against the wall, closet to the door with Yusuke beside him, Hiei smirked. "You could make a toga out of the sheet…or you could just go naked…I won't mind." He said the last part softly as he turned and walked out the door. The raven haired and red head both looked at the departing koorime.
The raven haired scratched the back of his head before looking over at Kurama to see his reaction to the comments. What he saw shocked him, Kurama had dropped the clothes, somewhat in his lap, but mostly on the floor. He was pale except for a rose color in his cheeks and 'was he starting to sweat'.
"Hey Kurama…its okay." Yusuke tried to assure by rambling. "I know about you two, even though Hiei's trying to deny it, but don't worry, he didn't tell me. I just figured it out, remember I asked before. It's okay…I don't care…it's none of my business. Oh Hell! What I'm trying to say is that it's cool…kay?" He knew he had talked to the man before about the relationship and the red head had denied it, but now knew that they obviously wanted to keep it a secret.
Kurama snapped out of his state and Yusuke watched as he composed himself, if he hadn't seen the look, he would have thought he'd imagined it.
"What relationship?" Kurama asked in his calm and quiet voice as he began picking up his fallen clothes and looking them over again, trying in vain to piece something back together.
"Oh, okay?" Yusuke started. 'I'm so dead.' He thought. "You guys really don't want anyone to know, sorry man." He shrugged. "Forget what I said. And again, don't get mad at Hiei, he didn't tell me, I swear!" He had stuck his hands in his pocket and was looking at the floor, scooting his foot back and forth. "I'm soooo dead." He muttered.
The red head didn't get a chance to comment as the door opened revealing Hiei, carrying some folded fabric. He walked over and dropped it in the fox's lap. "I was able to find something that will fit you, it might not be your style, but it should do." He said dryly.
The red head looked up. He had paled and started to sweat again. "Are you alright fox?"
The black haired asked, placing a hand on the red head's forehead. 'Hn.' He thought 'he doesn't feel hot, yet he's sweating, something's wrong.' He went to pull his hand away, but was stopped by a hand wrapping around his wrist. He looked to see green eyes looking right at him and before he could think or do anything, he was pulled forward into wet lips hitting his. The next thing he knew, Kurama's right hand was on the back of his neck and his left hand had let go of his wrist to move up and touch his cheek. He choked and pulled back, breaking the attempted kiss.
Kurama pulled back just as fast, dropping his hands. 'I'm so dead.' He thought, starting to look at the clothes that were brought, in an attempt to make it look like nothing had happened. 'What was I thinking? Hiei would never want me. I have known this ever since he stayed to be her heir, but then he came back to the team, he never said anything… though I waited. Maybe I should tell him. Yusuke seems to already think…' His rambling thoughts were completely cut off as he felt a hand under his chin and light pressure trying to lift it up. He looked up into crimson eyes, which were full of hope and before he knew it, wet lips were against his. They fell back onto the bed, the smaller figure straddling his mid section with an arm landing on either side of his head. He didn't hesitate as he started kissing back, feeling the little fire demon taste every part of his mouth before pushing his tongue in and tasting back. He finally brought his arms up and wrapped them around the small waist.
Yusuke stood there with a complete look of disbelief. 'Did I miss something, they act like their kissing for the first time…and that look they gave each other?' He started backing to the door, hand behind him feeling for the knob. He knew he should turn and not look, but 'damn it again' it was like a train wreck, you couldn't help but look. 'Me and Keiko never kiss like that'. He thought, but ended up saying. "Um." While clearing his throat. "I'll just go and see what's keeping Kuwabara." With that, he turned and walked out.
Hearing the door close, Hiei and Kurama stopped kissing. The fire demon sat up smirking and sat back, making sure to put is weight on his heels so he wouldn't crush the red head. He looked at the body beneath him and saw green eyes sparkling. Kurama also smirked. "Well, it would seem we have some things to talk about?" He mused.
"Yes, fox, it would seem we do." Hiei muttered as he went to get off, but before he could get his leg up and over, Kurama started coughing. Grabbing the lean figure, he brought him up against his chest, still sitting with his weight on his heel as he held the red head close and patted him on the back. When the coughing stopped, he pulled back. "Are you going to be okay?" He asked, putting a hand on each shoulder and looking him in the face.
"Yes." Kurama whispered. "You just took my breath away." He said softly.
Ten minutes later, Kurama was dressed and standing next to Hiei, when the other two came back. "Right…are we ready?" Yusuke asked looking at the clothes the red head now wore. It consisted of a heavy cotton long sleeved shirt, V necked and flared at the end of the sleeves. It was a light grey color. The pants were a dark smoke grey and made of the same heavy material. They flared out at the ankles. The only way he could explain it was 70's style, but without the psychedelic flowers. "Koenma wants to know if you have the item and when we will be getting back." He said.
Kurama look to Hiei, they had been discussing this before the other two came back. Green eyes looked to the raven haired. "We will need to go back to the cave Yusuke. I was not able to get the item before I was attacked." Kurama said.
"You mean we have to go back and face whatever it was that almost killed you. Are you crazy?" Kuwabara gulped. He was hoping that Kurama had managed to get this 'all important item' before he was attacked, he really didn't want to go back.
"I am sorry Kuwabara, but this item is for King Enma. It is very important to him and I can get it easily with you all there to stand guard." Kurama stated and couldn't help the small sly smile that came to his lips as he said the last part, watching the reaction on the orange haired's face.
"No way! I'm not going back to be a distraction." Kuwabara argued.
"Shut up! Blockhead." Yusuke yelled, smacking the boy up the side of the head. "Kurama's right. We can keep a look out for whomever or whatever it is so he can go in and get this 'item.' We are here and close, so we might as well get it. Besides, the toddler would just send us back later. Not to mention how mad old daddy will be."
After bidding Mukuro farewell and asking her to contact Koenma to tell him they were on their way back to the sight of the item and to be ready with a portal at sundown. They set out on the four hour trip back. Yusuke and the others thought it would be less time than that, now that they had a somewhat clear path, thanks to Hiei on the trip in and not having to carry someone. The three were being cautious though, making sure Kurama didn't over do it as they made their way through the dense underbrush. About an hour into the walk, Kurama cut ahead of Hiei, who had been leading and cutting more branches out of the way. The rest met up with the red head at a large rock that was as least 12 feet high and 10 feet across, they had passed it on the way in and thought it looked a little out of place among the trees.
"What's up Kurama?" Kuwabara asked first. "Do you know why this rock is here? It seems so out of place." He was studying the rock, trying to make sense of it.
"Yes." Kurama answered with a nod. "It is a marker for a path that cuts through here, though it would appear that the forest has reclaimed it." The red head was now looking in all direction, until he stopped and concentrated on one way. Getting a big smile on his face, he said. "Follow me."
Before the others could question whether this was a good idea and whether this was really going to save them time, Kurama fell to his hands and knees as a white mist appeared. Mass confusion followed as no one knew what was happening, better yet what to do. Finally, just before the mist cleared, Hiei let out a loud. "Hn." That got the other two's attention. Yusuke and Kuwabara watched and when they could finally see, their breathing stopped. Before their eyes was a silver fox, it was about the size of a large dog, with red eyes and 'five?' tails. Looking up at Hiei and then gesturing his head at the others, the fox took off running into the underbrush, at the same time it was clearing a three foot wide path for them to follow.
"You better keep up. He says he won't keep it back for long." Hiei said before disappearing and reappearing just behind the fox who had made it about fifty yards along before he'd stopped to wait. The other two stood 'dumbfounded' before they noticed the underbrush moving back into place, after a couple of. "Hey wait." They ran to catch up.
Sure enough they met up with the previous path, it had cut about two hours off the walk and being able to make good time, they were within yards of the cave. It was only a few hours till dusk when they came to a stop just within about ten feet of the side to the entrance of the cave. Kurama changed back to his human form. "Well, that was fun. I seem to have too much energy and that was one way to burn it off." He said with a little cockiness.
"Too much energy…what are you talking about?" Yusuke asked as Kuwabara was still trying to catch his breath and finding a place to sit.
"Hn." Hiei answered. "It is also an affect of the tank. It can get the body over stimulated and would have the effects of what you all call 'caffeine'."
"Oh…well…." Yusuke said. "Let's just hope you don't crash and burn the way caffeine does when it wears off." The next question was directed to Kurama. "Now what?"
Thinking back to Kuwabara's remark about being a distraction, the red head looked to Hiei, saying. "Why don't you and Kuwabara stay out here and watch while me and Yusuke go in and get it." After protests from both sides, the red haired and raven haired went into the cave, leaving the orange haired and black haired still bickering.
Yusuke was familiar with the cave's entrance from before, but he let Kurama led the way as they made their way past the entrance. Chocolate eyes saw all the blood and torn pieces of cloth from where they had found Kurama two days ago and his heart skipped a beat. He was glad to see the being that had almost died here, walking ahead of him, alive and full of energy. When it started getting too dark for them to see, Kurama reached into his hair and pulled out a seed, he grew it into a glow plant. The tantei remembered those from the cave they took to get to Sensui.
The red head placed the plant every so many feet along the way until they were at an opening just big enough to let a person in. He then took the glow plant that he had been holding and made it grow. After a foot or so, the plant dropped seeds in his hand and he took those with his other hand and threw them in the room. He again took another seed, made it grow and produce seeds, which he again threw in. After three more times, he finally stopped and placed a hand on the ground. Within seconds the room glowed with the light of the plants.
Yusuke's eyes widen at what he could see. The room was packed with items from floor to ceiling. Everything you could think of was in there. Chairs, dressers, lamps, mirrors, rugs, stacks of paper, boxes made of wood, gold of all sorts, like necklaces, jewels of every make. It was just too much to take in and you still couldn't see how big the room was. Kurama looked at the expression on the detective's face. "See anything you like?" He asked, with a little pride and smugness in his voice.
"How…when…you?" Words were not coming out right as Yusuke continued to stare.
"If you think this is a lot, you should see some of my other places." Kurama said, but then added. "And before you ask, I have hundreds of location throughout the Makai, this just happens to be where the item for King Enma is."
"You stole all this stuff." Yusuke said, finally coming out of his shock.
Kurama shrugged, saying. "Stole, creatively acquired, given to, found. However you would like to take it. I guess since I will no longer be returning to the Makai, at least not anytime soon. I should start letting out rumors as to where this stuff can be found. I would hate to see it ruined since I am not here to take care of it." As he talked he had been making his way along a small path through the room. After several yards in, he started looking into chests and boxes that were stacked on the furniture. "It has to be here somewhere." He began muttering to himself. "I did not change its location, it was not that important to me."
"Would you like some help?" Yusuke called out, trying to get a better look at what the red head was doing.
"Oh." Kurama paused when he heard the voice. "That's okay Yusuke." He called back, not looking up from his searching of containers. "I know it might seem a bit strange, but the item was not that important to me at the time, so I just stuck it in one of these containers and now I can't quite remember which one."
It seemed like hours before Yusuke finally heard. "Ah, here we go." And watched the red head take down a small chest and open it. He then took out a small velvet bag which he stuck it in his pocket. "We can go now, I have it." Kurama said as he made his way back to the entrance.
"And you stole this from Enma himself?" Yusuke asked as Kurama reached him.
He watched the fox place his hand back on the ground making the lights go out before getting an answer. "It was given to me, I did not steal it, and it is a rather long and boring story. We need to leave now, it is getting dark." The remark was made with harshness in his voice. Yusuke chalked it up to the fact that it was getting late and they needed to get back to the others.
When they made it back to the entrance, they could hear loud talking and arguing. Hiei and Kuwabara were trying to keep an incubus (1) from getting into the cave. They all looked over when they saw Kurama and Yusuke at the entrance. Green eyes meet the bat's.
"Komori? (2) Is that you?"
End Chapter 5
(1) Incubus – meaning - a male human with bat features.
(2) Komori– meaning - bat