Epilogue: The End?
They both sat on a bench in the park, not saying a word. It was mid-day and Kurama had just gotten back from Reikai. Hiei had spent the night at the apartment and that morning, when Kurama was making them breakfast, Botan had appeared to say that he was being summoned. After quickly eating, the red head left, saying they should meet in the park afterwards.
Now they sat, each in their own thoughts. Hiei was the first break the silence. "So, what did he want this time?" He asked, not looking up.
The red head was taken out of his thoughts. "Who want?" He asked back, pretending to not know who the fire demon was asking.
"Baka Kitsune." Hiei growled, looking up at the red head. "You know who." He shot back, while trying not to lose his anger. It still came out harsher than he intended though.
Kurama raised an eyebrow. "Oh, you mean Koenma." He said, cocking his head to look at the koorime with a smile appearing on his face at the look he was getting. "You are too easy." He mused.
Before Hiei could respond to the remark, Kurama turned back, watching a young boy play ball with a dog as he said. "It was not Koenma who summoned me." His demeanor had changed back to the calm and quiet he was known for. Hiei's eyes got wide as the red head continued. "It was actually King Enma who wished to see me. He wanted to personally 'thank me' for returning the chess piece and that he was able to finish the game with Zeus, though he did lose."
"Why do I feel like that was not all that was said?" Hiei questioned, noticing the expressions on the red head's face, even from the moment they had met in the park.
"You are correct." Kurama said, giving a big sigh before continuing. "He wanted to tell me that I would not be going on solo missions anymore and that I could 'choose' to go or not on any of the group missions."
Hiei was taken aback by the statement. 'Isn't this what Kurama had wanted all along?' He was now basically being given the choice to retire, to be free of all the commitments. There was no question that he would miss his partner. He had come to trust the fox like no other. No, not like no other, because there never had been another. The red head was the only partner he had ever had and guessed ever would. The fire demon knew he could come to trust Yusuke more, in watching his back, even though Kurama had saved his more than he could count and he would 'never' get use to the Big Oaf.
Hiei ended up asking. "So, what do you plan to do?" The question came out soft, just above a whisper.
Kurama turned his head to see worried crimson eyes looking back. "My life is not as complicated now that I am living on my own and working part time has helped a lot in giving me time for missions." He said. "I still feel obligated to Yusuke for everything he has done and to Koenma for sparing me, but I will admit…my priorities have shifted and I have a partner to consider. I do not see anything changing just yet." With that, he placed a hand on Hiei's cheek, keeping eye contact. "If you know what I mean?" He smirked.
The fire demon gave a little smirk of his own, knowing exactly what the fox was meaning. Jumping up, he turned his back to try and hide the blush coming to his cheeks. Wanting to change the subject, he asked. "By the way, I've been wondering…just how did that chess piece come into your possession?"
Kurama had to fight back a laugh at the attempt the koorime was making to change the subject, but he said. "Like I told Koenma, 'I did not steal it myself, I creatively acquired it.' It is a rather boring story." Green eyes took note of the sun going behind the trees, it was getting late and he knew Hiei had wanted to check on Yukina.
Hiei realized the time as well. "Will you tell it to me sometime?" He said then quickly turned around to place a kiss on his fox's lips before whispering. "Meet you back at your place…fox?"
The red head was left stunned as the fire demon disappeared in an instant, but a small smile came to his wet lips as he muttered. "Of course…?"
End Epilogue
The End
Continues in: Atsumaru