Disclaimer and warning applies to all chapters.
Renegade steer clear!
A tournament,
tournament, a tournament of lies.
Offer me solutions,
offer me alternatives and I decline
(It's The End Of The World As We Know It) REM
Empty Eyes
"Kurama, I'm sick of this! Please, remind me why I have to help?"
Chuckling softly behind his hand, Kurama shrugged, struggling to hide the easy smile at seeing Hiei slumped over and puffing out his cheeks. It was impossibly cute especially with the adorable outfit he'd gotten the Jaganshi to wear. Instead of the dark cloak, it was replaced with a fluffy black shirt, button down and it showed off Hiei's chest and lower abdomen. The boots he usually wore were taken off, and sandals had been stuck on along with black socks that went to his knees, baggy pants pushed up so they were tucked into them. To top it off, Hiei agreed to a Maid's hat but of course he had no idea what it was so it was a lot easier for Kurama and a white frilly apron.
He crackled darkly in his mind, finger's itching for a camera. But he refrained and took a feather duster, pushing it into Hiei's hands and grinning ruefully at the look on the other's face.
"And what do you expect me to do with this?" The demon questioned appalled, glaring at him with disgust.
Smiling, Kurama took pleasure in taking Hiei's hand, directing to him to the shelf of books on the wall and pointed to the mounds of dust collecting on them. "There, small circles and remove all of it. Don't leave anything unturned. It's better to do it right the first time instead of going back a second time for what you missed." He was well aware of how motherly his voice sounded, and apparently so did Hiei from the look he was getting.
Snickering, the fire demon started dusting, surprisingly careful and looked back at the fox. "Heh, you're such a ningen, Kurama."
Really, Kurama should have taken it to offense, but the almost joking way Hiei said it, he couldn't have. Glaring halfheartedly, he turned, sulking. I'm getting too old. . . and he's too young. Ugh. (1)
Yuusuke was busy mopping the floor of the kitchen and Keiko was. . . where was she? He followed the trail of scattered clothes, into a bedroom and found the girl flipping through a worn photo album.
"Keiko-chan, what are you doing?" He asked softly.
She looked up, blinking and smiling gently at him. "Oh, just looking at all these memories. I can't believe some of the pictures in here, you know?"
He shrugged, sitting down beside her. His eyes widened at the first photo his eyes laid on. It was of him and Hiei, the latter curled in a ball and resting at his side while he ran careful fingers through the Jaganshi's hair. Who kept that one? More importantly, who took it? He blushed at the look Keiko sent him.
She grinned knowingly. "You still do, don't you Kurama-san?"
He smiled softly, watching the shadows play on the worn pictures. He could remember perfectly when some of them happened, while other's evaded his usually sharp mind.
"Yes, I do Keiko. Very much. You knew?"
Nodding, she closed the large album, pushing it back in the slot between a few videos and turned to him. "All of us, we knew even back then, it wasn't hard to tell you know. The small looks shared, the way you so adoringly watched him fight. And when. . . when he became Mukuro's heir, every one of us saw your heart break."
Kurama sighed deeply, closing his eyes and reliving all the times he sat in his room waiting for the little demon to return from the Makai. "Yes, yes I know. Yuusuke wouldn't leave me alone every day after I found out for a long time. It wasn't like they were getting married, I knew, but my brain just took it differently. She was intruding on different territory and my jealousy as a Youko took over. He didn't visit me anymore either, rarely if. And he still doesn't."
"Oh Kurama-san. . ." Her eyes were glassed over, hand to her lips. They turned their heads suddenly, hearing a small click towards the door.
Kurama got up, brushing off his pants and furrowing his brows. "No, it's fine. We should be helping the other two, don't you think Keiko?"
She nodded, walking with him from the now clean room.
"Hiei, you better put down that duster!" They heard Yuusuke shriek, and then a smacking sound like a book slamming.
"Cram it ningen, I'm sick of playing house!"
Kurama blinking, mouth open and agape as Hiei stood on the dirty couch, swinging his feather duster and hitting Yuusuke in the head before pulling off his maid's hat, the apron and sandals, glaring. Kurama noticed how dusty he was and smiled gently, reassuringly and stepping toward him. Keiko giggled, helping up the dazed boy on the ground and poking the mark the make-shift weapon had caused.
"Hiei, what are you doing?"
The small demon stopped in the middle of tearing up the white apron, blowing bangs from his forehead and giving the fox a nasty look as he put his cloak on. "Leave me alone, I'm sick of this stupid cleaning when I get absolutely nothing out of it while you and that ningen wench chatter away!"
The red head went pale, color completely drained from his face. "Y-you heard our conversation?"
The Jaganshi said nothing, opening up a window and dashing out. Keiko gasped, dropping Yuusuke from her arms and rushing to Kurama. "That was the clicking sound!"
Looking down, he mumbled out "I'm sorry but I to leave" before shutting the door, breaking out into a sprint for his house and not looking back. His heart hurt painfully, and something was in his eye, something making him twitch and a low scream escaped.
He heard and he didn't care! He was disgusted. . . completely appalled. And today was going so good, nothing could have ruined it. Why, of all days did I pick this one to spill my heart! And to Keiko! That girl is just too easy to talk to.
It wasn't long before he reached his house, unlocking the door and ignoring his mother's voice, heading straight for his room. He pushed college pamphlets off his bed and sat down with a deep sigh, putting his head in his hands.
"Being helpful has its downsides," Kurama laughed darkly. "But. . . I shouldn't let this get to me. It's not necessarily a bad thing, though. I should be optimistic now that he knows."
Optimistic, didn't you see his reaction?
At least he knows, and I don't have to hide it. Besides, I kissed him on the roof and he wasn't disgusted. Perhaps he just needed time to think?
Don't delude yourself Kurama. It only causes pain. Did you even stay to see his face? No. So how do you know?
He didn't act strange around me today! Y. . . Youko?
Kurama's eyes widened, shock written over his features. Either his conscious was playing a horrible joke or the ancient fox demon was communicating with him. The voice didn't answer, which he was grateful for. He didn't need his sanity to be questioned amids his problems.
"Strange. He's never spoken to me before. . . not like that, anyway."
The fox got up from his crouched position, looking into the mirror with dull emerald eyes. Everything was there, naturally, his bright red hair, his false smile and his slightly muscled body. . .
Something just felt amiss.
"Shuuichi, Shuuichi are you in there? What's wrong dear?"
His mother's voice broke him out of his thoughts and he immediately answered the concerned voice. "I'm fine mother, just had an off day is all."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive Mother."
"Well, all right. Dinner is in the frig if you want. And, if you need to talk about anything Shuuichi, I'm here."
Kurama could almost see the sweet smile cross her face and felt his guilt rise. Everytime she was near or said kind things, it hurt him a thousand times worse nowadays. After high school, less than a year. . . I'll move out and my guilt will leave, he reasoned, knowing his plan wasn't really intact.
It wasn't even a plan really. An escape.
A tapping sound came from his window. He narrowed his eyes, noticing the clouds forming and the wind picking up. A storm was definitely on its way, and he could only stare longingly at the window seal. Many nights the little fire demon spent there, watching the lightning streak the sky.
"It's getting darker. . . if there's a storm. . . will he?"
He didn't finish. Instead of the tree branch scratching the window, it was tiny hand. He almost fell over himself to get there, lifting it up and smiling as sincerely as he could.
"Hiei."
His happiness was rather embarrassing considering Hiei's cold demeanor, and he tried to stifle it. Climbing through the window, the fire demon stretched and planted himself on the floor, ignoring Kurama's greeting.
"Hn."
"There's a storm coming. I thought you'd retreat to the Makai."
Another disgruntled "hn."
Kurama's patience was wearing thin despite his normally calm status. "Please Hiei, just talk to me." A very devious idea popped into his head, causing a slight smirk to curl his lips. Oh yes, operation ice cream--bribe is in order. He'd get the Jaganshi to talk.
"Hiei," he purred, waving flags internally when the other's ears perked. "I have sweet snow. . . "
Twin ruby orbs blinked at him, a curious look replaced the earlier malice. "I'm listening. . ."
"Would you like some?"
A small nod. Kurama got up from his place on his bed, flipping back crimson hair and giving the Forbidden Child a dazzling smile. "Well then, I'll get you a gallon but then we talk, deal?"
Another nod, but it wasn't convincing enough. It was a complete risk. . . but what the hell? "How about you come with me?"
Hiei didn't reply immediately, bowing his head. "You've never invited me into your house besides this room. There's a trick, and I demand to know what it is!"
Kurama grinned, licking his lips in a predatory manner, swatting the overwhelming urge to pinch Hiei's cheeks because yes, he was that adorable.
"No, I suppose I haven't for the fact that you detest ningens and their customs. And no, it's not a trick." He smiled, reassuring the other of his intentions.
"Fine," Hiei growled, standing from his spot on the floor but reluctant to join Kurama at the door.
"What's wrong?"
Hiei looked back toward the rain, watching drops hit the glass and slid down. "Nothing."
Kurama's oxygen supply suddenly depleted as the tiny figure stared intently at the droplets, perhaps there was even a ghost of a. . . smile on the Jaganshi's lips before he turned back sharply, walking with the usual air of confidence.
"All right. Lead the way fox."
The smile Kurama painted on finally reached his eyes.
-
"What flavor would you like, Hiei?" Kurama asked sweetly, taking out assorted boxes from the freezer and setting them on the counter.
The fire demon's hands twitched excitedly, mouth parted slightly as Kurama opened a container of Neapolitan for himself, scooping out only the chocolate and strawberry. Hiei watched with rapt attention.
"The white," he whispered.
Nodding and taking the vanilla out, Kurama put it in a small bowl, handing it over to the admiring demon. "There you go. I can't understand how you like vanilla. Nasty stuff."
When he sat down, Hiei directed a heated glare to him, as if to say 'one more time, just one. . . '
Kurama gulped.
He carefully ate his ice cream, keeping one eye on Hiei and the other on his mouth. He felt absolutely horrible when Hiei shuffled the freezing mess into his petite mouth, tongue going out to lick his lips. Oh yes, Kurama felt terrible.
"You promised we'd talk, Hiei."
The fire demon looked up, narrowing his crimson eyes. "I promised you nothing."
Kurama licked his spoon, finishing the last lump of chocolate, keeping his eyes directed at Hiei. "Then perhaps I shouldn't give you anymore, hmm?"
The near hysteria that erupted from the door way was not expected, startling the two.
"Shuuichi, who is this!"
Kurama sighed. Shiori.
TBC
1- Youko Kurama is, mm, about 1000 years of age, I've been led to believe. Hiei is around 250, or 500, somewhere in that general area. So even in demon years, they are quite a bit apart age wise. I have my own thoughts on Shuuichi. . . but I won't bore anyone because it'd take like three paragraphs. Tch.
I think this chapter's my favorite. -huggles Hiei- And I bet you guys thought Kura-chan would run home and cry. Psh, not this Kurama. (He didn't even cry when his mother was sick, if I remember.) Thanks to everyone who reviewed! The next chapter might be delayed, however, because I have a lot to do. And I mean a lot next week. Now, on to my lovely reviewers.
Evene: Um, I'd rather not tell you because it could ruin the story but note that I know what I'm doing in the plot so don't worry, it'll happen heehee. Thanks!
hiei's siss: Thanks!
dimonyo-anghel: Tch, who wouldn't? Hiei... -drool- Thanks!
LadyRainrin: Thanks!
Kaori Minamino: Shank ya! You're welcome, anymore questions, ask away. Hiei is so adorable, ne?
FoxofRoses: Mmm, I wouldn't say you were wrong. Bwhaha!
Sai-ryo Aura Feana: -giggles insanely- damn right the sexyness. . . now you've got me thinking about it nyaa!
darksaphire: Yay, fan art! If you do draw it, send it to nikkiratpoison at yahoo please. I'd appreciate it greatly! Such an adorable picture as well. Thanks!