Onna of fire and pain: that's the sweetest, most threatening thing I've ever heard! Thank you!
Chapter 8
Manners
"Well, let us continue with or original quest!" Kurama said briskly, marching out of the house.
"You can't possibly mean that! After the past twenty four hours, you want more trouble!" Hiei nearly shrieked.
"I'm surprised that you are in disagreement."
"Hm, could that be because we almost got killed once each?"
"And you could get killed again, Hiei. A death from which there is no comfort of the after-life." The redhead finished soberly. Silenced for the time being with gloomy thoughts, he followed the kitsune back to the park.
"I believe we should belate any lessons on companionship, in light of recent events. Today, we shall over look things that anger you, and try to solve any problems."
"You don't mean-"
"Quite so!" Kurama grinned, "Cute things!"
"NOOO!" he wailed.
"Your enthusiasm is overwhelming," Kurama added dryly, "Now, observe those robins over there," he pointed to a small group of brown, little birds. The plump little creatures hopped mechanically over the grass, prodding the ground with their short beaks every few seconds, only to twitch their heads in another direction and repeat the process all over again. "Aren't they precious?" he smiled, knitting his fingers together and resting his head on them like a school girl.
"I don't know which is more sickening, them, or you."
"Oh come now! Well, you're right; I didn't have to do that… but still, they are somewhat endearing."
"Worthless little balls of feathers if you ask me."
"They only seeem worthless because they are of no value to you personally. However, to their nestlings, they are the whole world. Those little birds are mothers and fathers, who care for thier young with love, to prepare them to be mothers and fathers in the future."
"But, you can't eat them, or anything." Hiei said stubbornly.
"True, at least if you aren't a cat. They have an intangible value; bird-watchers, for example, watch them and appreciate them as nature's own works of art. And some appreciate the songs of the birds. They are also part of a complex web of survival in the wild."
"Hn, I don't like birds. They're creepy with those dark, beady eyes, like the fool."
"Hiei! That wasn't very nice at all!"
"So? He's not here! What is it the humans say, 'what he doesn't know won't hurt him'?" Kurama's eyes became huge and watery, "Hiei," he whispered happily, "You're… making progress!" swelling with pride as a teacher, he dragged the stunned Koorime away. 'What the hell was that!' Hiei thought.
"Next, watch closely; see those women there?" he pointed across the park to a smal group of women with their children.
"Hn, annoying brats."
"Only because they don't know any better, Hiei." Kurama said, continuing his trek. "Like any other creature, they must learn from their parents how to care for themselves. When occasion falls that they are unable to help themselves, they seek the assistance of a more experianced person; sometimes, though, in an unacceptable fashion, such as a tantrum, that requires discipline in order to teach the child there is a more constructive way to obtain what he or she desires."
Hiei scribbled away on a notepad he had stored in his coat pocket, "I never thought whinning and screaming at one's parents was so technical. I think I understand human children, now."
"Really!" Kurama said hopefully, making the scary-watery-eyes face.
"Don' t do that! It's scary!" Hiei said, stepping away from him. Recollecting himself, Kurama cleared his throat, and walked on. "How about I teach you some etiquette, Hiei, so that you too may obtain what you want without a struggle?"
"I don't struggle with getting what I want, I just take it." He snapped tartly.
"Stealing is part of the reason you have that egg, is it not? You must learn to over come your brash instincts and play fair."
"Wag your finger at me again, and I'll bite it off." He snarled darkly.
"Sorry, got carried away again."
A man driving an ice cream wagon stopped to rest under the shade pf a tree, and hopefully attract a few customers. He saw a short boy in a black cape andoddly-shaped black hair approach him. "Hello young man, can I interest you in some ice cream?" the vender said cheerfully. Wincing in slight disgust, the boy crossed his arms.
"Who are you to hold the precious sweet snow over me like a taunting jester!" he snarled. The vender kept smiling; a voice called the boy away behind a tree. A few seconds later, the boy ran back up to the vender, "I mean, yes, I want some sweet snow."
"What flavor would you like? Chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, cookies-n-cream, or rocky-road?"
"Hm," he thought, examining the amount of money that was in his hand. "One rocky-road, and one cookies-n-cream." He looked back to the tree, from which a redhead made a forward gesture, "please."
"One rocky-road, and one cookies-n-cream," the vendor said as he prepared the cones. "That comes to a total of $4.50."
"Or I could spare your life and we'll call it even." He quipped.
The vender just smiled. The boy was called back to the tree again, and when he returned, he handed the man he money and received the cones with no trouble. He started to walk away, when the person behind the tree made a gesture to the boy. The black-clad boy turned back to the vender, managing to mumble, "Thank you."
"You're welcome! Have a nice day!"
"Well, kitsune?" Hiei said, handing Kurama his share of the bounty. Kurama smiled as he took his cookies-n-cream. "I give you points for effort, Hiei. You did just fine."
