A/N: Hello once again, Fanficdotnet Lovelies!
Your friendly, neighborhood Star here with another chapter!
You might notice that I've adjusted the appearance of the Symbols Guide that follows. There are a few additions and adjustments at this point in the story!
Symbols Guide:
* : Written by CM; She writes for Akari and Hiei
3 : Written by Star (supposed to be the 'heart' symbol, but FF doesn't like the 'less-than' sign, so it's a 3 instead); She writes for Shikiyoku and Youko/Kurama
~!**!~ : A universal transition between scenes or characters, sometimes used to indicate a passage of time, but most often used to transition between major scenes that are happening. As the story progresses, this will evolve into mainly separating the (usually two) scenes happening between authors/characters.
As a general rule, anything in italics is thoughts.
Unless it's used in a sentence like this, which merely indicates emphasis.
(Words in italics and within parenthesis is dialogue between Hiei and Shikiyoku via the bond between them after Hiei becomes Shikiyoku's Consort. As soon as the 'thought' occurs, it can pass between them, and does not actually have to be formed into exact words-feelings and sensations can pass through as well-in order to be picked up and the meaning translated immediately by the other. For the sake of the coherence by the reader, words and sentences are used as normal. It cannot be picked up by telepathy.)
"Quotations are usually reserved specifically for telepathic dialogue being transmitted from one being to another, but sometimes this can also mean a character isn't being careful about what they're thinking and anyone with telepathy in the nearby vicinity can listen in without taking any effort."
The only exception to that last rule is for the Shiba Inu dog, Nabu. All of his "spoken" dialogue will be in italics and quotations, but is communicated through body language or dog-like noises, so unless a character is able to translate those they are unlikely to pick up on what he is saying any more than the average person might understand his general moods like aggression (bared teeth, ears back) or excitement (wagging tail).
The Nabu Exception also applies to anyone when they are in an animal form, if the dialogue is in italics and quotations, unless stated otherwise.
Previously on Yu Yu Hakusho!
Shikiyoku finally has a Consort:
Hiei.
Sharing the burdens of her grief between themselves,
they return together to Kitoushi's body,
and see to it that he is buried in Youko's meadow.
Meanwhile, Kurama's internal battle with Youko
came to a complete stop and the fox
appears to have disappeared completely,
leaving Kurama to his own devices.
Shikiyoku and Hiei return to the First Layer,
their hearts equally heavy,
and when sweet snow and strawberries are mentioned,
Shikiyoku produces a single strawberry,
holding it out for Hiei and teasing him about eating from her hand,
to which he asks her if she wants him to.
The next time Kurama and Akari meet for "training,"
Akari is late, and Kurama storms into her room
and quite literally drags her out by the arm,
immediately embracing her as soon as they are out of sight,
only moving far enough into the forestry to lay down with her.
As she lay there, listening to Kurama's calm breathing, a small smile resting on her features the more time wore on. She'd thought over a few things, such as how long they'd be here- in Yomi's palace- and what would come in the next few weeks. She thought about Nabu, who she could just picture meandering around town with his head low and tail dragging on the concrete.
She thought about the layers, and how she was expected to go from this layer to the Ninth, and each time she tried she was knocked back.
She thought about the necklace that she hadn't had the heart to ask Kurama about earlier. She thought about her spirit, her soul randomly separating from her body and letting her wander around unnoticed by almost everyone.
And then the topic Yomi had called her to the table about the day before.
….
He hadn't called her lie about Takeo attempting to hijack her body, and at that realization she gave a small frown.
But that thought passed, replaced with other thoughts that became completely and utterly circling the one still asleep next to her. *
The dreams started simple, almost as if they were passing thoughts: concerns about his mother, her husband, the company, had he been keeping track of time properly or did he need to contact them again?
They grew more complex: Akari mixing in with Shikiyoku and both of them, or either of them, getting trapped and unable to escape, himself coming to get them and finding himself caught as well.
He passed memories with faces he didn't know, dreams about the past he never lived, about the bandits and Yomi, and rescuing Shikiyoku, and Kitoushi's letters delivered by runners.
So, when his eyes opened of their own accord, sleep leaving him, he felt disoriented, still haunted by the images that swirled nebulously about in his mind's eye until he blinked, and then blinked again, and they were gone, lost in the mix somewhere in his brain that knew the dreams had happened but could not recall any details of their occurrence.
~!**!~
(Well, I wouldn't have said it if the thought bothered me.)
But as far as wanting him to-
"I half-thought you were going to." Her eyes still gleamed at him. "But that's really up to you." 3
(….woman.)
Hiei's eyes lit up a little more and he half considered her words a challenge as he stared at her for a few more moments. His fingers, still outstretched to the strawberry, twitched a little as he thought.
He could smell it, and it smelled so wonderful.
His hand moved forward, but instead of grabbing for the fruit itself, his hand grabbed her wrist and held it in place so he could turn his head and take it from her fingers with his teeth.
(….foolish woman.)
Though, to say the words weren't tinged with amusement would be a flat-out lie.
He released her wrist as he crunched through the little fruit, his hand coming up to grab it before it fell from his lips, simultaneously tugging on the hand he still held within hers and turning to continue walking for the house.
~!**!~
So many thoughts seemed to swirl around in Akari's mind, some about how she wished she and Kurama were in the meadow, some about how she wished he didn't have to be here with her, and yet being so very glad he was. Some thoughts turned to the past few days and how she'd realized she didn't sleep as easily without him, just as she had when she'd first been tossed into that room.
And then all thoughts seemed to stop with one, leaving her almost opening her eyes to look up at him.
He makes me feel warm and secure.
That thought seemed to be locked in place at the forefront of her mind, until she shifted a little and pressed her nose gently into his chest again.
...He's warm. *
A third blink and the room fell into place around him, the semi-darkness that the plants growing all around afford the place, their presence, their life, their energy which he could sense without thought, whispering to him, telling him they were well.
And finally his arms, specifically the demon in his arms.
He leaned his head down so his lips would be in her hair.
"...sleep well?"
~!**!~
Shikiyoku smirked and lowered her hand, falling into step as Hiei started walking again.
She tugged back a little at his hand, wondering what was stopping him from taking them to get sweet snow.
Not that she would mind either way, but if they weren't getting it now, they were getting it later for sure.
She couldn't remember the last time she had any. 3
Hiei paused again when she tugged at his hand, turning to glance over his shoulder at her and blinking once. He didn't miss the slight impression he felt about wanting… something. And it didn't take long to deduce what she wanted, considering their recent topic.
He couldn't help the smirk this time, one that said he should've known.
And since it was her wanting it, instead of just him, he shifted directions.
(Might as well.)
~!**!~
Akari felt Kurama shift and was brought to the awareness that he'd actually woken up and she'd been too wrapped up in thoughts to notice immediately. A few other thoughts passed before she realized he'd spoken, and she gave a small smile into his chest.
"...you're warm…" she mumbled, not moving away from where she'd shifted. "And yes." *
"Thank you." He said, as if her admitting he was warm had been a compliment. He smiled. "I'm glad you think so. And I'm also glad you got some rest."
His smile flattened out, "I hope I didn't cause you any trouble by not being around yesterday."
~!**!~
When he changed their path, Shikiyoku at first wasn't sure what he was doing, but after a moment she smiled at him.
"It's your fault." She told him loftily. "You thought of it." 3
Hiei let his amusement at her be filtered through the connection, but otherwise he didn't say anything as he lead her through the crowd of passing humans, taking his time even as he meandered into the large store, eyes going up to see the little screen displaying the camera that caught them walking inside.
He smirked at it suddenly, and pulled himself and Shikiyoku through the layers, deciding to cause a little bit of mischief for the humans who would see them vanish from the screen later. His eyes came down again, looking around until he found the path that would take him to the freezer section of the store, and when they stopped in front of the many selections, he glanced at Shiki, seeing if any certain one caught her eye.
Personally, he'd found he liked the one named 'vanilla', especially when it was adorned with fresh strawberries- which he made mental note to find as well.
~!**!~
"Mm-mm." Akari hummed out the negative response to his last words. Nothing from your side, anyway. "You seemed t' have go' a goo' amoun' of sleep too." she mumbled against him. "How d'you feel?"
She shifted a little more, but not in any specific direction, simply to stretch her legs a little. I don't wanna move. *
"I believe I have you to thank for that." Kurama commented. "And I feel much better than I have been."
...
"And I also don't want to leave the room. No matter what time it is. Or, really, get up."
~!**!~
Shikiyoku wasn't sure what had Hiei wrapping them inbetween, but when he stopped in front of the selection of sweet snow, the labels blurry and unreadable, she pulled them back onto the first layer and stepped forward, eyeing the rows.
They would need strawberry for sure-
She blinked, gaze turning to the glass door next to them and leaning back to a stand again, frowning a little at what looked like cups of ice cream, her curiosity leading her so far as to let go of Hiei's hand and draw closer.
All the labels around the cups were the same, the flavors advertised on the rim of the lid that covered them, which she discovered as she opened the door to get a better look, her nose scrunching up a little as frost from the machine wafted over her for a moment.
Heh.
She reached up for one of the cups and slipped it between her upper arm and her side, then at a speed that any passing human would not be able to follow, she started switching the lids on the cups until all of the ones in reach had different labels than what was actually inside.
She admired her handiwork for a second, placing the one under her arm which now sported a new lid itself back, before stepping away to let the door swing shut. 3
Hiei let her pull him to the first layer and took to observing each and every label he could see, considering each flavor in turn even if he didn't understand them, such as Pistachio or Rocky Road. He pulled one of the doors open, not allowing himself to cringe at the waft of air that passed over his face before he continued his inspection, standing there with the door wide open.
And something tugged at him, had him pulling his red stare over to Shikiyoku, who was moving, quickly shifting… something around in the freezer she was looking in, a general air of mischief around her.
(What are you doing?)
And then he blinked, realizing what she had in her hands were lids, and what she was doing was swapping them.
He continued to blink some more at her, his amusement very slowly bubbling up until his expression shifted, his lips pulling up in a wide sneer and his irises sparking a flame.
"Fun?"
He turned back to what he'd been looking at, shut that freezer door and moved to the next, eyes quickly landing on a flavor he recognized from a while ago. A flavor Shikiyoku had… liked? It was green, and seemed to have little dark specks of chocolate inside.
He wasted no time in pulling one of those down and holding it in his hand as the glass door swung shut on its own.
~!**!~
AKari heaved out a breath of amusement. "Then don't." she mumbled into him. "Takeo and I spent a whole week in here once and went unbothered."
Because I don't want to get up either.
Not if I don't have to. *
"Takeo's loyalties to Yomi were relentless, and unmatched. Mine are still in question even if Yomi has my mother under his guard. Perhaps because of that." Kurama gave out a little sigh. "I'm expected to report to him each day. And there are the meetings besides."
I swear that demon never sleeps.
~!**!~
"Fun?" Shikiyoku turned to him, raising an eyebrow before lifting her nose slightly into the air. "I don't know the meaning of the word."
She sniffed pompously before getting up on her tip-toes to pull down a tub of strawberry flavor, letting the door shut and presenting it to Hiei for his approval. 3
Hiei turned to watch Shikiyoku as she reached into another freezer door, her fingers just curling around the tub she wanted and she quickly turned, stretching it out to him. He eyed the container for a moment before deciding that would likely do better than-
Why not both?
He nodded at her and looked back to the freezer, deciding they could get all they wanted, and he found the one he'd originally been looking for. He pulled the appropriate freezer door open, pausing to pass Shikiyoku the tub of Sweet Snow he'd already been holding with a silent message of Hold this.
He didn't want it melting against him, since he just realized his own elevated skin temperature would not serve well for carrying this stuff for too long.
He reached for the tub he'd set his sights on, and suddenly found himself sniffing in irritation as his fingers just missed the one labeled "vanilla". He stood back on flat feet for a moment before going to his toes, finding he could touch it, but he couldn't grab it.
Which made him take a step back in irritation and send a silent "Fix it" to Shiki.
Because he was getting it, somehow. And there was no way he was going to jump for it.
~!**!~
Akari pulled her face away from Kurama's chest to stare up at the redhead. She hadn't known his mother was involved too.
And she didn't have a clue of anything to say other than to give him a sigh. She again slid herself closer to him, burying her nose in his chest just as she had a minute before. "I think he fears you're going to one-up him. Pull the rug out from under his feet." Boy would that be amusing to see. "Which is why he's utilizing all he can."
She paused, suddenly remembering Isamu. "He didn't try that with me a second time when it didn't work after the first." *
Kurama stayed quiet for a moment, toying with how much he wanted to tell her and finally deciding the less she knew, the less she could tell should something happen.
For some reason, he was suddenly struck by Youko's silence, feeling as if the fox would have said something about withholding information from this demon being 'cold' or how he was as 'calculating' as always by even considering it.
"That's because I'm worth something to him." Kurama teased, briefly sliding a hand along her ribs as if to tickle her, but not actually wriggling his fingers.
~!**!~
Shikiyoku took the tub from Hiei and watched as he reached for the other, not an ounce of amusement so much as skipping past her mind when he couldn't reach it, only absolute disgust at herself for being unable to change forms to 'fix it,' as her demonic form was taller.
Before she set down the tubs, she sent to him, "My way or your way?"
'Your way' consisted of him lifting her up to get it, while 'my way' seemed fairly self-explanatory.
It just depended on whether he felt it beneath him to have to strain to get something and a lesser being-human in this case-would better suit the situation. 3
Hiei frowned up at the tub for an extra moment after Shiki's reply. He considered both options carefully, and after a moment realized which would be quickest- and likely easiest- and he turned away from the freezer, taking the step it took to close the distance between them and lifting her from the floor, strategically placing her so she sat on his shoulder.
(My way.) He responded calmly as he set her down and approached the freezer again, pulling the glass door open before wrapping his arm up and over her thighs to keep her in place. (Vanilla, if you will.)
~!**!~
Akari's body tensed at Kurama's action, her arms tightening around him and drawing herself as close to him as she could be in anticipation. "Lemme guess, you're the reason I'm not dead yet, hm?" she said after a minute, the realization only having just crept to the forefront of her mind. Because he views me as your weakness, like your mother.
"Makes sense, since I can't go to the stupid Ninth Layer. Get booted back every time." Plus, why would he keep someone who killed one of his men? Twice. *
Kurama slipped his hand back around her as if he never intended to tickle her in the first place.
"He wants to control me." Kurama replied simply. "He's found rather good incentive for it, and having you here means you aren't out there stopping his men from getting to my mother. It's just one big game and he moves all the pieces as he pleases."
He gave a little sigh, "While I would never actually suggest you do it, pretending you send people to the Ninth Layer while in reality taking them to the Seventh would certainly put a damper on his ploys. Maybe even wipe that ridiculous grin off his face. Assuming the demons you plop there ever manage to make their way back. But then you would get in trouble when they did return and I'd never forgive you for it."
~!**!~
Once she set the tub he passed to her, and the one she grabbed, down, Shikiyoku wasn't particularly surprised to find Hiei lifting her up, though she chuckled a little as she planted her hands firmly on his shoulder on either side of her hips to keep herself in place.
Of course, when he wrapped his arms over her legs, she let go without hesitation and reached up for the sweet snow he desired, slight frown on her face as she pulled it into her lap and said, "Got it." 3
Hiei waited until Shikiyoku confirmed having grabbed the tub before he stepped back, used his free hand to shut the freezer door loudly, and then turn to crouch closer to the floor so he could grab the other two tubs of ice cream from the floor. "Don't fall." he said briefly as his arm that held her slid away for a brief moment, snaking out and gathering both tubs securely in one arm so he could wrap the other around her thighs again.
He glanced around, saw no one watching, and folded between the layers to make the trip across the large store quicker, only coming from the layers long enough to grab a plastic container of strawberries, pass it up to Shikiyoku and curl his arm around her legs again.
"Anything else?"
~!**!~
I don't like being a game piece. I was one of those for too long, and here I am again.
Akar's entire body went still, all little fidgety motions pausing, her fingers stopping the slight toying of his shirt they'd been working around. Her feet stopped giving little back-and-forth motions.
Toss them in other layers?
She hadn't thought of that one. Why, she didn't know; it was such a wonderful idea. And it would definitely solve a problem or two for a good while. And ridding Yomi of that smile would be so very satisfying.
It took an extra moment for Kurama's 'threat' to be registered with her, and she pursed her lips at him.
You're the one who said it…
She opened her mouth to say something, decided against it and let her lips come together again.
It's such a wonderful idea though… *
"And the whole point, after all, is for you to make it through this entire ordeal unscathed."
You and mother both.
He finally kissed the top of her head, "So, don't do anything I wouldn't do."
~!**!~
Reading his intentions as he moved for the tubs she put down, Shikiyoku held onto the one in her lap with one hand, the other hand planting itself near the bottom curve of his neck for leverage as she easily shifted her weight with his movements as he bent over so he wouldn't be hindered by her or distracted by the possibility of her falling.
Only shifting her hand off of him when he passed the container of strawberries in her direction, she considered his question briefly.
(Just you.)
"No, I have what I want." She answered mildly, the impression that she specifically meant him impossible to miss. 3
Hiei turned his eyes up to Shikiyoku with the momentary pause, easily picking up on the thought that passed through her mind, which brought a smirk to his face. He glanced at the two things she held, then down at the two he held.
Satisfied, he folded the layers over them and turned to head towards the house, the trip much quicker this way without him actually having to pick up his own pace. And he only stopped to let his feet land on the first layer again when they were in the kitchen, where he crouched to let her slide from his shoulder so they could both have a bowl of sweet snow.
~!**!~
Akari frowned. I haven't exactly gone unscathed now, have I? Also, why would you suggest something that you would do and then tell me not to do it, only to turn around and-
You're complicating things.
….You came up with it, and you would definitely do it.
...So I'm gonna do it.
Akari gave a small huff at Kurama, but otherwise didn't reply. *
"..."
"Am I going to have to make you promise me you won't do anything stupid?"
Her huff was not reassuring.
~!**!~
Shikiyoku hopped down and slid what she held onto the counter, gathering a knife and bowls and spoons.
And as she did so, she asked, "What would you like?" 3
Hiei stood upright when Shikiyoku's weight no longer pressed into his shoulder- not that she'd been heavy- and he took to looking over the three flavors they'd procured and the strawberries. He definitely didn't want the sickly-green one, but that was specifically for her anyway.
It was an internal battle between strictly strawberry ice cream and vanilla with strawberry dices.
In the end, the second option won out and he approached Shikiyoku's side, taking the knife from her and the plastic container of strawberries, telling her they'd both do it.
"Vanilla."
~!**!~
Akari's lips pulled into a smile. It's not stupid. It's rather brilliant, really.
Ehe. Loophole.
"Will it make you feel better if I do?" She asked, her hand resuming the way it had been tugging at his shirt here and there and her feet continuing the little back and forth motion they'd been doing before. *
Kurama didn't like that tone.
He reached up to her chin, taking it gently in his hand and turning her face up to his, eyes on hers.
"Only if you mean it, beautiful."
~!**!~
As Shikiyoku compliantly took the lid off the tub of ice cream next to her-momentarily struck by the memory of not knowing how to do so in the past-she felt so very content.
Happy, even.
Happy to be here, next to Hiei, other worries feeling so far away as she approached the task at hand, scooping servings of vanilla into the bowls she set out in front of her and aware of the soft sound of Hiei cutting the strawberries.
He's never helped before.
She glanced over at him for a second, pleased to work next to him.
And then she leaned into his shoulder just long enough to get his attention, going back to scooping.
"Cut me some too?" 3
Hiei had pulled the little green leafy bits away from the strawberries before he'd even grabbed a single one to begin dicing. And each slice was measured, as if he'd done this before, and each little chunk came out just about the same size as the other, only pausing briefly when Shikiyoku's shoulder touched his. He glanced out of the corner of his eye at her and nodded, continuing what he was doing.
It didn't take him long to have two strawberries cut up for each bowl, and he even ran his finger along the side of the blade to lick away the fruit's juices before he set the knife on the counter calmly, grabbing each little chunk of the fruits and sliding them into the bowls in even amounts.
"Will that do?"
~!**!~
Akari wasn't surprised when Kurama's hand was at her chin, making her look up and into his keen gaze. Her lips twitched into a smile as she watched him, smile widening at his words.
"I promise I won't do anything stupid, okay?" *
He frowned at her, "Why don't I believe you?"
~!**!~
When Hiei went to put the strawberries into the bowls, Shikiyoku would lift her elbow to let him reach under her, nodding to him, and the second time he did it, she found herself struggling not to steal a kiss from him while he did it, while he was distracted.
...she wasn't sure why, but he felt even more adorable than usual. And it made it harder for her to not.
She forced herself to instead scoop out another serving from the tub and wait until he pulled away to put it in the bowl on the left, intending for him to have that one.
Nodding again at his question, she leaned towards the sink to put the scoop in it and then clicked the lid back on the tub. 3
Hiei pulled away and snapped the plastic container of the leftover strawberries closed, and continued to reach around her for the tubs of ice cream that they hadn't opened, hand curling under the lid of the green one before he paused, suddenly remembering something from earlier, from when the connection between their minds had just opened up.
He pulled the tub away from her and set it on the counter close to the refrigerator, and then promptly reached across her again for the strawberry sweet snow container, and this time when his fingers curled around the lid of the container, he turned his head and pressed his lips to her cheek before pulling away, gathering each sweet snow container and moving for the freezer.
(I'll try to remember…)
Even if I don't completely know why.
~!**!~
Akari's smile lessened a little and she blinked once at Kurama. "I don't break my promises, fox. Remember?" *
I remember.
But somehow that doesn't make me feel any better about it.
He stared at her for a moment before saying anything.
"I would have you shake on it, but how about kissing me instead?"
~!**!~
Shikiyoku would have sworn that last time he was doing it on purp-
When his lips touched her cheek, her eyes widened and energy glimmered across them as she blushed and looked away, eyes dropping for a second to the counter next to her.
Did he just...
She blinked a couple of times, feeling the place where he kissed her buzzing, and she slowly reached for the spoons to put them inside the bowls. 3
Hiei felt the oddest sensation as he slid the tubs one after another into the freezer, stacking a couple and sliding the last in front of the other two before letting it shut and grabbing the strawberries. As he opened the refrigerator door he speculated the tingling feeling on his cheek, realizing it had to be what Shiki was feeling in that moment with her energy.
By the time the door shut he was quietly amused, acting as if he hadn't felt the warmth of the buzz on his skin as he moved by her, grabbing a bowl as he passed and moved for the table. He used a foot to slide out one of the chairs, sitting so that he could watch her if she went back to the counter for more when they were done.
~!**!~
Akari's smile suddenly returned full-force, her eyes sparkling with mirth.
"Oh, you're issuing it this time?" It took a lot not to giggle at him. "Is that what you want, for me to kiss on it?" She paused, head tilting to the side as she thought of one word in her head before brushing the thought away. "If that's what it takes to make you feel better." *
He let a smile sneak onto his lips, "It would make me feel better for more than just the excuse of sealing the deal." He paused, "Which may or may not be just an excuse."
~!**!~
Shikiyoku felt that Hiei had to have caught the impression of what she wanted to do in those last few moments. There was really no other explanation for it.
Granted, he turned the desire on its head, using it against her in a way.
I wonder if he realizes that.
The glimmer on her eyes faded as she turned with her own bowl in hand and sat in the chair next to him, amused by the thought. 3
Hiei slid his spoon through a particularly large scoop, parting it into halves and dipping his spoon again for a couple of strawberry chunks before he slid that bite slowly into his mouth. The sweet flavor seemed to burst, and his eyelids slid closed as he savored the flavor, crunching on the little bits of strawberry before swallowing.
Okay, so it had been so worth it to take the time to procure all of this, even if he had wanted nothing more than to lay around at the moment. And, honestly, he'd enjoyed watching Shikiyoku swap the lids on each little container she could reach at the time. It had proven to lift some of the heaviness he still felt.
Having someone nearby who knew how to handle such things was helpful too. It seemed to provide an odd sense of comfort, which he never would have known before today.
It also made it easier to not think about what he was feeling, to ignore the emotions that were so new and raw to him that he didn't know how to handle them.
He slid the spoon into his mouth again, and all thoughts of such a subject scattered, now on the tasty treat before him and the person at his side.
And for the first time, it seemed, he realized he didn't have to worry about losing this person, that she was now to be at his side and he at her side. And that drew his eyes over to her for a moment, expression softening a little as the spoon dragged across his bottom lip and deposited more ice cream and strawberries.
He wouldn't have to worry about someone else stealing her away, or trying to keep him from her. Because he was her Consort.
He turned forward again, feeling an immense amount of satisfaction at the thought, creating a lightness in his mind that alleviated the weight a bit more.
~!**!~
Akari's smile widened a little more and she gave a shrug. "Whatever you say." Without another moment's hesitation, she leaned up and pressed her lips to his, smiling into the kiss.
Again, the single word passed by her mind's eye, but it was quickly replaced by another thought.
Make an excuse any time, fox, but eventually I'm gonna get tired of doing the work about this. *
As if in an effort to eradicate his own momentary worries, and to rid himself of other invading thoughts, Kurama let the hand at Akari's chin slip down until it was behind her neck, pulling her closer as he deepened the kiss between them and did in fact find himself forgetting whatever had made him concerned.
~!**!~
Shikiyoku tried to keep her mind fairly empty, concentrating on the task at hand, which was no longer scooping out the sweet snow, but scooping it in. Into her mouth.
After the first few bites, she put the spoon in her mouth and reached over to grab the bottom of Hiei's chair, pulled until the edge of it nearly touched hers, and then let it go, going back to eating as if nothing had happened. 3
Hiei felt his chair being tugged and his body sway a little at the motion, his hand calmly grabbing his bowl and sliding it closer once he'd settled again. He glanced once more over at Shikiyoku before turning his eyes to his bowl and going about his business.
Which consisted of nothing other than eating this wonderful, sweet treat.
~!**!~
The second Kurama's hand moved away from her chin, Akari's eyes closed and she brought her arms up and around the redhead's neck, making all thoughts suddenly scatter and a little warm feeling stir in her core. A hand ended up- completely by accident- twitching through his hair until it was free and she could pull herself even closer, giving a small hum of happiness as her smile melded to his lips. *
For the time in which he lay there kissing her, Kurama could almost forget what building they were in, what layer they were on and why they were there.
The soft heather underneath his shoulder could have been the meadow, a gentle breeze could at any moment pick up and caress over them, and with the smell and feel of the plant life around him, he almost found himself able to place them back outside, free of their confines, free to do anything they wanted with all nine layers at their fingertips.
...and he wasn't going to stop kissing her until she pulled away.
~!**!~
Does this taste better because we stole it?
Shikiyoku stared at the wall opposite them, spoon pausing in her mouth for a second before she dropped her gaze and ate another bite.
Or does it taste better because we're drowning our sorrows in it?
Could have easily been either one in her opinion.
...
I think it's because he helped me do it this time.
Yeah. That's what made it sweeter. 3
Hiei slid another spoonful to his mouth. And then another. And then another.
One bite after another, eyes watching the slowly melting substance with every bite he took, with every scoop from the bowl he made. And after a while, he realized the only thing left was a few chunks of the strawberries he'd diced.
And he did consider getting more.
But he also decided that he'd rather have some for later too.
So when he scooped the last bits of strawberry in his mouth, he let the spoon hang there for a few moments, letting the chunks simply sit on his tongue for a bit before slowly removing the spoon and letting it slink against the bowl he rested it in.
~!**!~
For a minute, Akari forgot where she was and what she'd been doing before this, before touching her lips against Kurama's. She forgot the reason she'd done so in the first place for a short while, the only thing on her mind was the warmth from this person she was wrapped up in in so many different ways.
And she didn't want to pull away. She didn't want to pull away from him and end up thrown back into the real world, where she was sure this amazing person wasn't actually there, watching over her in his own ways.
But she pulled away, only to press her lips against his again briefly before once more pulling away and giving a small sigh as everything came crashing in at once again.
Never before had she hated being stuck here like she did now. Where they couldn't just lay where they were for as long as they wanted, where an outside force had a hand in almost everything around them.
She touched her lips to his cheek this time before tightening her hold around his neck and resting her cheek on his shoulder.
It's why we need an advantage of some kind.
And now I have a place to start. *
He didn't make a sound when she finally broke the kiss, but Kurama struggled for a moment not to just gather her closer and kiss her again, stopped only by the memory of the days in which she went without sleep.
You're a fool, Red. That was long ago. You won't make that mistake again.
The voice sounded like Youko, for the fox had said as much the same to him in the past, but he was only talking to himself. And he had an answer.
You're right. I won't.
And he let out a little sigh, opening his eyes and letting his head rest up against her.
~!**!~
It had been so long since she ate sweet snow, Shikiyoku almost forgot what it tasted like in the first place, and she actually emptied the bowl entirely of the stuff, resisting the temptation to lift it up and start licking at what remained along the sides.
Not that she really wanted any more.
She slide her chair back and glanced over to see Hiei's spoon in his bowl, reaching to pick his bowl up while sending him both 'are you finished,' as well as, 'want some more?'
Her bowl was going in the sink, though. 3
Hiei turned his eyes to Shikiyoku when her hand slid into his view, grabbing for his bowl. He registered both questions, answering them in turn with a 'yes' followed by a 'no'. He waited until she was around his chair before he slid it away from the table, giving himself enough room to slide away from the wooden surface and stand, stretching a little as his eyes followed Shiki.
He figured she wasn't going to get more either, so he waited, deciding that the couch was much closer than the bed upstairs and if they wanted, the television could be background noise if they felt it too quiet.
...because he hadn't heard such silence in the house since the first week he'd found Shikiyoku again.
He turned to move towards the living room, and for some reason he expected to see a little black body curled on the couch, asleep in the filtered sun's rays from the curtained window nearby.
Which brought him to the realization that the house was not only quiet, but.. empty.
~!**!~
"You're warm," Akari suddenly mumbled, voicing the thought this time about the weird feeling that had bubbled in her core out of nowhere. And she realized that it had been there every time she'd found herself just the way she was, in Kurama's arms. She just hadn't realized it until that moment.
It made her dread the moment they'd have to get up again and part ways, acting as if they couldn't care less about the other. It made her hate that he'd only done it to keep her out of Yomi's line of fire, to scoot her out from under his spotlight for a bit.
She let out a small sigh that echoed Kurama's.
If it didn't mean running for the rest of my life, I'd suggest leaving through the layers. *
"Am I?" Kurama murmured back, shifting in place a little, "And here I was thinking it was you who was the warm one."
~!**!~
Shikiyoku moved towards the sink, putting both bowls with spoons inside and huffing out a little sigh, a feeling of 'what now' settling over her.
Turning back, she noted Hiei moving off and started in his direction, coming up behind him and slipping her hands underneath his arms, circling them around his waist and leaning her body into his back, perhaps a little heavier than she meant to...
...but she felt rather heavy at that moment. 3
Hiei had felt the intentions of Shikiyoku as she stepped up behind him, and he hadn't moved aside from his eyelids sliding closed. It was hard to push away the image of Kitoushi sitting next to him, the both of them staring at the television until Hiei had let his eyes close and he'd fallen asleep.
Even more so was it hard to push away the memory of relinquishing the exhausted cat from Shikiyoku's small grasp and letting him sleep across his shoulders even as he too slept.
It was such a heavy feeling, such a… crushing feeling. But he grabbed at Shikiyoku's wrists and pulled her arms from around his torso, turning and wrapping his arms instead around her midsection, picking her up and carrying her awkwardly to the couch until he could fall back on it and shift around.
He only stopped moving when they were laying just as they had been before she had said she'd had to go. And it was hard, but his feet had gotten too heavy to take him anywhere else. And he kept his arms around her midsection, his head resting back against the couch pillow that had been there from his nap… however long ago that had been. And he let his eyes close.
They could lay there for a while. He felt almost as if they needed to lay there for a while.
~!**!~
Akari's lips gave a small laugh into the crook of his neck. She was so comfortable. So warm. So happy. She wanted to lay like this forever.
"When this is over," she began in a mumble, "the first thing I'm doing is finding Nabu. And then I'll go to that little bread shop on the corner, because they make my favorite and Nabu gets a treat out of it." There was a pause. "And we're going to lay in that meadow whenever we want. Because this building is stupid and makes me wish I had the ability to swallow it all up in a shadow." *
Kurama actually laughed at her, or rather at what she said.
"Now you understand why the meadow exists. And why even this room has been taken over. There just isn't anything better."
~!**!~
Shikiyoku waited until Hiei settled before reaching up and placing her hand over his core, feeling not only his warmth, but also the warmth of the glow that began spreading underneath her touch.
Strange how his footsteps had seemed heavier in those last few movements than she had ever known them to be.
She didn't like seeing him this way. And if she could have taken it all onto herself again, she would have.
(What do I do?) 3
Hiei felt the warmth of the glow as it spread, all the way to his fingers, down his back, and even to his cheek. It made him release a small breath that had his muscles relaxing a little, and again he felt the uncertainty from the person near him.
He let his eyelids come open again and his expression softened a little.
(Nothing.)
Except what you're doing right now.
~!**!~
"If I had a shadow big enough, this entire building would be swallowed." Akari gave another sigh. "Not even Uraotoga could do that, sadly." She shifted a little, pressing her lips to his cheek again. *
"It would definitely take so long we would both be in trouble long before the Uraotoga finished." Kurama smiled, closing his eyes as she kissed him. "We would help, of course. Blast apart the building. Tear it up from the inside out. Even with our help though...too long. Next idea. Go."
~!**!~
"Nothing?" Shikiyoku tried to look at him seriously, then shrugged and started to get up as if to leave him there by himself. "Okay." 3
Hiei's eyes narrowed a little at Shikiyoku in suspicion before he rolled onto his side and tugged her back down. "That's not 'nothing', woman. That's moving." His eyelids closed and he lowered his head so that his nose was near her hair.
"...Stay."
~!**!~
Akari gave a small laugh. "If he'd let me get close enough, Yomi would be in a shadow all his lonesome and then the rest would really be handled." She sighed. "Direct attacks aren't smart…" Not for me anyway. "And he'd smell anything wrong in his food…" Too bad.
She made a small groaning sound.
"Too bad we can't convince him to a friendly game of hangman." *
"Oh, I imagine his men would just start yelling out letters and save him."
~!**!~
"But you said I was to do nothing!" Shikiyoku exclaimed in mock-protest. "Doing nothing would be exactly that: leaving you alone." 3
Hiei actually gave a scoff into her hair, his lips giving the briefest twitch into the ghost of a sneer before the expression slowly slid away. "I lied. I want you to stay right where you are and rest."
Because she'd been through all of it too. Most of it on her own, and perhaps that was the heaviest thought on his mind at the moment.
~!**!~
"Outside sources don't count." Akari suddenly let out a laugh. "We could even be nice and draw the eyes on his face for him when he got that far wrong." It was a cruel joke, but really, she felt she deserved to make jokes when she'd been man-handled since she'd arrived. Thrown around, used as a pawn when necessary and in other times been simply a nuisance that he hadn't wanted to let loose into the world because of what she might have known at the time.
You won't get anywhere with bitter thoughts, child.
The voice that echoed in her mind was from times past, from long, long ago when she still lived happily with the pack. The remembrance almost had her smiling.
"I'm out of ideas." she finally admitted with a small sigh. "I'm not able to come up with anything against an opponent like him. Too smart, powerful, aware. I don't like it." *
"Would you like to know about how he has the upper hand on myself as well? Would that make you feel any better?" He nuzzled his face into her hair.
~!**!~
"You shouldn't lie, fire-prince." Shikiyoku informed him, "Especially with someone who can tell when you're lying." 3
Hiei gave another breath through his lips, partially amused that he hadn't considered that part and partially… Hm. He didn't know how to explain that one.
"Won't happen again," he responded after a moment, his amusement just touching the words he sent to her.
~!**!~
"No, because you're the stronger of the two of us and I don't wanna think about it." Akari admitted. She suddenly remembered that he'd mentioned his mother a moment ago, and gave a little cringe. That was likely a very big variable in anything he did. ...Okay, so she knew it was a large variable. Probably the biggest variable he had to consider before each step he took in the day.
She suddenly snorted. "I'd say it's too bad he doesn't have someone to care for, but then I realized that's probably the reason he is doing all of this in the first place. Nothing to hinder him in his endeavors." Power-happy freak. *
"He cares for himself." Kurama told her.
In more ways than one considering that clone he has down in the labs.
"After all, what person who cared for themselves wouldn't want to rule all demons everywhere?"
~!**!~
"I'll hold you to that." Shikiyoku told him, tilting her head up until her nose was tucked under his chin and finally letting the gleam of humor into her eyes as she smiled. "...but for the record, I wouldn't leave you right now for anything in the nine layers. Unless you asked me to. And probably not even then." 3
Hiei took in a deep breath as she spoke, his eyelids remaining closed as he stretched out a little more, shifting his shoulder so it wouldn't be sore for laying a certain way for any length amount of time. He settled into the cushions all over again, going still and sending the feeling of gratitude through the connection without intentionally meaning to do so.
~!**!~
Akari felt her lips stretch into a bitter smile. Perhaps she understood that a little too well, considering how she'd acted before Isamu had sold her to the humans. At the time, she hadn't wanted the actual power of the Alpha status over the pack, but the effect it had on the demons. How people would look at her and say 'there is the next Alpha. The next in line'.
And then, just as she'd started growing tired of the idea, she'd ended up in a situation she hadn't ever been prepared for. No fighting skills, she had hardly even been able to speak to a shadow, much less use one for an attack.
She hadn't wanted the responsibilities of the Alpha. She'd wanted the power. The status. The right. Because it had been ready to be given to her on a silver platter.
Heh.
"Someone needs to feed him to the Black Black club. Energyless and unable to fight." Too bad they're dead. They would have a hayday torturing someone like him.
Then again, if Sensui hadn't killed them all, I would have once I'd found them. *
"Do you really think anyone deserves to be put at the mercy of a group like the Black Black Club? Even a demon like Yomi?"
~!**!~
I'm fairly certain you'd do the same for me, fire-prince.
Shikiyoku closed her eyes, nose still touching the edge of his jaw.
A sense of relief washed over her all of a sudden. No more of that Consort-finding mess to deal with, no more demons randomly showing up out of nowhere. No more having to kiss anyone unless she wanted to.
The relief was tinged with a sort of fault, though. In the midst of it she lost two demons she had been very close with, that she knew quite well and for a large portion of her life, and a third, a young one, whom she could have easily encouraged to let her remove his marking.
Without realizing it, she let out a sigh through her nose. 3
Hiei could feel the slight tension building, even if he couldn't exactly tell what she was thinking at the time. It made him realize that the two of them still had two separate minds, and that not everything would be shared between them, which was… very likely a good thing. Having another in your head all day every day, completely in your head, would probably wear one or the other down.
Unless you were Kurama, whose human counterpart had grown up with the demon one.
And even then he figured the pair got sick of one another here and there.
Hiei's thoughts were put on pause when he heard, even felt the sigh Shikiyoku gave, and he tightened his arms around her briefly before releasing the pressure.
~!**!~
He's right.
….That was terrible. I shouldn't have said it.
Akari drew in a long breath before releasing it in an equally long sigh. "...no." No one deserves that. Not even the most vile of creatures on the planet. "No, I don't." *
"You shouldn't let your anger about a situation blind your thoughts," Kurama turned and planted a kiss on her cheek, "Otherwise you'll never be able to see the way out of it."
~!**!~
Shikiyoku let out a breathy chuckle once Hiei relaxed his arms again.
I distract you when you think of the grief, and you turn around and do the same for me when I do.
Had they always done this give and take? This back and forth?
She didn't think so. Definitely not when he had been her Champion.
Instead of being alone, of falling into despair and staying there, there was suddenly this other presence right there with you to pick you up when you didn't have the strength do it yourself. And you walk beside them, with them, get them back on their feet when they need it, maybe even holding each other up sometimes, but never having to face any of it by yourself...
Weren't two always supposed to be better than one?
(...thank you.) 3
Before today, Hiei hadn't seen reason to let himself become pulled into another's life. He'd always just done what he wanted, always just roaming with various endeavors to keep himself occupied, and when that didn't work or he ran out of actual plans, he would create something.
To the point where he'd decided the Human World would be his hunting ground.
And even after that, even after deciding he didn't mind the dysfunctional team of Spirit Detectives, he hadn't really cared about their personal life. He hadn't cared what happened to them at the end of the day, so long as they didn't wind up dead, because they would become useful at some point in time.
And then this one had appeared, and he hadn't given a second look at her at first. Not until he'd realized her energy drew him in.
He almost scoffed at that thought.
He never would've cared had it not been for his curiosity of her power, which had lead to that Champion bond. And for a while then too, he hadn't cared.
He wasn't exactly sure when it had changed. He couldn't tell if it had been the night in the Niiro, or something that simply happened over time.
And then at some point, he'd found himself wanting to be around this one, because she'd provided him with something he'd never had. Or, maybe she'd made him realize what he'd never had, and it had caused that need to explore that.
Heh.
It had taken him a long time to figure it out, but eventually he had realized that he'd needed someone like her for a long while. Someone who made him sit and think about what was next to come, not only for himself but for her as well, and how to avoid any issues that would put another at risk, instead of seeing it as a challenge for himself.
Yes, she was a challenge all her own, but it was that way because he didn't understand.
...And he found that he wanted to.
Which had landed him right here. Not wanting to move, and not particularly minding that they were so close, when in the past he wouldn't have let anyone within two feet of him without it being for battle purposes. And hardly even then.
Hn.
And he realized he didn't know what was to come from here. He didn't know what to predict for the next day, much less the next month or even longer.
And… he was okay with that.
So long as she's here.
~!**!~
Akari repeated that same long sigh, deflating all over again. "I know, I know." It's habit. A habit I need to break. *
Kurama chuckled, "Been told that before, have you?"
~!**!~
'Doesn't everyone need someone to worry about? And someone to worry about them?'
Shikiyoku hadn't realized at the time just how true those words her human disguise had spoken were, though ideally she wanted to not worry.
Easy enough when you're laying in his arms and he isn't mulling over the pain you shared with him.
She thought it was a little unfair, that. Here she had all of this brokenness that she got to shove off onto him and what did she do in return?
Try and distract him from it.
Which wouldn't be necessary if she hadn't shoved it on him in the first place.
Nothing you can do about it now.
Had he ever even lost anyone before? All these emotions piled on top of him at once, and so densely that he likely couldn't make sense of them all.
No wonder I feel like such a terrible person. 3
Hiei's mind had just begun to go blank when he began to feel it. Again. And for a moment he realized it was this odd tug-of-war between them, and his lips twitched. Of course, there was nothing funny about the emotions they were feeling, but just the thought of their back and forth between one feeling heavy, the other being a momentary distraction before needing that distraction as well.
A breath snaked from his nostrils in a little puff of air.
"...Woman…"
It was a quiet complaint, and he even gave a small sigh to accompany it. And another small tug of his arms around her before relaxing again.
And suddenly he remembered complaining like that to her during their time in the demon world, when he'd been trying to sleep and she'd kept shifting around until he'd complained enough to make her go still. That brought amusement at the memory.
And it was quickly followed with the memory of her complaining of him being 'too far away' one morning. Here, actually, in this house. And his amusement was multiplying, because he'd been amused then too, no matter how much he scoffed in annoyance at her.
~!**!~
"Similar words, yes." Akari replied after a moment, her eyes coming open so she could look up at Kurama. "I never did hear it enough though. Probably why my instincts kick in so fast in some situations." She gave a shrug. "Sometimes I wonder how you haven't run out of patience with me yet." *
Kurama didn't let his neutral expression so much as flinch, "You know, I often sit around wondering about that too."
~!**!~
This time when Hiei released her, Shikiyoku shifted around, scooting up further until she could slip her arms around his neck and look directly at his face, her lips frowning but her eyes laughing.
"...Man..." 3
Hiei felt a smirk form on his lips, this time more genuine than it had all day long, and he helped Shikiyoku scoot closer until she settled. He saw the sparkle in her eyes and it seemed to lift his spirits too, creating a gleam in his eyes before they were hidden behind his lids.
And he found himself exploring more of those happy little memories, letting them pass between himself and Shikiyoku because now he knew how to distract the both of them at once.
~!**!~
I just hope I don't test your patience too far this time. I guess we'll see.
Akari's lips gave a small huff at him. "Granted, I don't usually do it on purpose. I do try my own patience sometimes too. Those are the worst days." She gave a shrug. "It's a wonder I haven't run you off yet." *
"That's because you're holding onto me so tightly." Kurama teased, squeezing his arms around her for a second with a smile.
~!**!~
Shikiyoku felt as if the two of them had started playing a game called 'Do you remember when…?'
She thought about the Niiro Kaga, where they sat with Taka, met Uryo, and Hiei when had been introduced to Kafu.
When she didn't know her own mother had used a mesmer on her to banish her, and she stood in a tree and with Hiei's help had overcome it.
Of dancing with him at Rae's ball. Of escaping with him after Uryo set her dress on fire. Or Uryo defending them when Rae took chase.
Finding Shubou after all those years, standing, or floating rather, in that healing water with an orb of fire near her heat to warm her.
(...so many things. They all seem even more pleasant now.) 3
Hiei let out an amused air through his nostrils.
He remembered the two of them being swallowed by Fire Worms, only to be spit back up and Shikiyoku be nuzzled into while the fire demon had scrambled to keep from being snatched up again. Which had ended him in a tree, batted aside by one of the tails. And her coming to his rescue.
He remembered standing on the rooftop in the middle of a city, watching each and every demon turn to look at him and Shikiyoku because of her energy, and declaring he hated cities on that layer. Which had ended them up with Shubou.
He remembered taking a sword from that very same city when no one was looking but the merchant, who had silenced when the blade had been pressed to the demon's neck. HIei had ended up storing that little treasure in her closet in this very house, where she hid her own items.
Shikiyoku telling Taka that Hiei wasn't cursed.
Hiei realizing he was marked, and Shikiyoku looking at him as if he were the craziest demon in the world for not having known.
….pulling the pins from her hair when he'd gotten sick of her 'hiding'. And her pinning him to the door that day.
...There were so many. And it was so easy to get lost in them.
~!**!~
"I wouldn't want my prey getting away." Akari suddenly retorted, her expression completely serious. "I worked hard to get you here, you know." *
"Oh, did you?" Kurama raised an eyebrow, "I imagine you probably sneaked into Yomi's room every night and whispered to him about how he needed to get me here faster, hm?"
~!**!~
Him watching her while she danced, and then follow her because her energy looped about him twice and she hadn't even known.
And then the next time, when she had known, when she came to him and asked him to spend the night with her...and then promptly felt exhausted and needed to sleep.
'I desire you. Your presence.'
Scooting closer to a sleepy Hiei who tell her she 'wasn't all that bad.'
Having him finally catch up to her after all those years of running, seeing his face again and at the time only know he had been in her dreams.
Being pulled from slumber by his wonderful laughter and watching through half-lidded, drowsy eyes as he entertained himself by tickling the lur'mog.
...oops. Hadn't exactly meant for him to find out about that last one. 3
Hiei blinked at the new one she'd pondered over, showing him, and he realized he hadn't known she'd been awake that night. Purposely so, might he add. And yet she'd woken up to the chittering of the little Lur'Mog and watched him poke and prod at it with amusement.
It suddenly had him remembering the Lur'Mog doing the same to him, skittering up his sleeve and running around his body before tumbling out onto the bar in the Niiro Kaga, which lead to the little red creature playing with Ryuu and Uryo popping in.
Which made the fire demon scoff. Loud demon.
Her showing him sweet snow for the first time, and his reaction. Her telling him she'd eat it for him, but his refusal because even though it had surprised him, he'd enjoyed it.
….him being intrigued by her strawberry trick.
The first time he'd thought strawberries were in her hair and how he'd resisted looking.
….Her playing against Game Master in Tennis and having had enough, throwing away her glasses, her bobby pins, her hair clip.
~!**!~
"No, actually. Happy accident." AKari said coyly, lips spreading wide. "I wouldn't go that close to Yomi even if my life depended on it." For such words, her smile was extremely pleasant. "He disgusts me." And her tone was even more pleasant. *
"Really? One would never guess. You always act so amiably when around him that it makes me wonder sometimes."
For a moment he also wondered if she had any idea about how exactly Yomi knew about him.
~!**!~
Shikiyoku's eyes glittered mischievously.
(You're welcome to look for strawberries in my hair anytime you like, fire-prince.)
Not that you'll find any.
His thoughts of Ryuu tinged her with a little sadness, and the next memory she recalled was of the tiny dragon's spirit calling her attention to Otento's remains, and the blood that poured out of them towards the giant portal that had opened.
(He's dead.)
(I wonder if Uryo even knows.) 3
Hiei blinked. He'd forgotten that Uryo had been looking for the little black creature. Much less had he known that Ryuu had died. And for a few minutes, he found himself pondering the same thing Shikiyoku was: if Uryo knew or not. There wasn't a way to know without asking the demon if he'd found his companion yet.
….which would lead to them telling him Ryuu's spirit had been wandering… the inbetween?
He pushed the thoughts away quickly. He didn't want his mind circling back to other matters.
Such as watching Shikiyoku try to scale the largest tree on the Ninth Layer, and only getting about halfway up before Hiei had scaled it and caught her before she could fall, where they'd remained until she woke.*
Thanks for reading! Bless your face. If you sneezed during this chapter, bless you. Peace off! BOOP! -Star