Chapter 14

Hiei opened his eyes to an empty futon, apparently he'd fallen asleep as well. Looking around he didn't get a chance to ponder where the red head could have gone, as he heard a crash from down the hall.

In a flash he was standing outside the bathroom, behind Genkai, who had managed to beat him there.

"What's wrong?" He asked as he tried to see around the master.

"It would seem he just got his first look in the mirror." She said, shaking her head. She hadn't warned him of his appearance and she was guessing Hiei hadn't either, because when she had shown up, Kurama was sitting on the side of the wooden tub holding his chest and his eyes had been as wide as saucers.

Kurama looked at them when he heard them talking and let his body relax. "It would seem I have some explaining to okasan to do." He said softly, forcing a soft smile.

"I'll get Yukina and we'll clean up the mess, don't worry about it." Genkai said and walked away, finally allowing Hiei to get into the small space.

The bathroom at one time had been quite spacious, because it had only consisted of a large wooden tub, but many years ago, Genkai had had modern plumping installed. Now the space had a toilet, a pedestal sink, with mirror, and a small one person shower stall, making it a tight fit. The crashing Hiei had heard had been a free standing shelving unit that held the bathroom necessities. Kurama had apparently shocked himself when he looked into the mirror, causing him to step back and knock over the unit, spilling its contents all over the floor.

Hiei made his way over and looked at the red head. Taking in his appearance, he realized Kurama had come to get cleaned up, because he only had his underwear on and a clean towel was draped over the toilet seat.

"You okay?" He asked.

"Just a little surprised is all." Kurama said, trying to chuckle, but failing.

"I kind of like it myself." Hiei said softly, lifting a hand and fingering one of the silver streaks.

"Hmm." Kurama closed his eyes and leaned into the touch.

Hiei smirked and began massaging the red head's scalp. After only a moment though, Kurama got his composure back and stood up.

"I could not sleep anymore and wanted to take a shower, sorry to wake you." He said, turning on the shower.

"It's okay." Hiei shrugged. "Would you like some company in the shower?"

"Don't you think it would be a little crowded?" Kurama said jokingly.

"I don't mind being plastered up against you." Hiei said, standing in front of the taller figure and wrapping his arms around him.

"I…." Kurama went say while his hands went to remove the arms holding him. He seemed to be a little uncomfortable and nervous.

"What's wrong?" Hiei said, pulling back.

"I…I just do not feel right." Kurama finally said and stepped back. Turning his back to the shorter figure, he took off his shorts before getting into the shower and pulling the curtain, separating them.

"I'll go." Hiei said with hurt in his voice.

"Hiei." He heard as he went to leave.

"Yes."

"I just need a little time." The voice sounded tired.

Hiei gave a nod and left, sliding the door close behind him.

a)a)a)a

As Hiei walked out into a clearing, he saw Yukina taking laundry off the line and went over to her.

"Brother." She said as she turned and saw him, but upon seeing his look, she said. "I'm sorry…I should not call you that." She said in apology and went back to pulling clothes off the line.

"Hmm...What?" Hiei said, coming out of his daze.

"You do not wish to be called brother." Yukina said, not turning to see the shocked look on his face.

"Yukina." He tried to think of something to say, but he just stood there.

She turned, holding a large sheet and said. "Could you please help me with this?" Without waiting for an answer, she placed one end in his hands and walked backed.

"I didn't think you cared for me." He said softly as he helped fold the sheet.

"You are being silly." She said with a smile as she walked back towards him and took the sheet, folding it in half and then placing it in the basket.

"I'm not 'silly.'" Hiei growled.

"I care for all my friends, they are all special to me and now it's even more special knowing one of them is my brother." She said, continuing to take towels down and fold them before placing them in the basket.

Thinking of the comment Kurama had made to him. Hiei walked over and took Yukina's hands into his. "Yukina." He waited until she looked at him. "I just need a little time." He said, but added. "I had my reasons and some day I'll tell them to you, but for now, I would be honored if you called me brother."

She smiled the biggest smile he had ever seen. He smiled as well and they hugged each other.

"Oh thank you…brother." She said pulling back.

"I need to go and think, if you will excuse me." Hiei said and went to turn.

"Wait." She called out, her hand going into her pocket.

"Yes." He stopped and waited.

"This is yours...maybe you can give it to someone special." She said, placing an object in his hand.

Hiei opened his hand and saw a tear gem.

"Who made you cry?" He growled and was ready to beat someone for making his sister cry.

She smiled. "You're being silly again." He teased.

He growled again.

"It's yours." She said with a giggle at the way he was acting.

"What?"

"You shed that right before you woke up, from when you tried to read Kurama's mind." She told him.

He held the gem, rolling it in his hand, thinking he'd never cried before, maybe when he was a baby, but he never remembered crying. "It looks a lot like yours." He said, holding it up.

"Yes, but look here." She said and placed her small hand on his to move it to the light of the sun. "See the middle, where it is dark, yours has a flaw, that's how they are different. Though you think you have a dark heart, you are pure in heart and soul, only dark with your fire." She commented and let go of his hand with a smile as he looked.

"I think I know who I would like to give this too." He said.

She nodded, having her own idea who the lucky person would be.

"Could you do me a favor?" He asked.

"Of course, brother." She smiled and nodded as he told her what he wanted.

a)a)a)a

Kurama picked up the last bottle and placed it on the self. He knew Genkai had told him to leave it, but it was his mess and neither she nor Yukina should have to clean up after him.

Standing up, he looked again in the mirror. It was going to take some getting use to and how was he going to explain it to his family. He didn't care for his 'friends', his true friends where part of his family and they knew who and what he was. All the 'friends' he knew at work and the few he saw from his school days, he could care less about.

Sighing, he began to brush his hair and he fingered the silver highlights, taking in the texture and feel. It was the same as his red parts, just silver. It didn't look bad, just different. After a good brush, he looked closely at his eyes, seeing the gold ring. Now that might be something people wouldn't notice unless they stared at him directly.

He sighed again and headed back to his room and was surprised to see Genkai standing at his door.

"When you're dressed, I want to talk." She said, stepping aside to allow him access.

He nodded and headed in, after a few minutes he opened the door, letting her know he was dressed.

She took a seat on the futon and motioned for him to sit as well.

Following her silent order, he sat.

"I know this is hard, I could not even take a guess as to what you are thinking or feeling." She said then held up a hand to stop him from speaking. "You said you remember everything, are they separate?" She asked.

Kurama nodded, saying. "I have both sets of memories, plus my own."

"Are you having problems sorting them?" She wondered.

"Yes." The red head nodded. "Every time I even have a thought, one or both of their memories comes to mind and I have to separate them and figure out why I am thinking of them." Seeing her look, he added. "Sorry, that might not make sense."

She nodded, thinking. "I think you should ask Hiei for help." She finally said.

"Why." Kurama was taken aback by the suggestion.

"He can use his jagan to help you sort and control the memories." She said.

"I do not think he would want to see my memories." Kurama tried to joke.

"Do you not trust him?" She asked shrugging.

"Why would you ask that?" He said his eyes going wide.

"Because maybe you're blaming him for making you this way." She said, looking straight at him.

"I…" Kurama's mouth opened and closed a few times. 'What could he say to that?' Maybe deep down, he was blaming the fire demon. He was the one who wanted to spend time with Youko and now that he had those memories and knew what they had been doing.

"I think you need to hear Hiei's point of view." She broke his thoughts. Standing and going to the door, she paused and said lightly. "And it could be worse." She waited until he looked at her. "You could have fox ears and a tail." She left, leaving him sitting there, looking dumbfounded.

a)a)a)a

Hiei let his sword fall and cursed himself. He thought getting in some practice would help him think, instead, it only added to his frustration because his mind kept playing his memories of his sparring with Kurama and Youko.

He had only been trying to help the red head. He didn't know what the others thought, he didn't really care, but he was only trying to help, 'damn it' and he had to make the red head believe him. 'How' was the only question? The gift he was having Yukina take care of was a start. Kurama would have to understand that it was shed for him, but he needed words and he was not good with words, maybe some action. He could ask Yusuke for some advice.

Leaning against a tree, he was completely lost in thought and did not hear someone approach.

"Getting distracted can get you killed."

Hiei moved in a flash and had his sword at the ready, but lowered it as he took in the sight of the red head.

"Don't do that again." Hiei growled.

"Sorry." Kurama said, turning to leave.

"Wait…you know that is not what I meant." Hiei said softly, holding out his hand in a gesture for him to stay.

Kurama just stood there, thinking about Genkai's comment about asking for the fire demon's help.

"You want to spar?" Hiei asked.

Taking a moment to think, he said. "Sure." Kurama reached into his hair and pulled out a rose. He looked at it and it seemed to be the same as all the others he had used.

Hiei raised his sword and waited, he was going to let the red head take the lead and set the pace.

"Rose-whip." Kurama called and moved in.

After a lot of give and take on both sides, they had worked up a light sweat. Hiei had to keep stopping himself from pushing the fox to hard. He let the red head strike more and tried to ease his strikes back, giving him time to block them.

"Is there a problem?" Kurama asked as he easily blocked a strike that even Kuwabara would have seen coming from a mile away.

"No." Hiei said and jumped back to miss a hit from the whip.

"Then why are you being soft on me. Or do you still think I am weak?" Kurama's voice was strong and the fire demon saw the anger flash in the green/gold eyes.

"No!" Hiei flared his energy. "I do not think you are weak. I was letting you set the pace."

"Oh, okay then." Kurama said, returning the rose to his hair and pulling out a seed. He grew it into his grass sword and immediately attacked, taking the smaller demon off guard and knocking him to the ground.

They fought like their lives depended on it. Kurama managed to get in some good hits and even made a few cuts on Hiei's torso with his sword. Hiei had made his own marks as he cut Kurama's arm and upper leg. None of the wounds were life threatening, but they still bleed and hurt.

Give and take was the game, each time one made a mark the other managed to return the gesture. Finally, after a few mess ups, Hiei managed to corner Kurama and placed his sword at the red head's neck.

"You trying to get yourself killed?" Hiei said, breathing heavily as he stood there taking in the sight of the fox.

Kurama's eyes went wide as an image of Hiei's sword at his neck came to mind. It was not his image, but Youko's. "I should kill you for that little trick you pulled with Yukina." He heard and looked to the crimson eyes with fear.

Hiei lowered his sword and looked at the fear and confusion in the green/gold eyes.

"You alright?" He asked.

"So sorry?" Kurama whispered and coughed as he choked back a sob.

"What?" Hiei's eyebrows went up. He sat down next to the red head and pulled him into an embrace. "Why are you sorry?" He whispered.

"You should have killed me when you had the chance." Kurama said, trying to pull back, but the smaller demon was holding on and wouldn't let go.

"What are you talking about?" Hiei asked again trying to keep the anger out of his voice.

"I broke your trust. You have every right to kill me." Kurama said softly, giving up his struggle and collapsing in the arms.

End Chapter 14

Lyrics to the song: Down with the Sickness – by: Disturbed

Drowning deep in my sea of loathing…Broken you servant I kneel (will you give it to me) It seems what's left of my human side is slowly changing in me (will you give it to me)

Looking at my own reflection…when suddenly it changes…violently it changes (oh no) there is no turning back now…you've woken up the demon in me

(Course)

Get up, come on get down with the sickness. Open up your hate and let it flow into me. Get up, come on get down with the sickness. You mother get up come on get down with the sickness. You f...ker get up come on get down with the sickness. Madness is the gift that has been given to me.

I can see inside you, the sickness is rising…don't try to deny what you feel (will you give it to me) it seems that all that was good has died and is decaying in me.

It seems you're having some trouble…in dealing with these changes…living with these changes (oh no) the world is a scary place…now that you've woken up the demon in me.

Madness has now come over me