Okay, so I made you guys wait two months … Sorry about that—but, this chapter is ten pages long, so I hope that you find it worth the wait.
The next chapter shall be called "Homecoming," for reasons one can probably discern from the latter part of this chapter, and I hope to have it up for your reading pleasure in less than a month's time, if that's something to look forward to.
Black Roses
Chapter V
Intimacy
November 11, 2006
Hiei tilted Kurama's chin upward, and nibbled on the milky throat exposed beneath. "You're trembling," he noted, moving to undo the Fox's shirt.
"Your teeth are on my throat; it's only instinct."
The Koorime lifted his head up, brows furrowed. "Do you want me to stop?"
"If I didn't trust you," Kurama replied softly, "I wouldn't let you do it." He moved to aid the frustrated hands fumbling with his buttons.
With the latter's help, Hiei swiftly opened the shirt, exposing a pale torso that almost glowed in the moonlight filtering through the blinds. Kurama's nipples looked violet in the dark. Hiei lowered his head and curled his tongue around one thoughtfully, feeling it harden in his mouth.
Kurama sighed a little, and pressed against Hiei. A faint blush had emerged in the Kitsune's face and neck, and as his shirt slid off one shoulder, Hiei could see that it had spread there, too. Kurama's body began to heat up, Hiei's quickly following suit. The Koorime ceased his suckling, and led his tongue in a trail up the other's chest, caressing Kurama's throat, lapping at the base of his ear—earning a pleasant gasp from the redhead, who closed his eyes while Hiei continued bathing him. "I never thought about your agility extending to your tuhh …" An actual moan escaped him as Hiei grew even bolder, and straddled his leg while continuing the tongue-play. Hiei's crotch rubbed against Kurama's thigh, and both chests began to heave as the pressure in their pelvic regions increased.
A slender hand cupped the contents swelling in Hiei's pants, and he squeezed his eyes shut while Kurama massaged him. "Kurama," he whined, "tell me your pants don't have buttons."
He felt the Fox squirm beneath him, and realized when a bare leg brushed against his arm that Kurama had managed to wriggle our of his pants, which made a crumpling sound as they were kicked away and hit the wall, before meeting the floor. "Your belts …" a drowsy voice murmured in his ear. Hiei reached for said impediments, his hand skirting Kurama's hips in the process—and a shudder, not unpleasant, passed through him when he discovered that his friend was completely nude from the waist down.
The belts hit the floor with a series of clangs and thuds; the pants made a woosh noise as they joined the other garments. Hiei pinned Kurama to the mattress, his breath coming out in harsh pants. "How should we…?"
Kurama hugged himself to Hiei, crushing his pelvis against that of the former. "I want to make love to you," he whispered. "I want you to make love to me…."
As he spoke, he wrapped an arm around Hiei's waist, and rocked his hips back and forth so that the friction between their penises would increase. Hiei quickly imitated his movements, feeling a heat spark and flourish inside of him akin to the personal fire Kurama radiated.
"I love you," Kurama gasped, crushing his mouth over Hiei's.
The Koorime growled throatily as he felt dig into his back. He clenched his teeth, a knot forming in his stomach, sweat dripping from his pores.
He felt Kurama's legs tense against his hips—and thought he might die when he felt the Fox's hand close around his balls. He swallowed hard, trying to suppress—.
"Hiei!" Kurama shrieked, digging his fingernails into Hiei's flesh so deeply that he drew blood, squeezing his other hand harder …
Pushing Hiei over the edge. "KURAMA!!!" he screamed, the knot in his stomach loosening as he felt the heat of his and Kurama's seed spattering and mingling on his abdomen. He collapsed on top of the redhead, gasping for breath.
Kurama's body felt like an inferno beneath him. How could the Fox compare himself to a black rose, something that looked so morbid and dead? Being with him right now, feeling the warmth of his breath and his skin, made such a contradiction of the sinister request Kurama had asked of him.
'You're not something cold and austere,' Hiei thought. 'You're warm and vibrant. The grave does not become you.'
An image assaulted him of pristine white funeral flowers and black mourners' wear; of moist, dark soil covering up strands of bright red—the fire of life being smothered, extinguished—.
"What's wrong?" Kurama gave him a concerned look, lips parted in a heavy pant.
He shook his head, and kissed the Fox's brow. "You smell like flowers," he remarked, rolling off Kurama, lying down beside him.
"And you smell like something spicy."
A snort escaped the Jaganshi. "Are you calling me hot?"
Kurama laughed a little. "Examine the current situation, Hiei, and you tell me." He closed his eyes. "That's interesting that you think that, though. A classmate once told me that I smelled like I worked in a flower shop."
"A what?" Surely Hiei had heard wrong.
"A store that sells flowers in bouquets and arrangements."
No, he unfortunately had not. "Only the humans," he said, rolling his eyes, "would be stupid enough to make a market out of flowers. Flowers grow everywhere."
"True," Kurama murmured, "but sometimes it's difficult locating the ones you want." He heaved a sigh, and Hiei understood why he had them move upstairs to the bedroom. He was absolutely exhausted. "You'll be here in the morning, won't you?"
Hiei gave him a weird look. "Of course. Do you really think I'd leave in this?" he tried to joke, referring to his nudity.
"Hm," the Fox murmured, his entire manner weighted with weariness.
"I wouldn't just leave you in the middle of the night," Hiei continued. As though to emphasize his assurance, he hugged Kurama from behind and rested his head against the redhead's back. "You have self-esteem issues," he muttered into the former's shoulder.
"… No, Hiei," Kurama countered quietly. "I would have to have a self, first."
A man's voice woke Hiei. He cracked one eyelid and scanned the bedroom groggily. Kurama was still sleeping in his arms, and the voice was too deep to be his anyhow. Hiei couldn't discern any words—the man must be downstairs. He carefully let go of Kurama, so as not to wake him, and reached for his katana.
He froze when he heard another voice, this one female. Hiei recognized that voice. "Kurama …" he muttered.
The Fox stirred, pulling the covers closer around him. "What—?"
Suddenly he sat up, hearing the voices too. His eyes became perfect circles. "Your mother," Hiei said for him.
Kurama nodded shakily. "And Kazuya," he added, scrambling out of bed, pulling clothes from the dresser.
"Did you know they were—?"
"No," the Kitsune said frantically. He brushed past Hiei and quickly shut the door behind him. A perfect way to start the day, Hiei though sympathetically: Greeting one's parents with the sleep still in one's eyes and bed hair, and trying to conceal the fact there was a naked man with a sword in one's room.
"Shuichi," the woman said, bewilderment in her tone, "we called, but no one answered … Where you still in bed?"
"It's okay, Mother," Kurama assured her. "I overslept a little is all."
'A little?' the Jaganshi thought sardonically, now noticing the time on the clock. It would be afternoon by the time Hiei had the opportunity to leave.
"What is that on your neck?" Shiori asked.
"W-What are you talking about?" Kurama stammered.
"There's a mark … is that a bite?"
Hiei widened his eyes. Had he bit Kurama hard enough to leave a hickie?
"I … um …"
"I'm sorry if we came at an inconvenient time, Shuichi," Kazuya said hastily. "But you haven't called in a few days—"
"I just remembered," Kurama interrupted. "I have something I need to show you." Hiei heard the Fox's feet fall hastily into the room across the hall, shortly followed by those of the man, muffled, as though dragging across the floor. The image of Kurama pulling his step-father into the den made Hiei smile a little—.
The door began to open, and Hiei barely managed to drape a sheet over his lap as he found himself in a staring contest with Shiori Hatanaka. If she'd been Yusuke or Kuwabara or even an anonymous human, Hiei would have known how to react: a death glare, a drawn sword, a sharp word—but Kurama's human mother had him fused to the bed with her shocked eyes. He coughed, his throat dry, and she immediately blushed and muttered a rushed, half-audible apology, before backing out of the room and closing the door. "Shuichi," he heard a call, with a note of apprehension in her tone, "I brought some food for the kitchen, okay?"
A heat rose in Hiei's face, much in the same way as the night before, though less pleasant. He quickly found his clothes, wondering if he should leave before any questions were asked. No, the woman had already seen; and if he left now, it might make Kurama look promiscuous. The Fox had enough on his plate without Hiei causing more to be dished on.
He heard more footsteps (Kurama and the man, he assumed) descend the stairs; Hiei waited a few minutes, and then crept downstairs.
"Your refrigerator's empty, Shuichi!" he heard Shiori admonish Kurama.
"That's not true," the Fox replied.
"A bottle of vinegar and half a cantaloupe do not count."
Hiei peered around the corner, seeing that Shiori was now pawing through the cupboards. 'Intrusive human,' he thought.
'It's no different from your anonymous look-ins on Yukina.'
He blinked, and sent an argumentative glare Kurama's way. The redhead raised an eyebrow, and his lips pulled into a small, uncomfortable smile. Hiei soon realized why: in addition to his parents, Kurama's younger brother was also present, and while Shiori had her back to Hiei, the Koorime found himself the object of the other two's stares. "I … don't know if we've met before," Kazuya said. "I am Kazuya, Shuichi's step-father. And you are…?"
"Hiei," Kurama quickly volunteered. "This is my friend, Hiei. Hiei," the Fox threw him a nervous look, "I've told you about my family, haven't I?"
He looked from Kurama, to Kazuya and the human Shuichi, back to Kurama, and nodded.
"You cannot live off of soup alone," Shiori declared. "And you still haven't unpacked all of your things!"
She was right, Hiei observed. The number of boxes had decreased significantly, but anyone else would have completely settled in by now.
"Actually, Hiei and I are going grocery shopping today," Kurama replied hastily, and toni—um, later today—he's going to help me finish putting everything away."
Shiori cast Hiei an anxious eye, having avoided looking directly at him until then. "All right," she said uncertainly. "Hiei."
"Hn?"
"Make sure he takes in more than soup today."
"Here." Hiei handed Kurama an apple. "Now where are we going?"
"… What?" Kurama asked faintly, staring at the fruit.
"You really weren't planning to run those errands today." A sheepish look confirmed his suspicions. "Let's go," he said, making for the store's exit.
"Wait," the Fox said. "I still need to pay."
"It's on me." He noticed Kurama's confusion as the latter caught up to him. "It only makes sense to carry some Ningen currency," he explained, "since I am on the boundary so much."
"That does make sense," Kurama murmured.
They walked into a park, with its many bare, sleeping trees. Dead leaves, made soggy by snow, squished beneath their feet. Winter's white blanket had grayed here.
Thoughtfully, Hiei watched while Kurama ate the apple. He had chosen it because he liked the clean, fresh look of its bright green peel. "Have you really been living off of soup?" He received a so-so gesture of the hand. "That's not healthy."
"It's quick and easy to swallow," Kurama countered, "and the least of my problems right now."
"Your family is worried about you. They suspect something is terribly wrong."
"And what makes you so sure of that?" his friend asked, stopping to rest on a bench.
"… Jaganshi intuition."
"Do not invade the privacy of my family's minds!" exclaimed the Kitsune.
"They're right, though," Hiei said. "Even someone lacking supernatural abilities can see that something is troubling you." He watched as a look of despair came over Kurama, who reluctantly nodded. "Have you thought of … telling them?"
Kurama laughed dryly. "Tell them what? That while I live with them, look like them, and love them, I am at the same time not one of them? No, Hiei, I doubt that shall ever happen." He smiled a sad smile, and said, "I sometimes wish that it was your secret that haunted me instead."
Hiei quirked a skeptical eyebrow, but understood. Though it would be hard for him, if the moment ever arrived, at least Yukina and he came from the same species and the same world …
"It's cruel," Kurama said bitterly, staring at the withered grass in the sidewalk cracks. "Many times before, I thought I held a clear perception of what I was. I thought that at last I had reconciled myself—But I suppose that even I am not exempt from the deceiving game I play!"
He sighed, wanting to offer a kind word to the Fox—.
The world suddenly became very blurry and wet for Hiei; he squeezed his eyes shut and wiped away the remnants of a slush-ball, growling when he heard familiar, moronic laughter.
"They do find you irresistible, don't they?" Kurama observed, with a laugh that sounded more like a sob. Hiei narrowed his eyes at the nearest idiot approaching him.
"Aw, where's your garbage can, grouch?" Yusuke asked, meeting Hiei's glower with a stupid grin. However, the prankster's expression became less light-hearted when he noticed Kurama. "Hey, are you okay?"
"Um, yeah." Kurama wiped his eyes and gave Yusuke a small smile. "I'm just not feeling so well."
"Are you going to throw up?"
Kurama shook his head. "I don't think so."
"Well, we're going out to eat—Do you guys want to come with?"
"We," in addition to Yusuke, consisted of Keiko, Kuwabara, Yukina, and Shizuru. Hiei looked at Kurama and shrugged, leaving it up to the Fox. "Let me repay you for the apple," Kurama said.
"Hey, strangers," Kuwabara bellowed, stressing the plural manner of his greeting and throwing Kurama a mock-glare. "What have you guys been up to?"
The redhead caught Hiei's eye, and for a moment something resembling a smile flickered across his face. "We've been busy," he replied innocently. Hiei smirked, and offered Kurama his hand.
One scent in particular grabbed Hiei's attention as the group entered the restaurant. "What is that?" he asked, gravitating toward the source of the smell.
Kurama smiled. "You mean the coffee?" he asked, leaning over and holding the Jaganshi's hand.
"It smells like chocolate."
"That would be mocha," Shizuru said.
Hiei rolled his eyes as Kurama promptly backed away from him. "Um …"
"You're blushing," she remarked slyly.
"Who's blushing?" Kuwabara asked.
"Nobody," his sister replied, throwing Kurama a playful look.
He returned it, weakly. "Um, would you like some mocha?" he asked Hiei.
Soon Hiei was sipping a raspberry-mocha cappuccino, and trying not to be sick at the sight of Kuwabara shamelessly gushing over Yukina. "I think I'm getting diabetes," he grumbled.
"Kuwabara's just … courtly," Kurama said.
"Sappy, you mean," Shizuru told him, pulling a face. "You're going to put her in shock from all the sugar, Little Brother."
"At least I don't scare her away because I'm a grouch!" Kuwabara shot back. "Maybe you and the Shrimp should go out."
"No," Hiei said, glaring at him.
"Oh, so you think something's wrong with my sister, huh? She not good enough for you or something?"
Hiei glanced at Kurama, who was trying not to smile. "There's nothing wrong with her," he replied. "She's just not my type."
"Besides, Kuwabara," Keiko said, "would you really want Hiei as your brother-in-law?"
"Eeewww, no!" the carrot-top exclaimed. "There's no way him and I are ever going to be related!"
The Koorime glared. "Likewise," he grumbled, while Yusuke began to snicker.
"I don't think having Hiei as a brother would be so bad, Kazuma," Yukina said.
"What is so funny, Yusuke?" Keiko demanded.
"N-Nothing," he answered, struggling for breath. He coughed. "Um, Hiei. I heard an interesting rumor while I was checking up on dear old Dad's estate in the Makai. Yomi—"
"Yomi?" Kurama said.
"Yeah. I went to see him, and—"
"Yomi's returned to his province?"
"Oh … You didn't know?" Kurama gave him a curious look. "Yeah, he's back in charge of that territory again. And according to him," Yusuke smirked, "there's talk that Mukuro's lead warrior keeps slipping off to the Human World, but no one knows why." He grinned at Hiei. "You keeping a girlfriend somewhere?"
Kuwabara burst out laughing. "In the Human World? I don't see Shorty dating a human, do you?"
"I do not have a girlfriend," Hiei growled. "Anywhere."
"Whatever." Kuwabara shrugged. "So long as you stay away from my Yukina."
"Your Yukina?!"
"… We never did unpack those boxes," Kurama murmured.
Hiei stirred and opened his eyes. Kurama was sitting on the foot of the bed. The green glow of his alarm clock cast sick-looking shadows on his body. "But we did puck up groceries," the Jaganshi pointed out.
Kurama nodded thoughtfully. "Yomi's back," he said.
"I recall hearing something about it from Mukuro." He shivered a little; Kurama's restlessness had disrupted the bedding, leaving Hiei's naked body vulnerable to the draft coming in from the window.
"You're cold," the Fox observed.
"You left the window open," Hiei muttered as Kurama replaced the blankets over him.
"I prefer to risk a chill than breathe musty air, but I can shut it if it bothers you."
He shook his head, content now that he was covered again. "You should lie back down," he said. "It's almost midnight."
Kurama heeded the suggestion. "I wonder if all of his officers came back," he yawned, curling up against the Koorime.
"Maybe he has an opening," Hiei replied, suspecting he knew what Kurama was thinking.
"Maybe," Kurama repeated.
The wind was brutal today. Hiei shuddered. "What did you tell the humans?"
"I'm visiting a friend." Kurama smiled wryly. "It is technically true."
"You're going to freeze," he muttered.
Kurama pulled up the collar of his jacket. "I'll be fine," he told the Koorime, shifting his backpack. "Hiei, do you remember that thing I asked you to do?"
He tensed. "I'm not going to look for black roses in the middle of winter," he said uneasily.
"I meant the other thing—Could you look in on my family for me, while I'm gone?"
Hiei shrugged. "Why not?"
Kurama hugged him and kissed his forehead. "Thank you. Perhaps … I'll see you soon?"
"Perhaps," Hiei replied, kissing the Fox lightly on the lips. He watched while Kurama ventured into the forest—and soon, Hiei knew, into the Demon World. Would it help, he wondered.
"What is he up to?" a voice behind him inquired.
Hiei turned around. It was Genkai. She had probably seen the departure from the temple. "Excuse me?"
"Two weeks ago, he approached me about lessons in transforming. He never told me why."
During the Dark Tournament, Hiei recalled, Genkai had reverted to her younger form. Kurama approaching the psychic after planning to stay in the Makai made perfect sense. "Did you teach him?"
"He's a fast learner," Genkai affirmed. Studying Hiei, she said, "If you go to see him at all, keep an eye on him."
Hiei nodded absently, his body shivering. Though it was winter, and he had put up with the snow and wind since stepping outside, only now was he beginning to feel cold.