Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters used in this story. This fanfiction is rated M for violence, bad language, and graphic boy on boy love!
CHAPTER ELEVEN: SECRETS OF SORROW
Three months after Hiei's birthday…Kurama perched at the edge of the bed, watching his lover sleep. He was tempted to pounce on him and wake him up, but he resisted and instead ran his fingertips down Hiei's jaw, kissing his soft lips lightly. "Good morning love."
"Fox… The sun isn't even up yet." Hiei groaned and attempted to roll over, only to have a certain redhead sit on him and kiss him more fully. Hiei kissed back, his eyes slipping open as his fingers entwined in Kurama's hair. "Good morning."
Kurama smiled. "Come on, get up. We have a lot to do today."
"Wedding?" Hiei questioned as he lifted the fox up from him and slipped out of bed. He began searching for his underwear and pajama bottoms that had been flung across the room the night before.
"Yes, we have a lot to prepare for the wedding. We've only got five days to finish and we still haven't chosen out the color for our suits, or the cake. We have to get that cake order in today or we won't have it on time."
"And we have to pick the caterers, yes I know. You're really making the reception much to fancy for my tastes."
"That's because I know Yusuke. If someone doesn't hand him his food, he'll attempt to get food for Keiko while balancing a kid on his hip and he'll end up spilling all over himself. It really wouldn't be pleasant. Besides, if we don't get caterers, then poor Yukina will be running all over the place trying to make sure everything is perfect for us."
"You've made your point."
Kurama jumped on Hiei, tackling him to the floor. "Besides, love, you said I could do whatever I wanted with the wedding. Does that mean I get to dress you in all white?"
"No."
"Why do I have to be the bride?" Kurama whined. "You're the shrimp." He laughed and danced away from Hiei. "Breakfast is ready love."
Hiei grumbled all the way downstairs about the fox having way too much time on his hands and that he must have had the whole pot of coffee to himself. He sat down at the table and ate what Kurama set in front of him. "We need to visit Yusuke today as well fox. You promised them a night off."
"Oh, I nearly forgot about that. Are you going to babysit with me?" Kurama sat down across the table and nibbled at a piece of toast.
"No, you agreed to watch the little brats, not me. I'm going to see Yukina."
"That's fine. I think you should go visit them today instead of being dragged around with me. The only event that requires your presence is at two in the afternoon. We're getting fitted for the suits I already picked out."
"I'm surprised you aren't wearing a dress, being the bride and all."
"Then you'd be up my skirt before the reception was even over. At least with a suit, you have to work harder to get where you want." Kurama winked and pushed away his plate.
Hiei eyed the barely touched food and then pierced Kurama with a glare. "You're not eating again."
Kurama shrugged. "I haven't been feeling well the last week or so."
"I want you to at least finish your toast."
The fox rolled his eyes. "Yes mother." He popped the piece of bread in to his mouth as he took his plate in to the kitchen. He came back and kissed Hiei's forehead. "I'm going to get ready and then I'm off."
"Be careful."
An hour later, Kurama was ready and left the house. Hiei had departed before him. He drove his car to the edge of the city and parked it in the parking lot of the bookstore he used to be employed at. He walked from there to the bakery to sample three different kinds of cake. He ended up deciding on a three-tier cake that had chocolate on the bottom layer, white on the second, and yellow on the third, that way all the guests could get what they wished. He left with a wave to the staff and proceeded to the next location.
He examined the room with a sigh of relief. He loved it instantly. The room was large and spacious, room enough for the tables to be set around the edges and a dance floor to be located in the center. The far wall was made entirely of glass with a slider door that led out to an expanse of gardens with blossoming sakura trees galore. There were ornate cobblestone paths so that the guests could walk through the gardens.
Next, he decided on the food. It was simplistic, nothing too rich or fancy, and all dishes that were very neutral. Very few people would be able to complain. Then, after that, he made it to the clothing store just in time to see Hiei's eyes narrow as the clerk kindly asked him to strip down to his underwear.
"Hiei," Kurama greeted and smiled. "You're stripping for another man besides me?"
The clerk cleared his throat. "Where is the bride?"
Kurama looked from his half naked lover to the clerk. "I'm the bride."
The clerk looked flustered for a moment before turning back to the sight of Hiei, who was stripping out of his pants with his crimson gaze latched on to the fox, making it perfectly clear just who he was stripping for.
Kurama didn't wait for the clerk to recover. "I want him in a black suit with light gray accents. The suit itself should be black. The dress shirt should be white and the vest beneath the jacket but over the white shirt should be a light gray." He turned to his lover. "I want the suit to be fitted rather than baggy." He circled around Hiei before smiling faintly. "I'll go find another clerk if you're uncomfortable with the situation."
The clerk rushed forward to measure Hiei, armed with a clipboard. "No, no, I'm fine. I'll just measure the groom and there's another clerk near the dressing rooms to measure you."
Kurama grabbed Hiei by the hair and pulled him in to a kiss. "Behave Dragonfly." He walked away to the lady who was waiting for him by the bridal dresses. Kurama glanced around. "I don't know what part of 'gay wedding' wasn't made clear when I talked to the owner on the phone, but I'm quite sure that I won't be wearing a dress."
The woman looked more at ease. "I know. However, I thought that the same concept might apply. If you're the bride, your fiancé shouldn't see you in your suit until the wedding." He pointed to a small stool. "Please strip down to your boxers and stand there."
Kurama stripped down and folded his clothes in a careful pile. "I want a pure white suit with a white vest and white button-up shirt underneath. The tie is the only color that shouldn't be white. I want that lavender."
A half hour later, Hiei and Kurama were done. Kurama just grabbed his clothes and pounced on Hiei, who was already fully dressed. Hiei caught him easily and grabbed a healthy handful of his lover's round bottom. Kurama relished the look they got before slipping from Hiei's arms and dressing in front of him.
"Have you eaten lunch?" Hiei questioned.
Kurama shook his head. "Let's go eat together."
The days until the wedding passed by like a blur. Finally, there was only a day left. Kurama lay in bed next to Hiei for a nap, just cuddling up and falling asleep with his head on his fire demon's chest. Hiei ran his fingers through the silky hair of the fox, his eyes open and staring at the ceiling. Part of him regretted making Kurama do all the work and planning for the wedding. The fox had obviously worn himself down.
The phone next to bed rang and Hiei snatched it up so that the sound wouldn't wake his sleeping fox. "Yes?" After a moment of listening to the voice on the other end, Hiei hung up the phone and rubbed circles in the fox's back.
Kurama groaned. "Is it time to wake up already?"
"No baby, we have to go to the hospital."
Kurama opened his eyes and gazed up at his lover. "What's going on?"
"Your mother is in the hospital."
Kurama was out of bed as soon as the word mother fell from Hiei's lips. Hiei got up too, seeing the panic that overtook the fox as he rushed around to dress. He ended up in jeans and a light blue shirt with his hair in a ponytail. Hiei dressed quickly as well in his black pants and a sleeveless shirt. He followed Kurama down the stairs and in to the car.
Kurama was silent through the drive and Hiei reached over to take his hand. Kurama took it and squeezed it lightly before letting go. Hiei latched his fingers on to the seat as the sped around another corner. "Kurama… Slow down before you kill both of us."
Kurama didn't even spare a glance at his mate. He parked as close to the entrance as he could and climbed out of the car. Hiei followed behind him with a sigh.
Kurama burst in to the waiting room and attempted to push his way past two orderlies and a couple of nurses. Hiei moved forward and secured his fox around the waist. "We're here to visit Shiori Minamono. This is her son."
They parted and let Kurama in to the room. The group split up and went their separate ways. One nurse held Hiei back from entering the room with a hand on his chest. "Only immediate family is allowed."
Hiei gazed up at her with a glare. "I'm married to her son." He pushed past the woman and in to the room.
Shiori was in a hospital bed, the room filled with the beep of a heart monitor. Kurama's stepfather and brother were in the room as well. Hiei came in and stood at the edges of the group that gathered around the woman.
"Kazuya, I'd like to speak to Hiei and my son alone please," Shiori stated. Her husband nodded and steered his son from the room.
"You should have told me you were sick," Kurama murmured, holding on to his mother's hand. Hiei moved behind his fox and stood there silently.
"I didn't want to worry you," Shiori smiled lightly. "There was nothing any of us could have done to prevent this. I have a tumor in my brain Shuichi… Or Kurama I should say. Not even you could have saved me from something like this. To be quite honest, I wouldn't have allowed it even if you could."
Kurama blinked in confusion. "Mother… what did you just call me?"
"Kurama." She touched her son's face lightly with a laugh. "You are a horrible liar Shuichi dear. I don't know how long you thought falling down the stairs was a valid excuse for your injuries. I pieced together the pieces of the puzzle and figured it out when you were a teenager. Then Hiei came to me after you left us all for America. He apologized so fiercely for driving you away. He also confirmed that which I already knew. A mother has her instincts."
Kurama stared at Hiei with accusing eyes.
Hiei shrugged. "I don't remember much of that week Kurama. If I remembered doing anything like that, I would have told you."
Shiori drew Kurama focus by tugging at a piece of his hair. "Kurama, don't be angry with him. Now, listen to your mother and don't interrupt me. I've known about the cancer since a week after you left. A C.A.T. scan detected it. I was having such horrible headaches. I was told I had three months due to the size of it. I was lucky enough to have a little over a year to watch and make sure you're happy." She smiled softly. "And tomorrow you're getting married. I just wish… that I could see it in body rather than spirit."
"You aren't going to die today."
"Kurama, dear, I've been in the hospital for the last week. When I took a turn for the worst this morning, the doctors told me that this is the day I'll die. And I'm fine with that. This morning, I was much worse. I'm afraid this is the calm before the final storm. I'd like to think I was granted these few hours of mental peace to have the chance to say good bye to my son."
Kurama felt the tears spill down his cheeks. "But I'm the bride," he smiled sadly. "Who is going to walk me down the aisle?"
"You don't need anyone to walk you down the aisle dear. You've already made the greatest journey of your life by finding Hiei." She pressed a hand to his cheek. "No more tears. You're strong. And you're getting married tomorrow, no matter what." She leaned up and pressed a kiss to his cheek. "Don't hang on to me. Just say good bye and let me go."
Kurama sniffled, welled up his tears for later. "I love you mother."
"I love you too. And I'm so proud of you." She turned her eyes on Hiei. "Take good care of my son." She let her hand fall away from Kurama. "Now, I want the two of you to leave me here and send in my husband."
Kurama planted a kiss on his mother's clammy forehead before standing up and walking out to the waiting room like a zombie. Hiei squeezed Shiori's hand with a promise that he'd always be there for Kurama. Then he followed his fox to the waiting room. Hiei sat down in a chair to wait. His fox sat at his feet with his head resting on Hiei's leg. Hiei could feel the tears soak through the fabric of his pants. He pulled his lover in to his lap and held him, rocked him as he cried.
An hour later, Kazuya came out of the room with the announcement that Shiori had passed away in peace. "Shuichi, she wanted me to tell you that if you don't get married tomorrow, she's going to haunt you."
Kurama smiled lightly at that with a sniffle. "Sounds like mother."
Kazuya managed a sad smile back. "Let me worry about the arrangements. The funeral will be in ten days or so. Can you be back from your honeymoon by then?"
Hiei nodded as he held his fox. "We'll only be gone for five days."
Kazuya nodded and put a hand on Kurama's head. "We're all so proud of you. And we'll be at the wedding tomorrow as well. We can't disappoint your mother."
Kurama just nodded through his tears and was carried to the car by Hiei. Hiei placed him in the passenger's seat and buckled him in before moving to the other side. "This is only the third time I've driven, so make sure you're buckled in right."
Kurama checked his seatbelts and then stared out the window.
"We'll postpone the wedding," Hiei stated.
Kurama gazed at him. "Oh no we will not! You're getting married to me tomorrow!"
Hiei smiled and reached over to stroke Kurama's cheek. "There's nothing I'd rather do."
AUTHOR'S CORNER:
Aw… Such a sad chapter… Anyways, review and tell me what you think. And if I made some poor reader sad, then I'll send my mental cookie wishes to you.