Talent for Love

Chapter Four

Heavy eye-lids slowly opened, only to clamp shut as the sun flooded his sensitive eyes. His head was pounding, his entire body ached, but above all, he couldn't remember what caused him to feel this way. As he lay there staring at the ceiling, fuzzy memories of the night before began to come back to him.

'I remember rushing to the park with Kurama.' The scene seemed to playback in his mind as he went over the details. 'Yusuke called and told us to meet him and the oaf...He said Koenma had a mission for us, and they needed me to find the demon with my Jagan...I remember using it...and then, everything went black...'

Hiei let a sigh escape his lips as he turned over to find the other half of the bed unoccupied. That was when he noticed the rose stuck into the wall. Upon further inspection, Hiei found that the rose was pinning up a note. Reaching out, Hiei pulled both the rose and the note from the wall, finding that it had only left a small thumbtack sized hole. 'Stupid fox. Why can't he just leave it on the table like a normal human being?' Looking down at the note, he began reading.

Dearest Hiei,

Good morning! I see you've found my note, that's good, it means you feel well enough to open your eyes at least.

In case you don't remember, you fainted last night after you used your Jagan. I carried you home and put you to bed straight away. Needless to say, you slept through the night with no problem at all.

I've gone out to investigate the cause of your illness. I think I have an idea of who I can go to with questions. I'll be back as soon as I can. Breakfast is on the counter.

Love you.

Kurama

Hiei's eyes glanced over the word "breakfast" several times. Each time, his stomach churned in an unsettling manner. 'Not again...' Bolting up, he rushed for the bathroom to empty his stomach.

"Thank you for taking time out of your day to talk to me," Kurama said with a smile as he sat down on the floor.

"It's no problem, Kurama-san," Yukina replied. She seemed to have gotten over the bad news rather quickly. Kurama hated having to come to her and ask for advice when she was in such a horrible state, but it was his only choice. Yukina knew more about Koorime than anyone, and Kurama needed answers. "You comforted me yesterday, after all. I owe you." Yukina seemed to be all smiles. This would have fooled anyone but the person sitting in front of her at the current moment. "So, you needed to speak to me, Kurama-san?"

Kurama gave a nod. "It's about your brother."

Instantly, Yukina became worried. "Nii-san? What's wrong? Is he alright? Is he sick? Is there anything I could do?"

Kurama put his hands up in defense, laughing softly. "I'm taking care of him, don't worry. He's been ill, yes, but I can't find any reason for his illness."

Yukina's huge crimson eyes filled with confusion. "What's wrong with him?"

"Well, he has some odd symptoms. He's been throwing up every morning, yet once he's recovered, he eats everything in sight. He's been putting on weight, sleeping more than ever, his energy level has been very low, and last night he passed out from using the Jagan." Kurama saw Yukina gasp, and hurried to cut her off before she could bombard him with questions about her brother's health once again. "He's completely fine right now. He's sleeping."

"Do you need me to heal him? Is that why you came?"

Kurama gave another smile. Yukina truly was a very devoted and caring sister. "No, that isn't the reason. Actually, I've come to ask you about Koorime reproduction."

The confusion in Yukina's eyes only grew at this statement. "Why do you need to know about that?"

"Please, tell me everything you know about it, and then I'll explain."

Yukina gave a nod and put on a serious face. Being a Koorime, she was taught about Koorime reproduction at a young age, so she could better prepare for her future. Kurama was positive he came to the right person about this matter.

"Every one hundred years, a Koorime baby is born. It is almost always female, except in the case of Imiko such as my brother. The only real way to conceive a male child would be for the mother to reproduce with a male demon outside of the land of ice. That is what our mother did. But aside from sexual reproduction, Koorime reproduce asexually on their one hundredth birthday, or that's what I've heard. It only happens every one hundred years to prevent over population. Since only one new baby is born every one hundred years, we never have to worry about overcrowding."

"So," Kurama cut in. "No two Koorime are the same age then?"

Yukina nodded once more. "Yes, we are all one hundred years apart, except in the case of twins. Nii-san and I are the only Koorime I know of who are the same age."

"Then only one Koorime becomes pregnant every one hundred years?" Kurama questioned, almost completely positive about his theory.

"Yes," Yukina replied.

"And you were supposed to be the one who conceived a child this year, correct?"

"Yes," Yukina responded. "Kurama-san, what does this have to do with Nii-san?"

Kurama bit his lip, thinking hard for a moment. If he was correct about all of this, would Hiei really mind if he told his sister? No, Yukina and Hiei were close, of course he wouldn't mind. At least, Kurama dearly hoped that he wouldn't.

The fox took a deep breath and let his lips part, speaking what he believed to be the cause of all of this confusion.

Kurama arrived home a few hours after he set out to Genkai's temple to speak to Yukina. Upon opening the front door, he found Hiei nestled into the cushions of the couch, a large blanket covering his small form. A smile played on Kurama's lips as he gently shut the front door and approached his mate.

One of the only times Hiei ever looked truly innocent was when he was asleep, so Kurama cherished the moments when he could gaze upon his sleeping lover and see his beautiful smile. Figuring the half-Koorime needed his rest, Kurama simply bent down and pressed a kiss to his lidded Jagan before turning to walk away. He was stopped, however, when a small moan escaped Hiei's tiny mouth.

"Mnn...Fox?"

Turning back around, Kurama leaned over the arm of the couch, smoothing Hiei's spiky raven hair. "Yes, love. I'm back."

Hiei's crimson almond-shaped eyes opened to stare up curiously into the face of his fox. "What did you mean when you said you went to 'investigate my illness'?"

Kurama continued smiling, figuring Hiei was too tired to have everything explained to him right now. "I went to speak to your sister."

Upon hearing this, Hiei sat up-right and turned around to face his mate. "Yukina? Why?"

"Would you rather I went to go speak to the Koorime about it?"

Hiei glared slightly, he hated when his fox answered a question with a question. Seeing that his mate was growing impatient, Kurama began to elaborate. "I went to speak with Yukina because she's the only Koorime I know of currently residing in the Ningenkai." Hiei opened his mouth to ask another question, but was interrupted when Kurama continued. "To answer your next question, the reason I'm hunting down Koorime is to learn of their reproductive cycle."

Now Hiei was utterly lost. His head was spinning and he was wondering exactly what his fox was up to. He wished Kurama would just cut to the chase and tell him everything he discovered, but he knew that wasn't how the Youko operated. "And why did you need to learn that?"

Kurama gave a knowing smile before touching one long finger to Hiei's button nose. "Because it lead me to my conclusion, and I now know what's wrong with you."

Hiei's eyes crossed as he glared at the finger upon his nose. He slapped it away, becoming completely aggravated and unable to put up with this chase any longer. "What's your brilliant conclusion, fox?"

Kurama stood, finally breaking eye contact with the smaller demon. He took a few steps before seating himself next to his mate, heaving a sigh. He looked out the window before continuing. "Hiei, do you know what kind of people experience the symptoms you've been going through?"

Hiei raised a brow, having followed the fox's movements to a tea up until this point. His head was spinning again. "I...think."

"What kind of people experience morning sickness, Hiei?"

Hiei swallowed before answering in a small and hesitant voice. "Women."

"What kind of women?"

Again, Hiei shot his mate a death glare. "Kurama, what the hell does this have to do with me?!"

"What kind of women, Hiei?" Kurama pressed again. He was hoping the little Koorime would figure this out on his own.

The glare faded as Hiei finally answered the question. "Pregnant women. But I don't see what that has to do with me. Why are you asking me these questions?"

Figuring now was as good a time as any, Kurama's emerald gaze fell upon his lover. His lips parted, and he prayed with all his heart that Hiei would understand what he was about to tell him. "Hiei...you're pregnant."

The fire demon's world seemed to stop. Everything stood still; the images before him froze, his lungs refused to help him breathe and his eyes wouldn't blink. He sat stiff as a board as the word repeated itself in his head a million times. Pregnant? Pregnant? The word seemed to echo in his mind as if it were bouncing off the inside of his skull. Each time it grew louder and more terrifying. He refused to believe it. He absolutely refused. But why would Kurama lie about something so serious? No, it wasn't in the fox's nature to lie to his mate, his lover. Though his mind wouldn't allow him to believe such a thing, his heart was telling him that this was not a lie.

Seeing the look of pure shock on the fire demon's face, Kurama reached out, putting his hand to Hiei's cheek. No response. He tried calling out to him; "Hiei?" Still, no response. The fire demon had gone into a state of shock. He remained this way for nearly fifteen minutes, that, it seemed, was when his voice returned to him.

"P-Pregnant?..."

Kurama breathed a sigh of relief and pulled his smaller mate into his arms, holding him close to his chest. "Hiei..."

"No. I-I can't–"

"You can, love," Kurama pulled back to look his demon in the eyes. "I'll help you the entire time...Hiei, please, we can do this."

"No."

"Hiei, this is something we both created. A child of our own! Our flesh and blood. Please, consider this carefully, love." Kurama held Hiei's head in his hands as huge almond shaped eyes stared up at him, showing nothing but pure terror. Kurama's heart almost shattered, he didn't expect Hiei to react this badly. "Hiei?"

That was when he noticed it. A small tear was making its way down the young Koorime's cheek. Before it even had a chance to solidify there was a flash of black, and Hiei was gone.

Hiei bolted from the house and ran as hard as his short legs would allow him. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he fled into the woods and jumped up into the nearest tree. He wouldn't allow himself to stop running, he couldn't. If he kept running, maybe he'd get away from all of this. He leapt from one tree to another as tear gems fell off his chin. He didn't even seem to notice when the rain began to fall. It seemed to be reflecting the way he felt inside; miserable and terrified. Huge heavy droplets fell from the sky, pounding into his skin and soaking his hair, but the half-Koorime kept running. He didn't even have a clue as to where he was going, all he knew was he couldn't stop.

His legs carried him deep into the forest and didn't stop there. After what seemed like an eternity, he reached the end of the wooded area, having run for miles. Panting, sniffling, and crying, Hiei collapsed against a tree trunk. His arms automatically wrapped around himself as he shook, staring down at his form. He could sense it, it was there, the fox hadn't been lying. He really was pregnant. Well, that took care of the problem of figuring out whether or not it had been true, now came the real obstacle; what should he do with it? His first thought was to kill it. It scared him to think there was something living inside of him. There was no way in hell he'd let some parasite continue to grow in his body. The thought of it made him sick and he collapsed on all fours to throw up violently onto the leafy forest floor. His tears continued to flow out of his eyes as he dry-heaved and nearly choked up his breakfast. He was shaking even more fiercely when he had finished, but he managed to lean himself up against the tree trunk again.

He sat there just breathing for some time before the thought of Kurama finally entered his mind. He must be worried, he must feel as if it's his fault that Hiei ran off. 'Well it is,' something in Hiei's mind had started speaking to him. 'It's his fault you got pregnant, and now he wants you to keep the damn child? He doesn't even care what you think about it! He just wants you to deliver him a baby for him to raise as his apprentice!'

"N-No..." Hiei tried to fight the voice in his head. "K-Kurama loves me...H-He'd never do that...He didn't mean to..." He squeezed his eyes shut tightly as another tear gem fell into his lap. He forced himself to face the facts; he was pregnant and it wasn't just Kurama's fault. No, it was no one's fault. He couldn't think of a child as just an accident, there had to be a reason it was created.

'It was created because you reached the height of Koorime maturity. You became fertile and that damn fox took advantage of it! Just kill the child and end your misery!'

"No!" Hiei shouted. He knew that if he killed the child he could never face his fox again. He couldn't bare it, every time he'd look at Kurama he'd think of his dead child. If he killed it, he'd run away forever and never see his friends, his sister, or his mate ever again. Once he was far enough away, he'd most likely kill himself. After all, without Kurama his life was meaningless, right?

"I-I don't want to kill it..."

'Then what will you do with it? Allow it to grow inside of you? It'll make you fat, it'll make you hideous, Kurama won't love you for long with that growing in you.'

"KURAMA ISN'T LIKE THAT!"

'And what will happen when it's born? You can't take care of a child, you've never had parents. Before that fox came along you didn't even know how to love someone. You couldn't possibly raise a child with him. No matter how you look at it, you're screwed both ways.'

"NO!" Hiei curled up tighter into a ball, his claws digging into his skull as his fangs took root in his lower lip. The tremors in his body refused to cease and so did the rain.

The voice was right, he couldn't care for a child. Kurama had taught him everything he knew about love. Without the help of his fox, he wouldn't feel happy or safe, he wouldn't have a home, nor would he have a sister. But most importantly, he wouldn't have someone to love who loved him back. Now he was starting to resent running away from Kurama like that. The fox was probably out in the rain looking for him. Hiei had to go back, he knew that. It didn't matter if Kurama hated him, he still loved Kurama, so he would return to him. He lifted his head and was surprisingly met by two shining green orbs.

Kurama stood in front of him, drenched in rain water and panting. His cheeks were flushed, his nose was red, and he didn't even have a coat on. "Hiei..."

Hiei continued to stare back up at him, unable to speak. He hadn't yet reached a decision, what was he to do? Just when he felt at a complete loss, Kurama bent down to kneel in front of him.

"Hiei, come here." Kurama smiled warmly at him and opened his arms.

More tears weld up in Hiei's eyes, most of them solidifying and hitting the forest floor after they ran down his face. Kurama's eyes poured out tears as well; so he had been crying all this time? He had upset him. How could he have allowed himself to upset his fox?! Before he knew it, Hiei had leapt forward into Kurama's arms and was sobbing against his chest. His small yet strong arms wrapped around his lover, never wanting to let go. "Kurama, I'm so scared!"

Kurama held Hiei close, one hand running through his soaking wet hair as the other rubbed soothing circles on his back. He planted kisses on his small lover's forehead as he whispered softly to him. "Hush, love. Everything will be alright now...I'm here and I love you." Kurama knew that above all else what Hiei needed right now was reassurance, and that was exactly what he was going to give the tiny Koorime.

Hiei continued to shake in his lover's arms, his body racked with violent sobs. He couldn't seem to get a hold of himself. His tears wouldn't stop no matter how many times he commanded them to. "Kurama, I–"

"Not now, love." Kurama scooped Hiei up bridal style and got to his feet, looking down at the demon in his arms. "We'll discuss this once we get you home and dried off."

Hiei sat in bed wearing a pair of cozy pajamas, a blanket wrapped around his shoulders, and a towel hanging off his head. Kurama had dried off his body and was currently working on his sopping wet hair. Hiei closed his eyes as Kurama rubbed at his head with the towel before finally tossing it aside and pronouncing the Koorime as dry.

The fox then tended to Hiei's bleeding lip. He had sank his fangs into it while he was deep in thought, and currently had a trail of blood running down his chin. Kurama cleaned up that mess and examined the injury, discovering that it had already healed. He would have expected nothing less, with Hiei being a full youkai and part Koorime.

Though he was dry and clean, Hiei still remained silent. His hands lay in his lap and he seemed content to just stare at them in a daze. Kurama had left him that way as he got changed into his own pajamas and crawled in bed beside his mate.

"Hiei?"

It took the fire demon a minute before realizing that someone was calling his name. He lifted his head and turned to look at Kurama, his eyes remaining unfocused and large.

"Hiei, I know you're frightened..."

Actually, right now he seemed pretty calm. His heart had stopped pounding harshly against his chest, his tears had stopped flowing, and his mind was no longer racing. "I'm...I'm alright, fox."

Kurama looked a bit shocked at this, but smiled none the less. He reached his hand into the smaller demon's lap and took hold of Hiei's tiny hand, giving it a squeeze. "I'm glad you've come around."

Hiei lifted his eyes to lock onto Kurama's. "I want to keep this child," he started, his eyes flaring with determination. "I know I'm probably not the best candidate for a parent, but I want to try. You're right, fox, this child is something we created. Together. And that's how I want it to be raised, by the both of us."

Kurama's smile only grew as his eyes began to water. He had hoped Hiei would realize this on his own, but he hadn't counted on it. Hiei really surprised him sometimes.

"I won't do to this child what my people did to me."

There it was. That was his reason. Hiei didn't want someone to suffer the way he did. To be exiled from the world. Separated from the one who birthed you. Left to fend for yourself or die. He had lived a very harsh life; a life without love. He would never wish that upon anyone else, not even his greatest enemies. That was why he'd keep this child. He would show it what love was, be there for it, care for it, and raise it. And he'd do all of this with Kurama by his side.

-Author's notes-

Blah...I like this chapter and hate it at the same time. I'm so sorry it took forever for me to update!! I recently got hooked on Saiyuki, and I've just balanced things out so that my love for HieixKurama and my love for my new yaoi couples won't collide.

I got into the mood to write this because my friend Jess has been roleplaying with me every night. She's the greatest Kurama ever, and I'm going to dedicate this chapter to her. I hope she finds someone who will love her as much as Hiei loves Kurama!!

Thanks for sticking with me, guys!!