Yusuke had a migraine, a chipped front tooth, and three days less tips.
He was irritated, and wanted a coffee.
Confused and confounded, he'd woken up on the dojo floor without a clue as to how he'd gotten there. He'd somehow managed to fall on top of Genkai's favorite coffee table, successfully breaking it in twain and chipping his front tooth to boot. The old biddi was so irate at having her furniture fall victim to Yusuke's clumsy nature that she'd demanded Yusuke buy her a new coffee table at once.
Thus the lack of three days tips.
Perhaps it was their lack of social activity while on a 'mission', but Yusuke's little sub quest had gotten everyone else at the dojo delighted. Yukina wanted to enjoy a day out amongst the humans, equipped with yen given to her by Genkai. Kuwabara, the ever chivalrous hero, was quick to jump atop his high horse and ride Yukina right into town. He promised her a day full of delight, even as Yusuke groaned at the prospect of following after the star crossed lovers all day long. Still, it was rather humorous to watch Kuwabara spoil Yukina rotten with sweets, jewelry... and it saved Yusuke the need to buy a movie ticket.
Of course, for every positive, there was a negative. Kuwabara and Yukina might have been having a jolly rotten time being in love, but Yusuke and Kurama had graver matters to attend to. Such as Shimo.
"I just don't get it!" Yusuke snapped, browsing table after table as he and Kurama walked through the narrow aisles of a furniture store. "I can't remember a damn thing; I don't know how I ended up on the floor!"
"This one looks nice." Kurama pointed to a fine table made of oak that was out of Yusuke's price range. Yusuke shook his head and walked on.
The high fluorescent lighting gleamed off the polished wood. Sarashiki's mall was large but not nearly as grand as some of the malls that Japan had to offer. It was a circular building, with a multi level parking lot on either side and a large fountain in the middle around which a food court had been set up. A small ferris wheel and carousel had been added in three years before to the delight of the locals, and now the malls' economy was doubling every year. As a result, many new shops had been added along with several exciting games at the arcade... Yusuke's favorite haunt.
He'd much rather be playing games than buying a damn table.
"I left you in the room with Shimo and Yukina." Kurama started, "I dressed, and returned to find you with your posterior skyward and your face planted into the broken table. Did you trip?"
"I didn't trip!" Yusuke snarled, "Speaking of Shimo where is the ungrateful bastard?" Yusuke looked left and right through the gaggle of onlookers, nervous that he might see the impostor sucking the blood out of a child's neck...
... After all, they had little but guesses to go on when it came to Shimo's motives. They were still in the dark.
"He's right over there." Kurama calmly pointed out, and Yusuke was relieved to find that Shimo was 'safely' sitting on a mall bench near the fountain square, eyeing the water warily as if he feared the jets would wet his robes. Shimo was clearly uncomfortable, wearing a sweater and jeans that Yukina had all but forced him into. Robes were fine at Genkai's temple, but in public the group had to appear semi normal... just for appearances sake. Shimo clearly had never worn such clothing before in all his life, and was fidgeting constantly. His aqua hair was attracting quite a lot of attention from a gaggle of young girls eating ice creams at a table nearby. They kept giggling and covering their mouths as they swapped glances.
"Tch." Yusuke grumbled, "Kids." He observed a rather shoddy table that was a little unpolished. It was in his price range, but Genkai would probably wring his neck if he brought in such a heap of junk. "Damn these tables are expensive! How the hell am I going to get a nice one if they're going to cost an arm and a leg?"
"Don't trouble yourself." Kurama assured him, "I intend to pay."
"You?" Yusuke goggled at his generous friend, unable to suppress a grin, "Thanks Kurama! I owe you a solid after this! But why the generosity?"
"Because." Kurama shrugged, "I own several stock options and you own a ramen shop. I'm in the position to buy a fine table, and you... well..."
Yusuke's grin vanished, and he scowled.
"Conceited." Yusuke sneered. "Fine, buy a nice table. Something granny'll drool for."
"As you wish." Kurama chuckled, hiding his laughter behind his hand. The pair walked back through the aisle of coffee tables, arriving at the more expensive section where a customer attendee wearing a tweed uniform was waiting patiently to help shoppers.
"Excuse me." Kurama bowed politely, "I wish to purchase a coffee table. Might you assist me in picking one?"
"Of course sir!" The attendee broke into a wide smile, waving a bony hand at the expensive tables with flare, "What kind of coffee table are you looking for today?"
"One that won't break if you fall on it." Yusuke jipped, only to have his foot stepped on painfully by Kurama. The attendee's smile broke, but only for a second. Yusuke winced as his toe throbbed.
"My friend here means to suggest that we wish for a table with a sturdy build... but something that does not sacrifice its beauty for its use." Kurama added. The attendee seemed to understand perfectly, and after side stepping through a wide array of different tables, the attendee gestured to an outrageously priced coffee table made of a dark black oak with gold trim.
"This is one of our latest styles." The attendee bragged with a smug grin, "A shipment all the way from France, made of majestic black oak! Notice the gold leaf trim, sir... very in now a days!"
"I like it." Kurama nodded, vaguely impressed, and he looked to Yusuke for approval. "Yusuke? What about you?"
"You plan on burying Shiori near a sewer because that table's going to cost you your entire life savings." Yusuke grumbled. Kurama frowned.
"Yusuke, the price is not what I'm asking." Kurama reminded him gently. "Don't look at the tag. Look at the table."
Yusuke titled his head, observing it. It was gaudy, flashy and haughty. He didn't like it at all, and he had a feeling Genkai wouldn't like it either. Part of him rather liked the idea of giving the old hag an ugly table in replacement for her old one...but...
He wasn't a child anymore, and he wouldn't act like one just because he'd embarrassed himself.
"Listen." Yusuke stepped up, addressing the attendee with a much more serious tone than before, "This table isn't for us. It's for my... my grandmother. I broke her coffee table, you see, and I'm buying her a new one. I don't think she'd go for this. She's much more old fashioned. Do you have something... traditional?" Yusuke asked. The attendee was clearly put out at having lost his chances at selling a high priced table, but he seemed appreciative of Yusuke's sincerity. Kurama was certainly impressed, and smiled at Yusuke as the attendee lead the way through a series of more refined tables to a much calmer one near the back of the section. It was a deep brown, dusky and soft in appearance with crane's legs for feet. It was also significantly cheaper than the first table, but still more expensive than any table Yusuke could ever buy.
"This is one of our longest running styles." The attendee explained, "Very popular with the older generations. Your grandmother would appreciate it's traditional composition."
"Yeah." Yusuke agreed, "I like it. Kurama, you up for paying?"
Kurama had already whipped out his check book, and Yusuke rolled his eyes with a content grin.
They purchased the table, ordering it to be shipped to Genkai's dojo address post haste, and with their errand complete both men returned to the food court where Yukina, Kuwabara, and Shimo were all sitting at a table and enjoying their meals. Kuwabara had opted for a triple cheeseburger (ever a man of habit), with a massive soda and fry combo that he wolfed down with gusto. Yukina was much more healthy in her selection, eating a salad along with a raspberry fizz. Shimo ate nothing, looking out of touch with his surroundings as he stared warily at the people looking past.
He was very uncomfortable. Yusuke couldn't be more pleased.
"So!" Kuwabara boomed as Kurama and Yusuke took their seats. "You get the table?"
"Yeah, it's being shipped tonight." Yusuke nodded, "Thank god too. I thought the hounding would never end. What I'd like to know is how I ended up face first on the table!"
Yukina said nothing, still irritated at Yusuke for his poor manners that morning. Shimo merely offered Yusuke a small smile.
"You tripped." Shimo explained.
"Dude!" Kuwabara howled with laughter, "You tripped?! And broke a table?! How dumb is that?!"
"About as dumb as your face!" Yusuke growled in retort. "I probably tripped when I was going to wring your neck!" He added in jibe to Shimo. "So don't get any smart ideas!"
"Yusuke." Yukina snapped. The four men paused, all turning to look at their lady accomplice, "Leave my brother alone."
There was something dangerous in her tone, even though it was soft... and Yusuke fell silent at once.
"Sorry." Yusuke put his hands up in mock surrender. The atmosphere was changing at the table, turning cold and unfriendly. Wanting air, Yusuke rose up to check out the line for the pizza stand.
"Kurama." Yusuke murmured, "You want something to eat?"
"Yes." Kurama agreed. "I was feeling rather hungry."
The pair of them left the table, heading for a small venue in the back where a lone chinese attendant was making rice bowls. Yusuke payed for lunch as compensation to Kurama's generous donation to the table, and as they waited for their broth bowls to cook both men lounged against the wall watching Shimo.
"... What do we do." Yusuke murmured. "We both know he isn't Yukina's brother."
"Yes." Kurama agreed, "But Yukina and Kazuma do not."
"So let's tell them." Yusuke thought, but Kurama shook his head at once.
"No." Kurama shot down, "Not until Hiei is ready."
"We can't wait forever." Yusuke grumbled, "If this keeps up any longer we're going to be stuck with doll-eyes till the cows come home. I don't like him Kurama- I don't care if he's some innocent by stander. He gives me the creeps-" Yusuke paused. "... and I didn't fucking trip."
Kurama looked at Yusuke with a crinkled brow.
"How do you mean?" Kurama asked.
"I..." Yusuke thought back, trying desperately to recall what had happened before he'd blacked out. He knew that he'd said something to make Yukina leave... and then it had been him and Shimo. Alone.
"Yukina left." Yusuke murmured. "It was just me and Shimo. I remember blue light... and then I woke up on the floor. I didn't fucking trip, Kurama. You know me better than that."
Kurama nodded, looking back to Shimo.
"Shimo did something." Yusuke continued on. "To me. And he's getting away with it. Like a prick." Yusuke growled. "I ought to kill him right now."
"You will not." Kurama murmured, "You will refrain and control your temper. Right now we must think of Yukina and her safety. Our loyalty lies in Hiei, and his cause. We must protect Yukina while he searches to find the answers that we need."
"... Yeah..." Yusuke sighed, dropping his head. "Yeah, I know you're right. You always are. I just-"
Yusuke shook his head, unable to complete his train of thought. His head hurt so bad that he thought it might crack in two. He groaned, clutching his temples.
"Yusuke?!"
Yusuke looked up at once, unsure of who had called out for him across the food court. He was utterly astounded to see Keiko!
She stood by the edge of a chocolate stall, clutching a bag from her favorite clothing venue. Wearing a pink fretta coat and a matching skirt that accented her skin and hair well, she looked more beautiful than Yusuke had ever remembered before, and he broke into a wide grin that couldn't be contained.
"Hey!" Yusuke laughed, waving his arms high in the air as the chinese shop owner handed Kurama their two broth bowls. "Long time no see, eh?!"
At once, Keiko abandoned her chocolate craving, running through the crowded tables to break out on the other side. She dropped her shopping bag at their feet, wrapping Yusuke in a bone crushing hug as she wrapped her arms tight around his back and dipped her head into the cave of his neck. Yusuke staggered at the sudden onslaught, but his heart warmed without delay. Even though they'd been apart only a few days, he'd missed Keiko in a way that he couldn't fully explain. Scooping her up, he kissed her full on the mouth with out regard for gawking strangers. She tasted like peaches and cream, and her lipgloss stuck to his lips as they broke apart. She laughed, blushing from the encounter as she touched the corner of his mouth.
"Nice lipgloss." She joked, and Yusuke pulled a face. "What are you doing here? I thought you said you were watching that weird guy! The one that claimed he was Yukina's brother? What happened to that, did he go away or something?"
"I wish." Yusuke sighed, letting go of Keiko to pick up her shopping bag in a show of chivalry. "Look yonder, my maiden, do you spy what I spy?" Yusuke pointed to the table where Kuwabara and Yukina waved merrily at Keiko in greeting... Shimo sat motionless as always.
"Oh my." Keiko gasped, "Is that him?"
"That's him." Yusuke grumbled, accepting the broth bowl that Kurama offered. "Thanks Kurama."
"Oh!" Keiko greeted their friend at once, still flushing from the kiss. "Hello Kurama! How are you?"
"I wish I could say well." Kurama sighed, "Alas, I find I'm troubled these days..."
"So it's a real problem then." Keiko murmured, frowning. "He... He looks so strange." She turned her head to cast Shimo another glance, waving absent mindedly to Kuwabara and Yukina. "Who is he?"
"Shimo." Yusuke sighed. "That's all we know."
"That's all you know?" Keiko looked rather disappointed. "You ought to know more than that Yusuke. You're a former spirit detective. Why not use your resources."
"Resources?" Yusuke was confused, edging through tables as they approached their own, "I have resources?"
"Koenma? Botan? Hello?" Keiko added irritably, "Come on Yusuke, use your head! They might know a whole heap!"
"Oh!" Yusuke could have gagged on his tongue, and he caught Kurama's eye at once. "Damn! Kurama she's right! We could ask toddler breath! I bet he's got something!"
"You're right!" Kurama agreed, looking immediately relieved. "Yes, Keiko. We'll do that at once."
"Hey!" Kuwabara shouted, getting up from the table to give Keiko a friendly hug, "Long time no see, Keiko! How's it hanging? You'll never believe whose here!"
"Keiko!" Yukina stood up, embracing her fellow female. Keiko gave Yukina a genuine hug, pulling back with a sweet smile.
"Yukina." Keiko giggled, "I'm so glad to see you again, and I love what you've done with your hair! Are you having a good time at the mall?"
"Oh yes, Kazuma has been so kind." Yukina flushed, pleased, "But Keiko, there's so much that has transpired! My brother has returned, and my heart is full of joy once more!"
"...Oh?" Keiko tried to look happy for her dear friend, and Yusuke could tell she was attempting a genuine response. "Did he? That's amazing Yukina! How did he find you?"
"He ventured very far... he heard that I was staying with Genkai. Here!" Yukina waved a hand to Shimo, "Shimo, this is my very good friend Keiko Yukimora... Keiko, this is Shimo. My twin brother." Yukina flushed with pride, and the group fell silent at once as both newcomers stared at one another unsure of what to do. Shimo slowly rose to his feet, pushing his chair back to bow politely to Keiko. She returned the gesture, never taking her eyes off Shimo's face. Yusuke, right behind her, kept a steady hand upon her back. He did not know why, but his heart was pounding as Shimo extended his hand for Keiko to shake. Any second... Yusuke would yank Keiko back by her shirt tails to keep her safe... any second...
They shook hands. Silently.
"I'm so very happy that you've found your sister again." Keiko lied through her teeth, forcing a smile upon her face, "She's been missing you. We all have. You'll find that we're a family." Keiko added, her amber eyes flashing, "A very protective family."
Yusuke could have cheered with pride for the meaning behind her words.
"I'm sure." Shimo smiled, his eyes as lifeless as always, "My sister is very blessed to have found such a... warm... home."
"Yeah, well, we're known for our hot tempers." Yusuke sneered, "And Kurama likes it humid. It's good for his tropical plants, you know."
"Now, now, Yusuke." Kurama chuckled behind his teeth, "Play nice."
"Bite me, fox." Yusuke ground out, his voice so soft the others could not discern his words.
"Please, sit down!" Shimo gestured, and though his words were polite, his tone was icy. At once, Yusuke threw himself between Shimo and Keiko so that Keiko was safely in between himself and Yukina. With all six of them now at the table, Yusuke dug into his lunch at once, wincing at his tooth.
"Damn." Yusuke grunted.
"What is it?" Keiko asked, taking her shopping bag from Yusuke and riffling inside to withdraw a protein bar. "Your neck hurting you again?"
"No I chipped a tooth." Yusuke admitted begrudgingly. Keiko choked on her protein bar, gasping.
"What?" She demanded at once, "How?!"
"He fell and broke Genkai's coffee table!" Kuwabara cackled, "Like a dork! That's why we're here. We came to town to buy her a new one."
"You broke her coffee table?!" Keiko scowled, "Yusuke! You know better!"
"I didn't do it on purpose!" Yusuke snapped. "I- I just... shit happens!" He threw his hands up into the air, stuffing his face with more beef bowl before he could curse anymore.
"Well I hope you apologized." Keiko admonished him, "Tables are expensive!"
"Oh don't worry Keiko." Kurama chuckled, "Yusuke is well aware of that now."
"How deep in the hole are we?" Keiko sighed, looking very put out as she pulled out her cell phone, "Do I need to call my parents to help us out?"
"No, our little red headed knight saved us." Yusuke assured her at once. "Kurama bought the table. We're not in the hole, I promise baby."
Keiko looked immediately relieved, bowing to Kurama in thanks, "Thank you Kurama. You're very generous."
"I enjoy buying things for my friends." Kurama shrugged. "It brings me great pleasure. I have few people in my life I can shower upon... Shiori plain refuses to let me buy her things anymore."
"Sheesh man you bought her and her hubby a new house about a year back!" Kuwabara joked, "I don't blame her!"
"Well." Kurama shrugged. "Our old house was too small. They needed something with more space since Shuichi is living with them."
"Oh that's right! your step brother!" Kuwabara grinned. "How is he?"
"Very well. About to graduate high school." Kurama informed, "We're very proud of him. He wants to play for the Tokyo Baseball Team."
"The TBT? Really?" Yusuke was impressed. "That's tight man! I can't wait to go watch him play! Can we get free tickets? Ah!" Yusuke winced as Keiko flicked him behind the ear. He shot her a grin, which she returned. Kurama merely smiled and laughed.
"So." Keiko continued on, crumpling up her wrapper and tossing it in a bin. "Where's Hiei? Did he come as well? Oh!" Keiko paused, "That's right, Yusuke. You told me he's gone... where exactly?"
Yusuke shook his head.
"Bet he's gone to see his girlfriend..." Kuwabara teased, "Bet their making out right now! Sheesh, I can't think about that for too long or I'll puke."
"Kazuma!" Yukina admonished softly, unable to hide a small life. Even Kurama looked mildly amused.
"Hiei..." Shimo repeated the name, his glassy eyes unfocusing even more. At once, Yusuke shot Shimo a withering look. The two men stared at one another, though Shimo's glassy eyes appeared lifeless and hazy.
"Don't say his name." Yusuke growled under his breath, "Ever again."
Shimo did not reply; the others remained unaware of the violent warning, too caught up in Kuwabara's jokes.
"He'll return soon, I hope." Keiko spoke up. "Maybe he'll bring... what's her name?"
"Mukuro." Kurama explained. "I do not believe she'll be coming, though."
"Oh?" Keiko looked slightly put out. "Why not? We're all like family. I'd like to meet her personally!"
"That makes two of us." Kuwabara added at once. "These dudes got to meet her when they went to demon world but I've never met her either! I wonder what she's even like... probably ugly and creepy!" Kuwabara shivered, "Who could ever like the runt? Yuck!"
"Kazuma..." Yukina admonished again. "Don't say such things about Hiei... he's our friend... and he's never done us wrong." Yukina's voice changed, growing softer as she said the words. Yusuke felt hope flicker in his heart as Yukina mentioned her true brother; it seemed that every time she did Shimo got more uncomfortable. Going out on a limb, Yusuke tried for an apology.
"Look, I'm sorry about what I said." Yusuke turned to Yukina, "This morning. But I was in a sore spot after how Hiei left. He's like a brother to me, you know?" Yusuke hinted, receiving a warning glare from Kurama, "I'm protective of him."
"It's not Shimo's fault!" Kuwabara sounded at once, "Heck, hamster legs tried to look into his brain!"
"Forgive and forget." Keiko shied the two men off, "Hiei also attempted to turn me into a zombie. I've put that behind me."
"Well-" Kuwabara grimaced, clearly unable to find a good comeback.
"Thank you for your apology." Yukina replied quietly. "But it belongs to my brother, not me."
Yusuke would rather eat shit than apologize to Shimo, so he simply contented himself with finishing his lunch.
"... So what's she like!" Kuwabara started up again, groaning, "I want to know, man! Why am I always the last one to know?"
"Well..." Kurama dashed his napkin into his lap, sighing and hanging an arm over the back of his chair, "She's... unique."
Yusuke caught Kuwabara's eye, winking.
"Oh come on!" Kuwabara whined, "You've gotta give me more than that! What does she look like!"
"Dunno." Yusuke admitted, "She's pretty much covered up from head to toe."
"What?" Kuwabara looked rather put out. "Why?"
"Why are you so damn curious all of a sudden?" Yusuke demanded, "Hell you really want to know what Hiei's girlfriend is about, don't you!"
"Hell yeah I do!" Kuwabara laughed, "Anyone who can kiss the shrimp is balls out in my book! I want to meet the girl brave enough to lock lips with the dragon!"
Kurama chuckled again. "She would enjoy you." Kurama murmured. "Mukuro seeks truth, in all forms. You two have much in common, in that regard."
"Oh that's creepy." Kuwabara winced.
"Is she good to him?" Yukina spoke up hesitantly, "Do you think she's kind?... He... He's had it rather hard... hasn't he. He needs love... Hiei."
Yusuke smiled, glad to hear Yukina's words.
"Yeah." Yusuke promised the girl softly, "Yeah she's good to him. Just what the doctor ordered."
Around them, the world buzzed on in it's old mundane fashion; completely unaware of the amazing people in it's mix.
Hiei awoke the next morning, feeling rather warm even for a fire demon. The fire was long since blown out, and the embers were now cold. His heat came not from the muggy weather outside their shelter, but from the woman whom he shared his shelter with.
Mukuro had found her way to his side during the night. She always did. Their legs intertwined, their arms embracing, Hiei's head was spooned atop her breast. He did not wish to leave the comfort of her arms, so undemanding and accepting. Too often the world required something of him; something that cost him pain to give. She, on the other hand, required nothing. Only him... him and utterly him alone.
He let out a deep sigh, closing his eyes once more. They ought to wake up. They ought to get moving... and yet.
The world could wait. It always had.
Mukuro opened her eye, Hiei's breath tickling her skin. Scratching her breast absent mindedly, she gently lifted a few locks of his midnight hair to see the jagan still crusty and disgusting amid a now yellow ooze. It needed to get seen by Shigure as soon as possible. Mukuro let out a sigh of her own, slowly untwining herself from Hiei so that they fell apart onto the cold cave floor. She stretched, her sinewy muscles and tough joints popping in the morning dew. She yawned to reveal her sharp pointed teeth tainted slight pink from years of eating bloody meat. Hiei did not rouse from his spot on the floor, clearly trying to get a few more minutes of rest in before the day officially started.
"We need to go." Mukuro murmured quietly. "It's close to mid morning. We've already wasted enough time."
"Sleep is not waste." Hiei grumbled. "Sleep is necessary."
"So is Shigure's help." Mukuro reminded him, "Your eye is a sore sight... I'm worried."
Hiei opened his eyes at this, and they stared at one another for a long while in warm silence.
They had been through much together, had shared their grief and pain together. Now in peace and solace, they were able to focus on much more important things like the way Mukuro's skin glowed in the red morning sun... or how Hiei's leather hands could turn to velvet in a touch.
"...Yeah..." Hiei finally agreed. He sat up, slowly, wincing as the blood rushed from his jagan. He groaned, touching his forehead, and Mukuro immediately tore off a part of her pants leg to wrap gently around his head.
"We need fresh bandages." Mukuro thought aloud. "This will do for now."
"What the fuck did that bastard do?" Hiei cursed, thinking of Shimo the damned impostor. "Damn him... Damn his ass!" Hiei slammed his fist onto the cave floor.
"Later." Mukuro urged him. "We have to move. Now."
They did so silently, gathering up their belongings before kicking out their fire pit to hide the evidence of last night. Hiei's boots were mercifully dry, and with clean cloth now wrapped around his still bleeding jagan his mood and slightly improved.
Slightly.
Hiei didn't speak, but Mukuro could sense that a lot was on his mind. Last nights admission had been a shock to her, to think that someone would claim to be Yukina's brother right in front of Hiei? Surely the fool had a death wish. The blood red sun was rising ever higher in the sky, and as the turf underfoot changed from weedy grass to rolling hills Mukuro and Hiei were given a beautiful view of the southern fields of demon world. It was difficult to find time to appreciate the beauty of the land when you lived in a land known for deadly combat... but still. There was a strange gentility in the way that the hot summer wind blew through the reedy grass and shook the tree limbs. Bat-like crows took to the air, swarming in their flocks; Mukuro was reminded of the vultures that had often pursued her in her youth. She'd run till she could run no further, only to be heckled by the nasty creatures.
"I once saw this realm through different eyes." Hiei murmured. "Back when things mattered."
Mukuro flashed him a look, curious to the meaning behind his words, but Hiei remained diligent in his forward footsteps. He was a curious creature, difficult to sway and even more difficult to impress or understand. Few knew the depth to the rules by which he lived, but Mukuro was more than aware that each guideline was hard learned from a lifetime of terror and triumph. They were the same rules she often followed; sometimes she could seldom tell the pair of them apart.
He had healed her aching grief of a past preserved by a shackle; a shackle he had destroyed in one swift move. So too had he destroyed all walls in her heart, sneaking past her guarding misconceptions to find her true hope locked deep within. He'd treasured it, in his own bizarre way, and Mukuro knew he'd never betray it.
She wondered if she had done the same for him; if he felt the same way for her.
"Do things not matter now?" She queried.
"...Not in their usual way." Hiei shook his head.
They continued on, with a slightly dampened mood.
That day they walked continuously through ever changing hills and pastures. The storm that had blown so hot and heavy in the central zone of demon world was gone now, carried away by the blistering wind that was constantly chasing the grass and birds. Now the sky was a clear hot red, illuminated by a vile sun that heated their shoulders and backs till they were sore with a sting. It was well into the afternoon before they reached the second bout of forest, and there they sought relief from the sweltering sun. The underbrush was humid, but mercifully damp as well. Life here was not about what one saw, but what one heard and the insects of summer were singing their merry tunes. The grass was low here, unlike before, and the canopy above was denser with smaller leaves. This was a place that saw less rain, none of it went to waste.
They continued to walk till late into the night, unable to satisfy themselves without enough distance. Mukuro wondered if they were going to walk the whole night even as her feet ached. She wouldn't admit to the pain, and grudgingly accepted that Hiei was out of touch with his bodies needs. He wouldn't sleep till he fell down; he wouldn't eat till he nearly blacked out- but Hiei had one fondness that Mukuro relied upon for rest. Hiei would not pass up a good tree to rest in.
"That one looks nice." Mukuro murmured, pointing to a massive pine that soared into the canopy. Its branches were large and sturdy, clearly a good place to catch some rest. It also seemed mercifully vacant of fowls, for which Mukuro was also thankful.
"... Fine." Hiei grumbled.
The red sun had dipped down into west, leaving them in the pitch black of night. It was hard to see clearly, and Mukuro tripped over the roots of the pine tree as she followed Hiei up it's large trunk. He could jump higher than any man she'd ever known in her life, and as he bounded from limb to limb she almost struggled to keep up. Near the very top of the tree, Hiei finally stopped to scan the horizon which was now available for view. It was dotted with stars, layered in purple and blue hues from the night. Above them, a fat yellow moon hung heavy in the sky.
Mukuro was slightly out of her element in trees. Hiei seemed a natural climber, and she was envious of his unbroken balance even as the wind blew their limbs. She stumbled, finally squatting down on a massive limb and swinging a leg on either side.
"I'm exhausted." Mukuro admitted bitterly. "I'm going to sleep."
"There?" Hiei grumbled, snickering at her poorly made bed. Mukuro flashed him a malicious glare, daring him to add another snide comment. Instead of taking the bait, Hiei merely helped her to stand with a steady hand.
"Not there." Hiei shook his head, and with another bound he took her one level further into the tree. At a connection of spiraling limbs, there lay a slightly flat spreading point. It was sturdier, more centered and larger. Clearly Hiei knew how to pick a bed in a tree. Mukuro wondered if he'd slept his entire life in trees.
"Here." Hiei finally concluded, and they sat down together in the center of the spread. Hiei took of his scarf and cloak, clearly sweltering from the days heat. Mukuro joined him, her long sleeve shirt having given her a bizarre farmers tan. Topless, the pair of them relaxed in the breeze that blew through, and Mukuro felt her skin tingle from the sensation upon her scarred skin. She shivered. Hiei grinned wryly, wrapping an arm about her shoulders to give her some warmth.
There... just so.
"I'm not cold." Mukuro grumbled. "I'm..."
Hiei shook his head, and Mukuro didn't finish her sentence.
"I know what you are." Hiei grumbled back. "You are many things."
"Tired." Mukuro admitted.
Silence fell, and the pair of them rested topless against one of the many tree limbs that shot skyward from their resting point. Though she did not know how, she managed to find herself in the comfortable position of Hiei's arms. Her fingers spread across his chest, and she played with the spares black hairs that she found there till her eyelids grew heavy. They seldom enjoyed time like this together. They fought too often, and fucked too little. Simply resting was almost out of the question, making Mukuro grateful for missions where their minds were elsewhere and their tempers were at bay. Neither of them had been taught how control their anger- perhaps they could teach each other over time.
"... Part of me..." Hiei whispered, unwilling to break the fragile silence. "Wonders if... she'd be happier."
Mukuro shook her head, propped upon Hiei's chest.
"You come first." Mukuro whispered back. "To her, all others are second... She'll see that in time."
Hiei did not reply.
The cicadas sang on, the lullaby of night in demon world.