| Disclaimers:
Yu Yu Hakusho is the property of Yoshihiro Togashi, Shonen Jump
Weekly, Fuji TV and Studio Pierrot
Keshiki, Kurai, Fuyu & Minora are mine. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kurama
followed the fire demon silently as Hiei walked fast and steadfastly
toward a room with thick steel doors.
The fire youkai closed the steel doors after the youko stepped in,
leaning against them, head facing the ground. "Hiei,
you've grown." Kurama
broke the uncomfortable silence. Strange,
he never felt uncomfortable with Hiei before.
He even had a wicked sense of humor when it came to the fire demon.
Teasing the once little youkai into responding out from his always
grumpy demeanor. "Hn."
Was Hiei's only reply making Kurama smile widely. "Taller,
but snot-...." "All
right. I heard that
already." Hiei cut him
off abruptly. "I'm
sorry, Hiei." Kurama
said softly, remembering the very purpose of their visit. Hiei
merely stared at the redhead. "I-I
know how much she meant to you." Hiei
raised an eyebrow. "You
never told me, but I sensed it."
Kurama continued. Hiei
tried his best to remain poker-faced, but he could feel the sting of tears
at the back of his eyes. He
turned his back to the youko. Before
Mukuro, he had never felt this pain, perhaps when he thought he had lost
Yukina. But he had found her
again, but Mukuro...." Hiei
bit his lip. Kurama came
softly to stand in front of the fire demon and placed a reassuring hand on
one shoulder. The youko had
to tilt back his head slightly toward his friend.
Kurama smiled a sad smile. Yes,
Hiei had definitely grown up only to experience pain and loneliness once
again. He patted the fire demon's shoulder and then straightened
himself. "I'm
always here to help you, Hiei." The
fire demon raised sad, but grateful eyes and stared straight at the
youko's emerald ones. "How
long will you be able to stay here?"
Hiei asked uncharacteristically.
Kurama frowned. Hiei
had really changed. He was
more vocal, more emotional. He
sighed and put his hands on his weary brow. "I
forgot, Yomi...." Kurama
murmured softly. It
was Hiei's turn to frown. He
had forgotten. He had seen
Kurama and Yomi holding hands while entering the throne room.
Perhaps the two had something going between them.
He couldn't possibly impose on Kurama.
No not anymore. "It's
OK. Yomi and you...." "No."
Kurama said shortly. "It's
not what you think it is." The
youko continued defensively. Hiei
smiled a little. "I
was only going to say that you are friends with Yomi again." "Oh."
Kurama blinked, then smiled a bit uneasily.
Why was he being so defensive?
Who the hell would care if he got himself involved with Yomi.
He knew the answer, He
himself cared, a lot. "Ano,
Hiei. I can stay here for as
long as I'm welcomed. I would
gladly want to see the comings and the goings of the makai from
here." The redhead
finally spoke. "And
Yomi...." Hiei couldn't
help teasing the fox. Kurama
frowned, annoyed and kept his mouth shut. Hiei
raised an eyebrow. "What?
Nothing to say?" "I
think it's about time we get back to the others."
Kurama suggested hastily, quickly walking toward the steel doors. Hiei
grasped his arm, halting him. "Kurama,
I'm sorry." Hiei said. Kurama
turned toward the fire demon and gave him a hug, feeling the tightness
inside his chest evaporate. The
fire youkai embraced him back tightly. ******************************* ******************************* |