genkaitemple | Kurahi Catch-All: Unspoken Thing

Kurahi Catch-All: Unspoken Thing

Unspoken Thing

The hardest thing about life is
when the person who gave you the most memories
becomes a memory.

CODE

how odd it is to be

date chronologically pending

haunted

visuals blank playlist

by someone that is still alive

Date
※ 01/27/24 Injured: ⋙ Dark Tournament
※ 01/29/24 Insomnia: ⋙ Dark Tournament
※ 02/11/24 Intimate Bathing: ⋙ Post Series
※ 02/25/24 Loss: ⋙ Post Series
※ 03/04/24 Unspoken Thing: ⋙ Resurrection [completed]
※ 03/19/24 Defrosting: ⋙ Post Series
※ 04/17/24 Garden: ⋙ Resurrection [completed]
※ 06/03/24 Kurama's Return: ⋙ Resurrection [completed]
※ 08/06/24 Picnic: ⋙ Post Series
※ 08/22/24 Domestic Fluff: ⋙ Post Series
※ 09/20/24 Sickness*: ⋙ Resurrection
Chronologically
※ 01/27/24 Injured: ⋙ Dark Tournament
※ 01/29/24 Insomnia: ⋙ Dark Tournament
※ 02/11/24 Intimate Bathing: ⋙ Post Series
※ 02/25/24 Loss: ⋙ Post Series
※ 08/06/24 Picnic: ⋙ Post Series
※ 03/19/24 Defrosting: ⋙ Post Series
※ 08/22/24 Domestic Fluff: ⋙ Post Series
※ 03/04/24 Unspoken Thing: ⋙ Resurrection [completed]
※ 04/17/24 Garden: ⋙ Resurrection [completed]
※ 06/03/24 Kurama's Return: ⋙ Resurrection [completed]
※ 09/20/24 Sickness*: ⋙ Resurrection
Pending
※ MM/DD/YY Kissing Scars: ⋙ Timeline
※ MM/DD/YY Eating Together: ⋙ Timeline
※ MM/DD/YY Swear To Me: ⋙ Timeline
Blank

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

[From here.]

Kurama would always put his life on the line to protect those he cared about, they were never going to be on the same page about that. Of course, it bothered the fire demon far more, unfamiliar with experiencing concern for others when the world, for so much of his life, had consistently taught him he only had himself.

He didn't think much of it, not for the same reasons as Hiei - assuming others wouldn't care for his well-being - more that the fox had a history of always getting out of things, even at the last second, so it took a lot for him to feel seriously threatened

While Kurama is aware of the hesitation, that something is off, he can't tell what seems to be bothering the fire apparition. From his position, these wounds are minor, nothing to fuss over and sure to be healed in time for their next fight. Surely, that was also Hiei's priority, perhaps they looked worse than he'd realized.

The words give him pause, hesitating in his own actions and focused instead on Hiei as he spoke. “I didn't have much of a choice, with only Yusuke and myself eligible to fight he would have had to take what I could not on his own.” As far as he's concerned, things definitely could have gone differently then. He's not oblivious to Hiei's discomfort, but he is unaware of the actual cause. That is, outside of frustration that they could lose if they're careless.

As Hiei resumes his work and turns the conversation to Ruka instead, the fox nods. “Quite an unexpected turn of events.” He moves to examine another wound as he continues, almost flippantly. “It seems she did more for your energy than those she worked for, you might want to give her your thanks next time you see her.”

[From here.]

He doesn't respond to that accusation, sensing how troubled Hiei was by the whole thing and not wishing to provoke him further. There wasn't anything they could do about the tournament, being there by force their only option was to survive long enough to make it out.

Neither of them would be in this position if they hadn't robbed Spirit World, but Kurama had no regrets. He had been willing to offer his life in exchange for his mother's, and he was willing to do what he must in order to see this tournament through to the end.

The fox tilts his head at Hiei's words, seeming to consider them for a long moment before answering simply.

“It isn't going to come to that.”

If anything, the threat only reinforces Kurama's mindset. He has no intention of dying, Hiei. Despite what his actions and previous behavior might suggest.

"Koenma has such faith in him - why not make him test it?" Beyond the fact that they both know by now that Hiei is at least partially bluffing when it comes to Yusuke - Hiei wants to see what he spirit detective has learned. By his own 'tests' (aka attacking him somewhat when the group had come together) Yusuke is faster and stronger, but to what extent the fire apparition is unsure. Curiosity digs at him, of course, to know what the teen is now capable of if pressed.

.. He is less curious to see what Kurama is capable of if pushed to back-against-the-wall tactics, particularly after this last set of fights. Hiei is not particularly fragile, when it comes to battling and knowing that death is inevitable, but being forced to stand and watch had pressed far more uncomfortably into places and emotions Hiei has never quite felt or explored previously, nor is he jumping to explore them now.

"I'll turn her into mince meat if she crosses paths with me again." Hiei says it resolutely, a low growl in the back of his throat. Shady tactics were not unusual in the demon world, or tournaments such as these, but it chafes at Hiei's unstable set of moral codes all the same. Yes, their gambit had helped Hiei with the impossible obstacle of healing his arm in any sort of feasible time frame, but that had been their miscalculation.

"Their tricks giving us some help is convenient, though I would have preferred not to be trapped in a tent."

"You sure as hell have a way with showing it." The fire demon grinds out, though he is, at least passably, assuaged for the moment. Hiei is not, by and large, the type of demon that places much value on connections with others, but.. Kurama has proven to be a reliable and strong partner. He would hate to have to shop around again and possibly risk his neck in the meantime. Not to mention... what a pain in the ass to have to do again.

Off the back of his tournament, he at least had gained something powerful and new, though it would take much concentration to gain at least some measure of control over the Dragon. At least enough that it wouldn't turn eyes on him as fodder for its next meal.

"If anyone is taking on multiple rounds moving forward, it will be me." Hiei pauses, then, and decides to perhaps derail a bit of his irritation in to an attempt at a joke repeating Kurama's own words (ish). "I can't let you have all of the glory in the arena. Your head will get too big."

Most demons with the skill and power to last over a thousand years wouldn't take too kindly to being lectured by one who had barely passed decades, but most other demons weren't Kurama.

He doesn't comment on Hiei’s next retort, the fire apparition might never admit it but he's worried and there was no point in shoving his face in it by dragging this conversation out. He said his part, made his point, and the fox seems bordering on amused rather than the least bit offended.

Really, it was Yusuke who seemed the most concerned about all of them.

Kurama hums at Hiei's decision, also happy to change the subject, but unable to hide the faint smirk with those words.

“Far be it for me to deny you the opportunity. Although, I seem to recall Yusuke being the team leader. Unfortunately, I believe that puts him in charge of those decisions.”

Did he think Yusuke was going to stop Hiei if it came to that? Not likely, but teasing had a way of distancing them from the tension of particularly heavy topics and it wasn't beyond him to use it to do so, given the opportunity.

The fire apparition being mad that a teenage human dictated their actions at the moment was better than Hiei worrying about the fox's welfare, at least.

[From here.]

Kurama had, at the time, satisfied himself with the human life he'd been living. He hadn't exactly been in the market for new demon partners over the last several hundred years, a fact that benefited Hiei when he sought out his help obtaining the treasures of the spirit world.

Centuries, and his human life, had changed him. His aspirations were no longer for greatness or power, interest in ruling any portion of demon world having long since faded from his priorities. His focus now seemed to be on nurturing patience and affection out of a certain fire apparition.

Even in this, their differences are highlighted. Hiei's impatience and disinterest made him more inclined to view longer hair as a problem, where Kurama had only had a problem with how long it had taken him to grow it out. The spirit fox had long hair for hundreds of years, the fourteen without it felt stranger to him than he'd care to admit.

Once he's done with the knot, Kurama moves back to his previous position. He gives Hiei a moment to resume his work in silence after that brief hesitation before the question comes.

"I could." It takes effort not to glance back over his shoulder again, "Does it bother you?" He didn't think Hiei was very concerned about the length of his hair, but the wording suggests otherwise.

[From here.]

Hiei's apparent pain from whatever he'd dealt with before arriving here was not on the list of things Kurama expected to deal with tonight. Hiei being alive wasn't on that list either, but he's quick to adapt to the situation and the hissed breath prompts him to inquire about it, even as the fire apparition speaks up again.

Green eyes regard him quietly for a moment before he asks the question, knowing the best leverage he was going to have on the subject. The fire demon wasn't about to assuage his concerns for the sake of it, after all.

"Not even for Yukina's peace of mind?"

Kurama waits for a response, certain Hiei will have an argument at the ready, if he doesn't stew angrily over it first. Then he can worry about the severity of those injuries.

[From here.]

He watches Hiei in confusion with that explanation, not sure what to make of it. It wasn't much of a surprise that the fire apparition recalled such a detail - maybe, that he'd acknowledged it out loud, though.

Before he can even think of a response, Hiei continues and Kurama's left momentarily speechless. The fox had often spoken of the plant, but the conviction and accusation to the demon's tone suggests that he's been directly offended by its neediness, himself.

“… It can be quite fragile.” There's a pause as he considers his next words, thrown off by this whole encounter and trying to parse his way through it. That Hiei seemed as if he was personally invested in the welfare of this specific plant, especially.

These are your favorite.

The last thing that the fire apparition says, that they'd died first, takes a minute to sink in and for a moment the fox simply stares at him. He'd watched over them. That was the only logical conclusion, that he'd tried to keep up with them in the redhead's absence and this overgrown wilderness had been his reward for whatever effort that work entailed.

The realization left him dumbstruck. So much being said between the lines that Hiei would be unable - and unwilling - to say out loud, himself.

Without thinking, as if without remembering how delicate this situation is, Kurama steps forward - paying no mind to any boundaries it might be crossing - and wraps his arms around the fire apparition, practically crushing the smaller demon to himself, wordlessly.

Hiei would never say that he had been here more often than he was now to watch over Kurama's garden. Despite his conflicted feelings surrounding everything to do with Kurama choosing to move on to the spirit world despite his many impassioned, insistent conversations to convince him otherwise, Kurama's garden had been something. Some kind of connection, something he'd craved in the rift of having something he hadn't even really thought possible only to be on his own again. He knew that, technically, he was not fully alone again, but Yusuke and Yukina could never fill the rift that Kurama had left.

At the time, the fact that he couldn't keep Kurama's favorite plant of them all alive had been salt in the gaping wound. If nothing else, the garden had been an attempt to be close to the fox again, somehow, even if it wasn't literally physical. The scent of flowers had been soothing while they lasted, on the occasion that Hiei took a moment to try and seek such a solace.

Eventually, he'd grown jaded with the work, the way that his effort seemed to only give him wilted and dead plants, the wilderness encroaching on something beautiful Kurama had made. It had withered and died in the same way the Youko had, and Hiei had only grown more bitter at the realization. That he should know better, that things in his hands, eventually, withered and went away.

The fire demon catches on to Kurama's movements quickly enough, a hand reaching upward and out as Kurama closes in. His claws dig into the redhead's torso, teeth grinding as his every muscle tenses, but he doesn't force the Youko off of him. Yes, he could have violently rebuked this move, of course he could have, but -

But nothing, there is no excuse for his resistance to forcing Kurama to let him go other than he is at war with himself. A part of Hiei really wants to sink in to him, to take the Youko in again, but the other, now thrice shunned in some format or another, allows a growl to roll up his throat, low and threatening.

"What the hell are you doing?" It doesn't sound nearly as angry as he means it to, one fist clutched at his side and the other hand poised to shove him away. None of this has made sense since Kurama had opted to pass, and continues to make no sense as time moves on. Hiei makes a paltry attempt to pull away, pushing at Kurama at the same time.

"Get off of me!"

Hiei is used to that vaguely amused look on Kurama's face - it's the only reason he isn't bristling about how amused the Youko seems by everything he has to say. Of course, the Youko knows him enough by now to know that Hiei is fussing because he is worried, at the very least about him. The fire demon is debatable about Yusuke and Kuwabara as of yet, though very little in the way of effort would make the decision for him on whether the teens were worth saving or not, in the end.

"I will not allow him to choose for me." Hiei growls in irritation, clearly annoyed that the redhead seems to think that he would even kowtow to such a ruling. At least not without a fight of their own to determine that, yes, Hiei would be the one to take on multiple fights one after the other.

If anything he'd simply hop into the ring before there could be 'discussion' and leave it at that.

"It's bad enough being here because of that overgrown infant - now you want me to listen to Urameshi?"

Patience may be the longer haul of a goal, really. Though the fire demon is not necessarily quick on the uptake when it comes to affection, he is amenable enough to be bathing in close quarters so soon after their original meeting. The situation had not been what Hiei had expected upon hearing who this (by appearance, anyway) normal human teen was. In fact, he at one time thought it was an overembellishment that he would unwind at some point or another. Of course that had not come to pass, and instead here Hiei is resuming the thorough work of scrubbing the Youko's thick hair.

Kurama asks his question and Hiei snorts, the sound alone indicative of the answer that naturally follows.

"Why would it bother me?" It is not Hiei's to take care of most of the time, after all. Except for this situation exactly, Kurama's hair is not his to dictate, and even then he knows better than to be too blasé about it.

"It's your hair, it just seems like a pain in the ass."

The fire apparition's injuries aren't all that deep or unusual - mostly left over aches and pains from his training in the Demon World. While Mukuro held no further lust for power or the throne, she did not go easy on him when he finally roused her to face off against him. Even in a friendly match, Mukuro is not one to take lightly. She is, however, a good gauge for how his training is progressing, even if he never really fully intended to win a King's Tournament.

No one wanted that - least of all Hiei. He just liked the bloodshed of it all, like most demons.

Hiei snarls at Kurama's mention of Yukina, the reaction nearly immediate.

"Do you always need to use her as leverage, Kurama?" It works, though, and Hiei knows why it keeps happening. Usually, if it involves keeping Yukina happy, Hiei will acquiesce. There is still a chance he might, depending on how she reacts to the news that he is alive or hears of the possibility of him and a way to communicate while he is away.

All he'd really wanted was a peaceful death. Having lived a human life he'd witnessed it over and over, the way that they often grew old and died surrounded by loved ones. Especially after losing his father so young and nearly losing his mother shortly after that, Kurama's perspective around death had changed over time. For one, he had a human family he couldn't just vanish on - entangled as he was in their lives - death was a natural conclusion to severing those ties.

He had the opportunity to grow old and die naturally that neither demons nor foxes were typically afforded. The reward of a violent death in battle wasn't appealing to the fox spirit in the same way it was to his partner, but he knew better than to think the fire apparition would ever understand his thoughts on the matter.

Of course, he knew from their many conversations on the topic that Hiei would not stick around to witness it and he'd accepted that long before the time came. He wasn't happy about it, but Hiei needed to prioritize his own well-being, and he had. Kurama couldn't fault him for doing that, he hadn't ever expected any differently.

It wasn't that he didn't care about the harm his decision would cause, but he had faith in the fire apparition's ability to survive, adapt and move on. Faith that was repeatedly tested over the years as he was able to watch Hiei's path of self-destruction accompanied by Koenma and Yusuke complaints. They'd both let him know what they thought of his rationalization and the reality that had actually followed countless times - Kurama's patience and time spent reading a situation before he acted was making it worse for everyone, Hiei included. How long could he continue like this without interfering?

The fact was that Kurama's favorite plant is his favorite due in part to that difficulty Hiei so resented. A plant so sensitive it evaded touch, then spent energy recovering from it. From a gardening standpoint it was a challenge to care for, requiring a gifted hand and patience to nurture; particular as it was about both light and water consumption. Despite this, it could also be an invasive species under the right circumstances as with plenty of sunlight and room to grow, it spreads quickly, monopolizing the space around it. From a demonic position, with the right energy it became one of the most dangerous plants in his arsenal, able to hunt prey by the smallest vibrations. He had especially come to appreciate that duality as a human, insistent on growing it when he'd started gardening as a human child.

"I believe it's called a hug." As if that was what Hiei was asking, rather than showing his offense at the sheer audacity. The redhead ignores the prick of claws as Hiei's body tenses against his. The fact that he's not violently pushed away is more than enough for now.

Hiei attempts to pry himself free and Kurama's grip tightens reflexively. He's not oblivious to the fact that this might be the last time he gets even this much from the fire apparition. While he's fairly certain that won't be the case, the fox always prepares for every possibility regardless, he always had. Hiei coming to his senses and refusing him outright was still a possibility, after all.

"In a moment."

If Hiei would take pity on him for that long, at least. He suspected that he needed this just as much - if not more - than Kurama had.

All of Hiei's complaints and selfish cajoling of the fox before he had gone through with his plans were exactly that - selfish. Hiei knew it and yet he persisted, time and time again, to ask the fox to come down from his plans all on his own. He hadn't, and though Hiei had stepped back and allowed his partner what he wanted.. his own damages made it sting. Things that they had never talked about, whether by Hiei's refusal to speak of it or the fact it had simply never been a topic they'd thought to discuss. Though he would not be technically alone with Yusuke around, Kurama's absence had been a gaping hole that refused to be filled.

No matter how he had attempted to make himself move on, had made every ounce of effort to distract himself, occasionally he would think to ask Kurama, to go back and visit him, and remind himself that there was no more Kurama brought it all back again. And despite all of his complaints about Kurama's clingy tendencies, his insistence on holding or otherwise touching him.. gentle touch had become something that Hiei found himself pining for, on occasion. Trusting other demons with his person, though, was a tall order. Instead, the fire demon had opted to isolate and take his frustrations out on anyone and everyone who crossed his path.

The fire demon growls again as Kurama tells him it's a hug - he knows, of course, but his irritation at Kurama's calm dismissal of his offense is apparently everlasting. The other demon pulls him closer as he tries to leave and Hiei snarls again, pressing away with more force, struggling against Kurama's insistent grip. As much as he wants to sink in and enjoy it.. it will only give him more to miss.

"Fuck off!" Hiei pointedly does not flash his energy, though it may help to encourage Kurama to get off of him, not wanting to alert Yukina or the children.

"You don't get to come back here and just - act like this is the same!"

Kurama was far too used to Hiei's variations of offense, even after this long of a break, to mistake his half hearted efforts for an actual desire to be left alone. Hiei's abrasive and unforgiving nature wouldn't make this easy, but the fox had never expected him to. The mask had come down since their initial meeting, where the redhead may have originally entertained the idea that the fire apparition would have preferred he stay dead.

Still, he'd meant it when he said it was only for a moment. Kurama was fully intending to let go as Hiei so eloquently tells him to fuck off, but the next thing the fire apparition snaps at him actually has the opposite effect. As if holding him captive there could possibly communicate everything that words could not, guilt and apologies for not considering his needs when making that crucial decision, decades ago. Perhaps, if Kurama had known of his past losses before he would have reconsidered, given in to the fire demon's insistent demands instead of creating this rift between them that he must now fix.

There'd been no warning that Hiei was coming, he had obviously hoped to avoid detection and making a scene now would attract unwanted attention - but the fire apparition was capable of making his point clear if he truly wanted to be released. Those claws alone could do far more damage if he thought to be quiet about it, but Kurama suspected that the reality was more complicated than that. Perhaps that Hiei was angered by his own warring emotions over the whole ordeal, making him - the source of those emotions - an easy target.

Fifty years was close enough to half of Hiei's life to feel like forever, fifty years was such a small fraction of his own time that the fox had forgotten more of his memories than that without even noticing. The difference in time that Kurama was gone compared to the amount of time they'd had together was negligible held up against their respective lifespans, but this early on for Hiei that was a lifetime of loss to contend with.

“This is hardly what I would consider the same, actually.”

Despite Hiei's every threat of violence, his predisposition toward it for most things - he still does not want to be the source of an injury for Kurama. Though the trust between them is fairly broken, and Hiei is mistrustful of the fox's reasons for hanging on to him like this.. they had once been each other's trusted partner. No matter what had happened since then, and particularly since Kurama was not back up to a formidable amount of power.. he did not want to injure him.

Deep down it is also because there is still a part of him that feels affection for Kurama, but he would never put a voice to that now or ever. As far as he is still concerned this chapter of their time together is closed, permanently, and there is no use in even entertaining that there could be affection between them again.

Still, the redhead's insistence to hang on to him has Hiei hissing and spitting again, replacing his hand with his elbow to try and keep Kurama at some distance, a constant tension to push himself away despite how much he wants to be closer. "That was what you wanted."

Hiei's teeth bare in aggression, clearly keyed up by not only his proximity to the fox, as well as the topic of conversation. "So leave me alone."

Kurama does not realize that Hiei is even factoring such things. Not wanting to harm him, of course, but that he might consider him too weak to risk injuring would likely be met with insult. Just because the redhead chose his human form over the power of an Upper S Class demon didn't disqualify him from holding his own in a fight. He does know that it is partly, at least, the fire demon's lingering affection for him that gives him this much leniency, but not necessarily how strong those feelings still are.

As Hiei continues, the fox finally releases him. Caught off guard once again during this encounter, now by the accusation thrown at him. This hadn't been what he'd wanted, it was the collateral damage of his choices and the actions that followed, but never part of his plan. He should have seen before now how things would have turned out, how his wishes would have been perceived.

It wasn't his intention to keep Hiei prisoner there, held against his will. Rather, the more the fire apparition fought the easier it was to see a window closing forever. Hiei would not make the mistake of letting him get close enough to pull this stunt again, he was certain of that much. Not with the mindset he's currently in, at least.

The first thing Kurama thinks to respond with is that Hiei should not presume to understand what he wanted, not when he was so far off the mark. He can't really say that though, and then follow up with what does come next. The fire demon would only call out his hypocrisy in doing so if he tried.

“I wouldn't advise that you continue pretending as you are, Hiei. Do you really underestimate me so much, to think I don't know why you can recall exactly which plant died first? Did you forget that I can smell every surface you've touched in that room during my absence? You may hide the truth, but I can tell when you're lying.”

Being wrong about Kurama’s intentions and his own perceptions has never stopped Hiei from jumping to the worst possible thought before. Headstrong as ever in his youth and lacking wisdom, the fire demon is quite assured in what he is throwing at his former partner in accusation. The fox had wanted to be away, to no longer be with them, so why not just stay there? Of course he doesn’t quite grasp the chaos he’d caused in the spirit world, or how his actions following had kept Kurama from any considerable rest..

But who knows if that would change his view or if the fire demon would contend that he deserved it.

Hiei sneers as Kurama points out the obvious - there had been some inkling that the fox would eventually bring this up, and thankfully he can take a few steps back now. The physical space between them calms a bit of the inner conflict, but only ever so slightly.

Still, Hiei bristles as always at being called out on his own double speak, quickly firing back with every intention to hurt Kurama in return.

“Forgive me my moments of weakness, Kurama.” The sarcasm is evident, admitting that he has been caught by his own admissions for lingering and attempting to care for the things that his former partner once held dear to him. Sharp red eyes narrow as he continues, attempting to draw a line in the proverbial sand, again, for where he stands.

“It won’t happen again.”

One reason Kurama would never dream of telling Hiei the truth of what went on behind the scenes at Spirit World was exactly the fact that he suspected the fire demon to read it that way. That Kurama deserved it, that he'd only returned to properly leash and domesticate his charge for getting too wild again. The worst possible interpretation of the entire scenario, only hurting both of them further in the process.

Green eyes snap up sharp and calculating at Hiei's words. They may be intended to hurt but Kurama only sees the irony in his choice, of all the biting things that his former partner could have thrown back at him. Forgiveness certainly wasn't on the redhead’s shortlist.

His expression softens before he speaks again, voice lower and lacking the sharp accusation of before.

“You know that you are not the one with something to be forgiven, Hiei.”

Right now he would very likely determine this mission of Kurama's that way. Not that he had come back because he cared about his well-being, not that the fox may still hold some affection for him somewhere in there. Thankfully he knows nothing of the other reasons Kurama is back to the world of the living, though it makes the situation only slightly less twisted up in his own conflicted emotions.

The fox's change to a softer tone brings Hiei a slight moment of pause, unsure how to proceed now that Kurama has thrown him off kilter by not continuing to stoke his aggression. This hadn't been the reaction that Hiei had anticipated, instead expecting Kurama to have something equally sharp to fire back with.

There is a long pause as Hiei seems to debate, eventually turning to face away, trying to prevent himself from revealing any more than he already had in this conversation, sighing lowly. All that wind knocked out of his sails with one small sentence of quiet words that he needs to hear and yet does not want to.

"If I stand here while you say what you want to, will you finally leave it alone?"

Kurama had come back for Hiei, not to appease Yusuke, not to do Koenma's bidding. If he couldn't get through to the fire apparition, he had no other reason to be here and no purpose, his efforts will have been for nothing. It wasn't like him not to have plans for every possible outcome, but he'd have plenty of time to figure something out if it came to that.

Hiei pauses and he waits. The fox isn't looking for a fight, quite the opposite, hoping the other demon will give in enough to meet him halfway on this. Even if he's not expecting it, certainly not any time soon, antagonizing him wasn't going to get either of them anywhere when he'd only hoped to be able to move forward.

At first, Kurama thinks he might be about to leave when he turns with that sigh. Again, the one thrown off by the question that follows instead, the unexpected open invitation that puts him on the spot to get everything out all at once. He hadn't been prepared for his former partner's presence that day, nevermind the current turn of events.

“I can not do that.” He admits it hesitantly, afraid that doing so will have Hiei dismissing him before he could even think to finish. “While I am prepared to face the consequences of my actions - whatever they may be - I am not so certain that I could possibly say anything that would make a difference now. While I will not blame you if you never forgive me, and perhaps you think me selfish for this as well, I do not believe that is what you truly want, either. I am aware that nothing could take back the harm that I've caused and I must live with that regret. Regardless, I can not simply leave it alone, not as it is.”

The severity of Hiei's wounds - or lack thereof - didn't matter, when it was something the fox could help with. Normally, Kurama had kept a first aid kit handy for the fire apparition's unpredictable visits, but he'd since packed it away with the rest of those associations. Ironically, to curb any lingering false hope of some miraculous return on the fire apparition's part, a commitment he'd clearly made too soon.

Most of them fought for the sake of it, the enjoyment of battle and the chance to train, strengthen their skills and test them against others. Hiei had no interest in ruling and the other three still had their lives firmly rooted in Human World. The appeal was merely in the challenge, with the stakes leaning away from the idea of a death match, nothing more than a demon equivalent of sporting events.

“No,” He answers coolly, seemingly unbothered by that immediate aggression. “However, it does seems pertinent in this case, as she must have believed whatever rumor she heard, to not only bring it to the rest of us, but allow the funeral to take place without any proof.” Hiei could be mad at everyone else all that he wanted, but she'd contributed as well and Kurama would not shy way from that reminder.

“Shall I get the first aid kit? Your injuries don't appear extensive enough to require in depth healing.” Not that he could really tell with the fire demon submerged under the water and prone to hiding the worst of it like a wounded cat, but he suspects Hiei will inform him of how much help he could be.

It had been Hiei's prerogative to appear here without announcing himself ahead of time, but now that they were both here... he wasn't even sure what his intention had been. He had whittled away free time in Makai before without feeling the urge to appear here to be with Kurama, Yukina and the children. Deep down he knows it's because he yearns for the peace that the fox's presence provides, even if now it is a bit more rife with mixed feelings.

Not looking at him helps - or at least it does at the moment. There's no distraction with the combined thrill and betrayal of knowing that Kurama is back, that someone he'd thought he would have to content himself with never seeing again is suddenly there, again.

"... I can't trust you." It's quiet, but he's still talking. Somehow, miraculously, Hiei is still standing there to talk. Expressing what he feels even if it is not really what the other man may want to hear... or maybe he does expect it, who knows by now. He had trusted him once, and this is where they had ended up. To trust the same fox spirit again seemed a lot like a very stupid decision. Beyond that, he is not sure he could withstand something like that again.

Kurama had not been expecting any of this today. Had no warning to shield his emotions and prepare his mind for this roller-coaster of feelings and proverbial land mines. The feeling that at any moment one misstep could disrupt the balance, and he'd already pushed the fire apparition so far with physical contact that had lasted longer than it should have.

By now the chore of watering those plants had been forgotten in favor of this - the uninterrupted secret time he had Hiei's attention without anyone even knowing they were there.

The words catch him by surprise, not what was said, but that the fire apparition spoke at all. Contrary to one's expectations, the fox is thrilled to hear them. To hear anything so open and honest from Hiei at this stage leaves him a little stunned.

“Hiei-” It's a good thing that his back is turned, makes it easier on both of them, though the redhead would never admit it. There was nothing he could offer that would make up for this.

“I would not expect you to, perhaps ever again. I made my decision and I can not change it now. However, you know that I was never dishonest with you about my plans and I have no reason to begin lying to you going forward.”

"I'll speak to her myself." Later, away from everyone else, when it wouldn't draw attention and ribbings from Urameshi, of course. They could sort out details between the two of them, hopefully without additional voices from other people who shouldn't have much of a say in it. Kurama, of course, would have his say at some point the fire demon is sure. It would only be fair considering he is taking up his tub and his space for a little while until he feels comfortable enough to inform the others that he is very much alive.

Fortunately or unfortunately, he guesses.

Hiei ponders quietly for a moment over the first aid kit, and decides to allow Kurama to look him over. It may soothe them both, in the end, to have this moment between them to themselves.

"Mm, fine. I don't think there's anything that won't heal overnight, at least."

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Kurahi Catch-All: Unspoken Thing

Nursed Back to Health

Insomnia

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Intimate Bathing

Reluctant Romance

Unspoken Thing

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