How many times now had they both participated in saying ‘it’s passed’ and moving on? Hiei’s reluctance to speak about his past beyond what Kurama already knew or could surmise by Yukina’s existence and their separation as young children said enough so far as he was concerned.

That he had been tossed out like vermin by his own family members, and then those he had once considered family weighs heavily on him still. In how the fire apparition, at least by what he claims, keeps all of them at an arm’s length, ready for them to one day decide he is too much and turn their backs on him as the bandits had. Even Kurama may one day realize he’s had enough and shut him out of this place he had made to specifically give them a space of their own.

It isn’t like Kurama couldn’t fill the space with someone else, right?

Yet again they don’t speak about it and assume the other will understand, Kurama’s kiss moving Hiei along instead of insisting upon the subject.

“If you plan ahead?” Hiei asks, amused, a brow raising.

“Will you have the plants cook us breakfast or something?”