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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Kurama is not expecting a single moment of weakness to become habit any time soon, more likely to bet that Hiei will be back on the defensive once he's feeling better. It isn't something he can safely even guess at with the children present, for now, just observing how things play out and content not to interfere in their socializing.

Without their company, several things could have been said to that borderline shy response, most notably that he'd also somehow fallen asleep without realizing, but Kazuma starts instead - his uncle’s face with his father's personality - and that shuts the fox up before he can even think to speak.

Hiei had the excuse of exhaustion and his injuries, at least. Kurama was the one called out by that announcement, having been fully awake and able to do something about it at the time, yet allowing it to happen, despite this.

“Yes, his day has been taxing enough.” Kurama adds, shooting Kazuma his own warning glance at the increased discomfort in the room with his remark.

Hiei, for once, doesn't find a moment to blame the redhead for much of anything. It had been Hiei who had fallen asleep in the first place - and he knows Yukina and Kurama too well to think that they would attempt something like waking him after an injury. So far as allowing him to sleep on his shoulder where he'd fallen asleep... well. There's no use in protesting now that it's already done and over with, is there? Beyond that, he had needed sleep enough to fall out like that, both for his healing and lacking the ability to sleep enough to upkeep both the Jagan and the Dragon as he had been.

Kazuma, ever undisturbed by his Uncle's vague threat of harder training, seems to only smile harder. A born shit-stirrer, it would seem, though it doesn't really amuse either of his demon elders currently seated in the room. It doesn't stop him, though, of course beginning to snicker.

'That's all I have to do for you to go a little harder on me? I should-' Yukina re-enters the scene with a tray of food for her brother and a silent, admonishing stare for her son that is all that's really needed to shut him up. Hiei has never had to be an 'enforcer' sort of presence for the children, if only because Yukina is so efficient at expressing her annoyance even without words. She sets a tray of food in front of Hiei gently, taking his glance of thanks with a sedate smile.

'I want to check your shoulder, once you're done.' Hiei nods his agreement easily enough, already digging into his rice with the fire demon's typical abandon.

"It's mostly healed.. Kurama's medicine is more potent than what I had on hand."

Is that.. a compliment, even?

Hiei needed his rest, and Kurama was perhaps more aware of that than most, considering the decades of feeling the fire apparition asleep against him. The fox is far more concerned with his healing than whatever blame he may have escaped, regardless.

On any other topic, Kurama would be amused by how Hiei held Kuwabara responsible for his son's behavior, but that gleeful shitstirring was his uncle through and through. Being a target of his antics, regarding a rather sensitive subject for both of them, was more sobering than he'd care to admit though, keeping his opinions to himself for now.

Yukina's presence was a welcome interruption. While living at the temple meant that Kurama had never shied away from discipline with the children when called for, it was only in their mother's absence or in support of her. Something that didn't seem necessary in this instance, at least.

He is, of course, pleased that Yukina will take a look with her own abilities to account for. While Kurama is not expecting to be involved in the conversation, Hiei's remark brings that automatic smile, that had been lacking as of late, to his features.

It's not until the children have gone to bed that he surfaces again, having distracted them long enough to give the twins an opportunity to speak without interruption. Considering the nature of his visit, Kurama wasn't sure how long the fire apparition intended to stay this time.

“I take it that went well.” It's redundant by now to ask about the injury, but he was still trying to approach with caution, considering they hadn’t had a moment alone since the incident that started the day.

The conversation between them had been quiet, simple, really. There hadn't been very much for her to look over or finish up healing, but it had been a convenient excuse for them to have some time alone. Time alone in which she reminded him, lowly, to give Kurama a chance. To not throw up his defenses so quickly with Kurama, for the sake of reaching some peace between them. As much as Yukina too held some small bit of her own feelings about how Kurama had chosen.. she wanted their happiness. Together or apart.

For how many years now had they been each other's only moment of peace in the storm since their partners had died in short succession of one another? Even if Hiei simply quietly listens more than he says very much, she at least makes the point to ask that he employ some patience. Some kindness, even if he felt some way or another about how things had happened.

Hiei's shoulder is unwrapped when Kurama surfaces again, the new skin shiny and pink as it finishes healing, a simple snack in hand that Yukina had left for him as extra fuel for his healing. More than likely she had picked up this particular natto rice ball with Hiei specifically in mind, hoping he may stop by in time to eat it.

Twin senses, and all.

"Mn." Hiei grunts his agreement through a mouth full of said rice ball, already eager to eat it so soon after he'd shoveled down dinner. Of course, there is no way of knowing how a conversation may go between them... but at least this visit had been largely easier to cope with.

"I've been told I'm expected to stay here for a few days so that she can make sure it's healed." Hiei does his best to make it seem as though she is putting him out with this request, of course, even as he keeps polishing off the kindly offered snack.

"It's healed now, but she'll complain if I'm up early and even training tomorrow.."

For his part, Kurama remains oblivious to the nature of their conversation. Though, Yukina had pulled him aside for their own versions of a similar talk before now so he knows she must have also addressed her thoughts with her brother at some point. Not that the fox needed to be advised on patience or forgiveness, even if he felt there should be a need for it. He would not hold Hiei at fault for his feelings, he was the one responsible for fixing this and intent to do so on the fire demon's terms. At least as much as possible.

The fact that he'd missed Kuwabara's passing had not been lost on him, but the reality of how close together their deaths had been - especially by demon standards - and how the siblings had no one else during that time to truly understand those losses, were details that hadn't fully sunk in, yet. Yusuke had never told him the extent that he'd been shunned in the fox's absence, after all.

Yukina, at the very least, was the one he'd been the most honest with regarding his intentions. A strategy he shouldn't need to keep quiet, except that he knows Koenma wouldn't trust it to work and Yusuke might say something too revealing in front of him. Still, the one he'd wanted to know least of all, was Hiei himself. Certain that the fire demon would really push back if he gave him any more reason to think this was all some attempted manipulation on his part.

Of course, the food doesn't surprise him, after healing a wound like that Hiei would need more help to maintain his body than usual, and he already burned through more calories and sleep than the rest of their group on a normal day.

“The children will be delighted to have your attention at their disposal for that time.” Always about the children, the one safe bridge he can typically maintain a conversation through to ward off awkwardly fumbling into perceived offense. “It is another important lesson for them to learn as part of their own training, giving your body ample rest after such an injury. Especially as their abilities are nowhere near your own.”

Lead by example, Hiei.

Yukina had become the keeper of many secrets, at this point. The two of them, despite never addressing the open secret of their relation, had occasionally fallen in to reminiscing together. Had spoken on things that Hiei wouldn’t dare to expose to anyone other than his own flesh and blood, and even then she’d had to prod it out of him.

If nothing else, Yukina is the perfect repository of information if she chooses to be. If he stone walls enough to justify it, more than likely. She knows, after all, how much time he spent missing the fox while he had been gone from the mortal world. No matter how much bluster he put in to his rebukes for the same man in front of him now.

Kurama mentions the children’s glee at having him at his disposal, and Hiei sighs around his next mouthful. Yes, they would be delighted to have his undivided attention, he’s sure. Especially if their mother has her way with making sure that he stays put and not training with the sun rise. If he weren’t so naive about Yukina and her intentions, he might suspect it was also to try and have him sit still for Kurama as well.

After all, Hiei is just as chastised by his sister as her children are.

“My ability is exactly why I don’t need it.” Well, and that compared to some of Yukina’s children, he is fully demon instead of half. Another bite of his rice ball, and Hiei at least offers some tether back to a snarky earlier comment.

“At the very least I owe Kazuma an ass kicking...” For teasing his uncle at the very least, despite that snark being entirely his own in nature. At least these goals seem to push out his time frame for being here.

It occurs to him that Kurama being back here to check on him is a possibility, but .. considering how they’d left off, he isn’t so sure. The fire demon pauses for a moment but then asks -

“Did you forget something?” In the scramble of it all, he couldn’t say he’d blame him.

Without Yukina, things would have been even harder on the fox and he's well aware of that. She'd certainly done enough to ensure any of this was possible, hearing out his side of things and offering unique insights that may help manage the situation. Yukina's awareness of Hiei's true feelings being motivation enough to assist where she might not have, otherwise.

“Perhaps you don't, but it is something they should be mindful of. How else will they learn?” Not that Hiei is a shining example of not pushing oneself to the limit, but perhaps he'll think better of it concerning the children, at least.

“I'm sure he'll be just as ready for his punishment when the time comes.” This is said dryly, emphasis on punishment, Kuwabara's son clearly not viewing it that way, similar to his father as he is. Despite whatever outcome Hiei might intend.

He blinks, a flicker of confusion across his features with the momentary uncertainty prompted by that question. Of course, realization has green eyes widening as it occurs to him that yes, actually, he'd left those supplies behind in the rushed effort to keep the children from catching him unaware.

Still, he's not entirely sure that Hiei isn't looking for an out, subtly directing him to get his things and leave, lacing his own response with uncertainty, “It would seem that I have.”

Kurama doesn't move to retrieve them, instead adding evenly, “If you're attempting to tell me to mind my own business, I'm afraid you'll need to be more direct.”

“When they meet their limit.” The children were raised in a thankfully peaceful Human World, but try as Hiei might to remind himself of that fact, he does not want to make them weaker by not pushing. Who knew what could rear its ugly head tomorrow, really, what threat may decide to try and level their sights on the human world or what small family Hiei does have. Not all of human world was as protected as Genkai’s, after all. Beyond that, should he not return from the demon world one day, they needed to be able to protect themselves.

That he leaves unsaid, of course. Hiei’s comfort with his own death, as a child that hadn’t even been meant to survive, sets them all on edge.

“He will be.” Hiei knows of them all that Kazuma doesn’t cowl to his threats. After all, he tends to be eager for training more than worried about what Hiei may have for him that day. Learning to control his natural fire had come easily enough, but making him stronger and more precise took time. Beyond that, he can’t count how many times now he has discouraged the half-demon from attempting to summon flames from the depths of the demon world.

In time, but not this time, many times over. The last thing he needs is his nephew with a charred arm much like his own and Yukina’s justified worry to follow.

Hiei meets Kurama’s assertion with a level stare, finishing his rice ball in the meantime. Not that it ever stopped him from speaking through them before, but.. he is in no position right now to try and throw his weight around.

“You never listen when told to mind your own business anyway.” Whether it concerned him or anyone else, before all this had begun. “So why waste the breath?”

Though it does beg the question of what Kurama came for, then, red eyes inquiring as he wiped his hands on his pants in true Hiei fashion.

The children did have relative peace here, that much was true. Things had changed so much and even in the last fifty years, during his absence, remained quiet. The uprising so many had been concerned about when Yusuke first proposed this idea had yet to be seen, but perhaps that was only by chance. That the kings who won over the years were content enough with peace to keep things as they were. All they needed was one ruler set on dismantling the status quo to see that work - and the relative safety of Human World - overturned. Many hadn't expected the new order to last long, even more so when the band of humans won and chose to rule together multiple times, disrupting even the system they'd put into place, themselves.

Hiei's last thought, left unspoken, was the more troubling one. Not that it's Kurama's place to say anything, when his own peace with death was viewed similarly, hypocritical as it may be.

“He is far too much like his father.” Kurama answers, reminded of the times Kuwabara insisted on fighting even with the odds stacked against him. The combination of traits did seem to set him up for a higher risk of burning himself out, they were lucky he was the only one to inherit the fire apparition's powers.

Kurama waits it out, as Hiei finishes his food before speaking again. He doesn't respond to the accusation, glancing away as if chastised or maybe genuinely hurt before steeling his expression, speaking once more.

“I’m asking you directly. You may find it hard to believe, but I am not trying to make things any more uncomfortable than they need to be.”

He's trying to meet him halfway, not the easiest task when his methods typically leaned into manipulation and indirect communication. Especially when Hiei's own habits favored half truths and deception. Perhaps he'd foolishly hoped that earlier had been a sign of progress, but it wouldn't be the first time he'd misread a situation, if that turns out to be the case.

Still, he's trying to demonstrate his intentions to do things on Hiei’s terms this time. There's a flicker of another expression, as if warring with himself before adding, tersely. “if your intention is for me to leave, say it.”

“Mn.” Hiei agrees easily enough that Kazuma Junior is much like his father. As much as Hiei complained and told Kazuma Senior that he had no right to leave him with so many beings to be responsible for in their last few conversations… Hiei was not a completely callous demon. As much as he liked to project such a thing, these days that idea here in the human world was a foregone conclusion. In the demon world.. well. Hiei was known to kill anyone that brought him tear gems as gifts, and though thankfully no one had even tried to riddle that one out, his ability for a decisive kill without warning was enough.

“It will be to his advantage if he decides to come to demon world at some point.” That and the knowledge of his powerful connections, his father the former King of Demon World along with those closest to him. As much as Hiei rolls his eyes and offers token complaint.. he appreciates his nephew’s tenacity. Recognizes himself in it, even, a little bit.

Kurama continues and Hiei has it within him to huff a laugh. A little bark more than anything else, slight disbelief at the redhead making this attempt at being direct and sincere. How many times before could they have genuinely used something like this? Before this had become the twisted mess that it had become.

“Giving the illusion of choice is not asking directly.” He knows you, Kurama. Even if this is his call, and he says he wants him to go, he knows better than to think that the redhead will actually be going anywhere.

“You only do what you intend or want to do.” A dismissive flick of a clawed hand follows.

“So do it. I can’t be bothered to pretend to have a choice or say in the matter anymore.”

Green eyes snap up, sharp and questioning at the laugh. The illusion of choice really drives home Hiei's opinion of his motives, the fox already set on edge by the perceived attempt to rush him off in the first place. He knew that they could have used better communication in the past, but it wasn't as if attempts to stonewall healthy relationship dynamics were one-sided then, either. There were things Hiei didn't want to hear as much as there had been those that the redhead didn't want to discuss.

All he could do was try better going forward, improve from here. He could not erase the past, no matter how much of it he may have that was worth changing if he could.

“What, exactly, are you implying I intend to do?” One direct answer was clearly too much to ask. Part of him couldn't blame the fire apparition, Kurama knew their history well enough to understand where he might be coming from, that the spirit fox treated everything more like an elaborate chess match to be played than offering any form of direct communication.

The rest of him was trying so hard to meet Hiei halfway with some semblance of honesty and clear intent, frustrated to be swatted at with every attempt so far and tense over this current fumble at offering him some agency in the matter. Aware that the fire demon probably knew little of the effort he was putting in now, and likely cared even less - at least, if all of his posturing could be believed.

The conversation about Kuwabara's son is forgotten as he steps fully into the room instead, a topic to revisit another time, maybe. It seemed as though what Hiei expected of him, with those words, was to leave. For one hollow moment it felt like trying to bridge the gap of understanding with a complete stranger. The sting all the more profound after what progress he'd thought they were making earlier.

If he was going to be accused of doing whatever he wanted, he would just give Hiei an idea of exactly what that was. Crossing the floor to where the fire apparition was with purpose, the fox practically growling out the rest as he closes the distance between them.

“You think you know what I want?” He'd said that before, made assumptions about Kurama's wants, especially pertaining to the rift the spirit fox had created between them by choosing to leave in the first place. A topic he'd so carefully talked around since his return, specifically to avoid influencing Hiei's decision in all of this, his wants hadn't been the point.

Kurama doesn't waste time waiting on an answer, fueled by the mix of frustration, confusion and anger tangled up in this entire exchange. Impulse overriding thought before he can second guess it, instead grabbing Hiei by the wrists and leaning in with a forceful kiss.

“Exactly what I said. You will do what you want and either bend the rest of us to accept it or simply expect it.” In this Hiei feels he is speaking from an exceptional amount of experience. After all, he hadn’t exactly been all that intent on changing their working relationship after the king’s tournament had been set and relative peace made their little ragtag team not exactly necessary. And yet Kurama had worked on him for years, upon reflection. As much as the fire demon tended to start on his back foot when it came to anything to do with emotions, he eventually caught on and caught up.

In this, though, Hiei is particularly sharp edged. After all, if he’d simply stone walled Kurama’s attempts at closeness and affection, he could have avoided this entire tumultuous situation. He is equally angry with Kurama as he is himself in these moments, still a dog with a bone on the fact that Kurama hadn’t wanted to stay before, so he certainly did not really want to now.

Who knew how long that trust would take to repair, or if it were even possible. If it is, Kurama may decide to give up before the work is done and Hiei could not necessarily blame him for making the decision.

The fire demon’s teeth bare as Kurama crosses the room at speed, unsure what is to follow but attempting to be prepared no matter what happened next. Maybe it would dispel some of the attention if Kurama finally attacked him, to put them back on some semblance of equal footing -

But attacking him isn’t what Kurama does. Not even close.

Hiei finds himself shocked as Kurama takes his wrist and pulls him in, the familiar touch of his lips equal parts sweet as painful in the moment.

His body moves with muscle memory alone, forearms bulging with tension before his hands move to meet Kurama’s arms as well, claws digging as his brows furrow. There’s an attempt at a sound, some kind of disgruntled disapproval of the fox invading his space before the more carnal parts of his hindbrain take over at the contact. He had missed this, after all. Well. Maybe not this specifically, but Kurama’s proximity, his scent that typically put him as ease.

This is different, of course. Hiei’s momentary freeze as he attempts to figure out where this is all going comes to an end all at once, a growl rising in the fire demon’s throat as he kisses back, teeth meeting skin as he decides to bite (a little, kind of gently) as his show of annoyance.

Hiei responds, but he doesn't acknowledge it, already set on his next action. While the fire apparition is speaking from an abundance of experience, it did leave one wondering why he'd permit as much leeway as he was, in putting up with Kurama's presence now. It had occurred to the fox - belatedly - that maybe he'd never wanted this in the first place, and certainly wouldn't again, but he isn't inclined to ask in the moment.

The redhead hadn't thought of it all those years ago. His little joke about not being interested in Hiei was before Yusuke - with more emotional intelligence than the two combined - had brought it up, changing the entire trajectory of their relationship for the both of them. Not that he regrets a moment of it, even if his former partner seems to regret every single one of them.

For Hiei, the obvious answer is that he's no prize and it made little sense for the spirit fox to even be interested, but by that logic he shouldn't have ever been Interested in the first place. The years of working through Hiei's barriers had to account for something, didn't they? Even if they didn't excuse his decision to leave despite it all, after so many decades. Still, it wasn't his style to give up on anything he was set after, the reward being worth the risks, whatever they may be.

He ignores the flash of teeth, attack being the farthest thing from his mind and - unaware it had even crossed the other's - certain he's gearing up to tell the redhead off more than anything. The fire apparition isn't the only one with conflicting feelings, another moment that he can file away as likely to never happen again for pushing too far too fast, ignoring what should be a clear set boundary between them. Just taking what he wanted conflicted with his typical habit of using patience to his advantage, but Hiei was - seemingly, intentionally - pushing at all the wrong buttons.

Kurama expected to strike a nerve, to piss him off so thoroughly the other demon pushed the fox away with vocal offense. In some shred of self-destructive inclination, that had been exactly what he was going for. The last thing he saw coming was reciprocation, especially considering how he'd gone about it. Kurama is not so gentle in response, teeth and claws from Hiei and he's channeling his frustration into the bite he returns for the fire demon's efforts, even if the sound that catches in his own throat isn't nearly aggressive enough to pass off as a growl, more surprise than anything.

Admittedly, Hiei had been intentionally pushing Kurama from the beginning. Had been prodding and stabbing at the other demon (emotionally instead of physically, for once) to push him away. To make it so that, maybe, he would think twice about wanting to pursue any type of relationship with him again and spare them both the discomfort of it all. The little fire demon was still unconvinced that either of them wanted this for anything more than a sense of familiarity, at the end of the day.

They had known one another for so long, prior to Kurama's death, it would make sense in its own way to simply go right back to what was familiar and comfortable for most. For Hiei he still wasn't quite sure how he felt about it at all, much less wrapped up in the rest of the complicated circumstances that made up their relationship in the first place.

To him, it hadn't seemed so complicated before, but that was then, he supposes. Time changed many things once it had the time to march onward.

Hiei doesn't make a sound of pain as Kurama bites back with less reserve, instead pushing back a sound as he presses forward, a motion to refuse to give in, to fight back even in some meek way. He can't admit to himself that the bite is getting a rise out of him in the most awkward of ways, considering their current situation. Pushing back with a low growl is better, he supposes, head angling ever so slightly so that he can be so bold as to attempt to press his tongue in to Kurama's mouth. They're already here, throwing gasoline on the fire so to speak, so he could not shy away and simply allow Kurama to get away with it so easily.

This is precisely why Hiei twists his arms, trying to wheedle away from the fox's grasp and wrap his fingers in the fabric of Kurama's shirt, some tangible way to keep hold of him as well.

Away isn't what he's getting, whether that's the intended outcome or not, Hiei's regular attempts at digging his claws in are easily dismissed after decades of watching just how much the fire apparition had suffered in his absence. The fox is growing increasingly frustrated with the bad faith dismissal of his intentions though, being told Hiei isn't interested was one thing, being told his own feelings or how he was going to conduct himself is another. Kurama isn't really interested in pursuing this time, either. Rather, he's trying to allow Hiei the freedom of following his lead instead, but it grows increasingly difficult with every attempt the fire apparition makes against his own interests just to spite the redhead.

Either way, he wasn't in it for comfort and falling back on old habits. Pointedly not manipulating a situation to his own advantage was harder than he'd ever admit, especially when Hiei refuses to acknowledge what he truly wants, even with something as small as a conversation like this. By now, anyone less patient would have given Hiei exactly what he claimed he wanted, pouring gasoline on this fire is going to prove a bigger mistake than the smaller demon realizes when it ultimately blows up. Whatever that will entail, it certainly wasn't out of ease or comfort.

Under other circumstances, perhaps later with a clearer head, the fox would marvel that even this can turn into a fight for control between them. The kiss was an action meant to punctuate his point more than anything else, it wasn't supposed to go anywhere or last any length of time. He expected it to be brief, to be shoved away with the venom of Hiei's previous assertions that he wanted no involvement in any of this, but his former partner seems to have other plans.

The fox is prepared for the growling, even the biting is well within his reasonable expectations. Really, he shouldn't be surprised by the fire demon rising to the act as if it is a challenge to be won, but he continues to be thrown every time more than an inch of leeway is given for his efforts, especially when it turns into more than he was actually intending in the first place. He can't imagine Hiei truly believed this was what he'd been going for.

Little unintentional reveals were easy for him to read between the lines, while the fire apparition would most certainly rise to a challenge, he wasn't the type to waste his energy on one that didn't interest him, which is what makes the following so telling. His breath catches as Hiei's tongue pushes past his lips, allowing him to dominate the kiss even as this simple act was enough to remind him that they shouldn't be doing this. A nagging gut feeling more than conscious thought, the voice of reason and self-preservation in the back of his mind unheeded for the moment as his grip on Hiei's arms loosens almost immediately when the fire apparition twists to get free. He isn't expecting him to grab at his shirt instead, but it might be safe to say the spirit fox isn't thinking at all, actually, for even letting this continue.

Despite being the one that had started it, in the first place.

If there is one thing outside of sheer force of will that Hiei excels at, it is shooting himself in the foot as often as possible. When it comes to trying not to burn the bridge between them permanently, that child so wounded by betrayal, unfortunately, wins out over any sort of level-headed decision-making that Hiei may have learned over the years with Kurama and the rest of Team Urameshi. Where emotions are concerned, he is painfully inexperienced and headstrong, to put it kindly.

Refusing to shrink to what he perceives as a challenge, even revealing himself in the process, falls under the same thought. He could not shrink from the challenge of Kurama coming so close as to kiss him, immediately on guard despite not knowing what exactly he was on guard about. Even Hiei knows that he is, at this point, incredibly touch-starved after nearly a century with Kurama, who he trusted enough to allow touch whenever and wherever. While he had not necessarily been a saint while the fox had been dead.. it wasn't the same. Not even close.

Kurama's breath catching as he presses forward feels like an incredible win for all of a moment in time - at least until he tugs on his shirt again, this time meeting the resistance of something below Kurama's shirt. All at once the reminder of that necklace, his hirui left for a person he thought he'd never see again who is now here, in front of him, on his breath again hits him like a brick wall.

Suddenly Hiei goes from being voracious for Kurama's attention to pushing him away, just barely pulling back in time for the shove to be forceful but not vicious in nature. Immediately his eyes move away, using his wrist to cover his mouth and somewhat unsuccessfully hide the pink in his cheeks that is equal parts embarrassment as it is stirred up want that has sat idle for half a century now if not longer.

As much as Kurama had encouraged him to go and do as he'd needed, even before he had been truly gone, Hiei was just not that type of demon.

A moment to regain his breath and the fire demon finds it within himself to issue orders, voice uneven but now sure, thrown off kilter and very much wanting to retreat for the time being.

"Leave."

It's Kurama's knowledge of this that makes it so easy for him to take charge in any number of decisions, manipulate the situation into a direction most favorable - hopefully for both of them. It is also the reason not doing so continues to be a struggle for him, despite his best intentions. Whether Hiei believes that's what they are, or not, is another matter.

He wasn't thinking about any of that, and really this might have been his first mistake. Not thinking about how likely this was to blow up in both their faces for not sticking to the plan. The redhead hasn't touched anyone himself, in those fifty years. Not that it came even close to the same, when he'd been previously able to spend centuries on his own.

Kurama shouldn't have touched him in the first place, and he certainly shouldn't have let it go so far. He hadn't meant to. What comes next occurs before he can even register the cause. One second, Hiei is pulling at him again, as if determined to get closer, and the next shoving him away. It takes him a moment to recognize the sensation of the tug for what it is, so caught up in the present, rather than the incident earlier. The cord on his neck, which the fire apparition must have forgotten about since that reveal, or so he assumes.

Hiei covers his mouth, and the shock of having the rug pulled out from under him by the sudden 180 fades from transparent wounded surprise to the faintest smile when realization sinks in.

Of course.

The fox is already pushing himself to his feet by the time he's commanded to leave, turning to do just that without another word.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Kurahi Catch-All: Unspoken Thing

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