南野 秀一, Minamino Shūichi / 蔵くら馬ま Kurama (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
sinningtree) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
genkaitemple2024-03-08 01:20 pm
sinningtree) wrote in genkaitemple2024-03-08 01:20 pm
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.
when the person who gave you the most memories
becomes a memory.
how odd it is
to be
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
Defrosting
Kurama has always been one to prepare for every outcome, and over time that included Hiei's appearance in Human World, factoring in his need for appropriate attire when the occasion called for it. After all, he couldn't wear the same black cloak every single time someone saw him without raising some form of suspicion.
Still, an eventuality he had not been prepared for - not yet, at any rate - was the fire apparition arriving unannounced at his hotel. An oversight that might seem silly at the moment, considering his current situation. Hiei can probably read the confusion at his frown, Kurama trying to parse out exactly what he was missing as the fire demon attempts to work out how to ask for what he actually wants.
The tug of his hair combined with upward tilt is indication enough, thankfully - the redhead leaning in easily to answer said request. The fox responding with his typical sly smile as food and change of clothes are both seemingly forgotten in favor of bending forward for the kiss.
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Hiei, of course, had argued that having his own wardrobe was unnecessary. How many times did he arrive in the human world for anything other than to stay with Kurama for a few days? To him, having anything like a couple choices for “fashion” seemed unnecessary when in his mind he was only there to see Kurama anyway. Particularly when the issue of finding something to fit him came around.
All of it is a subject for another time as Hiei finally effectively requests what he wants, and receives the kiss he’s wanted. Not before witnessing Kurama’s little sly smile of course, but he will forgive it for the moment.
Only a moment, though, as he takes a moment after they’ve separated again to grouse at the redhead lowly -
“Why do you look so smug?” The fire demon can’t help himself or that petulant little frown, tugging slightly on Kurama’s hair in retaliation. It isn’t a rough tug for once, not looking to ruin the mood between them over that smile just yet.
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Hiei's grumpy retort only serves to widen the fox's smile, “Am I not allowed to smile now?” He sounds too amused to properly portray wounded, even with the hair tug. An increasing habit of the fire apparition's, that he won't admit to also finding humorous, especially considering that sometimes it could actually hurt.
“I'm just happy to see you, that's all.”
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Contrary to Hiei's usual grumping about being dressed any certain way in the human world, he'd put at least some effort into his choice prior to arriving. Bringing a second set of clothes had been one step too far, of course, but that's something to deal with in the morning. Hiei has no concept of a walk of shame, nor would he entertain anything like shame at the thought of it. There is a certain advantage to lacking the knowledge of certain human conventions that comes from being 'raised' basically feral in the demon woods as Hiei had.
"You know exactly what I mean." Hiei glowers at Kurama as if he's just insulted him even though that is far from what is occurring. The fox's amusement at him never ceases making Hiei suspicious and annoyed, even if he knows that he logically will not get much of an answer out of his partner. Even as Kurama says he is happy to see him Hiei is suspicious, fingers running more gently through that lock of Kurama's hair before he lets him go.
"Mn. And yet you choose to keep coming to these.." Hiei pauses, nose scrunching slightly as he thinks of the word for it. "... meetings."
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He straightens up once released, seeming to consider a response before Hiei continues. “Do I?” The retort is playful, an unbothered smile evident before it falls, short-lived, at the fire apparition's following words.
“It is part of my job...” The response is hesitant, cautious as he watches Hiei curiously. “Conferences have nothing to do with my capacity to enjoy your company, you must realize that.”
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Hiei has never bothered to visit, when Kurama has been away, before. He had started all of this on some notion that he wouldn't have the feeling of missing him in the first place, one that had quickly been proven wrong. The issue then had been making himself come to terms with it, for better or worse. So he'd decided to simply throw caution to the wind and go - surely the fox would have told him to go away if he hadn't wanted him there with him for the evening.
The fire demon's face, though, changes into something of a pout as Kurama goes on about being a part of his job. Of course, he knows - and Kurama must know by now how he feels about Kurama and his insistence on this charade in the human world. However, this time he is thinking much more simplistically in that he wants more of the redhead's attention.
"But they take your time." Away from him goes without saying with that guilty tip of his head, his lip nearly pouting outward. All at once Hiei seems to think better of standing there and pouting anymore, tugging instead at Kurama's jacket.
"What do they have here for food?"
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“Yes, they do that, don't they?” His response is somewhere between a sigh and a laugh at just how serious this whole conversation was for seemingly no reason. “We all have our obligations.”
By the time the fire apparition asks about the food he's practically resigned himself to not changing. Instead pulling out his phone and navigating to the room service menu, before offering it to Hiei to look through as he spoke. There might be a physical menu around somewhere but he hadn't exactly bothered to look for it in advance when the phone was an easier option for him.
“There is a night menu if you're hungry later, as well. I wasn't planning to leave again but I could always get something from the convenience store for now, if you'd rather.”
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Thankfully Hiei is easily distracted by the subject of food. The little demon moves to perch on Kurama's bed as he looks through, easily balancing on the balls of his feet as he hunches over the phone to look at what the hotel has to offer. The menu leaves him a bit spoiled for choice, even for Hiei, and so it takes a little while for him to acknowledge Kurama's note about the night menu being available.
Red eyes finally flicker to the spirit fox as he says something about the convenience store, head tipping slightly in contemplation.
"Didn't you want to change?" And then, off-handedly: "I assumed you would be tired and the delivery would be better."
Yes, Hiei also loved convenience store food, but there was very little on the menu here that did not seem appetizing to him in one way or another. He's soon muttering lowly to himself as he sees the late dinner option, appreciatively.
"Tantanmen..."
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Unlike Hiei, who has to rest and recharge frequently, the fox's increase in power over the years has resulted in needing even less sleep with age. It seems almost a waste of time to spend it faking a normal human sleep schedule rather than being productive in some way, so he simply doesn't. He also doesn't get tired from something as simple as human conferences.
“Tired? From sitting around all day?” He might sound a little indignant at the implication, actually, despite the way his tone is laced with amusement on top of it.
His smirk only widens at the fire demon's follow up mutterings over the tantanmen. The spirit fox might have figured his companion would want to eat sooner, but he'd been in no particular rush, himself. “I'm sure we can get some later, if you'd like... you know, we don't need to get dinner right away if you'd rather wait a few hours.”
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"I don't know what these things entail." Hiei flicks the hand not holding Kurama's phone dismissively, turning to give him a little, chastising stare. He had suspected that there was nothing very physical about these kinds of things, but what does he know about human life and jobs? At any rate, he's soon back to staring at the menu, scrolling as it looks it over. All of it seems fine, if he's honest.
"If you're hungry now I can eat." Hiei shrugs. Of course the fire demon can always eat, and even if he's just eaten, he will make space. It's simple, really. He is here to see Kurama, so he'll adhere to the fox's schedule if that's what makes it easier.
The fire demon offers back the phone after another moment of looking. "Everything looks fine. You know I'm not picky. If you'd rather go and get something else then we know there are options." Hiei is available to eat anything, any time after all.
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Kurama does not point out that he'd asked Hiei if he wanted food, and only mentioned needing to get dinner eventually when asked about the rest of his day. At this point it just seems smarter to get it over with anyway, the apparent miscommunication easy enough to gloss over and move past. When Hiei offers the phone back, the spirit fox skims the list briefly before picking up the hotel phone to put through the order, making sure to add the tantanmen that the fire apparition seemed most interested in. By now he probably knew exactly what Hiei would order by heart anyway, but it never hurt to check.
Once the order is put in and he hangs up the phone again, Kurama moves to find something more comfortable to change into while they wait, speaking as he sorts through his clothes. “I hope you're not too hungry, it will be some time before it's ready.”
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“Mn. I remember being able to go with little sleep..” In a way he sort of misses it, but on the hand that prefers having power, he regrets nothing. In his younger years before the Jagan he had been able to be a near constant terror, and that had afforded him much in the way of physical strength. Losing it all to the Jagan, and then needing to sleep much more often had been an adjustment to say the least.
He wouldn’t change his choice, though, despite all of it.
Kurama sorts through his clothes to change and Hiei makes himself more comfortable, settling on the mattress fully and removing the wind breaker he’d thrown on last minute. Being a fire demon he didn’t need it for warmth, but it was a convenient way to cover the dragon on his arm.
Red eyes watch the fox as he goes about changing, humming a low sound about their wait time.
“I won’t starve. But the tantanmen won’t survive more than five minutes after it arrives.” He hadn’t thought to maybe grab a snack on his way, more focused on making sure he was at the right place than anything else.
Once Kurama has changed, Hiei puts out a hand, bidding him to come closer. It’s taken who knows how much effort from Kurama to make Hiei comfortable enough to bid him closer specifically for affection, and even now Hiei looks shy in his silent askance, but here he is anyway.
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His eyebrows raise when Hiei says he won't starve, response laced with humor as he continues going about his business. “Five minutes does sound generous.”
Kurama finishes changing before moving to brush a kiss to the fire demon's temple, retrieving the discarded wind breaker to hang it up. It's not a meal, but he did at least bring some snacks with him to the hotel, which he pulls out on his way back to the bed. Offering the bag to Hiei, expression alight with amusement as he settles on the mattress with him finally.
“It'll be a few hours, you may not want to wait that long.”
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"Don't you have enough of an advantage over them, without the not needing to sleep bit added in?" Considering he's the boss' stepson, and all. Hiei's head tips a little though the smirk that follows is undeniably amused instead of concerned. Leave it to the youko to excel in things, even when he really didn't have to expend that kind of effort at all so far, as Hiei could see it.
The fire apparition watches curiously as Kurama goes from kissing his temple to moving away again to hang up his discarded windbreaker, a frown crossing his features as he does so. It's all purely in his own interest of course - he didn't want the fox to move away when he wanted him closer, the needy creature that Kurama had made him with all of his attention and affection. He is at least somewhat forgiven when the snacks make their way back to him, as Hiei is all too happy to dig in to the bag as soon as it meets his always starving little hands.
"A few hours?" So his knowledge of ordering food it never took quite that long to receive an order, so forgive him if he looks a little perturbed, Kurama.
"Do they have to catch and slaughter the pig for the dish?"
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For the most part, Kurama is fairly oblivious to how needy the fire apparition had apparently become. Efforts towards affection and unexpected appearances are still a pleasant surprise rather than an expectation of Hiei's habits. He is aware that this is all very new to the younger demon, seemingly adjusting to the concepts begrudgingly rather than wholeheartedly. Reciprocation had never truly been part of his plan, which meant frequent adjustments as things developed in that direction. Not that he's complaining.
Like making a point of giving him a quick kiss in acknowledgement before hanging up the jacket, so moving away didn't feel like a rejection of the fire demon's subtle request. Still, at this stage he's certain the offer of food would rank higher than his affection, failing to conceal the smile as Hiei digs into the bag for something to buy them a little time before food arrives.
“Well, you didn't exactly give me an order. Since the only thing you showed any interest in was the late menu... that does mean waiting until the food is available. While I'm sure I could have requested they split the orders up, you didn't seem to be in too much of a rush and I most certainly am not.”
In other words, this is your own fault for leaving it up to him, Hiei.
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"That sounds annoying and exhausting." But then again with a face like Hiei's that hides exactly nothing about his disgust for anything and everything, what could he possibly hope to hide? He stretches the very limits of his ability to balance anything with something as simple as a day out in the human world eating at Yusuke's ramen stand and visiting. The concept of acting correctly and fitting in is, quite simply, a chore for him, but one he follows through on for the benefit of others around him.
The fire demon simply shoots the redhead a look as he goes on about his explanation about their food order. It reeks of Kurama being a little shit about something, and he knows the fox well enough to see that for what it is, whether he's digging into a snack bag or not.
"You are insufferable." But fine, noted, he will simply say he needs at least two meals, one for now and one for later next time. Despite Kurama being annoying, though, he reaches out again, though this time he makes his demand more clear.
"Come here."
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The shift as the fire apparition deems him insufferable catches him off-guard. At least, typically he knows the reason behind such accusations, especially considering how often it was prompted by something intentional on his part, teasing to get a rise out of him or putting a hard truth Hiei's avoiding into words. He barely has time to work out what obvious offense he's committed before he's thrown off again by the change, not only beckoning him closer but putting words to it.
He decides not to press the matter of just what he did to earn Hiei's ire this time, shifting closer on the bed now that the focus isn't entirely on dinner and snacks, as ordered. The concept of the fire demon voicing these requests is still new enough that he never really sees them coming, but the last thing he wants to do is discourage the tentative efforts, so he settles in against him without questioning it.
Instead, deflecting with a hint of tease in his tone, "I do hope you'll leave something in that bag for me."
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Hiei accepts that answer easily enough, grunting lowly that, yes, he understands. He'd almost given up his limbs, after all.
The fire demon of course has no concept of the conflict he's causing within Kurama. He has very little concept of what he causes for other people on a regular basis, much less someone he spends such intimate time with like this. It's all such unprecedented territory for the little fire apparition. In his own way, it's a form of teasing, anyway, as if he was truly annoyed at him he wouldn't be so eager for his attention. Even their time away from one another for Kurama's business trips was not, generally, enough to make Hiei pine for the fox's attention like this.
But the more time they spend together... the more time he wants. It's a vicious cycle, really. Hiei had gone from cursing himself for wanting Kurama's attention to, quite simply, giving up on things like pretending he doesn't want it. So instead he demands, humming a pleased little noise as Kurama settles in next to him.
He moves to nuzzle in before Kurama says something about saving some of the bag for him. Then red eyes go wide for a moment, looking down to the already 2/3 demolished bag, and then back to the fox before he passes the bag over.
"Here, then."
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“I would have packed something more to your liking if I had known you were coming.” Yes, the fire demon will eat practically anything without much thought, but the fox is aware that when it comes down to preference their tastes are very different. Knowing Hiei's appetite, he also would have thought to buy more, but that's another story.
The redhead sets his acquired snacks on the bedside table for later before moving closer once more with a content hum. “What do you suppose we should do with all this time before the food arrives? Maybe a movie, I'm sure you didn't come all this way to listen to me talk for hours...”
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Hiei is learning.. slowly but surely. Much of what he knows that Kurama likes, or expects, comes from things like this. The mention of sharing reminds him that here in the human world he doesn't really need to eat so quickly or clutch things so tightly to his chest. The fox's calm acceptance of his perceived misstep soothes something that he didn't know had even been riled, if he's honest, though the fire demon will leave the bag of snacks alone from here on out.
"You know I'm not picky." Everything in the human world is novel and delicious compared to some of the things he has been offered in the demon world. He eats them all the same, but not with the same over-zealous attention that he gives things like shrimp chips or bowls of ramen.
The fire apparition reaches out to curl a lock of red hair around a clawed finger as he thinks over the options Kurama offers, humming lowly as he thinks, stroking his fingers through long hair again. "I could nap, if you wanted to watch a movie."
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“There is a difference between tolerable and enjoyable.” He counters pointedly. Of course he would think in those terms though, where Hiei's lack of pickiness typically meant he'd appreciate just about anything offered to him, Kurama treated food more as a necessity that didn't warrant being overly particular. Except where it came to snacks and sweets, of course.
“Have you ever considered what might be a favorite, if you put some thought into it?” He had to have some preference, after all.
“I do have some work to get to, if you just feel like napping.” He could also join him, but that was another matter entirely. He could always get to the work he had later if Hiei wasn't staying long, after all. The fox smiles faintly as Hiei toys with a strand of hair, sometimes reminded just how far they'd come since all of this began. The smaller demon both showing and requesting these little signs of affection, completely unprompted.
Amusement still light in his tone with the next question, Kurama shifts closer before he continues, “How long were you intending to stay, exactly?”
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Hiei, for once, has put some thought in to this. He will take anything offered to him, of course, without much thought about it since it’s better than scavenging or having to dress and cook his own hunts, but.. the fire apparition nods that he has considered his favorites. It’s just that he looks a bit shy about sharing them, like he’s anticipating that this will come at a cost (like Yusuke ripping on him as he tends to like to do) for him somehow.
“The variety packs of senbei are good. Especially the shrimp and miso flavors .. the fried nori chips.. the strawberry taiyaki and those little .. chocolate sticks with the wafers..” Kit Kats. He means Kit Kats. Like that special bag of the double matcha he plowed through not all that long ago.
Long story short : yes, he has favorites and preferences on snacks, and they are either very savory or almost purely sugar.
The fire apparition’s expression quickly turns in to a frown as Kurama says he could work while he napped, clearly unhappy with the thought of it. Look, if he is here at a random human world hotel and they are together, Kurama going back to work is not exactly charming to him.
“You work enough. You can’t even take a nap with me?”
His mood sours further as Kurama asks how long he intends to stay, taking the combination of working while he is sleeping and the question of his stay one after another as an indication that his presence is a disruption, maybe even unwanted right now. Hiei’s hand drops from the fox’s hair, careful about his expression but tone, as always, unmanaged.
“I’ll go after we eat.”
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“It is a work conference, I will have to work eventually, you know. When I suggested a movie you didn't seem to take issue with that, and you nap while I work often enough that I did not believe it would be a problem.”
While he understands that Hiei is clearly offended, he's not exactly certain just what had upset him. Nothing he'd said was out of the ordinary, as far as he can tell. Yet, even as the fire apparition tries to mask his expression, the surrounding behavior is indication enough that some vulnerability was triggered. Still, the wording itself suggests leaving after the meal wasn't exactly in his expectations for the night, originally.
Kurama is, in this context, not used to asking for things. It had not been his intention to ask anything of Hiei from the start. Directly requesting he stay didn't fit into the way the fox was approaching this. The plan was only accepting affection when it was offered and allowing the fire apparition to retreat on his own terms. If he really wanted to leave after dinner, the fox didn't exactly want to press for him to stay later.
“Was that the plan?” Knowing Hiei, there wasn't typically much of one in the first place, so asking is a bit of a wager, but he did have obligations to return to in demon world. The redhead's uncertainty is likely evident as he watches for the response, despite his efforts not to seem hurt by the thought Hiei was leaving so soon.
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With zero other context on how relationships work, Hiei isn’t on very solid ground with all of this to begin with. To him it seems like a slight of course, but with Hiei’s tenuous grasp on how this goes to begin with.. well. It doesn’t take much for Hiei to feel as though he’s misunderstood or over stepped.
Kurama has no context over his past to know the how or the why he is so sensitive either, which does them both a disservice. Every time there is a perceived screw up, though… he feels as though there’s one more count against him until Kurama doesn’t want to put up with him anymore.
But he also feels hesitant to simply ask for the contact. Or simply cannot fathom how to explain that he mostly wants the soft comfort of Kurama’s presence and contact more than anything else. It takes him a moment to respond when Kurama asks him if the plan had been to leave after dinner, hesitant to confirm considering.
“No. I was thinking I would go once you were doing your … meetings.” He guesses they’re meetings? Hell if Hiei knew what humans did at these things.
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To be fair, this is new to both of them. It isn't as if Kurama was well versed in human courting and even though Hiei is definitely not human, the fox's entire approach to things has been from a relatively human concept of dating. Focused entirely on warmth, comfort and support, the things Hiei was coming to rely on and want more of over time, and seemed - from this end, at least - to have no issue asking for when the mood did strike him to do so.
It was a uniquely vulnerable situation for both of them, although for completely different reasons. If only they'd talked about any of those things, it might actually be easier to navigate along the way.
“After breakfast, then.” Not exactly a question, as if that was enough to resolve everything. Sure, Hiei, leave after the food. In the morning. A brilliant plan, actually.
Kurama pushes himself to sit up a bit more on the bed, glancing at the time before he speaks, hoping to make his intentions more clear when he turns back to the fire apparition. “I could stay right here and work while you nap... and then after dinner you'll have my undivided attention for the rest of the night. Or- I could nap with you now, and have to take a break at some point later, to do a bit of work.”
Hiei truly does not grasp how much control he has over the situation, how much is left up to him to decide. How Kurama at least tries to give him agency in the direction and speed of things between them, assuming he will in time grow impatient enough with this human lifestyle to stop tolerating the delicate back and forth it requires between them.
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