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

code

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ TUG ] trying to get ready for the day, pulled back into bed

Light filtering through the window was the first indication that morning had come. Before the alarm went off, before any signs of life from Hiei - stretched out on the mattress between him and said window. The older he got, the harder it became to fake that full 8 hours that humans were expected to sleep a night. Not that he'd ever been particularly good at it, even as a child, but demon power made human life a challenge in many ways. The fire apparition seemed to sleep enough for both of them, largely due to the sacrifices he's made in the name of his own power over the years. Kurama was not complaining, the fact he undoubtedly required that sleep left Hiei more prone to relaxing with company that was inclined to wake at the slightest disturbance, after all, so it worked in his favor.

It was - ultimately - how Kurama had convinced him to start sleeping with him in the first place, no doubt. Actually sleeping, despite what their other teammates might choose to believe. Affection had been his first priority in this, finding ways to establish those things that the fire demon had been missing for so long, demonstrating that he was wanted and loved. Building up trust before even attempting anything else, it wasn't as if sex was ever a high priority of his, even now.

Green eyes closed again as he settled back down against the bed, intent on resting until his alarm did go off to start the day, or Hiei roused him, whichever came first. Of course, it wasn't long before the former won out, the fox twisting to shut it off at the first sound without extracting himself entirely from the entanglement of fire demon and sheets.

At first, Hiei had fully taken sleeping next to (or in the general proximity of) Kurama as an excuse to actually sleep deeply. It hadn't occurred to him that this was a way of Kurama getting him used to his presence, a slow progression to the little demon being sprawled across Kurama's mattress, sleeping deeply and peacefully for once. He's found with time that he barely even dreams when he sleeps in the human world on this familiar mattress that smells of the two of them versus his quarters at Mukuro's compound.

In his usual way Hiei doesn't think much or deeply about that fact, he just knows that there are annoying things like work and alarm clocks where Kurama is concerned.

Human life where he couldn't even sleep in when he wanted? Perish the thought.

The fire demon predictably growls lowly as the alarm goes off, squinting against the peek of sunlight in the youko's windows as he too rolls over. From sprawled between Kurama and the windows to quickly curling against the redhead's back, little, sword-roughed hands splaying against Kurama's skin as he exerts a little force to keep him in place. Hiei's forehead meets Kurama's back, Jagan closed and ward done away with before sleep as he mumbles out a request.

" 'Rama... Stay here."

Kurama had noticed over time that Hiei seemed to relax around him. That the fire apparition quietly fell asleep during his visits, while the fox worked. It had been simple enough to test the waters over time, ensuring Hiei's comfort with him before getting to this point. By now, even he had an easier time sleeping in Hiei's presence, or at least with the scent of him nearby.

The redhead paused when he felt Hiei press to his back, offering a light hum in apparent amusement as he leaned just far enough to switch the alarm off, glancing over his shoulder while he moved back into place at the sleepy request. "Good morning... Sleep well?"

Hiei makes a grouchy little noise as the fox wishes him good morning - thought that isn’t all that uncommon. The little fire apparition is in no way a morning person, or at the very least is not very personable for the first few moments after he’s awakened.

By all rights Hiei sleeps much more than the average demon - he knows that Kurama lingers in bed and doesn’t get up sometimes more for his benefit than his own. It’s.. nice, though. To have a companion that he trusts with his safety while he rests.

The Jagan and the Dragon were a large draw on his energy even simply existing in the human world, and he rarely had time to do more than catch a cat nap while in the demon world.

“I don’t want to get up yet.” Clearly, as he presses a gentle nuzzle to the fox’s back. Hiei is at his least guarded in these moments - affectionate, even.

“Stay here.”

Hiei is right that he often stays in bed longer for his sake. Kurama is a morning person, especially now with years of gardening as a human, decades of lived experience with school and work. The fire apparition needing more sleep than him is nothing new, only growing more pronounced with age, but waking up to him there made it worth that much more to the spirit fox. Of course, the redhead finds the grumpy morning greeting absolutely endearing regardless, but he also benefits when Hiei is at his most comfortable, guard down and relaxed. Kurama sighs softly, slow and relaxed like a stretch before smiling to himself as he rests a hand over Hiei’s holding him there, seeming to truly consider his answer before responding.

"As you wish." It is partially a tease as much as an agreement - as if he was only doing so by request. The fire apparition would no doubt be used to the fox making a bit of a performance out of relenting to stay with him there a bit longer. He settles onto the bed once more with his back to Hiei where he's nuzzled there.

"I suppose a shower and breakfast can wait for a little while."

He’s grown used to this in their days together. Kurama’s little show of thinking about staying with him or not - though the vast majority of the time the redhead gives in and stays with him. For a little while longer, at the very least.

“You smell fine.” Of course Hiei wouldn’t oppose breakfast, but he doesn’t quite want to relinquish Kurama’s presence just yet.

He’ll pull away after a moment, but only enough to readjust himself so that he can nuzzle in to Kurama’s neck and chest instead. He’s still barely awake, as evidenced by all of his nuzzling and quiet little sounds of contentment.

“How can you be hungry just waking up anyway?”

A surprised laugh leaves him at the assurance he smells fine, turning as the fire demon moves to accommodate the new position with a hum. “Well, I'm relieved you think so, since you're the one stuck with me.”

Hiei nuzzles into neck and he lifts a hand to his hair idly, moving the sheet back into place with the free one. “It's just... routine. Humans get up and have breakfast before work or school- and foxes hunt at sunrise. Don't tell me that means you're not tempted by the thought of breakfast in bed, sometime...”

“Mn. And I thought you’d say something like my standards are different.” Hiei… well. He often showed up to what was now their space caked in mud, dirt, blood and whatever else, often catching the fox’s ire for it. Or at the very least his insistence that he get in to the bath tub or shower right away.

The fire apparition might even give a hint of a self pleased little smile against Kurama’s neck as he feels the fox sink his fingers in to his hair. If he were truly a cat he would more than likely be purring right now.

Breakfast in bed does sound good, though. Hiei hums a little affirmative, though he still prefers when Kurama stays here with him, like this.

“You’re going to have to not use that alarm, then.” If he wanted any chance of actually getting out of bed that is.

“I could have pointed it out, if you'd prefer...” It comes out almost hesitant, as if afraid the jest would create an argument between them, but even the caution is performative more than anything, Testing a reaction, the tease of his tone hanging in the air like bait.

Fingers thread through Hiei's hair as if soothing him back to sleep, smiling faintly at the little hum. The fire apparition's words give him pause, though, taking a moment to respond. “Oh? What makes you so sure of that?”

“Don’t ruin it.” Hiei as he is now more than likely would not have picked a fight. He is far too warm and sleepy still, rooted in against Kurama’s skin and clinging to him like a little leech.

Never in his life would Hiei have thought that they’d have this. That he would one day wake up in a bed next to Kurama and consider it normal or anything close to that. And yet here he is, giving the redhead’s skin a little nip in retribution, as if he should know the why without explanation.

“Because if it wakes me up I’m not going to want to let you out of bed.”

“You did bring it up.” He doesn't even bother trying to conceal the quiet laugh at Hiei's response. The fox was behaving until the fire apparition said it out loud, after all.

Kurama would not have expected this, himself, if he wasn't seeing it with his own eyes. Of course, he'd been working towards it all along, but there was no real way to know in advance how far he'd get with the younger demon's prickly nature and preference for demon world.

The nip earns him an amused hum, pausing when Hiei's reasoning is revealed before grinning softly. “I suppose I will simply have to be quiet then. Although... You do know I'll be joining you, right?”

While he didn't expect Hiei to know most human customs without explanation, Kurama isn't sure if he really needs to point out that he'll be coming back to bed once breakfast is made.

“Mn -“ That may make things a little different for him, actually. If only because the allowance would be for food, in the end, Hiei may be able to allow Kurama to go without all of the fuss.

Or maybe just less fuss - he isn’t quite sure yet.

“- that makes it a little different. But still.” Hiei roots in a little more to the fox’s skin, sighing softly.

“I don’t like to let you go so early.”

He can practically hear the fire demon considering that option more seriously, covering a grin when Hiei confirms that he may actually relent under those circumstances.

“Still…” The fox repeats in a teasing tone, practically unable to help himself. The redhead shifts to switch their positions and box Hiei between his arms on the mattress instead, without bothering to conceal his amusement as green eyes meet red.

“I seem to recall a time when you were a morning person.” Before being spoiled by human beds and warm affection, at least.

He's found that he quite likes his time with Kurama where there is no one other than them. Yes, that has always somewhat been his preference as Yusuke and Kuwabara tended to not only be loud but also tend to revel in riling him. Kurama did the same, from time to time, but in Hiei's opinion, it was less obvious and obnoxious than their teenage counterparts. Sometimes. The fox also knew all of the most direct ways under his skin, particularly the targets far more subtle than his height or something to do with his sister.

The fire apparition doesn't fight Kurama rolling them over, though he does raise a brow in question at not only the change in position but Kurama's lead-in.

"I also used to sleep less soundly." More like cat naps in Kurama's window sill, or half naps in a tree somewhere off in the woods where there weren't many human voices constantly bouncing off his eardrums.

So, really - "It's your own fault. You're the one that insisted I start sleeping indoors and in a bed."

It still surprises him, how much time Hiei has come to spend here. Kurama expected a fair number of challenges to make this work, and the most obvious one had been the fire demon's preference for his home world. Not that he was complaining for having more time instead of less with him, just that I had taken some adjustment.

“That is true...” He only grins at the accusation, making a point of sounding entirely put upon despite it. “To think, if I hadn't, we wouldn't have these mornings together. Even you must admit that it's far more comfortable this way.” It is his fault, and he looks rather pleased about it, actually. So, you're welcome, Hiei.

Hiei did more often than not prefer the demon world. He missed the smell when he was gone too long, along with the fact that it was just.. home. The human world was easy and gentle, by comparison, and while he didn't dislike that fact, at times the ability to languish at all hours pushed him toward boredom. In the demon world it wasn't really all about the random slaying for him anymore, but there were responsibilities now.

Mukuro relied on him for different tasks to be done, and his opinion was asked from time to time on how to handle things like border incursions or how to handle a particularly rowdy group in the city. Small matters comparatively, but big enough for Mukuro's right hand to be considered.

Hiei hums as he considers his answer, balancing that very pleased expression on the fox's face. The fire demon leans up to nip at Kurama's lips as a playful rebuttal to how pleased he is outwardly.

"Mn. It is a slower morning than when I am with Mukuro. You don't need to be so damn smug about it, though."

Kurama suspected that Hiei would be too restless to stay long. They both had their own lives and jobs to worry about, and it wasn't as if the fire apparition kept his preference for his homeworld much of a secret. The spirit fox was used to life entangled with humans, having lived well before the barrier was ever put in place and free to come and go with the rest of them, even before his second life as a human child. He did not equate the scent to home or any sense of comfort, it was merely part of the package in his earlier search for power.

He blinks at the nip as if caught completely off guard by it, green eyes wide and pouting slightly with that retort. He was just trying to enjoy a lazy morning, after all.

“Who's being smug?” The response is playfully wounded, he knows exactly what he's doing, but he's still going to play up that initial offense, leaning forward to retaliate with his own nip against Hiei's jaw before burying his nose into his neck, instead.

“Kurama-” There is maybe even a laugh behind Hiei’s use of the fox’s name. Only here and very select closed spaces with very close comrades does Hiei behave like this. But even then the fox gets something different, sword worn hands taking his turn to bury in thick red locks.

It’s perhaps a dangerous move, considering all that Kurama keeps tucked in his hair, but here he is anyway. Always toeing the line of danger even when he maybe does not need to.

A nuzzle to the side of his head follows, Hiei shifting under him playfully as if he intends to reverse their positions again.

“You don’t mean to tell me that you have no pride in yourself at all for your role in this?”

“Mm-?” As if he can't possibly know what Hiei is getting at, grinning into his neck despite himself with the laugh in the other demon's tone. He's not too worried about hands in his hair, knowing his energy was required to activate any of the plants stored there - and also that he'd taken a great deal out before bed the previous night. Which was all beside the fact that he also knew by now, how much he enjoyed it.

Almost instinctively, Kurama's weight shifts, tensing slightly as if to resist the move, before relaxing again. He's not actually all that interested in fighting for the position if Hiei does choose to roll them over again, but even a lazy morning isn't enough to dull that competitive impulse entirely, playful as it might be at the moment. For now, he settles on nipping at the fire apparition's skin instead, more teeth than lip this time as Hiei continues to question him.

“Perhaps..." There is definitely a bit of pride. He nuzzles into Hiei's shoulder next with a faint smirk, still carefully propped on his elbows there as he relents finally. “Maybe a little. Can you truly blame me, with such company?”

Hiei makes a quiet noise in the back of his throat as Kurama's teeth meet his skin. He's grown used to it with much time and patience, his body's instinct to tense had been an obstacle to overcome at first, but Kurama's usual patience had won out in the end. Thankfully.

The fire apparition hadn't really known what he'd been missing with such close and warm interaction, Kurama's affection, and their ability to (mostly) joke so openly with one another without much in the way of hard feelings. All of it had been hard-earned with time and much affection on Kurama's part, only recently returned in semi-comfort by Hiei himself. He is still learning, and clumsy as a result, but he tries. Hiei does so desperately want to return the affection, the little gestures he now realizes were gestures as he looks back on them. So much had gone right over his head in the early days.

"Mn. For once I'll give in and say you have a right to it." As much as he told him not to be smug, he knows the fox deserves the credit. At least a little bit.

"I'm sure it was a great little game of catch for you at the time."

While the desire to openly give such affection had been born of his feelings for the Hiei, the spirit fox had not truly expected much in the way of reciprocation. It had started off almost amusing in a way, how the fire demon had responded in all of his uncertainty before really warming up to it. The little ways that attention had clumsily been returned had actually confused him initially, although whether Hiei noticed that surprise was another matter entirely. Not that the fox took any time at all to adjust to the welcome change, taking it for what it was as things developed over time.

The warmth at the suggestion he's earned that pride is short-lived. As Hiei's additional comment manages to confuse the redhead completely, leaving him momentarily dumbstruck in the following silence hanging between them. After a moment, Kurama pulls back to regard the fire apparition, thinking it over before responding. He's not sure what to do with that, or how to take it, really.

“A game? You can't truly believe that's what it was.” It's meant as a question, but the delivery is almost flat with how the assertion blindsides him, attempting to understand where exactly Hiei is coming from before truly reacting to it.

Hiei almost looks.. unsure, for a moment, as Kurama pulls back to really look at him. He was, and still is, quite certain that there is very little reason that Kurama would have started this out of a certain fondness for him. They worked well together and usually got along very well, but it still makes very little sense to him for Kurama's affections to lie with him. Despite everything that he had gained through sheer force of will Hiei is still... well.

He's still a forbidden child with not all that much to offer as far as he's concerned.

"In the beginning, maybe." Hiei's shoulders shrug, as if to say that it isn't that big of a deal if it was a game to begin with. It is not now, he doesn't think, and that's truly where it all matters so far as the fire demon is concerned. Hiei's hand lifts to thread through Kurama's hair, gentle this time instead of his usual tugging and general roughness.

"I wouldn't blame you."

The fire apparition's uncertainty leaves him hesitant. In his life, Kurama never did like to rush things or make assumptions without all of the information and there's something in Hiei's body language that suggests his reasoning has more to do with himself than any perceived notion about the fox's motivations.

Insecurity was such an odd thing to see with Hiei, not that he lacks it by any stretch, but that where and when it comes out over the years could sometimes catch the redhead by surprise. This was no different, considering their otherwise peaceful morning up until this moment.

While the history of being cast out looms over him and how he navigates the world, Kurama has simply never viewed him that way. His status with a race of apparitions who chose to isolate themselves from the rest of society never meant anything to him except in regards to how he continues to keep that wall up between himself and Yukina.

The fox remains silent, staying still there a moment longer as fingers thread through his hair before leaning in once more to bury his nose against the fire apparition's neck rather than attempting a response.

Hiei isn't quite sure how to take Kurama's silence. Whether it was that the fox was agreeing with his assessment or insulted wasn't very clear to him and.. if he's honest, it makes him a little nervous. The sudden pall over their warm, cuddly morning isn't something that he can miss, of course, and he struggles to figure out how he can reverse it, or at least attempt to steer them back toward something like what he had just somehow stomped all over with his assertion.

The best thing he can think to do is nuzzle in to the fox's head, hand reaching to bury in his bright hair.

Red eyes stare out at the opposite wall, blinking as he debates how to proceed, whether Kurama is upset or not.

Hiei nuzzles in again, a bit harder to catch his attention, he hopes. A little motion to make sure that he has the other man's attention instead of maybe being lost in his own mind. He doesn't really know what the hell he's doing here, stepping on to some very slippery and possibly thin ice so far as he can tell -

"I didn't mean to... ruin your mood."

Kurama smiles faintly as Hiei nuzzles in, gripping red hair as the fire apparition tries to sort out just how to approach things. He rolls to drop onto the mattress beside him instead, nudging his shoulder lightly now that he's no longer pressed into his neck. He doesn't seem at all concerned with whether or not the motion tugs at his hair in the process. When the fox does respond, his tone is light, pleasant as ever.

“You didn't.”

It's a lie, probably quite obviously, but the reason wasn't something he could admit to. That initial offense at Hiei's words was hardly fair to begin with, it would seem. As well known as the spirit fox was for enjoying puzzles and challenges, cracking codes, it was no wonder the fire apparition interpreted things that way, and it had made it easier and more enjoyable for him, even if it wasn't exactly his true motivation.

The realization that Hiei was speaking from his own self worth and not a jab at Kurama's behavior had come when he didn't double down in his accusation that the redhead was merely using it as entertainment. Which aligned far more with his expectations in the way the fire demon normally approached similar in the past, unwavering in his certainty of Kurama's intentions.

Instead the I wouldn't blame you wasn't the reassurance it was likely intended to be. Where there should have been a sense of relief that he wasn't being viewed through some twisted lens, ignoring his more human side, he'd felt something closer to dread. A cold shock to the system that in reality, Hiei couldn't fathom the idea of being wanted for any other reason. Now here he is trying to soothe the fox's mood, when he should be the one reassuring him. Clearly, he's just going to have to try harder.

“I just hadn't realized.”

Domestic Fluff - Tug

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