Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Bugs ❯ Bugs-Chapter 2 ( Chapter 2 )

A/N-blah blah...don't own...blah blah...R&R

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Tying the sash of his purple, silk robe tightly around his waist, Kurama slipped out of the bedroom to find his mother. He was nervous. Shiori knew about his relationship with Hiei. She had known for some time, and had accepted it. Still, he could not wash her shocked, almost stricken look from his mind. Pausing in the hallway, he heard sounds from downstairs. Silently, he crept through the hallway and down the steps. Before he reached the bottom, he saw his mother in the living room. She seemed to be lost for something to do.

Shiori wandered around the living room aimlessly. She was wide awake, and couldn't go back to bed. She also didn't want to wake anyone else up. So she meandered around, straightening pillows, refolding the blanket on the back of the chair, and performing other mindless tasks like that. She wasn't angry at what she had seen. She was embarrassed. She knew her son and Hiei were lovers. She had known since they had first gotten together. She smiled slightly at the memory. She had gone to her son's apartment at noon, to take him out to lunch. When there was no answer to her knocking, she used her key to let herself in. After calling his name a few times, he had finally emerged from his bedroom, looking disheveled and barely awake. Her son never allowed anyone to see him in less than his perfect, well-groomed best. When she realized Hiei had been in the bedroom as well, she knew what had happened. Shuuichi had admitted as much to her when she asked. It was just.....seeing them together with her own eyes was completely different. She realized that her son was grown up. He had a house, a lover, everything that adults have, but he was her son! He was her little boy! How was she supposed to let go of him? She was wondering about all of this, with tears starting in her eyes, when she heard a soft voice behind her.

"Mother?" Kurama asked, so softly he wasn't sure if she had heard him. He wasn't sure he wanted her to hear him. Part of him just wanted to go hide in the laundry room and hope when he came out this would all have been a nightmare. When Shiori tensed her shoulders, he knew she had heard. Slowly, she turned to face him. Kurama saw the tears starting to well up in here eyes, and immediately blamed himself. "Mother, I'm....I'm sorry." Shiori looked at him with a bewildered expression on her face. "Shuuichi, why are you apologizing?" she whispered. "Because I didn't want to make you cry. I never want to hurt you." he whispered back. "Oh, Sweetheart! That's not why I am crying! I know you and Hiei are together. You have been for awhile now. I was just...um, stunned. Yes, stunned to find you two so...intimate. Knowing it's happening and seeing it are different. But don't apologize! I should apologize. I'm sorry for walking in on you like that."

Sitting, unseen, in the shadows of the recessed hallway above, Hiei smiled. He knew this ningen was different than the others. Every time she spoke to Kurama, she impressed him more. He saw her as a mother figure now. She was the only mother figure he had ever known. He knew the two would work out whatever had just happened. It would all end with a few tears, a hug, a soft `I love you', and then life would move on. Other humans would never comprehend the power of a little patience, and a little understanding. Silently, he continued to watch the conversation.

Kurama motioned his mother to sit on the couch, and then took a seat near her. "So, why are you crying then, Mother?" he asked gently. Shiori smiled before she continued. "I was thinking of you." Kurama winced, he knew he was the cause of his mother's tears. "I was thinking of how you're growing up. You have this beautiful house, you have Hiei. You don't really need me anymore. Not like you used to. But, I can't help it. Whenever I look at you, I see my baby. I, just, seeing....um, yeah well, I realize now that my baby is all grown up." Kurama smiled. "I will always need you, Mother, no matter how `grown up' I may be." Shiori smiled as a few tears leaked out of her eyes. Drawing her son into an embrace, she whispered, "I love you, my son." "I love you, Mother" Kurama replied, wrapping his arms around her. In the hallway, red eyes watched with satisfaction.

"Shuuichi?" Shiori queried, after finally breaking the embrace. "I have a question, but it's awkward for me to ask it. I don't mean to pry, but I'm curious." Kurama just eyed his mother suspiciously. Her curiosity was to be feared. "I noticed you were on the, um, on the...." "Top?" he finished for her. "Yes. I just assumed that since you are so soft spoken, and Hiei is so brusque, that he would be the, um...." "Seme?" he again concluded. Shiori blushed ferociously, and nodded. Kurama just smiled, and replied. "I am usually seme. We both prefer it that way. There are times that Hiei takes control. He has a soft side. No one ever gets to see it, but it is there. It's surprising sometimes, even to me, how gentle and loving he can be. And I know you can hear every word of this, Hiei, so why don't you stop skulking in the shadows and come down here and join us?" The last was said without raising his voice, or redirecting it at all, as if it were part of his conversation with his mother. At first she was confused by the comment, but in a matter of seconds, the fire demon in question was standing beside Shiori, staring off to his left, attempting (and failing) to suppress the blush rising on his cheeks.

"Join us, Hiei." Kurama repeated. Hiei moved to sit in the chair opposite the couch, but Shiori quickly stood. "Hiei, you can take my seat, I'll take the chair." Hiei just looked at the human as if she were crazy, what did it matter where he sat? Kurama reached out and took Hiei's hand, pulling him to the sofa to sit down. "It's Mother's way of telling us she's not upset by our proximity." "Hn." was the only response, as the hiyoukai sank to a sitting position next to his lover. In actuality, Hiei was grateful for the switch. He enjoyed cuddling his fox, especially after they made love. The interruption had prevented that, and he wanted nothing more than to take the kitsune into his arms, and snuggle away. Of course, the ningen would have to go first.

Shiori looked at the couple on the couch with a misty expression. "You seem so platonic most of the time. Whenever I have seen you two together, you've both been so reserved, almost distant. I have done my share of wondering what your relationship is like." At this, both demons blushed, and turned their faces from each other. Shiori chuckled at the display. "I know, it's none of my.....Shuuichi, what IS that on your neck?" When Kurama had averted his head ot his right, the left side of his neck had become exposed, and his mother could not help but notice the large, purple welt there. Startled and confused, Kurama looked at her, raising a hand to determine what it was she had seen. He had not yet seen the damage, and had actually completely forgotten about it with the recent events. Hiei knew exactly what she had seen, and smiled to himself.

"That would be my fault, Shiori." he admitted softly. Inside, he was thrilled. He liked to leave little marks on his fox. Most of these would fade away to nothing by the morning, and no one would ever see them. He had gotten a bit carried away this night, and having someone actually see his mark gave him a sense of pride and possession. Shiori just rose and approached. With her left hand she gently grasped her son's chin and turned it to the side to get a better look at his neck.

"Your fault?" she asked in a shocked voice, believing the mark to be a bruise. Upon closer inspection, she realized that it was actually a very intense hickey. With another blush, she retreated back to her chair. "Oh, I see." Kurama just looked between his mother, embarrassed again, and his lover, who was almost glowing with pride for some unknown reason. Touching his neck again, wondering what the fuss was about, he finally rose and went to the small downstairs bathroom to examine it himself.

After her son had left the room, Shiori took a moment to ask Hiei a few questions in private. "Hiei, I know you and Shuuichi love each other. I have seen that love grow over time. I need to know if you are both happy with your arrangement." Hiei looked at her, somewhat baffled by this question. "Yes. Kurama is happy, and so am I. Why do you ask?" Shiori took a moment to compose her response. "My son has always been very affectionate. He likes to cuddle and hug. Even as a small child, he wanted to be held and snuggled practically all the time. I see the two of you together, and I sometimes wonder if you share that closeness. You seem so, how can I describe it? You seem detached from each other. I don't know how you act when you are alone. I just want my son to be happy. I want you both to be happy."

Hiei considered this for a few moments, before a startled voice from the bathroom broke into his musing. "Hiei! What did you do?" Kurama stalked back into the living room with a strange look on his face. "What were you thinking! That'll leave a mark for a week!" the kitsune raged softly. Hiei was on the verge of guilt, when he finally placed the odd look Kurama had. The fox was trying not to laugh, and trying to hide his amusement with mock anger. Feeling like playing, Hiei baited his mate back. "That's what you get, Fox, for your little stunt in the restaurant." Shiori watched the exchange, uncertain of what was about to happen. Her son sounded angry, but she knew he was not given to bursts of rage. (She had never seen him fight.) Hiei's tone sounded teasing, but his eyes sparkled. She decided to wait and watch.

Kurama narrowed his eyes at his lover. "My little stunt? What about your own actions?" Hiei's lips creased into the tiniest of smiles. The two stood perfectly still, regarding each other predatorily for a moment. When the movement occurred, Shiori had to shake her head slightly. She had seen some blurs, but that was it. Suddenly, her son was crouched on the couch where Hiei had been, as if he had just pounced. Hiei was nowhere to be seen.

"Too slow, Fox." a taunting voice carried from upstairs. Shiori turned in amazement, to find Hiei perched on the wooden railing along the upstairs hallway. The human raised her hand to her mouth, both in worry and in awe. Had Hiei been human, she would have feared for his safety, standing on the thin railing up so high. Shiori had to remind herself that this boyish figure was actually a demon, and had abilities she knew nothing of. This train of thought led her to wonder about her son again. Although she knew his spirit was demon, his body was human. She should know, she bore it herself. She had not mentioned it to him, but her son's resemblance to his late father left no doubt as the lineage of his human form. Although she knew Hiei would never intentionally harm his mate, she hoped the demon did accidentally not hurt her son with these games. Her fears turned to awe as she watched her son practically fly up the stairs, leap off the left side railing, adjacent to the one Hiei was on, and vault over to the demon's perch.

Again the fire demon seemed to blur, but this time the fox spirit blurred as well. When Hiei appeared right next to Shiori, looking up at where he thought Kurama would be, both demon and human were surprised to see arms wrap around the hiyoukai from behind. "Gotcha." Kurama whispered to his lover.

Hiei smirked. "Do you?" In a swift movement, Hiei rolled both their forms to the ground, pinning Kurama. Kurama, rather than struggle against Hiei's hold, rolled with it, toppling the fire demon with the momentum of his own attack. The two continued their grappling for a few minutes, until finally they came to rest, disheveled and breathing heavily, with Kurama on his back on the ground, and Hiei on top of him, molded to his lithe body, grasping the fox's wrists above his head. Somehow, amazingly enough, they had managed to keep their robes on, and closed enough to preserve their modesty in front of Shiori.

"Do you yield?" Hiei whispered, his face inches from that of his fox. "Never." Kurama whispered back. "Hn." Hiei grunted, as he lowered his face to the kitsune's neck. Licking and nuzzling gently, and using his warm breath, the hiyoukai began to torture his fox. "Hiei...aha.. stop it...ahaha, that...haha... tickles!" Kurama squirmed as his mate continued to tease him. Finally Hiei drew back.

"Do you yield?" Hiei asked again, the twinkle in his eyes promising more tickle torture. Kurama sighed. "Only to you, Love. And only for now." Smiling, the fire demon rose to his feet, and offered his hand to his beloved. Kurama reached out and grasped Hiei's wrist, allowing the smaller demon to pull him to a standing position.

"NOT!" the kitsune cried softly. With a sudden movement, Kurama spun, landing in a seated position of the sofa, pulling the startled youkai into his lap. Wrapping his arms around the petite form, Kurama whispered, "It's a draw." before squeezing his mate in a warm embrace. "A draw it is." Hiei acquiesced, returning the hug, with an added snuggle. "But you cheated, Fox. You used slang. I've never heard you say `not' like that before." Smiling, and snuggling back, Kurama simply replied, "All's fair in love and war."

Shiori watched the two before her with wide eyes. It seemed they now felt comfortable enough in front of her to drop their facade. She saw her son's face, and the happiness there filled her heart. She had nothing to worry about. It seemed Hiei knew exactly what her son needed. Smiling, she rose to return to bed.

"Mother? Are we embarrassing you?" Kurama asked softly, as he watched his mother's retreating form. Shiori turned to the two intertwined forms, smiling, and shaking her head. Before she could reply, however, the sound of a door opening upstairs interrupted the moment.

"What's all the noise down there? Are you guys having a party or something? I want to be invited, too!" Shuuichi-kun's voice reverberated loudly through the house. Quickly, Kurama and Hiei detached and sat next to each other. Mere seconds later, the boy came bounding down the stairs to join the group in the living room. "What's up?" he asked, wide awake and ready to stay that way.

"Shuu-kun, keep your voice down, it's late." came Hatanaka's deeper voice, as he emerged from the room he and Shiori were sharing. "Well, it seems everyone is still up anyway." he continued, as he descended the stairs to enter the living room. "As long as we are all awake, let's do something." he suggested.

"Yeah!" Shuuichi-kun agreed eagerly. "Shuuichi, you have that new samurai movie on dvd, don't you? Let's watch that! Do you have any popcorn? What about soda?" Shuuichi-kun continued his barrage of questions, not really interested in the answers, just excited that his father was letting him stay up so late. It was summer vacation, after all. Realizing that any more `quality time' was out for the evening, Kurama sighed and arose to fetch the dvd in question. With an apologetic glance at Hiei, he started trying to fit answers in between Shuuichi-kun's endless string of questions.

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A/N-Thank you to my reviewers:

Feathers-Forlorn

scorcha

zpluto8