Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Bugs ❯ Bugs - Chapter 6 ( Chapter 6 )

A/N-don't own `em , shonen ai.

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As the morning sun peeked in through the window, Kurama threw his cleaning rag into the pail of water and looked around him. The house was almost back to normal. He and Hiei had been up the entire night cleaning their once beautiful home. There were still stains on the living room rug; they would need to rent a steam cleaner for those. The kitchen was finally recognizable. The refrigerator was gone though. As the two were lifting it upright, the door had fallen off, and they had noticed the large crack along the inside of it. They had taken it outside for the trash men to collect, along with all of the food that could not be salvaged. Now, the fox wanted to take a long, hot shower, and sleep until he felt like waking up.

The previous night had gotten worse, not better. After the boys had told the story of what had happened to the Hatanakas, Shiori had insisted on calling their parents over to tell it to them as well, using the logic that if her son came home from a friend's house in this condition, with no explanation from the friend's parents, she'd be livid. So she had called both boys' folks, who immediately came over.

At the sight of the destruction the party had wrought, the parents had started firing off question after question. Everyone seemed satisfied with the answers Kurama had provided, except his stepfather. Kazuya had continued to glare at him. Even when the two boys gave the fox a hug, and thanked him for saving them from the bathroom and throwing out the bullies, and the parents thanked him as well, Hatanaka just stared, an icy expression on his face.

After all the guests had left, Shiori took Shuuichi-kun upstairs to tuck him in, and Hatanaka approached the kitsune. "They may hero-worship you, but I am very disappointed. You let things get out of control. Where the hell were you? Oh, wait, let me guess. You and your demon lover were upstairs getting it on, right? You would leave children unattended to satisfy your lust. You're sick, Shuuichi."

Kurama snapped. "I'm sick? I left them unattended? You never leave Shuu-kun alone in your house? You and Mother, your wife, never have private moments when he is either downstairs or asleep? Who the hell are you to criticize us? Maybe if you left us alone for five minutes, we wouldn't have to sneak away, in our own house, mind you, for a moment of privacy." he said coldly. Kazuya turned to his stepson, hand raised to strike. Only a black blur resulting in Hiei standing before him stilled his arm.

Hiei said nothing. The power of his glare was much more effective than words. Still seething, Hatanaka stormed off to the bedroom, leaving the two demons to continue their cleanup efforts through the night.

Finally, around eight in the morning, Kurama and Hiei put away the last of the cleaning supplies. "We'll have to rent a steamer, and get a new refrigerator today." Kurama said tiredly.

"Hn."

"Yeah, that's about how I feel about it. I just want to get myself cleaned up and sleep." the kitsune said.

"Can I help?" Hiei asked seductively. Kurama smiled at him.

"Sure, but I reserve the right to fall asleep on you." he replied.

"Understandable." The two had just reached the bottom of the stairs, ready to ascend, when the door to Shiori and Kazuya's room opened. Hatanaka stalked out. He looked down over the bannister to the ground floor, and saw the two demons there.

"Good, you're awake. We need to get an early start today." he said brusquely.

"Hatanaka-san, we have not yet been to sleep. We are going to..." Kurama started, but was cut off.

"That's your own damn fault. Now get dressed. We need to go get a new refrigerator, and do something about that carpet in the living room. We also need to replace all the food that was spoiled. This is going to be expensive, and we need time to shop around for the best deal." the human said.

""Really, Hiei and I can take care of that. Please, you three should go about your busine.." the fox tried to say.

"You and Hiei can take care of it? I've seen how you take care of things, thank you very much. If I want this done right, I'll do it."

"Then go ahead an do it, we're going to sleep." Hiei said spitefully.

"Not so fast. It's your house, I can't be expected to do everything for you." the human snipped. "Now get dressed, we're leaving in ten minutes."

In their bedroom, Kurama dragged on some clothing, eying the bed longingly. Seeing his mate's expression, Hiei wrapped his arms around the fox's waist. "Two more days, Fox. Today, and tomorrow. They'll leave tomorrow, and we'll be alone." he murmured, nuzzling into the red head's strong chest.

"I know, Love. I just...it was never like this when I Iived at their house. He never treated me like this until..."

"Until he found out about me." Hiei finished for him.

"No." Kurama corrected. "Until he found out about me. None of this is your fault, Hiei. And the hate of one paranoid human is a small price to pay to be with you, Love." Kurama drew Hiei's face closer to his, and pressed his lips to those of the fire demon.

"Come on, you two! Time's up!" a deep voice yelled from downstairs. Breaking their kiss, the two looked at each other.

"Tomorrow." Hiei whispered. They turned and walked downstairs.

-

"So, this one is in sale, but that one is not." Hatanaka said.

"Yes, sir." said the sales girl.

They were in the fourth appliance store since lunch, the sixth one total. Hatanaka had insisted on finding a `good deal'. on the new refrigerator. Kurama had not seen any he liked yet. Hiei left the decision up to his fox. Shiori was tired, and Shuu-kun was getting rammy.

"So, what other ones are on sale?" Hatanaka asked. The sales girl began to point out certain models.

"What do you think, Fox?" Hiei asked his mate softly.

"I think he should butt out, since we are paying for it." Kurama answered testily.

"I mean, do you see any you like?" Hiei continued.

"I stopped looking three stores ago." Kurama replied. The fox's mood was understandable. His human body required sleep on a daily basis, and he had not had any. Couple that with the party, the threat to his life, and the tense family situation; Hiei was amazed the fox wasn't on a killing spree already.

"Just look around a bit." the hiyoukai prompted. With a deep sigh, Kurama did just that. He was wandering among the refrigerators when he saw one he did like. It was a side by side model, as opposed to their old refrigerator, which had the freezer on top.

"Hiei, do you think this one would look nice in our kitchen?" he asked his lover.

"It's the right size, and the right color. What is this thing?" Hiei asked, pointing at a depression in the freezer door.

"It's an automatic ice dispenser." Kurama replied, opening the doors to look inside. It was roomy and had adjustable shelves. The ticket described as self-defrosting, stain resistant, and easy to clean. With a nod, Kurama finally said, "I like it. And, look, the freezer is next to the fridge part. You'll be able to reach your sweet sno..."

"Ice cream." Hiei corrected quickly. Kurama smiled the first true smile he had all day at this.

Hiei turned to the sales girl. "How much?" he asked.

"Oh, that's the deluxe model. It's..." she started.

"Not on sale. I think we'll take this one." Hatanaka interjected, indicating a smaller, no frills model.

"I like this one much better." Kurama argued.

"This one is a better price." Hatanaka said sternly.

"But it isn't what I want." Kurama replied.

Before the argument could continue, Hiei looked at the salesgirl. "That one. My kitchen. Today." he said, pointing at the one Kurama liked, and pulling out a pouch of money. "How much?" The girl wrote up the sale, and Hiei paid in full, in cash. Turning to the human, he simply said, "Matter closed. Let's go." and walked out of the store.

The group then went to the vacuum department and rented a steam cleaner to take care of the living room rug. Hatanaka remained silent throughout the rest of the trip. Once they got home, Kurama began steaming the rug as Hiei pushed the furniture out of the way. Just before the rug was finished, the delivery men showed up with the much debated refrigerator. Finally, all was replaced, restored, and cleaned to its original glory. The group returned the steamer, and stopped for groceries on the way home. It was very late, so they also got take out for dinner.

Once everything was put into the now cold fridge, the family sat down to a quiet meal together. It was indeed quiet. No one seemed to be speaking to each other. Shiori and Shuu-kun tried to make conversation, but no one was in the mood.

Finally the shrill ring of the telephone cut through the stiff silence. Kurama answered, and turned his attention to his stepfather. "It's for you, Hatanaka-san." The older man arose, and took the call.

Several minutes later, he returned to the table with a highly perturbed look on his face. He turned to his wife. "That was the exterminator. He went back to the house to check and make sure the chemicals had cleared up enough for us to go home tomorrow. When he got there, he found more roaches than ever. The treatment didn't work. He needs to respray a stronger mix, and we can't go back for a week. I'll start calling hotels in the morning." Shiori just closed her eyes and bit her lower lip.

The rules of etiquette in some cultures are very well defined, and very strict. Even if it's the last thing a person wants to do, they are obligated to observe these standards. Kurama was raised this way. He looked at Hiei, an unspoken question in his green eyes. The fire demon just nodded. Swallowing his bite of dinner, Kurama cleared his throat.

"Nonsense." he said, forcing as much hospitality into his voice as possible. "We are your hosts, and we cannot allow you to leave our home until your own is ready for you. You will, of course, stay with us."

Now Hatanaka was confronted with the same quandary. Etiquette dictated his response as well. Not to be outdone by his stepson's perfect manners, he replied, "Thank you, Shuuichi, Hiei. We will stay here."

Shiori looked between the two of them for a few moments before she finally spoke. "If we are staying here, then there are a few things we need to establish. First of all, we are guests. No more butting into Shuuichi and Hiei's business. Second of all, we will be going out from time to time when you two may wish to stay at home. I have a key, so we may be back late. Third of all, we are a family, let's all at least try to act like one for once!"

Hatanaka was the first to respond. "You're right, Honey." Turning to his stepson, he continued. "I'm sorry about the whole refrigerator ordeal. It's your house, it's your choice. It is nicer than the one I was looking at. And I apologize for my reaction to the party incident yesterday. I was shaken up."

Kurama nodded. The family continued eating, this time with conversation. Although they kept the conversation light, a few words could not change the tense atmosphere that had developed over the past four days.

When dinner was finished, Kurama began to clear the plates. "You all go on to bed, I'll finish cleaning this up." he said in an effort to be left alone for just a few minutes.

"I'll help." Shuu-kun volunteered, seeing the opportunity to finally speak to his brother alone and ask a few questions that had been plaguing him during his stay here. The rest of the family got up to leave, but Hatanaka gave Kurama a look. It was not a mean look, nor was it threatening. It was the same `watch what you say to him' look that the man had given him on their very first night in the Minamino house. With a sense of Deja vu, Kurama began to clear the dishes with the help of his stepbrother.

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A/N-yes, it's loaded with filler, but so are most meat products. Anyway, the next chapter is written, I just need to check it and post it, both of which I am too tired to do tonight. I promise it is longer and far more substantive. By the way, if you think I beat the refrigerator issue into the ground, I was using it to show how tense things were getting; they'll quabble over anything at this point. Everyone has reached their limit, and they're all ready to explode.

Thank you to my reviewers:

Mea

Hana_Tenshi

fire and napalm

Ma-zoku

Hieis Shadow

And also a huge thank you to everyone who had trouble reviewing and either e-mailed me, or came back to review later. Thank you for putting in the extra effort to reach me instead of just forgetting about me. I really appreciate it!