Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Reflections of the Past ❯ Surprise Gifts ( Chapter 1 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Author's Note: This is the next part after Fighting Darkness. I decided to make this one a bit lighter than the previous ones. (Is this update quick enough for you, Tabi? Haha...I seem to recall you saying I write too fast! ^_^ ) Forgot to do this in the last story, so I'm doing it now. I just wanted to thank all of you who have continued reading and reviewing. I really appreciate it! For those of you who have followed this story line, I'm trying to decide on a name for the series. Any suggestions? It's becoming a bit difficult to keep them all in order....lol. Thanks again, and please continue reviewing! Each review leads to further updates!
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Kurama groaned as sunlight streamed across his face. He rolled onto his stomach and buried his head under his pillow. Didn't the sun realize that it was just too early to be waking someone who hadn't gotten even two hours worth of sleep?
No, obviously not, and neither did whoever was banging so inconsiderately on the front door. He threw off the pillow and sat up, vainly hoping his uninvited guest would take the hint and leave. Unfortunately, the banging continued, now followed by a grating voice.
"Kurama! Are you there?" Kuwabara shouted loud enough for Kurama to hear him all the way upstairs.
"No," he whispered, dropping his head into the palms of his hands.
"KURAMA!"
Kurama sighed heavily. Why couldn't he be left alone? Was asking for a few hours sleep really all that much? He didn't think so.
"KURAMA!"
Kurama winced, head beginning to throb in time to the pounding on his front door.
"Would you like em to kill him?" came a soft voice from the corner of his room.
Kurama wearily raised his head to find Hiei watching him, crimson eyes glittering with amusement. He frowned, eyebrows furrowing.
"Don't say another word," Kurama hissed.
Hiei chuckled and stood. He slowly removed the covering from his jagan and closed his eyes. The eye glowed faintly for a moment and the pounding stopped. Hiei sighed and rewound the ward around his forehead.
"What did you do?" Kurama asked, words tinged with open suspicion.
"I made the Idiot go away. Happy, now?" Hiei asked, glancing sideways at Kurama,
"Thank you. Do you know what he wanted?"
"He was probably anxious to invite you on his little camping trip. He was saying something about it to Yusuke a few days ago."
"God, and that was important enough to come here so early?" Kurama asked, falling back on the bed.
He jerked up suddenly, "Why are you here, Hiei? How did you get in?"
Hiei smirked and glanced away as he answered, "When have you ever locked your window, kitsune?"
Kurama opened his mouth to reply but Hiei interrupted, "I came to.... Do you want to come to Makai with me? There is something I would like to show you."
"What?" Kurama asked, startled by Hiei's admission.
"I found something.... last night after you and the others had gone home. I didn't know what to do with it. I thought to take it to Youko but he has moved on to another of his lairs. You could find him, right?"
"Whoa, wait a minute. What did you find?"
A look of distaste appeared on Hiei's face. He crossed his arms over his chest, irritation clearly written in his jerky movements.
"I saved a kitsune child from several hungry demons."
"A child?" Kurama repeated, startled.
"Yes, a child, and now that child won't leave me alone. The kid followed me, and I was forced to take him to the mansion."
"You have a child?" Kurama began to giggle and clamped hands over his mouth as Hiei whirled to face him.
"Are you laughing at me?" Hiei demanded, a dangerous edge to his voice.
"No!" Kurama denied, shaking his head.
Hiei swore and a hand drifted down to his sword's hilt. Kurama couldn't help it. He laughed, hard.
"Don't try to threaten me, Hiei. I know you won't kill me."
"Maybe I'll just hurt you?"
Kurama sobered immediately, not wanting to tempt Hiei into any act of violence that would cause himself pain. He sighed and rolled gracefully off the bed, tugging his shirt off as he slipped into the bathroom. He quietly shut the door and finished stripping.
Sleep was definitely out of the question, he thought regretfully before climbing in the shower.

Hiei wasn't kidding. It really was a fox, Kurama thought, seeing the small fur ball shivering in the corner of the room. He knelt beside it and held out his hand to gently run fingers down one of the little ears sticking out.
"Don't be afraid, little one. I won't harm you."
The little fox uncurled from its ball and looked up at Kurama with startling lavender eyes. The fox quickly looked to Hiei and leapt for him. Hiei caught the ball of fur and held it away from himself.
"It wasn't a fox when I found it."
"When frightened, kitsunes often take their fox forms," Kurama explained and held his arms out for the fox.
Hiei eagerly handed his small bundle over and stepped back. Kurama rubbed the fox's head comfortingly and bent down to whisper in one of its trembling ears.
"Change, little one, I would like to see you. We won't harm you."
The fox shifted until a small child lay in Kurama's arms. He planted a quick kiss on the child's forehead and glanced at Hiei.
"This child is no more than five years old."
"Where do you think its parents are?" Hiei asked.
"They wouldn't have abandoned him. Kitsunes form tight families. Very few separate from their group."
Kurama stood, hefting the child onto his hip.
"You were a loner."
"Yes, but that's different. My family was slaughtered. I grew up alone. This little one would never have been left behind."
Kurama glanced down at the child and asked softly, "Do you know what happened to your parents?"
"Bad men took them away..." the child whispered, eyes watering with tears.
"Bad men? What did they look like?"
"Big," the child began to cry.
"What's your name, kid?" Hiei asked.
"Remy."
"It's okay, Remy. We'll find your parents."
Kurama closed his eyes and sought out his other half.
~~Youko, where are you?~~
~~Draagon Territory. Why are you in Makai? Miss me already?~~ Youko asked smugly.
~~Actually, Hiei and I have a gift for you. We're on our way.~~
Kurama grinned at the confusion he had caused. Youko didn't seem to trust them when it came to gifts. But, considering what the "gift" was, Youko was wise not to trust them.
"Come, Hiei. Youko is waiting for us," Kurama said mischievously.
Hiei's eyes widened. That look.... He actually felt slightly bad for the Youko.