With all my talk of yaoi, I’ve never written a one shot Kurama/Hiei fic ::sweatdrop:: Sure, I’ve read a LOT of them and am working on a crossover (Mixed Greetings which is a Yuu Yuu Hakusho/Fushigi Yuugi/Flame of Recca fic...) that might include some Kurama/Hiei in the future, but I’ve never tried a fluffy fic for the couple. In other words, if this is screwed up I’m really sorry ^^;;; Please forgive me!! Anyway, I don’t own the characters. They belong to Togashi-sama ^_- Ok...this just includes some light shounen-ai...Yes, and this fic is a bit strange. First of all, it is 2:25am now. Secondly, I wrote this while listening to Gundam Wing music ::sweatdrop:: I hope you enjoy this anyway!!! Oh, and my apologies to Chrissie! I swear, I am going to write that Kurama/Hiei songfic, but I couldn’t come up with a decent plot last night. However, I guess you deserve some credit for this fic...after all, pondering the song is what gave me this idea ^_- Enjoy, Minna-san!!!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Another Night Christina Ortega =-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Kurama rubbed his eyes wearily as he wrote out a sequence of mathematical equations on his homework before letting his head fall onto his folded arms above the desk in his room. His mind was warring between the incredible urge to sleep and an even greater will to sob. Gazing out of the open window on the other side of the room, Kurama sighed softly as a gust of cold air pushed its way in. It was a dark night...11:55pm...and he felt utterly alone; almost vulnerable in a way. Shivering as more of the freezing air entered his room, Kurama buried his face deeper into his arms and suddenly found himself not caring about how cold he felt. The loneliness made his physical discomfort feel like nothing. Why couldn’t he concentrate on anything anymore? His brain felt scrambled, and as far as Kurama knew, there was nothing he could do to right himself. Even Shiori had become worried about him after he had departed to his room that night without eating. In fact, he hadn’t eaten dinner several nights in a row that week. What was wrong with him? The half-youko suddenly had the intense desire to be held. He was so cold...and the chills running down his spine, he knew, were not all caused by the wind. Why did he feel this way? It made no sense. Was he getting sick? That would explain why he always felt as if a freezing dagger was stabbing his back. It would also explain why he hadn’t been eating and why he had been feeling so tired lately. Illness, however, would not account for his will to be held, and that was what he wanted now more than anything in the world. Why did his heart feel colder than his body? Maybe it was the utter feeling of rejection that was causing him this pain. He smiled mockingly at himself. Kurama hadn’t truly been turned down, but he might as well have. Out of all the people that both Kurama and Minamino Shuuichi came in contact with, he had to choose to fall in love with his best friend...an emotionless fire demon who had made it quite clear that he had no intention of returning his feelings. Youko Kurama would have shrugged off the emotional let down and moved on to another possible partner, but his human form was reeling. At first, he had truly only felt friendship for the fire demon. After all, both being demons who had worked together in the past, the two were bonded by their pasts. Now, however, Kurama found himself wanting to hold the smaller form in his arms; he found himself willing to do anything to dull the pain that had come to Hiei during his lifetime. Whenever he tried to push his way past the Jaganshi’s barrier, however, Kurama was greeted with an annoyed snort or a terse cut off. The fox would always smile at the reaction, but inside he knew how deeply it hurt to be pushed away. Allowing his heavy eyelids to fall, Kurama let out a deep sigh as he scooted forward at his desk as if hoping that the dull light from his desk lamp would help to warm not only his body but his soul as well. He shivered softly as a weak smile graced his lips. “Hiei...” Kurama breathed quietly before letting himself drift into a troubled slumber. *** Hiei had been watching the half-youko for almost and hour from the tree outside of his room. Usually, Kurama would sense his youki and invite him in (a gesture that Hiei never gave in to except on rare occasions) but tonight was different. It was almost as if he hadn’t sensed his presence. Hiei figured that the fox was too caught up with his ningen studies to have noticed him. It was all a bunch of nonsense to the fire demon, but if Kurama wanted to spend his time with a bunch of stupid humans learning stuff that he could probably figure out on his own then who was Hiei to stop him? The Jaganshi kept his eyes on Kurama, his frown deepening as the fox put his pen gently on his desk and let his head rest on his folded arms. While from Kurama’s blank expression Hiei could tell that the kitsune hadn’t noticed him, the fire demon could easily see the confusion, weariness, and pain in his best friend’s large emerald eyes. What was wrong with him? In addition to this uncharacteristic behavior, Hiei had been watching Kurama closely over the last few days, and he had discovered that the fox barely ate. He would usually have lunch at school as usual, and that was it. While Hiei had kept this observation to himself over the last week, he had to admit to himself that he was worried...and yet he wasn’t ultimately sure why. Of course, Kurama was his best friend. However, the kitsune was level-headed enough...he didn’t do anything without a reason. Why, then, was Hiei so worried about him? It wasn’t just concern. Lately, Hiei had found himself doing many things that he never would have dared to before. For example, he was sitting outside of Kurama’s house watching him now. Usually he would sleep on the roof or somewhere else where he couldn’t see the fox and Kurama couldn’t see him. The Jaganshi had also begun to follow Kurama to school during the last month. He wouldn’t walk beside him, but Hiei would trail at a safe distance behind the kitsune. The fire demon was fairly sure that Kurama was aware of his presence, but he had never said as much, and so Hiei had continued to do it for reasons unknown even to him. As Kurama’s eyes slipped shut, Hiei curiously stood from the branch that he had been reclined on and jumped onto the windowsill, peering into the room at the fox. Assured that he was asleep, Hiei slipped inside and moved to stand beside the dozing kitsune, his crimson eyes narrowing as he saw Kurama shiver in his sleep. The Jaganshi cautiously touched the fox’s outstretched right hand and frowned as he felt how chilled it was. “Baka Kitsune...doesn’t he know when he’s cold?” Watching as Kurama shuddered again and attempted to curl up protectively in the desk chair, Hiei weighed his options. The fox deserved to freeze for being stupid enough to fall asleep at his desk anyway, but for some reason Hiei couldn’t bring himself to leave Kurama in this position. First, Hiei turned around and shut the window before turning his gaze towards the kitsune again. What he saw amazed him. A small tear was trickling slowly down Kurama’s pale cheek, and the fox began shaking steadily in his sleep, muttering incoherently to himself. Hiei watched the display in utter shock. The fox was having a nightmare? That was odd...he had never thought of Kurama to be the type that would have trouble sleeping. Deciding what he was going to do, the Jaganshi took Kurama’s right hand in his own and pulled the drowsy kitsune to his feet, wrapping his arm around Kurama’s waist in a supportive manner. The fox’s head lolled against his own left shoulder, and Hiei did his best to help the taller form to his bed. Seeing Kurama’s eyes open ever so slightly, Hiei glanced up at him emotionlessly. “Since you’re too much of a baka to take care of yourself, I have to start doing it for you.” “Hiei?” Kurama questioned groggily as he gazed at the smaller youkai. “Hiei, omae ka na?” Seeing him nod, a small smile tugged on Kurama’s lips. “Arigatou ne, Hiei...” “Hn,” was Hiei’s only response as he helped the fox to lie down on his bed. Not knowing what else to do, the Jaganshi wrapped a blanket over Kurama’s shivering form. As Kurama’s eyes closed once again, Hiei faced the window and took a step towards it before stopping and turning to gaze at the kitsune once more. He looked so vulnerable like this...so relaxed, and as the Jaganshi watched the fox sleep and noted the contrast between his soft red hair and pale face he suddenly found himself not wanting to leave. Despite Kurama’s continual assurances that he was all right, Hiei could tell that for one reason or another that he wasn’t, and as he watched Kurama’s chest peacefully rise and fall in his slumber the Jaganshi realized how much he wanted to be the one to make everything okay for the kitsune. Kurama stirred in his sleep and could have sworn that he felt someone crawl under the blanket next to him. At first, the fox thought he had been dreaming again, but as he felt warm flesh touch his arm, Kurama was sure that this was reality Turning his heavy head to the side, Kurama forced his eyes open only to find blood red ones gazing back at him. “Hiei?” Suddenly feeling self-conscious, Hiei tore his stare away from the fox and shook his head at his own foolishness. “Go back to sleep, Kitsune no Baka. You’re the one that has to wake up at a ridiculous hour to go to that ningen institution tomorrow, not me.” Kurama smiled faintly as he felt Hiei’s hand briefly brush his own, the touch making his whole arm tingle. “Hiei...I don’t have school tomorrow...” A careless smirk was the only response Kurama got, but it was enough for him. After all, for whatever reason Hiei was here lying next to him. That was all that mattered. Curling up under the covers, Hiei’s eyes widened as he felt Kurama’s arm wind around his waist, pulling him closer in a gentle embrace. “Fox?” “Thank you for staying,” Kurama whispered quietly as he let his chin rest lightly on Hiei’s head. Closing his eyes once more, the kitsune smiled contentedly. “I didn’t want to be alone for another night.” The Jaganshi sensed Kurama drift into a comfortable sleep, and, knowing that he was no longer being watched, Hiei allowed himself a small grin as he looked up at Kurama’s delicate face. “Neither did I...” He murmured, dropping his head onto Kurama’s chest and feeling his smile widen as he heard the fox’s heart beating. “Neither did I...” With these words, he allowed himself to relax and drape a lazy arm across Kurama’s chest. In a matter of moments he, too, was fast asleep. =-=-=-= Owari! =-=-=-= Arya...shounen-ai fics are not my thing. Anyway, I’m not known to write fluffy fics so, well, I hope this was all right...I kinda went into this fic with the “Everyone ELSE has written a fluffy YYH fic. I wanna write one, too!!!” attitude. Eh-heh...that’s not exactly the best way to go into a fic, but oh well ^^xx I’d love to get some C&C on this story...it is my first one shot Kurama/Hiei fic after all ^_-