Eternal

Again, all the words appearing inside the *asterisks* are owned by Sandy Youko from her fic 'Of Demon Bondage'. A must read for every KuraHiei fan. Oh, Sandy Youko, Revered One, please grace us with your fics once more.





ETERNAL

Chapter One

by cienne





Hiei scowled as Yukina brushed his bangs up and away from his face. The older sibling giggled as she noticed Hiei’s frown.



“You look so cute when you pout like that, Hi-chan.”



“I’m not pouting.” Hiei growled.



Yukina giggled, fixing Hiei’s tie. “Don’t be nervous. High school’s a little different but…”



“I’m not nervous…” Hiei cut-off, looking away.



Yukina pinched his cheek. “What a cutie. Here, your bento.”



Hiei rubbed his cheek as he took Yukina’s carefully prepared bento. High school wasn’t that exciting. School was school, whatever grade you’re in.



Yukina grabbed his shoulders. “Are you really going to first day of your high school frowning like that?”



Hiei wrinkled his nose but eased up a bit.



“Hey, Hiei!”



The siblings turned as Yusuke, Hiei’s childhood friend and enemy, jumped over their gate. “Ooh, the baby’s still dressing?” Yusuke teased, winking at Yukina. “Don’t worry, Yukina-nechan, I’ll take care of Hiei-chan. I won’t let the big, bad bullies bully him.”



Hiei scowled at him. “Shut up.”



Yukina giggled and pushed Hiei forward, gently. “Take care. Tell Kina-nechan what you did after school, okay?”



Hiei nodded. “Hn.”



Yusuke waved, cheerily as they walked out the gate. “What’s wrong with you?” he asked a bit too loudly, making Hiei cringe.

“It’s the first day of high school!” Yusuke yelled, throwing his fists up. “We should be pumped!”



“Shut up.” Hiei muttered.



The dark-haired youth continued hassling Hiei until they neared the bus stop. Hiei was used to Yusuke’s non-stop chatter. They’d been friends since Hiei was five and Yusuke was six. Hiei rather liked Yusuke’s energy. It made up for his taciturnity. He wasn’t shy at all like Yusuke would like to say. He was just a bit reserved. Yusuke also keeps teasing him how he was a delicate flower in need of protection. Often, this made Hiei want to strangle him.



“Hey…!”



Hiei was brought out of his reverie as Yusuke nudged him. “What’re you standing there for?”



The smaller youth blinked and realized the bus had arrived. He nodded at Yusuke and moved forward.



To have and to hold…*



Hiei’s head swam and he misjudged how far away the railing was. He was falling… falling…



A strong hand grabbed his shoulders in a loose embrace.



Not even death will do us part…



“Are you alright?” the voice was a strong alto. Hiei kept seeing red.



Yusuke pulled Hiei away, gently slapping his cheek. “Hey, Hiei. Are you alright?”



A few of the passengers stood up to see what the commotion was about.



“What the hell did you do?” Yusuke demanded the stranger.



“Ah, sorry. I thought he was dizzy and I…”



… will go wherever you go…



Hiei blinked a few times and shook his head to get over the sudden dizzy spell.



Green eyes were studying him in earnest. “Are you alright? I’m sorry… I didn’t realize…”



Yusuke waved a hand at the stranger. “He’s okay.”



The bus driver was getting annoyed. “Hey! Get off if you’re getting off! I’m gonna be late for the next stop.”



Yusuke made a face. “Yeah, yeah.” he muttered and turned to Hiei. “Can you walk?”



“I’m fine.” Hiei said, flushing in embarrassment. What happened back there?



The redhead laid a hand on Hiei’s arm. “Are you sure you don’t need to go to the hospital…?”



Yusuke waved him off again. “He’s fine, didn’t you hear?” he cut-off. “Get off already. There are other people coming.”



The redhead tried to capture Hiei’s gaze again but the young man was already sitting down.



“Just go.” Yusuke said, which sounded like an order.



The redhead glanced at Hiei again and sighed. “Okay. Sorry.” he apologized again before getting off the bus.



“The nerve of that guy…” Yusuke muttered as he sat down beside Hiei.



“Mm…” Hiei said, dazed.



Yusuke realized the redhead was staring at Hiei from where he stood. The youth held Hiei’s face with both hands to make the younger man look at him.



Hiei glared at him, struggling a bit. “What…?”



“Are you okay? What happened back there? Did you have breakfast?”



Hiei pushed his hands away. “I’m fine! I just got… dizzy.” he finished lamely and turned to the window. Surprised, Hiei realized that the bus had started moving again.



Yusuke was grinning again. “Ooh, is the baby now a mommy? Only pregnant girls get dizzy spells didn’t you know?”



Hiei flushed. “I’m not a girl!”



Yusuke laughed and pinched his cheek. “You’re really so cute, you know.”



The younger youth slapped his hand away, pouting.



Yusuke continued grinning until Hiei had to smile in spite himself. “You’re an ass.”



“That’s why I’m your friend.”





* * * * * * * *







Kurama gently closed the door to his mother’s room. He had set out early for school that day but he got a call that his mother had collapsed and was rushed to the hospital. He had been worried too, but the doctor told him that his mother was just exhausted. Who wouldn’t be? It would be the fifth time they had to move to a new city again. Shiori’s job as a sales manager had them moving every year or two. Wherever sales were skyrocketing, Shiori had to be there.



The redhead sighed as he sat down the chair beside the bed. His mother’s face was etched with worry even in sleep. There were deep lines and wrinkles that Kurama never noticed before. Shiori was always smiling and laughing, never complaining about her job and constantly grateful for Kurama’s understanding.



Kurama held Shiori’s hand and took a deep breath. He didn’t really mind all the moving around. He never really made actual friends so there were none left behind. He thought he was a loner but the feeling of loneliness never left him. He had acquaintances and was popular in all the schools he’d been in but the more people he had around him, the feeling of being alone seemed to grow stronger. He secretly hoped that a new place would let him meet the people to make him people like he actually existed.



The redhead remembered that incident on the bus earlier that day. The teen with dark hair and red eyes. The pale face seemed so familiar but he couldn’t grasp where and when they’d actually met before. The white starburst of hair was something definitely not new to him. He wanted to talk more to the teen that wasn’t a stranger to him. But the other one kept cutting him off, the other guy with dark hair and brown eyes.



Were they… together?



Kurama’s heart sank. He couldn’t deny that he was attracted to the young stranger. Something seemed to draw him to the small oval face and the almond red eyes.



“…Musuko…”



Kurama was woken from his reverie as Shiori squeezed his hand.



“Kaasan…”



Shiori smiled. “You should be at school. It’s your first day.”



Kurama shook his head. “It’s fine. The principal let me go. How are you?”



“I’m fine. Just a little tired.” Shiori replied.



“The doctor said you need at least a week’s rest.”



“Oh, no. I’m really fine.”



Kurama shook his head firmly. “And I told the doctor to let you stay here for another week to make sure you get your rest.”



Shiori sighed. “Musuko…”



“Kaasan, you need your rest. I’ll take care of the house and make sure it’s livable when you get back.”



“But…”



“I promise I won’t make anyone pregnant while you’re away. I won’t do drugs and drink alcohol.”



Shiori laughed at that making Kurama smile.



“And I promise not to sell your precious china collection.”



Shiori opened her arms and Kurama moved in for a hug. “What will I ever do without you?”



Kurama laughed at that. “Promise me you’ll follow the doctor’s orders…”



The woman nodded. “I promise… and you keep your promise, too, okay?”



“Yes, Kaasan. You have my word.”



Shiori smiled then finally noticed it. She pulled away gently to watch Kurama’s face. “What’s wrong, Shu-chan…?”



Kurama blinked in surprise. “Nothing, Kaasan. I’m fine.”



Shiori traced his forehead. “Then why are there lines on your forehead. Are you worried about something?”



“Just worried about you…”



“It feels like something else…”



Kurama smiled and shook his head. “Maybe, Kaasan, but…”



“But…”



The redhead shook his head again. “It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it. Have you had breakfast yet?”



The older woman laughed. “I might have forgotten. I just woke up when you came in.”



Kurama tsk-ed and stood up. “I’ll go get us something to eat.”



Shiori sat up. “What about school?”



Kurama’s eyes brightened for a second before he smiled and shook his head. “It’s fine, Kaasan. I’ll go to school tomorrow.” he said and walked out the door.



Shiori’s eyebrows rose before she let out a hearty laugh. Could it be Kurama found someone this early? Someone that she would probably meet in the future as Kurama’s special someone?



Kurama’s mother sighed. How she wished what she was thinking to be true. She had seen Kurama grow up to be such a loner. Yes, he was friendly but it was as if he was just going through the motions of having fun with people his age. He had a lot of friends and was popular in school but she could see the barrier he had put around him, it was as if he had friends just to be normal. It hurt her to see Kurama’s smiles not reaching his eyes… his heart.



Sometimes she would see his son, looking so distant but hopeful. As if he was waiting… for someone? His green eyes would be filled with so much longing it brought tears to her eyes to see him so lonely. As if his soul was longing for someone he could not see. In front of her, he was so cheerful, so filled with laughter and joy. But when he didn’t know she was watching, his eyes would have that searching look and his sighs echoed his loneliness.



Shiori hoped and prayed that Kurama’s thoughtfulness today was about this ‘someone’ he could not meet because he was here in the hospital with her. Kurama’s eyes had been so bright when she mentioned school. She hoped he had finally found what his soul was calling for.



* * * *
TBC

Athor's Notes: 'Of Demon Bondage' is actually a very fantastic fic by Sandy Youko. Thanks for reviewing. I really appreciate it.

The last part of this fic actually made my eyes burn and my heart ache... *is a loser*