The cure

A/N: Thanks so much for the feedback and sorry it took so long! These ~I can’t forget~ mean beginning and end of flashback. Just fits the mood better than “Flashback”.

~*~

Yusuke flung the twelve-pack over his shoulder while digging the key out of his jeans pocket. After a while of desperate balancing, he managed to shove the key in the lock, open the door and close it behind himself without dropping the heavy, precious package. The lock made a loud click in the dark doorway; it was getting late. Urameshi’s chest heaved silently for a few seconds, but before he would let it get to him, he turned around, kicked his shoes off and went in the kitchen. Not bothering to flick the lights on, he opened the twelve-pack, put one beer bottle on the table and started to settle the others in the fridge. He really, really needed to get drunk tonight. He had considered asking Kazuma to join in, and if he wanted to get drunk just for fun, Kuwa was excellent company, but tonight it wasn’t an option.

He didn’t want his oldest friend to see him sprawled on the floor, whining after Hiei or something equally embarrassing. Yusuke shivered slightly and closed the fridge door as quickly as he could. He opened a bottle, grimacing slightly as the mellow warm liquid washed down his throat. He walked into the hallway and came to the bedroom door. He couldn’t see it as anything but a bedroom now. The house was very silent. Yusuke had never really noticed just how quiet it could be. He stared at the large, dark mark left on the wardrobe door by Hiei’s attack. It was like a black hole. Yusuke knew he’d move out of here before having that fixed. His gaze landed on the floor, small pieces of clothing scattered over the room. Too small for him to wear. His throat tightening, Yusuke set the beer aside and decided to clean up before drinking his lights out. So he wouldn’t have to start all over again once he’d wake up.

He grabbed a trashcan and bent over to pick up a black button-up. The fabric was cool and soft to his touch, and giving into the itch, he lifted it under his nose, closing his eyes. He could see the fire demon sitting on his futon, legs crossed, shirtless, bent over a huge bowl of chocolate cereals, an intense look on his face as he lifted the puffs with a very flat spoon from the milk to his mouth, very carefully. Yusuke smiled in the shirt. Hiei was so… carnal. Never ate in the kitchen, always had to take the food to bed. And then the jaganshi accidentally spilled some milk on the sheets, glanced at Yusuke quickly, and pulled the covers over the spot, like Urameshi would never find out, and just continued to eat. A low chuckle shook Yusuke’s shoulders. He let the shirt drop and stared at his bed. Slowly, his cheeks began to heat up. That bed. They had been so close…

He’d have to change the sheets as well. Buy new ones. Throw away the clothes, the sheets, the mug he used. Everything. Staring at the large, empty room, the detective’s mood started sinking again. He dropped the trashcan and shirt, and got a larger plastic bag from the kitchen. Quickly and effectively, he started to pick up things he’d have to dispose. Clothes, bandages, cups, all the other junk as well while he was at it, were swallowed by the black. A sweat started to work its way on his forehead but he didn’t even stop to breathe. He dropped the bag and tore the pillows out of their pouches, the blanket out of its own, and the sheet off the mattress, all in the trash. Yusuke’s eyes started to sting when he realised it didn’t all fit in the bag, and balled his fist, slamming the lump of fabric. He would get it in if it was the last thing he did.

Exhaustion washed over him the second he had managed to twirl the neck of the bag shut somehow, and he let his weight slump on the futon. The bag opened annoyingly the second Yusuke let go of it, vomiting its contents on the floor. Urameshi didn’t care. He covered his face with his hands, so not even the air could see his misery. He couldn’t stop thinking about it. All he wanted was to just empty his head, to be in the dark without seeing it, hearing it, feeling it, but it wouldn’t leave him alone. It just wouldn’t. His own, sharp breath sounded like that of a dying man’s, taking his last of the world. ‘Leave me alone!’ he prayed wordlessly, but it just mocked him. The memory.

~I can’t forget~

Hiei lifted his katana high in the air, his fascinated, blazing ruby eyes on his arm. It disappeared from view for a second, and he smirked. He looked around, searching for something appropriate to test himself with. Yusuke picked up an empty soba cup and threw it in the air. One blur, one blink of an eye, and it fell on the floor with a clonk. Yusuke picked it up and grinned. It was full of tiny, beautiful holes that formed an ornament going round the pot. The raven-haired teen held the cup against the orange-pink sunlight shining into his room from somewhere low already. The shadow of the ornaments cascaded on the wall, and Hiei smirked again.

“I think it’s safe to say your arm is doing a little better,” Yusuke chuckled and admired the cup. Hiei slid his katana back where it belonged.

“I think I’m gonna sell this as modern art, get rich, leave this dump and buy myself a new, bigger house,” the spirit detective joked and put it aside. He noticed the sudden seriousness on Hiei’s face as the jaganshi stared at him.

“I like this house,” Hiei said quietly, glancing around. Suddenly his cheeks tinted and he turned around.

“Yeah, me too. I was just joking,” Yusuke mumbled. The silence stretched between them. Yusuke knew what he was supposed to say. Something like ‘Drop by anytime’ or ‘If you wanna hang out…’. But he didn’t want that. He wanted Hiei to come home here. Staring at the short, lean, black frame of the yokai, glowing in mauve, he knew just as well that if he didn’t say something, it might take a long, long time for Hiei to pay him a visit. Yusuke started when Hiei turned around. The fire demon seemed uncomfortable, tense almost. He shifted his weight barely noticeably.

“Thank you,” Hiei managed finally, referring to the treatment of his wound. Yusuke couldn’t get a word out. He knew his voice would be too hoarse. Instead, he grinned and waved his hand in a demeaning way.

“Hey… don’t mention it…” he mumbled, his tone low, barely above an exhale. He felt a heat coiling in his chest and somewhere behind his eyes, but he could keep it in for a while longer. Showing his hands in his pockets, he watched as Hiei got on the desk and pushed the window open, and the mild breeze made the hem of his jacket float gently. The fire apparition turned his face towards Yusuke, an unreadable, almost anxious shine in his eyes. Yusuke stared at him, both of them still, unmoving, not breathing. Suddenly Hiei turned towards the window, and the detective felt something move inside him violently. Like quicksilver, the demon was gone, and the windowsill was empty.

~I can’t forget~

Moist fingers sunk in thick, shiny bangs, gliding through them like dolphins swimming in oil. Yusuke tried to calm his breath. He knew Hiei wouldn’t come back. That look… it had been so… strange. Strange how, he didn’t know, but it was all the same. Hiei wouldn’t come back. Yusuke pressed his index finger and thumb on the bridge of his nose, face slumped close to his knees. The pain dwelled in his chest, wanting to come out, trying to break him down, but he wouldn’t let it. He had to keep this in. Nobody had died. Nothing terrible had really happened. Everything was just back to normal. He would see the others tomorrow; they would get their orders from Koenma and take off. He would see Hiei, and they would act like before. Everything would be back to normal.

But Yusuke knew things would never be normal to him again.

Opening his eyes that had finally succumbed to his will, he stared at his hands on his lap. He had to stop thinking about it. As soon as he would gain strength enough, he would get something to drink from the other room, and everything would be easier, smoother. He’d forget. At least for tonight. Yusuke stared at his hands for a long time, the shade of blue on his floor slowly turning deeper and deeper. Suddenly it was black. Yusuke’s eyes widened. Night couldn’t land that quickly. He looked up and saw a figure in his window. His heart stopped. It was Hiei. The Reikai Tantei leader got up and rushed to open the window, and Hiei stepped on his table. Yusuke watched as the jaganshi hopped on the floor and took a few steps in. The teen closed the window, not believing his eyes. Hiei was standing in the middle of his room, when he had left only last night!

The koorime turned around, the look in his eyes hesitant. Yusuke’s lips spread; he couldn’t help smiling. He couldn’t believe Hiei was here. He knew there could only be one reason.

“Hiei,” he breathed quietly. The fire apparition blinked and shifted slightly, looking like he was considering saying something. Yusuke walked to him, and with a few steps, the air fled the space between them, and Hiei moistened his lips quickly.

“Yusuke-” he started with a strained voice that died against soft, warm lips. Yusuke’s fingers slid into the black spikes as his tongue delved in Hiei’s mouth sensually. The demon’s eyes slid shut and his soft groans disappeared in the taller male’s mouth. Yusuke roamed that sinfully sweet cavern, tracing every dip and curve, luring the more hesitant tongue to respond to the wonderful, blinding play. Urameshi broke off for air, panting hard, lidded eyes gazing deep into surprised, maroon ones.

“You have no idea how glad I am you came,” he panted through a beaming smile, capturing Hiei’s lips with fervour again. The yokai, caught off guard, took a deep breath through his nose and his hands crawled up to curl around Yusuke’s collar. The detective pulled Hiei into his arms, the warm, lithe body pressing flush against his, and he wrapped one strong arm around the waist tightly, sinking his other hand in the raven spikes. Soon their lungs started to hurt from the lack of oxygen, which forced them to break off again. Yusuke kept running his hand down the side of Hiei’s flustered face, trailing his thumb over the full lower lip. Hiei’s eyes were heavy-lidded, and his breath was low and hard.

“Detective,” he murmured, but a finger cut him off. Yusuke pressed a chaste kiss on Hiei’s forehead, over the clothed jagan, nuzzling the bangs with his nose.

“I know,” Yusuke whispered, burying his face in the crook of Hiei’s neck, his other hand gliding down to the shoulder blades. Hiei was still wearing the sleeveless top Yusuke had bought him. Hiei leaned his forehead on Yusuke’s round, tanned shoulder, savouring the heat radiating from it. He had completely come undone when Yusuke’s lips had brushed against his jagan. Whatever insecurity or trouble he had felt earlier, were washed away the second he felt the detective’s touch against his skin. This was beyond anything he might have hoped for from this visit. No words were needed. He felt his shirt being pulled out of his pants, nerve-wrackingly slowly. It had been a while…

Yusuke kissed the smooth, soft skin under his lips, pressing hot kisses up and down Hiei’s neck. His hands slid under the shirt, starting to ghost over the sensitive couture on the small of Hiei’s back as he went to nip and lick on the subtle skin behind Hiei’s ear. Hiei moaned against Yusuke’s shirt when the taller male sucked hotly on the most vulnerable spot on his neck, his hand sliding to the front to teasingly massage a nipple hard. Hiei pressed himself away from Yusuke, enough to take eye contact at least, forcing his eyes open.

“Detective…” he panted lowly, trying to focus on one thing on Yusuke’s face, but he couldn’t, it was too stunning. He felt dizzy. Urameshi’s intense, dark, lidded eyes drained all the strength from his knees. Yusuke took Hiei’s face between his hands and trailed his tongue slowly over the flushed lower lip, the mouth opening and letting out a hot breath. Then the tongue slid very lightly over the upper lip, gliding in to curve the roof of the mouth. Hiei’s tongue started stroking the underside of Yusuke’s, making the teen groan low and push Hiei forwards. The demon took steps back until he felt the edge of the bed hit the back of his thighs. The contact made his skin tingle. He felt Yusuke’s smile against his throat.

Yusuke grabbed the hem of Hiei’s shirt and pulled it up gently, peeling it over the black-and-white spikes of hair. The top fell on the floor carelessly. Yusuke fondled the buckle on one of the narrow belts, not really attempting to open it. “I could tell you…” Yusuke mumbled, then looking into Hiei’s eyes, “what went through my head when I saw you in my bed, Hiei.” The koorime felt his mouth dry up at the other’s low tone. “But I’d rather show you.” Hiei reached up to meet Yusuke’s lips and grabbed his shirt, tugging it out from under the tight jeans with haste. Urameshi chuckled and peeled it off himself, row after row of rock-hard abdomens coming to view. Hiei ran his hands down them, ravishing the feel and texture of Yusuke’s bare, heated skin against his.

Another piece of clothing landed on the floor, but it wasn’t enough for Hiei. He started to undo Yusuke’s black leather belt, anxious to get him out of those sinfully tight jeans. Yusuke watched in quiet fascination as the yokai opened the buckle, then the button, a subtly impatient look in his eyes. The sound of the zipper opening nearly ripped the air in two. Hiei could have growled with frustration when Yusuke’s hands draped over his smaller, paler ones just before he was about to touch…

“Wait, let me,” Yusuke mumbled and hitched his fingers under the waist, slowly starting to nudge the fabric lower. The pants were so tight he couldn’t tear them down without the underpants joining them, and he didn’t want that to happen yet. He wanted to savour every moment of tonight. Yusuke found Hiei’s sudden impatience endearing. Finally he made it past the briefs and pulled the jeans down quickly, kicking them off. He smiled inwardly at the look on Hiei’s face. It was obvious this didn’t make any sense to the fire demon. Hiei’s expression, however, turned from irritated to restless as Yusuke went to open his belts and drop them on the floor, letting the loose pants slide down. The taller male had introduced his friend to the concept of underwear, which Hiei was wearing now, too.

But not for long.

To be continued...