Executive

To Edogawa Conan; Yeah... I was just listing languages, but if neccesary, he'll be speaking Mandarin Chinese, because that's the only one I took like a year of... that doesn't mean I know squat, because I took a year of Japanese as well, and only remember things that I saw in anime. Who says you don't learn anything from cartoons?

As for Comicfancat, I'm trying not to make Karasu a complete ass, although he's still not the best character...

Anyway, thank you all so much for reviewing, and for those waiting, don't worry about 'If They'd Been Human,' a few more alterations and it should be ready to be posted... 'Model and the Bass,' on the other hand... I apologize in advance.

*****

Chapter 4: Business Proposition

*****

Hiei left work a quickly as possible, and drove a little faster than normal to get to the diner. “Hey, baby, you looking for a good time.”

“Shut up and get in, you idiot,” he rolled his eyes as he unlocked the door. He dashed off the second the door was closed behind him.

“Hello, Hiei,” a beautiful redhead in a fitted green tank and tight jeans that shaped the taller man’s round ass perfectly slid easily into the leather seating of Hiei’s Jaguar.

“You’re looking a lot better.”

“I only work the pole on weekdays.”

“What does that mean?”

“I don’t have to worry about creepy old men trying to hire me in private sessions.”

“Hn…”

“What is it?” he smiled softly, he could swear that there was a death glare in the crimson eyes that were focused on the road he was speeding down.

“Nothing, I have a proposition for you when we get to the restaurant.”

“Where are we going?”

“You’ll see.”

“Am I under dressed?”

“It doesn’t mater.”

“Are you sure?”

“You’re with me, you could be naked, and no one would tell you anything. I next to own this place.”

“That’s so hot,” Kurama laughed, and they made some small talk but soon arrived at a fancy looking Japanese restaurant, and Hiei pulled into the parking lot, and got out to open the door for Kurama, “You’re such a gentleman.”

“Hn,” Hiei realized what he had done without thinking, and quickly pulled the hand he was currently offering the redhead behind his back, “Shut up, and let’s get going.”

“Ah, Mr. Hiei,” a tall Asian woman with buns wearing a bright blue kimono greeted the two men, “You’re usual table, I assume?”

“Hn,” he nodded.

“Wow,” Kurama cooed as they were quickly led to a seat in the corner where the two were hidden by a couple of large wooden screens in lined with dragons and gold trimmings decorated with playful foxes. “This is so nice, Hiei,” the emerald eyes looked over every little thing in the restaurant, memorizing every beautiful detail of it all.

“Do you care if I smoke?” Hiei pulled out a pack of cigarettes.

“I didn’t know that you smoked,” Kurama raised a fine eyebrow.

“Every once in a while.”

“So why now?”

“I feel like it, okay?”

“Are you trying to do what you did with the whole drinking thing?” Kurama giggled. “You remember where that led, correct?”

“Shut up,” Hiei growled, and put away the pack, but his nerves were bugging him a lot now.

“So what is this proposition you would like to make me?” Kurama laced his fingers together and rested his elbows on the table, while leaning forward a little with a seductive smirk.

“Order lunch.”

“What?” he quirked a fine eyebrow.

“I want to hear your Japanese capabilities.”

“Um… okay…”

“Are you two ready to order?”

“Hai, onegai… insert something in Japanese here…”

“Hai,” the girl was pleased to hear someone speaking in her native tongue so smoothly, and the two carried on a short conversation while Hiei sat there watching closely. The boy was absolutely flawless. Perfect body, interesting personality, very intelligent, and… a stripper… Hiei could easily remedy that last one, though. His Japanese was perfect.

“Okay, why did you make me order? I don’t even know what you like, so I got a few small appetizers, and told her we’d order later. Oh, and I told them to put it on your tab.”

“It doesn’t mater. I’ve learned what I needed to.”

“Oh? And what exactly did you learn?”

“Now then, how much do you make at your job?”

“I’ve earned from sixty dollars a night to three hundred, but that’s mostly on holidays or someone’s birthday or bachelor party,” Kurama recalled quickly.

“How about if I were to pay you one thousand for an entire week and include a trip to Japan all expenses paid including whatever it is that you want for souvenirs?” Hiei looked over the redhead.

“What?” he nearly shrieked.

“I’m not repeating myself.”

“I don’t understand. Why do you want me to go with you? Why pay me so much?”

“I need a translator,” he said flatly.

“I still don’t understand.”

“It’s simple. I’ll be leaving in one month and either you’re going with me or Touya will kill me when I’ve bothered him too much when we’re over there. So, I think that you’re my best bet.”

“You… you want to pay me to go with you to Japan?” his emerald eyes glittered.

“Yes, and stop making it seem like I’m some pervert paying you to keep me company.”

Kurama giggled softly.

“So, you’ll go?”

“Let me see… I can either stay here working night and day for barely what you’re offering me, not be groped by disgusting old men or horny women who stick singles into my g-string or my bra depending on the costume, and then there is dealing with Karasu when he’s… um, never mind,” Kurama smiled suddenly, hoping to get the business man to forget the information that he had unwittingly put out there.

“Hn.”

Kurama couldn’t tell if it had worked or not, but Hiei let the subject drop, “In short yes, of course I’ll go.”

“Good, I’d prefer not having to be paranoid about my translator.”

“How did you manage to anger, Touya, was it... so badly?”

“Hn, I didn’t trust a lot of his translations. Besides he was a little distracted with the opposing business man’s partner. They ran off together a lot. I had to go out and drag him back to the hotel one night at around three in the morning when he had been out at a bar talking to his new boyfriend for almost five hours straight, and both were drunk off their asses. I wasn’t willing to leave the partner there so I had to bring him along with us. The two made out in the back of my car the entire time. I had to put them in separate rooms, but by morning I had found out that Jin snuck back into Touya’s room and the two were naked under the covers.”

“Oh my,” Kurama blushed, wondering if he could get Hiei to do the same thing while they were in Japan.

“Here you go,” the waitress in a golden kimono placed a tray of different sushi and other things Hiei didn’t really recognize in front of them.

“Doumo,” Kurama bowed his head to the tall, beautiful woman.

“Hn,” Hiei nodded for her to leave.

“So why me?”

“You know Japanese.”

“But you could easily get a professional, correct?”

“What is the difference between a stranger I’ve never met who can speak Japanese and English and a man who I trust who can speak Japanese, English, German, Chinese, and Spanish? Should I go into more explanation as to why I would choose you over a man I’ve never met?”

“Hm, you trust me?”

“I trust you more than Touya, who flat out told me he would kill me if I ever made him translator again.”

“Oh, I think I understand now,” Kurama laughed. “Would you threaten to kill me if I tried to get into your bed with you at night? Because to tell you the truth, I don’t think that I would be able to control myself too much around you, if I spend the week with you.”

“You can try,” he rolled his crimson eyes.

“Mm, this is good,” Kurama popped one of the pieces of sushi in his mouth and held up another piece to Hiei’s lips, “You should try some.”

“Stop messing around,” the business man growled.

“You’re the one who invited me to lunch, and you’re not going to eat?”

“Do not flirt with your employer.”

“You’re not really my employer, yet,” Kurama corrected as he leaned in closer, brushing a foot up Hiei’s leg. He had apparently taken off his shoes and was currently working on getting his foot up Hiei’s pant leg.

“Hn,” Hiei kicked away.

“Hiei, will you make up your mind?”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m getting a little confused. You make it seem like I have a chance one minute and the next you make me feel like I’m just a cheap whore who’s just wasting his time.”

“You’re wrong.”

“Am I?” Kurama raised an eyebrow.

“You’re not cheap at all.”

A sudden lurch went through the redhead and he looked away quickly keeping his head down as he stood with a polite bow, “I guess I will see you in two months then, Mr. Jaganshi.”

“Wait, where are you going?”

“I guess I have to get back to being an expensive whore,” his alto voice became very deep and the redhead turned on his heels.

“Wait, Kurama… Kurama stop,” Hiei followed the offended man out, and grabbed his wrist when they were in the parking lot, “I was kidding.”

“Then might I recommend that you find something else to kid about?”

“I didn’t think that you would take it that seriously.”

“Well, now you know,” he glared down at the shorter man.

“I didn’t mean it to be mean.”

“Then what did you mean it to be?”

“I was just… teasing you.”

“Hn.”

“Hey, that’s my word,” he finally got a soft smile from the redhead, “Do you want me to give you a ride back to work?”

“No, I actually have the rest of the day off. Just drop me off in front of the club though, please. I need to get something that I left there,” Kurama pulled his wrist from Hiei’s grip slowly.

“You’re not mad are you?”

“Of course I’m mad, but I can get over it,” Kurama answered truthfully.

“I… I’m…sorry…” Hiei mumbled as the two settled in his car.

The redhead surprised Hiei by leaning over to kiss him on the cheek, his hands resting on Hiei’s thigh, “It’s okay, just be careful next time. I know it doesn’t seem it sometimes, but this really isn’t the way that I wanted to live my life.”

“I know.”

“I like you a lot, Hiei, I don’t think that I’ve felt this close to anyone since… well, it’s been a long time, and I don’t want to mess this up.”

“What?” Hiei pulled away.

“I don’t know if you’re willing, but I mean it, okay?” he brushed his lips over Hiei’s, “Just think about it.”

“Hn,” Hiei started the car and dropped Kurama off in front of the club.

“What day are we leaving on?” Kurama asked before getting out of the car.

“I’ll have the details for you in a month.”

“So, you’ll have to come see me again,” the taller man smiled sweetly.

“Hn.”

“Great,” he left another kiss on Hiei’s lips before getting out of the car, “I’ll see you then.”

*****

“God!” Hiei growled at himself when he was sitting in the office near the end of the day. He’d been having trouble concentrating. He liked Kurama more than he should. Kurama was a guy no mater how hard he tried to get around that fact, but there was still something about the damn redhead that had him feeling a little light on the inside.

“Hey, Hiei, you want to go out again, tonight?” Yusuke stuck his head into the large office.

“Hn,” Hiei grunted, looking back at his screen as if he had been at it for hours. Luckily, he always had on the same scowl so Yusuke couldn’t tell.

“We’re leaving in an hour or so,” Yusuke offered.

“…” taking another look at the work that he knew he wouldn’t be able to finish that night, “Yeah, I’ll go. It’s not the strip club again is it?”

“Nah, we’re just going to a bar, but it’s in the same area.”

“What a great area to hang out in,” Hiei commented sarcastically.

“Hey, it’s the most interesting place to be,” Yusuke laughed and closed the door behind him as he went back to supposedly finish his work.

“Great,” Hiei sighed out. He was alone again and let to his thoughts about the redhead.

“Hello, Mr. Jaganshi,” his way too chipper secretary buzzed his intercom, “Ms. Makai on the line.”

“Ugh, Mukuro…” Hiei groaned, “I got it.”

“Hello, Hiei,” her voice was way too sweet especially for him knowing who she really is.

“What do you want, Mukuro?”

“I was just wondering, darling. You see, I think that I might have made a mistake with Raizen.”

“He ran off with all of your money, didn’t he?”

“… That’s beside the point, Love. You and I have been through so much together. We deserve each other don’t you think?”

“No, not really.”

“Look, if you want an easy way to your inheritance from your uncle, I’m here if you’re willing to make a deal.”

“I don’t think so,” Hiei growled and was about to hang up.

“Now listen to me, Hiei. Even with half the fortune of those precious gems that are just waiting for you, you could live without ever having to work another day in your life. After you get your fortune we can just as easily get a divorce and take our money our separate ways and never look back. We both get what we want. So why not make a deal?”

“… I’ll think about it.”

“Good, but don’t forget you only have until next year to be ‘happily married’,” the woman teased, “see you later, ‘love’.”

“…” Hiei let out a soft growl as he hung up the phone. This was a bad idea, but as Mukuro said they could always just get a divorce later… and he’d already have all the money he could dream of, but something was bugging him in the back of his mind, but what was it?

*****

“Welcome to O’Leary’s,” Yusuke patted Hiei on the shoulder as they walked up to a tavern looking place.

“This is where you idiots go get drunk?” he raised a dark eyebrow.

“Come on Hiei, it’s not that bad to loosen up a little,” Kuwabara chuckled.

“Last time I loosened up I lost everything in my wallet as well as my necklace.”

“You gave someone your necklace?” Kuwabara nearly coughed as they found a seat in the moderately filled bar. He knew that Hiei and Yukina treasured their necklaces from their parents. It was worth more to them than their lives.

“I got it back.”

“You’re lucky. Yukina doesn’t have an angry bone in her body, but I’m sure that she would kill you if she found out that you were missing your family heirloom. How did you get it back?”

“He left it for me.”

“Who’s he?”

“My new translator. He speaks six different languages, is very smart, and…”

“Hiei?”

“Works at your bar,” he looked up to see the redhead standing behind the bar, his ruby hair pulled into a ponytail that trailed down his back, and was thankfully dressed in regular men’s blue plaid shirt opened to reveal a white wife beater and khaki slacks.

“Wait, you look familiar,” Yusuke leaned in closer, but with out all the make up, Kurama did look a lot different from his other life, “Have we met somewhere?”

“It’s possible. I just recently changed my shift from weekends.”

“Hm, we go on the weekends every now and then, so I guess that’s where,” Kuwabara shrugged it off.

“Yes, I’m sure,” he was very good at pretending that he and Hiei hadn’t been on the verge of making out that afternoon, “What would you business men like to drink?”

“Water,” Hiei growled meeting emerald eyes, which were laughing with amusement.

“Hiei, you come out with us to a bar and not get an alcoholic drink?” Yusuke scoffed.

“Hn.”

“We’ll take two house specials.”

“Coming right up,” the redhead turned quickly, putting an extra sway in his hips as he went to the end of the bar.

“Hn,” Hiei tried to hide the smirk that came across his lips, but nothing really got past the incompetent Kuwabara.

“Yo man, what’s making you smile?”

“Nothing,” he looked away quickly.

“Hiei? You can smile?” Yusuke joshed.

“Shut up.”

“Hey man, you’re out with the boys, why not dish about your private life?”

“If you think that I’m telling you guys anything you’re dumber than I thought,” he huffed.

“Open up a little, I’ve been your brother-in-law for two years now, and you never treat me as more than your co-worker.”

“I do not treat you like a coworker. I treat you like an employee.”

“Hah-hah, funny.”

“Here are your drinks boys,” the redhead approached them with three glasses, “Two house specials, and a glass of water. I thought that you might like some cherries to spice things up a little,” Kurama chuckled softly.

“See? Even the bartender is making fun of you.”

“You have no idea,” Hiei growled, locking eyes on the redhead, who was still laughing at him softly.

“Will that be all boys?” he flipped a side lock over his shoulder and glanced back at his boss to be.

“Wait! Redhead, get back here,” Yusuke demanded.

“How can I help you?”

“Hiei, how did you meet him?” Yusuke asked.

“Um…”

“In the library, Hiei said he was looking for a translation book, and we started talking, I offered to teach him Japanese, and he offered to buy me lunch at a nearby Japanese restaurant. After making me order, he offered me a job as well as a trip to Japan. How could I refuse?” Kurama smiled. Apparently lying came a little too easily for him.

“Oh, really? You were going to try to learn Japanese on your own?” Yusuke turned suspicious eyes on Hiei.

“I had to make sure that if I was going to deal with Touya again, I was going to be sure that I knew enough to trust his translations.”

“Oh, I guess that makes sense, hey, what’s your name?”

“My name is Minamino Shuuichi, it’s nice to meet you both,” he held out a hand.

“Yusuke’s the name,” he shook the taller man’s hand vigorously.

“Hey ya, call me Kuwabara.”

“Hello,” he bowed, but could feel the slightly shorter man’s brown eyes on him. He was judging him.

“Hm, I could swear I’ve seen you somewhere.”

“You’re right, Yusuke, he really looks familiar doesn’t he?” the large orange haired man joined in.

“I’m sorry,” his lies were too easy and too smooth, it almost scared Hiei, “I can’t say the same for you.”

“Hm,” the slick haired man rubbed his chin as he looked him up and down, but this Minamino didn’t wavier.

“Sorry, but if you’ll excuse me, I have other customers to attend to.”

“Spill it, Hiei,” Yusuke demanded the second the redhead disappeared to the back for more bottles.

“What?”

“What is it about him? I know I’ve seen him somewhere, but I can’t place where that was.”

“Knowing you idiots, you were probably too drunk to remember anyway,” Hiei huffed, hoping to throw them off a little.

“Yeah, he’s probably right,” Kuwabara laughed, patting his brother-in-law a little too hard on the back.

“Haha, you got that right!” Yusuke lifted his house special in the air and it was met with Kuwabara’s in a loud clink before both of their second glasses were immediately emptied into their gullets.

“Fools,” Hiei rolled his eyes.

“Come on, Hiei, you gotta loosen u a little bit.”

“The last time I ‘loosened’ up was at that Christmas party. Would you like a repeat of that?”

Kuwabara shivered in absolute fear. How could he forget that night? He had decided to propose to Yukina, and Hiei… well, he didn’t exactly agree with the plan. Let’s just say that in the end a little blood was spilled and a lot of tears from Yukina, which is what prevented the little blood from being a lot of blood.

“Uh-oh, so I should remember not to let you get drunk again, huh? Sounds like you have nasty temper.”

“Hn,” Hiei gave a warning glare at the other man.

“You didn’t seem too angry when you were drunk with me,” he teased easily, and was lucky that the other men were already too woozy to be listening clearly or else Hiei would have reached over and wrung his neck, but knowing the redhead he’d easily pull Hiei into a kiss and make matters even worse when he melted into the taller man’s arms. He hated to admit it, but he knew he would. It was way too comfortable in those arms.

With one last teasing smile after placing the two men’s fourth drinks in front of them, Kurama walked back to his ministrations with the other customers sitting at the bar.

When the two men with Hiei were finally too drunk to remember their own names, Kurama approached, and leaned over to talk to Hiei, “Will I see you tonight?”

“I don’t think so.”

“How about in the morning.”

“Work.”

“Lunch tomorrow?”

“Meeting.”

“Oh,” he pouted, “when will I be able to see you next?”

Hiei shrugged, “I think that I had better drive my companions home before they pass out or throw up.”

“Wait, you have something on your face,” Kurama leaned over the bar, and kissed the shorter man on the cheek, “Oh, never mind, it was just my lips,” he smiled at the bright red boss. “I’ll see you around,” he giggled, waving good bye to the group.

“…” completely speechless, Hiei walked out stiffly with the very loose boys following after him.

“Hey Kurama!” Hiei barely registered as another man behind the bar shouted at the redhead, “Stop ogling the customers, and get to work.”

“Of course, sir,” he laughed.

*****

~TBC~

Let me know what you all think, please!


Teeny tiny preview for next chapter...

“You’re getting married?” a hurt voice had them both spinning to look at another beauty.

“I… no, what-what are you doing here?” Hiei stared, completely startled.

“Who are you?” Mukuro scowled.

“I thought that I was Hiei’s girlfriend…” gorgeous eyes started to water.