Beginnings

As he returned to the house, Sukuna and Kitsu were on their way out through the front door. Going on foot, they would be gone for most of the day. He heard something on the TV stationed in the kitchen, next to the large dining table. A fist hit the wood, accompanied by curses.

“Are you blind? Pin the fucker!”

Mildly curious, Hiei went into the kitchen, under the guise of procuring more coffee. “Isn’t it a little early, Yusuke?”

The ex-detective looked at him from his cereal bowl, his spoon dangling from his mouth. “Recorded it last night since we ended up busy with the case. Where’d you end up running off to?”

“Nowhere that concerns you.”

“Whatever, man. Suit yourself.” He took another bite of cereal. “So things didn’t work out, huh?”

“You of all people know not to pry into my life.”

“Excuse me for being concerned.” He looked at the TV for a moment. “I mean, I only got major bitch vibes off her anyway.”

“Not always—“ He cut himself off, thinking over the last few years. “Fine, always.” He sat in front of Yusuke at the table with his cup. “What difference does it make? Could you see me attracted to much else?”

He swallowed his current bite hard. “Well, not to be rash, but you never seemed her type. Or vice-versa.” He paused his tape, seeing his friend actually listening for once. “You’ve said it in the past. You like strength. Maybe it was the fact that she was able to hold her own against pretty much anyone.”

Hiei wouldn’t say that she had broken her barriers during his recovery time in the pod. He had learned more about her than he cared to. He had found kinship in the broken path that had led them both to where they were in life. However, hers had started to drift away from his not long after the tournament.

“The fact that you’re listening says at least part of you knows it’s true.” He pushed his empty bowl away. “I mean, when did you ever look for a woman?” The glare he received said much. “Okay, so never. You don’t even know what your type is. You gave it a shot, and it failed. So what? Doesn’t mean you should give up.”

“There’s no reason for me to pursue a female.” He heard the back door open down the adjoining hall, but kept going once he felt it was only Salem. “If I pursue one, it means I’m ready to stop, and I’m not.”

“Not really. I mean, Keiko is a great catch, but does that mean I’ll stop fighting? Not at all. If anything, I fight harder to get back to her.”

Salem came into the kitchen, but didn’t add to the conversation.

“What I mean is, the right one will come along eventually. It doesn’t mean you have to stop.”

“Yes,” Salem said by the coffee maker. “Eventually.”

“Well you were up early if you were outside,” Yusuke commented. “I also didn’t see Hyouga. She still here?”

“Nah, she left before I came back in. She’ll be keeping us informed if her contact gets back to her, but she doesn’t think it’ll be for a few days. They shouldn’t take long. There’s no one waiting at any of their homes to eat up their time.”

“Spirit World got smart finally and snagged agents with no attachments. Good.” He leaned back in his chair. “So what will you two do now that you’ve basically quit your jobs?”

Salem shrugged and joined the table. “Guess talk to Enki. See what I can do. I heard he was offering benefits.”

“So far as I know, yeah. My old man’s friends are changing a lot of things for the better. Here’s hoping that the next guy keeps it going. Anyway, how did you know Hyouga left?”

“We… started talking last night. Hit it off really well, actually.”

“Nice. Thinking of keeping it going?”

“Yeah, I mean why not? She’s actually really cool. Not bad on the eyes, that’s an added bonus.” He hid a smirk behind his mug for a moment. He quickly regained his composure. “She told me all the girls are single, so that’s just icing on the cake. Wasn’t surprised about that news about one of them, but Hyouga being single… oh yeah, I’m trying.”

Hiei narrowed his eyes. “Which one wasn’t a surprise?”

“Sha. I mean, you heard the stories of what she’s done. No one’s going to want to touch that. Would take someone really strong-willed to go after her.”

“Hyouga was her partner.”

“Yes, but Hyouga was never one to gut things for fun.”

He shrugged. “Everything is a story until the truth comes out.”

“Oh yeah? Why don’t you find out then?”

He scoffed. “Why would I care?”

“You’re the one saying it’s only fiction. Then prove us wrong.”

He rolled his eyes and got up, taking his empty cup with him. “Why not you or Yusuke?”

“Because I’m working my magic already, and Yusuke’s busy.” At his friend’s skeptical look, he added, “He’s got to go see Enki to give him an update. He doesn’t have time deciphering fiction from truth.”

“What makes you think I do? Or care enough?”

“What else are you going to do? You’re unemployed now. What would it hurt? I mean, would it kill you to ask her questions so we know?” He gestured to the wooden bar against the hallway wall. “We were going to invite some of the guys over tonight for some drinks anyway to celebrate unemployment. Give the ladies a proper welcome.”

He placed the mug in the sink and left through the archway to the living room. “Do as you wish.”

Yusuke dropped his voice. “Do you want your throat slit tonight?”

“Trust me; there’s a plan underfoot.”

“Yeah, a plan to get yourself killed.”

“Hear me out. You didn’t see what Hyouga and I saw this morning.” He kept his voice low as well. “They were sparring. They were moving so fast we could barely keep up with their movements. I mean, they were meeting each other blow for blow until she slipped in the sand and he struck her.”

Yusuke scoffed. “Well damn. Alright, so I’m in on this plan. I say it takes them two days to hook up.”

“You want to put money on this? Now who’s the one with the death wish?” He couldn’t stop his grin stemming from Yusuke’s infectious one. “How much are we talking?”