Slip of the Tongue

Slip of the Tongue Part VII
By cillaxox


*Apply standard disclaimers here*


cillaxox: Hi everybody! *looks at reviews* Wow, I’m impressed. 39 reviews that’s almost a new record for me *reads LemonKitty’s last review & laughs* Thanks for the stirring introduction, I hope the chapter lives up to the hype ^_^


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~This takes place the day after the last chapter~

Hiei sat up in bed and blinked his red eyes while simultaneously letting out a big yawn. He looked down at Kuwabara curled up next to him. The demon stroked the boy’s red curls that hung loose and fanned his face.

‘Kazuma.’

Hiei wondered why he took so long to call the young man by his first name. It was after all a very nice name. He lay down next to his lover and spooned against the human’s back. He was glad that he finally admitted his feelings for Kuwabara otherwise he wouldn’t be able to enjoy moments like this.

“Kazuma wake your lazy ass up and get in here!”

Kuwabara rose up from the mattress, pulling Hiei up with him. “What does she want?” he mumbled. He looked over at the demon sharing his bed and said, “Morning.”

“Hurry back.” Hiei watched as his boyfriend pulled on a pair of gray sweatpants. A smile crept over his lips as he watched the boy walk out of the bedroom. Due to his acute hearing he couldn’t help but hear the siblings speak.

“What do you want Shizuru?”

“Don’t take that tone with me. Just because you have a boyfriend it doesn’t mean you’re all grown up.”

“Keep it down, Hiei can hear you!”

“What, am I supposed be scared of him?”

“Ah just forget it! Why did you call me in here?”

“I found this sitting in front of the door when I got in this morning. I assumed it was for you.”

“Why?”

“It has a note on it that reads, ‘I’m sorry.’ Nobody sends me gifts when they piss me off, so it has to be for you.”

“That’s weird.”

Hiei sat up on the bed, he was curious to know about the present Kuwabara had received. When the boy returned he was carrying a small potted flower. The flower had yet to blossom, it was merely a yellow bud.

The fire apparition felt a brief surge of jealousy about some one giving his Kazuma a present. That was until he put the two clues together: a flower and an apology. “That must be from Kurama.”

Kuwabara open his curtains and set the plant on his windowsill. “That’s what I was thinking too.”

“I told you he was reasonable. All you had to do was give him some space.”

“Actually I went to his house yesterday and talked to him.”

“Why?”

“I didn’t want to leave things the way they were. I’m glad I did it.” The boy looked at the flowerpot and smiled. “I wasn’t expecting this kind of turn around.” Kuwabara cringed inwardly as he remembered the way Kurama acted.

“He is pretty unpredictable sometimes.”

“I guess he’s okay with us dating now.”

Hiei yawned with disinterest. “Looks like it.”

“Aren’t you happy about it?”

“I don’t care. Whether Kurama likes it or not I’m going to be with you.” The fire demon beckoned his human lover closer. “Enough talk about him."

Kuwabara got on the bed. “I need to get ready for school.”

Hiei tugged at the young man’s sweat pants. “So.”

“So we got to make this quick.”

The apparition lean forward and playfully bit his lover’s ear. “I can be quick.”

The two shared a kissed. While Kuwabara's lips danced across Hiei’s mouth, he reached under the covers only to discover the demon was already naked. He flung the covers off the bed and began to fondle his boyfriend’s semi-hard shaft.

“Good Morning!” said a muffled voice.

Both Kuwabara and Hiei jerked their heads apart and looked at the closed window. The carrot topped boy reached for his blanket so he could cover up the nude demon. Once Hiei was covered the young man focused his attention on the ferry girl hovering outside his bedroom. He opened the window and yelled, “Botan you have worst timing in the world!”

The blue haired girl giggled. “Shizuru wasn’t lying. I owe her an apology.”

Kuwabara turned around at the sound of his bedroom door being opened. “Did somebody call me?” his sister asked.

“Not you too,” Hiei grumbled from his spot on the bed.

Shizuru ignored the demon and her brother. She looked at Botan and said, “I told you they were together.”

The ferry girl nodded her head. “I’ll never doubt you again.” She jumped off her oar and landed on the fire escape then climbed through the window. “Are you ready go?”

“Yeah I was just waiting for you to show up.”

While the two girls chatted Kuwabara stared at them and tapped his foot with impatience. He finally said, “Get out of my room already! You don’t need to stay in here and talk.”

Botan squealed, “Isn’t that cute Shizuru? He wants some alone time with Hiei before he goes to school.”

The older sister nudged her friend while she pointed at the front of her brother’s pants. “I think I know why he wants to be left alone.”

The two girls had a fit of giggles as they walked out the room. “Come on Botan we have some shopping to do.” They could still be heard laughing as they exited the apartment.

“You should be glad Yukina isn’t like Shizuru. You’re lucky she doesn’t think it’s funny to embarrass you.”

“Forget about it she’s gone now and we are alone after all.”

“Yeah, we are aren’t we?” Kuwabara got back in bed and started kissing Hiei. He pulled the fire demon close and embraced him tightly. While they kissed he opened one eye and glanced at the clock on his desk. He pulled his head away from the apparition’s inviting mouth and exclaimed, “Dammit I’m gonna be late!” He jumped off the bed. He threw open his closet and pulled out a clean uniform. As he dressed he asked Hiei, “What are you gonna do while I’m gone?”

Hiei shrugged his shoulders. “I’ll find something to do.” He also got out of bed and began to put on his clothes. He caught sight of Kuwabara as the young man was buttoning his shirt. “Are you sure you can’t miss school today?”

“I wish.” The human grabbed his school bag and headed out his bedroom with the apparition following him. The pair made their way into the living room. Just as Kuwabara was about to close the front door he remembered something. “I almost forgot!” He rushed back inside his room. When he returned to the living room he was carrying a silver key. “This is for you.”

Hiei took the key and eyed it with confusion. “What’s this for?”

“It a key to the apartment. You won’t have to worry about climbing through my window anymore.”

The demon placed the gift in his pocket. “I liked entering through the window.” After he felt a slap on the back of his head he added, “But having a key is so much better.”

“That’s what I thought you said Hiei. Now let’s get going.”


~*~LATER THAT DAY~*~


“Hello Shizuru. It’s good to see you.”

“Hi Yukina.” Shizuru gave the ice maiden a hug and let her inside the apartment. The elder Kuwabara sibling was surprised to see another figure standing in her doorway, but she didn’t let it show. “Hello Kurama.”

The redhead nodded his head in acknowledgement.

Yukina told the brunette, “Kurama paid a visit to the temple this afternoon. I mentioned that I was coming over here and asked if he wanted to come too.”

The fox said, “I wanted to see Kuwabara.”

Shizuru nodded her head in understanding. “So you’re the one that sent him the gift.”

“It was my way of apologizing to him. I really was treating him unjustly and I had to do something about it.”

“Well he’s in his room.”

“Thank you.”

Before Kurama could knock on the door it was opened from the other side. “Hey I thought I heard your voice. You wanna come in?”

As soon as Kurama stepped in the room a little black kitten pounced on his foot. He knelt down to pet the creature only to have his hand bitten.

“That’s Yoshi. He likes to bite.”

The older boy sidestepped the kitten and made his way into the bedroom. “Where did you get him from?”

“He was a present from Hi-…uh, he was a present.” Kuwabara pulled out the chair that went with his desk. “Here have a seat.”

Kurama sat down facing the younger boy. “I see you got the flower.”

“Yeah it’s really nice.” The carrot-topped boy didn't mention that he thought it was a girly gift, after all it's the thought that counts.

“It’s just my way of saying I’m sorry about the way I acted. I know I was being a real jerk. I hope you can forgive me.”

Kuwabara's whole face lit up. “You know I will. I’m just surprised that you’re okay with this now.”

There was a brief flash of gold in Kurama's eyes. It happened so quickly that it went unnoticed by the younger boy. “Hiei and you are my friends. I only want you two to be happy.”

“I’m glad to hear it”

Kurama started coughing. A hacking cough wracked his lithe frame causing him to shake uncontrollably. “Are you okay?” The carrot-topped boy asked. “Hold on I’ll go get you some water.” The fox nodded his head yes and continued coughing.

When Kuwabara returned he was carrying a glass of water in his hand. “Here drink this.”

The fox managed to swallow two drinks of water before another coughing fit consumed him. He accidentally hit the cup against his host’s desk. Water and shards of glass fell on the floor. “I’m so sorry Kuwabara. Here let me pick that up.”

“No it’s okay. I got it.”

They reached for the same piece of broken glass, they pulled it in opposite directions and Kuwabara ended up cutting his finger. The wound instantly started bleeding. Kurama reached out and wiped away some of the blood. “You get that cut cleaned and I’ll finish picking up this mess.”

“All right.”

As soon as Kuwabara was gone Kurama wiped the blood that was on his fingers on the yellow bud he had given the younger boy; it instantly turned a deep reddish orange color. The bud double in size then tripled.

Kuwabara returned a few minutes later. “It’s all fixed up. It wasn’t as bad as it looked.”

“Come here the flower is about to bloom.” Kurama stood aside and waited for the other boy to approach. “I’ll go get Yukina I’m sure she’ll enjoy seeing this too.” He quickly returned with the ice maiden. Nobody noticed when the fox surreptitiously made his way towards the door.

Kuwabara's attention was riveted on the blossoming bud. He had never seen a flower bloom and was curious to watch. He didn’t risk looking away from the flower as he told the older boy, “Thanks again Kurama. It was really big of you to apologize.”

A sneaky grin spread across the fox’s lips. “There’s no need to thank me.”

“I think it’s about to open Kazuma,” Yukina exclaimed in an excited voice.

The pair watched has the flower blossomed. It’s gorgeous orange-red petals unfurled. As the flower opened it gave off a cloud of pollen. Kuwabara inhaled deeply without thinking. He sneezed several times, because the pollen had tickled his nose. “Was it supposed to do that Kurama?”

“Yes it was.”

Kuwabara turned his head to the left and looked at the ice maiden. Something inside him melted. Everything about the lovely maiden seemed perfect. Her turquoise hair shined. Her big red eyes sparkled. Her complexion glowed. She looked more beautiful then anything the young man had ever seen.

Oblivious to what was going on with her friend the ice maiden said, “The flower is very beautiful. Don’t you agree?”

“Yukina…”

“Yes Kazuma?”

“You’re a thousand times prettier than any flower.”

The ice maiden blushed at the unexpected compliment. “That’s sweet of you to say.”

“I’m just telling the truth. You’re gorgeous. Not only that, but you’re kind, caring, gentle and…”

Yukina stepped back; the way her friend was staring at her was making her uneasy. “Kazuma are you okay?”

“Yeah I feel great. I just realized how much I love you.”

Thinking that she heard Kuwabara wrong Yukina said, “I beg your pardon? I didn’t quite hear you.”

“I love you!”

Yukina stammered, “Kazuma what are you saying?”

“I’m saying Yukina, my sweet, I love you and want to spend every moment imaginable with you!”

Meanwhile in the living room Shizuru sat on the couch watching TV, completely unaware of what was transpiring in the next room. However, she did hear a key as it was being placed in the lock. She watched the front door intently. When she saw Hiei walk in her expression soured. “He has some nerve giving you a key without asking if it was okay with me.”

The demon sneered at her and said, “If it’s that big of a problem take it back. I can always find another way in.”

“Go ahead and keep it, it’s no skin off my back.”

Hiei told her in a sarcastic tone, “You’re too kind Shizuru.”

“Don’t press it shorty!”

Hiei walked past the young woman and headed towards Kuwabara's room. As he opened the door he heard Yukina saying, “What about Hiei? You’re with him now.”

“How can I be with someone I don’t love? I don’t want to be with him! I want to spend the rest of my with you.” Kuwabara dropped down on one knee. “Marry me Yukina!”

The fire demon stopped in his tracks. He watched the scene with wide eyes, but said nothing.

Shizuru sensing that something was wrong approached the bedroom. She was still in the hallway when she started saying. “Kazuma is everything…” She saw Yukina backed into a corner, her brother still down on one knee and Hiei standing in the doorway watching it all. “What the hell is going on?!”

Yukina took it upon herself to say, “Kazuma is acting crazy! I don’t know what is wrong with him. He asked me to marry him.”

It was at that moment that both the ice maiden and the love struck human noticed that Hiei had been watching them the whole time. He opened his mouth to say something, but closed it and left the room without saying one word.

“Hiei!” his twin sister called out.

Kurama quickly followed the fire demon, leaving Kuwabara, Yukina and Shizuru in the bedroom to sort things out. The older brunette separated her brother from the ice maiden then quickly ushered her to the front door.

“Shizuru do you know what’s wrong with Kazuma?” Yukina asked in a frightened voice.

“I’m hoping it’s only temporary insanity.” Shizuru looked over shoulder and shot her brother a withering glance. “Go back in your room!”

The young man quickly obeyed his sibling’s order.

The eldest Kuwabara addressed her friend. “Look you need to leave, I don’t know what he’ll try to do if you stay. But don’t worry I’ll get the bottom of this.” Once Yukina was gone Shizuru headed back to her little brother’s room. As she made her way down the narrow hallway she called out, “Oh baby brother you have some serious explaining to do!”


~*~MEANWHILE~*~


Kurama left the apartment shortly after Hiei did. He smiled to himself as he ran down the sidewalk. So far everything was going according to his plan. There was only one more piece that needed to fall into place.

“Wait up Hiei!”

“Leave me alone Kurama.”

The fox finally caught up with his friend. “I wanted to see if you’re all right.”

“I just saw Kazuma propose to my sister. How do you think I’m doing?”

“I would have never done that to you.”

“I don’t care about what you wouldn’t have done Kurama.”

“Wait up. Where are you going?”

“Somewhere I can be alone.”

“Let me help you Hiei.”

“Do you have a seed buried in your hair that can go back in time and change the past? I didn’t think so.” Hiei turned and walked away. “If you really want to help me then leave me alone.”

Kurama watched as Hiei disappeared into a nearby park. He had expected this to happen he knew fire apparition wouldn't return to him so easily, but that small problem would be remedied soon enough.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~


“What happened Kazuma?” Shizuru asked for the hundredth time.

“I don’t know.”

“I’ll tell you what happened. You proposed to Yukina in front of Hiei! Are you crazy?!”

“No, I’m in love with Yukina.”

“Stupid, you can’t be in love with her, you’re dating her Hiei. If you’re in love with anybody it should be him!”

“I do love him…at least I think I do…wait I’m confused!” Now that Kuwabara wasn’t looking at Yukina he wasn’t so sure about his feelings. “What’s going on again?”

“You proposed to Yukina!”

“That can’t be right. I want to be with Hiei.” The younger Kuwabara grabbed his head; it felt like a jackhammer was pounding it. “No I want to be with Yukina. I love her and I’m going to marry her.”

Shizuru shook her brothers shoulders. “You can’t marry her!”

“Why not?”

“What part of 'you’re dating Hiei’ don’t you understand?!” The elder sister sat down next to her brother. “I thought you were over her.”

“So did I, but then she walked into my bedroom and it was like I saw her again for the first time.”

“Tell me everything that happened Kazuma.”

“I was talking to Kurama. I got him a glass of water and he dropped the glass. I accidentally cut myself while I was picking it up. He stayed in the room and cleaned up while I got a bandage. When I came back the flower he gave me was about to bloom. Kurama called Yukina in so she could see it too. After the flower opened it shot pollen all over the place. I felt funny, it’s hard to explain, but it felt like my brain was being tickled. I looked at Yukina and I fell in love all over again.”

Shizuru became very agitated. All the pieces of the puzzle fell into place for her at that moment. She stood up and exclaimed, “I don’t believe this!” She grabbed her keys and headed out the door. Before she closed it she told her brother, “You stay here Kazuma. If I find out you left I’ll kick your ass!” She slammed the door behind her without getting a response from her brother.

Kuwabara stared at the door and said, “Sure thing Sis.”


~*~A SHORT TIME LATER~*~


Shizuru was standing outside the Minamino residence. She banged loudly on the front door. She hoped Kurama opened the door instead of his mother; she didn’t want anything to distract her from her anger. She gave a short prayer of thanks when the fox in human form answered the door.

Kurama actually looked surprised to see the young woman standing on his doorstep. “Shizuru…”

Shizuru poked the redhead’s chest as she spoke, “You sneaky little bastard! I know what you did to my brother.” She let her words sink in before she continued talking, “If you have half a brain you’ll give me the antidote now.”

Kurama blinked his large green eyes repeatedly. The look on his face was so innocent it had to be false. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“You gave something to Kazuma to make him fall in love with Yukina.”

“I promise you I had nothing to do with it. I’m just as surprised by this turn of events as you are.”

“You’re lying!” Shizuru slammed the palm of her hand against the doorjamb. “You’re jealous of Kazuma, because Hiei wants to be with him.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“If you really love Hiei you’ll give me the antidote.”

“What antidote are you talking about Shizuru?”

“Hiei is hurting! But of course he’ll never admit it. Right now he thinks the person he cares about most is in love with his sister. You saw how he reacted this afternoon. He was so upset he didn’t fight. Now you know that isn’t normal! If you really love Hiei you’ll give up the antidote.” The brunette added as an after thought, “You can’t go around manipulating people to get what you want.”

Kurama decided to stop acting ignorant. “Says who?”

“In case you haven’t noticed you’re plan isn’t working. Hiei didn’t come running back to you.”

“Give him some time, I’m sure he’ll come around.”

“Can’t you see how much pain you causing? And you're doing it just because you’re jealous. You may have been alive for hundreds of years, but you still have a lot to learn.” Shizuru looked over Kurama's shoulder and saw his mother coming out of the kitchen. She returned her gaze to the young man in front of her. “Do the right thing.”

Kurama’s voice was void of emotion. “Please leave Shizuru.”

The young brunette turned and left. When she reached the bottom step she gave one final look at the fox, but he pretended not to notice it. Once the young woman was gone he went back inside his house.

“Suuichi is everything okay?” his mother asked.

“Yes everything is fine.” The fox grabbed his jacket off the coat rack. “I need to go out for a little while.”

“I was about to serve dinner.”

“I’m sorry, but this is very important.”

“I’ll keep it warm for you.”

“Thank you Mother.”

Kurama went out searching for Hiei. He headed to a section of forest the fire demon usually inhabited and stumbled upon the apparition tossing stones into a small pond. He stood watching the forlorn demon for several minutes.

“Are you going to stand there all night watching me?”

Kurama told him, “I didn’t think you knew I was here.”

“There’s nothing wrong with my senses…only my judgment.”

“People make mistakes. The important thing is that you can forgive them.”

Thinking Kurama was talking about Kuwabara Hiei said, “He made me look like a fool! I will never forgive him!” After a prolonged silence the fire demon finally said, “You were right fox…he wasn’t right for me after all.”

“Let’s not be hasty Hiei.” Kurama mentally berated himself for saying that out aloud. Since he had already started the thought he decided to finish it. “I’m sure Kuwabara didn’t mean it.”

“You saw what happened. He got down on one knee and proposed to Yukina.” The fire apparition sarcastically added, “I’m sure he knew exactly what he was doing.”

“Things aren’t always what they appear to be.”

Hiei stepped closer to Kurama. “I thought you would be happy about this situation fox.”

“Somehow seeing you hurt like this isn’t as thrilling as I thought it would be.”

“Maybe you could distract me…”

Kurama gave a jump as he felt a hand on the small of his back. “You don’t know what your saying Hiei.”

“…You’re right. You should leave Kurama.” The fire demon turned his back on his friend. “Your presence isn’t exactly helping things.”

“I hope you’ll remember my advice about forgiveness.”

“…”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~


Hiei found himself standing in the hallway outside Kuwabara's apartment fingering the house key in his pocket. After thinking it over he used it to unlock the door. When he entered the apartment he saw Shizuru sitting on the couch.

“Is Kuwabara here?”

Shizuru noticed that the fire demon had reverted back to using the family name. “Yeah I barricaded him in his room.” Her eyes followed Hiei as he made his way past her. “Go easy on him, things aren't always as they appear.”

Hiei scoffed, “You’re the second person to tell me that tonight.”

“It’s good advice.”

“Whatever.”

Hiei was greeted in the hallway by Yoshi biting on his cloak. He tried to pull his cloak away, but the kitten hooked his claws into the material as well. Hiei ended up dragging the cat behind him. He entered Kuwabara's room without knocking. He saw the boy sitting at his desk doodling on a piece of paper.

“Hiei…”

Before the young man could say anything further the demon told him, “I’ll give you one more chance and that’s one more than I’ve ever given anyone.” Hiei looked directly into the human’s blue eyes as he asked, “Do you want to be with me or do you want to be with Yukina?”

The silence between the two spoke volumes. Even as he asked the question Hiei knew what the answer would be.

Kuwabara spoke in a whisper so low it was akin to a sigh. “Yukina.”

Even though the demon didn’t show it his whole world had just been shattered. The only thing he could think to say was, "So be it.”

Hiei turned around on his heel and left the room. He was still dragging Yoshi with him as he walked away. Once he had closed the bedroom door he knelt down and yanked his cloak away from the kitten. Yoshi was about to bite the demon’s fingers, but he decided to nuzzle them instead.

Hiei scratched the kitten’s ear. “At least you still like me.”

The demon walked into the living room again. He took one final look around before telling Shizuru, “I won’t be needing this anymore.” He tossed her the key Kuwabara had given him earlier today.

Shizuru caught the key while it was still in the air. She stared at it hard. She wanted to tell Hiei the truth, but she didn’t feel it was her place. She knew if she got involved things would be even worse. Yet at the same time she couldn’t stand seeing the apparition so upset. “Hiei there’s something you should know.”

“Whatever it is I don’t care.” Hiei slammed the door behind him and left for good.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~


Kurama sat at his desk and was staring at the wall. He was thinking about the way he reacted when talking Hiei. Instead of bashing Kuwabara the fox had defended him. He chastised himself for doing it and vowed he wouldn’t make the same mistake twice.

The fox was startled to hear a scratching at his window. He walked over to it and opened it. “Hiei I wasn’t expecting to see you.”

“I need a place to stay…I don’t want to be alone tonight otherwise I might do something stupid.” Hiei barged past the fox. “Don’t worry I won’t try to sleep with you.” He took Kurama’s blanket off the bed and made a pallet in the corner. He turned his back towards the fox and pretended to be asleep.

Kurama left the room then returned with a blanket to replace the one Hiei took. He looked over at the apparition. While he was watching the fire demon Kurama felt an emptiness in the pit of his stomach. The longer he watched Hiei the worse the feeling became. The strange sensation grew until it encompassed most of his body. Kurama let out a bitter laugh and silently cursed his human body. Guilt. He was feeling guilty.

Kurama was beside himself. On one hand he had successfully driven a wedge between Hiei and Kuwabara. But on the other hand he had just hurt Hiei. He hadn’t thought about the painful repercussions his actions might have caused. He had only thought about how it would benefit him. He betrayed his closest friend’s trust, and for what? So that he could soothe his broken heart and mend his injured pride.

The fox turned off his light and got into bed. However, sleep was the farthest thing from mind. Right now he wasn’t feeling very good about himself. His brilliant plan had just blown up in his face.

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cillaxox: Another long chapter. So much dialogue, everybody was talking so much, but it was necessary.

Also if there is anyone who is good at editing please contact me, because I need someone to beta this story for me. e-mail at: cillaxox@yyhmail.com