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What Price Love?	By : KyoHana Category: Yuyu Hakusho > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 6933 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own YuYu Hakusho, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 6
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The large moving van sat in front of the small, pristine white house like some giant beast at rest; the loading ramp that extended down from its opened back end resembling nothing more than a large tongue lolling out of the beast�s opened mouth. Hiei gave the metal behemoth a wide berth as he made his way toward the opened front door of the house. Ordinarily, he would have just flitted into a tree and through an opened upstairs window, but with the ningen workmen traipsing to and fro, he thought it best to enter as a human would.

Hiei paused a moment to watch the humans in their work. �Mindless drones� just like an army of ants� he thought with some disdain as the movers scurried from the ramp to the house, their arms and strange, wheeled vehicles laden with boxes and furniture.

And there was another reason he�d chosen to enter the house as a human. Though this was Kurama�s home, it was not the house he�d grown up in nor was it the apartment he�d had throughout his university years, and Hiei felt he�d not earned the �right� to enter this place as he had the other two, through the window to Kurama�s bedroom. At this rate, he felt that he might never do so.

It had been two weeks since that day in the woods outside Genkai�s temple. Two weeks spent getting to know his son and though, during that time, Kurama had shown him nothing but the same kindness and care that he�d always given to him, the fox�s heart was another matter entirely. Since that afternoon, and his admission that he still loved the little fire demon, Kurama had kept a singularly tight rein upon his feelings and seemed wary of allowing Hiei to express his as well.

As he approached the open door, Hiei sighed, wondering if it would ever be possible to regain the fox�s trust or to know once again the love he�d so carelessly tossed away those three long years ago. Thrusting his hands deeper into the pockets of the long, black coat he wore, Hiei skirted the ramp and entered the house. Kurama, dressed in faded blue jeans and a white t-shirt, his scarlet hair drawn up into a high ponytail, smiled as the small demon stepped through the door. Forest-green eyes took in the hiyoukai�s rather human appearance, noting with satisfaction and approval that Hiei was dressed in black jeans, blue t-shirt and the coat.

�Good morning, Hiei. It�s a beautiful day isn�t it?� The fox greeted his small guest warmly. An elegant eyebrow arched in amusement when Hiei responded with his usual, monosyllabic, �hn�.

It was the only response Hiei was capable of at the moment as all his thoughts were currently centered pondering on whether the fox was aware of just how incredibly alluring he looked this morning; his hair pulled up into that ponytail, tiny wisps of which had escaped the confines of the tie that held it in place to frame the elfin face, a soft smile gracing even softer lips, and sparkling jade eyes. He swallowed hard as his eyes traveled from Kurama�s face to the finely sculpted chest and abdomen adorned by the white t-shirt to the well-worn jeans that encased slender legs and hugged slim hips.

Hiei�s hands itched not only to loose that red mane from its confining band but also to peel both shirt and pants from Kurama�s body and caress the soft flesh beneath, his lips following closely behind as he worshipped that godlike body. Shaking himself from his mental reverie, he was able to catch the end of the question Kurama had apparently just asked.

�� like some breakfast, Hiei? I know the house is a mess at the moment, but I�m sure I can find what I need to be able to provide you with something suitable to eat.�

As he spoke, Kurama turned to re-enter the living room, gracefully sidestepping random piles of boxes and displaced furniture as he wound his way through the room and into the kitchen. Hiei followed after the fox, swallowing again as he was presented with the sight of a firm backside encased in those well-worn jeans. Gods but he wanted the fox!

To take his mind off the lascivious images currently running rampant through his brain, Hiei decided it would be a good time to answer the question Kurama had asked of him. �That�s not necessary, Fox,� he said. �I had breakfast at the temple with Yukina, the Fool and their children. But� thank you,� he added softly.

�Hiei, Kuwabara is your brother-in-law,� the fox admonished his small companion. �Don�t you think it�s time you stopped referring to him as �the Fool� and started using his proper name?�

Hiei smirked. �Hn. The Fool requested I inform you that he was going to stop by the detective�s house and they�d arrive together later this morning.�

Kurama shook his head; eyes alight with silent laughter as he regarded the tiny figure in front of him. �You�ll never change, will you, Hiei?�

Red eyes returned the fox�s look before Hiei turned his attention to the room in which he found himself and his fox. �Where is our son?� he asked. He�d felt the boy�s energy in the house and was a bit surprised that Ryuushin had not come out to greet him.

�Upstairs,� the kitsune replied, �showing Mother his new bedroom. They should be down shortly.� Again Kurama regarded the diminutive youkai for a moment before asking, �Are you sure about this, Hiei?�

He received a steely-eyed glare before the small half-Koorime answered the question with one of his own. �Already regretting your decision to allow your son to spend time alone with me, Fox?�

Kurama was taken slightly aback by the vehemence in Hiei�s voice. Though he realized that in the last two weeks both he and Hiei had been together with Ryuushin as the boy and his father got to know each other, he also knew that he had absolutely no reservations about trusting the little demon to be alone with their son.

�Not at all, Hiei,� he responded now with a firm shake of his red mane. �I trust you implicitly where our son is concerned. I was merely thinking that, with an energetic three year-old and crowds of strange humans, a day at the zoo might be a bit much for you to handle alone.�

�Hn,� came the response. �I won�t be alone, Fox. Your mother will be with me.�

Hiei noted the surprise as viridian eyes widened. Apparently, Shiori had not told her son that she would be accompanying Hiei and Ryuushin on their outing. �I�m sure, between the two of us, we can handle it. Besides,� the fire demon shrugged, �this is what Ryuushin requested to do today.�

�Of course, Hiei.� Kurama acquiesced with a small nod. �I�m sure you and Mother will manage quite well.�

At that moment, pounding feet could be heard on the stairs, and the next, Ryuushin came bounding into the kitchen and flew straight toward his small father. Hiei immediately bent down and held out his arms to catch his son �Daddy,� the little boy cried, leaping into the outstretched arms of the hiyoukai. Hiei felt the corners of his mouth lift in a smile at the name he�d come to love in just a short time. He wrapped his arms about the tiny frame and straightening, lifted Ryuushin from the floor. Tiny arms promptly wrapped around his neck as Ryuushin excitedly hugged his father.

Mistah Hiei had quickly become Daddy Hiei which was then promptly shortened to Daddy, since as Ryuushin explained it to both of his fathers, the man who was your father was either �Daddy� or �Papa�, and since Kurama was already Papa and not Papa Shuuichi, then his other father should be just Daddy and not Daddy Hiei. Surprised, yet secretly delighted, Hiei had questioned Kurama at how easily Ryuushin had accepted that the diminutive demon was his sire, and how quickly he�d adapted to the knowledge that he had two fathers rather than the traditional (at least in the Human World) set of parents.

Kurama had merely smiled. �It�s always been easy for him to accept� and to love,� he�d replied.

�Just like his Papa,� Hiei had returned, so softly that Kurama barely heard the whispered remark.

�Good morning, my little Dragon.� Hiei greeted his son now that Ryuushin had loosened his hold on the fire demon�s neck enough that he was once more able to draw sufficient breath to speak. Looking over the boy�s head, he gave Kurama a quick wink before turning his attention back to the tiny, squirming form in his arms. �And to what do I owe such an enthusiastic welcome? Could it be that you are happy to see me?� Hiei teased his son.

�Course I am!� The look in the green eyes so like Kurama�s was downright indignant. Ryuushin gave his father another hug. �I missed you, Daddy!�

�But musuko,� the little youkai replied, �We saw each other only yesterday, did we not?�

A tiny, but distinctly exasperated, �hn�, followed by the rolling of emerald eyes expressed far more eloquently than words exactly what the child thought of his father�s response. Astonished, Hiei could only gape at his son, who looked and sounded so much like himself. Kurama, however, seemed to find the whole situation highly amusing as peals of soft laughter suddenly resounded throughout the small room.

Hiei looked up, vermilion eyes meeting sparkling jade, and glared at the fox.

�Forgive my laughter, Blackfire.� Kurama bit his lip in a valiant attempt to control his mirth. �But I believe our son has inherited your unique gift for conversation,� he finished with a smile.

Though he responded as his son had just moments before, Hiei felt his heartbeat quicken at the sound of the old, familiar nickname. It was the first time, since they�d met in the woods, that Kurama had used it, and Hiei realized now just how much he�d missed hearing it.

Shiori chose that moment to return. �Shuuichi, the house is lovely, and Ryuushin�s room is perfect,� she commented as she came into the room. Before Kurama could respond, Shiori fixed her gaze on the fire demon in whose arms her grandson was being held.

�Good morning, Hiei,� she greeted him, her voice soft and perfectly neutral. �It�s a pleasure to see you again.�

�Shiori-san,� Hiei acknowledged with a small bow.

An awkward silence followed. Ryuushin sensed the tension between his father and grandmother as they continued to stare at each other. Kurama noticed the small frown and perplexed look in his son�s eyes as the boy looked from Shiori to Hiei. Though his instincts told him it may not be the wisest of moves to leave his mother and the small fire demon alone, he also knew that it would be good if they had a chance to talk before the two of them left with Ryuushin for the zoo.

He had to admit, he�d been surprised to find out that Shiori had agreed to accompany Hiei and their son on their outing, though, given the nature of her relationship with Ryuushin, he knew he should not have been. But he also knew that Shiori harbored some resentment toward the hiyoukai for what had happened between Hiei and himself. She would not be who she was if she did not. Yet Kurama knew, as well, that despite these feelings, his mother also loved the little demon, and that deep within his heart, Hiei felt the same.

His decision made, Kurama looked over at his mother; his eyes clearly saying, �I�ll distract him long enough for you to talk�, before he turned to his son who was still frowning.

�Ryuushin,� he quietly called and waited until he had the boy�s attention. �Are you ready for your day at the zoo with Daddy and Grandma?�

The frown instantly disappeared, replaced by a wide grin. �Yes sir!� he answered with a vigorous nod of his tiny head.

The kitsune favored his son with an indulgent smile. �Really, musuko-chan?� he commented, one red eyebrow arched as he looked down at tiny, bare feet. �Because it seems to me you�ve forgotten something important.� Reaching out, he tickled the bottom of one of those feet, and Ryuushin giggled. �Where are your socks, Dragon?�

The small boy�s laughter subsided, his eyes suddenly downcast. �I couldn�t find them, Papa. They awen�t in my dwawer and thewa�s too many boxes to look in!� he complained.

�I think they might be found in one of the suitcases we brought from Grandma�s, don�t you?� Kurama gently asked. �Come.� He held out his arms to his son. �We�ll go upstairs and look for them together.�

Ryuushin practically jumped from Hiei�s arms into those of the waiting fox. �Hurry, Papa, pleeaassee,� he pleaded, fidgeting in the taller man�s arms.

Kurama smothered his laughter. �Patience, my son,� he chided the small boy before he turned his attention to his mother and Hiei. �Mother, Hiei, we�ll be back in a moment,�

he finished, giving Shiori a small nod before he and Ryuushin headed out the door and up the stairs.

************************************************************************

No sooner had Kurama�s footsteps sounded on the stairs then Hiei looked over at Shiori, though his eyes did not quite meet hers as he spoke. �I shall wait outside for Kurama and Ryuushin to return,� he said, starting for the doorway.

Shiori reached out her hand, laying it on the little demon�s arm. �Hiei, wait,� she said, her voice soft and still quite neutral in tone. �I�d like to speak with you for a moment, please� about Shuuichi.�

Hiei stopped but did not turn to face her. He stood rigidly, crimson eyes fixed on the floor, and waited, already knowing what it was the human woman was about to say.

Shiori, however, though angry that this small being had been the cause of her son�s heartache (and his reason for leaving her, she admitted to herself), felt her heart lurch as she looked at him, standing there like a little boy lost. Yet, she was determined to clear the air between them. She would not allow him to hurt her Shuuichi again. A deep voice intruded on her thoughts and Shiori fixed her attention on the hiyoukai once more.

�You are displeased at my return.� Hiei kept his eyes on the floor at his feet.

�That�s a bit harsh. And no, I�m not,� she answered.

Taken aback by the unexpected response, Hiei turned, surprise flitting across his face before it settled into its normal, emotionless mask once more. Shiori noticed the look and again, felt empathy for the demi-Koorime despite the circumstances. Still, she continued.

�I�m concerned, Hiei, as any parent would be for their child� just as you and Shuuichi would be for Ryuushin.� She regarded the tiny figure for a moment. �I do not want to see my son hurt again.�

�And you believe that I will do so.� Hiei gave a brief nod as if he�d already ascertained Shiori�s thoughts. Red eyes met and held dark brown. �I have already had a similar discussion with the detective, and I shall tell you exactly what I told him� I have no intention of hurting my fox again.�

Shiori bit her lower lip, and Hiei had to look away from the endearing gesture that was so like the kitsune�s. �At least I know now from whom Kurama inherited that particular habit.� He had time enough for the thought before Shiori spoke again; her words hitting him like a reprimand.

�Please forgive me if I�m somewhat reluctant to accept your word on this,� she replied.

Hiei stifled a sigh. He had expected the human�s reaction. She was, after all, Kurama�s mother and as fiercely protective of her son as he himself was of his own offspring. Though he did not fully understand it, something compelled him to explain himself to her. Perhaps it was simply because she was his fox�s mother, the one who�d taught the legendary �King of Thieves� to love (among other things). Or perhaps it was because she�d always shown him the same depth of caring that she had her son. More likely, though, it was merely because he�d always looked upon her as the mother he never knew. But whatever the reason, Hiei only knew he wanted to do this.

Crimson eyes meeting hers once more, he spoke. �I was wrong to leave as I did. I did not know then how to accept what Kurama was offering or how to reciprocate those feelings. In truth, I did not want to do so� or at least, that is what I tried to convince myself was the truth.�

He was frightened! That revelation hit Shiori immediately, stunning but not surprising her in the least, given what she knew of the fire youkai�s past. And with it, her heart and her resentment of him melted as ice before the sun.

�And what is truth to you now?� she quietly asked, and without waiting for his reply, hurried on. �Hiei, do you love my son?�

The answer was quick and unequivocal. �Of course!�

�So what happens now?� The question just as quietly asked as the others.

Hiei shrugged; a mere rise and fall of his shoulders. �I do not know,� he replied. �I have made my feelings for Kurama known to him, and he has told me that he loves me as well. However�..� the deep voice trailed off.

�He does not trust you with his heart right now, does he?� came another equally soft query from the human woman.

�No.� Hiei shook his head. �He does not. Yet I hope, that with time, he will once more be able to do so.�

�And if he doesn�t?� she pressed. �Hiei, what if Shuuichi chooses to keep his heart closed to you? What will you�..�

�Then that will be Kurama�s choice,� Hiei quickly broke in. �And I shall abide by his decision,� he finished quietly.

Though the words were flatly spoken, the fear that Kurama would make just such a choice � would abandon him as his own people had done so many years ago � was reflected in the vermillion eyes that held her gaze. And once more, Shiori felt her heart go out to the small demon.

She reached out, putting her hand gently on his arm again. Wanting to offer what comfort and hope she could, Shiori spoke. �I have always had just one wish for my son, Hiei; and that is for his happiness above else.� She smiled softly at the hiyoukai. �And despite what�s happened between you, I believe that you are the key to that happiness. I can see how much you love my son, and so it�s my hope now that the life and love you seek to share with him and with my grandson will happen. Because I know that, deep in his heart, this is what Shuuichi wants as well.�

Again Shiori smiled. �Don�t give up on him, Hiei. I know, in the end, he�ll make the right choice.�

�I will not,� the fire demon acquiesced. He gave her a brief nod; a silent �thank you� for her words and the unexpected comfort they brought to him. �And I will wait� for however long it may be.�

Shiori accepted both his words and the gesture with the same silence, only gifting him with a final, gentle smile. Just then, a tiny yet curious voice rang out from the doorway.

�What awe you gonna� wait for, Daddy?� Ryuushin asked as he ran into the room, Hiko cradled against his chest.

�Hn,� Hiei replied, bending down so that he was at eye level with his son. �For you to return, of course, musuko.�

Again, Hiei reached out and wrapped his arms around his son. Lifting the small body, he straightened. With Ryuushin held securely in his arms, he looked from his son to Shiori and back, the corners of his mouth turned up into the briefest of smiles. �Now, are you finally ready to take your grandmother to the zoo, Ryuu-chan?�

Ryuushin gave his father a wide grin. �Yes sir!� An enthusiastic nod of the tiny head and then the boy glanced quickly from his raven-haired father to his grandmother.

Seeing Shiori�s tender look as she watched the by-play between Hiei and his son, Ryuushin looked back at his father and grinned again. �You and Gwamma awen�t mad anymore, Daddy?� he asked.

It was Shiori who answered. �We weren�t angry, Ryuushin.� At his somewhat bewildered expression, she hastened to explain further. �It was just that your father and I haven�t seen each for a few years, and when something like that happens between two people, they are almost, but not quite, strangers when they see each other again. So, when they finally do meet they are a little uncomfortable with one another until they�ve spent some time getting to know each other again. And that�s what Hiei and I were doing while you and Papa were upstairs� getting to know one another once more.�

�Do you understand what Grandma�s saying, Dragon?� Kurama asked his son.

Ryuushin nodded. �I think so, Papa.� He smiled at his taller, red-haired father.

�Good!� Hiei groused, giving Kurama no chance at a reply. �Now, can we go?�

Kurama looked at Shiori, both of them chuckling. With a wink at his mother, the fox turned to the seemingly impatient fire demon. �Why Hiei,� he teased, �I had no idea you were so anxious to see the animals!�

Hiei glared at his fox. �Hn. Baka kitsune,� he muttered as he swept past both humans and headed for the living room, Ryuushin grinning over his shoulder at the two.

Shiori and Kurama hastened to follow. They found Hiei in the living room, bent over his son and tying the shoes that were already on Ryuushin�s tiny feet. Quickly, Shiori bent and put her own shoes on. Hiei, of course, was already wearing his dark boots. He hadn�t removed them when he�d entered the house, reasoning that if it was all right for the ningen workmen to be traipsing around with their shoes on, then it was acceptable for him as well.

As soon as he�d finished with Ryuushin�s shoes, Hiei again lifted the boy into his arms. �Shall we?� he asked Shiori, seeing that she was ready as well. She nodded, giving him a smile, and Hiei turned to his fox. �We�ll be back at 6 p.m., Fox. Is that all right?� he asked.

Kurama nodded, answering with a smile of his own. �Of course, Hiei. Spend as much time together as you�d like.� He then turned to his son, giving the boy a smile as well. �Be a good boy for Daddy and Grandma,� he admonished. �And have fun!�

�I will, Papa� I pwomise,� Ryuushin returned then held out his arms. Kurama took his son into his arms and placed a gentle kiss on the small forehead. Ryuushin hugged his father tightly before placing his own kiss on the kitsune�s porcelain cheek.

Kurama handed their son back to Hiei and stepped back so that Hiei and Shiori could make their way through the door and onto the porch then followed them outside. As they made their way down the steps, and around the ramp, Ryuushin twisted in his father�s arms so that he could see Kurama standing on the porch. Raising a tiny hand, he waved at his redheaded father.

�Bye Papa,� he called out, �love you!�

Kurama smiled at his son and raised his own hand in an answering wave. �Goodbye musuko-chan. I love you, too!� he called to the boy. He stayed on the porch, watching until the trio had disappeared from view then went back inside to start unpacking and settling into his and Ryuushin�s new home.

_____________________________________________________________________

A/N: A long wait, I know, and I apologize. I hope that 8 pages and almost 4,000 words will help in some small way to make up for my lack of an update in almost six months.

Also, while I was not entirely sure the scene between Shiori and Hiei was right, as I was writing it, I felt that it was because I have always believed that if the two had ever met, Shiori would have come to love and treat Hiei as one of her own, and Hiei would have loved her as well; seeing her as a surrogate for the mother he never knew.

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What Price Love?