The sound was very soft, softer than the average human being would hear. But the distant, whispered 'hoot' of an owl caused the redhead to wake suddenly and look around the darkened bedroom, emerald eyes wide with curiosity.
Kurama had been sleeping soundly, his arms wrapped in a familiar embrace around the snuggling Koorime. Upon hearing the owl's call, the youko-turned-human gently moved his sleeping lover away and quietly rose from their bed, pulling on the robe that lay on the floor. The little fire demon sleepily resnuggled his life-partner's pillow, falling back to sleep with a deep sigh. Kurama smiled, then turned his attention to the sound coming from outside their apartment balcony.
The city was still asleep and dawn wouldn't arrive for several hours. However, creatures of the night were very busy with their nocturnal routines. Sitting down on one of the outdoor chairs, the slender human wrapped his robe tightly around himself, rubbing his arms to keep out the pre-dawn chill, and listened to the cacophony of sounds. Tree frogs were singing to their mates, or at least trying to attract a mate. Their songs mixed delightfully with the melodies of crickets and other noisy insects also serenading each other. A bat would occasionally dart past the balcony, chasing some unsuspecting winged morsel that would satisfy its appetite for the next few seconds. But what captured and still held the redhead's attention was the 'hoot hoot' call of the owl.
Kurama closed his eyes, listening to the mournful call of the creature he often encountered in the Makai as a competitor for food. When in true youko form, the beautifully lithe silver fox with the six bushy tails loved to prey on the smaller shrews, voles, and mice that scampered through the underbrush. Just as he was about to pounce on one of these little 'snacks,' his meal would be snatched away by the sharp talons of a Makai owl. And rather than risk a nasty cut on the snout, he'd simply glare and snarl at the one that got away, figuring he'd get the next treat. The crimson-haired young man chuckled, remembering fondly this game between himself and the skilled avian, and suddenly found himself missing...home.
He opened his eyes and looked up past the garden and woods behind their apartment; past the Ningenkai buildings that obscured the horizon; past the lights that caused the sky to not be as black and as deep as that of his ancestral Makai home. Even the stars shone dimmer through the Ningen haze that humans took no notice of. The stars became even dimmer, and the human blinked and blinked, trying to make them clear again. It was then that he noticed his vision had been blurred by his tears, that fell unnoticed until now. He chuckled again to himself, wiping his face with the back of his hands, wondering what his sleeping lover would think of him, sitting here in the dark, crying for a life he so adamantly denied he missed. Secretly longed for. Even dreamed of, now and then.
Gods, he missed the freedom of the Makai. How he longed to be in kitsune form, running through the meadow - chasing, hunting, stalking. Living. Curling up on Hiei's lap, getting his belly rubbed, the few times he appeared in youko spirit form before his lover. And when as the tall, handsome youko - with waist-length silver tresses and a magnificent tail that reached the ground, appeared...oh, how he wished he could return to that form anytime, instead of when needed to challenge and fight other demons.
He missed his tail, he giggled, the memory causing a tingling in the base of his spine as he sat, staring at the ebony sky, who's stars flickered and blinked as they had for countless centuries. His tail was such an expressive part of his body as a youko, swishing nervously when confronted, wagging happily whenever he caught site of Hiei. Yes, he thought, humans should definitely have tails.
Then, just as he was about to rise and go back inside, the owner of the 'hoot' landed silently on the balcony rail. Golden eyes stared into green spheres. Kurama held his breath for fear of frightening the creature. He leaned forward so he was just inches from the magnificent animal. The owl blinked a few times, cocking its head to one side. Kurama reached out, tentatively, and when he saw no fear, gently stroked the owl's chest with the back of his hand. The animal tolerated the soft caressing, seeming to acknowledge an old adversary with a blink. Suddenly, the owl decided it had had enough, and nipped Kurama on the finger, but not enough to break the skin. The human put his finger to his mouth with a smile, licking the mark, as the owl spread its wings and silently flew away, its silhouette illuminated across the full moon. Kurama watched the creature fly off, trying to follow it in the darkness. It disappeared back into its hiding place in the woods, its hooting call echoing through the stillness of the night.
A chill went through Kurama's body, as he held himself tightly against the damp evening air. He rose and quietly padded back inside their bedroom, softly closing the slider behind him. Dropping the robe to the floor, Kurama slid quickly under the covers. Ruby eyes sparkled at him through the darkness; a warm, rough hand reached up and caressed his cheek. The wistful human smiled, kissing the bandaged palm, holding Hiei's hand in his own. The fire demon snuggled himself across his kitsune's chest, warming the two lovers.
Kurama slowly felt himself relaxing as sleep began to overtake him once more. During the few remaining hours until dawn, the youko dreamt of running through the Makai meadow, six tails blowing in the wind, being chased by a certain little fire demon who would rub his belly when he was caught.
The End
Copyright 1998 Julie Farel
Yuu Yuu Hakusho is the property of Togashi Yoshihiro, Jump comics, and Studio Pierrot