The cool evening air was filled with the luscious aroma of exotic Makai flowers. Orchids, such as those never seen in the Ningenkai, lifted their heavy heads, allowing the breeze to carry their spores into the fields and meadows, continuing the cycle of life. Insects were singing to their partners, performing a symphony of chirps and chirls. Makai bats were darting to and fro, chasing tasty morsels, as the moon peeked its silver face from behind the tree tops, heralding the night. The Kurama/Hiei family sat under the star-filled sky, letting the cares of the day disappear with the last bits of sunset.
Yoji, who was snuggled up against Kurama's back, while the youko absent-mindedly twirled his daughter's tail, inhaled a huge, noisy yawn with a stretch. Kurama leaned his head back onto his eldest son's shoulder and smiled.
"You should go to bed, musuko," the youko gently instructed.
"I'm not tired," the stubborn child insisted, stifling yet another yawn. "Besides, I'm the oldest. It's not fair. I shouldn't have to go first."
"Hn," Hiei chuckled. "Who said life's fair. C'mon. Go to bed, all of you." Kurama lifted Rami to her feet. She had just about fallen asleep in his lap, and he began to brush bits of grass from her clothing. The fire demon rose from the palm-leaf blanket they were all sharing and began to shuttle offspring of varying degrees of age, gender, and sleepiness towards their tree house. Noticing Ryu had a smudge on his cheek, Hiei wet his fingers and reached over, brushing the mark with his fingertips. Their second-born made a face and pulled away.
"Ow," Ryu complained. "Your hands are too hard, touchan."
Hiei's eyebrows rose as he removed his offending hand, shoving both hands into his pockets. "Excuse me. I was just trying to help."
"Gomen, touchan," Ryu apologized. "It's just that your hands are so rough. They're not like Kurama-touchan's." The three younger siblings marched up the tree-house ladder as Yoji hung back.
"I think it's neat to have calluses," Yoji remarked, grinning at his fire demon father. "I hope I get cool, rough hands like you, touchan, 'cause I'm gonna' practice my budo everyday. Then people will know how tough I am." Having made this incredibly mature observation about his future, Yoji smiled proudly, looking at his own small hands. "G'night!" He was up the ladder and out of sight before Hiei could respond.
"Hn," Hiei said to himself. He rejoined his life partner on the blanket and sat down in a huff. Kurama, who's sensitive ears had heard their conversation, but had remained quiet during the exchange, reached over and took Hiei's smaller hands into his own. He held them palm up, turned them over, rubbed the scratchy surface with his own smooth hands, and smiled.
"You have beautiful hands, koibito," the youko said softly, bringing both Hiei's hands up to his mouth for a tender kiss. "I love your hands."
"You seem to be the only one, kitsune," the Koorime replied, pulling his hands free, hiding them in his lap. Kurama lifted his face to the night sky, closing his eyes, letting the evening sounds and smells surround him. Hiei pulled his knees up under his chin, wrapped his arms around them, and frowned. Kurama chuckled softly.
"What's so funny, fox," Hiei grumbled, staring straight ahead.
"You are, Hiei. You're letting the comments of a little boy bother you." The youko leaned back on his hands, his silver mane brushing the blanket. He stretched his legs out in front of him and shrugged, getting the day's kinks out of his neck.
"It is getting late, koibito. Let's go to bed." Kurama sat back up and saw that Hiei hadn't moved a bit. He seemed to be in a snit. The youko moved his body closer, unwrapping Hiei's arms from his legs, and took hold of his hands again.
"Hiei," the kitsune began, "have I ever told you how much I love your hands?" Hiei clicked his tongue and rolled his eyes, preparing himself for the lecture he felt was about to commence.
"Hai," Hiei sighed, "many times."
"And how many times have you believed me?" Kurama pulled their hands to his chest. Hiei chewed on his lip while he tried to think of an answer.
"When I touch your hands, I feel calluses, just like Ryu does. But, you know what, koibito? I know what these calluses mean. I know what they represent." Kurama stared deeply into Hiei's crimson eyes, though the Koorime was looking down at their hands.
"I can feel centuries of strength in these calluses. I know what these calluses have cost you. And I know how hard they were to earn." Kurama rubbed his thumbs across the back of his lover's knuckles, smiling sweetly. The smile turned into a slightly wicked grin.
"I know every callus on these hands because they have touched every part of my body. I love the way these callused hands caress my face and my neck. I love the way they make me shiver when you run them down my back and play with my tail." Kurama inched closer so his legs were touching Hiei's. "I love the feel of your hands as you make love to me, koibito," Kurama said softly, his voice becoming thick. The sounds of the night blurred with the sound of the two demons breathing. "And I love the way your hands feel when you brush away my tears, whether they're happy or sad ones, because they're your hands, Hiei. I wouldn't change these rough hands for anything in the worlds. These hands...are you." The youko lifted the Koorime's chin, and with sparkling eyes, whispered, "And I love you."
Hiei looked into his life partner's golden spheres, inhaling sharply, his breath ragged, as he tried to keep his emotions in check.
"Arigatou, fox," the fire demon whispered back.
Kurama sniffled, then tilted his head with a smile. "Let's go to bed, ne? It's getting late."
The youko rose in one smooth motion, lifting his lover to his feet as well. They rolled up the blanket together, Kurama tucking it under one arm. The cantankerous little fire demon took his callused hand and held onto his fox's smooth one all the way back to the tree house.
The End
Copyright 1998 Julie Farel
Yu Yu Hakusho is the property of Togashi Yoshihiro, Jump Comics, and Studio Pierrot.