"Hiei, stop that..." Kurama complained sleepily, brushing his hand across the lower part of his abdomen. He rolled over onto his side and gathered up his pillow with a sigh, attempting to fall back to sleep. Again he felt a pinch.
"Hiei, I said stop that. That hurts," Kurama said as he felt another sharp pinch in his groin. He turned to look over his shoulder at Hiei, then looked around the room when he realized that the youkai wasn't even on the futon. Hiei was dressing quietly over by the window and looked down at Kurama, who was making a strange face. Kurama stared at Hiei, then propped himself up on his elbows and looked down at his pajama bottoms with a frown.
"What's the problem, kitsune?" Hiei asked as he buckled the thin white belts he used to hold up his trousers. "You've been moaning in your sleep about something since I got up." He opened the window to their apartment and looked out to see if it was still raining. The morning thunderstorm was just winding down but the rain was still falling, though lighter now. Hiei looked at the large tree that stood next to the balcony rail and decided it was a bit too slippery to climb down just yet; he'd have some breakfast with his lover first and wait for the rain to stop.
Kurama stared down at his crotch, then back up at Hiei with a puzzled look.
"I dunno," he said. "I could've sworn you were...you know...pinching me." Then, with a sly smile, he began, "and you don't have to pinch me to get my atten...." Kurama couldn't finish the last part of his sentence because he was suddenly doubled over in excruciating pain, grabbing at his crotch. His emerald eyes were wide with panic. It felt like someone was twisting his left testicle off his body.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Hiei asked as he came over to the side of the futon and sat down. Kurama didn't seem to hear; his face was contorted in pain, and he was gasping for breath. Tears had come to his eyes and he tried to say something but all that came out was "Owww!!!"
"What did you do to me last night?!" Kurama finally asked as the stab of pain subsided, sweat beginning to form on his forehead as he rocked slowly on the bed. His breathing was still somewhat ragged.
"Nothing," Hiei replied, innocently. "Well, nothing that I don't normally do. What's wrong? Why are you grabbing your nuts?"
Kurama blinked a few times and seemed to relax a little more as he rubbed his groin in an effort to relieve the intense pain he had just experienced. It was even worse than when he was hit with one of Kurasu's bombs. It was so focused in such a specific area that he couldn't even begin to figure out what sort of healing spell or plant to conjure up to help himself out.
"I don't know what that was all about," Kurama sighed with a groan as he slowly sat up, shaking his head. "I never felt anything like that before, even when we get a little...rough." Hiei rubbed the back of Kurama's shoulders and looked down at his lover's crotch. "Maybe it's a human thing," Hiei remarked, in an effort to be helpful.
"I don't know what it is but I hope it stops soon. It still feels, you know, funny." As Hiei helped Kurama up off the futon he felt the pinch starting again and made a grimace. "Maybe if I take a leak it'll feel better," and he staggered over to the bathroom holding himself with his left hand. It seemed to feel a little better that way.
"Hn." Hiei grunted as he scratched his head. "Definitely must be a human thing," and continued dressing when he heard Kurama scream. He came running into the bathroom to see Kurama standing over the toilet looking down at himself with his mouth hanging open.
"It's purple, Hiei!" Kurama whispered in a panicked gasp. "Why the hell is it purple?!?"
Hiei looked down. Sure enough, Kurama's left testicle was purple. Like an angry bruise. And it was swollen. His right testicle was its normal pink color and looked oddly pale next to the other.
"What the hell is wrong with me?" Kurama choked and began to whimper.
"Now calm down, kitsune. I'm sure we can figure out what the hell is wrong with your...boy, is it purple!" Hiei observed, continuing to stare at Kurama's privates. Kurama began to feel dizzy and leaned on Hiei's shoulder for fear of fainting.
"I think you'd better take me to the hospital, Hiei," Kurama said in a hoarse voice, the intense pain returning to his left ball as he started to walk slowly back to the bedroom. "Would you please help me get dressed..." he spoke softly as he leaned against Hiei, walking unsupported now becoming impossible.
"Maybe Yukina could help. She knows a lot of healing spells..." Hiei suggested, trying to be more helpful than before. Kurama stopped and gave him a *you've got to be kidding* glare, and Hiei shrugged. "Just tryin' to be helpful, Kurama. Nothin' like this has ever happened to me."
"Well, it's never happened to me before right now," Kurama noted as Hiei helped him take off his pajamas and pull on his boxers and the loosest fitting pair of jeans he owned. He pulled on a baggy shirt and Hiei helped him slip on his sneakers. Kurama had Hiei call for a taxi as he was in no condition to drive and didn't trust the youkai's driving for a minute. He had Hiei tell the cab company that it was an emergency and to hurry, that he had to get his friend to the hospital right now. Hiei helped Kurama down the flight of stairs and they waited at the entrance of the building for the cab to arrive, Kurama at least remembering to grab his wallet before leaving the apartment. (He didn't worry about his keys; Hiei would let them in later when he scaled up the tree and came in through the window.) For the first time in his life, Kurama left his apartment without stopping at least to run a comb through his beautiful long red hair. He was in serious PAIN!
As the taxi pulled up to the door, the driver looked over the couple and quickly got out of the cab. "Here, Miss, let me help you!" the driver said as he took Kurama by the arm and led him to the back seat. Hiei stood on the curb and raised an eyebrow. *Miss?* he said to himself. "Here, kid, you can sit in the back, too," the driver said as he hopped back into the cab. *Kid?!?*
As Kurama rested his head against Hiei's shoulder, moaning as he held his groin, the driver talked very quickly and excitedly. "So, is this your first one?"
"My first what?" Hiei said, monotone.
"No, her first one? You know...baby?" the driver laughed as they rounded the block to the city hospital, which was only about a mile from their apartment.
"No," Hiei began. "*She's* not a..." and before he could finish, they had arrived at the emergency entrance. The driver jumped out and ran inside, while Hiei helped Kurama out of the back seat. The driver came back with an orderly pushing a wheelchair and they came up behind Kurama motioning for him to sit, which he happily did with a pained sigh. Hiei was becoming quite annoyed at this point, wondering what the hell was going on and why the driver was acting like such a jerk. As the orderly wheeled Kurama into the emergency room, the driver got back into the cab and yelled to Hiei, "Hey, no charge! And tell your mom congratulations!" This last comment stopped Hiei in his tracks. He looked back over his shoulder at the departing taxi and squinted his eyes. He was tempted to call up Kokuryuuha and flame out the taxi with its idiot driver but he controlled his temper...for a while at least. He shoved his hands in his pockets and with a "Hn" followed Kurama inside.
As Kurama was wheeled up to the emergency room reception desk, Hiei came grumbling up behind him muttering a variety of Makai curses under his breath. By this time Kurama was trembling from the pain and reached for Hiei's hand. Hiei noticed how cold and clammy it was and held it gently in one hand, patting it with the other. Kurama looked up at Hiei and managed a weak smile. The nurse behind the desk looked over the counter-top and gave Kurama the once over, then shot a glance at Hiei.
"Here, fill out these forms over there and I'll call your name when it's your turn," the over-worked, under-paid nurse stated, looking down at some papers in front of her. Kurama reached up to take the clipboard but found even the slightest movement caused the burning pinch to start up again so he motioned for Hiei to retrieve it. Hiei wheeled Kurama over to a quiet corner of the emergency room, far from the kid with the broken arm, the woman who closed her car door on her finger, and the drunk who had cut himself on broken glass. "Human-kind's finest," Hiei muttered. "Hn?" was all Kurama could ask. "Nothing. Here, we gotta fill this out before that dragon lets us see anyone," Hiei complained as he picked up the pen attached to a chain on the clipboard, a concept that totally baffled him - he wondered who would want to steal a clipboard.
After filling in the blanks that he could figure out - (human) name, address, phone, (human) age - he asked Kurama for help.
"What the hell is insurance provider?"
"Oh, yeah. I have it in here," Kurama reached back gingerly and took out his wallet. He flipped through some credit cards, found the appropriate one and told Hiei to copy down the name and number that was on the back.
"Are-you-al-ler-gic-to-any-thing?" Hiei managed, his skill at reading Japanese having improved somewhat after being coached by Kurama.
"Yeah, your cooking," he said with a grin, but the pain shortened the joke considerably as Hiei just stared at him. Then with another groan said, "Just put down 'no.'"
"Have-you-any-un-der-ly-ing-con-di-tions-that-should-be-noted?" Hiei read, sounding very much like a school child reading for his teacher. They both looked at each other and started to laugh, Kurama grimacing at the sharp pain and holding himself.
"Hai, I am really a 400 year-old youko from the demon world. Duh!" Hiei pretended to write it down. Kurama was amazed at the spark of a sense of humor Hiei was displaying. Kurama touched him on the hand and smiled.
"Arigatou for helping me, Hiei," he said softly looking into his lover's ruby eyes. "I'm glad you're here."
"It'll be ok, Kurama. They'll fix you."
"Don't say fix, Hiei. They may take it the wrong way?"
"Hn?"
"Nevermind..." Kurama inhaled deeply and let the second joke pass as he closed his eyes and leaned back in the wheelchair. Hiei brought the pen with the valuable clipboard back to the counter and handed it to the nurse. Not looking up, she said "Arigatou. Just wait over there and we'll call her when it's her turn."
"Minamino Shuuichi is a guy," Hiei said roughly, scowling at the nurse. She popped her head up suddenly and looked down at Hiei, whose face and hair were just visible over the counter.
"Oh! I thought the taxi driver said...oh, gomen. Well, wait a minute. What seems to be the problem?" The nurse got up and came over to Kurama, finally showing a bit of concern. The rest of the waiting room seemed to want to know as well.
Kurama felt himself blush and got very self-conscious as he glanced around the waiting room. "I've got something wrong with my testicle," he whispered behind his hand.
"Your what?" the nurse asked loudly and indelicately.
"My testicle. It's swollen and purple," he whispered through his teeth, pointing down at his lap.
"Your testicle?" the nurse announced. The entire waiting room stopped what they were doing and stared. The little kid whose arm was broken looked at his mother and said, "That lady has a testicle like me?"
The only thing keeping Hiei from killing everyone in the room, except himself and Kurama of course, was the fact that his lover was in such pain and now obvious embarrassment.
"Could you say it any louder? I don't think they heard you upstairs," Hiei said with a growl. "Hai, it's his testicle. Now could you get him some help, dozo?!?"
"Hai, I'll have an orderly take you to Urology right away," she told him flatly as she turned back to her desk and shook her head. *Must be a full moon,* she thought to herself. As Hiei sat down next to his injured kitsune, you could have heard a pin drop. All eyes were on the beautiful redhead with the small spiky-haired boy.
"What are you lookin' at?!?" Hiei snarled at the stunned audience, and all eyes suddenly had other places to look. Hiei put his hand on Kurama's shoulder as the mortified fox covered his eyes with his hand.
After a moment, a new orderly came up and asked if "he" was Minamino Shuuichi, *Yes, he WAS!* and finally they were off to fix...um...help Kurama with his "predicament."
As they rounded the corner where the elevators were located, the orderly attempted to make comforting small talk. Things like "don't worry" and "you'll be fine" were directed towards the suffering redhead as they boarded the elevator for a ride to the second floor. The orderly kept staring at Hiei as he spoke. When they finally arrived at Urology, the orderly told them to wait a minute and he'd get a nurse to help them. Kurama wasn't paying much attention, still resting his head on his hand. But Hiei watched intently as he strained to listen to what the orderly was telling the new nurse. Hiei noticed that her eyebrows went up as high as he'd ever seen and he could have sworn he heard "that's a guy?" A low growl started in his throat as the nurse came over.
"So. You've got pain in your...your..."
"Hai, his testicle. Why is this a problem for you people here?" Hiei snipped.
"Oh, well, no. It's just that, well...well, anyway. Let's get you into a gown and see what we can do." The nurse rolled Kurama into a dressing room and was about to close the curtain when a very loud "Ahem!" was heard. The nurse turned around to find Hiei right behind her.
"Just what are you doing?" Hiei glared at the nurse.
"I'm going to help...him...remove...his...clothing and put on a hospital gown. Then I need...him...to wait for the doctor to see...him...and then we'll see just what's wrong. Gomen, but you'll have to wait over there," and she pointed to a small waiting area in the corner.
"It'll be ok, Hiei," Kurama said with a small smile. "I'll just be a minute." Hiei gave the nurse a nasty scowl, shoved his hands back into his pockets, and grumbled as he went and sat down in a huff, his feet dangling above the floor.
After just a few minutes, the nurse came out of the dressing room blushing intensely and with quite a smile on her face. She gathered up Kurama's wheelchair and then helped him sit back down. Kurama gave her a suggestive smile and a wink, and she blushed and giggled. She smoothed her uniform down and fussed with her hair, and then pushed Kurama over to where Hiei was sitting. Hiei had one eyebrow raised and the other eye squinted as he looked at the overheated nurse.
"Here ya' go," she said melodically. "Now you take it easy and I'll get the doctor," she said as she patted Kurama on the shoulder.
"Arigatou gozaimas," Kurama said with another wink, and if he hadn't suddenly gotten another pinch in the groin, Hiei would have given him one.
"What the hell was that about?" Hiei sneered as the jab of pain eased off a bit, Kurama biting his lip in an effort not to yell too loudly.
"I guess she realized I was a guy after all," he smirked as he closed his eyes, the pain starting to wear him out.
"Don't flatter yourself, stud," the koorime commented as an older man in a white coat holding a chart came over to them.
"Minamino Shuuichi?" he asked as he looked at the two demons.
"Hai, that's me." Kurama raised his hand and looked up.
The doctor came and sat down next to Kurama and studied him. "You say you've got a sharp pain in your left testicle, hai? When did this start?"
"Just this morning when I woke up," Kurama shifted uncomfortably. Even talking was now beginning to hurt.
"Well, let's take you into my exam room and we'll check this out. Nurse! Would you please."
"Sure!" the nurse replied happily and she bolted over to assist Kurama. Hiei followed everyone to the exam room, but the doctor stopped him at the door. The nurse smiled at Kurama and then went back to her station.
"Gomen, but children aren't allowed in here," the doctor commented, looking down at Hiei.
"It's all right. He's older than he looks," Kurama said, trying to suppress a grin. "If it's allowed, I'd like him to come in with me. He doesn't like to be left alone."
"Is he your little brother?" the doctor asked as he turned his back and got his instruments ready. Hiei was about to release the Kokoryuuha but he didn't want to singe Kurama. Instead he growled softly and folded his arms with a "Hn!" and leaned against the wall.
"No, but I'd like him to stay here," (*and out of trouble*) Kurama replied, as a new stab caught his breath.
"Okay," the doctor began. "Let's see. You're 20 years old. Has anything like this ever happened before?"
"No."
"Did you get injured down there recently?"
"No."
"Do you masturbate?"
"No." (*I have Hiei.*)
"Do you have sex?"
"Hai." (*I have Hiei.*)
"Do you think you could have an STD?"
"Definitely not!" (*I have Hiei!*)
Then the doctor stood up, reaching a hand out to Kurama. "I think I know what it might be. Can you stand up?"
"I think so," Kurama answered as he took a deep breath and very slowly got out of the wheelchair with assistance from the doctor. The pain was making him lightheaded.
"Now, tell me if this feels better," the doctor asked as he reached up, cupped Kurama's left testicle in his gloved hand and lifted firmly. Hiei, who saw someone other than himself touching his "property," was about to disembowel the doctor, but stopped suddenly as Kurama let out a very contented sigh. "Hai! That feels great!"
"Just as I suspected." As the doctor released Kurama, the fox yelped in pain and sat back down quickly. The doctor looked over his notes and looked at Kurama.
"You're a little older than usual for this sort of problem, but I believe you have what is called 'Testicular Torsion".' That's when the testicle twists itself around in the scrotum. I'm going to have you get an ultra-sound to confirm this, but I'm almost positive that's what this is."
"Can you fix...er...correct this?" Kurama asked, sounding a little nervous.
"Sure, no problem," the doctor assured him. "We'll just twist it around and anchor it back in place. I'll see you in a few minutes and we'll talk some more. Meantime, I'll have the nurse give you something for the pain." And with that the doctor left the exam room.
"What did he mean - anchor it back in place?"
"I think it means some surgery, Hiei," Kurama remarked as he anxiously bit on his lower lip.
"You mean they're gonna cut your..." but before Hiei could finish, a male orderly came in and told Kurama he was taking him to radiology. Hiei, of course, followed closely behind.
After the orderly helped Kurama up on the examination table, he went out and got the ultrasound technician, who had been very busy working with a lot of cranky mothers-to-be. They didn't take kindly to being bumped, especially since all of them had to use the little girl's room really badly. The pain killer that the nurse had given him was just starting to take effect and Kurama was becoming quite relaxed, as he hadn't have any breakfast before his ordeal began about two hours ago. As the technician approached Kurama, his head was down reading Kurama's chart.
"Ok, let's see. Testicular torsion. Which side is it...." As he looked up he stared at Kurama, looked back at the chart, looked up at Kurama, looked over at Hiei, and looked back at Kurama. "Testicular torsion?"
"Hai, testicle. He has a TESTICLE!" Hiei glared at the technician and lifted Kurama's hospital gown. Kurama just smiled sleepily and sighed as the Percoset was really starting to kick in. This was becoming interesting.
"Gomen! I just thought..." fumbled the technician, as he continued to stare at the giggling redhead. Kurama was beginning to enjoy himself and winked at the startled young man.
"All right. Then we'll get started." The technician rolled over a machine that looked like a computer and then dimmed the lights of the room. He put on gloves and very hesitantly squeezed some warm, gooey liquid on Kurama's genitals and began rubbing them with a small device that looked like an electric razor. Kurama decided that this felt really nice and warm and quite sensuous and looked over at Hiei with a goofy grin.
"Mmmm. Maybe you could learn how to do this sometime," he said a little too suggestively, and both the technician and Hiei blushed beet red.
"Kurama!" Hiei growled through his teeth. "Be quiet!" Kurama just laid his head back and gave a contented sigh. Fortunately, the drug prevented anything else from happening.
As the flustered technician finished his examination, he motioned to Hiei to look at the monitor. "See, there, that's why he's in such...(looking down at the smiling Kurama)...pain. The cord is twisted 360 degrees. And see here. The right one is just twisted a little, too. You got here just in time." Hiei didn't have a clue to what he was talking about but stared at the monitor. So that's what humans looked like on the inside. Well, at least, that part of human males, anyway. Whenever he had sliced a male in half before he never stuck around and examine the parts.
"You....guys....can wait here while I run these pictures up to the Urologist," the technician told Hiei as he turned the machine off and the lights back on. Kurama squinted disappointedly at the brightness of the room. After the technician left the room, Hiei looked down at Kurama who looked very peaceful in his drug-induced haze.
"Baka. Haven't you ever had pain killers before?"
"Only Yukina's spells or my own plants. I didn't think it would have such a *giggle* reaction on me *giggle*."
"Shhh," Hiei snorted as the doctor they saw before came into the room.
"You do have torsion. The cord has been twisted and there's no blood flow going to your left testicle. And the right one shows signs of the same thing. We need to get you into surgery right away. If we wait too long you may lose the viable use of your testicles."
"Hmm?" Kurama asked hazily.
"You won't be able to have children if we don't take care of this now."
"Oh." Kurama and Hiei looked at each other and frowned. This wasn't really something they had talked about.
"Is this boy the only one with you?" *Boy?*...*BOY?!?!?*
"Hai," Kurama replied. "My mother is away and I live in my own apartment. Doshite?"
"Well, you're old enough to sign a consent form. I'll have the nurse start an IV and we'll be on our way. See you in a bit." The doctor patted Kurama on the hand and smiled as he left. Kurama liked the doctor. He seemed very "fatherly," unlike his step-father who never had touched him or even asked what was new when he and Hiei would visit occasionally for dinner.
After being prepped for surgery, and enjoying a little too much being shaved down there - Hiei threatening to kill the male nurse if his injured fox was nicked in the slightest - Kurama was wheeled into the operating room. His doctor smiled at him from behind his mask and assured him it would be just fine, that he should relax, and enjoy his trip to "lah-lah land." Even on the Percoset Kurama had managed to understand that the doctor wanted to use General Anesthesia, but Kurama had convinced him that he suddenly remembered he was allergic to the stuff and made up a story about how he almost died when his tonsils were removed, all the time praying that no one would look in his mouth and wonder how they grew back. He had the sense to realize that he could "youko-out" if given too much human drugs, and the doctor seemed to think that "twilight sleep" would do just fine. As the demerol/valium drip was started Kurama felt himself float gently to a place that reminded him of when he and Hiei would have too much sake. He felt very secure in knowing that the doctor was going to take good care of him, and he relaxed and closed his eyes.
Hiei had finally not been allowed to follow Kurama and was forced to sit in the OR waiting room. The doctor had told them that the surgery would take about an hour and that "Shuuichi" would have to rest for about two more before he could go home. Hiei was welcome to go get something to eat or just wait. Neither choice sounded appealing, so after the doctor left, Hiei decided to explore the hospital.
While wandering from floor to floor, Hiei made an interesting observation. Humans didn't seem to like to come to the hospital. He also got an uneasy sense of death within the walls of the imposing white building. Some humans in the smaller rooms with beds were talking to other humans; some were crying; a lot were just lying there staring off into space. The whole place made Hiei feel very uneasy. He didn't recall any such facility in any other worlds like this one in the Ningenkai. His wandering suddenly found him outside a room called "Nursery" and Hiei looked in the large windowed room that housed lots of tiny, squirming, somewhat ugly human babies. He had to stand on his tiptoes to get a good look and then realized there were other humans looking in the window as well. Some of them were making the stupidest faces and some were saying the stupidest things. He was somewhat limited in his knowledge of human babies but even he knew that they couldn't talk back at this age, and he shook his head. One over-anxious human came up to Hiei and smiled a ridiculous smile.
"Are you the big brother, son?" the man asked, gesturing to the window. "Which one is yours?"
"Leave me alone."
"Aw, he's just a widdle upset today," the idiot said, pointing at Hiei. As a woman came over to join the conversation, the idiot said to her, "Hey, he's acting just like Tommy did when we had Jennif...Owwwww!!! He BIT me!! That spiky-haired runt BIT me!!!"
"Oh, leave him alone, Fred. Can't you see he doesn't want to be bothered? Let's go." The woman took the idiot by the arm and led him grumbling away from the window. "Did you see that?! That little kid BIT me! Man, where are HIS parents?"
"Hn. Baka," Hiei muttered to himself as he was about to continue his exploration. But over in the corner, standing alone and looking in the window crying softly, was a pretty young human girl. Hiei looked at her flatly then glanced into the window to see what she was looking at. He couldn't figure out which baby might be hers so he slowly drifted a little closer to her. He normally couldn't care less about crying humans, young - old - or otherwise, but something about her made him stop and want to know.
"One of those yours?"
"Hai," the young mother answered, sniffling. "Actually, two of them are mine. I had twins early this morning. A boy and a girl...." her voice trailed off. She looked so sad as she dabbed the corners of her eyes with a tissue and covered her mouth in an effort to control her crying.
"Twins, hmm? I'm a twin." He couldn't believe he was telling this to a total stranger, and a human no less.
The pretty young girl started to sob. "But I can only keep one baby," her voice choked, her breath ragged. "My family is being so ridiculous and mean. My little girl is just fine, but there's something wrong with my little boy." Hiei raised his eyebrows and listened intently. "You see, he was born with Down's Syndrome and my family is forcing me to give him up for adoption. My doctor thought there might be a problem when I was seven months pregnant, and even though I'm so young, I was determined to keep both the babies. And since I'm underage and not married my family gets to say what I should do. There's never been a Down's baby in my family before and my parents don't want me to raise one now." She began to cry in earnest now. "I don't want to abandon my little boy just 'cause he's different. But my parents can't afford all the medical costs he's gonna need so I have to give him up." Then, whispering, she continued. "I'm forbidden to keep this child...and it's breaking my heart. But what can I do?"
Forbidden. Child. The words tore into Hiei and he stared at the young mother.
"Will they find someone to take care of him?" Hiei asked softly, moving a little closer to the girl.
"They tell me they've found him a good home, that there are other people out there who would be happy to raise him like their own son...but he's my son. I want him to know that I loved him first."
The girl's words confused Hiei. Just when he thought the only good human was a dead human, Kurama and maybe his 'kaasan being the exceptions, he looked back into the nursery and stared at the babies. Could there really be such humans in the Ningenkai who would take in a "different" child - a "forbidden child" - and love it as if it were their own? He'd have to think about this. It was too much to comprehend right now.
"It'll be fine. Your son will know you loved him," Hiei told her gently as he looked at the babies, wondering if they felt as soft as they looked. He tilted his head and looked at one little male human who was being changed by the nursery nurse. Did he actually think it looked kinda cute?
"Arigatou," the girl whispered as she slowly returned to her room. Hiei watched her leave and for the briefest of moments wondered if his mother had felt like this human did. It would be something that would disturb his thoughts for a long time.
As Hiei made his way back to the OR waiting room, Kurama was sitting up sipping some water and making small talk with a group of sweet young nurses. They seemed to hang on his every word and he seemed to be enjoying himself, a little too much in Hiei's opinion.
"Ah, you're back," Kurama exclaimed, the drugs having all worn off. "I can go home as soon as they make sure I can pee." Hiei, not having appreciated the bathroom information he was just given, plopped himself on the end of Kurama's bed and stared at his fox. "Where've you been?"
"Around. Found a place called 'Nursery.'"
"See any that looked like me?" The comment caused the nurses to giggle.
"Hn?"
"Never mind." Kurama smiled as he shifted a little stiffly, starting to sit up more.
"How do you feel, kitsune?"
"Much better, Hiei," Kurama replied softly as he slowly swung his legs over the side of the bed.
"Let me help you!" one nurse shouted. "No, let me!" shouted another. And as they argued over who was going to help Kurama out of bed, he was already leaning on Hiei's shoulder as the fire demon led the repaired fox to the recovery room bathroom.
"Need any help?" Hiei handed him his clothes.
"Hopefully not. But I'll give you a yell if I need you," Kurama closed the bathroom door behind him as Hiei waited patiently for Kurama to take care of business. When he came out, the doctor was waiting with Hiei by his bed. Kurama cautiously walked back over and sat carefully down.
"Good. I see you're up and about," the doctor said with a smile. "Now, you need to take it easy for a week or so. No heavy lifting or stretching. And, oh, yes," the doctor continued with a wink, "tell your girlfriend to take it easy, too. No sex for at least a week or you'll tear your stitches." That was more than Hiei could stand. He went ballistic! He started swearing Makai and Ningenkai curses that even Kurama had never heard and it was all Kurama could do to keep him from unwrapping his warded arm. The doctor backed up from the couple with a start and commented on how such a young boy could have learned such language. Kurama thanked the doctor sincerely for all his help and after signing the discharge papers, left the hospital as quickly as they could, Kurama having called Yusuke for a lift home. He'd explain the circumstances to him later.
After about a week of "taking it easy," Kurama seemed to be making a speedy recovery. As they snuggled down in bed one evening, the incredibly horny redhead gave his fire demon that "look" that meant he was interested in carnal pursuits. Of course, the youko often gave the koorime this look, like, everyday, several times a day, but since his surgery he had been forced to think of other things to take his mind off his...well...let's just say the apartment's water bill for that week was at an all time high.
"Hiei," Kurama purred sweetly as he began to make little circles on his lover's back.
"Hn."
"Hiei, you wanna check out my scar?" Kurama whispered in Hiei's ear, as he nibbled on his ear lobe.
Hiei rolled over and looked at Kurama as an evil smile curled up the corners of his mouth. He lifted the quilt and looked down.
"Uh oh. It's all swollen again," the youkai said with a lustful grin. "Are you sure you're up to this?"
"When I was a little boy," Kurama whispered huskily as he wriggled up Hiei's body, "and I got a boo-boo, my 'kaasan used to kiss it and make it all better." He began to chew on Hiei's lower lip.
"Oh, really? Did she now?"
"Uh huh," Kurama sighed as he closed his eyes and continued to gently assault Hiei's mouth. "What do you think of this medical miracle?"
"Well, I may have to examine you personally to make sure everything is in working order," Hiei announced to the libidinous youko. "I think I may have just the cure this time." Kurama's eyes twinkled as he pounced on the receptive fire demon with a chuckle. And, indeed, Kurama showed Hiei that everything was working just FINE!
The End (?!?!)
Copyright 1998 Julie Farel
Usual YYH disclaimer!