White Blindness
by Mina Lightstar

The house was dark; the blinds shut and the television off. Kurama frowned, easing the door shut quietly. He pocketed his keys, glancing about the lower floor of the house as his eyes adjusted to the darkness. Where is he?

He knew it was late, but usually Hiei stayed up later than this. A quick glance at his glowing wristwatch told him that it was a little after ten o'clock. When Kurama came home late, Hiei could usually be found curled up on the couch with a blanket and cup of tea, watching whatever caught his fancy on television.

It upset Kurama, too - having to stay late at the office. With overtime taking away some of the free time he reserved for Hiei, the hours they spent together were cut even more than usual. Hiei's schedule had become beyond hectic, and unlike Kurama, he couldn't simply say, "No, I can't stay to help today."

Mukuro and Eiyo were not overly demanding, and Eiyo required Hiei's presence only for seemingly trivial things regarding the Hand's operations - or lack thereof. Mukuro had more need for the fire demon, but that was to be expected. She was teaching him to do things he would one day have to do alone.

"I don't know if I like sharing you with all these women," he'd commented one day.

And Hiei had chuckled and replied, "Don't worry, Kurama. I... 'play for the other team'. You, in particular."

But even though Kurama understood and respected it, it still bothered him that his time with Hiei had been cut nearly in half - and they hadn't had a great deal of time together in the first place. However, Hiei had pointed out that when Kurama's time in Ningenkai was up, they would have a home - and a status - waiting for them in Makai. So, Kurama endured, just as Hiei endured, and both did their best to make the days they did have together last as long as they could.

"Hiei?" he called softly, suddenly wanting to see his life-partner even more than he had minutes before. His voice echoed through the house. "Hiei?"

He climbed the stairs to the second floor and made his way toward their room, his boots barely making a sound on the carpeted floor. He blinked when he noticed the faint light shining from underneath the door. Hiei was still awake, it seemed. Reading one of the fantasy novels he liked, perhaps? He always did enjoy others' perceptions of demons and monsters... Or was he reading one of the kinky, sexy "handbooks" Kurama had ordered in a sudden burst of playfulness? Was he flipping the pages, waiting for Kurama to come home so they could act out the examples...?

Kurama crept up to the door and hesitated, his hand closed on the doorknob. "Hiei?" he called again. Hiei had felt his ki by then, certainly, but Kurama felt the need to warn him, anyway.

"Come in, Silvertail."

So Kurama opened the door and slipped inside, closing it behind him even though there was no need. He raised his head to greet his lover, and dropped his briefcase. "Oh..."

The scene before him caused any words he might have had to escape him. He stood there, mouth agape, taking in every detail. The bedside lamps were off, and a dozen or so candles were strewn about the room instead. The candles were the scented kind, filling the air with a wonderful fragrance that was part vanilla and part strawberry. The bed was already turned down, revealing a set of scarlet, silken sheets, complete with a matching pillowcase. Kurama blinked at them. They hadn't owned a set of red sheets when he'd left for work that morning...

"Welcome home, Kurama."

Kurama scanned the room, and found Hiei sitting on the windowsill. The fire demon was... even more incredible than usual. Maybe it was the candlelight, but Hiei's ruby eyes seemed to glitter, accented by the pajamas he was wearing. The bedclothes, Kurama noted, matched the sheets of the bed. And when Hiei hopped off the sill and sauntered toward him, Kurama could smell the raspberry soap he'd used to bathe with.

Hiei stopped a foot or so away from him, and Kurama had to swallow twice before he was able to manage a, "What's the occasion?"

The Koorime cocked his head. "Do we need one?" he asked, reaching out to take hold of Kurama's tie.

Kurama frowned, but didn't protest when Hiei gently tugged the knot loose and slid the black tie out from under his collar. "Well, no, but--"

"I asked for a leave of absence," Hiei interrupted, moving his hands to slide Kurama's blazer off his shoulders. "From both Mukuro and Eiyo."

Kurama raised his eyebrows. "They gave it?" His question was punctuated by his blazer hitting the floor.

"Three weeks," Hiei affirmed. "I know it's not much... but it's something." Before Kurama could cut in with a "Three weeks is wonderful", Hiei added, "And I wanted to show you my new pajamas." He slid up against Kurama's body, just close enough to touch. "Like them?"

"Very much," Kurama admitted. He took advantage of Hiei's closeness and ran a hand down his back. The fabric was so smooth...

"I have a pair for you, too," Hiei murmured. His hands crept up rest upon Kurama's pectorals. "Green, to match your eyes. But I don't want to see them on you right now."

"Oh, no?" Kurama mused.

"No. I'd rather see you with nothing on."

Kurama didn't utter a single complaint when Hiei ripped the dress shirt off of him. They had money; he could afford another. He lifted one leg and struggled to tug his shoe off. It was a feat that proved difficult, because he hadn't untied them, yet. Usually he took them off as soon as he got in the door; he didn't know why he hadn't done so this evening.

When the shoe didn't obey, Hiei dropped to his knees tugged his foot back down. Hiei seized the tip of a lace on each shoe and pulled, undoing the ties instantly. Kurama willingly stepped out of the black dress shoes, and bent to remove his socks as Hiei straightened.

He'd just righted himself when Hiei attacked him, all but pouncing him. The fire demon assaulted his face and neck with little nips and kisses, pushed him backwards until the backs of his knees hit the edge of the bed. He lowered himself to sit on the mattress, bringing Hiei to stand between his knees.

Kurama stared up at his lover, gave him the barest hint of a smile, and then slid his hands over the silken fabric. "I'd like to see you with nothing on, too, if you think you can manage that."

Hiei gave him a wicked little grin, eyes gleaming, and pounced again.

Silk made the entire experience even more enjoyable, Kurama decided much later. The way the fabric felt as it had rubbed against his back, mingling with the feeling of his skin sliding against Hiei's... At the moment, it was no longer cool to the touch. Their tireless, passionate lovemaking had set fire to the sheets. Kurama was warm all over; at his back were the silken bedclothes, and his body was blanketed with Hiei's.

When their breathing had evened out, when their bodies were no longer covered in a sheen of sweat, when their heads had cleared... Kurama ran his fingers through Hiei's hair.

"Quickfire," he spoke softly, wondering if Hiei had already fallen asleep, "where did you get such an idea...?"

At first, he thought Hiei was asleep, but moments later the fire demon raised himself on his elbows. He gave Kurama one of his tiny, secretive smiles - the kind he smiled when he saw something amusing that no one else could.

"From you."

Kurama blinked, utterly puzzled, his mind already searching his memories for instances where they'd talked about anything remotely related to silk bed-sheets. He could find nothing. Frowning, he opened his mouth to inquire, but Hiei's palm covered his lips before they could form any words.

"Don't, Greeneyes." He sounded amused, and mildly pleased that he knew something his lover did not. "Don't ruin the moment."

And since he didn't feel like testing Hiei's resolve tonight, Kurama let it be. He reached for the blankets and covered them, as Hiei assumed a more comfortable position. The Koorime leaned his head on Kurama's chest and snuggled against him.

The moments ticked on, peaceful and quiet, and Kurama was nearly ready to drift off. But then Hiei's voice, his deep timbre sounding so endearing when used so softly, broke the silence.

"...Say, Kurama..."

"...Hm...?"

"...Can we name our daughter 'Enjeru'...?"

For a moment, Kurama was mildly surprised - but only for a moment. He squeezed Hiei tighter, and allowed himself a quiet, delighted chuckle.

"Whatever you like, Firefly. Whatever you like."

~End.

+ making way for something new +

Begun: March 6th, 2001
Completed: January 18th, 2003