Work Text:
Hiei and Kurama stood over the unconscious form of Kuwabara. His life energy faded to a dim light before their eyes. The scratches on his face and torn clothes were a testament to the brutal enemy he sacrificed himself taking down. "I say we let him die," Hiei said, breaking the silence. He felt the need to elaborate when Kurama didn't immediately agree. "He sacrificed himself honorably to save everyone," Hiei looked at the useless human at his feet. "That's what we tell Yusuke."
"Yes. A tempting proposal," Kurama said but contradicted himself by crouching at Kuwabara's side. The boy's chest hitched as it rose and fell. Kurama rested his hand on the open neck of Kuwabara's school uniform. They had a few minutes at the most.
Hiei knelt beside Kurama, placing his elbows on his legs as he stared Kuwabara down. "You can't seriously mean to do this Kurama," he said and scoffed. For a moment, Hiei seemed unable to formulate the words. However, it took a lot to make him genuinely speechless. "It's beneath you."
Breaking eye contract with Kuwabara's pale face, Kurama turned toward Hiei. "I would gladly step aside, but there aren't any other options. Unless you're volunteering to take my place?"
Hiei grit his teeth and glanced away. "What you're suggesting is disgusting," he said.
It sounded like his answer and Kurama nodded. But Hiei's jaw clenched tighter. "Fine," the word was sullen. "I'd rather not. But you touching this fool would only make his life expectancy even shorter."
Shifting aside to give Hiei room, Kurama smiled momentarily. "I see," he said. "You killing Kuwabara would certainly defeat the purpose. Although I imagine one more stab wound wouldn't make much of a difference at this point."
"That's very close to a challenge Kurama," Hiei said flatly. "I'm not above stabbing him to prove a point."
"Now's not the time for this. And you're the one touching other people," Kurama smiled. He applied pressure to the gash on his shoulder and winced. "I'll allow it this once," he said. "Take care not to enjoy it too much. I may shorten someone's lifespan myself if I feel the need." Hiei's grimace of horror twinged with disgust was a rare one to witness. Kurama laughed.
Hiei regained his composure. He smirked, but it lasted just a second. "Fair enough fox. I accept your terms." His gaze lingered on Kurama a moment longer before darting toward Kuwabara. Hiei sat with one knee on the ground and the other standing. He scooted closer to Kuwabara. His movements were stiff and hesitant, but Hiei handled things at his own pace. He planted his palm on his knee and kissed Kuwabara.
His lashes didn't move though. Hiei kept his eyes open. The passive look on his face could have been him counting seconds. After the transfer of life energy, Hiei swung backward on his knees. When he found Kuwabara's vitals stabilized, he stood without waiting for him to regain consciousness.
"I've never felt such a desire to bathe in my life." Hiei strolled past Kurama and slid his hands into his pockets and grumbled under his breath. "Next time, he dies."
"Your generosity is truly something to behold," Kurama said with the hint of a smile in his voice. He winced and stood. Still clutching his shoulder, Kurama gazed down at Kuwabara. The junior high school student's wounds gradually sealed over, flesh seaming back together. Kuwabara's eyelids tensed. Either a sign of pain or that he would wake soon.
"The fool actually won his fight," Hiei said with a mix of appreciation and smugness at Kuwabara's expense. "The shock of it probably drove me temporarily insane. Don't worry. I don't plan on helping anyone else out of the kindness of my heart ever again."
Kurama swept his hair off the shoulders of his uniform. He glanced at the red strands as they ran through his fingers. The gesture captured Hiei's attention although he looked away after the fact as if embarrassed to be caught watching. "I suppose we'll have to see about that," Kurama muttered with a level of lightheartedness that made it clear what he thought.
Hiei bristled and crossed his arms.
A loud sucking of breath prefaced Kuwabara sitting up off the ground. He looked around aimlessly for a moment. "What the hell? Where am I? What happened to the guy I was fighting?" He sounded out of breath, but as energetic as always considering his near death experience. "Hey, Hiei and Kurama what—w-where are you going in such a rush?"
Hiei grabbed Kurama by the elbow when he started to turn around. "Yusuke can fill him in. The buffoon owes me, and I'd rather not stay here any longer than necessary."
"Before Kuwabara realizes what you did, you mean?" Kurama smiled and pondered whether there was anything to lose by agreeing to Hiei's request. After a moment, he nodded. "I suppose that's fair."
Hiei smirked and kept his eyes closed for a moment, satisfied to get his way. "Good," he said and turned, "we're done here." He began walking, and after a second, Kurama followed.