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It was a pleasant weather. Not too hot, not too cold, just a nice wind which blew softly through the jackets. The perfect time to buy gifts for your loved ones. Or, at least, this is what Kurama was thinking. Hiei, on the other hand, didn't.
" What is this all about, fox? Why are we in this store filled with things that aren't useful for anyone? How can someone survive with this thing?" says Hiei holding a teddy bear. Kurama starts laughing.
" Well, this doesn't help you survive. At least, not in the way that you're thinking. This is just a cute thing you can gift to someone you care about to express your love for them."
" How exactly does one in this Ningenkai express love for someone by giving this hideous thing?"
" First of all, it's not hideous. Second, it's soft and cuddly and you usually give it to someone to replace you in the nights when you can't be next to them. Your loved one will hug it and squeeze it thinking that's you."
" That's one of the most stupid things that I heard you say about this world. And you said A LOT of stupid things about humans and their habits."
Kurama smiles.
" It's not stupid when you love someone, Hiei. You should know it. I heard that you make important gifts too." suddenly, Kurama's smile becomes cheeky and his mood kinda changed.
" I don't know what are you doing about." says Hiei puzzled. " I've certainly never gave anyone this ugly teddy bear."
" I am not talking about teddy bears, Hiei, but about something more. Something bigger than that. With a huge sentimental value. A family necklace, for example."
Hiei looks to his right side. So he knows..
" Yes, I know."
Does he also read minds?
" No, I don't read your mind, Hiei, you can stop being worried. If I could read your mind things would have been a lot easier this past 7 years since I know you. I just...I know you, that's all. And I know that you gave your Hiruiseki to Mukuro. She must be pretty special to you." Kurama turns a red hand painted with white hearts on it. He seems very focused on it.
" She is not special for me. She is a strong person, being through a lot. I just thought..."
" You don't have to give me any explanation, Hiei. I understand. Of course you can fall in love too. You have a heart, after all, no matter how much you try to hide it."
" You talk a lot of rubbish today, fox. I am not in love with Mukuro. My feelings for her are totally different that what you think they are."
" So you do have feelings for her."
" Not..." Hiei sighs. " Mukuro and I are kinda the same. We both grew up without our families. People who should have taken care of us abused us."
" Hiei.."
" Let me talk, Kurama. She has suffered a lot. I think a lot more than I did. She has been through hell, but somehow managed to climb her way out of it. I have never seen such a strong woman in my life. I know what it is like to be in the dark. To have your being filled with hate. It's a scary place, which can make people do a lot of....things. Things that they wouldn't do in other conditions. During our fight I didn't think about winning. I have focused on her and her handcuffs. That only thing which reminded her of her shitty past. And I did it. I freed her. After that. I wanted to show her that not everyone is like the ones she met before. That some persons...can give something more. And I gave her my Hiruiseki, yes. My mother gave it to me and Yukina as sign of her... love. I wanted for Mukuro to have a sign of love in her life too. But that's all. I am not in love with her."
Kurama stood silent the whole speech. He felt so ashamed. He had rushed with conclusions. But, in a way. he is happy. Hiei has finally talked about his feelings regarding his mother, his sister and his friends. He was proud of him.
" I understand. You know? Everytime I think that you are such a pain in the ass and asking myself why am I even friend with you.."
"... I hope this has a different conclusion than it starts to have..."
".... I remember things like these that you do and say and understand why: you're one of a kind, Hiei, Truly."
" Ok."
" Ok? That's all you have to say?"
" Is there more that I should say?"
" I suppose I can accept only that...for now."
Hiei takes a small red box in his fingers.
" But you still didn't tell me why did you drag me here, after all."
" Oh, yes. Today, my mother and her husband celebrates 1 year of wedding. It's their anniversary. I want to buy them something to remind them of this. Something special. But I don't know what."
" Maybe something unique..with roses...?'
Suddenly, Kurama face lights.
" You're right! How could I not think about it? Thank you, Hiei. Now I know what I will give to them."
Kurama buys a beautiful basket and then exits running. Hiei stays behind a few second and follows him.
2 hours later, a beautiful roses arrangement was decorating the basket. It was one of the most exquisite things Kurama had made for his mother. He was proud.
" So? What do you think, Hiei?"
" You know it looks amazing. Why do you ask?"
" I wanted someone else's opinion, not only mine."
" It is beautiful."
The doorbell rings.
" They arrived. I am so excited, Hi..."
But Kurama has found himself alone in the room. The window's curtains blew in the wind and the redhead smiled looking at them.
' Of course he left' he thought ' Too much for a day for him. I know he is not the sensitive ty...'
And, in this moment, Kurama sees something. A red box left on his pillow. Puzzled, he takes it and opens it, finding a black string which had attached a black stone.\
" What is this?"
Kurama takes out the necklace and touches the stone.
" This isn't like any stones that I had seen. It looks different. It feels just like......it...can't be..."
But it was. And he knew where he had felt such a texture before. He understood where he had seen this type of stone. Different colour, yes, but otherwise the same: at Yukina. Her tears. This was exactly like Yukina's tear-stones. Just that this one is black, like it was produced by...
" Hiei..."
Kurama takes out the little sponge in the box and finds a little paper with only one word on it. Karasu. Kurama shivers at first reading this name. It brang back such awful memories. Then, he understood. The stone. Karasu. His fight with Karasu. Someone sheding a tear during it.
" Hiei."
Kurama lets his tears flow and put the necklace around his neck. Then, he wipes his cheeks and goes the happiest he could be to hug his mother and his step-father.
On a branch, someone smiles satisfied.