Work Text:
Kurama sat at the desk in his bedroom, a pamphlet of papers in front of him he had been attempting to fill out for work since he had woken up earlier. The sun shone through the windows outside. It was a beautiful day, one that would have him opening the windows to let the fresh air in if not for the high possibility of worsening his current state. The sweet scents of the plants in his room would be a comfort if he could smell at all right now.
Kurama would find it ironic if it weren’t so frustrating.
As Youko, his ability to cultivate and grow plants was known and feared. In his clawed hands, they could be things of beauty or deadly weapons, capable of striking down anyone foolish enough to cross him. Whether they sought fame by defeating the Demon King of Thieves or aimed to collect the ever-growing bounty Spirit World had placed on his head, it mattered little.
It had been humiliating, fleeing to the Human Realm after the injury he suffered at the hands of that hunter…
But then for this to manifest in his childhood…
During the spring time as a child his mother had taken him to the doctor when what looked like a cold continued to linger.
Allergies, specifically to pollen, had been the cause.
The revelation that the cause was his beloved plants, the very things that had been his weapons as Youko and gave him comfort as his only connection to what he once was, had been a shock.
The doctor had prescribed medication, but it provided little relief. When his human body was older and thus able to better defend himself, he had been able to seek out demon merchants. Demons who made their living selling Makai goods illegally in the Human Realm. Their markets tucked away from the eyes of humans and Spirit World within the alleyways of the city where mostly abandoned buildings were. He remembered sneaking out of his room once he confirmed his mother was asleep. The glances he received from the other demons as he entered the market and made his way down the main street.
The presence of what looked like a human boy in his second year Junior High School, at that late hour, let alone at all, must have been utterly astonishing to them. Although his power at the time was still relatively low, it was still sufficient enough to deter them from trying anything foolish. He was able to find and purchase the plants he needed from an elderly wolf demon selling various Makai plants and seeds. She was more than willing to trade the plants in exchange for valuable information on where to find a rare Makai plant she hoped to add to her stall's inventory. With those plants he was able to make a medicine that alleviated his symptoms completely. He had also preserved clippings of them to grow more. As for the human medicine, he had taken care to discreetly dispose of it.
He was able to go about his days during the springtime unobstructed by the pollen in the air from then on, and as far as his mother knew, his allergies had just gotten less severe over time. While she was happy for him with how she knew he loved plants and flowers, she fussed about him handling any plants for too long should he have a reaction.
However, now he found himself out of supplies, having exhausted his stock last spring. His allergies had been so constant compared to previous years that he’d used up what he had, unable to preserve any clippings. He’d assumed it would be easy to get more later; the plants he relied on grew year-round after all. Because of this, he saw no need to rush, which had been a poor decision on his part. Spring came quickly this year, and work had become increasingly hectic, and between helping his mother and stepfather redecorate their living room, he hadn’t had time to restock his supplies.
When he finally had time to either purchase or gather the ingredients himself in the Makai, spring was already in full swing and the air was filled with pollen. His sinuses were so congested that he rubbed his eyes for what felt like the hundredth time, hoping to relieve the painful pressure building behind them, the source of the throbbing headache that was making it harder to focus.
Kurama reached for the nearly empty box of tissues on his desk, his eyes itching and watering as he struggled to focus on the documents in front of him.
He was relieved that his allergies had started up after leaving his mother and stepfather’s house, sparing them the worry. The day after returning home, however, he woke up feeling too unwell to even think about stepping outside.
A nearby plant raised a vine, brushing gently against his shoulder, and Kurama smiled, returning the gesture as he brushed his fingers along its leaves. “It’s not your fault,” he said reassuringly, though he wondered if his nasally voice conveyed the comfort he intended.
It really was ironic. He, someone who had mastered the art of plant manipulation, had ended up in a human body that couldn’t even be near them unless under the influence of medication. While he had worked to breed plants that did not trigger his allergies, he couldn’t control the plants outside his home.
Though his allergies had manifested after he had resolved to protect his mother. He wondered if it was the work of Inari, to humble him further.
Sighing and resigning himself to the fact that he couldn’t get any work done in his current state. He got up from his desk, deciding to lie down for a bit. He turned on the humidifier his mother had gotten him as a housewarming gift, hoping it would help clear his sinuses up, and layed down.
Sometime later he had been lightly dozing when the sound of his window opening woke him. His senses were already too dulled to sense who it was before they arrived, but he already knew who it was.
"Hiei." Kurama greeted, lifting his head from the pillow, feeling the sting in his eyes as he tried to blink away the moisture. “I thought Mukuro had you on another mission.”
There was a pause, and then the soft sound of Hiei's boots touching the carpeted floor. The smaller demon was quiet as he approached the bed.
“She did; the weakling she sent me after barely put up a fight. Enki’s dealing with them now.” Hiei said before taking in his appearance. “What’s wrong with your voice? Is it a human cold? Is that why you're still in bed when it's still daylight out?”
Kurama smiled; Hiei knew of his allergies, but he had yet to see them firsthand seeing as he had been making his own medicine before they met. “My allergies are acting up.”
“I thought you made something to stop that.” Hiei said before sitting down next to him. “I still can’t believe human bodies could be affected by something so trivial.”
“I ran out last year. I planned to get what I needed before spring this year, but things were busy.” Kurama explained. “At least I don’t have any allergies to food. Those can be very deadly.” Kurama moved closer to the fire demon. “And I’m happy to see you.” he said, wrapping his arm around the fire demon and feeling the warmth seeping into his skin. It was hard to believe they had been together for as long as they had been after getting together shortly before the Dark Tournament. He still enjoyed remembering Hiei’s flustered face when they had made things official. Not that he no longer got to enjoy that, but Hiei’s eyes wide with shock coupled with that was a rather cute image.
When Hiei had told him he’d be away for a mission, he expected to not see Hiei for a while. He’d hoped to welcome him back, but his allergies had ruined that possibility. His smile widened when he felt the other press closer.
"How long have you been like this?" Hiei's voice was low, but there was no mistaking the concern in it.
“Not that long, just since I woke up this morning.”
“What do you need for the medicine?”
Though Kurama sat up slowly, his head protested the quick movement with a sharp throbbing between his eyes. "You don’t need to; I can get them when I’m feeling a little better."
“You always push yourself too much.” Hiei scolded. “I’ll get the ingredients; just make a list for me.”
Not too soon after Kurama had made the list of what he needed, providing illustrations as well as some money, having gone to one of his many dens in the Makai shortly after the Makai Tournament concluded to retrieve some, Hiei had taken off.
Kurama decided to get out of bed to head to the kitchen to try and focus on the documents from before.
He had managed to finally make some progress when he heard his bedroom window open. “In here.” Kurama called.
The soft thump of Hiei’s boots hitting the floor along with the sound of a sword propped up against a wall could be heard before Hiei’s entrance into the kitchen. Kurama turned around to see Hiei, minus his boots, cloak, and sword, carrying a satchel in his right hand.
“What are you doing?” Hiei said, staring at the stapled pamphlet on the table.
“There are some documents I need to get filled out for work-” Kuram said before he was interrupted by the pamphlet vanishing from in front of him. He looked up to see Hiei holding them in his left hand. “Hiei-”
“You should be in bed.”
“But those need to be-”
“Later.” Hiei said, tossing the papers onto the nearby kitchen counter. “Take your medicine and go to bed. I’m sure your stepfather knows about this and will give you time to finish them.”
“The ingredients need to be made into a tea.”
“Then tell me how to do it, then go to bed.”
“You don’t have to.”
“Kurama.”
Kurama looked at him, then sighed in defeat before smiling. "I suppose there’s no arguing with you if you're so intent on spoiling me." and was delighted as a soft pink spread along the demon's cheeks.
Hiei grumbled something before holding the satchel up. “Tell me what to do with these.”
Kurama instructed Hiei on what to do before heading to his room, Hiei again insisting when Kurama offered to stay. The sound of chopping and running water could be heard as Hiei worked in the kitchen. Soon Hiei came into the room, nodded, pleased that Kurama had done what he asked, holding a steaming mug in his hand.
“I think I could get used to this.” Kurama said, taking the mug from the fire demon.
“Hn. You must be feeling better if you're this annoying.” Hiei said, sitting down on the bed next to him.
“Well, you’re here, and sooner than I expected,” Kurama said, taking a long sip of the tea. Feeling the warmth spread through him, and as his nose cleared, allowing him to take in the tea's floral scent, along with the scent of cinnamon and woodsmoke that was Hiei’s own. “I miss you when you're away on patrols.” he said as he leaned in, resting his head on Hiei’s shoulder.
“How long before it takes effect?”
“Almost immediately. My nose has already cleared up.”
“Good, finish it so this stops.” Hiei said.
“Sorry to make you worry.” Kurama said, nuzzling his cheek into Hiei’s shoulder before sitting back up, hiding a smile as he took another sip from the mug at Hiei’s flustered face.
“Then stop neglecting your health.” Hiei said, lifting a leg to rest on the bed before draping an arm over it. “And while we’re at it, stop being so reckless in battle. Maybe this time, it’ll actually get through to you.”
They sat in comfortable silence as Kurama drank his tea. When the mug finally sat empty on his nightstand, his sinuses were finally clear, the headache from before was gone, and the itching and watering in his eyes had vanished. Kurama turned to the fire demon, who had since rested his back against the wall with his eyes closed, though Kurama could tell he was awake.
Kurama leaned back himself before pulling the other demon close, taking in the sight of his flustered fire demon before pulling Hiei in for a kiss. Hiei tasted sweetly of cinnamon and of the Makai as it mixed with the taste of the tea. He felt Hiei wrap his arms around him, feeling the other's hands grip the back of his shirt. Kurama pulled away before pressing a soft kiss to where the Jagan was hidden behind the ward on Hiei’s forehead before nuzzling his face in the center of those white streaks.
“Thank you for taking care of me, Hiei.”
“Hn.” Hiei tucked his head under Kurama’s chin, pressing closer as he gently nuzzled his throat.
“Will you be spending the night?” Kurama asked, running his fingers through the fire demon's hair the way he liked, and smiled when he felt the other shiver.
“Hn.” Hiei mumbled, pressing closer. “Mukuro has not given me any further orders, so I’m free for as long as until my next mission or decide to do patrols again.”
“Will you help me with preparing clippings for next year? That way I’ll have my medicine, and you won’t have to worry about me.”
“Will I also not have to worry about finding you half-starved at your desk like the one time you tried to live off toast and that bitter drink?””
“Coffee.”
“That’s not what I asked fox.”
Kurama stifled a laugh before he responded, “I promise.”
Hiei huffed. “Good. If you need the kitchen for the clippings, we’ll need to clean it up first. It's a mess.”