Springtime in Paris
chapter 1
by Moondance
The normal disclaimer: No, they are not mine, they definitely are not mine...even Paris is not mine..not to mention Sony. All figures below are the fantastic creation of Monsieur Yoshihiro Togashi. Does that mean I do not have to take responsibility for their behaviors?!?! Goody..*^_^*
This story contains YAOI, though it does not yet appear in chapter 1. Eventually, lemon scenes will occur in the story, so please shun stories under this title if you feel uncomfortable with the subject. Of course, this is a Hiei-Kurama fanfic..Have fun reading!
Moondance
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The day is just about as beautiful as anyone could have wished. A cornflower blue sky dotted with puffy soft clouds, this was a day to encourage smiles out of the most desolate person. There was one exception, however.
"Ooo..." A cascade of flaming curls freed themselves from a confining black velvet ribbon, then plunged down toward the smooth surface of a wood desk with a plonk. It was a most ungraceful gesture, but made somehow adorable by the sheer beauty of those tresses. Another moan emerged from the flaming depth as Kurama messaged his temple with one hand while cushioning his head with another. *Why me?* He asked silently to no one in peculiar, a mute supplication or complaint to whichever deity now doubling with laughter at his misery. Something must have warned me not to set up my own company, but I did not listen to it, Kurama thought, in deep depression. Outside his window, a row of sparrows chirped by, adequate replacement for the mocking crows of dark omens.
2 years ago, after working at his stepfather*s company for one year, Kurama decided to leave the 9 to 5 job, and set up his own studio. He did not spent too much effort on choosing what would he do, since there was only one obvious choice: something to do with his beloved plants. After that, garden designing seemed to be the only possibility. Kurama knew that he was talented, but he underestimated his popularity, even though he never did anything to attract media attention. Within 3 months, Minamino Shuuichi became the equivalent of tasteful floral gardens, and no luxury apartment or deluxe mansion could be sold without a garden of his design. One might say that Japanese real estate market had sunk into a severe case of *Minamino Effect*. The small one-person studio quickly expanded into a company of 25 people, with more than 100 workers. When one considered the ex-orbital price for one Minamino design, it became obvious that the company was doing marvelously well. Not so well for its founder, though, Kurama sighed with resignation. I don*t know how did I find time to keep that Rekai job as well*but I couldn't leave them, especially not Hiei. A tired smile appeared on Kurama's lips. Thinking about that elusive youkai always made Kurama felt both excitement and frustration. How could he be so ignorant of my feelings?!?! Not for the first time, Kurama asked this unanswerable question. I just want...
*Knock, Knock.* "May I come in, Minamino-san?" A gentle voice asked outside the door. Reluctantly, Kurama forced his heavy head to leave its comfortable rest.
"Please come in, Minu-san." No matter how tired he was, Kurama's politeness remained constant. The door opened, then quietly closed behind the petite young woman who was Kurama's most important helper in the company. "Minamino-san, here is a proposal from Sony, requesting a design plan of a roof garden for their new headquarter in Tokyo." Minu deftly laid the file open on Kurama's desk, and was about to summarize its content when she noticed the drooping eyelids of Kurama. "Minamino-san? Are you all right?"
With a start, Kurama opened his brilliant green eyes wide, realizing that he almost fell asleep. Minu, on the other hand, was once again impressed by the sheer beauty of her boss, even though she saw him almost everyday. His must be what people have in mind when saying *face to die for*, she murmured dreamily in her heart. "Excuse me, what were you saying? Minu-san?" Apologetic and serious, Kurama tried his best to organize his mushy head into a semi state of clarity.
"I was telling you about the proposal plan of Sony, boss. Please don't mind me saying this, boss, but I think you need a vacation." Minu's words struct Kurama right in the heart. Yes, a vacation..when was the last one? Couldn't remember... Nowadays, if he wasn't working, then he was fighting, otherwise, he was sleeping. Come to think of it, when was the last time I saw others besides Rekai business? Gosh! Must have been months!! Yes, that's what I want, a real vacation! Thoughts like this ran wild in Kurama's mind, adding a little luster to his fatigued emerald eyes.
Minu could see that her boss was moved by her proposal, but she understood the need for more persuasion. If her boss would put pleasure before responsibility, then his name would not be Minamino. "You can take 10 days off, no problem, boss. There is nothing pressing at hand, besides, you can bring your laptop and we can communicate through Internet." The light in Kurama's eyes shone brighter. Minu added for a good measure. " I've heard that Paris is lovely in spring."
At the sound of Paris, Kurama couldn't help but smiled. The city of romance..maybe a share of romance will be mine.."All right, Minu-san. I will take a vacation of 10 days. But give me a moment before booking hotels and planes, okay? I want to ask a few friends to come with me."
"Of course, boss. Call me when you are ready." Minu smiled happily then bowed her way out. At last, her dear boss will get some rest!!
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"Are you sure this is going to work?" Yusuke looked dubiously at Kurama's grinning face. All the others in Kurama's spacious attic apartment reflect the same doubt on their faces. Unquestionably, it was Kurama who knew Hiei best, still..
"Trust me, Yusuke-kun." Kurama answered with a smile and a mischievous wink. "I know what to do."
"I hope you do." Sighed Yusuke. If this did not work out the way they planned it..he suppressed a shiver. But then, that is Kurama's problem. Not his.
"Hey, sis, sure that you are not coming with us?" Kuwabara asked in a loud voice.
"No, I'm not going. I have a date." Shizuru's words created instant excitement in the room.
"What! A date?!" Yusuke couldn't believe his hearing.
"I'm so happy for you, Shizuru-san." The ever gentle Keiko cried happily while busy twisting Yusuke's ear.
Yukina said with an innocent smile, " Just like us, right, Kazuma-kun?"
Blushed red to his hair roots, Kuwabara stammered out "Ha.ha..ha..hai!!!"
Even after their engagement, Kuwabara still could not get over his crush over the pretty ice girl. Which was not a bad thing, anyway.
"So that's decided then. Six of us are going to Paris for a ten days travel. The flight is scheduled to leave tomorrow afternoon at 14:00. See you guys on the plane!" The crowd dispersed through the front door, chattering excitedly about the trip to come.
After clearing up the dishes and glasses and whatsoever damage caused by his best friends' visit, Kurama went up to his roof garden. This was his finest creation, full of roses in half and full bloom. Red as flashy as the heart of a pigeon blood ruby, white as tender as soft rabbit's down, champagne as delicate as bubbles of its namesake, there were more colors than that could be named. Satin black, azure blue, royal purple, pale lavender, even grass green could be found among the numerous colors of Kurama's incomparable roses. Ever a plotter, Kurama did not cultivate those impossible colored roses for nothing, but then, who could know his secrets unless the mysterious Youko chose to tell?
A swish of black momentarily blocked the shine of clear moonlight. In the heart of his rose garden, Kurama smiled with great warmth. "Welcome, Hiei."
A soft evening breeze stirred up his sunset color hair, twirling and swirling in a joyful dance that reflected its owner's heart. Hiei said nothing, dressed in his usual black tunic, black trousers, black coat, and a startling white scarf. His katana shone faintly, a silvery glint that could sever the pale moon beams. In the silence of night, they studied each other, Kurama with an intensity, Hiei with an apparent nonchalance. Finally, Kurama spoke.
"Hiei..I would like to ask a favor of you."
"Hn." The usual reply. Taking a deep breath, Kurama continued.
"There is something very important to me, hidden within a well guarded keep. I need it badly, but in my human shape, it is impossible for me to get it alone. Would you please help me?" With bated breath, Kurama waited Hiei's reply anxiously.
"Where is it?" The simply question filled Kurama with glee. The work is half-done already.
"Let me show you on the map...there, you see? The cross is where I shall meet you at 13:55 tomorrow afternoon. Is that all right?"
"Why that particular time?" Hiei's sudden question caught Kuram unaware.
"Ahh..well..you see, that's the time when their patrol is weakest." It was a lame excuse, but the best Kurama could come up with at the moment. "And Hiei, do be careful. Though those who guard the treasure are only ningens, they have some very powerful weapons that even youkais need to be aware of. The point is to go in secretly in, then secretly out again. So, please, don't let anyone see you, and don't kill anyone, okay?" The last part was really important. Kurama did not want a massacre to spoil the trip. Besides, it might be a bit difficult for the plane to take-off from an airport littered with bits and pieces of human anatomy.
" They won't die if they don't bother me." Hiei said coldly. Kurama sweated. He could almost see the headlines: Minamino Shuuichi accused of multiple murder at the XX airport...He shook his head to clear that image. "No, Hiei, no killings please. For me?" Kurama implored with his beautiful eyes, showing a silent yet urgent plea.
Hiei twitched a bit uncomfortably, and Kurama could have sworn he saw a glimpse of blush before it was smoothed down by the old indifference. Hiei responded with a curt nod, then disappeared in the depth of the night.
In the darkness, a youko's smile appeared then disappeared like a swift falling star.
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End of Chapter 1.
Author's Notes: I would like to thank the web page for allowing me a place to put on my fanfic. Although this is not my first work, it is truly the first piece of work of mine to appear on Internet and in English. So feel free to correct my mistakes, and comments are more than welcome. A new writer needs all the encouragement she can get!!
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chapter 2 >>
