Quitting the Team, Chapter 3
Kuwabara was reclining on the couch. On a whim, he and Yusuke skipped school after lunch, frivoling away the time by playing pranks on the neighbors. Now it was five in the afternoon, and he was full after raiding the fridge.
The teen was contemplating, an activity that he wasn�t fond of. However, he couldn�t help it. Despite that Yusuke and the team were treating him better, and including him in the fighting more, there was a sliver of doubt that caused him to hesitate from time to time.
Could he really trust Yusuke, Kurama, and Hiei to treat him respectfully all the while? Or would they go back on their promise? It was absurd, and he knew it, but it was a knee jerk reaction.
�Jeez baby brother, get up and do something. The silence is depressing me.� Shizuru stood in the doorway, a frown on her lips. Kuwabara was startled out of his deep thoughts and turned to face her, offering a weak smile.
�Then do something about it,� he said, yawning and stretching, but did not move from his seat.
�Lets go to the park or something.�
Kuwabara paused and stared at her. �Who are you and what have you done with my sister?�
She glared at him, stalked over to the couch, and pulled him by the arm. �We�re going outside. Get.�
�Fine.� Kuwabara got up, retrieved his jacket, and slipped on his shoes. Shizuru was all ready outside, leaning against the wall. He noticed that there was no cigarette hanging out the side of her mouth.
�Are you quitting the cancer stick sis?� he asked, taking the initiative and heading in a random direction. Shizuru fell in step besides him.
�I�m trying.�
�Good. Its hazy enough in the apartment.�
A moment later he found himself nursing a red cheek. �Sheesh, don�t take it too personal,� he grumbled, making sure to watch his step.
�That was not for me, idiot. I slapped you because you were brooding. My theory is that you are having a moment of doubt.�
Kuwabara stopped in his tracks. �How did you know?� he asked, catching up in one lanky footstep.
�It wasn�t too difficult. Your eyes tell a lot you know.� Shizuru kept walking and shoved her hands in her pants pocket. Turning to glance at him, she offered a smile. �Kurama was telling me how happy you were yesterday.�
He couldn�t help but chuckle at that. �Yeah. Good times.�
�How is it going with Yukina?�
Kuwabara shrugged. �Good. It still bothers Hiei though.�
�He will get over it.�
There was a comfortable silence between the two as they walked down the street. The sound of birds high up on building roofs, the smell of food cooking in restaurants and the constant chatter of other people on the street assaulted their senses.
Eventually, the sights and sounds of the town passed by as the siblings entered into another neighborhood. The houses were mainly two story, in all kinds of designs and color schemes. Shizuru stopped and whistled. �Nice houses,� she said.
�Yeah. Kurama lives in this neighborhood.�
Shizuru cocked her head in surprise. �Really. Show me.�
�Sure."
Kuwabara took the lead as he strode down the streets, taking a right, then a left. Pointing to the house on the end of the right side, he said, �That�s it, the house with the big oak tree.�
�Nice. How can they afford the house?�
�Kurama�s mom married a rich guy.�
�Lucky woman.�
�He has a brother too, also named Shuichi. Their stepbrothers.�
�Intermarriage?�
�Yep.�
Brother and sister continued down the street, stopping in front of the house. It was painted a melancholy gray with a robin�s egg yellow for the window eaves. Shizuru counted at least eight windows, and whistled in appreciation. �A lot of money to pay for this job,� she muttered. She glanced down at her watch and then the darkening clouds. �Lets get goin� back now. I�ll order some noodles or something.�
�Sounds good to me,� Kuwabara said, following his sister�s footsteps. Only a few footsteps later a voice stopped him.
�Kuwabara. Kuwabara, what are you doing here?�
He turned and saw the red haired teen standing there, holding a plastic mall bag that read �Gap.�� Hiei was nowhere in sight. �Hey, Kurama.�
�Oh, forgive me for not seeing you at first, Shizuru.�
�No biggie. We were just walking in the neighborhood.�
�So, how was shopping with shrimpy?�
Kurama merely shrugged. �He sulked the whole time. As soon I paid for the last items and we were out of the doors, he was gone.�
Kuwabara snickered. �I�m looking forward to it. Say, what size is he anyway?�
�I know he will most likely kill me for telling this, but it is too funny to pass up. All the employees thought he was my little brother.� Kurama released a snicker. �Lets just say we stayed in the children�s section for the longest time.�
Kuwabara nearly doubled over in laughter. �Mind I if I share it with Urameshi?�
�Go ahead.�
�Sorry to interrupt your happyfest here, but what is this about Hiei and shopping.�
Kuwabara snickered again. �I dared Hiei to dress casual, ditch the sword, and act like he has a shred of emotion.�
Shizuru merely stood there, hands on hips, before lighting a cigarette. �If that�s the case, life just got more interesting.� She blew out a puff of smoke. �Lets go idiot.�
Kurama waved at them. �Good night, you two. Sleep well.�
�You too, Ku� I mean, Shuichi.�
******
It was the first day of the weekend, and Yusuke, Kuwabara, Kurama, and Shizuru were at the Kuwabara apartment, all chatting about local news, spirit world, and other such topics. Hiei was not there yet, apparently deciding to take his sweet time in getting there.
Yusuke sighed and glanced at his watch. �Kurama, is Hiei hiding out there? It�s eleven in the morning.�
�Most undoubtedly, yes.� Kurama smirked. �He won�t come if I ask though. Hiei and I are not on speaking terms apparently.�
�Really?� Yusuke asked, in a joking tone. �One more question: is he anywhere near here.�
�Yes, most likely in the park.�
�Feh. He lives there,� Kuwabara muttered, then sat straight up. �I didn�t invite Yukina!�
All four shared conspiratorial glances. �Okay, I will call up Genkai. Kuwabara and Shizuru, you are the psychics. Scan the surrounding area for his aura. Yusuke, come with me after I call up Genkai, to search for Hiei,� Kurama said.
All four of them nodded in unison. Kuwabara and his sister stationed themselves at the windows. Yusuke remained where he was, while Kurama briefly called up the old psychic, nodding emphatically at the end.
�Yes, one of us will come by. Don�t worry, we won�t keep Yukina from too long. I am aware she has chores.� A pause. �Goodbye.� He hung up and turned to Yusuke. �Yukina will be ready to leave in fifteen minutes. That gives us enough time to find him, and pilfer the katana.�
�I sense him,� Shizuru said. �Try the forest, in one of the oldest trees.�
�Is it the one that Genkai tested me in?� Yusuke asked, rewarded with a nod from Kurama. �Lets get going then!�
Kurama slipped on his coat. �If we start now at a mild run, we can make it in ten minutes.�
�Gotcha. Way ahead of you!� Yusuke shot out the door, Kurama behind him.
They did find Hiei perched high up in an aging tree, dressed in dark blue jeans and a black shirt that read �Don�t bother me, and you�ll live� on the front. On his feet were black boots. Clutching the katana in one hand Hiei scowled at them. �Leave me be.�
�You have a promise to fulfill, Hiei, and you never break your promises.� Kurama perched one hand on his hips.
Hiei�s face contorted in anger, but said nothing.
�Surrender your sword for the day, Hiei, and you will get it back. Otherwise, you can stay here all day. Kuwabara would be overjoyed to know he has something to hold over you.� Smirking he feigned a glance of sorrow directed towards Yusuke. �Lets go then. Yukina is waiting for one of us to pick her up.�
Yusuke smirked back at him and began walking. No sooner had they taken a step forward when there was a soft �thump� sound that signified Hiei was now on the ground. �Take it and leave. I will get Yukina.� Then he flitted off, leaving behind a displacement of air.
Kurama burst out in laughter, doubling over. His laughter was contagious, as Yusuke followed suit, limply leaning against the same tree Hiei had taken refuge in. For a full five minutes the kitsune-ningen and detective laughed heartily.
�I think we should head back now,� Yusuke said, wiping away tears of mirth. �No doubt Mr. Speedy is all ready on his way there.�
�I think he is all ready there,� Kurama said, doing the same, and straightening his posture. Slipping the sheathed sword into a belt loop he unexpectedly took off, employing his kitsune speed that often came in handy during raids.
At last the pair arrived, panting and sweaty, at the apartment. Inviting himself in Yusuke pushed the door open. Kurama took a moment to compose himself before entering the apartment living room.
�Nice run?� Hiei asked, sitting in his usual corner and glaring fiercely at every single thing in the room.
�Yes. I beat Yusuke if that means anything.�
�Hey, don�t boast so easily fox boy. I beat you on the way there.� Yusuke plopped down on the couch.
�That is because he knew where the forest was in the first place,� Shizuru dryly remarked.
Kurama tuned out his friend�s conversations in the room, sliding the sheathed sword out of the belt loop and laying it across his lap. His intention was to get Hiei to socially interact the way he knew how. Without looking at anyone he unsheathed the weapon, holding it up in front of his face. The katana was a gorgeous piece of work. The many folds of the blade were subtle, tinged with gold.
�You had better not drop the sword fox,� Hiei said, sitting next to him.
�Look who decided to talk.� Kurama continued his inspection of the katana. �Tell me, do you polish it on a regular basis?�
�Hn.�
Kurama couldn�t help but roll his eyes. �You need a vocabulary.�
�I don�t waste words, fox.�
�That�s good and well, Hiei, but you need someone you can freely talk to.� Kurama finished his inspection of the blade and turned to the hilt, laying the weapon on his lap. Rubbing one finger across the weaved material he asked, �who fashioned it?�
�A blacksmith in Makai.�
Nodding in satisfaction Kurama resheathed the sword and leaned it against the wall. Kuwabara was blabbing on about his achievments to Yukina. Yusuke and Keiko were in the midst of another argument concerning the time-consuming cases in Spirit world. Shizuru was nowhere to be found.
And Hiei� was in sitting in the windowsill. Again. He would have to order reinforcements. Glancing sideways at Yusuke (he and Keiko were at opposite ends of the room now) he looked once at Hiei, then back at the head detective. Doing the same with Kuwabara, the redhead leaned back in his seat and grinned as the show began.
�Hey shrimpy, come down from there. I mean if you aren�t afraid.�
Hiei spat in the human�s direction and leapt down so that his booted feet touched the carpeted floor.
Kuwabara wiped the spit from his face and grimaced. �Sheesh. Remember half pint, if you don�t act with a shred of emotion, I can extend it another day.�
Hiei�s eyes widened a fraction of an inch before the neutral mask settled over his face once more. Sliding to the floor and relaxing against the wall, Hiei remained mute, even when Kuwabara�s shadow towered over him. �Sit human. Stay where you were.�
Kuwabara only chuckled, reaching down and seizing Hiei by the collar and holding him out arms length. The fire demon gasped and struggled desperately to free himself, but for once, the human�s grip was too strong.
Laughter exploded from every corner of the room. Most (exluding Kurama and Shizuru) were laughing hysterically; Kurama was hiding his chuckles behind on hand. Hiei turned bright red from embarrassment, struggling fruitlessly. Falling limp Hiei appeared to give up.
A grunt sound later Hiei had slipped out of the human�s grasp, leaving him shirtless. Kuwabara�s laughter died as he found himself staring at a shirt, which was soon torn from his grasp and slid over the fire demon�s chest.
�Dang! Ow-Oww!� Much to amusement of the audience, Hiei kicked the human in the shins and ankles, causing Kuwabara to fall to the ground and grimace. �I�ll get you back shorty. Just you wait!�
Hiei snorted. �Right,� he said, in a derisive tone.
�Something tells me this bet will be a long one,� Kurama said.
�I agree, foxy boy.� Yusuke kept his eyes glued on the scene.
�Yusuke, be more supportive! Hiei is trying his best.� Keiko thwacked her boyfriend on the head with her purse and sat back, smirking as Yusuke fell to the ground with swirls for eyes.
�Kurama, do me a favor and don�t get an aggressive girlfriend,� he said, before passing out.
�Is Yusuke okay?� Yukina asked, sounding worried. �I can heal him.�
�No, its okay, Yukina. This is routine for the both of them.� He flashed a charming smile at the ice maiden to calm her down.
Meanwhile Hiei and Kuwabara were in engaged in a fighting match. Punch, parry, pull back, thrust, over again. Hiei appeared to be winning, though his opponent managed to get some punches in there somewhere.
�Shrimp, ugh..itai!!� He held a hand to his cheek, muttering curse words under his breath and scowling heavily.
On impulse Hiei did a very much un-Hiei like action.
He stuck his tongue out at him, said, �I win,� and sat back in his seat, smirking smugly.
Kuwabara, restrained by Kurama and Yusuke, released a growl. �Let me go, guys. I have a rematch with my name on it.�
�No way, dude. First, we eat, then fight the right way,� Yusuke said.
Keiko glared venomously at Yusuke.
�Right way?� Kuwabara asked, scratching the back of his neck (Yusuke and Kurama let him go).
�Outside, with a referee. No rules either.� He smirked.
�Sounds good.�
�Hn.�
Kurama rolled his eyes. �Come on, everyone, I have lunch ready and waiting.� This is definetely an entertaining day. Must remember to do this more often.
The sounds of muffled arguments of who got what resounded in the kitchen. Kurama sighed good-naturedly and entered the kitchen.