-----------------------------------
Hiei mumbled sleepily, a small frown puckering his brow as his
companion slowly rose from his side. Eyes still tightly closed, he
reached out a hand, quickly entangling it in the fur of the kitsune's
silky tail. Yawning, he gave the captured extremity an insistent tug.
Kurama yelped, and collapsed back against him, breath rushing out in a
startled "whoosh!". With a smug smile, the little firebaby snuggled
close once more and settled back into his interrupted slumber. He'd
been having the nicest dream...
-----------------------------------
Kurama sweatdropped. His new friend was turning out to be quite a little tyrant. He was considering just giving in and letting Hiei sleep a bit more when his stomach began to rumble insistently. Being a healthy, growing youkai, the complaints of his stomach easily smothered whatever qualms he might have had in waking up his furless friend. With a mischievous glimmer in his eyes, the silver kitsune nudged aside the fine hairs at Hiei's nape and swiftly pressed his nose against it. This was going to be fun!
-----------------------------------
Hiei woke up with an indignant yelp. Something COLD and WET had touched the back of his neck! Face scrunching up in disgust, he opened his eyes and gave the indecently cheerful kitsune beside him the Hiei-Glare-Of-Death (TM). It _might_ have been a BIT more effective, if he hadn't looked so adorable while doing it.
:What did you do THAT for?: He pouted, looking extremely put out.
:You weren't letting me up, and I'm hungry!: Came the laughing reply. Kurama wriggled out from under Hiei's arm and stood up. :I'm going to get something to eat. Wanna come along?: Golden eyes stared at him expectantly.
Hiei growled a bit, then sighed. He was hungry too, now that Kurama had mentioned it. :...Fine...:
The little kitsune grinned, then licked his face. He squawked, and glared. :Omae....: The sending took on a very aggrieved tone.
Kurama gave him an innocent look and proceeded to crawl out of the den. :Let's go!: He chirped happily.
Hiei gave his back one last glare. Seeing that Kurama was oblivious to it, he sighed and crawled after him, wincing a bit as his tender skin was scratched by bits of bark and fallen leaves. Kurama turned his head as he made a pained sound, then ran back, worry clouding his normally cheerful face. :Daijobu, Hiei?:
:Hn.: Maybe pretending it didn't hurt _would_ make it hurt less.
Kurama eyed him with concern. Those scratches looked nasty. :If you had some fur, this wouldn't have happened.: He muttered absently. :Why'd you have to be bald anyway?:
:I'm not bald!: Hiei took exception to that remark, voice filling with righteous indignation. :I'm normal! You're the one who's too hairy!:
Kurama blinked. :Uso! 'Kaasan told me all kitsune's have fur. _She_ was furry.: He stated triumphantly.
Hiei closed his eyes and prayed for patience. :I. Am. Not. A. Kitsune.:
:Oh.: Kurama cocked his head to one side. :What are you then?:
Hiei thought for a moment. :...I don't know.: He finally confessed, embarrassed.
:So how do you know that you're not a kitsune?: Bright, amber eyes stared at him with interest.
Hiei gave him an incredulous look. Was he really that dense? :I look nothing like you!:
Kurama shrugged. :So? We're not related, are we?: The mind voice was mild. :There's no reason why we _should_ look like each other.: He continued, with impeccable logic.
:Hn.: Hiei had a sinking feeling he was going to lose this argument, and wisely decided not to continue the ridiculous conversation.
:Anyway...: Kurama disappeared for a moment, and reappeared with a piece of cloth in his mouth. :Here, you were wearing this before. It should help.: The kit lay it down on the ground.
Hiei gratefully crawled on top of it and let Kurama wrap him up. His new friend tucked in the last bit, then rose to his feet. :Saa, shall we go?:
:Hn.: Hiei was beginning to like this phrase. It was so...convenient. He could express his feelings without really saying anything important. How perfect! He rolled over and got into crawling position once more.
-----------------------------------
Kurama hummed to himself in self-congratulatory glee as he wrapped his new friend up. Not only had he managed to completely confuse the little demon, they were now going to go off to eat. The world was suddenly a happy place for the orphaned kit. With a grin, he scampered off, the newly-clothed firebaby crawling along beside him.