Let's Fly as the Birds Do...
chapter 22
by Hikari
“Let’s Fly as the Birds Do…” Chapter Twenty-Two
8/22/01
By: Hikari
E-mail: elvina99@hotmail.com
Notes: Music theme to chapter: “Right Direction” by En Vogue.
~*~*~*~
Little sheep, little sheep do you know what to do?
You’ve stumbled upon a jagged
rock…
Snapping your leg in two…
Little sheep, little sheep shall you
‘baa’ until noon?
Your surrounded by your flock…
Yet, little sheep, no one can hear
you…
~*~*~*~
Yatori opened the folder and read
down the list. Good, everything went as planned. All of his runners were
registered with one regional number and one team number. He smiled. With
Shuiichi out of the way, Yatori may find peace in that he won’t be humiliated
of having his best runner be a ‘fruitcake’. Zero period would be starting in
ten minutes. The students should already be in the lockers suiting up for
another sprint and relay drill. Once he would take out the roll sheet, Yatori
could easily eliminate Shuiichi from the team. His name wasn’t there, and
consequently, he wasn’t registered. Non-registry means you never existed on
the team. It was the redhead’s own fault for not appearing to the meet, and so
wrongdoing cannot be detected. He smiled again. His name, team, and pride were
saved.
Standing from his desk in the gym
office, Yatori walked leisurely outside- happy to see that his team was already
dressed and ready for the start up jog. He spied Shuiichi from a distance due to
his stark red hair, and he chuckled to himself knowing that that blotch of red
was going to be an eyesore no more. He was rid of him.
“Chie?”
“Here.”
“Itakura?”
“Here.”
Standard procedure. Reading down the
list was making the coach giddy. The bliss of émigré was in mind. When at last
he came to that all-too-familiar name, Minnamino, Shuiichi, Yatori put on his
professional tone, as if sorry to have to go by the school districts
regulations. “Shuiichi, you weren’t at the meet…”
The redhead expected this, and
smirked coolly. “I wasn’t there when YOU arrived, but I made it no
less…”
“I’m sorry, but your name isn’t
on the roll-call… Nor do you have a regional number…”
“That’s fine.” Kurama replied
in utter simplicity. “I have the regional number on the track shirt they gave
me…”
Silence. Some of the other students
had drained in color in their face.
“Where is this shirt, then?”
Hope, always reaching for that last string of hope to pull yourself out of
blunder.
Lifting the top of his regular track
uniform, which was marked as number three of the school team, there it was- the
regional number: U.H. T. 16. Everyone looked at each other nervously, while
Yatori kept his composure by swallowing.
“Well- well-done…” he choked
out.
*****
“You should have seen their faces,
it was almost comical…”
“Despite the nuisance, the victory
was sweet, was it not?”
“Relatively speaking, yes it
was…”
Honoka was lounging on her leather
swivel chair, smiling fondly at her student who was sitting at one of the front
most desks. Playfully, she swung herself from side to side in a pendulum-like
motion- arms settled on their rests. “Well, I’m glad for you… I would have
liked to see Yatori’s face, however… That man, really… I find him to be a
child.”
Peculiar, in the few days Kurama had
consulted with his sensei- he had never gotten information on her part. She had
always been the one to talk and query, while he was constantly the one to answer
and absorb whatever advises he could get a hold off.
It was practically uncouth. He wanted to make up for it by switching the tables
for a change. “Kairu-san…”
“Mm?”
“You’ve had your own… share of
romance, haven’t you?” That was coming out all wrong. The words were too
prying. The redhead narrowed his eyes at his slip-up. “Oh, pardon my rudeness-
I’m just curious…”
“That’s fine.” Honoka excused.
In a twist Kurama wasn’t expecting, however, Miss Kairu brightened.
“Actually, I have much to tell you about MY love life…”
“Oh?” Unbeknownst to either of
them, there was a rise of enthusiasm that filled the room. She wanted to divulge
her own experiences and he wanted to hear them. Perhaps Kurama was tired of
talking about his miseries, and maybe Honoka was out of guidance to give.
Whatever the state of affairs, it was always beneficial to learn more.
“Yes,” the woman said- preparing
to speak of hidden memories. “In all honesty, I’ve had someone sweep me away
so quickly I lost my breath… His name was Kojiro… The man of every woman’s
dreams- in general, anyway. “ She spun to look out the window in her
classroom- eyeing how the sun kissed the cherry blossoms outside with warmth and
gold. “Of course, people who look perfect on the outside tend to have
something dissolute in the inside… He was a playboy; a man who knew the tricks
and strings of the heart. He knew how to play those strings- make you go in the
direction he tugged you until at last the chords snapped and you were left
broken on the floor…”
“He hurt you?” The student asked,
now concerned instead of curious.
“And DID he.” She allowed a
whimsical laugh to leave her. “I was in college then, could you imagine my
reaction when I saw him with another woman in the dormitory? Huh’, I remember
throwing the closest thing to me at him… A lamp. It’s quite humorous, now
that I look back on it. I was a fool to think I could ever find a place in his
heart- let alone have his attention all for myself.”
“You don’t seem to be so bitter
about it…”
“Why should I be? The man was a
bastard- I know I deserve better than him, so I have no regrets in catching him
with that other broad…” On the chair, she swung away from the window and
directed herself toward Kurama. “But this just goes to show you, Shuiichi,
before you can ever intimately love someone- you have to know who that person
genuinely is first. I hope that’s how it is between you and Hiei, because
otherwise, I would question whether or not your emotions are being wasted…”
“Did you… ever make love?”
“No… I have not.”
Sighing at the response, he moved his
focus towards the surface of his desk. “You see, that’s where I’m having
trouble understanding myself- forgiving myself… It’s wrong to lose ones
virginity before marriage- and in my case, marriage is impossible.”
“You’re already thinking about
that?” The tone by which her voice chose betrayed the real sympathy she had.
“Does it sound so perverted?”
Perversity- always there was the perversity to not neglect.
“I can’t say it doesn’t disturb
me… It IS unorthodox…”
In self-mockery, Kurama chortled.
“I believe everything about me is unorthodox…”
“Hm…” As she had grabbed one of
the fountain pens on her desk, Honoka spun the pen like a pinwheel between her
dainty fingertips. Her eyes grew wary of the next discussion, and it could be
seen unmistakably as her irises had darkened in color.
“That’s most likely why my mother
cannot accept it. We’ve rarely spoken, but I can tell the very idea of me and
another man is still unheard of…”
“Traditional- that’s good. ”
Putting down her pen, she exchanged it for her glasses, which she promptly
placed before her face. “At the same time, unfortunately, her mind is so sure
and focused on the label that what you and Hiei have is not only immoral, but
also impossible, that her mind won’t permit the chance that there COULD be
real love. In other words, there’s no support in your favor for the mere
reason she feels it’s ridiculous for such a relationship to exist. In her
ideal of a world, it doesn’t exist- period.”
The redhead found no desire to defend
his flesh and blood. “Physical lust…” Kurama offered. “That’s what
mother said it was…”
“And, hypothetically, you’ve been
feeling more so ‘lustful’ because you’re deprived of him?”
Elbows stabbing the table, his palms
opened to cover his visage- some mumbling coming out him that Honoka clearly
comprehended: “If you mean yearning, yes…”
“Words are ambiguous, Shuiichi…”
He raised his head. “True, but I
can’t deny that I DID want him in body…”
“Oh?”
“Mm… I plead guilty,”
Resembling the gavel of a judge- his forearms dropped to the table heavily.
“No matter how close we got- there was always that fantasy of getting
closer…” An acidic taste assaulted his senses. “It never happened. We
can’t- our own bodies won’t permit it…”
“I grasp you didn’t make love
with him the OTHER way…”
“What kind of love is THAT?”
Kurama declared, almost standing from his seat. “When you show someone you
care about him, wouldn’t it only be right to show him it face to face?”
She smiled. “You have very good
standards… Other people fail to recognize this facet- this includes ordinary
couples.”
Simmering down, the redhead inclined
forward at his desk. “It’s come to the point, where, I wouldn’t mind not
having him within me or me within him…” It took some endeavor to haul up his
irises without shame. “I know that sounds gross, but… it’s the truth. We
can’t have each other that way and the way we want it. If only I could have
him as close to me as possible, then… that’s enough for me…”
Her eyelashes pulsed at his
acceptance. “Why?”
“I don’t know… After all that
has taken place, after being- what feels- miles away from him- seeing my friend
even at a distance is rewarding to me…” For a moment, he paused. “It still
stings… but it’s better than no feeling at all…”
*****
She had been waiting the whole day
for the redhead to leave the proximities of the school. Out in he sun she was,
sitting on her oar and praying the bell would ring soon as she began to perspire
under the heat. When the chimes finally did their task, her magenta eyes lowered
and sought out for the Reikai Tantei below. Given that everyone was uniformed in
red, this made her hunt far more difficult- like finding a needle in a haystack.
Luckily for her, no one could match Kurama’s shade of hair. She spotted him.
“Kurama-kun!!” The fairy flew
down on her oar, and traveled quickly to not be noticed. After all, it won’t
be a good thing if someone were to see her hovering in the air like a witch.
Hearing his name, he caught the
shadow of a flying girl on the concrete of the sidewalk. Halting, he turned and
came face to face with a bubbly blue-haired teenager. “Botan?”
“Konnichi-wa!” The redhead could
not prevent from grinning. He loved the way Botan was so carefree and
optimistic. “Kurama-kun, we have a group meeting at Genkai-san’s…”
Especially when she was running
errands for the spoiled brat. Reikai meeting equals Genkai’s temple.
Genkai’s temple equals big stone steps. Kurama grimaced. “Thanks, but…
can’t Yusuke relay the message to me?”
“I’m afraid not…” She said,
clasping onto the sleeves of her kimono timidly. “You have to be there- Hiei
too.”
“What? At the same time?” This
would be difficult. If the gathering were to be in early evening or afternoon,
there was no way he or Hiei could leave the house without being questioned by
Shiori. The contemplation in his features set Botan to apprehension.
“Is that bad?”
“No, but… One of us has to be
within my household at all times…
“Doishiite?” She blinked
childishly. Kurama enhanced his beam to pay a tribute over her cuteness.
“Ugh… it’s hard to
explain…”
“Well, whatever the problem is, you
BOTH have there. Koenma-sama’s orders…” The firmness in her voice was
remarkably adorable.
“I understand… I’ll… think of
a way. What time is the meeting?”
“Nine-thirty at night tomorrow!”
Seriousness was chopped off. One of Botan’s fingers went up and circled around
exuberantly. The other thought about it. Nine-thirty was far too early. There
was no means it could be done, unless Hiei threatens Shiori with his blade.
Naturally, Hiei WOULD do that if he hadn’t taken a penchant to his mother.
“Do you think you can change that
to eleven?”
“I- I guess so…”
He nodded. “What’s this meeting
about, hm?”
“Eh…” ‘Trouble! Trouble!’
the fairy sirened in her head. “Koenma-sama will be the one with the
specifics, not me…”
Marvelous evasion.
“Is it that serious?”
“Um…” No choice, but to be
vague. “It’s a matter of opinion… Will you tell Hiei for me?”
“Yes, of course…”
“Oh, arigatou! You saved me! I
mean! You saved me the bother!!” Nervous giggles tumbled out her petite lips
ceaselessly. Jumping on the bar of her oar, she took off when all the other
students had departed. “Ja ne!”
*****
The blades of grass creased from
beneath him as his feet slid to widen his stance. His hands gripped tightly
around the hilt, arms pulling the blade in stunning movements. Hiei pulled down,
to the side, up, and diagonally. The light from the sun polished the edge of the
sword- leaving behind visible slices of flashing white. He was nowhere in
particular. Since Kurama was only on his way home, Shiori only permitted him to
go into the backyard of the residence. The demon grunted to himself from being
so restrained, but he concluded that it was better to be able to get some fresh
air rather than be inside continually.
It was steaming. The patio bricks,
when touched, felt as though they were warmed up grills for bar-b-queuing. Hiei
put an end to his practicing by resheathing his sword…. with class, of course.
By the hilt, he whirled the katana- creating a whistling noise that was very
charming to his ear. After revolving it, he let the weapon take flight into the
air, and when it descended- Hiei caught it flawlessly with its sheath. Landing
inside its cover, it clanged menacingly.
“Hn.” Shutting his irises, his
nose pointed to the air. The feat was too undemanding. With unending time on his
hands, maybe he could waste it all by creating new ways to put away the blade.
He opened his eyes. ‘So very dull…’
Shafts of light made the demon shield
his view with the level of his hand. Beads of sweat were collecting on his
forehead- more than half it sopping up into his ward. “Uh…”
The palms of his hands went to rub
his bare shoulders. Hiei’s frame quaked temporarily, and when the chill ended-
he shrugged it off. “…Kudaran…”
*****
Arriving home, Kurama was thankful to
have had an extraordinarily good day. He began humming to himself as he headed
for his room- eyes covered and head swinging to his own melody. One of the best
parts was that he had no homework. The redhead finished it all during his lunch
session with Honoka. Honoka was a first-rate tutor, too. The teacher knew
calculus as if it was the back of her hand, she knew biology comprehensively,
essays incontestably were her forte, and she was an intuitive for the arts.
History was
one of her secondary points; yet she was still strong at the subject. ‘Be a
Renaissance man…’ Miss Kairu stated. “Well-rounded and aware of
everything… It’s better to know a little about all subjects than to be a
genius in only one…’
Talking to her was a must. He was
estranged from Hiei by a wall, and Kaasan WAS that wall. Yusuke and Kuwabara
went to an entirely different school, and Kurama wasn’t on amicable terms with
Shidou or Arisu. ‘Communication makes the world go around…’ She told him
gently. ‘Whether or not the communication is positive or negative does not
matter because people will listen. One speaks, one listens… It’s a
partnership that will never be destroyed... The problem with this is
misunderstanding- or bias. It’s not the words that are the problem, it’s the
people who use and acquire those words…’
Kurama decided not to go to his
quarters, in place of doing so, he knocked on his mother’s door.
“Come in…”
Given permission, he pushed on the
knob quietly. Shiori transferred her head from the computer screen, sliding down
her glasses. “Yes?”
“Where’s Hiei?”
His mother went back to the monitor
and ensued to type. “He was outside a minute ago… I think he’s in his room
now…”
Swallowing expectantly, he dared to
ask. “May I see him?”
Not looking at her son, she shook her
head.
“…Oh…”
The redhead was disappointed, but he
promised himself not to let it tarnish his day. Going back downstairs, he went
into the kitchen and explored the cupboards and fridge. His eyes found him a box
of yellow cake mix in the pantry, and from probing the kitchen, he came across
chocolate fudge frosting. ‘There’s nothing else to do…’ Kurama thought,
opening the box of mix and pouring it into a large bowl. His hands stretched to
open the fridge again, where he took out a carton of milk, some eggs, and
butter. Walking to an overhead cupboard, he reached for the sugar. By means of a
wooden spoon, he blended all the ingredients and poured the batter into a baking
pan. With his fingers, he switched the oven knob to the desired temperature and
placed the pan inside.
Over an hour and a half slipping
away, he pulled out the dessert with a blue and white-checkered oven mitt. The
cake radiated a gorgeous aroma- the mix having turned into a square piece of
yellow fluff. Flipping the pan, he carefully removed the treat from its mold. It
landed with a slight bounce on another plate- signaling to Kurama he had done a
fine job of preparing it. Letting it cool for ten minutes, the redhead later
covered it with the frosting- giving it a very French look by swirling the
chocolate and glomping it on generously.
Finished, he cocked his head.
“Hm…”
Tossing the used utensils into the
sink, he took out a knife and sliced off a portion. Delicately, he placed that
slice into a smaller dish. Glancing about the fridge another shot, Kurama pulled
out the chocolate and caramel syrup and drizzled it. As a final touch, he put a
scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side. Happy with his craft, Kurama carried the
dessert and fork to the front of Hiei’s room. Pattering at the door, he turned
and started for the stairs.
Hiei pushed the door open, sensing
that it was shoving something on the carpet. Staring down, he smiled. He bent to
pick up the plate and found a note beneath it:
‘Conference at Genkai’s. Eleven
at night tomorrow- you HAVE to be there.
Always,
Kurama
P.S. – Eat slowly.’
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