It was a fine cloudy Saturday morning. Kurama was looking forward to a nice relaxing weekend after a week of exam. He slipped on a pair of boxers and T-shirt, combed his hair and made his way to the kitchen.
He looked at the counter and saw a note.
“Shuu-chan, kaasan will be over at the company to help Hatanaka-san on the exhibition we’re having. I cooked breakfast. There’s some money on the fridge for lunch and dinner also supper. Take care. We’ll come home later if I could. But most probably tomorrow evening okay? *hugs* ki o tsukette yo, musuko!”
Kurama smiled. His mother was happy to be around his stepfather Hatanaka-san. She had even sent Shuuichi-chan to his friend’s house for the weekend. She was the perfect mother and wife. “Thought of everything,” he smiled as he took out the food from the microwave. He sat down and fed on his morning meal.
‘Chii… chii…’
The doorbell rang. Kurama smiled. “Someone’s here… wonder who is it?” he skipped happily to the door and opened it. There was no one on the door but something told him to look at his feet.
Down there, a bundle of black cloth was placed right on his doorstep. He frowned and crouched as he poked the bundle. It stirred and made a small groaning voice. Kurama blinked and opened it.
To his horror, he nearly fainted as his eyes made contact with a pair of equally big ruby eyes staring sleepily at him.
He took the bundle in and closed the door behind him. He put
the bundle of clothes nearer to his nose and sniffed it. Affirmatively
Hiei's smell. “Oh my god… what the… who did this to you, Hiei?” Kurama
asked. The big ruby eyes just stared and blinked at Kurama.
Suddenly, his eyes were welled up with tears and he started to cry. Kurama sighed; he put Hiei-chan on his chest and comforted the little cute boy.
One way or another, he had to take care of him. And find a cure.
His hand reached out for the phone and dialed a series of number fluently.
“Moshi moshi, Yuusuke wa irrashaimasu ka?” the well-mannered redhead managed to asked Atsuko. “Sou sou… matte yo,” she answered and hollered for her son. “Helloo…” he chimed happily.
“Yuusuke?” Kurama asked. “Yes Kurama, nice Saturday isn’t it? Wanna go out?” he asked. Kurama shook his head even though Yuusuke can’t see it. “You have to come over. Something happened. Quick,” Kurama said. His voice was shaky. “Em? What’s wrong Kurama?” Yuusuke asked. “Can’t you come over now? I’ll tell you when you’re here,” Kurama insisted.
“Okay okay,” Yuusuke nodded and hung up. “Okufuro! I’m going out!” with that he disappeared.
Kuwabara was dragged as well. “Nani o, Yuusuke?” he asked as they made their way to Kurama’s house. “I dunno myself. All I know that Kurama wants us there!” Kuwabara silenced. Something must be wrong. But he can’t sense any youkai presence around.
‘Chii… chii…’
The doorbell rang again and Kurama walked towards the door to open it. Kuwabara and Yuusuke looked at Kurama’s weird expression. And there was a baby in his arms. The baby was sleeping on Kurama’s shoulder. “Your cousin, Kurama?” Kuwabara asked as he reached over to pat the baby’s head. Yuusuke smiled and did the same. “So cute,” he cooed.
Kurama shook his head and turned the baby around to let the other’s have a better look at the baby. Yuusuke looked at it and blinked in horror as they looked at the white starburst in his hair, the Jagan on his forehead and a faint kokuryuu tattoo on his right arm.
“Do not tell me it is Hiei,” Yuusuke gulped. Kurama nodded. “Sou desu,” he answered softly.
Kuwabara blinked. “How did this happen?” he asked. Kurama shrugged. “I was having breakfast when there was a doorbell. When I opened the door, no one but a bundle of black cloth was at my doorstep,” Kurama told them.
The baby stirred awake and blinked its big ruby eyes at everyone. His expression was so unreadable, sad in a way. Kuwabara looked at him and smiled. “At least he’s cute,” he smiled at the baby and opened his arms. “Want Kazuma-niichan to carry you?” he asked Hiei. The baby turned his face and hid it on Kurama’s chest. He looked so cute.
“He’s so cute!” Kuwabara smiled. Yuusuke bonked him. “We need to find a way to cure him,” he said. “But why? Isn’t he cute this way?” Kuwabara tickled Hiei’s soft ear causing Hiei to snuggle more into Kurama’s chest tugging firmly on his shirt. “Because, When Mukuro realized that her heir was no where to be found, she will send a troop of Makai army to invade Ningenkai to find him,” Kurama told Kuwabara.
The bigger guy gulped.
Yuusuke scratched his head. “Why don’t we go to Genkai’s temple? She might be able to help us,” Yuusuke suggested. The other two nodded. “Okay,” Kuwabara stood up.
Just as Kurama wanted to do the same, he paused. “Umm… guys?” he called. Both Yuusuke and Kuwabara turned to look at the redhead. “Er… Hiei just wet me, we need to change,” Kurama’s face flushed.
It took a few seconds before both Yuusuke and Kuwabara cracked their heads off. Kurama hurried to the bathroom and put the wet dirty clothes into the washer. He opened the tap for warm water to flow and put Hiei into it. He washed the baby’s private part and smiled as Hiei giggled.
The baby looked at Kurama with big red eyes. His mouth opened and closed as if to say something. Kurama smiled and put a wet finger on Hiei’s button nose. “What do you want, koi?” he asked. Hiei kept opening and closing his mouth. “Ku…ra…ma…ma,” it said in a blur.
Kurama patted the baby’s head and kissed his nose. “Come Hiei, we’ll get you rea… Oh Inari! You don’t have anything to wear!” He smacked himself on the head. Kurama sighed and took Hiei into his arms.
“Well, we’ll just have to get you something then,” he carried the baby to the towel stand and took one towel wrapping the chibi-jaganshi in it. “Okay, you sit here quietly. I’m changing as well,” he put Hiei properly on the sink counter. Hiei blinked at him and giggled as Kurama stripped his wet clothes. “What? Don’t tell me your libido is running even as a baby?” Kurama pondered aloud and washed himself.
He wrapped himself in a towel and went to Hiei. The baby opened his arms to cuddle up against the redhead. “Oh you cute little baby,” Kurama hugged Hiei and carried him out of the bathroom.
Yuusuke and Kuwabara were eating in the living room while watching some violent movie. “Ne, you guys take care of him for a while. I’ll go get changed. Then I’ll have to go and shop some clothes and stuffs for him,” Kurama told them as he handed Hiei to Yuusuke.
Just as Kurama turned, they heard a whine. “Hiei's eyes began to well up with tears. “Kura…mama…” he uttered softly suppressing his tears. “Just a while Hiei. I’m just going to get some things to wear,” Kurama smiled and kissed Hiei. “Kuramama…” he started again. Kurama waved at Hiei. “Just a while, Hiei,” with that he shot off to his room.
“Kura…ma…ma…” Hiei erupted and cried. “Oh, Kurama corrupted Hiei’s mind already,” Kuwabara commented. Yuusuke winced at Hiei’s cry. “Why?” he asked. “He taught Hiei to say Kuramama…,” he cracked his head off. Hiei, knowing that Kuwabara was mocking him cried even louder.
Yuusuke tried to calm the chibi-jaganshi down. “Come on Hiei, wait. Kurama would be down in a few seconds,” Yuusuke tried to coax the little demon, to no avail.
Kurama finally showed up in a pair of slacks and shirt; at the same time, Hiei stopped crying. “Kuramama…” he said cutely, opening his arms to get Kurama to hold him. “Oh Hiei. Just a while more. I’m going out to get you…” then Kuwabara and Yuusuke suddenly cut him off. “No!” they said simultaneously.
Kurama blinked. “Why not?” he asked. “He doesn’t want anyone
else but you to carry him,” Yuusuke said. “You don’t expect me to bring
him out naked, do you?” Kurama asked, his brows slanted and eyes narrowed.
“But he doesn’t want us to hold him,” Kuwabara took off his jacket.
“Wrap him with this cotton jacket. Should keep him warm,” Kuwabara wrapped
Hiei in his cotton jacket. Kurama smiled as Kuwabara handed Hiei into his
arms.
“He loves you so much even as a baby,” Yuusuke sighed and pinched Hiei’s button nose playfully. Hiei giggled to himself as he played with Kurama’s sidelocks. Kurama gave the keys to Yuusuke. “Please lock the door for me,” he requested. Yuusuke smiled and helped the redhead. Kuwabara reached out to play with Hiei’s ears. “His ears are so soft,” he grinned. Hiei liked it as well and started to purr, snuggling deeper against Kurama’s warm chest.
“Ikuzo,’ said Yuusuke, walking towards the train station to go to the shopping mall. In the packed train, Kurama was offered a seat by a woman who pitied the redhead for carrying a baby while standing. Kurama sat down and uttered a word of gratitude. The lady looked at Hiei snuggling against Kurama, sucking his thumb. He looked so adorable.
The lady thought Hiei was very cute. “You are lucky to have such a cute and nice baby. I bet it’s hard to raise him yourself, young man,” she said. Kurama sweatdropped. Yuusuke and Kuwabara were already giggling at the back. At least she didn’t mistake Kurama’s gender as a girl. “Kurama will get toasted by Hiei if he ever had a kid with a woman,” Kuwabara whispered to Yuusuke. He later nodded and chuckled again.
They got off the train and stepped into the mall. The cool breeze cooled their warm bodies thus waking Hiei up. He blinked. Everything was bright and colorful. He looked at Kurama quizzically. Kurama smiled. “This is the mall, Hiei. We’re getting some baby stuff for you,” Kurama shifted Hiei’s position so the baby could see his surroundings more easily.
Kuwabara grinned right in front of Hiei’s face. Excited aren’t we, Hiei-chan? We’re getting you all sorts of stuffs,” he cooed at the baby. Hiei opened his mouth and smiled. “Look, he’s so happy spending away Kurama’s money,” Yuusuke laughed.
Kurama looked around and looked for the baby’s department, the three of them actually. “Now where’s that?” Kuwabara asked. His eyes wandering around the mall. Yuusuke smiled. “Ask that pretty girl over there,” he pointed at the girl in the information counter. Kurama sweatdropped. “Cool idea, Urameshi!” exclaimed the carrot top as both of them skipped their way to the counter.
Kurama had no choice but to follow those two. Hiei tugged gently on his sidelock to get his attention. “Yes, baby?” Kurama’s expression instantly turned into a warm smile. Hiei opened and closed his mouth as if to tell Kurama something. Kurama nodded as a sign that he understood the cute toddler, even though he didn’t knew what Hiei meant.
Yuusuke and Kuwabara were heading their way back when Kurama
was a bout to reach the counter. “Where’s it?” he asked casually.
Both Kuwabara and Yuusuke pointed at a corner of the mall. “Third
floor, north west,” they told Kurama. The redhead nodded and followed the
duo into the elevator.
‘Ting… Third floor. Babies’ Department’
“Honestly, I’ve never been to this floor before,” Kuwabara uttered. “Me too,” Kurama and Yuusuke answered simultaneously. Kurama sighed. “What to get first?” Kurama pondered aloud. Yuusuke pointed towards the right. “Diapers,” then Kuwabara pointed to the left. “Clothes,” Kurama blinked.
“Well, we should get diapers first. Then get clothes,” Kurama walked towards the diaper shelves. “The problem is, which one to buy?” he asked them. Both shrugged and waved frantically at a sales girl. “Ne, ojousan… what diaper is suitable for him?” they pointed at Hiei. She smiled. “How old is he?” she asked; the three of them sweatdropped. “9 months or so,” Kurama took a wild guess.
She nodded and handed Yuusuke a gigantic bag of diaper. “This should be okay,” she smiled. Kurama thanked her and walked towards the other side where the baby clothes are displayed. Kurama frowned. He took a baby blue cotton shirt and put it on Hiei. “Nice… Kuwabara-kun, can you help me with these clothes? My hands are full,” asked Kurama. Kuwabara nodded and took a few nice clothes for the baby as pointed by Kurama.
Then they went to the shelves where the baby stuffs are. Kurama asked Kuwabara to take the baby shampoo, baby bath, baby powder, baby oil, baby wipes, baby bottles, baby shoes, baby socks, baby cologne, small toothbrush, baby toothpaste, baby comb, baby formula, baby food, baby towels, powder puffs, baby eating utensils, baby toys…
Yuusuke sighed. “Kurama,” he called behind a bundle of baby products.
“I’m sure all these are enough for Hiei,” he said softly. Kurama looked
at two of his companions. He nodded. “Maybe it is,” Kurama nodded and smile.
“If there’s something that we left out, we can always come back later,
ne?” Kurama walked towards the cash counter.
Yuusuke looked at Kuwabara. “This Hiei-deserves-the-best-thing
business is really getting me worried. Kurama gets the most expensive brand
for the little brat,” Yuusuke told the carrot top.
Kuwabara didn’t mind. “Hiei-chan is so cute. I don’t blame Kurama for it. I would do such a thing if I had a baby like that,” he smiled. “Yeah, providing you have the cash to do so. Look at the price,” Yuusuke pointed at the price display. “It’s reaching 60000 yen and she’s still scanning more stuffs,” Yuusuke sighed.
Finally when she stopped scanning the items, the total nearly popped Yuusuke and Kuwabara’s eyes out of their sockets. “104369 yen please,” she smiled sweetly. Kurama nodded and took out his cash. He could easily use his credit card to pay, but he rather used his own money for Hiei.
He paid the cashier and requested Kuwabara and Yuusuke to help him with the stuffs. It was heavy and both embarrassing to have everyone saw you carrying big bags of baby stuffs.
But they did it after all for the sake of Kurama.
They stopped at McDonalds to get lunch, planning to eat it in Kurama’s house.
When they reached the Hatanaka residence, Yuusuke and Kuwabara were already opening their food.
“You guys carry on with the lunch first. I’ll go get Hiei properly changed. They all nodded and dived into their food.
Kurama took out the baby shampoo, baby bath, small toothbrush, baby toothpaste and towel to him to the bathroom and put Hiei in the bathtub. He filled the water till about 6 inches deep and put some baby bath in it. Hiei accidentally splashed the water and bubbles began to form. He was so happy that he kept splashing the water. Kurama took some baby shampoo and washed the koorime’s hair into a rich lather. “Hiei, not too much bubbles. I can’t see you,” Kurama laughed. He then took the toothbrush and squeezes some toothpaste on it. He asked Hiei to open his mouth and the fire demon did so. Kurama brushed his little teeth carefully and told him to spit out the toothpaste and gargle with clean water.
After washing him, Kurama drained the water and opened the shower to rinse off all the bubbled and soap off the baby. Hiei hugged Kurama’s neck firmly when Kurama took him out of the tub. Kurama wrapped Hiei up with his soft baby pink new towel he bought for the boy.
Once out of the bathroom, he was freezing. He snuggled up against Kurama tighter. “Oh, cold aren’t we?” Kurama smiled and bought Hiei to the living room.
“Oh, Hiei-chan is all clean and nice!” Kuwabara greeted the baby. Kurama smiled and rummaged into the plastic bag to get some more stuff. He put some baby oil in his palms and rubbed it together before rubbing it gently on Hiei’s soft skin. Hiei liked it so much he sat quietly as the redhead ran his smooth hands all around Hiei’s body.
Next was the baby powder. He put the baby powder in a powder puff and put away the rest. Puffing the baby lightly with powder, Hiei was almost as white as a flourmill. Kurama smiled and took out a baby diaper. He blinked and took a deep breath. He held up both of Hiei’s leg and slipped the diaper underneath him. Then he strapped the sides. Satisfied, he took the baby cologne and splashed some of it on Hiei. Making Hiei smell like ‘Morning Dew’.
Kurama looked at Hiei and the baby looked at Kurama with a look that almost made Kurama cry.
“Why a baby?” Kurama asked softly. Both Yuusuke and Kuwabara were stunned, they thought Kurama was delighted with that fact that Hiei was a baby again. Kuwabara came to sit next to Kurama and put an arm around his friend’s shoulder.
“It’ll be okay, Kurama. He won’t stay in this form forever. He loves you too much to do so,” Kuwabara tried to comfort Kurama. Kurama smiled and nodded.
Hiei understood what Kurama felt. He too, tried to hug his Kurama and started to cry. Kurama was alarmed. “Don’t cry Hiei,” Kurama hugged his darling little baby. “Let’s eat,” he smiled.
Hiei hated himself. He hated himself for being careless and thus making Kurama sad. Not forgetting those EXPENSIVE baby goods he bought for him. The best for the best what Kurama would say.
Kurama put Hiei aside and the boy leaned on the redhead’s lap for support. Hiei looked at Kurama as the redhead made baby food for him. He first put out a few scoops of that powdery stuff from the colorful tin into a baby blue small bowl. Then he poured some hot water. He stirred the thing with the same colored baby blue fat spoon and sniffed it. “It smells nice,” Kurama smiled. Kuwabara inched closer and sniffed it as well. “Mmm… oishii… I bet Hiei-chan will like this, ne?” he pinched the baby’s cheek.
Hiei’s lips began to tremble. “Oh no! Gomen ne, Hiei! Is it painful?” Kuwabara leaned over and kissed the baby’s cheek. Hiei cried aloud and Kurama soothed the baby by cuddling it, patting its back softly. “He sure hates body contact, ne?” Yuusuke teased.
Kuwabara laughed. “Hiei will always be Hiei,” he smiled. Patting the boy’s head. Hiei didn’t care as long as he was in Kurama’s arm. Kurama reached out to take the baby food on the table. Hiei shook his head when Kurama put a spoonful of it in front of his mouth.
“Hiei, you have to eat something,” Kurama sighed. Hiei shook his head. “Come Hiei, my cute little pudding pie,” Kurama smiled and inched the spoon nearer to Hiei’s mouth. The latter shook his head. Then he felt an itch behind him and swung his hands upwards, accidentally knocking the spoon and the bowl off Kurama’s hand landing it on the floor. “Hiei, please! Don’t make this harder for me!” Kurama’s eyes were brimming with tears.
He put Hiei aside and went to the kitchen to take a cloth. But as he took a cloth, he accidentally swapped through a glass and it fell breaking into pieces as it reached the floor. Kurama kneeled down and burst into tears.
“What happened?” Yuusuke asked. Kuwabara shrugged. “I’ll go check on him, you stay with Hiei,” Yuusuke said as he stood up, making his way to the kitchen careful not to step on the mess Hiei made.
Kuwabara sighed and sat next to Hiei. He looked at Hiei, taking his breath to lecture the boy. But the look in Hiei’s eyes tell him not to. It was as if the boy was apologizing with his eyes. Suddenly Hiei grabbed Kuwabara’s wrist and cried on it. Kuwabara patted the child on the back. “You didn’t mean to do it, didn’t you?” Hiei nodded. Then he tried to reach behind his back. But unfortunately his hands were too short.
Kuwabara frowned and looked at Hiei’s back. There was a small red lump resembling a mosquito bite. “Oh… you were itchy, weren’t you?” Kuwabara helped the boy by softly scratching his back.
Yuusuke entered the kitchen and saw the redhead kneeling on the floor with glass scattered all around the floor.
“Kurama…? Are you alright?” Yuusuke asked. Kurama brushed of his tears with the back of his hand and nodded. “I’m fine… it’s okay,” Kurama began to pick up the glass pieces, ignoring the pain that the glass caused by cutting his delicate fingers.
“You were mad at Hiei, weren’t you?” Yuusuke asked the redhead. Kurama shook his head. “How could I?” he asked softly.
Kuwabara carried Hiei into the kitchen and saw Kurama and Yuusuke. “Kuramama…” was what Hiei managed to squeak out. Kurama didn’t look up; he just stayed in the position of picking glass pieces. “Kurama, Hiei didn’t mean to be bad… he just had an itch behind his back, see? A mosquito bite,” Kuwabara smiled and pinched Hiei’s nose playfully.
Hiei blinked his large eyes. “Kuramama…” his eyes were filled with tears. Kurama closed his eyes and looked up at his little lover. Hiei’s arms were opened for the redhead. Kuwabara walked closer to Kurama to give Hiei to him. Kurama reached out to take Hiei and the little one gladly hugged the kitsune tight. Kurama buried his face in Hiei’s hair, breathing in his baby scent.
“I’m sorry Hiei,” Kurama uttered.
Kurama looked at the clock. 10.30pm. He smiled at Hiei who was sitting on his bed, playing with some toys. “You’ve been playing the whole day, itoshii. Don’t you want to settle down for the night?” Kurama asked. Hiei stopped his playing and blinked at Kurama. He ignored the question the redhead gave him and continued to suck the pacifier and play with a stuffed kitsune doll.
Kurama got up from the bed and took the new baby blanket he bought for Hiei earlier that day. “Come Hiei, we wrap you up with this,” Kurama showed Hiei the pink blanket. Hiei frowned cutely. He opened and closed his mouth as if to say something but nothing came out; he turned around. Kurama blinked. “Okay, so you don’t want the blanket?” Kurama asked.
Hiei nodded with his back facing Kurama. The redhead smiled. “You know how to listen to me,” Kurama hugged his baby lover and turned Hiei around to face him. “Do you want to sleep with me?” he asked. Hiei nodded. Kurama shrugged. “Well, FYI, I am very tired now. Oyasumi,” Kurama slumped back on his bed and pretended to sleep, hoping that Hiei would soon follow him.
Hiei ignored Kurama and continued to play with his toy. Then he emitted a loud burp and stifled a yawn. Maybe he was tired after all. He sighed and snuggled up against Kurama. His baby hands running up and down Kurama’s bare chest. The baby stifled another yawn and drifted into the world of dreamland.