Disclaimer. I deny anything to do with the creation of those fantastic figures in my story. Their one and only master is Monsieur Yoshiro Togashi.
Moondance
The rest of the flight passed uneventfully. Despite Kurama's threatening smile, he did not do anything serious toward the hijackers, being a man of gentle nature. What he did was implanting a subconscious suggestion in their minds. From that day onwards, whenever they had the urge to walk the narrow path, they would all have a very bad dream, concerning one particular black figure and his blood-thirsty katana. Hiei approved of it. As for the crew and the passenger, Kurama erased that part of their memory to avoid certain inconvenient queries, like who exactly was that little black guy. Without further ado, they arrived Paris, Charles-de-Gaules Airport in one sunny afternoon.
Going through customs was easier this time, for Hiei did not need to be lied to once more. He just passed the custom with that superhuman speed of his, and soon they gathered outside the airport. Kurama led them toward the taxi stop. "We have to go three by three. I'll be in the first car with Hiei and Yukina, and Kuwabara will follow us in the second car with Yusuke and Keiko, okay?"
"Of course it's not okay!" Kuwabara shrieked his protest. "Why can't I sit in the same car with Yukina-chan?!"
"She's safer with me anyway." Hiei murmured darkly.
"Say that again!! I, Kuwabara, cannot protect Yukina-chan from harm?!?! I'll make you eat those words, you skinny bat!" Holding up his fists, Kuwabara made ready to pluck out the thorn on his back. Kurama quickly intervened.
"Kuwabara-kun, he is only kidding. I placed you in the second car because you are the best English speaker among the rest of us, and no one speaks French. The second car need your sacrifice." Kurama's declaration was met by disbelief, mostly from Yusuke.
"Don't kid me, Kurama. Kuwabara is the best English speaker among us, except for you? Impossible! He skipped as many English classes as I did!!"
"But nothing is impossible for the great Kuwabara!!" Hearing the proclaim, everyone fell silent, musing on how could Kuwabara's statement be logically justified from Yusuke's.
Using the moment of silence, Kurama bundled everyone into the taxi, and rattled off a string of instructions to the two drivers in perfect French. Before anyone could ask him when he learnt French, he skipped into the taxi, mentioning the driver to drive away. He was convinced that if he did not move fast, they could all spend the night on the curb.
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The sitting arrangement could not suit Kurama better. Somehow, Hiei was squeezed between him and Yukina. Most taxi back seats were just wide enough for three, and this taxi was no exception, so Hiei ended up being very close to Kurama, to the extent that Kurama could clearly feel the body heat of the small Koorime. If he moved his hand discreetly enough, he could touch Hiei's knees in the most innocent way imaginable.
Hiei squirmed in discomfort, every inch of his skin super conscious of Kurama's proximity. The sensation invoked some fairly strong reaction, and it was heightened double fold when Kurama's hand accidentally landed on both his own and Hiei's knees.
Knowing the wily fox as he did, Hiei did not for one second believe that this was as innocuous as Kurama would have him believe, but he could not brush off Kurama's hand without raising Yukina's attention. That sly fox caught him there, Hiei gritted his teeth. So he behaved completely normal outward, while his insides turmoil in frustration. The taxi plodded onwards, giving Hiei plenty of time to appreciate how Kurama's hand almost caressed him every time the car hit a bump. Yukina dropped asleep due to jet lag and her head fell against Hiei's shoulder, and in order not to wake her up, Hiei's position was cemented. Under such persuasive atmosphere, Hiei was forced to face his dilemma about Kurama, especially when his manhood began to take a definite interest on what was going on.
Kurama, Hiei admitted to himself, is a perfect bedroom fantasy for both male and female. Innumerable living creatures would happily divide the Red Sea again to get close to that red-hair-green-eyes-gorgeous. Even the stoic Koorime had to profess a certain breathlessness whenever Kurama threw him that special smile. No one had ever excited Hiei like Kurama did. Nor disturbed him like he did. What bothered Hiei was not that Kurama wanted him badly enough to seduce him, but what else Kurama would demand from him. Hiei knew he had his share of attractiveness and experience. Some people just loved a taste of danger, and Hiei had a truckload. Besides, youkos were notorious for their love of challenge. Hiei was quite certain that he could keep that over-clever fox intrigued for some time to come. But those large jade eyes could not hide secrets, Hiei frowned, and they speak of something more than a discreet tryst. Their silent pleadings bewildered Hiei, asking a response he did not know how to give. Kurama had become half a ningen, and in the process learned the word love. Hiei did not know what love is, and warily treated it as some dangerous foe to be conquered, even if it could not be understood. A survivor's instinct told him anything that could not be comprehended must be dangerous, and was to be avoided at all costs. Love must be an emotion very dangerous, Hiei concluded, reflecting on how Kurama would willingly die to save his mother, a person he claimed to love.
So what should I do? Just tell him that I am physically attracted to him but expect the relationship to go no further than that? He might not be too pleased about that. Somehow, Hiei was reluctant to hurt Kurama. Just imagining the youko's accusing eyes caused him a nameless panic. But Kurama knows what he wants. He assured himself. One way or another, this whole matter will be solved. Either he will agree to a pleasure trip, or he will give up. One needed not to read his mind to know which solution Hiei preferred at the moment. Besides, Kurama had always being there where I needed him, a truer friend I never had. I own him a response, at least. The final thoughts made Hiei's decision. Recalling that little kiss they shared, Hiei concealed a delicious shiver. Yes, he definitely wanted the matter to be solved. In a certain manner, if he could influence the outcome. But I should make him sweat a little, shouldn't I? Hiei asked himself. For all the teasing if nothing else. An evil grin spread on Hiei's face.
"Achuu!" Kurama sneezed.
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"Oh look!! There it is!! L'arc de Triomphe!!"
"Champs-Elysess!!"
"La tour Eiffel!!"
"Alexander bridge!!"
For the ninth time, the driver of Kuwabara's taxi wished that he had a pair of ear plugs. The temptation to stop the car and look for a pharmacy became stronger. He had hoped that the orange-hair guy would calm down once he saw more of the famous monuments, but no, he just got louder. A particular shrill made him wince in earnest, and from the mirror he saw the Japanese's companions did the same.
"All right, that's it!!" Yusuke burst out, ignoring Keiko's frantic clutching at his arm. He reached over to cover Kuwabara*s mouth, and incidentally, his nose also. Naturally, Kuwabara began to thrush about wildly. Keiko pressed herself against the window to escape from the flailing arms, and pretended very hard not to know the pair beside her. The poor taxi driver sighed in resignation. Briefly, he wondered how the other car was doing.
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"On your right, Yukina-chan, is the Invalides, where Napoleon is buried." Kurama pointed toward the golden dome.
"I know him! He is the general that was defeated at Waterloo, isn't that right?" Yukina cried happily.
"Absolutely right. Yet even though he was defeated, he was still considered as one of the greatest military geniuses in the world." Kurama continued to explain why Napoleon lost that particular battle, often drawing on Victor Hugo's Les Miserables. ( Yes, there is a chapter about the Battle of Waterloo)
Ever since they entered Paris, Kurama had being acting as an impromptu guide, with Yukina listening attentively and Hiei sat in noncommittal silence. He was not as relaxed as he pretended to be, though. One might even say Kurama was downright nervous. Halfway from the airport to the city, his beloved suddenly relaxed the stiff posture he had being holding since the beginning of this trip, as if made up his mind about something. Not only that, he started to recline against the seat, which brought him closer to Kurama until they were pressed together from shoulders to thighs. The strange thing was that Hiei did not pull away. It was as if Hiei wanted to snuggle against Kurama. Most bizarre. But Kurama was not going to look a gift horse in the mouth. Moreover, Hiei would often stare at Kurama, and if their gaze contacted, Hiei did not turn away immediately, but would hold Kurama's gaze for a couple of heartbeats before letting him go deliberately with a slight twinkle in his burgundy eyes. Kurama never believed that his heart could endure such massive doses of stimulation without bursting from the mere thrill. His head had long since went swimming at some beach with stars for sand, gauze for waves, so he was looking out from a misty, sparkling haze. The world seemed brighter and fresher, while he felt both weaker and stronger.
"Why, Kurama-kun, your face is flushing! Are you all right?" Laying a cool hand on Kurama's forehead, Yukina asked in concern. Kurama could feel Hiei's amused gaze on him, and this made him flushed more.
"No, no, I'm all right, just that it's too hot in here." Kurama explained weakly, studiously ignoring a blinking panel which said 8 C. Late April in Paris was never famous for its warm weather.
"I think you are sick, Kurama-kun. Look, your hands are shaking!" It was true. Kurama's hands were shaking. His mouth was terribly dry too. But not because of some remote cold germs. The cause of his malady was much closer. "You need a doctor. What do you think, Hiei-kun?" For some reason, Yukina chose to ask Hiei's opinion. The god of luck sure was having a field day with Kurama.
"Nothing a good tumble won't cure." Hiei's tone made Kurama bite back 'Where?' with difficulty. No, he must be imagining things. Hiei could not possibly mean what he thought he meant, despite that suggestive tone.
"We came here for a vacation, not to fight, Hiei-kun."
"There are many kinds of fighting, Yukina." Though the reply was directed toward Yukina, Hiei looked Kurama in the eye when he said that. This time, Kurama felt sure, Hiei was giving him a come-hither. Suddenly, Kurama felt lost between answering Hiei's challenge immediately and slinking away till he was ready. Everything was happening too fast!
"Here is your hotel, monsieur. 200 FF, please."
Kurama paid in relief. He had won a reprisal, but deep in his heart he realized that the fun had just begun.
***End of Chapter 4***