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"He is still alive, isn't he?” Kurama counters airily, as if to demonstrate the fire demon's attempts to spoil his mood were wasted right now. Then Hiei has to go and accuse him of making a mistake by wanting to go into the city. He frowns, setting the tablet down on the grass instead, green eyes lowering to his hand briefly. Still normal, perfectly human in appearance with no indication of plant-like vines returning to the surface.

“My condition makes it sound contagious. If my affliction is from one of these seeds that Fauna dropped - as everyone seems to believe - isolating myself in the woods will not resolve it. Unless you mean to tell me that you're enjoying our time alone out here so much that you wish to prolong our isolation.” He does not, if that wasn't obvious enough. Although, he has definitely noticed how comfortable they've gotten, aside from the physical confrontations when the fox is lashing out in every direction, the bickering seems to have diminished in the past few weeks. That's not all he's noticed, but for now this takes priority.

“My ability may be necessary to keep members of our community fed in the coming weeks. My assistance has been requested, and I wish to help. I can not force you to come along if you would rather not, but I am going to help even if that means doing so alone. I do not intend to stay long, enough of my energy to get them started should suffice for now.”

He's not exactly planning to show up when there's a crowd, either. Bad enough that he will likely need to resort to going in his current monstrous fox form to upset as few people as possible along the way.

"With a great amount of help." Look, he isn't going to give up this bone to bite on, whether it won't ruin Kurama's mood or will. For what it's worth, he doesn't really want to spoil Kurama's mood at the moment, or the fact that he is somewhat back to his normal self.

The fire demon's body language changes near immediately as Kurama brings up the possibility that he was enjoying their isolation out here. It's equal parts disagreement as annoyance that Kurama would imply he means to keep them both here despite how much he knows Kurama does not enjoy it. There's no denying that Hiei enjoys isolation, but they aren't here to talk about him. "I don't mind isolation, but you would string me up yourself if I insisted on it."

Yes, they share a unique bond, but even Hiei knows not to mess around with where his bread is buttered so far as Kurama is concerned. As much as he already jokes about Kurama finding a way to be rid of him, he isn't about to test it right this moment.

For a moment the fire demon turns away, thinking things through, rolling over plans in his mind, jaw working as he does so. If this is what Kurama wants, and this is what will help him... Hiei sighs.

"Fine. If that is what you want to do I will assist."

Kurama simply leaves the gripe about Kuwabara unanswered. Hiei has his complaints, they are not going to agree, and the fox would rather focus where he can be productive.

The fire apparition's immediate reaction to his tease about keeping them alone together doesn't go unnoticed. It wasn't the response he was expecting, in fact, he was fully prepared for an earful about how inconvenient this has all been for Hiei as well, as if he'd want to prolong anything under these conditions. It did get a rise, but instead of being amused by any of it, the fox only finds himself concerned by the reaction.

He watches quietly as the other demon turns away to mull over his options, considering his own situation carefully. When Hiei relents with his agreement to assist, the redhead smiles automatically. The relief seems almost disproportionate to the circumstances, but it was hardly the most confusing emotion since the month started. The periodic ache in his chest was new, not that he's going to bring that up now, either.

“I am truly going to be in your debt after all this, aren't I?”

Hiei rewards the redhead’s smile and response with another frown. It’s true he’s been a bit grumpy since all of this started, the concern for his partner pairing with his lack of sleep to make the already testy fire demon easier to fire off than usual.

This time, though, it’s more because he does not wish to be misunderstood about this, even by a little bit.

“You do not owe me. I’m simply reducing my own suffering later.”

Hearing Kurama lament over damages or who knows whatever else the fox could find to feel bad about given the time to think about it. Hiei doesn’t want to think about it any more than he already has.

He’s also full of shit, considering his concern is far more centered around Kurama than himself, but like hell is he ever going to admit that.

His smile falls with Hiei's frown, more thoughtful than anything, waiting for the other shoe to drop- and when it does, he doesn't respond right away. Glancing aside before speaking at all, tone equal parts flippant and sincere.

“Yes, I imagine dealing with me must be a rather unique form of torture. Still, I should thank you, at least. Without your assistance in all of this, who knows what might have happened.”

“I would have been interested to know.” Chaotic Hiei speaking in the moment, knowing that Kurama would have hated anything like causing destruction the entire time.

If he had cared less about Kurama’s state to begin with the fire demon may have been content to see just how much chaos the fox could cause. Instead here he is, awkwardly unsure of how to take Kurama’s thanks when he feels this is simply something he should do.

“I only did what I felt I should do.”

They're both tired, drained from all this back and forth the last few weeks and the fox is starting to feel it again. The high of relief that a solution could finally be within reach is subsiding as they sit there. His head tilts back, eyes closing briefly.

“Nothing was stopping you.” From knowing, from letting things play out without interruption just to see where they led. It's a little uncomfortable, the way Hiei apparently went against his own interests for Kurama's sake, but also doesn't want it acknowledged, really. He's not entirely sure why, either. It wasn't as if that was atypical of the fire apparition, yet somehow it's become this thing weighing between them. The same as these feelings that have only added to the confusion, bleeding through and muddying any sense of reality. When he was not completely in control it was difficult to differentiate and separate them, even now when he's fairly certain he has everything sorted, it was still impossible to ignore all of it.

“I suppose then we should focus on what we will do next.”

"You would have... hated it." The aftermath, knowing what he had done. He knew Kurama well enough to know that the fox would have been upset, to say the least. If he had the ability to ease this for him, even if it ended up in the strange bleed of feelings that it had.. even if it wasn't exactly what he wanted to do, it is still something he should do. His thoughts focusing back on the Jagan and its abilities, though, does bring up a subject that the fire demon knew he would have to address at some point or another.

"First - " Hiei pauses, faltering, altogether unused to going about something like this. Offering apologies... at least sincere ones... isn't something he does on the regular after all. "I need to tell you..."

Hiei growls lowly, a sound of frustration at himself more than anything. Visibly, he shifts, first uncomfortable before he steals himself, shoulders squaring sharply as if he's kicking himself in the pants a little here.

"I'm... sorry. For using the Jagan without your permission."

He stops himself from responding to that answer, while Hiei wasn't wrong, that still didn't make it his problem, but there's no sense in rehashing that point when he's said as much already. They'd just keep going in circles about it.

Kurama pauses as the fire demon continues, head tilting slightly while he clearly struggles with whatever is on his mind. The growl also isn't much of a surprise coming from Hiei, but what follows- leaves him speechless. The redhead doesn't respond, doesn't move, just stares wordlessly for a moment. Hiei did not want to talk about this and now not only is he doubling back, but doing so to apologize, of all things.

After a moment green eyes lower, trying to think of some response and still coming up with nothing. Hiei didn't want to be thanked, the fox couldn't imagine reassuring him that he had nothing to apologize for would be taken any better, either.

He feels lighter already for having said it, despite how he struggled to say the words. As much as he knew that Kurama appreciated his efforts, has taken the time to thank him for it even.. he still feels as though it’s unnecessary.

After all, he’d set up camp in his mind for longer than he’d thought he’d have to, invaded his space without Kurama’s express consent. In a way he’s also told on himself in that time frame, but Hiei hasn’t quite realized that part just yet.

Silence stretches and Hiei turns away, unsure of how to proceed. It isn’t often that Kurama of all people is speechless, after all.

“When do you intend to go to the garden?” Putting it back to business should clear things up right?

Hiei turns the topic back to business at hand and Kurama answers automatically without moving. “I'm not certain. I will be notified when my presence is needed. For now, I plan to arrive in the evening, after most everyone else should be gone... To be safe.”

He's thought about this. More importantly, though-

“Hiei... I did mean what I said. I have not... been able to maintain control without your assistance. You have nothing to apologize for.”

"Mn." Hiei nods his agreement, a bit relieved at this point to know that there would not be very many other people around, if any at all. Just in case is better than being overconfident, particularly when it comes to .. this particularly odd chapter of their stay in this place.

Just as he begins to wonder what he ought to say next to make things possibly less awkward.. Kurama goes back to what they'd been discussing before.

The fire demon frowns to himself, this time, purely by virtue of being turned away, though a finger taps on his arm in an expression of his disappointment at.. himself. This place. Whatever the hell is going on -

"Apparently, I was hampering your ability to solve it." He tries, and yet still manages to miss the mark. As always.

His gaze snaps back up at that response, eyes narrowing. He can feel his control on the transformation slipping with the rise of emotion twisting in his chest and it takes him a moment to respond, focused on restraining the vines threatening to break through the surface, instead.

“In case you have forgotten, the isolation was not your call.”

Immediately Hiei is back on edge, the jagan flaring to life to assist in suppressing this surge as reflexively as all of the others. By now this is old hat, but Hiei is confused at the surge coming on the tail of this particular discussion.

“I know.” His brow twists in a way that is confused, of course, unsure what may have caused this particular flare of anger if he’s honest. “I’ve spent enough time dodging you attempting to shove me out to know that at least.”

That part he is definitely still annoyed about, but still -

“Helping you to stay out here ultimately did nothing, though.”

Kurama doesn't answer right away, both assessing the situation and trying to catch his breath from the plants erupting to life inside him once more. So much for being over the worst of it. He lifts a hand to his chest briefly before looking to Hiei once more, tone carefully neutral.

“I would have stayed out here, regardless. What, exactly, is it going to take for you to believe you did nothing wrong?”

Hiei notes the hand lifted to Kurama’s chest with slight concern. He realizes fairly quickly that this will be easier for them both if he does not stand his ground on this, but it doesn’t change the facts so far as he is concerned.

Yes, he’s helped to keep Kurama in some kind of control when he could, but so far as he is concerned he did not actually help him.

Hiei blinks a few times, truly at a loss to answer the question Kurama has asked. After a few moments of silence the fire demon turns his eyes literally anywhere other than Kurama and decides to attempt to assuage him.

Badly.

“Fine. I helped.”

Kurama answers that response with silence. Staring for a moment before letting out a bit of a chuckle, the hand on his chest doing little to contain the slight cough that follows, but that doesn't stop him from laughing anyway. It is obvious enough that this is Hiei's attempt to de-escalate the situation rather than evidence the fox is getting through to him, and it is both comically bad and sort of touching in a way that is all very uniquely on brand for the fire demon.

Still, he can't help smiling faintly.

“Thank you, Hiei.”

Hiei cuts an eye at Kurama over his shoulder as he laughs. Look, he knows he's doing something that he would not normally, at the moment, to keep the fox happy, but... he still does not appreciate being laughed at. The fire demon may be irreparably grumpy at the moment and.. well. He will be for a while longer until he catches up on his sleep if they're lucky.

Thankfully they're on the road to getting that back on track, at least. Hopefully. If Hiei doesn't manage to fuck it up again.

A grumpy little huff follows the fox's thanks before he turns back to look at him.

"What do we do until then?"

The irritated look does little to dampen his spirits, at least. Kurama simply smiles in response to the glare. Whether Hiei will acknowledge it or not, it was sweet and the fox isn't about to act otherwise. Not that he fully realizes the fire apparition thinks he's laughing at him.

Then he asks what they'll do next, and Kurama watches for a moment before responding. It probably won't be long before the wish seed transformation takes over again, and he'll have to revert back to fox just to remain comfortable. He's already planned for that much, this reprieve can only be temporary.

“The same as we have been, I suppose. At least, that is my intention, what you do continues to be up to you.”

Hiei... hasn't quite considered that Kurama will likely return to fox form. In his mind they are closing in on the end of this little chapter of their lives in Aldrip, and he is beginning his plans for how he's going to make up for the lack of sleep lately. He should know better, by now, that things very rarely go to plan where they are concerned. Perhaps it's the lack of sleep that is making him think less than rationally.

It takes him a few moments after Kurama speaks to properly react, blinking owlishly before he asks.

"You think you will go back to the.. seed form again?"

Kurama continues to watch Hiei curiously at the question before smiling again, strained as it is. “I was able to conceal the plants for Kuwabara's sake, but they were never gone completely. A great deal of my energy is being used to control them, even now.”

He pauses, green eyes lowering once more. “I'm afraid simply talking about a potential solution isn't the same as having one. I don't expect things will change before this is resolved, and it is only a matter of time before I lose this battle once more.”

It makes sense, now that Kurama's said it, but... Hiei can't help the sigh that leaves him. They are both tired, he's sure, so he has no place to complain about how weary he is. At least he can catch a nap here or there, and while Kurama has control he thinks he ought to be doing so as soon as possible.

After a moment the fire demon rolls his shoulders, mentally and physically realigning himself.

"Then we continue as we have been." He hasn't left Kurama to his own devices before now, and he certainly will not be when they are on the cusp of a possible solution.

"How long do you think you have? Do I have long enough to take a cat nap?"

His head tips as Hiei says things will continue. Kurama wasn't really expecting much of a deviation after all this time, but he'd maybe expected a bit more fussing on the fire apparition's part. Not that he's going to complain about it.

Hiei rolls his shoulders and the fox offers the snacks he'd given him back, without a word. At least, until he's asked a question, directly.

"Hard to say. Though I'm sure any significant disturbance will be enough to wake you, regardless. You should rest while you have the chance."

"I ate." Hiei explains as he waves away the snacks, insisting that Kurama keep it. He had made sure to refuel food wise at the very least, though the short nap he'd decided to take had probably been most of the reason that Kuwabara had been able to sneak in here and chat with Kurama. A good thing, in the end, though Hiei is still completely annoyed with the fact that the teen had wandered out here in the first place after he'd expressly asked (told) him not to.

Hiei grunts in agreement that he should rest while he has the chance, shuffling to lean against a nearby tree with a small sigh.

It's easy enough to doze off on the ground just the same as up in the high branches of his favorite tree, particualarly with Kurama nearby. Even if he's been.. a bit testy lately, to put it lightly. What was one more surprise wake up in the grand scheme of it all, though?

"At least try not to wake me up attempting to launch me again." He might as well make a joke of it.. right?

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