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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."

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