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It did not matter how long Hiei had been in the Human World. Halloween didn’t make any sense to him. Nor did it make sense how the demons trapped in the Human World liked to use the time around that evening to be more troublesome.
“It’s just to have fun,” Kurama had said. Many a time. The fox had fun with many human customs and Hiei didn’t understand any of those moments either. “The demons have decided they will have fun with it too. Ah… don’t eat that.”
Hiei put the candy and the topic aside. After all, he didn’t have to suffer through the humans’ odd Halloween traditions for too long before he was able to return to Demon World. He avoided the inane holidays for a few years after that.
Of course, that was before he had to do something as stupid as help out more back in Kurama’s hometown. Specifically because of the detective.
It meant he ended up sleeping in Kuwabara’s windowsill more often than not. Neither of them talked about it. At least, not until Kuwabara (loudmouth) had to mention it.
“You can sleep on the couch, man. It’ll be comfier.”
Hiei stared at him.
Kuwabara stared back. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you sleep in a bed unless someone else put you there.”
“Your point?”
“Is it too soft? I can get a board to put under the cushions to make it a little harder. It would probably still be better on your back.”
What on earth was the oaf talking about? Hiei blinked. Kuwabara’s mouth (admittedly, a little less of a runaway object than it had been a few years back) slowed down.
“Just don’t want you to think you’re not welcome.”
“If I wasn’t welcome, I would imagine you’d have complained a lot more.”
They stared at each other.
Kuwabara shrugged. “Okay. Sure. Help yourself to whatever’s in the fridge too.”
Hiei quickly learnt that when Kuwabara said “whatever” he apparently didn’t mean everything .
He’d gotten used to human food. It wasn’t his fault.
“I should have guessed. Your body has to run through gallons of fuel to go as fast as you do. No wonder you’re always lazing around in trees. Conserving that energy.”
Hiei didn’t know if he appreciated the comparison more or less than when Kuwabara had gleefully compared him to a cat. The human would know, Hiei supposed, as he had several of the creatures. They were not the felines of the Demon World, but Hiei could see some similarities. Not so much to himself.
At least, not until Kuwabara put it like that. As he put something in the oven. Hiei perched on the windowsill, as he did. This wasn’t the one he usually slept on, but he wasn’t sleeping right now.
It didn’t matter to him whether it was true or not. Even if it was annoying that Kuwabara was amused by it. He watched Kuwabara work instead. He was less clumsy than he used to be. No chef like Kurama’s mother (Hiei’s first point of reference) or Yusuke (when it came to noodles), but Kuwabara still knew what he was doing.
Hiei did not, but it didn’t matter too much if he did.
“Here. Try.”
Kuwabara held out the spoon with the batter on it. Hiei narrowed his eyes. “You want me to eat your unbaked mixture?”
“It’s cookie dough, dude. People love it.”
“If they love it, why are you baking it?”
Kuwabara rolled his eyes. “You just love being contrary, huh? Just try the damn thing. I know you’ve eaten cookies before. Kurama said.”
Hiei’s own eyes narrowed. Kurama was a traitor. “What is it for?” He took the spoon, if just so Kuwabara would stop pushing it at him.
“The Halloween party. You coming? I doubt it. I can’t imagine you getting in costume.”
Kuwabara should have turned away by this point, but he hadn’t. Hiei held the spoon close to his face, but didn’t taste the dough yet. “What?”
“I don’t think I’ve ever actually seen you eat.”
Hiei disappeared from the windowsill to clean off the spoon. (He did remember to return the spoon. Later.)
Hiei did not join them for their party. There might have been a mix of humans and demons and the like, but it still didn’t interest him in the slightest. Perhaps he should have returned to Demon World. Instead he waited on the windowsill in Kuwabara’s bedroom.
The cold did not phase him, but he was aware of the changing weather. He heard Kuwabara greet the cats first, but he came straight to the bedroom next.
“Knew you’d be here!”
He was wearing some ridiculous outfit. Which said a lot, considering a lot of outfits Kuwabara wore were ridiculous in one way or another.
“Here, I brought you some candy.”
“Why do you leave your window open?”
Kuwabara didn’t stop smiling, but he did raise an eyebrow. “Because you refuse to use doors.”
“You have no insulation. You’ll get cold.”
“You have the weirdest ways of showing you care, man.” Kuwabara held out the candy. Hiei stared at them. “Kurama told me you have the worst sweet tooth he’s ever known. Should have said.”
“Sweet tooth?”
Kuwabara laughed, which didn’t seem to be the correct answer. Before Hiei could retort, Kuwabara explained. “Means you like sweets. But sugar’s a fast energy source. Makes sense.”
“Stop that.”
“What?”
Hiei narrowed his eyes and tried to figure out exactly what it was he wanted Kuwabara to stop. “Dissecting me like that.”
“Spooky, scary Halloween,” said Kuwabara nonsensically. “I’m sorry. Just… trying to get to know you better.”
“You already know me, Kuwabara.”
“Understand, then.” Kuwabara set the candy in Hiei’s hands, but then didn’t pull his hands away. “Wow, you’re warm.”
“You were just outside,” Hiei commented, but humans ran colder than him. He had always been warmer than most everyone around him, but Kuwabara had brought some of the autumn night chill in with him. “You usually dress more sensibly for this weather.”
“It’s the costume.”
Right. Hiei stared at his hands, running his own over them. The calluses of his training, even when Kuwabara’s own sword was made of his own spirit energy, still remained. They rested on different parts of his hands than Hiei’s did. They wielded different swords.
“You still train,” Hiei said.
Kuwabara blinked. “Uh, yeah? Of course I do. Just because Urameshi likes me around just to cut open portals and sense psychic shit these days doesn’t mean I can’t beat up a punk or two if I had too. I might not be a demon, but I’m not going to let that stop me from getting as strong as I can too.”
“It’s commendable.”
Hiei was not familiar with complimenting others. Especially not to their face. People shouldn’t need his approval or not anyway. Much as he didn’t need it. But…
The smile on Kuwabara’s face was worth it. Not for the smile itself, mind. But knowing Kuwabara would do this training regardless, yet tended to do better when he was acknowledged. For whatever reason he needed such things.
Their hands remained together for too long. Kuwabara was the one to pull away, his cheeks redder than they had been because of the cold outside.
“You shouldn’t leave your windows open,” Hiei said again. “Your cats will get cold.” Because if Kuwabara wouldn’t do something for himself, he would do it for his feline companions.
“I’ll give you a key, if you’ll sleep inside.”
As Kuwabara went to take a bath, Hiei found himself perched on the arm of the couch with the candy and the key. He stared at the piece of metal, meant to lock weak beings outside of this domicile. The candy was sweet. Of course it was.
He would get used to the couch.