Log; Ongoing

[3redeyes.livejournal.com]

When; Night, Feb. 26th
Rating; PG at most
Characters; Kurama banditfox and Hiei 3redeyes
Summary; Kurama and Hiei find an apartment. Hilarity doesn't ensue.
Log;

The forest was a large and untamed place. And any combination of the two usually involved animals. Usually large ones. Always wild. And due to Hiei living in said Forest for a rather long time before Kurama had shown up, he had dealt with his fair share of wild animals. Then he had gotten cleaned up in a near by pond or pool.

But not for Kurama. They had to find an apartment. Not that Hiei was particularly surprised, or even annoyed, at Kurama’s request, he would not expect anything less of the fox. But still. This city. At least, in Tokyo people had manners. They kept to themselves. Not so here. He rather loathed going near civilization.

At least now he’d have a reason to go near the city.

He turned to his companion, “Almost out of the Forest,” he said.

Comments

[banditfox.livejournal.com]

Kurama nodded and trailed his fingertips over the bark of one of the trees. As both a fox and a human, he appreciated having a secure space of his own, be it a den or a house. He would like to have a proper roof over his head and a warm bath, but he nevertheless appreciated the plant life that surrounded him. The kitsune had every intention of making return trips to the forest in the future to alleviate any restlessness that might crop up, to train, and to pester Hiei.

"I'm given to understand there are a number of residences to choose from," he remarked, his ire having faded with Hiei's arrival. "I doubt I need to say it, but you're welcome to drop by whenever you like, the same as at home."

[3redeyes.livejournal.com]

“Yes,” Hiei nodded, continuing on, “All of them free.” If there was anything to appreciate about this place, it was the freeness of it, at least. No rent. No rules. No government. Like Makai, but not quite chaotic enough.

“Of course,” There hadn’t been a need to say it, Hiei had been planning that very course of action from the start. The Forest was well and good, yes, but it was worth it to drop in on someone now and again.

[banditfox.livejournal.com]

With a bit of a smile, Kurama snagged a leaf from one of the trees they passed and tucked it away in his hair. He would toy with it later, see if there was anything particularly useful or interesting about it. "You seem to have stayed out of trouble so far," the fox observed. "How long have you been here?"

[3redeyes.livejournal.com]

Out of trouble. Stayed out of trouble? Well, there was nothing interesting to do here, what could Hiei do besides that? Though the reply was somewhat limited to, “Hn.”

“Some months... Two, at most.” The human calendar was bothersome, but he knew that was what Kurama meant.

[banditfox.livejournal.com]

The fox outright smirked at the familiar "hn", but his expression darkened as their conversation turned towards the length of time Hiei had been in the City. "Strange that you've been here so long and yet I had no awareness of your being gone." He shook his head and sighed. "There are times I wish there were only one world. It would almost make things easier."

When the pair emerged from the forest, Kurama paused to scan the streets and buildings he could see and raised his eyebrows. "It's not Tokyo, but I suppose it will do."

[3redeyes.livejournal.com]

“Yes,” Hiei nodded again, “I’ve gathered that time moves differently here.”

One again, Hiei took in the surroundings of the City. Buildings, warehouses, streetlamps, all so still and harmless, stood on badly paved roads before them, “It seems to be more modeled after western cities,” And he trudged onwards.

[banditfox.livejournal.com]

Kurama allowed his friend to guide him, but the first apartment they came to was immediately rejected. "Not enough light," the kitsune said, gesturing towards the windows. "The plants will need it."

The second apartment did not fare much better. After only a few moments, Kurama shook his head and moved off. "Too easy to break into."

Their search went on in this fashion, with Kurama pointing out the undesirable qualities of each domicile he ruled out. Most of these problems were ones that the kitsune could remedy himself, but by the fourth apartment, he had decided that if he was going to be robbed of a quiet evening with his family, someone was going to suffer with him--even if that someone was Hiei.

[3redeyes.livejournal.com]

Hiei hadn’t expected this to be easy. Everyone had their standards, and while Kurama’s weren’t lofty, or even ridiculous, they where odd, and prone to change. By the fifth apartment Hiei’s (admittedly small) patience was beginning to thin—to the point where someone could see through it, where it corporal.

“Fox,” not a friendly nickname, but a sign of annoyance, “You realize most all apartments are the same in this place?”

[banditfox.livejournal.com]

He had indeed, and he was fairly certain that Hiei knew he had. Still, he put on an innocent expression--one that had helped him divert his mother's attention from Reikai business many times. "They are not all exactly the same," he protested. "The neighbors, the floor, the position on the hallway, the directions the windows and doors face ... All of these things vary." This was the truth, and Kurama had taken each of these factors into account, but he had also decided that the space they were standing in at the moment was good enough. He just had no intention of telling Hiei that right away.

"The kitchen in this particular apartment won't get much natural light during the day, and I can already see half-a-dozen places where a competent thief could slip right in ... not to mention I think there are vampires in the building."

[3redeyes.livejournal.com]

The thought of placing his head in his hand was an appetizing one, but no, that would be admitting defeat. Not an option.

“You can make good-enough sunlight, likewise traps that can ensnare the few thieves worth anything,” Hiei looked around once more, letting himself feel the ki of his residents, “and do not pretend that a few fledgling vampires could cause you trouble,”

Though Hiei saw his point, few places where good enough. Too high up (no easy escape), thin walls (don’t trust neighbors), faulty locks (made by someone else), though nothing that couldn’t be salvaged. Or fixed. Replaced. Renewed.

[banditfox.livejournal.com]

Kurama smiled in answer to Hiei's arguments in favor of the apartment, and boosted himself up to perch on the edge of the kitchen counter. He crossed his legs at the knees and braced his hands and arms against the surface he sat on. "At least two of them feel as though they could pose a challenge, but that only makes things more interesting. I believe I will stay here. A few carefully chosen houseplants will do wonders for the place."

Of course, Kurama's definition of "houseplant" did not exactly line up with what most people generally thought of. "Don't worry. I'll train them to recognize you."

[3redeyes.livejournal.com]

Hiei almost breathed a sigh of relief, and watched Kurama power up his plants. He felt the familiar ki of his partner slither around the area, gaining and gathering weight and footing in its new home. No better security system had Hiei ever seen.

“Of course,” Hiei said in monotone, unsurprised once more.

[banditfox.livejournal.com]

"I might have dragged you to a few more locations, just to watch you fidget, but it would only have been amusing until you tried to set me on fire." A speculative light entered his eyes, as if he were seriously considering an exercise to see just how far he could push Hiei before being made the target of the smaller youkai's attacks.

Soon enough, there were plants at each window, beside each door, and even in a few places where they could not be seen. Almost none of the specimens were native to Nigenkai. The ones that were had been subtly altered by the fox, and the ones that weren't looked no more threatening than a common ficus. "Much better," their master murmured in approval.

[3redeyes.livejournal.com]

“Hn,” a flame danced slowly along Hiei’s fingertips before being extinguished, “Good thing you didn’t,”

Now filled with plants, the apartment truly looked like the abode of Kurama. Familiar scents filled the air, though muted, along with a type of calm coming from all plants.

[banditfox.livejournal.com]

Yes, a good thing. While Kurama was fairly certain (most of the time) that Hiei would not deliberately cause him true harm, he did not particularly enjoy being singed even a little bit.

His work with the plants done, Kurama hopped down from the counter. "Now then, I would like clean clothes, clean hair, and some dinner. You can stay if you like--I'd be glad of the company--but I understand if you'd rather get back to the forest."

[3redeyes.livejournal.com]

“Shower should work,” Hiei pointed in the direction of the bathroom, “Vendors outside,” points to window, “They sell food in the square,” different window. And while Hiei had full intent to stay for dinner (offerings of food are not to be turned down), he was not about to let Kurama know that. Let the fox dangle now.

“Do you need to know anything else?” A good roll of the eyes made sure there was no worry in that sentiment.

[banditfox.livejournal.com]

Kurama accepted the mockery in good humor. He deserved it, after stringing Hiei along through a half-dozen apartments. "That should be sufficient. I'm going shopping." Before Hiei could comment, he ducked out the door, only to double back and add, "You can let yourself out if you'd like. The plants should recognize you." Then he was gone in search of new clothes so he would have something to wear after his shower, and kitchen stores so he could feed himself and Hiei.