By Die Before I Wake (Sorry, had to do some sensoring that’s not on my Profanity List for the Younglings. See the recent update for details.)
“Rabble rabble, b**** b****, rebel rebel, party party, s** s** s**, and don’t forget the violence!”
Hiei’s eyes shot open at the sound of the disturbing words blaring through the headphones. This sounds like something Yusuke would write and or sing... Or what he thinks of, the fire apparition thought. He sat up from leaning against the window and looked at the screen of the iPod in confusion. This is the New S***? What kind of song is this? he thought. He pushed the play/pause button and sat back against the seat.
“Is something wrong, Hiei?” Kurama asked.
“No. I just... woke up.”
“You’ve been in your room sleeping since a little we got back at about three in the afternoon yesterday,” Yusuke said. “You getting sick or something?”
“I’m fine. I’m just tired. I don’t usually sleep well.”
“Okay, then, but with all of those energy drinks you drink, I’m not surprised.”
“It can’t be them. That ‘caffeine’ substance doesn’t work on demons for some reason. They’re the only things in the human world that I can tolerate the taste of. I don’t know why I can’t sleep.”
“You an imsomaniac or somethin’?” Kuwabara asked.
“The word is ‘insomniac’, not ‘imsomaniac’, dumba**,” Yusuke said. “Hey, Kurama, is imsomaniac even a word?”
“No.”
“Nice job, Kuwabara,” Yusuke said, laughing and hitting his friend on the shoulder.
Hiei rolled his eyes and pressed the play/pause button again. Kurama was right about this. It is perfect for car rides. Eventually, he leant against the window and fell asleep again.
“Hiei, wake up,” Kurama said, shaking the demon’s shoulder.
Hiei groaned and opened one eye to look at the redhead. “What?” he asked. He pushed the play/pause button and turned to face him.
“We’re at the store now. It’s time to wake up and go inside.”
Hiei shoved the iPod and headphones into his pocket and unbuckled his seat belt. He got out of the car and stretched. I wonder if I’ll be able to move the wolf out of the closet without Kurama or anyone else noticing somehow? he thought. Oh well. I’ll figure something out.
Kurama locked the car and they all walked to the store.
**********
The car pulled into the driveway of the team’s home and they began to unload their things from the car. The last things that were carried in were the two cases of Monster that Hiei had gotten. When he put them on the kitchen floor, Kurama sighed.
“One of these days, we’re getting you a miniature refrigerator for your room,” the kitsune said.
“I can drink them room temperature. I’ll store them in my room if you don’t want them making your precious kitchen looking messy,” Hiei replied, picking the top case up and walking towards his bedroom. He put it in the corner of the room on his floor and went downstairs for the other one.
“Hiei, look, I didn’t mean for you to take it that way. You don’t have to keep them in your room if you don’t want to.”
“It’s fine. We don’t want to upset ‘Mommy’ by having cases of energy drinks and other junk food in the kitchen for her next visit, now do we?”
Before Kurama could reply, Hiei picked up the case and took it to his room. He put it on top of the other one and closed and locked his door. He lied back on his bed and stared at the ceiling. He remembered the last time Kurama’s family had come to visit. They had all looked at him like he was some sort of... freak. Is that all I am to those people? he thought. A freak? He remembered hearing Kakota, Kurama’s younger stepbrother, asking the fox if the “emo” kid had a mental disorder or was just some sort of freak through an open window while he was sitting in the living room.
Hiei’s eyelids began to grow heavier and heavier and he felt himself begin to fall into yet another deep, dreamless sleep.
