Believe

*Opening music*

[A lonely forest on the outskirts of Tokyo. The camera focuses in on a small, lone figure standing atop a tall pine, cloak billowing out in the wind, all three eyes trained on the invisible.]

*Music speeds up, "Do you believe in life after love" echoes in the background*

[The camera zooms out and another figure becomes visible, perched on a tree some distance behind the first. The taller figure's crimson hair whips about his face.]

[Suddenly, Hiei blurs and disappears. A split-second later, Kurama follows suit.]

No matter how hard I try

[Hiei is streaking across the landscape, his feet barely touching the ground. The scenery is just a blur to either side of him.]

You keep pushing me aside

[Behind him, Kurama fights to keep up, running as hard as he can. But he's losing ground fast and the distance between them widens.]

And I can't break through

[Kurama stumbles and falls to his hands and knees as Hiei's form dwindles in the distance.]

There's no talking to you

[He calls out Hiei's name, reaching out to him, but the fire-demon has already disappeared. Kurama's head falls as he gasps to catch his breath.]

It's so sad that you're leavin'

[(Days later.) Hiei stands before the other Reikai-Tantei, Koenma and Botan in Koenma's office, informing them of his decision to work for Mukuro. As he speaks, Kurama's eyes widen and he takes a step towards Hiei.]

It takes time to believe it

[Kurama starts speaking rapidly, a desperate smile on his face. Hiei must be joking, he can't be serious, he can't leave...]

But after all is said and done

[Hiei responds calmly, without looking at him. Tears gather in Kurama's eyes, threatening to spill.]

You're gonna be the lonely one, oh...

[Kurama's expression hardens and he turns around, yelling at Hiei to leave if he wants to. Yuusuke and the others look surprised at the outburst.]

Do you believe in life after love?

[Kurama's facade cracks and he turns back, lips already forming an apology, but Hiei is gone.]

I can feel something inside me says I really don't think you're strong enough, no

[He shuts his eyes tightly against the tears. Yuusuke puts a comforting hand on his shoulder but Kurama shrugs it away and brusquely leaves the office.]

Do you believe in life after love?

[Kurama runs blindly through the streets of the Ningenkai, his head down and eyes tightly shut against reality. He finds his house by instinct and bursts through the front door. Startled, Shiori looks up from the plant she had been tending.]

I can feel something inside me says I really don't think you're strong enough, no

[Kurama throws himself into his mother's arms, sobbing unrestrainedly. Bewildered, she hugs him tightly to her, brushing back his hair and whispering soothingly to him.]

What am I supposed to do

[(The next day) Kurama sits at his desk next to an open window. Sunlight streams in through the leaves of the maple outside, painfully empty.]

Sit around and wait for you

[A sheet of untouched math problems is pinned down under one elbow, various textbooks are open on his desk, pages stirred by the breeze from the window. Kurama twirls his pencil idly in his fingers, gazing hard at the branches outside, hoping that...]

Well I can't do that

[Abruptly, Kurama stands, slamming the pencil down on his desk, his face determined.]

And there's no turnin' back

[The door of his bedroom slams to behind him, sending the papers on his desk flying out the window.]

I need time to move on

[Kurama strides purposefully down the street, school bag slung over one shoulder.]

I need love to feel strong

[He steps through the gate of his school and is immediately swamped by his legion of female fans. A small smile appears on his face.]

'Cause I've had time to think it through

[Brilliant emerald eyes scan the crowd and settle on a pretty brunette standing beyond them, not paying him any attention. Kurama pushes through the throng and makes his way towards her.]

And Baby, I'm too good for you, oh...

[The redhead pauses, closing his eyes to suppress a momentary pang, then opens them again, more determined than ever.]

Do you believe in life after love?

[He produces a rose and extends it to the girl who looks up at him, surprised. She frowns as the crowd of girls around her squeal their excitement or hiss their jealousy. Her black eyes meet Kurama's green and she returns his smile, hesitantly taking the flower.]

I can feel something inside me says I really don't think you're strong enough, no

[After school, Kurama and the girl walk down the street together. The rose he gave her peeks out of her backpack. Kurama steals a glance at her, his eyes searching. When she turns to him, he quickly smiles and they turn into a cafe.]

Do you believe in life after love?

[They talk over a steaming cup of hot chocolate, the girl smiling and obviously enjoying his company. Kurama's cup is untouched, and he listens to her eagerly, saying little, watching her with hungry eyes. Slowly she trails off, reddening at his silence.]

I can feel something inside me says I really don't think you're strong enough, no

[Kurama stands up suddenly, taking her hand and hurries off, leaving several bills on the table.]

Well I know that I'll get through this

[Kurama leads her through a crowd in front of a movie theatre, paying for tickets and rushing in without waiting for change.]

'Cause I know that I am strong

[They enter a nearly empty theatre and sit down in the middle row centre seats. The lights dim and the two are lit by the bluish flicker of the screen.]

I don't need you anymore

[Kurama sees an image of Hiei flash across the screen and shakes his head, clasping the girl's hand tighter.]

I don't need you anymore

[Onscreen, two lovers embrace, then kiss passionately. Kurama's mask begins to crack.]

Oh, I don't need you anymore

[Kurama bites his lip, trying hard to control himself, but the tears are already flowing freely over his cheeks.]

No, I don't need you anymore

[Desperately, he turns to the girl and kisses her, his eyes tightly closed.]

Do you believe in life after love?

[Time stands still as the kiss continues, the camera spinning around to view them from all 360 degrees. Blue light glistens on the tears on Kurama's face.]

I can feel something inside me says I really don't think you're strong enough, no

[The girl suddenly pushes him away, staring at him, her black eyes questioning.]

Do you believe in life after love?

[Kurama stares back, his green eyes glossy with still unshed tears. The girl smiles gently and hugs him, then rises and leaves the theatre.]

I can feel something inside me says I really don't think you're strong enough, no

[Kurama gazes after her, his face crumpling, as onscreen the two lovers walk hand-in-hand down a snow-bound street.]

Do you believe in life after love?

[He stands, making his way out between the seats. As he reaches the aisle he breaks into a run.]

I can feel something inside me says I really don't think you're strong enough, no

[It's raining as he bursts out into the street and he pushes his way through the people gathered under the theatre's awning for shelter, drawing several shouted curses. Kurama keeps running, unheeding of where he goes, his tears mixing with the rain as it soaks his hair and clothes.]

Do you believe in life after love?

[He turns into a narrow alleyway and finds himself at a dead end.]

I can feel something inside me says I really don't think you're strong enough, no

[Slowly, Kurama sinks down to his hands and knees, sobbing for breath. Water dripping from his face, hair and garments joins the puddles swirling beneath him. His shoulders shake violently from grief and cold.]

*Music fades out*

[There is a splash as Kurama's school bag lands next to him. He stares at it, uncomprehending. Suddenly a hand roughly grabs his hair and pulls his head up. Kurama finds himself looking into Hiei's crimson eyes. The fire-demon regards Kurama's tear-stained face, an expression of incredulous anger flitting across his own, before he draws the fox's face up and kisses him, hard.]

[The rain continues to beat down on the two figures, unheeded.]

[Zoom out and fade to black.]

--by Utopian Trunks, May 31st, 1999

Ano... sorry angst fans, but if I'd put an unhappy ending on this one, I'd have had to kick my own ass, and frankly I don't think I'm flexible enough. ;P

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