Kurama stepped back and brushed himself off, admiring his handiwork. He looked inside the bag he was carrying. Just two more and I'm done. He scanned his garden for an appropriate hiding place.
A familiar presence manifested itself behind him. He acknowledged it without turning. "Good-morning, Hiei," he said sweetly.
"Hn."
Kurama moved on, took a bright yellow plastic egg from his bag and placed it carefully among a bed of daffodils.
Hiei moved alongside him and peered at the egg. He reached out with one finger and poked it. Finally, he looked up at Kurama. "What're you doing?"
Kurama smiled brightly. "Hiding Easter eggs." And as if that explained it completely, he moved away again, looking for a spot to hide his last egg.
Hiei watched him solemnly as he placed a green one in the fork of a tree. Again he stared at the egg. There was something vaguely ominous about it as it sat there, half hidden by the leaves of the tree. It didn't seem to be a weapon, it had no residual ki traces to indicate that it was a ki-bomb... and it didn't look as if it had anything to do with Kurama's botanical powers... but then why was he hiding them all over his garden?
Hiei caught Kurama's eye again and gave him a hard stare. "Why?"
Kurama suppressed his amusement at his friend's confusion. "It's Easter, Hiei. That's a traditional Spring holiday, celebrating new life in Spring." He paused, gesturing at his garden. "See, all the flowers have come out, new animals are born, and the eggs--" he took down the egg hidden in the tree and showed it to Hiei, who eyed it mistrustfully. "--represent renewal of life."
Hiei paused and seemed to ponder this. "And so... you hide them...?"
"It's for an Easter egg hunt. Sort of a customary game. Look," he opened the egg. "You fill the eggs with candy. Then you hide them and have a hunt."
Hiei looked non-plussed. "The point of which is...?"
Kurama gave a frustrated sigh. "For fun, Hiei! You just see how many you can find and--Hiei?"
Hiei was gone. A moment later he reappeared in front of Kurama, his arms filled with about 30 plastic eggs.
"Hn." he snorted. "That wasn't much of a challenge."
"HIEI!!" Kurama cried. "You're not supposed to find them ALL!"
"But you said..."
Kurama frowned, trying to remain annoyed, but the picture of Hiei standing there, wearing his usual sullen and haughty expression, his stark black outfit contrasted by all those bright, pastel-coloured eggs that his small arms were barely managing to keep balanced was just so wildly contradictory...
Kurama turned away from him, clamping his hands over his mouth, but unable to stop the silent laughter that was shaking his entire body. Finally he bit his lip and turned back to Hiei, who was scowling darkly at him.
"I--I'm sorry, H-hiei..." he gasped. "...it's just you-- l-look so... so..."
Hiei snarled.
Kurama forced a serious expression back onto his face. "You've got to wait for everyone else." he tried to look stern, but failed. "Now I've got to hide them all over again!"
"Hn." Kurama sighed and moved to gather the eggs up from Hiei. Hiei pulled them away.
"What...?"
"I'll do it." Hiei said, looking pointedly away.
"Do you want me to--"
"No."
Kurama smiled. "Well thank--" Hiei blurred and disappeared. Kurama heard the rustle of leaves at the other side of the garden. "--you." he finished to himself.
"Hey Kurama!!" Yuusuke and Kuwabara were running towards him, Keiko, Yukina and Shizuru in their wake. They exchanged greetings, then crowded eagerly around the table of refreshments Kurama had set out.
"So watcha got planned, K'rama?" Yuusuke asked around a mouthful of chips.
Kurama smiled proudly at them all. "An Easter egg hunt!"
Yuusuke looked slightly skeptical. "Isn't that kinda..." he stopped abruptly as he received an elbow in the ribs from Keiko, who smiled back at Kurama. "That sounds great!"
Kuwabara looked similarly unimpressed, but quickly changed his attitude as he saw how pleased Yukina looked with the idea. Shizuru protested that she was too old for this type of thing, but Kurama was so insistent that she had to give in. Before long, all five were scattered throughout the garden, searching.
Kurama leaned against a tree to watch them. Yuusuke was showing off for Keiko, who hid the fact that she was actually finding more than he was. Kuwabara was letting Yukina find all the eggs he spotted, leading her to them and then pretending he didn't see anything, Yukina reacting every time with radiant, delighted smiles. Shizuru was actually getting into the spirit, too, despite her earlier complaints, and looked quite pleased with herself.
Kurama glanced up to where Hiei was perched, also observing the hunt. "See, Hiei? That's the point of an Easter egg hunt."
"Hn."
When all the egg-hunters returned with their spoils, Kurama had a picnic lunch set out on the grass. Hiei even deigned to come down and share it, though he sat apart, only close to Kurama. Kurama's carefully prepared meal was enjoyed and praised by everyone.
Afterwards, a still impossibly cheerful Kurama brought out eggs for everyone to decorate. Yukina and Kuwabara, Yuusuke and Keiko exchanged theirs, Shizuru gave hers to Kurama.
It was late afternoon when the group said their good-byes and made off, leaving Kurama and Hiei standing alone in the garden. Though it was late, the sun still shone brightly, filtering down and picking up a green tint as it passed through the canopy of leaves overhead, but the air had gotten cooler. Kurama began gathering up plates and glasses to bring back inside, clearing the remains of lunch from the picnic blanket and the table. Hiei watched him for a while. Finally, he spoke.
"Hey..." Kurama turned.
"Hm?"
"Here." Hiei thrust a red egg under Kurama's nose. Kurama looked at it for a moment. His name was scrawled a little unsteadily across the side: Ku -- ra -- ma .
Kurama beamed. "Hiei, arigatou..." He took the egg from him and held it carefully. "You actually got into it, Hiei, thanks..." He wanted to hug Hiei, but decided his friend looked much too embarrassed. "I'm going to put this in my room." Kurama disappeared through the back door.
When he came out a few minutes later, the garden was empty. He sighed, just a little disappointed, but still pleased. His Easter party had gone even better than he expected. Really, he thought, everyone needed a push now and then to enjoy themselves... even Hiei could be convinced to...
Kurama gasped as he was tackled from the front, and landed heavily on his back, knocking the wind out of him.
"Ow..." his eyes focused. "Hi--!" The little fire demon was perched on top of him, a mischievous smile on his face.
"Hn. Careless."
"Hey," Kurama protested. "That wasn't fair--"
Hiei toyed thoughtfully with a lock of Kurama's hair. "Your traditions are interesting... But there's another human Spring ritual I've heard of that I like better..."
Kurama raised an eyebrow. "And what would that b--"
Hiei's mouth closed over his in answer, and after that, neither of them did much talking.
--Utopian Trunks, 1998
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