Tall Blue Drinks

The sheets had just lost their chill and Kurama was just dozing off when the light taps on the window demanded his attention.
       *Go away, Hiei,* he thought in a drowsy growl as he pulled the covers over his head, caught between the edge of awareness and sleep.
       The tapping continued, insistent and annoying. Kurama sighed, resigned now to wakefulness. He sat up and threw the covers back as he swung his legs out into the chill of the winter night. He yawned while his toes searched for the slippers next to his bed, then he realized the tapping had stopped and frowned. He padded to the window and looked out into the snow-covered branches of the tree next to his window. No Hiei. He startled just a tiny bit as Hiei appeared before the window, upside down, apparently hanging somehow from the roof. The end of the white scarf his friend wore around his neck was obscuring Hiei's face, obeying the laws of gravity which Hiei was somehow ignoring at the moment.
       "Hiei!" Kurama let a little of his annoyance show in his voice as Hiei yanked the scarf out of the way and stared back at him, then wiggled his fingers in a 'hello' gesture.
       Kurama lifted his eyebrows at that very un-Hiei like gesture as he opened the window. Hiei tried to make a graceful entrance but it ended up in a slither over the sill and down the small piece of wall beneath it.
       "Hiei?" Kurama looked down at him, concerned.
       Hiei blinked at him a few times then tipped his head to the side until his ear was almost resting on his shoulder.
       "How do you do that, Kurama?"
       "Do what, Hiei?" Kurama answered cautiously, unsure of what was wrong with his friend.
       "Stand at an angle like that? You should fall over!" he reached up and poked Kurama firmly in the lower chest and frowned when Kurama didn't fall over.
       Kurama finally placed the scent that hovered around Hiei.
       "Hiei, what have you been drinking?" he asked with a hint of a laugh.
       "Something blue. In a really tall glass," Hiei answered as he got wobbly to his feet. He held his hand horizontally and put it against his sternum. "Really tall glass."
       "Hiei, you are drunk," Kurama stated, his amusement reflected in his leaf-green eyes.
       Hiei glared back at him, his expression not amused.
       "No, I am not. I'm just very relaxed..." he listed enough that Kurama had to reach out and push hard on the listing shoulder to keep him from falling over.
       "Obviously," Kurama said with a little laugh and thought about asking just who Hiei had been drinking with, then decided he'd rather not know.
       "So, how many 'blue' drinks did you have?" he asked, trying to gauge just how drunk Hiei was.
       "Hn..." Hiei started to count on his fingers, ticking off remembered glasses. "Twelve...I think..." he put down another finger... "or was it thirteen?"
       Hiei listed away from him as he counted and Kurama reached out and grabbed the front of his coat and pulled, bringing him back upright.
       Kurama shook his head in amazement. "You are going to feel awful in the morning, you know."
       "Really? Why?" Hiei asked curiously.
       He listed forwards and Kurama's arms went around his waist on instinct. Hiei reached out as he fought for balance and his arms ended up around Kurama's neck. He hung, a semi-limp weight. Kurama smiled, then shook his head with a soft, resigned sigh. Hiei would kill him in the morning if he took advantage of this.
       "I think you'd better sleep in here tonight. You'd fall out of the tree and the roof is too slick."
       "I would not!" Hiei mumbled into his chest as Kurama wrapped his arms around Hiei's waist and picked him up enough so he could walk them to the bed. He backed Hiei until his knees hit the side and let him down. Hiei put out his hands on each side and braced himself with a curious expression.
       "What?" Kurama asked with a small smile.
       "Is the bed moving?"
       "No. I imagine your head is spinning from all that liquor you just drank."
       Hiei reached up and put both hands on either side of his head as Kurama started working on getting off his boots.
       "No, it's not."
       That literal interpretation of his remark made Kurama start laughing as he tugged off the other boot. Hiei regarded him with narrowed eyes and Kurama quickly got the laughter under control. Hiei did not take well to being laughed at. He unwrapped the scarf as Hiei tried to shrug out of his coat. He almost broke out laughing again as Hiei got tangled up with the sleeves and muttered a few choice curses as he shook his arms, making the sleeves writhe snake-like. He took the end of one sleeve and pulled, setting Hiei free before he truly lost his temper.
       He was just starting to straighten when Hiei's hands closed on each lock of the hair that hung in front of his ears and began to lean back.
       "Hiei! Let go!" Kurama gasped out and followed to keep from getting his hair yanked as Hiei leaned until his back hit the bed, making Kurama put his hand out on either side of his head and lean over him.
       Hiei didn't say anything, just continued the steady pressure, pulling Kurama's face toward his own.
       "Hiei! What are you doing?" Kurama asked in shock.
       "Shut up, Kurama. You talk too much," Hiei muttered at him, then their lips met.
       It was a closed, firm pressure, Kurama too startled to make it into more and Hiei too inexperienced to know how to make it into more. The pressure let up on his sidelocks and Kurama pulled back, but was stopped as Hiei was only willing to let him go so far and still had control of his hair. Hiei scowled up at him.
       "So what's the big deal about that?"
       "Try again, Hiei, and I'll show you," Kurama grinned back down.
       He waited as Hiei closed his eyes and frowned. He was beginning to wonder if his friend had fallen asleep when the hands tugged at his hair once more, pulling him back down. He resisted just shy of touching Hiei's lips and made it into a feather light brush of his own. He did this a few times until Hiei's mouth relaxed a bit, giving him the chance to catch Hiei's lower lip. He traced the bottom edge of it with the tip of his tongue, then nipped just hard enough to make Hiei open his mouth with the beginning of an angry protest. It turned into a sound of surprise as Kurama slipped his tongue in. He froze as Hiei bit down hard, catching the intruder. Kurama waited once more and hoped that Hiei wouldn't bite his tongue off. After a few moments, Hiei seemed to decide that he would allow this invasion, as he relaxed and let up. Kurama gently teased the inside of his mouth, using all of his skill. It was like kissing a statue. Kurama sighed mentally and pulled back a little to play with Hiei's lower lip a bit more. Obviously Hiei wasn't ready for that yet.
       He decided to try a different track. He angled his head a little more so he could kiss the end of Hiei's chin, then ran a series of fast kisses along his jaw line until he hit his ear. He caught Hiei's ear lobe between his lips and tickled it with his tongue, then let go and blew softly on the dampness he'd left there. Hiei's fingers tightened in his hair, but didn't resist him as he continued down the side of his neck, letting each open-mouthed kiss end with a soft suction until he reached Hiei's collarbone, then ran his tongue back up the path he'd just traced. He was going to work on Hiei's ear some more when the hands in his hair pulled.
       He followed and his eyes widened as Hiei latched onto his mouth and kissed back, using every trick Kurama had tried the first time. Kurama closed his eyes as Hiei continued, mimicking everything he had done. A pleasure filled shudder went through him as Hiei recaptured his ear lobe and played with it with his teeth, then the mouth was gone. Kurama opened his eyes to gaze down into Hiei's red-flecked amber ones. They were full of mischief.
       "Did I do it right?"
       Kurama swallowed hard as he nodded. He knew that Hiei was a fast learner, but this...!
       "So, is that all there is to it?" Hiei asked in a mildly bored tone.
       Kurama considered how to answer as he got his heart rate and breathing back under control. "No, there's quite a bit more. Why?"
       "Just curious," Hiei answered with a shrug.
       "Do you want me to satisfy that curiosity for you, Hiei?" Kurama questioned softly, his green eyes glowing in the bright moonlight intensified by the snow.
       Hiei shrugged once more but kept his fingers tangled in Kurama's sidelocks. Kurama took it as a 'yes'. He was going to have fun finding out just how curious Hiei was. He leaned back down, as if to kiss, the mischief in his eyes reflecting Hiei's own as Hiei lifted his head a little, ready. Kurama changed course at the last second and planted the kiss on the tip of his nose. Hiei blinked in surprise as Kurama ran the tip of his nose up and along the top of Hiei's until he came to the bandanna. He ran his lips back and forth against the binding, caressing the closed and hidden eye there. Hiei twitched and let out a little gasp. Kurama smiled as he ran his nose back down to where it had started from.
       *There are quite a few other spots on your body that are more sensitive, Hiei, and I'm going to find every one!* he silently promised his friend and himself as he brushed past Hiei's lips with a light kiss and started down the arch of his throat. He continued down until he hit the edge of the sleeveless shirt. He lifted his head slightly and shifted so he could rub his cheek against Hiei's left pectoral. It had the desired effect as the small kernel of sensitive flesh rose and made its exact position known. Hiei took in a big gulp of air when he turned his face back and nuzzled the nipple through the fabric. He had just descended on the other when Hiei started to hiccup with enough force to bounce the bed. Kurama sighed and rested his forehead against his friend's sternum in frustration and frowned as it was lifted with the next spasm.
       "Kurama!" Hiei hissed around another hiccup. "What did you do to me?"
       "Nothing, yet," Kurama answered as he lifted his head and wondered at Hiei's perplexed expression, then winced as another hiccup made Hiei pull his hair.
       Hiei hic-ed again and growled softly.
       "Is this supposed to happen?"
       "No." There was an answering growl under Kurama's voice as Hiei hiccuped once more.
       "What?" Hiei's question was soft and directed inward as he scowled and continued to hiccup.
       Was that a hint of panic Kurama saw in his eyes? Then it dawned on him. "Haven't you ever had hiccups before, Hiei?"
       "Hiccups?" Hiei questioned back with the appropriate accompaniment.
       "Yes. You have a case of the hiccups."
       "Well, make it stop!"
       "Try holding your breath," Kurama suggested.
       He watched as Hiei drew a deep breath, then held it. He was beginning to think it had worked when it was expelled with a violent series of hiccups. Hiei glared up at him, unable to add the choice expletives he was surely thinking. Kurama shrugged, then wiggled his fingers into Hiei's armpits and tickled. Hiei convulsed, half of it caused by hiccup, half by a reaction to the tickle, then fought back. He ended on top, sitting on Kurama's stomach and was leaning forwards to pin Kurama's hands over his head when another hiccup rocked him. He lost his balance and fell forwards on top of his friend. Kurama did the last thing he could think of to cure Hiei's hiccups: he bit hard into the lean muscles of the stomach pressed against his face. Hiei let out a little sound of pain and sat back up, one hand keeping Kurama's wrists pinned to the bed, the other in a fist and drawn back. He stopped his swing as he saw Kurama's raised eyebrow and soft smile.
       "Well, that seemed to work."
       Hiei froze in place, fist still frozen in mid-swing, waiting. He lowered it and released Kurama's wrists as he rubbed at the sore spot on his stomach when no more spasms followed.
       "Let me see," Kurama pulled Hiei's shirt out of his belt and lifted it.
       He had left teeth marks but hadn't broken the skin. He put his hands on Hiei's waist and pulled, upsetting Hiei's drink-muddled balance once more. Hiei caught himself on his hands as Kurama set to work apologising with soft kisses against the mark and around the general vicinity of it.
       "Kurama!" Hiei protested and tried to sit back up, still a bit angry and now not sure if he wanted to play this game or not.
       But Kurama wrapped his arms around his waist and kept him down, his lips against skin now as he worked his way up Hiei's stomach with the hopes of re-interesting him. Hiei arched away from him as his mouth found a nipple. He followed, teasing it with his tongue. For a moment he thought he'd lost him as Hiei tensed and growled. Then Hiei was pressing back against his mouth, the pleasure filled sensation overcoming his resistance. Kurama smiled as he ran his tongue across the smooth, hot skin of Hiei's chest and attacked the other.
       Convinced that Hiei was going to stay in place now, he loosened his grip on his waist and tugged the shirt up over his friend's head. Hiei was having a difficult time getting his arms out of the armholes as he ran his fingertips up and down each side of his spine. The shirt was finally flung somewhere toward the bottom of the bed as he continued to stroke while his lips visited every bit of skin on Hiei's chest. He separated his hands a bit more with each pass until he had covered all of Hiei's back. Hiei was actually trembling a little and his breathing had become uneven when he started his caresses on an inverse course back for his spine. Hiei sat up suddenly and Kurama froze, locked for a moment in a jolt of erotic pleasure as his hardness was pressed and rubbed as Hiei scooted backwards so he was sitting on Kurama's hips. He smiled and repressed a delighted laugh as he realized that the hard pressure that twitched against his pajama trapped length was Hiei's own erection.
       Hiei closed one eye, then opened it and tried closing the other as he fumbled with the first button of Kurama's pajama top. Kurama was bringing his hands up to undo it for him when Hiei leaned down, blocking the path of his hands. He felt the light brush of teeth through the fabric around the button, then the sharp click of teeth meeting. Hiei turned his head and with a 'ptu' sent the button into the corner of the room.
       "Hiei!" Kurama protested, trying to push Hiei's head up and away as the second button went to join the first.
       Hiei simply wormed under Kurama's hands and went after the third one with something that sounded suspiciously like a chuckle. Kurama gave up as that button went into the corner. One he could explain to Shiori, maybe two, but three? He was going to have to sew them back on before morning. Oh, well. This was worth it. He relaxed and let Hiei have his way with the rest of his buttons.
       Done with the problem of the buttons, Hiei grabbed the bottom of the top and pulled it apart, exposing Kurama's skin to the chill air. Kurama shivered a little as his skin tightened in protest, then Hiei leaned back down over him, bringing his warmth. He laced his fingers gently into Hiei's coarse, wiry hair as Hiei ran lips and tongue over his skin. He let out a soft 'ah' as Hiei finally descended on a nipple and discovered just how sensitive Kurama was. He closed his eyes and melted into the sensations. He arched his back, making room as Hiei slid his arms under him to wrap his mid-section in a firm hug. Hiei had just finished tracing the lower line of his rib cage with his tongue and had discovered his navel when the kisses...stopped. He frowned.
       "Hiei?"
       Nothing. He levered himself up onto his elbows. Hiei had his head turned with his cheek resting on his stomach.
       "Hiei?" He reached down and tickled the sensitive tip of Hiei's exposed ear.
       Hiei didn't even twitch, the tickle of his exhaled breath against the skin of his stomach slow and even. He was asleep? He was ASLEEP! Kurama flopped back down and stared at the ceiling in disbelief. And as deeply asleep as after he released the Dragon that rode his arm. Kurama had two simultaneous thoughts as he worked on wiggling out of the grip Hiei had on his waist. One was to push Hiei off the bed and let him sleep it off on the hard, cold discomfort of the floor. The other was to continue, whether Hiei was an aware and willing participant or not.
       He was still debating between the two as Hiei curled up into a compact ball once he squirmed free. He moved to sit on the edge of the bed, his toes against the cold floor, and quivered with frustration and longing. Then he stood with a smooth motion and padded over to the corner to collect the six buttons. He might as well take care of this now. He was too wound up to sleep and if he stayed to cuddle with Hiei he WOULD finish what they had started. And he couldn't - wouldn't - do that to Hiei.
       After three painful needle pricks he had the buttons back on his pajama top and a firm grip on his body and emotions. Not putting on his robe and sitting bare chested as he sewed had cooled him off considerably. He put his top back on then went to put the sewing kit back onto its shelf in the closet. He knelt to fill the tea ball with herbs out of his bag against Hiei's waking and inevitable hangover. He took the pungent smelling results back and put it in his empty mug, then shook the thermos next to it to make sure there was enough water to brew a cup. Then he went back to bed, sliding into wonderfully warm sheets and forming himself around Hiei with a resigned sigh.

Hiei sat bolt upright, tense and alert. Kurama yawned and stretched languidly next to him as Hiei scrunched his eyes shut against the brilliant early morning sunlight that flooded the room. He let out a subdued and pain-filled hiss as he sagged and buried his face in his hands. Kurama slid out of the bed and shrugged on his robe as he went to the desk and poured the water into the waiting mug. Hiei didn't open his eyes, just held out his hand when Kurama brought the tea over to him. He made a fierce face as he sipped.
       "What's in this?"
       "Hair of dog, toad's tongues, dragon's toenails," Kurama answered with a little smile.
       "You have a glib answer for everything, don't you?" Hiei snarled back, definitely in an evil mood.
       "No, not for everything," Kurama ignored Hiei's flare of temper as he settled on the end of the bed, arms crossed.
       If Hiei hadn't been concentrating so hard on muting the reconstruction going on inside his head caused by the horde of tiny demons in grungy socks which had run over his tongue en-route to his brain, he would have picked up on the longing note under Kurama's voice. As it was, he only had a muddled impression of what had happened last night. He eyes opened wide and he swallowed square and coughed, panic flicking through him as he thought he remembered being kissed and kissing...
       "What happened last night?" he asked hesitantly.
       Kurama watched as Hiei picked at the rumpled blanket anxiously with his free hand as he debated how to answer. Hiei hadn't been himself last night and the whole truth might drive him away forever.
       "You were very drunk. You asked me to explain about 'kissing', then you passed out," Kurama answered with a shrug.
       The relief that he saw in Hiei's eyes told him he had guessed right. A soft knock against his door was followed by his mothers voice.
       "Shuiichi?"
       "I'm up, Mother."
       "I'll be back in a minute," he told Hiei as he rose and headed for the door.
       "Kurama...thank you," Hiei said softly as Kurama started to open the door.
       There was so many things hidden in the tone of those three words.
       "Anytime, Hiei," he answered back on as many levels.
       When he came back from cleaning up for the morning, the room was empty and the window open as he expected. He went and closed it, then rested his forehead against the cold glass and smiled out at the single footprint on the snow that mantled the thick branch outside. Hiei must be feeling terrible to leave any clue that he had passed this way. He sighed. Passed and gone. But he would be back. The line of a poem he'd had to memorise for class last year came into his head.
       'Like a woman wailing for her demon lover...'
       Well, maybe he was. But unlike that lost soul, his demon would be back.

Hiei was dozing in the middle branches of one of the ancient trees that shadowed the back garden of Genkai's Temple. This was his favorite perch in the whole area because he could sit and watch Yukina unobserved. His sister had taken over tending the garden and seemed to love messing around with the plants as much as Kurama. And she would sing when she thought no one was around. Simple little tunes that wove the bird songs together or just a random series of notes that made her smile. It was lovely. He was fascinated by his twin and could not imagine how she could have tolerated sharing the close quarters of their mother's womb with him. She was such an amazing creature. She took the world in with wide and wondering eyes, still believing the best of everyone and everything even after her horrible abuse. She was everything he was not and for that one thing and that thing only, he thanked the Gods.

He had dozed off just after sunset when Yukina had gone in and now the hushed whisper of voices snapped him awake. He relaxed a little. The tones were unthreatening and familiar. Yuusuke and Keiko heading for the little hidden nook between the trunk of his tree and the wall. They had been coming here more and more often and it was starting to become annoying. He had almost fallen out of the tree the first time they had discovered the little hideaway. He had leaned forwards trying to figure out why they were mashing their faces together like that and overbalanced a bit and had to make himself very small in the shadows as Yuusuke glared up at the rustle of leaves. Much to his relief, Keiko had distracted him with what he now knew was called a 'kiss'. He didn't remember what Kurama had said he'd told him that night but he had listened carefully when Yuusuke and Kuwabara had exchanged what he was sure were very exaggerated tales.
       Hiei closed his eyes, determined to ignore them. It was his tree after all, he had been here first and damned if he was going to vacate it just because two humans had decided they were going to kiss and drool all over each other under it. He now considered Yuusuke's attentions to Keiko an absolute waste of time. The purpose of this exercise was to procreate. Yuusuke and Keiko had going at it for months now and she still wasn't pregnant. Maybe she was barren. He frowned as a blur of memory flashed through his mind, chaotic impressions of heat and pleasure...and Kurama. He shook his head a little to dispel them. That had to have been a dream spawned by those damned drinks. It had to be! Nothing could feel that good. And besides, why would Kurama wish to attempt to procreate with him? That made no sense at all.
       Something... a tension in the air caused him to glance down. He blinked, surprised. The embrace was familiar, that they were both naked was not. They moved apart and Hiei blinked again and his Jagon opened as he studied the scene below him. The thing that marked Yuusuke as male was so swollen that it was enormous and stiff. It looked very painful and Hiei winced inwardly as Keiko reached to touch it. Instead of the flinch of pain he was expecting, Yuusuke actually seemed to enjoy it. A lot, if the colors of his aura were to be believed. Then... if anybody had been there to see him they would have told him he had done an excellent impression of his sister's wide-eyed astonishment. He had never, ever had the inkling that two bodies could fit together like that. And at the end, Yuusuke's aura had gone berserk.
       He scowled as he reached up to rub the throb behind his scrunched shut third eye. The couple was long gone but the headache promised to linger for a while. The Jagon was still dazzled by Yuusuke's reaction to whatever he had done to Keiko. Or what Keiko had done to him. He still wasn't sure what had happened. It certainly hadn't looked very comfortable but they both had seemed to enjoy it. Though Yuusuke much more that Keiko. He grumbled and hissed at an owl who mistook him for a shadow and landed on his branch. It launched with silent wings and a startled 'hoo-hoo'. He wanted to know what was going on and could only think of one source he could ask to explain it to him who would not go into fits of laughter at his ignorance. At least he'd better not...

Kurama knew that Hiei was following him. He put his head down to hide his smile as the slight flicker went from branch to branch at the edge of his vision, barely disturbing the thick new coat of spring leaves. To any other, it would have been the nothing more than the errant whisper of a breeze. Well, Hiei could follow all he wanted. He lifted his head and breathed in the heady smell of awakening plants that hung on the heavy air. The clouds were brooding and threatened rain soon. He didn't care. In fact, that sky had kept most of the visitors to the gardens away and he hadn't passed another human soul in the last fifteen minutes.
       It was bliss. He had really needed to get away. Sometimes being Minamino Shuiichi was more than he could stand. But after an afternoon in the Tokyo Botanical Gardens the Youko and Human parts of him would once again reach a truce. He often wondered what was going to happen to that human part of him when this body died and he went back to his Youko form full time. Would it stay with him, like a habit? Or would he wake the cold, selfish creature he had been?
       *Carefree! And happy!* the Youko part of him snarled.
       He soothed it as he took another deep breath. His steps hesitated a little as he sorted the scents, identifying each one. What was that? He lifted his eyebrows as a breeze sprang up and blew more of that sweet smell into his face. Foxbane? The human part of him commanded he turn and run as far and fast as possible. The youko part of him wanted to find the source of that mouth-watering scent as quickly as possible.
       *No! No!* he screamed at his youko self as his body turned of its own volition and headed off the path.
       The youko part laughed at him and the human was lost in the overwhelming desire to find those flowers. He was going to lick the pollen out of each one of them, then he was going to just wallow in them for a while. A long while.
       Hiei wondered a little at Kurama's goofy grin as his friend turned off the path and slid into the wilder underbrush without so much as a whisper of disturbed vegetation. That bothered him a little. Normally when Kurama went into 'sneak mode' there was a good reason for it. Normally a very dangerous good reason. But that expression was not at all threatened. Hiei changed course to follow and within ten metres felt his skin prickle. There was something with a lot of Power here, close. He hung back a little, every sense alert as Kurama continued to weave his way through the forest below him like a ghost. A glade opened before them carpeted with small, amethyst colored flowers. Kurama gathered himself and leapt. Somewhere in that arc, he changed and a silver fox landed in the middle of the flowers leaving a trail of discarded clothing to flutter down.
       Hiei perched and watched with a scowl as Kurama bounced in a chaotic pattern from one part of the glade and one flower to another, pausing only long enough to poke his nose into each lily-shaped blossom. Then with a huge sigh, the fox tucked his front paws and flopped half onto his side and scooted himself along with his back feet, crushing some of the delicate plants and releasing a sickly sweet smell. What the hell was he doing? Kurama swapped sides and squashed another swathe, then rolled onto his back and wiggled. There was a prismed flare of light, an invisibility spell being released, and Hiei got his first look at the author of the power in the area.
       It was a female Youko, her long hair and the fur of her tail and ears a golden blonde. She looked young, but then again, Kurama in his Youko form looked young and he was ancient. She slammed a smallish, bottomless bamboo trap over the prone silver Youko with a, "Hah! Gotcha!"
       Hiei waited for Kurama to escape and couldn't believe it when the fox form of his friend just kept wallowing, totally unconcerned that he'd been captured. And the possessive smile on the female Youko's face as she leaned forward to watch Kurama through the bamboo bars raised his hackles. He dropped noiselessly out of the tree to land with his boot tips just shy of the cage. The female Youko let out a startled yip and leapt backwards a good fifteen meters. Hiei reached down and picked up the cage by one corner. He narrowed his eyes but didn't wince as the wards scalded his hand, adding the smell of burned flesh to the nauseating aroma of the flowers. He tossed it away as the female Youko narrowed topaz colored eyes at him and put her hands on her hips. Hiei felt a chill run through him, one that a creature such as she should not rate. Hiei kept all three of his eyes on her as he prodded Kurama gently in the side with the toe of one boot.
       "Kurama, get the hell out of here!" he hissed.
       "What are you doing here!" she demanded.
       Kurama seemed to focus, finally, and managed to get up onto his paws. Hiei just fixed her with his best 'don't screw with me' stare as Kurama staggered away. It didn't seem to intimidate her in the slightest. Well, he could fix that. She glanced beyond him and giggled. He risked a fast glance and growled in disbelief. Kurama was busy running in a tight circle, trying to catch one of his tails. He blinked in reaction to Kurama's high and pain-filled yelp as he finally managed to latch onto one. Kurama let go of that tail and started a dizzying spin in the opposite direction, going after a different one. He drew his sword as the female tried to flank him and moved to put himself in front of Kurama.
       "Come on," Hiei bid with a venom filled smile.
       She backed off and pouted prettily at him. There was a boom of thunder that vibrated his teeth and a hard wind whipped through the glade, tangling her hair. One ear flicked, then she shrugged and the wind was gone. She gave Hiei a small, secret smile.
       "I'll get him eventually, you know. But for now, he's all yours."
       She blew him a kiss as she swirled out of existence in a sparkle of golden twinkles and he twitched as the whisper of cold lips brushed against his cheek.
       *He's mine? What the hell does that mean?*
       He kept his sword up and at the ready as he scanned the area, but the power was fading fast. The flowers around him dissipated, taking most of that horrid smell with them, leaving only grass. Only when the last taint of it was gone did he sheath his sword and dared look at the damage to the underside of his throbbing hand.
       *Shit. Why do I do these things?* he wondered at himself as he glared down past the blackened and charred skin of his fingers and at the Youko who was now curled up between his feet with his nose buried under his second tail, sound asleep and reeking of those flowers.
       He nudged Kurama with his toe again and his glare turned into a full fledged scowl as the body moved limply against his prodding. He squatted down and almost gagged at the smell of the flowers that clung to the Youko's fur. He stood up rapidly and retreated a step. An evil gleam came into his eyes as he focused on the burble of water. He picked Kurama up by the scruff of his neck and held him down-wind and at arms length as he stalked for the stream. He had to follow it a slight distance to find what he was looking for. The shallow stream ran into and out of a small pool which had been created by human hands and held six fat carp. Yes, this would do nicely. He dunked the fox and swished him around under the surface for a moment then brought him back up. Kurama sputtered and thrashed weakly, then went limp again.
       Hiei wrinkled his nose and clamped down on his stomach as he brought the Youko's face up to his own. He still stank.
       "Kurama! WAKE UP!" he bellowed into the fox's face.
       That earned him the barest crack of one eyelid and a glimpse of the honey-colored iris under it.
       ::yummmm...:: whispered in his head and the Youko's red tongue darted out to lick him on the end of the nose.
       Then that eye slid shut and the mental touch was gone.
       "Kurama!"
       Hiei gave him a few firm shakes, but could not rouse the Youko again. He moved Kurama back out of nose range as he debated what to do. Well, Kurama had taken care of him enough times after he'd released the Kokuryuuha, he could return the favor, just this once. But first off he had to get that smell off of him. He changed hands: his damaged fingers were up to keeping a firm grip on the scruff of Kurama's neck but not much else. Then he dunked the Youko back in, careful to keep his head above the water, and scrubbed his fingers through the soft fur. He lifted a very sodden and bedraggled Kurama out and brought him near and took a tentative sniff. Kurama went back into the pond and Hiei went over him again. This time he was tolerable. The smell still lingered, but it wasn't overpowering. He headed back for the glade still holding Kurama by the scruff of the neck and at arms length because now he was dripping wet.
       A stiff, chill wind had come up as he'd washed Kurama, the Spring storm that was hovering getting ready to release it's fury soon. Hiei put Kurama down in the grass, then went to collect the Youko's cast off clothing. Well, most of them. He was not going to chase after the socks that the wind was playing with. He wadded them up and cursed as he had to use his bad hand to tie the shirt around them to get them into a carryable bundle. He took it back to where the Youko lay and frowned.
       Because of what he was, Hiei had never been cold. If anybody had been there to explain to him that you if you dunked a warm blooded creature repeatedly into a stream fed by snow melt-off and then left it exposed to a cold wind its core temperature would plummet, he would have stared at them in incomprehension. But he did know that shivering meant that someone felt cold. And he had watched his humans enough that he had figured out that the harder and faster the shudders, the colder they felt. Kurama was feeling very, very cold. He put the bundle of clothes down and unbuttoned the top half of his coat, then gathered Kurama up and stuffed him down the front of his shirt, tails first, and buttoned his coat back up. That also solved the problem of how he was going to carry the Youko and have his good hand free just in case something or someone decided to take a whack at him. He tucked the bundle under the arm with the damaged hand and flicked off into the branches, on the way to take Kurama home.
       The storm announced its intentions against him with a snarl of thunder. It was one of those full of lightnings and treacherous winds that drove the rain in horizontal sheets and whipped and twisted branches. By the time Hiei reached Kurama's house he was a sodden as the Youko he carried. He crouched on a swaying branch in the tree outside Kurama's window and pushed the bandana up to scan the house. The woman wasn't there, which was the first break in the foul luck he'd had all day. He opened the window and climbed over the sill.

The first thing Kurama became aware of as he drifted up out of pleasure filled dreams was the sensation of extremely wet and ruffled fur. It was an unpleasant shock and he voiced his displeasure, loudly.
       ::I'm WET!::
       "So Am I," Hiei's voice snarled back at him.
       The next thing Kurama became aware of was that he couldn't move. His whole body was unresponsive. He fought the instinctual panic of feeling trapped and realized Hiei's scent was all around him. That implied a degree of safety and he relaxed a little. He also discovered that though he couldn't move, he could feel, acutely. He was very conscious of the discomfort of his wet fur, most of which was ruffled the wrong way.
       There was another scent, very faint and sweet. Even as faint as it was, it still made his mouth water. Foxbane. He'd come across a wild growth of Foxbane in full flower, he remembered that. But how had that Makai plant gotten into the Ningenkai? He thanked every deity he could think of that Hiei had been following him. If he hadn't...he shuddered mentally. Foxbane was narcotic and slow acting poison all in one pretty package. It trapped the Youko in pleasure and sweet dreams, paralyzed for the hour the flowers needed to recharge their pollen, then the youko would repeat the pattern until enough poison was in its system to kill it. It took no more than four doses, and then the Foxbane would have its meal.
       He had another unpleasant shock as fingers closed on the scruff of his neck just as he figured out that he must be in Hiei's shirt and pulled him out.
       ::Put Me BACK!:: he demanded as the chill air instantly found it's way through his damp fur.
       Hiei held him up to eye level and fixed the still limp fox with a glare.
       "Stop screwing around. Change."
       ::Can't:: Kurama glared back.
       "Why?"
       ::The flowers. They mess up Youko powers.::
       "Is that why you're all limp?"
       ::Yes:: there was embarrassment in the Youko's 'voice'.
       "How long will you be this way?" Hiei asked as he put Kurama on the floor out of range of the puddle that was seeping from the bundle of clothes and his waterlogged coat.
       ::'Till it wears off.::
       "And just how long will that take?" Hiei added acidly as he finished getting out of his wet clothing, dropping his shirt and pants onto the top of the pile.
       Kurama took in Hiei's natural state with a repressed sigh of appreciation and annoyance. Of course this opportunity would have to come when he was helpless to do anything about it. He closed his eyes and concentrated.
       ::Did anything move?::
       "One of your ears twitched."
       Kurama's mental sigh was frustrated. ::A while still. Hiei, I'm cold and very wet. Would you mind getting a towel and drying me off? Please?::
       Much to his surprise, Hiei picked him up carefully and held him against the warmth of his chest as he padded to the bathroom. Hiei wrapped him in one of the towels and set him on the counter then took another and went over himself with a quick efficiency, ending with a fast and furious toweling of his wiry hair which even the fury of the storm hadn't been able to flatten. Even after that toweling, it was still in place. Amazing. Then he picked up Kurama and sat them both on the floor. Kurama managed a feeble yelp since he couldn't scream as Hiei repeated the fast and furious part on his drug-sensitized body. He was still somewhat dazed as Hiei unwrapped him and it took him a second to place the look on Hiei's face. It was definitely amused.
       ::What?:: Kurama managed to get out as the daze slipped into definite discomfort.
       "You're all fluffed up like a scared cat!"
       Then the amusement fled to be replaced with a scowl as Kurama whined softly.
       "What?"
       ::My fur! It's all ruffled and standing on end and it's driving me CRAZY!!!::
       The distress in Kurama's mind touch and the tone of his whine made Hiei do something that he would never have let himself do under any other circumstances. He ran the fingers of his good hand through the Youko's fur and began combing it back into place. It was incredibly soft and felt wonderful as it slid through his fingers. He had always wondered what Kurama's fur would feel like to pet.
       Kurama sighed in relief, and pleasure, and relaxed.
       Hiei blinked in mid stroke as Kurama changed. His fingers were now in red hair as soft as Youko fur.
       ::uuum...don't stop!!!:: Kurama half purred/half pleaded, then frowned as he realized his mind touch hadn't... touched.
       That meant he had changed back into his human shape. He opened his eyes and gazed up at Hiei who was looking at something with a strange expression.
       "Kurama, why are you like that?" Hiei sounded truly puzzled.
       "Like what?" Kurama wondered back.
       "All swollen and hard," Hiei answered as he leaned and stretched to touch, innocent in his curiosity.
       Kurama jerked like he'd been hit by lightning as he connected. Hiei flicked his hand away, still puzzled. Kurama had responded like he'd been hurt but his aura had flared with pleasure colors. It just didn't make sense!
       Kurama gritted his teeth as he teetered on the edge of mind-exploding pleasure. Gods! Now he knew why Foxbane was forbidden to the Clans. That one touch had just about sent him over the edge. He took a deep breath as the sensation faded into something he could deal with and opened his eyes once more. The expression on Hiei's face was for once unguarded and Kurama thought he saw concern there. He stifled a growl of frustration. This was definitely not the way he had planned on explaining the ways of sex to Hiei.
       "It's called an erection, Hiei. Males get them when they are sexually aroused."
       Kurama's voice was low and husky as he replied. Hiei figured it was from forcing it to work around the paralysis that held the Youko as he blinked and puzzled over that last bit. Why was Kurama sexually aroused? That didn't make any sense either. There was no female here. Well, now that he had broached the subject, he might as well find out all he could.
       "You're aroused? Why?"
       "What you were doing to my fur felt very, very nice."
       Hiei's fingers came out of Kurama's hair and he felt a flash of guilt. He hadn't meant to do that to Kurama. He was surprised that something so simple could create that reaction in his friend. And surprised at this strange feeling that he couldn't quite figure out. It had something to do with the fact that he HAD created that reaction. And he couldn't quite figure out how to ask the next question. It wasn't really what you did with it. He had seen that. It was 'why?' So he settled on the one that had been troubling him the most.
       "Does it hurt?"
       Kurama barely managed to repress his chuckle. "No. In fact, exactly the opposite. When a male's member it like this, gentle," and he stressed that word, "stimulation of any kind feels better than anything you can imagine."
       He sighed and closed his eyes as Hiei scowled. Here he was, with his head pillowed in Hiei's naked lap and helpless. So close and yet so far away. He worked very hard on trying to get anything to move.
       Hiei mulled that over. Well, that explained it. But better than anything he could imagine? Well, that had to be an exaggeration. Now that he had an answer, time to move on to other business. Like that female Youko.
       "Who was that Lady Youko?"
       "What Lady Youko?" Kurama echoed, not paying much attention.
       He'd gotten his toes to wiggle. Now for the fingers.
       "The one who had you in a cage back there in those flowers," Hiei elaborated in an unconcerned tone.
       Kurama tensed and forgot about fingers and toes as that registered. "What are you talking about, Hiei?"
       An amused gleam came into Hiei's eyes and the barest touch of a smile turned one side of his mouth. Kurama didn't remember!
       "She was very pretty. Prettier than you! And gold colored. Another of your old enemies?
       Kurama's eyes narrowed. "Golden? Hiei, are you sure?"
       Hiei gave him his best 'why am I surrounded by idiots' expression.
       "Did she touch you?" There was true fear in Kurama's voice and panic in his eyes as one of his hands moved slowly and closed on Hiei's wrist.
       "No. Why?"
       The adrenaline surge left in the rush of relief and a wave of weakness and drowsiness swept in to take its place. Kurama tried to fight it off. The chances he got to be alone with Hiei were few and far between. He was not going to go to sleep now...
       "Who is she?" Hiei demanded as Kurama's eyes slid shut and his head got very heavy in his lap.
       "Someone I hope you won't met again for a very, very long time," Kurama mumbled back.
       Hiei's eyebrows came together and he reached down and tugged firmly on a bit of red hair.
       "Hn."

Asleep again. Hiei lifted Kurama's head and slid out from under him, then with a bit of tugging and a few curse-laden grunts, got him up and settled over his shoulder.
       He got Kurama lowered onto his bed and noticed as he was lifting his legs to get him all on it that the 'erection' had gone away. He had the very mischievous thought of seeing if he couldn't make it come back, then scowled at himself. Kurama wasn't a toy and this sex thing was serious business. And a distracting one. If he had been intent on Yuusuke's life when he had been busy with Keiko, Yuusuke would have been dead and never even known what had hit him. That made it a business he had no need to be dabbling in. And besides, Kurama had hordes of females of all species drooling after him. And he was... well, nothing that Kurama would want anyway even if he had the right configuration, which he didn't... Hiei blinked and gave himself a firm mental shake. What the hell was he even doing thinking such absurd thoughts?
       He distracted himself by going to the closet and rummaged around in Kurama's bag until he found the ointment that his friend always used on ward burns and a roll of bandages and set to work doctoring his hand. The storm spit the last bit of its violence against the panes of the window as he was wrapping his little finger. By the time he had put the ointment and the much smaller roll of bandage back the sky was clean and blue, the storm clouds gone as only Spring storm clouds could.
       He gathered his still soaked clothes and draped them over one arm - he'd need to hang them in some high branches close to the sun - and stepped into his boots, then went to check on Kurama. His friend was still deeply asleep and Hiei wondered what he was dreaming. That smile was sly and secret. Probably of stealing something. The unbandaged hand went out shyly to stroke that blood-colored hair that was spread like a halo around his friend's head once more.
       *So soft.*
       Then with a whisper of displaced air, Hiei was gone.

The chir of the cicadas was an unbroken drone in the early evening heat. Kurama was slick with sweat and wished fervently for a breeze to stir the heavy summer air that hung in the room as he ground the flowers and soap root into a paste. He doubted Hiei was going to be pleased with the aroma he woke up with, but floral was a million times better than the smell of a Makai cesspool. Genkai had gotten one whiff of Hiei from where she stood in the door to the temple when he and Kuwabara had straggled back with their unconscious burdens and sent them to the old bath house that was tucked away in a corner of the temple grounds as Keiko and Yukina rushed out to fuss over Yuusuke and Kuwabara.
       He stood slowly and a little shakily, tired and aching all over and feeling every one of the years this human frame hadn't known. There was a delicate cough and he glanced over to see the diminutive old Master standing in the doorway, a pile of towels in her arms.
       "Are you all right?" Eyes undimmed by age raked over him, calculating and concerned.
       "I've been better," he answered with a small smile and a shrug.
       "Need help?" she offered as she brought the pile in and placed it on the stone bench that ran the circuit of the room, then turned those hard, bright eyes on the young demon that lay on the floor.
       "No. Thank you anyway, Genkai Sensei."
       He gave her a small bow which she accepted with a smile and a shrug, then turned and left.
       He headed for the larger of the two baths in the building. The smaller one was empty, but this one was always filled with cold spring water that bubbled up from the bottom. It overflowed on the far side into a spillway which fed the ornamental brook which ran through the Temple grounds. He squatted and filled the shallow bowl with water and stirred the contents into a thick lather as he went back to Hiei. He knelt next to him and a soft smile touched his mouth as he debated whether to start from the top and work his way down, or start at the bottom and work his way up...
       All three of Hiei's eyes snapped open and he tensed and thrashed weakly as Kurama was working on scrubbing his shoulders.
"Easy, easy..." Kurama soothed.        Hiei focused on him and scowled, but relaxed under Kurama's hands.
       His friend looked terrible. One whole side of his face was a bruise and Hiei could see others on his chest and shoulders around gashes covered with a clear film of healing sap. He told him so.
       "You look like shit!"
       "At least I don't smell like it," Kurama answered with a gleam in his eye.
       Hiei growled, half in anger, half in pleasure. What was Kurama doing to him? It felt... good.
       "I can't believe that asshole though he could drown me in a cesspool. When I die, it isn't going to be in demon shit. What are you doing?"
       "Washing you. You're filthy."
       Hiei started to try to sit up and growled as his body slowly and shakily attempted to obey. Kurama pushed him back down with one firm forefinger planted in the center of his chest.
       "Don't. You were poisoned, remember? It'll be a while before it clears your system."
       "Yuusuke?" Hiei asked with gruff concern.
       Both he and Yuusuke had been in the path of those tiny poisoned needles.
       "He's all right. Now, just relax and let me get this done."
       Hiei didn't have much of a choice, so he did. He closed his eyes and wondered why it was that having someone else wash his body felt so... good? It never felt like this when he washed himself. And when Kurama did his hair! That felt wonderful! Arms slipped under his knees and shoulders.
       "Hiei, help a little, would you?"
       Hiei put his arms around Kurama's neck with a growl and a scowl. He hated being this helpless! Though he wouldn't have gotten washed otherwise, but that wasn't enough to outweigh the danger this weakness put him in... thoughts of his own self vanished as he realized how much effort it took for Kurama to lift him.
       "Are you all right?" he questioned as his friend reached the side of the sunken basin with shaky steps.
       "Hn."
       Hiei frowned up at his friend as Kurama stepped down onto the seat. Kurama grinned down at him, though he could see the effort and weariness behind it. Then they were in the water, Kurama letting out an appreciative sigh as he settled onto the floor, Hiei half sitting, half floating on his lap.
       "Lean back, Hiei."
       "Why?" Hiei responded suspiciously.
       "So I can get the soap out of your hair. Just float, I won't let you go under."
       Hiei sat tense and still on his lap and gave him a baleful stare. Kurama lifted his eyebrows and smiled.
       "You do know how to float, don't you?"
       Hiei added an unhappy frown to the stare. Kurama gave a small huff of amusement and Hiei suddenly found himself prone in the water. He thrashed in surprise as Kurama's laughed, "Hiei, just relax!" echoed off the tiles. He stopped when he discovered he was supported by one of Kurama's knees in the small of his back, one between his shoulder blades and one of Kurama's arms behind his neck. The rest of him was heavy under the water.
       "Hiei, the key to floating is to relax. Try it. You might just like it," Kurama suggested as he shook the splash droplets off of his hair.
       Hiei knew that Kurama wasn't going to drop him and he wasn't going to almost drown... again. But still, he didn't like being in the water. He never had. The one time he had gone into the hot springs with his friends had not been fun. The water had pressed against him, making him acutely aware of his body, had sucked at him, tried to pull him under, hungry to put out the fire that was his essence. It was doing so again. But Kurama wouldn't let it hurt him. Kurama wanted him to relax. Hn. How? Kurama's fingers were in his hair again, rubbing gently, soothing - and... not - at the same time. He let himself enjoy that sensation and committed it to memory since he was sure it would never happen again, and didn't realize when his limbs drifted up.

Kurama smiled as he glanced down and saw that Hiei's body had started to react to the attention of his hands. He knew he was in no shape to play, but still...
       Kurama's hand drifted down the back of his neck and he... shivered? He didn't really have time to figure it out. Kurama's hand moved to push water onto his stomach, then brushed it off with a light stroke and every inch of his skin tightened. He swallowed hard, awash in these new sensations as Kurama's hand followed his hip and went down his thigh to his knee firmly, then came back up with his fingers just brushing the hairs there. It sent wonderful tingles to join the feeling that was focusing between his hips.
       "Hiei," Kurama's voice whispered in his ear, "guess what?"
       "Hn."
       "You've got an erection."
       Hiei's eyes flew open to lock on Kurama's amused green ones.
       *I do?* He lifted his head and looked down the length of his body. It was huge! And it didn't hurt! All three eyes blinked as the back of Kurama's fingers brushed along his length and a jolt of pleasure sang through him.
       He gulped in shock, so startled that he didn't resist as Kurama's hands, hot against his ribs, turned him so his back was against his chest and his head supported by his shoulder. Something as soft as the rose petals Kurama so loved brushed the side of his neck, then trailed down and along the edge of his shoulder, hot, soft...he shivered again...yes, that was what it had to be, a shiver...as his focus wavered chaotically between the sensations of Kurama's lips and the fingers that were leaving trails of ice as they traced the definition of the muscles on his stomach.

Hiei's teeth came together with an audible click as Kurama's fingertips floated down to his hips and then continued on over the tops of his thighs for as far as he could reach. His fingers turned inward and stroked back up, feather light on the sensitive skin of his inner thighs. Hiei was trembling now, his breath taken in shallow gasps. Hiei's fingers reached for Kurama's wrists as he traced the shape of the balls under their protection of wiry, corkscrewed hair and drawn tight flesh.
       *What are you doing to me?* He couldn't get his voice to work!
       His hands closed on Kurama's wrists, but they had no strength. He was spinning dizzily, unable to find his mental balance in the pleasure that rippled in wracking and unceasing waves to center in a throbbing ache in his hardened flesh. An ache that made him want to scream and yet felt so good at the same time.
       *Wait! I don't understand... what...?* then he lost the ability to form coherent thought as those fingers closed on that ache.
       Hiei took a deep shuddering breath as Kurama finally brought his hands together on the thick shaft. It came back out as something that was half hiss, half mew. Kurama was so entranced with beginning to explore Hiei's member that he didn't hear the panicked edge on the sound. He encircled Hiei with all of his fingertips, then ran them delicately down his shaft, then started back up with a little more pressure.
       He was surprised as Hiei thrust his hips up to push against his hands, his length pulsing violently as his seed spurted in a milky swirl into the water. That shouldn't have happened yet! He turned his head so he could see his friend's face. There was confusion in those red amber eyes. And something he had never expected to see. Panic... and terror.
       "Hi..." Hiei erupted out of his arms.

"Wait!" Kurama surged, leaning over the side of the pool in a frantic attempt to reach him as he became visible for a moment, having stumbled and gone to his hands and knees.
       His hands closed on nothing as Hiei fled like a shadow before the sun.
       "Wait! Hiei!" But he was long gone.

Kurama stared after him, half of him in the pool, half of him lying on the warm tiles, trying to figure out what had gone wrong. His plan had been to introduce Hiei to the pleasure his own body could feel slowly. He had been being careful. He had done nothing that should have brought about that climax yet. He drew a circle in the film of water on the tiles before him.
       *Water. I had him in the water! How could I be so stupid!* He rested his head on his crossed forearms.
       *Shit.*

Hiei huddled in on himself, an incongruous shadow in the golds and reds of the turning leaves that now surrounded his favorite perch. They had almost lost Kurama this time. HE had almost lost him... memory came back, hard and fast.
       He was trapped and tangled in a web of wards, hanging helpless, Yuusuke screaming an unending flow of curses as he struggled, trapped in the same way. Kuwabara was a bleeding wreck beneath them, Botan hanging upside down and pounding at the shins of the Youkai who held her by her ankles while Kurama was contained between two of Yomi's more powerful minions. Yomi and his Guard had taken them by surprise as they were heading back to the spot where the pick up gate would be, battle-weary but with that damned scroll Konema had sent them after. He had known there was bad blood between Kurama and Yomi, just not how bad.

He had spit at Yomi, since he couldn't find words nasty enough to express what he wanted to say, as that Youkai had come to stand in front of him, Kurama dragged along behind him by his guard. Yomi had laughed, amused.
       "How nice of you to bring me your new toy, Kurama. Saves me the effort of having to hunt it down."
       Kurama's laugh was pure venom. "My toy? That foul tempered little runt? I thought you knew me better than that, Yomi. My tastes run to refinement and beauty. You used to have those things. What happened?"

Those words had stung that secret place in his soul, a place that he had been managing so far to suppress. It wasn't until later that he understood that Kurama had been trying to save his life. Yomi whirled and slapped Kurama, an almost casual gesture that flung Kurama's head back, blood following the path of his hand, then Kurama slumped between his guard. Yomi glanced at Yuusuke and Yuusuke's curses were cut off, even though his mouth kept on forming them. He continued on as if that last little bit of by-play had never happened.

"This one I think I'll keep. He'll bring a nice price on the auction block. This one though," he toed Kuwabara and addressed the Captain who held Kurama, "eh... just let it bleed dry, then you can treat the troops to a feast. And they can have the female."
       An appreciative murmur ran through the group that surrounded them as Yomi turned and walked a bit away. The Youkai turned back and fixed his eyes on him once more, a small, dark sphere of power forming in his hand. He nodded at the two who held Kurama and they released him and stepped back.
       "I'll give you as long as it takes to kill this one to run Kurama, and I'm going to make it slow just for you, then the hunt is on."
       He glared at Kurama as the Youko who was trapped in a human body gathered himself, ready to run and leave them. He had been so sure of it! He steeled himself as the sphere left Yomi's hand and gaped in disbelief when Kurama leapt, his shape shifting and stretching as the silver Youko put himself in its path. Kurama fought back for a while, Yomi snarling at his Guard to keep out of it, but it came down to him just putting himself in the path of Yomi's attacks, struggling up to take blow after blow. He remembered hearing himself scream as the wards reflected his attempts to summon power back into his body, remembered trying to will Kurama to stay the fuck DOWN! as that stubborn Youko somehow managed to get back up again and again.
       Then Kurama went down and stayed down, still. Fury beyond anything he had ever known had taken hold of him, a fury fueled by fear. Fear that Kurama was dead. The thought of Kurama gone forever, never to hear his soft voice again, or to have to hide his smile at the Youko's attempts to break through his wall of disdain or lose himself in those emerald eyes... he had gone a little insane, he thought now. He had called the Kokuryuuha, knowing that the backlash from the wards would kill him, but hadn't cared. The wards couldn't hold the Kokuryuuha and he'd take Yomi with him.

He blushed in shame. Kuwabara had saved their asses, as stubborn in his own way as the Youko. He had managed to get to his knees, forgotten as all focus was on Kurama, and pulled enough power out of somewhere to cut through a few of the wards that held Yuusuke. Yuusuke, seeing the Kokuryuuha start to manifest, had turned his rei gun on the wards that held Hiei and cut him free just in the nick of time. Yuusuke had told him later that he'd seen Yomi teleport out but that the others had been toasted.

He had come to on the ground, lifted his head and looked at the path of devastation the Kokuryuuha had carved into the landscape. He pushed himself up, glancing around for the others. Yuusuke was tending Kuwabara, his face tense with worry. Botan was next to Kurama, glowing in the vision of his Jagon as she poured her healing power into the youko. Hiei wavered to his feet and stumbled to them. One glance at that battered form, the red of his own blood staining his silver fur to the color that his human shape wore, and the frantic look on Botan's face told him. He had to get Yukina!
       Yuusuke's, "Hiei! Where the fuck are you going?" stretched and faded behind him as he went as fast as he could, using the Jagon to scan for a spot weak enough in the barrier between the worlds for him to push through. He found one, tumbled across and cursed at each precious second lost as he climbed the tallest tree he could find so he could take his bearings. But now he knew where he was.

Yukina let out a little squeak of startlement as he had appeared beside her, panting.
       "Kurama needs you," he managed to get out.
       She nodded wide eyed.
       "Here, get on," he went to his knees so she could scramble up on his back.
       "Hold tight," he bid her as she wrapped her arms around his neck and got a good hold of her legs around his waist.
       Once he was sure she was secure, he went as if it was his life, and not Kurama's, that was on the line.

Yuusuke was wrapping Botan up in a blanket when they got back. Yukina saw Kuwabara as they halted, pale and trembling beneath another blanket and took a few step toward him, then at Hiei's breathless glare, turned back to Kurama. Yuusuke stepped in and turned her shoulder back toward Kuwabara.
       "Go take care of Kuwabara first."
       Hiei glanced at Kurama, hidden under another blanket, and could hear the Youko's labored breathing over his own. He stalked toward Yuusuke, fury driving him. How dare he send Yukina to Kuwabara first! Yuusuke gazed back steadily into his furious face.
       "Hiei, if she's worried about Kuwabara, she's going to hold back so she can tend to him. This way she'll be able to focus totally on Kurama."
       The logic of that had broken through his anger, bringing him to a halt. He just nodded, crossed his arms and made himself stand still. He saw the truth to Yuusuke's statement as Yukina rose from Kuwabara's side, a happy smile on her face. He was her shadow as she hurried to Kurama. Anxiety ate at his gut as that happy expression faded as she knelt and put her hands on Kurama's forehead. He had to close his Jagon against her flare of power. It seemed to take forever though he knew it had only been thirty beats of his heart. He had counted every one. Then she had sagged and looked up at him, exhaustion warring with uncertainty in her eyes.
       "That's everything I can do. I don't know if it is enough."
       He had given her a nod as Yuusuke helped her to her feet. He had collected the remaining blanket as Yuusuke had guided her over to where Botan was sleeping. He had draped it around her shoulders and leaned close to whisper, "Thank you," softly so Yuusuke wouldn't hear. The smile she had responded with was dazzling, too much for him to deal with so he left her and went back to Kurama, collecting the Youko's bag of medicines and bandages along the way.
       The human shape of the Youko was waiting for him. Yuusuke came over and took a roll of bandages and they looked at each other, then had lifted the blanket off Kurama together. Kurama's insides must have been jelly if so much external damage was still unhealed. They had worked on him together, each taking a side. He was mostly bandage when they were done. Yuusuke tried to muffle a yawn.

Hiei volunteered for first watch and Yuusuke nodded and went to lean against the tree by the sleeping females. Hiei just sat, arms wrapped around his knees and sword naked on the ground beside him, not looking at the damaged Youko beside him but hanging on every breath Kurama took. He wasn't sure how many hours had passed, but it was sometime in the deepest night of the Makai when Kurama's breathing had grown more labored, more shallow. He had risked a glance at his friend and the fragile, translucent quality about him unnerved him. He had just decided to go and wake up both of the girls to see if either of them had recovered enough of their strength to ease that bubbling sound in Kurama's breathing when Botan leapt to her feet. He was a fraction of a second behind her, sword in hand. Botan took a few steps toward them, then had given him a stricken look and turned her back and walked away to lean against a tree, back still toward him. He could tell she was clutching her oar against her chest, could see the handle rising over her shoulder.
       A flicker of gold at the corner of his eye brought him around. That Golden Lady Youko was gliding towards him on silent feet. Hiei set himself, ready and risked a fast glance at Botan. Why wasn't she helping him?
       The Lady Youko smiled softly. "Botan can't interfere. Or I should say, she won't interfere."
       "I'll kill you," he warned, every instinct screaming turn and run.
       But he wouldn't. Kurama hadn't.
       "You might," there was compassion in her amber eyes as she halted, just out of range of his sword. Eyes that were lit by some internal glow. "But it wouldn't make any difference. You'd just have to take my place."
       "Who are you?" he had bit out.
       "Don't you know, Hiei?" It had bothered him that she knew his name. It still did.
       "To Yuusuke, I would look like this," she shimmered and a man with Yuusuke's strong features and a kind face stood before him, Yuusuke's father?
       "For Kuwabara," the man shimmered and Yukina stood there.
       "For Yukina -" he had swallowed hard. It had been himself standing there.
       "For you," Kurama had stood there, holding out his hands, that teasing smile on his face. "Have you figured it out, Hiei?" that Kurama had asked with a teasing tone.
       "No," he had refused to believe it.
       The Golden Youko stood before him again. "I've been chasing him a long time, Hiei. It's been a fun game for both of us, but he's tired now, and so hurt, it's time for the game to end."

He had realized that something was missing. It was the sound of Kurama's breathing.
       "No."
       He changed his grip on his sword and threw it at her like a spear as he dropped onto Kurama, pressed his forehead, his Jagon against Kurama's forehead and reached in. There was a stillness, a calmness, resigned.
       ::No.::
       He grabbed that essence with mental fingers, had moaned as it flowed through, reaching for the Golden Youko.
       ::Kurama! DON'T LEAVE ME ALONE!!!:: that secret place screamed, begged in a way he never thought he could.

That essence paused, hung between them, then flowed back. It wrapped around him, a formless silver mist with gem bright eyes. It needed help and he opened his being to it with a wrench, letting it take what it needed. The chest beneath him rose, the heart fluttering back into life. He could barely lift his head to break that contact as Kurama slipped back into unconsciousness, but there and strong. Botan had taken his place, standing between them and the Golden Youko.

"He did it to you again!" There was a giggle in Botan's voice.
       "Yes, he has!" he heard the surprised laughter in the Golden Youko's voice. "Stubborn. Both of you. Guard him well, Hiei."
       Then he had followed Kurama into sleep.

He pulled himself out of his memory and used the Jagon to glance through the temple walls. Kurama was still asleep, most of the bandages gone since Yukina had turned her power on the Youko again. He rested his chin on his drawn up knees and let out a miserable little sigh. Damn that Youko. What was he supposed to do now? That secret little place was now a wide open, yawning chasm, impossible to ignore. He had managed to keep it contained and under control by staying as far away from Kurama as possible since that... time in the water.
       The memory of it still disturbed him. Once he had regained his composure, and he had to do it sitting naked in the top of a tree, he had been furious. Furious with himself for being so scared, for being unable to deal with that searing pleasure that had burned through him, that had overwhelmed him and left him reeling and defenceless. And furious with Kurama for doing it to him. He had felt betrayed, felt that Kurama had just been playing with him. That he had just done it for the hell of it. He was Youko after all. So he had shut Kurama out. Even when they had to be together as teammates, he had made sure that they were never alone, refused to exchange any more words with him than was necessary, made very sure that he was never close enough for Kurama to touch him.

For Kurama to touch him... he closed his eyes. Even though he had kept Kurama away from him physically, he still showed up in his dreams, a lot. Very vivid dreams. Dreams that he would jerk out of with his erection a throbbing ache and his veins full of fire. He'd stay perfectly still until it went away, afraid to move, afraid of what might happen. And he'd curse Kurama the whole time. Yet now he was wondering if he had thought the wrong thing. Kurama had almost died trying to protect him. Again the feeling of panic, of being left without that Youko flicked though him, accompanied by a rush of confusing desires that terrified him.
       Why? He didn't understand why Kurama had done that. Or why he had done what he did when he realized that Kurama was dying. He had let Kurama in, had let him touch the core of himself that he kept hidden and locked away from everyone else. He had a moment of revelation, as sharp and bright edged as sunlight on the edge of a sword. He had done it because he loved that Youko and couldn't bear the thought of going on without him. It shook him to the very core of his being. He was twice damned.
       "My tastes run to refinement and beauty," Kurama's voice whispered that again in his head.
       He was well aware of that. And well aware that those were both things he didn't have. After all, he WAS a foul tempered little runt. A foul tempered little runt who was in love with a half-human youko and had absolutely no idea of what to do about it. He stood, looked one more time at Kurama, then left.

Kurama shuffled through the riot of color that carpeted the path, head down and hands clenched into fists in the pockets of his jacket. Then he kicked at the leaves in frustration, sending them to swirl up in the cold clean wind. Hiei had been avoiding him for months now, going out of his way - even when they had to be together - to put as much distance between them as possible. He couldn't get him alone to talk to him, to explain his mistake. He sighed heavily, realising now that he would never get the chance. Hiei had never run from anything in his life before that incident and Hiei had made it very plain that he would never forgive him for it.

He had hoped that Hiei would understand why he had put himself between him and Yomi, had hoped so hard to see Hiei sitting by him when he woke up, so weak. Yukina had told him that he had almost died, that Hiei had come to get her and taken her into the Makai to heal him. Yet Hiei stayed away, still. He rubbed at his forehead and the aching tingle behind it. Something else had happened, he had a vague recollection of something, a dream or a memory? He wasn't sure. But it had been Hiei's voice pleading with him not to leave him alone. His lips turned in a little, bitter smile. Wishful thinking. It had to be. Hiei was lost to him.
       His youko self offered a variety of images of pretty girls - and boys - with the mischievous suggestion of *if we must be human now, let's play with humans...*
       He ignored it. He didn't want them. He wanted Hiei.

Hiei leaned back against the trunk of the tree he was standing in and watched Kurama's slow advance toward him with narrowed eyes. The wind that sent the bright autumn leaves dancing caught at Kurama's hair and sent it swirling around his head like bloody flames. Hiei plucked a leaf as red as Kurama's hair off a near branch and twirled it between his fingers.
       You scared me Kurama. Twice. I should kill you for that.*
       He let the leaf go and watched its slow drift down to join its brothers on the path Kurama was following. He followed it down and took a steadying breath as Kurama stopped dead in his tracks, just staring at him. He stalked to him, stopped when they were toe to toe. Kurama stood as if frozen. He closed his eyes and steeled himself, then slid his arms around Kurama's waist and gave him a fierce hug.

Kurama couldn't believe it when Hiei appeared on the path before him. He blinked twice, just to make sure he wasn't seeing a projection of his own mind, but Hiei was there and solid and advancing on him with a scowl that would have sent anything sane running. He thought about doing just that, uncertain of Hiei's temper and still in no shape to defend himself if Hiei had decided to take his anger out on his hide. But then again, he didn't stand a chance at outrunning him either, so he just stood his ground and waited. He tensed, ready to move, as Hiei came to a stop right before him. Arms slithered around his waist and Hiei leaned his forehead against his chest as he wrapped him in a strong hug. Kurama was so shocked that only the support of Hiei's arms kept him from falling over backwards.
       He cautiously put his hands on Hiei's shoulders, afraid that he would draw away. Hiei didn't move so he slid his arms around his shoulders and drew him closer. Hiei allowed it, turned the left side of his head so it was pressed against his sternum. They stood that way for a few minutes as Kurama worked on getting his voice to work.

       It seemed an eternity that Hiei waited. *He's going to laugh, or say something sarcastic and push me away.*
       Hands closed on his shoulders and he steeled himself, opened his eyes wide as they went around his shoulders and pulled him in tighter. The beat of Kurama's heart had sped up under his ear and he wondered if that was a good or bad sign.
       Finally Kurama got it out, rough and choked with emotion.
       "Oh, Gods, Hiei. I thought I had lost you."
       Hiei didn't answer, but the arms tightened even more, causing his ribs to groan in protest. Kurama told them firmly to shut up. Then he took a step back as he was released, his balance upset a bit. Hiei was walking away from him. Kurama waited for him to blur out of sight, knowing how hard it was for Hiei to show any sign of emotion and more than happy to accept this peace offering for the moment. But Hiei turned his head and looked back at him with an exasperated expression on his face and he could swear he heard... ::Well, come on!:: ...whisper softly in his head.
       Kurama shook his head slightly as he closed the distance between them with a few long strides then settled back into his walking pace, Hiei matching his stride and staying like a silent shadow by his side. He must be imagining things. Hiei never used his mental voice. There was too much of a danger of the recipient being able to run back up the contact and sneak into the speakers mind. Kurama used his own when he could only with Hiei, hoping that perhaps the young youkai would decide to sneak in and see what was lurking about.

Hiei glanced over and up at Kurama out of the corner of his eye as they walked together. He had been watching the humans. Not only the ones in the group that he considered His, but also others. He knew now why Kurama was so entranced by them. They played very complex games with each other, full of unspoken rules that only they seemed to know. He had considered many times just washing his hands in disgust with the whole lot of them, especially after they would do something so weird and stupid in their interactions that he just couldn't puzzle it out.
       But Kurama was part human now so he had continued to observe them, hoping to figure out what to do. And he had discovered a few things. One of them was that when two people liked each other, they held each others hands. Kurama had accepted his hug, but that could have just been from friendship. Human friends hugged sometimes. Would Kurama accept this? Did he really want to make the offer? Again the anxiety, the trill of fear of what he had decided to do ran through him. But he was decided. And determined.

Kurama blinked in shock as a small but strong hand slipped into his own. He glanced sideways and down and made himself take the next step, and the next as he tried to read the smaller youkai next to him. Hiei had his eyes down, focused on the leaves that covered the path they walked. Was that a blush that colored his cheeks? The hand started to withdraw so he grabbed it tightly, determined to keep it as he wormed his fingers between Hiei's and entwined them, making a trap that Hiei would have to fight to get them free. Hiei was blushing! He didn't look up, but his fingers didn't attempt to wiggle free. Kurama rubbed his thumb along the side of Hiei's hand and was delighted when Hiei copied the gesture. Then he gave himself a mental shake and reminded himself not to be stupid. He knew that there was nothing more to it than an innocent gesture of friendship. And he was more than happy with that at the moment.
       He let go of Hiei's hand with a gentle squeeze as they reached the place he was heading for. Hiei let him pass, then followed as Kurama turned off the path and onto a rarely used, overgrown track. There was only room in the winding way through the tall bamboo stalks for one at time. Finally the path opened into a secluded glade that surrounded a small pool. Kurama had found this place a long time ago and visited it whenever he could. It held a feeling of tranquillity for him, a place of beauty that needed no improvement from his power. He lowered himself onto the grass and stretched out his legs, leaning back slightly using his hands for support. Hiei stood by him for a moment, then settled next to him. Kurama swallowed hard. He had settled very close. He pushed that awareness to the side and closed his eyes and tipped his head back, focusing on the warmth of the sunlight on his face instead...
       It happened all at once. There was the rustle of fabric. Weight settled on his thighs, hands closed on his shoulders, lips brushed his own. He startled, eyes flying open to connect with Hiei's, only inches from his own.
       Hiei tensed even more and felt something heavy and painful grab his chest as he misinterpreted what he saw in Kurama's expression, in his eyes.
       *I should have known better!* he snarled to himself and gathered himself, ready to run away again, this time forever.
       Kurama felt the shift of weight as he registered the panic in Hiei's eyes.
       ::I should have known better!::
       It was a snarled, forlorn little thought. Hiei's thought. He was hearing Hiei, on and off!
       "Oh, no you don't! Not this time, my sexy little youkai!" he growled back as he wrapped his arms around Hiei, pulling him down against his chest as he fell backwards onto the grass and rolled over on top of him to keep him pinned.
       Hiei had been called a lot of things in his short life so far, but never sexy. It shocked him enough that he didn't fight back as Kurama rolled over on him. He gave a little exhaled huff of surprise as Kurama grinned down at him.
       "Sexy?" It was a soft question, more of a statement, barely audible and full of disbelief.
       "Hiei, sometimes you can be so stupid."
       Hiei started a snarled insult back even though the amusement in Kurama's face and voice took away the hardness implied in his words. Kurama halted it by covering his mouth, his tongue darting in to tease his own lightly. Hiei found himself kissing back, his body remembering a lesson his mind didn't. Kurama broke it, letting them both breathe for a moment. Kurama nipped and sucked on his bottom lip, then he was back, this kiss deep and pulling at his soul. The fire in his blood stirred - along with something else.
       It's happening!* Panic hit him and he froze, trapped between his fear and his desire to show Kurama just how much he liked him.
       This was something else he had figured out about humans. When they loved each other a lot, they used sex to show just how much. He loved Kurama that much. And he thought he had convinced himself that he could do this.
       Kurama frowned as Hiei went stiff under him, his mouth suddenly unresponsive to his kiss. Then he knew what was wrong and broke off with a sigh. He pulled his hands out from under Hiei's back and pushed himself up a little so Hiei wouldn't feel so trapped. Then he caught Hiei's troubled eyes with his own.
       "Hiei, that time in the water...I made a mistake. A stupid mistake. I wasn't thinking. The water made it happen too fast. And you weren't ready. Let me try again?" There was a pleading undertone there wrapped around a deeper sound, a throb of barely repressed desire that surprised them both.
       He hadn't been ready? It could be different? A ripple of relief went through him. He'd let Kurama try again. But this time better be different! He wiggled his arms up and took a hold of those sidelocks and pulled Kurama back down, his kiss giving the youko permission to try again.
       Kurama accepted the kiss and sealed the pact with the promise of slow passion in his own. He sat up so he was straddling Hiei's thighs, Hiei opening his fingers enough for the hair to trail through them, then took the ends of Hiei's scarf and pulled him up to sit also. He decided he was going to unwrap Hiei like a present. Hiei's hands went to the buttons of his coat as he started to unwind the scarf. Kurama caught his hands and turned them to kiss his palms, then put each on down firmly on the grass. Hiei blinked at him, but accepted this. He leaned forwards to nuzzle the flesh he exposed, leaving wet kisses against the hot skin to dry in the cool air. Then he undid the buttons of the coat quickly and pushed it off Hiei's shoulders. Hiei looked at him questioningly and he nodded permission. Hiei lifted his hands so Kurama could get it off him then put them back where Kurama had placed them. Kurama tossed it so it spread it behind him, then went after his shirt. He tugged it out of the wide belt.
       "Put your hands up, Hiei," he commanded as he slid his hands under the fabric, let his fingertips trail up Hiei's back as he ran his palms up his sides, taking the shirt up.
       Hiei twitched, then shivered slightly as he turned his hands so that his fingers ran through the surprisingly soft tufts in his armpits and tickled them up the smooth underside of his raised arms. The shirt was tossed in the general direction that the scarf had taken as Kurama put his hands on Hiei's and guided his arms back down with gentle pressure as he leaned forwards for another kiss. He kept his hands on Hiei's shoulders and kept his kiss going as he pushed him back down prone then turned quickly on his legs so he could get off his boots. He swore he heard Hiei chuckle in his head as he struggled with no success. He was just at the wrong angle. Suddenly Hiei helped by toeing each heel so all he had to was tug them off.
       Kurama turned back around and saw the amusement glittering in Hiei's eyes. He had put his hands under his head for support. Kurama smiled sweetly back even as a devilish gleam came into his eyes. The double buckle of the wide belt came undone under his fast fingers and Hiei arched his back to let him tug it out. Kurama scooted a little farther down his legs, then put his hands on either side of Hiei's slender waist and descended on the skin above his navel with a loud, wet kiss. Then he began to kiss and nip his way around it quickly, dipping his tongue into the little recess every now and then to tickle as Hiei pushed at his head with both hands, squirming.
       "Shit, Kurama! Stop it!" Hiei finally pleaded with a growl.
       Kurama flicked his tongue into Hiei's navel one last time, then sat back up. Now for the best part. He undid the tie at the front of Hiei's pants and slid his forefingers into the sides and pulled to loosen the drawstring. Hiei lifted his hips as he started them down and it took all his willpower not to lean down and kiss the tip of Hiei's member as it came into sight. He eyed Hiei's engorged length as he slowly exposed it. He was huge, definitely out of proportion to his slight frame. Later he knew he would appreciate that fact, but right now he found himself a little intimidated by it. He backed down Hiei's legs, taking the pants with him until he was at his feet. He reached behind him and took a hold of the bottoms of each leg and pulled, lifting himself up enough so that the fabric could slide under him. He gazed up Hiei's body with an appreciative sigh.
       "Very sexy."
       Hiei stared back as Kurama stood, wanting to be rid of his clothes. He had considered letting Hiei take them off, but he was too anxious to wait now. He stripped quickly, watching Hiei watch him. It was fun. Then he went back to his knees, straddling Hiei's hips once more and leaned down for another round of kisses.
       Kurama was right, this was different. He tipped his head back as Kurama kissed his way down his throat, his hands stroking the back of his neck. He swallowed a sigh of pleasure as Kurama's tongue flicked delicately against the hollow of his throat then continued down the center of his chest.
       *Eh?* Hiei pressed himself back against the ground as Kurama's mouth closed on one of his nipples.
       Then he pressed up against Kurama's mouth as the youko sucked and ran his tongue around it, then pushed against it hard, sending zinging tingles shooting through his body. He tangled his fingers into Kurama's silky hair and pulled him toward the other. He wanted more of that sensation. Kurama obliged and his hips moved as he enjoyed it. That movement pulled his focus down as his length slid against the fur-soft hair of Kurama's groin and against the silken length there. He did it again. Yes. That felt very nice. He frowned as Kurama moved farther down his legs, abandoning his nipples and taking away his hips.
       He steeled himself for another belly-button tickling as Kurama kissed his way down, was somewhat surprised when Kurama's tongue only flicked in once, but hands were pushing between his thighs. He parted them and was rewarded with light fingers going to stroke the skin there. Kurama lifted his head and shifted, then his mouth joined the fingers teasing the skin of his thighs. It was...he lost that thought as Kurama's mouth closed on his scrotum. He just hung, the sensation rolling through him, making the ache, the need, flare through his groin. Then the mouth was gone, the hands still. He waited for a few seconds, then lifted his head to see what was going on. Kurama was grinning up at him, just waiting for this moment. Kurama licked his shaft, a long slow firm stroke from base to tip.
       "... ah!.." escaped him as his head went back down and he dug his fingers into the grass.
       Kurama licked him again and again, then ran his teeth lightly over his tip. A pressure was building, focused in the hard flesh Kurama was playing with. Wave after wave of pleasure sang through him with each stroke of the youko's tongue until he knew he was going to go insane.
       Kurama took the head of Hiei's penis between his lips and tickled the slit with the tip of his tongue, letting the salty taste of the drop of moisture there spread across his tongue. It was time. Hiei was lifting his hips, trying to get more of himself into the hot cavern of his mouth. He enveloped as much of him as he could without gagging and wrapped his fingers around his base and squeezed gently as he sucked, pressing against the flesh with his tongue as he moved his head up.
       Hiei groaned, low and deep, the muscles of his thighs and stomach trembling yet hard as steel as he pushed up into Kurama's mouth. And then he... exploded.
       Kurama kept up his rhythm as he swallowed Hiei's seed, slowing only when the pulse that moved Hiei's penis faded. He gave him a few more licks as the flesh slackened then let him slide from between his lips. He gave him one last kiss on his tip, then moved up to stretch out on his side next to Hiei. Hiei turned into him, his arms tight against his chest as he buried his face into Kurama's chest. Kurama held him loosely, stroked his back softly as he waited for Hiei to recover his composure. Hiei finally moved back enough so he could tip his face up to look at his friend.
       "Better?" Kurama asked softly.
       Hiei nodded. It had felt better than anything he had ever imagined. Something nudged his belly and he glanced down. Kurama's erection was still there, pressed between them. He looked back up at Kurama as he snaked one hand down to touch it. Kurama smiled and shuddered slightly. He stroked it lightly as he stretched up and caught Kurama's mouth. Kurama tasted...funny. He realized it was himself he was tasting. He wondered what Kurama would taste like? He broke off his kiss, Kurama making a little murmur of protest that was cut off when Hiei captured his nipple between his lips. He nibbled and sucked on it, and decided it was almost as much fun to do as to have it done as Kurama sighed and shivered. Kurama moved away, his hand going down to catch Hiei's wrist, stilling his hand. He frowned up at him and wondered if he was doing it wrong. Kurama brought his hand up and kissed his palm.
       "Hiei, I want...to be...in you."
       Hiei frowned at him some more. He wasn't a female and he didn't think that Kurama meant doing what he had just done.
       "How?"
       Kurama's hand moved down his back, stroked the curve of his rear, then his fingers ran lightly up his crack. Hiei startled a little, then figured it out. He gave Kurama a very solemn look as he considered it.
       "Fine."
       Kurama gave a delighted smile, then leaned in to him for a teasing kiss. He broke it and hugged Hiei against him, then let him go and sat up, knees tucked under him. He took one of Hiei's hands and tugged, patting his knee with the other. Hiei sat up and paused, wondering if Kurama really wanted him to sit on his lap.
       "Come on, Hiei, it's way past the time for being shy," Kurama's hands went to his waist and pulled him forwards.
       He had to put his hands on Kurama's shoulders to keep his balance and the youko took the opportunity to nuzzle the nearest nipple. Kurama's hands guided his hips down as he licked up his chest. He ended up sitting on Kurama's thighs, his legs open and his knees to the outside of Kurama's legs. Kurama caught his mouth again as his hands left his hips to stroke his back with his fingertips. It sent little, tickley shivers up and down his spine. Then Kurama's hands parted, one stayed to tickle his back as the other wandered forwards over his hip and closed on his member. Hiei kissed back hard, sliding his arms around Kurama's neck as Kurama stroked and pressed, starting that wonderful feeling up again as his penis stirred back to life.
       Kurama smiled to himself as Hiei's kiss turned rough and passionate as he started to lengthen and hardened in his hand once more. That was going to something he was going to really miss about his youko body, this Youkai ability to play over and over. He lowered the hand on Hiei's back down to the curve of his rear and covered the crack with his hand, his fingers delving deeper with each stroke until one found the little, hidden pucker of flesh and brushed against it lightly. Hiei pressed forwards against his chest at that touch, his tongue stilling in surprise as he continued to stroke against it lightly. He distracted him with a few firm pulls on his length and Hiei's tongue came back to life. He chased Hiei's tongue for a few moments longer then broke their kiss.
       Hiei almost jumped when Kurama's finger brushed against him there and he froze. Not sure if he liked that feeling or not. Kurama pulled on him, sending another wave of pleasure through his groin. He kissed once more, letting Kurama know how much he liked that. After a few more touches, he decided it was kind of nice. Just another shivery sensation that joined the rest. Kurama pulled away from his mouth, his lips going to nibble on his shoulder instead as the fingers left his rear. He rested his forehead on Kurama's shoulder as the tension built in him, the pleasure from Kurama's teasing hand growing more intense.
       Kurama's other hand came to join the one that was playing with him, slid down past it, over his balls and farther back, fingers wet against the tender skin behind them, then back against his opening. He did jump and clench his cheeks together as one started to push into him slowly, pulling a startled grunt out of him. But he couldn't really move. Kurama's hand had wrapped around his penis and was pumping with slow, maddening strokes. There was a flare of pain as another finger pushed in, stretching him, and another. The pain was so mixed with the pleasure and he didn't know whether to scream or sigh.
       "Kurama..." Hiei made a strangled plea against his shoulder.
       "Just hold tight, Hiei. It'll be better in a minute. I promise," Kurama whispered in his ear, then winced as Hiei's fingers dug into his back as he spread his fingers, stretching him even further.
       He didn't want Hiei to feel any pain when he went into him. Wanted to get it over with now. Hiei clung to him and he murmured soothing nonsense sounds in his ear as he worked him, front and back. Finally, the clenched fingers on his back relaxed and he felt the tension change in his lover's body, felt his hips start to rock slightly in time with his stroking hand. He was ready now. Hiei gave a half whimper/half groan of protest as he released him and slid his fingers out.
       "Turn around, Hiei."
       Kurama's hands left him hanging. He wasn't quite sure when the pain had faded to be replaced by pleasure, but it had and he was almost to that place. He protested but Kurama's hands were on his waist, lifting him, turning him on his knees. There was pressure against his opening again and he knew it was Kurama's flesh going into him since his hands were on his hips, steadying. One of Kurama's arms went around his chest, one around his stomach, pulling him tight against him as he pushed in slowly. Hiei loved the panting, "ah...ah...ah..." Kurama made against his neck as he went deeper, pulling more sensation out of his body. He reached back and tangled both hands into Kurama's hair as Kurama's lower hand slid down his stomach and closed on his erection, pumping it. His own little sounds of pleasure joined Kurama's as his body sang, then he felt it gather, focus and then he was tumbling along on the wave.
       Kurama was moving him again, and he found himself on his back. Kurama threw himself down to lay on him, his hips thrusting hard, driving his length in and out of him. He wrapped his arms around Kurama's chest and wound his legs around his waist and clung to him, loved the way it felt. He kissed his throat, his shoulder. Kurama's cheek pressed against his own as his labored breathing took on a desperate sound.
       ::Shit, Kurama! Do it!::
       Kurama thrust deep, then stilled except for the little jerks of his hips as his orgasm rolled through him. He rested his head on Hiei's shoulder, panting, drained physically and awash in emotion. He felt Hiei's hand go through his hair, pushing it out of his face and back over his shoulder.
       "Kurama, you're squashing me," Hiei informed him calmly.
       That wrung a tear-choked chuckle out of him. He rolled, taking Hiei with him so the smaller youkai was lying on top of him. He knew he would slide out soon, but he wanted to be one with Hiei as long as possible.
       "There, now you can squash me."
       "Hn," Hiei gifted him with a smile as he stacked his hands and put them under his chin.
       Then it flew into a frown as one hand reached out and touched the moisture on his face.
       "Why are you crying?"
       "I..." how could he explain? "I just...love you."
       "That's nice to know. But why are you crying?"
       "They're happy tears, Hiei. I never thought you would..." he trailed off.
       "Me neither. Stupid fox making me do crazy things!" Hiei glared at him with a playful gleam in his eye.
       Kurama leaned up and kissed him on the tip of his nose. Hiei gave him the hint of a smile then put his head back down on Kurama's chest. Kurama sighed happily as they cuddled together.
       "Kurama?"
       "Hn?"
       "Can I do that to you sometime?"
       Kurama laughed. "Anytime you want."
       Hiei sat up, straddling his chest, then leaned down and gave him a slow, passionate kiss.
       "Hiei..." got out around it.
       Hiei broke the kiss and gave him an evil glare.
       "You did say anytime."
       He found himself grinning back.
       "I might not be up to it," he warned.
       Hiei simply shrugged and set to work.

© 2001 Windlily

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© 2001 WaveWrights

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