That day, they fought no monsters. Instead, they gathered what they needed, Kurama retrieving seeds from all the plants he’d used in the fight, and then they walked to a new campsite. This time, Hiei was careful that they were not too close to a demon’s territory. They spoke little throughout the day, yet it seemed there was no need for words. Kurama was content to have the demon by his side, and Hiei stayed near Kurama. But that night, after they’d eaten, Kurama looked at Hiei expectantly.

Hiei sighed. Then settled himself against a tree across the fire from Kurama, "My mother—"

"Wait," Kurama interrupted.

"I thought you wanted to hear this…" Hiei was baffled – he was sure it was what the fox had been waiting for since that morning.

Kurama smiled. Then he got up and walked over to where Hiei was sitting, "Scoot over."

Hiei eyed him, then moved slightly.

Kurama sat down next to him, his long legs stretched out in a pose of utter relaxation. He shifted until his back against the tree was comfortable, then reached a hand out and ruffled Hiei’s hair, "Come here before you start telling me about it."

"Come here?" Hiei’s gaze wandered to where their bodies were pressed together, "Kurama, if I get any closer to you…"

"On my lap," Kurama grinned, "I want you sitting on my lap so I can hold you."

Hiei eyed his fox with a certain amount of resignation, "Is this another ‘hug’ thing?"

"In a way…" Kurama was enjoying Hiei’s reactions – and his acceptance of Kurama. Just three days ago, Hiei would never have tolerated Kurama being that close to him except for one purpose alone. Yet now he let Kurama in close… and Kurama wanted to know how far it would go. He found out. 

After receiving Kurama’s affirmative to the purpose, Hiei immediately turned and crawled on Kurama, leaning into Kurama’s body, wrapping his arms around Kurama’s neck, burying his head into the cloth of Kurama’s shirt. Close, warm, together. Hiei rather thought he liked this hug thing.

Kurama swallowed, a lump in his throat. He hadn’t expected… He brought a trembling hand up to pet Hiei’s hair, and reached the other around Hiei’s back. Bowing his head over Hiei’s, he reflected again that he didn’t know what he had stolen. Hiei… trusted him so much. The gesture had been so simple and uncomplicated, Hiei responding to the care with an openness that defied the demon world. Kurama trembled and a tear slid out of his eye as he held Hiei to him.

"Kurama?" the demon’s voice was so very soft and caring… "Did I do something wrong?"

Reaching his hand up to brush over his eyes, Kurama sniffled, "No. Nothing at all. Hiei – you… are so very right." He bowed his head again and hugged Hiei tightly to him.

Hiei responded in a very Hiei-like manner – unexpected. After a moment of Kurama holding him, Hiei lifted his head and brought his hands from around Kurama’s neck to his face. Firmly tugging Kurama’s head up, Hiei leaned over… and licked the tears off Kurama’s face. "It’s okay, fox-human," Hiei murmured between licks, "I’m here. Kurama, I am yours."

Oh geeze… With Hiei pressed up against him, and the attention he was receiving, and the emotions running through him, Kurama was starting to become rather severely aroused again. Firmly, he reached his hands up to hold Hiei’s, "Hiei, turn around."

Hiei blinked, "No dance?"

!!!!!!!!!!!! "That’s not…" Kurama sputtered. Then he giggled, "Ah, Hiei… I meant so we could talk. We’re not going to get much conversation done if you stay like this."

Hiei wrinkled his nose and asked hopefully, "Talk after?"

I would have sworn that he wasn’t even thinking about sex two minutes ago! Of course, neither was I. "Talk first."

With a sigh, Hiei moved off Kurama’s lap. From the side, Hiei studied Kurama for a moment and then grinned, "Oh, that’s what you meant." And then he shifted himself so he was sitting on Kurama’s lap with his back against Kurama’s chest, his legs partly over Kurama’s and partly on the ground. After a moment, he leaned backwards so that he was relaxed completely, his head tilted back to grin up at Kurama, "Better?"

"In a way…" Kurama still wanted… He reached around to clasp his arms around Hiei’s waist and hold him loosely, "You’re heavier than I expected." All that muscle.

"Poor baby," Hiei remarked calmly, resting his hands on Kurama’s. Then he twisted his head to look at Kurama… Kurama looked like he’d bitten off rather more than he could chew. Hiei’s grin flashed across his face and he got off Kurama’s lap and sat down next to him, then leaned back in the same manner, resting across Kurama’s side and chest, but without his weight on him, his leg pressed tightly to Kurama's.

Kurama draped his outer arm around Hiei’s side and down to his waist. His other hand he laid on Hiei’s firm abdomen. "Why’d you call me a fox-human?"

Hiei blinked. Kurama loves to throw segues out. I wonder what reaction he expects from them… or is he just seeing what will get me off balance? That thought, while perfectly fair to the mischievous kitsune attitude, probably didn't reflect Kurama's intentions entirely. Most likely he'd just been saving the question. Hiei wondered how many other questions Kurama was saving. Then Hiei thought about answering the question. He redirected his gaze so he was looking out across the fire. Fox-human. Kitsune-spirit, and more. Much more. "You are no longer a kitsune alone. Your time among the humans has changed you. Subtly. I hadn’t thought so at first, but you have. Even among affectionate kitsune, there is no such thing as a hug." I like hugs… He hesitantly clasped Kurama’s hand on his belly in both of his, feeling the long fingers… and trying hard not to remember what those fingers were capable of. Not now. He didn’t want it now. Oh Kurama… what you do to me.

Kitsune do not hug. True enough. Kurama shrugged – everybody changed. And humans… weren’t so bad after all. There were many good things to be found among humans. As long as one threw out all the rest of it. "You don’t mind?"

"Huh?"

The bewilderment in Hiei’s voice more than answered the question. Kurama smiled and snuggled his head down on Hiei’s. Yet he didn’t leave the answer there alone, "I thought you didn’t like humans."

Hiei shrugged, the movement rubbing against Kurama’s body, "I didn’t care one way or another about them. They weren’t worth the attention I did give them. Dull, boring, predictable, challengeless little sheep…"

Kurama’s eyebrows climbed up his forehead. Ah, so? And what changed… Oh. "Yusuke."

There was only a grunt in acknowledgment. A rather puzzled one.

Puzzled? Kurama prodded it a bit more, "Yusuke?"

Hiei shook his head, but not in reaction to Kurama’s voice. "I don’t understand why I…" he whispered. "He…" There was a long silence. "Yusuke…" Hiei’s voice was almost pleading. He shook his head again and pulled Kurama’s hand up to his chest, suddenly shivering and uncertain.

Huh? Kurama leaned into Hiei and tightened his grip around Hiei’s waist, pulling him into him for the closeness, tucking his head down to rest in Hiei’s hair, giving reassurance without knowing why. Why is Hiei shivering? And then Kurama answered his own question, Because he found something he doesn’t understand. Even me, he understands. It caused a pain in Kurama’s heart, but he knew it was true – Hiei knew exactly what drove the fox… fox-human even if Hiei couldn’t always predict what Kurama would do. But Yusuke… Kurama suddenly and fervently wished he’d been there earlier during the fight. What happened? What did Yusuke do to surprise Hiei so? Kurama knew that Yusuke had fought well enough to send Hiei into his full-power form… but he didn’t know details. By the time Kurama had gotten there… Then Kurama had surprised Hiei also. Poor little demon – twice in one day. Twice in the same fight? Kurama blinked, Yusuke was first. My plan… Kurama’s plan to get into Hiei’s heart… might not have succeeded if Yusuke hadn’t somehow shocked the bored demon out of his indifference. Or would he have? One thing was definite – Hiei wasn’t indifferent anymore. To either of them.

Yusuke… The human frightened Hiei. ‘If you don’t use your best attack, you’re no better than a cockroach!’ He didn’t understand. Yusuke was like no human he’d ever encountered. And Kurama had nearly sacrificed himself for the boy. Damn near almost succeeded too. Hiei didn’t think he’d even known a time when he was more angry than that moment when his pain and fright had changed to wrath for Kurama’s intervention. Your mother came so close to losing you again… I didn’t look after you for all those years just to kill you myself! But Kurama had intervened for Yusuke, a fourteen year old human boy who had outmaneuvered Hiei. Yusuke. I don’t understand. Him. Or me, anymore. Yusuke… why?

Okay... This is too much. As Hiei’s shivering continued but he didn’t say anything more, Kurama decided enough was enough. Besides… sitting together like they were may not have been one of Kurama’s greatest ideas if he really did want to talk. A fifteen year old body… that had had a bare glimpse of paradise earlier in the day.

But before Kurama could do anything, Hiei turned in his grasp, facing him, pressing his chest closely against him, his face turned up towards Kurama invitingly, "Talk later?" he pleaded, his heart and need and loneliness in his throat and in his eyes.

"Talk later," Kurama agreed, his heart pounding as he looked down into the handsome narrow face, the slanted cats eyes, the cute little nose… He kissed the nose.

Hiei made an exasperated noise and moved his face up so their mouths were matching. He plunged his tongue into Kurama’s nectar mouth and wrapped around the sweetness he found there. His hands had already found the borders of Kurama’s shirt and he explored underneath, seeking out the supple smooth flesh. He moved his legs to straddle Kurama’s, kneeling on the ground so that his weight was on his groin pressing into Kurama’s lap. Definitely not a hug thing. This was for the pleasure he’d so long wanted. 

Every sense Kurama had was overwhelmed with Hiei’s determined assault. Kurama gave a strangled cry and collapsed back against the tree. His attention was so focused into the three areas that Hiei was concentrating on that Kurama couldn’t function in any other part. "Hiei…" How’d this happen? I was in control earlier…

Hiei more-or-less ignored the pleading cry, knowing that Kurama wanted control back but he was too frantic to care. This time… this time he would have his fox. He would have his fox before anything else happened and he would see the pleasure on his fox-human’s face. Hiei trailed his mouth over Kurama’s face and neck, licking and kissing and eliciting lots and lots of moans and sharp little barking cries from the fox. He tasted so good! Just the way Hiei had dreamed about. The sharp salty sweat from the passion, the rich musk of desire, the clean scent of Kurama… Hiei dipped into Kurama’s mouth again, sucking and swallowing the moisture and saliva, bringing Kurama’s tongue into his own mouth and intently suckling it, trying to absorb all of Kurama that he could.

Aaaaaaaa… What happened to the dance? Kurama didn’t know, Kurama just wanted Hiei now. Now would be good. Yes. Oh yes. Hiei…

The fox was falling, sliding down the trunk of the tree. Hiei reluctantly broke off the kiss to quickly reach out and guide the descent so they wouldn’t slam down too hard. Kurama’s lustrous green gaze was unfocused and distant. His mouth shaped Hiei’s name as Hiei’s lips left him. His body twisted underneath Hiei’s… Hiei stifled a groan and ripped Kurama’s shirt apart. It had been one of those needlessly complicated ones with buttons all down the front. No way was Hiei taking the time to undo them all. He’d buy Kurama another shirt. Later. Now… After attending to Kurama's pants too, Hiei growled and pulled his own cloak off, wiggling impatiently out of the sleeves and tossing it to one side then he undid his pants and hauled them off.

At the pause, Kurama's eyes started to focus again, the senses less overwhelmed. His gaze riveted to the sight of Hiei's bare torso, elastic marble hard and hot; every movement Hiei made created ripples running through the tensed muscles. Kurama reached up, needing to feel that incredible flesh, needing to touch it, to caress, to fondle, to bury himself in it and revel in the sensation.

"Aaaaaa…" Kneeling next to his fox, Hiei threw back his head and drew in more oxygen. Kurama's hands were so good… Looking down again, Hiei reached to capture those hands in his. He brought one of them up to his mouth and carefully licked each digit, flicking his tongue over the palm, the knuckles, the pads, the nails… He brought one finger into his mouth and nibbled gently upon it, careful of his sharp teeth, before sucking hard.

Kurama lost what little ground he'd recovered. His eyes closed as he whimpered loudly – it felt so good, yet his finger wasn't what he wanted Hiei's lips on.

Hiei desperately needed some sort of release himself. The taste of his fox-human was driving him crazy. He growled and let Kurama's hand go so he could return to licking Kurama's chest, making his way down. Kurama's displaced hand went into Hiei's hair and tried to find a hold on the smooth fur. The fur didn't tangle so nicely as Kurama's mane, but Kurama managed and Hiei winced. Without stopping his attentions to Kurama's body, Hiei reached up and placed his hand on Kurama's face, running his fingers over the cheekbones and the nose and the chin and the lips… Kurama's mouth parted to let Hiei's fingers in, Kurama greedily accepting the slight return and eagerly suckling and licking. Hiei moaned and quickly moved further down…

As Hiei shifted down Kurama's body, Kurama lifted his legs and spread them in invitation and a slight ease of the pressure. He elevated one leg and rested it over Hiei's back, rubbing his foot along the backside and down to Hiei's buttocks. He shifted Hiei's fingers in his mouth until it was Hiei's thumb alone and he sucked and licked it desperately, not wanting to let go for even a moment. His hand that wasn't in Hiei's hair reached down his own body until he could touch himself, needing to rub the tight hot feeling…

Hiei gently slapped Kurama's hand away, "Mine." Kurama just moaned, his hips lifting to Hiei, turning his body to one side trying to roll over… Huh? Hiei paused for a moment, then realized what Kurama was expecting. Sorry, fox – that's not something I’ll do to you. It was true that he wanted his own release… but not that way. He wanted Kurama's lips and mouth and dexterous hand and… Hiei groaned at the mere thought and, keeping Kurama from moving too much, dipped his head down to kiss Kurama's erection. Hiei was stretched a bit too far trying to keep his hand at Kurama's head… Reluctantly, Hiei pulled his thumb out of Kurama's mouth, his heart pounding at the cry of disconsolation the fox gave at the separation. Don't worry, Kurama -- I'll give you something else to cry about. Hiei lay on the ground between Kurama's legs, the pressure on his erection both painful and pleasurable at the same time. With both his hands, he gently kneaded Kurama's groinal area and also ran his hands up and down his shaft, delivering light kisses and licks at the tip in time to his movements.

Kurama cried out in a different manner entirely at the sensations. His free hand he brought up to his mouth and bit the knuckles tightly. The other hand he clenched tightly in Hiei's fur.

"Ouch!" With a wince, Hiei stopped his attentions to reach up and pull Kurama's hand out of his hair. Gently, in apology, he kissed the beautiful hand, then looked around. Their clothes were lying all around them. He put Kurama's hand down on a pile of loose cloth and returned his own hands to their proper business, but he kept a wary eye on Kurama's hand until he saw Kurama clenching the cloth rhythmically. Then he bent his head back down.

"Hiei! Hiei!!" Kurama couldn't help the yell, Hiei's hands and lips were so good… And warm… The feeling of fire was increasing and he was getting so hot. Sweat was streaming out his pores, dripping down his face and body. Hot. So hot. With a final yell, Kurama released all his tension, the pleasure shooting through his body and leaving him a limp pool of satisfaction.

That was good! Kurama's reaction was all that Hiei had been looking for, and a bit more. He'd had pleasure. Hiei finished licking up the release, and then unhooked Kurama's leg from around his neck so he could move up and watch Kurama's face. The bright red locks of hair were strung limply around Kurama's face, damply clinging to forehead and cheeks. His eyes were closed. Yet there was such a wondering smile upon his lips… Hiei's heart thumped loudly as he watched. Gently, he reached out and brushed some of the wet hair off. Sparks flew from his fingertips as he did so, the fire in him reacting to the moisture cooling off Kurama's skin. The emerald eyes blinked up and looked indistinctly up at him. Hiei's breath drew in sharply at the sight, "So beautiful," he breathed, "There is nothing more beautiful. Nothing. Kurama…"

Kurama blinked his eyes a couple of times, sharpening his gaze until he could see the velvet rich orbs looking down at him with such love… Deliberately curving his lips into another smile, Kurama closed his eyes again, obstinately to rest a bit more. Inside, though… Ah, Hiei… I didn't mean to cheat you. The happiness in Hiei's gaze… Wait, Hiei, just wait… I will give you a love you've never seen before. You will be my mate for my life and I will trust you in all. You will be my friend and my companion, my support and my fire. Kurama reached out with his feelings to encompass this bundle of fire and delight. With his own hormones assuaged from his release – his very glorious release, what an incredible demon! – Kurama traced out his feelings… and found a warmth and a light there within. He cared for Hiei and wanted his happiness and his regard. It was close to love. Getting closer. He just needed one more connection to push it over the grey border firmly into the realm of unconditional love. Hiei, my demon love. Without opening his eyes, Kurama stretched. His long body seemingly increased in length as his arms stretched over his head, his toes pointing as far as they could, his body wiggling out all the muscles that had just been given an achievement that this body had never experienced before. I like this body. It responds well… Of course, most of that was probably Hiei's desire for him. A fire that lights others. Kurama could feel the demon's body on top of his, shifting as Kurama did, waiting… eagerly waiting by the feel, yet Hiei was patiently waiting for Kurama.

Kurama opened his eyes and grinned lazily and predatorily at Hiei. He wrapped his arms around Hiei's warm body and pushed his waist into Hiei's taut groin muscles. Hiei gasped, his eyes becoming unfocused.

"Umm…" Kurama grinned at the reaction, "Hiei, you bastard – you completely ruined my dance."

Hiei's eyelids blinked down, briefly breaking the lock between their gazes.

Kurama didn't give him time to recover, reaching his hands down, cupping Hiei's firm posterior with one hand and moving the other between their bodies to grasp Hiei… Hiei stiffened in reaction, making a small yelping noise as Kurama's hand was none too gentle yet still brought pleasure. Kurama grinned, "I was going to show you a nice, long dance, with the time for the pleasure and the exploration and building the feelings up until you couldn't stand any more and begged for the release… And you came in with your fire and burned me to such a fever pitch! I don't think," Kurama shifted his body under Hiei's while continuing his ministrations – Hiei was starting to growl that deep rough sound and he was arching and pushing urgently into Kurama's hand, "that I've ever come to completion so quickly in all my six-hundred-thirty years of life!" It was obvious that the demon was only paying very slight attention to Kurama's words, his mouth parted, tongue hanging out as he panted and gasped, his eyes shut, a blue aura flicking around his body. Kurama kissed the cute little nose and then moved his mouth, claiming Hiei's mouth and fire and tasting the passion and eagerness and desire and need… Unfortunately, with the state you're in now, I don't think I'll have time for my revenge today. I will have to show you the dance another time. For now, I think I have no choice but to do it your way. The fire in Hiei was burning out of his body, wrapping around Kurama and flaming into an inferno. Kurama was almost afraid that Hiei was going to burn himself dry if he delayed this too long. So… he didn't delay any more, and gave the demon the pleasure he needed.

   ...   ...   ...               ...   ...   ...               ...   ...   ...

Afterwards, they lay together, wrapped in each other's arms, holding each other and sharing the togetherness. Kurama was content and satisfied. Hiei was happy and eager to please. It made for an interesting combination while they cuddled.

   ...   ...   ...               ...   ...   ...               ...   ...   ...

Kurama was almost asleep when Hiei cleared his throat, "My mother was an Ice Maiden, a koorime."

With a couple of blinks, Kurama rearranged every single one of his thoughts. Thank you for telling me Hiei – your timing needs some work! After a moment, Kurama was actually able to think coherently about what Hiei had said. How the hell do you get a fire demon from an ice demon? For that matter… "I thought koorime were asexual."

"By preference. My mother… was a bit of an oddity in her culture. She enjoyed adventures and forests and used to make long trips from the Ice Island exploring. She was one of the koorime who could flit in and out of the human world with no effort. And so she did. On her travels, she met a fire demon who was doing the same. The two traveled together for many years, both careful not to let their people know this."

"I can imagine," Kurama said dryly. As long as he’d been alive, the rivalry between the opposite element demons was fierce, "Your father?"

"Sort-of."

"Sort of?" What sort of an answer was that?

Hiei growled, "Just let me finish."

"Sorry."

With a shake of his head, Hiei continued, "They weren't always together. Both returned to their homes often, for the pull of clan is a strong one. One day, when my mother was traveling alone through the demon world, she accidentally crossed the path of a group of demons."

"Bandits?" There were such things in the demon world, and to encounter a group of them was bad news even for a high class demon.

"My mother would have had no trouble with bandits – she was a warrior."

"An Ice Maiden a warrior?"

"I said she was odd." Hiei cleared his throat, "Anyway, the group she crossed were the, at the time, Lord of the West’s third son and his ten companions. All very arrogant assholes. The presence of an Ice Maiden in their midst had a predictable outcome."

Kurama didn’t say anything, I don’t like the way this is going. Beyond the odd feeling, there was something wrong with what Hiei had said, but Kurama couldn't spot it immediately.

"With, to them, one unpredictable result. The fire demon who accompanied my mother found them at their sport and destroyed them utterly. Then he took my mother home to her people, for only her people could heal her injuries. That, unfortunately, had another predictable result."

"Huh?" Kurama was now lost.

"They killed my father."

"Your father? I thought you said he wasn’t."

Hiei grimaced, "I said sortof. Anyway, they killed the fire demon."

"Who did?"

"The Ice Maidens. They don’t allow men, any male of any sort, within their domain. Let alone a fire demon who had… ah, sullied one of their own."

"They killed him when he was only helping her????"

Hiei shrugged, "They’re Ice Maidens, what would you expect of them, charity?"

A definite point. Kurama had to admit that one. Then his mind finally went back to an earlier point and he recognized what disturbed him about it. Wait a sec… "Whoa, whoa, whoa – back up a moment here… There is no Lord of the West! That line completely died out eight hundred years ago, leaving only three main demon factions."

Hiei removed a hand from around Kurama’s waist to scratch his nose, "Eight hundred twenty-six years ago. Yes." He grimaced, "I didn't do that. My… somebody who had heard my story decided revenge was a good idea. But I… have never liked revenge. It's a cold dish, when all is said and done, and I prefer things hot."

Kurama’s hands fell off Hiei in sheer astonishment. He gulped, "You’re older than me?"

Hiei threw back his head and laughed. A real laugh, not one of his quiet ones. He laughed and laughed… When he calmed down finally, he wiped his eyes and remarked, "You know, most people would have worried more about my ancestry than my age." He wrapped his arms around Kurama and caressed the fox gently, happy with this person who had made it through his barriers. He accepts me.

Blushing hard enough for his body temperature to match Hiei’s, Kurama stammered out apologies.

"No, no," Hiei grinned, "I think I like it."

Kurama saw the truth of Hiei’s joy at his acceptance and thought about what that mean about the… centuries of life the demon had had. Demons don’t normally live that long. He thought about it, realizing that he’d never heard of a demon dying of old age. Demons die at the hands of other demons. Hiei has survived for this long. Why does he love me? Kurama knew he wouldn’t get an answer yet and didn’t want to ask the question. So he put that mystery to one side and went back, "So you’ve got all the powers of your Fire Demon dad and the physical appearance of your mother Ice Demon. Where does the dragon come into it?" The physical part certainly explained why Hiei was so short and human-looking. Of all the races in the demon world, the koorime as a race were the most like humans. It was probably due to their complete indifference as to what the rest of the demon world thought of them, and the fact that they could easily cross to the human world and often did so. No Ice Maiden ever seemed to feel any need whatsoever to alter their appearance, so they never did. But what an odd combination for poor Hiei! Fire and Ice…

"My genetics… are a little odd. I have genes from all eleven of the group plus from the fire demon who was with my mother."

Okay, never mind my last thought… or rather add to it! Kurama frowned, not opening his eyes, "How the hell does that work?"

Hiei sighed, "Koorime genetics. They reproduce asexually normally, giving birth to only females who are genetically very similar. It’s not a true cloning, there is variation as the DNA combines with other self DNA to create the new one. But koorime also have the… plumbing to reproduce sexually as well. It has been many generations since they last did so. My mother… was impregnated by several of the group. And since it was going to happen anyway, she influenced matters a bit and also stuck in sperm that she’d been saving from the fire demon."

Raising his head and looking down at Hiei, Kurama shook his head. Then he reached a hand up and pinched the bridge of his nose, "Excuse me?"

"It’s koorime genetics. The egg wall doesn’t seal after the first sperm, allowing other sperm in for a period of up to a day or so. At that point the DNA mixes and sorts itself out until it has the most advantageous combination. Then the cells form and start dividing."

That wasn’t the part Kurama had questions on. "Saving?"

Hiei shrugged, "I’m not a female koorime." He sighed, "Near as I can figure, they’re ice maidens, right?"

"Yeah…"

"Freeze the sperm until she wants to use it."

Kurama laid down again, thinking about it. Multiple fathers from the line of the Lord of the West and others probably as powerful – no wonder Hiei was born with a jagan. Jagan were rare, not inherited; they showed up randomly, usually among mixed breeds. Hiei is definitely a mixed breed. No wonder his powers make no sense. He’s a true mongrel without the dilution that would normally come through generations of mixing.

"So you grew up in the Ice Kingdom?

Hiei snorted with derision, "’Course not."

"Huh?"

"I was born male – not allowed in the Ice Kingdom. They tossed me out."

"As a baby???"

"Not even a day old," Hiei confirmed.

"But your mother!"

Hiei shrugged, "There wasn’t that much she could do against all her people. And her injuries had been such that she didn’t truly recover from them ever again."

Kurama was silent for several minutes, digesting this. He rested his head on Hiei’s chest as he thought.

Closing his eyes, Hiei ran his fingers through Kurama’s hair as he waited for the next question. He was… pleased at the reactions Kurama had given so far. Not a single utterance of disbelief, other than about his age, only clarifying questions, and acceptance. Hiei sighed happily. However did this miracle of a being come to want me? From that thought led others and Hiei drifted into memories of the last hour. And his desire for the fox-human burned anew.

How the hell did Hiei ever learn to love? Kurama had digested all Hiei had told him, and was left with an even bigger mystery. As was usually the case with Hiei. Tossed out when he was less than a day old. He’s never known his mother. Kurama had known two. His human mother, he’d only grown to appreciate when it was nearly too late. Though… most demon mothers didn’t often raise their children. They had them and went on, leaving the young to fend for themselves. There was not much in the demon world that was good. Obviously there was some – Kurama stroked Hiei’s arms and sides, feeling the muscles and the soft skin and smelling the crispy fresh scent that was Hiei. Definitely, there were some good things in the demon world. But how did Hiei learn to love? "You have a sister."

Kurama… Hiei shifted uncomfortably under Kurama. Then unceremoniously dumped him off and reached for his pants and cloak, dressing before Kurama had untangled himself. Hiei gauged the distance to a tree across the clearing and jumped to it, then to another one, losing himself in running so hard that the wind itself could not match him, that no human eye could see him. Except Yusuke… Hiei ran.

Kurama watched the blur disappear and his mouth dropped open in surprise. "Hiei?" There was no answer and Kurama couldn’t even feel Hiei around. But he did feel the wards that Hiei had geared to them both – and through them Kurama knew that Hiei was gone. There was a coldness along bare flesh that moments before had been lying on soft fire. Emotions of puzzlement, resentment, longing, frustration, guilt, and exasperation welled through him suddenly with no chance to sort them out or to look at them rationally. Kurama pounded a fist into the ground, "Damnit – it seems that I’m also going to have to get used to sudden disappearances just after sex! Not what I wanted in a mate!! Damnit, damnit, damnit…"

Gaining a firmer control over himself, Kurama regretted the outburst – he hoped Hiei hadn’t heard. He sighed, "Hiei. Oh, Hiei." Little quickfire demon, your emotions match your speed – and you confuse me as badly as you do yourself.

Then Kurama rolled onto his back and traced a hand lightly over his body, chuckling, "Though I was right about the fire… I was definitely right about that. Hiei, my quickfire demon lover." Kurama would never look at blue flames in the same way ever again. The fire, running through his veins, filling his senses. And the sparks, illuminating his body, his desire, his need – and showing Hiei’s as well, little fire embers shooting from Hiei to him, sparking back again as the lightning flashes fed off them both. What an experience! Kurama had never felt the like and longed for more. But I will teach him the dance!

"Ah Hiei… run for now. You can run for now. I will wait for your return. You are mine. I won’t bind you – you can have your freedom. But I will have you." Much more thoroughly too. Kurama reached up to his hair and rummaged around until he found the seed he wanted. He gazed at it and grinned, I will have to make more of these… Tucking it back into his hair, Kurama placed the seed close to the front, where he could reach it easily. Even under fire… so to speak.

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Hundreds of miles away, Hiei finally came to a stop. He stood on top of a mountain and looked down over the land. Why did I run? Hiei didn’t actually know why. It wasn’t the question about Yukina – Hiei had planned on telling Kurama about her. He trusted Kurama… He’d just suddenly felt like he had to get away. Suffocated under too much care. Hiei sighed – he’d been alone for too long. The times he trusted were the times he got hurt. Don’t ever trust anybody, for eventually, they will betray. Don’t expect anything and you won’t be disappointed. Position and power. Hiei had done very well for himself in the demon world. Gathering his power, rising in position. He’d done it carefully and quietly – choosing his challenges and not offending those he could not beat. But when he’d gotten this far… he was still bored. Power and position weren’t worth all that much. All it did was keep the mosquitoes away while the sharks circled.

Tilting his head up to watch the stars, Hiei had to admit that he certainly wasn’t bored now. I lost. Somehow, I miscalculated. All my great wonderful plans… thrown over by a human boy and a displaced kitsune.

Oh, that fox… Hiei trembled at the memory of the feel of silky skin and taste of honey mouth and the sight of those vibrant green eyes. Another wave of desire shot through him and he longed to return to the slender arms and supple body of the fox-human. Kurama. Damn. Up on top of a snowy mountain in altitude-thin air, Hiei would have thought that even his fire would be blunted by the cold. But he raised a hand and could see the blue flame that outlined it. He’d thought that one meal would last him a month or more. Until the fox wanted to eat again. But his body wanted the human body so much… I haven’t felt like this in a thousand years. This need, this hunger, that overwhelmed his reason and threw his thoughts into confusion. But it’s only sex! He’d certainly had sex often enough in the last couple hundred years – eager to see what was out there, what pleasures differences brought… and it was a damn good bargaining chip in certain negotiations. Hiei was sometimes amazed at how little other demons seemed to know of pleasure, caring only for dominance. So he’d show them pleasure… and then he could get just about anything he wanted from them dirt cheap. And when he needed to dominate a demon before submission or annihilation, well then, sex was a tool like any other of his powers.

Hiei had wondered about Kurama, in the days before he’d let the thief get too near him. Yoko had been… rather famous for being a good lover to those he graced with his attentions. And there were many of those. Spirits would line up outside Yoko’s territory on festival days. And they would avoid his territory on dark days. There had been a certain care-free rebellion in the kitsune’s ways that had amused Hiei after Yoko had been brought to his notice. A nonchalant attitude that said he didn’t care about the world and didn’t care what the world thought about him. And yet avid interest in everything around him. Such a desire to learn to know, to have… No kitsune needed to steal, their territories usually being enough for them. Yoko had chosen thievery as an occupation because it was fun.

Fun… Hiei wondered if he’d forgotten how to have fun. He remembered…

Hiei spread his arms to the wind and let himself become lighter than the rock he was standing on. The wind picked him up and tossed him in the currents. He let himself be thrown and buffeted about, closing his eyes to the sensations… and only wanting the feel of Kurama’s hands stroking across his skin.

With a sigh, Hiei let the pull of gravity bring him to heavily to the ground, the impact jolting through his senses as he automatically used the force to spring away again, the power he got from the rebound more than if he’d merely jumped. But I’m not fighting anybody now. Reflexes trained for battle. This time, Hiei was fighting himself. Kurama…

The fox hadn’t known what would happen when he’d found Hiei’s heart. Hiei had figured it out long before it had happened – he could see the fox’s stealthy approach through his barriers. But he’d put those barriers there to guard, not to imprison. When Kurama had proven his determination to get to Hiei in the moment he set Hiei free… then Hiei had known it was inevitable. And he’d taken a good look at Kurama, and liked what he saw. Hiei could love Kurama – if Kurama wasn’t deceiving him. Hiei… wanted to love. He needed to love. There was something inside of Hiei that was incomplete without something to love. He would always love Yukina, but he could never tell her, never let her near. Sometimes, Hiei had pets that he would shower love and attention on. Feathery birds, furry mammals, scaly reptiles… Animals were usually safe enough to love – they rarely betrayed. Eventually, the short-lived pets would die and Hiei would be alone again. But much worse was when someone found the care he showed another. Then, inevitably, they would try and use it against him somehow. And when Hiei dared to love a person… animals rarely betrayed, yet people always did. Usually, they had it in mind from the beginning – get close to obtain something, then do as much damage as possible on the way out. Over the years, Hiei had learned… but he still wanted love.

When the red-haired, uncommon fox had shown an interest… Hiei had hoped he would make it through. He’d watched Kurama over the years, and found the clever thief to be generally honest and kind in his dealings. Odd combination – an honest thief – but it was true. Yoko loved his possessions – and fought savagely for their protection. Until he got tired of them, then he’d sell them or give them away. When Yoko had become Kurama… the thief had changed. More than Hiei had thought, originally. He hadn’t known that Kurama was aware throughout his childhood. What patience that must have taken. Still, though, Hiei had only given Kurama cursory attention – until his dad died. ‘If she dies – Shuichi will be alone.’ The words still haunted Hiei. In an instant, the dying human had seen to Hiei’s heart… and knew how to reach him. Alone. No one should ever be that alone. Nevermind the fact that Yoko had chosen solitary ways for most of his 600 years of life… this was Kurama, reborn into a new life with people who loved him close by. Or so Hiei had thought. Kurama’s conversation with Yusuke had proven him to be just as cold as Yoko had always been. He hadn’t even known if he loved his mother or was simply grateful. Just like a kitsune – Kind and clever, but not warm and caring. Or so Hiei had thought until Kurama had jumped in front of Yusuke, taking Ghost Slayer through his body… killing his soul to give a human boy a chance. And then the fiery green light in the emerald eyes as he looked up at Hiei… Hiei had known in that moment that if Kurama chose to pursue him, he would lose. Hiei would fight the fight properly, but deep inside its barriers, his heart hoped that he would lose. For he wanted to be owned by this bright sparkle of delight and joy… he wanted to be able to love again.

Kurama, I love you. Hiei sent the thought out into the night sky, through the wisps of clouds and twinkle of stars. And knew that the time wasn’t right for him to say it out loud. Earlier, the fox had given his body, but not his heart. And it hurt more than Hiei had thought it would. He’d thought he’d be content with whatever the fox chose to give him. He’d had so little for so long… But the hunger overwhelmed the reason. Hiei bowed his head and clenched his fists tightly. He wanted Kurama. He wanted him so badly. He wanted to see the sparkle in bright green eyes, and the smile on curving lips, and hear the song in softly spoken tones. He wanted to hear his name spoken by Kurama. He wanted to see Kurama reach out to him. He wanted to bury his head into Kurama’s chest and be held by Kurama’s arms in that gentle embrace called a hug. He wanted to be able to go to Kurama at any time and be accepted by him. He wanted to look across the fire at him and see understanding and amusement in the same glance. "Kurama, I love you." When he said that, Hiei wanted to see joy in Kurama’s eyes, not fright and pity.

A pinging sound distracted Hiei from his obsessive thoughts. He glanced down to the ground near his feet… and saw something sparkling there. Hn. Withdrawing into himself again, shuttering his thoughts so tightly even he couldn’t see them anymore, Hiei reached down and picked up the black tear gem. After a moment, he threw it away and returned to the campfire where he’d left Kurama.

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When he walked back, quiet and still, Hiei thought Kurama was asleep, curled up by the fire. Hiei squatted down next to him and watched the fox-human for a long moment.

And then the emerald green eyes opened and met the red ones… and there was joy and relief in the emerald gaze as Kurama sat up and reached out to Hiei.

But Hiei shifted back out of Kurama’s reach and looked away. Clearing his throat he said gruffly, "Go back to sleep. It’s the middle of the night and we can finish talking in the morning."

"Oh, we won’t ever be finished!" Kurama responded lightly, though inside he was hurt by the rejection – and puzzled. I thought we’d just gotten past all this…

Hiei snorted in a brief half-laugh. Then he reached in his cloak and tossed something at Kurama, "Thought you might want this." He watched as Kurama gave the tear gem first a cursory glance and then the thief’s attention was suddenly riveted. Hiei had gotten back to the camp, saw Kurama watching the fire… and only then had thought about what the gem might mean to Kurama the thief. So he’d gone back for it; and Hiei had a bit of a hunt trying to find it again. Rarely did he go back for things he’d deliberately thrown away.

Hekahedron, crystal black, flawless… At a glance, Kurama had essayed it and then he sat down to decipher it. A sphere with a hundred sides, a sparkling gem that was a true black. Kurama reached in his hair and pulled out a loupe with light attachment to confirm the flawless nature of the stone. What sort of a stone was it? Kurama hefted it briefly trying to judge specific gravity from the size and carat weight. Incredible. He’d never seen anything like… Kurama’s thoughts trailed off as he suddenly realized what the gem resembled – and the peculiar nature of Hiei’s background. He looked up at Hiei in horror, "Tear Gem?"

Watching the thief absorbed in evaluation and identification, Hiei had been amused. In some ways, Kurama was rather predictable. And he obviously liked the stone – Hiei was glad he’d gone back for it. Until Kurama identified it with that pain in his eyes… When Kurama was happy, those bright eyes of his looked like sparkling gemstones, precious emeralds. When he wasn’t happy… his eyes were dull and dark, inanimate granite. Hiei growled as he spun away, "Damnit Kurama! I wouldn’t have given it to you if I thought you were going to react like that!"

Revealed in the growl was the same pain that must have led to the tear gem… Kurama clenched his fist around the gem and vowed never to let it go. Hiei… I’m sorry. I will love you. I will. Stuffing every single one of his emotions into strict control, Kurama tucked the black gem into his hair and said softly, "Thank you, Hiei."

Suspiciously, Hiei turned back to look at the fox… he couldn’t read him. The fox was quiet and still, watching him calmly. Hiei blinked at the change – do I really like this better? – then he shrugged and hopped up onto a branch, "Goodnight, Kurama."

Kurama watched the demon settle in a curled position on the tree branch… and sighed internally. He wanted a warm body to lie next to. He wanted to reach his arms around someone and hold them close. He wanted Hiei to sleep next to him. The way he had the first few nights – when I didn’t want him to. Kurama stretched out by the fire and stared at the green flames, trying to reconcile the desires of his body with the desires of his heart. I hurt him. By waiting so long, by not waiting enough… If Kurama had given in to the hormones at the start of all this, everything would have been fine; sex would have been separate and distinct from love. But Kurama had waited until somehow Hiei had become aware of the difference as well. Kurama’s body longed for a lover… Kurama’s heart longed for a friend. He wanted the demon as both, but the friend had to come first. If he hadn’t waited, it could have been the other way around. I should have thought first, Kurama thought bitterly. But it was hard – the fight, the tender care, the healing… and a fifteen year-old body in the throes of puberty. Ah well… Kurama resigned himself to the conflict and then let his cares wash away so he could sleep.