Author's note: Warning about the content before you read on, it has abuse (sexual, mental and emotional) anguish and controlling in general, talk of slavery, cruelty. You have been warned, so if you do not like that sort of thing, please do not read. Some of you might find this offensive.

Summary: Picks up after Revenge: How Sweet the Sound. Kurama's having a hard time living up to Hiei's expectations.

Rated: M

Regretting Expectations

Chapter 1

"Again!" He heard.

"I can not …" He panted.

"You can and you will." Hiei growled with frustration clearly evident in his posture and tone and it was all directed towards the red head.

The two were standing in a clearing, in the woods on Genkai's lands, sparring, again. They had been doing this everyday for the past two weeks.

"Hiei…" Kurama pleaded. Inari did he hurt, his whole body was fatigued and he was nauseated to the point he thought he might throw-up, if he didn't pass out first.

"One more time." Hiei informed.

The red head felt the mark on the back of his neck flare. Hiei had begun to play that card more and more and though at first it was annoying, it had reached the point of aggravation real quick.

Having no choice but to do as told, Kurama reached for a rose in his red mane. The rose came out small and not as vibrant as they usually were. Holding it out, he tried to call his rose-whip, only to end up shaking so hard, he dropped the rose and his knees buckled.

"You're worthless." The fire demon spat, crossing his arms as the red head crumble.

"Hiei…please…I am just tired, we have…" Kurama was actually to the point he was beginning to whine.

"How do you expect to mark me, if you can't even spar for an hour?" Hiei asked.

"But we have been sparring several hours a day for the last two weeks." Kurama complained. After they had sparred for several hours, they would then have a few rounds of sex. The whole routine was starting to take its toll on the fox and he was physically, not to mention emotionally, breaking down a little more each day trying to keep up.

"Do I hear whining?" Hiei accused with a raised eyebrow.

"No." Kurama shook his head and quickly composed himself, understanding what he implied. If the fire demon thought the red head was whining, then there would be even more training. He stood back up, this was getting old and he was wondering if Hiei was starting to enjoy being his master after all. After all the promises to not abuse his power, the fire demon now, everyday, even more so the past two weeks, push an order that made the mark on the red head's neck flare, giving him no choice but to obey.

"I'll give you a minute to compose yourself and then we will start again." Hiei said, walking over to a nearby tree and sitting. Reaching over, he grabbed a water bottle and tossed it to the red head.

Kurama caught it and sat back down, not even caring he was in the sun. Sun, shade, it didn't matter as long as he was able to sit and rest.

After a few minutes of sipping and breathing, Kurama studied the fire demon, who now had his eyes closed and appeared to be napping.

'Does he honestly think this is going to work?' He heard the spirit yoko in his mind.

The red head shrugged. 'I do not know…something is not right. Something has been changing in him these past several months, even more so these past two weeks.' He replied.

'So you have noticed a change as well, little one?'

'Yes and it seems to be getting worse the closer to the deadline.' He said.

'You did not expect this, little one…that he would ask you to claim and mark him, even forcing you to promise. He is very determined to have you do it. My wondering is 'why.'

'Do not remind me.' Kurama said as the memory of that night came to mind.

(flashback)

They had been having sex. Kurama should have known something was wrong, something not quite right, but he didn't think or 'couldn't' would be a better word. Hiei usually pleased himself, doing anything to get his release first, including having the red head do things that pushed the mark. But this time the fire demon pampered and seduced him to the point he was a ball of clay, ready to be molded, which lead to Hiei behind him, riding and stroking him. Kurama got to his release, which had not taken long after all the foreplay, only to have the fire demon wrap his fingers around the base of his cock, denying him for some reason.

"Hiei, please I need to…" He gasped as he felt the pressure build. The fire demon continued his thrusting.

"I want a promise from you fox." Hiei said. His voice relatively calm for what they were doing.

"What?" Kurama said with shock.

"I won't let you release until you promise to claim me." Hiei said.

Kurama had managed to avoid the request many times before by rewording his answers and he tried to do it this time. "I will..."

"That's not going to work this time." Hiei said, tightening his grip and varying his thrusts.

The pain and pressure built so badly, he felt like he would burst and it wasn't helping that Hiei was torturing him other ways as well, like taking his other hand and pinching his nipple. He tried a few quick answers, but it was not enough to please the fire demon and he flat out yelled.

"Yes, I will claim you." The mark finally flared, to which Hiei replied.

"When?"

And he gasped out. "In the near future."

"I want a date." Hiei said, pushing his hand back to place pressure on his sacks.

Kurama was losing it. He felt sick to his stomach, wanting to puke. He prayed he wouldn't pass out as he said the first thing that came to mind.

"A month…give me a month…gods Hiei I…please…." He down right begged, tossing his red mane as he tried not to hyperventilate.

"Two weeks." Hiei countered.

Kurama nodded his head, anything, anything to get him to let go.

"Is that a 'yes'? Hiei asked, pounding his sweet spot for all it's worth.

"Yes." Kurama whispered. His voice raw, vision blurring and his neck burning to the point he thought there'd be blisters.

"Swear."

"Inari, I swear I will claim you in two weeks!" Kurama cried out to the wall he was facing on his hands and knees.

Satisfied with his answer, Hiei started stroking him until he released and it was so painful, that at one point he thought there might have been permanent damage to his man-hood. The next morning when he finally woke up, Hiei was gone and didn't return for two days, that's when his two weeks of hell began.

(end flashback)

The red head came out of his thoughts.

'If this continues, I fear I will not be able to handle much more, I trust him, but if he can not handle it then…I want out.' Kurama looked to the ground, tinkering with the empty water bottle. Tomorrow would be the two week mark and he had no idea whether he could keep his promise, but knew the outcome if he couldn't.

'There are only three ways, well two. I do not see our little fire doing the one.' Youko stated.

'I know…one is to mark him, another….' Kurama looked back up to see Hiei studying him. The spirit yoko finished the sentence.

'Is to kill yourself.'

Before Youko had even finished the statement, the fire demon was on top of the red head and had his hands around the pale lean neck. Kurama gasped as his hands covered the ones on his neck, trying to figure out what he'd done wrong. The pressure on his neck started crushing his wind pipe and he was finding it harder and harder to get air into his now burning lungs.

"How dare you think that?!" Hiei yelled above him. "You're the one who asked me to do it. If you think I'm going to let you take your life to get out of this mess that 'you' created, then you have another thing coming." He also seemed to think bashing Kurama's head into the ground a few times would make the red head understand better.

"Hi…st…pl…" Kurama was barely making any noise as his air supply was depleted. Black dots started to cloud his vision as his body still fought for air. His arms dropped and the last thought he remembered thinking was. 'Hiei why?'

Hiei's could not seem to stop himself. It was like he was having an out-of-body experience with no way to control his actions.

Kurama went limp and he finally let go. Looking at the limp red head under him, he noticed a light blue tinge on the usually pale red lips and panic sat in. He could see the shallow breathing as well as feel the chest rise/fall and relief washed over the panic, but that still did not make up for what he'd done. He had strangled his love into unconsciousness. Realization completely sank in and his hands started to shake, looking at them, he had no feeling of them even being attached to his body. He needed to disappear, knowing he did not deserve Kurama and could not expect forgiveness for this act. Maybe he would kill himself, for that was one of the solutions to end the mark.

Before he could move, he was in the air. His back hit a tree causing his body to go numb for a second. Coming around, he looked for the source of the blow that had stunned him.

Yusuke was kneeling over Kurama.

Anger flared. 'How dare he…' The fire demon thought, getting up and going over to the boy. Grabbing the raven haired by the shirt, he hauled him up to look him in the face.

"Just what do you think you're doing?" He growled.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Yusuke yelled back, pushing the fire demon to break the grip.

"That is none of your business." Hiei spat.

"The hell it isn't." Yusuke spat back. "You just strangled one of my best friends unconscious…" He used a finger to point down at the red head, who was now sitting up with his head between his knees.

Hiei moved over and stared at Kurama, Yusuke turning with him.

"Hey I asked you a question…" The raven haired said, placing his hands on his hips.

"And I said it was none of your business." Hiei growled.

Kurama finally looked up as the two started arguing, his throat hurt, his lungs burned, though that was fading as he breathed in precious air, he was more shocked than anything at what the fire demon had done.

"Hiei." Both men stopped and stared as they heard the soft raspy voice. "Perhaps an explanation is in order." Kurama said as he saw the two staring down at him.

"It's none of his business fox." Hiei spat at the red head.

"Hiei, it would be best to explain why…." Kurama tried to say, but was cut off.

"I said 'shut up!'" Hiei's ki flared and the red head's jaw clamped shut. He actually cringed at the force of the command, the mark flaring to the point it felt like a burn.

"Why are you treating him like this?" Yusuke asked Hiei before turning to Kurama. "Come on, you don't have to take this. Let's get you to the temple and have Yukina or grandma look at you." He held a hand out to the red head, who looked at it with hesitation.

With his hand resting on his sword, the fire demon said though clenched teeth. "And I said back off."

"And if I don't." Yusuke challenge, looking at the anger rolling off the fire demon and wondering what in the world had come over him.

"He belongs to me and I will not see anyone else touch him…unless 'I' say so." Hiei added.

Yusuke turned on the fire demon, pointed a finger at him and actually tapped him on the chest. "He is not your possession or property. He belongs to no one but himself. Over the past several months something in you has changed, I don't know what, but you're treating Kurama like a …slave or something." He accused.

"If you valued that finger, you would back off detective." Hiei warned. "You have no clue as to what is going on and you need to stay out of it." He stated. "Are you alright?" The question was addressed to Kurama.

"I am fine Hiei." Kurama said.

"Look at me." Hiei ordered.

Kurama looked up at the crimson eyes and Yusuke could not believe his own eyes as the red head did as he was told.

"Answer truthfully." Hiei said, looking into the green eyes with worry and guilt.

Kurama could see the guilt on the face of his master and knew there would be a lot of talking later, probably followed by other things, (i.e. sex) as a make up.

"My throat hurts and I have a slight headache, but other than that, I am fine." Kurama answered. He saw a bit of doubt in the red eyes and felt the fire demon's presence as his mind was read.

Giving only a curt nod, Hiei offered a hand. "Tell Youko to calm down." He said.

Kurama nodded as he took the offered hand. Youko had been screaming at the top of his lungs. 'Let me out, I will claim his tight little ass, then we will see how he likes it. I would only need one hand to wrap around that scrawny little neck of his.' It had actually been loud enough for Hiei to hear without the jagan.

"Geez Kurama, why are you taking this crap from him?" Yusuke asked, still flustered. "You don't need to prove yourself to anyone, especially him." He said as he watched the two. Hiei held onto the red head's hand, lacing his fingers through the longer ones.

"Actually Yusuke…I do." Kurama said softly.

"Why…you never did before…I mean what's changed and why are you letting him…." Yusuke stopped as Hiei cut him off.

"It's a demon thing. You are only part demon and would not understand."

"Then explain it." The raven haired yelled. "I know and learned a lot more than you think while I was in the Makai." He stuck out his chest, reminding the two of Kuwabara.

"I don't have time to explain to a …" Hiei's voice was getting the tinge of anger back in it at the boy's insistence.

"Hiei, allow me." Kurama said softly. "You go and get cleaned up and I will join you after…" He didn't even get the last word out before Hiei turned on him.

"I think there is an easier way to get him to stay out of our business fox…." Hiei said looking at him. When he didn't get a response he continued. "The boy needs to be shown." The smirk followed as Yusuke's eyes got big.

"Hiei please, just let me…" Kurama tried to say, his eyes had gotten big as well at the remark and he could not believe or was it 'didn't want to believe' that Hiei was going to make him do this. This was a form of humiliation, to be told to show someone other than your master the mark.

"I said show him." Hiei said, crossing his arms over his chest.

Kurama felt the mark flare. "As you wish." He whispered, lowering his eyes before going to his knees.

Yusuke watched stunned as the red head got on his knees and scooted over to be in front of him. His eyes got even wider, if possible, as Kurama pulled his hair over one shoulder and lowered his head to show him a mark on the back of his neck.

"Now do you understand detective, or have you ever seen one of those before?" Hiei said, watching the realization settle on the boy's face.

"I've…" Yusuke took a step back, gulping. "I've seen one before." He finally said as he remembered seeing one on a messenger that had come to the palace during his time in the Makai. What he learned from her and Hokushin, his second in command, that day made him realize just how cruel demons could be.

Kurama kept his head lowered, Hiei had not told him he could stand, but he could hear understanding coming to Yusuke by the tone in his voice.

"You…you let him mark you?" Yusuke whispered, looking at the red head even though he was not being looked back at.

"Go on…tell him." Hiei said.

Kurama finally looked up at the raven haired and saw uncomprehending, unbelieving, confusion, fear and finally shock all rolled into one on the face of one of his best friends.

"Yes." Was all he whispered, before he lowered his head, not in shame, but because he didn't want to see the sad brown eyes looking at him in pity.

"You? I don't …Why?" Yusuke managed to get out.

Kurama didn't say anymore and there was complete silence as the news sank in. After a few more minutes, Hiei smirked and said. "Well, go on and explain it, maybe he'll understand better than I did." He then grabbed his cloak and flittered away.

Sighing, Kurama got up and moved to a base of a tree. Yusuke stood there for a moment before following, he took a seat right next to the red head, the silence still lingering.

"How could you let him do that to you?" Yusuke finally asked, keeping his eyes down and kicking at a leaf with his foot.

"I asked for it." Kurama said. He was also looking down. Still not wanting to face the sadness on the raven haired's face.

"Excuse me…you asked to become a slave. I find that hard to believe." Yusuke finally looked at him. "How long?" He asked.

"Just about two weeks before the wedding." Kurama admitted.

Yusuke let out a low whistle. "That explains the party."

(flashback)

Yusuke was referring to Kuwabara's bachelor party. Kurama had to beg Hiei to go and when they got there, the place was a mad house. All of Kuwabara's high school buddies were there and even though he did not want any girls or alcohol at the party, his sister Shizuru refused to leave and bought beer to boot. Only after an hour of watching a horror movie, someone thought it would be 'cute' to put in another movie and it turned out to be porn. Between Kuwabara and Shizuru's arguing about watching it and the others laughing, Hiei was ready to clear the room. He had been sitting in a window shunning everyone until then. Finally grabbing Kurama's arm, he said. "Let's go fox."

"But Hiei, we just got here and I think we need to support Kuwabara, this is supposed to be his party and I agree that Shizuru needs to leave. I will go talk to her." Kurama told him and went to pull his arm away.

"I said 'now' fox." Hiei growled, holding firm.

"You leave. I will meet you back at the house. I thought since Kuwabara was marrying your sister, you could at least 'try' and show some support and maybe even try to get along with him." Kurama said and again tried to remove his arm, but failed as Hiei turned them to the exit. "I guess I expected too much." He said the last part with annoyance.

"His shoulders still supports his head, what more do you expect from me." Hiei grumbled, gripping the arm tighter as he dragged the red head towards the door.

Yusuke had been watching all of this and though he could not hear the conversation, he could tell by the way the two were acting that they were arguing. He went to see what was up.

"Hey, leaving so soon." He said as he caught them at the door.

"Out of my way Yusuke." Hiei said and went to grab the doorknob, his other hand still firmly gripping the red head's arm.

"Kurama looks like he wants to stay, so why don't you leave and he can stay and have some fun." Yusuke said, not moving.

"No, he is coming with me." Hiei growled and went again for the door.

"Let him decide." Yusuke said, crossing his arms and still not moving.

"Tell him fox." Hiei ordered, turning to stare at Kurama.

"I wish to…" Kurama got a confused look on his face and he started to sweat, Hiei had yet to enforce the mark, keeping to his word except for the one time after it had been done, to show him what it felt like.

"Kurama?" Yusuke lowered his arms, staring with worry.

"I wish to leave with Hiei." Kurama finally said, looking to Hiei.

"You sure, you seem like you want to stay." Yusuke said.

Still looking at Hiei, Kurama said. "I…m…sure, I have to…leave with Hiei." He could not seem to get his words out right and it felt like someone else was saying the words through his lips.

Hiei smirked. "Told you, now move it or lose it." He let go of the red head's arm and grabbed his hand as they left.

Later Kurama asked the fire demon why he had done that to him, to which Hiei denied doing anything.

(end flashback)

Yusuke meant to ask the red head what that had been about, but had not had the chance because the red head didn't come around much anymore, either to the temple, the restaurant, or even the apartment to visit the baby.

Kurama sat there with Yusuke as silence settled in and he thought about an incident that happened a few weeks after the party. He'd not told anyone about it.

(flashback)

It had been raining all day and was just down right nasty out. So much heavy rain had fallen in such a short period of time that the weather channel was talking about nothing but local flooding and road closures.

Hiei had run off to do some errands for Mukuro that morning. He managed to arrive back around night fall.

"Damn this weather." Hiei said as he came through the door, dripping wet. Though he'd used his speed, he was still soaked.

"There you are Amai." Kurama said, putting his book down and getting up off the couch. He'd seen this as one of those days where you curled up on the couch with a blanket, a mug of hot tea and a good book, so he had not even gotten dressed and was still in his pajama bottoms.

Hiei dried himself with his energy and removed his cloak, hanging it on the coat rack by the door.

"Rough day?" The red head asked as Hiei walked by him, going to the refrigerator and not saying a word. "Hn Kurama it was rough, but how was yours." He added to lighten the mood.

It didn't work and Kurama sat on one of the bar stools as Hiei rummaged in the freezer.

"Do we not have anymore sweat snow?" The fire demon asked, rearranging the contents in hope of finding a container.

"No, we ran out the other day, remember you….." Kurama was cut off.

"I want some sweat snow." Hiei growled, closing the door and facing the red head.

"Well, I will get some tomorrow when I go out." Kurama told him and got up to head back to the couch.

"But I want it 'now.' Hiei growled again.

"Then go get some." Kurama said and plopped back down on the couch, picking up his book while thinking Hiei was acting like a spoiled brat.

"You know I don't go to those ningen stores and I have already been out in that mess once, you go get it." Hiei said walking over so he was facing the red head and crossed his arms.

"Hiei I am not even dressed and it is nasty out there, the weather…" Kurama froze as he started to sweat.

"Go get me some NOW!" Hiei ordered and raised his ki so the mark started burning.

"As you wish." Kurama huffed, getting up and grabbing a coat from the coat rack. Putting on shoes, he ran out to the car and was immediately soaked.

What should have been a thirty minute trip to the local grocery, turned into two hours. First the dirt road, that was technically Kurama's driveway, was pure mud. He almost got stuck several times as he slipped and skidded his way out. Then the road he normally took to the store was closed due to rising water, so he had to take a detour, twice.

Finally making it back, he was thankful for the porch as he fumbled with the door, while holding two bags full of ice cream. Since Hiei had failed to mention what flavor he wanted, though Kurama was pretty sure which one, he got all the flavors of the brand he preferred, just to be sure.

"Hiei I'm back, sorry I'm late." He called out, hanging his coat and removing his shoes. He went to the kitchen and put the ice cream up before looking for the fire demon, only to find him in bed, sound asleep. The red head took a hot shower and went to bed himself. The next morning he was feeling achy and tired, wanting to sleep in, but Hiei pushed the order for them to go sparring. The ice cream never mentioned.

(end flashback)

"Let me explain." Kurama finally broke the silence.

Silence fell again. All that could be heard were birds, crickets and maybe a rustle of leaves as the wind blew by.

"I'm listening." Yusuke finally said.

"You said you have seen one before. I think it would be better if you told me what you learned about them. Then I could fill in the blanks." Kurama said.

"Well." Yusuke started. "Basically that a stronger demon can mark a weaker being, be it demon or ningen and make them a…slave…is the only word I could use to describe it." He said, picking up the leaf and twirling it with his fingers. "I saw this ningen girl once, gods she couldn't have been no more than 12, 13 if that. She came to the palace, right after Raizen's death, with a message and a…proposition you might say."

Kurama raised an eyebrow, the raven haired continued.

"A nearby Ambassador to Raizen's lands sent her with a message. He sent his regards and deepest sympathy to me for his former Lord's death and wanted to present a gift to me as the new Lord of the lands. It was also a way of making sure I knew he was on my side." Yusuke paused.

"She was the gift." Kurama said.

"Yeah and I told her she could leave, that it was not necessary for her to be there. I told her to thank him for the offer and that I knew all the supporters for Raizen, he had nothing to worry about, yet."

"And." Kurama said as Yusuke stopped and seem to be thinking.

He took a deep breath before continuing. "She told me that she could not obey that request and said her 'master' told her she could do anything, but leave. She was a gift to me to use however I pleased. When I asked her what she meant, she told me she could be of great service to me and was told she had to obey any command I gave her, except the one to leave. It was confusing to me, so I asked her to explain, she went into great detail as to what she could do and had been made to do and could be made to…to please me and satisfy my…" Yusuke continued to play with the leaf. "She even got on her knees and bowed, making sure I saw the mark…the things he had her doing." The last part was whispered.

Kurama could only guess as to what some of those things were.

"What did you do?" Kurama asked, knowing Yusuke would not have used her that way.

"I asked if she wanted me to get her back here to the Ningenkai and she said she could not leave the Makai…that she would die, because she would be to far from her master and that she would always have to have some form of contact with him, or he would deteriorate, whatever that means." Yusuke said, bending his head back and tapped it against the bark a few times.

"So where is she now?" Kurama asked softy, knowing this was a painful memory for the boy.

"I gave her a job in the kitchen of the palace, it was the only place I could think of where she'd be safe. I told her to just do the job as she was told and if any problem arose to contact me." The raven haired answered.

"That was very nice of you. You do know though, the mark can only go away when the slave or the master dies." Kurama said. He didn't have the heart to tell him that she was probably sent to spy, because she would have a mental connection with her master who could read her mind at anytime. That was years ago and there was only one King now. He hoped for Yusuke sake she was living comfortably.

"Yeah, I asked Hokushin, he's my second, about the mark and he explained quite a bit, but as long as her master knew where she was and what I had her doing, he had no right to complain." Yusuke said.

'So Yusuke did know.' Kurama thought.

"Did he also explain that there were many different circumstances and why some people 'want' it done?" Kurama asked.

"Explain to me why you wanted it." Yusuke said, sitting up and moving to sit indian-style so he could face the red head.

"After everything that has happened over the past year, I want to belong." Kurama said.

"Belong." Yusuke was confused.

"I had a big fear of Youko wanting to come out again and take over. Also something happened with Yomi and…" The red head paused and looked down. "I felt it would be best if I was finally marked and I trust Hiei with my life." He finished.

"So you are willing to be his lap dog…is it really worth it?" Yusuke asked.

"Hiei promised me he would not abuse the power he has over me and it is possible for me to claim him, which he has asked me to do. It is called 'taming the inner beast.' Though he will always have a slight edge over me for, he is the stronger one. Most masters, however, do not allow this to happen." Kurama said.

"You mean to not abuse or whatever and then ask you to claim them." Yusuke said, but was still confused.

"Yes." The red head said with a nod. "Most demons only want weaker beings to make minions, be it, slave, servant, sex toy, assassin, spy and the like. Though some, on rare occasions, find someone they think is equal enough to them and wants them as a life partner, a soul mate. When both carry the mark of the other, they become one. Hiei may be ruthless and despite what he has done over the years, he has changed and I do honestly believe he cares about me and trusts me as to why I asked him to do it. He has always had his own code of honor, which he upholds to the strictest levels and if he agrees and promises, he will never let you down." He stated and was beginning to realize and wonder if this was what Hiei's problem was. 'Did he agree to this because he believes I am strong enough to be his equal and wants 'me' to be his life partner? That explains some things, but…oh Hiei what have I asked of you.'

"Sounds like a marriage." Yusuke smirked.

Coming around, Kurama said. "In a way yes, but to demons it is so much more. Being married here in the Ningenkai is considered sacred, but you can get a divorce. In the Makai, demons who have marked each other are in it to the death. Only when one dies, does the mark's hold fade, however if the mark is strong enough between the two, the survivor would miss his or her love so much, they would take their own life to be with them, or find some way to get themselves killed."

"Wow, that's some bond." Yusuke whistled. He was wondering if something ever happened to Keiko, could he kill himself to be with her, it would be hard depending on the age of his child at the time. Coming around he said. "Isn't Youko stronger than Hiei? Surely you can claim him and make this stop."

"I am not Youko remember." The red head reminded.

"Then just let Youko claim him and be done with it." Yusuke said, holding his arms out with the look of 'duh' problem solved on his face.

"I can not allow that Yusuke." The red head lightly chuckled. "If I allow Youko out to claim Hiei then it would be a three way mark. Youko would be master to Hiei and Hiei would be master to me. It would not work." He said and even chuckled at the thought.

Yusuke fell back and placed his arms behind his head. "Gods this is confusing." He muttered.

"It can be." Kurama said and laid back next to the raven haired. Together they watched the light, wispy clouds float by.

"Yusuke." The red head said after a few minutes.

"Hmm." Yusuke turned his head at the sound of his name.

"If something happens to me, please understand that I valued our friendship dearly. You came into my life at a desperate time and helped me tremendously to overcome many obstacles. I will forever be indebted to you, please tell Keiko and Rosalina that I am sorry I was not able to uphold my end as god-father." With that said Kurama stood up and began brushing dirt off his clothes. "Also give my wishes to Kuwabara and Yukina for a happy life together." He added.

"Where the hell did that come from?" Yusuke said, jumping up, completely blown out of the water by the statement.

"I told you Hiei asked me to claim him." Kurama said, starting to walk away.

"Hold up." The raven haired called out. "You can't just tell me something like that and then walk away." He jogged to catch up. "Hey." He said grabbing the red head's shoulder, forcing him to turn. "Just flat out spill it. I thought we were past this 'keeping secrets' from each other crap." He huffed.

Kurama smiled. "I made a promise to Hiei that I would try and claim him, the deadline is tomorrow and I need to keep it. Disobeying would not be wise, even though I may not survive the attempt. The only outcomes are, one, I claim him, a long shot, two, I kill him, not likely, or three, he kills me, which is the most likely of the three, also the one I am willing to accept at this point." The red head said calmly then turned and walked away, leaving Yusuke with his mouth hanging open.

"Wait….." Yusuke called out again and caught back up to the red head. "Did he force you to promise?" He asked.

Kurama stopped and turned, 'He is smarter than he looks.' He thought with admiration, showing a soft smile he said. "Yes, though he asked when he marked me, I had worked around it saying I would, one day. But one day, you could say he put me in a situation where I had no other choice but to promise, he forced it and (shrug)…so be it." Seeming to think that was enough of an answer, the red head turned and continued walking.

"Kurama…wait." The raven haired called out yet again, running his hand through his hair in frustration.

"I am sorry Yusuke, I must find Hiei. I hope to see you later." The red head said, not turning around as he disappeared into the woods.

After a few yards Youko said. 'Only after talking to the boy did we realize some things now make sense as to what maybe wrong with our little fire.' Kurama didn't say anything.

End Chapter 1