Inspired by this song. Cold by Jorge Mendez
[ watch?v=pUZeSYsU0Uk]
(should probably hear it while reading)

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho. That honor goes to Togashi. I do not own that song either. That honor goes to Jorge Mendez.

Hiei/Kurama slash (But only the slightest bit. . .well maybe a bit more than a bit)

Please if you do not like male x male pairings or any hints and indications of it, then kindly hit the back button and keep all flaming to yourself. Thank You.

For those of you that do not mind, enjoy!

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Gentle fair white petals glided, cutting the air with delicate ease. Nimble long fingers traced the stem a rose as his arm outstretched to let red collapse amongst a sea of white. A single red rose was all he could offer her now. The irony that such a woman as innocent as she blanketed in white be tainted by crimson earned him condoning stares.

But such a gift was the best way he knew how to give her a piece of himself. He who was long since dyed with red. By the blood in his hands, the crimson of his locks, the love in his heart, and the elegance of the rose, red was what best represented him.

And on this day, he would give a piece of himself forever to her.

The polished cherry wood had kissed the last of the sun as the skies darkened and heavy clouds threatened to let the rain fall. How befitting that the heaven's tears would gather this day.

Down the casket went.

The sky wept as did those around him. He, however, did not. His eyes were devoid of tears. Instead he felt empty and hollow.

A firm hand gripped soothingly at his shoulder reminding him that he was not alone. Dead emerald eyes no longer held their shine as they met empathetic brown ones. They had come as support and as his friends.

A soft nod of understanding passed between them before the hand loosened its grip and slid away. His eyes moved dully back to the cherry wood now deep in the ground and never tore themselves away after. One by one people left until it was only him there.

The rain did not let up and continued to beat down hard as if mimicking the whirlwind of emotions that were rising from within. Drenched red tresses cascaded around his porcelain skin, head hung low as his knees caved in and black slacks met the muddy waters of the earth.

He found himself spewing everything. From his past, to where he came from, what he was, who was now, the things he hid, the entire truth. Salty drops of warm liquid followed, running down his chin as he continued on. Deadbeat eyes slowly found themselves in the present, the realization of his surroundings and the realization of his situation hitting him like a rude awakening.

His breath hitched and his sobs overwhelmed him, his body racked with the guilt of words said far too late.

"For-forgive me. . ." words choked, caught in his throat, body shaking as warm tears overflowed and his eyebrows knit together from eyes shut tight.

"Forgive-. . . me. . .please" hoarse and abused, his voice betrayed all the sentiments he held in. Crimson blood dripped to the wet dirt, his nails digging at the flesh at his wrist from the desperate need to hold on to something. To anything.

Likewise crimson eyes watched slightly from afar, distraught at the wounded state he found the fox in. Never in all his years of partnering with Kurama did he witness his friend so beaten, so gone from the world around him.

It pained him to see someone he respected brought down the way he was now. A good time ago he would have felt bitter disdain at the sight, but that was before Yukina, before everything he learned and before the fox had come to mean a great deal to him.

Now was different. He wanted to bring solace to his long time companion, but knew not how to do such things so he merely watched until he could take it no longer.

He approached with silent but audible steps but all sounds were lost to Kurama. His lithe form continued to shake from more than the piercing cold.

"Fox."

He heard a voice, deep, soothing, strong, . . .caring.

"Fox."

It called out again. This time a warmth followed, resting at his shoulder. Crestfallen eyes glanced into his blood red ones. If there was ever a time Hiei could recall a withered rose so vividly, it was now.

Once, he had wondered what the fox would appear like when he was destroyed as he was now. But he took it all back in this instance. This was not how we wanted to see Kurama. The urge to protect, rare as it came and that was usually reserved for Yukina, swelled deep within.

But unlike the shattered fox, his face betrayed nothing.

Emerald eyes slowly focused, taking in the fact that Hiei was really there, beside him. They widened, "Hiei!?"

His body fought to control itself, to fight an expression of calm on, but two tight grips held him right where he was. His surprised visage looked up to stare back at Hiei's.

He caught the quick instinct to feign calm the fox had long practiced try to take over. He gripped the fox's shoulders in an effort to stop him. The least he wanted was for the kitsune to mask his emotions just because he was there.

"Don't."

Said a bit more sternly than intended, he inwardly cursed but made not effort to correct his tone.

The kitsune was at a loss, unsure of what to do, of what instinct to follow. His mind and body screamed for composure, to never let anyone see him in such a weak state. But his soul, his heart, begged for comfort. There was only so much his torn up heart could take.

"Hiei. . ."

"Don't." it was said warningly now.

Rain still drowned them, the smell of mud and earth invaded their noses, grips were still holding tight, eyes staring at each other intently and their hair stuck to their skins. Time stilled for them.

Kurama was confused. Of all the people he expected to attempt to comfort him, Hiei was last on that list. But here he was, saying nothing but speaking volumes at the same time. Green eyes gradually looked away and he hung his head low, away from garnet eyes.

A small stab of pain shot through Hiei at the thought of this small rejection. That Kurama did not consider him close enough to be with him through this hurt Hiei, but he would never admit it aloud. Nor would his expression betray him.

Just then, arms folded and encircled his lower waist and a head buried itself in the pit of his stomach. He hadn't noticed it earlier but he fox's body still shook, racked by the painful emotions that still needed an outlet.

The fire demon's body froze, gone rigid, his muscles tensing. But then his mind registered what the fox's choice had been and he untensed. The slight hurt Hiei felt earlier was quickly remedied by Kurama's trust in him to get him through this plight.

Having made his decision, he noted how warm holding Hiei was as he felt his fists clench onto the cloak the fire demon always wore. The nostalgic scent of the Makai lingered on Hiei along with the fresh smells of the forest and earth. The smell was almost enough to comfort him. He felt the body tense and relax just as quickly and he knew the fire demon was making a genuine effort.

Sobs no longer escaped his drying lips, but the feeling of loss did not leave him as his mind remembered the reason why his short friend would comfort him in the first place.

A strong hand, skilled in the art of the sword and that has deprived many lives, laid tenderly atop the tousled drenched tresses of crimson. Emerald green orbs blinked in silent surprise to how tender the touch was.

It was so uncharacteristic of the fire demon, he would have laughed if it had been at any time but now. But the young demon was trying in his own way and that meant a lot to the kitsune.

'Home is where the heart is'

That short phrase entered through Hiei's mind and he instantly recognized the fox's voice. But the meaning of those words did not make it through however.

Figuring that Kurama chose to communicate telepathically because of his hoarse voice abused from crying, he opted to respond verbally.

"Riddles fox?," It was hardly the time for such things or so Hiei found himself thinking.

The redhead shook his head, keeping it buried at the pit of his companion's stomach.

'It's a saying from the human realm'

At this Hiei rose his brow in question. "Why say it now?" He kept his hand on the kitsune's head.

The rain continued pouring.

'It means that the real home is where we belong, where we long to be, where love and memories are'

The gears shifted in the fire demon's head, clicking the answers together as to why the fox has mentioned it. "Fox." He merely said not quite knowing how to respond to that.

"She was my home. . . " he chose to respond verbally, the shaking in his voice audible now. "It was never the Ningenkai or that house, it was her, it's always been her. . . "

Hiei retracted his hand, exhaling "Kurama", he interjected. "That's not your only home."

Feeling the hand leave, Kurama reeled his arms and head away, getting the feeling that he upset Hiei. "No, not even the Makai is home anymore . . ." He knew he would have to brace Hiei with this one day. He knew the fire demon thought it better if he returned to the Makai, but going there now would feel empty. He had nothing in both the Ningenkai and Makai.

Expecting the demon before him to get livid and storm off, he half minded that a rough hand wove itself into the back of his head between his soaked locks. Yanking, forcing him to look back up at crimson eyes he found that those eyes did look back at him with mild anger.

Heavy rain pittered onto his face. Was Hiei going to hit him? The kitsune wondered to himself and closed heavy lids. He did not feel like fighting, not today. Whatever punishment Hiei would bestow on him, he would not fight against it today.

Just as he thought this, warm lips crashed onto his own. Emerald eyes bulged wide open, his body freezing in cold shock, his heartbeat ringing in his ears. It was short and chaste and almost sweet but desperate.

With a scowl, Hiei pulled back, ignoring the shocked and questioning look the fox was giving him.

"Stupid Kurama," Hiei kept his frown but there laid something sincere in his tone. And Kurama could only gaze widely in astonishment.

"She's not the only home you have."

-

Authoress here, did you guys like that? Thinking of making this a longer story, but I'll let you guys decide if you want that.