Their Mission

By: Sanguine Fox

Rating: MA... Eventually

Author's Note: Hey guys... It's been a while... Yeah. So, here's my story. Still don't own the characters... Um, this is a story I've been working on for quite a while. I've sort of given up on my other stories, lost interest. I might try to rewrite them eventually, we'll see about that. Although, sad to say, I don't think I'll be touching 'Beauty and the Bassist' Other than a full reboot to bring Kurama a touch more into character.

The fire demon's inner voice groaned once again for the fifth time in the last ten minutes, fighting the urge to pull his spiky hair out. At first, he had been grateful to go on a mission with only Kurama. They would be able to get through the mission faster, far more smoothly, and he didn't have to worry about dealing with the idiotic and foolish loud mouthed humans. Unfortunately, Kurama seemed to find this mission to be more of a leisurely vacation.

The partners were passing by a small lake hidden by large trees, and the fox had insisted on stopping for lunch on the shore, practically pulling the fire demon to the lush grounds with glee. Everything seemed to be thriving and full of energy, and they were willing to share that with Yoko.

"This is the perfect setting for a nice rest," the tall youko sighed out longingly, looking over the grassy area leading to the crystal clear water's shore, "A lovely view, don't you think?"

"It doesn't matter if it's lovely or not," Hiei huffed in his normal stubborn tone, "It's on dry land and not raining, that's all that is needed."

The silver fox just smiled at his partner, shaking his head, "You really need to learn to stop and take time to appreciate the beauty of the world, my friend."

"You appreciate the beauty the world enough for the both of us; mostly your own," the fire youkai scoffed at his partner.

Holding up a large hand, with long fingers splayed across his smooth chest, the silver kitsune smiled down at his partner in mock surprise, "Why, Hiei, are you saying I'm a beauty?"

With another huff, Hiei didn't deign to answer the teasing he had grown accustomed to from the ever playful Kurama. Turning toward the forest, he unsheathed his sword, "Set up a fire pit. I'll catch something to roast."

When Hiei disappeared into the thick forest, Kurama just smirked to himself, he had noticed the way Hiei's eyes had followed his hand to his chest, staring just a fraction too long. He would definitely keep that information in mind.

Returning quickly with a fat rabbit in hand, the fire demon skinned and gutted their soon to be meal while Kurama picked out a few seeds hidden in his hair to grow fruits and vegetables to stuff their lunch with before setting it up to roast over the small fire Hiei had lit. The fox made his infamous small talk with Hiei casually listening to his partner.

As soon as they finished eating, Kurama glanced over at the shimmering lake beside them, and Hiei knew their quick lunch was going to be a long break.

"It's such a beautiful and serene place," he managed to convince Hiei with his usual smooth tongue and far too flirtatious manner, "There's still plenty of time to take a quick swim before we have to leave."

Once he had begun stripping, there was very little Hiei could do or say to stop the fox. In fact, he always had trouble going against anything Kurama had to say and even more so when the well known silver beauty was completely nude. With a playful wink, the shameless demon turned and made his way into the crystal clear waters. Ignoring the invitations to join him for 'fun', the fire demon found a comfortable branch to get some rest upon, trying his best to ignore the teasing and the very naked fox still calling out every now and then to taunt him. The taunts only ceased once the fox had climbed from the water and found a sunny surface to dry himself upon.

Trying not to stare at the vain fox was a difficult task, especially when said fox was trying so hard to get his attention, but there were lines Hiei was not willing to cross with the only demon he trusted, and settled in the tree for a short nap.

Finally reaching the very limits of his short patience, Hiei came down from his tree and snarled at the silver fox who was still very relaxed, bathing in the glow of the high sun, nearly dozing, "Kurama!"

"Hm?" the tall beauty stretched like the feline he was and slowly lifted his head to lazily look over his shoulder at the fuming fire demon. The pretty but sleepy smile only served to aggravate the already impatient Hiei even further, his eye starting to twitch with annoyance, "We need to be going now."

"What's the rush?" he continued to take his time pushing himself over onto his side to face his beloved partner while resting his head on one hand and the other drummed slowly at the side of his upper thigh, enticing Hiei to look lower down the fox's nude form. Kurama took pure joy from watching the garnet gaze shake as he tried not to follow down the lean form, "We're a full day ahead of schedule, and the weather is absolutely perfect. We should savor these moments. It was only by Inari's blessing that the assassins your men captured happened to match us... relatively speaking. What if the crow's partner had been a very tall human? Who do you think they would have gotten to fill the role? I'll even give you a hint; he already knows how to make koorime very happy."

Hiei paled at the prospect, and quickly turned a strange shade of green, making the fox giggle at his plight and discomfort at the thought of having to play Kuwabara's partner and lover for even a second. Hiei shuddered slightly, he would behead the human before allowing that foolish human to touch him in such a way. In fact, he wouldn't mind beheading the human just becaue it was a Tuesday. Although he had never cared for humans, something about this particular set him off at the drop of a hat, and when the oaf first met Yukina, that feeling of hatred seemed to intensify ten fold.

"So just enjoy the moment while we can," he was practically purring, "or are you afraid that we won't be able to complete our mission without the help of the rest of our team? Or is it that you miss working along side Yusuke and Kuwabara? We can see if Koenma wants to call them in for the mission, I'm sure that they would jump at the chance."

"Hn," Hiei growled, the disgust obvious in his voice as well as easily read on his face, "You know we will be better off without those foolish clowns slowing us down, but you seem to be trying to make up for lost idiots."

"Of course not, Hiei, I'm just comfortable and confident that we'll be able to finish this mission with no problems. Come, join me for a little rest," the Youko pat the warm stone beside him, trying his best to entice the sexy stubborn demon before him, "We have plenty of time before we're supposed to meet this king tomorrow night."

"We are still on a mission. When my men managed to capture those assassins we were given a perfect in into underworld. This King wants someone dead and we need the proof for judgement and to be sure that he is where this threat ends. We don't have time for you and your frivolous need to lay about without your clothes," he hated that it was taking all of his willpower to keep eye contact rather than drifting down to that swaying silver tail, which he knew was purposely trying to distract him. The fox was a very good distraction, it had served him well in the past.

"There is always time to lay about with no clothing, maybe one day you'll join me. This, however, is called sunbathing," Kurama was practically purring as he lethargically made himself comfortable once again, keeping eye contact as he laid his head on his folded arms, telling Hiei that he was completely relaxed under the heat of the makai sun.

"If you truly wish to bathe in the sun," Hiei lifted one hand, setting it ablaze with a dark flame, "then allow me to be of assistance."

"Mm, please do," keeping his eyes closed, Kurama invited, as he pulled a seed from his hair, growing it into a flower with large yellow and red streaked petals dripping with a heavily scented nectar, "Could you rub this into my back? And anywhere else you might like to touch is fine by me, as well."

"Gah! You have five minutes. If your clothes are not on your body, I'm burning them, and letting you make the rest of the trip naked," Hiei threw his hands in the air, knocking the flower out of Kurama's hand, threatening his partner before disappearing into the forest once again.

The Youko chuckled softly to himself as he rested on his crossed arms once again, enjoying the makai sun for a few more minutes. It was always fun to frustrate his beloved fire demon even if nothing ever came of it. While Hiei showed annoyance and hatred before the rest of the team, he never really showed the others these frustrated actions, and Kurama loved every moment of it. Anytime he thought he could get a little extra reaction out of the stubborn fire demon made Kurama feel that maybe he was special to Hiei.

Letting out an overly dramatic heavy sigh, the silver fox languidly stood from his lounging in the sun and began to dress himself in his pants. Wanting to linger in the feeling of relaxation, Kurama took his time fastening his pants in place before slipping on his gauzy robes. He was just picking up the the sash for his waist when the light material suddenly burst into flames, only his quick reflexes kept his hands from getting burned. He was stunned silent and motionless for a moment as he watched the fabric turn to ashes; scattering in the gentle wind. The cinders teasing the fox before disappearing into the distance.

"Hiei!" he turned to the smirking fire demon leaning against a nearby tree, his annoyance clear in his harsh tone.

"Next time you'll be more prompt," he kicked off the wide trunk, approaching his partner carefully, watching the large hands for any signs of the slightest twitch towards his rosewhip, "or I'll burn all of your clothes."

While he was sure it would take more than merely burning a piece of fabric to truly set the fox off, Kurama could be far more vain, and far more dangerous if someone were to step between him and his beauty. When the fox merely pouted playfully at the short fire demon, almost looking lost without the sash, Hiei allowed himself to relax a little, and even enjoyed the adorable way Kurama's eyes went wide with a pathetic sadness.

"We have to get moving and find cover, there's an ice storm coming this way. There are empty caves about five miles North West of us, it shouldn't take us more than a couple hours to get there. We can wait out the storm for the night there."

"Could you at least let me use one of your belts so I can keep my tunic closed?" he practically pleaded, pouting at his partner.

With a blank expression, Hiei's large, sharp eyes looked over Kurama's tall form from the top of the silver fox ears, which were flat against his head, whisking over the now very bared chest, to the tips of the white slippers as if contemplating everything about someone he had never seen before turning in the direction of King Leo's castle, "Let's go."

"Hiei!" the tall Youko followed with a pout, trying his best to keep his robes closed, he didn't mind walking around with his robes opened at all, but he liked to entice Hiei to look at him as much as possible, "Hiei!"

"Hn," the fire demon smirked to himself, completely unaware that he was falling right into the trap of Kurama's little game.

To be continued.

I hope you all enjoyed the first chapter. Let me know what you think.