Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, except Cian. This is rated M for the smut that will come, among other things. I warn you now that there will be times where language (blame Hiei) will be less than civilized. Again, smut and yaoi and that is all the warning you get.

CHAPTER TWO: GHOSTS THAT HAUNT

Kurama felt like screaming again but instead he rinsed the dishes and put them in the dishwasher. When he turned, he met a pair of crimson eyes. "Hiei…"

"It's time for you to keep your promise fox," Hiei growled as he neared the fox.

Kurama sighed and turned away from his friend again, gripping the counter as tightly as he could. "Hiei, I need more time."

Hiei's eyes narrowed as he glared at the fox's back. "I've given you more time. Years of time!"

"And haven't I always paid the price you asked?" Kurama whispered. "I've kept your secrets better than anyone else could."

"Yes, but I've also given you years of time to yourself for your silence. As for everything else you do for me, fox, that was your choice. I don't ask to be housed and fed while I'm here. I especially don't ask to be shoved in a bath or stitched up either." He crossed his arms over his chest. "Time is up."

"No."

"Repeat what you told me then fox. I want to hear it out of your mouth," Hiei growled. "You said it once now say it again."

Kurama sighed and gazed out the window that was over his sink. "I was merely a child when we first met, not even adolescent, though I was getting close to that age. After we became friends, closer than I thought possible, I promised…" He shook his head as he trailed off. "Hiei, this ridiculous."

"Say it!"

"I promised that if I did not find someone to share my life with, a replacement for Kuronue, by the time I reached adulthood, I would agree to share it with you. As a mate." Kurama choked out the words and gripped the counter again.

"And?"

"Then, when I turned eighteen and you granted me two years for my birthday present, I swore that if I ever had to fulfill my promise to you, I'd also…" Kurama closed his eyes. "Bind myself to you in every possible human way before binding myself to you in every demon way." He shuddered as the words were said.

"And?" Hiei pressed.

"And last year, I told you I loved you," he whispered. "We agreed that nothing would change and that I had one more year to make up my mind about what I wanted. In that time, I was supposed to tell my human family everything and prepare to depart to Makai with you."

"Yes," Hiei snarled. "And instead, you decided that you could not be satisfied with your degree in business and that you wanted a degree in horticulture as well. So you started college, you got a different job, and then you bought this house."

"I thought you liked this house," Kurama muttered.

"I do, but as a place we can use when I'm forced to come with you to pay visits to your mother. You didn't end the life you have here Kurama. You started a new one."

"I see why you've been glaring at me all night." Kurama forced himself to loosen his death grip on the counter to turn to his friend. "I still want more time."

"I told you last year fox, that you wouldn't be granted one more year."

A small smile graced Kurama's lips. Oh, he would teach his friend that foxes were not so easily captured, even by their own words. "If I join you now, it will create more problems when you take over. I did hear that it was scheduled to be soon. Within the year." He played with a strand of his hair as if the conversation were no longer important. "And it is always easier to hand over power to another leader, rather than another leader and his gay lover."

Hiei snorted. "Like I care. I'm going to get what I want regardless."

Kurama glanced at Hiei, careful not to let his smile falter. "I'm sure it'd take more convincing that you're ready to take over Alaric if it involved me. The great Yoko Kurama is not a name that anyone wants tacked on to their leadership system."

Hiei stayed silent. He recognized the plot for what it was, but the wily fox made a point. The last thing he needed was more difficulties.

"I'm not asking for another year Hiei. Even if I agreed to all of this now, it'd take that long for me to get everything in order to leave. You may not understand this, but quitting my job requires advance notice, not to mention my family." Kurama moved forward and brushed his lips across Hiei's jaw. "Please, just until power in Alaric changes hands."

Hiei found his thoughts jumbled together, his mind unable to concentrate as Kurama's lips ventured lower on to his neck. He grabbed a handful of red hair and used it to pull the face away from him. "Three months fox. No more."

"Thank you." Kurama moved to back away but instead found his hair still captured by Hiei's grip.

"I need you to make good on your word. The last agreement was not bound in blood. This one will be." He yanked the hair and brought Kurama down. Sealing their lips together in a passionate kiss.

Kurama groaned at the dominance the smaller demon conveyed but his pride did not allow him to give in as easily as he wanted to. He fought back, a war with their tongues. After only seconds, Hiei won. Kurama roped his arms around Hiei's waist and closed his eyes. It was like experiencing the euphoria of a first kiss all over again. The memory of any lips on his but Hiei's was replaced by this. His sexy demon kissing him as if the world would end tomorrow. Hiei smirked around the fox's lips and bit down on his bottom lip. It had been begging to be bitten and bruised since the moment they met. Hiei pulled away with a chuckle when he heard the fox gasp.

"You should have gotten laid more often," Hiei smirked. "To get so excited over a kiss fox. Even you should have better control than that." He turned away from the glare of the fox and grabbed his cloak.

"You aren't staying?" Kurama questioned, putting a hand to the injured lip. The hand hit the drop of blood on his lower lip, as well as the pout that his lips formed in to at the thought of Hiei leaving. No need to let him know what effect he had.

"No. If I expect you to get everything done in three months, I'll at least live up to the same deadline. Of the many things I am, fox, hypocritical is not one of them." He walked out the door.

Kurama sank to the floor of the kitchen, torn between horror and happiness. Happiness that he had been kissed by him, after waiting for such a moment for years. Horror that he was actually being held up to a promise he made without thinking more than a decade ago. With a sigh, Kurama hoisted himself from the floor and began to pace. Of all demons, Yoko Kurama should be able to find a way out of this. Should. But with only three months of time left on his hands, the chances weren't looking so good.

Kurama reached in to the back pocket of his pants and smiled at the name and number he saw scrawled upon the paper. He picked up the phone and dialed.

" This is Cian," the rough, but silken, voice answered after the third ring.

"It's Kurama."

"Ah, yes. The half drunk fox at the club," came the reply and a chuckle soon followed. "Did you get home alright?"

"Yes, I was at a club with a friend of mine. He drove me home. That's not why I called." Kurama began to pace the room.

"So why did you call then?"

"Tonight, you didn't exactly see me in my best condition. I know that first impressions are usually correct, but I don't think you got the right one with me. I was thinking… Perhaps I could give it another try." Kurama put the phone against his chest so Cian could not hear the noise as he banged his head in to the wall out of frustration, just once before putting the phone to his ear again. Out of all the human skills necessary to survive, he hadn't put dating (or flirting) at the top of his list. "Sorry, did you say something?" Kurama asked. "I dropped the phone."

"I asked what your schedule was like."

"Oh." Kurama went through the list in his head. "I work at a bookstore, and I'm scheduled until noon. Perhaps, after I get off, we could go to lunch."

"What bookstore?"

"Mystical Endings," Kurama answered without thinking. "It's right by the park on the junction of Third and Grace Avenue."

"I know it. I'll meet you there after you get off then."

"Alright, I'll see you then."

"Fox? I do think my first impression of you was correct."

Kurama leaned against the counter, oddly enraptured in the gruff voice of the other man, especially now that he could concentrate on it rather than try to hear it over the loud music of the club. "Really?"

"Yes." Cian chuckled again. "I think you're smart, interesting, loving, caring and loyal to those you care about. I also think that there's always more to you than meets the eye. I believe you're a person who other people depend on, so you learn to be strong."

Kurama's heart skipped a beat. How could someone who shared only one dance with him know so much, see behind all the masks and fronts he put up? "An interesting theory Cian."

"I also think that you've never showed anyone the insecurities that you hide so well. I'll look forward to getting to know you." Cian's voice grew a little huskier. "I want you to trust me enough to let me see behind all those masks, little fox."

"Good luck," Kurama muttered. "People I've known for years haven't gained that much trust from me."

Cian laughed, a pleasant sound. "People you know are not like me. I can promise that."

Kurama joined in his laughter. "That's true enough already. The people I know don't feel me up on the dance floor and then make assumptions about me."

"Fox, you really can't dance," Cian joked. "If you could you'd know that dancing is a window in to the soul. Everything I needed to know about you was in that dance. I look forward to our date."

"So do I."

"Pleasant dreams fox."

The line disconnected and Kurama hung up the phone. He couldn't help the smile that decorated his face as he moved upstairs. His sleep was peaceful, knowing that maybe, possibly, Hiei's life wasn't the only one he could live. The morning light greeted him as he woke. The major advantage of quitting an office job and working at the bookstore was the clothes. No more suits.

Kurama smiled as he remembered his friend's reactions. They had raided his closet, taken all his office clothes, and burned them at the temple. Made a small little party out of it and roasted marshmallows over the burning fabric. Today was special, he remembered. Today he had plans after work. Kurama plucked his favorite pair of jeans out and a green silk shirt that buttoned up. The shirt was loose, but the tight jeans balanced it out. The shirt brought out his eyes even more, made his hair more vibrant.

He was pleased when he brushed his hair, then his teeth, and gazed at the reflection before him. Then, he left the house, being sure to lock all three locks. If Yusuke got in to the house again… Kurama shuddered at the thought of what the man might talk Keiko in to doing to his closet.

The bookstore was just opening when Kurama walked in and greeted the owner. "Good morning Jaiya!" he smiled at the woman. "You can go home. I have it under control today." He watched the elder woman leave before taking his station behind the counter and sitting down on the stool.

He plucked out the book Hiei had given him and stroked the cover. He didn't expect the day to be busy. Though the bookstore was the most popular in town, mornings usually weren't the busy times. He was surprised. Kurama was kept busy as customers poured in. His was glad for the distraction. At last, the long line dwindled and Kurama gazed down at the book that was placed on the counter.

"It doesn't have a price," a voice said.

Kurama looked up and smiled. "Cian," he greeted. "I'm sorry. I was supposed to be off ten minutes ago but it's been pretty busy today."

"I'd still like the book, and a sexy fox to go with it." Cian looked even more brilliant outside of the club. His eyes were still the pale blue that had caught Kurama's attention before. He was tall, muscular, and pale. His hair was a bright blond and reached down to his jaw. He was so different than the dark demon who had always had a special in Kurama's life from the moment they met. His relaxed posture, the way he was at ease with all that was around him, it was so different than the constant tension that radiated off Hiei when he had been dragged in to public.

Kurama was attracted to him, it was something he wouldn't make the mistake of ignoring. "Poe. You have dark tastes."

"Poe has a certain elegance that can never be denied. Even by the most harsh critics." Cian leaned over the counter to whisper. "Besides, you seem like a type to have the exact book in your own collection."

Kurama turned his face towards him. "True, but hardly the point." He's close, Kurama thought. Far too close. Almost kissing. A blush struck Kurama's face at the thought of being kissed by this man. He wondered if it would be so different than the way Hiei kissed him.

Cian laughed as he backed away. He paid the price for the book before glancing at the fox. "Ready for our date?"

Kurama punched a few numbers in to the computer to clock out before turning with a smile. "You have no idea how much I've looked forward to it."