Chapter 3- Compliance

From that night on, Hiei found that trusting Kurama outside of the battlefield was easy and something he actually felt comfortable with. His first step was taking Kurama's offer to stay at his house during the nights instead of alone in the forest. Surprisingly to himself, Hiei enjoyed the company, even if silence filled the majority of his stays. The fact that someone was actually willing to spend time with him and provide him shelter were enough to satisfy him. Gradually, as each night passed, the silences shortened, and so their friendship, in turn, grew.

However, the Tournament that was approaching finally arrived and interrupted the slow blooming of this shy flower. Or so Hiei thought.

Hiei had always feared especially for Kurama during his battles, though he may not have shown it, but the second match of the Tournament was almost more than Hiei could handle. Watching on the sidelines as the grotesquely gray demon slugged and sliced Kurama's perfect face boiled the fire demon's blood into a rage that he used in his next fight. Hiei detested the fact that he was unable to aid, useless outside the ring, and wished he could protect his friend. He noticed it then, that his instinct to protect Kurama was much like how he felt about Yukina.

At the time, he thought nothing of it, believing it to be a feeling that came with true friendship, which was all very new to him. But as the fights went on, watching and incapable of protecting Kurama, this feeling grew and grew. Kurama versus Gama, Kurama versus Touya, Kurama versus Baken. Hiei was sure then that he would kill the next that dared touch his Kurama. Yes, Kurama now was his to protect and aid. And he had to make this known to Kurama.

*****flashback*****

"Kurama?"

We sat alone in our bedroom of the hotel suite with Kuwabara and Yusuke next door, probably already fast asleep after the long, arduous battles that day. Both Team Ichigaki and Team Masho had been formidable and taken their toll on us all. I was still very concerned with Kurama's condition, even if most of his wounds had been already treated by Botan, Genkai, and Yukina. Still, I could not hide this worry any longer.

"Yes, Hiei?" he looked over at me with sparkling green eyes as I stood up from my bed and walked to his where he sat. His eyes locked with mine for but a moment as I quickly lowered my gaze, unable to speak without looking away and glaring at the floor. My face softened as I spoke.

"You know, you could've gotten yourself killed today! What the hell where you thinking! You can't be so reckless, because I-!" I broke off, stopping myself before I said too much.

~*~*~*Kurama POV*~*~*~

I sat still, widening my eyes in surprise at Hiei's sudden outburst. This confession…was he really worried? Did he really care? These thoughts flooded my head in an instant, and in the next, I smiled.

"Hiei…" continuing to grin I took a step closer, but he turned away.

"You just better not die on me, Kurama, I…" his look of seriousness that was usually plastered to his face broke away, and his expression softened, "I don't know what I'd so without you." As he looked into my eyes, I could do nothing but pull him into my arms. Suddenly, to my greater surprise, his shoulders shuddered a few times, as I felt and heard his breath come in heaves as he began to cry. Words were unneeded here; I knew his every thought and he knew mine, so I just held him, as his arms hung limp at his sides, though his hands were in tight fists as his small frame shook in an attempt to fight his silent sobs. I could tell he was not accustomed to openly crying, and that he could not even admit to himself that he currently was. I only held him tighter.

Even as I held him in my arms, I could not believe any of this myself. Hiei actually worried himself to tears over me?

"Hiei…" I crooned softly into his hair, the almost fur-like spikes brushing against my cheek as I let him sob away his worries. Eventually, he returned the hug, grasping the back of my shirt in balled fists as if it were the only thing clinging him to sanity. His shudders lessened, his breaths shortened, his tears slowed, his grip released.

I pulled away slightly to look at his now downcast face, attempting to hide his shame. Lifting his chin with my fingers, I gazed into his still teary eyes, watching as the drops began to dry on his cheeks. He blinked, and I took his lips in mine.

~*~*~*Hiei POV*~*~*~

His lips suddenly clasped onto mine and my eyes widened in shock. His soft, silky lips pressed against my own and now I closed my eyes in utter bliss. His tongue followed, gently prying my lips apart to explore inside and so I did the same. The heat of our mouths was implausible as the longing need we both felt was poured into this simple, short kiss that spanned only a moment, but lasted an eternity.

As we broke apart, my blush increased tenfold and I caught sight of a slight grin upon Kurama's flawless face. His face softened and he reached up to brush away the streaks of previous tears left on my cheeks and I closed my eyes at the touch. As he dropped his hand to his side, he took my hand in his and held it, squeezing it.

"Kurama…I," I paused, unable to comprehend my thoughts let alone voice them. The redhead looked down at me with steady eyes as he opened his mouth to speak, but hesitated for only a moment.

"Hiei…I…I love you, Hiei."