To Serve and Protect
Chapter Four

Some people are born frustrating – that was the thought that ran through Kurama's mind as he stood underneath the tree, his foot tapping impatiently. "Are you ever going to let it go?" he asked.

Kurama had felt the familiar youki nearby as soon as he got to Genkai's temple that day. He found Hiei reclined in the tree above, appearing aloof and half asleep. "I have no idea what you're talking about, fox," said the small demon.

"Fine, I'm just going to say it. I'm tired of dancing around you, and this." Kurama sighed, tired. "I'm not sorry I used my life for Koenma's compact rather than your life."

The fire demon frowned almost imperceptibly and chose not to answer.

Kurama sighed. "What kind of lover would I be if I put your life on the line?"

Bristling, Hiei cracked one red eye open, as if he were too lazy to glare with both. "You'd be an obedient one, for starters."

"If you wanted a good little housewife then you should never have slept with me in the first place. You like me being independent and passionate."

Hiei imagined Kurama in a human apron complete with pink and frills. He tried not to let loose an inappropriate smirk. "How the fuck did you think I would've felt after you were dead?"

"The same way I would have felt if you died," Kurama replied stubbornly.

Hiei squirmed a little in obvious discomfort. "You mean something to people, more than just to me. You'd be missed by them all. I'm… not like that. I'm not worthy."

"Don't be stupid."

"Tch." Hiei bristled visibly and closed his eye.

Kurama sighed. Of course his fire demon was going to continue to be unreasonable about only the demon could see himself the way Kurama saw him. "You have so many people who would be your friend, who would love you if I were gone. You just need to let them in."

Hiei shook his head angrily. "What do you want, Kurama? It's done with. Do you want me to say I'm not mad at you anymore?"

"I want you to stop being sad," Kurama answered, desperate to make Hiei understand.

"I'm not sad. I'm not content," the fire demon sneered at the word, "but I'm not sad."

"Liar."

Hiei sighed loudly through his nose, frustrated. "Kurama," he said warningly.

"There's Yukina," Kurama pointed out abruptly.

"Yukina?" Hiei's eyes opened, wide and adorably surprised. For once he looked his still quite young age.

"Yes. She cares about you, despite what you fear. She would miss you were you to die. And Kuwabara."

Hiei frowned. "The idiot hates me."

"No, he doesn't," Kurama said gently, noticing that he avoided talking more about his sister. "He just treats you as you treat him. There's also Genkai, Botan, Shizuru, Keiko, Koenma – and of course Yuusuke."

Hiei bristled very perceptively at the last name. "Most of those people hardly know me." He didn't bother to admit that Yuusuke was not one of those, not anymore. Kurama knew, because Yuusuke was just as important to him.

Kurama ignored the comment. "As for other lovers, well, there's Yuusuke again."

Hiei turned away, but not before Kurama saw his blush.

The fox grinned, sensing victory. "No? How about Koenma then?"

"Koenma?" Hiei echoed, gaping at him.

"Yes, I think that's just about right," Kurama remarked with approval. "Powerful enough that you wouldn't have to worry about restraining yourself, busy enough that you wouldn't have to worry about him being clingy…"

Hiei blushed brightly. "Isn't it blasphemy to think about a god like that?" he demanded, tone mild.

Kurama smirked. "Worried he might punish you? But then, that could be fun too."

The Jaganshi leaned down enough to look at him fully, clearly getting more flustered by the second. "Are you on drugs?"

"Just high on life," Kurama said, laughing happily. "And a little bit of lust. I have to admit you two would look good together."

Hiei folded his arms over his chest. "In that much of a hurry to see me with someone else?" he asked bitterly, cheeks still red.

Kurama softened. "No, but you deserve to be happy." He thought quickly, trying to steer Hiei away from the seriousness. "His bed is probably enormous, you know."

"Probably." He tilted his head thoughtfully. "And there'd no doubt be other perks as well…" Hiei blushed and looked down at Kurama accusingly. "Damn it, now you've got me thinking about it!"

"Admit it, the idea isn't entirely unappealing."

"Fine," Hiei huffed grudgingly. "When he's not playing the fool – and given his performance at the tournament I'll not believe that again anytime soon – his power level is somewhat attractive. Satisfied?"

"And his human form is pretty. You like pretty."

Hiei's blush renewed. "Yes," he admitted softly, "quite pretty."

Kurama smirked foxily. "Do you think he could use some of those binding spells in bed?"

The fire demon frowned. "Who knows?"

"You're not imagining it even a little bit?"

Hiei shrugged stubbornly, his discomfort getting more visible.

"Finally seeing what he's like under that act and his control?" Kurama pressed, wheedling.

Hiei squirmed more. "Kurama…"

"Imagining what he looks like under his clothes?"

He flushed. "How long are you going to play this game, fox?"

"Until you stop being mad at me."

"I'm not mad at you anymore," Hiei muttered grumpily.

"Oh?" Kurama leaned up against the tree trunk, curious and eager, his heart beating faster. He had hoped that he could get through to the fire demon, that it wasn't too late for them. He hoped that Hiei still thought of him as a mate.

"I just…" Hiei sighed heavily, glaring down at him, red eyes angry and hurt. "I warned you in the beginning that I don't trust easily. It wasn't just you offering your life to the mirror I was mad about; it was you helping Urameshi so easily!"

Kurama softened again. "And I told you never to ask me to pick between you and my mother."

Hiei frowned and looked away again.

They both had women in their lives that they would sacrifice anything for – his mother and Yukina. But their relationship had been new and they hadn't had time to find a balance where they would never have to sacrifice each other.

Kurama had known even back then that the betrayal would run deep. Hiei truly did not trust easily. He had spent his life being continually abandoned and deceived. Kurama had tried to offer him something Hiei had never gotten, that the fox understood only after living as a human – that unconditional love really existed. He thought Hiei missed that as much as he did.

To Kurama, Hiei was just as important. It was Hiei who had found him in the human world after becoming Shiori's son. He was the first person Kurama could be Kurama with, rather than the shy bookworm Shuuichi.

"Hiei, I am sorry that I hurt you," the fox said sincerely.

The little demon sighed, his shoulders slumping. "I… am too."

Kurama held his arms out in offering.

Hiei's expression softened. "Are you sure?" he asked, almost timid. "I'll probably just hurt you again later…"

"Better to love and be hurt than to be alone."

Hiei shook his head at what he perceived as Kurama's foolishness, the fox supposed. He jumped down, blushing as he landed in Kurama's waiting arms.

Kurama beamed and cuddled the younger demon close, possessive now that he finally had Hiei back. He nuzzled Hiei's fur-like hair happily. Through the long months since their first encounter with Yuusuke, he had wanted to do this again. To feel Hiei's warmth pressed close to him. Even worse during the Tournament, with their lives on the line, and Hiei fighting to control his black dragon. There had been a lot of close calls.

Hiei relaxed enough to smile. "You've grown a little bit."

"Oh?" Kurama carefully slid down to sit beneath the tree, cradling Hiei all the while. "I hadn't noticed."

The fire demon nodded against his shoulder. "You probably won't anymore though. You've started merging with your former self."

"Mm, I don't mind."

Hiei nuzzling the redhead's shoulder. "Neither do I, unless you start acting more like your former self as well. You begin sniffing other people's tails and I'll kill them."

The fox giggled. "Even if it's Koenma's?" he asked, unable to resist teasing.

"Kurama!"

"Is that a no?" Kurama giggled more.

Hiei gave him a mild look. "I was being serious, fox. I… I care about you too much, don't you understand? If we do this… I can't let you go, ever."

Kurama smiled. If it were anyone else, the obsessiveness might sound creepy, but he knew what a big move forward this was for Hiei. "I understand perfectly because I feel the same way, silly."

Hiei flushed adorably. "Oh."

"What if I invited him to join both of us?" Kurama asked softly, kissing his nose. He liked teasing Hiei too much perhaps, but he couldn't help it. Hiei was so cute.

Hiei gaped. "Fox…"

Kurama giggled, nuzzling and cuddling his lover. "You like the idea after all?"

The fire demon was truly not pouting. "You'd make having sex with a cactus sound appealing, idiot fox."

That got Kurama laughing. "Flatterer."

Hiei smirked. His Jagan eye flashed as he activated it shortly, sending the redhead his new mental image – of Kurama riding a cactus, his naked body somehow not harmed by the spikes.

Kurama gasped, giggling more. "Oh, Hiei!" His little demon was far kinkier than he liked to give himself credit.

Hiei's shoulders shook with quiet laughter. "You started it."

While their minds were still connection, Kurama concentrated and imagined Hiei and Koenma together.

Hiei flushed, as Kurama's imagination was much more detailed than his own. He squirmed. "Kurama…"

Then Kurama added himself to the image. He and Koenma had Hiei between them, kissing him, naked, and quickly moving onto other activities.

Hiei moaned softly, squirming more in Kurama's lap. "Fox."

Kurama purred, rubbing back against Hiei. He loved getting Hiei to shed his inhibitions as well.

"Enough, fox," Hiei panted. "I just want you, right now."

Kurama smiled, reaching for Hiei's belts. "I think than can be arranged, baby."

"And don't call me a baby. I'm not a child." He helped Kurama with the belts, wanting his clothes off.

"You're still my baby though," Kurama told him with a warm smile.

Hiei flushed and unbuckled his boots. They'd had this conversation about nicknames before, and it never ended in a way the fire demon preferred. Kurama's argument was that if Hiei was allowed to call him "fox" then he was allowed to call the fire demon something too.

Kurama gently tugged Hiei's pants down, movements slow and methodical. Since it had been so long, he wanted to take his time and memorize Hiei's frame again.

"Slow today?" Hiei asked mildly, kicking off his boots and pants.

"Mm, yeah…" He traced his fingers low over Hiei's stomach. "I've missed this too much to rush."

Hiei smiled, not really all that embarrassed to be mostly naked. Right now it didn't matter that anyone could walk by and see them. "Me too. Sorry for that…"

"Since it was partially my fault, I'll forgive you just this once."

"It won't happen again," Hiei said firmly. "Not if I can help it."

Kurama smiled at the promise. "Good, because if it did I'd have to tie you to the bed."

Hiei raised an eyebrow. "You won't tie me up anyway?"

"True. Alright, instead I'd have Koenma help me bind you to the bed."

Hiei flushed, letting his amusement show. "You were never this kinky before…"

"I had a lot of time to fill while you were away," Kurama told him with a mock pout.

Hiei softened. "We won't be parted that long again. At least not for that reason…"

"Agreed."

Smiling gently, Hiei ran his fingers loosely through Kurama's hair, earning a pleased hum from the fox. "I've been dying to touch your hair for months," he confessed sofly.

"I've been dying to kiss you," Kurama said with a smile, bending down to press his lips to Hiei's.

The gentle touches, quiet teasing, and words of adoration continued as they made love in the forest. They exhausted themselves and fell into a peaceful, sated sleep in that very spot.

Koenma waited until he was sure they were both sound asleep before creeping out of his hiding place. If he had been anyone else, they would have sensed the presence of someone watching them. The former god almost wished that they had, so that he wouldn't have seen quite so much. Flushed and frustrated, he returned to the temple.

TBC.