Chapter 4
Green eyes opened in confusion, feeling movement under him, Kurama managed to roll over.
"You awake?" He heard.
"Hiei." The red head gasped as everything came back in focus.
"I'm fine." Hiei assured, he'd woke up just before Kurama, but laid there because of the dead weight on top of him. At first he'd panic thinking the red head dead, but then he'd felt soft breathing and calmed.
"What happened?" Kurama asked, sitting up and taking in their situation.
"I don't know…" Hiei said. "I passed out." He sat up and rubbed the back of his neck, wincing at the tenderness.
"We are alive. I guess that is a good sign." Kurama noted as he too rubbed his sore neck. "How do you feel?" He asked as he took in the fire demon's appearance.
"I feel fine, I feel…content, happy." Hiei said with a shrug.
"I as well." Kurama said with a small smile at the fire demon's choice of words.
"We will need to take it slow, we have no idea what will happen from here. I do not know what the marks mean now, or how they will work." Youko said. He was just as confused about what happened.
Hiei nodded his head. "I agree. I don't feel different, but…" He said, but paused, his eyes going wide as he seemed to realize.
"Hiei…what did you say?" Kurama asked as he too sat there with wide eyes.
"I agree with Youko, we have to…." Hiei paused again.
"You hear… me?" The yoko said with shock.
"I…" The fire demon's mouth opened and closed like a fish. He finally just nodded.
"Well, this was an unexpected…perk." Youko smirked.
"What do we do now?" Hiei asked.
They both sat there confused until Kurama finally said.
"We need to do some research. Maybe Genkai or Mukuro could help us find some information."
Hiei could only nod, still shocked and confused.
"Even though I will enjoy your company Hiei, I am not ready to share my 'mind' just yet." Youko said, putting up mental walls.
Hiei smirked at the fox and then noticed his state of clothing. "You ripped my pants."
"Sorry." Kurama blushed.
Taking them off, the fire demon crawled up to the red head. "Well now that they're off…." He mused and leaned in to kiss the pale lips. "Shall we pick up where we left off?" He asked, arching an eyebrow.
Feeling the heat rolling of the black haired, Kurama returned the kiss. Something felt different, he couldn't explain it, but he could feel Hiei's needs, the need to feel wanted, the need to belong, he had never felt that from him before.
Hiei felt something different too, the feeling of acceptance from the red head, something he had never actually 'felt' before.
The two continued to kiss as Kurama's clothes came off. When both were naked, Hiei sat up and said. "I think I owe you."
"What." Kurama said confused.
Hiei sat back on his heels, saying softly. "I have used you these past few months and I think it only fair. He leaned in next to an ear before whispering. "You use me." Seeing the look in the green eyes, he moved over and starting kissing him again.
Kurama moaned, flipping them so he was on top. "I think I can do that." He smirked and nipped a shoulder. "I think some 'conditioning' is in order." He said before moving on to torture the small demon under him.
The red head could not keep his hands off him. Hiei had denied him touching for so long. It was like he needed to make himself familiar with the fire demon all over again. The fire demon allowed the long fingers to roam, squirming as they caressed, pinched and probed his body, along with mouth and tongue, nipping and licking.
Suddenly everything stopped and crimson eyes opened to see lust filled green ones.
Kurama stood up, pulling Hiei to his knees by his hair. A deep, husky voice said. "I want that mouth."
Hiei smirked and positioned himself between the red head's legs. Looking up at the taller figure, he made sure he was being watched as he leaned in and licked the swollen member. Kurama's hands went to his shoulders for support as he again licked before taking him in his mouth.
"Oh Inari…how I longed to feel that mouth again." Kurama groaned.
After only a few minutes, Kurama pushed the fire demon away, growling. "Enough." He then sat down cross legged, pulling Hiei to his lap, making the small figure sit on his lap and placing a leg on either side of him. Wet fingers began probing and preparing for something more. Hiei just placed his hands around Kurama's neck as he was positioned and pushed down on the hard member. No movement was made as they took in the sensations.
Images and memories flooded both minds as they felt each other's pleasures. Youko's past with Kuronue flashed with feelings of love, wanting and belonging. Hiei thought he would never see these images again and it was a content feeling to see them after all this time. He also thought he would never miss being uke, but he did and planned on being uke more often.
The two never felt closer. All feelings and sensations were heightening to new levels as the marks on their necks flared, but did not hurt. Neither one knew what would happen now, but as long as they were together, they would face it as one.
When they reached their climaxes, both cried out, trembling as their releases were pulled from their bodies. After a moment of stillness and panting, Kurama managed to get up, still holding the smaller figure. He stumbled his way to the cave and placed them on the futon. It was getting dark and chilly out.
Getting his back against the wall, Kurama pulled a content, slumbering Hiei to his chest and covered them with the blanket.
After a few moments of catching his breath the red head said. "Hiei." And shifted so he could address the fire demon.
"Hn."
"Why are you doing this?" He asked.
Sitting up and looking into green eyes as best his could in the dark, Hiei asked confused. "What do you mean?"
"Well." Kurama tried to think of how to say it. "You wanted me to mark you. You surprised me with dinner one night, you helped me paint." He chuckled. "You even painted me and then earlier saying you owned me…I was just wondering…even before you marked me…it is really not your style…" He trialed off.
Hiei huffed.
"I did not mean to…." The red head didn't finish as a finger was placed on his lips.
"I know what you meant." Hiei said and turned away from the taller figure with a sigh.
"Hiei."
"Kurama." The fire demon cut him off. "A lot of things have changed over the past several years and I guess I had no choice but to change with them." He said softly.
"I do not understand?" The red head said.
Hiei huffed, trying to find the right words, finally he said. "When I was first thrown off the island and survived, my only goal was revenge. I wanted to live and become strong…strong enough to go and kill them for what they had done." He paused and Kurama just sat there. The fire demon rarely talked about his past and he was not going to say anything that would make him stop.
Hiei continued. "But when I realized I had a sister, which was the first change I noticed. I wanted to protect her at all costs, thus I had the jagan implanted to watch over her. When Toguro kidnapped her, I…I was scared for the first time in my life." He stopped and Kurama wrapped his arms around him. Taking the comfort the fire demon continued.
"Anyways, the day I met you, was also a day of change. You saved me and from there I met Yusuke and the rest, as they say, is history. I guess what I'm trying to say is." Again he paused, trying to find the right words. "I had no sense of purpose, until now. After the underworld tournament and becoming Mukuro's heir, what's left? I had wanted to take over all three worlds, but now I'm heir to a large portion of the Makai and have no interest in the Ningenkai. I actually owe Koenma for allowing me probation, under you…which I will deny, if you say anything." He added quickly causing Kurama to smile. "What is left for me now?" He didn't wait for an answer. "Yukina is happy and safe, I will be a Lord someday and so…it's time for me to settle down. Settle down with someone and have a life I thought I'd never have or thought I deserved." He looked up at the red head when he was finished.
"Amai…I….." Kurama didn't know what to say so he just hugged the fire demon closer.
Wanting to get off the topic Hiei said. "Hn and besides…you know I don't like being bored." And leaned up to kiss the pale lips, receiving a moan.
After some more kissing, Hiei asked his own question. "And what about you?" Receiving a raised eyebrow, he added. "You said there were some things you had to accept, what are they?"
"I needed to accept Youko." Kurama said with a shrug. "Every time I fight, I draw off his ki and rei. Without him, my powers are just not strong enough, I never thought about it, so…." Again he shrugged.
"I'm glad you two are working things out." Hiei said.
Nothing more was said as they succumbed to sleep. They woke a few times so Kurama could renew the mark and their love for each other and Hiei even got to spend time with Youko. It was going to take some getting use to, for it wasn't going to be anything like before, for this relationship was on a whole different level.
a)a)a)a
"Urameshi…wait up will you." The orange haired yelled, dodging branches as he followed the raven haired.
'I've got to see if they're okay.' Yusuke thought, not answering the taller boy. He had not heard from either of them and had to know if they were alive. The raven haired knew what was supposed to have happened yesterday and could not help but worry for his friends. He decided to go to the temple around lunch and see if anyone had seen the two and arrived just as Kuwabara was talking to Genkai about feeling strange ki all night.
Coming to a clearing, Yusuke stopped to pickup something off the ground. Kuwabara came to a halt beside him and looked at the object in his hand, it was a bloody shirt. Looking around they saw a bloody tunic and a few things they couldn't recognize.
Kuwabara coughed and said. "Are those…?"
Realizing they were near the cave, Yusuke started walking towards the entrance, praying he would not come upon his friends dead bodies.
Before he got any closer, two figures emerged from the foliage, causing Yusuke and Kuwabara's eyes to widen in surprise.
Kurama and Hiei stood there with a blanket wrapped around them. The blanket covered Hiei from the arm pits down, but only covered to the middle of Kurama's chest. It was a funny sight as one could also see they had been up to something, say 'a roll in the hay.'
"Is there a problem?" Kurama finally broke the silence.
Fighting a smile, Yusuke said. "No, just…Kuwabara felt this weird energy and I knew about…anyways looks like you both survived so…sorry to interrupt." The raven haired turned, grabbing the taller boy, who had started studying a tree when the two came out of the cave with only a blanket covering them.
"Yusuke." Kurama said.
The boy turned.
"Thank you." The red head said.
"For what?" Yusuke cocked his head, confused.
"Tell you later." Kurama said with a smile, placing an arm around the fire demon.
"Take your time." Yusuke said, shaking his head and holding up his hand in a wave. He began walking away with Kuwabara following.
"Are you going to explain what's going on with them?" Kuwabara asked.
"Trust me, you don't want to know." Yusuke laughed as he patted the boy on the back.
(Three years later)
"You're spoiling her." Keiko said watching her daughter giggle, again.
Kurama just smiled and pulled yet another flower from his hair, handing it to the child whose small hand clasped around it to place it with a stack of others.
"It is my right." Was all the red head said as he watched the child pull at the many petals.
Anyone watching the gang, who was sitting in a back booth of the restaurant, would just have assumed the red head was a good magician at the way he seemed to make flowers magically appear from his hair.
Keiko just laughed and walked away from the table to wait on others. The restaurant was not that crowed this time of day, but they always had a few people who came after the rush.
Hiei looked up and smirked, he was sitting with his back to the window frame with his legs crossed on the red head's lap. He'd had his nose stuck in a book. His smirked had followed after he'd felt the red head's hand caress his leg. He'd felt the hand before and each time he'd looked up, was to see the red head talking casually, he seemed to be doing it subconsciously. Hiei didn't mind though, they had both become more touching feely, well he had, Kurama always was.
Their relationship had settled into a 'normal' routine. No one was 'master.' No one forced the other to do anything they didn't want to. They just did what they wanted, when and how they wanted it. Even after these three years, they were still learning just what they had done and what consequences there maybe. One consequence they noticed right away was they didn't like being apart from each other, so much so, that when Hiei had to go to the Makai, Kurama went with him. Kurama didn't have to be 'with' him. Just being in the same world was enough. They had talk to Genkai and Mukuro, but even with their help, no new information had been found about the markings, at least on what they had done.
"Okay there, why don't you take those to the back and see if your mom can salvage some of them." Yusuke said. Helping his raven haired toddler off the bench and gather her flowers.
After the child waddled away, Kurama said. "She looks more like you everyday Yusuke."
"Psss….don't remind me." Yusuke said, rolling his eyes.
"Are you planning to have more children?" The red head asked.
"Yeah." Yusuke said, fiddling with his empty coffee cup.
"You don't sound so sure." Hiei said, moving his legs and sitting up.
"Well, we're doing fine with Rosalina, but." Yusuke shrugged. "I don't know."
"If I may say so Yusuke, you are an excellent father and will continue to be no matter how many children you have." Kurama said.
"Thanks." Yusuke smiled. "What about you guys?" He asked.
"What about what?" Hiei asked back with a raised eyebrow.
Kurama smirked, answering. "I believe Yusuke wants to know if we plan to have children."
"And just how do you expect us to 'have' these children…detective." Hiei growled.
"I don't know…adopt." Yusuke said.
"Adopt?" Again Hiei's eyebrow rose.
"Hiei." Kurama said, turning to explain. "It is not unheard of for two males to adopt a child that has no parents. We would become the parents and raise the child as our own."
"I will not be a parent to a ningen child. I don't like being around them when their grown so…" Hiei said.
"I'm sure Kurama would make an excellent parent." Yusuke said.
"I'm not going to argue that, it's just…" Hiei started to say, but Kurama cut in, turning back to the raven haired.
"Yusuke, I have to agree with Hiei."
"What, you don't want a ningen child." Yusuke looked hurt.
"How could we raise a child that we would out live, watching him or her age and then trying to explain why we are not aging…?" Kurama said
"Oh." Yusuke mouth formed. "That would be a problem." He said, now understanding.
"And I do not think Koenma would like…" Kurama began to say, but then turned to the fire demon to finish. "Hiei and I having a demon child running around the Ningenkai."
"And Kurama will not leave here until his mother has…" Hiei said.
"I get it." Yusuke said and then added. "Well, I guess for now, you two will just have to spoil mine." Yusuke said.
Kurama just smiled at Hiei, Rosalina was starting to show signs of spirit energy…well at least according to Kuwabara and the red head thought he and Hiei could help her 'harvest' it.
"What are you two up to?" Yusuke said, watching the exchange between the two.
"Oh…nothing." Kurama said with innocence. The two's mental connection was so opened now they knew what each other were talking about without saying a word.
(Around the same time frame in the Mori no Hitei Forest)
It had started to rain. Why did it always seem to rain on a day of mourning? Was it the gods' way of dealing with sorrow, or was it the deceased's tears, their last way of saying 'good-bye,' of sorts? Who knew?
Yasekoketa sighed as he looked down at the simple grave. It had taken him several hours of digging to get it deep enough so someone, or something, could not defile it so easily. Only two placed rocks marked the top of the site he had chosen to bury her and the child he thought deserved to be with her, in its mother's arms, the two laying as one.
"Well, I guess I should say a few words." The doctor said as the rain picked up. "I promised I would take care of them and that still stands even though I failed your daughter, I will raise your son to the best of my abilities, you have my word." Fidgeting with the hat in his hands, the doctor let out a big sigh and continued. This part was hard to say. "I'm sorry…but I will be leaving here. I need to leave this place, for you see…I have failed the villagers as well." His hands clinched the hat tighter. "This damn epidemic, who knew it would affect mostly females and I tried everything…you have to believe me." He prayed that she had before the end.
Falling silent, he stood there as rain washed down his face, if he'd thought about it, he'd of realized there were some tears mixed with it as he thought about the time they had been together. Both had become comfortable here, just concentrating on raising the kids, and thus a few years flew by in a blink.
"Well, what more can I say." He finally said. "I…I had started to care for you very much over these months and have always cared for the children, I…I'm sorry Taiga." He finished.
Reaching in a side pocket, Yasekoketa held up a necklace, saying. "I don't know what this meant to you, but you never took it off. I hope you don't mind, but I thought your son deserved to have something to remind him of you, so I'll make sure he understands you'd treasured it."
He thought back to how many times he saw her fingering the gem, lost in thought. He knew it was an ice maiden's tear gem, not a real one, but a good replica, it looks perfect, except for the center flaw.
Turning to the small confused boy standing beside him, now soaked to the bones as the rain continue to fall, he held out his hand. "Let's go Kuma." He said taking a small hand in his and leading the boy to a loaded cart full of items they had managed to acquire during their stay at the cave. Picking up the boy and placing him amongst the items he added. "There is nothing left for us here, it's time for a fresh start."
End Chapter 4
The End
Continues in: Life continues: Through No Fault of Your Own
