A/N: As most of you know, I actually wrote this about four years ago. Rereading it, I find it weird how I keep switching between third and first person POVs. I feel like I had my reasons, but I'm not sure now what they were. Anyway, thanks SOSO much to my reviewers, I love you all! Hope you don't mind the weird pov change.

Bleeding Hearts
By Yami no Kokoro
Chapter 4

3rd person POV

Hiei lay in bed that night trying, and unable, to find rest. The embrace that Mukuro had offered had been turned away, as the thought of her touch for some reason seemed unbearable.

But why? He'd never had qualms before, and Mukuro was obviously well enough experienced in such matters to make it enjoyable.

It was the dream, he was sure of it. No matter how many times the demi- koorime had tried to force the image of the drowning fox from his mind it stubbornly remained . . .

'And I can't sleep with Mukuro when I'm thinking of Kurama . . .' Wait, why not? The foolish human sentiments were rubbing off on him. 'Just because I love Kurama it doesn't mean-' his mind froze as he realized the words that had slipped through his through his thoughts.

'Love . . . no. Loved. I don't love him anymore, because he chose the Ningenkai . . .'

But what was it that Kurama had said to him so long ago when they'd first kissed?

9 MONTHS EARLIER

For a moment Hiei simply accepted the fox's lips, so suddenly pressed against his. It wasn't unusual for partners in the Makai to become more than that, so Kurama's kiss hadn't been entirely unexpected.

The emotions, though, that were coursing through the actions like their own life force, were. The embrace was overwhelming, both chaste and demanding, and the koorime pulled back quickly, reeling from the shock of all the feelings that a simple kiss could convey.

Looking up he saw that Kurama's eyes were still closed, a sad expression on his gentle features.

"I'm sorry." He murmured softly, and Hiei shook his head, not understanding.

"What are you talking about, fox?"

The kitsune opened his eyes slowly, but lowered them to the ground, as though he was afraid to look the koorime in the eye.

"I'm sorry I did that, Hiei. I shouldn't have . . . it can only make things worse."

Worse . . . had things been bad? The demi-koorime may not have been the most observant demon in the three worlds when it came to social situations, but he would have noticed if things hadn't been fine between the two of them, wouldn't he?

And if Kurama thought that something was wrong then why would he have kissed him?

Kurama raised his deep green eyes and took a small breath, before closing them tightly.

"Kissing you only makes me want you even more."

The smaller demon crossed his arms.

"So, what's the problem?" If Kurama wanted Hiei and the koorime wasn't objecting then he couldn't begin to fathom what was making the fox look so sorrowful.

'The emotion in the kiss . . .'

"Perhaps I've been living in the Ningenkai too long, and I know how you feel about weak human emotions, but I haven't been able to force this back despite how hard I've tried."

Hiei's eyes widened as he slowly began to realize the fox's meaning. But that was wrong . . . Kurama couldn't . . .

"I . . . I want you so much, Hiei, but I want you mind, body and soul. You can hate me if you want to, and you can leave and never return. Whatever you decide, though, know this. I've fallen in love with you, Hiei."

The smaller demon took a step back, the shock of hearing those words directed at him of all people, was too much. And what was more, he could hear the truth in the words, could sense it even through his closed Jagan.

"And love, I've learned, is something you can't force away through anger or fear. I'm sorry, Hiei, but I can't do this if you just want a body to release your lust with. Perhaps Yoko would have accepted that, but I won't, because I'm afraid that if you use me and leave me then my heart will shatter."

He'd once again lowered his gaze, voice softening until it was just below a whisper.

The embarrassment he felt, the shame of his weakness, was obvious even to Hiei's two unveiled eyes, but the jaganshi stood frozen, still trying to comprehend the meaning behind the emotion, the depth of feeling behind that ningen word - love.

Kurama nodded slowly as he failed to respond, and turned away.

"Wait!" Why was the thought of letting Kurama walk away like this suddenly so unbearable? The kitsune paused, and glanced back.

"I . . ." Suddenly words failed him. What could he possibly say to describe the painful clench in his heart? "Fox, I . . ."

He growled in frustration as he seemed to lose the ability to speak. Well, forget these words. If he was suddenly incapable of talking then he'd let the kitsune know what he was feeling another way.

Moving forward, he grabbed Kurama's shoulders, turning his body to face him. Then, still gripping his arms almost painfully, he leaned up and pulled the fox down into a kiss, trying desperately to convey whatever it was he was suddenly feeling.

After a moment's pause he felt Kurama smile against his lips, and loop his arms around the smaller demon's neck.

Good, he understood.

At least one of them did.

PRESENT

Hiei turned once more anxiously on his bed, hating how the feeling he'd had then could just return so strongly at the mere memory of it. It was a word he'd long since learned a word for. What he felt for Kurama was indeed love, that foolish ningen emotion that had given them both such untold bliss and heartache.

/And love, I've learned, is something you can't force away through anger or fear./

He had been so sure that he'd erased that feeling from himself completely, but he couldn't.

And whether Kurama still cared about him or not, he couldn't let the possibility that his dream was telling the truth remain unchecked. So it was settled.

He'd return to the Ningenkai tomorrow.

He was only worried about how Mukuro would react.

.-.-.-

"Yeah, so?"

Hiei narrowed his eyes as the woman shrugged, continuing to sign some random papers offhandedly.

"Well . . ." The koorime was somewhat at a loss of what else to say. He'd walked into her office without leave several moments ago, and had bluntly stated that he was leaving the Makai. He'd expected somewhat of a larger reaction. "I figured you should know." He finally muttered, and she nodded.

"Well, good. Oh, will you be coming back? I don't really want to have been training a new heir for nearly a year for no reason."

Hiei, had he been anyone else, would have blanched right then, but as it was he simply blinked and replied.

"I'm coming back, Mukuro. I just need to check on some things in the ningen world."

"Or some people." She added easily, laying down her latest paper frowning at a new one.

"What are you talking about?"

The woman raised her good eye to meet Hiei's condescendingly, as though she was sure he knew quite well what she was talking about.

"Come on, Hiei. I can't count how many times you've murmured his name while sleeping in my bed. You're in love with that fox, Kurama."

The koorime considered denying the fact, but his teacher knew him too well to be fooled by any lie, so he simply replied,

"And you don't care?"

"That the great Hiei has been weakened by love, perhaps, but otherwise why would I?" Shaking her short red hair out of her eye she offhandedly signed another document. "Honestly, Hiei, what did you expect from me, jealousy?"

"Hn." Had he? He really had been spending too much time around ningen. Mukuro was his teacher, and a good companion, but life had hardened her too much for love, like it almost had for the koorime. They were quite similar in many aspects. That, perhaps, was why nothing more could ever come of their relationship than the physical. It would take someone open to get close to them, someone like Kurama, who was warm and loving and patient . . .

"I honestly didn't expect you to stay here without leaving for as long as you had anyway." The woman continued. "Just come back for more training by summer. I don't want to give up my kingdom to someone who knows so little it topples immediately." She glanced up, smirking, knowing that the gibe would get to the koorime, and she was right. He bristled and turned away.

"Hn, just make sure it doesn't fall apart in my absence. I want something left to inherit."

"I'll do just fine, Hiei." She replied evenly, and nodding, he left. She turned to another proposal, vetoing it and sighing.

"And good luck. Seven months is a long time to leave your love waiting, Hiei. Don't get your heart broken, I won't have a lovesick heir."

Unfortunately, Hiei was gone, and missed his master's advice.

TBC