Chapter Four: An Alluring Scent
Dusk came all too soon for Hiei and much later than Khiva would have liked. After failing to talk himself out of it for most of the afternoon the fire demon finally decided it would be a good time to talk to Mukuro and stood up. Tucking his sword back through his belt and gathering his cloak around his shoulders, Hiei passed through his door and paused out in the hallway. It was dark like normal, but in a sudden impulse he waved his hand and the torches sprang to life, illuminating the bare hall. Finding he preferred that for some strange reason, the fire demon continued toward his lord's chambers.
Walking toward the hall that branched off to Mukuro's rooms, Hiei paused for a moment to look outside, where a blanket of darkness had settled over the land. A few stars struggled to shine overhead, but other than that the darkness was complete and muffling, choking any light that tried to penetrate it. For once Hiei didn't find it calming and continued on with a quicker pace, feeling his heart beating in his throat. Sooner than he expected he found himself at the hallway to Mukuro's chambers and vanished down it.
Stopping outside the door, Hiei's suspicions were aroused when he didn't see any of the guards usually stationed outside the lord's chamber. Cocking an eyebrow, the fire demon was about to knock when he felt an all to familiar demon energy that made his blood boil. What was that damned ferret doing? Hiei's heart sank when he realized Khiva had beat him to it. Growling under his breath, he turned to go, stopping when he sensed a sudden surge in Mukuro's energy. Just what was happening in there?
Before the fire demon knew what he was thinking his third eye had opened and he was searching for Mukuro's mind, which he tapped surprisingly easily. Judging by her distraction and the lack of a forceful boot from her mind it seemed the lord hadn't noticed his presence in her thoughts, which was just fine by Hiei. He was more fixated with what was going on.
Mukuro was seated on her futon looking at Khiva, who kneeled nearby. He was wearing his court clothes, a long white tunic. The edges were trimmed with gold and he was wearing a shimmering golden sash and a black shirt and pants underneath. A short sword was tucked through his sash. He sure was dressed to impress, Hiei thought to himself, but that wasn't what had confused him. Mukuro was watching the ferret with a sense of confusion that made her mind strangely foggy. Hiei was trying to sort through this when he heard Khiva speak.
"You know that I have always felt for you milady.
"I do know," Mukuro answered, and Hiei narrowed his eyes when she didn't make a smart or angry retort. If the rumors were true she had refused him just this morning, though that didn't seem the case now. In fact, as the fire demon delved through her mind, he could even sense feelings of excitement and anticipation at her words.
The fire demon's jaw dropped as Khiva knelt beside her and took her hand in his. For a moment he felt Mukuro anger and she almost slapped him, but something steadied her hand. She glared at him briefly before breaking into a small smile. This was what Khiva wanted and he kissed her hand, sending a spark of nerves through the lord's stomach. Then she growled under her breath when she realized what he had done and her fist clenched in her lap. He smiled at her and that feeling vanished again.
What was going on? Hiei was confused and angry at the same time. He had thought Mukuro hated Khiva; it had sure sounded like it when she spoke about him earlier. What was going through her mind? Hiei's mind reeled in disgust as Khiva sat down beside her and ran his hand through her hair. Obviously the ferret had no idea two minds were inhabiting this body. Then the demon noticed something he hadn't before and it startled him for a moment.
Snapping out of Mukuro's thoughts, Hiei knelt by her door and sniffed, immediately noticing the strange scent coming from her room. It wasn't something he had ever noticed before and for a moment it caused a huge feeling of elation to swell inside him, but that vanished momentarily. Reentering Mukuro's thoughts, Hiei's heart leapt when he realized Khiva was only a few inches from the lord and looked as though he was about to kiss her.
Mukuro's mind was racing. What the hell is he doing? she thought to herself. Whatever it is, it's wonderful! No, he had better get away before I kill him! I never wanted him…but he's so gorgeous…and its obvious he wants me… But I don't want him…I want…I want Hiei…
The fire demon's heart almost stopped. All this time she had been fooling him, had been hiding her true motives. For a moment he wanted to shout with joy but the reality of the present situation stopped him. Khiva had entranced her and was planning to make her his mate. He couldn't let that happen, not after what he had learned.
"Come on, think!" he muttered to himself, trying to remember everything he had ever learned about ferret demons. Something Kurama had once told him resurfaced in his mind and he mulled over it temporarily, putting pieces together.
"You've probably never heard of this Hiei, but many rodent demons have musk glands that can give off a particular odor. Foxes are very capable of it and it helped us earn our…well…reputations as being very sensual demons. You see…this aroma is a natural attraction to demons of the opposite sex and will make them practically fall head over heels for the demon who's they smell. We generally avoid it but in some desperate cases there have been demons that use it."
Could this be what Kurama had described? It was probably only working because Khiva was such a powerful demon. Mukuro had enough mental defenses that she could probably resist it, but Hiei had no idea how long Khiva had been in with her. He had to do something; Mukuro wasn't winning this battle, try as she might. But what could he do without physically being there?
"Usually the scent will wear off on its own, unless the demon keeps emitting it. But, however, if the demon is able to claim the female-" sleep with her, Hiei thought to himself, "-than the effects of the scent will be permanent. Like I said, not many demons prefer this method, but those that are desperate…"
Shit! What was he going to do? Backing down the hallway, Hiei charged and threw his shoulder against the door as hard as he could. The resulting thud echoed throughout the hallway and Mukuro's chambers, causing Khiva to look up in surprise and anger. The ferret smirked when he realized who had interrupted them and continued as though the fire demon had never done anything. Hiei cursed loudly and again tried to force his way through the door, only to bounce back with minimal effect. If Mukuro didn't want intruders she sure as hell kept them out.
"No!" the fire demon shouted as Khiva caught Mukuro's lips with his own, pushing her onto her back. He felt his knees give out and didn't try to catch himself as he fell to the ground. "You…you can't," he whispered, falling forward onto his arms and staring hopelessly at the ground. They were too far-gone, he could still see them through Mukuro's mind. Another minute and he would be too late.
"You can't!" Hiei shouted angrily, punching the ground with a curse. "Damn you Mukuro, can't you see? I love you!"
"Hiei?"For a moment Khiva faltered and he felt Mukuro tense beneath him. Pulling away and staring down at the lord, he saw the murderous gleam in her blue eye and swallowed visibly, backing away as cautiously and quickly as he could. She stood up after him and all his composure left him in a wave. Bolting for the door, he slammed it open and dashed by Hiei, who looked up in surprise. The fire demon watched in amazement as his rival reached the end of the hall and jumped out the nearest window. He could sense him running farther and farther away and again bit down a shout of joy.
Suddenly he remembered Mukuro and leapt to his feet as well. Vanishing and reappearing at the end of the hallway Hiei took off for his own chambers at a run and didn't even slow down until he got to his hallway. Glaring at the torches and making them go out, the fire demon slipped into his room and sank to the floor, rather winded. After taking off his cloak and tossing it into a corner with his sword he lay spread-eagle on the floor, too startled and amazed to do anything else. The scene from the past half-hour kept playing through his mind.
"She's cared about me all along," he whispered to himself, feeling an uncharacteristic sense of elation fill his stomach. And Khiva was gone! He had fled with his tail between his legs and wouldn't ever have the nerve to come back this time. "Heh, you were right Khiva. The better man does always win."
Slowly the rare smile Hiei wore slid away and he glared. He had watched demons that became involved with females and the results were always the same. They went soft and sank from even the most cutthroat assassins to submissive weaklings, tending to their mate's every will. It sickened him and he wouldn't see himself turn out that way. Mukuro was bound to find out that he had overheard eventually, and when she did he wouldn't be able to lie any more. He had no choice but to distance himself from her, maybe even leave for good.
"I don't want to leave," he whispered to himself, and could feel the sincerity in the statement. He wasn't fooling himself this time. "I can't stay here," he said to convince himself. "There'll be no living with her after this. If I leave tonight she'll never know." About midnight, he decided, because there was a good chance no one would even know he left.
Frowning, Hiei crawled over to his futon and lay down with his head toward the wall.
(would try and say something emo but finds she lacks the ability...)
Hiei: (evil eye)
