Sorry about my long delay. On top of keeping up with my college projects, my computer's been on the fritz. I'll be taking it to a computer shop to get the bugs out, so I may not update for a while. For now, enjoy the chapter.

Chapter Four- The Search

"Oh, come on Botan1 There has to be a way to cure a vampire without killing it!"

"Sorry, Yusuke. Exposing the vampire to sunlight or driving a stake through the brain are the only listed methods."

"Unacceptable! I know there's a way! There's has to be!"

"Why are you so keen on curing a vampire? You usually rather kill a menace to humans."

Yusuke hesitated. He didn't mention Kurama, due to his determination to find a cure. Should he tell Botan? No reason why he shouldn't. Before he could say anything, Botan cut in.

"Yusuke, was Kayko turned by a vampire?"

"No. But Kurama was."

"Why didn't you say so in the first place?"

"Because I was more concerned about a cure!"

"Well, there isn't one!"

"Then, Kurama's stuck?"

"I'm sorry. If I knew a way, I'd tell without hesitation."

"We should at least tell Hiei. He deserves to know."

"I would give you The Mystic Whistle in order for him to come to you, but he broke it when I last used it."

"And he can confuse the compass so that won't work. Guess I'll have to find him the old-fashioned way."

"Meanwhile, I'll go to Spirit World and check to make sure there isn't a cure."

"Check every type of vampire on record. Kurama says he loses control when he doesn't drink for a long time."

"Sounds like he was turned by a demon vampire. Those types are devious and are hard to kill because they can hide in the shadows quite easily.:"

"What else do you know about them?"

"Demon vampires drink human blood like most vampires, but they crave demon blood even more. The mere scent of a demon can make them lose control of themselves. You're lucky Koenma didn't give you a case in tracking one."

"Even more lucky is that Kurama prefers drinking to denying himself of it."

"Yes, it is."

Kurama hid in the shadows of a deserted alley, watching the humans as they passed. Seeing them go about their lives made him sad. He lost his humanity and was now an undead demon. Kuwabara had come by after talking with Botan and told him her theory of being a demon vampire. He also said Yusuke was hunting down Hiei to tell him the news.

A scent reached Kurama's nose and he sniffed again. A demon was nearby. This fact caused a familiar sensation to envelope his mind. He was losing control again! The unsuspecting demon victim was driving him crazy!

'He's close. Just a few more steps.' When the victim made those last steps, Vampire Kurama swiftly and silently snagged the demon and sunk his fangs into the neck. The sweet-tasting liquid entered his mouth and into his system. Oh, and what a sweet taste it was! Much better than the human victims he had in the last month.

"Kurama!" his victim cried.

Startled that his victim knew his true name, Kurama regained control of his mind and pulled back. His former victim whirled around and Kurama was staring into the red eyes of Hiei.

"What in the Makai was that for?" the short demon demanded, rubbing his neck.

Kurama licked his lips to remove the last traces of blood from them. "Well, you see, it's like this. I was turned by a demon vampire."

"You're not serious."

"I am serious. I bit you, didn't I?"

"That's hardly proof. There are a lot of demons that bite others."

"Alright. Here." He held out his wrist and put Hiei's fingers on it. He waited a minute before saying, "Feel anything?"

Hiei frowned. "No."

"No pulse and yet I'm still breathing."

"Okay. That's proof enough for me." Hiei smirked. "By the way, there's still blood on your fangs."

Retracting his teeth into his mouth, he ran his tongue across the fronts, cleaning them.

Hiei smiled inwardly. 'Overlooking the need for blood, the vampire look makes Kurama kind of...cute.'

"Hiei, do you know anything about demon vampires?"

"Quite a bit, actually. No control when smelling a demon is one fact."

"I can vouch for that."

"There's also the craving for demon blood."

"You can testify to that."

"Here's one you probably didn't know." Hiei grinned. "You didn't kill me, so that makes us mates."

"It-it does?"

"Yes." Hiei siddled up to the vampire. "And I, for one, don't mind a bit."

Kurama's head whirled at this latest twist. Not killing a demon while feeding made him/her the vampire's mate! And Hiei didn't mind! Obviously, Hiei loved Kurama before his change and his bite made this love even more liable.

"Hiei, I admit that I loved you for a long while."

"I had my suspicions."

Kurama pulled the fire demon to his chest and buried his nose in his midnight black hair, inhaling the scent of fire as well as the blood that leaked from the mark. The blood's scent aroused the vampire's senses. "Hmm...want me to lick off the excess blood from your neck?"

"Yes, please."

Grinning, Kurama leaned down and delicately licked the blood off the skin, prompting a moan of pleasure from his mate. Aroused, Kurama licked at the neck's skin, carefully avoiding the mark, lest he ended up turning him. The only response was more moaning and Hiei's arms wrapping around his neck. Kurama could have stayed this way forever, except for one thing.

Pulling back, Kurama said softly, "I must go. The sun's about to come up."

"Meet me in the park tonight, okay?"

"Agreed." With one last lingering look, Kurama headed for home.

Aww! Kurama and Hiei. My fave slash pairing. Next time: Will Yusuke find Hiei and "tell" him about Kurama? Will Botan actually find something she overlooked? Stay tuned.