Chapter 4

"The men listened intently as Kira explained her plan, "The demon believed to be in possession of a shard of The Six is a duke with quite a reputation for being infatuated with ancient artifacts. The second most well-known fact about him is his obsession with beautiful women."

Kurama's eyes glinted, "I suppose that's where you come in?

She pursed her lips, "Yes, and I've got a mansion already set up as a front along with a fake identity as an heiress."

Kuwabara gaped at her, "So, you're, like, gonna kiss him and stuff?"

Kira grimaced, whether it was from the thought of kissing the duke or just the mere sound of the moron's voice, Hiei wasn't sure, "Hopefully, it won't come to that, but if it becomes necessary, then whatever it takes to get the job done." Hiei stared at her, a bit shocked. He had to give her determination and commitment some credit. It was rather impressive. He started when she suddenly pointed to him. "You are to pose as my bodyguard." She smirked, "With your history of working with Mukuro, it won't be too much of a stretch that you've taken a temporary job as muscle for hire." She paused a moment, staring intently at the bandanna on his forehead as though she could see through it to the Jagan, "I will need you to use your Jagan to find the piece of The Six and to monitor the guards' shifts." Her eyes glittered as Hiei started to speak. He felt rather indignant that his Jagan seemed to be all he was good for in this mission. "Unless, of course," she interjected, "You don't think you could handle that?"

Hiei couldn't believe it. This woman was punching his ego in the gut, molding him to her plan like soft putty. She knew that, with just that one question, he had no choice but to comply. He didn't know whether to hate her or admire her for it. Kira was quite the cunning fox. Just like her cousin. He smirked and folded his arms across his chest, "If that's all you think I can handle, then you need to get your information up to date."

Kira barked out a short laugh, "I think I like you. We might just get along." Hiei stared at her, dumbfounded. If he didn't know better, he'd say she was mocking him, but her eyes were unreadable, so he couldn't be sure. With a smirk, she continued, "Don't worry, you'll be more involved that that, but we'll get into that later." The humor slipped from her features as she turned to Kurama, "I would like to get together later and put together some plants that I can use."

Kurama smiled, "Of course. What's mine is yours."

Kira smirked, "As amicable as always, I see. I've never been able to decide if I love that about you, or hate it."

Kurama chuckled at that, "At least it hasn't seemed to affect your overall opinion of me."

"Not at all." Kira pulled out a rolled piece of parchment and spread it out on the table in front of them. Hiei listened raptly as she explained that it was a map of the mansion they were to infiltrate. Hiei was amazed by the authority and confidence in which she spoke with. The longer she went on explaining, the more he realized she spoke most directly to himself and Kurama. In fact, she seemed to be completely ignoring Yusuke and Kuwabara altogether. A quick glance told Hiei that they had noticed, too. This new development amused him greatly as the ex-detective's irritation grew steadily greater.

"Hey," Yusuke interrupted Kira mid-sentence. Slowly, she turned to him with an eyebrow raised in mild annoyance. Hiei glanced at Kurama who was eyeing his cousin warily. Yusuke went on, "I couldn't help but notice that you've been going on for a while, but you've yet to mention how Kuwabara and me fit into this plan of yours."

Kira narrowed her eyes, "That's because you don't fit."

Kuwabara's mouth dropped open, "What! So, we've just been here for nothin'? What the heck!"

"You better not be wasting out time." Yusuke bit out.

Kira scoffed, "Wasting your time? I don't need a couple of bumbling, loud-mouthed idiots blowing my cover and ruining everything. Or did you forget that every demon knows your face and even the slightest whiff of your ass will send them all running? You're here because I might have a use for you at some point and if you already know what's going on, I don't have to explain it later." Yusuke and Kuwabara stared at her, mouths open in disbelief, not really sure how to respond. They'd been insulted, but she had also had a point. Her ears flattened on her skull and she bared her canines at them, "Got it?" she snapped.

The two boys gulped and pressed themselves into the back of the couch and away from her. "Got it." They said simultaneously. Hiei heard Kurama sigh in relief as Kira leaned back over the map, her ears returning to a relaxed state. He wondered what Kurama had feared from his cousin. It had taken every ounce of his self control not to laugh when she'd called them idiots. He was glad that someone else had noticed it, too. He internally shook his head and refocused on Kira's plan. This woman was going to prove to be quite interesting. She'd already proved her competence and intelligence in one night.

He watched her tail flick back and forth and felt a smirk playing at his lips. What else did she have in store for them?

Most of the night had passed by tht time Kira dismissed them all and they dispersed for bed. Even so, dawn had barely risen and he was wide awake. It had forced him awake and Hiei was frustrated more than ever by it. Not only had it never been the cause for him to be awake before, but he also wasn't exactly thrilled to try and relieve it after his miserable attempt the other day.

He adjusted himself so that he was half leaning against the wall and yanked the sheet off, feeling hot and uncomfortable. Hiei imagined that it had everything to do with the full on erection that he had. He wondered if it had anything to do with that dream... soft skin, ebony hair, and a silky tail that wrapped around a pair of thighs...

The resulting throb was all he needed as confirmation. He clicked his tongue against his teeth. He'd actually had a sex dream and his body was reacting to it. How ridiculous. Even more ridiculous was the discomfort he was in because of it. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes with a sigh.

You're not going to get anywhere by just sitting there.

Hiei's eyes flew open at the sound of a woman's voice in his head. "Kira?" he asked out loud. It was her voice, of course. How could he not recognize it after listening to it half the night?

He heard her huff in his mind, If you're not going to do anything, could you at least try to control your pheromones? I'm going crazy over here. Hiei blinked a couple times, not sure how to respond to her. He stared at the opposite wall, trying to come up with a response.

Something occurred to him, "Why would you be going crazy over my... bodily function? It's not affecting you, why do you care?"

Seriously? I realize you are inexperienced with women, but you should at least understand the basics.

Hiei met her with silence, actually feeling embarrassed that he didn't know what she meant. It was quiet for such a long time that Hiei thought she was finally leaving him alone. He looked down at himself with a frown as it throbbed painfully, again. This thing was more trouble than it was worth. Too bad he needed it to piss. "Hmph," he said to himself and he moved to put his hand around himself. One more try couldn't hurt. Or it could...

Suddenly, his bedroom door flew open and Kira was standing there. The sheet was over his lap in a nano-second and Hiei felt his face heat as she closed the door behind her. Despite himself, he hoped she hadn't seen anything.

When she turned back to him, she looked about to say something, but froze as her gaze settled on him. A lustful grin spread slowly across her lips, "That's a good look for you." She chuckled as Hiei's eyes narrowed at her.

"Did you come in here for something? You weren't exactly invited." He bit out. The grin slipped from her face, but the heat stayed in her eyes as they seemed to gaze into his very soul. He shivered involuntarily.

"Do you know what happens between a male and a female?" she asked quietly.

Hiei scoffed, "I know what sex is and how it works."

Kira's lip twitched, "I'm sure you do, but what I meant was the chemistry that leads up to sex."

His eyes narrowed, "Chemistry."

"Yes, chemistry. Have you ever been around a woman while you were in heat and, no matter how much you resisted, you were drawn to her? The only thing you could smell, see, or hear was her?"

"I've never been around women during that time. I never desired finding a mate."

Her mouth fell open in shock, "You..." she quickly regained her composure and cleared her throat, "Well, anyway, males go through being in heat once a year, but females only go through it once every ten years. Whether one is desired or not, our bodies put out a heightened level of pheromones necessary to attract a mate. The same pheromone as the one we produce shortly before, during, and even after sex."

Hiei blinked at her, "I fail to see your point."

Kira huffed, rolling her eyes and placing a hand on her hip. Her tail twitched behind her, "You know, you males are lucky. Sure, you go through being in heat every year, but one month of half-crazed senses and you're done. It's not so easy on us females. Our senses start to heighten well before we actually go into heat. The desire we experience is so painful that, unless we have someone to relieve us, the whole month is torture. The effects even linger for some time afterwards. It may be once every ten years, but it's nearly hell."

She paused, her heat-filled eyes staring him down, "You said that you weren't affecting me. I'm telling you that you're wrong."

Hiei's eyes widened as it all started to sink in and it clicked. She's about to go into heat. His body unwillingly responded to the thought. She closed her eyes, breathing in deep, and swayed slightly. When she opened them, the sapphire color of them shone with lust as though they were made of the gem they so resembled. "I have an idea, Hiei." Like a predator stalking its prey, Kira approached his bed and leaned down, pressing her hands into the mattress.

It was then that he noticed what she was wearing. Which was hardly anything, if you counted the tight red night dress as something. It left little to the imagination, barely covering her breasts and perhaps reaching mid-thigh. Hiei swallowed hard as she leaned over and brought up a leg to climb up onto the bed. The edge of her dress hiked up higher and her tail came around to wrap around her thigh. Just like in his... dream. He tried to swallow again, but his mouth had gone dry. He knew he was in trouble because all he could think about was that damn dream and he knew his stupid body was responding to his thoughts.

Kira paused in her advancement, seeming to relish his scent.

"What's your idea, Kira?" he asked, which snapped her out of it.

That slow lustful smile from before returned to her lips, "I think we should form a kind of... symbiotic relationship." She began crawling over the mattress towards him, her hands placed on the outside of his legs.

"Symbiotic... relationship?" he knew what that was, but he was finding it harder to concentrate now that her hands were on either side of his hips and was straddling one of his legs. Their skin didn't touch, but the heat that passed between their bodies was impossible to miss. Their eyes locked together as Kira continued to crawl closer. Hiei tried to back up, but his back was already against the wall. For all the good it did him, he could only sit up straighter. There was no escape for him as Kira's face came up to his.

"Yes," she said huskily, "Like the crocodile and the plover. The little bird hops into the crocodile's mouth and gets a free meal while the crocodile gets it's teeth cleaned. A beneficial relationship for both sides." She lifted a hand to his face and he flinched ever so slightly. No one had ever touched him like this before. The sensation was completely foreign.

"And which of us is the crocodile?" Hiei asked as her hand trailed down his chest to his abdomen.

She let out a soft laugh, her canines peeking out over her bottom lip, "I wonder...?" He snatched her hand before it could go any further south and narrowed his eyes.

"Get out." He growled. He wasn't sure he liked what she was implying. He also wasn't interested in becoming a slave to his own body's useless desires.

Kira heaved a heavy sigh, "That's too bad. I'd really hoped we could have helped each other." In one fluid motion, she was off of him and headed for the door. Halfway there, she turned back and shrugged, giving him a mischievous grin, "Oh, well. Your loss." Kira's gaze traveled over his body, her eyes widening slightly, "Or maybe I should say it's my loss?" She giggled slightly, "You're rather... gifted, Hiei."

Hiei's gaze followed hers to find that, at some point, the sheet had shifted off of his body, fully exposing his still erect member. He growled in embarrassment and quickly covered himself back up. He glowered at her and she winked before turning back to the door. Suddenly, he could smell something fill the room. No, he could smell her. Whatever hold she'd had on her pheromones had been released. Purposefully, he was sure.

"My control is only going to get weaker and the scent is only going to get stronger as I get closer to being in heat. How long do you think you can hold out? Especially when we're going to be working so closely together and you have no way to find a release. You can run away, but I'll still be here when you get back." Her words had merit. If he was already reacting this strongly to her, how much worse would it get? They had a job to do, so she was right again. Running away wasn't an option. A temporary solution to an ongoing problem. It wouldn't work.

He almost hated himself for stopping her, "Wait."

Kira's hand froze on the doorknob. She glanced back expectantly. He grimaced. He'd played right into her hands and he didn't see any way out. Not yet, any way. "What did you have in mind?"

She grinned lazily, "I'll help you learn how to pleasure yourself and, in the process, help me vent my frustrations."

Hiei raised an eyebrow at her, "That's it? No sex?"

"That's it. No sex. Oh, and I do have one other condition."

"What's that?"

"Absolutely no falling in love."

He chuckled, "I don't think that will be a problem with me. Love and I are total strangers."

She grinned and came back to the side of the bed closest to him, "Good. Are we in agreement, then?" She held out a hand for him to shake.

"I don't seem to have a better option at this time." He took her hand and shook.

"Alright," grinning widely, she kept hold of his hand and turned it downwards, "Now take hold right here, like this..."

A/N:

Well, well! What a development! A lemon scented ending...hehe. Look out for the next chapter as things are about to really heat up! Lots of lemony stuff and also adventure, too, as Kira and Hiei attempt to locate that lost artifact. Stay tuned!

Please review~