The plot is getting clearer. Please pardon the grammar mistakes. I'll try to edit when I see them. Please review if you have the time.

Part 1

Shit.

This body had been injured, to the point of nearly dying, but its throbbing had never been as awkward. It had bled liters of blood, but it never looked as disgusting. Whenever he moved his limb, the pain was slicing. It had been several hundred years since he felt like a virgin.

At an early age, sleeping with random demons was a job he performed effortlessly. There were only very rare instances that it was exciting. For somebody like him, sex was almost uninteresting. But his human should have fucked somebody at least. He should have thought that an incubus would rob him of his second chance for a cheesy first time.

How he hated incubi. They always managed to slip past through his defenses. Of all demon types, he loathed them the most.

He searched for the bed cover; it lay on the floor, scattered with his trouser. He winced as he set foot on the ground, and cursed as the pain shot up as he attempted to stand. He faltered once, but quickly supported himself on the headboard. He frowned when more semen, mixed with blood, dripped on his legs. Avoiding the mess on the floor, he made his way to the bathroom.

It did not matter if the tiled floor was cold. He stepped on it barefoot, and went straight to the shower. He turned the knob for hot water, and stood motionless with both hands on his face. When the cold water turned warm, and then scalding hot, he remembered to adjust the setting.

He focused on his breathing and on the tepid water shower. Sometimes, he rubbed his face, and returned to standing still. He remembered the sleep paralysis last night. There were also ambiguous footprints that he carelessly dismissed as Hiei's. He should have taken a clue… especially that incubi easily roamed the human world. Although there were few that opted to stay in Makai, most of them liked here better. Technically, they weren't allowed to be here, but because of their nature and skills it was easy for them to hide themselves.

Shit.

He did not enjoy being abused when unconscious that was why he hated incubi. It was difficult to defend himself from an enemy who was most powerful against a sleeping target. They planted themselves in the subconscious, completely getting past any outside defenses. When it came to their kind, no matter how many plants he set up, it was checkmate.

Fuck.

Incubus rarely went after him; after all, it liked females more. It was often a succubus that attacked him, but at least his asshole was safe. It was true that most of his sexual encounters were with male demons, but at least he knew what was happening. And just by knowing, he was accountable. And by being accountable, with or without consent, it was less shitty.

But what's done is done. Kurama sighed, heavy and long, and began cleaning himself.

Part 2

She had a consistent schedule. In the early morning, she was amongst the patrol—reminding them of their responsibilities, scolding them for any yesterday's slip-up, and joining them until noon when it was time to return to her room. By the afternoon, she was with the patrol again to briefly observe them, and escaped somewhere else to train. So Hiei waited till noon to talk to her.

As expected, she was in her room. Usually, she lay on the bed uncaringly. But today she stood by the window and did not bother to acknowledge his presence. She stopped hiding her features with bandages. It was no longer necessary. So her hair was freely swaying with warm and dry foehn wind. Her face also easily revealed her calm.

"There is something I want to know." Hiei leaned on the closed door. Usually, he casually plopped himself on the velvety wing chair.

Mukuro did not answer. It was a sign that he should go on.

"Tell me what you know about Youko Kurama."

Mukuro turned to him, but her face was unreadable.

"Did you know him?"

She smirked and snorted, and went back looking outside the window. "Why not ask him? Aren't you partners?" The last word was uttered sardonically.

"If I could simply ask him, then I wouldn't be asking you."

"Why can't you simply ask him?"

"He won't tell me everything." Hiei kept his cool.

"Then he doesn't want you to know."

"That's why I want you to tell me." Hiei was used to this. He did not know what satisfaction it brought her, but Mukuro enjoyed mocking him. Even during sex. At times that it became exasperating, he took a break and stopped coming to her. And then he returned, and she mocked him again for returning. It was an endless cycle. [A/N: women…]

"Why do you want to know?"

"I watched the black chapter. He was there."

Finally, Mukuro turned to him. "Why do you bother yourself with such useless item?"

"I don't care about that bloody tape," Hiei spoke between gritted teeth. "But he was there."

She looked quizzical, but said nothing.

"He said he was caught. Nothing out of the ordinary."

Her lips formed an ooh, but she just kept staring at him.

"So tell me how he lived. Did you know him?"

Mukuro smirked as she looked away. "Yomi knew him better. But Raizen knew him best."

Hiei frowned. He knew Kurama's history with Yomi. But why did she drag Raizen's name in this?

"Raizen lived longer. He lived longer than me. He lived longer than Youko Kurama," she paused and seemed to be contemplating. "But, of course, he's dead."

"What do you know about him?"

She smiled. "He's a bandit, so we chased him. He's beautiful, so they chased him." Mukuro faced him again, her hand on her chin as if studying him. "He's a delicacy, so they wanted a piece of him. He's the only male fox demon alive, so he raked a high price." She snorted a laugh. "But every demon's a prey, anyway. It's natural to be nonchalant about being caught."

Kurama and Mukuro both insinuated that losing from time to time was trivial. That it was nature's law. Of course, Hiei knew that only the strongest survived. Everybody had unpleasant past. He was thrown away by his clan. Mukuro suffered from the scum that was her step-father.

But he sought for revenge. And when he witnessed the pathetic state that his clan ended up with, he was satisfied. Mukuro hated Chikyo. Wrath was written all over her face at the mere mention of his name. And she was able to take revenge. But Kurama? Was he really satisfied just escaping that cavern?

"You're blinded."

Hiei frowned.

"You're stuck on that black chapter. In your mind, all you see is him as a captive. Have you not considered? Kurama is strong. At least, Youko Kurama was. He'd probably killed most of those who chased him. Just because you suddenly saw him weak, you underestimated him?"

He was at lost for words. As much as he hated it, everything she said made sense. Did Kurama not say that he already won for being alive? That revenge was unnecessary because they did not truly hurt him? The Kurama on that tape was just the same Kurama on the Dark Tournament ring. It was the same Kurama on the Makai Tournament stage. He was mainly injured, but he triumphed.

There was no need to worry.

Kurama is strong.

But still… something did not feel right. He noticed Mukuro studying him, but he asked no more. Instead, he slouched on the chair and pretended to take a nap. But her words echoed in his head. "You're the one who wanted revenge. You're the one who is hurt."

Part 3

Kurama decided to take a break. True, it was only Tuesday. But the events that transpired had taken a toll on his psyche and concentration. He made a mental list of the things he needed to do.

First, he had to clean his room. He already collected the laundry that included last night's bed sheets and covers. He already cleaned the carpet. When he scanned his room, it was actually already clean. He sighed.

Then he should cook his lunch. He had ramen at Yusuke's for dinner so he had no left over. At the thought of food, his stomach grumbled. He forgot to eat breakfast. He spent more than an hour cleaning himself, and spent another hour glaring at himself in the mirror, repeatedly cursing the nameless incubus.

Kurama checked the fridge for something to cook. He had little stocks left. He normally did the grocery on Sundays, but his Sunday was crap. He decided to visit the market after lunch. He grabbed his stock of pickled vegetables, and the only remaining piece of frozen fish.

I'll buy me some dessert. I want cakes and puddings. He hummed.

He just finished turning the rice cooker on when the phone rang. Hearing Yusuke's voice, Kurama smiled.

"Whoa!" Yusuke greeted. "So you're really home! I called your work and they said you're sick. You lied last night!"

Kurama chuckled. "Rather, I lied today. I just don't feel like coming to work."

"Wow, that's new."

"Uh-huh. You're coming over?"

"Hell, yes! I'm closing the stand early so wait for me. I'll bring ramen for dinner."

Yusuke's ramen, cakes, and puddings! He sang inwardly.

"Sure. Just don't take too long like the last time. I might fall asleep," he bit his lip, and frowned. Sleeping was the last thing he wanted to do right now. The sleep paralysis and last night's incident couldn't be a mere coincidence. It might happen again. How should he protect himself? He frowned.

Being with another person was not really helpful at all—even if it were Yusuke. Although an incubus of any class could only assault one individual at a time, its sleep paralysis could simultaneously affect two individuals at least. Stronger and more experienced incubi could sleep paralyze more individuals, and the strength and range of their skill also increased. But any incubus was a threat.

Except Kuronue*. He was an incubus, but he did not live as one. His skills as incubus remained dormant until he died. But being an incubus, he was invulnerable against incubi-induced sleep paralysis. It helped Kurama a lot.

"Yeah. Make sure you have beers for me." He could hear Yusuke's grin over the line.

"Right. And don't put on hair gel today. It takes ages to wash it off."

Yusuke chortled. "Aye, aye! See you soon!"

"Yes. See you later."

"And rest well today."

Kurama smiled, and thanked his friend before he put down the line. He returned to the kitchenette.

It might not be of much help, but at least he'd be more relaxed with Yusuke around. But eventually, he had to think of a better measure.

He sneered.

He had been trying to come up with one for many decades! But because he met comrades who were useful against incubi, he stopped being bothered. Besides, even though he was defenseless against them, incubi liked attacking females more. They only attacked him when they needed something from him, or when they wanted to catch him. Incubi were the best demons to abduct targets unharmed.

He frowned. Of course, that's what it's all about.

The rice cooker made a low clicking sound. It was done.

...to be continued.

*Kuronue is an incubus?! Of course, that's not official. I made that up. He looks hot as one, anyway.

To be honest, I do not like Mukuro. Why? Because she ruins a Hiei/Kurama pairing. It turned out that she actually made sense in this fic (Hiei and I thought the same). It wasn't intentional. I wanted Hiei to rant some more. I felt what he felt in this fic. Even though I am the author, I can't exactly explain how Hiei felt. We were both confused. And Mukuro shot us down just like that. The conversation wasn't supposed to turn out that way. But after writing it, I was assured it was very Mukuro. Now I don't hate her that much.