Thank you for your reviews! I was worried people got really mad and decided not to read my story anymore. This was a difficult chapter for me to write so it might seem confusing to you but fear not it will all be sorted out!
Disclaimer: U know the drill.
Seated at the war room in Yomi's castle, Hiei was beyond enraged. The stupid, blind half ass demon had dared to insult his relationship with Kurama, and now they were sitting cozily in the bastards' house with Kurama exchanging pleasantries, for fucks sake. A small part of his mind knew that the insults, speculation and disgust shown by Yomi were only the tip of the iceberg in what was to come for himself and the fox.
A blazing pain sliced through his head so sudden and so intense it nearly dropped him to his knees. With a hissed curse he turned away from the two demons and walked to the window. He sensed the shift of interest in the room and knew Kurama was making his way over to him. Rolling one baleful eye at Kurama he smirked "Are we done here?"
"Hiei," Kurama kept his voice low, but knew it would be almost useless with Yomi's overdeveloped sense of hearing. Still he closed the distance between them. "your ki spiked dramatically and we sensed your dragon. What's wrong?" he kept his voice cool and hoped none of the concern leaked out.
It hadn't but Hiei could still see a shadow behind the cool green eyes of his chosen. Snorting he turned to face the window again "I'm stuck in this hell hole and your talking to his Assholeness over there and I get a little violent. Can we get down to the point now?"
Hiei hadn't bothered to keep his voice down. Kurama didn't bother to sigh instead he gestured to the small fire demon. Kurama took a seat facing Yomi while Hiei chose to stand next to Kurama, annoyance stamped across his pixie like face. Yomi was silent evaluating the mood and what to divulge.
"I've yet to be informed of the purpose to this sudden visit. However it saves times as I too have information that as my advisor, and you Hiei," as he spoke he turned his head slightly to where Hiei was standing "As Makuro's heir should be informed."
When Hiei remained silent Yomi nodded in confirmation "I see you are not yet aware. Strange I would have thought you would have been the first to be sent to gather Intel."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"I am talking about demons forming a faction. Nothing on a small scale either. There have been numerous reports of low level demon activities underground and above as well. It is believed that there are army's being built on all sections under high class demons."
Silence reigned over the office as Hiei and Kurama exchanged a silent message. Shrugging Hiei pointedly looked at the wall giving Kurama space to relay what he deemed necessary. "Earlier today we were, attacked, for ambush is too high of praise for what these demons attempted. All lower level and though sloppy there seemed to be a sense of organization, though no clear leader. It was random and dealt with easily"
"That is the first I have heard of an attack on an upper level demon. I'm afraid there isn't much more I can tell you as any demon that has attempted gather information or capture any demon have disappeared or recruited. This is highly unusual and we know we are dealing with someone powerful, enough to control, band and capture many demons. I'm afraid I must ask you to stay here in the Makai. The Lords will be gathering soon and we will need you, both of you as I'm sure Makuro will bring Hiei along as well."
"I see. This is most interesting. Will there be any particular assignment I must attend to?"
"We need your eye's, ears and brain for this. I'm counting on your skills as a chemist and thief to gather any data you can on this group. Capturing a low level demon should be no problem for either of you, however it is not as easy for they hide underground and do not advertise their connections. I leave the task up to you."
Standing he began to leave when he heard Hiei's snort of derision. "Is there a problem?"
"You have to send in your advisor to capture a low level demon, to gather Intel because you can not do it yourself? Are you afraid to be caught Yomi? Or do you know more than you are telling your expandable foot soldier?"
"I can see where your corner is coming from Hiei and I can see that you too are ignorant of the politics, even here in the Makai, and as heir you should know better. If by some chance I should fall, who then would take over my reign? My son would have to fight to his last breath to maintain position for he is too young and often thought as weak. Would I go myself? Yes, though these demons know me, they might have heard of Kurama heard his rumors but these are fools we are dealing with. Well equipped but fools none the less, who will take a look at is pretty face and dismiss any warning, you and I both know how cunning Kurama can be and I expect nothing less of my soldiers. More to the point I too have plenty to do and that requires information, information only someone as skilled as Kurama can attain."
"You have gotten too used to your own power Yomi. Have you lost yourself in your own façade?"
Kurama quickly stood between the two, the levels were slowly increasing and that would bring too many questions, too many demons, and perhaps they would loose their edge.
"Hiei please." He turned to the half koorime, his eyes contradicting the soft tone of his voice. His eyes were hard and calculating. With an exasperated grunt Hiei folded his arms over his chest. "Yomi this is not the place and especially not the time for a pissing fight between the two of you. I have a few questions of my own, of our past."
Very slowly the taller demon relaxed his muscles and wrestled his anger back. "Of course but I don't see what I can help you with. You have regained all of your past memories' have you not?"
"Yes but it seems some have slipped by. Do you remember a male golden youko being associated with us?"
Yomi was silent for a minute before throwing back his head and roaring with laughter. "Only you Kurama could dismiss such a beautiful creature so easily from your memory." Yomi finally managed to choke out. "Yes that would be Kane. He was in our group briefly but was exiled."
Yomi grinned "He had a liking for beautiful things, but that is not unusual, and it seemed he had a knack of getting them….except you."
"So he was an old lover" Hiei grouched.
"On the contrary. Kurama refused to be his lover. You see however magnificent Kane might have been physically, his demeanor was anything but. He was rash, petulant, obsessive, greedy and frankly simply too fuckin full of himself. You tolerated him for perhaps a 3 weeks or so, but after he caused Kuronon to get injured, and mind you this was before you and Kuronon were lovers, you exiled him. Of course being the dramatic sort and very likely being scorned for the first time he swore revenge against you. Why might I ask, are you interested?"
"He returned to my world it seems. I did not recognize him but he seemed to know me quite well." Kurama answered his mind already sifting through his memories. "Ah yes, he was practically a pup when he came into our camp. Rather untactful one at that. Do you happen to know what happened to him afterward?"
Yomi knew they weren't telling him all but… there were always ways of finding out. "I heard he went on a streak of trying to ruin you, by rumor no less." He chuckled "a child indeed. After that he got into some trouble with some demon or another but always managed to fuck his way out of it, literally, whether male or female. It seemed he wanted to surpass you in everything and leave you in shame. After you were perceived to be dead he vanished from my radar, though there would be a rumor here and there of the beautiful, yet easily obtained golden youko. A sad fate but not uncommon here."
"I see. Well that certainly clears some doubts." A quick glance out the window and he realized it was too late to travel, Hiei seemed to have sensed it as well and was not pleased. He could already hear the fire apparitions' disgusted opinion "We can make our way through! We're stronger and faster than anything in that damn forest and you know it!" Truth was they probably were and could but something did not sit well with the fox spirit.
"Yomi. If I may have a private word with Hiei?" It was more a demand than a request.
The Lord rose to his feet and inclined his head "You know were to contact me and if you decide to stay you can call up a servant o bring you anything you desire. I'm assuming you will be heading to Alaric, in the meantime I hope I can count on some new information when we meet again soon"
As soon as the door closed Hie whirled on Kurama "I refuse to stay here fox!"
Kurama sighed and sat down; he still tired easily, for a demon that was. He had been walking, running and fighting too long that day and his muscles were screaming at him but he knew Hiei would leave whether Kurama wanted him to stay or not. Resigned he leaned back against the surprisingly cushioned chair and tried hard to will his muscles to carry him further.
Hiei watched Kurama closely and a fist of guilt slammed into his gut, just as hard and quickly as the early flash of pain in his head had. He cursed himself as he finally noticed the sheet white complexion under Kurama's face. He should have thought of Kurama's injury, he knew Kurama would not complain if his legs were troubling him, he would not burden himself or Hiei down.
Swallowing his revulsion and his pride Hiei sat on the arm chair. "Fox, we need to sort out all the information and fuel up, Alaric is still a days trek away and we will undoubtedly receive more information. Are you completely sure that your quarters are safe for us to talk and refuel?"
Kurama's eyes flashed open and he stared at Hiei. He only saw mild irritation and no resistance. "They will be after I seal the room up Hiei, but we don't need to stay here. We can talk and walk at the same time" He stood and felt his right knee give out.
Cursing Hiei took hold of his elbow and steadied him. Kurama's face was flushed with embarrassment and anger; he refused to let any weakness show. Straightening he made for the door, his gait stiff but steady. "Kurama" The red head paused but refused to turn his pride had been wounded. "We need to stay here."
Kurama whirled around anger coloring his voice and shielding the embarrassment "Damn it Hiei I'm not an invalid! I can make it just fine, and I don't need to be somewhere where I nor my mate is accepted!"
Hiei smirked to hide the sudden trembling of his stomach and the ice pick of pain in his head "You can be so stubborn Kurama. Fine but with one condition: We stop to rest and regroup then head to Alaric at midday."
Kurama hesitated then nodded. If Hiei was willing to compromise on something, and especially with out throwing it in his face, he too could swallow his pride. "We can stay in one of my dens that is not far from here."
-.o.0.o-
"This is such a mess, and when I find out who didn't report to me sooner they are going to be in a world of pain!" Yusuke cursed as he headed to the nearest portal. Koenma and Kuwabara merely shook their heads; they had already heard it all at least a dozen times. The song Butterfly filled the air and everyone stopped dead. Koenma and Kuwabra began to turn in circles trying to locate it.
Yusuke's curses grew louder and more colorful only to be drowned by the laughter of the carrot top and prince. Yusuke was frantically trying to pull out the cell phone that had gotten stuck in his pocket, his face flaming red as his glare conveyed numerous torturous way in which his ex-friends would die. Finally wrestling out the cell he yanked it open "What the Hell kinda music is that? Did I not specifically tell you!"
His roaring protest was drowned by the high pitched screaming from the other end "Yusuke Urameshi, you asshole! Don't you dare take that tone with me! I'll have you know it's a beautiful song and I at least deserve to humiliate you in that small way after you left me again! What am I suppose…. Is that Kuwabara laughing! Well you can tell him there will be no more ramen from me anymore! See if he laughs again! You, you jerk!" she ended on a wail.
The silence was interrupted solely by the dial tone from Yusuke's phone. The men looked uneasily around them, as if expecting Keiko to come out from behind a tree and flatten them faster than any S-class demon ever could. Clearing his throat Yusuke slowly inched his way toward the portal "I think, uhm, this mission just started, and it deserves my time and focus, for perhaps a month or two, so Koenma please tell Keiko I'm very sorry and that I will see her soon, and that you ordered me to go. Later."
"Huh wait no! You can't leave me with…" Koenma panicked running after Yusuke. The cell phone hit him dead center between the eyes as Kuwabara ran past him. "Hey Urameshi, wait for me!"
"Yusuke!" Koenma screamed from his place on the floor his hand reaching for the fading shadow like a man drowning. His quiet terrified sobbing turned to a high pitch scream when Butterfly began to fill the forest, a malevolent aura cloaking the poor terrified prince.
-.o.0.o.-
The pair walked in silence as part of the shadows, blending seamlessly into their surroundings. Silently they circled the cliff, the smallest shadow seeking above through the tree tops circling like a bird of prey. Below on the ground barely discernable, even to his partner the second figure moved quickly and agile seeking and flushing out the creatures. Finally satisfied that none were near, the pair met in the middle of the cliff where moonlight pooled on the forest floor.
No words were exchanged, as none were needed. Walking a few feet away Kurama went to a large tree standing feet away from the face of the cliff. Crouching down he began to dig a small hole, curious Hiei walked a little closer, and just enough so he could see what Kurama was doing. When there was a medium size pile of fertile soil at his side the fox spirit reached in and touching a root that was barely peeking out closed his eyes.
Directly in front of Hiei the solid stone began to rumble and shake. Instincts had him facing the wall, his hand on the hilt of his sword unknowingly and automatically trusting Kurama to watch his back. Hiei was waiting for the rock to part or lift like a hidden door but nothing happened. Puzzled he walked forward cautiously scanning for any movement.
"Hiei, don't!" Kurama's warning came too late. A vine shot up with blurring speed and made to spear him through but was met with steel where Hiei held it at bay. Kurama frowned "That's rather odd." He commented as he made his way thoughtfully to the plants.
"Unless you want this in little pieces I suggest you call your pet back." Hiei growled. The vine was beginning to coil around the katana while others lifted in an eerie resemblance of an ocean wave, swaying closer to Hiei hesitantly as if to attack. It was a strain for the fire apparition not to cut through them all. Almost absentmindedly Kurama touched the outstretched plant and it immediately retracted. "Why?" Kurama asked as he turned to face Hiei.
"What are you talking about Fox? It attacked me and that damn plant nearly installed a new ventilation hole in me." Hiei grouched
"Well yes but those are not the attack patterns I programmed them with. It hesitated…."
Hiei snorted "Didn't feel that way to me."
Kuramam continued over Hiei's comment "as if it recognized you somehow. Perhaps over the years my commands have faded" but he sounded dubious even to himself.
Hiei shrugged and crossed his arms over his chest. He didn't know why he didn't tell Kurama of his blood flowing through the foxes system. Hiei knew it would be easier on the fox's and especially the human side of Kurama's nervous system to accept him as a mate if there were samples of his blood already in Kuramas system. The connection and conversion was painful, but even more so on a demon not of the fire lineage. The molten heat of his blood would burn him; up to three times as much as it would a fire demon mate. Kurama motioned Hiei forward and the fire apparition gave him a speculative look as the vines receded and the rest parted way to reveal a small burrow. It was ridiculous really, even Hiei, though it burned him to admit it was not small enough to fit through the small hole.
Moving forward he looked down and saw darkness and emptiness. A fist of trepidation closed around his throat and though he did not physically retreat, his body tensed and his mind shut down abruptly until only the cold surrounded him.
"Hiei?" Kurama asked. He was shocked to see a flash of panic in the other demons eyes. It was brief almost non existent but so rare of a feeling and even more of rare the tell tale sign of such a feeling was that Kurama noticed. Hiei stood like a statue his muscles starkly defined as if he was straining to stay even though his mind was yelling at him to run. Kurama hurried over to his partner and laid a hand on his shoulder.
Kurama was stunned. Hiei skin was cold as ice. In a fraction of a second Hiei exploded into action. Taking hold of the hand on his shoulder he twisted it and threw the body straight across the small clearing. Crouching he prepared for the next attack.
Kurama landed on his feet inches away from the rock, his gaze filled with surprise and a little bit of sympathy he smothered quickly. Hiei was crouched on the forest floor like a small cornered animal, baring its fangs with wild distrustful eyes. It was a familiar pose for Hiei, obviously used often in his childhood as only a kit would crouch down so low on the ground. Kuramam slowly lowered himself to the floor maintaining eye contact with the fire embers.
"Hiei, what's wrong? Come back now Hiei." His voice was soft but firm. It wasn't a demand but neither would it be dismissed.
Hiei shook his head and stood in a fluid movement. "What the hell are you doing on the floor Kurama? Your damn den is a foot away from you."
"Hiei, do you know who I am?"
"What sort of mindless question is that, you stupid fox? Are we going in or not?"
Slowly Kurama stood and motioned Hiei forward. Snorting Hiei stomped past Kurama and stopped at the opening. "This is ridiculous! How am I supposed to fit through here?"
"Simply slide down Hiei" Kurama's voice was neutral, betraying none of his racing thoughts.
Swearing Hiei took one last look around before sneering at the small opening and jumped down, disappearing with out a sound. Inside however, his insides were frozen, stark terror holding his muscle paralyzed so he crumpled to the floor once his feet touched solid ground. A small whimper escaped him as he rolled onto a little ball and rolled to the closest wall, his mind numb once more. Hearing a slight noise he turned and bared his fangs,
Soft green light began to surround him. He saw a tall shadowed figure but two features allowed his insides to relax, and his mind to process. Steady green eyes focused on him as luminous red hair haloed the set of emeralds. "Where to now Fox?" he growled, his voice sounding raspy.
"This way" came the soft melodious voice. Hiei stood and followed the small tunnel. Kurama was forced to bend down until the tunnel opened to a small cave. Hiei tried to take it all in, turning in a small circle but everything was blurred.
"Kurama something is happening to…"
The red head leapt to catch the falling fire apparition. Shaking him he repeatedly called out his name, his voice ringing with worry. Hiei's eyes were closed and his normal fair complexion was tinged blue once more. Picking up his chosen he went to the far wall were soft pelts were laid out as a futon. His legs were screaming, and hot pins were being repeatedly stabbed into them but he managed to make it.
Sitting down the fix spirit arranged the smaller demon so his dark head was resting on his lap. Worry consumed him but Kurama pushed it down far enough so he could take assessment of the situation. He placed a hand on Hiei's forehead and felt his hand tremble. Hiei's skin was not only tinged blue but felt cold as death. Kurama found the pulse strong and steady and Hiei's breathing even and long, as it often was when Hiei went into hibernation.
In the end there was nothing left for Kurama to do but wait the long night out until his Fire Baby decided it was time to come back. So many things had happened that day, worrying little details that he might simply be amplifying. Still waters ran deep, and the hidden currents were vicious and merciless, and Kurama feared Hiei had gotten sucked into his very own, in mind and body. There were just too many incidents to be considered coincidences.
With worry weighing down his shoulders and fear for his chosen gripping his heart Kurama tipped his head back and allowed a low howl to echo across the room.
I know it kinda fell apart in the end, so sorry. But please review!
