Part Eight: Cold Comfort

When Kuwabara wakes up he's glad to find himself alone in the bed. He pulls the sheets tighter to his naked body and curls up. He wouldn't have been able to stand waking up and finding the brothers there not after what had happened in the shower. Hot tears fill his eyes and he quickly reaches up and wipes them away. Tears wouldn't help him…nothing would. He was trapped here for the rest of eternity because that idiot of a prince of Spirit World couldn't bear the loss of Yusuke. He clenches his fists as anger washes through him. Yusuke always seemed to escape having to face any consequences. He was always the one protected most carefully by Koenma. He knows how selfish he's being right now by wishing that Yusuke was still here, but he can't help it. He cannot bear the thought of being stuck here with the Toguro brothers for the rest of eternity. It just wasn't fair.

The door opens and Kuwabara stares fearing that the Toguro brothers were back. To his surprise, it's Mitari. The blonde looks at him shyly. "May I come in?" he asks.

"I don't know. Oto and Ani aren't here," Kuwabara answers slightly concerned that the demons might get mad if he had visitors while they weren't here.

"They suggested that I come and see you. I just wanted to know if you wanted company," Mitari clarifies.

"Oh, well in that case, please come on in," Kuwabara tells him. The blonde steps in and closes the door. He silently pads across the room until he's standing in front of him. He looks at him for a moment before speaking.

"You were told you are immortal weren't you?"

"Yes. Ani is most definitely the most wonderful person to be told that by. His sarcasm is just such a wonderful asset," Kuwabara says bitterly. Mitari just hugs him gently sensing the carrot-top's inner turmoil.

"We'll get through this, Kuwabara," he says as he slowly pulls away.

"Will we?" Kuwabara inquires, "We don't have anything left to look forward to other than getting used to being told what to do by the people…things living here."

"So they're things?" Mitari inquires.

"Well, they aren't remotely human…not anymore."

"I can understand why you would think that. You have been put through more than I think you should ever have been forced to bear. I just wonder if it isn't for their benefit as well that we are here."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I know that this sounds really strange, but I think that we are more of a danger to them than they are to us."

"You are making no sense, Mitari."

"No, listen, Kuwabara. You are right in saying that most of those here no longer seem human. Maybe that could all change if they were taught what that meant."

"You are not seriously suggesting that we try to…help them are you?"

"Yes, yes I am. I know that isn't what you want to hear right now,

Kuwabara, but I don't believe that they are beyond redemption…not yet."

Kuwabara stares at him like he's lost his mind. "You…you…" he stammers not knowing whether to laugh or scream.

"I know that you aren't pleased with this. I wouldn't be either if I were in your shoes. I just can't help but think that we should try to help them."

"Mitari, you are a better man than I," Kuwabara finally says before looking away, "I don't think either of them are worth that. I don't think they would deserve it even if they were capable of changing."

"You have every right to feel that way about them, Kuwabara. I just can't. I would feel like I was sinking to their level…maybe Hagiri is right. Maybe I am too soft."

"You are not too soft!" Kuwabara argues. The blond gives him a soft, sad smile.

"I am no fighter, either."

"That is not true! Mitari, would you stop listening to idiots who don't seem to know anything!"

"It wasn't just those who worked for Mr. Sensui. Most everyone I met called me too soft…they called me worse things than that but I don't want to get into it. I just can't help but think that they have a point. I have this need to make everything right in the world…I don't know why."

"Everyone wants the world to be right, Mitari. No one enjoys having to go through unnecessary pain. I just don't know about helping them. They have done nothing to deserve a second chance."

"Which is why we should give that to them," the blond answers.

Kuwabara looks at him intently for a moment. "I just don't know," he murmurs, "I can't stand them and I have a hard time reconciling the thought of redeeming them…I know it's selfish on my part but I think they deserve to be damned for an eternity."

"You don't have to agree with me, Kazuma. It's just how I feel. I don't think that it is necessary for you to feel the same way. To an extent, Hagiri has committed fewer atrocities, but he is still guilty of wanting to wipe out all of mankind without remorse. That is no small crime."

"Yes, but I can understand why he would want to do that. Oto and Ani, however, have no reason to terrorize other people for their satisfaction. I can condone what Hagiri did. I cannot condone the crimes of the Toguro Brothers."

"That is very understandable. I know I am making a huge decision on my part and I know you don't agree. I shouldn't have brought it up because I know that it is going to war within you as to whether or not you should. I shouldn't have put this sort of burden on you. I am sorry, Kuwabara."

"You apologize way too much. You didn't do anything wrong. I needed to see things from your perspective. I seem to have a very narrow-minded one and that is what I need to focus on dealing with. You are such a forgiving soul, Mitari. If Hagiri hurts you I will personally kill him."

The blond smiles warmly at him. He knows that he's spent as much time

allotted to him though it pains him to have to leave. He doesn't want to let Kuwabara face the brothers on his own but he also knows that at this point, his hands are tied. "I will be back as soon as I am able," he murmurs.

"Please do," the carrot-top responds giving a weak smile. Mitari slowly heads to the door not wanting to leave but too afraid to stay and face the consequences that might bring to Kuwabara.

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Kurama is only brought back to himself once his body burns too badly. A soft whimper escapes him and he looks pleadingly at Karasu. The violet-eyed demon smirks at him. "Sorry, lovely, I have to go and eat. Maybe later, I'll come back up here," he says before taking Kurama's wrists and tying them above his head to the headboard, "I wouldn't want you touching yourself before I got back." With a sadistic smile on his face, he leaves Kurama tied and unable to relieve himself. Hot tears spill down his cheeks. He needed release so badly and yet Karasu had decided to make him endure the pain while he took his lovely time eating. The demon was a sadist at heart.

For hours Kurama writhes unable to relieve the burning need between his thighs. Tears spill down his cheeks and he begins to cry hating himself for showing this much weakness. He can't even get his mind to function properly enough to think of something that might help him make his erection go away. He's forced to lie there helplessly until Karasu was good and ready to relieve him.

Finally, the door opens and Karasu slinks back inside. He gazes at the pitiful looking redhead and grins. "Well, Kurama, it looks like you could use some help now doesn't it?" he murmurs walking close to him. Kurama stares at him pleadingly hoping that he doesn't leave him there longer. "You should answer when you're asked a question."

"Pl-please," he whimpers, "Please, Karasu, help me."

"That is music to my ears, Kurama," Karasu murmurs. He sits between

Kurama's spread thighs and looks at his captive. It is obvious that the redhead has been crying for some time now. His lip curves into a smirk as he cups the youth's painfully hard flesh in his hand. Kurama's hips buck sharply at the much-desired contact and a plaintive cry escapes the green-eyed male. Slowly Karasu leans his head down until his mouth his hovering just above Kurama's weeping cock. His tongue darts out to taste the precum leaking from the tip and he feels Kurama tremble. Then, without warning, he completely takes his cock into his hot mouth. Kurama screams. His body trembles and he feels himself get closer and closer to the relief he craves. Karasu holds his hips still not allowing him to thrust any deeper and he begins to suckle on him taking delight in the cries of pleasure spilling from his redhead's lips.

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Hiei watches Bui disappear into the bathroom for the fifth time before he decides that he's had enough of the blue-haired demon's hesitancy. He walks over to the door and opens it silently before stealthily slipping inside. He closes the door without a sound and inches his way over to the shower curtain. It was solid so no one could see within. That was a small obstacle for Hiei, who stood at the edge of the tub and peered through the curtain that didn't quite touch the wall. Bui is standing under the cold spray of water slowly brushing his hand between his thighs. Hiei finds himself appreciating the view of the ax-wielder that he gets and stares up and down the nicely toned chest. Bui stays completely unaware of him as he focuses on his erection. His eyes soon flutter close and soft moans of pleasure escape him.

Silently, Hiei slips out of his clothes and into the bathtub with Bui.

He stands in front of him for a moment before he takes the blue-haired demon's hand off of his flesh and brushes his own hand across him. Bui's blue eyes snap open and he stares at Hiei in shock. "Wh-what are you doing?" he gasps. Hiei doesn't answer; he just continues to rub Bui's hard flesh looking at him intensely. Bui whimpers and arches into the demon's hand craving this more than anything though he's slightly concerned over what might come of him letting Hiei have this much control. His concern over this soon fades completely as his mind shuts down and his body focuses only on the pleasure washing through him. He knows the dangers of letting Hiei have this much power over him but he just can't bring himself to care.

Hiei smirks as he feels Bui's body relax against him. At first he'd been worried that the blue-haired ax-wielder would have reacted badly to his touch. 'Well, you have had ever opportunity to do what you wanted, Bui,' he thinks, 'Now I am going to get what I want…you.'