Biting back his uncertainty with a growl, Hiei leant down to Kurama's full lips and took a gentle breath. Leaning forward, he looked into those empty green eyes and then brushed their lips together. Hiei gasped at the chill to Kurama's skin, but continued to deepen the one-sided kiss until he felt Kurama's energy, being fed by the dying forest. With an easy thought, he severed the link to the forest and the Youko. He knew the energy around them had stopped abruptly, and he could feel Hiroki closing in on them. He fed his own energy into Kurama's, and smiled as he felt it being accepted. He'd save Kurama.
"Hiei!" Hiroki shouted, yanking the fire-demon away. Hiei fell to the floor, stunned by the sudden severing of energy. "You shouldn't! You'll die!"
"Hiroki! I was saving him!!" Hiei shouted, turning back to Kurama to see him lying on the ground. He'd fallen when Hiroki had severed the energy-flow. Hiei wouldn't get a second try.
"Hiei… Kurama wouldn't have wanted you to give…"
"SHUT UP!" Hiei shouted, grabbing Hiroki's top and pulling their faces close. "This is your fault! He would have survived!" Hiei was furious, and in his despair he lifted his fist, which was alight with flame, ready to bring it down on Hiroki's perfectly formed face.
"..ei…" They both froze at the almost non-existent sound. "…Hiei…" Hiei turned around, eyes scanning from Kurama's feet to his chest… to his face.
"Kurama!" He shouted, throwing Hiroki to the side and running forward. Kurama's emerald green orbs were open and filled with tears.
"Thank you…" Kurama whispered as Hiei lifted him from the ground.
"Fox. I was…" Hiei tried, but couldn't find the words.
"I love you, Hiei…" Kurama said quietly, eyes slowly closing.
"I love you too, Fox." Hiei murmured, holding Kurama close. Kurama smiled, eyes shutting completely. Hiei held him close, rocking gently. Hiroki watched in disbelief.
"Hiei… Is he..?"
"He's fine. Just… tired." Hiei said, and as Hiroki approached, he saw the tears seeping down Hiei's cheeks. Retreating to give them privacy, he left to help the other Youko.
"Hiei?!" Yuusuke shouted as he saw the fire-demon materialise from the portal.
"Detective." Hiei said mildly, and turned back to the portal as Kurama stepped through. Seeing Kurama stride into view, smiling warmly, Yuusuke burst into tears. Kurama laughed gently, and the pounding of footsteps told them of the other's approaching. They appeared through the trees one by one, and then stopped to stare at a seemingly perfectly healthy Kurama. They were finally all back together.
Okay again I'm sorry for the shortness, but I wanted this to be a stand-alone one. In the next one you'll get the end. This is the penultimate chapter!