Author's Note:

Greetings!

Hello everyone! Oh geez, I miss you all so much! I'm sorry I haven't updated in forever! I couldn't seem to open the site for a few days now and you wouldn't believe how I was panicking like a chicken with its head cut off! I was looking everywhere around internet, Google precisely, about how to be able to open FF again. I deleted every cache and cookie and I downloaded Spotflux and VOILA! It's up again! I'm so glad!

Thank you for the favourites, follows and reviews! I love them, as usual! It's quite sad and disheartening to say that I may not be able to receive them for so long because this story is going to an end soon. I can't precisely tell you at what chapter it's going to be done but it's not going to be long. I realised that my laziness has been keeping me from finishing this story and it's not exactly a good thing so we're heading straight to the climax, okay? Some fluff ideas which I still haven't written down will probably be published through one-shots.

Or a sequel?

I have been thinking about making a sequel after I'm done with this story. There'll be new challenge for Kyoko and Hiei and it might be something you guys haven't thought about. Or maybe you have?

If you would like a sequel, please tell me! Thank you!

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho

A Key to His Heart

Chapter 35: Bribing and Kidnapping

"WHAT?!" the loud yell of Hiei echoed through the whole house. Kyoko winced at the sheer volume of his usually quiet voice, desperately trying to calm him down, reminding him of Keiko awkwardly sitting in the living room downstairs. He ignored her and continued his pacing, his usually emotionless face scrunched in a furious snarling expression, arms crossed tightly over his chest, eyebrows furrowed.

"Calm down, Hiei, I-"

"CALM DOWN?!" he echoed, ridiculed, "HOW DO YOU EXPECT ME TO CALM DOWN?! YOU WERE ALMOST KIDNAPPED!" he continued to rage, not bothering to control his growls, snarls or shouts.

"Yes, I was almost kidnapped but I'm fine now, aren't I? I'm with you now, I'm safe. So calm down, please?" she begged sweetly, playing that puppy eyes trick she knew Hiei was weak against. Surprisingly, and unfortunately, it didn't seem to have any effect this time. She sighed, letting him pace and curse around.

"That pest! How dare does he even think to snatch you away?" he murmured angrily, eyes glowing in clear fury. Kyoko stood by the side, following his pacing with her eyes, sighing and shaking her head, "Insulting my strength, trying to kidnap my mate…" he growled. Kyoko didn't even need to look into their connection to know that he was plotting Hakua's torture and execution when he was caught and finally defeated.

Hiei couldn't even begin to describe how furious he was when Kyoko came home, looking a little bit too shaken up, and began telling him to calm down as she steered him up to their room, telling him the little incident which she met in the shopping mall. He knew he shouldn't have let her go alone. He should have been there to protect her at all times.

"Hiei, Love, calm down, please." Kyoko's voice rang in his ears. Her voice always had this calming effect on him. It had this soft, breathless and gentle quality to it. Her voice fitted her feminine self very well. And just as usual, hearing that voice soft whisper, he did relax a little, although his rage was still smouldering. "Calm down. I'll make your favourite for dinner today, okay? So, just relax a little and sit down."

He glared, "Stop bribing me, Onna! You always use anything I don't find annoying against me!" turning his back to her, a little guilty that he was snapping at her, he continued his tantrum, "This happens because you bribed me to stay home. If I had declined and gone with you then none of it would have happened."

Once again, Kyoko sighed, "I am sorry. I'm sorry for worrying and bribing you. But you can't deny that you are easily bribed." She murmured the last part to herself, knowing Hiei would throw an even bigger tantrum should he heard. This demon's tantrum could usually last for three days if he was provoked further. It's best to just keep silent and listen to him.

"You use every means to win against me – food, promises, sex." he emphasized the sex, glaring at her particularly hard when he said that word. Sex was the best trade you could give to earn Hiei's help and obedience. Kyoko couldn't help that Hiei was addicted to her now, could she?

"It was foolish of me to have let you win our arguments! You were almost kidnapped and killed because of it! You know I have a soft spot for you and you take advantage of it! Dammit, Onna, this is why you should've listened to me!"

This reminded the both of them of their fight in the beach in summer. Hiei didn't want the two of them to not talk and for her to be sad like she was back then. Gulping, he forcefully swallowed his harsh words back in and settled for glaring at his bare feet. Glancing at Kyoko, he found her hugging herself, eyes not looking at him.

Fuck, he made her upset.

"Does that mean you regret even getting close to me?" she asked, voice small.

Furrowing his eyebrows, he backtracked a little, remembering his words. Did they sound like he ever regretted being with her? Yes, it did. Dammit.

Of course not. How could he ever regret getting to know and close to her – the light in his life?

Clicking his tongue, Hiei ran his fingers through his hair, frustrated, messing the fluffy black strands unintentionally. He was not good at expressing his feeling, never was. It even took him this long to be able to voice an 'I love you' out freely for her. He was even worse at expressing worry as he tended to pace and rage instead. If it was someone else, someone who didn't know him as well as Kyoko did, they would mistake him for being furious.

Plopping down on the bed, he glared at his feet, still fuming and steaming at Hakua's blatant insults to his strength and how that half-breed kept ranting about taking Kyoko away from him.

No one's taking what's his away from him. What's his stayed with him as his. He'd cut off the hands that tried to reach for her, furiously caging her in his safety and energy.

Kyoko sat down beside him, a hand on his chest, the other on his upper-arm. "Are you okay?" she asked in a soft whisper. Breathing out shakily, he turned to her, winding his arms tightly around her smaller thin form in an almost crushing hold. "Hiei?" she called, a little breathless from his tight grip but not scolding or angry.

His lips touched her ear, brushing softly and Kyoko shuddered. "Mine." He mouthed against her skin. Kyoko smiled. Breathing hot breath against her skin, he growled possessively, "Kyoko is mine."

"That's right." She assured, "I am yours. Only yours. Just like you are mine."

Mine.

Such beautiful word coming out of her mouth. She was being possessive of him. He could feel his whole body tingled when she said the beautiful word.

Then he remembered that Kyoko had never placed her claim on him. She hadn't bitten him yet. He shuddered when he imagined Kyoko burying her new demon fangs in his skin, spreading the mating venom and leaving her mark on him for everyone to see – that they belonged to each other.

"I know what you're thinking," Kyoko's voice broke through his thoughts. Looking at her face, he noticed the grin she held, "I've been thinking about it for some time too, actually."

So she knew that she had to mark him back too. When she was human, she had no need to do so as she had no fangs or venom but now that she was a half, she had the obligation to mark him.

Being marked by her…

Was it weird for him to be so excited about it?

The male species usually preferred to live free with no commitment and he used to be one of them. Now he changed. He didn't know if it was for the better or for the worse. He loved being with her and if the trade was for him to lose his freedom then he'd gladly let himself be caged – by her and with her. On the other side, he was a demon who lived unchained all his life. Would he be okay?

"If you don't want to be marked, I understand. Men have their pride and their own dominance issue after all."

Ah… what was he worrying about? Commitment? Freedom?

Kyoko sacrificed those things for him. Now that she was committed to him, she could no longer talk or meet freely with any male, or even female, without having him breathing down her neck. He was aware that his possessiveness and protectiveness could be overbearing at times. It was a given that Kyoko never complained and even complimented him – saying she found his jealousy adorable.

She was a free soul, going wherever she wanted and doing whatever she liked. Ever since he met her, Kyoko had always been like that. She even told him herself that she disliked being caged. But when she became bound to him, she lost half of that freedom, almost every single seconds in her life spent with showering him with affection, taking care of him and making sure his every needs were met. They were hardly apart, always attached.

She was just so…

So…

Perfect.

She was so perfect for him. The most perfect creature in his eyes. She was perfect. She was God-like.

He worshipped her.

He didn't know what kindness in his life he ever did to have her. He was a bad demon all his life. What right did he do to have someone as… someone like her- someone so different from him loving him?

"No." he answered after a moment of silence and thoughts. "I want your mark."

She smiled, tilting her head to the side, "Really?"

He nodded, sure. It wasn't that common for the female to mark the male back. Usually it was the male who did the biting, signing his dominance and his alpha position in their relationship. But Kyoko was not his submissive and he was not her dominant.

They were equals.

They had always been equals.

Pushing her down onto her back, he kissed and teased the skin beneath her jaw, his hands already working on her dress. "Hiei, sto-" he cut her off, slipping his tongue into her open mouth, coaxing her own to respond to his wriggling one. She tried to protest with her mind but he stroked the inside of her head seductively, making her relax into his kisses.

It was a pain – getting her tight dress off of her. Annoyed and impatient, Hiei grasped a handful of the skirt, tearing it up. Kyoko gasped and she let out an enraged squeal. "Hiei, this is one of my favourites!" she hissed, holding what's left of her dress. Ignoring her, he tore the sleeves and threw the fabric away, further enraging his mate.

"Shut up." he sushed her, removing her stockings with a harsh tore, once against ruining her clothings. Kyoko slapped both hands on her face and moaned, grieving for her dead clothes. He was buying her another dress. She swore to get him to buy her another on her life.

Hiei nodded to himself at her choice of undergarments, slipping both hands into the side of her panties to slip it off, being careful not to ruin it as he liked this piece.

"Hie-"

"Oh my God!" They froze, both turning towards the door. Keiko stood there, blushing and covering her eyes with her hands. "What are you doing with a guest in the house?!"

"Ah, sorry, Keiko! I forgot that you're here!" Kyoko apologised, pushing Hiei off of her. Hiei growled at the brunette and she swallowed in return. She was suddenly reminded of Kurama's lesson to never disrupt demons' mating moment. It could cause quite the war, he said. "Hiei's just letting some tension off with angry sex."

Keiko face-palmed at her sister's bluntness. It's a good thing she didn't say those words in their parents' face. It could cause a deadly scene. Their father would take out his beloved butcher knife.

"Hold on a moment. I'll put on a robe and escort you to the front door, okay?" the older woman gathered her torn clothing, throwing the shredded fabrics to Hiei and telling him to be responsible and throwing them away.

"Front door? What? Nee-san, I thought we're going to discuss what happened to you at the mall!" Keiko complained. Her sister had a meeting with death not too long ago and here she was, being all calm and ready to have sex with Hiei. Sometimes she thought that Hiei might be a bad influence on her sister.

Tying the knot of her silk robe, Kyoko kissed Hiei on the forehead and quickly steered Keiko out of the room, closing the door behind them. "Sush, Keiko, I'm saving you now."

"Nee-san, but-"

"Hiei can be quite extreme when our intimate moment is disturbed. Right now, you should think about surviving Hiei's glare for a month or more, Keiko." They went down the stairs, Keiko collecting her bags with a pout. She didn't want to admit it but Kyoko was right. She just gave Hiei a declaration of war by barging in when they were about to have sex. Hiei was a possessive sex-addict. She'd need Yusuke to shield her a lot for a few months ahead.

"It's just sex, though. You two go at it like rabbits every single day. What's wrong with missing one to assure your safety first? Can't you do it later?" she asked.

Kyoko shook her head furiously, "Unfortunately, it's not just sex this time. Hiei wants me to mark him, you see. Like this," she touched the tattoo of his name in black Makai writing under her collarbones. Keiko examined the mark, not being able to actually read the cursive and inky writing, recognising it. After all, she also had one, intimately sitting on her shoulder blade where Yusuke bit her. "It's our second mating ritual and he isn't happy someone barged in. You're in deep trouble. Besides, I am completely safe with Hiei."

"Oh, fine! I'll report it to Yusuke!" Keiko stomped her foot, annoyed at Hiei for being so pissy. "But we're meeting tomorrow to discuss, okay? We're all coming early!"

"Okay. I'll cook a lot for you guys. Now, hurry up, Keiko. Hiei doesn't like waiting and the longer I stay here, the longer he'll hate you. He'll think that you're monopolising me and he won't be happy about it."

"Monopolising? He doesn't know how much time you spend on him! That jerk!"

Kyoko shook her head in amusement, opening the door for Keiko. They hugged and Keiko waved at her as she went to her parked car. "Be safe going home!"

Closing the door, Kyoko locked it. She gasped loudly when two hands came out of nowhere and slammed against both sides of her face. Hard chest pressed against her back, hot breath hitting the back of her neck, causing her to shiver.

"You're taking too long." He complained tonelessly, already untying the knot of her robe.

Chuckling, Kyoko turned in his arms and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Sorry, Sweetie." Running her fingers through her hair, Kyoko pecked his lips. Picking her up bridal-style, Hiei flickered to their bedroom.

"It'll be alright to do it right? I hope Koenma-sama won't be angry that I can't come with Keiko to report the incident. I am the one who talked with Hakua." Kyoko sighed, feeling guilty that she was troubling Keiko and thinking more of her herself. When had she become such a selfish person?

But she couldn't stop Hiei now. It'd only make him angrier. Not to mention he was clearly still frustrated about her meeting Hakua. He needed to relieve some tension but he couldn't leave her to go training. He was so protective. He would be stalking her around now.

"You think too much, Onna."

"Well, one of us have to keep a clear head right? I'm the brain. You're the muscles. Perfect combination, yes?" she teased, cupping his cheek, pulling his head down to press their foreheads together, feeling the cloth covering his forehead against her skin.

Chuckling, Hiei kissed her. "…I love you…" he breathed into her mouth.

Sighing in fondness and calmness, Kyoko smiled, "I love you."

Keiko drove home silently, listening to some pop songs playing on the radio. She was preparing herself for Yusuke's scolding and protectiveness once they met up. The punk had been against her going out shopping alone with Kyoko but after a few slaps and some bribing, she finally got him to agree.

Damn that Hakua. He had probably wiped every single lone shopping plan with the girls in the near future. Why must he show up now anyway? Such bad timing.

"Indeed. But I am not guilty for it."

"Well, you should be. You have lost us the chance of going shopping without them breathing down our necks in the future."

"Hmm… Is that so? But I think you have more control over your mate more than you are aware. It'll be no problem for you to get him to agree to you, surely."

"Yes, but-"

Wait.

Who was she talking with?

She was alone in the car. Then-

Stepping on the brakes, Keiko turned around with wide eyes, examining the seats behind her panickedly. They were empty, only her shopping bags sitting messily on them. But she couldn't shake off the feeling that she was being watched.

Opening her bag, she shakily took her phone out, speed-dialling Yusuke.

Exhale

She tensed when the breath hit her cheek. Glancing to the side, she screamed at the tanned face inches from her own, so familiar yet so unknown. He was grinning at her, not in a kind or friendly way. His lips were twisted up in a sick, twisted smirk.

"Keiko? Where're you?" she opened her mouth but no words escaped. She was too busy trying to stop her shaking and to calm her fear. Why- How did he get in the car? "Babe?"

"Yu-" cold hand slammed hard against her mouth, her head being pushed back at the strength, causing her to hit her head against the window. Black spots appeared in her vision, hindering her sight of the cruel face grinning at her.

"Keiko? Oi, why aren't you saying anything?" Yusuke's voice grew dim. Until all went quite.

Letting the limp figure slump against the car door, Hakua removed the safety belt and took her into his arm, letting her lean her head against his shoulder. The back of her head was bleeding from the collision with the window, coating the car in a sweetly sickening metallic scent.

His scarlet eyes flickered down to the device on her seat; loud yells and screams still coming out of it. Picking it up, he pressed it to his ear and greeted,

"Hello, half-breed."

It all starts now.

To Be Continued…

I truthfully hate how I ended this chapter. It's too gloomy. I always like something much more cheerful and fluffy. But no can do, since I'm finishing things up. I hope I'm not speeding things up too fast!

So Keiko is taken! I wonder what's going to happen next... And we all don't need to read the next chapter to know that Kyoko's going to blame herself for Keiko's kidnapping, do we? Well, I guess we can't say unless the next chapter is released! I hope FF won't go down on me again (Not some dirty pun, mind you). Pray for me!

Well, thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed it! Review, please!