Author's Note: Well, my fingers slipped. Again. Oops. I actually posted this chapter on AO3 two months ago, but I completely forgot to upload it here. I'm sorry about that; the past few months have been driving my crazy with changing jobs and moving here in Japan. Hopefully the length makes up for the wait!

I'm not 100% satisfied with this chapter (it's more like 90%), but I've edited it so many times now that, at the moment, I have no idea anymore what's bothering me about it. So if you notice something you think could be improved on, PLEASE leave a friendly critique in the comments!

Note on Hiei: I've always imagined Hiei to fall somewhere on the asexual spectrum, and Kurama to be very much allosexual. In this story, I'm portraying Hiei as more romantic graysexual: he feels romantic attraction, but he only sometimes feels sexual attraction, and he can't control when it happens.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Four

They could feel it, the persistent tug on their mind that announced a summons from their "master." So strong was the temporary bond between them, the call reached into the depths of the plane in which they currently resided, a pocket of space and time between their home world and the human world. Ordinarily they would have answered the call immediately to satisfy their near-constant hunger and become one step closer to obtaining the ultimate freedom. But not today. Today the call was ignored, and they hid themselves more deeply in the shadows of the plane.

They were being watched. They felt the pure force of a higher power probing, searching for them in the other worlds. They had known their actions among the humans wouldn't go unnoticed. Those deities of light and goodness cared about the pathetic creatures far too much to let any being of darkness wander the human world freely. Only a loophole in a deal created by those the humans called "gods" and "demons" allowed the beings of the lower realms to enter the mortal plane. A human must willingly summon the dark creature, without being coerced by it or any of its kin. The loophole did not guarantee protection for the creature, but in their full forms even the weakest in the lower realms could survive until one of the old ones were called -and that could be centuries for the humans.

And they had chosen their summoning location well. The citizens of this human country didn't cling to any of the "gods" as tightly as those in the countries to the west; a fact they had considered carefully, after their previous failed summons. They had attempted to fully enter the human world four hundred years ago in a country now called "America". However, the people of that land had had strong ties to a "god", and they had been forced back to their home world before the ritual could be completed. They had tried again, in this country called "Japan", about two hundred years later when their strength had returned. They had almost succeeded; but again the ritual had been interrupted, and their plans ruined. They would try again, however, for this remained the perfect location.

Over time they had noticed the light of the old ones shining even less in this area of the human world than before, and they had seized the opportunity. They had found a soul with a promising seed of darkness and sent their book forth. From the moment the human had touched the book, they had been feeding that seed, allowing the darkness to grow stronger. The human might think he was in control, but the demon had become the real master from the very first kill. They felt the darkness grow larger and deeper with each subsequent sacrifice, taking over more and more of the human's mind and body. Soon the darkness would be great enough that a switch could be possible. Then that fool would know what it felt like to be trapped, and only summoned at the will of another.

They would be truly free for the first time in centuries, and they had plans for that freedom, starting with the detective their "master" wanted so badly. They could understand the appeal; he was very beautiful, for a human, and he would make the perfect entertainment for their summoning party. They would claim the human as their own in every way possible, and when he was used up, they would sever that lovely head from the body and preserve it. The human's face was too beautiful to waste.

A dark smile curled thin lips as they allowed the dark visions and fantasies to dance through their mind. They channeled all the dark desires through the bond, towards the lesser darkness at the other end. They would feed and twist the desires of the human calling them, tormenting him, and driving him mad while speeding their plans along nicely. There were only a few sacrifices left, and they already knew who the final sacrifice would be.

X X X

Relief and frustration fought for dominance inside Hiei's mind as he saw that no new deaths had occurred overnight. Relief, because it meant no one else had died. Frustration, because it meant no new clues for anyone trying to find the killer. Unfortunately, he was stuck and had no idea what his next move should be, and he was sure the police were in the same boat. They might have more resources at their disposal than he did, but he highly doubted anything new had turned up in the past twelve hours or so.

He rolled his purchased paper up and continued down the street. It was noon, and even with a killer on the loose, the streets of Asakusa were packed. The usual crowd of visitors surrounded the Kaminari Gate, as rickshaw drivers attempted to entice them to pay for a tour. The drivers ignored Hiei as he passed, for which he was grateful. He often felt like a prized animal at auction whenever they did try to talk to him. Either they recognized him from his many visits to the area, or there was something in his expression that warned them to keep their distance. He liked to think it was the latter.

The sight of all these people enjoying themselves in a place where someone had been brutally murdered put him on edge and made him more than a little disgusted. There was laughter and general gaiety where a young man had screamed and run in terror. The knowledge should have at least put a dent in the number of visitors, but there appeared to be just as many as ever. He couldn't even bring himself to excuse the foreigners. He knew news like this would have been translated into several languages, so in his opinion there was no excuse for them to be acting as though nothing had happened.

And people wonder why I'm a cynic, he though as he dodged a couple trying to take a picture. Maybe if they paid more attention to the world around them, they'd understand.

He walked through the streets, maneuvering through the crowds until he reached his sister's shop. It was located in one of the older buildings in the area, a small two-story building on a quiet street. Yukina's rental ship was on the ground floor, and her home on the top floor. The front entrance led only to the shop, but there was a staircase in the back that led to a door for the top floor. Hiei slipped between the buildings and took this staircase up. He made a note to help Yukina get it inspected soon; the metal was beginning to look dangerously rusty. He paused at the door long enough to use his spare key to enter.

"Is that you, brother?" his sister's voice drifted through the air as he stepped inside.

"It's me," he confirmed as he shut and locked the door behind him.

"Come on into the living room."

Yukina's apartment was a simple 1LDK: two rooms, and a kitchen with enough space for a small dining area. The door Hiei had just walked through led to the kitchen. On the left were two doors close together, one for the washroom and one for the toilet. Straight ahead was the living room, and a door in that room led to the extra bedroom. He walked through the kitchen and entered the living room, where he found Yukina pouring out two cups of steaming green tea. Sweets had already been set out on the table. He was happy to see she was wearing one of her simpler kimonos today, although the colors were more muted than her usual style. The smile she gave him was also a shadow of what it once was, but he had no doubt that it was genuine. That she could smile was a relief.

"How are you holding up?" he asked as he gave her a hug. She felt even more frail and delicate than usual in his arms, and for a moment he was overwhelmed with the feeling that he was going to lose her. But her eyes were strong and steady as she glanced up at him, and his fears eased a bit.

"I'm hanging in there," she replied, taking a step back. They both sat down on cushions around the table, close enough to give comfort without being side by side. While Hiei usually avoided physicality, Yukina thrived on it, and he would do whatever it took to bring her comfort.

"Shizuru comes by to check on me," she continued when they were both comfortable. "I think it helps her cope, too."

"I'm sorry I can't be here more," he said, guilt trying to rise inside him, but she quickly shook her head.

"Don't be. You're doing something more important for us than listening to me cry." Her expression grave, she reached out and caught his arm in a surprisingly strong grip. "But Hiei, please be careful. I've already lost Kazuma, if I lose you too-"

Hiei placed his hand over hers, cutting her off. "I'll be careful," he promised. And he meant it. He'd never forgive himself if he left her alone in the world. When she had left their family to stand by him, he'd sworn he'd watch over her and keep her safe. He couldn't do that if he was dead. Her eyes searched his face, and her grip on him relaxed as she found whatever it was she was looking for.

"I'm going to re-open the shop tomorrow," she told him, finally removing her hand from his arm.

"Are you sure that's a good idea?"

"I can't afford to keep it closed indefinitely. If it were just me, maybe I could, but I can't keep Kokona on paid vacation. And if I can't pay her, she'll leave, and then I'd really be in trouble."

He understood. Yukina took her job very seriously, and needed help getting the clients ready. Kokona was her hair stylist, while Yukina was in charge of getting the customers dressed. If she lost Kokona's help, she'd also lose the clients who trusted her to give them the full experience.

"Try to close up before dark," he told her. "And make sure you lock up properly and always keep your phone on you."

"I'll be safe, Hiei. I promise." She ate a cookie, and looked at him curiously. "How have you been?"

"I've had better months," Hiei stated dryly. He couldn't (and wouldn't) discuss the case with her, but he doubted she was asking for details about it anyway. "My landlord keeps threatening to kick me out of my apartment if I'm late on my rent one more time. I think I'm going to have to move into my office."

"It would save you money," she pointed out. "And you can move out again when you have a more established reputation and client base."

"I know," he said unhappily. "I just don't like the idea of clients knowing where I live." He would never tell her he'd already had the ex-husband of a former client attempt to stalk and attack him out of revenge. He didn't need her joining in on Kurama's crusade to get him to stop. Speaking of his old partner…

"I ran into Kurama the other day," he said lightly. "We're having dinner tonight."

He expected the news to make her happy. Yukina had always gotten along well with Kurama, and had often (unknowingly) joined in the man in urging Hiei to make things official and exclusive between them. So he was surprised to see the pensive look that entered her eyes, and the way she bit her lip.

"Are you sure it's a good idea?" she said at last. "Seeing him again?"

"I thought you liked him?" he replied, raising a brow. "You sang his praises every chance you got."

"I do," she said quickly. "He's a very good person, and he's very kind."

"But…?"

"But I think you two work better as friends than, well, lovers." She blushed and looked down at her tea while Hiei processed her words through his shock.

"Weren't you the one who used to tell me to get serious with him? Why the sudden change of heart?"

Yukina shrugged and refused to look up. But Hiei waited, knowing she was only thinking about what to say. She never said anything unless she was sure of herself.

"I did say that a few times," she admitted. "Until a few months before you two decided to break off whatever you had. I heard you arguing one night when you came over for dinner, about why he couldn't go home with you." Her cheeks when she glanced at Hiei were bright red, and he knew why.

He remembered the night she was talking about. His decision to leave the police had been the final crack that broke whatever relationship he and Kurama had had, but that night was when the cracks had started. They had planned to go to Yukina's for dinner, and then back to Hiei's to spend the night together. It had been decided days before, and both of them had been looking forward to it since they had just finished a more serious case and could do more than just a few stolen kisses. But on the way to his sister's apartment, Hiei had told Kurama he wanted to spend the night alone. It had been a sudden and unexpected decision for Kurama to hear, and he had been both confused and hurt, which was never a good combination for anyone involved with him. And that had been the spark that started the fight.

X X X

"Why?" Kurama whispered fiercely, his green eyes blazing as he stared down at Hiei. They were in the living room, waiting while Yukina finished setting dinner on the dining table. Hiei was seated on the couch, arms crossed as he returned Kurama's stare. His own expression may have been neutral, even cold, but his heart was pounding.

"I'm not in the mood," he replied.

"Not in the mood?" Kurama repeated, disbelief evident in his town. "You were in the mood when you made the offer a few days ago, and you sure seemed in the mood yesterday!"

Yesterday Kurama had dragged him into an empty alley beside a café before they separated for the night. He'd dropped to his knees and, heedless of anyone that may have peered into the shadows, had sucked Hiei's cock with a hunger that had threatened to expose them both. He'd called it an appetizer for their night together; something for Hiei to think about. The problem was that no matter how hard Hiei had thought about it today, he just couldn't regain the feelings he'd had the night before.

"That was yesterday. Things changed." He watched Kurama's hands clench and his eyes harden in anger. "I'm sorry," he added a little more gently. "I can't control how I feel."

"Do you even really care about me?" Kurama said softly, the anger gone and replaced with something that made Hiei's heart clench tight.

"That's a stupid question and you know it."

"Is it, Hiei? Because this is the sixth time in two months you've done this! You come on to me and invite me over, then change your mind at the last minute with no warning. What else am I supposed to think?"

"I can't control it, Kurama. You think I like telling you we can't?"

"I'm starting to think that, yes!"

Hiei looked away from the accusing stare, more hurt than he wanted to admit. He had been in the mood when he'd invited Kurama over, and he'd definitely been in the mood last night. He'd wanted to touch, and be touched in return. But today that feeling was gone. He looked at Kurama and found him beautiful and pleasing to the eye, but he no longer felt the desire to sleep with him. Hiei was familiar enough with his body and his feelings by now to know what that meant.

He felt a warm weight settle in front of him, and he looked to find Kurama kneeling on the floor between his legs, his eyes dark and glinting with wicked intent. His hands burned as they slid slowly up over his knees and to his thighs, and all the while Kurama never took his eyes away from Hiei's.

"Please, Hiei?" he breathed in a way they both knew Hiei liked as he pushed Hiei's legs even farther apart, nuzzling a muscled thigh with his head. "Let me come?"

Yesterday, Hiei would have dragged Kurama outside with a lame excuse to his sister and taken care of things. He'd have invited Kurama home without hesitation. Now, even as his body reacted mechanically, slowly hardening within the confines of his jeans, there was no desire or want behind the action. He felt almost detached from what his body was trying to tell him. So he gripped the teasing hands in his own and removed them, gently pushing Kurama back and closing his own legs so the man couldn't return to the previous position.

"Not tonight," he repeated.

Kurama's face shut down, any warmth vanishing, and only Yukina's call for dinner prevented the argument from escalating.

X X X

That hadn't been the first argument about that particular topic. It had just been the first one where Kurama had tried to challenge Hiei's claims. One of the biggest difficulties in their relationship had always been the difference in their sexual natures. Kurama enjoyed a healthy sex life. While he also enjoyed innocent acts of affection such as a light touch or a hug, those acts didn't remain innocent for long when he was alone with his lover. A hug became a passionate embrace, and a held hand ended in a caress. He preferred to have sex at least once a week, if not more. Kurama was a very dedicated lover, and when Hiei was in the right mood, he appreciated it.

However, unlike Kurama, Hiei wasn't a very sexual person by society's standards. His body reacted to Kurama's touches in the natural way no matter what, but much of the time the sexual attraction necessary to enjoy the act was gone, and there was no way of knowing when it might come back. One moment Hiei would feel all the attraction Kurama could inspire, and the next it was like looking at a work of art: it was beautiful, but he didn't want to fuck it.

Hiei had tried to explain this to Kurama in the beginning, and at first Kurama had seemed to understand and accept it. He hadn't pushed Hiei too much, and they had worked around it. But the longer they were together, the more physical interaction Kurama appeared to demand. What Yukina didn't know was that a few weeks after the argument in her house, they had made plans again. And, once again, Hiei hadn't felt in the mood the night of their plans. Not wanting to upset Kurama, he'd allowed him to come over and do what he wanted. Kurama had tried his best to extricate some kind of enjoyment from him, but Hiei had been unable to replicate Kurama's enthusiasm, and Kurama himself had been forced to watch Hiei orgasm without any real pleasure. He'd been more accepting of Hiei's cancellations after that, but he'd also been more withdrawn.

Then Hiei had quit the force, and everything had broken to pieces.

"I should have known you'd heard that," Hiei muttered, his cheeks as red as his sister's.

"I didn't mean to listen in," she replied gently.

"It's not your fault; it's ours, for arguing in your house."

"Well, after that night…I just really started watching the two of you and listening. And neither one of you seemed very happy."

"We weren't," he grudgingly admitted. "Especially after that argument."

"Then is it really a good idea to go through that again? Have either of you changed enough to overcome those differences?"

No, he immediately thought. We haven't.

In the short time they'd begun speaking again, the two of them had had one good moment and at least three arguments. There had been nothing to indicate either one of them were going to be able to overcome the differences that had caused the breakup in the first place.

"I still have to try," he finally said.

"Brother, there are so many people in this city," she replied. "Why Kurama?"

"Because I know him, and I can trust him," he said.

"You can learn to trust others, the way you had to with him, in the beginning."

He was quiet. He couldn't tell her the real reason, the one he had problems admitting to himself in the darkness of his own bedroom when he craved the feeling of a warm body relaxing in his arms. To be honest, while the sex with Kurama had always been incredible, it was the simpler moments that had made Hiei feel satisfied. Even Kurama's best techniques couldn't compare with the feeling of holding him, or the looks they shared with one another. If he were so inclined, Hiei could find sex anywhere in the city; it was much more difficult to find the intimacy he truly craved.

In truth, he was lonely. He missed having someone call him at odd hours to make sure he was safe. He missed late-night dinners, spending hours in each other's company in a comfortable silence, and random texts saying how much he was missed. So many things he'd had when he and Kurama were together, but that were now gone.

"Kurama can still be there for you," she said gently after it became obvious he wasn't going to speak, "but I think it would be better for both of you if he were only there as a friend. You need to be with someone who understands you and doesn't have to change themselves, or you, in order for you to be together." She paused a moment, then added, "Being lonely is hard, but it's even harder to be with someone who can't accept you as you are."

Exhaustion settled over him like a weighted blanket, and he let out a sigh that seemed to come from his very bones. Yukina quietly stood up and moved behind him, wrapping her arms loosely around his shoulders. She said nothing; simply allowed him to process her words and his own feelings and let him know that, right now, he wasn't alone.

And he knew she was right, about everything. Hadn't he resisted becoming "official" with Kurama in the first place because of how different they were? His own commitment issues aside, even in the beginning they had butted heads so often he'd wondered if they could sustain a relationship for a long period of time. The longer they were together, the more doubt their differences created in him. When he'd been diagnosed with R.P., Kurama had almost suffocated him with his need to help. He'd alternated between bombarding Hiei with facts and suggestions he'd found about how to slow the progression of the disease, and becoming overprotective and trying to help Hiei whenever he stumbled or entered a slightly darkened room.

That wasn't what Hiei wanted or needed. He needed someone who would trust him to ask for help when he needed it, and who would let him live his life without trying to control him. He needed someone who would comfort him when he asked for it, but who would otherwise just be there physically and emotionally. He was slowly going blind; he wasn't a child. He knew Kurama had only done what he did because he cared, but he'd never listened to Hiei's requests to stop.

Hiei also desperately wanted someone who understood his fluctuating sexual desire, and who could be content with smaller displays of affection. The sad reality was, though, that even in a city as populated as Tokyo, the number of people willing to forgo sex for long periods of time were few and far between, and the chances of such a person being suitable for Hiei (and vice versa) were extremely small.

Yukina returned to her seat when Hiei shifted a bit in his own, taking the signal for what it was.

"We'll see how tonight goes," he told her, doing his best to hide how tired he suddenly was. "I'm not going to rush into anything. Besides," he added with a smirk, "the least he owes me is a dinner."

She giggled a little, and he watched in satisfaction as some of the tension left her body.

"I know you'll make the best decision for yourself," she told him. "You may be stubborn as a mule, but you're not an idiot. I think."

"Thanks," he stated dryly, reaching out to gently tug a lock of her hair in retaliation.

They continued talking, both of them relaxing more as the time passed. Their love lives may have been unlucky, but at least they had each other. That was satisfying knowledge for the both of them.

X X X

Kurama sat in the cafe and read his newspaper with considerable relief. They hadn't found another body, so the vultures didn't have anything to write about. The tabloids, he knew, weren't so kind, and would probably still trash the police and speculate about the killer. But those were more easily ignored; people read them, but most didn't trust them as much as they did the major newspapers. A part of him hoped the lack of a body meant the killer had given up, but his gut told him it was far from over, and that this was just the calm before the storm. The killer would strike again, and no one was safe until he (or she) was caught.

The information Hiei had given him yesterday had certainly helped, loathe though he was to admit it. It gave them a new direction to go in, which, admittedly, was more than they'd had before. It frustrated him a bit, though, that Hiei had found what his own team had missed. The wound left by Hiei's resignation hurt even more. If Hiei had stayed in the force, Kurama would be able to freely discuss the case with him and receive his insight. Instead, he had to accept what small crumbs Hiei would give them.

The familiar anger flared up, but Kurama pushed it aside. Seeing Hiei yesterday had also reminded Kurama of how much he missed him. He was a pain in the ass and extremely stubborn, but he had been a strong, steady presence in Kurama's life for several years. He didn't want to lose the chance of having that again. It was why he'd suggested dinner in the first place. The case had brought Hiei back to him, and he was going to take advantage of it. Maybe this time things could be different.

"You look better today."

Kurama put the paper down and looked up into Kuronue's curious expression with a small smile.

"Do I?" he questioned lightly, accepting the cup of coffee the barista held out to him. Their fingers brushed and sent a pleasant tingle running under his skin.

"Well, you don't look like you're at death's door anymore. Maybe just in the driveway."

Kurama chuckled. "I managed to get a full night of sleep last night, so I feel a bit better today."

"Glad to hear it. I'd hate to lose my favorite customer." Kuronue gave his roguish smirk, and Kurama paused to admire how attractive it was.

"Don't you mean 'best' customer?" he questioned before taking a sip of his coffee. He let out a small sound of appreciation, looking at Kuronue in enough time to see his eyes darken in a way that made his own pulse speed up.

Kuronue chuckled and shook his head. "Sorry, someone else has that honor."

He jerked his thumb towards a far corner, and Kurama surreptitiously looked in that direction. A younger man sat at a small table, with a laptop and several books open in front of him. His black hair rivaled Kuronue's in length, allowed to flow freely instead of restrained in a ponytail, and his skin, though pale, was slightly darker in color. He wore a lilac-gray dress shirt that paired nicely with his skin. He was attractive, but not really Kurama's type.

"He's in here for hours every day," Kuronue said softly, leaning down so Kurama could hear him without the risk of the man in question overhearing them. The feel of the barista's breath on his skin made Kurama shiver. "And orders at least three coffees every time." He was smiling as he straightened up again. "So, since he spends more money than you, he's my best customer."

"And I'm your favorite?"

Brown eyes scorched a trail down his body, warm and dark, and Kurama felt he could lose himself in them if he wanted to.

"By far." In moments the heated look was gone, and Kuronue was once more the friendly barista. "So, any other reason you seem so happy today?"

"Yes," Kurama replied, clearing his throat when his voice came out a little breathless. "Yes, I'm having dinner with Hiei tonight."

Kuronue quirked a brow, and his smile grew a little dimmer. "I remember him. Your old partner, right?"

Kurama nodded. "He came by the station yesterday, and we agreed to have dinner together."

"I see."

Something in the other man's tone made Kurama look at him more closely. Kuronue definitely didn't appear as cheerful as he had earlier, and his eyes were focused on Kurama so intently it was as though he was trying to reach into his soul. The stare caused Kurama to flush.

He was fully aware that his friendship with Kuronue wasn't completely normal. In the past few months they had grown closer, and flirted on a daily basis. At first the flirtations had been innocent, friendly teasing. Now, he had to admit, that innocence was gone. He'd be lying if he said he hadn't noticed Kuronue's growing interest in him, or if he tried to say he himself wasn't interested. The other man was beautiful, and he made Kurama feel desired. But he now had a second chance with Hiei, the man he'd been in love with for years. He couldn't pass that up, no matter how attractive Kuronue was.

Before he could think of what to say, Kuronue's cheerful expression was back, even though his eyes lacked some of their luster.

"I hope it goes well," he told Kurama. "You deserve to be happy."

"Thank you," Kurama replied softly, glancing down. The false happiness made him ache; it didn't suit Kuronue at all.

"Well, I've got other customers to bother. Enjoy the coffee." He waved his fingers delicately and returned to his work.

Kurama fought against the urge to watch him, and instead returned to the newspaper in front of him, trying not to think about what had just happened. After some time of mindlessly staring at the black and white print, he became aware of the heavy weight of a person's gaze on him. His spine stiffened, but he acted nonchalant and perfectly at ease as he took a sip of coffee. Then he groaned softly and stretched his arms, using the movements to steal glances around the café. No one appeared to be looking at him, but he still felt uneasy. The feeling didn't disappear until he left the café twenty minutes later.

X X X

"I'm having dinner with Hiei tonight."

The words ran through his mind in a never-ending loop, fueling the anger surging within him with each return. The anger was dark, blinding, all-consuming. He'd never felt anything like it before, and he'd had to escape to the bathroom, his new favorite refuge, before anyone noticed his reactions once the detective had left.

He remembered the detective's former partner. He'd been a short, rough creature who wasn't worthy enough to stand next to Kurama, let alone touch him with his filthy hands. And they had touched, he'd seen it for himself, on that fateful day when he'd decided the detective would be his.

He'd left the café through a back door, to avoid the crowd at the front, with the barista's permission. The door led to the alley beside the building, and he'd intended to return to the street from there. But noises had put him on guard, and he'd ducked down to hide behind the boxes and crates stacked and waiting for disposal. When he'd peeked around, he'd seen the beautiful redhead he'd been eyeing for weeks kneeling down on the ground without care for the dirt and grime, pulling his partner's cock from his pants and taking it into his mouth. He'd stayed in his hiding place, watching as Kurama had pleasured the other man, listening to the soft noises that escaped, wishing he could switch places with that unworthy runt. He'd come just from seeing Kurama take himself out and jerk himself to completion.

That memory had fueled his dreams and imagination for months now, inspiring and taunting him at the same time. He saw it every time he closed his eyes; but over time he had begun to replace the reality with his own desires. It got worse every time he saw the detective. Last night he'd barely been able to sleep because of how hard he was from the dreams that tormented him and drove his lust to new heights.

Even now he was rock hard, just from admiring the way the man had stretched so gracefully. He hit the wall hard in frustration.

The detective was his!

His to touch, his to kiss, and his to fuck. No one else was going to have him, especially not a pathetic creature who couldn't appreciate him.

He smiled cruelly, leaning back against a stall divider, lazily unbuttoning his slacks and staring at himself in the mirror as he took himself in hand.

The unworthy one could enjoy this night. But soon he was going to make sure the runt would never touch his beautiful detective ever again.

X X X

By the time seven rolled around, Hiei wasn't able to decide if time had dragged on or flown by. He'd spent his time after visiting Yukina looking into the ritual angle of the killings, desperate to find any clue before another body turned up. All he'd found was that there were a lot more disturbing people in the world than he'd ever imagined possible. He was now mentally exhausted and battling a headache. He was looking forward to his dinner plans even more than before; spending time with Kurama had always had a way of relaxing him. His skin warmed pleasantly as he thought about the night's possibilities, and he was thankful that this time his body was cooperating.

Hiei was just packing up to leave when his phone rang. He glared at it, but the expression gave way to a small smirk as he saw the name on the screen.

"Hey," he greeted as he picked up the call and put the phone on speaker so he could finish packing. "Are you finished at the station? I'm about to head home now."

"I'm afraid I won't be able to make it tonight, Hiei," Kurama's voice drifted through the air, soft and apologetic.

Hiei looked at where the device lay on his desk, eyes narrowed. "Is it another body?"

"No, thank the gods."

His eyes narrowed even more, and he stopped moving around. "Then what happened?" His body tensed and he grew more suspicious as the other man hesitated, anger beginning to curl in his gut. "Well?"

"Mother called and invited me for dinner," Kurama said at last, his tone deliberately calm and controlled. It was a far cry from how Hiei felt.

"And you didn't tell her you had plans?"

"Hiei-"

"You didn't tell her you could do it another night?"

"Please, Hiei, let-"

"No." Hiei was glad Kurama couldn't see him; it was bad enough his voice betrayed more than a little of the hurt he felt.

"What?"

"I don't want to hear your excuses," Hiei growled, glaring at the phone as though it were the other man and not a tiny machine. "It's the same damn thing every time. You've been doing this since the beginning, saying you want to see me and then dropping me the minute your mother calls -which is practically twice a week."

"That's not fair," Kurama said sharply. "Would you turn down plans with Yukina?"

"Yes, actually, and I have! If I made plans with you first, I always scheduled to meet her at another time, and she understood!"

There was a moment of silence, followed by, "It's not the same and you know it."

A bitter, brittle laugh escaped as resignation replaced anger. "It never is."

He reached out, his throat tight as any hope that had been sparked the night before was extinguished by resignation and disappointment. "It was twenty years ago, Kurama, it's time to get over it."

There was a sharp intake of breath on the other end, and Kurama's voice when he spoke was rough and sharp, all neutrality gone. "You don't understand."

"Don't I?"

"No, you don't, because you're happy to push away everyone who gives a damn about you because you're too scared to let them in!"

The words cut deep, even if he knew they weren't completely true. "At least I know how to make the people I do care about a priority."

"Oh really? So what were all those times you cancelled on me?"

"I was trying to make sure you weren't even more disappointed! What would have been worse, Kurama, me cancelling a night together, or letting you come cover expecting something and then not letting you have it?"

"It would have been better for you to let me decide for myself!"

"We tried that once. I don't recall you being very pleased with the outcome."

He closed his eyes, the look on Kurama's face that night burned deeply into his mind as he finally understood that nothing he had done to Hiei's body had brought him emotional pleasure. It had been one of confusion, hurt, and uncertainty. It had taken them days to move past it, but he knew neither one of them had forgotten it.

A sigh came over the phone. "Hiei-"

"This was a bad idea," Hiei said sharply, cutting him off. "I've got work to do. Enjoy your dinner." He ended the call before Kurama could respond, and sank heavily into his chair.

That's what I get for hoping, he thought bitterly. Yukina was right.

Hiei closed his eyes, letting his disappointment and frustration wash over him. He really had been looking forward to the evening, and it hurt that Kurama had cancelled when he'd been the one to suggest it in the first place. At least now he knew where things stood. He wasn't going to go back to the same cycle and repeat it all over again. After all, it was considered insanity to do the same thing over and over again and expect a different result. He might be a little crazy, but he wasn't insane. He hoped.

The thought of going home was less appealing than it had been five minutes ago.

"An empty home with nothing to do," he said to the air, "or an empty office with busy work?" It really wasn't much of a choice. Years of practice allowed him to push the negative emotions down until he felt almost nothing. He picked up the phone again and dialed a familiar number. If he was going to put in overtime, he needed to eat.

X X X

Takanaka nodded to the young man he was relieving of day duty, unable to hide a smile at the obvious relief.

"Good evening, Hayato" he greeted as they switched places behind the desk. "I take it things were uneventful?"

"As usual. The only excitement was Mrs. Yamagata mistaking her husband for a burglar. Again." The young man grinned as Takanaka rolled his eyes. "I'm pretty sure the local koban hates us."

"I'll tell her husband to talk with her and the police," he sighed. "Maybe we can stop the madness."

He placed his briefcase beneath the desk. When he straightened, he saw the newspaper lying on the surface. He knew it was an older paper, by the large "VAMPIRE" headline emblazoned across the top. Bemused, he picked it up and held it out to the younger man.

"Ah, thanks," Hayato said as he took it. "I haven't really been keeping up-to-date on the news, so I'm playing catchup."

"I see." Takanaka smiled at him and sat down, preparing himself mentally for hours of tedium broken only by the tenants leaving and staggering in at odd hours. However, Hayato didn't leave, and his nervous fidgeting eventually drew Takanaka's attention to him once more. The younger man was frowning a little, and worrying the paper with his fingers.

"Sir," he started when he realized Takanaka was looking at him expectantly, "have you…I mean…do you think it's true? Is the killer really a vampire?"

Years of experience calming students kept his laughter buried inside. "I believe it's a very sick person who thinks they're a vampire," Takanaka replied. "But I don't believe it's a mythical creature."

"Y-yeah, but…then why aren't the cops any closer? And how does this – freak – manage to kill someone, move the body, and no one sees or hears them?"

"This isn't the first time the police have had a difficult case," Takanaka told him. "I can think of several cases in the past when they had a hard time. They solved most of them in the end."

Hayato nodded, but he still appeared unconvinced. "Sir, do you think that tenant on the top floor could be the vampire?"

No amount of control could stop the laugh that bubbled out of him at the words. "Son, even if vampires were real, I can safely say Mr. Urameshi isn't one of them."

"Yeah, but, it's just…well, I've never seen him."

"I have," Takanaka said firmly. "And I promise you he's a good man, even if he is a little rough around the edges."

"That's just it, sir; you've seen him, but your shift doesn't start until it's dark. I work dayshift, and I'm telling you, I've never seen him once in broad daylight."

Uncertainty flickered like a candleflame in the back of his mind, but Takanaka ignored it. "He does own a nightclub," he pointed out. "It's not surprising he'd sleep during the day after working all night."

"Yeah, but, still-"

"Enough," he said, using the tone that had, in the past, convinced even his rowdiest students to listen to him. It worked; Hayato stopped talking. "Good. Now, let's get one thing straight: whatever is going on, Mr. Urameshi isn't involved in it. And I don't want to hear any more of these ridiculous supernatural theories. The press is doing a great job of stirring up trouble all on their own."

"Yes, sir," Hayato replied grudgingly.

"Thank you. There's enough witch hunts going on in the world without us adding to them." He added in a softer tone, "And if Mr. Urameshi is involved, as doubtful as that is, the police will figure it out."

Takanaka spent a few more minutes calming Hayato's feelings before the younger man left. It was only after he'd left that Takanaka realized the young man had left the newspaper on the corner of the desk. He happily threw it into the trash. The headline's large font glared up at him, and he gave it a disgusted glance.

"Ridiculous," he muttered, deliberately turning away, and preparing the desk for the night ahead. His movements gradually slowed as he recalled another night with a similar paper, and the anger that had filled Mr. Urameshi's expression at the sight of the headline. He remembered the fear he'd felt then, a kind he'd never experienced before, more primal instinct than a message from his brain. For just a moment, he'd felt like he'd been looking at a monster.

"Ridiculous," he repeated, and determinedly ignored the fine trembling of his hands.

X X X

The village was situated at the edge of a sprawling, ancient forest that inspired as much fear as respect. Legend spoke of ancient spirits and creatures who lived among the trees, protecting the forest from the greedy hands of humankind. The villagers gave it a wide berth, building their homes far enough away that few creatures would be tempted to attack them, but close enough they could escape into it if they became desperate. Only a single hut rested snug against the forest's border.

Yusuke had been watching the owner of the hut carefully for weeks. He'd been living off the blood of animals for too long now, and the scent of human blood was intoxicating. But he knew better than to enter the village. The people who lived there were protected, and he would be burned the moment he tried to entire their boundaries. This was the only hut he would have a chance of entering if he chose to. Each night he crept as close as he dared, observing and learning. As far as he could tell, the man who lived here was a disgraced samurai; he carried a sword at his side at all times. He was tall and muscular, with black hair grown longer than the usual style and tied at the nape of his neck.

His eyes were as red as blood.

The man had no visitors, and Yusuke had never heard him speak. He had no idea what the man did during the day, but at night he would practice with his sword close to the forest entrance until he almost collapsed in exhaustion, and then sleep until the sun called Yusuke to his hiding place.

That was how Yusuke found him one night, when the full moon was high: lying on the ground by the forest, motionless with the slow, steady heartbeat of the unconscious. It was a temptation he couldn't ignore. Silently, cautiously, he crept from his hiding place among the shrubbery and approached the man. Hunger pulsed through him in large, heavy waves and the moonlit night turned red as his fangs dropped. In a blink he was beside the man, turning him over

He was even more beautiful up close. There were small lines at the corners of his eyes and mouth, and the faintest of them on his forehead. Gray hairs were scattered here and there throughout his hair, prominent only to Yusuke's enhanced sight. He guessed the man was around forty. His hunger pulsed in time with the man's heartbeat, and he licked his lips as he moved his gaze to a pale, unblemished neck. The night felt as still as death as Yusuke brushed his fingers along the soft skin, which were shaking from his own hunger.

Then he glanced up and met red eyes that were wide open and staring at him calmly. He heard no change in the beating of the man's heart, and wondered at the control. Yusuke froze, fingers tightening on the column of the man's neck reflexively. He heard the breathing hitch, the heart speed up just a bit more, and a sigh escape the man as he went almost boneless in Yusuke's arms.

"Please," he whispered, tilting his head back to bare even more of his neck to hungry eyes.

Yusuke buried his fangs into the offered flesh without hesitation, moaning obscenely as the man's thick, rich blood spilled over his teeth and tongue, coating them in a sweetness the animals of the forest lacked. A hand tangled in his hair, pulling him closer as the man gasped out encouragement. He smelled of desperation, but not of fear.

Curious, Yusuke reached out with his mind, probing the other man's consciousness until he found an opening that allowed him entrance. Underneath the pleasure the feeding was creating, he felt anger and hatred. Further down was despair and self-loathing. And even further, buried at the core of it all, was a deep, consuming sadness Yusuke had never felt before. The feeding slowed as he took only small sips, and he hesitantly probed that sadness. Images exploded behind his eyelids, confused and cluttered, but with a few standing out among the rest: a village consumed with flames; a haughty nobleman sneering from atop a horse; a room filled with the fallen figures of dead swordsmen; and a young woman lying motionless in a pool of her own blood.

The hand in his hair loosened, then dropped away as Yusuke pulled back. The man was alive, but now truly unconscious and even paler than before. He stared at him impassively, considering, before he lifted him effortlessly into his arms and carried him into the hut. He knew the man wouldn't survive if he was left outside. The inside of the hut was as miserable as the outside, with a pit in the middle for a fire and a pallet for sleeping the only comforts. He lay the man on the pallet now, pulling the thin, pathetic cloth over his body.

Yusuke kept watch for the rest of the night, ensuring that he at least lived until morning. The man had undoubtedly been begging for death, but Yusuke never killed unless he had no other choice. An hour before dawn he fled back to his hiding place in the forest to sleep, thinking over all that had happened. Moving through the man's mind had been confusing, but it had told him one thing he wanted to know.

His name was Yamato.

X X X

The edges of Yusuke's consciousness flickered with awareness, which grew stronger as the sun slipped below the horizon. The more the sun disappeared, the more he became aware of his own body and his surroundings, until finally he could open his eyes and control his limbs at will. The bedroom was dark, the windows painted a solid black and blocked with as many layers as Yusuke could fit onto them, to prevent any sun from entering the room. Even so, he could see as clear as if it were daylight.

"Yamato," he murmured, tasting the name for the first time in a long time, and sighed.

As far as he knew, vampires didn't dream. At least, not in the way humans did, with memories and feelings combining to create sometimes surreal imagery. Everything a vampire dreamed was a true memory of the vampire's life, and they didn't happen often. It had been decades since Yusuke had viewed such a memory in his sleep. It had been even longer since he'd allowed himself to think of Yamato. He closed his eyes, pulling the man's face to the front of his mind. Gods but he'd been beautiful, all strength and muscle and confidence. He'd spent just as much time admiring Yamato's body as he'd spent figuring out how to get at his blood.

The phone beside his bed began to beep an alarm. Yusuke groaned, then picked up the device and turned the alarm off, noting he had about an hour to get to the club. The first thing he did was check the news to see if anyone else had been killed, and he breathed a sigh of relief when he found nothing. He knew this wasn't the end of it; but this gave him some time before another person was killed in his city. He sat up, letting the silk sheets pool at his waist as he considered his options for the night. This was an opportunity, and he couldn't let it pass by. Jin would probably hate him, but he could handle that. He wasn't so sure he could handle his own anger if he allowed whatever this was to do anymore damage.

I have other business too, he thought, spotting the business card that had laid beside the phone all night.

After Shizuru's P.I. had left his club, Yusuke had excused himself to his staff and worked his way around asking questions. It took a few hours, but in the end Yusuke managed to get the name of the man who'd visited Kuwabara. He fully intended to pay the man a visit and question him himself, but Yusuke wasn't the type of person who would deny himself the pleasure of seeing an attractive figure again, and Hiei was definitely attractive. Especially his eyes.

No wonder I dreamed of Yamato, Yusuke thought as he climbed out of bed and walked, naked, to the washroom. Hiei looks so much like him. Shorter, but the same kind of build, and those eyes…how many humans have that color? Very few, unless they wore lenses, and he knew Hiei hadn't been wearing any behind his glasses. He wanted to know more about the man, and the information he'd dug up was a good excuse to drop by.

It only took Yusuke thirty minutes to shower and dress. He'd decided to forgo the gel and simply let his hair hang loose; the look went better with the cream-colored, turtleneck sweater he'd chosen to wear to complement his skin. A pair of jeans and boots finished the outfit. He pulled on a dark brown leather jacket and pocketed his phone, keys, and a pair of gloves. The last thing he took with him was a helmet set beside the door. As he walked to the elevator, Yusuke contemplated calling Hiei to make sure he was at his office, but decided against it. If he was there, surprising the man would be more fun; and if he wasn't, then Yusuke could just go about his plans.

"Hey old man," he greeted Takanaka as he walked past the doorman's desk downstairs, pulling his gloves on.

"Good evening, Mr. Urameshi," the man greeted him. "Going to work a little early, aren't you?"

"Yeah, I need to go see someone before I stop by the club."

"I see. Have a good night then."

Something in the man's tone made Yusuke pause and look back at him. He'd known Takanaka for two years now, and he was familiar with how the man spoke. Something was definitely off. Takanaka might be able to fool a human, but Yusuke had better senses. His heartbeat was just a little faster than usual, and he stood more stiffly than he ever had before. And in the air around him Yusuke smelled the faint spice of fear.

"Everything okay?" Yusuke questioned.

"Of course," Takanaka replied, giving a very unconvincing smile. "Just a little tired is all."

Pushing it would only make him look more suspicious. "If you say so."

He felt eyes watching him until he was in the parking deck. Yusuke cursed himself as he walked to a sleek black motorcycle that was his pride and joy.

I need to be careful, he thought as he put on the helmet and climbed onto the bike. I can't slip up in front of him again.

He knew better than anyone the lengths humans would go through to explain away any supernatural occurrence, and that they only stopped explaining it away when fear overwhelmed their thoughts. Under normal circumstances, Takanaka would probably have already created a rational explanation for what he'd glimpsed in Yusuke's eyes that night and forgotten about it. With this creature on the loose, fear was always at the front of his mind, making it more difficult to forget. Yusuke didn't want to mess with the man's head, but he'd do whatever it took to survive. Currently, that meant finding the creature doing the killing and getting rid of it.

First I'll drop by the club, grab a bite, and pay Hiei a visit. Then I'll see if I can't find any traces of this bastard tonight.

Grimly, he started the bike and took off into the night. It didn't take very long to get from his home in Azabu-Juban to the club in Roppongi, but he still enjoyed the ride. Of all the inventions of the new eras, he loved the motorcycle the most. It had a thrill of danger that suited him. It was only eight, so the club wasn't open even to the networking customers yet. There were still a few hopefuls, though, lined at the front, waiting for either a glimpse of a celebrity or a chance to get in. Yusuke bypassed them and parked in the gated employee lot in the back. The only other car in the space was Jin's rattling deathtrap. Yusuke parked his motorcycle so that it was in full view of a security camera, not prepared to take any chances with his "baby."

The club was quiet inside, despite the music playing on the speakers at the front door. The music inside wouldn't start until the club officially opened for guests. The staff walked here and there, checking that everything was clean and preparing for another full night. The security guards were checking the notices to make sure they knew the names and faces of any who had recently been banned entry due to improper behavior. More than once a celebrity had been jealous of another's rising star and had attempted to bring them down. Since it was his own reputation at stake, Yusuke made sure the plans failed, and banned the culprit for life.

He found Jin in the manager's office on the first floor, and he knew from the way the redhead was glaring at his cellphone that he wasn't in a good mood.

"What did that thing do to you?" he joked as he walked inside and sat down in a chair across from Jin's desk.

"Not in the mood, Urameshi," Jin warned, putting the phone down a little harder than necessary. His shoulders were a stiff line, and his lips pressed together so hard they almost disappeared. Yusuke sighed inwardly, knowing this was going to be a fight.

"Well, tough. I need you to focus on me and the club right now, not your boyfriend ignoring you." He met Jin's angry gaze calmly. Over time, he'd learned that men like Jin appreciated honest confrontation more than cagey avoidance. It worked; Jin's lips thinned even more, but he didn't say anything. Yusuke nodded, then leaned forward and rested his arms on his legs. "I know you're not going to like this, but I need you in charge again tonight. I've got something I've really got to do, and you're the only one who can take over while I'm gone."

"No way," Jin responded, angry again. "You've dumped this on me three times already this month."

"Wow, three times in two years," Yusuke stated dryly. "That's a lot. It's a mountain compared to twice a month, isn't it?"

Jin flinched. They both knew that the redhead had often called out of work in order to chase someone or other, and that Yusuke only allowed it because when he was there, a manager wasn't really needed. It was also an unspoken agreement that Yusuke could call in the same favor to Jin when he needed to.

"Not tonight Urameshi," Jin said. "Please. I've gotta take care of something."

"You're pretty model can wait," Yusuke replied, unfazed. "My business can't. He's pissed at you anyway; I would be too if you were claiming forever one month, and screwing someone else the next."

"What the hell would you know?" Jin demanded. "You couldn't commit to someone if you wanted to!"

It was Yusuke's turn to tense, and he turned his eyes down before Jin could see the anger there. "Jin, if I found someone who could put up with me the way Touya puts up with your ungrateful ass, I'd give them my soul if they wanted it." He glanced up through his hair, and watched as Jin realized his mistake.

For the last year, Jin had been in an off and on relationship with a model he'd met at the club. It had taken him almost half that time to convince the man to give him a chance, but eventually the model had given in. The problem was that Touya wasn't looking for a fling, and Jin had no idea how to commit. They were caught in an endless cycle of fighting and fucking, and it was beginning to get on Yusuke's nerves. He could see how good they were for one another, if only Jin would get his head out of his ass and let Touya be what he wanted. Instead, Jin would try to get close, then run off and have a fling, and Touya would retaliate by flirting with others. It was only a matter of time until the model got tired of it and broke it off completely.

"I'm sorry," Jin said softly, deflating as his defensive anger left him. "I went too far."

"You did," Yusuke agreed. "You can make it up to me by taking over for me tonight, and any other nights this month I need you."

Jin's jaw tightened, but he nodded. "Alright. But I ain't doing it every night, you hear?"

"It won't be that long," Yusuke promised. "One way or another, it'll be over soon."

I'll either stop this creature, or it'll kill me, he thought.

"Alright, then get outta here before I change my mind and leave first."

Jin leaned his head back in his chair, and Yusuke's attention was caught by the bared neck. For a moment, he considered taking advantage of the situation. He'd done it before; it wasn't difficult to maneuver Jin when he was upset about Touya like this, and he was always good to play with. But he brushed those urges aside and buried the hunger as deep as he could. He wasn't going to help Jin avoid his problems anymore.

"I'll check in later," Yusuke said as he stood up. "If anything goes wrong, call me, got it?"

"Yes, sir," Jin said in a tired mock salute.

As he opened the office door, Yusuke added, "Give him a call. He might be waiting for you to make a move, this time." He left before Jin could reply.

It was child's play to lure away one of the reporters outside, convincing her to walk into a nearby alley and offer him her neck. He wished he could enjoy it more (she was rather pretty), but he had other things to worry about. The hunger sated, he wiped the reporter's memory of any trace of him, and sent her back to the group. Then he slipped away to his ride and sped off into the night, one destination on his mind.

It took him almost an hour to maneuver his way through the traffic to reach the address he'd memorized from Hiei's business card. By the time he finally arrived at the building in Shinjuku, it was almost nine thirty. As he ascended the stairs to the fifth floor, he became aware of Hiei's unique scent growing stronger the farther he went. It was almost overwhelming by the time he stood in front of room 503. Hiei's scent had been pleasing last night, but it had been mixed with the stronger scents of sweat, alcohol, and cigarettes in the club, and Yusuke had been trying to keep his senses dialed as low as possible for his sanity. There were fewer scents in this building, and Yusuke allowed his sense of smell to remain strong so he could enjoy Hiei's to the fullest. A satisfied smirk settled on his lips as a steady heartbeat sounded from within the room, confirming the other man was there.

He kept his helmet tucked under one arm, while his free hand knocked three times on the door. He was careful to use only enough strength to be heard so he wouldn't break the door. His ears picked up the sound of something falling, followed by a muffled curse, and he resisted the urge to snicker just as the door opened. Hiei was just as attractive as he remembered; more so, thanks to the crimson sweater that gave a warm glow to his pale skin, and the black jeans that had to be painted on him. It was almost enough to make Yusuke lick his lips. He thought a silent prayer of thanks to any deity in charge that he'd fed before coming here; he didn't think he would have been able to resist the temptation otherwise.

"Mr. Urameshi," Hiei greeted, the barest hint of surprise evident in his voice.

"Hi," Yusuke replied as sheepishly as he could, trying not to preen as red eyes wandered over his form. "Sorry to bother you so late."

Hiei raised a brow, then glanced at the watch around his wrist. "I didn't realize it was nine-thirty," he muttered. His eyes cut back to Yusuke and he added, "How did you know I'd be here?"

"Hope. Your business card said your office hours are eight to ten."

"You could have called."

"I was in the area," Yusuke said. Lying came as easy to him now as breathing once had. "I figured I'd stop by first, and if you weren't here I'd leave a message."

Hiei stared at him a moment more, and Yusuke gave his most innocent look in return. He understood and appreciated Hiei's caution. He was a private detective, after all. They often made enemies whether they wanted to or not. Yusuke also knew that P.I.'s and cops always questioned people close to the victims because they were the most likely suspects.

And, Yusuke thought, I'm probably going to be on his suspect list until this damned creature is caught.

He felt a spark of triumph and joy when the other man finally opened the door wider and stepped to the side himself.

"Come in," Hiei said.

"Thanks. Sorry for the intrusion."

As he moved inside, he made sure his body brushed gently against the other's. Yusuke heard Hiei's breathing hitch and his heartrate pick up, and he restrained another smirk. The man wasn't unaffected by Yusuke's presence, either. That was good to know. But being that close he'd caught the faint scent of alcohol from Hiei's released breath. Now that he'd noticed it, he realized it was still in the air. It made him curious. Hiei didn't appear to be the type to enjoy drinking that much.

The office was an apartment converted for the purpose. Since he saw no desk in this room, he assumed this was a waiting area. Boxes of takeout sat opened and partially eaten on the only available table along with several cans of beer, some of which were open and empty. A small kitchen area was on the left side, complete with a one-range stove and a miniscule sink.

"Sorry to interrupt your meal," he apologized as he gestured towards the food.

"I was almost finished anyway," Hiei replied, giving the table a disgusted glare. "I ordered too much." He swiftly closed the containers and pushed them to the side.

Yusuke finally noticed that although Hiei had relaxed a bit at the door, his body was still tense. It was a wonder his muscles weren't creaking when he moved. He looked so much like Jin had previously that it surprised him. The number of beer cans he'd seen on the table now indicated something was definitely wrong. He would guess at least three of the large cans were empty just by the smell and the fact that Hiei was even less graceful here than he had been in the club last night.

"If this is a bad time-," he began, feeling a little guilty now for not calling first.

"No," Hiei replied sharply, surprising them both with the force behind the word. He took a deep breath and released it slowly. In a more normal tone, he continued, "No, it's fine. Please sit down."

Yusuke sank onto one end of the couch, studying Hiei closely. The corners of his mouth were tucked into a small frown, and his jaw was set.

"Is everything okay?" he asked carefully as Hiei sat down on the opposite end of the couch. "You seem…tense. Even more than yesterday."

A sharp glance was thrown his way, but the concern Yusuke showed was genuine. He didn't know the man well, but he'd seen the type before. Hiei would probably let whatever was bothering him build itself up until it exploded in some messy fashion. Yusuke had the feeling there would be plenty of collateral damage from Hiei's brand of emotional explosions when they happened.

"I'm fine," Hiei said at last, taking his glasses off to rub at his eyes as Yusuke took the opportunity to admire an unhindered view of his face. "Just…disappointed, I guess."

He considered trying to convince Hiei to tell him more, but he recalled how the P.I had fought his telepathic powers the other night. As curious as he was, it would only make Yusuke look suspicious if he kept asking for personal details when they barely knew one another. So instead he shrugged and angled his body so he could spread his long legs out front and still keep Hiei in his view.

"Well, hopefully this will cheer you up a little. After you left, I asked around about that guy who came to see Kuwabara." He gave a satisfied smirk as Hiei's attention zeroed in on him. He liked having that intense focus fixed on him.

"Did you find out anything?"

"His name's Kuronue. Apparently he owns a popular café, and Kuwabara was a frequent customer."

Yusuke tilted his head in curiosity as he tried to interpret Hiei's reaction. He had gone a shade paler at the name, and his eyes had widened briefly in surprise before they narrowed again, and he frowned. The name obviously meant something to him, but it was difficult to figure out exactly what based on those small actions. He couldn't help but admire the amount of control Hiei seemed to have.

I wonder what he looks like when he loses control?

It was a very distracting thought.

"Kuronue, huh?" Hiei murmured.

"You know him?"

"A little. When I…was a cop, my partner would sometimes take me to the café before or after our shift. I remember he was always friendly with the owner."

"You were a cop?" Yusuke grinned, while also thinking I knew it! "Well, that explains a lot." At Hiei's questioning look, he said, "You've been screaming 'cop' since we first met. You don't act like any of the P.I.'s who've come sniffing around the club before."

"And how do they act?" Hiei asked, leaning onto the arm of the couch behind him with his arms crossed over his chest, an attractive smirk beginning to form.

"You've seen Detective Conan, right?" He grinned again as Hiei let out a small sound of amusement. "Seriously, most of them act like Mori Kogoro, only without his honor and ten times his greed. And absolutely none of them have an ounce of the confidence you do. I actually feel like I can trust your skills; I wouldn't trust any of the others as far as a toddler could throw them."

"Don't you mean as far as you could throw them?"

"Nope. I may not look it, but I could throw them pretty far. Seriously," he added earnestly at Hiei's doubtful look, "I'm stronger than you think"

"I'll keep that in mind."

The attempt to lighten the mood had worked, Yusuke noticed, as he observed his companion as surreptitiously as he could. Some tension had been released, and his heart now sounded with slower, more even beats. And although his arms were crossed, it was more a position of comfort than of defense. After a moment, he decided to take a chance and ask the question currently at the forefront of his mind.

"So, how did you go from cop to private detective? It doesn't take a genius to figure out which job you prefer."

The fingers of Hiei's hands dug into his arms briefly, and Yusuke almost regretted asking. Red eyes flashed dangerously, although it only made the man more attractive to him. But the tension disappeared as suddenly as it had returned. Hiei turned his gaze away from Yusuke and back to the table. Following it, Yusuke realized he was looking at his glasses.

"I told you last night," Hiei said tonelessly, "that I was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, and you know it's degenerative. There's no way to stop it. After the diagnosis, I had two choices: sit at a desk for the rest of my career and watch third-rate detectives fumble their way through cases, or end my career on my own terms." He gave a careless shrug. "At least as a private detective, I get to decide when I'm ready to stop."

He wasn't able to manipulate the other man's mind, but his feelings were still an open book, and Yusuke felt like he could choke on the bitterness he felt when he reached his mind to Hiei's. For a moment he stopped pretending to breathe, too caught up in the waves of emotion now open to him. There was the bitterness, and underneath it a thick, heavy layer of anger, and below that a river of sadness touched with despair. But there was something else there that pulled him in, and Yusuke continued burrowing through Hiei's feelings until he reached the core: determination and pride, both so strong they didn't collapse under the weight of all the negative emotions surrounding them.

"You're strong," Yusuke said breathlessly as he returned to his own mind. The light of Hiei's core shone in brightly in his mind's eye, and he wondered if anyone else knew just how beautiful it was. He cleared his throat when he realized Hiei was looking at him strangely and added, "There aren't many who could make a decision like that. It's not easy to walk away from something you love."

For just a moment, the light of pride shone in Hiei's eyes, and Yusuke had to grind his teeth together, so he didn't do something stupid. The more he found out about Hiei, the more attractive the man was. Yusuke had always been attracted to beauty and power, and the P.I. definitely had both in spades. He really needed to get out of here. Now.

Hiei appeared to feel the same. "Thanks for the information," he said, clearing his throat. He turned away, unknowingly breaking his hold on Yusuke and allowing him to think again. "I appreciate it."

"I just wanted to help," Yusuke replied with a shrug and a grin. "I'm not sure how much good it'll be, but I hope you manage to find something."

They stood at the same time, Hiei leaving his glasses on the table. He probably felt comfortable in the office, and knew where everything was.

"You really could have just called with that information, though," Hiei pointed out as he led the way to the door, giving Yusuke a searching glance. It meant he didn't see the unopened can of beer until he stepped on it, stumbling, and falling straight into Yusuke's arms.

The man weighed nothing at all, Yusuke noted, trying desperately to distract himself from how good Hiei smelled this close. Like fire, and spices. Hiei's hands were gripping Yusuke's shoulders, while one of Yusuke's arms wrapped around the man's waist. Hiei was all hard muscle and heat, a contrast to the chill of Yusuke's own body. Hiei's eyes were widened in surprise, and his heart was beating rapidly once more. Lifting his free hand, Yusuke gently wiped blood from the soft lip Hiei had bitten when he'd fallen.

Let him go, Yusuke told himself firmly as Hiei's lips parted at his touch. This is so not the time for this!

"If I called," he said out loud, his tone deep and velvet smooth, "then I wouldn't have been able to see you." He winked and released Hiei from his hold just as a soft pink touched the man's cheeks. The best thing about pale skin was how impossible it was for the owners to hide how they felt. As expert as Hiei appeared at masking his true emotions, even he couldn't control his skin.

"I hope one of those vultures gets into your club tonight," Hiei muttered, backing away from Yusuke just a bit more.

Yusuke laughed. "That's mean!" In a more serious tone he added, "Good luck. I'll let you know if I hear anything more helpful."

"Use the phone next time," Hiei suggested.

"I'll think about it." He reached out, wiping a fresh drop of blood from Hiei's lip before the man could stop him. "Be careful, Hiei. I'd really hate to see your picture in the papers for the wrong reason."

He decided it would be better to not give Hiei a chance to respond, so he backed out into the hallway and closed the door behind him. As he walked down the hall, he brought his thumb to his lips and licked the blood away. For a brief second, his body felt as though it had caught on fire.

He'll live through this, Yusuke promised as he made his way down the stairs. And when this is over, I'll make sure we get better acquainted.

X X X

"Not tonight you jerk," Touya muttered as Jin's name appeared on his phone's screen for the fifth time that night. "Find someone else to screw around with." He shoved the phone as deep into his coat pocket as it would go, embracing the chilly night air to fight off the wave of hurt.

It's my own fault, he thought as he walked through the streets. I let myself believe he was serious.

How could he not? When Jin was so warm and caring, protecting him and showering him with attention, even beyond what he'd given to others. Touya wasn't a complete fool; he knew Jin's reputation around Mazoku, and he'd seen enough happening in dark corners in his early days there to know the man's sexual appetite was never sated. But he'd still allowed himself to hope when, night after night, he'd been the one Jin had sought out, and the one who would meet him for lunch on his days off. For almost a year now he'd been Jin's only nightly companion; or so he'd though, until a few nights ago when he'd seen the man with his hands all over another model's body.

Remembering brought the hurt back to the surface, and his eyes burned from more than just the cold. He hated himself for letting his guard down, but something about Jin's blue eyes and warm hands had melted the icy wall Touya had built around his heart. He'd allowed himself to hope, and all he got in return was a broken heart and a lifetime worth of regret.

His throat grew tight, and Touya ducked into a darkened alley to hide himself from passersby while he tried to compose himself. He leaned back against the wall, swallowing the lump in his throat.

"I don't want to see him again," he whispered.

"Oh, don't worry," a cold, cruel voice said just before pain erupted in his body. "You won't."

End Notes:

koban - In Japan, in Japan, cities or larger areas have police stations that handle the really big cases, and koban, which are still the police, but they handle smaller, more local and immediate matters.

Azabu-Juban - A trendy area in Minato Ward in Tokyo, it has some of the highest rent prices in the city. It was also where Naoko Takeuchi based her Sailor Moon manga!

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