~~~~~~Petals Fallen, Blood on Roses
~~~~~~By HieiNimbus3007, also known as NimbusXtreme3007
~~~~~~Chapter V - Crimson
Disclaimer - I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho, nor will I ever. I *do* own Houkama the hunter, though, and I am very possessive! ^_^ *sigh...evil bishonen! heehee!
WARNING! Okay. By now anyone who is reading this should know that this is yaoi/shonen-ai/slash. But just in case you have been on some distant planet or some other shit and don't get it yet...here is a message for you. Shonen- ai means love between two boys. Okay? If you find this offensive in any way, leave now please and forever hold your peace. I feel strongly about being criticized for free speech. Also a word to the rest of you - this chapter *does* contain a bit more 'contact' between two male characters than the other chapters. Not to such an extent that I would have to change the rating..but it is here. Fair warning. I will post a full-blown rated R lemon eventually...but I am still working this thing out, and I am not thinking about that part much yet. When I do post it...it will be as an epilogue so as to not affect the flow of the story or the outcome..so people who do not want to read a yaoi lemon can avoid it and not miss a chunk of the story itself.
Also..a more serious warning to everyone. This chapter contains CHARACTER DEATH. Now, by saying character death, I don't necessarily mean *permanent* character death...oh shit..I just gave away half my plot! *sigh* So don't get mad! Just wait! Cheers! - Nimbus^_^
This whole first part is inside Kurama's mind. When Houkama speaks, I will indicate with []. I will indicate Kurama's dialogue with **. I will have a bar of ~~~ to show when they are no longer inside his mind, and I also use the ~~~ to indicate in a change of scene.
~~~~~~Petals Fallen, Blood on Roses
~~~~~~Chapter V - Crimson
*That man...who is he? Do I know him? Maybe he is a friend of Hiei's. They actually look rather similar. They have the same eyes. But...there is something different about this man's eyes. They look...wrong.* Fire red, blazing behind a fine brush of blond lashes, set in a beautiful face. His hair, a sparlinig, deep brown, flowed over his shoulders and down past his knees. His spiky bangs which hung before his face shone red from the light that spilled from his eyes. He regarded Kurama thoughtfully, a slight smile on his face. [You do not know me] *Have I seen you before? Who are you?* [Why ask me questions? Questions are for the curious. You are not curious, you are just in a hurry to be rid of me so you may dream more of your forbidden lover] *Your voice...you came to me last night!* [Yes.] He nodded his head once, not removing his eyes from Kurama. Kurama felt his anger at Hiei boil up, but also anger at this man. *Who are you to tell me how I feel about Hiei? You know nothing about me! You know nothing about my relationship with Hiei, and it is none of your business!* [Sorry to inform you, but currently you *are* my business. The both of you. I have been..observing..the both of you for quite some time, and I just felt that it was time I intervened. You can do much better than Hiei, really. You are such a powerful man. You could have anyone. Man, woman, human...animal.] *Are you some sort of sick..* [I just care for you, is all.] *I don't believe *that*!* [Why not?] *Well, you...you don't know me.* [Your name is Kurama, a silver fox youko who was mortally wounded one day. In order to save yourself you transformed yourself into a child within the womb of a human women. You were born and grew up with these people and took the name of Suiichi. You had planned to take your leave of those humans, but you could never bring yourself to do it. You met Hiei later, and had been having more than friendly relations with him since way before either of you met the great Yusuke Urameshi.] *So you do know me, but what does it prove?* With swiftness that might have startled anyone but Kurama, being used to Hiei's unnatural speed, the man appeared at his side. Kurama looked deep within those red eyes, now only inches from his own, searching for some sigh of life, and found only fire. [It proves that I care more for you than that fire demon.] *What of his being a fire demon? What are you, might I ask? You certainly have the eyes of a fire demon.* Kurama fought with all his power not to fall into those eyes. [What I am is really simple. I am a Hunter. The Hunter, actually, since the rest of my race were killed by humans years ago.] *Hunter?* The man raised his hand and extended a graceful index finger, which came to a point with a long claw. He brushed it gently against Kurama's jaw, drawing a thin line of blood. Kurama winced and tried to move from him, but his limbs seemed to be frozen where they stood. The man stepped closer, and there really was no space between them at all to speak of. [My name is Houkama. And I have great uses for you.] Kurama was about to question that last statement when Houkama suddenly leaned forward and parted his lips. His tongue, blue, reptilian, and forked, darted from his mouth and caught the thin stream of blood running from the wound he had inflicted. He brought both of his hands to the back of Kurama's head. Kurama was literally frozen in place by some supernatural paralysis. [Yes. I do have some mild poison attributes that infect those I cut. But do not worry. They will wear off soon enough. But, since you seem a bit disturbed by all of this, I will do you a favor. You may wake up now.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kurama stirred upon the ground and woke suddenly, panting. A quick glance around him told him that he was in some forest. Memories of the night before returned to him like a slap in the face as he remembered the outcome of the ordeal of his rose. A heavy feeling settled in the pit of his stomach. But he had no time to ponder this pain, for he heard approaching footsteps to his left. He turned quickly, and saw the same man. His blue robes flowing around him like the wind, and his hair as immaculate as ever. "Houkama?" "Yes?" Kurama saw that Houkama's lips were stained red with blood. *His* blood. "So, that wasn't a dream?" "Not *really*. Parts of it, maybe. I don't know. You tell me." He smirked at Kurama. A smirk that Kurama had come to know and adore upon another face. "Well, I can move, so you really didn't poison me." "Think about it, Kurama. why would I want to paralyze you? True hunters take no pleasure in hunting prey that do not run from him in fear." "So you are here to kill me?" "No. Nothing of the sort." "I wish you would stop being vague! One minute it seems like you are going to hate me and other times it seems like you are in love with me!" "Can both not be possible at once? Do you not love Hiei and also want to rip his head from his shoulders with your bare hands at this very moment?" "I do *not* want to kill Hiei!" "That's not what you said last night. You were fully convinced last night that you wanted his blood on roses." "*You* convinced me, you bastard!" Houkama bent back his head and laughed once or twice, and when he returned his gaze to Kurama, red light spilled from his eyes like spotlights, making the entire clearing seem like a giant womb. Again, with his lighting-fast motions, he was at Kurama's side upon the ground. "Yes, I might have tricked you then, but I would not trick you now. I told you in your sleep that I had a good use for you, and I do. You don't know how important to me you are right now." "That's very nice but..." He was halted by Houkama's mouth pressing hungrily against his own. He tried to pull from the cold kiss, but Houkama's hands pushed the back of his head even deeper into it. His lips parted slightly, and Houkama forced his tongue within. The forked tongue revolted Kurama, and he began to gag, but as Houkama pushed it deeper within his mouth, an odd calm came over him, and his body relaxed. Houkama caught him before he hit the ground, lowering him slowly across his own lap, not breaking the connection of their lips. With one hand he held Kurama's head up, thus keeping the man's lips against his own. With the other hand, he slowly unbuttoned Kurama's dirty white shirt. Kurama stirred lightly. [Calm down.] *What are you doing? You are in my head again.* [Yes, I know. Now it is time for me to tell you...] He finished unbuttoning the shirt and he opened it. [That we are ment for one another. You are my other half. I have searched for you for all my life, and now I have found you.] He ran his free hand over Kurama's creamy chest, and he continued to kiss him. *What do you mean?* Slowly, Kurama felt his inhibitions fleeing him as though they were leaves on a swiftly moving river. *Do you speak the truth? It would really explain a lot. And..oh, that feels good.* Hukama ran his fingers over the powerful muscles of Kurama's abdomen. [I know. I would do anything for you. I love you, Kurama.] *You do?* [Yes. I love you like Hiei never did.] *Hiei...never really loved me?* [Exactly. I, though, love you will all of my being, and I want to be your slave forever. You love *me*, right?] His fingers trailed to Kurama's zipper. *Do I? I don't remember.* [Yes. You love me very much. You would kill for me.] *I would?* [Yes.] *I must really love you a lot.* [You do. You love me, therefore you *are* me.] *Okay.* Houkama undid the button at the top of Kurama's pants. [You hate Hiei, don't you? I hate Hiei very much for what he has done to you.] *If you hate Hiei, I hate Hiei. I love you, therefore I *am* you.* [Correct. Hiei is a bad man. Did you know that he is the one who caused your mother to get ill? He did not want you spending time with your family. He wanted her to die so that you would finally run off and join him as a full demon.] *Hiei did that!?* [Yes. He is a very bad man.] *Very bad. I hate him, too.* [He must pay, I think. He nearly killed your mother and he broke your heart. He tricked you and lied to you. He killed your soul! Yes...he must pay!] *He killed my soul!* [Yes.] His fingers toyed with the zipper pull. *I want to kill him!* [Why?] *He killed my soul! And also, he has caused you much grief, watching him harm me. I shall kill him for you, because he hurt you, too. And I love you, therefore I *am* you!* [Do you promise?] *YES!* [Well, then..] Houkama broke away from the kiss suddenly, his tongue making an evil sucking sound as it returned from the far depths of Kurama. "Why did you stop?" "Because, beautiful Kurama, I wanted to ensure that you will not go back on your promise." He brought forth the same index finger he had used to scratch Kurama earlier and placed that same claw against the skin directly about Kurama's heart. The claw penetrated easily and Kurama shrieked in agony as it pierced his heart. He slumped over, and blue light flooded from the wound. "You will go and carry out your promise: to kill Hiei the fire demon, your former lover, in the name of Houkama the Hunter." He drew his claw from Kurama's heart and the light died. Kurama lay on the ground unconscious but otherwise unharmed. Houkama stood and glared down upon Kurama, his eyes lacking all their love of earlier. "I would kill you myself, but you deserve worse punishment," and with this, he rose into the air and flew off into the night. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Houkama, the last of the Hunters, stared down at the cold world below him. He had been born amongst a proud race of demons that were undoubtedly the most feared of all in their time. The ultimate bounty hunters, they sought after all those who they had hateful feelings towards and all those they sought out were killed or worse. But eventually, the humans they presided over revolted. Tired of being bossed around and slaughtered aimlessly and for entertainment, they hunted down the Hunters and killed them all but one, who had managed to escape into the woods. Houkama harbored a poison anger towards the human race throughout his growing years, but eventually realized that only one vengeful demon could not wipe out them all. So he turned his anger towards other demons. Those who turned their backs upon their brothers and joined the ranks of the humans. Traitors. Filthy, stupid, goddamn traitors. Now, 19 year old Houkama had grown fully into his Hunter powers and instincts. "Oh...Kurama, I could have loved you, really." He could not deny the attraction he felt for the red-headed man, and the pleasure he had felt while having him completely under his control. The memory of the bitter taste of Kurama's blood made his especially hard. "But DAMN YOU!" His hatred flared up again." I don't love you! I can't love you! You are nothing but a back-stabbing....UGH! Mapputatsuni hiki sakuwayo!(*)" With this, Houkama disappeared behind the clouds. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hiei sat with his elbows resting on his knees with his hands dangling between them. He was actually tired. He had been running all day, and still had found no traces of Kurama. "God, where did you go?" He said aloud. "I can't even find you with my jagan. His insides churned as he thought about what might happen if the Hunter reached Kurama before he did. "Why did you leave, anyway?" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kurama awoke at the same place he remembered waking up just a little while ago. But now, he noticed, his shirt was unbuttoned and so was his fly. "Oh, yes!" He smiled to himself. "I am ment to kill Hiei today. That son of a bitch." He stood and brushed his clothing off. " I must kill him for Houkama, because I love him, therefore I *am* him." He began walking in what his instincts told him was the correct direction. He could almost *smell* Hiei.....and could almost feel his warm blood flowing over his hands... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hiei heard something..someone coming. He glanced up and saw a flash of bright red through the trees. "It can't be..." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "There he is, The bad man. I get to kill him now. He killed my soul." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hiei leapt to his feet and ran faster than ever before. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Houkama smiled to himself from his hiding place , invisible just above Hiei's former resting spot. "He is running to his death. How inspiring." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Kurama!" Hiei wrapped his strong arms around the taller man's waist and buried his face in his chest. He breathed deeply and tried to control his urges to either kick him in the balls for leaving him or throw him to the ground and make love to him forever. "You came back!" He then noticed that his embrace was not being returned. He pulled back a little, and looked up into Kurama's eyes. "Something's wrong." He thought. "There is no life in his eyes at all. It's like..Kurama's not even there." "You are a bad man, Hiei-san." "What?!" "You killed my soul. I must now slay you in the name of Houkama, the Hunter." "The Hunter?" Icy fear spilled through his body. "Yes. I love him, therefore I *am* him." "You love him?" "Why would *you* care?" The words hurt. Hiei backed up, a look of despair on his face. "*I* love you..." "No you don't!" Kurama was yelling now. Hiei was frightened. Kurama had *never* yelled at him like this..and he knew that *Kurama* never would. He just hoped the real Kurama would somehow..."You just used me!" "No I didn't! I-" "Stop talking to me! I don't care to hear what you have to say in your own defense! I held that rose! Do you hear me? I held that rose! It told me that you have no love for me! The rose wouldn't lie to me! And Houkama would never lie to me! Not like you!" His hatred boiled over. His hand flew up and produced a rose from behind his ear..the whip unfurled and cracked through the air. "Kura-" Hiei fell to the ground, his throat slit, blood seeping from the wound and dripping from his mouth. "-Ma..." All of a sudden, it felt as though Kurama had woken from a very heavy and long sleep. The spark returned to his eyes. He looked down at his hands, and saw the blood-covered rose whip. He then saw the mangled body of Hiei laying bleeding on the ground before him. He choked on a gasp and fell to his knees alongside the fallen demon. He gently fingered the down- soft hair at the base of Hiei's neck, that was already matted with blood and gently lifted his head up. "K-Kurama?" Hiei sputtered, spitting up some more deep red blood. Kurama cradled Hiei's head in his lap and tore off his own shirt, frantically ripping it to shreds and then began pressing them against the wound, but even he knew that he couldn't stop the drainage of a severed jugular. He clutched Hiei to him. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to!" He sobbed loudly and his body shook and trembled. Hiei coughed up another gob of blood and Kurama wiped it from his lips. "I love you, Hiei! Don't die! Please don't die! I don't want you to die! PLEASE!" "I - found you--" "Yes, you found me. Don't leave me, now, please. I love you." Hiei's pale hand writhed upon the ground, and Kurama grasped at it desperately, marveling, in all the confusion, at how the smaller man's hand was still swallowed in his own, as it had been since they had first met. Then Hiei's pained voice broke his train of thought. "He'll-" "Hiei? What?" "He'll kill you--too." "Oh, Hiei!" He gathered Hiei carefully in his arms and hugged him to his body fiercely. "Please don't die. Please don't die!" Hiei was silent. "Hiei?" Nothing. "Hiei!" He pulled Hiei back to look at him, and he found a pair of lifeless red eyes staring back at him. "HIEI!" He buried his face in Hiei's blood-soaked shirt and pressed his ear against Hiei's heart. There was no sound. He leaned back, and pressed his lips against Hiei's, accepting their stillness as the reality. He now had the taste of Hiei's death in his mouth. His blood. The taste of his guilt. Out of nowhere, Houkama appeared and stared down at the sobbing man and the bleeding corpse. "I hope you are happy, Kurama. You killed him, after all." Kurama was silent and avoided his gaze. Still clutching Hiei to him and rocking back and forth, staring off into space. "You made me do it!" Kurama choked. "I didn't want to!" "Yes you did! Remember the rose!" That same rose, the one that had caused him all this pain and started this, Hogosha's rose, appeared to his right. He lifted one trembling hand and grasped it, closing his tearful eyes and concentrated on the feeling of the thorns digging into the soft flesh of his palm. "That rose told you the truth, didn't it? I told you the truth as well. He didn't love you." "That dosen't..that dosen't matter! Not now! *I* loved *him*! That's the only thing that was important!" "Love cannot be one sided." "SHUT UP HOUKAMA! I'M NOT GOING TO LISTEN TO YOU ANYMORE! I-" He broke down into a fresh torrent of powerful sobs. "Why do you cry? You have done the world a great service. You should be happy, and accept this praise." Kurama sniffed and seemed to regain his composure. "I'm - going now." "Oh. Running away again? Where are you running to now?" "Wherever Hiei went must be where I'm going. After all..I loved him, therefore I *was* him." He grabbed the handle of Hiei's katana, which was still sheathed at his side, and pulled it free with a metallic ring. He stared grimly at his bloodstained reflection in the smooth blade. Still clutching Hiei with one arm, he held the katana backwards, pointed at himself and awkwardly positioned it just below his ribcage. His eyes flashed up and met with Houkama's. He thrust his body forward upon the blade, which flew a strait coarse and glided underneath his ribcage. He grimaced and slumped over on top of Hiei, their blood mingling, staining all the earth underneath them crimson red.
~~~~~~The End
Well, I'm done with that chapter. I'm sure you all want to kill me now, right? Trust me, I want to kill myself! But like I said...*temporary death!* I seriously could not stop crying while writing that death scene...I just hope it had that same affect on at least *one* of you out there. I would like to know whether or not my writing style effects anyone but myself. (*) - This is a little Japanese phrase I picked up..it means- "I'll tear you in half!!!"
Next chapter: Hiei and Kurama meet up in the afterlife, on the bank of the Styx..where you are ment to wait for the boat so you can cross and enter the underworld. But, luckily for them..the boat is late. Hiei is a little pissed that Kurama just *killed him* and Kurama still wants to know why Hiei doesn't love him. Something very crucial happens that proves the truth to them once and for all...and then there is the small matter of escaping the underworld before the door shuts. And what happens to Houkama? Next time..on Petals Fallen, Blood on Roses!
This chapter dedicated to Kelly, Becca, and Jaz (who hasn't even *read* this story yet! Grrr...) ~Hiei/Kurama yaoi rocks!~
~~~~~~Chapter V - Crimson
Disclaimer - I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho, nor will I ever. I *do* own Houkama the hunter, though, and I am very possessive! ^_^ *sigh...evil bishonen! heehee!
WARNING! Okay. By now anyone who is reading this should know that this is yaoi/shonen-ai/slash. But just in case you have been on some distant planet or some other shit and don't get it yet...here is a message for you. Shonen- ai means love between two boys. Okay? If you find this offensive in any way, leave now please and forever hold your peace. I feel strongly about being criticized for free speech. Also a word to the rest of you - this chapter *does* contain a bit more 'contact' between two male characters than the other chapters. Not to such an extent that I would have to change the rating..but it is here. Fair warning. I will post a full-blown rated R lemon eventually...but I am still working this thing out, and I am not thinking about that part much yet. When I do post it...it will be as an epilogue so as to not affect the flow of the story or the outcome..so people who do not want to read a yaoi lemon can avoid it and not miss a chunk of the story itself.
Also..a more serious warning to everyone. This chapter contains CHARACTER DEATH. Now, by saying character death, I don't necessarily mean *permanent* character death...oh shit..I just gave away half my plot! *sigh* So don't get mad! Just wait! Cheers! - Nimbus^_^
This whole first part is inside Kurama's mind. When Houkama speaks, I will indicate with []. I will indicate Kurama's dialogue with **. I will have a bar of ~~~ to show when they are no longer inside his mind, and I also use the ~~~ to indicate in a change of scene.
~~~~~~Petals Fallen, Blood on Roses
~~~~~~Chapter V - Crimson
*That man...who is he? Do I know him? Maybe he is a friend of Hiei's. They actually look rather similar. They have the same eyes. But...there is something different about this man's eyes. They look...wrong.* Fire red, blazing behind a fine brush of blond lashes, set in a beautiful face. His hair, a sparlinig, deep brown, flowed over his shoulders and down past his knees. His spiky bangs which hung before his face shone red from the light that spilled from his eyes. He regarded Kurama thoughtfully, a slight smile on his face. [You do not know me] *Have I seen you before? Who are you?* [Why ask me questions? Questions are for the curious. You are not curious, you are just in a hurry to be rid of me so you may dream more of your forbidden lover] *Your voice...you came to me last night!* [Yes.] He nodded his head once, not removing his eyes from Kurama. Kurama felt his anger at Hiei boil up, but also anger at this man. *Who are you to tell me how I feel about Hiei? You know nothing about me! You know nothing about my relationship with Hiei, and it is none of your business!* [Sorry to inform you, but currently you *are* my business. The both of you. I have been..observing..the both of you for quite some time, and I just felt that it was time I intervened. You can do much better than Hiei, really. You are such a powerful man. You could have anyone. Man, woman, human...animal.] *Are you some sort of sick..* [I just care for you, is all.] *I don't believe *that*!* [Why not?] *Well, you...you don't know me.* [Your name is Kurama, a silver fox youko who was mortally wounded one day. In order to save yourself you transformed yourself into a child within the womb of a human women. You were born and grew up with these people and took the name of Suiichi. You had planned to take your leave of those humans, but you could never bring yourself to do it. You met Hiei later, and had been having more than friendly relations with him since way before either of you met the great Yusuke Urameshi.] *So you do know me, but what does it prove?* With swiftness that might have startled anyone but Kurama, being used to Hiei's unnatural speed, the man appeared at his side. Kurama looked deep within those red eyes, now only inches from his own, searching for some sigh of life, and found only fire. [It proves that I care more for you than that fire demon.] *What of his being a fire demon? What are you, might I ask? You certainly have the eyes of a fire demon.* Kurama fought with all his power not to fall into those eyes. [What I am is really simple. I am a Hunter. The Hunter, actually, since the rest of my race were killed by humans years ago.] *Hunter?* The man raised his hand and extended a graceful index finger, which came to a point with a long claw. He brushed it gently against Kurama's jaw, drawing a thin line of blood. Kurama winced and tried to move from him, but his limbs seemed to be frozen where they stood. The man stepped closer, and there really was no space between them at all to speak of. [My name is Houkama. And I have great uses for you.] Kurama was about to question that last statement when Houkama suddenly leaned forward and parted his lips. His tongue, blue, reptilian, and forked, darted from his mouth and caught the thin stream of blood running from the wound he had inflicted. He brought both of his hands to the back of Kurama's head. Kurama was literally frozen in place by some supernatural paralysis. [Yes. I do have some mild poison attributes that infect those I cut. But do not worry. They will wear off soon enough. But, since you seem a bit disturbed by all of this, I will do you a favor. You may wake up now.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kurama stirred upon the ground and woke suddenly, panting. A quick glance around him told him that he was in some forest. Memories of the night before returned to him like a slap in the face as he remembered the outcome of the ordeal of his rose. A heavy feeling settled in the pit of his stomach. But he had no time to ponder this pain, for he heard approaching footsteps to his left. He turned quickly, and saw the same man. His blue robes flowing around him like the wind, and his hair as immaculate as ever. "Houkama?" "Yes?" Kurama saw that Houkama's lips were stained red with blood. *His* blood. "So, that wasn't a dream?" "Not *really*. Parts of it, maybe. I don't know. You tell me." He smirked at Kurama. A smirk that Kurama had come to know and adore upon another face. "Well, I can move, so you really didn't poison me." "Think about it, Kurama. why would I want to paralyze you? True hunters take no pleasure in hunting prey that do not run from him in fear." "So you are here to kill me?" "No. Nothing of the sort." "I wish you would stop being vague! One minute it seems like you are going to hate me and other times it seems like you are in love with me!" "Can both not be possible at once? Do you not love Hiei and also want to rip his head from his shoulders with your bare hands at this very moment?" "I do *not* want to kill Hiei!" "That's not what you said last night. You were fully convinced last night that you wanted his blood on roses." "*You* convinced me, you bastard!" Houkama bent back his head and laughed once or twice, and when he returned his gaze to Kurama, red light spilled from his eyes like spotlights, making the entire clearing seem like a giant womb. Again, with his lighting-fast motions, he was at Kurama's side upon the ground. "Yes, I might have tricked you then, but I would not trick you now. I told you in your sleep that I had a good use for you, and I do. You don't know how important to me you are right now." "That's very nice but..." He was halted by Houkama's mouth pressing hungrily against his own. He tried to pull from the cold kiss, but Houkama's hands pushed the back of his head even deeper into it. His lips parted slightly, and Houkama forced his tongue within. The forked tongue revolted Kurama, and he began to gag, but as Houkama pushed it deeper within his mouth, an odd calm came over him, and his body relaxed. Houkama caught him before he hit the ground, lowering him slowly across his own lap, not breaking the connection of their lips. With one hand he held Kurama's head up, thus keeping the man's lips against his own. With the other hand, he slowly unbuttoned Kurama's dirty white shirt. Kurama stirred lightly. [Calm down.] *What are you doing? You are in my head again.* [Yes, I know. Now it is time for me to tell you...] He finished unbuttoning the shirt and he opened it. [That we are ment for one another. You are my other half. I have searched for you for all my life, and now I have found you.] He ran his free hand over Kurama's creamy chest, and he continued to kiss him. *What do you mean?* Slowly, Kurama felt his inhibitions fleeing him as though they were leaves on a swiftly moving river. *Do you speak the truth? It would really explain a lot. And..oh, that feels good.* Hukama ran his fingers over the powerful muscles of Kurama's abdomen. [I know. I would do anything for you. I love you, Kurama.] *You do?* [Yes. I love you like Hiei never did.] *Hiei...never really loved me?* [Exactly. I, though, love you will all of my being, and I want to be your slave forever. You love *me*, right?] His fingers trailed to Kurama's zipper. *Do I? I don't remember.* [Yes. You love me very much. You would kill for me.] *I would?* [Yes.] *I must really love you a lot.* [You do. You love me, therefore you *are* me.] *Okay.* Houkama undid the button at the top of Kurama's pants. [You hate Hiei, don't you? I hate Hiei very much for what he has done to you.] *If you hate Hiei, I hate Hiei. I love you, therefore I *am* you.* [Correct. Hiei is a bad man. Did you know that he is the one who caused your mother to get ill? He did not want you spending time with your family. He wanted her to die so that you would finally run off and join him as a full demon.] *Hiei did that!?* [Yes. He is a very bad man.] *Very bad. I hate him, too.* [He must pay, I think. He nearly killed your mother and he broke your heart. He tricked you and lied to you. He killed your soul! Yes...he must pay!] *He killed my soul!* [Yes.] His fingers toyed with the zipper pull. *I want to kill him!* [Why?] *He killed my soul! And also, he has caused you much grief, watching him harm me. I shall kill him for you, because he hurt you, too. And I love you, therefore I *am* you!* [Do you promise?] *YES!* [Well, then..] Houkama broke away from the kiss suddenly, his tongue making an evil sucking sound as it returned from the far depths of Kurama. "Why did you stop?" "Because, beautiful Kurama, I wanted to ensure that you will not go back on your promise." He brought forth the same index finger he had used to scratch Kurama earlier and placed that same claw against the skin directly about Kurama's heart. The claw penetrated easily and Kurama shrieked in agony as it pierced his heart. He slumped over, and blue light flooded from the wound. "You will go and carry out your promise: to kill Hiei the fire demon, your former lover, in the name of Houkama the Hunter." He drew his claw from Kurama's heart and the light died. Kurama lay on the ground unconscious but otherwise unharmed. Houkama stood and glared down upon Kurama, his eyes lacking all their love of earlier. "I would kill you myself, but you deserve worse punishment," and with this, he rose into the air and flew off into the night. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Houkama, the last of the Hunters, stared down at the cold world below him. He had been born amongst a proud race of demons that were undoubtedly the most feared of all in their time. The ultimate bounty hunters, they sought after all those who they had hateful feelings towards and all those they sought out were killed or worse. But eventually, the humans they presided over revolted. Tired of being bossed around and slaughtered aimlessly and for entertainment, they hunted down the Hunters and killed them all but one, who had managed to escape into the woods. Houkama harbored a poison anger towards the human race throughout his growing years, but eventually realized that only one vengeful demon could not wipe out them all. So he turned his anger towards other demons. Those who turned their backs upon their brothers and joined the ranks of the humans. Traitors. Filthy, stupid, goddamn traitors. Now, 19 year old Houkama had grown fully into his Hunter powers and instincts. "Oh...Kurama, I could have loved you, really." He could not deny the attraction he felt for the red-headed man, and the pleasure he had felt while having him completely under his control. The memory of the bitter taste of Kurama's blood made his especially hard. "But DAMN YOU!" His hatred flared up again." I don't love you! I can't love you! You are nothing but a back-stabbing....UGH! Mapputatsuni hiki sakuwayo!(*)" With this, Houkama disappeared behind the clouds. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hiei sat with his elbows resting on his knees with his hands dangling between them. He was actually tired. He had been running all day, and still had found no traces of Kurama. "God, where did you go?" He said aloud. "I can't even find you with my jagan. His insides churned as he thought about what might happen if the Hunter reached Kurama before he did. "Why did you leave, anyway?" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kurama awoke at the same place he remembered waking up just a little while ago. But now, he noticed, his shirt was unbuttoned and so was his fly. "Oh, yes!" He smiled to himself. "I am ment to kill Hiei today. That son of a bitch." He stood and brushed his clothing off. " I must kill him for Houkama, because I love him, therefore I *am* him." He began walking in what his instincts told him was the correct direction. He could almost *smell* Hiei.....and could almost feel his warm blood flowing over his hands... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hiei heard something..someone coming. He glanced up and saw a flash of bright red through the trees. "It can't be..." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "There he is, The bad man. I get to kill him now. He killed my soul." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hiei leapt to his feet and ran faster than ever before. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Houkama smiled to himself from his hiding place , invisible just above Hiei's former resting spot. "He is running to his death. How inspiring." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Kurama!" Hiei wrapped his strong arms around the taller man's waist and buried his face in his chest. He breathed deeply and tried to control his urges to either kick him in the balls for leaving him or throw him to the ground and make love to him forever. "You came back!" He then noticed that his embrace was not being returned. He pulled back a little, and looked up into Kurama's eyes. "Something's wrong." He thought. "There is no life in his eyes at all. It's like..Kurama's not even there." "You are a bad man, Hiei-san." "What?!" "You killed my soul. I must now slay you in the name of Houkama, the Hunter." "The Hunter?" Icy fear spilled through his body. "Yes. I love him, therefore I *am* him." "You love him?" "Why would *you* care?" The words hurt. Hiei backed up, a look of despair on his face. "*I* love you..." "No you don't!" Kurama was yelling now. Hiei was frightened. Kurama had *never* yelled at him like this..and he knew that *Kurama* never would. He just hoped the real Kurama would somehow..."You just used me!" "No I didn't! I-" "Stop talking to me! I don't care to hear what you have to say in your own defense! I held that rose! Do you hear me? I held that rose! It told me that you have no love for me! The rose wouldn't lie to me! And Houkama would never lie to me! Not like you!" His hatred boiled over. His hand flew up and produced a rose from behind his ear..the whip unfurled and cracked through the air. "Kura-" Hiei fell to the ground, his throat slit, blood seeping from the wound and dripping from his mouth. "-Ma..." All of a sudden, it felt as though Kurama had woken from a very heavy and long sleep. The spark returned to his eyes. He looked down at his hands, and saw the blood-covered rose whip. He then saw the mangled body of Hiei laying bleeding on the ground before him. He choked on a gasp and fell to his knees alongside the fallen demon. He gently fingered the down- soft hair at the base of Hiei's neck, that was already matted with blood and gently lifted his head up. "K-Kurama?" Hiei sputtered, spitting up some more deep red blood. Kurama cradled Hiei's head in his lap and tore off his own shirt, frantically ripping it to shreds and then began pressing them against the wound, but even he knew that he couldn't stop the drainage of a severed jugular. He clutched Hiei to him. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to!" He sobbed loudly and his body shook and trembled. Hiei coughed up another gob of blood and Kurama wiped it from his lips. "I love you, Hiei! Don't die! Please don't die! I don't want you to die! PLEASE!" "I - found you--" "Yes, you found me. Don't leave me, now, please. I love you." Hiei's pale hand writhed upon the ground, and Kurama grasped at it desperately, marveling, in all the confusion, at how the smaller man's hand was still swallowed in his own, as it had been since they had first met. Then Hiei's pained voice broke his train of thought. "He'll-" "Hiei? What?" "He'll kill you--too." "Oh, Hiei!" He gathered Hiei carefully in his arms and hugged him to his body fiercely. "Please don't die. Please don't die!" Hiei was silent. "Hiei?" Nothing. "Hiei!" He pulled Hiei back to look at him, and he found a pair of lifeless red eyes staring back at him. "HIEI!" He buried his face in Hiei's blood-soaked shirt and pressed his ear against Hiei's heart. There was no sound. He leaned back, and pressed his lips against Hiei's, accepting their stillness as the reality. He now had the taste of Hiei's death in his mouth. His blood. The taste of his guilt. Out of nowhere, Houkama appeared and stared down at the sobbing man and the bleeding corpse. "I hope you are happy, Kurama. You killed him, after all." Kurama was silent and avoided his gaze. Still clutching Hiei to him and rocking back and forth, staring off into space. "You made me do it!" Kurama choked. "I didn't want to!" "Yes you did! Remember the rose!" That same rose, the one that had caused him all this pain and started this, Hogosha's rose, appeared to his right. He lifted one trembling hand and grasped it, closing his tearful eyes and concentrated on the feeling of the thorns digging into the soft flesh of his palm. "That rose told you the truth, didn't it? I told you the truth as well. He didn't love you." "That dosen't..that dosen't matter! Not now! *I* loved *him*! That's the only thing that was important!" "Love cannot be one sided." "SHUT UP HOUKAMA! I'M NOT GOING TO LISTEN TO YOU ANYMORE! I-" He broke down into a fresh torrent of powerful sobs. "Why do you cry? You have done the world a great service. You should be happy, and accept this praise." Kurama sniffed and seemed to regain his composure. "I'm - going now." "Oh. Running away again? Where are you running to now?" "Wherever Hiei went must be where I'm going. After all..I loved him, therefore I *was* him." He grabbed the handle of Hiei's katana, which was still sheathed at his side, and pulled it free with a metallic ring. He stared grimly at his bloodstained reflection in the smooth blade. Still clutching Hiei with one arm, he held the katana backwards, pointed at himself and awkwardly positioned it just below his ribcage. His eyes flashed up and met with Houkama's. He thrust his body forward upon the blade, which flew a strait coarse and glided underneath his ribcage. He grimaced and slumped over on top of Hiei, their blood mingling, staining all the earth underneath them crimson red.
~~~~~~The End
Well, I'm done with that chapter. I'm sure you all want to kill me now, right? Trust me, I want to kill myself! But like I said...*temporary death!* I seriously could not stop crying while writing that death scene...I just hope it had that same affect on at least *one* of you out there. I would like to know whether or not my writing style effects anyone but myself. (*) - This is a little Japanese phrase I picked up..it means- "I'll tear you in half!!!"
Next chapter: Hiei and Kurama meet up in the afterlife, on the bank of the Styx..where you are ment to wait for the boat so you can cross and enter the underworld. But, luckily for them..the boat is late. Hiei is a little pissed that Kurama just *killed him* and Kurama still wants to know why Hiei doesn't love him. Something very crucial happens that proves the truth to them once and for all...and then there is the small matter of escaping the underworld before the door shuts. And what happens to Houkama? Next time..on Petals Fallen, Blood on Roses!
This chapter dedicated to Kelly, Becca, and Jaz (who hasn't even *read* this story yet! Grrr...) ~Hiei/Kurama yaoi rocks!~
