OK, guys. I didn't know what to write. I think I'm going to do a few flashbacks in the next chapter, so I can sort out what I want to do with this story. So, it'll be a few days. But, for now, here's chapter 9! R&R!

~*~~~*~

Chapter 9: He's Up.

*Hey, Kuwabara, look who's up.* Yusuke poked Kuwabara, and pointed at the now sitting figure, who was glaring at them

*The shrimp made it?!* Kuwabara exclaimed, happily, subconsciously insulting the small demon.

*Yea, Hiei's up. But what about Kurama?* All three turned, and looked at Kurama. The kitsune didn't move. Hiei placed his hands on Kurama's chest. He felt a dim heartbeat. Kurama would make it. They both survived.

Hiei climbed out of bed. He stood next to Yusuke, glancing down at his love's face. He was so confused. They had parted in hatred one night, and now Kurama was practically giving up his life to save him? "I tried to push him away, to save him. No one should love me. I just… don't understand the fox's mission. Did he think it would make me love him more? I already love him too much. Just… no one should love me. Plus, he took my picture. My sleeping picture. He lied to me. How can I forgive him… Except that I never hate him for that. I am just so confused!" Hiei began to growl, causing Yusuke to jump. Hiei stole a glance at his leader, before disappearing. Yusuke ran to the window.

*He loves you, you idiot! Don't be stupid! Don't leave him to wake up without you! HE SAVED YOUR LIFE!* Yusuke bellowed after Hiei. The small demon made him so angry sometimes. Still, Hiei did not return. Yusuke went back, and stood by Kurama's bed. He looked at the kitsune's peaceful face. Looking at Kuwabara, Yusuke sat down on Kurama's bed.

*It's alright, Kurama. You got him once, you'll get him again.* Yusuke told the sleeping kitsune. He felt so terrible, so mad, so helpless to help Kurama, who had dome everything for him and his friends. Looking at Kuwabara, Yusuke made his way down the hallway, to get their blankets. His tall friend followed him. They made their beds, and lied in them.

~*~~~*~

"He saved my life. How could I run away from him like that? Why did he save my life? Why can't be just accept that we can't be together, that it's wrong of us. Because he knows as much as I do how hard it is to let go. I love him." Hiei looked down at the wilted rose in his hands. Before he left, he had stolen to Kurama's rosebush and taken one of the precious objects. He didn't know why he did it, he just did. He now stroked the coveted object along the fine features of his face, imagining it was actually his kitsune. He sighed deeply. "Now what do I do?"

~*~~~*~

Kurama's eyes flickered. "I'm hungry" was his first cognitive thought. He looked around his room, groggily trying to remember what happened. Spying his friends on his floor, Yusuke's legs in Kuwabara's face, he remembered with a jolt the events of… how long ago did it happen? Kurama rolled over, hoping to find his small friend's peaceful face on the pillows next to him, but all he saw were his white pillows. Kurama jumped out of bed and ran down the stairs, hoping to find Hiei in the kitchen, eating as Kurama wished to do. Kurama only found his mother in the kitchen, who screamed at the sight of him.

*Shuuichi, Shuuichi! Where did you go? Why did you leave me? Why were you hurt? You slept so long! Oh, Shuu-chan, I'm so sorry if I was the cause of your leaving me. Please, explain.* Shiori hardened her tone, as she finished her speech, crying all the way. Kurama looked helplessly at his mother, and went to the cabinets. He grabbed some crackers out, and went towards the table. He sat down, and offered a seat to his mother. She sat, and he began to eat the crackers. Finishing one, he took Shiori's hand in his, and looked down. He had to tell his mother everything.

*Shiori, I have a lot to tell you. That boy, Hiei? I love him. I believe that he loves me too, but I do not know. He has kissed me, which leads me to believe that he does. Also, I am not really your son. I am the famous thief, Youko Kurama, which is why my friends tend to stumble over my name and sometimes call me 'Kurama.' I lived in the Makai for many years, which is where I learned to steal and fight. Then, when I was almost killed, I fled into your body, into the body of your son, killing him and making room for myself. Ten years later, I was ready to leave you, but my love for you forced me to stay. When you almost died, I tried to give my life in exchange for yours. Because of the selflessness of my friend Yusuke, we were both saved. We owe our lives to him. I understand it is a lot to deal with, but you must believe me, Shiori. I love you so much, and I am so sorry for lying to you all the time.* Kurama finished his story, not really knowing what to expect from Shiori. Her expression told him that she was very confused, and felt like he was lying to her. He softened his expression, held her hand tighter, and whispered to her *do you wish for me to prove it to you?* Shiori just sat there, not answering his question in any way. Kurama took that as a yes.

His red hair began to slowly shift to the silver it had been so used to. His torso and legs began to elongate themselves, as his human ears were pulled in and fox ears appeared on top of his head. As the transformation was going on, Shiori's face swelled from amazement to fear. When it was over, Kurama looked at his mother.

*I am a kitsune.* He said simply, as his mother jumped from the change in his voice.

*Please, please, please, Shuu-chan, please change back. I can't stand to see you like this. Please, please, please don't make me look at you like this anymore.* Kurama nodded, and changed back. He was a little winded from the changes, since he had just woke up. *Shuuichi, you are my son. I love you, but I cannot deal with this right now. Give me time, and I will… maybe… be able to deal. For now, though, please contine your act of my loveable Shuuichi. Please, don't mention it anymore, I will tell you when I am ready.* Kurama was confused. His mother didn't yell at him for lying to her all these years, nor did she even seem to care who he was. "She's in shock." he tried to tell himself, as he left her presence. He wanted her to love him, all of him. He felt… rejected… "Well, now lets make ourselves feel more like crap, and try to find Hiei. I will get rid of that picture, if it will get me back. I don't care anymore."

~*~~~*~

Hiei could feel Kurama's ki as the kitsune drew closer. That meant, of course, that Kurama could feel his. So, instead of jumping off, Hiei remained where he was. There was no sense in hurting the one that saved his life. You love him! his subconscious teased him, only to be beaten back into the back of his mind. Hiei stood in the tree he was in, as he saw the kitsune pass under him, stop, and look up. Hiei jumped gracefully, and stood behind Kurama. The kitsune whirled around, and relief came over his face. Kurama collapsed in Hiei's arms.

Hiei jumped back, still holding onto Kurama. This was the last thing he had expected. Kurama began to shake, in Hiei's arms. "He's crying!" Hiei's mind screamed at him "Console the poor dear!" Hiei began to pat Kurama's back, not knowing what else to do. He gently stood the kitsune up, and, wrapping his arms around his waist, jumped Kurama to the top of a building. There, he sat Kurama on the floor, against a wall. Kurama, still crying, curled into a ball, and sobbed his heart off. Hiei stood above the kitsune, waiting for the tears to stop.

*I….thought….you……were……dead* Kurama finally got out, through sobs. Hiei's face went soft, as he realized what his near-death had done to his only love. Kneeling down, Hiei pulled Kurama's arms away from his face. Kurama, eyes all blotchy and nose red as his hair, looked at Hiei with hope in his eyes. Hiei allowed all his love to flow to his eyes. Kurama started, not expecting to see love and affection in Hiei's gaze. He parted his lips to speak, but was hushed by Hiei.

*I love you, Kurama. I understand why you lied to me about the picture, and everything. None of that is important. You saved my life. I would have been dead without your calm, cool head and quick thinking. Our past is just that, past. We have our entire future to look forward to. Now, would you please clean up your face? You look like a mess.* Kurama laughed as Hiei finished his speech. He was going to cry again, but thinking about how red he must be, automatically began to fix his hair and dry his cheeks. When he was done, he looked at Hiei for approval, who only began laughing. Kurama's hands flew to his face, in hopes of fixing whatever Hiei was laughing at, but was stopped by Hiei.

*You look beautiful, fox. It's just amusing that you look to me for approval.* Kurama smiled slightly at the nickname. He opened his mouth, once more to talk.

*I love you, too. It was ju…* Kurama's sentence was cut off by the warm sweetness of Hiei's lips. A shudder went down Kurama's spine, as the fire demon's hands slipped from Kurama's knees to his waist. He hoisted up the kitsune, without breaking the kiss, into the kneeling position. There they kneeled, kissing each other, and each slipping their hands around the other's waist. Not ever wanting to break their embrace, Kurama held Hiei tighter and tighter. Hiei's tongue flicked at Kurama's lips, begging for entrance into Kurama's mouth. Kurama obliged, and Hiei pushed Kurama backwards, slowly, to allow the youko to move his legs, to adjust to the new position. When Kurama's legs were fixed, the youkai pushed Kurama back, quicker.

WHACK.

Kurama hit his head on the wall. The two broke their kiss, laughing at their clumsiness. Hiei stood, and beckoned for Kurama's hands. He helped his love up, and once more taking Kurama around the waist, jumped them to Kurama's house. When they arrived, Yusuke and Kuwabara were still asleep. Locking his door, Kurama joined Hiei in the bed, lying closely to the youkai's body. Hiei slipped his arm around Kurama, who was facing away from Hiei. Before drifting off into sleep, Hiei kissed Kurama's neck once, sending thrilling shivers down Kurama's neck. The kitsune smiled and allowed sleep to take him once more, not realizing until that moment how truly tired he was. Dreams entered their minds, and the two demons blissfully dreamt of the other.

~*~~~*~

Yusuke woke with a start. He stood up, wiping the sleep out of his eyes. When his eyes were able to be focused, he looked to Kurama's bed, which now held two bodies.

*HIEI!* Yusuke screamed, waking up the entire room. Kuwabara stood up, looked at the bed, and embarrassedly looked away.

*Geez, guys, do you have to be like that?* Hiei snorted at that remark, and simply held Kurama tighter. Kurama smiled, as Hiei showed his affection for him, in front of their friends. Yusuke laughed, sheepishly.

*Gee, I guess I wasn't expecting to see you hear. Sorry I shouted.* Yusuke began to gather his stuff. *Guess we'll go home now, and allow you two to sleep some more.* Kurama turned and looked at Hiei. They exchanged a glance that said they were plenty rested, but why share that information with Yusuke? Kurama followed suit, and grabbed his stuff, shouted a bye, and took off out the door. Yusuke left, too, closing the door behind him. Minutes later, a knock came to the door.

*What'd you forget?* Kurama asked, as the door opened. He started, and threw Hiei off of him, as Shiori entered his room. Shiori walked calmly to Kurama's bed, sat down, and looked at Hiei.

*Love?* she asked. Kurama nodded. *Get out.* she said, simply. Hiei made a move to rise. *Not you, Kurama. I need him out of my house. I love you, Kurama* she spit his name as if it were a curse *but I cannot live with a demon. I thought it over and over, and I wish I could accept you the way you are, but I can't. One day, maybe, but for now, I need you to leave my house. Take your stuff, get out. I'm going to work.* With that, Shiori left his room. Kurama stared at the door. Hiei pulled his fox closer to his heart. Kurama began to whimper. His eyes filled with tears, and he began shaking, fiercer than he had ever shaken before. The only person he had known his entire human life had just cast him out, asked him to leaver her life, possibly forever. Hiei stroked Kurama's back, not knowing what to say, at all. Kurama's mind screamed at him, over and over.

"Will my life ever stop sucking so much?"

~*~~~*~

I know it was a little abrupt with Shiori. I didn't know how to put more it, so I cut it down… I've always sucked a little at detail. It's alright, though. My story, right? I hope you liked it!