Thanks for all the support, and sorry for the abrupt cutoff last time. I couldn't write fast enough. A bit busy last week. Hope you enjoy this chapter, cause I really spent lots of time thinking, and I myself love this chapter.

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Kurama's POV

I took him in my arms and felt our hearts pounding fast, but in unison. He lapped gently the spot where he marked me.

"Why do you like to mark me so much?" I mumbled as I nibbled his earlobe.

"Because I want you to be mine. An impossible hope, isn't it?" he said and chuckled bitterly.

"I know that I have a place in your heart, but Yukina will still be holding the biggest portion. I like her, but I can't help feeling jealous. I want your heart to be totally mine, I want nobody to be in it but me, but that will never be true."

"Shiori will still be holding the biggest portion in your heart. I like her, but I can't help feeling jealous. I want your heart to be totally mine, I want nobody to be in it but me, but that will never be true."

"I used to think that my heart was full; nothing could ever squeeze in anymore ."

"Until I met you, and in that instant ."

"Your shadow danced in every part of my heart. Everything else seemed insignificant ."

"My sole purpose of living was changed. I want to protect you, and yet ."

"I am scared, I am worried; I am afraid, I am lonely; I am selfish, I am jealous. I am torn ."

"Between love, duty, kinship, friendship. Nothing is mine anymore, but I am willing ."

"To exchange my whole soul for only a piece of your heart. Let me have you, just for tonight, let me have all of you ."

"Don't think about anything else, don't look anywhere else ."

"Only you and I exist now."

I kissed him on the forehead, through the white cloth covering his jagan, which was soon removed, next, on his cheeks, his nose, his lips. It was not like just now, when we were blinded by our built up desire. Now, it was soft and gradual, slowly savouring each sensation I felt, letting each movement linger in my senses, letting each contact to be imprinted deep in my mind.

We had never said "I love you" to each other, but . did it matter? Love does not lonely can be shown through words. The feeling that I had, I know you could understand. No words were spoken, yet we shared every morsel of pain, of joy, without holding back. No pretending, no deceiving, I want to face you as whom I really was.

Just for tonight, and when the sun rises, everything would evaporate. No, it was not what I wanted. It was too short a time. Stay with me, please, not just tonight. I yearn for a lifetime.

My silent pleas vibrated through my mind, but I found no courage to voice my selfish needs. Tears sprang to my eyes, gliding down my face. I did not wail; I did not sob, as tears poured down quietly, just like my silenced hopes. A round, black tear gem fell onto the pillow beside me, and a drop of tear splashed on to me, mingled with my own fluids and plopped down as another gem.

No, we only had this few hours, why waste it on crying? I want to make moments spent with you memorable.

I captured his mouth and explored ravenously, our tongues battling for dominance and my hands swiftly unbuckled his tight belts, wanting nothing to stand in our way. We picked up our speed and soon shed the unnecessary materials. His weight was partly on me, and he moved lower and lower, using my bended knee as support.

He suddenly started anew from the sensitive spot behind my knee, trailing his feverish lips down the inside of my thigh. The ticklish feeling sent a thrill through me, heat pouring out form every pore of my body. He changed direction again, centimeters away from my erection, purposely avoiding the spot, building up my excitement, and wearing away my patience.

I gave a soft groan, but was covered when Hiei brought another kiss. I circled my arms around his waist, bringing him onto me, and his hardening erection brushed against mine, sending my mind reeling. I let out a muffled moan into his hair and thrust my hips upward, wanting him to take me in.

"Hiei . pleas . stop teasing me . I need ." I could not hold it much longer. I needed release. My vision was blurred with tears and passion, but I could make out his ivory complexion glowing softly in the dim light, glistening with sweat.

"Shh . Just wait a little longer, kitsune. Very soon," and he ran his tongue over my lips, along my jaw line and behind my ear. His hands roamed over my body, gradually getting faster and more intense, mixing everything together, our bodies, our sweat, our tears and our memories. Nothing was hidden anymore.

He carefully raised and draped my leg over his shoulder. I sought for his hand, and our fingers intertwined. Giving me a reassuring grip, he thrust himself into me. We were one. For that moment, I seemed to relive through Hiei's past, seeing the cruel world through his eyes, knowing every turn in emotion he never showed, knowing his hatred for the koorime, his hopelessness in the world dyed with blood, his protectiveness towards Yukina, and . his love for me.

The moment passed like magic, shimmering and blinding with true happiness. It started fading, seeping through my fingers like fine sand, but I made no attempt to retain it. I was content. I had reached what I was chasing for all my life and I was fortunate enough to feel it. Nothing could remain for eternity, so I never dreamed about it. I just wanted for live for that moment.

The light dissipated, and the surroundings were back to my room. We lay in each other's arms, exhausted. Hiei tightened his hold around my waist possessively and tucked his head comfortably under my chin. I felt him tremble.

"What's wrong?" I asked and planted a kiss in his hair.

"Do you want to hear a story?"

"I will listen to everything you say. Somehow each word that comes out of your lips is permanently embedded in my mind. Some of them sting ad hurt, until I find the true meaning to them. They are always bittersweet."

"This will probably be the longest speech I've ever made."

"Then I'm honoured to hear it," I was amused and bemused at the same time.

"A long time ago, a boy was born and thrown into the darkness immediately. Abandoned by the people who should be giving him love, leaving him to rot. But he survived, living off hate and revenge, his heat completely sealed. He never tried to get out of the darkness; he hated light, the thing that reveals you, making you feel vulnerable in front of all the people, who gave you nothing but more vengeance. Thus, he sank deeper and deeper into the abyss." The chill in his voice made me hung on to him involuntarily.

"Time passed, and he became strong, killing for the sole purpose of survival, and surviving just for the sake of it. He covered up his emotions and built barriers around his heat, wanting nobody to get near him, yet at the same time, yelling out on the top of his lungs in his mind, hoping that someone would notice. He kept himself drenched in the cold, yet longing desperately for a pair of warm hands to pick him up, tell him why he was born, that someone needed him, and the reason for him to go on living."

"One day, someone ventured to where the boy was hidden. That person was warm, but most of all, he could love. Sparing the boy a portion of his love, the solid walls around the boy crumbled. The boy was confused, but he knew one thing. He never would let of the feeling he had in his heart now, the feeling that made everything glow, the feeling that once he thought of that person, everything seemed to be so beautiful. He could finally love, and was being loved."

"Soon, the person was drawn back into the light. As much as the boy detested light, he couldn't help but follow the person. He couldn't bear to be alone anymore. Yes, he turned weak, but he didn't care, as long as he could be with the one he love."

"That person promised to never leave again, but he broke it. He died. The boy was hurt beyond measure, no matter how he shouted, how he cried, it couldn't bring the person back. Thus, he turned into a shadow, the shadow of the dead."

A warm streak of moisture trickled across my chest, almost slicing through my heat. Hiei buried himself deeper into my embrace, seeking and bringing warmth, but his words clung to my mind, along with the fear they contained.

"Is that what you are . afraid of?" I asked before my voice shocked up and tears began to well up in my eyes. I sensed a slight nodding movement. "Then I promise I would ."

Hiei suddenly struggled out of my arms and looked at me straight in the eyes, the last of his tears fell aside as gems, as the fire was rekindled in him again. The forcefulness in his tone when he spoke again startled me.

"No, don't make any empty promises, Kurama. I don't want that. Nobody knows what will happen, so never confine yourself to me, into the awkward circle of darkness I belong to. Don't ever die for love; don't ever die for anything. I just want to see you alive, to be able to fight; continue living is the only chance to fulfill your dreams, not death. Then I will be content."

I stared at him, speechless. His expressions softened, and he placed a gentle kiss on my lips. " Don't worry about it now, kitsune. The sun will rise soon, and as our time stops, a new time begins. Believe, and our chance will come again."

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The morning light pried through the windows and pricked my skin, pulling me into consciousness. I felt the muscular arms circling my waist and the hot breath against the back of my neck. His presence filled the whole room, enveloping me in sheer bliss.

Something round and hard pressed against my hand, and I picked it up. The brilliant crimson gem that lay in my hand looked almost like blood. Lifting it to the morning sunshine, I saw the center of the gem was hollow, filled with liquid that contorted the light which penetrated it, casting a bright vermilion hue onto my palm. Beneath the cool scarlet surface of the jewel hid a metallic shade of black. It was a tear gem, no doubt, but it was as if our love, and not tears created this gem. Something that contained both of us, impossible to separate.

"Are you musing about this, kitsune?" Hiei's husky voice tickled my ear, and I turned to see him holding the exact same tear gem that I was fondling in my fingers. I snuggled up against him, making use of the last few minutes of our time.

"Do you want to keep one of there?" I asked and ran my fingers down his side, enjoying the tremor of his body upon my touch.

"No, it's yours. Everything that's mine belongs to you."