Okay, I've updated. Thankies for all the nice reviews, and keep 'em coming. I was having a bit of trouble during the last...few...months, and this ficclet kind of fell between the cracks of Microsoft Word and some other Word Processing Program who's name is so accursed that I refuse to speak it. Any way, I own nothing, blah, blah...
The day passed rather quickly, in Hiei's opinion. It was around four as the two boys sat together in Kurama's room, talking. It had been a while since Hiei had simply spoken to someone for the sake of speaking, and it wasn't half bad. At least, not with Kurama.
"Hiei?"
The fox's red locks spilled over his shoulders as he sat cross-legged at his desk, verdant eyes focused on Hiei. Who was idly perched on his bed, playing with a slinky.
"Hn...what?"
Hiei answered softly, metal coils amusing him to no end. As idiotic as ningens were, their toys seemed to bring unsurpassed amounts of joy to the youkai. Needless to say, Kurama was struggling not to giggle. But the subject matter soon turned his mind to more serious things.
"Can you tell me about it? About the rape."
Kurama noticed Hiei's flinching at the word, but he knew that nothing would be accomplished by avoiding it. Hiei had shrouded himself in denial for far too long. And it had damn near destroyed him.
"I...I don't know...I..."
Hiei trailed off, still twisting the metal spring around. He wanted to tell Kurama, but it would be difficult, at the least. He had long since come to terms with his feelings for the kitsune - a deep love that went far beyond the bounds of friendship. Sure, it begun that way, but it wasn't like that any longer. Things had changed, evolved...blossomed.
"Please, Hiei. Just tell me what happened."
The fox tried his best to make his tone low, soothing and not threatening in the least. The air in the room seemed to still, afternoon sunlight pouring thick as smoke through the window. Hiei took a deep, resolved breath.
"I'll tell you, fox."
FLASHBACK ((Insert cool ripply sound effect here.))
Shidokai poked at the fire restlessly. He and the other bandits had been stationed at the same camp for days, and had not been able to pull off one successful robbery. There seemed to be some other group who got to all of the good stuff first, some band of beautiful, stealthy male youkai. Any how, the motley crew was quite run-down, and morale was low. Along with supplies and provisions. Who ever these other badass youkai were, they were also getting all of the good game. Sighing, the leader of the group, Kotsu plopped down next to Shidokai.
"I got an idea."
Kotsu said guffly, turning Shidokai to face him. It was well known among the youkai in the band that Kotsu was quite sadistic. He was not below sacrificing any one of his band mates in order to get some profit. Wether it was greed or sheer evil that made Kotsu the way he was, he certainly had every one in the group scared into submission.
"What's that, boss?"
"We get the kid's teargem. D'you know how much them things is worth?"
Shidokai gulped. He knew how protective the young fire demon was of his teargem. After all, it was the only relic of his home that he had. But Kotsu was right. On the market, teargems were practically priceless, if only because of their rarity.
"He'll never give it to you, boss."
"Then I'll take it from him. Find him, 'nd send him to my room."
With that, Kotsu was off. Shidokai shivered as he pondered the lengths that Kotsu would go to to acquire the teargem. He rose, and searched the surrounding tree branches for Hiei. He found him within the half-hour, resting on a low branch, cloak wrapped around him tightly.
"Oi, Hiei! Kotsu wants you in his cave."
"Why, Shido-Kun?"
Hiei cocked his head to the side, raven bangs falling messily into sleepy eyes. He jumped off of his branch, and stretched in a catlike fashion, yawning to boot.
"I...I don't know. Just...go."
Kotsu couldn't bear to tell the little demon the truth. Partly, he didn't know exactly what Kotsu was planning himself, but he knew for sure that it wasn't good. And that Hiei would most certainly never be the same after this little meeting. Without another word, the smaller demon was bounding through the tree tops, on his way to Kotsu's cave.
"Boss? I'm here. Shido-Kun said you wanted to talk to me."
Hiei cheerily announced as he pushed aside the hanging that covered the cave entrance. Hiei immediatley noticed that something was odd. For one, it was not only Kotsu within the dim cave, but two of the other band members, Tazu and Moki. Both of who were grinning like jackals and licking their lips hungrily.
"Yeah, I called you here. Hiei, we need the teargem."
The small youkai instantly clutched the smooth, round gem hanging from his neck.
"No way! The teargem is mine, Boss. I can't give it to you!"
Kotsu sighed melodramatically.
"Then I guess we'll have to get some another way, eh boys?"
The other theives nodded enthusiastically, standing and quickly seizing Hiei's slim wrists. Hiei fought vehemently against them, but Tazu managed to bind his hands together, and Moki slipped a gag in his mouth. Then, they pushed him to the cold ground, already having removed his cloak. Hiei could only whimper as the other demons hastily took his pants and shirt off, running their icy fingers over his most sensitive skin. For the first, but not last time in his life, Hiei truly wanted to die. He heard Kutso laugh sardonically, and grunt something to the other two. After that, Hiei heard the rushed rustle of fabric, and knew that they had disrobed. From there, he felt mouths, hot and hungry, all over his young flesh. Sharpened fangs baring down into him until he bled, and then, the worst of it. He was roughly slammed into, many times over, by all three of the demons. Pain filled him until he thought that he would shatter, and fade into the ground in a mess of blood and seed.
END FLASHBACK
"...Oh...Hiei..."
Once again, a thick silence settled over the room. The only noise came from Hiei, in the form of muffled sobs, and teargems plopping onto Kurama's sheets. For a moment, Hiei's sobbing lessened, and he raised his ruby eyes to meet the kitsune's emerald orbs.
"Kurama?"
He asked meekly, orbs wide and watering, tears trailing down his cheeks.
"Yes, Hiei?"
Kurama answered, sitting down by the demon on the bed, pushing the slinky onto the floor. He then gently wrapped his arms around the little youkai, pulling him into a protective embrace.
"I love you."
The fox was silent for a moment, then responded.
"I love you too."
"...Like a mate?"
"Like a mate."
And then, Hiei relaxed into Kurama, lulled by his steady breathing and heartbeat. Nirvana, euphoria, paradise, heaven, elaysia...Hiei wasn't sure quite what to call it. But he did not want this feeling to end - ever. And neither did his new mate, his Kurama.
--TBC--
Mmmm'kay, Yusuke and Kuwa should show up in next chappy. Please review!!
