A/N: I'm back to the Kurama/Hiei scene, folks! So here's another chapter! YAY!

Chapter Nine: To be Forgiven.

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Hiei pushed and fought at Kurama furiously, yet somehow couldn't find the strength within himself to actually use force against his friend. But Kurama seemed to have no such dilemma, and continued throwing kiss upon kiss to his 'best friend', wherever he could get one in.

"Will you cut it ou—ahhh!" Hiei protested to Kurama's fondling hands and ever persisting lips in the form a faint moan, which, of course, wasn't much of a protest.

Kurama's insistent hands kept exploring, and he laughed, as if it were fun ((A/N: Well I'm having a good time...)). Kurama had long pulled Hiei over beside him on the ground, and was now bringing the struggling demon ever closer, much to his discomfort. But all attempts to escape and movement stopped when the redhead's hands apparently found what they were so avid searching for, causing Hiei to freeze into a state of shocked, embarrassed pleasure.

Kurama slowly and affectionately buried his head into the back of Hiei's top, nuzzling his companion with a gentleness Hiei hadn't known since before he came to the Makai.

He'd nearly forgotten how selfless and kind a person could be....

Kurama couldn't help but notice Hiei's labored breathing when he had him held so closely. He'd never known such warmth and intense... peace. How could your heart race so quickly when you're doing nothing but lying next to the one you care most for? It was like a fire burning off love. And the more of that love you gave it, the more intense it grew... and the more it consumed you.

And it wasn't long before the rise and fall of Hiei's chest seemed in rhythm to Kurama's heartbeat and attentive fingers.

Hiei clenched his eyes shut and thought desperately about what this whole experience would do to him. He'd never realized how much he missed Kurama. No—there was no going back now. Not after he'd held him so closely!

He didn't want to lose Kurama again...The Kurama that would take care of him like no one else did, and would even find joy in his own pleasure. No one in the Makai could provide such desired tenderness.

The fire youkai let a decisive cry escape him, and Kurama held him, hugged him tightly, when his dear little demon had at last had enough.

The two laid in silence for a while—not awkwardly; it was comfortable, perhaps more than that. Kurama loosened his grip on Hiei as a soft expression came across his face, then a small, uneasy smile.

Kurama fidgeted a little before turning to look at Hiei, who had his eyes aimed at the ground while his cheeks were so red they seemed as though they might burn you if touched.

Kurama simply hugged Hiei more tightly in a gentle 'I'm sorry'.

Hiei heaved a rather shaky sigh, then struggled a bit against Kurama's arms. Kurama wasted no time in releasing him from the hug, and then sat up. The expression Hiei gave him when he did the same was nothing short of priceless. He was somewhere between a death glare, an unbelievably embarrassed schoolgirl look, a perverted smirk, and trying to conceal it all.

Kurama gazed at him worriedly for a while... a long while. Until he finally just erupted all at once in hysteric laughter, right in poor Hiei's face.

"I hate you," Hiei mumbled indifferently, as he folded his arms and looked away from Kurama, his cheeks still aflame.

"Mm. I hate you too," Kurama managed to get out over his laughter, still chuckling lightly when he wrapped his arms around Hiei again and softly hung around his shoulders.

Hiei growled and tried to pull Kurama off of him.

"I'm never letting you touch me again! Got that, fox!?"

"I hope you don't mean that," Kurama said softly, with a small but cute smile aimed at the disgruntled demon. "I was hoping we could have some fun tonight, since I'll be leaving shortly after we find the chest tomorrow."

Hiei stared in deep, deep... deep... confusion. He couldn't tell what Kurama was thinking, or whether or not he was being sarcastic... he didn't think so.

So, it'd finally happened.

"Hiei...? Hiei, are you all right...?" Kurama asked, his voice once again filling with worry at the sight of his friend just sitting there, eyes blank with a glazed look on his face.

But it wasn't long before Kurama's words sunk in, and Hiei found himself upset for another reason...

Kurama was leaving... again.

"Kura-chan, I don't—"

"What did you call me...?"

Hiei remained silent for a brief moment.

"Nothing," he answered casually, his cheeks turning pink again. "I just wanted to tell you..."

"You wouldn't believe how cute that sounded coming from you," Kurama said devilishly, a strange thing for him, and a glint could be seen in his eyes... a scary glint in Hiei's mind.

Hiei bit his lip. Kurama was horny... and since he was stuck in a secluded place where everything around him did whatever Kurama wanted, he didn't see much of a chance for him being an exception. Hiei bit his lip harder. Kurama wasn't just being funny earlier... A trail of blood began to trickle down Hiei's chin.

"Kurama..." Hiei spoke firmly, but his voice trailed off somewhere when Kurama came closer to him again, but then, to Hiei's relief, smiled sweetly.

"I want to know what it's like to hold you..." Kurama stated softly, as he placed his hands delicately on Hiei's shoulders.

Hiei's heart began to pound.

"You're always nearby, but I want you here, with me..." Kurama whispered, pulling Hiei into his arms and chest, and laying drawn out kisses all along Hiei's jaw line.

Hiei's entire body tensed up at the sensation of Kurama's tongue trailing along his lower lip and chin, licking up every drop of blood.

Kurama was too far away to keep watch over now-a-days. Why would Hiei want to give up the chance to be the closest they could...?

He wanted to keep Kurama safe, even though he didn't need to. Kurama was strong, after all... strong enough to protect Hiei, even... but that unconsciously caring part of Hiei... wanted to know that it wasn't just that he needed Kurama.

Hiei woke up from his thoughts and blinked twice to find that he was still in Kurama's hug, on the receiving end of a full-blown, heated kiss....

And without the slightest bit of thought or hesitation, Hiei kissed back.

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A/N: ...SHORT! XX I KNOW! And it took forever! I'm such a bad authoress... I'm a disgrace and a disappointment to all! ::cries:: But... umm... please review anyway!