Yay, reviews. Thank you to my loyal readers. Yes, Kurama is a bit tortured at this point but I promise he will be rewarded in the end.

Standard disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho.

Chapter 5

Sunbathing in the tall Makai grass after a leisurely swim was one of Kurama's favorite ways to relax on a warm afternoon. Today he was anything but relaxed. His swim had been vigorous, trying to release some of the tension he was feeling. Now he lay there, fondling the tear gems at his neck, his thoughts troubled.

Hiei was keeping something from him. He knew Hiei hadn't slept well in weeks, though he tried to hide it. Last week his fire demon had even sent him away for a couple days. Hiei had insisted it was time to visit their family in the Ningenkai, then made up an excuse to come home alone, leaving Kurama behindin the Ningenkai. Then this morning Hiei was acting strange, almost nervous. When he finally went out, Kurama tracked him as best he could, since Hiei was so fast, but lost him when he felt him open a portal and then his ki signature disappeared. That meant, whatever was going on took his mate out of the Makai into either the Ningenkai or Reiki, Kurama didn't know which.

In the past Hiei's secrets had hurt them, even broken them up twice, so Kurama was worried. 'Damn it Hiei, why are you doing this to us again?'

xxxxx

When Hiei got home he found his mate, as he often did, sprawled naked in the grass, gazing up at the sky. He approached his fox cautiously. He knew Kurama felt him arrive, but he wasn't pounced on sight, and Kurama always pounced. He really knew he was in trouble when he saw Kurama fondling the tear gems. He only did that when his thoughts were serious and he wanted to talk.

Sitting down next to his mate Hiei leaned over for a kiss, which Kurama accepted with less than his usual enthusiasm. The fire demon caressed one of the Youko's soft ears. "Is something wrong Fox?"

"I wouldn't know Hiei, why don't you tell me." The hand on his ear stilled. When Hiei didn't answer right away Kurama brushed the hand away from his ear, sat up swished his tail over his lap and faced his mate. "Keeping secrets is bad enough, don't you dare think about lying to me!"

Wide eyed at the angry tone of Kurama's voice, Hiei took a deep breath before he responded. "Hn. What do you want to know?"

Kurama was starting to get annoyed. "Don't do this Hiei. Don't make me drag every word out of you. Let's start with why haven't you been able to sleep?"

Hiei couldn't look Kurama in the eye, he would answer but he wouldn't tell him everything. "A few weeks ago I started having dreams. They bothered me at first, you know I don't dream very often. You are in all the dreams Fox. Before you overreact, they aren't bad, just dreams. Next question."

Kurama was unable to keep the hurt out of his voice as he asked the next question. "Why did you get rid of me last week?"

Hiei tried to reach for Kurama but his fox pulled away. "Damn it Fox, I didn't get rid of you! The Jagon might have been getting the dreams form you. Making the ward stronger didn't help and I wasn't leaving you here alone while I tested my theory, so I took you to the Ningenkai where you would be safe. The dreams didn't stop while you were gone so I brought you back home with me, where you belong. Next question."

The Youko wasn't entirely happy with the answers he was getting but went on. "I know you left Makai today, where did you go and why?"

This question was going to be a little harder to evade. As Kurama had said, secrets were one thing but he would not outright lie to his mate. "Kurama, eighteen years ago I promised never to lie to you again, and I won't. I went to Reikai to ask Koenma for some information. I didn't tell him about the dreams but the information I asked for might help me figure out why I'm having them. I worked hard to earn back your trust and have never betrayed it. I'm asking you to trust me now. Give me a chance to figure out why the dreams are happening. I give you my word Kurama, nothing is wrong, and I will tell you everything as soon as I know myself."

"Alright Hiei, I'll let you keep your secrets for now, but I want you to know, it hurts that you're shutting me out again." Kurama got up to leave but turned back to his mate sadly. "Secrets and lies destroyed our first marriage and almost ruined our reconciliation, I'm not sure we could survive it again."

xxxxx

Hiei sat alone in the grass thinking for a long time. He didn't want his fox hurt. He knew digging up the Youko's dead lover would hurt him, so telling Kurama about Kuronue's memories without all the facts was not an option.

It was late when he made his way to the tree house to join his mate. As he got into bed he realized Kurama had his back to him. Thinking he was asleep, Hiei gently crawled up behind his mate and wrapped his arms around him. Nuzzling his face into soft silver hair, Hiei whispered. "I love you my beautiful Fox."

Kurama smiled sadly, lacing his long fingers with Hiei's and whispered back. "I love you too Firefly."

Hiei didn't dream that night. He was watchingKurama sleep while he tried to think of how to get through this without loosing him. No matter what it took he wasn't loosing Kurama again, even if he had to rebury Kuronue himself.