Standard disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho

Chapter 9

Story… Dreams… 'Thoughts'

The first thing Kurama was aware of when he woke was how safe and loved he felt wrapped securely in Hiei's arms. He knew in that moment what choice he would make.

He loved Kuronue, the carefree, innocent, unencumbered love of youth. Given time, that love might have grown into the all-consuming love he felt for Hiei but they had been robbed of that time. He had run away the day Kuro died and for two hundred years lived with the regret. Given the same choice today, he would rather die with Hiei than live on without him.

Did that mean he loved Kuro less? No, just different. Loving Kuro had been fun, an adventure with great sex. Loving Hiei was that and so much more. Hiei was his friend, his love, his life, his whole world. Perhaps Kuro's reincarnation as Hiei was fate's way of righting the wrong made when Kuro was taken away from him.

Kurama was unsure of only one thing. How would he live with the regret of not taking what would be his only chance to see, hold and love Kuro one last time. For a decision so easy to make, why was it so hard?

xxxxx

Hiei knew his fox was awake, but calm, so he left him to his thoughts. It wasn't long before the golden eyes he loved so much looked into his with a smile. "Thank you Firefly. I know you helped me sleep. I'm sorry I turned into an emotional wreck last night. I was almost expecting it when Koenma told us about you having Kuro's soul but the rest was quite a shock."

Hiei gently stroked Kurama's back and hair as he held him close. "I know, it was the same for me, but how did you know about Kuronue?"

The Youko chuckled at his confused mate. "Remember I told you that sometimes you remind me of him. Well, the last few weeks you've been doing it more and more. I just finally put it all together right before Yusuke and Koenma came."

Hiei pouted. "Hn. It was reliving all those sexy dreams wasn't it?"

Kurama smiled and answered carefully so as not to hurt his lover's feelings. "Maybe a little. One good thing came out of all this. It sure has added some interesting changes to our sex life Koibito."

The fire demon gave his mate a mischievous smile. "Hn. Okay, so maybe that wasn't such a bad thing. What else?"

"The biggest, other than the sex, was when you called me Foxie. No one but Kuro has ever called me that. There were little things too though. You were jealous and talkative. Two words I would never have used to describe you. Sweetheart, you turned down sweet snow. How could I not have noticed that? Oh, and you were checking out the girls cleavage at the temple, very un-Hiei-like." Kurama was teasing him now trying to cover his own jealousy.

"Kurama, I swear, I never noticed they had those things before! I don't know why I looked but I promise I will never touch. I would never betray you the way he did." Hiei was nervously trying to reassure his mate.

The fox laughed at his mate's unease. "I know my love. You earned my trust a long time ago. I would never doubt you."

Hiei was relieved that his fox trusted him but still needed to know one thing. "Kurama? Does it bother you that I called you Foxie? If it does I won't do it again."

Kurama thought for a moment. "No Hiei-Koi, I always liked the nickname. Since he is a part of you now it's yours to use if you wish."

"I wish. There is something else I wish Foxie..." With that Hiei whispered in Kurama's ear what he wished for, amazed that he could make the centuries old Youko blush.

With a giggle, Kurama transformed into his mate's redheaded lover. Then he pulled a seed from his hair, grew it into a long, ropelike vine and wrapped it around his wrists. "Koibito, your every wish is my command."