Disclaimer: Not my property. Do not own them. But we all know I wouldn't be here if I did...hehehe

Rating: PG-13. so far

Paring: Kurama and Hiei - of course!

A/N: My very first attempt at sharing my fic.s.third chapter! FYI - I am NOT responsible for any injuries sustained from reading this fiction ..like nosebleeds..*sneer* little hentai.

How Can I Say..........I love you?

Deep in a small forest surrounding the base of a mountain, there was a clearing. A stream from the mountain ended in a shallow pool in this particular clearing. The place was peaceful and secret.

Beautiful in a way that the Makai could never imitate. The clearing held the impression of innocent tranquility, whereas the demon world was anything but innocent - or tranquil.

The fox looked around appreciatively. Though he preferred the wild scents of his home world, the nature of the Ningenkai was comfortable.

But the place was lacking something. Ah! Shelter would be necessary if the weather were to continue its course.

Kurama studied the clearing's size, not really that much bigger than his human bedroom. Good.

With a flick of his wrist and a steady concentration of ki, the redhead flung the necessary seeds to the ground. Silently, dark green vines grew high and twisted together. Wrapping around the closest tree limbs, the vines knit together in a teepee like shape. Kurama nodded his approval.

There was little space to move as he walked around the clear pool and paused at one end of his shelter. The vines shifted and allowed him entrance.

He cast more seeds upon the floor and watched them grow. Soft moss covered the floor and two peculiar types of flowers were clinging to the walls and ceilings. One type was bright red and provided a comfortable heat source, while the other, a deep purple provided light.

It was perfect, large enough for even his Youko form to freely move about, and yet small enough to feel private and secure.

Kurama retrieved the bag of things he had taken from his human dwelling.

Leather pouches of seeds and herbs he had saved for years, rolls of bandage cloths and jars of salve, things to groom oneself with and who could forget his silken traditional Youko wrap.

Standing with a grace that spoke of centuries of practice and natural talent, the fox swiftly undressed. Almost reverently, the fox donned the newly "acquired" soft material. He laced the sandals quickly before shoving all the ningen clothing back into the bag and tucking it between some of the higher vines.

Pale hands once again roamed over a slender body that twirled and swayed with excitement.

Blood colored hair swirled about a face shining with joy. With the joy and pleasure of freedom.

But it was not without a price.

Kurama's fox-dance halted with the unwanted thought.

No matter how much he denied it, the kitsune knew that he was not entirely the same soul as before. The love of his human mother had changed him. Yes, he knew it to be true. A part of him also knew that leaving Shiori would cause her much pain. And that in effect would hurt him as well.

The beautiful boy bit his lower lip and furrowed his brow in thought.

He did not care if the human woman was hurt or not.

But he did care.

Damn human emotions.

What about his plans to mess with the ningens heads?

The humans he had once called "friends?"

What about his plans of terror induced chaos?

A stunningly ethereal smile lit his features.

The pathetic Rekai Tantei could wait another day.

The fox needed to explain his departure to Shiori - at least the half- truth. He owed her a goodbye, even if it was forever.

Quickly he ran through the forest darting between the trees with mischievous laughter. When he reached the populated streets of the city he began to notice the peculiar looks he was attracting. Following one woman's lust glazed eyes; the fox remember his strange attire. Kurama looked his reflection in a store window.

Oh, Inari on the Mountain.

The redhead looked utterly breathtaking, like a mythical prince.

The leather laces of his sandals twisted around the fox's feminine legs and tied off mid-thigh. His slender hips and waist wrapped in the satin white cloth that covered his chest and wound around his neck.

The outfit covered enough to be decent, but left little to the imagination. A human body, strong from hard-earned muscle, soft and yet firm- sensuous.

And gods the face!

A creamy porcelain mask, perfect in every way. Wide laughing jade eyes framed with ebon lashes and brows. Full rose kissed lips just begging to be kissed and cheeks dusted with a pale blush, giving the fox an almost innocent appearance. All haloed by his hair - long silken strands of liquid fire.

Windswept and tantalizing - the fox was friggin gorgeous.

Kurama laughed, his high alto voice ringing out in a pure clear note.

Not now! You have business elsewhere not prancing in front of mirrors!

The redhead sighed like a pouting child before continuing the course to his current destination.

I will only tell her what she needs to know. How this lie is killing me. This human world that oppresses my spirit. This mortal realm of restriction. How much I miss my home. That is what my heart yearns for, the Makai. That and a stubborn little fire demon- NO!

NO!

I will not think of him! I will not torture my already broken heart. He does not love me. He cannot love anyone but himself.

FORBIDDEN!

FORBIDDEN! He is the unwanted child. The curse of the Koorime.

He will not submit to love. He will never fall in love. He will never love me!

Hiei-

Kurama's breath caught in his throat. Looking up he realized that he was standing in front of his mother's door. Trembling- he knocked. As a single tear rolled down his pale face Shiori opened the door.

Shiori gasped slightly when she saw the strange but beautiful clothing Kurama wore- when she saw his tear filled eyes. Her son spoke quietly voice shaking,

"Mother there is- there is something that I need to tell you."

Shiori saw the pain in his eyes, the eyes that shone with fear, with determination and something else. Something dark. Something bitter and something full of desperate fury. So, it was time.

"It is time, isn't it? Time for you to tell me the secret you have kept all these years."

Kurama's eyes widened in surprise, she knew? How is that possible?

Shiori gave him a small sad smile.

"You are my son, Shuichi. I have taken care of you for many years. I have always known you were different, that you were hiding something. But I love you, my son. And I respected your silence."

Kurama's head whirled in wonder. He had always known that this day would come sooner or latter. Always known that one-day he would need to tell her. He had expected many things, many responses, but her suspicion- her silent understanding of his need for secrecy totally shocked him.

Then he made his decision.

This human woman deserved to know everything. Everything he had lied about, all that he had kept hidden. His vengeance games could wait until later.

Now the fox would tell her how he had suffered.

How each day was killing him inside.

He would die here. He needed his freedom, he needed his home, he needed -

Hiei.

Kurama threw himself into his mortal mother's waiting arms. She held him as he wept. Her dark hair shielding his aching heart from the world. Silently she led him inside and shut the door.

A whisper of shadows moved within the tree beside the house.

Sitting alert upon a familiar twisted limb- someone sat and watched.

Frowning slightly closing his blood like eyes in confusion, Hiei thought.

He had masked his ki so the fox would not sense him, and after hours of waiting had almost left his perch. Then he had seen the fox approaching.

To say the fire demon had been stunned was a laughable understatement.

His breath had caught and he had watched entranced as Kurama walked up to the house. The kitsune had dressed himself in the clothes that Hiei had only ever seen on the Youko form of Kurama.

He was beautiful.

The fire demon's mind screamed at him to focus.

He needed to find out what threatened his ally, his - dare he say it- friend.

He needed to find out why the fox had threatened his sister.

Face once again a calm mask; Hiei had watched the exchange between mother and son. The fire demon's dark brow creased as he saw the redhead break down in his human mother's arms. The sound of heart wrenching sobs disturbed him- though he tried not to acknowledge the feeling.

So, he was correct. Something was wrong with the fox.

Someone had hurt him so badly he was -

Hiei's eyes widened as his subconscious screamed the obvious truth.

Kurama was going to leave.

That was why he was dressed like a Youko. That was why he was sobbing in the arms of his mother.

Someone was forcing Kurama to leave the Ningenkai.

But who could force Kurama to leave his human mother, to leave the human world he so loved?

Only a powerful youkai could do so.

Only a powerful youkai could twist Kurama to do their bidding.

Unexpected fury rushed through his veins.

NO!

NO! They will not get away with this! I do not care if I must go to the bottom of the abyss!

I will destroy this treat to my sister this-this threat to Kurama.

The black haired demon blurred away back to Genkai's temple. He would tell the others his suspicions.

They would all help to free Kurama from whatever evil ailed him.

He would not let the fox leave this world. Though he enjoyed the idea of Kurama finally ridding himself of these humans, he knew that if someone was forcing the fox away - he would leave Hiei too.

With these troublesome thoughts, the fire demon quickened his pace.

Little did they know that the demon that wounded Kurama, who had slowly - unknowingly - ripped the fox's heart to pieces until the kitsune began to travel down the path to insanity and self-destruction, was -

Hiei.

R/R pwease!!^^

TBC.

^_^

*cliffhanger-again! *