Chapter Four

We dressed and started on our way. We walked in silence for the rest of the night, stopping only to eat or rest a while until the next night when we set up camp on the shore of a river. I was tired of the silence that had fallen between us. It was not the comfortable silence I was used to. Kurama had been preoccupied all day, virtually ignoring me. It was unlike him to do so. Even when worried the fox always doted his attention on me. I decided to do something about it.

I knew that Kurama would want to bathe after traveling for so long. I waited a while after entered the river to bathe, before joining him. I approached him carefully. "Let me wash you back," I suggested. He gave a slight nod and knelt in the water so that I could reach his upper back. I washed the smooth skin of his back with slow, calming strokes. He leaned into my touch, apparently liking what I was doing. "You haven't said a word all day," I commented once I'd finished washing his back and began massaging his neck and shoulders. He sighed and leaned further into my touch. I gently kissed his cheek. "Don't shut me out like this Fox, talk to me," I murmured then gently laid a soft kiss upon his lips.

He returned my kiss with a gentle one of his own. "I'm sorry Darkfire, I have been neglectful today. It's just that this whole possession thing worries me. I'm afraid I'll end up hurting you or worse." He responded. "I know. We'll get through this, just like everything else we've been through," I said. Kurama closed his eyes for a moment and leaned against me as I put my arms around his shoulders in a comforting embrace.

He leaned his head back and opened his eyes to look at me. "I love you," he said softly. "I love you too," I responded as I released him from my embrace. I took his larger hand in mine and tugged gently, indicating that I wanted him to follow me. He obeyed, rising to his feet and wading to the shore with me. I dried us with my energy then climbed into our bedroll. Kurama joined me moments later. I smiled inwardly as I realized he hadn't bothered to dress for bed either. I decided to use that to my advantage.

I gently guided him to lie on his back. He glanced at me quizzically. I captured his lips with mine in silent answer, then nipped at his throat. I gave him a wicked smile, then proceeded to lavish his body with kisses. Kurama moaned softly. "Hiei," he panted. I knew he wanted to protest. He was afraid of being taken over by the malevolent spirit that had invaded him and hurting me. He needed this and so did I. I wasn't going to push too far though. I would stop if he really wanted me to. I kissed his lips again, silencing him. "Relax Fox, and let me please you," I requested.

For a long moment, he stared into my eyes. He leaned toward me and our lips met in a warm, loving, passionate kiss. I was relieved. He wanted this too. It wasn't long before we had kissed, nipped, sucked, nibbled and teased each other into a haze of pleasure. Kurama prepared me and soon our bodies were joined. My mate rested his hands on my hips, guiding the rhythm of our lovemaking.

We started out slow, getting me used to him being inside of me. The pace soon began to hasten, and before long I was riding him fast and hard. I was glad the substance we used as lubricant somehow kept me from being too sore to walk in the morning, otherwise our trip would be delayed.

His hands caressed my body, fueling the fire building within me. I let my hands roam his haphazardly. Our kisses became frenzied as the desire burned hotter. The world around us ceased to exist. At last, we reached the peak of our pleasure achieving that mind numbing, earth shattering feeling of bliss, only to fall spent and exhausted moments later. As I laid my head upon his broad, firm chest, I hoped that we would indeed get through this, for I had an awful feeling that something was going to happen soon and I could loose him forever.

Kurama soothingly ran his hands through my hair, lulling me into slumber. "I hope I never loose you," he whispered. I raised my head to look into his eyes. He was afraid too. He had also felt it. Knowing this only strengthened my resolve to do all I could not to loose him. "Only in death would you loose me Fox, and perhaps not even then," I replied as I intertwined my fingers with his. He smiled. "Only in death," he murmured. I laid my head back down upon his chest and closed my eyes.

Soon, my mate's breathing became deep, slow and even. He had fallen asleep. I reached up and undid the bandanna covering my jagon. My third eye slid open as my two natural eyes closed. Using the jagon I was able to enter Kurama's mind to seek out the malevolent sprit that had possessed him.

I found myself in a lush garden with plants and flowers of all colors and varieties in bloom. Had I had a chance to really take in the scene I would have been awed by it. Unfortunately, I felt the presence of another nearby and looked around for whoever had chosen to appear. "So, you have come to see me at last," a chilling voice said from behind me. I whirled around to face a yoko male with blood red hair and tail. He was handsome, almost as handsome as my mate, but with a sinister coldness behind his eyes that kept him from being truly attractive.

"Where is Kurama?" I demanded. "in one of his dreams of course," he replied nonchalantly. "Who are you?" I questioned. "Makoto," the yoko answered as he stepped closer. He reached out to touch me. I swatted his hand away from me. "Don't touch me," I growled. "Why not? You seemed to like my touch well enough the last time we met," he responded. I scowled. "Just keep your filthy hands off me," I snapped. Makoto smiled, his eyes roaming over me, gleaming with unabashed lust. "I'll have you soon enough," he purred, then vanished.

I closed my jagon, severing the link I'd created with my mate's mind. I replaced the headband over my third eye, then closed my eyes and once more rested my head upon my mate's chest. I soon drifted off to sleep.

I was awakened sometime later by a touch on my thigh. I was rolled onto my back and gently caressed with slow, arousing strokes in a way that Kurama had not done before. My body definitely liked it. I moaned softly and opened my eyes slowly. Kurama leaned close and began gently nibbling at my check making his way my jaw to my earlobe which he gently nibbled and sucked on wile he stroked and prepared me with his hands. He worked quickly, fanning the flames of desire into an inferno in no time. Vaguely, I wondered what had gotten into him. Kurama had always liked to take things slow. Then again, this was the second round of the night.

I was dimly aware of the fact that he had not yet kissed my lips, but my body was too far gone to dwell on it. He had already brought me to the point that I needed release from his sweet torture. It seemed he was just as eager to give me that release, for he entered me and the eternal dance that we shared had began once again.

It wasn't long afterward that I came for the second time that night. Kurama carefully pulled out of me and I finally saw his face. His golden eyes glittered, a triumphant smirk upon his lips. He leaned forward and claimed my lips in a rough, lustful kiss. I froze in absolute horror. Kurama was not in control of his body, Makoto was, and had been the entire time. "I told you I'd have you," he purred. His hand trailed down my chest and over my stomach. "Soon you will be mine for good," he said huskily.

Suddenly the triumphant smirk and wicked glee in his eyes vanished. I saw the look upon his face and knew my mate had regained control of his body. I turned my face away, unable to take the pained look I'd seen upon his face. I wriggled out of his grasp and out of the bedroll. I ran to the river at nearly my top speed, wanting nothing more than to wash myself.

Even as I stood there in the water, I knew I would never feel clean again. Makoto had tricked me into betraying the man I loved. I felt filthy, defiled, and angry at myself for being so easily tricked and him for deceiving me.

I heard the sloshing of water and I knew my mate had joined me. In only a matter of moments he reached me. I didn't look up at him. I was too ashamed. "Hiei," he called softly. I turned my head toward him this time, indicating that I was listening, but I did not look up. I couldn't not look him in the face after what I had done. I betrayed him. I felt him gently cup my cheek and lift my face toward his. I cast my eyes downward, unwilling to meet his gaze. "Were you injured physically?" he asked softly. I shook my head.

His strong arms wrapped around me in a warm embrace. "I'm so sorry Hiei. I couldn't stop him," he whispered. "He's growing stronger and it's getting harder to fight him off," "Why do you apologize to me when I was the one who wronged you?" I asked. "You didn't wrong me," he said firmly. "You were tricked, raped really," "You're not angry with me?" I asked in amazement. "How could I be, when he deliberately deceived you into thinking you were with me? "

Neither one of us said anything for a while. He just held me in his strong arms. "I should have known it wasn't you. He didn't even kiss me until it was all over. That is something you never do," I said. "If he had kissed you, would you have known it wasn't me?" he asked. "Of course. His kisses are nothing like yours. They disgust me, while yours just leave me wanting more," I replied. He held me a bit tighter for a brief moment. Truth be told Makoto's kisses had always made me feel dirty, violated, while Kurama's had always made me feel loved and wanted.

Kurama once again lifted my face toward his and gently pressed his lips to mine in a chaste and loving kiss. I wasn't expecting that and my eyes darted to his. Love was all that was there. "The last thing I want is to loose you," he said softly. I was glad to hear that. I rested my head against his body. "I don't want to loose you either Fox," I responded.

Using his hands, he gently washed me. His touch was soft and caring. There was no teasing or sensuality to it. He was taking care of me. I let him. I needed it as much as he did. We remained in comfortable silence as he cleaned me. It remained unbroken until he was done. "Shall we continue on our journey?" he asked softly. "Yes, it's doubtful either one of us will get any more sleep now. Besides, the sun is about to rise," I answered. "Then let's go. The sooner we get to spirit world the better," he responded.

We dressed and broke camp. Before long we were once more on our way to spirit world. By the time we set up camp again that night, Kurama was oddly exhausted. He fell asleep almost immediately after lying down upon the bedroll. I hunted for our dinner, it was my turn after all. I stayed close, not wanting anything to disturb my mate's slumber. He did not stir at all as I prepared dinner and settled in for the night. By the time I was ready for bed, I was tempted to wake him so that he could eat something. I didn't have the heart to do it though and let him rest. Instead I climbed in beside him and pulled the covers over us. I closed my eyes, ready to join my mate in sleep.

I awoke at first light. Kurama was still asleep. His position had not changed at all.

I got of bed and dressed. I warmed up the food that was left over from the night before and awakened my mate. I called his name as I shook his shoulder. To my surprise it took quite a while to rouse him. That worried me. Kurama had never been a heavy sleeper. He looked groggy, as though he hadn't gotten enough sleep. "You don't look well," I murmured as I served him his breakfast. "I'm just a little tired," he responded. I frowned. I wanted to say that he looked more than just a little tired but decided it best not to. It would only lead to an argument that neither he nor I needed to waste energy on. "We don't have much father to go,"

He gave a slight nod and began eating. While he ate I broke camp. By the time he had finished his breakfast I had packed away everything and we were ready to move on.

Kurama had to stop to rest frequently so we did not reach Spirit world until evening. I was glad when we finally made it. Kurama looked exhausted and I doubted that he would have been able to travel much farther. Still, I knew he would have tried anyway. It worried me that his endurance and energy seemed to have plummeted overnight. Something was happening to him, and I knew it couldn't be good.

AN: Sorry for the lated update. I'm having my computer worked on so I couldn't update last week. I'll try to update again at the end of the week so you get two chapters instead of one to make up for no chapter last week. A big thank you to all who reviewed. Responses are are in my live journal.