Stupid comp...grrr...at long last i managed to get this loaded..

Disclaimer:I don't own this...is it not obvious?

Bold italics refer to flashback of dream sequence

Chapter 3: One Day

Kurama awoke, sleepily rubbing his eyes before taking in his surroundings. Dawn bathed everything in a soft hue, uncovering beauty all around him. Sighing contentedly, he turned around the smaller figure sleeping beside him.

Sleep has placed such innocence upon Hiei's normally passive face. Eyes usually set in a scathing glare were closed, leaving behind peace.

'Only as he sleep,' Kurama mused, 'did his mask case to exist.'

Indeed, for Hiei slept on, undisturbed by plagues of nightmares.

Nightmares.

Red eyes, flashing with hurt and death.

"You betrayed me…how could you?"

The deep baritone laced with anger, hurt and betrayal struck his heart with more pain than he could imagine.

"No, Hiei, I didn't. I don't know how this came to be. Please listen to me!"

His pleading voice banished all traces of sorrow from Hiei's eyes, leaving only unleashed fury.

"Why should I?" he unsheathed his sword with painful speed.

"Because…because I love you! Gods, Hiei, I love you!"

If possible, Hiei grew angrier with that statement.

"And you expect me to be blinded by your…love?" He sneered.

And the sword struck Kurama mercilessly despite his painful screams.

Kurama frowned, as the force of his dream last night and the nights before settled upon him. It worried him, for he had never experienced anything like that before. He could not help feeling that it is more than just a bad dream. It seemed more like a bad premonition of things to come. Those red eyes, blank and accusing, haunted his mind's eye coupled with another filled with fury and hurt.

His lover's eyes.

Lover.

Kurama relaxed with a smile as he looked back down to the slumbering figure beside him. Hiei. His lover. At long last.

The kiss shared that beautiful night was magical, to him, at least. Hiei had been beautifully gentle, his touch soft and sweet. It was almost unbelievable that a seemingly rough warrior by day could be so gentle, sweet and passionate by night.

The sun rose higher now, into the almost full bloom of morning. Beside him, Hiei groaned as the light hit his face, buried himself deeper within the sheets and ended up substituting Kurama as a huggable bolster.

Kurama could not help but smile once more, the warm feeling in his heart intensifying its flame. He knew, had Hiei been awake, he would never display such 'weakness'. After all the fire demon prided himself on being strong.

True, sometimes Kurama resented the fact that Hiei still held him at an arm's length. The desire to voice his resentment, though, was doused by that knowledge that it would hurt Hiei. Therefore he had kept quiet, accepting what little that was offered.

In all truth, he is not afraid to admit that he loves Hiei. Yet, his lover still seemed unwilling to acknowledge it. Either he needs more time, or Kurama's love for him is unrequited. That thought sent cold fear pouring upon him.

No, he has to be more patient. Perhaps by loving Hiei more would assure him that Kurama would never leave him.

Shaking away his doubts, Kurama smiled tenderly and pulled Hiei gently into his embrace, savouring the nearness while he could.

Hiei groaned and immediately started to wakefulness, pushing Kurama away.

"What do you think you are doing?" he demanded.

Kurama smiled, and stated in a matter-of-fact innocent tone. "I think it's someone who mistook me for a huggable object."

"Hn. I would never do that, whether unconsciously or not." Predictable answer.

Hiei stood up. "I didn't and wouldn't display such weakness," he snorted.

"Oh, really?" Kurama could not help but say teasingly.

Hiei, typically, ignored that statement. "See you later."

With that and a flash of black, he was gone.

One day.

One day, the walls would crumble entirely.

And he would be able to hold him fully, without being ridiculed or pushed away.

He could then love him openly, without the fear of Hiei leaving.

One day.

I have a feeling that this stupid chapter sucks! Anyways, I tried to make thyis chapter longer as you guys asked for.

So...review.