Disclaimer: the usual. I only claim ownership over the plot.

Comforting Heat

Chapter 4

Hiei's therapy

"Get up."

An evil smirk hovered over him and Yusuke groaned, rolling over, trying to escape the light and the smirk. Neither boded well for his raging headache.

"C'mon. Meet me outside in ten minutes."

"But---"

The door slammed shut before he could protest any further.

"He doesn't have a sympathetic bone in his body."

Yusuke managed to find his shirt and he found his way outside to find Hiei waiting for him in a field of sorts. It was surrounded by a short stone wall and the whole contained area was probably about one hundred square yards.

"Hey. Where the hells are we?"

"My fortress."

Yusuke stopped and turned to look back at the building he just exited. It was a large stone building about three times the size of the stoned in field and from trying to get outside, Yusuke would have to guess that it contained three stories. Two above, one below.

He turned back to Hiei, a smile on his face despite the raging headache and jumped over the stone wall to meet him.

"Nice place. Summer home?"

"This is where I live when I'm not at Mukuro's. I have two other strong holds that serve other purposes."

"You're just full of surprise, aren't you?"

"You have no idea."

"Is there anything you care to share right now?"

"I think you've seen enough for now."

Hiei smirked at Yusuke's obvious discomfort. He gave the toushin credit, he wasn't being obvious about his hangover, but Hiei knew that right now Yusuke's head felt like it was going to explode. Serves him right, the off-key singing bastard.

"What's that smirk for? You're up to something Hiei and I have a feeling it's not going to make me happy."

Hiei just shrugged. "It might. How much of a sadomasochist are you?"

"Huh?"

Before Yusuke could react, Hiei landed a punch in his midsection, sending him down to his knees.

"What the hell was that for!"

"Consider it a wakeup call."

"What? No 'good morning Yusuke'?"

Hiei held out his hand and offered Yusuke a genuine smile. Yusuke hesitantly took it and allowed himself to be pulled up by his friend as he gazed in wonder at the rare smile. Hiei pulled Yusuke in close and his deep voice became unbelievably soft and it sent shivers down Yusuke's spine.

"Good morning Yusuke."

Yusuke started to lean in, his attention on the pink lips that were so close to his own right now. Suddenly, Hiei's fist smashed into his jaw, sending Yusuke back a few steps.

"And that was for your awful singing last night."

Yusuke wiped the blood trickling from his mouth and chuckled. "I was wondering when our next round would be. It's been too long Hiei."

"I agree."

The two friends stood within the walled in field, their bodies surrounded by flames, bodies tense, ready to beat each other into the ground. They'd fought so many times throughout the years, but it was only the first one that they considered each other enemies. So much had changed since that first encounter. Both were much more powerful and their friendship had grown very strong.

"You ready?"

"Always."

The two friends came together in a flurry of fists and kicks and sparking ki which awoke every inhabitant within ten miles.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Yusuke lay on his back eyes closed, chest heaving, body screaming in pain, and a smile on his face. "I don't think I'll be able to move for days."

Hiei scoffed, but said nothing else. He wasn't in as bad shape as Yusuke, but he was definitely hurting. If Yusuke hadn't been hung over, Hiei knew he'd be in worse shape than Yusuke was right now. The toushin had grown incredibly strong the past few years and Hiei knew it was only a matter of a year or so before Yusuke would be an upper B-class demon.

"I want to thank you Hiei. You've been so great since….well, I know this isn't your sort of thing, but I just want you to know how grateful I am for your friendship. It means a lot to me Hiei."

Yusuke knew Hiei was lying close by and he reached out, easily finding the fire demon's hand. He enveloped the warm hand and squeezed, happy that Hiei didn't pull away from the contact. Maybe he's in worse shape than I thought.

Hiei wasn't sure what to do once he felt Yusuke take hold of his hand. He's just thanking me. That's all. He's suffered a loss and he's just a bit….emotional. This means nothing. I won't let it.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Hiei wouldn't allow himself to lay on the round with Yusuke holding his hand for too long. Friend in need or not, he couldn't allow himself to be seen in that position.

"I have work to do."

"Huh?" Yusuke sat up with a groan. "Where are you going? Can I come along?"

Hiei eyed his friend and for a split second he actually considered letting Yusuke come along with him. But he knew better than to allow him to get involved with his business. No sense in putting him back on Kami's hit list.

"No, I must go alone. I'll be back later tonight. Feel free to make yourself at home."

"But what am I supposed to---"

Yusuke never got a chance to finish his question. Hiei disappeared in a blur of black, leaving him alone. Yusuke contemplated following Hiei anyway, but as soon as he went to stand up, he knew it was impossible. His head felt like it was gong to explode and his body was one big bruise. This would be embarrassing if it weren't so painful.

It only took Yusuke three wrong turns to find his room and when he walked in he found an oni waiting for him.

"I'm sorry. I thought this was my room."

"It is young toushin. The master asked me to come here and take care of you."

"What?"

"You are injured, yes? And you are still feeling the effects of a hangover?"

"Yeah."

"Drink this. It will banish your headache." Yusuke accepted the yellow liquid but did not drink it. He eyed the oni skeptically as he went back to a table and put away several small bottles, no doubt used to prepare the concoction in his hand. When he was done, he turned to see Yusuke just staring at him. He frowned and let a small growl through as he spoke. "Do you doubt my skills young toushin? Or do you just find me untrustworthy?"

"N-no. I'm just a little shocked. He didn't mention sending anyone, he just---"

"Disappeared. Yes. That is how Master operates. He expects everyone to know his mind and to obey without question or failure. I was under the impression you had known Master for quite some time. Surely you know this about him."

Yusuke drank the bitter yellow liquid, gave the cup to the oni and sat down in the chair the green servant indicated.

"Your Master and I have a different relationship. We worked together. He wasn't the Master."

The skilled oni scoffed as he listened to Yusuke and removed the toushin's shirt and tattered pants. Per Hiei's instructions he only healed the open wounds, then guided him to an anteroom to bathe. No doubt the Master is teaching this whelp a lesson, the oni thought with a smirk.

As Yusuke sunk his aching body into the soothing water, he closed his eyes with a grateful sigh. But the relaxation didn't last long when he felt a warm cloth slide down his chest.

"Aah!" Yusuke splashed as he tried to slip out of the oni's grasp. "Hey! What are you doing!"

"I am bathing you of course! What the hells is your problem?"

"Look….I appreciate you taking care of me, I really do. And I'll make sure to tell Hiei you did a great job. But I am perfectly capable of washing myself. I just want to relax for a little bit first, ok?"

Black eyes narrowed in controlled anger. The oni dropped the cloth into the water, bowed and left the room. Yusuke sat back against the curve of the bath and cringed as he heard the slamming of his door. Yikes. I think I really pissed him off. Maybe I shouldn't eat anything until Hiei gets back.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

'Later tonight' meant Hiei returning a few hours before dawn. Yusuke had finally caved in and gotten something to eat in the early evening and now he sat on the ledge of a large veranda looking out over the darkness shrouded landscape and the star speckled sky. The Makai's air was so much different from the Ningenkai. There wasn't any pollution to weigh it down, but it was filled with so many other smells that it could become overwhelming. Youkai noses were more sensitive than ningen noses to start with. But some youkai had a very sensitive sense of smell. Hiei and Kurama came to mind. And their noses would pick up very minute smells so they faced an especially difficult time when going into the heavily populated areas. All the different youkai scents, the flora, fauna, food, etc., everything would accost them. But Hiei's fortress seemed to be located in the middle of nowhere so the air was mostly filled with scents from the surrounding flora.

A flicker of familiar ki broke Yusuke's daze and he used his sensitized hearing to locate Hiei, but the fire demon still managed to sneak up on him. The deep voice sounded from behind him and he chuckled as he turned to face his friend.

"Looking for me?"

"Why would I be doing that?"

Hiei smirked as he leaned against the wall next to Yusuke. "I don't know. Maybe you're scared to go to sleep since you insulted my oni."

"How'd you hear about that?"

"I've been back for over an hour."

"What! How did you mask yourself like that?"

"I could teach you."

"Really? Show me!"

Yusuke jumped down, suddenly awake and ready to learn. Hiei just chuckled as he turned around to gaze out over the landscape. "Not now you idiot. Tomorrow. It's going to be dawn soon."

"Oh yeah. Heh."

They stood there in silence for a few moments, the only sound the singsong of the nocturnal insects. Hiei had been thinking about what Yusuke would do since he left the toushin this morning. He understood that his friends and sensei were in the Ningenkai, but that life had been grating on him for some time. Was he ready to live in the Makai now? Could he leave his birth world behind? Hiei had been forced to live in the Ningenkai for a few years and it had practically been torture. Maybe if he knew he had someone here for him. Maybe I can guide him to his destiny.

"You may stay here as long as you like."

"What?" Yusuke turned to face his friend who was still calmly staring up at the black Makai sky.

"I don't live here fulltime and I have a few trusted oni who run things for me, so you wouldn't really have to do anything other than cook and clean up after yourself." Crimson eyes turned to meet his gaze. "Gods Yusuke, I'm not selling you into slavery. What's that horrified look on your face?"

"N-no. I'm not…I'm just surprised. That's a really generous offer Hiei. Thanks."

"Your welcome." He gave Yusuke the briefest of smiles before he turned back to the night sky.

Yusuke felt a small jolt in his chest at Hiei's smile. That's twice in two days he's smiled at me. I wonder if it's really Hiei or some imposter. Yusuke rested his arms on the ledge and then put his chin on his arms, looking out into the night. Should I stay? Where else can I go? Back to the Ningenkai and an apartment? Genkai's? But the Ningenkai is so stifling! And maybe if I stay here with Hiei, he can teach me more about the Makai and that'll help me figure out what I want to do with the next hundred or so years of my life.

"I'd really like to stay here with you Hiei."

"It's settled then. Welcome home Yusuke."

To be continued….