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

Oh my gosh! I'm scared to post any more chapters! You guys and gals out there have been so generous with your praise I'm paranoid it won't live up to any of it. But I'm going to give it a try. What the hell. After all, "faint heart never won fair lady".

So here it is, a little shorter than the past two but it couldn't be helped. It was either going to be this long (about 6 pages in Word) or really really really long (about 15 pages in Word).

Thank you to everyone who sent their kind words, helpful hints and demands for more. And a special thanks to Rujutoshi for being my inspiration and helping me to appreciate the Hiei/Yusuke dynamic.

Comforting Heat

Chapter 5

"Why are we here? Why not just stay at the fortress?"

Yusuke leaned against a nearby tree, his hands laced behind his head. He'd been following Hiei for a few hours, racing over hills and plains before coming to this forest at the base of a mountain. Hiei had promised he would teach Yusuke how to completely mask his ki but he refused to do it at the fortress and seemed angry when Yusuke tried to bring it up, snapping at him to be quiet.

"Never show anyone your weakness Yusuke. I entrust my fortress and the treasure stored there to my oni, but I won't show them my full power. You must remember where you are Yusuke. The Makai thrives on power. Kill or be killed. Never reveal everything about yourself to anyone."

That's a pretty bleak outlook Hiei."

"That's the Makai Yusuke."

Yusuke pushed off the tree and approached Hiei, a smirk on his face. "Well, I'm going to play it dangerous and trust you Hiei. Now would you please show me how to mask my ki so I'm not advertising my whereabouts all the time?"

"Hmph. I guess if you'll be staying in my fortress it would be to my benefit so you're not attracting unwanted attention."

"So what are we waiting for?"

"Let your power flow out of you, but just enough to be seen and felt." Yusuke quickly became engulfed in white flames and Hiei had to suppress a smile. This is 'just enough'? Does he honestly have no idea how powerful he has become? Half the Makai can probably sense him right now. "Good. Now recognize how that feels, then slowly pull it back into your body." The white flames slowly died down after a few moments as Yusuke tried to recognize the sensation running through his body at the moment. "Now, picture it being compressed into a tiny ball within you." Hiei could feel Yusuke's ki signature recede at a slow, but steady pace. "Keep going."

Yusuke concentrated on bringing all his power under control and shrinking it into a marble within his chest. He could feel resistance and the more he tried to fight it, the more it resisted.

"I can't get it any smaller. It's like it's fighting me."

"Concentrate." Hiei placed his hands on Yusuke's chest and Yusuke's eyes flew open at the unexpected touch. Narrowed crimson eyes met his. "Close your eyes." He did as he was told, but it only seemed to intensify the feeling of the fire demon's hands on his body and Yusuke felt his cheeks get warm. "I'm going to help you suppress your ki. Pay attention."

Yusuke felt a soft nudge within his body and he felt his ki's resistance falter. Then the heat began to build and it became stifling. He could hear Hiei's deep voice penetrate the heat.

"Relax. I'm going to pull away. Hold your ki where it is. Ready?"

Yusuke just managed a nod as he tried to pay attention and note everything he was feeling before Hiei pulled his ki out, leaving Yusuke to suppress his power on his own.

Yusuke felt Hiei's ki recede and he suddenly felt empty. It was as if there was a void where his very soul used to live. What's happened? He opened his eyes and looked at Hiei, a sudden wave of panic gripping his heart.

"What did you do?" Hiei just smirked at him as if he were enjoying a good joke that only he knew about. "What did you do! I can't feel anything!"

"That's the whole point idiot. I helped you mask your ki."

"But…I can't……How do I get it back?"

It's still there. Just tap into it."

"I can't feel it damn it! How am I supposed to use something if I don't know where it is!"

"Calm down Yusuke." Hiei approached the panicking toushin and reached out for his hand. "Here." He placed Yusuke's hand on his chest. "What do you feel?"

"N-nothing."

"Pay attention." Crimson and amber locked onto each other as Hiei slowly began to release his own ki. He made sure to keep eye contact with Yusuke so he wouldn't be able to concentrate on the feel of the toushin's hand over his heart. Yusuke's hand moved slightly and it sent a small jolt ripping through his chest.

Yusuke's eyes widened. "What was that?"

"What?"

"There was a spike of some sort. It felt like your ki but it didn't. What was that?"

"Just concentrate Yusuke." Hiei mentally cursed himself for letting something as trivial as Yusuke's hand on his chest affect him in any way. He looked deep into the amber eyes and he saw the exact moment of recognition as the eyes widened by just a fraction.

Yusuke knew Hiei was avoiding his question. Something had happened to Hiei and he was refusing to tell Yusuke. Not that I should be surprised. Hiei's not the sharing type. But he's been so open with me lately. Yusuke felt a tickle at his fingertips and he moved his hand slightly. Then he could feel a warmth starting to slowly build and he placed his other hand on Hiei's chest, marveling at how power was seemingly coming out of nowhere.

Hiei wanted to step away from Yusuke's touch now. He had placed Yusuke's hand on his chest so the toushin could feel what it was like and tap back into his own ki. He had instantly regretted the decision upon contact. But now Yusuke had both hands on his chest and the contact and closeness were too much. He didn't want this. He didn't need this. Maybe asking him here was a mistake.

Yusuke saw the minute change in his friend and his brow furrowed. Something's wrong. It's as if he's becoming more closed off the more ki he releases. Did I do something wrong? Yusuke reluctantly took a step back from Hiei and let his hands fall to his sides. Then he closed his eyes, unable to face the fire demon any longer. He turned his concentration inward and searched within for his ki. Not being able to find something right away, he felt panic begin to take over again. Then he heard the deep reassuring voice and he used it to bolster himself.

"Stay focused Yusuke. It's within you; it's never going to go away. You can never doubt yourself or the power you command."

Suddenly Yusuke felt a familiar sensation and he pulled at it, willing it to come forth and fill him up again. He wanted to feel whole again. As the familiar wave of power filled him to overflowing he heard cursing and opened his eyes.

"Hiei?"

The fire demon had disappeared and several trees in the surrounding area were charred and in pieces. Were we attacked?

"Over here."

Yusuke turned towards the voice and saw Hiei standing about ten yards away, purple flames licking at his body, fists clenched, eyes glinting.

"What happened?"

"You happened Yusuke. I now have a newfound respect for Genkai. The fact that she didn't kill you before finishing your training is a testament to her patience. Or charity."

"Alright, stop with the 'superior than thou' bullshit and just tell me what happened."

"You didn't keep yourself in check. You found your ki, but you just let it loose. You even changed into your toushin form without realizing." Hiei started walking towards Yusuke and gestured around the newly made clearing. "Look around. This is a small reminder of what can happen if you don't keep control."

Yusuke offered a lopsided grin as he rubbed the back of his head. "Heh, sorry about that. I didn't scare you did I?" Yusuke heard the scoff loud and clear and chuckled. "That's what I thought. So ok, I need to practice. Let's go. Help me get the hang of this thing."

"You practice. I have things to attend to."

"Hey, wait a minute. You said you'd help me."

"Yusuke, I am not your babysitter, nor am I your sensei. I ---"

"Then what are you Hiei?" Crimson eyes went wide at the bold unexpected question and Hiei just stood there, speechless. "We've known each other for awhile now Hiei and I thought we'd become friends. We've battled side-by-side and against each other. Saved each other's lives, kept each other's secrets, and met each other's family. And you were really great with my mom's…..with the whole thing. Hell, you asked me to live with you."

"I did not ask you to live with me Yusuke. There is a distinct----"

"Damn it Hiei you know what I mean! Now I realize that you've given me a lot lately and I sound really selfish right now asking for more, but I need your help." Yusuke took a few steps toward his friend and took a deep breath, letting his shoulders slump as he exhaled. And when he spoke again, his voice had lost its frustration. It just sounded tired. "Please Hiei."

Hiei took in everything about the toushin before him. He was wearing a simple pair of fighting pants and a tight long sleeve shirt which didn't leave much to the imagination despite covering his entire upper body. As was customary with the toushin, he was barefoot. A fact which never ceased to amuse Hiei. His long unruly hair fell around his face, down past shoulders, almost reaching the back of his knees. Despite its rigid appearance, it was actually rather soft. A fact which Hiei wished he didn't know. The dark blue markings of his race only added to the allure of the darkly handsome features and Hiei made sure not to linger on the golden eyes for too long. Whether amber or golden, Hiei seemed to have trouble standing up to Yusuke's eyes. Maybe it's a little known power of the toushin, to control others with their eyes. I better look into that. Finally, Hiei took in the whole picture of Yusuke. A young, powerful toushin who was still trying to find his place in this lifetime. He's asking a lot of me. He's asking for my friendship. And gods help me I willingly give it to him. But that doesn't mean I need to disrupt my life to teach him how to---

"Yusuke…."

"What?" He was a little nervous at the way Hiei was looking at him. Then the fire demon slowly started to approach him. He doesn't look mad, but that look still worries me and his voice sounded far off.

Yusuke tensed the closer Hiei got and when the fire demon was within a foot of Yusuke he reached out, lightning quick, and smacked the toushin upside his head.

"Ow! What was that for?"

"You don't need my help idiot. You're masking yourself."

"Huh?" Yusuke turned his senses inward and sure enough he felt the telltale sensation of emptiness within his body. He looked up at Hiei who seemed amused, yet incredulous. Realization seeped into Yusuke and he smiled. "I did it. I'm empty. I'm masking myself! Ha!" Hiei turned his back and started to walk away. "Wait! Where are you going?"

"I told you, I have business to attend to. I'll be back in two days."

"Stop!" Hiei froze, but didn't turn around to face Yusuke. "You didn't answer my question."

Hiei knew what question Yusuke was referring to and he'd honestly hoped to escape before Yusuke remembered it.

"I told you before that you should never doubt yourself or your powers. I am telling you now Yusuke that you should never doubt my friendship."

Yusuke watched as Hiei disappeared in a blur of black. He couldn't keep the smile from his face and he stood there a few moments basking in the knowledge that Hiei openly stated his feelings to him now. He'd spoken of honoring his mother, he confessed being worried about Yusuke and now he'd admitted to being his friend. Something I will never doubt Hiei.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Hiei stood at the cliff's edge, staring out at the chasm, not seeing the birds circling below him. His mind was occupied with thoughts of a certain toushin who was making more problems for him than he anticipated. All I wanted to do was help him. How could this be happening?

He growled and clenched his fists even tighter. Ever since he'd met Yusuke Urameshi he'd been drawn to him. He was arrogant, rash and Hiei could sense the hidden potential within the ningen even if Yusuke himself could not. He was intrigued to find out where Yusuke's destiny would lead him and so having to join the Rekai Tantei, although it was indeed a punishment of the highest caliber, was made bearable, even enjoyable at times, by the toushin. Yusuke had earned his respect and trust. Not something he gave easily. He willingly fought at his side and salivated at the opportunity to fight against him.

And yes, he'd been attracted to him from the moment he saw him. But that impulse could be easily squashed with a reminder of the young man's love for his female, Keiko. Hiei would always respect that relationship as long as Yusuke did. He didn't like the female. She was helpless and a liability to Yusuke. And yet despite this, she could control Yusuke with a mere glare. Hiei wasn't sure if he should be impressed by her or embarrassed for Yusuke.

All of these realizations and their relationship had built up over many years, and now, in a matter of months, that relationship had changed forever. He'd offered Yusuke solace, his friendship and his home. He kept telling himself it was to aid the powerful toushin in realizing his potential and possibly into a position of great power in the Makai should that be what he desired. But that reasoning was quickly losing its validity the more time he spent with Yusuke and the stronger his feelings were becoming. He didn't want this complication. He just wanted to help his friend. But I can't turn him away. I don't want to turn him away. I'll just have to be careful. Cultivating his power so he can rule the Makai is one thing. Allowing him to control me simply can't happen.

To be continued….