Disclaimer: see previous chapters.

Rujutoshi: I'm glad you're enjoying the story. Heaven knows I've been enjoying yours.

Skittles the Sugar Fairy: Roofing! Ugh! That's some pretty tough work to be doing this time of year. Assuming where you are is summer and hot as Hades like where I live. Glad you had something nice at the end of the day to read. And yes, I definitely have a naughty streak, but it's usually subtle. Usually.

Suntiger: Eek! Sorry about that! But Sintiger sounds pretty cool too. Actually most things beginning with sin sound good. My favorite being sinister.

Ryukotsusei: You're right. Hiei would take waaaaaay too long to figure out what he wants. Good thing we have our boy Yusuke to move things along!

Red Kitsune Flames: I enjoy the teasing thing too. Yusuke is too much of a fun loving antagonist not to tease Hiei and of course the oh-so-macho Hiei has trouble coping. Too cute!

Captain Starseeker: Awww, I love you too. And if you liked the end of the last chapter, this one picks up with a cute scene between the two roomies. Yes! I love Captain Crunch! Well, actually I love crunch berries. But my favorite is Lucky Charms. Mmmmm, colorful marshmallows…..

Zelia Theb: The roller coaster will go barreling down that big hill next chapter. We're almost there, almost, almost…..

Comforting Heat

Chapter 7

After Yusuke quieted his runaway imagination, he slept soundly. And therefore, he was up with the sun and ready for a band new day. One in which he would spend with his favorite fire demon. I owe him for that early morning wake up when I was drunk, the bastard.

Yusuke made his way through the hallways of the fortress and finally came upon Hiei's quarters. He had several rooms to himself and Yusuke had scouted them out during one of his many bored moments while Hiei was away the first time. So he knew exactly which door led to the bedroom. He knocked, announced his presence and walked right in.

"Good morning, master!"

Yusuke was disappointed to be greeted to an empty room. He can't be awake and gone already. He walked over to the unmade bed and laid a hand on the mattress. Still warm. He picked up the pillow and hugged it, inhaling the warm scent of Hiei. Pine, wood and ash. Suddenly he heard a noise behind him and he quickly threw the pillow back onto the bed and spun around to see Hiei standing in a doorway across the room. Yusuke's voice caught in his throat at the sight of the fire demon. He was holding a towel around his waist and his hair was almost flattened out, weighted down from water. Yusuke's eyes caught a droplet of water and watched as it fell from his hair onto his chest, and slowly made its way down past his navel, eventually disappearing into the towel. Yusuke licked his lips and swallowed hard as his eyes remained fixed on the spot where the droplet of water vanished.

I've gotta be dreaming. There's no way this could be happening with me still alive. Yusuke felt hot all over and he knew he was staring but there was nothing he could do to tear his eyes away from the fire demon who was only twenty feet away. But I can feel his presence. I can smell him. No, I'm not dreaming. Hiei is standing in front of me practically naked, dripping wet. Oh gods….. He felt a telltale tightening in his pants and just as he began to shift to relieve some of the discomfort, Hiei moved. Yusuke stood frozen as the fire demon approached, never losing eye contact. He's going to kill me. Kami, this is it. Even if this were a dream, there will be no coming back after Hiei's done with me.

When Hiei emerged from the bathroom, he was shocked to find anyone in his bedroom, much less Yusuke. And the fact that he caught the toushin hugging his pillow alarmed him greatly. But that was nothing compared to the shock and embarrassment of seeing Yusuke's eyes covet his body as his own body became flush and he licked his lips. What is he thinking! Does he realize what he's doing? Then the slightest of movements caught his attention and Hiei knew he had to do something before the situation became so embarrassing he had no choice but to kill the stupid toushin. He can't be in his right mind. He must be sleepwalking or something.

Hiei knew it wasn't wise to shock someone out of sleepwalking, so he decided the best way to "wake" Yusuke up from his dreamlike state was to ignore him and just go about his business. Hopefully, he'll come out of it on his own. The fire demon walked towards Yusuke, but stopped at his closet to pull out some clean clothes. He was about to drop his towel and just get dressed, but a second glance at Yusuke and his current state nixed that idea. He pulled out a pair of pants and put them on then pulled the towel away. When he put on a shirt, he turned back towards Yusuke who seamed to be coming out of his sleepy state.

"Yusuke?"

Big amber eyes found crimson and blinked several times. Without the bare flesh to drive his hormones mad, Yusuke was coming out of his daze.

"Are you awake now, Yusuke? Do you know where you are?"

Again, Yusuke just blinked at the fire demon, trying to comprehend what was happening. He doesn't look angry. What did he mean by am I awake now?

Hiei decided to risk some contact to fully bring Yusuke into the waking world. He walked over and slowly reached up, lightly caressing Yusuke's warm, rosy cheek.

Yusuke closed his eyes at the gentle touch but it was quickly replaced with a sharp pain. "Ow! What the hell!"

Hiei took a step back and crossed his arms. "Awake now, idiot?"

"Yeah, I'm wake! Did you just slap me?"

Yusuke looked up and saw Hiei just standing there, smirk in place and crimson eyes studying him intently. "You were sleepwalking."

Yusuke sat down on the bed and stared in disbelief. Sleepwalking? So that's why he's not angry! Yes! I'm not going to die!

"Oh, uh, sorry about that. G-guess I should have warned you."

Hiei picked up his towel and headed back to the bathroom. When he came back, Yusuke seemed to be back to normal. "What do you remember?"

Yusuke shrugged trying to play the sleepwalking bit just right. "Not much. I unpacked, took a bath and went to bed. I uh, think I might have had a dream…."

Yusuke scratched the back of his head and crimson eyes narrowed. That's a nervous habit. Then again, he does have plenty to be embarrassed about.

"Then I saw you. W-were you naked?"

Hiei didn't catch the flush fast enough and he felt his cheeks color. "No. I was just getting dressed and when I turned around, there you were."

"Oh. Well, that's a relief, huh?" You lying little fire demon! Whose pride are you protecting? Yours or mine?

"Indeed."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The two friends had breakfast and afterwards Yusuke went outside to get some fresh air. Hiei had agreed to go running with him this morning after checking on a few things, thus sparing the fortress staff from sparring with him. As he sat on the wall of the sparring field, enjoying the sweet smell of the early morning dew, a cold blade was suddenly at his throat. Yusuke rolled his eyes.

"I thought we were going running? I was looking forward to you showing me around some." The blade pressed a little tighter and Yusuke refrained from swallowing and he quickly sensed the anger coming from the fire demon behind him. "Hiei? Is something wrong?"

When Hiei spoke, it was a controlled hiss. If his words were tangible they would have eaten right through flesh they were so acidic. "Why were you dressed this morning?"

"Dressed? What are you talking about?"

"If you were sleepwalking, you wouldn't have been in your regular clothes." The blade pressed a little further and Yusuke felt a trickle of warm blood making its way down his neck. "Now tell me what you were really doing in my room, Yusuke."

Think fast Yusuke! You were so good at lying to Keiko. This is no different and way more dangerous! "I…I'm not comfortable here yet. I sleep in my clothes. J-just in case something happens while I'm sleeping."

"Bullshit!"

"No! I'm serious! I don't want to have to fight some crazed demon in my boxers!" Yusuke felt the blade's pressure give a fraction and he continued. "Like you said, this is the Makai. Kill or be killed. Well, if I'm gonna have to kill I'd prefer to do it fully dressed."

Hiei stepped back and sheathed his katana. Yusuke didn't even bother with his neck. He stood up and turned around, trying to look indignant even though Hiei had every right to be angry. "Look, I'm sorry I didn't tell you about the sleepwalking thing, ok? But jeez Hiei, think about this for a second. Why else would I be in your room?"

Hiei suddenly felt guilty for suspecting Yusuke of treachery. He's right. I should have trusted him and just asked about the clothes. I should have known that Yusuke wouldn't just barge into my room like that uninvited. He'd never knowingly look at me like….like he wanted to…… Hiei shook his head, banishing the thoughts and shivers overriding his mind and body.

"I apologize." Hiei handed Yusuke a handkerchief and looked away as he wiped away the small trickle of blood. "I….won't doubt you again."

Yusuke raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Doesn't that go against your 'trust no one' philosophy?"

Hiei didn't face Yusuke. He kept looking off to the side, wondering what was going on with himself. "You're becoming…..an exception, Yusuke."

To be continued….