-1Sorry the last chapter was a little short but I wanted to post something while I had the chance. This one should be a little better and a little longer.

Thanks everyone for reviewing. I'm going to keep this short so, happy reading.

Standard disclaimer: I do not own YuYu Hakusho.

IN THE ARMS OF LOVE

Chapter 10

Two days later Kurama woke suddenly with his heart racing and breathless from one of the best wet dreams he'd ever had. Slowly he came down from his pleasure high, blushing as he recalled some of the vivid images from the dream. It took him a moment to realize that the lover from his dreams was practically in his arms.

Kurama lay against Hiei's side, his arm was across the fire demon's muscular chest and his head rested on his shoulder. Startled, he began to pull away then hesitated. Reassured by the fact that Hiei was unaware of his movements, Kurama nuzzled into his neck savoring the feeling of soft black hair caressing his face. Breathing deep he smiled at the lingering scent of home that always followed Hiei when he returned from Makai.

"Fox, is everything alright.? You're heart's racing." Hiei's voice held a barely detected hint of amusement.

"Everything's fine Hiei. I just had a strange dream that's all." His voice was shaky as Kurama practically jumped from the bed and ran to the shower to wash away the after effects of the sexy dream.

If Hiei were in his body his grin would have been from ear to ear. He had honored Kurama's request not to talk about the trouble between them but that didn't mean the fire demon had been idle. Within a few hours of being in Kurama's mind, as he had begun to think of it, he realized he could sense things around him, including Kurama.

The Youko's own mental control was too strong for Hiei to know his thoughts but not so strong as to keep his curious friend from his memories or as he had just learned, his dreams. Of course he didn't share this little bit of information with the fox, at least not yet.

Yesterday Hiei began poking around in Kurama's head and came across his memories. It wasn't as if Hiei could actually see them, more like he could just sense them and know what they were. Even though he felt a twinge of jealousy, the memories he was most interested in were those of Kurama with his old lover Kuronue.

When he first discovered Kurama's memories he almost didn't pursue them. Memories were meant to be private and only shared with the holder's consent. Kuronue had his fox's love however and he hoped the Chimera could in some way help him win Kurama's love for himself.

He wasn't exactly sure how but last night Hiei's little trip through the Youko's past had somehow ended up giving Kurama the most erotic dream Hiei could have ever imagined. The memory had been of the Youko on his hands and knees as Kuronue took him in a frenzy of passion.

Excited just hearing the impassioned cries of his fox Hiei must have called out to him. In sleep Kurama's control must have slipped because the next thing Hiei knew it was no longer a memory but a dream. The Chimera faded away and Kurama's lover became a very passionate fire demon. He felt as if it were his hand tangled in the Youko's long silver hair as they made love.

When Kurama cried out Hiei's name as the dream lover's reached their mutual climax Hiei would have needed a shower as well if he had been in his body. The image of the sexy Youko willingly submitting to him had Hiei more convinced than ever to make Kurama his at any cost. Armed with the knowledge that Kurama was turned on dreaming of Hiei as his lover the fire demon decided to resume his quest for the Youko's love today.

Kurama was toweling himself dry as he reentered the bedroom. Pausing he looked at Hiei lying so still on the bed. When his groin reacted to the innocent looking demon Kurama realized he must still be feeling the effects of the dream.

He'd had his share of sexy dreams since his human body had reached puberty some years ago but nothing as erotic as last night. It was as if someone reached way back in his mind and brought out his deepest hidden desires and played them out just for his pleasure. "Too bad it was just a dream."

Kurama hadn't realized he'd voiced his thoughts until Hiei spoke making him jump. "Must have been some dream if you're still thinking about it. Care to share Fox?"

"No!" Kurama almost shouted at him. Then suddenly a thought hit him. "Hiei, can you see my dreams?"

There was only a slight pause before Hiei answered, his voice a little annoyed. "I told you I'm in complete darkness. I can't see a damn thing in here." Hiei waited. Technically he hadn't lied. Kurama asked if he could see his dreams not if he knew what they were. A moment later he felt Kurama relax.

Kurama sighed, he didn't think he could handle Hiei seeing that dream on top of everything else going on between them right now. "It must be hard being in the dark all the time. You can talk to me, maybe today you should try to reach Yukina. You've always had a special link with her."

That was actually on his to do list for today. He needed an ally he could reach on the outside. "That's a good idea Fox. You should hurry and get dressed though, unless you want Shiori to come in and find you naked."

Kurama yelped as he hurried into his clothes. Just as he was tucking his shirt in Shiori knocked then peeked into the room. "Shuuichi, I'm sorry. Did I come too early? I just couldn't wait any longer to see my boys."

Holding out a hand to her Kurama invited her in with a smile. "No Mother, you know you're always welcome. Your boys as you call us are just fine… well for the most part. Why don't you come see for yourself."

Kurama led her to the bed. Seeing Hiei there she looked up at Kurama curiously and whispered. "Is he sleeping?"

He smiled sadly. "No Mother, Hiei's not sleeping. His body just can't wake up right now. A few days ago we were attacked by a demon that hit him with a powerful energy blast. It threw Hiei into me knocking us both into a tree. When we examined him we found him to be virtually unharmed except that… his soul was gone."

Shiori gasped interrupting him. Sitting on the bed she took Hiei's hand in hers. "Oh Hiei! Shuuichi, how can he live without a soul? Have you found it, can it be put back?"

Yusuke and Kuwabara had filled Kurama and Hiei in on everything that they found out in Reikai except the part about them being soul mates. After Kurama's reaction to their matchmaking, or rather unmatchmaking of him and Camille, they didn't think he was ready to hear that yet.

"The best Koenma can figure he's only alive because he's such a powerful demon. We did find his soul though, in the most interesting place… it's inside of me." Anxiously Kurama watched his mother's reaction.

Her eyes widened as she comprehended his words. "Oh my. Well, Hiei couldn't be in a safer place than with his best friend. You didn't say anything about putting it back in him. I can't imagine this happens very often."

Standing by his mother Kurama couldn't resist reaching out to bush a hand across Hiei's cheek. Shiori smiled knowingly at the innocent gesture. "No Mother, this doesn't happen often. In all the other instances the body died leaving the soul with no host of it's own. Apparently Hiei and I are the first to be spiritually aware enough to know it even happened. Koenma and Botan have been trying to find a way to make Hiei better again."

Not all of Kurama's intelligence came from being Youko. Shiori caught on quickly. "So Hiei's aware of what's going on. He can hear you but not me, right? That's why you've been repeating the things I say."

Smiling, Kurama nodded. "Yes Mother, that's why I've been repeating things or talking to him telepathically so Hiei can follow the whole conversation."

Shiori now reached out to hold Kurama's hand as well as Hiei's. "Oh, this must be so hard on him. What's it like for him in there? Can he see or hear anything but you?"

Throughout the conversation Kurama had telepathically filled Hiei in on any parts he may have missed. "Tell her what you must Fox. You can answer as well as I can."

Kurama and Shiori spent the next hour talking with Hiei. When Shiori rose to leave she leaned down to give Hiei a gentle kiss on the cheek. "Shuuichi, you tell him I love him and I'll come back in a few days if he doesn't come see me first. Tell him I'll be looking forward to hearing about all the interesting thing that are really going on in your head."

Kurama laughed as he kissed her goodbye. "Oh no, I forbid Hiei from revealing any secrets he finds while he's wandering around in my head."

After Shiori left Kurama put his hands on his hips and turned to look at Hiei. "Hiei, you suddenly got awfully quiet. What are you up to?"

He could hear Hiei's wicked little laugh. "Just seeing what I can find that I can use as blackmail. You're what, like a million years old? There's got to be some interesting things hiding in here you'd pay to keep quiet."

"Don't you dare you little demon! And I am not a million years old you brat!" Kurama tried to sound threatening but failed miserably.

Once again Hiei laughed. "You know your secrets are safe with me Kurama. I can't believe I'm saying this but can my silence at least bribe you to keep talking. When you're quiet it gets kind of creepy in here."

Again Kurama couldn't resist reaching out to touch Hiei. He didn't stop to question why he had been doing that a lot lately. "Oh Hiei, of course we can talk. What do you want to talk about?"

Hiei hesitated, not sure if what he wanted to know was on Kurama's taboo list of conversation topics. "Someone hit you the other day. I still want to know what happened."

This time it was Kurama who hesitated. Hiei felt him draw a deep breath before answering. "I'm not sure I should tell you but Yoji said you knew, so here goes. I saw Yoji with another man and confronted him about cheating on you. Max, that was his name, took offense at me roughing up his… boyfriend and we got in a little scuffle. I guess me defending you was for nothing though since it turns out Yoji was only your fake boyfriend."

Hiei couldn't believe his luck. "I'm sorry, you shouldn't have been hurt because of me. Kurama, I…"

"Hiei, can we change the subject? I really don't want to talk about this." Kurama moved from the bed to look out the window.

Hiei hated hearing the hurt in Kurama's voice. This had to stop. "When will we talk about it Kurama? When I'm better? What if I don't get better and were stuck like this? We have to work this out!"

Kurama didn't answer as he opened the window and slipped through it. Once outside he headed into the forest. He didn't even realize he was running until he cleared the trees and saw the ocean. The sand slowed his pace and after a moment he fell to his knees.

"You can't run away from me Kurama. I've waited like you asked but we need to resolve this."

Kurama's heart was racing but not from the run. "What if we can't resolve it Hiei? How will you survive inside me if we're not speaking to each other? How will I survive without my best friend?"

Hiei could hardly believe it but Kurama sounded near tears. "The other day you said that no matter what you would always be here for me. That works both ways Fox. No matter what I will always be your best friend and I will always be here for you. That's why I know we can get through this. If you want we'll take it a little at a time."

Kurama took off his shoes and pulled up his pant legs to walk along the beach wading in the water. This time when he spoke he seemed to have calmed down. "That might be okay. If we take it slow and with the knowledge that nothing can come between our friendship then we'll be fine. Thank you Fire-Fly."

Hiei was relieved but he knew this wasn't over yet. "I have only one request Kurama. If in the end you still want to marry that woman, promise you won't do it while I'm still in here. I can't stand the thought of you with her, if I had to live it every day I'd lose my mind."

Kurama smiled. "I promise, until you and your body are reunited it's just you and me Hiei."

Silently Hiei prayed it would be just the two of them forever.