Chapter Six: Love Remembered
A/N: Sorry this chapter is short... and late... we're finally back to the night of the tournament! If you need reminding what's going on read chapter one again, and just a WARNING... this chapter is all about sex. I don't know why you've read this far if you've got a problem with that, but just in case you do, you have been warned.
Hiei led Kurama into a smallish cave just off the coast. The only sign of occupancy was a makeshift bed, the mattress from the hotel dragged down and covered with one of Hiei's old cloaks. Kurama glanced at the bed; Hiei glanced everywhere else.
Kurama drew Hiei over to the bed and sat down on the edge of it, raising his arms and sliding them around Hiei's shoulders. Hiei let his arms wrap around Kurama in turn, staring wordlessly down at the fox. Kurama arched up slightly, seeking a kiss. Hiei stared a moment longer before leaning down to meet him.
When their lips touched, it was as though they were instantly transported back in time. Back before the tournament, back before they had even known their teammates, when it had only been them. They both sighed without thinking, and Hiei wrapped his arms tighter around Kurama. All thoughts of Karasu or Toguro were forgotten, and all that remained was each other, and the remembrance of what it had been like when they were in love.
Hiei crawled onto the bed, straddling Kurama's legs, and gently lowered him down with a hand behind his head, making it clear that he intended to dominate this interaction. Kurama lay back willingly, shifting slightly into a more comfortable position and keeping his hands on Hiei's waist, keeping him close. He knew his need was patently evident to Hiei, and if it had been anyone else he would have been embarrassed. But he had never been closer in his life to anyone than to the demon that was holding him now, kissing and touching him and risking bringing up painful memories all because Kurama had asked him to. There was no need for embarrassment here.
They embraced each other wordlessly, because there was no need for words either. Hiei was cautious at first, kissing slowly, wrapping his fingers almost lazily in Kurama's hair. Kurama made no effort to hurry him. Instead he lay back and basked in Hiei's strength as the kissed gradually grew harder and more forceful, surrendering himself as completely as he needed to, knowing he was safe to do so. He drank in Hiei like a parched plant drinks water.
As for Hiei, he didn't allow himself to think too much about what was happening, just to feel it. Just to feel Kurama again was enough. It was the night before their fates would be decided, one way or the other, and if a miracle wanted to happen it was just fine with him.
They moved against one another slowly, reacquainting themselves with old pathways and remembered sensations. There were still no words between them as they slowly unclothed each other, taking time to savor each grazing touch as they did so. Kurama looked at Hiei, and he tried to break the silence, tried to find some words to express his gratefulness, but he couldn't speak. Then Hiei kissed him and he forgot how to speak. There was love in that kiss, the same lingering love that Kurama realized now had never really died, for either of them--it had only been suspended.
They came together easily, and Hiei took Kurama exactly as he needed to be taken, forcefully enough to be overpowered but tenderly enough to be loved. The silence was finally broken by their quiet, irrepressable cries, and the bed grew damp with their sweat. The further their bodies were pushed into passion, they more they found themselves staring into each other's eyes--searching for something, finding it, and smiling in relief.
"Let go," Hiei whispered to Kurama, meaning everything: meaning his body's fight against exstacy, meaning the pain of the tournament and the fear that had driven him to Hiei, meaning the memories that washed through them.
"You too." And then Kurama said what he had so often said to Hiei in the throes of passion before: "You're safe. You won't fall. You will fly."
Hiei covered Kurama's mouth with his own, and as they arched towards each other they found themselves tumbling through bliss together, catching each other's cries in their mouths. Afterwards Hiei collapsed on Kurama's chest, gasping for breath, and the fox's fingers wound their way through his sweaty hair.
But after a moment they stilled, unsure of their welcome. Silence descended once more, and it wasn't as easy as it had been before.
Hiei propped himself up on his elbows to look at Kurama, answering his unspoken question. "You can stay tonight if you want," he said, pretending total indifference. The masks were already starting to slip back on.
But not so far that Kurama couldn't see past them, and he smiled. Hiei lay down, this time on his back, and after a moment Kurama arranged himself against the smaller demon, head on his shoulder. When Hiei's fingers found their way into Kurama's hair, they both knew that this time it was welcome.
They didn't sleep. Perhaps they dozed in and out of a light consciousness, but the majority of the night was taken up with softly spoken reminiscences, as they finally allowed themselves to talk of the past without passing judgment or trying to understand how they had come to the present. They touched each other softly, kissed just as softly, and held each other throughout the long night.
When the dawn came they rose silently to dress, not really looking at each other. But before they left, Kurama touched the back of Hiei's neck to get his attention and then leaned down to kiss him, slowly and lovingly. When he pulled back he looked at Hiei, and a silent understanding passed between them that the night was over, that that kiss had been the last. Then they squared their shoulders and together went to meet the rest of their team for the final round.