Elements (I really will think of a better title later, I promise)

By: SanguineFox

Disclaimer: I own no characters from Yu Yu Hakusho.

Warning: Yaoi... sorta... language, I think...

Author's Note: I apologize that this took so long, I've been having school/social issues which has just been resolved, thankfully.

I also want to thank all who reviewed the last chapter:

Kuro Mizu-Kitsune: thanks for the idea, and I think I know where that should go.

Shy neko: Yeah, it's really different than my original story, I completely scrapped most of the story, and started all over again. The first one moved faster than I wanted, and this one isn't doing much better, but I definitely prefer the flow... I guess.

Snow Mouse: I'm sorry, Yusuke is in the Makai, and Genkai was in Nigenkai. I think they still have a connection, but I'm not really sure

On with the show/story... Finally the introduction of Hiei!

Chapter 3: Element 3: Found?

"You… seem familiar…" Kurama took his defensive stance. He had no idea how this demon fought, all he knew was that he had a hot temper to go with that hot body. He was never one for short guys, but something about the fire demon was very alluring. This was another of the elements, but he did not seem to be on a negotiable plane at the moment.

"You seem like an enemy. What are you doing on my lands?"

"I apologize, I didn't know that this was your land. I was under the impression that these lands belonged to the infamous Youko Kurama."

"He is long dead, and I have staked my claim."

"Youko Kurama lives and stands before you to take back what is rightfully his." That odd voice was back again, it was as if whispers from his former life were creeping into his mind every second.

"You are nothing but a lowly human who happens to possess demonic power," the harsh voice coiled about the redhead in an almost teasing allure.

"I will prove who I am," he stated before pulling the favored rose from his hair, "Rose Whip!"

The smaller body was gone in a flash, the sword glistened in the morning sun for a moment before coming in contact with Kurama's top, but not his skin.

"That was a warning," Hiei stood about twenty feet behind the fox-human with his deadly glare focused on a mountain far off, not even bothering to face the man he was threatening.

"I am not here to fight you."

"That whip says differently."

"This is defense," he stated.

"Human. I will kill you," he attacked again, but Kurama had taken a better look about the field, and noticed the grass that was more than willing to help.

"Not quite."

"Argh!" the demon snarled, "Release me!"

"I don't believe that is possible until you have vowed your loyalty to me, and made a promise not to kill either me or my friends."

"You damn human!" he growled, try ferociously to break free.

Gripping his hand, Kurama tightened the blades of grass about the smaller demon, "You will listen to my offer."

"I don't have to do anything."

"I don't believe that you have much of a choice right now," Kurama kneeled before the prone body. A hungering need filled his entire body, and Kurama knew that the demon side of his personality was trying to break free and was in desperate wanting for the pretty demon before him. It was very odd. He had found other men and demons to be very attractive, even Yusuke, but none of them had made his blood almost boil the way this one with crimson eyes did.

"As I was saying, I am Youko Kurama. These are my lands, and you have trespassed, you will pay the price. First, though, tell me your name."

"I need no name on my grave. There will be no one to mourn before it."

"I would definitely mourn for you. To kill such a demon without allowing him to grow to his full potential would be a sin," Kurama played mindlessly with the demon's black spiky hair, "You are an element, I'm assuming the heart of ice wrapped in fire."

"I'll show you fire," he sneered before flames completely engulfed his body.

Kurama jumped back instantly, and watched in amazement as the other began walking through the fire. He almost wanted to fan himself at the intense heat was feeling, more from within than the actual flames. He didn't want to hurt the very attractive demon, but the only way to get him to stop attacking was to knock him out…

"This old trick?" the fire demon growled as he fought to get free from the vines yet again.

"Not quite," Kurama stood before him with a handful of dust, "good night, cutie."

"Cute… ie?" the demon slumped forward.

"Yusuke, it's okay, you two can come out," he called as he wrapped his arms about the small creature.

"Is it dead?" Keiko peered from behind her boyfriend.

"No, we can't kill him."

"Why not? Just because you think he's cute?"

"Shut up, Yusuke," Kurama warned, "and no, this is another of the elements. I'm not sure why I didn't notice him as one until now."

"Are you sure that you're attraction for him isn't getting the better of you?" Yusuke smirked, but this just got him a deadly glare from the normally calm redhead.

"I know he is one of the elements, but there's something else… I just can't remember what… something from long ago… That's not important now, anyway. We need to get to a trader. We're going to need wards to keep him down… some strong ones. He is a very powerful demon."

"Yes, and he seems to have quite the temper," Keiko added, "He looks so young… how old is he?"

"…I'd say about fifteen…" he mumbled something else, but no one heard.

Yusuke leaned over to whisper to his girlfriend, "You know, you'd think that he was already in love with short stack."

"Kurama's got a crush," Keiko giggled, and the two continued whispering things back and forth.

"Hey, Lovebirds, hurry up," Kurama smirked at the red cheeks that comment always caused between them.

"These are your strongest wards, correct?" Kurama bartered with the trader.

"For the amount that you've offered, it is."

"If I am unable to restrain this demon, I will be sure that he believes you are the one who sent me after him," Kurama threatened.

"That little shrimp…" he took a better look at the small creature in Kurama's arms, "T-that's Hiei… the Jaganshi… h-how did you capture him?"

"Hiei… that's his name," Kurama murmured as he looked down to study the demon's sweet face.

"Here! Take them, just get him away from me and my cart. Take him out of this city as soon as possible. I beg of you!"

Kurama smiled as he found a place to gently lay out the smaller demon, and wrapped the ward about the other's forehead, covering the closed Jagan as well as the black dragon wrapping up the thin arm. It was so strange that he had just been fighting this demon only an hour ago.

The cave was a little colder than usual with the fire dying down and no more deadwood to throw over it.

"Where am I?" Hiei woke suddenly, he never 'roused' per say, just sat up and demanded to know what was going on.

"Sorry, Hiei, you're coming with us whether you like it or not," a coy looking redhead played with dying embers slowly.

"Why do I feel so…" he took in a heavy breath as he tried to break free of his binds once again. This should be no problem for him. Why wasn't the damn rope breaking?

"Weak? Well, at least I know those wards work," Kurama continued to poke at the fire. Yusuke had gone off to get food with Keiko, and knowing those two, they wouldn't return for quite a while without any food more than likely, and rumpled clothing.

"Release me."

"I don't believe that you are in the position of giving orders, Hiei."

"You know who I am, so you'll know what I'll do when I free myself. I'll make you death quick and painless if you release me now."

"I don't think that you understand how this works. I have you bound, and soon to be gagged, so I believe that I will be holding the powers for now as well as your sword."

"Where is my sword?" he demanded.

"Wouldn't you like to know," the redhead gave a saucy wink.

Hiei growled low in his throat, as threateningly as possible, "Who are you?"

"I've told you, I am Youko Kurama."

"Youko is dead," Hiei stated disdainfully.

"Yes, I know it's hard to believe, but I am Youko."

"An incarnation?"

"No, I am actually him. Youko never really died. I transferred my soul into another being."

Hiei glared at the human, "Argh!"

"Don't try to use you powers!" Kurama leaned forward to hold the fire demon's shoulders, "You'll get sick."

"I don't trust you."

"… You're alive aren't you?"

"There are worse things than death," he sneered.

"I'm sure there really aren't."

"Hn," Hiei continued to try to break the bonds.

"Name three."

"The humiliation of living with the knowledge that you were defeated by a pompous fool... living as a weak, pathetic human…"

Trying to calm himself after feeling his eye begin to twitch, "Hm, really? What's your third?"

"Being here with you!" he snarled as loudly as possible, squirming to get free, but his energy was quickly draining and he fell limp once again.

"I told you not to do that," he shook his head before heading back to the fire.

"Why are you holding me captive?" Hiei huffed, trying to regulate his breathing once again.

"Because I need your help. Actually all three worlds need your help."

"You are a horrible liar."

"I am not a liar," Kurama insisted.

"Release me, human, or I will free myself and I will kill you."

"I am not just human," he explained.

"Weren't there other humans with you?"

"They will be back eventually," he answered unsurely.

"Hn," Hiei's ragged breathing began to slow.

"If you promise not to run away or kill myself or my friends, I'll untie you. You might as well stop wasting your energy like that, you'll only hurt yourself."

"I make no promise."

"…I'll take that as the closest that I'll get," Kurama smiled sweetly, pulling a single blade of grass from his hair, turning it into a sharp blade, he sliced Hiei's ropes.

"No, leave it," Hiei stopped Kurama from taking the ward from his jagan.

"Why?"

"Just leave it."

"Fine," he sighed, happy that he seemed a lot calmer than he was expecting.

The two sat in silence for the next half an hour as Hiei glared at the redhead on the opposite side of the embers. With a flick of his wrist, the flame jumped up, three times larger than when it had first started.

"Thank you," Kurama curled even more into himself when another shudder shook his body.

"You humans are so weak it's absolutely pathetic," he growled softly.

"And you, demon, are so pigheaded that I should have left you in your ties and thrown a gag on for good measure," Kurama felt the demon blood in him begin to boil.

"You've got quite the mouth for such a feeble fighter that you have to resort to dirty tricks."

"I have no intention of hurting you," he assured, "I had no choice but to use low tactics to keep you safe."

Ruby eyes continued to glare over the fire.

"You aren't hurt, are you?"

"No."

"Good."

"Hn, you're very good at pretending that you care."

"You wouldn't still be sitting there if you truly thought that," the redhead smiled sweetly, slowly pulling closer to the fire. Meeting those eyes made him shiver, pretending to be cold seemed the best choice.

"Whoa! Why's he free?" Yusuke returned with Keiko right behind him. Their clothing was ruffled and hair askew as Kurama had predicted, but at least they had remembered to go shopping.

TBC

Please, let me know what you guys think, and if there's anything that's really confusing, because I'm sure that there is.