Disclaimer: I have no right to anyone or anything in the YYH World.
A/N: So here's part II of the "missing Hiei" arc of the story. If I didn't divide it up, it would have been a REALLY LONG chapter.
No Matter What
Chapter 9
Yusuke closed his eyes and concentrated, transforming into his true demon aspect. His senses were suddenly and deliciously assaulted as the tastes and smells and sheer aura of the Makai came alive. He parted his lips and took several panting breathes through his mouth. He could even taste the Makai with his sensitive toushin senses. Yusuke let out a small hiss and then opened his eyes. This may not be home, but damn it sure feels good. Now, where the hell are you, Hiei?
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It took Yusuke three day's travel with no sleep to reach the spot marked on Botan's map. All that power and they can't even drop a guy off at the correct location. Jeez. Before opening a portal to allow him passage into the Makai, she had relayed all the information she had gathered and provided a map showing where Hiei was suspected of being and the places already searched by Mukuro's men and herself.
Hiei had volunteered to go after a traitor and Mukuro gave him her blessing, indicating she wanted the traitor eliminated immediately. So she unleashed her loyal, vicious killer upon the unsuspecting traitor whom Mukuro had deemed unworthy of her time.
Yusuke could imagine the gleam in the crimson eyes as he was given carte blanche to do with the demon as he pleased. He shivered involuntarily as he recalled several stories he'd heard about Hiei's and Kurama's past from his contacts in the Makai. They were both cruel, merciless and not to be taken lightly. The major difference between them was that Hiei preferred to do his own killing, whereas Kurama would send others or do it in such a manner so as not to sully his hands.
He still had a hard time picturing Kurama doing any of those things. But there were a few times when he'd been confronted with his youko aspect and looking into those cold, golden eyes, Yusuke could be made into a believer.
But there was no question in Yusuke's mind that Hiei did all those things. Hell, he might have even enjoyed it. But they were different now. Kurama had tempered his youko side while Hiei had gained family and friends and slowly learned that it was ok to care.
I care, Hiei. And I'm going to find you and make whoever hurt you suffer like no other.
Yusuke slowed his pace and opened up all his senses, stretching them out in the hopes of finding the smallest clue to his friend's whereabouts. Two days he meticulously scoured the terrain searching for Hiei. And just as the sun was setting on the second day and Yusuke was preparing to call it a day and find a place to actually sleep for the first time since arriving in the Makai, his nose twitched with a familiar scent. Blood.
He looked around and sniffed the air, determining the direction of the smell. Wherever it's coming from, I want to go in the opposite direction. I don't need any trouble right now. Yusuke walked away from the smell until he picked up another, almost undetectable scent. Ashes.
Suddenly Yusuke was very alert and awake, changing directions and stretching his senses out, racing towards the source of the smells. Hiei. Could it really be you? Yusuke didn't sense any demon presence around for miles. That can't be good. He came to a skidding halt in a small clearing and scanned the area. He was in the middle of some dark forest and there was no physical sign of Hiei.
But the scent is the strongest right here. C'mon, Hiei! Where in the seven hells are you!
Yusuke closed his eyes and took a deep, calming breath. He focused his mind and slowly and purposefully used all his senses to determine Hiei's exact whereabouts. Following the scent of blood and ash and honing in on the strongest ki signatures in the area, Yusuke searched several spots before coming to a large tree.
He ran his hand along the rough bark as he circled the wide trunk, scanning up and down, looking for his missing friend. Halfway around the tree Yusuke caught a strong whiff of blood and he looked down to see a bush. He squatted down and began searching the bush, only to find it easily uprooted. When he tossed the bush aside, he found a burrow hollowed out of the tree trunk and the earth. In that burrow was the object of his search.
"Oh, Hiei…."
Yusuke looked down at the unusually pale figure curled into itself. Hiei was covered in blood and dirt and his clothes were torn in several places. He wasn't registering much of an energy signature. No more powerful than some animal. No wonder they couldn't find him. He reached out a shaking hand and touched his cheek.
"I thought I told you to never scare me again?"
Slowly, crimson eyes opened and blinked themselves clear of the blurriness from their hibernation. They turned and regarded Yusuke for several long moments before closing again. Yusuke sighed and reached down, digging his hands into the fire demon's burrow and lifting him out.
He had to find a safe place for them. After a few hours of wandering, Yusuke gave up and settled for just sleeping in a tree. He was getting tired from all the traveling, stress and lack of sleep and needed some of his energy to help Hiei. He spied a large tree and began to scale its many thick branches until he was above the forest canopy.
"There. This should be safe enough. Now let's get a better look at you."
Yusuke situated Hiei between his legs, semi-sitting up and resting back against his chest, their legs stretched out. Just as he began to lift up Hiei's shirt a hand came up and covered his.
"Don't."
"Hiei. I have to see how bad the damage is."
"Just….need….rest."
Yusuke sighed and closed his eyes. I'm so tired. I don't want to argue with him right now.
"How…..long?"
Yusuke opened his eyes and stared up into the tree's many branches that stretched up for at least another fifty feet.
"Huh? How long what?"
"How long…..in the…tree…."
"Hmmm. That's a good question. You've been missing for a month. Does that help?"
Yusuke heard what was probably meant to be a growl but it sounded more like a groan and he looked down at Hiei again, his eyes fixing on the bloody hand that was now squeezing his hands.
"Hiei?"
"I underestimated him……..walked into an ambush…….so stupid…."
Yusuke let his hands fall from their position halfway up Hiei's midsection and let them settle comfortably at his waist. He hoped he wasn't resting on anything too painful and got his answer when Hiei brought his other hand up to join the three already resting on him.
"How many?"
"Enough."
"Obviously." Yusuke felt Hiei's body stiffen. "Did you let any of them live?"
"No."
Yusuke smiled at the vicious finality of the one word statement.
"Man, Hiei, you could have left a few for me. Selfish bastard."
Hiei's body lost its stiffness and seemed to melt into Yusuke and he let out a soft sigh. Confident that Hiei would be asleep again momentarily, Yusuke let his head fall back against the tree trunk and closed his eyes letting his fatigued body finally rest now that he had his fire demon back.
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They had slept in the tree for almost a day and when they woke up, they were both sore and in need of a bath. After arguing over whether or not Hiei could move on his own Yusuke lost his patience and tossed the fire demon over his shoulder with a smile before leaping from their perch and going in search of water. I'll just have to sleep with one eye open.
Luckily, there was a stream nearby so Yusuke was able to rid himself of the cursing fire demon before any damage was done to either of them. Hiei glared at the toushin, already plotting his revenge for the indignities he was suffering.
"You will pay for this, Yusuke."
Yusuke just gave the fuming fire demon a cocky smirk in response. If he's making threats, he must be feeling better. His color is better, but that could just be him getting pissed off.
Seeing that smirk only fueled Hiei's anger and he looked away from the toushin towards the flowing stream. He knew what needed to be done, and he would be damned if Yusuke was going to do it for him. I'll kill us both first. He looked down at his clothes and body taking the time to assess the damage since sequestering himself in the burrow and going into a self-induced hibernation to heal. He hated taking the risk, leaving himself so defenseless, but if he was going to survive, it was his only option. He had been lucky to find the burrow. I can't believe it was him of all people who found me. The gods really do hate me.
Hiei drew his katana, biting back the groan and wince that wanted desperately to come out. He ran the blade up under his shirt, shivering at the cool touch, and sliced downwards, ridding himself of his tattered shirt.
Hiei sheathed his sword and dropped it to the ground, then braced himself for the next task. As he shifted his right foot to rest on his left heel in an attempt to remove his boots he heard a strangled noise and turned to see Yusuke standing there, face flush and looking almost pained.
When Yusuke saw the exposed upper body of the fire demon he felt like it was he himself that was a fire demon, burning with a fire from within. It didn't matter that the pale, muscular flesh was marred with various cuts and gashes or smeared with blood. He knew what it felt like to have that body against his own and the heat it could generate.
As his eyes roamed upwards from the abdomen and chest to the neck and finally the face, Yusuke saw a pair of questioning crimson eyes fixed on him and it broke his tortured trance. He started, embarrassed for being caught admiring his half naked friend, and groaned as he began to walk away.
"I'll just….be over here if you need anything."
Hiei would have smiled at the situation if he thought he stood a chance with the toushin. But Yusuke had chosen his mate and Hiei had managed to bury the pain he felt at the loss until it was only a dull ache within his chest. He thought that going away to the Makai and not seeing Yusuke would cure him of his feelings, but it had only allowed him to ignore them. Now, faced with Yusuke once again, as his rescuer no less, Hiei's dull ache was quickly turning into a sharp pain.
Eventually, Hiei managed to undress completely and he waded into the stream, wincing as the cold water caused his already aching muscles to tense and shoot shocks of pain up and down his body. He sat down and leaned back, totally immersing himself in the gentle current of the shallow water and letting it wash away the evidence of the bloodbath. It had been a long time since he had killed so many that he became covered in their blood. But there's a lot of my blood as well. I can't believe I was so careless.
Hiei sat back up and ran his hands through his hair, his mind clearer than it had been in days. He looked over to see Yusuke kicking at the dirt, hands shoved in his pockets as he kept his back turned. Why did you come for me, Yusuke?
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Once Yusuke and Hiei had bathed, Yusuke had left Hiei to eat while he searched out a temporary shelter. Hiei had refused to be carried to the cave Yusuke found and had gone so far as to draw his blade against the toushin, threatening all manor of torture if he was picked up again.
As they slowly made their way to the cave, Yusuke had noticed that the half-dressed Hiei was shivering. His energy is so low and he lost a lot of blood. He can't generate enough heat to warm his body back up after bathing in that cold water.
Yusuke considered giving Hiei his shirt but in the end thought better of the idea. Hiei was too proud and had already demonstrated he had reached his patience level. So as soon as they reached the cave, Yusuke built a roaring fire and inwardly smiled to see the appreciative look on Hiei's face as he sat as close as possible, soaking up as much heat as his body would allow.
"You should get some rest."
Crimson eyes with dancing flames reflected in them turned on Yusuke and the toushin swallowed hard. Hiei looked dangerous, feral and Yusuke thought he'd never seen anything so sexy in his entire life.
"The fire is rejuvenating."
Yusuke felt like some powerful force was pressing down upon him and he couldn't breathe. He was trapped by the hypnotic fiery eyes across from him.
"I'll…I'll make sure to keep it going….for you."
Hiei commanded Yusuke's attention for several minutes, crimson and amber burning with restrained emotion and desire, before Hiei finally nodded and lay down to rest.
Yusuke waited until he was certain Hiei fell asleep before he crawled around to gaze at the resting fire demon. His skin glowed from the light of the fire and Yusuke's eyes drank in every inch of illuminated flesh. He started with the calm face and worked his way down, noting every ripple of muscle and every little scar upon the flesh that was tempting him beyond reason. Yusuke clamped his eyes shut and backed away, berating himself for his traitorous thoughts. What the hell am I thinking? I have a family. I can't jeopardize that just for…..just for…. Yusuke groaned again and clutched handfuls of his hair. What's wrong with me!
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Hiei lay there, looking to the side, concentrating on the cave wall and the shadows dancing along the rough surface. He took notice of small nicks and crags, and miniscule pieces of mineral that glittered in the firelight. He discovered color variances as he followed the wall from top to bottom. Hiei keenly observed everything about the cave wall in an effort to ignore the presence of Yusuke and the sight of his strong hands roaming over his body.
Yusuke worked quickly and quietly, realizing that as difficult as this was for him, it had to be even worse for Hiei. It was bad enough he had to be rescued. But the fact that it had been Yusuke was surely a sore point for the fire demon. I'm sure he wants nothing to do with me after everything that's happened.
So he concentrated on pouring small amounts of his ki into the few wounds that hadn't healed yet. He was currently working on the last one, trying to work as quickly as possible to end the awkwardness. It was a particularly deep gash on Hiei's thigh that his body hadn't been able to naturally heal. I've got to remember to thank grandma for forcing me to train with Yukina. Hours of rest by a blazing fire did wonders for Hiei's physical recovery, but his ki was still too weak for a full recovery.
"You don't need to do this, Yusuke. You can go now. I can make it to Mukuro's on my own."
Yusuke's hands stopped, hovering over Hiei's thigh. "I'll send Botan a message in the morning. When she gets here, I'll leave."
"I'm not helpless."
"I know."
"Then why are you still here?"
Hiei was now glaring at the toushin who was still looking down at his hands that were now resting on Hiei's thigh.
"I…I don't want to leave."
Crimson eyes sparked at the mumbled admission and Hiei sat up, a hesitant hand reaching out for the toushin. His fingertips barely brushed Yusuke's cheek, but he felt the shiver that rippled through the toushin's body.
"Look at me."
Yusuke complied with the command and amber locked with crimson. Hiei could sense the uncertainty in Yusuke's body language, but his eyes….they showed nothing but a burning desire which he was more than capable of matching.
"Come here."
Hiei guided Yusuke's lips to his own with two fingers under his chin. Yusuke had let his hands slip from Hiei's thigh and now one rested on each side as he leaned in and allowed the fire demon to capture his lips in a deep kiss.
Yusuke was vaguely aware of a small voice in the back of his head that warned what he was doing was wrong. That he was betraying Keiko and the solemn vow he's made to her. But as the hot, wet tongue invaded his mouth and he tasted the familiar and intoxicating fire demon once again, his body took over.
He lunged forward, burying Hiei with his body and letting his hands roam over the muscular figure under him. Suddenly, both demons' actions became desperate, hungry and they rolled over several times as they fought for dominance. Hands, lips, teeth, and tongues all fought for tastes and touches.
Ultimately it was Yusuke who won their battle as Hiei still hadn't fully recovered and the toushin managed to pin him down and convince him to stay down as he sank his teeth into Hiei's shoulder.
Hiei cried out, not in pain, but in sheer ecstasy. He'd waited so long for Yusuke to willingly match his own passion and give in to his desires. Yes, he had dreamt of taking Yusuke over and over again. But now that the moment was here, he found he burned just as hotly at the prospect of the toushin taking him….claiming him……as his own.
"Yusuke….why did you come for me?"
Yusuke refused to let his lips break contact with the fire demon's skin so he left the exposed neck for the moist lips, speaking against them, still tasting.
"I'll always come for you, Hiei….no matter what."
"Swear it."
Yusuke pushed up and looked down into the demanding crimson orbs. He reached out and caressed a flushed cheek, the only sound their panting and the crackling of the fire.
"I swear to you, Hiei. No matter what happens in our lives, I will always find my way to you."
Hiei's fingertips came up and brushed over Yusuke's lips, his eyes following the gesture. He swallowed hard and kept his attention on the slightly parted, quivering lips.
"Aishiteru, Yusuke."
Yusuke leaned in and let his lips brush against Hiei's. "I love you too, Hiei."
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Hiei lay there staring at the fire with Yusuke's shirt clenched tightly in his fist. He had woken up hours ago only to find Yusuke gone. His shirt remained so Hiei thought the toushin had merely gone for food. But as the hours ticked by, Hiei realized that Yusuke wasn't coming back. He was gone, leaving behind his shirt which he had left draped over Hiei. He could still smell Yusuke on the piece of clothing and with a growl he tossed it in the fire.
He knew Yusuke wasn't going to stay with him. He held no delusions of the toushin leaving his wife behind for him. But he didn't think he would leave without saying goodbye.
"Are you running back to her, or away from me?"
to be continued…..