AN: Once again, sexual intimacy is implied but not necessarily explicit.

Hiei woke to the sound of water running. He kept his eyes closed and breathed in deeply through his nose. His senses told him the night before hadn't been a dream. After stretching and letting a brief smirk spread across his face, Hiei sat up and collected his clothes off the floor. When Sagaku stepped out of the bathroom, he brushed impersonally by her to enter it. He hoped she remembered it had been purely physical. They hadn't even called each other's names during the heights of their night. It had been very, very impersonal in the most personal sense there was.

By the time Hiei got out of the shower, Sagaku had cleaned up the bedroom though nothing could hide the smell of heat and sweat and sex. They ate breakfast in silence.

Kurama stopped by while they still ate.

"Good morning, Hiei, Sagaku," he said, being careful not to breathe through his nose. Hiei realized he, too, had revered to breathing through his mouth once he got out of the shower. It would do no good to take in the intoxicating scent all day.

"Morning, Kurama." Sagaku gave him a brief hug, but skipped out of his reach before he could return it. She was trying to be considerate of his feelings, and so long as the chill was manageable there was no reason to torture him with whatever pheromones were infecting the air around her. There was still a little food left so Sagaku scooped it into a bowl and passed it to Kurama.

"Thank you," he murmured to her and then joined them in eating silently.

Kurama stuck around a little longer than he had the day before, not as bothered by the scent. When it was time to leave for his early afternoon classes, he hugged Sagaku briefly and passed her a book he'd picked up for her. With a smile at the fire demon, he disappeared into the gloom of a slowly building storm outside.

With the figurative ice of conversation broken by Kurama's visit, Sagaku was able to settle into a more natural attitude. Every time she remembered even the briefest moment from the night before, though, she could feel a blush bloom over her cheeks. Despite all the details Shoseki and Mineo had shared with her, she hadn't expected to like it so much. And she had liked it, in a way. In a really big way. And he had taken care to keep her protected from the fate that befell all breeders sooner or later. It was probably just because he didn't want a kid, but it was still a consideration.

As the afternoon wore on and wind howled through the trees outside, Sagaku chattered more and more. Hiei listened patiently, his only concession to her because he responded infrequently. She struggled to keep the painful numbness at bay, though it was infecting her body mercilessly again.

Hiei was called away on an assignment just before the rain began to fall. When he would have argued that he needed to stay to guard his territory, Koenma reminded him tersely that just the night before he'd sent ogres to clean up their mess. Sagaku, eavesdropping shamelessly, shrugged despondently at Hiei.

"It'll be fine," she told him. "I can protect myself for a few hours."

For nearly two hours, Sagaku forced her eyes onto the pages of the book Kurama had so thoughtfully brought for her. Not one word seemed to seep into her mind. Over and over again, she found herself reading the same sentence. Rain pelted against the window and lightning flashed periodically, sending loud thunder vibrating through the small house.

When the demon first appeared, Sagaku's first thought was insanely that she had forgotten to lock the front door. But that wasn't right, was it? She distinctly remembered locking the door on Hiei's orders as he left. Water dripped from the blue-tinted skin of the demon as he tilted his head at her. She mistakenly assumed it was from the rain outside.

"Is it you?" the demon asked. His hair, stringy and limp, was the same eerie color as his skin. If his eyes weren't one shade darker, they'd have blended right in the rest of him, creating a blank canvas. Instead, Sagaku got to watch confusion filter through them as he tilted his head from side to side.

"No, of course it's not me," Sagaku deadpanned. The demon glared. Steam lifted from his skin.

"Don't think I can be made a fool of," he said. His voice lacked any real venom. It was as flat and emotionless as the rest of him. He pointed one finger with a short, sharpened scale at her.

Sagaku danced back in time to dodge the stream of water that hissed against the wall, evaporating in its own heat. Another stream followed the first. Sagaku dodged forward, beneath the stream of water, and kicked up with as much force as she could muster. It occurred to her only then that the only jewelry she wore was her piercings. Not quite enough to give her the edge in this fight.

Sagaku shot upright. Her punch hit the demon in the chin as he fell back from the preceding kick. His face was still flat when he straightened. Now the water that swung like ribbons around the room sizzles and hissed loudly, boiling in some of the thicker streams. It forced her back, burning her skin where it splattered against her.

"I don't think you need me to be a fool," Sagaku taunted him. The contrast of the burns against her cold skin made it all that much worse.

This time when Sagaku danced forward, twisting gracefully between the fluid streams, he tried to block her punches and kicks with his body instead. When her nails raked down his cheek, drawing ichor in their wake, he hissed angrily. It was the first real emotion he'd shown.

He spat boiling water this time, and Sagaku was too close to dodge.

The water hissed and splattered against Hiei's katana. Spray still reached Sagaku, but it was nothing like the boiling water.

"Go to the room," Hiei ordered Sagaku. He kept his eyes on the demon who turned towards him, sizing the shorter demon up.

Sagaku saluted the water demon, giving a prissy wave with her fingertips as she followed Hiei's ordered. Within two minutes, he was ordering Koenma to send a clean up. She could hear Koenma's outraged response. Sagaku opened the bedroom door and stared down at the half-decapitated, blue-skinned man. He appeared to be...melting...all over the floor.

"He's dead," she announced to Hiei." Hiei rolled his eyes. Despite himself, he felt his shoulders relaxing.

"How long was he here?" he asked, struggling to keep his voice even. Red eyes roved over Sagaku's body, checking for injury. The emotion that surged up inside of him...it wasn't jealousy, he told himself. What did he care if some demon had tried to touch what had been claimed as his? It didn't matter anyway. He'd gotten here in time.

"Five minutes, maybe?" Sagaku offered. She hopped up onto the countertop. The couch and the chairs were all sopping wet.

Sagaku's legs were tingling with fading sensation. She pulled them close to her body, resting her chin on her knees as she watched the same two ogres as the day before trying to figure out how to transport a melting body.

After the ogres left, Sagaku heated up leftover soup. She kept her hands near the open flame from the gas stovetop as she cooked until she felt Hiei stand behind her. He wasn't touching her, exactly-just standing there, a little tense. Offering what he could in the form of heat. Sagaku closed her eyes, letting her muscles relaxed one at a time as a tiny smile spread across her face. At least Hiei couldn't see it from where he stood.

They ate in silence just as they had that morning. Tremors shook Sagaku in variable patterns. The spoon clattered against the sides of the bowl while she tried to eat. Hiei sat on the window sill, watching her struggle. Without the stones to protect her mind, her thoughts broadcast loudly. She was wondering if he would help her again, if she dared ask, or if she should just put it out of her mind.

Hiei's hand entered Sagaku's field of vision, pulling the empty bowl from her hands. He put the dishes in the sink, turning back to her. She was hunched over in her seat, shivering painfully. He stepped behind her, hands on her shoulder until she stood and he could turn her towards him. Already, he could feel himself beginning to stir. From the way she fell into him, she was feeling it too.

By the end of the week, Sagaku could feel the cold slowly dissipating. Her cycle was finally coming to an end. The last night before it was safe for Sagaku to leave, Hiei helped her just as he had been but it was different, more fervent and rushed and possessive. Sagaku gave herself to the feelings, knowing that after tonight she would be alone once more.

It was Keiko's birthday. In an unusual show of forethought, Yusuke had commandeered the weekend of both Sagaku and Shizuru to help prepare the "Kick Ass Get-Together of Keiko" (his title for the event, though both girls tried to talk him out of it).

Yusuke was currently keeping Keiko distracted outside the apartment, making her run errands around town with him after a brief "Happy Birthday," while handing her an unwrapped gift that morning. Keiko was, needless to say, unimpressed. Shizuru and Sagaku pinned up streamers while Yukina puttered away in the kitchen, frosting the second layer of the monstrous cake she'd baked. Kuwabara was, unsurprisingly, hovering in the kitchen trying to help.

When Kurama arrived, Hiei in tow, he began setting out the drinks and festive tableware he'd brought. Even Hiei helped, unenthusiastically dropping confetti in random places.

Hiei watched the onna out of the corner of his eye. Since she'd left his house a week ago, the entire place had reeked of her. Washing his sheets, the pillows, and even his couch cushions had done nothing to rid the place of her scent. He blamed the lingering scent for the reason he was no longer sleeping well. He hated being around her, a reminder that he was running on scant hours of rest.

"Text Yusuke?" Sagaku called to Kuwabara some time later. She rearranged the gifts everyone had piled on the coffee table.

"You got it!" Kuwabara called back.

They heard their friends returning before they saw them; Keiko was berating Yusuke for nearly getting in a car accident in his rush to get home.

"I didn't want to miss anything!" he protested in the hallway.

Kurama made a face at Sagaku. Miss what? The party wasn't going to start until they got there.

"Miss what?" Keiko demanded, echoing the first half of Kurama's thought.

Sagaku bit her lap to keep from laughing.

"Uh…"

The door opened, Keiko sweeping in like a July storm.

"Surprise!"

Sagaku flung confetti in the air, snatching the bag from Hiei who stood oddly close to her.

In the excited squealing over the next few minutes, nobody could make out exact words though Kuwabara released balloons into the air and Keiko circled the room hugging almost everyone.

It was a pleasant, loud evening. Sagaku couldn't remember being this happy ever. Koenma and Botan stopped by (and Botan stayed), and even Nenriki poked his head in to wish Keiko a happy birthday.

Keiko was opening the presents while they ate cake. Pink frosting stuck to everything that had gotten in the way of Yusuke and Kuwabara serving, including Sagaku's right-side sloppy bun and Kurama's nose. When Hiei smirked at the snaffu, Kurama had flicked a corner of the cake so fast even Hiei couldn't have dodged it. The fire demon glowered at his friend now from the safety of the window sill.

There was only one last box left on the table. It was small, wrapped in wrinkled paper. Yusuke took Keiko's hand and led her into their room so she could unwrap it in privacy.

Botan sniffled, clutching at Sagaku who stood closest to her. "It's so sweet," she cried.

"Think she'll say yes?" Sagaku joked.

A loud exclamation from the room over answered that question.

Sagaku sighed happily. When Yusuke and Keiko rejoined everyone, Kuwabara's eyes glimmered.

"Allergies," he lied.

"Me too," Sagaku winked at him.

As the night wound to an end, Sagaku climbed into the seat beside Kurama. He lifted his arm for her, and she curled up beside him. Kuwabara and Shizuru were battling it out for the night's champion on the game system and she was happy just to watch.

Across the room, Hiei's eyes had narrowed on the fox who had his damn arm around the onna. Jealousy reared its ugly head inside him. For a second, he hated himself for that emotion; afterall, the deal was no emotions. But he wasn't jealous because Kurama liked the girl. He was jealous because Sagaku hadn't even looked his way before doing it.

As if sensing his glare, Sagaku glanced over to Hiei and raised her eyebrows in silent question. He growled, so deep in his throat it didn't make an actual sound. Kurama murmured something in Sagaku's ear, distracting her. She turned to him, laughing.

"That soon?" she exclaimed. "I bet you they stay engaged for at least half a year."

"I'll take that bet!" Kuwabara said, throwing down the game controller in victory.

Kurama leaned back and laughed loudly at the expression on Yusuke's face.

Sagaku went into the kitchen with a handful of used paper plates. She dumped them into the trash can and turned, jumping with surprise. Hiei was there. How had she not felt his heat?

"What?" Sagaku asked, staring up at him with a puzzled expression. She waited for Hiei to say whatever it was he needed to get off his chest.

Hiei didn't say anything. He grabbed her upper arms, jerking her to him and kissed her hard. The fire that had kept her warm during her cycle flared up again, burning low in her belly. Her back hit the wall. Hiei's mouth caught her surprised gasp, muffling it. When his fingers pushed clumsily at her skirt, she lifted her legs to wrap them around him.

Kurama didn't notice when Sagaku had disappeared. It was actually Hiei's absence that he noticed first-the window sill was empty. Looking around the room to see if Hiei was trying to escape, he noticed that Sagaku's small body was no longer pressed to his side. Kurama kept his mouth shut, hoping that wherever his friends had disappeared off to it wasn't together. The last thing he needed was for Sagaku to get hurt.

Sagaku was back out in time to say good night to her friends. To Kurama's relief, Hiei was not with her. The relief evaporated when she hugged him, and her normal earthy smell was tainted by the faint hint of smoke. The disapproving look he gave her could have made a nun blush, but still he said nothing. It was Hiei he would be speaking to about this, not her.

Hiei stood in Sagaku's room when she finally closed the door behind her, ready to put on her pajamas and fall asleep. Seeing him, she froze. What did he want this time? Not that she would complain about the sex, but she was not in heat now and their deal had not extended this far.

"What are you after, Hiei?" Sagaku asked, keeping her voice soft to avoid alerting Yusuke or Keiko to his presence. He glared at the corner of the room, avoiding her dark eyes for all his worth.

"I don't like seeing you all over the fox," he finally admitted through gritted teeth. The muscles on his chest flexed beneath the black fabric of his shirt. Sagaku watched with interest, trying to follow the acrobatics of his mind.

"Hiei, you said it didn't mean anything," Sagaku reminded him. He growled in frustration, finally meeting the large, dark eyes that stared his way.

"It doesn't," he snapped. "I just…" There were no words. He realized that now, rational thought finally reclaiming his brain. How could he explain that he thought of her as his territory? She would laugh outright at that-the onna was no one's territory. Not even his.

"You won't let me get close to you," Sagaku continued on. Her voice took a hard edge. "You won't hold me, you won't let me stand against you. Do you understand what it feels like when I don't have physical contact? I need it."

Hiei opened his mouth, ready to cut her off, but Sagaku raised her voice, cutting him off sharply. "I don't care that you won't give it to me, but don't expect me not to accept it from anyone else."

With surprise, Sagaku realized that anger was beginning to swamp her. Who was he to think that she was something he could claim when it was convenient for him? To try to tell her not to take from her friends what they gave her in lieu of her warren? How clear had he been that once she was no longer in heat there would be nothing between them, physical or otherwise?

Hiei stood quietly, absorbing what she said. He watched the anger flush her cheeks. She was right, he knew. He had no right to expect anything of her. He disappeared out the window before either of them continued a moot argument.

Sagaku went to bed crying. Maybe, she realized, she'd hoped that "no strings attached" would still bring some amount of affection. It was as unfair of her to expect that as it was for Hiei to expect her to cloister herself in loneliness. She wrapped her fingers around the serpentine, letting the soft pulses soothe her to sleep.