The Tournament of Souls

Chapter III

"Kurama…" Said Yusuke later that night. He was sitting with the rest of the gang. Save Hiei who was out with Mukuro. "We have a question…" He added at Kurama's sceptical look.

"I assume that when you say 'we' you mean everyone else that's here…" Kurama said wit ha smile. "What is it?"

"Well… What's the deal between Hiei and Mukuro? I mean… What kind of relationship do they have?" Yusuke asked. "You know him the best out of all of us. What's up between those two?"

"As far as I know they're just Lord and Heir. Although there has been speculation for a while as to what exactly their relationship is. No one's ever been able to talk to Hiei like Mukuro does and it's the same the other way. They're… close. But as to how close I don't exactly know. But surely you remember the fight between the two of them in the Makai Tournament. That caused quite a buzz amongst all the Demons who heard about it."

"What happened during the Tournament?" Asked Kewabara.

"Well to understand it you'd have to know about Mukuro's past and more about Hiei's Dragon of the Darkness Flame." Kurama started. "Mukuro was a slave for a good part of her young life. She, until recently, had the shackle to prove it. No matter what she did she couldn't get it off. It was impossible to remove. Hiei's Dragon is linked to his emotions. If he doesn't want to kill someone then the Dragon won't kill them." Kurama explained.

"Okay… So what happened?" Asked Keiko.

"Hiei used the Dragon of the Darkness Flame against her. But the attack didn't kill her like most thought it would. Mukuro survived no worse for wear." Kurama told the group. "And Hiei ended up forfeited the match to her…"

"WHAT!!!" Exclaimed everyone save Koenma, Botan, and Yusuke.

"He forfeited the match to her, but that wasn't it. His attack broke the shackle that was on her wrist… What was even more astonishing in the eyes of the Demons was that Hiei stumbled over to her and she caught him so he didn't fall. Something that opponents don't do for each other with any regularity, especially when you're opponent is awake as Hiei was. It proved that she trusted him, in short. And he must care for her because he didn't kill her with the Dragon of the Darkness Flame." Kurama explained.

"I didn't know that…" Yukina said as she looked out the window for a few seconds. "But that doesn't really explain what kind of relationship they have. We know that they trust each other. But that doesn't mean that they have any other kind of relationship besides what has always been claimed between them. Lord and Heir. Family in a sense…"

"I know… All of the Makai wants to know what their relationship turns out to be. Mukuro is the only person who has an Heir who isn't family. Yomi has Chura, but that's his legitimate son, so to speak. But Mukuro pretty much adopted Hiei. A move that most Demon's wouldn't have even thought of, much less accepted. And it's even worse with the shadow of Hiei's parentage over his head." Kurama explained. "Although no one really knows exactly who Hiei's father is besides Hiei, and possibly Mukuro." Kurama added.

"Why does everyone care?" Asked Kewabara.

"Because of their situation. They're close, as you could see whenever they were together. They do everything together. And everyone knows that they genuinely care for each other. Most even think that they love each other. And if that's the case then the majority of the Makai believes that they'll become or already are Lovers. They could possibly become Mates in they eyes of a good part of the Makai. Most already believe it to be the case." Was Kurama's answer.

"But wouldn't that be weird?" Asked Keiko. "I mean… He's her Heir. That's the same thing as a son…" She added.

"Some think that the title of Heir is only a cover so that there's not any questions raised when they spend enormous amounts of time holed up together in a castle with only a few trusted Demons around. It's one of the largest gossip points in the Makai. And everyone has an opinion. And as it is Mukuro and Hiei aren't talking about it. Which makes everyone think that they have a different relationship than they let on." Kurama said as he looked out of the window. "But as it is we'll never know the exact relationship between them until one of them tells us about it."

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Hiei was sitting against a tree in the middle of one of the many forests in the Makai. He had been talking to Mukuro when they had stopped. It was well into the evening in the Makai and Mukuro had been up all day, the day before, and even the day before that. Hiei, who had lightly dozed during the morning hours, had stopped with her. They were a few miles from her nearest castle, but she didn't want to have to drag him all the way there. So they stopped in a large clearing that Hiei frequented.

Mukuro was talking lightly. She was near ready to drop and Hiei knew it. It was why he had sat down. Mukuro seemed to jar herself awake slightly. "Mukuro…" Hiei said with a smile as he grabbed Mukuro's waist. He dragged her down next to him. Before he knew it Mukuro's head was on his lap. Her body curled up against his warm body.

Hiei smirked. "Mukuro…" He said. He dragged her up so her head was resting against his chest. Her body moved against his, making her half sitting, half laying, on Hiei's lap.

Hiei rolled his eyes and wrapped his arms around her strong body. He warmed the area around his body for her and she snuggled in closer to him if possible. Hiei just shook his head. "You know… People are already talking about us. What would we do if someone found us like this?" Asked Hiei in Mukuro's ear.

"Kill them…" Mukuro suggested sleepily. "Besides… It's not like we went and had sex or anything…" Mukuro said as she yawned. "You're keeping me company…" Mukuro added. "You were walking me home… But I got tired and we decided to stop…"

"I could teleport you to your closest castle. It's not that far away." Hiei told her.

"But then you'd go back to the Ningenkai and I wouldn't get to see you again until you came back to me or I go to find you." Mukuro murmured.

Hiei smirked at that comment. "I'll stay with you if you want…" Hiei said. "For the night." He added. "I know how much you hate the fact that I'm away for so long and so often."

"You can't fool me Hiei…" Mukuro said with a sigh which turned into a yawn. "You'll stay in the castle. Not with me…"

"I'll stay with you. I promise." Hiei said with a smirk.

"And what of your friends?" Asked Mukuro as she blinked at him sleepily.

"I'll deal with them tomorrow." Hiei said with a shrug.

"You'll really go to bed with me?" Asked Mukuro.

"You say that like I've never slept in the same bed as you…" Hiei said with a smirk.

"But you never suggest it. I have to ask. Or we get beaten bad enough that we only have the energy to get to someone's room. Not two separate rooms. Why the change?"

"No change Mukuro… I know how much you've missed me. And even though if asked I won't suggest it I missed you as well…" Hiei whispered to her. "But we'll have to make a decision fast. You're nearly asleep and I wouldn't want to wake you."

"Take me to the nearest of my castle's Hiei…" Mukuro stated. "I want to sleep in a bed…" She added.

Hiei teleported to the nearest of Mukuro's castles easily. It was only a few miles away and he knew exactly where it was. He ran up to Mukuro's room and made sure to not make any noise when he got there. He knew that even though it seemed like there was no one around a large number of the servants here were still awake.

Hiei laid Mukuro on the bed, making sure to take off her shoes and tunic before taking off his shoes and cloak. He moved into bed and was immediately rewarded by Mukuro moving her body so she'd be more exposed to his warm body. Hiei smiled and pulled Mukuro half onto him.

He waited until Mukuro got situated and then let his mind drift off to sleep. He had to admit, sleeping with Mukuro had long ago stopped being odd. He even liked to stay with her sometimes. Not that they would ever make anything out of it.

They were friends in their minds. He was her Heir and she was the closest thing to a Mother that he had ever had. Although few believed it to be true. Especially when it came to things like this. Hiei would sleep with Mukuro, they did if every once and a while. They would be low on energy or she would ask for him to stay. Sometimes they just talked so much that they ended up sleeping in the same room.

But Hiei knew not to make anything out of it. It was Mukuro after all. His surrogate Mother. And he couldn't even think about having any other relationship with her than he did. It was nearly as crazy a thought as him claiming Yukina as his Mate.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

There we go, next chapter over and done with. Sorry it took so long, but i have loads of work to do and Fanfic went down when I was putting it up.