Story Title: Consumed by Hellfire

Disclaimer: I don't own YYH.

Author's Notes: My second yaoi…and the summary really doesn't summarize everything I wanted, oh well, so don't rely on it too much. Inspired by "August Moon" by The 69 Eyes and "Hellfire" from Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Enjoy.

Chapter One: Illusionary and Real Nightmares

The wind rustled through the green leaves and whispered into creatures' ears on a clear, mild night. Spring was winding down. Soon the nights would be marked by heat lightning, muggy, still air, and uncomfortable sweating even on the "coolest" of nights. Yes, soon it would be summer, but it was not far a wait for there was a summer night brewing in the Minamino house.

Hiei sat on the end of Kurama's bed as the red haired boy sat on the other end. Kurama's eyes were masked by his long hair, but Hiei did not need to judge the expression from his eyes. His minutely shaking hands told the fire demon more than seeing the boy's eyes ever would. This made him raise an eyebrow—cool, calm, collected Kurama…nervous?

Kurama drew in a deep breath, then raised his head and smiled," I've kept you long enough, haven't I?" Hiei shrugged his shoulders. Not like he had some place to be…

The young man kept smiling. It wasn't normal—too creepy and forced, even a polite smile did not last for this long. Hiei averted his eyes, but then the little demon watched Kurama wipe his nervous hands against his blue jeans. Those hands…repeatedly they touched the boy's thighs, so near…

Heat flushed through Hiei's cheeks as he quickly switched his gaze and thoughts toward nothing. "Hiei, I've got a problem," and at this point Hiei would have agreed. "You know I've lived a life of regrets and secrets…"

Yes, Hiei's nod read, go on.

"Well," Kurama paused and bit his lower lip, "I've fallen in love with someone."

What? That was it? "Congratulations," Hiei replied flatly," am I supposed to bake a cake or something?"

Kurama's eyes widened. He scratched his cheek, "Why would you do that?"

"I don't know," Hiei crossed his legs and rested his arms behind his head," You humans seem to always have cake whenever major things happen."

Kurama narrowed his eyes in an annoyed glare," I'd appreciate if you wouldn't make light of my problem."

"And I'd appreciate some cake," Hiei fell back onto the bed and laid a hand on his rumbling stomach.

Kurama sighed. Sadly his voice quivered from his throat," I can't tell this person…if I would be rejected, I–I don't know what I'd do." Kurama leaned forward and held a hand to his chest. His voice grew stronger into a plea," Hiei, I don't even know if we feel the same way…this person and I."

Hiei rose from the bed and paced across the floor. All too well. Too well Hiei understood Kurama's plight. A love for Kurama burned within his chest, and yet Hiei could never tell him. Now the boy was in love—the lucky girl—and Kurama was probably going to have HIM tell her. If you're going to torment me, Hiei thought and clenched his fists, just suffocate me already. Don't make me watch from afar forever as you kiss her, hold her, and…

Hiei had his back turned to Kurama," Well, you've got to tell this person yourself," he paused, "and remember…if you do get rejected, there are other people who will."

The demon sniffed the air. Smoke? Something smelt like burning smoke? Hiei turned. Wisps of smoke were billowing from beneath Kurama's white shirt. With his fingers shaking Hiei pointed. Kurama merely smiled and proceeded to unbutton his shirt. The smoke emerged from a small, blackened hole on the young man's chest where his heart would be located. Flames spouted from the opening and widened its width. Kurama's flesh was searing and dying, and the fire was growing slowly from a light ember to a crackling blaze. Hiei leapt onto the bed. Desperately, he tried to extinguish the flames with his hands. So what if he charred his hands? So what if the pain was unimaginably excruciating? This light pain now would be nothing in comparison to losing Kurama.

All his effort was failing.

Everywhere he touched the skin burned. Kurama's body was splotched with charred handprints. Still the flames spread and reached his legs and down his toes. It reached his hair and within seconds, the fiery redhead was true to his color's name.

And yet any human would be shrieking in agony but Kurama remained silent and smiling. "My fire, why are you trying to take it away?" the young man asked sweetly.

"Idiot! You're on fire!" Hiei screamed. "You're dying. I've got to get help."

Kurama remained composed through Hiei's frantic state, "My love for you is what is burning. My family, my honor, my body, there is little this love won't char. Hiei, my love is not right—it brings only shame, dishonor, and pain to those around us. And yet, I burn with love. Happily."

You love me? Hiei thought. You were talking about me? The smoke was a thick black now and constricted his lungs. The heat was intense but still he stayed. Diving his hands into the fire, Hiei grabbed Kurama's face," Kurama, I love you too, but I didn't have the courage to tell you either. Kurama…"

The boy smiled. His clear eyes told him he was at peace. The fire from his touch spread across his face and charred all it touched. Like water, Kurama's flesh changed into beads of liquid and dripped down his chin. A face once known for its beauty was gone and replaced by a wet char-stained skull. Hiei couldn't stop his scream," Kura—"

"Ma!" Hiei jerked awake. His lungs begged for air as sweat ran down his forehead. Hand clutched against his rapid heartbeat, slowly he began to realize where he was again. The mountain forest air was cool and refreshing. The misty trees provided a beautiful scenery but more importantly for Hiei an excellent resting place.

Though lately, he found no rest in sleep.

Night after night, the same dream, the same conversation, the same result—Hiei could never get used to this horror. The sound, the smell, the feel, the vision…in his dream it was as real was he was now.

But it was just a dream. The Kurama in his dream was just a fantasy, a wishful thinking on Hiei's part. He didn't care for Hiei like Hiei fantasized. It was all a dream. A cold splash of stream water opened Hiei's eyes and reawakened his senses further back into this world. The crows cawed from their perches as Hiei made his way out of the forest. Still Hiei wanted to avoid Kurama, just in case the nightmare ever had the chance to become reality.

Kurama emerged from the bathroom and rubbed a towel through his damp hair. It was like his hair was a plant and sucked water to continue living for it seemed that it never dried quick enough and always left his neck and collar of his shirt damp all day. Sitting down on his bed, Kurama made one last rough attempt to dry out his hair. He only created a damp, wispy puffball. As he grabbed for his brush in the nightstand drawer, he picked up a photo.

It was of him and Hiei.

Botan was playing around with cameras that day. Kurama hunched down beside Hiei and wrapped his arm around his shoulder as Botan captured the image of him smiling and Hiei looking off into the distance annoyed by their closeness. The boy softly smiled and sat staring at the picture, not noticing his stepbrother watching from the doorway.

Shuuichi cleared his throat. His older brother jumped and quickly hid the picture beneath a pillow.

"What? What do you want?" hastily he asked with a blush across his cheeks.

"Nothing, breakfast is done," Shuuichi rolled his eyes and made his way down the hall. What a weirdo…

Kurama breathed a sigh of relief. Wait, he wouldn't have known his thoughts…Kurama should not have reacted like that but he was afraid. If Shuuchi found out, he would immediately tell their parents. Kurama wasn't ready for them to know…he was not ready for himself to accept his thoughts. The young man rose from the bed, dropped the towel into the hamper, and closed the door behind him.

It was a traditional breakfast of rice, miso soup, small grilled fish, and rolled omelets with the addition of buttered toast on a side plate. His family was already sitting at the table and waiting for him so they could begin eating.

"Morning, son," Shiori called. Kurama returned the smile and took his seat beside Shuuichi.

As they were eating, Kurama's stepfather stopped and walked over to the counter. "Ah, son, there was something in the mail for you," he rummaged through the letters and handed Shuuichi a pink envelope. Kurama leaned over and read the address aloud.

"To my dearest Shuuichi from Ayumi," he broadly grinned," Sounds like a love letter to me." His stepbrother glared and elbowed him in the side. Kurama chuckled as he kicked him from beneath the table.

"Boys!" Shiori's tone made both of them wince and hang their heads. "No fighting at the table."

"Sorry, Mother," both replied in unison.

Shuuichi tore the envelope in half, bunched it up, and shot it into the waste basket. "You're not even going to read it?" his father gave a troubled look.

Shuuichi dismissed the comment with a wave of his hand," She's just some crazy fat chick who won't leave me alone."

A spastic twitch ran through Kurama's mouth," That's very rude, Shuuichi. I hope you haven't told that to her face."

"What? She is fat. I don't date fat chicks." Kurama nearly smacked his head on the table. What a shallow little kid…how a person looks shouldn't determine who a person falls in love. It doesn't matter if they're fat or shorter than you, love doesn't distinguish between body types—he wished Shuuichi understood that.

"Aren't you a little young to be dating?" Kurama replied as he took a bite of rice.

Shuuichi narrowed his eyes," Aren't you a little OLD not to be?"

Kurama choked on his rice. Ouch. The table grew quiet as his mother and stepfather laid down their chopsticks. Their eyes were watching him, making him want to slide down in his seat and slip out like jelly.

"Hmm, aren't you seventeen…eighteen now, Shuuichi?" his stepfather rubbed his chin in thought, "I talked with this with your mother recently. She doesn't ever remember you having a girl over or even girls calling you…when are you going to start dating?"

Ah crap, not this again, Kurama thought and side glared at a grinning Shuuichi. Just you wait until later, kid.

"Oh you're just a late bloomer," Shiori smiled calmly. "There are plenty of girls out there. It won't take you long to choose one of them."

Plenty of girls…Kurama sighed. Who said he wanted to start dating? Kurama was not even sure he wanted a girl. Who ordained that? When did the world take the control of his life from him? Kurama stared at the slowly ticking clock. Tic, tock, tic, tock, time inches by and by as their stares burned into his skin. Get out…he had to get out.

Kurama shot up from his seat," Oh, I'm late. Got to go, bye!" He ran toward the door.

"Wait, you haven't eaten much," Shiori called.

Damn, Kurama stopped himself and ran back. Grabbing his rice bowl, he poured it into his mouth. With rice grains sticking to his mouth and puffed cheeks, he grabbed a piece of toast with one hand and waved goodbye with the other. They watched him run, heard him put on his shoes and slammed the door behind him. Shiori and her husband stared stunned at the boy's behavior. He always seemed to never want to talk about dating.

Shuuichi shrugged his shoulders," Maybe it's a girl…"

Run, run away from yourself, run while you still can…who was Kurama fooling? He couldn't run from himself. His thoughts, his thoughts said one thing, then the opposite the next. I love girls. No, I love Hiei. No, you love GIRLS. But Hiei is a GUY. The war raged on in his mind. It was enough to make him explode—that would certainly be easier.

Kurama sat on a bench and waited for the bus to come. His mom was right. He was inexperienced in dating (not stupid or ignorant of how to date, just in unfamiliar territory). His love for Hiei wasn't real love, just a stage. It would pass, right?

Right?

The long, rectangular metal bus screeched to a halt by the curb. Kurama paid the toll and took a seat near the middle. Somehow he doubted it was a phase. He did not want it to be just a phase. There were two girls sitting across from him. When they looked over at him, he smiled and they laughed at one another and blushed. Kurama didn't feel anything for them. Yes, they were cute and probably were sweet girls, but they were just like thousands of other girls he ever saw—he felt nothing for them. No racing heart, no sweating palms, no blush upon his cheeks, nothing like this ever for a girl. Then again, he never felt that immediately with Hiei either.

Kurama sighed and rested his head against the cool window. He didn't know what he wanted. His body and heart was telling him Hiei, but society and his family was placing him in the cookie-cutter mold of life with a wife, kids, and a wedding band. Everything was telling him that loving another man was wrong. Guys love girls. But what about men who can't fall in love with girls? How could he ever tell his family? More and more, Kurama was thinking…how could he DO this to his family?

Kurama stepped off the bus and with his hands in his jean pockets made his way through the park. The sun and sky was clear and shining. Children were laughing and playing as watchful mothers hovered over their children for safety. Maybe he was fooling himself. Maybe he did not feel so close to Hiei as he thought and he was mistaking friendship with love. Hiei probably did not think of him in the same way anyway.

Kurama's eyes widened. There was Hiei walking beneath the trees. His heart raced but with a few long breaths, Kurama calmed his nerves.

"Hello, Hiei," he smiled and walked over. The fire demon tried not to look at him, instead he turned his back to him. This was odd for Hiei. No hmp. No smart quip. No hello. Kurama was forced to look at the back of his head. "How have you been? All right, I'd guess," Kurama's voice grew more and more quiet. What was the point of talking to himself?

"Hey, guys. So long, no see," Yusuke grinned as Kuwabara followed behind. They were wearing casual clothes since it was the weekend.

"Yea, it's been awhile, runt," Kuwabara tussled Hiei's hair.

"Touch me again and I'll kill you," Hiei finally spoke and tried to reshape his hair.

"Nice to see you're well, Hiei," Yusuke replied.

Kurama smiled,"So what has everyone been doing?"

"Oh, I got into high school," Kuwabara grinned proudly," I'm even going to a good cram school."

"That's great, Kuwabara," Kurama replied.

"Hmp. Japan's standards must be pretty low. No wonder you flew through classes," Hiei directed his comment to Kurama.

"I worked hard I'll have you," Kuwabara gritted his teeth," Urameshi barely even finished junior high."

Yusuke jabbed Kuwabara in the side," Hey, I'm running a business, so back off."

Kurama blinked his eyes and regarded his comment curiously. "Yea, I'm running a ramen stand. It's not that big or popular, but it's a way to make money. What about you, Kurama? Still haven't found a college yet?"

Kurama cleared his throat," Actually, I'm not going to college. I'm working in my stepfather's company."

"Wow. I always thought you'd go to Tokyo U…" Kuwabara scratched his cheek. Kurama shrugged his shoulders. He could. Easily even. There was no reason for him to go to college. One day, maybe, but not right now.

"Ah sick, why'd they have to do that in public?" Kuwabara pointed out into the park.

Yusuke saw it as well and covered his eyes with his hand," Kuwabara, why'd you have to point that out? I didn't want to see that."

Kurama didn't see what they were talking about. There were children playing, mothers watching, young men and girls walking, and old couple sitting. Then, Kurama saw what they meant—a man and another man were holding hands. A knot grumbled in Kurama's stomach. If they…if they only knew his feelings for Hiei. Was he sick? Was he, a friend, just as disgusting as two strangers? Kurama's nervous shake acted up.

Hiei sensed Kurama's nervousness but misinterpreted it as an angry quiver. So Kurama would never accept his feelings…and he was filled with ignorant prejudices as any other human.

"Some people can't help who they fall in love with," Kurama replied. Hiei looked up from the ground and finally into Kurama's face. He wasn't angry? He accepted such ways as ways of love? Perhaps there was hope for Hiei…that maybe he would return his feelings.

"I don't give a damn," Yusuke rolled his eyes. "It's wrong, plain and simple." Kurama and Hiei stared toward the ground. Hiei quietly walked away without a goodbye.

"See you around, Yusuke. Kuwabara. " Kurama put his hands into his pockets and left in the other direction.

Yusuke waved," See ya, man. Come on, Kuwabara, let's get out of here."

Far away and deep below Makai, there was the Land of Fire, an unmerciful place of ever-present heat, ever-changing unstable land, bubbling lava oceans and rivers, and spewing vapors of noxious sulfur. This was a place Lord Enma and his son, Koenma, sent only the worst demonic criminals to die. Few demons really deserved a life sentence in the Land of Fire. However, the Land itself was a home to demons. Lower class fire demons, creatures of horrid molten disgust, were born and raised in the lava while some upper class demons appeared more humanlike. The Land of Fire was spilt into five regions—The North, The South, The East, The West, and The Heart. Four of the regions were ruled by powerful middle-S class demons known as Generals, but all fire demons, including the Generals, were subservient to their high-S class King. In a high, heavily fortified charred black castle within The Heart, their King lived and ruled with a heavy hand and an all-seeing red eye. Standing on his newly reattached legs, he watched from his balcony two low-class demons fighting over a severed arm and laughed as they killed one another. A lava geyser spewed into the air. Embers seared into the King's blood red robes and burnt his long raven hair even blacker.

An armored guard called," Your Majesty, General Lord Honoo has arrived."

"Allow him in," his voice was deep and gruff like an old dragon after years of fire-breathing.

An old fire demon with a blazing mohawk and smoking slits on the back of his bald head slowly made his way through the King's chambers. His scarred, war-torn body was covered by a long white draping cloak emblazed with the crest of the Land of Fire. For a demon of average human height, Honoo's king still towered above him and peered down his aquiline nose at him.

General Honoo fell to one knee out of respect. His voice was raspy and snakelike," My King, it is a glorious day to see you armed and standing. We, Generals, await your next command."

He liked those words and shot a grin, exposing two fangs. Stroking his long raven beard, the King maliciously laughed," It's been what…almost one hundred years since my fall and, yet for a god, Lord Enma cannot even slay a minor fire demon such as I." The King gestured for Honoo to rise. "I want this message carried out to all Generals. Prepare your lands for war. Rally every demon. Arm and shield them if possible, but once the provisions are made, I want all of you to come with your armies to The Heart. Until then, that is all." General Honoo bowed and dismissed himself.

The King stared out into the burning wasteland. Makai would be the first place to fall under his rule, but he wouldn't stop there. He would go and spread his empire everywhere and would not stop until he could feast upon Lord Enma's corpse as revenge for foiling his plans and, more importantly, for stealing his precious right eye. May Lord Enma have mercy on himself when he comes for him.

A gentle rain had made mothers grab their children and run. Couples, young and old, too were afraid of the rain. It didn't bother Hiei as he lay down on a bench in the deserted park. All was quiet, all was peaceful as Hiei drifted off to sleep.

Hiei awoke as footsteps grew closer. The cautious demon leapt into the trees and crouched down and waited.

It was Kurama.

The boy looked confused and shook his head from side to side. "Hiei, where are you?" he sighed," I thought I saw you…"

Hiei remained in the tree and watched as Kurama's shadow began to rise and take shape as a towering one-eyed man. Strangely Kurama did not sense it nor could he catch sight of it following behind him. Hiei flicked the hilt of his katana up. The shadow was holding a short dagger above Kurama's head. It looked up and grinned with fangs at Hiei. As the dagger began to fall, Kurama was calling Hiei's name. He propelled himself forward with blade drawn. He makes one slash but as he just as he attacks, Kurama turns and the shadow vanishes.

Kurama's head rolls into the grass as blood squirts and pools from his cleanly sliced neck.

Hiei falls onto his knees and screams. A deep laugh rings in his ears. The shadow man sits upon a black horse as the beast rears and roars. The man with one red eye raises a hand into the air and forms a small fireball. Down he releases it and it bursts into a blinding white light. Hiei covers his eyes. When he opens them, the human world is left a burning ruin reeking of death and sulfur.

The man charges his beast forward. Hiei poises for attack but as the man draws closer Hiei can't find the will in him to draw his sword. Still the horse charges but Hiei is frozen. The beast leaps over him as its master laughs at Hiei's futility and weakness. Now the paralysis is released. Hiei turns as he rides into a blood red moon consuming the horizon.

He awoke and fell from the bench. His head knocked against the concrete, nearly splitting with pain. The Jagan…it was acting strange. He could feel it moving from beneath the protective headband. The Jagan awakening, this was a very bad sign. Luckily for now, the headband's magic was still controlling most of its influence. Perhaps it wouldn't break from his control. Hiei sat back on the bench and looked up at the moon.

His eyes widened in alarm. His heart pounded in his chest and drained the color in his face.

This was no dream.

Hiei stared in horror at a blood red moon. Though the human world remained intact, Hiei feared for how long…if his dream was a premonition, Kurama and his world was in grave danger.

–End Chapter One

Author's End Comments: Well, I'm being evil to Kurama today, aren't I? Call it Hiei's revenge for "Muted Desires"… This story is already longer than most of my stories. I hope people actually made it to the end…because of its length of chapters, I might not update so quickly. Plus I've been neglecting my studies and homework…bad, student, bad! Heh, I hope you enjoyed the first chapter.