Chapter 2

Hiei let anger drive him, putting distance between him and his love. Though deep inside his heart was aching, pulling him, wanting him to go back and be with the red head. He couldn't go back, not now. Not after what he'd done. Strangling Kurama was bad enough, but making him show the mark, that was unforgivable. He knew these actions couldn't continue, but how much longer could this go on…until tomorrow? Is that when it would end? Would it ever end? Can it end? Why did he ever agree to mark Kurama in the first place? How did he ever convince himself that he could control it? Why had he let it go on this long? Why, how, when…was all the fire demon kept thinking as he flirted through the woods. 'I have to find a place to stop and think.' He told himself.

Not wanting to go to the house, incase Kurama went there, for after all it was his house. He thought about the temple, but then realized his sister would be there and she would know something was wrong and he wasn't in the mood to talk to her. The park was out because he didn't want to be around ningens. He needed a secluded out of the way place where he could think and calm down. 'There' he thought, as he saw a cave that was on the backside of the temple grounds.

The cave had been found by the gang many years ago. They had been training one day and came upon the opening in a rock face on the side of a hill, hidden by foliage.

Going inside the cave, Hiei lit the torches that lined the walls and paced. The cave was just a half circle. There were no other openings except the main entrance. Over on one side, against the back wall, were a stack of storage containers. Each held a few items, such as a mat, with blanket, a few cooking items and dry goods, a first aid kit and bottled water. The four had agreed that this would be a good place to camp sometimes and they each supplied items. When one used the cave and the items, that person would be responsible for replacing/cleaning them.

It was known, though no one had ever said anything that the last time Yusuke had used the place, it was with Keiko and a few weeks later, Keiko announced she was pregnant. And of course Kuwabara brought Yukina here, but the orange haired had an oath he lived up to. They would only come to view the stars while cuddling under a blanket, though that probably changed now that the two were married.

Trying to control his nerves and continuing to pace, Hiei thought back and wondered at what point had he'd lost his 'control' on the mark and how had it gotten so bad, that Kurama thought about killing himself to end it. These past few months, he thought he could handle being Kurama's master, wasn't this what the red head wanted? He didn't think the half ningen knew what he had gotten himself into, but he had trusted Hiei with his life and here he was failing him. 'I failed you Kurama, you trusted me and I let you down. You had such trust in me, I could see it in those beautiful emerald eyes and I failed you, things just keep getting worse and now you are to the point where you are willing to end your life to get away from me.'

He had never marked anyone before and doubts Youko had either, so neither of them knew what they had gotten Kurama into. Kurama said he knew what the mark meant, but was it something he read about, things he heard from others, or was it something he knew only from Youko's thousands of years worth of memories. Hiei had only seen a few marks in his life and the 'masters' that controlled them had been 'pricks.' He knew he could never do that to another living being, so why had he agreed to mark Kurama. 'Because he had asked you to and you made it known that you would only do it on the condition that he marked you.' He thought. Was this normal though, for the master to have these urges, or was he losing it? Was it even possible for Kurama to claim him? He sort of felt like two different beings, was this what Kurama felt and is this what it felt like to have what he called 'multiple personality?

He'd made the mark flare the morning after he'd done it. Basically to make sure Kurama realized there was no turning back and what it would feel like if he were to force it. Oh, Hiei shuttered, the feeling, even that little taste of control, filled his soul and it had felt so good. The feeling of having such power over someone, making them do whatever you wanted, whenever you wanted, how you wanted it. Was this what the other 'masters' felt when they marked someone? He thought when someone stooped so low as to mark someone, that all they wanted was to show power. But now he had that taste and he had to admit it felt good. He was now like an addict with an uncontrollable addiction.

He told Kurama he had control, but did he only say it to make himself believe it. The second time he had forced the mark had been at Kuwabara's 'party.' He was about to clear the room because he'd had enough of the ignorance being displayed. Thinking Kurama didn't need to be there he went and grabbed the red head. He'd gotten mad at Kurama because he wanted to stay and then Yusuke tried to stop them. It just made him want to prove who was in charge, so he pushed the mark, getting the red head to leave with him. He didn't think anything of it and had not realized what he had made the red head do until he was confronted about it. He just shrugged and said he didn't remember, but telling himself inside that he would never do it again.

The urges grew though, so he thought intense training would help keep his mind occupied and calm him, but it only broke Kurama's will and made it easier to force him to follow his commands.

Then there was the sex, something they both enjoyed. They had been to the point in their relationship where they both took turns being seme, but being able to command the red head to please him became too hard to resist. Kurama was like an aphrodisiac. Oh that hot mouth, telling him to keep it opened while he pumped his member in and out of it. Making the red head hold his body still as he rode that gorgeous figure into bliss. Kurama was a touching feely person and it felt so good to tell him he could not touch him or himself during sex, it drove Kurama crazy. Hiei thus became the only seme in their relationship, but Kurama didn't seem to mind. Hiei could read his mind at times and the red head felt like he owed it to him, so he took it.

And thus, you couldn't forget about red head's thoughts either, he was an open book now. No matter how hard Hiei fought to keep his barriers up, the ones that protected and shielded Kurama's mind, keeping it in tack, he realized he was not as strong as he thought and those walls slipped at times. It mostly happened when he was tired, turned on, or mad.

He thought back to the ice cream, he'd already been mad at Mukuro, but then having to deal with the rain only added to his frustration. He only wanted to come home and be with the red head, have some sweet snow and then watch a movie or something, but making it home soaked and then finding no ice cream in the freezer, his control slipped. Realizing he could hear Kurama's mind calling him a 'brat', only made him lose it even more, so as punishment, he forced the red head go out in that rainy mess and get him some ice cream. It had made him feel better and he calmed. When Kurama had not returned after an hour or so, he went to bed thinking maybe the fox had fought the order and was just out sulking, going somewhere to be alone to get away from him. He also knew he would have to make it up the red head, but never did. When he woke the next morning, he pushed the order to go sparring, not even realizing there was about 10 pints of ice cream in the freezer.

Every time he had to leave Kurama to go and do his duties for Mukuro, he had the feeling he needed to get back as soon as possible. It was like he would deteriorate and fade away without physical contact of some kind. He could not describe the pulling feeling, the tug on his heart, the fear that someone might take Kurama, or something bad would happen to him if he wasn't there.

Hiei knew that Mukuro knew there was something wrong with her heir as he felt himself lost in thought, only coming around after she yelled at him. She had asked him what was wrong several times, but he would never tell her anything.

One day, after she'd had to yell at him twice in 5 minutes, he left the palace and began to wonder. How long could he keep doing this to himself, but mostly to Kurama? How many years was Kurama willing to be his 'slave?' That's when he had made the drastic decision to force Kurama to try and claim him, if he wouldn't or couldn't, then their problem would be solved either way. Wishing he could just do as Kurama did and bare his neck for the taking, but his beliefs and ways would not allow him. He knew if Youko had had his way, they would have fought it out, even if the spirit yoko had asked, he would have put up one hell of a fight, maybe Kurama's ningen side was what allowed him to control that instinct, allowing himself to be bonded to him, 'that and the fact that he trusted you, you idiot.'

It had taken several days of mental preparation and planning to pull off the plan to force Kurama to claim him. He hated himself for the way he did it, but he could not think of another way, Kurama had worked around everything else.

After it was done, he'd left for two days, needing to get away to hide his shame. Knowing he had hurt Kurama, not just emotionally, but physically as well as he denied him his release. After the red head's promise to claim him, he helped the shaking body release and listened to the screams as they tore through the red head's mouth before he lost consciousness. He knew he couldn't stay and wait for him to wake, but he did make sure there was no permanent damage. He escaped to the Makai, not to Mukuro's, but to Yomi's former castle, where he cried, yes cried. Making enough tear gems to make a complete gem necklace, but he burned them to nothing. They were not pure, thus not worth picking up. He knew it was going to be a long two weeks, but at least it wasn't a month, which is what Kurama had asked for.

Hiei fell to his knees as his body began to shake, the day was almost here. He felt like he was going through withdrawals, only getting more of the drug would placate him. Well, tomorrow he would find out, tomorrow would put an end to it, one way or the other. He was right, these had been the longest two weeks of his life, no matter how far he pushed Kurama to train, no matter how he satisfied his sex, he would always want more. He was not going to put the red head through it anymore and he could not longer live with himself any more either. If he was feeling this bad, he could only imagine what the red head was going through. Here he had tried to strangle him. Yusuke had come along and Kurama acted like it was nothing, wanting to explain to the raven haired why he had the right to do it. 'How can you act so nonchalant, gods Kurama, you have no reason to want me, I don't deserve you.'

Getting up and opening a container, he pulled out a mat and blanket. Laying them out, he settled down for the long night. There was no sense in going back to the house. Kurama was going to need all the rest he could get and didn't need to feel afraid with him around.

If the red head was already having thoughts of suicide, he didn't need to add to it. He, however, was ready to commit seppuku if Kurama failed to claim him tomorrow. It was one of his 'codes of honor.' One he would only do for the right person or reasons and Kurama filled both of those.

He felt the red head's presence and a slight panic rose as he realized he had been found. He raised his ki to try and hide himself.

"Hiei…I know you are masking yourself, but you forget, I have a very keen nose and good tracking skills." He heard Kurama say, very near the entrance.

He needed to make the fox go away, he didn't want to hurt him again, didn't want to be seen like this.

"Go away." He growled.

"I can not do that. We need to talk." Kurama said, just outside the entrance.

"I said 'GO AWAY!'" Hiei flared his ki this time, determined to force the order to be left alone.

The red head cried out, falling to his knees by the force of the command slamming him like a fist to the chest, the mark flaring to a burn.

'Kurama!' Youko said with worry, sensing the pain his host's body was feeling.

"I will not leave. We need to talk." Kurama hissed as he stood back up, determined to stand his ground. He had talked out loud to make sure he was heard by the fire demon.

'You can get seriously hurt by not…' Youko tried to say.

"No…he will not get rid of me that easy." The red head said through clenched teeth as the mark burned a hole in his neck. He felt the pressure increase and let out a gasp as his knees quivered.

'We need to leave and give him time.' Youko said, starting to worry about the red head. He was already weak from Hiei's actions earlier and now this.

"We have no more time." Kurama said again through clenched teeth.

'Kurama, please, this will not do either of you any good…' Youko tried to plea.

"Youko's right for once, you need to leave. You're being an idiot." Hiei said, hoping to anger the red head into leaving.

"Hiei if you heard that thought then you know why I need to talk to you." Kurama said realizing Hiei was forcing hard enough to read Youko's thoughts as well.

"I don't want to talk right now. Tomorrow will answer all the questions or doubts we have, now 'GO AWAY!'" Hiei ordered and flared his ki again.

'Let us leave little one…he is right, tomorrow will end it one way or another.' Youko pleaded feeling the fire demon flare his energy.

Kurama didn't answer, only grabbed his head as the pressure became too much.

"GO!" Hiei yelled again, still feeling the red head presence.

Kurama whimpered as his head exploded in pain, his body fell as he lost consciousness.

Youko winced as he too felt the mark's power. 'That's it.' He said through clenched teeth, flaring his energy so he could take over. Standing up, he walked to where he was just inside the cave.

Hiei no longer felt the red head's presence and sighed in relief. He hated doing that, but he needed time, no Kurama was the one that needed time and peace.

"Feel better?" He heard a deep voice just inside the cave.

Looking, Hiei's eyes fell on the silver yoko standing just inside the opening.

"Youko." Hiei whispered, standing up.

Youko's ears twitched when he heard his name. "The one and only." He smirked.

"Where's Kurama, what……" Hiei tired to say, but just stood there, staring.

"I do not know who is more stubborn." Youko said, coming further into the cave. Seeing the worry on the fire demon's face he added. "He is fine, just resting after trying to fight your stubbornness."

Hiei sighed, flopping back down on the mat. "I never meant to hurt him." He said.

"We know." Youko said, taking a seat opposite the smaller figure. "Only after talking to Yusuke did we realize what we have asked of you." He said.

"The path that leads to truth is littered with the bodies of the ignorant." Hiei said softy.

"Miyamoto Musashi correct?" Youko asked, getting a nod, he showed a soft smile. He kept forgetting just how many of Kurama's books the fire demon has read. "Well." He said. "Truth is not what you want it to be, it is what it is, and you must bend to its power or live a lie." He stated his own quote.

"Tell me, did you ever mark someone?" Hiei asked, though like he thought before, he doubted it.

"No, I never had a reason, or the urge to claim someone. Most came to me willingly and those who did not." Youko smiled at the last part. "I seduced into doing what I wanted."

Hiei let the remark slide. "Why did Kurama want me to?" He asked.

"I do not know." Youko answered, shaking his head. "He only asked me about it. He did tell Yusuke he wanted to 'belong' and that he had a fear of me trying to take over again." He admitted softly.

Hiei raised an eyebrow.

Not noticing the look, Youko continued. "He also said that with everything that has happened and Yomi raping him, he wanted to make sure no one could claim him and he trusts you with his life." This time the yoko did look up and make eye contact.

Hiei flinched at the word 'rape' and doubt Kurama used that word with Yusuke. "So then why does he not want to claim me, or is it even possible?" He ended up asking.

"It is possible. However, he does not think he is ready. He does not feel he is good enough." The spirit yoko said.

"I realized after all we've been through." The fire demon started to say. "That…I want him…no…I need him and forcing him to promise would make him realize that." He said.

"That was very malice of you." Youko said.

"I know." Hiei sighed, lowering his head in shame. "I wanted him to have no other choice, if he wouldn't or couldn't claim me, then I would die and set him free or die and join him in death." He said softly. "I should have realized Kurama would feel that way." (i.e. If Kurama killed Hiei, then Kurama would be free, if Hiei killed Kurama, then Hiei would kill himself to be with him in death.)

"What was the comment, 'The path that leads to truth is littered with the bodies of the ignorant.'?" Youko smirked.

Hiei didn't need the spirit yoko reminding him of his mistake. "What did Kurama mean when he said 'if you find someone else, I could just be your slave.'?" He remembered to ask.

"Kurama did not want you to think you were being forced into a permanent relationship, thinking you had to only be with him. If you found someone else that deserved to be at your side, then he could live with it." Youko said, adding. "Though I know he will never want anyone but you and it would crush him, though he would never let it show."

This time Hiei let a smile cross his lips. "I thought since he said someday, that meant he didn't want me." He said.

"Oh little one, he wants no one but you." Youko said softly. "He…we assumed since you said you had control, you would have no problems. That was why he kept putting you off. He is very insecure of himself right now."

"I lied." Hiei said, lowering his head.

Youko raised an eyebrow. He'd never known the fire demon to admit he had a weakness.

"The urges were…are too strong, I'm starting to enjoy having control over him." Hiei admitted shrugging at the look he was getting.

"So that is way they call it 'taming the inner beast.' The yoko said, realizing what might happen if Kurama marked Hiei.

"What?" Hiei was confused, he'd never heard of the saying.

Youko saw the look and tried to explain. "When the marked marks the marker, they call it 'taming the inner beast.' I never knew why, but my guess now is that it will suppress the controlling urges one has. It is rare for someone to mark their master, for it will make a permanent bond that will link the two for life. I did not know anyone who wanted that type of bond and I have personally never seen it, but have heard of it being done, thus that is why I know it is possible." He said.

"I've never heard of it, I just wanted Kurama to mark me, so we could be equal." Hiei said then asked. "Did he know I would have this 'problem' when he asked me?"

"As I said, he assumed since you said you had control and told him you would not abuse your power over him, plus the trust he has in you, that you could do it and…." Youko said.

"And I failed him." Hiei whispered. His chest hurting at the thought that Kurama trusted him that much.

"Hiei, he…we should not have put the pressure on you in the first place, it was too much to ask, but he failed to listen to me and insisted." Youko said, seeing the hurt on the fire demon's face. "Hiei." He paused to make sure he had complete attention. "We never had any doubts and have no regrets." He told him.

"I know." Hiei said, looking up.

"I could….always mark you and then you would….." Youko said.

"No." Hiei growled. "I would never let that happen after what you pulled…I want Kurama."

Youko put a finger on Hiei's lips. "You can not blame me for trying." He shrugged. "I am worried about Kurama. Since I do not wish to die over this after everything we have been through. I guess the only choice if for Kurama to win and mark you." He stated.

"Yes." Hiei said with a nod and Youko removed his finger. "And I will not be able to just give in and bare my neck. My instincts will tell me to fight to the death. It would be either him or me." He said matter of fact.

"I understand. I would be the same way." The yoko admitted. "I will tell you, Kurama is being very adamant about doing this himself. He wants no help from me whatsoever. He wants to show you he is strong enough without me, though he thinks you do not think he is strong and will be disappointed in him. He feels he does not deserve to be at your side." Youko stated.

"He as been at my side for years, not much would change. I have always been honored to have him at my side and always will." Hiei said. "You have also been at my side and I accept that as well. You and he are one and that is the way it will always be." He was shocked that the red head would think he was not good enough to be with him, it was always his fear that he was not good enough to be with the red head. He was never disappointed in Kurama, though he had called him weak several times. His comment from long ago, stating Kurama was 'more cut throat and ruthless than he', was still true to this day.

"Thank you." Youko said, bowing his head, excepting the comment as a complement.

Silence settled in.

"So what do we do now?" Hiei said.

"There is nothing we can do except wait. We have no other choice. Tomorrow will decide our fate." Youko said.

"I'm sorry about that…you know." Hiei tried to say. "For forcing Kurama, had I known how he felt." He said, lowering his head.

"First you admit to a weakness and now you apologize, why Hiei, I think you have been spending too much time among the ningens." Youko said, trying to lighten the mood.

"Don't start with me." He growled.

Realizing the fire demon was serious and truly sorry, Youko said. "I am the one who is sorry Hiei. You might not think it coming from me, but I believe it was for the best that you forced the issue. Who knows how much longer this could have gone on? It was only a matter of time before one of you, or both of you, 'cracked'. Though I was having fun making bets with myself on who would break first." He smirked.

Hiei knew the fox was serious, even with the joke. Youko had obviously been observing the whole situation. "We need to get away from each other." The fire demon said, realizing when Kurama came out that he would not be able to leave him alone and thus both would be miserable.

"I will stay out." Youko said, getting a questionable look from the black haired, the yoko said. "Do not look at me like that. I will stay out so your mind can get some much needed rest. My walls are stronger then his and I can block you. Kurama will also be able to rest, he is resting now and requests you to go back to the house and get some rest."

"What about you?" Hiei asked.

"I plan on staying right here until you return tomorrow. I promised the master I would not leave the grounds, remember. I will also give you my word that I will not go near the temple." Youko said.

Hiei nodded, getting up and going to the opening. Youko also got up, but he went over to the containers and began looking through them. "I guess it is too much to hope for some meat, I am quite famished, but I guess it would be too hard to store. Wonder if Master Genkai would mind if I hunted." He muttered to himself, not realizing Hiei had heard him.

"I'll be right back." He said, disappearing.

Youko looked up, wondering what the fire demon was up to. About 10 minutes later, Hiei returned with a take-out container and a bottle of wine.

Holding out the food, he said. "It's not much, but…."

"Thank you." Youko said. Taking the food and sitting down next to the fire he had started while Hiei was gone. Opening the Styrofoam container, his mouth watered at the slabs of rare steak and french-fries filling the space. The french-fries were something the yoko had gotten addicted to, just like the fire demon had to ice cream.

"I'll leave you to eat, 'good night' and tell Kurama…" Hiei stopped, choking on the words he wanted to say.

"He knows." Was all Youko said as he popped a french-fry in his mouth.

Giving a short nod, the fire demon left, but after a few hundred yards or so, he masked his ki and went back. Hiding himself in a tree, he watched. He could not deny that he still cared for the spirit yoko, but only because he was part of Kurama, the two needed each other and it had taken a big toll on both of them to figure that out. He watched the fox continue to eat and imaged how lonely he must be. Yes, he had Kurama to talk to, but he wasn't out much and that would drive anyone crazy. Maybe he would talk to Kurama about letting the fox out more. He owed the fox for this little 'reprieve' from his urges, but they had to survive tomorrow first. He still had regrets about what happened when he tried to have a relationship with Youko, but still could not help feeling sorry for him. Youko cared for Kurama and that there proved how much the spirit yoko had changed.

Youko finished his food and placed the empty containers to the side. He stood and stretched before walking around the fire a few times and seeming to find some imaginary spot, changed to his fox form.

Hiei could not help but smirk as the fox walked in a tight circle a few times before tapping his paws and settling down, curling in on himself and settling the five tails around his animal frame.

Youko closed his eyes and sighed. 'You should really get some rest little one, you will need your strength.'

Hiei's eyebrows shot up and he smirked again at the fox's keen senses, not saying a word he flirted off.

Youko let out a heckled yawn, squirming as he cocooned his form tighter for the long night ahead.

"Kurama…If you love him as much as you say you do, you will let me help you, whether you accept it or not I care for him as well and want the best for all of us." The spirit yoko said as his more human form sat cross-legged in front of the red head in his mind. Instead of there being two closed rooms and a hallway, there was now one large room with an imaginary line going through the middle, a side for each, with both able to flow freely from side to side.

Kurama only nodded as he also sat down.

a)a)a)a

Hiei landed on the porch and let himself in, it was now dark out as he made his way to the bathroom. After taking a shower, he found himself unable to sleep so he got up and went to the kitchen. Looking in the freezer and seeing about 8 pints of sweet snow left, he shrugged and thought, 'what the hell.' Grabbing four of the containers, he went to turn on the TV, more for noise than to watch as he downed the sweet stuff. Still not really tired and not wanting to lay in an empty bed, he got dressed and went to the front door, where he settled his sword on his hip before putting on his cloak and scarf. Heading outside, he jumped from tree to tree until he found one that met his needs. Settling down, he forced himself to relax, hoping sleep would claim him.

End Chapter 2