Warning: this story is yaoi – Youko Kurama x Hiei. OOC-ness may occur, because one of the plots in this story is Hiei's gradual 'opening up'. And be warned; I made myself cry again – but I'm an unduly sensitive person (that's the reason why this story will have a happy end:-)).

Standard disclaimer applied. See my profile

AN: I'm so sorry guys! I won't bore you with reasons why this took so long; you live on this Earth too, you can imagine it. ;-) I think this chapter cost me at least 15 years of my lifetime; but finally I can write this: I love it! I hope you'll enjoy it too. Mari, the short-lived.

7 Dreams

"Did you manage to break into that prisoners mind yet?" Mukuro tiredly touched her forhead.

"Yes, but there was nothing to find. Apparently, he was only a puppet."

Mukuro frowned. "Was…?"

"His mastermind decided to get rid of him this morning. When we found out, it was already too late to do anything."

Tebiko poured herself a cup of tea. The petite-looking woman had been in charge of Mukuros spies for longer than 800 years; what made her this ruler's confidant more than anything else. "Yamime was a snake in the grass, but letting him his post although you knew was definitely worth the trouble. But I'm surprised he was in connection with Maru."

"Why? The clan's obviously promising. You said they managed to use mind-control within a shielded place like this. I expect explanation how."

"We are still examining it. Nobody knows; except you, Nika and me.

"Good. Make sure to keep it that way."

Tebiko nodded and sipped the dark hot liquid. "Well, I still think you should have let Yamime alive; Hiei would have enjoyed killing him with his own hands."

She leant back onto the armchair: "You know… it's not fair. After a millennium of wars and conspiracies, one would fondly think about deserved little rest. But no; it's a youngster who is given a chance to have a time of his life with an embodiment of a dream."

Mukuro smiled at her friend's poor fake of bitter jealousy. "Unexpected, isn't it? I have never seen such a rapid change of popular mood. Last month, 'thanks' to Yamime, they almost blasted my palace with requests to banish 'The Forbidden One'. Now they are making contests in demonstrating gratitude for keeping him in his position...

"Mukuro, there's no room for being surprised; he is now a proud holder of the title 'The Chosen One'. You know the superstition: 'Person chosen by a youko is a person blessed with the grace of Gods.' Multiply it by the fact that it is not just any youko what we are talking about; this is Youko Kurama, the most irrepressible supra-territorial phenomenon. Also Hiei is far from a demon of average status. In their minds, if he is the one in the lead, his tremendous personal luck will spread over the whole territory; making this third of Makai the most fertile part of the world."

"He is a harbinger of felicity incarnate…" Mukuro sneered. "Like I would believe he is Youko Kurama's chosen one. He is too short; always grumpy, entirely unexperienced, utterly obstinate, totally impatient and hopelessly solitary. Youko Kurama has no need to bear with a person like that."

"Neither have you; and yet you chose him and no other."

Two pairs of eyes met. And in that moment, their smiles matched each other perfectly.

"Tebiko, even if a miracle happened and my 'with divine grace blessed' heir somehow captivated the thief's attention; he would never accept his advances. The only thing the youko could be intimate with would be unleashed Kokuryuuha."

"Maybe…Maybe not…" A smile was still playing with Tebiko's lips. "Truth is that he should arrive within a week. Or maybe a little later, considering his reluctance to accomplish the mission. To my knowledge, he still hasnt split up with the thief. And Mukuro; the last information was not a rumour."

"Surprisingly devoted, isn't he? If it wasn't Youko Kurama, I would say Hiei finally included deceit and teamwork into his repertoire of usable strategies. I would say he is luring an opponent into a trap – so as to enable us take him captive. But with this particular youko, it is most likely Hiei who is being deceived."

"Deception or not; there's an end to every game, no matter who's playing. Send somebody to remind him of that."

"Right, let's see how he utilizes reinforcement. I'll send him ten best of his elite troop. That should suffice even if he wished to seize a manipulator of Youko Kurama's format."

"Seize…?" Tebiko shook her head in doubtfulness too conspicuous. "You know Mukuro; I'm not sure if ten men will be of any avail. Not only might they come across a silver youko practising patience and a couple of other things with his unskillful lover; they might even disturb their general while catching up on some vital experiences UNDER master Kurama's supervision." Tebiko took a deep breath to utter the last sentence in well-performed severity: "Are you ready to risk an unimaginably fatal impact of Hiei's resentment?"

"Tebiko, if that is the case," Mukuro snorted with laughter; "I will decorate Youko Kurama for bravery!"

"That's good to know; I was wondering what you intended to do with him - if we captured him."

--------------------

The sun hadn't risen yet when Kurama woke up from the most asinine dream the Mistress of Dreams could bless him with. It was like something had been crawling all across his face; a little spider, or maybe some other insect - he couldn't remember any detail. But the most bizarre thing was that in the dream, he truly relished it. It felt almost like if…

He shivered and swiftly sat up – and immediately regretted that. He let out a soft groan and lied down again.

Then his eyes fell upon Hiei. The fire demon could not resist smirking; he was lying on side, propped on one elbow, looking at the kitsune. He appeared alert – too alert for Kurama's liking. He was keeping vigil, that was right, but he rememberred Hiei upon a tree; not lying on the ground one foot away from him, with far too entertained countenance.

"Seems like our yesterday's session caused hard times to your butt." The fire demon's grin widened.

As a mirror image of Hiei's position, the youko propped himself upon one elbow too, facing the young youkai with a grin of his own: "Why so cocky? The performance almost cost you life… And you did not look very graceful either; as you've been running for shelter."

"I didn't run for shelter. It was a tactical retreat."

"That's a very poetic name for the maneuver you used, Dragon."

Hiei's retort came in a form of glare.

"Oh c'mon; your resemblance to the fierce beast a symbol of which you bear so proudly was indisputable. Especially when you dauntlessly fell from the tree."

"That spruce would've never shaken me off, if I hadn't had a sight of 'irresistible' Youko Kurama smothering his burning rump right beneath me. I've never thought you were so vain and touchy when it comes to your tail."

"I just wonder what your reaction would be, if I made an attempt to spark your butt and you had a tail beautiful like this…" To support his attitude, Kurama swished his tail a little and let it rest on his hip. "You're nothing but envious."

"It's astounding how good you see through me," Hiei said dryly.

"I'm delighted to hear I still astound you, Dragon," kitsune teased, "but you don't need to feel too embarrassed; you really do perfect job in keeping me amused."

Kurama's cheeky smile softened to one of the sort which still remained beyond Hiei's capability to assess. "You have an entirely… 'unique' sense of humor; I think I've fallen in love with it."

"You are THE Youko Kurama. If you fell in love with any of my abilities, the first thing to hear after you found out would be the sound of my ripping clothes."

"Of course; to scare you off so you could run away and hide and I would never ever laugh at you again…"

"Tell me one thing Kura…" Hiei leant closer; only to make the one foot distance between them halve: "…what kind of idiot would be scared off by a silly fool like you?"

"Astounding how good you see through me…" Kurama chuckled.

He slowly stood up, wearing the same soft expression. "I think it's best if we move on. I want to pay a visit to an acquaintance of mine; if we hurry up, we could arrive to Arume before she opens the tavern."

Hiei just shook his head and stood up as well. They were only three days away from whereabouts of the last jewel. This week, Kurama chose a path leading through a couple of settlements but declined each single proposal to stay overnight. He didn't lead Hiei into his dens as frequently as in woodlands either; the fire demon suspected the fox of discovering his liking for keeping vigils.

And it had been a vigil two nights ago, when Hiei had perceived a vague flicker of youki too indistinct to pinpoint further details. Later on he felt it again, moving in the same direction along with them; but the stalker – or stalkers – had never drawn nearer than five miles.

Kurama didn't mention it; Hiei inferred they were too far for him to sense. Thus, he decided to keep his eyes peeled and mouth shut; assuming it was one or more of Mukuro's spies.

To make matters worse; tonight he finally managed to expose their identities. And it gave him wrinkles; because now he knew those demons were not spies.

Kurama was fairly surprised when Hiei – almost at the town's periphery - suddenly changed his mind and told him he was not going with him; offering the explanation that 'there were better ways to keep oneself busy than listening to trifling small talk.' He didn't wait for his companion's reply and disappeared. The only thing the thief could do was to say 'take care' and shrug.

Kurama had been kind of used to it by now.

The last three weeks with Hiei had been quite…exciting. After they left wastelands, the fire demon seemed to be all right, even if irritated. But considering his younger friend's disclosed past, the youko couldn't blame him. However, three days later when Hiei had lost his temper again, Kurama made another 'physical' attempt to calm him down – and had been shoved away. In the next minutes, he could only stand gaping while Hiei yelled at him that he was nothing but a leech making his hosts captivated only to suck at their presence longer. Then the enraged demon announced that he had never understood the thief's patience and interest in him; but now he finally saw through his intention – namely to win information about Mukuro's vaults, state of her army, etc, etc... Then he had accused the addlepated fox of manipulating him into trust, so he could easily trade jewels for sex with him. Sequentially he left – to find privacy in a tree only two hundred meters away from his uncomprehending companion's den.

Youko sighed at the reminiscence.

It took him a while to stop gaping; yet it wasn't that difficult to figure out what had happened. This was not about trust; but closeness. Hiei used various walls and defences against each type of contact. He was not interested in strangers. When they were interested in him, he used sword or flames. When they managed to get through like Mukuro; Hiei used sarcasm, indifference, and coldness to prevent them from further advance. But when there was a person too persistant, Hiei could get used to the presence. He hoped Kuro had this status. The next level was a friend. Kurama knew the young youkai considered him a friend, because Hiei's protection measures against this type of contact had been shown in that outburst of anger in the inn in wastelands.

At dizzying speed, only three days later, Kurama ran into the most vehement – even if a little childish - defence Hiei'd ever used. But he knew the deeper Hiei let him in, the more childish and heated guarding would be shown – it would be closer and closer to the taboo level; level which only his mother and Yukina had reached.

It took Hiei one week to stop raging over spilt milk; and he needed another one to come to terms with himself. He was irate because he had permitted Kurama too deep within; and scared stiff because he realized how much he wanted him there. Concurrently, the fox evoked his most painful memories of intimacy; what also meant a chance to close the wound, to turn it into scar. But that required time.

During those weeks, they hadn't moved an inch. Kurama had been just watching and waiting…

…and hunting the weirdest kinds of animals solely to test whether he liked their taste… swimming in the nearby lake till late night…or surveying the area - in his fox form, for making it more interesting. Kurama had been determined to give Hiei all the time in the world, if necessary.

Yet fifteen days later, the fire demon appeared in front of him, with "let's move on;" and a very resolute look on his face.

The fox responded only with a smile; took the second spit with lemming from fire and handed it to Hiei.

And this morning – what was one week later, Kurama's most ticklish problem was which plant to use to stop the persistant stinging of the burnt skin around his tail.

--------------------

"I've got another delicious thing. Wanna try?" Big brownish eyes and a dangerous smile dominated her face.

"Your cocktails are first-class weapons, Kessa. I want to wake up tomorrow and remember what world I'm in," the youko thief smiled at the pout the innkeeper gave him. "These lips should count as a part of your weaponry as well…"

"Unbelievable how cute you turn when you need something…"Kessa looked away from the table where she was sitting with Kurama and addressed her partner, currently leaning at the bar. "Do you hear that, bondman? I should let him teach you good manners!"

"I don't get it, Kess. I do say the same things about that body part of yours; I just happen to use different words… loudmouth… blabbermouth…" He exchanged smiles with their legendary guest, dodging a flying tankard.

"All right," Kurama gave in;"I'll try a drink, but use less hard liquor than usual."

"I won't. It would spoil the taste. If you want to drink it, then drink it the way it is supposed to be, sissy!"

"Sure I will; but at least make it the trouble worth!" When the innkeeper turned to walk to the bar, Kurama glanced at grinning Tomo.

Kessa and her partner were information dealers; and Kurama was the one who demanded and payed - never offerred. Still, Kessa had always been trying to get him and Kuronue inebriated in hope to suck some information out of them. Kuro had loved this; he always pretended to be blotto and then told them something so ridiculous that they all could split their sides laughing. First three times, he really managed to ruffle their feathers. But throughout the years, it had become more of a funny habit than a real method how to get the sprouting rumours about him disproved or confirmed.

His nostalgic brooding suddenly stopped; his instinct forced him to turn head to the window. He smiled, as he realized he couldn't trace the comer's youki. It was more his sixth sense than his nose what scented the approaching shadow.

"Youko, one thing is bothering me," Kessa's deep husky voice drew his attention while she was mixing the drink. "I am not sure what it means; but my gut feeling tells me I should mention it."

Kessa moved back to the table. With unmistakable look of anticipation, she handed Kurama the glass. Youko cautiously - and somewhat dubiously - sniffed at it; and when he smelled no other poison than Kessa's liquor, he finally dared to take a sip.

"Its tentative name is 'Sweet Gleam of Winter'. There are some ingredients you're probably not familiar with." With the words, Kessa took a seat at the table, on the right from the youko.

"What did you put in it?" Kurama, quite surprised, took now a swig, not a sip. "It's good."

"If you knew you wouldn't drink it. There are two-three demons which somehow got their mitts on Ningenkai seeds; they made fortune with selling the plants as aphrodisiacs."

"Like Youko Kurama would be reliant on aphrodisiacs. What a waste..." Tomo moved to their table and sat down across his 'boss'.

"No, I…" Kessa's voice trailed off. "The plants don't work…I just…tried to create a drink of Kuronue's three favourite flavours." She averted her eyes. "We heard. We're…really sorry."

"You have no idea how sorry I am." Kurama squeezed Kessa's hand in thanks.

Neither Kessa nor Tomo dared to break the silence which filled the room.

After a couple of minutes, Kurama gestured it was all right to continue, and asked what was she talking about, when she had been preparing the drink.

"As I said," she started, "I'm not sure whether the information is of any value. One of the most influential houses in Arume is…suspicious. Its master Rana made a fishy deal with a pack of low-grade blackguards; only to drop all of his former guards at once. Those odd berks do the job instead; even if they are less powerful and their youki levels fluctuate. The head of the family obviously prefers quantity to quality."

Kessa made a pause to drink, what Tomo deemed a sign to continue instead of her.

"They barely speak with somebody outside of the house; but they seem to be in a constant mind-to-mind connection with each other. And there is one more thing…" Tomo looked at his partner. "Kess had been curious, so she used her…she calls it charm…to do some scouting in the house. In one of the rooms, she found a sign, or what it was. It looked like two interconnected circles."

"Circles…?" Kurama's memory immediately offered the image of Hiei examining a crest of the same shape branded on the wall of Bireth's front room.

Kessa nodded. "Yes; and the so-called guards bear the same symbol right here," she patted her nape. "Usually it's covered by hair or clothing; so it's not easy to spot."

"I don't want to imagine how she found that out," Tomo grinned, "but consequently, she decided to play for safety and take on trustworthy A-class guards."

"The sums they are asking are exorbitant!" Kessa repayed her partner's vexing with a glare; "but I'm not even dreaming about getting rid of them. I don't know why Rana hired those weirdos, but it's definitely not for tending to his gardens…"

Kurama was thankful for Kessa's instinct which told her when to fall silent; he needed to assess what he had heard.

Rana's house was guarded by higher number of 'guards' than usual, and it bore a sign – Kurama assumed the group or the clan which provided the guards marked the house as their 'territory'. Also, to the youko, the fact that Bireth had made the same deal seemed entirely plausible. But Rana, as well as Bireth, must have had a good reason to turn their houses into bases of operations for some louche group of second-rate fighters… They must have gained some advantages… In that instant, Kurama knew what he would launch into after he and Hiei separated their paths.

"I'm really content to keep my own guards," Kessa went on. "Things here in Arume seemed pretty strained for a while. Few months later after that incident in Rana's house, another group of demons arrived; they were prodding us into revolting against Mukuro's heir. Now it is well-known that they had colluded with one of Mukuro's advisors; but back then, some were really pissed and caused trouble. Several even wanted to leave the town and join the others on their way to the castle. But it took no longer than a couple of weeks also for the dumbest of them to realize how softheaded it would be to fight against Mukuro's trained troops. And now," Kessa snickered, "nobody cares anymore that the next in line after her is a forbidden child."

Kurama didn't comment; he had already envisaged what they were aiming to.

"You know Youko," Kessa was slowly getting to the point of her interest; "I'm truly disappointed. Your visits have always been a blessing to my gains. A legend always attracts more customers. But two legends drinking my drinks would have been considerably better."

The said youko pretended to be very busy with sipping his drink; so Tomo decided to 'help' him.

"For a reason, people started to talk about you in connection with the heir. It is whispered that Mukuro has some business with you and sent general Jaganshi to escort you personally to Alaric." He looked at his partner to cue.

"I know you don't give a damn about politics. If you did, you would be ruler instead of Yomi." Kessa expanded the thought. "You appear to have no reason to ally with them. That's why I think," she let a devilish smile reshape her features, "that if that's really the case, the poor general had to use an exceptional range of persuasive methods to accomplish his lord's order."

"…poor general…" Kurama sighed, somewhat louder than necessary.

"For a while, everybody was racking their brains about how he did it, that you are not stealing but moving with him across this territory like a recruit - even without covering your traces."

Kessa laughed: "Don't tease him, Tomo! Nobody was racking their brains about the way general Forbidden did it; that was the easiest part to figure out. I just wonder what kind of extra class he must be; I mean, that you chose him."

Both partners checked Kurama for reactions which would allow them to draw some conclusion. But there was none. Youko was just sipping his drink in a pose skillfully refined thanks to his daily observations of the master of indifference.

"Soldiers from Alaric stop by from time to time;" Kessa hadn't given up yet, "they mention him quite frequently. He's known as a redoubtable fighter, but asocial and ill-tempered; now as a forbidden child. Still; everything you do…you seem satisfied with your choice."

Kurama felt almost sorry for them: "You must be smothered with demands for hints how to take a youko's fancy…"

Tomo gave him a hopeful glance.

"But how should I know? I've never tried to take some youko's fancy..."

Kessa looked like she might choke their most prominent client to death.

In that moment, Kurama's nonchalant expression melted into a hearty one with a wide grin: "If you want to know, ask him;" Kurama's finger pointed to the bar. "He will be pleased to answer all your queries."

The glass in the hand of dark figure perching there stopped halfway to his mouth; as the apparition sent him a glare.

"Who the hell allowed you to pick my drinks?" Kessa's mouth was this time faster than her brain.

"How the hell have you got inside; that we failed to notice?" Tomo's reactions were also faster than his judgement.

"You're right; he is not easy to notice. But once you notice…you will remember." Kurama smiled: "I thought you wanted to ask something different."

Kessa immediately recognized who the demon was; and she felt there was nothing what could save her from embarrassment.

"I'm sorry Youko… I didn't mean to offend your mate."

"Mate…?" Kurama looked at Hiei, marvelled.

Then she turned to Hiei. "I apologize for our behaviour, general. Of course, you are welcomed to come anytime, along with your consort."

"Consort…?" Hiei looked at Kurama, stunned. "I thought they took us for lovers…"

Kurama shrugged. "Seems like it's got a triffle out of control. Rumours usually live their own lives."

"Rumours…?" Tomo and Kessa uttered in unison.

"Would you finally stop asking stupid questions?!" Hiei glared at them while moving toward their table. He came to Kurama, took his glass and sniffed at it curiously. He took a sip - and put the glass down with disdain.

Kurama smiled at him: "As I recall, Dragon; you said you knew better ways to entertain yourself than listening to my babbling."

"I closed my matters sooner than expected," Hiei resorted to a disinterested look. "You should try too."

For a minute, Kurama looked thoughtful. Then he took out an ample amount of coins to pay for the services and stood up. "Actually, this deal is already done as well."

"Wait Youko, when you said 'rumours', you meant it's not truth that you're mated?" Tomo didn't care anymore that the fox was the one who payed for asking questions.

"Mated…? I assumed it was well-known how much I hate being trapped…" Kurama touched Hiei's shoulder as he was walking past him toward door.

"…show me a creature which would wish a bond with a forbidden cross-breed." Hiei moved to his companion who was waiting for him at the opened door.

As the door behind their guests closed, Tomo gave his partner a pensive look:

"I dunno Kess… I imagined somebody more…asocial."

Kessa sighed: "I think it's over with the master of thieves..."

--------------------

The apparitions proceeded their journey in silence, each of them thinking about issues of his own. This time, Kurama was leading them into a den.

However; five hours later, when they were passing a grot and the fox heard gurlgling of a nearby river, Hiei knew that for that day it was over with advancing. Not that he would have complaints; he could use some rest after he had volunteered to keep vigils for the two last nights; not only - but mainly - due to those 'stalkers'. But the issue had been taken care of today; they didn't present a problem anymore.

He lit a fire and sat down by it; Kurama grew something eatable and plant matts to sleep upon. They didn't need to say anything; Hiei often wonderred whether it was their bond or them alone what made them so harmonized. Being with Kurama felt so natural - like he had never been doing anything else, like he had never been alone. All those weeks he had been trying to fight it; but now he didn't comprehend why.

He envisioned that in less than a week, he would be back in the palace with Mukuro who would torture him with demanding reports, making comments and throwing parties. He shook his head to get rid of the image.

Right now, he didn't need to think about Mukuro, or her desire to meet the bandit in person to bawl him out; if that was the only thing she desired.

For a moment, he dwelled on the thought where he would stand if Mukuro and Kurama were enemies. But he let it go; they both were too smart to make unnecessary enemies of such power and skill.

Next stop of his train of thought was Arume. Even if he and fox frequently trained how to mask their youki from each other, he wasn't naïve to think that Kurama hadn't sensed his arrival into the tavern.

He had heard Kessa talk about guards; he was convinced that Kurama made the same deduction about Rana and Bireth like he did. Hiei would have liked to know whether Kuronue had smelled a rat there too. And he could say there were million more reasons for Kurama to be curious…

"Kurama…" Hiei only now noticed how incredibly quiet the fox was. "Aren't you curious what I've been doing when you went to Arume?"

Kurama finally turned his gaze from fire to Hiei: "Tell me one thing: what kind of trust would it be, if I needed to keep a track about every move you make?"

"That would be fear of betrayal, not trust."

Youko looked back at the fire. "Exactly."

Hiei let him full five minutes of silence, then asked again: "Does that mean you don't want to know where I went?"

"If you wanted to tell me, you would. Or would you like an interrogation everytime you move farther than ten paces from me?"

"You have no right to interrogate me."

"I see it the same way." Kurama sighed. "Hiei, I do like your company; but I won't do the same mistake with you as I did with Kuronue. It's your decision; and your life to live. I won't say a word to hold you back."

"So you don't wanna ask?"

Kurama could feel the annoyance welling up: "Why have I got the feeling you won't leave me be unless I ask?"

"I dunno… will you?"

"This is hopeless…" he sighed. "All right; why have you left?"

"Kura…" Hiei shook his head and gave him a reprehensive look, "at times, you are unbearably inquisitive."

Kitsune opened his mouth to retort, but laughter came out instead.

Hearing that, Hiei stood up and moved with a contented expression to one of the matts to get some rest.

---------------------

Hiei awoke with a funny feeling that something was grazing and licking his face. In less than a blink of an eye he got up, instinctively gripped katana and pointed it at the attacker – a big silver slobbering fox sitting in front of him with its tongue stuck out.

"KURAMA!!!" Hiei used the hem of his cloak to wipe his face. "What the hell do you think you're doing?!"

However, the fox wasn't excited about the irritated swordsman's outburst at all; it yawned, stretched out lazily and rested its head on forelimbs.

Understandably, Hiei flew into rage; and in the next second, he - not very gently - clamped one of the furry ears to move the apathetic fox's head up. The fox gave a yelp and twitched until it could sink its teeth into the demon's hand. Now it was Mukuro's general who yelped - in surprise that Kurama bit him. He immediately let go of that perturbed beast, unsure about what to do with it - what to do at all. To cover his uncertainty, he shifted his attention to his right hand to check on the wound.

Still, the fox seemed to know exactly. It moved its head up to give him a guilty look; then, with the utmost caution, it gripped the cloth of Hiei's black slacks and mildly tugged at it- the apparition understood it as a plea for him to sit. He sent the fox a warning sign in a form of a death glare; nevertheless sat down.

"I hope you have had some better reason for switching forms than to tongue'n'dribble all over my face!" Instead of an answer, the fox brought its muzzle to the wounded hand and started to lick at the bite.

"Kurama, you've definitely lost your mind."

After few minutes, Hiei sighed.

"I just wish you ate something else then fish before you decided to slobber me…" The demon lifted the other hand to scratch the fox's ear.

The fox finally stopped licking and made itself comfortable in Hiei's lap, nuzzling him gently.

Hiei gave up. "I guess spending my time with a fool left undesired side effects on me as well…"

He began to stroke the silvery white back; not so secretly enjoying the feeling of the soft furr under his palm. It was soothing him - the same way as it soothed the fox. They drowsed.

The smell of smoke and grilled fish woke him up. Hiei automatically expected to see the youko-form of the thief hang around the bonfire; yet Kurama was nowhere to be seen and a furry back was still pressed against him.

"I don't get it." Hiei, frowning in confusion, touched the fox.

"What, Dragon?" To the sleepy swordsman's utter disbelief, Kurama's tall figure emerged like out of nowhere, and sat down beside him.

"Kurama!"

"Shhh, Gorr needs her rest."

To Hiei, it sounded more like a snarl than a word. "Gorr…?"

"She is staying with us for tonight. I made business with her – the lady has been injured and too weak to hunt; so I brought her here to keep an eye on you while I was getting dinner. She had cravings for fish; I got us fish too."

'The mystery of slobbering fox resolved…' Hiei felt like a dullard, for he apparently wasn't able to tell apart a common silver vixen from a silver male youko. And why he failed to notice that there were energies of a youko AND a fox…He supposed he had been more exhausted than he admitted. 'Dammit, after three months with one silver fox, who would think there was another silver fox-' –more eager to lick my face- was the rest of the idea, but he forbade his mind to form the words.

"I was afraid you wouldn't like her;" Kurama continued, "and to be honest, I didn't know what she would think either. But I can tell it was love at first sight. She is very protective of you. And you cannot pretend not to feel anything too; I've never seen you gentler."

For some reason, Hiei failed to hide the heat from the blush that got hold of him.

"Hiei, there's no need to feel embarrassed. I know how leery of physical contact you are; that's why I'm very thankful for what you did. She needs it, you know; she's gonna have kits."

In that moment, Hiei would have liked to know what the thief would say if he learnt he mistook him for a pregnant vixen. And then he saw Gorr turn to give better access to Kurama's hand which found its way to her belly - and affectionately stroked it.

"Don't tell me you…" Hiei's brain was trying its best to process the image of Kurama, Gorr and their brood making a big happy family – and it succeeded better than Hiei had wished for.

"I shouldn't tell you I what…?" Youko moved his eyes and smile from Gorr to Hiei; but when he saw the shocked expression on the face of the latter, he withdrew his hand from the vixen as if burnt. In result, both apparitions were facing each other with cheeks tinted with red.

"I just remembered what you told Kuronue when…when he wanted to…" Hiei faltered; "I just didn't expect you would...I thought you hated being trapped like that."

"Hiei…" Kurama strived not to visualize what Hiei must have had; "Gorr is a beauty… But I'm afraid she…" Kurama gave the vixen a once-over, breathing a sigh in attempt not to look too abashed:

"Hiei, I am not a common fox. When I needed, I pretended being something else; but it could never satisfy me. I am what I am. But that doesn't mean I cannot like her; or that she cannot like you. As for the other part…" Kurama smiled, "As I said; I am what I am - and it's not just this body. My mate should keep up with me in all aspects. He should know how to affect my entire being; not just how to stimulate one part of me. Gorr is not capable of doing this; even though she certainly is stimulating in a way..." Youko stroked her side.

"For somebody who opposed being bound to a mate, you created a very clear image."

Hiei wasn't sure if it was just the slip of the thief's tongue or his intent to speak about his mate as of a male; but he didn't miss it. And he didn't miss how naturally every touch was given; how easily received - when these foxes did it.

The young demon didn't wait for Kurama to comment; he stood up and walked to river to wash his face.

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Next morning presented Kurama with another memory of an 'insect' dream. This time, a small dragonfly had been roaming around his face; driving him insane. And he again did nothing to frighten it off. On the contrary; he had been afraid to startle it.

Gorr had been already gone; and they judged it was a good idea for them too.

They both realized how of no avail it was to delay the advance any further. They had planned to spend five weeks on the journey from Kurama's den in woodlands to his hiding place in the heart of Alaric; but they made it ten instead. Hiei wanted to be back in the palace in two days; and Kurama; remembering Kuronue, accepted that. They travelled as fast as they could, without stopovers.

They didn't remember who iniciated that; but as they were running through the territory, they communicated mind to mind. They were talking about Bireth and Kuronue; Youko suspected Luan's father also of hiring the pack of demons that attacked Kuronue while he had been 'making the deal' with Hiei in that inn. Hiei was more interested in the attack they used. Weeks ago, he had been determined to learn how to create an energy barrier like Kurama used that time; but for some reason, the fire demon's youki seemed too restive to be bound into a consistent shield.

They were talking about Kurama's plans to gain some information about what was going on; he had also planned to check what was new at Raizen's. When Hiei asked what the thief would do with the loot, Kurama grinned and told him he would definitely get wind of that.

They were talking about Mukuro; about all the vexing Hiei would have to stand due to their reputation of 'newly-mated', but soon 'separated'. The fire youkai also told the thief about the 'welcome party' sent by Mukuro to intercept them and inform Kurama about the 'cordial invitation to spend some time in Alaric in congenial company of the ruler'. Youko refused politely, with the question what Hiei did to those soldiers that they hadn't shown up in person. The general's answer was quite indistinct; he said something about 'a deserved reward,' for their well-performed skill of masking their youki.

They were talking about the link that still existed. They had been already so used to it that they didn't pay attention anymore. In its inactive state, it represented only one current in their subconsciousness, mediating between them the strongest sensations which each of them felt. At the beginning, it felt like a wedge would have been driven into their minds; but with the time, the stream became fluid, smooth. They didn't know what effect the distance could have; but ideas and emotions had never yielded to matter, time or space.

-------------------

They came to a spring; and decided to make it a stopover. But instead of fast proceeding the journey, Hiei sat down by it, obviously in thought. "Kurama…?"

Youko sat down beside him.

"How do you…" Hiei found out he didn't know how to formulate what he needed to know.

"How do I what?" Kurama smiled at his friend's abashed countenance.

"Nothing." The fire demon lifted his hand; but doubtfulness made him lower it again. He had already touched Kurama before; and yet he wavered. It was so easy to touch him when the thief turned into his fox form; or to memorize his face with fingertips when he was sleeping. But in awake state; when he was thinking, watching… Hiei wasn't sure whether he could be the one who iniciates contact; merely for the fact that he couldn't foresee his own reactions which might follow.

But he risked it.

The youko gave him an inquiring look. To protect himself from its intensity, Hiei closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

He did it.

He raised his right hand; only to let it find and cup Kurama's cheek. He resisted opening his eyes; he neither opened them when he felt warmth of a bigger palm covering his own.

The sensation of another touch in contact with his own cheek shocked him; but he was determined to hold in his reactions.

He managed to.

Until he felt a collision light like the wings of a butterfly upon his lips. His eyes flew open – only to give away the uncertainty, fear and confusing snarl of dozens of emotions that had never before existed for him.

He didn't know whether inexistent distance between lips of two beings - for this wasn't more than that - could be considered a kiss. But it was enough for his eyes to close again; enough for the strange snarl of unexplored feelings to take over from anxiety.

He allowed that.

Still, Kurama's lips were too restless to stay on one place; they shifted - without losing contact with the young youkai's skin. Hiei didn't harbour any doubt that what those lips did to the corner of his mouth was definitely called kissing.

Yet Kurama did nothing more.

He withdrew and waited for Hiei to open his eyes. Hiei did, but when he saw Kurama's gaze glued at him, he wished he had left them closed. Only when the youko sqeezed his hand Hiei realized he must have been clenching it all along.

"Breathe," Kurama whispered with a smile; but Hiei's brain couldn't make much sense of what had been heard – right now, it was preoccupied with re-discovering how breathing should be operated.

Kurama caressed his cheek with a thumb; and the fire demon fought back a sudden urge to hide his face in the crook of Kurama's neck. The battle didn't take long, though; the youko clasped him; so Hiei leant upon his shoulder and hid his face there.

He had no idea how long he stayed like that. None of them said a word. Neither at that spring; nor later when they reached the hiding place.

It was too small for Kurama to move upright - he had to kneel down while rummaging through the loots; but for Hiei, it was big enough.

When Kurama found the last jewel – a brooch with Mukuro's symbol on it; it looked for a while like he would have reconsiderred handing it over. But after few minutes of touching and fingering it, he laid it on his opened left palm. When Hiei reached for it; Kurama quickly interlaced their fingers; clasping his palm with the brooch with Hiei's.

The fox was very aware of the fact that he had to let go; but for the moment, he refused to do so. As minutes went, Hiei could feel panic building up in the youko. In result, he wrapped his free hand around Kurama's neck, making the thief's head lean upon his chest, stroking his hair to calm him down. Kurama pressed himself to the smaller frame like the young demon had been his air to breathe.

Hiei made an attempt to pull the brooch and his palm out of Kurama's; but the only effect achieved was that the youko gripped his hand tighter.

The fire youkai knew how it felt to be abandoned; and he knew Kurama was shattering because this situation was in essence the same as leaving his family, or Kuronue behind. But like he had been able to survive alone, Kurama was now able to do the same; Hiei didn't question it. And he was proud of Kurama; because he wasn't a coward seeking a hiding from challenges of his fate. Kurama could have asked him to stay longer; he could have also gone to Alaric. But it would have been out of fear of letting go… of being alone…of being abandoned... Nothing more. Just fear.

"Breathe," Hiei murmured, slowly withdrawing his hand along with the jewel from the thief's.

This time Kurama didn't do a thing to stop him.

He gave them few more minutes. Kurama tilted his head to kiss Hiei's chest where his core was and he - still with the last piece of jewelry in his hand - had both his arms wrapped around the kitsune, playing with his hair, breathing in his scent.

All those weeks, Kurama had been thinking that it was Hiei who needed time; and he had been right to some extent. But Hiei had already learnt that if you wanted to be with someone, before anything else you had to know how to be alone.

Hiei had given him time to learn. He was given time to decide, whether he wished to stay the way he was; or wished to go through it. But the choice had to be made; not for Hiei, but for Kurama alone.

"Take care," he said when Hiei turned to leave. He had never realized how much of a difference it made to say those words. They meant the ones going away were still alive; and you were counting on the fact that they would hear you and make it stay that way.

Halfway out of the hiding place, Hiei turned and gave him a smile like Kurama had never seen before - and most likely never would again. There was so much encouragement and humility in it; that the fox didn't have a chance to do anything else just to smile back. In that instant, Hiei was gone.

Kurama went out of the cache and took a deep breath.

He would go through. Hiei had given him everything he could to help him. Kurama was now bearing memories of a forbidden child, his feelings and his struggle to survive imprinted in his own spirit, to show him the way.

In his eyes, Hiei hadn't deserved to be taken as an option to loneliness; a back-up better than none. If he had stayed with Hiei, his own fears would have got in between – and he would really have turned into a leech, struggling and fighting to keep his host.

But Hiei hadn't deserved a leech. He had deserved somebody as strong as himself.

And it occurred to him, that it wasn't him who had chosen Hiei like Kessa claimed; it was Hiei who had chosen Kurama.

He sent Inari a silent prayer of gratitude, finishing with the words 'let's move on'; and took another deep breath, smiling.

End of chapter 7

AN: –sniff sniff – this would be a nice end of the story…what do you think? Just kidding, I get them together even if it cost me another 30 years of lifetime!

To Shishiyasha: Have you noticed the one and only sentence that explained Kurama's 'insect' dreams? I hope you managed to figure out.

Till then! Mari