Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters used in this story with the exceptions of Zane and Cian. This story is rated M for bad language, graphic boy on boy action, and some form of violence. Read at your own risk!

CHAPTER FIVE: BUTTERFLY WISHES

Hiei gazed at the portal with a look of silent thought. "I thought you wanted to act like a normal human as much as possible. Why is it, all of the sudden, that you insisted on jumping portals home?" He gazed up at his fox, silently wishing that his fox would just tell him what was going on. That they could do away with all these secrets.

"I may be thrown in to my heat while on the plane. Then I'd have to drag you in to the tiny restroom and have my way with you. That is not my idea of romantic love making." Kurama gazed at the portal rather than meet his lover's stare. "Also-"

"Any demon within a ten mile radius who didn't have a mate would be after you in an instant. Yes, I'm well aware of the risks but I hardly think they'd manage to fly in to the air and attack a flying aircraft in order to strip you down." Kurama's words had been perfectly logical, a perfect lie that Hiei didn't believe for one instant.

"I'd rather get home as quickly as we can." Without another word, the fox stepped through the portal and Hiei followed after them. Kurama led the way from the portal at the south borders of Alaric to the one contained within the depths of the forest that covered the west end of Alaric's territories. Kurama and Hiei stepped through hand in hand and were in a different forest, the one that covered the land Kurama owned. The fox led the way through the forest and to the house.

Both demons were surprised when two identical twins were running around in the yard, playing tag at a high rate of speed. Zane came out of the house. "If I see you try to pick one more rose, I swear I'll let the vines take their revenge on you," he warned as one of the twins came close to the rosebushes that served as Kurama's guard dogs. The slightly smaller of the two reached out and stroked a silky petal. He was punished when a vine snaked out and smacked him on the top of the hand.

Zane entered in to the yard with a sigh when he saw the thick strip of blood. He picked up the now crying three year old and balanced him on one hip. "Shh… Let me see," he murmured. "Cian! Come out here and grab Damien really quick!"

Cian emerged from the house and scooped up the second twin, twirling him around in the air before cradling the toddler in his arms. He walked up to the couple that owned the house with a smile. "Zane dragged us all over here to stock your cupboards with groceries and make sure that the house was clean."

Hiei pierced the ice demon with a glare. He'd agreed not to ever kill the man, but he still had a deep grudge against him.

Kurama moved forward to gaze at the child in his arms. "They're adorable," he smiled. "I'm so glad that the two of you finally got them!"

"We had to fight for custody of them the last five months. Some territories in Makai still have policies against unions like ours."

"That's ridiculous with how many gay and bisexual demon couplings there are. A good quarter of the demon population ends up claiming mates who are the same sex." Kurama's eyes flashed with anger.

Hiei squeezed the fox's hand. "I think you're seeing it from the wrong perspective. The human population has an issue with same sex couples. The demons have a problem with mated pairs who aren't of the same origins."

Kurama's eyes hardened further. "They wouldn't let the two of you adopt because one is a thunder demon and one is ice."

Zane smiled softly. "It doesn't matter. With a great deal of argument and threatening done on our part, we got the twins. This one is Dante and Damien is his twin." He bounced the little one on his hip, eliciting a giggle from the child.

Cian put Damien on his shoulder. "We have to get going. Zane and I have made our home childproof, but they still haven't gotten the hang of human life. We're keeping them away from humans until their behavior improves a little. They've never lived a life outside of Makai so they aren't used to keeping their speed down to human levels when they play."

"And they aren't above hitting the other with lightning in the middle of an argument," Zane smiled down at the kids fondly. "I love being mommy."

"Speaking of being hit with lightning, I'm going to have to ask you to mix up something for burns. It turns out disciplining little demons can sometimes result in bodily harm when they're angry."

Kurama nodded. "I'll bring over something to your home as soon as I can." He watched as the family wandered from the backyard of his home towards their own house a mile away. His heart ached for that type of life, that type of simplicity.

Hiei tugged his fox in to the house as the skies darkened with the force of a storm and rain began to splatter down in large droplets. "Kurama, it'll happen someday," he soothed. "There's no reason to be jealous of them."

Kurama smiled softly as he finished taking care of several groceries left out on the counter. "I'm not jealous because of their children. I'm jealous because of the simplicity of their lives. Cian works full time as a zoologist working with the animals and taking care of them. He makes enough money to support his family. Zane stays at home and takes care of him and now the children. I wish life for us could be as simple."

"Why does it have to be complicated?"

"For one thing, Cian and Zane don't constantly have to worry about being attacked by other demons. I cleared out this territory for a reason Hiei, because too often I'm a target for malicious attacks. I work, I support our lifestyle and soon you'll be working as well. Not to mention you're the ruler of a territory in Makai. So, that leaves us to worry about assassination attempts, kidnapping should we ever choose to adopt, and death threats. I've already received plenty of those at the office."

Hiei's eyes darkened. "From who?"

"From demons who think I've taken away their mighty leader." He put the box of bread mix in the cupboard before perching on the counter. "It doesn't bother me and I never mentioned it because it's never escalated in to violence." He held up a hand to silence any protests.

"Kurama, I know you." Hiei sat at the table and gazed at his lover. "I know that these thoughts are only a side-effect of you coming in to heat. It's just a change occurring and after it's over, you'll be fine. So don't get depressed over the decisions that have been made. I wouldn't undo my decision to stay here with you for anything."

Kurama hopped from the counter. "I don't know where to go from here Hiei. It's like we can't live our lives without a disaster. I want to have peace, to be left alone to just be together. However, it seems like our moments of peace are just the calm before the storm. I'm expecting the next disaster and I don't know how to prepare for it."

"What's happening to you? I know that part of it is your heat, you've told me that much. However, I want to know what else it is."

Kurama leaned down and planted a quick kiss on Hiei's forehead right above the jagon. "I need time apart while I'm in my heat. I want you to stay in Alaric for the week."

"What if you need me?"

"Until I know exactly what's going on, I don't want anyone near me, especially not you." Kurama ran his fingertips down Hiei's jaw. "For once, trust me without questioning me. I know what I'm doing. I did survive one of my heats without you there."

Hiei stood up. "You stay here while I get a bag then." He pierced Kurama with a crimson gaze. "If you turn to another for release, I swear I'll never forgive you."

Kurama's blood ran cold at the words but he simply nodded and went through the motions of starting his dinner for the night. He put spices on to two pieces of chicken and placed them on a pan, then popped them in to the warming stove. He began to boil alfredo noodles in one pan and make pasta sauce in another. After a few minutes, Hiei returned with a tan denim bag that Kurama faintly remembered from his middle school days. He turned to his lover with a small smile. "If I need anything, I have Zane and Cian nearby to look after me."

"Hn… Too bad for them that what comes after you is far above their level of skill."

"In that case I'm perfectly capable of defending myself." He kissed Hiei on the cheek. "Now go before I run after you and begin to rape you in more ways than you can think of."

With a shake of his head, Hiei headed for the door. "Don't forget who you belong to fox."

Kurama just nodded and shut the door behind his lover. His head pounded with a fierce ache as his stomach began to churn. "That's exactly the problem," he said the emptiness of the kitchen. "The problem is that I belong to two very different demons. One is supposed to be dead. The other I'm engaged to." He shook his head and began to make tea as he stirred the noodles and the sauce. After sipping the cool liquid and calming his nerves, he stood in front of the sink and gazed out as rain pelted down from the sky and lightning illuminated the darkness. He turned away from the sight and opened the oven to retrieve his chicken.

Strong hands gripped his, stopping his hands as they reached in to the warmth of the oven. "Careful fox," came the oh-so-familiar voice that still made shivers run down the length of his spine.

"Kuronue, it might interest you to know that I have a policy against talking to ghosts." Kurama grabbed the towel from the kitchen counter and used it to grip the pan and retrieve the chicken. He didn't dare turn around for fear that the house would be empty.

"It's a good thing I'm not a spirit then," came the husky response.

Kurama could almost feel the hot breath caressing his neck as the hands gripped his hips hard enough to bruise. "Stop playing games with me Kuro." He grabbed the edge of the counter and closed his eyes. "The Yoko Kurama you knew long ago died. I'm changed now. You love the memory of me, not the person who stands here now."

"You're as stubborn as always to believe what you wish to be truth," Kuronue muttered, his words caressing the fox's ear. "Turn around."

Kurama spun around to see the man he'd dreamed of so often, the man he shared his life with once, standing in front of him. He reached out to touch him, to make sure he wasn't dreaming. His fingers closed around the pendant, the damn pendant Kuro loved so much. He blinked and then it was gone. The pendant fell from his fingers and clattered to the floor.

Kurama slid down to the floor and grabbed the pendant, holding it close to his body as his breath came in panicked gasps. Every touch, every caress, every scream of pleasure, every word echoed in his mind. He closed his eyes and summoned the image of crimson eyes, of Hiei kissing him under the sakura tree the first time, of Hiei slipping the ring on his finger. His breath slowed to a normal pace and his heart stopped its frenzied rhythm. Kurama opened his eyes and fingered the pendant once.

"Kuronue, I don't know who you think you're playing with, but I promise one thing. You will not be welcomed with open arms." He threw the pendant on the table. "I'm no longer yours." He knew he was talking to air but it still felt good to have the words out.

Kurama stood and went through the motions of making his dinner. He ate with no real appetite and was not surprised when the stress made his stomach reject the food. He laid his head on the cool tile of the bathroom floor with a groan. His stomach was empty and hollow. He gazed at the ring decorating his finger with a small smile. "If killing the last part of myself that loves Kuro is what it takes, I'll do it for you Hiei."

AUTHOR'S CORNER:

Yay! Another chapter down! Well, I hope you all enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. I'm slowing down my pace and updating with one chapter a day. Now that the story is developing and changing, I'm taking my time writing it. I'd rather have a great story and only update once a day than to have an okay story and update it two or more times per day. I think you'll all thank me in the end. Well, please review and tell me what you think. Thanks for reading!