CHAPTER 3: Merge:
The spill of yellow light woke the dozing fire demon. Blinking as he rose from his supine position his body undulated in a sinuous stretch, 'It's about time.' Frowning he noted the window open but the room still empty. Dropping lightly inside he slipped off his boots, leaving his cloak and blade with them by the window. A casual flick of the wrist shut off the light as he walked into the hall, "Kurama?"
"Hmm?" the drowsy reply came from the living room. Kurama sprawled bonelessly on the end of the couch. Not long from the shower his damp red hair lay in coils along his shoulders, the soft formless clothing draped loosely on his body, the unbuttoned shirt allowing glimpses of the fading pink scars of healed damage from the last battles of the Dark tournament, long legs draped across the coffee table. A foot tapping occasionally with the tempo of the music playing softly, "There's food in the kitchen if you're hungry, it's just Take Out but it's fresh."
"Hn." Hiei wandered in from the kitchen carton in hand and a bottle of beer tucked in his belt, "You're back late. Complications?"
With tired grace Kurama sipped from a bottle, "Yeah, I'll have three months to sort it out." he paused with a sigh then with an indignant and slightly petulant twist in his voice, "I resent entirely the derailing of my carefully laid plans by that clown's damn box."
"Would you have been able to defeat Karasu if it hadn't happened?" humor colored Hiei's voice or perhaps it was the noodles.
Glaring half heartedly Kurama chuckled, "Probably not as quickly, and I would have lost more skin." his eyes closed, a soft frown lingering for a few moments while he drifted in the music.
"Why have you only bought yourself three months? Wards can be indefinite." Hiei flexed his warded hand for emphasis.
"Even warded for suppression my Ki was causing trouble, there were still...surges. Made Kuwabara blush yesterday." Kurama replied suppressed laughter making his voice deeper.
Hiei felt a rush of warmth cross his shoulders and neck as the memory of the intense sexual energy in those surges crossed his mind, glad that Kurama's eyes were still closed, "Hn, yes that could be troubling. What solution have you come up with?"
"Genkai and I came up with a different type of ward, and a more efficient placement." sleepily Kurama laid his head on the back of the couch, exposing the fine red lines of an intricately carved ward just above the notch at the base of his neck.
The carton made a soft thunk on the table as Hiei dropped it, untucking the bottle from his belt before settling in a chair across from his sprawled friend. Sipping casually from the beer his hooded eyes raked over Kurama while the music filled the comfortable silence. Amused Hiei watched the bottle in his friend's hand as Kurama slipped into a doze, leaving his friend to nap until the half-full bottle began to steadily tip. Nudging Kurama's foot with his own he woke him, "Careful."
"Hmph...thanks." Setting the bottle on the end table Kurama squirmed deeper into the embrace of the couch, "I was scared, before I returned to my human form. In that moment I feared that all I had come to consider as me, all I had gained and learned was erased."
"Why tell me this?" Hiei's voice curious but distant at the unexpected revelation, remembering the fierce pride he felt when his friend's Youko form was revealed.
Kurama's voice warm and perhaps slightly apologetic, "Because you would understand."
"Hn." A small smile crossed Hiei's face pleased.
"That is quickly becoming a favorite sound of mine." Kurama chuckled, stretching a bit to change the angle of his legs.
"Why?" wary Hiei's eyes narrowed as he watched his friend.
"You say quite a lot with it, but it's only heard if the listener pays attention." Kurama's eyes frank as they caught Hiei's, "I hear that Hn, and somehow I know things are right with the world."
Hiei's eyes widened startled by the pleasure and shyness Kurama's words evoked in him. Surprised by how well Kurama understood him, "Hn."
Kurama gave Hiei a lopsided grin at his reply, "Before I forget I want to invite you to stay for tea tomorrow. Mother comes home in the evening. As a welcome home for us all she asked that I invite my friends over. The others have all agreed, well except for Koenma. She plans to do the whole high English tea, small sandwiches, French pastries, etc. I think she is missing her college days."
"Sure I'll be there, at least for as long as I can withstand the Fool. I enjoy finger sandwiches and French pastries." Hiei answered with a chuckle.
"I appreciate it. Hmm, you sound like quite the gourmet. Are you globe trotting when you disappear for weeks at a time?" with a slightly teasing note to the interest Kurama watched Hiei as he answered.
"Just because I appear child sized doesn't mean I'm only as old as Yuusuke and Kuwabara. I've been slipping in and out of the Ningenkai for decades, if not longer. Yes, sometimes." Hiei laughed at Kurama's look of disbelief.
"I have never considered you child sized, petite would be a word I would use, or diminutive, or if I really wanted to irk you I would just say kawaii." Kurama teased.
"Use kawaii in public and die." Hiei growled, as Kurama laughed
They lapse into silence again, listening to the random mix of music from the CD player. Eyes drifting shut, as he relaxed Hiei's mind wandered to half formed thoughts of warm bodies shared, the caress of long, red hair, the scent of roses, expressive emerald green eyes, supple grace.
"Did you know I have a fantasy about you?" Kurama's voice low, suggestive, mischievous.
"What?" Hiei drawled huskily stirred from his decidedly sexual train of thought. Eyes still closed, tension tightened his shoulders as he felt the Kitsune toying with him.
Kurama's voice still husky and low, "Yes, a fantasy. I long to hear you giggle. With your deep voice I bet you have a seductive giggle."
"Baka, I don't giggle, I rarely laugh." Hiei's tension became a mix of trepidation and sudden desire, his eyes opening just enough to study the fox.
"That's why it is a fantasy," said in a patronizing tone, then continued with a seductive purr, "In my fantasy, I tickle you until you giggle. I can feel my fingers whisper over your skin, along your neck, over your chest...."
"Stop." Hiei cut him off, a flush staining his cheeks, as he turned away, his voice thick, "Don't tease Kurama."
Kurama sat up, embarrassment in his voice, "I'm sorry, Hiei. I was just...sort of teasing.... I didn't know how else to break the ice. We've had a few false starts..."
Hiei continued to glare at the wall, trying to overcome his fears, to take the risk, "Yes, we have. I just don't want to be toyed with."
Kurama sighed head bowed to watch his toes curl in the carpet, "I don't want to toy. Inari knows how much... I want you. I can't think much past desire."
"That's not like you, not being able to think." Hiei moved from his chair decision made, to stroke red hair, "I never had a friend before, you would think I could be satisfied with that." Wonder softening his voice.
Kurama's bowed head jerked with the words but leaned into the stroking of Hiei's hand, "Ahh...mnn..."
Fingers combing through the long still damp tresses, Hiei smiled at the purr of pleasure. Hands slowly working their way below Kurama's chin to tilt upwards until he can see his face, his eyes. The corner of Hiei's mouth pulled into a half smile as he traced the fine curve of Kurama's mouth, oddly distant desire in his ruby eyes. Bending he claimed Kurama's mouth a hungry, hard, caress of his lips, gliding, suckling, tugging, hands slid into Kurama's hair, firm fingers massaging his scalp sending a shiver down his spine.
Wrapping his arms around Hiei's waist Kurama drew him between his knees, hands tracing warm circles on the small of his back, his mouth parting, teasing softly under Hiei's.
Kurama's teasing response pulled a guttural sound from deep in Hiei's throat as he pushed Kurama back into the couch to straddle his hips, tongue tracing his upper lip before sliding into the warm mouth. Synchronized pauses for quick breaths prolonging, sweetening the intimate dance of tongues. Shying away from his escalating need Hiei broke from the kiss to explore Kurama's throat, tongue lapping, teeth nipping, as he inhaled the Kitsune's scent. Drawn by the hint of blood, Hiei's hands grabbed the back of Kurama's head tilting it further to expose the barely sealed wound, his mouth covered the half dollar sized mark sucking insistently to pull blood to the surface, tongue gliding gently over the sensitized flesh catching the desired prize with a moan. Pleasure grinding his hips against Kurama's, slackening his hold on the back of Kurama's head.
Delicate torture, warm supple tongue ever so slowly tracing, pressing, fervent mouth suckling, a pleasing, soothing, pain over raw nerves. Sensation making Kurama languorous, a slow pulse of desire spread through him, his own hands pressed, tangled in hair keeping the marvelous tormentor close, refusing to allow any possibility of escape. Hanging in the long moment surrendered to the pleasure, need and delight sighed out with shortening breaths, as the pulse became stronger. Hiei's tender lapping calling forth a flare of possessiveness. Kurama arched Hiei back forcefully hands pulling hair, the graceful neck not resisting as he groaned for the loss of contact with the painfully intimate taste of his desire as Kurama bent into him. Warm mouth coming to rest over his pulse, nipping its way to the tendon before biting down, hard and crushing stopping just short of breaking the skin.
Hiei's hiss of pain drew out into a supplicating purr, accepting the vulnerability of being arched by Kurama, the dominance of the bite, a signal of submission.
The sound of supplication twisted in Kurama, restraint felt in the tension of his jaw. Gusts of warmth fanned Hiei's neck, as slowly, through steadying breaths the possessive bite became a coaxing caress of lips and tongue. Soothing purrs adding pleasant vibrations to the bruised flesh, hands shifted, one slipping to the middle of Hiei's back the other to cup the back of his head bringing him up out of the arched posture.
Responding to the delightfully coaxing mouth, Hiei's purr became a deep rumble of pleasure. His hands slid into Kurama's open shirt over shoulders, down the chest, brushed lightly over nipples that crinkled and tightened under warm thumbs. Kurama's delighted moan against his neck caused his hands to linger over them, teasing the flesh with pinches and rolls. With a slow circling of his hips Hiei resumed the arousing friction between their groins.
Kurama's mouth teased and nipped at Hiei's lower lip, taunting him with the promise of a kiss. Stealthy hands slid under Hiei's shirt tracing over lean muscle, delighting in the soft, smooth glide of warm skin. With wicked intent Kurama's touch became lighter, teasing, tickling. A grin broke Kurama from his taunting of Hiei's lip as he twitched and squirmed trying to escape from the tickling.
Bringing his hands from their exploration of Kurama's chest to halt the tickling hands Hiei slipped from Kurama's lap. Standing between Kurama's knees panting, amusement as well as desire in his ruby gaze, "Come on Fox." Hiei stepped back pulling Kurama to his feet.
Pausing briefly to shut off the stereo and turn out the light Kurama and Hiei headed upstairs.
Pulling Hiei to him Kurama ran his hands over him in a possessive embrace. Inhaling deeply the scent of warm sandalwood that rose from the fire demon as he nuzzled Hiei's neck, "Hnmm, sleepy?" Busy hands lifted Hiei's shirt up and over his head.
"Hn...tease." Hiei returned the embrace equally possessive. His hands wandered up the Fox's back, then slid under the waistband of the loose pants to send them cascading down Kurama's thighs. Hands traced the lean lines of Kurama's lithe form to push the opened shirt off his shoulders.
A shiver coursed through Kurama as his hands deftly unbuckled Hiei's pants sending the garment to join his on the floor. Sinking to his knees with a sigh he drug his mouth along Hiei's body catching a quick taste of salty skin before nuzzling into his groin, a dry caress of lips over a semi erect penis. Heat flared in the body under his mouth, with a groan Kurama engulfed the quickening member in his mouth, the bewitching taste of Hiei brought thoughts of wind and campfires, hands clasped hips to keep his prize steady. Tantalizingly slow Kurama slid down, tongue dancing as lips applied subtle pressure. The retreat accompanied by the occasional grazing of teeth. Hiei groaned as Kurama drew his warm mouth away, clever hands covering the loss with massaging warmth.
Hiei sighed as Kurama's mouth left his body, his eyes opening to bring himself back from the sea of sensation he was drifting in. Rapidly he found himself laying flat on Kurama's bed, being delightfully teased under a leisurely exploration. The ache in his loins brought a frown to his face as warm hands left off their caresses to torment other parts of him. A warm tongue glided along his ear as Kurama's warmth hovered over him, a husky huff in his ear, "So beautiful..."
Rolling unexpectedly Hiei straddled Kurama's waist chuckling at the look of surprise, before kissing the Kitsune. A teasing glide across lips before Hiei traveled down soft white skin, tracing each fading scar reverently. Memorizing the body below Hiei worked his way ever downward following his trailblazing hands until he reached Kurama's prominent erection. Hands whispered over the softest of the body's skin memorizing the whorls and ridges, a crooked grin flashed over his face at the tangle of red curls, amazed that the modest Kitsune allowed himself to be so exposed. Wrapping his lips around the tip Hiei circled it with his tongue several times, then with nibbles and suctioning kisses traveled along the sides to the base and back up to the tip circling again. With deliberate slowness to draw out the torment Hiei slid down Kurama's shaft tongue teasing the vein along the underneath with slow bobbing strokes until he made his way to the nest of curls. Slipping back with increased suction his hands glided along Kurama's thighs in light circles.
Kurama squirmed under Hiei's talented mouth, body arching and lifting to increase the delicious contact, sighs and purrs speaking his pleasure. His hands brushed gently through the dense up swept hair, over shoulders, along Hiei's arms. Until the intense, nearly overwhelming sensation of Hiei's mouth centered his world around his cock, leaving his hands to clutch the blankets, "Aaaah Inari, Hiei..." the passionate moan pulled from Kurama warning Hiei of how close he was to the point of no return.
Pulling away reluctantly an evil smirk flashed across his face, Hiei moved up to whisper in Kurama's ear, "How far are we going tonight?"
Kurama groaned at the cessation of his delightful torture. Panting he pulled himself under control, shuddering as Hiei whispered in his ear. A deep throaty purr was the only warning as Kurama flipped him on his back, pinning Hiei's hands above his head. Hiei's growling turned to a purr as Kurama teasingly ground their arousals together. Kurama kissed Hiei deeply, the warm, slippery friction making each moan. Pulling back, soft panting fanning over Hiei's mouth, "How far do you want to go?" asked with a forceful roll of hips as Kurama's hands slid down Hiei's arms to rest on the bed.
"Ahnn...Fox you have any oil?" voice husky and slow Hiei wrapped his thighs around Kurama's waist adding an interesting new variation to the friction Kurama started.
Kurama searched Hiei's face with a fox like tilt of his head, "Hai..I..."
Cutting Kurama off with the brush of his thumb along his lips, "No one I would rather be under than you." Hiei pulled Kurama to him invading his mouth before he could reply making the lost words no more than a rumbling. A warm tongue sweeping the depths of Kurama's mouth.
Lifting away with a languid suckling of Hiei's invading tongue Kurama reached under the futon platform for the box of healing supplies he kept there. Breaking contact briefly with Hiei, Kurama grabbed the bottle of oil and pushed the box back under the bed. With a smirk Kurama fell on Hiei's mouth the gentle nipping of teeth and soothing glide of his tongue leaving already swollen lips tingling. "Stay still," Kurama commanded as he started wandering down Hiei's flushed and sensitive skin, lips and tongue paying homage to Hiei's form.
Hiei squirmed suddenly as a cool trickle of oil pooled in his bellybutton, "Aaahh...Fox..."
Gentle fingers skirted the edge of the pool drawing the cooler oil over Hiei's heated chest causing the skin to tighten and pebble with goose flesh only to be soothed and warmed by firm strokes from strong hands. The massage soothing as the hands worked over Hiei, the driving need calmed. A contented purr making Kurama smile. Hiei lolled his attention focused wholly on the feeling of Kurama's hands as they rubbed over his chest, his sides, his neck. Finally dipping back into the oil before working their way over first one hip then the other. The now warmed oil fragrant adding the scent of almonds in the air as it was worked into the smooth hairless skin loosening muscles.
Desire coiled in Hiei's belly as slick hands dipped into the oil again then slid over his erection, the oil dulling the intensity of the sensations helping to retard his climax. A whisper of breath over the slickened head the only warning before Kurama's mouth engulfed Hiei's straining erection, as oil slicked hands fondled testicles. The delightful warmth of a bobbing mouth distracted Hiei from the questing fingers until the intrusion of a slender digit through the ring of muscle caught his attention. The finger moving in ever widening circles stretching the muscle with a sweet burning ache. The increase of sensation had Hiei writhing, tangling the sheets, all motion kept above the waist as he fought the urge to thrust his hips. Kurama continued his slow and steady onslaught, hands and mouth wringing moans and half-embarrassed pleas from Hiei as the coming climax built.
Hiei blinked as he realized he was no longer being touched. The loss of contact making him gasp in confused panic, "Fox?"
"Ssssh...I'm here." Kurama brushed a kiss across Hiei's lips. Relief flooded the fire demon as he felt Kurama settle between his thighs rolling his hips against Hiei's. His hands coaxed Hiei's thighs up around his waist as he leaned down to nuzzle Hiei's neck before sliding slowly into him. Hiei drew in a sharp breath as his body was slowly penetrated by Kurama's slick shaft. The stretching of his body a warm pleasant itch as the in drawn breath escaped as a breathy moan.
Sheathed deeply in the intense heat of Hiei's body Kurama sighed against the fire demon's neck the bliss of being in this position causing him to tremble, "Hiei..." His voice broken and raspy with desire the question he was going to ask unable to be spoken. Hiei slowly rolled his head along Kurama's as his hands clasped the Fox's back and his hips pushed against Kurama's. Accepting the answer Kurama started the steadily escalating rhythm of thrust and retreat.
Hiei panted under the Fox as the overwhelming friction built between them. The approaching climax roiling through him in increasing shudders. Desire wound tighter and tighter until with a bellow that might have been Kurama's name his body spilled its seed in a long pulsing explosion. The tightening of his body around Kurama's sent the Fox over the edge. With a throaty growl his body released deep within the fire demon. The moment of release a nearly painful tension that flowed delightfully away leaving the two of them panting and gasping against each other.
"AHmmm..." Kurama's arms slipped around Hiei pulling him close as he rolled to his back, "I haven't felt this in years." Lazily a hand caressed up Hiei's back to thread through the dense soft spikes of Hiei's hair.
"Hnnn..." Hiei rubbed his cheek against Kurama's chest, "Me either." His head rested on Kurama as he listened to the slowing of the Fox's heartbeat back to normal, his own pulse settling down. Kurama purred as he felt a warm tongue glide along his collarbone slowly working its way up to his ear stilling his hand in Hiei's hair.
"Fox, I'm sticky. Come shower with me." Hiei continued to nuzzle and kiss along Kurama's throat to entice the Fox into following him before climbing off the bed. He paused in the doorway to toss a wink over his shoulder at the rising Fox before stepping into the bathroom.