New Arc who dis?

Amon hissed, a thoughtless reaction to Hiei's fingers snagging a knot in her hair while he worked his fingers through the red mass until he could take hold of the bulk of the strands. He used the hold to angle her face to his, mouth bruising when it pressed to hers. There was no wasted breath as they explored each other's mouths, her hands smoothing over his back as he pressed against her.

"Put those pretty nails to use, my Amon." He demanded with a growl against her lips, moaning into her when her nails drug down his shoulders. "Your penchant for following orders has some uses, I see."

She didn't vocalize an answer, catching his bottom lip with her teeth instead to force him back into a kiss that threatened to smother her. One hand still in her hair, his other trailed down over her stomach, then lower until she was gasping his name despite being barely touched. His chuckle was vicious as he realized he had her where he wanted her, how he wanted her, her hips moving in time with his touch. She was about to discover a new level of his relentlessness, because he was going to abuse this chance for everything it was worth, and he said as much he retracted his touch to undo his belt.

Hiei awoke suddenly, thrown from his rather vivid dream without warning, thrust into cold reality covered in sweat with a pulse that would not quiet. Disoriented, he looked down to find a fan of red spread over his lap and loosely held in one hand, Amon's forehead pressed to his left thigh, his right leg pulled into the chair with him. His long coat draped around her sleeping shoulders and he had to force himself to make sense of the situation, falling short as she peeled her eyes open with a sleepy yawn. He did not miss the light sweat on her temples, or the disheveled state of her hair.

"Hiei?" She looked up at him with half-lidded blue eyes from under mussed bangs and he couldn't handle the sight of it.

"I need to shower." He stood abruptly, not really caring that he was forced to jostle her in the process or that he had to awkwardly step around her to get away, hopping on one foot twice to free himself. He simply left, desperate to make sense of the dream and why he'd woken with the subject of it with her head between his legs, innocent as she'd been. He was halfway to his room when he was able to finally recollect that Amon had come to see him in the library the night before. That she had fallen asleep against his leg while he'd stroked her hair, lost to his thoughts.

He'd meant to carry her to her bed.

He must have fallen asleep.

Mortifying.

He was lucky he'd awoken before they were found together. The rumors were already deeply entrenched in the castle staff's gossip. He didn't want to feed into them, not when it could paint a target on Amon's back.

"Hey, where have you-" Yusuke started to greet Hiei as he stormed toward his quarters.

"Don't fucking talk to me." Hiei snapped as he passed. "And stay out of the goddamn library. It's off limits until further notice."

"Library?" Kuwabara peered around Yusuke at Hiei's back, receiving no answer except an over the shoulder glower. "He's pissy today."

"Oh, good morning. Breakfast should be underway." Amon gentle greeting made the men swivel to face her. She offered a shallow bow, but her fingers were at work detangling her hair. When she realized they were staring she blushed. "I'm sorry for my state. I must have fallen asleep in the library last night. I'll be put together soon, so please forget you saw me like this. Breakfast will be served shortly in a more intimate dining room for you all and the king."

She skirted them to head for the stairs to descend to her room.

"Ah." Yusuke and Kuwabara cracked matching grins at one another. "The library."

Hiei slammed his bedroom door closed and locked it behind him, leaning against the wood to steady himself. His room was how he left it, sheets pressed and bed made. Swallowing, he glanced at his wardrobe, closed and untouched. It was the first time in a while that Amon's touch didn't permeate his space, no clothes set out for him, no cleaning done during the night. The door to the bathroom remained ajar and he could peek his discarded clothes from the day before on the floor.

It was strange to note the things that lingered in the wake of her absence, his fluttering pulse one of them.

"I can't keep this up." Hiei complained to himself, looking up to the ceiling. Grimacing, he remembered the feeling of pulling Amon close and her lips pressing to his. "I'm such a fool."

He wanted to hate himself, wanted to punish himself for violating her unbreakable trust in him. The memory of her cupping his jaw, her fingers pressing to his chest as her lips worked against his stilled him for a moment. The kiss had been chaste, had been innocent enough. And Amon had accepted it, had she not?

He'd called it a reward and she'd thanked him for it.

Somehow that helped and didn't.

Stomping to the bathroom he shoved the door open and glared at himself in the mirror above the sink, gripping the counter tightly. He looked as he expected. His shirt was undone only slightly, barely enough to reveal the flesh Amon had touched so lightly. By the feel of her hands he'd imagined she'd stripped him bare and yet he'd succumbed to three open buttons and the grazing of nails.

How could he recover from this? Should he speak to her about the kiss, his lapse of judgment? Should he let it stand a 'reward' and say nothing else? This felt so much worse than the marks he'd left along her collarbone days before. Maybe because she'd melted in his hands. She'd been so happy for him to touch her.

If she wanted his touch so bad, he could give it to her…

A loud crack echoed in the tiled bathroom, Hiei's head colliding with the counter so hard it formed a dent in the stone under his hands. When he raised himself back to standing, blood ran down between his brows, staining the wrap he'd worn over his Jagan eye. Split skin at his hairline showed, already bruising as a headache began to bloom. He welcomed the pain as a distraction.

As a punishment.

Amon skipped visiting the kitchen and went straight to her room at the bottom of the castle, unlocking her door and stepping in before she kicked it closed behind her. With a bounce she flopped onto her bed, burrowed her face into her pillow, and screamed.

The king had kissed her.

He'd really kissed her.

She barely stand it, the truth. She could hardly accept that the night before had been real as her heart fluttered in her chest, warmth pooling in her cheeks as the memory replayed for the fiftieth time already. It had really happened. She hadn't felt this way since she was a child. Even if there had been anyone in the last century or more, she'd never have been allowed to succumb or to feel this giddy.

And it was all due to the king. To Hiei.

He'd kissed her.

It had only been a reward, a luxury, a secret special moment between them but it had happened all the same and she couldn't hide her fervent reaction. Rolling to her back on her bed, she stared up at the ceiling with a grin she couldn't suppress. Touching her mouth with her gloveless fingertips she sighed.

What a beautiful life she'd been gifted here, where she could do her best work and support a good king.

"Breakfast." She shot up to sitting, her mind clearing out the girlish thoughts to focus on her actual job. She didn't have time to blush and mewl. She had work to do, a castle to maintain and a king to serve. "I must get ready for the day."

Hiei glowered at his meal silently, a bruise plain against the skin of his forehead. He'd changed the wrapping around the Jagan and this one was smaller, it allowed more of the marred skin to show under his bangs. Fist to his cheek, elbow resting on the arm of his chair he made the plate before him the center of his foul mood.

Yusuke, in contrast, had to fight from grinning too widely. His elbow dug into Kuwabara's ribs, eyes rolling toward the king with a certain expression that made the taller man choke slightly on the mouth of food he'd been trying to swallow.

Kurama sat to Hiei's other side, watching everyone with reservation, trying to place the unusual mood of the room. Amon lingered near the wall as usual, just barely out of sight of Hiei but well within calling distance as she studied the servants milling about doing their assigned tasks. Benji reached for Kurama's teacup from the right and Amon delicately cleared her throat then glanced to Kurama's left and the boy nodded before accepting the silent correction.

"So, anything interest happen after you left your party last night, Your Majesty?" Yusuke wondered aloud, spearing a piece of meat with his fork.

When crimson eyes rose from an untouched plate to land on the brunet, they narrowed with barely concealed malice. "Don't talk with your mouth full."

"I'm sure you know all about full mouths." The response was spoke so fluidly that it took a second for Hiei to catch it's meaning.

When he did, however, he was on his feet and Yusuke was reeling from a porcelain cup colliding with his temple. The sound of shattered glass brought the room to stillness, everyone inhaling sharply at the king's outburst. "If you ever say that to me again, I will-"

"Someone has a guilty conscience." Kuwabara stated with an annoyed huff, one arm protecting his plate from any stray shards of the decimated cup. "Calm down."

Hiei's lips pulled back to bare his teeth, hand moving toward the knife beside his plate as he stared the two men down.

Kurama's gaze skipped over his irate friend to the woman gaging the situation from her out of the way post. It was subtle, in fact if he hadn't been watching he wouldn't have noticed at all, but with a hidden move of her fingers and a glance to the door the staff all filed out silently. Only the four of them, Amon, and Benji remained. Even then, the boy seemed to understand he was meant to step out of the way and he retreated the wall behind Hiei's seat.

Kurama only brought his focus back to the table when Yusuke's chair slid back.

"Aren't you a little old for tantrums?" Yusuke snapped at Hiei, fists resting against the top of the table. "You're acting like a child."

"You'd know about that." Hiei snorted. "You've never bothered trying to grow mature in all the years I've known you. Don't start in on me like you have any high ground."

"I was making a joke." Yusuke reminded. "You're the one getting bent out of shape."

Hiei's hand moved to grip the knife his fingers had been skimming, eyes locked on the former spirit detective. Sneering, he considered his next action until a voice cut through the air.

"I liked that cup." Amon sighed heavily, staring at the shattered remnants of the vessel that were scattered across the table. "I bought it myself."

Hiei dropped the knife, his anger sliding off his face as he eyed the mess he'd made. Retracting slightly, he swallowed and glance toward the only woman in the room with some trepidation. "I didn't know that."

"I suppose it's my own fault." She dared to step forward, moving between the two men to begin plucking the pieces off of the table cloth. To Yusuke she offered, "I'll have a new plate made for you, this one has glass in it now." And to Hiei she offered a placid smile that made him shirk into his shoulders slightly. "I'll get you a new teacup."

Both men looked at her, then each other, then away from everything. Yusuke sat back down and Hiei grit his teeth before following his lead.

"I'm done eating anyway." Yusuke crossed his arms over his chest, eyes narrowed as he studied the far wall.

"I'm not thirsty." Hiei told Amon, working his tone to be lighter than he felt.

"I insist." She informed them both. "Benji, come with me. I'll need your help."

"You don't have to le-" Hiei was cut off by the door closing gently behind the pair, no further excuses needed to vacate the space. He inhaled deeply, then rolled his eyes before sulking in his chair. "This is your fault."

"Me? I made a joke, asshole." Yusuke glared at him. "What's your deal?"

"I don't have a deal."

"Seems like you do." Kuwabara interjected, still enjoying his breakfast despite the violent interruption. "You've been an asshole since we first saw you this morning."

"Oh, did you run into each other before breakfast?" Kurama asked, curious.

Hiei glared at him. "As if they didn't run to you at their first chance."

"They didn't. We didn't see each other until I came down here." Kurama explained. "I chose to sleep in. Which seems to have been a mistake. I missed something."

"You missed nothing, because nothing happened. They were simply in my way as I went to my room." Hiei hedged any further details, his tone a warning.

"On his way back from the library." Kuwabara stated easily.

"You know, that was actually funny, because shortly after we saw you someone else came down the hall." Yusuke began to check his nails. "They were also coming from the library."

Hiei breathed through his nose to avoid opening his mouth, because he knew anything he said would be scathing. "Is that right?"

"Yup." Yusuke lowered his hand to roll his head toward his hot-headed friend. "So, you done throwing fit and want to tell us what happened?"

"There's nothing to tell." Hiei insisted. "I already spoke the truth. I fell asleep in the library."

"Alone?" Kurama asked him, not having to try hard to understand the nuance of Yusuke's accusation.

Silence met the question.

"I knew it." Yusuke slapped the table and pointed to Hiei. "You two did sleep together!"

"Stop being crude!" Hiei yelled at him. "Your mind, as usual, is raked with filth. I fell asleep. That is the end of the story."

"But not alone." Kurama clarified gently, receiving a warning by way of a heated stare. "It doesn't mean we think anything untoward happened, Hiei. After all, if the other person is who I suspect, this wouldn't be the first time you were sleeping in the same space, correct?"

"It is important to clarify that I have not slept with Amon. We have both been asleep in the same room, but that is it. And that's a rarity. We do not share the same space." Hiei explained hotly, daring them to argue with him. "Even on nights where she rests in my room, she is allowed the bed and I either don't sleep or I sleep in a chair, or the windowsill. It is not the lewd behavior you're suggesting."

"I wasn't being lewd." Kurama chided, dabbing at his mouth with a napkin. "I was stating a fact. There is no reason for you to be so defensive. Unless of course, Kuwabara is right and you're compensating for a guilty conscience."

"What do I have to feel guilty about?" Hiei sneered again, arms crossing over his chest. Even he didn't buy his defense. After a moment of locking his jaw, he closed his eyes and tried to soften himself to some degree. "I was in the library when Amon joined me last night. It was not for any reason other than to keep me company. She did fall asleep beside me. I hadn't meant for it to happen. I was startled when I woke up."

"How is every detail of your crush less exciting than the last?" Yusuke groaned. "Come on man, I'm living on crumbs here. Give me something with substance."

"What substance could there be?" Hiei wondered allowed, more to himself than anyone else in the room. "Nothing could transpire between us. I am not a perfect man, but I know better than to disregard the imbalance between us. I know what is within my reach, and what is not."

It was Kurama's turn to glare at Yusuke, an accusation clear in his harsh gaze. Yusuke guffawed at the expression, throwing his hands up to disregard any accountability for the sudden sullen tone Hiei had taken.

"Well, whatever it's worth," Kuwabara pushed his empty plate away from him to finally rejoin the conversation. He smiled at Hiei, "This morning was the most radiantly happy I've seen her since we arrived."

The castle was calmer than it had been in weeks and it wasn't just Hiei that noticed. He heard the servants whispering as much to each other, when he found them. There seemed fewer people loitering around. Even the generals were less abundant, and the ones he did come across were reticent. Though the party the day before did seem to linger in the topic of conversation. He kept hearing low voices about the night before and every single time he felt a knee-jerk response in his stomach, the painful question of "Did they see?" following him down every hall.

Amon appeared none the worse for wear, wandering behind him at the ready, taking in the details of the castle. He imagined her mind was at work making lists and notes, things to be fixed, things to be cleaned.

The rest of breakfast had been relatively civil. Kurama had forced the conversation onward to other topics, and his guidance smoothed out some of the tension. At least, when Amon had returned with a new cup and a new plate the two men had accepted her offerings with grace. They'd thanked her.

Still, Hiei avoided looking at her for too long.

She didn't seem to feel anything was amiss and he tried to take that as a sign that their small contact in the library had been received well, and as at her discretion. They'd had a handful of moments where they were alone and she had not pounced on him for answers. She had not approached him with disgust or reproach. Only with the day's schedule.

"Are you well?" Amon's gentle voice asked, a gloved hand nearly grazing at his bangs.

Hiei started, pulling himself back from the sudden intrusion. He had not realized he'd lost himself so deeply in thought. Yet again, the previous night played in the back of his mind. This time the namesake of his fixation looked him over with concern.

"I'm fine." He stated sharply, unsure why his chest heaved with her proximity. He watched with suspicion as her hand retracted slowly.

"Are you sure?" She pressed, still gentle. Still too close.

Suddenly, Hiei was overcome with her. Her barely tamed hair, thrown into a braid that did little to contain the strands. The scent of her in the air, suffocating, a mixture of wet rain, washing soap and the leather of her gloves. And she took up so much of his vision, filled the space so unapologetically. Dressed in clothing a few months ago would have seemed impossible to imagine. A fitted button down, tucked into high waisted slacks that looked similar to the ones he'd picked out a few days before.

Her mouth though, that was the most distracting thing of all.

Curling his finger over the top of his desk, ignoring the paperwork he'd been pretending to busy himself with, it was all he could think of suddenly, her lips.

They currently toyed with him, pursed with some argument she was choosing not voice.

He swallowed, feeling the movement in his throat.

"Hiei?" She frowned, studying him as though he'd done something concerning.

"What?" He demanded, the dream from the night before barreling to the forefront of his mind. He could almost feel the texture of her hair against his palms as he imagined yanking on the strands in an effort to drag her to him. It took him watching her straighten, pulling away a step for him to realize the amount of hostility he'd allowed to enter his voice.

A beat of silence followed before he gathered himself enough to address her again.

"I'm sorry." Hiei swallowed again, not sure if he should look at her or not. "I had some dreams last night that put me on edge. I've been in my head about it all morning. It's not fair for me to take that out on you."

"I had strange dreams too, actually." Amon admitted, looking around the his office with cultivated idleness. "They weren't quite so gruesome as to make my entire day ruined. In fact, I would say they were rather energetic. It was a nice change of pace." She paused and let out a breathe before turning to meet his attention. "Is there anything I can do ease your mind?"

Kiss me. Hiei thought. Instead of speaking he offered a shake of his head. "No, I don't think so."

"You can tell me." She assured him with a soft smile. "I am on your side in all matters. I don't mind listening to you decipher your bad dreams."

"Who said it was a bad a dream?" He wondered.

"You said-"

"I said I was in my head about it. I did not tell you it was bad. It was, like you said, energetic. It was the unusual nature of the dream that got under my skin." Hiei watched her for a tell as she took in the information, but she gave him nothing. "Tell me about yours."

At the command her cheeks flushed immediately and Hiei was all to suddenly hit with the simultaneous pieces of knowledge that 1) it was not his dream that he'd been having but hers and 2) that Amon had a far better poker face than he could ever have imagined. She'd given nothing away until this very moment, when confronted, and even now she was quickly recovering.

This knowledge somehow made everything worse for him.

He was meant to be the stoic one, unaffected and sensible. Yet, Amon stood steady and he was little more than a begging dog, seeking crumbs of confirmation and affection.

"There is nothing to tell, really. Like I said, it was just unusual." Amon recovered from her momentary falter quickly, as though she hadn't just confirmed one of his worst fears.

Mutual desire, untouched between them but burning slowly towards an inevitable end. Hiei toyed with his pen absently, watching her with strict attention. Looking for a tell. Looking for an invitation.

He might as well pull at the loose threads, Hiei figured. After all, why should he be the only one on edge and craving? If Amon dreamed of him touching her, he could make it come true. But he wouldn't. Not now, not here, and not yet. His lips pulled to the side as his head tilted, crimson gaze scalding as he once again drug his attention down her form. Lingering. Taking his time as his smirk darkened his expression.

Actually, he could use this.

This was the control he needed over this losing situation.

If he wanted Amon to react, well, he'd simply have to make her.

And this game could take as long as he needed it to, it could solve so many of his problems. By the time he reached the end of his rope, he'd have her as desperate for him as he was for her.

When he finally resettled on her face, noting her puckered brows and slightly pursed lips, he did not attempt to shield her from his menacing expression. "You know, you were in my dream."

"Was I?" She swallowed but loosened herself as he watched, hiding any surprise from his view. Amon made a good show of being unbothered but curious. "I suppose you must be tired of me, if I'm plaguing you day and night."

"Plaguing isn't how I'd describe it." He admitted warmly, leaning back in his chair some. "Though I could say that it certainly left me bothered."

Her tongue swept over her lip before she cleared her throat delicately, dispelling the the color in her cheeks. How amusing, he thought.

"We should finish discussing your day." Amon gently redirected the conversation. "I made sure this week was lighter in terms of responsibility for you, as a thank you for participating in the festivities. The generals have their own duties to see to, so they shouldn't pester you too often. The soldiers from the outer regions of the territory are due to return and be exchanged for those who have remained here. It will keep the military busy, and for the time being, out of your hair."

"I see."

"However, there are a few tasks that I've been delaying bringing to your attention over the last week." As she noticed the warning in his narrowed eyes she continued to explain. "They are non-essential. We do need to review the gifts brought to you and determine what you'd like to do with them, and if we are going to thank the dignitaries. There are some matters regarding the staff I'd like to speak about with you. Nothing pressing."

Hiei didn't respond initially, counting backwards in his head. "Why are the regiments being exchanged now? They aren't do for duty changes for another month."

Amon looked down at her notebook without responding to his question.

"Amon." Her name fell like a hammer. "What overstepping did you do?"

"I did nothing." She avoided raising her eyes to meet his as she spoke. "The generals felt strongly that it may boost morale for those so far away to have an early break, considering they missed a week long celebration that their comrades were able to attend."

"The generals felt that way?" Hiei stared at her, tone lilting with accusation. "My generals? The men who can barely speak a word of praise about anyone but themselves? They decided their troops earned a reprieve?"

"If you ask any of them, yes. It was their idea." She nodded, finally steeling herself enough to face him head on. "Such growth is so rare, it should be honored and appreciated."

"Amon." Hiei dared her to continue dancing around the truth with his tone. "Do you really want to be the one who earns my ire today?"

They stared at one another for a few long seconds in silence before she snapped her notebook closed and shoved it into the breast pocket of her shirt. Begrudgingly and with notable annoyance she relented.

"I did not tell them or convince them to do anything." Amon remained firm. "I did however, put it into the ears of the staff at large that it might be an act of goodwill if the generals did such a thing. And perhaps, the loyalty of their men would be beneficial to have on their side. They are so hungry for steadfast allies within the castle that the generals ran with the idea."

His mouth fell open as he regarded her, not sure what was worse, her skill at managing to convince others to do what she wanted without ever outright making a demand or the fact his generals were dumb enough to fall for such an underhanded ploy.

"Amon, you do realize that you suggested to them that the soldiers would rise with them if they tried hard enough to be kind to them, don't you?" Hiei couldn't even believe the level of stupidity he was hearing.

"Oh, yes. I'm aware." She agreed readily. Amon sighed then, clearly aggravated with the men in question. "It's really foolish of them to try to catch loyalty with such low quality bait. Utterly ridiculous."

"You gave them the bait, Amon." Hiei pointed out dryly.

"I gave them scraps." Amon disagreed easily. "Honestly, do you really believe I would ever allow such a thing if I thought it had any chance of success? I just needed your advisers busy for a few days so you could have some spare time to enjoy."

"And if it does succeed?" He demanded. "What miracle are you hoping to perform if my entire army decides to follow the men who hate me into battle against me?"

"Sire, come now." The smile she flashed him revealed sharp canines and a look of self-satisfaction. "You should know better than that by now. I will not allow any such thing to happen to you. The generals have granted their men this reprieve, but you are the one celebrating their return with a party of their own. Catered, planned, and coordinated. Those men will return here and feel like kings themselves thanks to your mindful generosity."

He remembered, quite suddenly, that Amon was involved in several cases of political intrigue. She'd infiltrated the homes, the offices of powerful men for a long time, working to turn their careers to dust or their bodies into corpses. He'd never asked for details and how she'd gone about such feats. He wasn't going to start now.

But for the first time, he could see it happening, beyond her acts of brutality. He could see the intelligence undercutting her foes, see the way she moved pieces across the board in formulated plots until her goals were accomplished. He could understand why Greyfield, who had killed so many before her, had chosen to keep her alive.

"And if that doesn't work?" Hiei wondered, still stuck in his imaginings. "What then, Amon? Will I be forced to mow down my own soldiers to set an example?"

"There are easier ways." She assured him. "But they won't be needed, because these men will never turn on you." She then approached him, reaching over the desk between them to tap a stack of papers remaining from the previous weeks. "You saw the expense reports yourself, sir. You should already know that you've been providing for those men for months, extra provisions, upgraded cots and barracks."

He moved his attention to follow her hand. "I told you not to allocate funds without my approval. Amon, we had a fight about this barely a week ago."

"This was the fight we had." She pointed out, pulling her hand away. "It's all in the papers I had you sign. I will not do such a thing again, and I have not even thought of it since I promised you that I wouldn't. These actions were calculated and committed a while ago. This happened before our conversation, sire."

"All part of your bid to make me a better king than I actually am?" Hiei hissed, his earlier mood dissolving with every new syllable that fell from the woman's mouth. The honorifics were the least of his problems in this moment.

"There is no better king than you, Hiei." Her expression shifted, softened, grew warm. "I wish you wouldn't say such things."

"When you are constantly shifting things without my consent, it is hard to believe you hold me in such high esteem." He growled at her. "This could be treason, you do realize that? And if anyone else found out that it was you and not me, how do you think your plans would fare then?"

"I am hearing you." She assured him, serious and stiff at the accusation. "I am not sure how you'd like me to rectify it at this point."

"There is nothing to be done, apparently." He pointed out, annoyed. No not annoyed, angry. Frustrated. "You may feel entirely in control of these choices, these deceptions, Amon, but you cannot always be the winner of such games."

"I understand." She agreed solemnly. "I will not betray your trust again. I apologize that it's happened even once. It is not how I want you to think of me."

"You make it difficult to chastise you." He grumbled, aggravated with himself for the feeling in his stomach as he watched her shrink into her shoulders. "Even more difficult to maintain my anger when you screw up like this, because I cannot stand to see you make yourself small every time I raise my voice to you."

"You could always hit me." The words seemed to leave her mouth before she could catch them, a simple off the cuff remark that came from a place of routine, not a thought that had been invoked.

"Say that to me again." Hiei was on his feet, more heat in his chest and tone than he'd held this entire conversation. His hands trembled with the wave of hot anger coiling through him.

Amon, who seemed to know she'd misspoke immediately shook her head, lips closed tightly. She'd put her hands up, only slightly, and taken a step back, only half with one foot, as though she suspected he'd launch himself at her and she might need to flee or evade, but she had not fully committed.

Did she think she could take him, or did she trust him to never come so close in anger?

"I meant to say, we could spar." She corrected swiftly. "When I frustrate you. We've done it before and it's helped us communicate. We could go into the caverns and speak that way. Body to body."

He tried to decipher if she was appeasing him or not, if she was covering herself. She could seem to tell and lowered her hands, righting her posture as if to indicate the situation was indeed resolved. Her statement held an innocent naivety to it he didn't often find in her, and it provided him something to latch onto.

"I can speak to your body right here." He assured her with so much heat it nearly burned his tongue to utter the words.

She gave him the reaction he'd been hunting for, wide eyes and a darting glance down his form. Wet lips. A step forward, more than what she'd retracted. He was amused when she caught herself, swallowing and resettling. A dance she seemed familiar with, the more he watched.

How had he missed it before?

"What did you need to say regarding the staff?" He took pity on her and changed the topic, allowing the anger to slough off of him, a coat he no longer needed.

"It's not urgent." She shook her head, eying him with subdued suspicion. "More towards the top of the list is taking stock of the gifts you received and how you'd like to reciprocate, if at all."

"Why would anyone bring me gifts?" Hiei sneered at the mere thought. "Bribery? Flattery?"

"Likely. But also, it is customary when visiting a foreign leader to bring something as a token of peace and respect. It's a sign of kinship and good will." Amon explained. "Though it would be ardently foolish to approach you without some token of understanding of your strength."

"Ah, so now it is you who flatters me." Hiei teased.

"If it is flattery to speak the truth then I am guilty of it." She stated easily, factually.

"And what manners of vanity have these strangers paid to me?"

"I suppose we should go see."

The room they entered surprised Hiei with it's contents, so full and overflowing. Items had been placed with their own kind, but tags had been added, labeled in neat script indicating who gave what. As he stepped into the room he was overcome with the understanding that so many others could be so wasteful with their wares. The sheer amount of gold fibers made his stomach flutter.

If it weren't all his own, he'd have the urge to steal it.

Now that it was in his possession he wasn't quite sure what to do with it all.

As he walked, Amon explained some of what he was seeing. Chests filled to bursting with precious metals and gems. She offered a brief description of the glimmering contents as he fondled a particularly dark stone that seemed iridescent as he moved it through the light. It was a lovely thing.

Bottles of perfumes and incense laden a few shelves, all different. Some musky, some clean, others so deeply woodsy he could feel moss under his soles. He judged the scents with heavy consideration, not sure when he'd ever use them.

"They would make nice gifts for others. Keeping them on hand would be prudent, it would make a quick offering that required little to think about." She suggested, fingering a green glass bottle herself. "After all, some of these are quite lovely."

Amon made sure to transcribe his words and preferences and he made sure to itemize every single thing her touch lingered on.

Then they studied a selection of statues and figures carved by hand from various materials. Ornate wood items, some furniture. Useless decorations he had no desire to keep, but Amon vocalized plans for them, places they would go. He left it to her, offering his full permission, not that she had considered needing it. If she didn't seem subtly excited, he may have found her plans imprudent.

Exotic plants in pots were next. Some he recognized on sight and remarked that he did not like. Amon took notes. Others were flowering and offered something pleasant to the room, those he didn't mind. He didn't need them, would not have sought them out, but he didn't mind if they stayed. Amon wrote about that too.

"These will be tested before you eat them." Amon carefully removed a fruit from Hiei's hungry hand, placing it back into the basket of it's peers. "As will the other foods. We cannot confuse custom with kindness. I do not want you to get poisoned so please allow the foods to be judged before indulging."

"I'm surprised you waited this long to do so." Hiei stated easily, wiping his palm on his shirt.

"Normally, I would handle it myself but I have not had the time. Be patient, please."

He nodded and continued striding around the room with her as his guide. He never remembered Mukuro doing this. Was she as spoiled? Or had she simply rejected this custom? Granted, she had few visitors from other lands unless they were begging her for mercy.

"Silk, from the west of us. A smaller parcel, I think, but burgeoning with wealth all the same." Amon spoke as his palm brushed over bolts of fabric. It felt fine, expensive, the pattern intricate and woven by hand based on her continued explanation as he studied the various options.

He stared at the threads, the colors. Stormy blues, bright golds, and burnt oranges. It stopped him, stealing all his attention. This particular bolt, with it's lovely satin touch, was the only thing he found an immediate use for.

"I want to see you in this." He tugged on the material and stared at her with the command. "Have the seamstress make you something lovely with it. A dress maybe."

"A dress?" Amon stilled, caught off guard. If he didn't know better, he'd say she was shaken by the idea.

"Something like that, yes. I think it would flatter you." He told her and moved on, Amon falling behind.

"We should have this fashioned into a garment for you, that's what it was meant for. I do not need anything so fine." Amon argued gently, gloved finger grazing over the material. "This silk is made for a king."

"And your king demands you wear it." He challenged without malice, not bothering to waste the time to look behind himself. "Stop arguing and continue your tour."

"Of course."

Amon described the delicacies set aside for him, sweets and savory bites, meats and pastries. Baskets of food he would never finish. These she had managed to secure as safe. He plucked a cream puff from the selection and savored it as he listened to her talk.

There were soaps and bathing items, salts, bubbles, and the like as well, in various scents. Again, items he would have never considered before and couldn't rightly fathom finding use for now.

Furs and hides, waited for his approval. Some soft, luxurious, others more fit for protection from the elements. These he could appreciate more easily. He'd have new boots made from the leather, a new cloak fashioned from some of the fur as the lining.

Then came drinks, so many liquors and wines. More than he could want for. More than he could stomach on his own. More gifts for others, he supposed, or for hording and special moments.

Weapons, expertly crafted. Swords. Axes. Knives.

"It's like they don't even know me." Hiei huffed, running his finger along the edge of a two-headed axe. "I have never used one of these."

"Perhaps they think you'd like to change things up." Amon suggested.

"Perhaps they're idiots."

"I'll write that down for the thank you note." She giggled quietly, but the sound warmed him and he grinned despite himself. "We are about done, I think. The rest of the gifts were already politely rejected on your behalf."

"And what could you have possible turned away if all of this made it through?" Hiei wondered, incredulous. "What more could there have been?"

"Well, there were about six women gifted to you. Beautiful daughters of powerful men desperate to secure a marriage contract with you. I told them that is not how things worked in Alaric, and that the king is not currently in want of a wife but I did take their details in case you changed your mind." Amon explained simply.

"They must not like their daughters very much, if they are willing to doom them into a marriage with me." Hiei rolled his eyes with a huff. "My reputation far precedes me. They must be quite desperate to even consider such a thing."

"Daughters, to many, are expendable. This is their purpose." Amon's tone betrayed her distaste. "If you're interested, I did keep pictures and information."

"I'm all set with that." Hiei shook his head. He then looked around them at everything, assessing, making plans. "There certainly is a lot here."

"Indeed. It was a good haul." She agreed. "Once the fruits and vegetables can be declared safe to eat, I can take them to the kitchen and plan a menu around them so they can be used before they spoil. I'll look into the plants and see what is capable of surviving here in the castle or on the grounds and what will not. Perhaps Mr. Kurama can assist me in that."

"Are you two friends now?" Hiei slid his attention to her carefully. "He does have a habit of being charming and disarming. I suggest you do not fall for it."

"I would not call it friendship, but I do think we have come to an understanding. He cares very deeply for you, sir, but so do I. I think it is easier for him to believe that now." Amon smiled at him, to dissuade any misgivings. "Even if we had not found common ground, he is the resident expert on horticulture and it would be sinful to pass up such knowledge."

"You're charming too." Hiei accused.

"I will do my best to be taciturn going forward." Amon did not bother hiding her smile. "If only for your benefit."

"See that you do." He accepted her lie with an eye roll. "Beyond using the food so it doesn't go to waste, I'm not sure how to handle the rest of this."

"We'll fashion clothes for you. We'll put the weapons into storage, unless any caught your eye. Perhaps they could be used for training purposes? Some of the items, as we discussed, would make decent gifts were you to need them."

"Charming and clever." Hiei hummed to himself, considering his mental list. "Gifts. That's an idea I could get behind."

"I'm glad you agree."

He thought, decidedly, that she would not if she knew he was speaking about her.