The Raven

There was only Darkness.

Darkness and Pain.

Hiei had been badly beaten, raped and then beaten again.

He breathed in the dead air very slowly. He knew at least four of his ribs must have been crashed; drawing air in was a permanent aching torture now.

His head throbbed, and he could feel his face swollen and bruised from the heavy blows.

His Youkai heart beated faintly and a permanent nausea filled his being. Nevertheless he still fought against himself not to let any tear slide from his eyes.

At least he could dream...

He could not sleep; pain and disconfort were too intense. But he could let his mind wander, he could recall how good was to be free.

Freedom... He craved for it, for leaving behind that stinky hole and chase the youko amidst the fresh and wild Makai Forests, grab him and make love to him laying on a bed of dandelions and daisies.

Hiei was cold. He had only the hard and chilling stone floor to cuddle to... He missed the broad chest, the slender arms, and the long silvery strands which covered him like a silky mantle. To make love to the youko was to merge into an untamed warmth. It was like diving into a spicy scented flame. It was as to be totally wrapped into a soft, smooth and moaning quicksand, which filled his every need, every desire, absorbing, deeper and deeper into, until the climax...

His fingers twitched against the cold flor, his nails scratched the paving stones. It was so easy... He just needed to pull the youko by his fluffy long tail. It was the sign in their lover's codes which meant Hiei was willing to ride the tall Silvery Fox and take the leading act in their lovemaking. The Youko would smile in mischief at the suggestive proposal, and wink to his partner, playfully waggling his tail, showing himself off in a teasing gesture of acceptance.

Not to be by the side of his two-aspect lover increased his bitter sorrow, as he lay abandoned within that fucking magic circle, locked by wards, disoriented by weakness...

His lover was the only vision in his drained mind. At least he got his memories... Karasu could not steal them from him...

He loved to watch the naked Youko running amidst the tall grass, his hair and tail flowing high after him like a lustrous, silvery after-image. Hiei observed him plunge into a lake, and then emerge, wet and breathtaking in all his wild beauty...

He approached his lover then, like a wispy black shadow, faster than the eye, and and pulled his tail.

Kurama chuckled, and his eyes flashed in sudden delight... These were the rules of their love game - Hiei would have to submitt in case he got caught in a Hide and Seek play; Kurama would have to surrender if defeated in a Pull the Tail match. The winner had the right to play the active part.

They kissed, and Kurama youko embraced his lover, carrying him in his arms to share the damp grassbed. The Youko brought Hiei to lay in between his parted thighs, and shifted his own hips a bit so that their members were pressed smoothly against one another. The stiffening started, slowly in both of them, as the warmth beteween thier touching bodies increased. 

"Hiei?"

The Fire Demon mumbled something, but in fact all he cared about was to kiss the well-defined abdomen, to lick the warm skin, and to nibble amorously the muscle ridges.

"Who do you love more?"

"Hn?"

"Be sincere, Hiei . I need to know. You love the Shuuichi or the Youko form better?"

"I pulled your tail, not your tongue. I wanna fuck, not talk"

"Hentai!"

"Hn... You're the hentai. I was an innocent, celibate, virgin Fire Demon when you met me. You corrupted me, not the contrary..."

He remembered the youko laughed a lot at his comment. A faint giggling sounded in the basement's darkness when he reminded Kurama's amused looks then... Only the youko crazy ways could make him laugh even facing such a tragedy.

He moved a bit, trying to be a little more comfortable against the rock-hard pavement. If the youko were there, he would crawl to his belly, and sleep with his face leaned to his chest, and his bedcovers would be his long silvery locks.

They kissed again. To kiss the youko was like being engulfed into a deep well of warmth and ecstasy and always crave for more, more....

"Please Hiei. I need to know."

It had always been a difficult questioning for Hiei. He could not even express all he thought and felt proprierly...He needed them both. He had been very upset about he youko form in the past; yes, he could not deny he had been a little too nasty towards the youko Kurama... But after a while, differences were not shocking anymore; they had become exciting...

"I have one of you for each of me..."

"What do you mean koibito?"

Hiei sighed... He stared long-windedly into the golden eyes, and his hands reached out to hold the beautiful face, the fingertips caressing the lips and the dainty nosetip. He was not very good at speaking out of his feelings. He prefered to let his lips, his hands and his body explain of his sentiments in warm, long fondlings and kisses.

Well...He could try...

"I am Ice and Fire, Youko... I am two inside me, and these conflicting elements are always fighting a horrid battle inside my soul."

He paused, and played a little with the long clear loose strands of hair, curling them in around his fingers.

"When I'm nervous, impatient, and tired, it's your Shuuchi aspect I need. Your Ningen aspect soothes me, tends my sadnesses, comforts my frustrations. Shuuichi's tenderness helped me forget rage and vengeance. He heals my somber side with his humaneness and love..."

"Oh..."

"And when I'm healed and unbound as I am in the Makai, it's the wild Youko aspect I crave for. A daredevil companion who makes me laugh with his sly ways. Here I need a crazy youko who is just unsatiable and unrestrained. You are the one I need by my side when I want to feel free and untamed."

He had noticed the youko had turned his face, and brough his long fingers up to his eyes, to brush away a clear tear. Hiei didn't let him, sliding to stretch and kiss his lover's eye. He kissed, and sucked the tiny, brilliant tear, savoring the salty taste.

"I need both of you..." Hiei murmured against the Kurama's pale face, wrapping him with his warm breath.

The Youko moaned deeply, and shifted his body, bending his knees and rising his legs up high, spreading himself wide to settle Hiei snuggly in between his thighs.

"Make it to me, my Fire Demon...."

To merge into his heat, to plunge into the wet musky secrets of his pale body, to be one with the untamed soul. A soul which had fought hard to be free, to conquer peace and love, just like his own.

Hiei kissed the youko's chest, letting his tongue bring hard the pretty pinkish nipples, pressing the tips firmly in beteween his lips, pullling and sucking, strecting the sensitive skin till the youko elicited a long purr of satisfied pain.

A brush light as a feathers's touch reached his buttocks. The tail which Kurama swayed from one side to the other. Hiei positioned himself onto the larger body, his hardened length sliding along the youko's sex, the tip slipping down the curvous and warm scrotum, and then caressing in a long sleeking move the crevice, pulsating toward the musky scented entrance.

He forced the youko's thighs apart a little more, pushing his hips up with a thrust of his own thighs. The youko growled and obbeyed, spreading himself completely to the penetration.

Hiei smiled in a sly, evil way. He leaned his head on the youko's belly, licking the shivering but firm skin, placing the tip of his hardened love at the opening.

It was the youko who pushed him in, one broad but tender hand reaching out and pressing his buttocks, bringing him in with a long, sudden push.

Hiei groaned aloud when his huge hardness filled the youko's warm hollow. The Silvery being quivered stretching his back and letting out a long gutural soung which revealed much of his ardent elation. Kurama Youko shut his eyelids firmly and his carmine lips opened softly when his tongue slid past them, making them glossy and wet at the same time a deep sigh was heaved. The pervading youko sexual fragrance, a scent so peculiar and delicious which spread all over them and around. Hiei breathed more, and delved in. The youko enjoyed it fierce and fast.

The Youko's long arms enveloped Hiei's body, and his long legs were crossed at the youkai's back, binding him, and guiding his moves, pulling him off and then pushing him back in with energy. The youko panted, his whole body trembled, and Hiei took noticed of the hard bulge growing and hardening against his belly. So hot and wet... So lustrous and smooth... He moved in and out, and the hard, huge member rubbed against his body, jerking and throbbing delighfully, spurting juices and letting the wondrous aroma of love all over...

To remind such rapture was all his comfort now...

Hiei missed the warmth then. It was so good to be involved by the youko and to have his long velvet hands moving in maddening caresses all over his smaller body. He delighted in listening to the deep voice pleading for more, for release... Kurama was so powerful, and yet, so vulnerable. Shuuichi or Youko - Love made them adorably vulnerable when the blissful climax came.

Hiei hissed out a small sigh. Memories. He was weak, and hurt. He was almost believing his foe's promise - That he would nevermore see his beloved companion again...

At least he had been happy and loved. Death could come and drag him to Reikai now, and strip him out of that hard, cold reality. He was prepared for it.

It was when he heard steps pulling him away from his memories. He fidgeted against the hard soil, antecipating the pain. He had already made an infallible association: Karasu's steps coming down the corridor were equal shame, outrage and pain. He had never been so humiliated... His whole body started to tremble in response unable to move more than aching inches. He was laying on his stomach, and he could merely turn his face to the side, towards the door. The eletric lights were switched on from outside, and Hiei's chest ached as he witnessed his prison with his very eyes. Darkness was better, so he wouldn't have to stare at the miserable place he had been shoved into like an animal in a cage.

The door creaked open, and the repellent youkai in black showed.

"I brought you a visit."

The only thing which crossed Hiei's mind was that now the twisted karasu was going to bring in others, and make him victim of a group rape. He closed his eyes again, and swallowed. His dry throat was terribly sore, and his neck all scratched and bruised...

"Fuck the visit..." Hiei managed to whisper.

Karasu's maniac laughter echoed. The idiot Youkai was really having a lot of fun - all of it on him, on his suffering... If he could just get a bit, a tiny bit of his strenght back...

He heard the door being closed again, and very soft steps moving towards him. They were not Youkai steps; They were too slow, too elegant...

"Hiei... I'm here, my love..."

He heard the sweet voice, the voice which enveloped him with the utmost care and love, and his whole body tensed. Hiei's youkai heart pounded violently, and he felt a warm, sole tear slide down his shut eyelids and come running down his cheek.

A long moaning sound came from his throat: Kurama...

He tried to reach his lover, but could not move any of his arms now; one broken the other badly dislocated. He turned his face to the fox. Kurama had kneeled beside him, and ..

He was crying...

Hiei quivered, as grief struck him heavily. No! He could tolerate his own suffering. but being forced to witness Kurama's cry and pain was too much of a torture. The Fiend... His wicked mind could not stop inventing the most demonic ways to torture them both. Karasu was probably watching them from some peeping hole on the wall...

"No... Don't cry." Hiei murmured, pulling himself closer to his lover. "It hurts more to see you cry."

Kurama could not obbey, bursting into a convulsive cry then, his body raised and fell violently under his sobbing, and his hands trembled as he reached out for Hiei...

"Thanks Inari; Thanks all the Gods... You're alive..."

Hiei squirmed in pain when the gentle hands held him, one around his waist, the other carefully cupping the nape of his neck. Kurama pulled himself towards Hiei, bringing his smaller body up, very slowly, very careful, till the youkai could rest his head on his shoulder. He caressed the bruised face, so pretty, pale like the finest china, exquisite and lovely. The redhead drew his fingertips kindly to the Hiei's purplish cheeks, where he seemed to have been slapped dozens of times. A wet trail followed the sinuous way from Hiei's eyes to his chin, and dripped onto his chest.

Liquid tears.

The Youko placed his hand on his lover's neck, testing his temperature. Hiei was cold and no energy at all vibrated from his aura. Kurama chewed his lips, to avoid a despairing cry... Such extreme feebleness could only mean one thing - His Youkai was on the verge of Death....

He covered the Jagan with his palm, very softly. The Demonic eye was shut and insentient under the bandanna. There were symbols inscribed all over the wards on his brow and arm. Kurama curiously tried to pull off the bandanna, lifting the fabric just a milimeter. Hiei moaned in immediate consequence, his eyes widened and his body quivered in a spasm. The wards...

"No... It hurts too much..." He stole himself away from the touch, dodging the pain, and relaxed once more only when Kurama withdrew his hand. "It's as if you were ripping my skin off. Let it be..."

The redhead stared thougtfully at the drawn lines on the floor; he had though about wiping them off, but not anymore. There were only two ways to break the blocking wards. Whether convincing Karasu to release his lover, or killing the bastard...

Kurama brought his lips to Hiei's and kissed him lightly, so the touch wouldn't hurt his cut and swollen mouth.

"I'm gonna save you, Hiei..."

"How?"

"I'm gonna give that scoundrel what he wants, and then he is going to release you..."

Hiei just blew a faint word out - "No". And he repeated it again and again, but comotion raided him, weakening him even more. His words and voice were weary, almost inaudible, till he could not say anything more with his throat too constricted by the massive emotion acumulating in his chest, making his youkai heart beat in an irregular and violent tempo.

Kurama caressed his black hair. It felt so good to have the small body in his arms once more. He had missed the contact madly for those past days. His green eyes could not be drawn from Hiei's tortured and yet beautiful face, and he stared the youkai longly, without words, just letting his eyes smile of the gleaming happiness of embracing him.

"Karasu allowed me to see you so I could be sure you were alive."

Hiei didn't need more explanations; he knew very well what was going on... A Trade - His life for Kurama's...

His chest ached deeply, as if he were punched by an iron glove. The sharp pain of being forced to admit his own extreme frailty echoed to his every limb, made him gasp for air.

Why, why did they have to suffer so much? Why was it that the whole world seemed to have joined Ill Fate into a filthy scheme to make them suffer the most? Why couldn't they just share their lifetimes together in peaceful joy? Why so much fight, pain and torture since the beginning of their existences for both of them?

Hiei could only hope the fox had a witty plan, a wild card hidden up his sleeve...

Kurama ought to have a course of action. He was a Fox, a millenarian Youko, he was smart not to let Karasu beat him...

The Fire Demon would pray fervently to the Fates if he knew how to. Hiei could not picture his existence without that crazy, pretty fox...No... Not anymore. The cruellest and most ferocious of Hells was not excruciating enough compared to an existence apart from his adorable life-partner.

Hiei's face quivered as he fought back his cry. All he wished was to be able to embrace his lover, caress his face and soothe his sadness with the sweetest fondling. But both his arms were paralyzed by injuries and fractures, lying innanimated along his sides.

"Kurama..." He moaned in a very low, hurted manner, turning his face away.

The redhead offered Hiei a gentle smile, placing careful strokes with his fingertips all around his lover's cheeks.

"D-did Karasu...Kiss you?" Hiei asked with vacillation.

The Fox fondled his lover's face, brushing away the spiky strands falling over his eyes. He needed to lie; a small white lie...Hiei was so weak; his body would collapse if under any violent flow of emotion. No... He had to tranquilize, heal his sorrows and instead of cry, smile...

"No."

"He bragged about it..."

"He lied."

Kurama rocked his lover very slowly against his body wishing he could transmit heat to his devitalized partner. But Karasu had blocked his ki again, and he had no access to his own energy; he could not heal his lover, he could not even conjure a single balsamic plant to tend his lover's wounds and sores...

Hiei could absorb energy from Fire, heat or sun. There, in that damp and cold basement there were none of it. Karasu had drained Hiei heavily, and he had not the chance to regain his stolen ki. In fact, all the violence and beatings had served to drain him weak even more. Hiei would die within hours if he could not find himself a source of vital energy. And Kurama could not let any of his locked ki flow into his partner. However blocked Kurama thought on a despaired attempt; the only thing at his reach to try to impart a bit of renewed vigor into his weary lover. His Ningen body detained ki; his blood was a source of overflowing lifeforce.

Kurama hesitated no more. He opened the buttons of his shirt, pulled the collar down and moved away the long silver chains from which both teargems, the clear and the dark one, hanged. The Fox brought Hiei's mouth towards his neck, supporting him firmly. He felt Hiei wince, unwanting of his offer, but he didn't let the youkai loose.

"I am warded too. I can't heal you, but at least I can offer you a part of my life." Kurama murmured, fighting against his own cry as he felt on his own skin how faint Hiei's breathing was blown on his neck... He barely had the strenght to inhale, and his exhale was a feeble sigh full of pain... Kurama perceived the lips on his neck, but they were shut, cold and immobile. "Hiei, take some of my ki. You are too weak..."

Hiei kissed the scented and soft skin, instead of breaking it with a bite, and relaxed himself within the slender enveloping arms. And he had no will or strenght to pull himself away when Kurama gently placed a hand on his nape, nestling him against the warm and tender curve in between his neck and shoulder. And Hiei could not resist any longer. The deprivation had deleted the Fiery aspects of his soul letting only hunger and emptiness. It was his remote koorime heritage that commanded his acts. He could listen to the blood flowing, he could sense the warm liquid energy rushing under the beautiful skin. He let his lips part, and with a low groan pressed his fangs against his fox's salty paleness.

Kurama closed his eyes and gulped with the quick puncturing on his skin. But he did not wince; instead, he brought himself closer yet to his pretty youkai, to try to help him drink. He felt the sucking pressure, the small tongue and the acute teeth tearing him, and yet he moaned fiiled with a strange satisfaction, a contented sensation of allowing his demon over to be as intimate to him as possible as they shared life in itself.

Hiei sucked slowly, and his breathing pace increased as he drank blood and kissed the cut at the same time, caressing Kurama's neck with his tongue, moving it in circles, caressing and collecting the generous flow of blood into his mouth and down his throat, kissing and sucking, very calmly.

Kurama smiled... His blood could preserve Hiei a litle longer, it would rescue him from immediate death. He would gladly offer his partner till the last drop of his blood if it could save him.. Kurama had been vicious and cruel to many of a lover during his youko times - Yomi, Kuronue, Hikaze, Amaya... His lovers had been betrayed, forgotten, traded in slave markets, marked to death and continuously cheated by him. It was enough. Hiei was different... He would never leave that youkai behind; he would give everything he owned to save him... His love, his blood, his life... Everything...

Kurama embraced him carefully, breathing very slowly and already sensing a small but sudden change in Hiei's disposition. There was a thin aura vibrating from him already... A bluish energy, totally out of place with his fiery energy, but at least his red eyes bore a faint lustre on their irises once more...

Kurama started moving rhythmically back and forth, in a slow sway, his hand patting Hiei's hair as he drank the last tiny sips of blood... There was warmth back to the small youkai's body now; he was not healed, he was not strong enough to stand and walk, but at least he had not the risk of collapsing to death in between drawing air in and out...

Hiei kissed his lover's neck again, and pulled back, resting his head on his shoulder, watching the two tiny marks on the pale skin. A thin trail of blood slid along Kurama's neck, disappearing into his shirt onto the chest...

Hiei sighed... He loved the fox too much...

"Better koibito?"

Hiei just nodded, too elated by the lifeforce which was so lovingly offered, and so intensely necessary... Hiei would never admit it , but he was so weak he really though he was about to pass away right there, at that very moment, in his foxy-lover's arms. He was grateful his redhead partner had this marvellous gift - He could understand his needs; Hiei didn't need to say a word, however Kurama would always be able to grasp all he meant, all he felt, all he needed. Hiei stared at his lover with a deep gratitude mirrowed in his red eyes. He even smiled...

Kurama pulled one of the silver chains from his neck, placing the clear jewel around Hiei's neck.

"Here, Hiei. I brought it back to you."

The youkai faced the light bluish jewel, and then faced his partner with the most loving expression; Kurama knew just how much that small token meant to him.

"If I just could take you with me... This place is disgusting..." Kurama commented in a somber, low voice, looking around.

The place was dirty and horrid. He observed the magic seals and inscriptions covering each palm of the walls, like a macabre wall paper, and cast his eyes down, following the circular trail around Hiei's body, carved in the pavement and marked with what seemed thick coal lines. His youkai must have suffered so much... All because of some stupid retaliation. Kurama should be the only one involved. To bring Hiei into that matter was extremely unfair. His demon lover had already suffered so much in life. To have him undergoing such painful inflictment was too much for him to bear... No.. It was his responsability to set his lover free. And for all the Gods, he would defeat his wicked enemy, whatever the cost.

Kurama set Hiei onto the floor, with lots of care, slowly turning his light body so he could lay on his back now. He sniffed and swallowed his tears, as he carefully touched the broad chest, now blackened by wide, intense bruises.

So much pain...

He shivered, and anger uprose within him as he watched the scars, scratches and cuts, many still open and bleeding. His lover's skin was stained by large spots of dry blood, dirt and...

Oh... The monster's repugant semen, mixed with blood, pasted on his belly and thighs contaminating his precious lover...

His heart ached so intensely Kurama felt as if it was going to halt and fail him. Anger rushed all down his veins. His lips quivered and his eyes started to burn, irritated by the continuous flow of tears.

The redhead undressed his jacket, folding it, and bent over Hiei, raising his head carefully to place the surrogate pillow under his nape. He touched Hiei's cold fingers with his the fingertips then, sliding all along the bandaged hand and fingers, in a caress light as a warming breeze.

Kurama stood up, looking around. There was nothing else in the compartiment but some thrown away pots lying in a corner, together with a small pile of garbage and dirt. Burnt candles transformed into irregular mounts of melted wax, shreads of a stained velvet curtain, a pile of wooden boxes, piles of yesterday's papers... But to the side, just what he needed; a bucketful of water, put underneath a leaking pipe which hang from the brick-ceiling, almost crumbling down.

He pulled his shirt off his trousers, and tore a wide long stripe all along the bottom, dipping the cloth into the water. Then he brought the piece of cold, wet cloth, coming to kneel next to Hiei once more.

He grabbed him to his lap, very gently, particularly mindful with his broken arm which he leaned all along Hiei's side. Supporting his partner and letting him rest his had on his shoulder, he started cleaning his face, letting the cold umid cloth wipe away the blood, and ease the soreness of the bruises.

Kurama tenderly cleaned the dirt and blood from his lover's chest, and going down to his abdomen. He could feel a deep spasm of nausea and anger stirring within his belly as he revealed and noticed how marked and storched was Hiei's skin. Karasu had punched, scratched and burst his poor youkai so badly he had to make a terrible effort not to cry despairingly at the dreadful sight.

"Hiei?"

"Hn..."

Kurama noticed the scratches and soreness even on his lover's intimate parts. His thighs were marked by long, red trails, caused by forceful nails. His groin was a wide-spread bruise and the cleft in between the buttocks was covered with a thick layer of dry blood. The skin was all smeared by trails and dry pools of semen and blood which covered the injuries, cuts and scratches. Kurama breathed deeply, trying to calm himself. To witness such violence against his partner was too painful... He cleaned his lover's sex , and his intimate parts with a touch which was a long, refreshing caress, mindful enough not to let his eyes meet Hiei's. His youkai was already too humiliated, he needed not to upset him any further. Kurama knew Hiei blushed with intense shame, and that his face tensed in a resentful scowl against the ignonimy he had been victim. Both of them now just needed Faith - Faith that it would all come to pass one day.

Kurama did the best he could to clean his lover. But he knew the darkest pollution could not be wiped out easily. Hiei's spirit and will had been tainted with such grossly offensive act, and revolt could not be pacified overnight.

Hiei would never forgive. He could not forget either. But in the end, god-willingly, there would be revenge - Revenge was the sweet and cherished healer of the vanquished and hopeless ones.

Kurama bent over Hiei , and his voice was just as a warm soothing blow.

"Karasu. Did he violate you?"

Hiei hid his face against his lover's chest, and his small body was shaken by sudden seizure. He cuddled to his lover's warmth more, the closer possible, and hid his face against the soft fabric of Kurama's shirt.

"No."

"He boasted about making it to you..."

"He lied."

Kurama nodded, feigning to accept Hiei's answer. To imagine the terrible and most despicable acts Karasu must have attempted against Hiei made him too sick... Watching the cuts, bruises and scars just added affliction to the already excruciating portrait. It was better to give both his his lover and himself the benefit of disavow and forgetfulness. Oblivion would help heal him from the pain in the long run.. But for the present moment his youkai needed some aid just as he needed revenge...

"Yes, Hiei ... But he beated you too badly, and you need something for your pain."

"I can handle pain..."

"No, Hiei... You need to rest and sleep, or you'll burn out too soon the life energy I gave you." Saying so, Kurama reached out behind his head and into the red, long hairlocks. Thinking on Hiei's pain, he had managed to hide a small piece of green foliage amidst his hair. A small stalk bearing four, five leaves still attached." This will ease your pain and make you sleep."

Hiei wanted to protest, but Kurama tore off one of the leaves, and gently stuck it in between Hiei's lips, his fingertips helping him keep it inside.

"Chew, and don't complain, baby..."

Hiei did it as Kurama told him, chewing the green leaf. One, and then another one. They made his mouth dorment, and his vision started to blur.

Kurama pushed another green leaf into Hiei's mouth, and then reclined over him to playfully kiss the tip of his nose.

Hiei fidgeted within his embrace, and tried to stretch as much as his injuries and fractured bones allowed him to.

"Pain is going away..."

"I know, dear..." 

Kurama rocked his youkai a little longer, offering him another of the small narcotic leaves, wishing Hiei could sleep and the awake freed of that obnoxious captivity.

"Sleep, Hiei... I need to go. I'm gonna do all I can to rescue you from this disgrace, I promise."

"Just don't die on me..." Hiei's voice failed then. He was getting dizzy, and his mouth was dry, making his tongue heavy turning words difficult to articulate.

Kurama could not say anything. He just embraced his youkai, bringing him to rest his face on his chest. He patted the spiky-haired hair, still swaying his own body to one side and the other, as if soothing a small infant.

Hiei yawned, and then showed a half-smile. He hardly felt any pain now.

"Kurama... Save yourself and let me die..."

The redhead didn't answer. He placed one light fingertip on Hiei's lips, luring him into silence.

"Sleep, baby... You need to rest."

"Kurama... Please..."

"Calm down and sleep... I'll be by your side when you wake up. I promise."

Hiei was already being driven by the sudden sleepiness. His eyelids were closing, his breathing had become calmer and more compassate, and his body more relaxed. Then the fox started humming a song very softly into Hiei's ear as he rocked his lover, smiling in a peaceful docility.  

The small, beaten youkai managed to offer his partner a small, candid smile, and then leaned his head against his bosom, closing his eyes. The pain was gone, replaced by a dreamy torpor. He yawned again, and shifted closer to the fox, savoring his warmth.

"Fox..."

"Yes, love?"

"Don't do anything stupid..."

Kurama smiled.

Hiei closed his eyes then, and tried to speak more, but his voice failed, his lips parted as he started purring very softly. His body relaxed, and his head rested without any resistance, against Kurama's bosom.

He was sleeping deeply now.

Kurama brought his lips to sweetly place a warm kiss on his warded brow, right over the Jagan.

"I hope to see you again in this lifetime, love..." Kurama sighed then, his chest being crushed under the heavy comotion which filled him as he watched his lovely sleeping youkai. "But in case the worse happens, I'll wait for you on the other side."

The redhead placed Hiei on the floor carefully, unfolding the jacket and extending it over his lover's naked and injured body.

He stood up then, and as a tear slid down his beautiful face, he blew a kiss to his sleeping partner. Let him sleep... Let him merge into dream, while he faced the nightmare.

He had to try and defeat the Demonic enemy. For Hiei and for himself...

He turned his back to Hiei, and as another tear rolled down his eye, he recalled the loving vows they had shared, years ago... That not even Death would do them part...

Crossing arms at his own chest, embracing and consoling himself, he walked to the door.

Now it was all between him and Karasu.

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Characters are proprierty of Yoshihiro Togashi, Fuji TV, Shueisha, Jump Comics, and Studio Pierrot. The events portrayed are not necessarily present in the original series Yu Yu Hakusho