The Raven

A Fanfic by Sandy Youko

Hiei stretched up in bed, kicking covers off. He yawned, listening to the shower running behind the bathroom door. Kurama would soon be off to work and he left alone for another dull day in Ningenkai.

It was at times like these that he regretted having resigned Mukuro's Domains.

Almost every morning he thought back, recalling the scented daybreaks in the Makai, and the light filtering thought the pine trees, while the cliffsides cast long shades upon the landscape. And where was he now? In a small apartment in Tokyo suburbs, bearing nothing to do but sleep all day. Or he could walk aimlessly through town, trying, with all the most pure hearted effort, to understand Humanity.

The running water stopped, and at the sound of the opening door, Hiei rolled to his side, propping on an elbow, to watch Kurama. He breathed, and hugged the pilllow, covering himself with it. Watching Kurama getting dressed and ready to go would surely arouse him again; and they had just made love...

Good. At least one thing that he was not tired about. And how could he? As years passed, Kurama seemed to be prettier, more alluring and magnificent in his rare beauty than ever. He was not a Ningen teenager anymore. His beauty was deeper, more mysterious, more enticing, as if he had absorbed part of the Youko within his Ningen life.

Hiei giggled; once in a while, even being in Ningenkai, Kurama would surprise him, turning into the Youko form just to heat things up a little bit when they made it. How could he find it tiresome? In fact, he had two lovers in one!

Kurama turned to the his partner, curiously. Even now, after so much time, he was not at all used to the idea of listening to Hiei's laughter. He faced his dark-haired lover then, while fitting up his jeans.

"What's on?"

"I was just wondering when the Youko would pay me a visit."

Kurama chuckled, his big, girl-like green eyes gleaming in teasing jest.

"It's a surprise... But he might decide to come by tonight, if you behave well, Youkai." And Kurama's eyes glinted. Hiei knew it was not a mere impression; they really shone gold, in the twinkle of an eye.

Hiei felt such an urge for throwing himself into his fox's arms, and wheedle him into staying home, so they could make love the whole day, as they would were they in the Makai. He reached out to hold his hand as he came closer the bed.

"Stay with me. I don't wanna be alone today."

"Why, koibito?"

"I don't know... I just don't want it." Hiei breathed in then, his eyes reavealing a sudden sorrow. He could not grasp why a Class A youko needed a Ningen job.

Kurama smiled softly, while dressing up his elegant, neat white shirt.

"We've talked about it., Hiei... I'm not ready to let go of Ningenkai yet. Meanwhile, as Shuuichi, I've got responsabilities."

Hiei made an impacient gesture, frowning. He had heard that a million times already.

He turned over, nuzzling his partner's pilow, taking a full breath of his rose-like fragrance, still filling bed and sheets all over.

He was not that discontent. Ningenkai was safer, calmer. Being Mukuro's heir had been a turbulent, exhausting period. He was satisfied he could have put an end to it. There he wouldn't need to worry about enemies, being challenged by foolish demons trying to depose Mukuro's heir, or risking himself in missions and tasks. He missed the thrill; but he had to think about Kurama. If something happened to him the fox would suffer much. He had a family to think about, before putting his life on the line with such carelessness. Now Kurama was his family.

Meeting Kurama while under Mukuro's rule was difficult, as he had little, almost no time for himself. His small chest pounded, stricken with grief whenever he had to leave the warm, scented bed, and the tender cuddling of his redhead, and go back to Makai. He could recall every goodbye kiss, every sadenned expression, every somber look Kurama had offered him as they separated .

Hiei felt a soft, tender stroke reaching his hair, and running down his nape and shoulders. The youkai closed his eyes while a light quiver slid down his spine.

"I need to make the best of both worlds, youkai. I couldn't not even try if you were not here, by my side."

Kurama sat by the edge of the bed then, bending his head forward a little, handing Hiei a hairbrush.

Hiei started brushing the soft, red strands, carefully, mesmerized by its silky sheen. The loose strands sliding down his palm and fingers, in almost liquid smoothness, made his hands tickle. The spiky-haired youkai breathed deeply to take in and savour all of his lover's delicious fragance. Kurama's nape showed goose bumps at the contact. and provocatively, Hiei kissed the warm, perfumed skin.

Kurama moaned at once, his back arching cat-like. But as Hiei was going to hug the redhead, he stood up.

"No, Hiei... I gotta leave. If I arrive late again this week I'm gonna be fired."

Hiei just nodded, pushing back his incoming arousal with a deep breath and a sigh.

"Can you try to come back earlier?"

"Yeah; I'll try..."

"And don't be too nice to those Ningen secretaries. They drool over you like a bunch of mad youkai in heat."

Kurama laughed, inclining over the youkai, kissing his brow on the closed Jagan.

"I'm gonna be very matter-of-fact to them, don't worry."

Kurama kissed Hiei's lips then, very gently, so lightly their mouths barely touched. But they breathed in one from ther other, filling their vibrating aura touch and mingle for an instant.

"Bye, Koibito."

"Bring me some ice-cream, will ya?"

"Strawberry?"

Hiei nodded again, smiling to his partner. Kurama mouthed him his customary "Ai Shiteru" and Hiei winked, a gesture he had learned from the fox, in reply. He watched silently his lover dressing his blazer up, and heading to the door, without turning back. he knew if he turned back at that stage, he would not leave to work at all...

Kurama waved before leaving and locking the door, smiling very softly, and Hiei turned to look in through their bedroom window. At least it was a warm, summer day. The sky was amazingly blue, and a soft breeze agitated the leaves of the highest tree braches outside. As it was in his former house, there was also a large tree outside, just next to the window. Kurama had insisted on it; he loved to wake up listening to leaves fluttering in the wind.

And on looking at the green foliage, Hiei made a scowl. There was a black bird, a Raven, perched on a branch just facing the window. Hiei stared at its tiny black eyes. The danmed bird seemed so lively. It was not a good omen, definetely...

Hiei just summoned a small ammount of ki, concentrating it at his palm, and sending it forward as a sudden dark burst. The bird was instantly vaporized.

"Hn... Much better..." The youkai mumbled to himself, closing his eyes, and making himself comfortable in the large double bed, to sleep some more."

A slender, elegant figure in black strolled in the pretty garden stopping here and there to pay more attention to the flowers, reaching out to touch their petals, and feel their scent. But in fact he was not minding any floral scent.

He was following a vulpine trail.

He had just found exactly what he needed. The Fox's mate.

There was no better bait to catch a cunning little Youko.

The beautiful Ningen-Youko was much still the same then. He could feel his ki all over the garden , inpregnating the flowers and plants, commanding then to flourish. He had looked further then, finding the tree and following its branches's design. His slant, evil violet eyes have searched and found the exact spot. Second store, the window with the lilac curtains hanging on. The Fire Youkai was there, sleeping calmly, unaware to the twist of fate which would soon strike him.

Karasu showed a cruel smile, and a squint look, and his pale face frowned out of so much expectance. There had been years since he grew powerful enough to try to get his vengeance.

Now he would have his beloved Kurama, just the way he wanted him best: dead, in his arms.

But first, he intended to play a little bit.

He walked past the few ningen around, smilingly, sarcastically complimenting them for a good day as he walked. He reached the building interior's, stauntering upstairs, detecting the youkai's ki to settle his way.

It was a long corridor, with a seemingly endless procession of equal apartment doors. But Karasu got his way easily. There was one of the doorways where a vase had been put. A beautiful rose shrub flourished ruby red, not minding the lack of sun, the closed space, the lack of air. It blossomed on the youko's ki, plainly.

So adorably naive... It was better than a sign reading "Youko Kurama lives here"

Karasu breathed in, concentrating, lowering his energy levels. He constricted his aura, invoking barriers around him. The tall, black-haired demon camouflaged himself under an isolating cloak spell, not letting his You-ki show off, turning his aura into less than a shadow. Turning the dorknob then, he broke the lock in with a twist, and entered.

His steps were silent, his breathing so light that was made imperceptible. No trace of his ki showed off enough as to reveal his presence. Karasu could not however, conceal his sadistic, crooked smile as he examined the nice, little apartment. It was all filled with plants and flowers, all painted in pinkish tones, simple and clean, but freshly neat, very much like Kurama himself.

The only distorted feature was the runty, black-haired, naked youkai spread on the bed; double bed, as Karasu had well noticed...

He approached. Karasu walked on fast and smooth as the darkened bird he was named after. His long black cloak floated after his movement, as he stopped by the bed, inclining over the youkai.

The small youkai quivered, and frowned his eyes in sleep. His lips moved, as if he had murmured something...

"Be at ease, little Fire Demon. I'm gonna give you a nice dream for you to enjoy while I proceed my spells on you" And on saying such, Karasu placed his right palm over Hiei's brow, sending forth energy, while he placed his left hand right ever his chest, where his heart should be, drawing You-ki.

Hiei looked over his shoulder, facing his red-haired lover. Then he took an instant to sense the landscape. There were barren, reddish plains all around, whereas high, snow covered mountain tops could be seen just above horizon. A chilling wind had started to blow.

"I'm not well. I want to get outta here..."  

"Don't worry. I'm by your side."

Hiei felt Kurama's lips touching his, and opened his mouth, gently accepting the kiss. Hands caressed his spiky hair, bringing him closer to a warm embrace.

"Something wrong is gonna happen. I have this weird feeling I won't ever see you anymore."

"Nonsense, youkai. I'm here, and I'm cold... Can you warm me up?"

Hiei then felt his fiery ki being dragged off him, as Kurama kissed his lips again. The youkai quivered, muffled some painful, unnarticulate protest, but Kurama kept a strong hold on him.

He felt dizzy, as a deep pain started to grow in the very middle of his forehead.

Hiei fought back the embrace, and touched his own brow. It was cold, and... Where the hell was his Jagan?

Startled, he stretched his right arm, and started to unfold the bandages.

Nothing? His skin was pale and unmarked. Where was the Black Dragon?

Hiei rose his worried red eyes towards Kurama.

Kurama was smiling, softly, as before.

Then Hiei noticed.

Kurama's eyes were violet.

He wanted to stand up and run. He thought of trying to fight and scream out his anger and shock, but the slender arms grasped his waist, bringing him in for another kiss. a suffocating, gagging, excruciating kiss.

Hiei could not even protest while his You-ki was stolen, little by little...

Suddenly everything had turned black.

Next thing Kurama could realize was being laid on one of the office's couches, surrounded by all the the worried expressions of all the girls on the who worked in the same floor. They seemed startled, willing to ask lots of questions, but politeness forcing silence upon them.

A glass of ice-cold water was offered.

"What happened? " Kurama asked softly, totally embarassed by the situation, sitting upright.

"You passed out..."

"You were standing next to the window, then you said something..."

"Hiei, I think..."

"And your eyes rolled"

"No! His eyes turned gold! I saw it!"

"Shut up, baka! Don't you know it's impossible!"

"And then you fainted..."

Kurama started drinking, very small and slow sips; at least it was an excuse for not replying anything...

"Are you OK now, Minamino?"

"Do you want me to drive you home?"

"No! Let me! I can drive you home!"

"I'm gonna drive him home. It's near my place!"

Kurama sneaked out, letting them argue. He had to be alone, he would not tolerate anyone beside him, not even if it was to help. He dodged everyone, still weak and dizzy, experimenting a hurting pressure growing on his chest, starting to suffocate his breathing. Something had happened to Hiei. Something really bad...

He had to go home.

From the time he and Hiei had decided willingly to bond themselves, merging their aura and soul , they could easily perceive the presence, one of the other, even distant. When Hiei was in the Makai, Kurama was eased because he could somehow sense his youkai lover, still alive and well. Even worlds apart his aura would still be emitting energy, and Kurama would grasp it to himself, as a token, a promise of love, a proof he would be back to his arms.

But now he could feel no trace of Hiei's ki.

Nothing.

As if he were...

Dead?

The lift was taking long. He pushed, pressed, hit and punched the red "Down" buttons. Nothing. He rushed into the emergency exit, opened the stairway door with a frantic pull, and ran downstairs, leaping flights, from level to level, rather than stepping down. He could not see; his eyes were blurred with the sudden flow of tears, and his face quivered with comotion.

Kurama had not even realized that his shape was changing as he darted dowstairs. His steps were larger, his pace faster. He pushed the heavy fire-proof metal door on the lobby floor with no effort at all, ramming it against the wall with a loud thump.

Hiei? Dead?

Kurama could not hold; he would not hold back anything anymore. And just as his tears bursted out more violently, filling his cheeks with warm, watery slips, his own You-ki expanded outwards, too much aflicted and anxious to be contained within Ningen bounds.

The tall, pale figure stood at the building's lobby, apparently confused for a short instant, as tears ran down his flipping golden eyes. He took hesitant steps towards the street, disoriented amidst concrete pillars, glassy panoramic windows and mirrowed walls.

A Woman looked up at the tall, fair youko and screamed histerically. People rushed to hide beneath the pilars, and men ran away from the weird fox-like apparition.

Someone shouted out that it was an alien invasion, while people were pushed back by surprise. A cry calling security officers echoed forth.

The Youko looked at it all blankly, his golden eyes inspecting the rushy street a few steps from the buildings hall.The fur at his ears and tail was bristled, and his long, slender hands were clasped like claws, showing off sharp nails.

He spread out his arms, showing palms, and a vast, heavy mist stormed forth, covering everything, as smokescreen.

More shouts echoed, louder than before, as the entire lobby was filled with the opaque, foggy cloud of fungi he had invoked.

Kurama did not mind the turmoil at all.

His mind bore a single, insistent and painful thought.

Hiei was in serious danger. Maybe even...

Dead?

Energy flushed into and around him so powerfully it created a whirling spiral of pure You-ki wrapping his tall body. Kurama screamed; he screamed Hiei's name, as the spinning silvery ki enveloped his features.

He had to run...

The ghostly, silver fox shape blazed within the mist, like quicksilver lightening. His depart was flashy fast, his hurried course marked by a long, shadowy, silver dazzle amidst the forest of cars, metal, pavement and concrete.

The fox ran, leaving a trail of displaced, misty air and a few circular, dark tiny spots on the floor.

Tears.

End Part One

To Be continued...

Next - Part Two "Guess who?"

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