The Raven

Kurama sighed, facing the impetuous glow filling the night around him. The full moon had just left its hide-out behind a dense, dark cloud. And all of a sudden the woodlands glistened silver under the spreading light, showing itself in all its contours, as darkness was banished.

However, it just made Kurama's own inner darkness more apparent...

His heart ached, and as he watched the intense moon glow over all, a tear rolled down his face. It was just like before. It had been not even a year ago...

He breathed in the soft traces of wood and pine the wind brought up to him, and stopped for a while. He embraced one of the thick pine trunks, so weak by grief that it was hard for him to stand on his own feet. His cry was convulsive, he sobbed in a fragile, child-like way, and his stomach ached, nauseated with the fasting he had imposed upon himself for those three days of doubt and mourning.

Three days of total darkness, total despair...

The moon was high and clear, a huge silvery disk on the middle of the dark sky, just like it had been during that first evening he had shared with his lover. The first night in their new place; the same nice and cosy home he had now left behind, empty and half-destroyed.

Kurama remembered that first evening of love very well... It had been such a joyous and crazy moment for them both. Somehow, recalling it at present brought him only pain and melancholy, as he missed his pretty fire demon too much. Presently his soul was broken, vanquished, stricken by that painful, dismal event. And yet, remembering the happy times, instead of bringing him a little comfort just increased his lone suffering.

However, how to prevent the flow of recollections to reach him?

He had retented it all in his memory. The apartment was still unfurnished, and piles of boxes and packages filled the rooms. There was no bed, no couch, not even a microwave, and though uncomfortable, it had been one of their happiest nights, as they just lay within darkness on a blanket over the bare floor. They snuggled to each other, legs, arms and fingers entangled as the light of an intense full moon glew upon them in through the large open window.

It had been the same kind of full moon which shone upon his somber figure now, tracing dense shadows upon him, as he walked deeper into the woods.

His chest ached. The hollow pain becoming so intense that the redhead had to bend upon himself, and pause his slow steps a little more. He wiped out the tears falling from his eyes, and breathed in the clear air of the mountainside.

Loneliness had always been such a heavy burden for Youko Kurama to carry. He had always a desperate need for company, let it be friends, family, lovers or partners. Such need had concentratred upon Hiei. The youkai fullfilled all his dreams and desires, satisfying all his needs. But now... How could he go on without his lover? How could he keep on alone?

The images flowed into his mind, images picturing such a happy, long gone time...

Kurama recalled that first night in all the details... He had brought in Chinese Food and a bottle of Champagne, for them to celebrate their first night together on a place they could really call as their own. They reposed naked, embraced, and Hiei had been uncanningly festive - He was free at last from the stress of minding mothers, stepfathers and little brothers prying into his love-life.

Kurama had put an end to it. He had the determination to choose his way, and he had chosen Hiei. They owned their own place, and they were comitted to each other in a brand new life. They were they own family, one to the other.

The little youkai had been too sexy then.

"I need no glass" Hiei had whispered into Kurama's ear, as the redhead tried to offer him one, so they could make a toast to their new life.

"Nani?"

"Neither you do, Fox..."

Only then Kurama understood what the Fire demon meant. What followed was therefore one of the most delicious lovemakings Kurama had ever experienced, even counting his Youko years.

Hiei made him recline on his back, and fondled with a long, light stroke the flat belly, which formed a soft, curved hollow as Kurama stretched on the floor. The ningen-youko winced, realizing the fire demon's enticing plans. He smiled, and closed his eyes, already elicting a long moaning sound in delight, which turned to a brief, high little cry when the bubbling cold liquid was slowly poured into his navel. Hiei let it overflow and spread all over his flat abdomen, till it started dripping along the sides of his waistline, causing tickles which made Kurama gasp, suddenly out of breath.

"Ah....Humm... You little demon..." Kurama groaned, being quickly cut silent when Hiei started to drink from that soft, fleshy cup.

Kurama shivered. It was too delightful... His muscles tensed and his belly quivered as the youkai's tongue was slid all over the sensitive, wet skin. Hiei kissed the navel, and let more champagne come forth, kissing and drinking from his Kurama's lean abdomen again. But this time Hiei had not swallowed all of that chilly, gaseous beverage which made his mouth tickle.

The Fire Demon brought himself up, propping on his elbows, seeking for Kurama's lips, with a smile and a mouthful. He kissed his beautiful partner, bringing his hands out to caress the flowing red fire-like mane, the fingered entwining into the silky strands, to touch his nape. Hiei helped Kurama, sustaining his head as their tongues made love within the cold sweet-tasting liquid which flowed from the youkai's mouth to Kurama's.

The kiss was deep, so full of passion and exciting abandonment that they broke it under reluctance and only when both Hiei and Kurama cuddled to one another, totally out of breath.

The fox sighed aloud, and licked his lips, with a sly sparkle in the corner of his green eyes.

"Oh, Hiei, good thinking! I won't even bother to buy glasses!"

Hiei snorted, boastfully. The youkai was proud to be a fast learner in relation to love variations. Kurama smiled softly in response, though the radiance always impressed upon the joyful gesture was not there anymore. The redhead had smiled bitterly. Despite Hiei's amazing efforts to cheer him up he was still unable to forget all the sadness he had been pushed into mere days ago, when he had been put away from home by his yelling, irrational stepfather.

He should try not to think of any of those sad moments...

But it was difficult; he had actually loved them deeply. Just thinking about not crying was enough to make tears spring out of his eyes...

Kurama felt the warm liquid blur his eyes, and just held tight to Hiei, pulling him closer, as closer as possible, resting his face on the warm curve between his lover's neck and shoulder, kissing the skin very softly.

Hiei moaned so low it was not more than a sigh.

Kurama kissed his lover's neck again, but this time he bit dotingly the muscular ridge and then let the tip of his tongue dance on the red spot his teeth had marked upon the pale skin.

Hiei purred, and fidgeted within the embrace, positioning himself in between the fox's sleek thighs. He rubbed himself against Kurama, making their sensitive areas touch, as they aroused one another under the slow, sinuous contact. They grew hard leaning onto one another, in the most amorous intimacy, as their bodies quivered in a long rushing spasm of antecipated pleasure.

Kurama stared at his demon lover, savoring all the desire and relinquishment impressed upon the red irises, and caressed his cheeks, placing a soft, slow kiss on each of them. He breathed in, placing a similar kiss although more mellow and wet kiss right on the tip of Hiei's nose.

"Make love to me, Hiei. I need you more than never"

The youkai acquiesced in silence, and his hands offered the fox all loving assurrance he needed, as his fair body was covered by long, insistent, sweet strokes. The rough but delicate fingers followed the contours of Kurama's body, moving up and down his sides, the fingertips teasingly playing with the nipples, and caressing the soft flash on his waistline and the slender curves of his hips.

Hiei kissed the hollow of Kurama's muscular although slender chest, and licked upwards to his throat, biting the earlobe sensuously, to what Kurama responded with a constricted short cry.

Hiei placed himself in between Kurama's tights, and the hardened lenghts touched and fondled onto one another, as in a long, dancing kiss.

"Open up, my cute fox..." Hiei whispered into the redhead's ear, being obbeyed at once, as Kurama spread his legs, bending knees and bringing them up, encircling the youkai's waist with his calves. The redhead brought his own hips up and forward a little then, to offer free passage into his quivering body.

Kurama bit his lips, when he felt the hot teasing hardness opening the sides of his crack, slowly. Hiei knew his lustful lover enjoyed penetration better that way - Long, steady but slow.

His face frowned, when the muscle ring was distended, giving passage to his lover's taut body. Kurama wanted to cry, but he just breathed hard in and blushed, biting lips to avoid any sounds...

Hiei caressed one of his nipples, pinching the hard tip and rubbing it with fast, tight fingertips.

"It's our place, stupid fox... We can make as much noise as we wish to"

Kurama opened his green eyes wide, and hissed his breath off, in sudden surprise. he was indeed some stupid fox to forget such important thing!

"Cry it out for me, Kurama. I love to hear you coming..."

Kurama smiled, and let out his moaning come as loud ans vivid as the sensations Hiei brought about in his body. He moaned, and cried, long, deeply passionates "aaaah"s at every thrust, groaning and gasping aloud with the teasing kisses Hiei placed all over his face and shoulders...

"Hiei , I need you..."

"Yes, fox..."

"Ooooh...I love you..."

"Kurama..."

"Koibito, please... Ahn...Give me more..."

"Hmnnn..."

"Umnnn...Deeper, my Hiei..."

"My foxy- lover"

"Aaah...Harder, my love..."

Kurama cried out, everytime the hard penetration touched his sensitive inner spot, bringing delicious shivers all up his spine, and increasing pressure in his tight passage and in his low abdomen, where his own arousal pointed out, full and gleaming, till Hiei grabbed it in his hand, pumping it as he moved inside, both of them following the same love-rhythm up and down, up and down...

Kurama suddenly went out of any voice, his mouth frozen in a long, mute "Aahhhhhh" as his seed flowed forth, spurting all over Hiei's fingers, all over his own abdomen, covering his skin warmly.

Hiei caressed his lover, collecting some of the love-seed in his fingers, coating it all over his beautiful lover's breast, massaging and stroking the pink nipples... Kurama growled, too light-headed by his climax, and his back arched under the youkai's stimulation. Hiei tasted the deliciously-covered nipples, sucking and kissing and Kurama caressed the spiky but soft black hair of his fire demon, uttering a long, sound, full of the painful pleasure which lovemaking enticed on them. Hiei pushed himself into the fox, delving his hard member deeper into his lover, and his lips approached Kurama's ears.

The voice was low, and deep as a velvet echo.

"I will never leave you alone, fox..."

Hiei plunged in again, listening to Kurama's mellow wailing, speaking once more, in a tone sweeter and more passionate than before.

"I will never abandon you like they did..."

Kurama cried out Hiei's name when stricken by another impetuous push in. The youkai held his pretty red-haired lover tighter then, still giving forth that enticing, involving voice again, like a chant, a lover's prayer...

"I will never leave you behind like I was left..."

Hiei moved farther inside, pushing a little to the side, causing Kurama to wince at the unexpected, but delicious angle. The redhead gasped.

"I will always be by your side..."

Hiei tensed then, the pressure of the climax reaching his soul, collapsing all rationality, turning his small body to a mere core of sensation and desire intermingled, as his love's seed bursted in a spate of creamy warmth within Kurama.

They panted in consonance, and their long satisfied cry echoed at the same time. Hiei fell on Kurama's warm chest, and they nestled in each other's arms, resting and still savoring the climax. They stared at each other under the moonlight, quietly admiring the peace around them.

Hiei shifted to gaze at his partner amorously and smiled.

Kurama had never ever seen that particular kind of smile in lover's lips - so full of love, so confident, so warm... On watching it, no one would believe it to be given out by one so closed and somber as Hiei.

"I promise it, fox. I'm with you, always and forever. I'm you family now."

Kurama knew it was at that moment Hiei had decided to forget all about Makai and Mukuro's realm.

He had been to Makai only once after that intense night, and has never ever been back to the Demon land. Hiei had left all behind to cherish life by his side, to offer him company. He had left behind his home, the Makai, where he could be free and powerful. He had left it all for his sake, to live with him in the dull Ningenkai.

But something atrocious had happened, coercing his youkai partner to break the whispered, loving vow made during that night... But what?

They still bore no clues, no indications, no hints... For those three days Kurama could not think, could not eat, drink or sleep. All that mattered to him was to know where Hiei was. He had been watched closely, as his friends took turns at his bedside to prevent him from doing anything stupid like roaming Tokyo streets in the Youko form, looking for Hiei.

At least he knew now his lover was not dead.

In shock, still in altered, catatonic state, he had been moved to Genkai's Temple, while excuses were offered to his neighbors and his mother about his urgent need to visit a distant friend in the interior. Keiko and Yukina had mastered to cover up all the scandal in his block, putting away rumours graciously. His apartment had been cleaned up and locked, while Shizuru and Kuwabara brought him to the safest refuge they all knew - Genkai's place.

Meanwhile, Yusuke had been to Reikai, to try to find out anything he could on Hiei.

Kurama could bet Yusuke ramped all Reikai as he broke into the Gates, shouting aloud, demanding explanations from all, ready to try to defy Lord Emma Himself.

He was a very good, extremely loyal and dedicated friend indeed.

Toiling agaist Koenma's Oni officials and Reikai messy bureaucracy must have been a tiresome, and irritating strife, however he could even imagine Yusuke boastfully screaming at all around, demanding clarification on his friend's disappearance, demanding that was no way to treat a former Reikai Tantei, and who knows, future ruler of Makai. 

He was sure Yusuke would have confronted Koenma, dictating upon the immediate devolution of Hiei's soul back to the realm of the living, and the reintegration of his file to the Archive of the Living Ones. But hopefully such extreme measures were not necessary. 

Despite all the other Reikai Tantei, surveillance teams and equipaments, archives, Spitirual Hunters and spies, Koenma had no idea about Hiei's whereabouts. It was as if the Fire Youkai had vanished completely from all three worlds, without a trace.

Yusuke had left Reikai with a promise - Koenma had put word that he'd do all possible to investigate and come up with a solution to that dramatic standstill in no time. Koenma had claimed he'd put all his staff to dig out all information possible on what had been done to Hiei, and who their enemy was. It was such promise which managed to offer Kurama a bit of peace and drag him out of the state of despondency he had sunk into since that fatidical afternoon when he arrived to find his home torn apart, and his lover gone.

But two days had already passed, and no news from Reikai reached them. Kurama was almost loosing all sanity at the long, sullen wait.

He could not be within four walls, locked inside, watched and cared as an invalid... No! Despite sorrow he was Youko Kurama - He had to try to think, to establish a plan, and then act...

He took the chance as Yukina slept. She had been taking turns with the boys, not only guarding but also using some of his healing ki on Kurama. The Koorime's pretty face was relaxed, her eyes closing under the weight of slumber, as she leaned loosely on the chair.

The redhead could not avoid remembering that Yukina had red eyes, just like Hiei's...

Sorrow struck him violently then, but he managed to pull back his crying. He sniffled and sneaked out of the bed, in total silence and stealth, expertingly leaping over the window and reaching the outside.

It was as if something outside were calling him, summoning his presence. The trees, the wilderness and the open air had always been appealing for him. However it was not the only reason why he had been persuaded to try that little night escapade.

He wanted to be out, free, alone, and savor the chilling night breezes on his skin. He just wanted to embrace a tree and cry, cry all he could...

Somehow, it was as if Hiei was calling him...

And letting his fox-instincts guide him, he broke into the woods, following the moonlight trail.

He walked far, letting the Temple and the wards Genkai had put all over the surroundings for protection quite behind. He walked farther, not minding his own safekeeping, till only his animal-instincts could tell him about which way to choose within the moonlit wilderness. And all the time, a single reason, a single word echoed within his mind and soul - Hiei... He would do anything, everything to have his youkai back to his arms, safe and sound. He would even risk his own existence, if necessary...

He walked till he had found a natural arbour within the pinewoods. He stopped then, sensing something familiar. He was able to feel Hiei's faint presence, like a long-past trail fading fast into forgetfulness. He didn't know exactly how, but his youkai's presence had been marked there...

He looked all around him, and noticing nothing strange, he moved on, carefully, but not enough so as to notice the strange circular lines trailed onto the ground, tearing the grassbed apart,

digging very definite drawings on the barren soil.

Kurama stepped into the clearing, and kneeled as he noticed a soft luster sparkling on the floor right in front. He reached out, and to his surprise, he collected a tear gem.

No.. Not only a tear gem..It was Hiei's teargem, the one given to him by his mother, which he had searched so fiercely until Mukuro had given it back to him.

There was no doubt! Kurama knew the small, shiny gem... He knew it in all details, as Hiei never let go off it, always bearing it around his neck, in the same silk strand, hanging from that same kind of metal ring.

Moreover, he could feel Hiei. He could sense his lover's ki, feel his lover's scent, and even catch his lover's warmth all over the tiny jewel.

He groaned, emotion rising so high within him that made his breathing difficult... Kurama brought the small jewel closer, and nestled it against his bosom, shutting his damp eyelids and whispering his lover's name...

The moon vanished again then, when a cloud shifted in the sky to cover its glow. A deep, menacing darkness fell all over the area. Kurama shivered when a cold sensation crawled up his spine, as if someone had just stepped on his grave. Night and silence fell upon him heavy and somber like a shroud.

Then he heard the approaching steps... 

Kurama frowned at the dark, tall sillhouette, and a sudden pain reached his chest, trespassing his heart as he perceived who his enemy was. It was too dark, he could not visualize him yet.. No... But he could smell the wickedness in him, dense, pervasive, venomous, like a cancer...

The Fox shut his eyes so tightly that hurted him... Now he knew who had captured his lover, destroyed his home, and made him suffer so much...

"Long time no see, my charming Kurama..."

The young redhead trembled before his ominous oponent; but it was not because of fear - it was out of rage, plain and simple.

"You belong to the dead..." It was all Kurama could have articulate, as he held the necklace with Hiei's precious pendant firmly, bringing it above his own head to let it fall from around his neck.

"No, no... I'm back; back to you..."

Kurama inclined his head, staring at the tiny gem. It hanged, resting on the centre of his chest. It joined with a light clink the dark one Hiei had cried for him, which the redhead always carried around his neck. He carressed them both with his fingertips.

"I'm gonna save you from this weirdo, koibito...I promise..."

A long, histerical laugh cut the night, with a frightening ressonance. Kurama stood up, one hand firmly clenched around the cherished teargems, the other trembling suspended in the air, like a open claw midway to reach his hair, and his deadly rose.

"Ooh.. So romantic...." The long-haired demon uttered, with cynical eyes. Karasu came closer then, with elegant, cat-like steps, sinuous and detestable like a famished panther crawling out of hell's darkness. "I understand you must miss your pretty youkai a lot. He's an excellent fuck..."

The Youko in Ningen body could barely control himself. His fists were so tightly shut that the knuckles ached. His stomach was a hollow full of nausea and bitterness, and his head started to throb under the tension. He tried to speak, but is mouth was dry and his tongue seemed to weight tons.

"I have fucked your youkai day and night over the past three days. He fought a lot in the beginning, but now he's so weak he doesn't even feel it anymore." The moon shone forth again. Karasu paused, and stared at the redhead, a slant smile dancing on his thin lips as he admired Kurama's beauty. "I'm making your partner suffer a lot. If he were not such a tough youkai he would have perished on the first day."

The redhead felt a long, warm tear slide down his face. However his expression remained inaltered, frozen in hostility as he glared at the tall youkai. His whole body trembled, his heart thumped in a maddening rhythm, and an intense surge of hatred and adrenalin ran in his bloodstream.

How did he dare to carry off and violate his beloved Hiei?

Kurama had to use all his self-control to collect himself and be able to speak in between his gnashing teeth, with a voice which was feeble, but hoarse with the deepest hatred. 

"I'm gonna kill you for laying your filthy hands on my lover."

Karasu laughed again. He was very close to the redhead now, and started moving in slow circles around him.

"Your hair looks much nicer now that you have a dainty youkai to brush it for you, hn Kurama?" The redhead winced to avoid the clammy hands which tried to reach his mane, and his rash move made Karasu chuckle. "Ooops, I mean, you had a dainty youkai - because now he's my personal toy..."

Kurama decided he would not take it anymore. It was obvious Karasu was going to use Hiei's confinement to blackmail him. but Youko Kurama would not be terrorized; not by such a black-hearted lesser-youkai like Karasu. He could not put up such abuse! The slender redhead drew his red rose, elegantly bringing it out from his long strands, his wrist moving gracefully in the air to unveil the flower into the whip.

"Rosewhip!" Kurama summoned, his voice echoing with clarity and determination, although unlikely to affect Karasu.

The slim demon laughed aloud again, obviously entertained at Kurama's sudden embarassment. It was still a mere rose, held with extreme delicacy in between his long fingers.

The Youko made a second attempt, and a third one, and the rose remained the same, red, soft and velvet-like, although its petals had started to fall off with the abrupt moves. Kurama faced his enemy, and his eyes could not confront Karasu's violet ones. The half-ningen tilted his head, avoiding the stare. He wanted to speak, but his voice failed...

"You're caught; I invoked you and locked your energy within this pentagram of power. We must talk now."

Kurama let the rose aside and tried a seed, picking it from within his mane. He placed it on his palm and evoked his own ki to vivify it into a Makai Fly Trap. But nothing happened...

Karasu grinned, observing the beautiful young demon with coveting eyes. He walked closer, one, two steps, until they were face to face, within the range of an arm.

"I had time to learn lots of interesting tricks while I was away, healing myself. I learned a bit of Ancient Magic. I've become a Demon Warlock" He tilted his head and his eye twinkled as he stared his beautiful prey "You're under my power now."

Kurama tried to step back, but he couldn't. It was as if arms we're bounding him firmly in place. But nothing, no one touched him. He took a somber look around, his eyes following the strange marks cut on the soil. He had been trapped. His stress and his hasteness to retrieve Hiei's teargem had put him into trouble...

However he faced his oponent gravely, keeping his courage to the last.

"What are you gonna do then? Kill me?"

"No. First I intend to have lots of fun with you. I want you. I want you to give yourself to me in soul and body."Karasu giglled then, and blew a kiss towards Kurama. "I crave for turning your beautiful body into an immutable, beautiful corpse..."

Kurama snorted. Sharing a life had made him assimilate much of Hiei's ways...

"If you control me, why don't you come and take it?" The redhead proposed, defiantly.

"Where's the fun then? I want you aware, conscious, suffering it all and being forced to surrender to me by your own choice, not by some magic spell. I want you to make love to me freewill. Then I might think about releasing your lover alive."

Silence fell upon then for an instant. Kurama breathed deeply, and heaved a sigh. The mere thought of allowing Karasu to lay his hands and lips on his body, a body which he had promised to Hiei only, filled him with aversion. However, he needed time to try to save his partner.

"How can I be sure you're giving Hiei back alive?"

"You can't be sure. You have to make a blind move."

"But..."

"Refuse it now, and I'll kill your lover overnight."

"No... Please... Just let me see him. I have to be sure he is still alive."

Karasu frowned at his beautiful victim, in a sudden thoughtful mood. It could be fun. It would be too torturous for both lovers. And he wanted Kurama to enjoy each of his excrutiating moments to the maximum.

"I'll take you there. Tomorrow."

A sudden sigh of relief echoed from Kurama.

"We'll meet here at noon. You must come alone. One false move, and the pretty Fire Demon dies. Do you understand?"

Kurama agreed. He had the night and morning to try to prepare an ambush to catch the villain. He was thankful Yusuke and Kuwabara were around; it would be too difficult to try it on his own under his present state of mind.

"I'll be here." The Fox agreed, in a low, defensive tone of voice.

Karasu smiled cynically.

"Now I want you to kiss me good night"

Kurama tried to dodge the revolting hands that reached out for him, grabbing him by his arms. He wanted to escape, but his body didn't obbey his will. He remained paralyzed, all his spiritual and physical strenght locked under the misterious spells his foe had invoked.

Kurama moaned in repulse, his lips uttering a trembling, faint succession of "No"s, as Karasu approached his face, closing his weird violet eyes and drawing his lips to the kiss.

Kurama wanted to fight, but he could not.

He gasped, and a long panicking shiver reached his whole body as the cold, clammy lips touched his. He tried to keep his own lips shut, but was forced to open his mouth. He almost heaved when the alien tongue was stuck in between his lips and his teeth. The smell was that of a rottening thing, the taste was acrid and unpleasant. It was macabre; it seemed as if a cold worm had slipped into his mouth, still alive and moving...

He kept his little Fire Demon in his mind during all the time the loathing kiss lasted. Hiei... He had to save him whatever the cost.

It was all too loathesome, too horrid... He felt tears coming down his eyes again.Tears of rage and shame, tears that stated of his mute helplessness. He could have fainted. Just a bit more of that sticky saliva and that tortuous tongue in his mouth and he would have thrown up...

Karasu finally let him go, parting the ignonimous act, which he had dared to call a kiss. Kurama, weak and sickened, could not sustain himself, falling sat to the floor. He sobbed and hid his pale face with his palms.

Karasu stepped back. He slowly used the tip of his shoe to erase part of the drawings marking the small circular area around them. The circle was broken; the Fox was free again.

"Tomorrow, my charming prince... Tomorrow you shall be mine..." Karasu spoke, in a deadly whisper, leaving Kurama on his own while he moved back into the shades in one long, ghostly move.

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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