Under the Rose  

Fanfic by Sandy Youko

Five

All the while Kurama sobbed, in a persistent cry. Hiei stayed beside him; the Fire Demon offered his lover a strong, but quiet presence, supporting the fox. The youkai gave Kurama his hand as they walked aimlessly through the city. Only after a long walk they had found shelter in a small woodlands park still within the city limits which was one of Hiei's favourite hiding places in the Ningenkai.

They had walked under the dense shadows, and Hiei had accompanied him silently, just offering him his shoulder to lean on, as they walked.

After a while, they had reached Hiei's den. A natural arbour in between a great boulder, and a collapsed pine tree trunk. Dense bushes covered the view from strangers, making it a very cosy and intimate retreat. Hiei had extended his own cloak onto the grassy floor. Then he made Kurama sit down and rest his head against the pine trunk.

It had been hours since the break-up, and yet they had exchanged just a few words. Kurama could do nothing but cry, and Hiei kept his usual taciturn mood.  He was tense; a resentful anger had turned his lovely child-like face into the scowl he reserved for strangers and enemies as he thought silently on how those humans had made his youko suffer.

Hiei had never been so protective towards Kurama. The youkai was smaller, and yet Kurama could feel himself totally enveloped by his touch. His face and red hair were caressed insistently, and the heat flowed from the small Fire demon to him in a continuous wave, soothing his emptiness a little.

Hiei had made him lay his head on his lap, and his fingertips fondled the outline of his face, brushing the tears away.

Their eyes met, and on watching all concern for him shown on the grave face of his partner, Kurama almost started to cry again. He shifted to lie on his side. Then he hid his face, pressing it against Hiei's warm belly. His arms wrapped the demon's slim, enticing waist, and his hands held him firmly.

Hiei.. Hiei was all he had now...

"It was not fair, Hiei "

"I know. Life is not fair at all, fox."

"If they caught me with a girl in bed it wouldn't be so shocking." Kurama added, showing a bitter smile.

"Hn. Ningenkai is really a weird place...  Didn't she know about us?"

"Yes, but she didn't know I had sex with you in my bedroom on her back."

"What does she imagine we did together? Hold hands and talk about your homework?"

"Probably..." Kurama added, and his lips curved in a faint smile. Only Hiei could bring a smile to his face during such hard times. But it was just an instant; soon the redhead's face turned somber again. "Do you think kaasan will ever forgive me?"

"If she really loves you, yes.. One day she will..."

Kurama felt rough fingers sliding down his soft skin. He shivered under the light contact. It was amazing the way Hiei was capable of such docility and tenderness.

"They are very nervous about it. Besides, my mother could never oppose her husband. In a way, I know they are the right party."

"Stupid Ningen."

Kurama smiled very softly. It was just too beautiful to know Hiei was there by his side, supporting him. And he did behave so well, being quiet and yet showing the strength of his presence at the very right moment...

"I was afraid you might actually fight my stepfather. But you were perfect Hiei. It was good to have you with me."

"I would have killed him if he had hit your face."

Kurama nuzzled the muscled, warm belly, and his lips touched the youkai firmly over his black clothes, in a kiss. It was difficult to admit, but he had no means to protest his stepfathers decision. He had actually dishonored his family by bringing his lover in so unashamedly. But how could he spend his nights without Hiei? It was a conflict between morals and desire, and yet, Kurama could not regret any of the evenings of love they had shared in his mother's house. It was true he and Hiei were forced to remain very quiet, but in a certain manner It made it all more exciting. However, It didn't make it a right thing to do...

It was interesting the way a slight detail, such as checking whether or not a door was locked, could influence someone's life.

"There are many taboo among humans. This relationship we keep would hardly be accepted here in this world. That's why I had to keep you a secret, Hiei." Kurama continued, calmly. He faced Hiei then; his eyes showed no more tears, but were still red and sore with all his crying. "My mother knew about us, and she accepted our feelings a little bit. But she didn't know I brought you in to have sex... It was what shocked her; it was a bit like treason."

Hiei had looked at the night sky then, There was no moon, just a few wisps of silvery light filtering through the dense stormy clouds. It was really cold, too cold for Kurama and his weak Ningen guise. He called on some of his you-ki, just enough to keep the fox warmer. Then he stroked his head, playing with his strands of hair, occasionally letting his fingers sense one seed hidden here, the other there...

His deep voice sounded like velvet, warm like a mantle. Hiei had whispered right in his ear, and his warm breath caressed Kurama's cheek.

"Kurama. Why don't we travel to the Makai? Let's move back to our world."

His green eyes fell upon Hiei's red, concerned ones, and for a long time they just stared at each other in the dark, gazing at each other's shadowy figure with a deep, silent affection. Only their hands moved, as they offered each other shy, tender caresses.

Kurama sighed in, very loudly, and then he hissed the air out, getting rid of the last remnants of his weeping. He rested his face on Hiei's chest then. He enjoyed listening to the vibration of Hiei's you-ki. It was an appeasing and warming sound, like listening to a slow river, flowing...

"I must live this Ningen existence till its end."

Hiei made an annoyed face, and his stroking stopped. He just held Kurama, one hand closed around one of his shoulders, the other firmly placed on the delicious curve of his waist.

"Why? The family you love and regard so much has just sent you out. Why do you still care?"

"Hiei... I care a lot about us. But I can't run away from my Fate any longer."

Hiei's frown relaxed. Kurama smiled at him very sweetly, so sweetly in fact the youkai was filled with the urge to just hold his lovely fox close, and never mind anything else...

"Fox... You know, I won't leave you alone anyway."

Kurama nodded.

"I still love them; they're my family. I need to be around, just to watch, to guard, to feel close to them. Just like you do for Yukina."

The mentioning of  his sister's name startled the small Fire Demon a bit. But then Hiei could understand it better. She still didn't know about their sister-brother kinship and she had married that dumb ass Kuwabara, but yet Hiei spent a lot of his time and dedication in watching over her.

He snorted again, just to show the fox he was listening.

"I need to resist, I need to learn to face the good and the worse. I'm not going to take refuge in my Youko aspect and move back to Makai just because things went wrong in the Ningenkai... No. I must live my Shuuichi Minamino existence till its end. I don't wanna cheat my own Fate any longer."

"Kurama aren't you too rigid on yourself?"

"Hiei, I've had enough of being a honorless thief. I can't steal from others anymore. I stole a real Ningen son from that poor woman, when I fled from Makai into her womb. The least I can offer her is to keep playing the part until I, or her, come to an end. It is a matter of honor."

Hiei kept a thoughtful silence, just gazing at his fox. The severity of his expression vanished away, replaced by a quiet, shy tenderness.

Yes... He understood it... It was really a matter of honor, and even though it was not the most pleasing decision for them both, it was the noblest one.

"You love that Ningen woman so much, and yet she did nothing to keep you there."

"But one day she will forgive me, Hiei, I know... She didn't do anything  just because of my stepfather's authority.  If it were only herself, she would have excused me."

"Hn. What will happen then, Kurama? Will you grow old like all these humans?"

Kurama sat up, embracing Hiei very dearly.

"Yes, Hiei. I am bound to grow old and die, eventually." Kurama gave Hiei a smile then; they had never talked about those anguishing topics. The Fox had never let it show in any way, but as he became adult, loosing some of the pretty freshness of his adolescence, he imagined soon Hiei wouldn't appreciate him any more. "I don't know if you will still enjoy my looks when I'm old...  I won't be beautiful like this. I will grow weak, my hair will turn grey and my face will wrinkle..."

"Stupid Fox. You will always be beautiful to me."

Tight arms embraced Hiei's waist, and Kurama nuzzled against the youkai's chest again, hiding his smile, and the satisfied twinkle in his eyes. Those were the most precious words Hiei could ever say to him.

"Are you sure you will be the Youko again after you die as a Ningen?"

Kurama's heart was constrained by the sudden emotion when he observed the fear and love, mixed in Hiei's expression. It was dark, but he could devise perfectly the changes in his youkai's face.

"Yes, Hiei. I'm sure. I'll be Youko Kurama again, and then we'll move into the the Makai to live together..."

Hiei gave a side smile, and his hands played with Kurama's bangs which covered his brow and eyes.

"Hn... That crazy youko..."

"Hiei... ' Kurama continued, cautiously, reaching out to place soft, light kisses on Hiei's fingers. "You like me when I'm the youko, don't you?"

The youkai giggled, turning his face to the side, so Kurama could not witness the joy which made his eyes glow. If there was  light enough, the redhead would be able to see the youkai's cheeks blushing...

"Yeah... In a way..."

Kurama placed a soft, slow kiss on Hiei's mouth. Their lips touched in a light, warm smooch, and they kept such caress for a long while, tasting the sweetness of the lips one of the other.

"I don't mind waiting. Ningen don't live long." Hiei declared, when they parted from the kiss.

Kurama breathed deeply. It was good to be wrapped in Hiei's warmth, being held so lovingly in his arms. It was that touch and the sensations it aroused that  didn't allow his pain to grow too intense to bear. However, his chest was taken by a sudden spasm when he recalled his stepfather's harsh words, and his mother's acceptance of his departure. He had to fight back crying all over again.

The redhead shivered, and Hiei just held him tighter, making sure the fox's coat was buttoned up. Then he caressed his face, letting his fingers follow the outline of his breathtaking semblance. He made Kurama lie across his lap again. Then Hiei started to caress the long wavy hair which sprawled on his thighs and lap, disentangling its long strands with very slow, stroking fingers.

"Tomorrow we won't sleep in the cold. I'll find us a hotel room till I can get us our own apartment."

"I don't mind, fox. I like sleeping in the open."

"I dont know if  Hatanaka-san will allow me to keep my job. Anyway, I can easily find another place to work at. Tomorrow I must go to the bank, pick up some of my stuff and then start looking  for a place for us to sleep the night...

"'Try not to think much about it..."

"I won't be able to go to work tomorrow anyway, then we'll have plenty of time to..."

Hiei shut Kurama silent with a kiss. He kissed those pinkish lips with all his love, allured by the sweet way they moved in the dim light, moulding that delicate voice he loved so much. He didn't want to know about any list of things to do - That was much too Ningen for him to stand... All he cared about was his fox, and whether Kurama was feeling better or not.

The youko would not be able to forget and overcome his suffering  if he insisted on remembering all which had happened and all that he needed to do...

"When do you need to go back to the Makai, Hiei?"

The youkai watched his fox for a long, long while, keeping a reverent silence while enjoying his beauty. They could only listen to their own breathing, and they inhaled and exhaled in the same pace, with the same calm depth. Hiei stroked his lover's head. He brought his hand down all the way along his cheek, fondling his neck, and then caressing the delicious body kept under the heavy coat.

Hiei could not help thinking about the one thing which he marvelled at - to come to realize that he was the one who made the fox quiver with passion and pleasure. Kurama, the beautiful, daring, astounding Youko who was one of the greatest living legends in the Makai was his lover; his, no one else's...

Kurama was such a gorgeous creature and yet now they had this dreadful thing in common - They had both been ejected from their homes and families, thrown out into the cold world, accused of bringing dishonor and shame.

Such a sad coincidence...

Now that they just had one another, their love grew more intense.

"Hiei? Can't you stay longer in the Ningenkai this time?" Kurama insisted.

Hiei showed a grimace when he thought about it. Makai?  K'so! Yes, the Demon World had been his home. It had been - past tense. Presently, and for the future, the only Home he wished for was to be within his lover's arms.

"Don't think about it, Kurama." The small Demon looked up at the night sky then, breathing deeply. It was the Ningen sky, but it mattered not. It was Fate; his fate was linked to his fox's one. "Try to sleep a little. I'm here with you."

Hiei continued to stroke Kurama's hair, with very delicate fingers. He just closed his eyes to sleep when he heard his lover's tranquil breathing, assuring him of his deep slumber.

He sighed. Then he rested his head against the tree's trunk, accomodating himself better. He was used to sleep like that, in the wild, resting on a tree, comforted from chilling by his own you-ki's warmth. He placed one hand on his lover's chest, to sense his heartbeat.

Yes... He was there, by Kurama's side...

Nothing else would change that.

To Be Continued....

Characters are property 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