C&C is water to the soil of an artists soul. . .  Water me please!!!

   Kurama watched Hiei go through his morning Katas, the only difference that today held from any other was that this would be the last time. His Hiei was leaving. He was going to serve Mukuro as her Heir, and never coming back.

    The fire demon finished and stood there, breathing heavily. He wiped away the sweat on his brow and sheathed his sword almost lovingly. //Gods I'll miss him!//

    "Hiei."

    "Kurama."

    The air between them was full of electricity, neither spoke for a long time. They hadn't needed words to communicate with eachother for years now. But the silence, as all silence does, became painful, and Kurama finally choaked his words out."

    "So today you leave. You're going home. It's been your wish for a long time."

    "Yeah." Hiei didn't feel as happy as he thought he would. Everything was different now.

    "Do you want to be Mukuro's heir?"

    "Nothing better to do."

    Kurama nodded, holding back his pain at those words. Whatever made Hiei happy was what he wanted for the Youki. "You'll be a good prince."

    "You could have been. Yomi wanted you to join him."

    "Yomi wants. . . more than I can give him now."

    "Hn." Hiei almost growled. Yomi didn't just want more than Kurama was willing to give, he wanted what was Hiei's! But now. . .

    "I'll miss you."

    "Kitsune no baka."

    Kurama just nodded, "Maybe."

    The fire demon looked at his friend intently. There was a question waiting in the Youko's eyes. "Why did you come here Kurama?"

    "I. . .I wanted to say goodbye." Kurama swore and rubbed his eyes gently.

    "Kitsune?"

    "I. . ." He snifled, "I just got something in my eye." Kurama knew the excuse was old for ningen, but Youki didn't feel such minor aches, so Hiei would believe it. He didn't want the Koorime to give up his future just because Kurama had fallen in love with him.

    "Why did you come."

    "It's the last time we'll see each other."

    "What do you mean?"

    "You're leaving. I'm not. I know you don't like emotional attatchments, but you are my friend Hiei, more than just my friend, and I'll miss you."

    "Don't."

    The boy smiled, "It isn't something you can turn on and off."

    "Hn."

    "Will you come back?"

    Hiei shrugged and picked up his cloak. "Maybe."

    Kurama waited until he was gone then let his tears fall, Hiei was leaving. His only real friend, the only one who understood what he felt being trapped in ningenkai, even if they had been trapped for different reasons. //Inari but I'll miss him!//

    "Kurama?"

    The Youko straightened and turned to face Yuusuke.

    "Are you ok?"

    "Mhmm." He smiled, "just taking a walk."

    "We all know you'll miss him, it's alright to miss a friend."

    "I know."

    "Do you think he'll come back to visit?"

    "No." That one word held all of the Youko's heartache.

    "You need to talk?"

    "I . . . just want to be alone for now."

    "Ok. . . Remember we're all here for you though. Ok? We're going to miss him too."

    "Hai. Arigato." Kurama nodded and walked deeper into the forest.  The same forest that gave Yuusuke such trouble during training. It wasn't a place of horror for the plant manipulating youki. It was a home. A refuge. Like Hiei was. Kurama crumpled at the thought and wept.

    From the cover of the leaves Hiei watched Yuusuke talk to the red head and then waited as Kurama reasured him and walked away, into the woods. His saddness place. //The fox it upset that I'm leaving but he won't ask me to stay. Hn. Just like a Youko.//

The fire youki fought the urge to tell Kurama he'd stay. He couldn't offer his freedom for a pretty face, no matter how beautiful the ningen/Youko was in either form. //I have a chance to go home. I will not give that up for such weak emotions as careing! I will not!!!//

    //Ningen no baka. Why should I stay longer than I need? Kurama is the only one I can stand and he's said his farewell.// Decision made he slipped silently through the nearest portal. //Home.//

    It only took a Makai week for Hiei to realise that the wild demon world wasn't home anymore. He loved it of course, and Mukuro was a wonderful boss who really liked him, not just what he could do for her, but something vital was missing. His fox wasn't there. They hadn't told eachother, hadn't said the words, but it was there, love. Without the crazy fox. . . Hiei could feel his throat tighten, his world wasn't whole. He wasn't whole.

    Finally, after a month of trying to forget the heart he denied having, he approached Mukuro with his only request ever made to her. "I want to go back."

    "Back?"

    "Ningenkai."

    "Why Hiei? Don't you like working for me? I thought you hated ningen."

    "I do."

    "Then what would you want to go back for?"

    Hiei took a few heavy breaths and clentched his teeth. He hadn't wanted to give her something to hold over him. But if he had to. . . "Kurama."

    "The Youko!?!" Rage flashed through her eyes and she shot out of her throne in anger, "You want to see that theiving, murdering bastard Youko of Yomi's?!!"

    "He hates Yomi as much as you do."

    "Oh that's right, he just sleeps with anything that walks, right?!"

    "Mukuro. . ." Hiei growled softly, she was heading into dangerous ground.

    "You're in love with him!"

    "Nani?!"

    "Hiei you. . . NO! I forbid you to go to ningenkai ever again! I forbid you to see the Youko, do you understand me?!"

    "Hai." He hissed and sped away. He had known she hatted Yomi for what he'd done to her, but Kurama. . . "Kuso!"

    After cutting down every youkai in the territory that even looked at him wrong, Hiei returned to his bedchamber and began to pace. He wouldn't stop until he could think of what to do to see his fox.

    Kurama's heart felt like it was being squeazed in a tight fist. Like it was no longer moist and alive but dry and dead without Hiei to sustain it. Gods he missed him!

    "Schu-chan?" Shori walked into the room and caught her breath, eyes full of tears at her son's lost and hurting look. She sat on his bed and lay his head in her lap. "Schuuichi, what's wrong? You're so sad. And when you're sad I am too. What happened?"

    Kurama tried to hold it in but his Kaasan's worried eyes broke his resolve, "Kaasan!" He sobbed and hugged her waist, burrying his face into the tender belly that had once housed him.

    "Shh, shh. . . tell me what happened Shuu-chan. please. I want to help."

    Kurama fought for half an hour until he could speak, "He left. He went home and I'll never see him again!"

    "Oh Shuuichi."

    "I love him Kaasan. I . . . I wanted to spend forever with him! But he. . . his. . .  mother hates me and *sob* I'll *sniffle* never *sniffle* see *sniffle* him again! *sob*"

    "How could anyone hate you? You are the sweetest boy I know and I'm not just saying that because you're my son."

    "It isn't me, it's an old friend of mine she hates, but she knows that I used to be his friend so she hates me too."

    "It sounds like you have to let her know who 'you' are."

    "She won't let me close enough."

    Shori smiled, "Then it seems like you're going to have to work for this boy. Do you love him enough to go through with all of this?"

    The redhead nodded and looked up at his Kassan hopefully, "You don't mind that I'm. . ."

    "Minamino Shuuichi I carried you inside me for nine months, I changed your diapers and wiped your nose, I know you." She chuckled, "It's that short friend of yours isn't it."

    "Hai. Hiei."

    "Flying wind. It's a good name."

    "Kaasan? Have you. . . what else do you know?"

    She hugged him with a smile, "Well Kurama. I know that no matter how old you really are you are still mine in this lifetime."

    "How did you. . .?"

    She laughed and kissed his forehead, "Your friends are loud. They said it was a knick name, but I know the legends and it makes sense now. All of your behavior as a child, your cunning, your strength of spirit. You could only be 'the' Youko Kurama."

    He lowered his head, "I'm sorry. I guess you want me to leave now."

    "Do all Youko have such selective hearing?" Her hold on him never wavered, "You are still my son for this life and I know that you've learned from your time with me here. You aren't the heartless Youko you were. Now, you are Minamino Kurama, and I am proud of you. Both of your lives."

    "I. . ."

    "Hush. Now, lets think about how to get you that Hiei shall we?"

    "H. . . Hai." Kurama smiled for the first time in weeks, "You are an amazing ningen 'Kaasan. I love you. "

    "I love you to Kurama."

    "Kassan?"

    "Hm?"

    "Please, call me Shuu-chan."

    When Yuusuke went to visit Hiei, the fire demon practically took his head off when he came flying out of Mukuro's lair, "We need to talk."

    "Um. . . ok?" Yuusuke nodded and waited for Hiei to slow down. Once they were back in Yuusuke's territory, Hiei dropped the detective's hand and handed him a folded piece of parchement.

    "Mukuro won't let me leave Makai."

    "I didn't think you wanted to."

    "Hn."

    "So what is this?"

    "For Kurama." Was all Hiei said, then he went back to his glorified prison and Yuusuke opened a portal to ningenkai.

    When Shori answered the door Yuusuke nodded politly, "Ohayo Minamino-san, is Kur. . . ah. . . Shuuichi home?"

    She smiled, "Kurama is in his room. Maybe you can cheer him up. He's feeling very sad."

    Yuusuke was knocking on Kurama's door before he realised Shori had called the Youko by his demon name. "Kurama did you. . .?!"

    The red head smiled wryly, "She figured it out on her own."

    "Wow."

    "Mmm, indeed."

    "Uh. . . I saw Hiei this morning."

    Suddenly he had the boy's full attention, "How is he? Does he look too thin? Is he happy? Was he with anyone? Has he made new friends?"

    Yuusuke blinked, "uh. . ." Unable to line up the multiple questions in his mind he just handed Kurama the letter, "I gotta go now. . . um. . . ja ne?"

    "Yes, Ja Yuusuke." He didn't even look away from the thick note. When the door was closed behind the other detective, Kurama sat on his windowsill and opened it with shaking hands.

    The red headed Youko watched his tears run the carefully inked letters and touched the paper to his lips gently. "Hiei." He looked out the window and saw Yuusuke walking away. "Yuusuke!"

    "Hm? Nani?"

    "Come back inside, I. . . I have a message for you to give to Hiei."

    "Sure." He nodded and Kurama waisted no time writing a return to his demon. He folded it lovingly and sealed it with a rose and a kiss before taking it downstairs to Yuusuke. "So what'd he have to say?"

    "He wants me to come visit."

    "Doesn't sound like Hiei." Yuusuke puzzled.

    "Yes it does." Kurama smiled brightly.

    Shori walked into the room as Yuusuke left, "Are you going then?"

    "If Koenma will allow. I. . . what will I say to him Kaasan? I can't spoil this."

    "Say what is in your heart." She offered, "Come, let's bake him some cakes, I remember that one's sweet tooth!"

    Kurama laughed and joined his mother in the kitchen. //Hiei. I'm coming home.//

    "Do you think I'm a fool Youko Kurama?" Enma glarred down at the seemingly harmless redhead.

    "No, Enma-sama, I would be very dim to question your knowledge."

    "And asking me to allow you to return to the Makai isn't insulting my intellegence? Under the name Kurama you may not have much of a crime record, but we've all heard of the cunning hiests you've succeeded in. Don't think that just because you willingly gave up the Mirror of Utter Dark, I owe you something!"

    "I would not presume Enma-sama."

    The giant God looked down at Kurama with a calculating eye, "So you want to return to the Makai indefinitly."

    "Hai."

    "After giving up the chance to do so at the tournament."

    "Hai."

    "This has something to do with that fire demon partner of yours doesn't it. Kurama I swear you'll die trying to get him out of trouble some day."

    "Then I'll die happily."

    "Let me think this over."

    "Enma-sama, I hold you in high esteem and I understand your greatness, but this is just a technicallity, if you say no, I'll still go, and then you will have to send Yuusuke, Kuwabara and Hiei to kill me. Do you truly wish to force them to choose between a friend and you?"

    "Ah! There is the Kurama I know!"

    He smiled and nodded.

    "So I can say yes and save myself the trouble or say no and have a war on my hands."

    "It looks to be this way."

    "You are a sneaky bastard."

    "Hai Enma-sama." Those green eyes gleamed and Enma groaned.

    "You're going to make me regret this aren't you."

    "Most likely Enma-sama."

    The God watched the Youko smile and closed his eyes. Youko were pests when they wanted something. "KOENMA!!!!"

    Yuusuke once again risked decapitation when Hiei slammed out of the palace and snatched him up and out of the range of Mukuro's eyes and ears. "Hiei!"

    "Well?"

    "I gave it to him, he told me to give this to you, what's going on Hiei?"

    "It's not of your buisness." He snatched up the note and was gone.

    "Hiei! What are you two up to?! Hiei!"

    "Trouble with the shrimp?"

    Yuusuke jumped and turned, "Kuwabara! What are you doing here?"

    "I followed you."

    "Why?"

    "Because I could. What's up with the shrimp?"

    "Him and Kurama are ploting something. I think we should keep our eyes on them."

    "Right. I'll take Kurama, you get the squirt."

    "What?! Why do I get Hiei?"

    "'Cause you live in Makai baka!"

    "Who are you calling a baka?!"

    "If you don't know then you're worst off than I thought!"

    "Oh yeah?!"

    "Yeah!"

    "GUYS!!!"

    "Botan?"

    The farrie girl smiled, "Hi! Koenma sent me to tell you to keep an eye and Kurama and Hiei."

    "That's what we were talking about."

    "Oh. Well Yuusuke should watch Hiei."

    "WHAT?! Why?!"

    "Because Kuwabara is too big and loud."

    Yuusuke snicked and Kuwabara bellowed, "NANI?!"

    "She has a point."

    "Shut up! Baka!"

    "Who're you calling a baka?!"

    "Ja!" Botan hurried away while she still could.

    In Mukuro's territory, Hiei sat alone on the roof of the highest tower and looked down at the rose and paper in his hands. He smelled it slowly, letting Kurama's scent fill him as he opened it rolled missive an read.

    My beloved Hiei

    "Hn, dramatic fox."

                                                                                                With all My soul,
                                                                                                           Kurama

    Without even a goodbye to his boss and kepper, Hiei blurred into motion. He knew the clearing Kurama had written of. It was a three day journey for him. Like no time at all! He moved in the tree tops to avoid any stray Youkai and left Mukuro's kingdom far behind.

    //I'm coming Kurama.//
 

    Yuusuke cursed as he barreled through ther underbrush after the Youkai he was told to watch. Hiei was moving like lightning and obviously not paying any attention to the world around him or he would have sensed the clumsy half human's attempts at trailing. //He must be deep in thought. We thought we could trust you two.// Yuusuke felt a pain in his heart, //Please don't be planing a heist, please don't make me have to choose.//

    Hiei slowed only when it was too dark to travel and Yuusuke watched at a safe distance as he pulled Kurama's letter and rose from his cloak. The ruby eyes scanned it and then looked toward the dark Makai horizon as if he were praying or meditating. Whatever Kurama had writen. . . //Maybe I should have read it.//

    He settle back for a long wait and cast one more glance at his friend and fellow tantai. //Please don't do anything foolish Hiei. I don't want to take you in.//

    The light in the window of Kurama's room clicked off finally around midnight and Kuwabara waited in the shadows. The Youko hadn't been acting any different than usual. . . maybe a little happier, he'd been so sad when Hiei left.

    Sleep was beconing the bulky redhead and his eyes were just falling closed when a movement startled him awake again. The window was opening and the lithe form of his Youko friend slipped to the ground with no sound to mark his decent. He didn't even pause before he was off again. Feet barely touched the ground and he was flying toward the nearest portal to Makai. Kuwabara hurried after him, keeping silent as he could. //Why are you sneaking around at night Kurama? I don't wan't to loose trust in you.//

    Once the silver blur passed through the portal, the ningen slipped inside and emerged in a heaven! A Makai eden! The clearing was beautiful and purely magical. Kurama walked up to the small stream and knelt there, cleaning his face and arms. A whole day passed and Kurama only left the clearing to hunt. //A meeting place. Hiei will be here soon.//

    Dark time in Makai was frightening alone. Kuwabara shivered in his hiding spot and look on as Kurama toyed with the plants of the clearing with visible impatience. //What are they up to? I thought Kurama was more sensable than this. What will we do if they've changed sides again?//

    A hand clamped over his mouth and he tensed and lashed out only to be pressed into the dirt, "shh! It's me."

    "Yuusuke." He whispered back, "Where is Hiei?"
 
    "He's a couple minuets behind me. There were some leigeless demons. I saw the light from the clearing and figured this is where he was going."

    "Kurama's playing in the water. He's been here for two days. What are we going to do if they've gone bad?"

    "I don't know what we 'can' do." The dark hair delinquent looked troubled, "Hiei is at least as powerfull as I am and I have the feeling that Kurama is a lot more strong than he has us think. If they fight against us. . ."

    "They wouldn't though. Well, maybe the shrimp, but Kurama wouldn't."

    Yuusuke was silent.

    The two boys turned their attention back to the clearing and waited for the moment of truth. They knew what they would have to do if their suspiscions were right, but neither knew which side they would choose to fight. They were both afraid that it would be the wrong one.

    Kurama's eyes shot up from his place in the water as a familiar form materialized out of seamingly no where. "Hiei."

    "Fox." The smaller demon just stood there. Waiting. It had all been so much more simple in his mind. Now he didn't know what to do.

    "You got my letter." They both said it at the same time and then blushed slightly.

    "I shouldn't have gone with Mukuro."

    Kurama shook his head and stepped onto the shore, "No Hiei, you wanted to go home. I understand that! I understood that. I just. . . I miss you when you're gone."

    ". . ."

    "Hiei?" Kurama rushed to the Youkai, forgetting his state of undress in his worry, "Are you ok?"

    The large red eyes widened and he blink and swallowed hard.

    "Hiei?"

    "Fox. Your clothing."

    "Wha. . . Kurama looked down at himself and blushed, "Oh. Ah. . . gomen na. . ." As he moved his eyes to look back up, a tenting in Hiei's training gi caught them. "I see."

    "Kurama. . ."

    "Don't be ashamed Hiei. You're beautiful. I missed you so much." The youko hugged him tight and pressed his face into the koorime's slim neck. "I should have said something. So much to say."

    "What do you need to say fox?" Hiei fought a loosing battle to keep his breathing smooth.

    "I don't like living in a world without you."

    ". . ."

    "You were right, I do love ningenkai, but I would rather be near you. I can return to Makai. I'll make this my territory and wont have to step on anyones toes to keep it since it's no ones to begin with. I can be near you then. Please say you want me near you at least."

    "Kitsune."

    "Hiei. What did you need to say. In your letter you said. . ."

    "You are a good theif Kitsune Kurama."

    "I don't . . ."

    "You've stolen something that I would never have given anyone else. I allowed you to steal it but a want something in return."

    Kurama looked puzzled. //I stole something of Hiei's? When. . . I have his tear gem but I thought it was given since he left it on the floor. Maybe. . .//

    "Fox. I would have something in return."

    Yuusuke cursed and crept closer. "He STOLE from Hiei?! Oh shit! They're gonna kill eachother aren't they! Kuwabara we have to do something!"

    "The shrimp wont hurt him. They're best friends! Even Hiei wouldn't. . . would he?"

    They looked at each other in near panic, "Oh shit."

    "Hiei is this what I took?" Kurama held out his large, slim hand and the delicate ring on his finger caught the light. The red and black tear gem staring at Hiei softly from it's base of silver. "I thought you gave it to me, I shouldn't have presumed." He bowed his head, "Gomen nasi."

    "Hn. Kistsune no baka. I did give you that."

    "Then what?"

    He took the still offered hand and put it over his chest, his heart.

    "Hiei?"

    "I am not good at speaking."

    "I know."

    "My chest is empty."

    Kurama's breath was heavy and his eyes were closed half way in languid pleasure. Hiei fought to keep himself from doing the same. This had to be said.

    "You stole my heart fox. I want yours now, to fill me again."

    "H. . . hiei." The tall fox colapsed against the Koorime and sobbed, "You silly Youkai."

    "N. . . nani?!" Hiei stiffened, ready to run.

    "You already have my heart." Kurama held tightly and trailed kisses over the shocked face.

    "Honto?"

    "From the first time we met when you stopped trying to kill me."

    "You were a pretty child for a ningen."

    "Not such a child now though am I?"

    "Come here."

    Kurama leaned in and sighed, "Hai."

    Their lips drifted nearer to each other, tongue's slippign out to taste eachother before. . .

    "HENTAI?!!"

    They jumped apart and stood ready to fight facing the voice.

    "Kuwabara!"

    "They were going to. . ."

    Kurama parted the bushes and glarred. "Yuusuke. Kuwabara."

    "Um. . . this isn't how it looks Kurama. We uh. . . Koenma needs us too. . . uh. . ."

    "You followed us didn't you."

    "Well you were being all secretive and we thought you were planning. . ."

    "Kuwabara! Shut up!"

    Hiei walk up to them with his mocking grace and smiled evilly, "You thought we were going to steal something."

    "Well 'we' didn't exactly, it was orders and uh. . ."

    "Kurama what the Hell were you doing?!"

    "Kuwabara!"

    "Well it looked like he was going ta tongue the Shrimp!"
    
    "Who are you calling a shrimp Saru no kisama!"

    "Why you. . . !"

    "Stop it!"

    Kurama pulled Hiei back and glanced calmly at the ningen before them with all  of his years as a youko in his eyes to see. "And what if I was?"

    He made some choaking sounds and Kurama smiled, "I am staying in Makai."

    "But the Tantai. . ."

    "I didn't say I was leaving the Tantai, just that I would be living in Makai." He held Hiei close and smiled, "I want to be with Hiei. I love him."

    The Koorime turned around and gasped, "Fox!?"

    "I love you."

    This time their lips did meet and neither was willing to let go until they had to. Hiei's eyes were full of love and lust and he smiled a true but feral smile. "And I am leaving Mukuro's army. She can find a new heir. I am staying here."

    "But you wanted to be a prince Hiei!" Kurama argued, "Don't give that up."

    "I want you." A slight kiss was given for reasurence, "I love you."

    "But you're both. . ."

    Yuusuke grabbed the red head before he could say anythign else. "Ok, enjoy the honeymoon, we'll send gifts, gotta go now, see ya, bai bai."

    Neither Youkai were listening. They were too busy drowning in eachother's eyes.

    "Are you sure Hiei?"

    "Hai. You?"

    "Never more sure in my life."

    "We will make a good life here fox."

    "Hai. I know we will."

    They sealed it with a kiss and an embrace. A pact of an eternity together.

~owari~

Well what do you think?
Should I write a sequal? If you ask it will come.
 
Rai