Feedback is craved like a man lost in the desert craves water. <//_^)>

    The first day of the dark tournament had been brutal to the tantai. They were all alive though. It was worth at least a little comfort. Hiei looked out over the water and clutched his arm in pain. He had gotten off lightly. If he hadn't been a fire Youkai the flame attacks used on him would have been his end. Calling so unstable an attack as the black dragon wave had been stupid. The pain was payment for his supidity. //I could be rulling the ningenkai now. Or serving an eternity in the 6th ring of Hell.// He shook his head, "Kurama you have upset my life."

    He tried to clutch his fingers into a fist and growled as his burnt hand refused to listen. "Kuso!" The Koormine/Fire Youkai fell to his knees and set his forehead on his rocky perch. "Kuso!"

    Kurama walked into the hotel room from watching the other teams fight. There were many good fighters present. He worried about the ningen they'd come with. They didn't understand how heartless Youkai must be to live. The crowd's roaring for kills had already earned Yuusuke's distaste. Then there was Hiei's match earlier.  The fire demon had completely lost use of his arm but no one else even noticed, not from their group anyway. Kurama's heart had nearly stopped when his beloved youkai had fallen to the heavy flames the first time.

    "The matches are over then?"

    Kurama looked up and smiled at Hiei. "Hai. How is your arm?"

    The fire Youkai sat on Kurama's bed and looked at the limb in anger, "Useless."

    The red head touched it lightly and watched Hiei flinch. "It's hurting."

    "I can handle a little pain Kitsune."

    Hiei glared but Kurama ignored him and took a makai aloe plant from his hair, "This will sooth it." He crushed the fat branch and smeared the gooey inside on his fingers, then ran them up and down the burnt arm, soothing the burning.

    "Kurama. . ." The fox's touch felt so good. He fought the urge to close his eyes and instead looked at the volumes of red hair spilling over the elven face before him. His commrade was focused completely on not hurting Hiei's arm and the tip of his tongue peeked from his lips in concentration.

    Those large green eyes raised to Hiei and smiled, "Better?"

    "Hai."

    Kurama sat on the floor in front of Hiei and looked down at his hands, "You worried me today."

    "Hn."

    "I don't know what I would have done Hiei, If I had lost you."

    The red eyes watched him unblinking.

    "You are my best freind. And I. . . I. . ."

    The little fire demon cut him off. "You are my favorite partner." He offered, "so don't get killed."

    The redhead smiled, "Don't want to have to train another huh?"

    Hiei nodded solomnly, "Hn." and flit to the windowsill.

    "You can use the bed."

    ". . ."

    Kurama paused a moment to think then stood. "It hurts to touch your arm to anything, doesn't it."

    ". . ."

    He pulled out another couple seed and touched them to the burned skin and they wrapped around it, soothing but firm. "Now it won't sting, so you can sleep comfortably. And it will heal much faster."

    "Why do you care? I would be able to fight tommorow without this aid."

    "I know." The Youko met the Fire youki's lips with his in a feather light kiss just like the other they'd shared in Ningenkai. "But I hate to see you hurting. It will help me to sleep to know that you aren't in pain. All right?"

    "hai." He spoke softly and looked at the leafy cast.

    Kurama smiled and slipped into bed. "Good night Hiei."

    "Hn, stupid fox."

    When he woke Kurama slipped into the forest to speak to the plants there and meditate among them. When he neared it though, his plans shifted. Hiei was already there, and he was in pain.

    The kitsune jumped from limb to limb until he stood over his beloved. The small Youkai was shaking and holding the blackened arm tightly.

    "Diajoubu?"

    "What are you doing here?"

    Kurama had ment to scold Hiei softly and try to reason with him to accept more of the aloe, but the sound of footsteps stopped him. He was by Hiei's side instantly, and they fell into the relaxed role as partners easily. Bantering back and forth until one of the men attacked. Youkai, but weak. They had a little trouble when the second brought out his killing machine but Kurama took care of it with little worry. Then he sat on it's shoulder and watched Hiei tourcher information from the remaining attacker. He was so happy in that moment. It was like they had never left Makai. How simple and pure life could have been if they'd met in different circumstances.

    "He's told us all he will." Hiei killed the prisoner quickly and Kurama joined him on the ground with reluctance. "We have to get something before we go the the arena."

    The redhead nodded. "Hai. Does your arm still hurt?"

    "Stop treating me as a child."

    "So it does."

    "Kurama!"

    He chuckled softly and nodded, "Sorry. I just get overprotective of the people I care about. It's a fox thing."

    "Hn." He walked silently after that. The whole way contemplating that caring didn't seem so much a fox thing, as a Kurama thing.
____________________________

     The day had been wonderful and oddly peacefilled to Hiei until the next battle. They'd had no time to rest and Kurama and Yuusuke were the only hope for the team. He was trapped with the masked fighter in a knot of energy and forced to watch Kurama suffer against three seperate opponents. The fox was amazing. Smart, quick, deadly, and able to use every part of himself, even his hair, to strike with his weapons. But he was exhausted and he was being beaten to death while in his coma like healing trance. Only the knowlege that he would be in no condition to help his partner kept him from trying to break free and go to him.

    //Kitsune no baka. Don't you dare leave me to these ningen alone. I refuse to be left behind by you this far into it.// "Kuso!"

    When finally Yuusuke pulled Kurama from the ring Hiei visibly relaxed, but his fist were still clentched. He stared at his fallen freind and felt him soul start to weep. The fox was even beautiful in the state he was in. The fire demon reached out to his mind and found peace. He was healing. Slowly, but he was healing. //Kitsune no baka. You should not take such risks on your life.//

    The green eyes slit open and Hiei saw the redhead smile faintly at him before falling back into trance. Reasuring him. The baka was caring for him even now. It was something Hiei found very hard to beleive. //I will repay you these gestures fox. I will owe no one any debt.//

    On the stage, Yuusuke fought with speed and strength and a small amount of skill. But he was being drain fast and Hiei looked back at his fox. //Kurama will be very upset if the ningen dies. And our team will be weakend for the final fight.// He refused to acknowlege the part of his mind which called out revenge for Kurama. This would take concentration and things like that would cloud him mind.

    "Yuusuke. You don't have to try reasoning with him." He growled and began to power up, "After witnessing their foul style of play I see this is an unfair game. And I plan on making my own rules." One twist of his renewed strength and the Youkai holding them fell back.  //The sooner this is finished the sooner I can see to that baka kitsune.//

    "Wait!"

    He looked up and his eyes narrowed. Kuwabara was trying to fight again. "Is something wrong with your brain?"

    "Teme!"

    The final match was already announce. And Kuwabara actually won! But why. . . "Yukina!"

    Hiei watched her leave with the rest of the team and walked slowly to the fox still propped against the dividing wall. "Kitune no baka." He said tonelessly and helped the redhead to his feat.

    "Arigato Hiei. But Yukina is here, don't you want to see her?"

    He looked out the way she and the others had gone and then looked back at Kurama.

    "Well?"

    A hint of a fond smile touched his lips and the fire demon continued to support his comrade.

    Once inside their room, Hiei sent for the hotel healer and stayed as she knit the man back together. When she left he sat on Kurama's bed right beside him and looked down into the face he'd grown so familiar with. The thought that he could have lost this man not even an hour ago finally sank in and his eyes widened. "You could have died."

    "I knew what I was doing Hiei. I am over six hundred years old."

    He looked away from the smiling eyes and said in a low tone, "You worried me."

    Kurama struggled into a sitting possition and touched his Youkai's face gently with one hand as he held Hiei's uninjurred hand in the other. "I'm very sorry that I did. I hate to make you worry."

    "K'rama. . ."

    Those lips pressed hotly to his and this time they didn't let up right away. Kurama's rough foxy tongue slipped into Hiei's lips and the little Youkai quickly repaid the action in full. Neither wanted to let go but a knock on the door broke them from each other. Neither moved until the knock came again, then Hiei stood to answer.

    "Hiei-san, is Kurama-san ok?"

    He looked at the girls then nodded.

    "Well." Keiko smiled, "We just wanted to wish you good luck tomorrow."

    "Hn." He shut the door and walked back to Kurama's beside.

    "That was rude Hiei."

    ". . ."

    "Hiei?"

    "What was that you did to me fox?"

    "What? You mean the kiss?"

    "Kissu?"

    "Kiss. You've never had a kiss before?"

    "No."

    Kurama looked down, "Sou ka. Gomen Hiei, I should have asked before I. . ." The fire youkai's lips fell to his and silenced the unnedded apology.

    "It is good."

    "Hai."

    Hiei nodded, "Sleep now, tomorrow will not be easy."

    "Hai."

    Hiei waited until the breathing evened out and then whispered. "Strange fox."
   ________________________________

    The sun rose on the day of the finals like it always had. It didn't know what a wonderful person and teacher had died. Didn't know that the people going to fight closed off from it's rays might not come back. It didn't feel the breaking of two Youkai hearts or the sorrow of the human student. Kurama had to admit it was a beautiful day.

    "Kitsune."

    He turned to the fire youkai and smiled, "Today is the last Hiei."

    "Hn." He stepped closer, his hands still in his pockets and looked up at the taller man. "You will fight the one who touched you in the hallway?"

    "Hai."

    The red eyes torn away from the green and Hiei grit his teeth. "I do not like that he touched you."

    Kurama smiled and sat on the bed to be nearer to Hiei's height. "It was only my neck and hair." The fox shuddered, "Which I washed repeatedly afterward."

    "But your skin is warm and soft. Any touch is . . . I only want you to know mine."

    "I only want your touch Hiei." He reached out and embraced his little beloved.

    The youkai gripped his partner tightly.

    "Hiei, we might not. . . I mean. . . if I can't. . ."

    "Stop."

    "No. It has to be said." Kurama took a deep breath and looked him straight in the eyes. "I love you."

    "N. . . nani?!" He jumped back and stared at the Kitsune.

    "If I die today I wanted you to know that."

    "Kitsune no baka."

    "Hiei." //With the talk of touching me I thought. . . //

    "Don't come near Kurama." Hiei glarred. "You said freinds, I was friends, A weakness I accept. I will not say love to you. You said friends. Why did you change the rules fox?"

    "Hiei I. . ."

    "Stay back from me." He opened the door and walked out.

    Kurama followed quietly to the arena.  //I shouldn't have pushed him.//

    //Hn! Kitsune no baka.// Hiei never looked back.  He watched Kurama's fight with as little emotion as he could, though his coldness cracked quite a few times. //At least the kitsine didn't see.// Then his fight came, and it felt so very good to beat on someone. To tear into a person who would hurt him physically. This was something he understood! And victory was sweet, and the sleep after was sweeter.

    But the sweetest part was waking up and seeing Kurama first thing.

    //Kuso!//

    "The fight!"

    "It hasn't even started. After the arena was destroyed they sent Doguro to get the stone from the other stadium."

    "How long have I been out?"

    "Six hours."

    He sat up and breathed in the sight and smell of the fox. He was healed. A result of the elixer from fruit of the past life. "You look better."

    Kurama nodded, "Yes I. . ."

    The shaking of the building cut him of and Hiei jumped up with Kurama and Koenma to see Doguro returning. The games were about to begin. He walked toward the arena to wait.

    "Hiei."

    "Fox?" He kept all tone from his voice but question.

    "I'm glad you aren't dead."

    "Hn."

    The redhead only made freindly comments to him after except for one slip when Doguro and Yuusuke fought. He had been caught looking at the boy and Kurama asked, "Why don't we just run away together."

    "Don't even joke about that." He glarred and continued watching the fight with an empty feeling inside as he felt Kurama's hopeless sorrow. //I can't afford love. I can not.//

    And after Doguro's defeat he spent the whole night sitting on his bed, watching the fox sleep. Repeating those words inside his head.

    Around dawn the redhead turned over and looked at him. "'hayo."

    "Aa."

    "Hiei?"

    ". . .?"

    "If we had gotten our wishes. From the end of the fight. What would you have asked for?"

    "Why? We aren't getting our wishes."

    "Just a game."

    He gave the fox and odd look then thought a moment. "For Genkai to live."

    "Why?"

    "I could not think of anything I wished. But that would do."

    "So you have everything you want?"

    "Hai."

    "But you're traped in the tantai, wouldn't you wish to be free of us."

    "I will not fall into this trap you've layed Kurama. Tell me then, what would you wish?"

    The green eyes shimmered with unshed tears, "I would wish that you could be at peace in yourself." Then he went into the wash room to get ready to leave.

    //Kitsune no baka.// He looked out the window and smiled softly, //I am learning peace more and more. You are a good teacher, youko Kurama.//

    "Hiei? Are you ready to go?"

    "Hn." He nodded and pulled on his cloak with a flurish.

    Kurama smiled and kissed his nose, "Kawii."

    "TEME!"

__________________

    "Yuusuke?"

    "Hai Kuwabara-kun?"
 
    "Did you just see Hiei chasing Kurama up the side of the building with his katana drawn?"

    "Hai."

    The redhead nodded and grinned, "Oh good, for a minuet there I thought I was seeing things."

    "I don't know about you," Yuusuke smirked, "I'm seeing a lot of things."
 

~owari~