Chapter 1: Dreams Hiei was dreaming and, as usual, he was dreaming about Kurama. Nearly every night since the day he had met the charming redhead, Hiei's dreams were haunted by images of Kurama. Images of Kurama writhing in pleasure beneath him. Images of Kurama's arms, legs and chest glistening with sweat. Images of long, lustrous hair, now red, now silver, plastered to Kurama's brow. Images of green, green eyes and the playful smile that made Hiei's stone heart crumble. Then that loving smile shifted subtly, becoming contemptuous and mocking. "You think you are worthy of my love? You are nothing but an under-sized, bitter little child who wasn't even loved by his own mother. I'll never care about you." And then Kurama's deceptively slender arms shot out and shoved Hiei away. Then he was falling, hurtling toward the ground at nearly terminal velocity. He landed with a bone-jarring thud. When he looked up, he saw that he was surrounded by swirling clouds of snow. A figure approached him; as he waited nervously for an attack, suddenly out of the darkness appeared Yukina. Hiei tried to get up, to move towards his sister, but his body would not obey his desperate commands. The cold of the rock-hard ground seeped into his bones, numbing him. "Yukina, help me! I'm freezing!" "But why should I help you?" "Because, because...... I'm your brother!" "You? Impossible. My brother is good and kind, and you are nothing but a wicked little murderer. Kurama was right to reject you." As Yukina's figure faded slowly into the snow, Hiei felt himself slowly sinking into the icy ground. Then he was standing on a tree-limb, looking into a school-yard. A red- headed figure walked quickly across the yard, pursued by several giggling girls. Others who were more shy stood off to the side, gazing at Shuiichi Minamino with dreamy eyes. Hiei turned away in pain and disgust, and suddenly found himself in a featureless void, facing a shadowy figure. "Who are you?" Hiei snarled as he slipped his sword from its scabbard. "Now? Now I am no one. But soon, I will be the person you always wished you were. I will do all the things you have been afraid to do." "I am not afraid of anything!" Hiei lunged for the shadow, only to find himself falling into a deep pit. The shadow looked down at him. "If you were afraid of nothing, Kurama would be your lover, Yukina would know the truth and all those nattering females would be ashes in the wind. You are afraid, and for that crime, you will remain here while I do what should be done." "Nooooooooo" Hiei screamed and his vision began to blur and dim, but in the instant before he passed into unconsciousness, he had the distinct impression that the shadow was smiling. ************* Somewhere in the Ningenkai, a dark-clad figure stood on a tree branch. The figure was short, with spiky, jet black hair (except for that little star-shaped thatch of white in the front) and it was smiling a fierce, fanged grin. Above the sinister smile and the delicate nose were two large, almond shaped eyes, closed as if in sleep. In the middle of the figure's forehead was a single eye, wide open and glowing an eerie purple. Then the figure laughed, a deep-throated sound that echoed through the forest. As the last echoes died out, the figure whispered "Sweet dreams Hiei, it's my turn now." Chapter 2: Desires The students streamed out of the school building, laughing and smiling on their homeward journeys. A lone figure watched them from the shadows, scanning the crowd, seeking out the one who would be first. It was a simple thing to recognize the suitable ones, it was so easy to see their thoughts, so easy to know their hearts. A girl with long blond hair and laughing blue eyes passed by the tree which hid the watcher. "Yes" whispered a deep voice, "She will do nicely indeed. She will be the first." And suddenly the tree was empty, and a small, lithe shadow flitted after the blond girl with the laughing eyes. ***** Shuiichi Minamino was having difficulty sleeping, he felt anxious somehow, as if something terrible were about to occur. "Humph. Clairvoyance is supposed to be Kuwabara's thing, why am I so edgy?" Eventually Kurama slept, if uneasily. Late in the night, when all was still, the window to Kurama's room silently slid open, and a slight figure slipped into the moonlit room. The figure paused, as if unsure of its purpose, but after a mere instant of hesitation, it vanished and reappeared next to the sleeping figure on the bed. Kurama woke to the sensation of something hot and wet caressing his lips. He opened his eyes to discover that a small, dark figure lay atop him, and was gently kissing him. "Wha? Hey.." "Shhhh. Be quiet, stupid fox. You don't want to wake your mother do you?" "Hiei? What in....?" Yelped Kurama as he tried to wriggle out from underneath Hiei. "Don't tell me you've never thought of doing this. Isn't this something you've wanted? You can't lie to me, I can See the truth." Hiei returned to kissing Kurama, and began a slow exploration of the youko's bare chest. "Hn. I'm sooo glad you chose to sleep in the nude tonight, Kurama. That makes things so much......easier." Kurama's mind slowly began to function again, and Hiei's words pierced through the last of the fog. He couldn't help but rejoice at the fact that his dreams were finally coming true, but something was very wrong with this situation. Hiei was never like this. By force of will, Kurama broke off the kiss and gasped "Hiei, why are you doing this? Why now? I do care for you, I do want you, but this is not what I expected. This isn't how it should be." "What? You wanted to be the aggressor? Big, bad Kurama taking poor little Hiei? Sorry to disappoint you, but I just couldn't wait any longer." Hiei's hands left Kurama's chest and began to lightly stroke Kurama's penis, drawing a faint groan from the flustered youko. "Wait, no, I *gasp*" Kurama was finding it very difficult to protest as Hiei's warm hands began to stroke him more strongly. Mustering the last shreds of his will power, Kurama pushed Hiei away and tumbled off the bed. As Kurama backed towards the door, Hiei followed, and when he stepped into the light of a moonbeam, Kurama couldn't help but gasp in shock. "What in god's name? Hiei, your Jagan, it's...." "Hah. It's exactly as it should be." Kurama stared at the youkai before him, seeing nothing of the friend he knew in the grinning face. He knew then that the Hiei he loved was somewhere behind those two closed eyes, and that someone, no some_thing_ else was now wearing the form of his dearest friend. And that something stared at him with a single, violet eye. "You're not Hiei! Who are you?" "I am the hopes and dreams of a lonely child. I am without fear. I am what Hiei should have been. I am Jagan." Then, before Kurama could react, Jagan was gone, and the wind sighed mournfully through the open window. Shuiichi Minamino was having difficulty sleeping. He tossed and turned, and wondered what he could do to help his friend, wondered how he could possibly save Hiei from his own deepest desires. ***** The students wandered into the schoolyard. Sighing and groaning about the start of another day. The first to enter the schoolyard was a very tired and worried young man with flaming red hair and deep green eyes. He came to a dead stop when he saw what awaited in the schoolyard. He fell to his knees in shock, and the sound of screaming seemed to come from far in the distance. Standing in the center of the yard was a large stake, to which was tied the mutilated body of a blond-haired girl who once had laughing eyes. Those eyes had been gouged out, and the now-empty sockets dripped blood onto her bare breasts. Into her stomach had been carved the words "Shuiichi is mine" and beneath those words was a burn mark in the shape of a single eye. Chapter 3: Disaster Jagan watched Hiei's sister, no, _his_ sister, from the limb of a tree. Yukina was playing with a small woodland animal. A squirrel, yes, that was it. She looked so sweet and innocent, Jagan wondered why Hiei had had so much trouble telling her the truth. It couldn't be that stupid oath not to tell her, oaths meant nothing to youkai. Of course, he wouldn't be here if not for that oath. Hiei would still be in control, and probably wouldn't even have found Yukina yet. "Stupid Koorime. Worthless without my help." He leapt off the tree limb and landed softly in front of Yukina. The girl started slightly, then broke into a dazzling smile when she saw that the figure standing in the shadow of the tree was a familiar one. "Hiei! How nice to see you!" "Yukina, you have been looking for your brother, ne? You wish to find him?" "Of course, he must be so lonely without me, I'm his only family." "Well, I am your brother." ".....well, I, I kinda suspected, but I wondered, I wondered why you never... Oniisan!" Yukina dashed forward and swept the figure into a hug. But despite her happiness at finally knowing her brother, she felt a tiny spark of doubt. Why was Hiei telling her this now? So suddenly? And why didn't he step out of the shadows? He seemed so cold, she couldn't feel any warmth in him at all. He usually kept his softer emotions well hidden from everyone save her and Kurama, but today it felt almost as if those emotions weren't there at all. Yukina stepped back into the daylight, and suddenly pulled her brother with her. The light hit his face, and she saw the two closed eyes, and the Jagan wide open, when it should be hidden by the ever-present bandanna. "What in? Hiei, what's happened?" Yukina wailed, a single tear gem falling to the ground. "Why does everyone question me? Can't you just leave well enough alone? Can't you be satisfied by knowing that I'm your brother?!" Roared Jagan, his temper finally getting the best of him after suffering so many disappointments. "No, no, NO! You aren't my brother, my brother would never yell at me that way for no reason! My brother is Hiei, and you aren't him at all!" Yukina turned and ran, tears streaming down her face, leaving a sparkling trail of jewels behind her. "This isn't turning out at all like I planned... maybe I should change my plan." A cruel smile appeared on Jagan's face as he turned and headed back towards Tokyo. ***** Yuusuke Urameshii and Kazuma Kuwabara rang the doorbell of the Minamino residence, grief etched on their faces. Shiori opened the door and, recognizing her son's friends, invited the two into the house. "Shuiichi is in his room. He hasn't spoken or eaten since he came home from school today. It's just horrible! Who could have done such a thing? My poor son, he feels so guilty. The police were here earlier, but they haven't found any leads. This is just terrible. I hope you two can help him, I just don't know what to do." Shiori Minamino seemed beside herself with worry. "We'll see what we can do Ms. Minamino." Yuusuke said, anger beginning to show in his voice. He didn't know who was responsible for this, but he was determined to put an end to it soon, the bastard who did this would never get away with it. Kurama looked up as Yuusuke and Kuwabara entered his room. His beautiful green eyes were filled with sadness, anger and fear. "Kurama, what happened? We heard about the murder on the news. Why didn't you call us? We have to stop this creep before it happens again. We have to find out who did this." "I know who did this Kuwabara, and I didn't call you because I have no idea what to do about it." "What? You know who the murderer is? Who?" "It's Hiei." Kurama saw Kuwabara's face twist in hatred, and realised what he had said. "No, wait, it's Hiei, but it's not... Oh I don't know how to explain. I think, I think we were wrong about the nature of Hiei's Jagan, it seems that it's alive and _ aware_, and it's now in control of Hiei's body. It seems to be fulfilling Hiei's subconscious desires." "How do you know that?" "I know because, he, it, was here last night. It said I am the hopes and dreams of a lonely child. I am without fear. I am what Hiei should have been. I am Jagan.' Then it left and, the next day..." Kurama broke off and shuddered. "This is bad. If it's in Hiei's body, how can we kill it without killing Hiei? We certainly can't take it to the cops! Shit, this is a disaster." Yuusuke began pacing across the room, a worried look on his face. "Kurama, have you talked to Koenma yet?" Kuwabara asked suddenly. "No, he hasn't called. I'm not sure if he even knows yet, what with all that paperwork. Besides, this doesn't really look much like demon activity anyway, it looks like a human killer, and that isn't our job." "So, what are we going to do?" "I don't know, I just don't know." ***** Jagan watched the school yard from the limb of a tree. In the centre of the yard stood a second stake, identical to the first, and tied to it was the body of yet another young girl. This time however, there was no message carved into her stomach, only the mark of the Jagan was burned into her flesh. "Well, that was fun. Since it seems I can't fulfill all of Hiei's wishes, I think I'll just stick to this one, it's the easiest anyway. Hmm. I should probably go check on Hiei, he's been making a lot of noise since he woke up. It's giving me a headache. And I know just how to shut him up. Heh." Chapter 4: Despair In a deep pit, covered by a metal grate, somewhere in a featureless plain, Hiei screamed in frustration. He hammered at the grate with every ounce of emotional energy he could muster, and considering the fact that he had been trapped within his own mind for two days now, that was a considerable amount. When emotional energy seemed to have no effect on the metal grate that prevented Hiei from escaping this prison, Hiei tried fire instead. Wave after wave of black fire battered at the grate, to no avail. Exhausted, Hiei slumped to the ground, and tried to think of a way to escape from the hole that damn Jagan had put him in. "Just what do you think you're doing, little brat?" Hissed an angry voice at the rim of the pit. "Jagan?! Bastard! What have you been doing with my body?! Let me out of here, or I swear I'll kill you!" "You'll do no such thing. You may have a lot of raw power, but finesse in the psychic realm is my area of expertise. However, I have been having a bad couple of days, and your temper tantrum is giving me a headache." "Good. What have you been doing with my body?!" Hiei looked defiantly at the indistinct shadow above him. The only feature that was clear about Jagan was the violet eye in the middle of what should have been a forehead. That eye began to glow a sickly purple and Hiei once again got the impression that the figure was smiling. "You are a pathetic, worthless weakling. And I am going to keep you from bothering me by giving you exactly what you deserve." "What...." Hiei gasped as his mind was suddenly bombarded with images. Images of Kurama yelping "Hiei? What in..?!" as he tried to squirm out from underneath the body which lay atop him. Images of Kurama backing away with a look of mingled shock, terror and disgust distorting his beautiful face. Images of Yukina crying "No, no, NO! You aren't my brother" and running away, tear gems scattered behind her. Then Hiei's mind cleared and he saw Jagan staring down at him. "Hah. You can't scare me with dreams. I've been having those dreams for years!" "But Hiei, those weren't dreams. Those were my memories. You asked what I've been doing with your body, well, there you have it. Kurama and Yukina really did reject you, just as you feared. Congratulations, you were right after all." "Memories..." Hiei's agonized whisper turned into a scream as all the painful memories of his life replayed themselves in his mind, again, and again, in a tormenting loop of rejection and loneliness. Jagan laughed cruelly as he watched Hiei curl into a fetal ball at the bottom of the pit and whimper in pain, trapped in his own painful past. ***** In a schoolyard in Ningenkai stood three identical wooden stakes. To the third was tied the mutilated body of a pretty, young, red haired girl. Scattered around the stakes were the bodies of the police officers who had died trying to apprehend the monster responsible for the murder, and the two murders before that. High in a tree sat a dark figure, frowning at his handiwork. "Well, that wasn't nearly as fun as the last two. Killing these girls is getting boring. I need something new, something more appropriate to _my_ tastes. To Hell with the little brat's wishes, I know who I want to kill. I wonder if he'll revert to Youko form after he's dead?" The police officers who arrived on the scene in response to the calls of their now-dead friends never saw the dark figure leave his perch, but they did hear the last echoes of a soulless laughter that sent fearful chills down their spines. Chapter 5: Desperation Shuiichi Minamino paced restlessly around his small room. Many things worried him at present, but his foremost concern was how to aid his best friend, how to rescue Hiei from the being that had usurped his body. He sat down on his bed and sighed as if the weight of the world had fallen upon his slender shoulders. Kurama smiled ruefully as he remembered that earlier in the week, before the boy had found out about the murders, his little brother had said, "Hey, oniisan, you look like you just lost your best friend. What's the matter?" As tempted as he was to answer "I just lost my best friend" he had only sighed and let Shiori explain what had happened. Or, at least, the parts that she knew about. Shuiichi fell back on his bed and stared at the ceiling for a long moment then, with a last soft sigh, he closed his eyes and tried to sleep. The brush of a chill breeze upon his cheek caused Kurama to start awake and instinctively roll off the bed. The sword strike that would have bisected his face instead clove the pillow in two, sending a shower of duvet around the room. With a speed that was unusual for a human, Shuiichi was back on his feet and facing the youkai before him in a defensive crouch. Somehow, despite all that had happened, it still shocked Kurama to see Hiei's body standing there, wielding the sword that had almost taken his life. But even in his most heartless moments, Hiei had never worn a look of such pure malign glee on his elfin face. "Jagan. So, it has come to this." Kurama's face was set in a stern expression, he knew there was but one course of action he could take in this battle. He regretted the necessity, but he really had no choice. He would have to try and stay alive long enough to incapacitate Jagan, or escape through the door or window. He would have to beat the powerful youkai without any of his usual weapons, for he knew he could never harm Hiei's body, no matter who used it at the moment. With a snarl much like Hiei's, yet somehow different, Jagan leaped at Kurama with all the speed his Koorime body could muster. Somehow Kurama dodged. "He's not as fast as Hiei. He must not be completely adjusted to using that body then. I may have a chance." Thought Kurama as he dashed quickly to the left to avoid Jagan's second wild lunge. "He has very little control, maybe I could get past him to the window." Again and again Jagan rushed blindly at Kurama, and again and again Kurama just barely managed to avoid the sword thrusts. But Kurama had only the stamina of a human, he knew he couldn't keep it up for much longer. Then Jagan got caught off-balance after one of his wild attacks and Kurama kicked the deadly blade out of his hand. He dashed in and caught Jagan in a choke hold, hoping to render the youkai unconcious without doing any real damage. Kurama assumed that Jagan had not yet mastered any of Hiei's fire attacks. The careless attacks he had been using showed no mastery of combat strategy, if he knew how to use the Fire Dragon, he would have used it at the beginning of the battle. However, Kurama had forgotten one thing, Jagan had powers of his own. A sharp pain lanced through Kurama's head as Jagan used his psychic strength to free himself. As Kurama lay on the floor, stunned, Jagan picked him up by the throat and slowly began to crush his windpipe. Before his breath was cut off altogether, Kurama gasped "Hiei, itoshii, help...". Then his vision began to dim as his air supply was cut off. ***** A small form was curled into a foetal position at the bottom of a deep pit. A constant parade of painful memories kept him incapacitateed and in pain. Memory after memory ran through Hiei's mind. Cries of "Abomination! Begone foul creature!" echoed around him as he was thrown from the land of the Koorime, when he was barely an hour old. Four large youkai beating him half to death, all the while jeering "Helpless little brat, no one around to help you! Poor little baby!" His first employer slapping him violently, shrieking "Worthless little shit! Can't do anything right!" after he had failed to return with the item he was sent to steal. An S-class raping him brutally, laughing "Hah! Pretty little weakling, can't even defend yourself!" while he ripped razor sharp claws accross Hiei's chest. Then, Hiei saw visions of himself as he was now, older and more powerful by far, but still he was a failure. He saw Mukuro, defeating him at the tournament. He saw Yukina running away in tears. He saw Kurama, backing away in horror. Over and over again these memories cut into his soul, reducing him to a shuddering wreck. Then, suddenly, a new image appeared in his mind's eye. Kurama, his face pale, gasping for air as two small hands choked the life from him. Kurama's spring-green eyes bulging as tears streamed down his beautiful face. Kurama, gasping "Hiei, itoshii, help..." "Kurama?" Whimpered the huddled form. "Kurama?" Hiei's voice gained slightly in strength as he saw Kurama slump in the grip of the two child-sized hands. "KURAMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA" shreiked Hiei, rage suffusing his entire being and shattering the images that had bound him. A column of energy blasted upwards from the floor of the pit, turning the metal grate into a twisted, melted heap of slag. Hiei leaped to the top of the pit and roared "JAGAN! BASTARD! LET HIM GO!" With the strength of his rage powering him, Hiei tore Jagan from his body and pulled him into the mind they both shared. "Damn you, brat! How did you get free?" "None of your damn buisness!" Hiei threw a bolt of energy at Jagan, who dodged it easily. "Idiot! You can't hope to beat me in a psychic battle! Just go back in your cell, or you will get hurt." Hiei's only response was to throw another bolt of energy at Jagan. As the battle raged, Hiei felt himself growing weaker. His long imprisonment had sapped much of his strength, and Jagan had the advantage in the first place. First one, then another, of Jagan's strikes connected and Hiei was thrown accross the plain that had become their battlefield. Hiei tried to get up, but found that he lacked the strength to do even that. He looked up at the leering face of Jagan, and noticed that instead of being an indistinct shadow as before, Jagan now had a rapidly solidifying form. Hiei looked down at himself and saw that he was fading, becoming less distinct. "I was happy to let you live, to leave you imprisonned. Now you leave me no choice. I'll destroy your soul, absorb your strength, and when this body dies I'll just take another! Maybe even Kurama's body. I'll have the strength to do it you know, all thanks to you." Jagan's palm began to glow violet as he gathered energy for one last strike. ***** Kurama slowly returned to conciousness. The ache in his battered throat broke into his peaceful rest and it slowly dawned on him that there was something he should be doing. Suddenly Kurama sat up and gasped "Hiei!" He turned to where the form of his best friend lay, limp and unmoving. He crawled anxiously over to Hiei's still form and examined him for injuries. When he found none he desperately tried to sense Hiei's youki, tried to figure out what was wrong with him. He got only the faintest sense of the youki that was usually burning with intensity and strength. In that last desperate moment before he lost conciousness, Kurama has called Hiei his beloved. Now, as he contemplated life without the surly, bitter little koorime, he knew that it was true. He loved Hiei with every ounce of his four-hundred year old soul. "Don't you dare die on me you little brat! What am I supposed to do without you? We never even.....Hiei! Damn you! Wake up!" As Hiei's breathing became weaker and weaker, Kurama tried to lend him strength, but he couldn't reach the soul that was fading by the second. He pulled the tiny little body into his arms and cried. Rocking back and forth, tears streaming down his face, Kurama moaned "Hiei, please, I love you! Don't leave me!" ***** Jagan laughed as Hiei's form slowly faded. He held the killing bolt ready and hissed "You see, you're worthless. All alone, with no one to help you. Give up, let go of your life. There's no reason to live! No one loves you! No one cares if you live or die! Just give up!" Hiei moaned in pain and sorrow. He was worthless after all. He couldn't even reclaim his own body. As he prepared to let go of his grip on life, he heard a grief stricken voice moan "Hiei, please, I love you! Don't leave me!" He sat still for a moment, not knowing if he had truly heard that faint voice, or if he had imagined it. Unbidden, the image of Kurama cradling his dying body came to him. "No." whispered the battered koorime as he hesitantly rose to his feet. He looked straight at Jagan, a resolved look on his bruised and bleeding face. "You can't kill me can you? You need me to give up my hold on this body because my soul is connected to it. You don't belong in this body, you can't push me out without my consent. Well, I'm not giving up, because I am NOT worthless. I am NOT alone. I am NOT unloved. I am the fire demon Hiei, brother to Yukina, comrade of Urameshii Yuusuke and Kuwabara Kazuma, beloved of Youko Kurama, and I WANT MY BODY BACK!" Jagan stepped back, the glow in his palm dying out as he faced the unbridled fury of the once again solid Hiei. He saw that Hiei now understood how he had been manipulated and abused. He saw his own destruction in Hiei's blood red eyes and, at last, he finally understood what it meant to be afraid. The featureless plain was suddenly bathed in a harsh white light. The shadowy form of Jagan wavered and faded, until all that was left was a blazing, purple eye. Hiei stared at the apparition for a moment before he understood. He reached out and touched the eye, feeling the power and energy it contained flow around him, into him. Then, with a rare smile on his face, he willed himself back into his body, and into the arms of his beloved. ***** Kurama cradled Hiei's near-lifeless body in his arms and sobbed helplessly as he felt the rise and fall of Hiei's little chest slow, and then stop all together. Then, suddenly, Hiei gasped, filling his lungs with air, and said "Hey, could ya maybe loosen your grip? I need those ribs." "Hiei? You're alive!" Kurama shrieked, in a most undignified manner. Hiei only snorted. Kurama pushed him away and patted his legs, then his chest, then his arms, carefully checking each part as if to assure himself that Hiei was really there and whole. When he got to Hiei's face he couldn't help but gasp in shock, for Hiei stared at him through three large eyes, each and every one of them a deep red, the colour of blood. "Hn. Stupid fox, stop staring at me like that. It's weird." "But, Hiei, your eyes? What happened?" "Now that is a long story, and I promise I'll tell it to you later, but right now, I gotta take a nap." With that pronouncement, Hiei curled himself up into a ball and proceeded to fall asleep in Kurama's lap. Kurama looked down at the little treasure purring softly in his lap and said "I suppose I can wait for an explanation, but when he wakes up, I'm gonna teach him a thing or two about how to properly greet one's beloved after near- death experiences." "I heard that" Mumbled Hiei, and Kurama burst out laughing, a sweet sound that echoed off the walls of his room and banished at last the sadness caused by a dark figure with a cruel smile and a single, violet eye. The end! Epilogue: Dreams no More Hiei was sulking. He would never admit it, but he was. Kurama watched the stiff back of his beloved and sighed. He had pushed him too quickly, had expected Hiei to change too much, and this was the result. When Hiei had awoken from his much-needed rest, Kurama had assumed that Hiei would be ready to talk about what happened. Hiei had promised to explain everything, but Kurama had been impatient and had inadvertently hit a nerve. He hadn't realised how much Jagan had hurt Hiei. Now he wasn't sure how to help him. Not knowing what Jagan had done to Hiei, he couldn't know what not to say, and so he couldn't find anything to say at all. "He used my own memories against me." Kurama started. He hadn't expressed his worries out loud. Did Hiei know what he was thinking? "Yes. I have Jagan's full powers now. Before, I was just able to access what little strength Jagan was willing to lend me, though I didn't know that until a few days ago. When I defeated him, I took all his powers into myself. The Sight isn't something I can only use once and a while anymore, it's as much a part of me as any of my other senses now. Unless you block your thoughts, I can See them. " Kurama immediately blocked his thoughts. "What did you mean, he used your memories against you?" "I don't think I can explain, but.... I could... show you." "Show me? How?" "The Sight works both ways, I can See the thoughts of others, and, if I so wish, others can See my thoughts as well. I warn you, you won't enjoy it. It's better if you just let it lie." "No. I need to know, I need to See. I can't help you if I don't know." "What makes you think I need or want your help? I'm fine." "Well! Throw in a couple of inarticulate snorts and some curses, and you'll sound like your old self again!" "Hn. Baka. This is serious." "I know. Gomen. Show me what happened." Hiei nodded in acceptance; he knew that when Kurama was being stubborn about something, there was no talking him out of it. Hiei's third eye began to glow crimson, and he lifted his left hand to touch Kurama's brow. Suddenly Kurama's mind was filled with a kaleidoscope of shifting images. Slowly, the images sorted themselves out into a pattern. He saw the dream that had plagued Hiei for years. He saw the memories Jagan had used to trap Hiei in his own mind; he saw Hiei get abandoned by his people, he saw Hiei get beaten, raped and demoralized when he was but a child, he saw defeat at the hands of enemies. Then he saw himself rejecting Jagan, and knew that that memory had been twisted to suit Jagan's purpose. He saw Yukina seem to deny Hiei, and run away in tears and he prayed that that memory was one that had been twisted as well. As he bore witness to the most damaging and hurtful moments of Hiei's short life, he felt his heart break in sympathy and vowed never to let anything hurt his beautiful little fire demon ever again. As the images faded from Kurama's mind, he noticed that his cheeks were wet with tears. Hiei sat before him, the impassive expression on his face barely holding against the sadness and pain in his deep red eyes. Kurama swept Hiei into a fierce hug and whispered "I would never, ever reject you. Jagan twisted things. I love you and that won't ever change." He held Hiei to him tightly, unblocking his thoughts so that Hiei could See that what he said was true. Hiei gasped as the full force of Kurama's undying love hit him. For the first time in his life, Hiei experienced unconditional love, and it left him speechless in amazement. Hiei tilted his head to stare up at Kurama, a look of pure wonder in his eyes. Kurama smiled down at Hiei, and gently, tenderly, kissed the little koorime. Kurama deepened the kiss and Hiei reached up to tangle his hands in Kurama's long, red hair. Kurama broke off the kiss and stood, Hiei still cradled in his arms. He walked over to the bed and lay Hiei down on the feathers that covered the comforter. Shuiichi briefly wondered how he would explain the destroyed pillow to his mother, but all such thoughts disappeared when he saw Hiei's dark form contrasted against the pure white feathers, and the beauty of the picture took his breath away. Hiei cupped Kurama's face in his palm as the youko sat beside him on the feather-covered bed. Kurama clasped Hiei's little hand in his own and leaned down to resume kissing his beloved. He slid his tongue between Hiei's teeth, exploring the youkai's warm mouth. Hiei responded, hesitantly and clumsily at first, but quickly putting more passion and skill into the kiss. With a smile Kurama moved his mouth to Hiei's neck, gently sucking and biting. A small gasp of pleasure escaped Hiei as the new sensations hit him. When Kurama slid his hands under Hiei's shirt and began to softly stroke his nipples, Hiei hissed and suddenly his thoughts filled Kurama's mind. The power of Hiei's third eye linked the two lovers, they explored each other's thoughts and emotions as they explored each others bodies. Neither could quite recall when they had lost their clothing, but now their sweat-slicked bodies were intertwined. Kurama bit and sucked at Hiei's nipples, his hands roaming about Hiei's chest and stomach. Hiei ran his hands through Kurama's silken hair, then slipped his hands down his lover's back, causing Kurama to shiver as Hiei's small, warm hands danced along his spine. Suddenly Hiei rolled, flipping Kurama underneath him. He bit gently at Kurama's ears, throat and collarbone, his small fangs leaving twin indentations at each spot. He pushed himself off of Kurama, and for a moment, stared down at the beautiful human. Kurama remembered Hiei's dreams about this moment. He reached up to stroke Hiei's delicate face and thought "This will not end in tragedy. We will be together as long as we both live, and we shall find each other again in the next life. My love for you is no dream, koibito." They were so deeply connected that Hiei heard every word as if it were spoken, and the emotional force behind the thought expressed all those things which cannot be put into words. He returned the emotion with equal force, and smiled. Kurama rejoiced at the sight of Hiei's bright smile, for he had never seen Hiei smile in pure joy before. He thought that it was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen in his many years of life. Kurama shifted so that he lay atop and slightly beside Hiei and reached down to gently grasp Hiei's semi-erect sex. Hiei hissed in shock as pleasure radiated from his previously untouched member. As Kurama began a slow, regular caressing motion Hiei's hiss became a deep purr, and he dug his nails into the feathers beneath him. Kurama was shocked to discover that the link between the two youkai was still functioning, and that it transmitted Hiei's pleasure. He felt his own penis grow swiftly erect from the onslaught of sensations. "Brings to meaning to the phrase to pleasure oneself'" Kurama thought at Hiei, and was rewarded with a strangled laugh. Hiei rolled to the side so that he was halfway facing Kurama and began to emulate Kurama's caresses. Both lovers gasped and froze as they each experienced the other's pleasure added to their own. After a few instants Kurama recovered from the shock and a playful smile illuminated his face. Hiei stared at him dubiously, and Kurama could sense his uncertainty. Before Hiei could speak, Kurama silenced him with a kiss and, while he was distracted, slid his index finger into Hiei's anus. Hiei arched his back and moaned into the kiss as Kurama slowly slipped in a second , then a third finger, stretching the tight opening. Because of the link, Kurama could feel both Hiei's pain and nervousness, and he reassured him with a thought. He slid his fingers out of Hiei's anus, rolled so that he was on his knees above Hiei's prone body, lifted the koorime's legs and hooked Hiei's ankles around his waist. With a last reassuring thought, Kurama slid between Hiei's legs and slipped his erect sex into Hiei's opening. For a moment the two were frozen in a tableau, their bodies interlocked, as the mingled pleasure and pain hit them full force. Then Kurama began to slowly move in and out of Hiei, achieving full penetration after about three or four thrusts. When he felt Hiei's pain lessen and all but disappear, he began to increase the intensity of his movements. Hiei began to rock his hips in sync with Kurama, and their slick bodies slid against each other in perfect harmony. As pleasure overwhelmed them both they lost track of where each ended and the other began. For one brief moment they were as one in mind, body and soul. Backs arched, they orgasmed together, and then lay gasping in each other's arms. Slowly, gradually, their minds separated and cleared. Hiei curled closer to Kurama and sent one last, drowsy thought before he fell asleep. For many long moments Kurama looked at the boy nestled in his arms and marvelled at the miracle that had occurred. A heartless youko and an emotionally damaged koorime had found love in each other just when it had seemed that they would be alone forever. They had found the missing parts of their souls and developed a bond closer than either could have imagined. Kurama buried his face in Hiei's dark hair and finally answered Hiei's last thought. "I love you too, Hiei-chan". ***** Shuiichi's pleasant dreams were interrupted by an annoying knocking sound. A loud, rude voice shouted "Kurama! Kurama, are you okay? Say something!" Before Kurama could rouse himself enough to respond, his bedroom door was kicked in and Yuusuke and Kuwabara burst into the room. Hiei woke with a start at the entrance of the two boys. The four friends all froze and stared at each other for a few moments, before Kurama blushed red enough to match his hair and hastily pulled the sheets up to cover himself and Hiei. Yuusuke and Kuwabara goggled as they tried to understand just what they were seeing. "What the Hell are you doing idiots! Can't you see we're busy? Why the fuck did you break down the door?!" Snarled Hiei, barely restraining himself from killing the two intruders until Kurama mentally reminded him that his clothes were on the other side of the room. "I, we, uh, Gah!" Stuttered Kuwabara, still staring at the two lovers. Yuusuke finally recovered from the shock and said: "When you didn't show up for our after school meeting we thought something had happened to you because of, um, well..." he trailed off as he looked at Hiei and wondered again exactly what had happened. "Well, Hiei and I are fine now, I'll explain everything later and please get out of my room!" Snapped Kurama, visibly annoyed. "Uh, yeah, sure thing, um, when should we come back?" "Sigh. Go wait in the living room, we'll be down in a moment. It's a good thing my mother is out shopping at this time of day, or you would have given her a heart attack! Now get OUT!" Kurama seemed to be losing his patience, so the two flabbergasted boys dashed out of the room, pulling what was left of the door shut behind them. Kurama looked over at Hiei, and, seeing the black expression on his face, couldn't help but laugh. "What's so funny, fox?" "Nothing, just, the look on your face, it's priceless!" "Hn." Snorted Hiei, which only made Kurama laugh harder. ***** Later on, after Kurama had briefly explained what had happened (leaving out certain details of course) the four friends sat in the living room of the Minamino residence. "There's only one thing that confuses me, what do you mean Jagan made a trap out of Hiei's own memories?" asked Yuusuke. "Ah, he trapped Hiei by making him relive his most painful memories over and over again." explained Kurama, trying to retain at least a little of Hiei's privacy. "Oh. I see." Yuusuke said, sensing that it wasn't something either Kurama or Hiei wanted to discuss. Kuwabara cleared his throat and, hesitantly, said "Yukina showed up at my house today, all upset. When I asked what was the matter she said that something was wrong with her brother, and she asked me to help him. I said that I would help any way I could, but that I didn't know who her brother was. She said that it was Hiei. Is that true?" Kazuma was obviously uncomfortable with the idea. Hiei looked at Kurama and the corner of his mouth rose slightly in a gesture that only Kurama would recognize as a smile. Kurama heard Hiei think "She called me her brother, Kurama! She didn't reject me!" and silently rejoiced with him. Out loud he said: "Yes, Hiei is her brother, but Jagan must of frightened her when he tried to tell her the truth. We would appreciate it if you would let her know that her brother is back in control and would like to speak with her." "Uh, sure, I guess." Kuwabara desperately wanted to yell at the rude little shrimp for not telling Yukina sooner, but he sensed that it was a sensitive topic, and for once in his life decided to keep his mouth shut. Yuusuke and Kuwabara left soon after that, still obviously embarrassed about bursting in on Hiei and Kurama, but trying to hide their discomfort. Hiei smirked and said "Someday we'll have to warn them that my Sight is much stronger now. You seem to have forgotten to mention that part to them." "I know" said Kurama, his natural youko playfulness obvious in his voice, "I'll get around to telling them, one of these days." Then he frowned and said "But enough about that, I think it's high time we turned to more important matters." "Oh? Like what?" Asked Hiei, wondering why Kurama was hiding his thoughts from him. Then he got tackled to the ground and found himself looking up into a pair of golden eyes. Kurama's silver hair tickled Hiei's face and he saw the youko's tail lashing from side to side. "We need to see if it's different when I'm in youko form." Stated Kurama, somehow keeping a perfectly straight face. Then he grinned and gleefully returned to making all of Hiei's favourite dreams a reality. The end!!!!!!!