The Black Rose - Part III

Author's rantings:

I don't get myself sometimes, but right now I'm in the mood to torture my fave characters.  Call me crazy, but it's a season thing.  Sorry to everyone who hates Mukuro, lucky for everyone who hates Hiei and adores Yomi and loves Mukuro!  Our brave Yusuke is here too!  As for the irreplaceable, lovely fox (sigh) he should learn to love me back! (Sorry, couldn't resist this line, ha, ha!)

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He trudged on wearily deeper into the makai forest.  He must find the roses before anyone else would.  Hiei inhaled deeply.  His ruby eyes grew wide as his nose captured a rare and fragrant scent.  But this was different from Kurama's red roses, wilder and more exotic.  Hiei flitted nearer to the scent and gasped in awe at what he saw, a medium-sized lake with clear blue water surrounded by dozens and dozens of black roses.  The fire demon hopped down and gazed grimly at the black silky flowers.  Kurama was telling the truth.  The fire demon bent down ad snapped a stem, raising the dark flower to his nose and inhaled deeply.  He realized why the scent was so familiar.  It was the wild, musky, rose scent of youko Kurama.  The fire demon growled and ripped the flower staring with baleful eye at the sea of dark rose petals. Leaning back up against a tree, the fire demon slowly unwound the bandages in his right arm, dark smoke started to come out.  The fire demon held out his arm, giving the flowers one last malevolent stare.

Kurama slowly made his way to the ashen soil.  The kitsune bent down and touched the ground and infused a bit of ki,  Nothing, not even a single seed.  The whole flowers were charred to the ground.  Kurama stood up frowning confusedly.

"Why did you do it, Hiei?"   He asked an approaching ki.

"Hn."  The fire demon snorted and stared at the redhead.

"Why did you do it, Hiei?"   Kurama asked again, clenching his fists.

"Because no one else can have you!  You're mine!"   Hiei growled under his breath. 

Kurama laughed bitterly, his emerald eyes were very cold.

"Hiei, you don't own me!  And there's nothing between us!  Nothing!"  Kurama rasped very softly.  The youko was visibly trembling with anger.

Hiei remained silent.  His ruby eyes were unwavering as they locked the redhead's in a mental duel.  Kurama spoke again his voice was harsh.

"You think this will stop me from bonding with Yomi?  It's just a rose, Hiei!  It meant nothing.  Al I have to do now is to go back to Gandara and set the ceremony."

"I will kill you first before you fall into the arms of another."  Hiei said under his breath. But Kurama caught it.

"So, you want to kill me?  Why don't you do it now while there's just the two of us?"  Kurama challenged the glaring fire youkai.

"DO IT, HIEI!"  Kurama shouted as he got out his rose whip and charged the youkai.  Hiei cursed and leaped quickly out of the way.  Kurama leaped after him and brandished the whip again straight at the fire demon.  Hiei unsheathe his katana and struck the redhead's whip.  The redhead tried to block his frontal attack. Unknown to Hiei, the katana sliced very deeply into a flesh.

Kurama bit his lip at the pain, dropping the whip.  The redhead staggered and stared up in disbelief as Hiei stood in front of him and pointed the katana against his throat.  The fire demon grasped the red hair forcefully.

"If you bond with Yomi tomorrow, I'm gonna kill you fox!"  Hiei threatened before he claimed the kitsune's mouth in a brutal kiss.  Then he was gone.  Kurama stood up gingerly, left hand pressing against his abdomen where Hiei's katana had managed to penetrate.  He wasn't doing very well.  He staggered blindly and fell back on the scorched ground, coughing weakly.  Kurama's eyes started to close wearily.  His vision blurred and he felt very sleepy.  He had to take a nap first before starting the journey back to Gandara.

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Hiei cursed himself again and again.  Why did he have to be so damn emotional when it came to Kurama?  He didn't love him, but why was he feeling very jealous of Yomi?  He snarled darkly at the thought of Kurama being with Yomi.  He would not allow it.  Kurama was his!  The fire demon walked back and forth agitatedly inside his room in Mukuro's castle.  Mukuro suddenly appeared from the doorway and sat nonchalantly on the bed.  The makai lord quietly observed the fire youkai.

"What's wrong, Hiei?"

There was no answer, only a deafening silence.

Mukuro sighed and stood behind the koorime, placing a tender hand on the stiff back.  Mukuro took off Hiei's cloak and placed her hands under the black tank top, caressing the warm compact body.

"Tell me what's wrong youkai."  Mukuro whispered softly and sucked Hiei's right ear.

The fire demon wriggled away from the caress.  Mukuro turned thoughtful blue eyes on him.

"It's the youko, isn't it?"

Hiei faced Mukuro and glared at her.

"What do you know of it?"  The fire demon demanded.

"Hiei, you already confessed that you're not in love with him, don't bother him again!"  Mukuro said gently, crossing her arms.

Hiei's face turned predatory and his ki started to rise.  Mukuro sensed this.  The makai lord slowly sat on the bed and breathed unsteadily.

"You still want him, even though you don't love him?"  She asked incredulously.

Hiei bent his head.

Mukuro laughed harshly.

"Hiei, you're deflating my ego."

"Mukuro, I...."

"Save it!  I don't understand you anymore, Hiei!  I thought you didn't want emotional involvement!

"What are you talking about, Mukuro?"

"You're being selfish!  You dumped him without warning and now that he's found someone to bond with, you wish to stop it.  Not because you wanted him back, you just wanted him to be available anytime you're fed up with me!"  Mukuro accused him.

"Shut up!"  Hiei shouted.

"Is the truth so painful, Hiei? Can't you accept that you're a selfish bastard who can't love back the people who love you?"

"I said shut up!"  Hiei slapped Mukuro on the face.

The makai lord clenched her fists to her side, trembling with inexplicable anger.

"Leave, Hiei.  I don't want to be used anymore."  Mukuro said quietly, turning her head away.  When the fire demon had gone, she sank to the ground, crying in silence.  She had just driven the one she loved.

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Yomi stared at the darkening skies.  Where was Kurama?  He would have been back by now.  The makai lord walked back and forth in his office.  It was his fault.  He should have stopped the redhead from travelling to Raizen's territory.  It was too dangerous for a half-human youko! 

"Lord Yomi, Mukuro's heir is here to see you."

Yomi nodded briskly to his sentry.  Maybe Hiei knew where Kurama had gone.

"Hiei!"  Yomi welcomed the fire demon warmly, too worried to notice Hiei's astonishment at his greeting.  "Have you seen Kurama on your way here?"  The makai lord asked quickly before anything else could be said.

"He-he hasn't come back?"  Hiei asked, stammering a little.

"So, you had seen him!  Where is he?"  Yomi demanded.

Hiei drew a sharp breath to calm his insides.

"I saw him yes, but that was hours ago."

Yomi clenched his fists, breathing hard.

"Something must have happened to him!"  The makai lord said harshly.  Why did he let Kurama go?

Hiei stared at Yomi's worried face and flitted off.  Wave after wave of remorse washed inside his heart and mind.  If something had happened to Kurama, he was going to kill himself!  The fire demon reviewed the events that afternoon.  Gods he must have wounded the fox!  He repeated that scene over and over again and knew that he had indeed wounded Kurama, slashed him with the sharp katana.

"Fox, I'm so sorry, so sorry!"  Hiei cried as he ran.  The tear gems cascaded inn quantities down the fast disappearing makai landscape.

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The fire demon dropped down to where he had last seen the redhead and found the youko unconscious on the ground.  He was lying under a puddle of blood.  Hiei's ruby eyes widened with fear.  He ignored everything else, save the youko and gathered him in his arms.

"Kurama!  Kurama!"  Hiei felt for a pulse and found it very weak.

"Kurama, hang on!"  Hiei ripped his cloak and bandaged the deeply cut abdomen.  Kurama moaned and opened his eyes.

"H-Hiei?"  The hazy emerald eyes looked up at the fire demon.

"Kurama."  Hiei cried as he saw the smile on the youko's face.

"W-why H-Hiei?"  The redhead's smile wavered as silver tears gathered on the emerald eyes.

"Ku-Kurama, I-I."  Hiei sobbed.  The redhead placed a cold, limp hand on Hiei's lips.

"Sssh.  I forgive you, Hiei."  The youko smiled weakly before he passed out.

"Kurama!"  Hiei's hands trembled as he searched for a pulse on the redhead's neck.  There was none.

"NO!"  Hiei leaned his ear against the youko's chest.  Kurama had stopped breathing and his heart had stopped pumping blood.  Hiei remained in that position.  His ruby eyes were wide with shock, then the fire demon shouted on the top of his lungs.

"KURAMAAAA!"  The fire demon sobbed like a wounded animal, rocking himself back and forth.  He moved his head from side to side in a negative gesture.

"NO!  You're not dead!  You just want to play!  Wake up, youko!"  Hiei shouted harshly, but Kurama did not budge.  The fire youkai's movements stilled as he remembered his promise.  If something happened to the fox, he was going to kill himself.  He took out his katana and stood up, gazing down at the redhead.

"Kurama, I-I love you."  He choked out at last, gripping the katana firmly.  With a deep breath and a swing of his hands, he buried the katana on his chest.

"A-ai-shi-te-ru."  Hiei whispered as he dropped on top of Kurama's still body.

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 To be continued...

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Hiei/Kurama: NANI?  YOU KILLED US?

Shuriken: Ano.. gomen, I like angsty stories.

Kurama:  I will NEVER forgive you! This is the second time you killed me!

Shuriken:  Dearest Kurama, I always bring you back to life!

Hiei:  Hn!  You made me look bad in this fic, I'm gonna fry you!

Shuriken: EEEP!  Hiei! NOOOOOOOOO. (Turns to ashes)  Now I'll never finish this fic!  I'm toast!