The soft coo of a Makai dove broke Hiei's concentration, as he tilted his head to see who or what would dare intrude on their hiding place. The fire demon had been watching the steady, peaceful rise and fall of his lover's chest in the pre-dawn light. He woke about an hour before and had spent most of that time quietly studying Kurama's face: the way the youko's eyes moved beneath the lids while he was dreaming; or the soft murmur he made when he rolled onto his side toward the Koorime.
Once or twice, Hiei thought he heard the beautiful fox demon whisper his name, but, still being new at the language of lovers, he assumed it must have been a noise carried into their tree house window on a breeze. He was about to fall back to sleep when the feathered creature made its rude and unwanted appearance. The fire demon glared at the bird, and it quickly ascertained that it should leave to find a more welcoming roost.
Growling softly, Hiei sat up and stretched, glancing down at the silver fox. Unable to resist, the Koorime lightly brushed his callused fingertips across the sleeping youkai's lips. Hiei's face was full of concentration, as the corners of the kitsune's mouth twitched into a gentle smile. He touched his own lips and frowned. They were just as soft and warm as his lover's. Could that possibly mean that, perhaps, Kurama would want to kiss him as much as he wanted - needed - to kiss Kurama? As he pondered this incredibly profound notion, the golden orbs of his fox slowly fluttered open. Hiei stared down at the kitsune, crimson eyes looking deeply into sleepy, half-lidded jewels.
Their eyes wandered over each other's features, locking this intimate moment into their memories. Once stored, it could always be recalled to warm a lonely heart when sleeping alone or unwillingly separated.
They had become so close over these past few months, knowing each other's movements or thoughts before they happened. They had seen each other at their best and worst, and were still fascinated by the depths of their devotion and friendship. Shuuichi's death had brought them even closer, both recognizing that life was precious and that it could be taken away in a heartbeat.
Kurama moaned, protesting the dawn, pulling Hiei back down to his chest for some more snuggling, as the sunrise peeked through the tiny gaps in the roof's leaves, sunbeams playing with the morning light. Living again in the Makai full time did have it's advantages - no clocks to tell you when to rise or go to bed, no work schedule to keep, all those human things Kurama left behind in the Ningenkai after his transformation back to youko.
The kitsune took his lover's hand into his, lacing the fingers. Hiei studied their hands, turning them over, noticing their size difference. Neither wanted to be the first to get out of bed, so they continued to snuggle. The kitsune nuzzled the spiky black hair, inhaling his lover's scent, then let out a long, contented sigh.
Kurama knew he had finally met the one creature with whom he wanted to spend the rest of his life, and believed that his lover felt the same. He never could find the perfect moment, though, to actually ask Hiei to permanently be his mate. While there was no 'official' ceremony required in the Makai for two demons to become life-partners, the 'human' part of Kurama found beauty in the Ningenkai wedding custom. Hiei seemed to be unimpressed by such a public display of emotion, and the only wedding he'd ever been to was his sister's to "that jerk" Kuwabara. When the kitsune 'accidentally' caught Yukina's bouquet at their wedding, Kurama was too flustered to propose to Hiei right then and there.
And Hiei, being naïve about such things, wasn't a demon known for his conversational skills. The youkai didn't speak much about their relationship the way Kurama always did. Oh, he could talk in detail about battle strategies, but inter-personal communication left him somewhat hesitant. He just didn't know how to speak like a lover, having never had or been one. Besides, he would never admit that he just didn't have the nerve to ask Kurama such a question.
The youko reached over and gently stroked the Koorime's cheek with the back of his hand. Hiei held it and lightly kissed the palm. They stared at one another for an awkward moment, as if they each wanted to say something, but were waiting for the other to go first. Kurama, wondering if there would ever be a perfect moment, suddenly decided this was the opportunity not to be missed. He reached up and cradled his lover's small face in his hands, speaking with breathless urgency.
"Marry me."
Hiei's eyes widened with surprise. After taking a moment to comprehend what Kurama had just asked, a feeling of relief came over the startled fire demon.
The kitsune's downy ears perked forward as he felt a rise in his lover's cheeks through his fingers. Hiei gave his fox a sly grin.
"Doshite?"
"Because," Kurama answered with a smile, leaning forward, kissing Hiei on the nose.
He thought he detected the tiniest hint of teasing in the youkai's eyes, not sure if Hiei even knew how to tease. Kurama's tail twitched nervously under their quilt. The fire demon put on his best poker face, trying to hide the emotion bubbling in his chest.
"Itsu?"
Kurama chuckled softly and relaxed, realizing that this conversation might have just the result he desired, but that the journey would certainly be a torture.
"Next week," he replied, letting his hands slip around to embrace Hiei's neck. He rested his forehead against the warm Jagan and sighed, closing his eyes.
"Doko?"
Hiei was nothing if not an expert at tormenting Kurama. But the fox was determined to play this game by his lover's rules, so he continued with the clipped conversation. Kurama squinted, thinking for moment.
"Here," he answered against the Koorime's lips, letting his own gently tease Hiei's mouth.
The smaller youkai leaned back so he could look at the kitsune's face in the subdued light. His thumb brushed against the smooth skin of his lover's cheek, then he looked deeply into the golden spheres. His eyes seemed to be pleading, searching for a desperate need to know the answer to the next question. The youko felt a sudden twinge of panic and held his breath...
"Doshite?"
Kurama's face softened, looking back into his lover's eyes, exhaling slowly.
"Ai shiteru," the fox replied, his voice thick with all the emotion, sincerity and adoration that was in his heart.
The Koorime's smile was so broad that the tips of his fangs could be seen in the muted morning light.
"Okay."
The word was so simple, so matter-of-fact, that Kurama's eyes sparkled with joy. It meant he had finally broken through the barrier that protected his lover's heart. That one word spoke volumes. It said everything.
The youko swallowed the lump in his throat as he felt his body tremble. Hiei ran his rough palm down the fox's side and rested it on his naked hip, urging Kurama closer. The next moment their mouths were pressed together in a passionate kiss, Hiei realizing that the language of lovers is often best unspoken.
The End
Copyright 1998 Julie Farel
Yu Yu Hakusho is the property of Togashi Yoshihiro and Jump Comics, and Studio Peirrot.