A LITTLE DISCLAIMER: Most of the characters appearing in this fic are the property of Yoshihiro 
                     Togashi, Studio Pierrot, Fuji TV, and Shonen Jump Weekly. 

Gradually, he became aware that he was lying on something soft; something that smelled of roses and Kurama. The second thing he became aware of was a slim arm wrapped around his waist, and legs entangled with his. Soft, even breathing stirred the hair at the nape of his neck, raising goosebumps and making him shiver slightly.

Wriggling around in the loose embrace, Hiei looked into the slumbering face of the redheaded youko beside him. Kurama's face was relaxed; without the intense emerald of his eyes, he looked the part of the young boy whose body he inhabited. Cautiously, he began extricating himself from the redhead's embrace, trying not to disturb him.

The youko's arm tightened convulsively. The long lashes fluttered and lifted, revealing hazy green eyes. Kurama blinked, sleepily recalling the events of the previous night. As Hiei continued to stare solemnly at him, something flashed in his eyes as the youko abruptly focused on him. It was gone too swiftly for the fire demon to discern it's meaning. The arm around his waist loosened its grasp and slid away, leaving him feeling strangely bereft.

"Ohayou," the redhead said, his voice husky from sleep. "How are you feeling?"

Hiei shrugged, retreating behind his usual wall of silence as he wiggled backwards to the edge of the bed. He wanted to get some distance between himself and the damnably sexy youko. Kurama's proximity was not helping a certain morning event any. Sitting up and letting the covers puddle around his waist, he tested his left arm, flinching slightly as the wound pulled.

"Yamete -" Kurama pushed himself up, reaching for Hiei. A slender hand closed on Hiei's left shoulder. "You'll reopen the wound if you move around too much." The youko's eyes widened as Hiei flinched, the Koorime pulling away as if he was burned. He hadn't touched him in a wounded spot, and he knew he hadn't grabbed him that hard. Kurama finally concluded that Hiei was thinking the worst. His eyes flashed with a fleeting pain, and something else; desire. He had more control over himself than *that*...as long as Hiei didn't do anything seductive, like breathe. Waking up with Hiei in his bed was something he'd fantasized about for a lo-ong time. "I - I - gomen." He made to get out of the bed, trembling slightly from the youki loss.

A hand on his wrist stopped him, making him look back at Hiei. The fire demon met his gaze steadily, his eyes probing. Kurama caught his breath. Had he seen -? Inari bless, he'd never forgive himself if it drove Hiei away! "Kurama," Hiei said finally, "…arigatou."

Kurama smiled shakily, partly out of acknowledgement, and out of relief. Hiei hadn't seen the need, hadn't known that that one touch had almost cost him his self-control. It was too early in the morning. He needed to get away, to have time to put the mask of calm friend back into place. "Anytime, Hiei." His smile faltered when Hiei continued to regard him soberly. "Doushita?"

Hiei's eyelids lowered, hiding his piercing ruby gaze. The youko caught his breath as he felt a callused finger rub across his hand lightly. At his intake of air, the fire demon looked up, and Kurama was caught once again in his eyes.

Hiei studied the face of the youko before him intently. The tendons of the wrist he held were like iron bands, the attached hand clenched into a fist. Slowly, he scooted closer, his eyes never leaving the youko's. He took up the fox's wrist, unclenching the fist and raising it to his cheek, turning into it and nuzzling the palm. Something told him that this was the right thing to do, that he hadn't imagined the fleeting look of desire in the kitsune's eyes before the mask had dropped. Mukuro's words came back to him. *Tell him how you feel…*

Kurama's eyes widened in shock as he stared at the fire demon. Hiei was looking at him with an unusually soft expression, open enough so that the redhead could see the desire mirroring his own…desire, and something more, something he'd never dreamed would be there. His mind reeled. "H-Hiei?" It was a choked whisper.

Hiei gently pulled Kurama into his arms, wrapping them around the kitsune's chest. Kurama was doing a rather good impression of a landed fish; his green eyes dilated in shock. "Arigatou," he murmured into the youko's ear. "I won't have to suffer alone anymore."

The redhead peeked up at Hiei's face from where he was leaning against the youkai's chest, understanding what he was trying to say. "Ai shiteru," he whispered, reaching up to stroke Hiei's face. "Do you know how long I've wanted to tell you? B-but I thought you'd never feel the same - considering how you always deride the emotion -"

Hiei snorted. "Try me."

Kurama's eyes began to sparkle mischievously. "Don't mind if I do," he replied with an impish smile.

Locking gazes with the youkai, he brought his face level with Hiei's. Slowly, his lips descended onto Hiei's. Tracing the outline of his mouth with his tongue, Kurama took Hiei's bottom lip between his teeth, nibbling and sucking gently. Hiei gasped, tugging off the sweatshirt. He arched willingly into Kurama's touch as he was carefully lowered onto the bed once again. Kurama followed him down, pulling off his pajama top. "Kurama…" Hiei groaned.

Kurama paused in his worship of the Koorime's perfect body. "Hush," he told him. "There's a certain morning friend who's been wanting to meet you for some time now. Wouldn't want this opportunity to go to waste."

"Hn." But there was a smile on Hiei's lips as the youko proceeded to 'introduce' him to his friend.