Kurama sighed softly. That last battle had been tough; it seemed that everything that could go wrong, had. None of them had escaped without injury. He ran a hand across his ribs experimentally. The ache was almost gone. That was good. At least they hadn't been broken.

He heard stirring behind him and turned. "Hiei?" he called softly. "Are you awake?" No answer--Hiei was still out of it. He'd been hit on the head, a lucky blow. Kurama smiled, thinking how angry it would make Hiei to learn Kuwabara had been the one to save his life. The youko turned back to the herbal tea he was preparing--he was sure Hie would have one hell of a headache when he did wake.

Hiei sat up, hissing in pain. His head hurt like nothing he'd ever felt before! He glanced around warily and discovered himself in one of the room at Genkai's temple. Kurama was the only other one there. "Kurama?" he called, asking for an explanation.

"Hiei, you're awake now? Good," Kurama said turning. He said more, but Hiei lost it all as the flutter of Kurama's pulse at his open collar caught the fire demon's eye. It seemed to Hiei that every sound in the world faded except the steady pounding of Kurama's human heart. He shivered. No! he told himself sharply, tearing his eyes away sharply. Not now!

Kurama frowned, concerned. Hiei was acting awfully strange. "Hiei . . . ? Daijobu desu ka . . . ?" he asked, reaching out a hand to touch his friend's shoulder. He started when Hiei knocked the hand away violently.

"Go away!" the small youkai growled forbiddingly. "Now!"

Kurama retreated a couple of steps, stunned by the force of Hiei's words. It was as if . . . as if there were something Hiei was afraid of, or trying to hide. Kurama frowned. Hiei's eyes locked on his throat again, and the youko raised a hand to it. That seemed to break Hiei's trance, and the youkai jerked his eyes to his own hands.

My throat? Kurama wondered. Why . . . ? His brow furrowed as he thought. He had a vague recollection of rumors . . . about a Jagan . . . a terrible curse . . . a certain Forbidden Child who risked the curse . . . It all came together with a click. So, they weren't just rumors, were they? Hiei really has become . . . vampiric.

Hiei was actually trembling as he fought to maintain control. His breathing was ragged, and his fists were clenched so tightly it was a wonder he didn't draw his own blood. Go the hell away, you fool! he urged desperately.

A hand touched his shoulder, and his eyes flew open. Kurama knelt beside him, his shirt collar open wide. The youko smiled. "Take what you need," he said softly. He held his collar even farther open, laying bare the smooth, graceful column of his throat. With a silent moan, Hiei reluctantly surrendered to his instincts.

A soft hand brushed the hair from Kurama's neck. The youko put his own hands gently on Hiei's waist as the little youkai buried his face in Kurama's neck. Kurama tilted his head to one side obligingly.

Hiei breathed deeply of Kurama's scent. He smelled . . . green. The scent of a forest, a meadow, a garden, dominated and enhanced by the aroma of his beloved roses. Hiei's eyes closed languidly as his lips touched velvet-soft, satin-smooth skin, and he sighed softly. Slowly, ever so slowly, he sank his fangs into Kurama's flesh.

Kurama shivered. Hiei's breath whispered softly past his ear, and the heat of his small body warmed Kurama through. Somehow, the intimacy of this moment far surpassed anything he'd ever experienced before. It passed the realm of ecstasy; it almost approached holy. The youko knew that, however long he lived, he would never, ever forget this experience.

Hiei was equally involved in the moment. He knew only the spicy, salty taste of Kurama's blood, the sweetness of his skin, the warm, savory life that flowed into him with every beat of Kurama's heart. He shifted, sliding his arms from Kurama's shoulders to encircle his neck.

"Oi, Kurama, is Hi--" Yuusuke stopped short, staring wide-eyed at the sight before him. Hiei's eyes snapped open, and he jerked away from Kurama, leaving a little trickle of blood on the youko's pale throat. Yuusuke saw a flicker of something--fear? guilt? Perhaps both--in those brilliant ruby eyes, and then Hiei bolted.

"Hiei! Wait!" Kurama cried, struggling to his feet. He barely made it before he found himself falling again. The room spun crazily around him, and the floor beckoned. Dimly, he heard Yuusuke call his name as he slid into unconsciousness.

"Kurama!"

Hiei heard Yuusuke's frantic cry in the distance as he fled. He put miles between himself and the temple before he finally stopped. He tore the ward loose from his Jagan and glanced back. Kurama was . . . he was . . . still alive! Hiei breathed a silent sigh of relief.

Shame filled him. How could he have done something like that!? And it could so easily have been Yukina . . . I will . . . never return, he decided slowly. Never. Better to die than risk hurting his gentle, innocent sister. He'd taken youkai blood before--though not as rich as human blood, it could sustain him.

Hiei shook himself slightly and turned toward the nearest crossing into the Makai. A sense of incalculable loss haunted his steps as he walked slowly away from everything he cared about . . . forever.