Hiei's Harem - Pt. 3 - Returning

tigerlily, I wish I had more reviewers like you, lol. No offense to none of the others meant at all, either. I appreciate every kind word of encouragement you all give me. Honest!

Wow, SkyaraSnow, thanks. Someone is going to use an idea of mine? (Faints.. Then leaps back up to the keyboard) Okay, back to work. :o)

Scene 12 ------------- Later That Day


* When Lily and D'Tara had returned it took both Lily and Sarista to coax their still-hibernating Alpha to swallow all of the antidote. Then Lily took the easier job of opening Hiei's cloak to spread the salve part of the cure all over his chest. Then there has been nothing more for them to do, but wait. It is now late afternoon when Sarista detects the first movements of Hiei trying to stir out of his hibernation. She leans to look out at the others.


Sarista- He's starting to wake up.


* Sarista then leans to touch Hiei's bared chest gently as she whispers against one of his elfin ears. She has sensed him beginning to panic as he becomes more alert.


Sarista- (Whispered) Shh, Hiei.. You're safe.. Relax and wake slowly, Love.


* As soon as her voice registers into Hiei's foggy mind he calms down.


Sarista- (Quietly) You're still weak.. Take your time..


* She smiles softly when she can barely make out his first word.


Hiei- (Strained) Sa-ris-ta..

Sarista- Yes, it's me.. Easy now.. Your body is still weak.

Hiei- (Coughs) You..

Sarista- We're all fine.. You won the battle.


* She feels Hiei relax and looks back out at the others again.


Sarista- He's going to need to eat when he's fully awake.

Lily- We did save you both some of the morning meal. I'll go get it.


* Lily leaps away quickly. Trinka moves to peer in. When Sarista motions her permission the younger demoness works into the alcove. She checks Hiei with her senses as the Koorime continues to slowly regain full consciousness. Sarista carefully monitors his thoughts as he just lays, staring up into the root-and-dirt ceiling above him. After a couple moments, she reaches over to guide his eyes to meet hers. The Fire demoness shows no fear as she does so, even though his jagan is now wide open.


Sarista- You defeated the challenger.. That is what matters.


* Hiei growls quietly and sits up away from her. He glances toward Trinka when she jerks away from him.


(#) Trinka- If you wish me to leave, M'Lord..


* Hiei lowers his eyes and shakes his head slightly.


Hiei- I should.. be the one to leave..

(#) Trinka- Why would you say such a thing?!


* Lily returns and reaches the two bowls of warm rice and vegetables in to Sarista. As soon as he smells the food his stomach rumbles. But he still just stares at his fisted hands in his lap. Sarista places one of the bowls in his lap.


Sarista- You must eat.. You used a lot of energy to help us heal you.


* Hiei closes his eyes. Sarista takes a few bites from her own bowl, then sets it aside when Hiei speaks again.


Hiei- Why.. why did you.. s-save me..?

Lily- You're smart enough to figure that one out, Darling.


* Hiei raises his eyes to look at the black Kitsune. She wrinkles her nose at him cutely, then backs out to respect her Mistress' personal space. The alcove remains quiet for several moments, then Hiei slowly begins to eat. When the bowl is empty Trinka takes it from him and leaves, also with a respectful bow. Sarista gently makes Hiei look at her.


Sarista- Now, you will tell me what has been bothering you..


* Hiei jerks his face away from her hands. For some reason, every time he attempts to speak it out to her his voice fails him. He's so caught up in his angst that he hasn't even noticed that his jagan is still open. Finally he gives a quiet growl of frustration.


Hiei- Nothing.

Sarista- I felt something distract you while you were fighting.. Something about your sister.. Yukina, is it?


* Klarice peeks in with her eyes wide in worry.


Klarice- Is she okay?


* Sarista glances toward Klarice, but Hiei answers before she can motion the Ice hybrid away.


Hiei- Hn.. She's still alive.


* Klarice relaxes and her face disappears again. Hiei half glances toward Sarista.


Hiei- I don't wish to talk about it.. You might as well leave me..

Sarista- Not going to happen.


* Hiei looks at her fully. Sarista crosses her arms to signify her determination.


Sarista- If you hadn' gotten your a-- in gear when you did I was preparing to roast that Tiger myself.

Hiei- It would have been foolish for you to take such a risk, Woman!

Sarista- It would have been heartless for me to just sit by and watch you get killed..

Hiei- Isn't that what you're supposed to do?! D--- it, isn't that what you all did when I fought Gamock?!


* Sarista leans forward on her hands to seethe toward him.


Sarista- Gamock wasn't you!


* Hiei is stunned to silence at her declaration. They can both hear the snickering outside of the alcove. It only serves to remind Sarista of her earlier words to Celestia. She looks toward the entrance.


Sarista- All of you return to the main camp! Now!


* Hiei looks away to dwell on the emotions he feels coming from Sarista. She feels all of the others leave, except for Minoro. She decides to ignore that and looks back at Hiei.


Sarista- Isn't this why you have trained us? To be stronger enough to defend each other?

Hiei- D---, you can be so stubborn.

Sarista- It is a Fire trait.. You've inherited it as well, mister.


* She relaxes her posture and moves to position herself behind Hiei. He tenses a moment, then relaxes and allows her to ease him back against her chest.


Sarista- Never mind.. If you don't want to talk about it I'll respect that.. It means more to me that you're still alive.


* Hiei's mind once more dwells on her words as she strokes his rumpled spikes back into shape affectionately. He soon gets lost in the feel of her fingers gently working out any tangles they find. He feels how genuine the care she shows for him is. He lifts her other hand, that is embracing him, to place a gentle kiss to her palm. The move of affection surprises him and he suddenly realizes that his jagan is open and unguarded.


Hiei- My eye..

Sarista- I know it won't harm me.. The ward is still..


* Before she can finish a well-muscled arm shoves the strip of cloth in through the opening. Hiei takes it.


Hiei- Good boy, Minoro.


* Minoro grunts, then returns to his sentry position. Sarista takes the ward and carefully places it back on him. Hiei closes his eyes, still feeling her emotions through their mating bond.


Hiei- (Quietly) I.. don't deserve.. this.


* She tilts her head to look at him curiously. He meets her matching red eyes briefly.


Hiei- None of this.. I don't deserve this.. peace.. Your acceptance.. I certainly.. should not have.. children..


* Sarista quietly sighs and rests her head on his shoulder.


Sarista- Please tell me what happened.. I am here to listen.


* Again Hiei finds himself unable to expose what he considers his worse secret. For a couple moments he closes his eyes to analyze his instincts on this matter. When they only leave him more confused he decides to change the subject to his other problem.


Hiei- She.. finally rejected me..

Sarista- Your sister?

Hiei- For most of my existance she was the only.. being I ever felt obligated to protect.. As best I could without her knowledge of.. who I really was.


* True to her word, Sarista just listens quietly as he continues explaining everything that took place. She continues concentrating on her empathic skills to feel all the emotions her Alpha is internally struggling to keep behind his stone wall. Finally he falls silent for a couple moments before dropping his eyes and continuing.


Hiei- I always told myself that she would react.. as she did.

Sarista- She is a demon.. We share bonds with our families.. But why were you upset that she was wanting to mate..?

Hiei- Because the oaf is a human!

Sarista- Ahh.. Did he not know..?


* Hiei snorts.


Hiei- He does now.

Sarista- Sometimes it's a shame that those weak humans are so fragile. Their lifetimes so short.. Why if it weren't for you being the male Staci would already have you half in the grave.


* Hiei scowls as he looks at her.


Hiei- She's one of the strongest humans I've known. But we will still have to watch her.. grow old and die.

Sarista- This is why we cherish the time that we have with her as much as we can.. She is a member of our family.. She's one of your females.

Hiei- I plan to keep my promise to her.


* Sarista nods.


Sarista- I know you mean to. You're stubbornly honorable that way.. But you will come to a time when you will both connect. You won't be able to resist her.

Hiei- You don't know me very well, Woman.. You have no idea how.. brutally stubborn and.. heartless I can be.

Sarista- You're not heartless, if you were you would have went through with your plan to let that Tiger destroy you.

Hiei- It was your telepathy that kicked my a-- in gear and you know it!


* Sarista shrugs slightly with a smile.


Sarista- I'm glad you cared enough to listen.


* Hiei looks away with a sarcastic 'Feh!' Sarista embraces him closer again and nuzzles against his temple.


Sarista- Look, whatever your life was out there.. To the rest of Demon World.. Whatever your sister may think of you.. None of that will ever matter to any of us.. Three times now, you have fought and earned your place as our Alpha.. Even if you never give us a single child.


* Hiei's eyes widen and he swallows.


Sarista- You can be Hiei, the Terrible beyond those bushes.. In fact, there will be more such times that you will have to be so.. But here.. in this ravine.. This is where you belong.. Where you will be respected.. and loved.

Hiei- Sarista,.. I've told you before.. Demons don't..


* She quiets him with a finger to his lips.


Sarista- Whether you like it or not.


* Her gentle laugh that follows actually arouses Hiei. He looks toward her again, then raises his warded hand to guide her mouth to his. As the kiss deepens and becomes more ardorous he works himself around to straddle her lap. Sarista relaxes back against the cool dirt wall behind her and submits to his desires. Hiei's mouth soon begins to widen its exploration down her throat. He feels his unwarded hand settle on her belly. He pulls back to catch his breath when Sarista moans.


Hiei- D-D---, I can't.. help myself around you..


* She smiles in a sensual way that connects to Hiei's instincts.


Sarista- It pleases me.. that I please you, Master.


* Hiei nods, but feels how much of his energy he's already expended. When he leans to place his forehead against her chest Sarista closes him in her arms a little tighter.


Sarista- It's okay, Hiei..

Hiei- I'm still.. weak..

Sarista- It was a strong poison.. It took all of our combined energies to save you.. It'll take you a couple days to fully recover.


* Hiei nods.


Sarista- You'll need much rest.. You'll have to rely on all of us to protect you for a while.


* Hiei raises his head and glances around.


Hiei- Where are we?

Sarista- Near the mouth, still. We couldn't move you too much.


* Hiei gets to his feet easily, just fitting his full height in the alcove. When he sways a bit Sarista quickly steadies him.


Hiei- We need to get back.. to the main cave.

Sarista- Minoro stayed behind.. He can carry you..


* Hiei shakes his head firmly.


Hiei- I must not.. show weakness.


* Sarista nods her understanding, but still helps him make his way out of the shelter. As soon as he sees Minoro he straightens up a little more.


Hiei- We'll return to the main cave now.


* Minoro stands and nods.


Minoro- Okay. I can carry..

Hiei- No. I'm well enough to make it that far.. You will follow us.


* Minoro bows his acceptance of the order then follows Sarista and Hiei off toward the main camp.