Switching

The sun rose higher into the sky as morning gave way to afternoon. Hiei held his lover gently from behind, cradling Kurama’s head in the crook of his right arm. The fire demon had given up on trying to examine his mate’s injuries any further. Nestled in the covers, he held the taller form close and ran his free hand through the red locks.

As the crimson tresses slid through his slender fingers, Hiei suddenly had a vision of sorts. Like a snippet from an almost remembered dream, Hiei saw the hair and his hand. But instead of the gentle combing, that hand was grasping and pulling. The strands of hair, red as the bloody face below them, resisted the sharp tug. So the hand pulled harder, eliciting a gasp from the trembling body attached to that hair. Like a movie in slow motion, Hiei’s view lowered to encompass the face of his victim. Green eyes were squeezed closed, in contrast to the pale lips, spread to breathe yet fighting the sounds struggling to escape them. Four gashes spilled blood onto the alabaster flesh, obscuring any tears that may or may not have fallen from the agony.

With a start Hiei jumped. It had been so real; he could smell his fox’s blood, sweat, and fear. Slowly the hiyoukai looked over the face of his sleeping mate. The four slashes on Kurama’s face looked lighter, shallower. The kitsune was healing at an amazing rate. Yet Hiei still felt the wounds. He could feel the flesh rending under his claws and the gore collecting and sticking in the nail beds. The most agonizing feeling, though, was the four matching slashes he felt, invisible, yet strangely tangible, tear across his heart. Closing his eyes, the hiyoukai buried his face in Kurama’s hair.

As he closed his eyes, Hiei was on top of Kurama, again in the movie-like void. The kitsune was facedown on the mattress this time, his face all but buried in the pillow beneath him. Bites and scratches littered the fox’s once smooth back. Blood oozed from wounds, trailing in glistening rivulets to trek down the kitsune’s side and seep into the bedding below. Hiei felt his power straining, longing to explode, to utterly dominate the creature below him. Somehow his ward had slipped from his forehead, and Jagan was open, amplifying his power. The hiyoukai could feel the shift in his energy as his body began to change, to revert to the primitive Majin beast he had once been in battle. Although Hiei had abandoned that form when his power and control increased, his lustful haze summoned this bestial and untamed part of him to the surface once more. This figure, while unable to conquer the human world, could surely conquer the wretched, trembling form beneath him. Violently he thrust his hips forward, slamming his green-tinged hand into the pillow a mere inch from his toy’s face. The toy tensed and a palpable fear washed over it as it began a weak, futile struggle. Within a few seconds the movement ceased. The toy fell unconscious as Hiei slaked his lust without interference.

Startled, the fire demon’s head snapped up. It had happened again, another peek into what had happened. Shaking slightly, Hiei put his free hand onto Kurama’s bare shoulder and pushed gently to reveal the fox’s back. The bites, bruises, and scratches were there, just as they had been in the dreamlike remembrance, but they were muted, healing.

As he released Kurama’s shoulder, Hiei felt Kurama shift a little into a more comfortable position. As the fox moved, Hiei felt a small draw on his energy. Kurama had been correct; it was Hiei’s energy allowing him to heal so quickly. As the kitsune settled back into a deeper sleep, he sighed in contentment. Hiei could feel Kurama’s peace through their connection, amplified by his still uncovered Jagan.

Realization dawned on Hiei. He had thoroughly ravaged Kurama’s body. He had penetrated every crevice of the modest fox’s physical being violently and painfully. But he never invaded Kurama’s mind. Had he wanted to truly break the fox, he would have raped Kurama’s mind, or at least tried to. With a mind so old and complex, Hiei knew he could not have plundered it unless the kitsune “let him in.” Yet, he had not even tried. The Jagan had been open, unfettered, and neither the demon eye nor its host had tried to enter the redhead’s thoughts.

Hiei’s musings were disturbed as Kurama shifted again, this time onto his back. A grimace crossed his features as he turned his weight onto his abused backside. Hiei immediately placed his free left hand under the covers on Kurama’s hip to shift the fox’s weight back onto his side.

In his mind, both his hands pinned Kurama’s narrow hips to the bed. The fox was on his back this time, his face betraying the pain he felt as his expressionless mask crumbled. Where their bodies met, a heat that Hiei had never before felt began to engulf the demon. His thoughts of love, protection, and being gentle fled as this heat grew and consumed his rational mind. Unlike his soft, gently entry, the fire demon thrust his hips forward into that tight heat. Again he thrust. He wanted to push his way into the warmth until his whole body felt the tingling, throbbing pleasure building between his legs. Again and again he pushed, frustrated that only that minority of his body could enter the sweltering bliss. Oblivious to the discomfort of the being below him, the hiyoukai pushed again and again, always thwarted by some unyielding barrier. Pushing the fox’s legs more tightly against his heaving chest, Hiei pushed harder, feeling the impediment give way. With a violent thrust, the barrier snapped. Searing liquid pleasure coated him and inflamed his lust to even higher levels. Thrusting deeper, the coppery smell of blood feeding his intoxication, Hiei pressed in further, until only his toes touched the bed, all his weight pushed into his victim’s raised body, onto the redhead’s neck. The slender hips bruised under the pull of his hands, trying to drive even more deeply into the pleasure. Again he drove forward. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Agai....

Hiei pushed away, shoving the sleeping fox to roll onto his stomach and pushing himself off the bed. This third vision was too much. Kurama awoke when he was pushed and turned to look at his mate. Sitting, naked, on the floor, Hiei forestalled his questions with a single word. “How?”

This whispered word barely carried to Kurama’s ears. Equally softly, Hiei continued, “How could you?” Kurama sat up on his hip, a confused look on his face. “How could you let me do that? How could you know I would... How could you not tell me... How can you now lay in my arms in complete trust?” Hiei’s voice rose ever so slightly with each question. “How?” he finally whimpered.

“Hiei,” Kurama began. “It’s normal for a male demon to...”

“Damn you!” Hiei shrieked, standing up. “Screw ‘normal’ and ‘typical!’ I’m not fucking normal! I’m forbidden! I thought maybe I wasn’t too forbidden to find love, but I was fucking wrong! Damn!” he yelled. Looking to the floor, he muttered softly, “How can I trust either of us again?” For a long moment no one responded to that.

“I’m sorry,” whispered a small voice. Hiei looked up at Kurama. The kitsune’s head was bowed. “I’m so sorry, Hiei,” the fox repeated. “I should have told you. You had no way of knowing. You’re right; this was not my choice to make. But...” Kurama could not bring himself to look Hiei in the face. He finished his thought staring at the bed, twirling the sheet in between nervous fingers. “But I’m glad it was with me.”

Hiei just watched as Kurama turned away, laid back down, and pulled the covers up to his ears. Wordlessly, the hiyoukai left the room.

When Kurama awoke, he did not know how much time had passed. He felt drained. The room was dark and he was surprised to find the covers were not tucked up to his face anymore. Moving slightly, he realized the blankets were around his waist and small hands were helping him to sit up. Groggily, looking with only his right eye, he made out the shape of a tray on the bed next to him.

“Relax. It’s time to eat something,” came a soft voice next to him. Turning his gaze, Kurama recognized Hiei sitting on the bed beside him, clad in a robe. The kitsune opened his mouth to speak, but Hiei just shook his head and raised chopsticks to feed his mate. The redhead considered refusing the food; he wasn’t sure he was stable enough to eat yet, but Hiei seemed unwilling to compromise. Silently, Kurama opened his mouth and allowed Hiei to feed him.

After he had eaten about half the food, Kurama shook his head weakly. He felt worse now than he had when Hiei had left the room after their argument. The fire demon removed the tray to the bedside table, and the fox felt himself slipping downwards. A warm embrace stopped his descent and propped him up.

“You were right, Fox. After I left, you got worse. Your wounds began to reopen and you were sleeping fitfully. When I peeked in on you, the change was amazing. You had a fever, as well. When I touched you, you started improving. I’ll be right here. Sleep if you’d like,” Hiei said softly, his earlier anger gone from his voice.

“You stayed?” Kurama asked weakly.

“Of course. You’re my mate. The only way I would leave you is through death, and I love you too much for that, even if I do have a poor way of showing it.” Kurama opened his mouth to reply, but Hiei cut him off, “Don’t remind me that it’s ‘normal.’”

Kurama just nodded, and allowed himself to lean more heavily against Hiei. Within moments the fox was asleep.

The next time Kurama awoke, sunlight was streaming in the window. He was sleeping comfortably on something warm. Turning, he realized this something was Hiei. The fire demon had fallen asleep as well, freeing his ki from his conscious control and allowing their energies to combine completely. As Kurama sat up, Hiei awoke as well.

“Good morning, Love,” Kurama murmured. Hiei looked at him and smiled. Most of the marks were gone from the kitsune. Only the deepest injuries remained visible, and these were merely pink lines, fading quickly. Carefully, Kurama opened his left eye for the first time, blinking rapidly as his sight adjusted.

“Let me see,” Hiei said, gently taking Kurama’s chin and tilting his head. The green iris was clear and whole; the eye was intact. Relieved, Hiei released Kurama’s chin and smiled. “As beautiful as ever,” he murmured. Kurama blushed slightly.

“Hiei, about the...,” Kurama started.

“Stop,” Hiei replied in a normal speaking tone. “Never again will it happen; never again will we speak of it. Should history ever try to repeat itself, we will stop each other, by any means necessary. Agreed?” Kurama nodded and snuggled into his mate’s embrace.

--

As the sun sank into the horizon, the mates finished their dinner and cleaned up the kitchen. All of Kurama’s injuries had fully healed, thanks to combination of their ki, a phenomenon possible only between truly bonded and mated beings, and now the two demons retired to their bedroom. Hiei had incinerated their previous mattress, and a new one now awaited them. Hopefully this one would last a bit longer then the first two had...

As they approached the bed, Kurama spun around to sit on the new mattress, pulling Hiei on top of him. “Make love to me, Hiei,” he said. Instantly the fire demon tensed.

“I don’t...”

“Ah-ah-ah,” Kurama silenced Hiei’s protest. “I trust you; so should you.”

With no further words, Hiei claimed Kurama’s mouth in a deep kiss. Lying back, Kurama scooted up the bed to lay his head on the pillow, never breaking apart from his mate. As they settled down together, Hiei reached behind Kurama’s head and cradled the base of Kurama’s skull in his hand. Gently, he increased the pressure from his lips, parting Kurama’s wider and gently tracing the inside of the fox’s mouth with his tongue. Kurama moaned, relaxing into Hiei’s hold and allowing his mouth to be plundered.

Slowly, languidly, Kurama’s hand crept up Hiei’s sides to slip into the robe the hiyoukai had worn all day. Slipping between the satin folds, the thief’s nimble fingers traced the smaller demons compact, muscular chest.

Hiei’s hand behind Kurama’s neck began to move, massaging the muscles there and making the kitsune relax even more. Hiei other hand began to creep up Kurama’s thigh, under the robe the kitsune had worn since he had gotten out of bed that afternoon. About halfway up the thigh, Hiei stopped his hand’s ascent and began kneading the muscles there as well. Kurama lifted his leg into the touch, allowing Hiei body to press more closely again his own.

As the hiyoukai settled closer, Kurama began to untie the sash of Hiei’s robe with his free hand. Once it was open, he grasped the ends of the cord in either hand and pulled it tight, pulling Hiei as close to him as possible. With their chests pressed tightly together, they continued their kiss until a lack of oxygen forced them to part. Breathing heavily, sharing each other’s breath, they paused. A moment of silent communication passed between them. There were no words; what they expressed could never be captured and contained in mere words. But simultaneously, they drifted together again.

Hiei parted Kurama’s robe and slid it off the lithe figure, revealing the pale, freshly healed flesh of his lover. Breaking their kiss to briefly admire the nude fox’s beauty, the hiyoukai began kissing the fox’s chest. Slowly, he kissed his way down to the bottom of Kurama’s rib cage. Turning, Hiei laid his head on Kurama’s chest, listening to the fox’s steady heartbeat and gently caressing Kurama’s hips with his hands.

Kurama ran his fingerS through Hiei’s hair and slipped them down the back of his neck, under the collar of his robe. The kitsune began to massage the tense muscles in his lover’s neck and shoulders. As the hiyoukai began to relax, Kurama’s hands wandered down, pushing the satin of the robe off to the side. Finally, Kurama could reach no further without changing position. Knowing this, Hiei looked up at his lover’s face. The green eyes staring back showed him only love and trust. Gaining courage from them, Hiei allowed one hand to trail down Kurama’s abdomen and between his legs.

Delicately, Hiei began to massage Kurama’s groin. Softly, almost tentatively, he coaxed the kitsune’s body to attention. Kurama’s hands kneaded Hiei’s back as the kitsune closed his eyes and reveled in the feel of his mate’s touch. Hiei kept his head pressed to Kurama’s chest as he stroked the fox. Finally, unable to contain himself, Kurama let out a low moan of pleasure.

This sound seemed to reach through Hiei’s haze of insecurity. Shifting, he lifted his head and began to work his way down Kurama’s stomach and abdomen, leaving feather-light kisses in his wake. Kurama’s hands slid up Hiei’s back and into his dark hair once more, guiding him to the one area that needed his attention the most. Hiei complied eagerly, taking the fox into his mouth and suckling gently. Kurama gasped as the moist heat enveloped him and sent little tingles of pleasure dancing up his spine.

The familiar feel and taste of his mate gave Hiei confidence, and his hands slid quickly to their usual position on the fox’s hips, preventing the heated kitsune from thrusting upwards. As Kurama writhed in pleasure, Hiei smiled slightly to himself and tried something he did not usually do: he began to hum.

Kurama gasped as the deep voice and intense vibrations filled his senses. Although he opened his eyes, the kitsune could not see the ceiling above him; all he saw was a fog of physical pleasure. Hiei continued his tuneless melody, bobbing his head and changing the pitch of his voice. He only stopped when Kurama cried out and bucked his hips particularly high. Lifting his gaze, the hiyoukai looked up at his mate. “Like that, Fox?” Hazy green eyes and flushed cheeks were answer enough, bringing Hiei’s own body into painful arousal.

Quickly, Hiei practically launched himself up the bed and claimed Kurama’s lips again in a fierce kiss. The fox wrapped his arms and legs around his small lover, craving contact with every inch of the compact, yet muscular frame. Awkwardly, Hiei fumbled for the bottle of lotion they kept in the nightstand. Not breaking their kiss, he quickly coated his fingers and began to prepare his fox.

The hiyoukai had expected discomfort from Kurama. He had anticipated pain, possibly rejection. After the last time they tried this, he refused to allow himself to believe that this would happen again. What happened was not what he expected. Kurama pushed backwards onto his finger, trying to ensnare more of his probing digit. The fox made small mewling sounds, almost like a puppy whining for food. Kurama’s hands refused to release Hiei, instead holding tightly and pulling him almost painfully close.

As Hiei added a second finger, Kurama began squirming more. “Please, Hiei. I need you!” the fox whimpered, trying to shift his hips side to side.

Hiei pressed his cheek against Kurama’s and whispered, “Relax, Fox. I will not hurt you; you have to be ready. Why are you in such a hurry?”

Kurama grabbed Hiei’s earlobe between his lips and sucked it for a second before finally answering, “Because now I can truly share myself with you, with the real you. Please, Love, I need this.”

The wriggling of the fox’s body, the clenching on his tight ring of muscles around Hiei’s fingers, the feel of his bare chest, pressed tightly against Hiei’s, slicked with a passionate sweat, and finally his words drove Hiei to a need he had never felt before. He claimed Kurama’s mouth once more with his own before breaking their kiss to remove his fingers and join his fox. As he slid to a halt, completely encased in the body of his mate, Kurama let out a lustful wail.

“Kurama?” Hiei asked sharply, afraid he had hurt his lover again.

“Gods, Hiei. Move, please,” Kurama murmured. Seeing only pleasure on his lover’s face, Hiei began a slow rocking rhythm. Instantly Kurama responded, repositioning his legs around Hiei’s hips and curling his back to meet Hiei’s gentle advances.

As they rocked, their bodies connected and in synch, their energies aligned as well. Gasps and moan, even breath became indistinguishable as the two demons became one in body and spirit. They could feel each other’s pleasure and even the slight hint of pain that always accompanied a joining like this. But that tiny sliver of discomfort only added to the intense wonder of this union. Now, having shared both of their bodies with the other fully, they were free to be together in any way they chose.

Hiei could feel Kurama’s body straining to draw every last sensation from their lovemaking. He could also feel the kitsune’s thoughts. It was not like reading the fox’s mind; the thoughts were not whole. The hiyoukai merely felt impressions that he knew to be from Kurama’s mind. The fox was enjoying this immensely. The fear and pain from their last coupling was gone, and this was his reward. Hiei also got the distinct impression that Kurama was not as satisfied with the one time he had allowed himself to be mounted in his previous life. And it had only been one time. All other times, Kurama had been seme. But tonight, he completely and willingly surrendered himself to his fire demon.

Kurama could feel Hiei’s fear of hurting him again melt as the intense pleasure washed over them both. Hiei was very careful with him this time, pressing only as hard as he thought the fox could handle. In truth, Kurama enjoyed a little pain with his pleasure. But the emotion he shared with his lover during this joining gave him more pleasure than any physical sensation alone could.

The two demons maintained their slow, gentle pace, letting their climax build between them, or more accurately within them. There was no “between” them right now. They were joined in a dance so intimate and so deep that it was not possible to distinguish where one being left off and the next began. Finally, an explosion of heat began to rupture as both felt the end approach.

Hiei felt the pressure inside him flare as he released himself deep within his lover. Reaching his arms under Kurama’s shoulders, he pulled himself up the kitsune’s body, pressing them impossibly close together and driving himself deeper into his mate.

Kurama cried out in sheer ecstasy as he felt a searing heat fill him. The heat drove him to the height of his passion. Arching backwards, his sight went completely white as his body clenched and climaxed. Then all went dark.

Kurama opened his eyes. He had only been out for a few minutes. He felt Hiei shift on top of him and withdraw from his body. Hissing in slight discomfort, Kurama waited for Hiei to settle beside him before he turned and cuddled up to the hiyoukai.

Hiei wrapped his arms around his lover. He had not missed the hiss, but he also knew that the discomfort was normal and was more reluctance to separate than actual, physical pain. Nestling together with his fox, he began to stroke the red hair lovingly. For long moments no one spoke. It was Hiei who finally broke the soft silence.

“Kurama?” he asked quietly.

“Yes, Love?” the fox replied.

“Thank you for trusting me. That was amazing. We were already bonded, but that was...” Hiei trailed off.

“I know,” Kurama replied. “We can share ourselves freely like that from now on.”

“Mmm. Fox?” Hiei continued. Kurama did not speak, but he did shift to look at Hiei more fully. “As amazing as that was, I still... I like it when you top me. I feel safe in your arms, under you, with you inside me. I will make love to you whenever you want, but for a ‘usual’ style, I prefer for you to be my seme,” Hiei said quickly, almost embarrassed by the confession.

“Any time, Love. I have never felt the way you made me feel tonight, and I treasure that bond. But I prefer to be seme, as well. No offense,” Kurama began, but stopped when he heard Hiei chuckle.

“None taken. We prefer the same, then. Perfect. But not tonight. I think we both could use some sleep,” the hiyoukai said, smiling.

“Agreed,” Kurama conceded. “And Hiei? Thank you for sharing you with me.”

“And you with me,” Hiei replied before drifting off to sleep.

--

The following morning, the sun rose behind a sky full of clouds. A light, misty rain fell, chilling the air slightly, but not enough to make the day “dreary.” When Kurama awoke, Hiei was awake and staring at him. “Good morning, Beautiful,” Hiei said softly, reaching onto the floor beside the bed.

“Good morning, Handsome,” Kurama replied, sitting up. A dull ache in his backside made him think twice. Slowly, the fox laid back down.

“I thought you may want this,” Hiei said, retrieving the object he sought. It was a moist towel. “I got it about a half an hour ago.” When Kurama looked at him with a confused expression, Hiei just smiled and motioned for the fox to turn over. Rolling onto his stomach, Kurama awaited his mate’s next move.

Hiei pulled the covers down to Kurama’s hips, completely baring his back. Using his ki, the hiyoukai warned the wet towel to a nice, relaxing temperature, and gently laid it across Kurama’s lower back and rump. Keeping his hands in place. Hiei massaged gently while keeping the towel a nice, even temperature with his youki.

“Mmm. That’s nice,” Kurama mumbled, closing his eyes and enjoying the gentle touch of his lover.

“I remember the first time I sat up,” Hiei replied. Silently, the two remained like this for most of the morning.

When the doorbell rang around lunchtime, both demons were dressed and in the kitchen. Hiei answered the door and pointed Shiori in the direction of her son, taking her umbrella as she slipped off her shoes. The light mist had turned to a gentle afternoon rain. Kurama was just dishing the food onto plates when his mother entered. Since the demons always cooked extra food, there was plenty for three servings. (Actually for more than three. Despite his small stature, and the fact that he rarely, if ever, ate in front of others, Hiei could eat an amazing amount of food in a single sitting.)

After he placed the plates on the table, Kurama took his seat, wincing slightly as he settled. Of course, Shiori noticed this immediately. “Shuuichi? Are you alright?” she asked with motherly concern.

“Yes, Mother. I am fine,” Kurama replied. When Shiori looked skeptical he simply said, “I pulled a muscle the other night and it’s not quite back to normal yet. I’ll be fine by tomorrow.” Shiori nodded slightly and resumed eating. She completely missed the covert glance between the demons before they continued eating as well.

--

A/N-That’s that. Switching is done. I hope you enjoyed it, or at least appreciated the bond these guys have in my little skewniverse. I have a few more one shots hopping around in my head, perhaps a sequel to Intimacy. Perhaps. First I need to get cracking on Akambo and OC Adventures.

All reviews are more than appreciated! Thanks!