Once a Thief

Once a Thief...
By Kagome
Birthday Present for Diana-chan, my RHFPiC, Beta Reader, and Close Friend
Rating: NC-17
Alternate Universe, HieixKurama, Yaoi, Lemon, Bondage (Kinda), and Completely PWP.
/.../ indicates thoughts, while *...* indicates emphasis


"So," the fat nobleman leaned forward, close enough so that Kurama could smell the liquor on his breath. "Can you really steal gold from Gushoshin's vault?"

Kurama leaned back, emerald eyes glinting dangerously. "Who do you think I am?" he asked, glaring disapprovingly at the worthless man in front of him. "You heard that I was the best thin ain a thousand-mile radius, did you not?"

The nobleman nodded, fidgeting nervously under the beautiful redhead's glare. "I did, indeed, Kurama."

"Then you should trust what you hear. Do not question my ability. You will have your gold - if, and only if - you give me a fair share of it as well. I have to eat, you know, and just because I'm a thief doesn't mean I'm living the high life like you and Gushoshin." Kurama's slender fingers tapped on the tabletop, and he could tell it was making the nobleman even more nervous.

Good.

"Why do you want to steal Gushoshin's money, anyway?" he asked, continuing to tap his fingers on the table. "I'm sure you have plenty of your own, so why steal another nobleman's?"

"He owes me." The man replied, looking up into Kurama's eyes. Kurama could see something buried there, something that had been there for quite some time, and it had something to do with Gushoshin.

However, the nobleman apparently didn't want him to read too much into it, for he turned his head and looked away, taking another sip of his liquor.

"Let's discuss my reward," Kurama said, getting right down to business. He had stolen for others before, and he did not like to beat around the bush when it came to what he would get in return.

"Hmm...yes." The nobleman seemed to be considering, adding things in his head. "Is seventy/thirty okay with you?"

The redhead laughed softly. "Seventy/thirty? Yes, it's okay, if *I'm* the one getting seventy."

"Sixty/forty?" The man tried again.

Again, Kurama laughed. "Do you think my services come cheap? The lowest I'll go is fifty/fifty. If you cannot handle that, then I will have no dealings with you. I'll take my leave, and if you ask for me again, you shall not find me." He started to rise, but the nobleman reached out, grag hig his arm.

"Okay, okay! You have a deal! Just please, sit back down!" He glanced around nervously; he did not want anyone in the tavern to catch wind xactxactly what was going on. Sure enough, if any of Gushoshin's lackeys were there, they would run back and tell him, and he himself would be in a *lot* of trouble.

Kurama wrinkled his nose and sat down, snatching his arm away from the nobleman. "Don't you *dare* touch me unless I say you can," he said softly, and that dangerous glint was in his eyes again.

"I'm sorry," the nobleman apologized, placing his hands on the table. "It won't happen again."

Kurama's eyes narrowed, and he placed a finger to his chin, considering. "So, we have a deal, then? Fifty/fifty?"

"Deal." The nobleman reluctantly held out his hand to close the deal.

Just as reluctantly, Kurama took the hand in his own, briefly shaking it.

It was set.

"Do you..." the nobleman began nervously, and then swallowed, starting over. "Do you think that you'll run into any trouble?"

Kurama smiled satisfactorily, resting his hand on the hilt of the sword at his side, comforted by the feel of it against the skin of his palm. "Don't worry. I also happen to be quite skilled in swordsmanship."

~*~

"Sorry, nothing personal." Kurama withdrew his sword from the guard's stomach, turning and running back the way he had come. The hallways had been storming with guards, but he found it quite odd that there were none outside once he hit the streets and started running back toward the tavern. He considered slowing his pace a bit, since there were no guards around, but he decided against it, and continued running.

He paused in an alleyway momentarily to catch his breath, sword at the ready in case anyone decided to give him any trouble.

He was terribly surprised to find a sword against his neck a moment later; he hadn't even had time to counterattack. /What the-!?/

"Drop the sword," a deep male voice whispered. When he did not comply, the blade at his neck bit down a little deeper into his flesh. Not enough to draw blood, but close. "I said *drop it*, in case you didn't hear me the first time."

Begrudgingly, the redhead let the sword fall, feeling a bit helpless as it clattered to the ground.

"Now take the gold and drop it as well."

Weaponless and defenseless, Kurama had no choice but to obey the command. If he did not, he would most likely be killed. /I'll probably be killed, anyway./ He watched as the sack landed beside the sword.

"Move, and you die." The voice threatened. The sword was removed from his neck, and he let out a breath he hadn't known he had been holding. A moment later, he was told to place his hands behind his back. He did so, and felt the roughness of a length of rope being tied tightly around his wrists. Now he truly was helpless. /What a way to die.../

"You're one of the guards, aren't you?" Kurama asked as he was spun around. His assailant was shorter than he and paler as well. His hair was spikey and the color of midnight; it even had a white star in the middle. His eyes were the color of rubies, and he held his sword tightly at his side. Even in the circumstance that he was in, Kurama could not help but admit - even if only to himself - that the young man was attractive.

"You could say that," the shorter man replied. "I work for Gushoshin, yes. And I don't think he'd like it very much if I let a thief get away." He smirked and walked around the redhead slowly, studying his features. He came to stand back in front of him. "I could kill you," he began nonchalantly, stepping closer to Kurama. "Or, I could let you live." He stepped even closer, and Kurama found himself wishing - though his wish was a shock to himself - that the ebony-haired man would close the distance between them. He stepped back a bit, hoping the feeling low in his body would diminish.

The man's smirk widened, as if he knew what Kurama was kingking, and took a step forward. "Ah, but what if I didn't kill you? What then? Would I take you back to Gushoshin? He'd make you his slave, you know. Or, he'd probably kill you himself."

Kurama shook his head, long bangs falling into his eyes, obscuring them. "I will die before I become a slave for anyone."

"Is that so?" The man seemed interested in what he had to say. "You'd give up your pride at the cost of your own life?"

"Yes, I would."

He considered this. "You have guts, storming into a nobleman's quarters and stealing from his vault. I will give you that. I will also admit that I have never seen a person of such unsurpassing beauty in my life - male or female. Your eyes...they're the color of emeralds. Beautiful."

Kurama could feel the heat rising to his cheeks, and knew he shouldn't be feeling such yearning for a person who was probably about to kill him, and yet, he couldn't help the longing that rose within him, try as he might to quell it. "What exactly are you trying to say?"

"I'm just saying that it would be a shame to kill a creature as beautiful as yourself. Beauty should be enjoyed, not harmed."

What his capturer was saying finally hit him in that instant, and nearly made him stagger backwards with shock. Kurama stared down at him, eyes cold and indignant, though his body was feeling something rather different - nothing at all like anger. "I will not be so weak and sink so low as to be your playtoy. I will not yield to something like this. I am *not* a toy to be played with...to be used for your pleasure."

"No?" The man smiled, amused. "Are you so sure of that, thief?" His voice, low and seductive, sent shivers across Kurama's skin and he stood rooted as the shorter man closed the distance between them. Almost idle, one hand traced over the flesh of the redhead's back through the fabric of his shirt. Pure, unbridled desire flared in Kurama's body, though he hated that he was feeling this way for a complete stranger, a stranger that could kill him at any instant. The man still held his sword by his side, in case Kurama decided to try anything.

Kurama could feel the heat of his presence, his scent. His will bent before his assailant's as the shorter man moved his free hand to cup his cheek. The theif's face descended obediently to meet his, his world tilted around the ruby-eyed man's axis. "That which yields," the man murmured, raising his lips closer to Kurama's, "is not always weak."

As; as; almost. His lips brushed Kurama's and withdrew, his hand leaving the thief's skin. Kurama staggered in the abyss of the absence of his touch, in a shock of yearning.

"Ah, you see?" The man seemed quite pleased with himself. "You want this. So, why not let me help you? I can spare your life just as easily as I can take it." He raised the sword and Kurama watched the moonlight glint off its blade. "What do you say?"

Kurama shook his head for the second time that night. He would not give in to what his body wanted. Even a thief had his pride. "No. I refuse."

"Your pride says that, but your body says an entirely different thing." His ruby eyes danced with amusement - and something else - as he let his own sword fall to the ground, and he moved forward, grabbing Kurama's sidelocks and tugging downward until their lips were nearly touching. "Are you going to resist me?"

Kurama gulped, some part of him wishing desperately that the man would kiss him and quell the fire that rose within him. "Little hard to resist when you have me bound, is it not?"

The man smirked. "True. It is." With another tug, he brought their lips together, kissing Kurama roughly, almost with enough force to bruise. Kurama was sure that if he didn't open his mouth, his attacker *would* leave his lips bruised. So, he opened his mouth, trying to supress a shiver - and failing miserably - as the man\onguongue played with his own, teasind snd suckling, until the thief was moaning softly inbetween kisses.

The shorter man withdrew, clearly pleased. "You are like putty in my hands, thief. Why such desire?"

Kurama found that he could not answer. Why *did* he feel such a yearning for this man? For this complete stranger? Why?

"Do not answer, then." The ebony-haired man began unbuttoning Kurama's shirt, pausing to push it back, exposing his chest. He began suckling the skin of the thief's neck, pressing small kisses there, lips travelling down to a nipple. He flicked his tongue across it, and Kurama groaned, closing his eyes. "You like this, don't you?" he asked, lifting his head. Kurama bemoaned that heated mouth leaving his skin and looked down into the shorter man's eyes, seeing his own passion reflected in them. He nodded and gasped as one of the shorter man's hands roamed down the front of his body, pausing to fondle the noticeable bulge hidden in his pants. "Ah, yes...you're enjoying this. As you can see, so am I."

Indeed, Kurama could feel the other's erection pressing against him urgently, begging for attention. He bit his lip and held back a moan as his pants were swiftly undone. He felt the warmth of the other man's hand enclose his erection, grasping it firmly, and then he did moan, knees buckling.

The man's hand withdrew and he caught him around the waist, holding him upright. "You won't fall," he whispered, gently lowering him to the ground, pressing him against the alley wall. His mouth was on his again, insistent, and Kurama dearly wished that he could be untied. "Lift your hips," the man instructed as he pulled away. The theif did so without hesitation.

As soon as his pants were removed, something much warmer closed over his erection - the ruby-eyed man's mouth. His tongue swirled over the small slit in the head before taking all of him into his mouth, using lips and tongue to pleasure the redhead.

Kurama's hips moved of their own accord, thrusting maddeningly into the shorter man's mouth, seeking release. "Aaaaaa..." He moaned loudly as he came, and his body shivered like the grass in the breeze, and he was still, collapsing back against the wall, breathing heavily.

Those ruby eyes met his, and the man wiped his mouth, smiling softly. "You are indeed unlike anyone - or anything - I have ever seen, thief." He moved forward, pressing a brief kiss to Kurama's mouth. It was not long before Kurama's shaft was erect again, begging for touch, and the man with the bloodred eyes granted the unspoken plea, hand enclosing the thief's erection and moving slowly, slowly...finally picking up speed.

Kurama bit his lip hard enough to draw blood and rested his forehead on the man's shoulder. Just before he climaxed, the hand left his skin, and he lifted his head, gazing at the shorter man in annoyance. "Why--" he began, but was cut off by the black-haired man leaning forward and licking the blood from his lip.

"I'm sorry," he said softly, "to stop so suddenly, but I must have you *now*." He moved back, and Kurama watched, mesmerized, as he undressed. He kneeled before him, completely naked, and Kurama could do nothing but stare. "Like what you see?" He asked with a smile, and Kurama's eyes immediately travelled back to his face. The man laughed and gently urged him to move forward so he could lay down.

As soon as he was laying down, the shorter man straddled him, bending and initiating another kiss.

"Wait," Kurama said, turning his face away. "Is it too much to ask to be untied? It's rather...uncomfortable like this."

Those ruby eyes narrowed momentarily before he tugged Kurama up, undoing the knot and throwing the rope aside. Kurama shrugged out of his shirt, throwing it to the ground as well. He was straddled again, and this time, he had the ability to touch back. He moved his hands to the smaller man's waist, deliberately thrusting upwards so that their erections brushed against one another. He was pleased to hear the other moan.

"You could resist me now, you know. You aren't bound. You could very well kill me right now, if you wished." The man said, moving his fingers to the thief's nether opening.

Kurama gasped as those fingers entered him, moving in and out, mimicking what he knew was to come - mimicking the very thing he yearned for. "Yes, I could. And you could kill me right now as well. You could have killed me earlier..." He trailed off, moaning as those fingers hit something inside of him, causing his hips to jerk involuntarily.

"Yes, but I didn't. And I'm not now." He withdrew his fingers, moving again to kiss Kurama, feeding hungrily at his mouth. He poised himself at the redhead's entrance, breaking the kas Kas Kurama urged him on, raising his hips, ready to receive him.

He was inside of that tight head with one thrust, and he could not hold back the moan that came from deep within him. He began rocking his hips against the redhead's, pleased to feel the thief beneath him keeping up with his pace, and from the look on that gorgeous face, the thief was enjoying this just as much as he himself. He increased the force of his thrusts. /Almost there, Beautiful. Almost there.../

Kurama whimpered and writhed beneath him, hips moving in time with the other's thrusts. He moved his hands upward to rest on the man's shoulders, gasping as he felt the other's hand on his erection, moving urgently.

They both cried out as they came, the shorter man collapsing on top of Kurama and Kurama wrapping both arms around him, holding him tight.

The stars finally quit dancing behind Kurama's eyes, and he lifted his head, emerald meeting ruby. He did not speak, he only stared at his assailant-turned-lover, one hand cupping his cheek.

His lover leaned into the caress for only a moment and then moved off of him, standing and beginning to get dressed. "You should get dressed, too," he said, tossing Kurama his clothing.

Kurama did so, and once he was dressed, he stood staring at the shorter man. "So...are you gonna kill me now?"

One corner of the man's mouth turned upward into an almost-smile. "Of course not," he said.

"I didn't ask your name."

"It's Hiei."

The thief smiled. "Hiei, huh? Mine's Kurama."

"Take your sword and get going, then, Kurama."

"And the gold?"

"Take it with you."

"Huh?" Kurama had not expected him to say this. His eyes clearly shown his confusion. "Won't you get in trouble?"

"I'll just tell Gushoshin you got away," Hiei said. "Besides, if you get away with the gold, I have no choice but to come looking for you, right? So, I'll see you again, Kurama." His smile broadened, and Kurama couldn't help but smile back.

Kurama leaned down, pressing an achingly brief kiss to Hiei's lips. "Thank you," he said, sheathing his sword and placing the gold back at his side. He walked out of the alleyway and into the street, heading back to the tavern. /Shit! How long has it been since I left?! Ah, well...the nobleman can wait./ He grinned to himself and turned, raising a hand in farewell to Hiei. /And to think, my pride could have kept me from this.../

Hiei watched until Kurama's retreating back disappeared into the shadows, and then turned, lifting his sword from the ground and placing it back in its sheath. /I'll see you soon, Kurama. Very soon./ As he began heading in the opposite direction, he had an odd feeling that the thief had stolen more than just the gold.

Much more.

~End~

Happy Birthday, Diana-chan! *Hugs and much <3<3<3<3* Hope you liked it! I have never done a fic of this...*cough* nature before, and I tried my best. If you don't like it, I shall throw myself off the roof. ^_~ *Pause* Or that hotel window.

Author's Note: The name Gushoshin was blatantly snatched from Yami no Matsuei. I'm not creative when it comes to names, so sue me. ^_^