The Crow's Den

If there was anyplace darker in any of the four realms, he didn’t want to know about it. He’d been forced to give up any hope of escape or freedom. The only place left for him to flee was death. For reasons he no longer understood, he fought against it. Maybe because his captor wished him dead. Maybe because some nearly forgotten friend had fought so hard against death. Maybe because he’d fought so hard all his life to live and he just couldn’t give that up. Whatever the reason, his tenacity seemed to annoy and arouse his captor.

Hiei hung by his wrists from warded chains. When he could gather the strength to do so, he could stand on his toes to relieve the strain on his arms. Lashes and contusions from explosions covered his body in various stages of healing, fully visible. The wards he normally wore were covered in blood, his hair drenched in the vital fluid so that it clung in chunks to his scalp.

A rattle at the door breathed life into the defeated form. Defiance lit his eyes, his muscles taking on tension that prepared him to fight, even if it would prove futile. He glared at the door as the pale form of his tormentor slid through the narrowest of cracks that would allow him to pass. Hiei’s eyes sought to burn the newcomer, but the wards held his powers in check, the feedback from his ki being forced back into his body painfully, but not painfully enough to keep him from trying. He was hoping that maybe he’d overwhelm the wards and kill the masked demon.

Karasu locked the door behind him and cautiously crossed the room. “Still trying, are you?” he asked, his voice bored though his purple eyes were tight. Hiei should have been broken by now. The jaganshi had been at his mercy for almost three months and he should have broken. Karasu wanted a tear gem from the halfling before he died. Three months of starvation and beatings had not caused a single tear to fall. Three months of anything the quest class demon wanted, and still, nothing. Karasu had been creative, using his own ki, knives, whips, chains, wards, even his own body as devices of torment. Every time, though, he walked a thin line between making the koorime cry and pushing him enough that he finally did overwhelm the wards. Today, though, Karasu would play his final card. One of them would die today, with or without the hiruseki stone. This was it, the last ace up his sleeve. He’d enjoy it, either way, though, that much he knew.

Hiei growled at Karasu. Words had long been forsaken and his throat was too damaged to form them, as well. He focused on his ki, on forcing it to break the wards. His efforts were rewarded by pain and a laugh from Karasu. He snarled when Karasu came closer and moved behind him. He didn’t want the crow behind him. Whenever the demon was behind him, he’d lost his grip on reality, on sanity as his mind sought to bring him comfort in the midst of his pain. It was never Karasu’s body that penetrated his. His mind wouldn’t allow that. It was never Karasu who touched the deepest parts of him. It was never Karasu who brought him a moment of peace in the midst of his pain.

And Karasu knew this. He’d known that the koorime’s mind wandered and now he knew where it went. That was his trump card. It’d taken longer than it should have to find this out, but he finally had the key to undoing the stubborn one. He felt Hiei’s body tremble with effort and with the fight that was beginning in his mind, the fight between reality and fantasy, believing that Karasu would make use of him. Karasu reached up and removed the chains from the hook in the ceiling and pulled the koorime into his chest. Hiei tensed and stumbled. This was unexpected. Karasu never released him. He wondered what would be next and if it would give him a chance to kill the damnable crow.

Holding the chain, Karasu slid a hand along Hiei’s neck. “I wonder,” he mused, his hand going down Hiei’s chest, seeming to take extra time along the freshest of the wounds there. “I wonder if we should clean you up for our company or if we should just let him see you the way you are.”

Hiei’s eyes narrowed, though he remained silent. Karasu grabbed his chin and forced the koorime to look at him, “Answer me, Hiei. Do you want our guest to see you this way?”

“It doesn’t matter,” Hiei managed to say, his voice haggard from disuse and damage.

Karasu pat Hiei on the cheek, though the gesture just missed being a slap by bare degrees, “Come, now, don’t answer that way. It’s been a long time since you’ve seen him, after all. Do you want him seeing you this way?”

“Do what you want, since you will anyways,.” Hiei spat out.

Karasu’s face hardened into angry lines, “You’ll regret that.”

“Not as much as you will,” Hiei countered.

Karasu yanked the chains, pulling the koorime off balance, and stormed out of the cell. He was tired of the stubbornness. He would break the koorime if it was the last thing he did. He strode down the hall, forcefully yanking the chain as his hand swung forward. Hiei struggled to keep to his feet, but his body was barely cooperating. Karasu paid no mind as Hiei barely kept his feet under him. He’d drag the koorime along the floor, if necessary. Today, it would end.

They passed several doors along the hallway. Moans and screams rose from some of these at the sound of their passing but neither took notice. Hiei was too busy struggling to keep up on legs that hadn’t been used in months and Karasu was too busy anticipating his triumph over the petite demon. He pulled the chains and increased his pace, forcing the koorime to try and run after him. Hiei stopped trying to break the wards and focused solely on keeping his feet under him. He would not be humiliated by arriving wherever they were going on his face. He may be covered in blood and wounds, be without clothing, but he would arrive on his feet.

Karasu stopped in front of a door that remained silent. “As stubborn as you are,” he grumbled as he placed the key in the lock. Hiei glared and redoubled his efforts to break the wards while Karasu opened the door. “Come, Hiei, let us greet our guest.” He threw the koorime into the room.

Hiei’s breath caught in his throat and he almost fell on his face. He’d forgotten, but now he remembered. In the center of the room hung the form his mind comforted him with. Green eyes blazed with anger, red hair hung limply around the elfin face contorted with rage. Soft lips snarled and pale, bare skin was marred by fresh wounds. Kurama. He’d almost forgotten his name, but Kurama was here. Hiei gasped, a small sound, barely leaving his lips, but it was more than enough.

“I see you know our guest, koorime.” Karasu pulled Hiei’s arms above his head, but didn’t connect them to the ceiling. Instead, he forced Hiei to turn in a full circle while he addressed Kurama, “See how well he’s been treated here. And, yet, he still wishes to leave. I do so much out of kindness and this is the thanks I get. It’s shameful, isn’t it, Kurama?” Karasu pulled Hiei to his chest, “I do so much, and all I ask is a tiny hiruseki stone. That’s not a lot, and yet, he won’t give it to me. Such utterly shameful behavior.”

Hiei met Kurama’s eyes and they shared the bond of their hatred of Karasu and of their desire to escape, though neither of them knew exactly how. Kurama’s chains were warded, just as Hiei’s were. Karasu didn’t give them much time to plan, though. He was more interested in seeing how far he could provoke them both. “Do tell, Kurama, do you find him a good lay? It seems to me he doesn’t scream enough. His mind always wanders off. Do you find this a problem? And if so, how do you deal with it?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Kurama growled.

“Oh, don’t you?” Karasu purred. “Shall I show you what I mean?” He connected Hiei’s chains to the ceiling and walked around to stand behind the kitsune. “Shall I demonstrate on you or on him?” he asked, his mask brushing the redhead’s ear. Kurama had not been there long enough to be made fully aware of Karasu’s hospitality, but the feel of the crow’s body behind him left no doubt as to what he meant. He snarled and pulled away only to find himself pulled back against the thin demon. “Really, are you always on top?” Karasu purred. “I hate to disappoint you, but you will not be allowed that privilege with me. You see, to allow you to top me, I’d have to let you free of those chains, or at least bring your arms down, and, my dear redhead, I am not that foolish.” He looked over at Hiei, whose glare had intensified beyond anything he’d seen from the koorime before. “Oh, I see. He’s the top, is he? Hmm, it seems to me that it would be the other way, with as receptive as his body is.”

“You’ll not touch him,” Hiei growled, managing to find his voice.

“Oh?” Karasu moved to stand behind the koorime. “So then it is your body that we will use, then.” The crow ran his hands over the battered form and continued to think aloud, “Now, how shall we do this so that he has the best view. I’m sure he’s seen your face, hasn’t he?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Kurama repeated, glaring at Karasu.

The demon laughed, “Oh, but you do, Kurama, you do. I have been reliably informed that you two keep close company.”

Kurama smirked, “We are forced to work together. We have no choice in the matter.”

Karasu pulled Hiei’s head back, exposing his throat as he glared at the redhead, “So, then, it wouldn’t matter to you if I made use of him while you watched?”

“Oh, come now, Karasu. You’re going to leave a kitsune out when you’re enjoying pleasures of the flesh?” Kurama returned, not looking at Hiei. The koorime stiffened and snarled. “I’m willing to bet you could give him something worthwhile to do with his mouth if you were creative enough.”

“Kurama,” Hiei growled, drawing the green eyes to himself. The fox had a plan; he could see it in his eyes. Something that required them to touch, Hiei guessed by the request.

“Hush,” Karasu’s voice was soft as he wrenched Hiei’s head farther back. He turned to Kurama, “Now, how would that help him scream? That is what I want to hear. I want to hear him scream.” He turned the koorime so that they were standing sideways to the redhead. “Such a delicate frame, and yet, he doesn’t scream. You’d think he’d be a natural, don’t you?”

Kurama’s lips twitched, “Maybe you’re just not doing it right.”

“And what would a lover of pleasure know about that?” Karasu sneered at the redhead.

Kurama laughed, “Pleasure and pain are only separated by a thin line in the mind.”

Karasu left Hiei hanging and walked back to Kurama, “Oh? So, if I were to take you, would it be pleasure or pain?”

Kurama gave a short laugh, “I haven’t seen what you’ve got or how you use it, so how could I tell? I might just be bored out of my skull.”

Karasu walked behind the redhead, “Bored out of your skull?”

Kurama’s eyes found Hiei’s and he sent a silent apology for what he was doing. He saw the koorime’s acceptance just as Karasu pressed the bare length of his shaft against his back, “Does that feel like you’ll be bored with it?”

Kurama rolled his eyes, “I haven’t seen it, so how would I know? I still haven’t seen you use it, either.”

Karasu smacked the back of Kurama’s head. “I should just take you, but I think it’ll be more interesting to watch you suffer as I take your lover.”

“My lover?” Kurama asked, a little dizzy from the headshot.

Karasu stalked across the room, fully nude, fully aroused. “Enough games. I know the truth.” He grabbed Hiei around the waist and lifted the koorime from the ground. Hiei felt his body preparing for what he knew would be coming next. He lost the sensations from below his waist, his body shutting down so that he couldn’t feel anything aside from the thrusts that forced the air out of his body. His mind started to leave, but he met the green eyes across from him and stopped himself. All the air in his body was forced out as Karasu pulled him sharply down on his erection. Hiei’s head lolled a bit but he kept looking at Kurama. Karasu moved in him a few times sharply and the only sound Hiei made was the escaping of air as he tried to find Karasu’s rhythm to breathe around. He kept his eyes on Kurama’s and he saw behind the walls to the pain the redhead felt.

Kurama snorted, “No wonder he doesn’t scream. You haven’t humbled him. Someone as proud as he is will not scream as long as he is upright.” The kitsune’s voice was laced with ice, as if he truly didn’t care.

Karasu stilled behind Hiei, “Why are you saying such things?”

“I told you, he’s not my lover,” Kurama did not look at Hiei when he said this.

Hiei growled as Karasu pulled out of his body and walked around him to face Kurama, “You would make him kneel, then?”

There was challenge and contempt in the redhead’s voice, though Hiei couldn’t see his face, he was sure Kurama was smirking, “I doubt you could, even as close to being broken as he is now.”

“What about you?” Karasu asked, caressing Kurama’s cheek, “Do you scream?”

“Only when I’m enjoying myself,” Kurama countered, “and you haven’t shown me anything that I would enjoy. You’ve come very close to boring me. Show me you’re worth my time and I’ll scream for you.”

“So proud, even now, warded and hanging, at my mercy, and you make demands.” Karasu laughed and ran his hands over Kurama’s body, “I like that about you, my redhead. It’s a pity, though, isn’t it? I will have to kill you. But first, let us see if I can at least entertain you.” Karasu crossed the room and pulled Hiei’s chains free from the hook in the ceiling, “So, really, I could do whatever I wanted to him and you wouldn’t care?”

Kurama shrugged, “He’s not my lover, so why should I?”

“Who then, is your lover, kitsune? I know you must have one. Is it that boy, the tantei? Or perhaps you have higher ambitions now? Could it be Koenma? Or is there something about the sword wielder that appeals to you?”

“No one’s entertained me enough to make the effort to lure them to my bed,” Kurama shrugged, “Maybe you will, though?”

Karasu fisted his hand in Hiei’s hair and yanked down. Hiei fought, going just to one knee. “Stubborn bastard,” Karasu snarled, trying to force Hiei’s leg out or to make him bend, but the koorime continued to fight. Whenever he could, he looked at Kurama and knew the kitsune would give him a signal of some kind when he was ready. He continued to fight, he continued to force his ki to rise, he continued to trust that the redhead knew what he was doing. Kitsune were bound by their word, and Kurama had given his word to protect Hiei, to be his partner. A bare flick of his eye and Hiei knew Kurama was ready. He struggled a little longer and fell to his hands and knees, close enough to the redhead that if they both reached, he could touch Kurama’s foot, but far enough away to avoid suspicion. He managed to look up and through the mask of contempt the redhead wore, he saw approval.

“It took you long enough,” Kurama taunted the crow.

Karasu, however, ignored the fox in pursuit of the now fallen koorime. Hiei let his head hang between his arms, his whole being projecting defeat and surrender. Karasu reentered his body and Hiei whined. Karasu pulled out slowly and reentered him quickly and Hiei whined again. He felt the crow bend over him, his hair brushing along their bodies, “Scream for me. Scream and cry, Hiei.” Karasu dug his fingers into Hiei and thrust into him as hard as he could and as fast as he could. Hiei couldn’t stop himself from being thrust forward, closer to the kitsune. He whined, his voice growing louder as Karasu drove into him. The louder he became, the harder Karasu tried to move within his body. He could feel something warm coating his legs and could hear what sounded like wetness when Karasu’s skin slapped against his. He looked down and saw blood coating his legs. Hiei looked up and was surprised at how close to Kurama they were now. Kurama’s eyes flicked to Karasu behind him and then he nodded. Hiei began to scream full out. Karasu began to pant, “Yes, yes, that’s it. Scream for me.” He thrust hard into Hiei and the koorime was forced into Kurama’s legs. He felt the crow’s release as he felt his ki blend with Kurama’s and explode over them. His dragon called to him but its control was taken away from him as Kurama’s power overwhelmed his. He lost track of what happened, darkness and fatigue swallowing him as soon as his power was taken.

“Are you sure he’s alive?” the anxious voice of the tantei beat against his sensitive ears.

“Yes, I am sure,” Kurama’s soft voice answered.

“How do you know? He’s been out for almost a month.”

“Yusuke, I’ve told you before, if you have nothing positive to contribute, please leave.”

“I’m sorry, I’m just worried. I kinda like the guy, y’know?”

“I know, Yusuke, but he needs to heal. When he is ready, he will wake up.”

Almost a month? Has it really been that long? Hiei’s eyes fluttered, trying to open but not quite ready. He heard movement and someone touched him. There was something familiar about that touch. He felt a wave of warmth travel through him and his eyes opened. “Kurama?”

The redhead smiled, “Yes, Hiei. Welcome back.”

“We are free?” he asked, not quite trusting his eyes.

“Yes, thanks to you.” Before he could say anymore, Yusuke bustled over and offered his well wishes and heartfelt relief that Hiei was indeed awake and well. Kuwabara joined them, having heard Yusuke’s cries. The room was soon bursting with people, none of whom Hiei cared about. He wanted to talk to Kurama.

“Please, everyone,” Yukina began, saving Kurama the trouble, “Hiei still needs to rest. Please, out of the room.”

Kurama hung back, “I want to stay with him a while longer, Yukina-san.”

“Don’t wear him out,” she warned.

Kurama shook his head, “I only wish to keep him company.” She bowed and left.

Kurama moved to sit on the edge of the bed. “Not your lover?” Hiei asked.

“No, and our escape proves it. I am not your lover anymore, Hiei. I am your mate,” Kurama answered. “It seems as though we both care more than we were willing to admit. Your dragon allowed me to direct him to destroy Karasu. I could not have escaped without you, and once I knew you were there, I wouldn’t have wanted to.”

“He is dead?”

“Yes.”

“Hn.” Hiei stared at the wall. He didn’t move when he felt Kurama move to sit on the bed next to him until the redhead wrapped his arm around him. Then, he allowed himself to lean into his lover’s, no, his mate’s body. As they sat there silently, he remembered and allowed the redhead’s presence to soothe away what had happened in Karasu’s dungeon.

A/N: Done as a request for BlueUtopia, who made the request as I was leaving her place. I've been working on my original story for...too long, so I tooka short break and wrote it out because it was percolating and reached a point where I could...and I needed to know what it was like to finish something (and to prove to myself that I could still write the boys, too :D ).