a/n: This is the original version, not a second chapter! Just in case anyone wants to read the original to see what's changed... which is basically the whole story!

Midnight Reassurances

Throwing a glance over his shoulder to assure himself that no one else was in the dim corridor with him, Hiei opened the door to the hotel room he shared with Kurama and slipped inside quietly. Moonlight drifted in through the open window, illuminating the bed where the kitsune lay sleeping. Hiei stepped closer, careful not to wake the pale half-youko buried among the blankets. The smell of roses that accompanied Kurama wherever he went was faint, overwhelmed by the scent of medicinal herbs and the metallic tang of blood.

Images of the kitsune's battle flashed before his eyes, assaulting his mind with a barrage of blood and bruises. Iie, the fire demon thought vehemently. That wasn't a battle. It came close to being a slaughtering. He looked down as his koibito's battered form. Too close. Kurama had barely survived, while his opponent received only a scattering of punches from Yusuke. But, the koorime had remedied that. The fighter's blood still lingered on the blade of his katana, though his body had already been incinerated.

Bakken's death had been slow, but not slow enough.

Setting his katana and cloak on a nearby chair, Hiei stood next to Kurama's bed and examined the kitsune's wounds. Other than an extreme loss of youki, Hiei's Jagan could detect no severe injuries. Numerous lacerations and bruises were scattered over the half-youko's body, though none were serious to merit his immediate concern.

It wasn't an emotion Hiei was forced to deal with often, and he didn't like it. He had been terrified when team Masho's third fighter had nearly killed Kurama, and if it hadn't been for the sorceress Ruka's barrier, he would have incinerated the entire stadium with his Kokuryuha in order to protect his koi.

A slight breeze blew in through the window, ruffling the Kurama's red hair. Hiei reached out to brush the silky strands away from the sleeping kitsune's face, careful not to wake him; however, Kurama's wide green eyes blinked sleepily before he smiled up at the fire demon.

"Konnichiwa, Hiei," he murmured, stretching languidly. The blankets dropped from around his shoulders, revealing the many bloodstained bandages on his bare chest and on the side of his face. He winced, then sat up stiffly and sidled over to make a place for Hiei on the bed. "I was beginning to think you weren't coming back tonight."

Slender fingers slipped through Hiei's, and the fire demon squeezed them gently. "I had business to take care of," he offered as an explanation, knowing that it wouldn't satisfy the fox and yet wanting him to know that he'd been avenged.

Kurama studied him intently, the lingering effects of sleep softening his features and making him look even more fragile. Hiei was forced to look away, for he was suddenly unable to meet his koibito's gaze. Unashamed of his deed yet knowing the ningen side of Kurama's heart wouldn't approve of it, the koorime didn't elaborate.

Kurama's voice drew Hiei's gaze back to his own. "You killed him," he said quietly.

The kitsune tugged his fingers free of Hiei's, and the fire demon let them go. He didn't regret murdering Bakken, only the fact that he hadn't been able to do it sooner. No one threatened those he held close and survived. "Hai."

Seconds passed, then minutes, and still Kurama did not speak. Hiei glanced up at him to see the kitsune's hands gripping the blankets tightly, knuckles white, and tears glittering in the corners of his eyes. Alarmed, the koorime opened his mouth to ask what was wrong, but Kurama jerked his head up before he could speak.

"Shimpai desu," the redhead whispered, wide-eyed. "I didn't know what had happened. I thought the death plant was killing me. Yusuke –it wasn't until after the round that I even knew what had happened. I, I was only half-conscious through the fight; I thought it was the death plant I'd sown in my blood that was causing the pain."

Silence hung in the air between them, a comforting support that both leaned on until the other was ready to speak. Kurama was the first to break the silence, sniffing softly and leaning forward until his head was resting against Hiei's shoulder. The fire demon wrapped his arms tightly around the redhead, anger rising in him so fiercely that he almost regretted killing Bakken because of the fact that he wasn't able to throttle him now.

Almost as if reading his thoughts, the half-youko pulled back enough to wipe his eyes and make a half-hearted attempt at a smile. "Gomen, Hiei. I didn't intend to-"

"Don't apologize," the koorime interjected firmly.

A small smile tugged at Kurama's lips, this one heartfelt. When he leaned down toward the fire demon again, it wasn't to hide his tears, but to brush his lips against Hiei's. "Arigato, itooshi," he murmured.

Hiei tugged him down to the bed and watched him settle cautiously against the pillows before slipping his arm around his waist. "Forget him, Kurama. He is no longer worth your time." He was silent for a moment, then added quietly, "He never was."

Kurama kissed his shoulder, smirking impishly. "Hai. But, I assure you, you are infinitely more worthwhile."

-x-

a/n: If there is anything in this version you like that's not in the new one, let me know, and the next time I revise it I'll try to add it back in.