Sandstorms IV



Hiei's brow furrowed with worry. < That baka! How could he just run off 
like that? > He stopped a moment to rub his hand against the place Kurama 
was touching earlier. He could still feel it's tingle all the way into 
the marrow of his bones.< Kurama where did you go? > He opened the tent 
flap wider and stepped out into the blinding sunlight. Hiei squinted as 
the rays fell heavily against his back. < How could Kurama stand to go 
back out there in the sun? > He stood there waiting til the sky hit dusk 
and the caravan started to coming to life. The slaves who worked the 
caravan came out of there tents in groups. They shambled toward their 
stations as if dreading the night ahead. Hiei grimaced as he saw the 
shorn of ears of the children, just beginning to heal and still ragged 
at the ends. < He's still up to his old game. > Hiei thought sadly,
< Well, there's nothing I can do about it. I better find Kurama. > 
He looked up at the sky as the moon broke away from the clouds, shinning 
almost as brightly as the sun.< It's silver. Just like that kitsune's 
hair. > Suddenly, he froze. < Kurama shouldn't be out alone! > Hiei 
cursed himself for his stupidity, the fleshy face of the caravan owner 
popping up in his mind.< I wouldn't trust him as far as I could throw 
him. Especially not with Kurama! > He trembled at the thought of him 
playing one of his games with his kitsune. Damn him! 

"Yushi." 


***********************************************
" Hiei-sama." 

Hiei turned around, his hand halfway to his katana when he froze. It was 
one of Yushi's slaves, a little girl, trembling with fatigue. She looked 
up at him in earnest, all the while trying to shuffle the load of rocks 
on her back." Hiei-sama, Lord Yushi requests your presence." 

"Hn," Hiei replied,< Speak of the devil. >" Do I have to go? " 

" Well," She paled as she felt some of the rocks fall out her pack. Hiei 
swiftly scooped them up and handed them to her. She took a deep breath 
and glanced around to see if anyone saw, her smile wavering at the edges 
as she saw someone had." I have to leave quickly, but he told me to tell 
you that he has somewhere there who you know quite well." 

Hiei clenched his katana hard as he watched the girl stumble away, her 
ears flinching at the wind.< Why do you have Kurama, Yushi? Are you 
trying to get to me? > 

Hiei reluctantly let go of his katana as he felt it begin to buckle 
under the pressure of his hand. 

" Well, it worked." 


***********************************************

Hiei hurriedly pushed past the guards and into the tent. A thousand 
different aromas assailed his nostrils and blinked at the brightly 
colored cloths that littered the room. In the middle of this array 
lay Yushi, an empty bottle, and Kurama's bright red hair. 

" Kurama!" 

Kurama peeked his head up from under the piles of cloth and smiled. 
" Hey, Hiei-chan! Join the party!" , waving his bottle for emphasis. 

Hiei looked him over quickly, seeing no injuries, and then turned to 
look at the other side of the room, where Yushi was sitting with a 
champagne glass in hand, smirking up a storm. 

" Hiei-chan. How....cute." 

Hiei bristled with anger and reached for his katana only to find that 
it was gone. He turned around in anger only to see Kurama on the other 
side of the room fingering it absently. 

" Now Hiei. You know we can't play here," Yushi said admonishingly," 
Why, what would little Kurama-chan say? Hm?" 

" I don't want any of your crap! Now,what's the real reason you called 
me here?" 

" Tsk tsk tsk." Yushi got up slowly, his fleshy jowls glinted in the 
moonlight as he walked past the tents opening to stand in front of Hiei. 
Hiei looked up at his menacing hieght, cursing his own short stature.
< How are you supposed to look tough when you're three feet shorter 
than the other person? > 

" I have arranged for your living arrangements. You will pay me later.
My price." 

Hiei nodded reluctantly. 

" Good." Yushi took out a cigar from his pocket and slowly took a puff,
" Here's how it's going to be. Hiei, you will live on the..outskirts of 
my territory. We wouldn't want any trouble would we? Now then, Kurama 
will live in the center." Yushi smiled," Right by my tent! I know how 
you like him protected and I thought I'd do you a favor. That's all." 

Hiei just stared at Yushi.< He wouldn't dare! He wouldn't dare touch my 
fox! > 

" Yushi..." 

" That'll be all! Would you rather see you friend die out in the sun?" 

Silence 

" I thought not," He exhaled a puff of smoke which land on Hiei's head," 
A slave will show you to your tent. I'll show Kurama to his." 

Hiei followed his gaze as it landed on the now sleeping kitsune, which 
was nestled in the piles of cloth, snoring soundly. 

< Damn him! > Hiei's gaze hardened as he saw the possesive glint in 
Yushi's eyes. 

" You'll be going now. Make haste." 

Hiei glared at Yushi with hatred as he slowly walked toward the exit. 

" Hiei! Where are you going?" 

Hiei looked up to see Kurama rubbing his face with one hand and clutching 
his hair with the other.< That stuff Botan gave him must've done something
to him bad. > 

" I have to leave," Hiei hesitated, sparing a glance in Yushi's direction,
" Kurama... take care of yourself, alright? And watch your back." 

Kurama smiled," You know I can take care of myself Hiei." Kurama drifts 
back to sleep, the sake dragging him back into unconsiousness. 

" Don't worrying Hiei. I'll take good care of Kurama." 

Hiei twists around to see Yushi staring at him with a manic glee in his 
eye. He slowly headed toward the door. All the while, his eyes on 
Kurama's sleeping form, full of worry, anger, and regret. 

To Be Continued...