What can I say? I was nagged again ^_^ No, I’m kidding. Well, I’m NOT kidding, but the nagging wasn’t the only thing to contribute to this fic. I’ve wanted to write one for this couple for awhile but didn’t have a plot. Plus, let’s be honest. These guys are H-O-T. They’re the most plausible yaoi couple (at least for me) in Flame of Recca (sure, my favorite yaoi pairing is Mikagami/Recca, but this is a great pair, too) Ok...Bonnie, since you’re such a Kurei fan, this fic is for you. Keep in mind that I’ve never written In Character Kurei and Raiha before, Minna-san ^^;;; Enjoy anyway! There are spoilers for up to episode 31 of Flame of Recca in this story.

This fic sucks...it really does, so please give me C&C!! PLEASE!!!!!!!!! Oh yeah...this is a yaoi lemon fic which, in simple terms, means male/male sex. If you're underaged or squeamish then please sidetrack this fic!! Don't get mad, YYH fans!! I stole part of this from episode 29 ^^;;;; Yeek! I had just gotten the episode when I wrote this fic!!

Of Crimson Blood
by Christina Ortega

Kurei rubbed his unmasked chin thoughtfully as he watched the feedback from Team Hokage’s fight against Uruha Oto...otherwise known as the team of Neon, one of his Jusshin Shu, that had taken place a few hours earlier. Aki’s loss to Ishijima Domon had noticeably surprised him. Sure, Aki’s Itadama could not fool the strong-minded, but Kurei hadn’t been sure that Domon fit into that category.

However, the most interesting event of the round by far was the second match...Miki and Neon versus Mikagami Tokiya and Hanabishi Recca. Neon and Miki were most productive in a fight when they worked together, and while they had lost to the Hokage duo the two had put up a valiant effort and would have defeated them had it not been for Domon’s interference.

Kurei would have preferred to see Recca and Koganei fighting in that battle, but he supposed that since the little runt was sick Mikagami Tokiya had been the next best choice. Kurei had been able to test Neon’s loyalty to him which she had proven one-hundred times more than he had expected by attempting to kill Recca and Tokiya along with herself and everyone else in the arena for his sake. The plan had failed, but Kurei found himself appreciating her efforts.

Besides, he had also gotten to survey his little brother’s skills. Not only had Recca attained Madoka, the sixth flame dragon, but he had shown the ability to use the powers of two ryu at the same time as he had proved with Saiha and Nadare. Kurei found himself smiling. His little brother could be so cute. He couldn’t wait to fight him in the final round of the Ura Buto Satsujin.

The Flame Master sighed thoughtfully. While Kurei still believed that it had been a good idea to split the Uruha for this tournament, things were starting to get out of hand. He was having a hard time keeping track of who had betrayed him and who was still on his side...not to mention that many of his best assassins were either losing their elemental weapons or dying.

There were quite a few Jusshin Shu members left in the tournament; among them Jisho, Magensha and Gashakura who were co-leading the Uruha Ma team, everyone on his team otherwise known as Uruha Kurenai, and, of course, Raiha. That’s when he remembered...Raiha was fighting at that moment in the Killer’s Dome. Ejecting the tape of Hokage’s match, Kurei switched the screen to the fight that was currently in progress. After all, Raiha was one of the few members of the Jusshin Shu that had yet to show any signs of betrayal against him. Followers like this, Kurei knew, he prized. It was quite hard to find good killers these days. How ironic. He smirked to himself.

“Fighters, take your positions,” Demi, who was the appointed ref of this round, called authoritatively, her usually clumsy antics having dissipated now that she was working. “Round three, final match! Fighters, get set! Hajime!” He watched as the last match began between Raiha and his current opponent, a man Kurei assumed to be the leader of one of the only non-Uruha groups to advance in the tournament. It seemed that most of the teams still in competition were Uruha teams. After all, that was to be expected. This group was rare.

Watching the burly olive-skinned man charge, a small smile appeared on Kurei’s face as he watched Raiha remain completely still, his eyes closed as he allowed his opponent to close in before stepping out of the way and letting the unsuspecting warrior run past him with confusion. Raiha was a person who never became excited during a fight no matter how well or badly it was turning out. Mikagami, in a way, was a lot like his follower except that smiles were not uncommon for the member of the Jusshin Shu. Kurei allowed himself a small smile at this thought. How odd to find a killer who had done everything in his power to maintain human qualities and emotions. Emotions...it was a word that Kurei should have pushed from his mind long ago, and yet he had never been able to. To remember his true self was one of the only ways that he could silently rebel against Mori Kouran until the time was right to leave his services.

There was a sudden pause in the fighting, and the Flame Master thought he heard some soft conversing going on between Raiha and his rather large opponent...and then something odd happened. With a forlorn expression his pale face, Raiha put his hands behind his back and linked them much to his opponent’s satisfaction. Kurei’s eyes widened in shock as the man raised his huge fist and crashed against Raiha’s cheekbone. The Raijin Master stumbled backwards but remained on his feet, dabbing at is left eye cautiously. <What the hell is he doing!? This match shouldn’t be any problem for Raiha! Why did he give him that free punch!?>

It turned out not to be one free punch but several, and Kurei, along with the rest of the crowd, watched in amazement as the large warrior continued his assault, kicking and punching wherever he pleased. Raiha’s shoulder-length blue hair fell over his eyes as he knelt, a blow to the abdomen making him lose the air in his lungs. “Tsuyoku is continuing his relentless assault yet Raiha shows no signs of resistance! Just what is going on here!?” Demi called both excitedly and with puzzlement. The crowd cheered with an almost frightening eagerness for bloodshed and death as Raiha shakily stood to his feet, blood trickling like tears from his eyes which had not been spared from Tsuyoku’s attack. Kurei gaped in horror. What the hell was going on!?

Keeping intent eyes on his Jusshin Shu Member, Kurei took a staggering step back as Raiha suddenly turned from the fight and gazed directly towards the monitors, and the Flame Master watched with alarm as a sad smile graced his lips before Tsuyoku grabbed his hair and yanked hard, a muffled groan emitting from the Raijin Master as he let his assault continue without protest.

<That look...what was that look?> Kurei wondered, his mind running through his possible options. He could let Raiha work everything out himself, but if this kept up much longer he could die without the Flame Master ever understanding why, or he could go find out what this was all about. The second option was looking better and better to him as Tsuyoku pulled out a dagger

Retrieving his mask from a nearby coffee table, Kurei secured it over his mutilated face before leaving the room lit only by the blue viewing monitors showing the fight in progress. He jogged down the hallway leading from his boxed-in viewing area to the stands. In his haste, he had to wrack his brain in orderr to remember which staircase led to the fighters’ area.

Demi was at a loss for words. Throughout the previous matches of the Ura Buto Satsujin Raiha had proven himself to be a remarkable fighter, and this Tsuyoku guy wasn’t even an Uruha member let alone a Jusshin Shu. Even if Raiha lost this match, technically he would still move on since had defeated Tsuyoku’s other teammate, but if he was killed he would forfeit the right to move on, and the win would go to Tsuyoku’s team despite the number of wins and losses.
Raiha kept his hopeless eyes trained on Tsuyoku as he rushed in for his final charge, knife in hand. Shit, this was embarrassing...to be killed in the third round? He was such a disgrace to Kurei-sama. <But Tsuyoku threatened...I can't just let...> The Raijin Master sighed softly to himself. If he was to lose his life now, at least he could die with the knowledge that, for the moment, Kurei was safe. As long as he was all right nothing else mattered.

That’s when he heard the deep call from behind him. “Hora, Raiha, why are you refusing to fight back!? Are you a traitor to me!?”

“Kurei-sama!” Raiha turned back with shock only to see his leader and friend, or at least he believed the Flame Master to be so, standing on his side of the ring with a look of intense anger and confusion in his dark eyes. <He's all right!? So...that bastard was lying to me!?> Facing Tsuyoku who was almost upon him now with a sudden burst of rage, Raiha reached for the katana secured on his back and, in a swift motion, pulled the weapon from its sheath.
The Killer’s Dome was plunged into silence. Demi blinked and gazed at both fighters whose lips were pulled back in threatening snarls, all the while wondering just what had happened. The two had moved too quickly for her to see what had happened. Kurei could hear the faint dripping of something...blood...and squinted, noticing the crimson liquid trickling off of Raiha’s katana. <So, he isn't a traitor? That was close...to think that I was actually worried about him! I-->

The Flame Master's thoughts were abruptly halted when both warriors fell. A chill ran down Kurei's spine, and he ran up the cracking stone steps leading to the ring. Kurei noticed for the first time at that moment that Tsuyoku’s dagger had been plunged into Raiha’s left shoulder making a dull burgundy stain appear on his garments. He found his mouth opening and closing, willing himself to scream at his follower to stand up unless he wanted to be killed personally by him, and yet no words would emerge. Why was he suddenly feeling so cold...and why the hell wasn't Raiha standing!? Demi solemnly raised her hand in the air. “Both fighters are down. I’ll begin the countdown. One...two...three...”

Curses and other shouts emitted from the crowd and, swallowing the overwhelming urge to shut them up, Kurei kept his eyes fixed on his Jusshin Shu Member and struggled to understand the stirring within him. Raiha was a pawn...a follower that he could use however he pleased, and yet he was so much more than that. The Raijin Master was closer to him than any of the Jusshin Shu members were. Besides, no matter what the circumstance, Raiha was always behind him as back up and was willing to listen to him no matter how strongly Mori Kouran forbid any show of emotions.

Hell, he was the closest thing Kurei had ever had to a friend. <People with no emotions can't have friends...or anything else for that matter> He reminded himself bitterly, which made him wonder just what he had done to deserve such a loyal servant and companion. He sure as hell hadn't shown the Raijin Master much kindness, and yet he found Raiha always watching him with that same smile. That same expression full of compassion and understanding. Why? Why did a person like him deserve someone like him?

“Seven...eight...” There was a shuffling on the ground, and Kurei watched with widened eyes as Raiha shakily sat up, his left arm twitching as he yanked the dagger from his shoulder, and he hissed in pain when standing to his feet. Kurei watched as the Raijin Master's right hand quickly clamped around his wound in an attempt to stop the bleeding, but this action only served to cause the stream of blood to beccome thicker, and his mouth dropped open with utter astonishment as he watched blood trickle down Raiha's left hand and drip onto the ground causing a small puddle to form on the stone floor of the ring. “Nine...ten...my decision, Tsuyoku is unable to continue. The winner of this match is Raiha. He will be moving to the next round.”

As Tsuyoku’s teammate limped up the steps to see if his fallen comrade was still alive, Kurei stepped into the ring and moved next to Raiha who was rocking back and forth tiredly, his eyes glazed over with pain. “Kurei-sama,” He mumbled weakly, forcing a faint grin that came out more like a grimace. “You’re all right. Yokatta ne.”

Kurei looked him over with a scrutinizing eye before wrapping his arm around Raiha’s waist and placing his injured fighter’s good arm around his shoulders and softly commanding Raiha to make them appear in the monitoring room. Despite his multiple wounds and obvious surprise at his leader's actions, the Raijin Master was still able to do this easily.

Reaching the empty room, Raiha wearily slipped out of Kurei’s grasp and fell to his knees, his right hand clenching his injury once again. “Kurei-sama, could you...glance under the cushion of your chair quickly?” At first, the Flame Master wasn’t going to oblige him, but he was finally overcome by curiosity and walked to his plush chair, lifting the bottom cushion up and glancing at the strange mechanical device on the bottom with shock. <What the hell?> “That Tsuyoku guy had the controller for the bomb and was threatening to push it if I didn’t let him torture me.” He grinned softly. “I hope Mikagami was watching that fight. After what happened to him during the second round, he would have gotten a kick out of it.”

<Ore no tame ni...? He allowed this harm to come upon him because of me!?> Kurei glanced at the cushion a moment longer before throwing the accursed floral patterned monstrosity outside of the room and prayed that it would explode on Tsuyoku’s head before glaring at Raiha who was looking up at him with an innocent smile on his face. Kneeling down in front of him, the Flame Master wiped the lines of Raiha’s blood tears away with a rough finger before raising his hand and sharply slapping him. The Raijin Master’s cheek turned a bright shade of red, and he winced before gazing at Kurei with utter confusion and hurt etched on his pale features. “That idiot would have killed you had I not gone down there, Baka Yarou!”
“Probably,” Raiha told him quietly as he kept his calm gaze on Kurei who was presently removing his iron mask, allowing his subordinate to see the hideous burn scar over his left eye. “Arigatou, Kurei-sama.”

“I’m asking for an explanation, not appreciation or an apology,” Kurei muttered in reply, his narrowed eyes searching his follower’s face. Finally, he reached out and ripped off Raiha’s shirt, gazing at the deep gushing wound on his shoulder. “Only you would let something like this happen.”

Lowering his head, Raiha let a few strands of his blue hair fall onto his bruised cheeks as a blush of embarrasment heated his face. “I’m part of your Jusshin Shu, Kurei-sama,” He began with caution, hoping desperately that he was saying the right thing. “One of my responsibilities is to protect you without care of my own life.”

Kurei sighed softly. Both Raiha and Neon had tried giving their lives for him that day. What was it worth? Once they had died, did the two really think that they would come back to life because of their good deeds? <Raiha didn't betray me. He truly cares about me...> <A person with no emotion does not know the meaning of the word "care.">

The Flame Master stood and walked to the wooden desk on the other side of the room, pulling from it gauze pads, bandages, and anti-infectant cream. Returning to Raiha’s side, Kurei slowly rubbed the cream onto the wound, doing his best to ignore the Raijin Master’s small whimper of pain.
As he began to wrap the still-bleeding cut, Kurei solemnly gazed at Raiha who was almost positive that he had seen a flicker of emotion in those eyes that were usually void of life. <Why is Kurei-sama staring at me like that? Is he still mad?...No...it's something else. I've never seen that expression on his face before.> “I was forced to help you today," Kurei began in a small voice, "...because it hurt me to watch from here and not be able to assist you.”

Wincing as Kurei tightly pulled the two ends of the bandage, Raiha smiled softly at his leader. <He cares about me...> <Baka! Kurei-sama doesn't care about anyone!! Besides, why would a person like me be worthy of his care and worry? He was probably just afraid of losing the Raijin.> “Arigatou, Kurei-sama. It’s nice to know that you hold such a high opinion of me--”

“Why?” Kurei asked suddenly, his dark eyes imploring.

Raiha blinked with confusion. <Why?> “Kurei-sama, I’ve devoted my life to your service. If you hold a high opinion of me then I assume I must be doing something right. Besides--” Once again, the Flame Master cut in with his normal monotone voice.

“You mean more to me than that.”

At this point, Raiha wondered if he was hearing things or if Kurei was sick. This didn’t sound like him at all. <You can always hope, right?> At his leader's sudden closeness, the Raijin Master attempted to move away as he began growing hard. <Iya!! I'm happy just being for Kurei-sama whenever he needs me!! There's no way I'm going to ruin the relationship between us because of my damned one-sided feelings!!> As a warm hand ran over his chest, Raiha took in a sharp breath, closing his eyes as Kurei chuckled. “Do you like it when I do that?”

“Kurei-sama, are you feeling all ri-ooooh...Kurei-sama...?” Raiha stared in shock at the Flame Master who was caressing his exposed upper body with a calmness that seemed to attest that they did this everyday of the week. He felt a small fiery spark emit from Kurei's index finger and touch his delicate nipple which immediately grew hard due to the strange sensation. <This is not real! This is not real!! Kurei-sama only puts up with me because he has to...he has no emotions, and if he did he'd hate me! I'm not worthy of him! Oh GOD that feels good!!> “Are you sick, Kurei-sama. I can get you--” His words were abruptly halted as Kurei’s lips gently touched his.

Taking advantage of Raiha’s lips being open with blatant shock, Kurei slipped is tongue inside and ran it along the roof of his mouth, somehow having expected the Raijin Master to taste this sweet. <My follower...the key word being "my." Mine. For now, all mine.> Running a hand through Raiha’s long smooth hair, Kurei flicked his tongue against his earlobe. “My father killed Kurenai right in front of me years ago, and I could do nothing to save her except turn her corpse into my flame.” As Raiha tensed in his arms, Kurei kissed his temple. “My mother died because I couldn’t protect her. Neon almost died today, and so did you. I’m tired of people dying for me.”

With these words, Kurei kissed Raiha’s throat tenderly before moving to his smooth chest, his tongue and lips exploring the defined muscles. “Do you think this scar makes me hideous, Raiha?”

Eyes widening at this, the Raijin Master shook his head quickly in denial. “Iya, Kurei-sama. I don’t think it...ah...it makes you look bad at all. In fact, I’m used to it by now. I--”

An index finger fell over his full lips, cutting off the Raijin Master's words and making him forget what he had been saying all together. “A yes or no answer would have been sufficient,” Kurei told him in a mocking voice, and Raiha was taken aback as the Flame Master suddenly began to laugh. “God, Raiha, you talk too much.” The foreign action made Raiha feel a bit more relaxed and, deciding to take a chance, he dabbed his tongue against Kurei’s finger, sucking on it eagerly as the Flame Master stuck the entire digit into his mouth. “Take off your pants.”

Raiha did as asked, and soon he was completely naked in front of Kurei who looked over his body appreciatively. <Firm...well-hung...I knew he would be.>

“For the battles you’ve been in you have surprisingly few scars besides those attained in the Ura Buto Satsujin.”

Watching as Kurei slowly undressed, Raiha found himself fully erect as he gazed at the Flame Master’s swelling length. <God, he's beautiful. This is NOT happening. Neon's going to come poor icy water over my head to wake me up in about two seconds...what the hell did I do to deserve this!?> Lying down as Kurei told him to, Raiha squirmed with pleasure as he felt the Flame Master’s tongue dab into his navel experimentally before moving downward.

Gazing at Raiha’s rapidly flushing face, Kurei grinned and ran a light finger over his follower’s inner thighs, his smile growing as he found a sensitive point that made Raiha shudder and groan with pleasure. He bent down and ran his tongue along this area, his cock swelling painfully as Raiha moaned his name in a pleading tone.

As his subordinate arched upwards hopefully, Kurei obliged him by taking his sex into his mouth, running his tongue along Raiha’s throbbing member in a circular motion. The Raijin Master whimpered his name causing Kurei to growl hungrily as he began to suck. The vibrations over his cock made Raiha tense as he reached for Kurei helplessly, the pain in his arm completely forgotten. “Kurei-sama, I’m going to-”

“Not yet,” Kurei mumbled as he quickly spread Raiha’s legs. Realizing that he didn’t have any lubricant, the Flame Master cursed before hoping that his subordinate would be able to handle the pain. He cautiously pushed his finger into Raiha’s tight warmth, and he moved it deeper before inserting another finger and stretching the hole, feeling his own hardness echoing Raiha’s yearning cries for release.

After inserting a third finger, Kurei felt that the preparations were enough and removed his digits before inserting his whole sex into Raiha who winced at the immediate contact. After another moment, however, Kurei had touched that sensitive spot making the Raijin master cry his name and tear and the ground with his nails. “Onegai! Take me, Kurei-sama!” <Oh God, oh God, OH GOD!!!>

Being encouraged by the shouts, Kurei began to thrust with more intensity, Raiha arching to meet him with shouts of pleasure. Kurei soon found himself calling the Raijin Master's name as he quickened his speed and Raiha continued his arches in rhythm.

Body glistening with sweat, Raiha shut his eyes and uttered one final cry before coming, the sticky white fluid coating both his stomach and Kurei’s. Feeling the quickly cooling presence on his bare skin, the Flame Master also tensed and released his seed into Raiha who moaned contentedly as Kurei collapsed on top of him.

Kurei took a panting breath before forcing his overexerted body to roll off of the Raijin Master. Lying next to him on the carpeted floor, the Flame Master touched his hair softly, kissing his cheek as a faint glimmer of worry filled his eyes. “Did I hurt you?”

“No, Kurei-sama,” Raiha murmured wearily, closing his eyes as Kurei continued to run his fingers over his long blue locks. “Thank you.”

“Stop thanking me for everything,” Kurei mumbled jokingly as he rolled onto his side and traced patterns over the Raijin Master’s neck. “Especially when I should be the one thanking you.”

Grabbing his red garments, Kurei eyed them thoughtfully before using the clothing to wipe both he and his lover off. He stood abruptly and helped Raiha to his feet, glancing at his watch through half-closed eyes. “I’m a bit tired. You?”

<And that's the end of that...> Raiha did his best to hide a tiny pout at his leader's words. He knew that the Flame Master didn't care about him. Sure, he was thankful for the opportunity to make his dreams come true, but now that it was over he found himself wanting more...he wanted Kurei to hold him in his arms and ease away all the fear and pain he felt on a daily basis. This would never happen, though. He would leave Kurei in a few seconds, and they would never discuss this brief moment again. <Please let time stop...please...> “H-hai, Kurei-sama,” The Raijin Master whispered, and while Kurei could hear the obvious disappointment in his voice, he couldn’t think of why Raiha would be upset.

The Flame Master finally shrugged this off. “Ok, let’s get out of here. The room next to this one is the bedroom where I have been sleeping the past few days. We can have some privacy in there. Besides, it would be good for you to rest that shoulder. As it is, you’re going to have a hell of a time fighting< tomorrow.” Kurei paused as he noticed how wide his follower’s eyes had gotten. “What’s wrong?”

A large grin all of a sudden appeared on Raiha’s face. “So...I’ll get to stay with you tonight?”

Kurei frowned at the question. Why did Raiha look so surprised? “Did you think I was going to throw you away like this had never happened?” When all he received in response was a sheepish shrug, Kurei groaned. “Raiha no Baka.” With these words, he grabbed the Raijin Master’s hand and pulled him into the next room.

Helping his injured subordinate into the queen-sized bed, Kurei too climbed under the burgundy comforter and immediately pulled his lover closer, resting his forehead against Raiha’s so that he could gaze with close proximity into those beautiful eyes filled with a radiating innocence.

Seeing the Raijin Master open his mouth to say something, Kurei cut him off with a soft kiss. “If you thank me for one more thing, I swear that you’re going to be gagged.”

“I don’t know, Kurei-sama...that might not be a bad idea,” Raiha murmured with a shrug, grinning triumphantly as he heard Kurei chuckle. Letting out a deep sigh, Raiha let his limp left hand rest on Kurei’s and opened an eye as the Flame Master draped his arm around his waist. Raiha gazed at his leader...(perhaps even his lover?)...as he slowly drifted off to sleep, his face suddenly becoming unbelievably cherubic, before closing his own eyes and letting Kurei’s soft breathing lull him into a peaceful slumber.

The End

OOC Kurei! ::gets hit by veggies:: I can’t write people without emotion which is why Heero is being such a pain in the ass in my GW fic!!!! Well, despite some character flaws, I hope this was all right. C&C onegai ::begs:: Ja ne, Minna-san ^o^

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