As the Sun Sets

As the Sun Sets
A Sequel to Unforgettable Fire
by Crystal aka Firestarter

Hehe, this isn't that long since I only did it last night so, sorry if it isn't that good. Doing 'Unforgettable Fire' intrigued me a lot so I just had to make a sequel right away and came up with this one. Is this Shocon? Well, you could think whatever you want. *shrug* I guess it is if you want to think it... Whatever. Anyway, hope you guys enjoy! I did have fun writing it ^_^.

Warnings: A tiny drop of angst (not really a lot, just a teeny bit - almost not there, I say), Very Blatant YAOI, Shounen Ai, LIME, Odd pairing warning (yeah, like no one's used to me by now -_-;; ). So people, if you guys aren't into yaoi or lime or even shounen ai, get out! Got that? =P

And if you don't get what I meant by my citrusy words, it means that this fic gives hints and suggestions of two guys doing the horizontal mambo... again. ^_~

His eyes continued to stare at the ceiling of the small shack, eyes unblinking as if it had already encountered the death of its master though he was still very much alive. The moment was a quiet one as his mind tried to process the emotions that he had encountered this day - frightening and at the same time warm and bitter as well. He had encountered his dream today but as all other dreams that he had lived through, it was not what he truly expected as it came to an end just like the others had. There had been no salvation at the helm, just a figure of his past collecting the remains of what was left of him.

He sat up slowly, searching the bright room where his body was left, now covered with white sheets that were ironically there to help purify his sins for the day. He had seduced...? Was that another new sin of his' that was added into the thick book that contained all his crimes in this lifetime? Hell was waiting, that he knew but he was well aware that he deserved it; even welcomed it. Why? Perhaps it was because...

He could only stare at his surroundings, now bathed in gold as the light poured through large open windows, the afternoon nearly coming to an end. And there, near the light that came from the sun, an old friend stood with his back facing him, holding on to a clear glass that contained a golden liquid - sake, if he was not mistaken.

"You're awake." Shigure muttered, soft and without emotion, the statement obviously unimportant to him as he had always been a man of few words, needing only to speak the things that he deemed important. Which of course intensified his two earlier statements a while ago.

Hiei frowned. In his mind, he could hear the words again, hard and with hints of amusement - perhaps even disgust mixed somewhere. Shigure was a man who only gave him truth. As what was expected of him.

'You've gone low.'

'I saw everything.'

He lowered his head, suddenly wanting to be away from the man once again. Shame burned through with an unexplained intensity, his cheeks aflame, his vulnerability showing especially now while he was with the only person who knew everything about him. He also desired to ask his own questions, find out why his old friend was here with him right now, in this room, alone with him. He lifted his head and his tone was soft. "Shigure, you're in the Ningenkai."

"Yes." Shigure responded, pausing for a long time and just staring at the golden sky in front of him, seeing the lands below the mountain where this shack was located. He sipped his sake for a few seconds before placing it on the window sill and breathing the fresh mountain air. "As you are." He didn't look back but it was obvious in his tone that a smirk now graced his features. "I know you've found her."

Hiei just focussed on Shigure's strong back. "I've kept my word. Is it that which made you come to me? Had you thought that I would break the promise?"

Shigure shook his head with minimal movements, standing as still as he had since he had placed Hiei on the bed of this room. The boy had fallen asleep in his arms when he took him here, perhaps exhaustion taking over his lithe form. "It is not that but something of greater importance."

"Hn... What is it?"

There was a brief moment of silence, a wind just passing through, Shigure's tied black hair flying as the sheets on Hiei's bed dared the young demon's bare form to show. And then, Shigure turned, eyes intense, one word coming out of his lips. "You."

Hiei locked his eyes with the man's. "What is it that you want of me?"

Shigure cocked his head a bit then turned away again, arms folded on his chest, eyes going from the ruby eyes to a point in the sky where a white bird and a piece of the heavens intertwined. He could almost smile if he only remembered how to do so. This world was simple but Hiei was not - that was the most easy answer to Hiei's query. "You are not born of this world. What is born demon must die a demon."

"You speak of death...?" His voice did not hold emotion, not wanting weakness to show but inside, he was surprised that even now when he and Shigure were no longer together, the man could still read him so easily.

"I saw it in your eyes." Shigure spoke. "When you looked into me, you desired me to end it for you."

"Then you've only seen it recently." He breathed one breath, leaning on the wall near his back, feeling secure enough to be this vulnerable in the man's presence. If Shigure decides to hurt him, he could easily show him how much he'd improved. If death was near, he'd welcome it. "What about before, when you had first began to look at me once again?"

"You're very perseptive." Shigure snorted softly but it was with a twinge of amusement. "That's why I like you."

"You were never one to change topics. Don't avoid the subject, Shigure." Hiei snorted as well, but his' was more of annoyance - an emotion he allowed himself to express in the presence of the man just because there was trust and truthfulness that accompanied their friendship.

Shigure smirked. "Can't a man be allowed to praise the fine qualities of the young boy that he raised?"

He frowned. "You did not raise me, Shigure."

"Did I not?" the older youkai challenged. "I taught you the ways of the sword. In them are values and techniques that involve morality and perspective. In some ways, you've acquired my qualities, child."

"Child..." He scowled. "You still call me that until now?"

"That's because you are still a child, my little quicksilver."

"Your little quicksilver..." He stiffened. "I am not yours any longer. I resent the name..."

"It's so easy for me to read you. Though others see you as they look at a puzzle, you are still below me. I am still superior."

"Are you here to boast your skills? The question is yet to be answered."

"Ah. Still in a rush, are you, Hiei?" he asked. "You've always been in a hurry, wanting to find your sister quickly as well as the other two things that you deemed were the most important in your life. Even your feet are quick, flying shadow."

"You're stalling."

"Am I?" He turned around and paced slowly towards the bed, steps slow but eyes predatory, like a beast stalking its prey. He sat down next to Hiei's slender form, looking the abandoned Koorime in the eye, smirk gracing his face once again.

"Tell me the truth. Don't beat around the bush." Hiei retorted evenly, gaze never failing to drop under such intense scrutinizing eyes.

"Hn." His smirk became wider, watching Hiei's half-covered body with an expression born of restraint. "I came to invite you to join my army. Mukuro had already given you her orb of invitation but I don't want you to join through battle. I want you to join me."

"And why would you need me?" he questioned.

"I need you because I don't want you to achieve the peace that you have been aching for through the death of a warrior. I know you want an honorable death but I believe it is not your time yet."

"Shigure..." He had yet to figure out why every single detail that defined him was known to the strange man in front of him. He did not want commitment for the last one had just gone to its end and the reasons he'd ached for to continue on had failed miserably to convince him that life can be beautiful. "I can not."

"You answer so easily. I did too but I was convinced."

"No." Hiei shook his head. "I don't believe that the man known as Shigure could be easily convinced to change his perspectives. It is nearly impossible."

Shigure smirked once more, looking at inviting small lips as if trying to provoke Hiei into reacting with haste. "You give me too much credit, boy. But you are right, I'm only there to know where I truly stand - I still desire death somehow. I was given a chance to spare my journey towards my rest, if only for a while. Now, I can truly stand in front of a crossroad and choose the direction that I will take. Life or death. I'm inviting you to do the same."

"My stand is clear. I've only chosen the path of darkness and death. You can not convince me to change *my* perspective. Crossroads can not bother my descent to hell."

He snorted, standing up and going back towards the window. "You are as stubborn as ever." Shigure picked up his glass of sake once again and sipped until it was dry, sun shining on his eyes, body still in control despite the temptations that Hiei's young sexuality always presented. He stared at a flock of flying white birds off in the distance, seeing the sun nearly setting. "Hiei, come here."

He looked up in surprise then slowly did so, wrapping a white sheet around his small body. He moved to stand beside Shigure's tall and muscled frame, eyes following the man's. In that moment, he saw the sun setting, his life ending, peace coming, and hell giving him the penance and persecution that he deserved. He snorted. "Hn."

"Is it bothering you?" Shigure asked softly. "The sunset, I meant."

Hiei looked up at the man's face. "Why should it? It's nothing more than a piece of a day."

"A piece of a day that each one of us lives." Shigure muttered silently. "Each of us have lives. Have you lived, Hiei?"

Lived? He did...in a few brief moments of his life. In his mind, he recalled meeting his twin for the first time as well as saving her from death... Then... Then those haunting brown orbs that looked back at him with trust and friendship. Yusuke... The moments of passion and pain that occured just hours ago came back to his mind, causing him to sigh inwardly, hearing his heart's silent scream of protest to stop the visions and the emotions that came with them.

"Today, Hiei, with that boy, I could see that you have strong emotions for him." Shigure offered, knowing eyes that spoke of meaningful contact and the warmth of something more. "But he shared not what you felt."

He kept his silence for a long time, just staring at the seconds of the disappearance of the sun. And then he spoke. "That isn't of your concern."

"Is it not?" Shigure asked, voice challenging though still remaining neutral in some ways. "You had been a part of my life as I knew I had been to yours as well."

"You're flattering yourself too much." Hiei protested, not wanting to hear that in the past, he *had* been Shigure's.

Shigure smirked before reaching down to touch one of Hiei's bare shoulders, feeling the soft, smooth skin that many men had desired - that *he himself* desired. He glanced at the small demon before kneeling down to be in eye level with Hiei and pulling the sheets away. His arms encircled around a slender chest, touching pale soft skin. "You're so easy..."

Hiei just stared off in the distance, not knowing if he should continue on with Shigure's desires or not. *He* did not want it but if Shigure did... But then, he owed Shigure not any longer. Why should he act like the whore boy that he had become in the past? Why should he allow another man to touch him again? Brown eyes of another man looked at him again and the answer gazed at him through Shigure's eagerness. Because he needed to forget and because this was Shigure - not just another man. Shigure had always been honest about the feelings that he had for him - which made sex more meaningful than all other contacts from the others, perhaps even the one with Yusuke. With Shigure, he had been treated as a twisted parody of the man's son, a boy to be fucked but also to be sheltered and protected. And now, he offered salvation - had come to him to offer it when he was ready to die at any second since Yusuke's departure.

He was unresponsive as an adult's mouth descended upon his', tongue probing in, teasing his' into responding as he felt the touch of rough hands exploring his already bare body. Shigure had always been the type of man who knew what he wanted and right now, he proved that theory as large palms caressed his rear.

"Hm." Shigure looked at Hiei's dead eyes as he released Hiei's mouth, his hands still on the young demon's bottom. Surprisingly, he stood up after that and looked into the afternoon horizons once again, prompting Hiei to do the same. It seemed that the other boy had perhaps truly hit Hiei's heart hard earlier on. Shaking his head, he looked down at the face of Hiei which was looking up at him right now. A change of topics might be a very good distraction.

"Do you like sunsets, Hiei?"

Hiei finally looked away from Shigure's face and turned to the sun. A good distraction by Shigure - he welcomed it, thanked the man in silence for thinking to make an effort to change the mood... What did Shigure ask once again? Sunsets? Hiei snorted. Of all the things to be asked... "It depends."

"It depends on the day that you have lived?" Seeing Hiei's nod, he reached out to suddenly lift Hiei up from the floor and place him on the sill, holding the boy from his back, just like a father to a son. Hiei leaned on his broad chest and he welcomed it graciously, liking it. "Just like the setting of the sun, it can be comparable to the ending of a life. We are at a crossroads, boy - you and I. The lives that we had lived had been sinful and dark but sometime ago, I had chosen to look at one of the paths that lead to light. And that enchanted me somewhat for I could see the option of being with someone that I cared for - something to live by. To live for another. I had wanted you to see that path as well but you seem to be so attached to death, a very ironic thing for the brother of life."

Hn. Yukina was who he spoke about, wasn't that right? Shigure was always correct in his judgements, even on his ambitions and goals in his sorry excuse for a life. "There is nothing for me to live for anymore. I have already given life a lot of chances but it had always failed me. I want my salvation now and unfortunately - no, fortunately, my salvation resides in death."

"You are such a bitter child." Shigure couldn't help but frowning, remembering dark tales of anguish that was Hiei's life. "I want you to see something that I have seen."

"Maybe I've already lost my patience at trying. Maybe now, my journey has come to an end." he whispered.

"Is it him?" Shigure suddenly asked. "Is it because of that boy? Was he the salvation that you had expected?"

"He was a friend..." Hiei muttered. "I had wanted... He..." He turned around with perfect balance on the sill and wrapped his slender arms around Shigure's neck. "I don't like sunsets."

Shigure returned the gesture, strong arms around Hiei's form. "Me neither." He stroked Hiei's hair, easily carrying him like he would an infant, eyes glaring at the fading sun as if that caused all the young boy's pain in life. "But you don't have to live your life giving up when you see the fading light. Why not live through the night and face tomorrow?"

"You make it sound so simple..." Hiei whispered into the man's ears.

"It can be." he just responded, his neutral voice now with the gentle tones that he only used on Hiei. "You don't have to be alone..."

"Your enticing skills aren't that well." Hiei whispered as he nuzzled Shigure's throat. Somehow, he liked this now as he was reunited with the only man that had ever cared for him - well, who was more than a bed partner and a friend and a sick parody of a father. Shigure had always had an air of something he had yet to comprehend - something that drew them together.

Shigure shook his head as his hands wandered around Hiei's back and legs. "Yours had always been well."

"But I could give you points for your restraint. That part of you is flawless." Hiei grinned, gasping as a finger entered him even without lubrication. "You monster..."

"Glad that you still recognize me." Shigure just smirked, losing all control and finally letting himself go. In the next moment, he pinned Hiei to the bed and quickly ridded himself of his garments, kissing and licking and tasting the boy that he'd missed so much in the few years that he had been alone. Sex was fast on that one occassion, Hiei impaled and stroked and ridden as pleasure was exchanged, two old friends getting to know each other once again.

Hiei panted within the next hour, feeling a new soreness on his body once again and smiling at the coincidence of experiencing the mad thrusts of two lovers this day. This time though, a heated strong body remained by his side, big powerful arms around him as he lay on top of Shigure's large body after the man had turned them over earlier on, just after the Koorime boy was ravished. He stared at the ceiling, sated and panting, wanting to know why he had let Shigure use him tonight.

Shigure grinned his contentment at the pleasure he had taken. He had truly missed this - had truly missed Hiei's presence - both body and soul. And now, as he held on possesively to his boy lover, he knew that he was so sure about the next few words that were about to leave his lips. "Hiei..."

"Uhn." Hiei tilted his head to the side a bit so that his head could be burried into the curve of one of the man's shoulders.

"I'll give you what you need." he whipered, giving Hiei a close mouthed kiss on his slender neck. "What he won't give you..."

Hiei paused all other thoughts. "What did you say?"

"I've been watching you a long time, Hiei..." He turned Hiei's form so that their eyes could look at each other. "You love him so much but though he's become a demon, he is still human in more ways than one. And that means that he will be tied down to his woman for many more years to come." He kissed Hiei on the lips for a brief moment before speaking once again. "I want to spend my last years with you."

Hiei gasped, hearing the words of affection that no one had spoken to him before. Was he hearing correctly? Had Shigure just invited him to share their lives together even for a few years? "Shigure..." He absolutely did not know what to respond to that. He'd never expected anyone to say such words to him even if he'd somehow had dreams of it with Yusuke before. This time as the surgeon who had implanted his third eye asked *him*, he was stunned, blown away and unable to talk. A thought entered his mind, absurd perhaps but unwilling to leave as it pounded through his skull with wild mental vibration, words of query echoing again and again and again...

"Do you love me?"

Shigure suddenly gave him a smile - a rare one that he had never seen before. "Does it matter?"

Hiei snorted with a little smile of his own and burried his face on his partner's throat, feeling something that made his core thrum with more emotion. His small body clung on more tightly to Shigure's, little legs wrapped around the man's waist. He answered with a voice soft but truthful, his smile never fading.

"No. I guess it doesn't."

Disclaimers apply.

Sequel: Grave of the Fireflies
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