Lullaby

Hiei's deep garnet eyes opened slowly, blinking back the fog that follows deep slumber. He sighed softly as his mate nuzzled into the back of his neck still blissfully lost in the land of dreams. Her arm rested across his chest and sometime during the night he'd tucked her small hand between himself and the pillow, preferring the soft warmth and scent of her skin to the cool, stiff fabric.

For a moment he laid completely still, crimson eyes appearing focused on silvery wisps of curtains as they danced in the warm summer breeze, waiting…

There it was again!

The smallest of sounds that had first disturbed his sleep, only heard at all because of the silence of the night. A whisper of movement from down the hall.

She was stirring but not awake yet. If he hurried he could make it.

Carefully he slipped out of his mate's arms, freezing when he felt her move, relaxing when her breathing patterns remained deep and even. He would have liked to take a moment to admire his sleeping partner, her skin pale and milky, soft blue hair spilling over her shoulders and shimmering in the moonlight. To take a moment to reinforce an image he still sometimes doubted was real.

But she had been losing a significant amount of sleep lately, and was going to make sure she made up for it.

With a silent displacement of air the fire demon was gone, the ruffled sheets to the left of the bed the only sign that he had been there.

Silent as the predator he was, Hiei halted at the side of a sturdy mahogany crib, stained with a dark cherry wood finish. The smallest of smiles graced his lips as he gazed lovingly at the tiny bundle illuminated by the soft moonlight.

His little girl's bright ruby eyes, much lighter than his deep garnet, sparkled as she let out a soft cooing sound, somewhere between a sigh and giggle. She squirmed and wiggled playfully, reaching out her tiny hands to her father.

A low chuckle escaped the usually reserved demon's lips as lifted his daughter from her crib. "Restless are you?" he asked lowly, placing a soft kiss amid her fine sapphire strands.

Botan had a lovely voice, high and windy, perfect for lulling a baby to sleep. Even the cold fire demon was soothed by the soft notes that graced his ears every night as she did just that. His own deep tones, however, weren't quite made for such a task, more suited to lowly uttering death threats and insults.

Closing his eyes, he held his daughter against his heart. The growl started deep in his chest, slow soothing vibrations trembling across his body as it rose in his throat. Low purrs escaped his barely parted lips, so different from the violent, feral snarl of warning or anger.

He felt his child relax and cuddle against his chest as he continued his dark melody, the rough, comforting sound quiet even against the silence of the night.

Standing silently in the doorway, Botan smiled sweetly, amethyst pools flooded with happy tears as she watched the Demon's Lullaby.