Disclaimer: I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho…It belongs to the creators and such.

Summary: When the consequences of the past catch up to you. Would you learn to accept them or would the regrets consume you? Set 10 years after Regretting Expectations. Yaoi Hiei & Kurama

The last tale in the series that has finally been named: Shiren no Jinsei Nendakiki (or Trials, act of being tested/hardship, of Life, lifespan, Chronicles)

Rated: 'M'

Life continues: Through No Fault of Your Own

Chapter 1

Kurama walked slowly down a forest trail, somewhere in the middle of the Makai. His senses were completely open, allowing him to feel the essence of the foliage all around him. As the fragrances filter through his nose, he paused at a particularly bountiful patch of flowers.

Kneeling down to inspect them, he sighed in thought. 'Ahh…The late spring, one of my favorite times.' Taking a deep breath and enjoying the smell, he heard in his mind.

'Mine as well.' Youko added.

Suddenly, he caught a flicker of movement out of the corner of his eye.

'Well.' The red head mused. His body betraying no outward signs as he slowly stood and continued at a leisurely pace down the path. Another flicker of movement occurred and a devilish grin started to creep up the side of his face.

'I believe someone is stalking us.' Youko also mused.

Kurama and Hiei had been sent to this part of the forest by Mukuro to find an informant. An informant that had been keeping track of Yomi's movements and a week ago that informant failed to report. So she sent Hiei, accompanied by Kurama, to find him.

The red head had not wanted to go, not wanting to get involved in something that dealt with Yomi. After the hell the fox had suffered at the hands of the old goat, along with his 'mistress', which ended in a showdown with Youko and thus causing the spirit yoko's return. He was not looking forward to finding out what the 'Lord' had been up to all these years. It has been over 10 years and Yomi had showed no signs of starting trouble, yet Mukuro wanted the former Lord watched and his every move documented. For what reasons, Kurama didn't know and didn't care, he was only interested in the here and now.

Ever since Hiei and Kurama had mated and marked each other, the two had become inseparable, though there were times they 'needed' to be apart. And both respected that need. Their bond has only grown stronger as the two learned what the 'mark' held in store for them, which it seemed they learned something new everyday.

Only after some persuading from the Lord, did Kurama agree to accompany his lover on this mission. The red head would always stay at the palace, waiting patiently as Hiei did his errands for Mukuro. Though the fire demon would ask the red head to accompany him, he always declined. This was Hiei's job and he did not want to interfere or distract from something important.

Now Kurama was glad he had come along, for the two could have some fun and it seemed the fire demon was going to be the one to start it. It had been quite awhile since the fox 'roamed free' in the Makai and he was going to let Youko out as well, for this was the spirit yoko's home turf after all.

Hiei landed silently on a branch, his heart racing as he watched his pray walk down the path. The quarry was almost in position. He had purposefully allowed himself to be noticed from behind his prey, to maneuver them to this spot.

'Come to me fox.' The black haired thought as he placed his hands on the branch and waited for Kurama to get beneath him. 'Just a few more yards.'

Suddenly vines appeared, wrapping around both of the fire demon's wrists, bringing them together.

"What the Hell!!" Hiei yelled as he found himself bound by the foliage.

Before the black haired could do anything, the vines yanked him off balance and he tumbled forward, to end up hanging by is arms, his body dangly directly in front of a smiling red head.

"Stalking me?" Kurama purred, leaning forward face to face he added. "I am afraid you will have to do better than that, Amai."

"Hn." Was all Hiei said, diverting his red eyes as a he blushed.

Finding the blush cute, Kurama cooed. "Maybe you need a little motivation." Pulling the black cloak aside, he reached his hand into the fire demon's pants, cupping him, before fondling gently. Hiei went rigid as the red head's other hand undid the belts holding the pants in place. Once the last belt came undone, Kurama yanked the fabric down around the thin ankles.

Leaning into the fire demon's ear, the red head whispered. "Now…prey is no fun unless it tries to run …wouldn't you agree?" With a quick kiss to the lips, the fox bolted off into the underbrush, disappearing from sight nearly instantly as the foliage moved for him. Hiei could hear the yoko chuckling in his head.

Shuddering from head to toe, the fire demon tried to bring the lingering sensations under control. 'Damn! It's prey alright.' Kurama had become more playful over the years and it made for one very happy koorime.

With a quick burst of flame, Hiei freed his wrists, allowing him to fall ungracefully to the ground, his legs not quite under control because of the bunched up fabric around his ankles. Pulling his pants up, he stuck his hands in his cloak, before sauntering after Kurama.

'And the hunter should always take his time, so as not to become the prey…again.' Hiei thought, cursing himself for being caught.

Almost a mile ahead of the koorime, Kurama came lightly to a stop, a thin sheen of sweat covering his body as he tried to control a chuckle.

'Do you think he took the bait?' Youko asked. If he were out, his tail would be twitching in excitement at the thrill of the hunt.

'I do not know…he should have been right behind me.' Kurama replied. He had masked his spirit energy, but knew their bond would lead the fire demon right to him, a consequence of the mark.

'I hope he has not stopped. Sulking just because his little trap did not work, I mean, it was lame, but….' Youko said, hoping to have some fun with the fire demon.

Suddenly, Kurama's sensitive ears heard the sounds of thrashing, followed by a weak cry, coming from somewhere off to his right.

'Someone is in trouble. Where is Hiei?' The red head called out in his mind as he ran towards the sound. He didn't project his energy incase there was foe ahead, for it would give him some element of surprise.

Moments later, Kurama came to a ledge overlooking a small pond about 40 feet down. In the middle of the water was a boy who appeared to be drowning, at least he thought it was a boy, but the size led him to believe it was a young child.

"Hmm, I wonder how he got there." The red head muttered as he watched the demon struggle with all his power.

Reaching in his hair, the red head pulled out a rose and flicked it into his whip, sending it streaking down into the water to wrap around the small frame. Bracing his legs, he pulled on the thorn less whip, but the small demon did not move, something seemed to be holding him.

"What the….?" Kurama breathed, his eyes opening wide. Bracing him self better, he tried again to pull the boy, but suddenly the whip was tugged hard from below. It was with such a tremendous might, that it was enough to pull him and a large chunk of the embankment into the pond.

As he fell, the red head righted himself and tried to study the boy. It was then that he noticed the figure was blurry and the water around him was a faint green color.

He cursed himself. 'Damn, I was a fool…a water element has made its home here, and I fell right in.'

'Think quickly Kurama, I will contact Hiei.' The spirit yoko said, already reaching out with his mind to contact the fire demon.

'SPLASH!'

Crashing several feet from the boy, the red head's breath was knocked out of him by the impact causing him to gasp in shock. Realizing he was being shoved to the bottom of the pond, he tried, but failed to keep his mouth from filling with the greenish water. Hearing Youko call out to Hiei, he managed to stay focused and followed the yoko's advice. Thinking quickly, he harnessed a large portion of his energy and twisting his body, plunged a hand into the muck along the bottom.

Hiei was still moseying along, a small, devious smile forming on his lips as his mind played scenarios of revenge. Suddenly the mark on the back of his neck flared then he heard Youko call his name in his mind right as he felt the red head's energy spike.

'Why is the fox pooling that much energy?' The black haired thought as the trees bowed from the force of his passing as he blurred faster than the eye.

'Well now that I am no longer on the bottom of the pond, how can I defeat this thing?' Kurama thought, taking deep breaths and treading water as he tried to locate the child. He was trying to ignore his stomach which was doing flips as the murky water churned in it.

A blur went past and green eyes watched as a fireball streaked into the center of the water, disintegrating it into steam and vapor droplets.

When everything cleared, Hiei stood at the bottom of a now dry pond looking at Kurama who was on his hands and knees, looking like a drowned rat. The red head was coughing and gagging as his stomach finally rejected the greenish liquid.

"How the hell did you fall into that thing's clutches?" The fire demon asked, crossing his arms and waiting until the fox was done puking. He could feel some of the sickness from the red head, but he'd learned to control the amount he felt. That was another consequence they had learned over the years, they could feel each other's sickness and pain.

"The child…. (cough)….all right?" Kurama's voice was raspy as he looked up at his mate. He then noticed over the fire demon's shoulder that the child was disappearing into the woods and tried to make out what kind of being it was, but only saw a flash of a tail and the hair looked dark, though hair always looked darker wet.

Following the green eyes' gaze and seeing the figure disappearing into the foliage, Hiei muttered. "Hn…looks fine to me." Turning back, he offered a hand, helping the red head up.

Long legs quivered, but the fire demon held on, keeping his mate from toppling over.

"Are you alright?" Hiei asked as he held the red head, who was now shivering, his teeth chattering uncontrollably.

Youko answered since Kurama was shaking uncontrollably. 'His spirit energy is low from trying not to drown. He swallowed quite a bit of that muck as well.'

Hiei nodded, saying. "Let's get you someplace warm and out of these wet clothes." Guiding the taller frame away from the area as the sun was starting to set and the air was getting a chill.

'I know how we can get warm.' Youko said and the black haired could see the yoko smirking in his mind.

'Is that all you think about?' Hiei muttered the thought. Youko had become more vocal about his wants over the years.

'Well…' Youko switched to pouting, his feelings hurt. 'Sharing body heat is a good way to get warm.'

The fire demon just shook his head.

End Chapter 1