It's been a while since I've written anything Yu Yu Hakusho related....well, anything strictly Yu Yu Hakusho anyway. I have a crossover in the works, and for a while that was all I did with this fandom. However, I started getting back into this thanks to the crossover, and I've watching the anime and reading the manga again. And of course, once that happened, I felt the itch to start writing something.

For my return to this fandom, I really wanted to write something Kurama/Botan to satisfy my OTP bug. But after rereading the manga and learning that Touya/Koto is actually one-sided canon, my brain went into overdrive and somehow produced this lovely idea. It also helps that I'm taking a class that talks about dating and relationships...teehee.

But anyway, I won't spoil it. Happy reading!

[The idea for this story is inspired by the song "Away from the Sun" by 3 Doors Down, and the title and summary are quoted from the song.]

So Far Down

Touya wasn't entirely sure what drew him to that particular spot, other than the feeling that he might see someone from Yusuke's group eventually. They did all live here, after all.

A small sigh worked its way past his lips, and he let his head drop back to absorb more of the warmth from the sunset behind him. He didn't know how long he sat on that roof, just basking in the sun, but it wasn't like he had anything better to do anyway.

Normally, Touya would spend his free time under rigorous training in preparation for the upcoming Makai Tournament. But after Jin pointed out that the next tournament was still a few years off, he "suggested" that Touya should rest for a while and take a small vacation.

The ice master's lips tighten together in a thin line of annoyance. Actually, he didn't have much of a choice in the matter, as Jin practically abducted him from the residence they shared and dropped him off in the Ningenkai. The wind master wished him well, playfully threatened to kill him if he returned too soon, and then abandoned him and returned to the Makai.

He was a little tempted to head back just to see if Jin would keep his word. They had both gotten stronger recently, and it would have been interesting to test their skills against each other. He had a feeling, however, that Jin probably wouldn't fight him seriously, and would simply just return him to the Ningenkai. It was too much energy that he preferred not to waste.

Opening his eyes, he glanced at the streets below, filled with people as they innocently went about their business. Things haven't changed much since he was last in the Ningenkai, he noted. As a former Shinobi, he understood the Ningenkai well enough to deal with the affairs of humans in the cover of darkness, to survive and work as his sect needed to in those days. There was just something…familiar about being in the city and watching people live without knowing he existed.

Yet he had been on that roof long enough to feel that, for all he remembered about the Ningenkai, the city was still so foreign to him. He wondered if any of the others ever felt this…overwhelmed during their trips to Ningenkai.

After the barrier between Makai and Ningenkai was taken down, some demons slowly began revealing their presence to humans in attempts to establish peaceful relations. It was a long and difficult transition that met with opposition from both sides, but that didn't prevent the determined from trying. In an effort to help bridge the way between humans and demons, it made sense to ask more human-like demons to visit Ningenkai. Yusuke himself brought a request from Reikai asking their assistance to help educate humans about the existence of demons. Jin, Chu, Rinku, Suzuka, and even Shishiwakamaru (in his human appearance, of course) have all visited Ningenkai at least once to assist with the cause.

Touya, on the other hand, had not been to Ningenkai since before the Makai Tournament, when they were all training under Master Genkai. He opted to help by remaining in Makai and lend assistance against those who resisted Enki's ruling of peace with humans. It helped serve the purpose he made for himself a few short years ago.

Recently, though, things between the worlds have been fairly quiet, and Touya unwittingly found himself with little to do. That, he reasoned, was why he still remained in Ningenkai, even though he was certain he could take on his fellow ex-Shinobi if he wanted to go back.

His attention was drawn to the sound of laughter, loud even amidst the busy street. The source of the laughter, he found, came from the only three people he really knew in this city. Kurama's crimson hair was the most distinguishable from the crowd as he talked to Yusuke and Kuwabara on either side of him, laughing at whatever he was saying. The three of them had just turned a corner and came into view, casually making their way down the sidewalk.

He watched them for a moment as they joked amongst themselves. They seemed so relaxed and carefree, just like everyone else in the city. One would never know, just by watching them, that they were more than just the happy-go-lucky teens they appeared to be. And he wondered, how could anyone, after going through everything those three have gone through, continue to act so…innocently?

Hesitating for only a moment, Touya rose to his feet and jumped down, landing on the sidewalk a small distance away from the three. With his hands casually in his pockets, he waited for them to approach.

Breaking away from the conversation for a moment, Kurama was the first to notice his presence. Surprise briefly swept across the fox's face before he smiled. "Touya," he called.

Yusuke and Kuwabara both looked towards him as he nodded in acknowledgement. When the group was close enough, they stopped in front of him.

"Whoa!" Yusuke said, his face splitting into a large grin. "Didn't expect to see you here!"

"It's been a long time!" Kuwabara agreed, and Touya realized that it was probably longer since he saw the human than the other two. "What's up, man?"

Touya shrugged, a little unsure of what to tell them. He hadn't really thought about what to say if he found them, and the last thing he wanted them to know was how Jin pretty much forced him there.

"This is your first time visiting Ningenkai in a while," Kurama commented, an undertone of curiosity in his voice. "What brings you by?"

"Nothing really," he replied. "Things have been…peaceful lately."

Yusuke laughed loudly. "Yeah, it has been pretty boring, hasn't it?"

Touya couldn't help but smile at the younger demon's assessment before glancing at Kurama, almost expectantly. He hoped that while his statement quelled any suspicions of trouble, it would alert the other to his unfortunate circumstances. And of course, Kurama did not disappoint, as he regarded him with sympathetic emerald eyes. The conversation they had during the Makai Tournament was still very present in their memories, and Kurama understood that a vow to keep fighting was difficult with no one to fight.

Several options seemed to pass through Kurama's mind before he smiled. "The three of us were just going to get something to drink," he suddenly said. "Would you care to join us, Touya?"

The ice master frowned. "I'm not sure…"

"Oh, c'mon!" Yusuke said. "It'll be fun. Plus, you can order whatever you want, 'cuz Kurama's paying."

Touya looked toward the fox uncertainly, not wanting to put him out too much. But Kurama just smiled. "It's fine," he assured. "I should have enough money with me."

Debating for a moment longer, Touya then reluctantly nodded. "Okay."

Yusuke grinned before urging them down the street. "So let's go already! I still gotta get ready for work later."

"Oh, it takes you that long to put on your makeup?" Kuwabara mocked, snickering at his own joke.

Yusuke shoved him hard, causing him to nearly trip. "Shut up!"

As the two of them fell into a playful argument, Touya noticed the way the group structure suddenly changed. It happened very subtly the way Kurama took a step back and hesitated, only for the second it took Yusuke to take his place next to Kuwabara so the two could mock wrestle as they walked. Then Kurama stepped forward in perfect time to walk between Yusuke and Touya, aware that, while Touya certainly admired and respected the group – Yusuke in particular – he was not familiar enough with them to be that comfortable. Kurama knew and understood, and provided him with the silent company he preferred while the two rambunctious teens roughhoused.

It happened so quickly, though, in a way so natural that Touya wondered if any of them were even aware that it occurred. And he felt like a stranger on the outside, looking in and seeing it all happen.

They entered a small café and sat at the nearest table as a young waitress approached, asking for their orders. Unsure of what to get himself, Touya accepted Kurama's offer to share a pot of tea while Yusuke ordered a cup of coffee and Kuwabara had some soda. The drinks arrived quickly enough, and all the while Yusuke and Kuwabara continued to argue about a matter he didn't understand, with Kurama interjecting his opinion occasionally. He felt a little left out since he had nothing to contribute to the conversation, and resolved to listen quietly.

At least until Kurama pulled him into the dialogue.

"So, Touya," the red-haired fox piped up suddenly, "what have you and the others been up to lately?"

Touya swallowed the sip of tea he'd taken, placing his cup down slowly as he became the focus of their attention. "Nothing really," he replied, avoiding their questioning gazes. "With things as quiet as they have been lately, there hasn't been much to do except training and continue to help with border control." He paused, a deep frown settling on his features. "At least for me. The others all seem to have other things to do."

Yusuke barked out a laugh. "Well Chu definitely would, anyway. Has he won that one girl over yet?"

Touya couldn't help the small smirk that lifted the corners of his mouth. "No. He's certainly trying, though. Rinku likes to tell us how Chu goes about it every day."

Yusuke rolled his eyes. "That poor bastard." He took a thoughtful sip of his coffee before looking at Touya again curiously. "What about Rinku's girl? How's that going?"

The ice master shrugged. "The two seem content enough, though I'm not sure how far their relationship has progressed yet." He sighed and shook his head. "But both he and Chu seem quite taken with these girls."

"Maybe you should follow their example," the young Toushin quipped, lazily resting his chin in his palm. "We need to get you a date, man."

Touya blinked, looking at the dark-haired teen curiously. "A what?"

"A date," Kurama repeated, casting his friend an amused smile. "It's an engagement to go out socially with another person, often out of romantic interest."

Yusuke looked at him incredulously. "Do you just memorize the dictionary for fun or something?"

Kurama gave him a look that almost seemed innocent. Almost. "Isn't that what it is?"

"Well…yeah…But how would you know? You've never been on a date before!"

With a small smile, Kurama raised his cup to his lips. "If I recall correctly," he said after a moment, "neither have you."

Yusuke's eyes widened, and a faint blush spread across his cheeks. Kuwabara looked at the other teen curiously. "Urameshi, you and Yukimura have never been on a date before?" he asked in disbelief.

"Uh…well…I…" the Mazoku sputtered. Then he glared at the fox and exclaimed indignantly, "Well at least I have a girlfriend!"

A playful smirk flitted through Kurama's expression as he calmly retorted, "Which just makes the fact you've never been on a date all the more pathetic."

Kuwabara howled with laughed as the blush on Yusuke's face spread, and the Toushin struggled to regain his pride. Before he could say anything else, though, Kurama turned his attention to the confused ice master. "But now we're starting to get off topic," the fox said. "I believe you suggested a date for Touya?"

Touya frowned, uncertain. "I don't believe I understand –" he began.

"Listen," Kuwabara said, gently cutting him off. "A date is basically just a way for people to find and get to know a potential mate."

"Oh…" A light clicked in Touya's mind. "Oh!" Then he shook his head. "I've never been interested in such things."

Kuwabara frowned. "Why not? What's wrong with finding your soul mate? To find the one you can connect with better than anyone else in the world, and then getting to know her better to deepen the bond between you two so you can always love and support each other. There's nothing more important than that!"

Yusuke and Kurama exchanged a small look before Yusuke turned back to the human teen. "So, have you and Yukina been on a date yet, Kuwabara?"

Kuwabara grinned, and Touya recognized that same kind of pining expression that Chu often wore when speaking of the girl he worked to impress. "Sure have!" he exclaimed proudly. Then he began counting on his fingers as he listed them off, "Let's see, there's that time we went to the mall to buy her some new clothes…there was that time I was showing her around town…the time we went to the grocery store…Oh, one time she came to see me after school and we walked home together…"

Touya glanced at the other two demons, and noted that Kurama seemed to be hiding a chuckle behind his tea cup. Yusuke, not as subtly as their red-haired companion, rolled his eyes before finally retorting, "Those aren't dates, you moron!"

"They so are!" Kuwabara shot back. "A date is just supposed to have two people spending time and getting to know each other! It doesn't always have to be some super special event!"

Yusuke snorted. "Right…If those are dates, then Keiko and I used to go on dates when we were six." His russet eyes suddenly lit up, and he turned to Kurama hopefully.

"No, those don't count, Yusuke," Kurama answered before the other could say anything.

"Oh c'mon! If Kuwabara can count those as dates…!"

"Yusuke, I highly doubt that you seriously considered Yukimura-san as a potential partner when you were six. They don't count."

Yusuke scoffed again, taking a long drink of his coffee and ignoring Kuwabara and Kurama's stifled laughter.

Hesitating for a moment, Touya then cleared his throat and turned their attention back to him. "As…fun as that sounds," he said slowly, "I don't feel this 'dating' idea is for me. As I've mentioned before, I have no interest in finding a mate right now, so there would be no point."

"Dating isn't always about mate selection," Kurama interjected. "Some people partake in dating simply for recreation, to spend some time relaxing with a companion and doing things that interest you."

"Yeah, it's just like hanging out with a girl," Yusuke added. With a grin, he continued, "If you wanna be lame like Kuwabara…"

"Shut up!" Kuwabara growled, shoving the other teen. "Who's lame?!"

"…then why don't you just ask a girl to show you around town? I mean, you don't really know the city well, do you?"

"Well, no…." Touya responded softly, looking at the tea cup he held in his hands. In the back of his mind, he wondered why they seemed almost insistent to get him to try this 'dating' thing. "Admittedly, though, I don't know many girls."

Looking up at them fully, he said curiously, "But what does it matter anyway? After all, couldn't one of you show me around?"

He caught the expression that the three passed around, as well as the calculating look in their eyes, and he grew a little worried. What were they planning? Before he could ask though, Kurama suddenly replied, "I'm afraid my job at my father's company keeps me busy most of the day."

"Yeah," Kuwabara said, "and I've got school, so I'm busy too."

"I work at night," Yusuke added, picking up his coffee cup, "so if I'm not working a case during the day, then that's my time to sleep."

Touya frowned suspiciously. Their excuses seemed a little too convenient. "I see…"

Taking another sip of his coffee, the younger demon placed down the empty cup. "But don't sweat it," he said with a grin. "I know someone who can help. She'd be happy to show you around."

"I don't know…"

"Oh c'mon," Yusuke urged. "It's not like you have anything better to do now anyway, right?"

Touya's brow furrowed, and he stiffly conceded that point. "Fine," he surrendered with a sigh.

Yusuke nodded, triumphant. "All right. She'll meet with you tomorrow and show you around."

"Tomorrow?" Kurama repeated, looking at the Toushin curiously. "Isn't that a bit soon?"

"Nah, it'll be fine," Yusuke insisted, waving off the other's concern. Looking at Touya, he asked, "You got a place to stay tonight?"

Touya shook his head as embarrassment began to rise in his chest. Jin hadn't given him any time to plan anything, and he hadn't given any thought to anything past meeting up with them.

"If you'd like, you're welcome to stay with me and my family," Kurama offered, as though sensing his discomfiture. "We have extra room, and they've grown accustomed to some of my…unexpected visitors."

Looking to the fox, Touya gave a small, grateful nod.

"Great!" Yusuke exclaimed, rising to his feet. "I'll call you later and let you know what's happening."

As the group prepared to leave and go their separate ways, Touya once again caught the exchange between the three friends, and the scheming smiles that played across their faces. He knew they were going to make him go through with whatever they had planned, and had to wonder just what he was getting into.

TBC

Complete side note: I was actually planning on making this story a one-shot, but after this scene took up more pages than I thought it would, I decided that breaking it down would be the best thing to do. There's just too much I have planned to cram the entire thing into one document and still expect people to read it. But anyway, I hope you guys enjoyed it. Later!