Gym days and moments of a lifetime
I do not own Yuu Yuu Hakusho
This is predominantly a Hiei and Kurama fic...
It's been a while since I've written anything and I hope this story is deserving of your time. It originally supposed to be a one-shot story but it took on a life of its own. I tried to have it ready before Christmas, but that didn't happen. I hope you enjoy it. I don't have a Beta, and I somewhat rushed myself to have it written in a time wise fashion which is why the beginning moved so quickly, so please be kind with reviews. However, reviews of all kinds (good critiques especially will help a lot) are welcomed.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Chapter One
Bouncing around from gym to gym never settled well with him. With a slender built, natural grace, pale, flawless skin with dark red hair adding a wonderful contrast, Kurama was a rare variety of his kind. His heart shaped face, vibrant, green eyes and soft spoken disposition always created inaccurate surmises in terms of who he was. The new gyms seemed to host different people with the same stares.
Finding no true reason not to remain a regular at this particular gym as he was finally settled in his perfect domicile, Kurama, purposely in oversized black sweats, a folded tenugui tied over his hair line to keep his bangs away from his face his hair wrapped up as to hide its length, left the locker room as he placed headphones in his ear. With slight humour, he realised his routine became as a celebrity who would rather kept their identity hidden.
As he perused the people, he noticed with thankfulness, that the demographic was a serious bunch. After the few, initial, appreciative stares most re-focused on their workout.
Growing up in a dojo, figuratively, and quickly climbing the black belt ranks, he appreciated his slender built, which prevented him from seeking out the weight area, dominated by the seemingly alpha males. He wasn't a part of the dojo any more, which prompted him to acquire a gym membership. He adored his flexibility and body strength too much to allow time progression to undo all he worked for.
One reason he fell in great comfort and appreciation for this particular gym was the fact that they had a cage. Well it was a special area composed of poles, beamed, gymnastic straps and hooks for stretching and body weight dominated exercises.
Always drenched in his own sweat, Kurama, with a satisfyingly tired disposition, left the gym. Food and sleep were always his top priority after a wonderfully draining but content workout.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
"Push!" Came a loud voice and by no means was it rowdy and craved attention. "Push man, push!" Came the man's voice again, this time urging Kurama to glance into the uncharted territory of the weight area.
The sight that greeted him was truly hilarious. Three men, as he mentally noted that they always seemed to work out together, were around the bench press. The orange-haired fellow was under a great amount of mechanical strain as the black haired loud one yelled at him.
"Gah! Urameshi!" The man yelled in return, feeling overwhelmed as he spread his legs with hoped to receive traction aid from a more efficacious foot position.
"Push, man push! One more!" The one, Urameshi called and Kurama stifled a chuckle as the entire scene reminded him, with lucidness of child birth.
"Ah!" The man finally hooked the bar and sat up, panting harshly with a satisfied grin.
"See, I knew you could do it, Kuwabara." Urameshi replied with a slap to his back as he stood.
"Of course, I the mighty Kuwabara Kazuma..." He started in a deeper, manlier tone as he stood erect, chest up and a thumb pointing towards him until his other friend shut him up, his deeper voice nullifying the self adoration moment of the other.
"Shut up and move. This is how it's done." He was shorter than his other two companions but as Kurama observed them while continuing his routine, noted that by no means was he inept. If ever, he didn't need a cheerleader and performed more repetitions per set. Kurama could have sworn he saw the metal bar bend under the amount of weight they stacked on it.
"Good for them." He muttered to himself as he moved to the stretching area to cool down.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
After observing the three friends, Kurama found himself doing more as they amused him, especially the dark haired one with the orange-haired man.
'Urameshi and Kuwabara.' Kurama noted as he wondered if anyone knew how much information he could acquire from just observing people.
The other one was quieter, but he knew his stuff and he worked out better than the two. He wasn't amicable as the other two and most times he was mean to the orange-haired fellow but overall, they seemed to be good friends. That thought forced Kurama to think of who he called friends.
In his life, no true friends existed. They were friends from school and friends from work, people who wanted something from him, but none proved to be long term friends. There was only one; unfortunately he moved to New York with his family years ago, leaving Kurama to start all over again. It was during those times he noticed that even acquiring male friends were insidious, especially when he grew his hair.
'Yomi.' He remembered but squashed that thought. Though they became good friends in college, and became under the impression that he would be a long time friend, he betrayed Kurama, only giving Kurama the option to cut him off completely before they graduated. Even if Kurama forgave him, he doubt Yomi would do the same. Some relationships proved harder to mend once the trust was betrayed.
Exiting the locker room, he walked to the stretching area for warm ups. Moving to the gymnast area, he jumped and grabbed onto a rail as he began pull up, squeezing his back muscles for added power.
"I didn't know you were that strong." A familiar voice said before Kurama jumped down to face the interrupter of his moment.
"Hey." The one he came to know as Urameshi greeted with big, brown eyes and a friendly smile. His muscular biceps were glazed in a thin sheet of sweat that even darkened his yellow tee shirt which once had sleeves.
"Hello." Kurama answered with a smile before jumping up again to fulfil another set of his routine.
"What else do you do?" The intruder asked and Kurama realised that he wouldn't be leaving.
"I do mostly body weight exercises."
Really!" He answered a bit more surprised than expected, slightly insulting Kurama. "Because my friends and I only see you do those hard, freakishly flexible gymnastic moves on the monkey bar."
Such a casual confession piqued Kurama's interest. "You watch me?"
Grinning, he gave a reply Kurama wasn't expecting. "As much as you watch us." The man grinned when Kurama turned away to hide his true expression of how he felt being caught.
"Well." Kurama started as he recovered. "What I do require lots of strength, though I may not show it."
Seeing a sceptic hue washed over the man's face, Kurama gestured for him towards the gymnastic rings. With ease, Kurama held on to the rings, straightened his legs directly in front of him to ninety degrees and lifted himself straight into the air, perfectly perpendicular to the floor. A perfect split later as he controlled his movement gracefully down to his start position.
"Try that then." Kurama dared as he stepped aside for the one who awkwardly held his body up and was barely able to move his legs past a ninety degree angle.
"Crap, that's harder than it looks." He chuckled sheepishly.
"This is my forte, as that is yours." Kurama said with a gesture to the dumbbells and barbells.
"You're right." He grinned but this time it was happier. "Well good luck with your workout. I'll see you around, no doubt."
"Bye." Kurama returned with a smiled, shaking his head at the nerve of him but couldn't be anything else but amused at the unexpected encounter.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
A fortnight passed when Kurama saw the crew together again. When Kurama was noticed, Urameshi waved, only given a smile in return. When the other witnessed that, the orange-haired one's reaction was priceless.
"What Urameshi! You talked to the model. You're a traitor! When did..." As he was ranting, Urameshi tackled him.
"Shut up man, you're loud!" He yelled with equal frequency.
The quiet third one just walked away from the other two with just one glance towards Kurama.
"Oi, wait up man." Crawling off the bigger one, Urameshi dashed towards his other friend.
"Are they aware they are in public and everyone can see them?" Kurama asked to himself thoroughly amused. Fixing his tenugui around his head, Kurama walked over to his usual spots.
As he worked, a personal trainer in uniform came over to him. Not wanting to be on the ground as the suspicious man walked towards him, Kurama stood.
"Have you had your complimentary one on one personal training session as yet?" He asked somewhat casually but something did not seem true to Kurama. His aura was unsettling.
"Yes I have." He replied speciously. He did hope to have one but he found that it wasn't a need and especially not with him.
"Well, that's good. I see you've been a serious regular. I like that." He added and Kurama thought most likely his gender was being mistaken, again. Hoping to cut the interaction short from now on, he took control of the conversation.
"If the need arise for a session, who may I ask for?" He asked and the trainer grinned.
"Kishida Karasu." He bowed. "What is your name?" He asked.
Proudly, Kurama answered. "Minamino Shuichi."
With a frown, he shook his head as if he heard wrong. "Shuichiko? Right?"
"No." Smugly he affirmed. "Shuichi."
"Oh." Disappointment screamed out at him and he couldn't avoid the smile that formed on his face.
"It was nice to meet you." Kurama said in an air of dismissal. Still bewildered, the trainer walked away.
"You should be careful with him." A voice said to his left, from behind.
Turning, he saw the orange haired fellow as he seriously studied the retreating form of the trainer.
"Did something happen?" Kurama asked as he noticed the other two walking towards them.
"He is bad news." Urameshi said as the other dark haired fellow nodded and Kurama couldn't help but admire his deep red eyes. It was unusual, and Kurama found comfort that he wasn't the only one with rare traits.
"What happened?" Kurama asked again and Kuwabara answered, his usual goofiness that was always admired was extinct, only underscoring the seriousness of the situation Kurama knew nothing about.
"A few months ago, two women reported that he touched them inappropriately during training sessions. When we heard that, knowing that Keiko and Yukina want to join this branch, Hiei hacked into the system to find out more on him." He said and as he spoke, Kurama tried to follow with no knowledge of whom the names belonged to.
"Yea, dude is gifted in that." Urameshi uttered thankfully gesturing to the quiet dark haired one.
'Oh, his name is Hiei.' Kurama noted mentally.
"Apparently a year ago he was accused of rape but they didn't have sufficient evidence." Urameshi added and Kurama frowned.
"How is that possible?! There are standard evidences that classify a rape case."
"Hey, we're fire fighters not police officers. They have their own corruption." Urameshi raised his hands in defence.
"You're fire fighters?" Kurama asked with a somewhat fond tone, dissipating the seriousness as the three realised their position.
"Uh, yea. Hahaha." Urameshi laughed. "Well, he's the true fire fighter." He said pointing to Hiei. "I'm a rescuer of people from fire and he is a rescuer of cats out of fire and anything else." In a jocund tone he elaborated their role while in action, the grin increasing in diameter after every word.
"That's very heroic." Kurama praised.
"So what agency are you a part of?" Kuwabara asked.
"Agency?" Frowning, Kurama turned to him.
"Yea, Urameshi's girlfriend follows all the prettiest models and when we told her about you, she couldn't find anything about you when she did her search." As he said it, Urameshi's eyes widen in horror as he gave him a blow to his head.
"You idiot!" He yelled. "You weren't supposed to say that!" Urameshi yelled and the one he came to know as Hiei, grunted.
"Fool." He said before folding his hands over his black clothed chest and leaned against the pole nearby.
'Nice voice.' Kurama thought in appreciation. He always adored deeper voices because he didn't have one, but his was a really smooth deep one that topped the rest he appreciated.
Chuckling in amusement, Kurama spoke, placating their violent behaviour.
"You thought I was a model? Why?"
"Uh, it's not hard to see why we thought so. I mean look at how you dress. It's as if you don't want to be recognised and then without the clothes, you look the part."
"Idiot." Hiei replied casually as the slip hit Urameshi.
"You're an idiot Urameshi." Kuwabara yelled as he hit him, creating another brawl.
"You saw me naked?" Not worried or stunned, but rather calm and curious, Kurama asked. He knew he was always in black sweat suits while in the gym, and never showered there either as he lived close by.
"Uh, no." Urameshi replied as he stood upright, Kuwabara struggling to his feet.
"We're men. We have a vivid imagination and besides, you're by far the prettiest in the gym."
"Are you sure I shouldn't be worried about you than the trainer?" He hoped his level of entertainment was not apparent to the other three.
"Uh, yea. We just ... you just caught our attention and especially when you started looking at us." Urameshi explained the best way he could.
"Yea, you watch us too!" Kuwabara grinned triumphantly.
"I admire your buddy system, not undress you with my imagination."
Kurama knew they expected him to be mad but he knew something they didn't. He was just waiting for the right time to tell them.
"Yea, I believe you. So you don't like anyone of us either. And besides, look at how we dress. You can clearly see how we look. You're the mystery that teases us to wonder." Urameshi rebutted defensively.
"So you have a crush on me?" Thoroughly amused, Kurama almost laughed especially when Kuwabara and Urameshi's cheeks became slightly florid.
"Well I don't know how I should take such news. I honestly never thought of dating someone of the same gender." He finally confessed and waited.
"..."
"..."
"WHA!" Kuwabara yelled in horror.
"You're a dude! Dude! You're a hot dude." Urameshi said; his mouth open and eyes wandering over Kurama.
Kurama couldn't help but laugh.
"I'm Minamino Shuichi." He officially introduced himself and that seemed to sober them, well except Hiei who seemed unperturbed. Then again, as Kurama thought, that didn't mean much as he rarely showed anything else during his observations of him.
"Oh right, I'm Kuwabara Kazuma."
"I'm Urameshi Yuusuke and he is Jaganshi Hiei." Urameshi introduced.
"It's nice to meet you." Kurama smiled.
"Yep, and to clear out all of that misinformation. I'm never that wrong!" Urameshi noted.
"I'm glad to clear the air."
"Yea, so I heard you shamed Urameshi with your superior acrobatic skills." Kuwabara noted with heavy humour as he laughed hard.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Months later, Kurama realised he found potentially true friends. Occasionally either Urameshi or Kuwabara would bother him, in a nice way during his workouts; in awe at how he could do those things with the ropes and beams. He wasn't a gymnast but their equipments did benefit him.
"All of these things seem too seductive and you don't make it easier. It shouldn't be right to be so sensual when working out." Urameshi once said to him.
Having been around him long enough by now, Kurama learned how to interpret his humour. Though he noticed the initial crush he had on him did not go away with his true identity revealed as it did in Kuwabara, nevertheless it didn't alarm him. Then there was Jaganshi, who was still a mystery and a man of very few words. The trainer, however, was hovering about and Kurama's instincts told him to be on alert. For some reason, he felt the revelation did not hinder the man's motives.
Certainly Kurama knew better than anyone else that he could defend himself if need be, but it didn't mean he would provoke the situation to prove it to his new friends. So when they began taking turns to bother him more often than before, Kurama allowed it especially when Kishida's presence became more frequent and his attention more focused. It was then he truly felt he had friends, his own buddy system.
Walking towards the station where he could do both pull ups and dips, knowing from his last encounter with Yuusuke revealed his triceps were weak, Kurama mentally prepared for it.
Seeing Hiei walking over while browsing his phone, possibly for music, Kurama smiled. He was the only one who never bothered him but rather kept a watchful eye from a distance.
Performing his pull ups, he felt eyes on him. He hated the feeling of being watched. Cleverly, he observed to see Kishida hovering, using the fellow gym mates as a ruse.
"Your rest is too long."
Kurama jumped when he heard the deep, familiar yet not accustomed voice.
Turning, he smiled at Jaganshi.
"During this time, I think it's wiser to observe my surroundings." Kurama smiled, though a somewhat nervous feeling began to surface in the pit of his stomach.
'Uh, could be that new pre workout I switched to.' He thought as he returned his attention to Jaganshi, the nervousness still present but faint.
Doing another pull up set, Kurama jumped as Jaganshi stepped up and executed pull ups and dips back to back in a circuit.
Stunned, wishing he could, Kurama spoke.
"I wish I could do that."
"Try it." Jaganshi said as he gestured to the machine.
"Uh." Hesitantly, Kurama stepped up and turned to face him.
"Turn the other way." He said but Kurama rejected with a shake of his head.
"I know I can't do it but still want to try. If I attempt it by facing you, and I fail, I'll have more space to catch myself if I fall instead of hitting the back board." Kurama debated and Jaganshi shrugged indifferently.
"It also gives me a clearer view of Kishida." Kurama added softer, forcing Jaganshi to take a step closer to hear him.
"Do it." With muscular arms folded over truly powerful chest, he stood there, waiting.
Taking deep breaths, Kurama hesitated and he saw Jaganshi beginning to lose his patience. As he took a step forward, Kurama spoke.
"Okay, I'm going to do it. I'm just nervous." He said before he lifted his feet off the platform and held his body upright.
"Bend your elbow to a ninety degree angle and straighten up again." Jaganshi instructed and Kurama bit his lower lip as he slowly attempted but couldn't as he couldn't control it.
Rushing forward, Jaganshi caught him and held him up. With both hands firmly on his waist, Jaganshi assisted him carefully.
"Thanks." Kurama said as he tried not to use Jaganshi's hold as too much of an aid as he did it again but he knew it wasn't just his strength that allowed him to finally execute a full body dip.
Stepping down, Kurama breathed out as he grabbed his water bottle from the ground. "Gosh, that was hard."
Wordlessly, Jaganshi completed another round of his circuit.
"Again." He said and Kurama's eyes widen.
"Are you serious?" Kurama asked but then realised who he was talking to; the most discipline person he ever knew. "Of course you're serious because I just did two."
Stepping up again, Kurama tried but still needed assistance. With Jaganshi holding him, he used it more as a guide to confidence than as a crutch. With his head bent down as he bit his lip in concentration, Kurama forced himself to push out more repetitions.
Glad he did it, though with help as it was a start, once he was done with the last one, he held himself in the start position and looked up at Jaganshi.
"I can do it." He smiled and that rewarded him with a small smirk that spoke, 'I told you so' which caused Kurama to marvel how good it looked on him. Slightly mesmerised, Kurama forgot to let go, until he started to feel a burn. Then he noticed their close proximity and Jaganshi still holding him up.
"Um." It was Kurama's voice that brought his senses back as he turned away. "Thanks." He added as he stepped down when Jaganshi pulled his hands away.
Hearing a slight commotion behind them, they turned to see Kishida stomping away.
"Hmm, what's his problem?" Kurama said thoroughly entertained.
"Hn." Jaganshi said before continuing his workouts. Kurama remained with him as Hiei showed him another variation of dips for him to execute, to strengthen his underdeveloped muscles.
"I definitely don't need a trainer." Kurama said at the end as they walked to the locker room and Hiei smirked but said nothing.
Walking to his locker, he opened it and turned to say something else to Jaganshi but stopped as Jaganshi's compression tee shirt went over his head. Kurama knew he was built but it only finally hit him when he saw what lied under the fitted workout gear. Quickly, he turned away as he felt his stomach's nervousness again.
'I need to change my pre workout. I should not have switched.'
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
The point of having a holiday was to rest, but Kurama wanted to go to the gym, only justifying with himself why it was important. It was his 'me' time there with socialising. It was a very healthy way to live, adding priceless value to his life on top of the benefits of exercise. As it was a holiday, he was home, on his couch with nothing to do but watch romantic movies because that was all the networks were airing, to his detest. Finally settling for an animated movie, he ended up falling asleep.
It was in the afternoon when he realised he missed the entire movie. Lazily sauntering to his kitchen, he was reminded that he procrastinated on buying groceries as he knew the holiday was coming up where he would be in favour of sales.
Donning a light coat, he left his home for a cool walk to the store. Pushing his trolley as he moved from aisle to aisle, he heard some loud commotions carried on by familiar voices. Turning the corner, he saw none other than Urameshi and Kuwabara brawling over something. Instantly, he noticed Jaganshi's absence.
"Hey." He greeted and they stopped, stared and frowned.
"Oi, Kurama, that's you?" Yuusuke asked as he stepped away from Kuwabara.
"Why wouldn't it be me?" He asked but then he remembered how unflattering he presented himself while working out. "Yea, I have bangs." He noted with a smiled.
"Yea, and everything else. Dude you look so different out of the gym." Yuusuke added and Kuwabara nodded in agreement.
"We're shopping for dinner. Since we work almost all the time and the only people we see are the other guys, we come together and cook every evening." Kuwabara said and Yuusuke nodded with a grin.
"Hey, you can come. It will be fun." Yuusuke said with an inviting smile. Kuwabara backed him up with a grin.
"Alright. I just need to finish my shopping. This saves me from cooking." Kurama added gratefully.
"Well, you can help us because it's our turn to cook."
"Yea and because Hiei decided he's not 'babysitting' us as he says, he went to another store to get some other stuff." Kuwabara muttered somewhat resentfully.
'I agree with him.' He thought before answering. "I'll see you in half an hour then."
After aiding in the options of things to buy, Kurama returned home to restock his cupboard before departing to the firehouse.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Stepping in, he never thought he would be fortunate to be in the position he was in with regards to being with heroes, promoting a very content feeling to distend within him, knowing all he did was work, lots of work, more work and few gym moments to add colour to his existence. Before he spotted anyone, he was noticed.
"Hey, who are you here with?" One wearing partial uniform said.
"I'm a guest of Urameshi... "He was cut off before he said anything else.
"Oh them." Another fire fighter said before pointing to the ladder that disappeared into the floor above.
"Thank you." He said before leaving but was still in ear shot to hear what they thought of him.
"Dude, she's hot. Why do they get all the good women?" The first one said and the other agreed.
"And from the looks of it, she might be Jaganshi's because Urameshi has Yukimura and Kuwaba..." He didn't hear the rest as their distance increase.
"Jaganshi's?" He retorted but before a proper feeling with regards to that thought can be felt, he smiled as he spotted Kuwabara.
"Yo Kurama!" He yelled and everyone turned to him.
"Oi, you made it." Yuusuke rushed out. "People this is Kurama. Kurama, this is Jin, Shizuku, Chuu, Rinku the rookie, Touya..." As he called their names, they all either grinned, waved or jumped.
"It's nice to meet you." Kurama said at the end, realising they all wore the baggy fire fighter pants and the house tee shirt.
"We're in the kitchen." Yuusuke said and he led him in where Hiei was sitting, gulping down a beer with Kuwabara now back in the kitchen, watching the pots on fire.
"I thought you're not supposed to be drinking." Kurama asked Yuusuke quietly.
"We're not, but technically we're off duty and besides, it's just beer. Once we stay sober, it's fine." Yuusuke grinned brazenly as he took two from the fridge.
"Here, relax a little. You're in the best hands." He added and Kurama smiled as he accepted it.
'They do have their own corruption.' He reminded himself with thoughts of Yuusuke's former words.
With his drink in his hand, he walked over to the pots Kuwabara was overseeing.
"What are you cooking?" He asked and saw dashi being prepared, sushi rice, tamagoyaki, grilled vegetables and the chicken soaking in a marinated sauce. 'Wow, I'm impressed.' He thought.
"Taste it to make sure it's edible." Yuusuke said from behind him as he rested his chin on his shoulder.
"I don't need to." Kurama dissuaded his need to have him taste it.
"Please." He importuned. "Hiei put his hand in it too so we have to make sure it's good."
Chuckling fondly, somewhat more at ease yet more aware when he was reminded of Jaganshi's presence, he acquiesced with Yuusuke's suggestions.
With Kurama putting his hand in the food as well, everyone tasted the difference. After many complements and more beers drunk than needed, with commands that he must visit again, Kurama was finally able to leave.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
With the way his regular visits to the gym made him feel, Kurama opted to his old pre-workout. When he still felt as though it could be indigestion but could not prove it, he addressed it with his physician during his annual medical check-up. As a custom, after his doctor's visit, he usually visits his mother as well and spends the weekend. It was one reason he didn't change doctors when he moved.
"I'm glad everything is fine. We should never take that for granted, having a clean bill of health." His mother, Shiori reminded as she dressed the dining table with the prepared meals.
"I'm always grateful for that. I am taking it seriously so I only expect to hear good news." He replied with a smile as he helped her place the dishes on the table before taking a seat.
"I agree. So how's the gym? I can see you're as slender as ever." Giggling, she commented and he grinned.
"I am hoping to remain this size. You are aware that I rather become more rarefied from my years of acquired skills than to regress due to the progression of time." He grinned and she chuckled.
"Yea, it was a great investment and it moulded you into such a wonderful person. It's hard to believe you gave me such a hard time when you were younger." She laughed and he shrugged.
"I was young." His voice was calmer and softer than it ever was for the evening. "I was five." He justified and she beamed.
"Yes, but even then I wouldn't have traded you for anyone else. When you began you martial arts training, you took it to heart and changed so much. You began to involve me with your life that I couldn't help but cry with joy."
"It is only fair." He uttered and felt a slight nervousness when his mind brought him back to the gym and the good friends he gained from such a place. "Speaking off, there is something I want to ask you about." He started, his tone taking on a serious air with an expression to match.
"Anything dear." Concern screamed out at him as she spoke, her posture shifting closer to him, bending over the table.
"I've been having some odd sensations in my stomach while at the gym. I thought it was my supplements but my doctor said no. I have yet to find out what causes it." He said, hoping her years of wise mothering would enlighten him on the cause of his ailment.
"Hmm, that's odd." She frowned at him as she thought of a possible cause. "What do you do before? Maybe you distressed your stomach with a particular workout? What kind of people are you around?"
He thought back and explained to her of his usual view on people and how he felt while seeing and being around them.
"Oh my!" She almost screamed loudly, vividly showing her excitement. "My baby is in love." As she said it, the horror that flashed across her son's face, urged her to calm down. "Love can, at times, make you feel sick and upset if it's sneaking up on you. Dear, it is quite fun and natural to fall in love." She reasoned but he rejected with the shake of his head.
"No." He breathed out as he began to make sense of it, as it appeared to be true. How did he not know? He couldn't have known!
"Why not? She must be very beautiful with a nice personality to capture your attention. It is good to be in love." She reasoned with a comforting smile but that faded as she perused the negative and horrific expression on her son's face.
"Why do you seem to be opposing this? It is something to embrace."
"I'm opposing it because it's a 'he' not a 'she'. It can't be mother. You must be wrong!"
"Shuichi." Sadly she uttered his name as she saw his conflicting emotions.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
End of Chapter One
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::