Disclaimer: I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho

Important A/N:

You can't read this before reading the prequel, White Lies, and my wordpress specials. You won't understand the story. This fic will not be a KuramaXOCXYouko, only a YoukoXOC which you'll understand why if you read White Lies. I want everyone to remember when Kurama said that he merely takes on Youko's form so as to gain more power and that Youko, himself, doesn't take over. This will be a very important part of the story.This follows the anime and begins after the Sensui arc. I didn't want to start in the Dark Tournament and take everyone back to a bunch of canon cause I'd probably drop the story. Following canon usually bores me.

I understand that 'Youko' is not his name and is referring to the type of demon Kurama is. But I am using it as his name here so that it will be much easier to tell the difference between Youko Kurama and (red head) Kurama since they're portrayed as "different" in the anime.

If you've read White Lies and my WP specials already, then welcome back and I hope you enjoy Ayama and Youko finally admitting. Not that easily, of course. ;D This is my first sequel for a story and this fandom is pretty dead, so a big thank you to everyone supporting me. Enjoy the sequel!

Prologue

Individual Thoughts

…

Why not just let your heart take control?

It's chaos in there.

…

Shuichi Minamino felt strange.

He was in a body – not an unfamiliar one.

It was Youko's body. In all his foxy, thieving glory.

He looked down at his hands and flexed his claws. Youko was far taller, so he saw things from a towering height, but it didn't feel strange to him. For some reason, Shuichi felt a warm sense of rightness in this new form. With his superior senses he was aware of every little thing going on around him. The sound of faraway steps, the boisterous laugh of familiar voices he couldn't quite put faces to and the smell of roses, soil, and blood. He was walking, legs absentmindedly leading him to a place he didn't know. All he did know was that there was a feeling of excitement surging through him as he continued his quick gait. His tail swishing behind him.

Without his consent, his hand reached out to silently open a large door that led to a laboratory of sorts filled with glowing vials he couldn't clearly make out and blurry flowers, almost as if his brain had merely registered them as unimportant background that had no need to be identified. Selective sight. The only form that wasn't blurry was a woman – a vixen that stood with her back to him. Almost as tall as him. Her white ears twitching and her gray eyes focused solely on what was before her. What that was, he didn't know – didn't care. He wanted to ask, but Youko seemed to have other things in mind.

"Vixen," a husky voice whispered in her ear. A voice that belonged only to Youko. Shuichi couldn't even control his mouth. It was as if he were a spectator, watching right from inside another's body. He felt caged. "What are you up to?"

A white, fluffy tail brushed against his chest and Shuichi felt his pulse – or was it Youko's pulse? – quicken in anticipation. She was clearly not surprised by his sudden appearance. "What brings you here, love?"

"It's my hideout," he said as Shuichi stopped his futile resistance and let Youko lead. It would be foolish to try and stop him at this point, no matter how much he tried to speak it seemed that Youko was unable to hear him. No one heard him. "And I felt like seeing you."

"Do not lie to my face," came the scathing reply of the woman.

Ayama.

That was her name.

Ayama Kagime.

How Shuichi knew that, he couldn't say. Perhaps Youko's own mind had supplied the information. If so, then why only that? Why couldn't his mind explain who she was to him? Anything would have been good. Was she one of his whimsies, another two minutes of fancy, a quick dalliance? Youko had always found commitment daunting. Or if that information was too much – or too trivial, - why couldn't his mind provide answers to other questions? Like what in the world he was doing in this glowing greenhouse that reeked with the rusty stench of blood?

Though they were of the same body it was strange how Youko could hide his thoughts – two minds, that's what they were. Separate, yet the same. They weren't two halves of a whole, they were two sides of a coin. Phrases different in one key aspect. The sides of a coin could live as separate entities, it just chose not to. Heads and tails. Shuichi knew that if Youko were to leave his body then he'd die, when had Youko started to feel such trivial emotions? He didn't know and didn't need to. While one could be identified without the other, they were usually referred to as one being – Kurama.

But that was a different discussion for a different time. Right now, Shuichi had to focus on the scene before him. If he was being forced to watch then he might as well pay attention.

Youko smirked, unaffected by the bite in her tone. She spoke to him like that, but she didn't resist. Didn't push his body away. It's the little things, he supposed. "I came to deliver these."

He held out a small pouch filled with seeds and Ayama's face lit up in delight.

"I'll mix them right away," she looked around in search of something. "Where did I put that tube though? Ah," her face scrunched up into a disappointed grimace. "I gave it to Hyoukoki for cleaning."

"Yes, I was wondering where he had disappeared to," Youko muttered, looking around him as if whoever he was speaking of would pop out at any moment. "Where are the rest of your litter, I wonder? At home?"

She raised an eyebrow. "You do like to keep tabs on them, don't you?"

"Of course," he said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "If I let them have their way, they'd take you away from me."

"Perhaps—" her tail brushed against him once more and she smirked mischievously. Confidence personified, exuding the true nature of a fox. "—that is for the best."

"Nonsense," he tried to catch her tail only for her to use it to brush against his nose. Vanilla assaulted his senses. A lingering, sweet scent. Instead, his own tail moved to catch hers and once it did, he swung them around. Back and forth. Back and forth. Back and forth. A sign of obvious affection. Tacit, just what Shuichi would expect from someone like Youko. Truly, a dishonest fox. "I quite enjoy our current status."

"Because it comes with discounts to my shop," she said, knowingly. Letting her tail drop, but he still didn't let it go.

"You know me too well."

"You are just far too easy to read."

"Blasphemy," came the immediate rebuttal. "Are you saying you have me figured out?"

"I am your futu—"

Ring…

Knock.

Ring…

Knock.

Shuichi silently watched as Youko turned his body toward the door at the sound of knocking, a bat demon entered. He was familiar, as well. Kuronue. Another name he knew, but couldn't associate with any memories. Youko had told him about his previous partner, but not enough. Youko had always been vague and uncooperative when it came to his past. The bat was holding an… alarm clock? No. Youko – Shuichi tilted his head. It was a scroll.

Ring…

Ring…

"Hey," Kuronue called with a toothy grin. "Check out what I fou— turn that infernal ringing off, you red headed fool."

"What is that?"

"It's a map that leads to – I know you can hear me."

Words were starting to mix and Shuichi wanted to tilt his head in confusion, but the three demons continued their conversation as if nothing was wrong. The unfamiliar surroundings slowly started to blur and with a start, green eyes snapped open only to close again as he was assaulted with the glare of the sun. Out of instinct, his hand shot out to turn off his blaring alarm clock and Youko Kurama, King of Thieves – pompous, arrogant legendary bandit, himself, spoke.

'You were peeking in on my dreams again,' Youko's voice echoed in his mind, clearly displeased by the fact.

He shouldn't have felt so relieved to hear the voice of an age old demon whispering to him, but it was a sign that he was back in his own body. Besides, it was a feeling he had long gotten used to. Youko didn't try to tempt him with all the riches of the world like those demons in fairy tales. No. Youko was lax and preferred to chirp a witty remark or voice an insult disguised as a compliment whenever the opportunity presented itself. He rarely complained and when he did it was only when Shuichi himself was annoyed as well. Or should he have referred to himself as Kurama?

No matter.

Demon, human, red head with freaky plant powers. He was all of them. What difference did names make? In the end, it was all still him. He was the one that had to get up and do something about whatever problems the world was facing. It wasn't like he could just sit back and let someone else take control of his body, it didn't work like that. Although sometimes he wished it did.

'Are you listening to me, Squeak?' Youko's voice resounded once more. 'You need to stop wandering in my dreams when you sleep. It's why you take so much longer to wake up. Respect my boundaries.'

"I can't exactly help it," Kurama said with killing patience, slightly recalling the fuzzy memory Youko had been dreaming about and ignoring the much abhorred nickname that Youko had been using for the past decade. "And we've already gone past the boundary of what is respectable between two separate beings."

Youko laughed in his mind.

'You're learning to argue. How wonderful. It's about time you picked up a few worthwhile skills,' that was in no way a compliment. Kurama knew, but he didn't bother saying anything as he stood to get dressed for the day. 'Now, if only I could teach you to get a woman into your bed. Wouldn't that be something for the books?'

"A woman in my bed with you whispering in my mind does not sound good."

Youko laughed, derisive and mocking. 'You might just learn a few things from me.'

"You…" Kurama trailed off. "Are in a surprisingly good mood."

'Am I?' He asked, deceptively. 'How observant of you.'

All vague answers and ambiguous riddles. That's what it was like to live with someone like Youko in his mind. But Kurama had grown used to it – it was all he'd ever known. He may not have had any knowledge about the in-depth details of Youko's past, but he did know enough that whenever he saw a dream of the elusive Ayama or the reckless Kuronue, the silver fox would wake up with a pleasant disposition.

Like he had remembered something amusing. Judging from his own experiences wandering into his dreams, perhaps Youko had.

"No," Kurama closed his eyes in false denial of his question, as he made way for the door. "Perhaps it was just my imagination."

'Yes,' came Youko's careless drawl. He clearly had no intention of dredging up his past. 'Perhaps it was.'