Waking Dreams
A/N: I do not own any of these characters or the world they inhabit, just the situations I put them in.
The unlit cigarette rolled lazily between two long, slender fingers. It was an old nervous habit really. One that seemed to resurface whenever a certain someone showed up. Which meant everyday from five to six am for the past two weeks.
"I hope you don't mind my company, Shizuru."
The sweet voice cut through the absorbing silence, startling her out of her reprieve.
"Heh, don't worry about it. All though would it kill ya' to stop by at a time when the sun was actually up, or are you trying to avoid being seen entering my crumby apartment?"
"Oh no Shizuru, I rather enjoy paper thin walls, and various types of vermin. It gives off a rather rustic feel."
His return was polite enough yet seemed sarcastic at the same time. Although his even tone gave away nothing, Shizuru waited to see if he would add a smirk to his comment. A charming smile was given instead. She was starting to rub off on him.
"Why, I'm flattered. I thought the vermin were a nice touch."
"Haha good ol' Shizuru. Your humor is refreshing as always. However.."
A brief glance from green eyes down to a glistening gold Rolex alerted Shizuru to the time. It was six am exactly. Kurama had always been exceptionally good at keeping time.
"Thank you for your hospitality Shizuru, but I must be going now."
And just like that he was gone. If Shizuru didn't know better she would have suspected it was all a dream. It had been just like that lately. At first Shizuru would awaken in the early morning to find Kuruama standing at her door with muffins,or bagels, or some other peace offering. Always with that polite smile. Sometimes giving her compliments on her bed head or morning breath, although those were obvious lies. Soon, after the first few days he stopped bringing peace offerings. A few days after that the compliments stopped. The smile was always in place though. They had fallen into a routine and as soon as Kurama was gone it was like he had never been there before. He floated so effortlessly in and out of her life, and yet he never made any mention of it when they were around the others. The only proof she had of his daily visits were the impression he left in the faded green leather of her only couch and the worn pages of a home improvement magazine, the sole magazine she owned, the pages of which he flipped through everyday. He always looked as if he was reading it for the first time and as if it were the most absorbing thing he'd ever seen. He was odd that way.
Wet tea leaves slushed back and forth in her empty tea cup, rocked by the rolling motion of her wrist as Shizuru stared into space.
"Shizuru... Umm Shizuru? SHIIIZUUURUUUU!"
"Well geez Botan, I guess I don't need my eardrums, but could you at least try to be mindful of the fact that we're in public?"
The blue haired deity smiled sheepishly as she offered an appeasing meow.
"Well it's not my fault if you were too busy dreaming about Kurama to hear me..."
The heat colored Shizuru's cheeks a faint rose and she tried to look indignant. The delicate floral patterned cup was set abruptly on its saucer.
" And what do you mean by that exactly?"
A knowing looking crossed Botan's faced as she made yet another cat gesture.
"Meow meow."
"Now hold on a minute, who said I was thinking about him?"
"Hmm Oh I don't know maybe it was the completely dazed look in your eyes, or maybe it was the way you're drooling."
Botan grinned triumphantly before taking a bite of buttery golden brown croissant, the crumbs of which stuck to her face.
"My Shizuru if you like him so much why don't you spend some time with him and get to know him better?"
"If only you knew how much time I spend with him..."
"Well something tells me no matter how much time I spend with the guy I'll never know him any better than I know him now. It's such an odd feeling being around him. To look at his face and know you're older, and then listen to the wisdom drip off his tongue and feel so much younger. To have him fight for the sake of the world and feel protected, and then watch him fight and feel afraid. To know him and the way he is, but to find out you really don't know him at all."
A silence engulfed them as Botan chewed thoughtfully on her croissant and Shizuru went back to swirling her drained cup.
"It seems as if our green eyed friend is quite the walking contradiction. Although, knowing Yusuke as long as I have I can't say I don't know how you feel. Heh without the wisdom part of course.
Botan's stab at the former spirit detective fell on deaf ears. Shizuru's eyes already regaining the glazed quality they'd had only moments ago. Botan was never one for sitting around though. It was time to do what she had always felt she did best. Boost morale.
" Ohh no matter what you can't give up! Its been too long since I've seen a good romance come together and I won't let the opportunity escape me! "
A ponytail full of blue hair smacked an unassuming waiter in the face as Botan thrust herself from her chair and leaned heavily on the table. Firey lilac eyes looked into Shizuru's brown ones until despite herself Shizuru cracked a smile.
"Botan, my odd friend, it's good to know how high the stakes are when it comes to nosy people butting into my love life."
Quicker than Botan could register what was happening Shizuru's arm flew across the table and snatched up her croissant. The girl could only watch on as her companion took a bite out of the pastry and smiled, both at the deity's disbelief, and the mouthwatering flavor of her food.
"Mmm Botan, you sure weren't kidding when you said they had good food here."
Botans mouth formed the shape of an O as she sat dumbly trying to figure out Shizuru's sudden attitude change.
"But I though you said you weren't hungry?"
"Kurama if you think for one moment I'm going to let you jumble up my thoughts and emotions and get away with it then you have another thing coming. Two can play this game."
Shizuru's smile widened at this though and she took in another mouthful of her stolen meal.
"Well I think I suddenly found my appetite."
Botan smirked.
And yet another victory for my skills of encouragement. Although... I really wanted that croissant...
He was late. Something that was wholly un-Kurama like. The once hot pot of tea she had put on for him was now cold and she had just drained a cup when she could no longer deny her need to use the restroom. Then again five cups of tea in a thirty minute time span could do that to you. Her mind filled with doubt.
Maybe I was wrong and this really was all a dream.
Suddenly a familiar spike of demon energy sent Shizuru racing to her living room to find Kurama sitting in his place on her couch. His breaths came out slow and ragged and his face was a sickly yellow color.
"What the hell? Kurama! Are you ok?"
Kurama gave a weak smile before shutting his eyes. His head lolled lazily to the side and Shizuru found herself with a face full of brilliant red hair. An incessant beating sound flooded the brunette's ears and it wasn't until she pressed a shaking hand to her chest that she realized it was the noise of her own heart. With each passing moment of his unconsciousness Kurama's tired form sank further and further into Shizuru's lap until she was cradling him in her arms. From this close proximity she could even smell him. He smelled like a green house, warm with a mixture of various plants,except for the hint of rose she suspected to stem from the flower he kept tucked within his hair. Her face growing hot from the sheer embarrassment of her situation the psychic took several deep breaths before bracing herself for the trip to her bedroom. It became oddly difficult to make it the few yards down the hall when she realized she would be toting a sleep man along with her.
"Uhh today is not my lucky day.."
Shizuru had always felt herself a fairly proficient psychic, but there was no way she could have foreseen this situation.
So.. how is it so far? This is my first Yu yu Hakusho fic so feel free to offer suggestions on characterizations. I mean for this to be canon, but I only watched the anime, so if there is an aspect that is different from the manga I'm just going off what I saw. Please review!
-BabyDukes :)