Promise ring
Rated: R for use of language, sex scenes, rape, and some violence.
Summary: Kurama and Yuusuke are just in a budding relationship, when Kurama is accepted into a study abroad program for college. How will their relationship hold up, and will they be able to keep their promise of love?
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho, or any money or I could buy the rights to it.
Chapter 1 tickets out of town
"so you're leaving?"
"I got the letter today. I've been accepted."
"How long..."
"A year."
"So that is it?"
"I won't go if you don't want me to. I didn't know about us when I filled out the forms..."
Yuusuke looked at the regretful redhead before him. Yes, he hadn't known. Kurama and Yuusuke had only been going out for a month or so, a very wonderful month, and now Yuusuke feared that things would end just as they were beginning.
In his last year of High school Kurama had filled out the proper papers for a study abroad program. At the time nothing was really holding him down. His mother was married, and busy taking care of his little brother Shuuichi. With his perfect GPA Kurama would be accepted into any college. For students of his caliber they offered a first year of college in America. Kurama saw it as a perfect opportunity to travel somewhere new. He didn't know he'd later regret it.
Yuusuke forced a smile. He knew Kurama would stay if he asked, but understood how big of a break this was. Even if it would kill him to be apart that long he wasn't going to take that away. He love him to much.
"No." Yuusuke forced out before he inconsiderately changed his mind.
"Are you sure?" Kurama asked in a soft tone.
"Yeah. I know how much this means to you, and a year isn't that long right?"
Kurama knew he was just saying that. A year would be a very long time. No kisses. No hugs. No seeing him at all. The fox looked down mournfully.
"Yeah not that long..."
Yuusuke chuckled to lighten the mood and wrapped his arms around his lover. Kurama let out a small whimper sound, and leaned more into the embrace. Why was it that when he'd finally found someone fate was taking him away?
No, he reprimanded himself, it was just a test. In a year he would be back, and they could get even closer. Now he found it awfully painful that it took him so long to acknowledge his feelings. All this time they could have been together...
"when will you go?" Yusuke asked barely above a whisper.
"A week."
Yusuke tightened his hug and inhaled deeply. His head did a little swirl when the familiar scent of roses washed over him. God he was going to miss this.
"You'll come back right?"
"I'll come back."
TIME LAPSE
(Shiori's POV)
Oh I was going to miss him. There is nothing harder than seeing your son leave, for a whole other country, and for a year no less! Shuuichi was always so smart and dedicated I should have expected as much. Now I can hear him packing upstairs.
When we got the letter he was so happy, astonished really, and I don't know why he thought he wouldn't be accepted into the program. By the look on his face you would have thought he'd forgotten all together.
Of course maybe he did... It's that sweet boy he's been seeing. I know Yusuke Uremeshi has his reputation, and when I first had a proper introduction I was a bit curious. Then I remembered him from a few years ago. Why wouldn't I? He was the only friend Shuuichi ever brought to visit me when I was sick in the hospital.
Then Yusuke was so polite! It was so cute to see him using his manners, and blushing when ever he did something uncouth. It was then that I could see my son loved him. all those rumors about him being a hooligan must have been a mistake.
He had the great personality, and the looks to match. Perfect for my Shuu-chan.
After that Yusuke came over almost every day, and I was happy to have him. Actually, I was happy to see Shuuichi so, well, happy. Everyone liked having him over. He played video games with little Shuuichi, and did errands for me occasionally, when I thought Shuuichi was exhausting himself with college preparations.
I guess I'd become accustomed to having things be this way, and now I wouldn't see it for a year. I didn't ask Shuu-chan if he was going to stay with Yusuke, or if he was going to break it off before he left, but the sad look on his face since the letter arrived worries me.
I would do anything to make him happy. I told he didn't have to go, but he refused to pass up his chance, and simply said that the year wouldn't last that long. I knew he didn't mean it.
Just to distract myself from my troubling thoughts I checked Shuuich's ticket's flight numbers again. Then I used a magnet to hang them on the refrigerator. They hung crookedly from the weight, and I found myself staring them for and unusually long amount of time.
My baby was really leaving...
I heard Shuuichi come down the stairs, and soon he was in the kitchen with me.
"Good morning Okasaan."
"Shuu-chan are you all packed?" He smiled, and I was glad to see it was a real one.
"Yes everything is ready. You know what I'm getting kind of excited now that I'm about to go. Do think that is terrible of me?" Shuuichi looked a little guilt-ridden.
"Don't feel bad for following your dreams! I'm sure we can all wait for your return, even if we'll all miss you...especially Yuu-chan."
Shuuichi bit his lip. "Do you think it is smart that I'm leaving when we still haven't been together that long? I mean what if he forgets about me, and finds someone knew while I'm gone?"
"Don't you fret. I'm sure he is just as worried that you will forget about him. Just follow your heart. You know if you can trust him or not."
"Mother..."
"Yes?"
"I know I should spend my last day here with my family, but my friends are throwing a going away party, and I'm kind of obligated to go...I could cancel it..."
"No go and relax a bit. Enjoy yourself one last time!"
"Thanks." Shuichi gave me a small kiss on the cheek. "I'll have to leave early tomorrow morning to make my flight so I might not see you again..."
"I love you dear, and you better call me as soon as that flight lands!"
"I will. Say good bye to Little Shuuichi and father for me."
He kissed me one last time and gave me a enormous hug, before leaving to say the same goodbye to his friends.
God its hard to see them go...
(Yuusuke's POV)
The party was an odd mix, like a funeral crossed with a anniversary party. Their were the solemn smiles, and the shouts of congratulations at the same time. Every one from the old gang had come, even Hiei. That surprised me the most.
Before we had started going out Hiei and Kurama had been an item, at least from what I could gather...Kurama never liked to talk about it. I figured they broke it off because Hiei had left for the Maikai, but somehow he made time for this, a ningen party that he would never have gone to even when he lived here.
A fucking walking contradiction.
We all had dinner together at Kuwabara's place, and then started a long string of movies even though we didn't pay attention to what was happening in any of them. It was like background noise to our conversations, and pretty soon it just sounded like a undecipherable mass of sound too encoded for my tired brain to take.
All I kept thinking was this was our last night together, and here I was on a stupid couch, watching stupid movies, surrounded by these stupid people when Kurama and I should be alone together so could have something to remember him by. A real good bye.
Maybe I was just frustrated...or self-centered.
But if he felt the same...if he loved me that is...then he must be feeling the same thing right now right?
With a suddenness the sound came back ten-fold with crystal clarity, and I can concentrate on what is going on around me again.
I must have been really out of it because when I look over Kurama isn't even on the couch with me anymore. Standing over by the dining room table, he is talking to none other than Hiei. From their expressions I can tell nothing about the subject of their discussion. My more dominant ass-kicking personality wants to go over there and assert my territory. You know protect my man, and tell Hiei to back the hell off. It doesn't matter if he is trying to steal my man or not! It would still be fun! Then I remember Kurama hates people like that, so I settle for glaring at them while they talk and hope it isn't some move of the fire demon's part.
By the sixth movie people are falling asleep, strangely I'm still awake. My nerves just won't let me rest. They just keep nagging at me to do something, but now I'm feeling chicken, and Kurama is already asleep. Nag. Nag.
A girl on the TV screen is screaming her head off as a gigantic spider rampages the streets. The whole thing is in black and white. Maybe that accounts for the crappy special effects. Houses are crashing down, and people are being eaten by the dozen. The spider keeps making this clicking noise that I've never heard come from a spider in my life...huh...stupid movies.
Sheepishly I place my hand on my lover's shoulder. He looks so innocent curled up sleeping on my lap, nothing like the killer demon he used to be, and I feel horrible for being my annoying self.
Nag. I shake the shoulder my hand is laying on, and he slowly opens his eyes. I expect him to be angry for waking him, but instead he smiles and looks around at all the other people sleeping on the floor.
"So they're finally asleep? I thought we'd never have time to talk alone." In just that second I'm loving him even more.
"I'm sorry I woke you up, but I...wanted to talk."
"In the other room?"
"The roof."
"The roof?"
"Yeah it's nice out tonight..."
"I never took you for the star gazing type Yuusuke Urameshi," He teases me. Then when I'm about to retort he kisses me.
Its short, a lot shorter that I would have liked, but soon he is pulling me off the couch and out of an upstairs window so we can sit on the roof.
The sky is clear blue, indigo silken ribbons tangled together in blanket covering us. Little diamonds twinkle like a treasure that can never be reached. When I think I see a falling star out of the corner of my eye, I make a wish, even though I'm not sure if I really saw it. Just in case I did I wouldn't want to waste a wish.
" The sky in San Francisco will be the same as here..." Kurama remarks looking straight up in wonder. Does he really believe that?
"No...Its always better when you are here...brighter." That's right how can I look at the sky without you? It will look so dull and lonely. A vast, empty canvas, waiting for you to return. Maybe you control the way the stars twinkle, Kurama. I never appreciated a magnificent night sky until I fell in love with you...
He looks at me like I've said something important, but I can here the rush of blood in my ears, and I look down before I can tell.
Then of course I have to ruin the moment like I always do. Never could keep my mouth shut. "We never got to...you know."
"I know...I never have with anyone."
I look at his with a skeptically, and I must of communicated my doubt, because he clarifies his answer.
"I never have in this body..."
"What about Hiei?" Crap Why did I say that!
"No."
"But I would have thought-" Just shut up Yusuke!
"I wanted to save myself for the right person."
Oh... so I suppose I wasn't that person either. Maybe he'd find that person in San Francisco, or maybe It could be anyone just not me. I felt hurt now beyond what I'd ever felt before, that I almost missed what he whispered under his breath.
"When I come back." Did he say that, or was it a whistle of wind?
"What?"
"When I come back...I mean...I've saved myself for you."
Ok so I've never been great in math. Actually that is an understatement. A dog knows more about math than I do, but here is something that suddenly popped into my head for no reason at all. I'm not entirely aware of ever learning it. Its called the transitive property, and it goes something like this. If AB, and BC, then AC. So...Saving myself the right person, saving myself me, then right person me!
My suddenly crazed mind was doing back flips. God bless useless math that could easily be replaced with logic, and spare the public with hard names to memorize like the Transitive property!
"Kurama-" Nag. Nag. Ugg! Just do it! "Here." In a paroxysmal, jerky motion, I stuck out my hand so he could get a good look.
"Itooshi?"
"I know We've only been together a month, but you're going away... Its a promise ring."
I was looking down so hopefully he couldn't see me blushing, and I stayed that way even when I felt his hand brush mine when he took the ring. I felt like an idiot, or maybe a kid who is waiting for the hottest girl in class to say yes when finally got enough courage to ask her out. But you know she'll say no, because you aren't good enough. Right? That's what always happens.
"Yusuke. Look at me." He sounded like he was going to laugh!
I looked up and saw he was overjoyed rather than patronizing. He took the ring and slid it on before my eyes.
"I'll be glad to wear it."
Out of my pocket I pulled out its twin, A thick gold band, and put it on my finger. "I promise myself to you Kurama."
I meant it I really did! I would wait that year, and when he came back I would prove that I loved him. I would abstain from temptation, and keep my heart strictly for him.
"And I promise myself to you Yuusuke."
AN: And so it is done! My first chapter of Promise ring. This will be my first YuusukexKurama story that was longer than a one-shot. Also I'm going to test out spelling Shuuichi and Yuusuke with two u's instead of one. I hope you guys like this. Please review!