Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho. It belongs to its creator Yoshihiro Togashi and Funimation Entertainment.
Summary: Yusuke's a struggling author, so his publicist forces him to make a public appearance. Deciding he doesn't want to do it alone, he turns to an escort service and meets a certain red head. Yusuke/ Kurama. Yaoi.
Rated: M
Like to Get to Know You Well
Chapter 1
"Hey, Hiei, can I get another beer?" Yusuke Urameshi asked, holding up his almost empty bottle to get the bartender's attention.
"Just hold your horses detective." He heard the spiky black haired say.
Yusuke could not help but smirk at the nickname the bar owner had given him. Ever since Hiei had found out he was an author, he'd been called 'detective' ever since. Downing the drudge at the bottom of his second bottle, he placed it at the end of the table just as a fresh one was placed in front of him.
"Why do you call me that?" Yusuke asked, taking a sip of the fresh, chilled brew.
The short framed figure shrugged. "It just sounds right." He said and walked away, going back behind the bar.
Yusuke looked around as he waited for the person he was to meet. The place had not changed much in its five year existence. Thinking back to the first time he'd found this out-of –the-way, in-a-hole bar and realizing he had gone to school with the owner was a nice surprise. Though Hiei graduated a year ahead of him, they had known each other. Both had been punks, rival punks, but yet they had always seemed to have respect for each other for some reason.
Yusuke had not known what happen to the short, muscular, black spiked gravity defining haired, with a white star burst in front, after he graduated. He, himself, worked odd jobs and took some community college English classes, only to realize he wanted to be an author. Through the college, he found a publisher who believed in him and wrote his first book a few years ago. The sales were okay, nowhere near a bestseller, but it had sold enough for him to get enough money to afford a modest apartment and with some good investing, he still had enough money to live, though tight. To celebrate the first book, he had gone walking and found a bar that was sandwiched between a used bookstore (i.e. go figure) and a candle shop. The plain store front and little street advertising had drawn him in and he'd been coming here ever since.
Once inside, it was like stepping into another world, the black walls, dark woods and low lighting made it look like a dungeon. Because of Hiei's look and his two workers, who dressed in Goth, the place had sort of a 'Goth' feel to it, but was not decorated that way. It was plain. The long narrow place only had 5 tables, with two chairs each and a bar with about 8 barstools. Only beer advertising, in neon, decorated the wall on the opposite side of the mirrored bar. On his second visit, he saw Hiei and found out that the once rival owned the joint. Apparently Hiei had opened the bar as soon as he'd turned 21 and had been making a success out of it ever since. His key, to not make a big deal out of advertising and decorating, if you found him then he hoped you would become a regular and use word of mouth to tell your friends. At even given time after 5, when he opened, the place was almost full till closing, 1 am.
The door opened with its unique chime and Yusuke looked up to see the person he had been waiting for. The figure stopped just inside the door to let their eyes adjust to the low lighting before walking the rest of the way to the table he was sitting at.
"Sorry I'm late." His publicist said as she placed her oversize purse, bulging at the seams, on the floor beside her.
"No big." He shrugged, she was always late and he wondered why she continued to apologize.
"So, you say you have ideas for another book…it's about time. You shouldn't have waited so long. Not too many people are going to remember your last one and if this is a sequel than its going to be hard to get the other one republished…" Keiko started in as a glass of white wine was placed in front of her. "Thank you Shizuru." She tacked on, taking off her coat and placing it on the back of her chair.
"It's not a sequel." Yusuke finally got in. "It's a fiction idea based on a murder." He paused as she finally settled herself.
"Well that's definitely different, though it's been done before…so what's your topic?" She asked, taking a sip of wine.
"The murder of Master Genkai." He answered, almost cringing at what she would think.
She just shrugged. "Now that's a big step. You know a true crime book has already been done." She informed.
Yusuke retorted. "That was a load of crap."
Keiko lifted an eyebrow as he continued. "Think about it. The murder is still unsolved, even after almost a decade of tips, the case has gone nowhere."
"I'll agree it's a cold case, but what makes you think people will be interested now?" She asked.
The raven haired fiddled with his bottle, saying. "The anniversary is next year, ten years since the famous female martial artist was found dead in her temple. No one was ever arrested and to this day, the rumors are still going like wild fire." He shrugged. "I thought a fiction story would get people talking and maybe give the police motivation to re-open the case, plus make it a dedication to her Scholarship fund, maybe even do a donation of sells."
There was a moment of silence.
"Okay." Keiko finally said. "I'll give you two months to get me something to go with. It can be research material and maybe a chapter or two. I can't guarantee it will be a hit, but you are the only one who has thought of this idea. Who knows, there have been a few fiction books written on Jack the Ripper and others, so maybe you're on to something. The deadline needs to be about two months before the release date. That gives us time to get a run." She finished her wine before suggesting. "How about we shoot for the actual death date as the release date?" She smiled.
"I like it, thanks Keiko, I'm glad someone believes in me." Yusuke said, holding up his bottle for a toast.
"I still don't know what I see in you Yusuke Urameshi." She said, tapping her empty glass to his bottle.
"Beats me." He smiled back.
"Now, onto something you don't like talking about, but I have to keep trying none the less." She said seriously.
The raven haired lowered his head. 'Here it comes.' He thought.
"There is a big gathering next week of all the clients of the company. It would be propitious of you to make an appearance." She said, taking in his look of disapproval.
"You know I don't like crowds." He whined.
"Yusuke, no other wannabe author has ever met you, not to mention my co-workers. They all think you are a figment of my imagination. You owe me." She said.
"I'm just not a people person. I wouldn't know how to act." He admitted.
"You'll be fine. Besides, you could do a little fishing and see what others think." She tried to persuade.
"From what I know all the others are married, I'm not, so I….."
She cut him off. "So what."
"I just wouldn't fit in." He said softly.
"Look, if it bothers you that much, bring a date."
"Like who?" He said, flustered.
"I don't know…..how about Shizuru here." Keiko said, as the girl in question brought over another glass of wine.
"Hey Shizuru, want to go with me to a party?" Yusuke asked, trying to sound upbeat.
"Sorry Yusuke…I'm already seeing someone." She placed the glass and turned. "I don't think he'd be too happy." She added with a small smile over her shoulder as she walked off.
"See." Yusuke said, throwing his hands up in defeat.
"Okay…." Keiko said, picking up her bag and digging into the overflowing pit of items. "Here…it's completely up to you, but if it will make you come, try this place." She said, handing over a card.
Brown eyebrows rose. "An escort service…are you serious?" He said, looking at her with wide eyes.
"It's a legal business. Get you some pretty girl and hang her off your arm. Present yourself as a ladies man." She said, gathering her coat. "I gotta go. Please Yusuke, if you are serious about this book, you need to get yourself out there and get noticed. It could lead to some backing money."
"I'll think about it." He muttered as she walked away.
Finishing off his beer, Yusuke threw some money on the table and made his way out. Stepping out into the chilling air, he turned and headed home, which was only a few blocks.
"Get off me." He heard as he walked passed an alleyway.
The voice got his attention and the raven haired stopped, looking at where the voice came from. It was getting dark, but he could make out a figure cornering another one against a wall.
"I paid for you and I want what I paid for." The one doing the cornering said. His hands started rubbing the much smaller figure, causing them to squirm.
"You're drunk…you know that's breaking the rules. Also, you are to pay for the hotel in addition to the fee." The figure against the wall said, placing their hands to the other's chest and pushing, trying to get the drunk off them.
"Then since I won't be getting any, I want a refund." The man said.
"Sorry." The alto voice, that was relatively calm despite the situation, said. "No refunds either."
"You bitch." The bigger man growled, slapping the smaller figure across the face.
"Hey, get away from her." Yusuke shouted, he couldn't watch anymore and decided to step in and help.
"What'a you want punk. Can't you see I'm doing a business deal here?" The big burly man said, turning to the man who interrupted him.
"You heard her, she said you broke the rules and I can guess slapping her is breaking a rule too, so if I were you, I cut my losses and leave…..now." Yusuke said.
"You think he's a she, now that's funny." The man said, laughing.
Yusuke wasn't thinking as he placed a hand on the guy's shoulder.
The guy growled and went to take a swing, but being drunk, he was clumsy. Yusuke ducked and hit the guy in the gut, causing him to bend over with an 'oof' which in turn caused him to start coughing.
"Leave now." Yusuke said without turning his head, keeping his eyes on the drunk.
The guy went to grab the raven haired's leg, trying to pull him off his feet, but Yusuke stepped back in time and kneed the guy in the face. The figure fell back with a gush of blood erupting from his nose.
"Let's go." Yusuke said, not taking his eyes off the guy as he reached for a hand and led the other figure out to the street.
Making it to the lighted sidewalk, the figure pulled their hand out of his.
"You okay?" Yusuke asked as he turned to look at the woman.
His chocolate eyes went wide as he realized it was not a woman, but a young man. He could see where he thought it was a woman. He was not too tall, slimmed figure, but what really stood out was the long, blood red, hair and large green eyes that looked like two emeralds had been glued to a pale, soft, delicate face. Anyone not looking closely would think he was a female.
"I am fine, thank you." The soft voice said.
"Ah." Yusuke gulped. He'd never seen a cross dresser before, well one that looked this good. Though he wondered if he was a cross dresser. The white slacks and deep red dress shirt looked like something a guy would wear out on the town.
Taking in the look and seeing it many times before, the young man turned. "Thank you again." He said and proceeded to walk away.
"Wait." Yusuke said, stopping the man.
The red head turned and stood there.
"Are you sure you're alright?" Yusuke asked and proceeded to pull out a handkerchief from his back pocket. He then offered it to the red head.
The man took it, looking at the young handsome raven haired and the concern in his big chocolate eyes.
Yusuke tapped his lip with a finger, causing the red head to lick his. Tasting blood, the red head put the cloth to his lip, stopping the trickle of fluid.
Handing the cloth back, the red head bowed his head and turned, leaving the raven haired standing there with his foot in his mouth.
End Chapter 1