Learning to Live Again

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Yu Yu Hakusho, its characters, universe, or any of that.

Notes: The only pairing so far is Kuwabara x Yukina, though it won't be that prevalent through the story. Possibly other pairings later on, also possible additions of other characters of my own creation. Comments, reviews, suggestions, etc. are greatly appreciated and encouraged! :) Thanks and enjoy...

Chapter One: What's Mine is Now Yours

Late October saw the first snow of a young winter. Throughout the three vastly different worlds, it seemed one thing usually overlapped. The weather. Rain or shine, snow or wind, the three worlds' skies always seemed to be in tune with one another, especially the closer it was to the border. Each member of Team Urameshi found themselves thoughtful beneath the thick clouds.

Kurama was looking forward to a fall break in his college load. With each passing day, he was more firmly considering leaving it all behind and going back to Demon World. He missed Hiei. He missed Yusuke. He missed the action, the excitement, the rush. But, then, there was always his mother. He couldn't bare to cause her the heartache that was sure to come if he told her he was leaving and quitting school. Besides, there was only this semester and next before he was done. He thought it would be more wise to just stick through it, at this point. And yet... the nagging feeling just wouldn't let up.

Yusuke still didn't regret his decision to leave behind the world that had been his home for the majority of his life. The call of the wild lands he was lord over was just too strong for him to resist. He was homesick, sure; he missed Kurama, Kuwabara, Keiko, hell, even his mother. He just didn't miss them enough to move back there. He visited every few months, and Kurama was frequent in his Demon World visits. Yusuke always made sure a room in his fortress was ready for the kitsune whenever he needed it. All those who had been loyal to Raizen had finally taken to Yusuke. He was now truly their rightful leader. No more was the awkward boy with a bad mouth and a short fuse. Kurama always told him that eventually he would rub off on Yusuke, and it seemed it was true. Finally.

Hiei couldn't be happier. Finally, for the first time, in as long as he could remember, he had a place in life, a purpose. Not a purpose forced upon him, either. He did miss the fox, and the Detective, but they had plenty of frequent visits, especially Yusuke, as he often had business with one of his fellow Makai rulers, Mukuro. Since Hiei was Mukuro's heir, he was able to see and visit with Yusuke almost every time he came by. The young lord was truly shaping up, Hiei believed. He had already surpassed Raizen in the number of loyal followers, and it seemed the vast majority of the young ruler's lands were flourishing more than anyone could remember. As Mukuro's heir, Hiei had a relatively free rein over most of her fortress, though he usually contented himself as her first general. It gave him everything he had hungered over: power.

Kuwabara, too, was finally content. Though he had always loved the adventures with the gang, the quiet life of college was exactly what he wanted. His biggest worry was being able to cram enough studying for his full class load and still be able to see Yukina on the weekends. Keiko was a fantastic study-buddy and had really been saving his ass throughout the school year. For all the hurt she felt over the fact that Yusuke had broken them up for good and left for Demon World, she never took it out on Kuwabara. However, he was careful not to bring up the toushin lord in front of her, if he could help it. He had not gone back to Demon World, after Sensui, not even once. His home, life, and happiness was here, in Nengenkai, and he didn't want anything to change the casual ease of it all. No more missions, no more facing down death, no more fear.

Yusuke opened his eyes to gaze out the window closest to his bed. It was early, much earlier than he usually woke up, but all traces of sleep were gone, so he leapt lightly from the sheets and strode to the bathroom. He started a shower as he stripped. Hiei would be arriving around nightfall. Excitement and maybe even a little nervousness skittered across his mind as he jumped into the warm water. They had mutually decided that Hiei should make a link with the toushin's mind. Hiei warned him it would be painful to first make the connection, but over time, it would be priceless in its usefulness to them. If either needed anything of the other, it would take virtually no time to pass messages. Yusuke had shrugged, "I can handle a little discomfort, especially if it'll help me in long run." So, they set a time, and Hiei had sent for Kurama just in case his skills were required.

Kurama had readily agreed; he'd been looking for an excuse to escape. He was also interested in helping his two best friends with this new endeavor. He would not soon forget the night he, himself, had linked with the jaganshi. It hadn't been what he would call pleasant, not even slightly. The first night of the connection was always the worst. He mentally winced, trying not to dwell too much on what was to come for Yusuke. Kurama filled the small pack he would take with him; two changes of clothes, a few seeds, a couple pieces of fruit he found in the fridge, and anything else he remembered, before hastily locking up his apartment and heading for the portal.

Hiei murmured a short goodbye to Murkuro before flitting off towards Yusuke's territory, a journey which would take half the day, at most. He'd probably even arrive early. The past several nights, he had been preparing his mind to invade the other demon's. Though it wasn't too difficult on his end, the more gentle and precise he could be, the better. He didn't actually want to cause the ex-detective pain, so if he could prevent it, he would. He took a deep breath and pushed himself to a full sprint. Excitement pulled at his lips, forming a smirk. He always enjoyed the company of Kurama and Yusuke.

Hiei was pounding on the large double doors at the front of his friend's fortress by the time the first sun had set over Demon World. Yusuke let him in and led him to the room where Kurama was already waiting. The windowsill was chosen as Hiei's seat, as usual, as he listened to the conversation that had obviously been started earlier. "Well, Kurama, you know as well as I do, that a college degree won't do you much good here." Yusuke said, with a half shrug. "If you're not happy, then why continue in school?"

The fox eyed him thoughtfully. Finally, a wider smile split his face. "Stop, Yusuke. You're rapidly convincing me. I'm having a hard enough time trying to keep myself from convincing me, as it is." He laughed gently, causing Yusuke's face to break into one of his usual, winning smiles.

"Just calling it like I see it." He meet green eyes with intense brown ones. "Plus, there's always a room just down the hall with your name on it."

Kurama laughed gently again. "We'll see." And the look in eyes said that they truly would.

The conversation continued for a little while longer, and even Hiei joined in occasionally. Though, finally, they wound down to the core purpose of the night. Hiei looked meaningfully at the half-demon lord, "Are you ready to begin, Detective?" Though Yusuke's job as a Detective had long since ended, the nickname hadn't, but Yusuke didn't mind. It was a familiar comfort.

With a nod, Yusuke approached him. Together, face to face, they sat in the middle of the room. Hiei removed the ward over his Jagan and it opened. "Try to clear your mind... Which shouldn't be too hard for you." Hiei said with a smirk.

"Shut-up," Yusuke bit back with a wide grin before doing as he was told. A blank look took over his face as he closed his eyes.

"You should feel slight pressure..." Hiei muttered, not breaking his concentration. His third eye began glowing more brightly. The other man gave a vague nod after a moment, communicating that he felt it. "Now, try to lower the guards surrounding your mind."

Yusuke let out a soft sound as he attempted to do so. It felt very unnatural to go against something so ingrained in his mind. Slowly the barrier began to weaken. Hiei pressed a little harder against it. His senses we filling with the familiarity of his friend. It was oddly comforting. Kurama moved silently closer, curiosity taking over. Lowering himself to the floor, nearer to Yusuke, he watched the linking process take place. Being linked with Hiei, himself, allowed him a unique opportunity of having an insider's view of the intricate procedure. He could see the tiny cords of Hiei's telekinetic energy connected to Yusuke's forehead. The latter's eyes were closed, a look of discomfort and concentration drawing across his face. Hiei had drops of sweat forming on his forehead. His eyes were open but unseeing.

Suddenly, the jaganshi spoke, voice raspy and low, "Prepare yourself, Detective. This next stage is... particularly painful..."

Yusuke nodded once, trying to ready himself without raising his mental shield again. "Ready," he gasped out.

Hiei let out a grunt as he mentally shoved himself into the other's mind. Yusuke was unable to bite back the cry of pain. Suddenly, it felt like he was being attacked. His barriers went back up on their own accord, trying, in vein, to combat this new intruder. He felt like we was on fire. His shoulders trembled with the strenuous effort of not voicing his agony. Kurama slowly extended his hand towards the half-demon, wanting to reassure him. "Don't touch him, fox." Hiei hissed sharply.

The youko gazed over at Hiei, and his hand dropped back to his lap. Yusuke cried out again, at once diverting Kurama's attention. The ex-detective was almost convulsing now, and he had slumped backwards on the floor. His muscles couldn't decide whether to be slack or tense, so they fluctuated between both. He was panting, unable to catch a breath. His eyes had opened wide but couldn't seem to focus. His lips were attempting to form words, though no coherent sound came out. Hiei's eyes regained some focus as he examined his friend lying before him. "Yusuke." His voice was surprisingly gentle. "Yusuke?" No response came. "It's almost over... Just one last..." Two eyes closing, he hurried through the last stage. He knew that if he didn't complete quickly, he could seriously harm the other man. With one, last, fierce shove, he was through.

Suddenly, a freight train of emotions, thoughts, memories, and so much else blasted through Yusuke's mind. Only, none of it was his own. He soon realized that all of it, of course, belonged to Hiei. People he knew well were almost like strangers, as they were shown in such a different light than in his own mind. Differing opinions he'd never even considered suddenly made so much sense. He had a newfound brotherly love for Yukina. Even Kurama, possibly his closest friend, was different. Things he never knew about the kitsune were now, suddenly, second nature, old news. However, with all the good, there were dark, terrible things, too. They lurked mostly around the edges, in the deepest, darkest recesses of his mind, but he could feel them. All of this took place in less than a second, and, all too quickly, the newness and shock gave way to agony.

The scream that was torn from Yusuke's lips could be heard through Hiei's ears and his mind. He winced, and tried to calm Yusuke. He extended a hand to his shoulder. "Yusuke?" The toushin closed his eyes tight and screamed out again. "Yusuke, it's over." Hiei carefully retreated as far out of the other's mind as he could without totally leaving. He couldn't completely sever their new bond yet; it would render all of this effort pointless because the small hole Hiei had made for himself would close over. He had to stay within Yusuke's mind for the next several hours, the next several long hours. Though, once the pain wore away, Hiei was planning on probing through the other's mind a bit, getting to know his newly linked partner more throughly.

The Mazaku's chocolate eyes slipped open once again. His vision swirled as he tried to focus on Hiei's face. All he knew for sure was that he was in pain, but he believed the worst of it was over. "H... Hiei..." he managed to gasp. "Is it..." His voice faltered. Swallowing, he tried again. "Is it... over?"

The other nodded. "Can you feel the link?"

He nodded, wincing. Yes, he could feel it. He found that it was the source of his pain. "It... hurts."

"I know." Hiei got slowly to his feet. "Unfortunately, the pain will continue for several more hours... But I'll try to lessen it as much as I am able."

Kurama knelt down closer to Yusuke. "It'll be alright, Yusuke. Just try to focus your mind elsewhere."

"Right..." Yusuke rasped out. "Oh, yes... Piece of cake," he muttered with a lopsided grin. "But I've been... through worse." He realized he had, at some point, ended up lying on the floor. "I think... I'm going to lay... here for a while, though."

Kurama nodded, a gentle smile forming on his lips. "I think that's for the best."

Yusuke turned his attention to Hiei. "So... when I talk to you, in your mind... can Kurama hear it, too, since you're also linked?"

Hiei smirked. "Not now, Detective. There will be plenty of time for explanations when you're actually able to pay attention."