Disclaimer: Don't own YYH, nope….
Scribbles: Nada. Just enjoy!
Summary: Yusuke and Keiko broke up, Kurama comes into the picture, Hiei also comes in to put some color to the plot, hm.. who else? Oh, also Yomi! What you think? Will this end YuuKu or HieKu? Hm... maybe YuuHie, or YoKu? :) Readers beware, you're in for a scare!
After a while,
you learn the subtle difference between holding a hand
and chaining a soul.
And you learn that love doesn't always mean security.
you learn that kisses aren't contracts, and
presents aren't promises.
After a while
you learn that every sunshine burns
if you ask too much.
So plant your own garden and decorate
your own soul –
instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.
And you learn that you can endure
and that you are strong, and
really do have worth.
… And you learn. You learn with every heartache,
with every goodbye –
you learn…
- anonymous, After a While –
Chapter 1.
The bright moon was partly clouded by dark gray wisps, the beautiful stars hidden under the black mass, leaving a cold, dark, and empty night. The only sounds were the memories of laughter, of good times. The wind blew harshly against branches, against anyone who may have been walking in the middle of the night of this cold September. That 'anyone' is this lone figure aimlessly strolling on the abandoned streets, head bowed, his usually gelled hair a mess and flying about.
"Ne, Yuusuke, we're still best friends, aren't we? I mean... you're really very important to me and I... my mind won't be at rest if..."
"Ah, of course Keiko-chan, we're still best friends... If ever you have problems you can approach me..."
Yuusuke cursed loudly. Why did I have to agree? She announced it so suddenly... Whatever happened to our deal? All those 'I'll wait for you then we'll live happily ever after" crap, thrown away easily.
Keiko had nervously knocked on his door that night, and Yuusuke, unaware of course, had even given her a peck on the cheek, and carried her to his room. Only when his childhood friend stopped his fooling around did he notice how serious she was. Keiko, is something wrong?
Yuusuke, when will you marry me?
The one addressed almost choked, What's this all about? Keiko, you know that when I've saved up enough –
- we'll get married, I know. But when will that be? A week from now, a month? When will you stop doing missions for Koenma? You're supposed to be retired as a Reikai Tantei, but still...
Yuusuke scrambled to cup Keiko's face, Keiko? What are you getting at?
The girl sighed, I'm tired of waiting Yuusuke... I've waited for your return for a long time. Now I'm waiting for you again... And...
And?
Keiko looked sadly met the half-youkai's eyes, I've found someone else Yuusuke...
What?! How? Kei –
Yuusuke, listen to me! I've always thought that you would be the only man for me... I thought that my feelings for you would never fade... But they did. All these waiting has rusted them... And then I met Jun... The feelings I thought that were only for you suddenly surfaced so strongly... for him. Yuusuke, I... I never meant to break-
Are you happy with him?
Wha –
Does he make you happy?
Yuu – I... yes. Very much.
Yuusuke stood up and opened the door to his room, Then I give both of you my blessings.
Keiko also stood and headed out the door. While in the threshold, she stopped and said those words, Ne, Yuusuke, we're still best friends, aren't we? I mean… you're really very important to me and I... my mind won't be at rest if...
Ah, of course Keiko-chan, we're still best friends... If ever you have problems you can approach me.
Yuusuke clenched his fist, frustrated. Why didn't he even put up a fight? Why didn't he even get mad, yell at her, make her guilty? Maybe because... I love her too much... to do that.
Yuusuke had almost finished circling the whole block when he suddenly spotted a figure languidly stretching. He immediately recognized the person. He tried to erase all the negative emotions he felt inside and "joyfully" approached his friend, whose back was on him, and said in a macho voice, "What's a beauty like you doing out on a night like this alone? And at a time like this?"
Kurama almost jumped. He hadn't sensed Yuusuke approaching at all, "Hey."
"That's it? Just a hey?" A forced smile.
The redhead's brows furrowed suddenly and the other almost backed away when he asked, "Yuusuke, what's wrong? And don't even try denying."
The gelled guy didn't even bother refuting; he almost broke and moved to embrace the half-youko. He would have, if someone didn't suddenly jump down from a tree beside them. Yuusuke immediately pounced away from the redhead, thinking that the latter's boyfriend would rip him to pieces, "Uh… Hiei!" (That's right, he thinks Hiei and Kurama are a couple! ^_^; And maybe they ARE)
Raizen's descendant made like a statue for a few seconds, as the fire demon gave him a heated once-over. Kurama, all oblivious, spoke up, "Yuusuke?"
"Um… It's nothing really serious, maybe I'll tell you next time?"
The redhead looked a bit troubled then turned to Hiei. Neither of them made a sound, and Yuusuke just stared at them, intrigued as to what was going on. He finally realized how Kurama could stand being around the so-quiet Hiei – the two didn't need words said out loud to communicate. Finally, Hiei 'hned' and glared at Yuusuke, "You'll walk him home?'
It didn't sound at all like a question, so Yuusuke gulped and nodded. Before Hiei turned to flit away however, Kurama called out, "Hiei, wait. Please give this to Mukuro."
"Hn. What did that woman want again?"
The half-youko just gave a Shuuichi smile (meaning, innocent ^_^;) that didn't fool the koorime one bit and as a farewell stated, "The portal is 150 meters away from here, 24 degrees from where we're standing."
The little guy disappeared and left Yuusuke and Kurama alone.
"I never thought… I, I don't know what to do…"
Kurama looked sadly at Yuusuke, "Yuusuke- "
"Don't Kurama. Don't look at me like that."
The two were seated on a bench inside the park and Yuusuke had just finished telling his story. He didn't know that after reliving it many times in his head, it would hurt this much saying it out loud. Who ever said that telling anyone your problems made the load lighter?
Both simply bowed their heads and stayed silently, and still. Here in the tree-laden haven, the chirping of the crickets, and the rustling of leaves filled the silence between them. Time stretched, but both waited tirelessly. Finally, Yuusuke moved forward and rested his head on Kurama's shoulder. The half-youko, in turn, wrapped his long arms around his friend. The latter couldn't hold back the tears anymore and simply drowned his sobs on the crook of Kurama's neck. They remained that way for a while, and slowly, the leaves danced down, seeming to mimic Yuusuke's mood. A few found their way to their shoulders and hair.
It was a long time before Yuusuke stopped, but he eventually did. He moved away from Kurama slowly, embarrassed on his show of weakness, "Sorry, I got you all wet…
"Whew… I'm never really that emotional…"
The redhead merely smiled a reply, head tilted to the left, hair falling softly to frame his face, and the moon highlighted this beautiful picture in such a way, that even in his wasted state, Yuusuke could not help but notice it. Kurama spotted the leaves entwined in his friend's hair and reached to pick them off. Mindlessly, Yuusuke grabbed the half-youko's arm, and pulled him closer. Surprised, mouth slightly open, he fell, and Yuusuke caught him – in a kiss. Maybe it was because of their setting (alone under the cloud-covered sky ^_^;), and perhaps out of loneliness (argh! Why is it always like this? ~_~;)… Immediately, the redhead stiffened from the contact and moved quickly to push his friend away. Before Yuusuke could realize what he had actually done, a sharp blade rested beside his neck.
Hiei gently moved Kurama so he would be far from Yuusuke. It was a big mistake leaving them alone on the bench like that. The koorime somehow had this nagging feeling in him a while ago, so instead of leaving for Makai, he actually trailed the two. It was just good that he did. He pushed the blade further as he gave his most evil death glare at the teenage boy, "What were you planning to do with him? Kurama, move behind me." Shaken, the half-youko did as told.
Slowly, Yuusuke got up from the bench and backed away, but Hiei followed his movements, his sword still pressed on the former's neck. At last, the taller guy reached a dead end – his back bumped a tree and he stayed there, wary of the katana's movements. Hiei growled, "Speak, ningen!"
It seemed so stupid to Yuusuke if the reason he'd used was that 'he didn't mean it', or maybe that 'it just happened' so he simply said, "Do it then. Kill me. You probably overheard everything. I have nothing left to live for anymore. There's no one who'll be waiting for me tomorrow." He winced as the he felt the sharp edge biting into his skin.
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