TITLE: I care for you
AUTHOR: Lemonychocolate
EMAIL: Kurama/Yusuke
WEB SITE: n/a
RATING: Mature-Adult
DISCLAIMER: I make no claim to, nor hold any license to the original characters to this story. These characters are used for the sake and sole purpose of entertainment only. No profit shall be, nor will be gained from the writing found hereafter; nor shall any personal credit be taken as to the character designs, personalities or concepts stemming from the original characters used. All situations in the story below, unless otherwise stated, should not, in any way, have any bearing on the creator's original work.
FEEDBACK: Yes! Yes and more yeses
SPOILERS: none that I can think of.
BETA'D BY: Ashley, Bailey Meeker
Chapter 1
Standing, just under the trees in the park, Kurama studied the tight, drawn expression on Yusuke's face. With the moonlight radiating its cold, silvery light, it was easy to see the look of misery, the brooding, defeated look Yusuke wore. Two weeks, and the look of wounded pain was still in those dark eyes.
An era had ended, he thought somberly. Keiko and Yusuke…broken up. No longer together. He shook his head, empathizing with the pain Yusuke was undoubtedly feeling.
The others, despite his admonishments to leave Yusuke alone, had ignored him. While no one had been able to approach their angry Reikai Tantei friend, that didn't stop them from trying.
The saddest thing, Kurama felt, was the fact that no one could really blame Keiko. It was the most fundamental aspect of the human ego, that of survival. Death of the body, in some ways, was preferable to the oblivion of the soul.
That it took her longer to realize what was silently understood by the others was not to her discredit.
Thereby proving that women were much smarter than men, Kurama thought with sad amusement. He sighed.
On soft feet, he approached the picnic table the dark haired toushin perched. Sitting beside Yusuke, he ignored the flat dangerous glare he received. Feigning interest in the full moon above, he soon found himself mesmerized by it. So round and bright, it glowed like the rarest of jewels. It almost felt as if he could reach out and grab it.
Without his being aware, his hand was outstretched, vainly grasping at the glowing orb hanging in the sky.
Yusuke, watching the fox suspiciously, snorted. "You do realize you're an idiot…" he said calmly. But a faint smile could be heard in his voice.
Kurama blushed then laughed ruefully as he glanced at Yusuke. He shook his head, his eyes drawn back to the moon. "It's just…"
"….I noticed." Though curt, Yusuke was slowly beginning to relax. The one thing he really liked about Kurama was the fact that the guy knew when to keep his mouth shut. One more person looking all sad and shit…his hands tightened into fists.
The familiar anger, the bruised and tattered feeling of being unloved, rose within. Some days he felt like he was swamped, drowning in regret.
Two weeks and he was still asking himself 'Why? What did I do wrong?'
"My mother has finally given me permission to create a garden in the backyard," Kurama's voice interrupted his torturous thoughts. His face, when Yusuke chanced a look, was suspiciously bland.
He laughed derisively. "Yeah? And your mother married Kazuyu-san how long ago? I didn't think you would be able to last that long without growing something. Let's see, I bet they're getting ready to do somethin' special in the backyard and you won't lift a finger to help," he guessed shrewdly, momentary humor lightening the darkness of his expression.
Slender shoulders rose and fell carelessly. "She's decided to repeat her vows to my stepfather. I merely pointed out that a flower backdrop would reduce the cost and expense of the wedding. Add a little more pizzazz to the proceedings," Kurama stated coolly. Extending his arms behind him, he leaned back on his braced limbs.
The sharp bark of laughter from Yusuke held no humor. "And let me guess, all the plants and maybe even the grass, has suddenly and mysteriously died?"
Kurama wore a tiny smirk. "Have you been practicing with Kuwabara?"
"Your own mother. Man, that's just…just…cold." Yusuke fell silent. Gradually, the familiar brooding scowl returned.
"Mother appears not to trust me…" Kurama began.
"Smart woman…"
Calmly smacking Yusuke upside the head, Kurama continued with nary a pause. "She asked that I procure additional help. With Hiei in the Makai and Kuwabara finally having some alone time with Yukina, I thought, you might be interested in helping." He slid a carefully bland look Yusuke's way. Hopefully some intense manual labor would be sufficient enough to distract his friend and help get him over this current crisis.
Yusuke searched Kurama's composed face for some trick. His wariness abruptly rising when he met the limpid, green-eyed stare. He finally looked away in a huff. He couldn't prove it, but he just knew Kurama was up to something.
"You're trying to bullshit me…" he said derisively.
Affecting great surprise, Kurama gasped. Green eyes opened to their fullest extent. There seemed to be a liquid shimmer in them, glistening in the moonlight. A look of one mortally hurt. "Moi? Try to fool the great Reikai Tantei Urameshi? The winner of the Dark Tournament? Sir, you wound me! Why the absolute thought of doing something so completely reprehensible…" His voice was getting louder, distress and tears hinted in the usually modulated tone.
"Look, if I agree will you shut the hell up?" Yusuke cried desperately, looking frantically around to make sure no one was watching. He was horrified and embarrassed at the threat of tears that seemed ready to fall from the boy's face.
"Of course…" Kurama retorted smoothly, all expression of distress gone. He got up and dusted off his pants.
Yusuke's eyes narrowed. "You just played me…" he softly accused the other.
"Correct…and I'll expect you at my house promptly at 8 am," Kurama said pleasantly as he began strolling away.
"NO…! You tricked me, so I'm not coming!"
"Then I'll simply tell my mother how you agreed to help me then cruelly, maliciously one might even say, you decided you had better things to do with your time than help your poor desperate friend whose only crime is that he wants to please his mother." He affected a tragic expression. "Hmmm, I wonder what she'll say the next time you show up at our house for breakfast, lunch, or dinner?"
"Evil…" Yusuke hissed. He hated when someone pulled something over on him.
"Kitsune…" Yusuke was reminded with a sweet, gentle smile. There was a hint of steel in the implacable gaze. "Don't be late."
Fuming, all Yusuke could do was watch the elegant, slender kitsune disappear into the shadows. "Fucking asshole," he muttered. It didn't occur to him that for the first time in weeks, he wasn't thinking about his breakup with Keiko.
Kurama strolled home, his hands shoved into the pockets on his short windbreaker. A little breeze stirred his hair, lazily lifting the tresses away from the fine-boned purity of his face. The slight smile on his lips had more than one passerby staring after the hauntingly slim red-head as he passed them by.
In the shadows up ahead, three such eyes gleamed nastily. Three punks were striking various poses under the pale glow of the street light. One leaned indolently against a wall; another was crouched cat-like on a fire hydrant, while the third was rested negligently against the street light, perfecting his brooding tough-guy look. A plume of smoke wafted through the air as he coolly exhaled around the cigarette dangling from his sneering mouth.
He had an attitude and wasn't afraid to use it.
Clad in cleverly ripped jeans, wife-beaters and fingerless gloves, they each exuded their own particular air of brooding menace. From the toothpicks, to the cigarettes and the gaudy skulls and cross-bones earrings dangling from their ears, their body language screamed 'Thugs, beware!'. The curled, sneering lips as well as the contemptuous looks on their faces had many a pedestrian crossing the street to avoid the potential hazard of trouble.
As Kurama came closer, their bodies subtly grew tense; their eyes glittered hotly with anticipation. They were horny and looking for some action. From the way the stranger was walking, they knew they had just found a 'playmate' to relieve their frustrations.
None of the females they had met so far would give them the time of day, much less a couple of minutes for a hasty fuck. They weren't too particular about where they received satisfaction. When they were in a mood like this, if they couldn't get a girl, then a boy would do just fine. They weren't particular. Actually they preferred a boy…the humiliation factor was much more intense and sweeter.
Kurama sighed briefly. A bit of regret going unnoticed by the lounging tough guys. As he stepped between them, gracing them with a polite distant smile, the tallest one snatched him by the arm and whirled him into the alley. The other two hurriedly followed, matching lewd excitement glittering in their eyes.
The kitsune backed slowly away. A quick glance behind showed a brick wall several feet away. No exit that way. The alley, already shadowed, darkened even further as the moon ducked behind a bank of clouds as if to hide from the coming violence.
The three stalked forward, mocking raucous laughter and catcalls echoing off the walls; each trying to best the other in terrorizing their 'trembling' victim. Predatory smiles bloomed by the light of the street lamp behind them with each step their little pigeon took backwards. By the nasty, vicious look in their eyes, the way they keep grabbing their crotches more than just robbing and roughing up the red-head was on their minds.
"You don't want to do this," Kurama stated calmly, still backing away. His voice was eerily smooth and controlled. There was no hint of fear or panic in it. It made the youths pause, frowns darkening their already brutish faces.
Something was wrong. But as the red-head kept backing away, they reassured themselves that THEY were still in control. "Awwww, c'mon pretty boy."
Kurama's eyes flashed dangerously. He hated being called a 'pretty boy'.
"Me and my friends, we just wanna play a little game," the leader said with a rough laugh. He lewdly grabbed and rubbed at his engorged crotch meaningfully. "But I don't think you're gonna like our game too well…" He enjoyed the appreciative laughter coming from his mates, his swaggering ego puffing up even more.
"Someone will get hurt if you continue this foolishness…" Kurama warned them with quiet seriousness. By now he was almost to the back of the alley, half hidden in the shadows.
"Yeah…You!" Snickering loudly, they rushed forward.
A gust of air swirled in the alley, bringing with it a cold, eldritch wind; a foreboding feeling skittered along their nerves that something completely unnatural and foreign rode that eerie wind. They hesitated, skidding to a halt, their mad rush forgotten as they peered around. They drew closer, knives suddenly appearing in shaking hands. A tin can rolled, its rattle making the boys jump.
"Actually…" came a deeper, huskier voice. "I was referring to you…"
Several somethings came shooting out of the shadows. Whatever it was landed and wrapped around them. To their utter horror, they could feel something wiggling, burrowing through their clothing and into their shrinking flesh. And the three wanna-be thugs screamed as shards of glass seemed to scrape across exposed nerves. Their bodies jerked spastically, their arms flailing as they struggled to overcome whatever was grating their nervous system to fine power.
Then to their deepening horror, they were dragged closer into the shadows. They struggled, terrified and deathly sure that in the shadows was no place THEY wanted to go. Grunting, pulling with all their strength, they managed to gain a few feet, only to have the source undulate into the faint light produced by the streetlamp.
They much preferred not to know. Along with their wide terrified eyes, whimpering sounds came from their throats.
Giant leaves were parted, from which long, thick vines protruded. It was the vines that were wrapped around them. The largest of the three boys, seeing the serrated outside edges of the leaves, then the open, red gullet and the jagged spikes that lined the insides, totally lost it. He screamed, his voice rising high and shrill.
A spreading wet spot darkened the fabric of his jeans. The acidic stench of urine mingled with the other foul scents of the alley.
A willowy slender, silver-haired male picked his way gracefully through the unnatural foliage, casually brushing aside a man-sized leaf. A gentle wind played with his hair, briefly obscuring his face, leaving only his eyes visible. And there was nothing but cold amusement in that distant, golden gaze. The wind settled, and a face, made paler by the moonlight, was cruel and unfeelingly remote.
There was also nothing remotely human about the look in his eyes. The boys each came to the shattering conclusion that they could be flies for all the sympathy the man would give them. And like annoying flies, they would be brushed or swatted aside.
"Do you like MY friends…?" The drawling husky voice easily overrode their screams as the ground they gained was swiftly erased. Yoko stroked a hand down the green stalk of the hungry plant. Steadily the now terrorized youths were pulled, frantic struggles notwithstanding, backwards to the gaping, hungry mouths of the plants. To their absolute horror, and drawing fresh shrill cries, they saw more snapping, open leaves. The guy was standing in a nest of them.
"They're a rather extreme version of the Venus Flytrap…"
With a flick of his hand, the vines wrapping around the boys flexed, drawing them helplessly upwards. Coiled as they were, it was with a single movement that when the vine flexed, they crashed high up on the brick wall. As they slid down their back were painfully grated. Agony exploding along their nerves convinced them that running away the first chance they got would be a great idea.
Unfortunately, Yoko was not in the mood to release his prey. Drawling mocking pleasantries he proceeded to provide a valuable lesson to the human toughs: Never fuck with strangers; especially if you didn't know they were demons.
By his reckoning, he was quite gentle with them, careful not to cause any lasting injuries. By judicious control of the plant, he only broke a couple of ribs, two arms, and fingers. All three were crumbling, quivering heaps on the filthy ground, their bodily fluids joining the foulness that littered the alley.
With a slight smile, Yoko released the boys from his precious plant. A farewell stroke to the thick stalk and it dwindled, becoming nothing more than a rather vivid nightmare for the three cowering toughs. When the silver haired man strolled towards them, they sobbed pathetically and tried to crawl away, just now noticing the plume of a silver tail, idly beating the air.
Yoko stepped on the leader's hand. His movement drew a weak, scratchy cry from a throat grown hoarse from repeated screaming. A calm look at the other two froze them in place.
Crouching, Kurama directed his attention to the 'leader'. "Now, I hope you boys learned a lesson from this night," he said gently. More whimpering came from the humans as ripple seemed to pass over the…man. His appearance wavered. In his place now crouched their original victim, the sweet-faced, red-headed boy.
"Just because someone looks weak, doesn't mean they are weak. People are not…" and he leaned forward, his eyes fading to a coldly dispassionate gold, "...always what they seem."
He stood easily, his eyes returning to their startling emerald color. He looked down at the cowering boy calmly. "Now go home."
Trembling, they scrambled to their feet. They kept a wary, suspicious eye on the stranger, hardly daring to believe he was letting them go. They backed away slowly at first, then faster before turning around to run from the alley.
At the mouth of the alley, leaning insouciantly against the streetlight, was dark-haired youth. Through quaking, the fear still upon him, the leader sought to regain his tough guy status.
"Hey, you…" Though a bit shaky and husky, he was pitifully glad to hear in his voice the familiar roughness and menace he formerly had. It still meant he had it. However, his air of toughness melted away, leaving him a quivering, nervous blob when the kid looked at him. Just looked at him. As if he knew exactly what had happened in the alley. In the kid's eyes, there was the same look that was in the other…guy's eyes.
They froze like three rabbits caught out in the open. There was nowhere to hide. If they ran, he would only catch them. Do worst things to them. They drew closer together, whimpering.
Yusuke pushed away from the streetlight and sauntered to profusely sweating, filthy youths. His eyes flickered to the large wet stain on the crotch of the largest, cold amusement filling his eyes.
Kurama emerged from the alley. He looked at the three youths, his brows raised in mild surprise. "Boys, I thought I told you to go home…" he said gently, then looked at Yusuke. "Don't tell me you followed me. How…sweet."
A wicked grin kicked up the corners of Yusuke's mouth. He snorted. They were both ignoring the other three. "Sweet my ass. I came to kick your chicken lily-white ass, you little bastard. Trickin' me like that." He walked around the frozen youths and threw a companionable arm around Kurama's shoulders. As they walked away, he jerked a thumb over his shoulder. "Who's the bunch of chicken shits?"
Reprieved, the three youths made a run for it. Silently vowing to mend their way. They understood they had gotten 'lucky' tonight. None of them dwelled on just how 'unlucky' tonight could have been.
"Oh, just a couple of naïve little boys looking for a bit of fun and excitement," Kurama retorted calmly with nary a smile. He leaned subtly into Yusuke's warmth, feeling the chill of Yoko's presence melting like ice left in the sun. "I decided to grant their request." He gave Yusuke a limpid, sweet stare that was belied by the wicked smile.
Yusuke laughed coarsely, mutely shaking his head. "Only you, Kurama….Only you."
By the time Yusuke made it to Kurama's house the next day, he was once again in a nasty mood. All morning he had fumed over the trickery the fox had used on him last night. Angrily he rang the bell, muttering under his breath about having to get up so early and spend the day working. The weatherman promised that it was going to be a beautiful, sunny day.
It was summer vacation. He was supposed to be relaxing…not working, he thought grumpily. Wasn't it in a rulebook or something?
"Yusuke…" Shiori Kazuyu said as she opened the door. She smiled gently at the dark-haired youth, recognizing him as one of Shuichi's long time friends.
"Mornin', Shuichi's mom." He grinned cheekily at her.
"Come in," she laughed as he slouched through the door. Boys were so cute at this age, she thought fondly as she closed the door. Next to that tall, lovable carrot top other friend of Kurama, Yusuke was her secret favorite. Though she did love the other prickly little, Hiei Jaganshi, however, around Yusuke, Kurama came out of his shell. Allowing his poor desperate mother brief glimpses of his life, she thought ruefully. Kurama laughed more when surrounded by all three; she even recalled seeing a hint of a smile on the usually scowling face of Hiei a time or two.
"I just finished cooking breakfast so I think you'll be the first one at the table," she called over her shoulder, heading back to the kitchen.
They entered the kitchen. Kurama was already there setting the table. Shiori raised her brows at his outfit, but held her tongue.
Kurama rolled his eyes, exasperated when he noticed her looking meaningfully at Yusuke.
"Mother, it will be excessively hot today and I have no intention of fainting of heatstroke," he said evenly.
Yusuke looked confusedly between the two, halfway aware that something was going on over his head. Which wasn't that unusual when he was dealing with Kurama. He looked glanced at the kitsune, hoping to find some clue. But nothing out of the ordinary struck him as odd. Kurama was wearing shorts, a top and shoes. Big whoop.
He shrugged, losing interest in favor of the delicious smells coming from the stove. The others stumbled into the kitchen as Kurama finished setting the table. "Ummmmm…" Yusuke took a deep appreciative sniff. He cocked an eye at the woman and winked. "Anytime you're ready to leave Mr. Kazuyu-san and marry me, let me know."
Kurama's stepfather pulled out a chair and sat down. "I'll only let her go to a man willing to support her in the lifestyle she's become accustomed too. In other words, get a job," he retorted calmly.
Yusuke pretended to frown in disappointment as he turned to Shiori. "Damn, there goes my plan. Sorry, Shuichi's mom, guess you're gonna hafta stay here until I figure out another way to rescue you from this sad life of having everything you want."
Kurama ignored them as he sat down. It was familiar background noise. A teasing pattern before every meal.
Shiori's eyes crinkled though her face remained solemn. She patted Yusuke's cheek gently. "That's okay…" she pretended to sob. "I shall wait for you…"
Young Shuichi made a disgusted face. He was just beginning to note the value of a pretty girl. His stepmother didn't fall into the category of 'pretty' or 'girl'.
"She's old enough to be your mother….After all, she's HIS mother," he loudly declaimed, pointing at Kurama with his butterknife.
Taking an appreciate bite of his breakfast and swallowing, Yusuke leaned back in his chair and patted his stomach. He looked genially at the younger Kazuyu. "Son, when you get to be my age, you'll understand the value of a pretty girl that can cook."
"Yup…" Mr. Kazuyu chimed in.
"Oh, dear god," Kurama muttered with a roll of his eyes. However, Shiori saw the amused grin tugged at his mouth. Meals times were never like this unless Yusuke was at the table.
"You are a very sick person," Shuichi stated slowly, staring at Yusuke.
"All I know, is this food is slammin' and I'm gettin' me some."
After breakfast, and it being Saturday, the older Kazuyu each went to a separate part of the house to do their own thing. Shiori to begin cleaning the house, her husband to work on the books for his company while young Shuichi decided to escape the insane people and hang with his friends.
Kurama took Yusuke through the house and into his bedroom. Actually it was more of an in-law apartment than a room. It protruded, connected to the house only by his bedroom door. A nice sized bedroom, a small sitting area and bathroom was all contained in the one room. The only thing missing was a kitchenette.
A sliding glass door opened into the backyard allowing Yusuke to see the ailing and devastated area. "Damn…" he breathed. "How in the hell could you stand seeing this?"
Multiple huge round splotches of brown spots, sickly looking or dead plants littered the area. And since the yard was so big, the effect was even more disturbing.
A heavy sigh came from behind him. A hand touched his back. Obligingly he moved out of the way.
"It wasn't easy," Kurama reported grimly, stepping further into the yard. "I initially thought the spreading illness was natural. Every time I managed to bring it back to life, a few weeks later, everything would begin dying again. Since I couldn't imagine anyone attacking in such a manner, I thought…" he shrugged, a look of pain in his eyes.
When he continued, there was a certain vicious relish in his voice. "If it's any consolation, I manage to catch the ones responsible for the damage." The glint in his eyes gave Yusuke the distinct impression that what Kurama did left a lasting impression on whoever was stupid enough to mess with the kitsune.
The look fading, he looked wryly over his shoulder at Yusuke. "Apparently the boys in this neighborhood don't appreciate my 'affect' on the females that live in the neighborhood."
Deciphering the meaning, Yusuke began snickering. He strolled over to the kitsune and slung an arm over Kurama's shoulder. Chucking the annoyed yokai under the chin, he exclaimed, "You sly fox…"
"Oh, shut up…"
"From one fan club to another," the toushin continued teasingly. He was having a rare good time. Making fun of Kurama was going a long way towards helping keep his mind off Keiko. But at that thought, his merriment faded, bleakness creeping into his eyes.
Briskly Kurama took control of the situation. It would do no good to have Yusuke continue to dwell. "Let's get started…" he suggested, grabbing the other by the arm and dragging him over to where bags of dirt were piled against the tall wooden fence. It completely enclosed the area. The two entrances and exits to the backyard were Kurama's room and the living room.
Speaking slowly and carefully, Kurama explained his plan to Yusuke. He was aware of his friend's rather short attention span for doing things he hated to do.
Yusuke, in turn, was justifiably horrified at the amount of work involved; hard, physical, backbreaking work at that. His mouth was opened to categorically refuse to do anything when Shiori entered the yard.
"Yusuke," she began. Her face was quietly serious. "I want to thank you for helping Shuichi. This means a lot to me. Shuichi knows this, but…but I've always had this dream wedding in my head. Unfortunately, when I married Shuichi's father, we didn't have enough money; then when I married Mr. Kazuyu…well, he wanted me to have my dream wedding, but I knew the business needed the money more. Since then, his business has been doing so well, that there's more than enough money for me to finally have the wedding of my dreams." She blushed and looked down. "It may seem silly and stupid, to spend money so frivolously, but…"
Yusuke turned angrily on Kurama. "What are you standing around here? We've got a garden to get ready! We ain't got time to waste daydreaming! And oba-san, no dream is ever silly," he replied huskily before stomping over to the pickaxe and other assorted gardening tools.
They watched him as he grabbed a shovel and headed determinedly to a spot. "Does he know what he's doing?" Shiori asked blankly. She was staring in wide-eyed amazement at the boy's industrious use of the shovel. He kept jamming it into the straight down into the ground. The 'hahs' and 'take that!' were making her flinch.
The ground was rocky and hard, so using the shovel was getting Yusuke absolutely nowhere. From the increasingly angry and frustrated look developing on the boy's face, he knew it as well.
"Not really," Shuichi responded blandly. He sighed when Yusuke began looking speculatively between the shovel and the pickaxe. "I better go and rescue the poor ground before he really gets started. And mother, don't worry….We'll have everything ready before your wedding. My gift to you…" Drawing his hair up in a loose ponytail, he strolled over to his friend.
With a gentle hand on Yusuke shoulder, Kurama neatly distracted his friend from further depredation of the innocent soil.
She swallowed hard, her eyes suddenly swimming with tears. Her husband joined her. "You've raised a fine young man, Shiori," he remarked softly. "I can only hope that together, we can do the same with my son. If he turns out even half as responsible as Shuichi, I can die a happy man."
Shiori looked at him and allowed him to guide her into the house. "Though I know it's time to let go, I'm going to miss him when he goes away to college this fall."
"Me too…" Mr. Kazuyu said heavily, shutting the outside door.
By the time afternoon rolled around and the sun was beaming down on their heads, Yusuke was dripping with sweat. He had abandoned his shirt hours ago, having long since become too hot with it on.
They had decided to begin the work by starting the area on one side of the house. It was directly across from the living room.
He paused in wielding the pickaxe to wipe the sweat from his forehead. "Tired…?" Kurama called from behind. He was following Yusuke with the shovel, digging and turning over the loosened earth unearthed.
"Yeah…a little bit," Yusuke admitted. He laid the axe down with a sigh at Kurama's suggestion to take a break. He backed up and leaned against the wooden wall, simply enjoying this period of rest. He watched Kurama idly, absently taking note of how the kitsune's ponytail bounced up and down with each step.
He better put on some sunscreen or he's gonna burn, he thought critically of the kitsune disappearing inside the bedroom entrance. That shirt ain't gonna do anything to protect him, 'sides, it ain't even big enough. His arms, shoulders and most of his back and stomach are bare. Without conscious thought, his face fell in a familiar pattern of worry. To the outside world, it had the look of an angry scowl.
Stupid kitsune, was Yusuke's silent exasperated snort.
Kurama, stepping out of the bedroom, nearly smiled at the look of worry on Yusuke's face. As for him, other than a little flush, the kitsune bore little evidence of the hard work he had been doing.
He had four bottles of water and two tubes of sunscreen. Yusuke skin is looking a little too red, he thought with a slight frown. His eyes traveled over the hard, well-defined planes of his friend's chest only absently noting, though lean and wiry, Yusuke body held an undoubtedly raw masculine power and grace.
Years of looking after his friends had left Yusuke with an unconsciously commanding presence, as if in any given situation, he automatically took charge.
Kurama allowed his smile to show when he reached Yusuke. "You need these," he said simply gesturing to the water and sunscreen.
"Not as much as you…" Yusuke argued back. He took the proffered water. With a quick twist of his wrist, he had the cap off. Tilting the bottle up, and his head back, he eagerly swallowed the refreshing liquid. Not swallowing fast enough most of it backed up and flowed over his chest.
He didn't care.
Kurama joined him resting against the wall. Likewise, drinking in similar manner. They sighed, noisily blowing out their breath before drinking again.
Shiori smiled into her tea as her female neighbors stood at the patio doors, their noses pressed against the glass. When she and her son first moved in, these same women had treated her as if she was some kind of gold digger. Now look at them, fanning themselves even though the air conditioner was on.
It was amazing, she thought with some of her son's dry humor, how many 'good friends' I have every time Shuichi goes out to garden.
A low breathy moan came from one of the women as water poured down the two boys chests. Thighs were squeezed together. They swallowed hard, tiny whining sounds coming from their throats.
Lowering his bottle, Kurama caught sight of a bunch of women at the living room door. His lashes lowered to hide his expression. Yusuke, also catching sight of the women, smirked. He nudged the kitsune. "Old ones, young ones, fat ones, and the skinnies," he chanted mockingly. "You go girl…" He took off running in pretend fear.
Kurama quickly caught up with his teasing friend and tacked him, wrestling Yusuke to the ground. They rolled over several times, each strained for dominance before Yusuke, with superior strength gained the upper hand. Triumphantly he straddled the kitsune, anchoring Kurama's hands to the ground. "HA…" He grinned down into the annoyed face.
His body its own weapon, Kurama twisted and flexed. Yusuke found himself pinned to the ground with a smirking kitsune perched on his hips. "HA yourself…" Kurama grinned mischievously, radiating joy and laughter.
Inside, one woman moaned audibly, a spreading dampness in her underwear.
Shiori's lips tightened, her amusement vanishing suddenly. "Ladies, thank you for dropping by. However, I really must take care of some pressing household chores," she stated tersely. Rising to her feet, she gazed at their guilty, sheepish faces. Letting them see what she thought of their behavior. It had been amusing, but it abruptly sickened her, even her part in this.
Resentment in more than one pair of eyes, the women departed grudgingly.
Shiori glanced out the sliding doors. A brief smile crossed her face. A laughing Yusuke and Shuichi were squirting sunscreen at each other. She turned away.
As the days turned into weeks, Yusuke, to his credit, took to the hard work with little complaint. When he worked too long and too hard, Kurama, with his mother's enthusiastic blessing, always offered to let him stay overnight. It was either that or Shiori or her husband would drive him home. Which was, in Yusuke's opinion, extremely embarrassing. Like he needed protection from whatever walked the nights.
More than often than not, he found himself staying over. .
It was usually on the nights when Mrs. Kazuyu prepared his favorite meals. Upon learning what Yusuke enjoyed, the entire family was subjected to meals prepared for him in mind.
Shiori had figuratively taken the boy under her maternal wing.
A couple of rather demanding questions directed at Shuichi in her most inflexible voice had her son caving in immediately. After that, she decided that having another son around the house was a good thing. Mr. Kazuyu knew better than to argue when Shiori got that steely glint in her eyes. Not that he argued hard anyway. He liked Yusuke. Besides, even he could see the effects of Yusuke's presence on their two sons.
Lying on the pull-out sofa in Kurama's room, Yusuke, just before he fell asleep would silently dwell on what a good friend the red-head truly was.
He enjoyed the time spent in the Minamino/Kazuyu household, since not all the time was spent on the garden.
With Kurama going to college in the fall, (the Death Benefit Shiori received for her first husband's death, had been set aside for their son's education) he rode along when they began purchasing supplies for Kurama's new living quarters.
Just after graduation, the Kazuyus, when they found Shuichi had been accepted to a most prestigious college, Mr. and Mrs. Kazuyu had made the eight-hour journey to investigate the campus. They were shown where his classes would be and the dorms where he could live.
One look at the students lounging in the dorm, especially the slow way they eyed Shuichi and Mr. Kazuyu, his eyes bland behind the lens of his glasses, judiciously decided that a house for Shuichi's use would perhaps be more practical. Without consulting his wife, he quickly found a small two-bedroom house in a nice quiet neighborhood.
The price had been reasonable, and in a few years time when Shuichi graduated, it would become a source of additional income for the family.
Humming in accompany to the radio playing in the background, Kurama was carefully plotting the order of the plants. Crouching on the ground, his hair drawn in a loose knot atop his head, with sections falling in his face, Kurama's face was a study in absorption.
The faded green-cropped shirt that had seen better days, revealed his hard muscled abs, while the ripped, tattered shorts revealed the long line of his thighs and calves. He presented an extremely enticing picture of creamy, lush beauty.
Effortlessly blurring the line between male and female; his feminine beauty was the lure; his sensuous maleness was the trap.
The girls peering through the wooden slats of the fence sighed in unison. Several feet away, another crowd of girls were gathered. Their eyes rapturously trained on the other object of their sexual fantasies.
A rather nasty fight had broken out when one of the girls had taken to calling herself Mrs. Urameshi Yusuke.
Browned by the sun, muscles hardened by the hard labor, his body was as undisputedly male as Shuichi was androgynous. There could be no doubt as to his maleness. Muscles moved sleekly under sun-burnish skin, gleaming under the sun.
Coiled, tensed…the way he moved, walked or jumped had many a pair of panties soaking wet. Both he and the red-head were the stars of many lurid daydreams and fantasies. It would have surprised and shocked Yusuke to know that most of the fantasies involved him and Kurama. In bed. Doing the nasty.
Cool ivory against sun-warmed gold.
At times, the girls grew fearful that either of the boys knew they were spying on them, but they couldn't stop. They just…couldn't stop. It was like an addiction. Every day, they wanted more and more. On the weekends, the competition at the fence was fierce. Their moms were home and unfairly pulled rank, elbowing them out of the way to the best spot.
Bitches!
Kurama face was at its coolest, a telling clue to his rising temper. A glance at Yusuke, and the unnatural strength in which the dark-haired youth was attacking the ground, told him the toushin was feeling the same. While not as acute as his own senses, Yusuke was always conscious of eyes watching him.
Casually rising to his feet, his rather loose shorts slipping just below his hipbones, Kurama sauntered to Yusuke.
Touching the sweaty back, he stroked the bunched muscles slowly, feeling Yusuke relaxing under his touch. "I hate them…" Yusuke stated in a quiet angry voice. "Kinda funny, there was a time when I used to pray for the day that a bunch of girls would be ogling me. Hell, I used to do the same when I was in school. And you know what? It's not half as much fun as I thought it would be. I wanna take a bath."
"Shhhh," Kurama whispered soothingly. He leaned reassuringly against his friend, gently running his hand up and down Yusuke's arm to settle the twitchy skin. A nasty smile curved his lips. "Wanna dance…?"
Yusuke looked at him, startled, eyes widening at the vicious light in the bottle-green eyes. "Uhm…not that you're ugly, just the opposite, I mean…you do realize, I'm into girls, right?" he stammered, his eyes falling unconsciously on the tender pink curve of Kurama's mouth. A light pink bloomed on his cheeks.
"Idiot….You're not exactly my type either." Green eyes laughed, he wasn't blind. He saw where Yusuke's eyes dropped. But gracefully he allowed it to roll past him, defusing the moment by ignoring it. "Gardening is all about relaxing…You're not relaxed. C'mon, dance with me…" A sultry, rhythmic song began playing on the radio, the singer growling about his girl and what he wanted to do to her.
Kurama slipped the shovel from Yusuke's nervous grip, then gripping the strong callous hands in his, he backed away. His hips moving suggestively, seductively…effortlessly keeping time with the undertone of drums. Nervously Yusuke followed, eyeing in amazement the way Kurama danced. Though why he should be surprised, considering the way the kitsune fought, it was only natural that Kurama was so…good, he thought wryly. He was all too aware of what word his mind had just substituted.
Sexy.
Closing his mind to further introspection, he let himself go. Dancing away all his self-doubts, pain and anger.
They twisted, slid gracefully against one another and twined around each other's sleek bodies. Years of fighting demons, sparring with each other gave them an excellent spatial awareness of one another.
In battle, the object was to intimidate and destroy the enemy; here, now…Kurama had a much different objective...
He gave the moaning, squealing females beyond the fence a show that would live forever in their wildest fantasies. Every man hereafter would be compared to them. And fail.
It was, perhaps a trick of light, that his eyes held a gold sheen.
"Shiori, Daddddddd," Shuichi wandered into the family room, "Yusuke and Shuichi are dirty dancing in the backyard," he whined.
Several days later, as the thin, fragile wood pieces collapsed…again, Kurama frowned darkly at the ground. "Yusuke, could you come here for a minute?"
Dark eyes looked up. Yusuke was tilling the dirt in this section of the yard. He had about another dozen feet to go. Dropping the rake, he unhurriedly sauntered over to his friend. Subconsciously registering and admiring the play of light on the glistening skin of Kurama's long graceful back.
His eyes followed a bead of sweat as it wound its way down the rich creamy skin, trickling, sliding hesitantly then more rapidly, collecting other fat droplets, swelling before disappearing beneath the waistband of the loose shorts. Confusion reigning, he snapped his eyes up to the back of Kurama's head.
"Whazzup…?"
"I need you to hold these rods steady. I keep trying to wind this wire around them, but unfortunately, I don't possess an extra pair of hands."
"Sure…" Yusuke frowned, his hands moving uncertainly. "Uhm, how am I supposed to hold them if you're in the way?"
"Just stand over me and hold them," Kurama replied with a slight frown of concentration. "Let me know when you're ready."
"You're the boss." With a shrug, Yusuke complied. Spreading his legs wide to accommodate Kurama's crouching body, he shuffled forward until his legs were on either side of the kitsune's shoulders. "Ready."
Working swiftly, Kurama anchored the thin wire in the ground before beginning to wrap it carefully around the poles. Then he stopped, understanding what Yusuke had tried, indirectly, to tell him. "Uhm, I think you need to move back some," he said slowly. He could feel the heat radiating from Yusuke's body.
"Okay, hold on a sec, let me…" Yusuke shuffled backwards a little. "How's that…?"
"Better…" Again moving swiftly, Kurama wiggled slightly and carefully stood up, still winding the wire about the circular trellis. He was in the warm circle of Yusuke's arms. Though no stranger to physical attraction, he dismissed the shiver of awareness he felt and his yokai abrupt interest.
"You finished yet…?" Yusuke said impatiently. He was holding his arms out way to the side to avoid touching Kurama. That time they had danced together had left a memory that he would rather not contemplate for any length of time.
"Just about…" His lashes lowering over his eyes, Kurama spoke sotto-voice to Yusuke. "Are you up to having a little more…fun?"
Unseen, Yusuke's brows rose; his interest caught by the note of playfulness in the kitsune's voice. "Depends on what you have in mind…" he answered cautiously. He was well acquainted with Kurama's idea of 'play'. His red-headed friend had streak of cruelty that occasionally liked to play.
"The girls are watching us again. I've detected a general pattern that might amuse you." Kurama's lips were twisted in a smirk. He had no doubt that Yusuke would NOT be amused by his next words. "You know what they want? They want to see you…and me. Doing naughty things," Kurama whispered wickedly.
Behind the kitsune, Yusuke froze. His mind frantically trying to deny what the ears just heard. Kurama did not, NOT mean what he said. "Urk…" He choked out as warm fingers caressed his hands.
Kurama tossed a mischievous look over his shoulder, at odds with the sensuous and inviting face the women saw.
Yusuke's eyes narrowed at the teasing glint in the green eyes. He was being played with too. "Kurama, somebody's gonna throw you over their knee and spank your ass raw."
"Promises, promises." With a mocking laugh, Kurama tried to wiggle away. His smile vanished when smooth, powerful arms wrapped around his waist. He turned fully to face his dark haired friend, his heart suddenly beating frantically in his chest. "Now, now Yusuke, I was only joking."
"Oh ho, you can dish it out but you can't take it, huh?"
Kurama's eyes narrowed at the challenging words. "Oh, I can take it all right. All night long," he drawled suggestively. "But I'm much better at giving it." At the widening eyes, he couldn't help himself. Playfully, he licked Yusuke's nose. And was immediately released. He quickly escaped.
"Oh, gross!" Hands scrubbed irritably at his wet appendage, Yusuke yelled at chortling friend, "You are such a perv."
"Takes one to know one," Kurama taunted from a safe distance. Snickering, he began running away from the growling Yusuke. "It was a joke," he laughed breathlessly when he was cornered against the fence. He fell to his knees then twisted, falling on his behind. Yusuke became insinuated between his legs, also breathlessly laughing. He could laugh at a good joke, even if he was the butt of it. Wheezing, he rested against Kurama's warm, damp form.
To the people watching through the fence, all they could see was the dark-hair boy between Shuichi's legs. Their imagination ran wild. Several had to go and have a lay down. That and change their underwear.
The two yokai rested, quietly enjoying this moment of quietude. Kurama stirred. "C'mon, we still got more work to do," he murmured. He drew his legs up on either side of Yusuke, and his arms up the muscular back. Refusing to admit just how natural it felt to have his friend in such a position. "We only have about four more weeks to go, before I need to leave for college." Immediately he regretted his words as Yusuke stiffened against him.
College was becoming an increasingly sore subject between them. That Yusuke was happy for him; still, this joint project had drawn them closer in ways he had hardly imagined. He thought he knew Yusuke, but the past several weeks had shown him that he only knew the surface Yusuke, the part that was shown to everyone. Kurama was surprised at how…hurt he felt. Next to Keiko, he thought he was Yusuke's closest friend.
He knew he was treading on dangerous ground, walking a fine line between friendship and attraction. And he didn't want that with Yusuke. To be disappointed. To be wanted only for his appearance. He was sure it would destroy something inside him if it happened between him and Yusuke.
"Yeah, we…uhm better hurry up." With that, Yusuke pushed himself to his feet. Holding out a hand, he helped Kurama up. A subdued silence between them, they quietly went back to their respective tasks.
After dinner, Kurama was unsurprised to see Yusuke getting in the car with his stepfather to go home.
Shiori watched her son with troubled eyes. Whether they realized it or not, the two boys were falling for each other. She had long since accepted her son's lifestyle choice. As long as he found someone to love, and that loved him, was all that mattered.
Sighing, she and young Shuichi cleaned the dinner table.
This story was inspired by lyrics 'I care 4 you'
by Aaliyah
Mmm yeah…
Mmm yeah…
Oh yeah oh..
Hey my baby
Why you lookin' so down?
Seems like you need a lovin'
Baby you need a girl like me
(Don't frown)
Hey my baby
Tell me why you cry
Here take my hand and (yeah)
Wipe those tears from your eye
Can I talk to you (Can I talk to you)
Comfort you (Comfort)
Let you know (Just wanna let you know)
I care 4 you (oh yeah)
Can I talk to you (I wanna talk)
Comfort you (Gotta let you know babay)
Let you know
I care 4 you (I care)
Hey sexy baby
Why'd your girl leave you in pain
To let a fine man like you go
She must be insane
Hey sexy baby
There's no need to worry
Oh boy if you call on me
I'll come, I'll come in a hurry
Can I talk to you (Come on)
Comfort you (I love you)
Let you know (oh baby)
I care 4 you (I love you, yes I do)
Can I talk to you (I wanna talk)
Comfort you (Give me the chance)
Let you know (I wanna let you know)
I care 4 you (Gotta let you know, that I love you)
Hold on (Hold on)
Stay strong (Stay strong)
Press on (For me baby)
I care 4 you ( I 4 for you)
Hold on (Hold on)
Stay strong (Stay strong)
Press on (Press on for me)
I care 4 you (baby)
Can I talk to you (I wanna talk)
Comfort you (I wanna hold you tight baby)
Let you know (I wanna let you know)
I care 4 you (That I care for you)
Can I talk to you (ohhh)
Chapter 1 of 3
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