Author's Note: Thank you to everyone who read and enjoyed chapter one! I'm really enjoying writing this one, and I can't wait to see how it changes from my original, 10-year-old story (which was cheesy and BAD). I should probably apologize for this chapter title, but...eh, whatever.

For anyone that also uses AO3, I am posting my fic on there as well. So if you see it while wandering, don't be surprised.

Ch. 2: It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

It's him.

Those words had played out in Yusuke's mind on repeat from the moment he and Genkai had parted from Hiei in the street. Even now, three days later, Yusuke couldn't deny the excitement that he had felt from seeing the man. At first, Yusuke had been unable to recognize him. It had been four years, after all, and they had only spoken for a few moments. But those moments had meant enough to Yusuke that he hadn't forgotten them entirely. But he only remembered them after Hiei had left; and clearly Hiei had no idea who Yusuke was.

Currently, Yusuke was hiding out in town again in a desperate attempt to hide from Genkai's nightmarish training regimen. He had been up before even the birds, meditating in the freezing cold and sparring for hours in Genkai's dojo. Yusuke had to hand it to her; she might have been old enough to be his grandmother, but she was more spry, swift, and flexible than anyone his age that he'd met. But Yusuke was lazy by nature, and a natural-born fighter. He didn't want to pick a style because lacking one was his. And fighting had always come so naturally to him that learning now just seemed strange.

Besides, the town was getting ready for the annual festival. Every year the village held a festival celebrating winter. Food stalls were raised, an ice rink was set up, and all sorts of games and activities were held. Local craftsmen showed off their wares for both locals and tourists to browse and enjoy. There were even chances for festival-goers to try their hand at the displayed crafts. But everything culminated in a fireworks show that lit up the night. Yusuke had come every year, and he always left impressed.

Right now the town was in the middle of the preparation process. As he strolled through the streets, Yusuke could see volunteers hanging lanterns and fairy lights, as well as some who were attempting to keep the sidewalks as clear as possible. In a few days everything would be ready, and the weekend festival would begin. For what felt like the first time in months, Yusuke allowed his shoulders to droop and relax. He was a city boy born and bred, but there were times when he felt more comfortable in this hidden village than he had ever felt back in Tokyo.

"Hey, Urameshi!"

Yusuke choked as a strong arm was wrapped around his neck and he was jerked into a headlock. His carefully gelled hair was ruined by a gloved fist digging into it. Annoyance surging, Yusuke pushed out of the hold and grabbed the front of the offender's shirt. It was quite a reach, because Kuwabara towered over pretty much everyone. The two had known each other since middle school. They had both lived in Tokyo and had attended the same school. But that didn't mean they were friends.

In the beginning, it was a one-sided rivalry. Kuwabara couldn't stand how much stronger than him Yusuke was, and he had challenged Yusuke to a fight every day that he wasn't in the hospital. At first, it annoyed Yusuke. Then one day he noticed that their fights were lasting longer. All those times he was getting beaten into the pavement by Yusuke, Kuwabara had been learning. After a while, Yusuke found he had a grudging respect for the taller boy. He still wouldn't call Kuwabara his friend out loud (and the feeling was mutual) but they knew that's what they were. No matter how it looked to other people.

"Oh, I didn't know you had a hospital appointment today Kuwabara," he said, falsely cheerful. "Let me help you get there!"

"Whoa! Who got your undies in a twist?" Kuwabara grabbed Yusuke's wrist and forced him to look into Kuwabara's eyes because of his taller height. "If you wanna rumble, I'm ready when you are!"

The two young men glared into each other's eyes, and Yusuke almost pulled his arm back to give the first punch. But then he smirked and moved forward, putting all of his weight onto Kuwabara, who fell backwards into a recently shoveled pile of snow because he had been unprepared for it. Both of them tumbled down.

"The hell Urameshi?!"

Yusuke laughed and rolled off the other man, standing up and brushing snow off his clothes. Unlike Kuwabara (who now looked like a walking snowman) Yusuke had barely gotten touched.

"Looks like you're going to miss your appointment."

"Why you little-!"

"Hey, I just don't want to make your girlfriend even busier. I heard she's been overworked lately." He watched as Kuwabara tried to dust himself off, snickering because it really wasn't working very well. His coat was made of wool and made the stubborn icy flakes stick more than usual.

"What are you doing here anyway?" Kuwabara asked. "Aren't you supposed to be training with Genkai?"

Yusuke shrugged and slid his hands into his pockets. "I'm takin' a break."

"I'll be sure to visit you at your funeral."

The two friends started walking together down the street. Kuwabara, the more likeable of the two, would wave to people every now and then when a greeting was thrown his way. Sometimes Yusuke envied how easily Kuwabara seemed to get along with everyone. People trusted him way more than they ever trusted Yusuke, and they did so much more quickly. Then again, for all Kuwabara was a delinquent, he also had a much kinder nature than Yusuke.

"How's the training going anyway?" Kuwabara asked. "Learning anything new?"

"I guess," Yusuke replied with a shrug. "Right now it's just a lot of meditation and drills. That old hag's got me practicing the same punches and blocks until I'm about dead from boredom."

"Well, she is a master, so she knows what she's doin'."

"Please. The only thing she's a 'master' of is working someone to death. Between those drills and waking up before the damn sun, I'm gonna be seeing Yukina myself soon enough!"

"Quit your bellyaching. Do you know how many people would kill to be in your shoes?"

"Yeah; I have to chase them off just about every month. And believe me, if Grandma would let me, I'd switch with one of them in a heartbeat."

"If you say so, man."

Yusuke was about to ask Kuwabara what he meant, but his attention was drawn to a couple walking farther down on the opposite side of the street. He recognized the mint-colored locks of Kuwabara's girlfriend, Yukina, easily. The petite young girl looked picturesque in the winter wonderland around them. And next to her, hiding as much of himself in what had to be a cocoon, was Hiei. A white scarf hid most of the man's face, but Yusuke could easily recognize the combination of gravity-defying spikes of hair and a diminutive stature. He stopped to watch them, noting that they were walking closely and even holding hands.

"Hey Kuwabara! Hate to break it to ya, but I think you're about to get dumped."

"Huh?" Kuwabara, who had already gone farther ahead, stopped and looked behind at Yusuke. Yusuke pointed to Yukina and Hiei. Kuwabara looked at the pair and started laughing. "Nah, I ain't got nothing to worry about."

"How do you figure?"

"Well it'd be weird for Yukina to date her own brother."

"Brother?"

"Yeah, man. That's Yukina's twin, Hiei."

Yukina and Hiei made it parallel to the two men on the other side of the road. Yukina smiled and waved at Kuwabara, who was grinning and waving like an idiot, but didn't stop walking. Hiei barely spared them a glance.

"I didn't know Yukina had a brother," Yusuke commented as he watched the siblings walk away. He only faced Kuwabara again when he had almost turned all the way around.

"Well you were gone for a while, and every time you were here, he was on a visit to the city."

"The city?"

"Yeah. He's a writer, and he's gotta go to the city for meetings and stuff. He always comes back around this time though."

"I'm surprised you just let them walk away without talking to them. You usually pounce on Yukina whenever you see her." Yusuke was surprised by the dark look that appeared on his friend's face.

"Yeah, well, I tried in the beginning 'cause you know, be nice to the family and all. But to be honest, I just can't stand that little shrimp. There's just something about him that I don't like."

It was strange to hear Kuwabara talk like that. He was a very outgoing and friendly person, and he managed to get along with almost everyone he met with very few exceptions. Yusuke couldn't help but wonder how Hiei had managed to make it onto that very small list.

"And that stops you from saying hi to her?" Kuwabara shrugged gruffly and started walking again, with Yusuke following.

"We have an agreement," Kuwabara said. "He won't interrupt our couple time, and I won't interrupt their brother-sister time. Yukina hates it because she wants us all to get along, but…well, this is probably the best way to keep the peace."

"Uh-huh. Right. You sure you're not just trying to score brownie points?" He laughed and side-stepped the half-hearted punch aimed at him.

"Dude, meet him and you'll agree with me."

"I have met him," Yusuke said, and shrugged his shoulders. "He wasn't really that bad. Maybe a little prickly, but nothin' I couldn't handle." He didn't mention that Hiei was cute when he glared, or the way his own pulse had sped up when Hiei had tried murder him with his eyes. He didn't think Kuwabara (or he himself) could deal with that right now.

"Yeah, well, you got a few screws loose so I'm not sure your opinion counts." A frown appeared on Kuwabara's face, and he shook his head. "I do feel bad for him though. Can't hate him too much for actin' that way, not after what happened."

Yusuke looked up, curious. "Oh? What was it?"

Kuwabara looked uncomfortable. "You know I don't like gossip or rumors, but since you'll hear it anyway…." He looked around, and then gestured to a small alley nearby. Yusuke knew from his own wanderings that this would take them to a small lake. A walking path ran around the lake, and a bridge led to a small island that was home to a solitary gazebo. Legend had it that if a couple confessed their love to one another on the island, then it would last forever. Kuwabara didn't go to the gazebo; he chose to remain on the path. "Sorry man, but I want some privacy for this. Much as I don't like Hiei, I don't want him to be the source of gossip anymore than he already is."

"Oka~ay," Yusuke drawled. "So what is it?"

"He had a boyfriend. Or lover, partner, whatever you want to call him."

It was amazing how much strength it took for Yusuke to keep on walking. "Oh, really?"

"Yeah. They met about three or four years ago. His name was Shuichi; he was pretty well-known here. Real smarty-pants, went to Tokyo University and everything. He was a doctor at the hospital where Yukina works. He and Hiei met and…I dunno man, it just seemed like they were made for each other. Hiei doesn't really show emotions, but he always seemed so happy around Shuichi. Hell, Shuichi even managed to calm him down enough to go to dinner with Yukina and me."

Yusuke's hands had clenched into pockets without him realizing, and his teeth were grinding into each other. He carefully trained his eyes ahead of him, falling into the breathing pattern he used during meditation. He was so good at it now he didn't even have to count. "So what happened?"

"Last year Hiei had to take a trip to the city, and Shuichi went with him. They were crossing a street, and some jackass wasn't looking when he was driving, and well….Shuichi didn't make it. He died that night in the hospital. It damn near broke Hiei. I don't know the full details on how he was, but I know Yukina cried herself to sleep because she was so scared for him." Kuwabara looked at Yusuke and gave him a glare that would have made the subject of their talk proud. "Look Urameshi, I'm only telling you this because you'll hear it anyway. But don't be an idiot, okay?"

Yusuke almost didn't hear him. White noise echoed in his ears as Kuwabara's story repeated itself over and over in his mind. An old sadness ached inside Yusuke, and sympathy welled up inside him.

That's why, he thought as he turned to look at the gazebo without really seeing it. That's why he doesn't remember.

"Hey, Urameshi! You hear me?"

"Yeah, Kuwabara," Yusuke answered dully. He caught the concern that flickered in Kuwabara's eyes, and he forced himself to give what he hoped was a reassuring smile. "Dude, come on. I got it; I won't be an idiot. After all, I should know how that feels at least a little bit, right?"

Eventually they turned back to go back to the village, and they fell back into their bickering routine. Yet no matter how many jokes he cracked or grins he gave, Yusuke couldn't deny that he felt as though something inside him had died. And the entire way back up the mountain to Genkai's temple, the same words repeated in his mind:

That's why.

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