A/N: Man, it would be so nice to actually get readers. Did my first chapter turn you off that much?
Sunrise Over Taboo
-x-
A series of thumps was all that announced Yusuke's arrival, Kuwabara's heavier gait only seconds behind. "Kurama! Hiei! Man, I haven't seen you guys in forever! How ya been?"
The redhead ignored the slam of the shoji against the wall and continued quietly sipping his tea; the jaganshi simply disappeared, the pillow he'd been sitting on rustling from the sudden displacement. Eyes flicking toward the vacated spot, Kurama sighed and placed his teacup back on the table, wrapping his hands securely around its warmth. "It has been quite a while, Yusuke, but that is no excuse to be rushing around the temple when there are people still asleep. Please, sit down. You too, Kuwabara."
Giving a grunt, the toushin tramped around the low table and plopped himself down on the still-warm cushion that Hiei had left. "So, I heard you're not going to college? Kuwabara's been ragging on me about that since forever, something about wasting genius, not that I would know anything about school smarts."
The big student sat down next to Kurama and groaned. "Urameshi, just because you're an idiot doesn't mean the rest of us have to be." Ignoring a cheeky 'yeah, that's why I keep you guys around', he leaned onto the table and turned to face the redhead. "So why? You'd get into the top school in Japan, no problem. And…no offense, why is your hair braided?"
Kurama glanced up from his tea into his friend's questioning face. "Well, there's not really a point. It's not as if my ultimate goal is to get a good job and accumulate wealth and recognition – well, I suppose it is, but I've long since achieved that, and anyway, it's nothing that could be regarded as prominent in ningenkai. I have a perfectly available job at Hatanaka-san's company and am paid a decent salary… There's not really a reason for me shoot for the stars in this life. And to answer your second question, it's because Yukina recently learned how to french-braid and wanted a test subject. Since I happen to have no small amount of lustrous hair, I was, naturally, her first choice. Genkai's hair is rather frayed. Too many split ends for demon taste."
Yusuke snorted. "It's times like these when your vanity shows through, man. Seriously, lustrous? I bet you taught her how to do it, too."
The fox just smiled and took another sip of his tea.
The punk shook his head and flopped on the table, glaring at the light in his eyes. "Why are we here at six in the morning, anyway? You're such a retard, Kuwabara."
Watching the college hopeful fume silently, Kurama spoke up in hopes of placation. "Yukina will be up soon, if you'd like some breakfast. Of course, if you find that you absolutely can't wait, I could always make some. Fresh Makai shimaneki-sou makes a wonderful breakfast salad if served with sunny-side-up sukoki eggs…" he mused. "And if I kept a careful enough eye on them, I might be able to mostly negate their poisonous side effects."
Yusuke blanched. "Nah, nah, I'll be fine with whatever Yukina scrounges up."
"Of course you will, dumbass! My Yukina always cooks only the best of delicacies!"
The mazoku batted the protruding pompadour out of his face and planted a foot in his friend's stomach, sending him through the open door and into the rock garden outside. "Oh, hey, Yukina. What's for breakfast?"
The snow apparition leaned around the corner with a smile on her face. "Does rice and miso sound good? If not, I think Genkai helped herself to some of the kumoriyoukai eggs in the forest. They're a delicacy in the demon world, but I don't know if bat is considered palatable here…?"
Kurama interrupted his fellow's gagging and nodded. "Rice and miso sounds wonderful, and if it's not too much trouble can you kizo an egg for me? I haven't had one in a while. I don't think they'll want any, though." He gestured to the two guests. Nodding, Yukina left towards the kitchen, humming an old folk song.
Ignoring his rival clambering back up onto the porch, Yusuke leaned forward and sniffed. "You know, fox-boy, I wasn't too sure of it before since my youki-sensing skills aren't exactly the shit and all, but you smell like Hiei. Did you guys spar without me this morning?"
Raising an eyebrow, Kurama sipped his tea again with an amused smile on his face. "Only if you consider youki transferral to be fighting."
"Youki whaaaat?"
The demon sighed. Kids these days. "Demons can transfer power…re-charge each other, for lack of a better word that you'd understand."
Urameshi blinked. "Sooo…. If I fight you I can get more energy? Why haven't we done this sooner? I'm ready to go any time!" He pounded a fist into the other and grinned. "Well?"
The fox gave a rare eye-roll. "It isn't fighting, Yusuke, it's exchanging power through intercourse. Sex. The hanky-panky? Doing the dirty? Making sweet lo-"
"Heyheyhey!" The punk jumped to his feet, brandishing angrily. Kuwabara looked like he'd have done the same, had he been coherent. "Are you telling me that you two are, well, together? 'Cause that's just, I don't know, weird!"
"No, Yusuke. There's no love involved in what we do. It's…Ugh. It's a demon thing. Satisfied?"
"Demons are weird."
Kurama snorted. "You know, that's exactly what we say about humans. You have such odd taboos-"
Kuwabara regained sensibilities and stood up, hands thrust out. "Okay, guys, I really don't want to hear anything else that I might consider TMI, so just shut up. Now."
Yusuke smiled. "But-"
"Now."
-x-x-
-x-
