The next morning at breakfast, Yusuke joined Shuichi, looking smug. He was trailed by Kuwabara, something that had never happened before.
"Hey, Shuichi. Heard from this lug that you're gonna be tutoring him. Good luck with that. You'll need it," Yusuke informed him. "And by the way, I found out who turned you in," he added triumphantly. "It was that little weasel Kaito Yuu."
"Who?" Shuichi asked, puzzled.
"Arrogant little shit with glasses who's always trying to beat your test scores?" Yusuke asked. "He stole your phone while you were asleep at lunch."
Shuichi racked his brain. "Oh," he said suddenly. "Now I remember him." He didn't think he had ever said two words to the other boy. He had never made much of an effort to get to know his peers.
"I gave him a hell of a black eye," Yusuke said proudly.
"Yeah, and you got busted for it," Kuwabara told him.
That explained why Keiko wasn't accompanying Yusuke this morning. She was likely mad about Yusuke getting into another fight.
"The little snitch went whining to the teacher about it," Yusuke said. "Now I gotta join the old lady's martial arts club or get expelled."
Shuichi wasn't surprised that Yusuke was close to getting expelled. He got into fights on a regular basis and was regarded as a troublemaker by most of his teachers.
"It's not so bad," Kuwabara told him. "I was in it last year. It was fun."
Yusuke shrugged. "Too many rules for me, man. But Mum'll be furious with me if I get expelled so I suppose I have to do it."
"It might do you some good," Shuichi told him. He hoped Genkai knew what she was getting into. Yusuke was certain to be a difficult student, particularly if he had no interest in participating in the club.
-0-
Kuwabara's tutoring sessions went surprisingly well. Shuichi learned that he was, in fact, not stupid but lacked confidence. He didn't believe he could pass the test so he didn't really try.
They met every second afternoon, either in a spare classroom or Kuwabara's dorm room. Shuichi preferred the classroom, however, as Yusuke's presence was usually distracting. They never studied in Shuichi's room as Shuichi doubted his roommate would appreciate the intrusion.
Kuwabara and Yusuke's dorm room was much more untidy than Shuichi's. There were clothes tossed randomly around, particularly on Yusuke's side of the room. Empty wrappers and cans littered the floor. Kuwabara at least managed to make his bed every morning but Yusuke never bothered. The wall on Kuwabara's side of the room was covered in cat photos and posters, which Shuichi found a little disturbing.
During the course of tutoring Kuwabara, Shuichi learned more about him. He was very open about discussing his personal life. He told Shuichi that he had an older sister, who had practically raised him since their parents were mostly absent and he had a girlfriend named Yukina.
Yusuke had promptly refuted his statement regarding Yukina. "Dude, you've never even been on a date with her," he said.
Kuwabara glared at him. "You can't rush true love," he told Yusuke.
Yusuke tossed an empty soft drink can at his head. "You're not getting anywhere at all," he told Kuwabara. "You just follow her around making pathetic puppy-dog eyes. It's disgusting."
An argument ensued and Shuichi resigned himself to the fact that they wouldn't be getting much more done that day. He personally thought that the way Kuwabara talked about Yukina was sweet. He always had nice things to say about her, unlike Yusuke, who frequently complained about Keiko.
-0-
"Finished already?"
Shuichi sat back in his chair. He'd just shut down his laptop and stacked his notebooks into a neat pile. He was now staring out at the dusky sky beyond the window, wondering what to do next.
"Yes. Now that I'm not doing anyone else's work, I seem to have some free time," he said.
"Why don't you go spend it with your friends?" Hiei asked.
Shuichi turned to him. "If you want me to leave, just say so. I won't be offended."
Hiei glared at him from his position lying on his bed on his back. "That's not it," he said bluntly. "I wasn't trying to get rid of you. It was just a suggestion."
"You could always join us," Shuichi said, a little hopefully, though he doubted the stand-offish boy would accept the invitation.
"No, thanks," Hiei said, returning to his book.
"They are really nice people," Shuichi pressed. "Yusuke's a little rough but means well and Kuwabara's really quite nice. He likes cats and he has a girlfriend named Yukina, who sounds very sweet."
Hiei froze, but Shuichi went on obliviously.
"I think she's in our year and she's friends with Keiko, Yusuke's girlfriend. I'm sure once you met them-"
Shuichi almost fell off his chair as Hiei vaulted off the bed in a move so fast that it would have impressed Shuichi if it hadn't scared the crap out of him. Hiei's hand fisted in Shuichi's collar, holding the terrified teenager in place.
"What was her name?" he demanded, voice grating harshly.
Shuichi gulped. "Who?" he asked carefully, hoping not to anger his roommate further.
"The girlfriend," Hiei snapped.
"Keiko?" Shuichi asked. "Or, did you mean, Yukina?"
"Yukina." Hiei snarled at him. "Is one of those idiots dating Yukina?"
"Ah, yes, I think so," Shuichi said uncertainly. "Why?"
Hiei suddenly paled, releasing Shuichi and striding towards the door. "Forget about it," he muttered as he left, slamming the door behind him.
"Wait!" Shuichi called but it was already too late. He stared at the closed door, very puzzled by his roommate's behaviour. This sort of outburst was very out-of-character for the solitary boy. Shuichi resolved to get to the bottom of it, though he suspected it would take a while. Hiei wasn't the sort of person to open up easily.
-0-
Hiei did not return to their room until very late. Shuichi heard his roommate getting into bed but chose not to say anything, not sure if Hiei was still upset with him.
The next morning, Shuichi was surprised when Hiei accompanied him out of the dorms. Hiei walked beside him, offering no explanation for his strange behaviour.
Shuichi was greeted by Yusuke and Kuwabara, who were on their way to breakfast as well. He introduced them to Hiei.
"This is Yusuke Urameshi and Kazuma Kuwabara," he said. "I told you about them last night."
Hiei turned a baleful glare on Kuwabara. "You're that idiot who said you were dating Yukina, right?" he asked.
"I am dating Yukina," Kuwabara stated. He suddenly lept back, startled when Hiei launched a punch at his face. Hiei was so fast that he only barely managed to dodge.
"Hiei!" Shuichi yelped, horrified. Yusuke had stepped back, giving the boys more room and grinning as they glared at each other.
"What's your problem, runt?" Kuwabara demanded. "I ain't ever done anything to you."
"Shut up and stay away from Yukina," Hiei demanded.
"What's it to you?" Kuwabara snapped. "You can't tell me who I can talk to."
Hiei lunged towards Kuwabara again but Kuwabara blocked his punch.
"Go for it, Kuwabara," Yusuke cheered.
"Yusuke, I don't think you should be encouraging them," Shuichi said, disapprovingly.
"Stop that right now!" A voice snapped from Shuichi's left. He looked to see Genkai standing there,glaring at the two boys.
"Get to breakfast," she said, "If this happens again both of you will be cleaning toilets all afternoon!"
The combatants glared at each other while Yusuke muttered, "Damn, you old hag. You always ruin our fun."
Genkai gave Yusuke a pointed look. "I'll see you this afternoon, dimwit," she said to him.
"Yeah, yeah, for that stupid club thing. Right, whatever," Yusuke said carelessly.
Hiei turned and stormed off, ignoring everyone entirely.
"What's his problem?" Kuwabara asked Shuichi.
"I don't know," Shuichi admitted. "But it seems to be centered around Yukina."
"I can't picture my sweet Yukina having anything to do with a violent little shrimp like that," Kuwabara protested.
Yusuke rolled his eyes. "You realise that you barely know anything about her, right?" he asked. He looked as if he already knew it was a lost cause.
"She's way too nice to be friends with someone like him," Kuwabara said.
"He is not that bad," Shuichi protested but Yusuke spoke over him.
"Maybe he's got a thing for Yukina," Yusuke suggested.
Shuichi had considered the possibility himself. It seemed to fit.
"No way, man," Kuwabara argued. "She'd never date somebody that nasty."
"Keep telling yourself that, but girls like the bad boys," Yusuke said. "Why do you think Keiko likes me?"
"Well, I had wondered," Shuichi muttered. Yusuke heard him and grinned at him, throwing an arm around his shoulders.
"Just stick with me, man," he told Shuichi. "I'll help you get a girlfriend in no time."
Shuichi tried to wriggle out from under Yusuke's arm but Yusuke wouldn't let him. He found himself stumbling through the door of the cafeteria with Yusuke's arm around his shoulders and Kuwabara laughing behind them.
