Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho…this gets so old…

Chapter 7: Secrets

Kurama leapt out of bed, his eyes opened in fear, sweat beads falling from his brow. He breathed deeply. Inhale…exhale…inhale…exhale…

He took another breath. It was just a dream…but what happened?

Kurama got out from under the covers and looked out his window, trying to remember what happened.

That's right… he thought. That dream…it wasn't real…but…it seemed so real. My rose whip slicing through everyone's flesh like butter…Yusuke…Kuwabara…Hiei…my mom…

Kurama wiped the rest of the sweat from his forehead. He walked into the bathroom and looked at himself. He was still in his school uniform, which was covered in blood. He took a look over at his bed. There were little splotches of blood everywhere on the sheets.

He sighed. He'd have to be discreet in order for no one to know. This would just be his secret…

"So pal, how's life?" Youko interrupted.

"Will you ever leave me alone?" Kurama asked, pulling out a pair of black pants and putting them on. He put his school uniform on the edge of his bed.

"Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed," Youko said crossly.

"Please Youko, I really don't want to hear it," Kurama said, pulling out a green button up shirt and putting it on.

"Fine, fine."

Kurama opened his door a crack and looked in the hall. His mom was nowhere in sight. He grabbed his bloody school uniform and checked the time on his alarm clock. It read 3 PM. He slept most of the day. School should let out sometime soon.

He continued to the laundry room. He checked all around the corners in case his mom saw him. He didn't see her, so he quickly dashed into the laundry room. He put his clothes into the washing machine along with his bloody sheets. He set everything up, and then turned the washing machine on.

Glancing around every corner, he walked towards his room. He would've made it if his mother hadn't seen him walking out of the laundry room.

"Shuichi?" he heard.

His heart began to beat faster. He turned around. "Yes, mom?"

Shiori walked over to Kurama. "Are you sure you're all right? You look…uptight."

Kurama swallowed and nodded. "Yes, I'm fine. Really."

Shiori offered her arms out to Kurama, and he took them. They embraced with a sweet hug. Kurama wanted to cry. She didn't know what he had done. She was oblivious about the girl – Maya – who he just murdered. He was a murderer. Not just as Youko, but also as Shuichi Minamino.

Shiori smiled. "Are you sure you're not hiding anything from me?"

Kurama shook his head. "I'm not hiding anything."

"Because if you are, you'll always be my lovable son."

Awwww…how sweet!

It even got to Kurama's heart. He wanted to spill everything out to her. Get this heavy burden off of his chest, but he couldn't do that to her. He would have to leave her, and then she would be truly all alone.

He couldn't do that to her. He couldn't have another weight on his conscience.

Kurama closed his eyes. "Thanks, mom." He held her close.

"Shuichi, why did you come home early from school today?" Shiori asked, looking up into her son's eyes.

"Um…" Kurama said, trying to think of an excuse.

Then they turned to the TV. There was a special on a little girl, murdered this morning.

Kurama thought his stomach had fell to the floor. This was the worst time for this to happen. Shiori walked over and took a seat on the couch. She smiled at him. "Come on, sit down."

Kurama nodded and hesitantly walked over and sat next to his mom. They watched the special.

"There's been note that at approximately 9 AM today, Maya Takihaka was brutally slain. She was found beheaded and mutilated in an alley near the gifted high school and elementary school. No one knows who slayed her, but an investigation is taking place. However, no articles of weaponry were found at the scene of the crime. The marks all over her body appear to be slashes, but none can tell. For more information, please check our website…"

Youko cackled in Kurama's head. Kurama's eyes opened wide, trickles of sweat began to fall, and his breathing became rapid.

"Shuichi?" Shiori asked in concern. "Shuichi? Are you okay?"

At that moment the doorbell rang, jolting Kurama back to his senses. He walked over to the door and opened it.

"Hey!" Yusuke greeted.

"What's up?" Kuwabara asked.

Kurama smiled. "Hello. Where's Hiei?"

"That runt is probably lurking around in the trees somewhere," Kuwabara muttered.

"You never really know where Hiei is nowadays," Yusuke admitted.

Kurama nodded. "I see."

"Shuichi, who is it?" Shiori called from the living room.

"Just some friends mom!" Kurama yelled back. He turned back to Yusuke and Kuwabara.

Yusuke looked him straight in the eyes. "Are you okay? 'Cuz you sure don't look like it."

"Yeah, Kaitou said you missed school today," Kuwabara added.

"And with you just getting out from the hospital, we were worried about you," Yusuke said.

Kurama smiled at them. "You two worry too much. I'm fine."

"You sure?" Yusuke pressured.

Kurama nodded.

"Hey, did you hear about that girl?" Kuwabara asked, changing the subject.

"What are you talking about?" Yusuke said.

"The one girl – Maya – she was slaughtered this morning!" Kuwabara screamed.

"Ooooooohhhh!" Yusuke recalled, seeing the news. "Yeah, no one knows who killed her."

"Think it was a demon?" Kuwabara asked.

"I don't know." Yusuke turned to Kurama. "What do you think?"

"Hm?" Kurama said, looking up at them.

"Okay, something's on your mind!" Yusuke yelled at Kurama. "What is it?"

Kurama shook his head. "No, really. It's nothing."

Kuwabara glared at Kurama. "Spit it out. It's not like you committed a crime or somethin'."

Kurama chuckled uneasily. "Yeah…"

"So who do you think murdered Maya Takahaki?" Yusuke asked, getting back on subject.

Kurama looked up at the sky. "It was probably a demon out for cold blood," he spat.

Yusuke and Kuwabara glanced worriedly at each other.

"O…kay," Yusuke said. "You sure you're okay?"

Kurama nodded again.

"Really okay?" Yusuke persisted.

"Yusuke, I'm fine."

Yusuke sighed. "Okay, if you say so."

They were quiet for a moment, just watching some little kids play baseball a block over. Kurama's heartbeat seemed to get louder to him.

Youko laughed. "Now that you've had a taste of cold-blooded murder, you know what it feels like. I can feel you longing for more!"

Kurama ignored him and just clenched the edges of the door. He turned to Yusuke and Kuwabara. "Guys, I've got some things to do. I'll talk to you later."

"Okay," Kuwabara said.

Yusuke nodded. "Fine, but if you need help, you can call me anytime and tell me what's on your mind."

Kurama nodded. "Okay. Talk to you later."

They waved good-bye to Kurama as he closed the door.

Kurama walked back up into his room and sat on the edge of his bed. He rested his head in his hands.

I didn't kill Maya…it wasn't me who killed her…Youko took over my brain…I couldn't stop him…I couldn't save Maya…I'm a failure to myself and others.

Kurama laid down on his bed, his hands behind his head. He stared up at the ceiling.

How many more lies did he have to make?