Kurama smiled crookedly at Yusuke before he calmly placed three of his playing cards down on the table with their faces up. His cards consisted of the ace, king and queen of diamonds, while on the table already turned up were the cards: two of clubs, ten of diamonds, king of spades, jack of diamonds and the six of spades.
Again Kurama smiled towards Yusuke, "I have a royal flush, I do believe I win Yusuke."
The look on Yusuke's face was priceless as he kept glancing back and forth between Kurama's triumphant smile and his winning hand.
"What kind of cheap crap is that? That's cheating!" Yusuke demanded as he glared at the still smiling fox.
"How did I cheat when those were the cards you dealt me, really Yusuke are you a sore loser?"
"Ya come on Urameshi, Kurama beat you fair and square; now pay up!" Kuwabara chided as he jabbed Yusuke in the ribs, much like what Botan had done to him earlier on in the morning.
"Would you cut it out, I'm not a sore loser…" Yusuke began as he fought off Kuwabara's jabs with one hand and reached into his pant pocket with the other, "I just don't like losing is all."
Kuwabara laughed at Yusuke as he pulled out his wallet and retrieved two notes and some various yen coins. Before handing them over, Yusuke counted just to make sure he was paying out the right amount.
"Okay there ya go Kurama, 2,600 yen. Don't spend it all in one place, I won that money in a pool game not too long ago," Yusuke rambled on as he placed the winnings into Kurama's outstretched hand.
"I assure you Yusuke, I'll spend it wisely."
"Ya, ya let's get back to playing; I need to win my money back!" Yusuke's drive to win became refueled as he watched Kurama tuck away his hard earned money.
"I think I can afford a few more hands, count me in!" Kuwabara accepted and gathered up all of the cards and began to shuffle the deck.
"Are you in Kurama?" Kuwabara asked ready to deal out the cards to those who were playing.
Yusuke looked over to Kurama expectantly, the fox better damn well keep playing if he was to win back what he had lost. Yusuke made eye contact with the scheming fox sitting across the makeshift poker table and sent him the best 'I dare you' look he could muster.
"I suppose so; at this point I don't think Yusuke will let me walk away, at least not without giving him the chance to reclaim his lost funds" Kurama let out an amused sigh as he tried to hide his laughter from the Spirit World Detective.
"Ya damn right I'm not!"
Kurama released a short laugh before calming and re-entering his poker phase, having a good poker face is always a good thing to have when trying to deceive your opponent after all, it was one of the points to the game. Trick your opponent into believing you have nothing when really, you have it all.
The poker game between the three friends continued on for a while longer, in the end Kurama had walked away with winnings close to 27,752 yen, but to say the least Yusuke wasn't exactly all that happy. Even though he was angered by the fact that he had lost a great deal of his money, it wasn't directed at Kurama, he did after all play a better game of poker than Yusuke had first assumed he had. Kurama was one sneaky and unsuspecting fellow.
On his way to get a drink, Yusuke clapped a hand on Kurama's shoulder, "Good game man, one of these days you'll have to teach me how you do such a good poker face."
Kurama smiled, "If I was to do that Yusuke, I'd have a harder time winning your money."
Yusuke laughed good naturally, "True, but at least I'd still be left with something."
"Ya no kidding, if I'm going to need to buy something I'm going to have to borrow money from Shiziru." Kuwabara added as he joined them on their short walk to the kitchenette.
Kurama chuckled and turned his attention on getting something to drink, on his mini quest to find something the quench his thirst, Kurama had stumbled upon a container in the fridge that held some of Faith's lemonade. Kurama licked his lips with anticipation at the thought of once again tasting the delicious lemonade Faith had made; in fact this particular batch of lemonade ranked near the top of his favorites list, but of course he would never admit that to anyone. It was his 'little secret' that he stored away with his other secrets, some of which weren't little at all, but no one needed to know that.
It was the chorus of 'ooh' that informed Kurama that Yusuke and Kuwabara both had spotted the lemonade and wanted to partake in some of the yellow goodness. After pouring himself a glass first Kurama had been nice enough to divide the rest of the beverage amongst his fellow friends. With murmured 'thanks' Yusuke stood there and downed the whole thing in seconds flat, while Kuwabara made his way back to the couches where Koenma was still laying from when he fell asleep earlier. With his taste buds waiting with sweet anticipation of being able to taste the delicious beverage once again, Kurama lifted the glass up to his lips and was about ready to pour some into his awaiting mouth when a loud thumping noise sounded throughout the room. It sounded like it had originated in the room where Yusuke had laid Faith down to rest, what could possibly be going on now? Without taking a sip of his beverage Kurama placed it back down onto the counter and headed to where the noise had come from. Kurama walked up and stood beside Yusuke; who is standing in front of the doorway to his room, immediately a thought popped into Kurama's mind; something must have happened with Faith. Curiously Kurama peered over Yusuke's shoulder and caught a glimpse of Faith on the floor twisted amongst the sheets. What a funny sight to behold; Faith is struggling with the sheets while Yusuke laughed out loudly and Kurama chuckled softly.
"Hey Faith need any help?" Yusuke asked as he leaned against the doorframe with a goofy smile plastered on his face.
"Some help would be nice, my torso hurts," I answered and went to go push myself up with my bandaged arm and hissed in pain, "and my arm."
Kurama shook his head as he tried to hide his smirk; I guess I had amused him. Again Kurama shook his head and entered into the room, "Here Faith, I'll help you," Kurama leaned down and gently took hold of my unharmed arm and helped me up.
I had caught Kurama glancing down to my clothes; I'm guessing someone had changed me while I was unconscious. Please fate, don't tell me Kurama had seen me in my undergarments again… or worse, naked. Almost instantly after that thought I felt my face warm, I must be blushing and who wouldn't after wondering if the guy you like saw you naked. Trying to get the thoughts out of my head, I began to vigorously shake my head until I started to feel a bit dizzy.
"Faith, are you feeling okay?" Kurama asked as he helped me to my feet, once we were both standing he added, "You're going awfully red right now. Do you feel sick?"
I knew it! In a flash I had my hands up cradling my face, "No, no I'm fine… actually just a little bit dizzy, but that's it I swear."
Kurama raised an eyebrow in what looked like to be suspicion and I was about to explain things away when Yusuke started to laugh over by the doorway.
"Kurama sometimes you're clueless; Faith's all red in the face, because she knows you've seen her without clothes on."
Sure enough with Yusuke's words my face felt warm again, shyly I look over to Kurama and noticed he had a very faint blush across his cheeks and he's averting my gaze. I wonder how much exactly he saw; oh this could not get any worse!
"I hate you Yusuke." I shot a glare in his general direction before childishly picking up the bed sheet from the floor, and wrapped it tightly around me like a cocoon. I winched as the pressure of the wrapped blanket settled around my bandaged torso, and with a roll of my eyes I loosened the blanket. Yusuke laughed from his spot over by the door, and he is not making me feel any better about this whole embarrassing ordeal. Uncertainly I glance over to where Kurama is standing and find him watching me with unwavering eyes, why is he watching me so intently? Is he waiting for me to suddenly keel over or to make a mad dash to somewhere? I probably would have lingered on the thought more if it weren't for my stomach grumbling loudly enough for everyone to hear.
Once again embarrassed I placed a hand over my stomach in hopes of it muffling the noise. Yusuke shook his head in a joking manner before turning to the side and cleared the way for me, "Come on Faith, we should get some food into you before you turn to nothing but skin and bone."
"But Yusuke…" I began but stopped when Kurama placed a gentle hand on my shoulder to stop me,
"Please don't argue Faith; you need to eat something to help you recover."
I let out a sigh, "Okay."
Tiredly I began to make my way over to the door where Yusuke still waited patiently for us when I stopped short, I don't need to take this blanket out with me; I was being childish when I had grabbed for it. With a shake of my head I unwrap the blanket and tossed it onto the bed; now that I think about it, whose bed had I been sleeping in? I guess it doesn't really matter after all; I'm out of it before it's time for them to head to bed. Yusuke laughed quietly as he lead the way back out into the living area, there on the couches sat Kuwabara with his hands full of cards and Lord Koenma, with not so many cards; the game they were playing is unclear to me. As I made my way over to the others my stomach growled loud enough to alert the others of my presence. Kuwabara turned around to see who it was that made the noise, and in a matter of seconds had thrown his cards into the air and had dashed over to me.
"Faith, are you okay? How do you feel? Do you need anything?" his eyes kept darting from one direction to another as he took in my physical well being.
"I assure you Kazuma I'm fine, though I am a bit hungry; with not eating anything really, other than that I'm fine," it looked like he was about to continue on but I reassured him, "Really Kazuma, I'm fine."
"Well okay, but if you need anything just call for me and I'll be there; I feel really guilty not being there earlier to help you."
"Kazuma it isn't your fault, so please don't feel guilty. I'm just happy that all of you were here to help me in my greatest time of need… once again." I gave Kuwabara a smile and nonchalantly rubbed at my throbbing torso.
Once again I'm mortified as my stomach made a noise loud enough for everyone in the room to hear. Ah come on body really? As if I need another reason to be embarrassed. Yusuke laughed before he came to stand next to me and pat me on the shoulder.
"I think it's time we get some food into Hope here before she fades away to nothing," he shot me a cheeky grin, "Right Hope?"
With a smile and a shake of my head I replied, "I'm Faith Yusuke, maybe I should get a nametag so you know who I am."
"Hey they're pretty damn close; you should cut me some slack."
"Yusuke, they are not close. Come Faith I'll make you some soup to eat" Kurama said as he gently urged me to the couch.
When I went to sit down the throbbing in my torso came back with a vengeance, I immediately cringe and felt nauseated to the point where I ignored the throbbing and ran to the nearest bathroom. I had just barely managed to slam the door closed and reach the toilet before my stomach released what little contents it had. What had made me sick so suddenly? It was like a flip of a coin.
"Faith, are you going to be all right?" It was Yusuke on the other side of the door.
A grunt was all I could manage for an answer as I heaved into the toilet again, all I could do was pray to god that this day would soon be over.
Time felt like it had flown by with me doing nothing but huddling over the toilet just in case another wave of nausea came; but so far nothing, at the beginning Yusuke had constantly asked if I was all right and every time all I could do was make a sound of acknowledgment. But after awhile he had stopped asking. Now it feels like I can brave venturing out from this bathroom.
I stood up with shaky legs and uneasily made my way to the sink and heavily leaned on the counter, what I wouldn't give for a toothbrush or mouthwash. I shudder to think of what I look like at the moment, my hair would be without a doubt a tangled mess. Quietly I look up to the mirror and became amazed that my hair actually wasn't all that bad looking, but the thing that caught my attention, were my eyes. My eyes were completely bloodshot and looked –for a lack of a better term- demonic, they were really freaking me out, I gasped and covered my mouth to prevent the others from hearing me shriek. What is happening to me? I'm scared, nothing like this has ever happened to me before. Maybe something had gotten into my eyes and they are just irritated, with a turn of my hand I turn on the cold water and immediately started to flush out my eyes; nothing felt any different. I glance back up to the mirror and went back to flushing out my eyes when there didn't seem to be any difference.
It must have been a few minutes at least since I began to panic over my eyes, nothing about them has changed. Just when I had given up with flushing whatever might be in there, I started to feel shots of pain run through my veins; it was almost like someone is jabbing me with needles. Soon after the pain had started I felt completely drained and collapsed down to the floor. What is happening to me! Am I going to die?
"Yusuke help!" I weakly called and began trembling.
There came a noise of hurried feet before the bathroom door was flung open. Yusuke paused in the doorway for a moment before rushing over to where I was by the sink. With gentle hands he held my face and examined my eyes, after a few seconds of looking he turned his head towards Kurama.
"Hey Kurama, do you know what's going on with her eyes?"
Kurama knelt down next to Yusuke before curling his fingers under my chin and gently urged me to look his way. When I met his gaze, I had the overwhelming urge to gulp and look away, but I resisted as best as I could.
"Hm, now Faith, have you experienced anything else other than your eyes changing?" Kurama asked as he tilted my head this way and that.
"W-well… I had… have a shooting pain all over, it's like my veins are sending fire through my entire body."
A small smile appeared on his face as he relaxed a bit, "Well that's a good sign."
"It is?" Yusuke and I asked in unison.
Kurama removed his fingers from my chin, "yes, it means you're getting better; the seed I used to replenish your blood, it has these symptoms. The fire feeling is the new blood changing to your blood type."
I relaxed a little before asking another question, "How long do these symptoms last?"
Kurama stood up, "Only for a few hours, then everything will be back to normal," he smiled before continuing, "Perhaps you should stay in bed for the night, I'll bring you some soup."
"I'll help you up," Yusuke offered as he wrapped one arm around my back and the other under my legs, he lifted me off the floor with ease.
"Thank you Yusuke," I looked over to where Kurama stood and thanked him as well.
Yusuke didn't say another word as he carried me out of the bathroom. I figured that Yusuke was going to carry me over to the couch, but instead took me to the bedroom I awoke in earlier.
"Yusuke, where are you taking me? I'm to sleep on the couch remember?"
Yusuke snorted, "Ya cause I'm going to let a wounded girl sleep on a couch. You'll sleep in my bed tonight and I'll take the couch… or sucker Kuwabara into it." He smiled mischievously.
I chuckled weakly as he sat me down on the bed, once I was settled in, Yusuke pulled the covers over me. Now this is a side of Yusuke Urameshi I never thought I'd see, it was kind of amusing.
"Thank you."
"It's not a problem," Yusuke winked just as there was a knock at the door.
We both looked and found Kurama standing in the doorway holding a tray of food and a glass of water. Now this is a thing I could get used to, Kurama my sort of crush taking care of me. I blushed at the thought.
"I've brought you some soup, crackers, and some water, you should feel better once you get some food in you."
Kurama brought the tray over and carefully sat it down on my lap.
"Thank you both, I must say it's nice having someone there for me."
They both smiled, "Not a problem Faith," Yusuke said as he made his way over to the door.
"If you need anything, just give one of us a call," Kurama offered as he too made his way to the door.
I smiled, "Will do."
Both men left and closed the door behind them, leaving me to eat my food in peace.
After I finished eating what I could, I placed the tray onto the nightstand and made myself comfortable in Yusukes' bed. It only felt like a few minutes had passed and the next thing I knew I was asleep and dreaming a wonderful dream.
