Author note: First off, I feel I owe an apology. The last chapter was such an ugly disappointment but I was carelessly rushing and I swear that this one will make up for it. If not feel free to let me know.

thank you to all my reviewers, ur awesome comments are keeping me going and bringing life to this story. Keep it up! I love you all so very much!

Hit the pretty review button, pretty please.

Chapter 9: part 2: phase one

Yusuke found himself unable to look up from his bowl of ramen. He could sense the red heads eyes burning a hole through him. Yusuke fidgeted uncomfortably.

"Why Yusuke, you seem to be nervous."

Yusuke flinched visibly before looking up at the Youkai who was smiling at him teasingly.

"How else should I feel?"

Kurama shrugged and turned his attention to life outside the window next to them, his hands resting gingerly beneath his chin and a chopstick dangling between his sensual lips, which every so often he would play with. The chopstick swayed back and forth as Kurama seemed to become lost in his thoughts.

Yusuke noted that Kurama always had the tendancy to drift off in thought, under many circumstances. He would even do it during a battle which is what Yusuke supposed was dangerous about him. Kurama had a graceful way of fighting...it was never sloppy and was usually well thought out which Yusuke figured would some day be the death of the youkai.

"Are we really gonna do everything on that list?" Yusuke asked, breaking the youkai out of his thoughts, his gaze returning to the brunette, their eyes locking, Yusuke having a curious look dancing in his eyes.

The youkai smiled and removed the chop stick from his mouth and placed it in his near empty ramen bowl, making a mental note that Yusuke had barely touched his.

"Why not?" He asked shrugging.

Well he didn't say no...could he have feelings for me to? my god! There I go again! Remind me why I'm in love with a guy again!

"We can humour them a little can't we?" Kurama continued.

That's why he wants to do it? Why does that make me feel angry and hurt?

"Yeah...I guess." Yusuke muttered.

"Well if you don't want to..."

"I didn't say that."

Yusuke looked down, hiding his blush in the shadow of his hair.

"Are you done eating Yusuke?"

"Uh..yeah" Yusuke muttered, standing up. Yusuke started digging through his pocket for yen. Kurama immediately stopped him by grabbing his hand, a red tinge suddenly bursting into Yusukes cheeks. It said on the list that your date has to pay the bill. Yusuke swallowed before speaking, afraid that his voice would come out in a squeak. Surprisingly, it came out more manly than usual.

"Fine, but I'm leavin a tip."

Kurama dropped his yen on the table and watched with mild curiosity as Yusuke dropped his tip on the table in an aggressive manner.

He's really frstrated. Maybe I should have controlled myself and refrained from screwing him stupid. It seems I've done more damage to his head than his ass. It isn't possible for me to actually love him back..is it? No! I can't love him because I cannot bear to be hurt again.

Soon they had begun the second on the list. They were now sitting on a bench in front of the wish fountain, Yusuke hardly able to contain the redness in his face. He sat very tense with his hands clenched his lap to the point that his knuckles were going white. Kurama sat back relaxed, eyeing him from the corner of his eye. His arms stretched across the lenght of the back of the bench. Yusuke eyes the list between them. His eyes scanned across section number two: Make sure you both make a wish and toss a coin in. Yusuke gulped and looked up at Kurama who seemed to be lost in thought again. His eyes danced as he watched the water spout out and land in the pool of water and coins.

Botans pov

"Botan, do you really think it is a good idea to spy on them?" Keiko asked.

"Why do you ask that all of a sudden?" Botan asked not turning from her binoculars that were souly focused on the two boys sitting on the bench.

"Well Poo seems to be in bad shape."

Shizuru draped her arm around Keikos shoulder. "I'd say our boy is in love," she said. Keiko tensed at her words and kept her gaze focused on Poos abnormally red, sweaty face.

"Blech! I don't know how much I can take of this. I really don't know if I can handle my fight buddy bein gay. I'd be afraid of him grabbin me or somethin," said Kuwabara, scowling, with his body leaned against a nearby tree.

Shizuru stalked over to him and smacked him.

"H..hey! What the hell was that for sis!?"

"Your despicable! Your friend is clearly in love. Who cares if it's with a guy or girl..."

Kuwabara cut her off by pressing a finger to his lips in a shushing matter.

"Are you even listening..."

Shizuru cut herself off and followed Kuwabaras gaze toward Keiko who was obviously trying very hard to supress the tears jumping to her eyes. Shizuru immediately regretted getting involved with this plan. It was obviously tearing the girl apart to see him falling in love with the youkai.

Of course it's gonna hurt her. She's in love with him afterall. Damn it! I never even stopped to think about the consequences. Poor girl, her heart must be in so much pain.

A hurt expression came over Shizurus face as distant memories hazed her vision and swept her into the past. The man she had fallen in love with. What was his name again?

The vision of the long black haired man with the pale complexion and large scar on his face became clearer as she watched him take her hand and run with her toward safer ground.

A smile formed on his lips once they found a safe place away from the demons pursuing her. "Remember we are of the minority here."

"Hey sis, you ok?" Kuwabara asked suddenly, breaking her from her reverie.

Shizuru waved him off with her hand and started to walk away. "I'm just gonna go home and rest, I'm a lil tired."

Botan mumbled something inaudible as she continued to watch the two boys on the bench.

End pov

Yusuke found it increaingly hard not to kiss the Youkai right now. His guard was down as his eyes seemed to twinkle, watching the same constant sputter of the fountain.

He is easily entranced by such tranquil things. Maybe it is the beauty of the water blue and the way it splashes around precious wishes of silent dreamers.

Yusuke couldn't contain his welling emotion any longer. With one quick, fluid motion he kissed the corner of the youkai mouth, causing him to be startled from his distant thoughts.

Kurama leaned away from him slightly, his fingers caressing the exact spot where Yusukes lips had just been.

"P..perhaps we should make our wishes now Yusuke."

Botan pov

"Ah!" Botan yelled suddenly, dropping the binoculars into the bushes she had been using to conceal herself in.

She began to hurriedly locate the fallen binoculars.

"What's going on Botan?" Keiko asked.

"He kissed him!" She yelled hysterically, searching for the binoculars in the bush.

"Ewwww!" Kuwabara shrieked. "I didn't expect the plan to actually work."

Botan removed her head from the bushes and turned her head toward Kuwabara. "That's the thing. It didn't. Kurama didn''t kiss him back, in fact he pulled away from him."

"Poor Yusuke," said Keiko in a tearful but quiet voice.

"Keiko, are you ok hunny?" Botan asked.

"I..I'm fine. I just understand his pain."

"Oh Keiko," said Botan standing up and pulling the girl into her arms being careful not to squish poo.

end pov

After tossing their coins into the fountain, they continued on to the next thing on the list, which was to buy new outfits together.

Yusuke blushed as he stepped out of the change room dressed in the outfit that Kurama had chosen for him. It was a well tailored crimson vest over a white under shirt and matching slacks, finished with dress shoes.

Kurama couldn't stifle his laughter as he saw the boy who usually dressed in a torn fighters vest and tight fitting jeans now wearing something that Kurama would wear on a regular basis. The colour almost resembled Kuramas shool uniform.

"I wouldn't laugh!" Yusuke yelled more in embarassment than anger.

Kurama was reminded of the rather uncomfortable clothing that he was also wearing. He wore a loose fitting tee that awkwardly hung off one shoulder and tight fitting faded blue jeans.

"I would be lying if I said that jeans didn't suit you though Kurama. You should think about modeling in a denim magazine or something."

His comment caused Kurama to blush.

Why am I blushing? It's the clothes. The clothes are getting to my head.

Soon they made it to the final item on the list which made Yusuke even more uncomfortable. Yusuke watched as Kurama surprisingly calm purched a bottle of lube at the counter. Kurama turned to him with the packaged item and smiled at Yusukes extremely red face and tense body.

"You should hang onto this." He said tossing it to him, Yusuke fumbling it slightly before it rested within his grip.

"W..why me?" Yusuke stuttered.

"Because your the one whos gay."

"W..what's that supposed to mean!?" Yusuke growled fiercely.

"I didn't hear you protest when I screwed you."

Yusukes unbearable blush increased ten fold.

"Well what about you?"

Kurama shrugged. "I don't need it now. You sufficed as a substitute.

Kurama casually brushed past him to leave the store.

A substitute!? That's all I am to him. He really has no feelings for me whatsoever!

Yusuke joined Kurama outside the store, his shoulders hunched with hurt.

"Come Yusuke, I'll walk you home."

To defeated to protest and hold up an argument, he reluctantly followed.

Yusuke had been too busy bruting that he hadn't realized that they were at his house until he bumped into Kurama who had stopped.

"S...sorry," Yusuke stammered.

"I had fun today Yusuke."

Yusuke studied the youkais blank face. There was no more twinkle in his eye...no gleam. There was no emotion at all.

What are you thinking about? Can you really just brush me off like that? Bastard. I wish I could mask my feelings the way you do, then I wouldn't have to suffer such embarassment. Bastard.

Suddenly Yusuke couldn't control himself anymore. With a mix of anger and lust, he grabbed Kuramas arms with pure force and pressed his lips to his with a painful clicking of teeth and sudden swollen lips. Kurama suddenly pushed him away, his eyes wide in surprise.

"Yusuke, you really shouldn't do that, your mom might see."

"So! Who cares!? I don't!" Yusuke yelled struggling to get past Kuramas arms and back to his sweet full lips and rose scented hair that he loves so much.

"Yusuke, only lovers kiss."

Yusuke suddenly stopped.

"I do love you Kurama."

Kurama heaved a long sigh. "That being the case, I don't love you."

With that Kurama spun on him and began to walk away.

I'm sorry Yusuke. Please don't let your heart be broken for too long. You deserve so much better than me.

Yusuke really wanted to go after him. He wanted to stop him from leaving and confess his undying love for him. He wanted to take him to his room and make love the way lovers are supposed to and just hold him. He didn't want to let him go but his legs seemed to be rooted to the ground and by the time he was able to move, Kurama was already gone.

Yusuke kicked the gate to his yard off its hinges and slammed the door behind him as he entered the house, his drunken mother too drunk to care even though tears rained down his face. His mother laughed and chucked a handful of pop corn at the television, as her broken hearted son crawled into bed hugging himself tightly, fighting desperately to control the sobs that wracked his body.

Kurama...