Last Time on It's Complicated

Kurama breaks his associates out of prison. It appears that Goro may have succumbed to Nobuo's wrath. Nobuo confronts Kurama about the escaped prisoners, but of course he has no proof. Yomi allows Yusuke to return to Gandara with him to witness the action.

"Welcome back Lord Yomi," Nobuo said in his most flattering tone, his voice a little shaky. "I see you have brought a guest?" Nobuo had never seen Yusuke, so he had no idea who he was.

"Yes. This is Yusuke Urameshi, Lord of Toushin."

Nobuo's eyes almost popped out of his head. "Nice-nice to meet your Lord Urameshi," Nobuo stammered as he bowed.

" 'Sup," Yusuke responded, giving him a quick nod. "So you're Yomi's right hand man, eh?"

"Yes sir."

"Well, now that we got the pleasantries over," Yomi cut in. "Let us discuss my original question." He turned to the guards. "You are dismissed. Thank you."

They were gone before he finished his sentence.

"Let us discuss this in my private conference room. Yusuke, you are welcome to join us."

Nobuo started in immediately. "Lord Yomi, this information is of a sensitive nature-"

"I am sure it is." Yomi interrupted him. "But I have asked Yusuke to join us. Do you object?"

"No-no sir."

"Good. Let us go to the conference room."

When they reached the conference room, Yomi sat at the head of the table. Kurama and Nobuo sat in the next two seats, facing each other. Yusuke sat at the other end, anticipating the show. All he needed was a program to describe the acts.

"Now," Yomi began. "I had to pass several security stations on my way back. Also, I heard much unpleasant conversation and profanity. Can you tell me what the problem is?" The tone of Yomi's voice, although pleasant, had something underneath that Nobuo had never heard before. It unnerved him.

"Yes sir. I had some servants detained on suspicion of…treason. Kurama helped them escape from prison."

Yomi raised an eyebrow. "Treason? That's a very serious allegation. Who are these servants? And how have they committed treason?"

"The servants are Jun, Ko, and …Haruo, sir."

"Haruo? My gardener? I am anxious to know how you feel he has committed treason."

"Well sir," Nobuo started. "It has come to my attention that Kurama has sought to challenge me for my position as your lieutenant."

"How has this come to your attention?" Yomi asked.

"He told me himself." Nobuo glared at Kurama, daring him to deny it.

Yomi turned to Kurama. "Is this true?"

"It is." Kurama returned his glare with an equally cold stare.

A wave of pleasure washed over Yomi. So the fox did want to be back at his side. Be careful what you ask for Kurama, he thought. "I see. Please continue, Nobuo."

Nobuo was surprised. "Do you not see this as treason?"

"No I do not. However, we will deal with that issue momentarily. Please tell me how my servants have committed treason."

"Well sir, I questioned Goro and he informed me that he, Jun, Ko, and Haruo were all on Kurama's payroll."

"I see. What type of tasks were they performing for him?"

"I am not sure sir."

"Did you not question Goro?"

"Yes sir, but he didn't know that. I even gave him truth serum."

"Interesting. Now, let's deal with the second issue. Kurama freely admits that he intends to challenge you for your position. If he had servants aiding him then the servants may indeed be guilty of treason. However, you have lost them so you cannot verify that. And the fact that you have lost track of prisoners whom may be a threat to security of Gandara does not sit well with me." As always, Yomi's tone was polite, but that did nothing to quell the sick feeling in Nobuo's stomach, nor his trembling.

"Sir, Kurama helped them escape."

"Do you have any proof of this?" Yomi asked.

"No, but I am sure of it-"

Yomi stopped him by holding up two fingers. "Two things. An accusation without proof is just that-an accusation. It means nothing, unless I decide to credit it, which in this case I will not. Secondly," he paused for emphasis. "I left you in charge so the prisoners were your responsibility. The first rule of leadership that you must learn is that everything that happens under you, be it positive or negative, is a direct result of your leadership. You have disappointed me, Nobuo. However, I will give you a chance to redeem yourself. I will give you seventy-two hours to locate the prisoners and provide concrete proof that they are a threat to the security of Gandara. However, when you detain the suspects you will not inflict harm on their or those that have harbored them, and you must not gain a confession under duress, which includes truth serum. I would also like two reports," Yomi paused to bask in the pleasure of being the boss. "One due within two hours on everything you have told me thus far, and how you came to suspect Goro was working against you and how Kurama came to tell you of his intentions. I think I know Kurama well enough to say that he did not just walk up to you and state this. And please obtain a written statement from Goro to include in the report."

Nubuo's heart pounding in his chest caused Yomi's ears to twitch. "Is this not possible?"

"No sir. Not at this time."

"And why is that?"

"Goro is missing as well."

"I see. Well since Goro is a material witness to this alleged treason he must be located first. You have twenty-four hours."

"Yes-yes sir."

Kurama smiled inwardly with satisfaction. He knew that Nobuo knew exactly where Goro was, and that he would try to pin Goro's death on him.

"Do you have any more questions, Nobuo?"

"Yes sir. If I am your lieutenant and Kurama challenged me how is that not treason?" He had to know. He had to know why Yomi insisted in protecting his enemy.

"An excellent question, Nobuo. Kurama is not a citizen of Gandara so he cannot be charged with treason. Also, treason is an act. If he were a citizen and merely said that he would remove you from office that is not treason. But since the servants supposedly acted against you then that would be treason if it is true. Now do you understand?"

"Yes sir."

"I'm glad. You are dismissed. I am sure you wish to get started right away."

"Yes sir." He got up and bowed to Yomi, and shot Kurama a look of derision. He then bowed to Yusuke and left. As he closed the door, he heard Yusuke say "Sucks to be him," and burst into laughter.

"Damn Yomi," Yusuke said in between breaths. "You some kind of lawyer or something?"

"Not a lawyer, Yusuke. But I did write the laws here."

"Shit, I'll say. It was like watching Law & Order. And dude was about to piss his pants."

"Yes, Kurama can be very intimidating."

"Kurama? Kurama barely spoke two words. I was talking about you!"

"Me?" Yomi said, feigning innocence. He knew he was intimidating, and enjoyed arousing such fear in shady characters such as Nobuo. "I was unfailingly polite in my reprimand."

"Yeah, whatever. You and Kurama are just alike. Saying please before and thank you after kicking someone's ass."

Kurama chuckled. "So what brings you here, Yusuke?"

"Well, you know; bored as hell up there now that you and three eyes left. No offense to Hokushin, but he's not exactly a social guy. Just figured I'd come down here and see what's happening."

Kurama shot Yusuke a look. He knew Yusuke better than that. He was here to witness Nobuo's defeat.

"What's the matter fox? You don't believe me?"

"Of course not."

Yomi stood up. "I have some meetings to attend. Yusuke, stay out of trouble. Kurama, would you and Yusuke care to join me for dinner?"

"Actually I was going to head back to the ningenkai tonight. I will return in the morning."

"Of course. Yusuke, will you be accompanying Kurama or staying here?"

"I'll head back with the fox. But I'll be back, horns."

Yomi smiled his favorite smile. "Of course."

"So what's up with you two?" Yusuke asked Kurama as they walked through the park to Kurama's house.

Kurama looked at him. "What do you mean, Yusuke?"

"C'mon fox, you know what I mean. You show up at his place all unannounced and shit, and are kicking his top guy out. Thought you two had some kind of beef."

"We settled our 'beef', Yusuke."

"Superficially?"

Kurama stopped to look at Yusuke. "Do you even know what that word means?"

"No," Yusuke confessed. "What does it mean?"

"It means on the surface, Yusuke. And why would you ask that if you don't know what it means?"

"Never mind. So, did you two…you know…back in the day?"

Kurama narrowed his eyes. "Yusuke, that's a very personal question."

"Yeah, I know. So, did you?"

"You know I'm not going to answer that."

"Yeah I know."

"Why would you ask me that?"

"Just askin' you the same questions I asked him."

"You asked him that?" Kurama looked at Yusuke incredulously.

Yusuke returned his glare with a smirk. "Yep."

"And what did he say?" Kurama was desperate to know.

"Why would I tell you? You won't even answer my question."

"Yusuke, I thought we were friends-"

"We are. But I want to know what's up with you two and you won't tell me. So I asked him."

"Why will you not tell me what he said?"

"What do you think he said?"

"That's what I'm asking you." Kurama was growing irritated. He couldn't believe that Yusuke would violate his private life by trying to pry information from Yomi about their past.

"Kurama, calm down. Stop making such a big deal outta nothing. Geez, if you're pissed about that maybe I shouldn't tell you what I said to him about hooking up."

Kurama nearly tripped over his own feet. "You said what?"

"Well, fox during our conversation the phrase came up and he didn't know what it meant. So I told him. Actually no, that isn't right. I made him figure it out."

"Why were you having such a conversation with him?"

"'Cause we're cool like that, Kurama. He's not as uptight as you, Hiei and Mukuro."

Kurama stiffened.

"See what I mean, fox? He's cool."

"He wasn't always like that."

"So he told me. Anyway, you still haven't told me why you showed up at his place ready to kick out his top man. Thought you never wanted to see him again."

"I don't recall ever saying that."

"Look fox, I ain't trying to start nothing. I'm just saying that you showed up on your own this time, and before you try to take over you should decide why you're doing it and if you're going to fuck him over again."

Kurama glared at Yusuke. "Excuse me?"

Yusuke was unmoved by Kurama's stare. "You heard me fox. I know you took my side last time, and I'm glad since he was trying to take over here and all but you hurt him when you did that. You should make sure you're not going to do it again before you just move in."

"Why are you defending him? He threatened my family." Kurama was getting upset now. He objected to this attack on his character, and to Yusuke poking his nose where Kurama felt it didn't belong.

"Which was definitely not cool, but from what I understand you put a hit out on him back in the day. And you ditched him again, and he didn't attack them did he?"

"It wasn't like that, Yusuke." Kurama could feel his guilt returning. He hadn't truly dealt with it yet and he felt his defensive mode settling in. Yusuke noticed.

"Look fox, before you go getting all defensive, you should just think about that. I like Yomi but of course I like you more. We've been through a lot together. All I want to know is why you're doing this but it's clear you don't know the answer to that yet. But keep in mind that what you're doing affects all of us. Just be sure you're doing it for the right reasons."

"I'll keep that in mind," Kurama stated before he stalked off.

Kurama decided to cool off before going home. He was burning with fury. How dare he, he fumed inwardly. How dare he question my motives…

But what were his motives? Why was he doing this? He still didn't know the answer to that and maybe he shouldn't move forward until he figured out why he was doing what he was doing.

He decided that he wasn't going to return to the makai until he figured it out.

Uh, Kurama? You're kind of in the middle of a power struggle here. Could you hurry it up? And what's up with Yusuke calling him out like that? What decision will Kurama reach? Find out as It's Complicated continues!

I want to thank everyone for your support and reviews. It means so much! I was really nervous about portraying Yomi as a protagonist but he's one of my favorite characters.

Also: Some of you may feel that I have taken Yusuke and Kurama out of character in this chapter. But I have my reasons for it. See if you can figure out why I did it.

NG714