Thank you so much to those that reviewed- it means a lot that you like it. Those that suggested things- I tried to modify what I had- I like some parts better than others in here, but I hope you like it.

Dont own YYH.

Mitarai lay back onto the blankets on the floor in Kuwabara's room, thinking. He was grateful to Kuwabara, of course, but it felt a little overwhelming.

"Mitarai? I don't want to keep bugging you, but can you tell me about your mom?"

There was silence for a minute as Mitarai internally debated what he was going to do.

Finally, he sighed. "I'll tell you…" Everything…

As he explained to Kuwabara about his home (and occasionally school) life, he could feel the older teen getting angry. He knew it wasn't aimed at him, but it still made him feel nervous.

Once he got to his first meeting with Sensui, he stopped talking, feeling awkward. He didn't want to talk about the older male, after what he had dreamed about. Kuwabara looked confused.

"So you saw Sensui, then what?"

Mitarai bit his lip. "I guess I fainted- I woke up in his apartment. Then after that is when we watched Chapter Black."

Kuwabara nodded, thinking. "And then somewhere in that time between him finding you and you trying to kill me he hurt you… how many times?"

Mitarai hesitated. "Four times…?"

Kuwabara ran a hand over his face. "I'm sorry."

Mitarai was confused. "Why are you sorry? You didn't do anything."

"I know. But I feel bad that you had to go through that."

"Oh… Well, he's gone now, so I'll be okay." Mitarai gave a small smile and was happy to see the older boy give one in return.

-

For most of the day he hung out in Kuwabara's room, brooding over old memories and wondering about how his life would be different now that he was staying with Kuwabara. Would he have to go back to school? Most likely.

He felt nervous- it hadn't been quite two months since he had quit… but catching up with the work wasn't what he was worried about. Facing Tsume again… all of the kids and teachers who he had seen before the insanity started… After everything that had happened to him.

But then again, why should he worry? He could defend himself now, to an extent.

Trying to distract himself, he started to study Kuwabara's room. The older boy had gone out somewhere- maybe to tell Yusuke about this new development?

The bed was unmade- wrinkled green sheets covered it, with a few other blankets on the floor where Mitarai had slept the night before. Posters of the American band Kuwabara liked covered the otherwise bare white walls. There was a stereo and a case of CDs in the corner opposite the bed, and on the same wall, there was a TV and a VCR. A bookcase on the remaining wall with a desk completed the room, and Mitarai lay down on his back, staring at the ceiling.

He wondered where Kuwabara's parents were. He hadn't seen them or heard anything about them… maybe the two siblings lived alone? Were their parents dead? Or divorced? He'd ask Kuwabara.

Another bout of curiosity hit; did Shizuru stay at home, or did she have a job? She probably needed one, if they lived by themselves…

After an investigation of the house, he realized that Shizuru was nowhere to be found. Probably had a job, then.

One thing confused him, though. There were two normal bedrooms, and then a larger one for two adults. So their parents had to live there- they wouldn't have bought a house with all the extra space otherwise, right?

After he had explored a little more, he hung out in Kuwabara's room until he heard the front door open.

Curious, he left the room and headed downstairs- Shizuru and a middle-aged man were talking in the hallway. The man glanced up at him, then paused, his eyebrows raising in surprise. "Shizuru, who is that?"

"He's this kid Kazuma took in. Found him here yesterday night, unconscious and bleeding."

The man nodded. "I see." He held out his hand to Mitarai. "Nice to meet you. Hizume Kuwabara. And your name is?"

"Kiyoshi Mitarai," Mitarai replied, shaking the man's hand.

"It's good to see you up and fine now," Hizume said, smiling.

"Thank you," Mitarai said, a smile coming to his face as well. He turned to Shizuru.

"Do you know when your brother is getting home?"

Shizuru shrugged. "Beats me. I think he's at Yusuke's or something. But he'll be home by dinner. He always is."

Mitarai didn't want to be rude, but he couldn't help feeling awkward around Hizume, and so he went back upstairs until about five thirty, when he heard the door open again.

He opened the door and went downstairs to see Kuwabara talking to Shizuru and his father quietly. About him? Probably.

After a moment, Kuwabara and Shizuru noticed he was watching them and turned around. Kuwabara smiled.

"Hey, Mitarai. It's almost time to eat- you hungry?"

Mitarai nodded, feeling a little surprised. He hadn't noticed all afternoon, having been lost in thought most of the time.

While they ate, Mitarai could feel Kuwabara's father watching him.

"So, Kiyoshi, what circumstances led you to meeting Kazuma?"

Mitarai hesitated, unsure of how to answer. Did he know about Kuwabara's job?

"He ran away from home because his mother hurt him," Kuwabara said quickly. "Last night I could feel someone outside that needed help, so I opened the door and there he was. He must have had a run-in with some guys from one of the schools- he had a nasty gash on his chest."

Hizume looked concerned, and Kuwabara quickly reassured him. "Don't worry, me and Shizuru bandaged him up."

Hizume smiled. "Good job. Just what I'd expect of you, Kazuma."

Kuwabara grinned, and Mitarai smiled as well. He was glad the older boy had spoken for him- though it had startled him when the man had called him Kiyoshi. No one had done that in a long time…

He half listened to the conversation for a few more minutes before Kuwabara spoke to him.

"Are you done eating, Mitarai?"

He nodded.

"Okay. You want to shower? I can get you some pajamas again."

Mitarai smiled. "Thank you, Mr. Kuwabara."

As he left, he heard Hizume ask his son why he had been spoken to as an adult. Weren't they both teenagers?

He blushed slightly as he went up the stairs. Why didn't he call Kuwabara by his first name? Or even simply Kuwabara. They were close in age…

He shook off the thoughts as he got into the shower. He'd drop the formalities, if only to put the father at ease. But he still had to be careful about how he acted around Kuwabara.

He was completely clueless about what would happen now… take it a day at a time- don't think too far ahead. That's how he survived with his mother. He could do it again.