Part Eleven: No Closer to Admitting the Truth

Once again, Ani leaves Kuwabara to his thoughts. The carrot-top lays his head back on his arms. He doesn't want to think about what the demons have done nor does he want to dwell on how close to home Ani's words hit. 'I am not gay!' he thinks, 'I'm not…I can't be.' It was an argument he'd had with himself for several years now. He refuses to accept that he could possibly be attracted to males. 'Damn both of you,' he thinks angrily, 'I hate you both!' He hadn't thought about it until they had started touching him and now...now he knows he won't be able to stop thinking about it. 'I stopped even daring to go down THAT path years ago,' he thinks, 'why do I have to return now?' He doesn't want to face it anymore than he had in the past. He was not about to think about what it could mean for him and he most certainly was NOT going to accept it.

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Kurama leaves the bathroom feeling no better then when he had gone into it. His mind is still refusing to accept what his heart knows is true. He could very easily fall for the violet-eyed demon and that scares him. He doubts that Karasu could ever learn to love him in return. Lying on the bed, he finds his clothes and slips back into them. The clean scent reveals that while he was showering they were cleaned. He looks rather confused but decides that it would serve no useful purpose to wonder about how laundry got done in the Makai. As soon as he's dressed, the door opens and Karasu peers in. "Feeling better?" he inquires. Silently, Kurama nods not trusting himself to be civil to the violet-eyed demon and dreading what might happen if he were to actually be rude. "You can talk to me, you know. I don't bite."

Kurama shudders hearing his voice. Karasu could easily win the hearts of most demons in the Makai by his looks and voice alone and the redhead is having difficulties resisting him…not that he will readily admit that to the violet-eyed demon.

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Yusuke spends a few hours trying to absorb everything he's been told. Learning that Genkai and Koenma had set this up was really, really hard to swallow. 'What does that hag know that we don't?' he wonders, 'She saw what happened at the Dark Tournament. She knows how dangerous they are. Dammit! Why is she doing this?' "I have my reasons, Yusuke," a voice says from behind him.

"Why would you do that to them when you know how dangerous those demons and humans are?"

"Because I also know that they are capable of great good. Yusuke, I am psychic. I can read people well. I never said that the road would be easy. In fact, for some of them, the road is going to be VERY bumpy but they will make it through."

"Again, I don't see how those two will be able to get over themselves enough to actually have any feelings for Kuwabara."

"Actually, I think it is going to be Kuwabara that is going to take the longest to convince that they could actually see something in him or even admit that he's gay."

"He's not."

"Yes, yes he is, dimwit. He just doesn't want to admit it to himself…or anyone else for that matter because he's so sick of being considered abnormal."

"He's not abnormal. He's…Kuwabara."

"He thinks he's abnormal."

"Yeah, well he's also proven himself to be an idiot, too."

"Dimwit, would you just listen? If Kuwabara won't admit it to himself that he is gay, what makes you think he's going to tell anyone else that either?"

"He wouldn't. I still don't see why you think he would be good for Ani and Oto."

"Would it shock you to know that Ani has very low self-esteem?"

"He has what?" Yusuke stares at her in shock.

"He has low self-esteem."

"As in?"

"As in he doesn't like to be around people naked or otherwise."

"He doesn't think he's attractive?"

"Among a lot of other stupid things, yes."

Yusuke stares at her for a moment before he starts laughing. Genkai doesn't look amused. "I'm sorry, grandma, it's just that the thought of him having low self-esteem is too funny!"

"Dimwit, I'm being honest!"

"I can tell, it's just that of all our enemies, I wouldn't expect HIM to have that sort of problem."

"I don't see why not. He was human once."

"He doesn't act like it."

"That doesn't mean he isn't."

"Are you honestly saying that Ani is capable of things that aren't detrimental to Kuwabara's health?"

"Yes, dimwit, yes I am."

"That is really, really hard to believe."

"Whether or not you believe it is not my issue. I am just telling you that Kuwabara will be fine."

"So if Kurama, Hiei, Kuwabara, Mitari, and Itsuki are being set up with those that are compatible with them, what is going on with me?"

Genkai grins. "The same thing," she answers. He stares at her.

"What do you mea…you're setting me up with KOENMA?"