Hey everyone!!! looks around I know I know sweat drops it was like I dropped off the face of the earth right? Wellll I didn't haha. I'm still alive and still writing...somewhat. I've been so busy and the fact that my computer has been stupid lately. Oh and HAPPY NEW YEAR!! Hahaha...yeah sweat drops it's been that long since I've updated here...last year really in September of 2006...yeaaahhhh. Ok I'm done now. I felt sooo bad for leaving you guys with such an awful cliff hanger I combined two chapters for chapter 12...meaning I need to write more chapters because I ran out of them sweat drops

Also, for all of you who keep asking for it to be Karasu/Kurama, its not just going to be that pairing! And no, Kuwabara isn't going to die...neither is Kurama...and I will just leave it like that. This story is a Karasu/Kurama/Kuwabara fic and it's three way hahaha soooo if you don't like that...sorry.

I would also like to thank you alll for sticking with me and for every single one of you who reviewed! This story wouldn't have gone as far as it has with out your support!!! So THANK YOU!!!

Oh if any of you are reading And the Father Is... it should also be getting an update today! I'm going to try to update most of my stories today just because I haven't done anything lately. Ok now I hope you guys enjoy this and sorry again about the wait!

Disclaimer: See Chapter One.

ENJOY!!

Chapter 12

The three stared at the blank screen. Kurama's eyes were still flashing between golden and green, while his red hair had strands of white with in them.

"Kurama?" Yusuke asked, a bit taken aback by his friend's behavior.

Kurama looked at Yusuke, who had to take a step back.

Kurama's eyes were no longer green, but were golden. He had changed into Yoko Kurama.

"What?" Yoko asked.

"Yoko…" Koenma said complete shock.

"...Kurama?" Yusuke said, blinking at the fox demon, surprised.

"You already have my attention, so tell me what is on your mind?" Yoko stated, a bit annoyed.

Yusuke narrowed his eyes at the fox demon.

"I get the feeling there's more to this…Karasu figured out something, and that something has to deal with you and Kuwabara some how…" Yusuke said, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

Yoko narrowed his eyes at Yusuke, not wanting the fiery teen to know of his hidden desires; desires that were mainly centered on the teen's best friend.

"It really doesn't matter what my relationship with Kuwabara-kun is. All that matters is that we must get him back and away from that deranged monster." Youko growled, as he seemed to take a threatening stance.

However, Yusuke was not the kind to back down from a confrontation and stood his ground, taking a step forward.

"It does matter. I am his best friend after all! That makes it my business. So you better tell me what you have with Kuwabara and how Karasu found out?" Yusuke asked with narrowed eyes.

Youko and Yusuke stood there, glaring at each other. Koenma started to sweat drop a bit from the tension and electricity that seemed to be sparking between them. He cleared his voice.

"If you two can focus for a minute, we must figure out a plan for when Kurama meets with Karasu tomorrow. We're not entirely sure if Karasu will keep his word and let Kuwabara go." Koenma said.

Both demon's blinked at that and turned to the demi-god with narrowed eyes.

"Why wouldn't he? I mean, he has that weird obsession over Kurama right? So why wouldn't he let Kuwabara go?" Yusuke asked.

Koenma sighed and massaged his temples. He couldn't believe either of them, especially Kurama, didn't realize how dangerous Karasu's obsession was.

"Think about it. He knows that Kurama has something for Kuwabara, no matter what it is; he noticed it. Do you really think he would let that go? Karasu knows that if he still has Kuwabara when he captures Kurama, he can force him to do whatever he wants." Koenma said.

Youko's eyes widened at this.

"What do you mean?" Yusuke asked, not really wanting to think about it, hoping it wasn't what was being implied.

"Yusuke, I know you're not that naïve." sighed Koenma. "But since you are asking, let me lay it out for you. Kurama could escape once Kuwabara was free, so in order to ensure his own safety, Karasu will do something at tomorrow's meeting to capture Kurama but still have Kuwabara. As long as he has Kuwabara, Kurama will do whatever Karasu asks to insure Kuwabara's safety. Isn't that right Youko?" Koenma asked turning to the kitsune.

Youko narrowed his eyes at the demi-god.

"You are correct, Koenma. I wouldn't let Karasu hurt him."

Yusuke turned to Youko and growled.

"Will someone tell me what exactly Kuwabara has to do with you?!" Yusuke glared.

Youko looked at Yusuke with a calm face before sighing.

"I love him."

Yusuke's eyes widened not exactly expecting that though at the same time he had a feeling in his gut that the red head had feelings for his best friend.

"Tell me in a brotherly kinda way…" Yusuke said in disbelief.

Youko shook his head.

"No Yusuke. I love him more then that."

Yusuke didn't know what he was feeling in the pit of his stomach. He had never felt this way before. It felt like someone had punched him in the stomach and in the balls at the same time. His heart seemed to break at the news, and he wasn't sure to why he felt like that.

"How can you say that? You don't even know him…you never really hang out with him, you've never shown in anyway that you were his friend…so how could you even say you love him?" Yusuke said.

Youko looked Yusuke dead in his eyes.

"I do love him. I came to visit him while still helping Yomi in the demon realm. And even before the first demon tournament, I would help him with his homework, as well as hung out with him. I even invited him to my mother's wedding, which he came to and helped support me during the entire event. You may not want to believe this, Yusuke, but we were closer then we let on. He just didn't know how close I was to him…" Kurama said turning back into his former red headed self.

Yusuke looked at him in disbelief and not knowing what to do, huffed and stormed out of the room, slamming the door as he did. He needed to think things through; he needed to sort through these feelings that seemed to come from no where.

Kurama sighed and felt dizzy. He sat down and placed his head in his hands. He stiffened when he felt a hand on his shoulder and relaxed as he heard spirit world's prince spoke.

"He needs to let the information sink in…it might take a while for him to fully get it through his thick skull, but he'll get use to it with time." Koenma said, with a weak smile.

He had a feeling that Kurama had feelings for Kuwabara, by how differently he treated him from everyone else. Kurama was always nicer to the human and seemed to care more about his well being then the other two, though it didn't mean Kurama wasn't like that with the rest of the team, it was just more obvious when it came to Kuwabara.

Kurama sighed.

"I know…I'm just afraid that it goes deeper then we think…" Kurama said, having an idea as to why Yusuke acted the way he did.

Koenma raised an eyebrow at the red head.

"Yusuke having a deeper meaning? What's the world coming too?" Koenma chuckled.

Kurama couldn't help but chuckle at the comment. It was true, Yusuke would show his feelings on his sleeve as the old saying goes, but it seemed that he had kept some of those feelings hidden deep with in himself; so deep that he himself didn't know he carried them.

Kurama sighed.

'This was exactly what I was afraid of…' Kurama thought.

He turned and looked at the demi-god with a serious face.

"Now, do you have anything planed for tomorrow?" Kurama asked.

Koenma frowned.

"No, but I think whatever we think of, we will need both Yusuke's and even Hiei's help to pull it off."

Kurama nodded, knowing Koenma was right.

"I will contact Hiei. You should wait a while before contacting Yusuke." Kurama said standing up and turning to leave.

"Kurama."

Kurama stopped and didn't turn around.

"When we do save him, you should tell him how you feel. You never know, he might feel the same way." Koenma said, looking serious.

Kurama had a weak smile cross his lips.

"I think that's wishful thinking on my part. I will be back later with Hiei. Good bye Koenma-sama." Kurama said before leaving the office.

Koenma sighed and leaned back in his chair, still in his teenage form.

"This isn't looking too good…" he sighed.

Meanwhile, with Yusuke...

Yusuke continued to run, not caring where he was heading. All he knew was he needed to release steam, not to mention clear his head to think. He couldn't believe what had happened. He couldn't believe what he had heard. Yusuke Urameshi could not understand, nor believe that the red headed beauty Kurama was in love with Kazuma Kuwabara, HIS best friend!! It was impossible! How could Kurama love Kuwabara? They were complete opposites!

Kurama an infamous kitsune at one time for stealing priceless artifacts and other items making a fortune, more then King Yamma himself! Having barely escaped deaths hand, transferred his soul into that of an unborn child in the human world no less and has since stayed there as a human; Shuichi Minamino.

Shuichi Minamino, a straight A+ student no matter what the class; he is sot after by every single female and male, in not only the human realm but in the demon realm! His skills as a fighter are just as impressive as his skills at solving difficult situations with in seconds.

Kazuma Kuwabara, a punk grown up on the streets of the rough side of town. Only caring member of his family is his older sister, who works at a beauty parlor as a beautician; their parents too busy with their own lives to really care about their children. A failure at school and considered an ugly fool for his high cheek bones and rough facial features, not to mention lack of thinking before speaking; Kuwabara fought his way to the top, only to be second best to Yusuke.

The two were not only opposite in their home lives, but everything else. Yusuke believed in the saying 'opposites attract' but this was ridiculous!

Yusuke continued to run, his mind spinning at how he had missed this? How did he not see Kurama falling for his best friend, who was in the clutches of one of the sickest and sadistic weirdoes they had ever fought, besides Ani Toguro.

Yusuke didn't notice that he ran to the park; the one he had often spend time with Kuwabara at, just hanging out in the days after the makai tournament. He ran until he stopped at the edge of the pond, the moon's brilliant rays reflecting onto the calm water.

Yusuke collapsed to his knees, out of breath and staring at his reflection in the water's edge. He looked down at his reflection. He couldn't help but feel lost and confused. Everything was happening so fast, nothing made sense anymore.

He shut his eyes not wanting to look at that look he had, that look of pure agony and pain.

"DaXmn it all!!" Yusuke screamed, punching his fist into the ground, his eyes still closed. "Why the hell does this hurt so much! I mean what's the fucXkin' deal if that stupid fox likes my best friend? I mean, it's not like I like him or anything…he's…he's my brother…my best friend… he's the guy I turn to…the one who is always there for me…saving me from my self…so why…why the fuXck does this bother me!" Yusuke screamed his energy sparking a bit off his body as his emotions began to tap into Genkai's orb that was deep within his soul.

"Maybe you love him."

Yusuke's eyes snapped open and widened at the voice.

"D-dad?" Yusuke muttered.

He hadn't heard his father since he left the demon world three years earlier.

"Yes my son." came the voice of his deceased father.

Yusuke sat back on his heels and looked up. Hovering over the water was his father, transparent as he was.

Yusuke sighed and gave a weak smile.

"Long time no see old man."

"Like wise my son. I see that you are having problems of the heart?" Razien asked.

Yusuke shook his head.

"No…I don't know…it's weird ya know? I mean…he's my best friend…and a guy for that matter…and…and I'm straight and he is totally straight…"

"Are you sure about that? I know you better then you know your self sometimes." Chuckled Raizen.

"Psss." Yusuke says rolling his eyes. "Oh yeah? How can you really know me? I mean you are my dad and everything but you can't know me more then I know my self, that's impossible."

"Not as impossible as falling for your best friend." Raizen said before winking at his son before vanishing into the night air.

Yusuke started at the spot his deceased father was and sighed.

"DaXmn it…I don't care what he says…I can't love Kuwabara…" Yusuke snorted.

He jumped when he felt someone tap his shoulder. He turned around, ready to kick some serious asXs.

"Yo!" said a teenage Koenma, his hand up in the air with a wave.

Yusuke blinked at him before shaking his head.

"Don't do that!" Yusuke snorted.

"It seems you're feeling much better I take it?" Koenma said, noticing how much Yusuke had calmed down.

Yusuke sighed and ran his fingers through his hair, letting out a sigh.

"Yeah well, I figured I might as well figure all this shiXt out once I save that idiot's asXs, so I can pound it into the ground for being such an idiot." Yusuke said.

He knew he didn't mean a word of what he was saying. It was all talk, just to release steam and get his nerves to settle down. Yusuke knew if he could focus on saving his best friend, he didn't have to think about anything else. He didn't want to think about anything that had anything to do with 'feelings' at the moment.

Koenma could tell that Yusuke was using his cocky attitude as another way to hide his feelings.

'Yusuke, you really should be true to yourself.' Koenma thought, giving a mental sigh.

"Well, Kurama should be back at the office with Hiei by now."

Yusuke raised an eye brow.

"I wonder how he'll get the little guy to help I mean he has a constant death wish for Kuwabara." Yusuke said.

Koenma chuckled.

"Well, if anyone could get Hiei to help, it would be Kurama." Koenma said.

Yusuke nodded.

Koenma pulled his arm around Yusuke's shoulders, causing him to look at him surprised.

"Don't worry Yusuke, we'll get Kuwabara back." Koenma said.

Yusuke couldn't help but give the demi-god a weak smile.

"Yeah…I know."

The two began to walk back to the portal that had dropped Koenma there. Yusuke stopped and turned back to the lake, staring out into the night sky. To anyone passing by, it would look as if he was day dreaming, however those close to him would recognize the look of promise on his face.

'I promise you Kuwabara…I WILL save you and then kill that baXstard.' Yusuke thought before turning around and following Koenma into the portal to Spirit World.

Well I hope you guys are satisfied with this chapter smiles and I mean it this time...I'll try harder to get chapters out, it just might take a bit longer this time not as long as it was already to write up a new chapter. Sooooo with that said, please read and review!!!