Note: the lemon in this chapter has been removed… go to the LJ link on my profile for an unedited version.

CHAPTER 13: AS LONG AS YOU'RE HERE

Ningenkai (a little over four years ago)

It was Halloween; Shizuru and Kuwabara were throwing a party that night for their friends. Keiko and her new boyfriend were there, so was Hiei and Yukina (to Kuwabara's simultaneous dismay and pleasure), Koenma and Botan showed up too. So did a few casual friends from Shizuru's law school.

They were all dressed in their costumes; Kuwabara was a vampire, Shizuru was a sexy bunny, Keiko and her boyfriend dressed as a prehistoric couple, Yukina was a cute angel, Koenma was Elvis and Botan was…uh… quite honestly, no one knew where to place her; she was donned with a tiara, neon blue sneakers, an 80s dress, a beard and bat wings.

For the rest of the night, the Grim Reaper will herein be referred to as, "That thing."

Shizuru's friends were all zombies and, as expected, Hiei did not bother wearing a costume. Yusuke and Kurama were running a bit late; all their friends knew they were a couple now. In fact, some of them helped Yusuke move out of his mother's house and into Kurama's. The kitsune had insisted that it was time to move in with each other after almost a year of being together.

Soon enough, the couple came in; both shivered with the stubborn chilliness that refused to leave them after they entered the warm house.

"Urameshi! Kurama!" Kuwabara yelled. "Finally you made it; I thought I was going to have to send a 'search and rescue' team after you guys."

Kurama chuckled. "Forgive us." He said. "We lost track of time."

Yusuke removed his coat to reveal his 'Jack Sparrow' costume; that earned him a few catcalls from the ladies. However, it was Kurama's costume that made everyone's jaw drop; he was in a school girl's costume. The kitsune wore a crisp white long-sleeve shirt, a red tie and a navy blue pleated skirt that stopped mid-thigh, showing off his long legs in white stockings and brown loafers.

The fox gave a sly smirk. "You like?" He asked coyly and Yusuke rolled his eyes.

"Damn fox boy, you look good enough to eat." Shizuru finally said, sending a wink to the pair.

"Your costume is gorgeous." Keiko chimed in.

"Where did you get it?" One of Shizuru's friends asked.

Soon all the girls were squabbling to know where Kurama purchased his costume while Yusuke slipped away quietly to mingle and of course, avoid getting run over by the stampeding bunch.

000

Hiei's POV

It has been about 2 hours since Yusuke and Kurama arrived; I am pretty sure Yusuke is drunk because if he weren't he would notice the men trying to chat up Kurama. As expected, the kitsune politely declined going alone into the back garden with the hoard of aroused ningen idiots. I don't blame them though; since Kurama revealed his costume, I have not been able to take my eyes off him and his goddamn legs.

I hated the way Yusuke neglected him, I hated the way the ningens leered at him. But I cannot let myself be distracted if my plan is to work.

"Hello Hiei." Kurama said as he walked up the stairs and smiled down at me in the dark corner I occupied. "It's been a while, a year to be precise."

"Kurama." I greeted with a curt nod. The kitsune sat beside me but not before I got a glimpse of his red thong underneath the ensemble. "Yusuke made you wear this." I said, unabashed.

Kurama chuckled. "No, he was very much against it." He said. "But I like giving my lovers incentive to not do something stupid; and really it's more like a punishment."

I raised a brow. "Trouble in paradise?" A small bubble of hope began to rise in my chest but I quickly squashed it.

The kitsune shrugged. "Something like that."

"Hn." I said, looking back at Yusuke who was laughing loudly with the oaf.

"Do you like my costume?" Kurama asked with a smirk.

I shrugged, trying to look unaffected by his attire. "It does not bother me, if that is what you were asking."

Kurama leaned forward. "It is what I am asking." He said with a smirk.

I looked back at the redhead and I swore I saw a flash of gold in his eyes. "The answer is still no." I said and stood.

I walked up the stairs and entered a bedroom; I didn't care who it belonged to, I just needed a window. I jumped onto a nearby tree and sighed at the relative peace I got.

"Why did you come, Hiei?" Kurama called from the window; why didn't I hear him follow me. "You obviously are not enjoying yourself, so why did you come?" He continued.

"Baka." I growled, trying to ignore the kitsune. "I was bored."

Kurama shook his head. "You know as well as I do that if you were bored, you would rather fight an army of demons than sit all by yourself on the steps." He said matter-of-factly. Damn it, I hate that he knows so much about me already. "I noticed the way you looked at me back there; I could feel your eyes raking over me." The kitsune's voice was expertly seductive.

I frowned and looked back at him and he gave me a wink; I did a few calculations in my head. "It's a full moon tonight; Youko is right under the surface." I concluded.

Kurama laughed, "Are you just noticing?" He asked. "That's very much unlike you; come in, let's dance. Yusuke has been neglecting me and I'm lonely." He whined.

I was tempted to take him up on his offer. Very tempted. "Go away" I said, "I'm not a replacement for your lover."

The kitsune pouted. "Alright then," He gracefully stepped on the window sill. "I'll come get you." The fox held onto a branch and shifted his weight, trying to jump onto the tree. The next thing I heard was the snap of the branch and a surprised gasp; then I was flying down after the kitsune.

I caught him before he reached the ground. "What the hell is the matter with you!" I yelled. "With this body, you would have been seriously injured if you-" A breeze blew around us and then I could smell the sharp stench of alcohol. "You're drunk." I said.

Kurama chuckled and wrapped his arms around my neck. "You are always so obvious." He whispered into my ear, making me shiver. "I find it adorable."

I scoffed and gently placed the intoxicated kitsune on the grass. "Go to your human." I made to walk away but Kurama grabbed my arm to stop me.

"Now is your chance, you know." He said. "You have the opportunity to use my advances to your advantage."

"And what makes you think I want your advances?" I asked.

Kurama pouted again. "I'm hurt." He said, stepping closer and once again wrapping his arms around my neck again. "You want me; I can feel it, I can smell it." He continued. "And I want you… for the longest time now." Kurama nuzzled my neck. "When the sun comes out, Shuichi wakes up. Do you think my mild mannered counterpart is brave enough to approach you?"

I blinked at that. "Are you trying to say-"

"We both want you, firefly." Kurama (or is it just Youko now?) whispered. "I am just bold enough to go after what I want."

I was at a cross road; this was what I wanted but I knew Yukina would be disappointed. However, at the end of the day I would get the results I wanted. I quickly pressed my lips hard onto the kitsune's and he moaned in reply, equally matching the fervour. I pulled him close and held on tightly; my hands and his exploring each other's bodies. His hand crept under my dark shirt, feeling the hard planes of my chest and lower stomach. I was not going to be outdone; I wrapped my hands around his hips and lifted him off the ground. His legs automatically wound itself around my waist; he grinded against my groin, pulling a pleasured growl from me.

I moved forward till he was trapped between the wall and me; my hands darted up his sinfully short skirt and massaged his inner thighs, slowly getting closer to my goal. Then I was suddenly pulled away from the mewling redhead and flung across the yard.

I deftly landed on my feet and looked up in anger; what I saw would have made even Koenma dig a grave in fear. "What the fuck are you doing kissing my boyfriend!" A seething Yusuke growled at me.

000

Hiei scoffed. "If you were not so inattentive, I wouldn't be kissing him in the first place." The fire demon replied.

"Is that all you can say?" Yusuke asked, scandalised. "You stabbed your teammate in the back-"

"Please," Hiei said. "Last time I checked, we were no longer officially Rekai Tente and you are not my friend, so I'm not obliged to do you any favours."

Yusuke blinked and then narrowed his eyes; he raised his hands to aim. "Well then, I guess you won't take it personally when I blow a hole through your-"

The Mazoku became quiet when Youko silently stepped in front of him; in all his silver grace, he gently wrapped his hand around Yusuke's raised ones. "Enough." He whispered as he lowered the hand.

Yusuke complied; however, he jerked his hand away and walked off.

Youko sighed at looked at the fire demon. "Meet me at my place in 30 minutes." He said. Hiei began to protest but Youko quickly silenced him with a small kiss. "I really want us to work." He said and after a while, Hiei nodded.

Youko followed Yusuke into the room; he ignored the surprised looks of his friends and the confused looks of the other guests. Yusuke had already taken his coat and he was out the door. "Yusuke wait!" The kitsune yelled, grabbing his coat and hurrying after the Mazuko.

Yusuke continued at a brisk pace back to their home, ignoring his boyfriend's plea; he always had the suspicion that Hiei and Kurama had feelings for each other. Heck, everyone thought they were lovers the first time they were introduced. The brunet was pulled out of his reverie when he ran into what he thought was a wall but was, in fact, Youko.

The kitsune grabbed his arms. "Yusuke, listen to me."

"I don't want to hear it." Yusuke said, making to manoeuvre around the fox.

But Youko held him still, pushing Yusuke against the wall and pinning him with his hips when the brunet began to struggle. "Please koi-"

"Don't you 'please koi' me!" Yusuke spat. "How could you do this to me?"

Youko sighed. "I have always wanted you both-"

"Bull!" Yusuke cried with a glare. "If you liked us both, why didn't you just go to Hiei; you're both made for each other. Everyone saw that, so why did you pick me?" Yusuke asked.

Youko shook his head. "I don't know." He whispered. "There was just this pull to you that was stronger than to Hiei." Yusuke scoffed in disbelief. "Its true."

"No, I know exactly why you decided to go out with some low life, half-demon freak like me," Yusuke said. "I'm just another one of those exotic creatures you bedded back then, right? Another notch in your belt?"

This time it was Youko's turn to glare; the first night he appeared after Yusuke and Kurama were together, the Mazuko had warned the kitsune that he would not be used like he did his past lovers. Youko had sworn he was honest but apparently, Yusuke still had doubts.

"I'm sick of this." Youko said before he suddenly shifted his weight, allowing Yusuke to fall forward. The kitsune caught him and swung him over his shoulder.

"What the hell are you doing!" Yusuke protested but Youko ignored him; the kitsune gracefully jumped on a rooftop. "Put me down, dammit!" But the fox ignored his lover's cry as they zipped across rooftops at high speed.

When they finally got home, Youko deftly climbed through his room window and carelessly dumped Yusuke on the bed. "Since you really want proof that I'm yours..." The tall silver kitsune disappeared and in his place, a slender redhead stood. "I'll show you."

The redhead knelt in front of the Mazuko and pushed his legs apart; with a swift flick of his wrist, Yusuke's fly was open and his member was in the fox's mouth. The brunet gasped and moaned. "Youko, what are you doing?" He asked.

The redhead looked up and Yusuke blinked when he saw gold instead green. Youko pulled away from Yusuke and managed to fake a confused frown. "I'm pleasing you." The innocence in the seductive voice made Yusuke almost come. "I thought you would like to choke me on your cock since I've been bad. Isn't that what you want… professor…"

They had done role-play before; Kurama had surprised him one day when he came back from his ramen shop to see the sexy fox in a French maid's outfit. Needless to say, that custom never made it to the play it was meant for at his school. However, what is so different about this time is that Youko (King-of-Thieves-heart-breaker-player Youko) is being absolutely submissive to him; not Kurama, Youko.

The brunet got into character. "I did not like the way Hiei touched you; I despise the fact that you let him touch you like that." He said in a stern voice. "What were you thinking when he kissed you? Did you think of me?"

Youko shook his head. "No, I didn't." He confessed. "I couldn't think with his arms around me like that." The fox managed a blush.

The Mazuko grabbed the kitsune by his hair and pulled him up to his eye level. "You cheated on me." Yusuke said, his eyes softened with sadness.

Youko averted his eyes in shame. "I'm sorry, koi." He said. "I can't use my being drunk as an excuse because I was hoping it would happen... even before I had the first drink."

The Mazuko's grip on the crimson locks tightened

in anger. "Why shouldn't I just pack up and leave you, since you want to be with him so badly."

The kitsune's amber eyes flashed up immediately. "Because I know you've been watching him too." He whispered. "I would wake up to you begging Hiei to suck you off."

Yusuke blinked. "You knew?"

"Yes." Youko breathed. "Please punish me instead of leaving... please Yusuke..."

The Mazuko gave a feral growl and crushed his lips to the kitsune's, biting the soft bottom hard. He smirked when Youko whimpered in surprise and roughly pulled away. "Convince me to stay." He snarled before he pushed Youko's face to his crouch. "Suck." The brunet commanded.

000

Youko collapsed against Yusuke's chest and the brunet held on tight to his lover. Both stayed silent for a while as they enjoyed their post-coital bliss.

"Do you love him?" Yusuke finally asked.

Youko frowned and did not reply for a long time before he eventually said, "I'm not sure." He shook his head. "But there has always been something there… I could always feel it when I'm around him."

Yusuke's hold on the kitsune tightened protectively. "I don't like this."

Youko looked up at his lover and slowly crawled up his chest so that they were facing eye to eye. "Yusuke, from the moment you so stupidly wanted to sacrifice yourself for mine and my mother's life, I fell for you." He said and placed a small kiss on the Mazoku's lips. "I am deeply and unconditionally in love with you, Yusuke Urameshi and I want us to mate."

Yusuke eyes widened but Youko quickly spoke to stop his lover from speaking. "I understand that you'll need to talk to my other half first but I want us to be together forever." Youko continued. "And I know that it is a bit intimidating but all I ask is for you to give Hiei a chance to prove his love," The kitsune briefly glanced toward the window. "…for both of us. He cannot have one without the other."

Yusuke looked pensively at the fox before he nodded. "Alright, koi." He whispered. "One chance; but if that little bastard tries anything stupid-"

Youko silenced him with a deep kiss. "Thank you, koi." The fox said with a smile. "It will work out for the better. I can feel it." He continued as his pupils slowly turned green again. "I promise you won't regret it, koi." He whispered and his eyes rolled into the back of his head.

It was sunrise; Youko was gone and in his place, was a slumbering Kurama on Yusuke's chest.

Yusuke sighed and slowly removed his boyfriend from his person and climbed out from under him. He untied the bound redhead and removed his shoes; the Mazoku placed the thick blanket on his slender frame and placed a kiss on his forehead.

"You better be fucking right, Youko." He said to the sleeping form. "I'm sure you enjoyed the show." He said louder. "I will be dressed in 5 minutes; meet me at the door."

With that Yusuke walked into the bathroom and Hiei smirked before dropping to the ground. Seven minutes later, the Mazoku and the fire demon stared each other down at the dining table.

"You heard what we said while you were playing peeping tom." Yusuke said blatantly.

"One chance. I mess up, you kick my ass." Hiei retorted. "And you don't have to tell me: I sleep on the couch."

"Good." The Mazoku said, getting up from his chair and making his way towards the stove. "Kurama is gonna give me a mouthful if I don't feed you so what do you want to eat?" He said with as little venom as he could muster; Yusuke has come to understand the fact if he was to share Kurama, then he'll have to put up with the demon.

Hiei shrugged. "Whatever you're eating."

"Pancakes it is." Yusuke started bringing out all the ingredients.

"Yusuke." Hiei's usually soft voice made the Mazoku turn around immediately; he almost gasped when he saw equally soft eyes. "Thank you for giving me a chance; I swear I won't do anything to hurt Kurama… or you- if you'll give me the chance."

They looked at each other for a while. "Just," Yusuke started. "Don't hurt him. That's all I want from you." Hiei nodded and Yusuke went back to his work.

Phase 1, complete. The fire demon said to himself, mentally smiling.

000

Present Day

A loud thunder clap once again woke Yusuke up from his slumber and Shuichi gasped, jumping away from him.

"Shuichi?" Yusuke stood, rubbing his eyes. "Are you alright?"

The redhead shook his head. "I couldn't sleep and you looked cold so…" He trailed off and held up a blanket he had attempted to put on the brunet.

"Oh." Yusuke smiled sheepishly. "Thank you but maybe I'll just go to bed."

"Don't-" Shuichi bit his lip to stop the rest of his words. Yusuke has a life outside of you, he reprimanded himself, he cannot protect you all the time.

"Do you want me to stay?" Yusuke asked, his eyes lighting up.

Shuichi shook his head. "Its ok."

"I really don't mind, Shuichi." The Mazoku said. "In fact, I always hope you'll ask me to stay."

Shuichi blushed. "Ok." The redhead said. "But only if you join me in bed; I'll feel guilty if you slept on the chair."

That made Yusuke blink. "Are you sure?" He asked and the redhead nodded. "The chair is actually quite comfortable."

"I won't be able to sleep." Shuichi said and flinched when another thunder clap rumbled above them.

"Ok." Yusuke said. They both entered the bed and allowed the blanket to warm them slowly. Neither of them spoke for a while; they both faced away from each other and just listened to the soothing pitter patter of the rain on stone.

"Yusuke?" Shuichi broke the silence.

"Yeah?" Yusuke replied.

"I understand why you kissed me now." The redhead said. "You and Kurama were in love; it must be hard looking at me every day and facing the reality that he is gone."

"It is." Yusuke said with a shrug, forgetting that he could not be seen. "But I have you back; sure, you're separated from Youko but I still fell in love with a part of you. You're every bit an embodiment of Kurama as Youko."

Silence.

"Yusuke," Shuichi said with a sigh, still not looking at the brunet. "I know you still love Kurama but I'm not him; I look like him but I'm just Shuichi." He said. "I admire you, Yusuke… but I don't have feelings for you; I don't love you."

Silence again but this time, it stretched on long enough to be categorised as uncomfortable. Shuichi bit his bottom lip, unsure if Yusuke was angry or upset; he didn't mean to upset him, not after all the things Yusuke did for him.

"Its okay." Yusuke said so suddenly that Shuichi almost gasped. "From the moment I saw Youko coming down the hallway, I knew things won't be the same… because from the moment I failed to protect Kurama, I lost my world. Hiei did his best to fill it: heck, he's the reason I'm here today.

"I almost went crazy because you weren't there; I don't care if you'll never love me again or if you'll never smile at me the way your lips did when I woke up to him. I may never again see that sly look in your green eyes whenever he told an inside joke." Yusuke adjusted so that he would be facing the ceiling instead of the window.

"And I'm okay with that." Yusuke finished. "As long as you're here. All I want is you beside me, okay? Screw love."

Shuichi sighed with relief and smiled at that. "Ok." He said, "Good night, Yusuke."

Unbeknownst to the redhead, bitter tears slowly made its way down the brunet's temple. "Good night, Shuichi." Yusuke whispered, turning to the side and hugging the pillow to himself. Maybe if I pretend he's here, it won't hurt that much. The Mazoku thought to himself, squeezing the pillow harder.

It didn't work.

A/N: poor Yusuke… what is in store for our favourite detective…anyways, my exam results are out and I did so well (I thank you all for your prayers)… I don't know when the next chapter will be up because the second semester of my school has started… when I settle into my new timetable, I'll be more flexible… if not, I'll only be able to write in between breaks… I was inspired by "The Last Man" from The Fountain soundtrack as I wrote the last part… I suggest listening to it as you read it…don't forget to review!

This chapter is dedicated to my childhood friend who passed away recently; I love you, rest in eternal peace.