Yusuke awoke the next morning to Kuwabara singing and the coffee grinder going.
"What the hell…" He bolted up, waking the snoozing fox beside him.
"Yusuke?" Kurama sat up and rubbed his eyes. "What's wrong?"
"Don't tell me you don't hear that god-awful noise, fox!" Yusuke growled, covering his ears.
"Oh, you've never spent the night with the Kuwabara's," Kurama chuckled. "That's his normal morning routine."
"And Hiei hasn't roasted him yet?" Yusuke asked, raising a raven eyebrow. Kuwabara's singing rose an octave.
Yusuke snatched open the door. "Hey dumbass! Shut the hell up!"
"Morning to you too Urameshi!" Kuwabara called back.
"Dad!" Gina and Kohai came bounding down the stairs, jumping into their respective fathers' arms.
"Hey son, hey little fox," Yusuke greeted. "Don't knock me down!"
"Are you ok daddy? Are you and uncle Kazuma still fighting?" Gina blurted out. Kohai tried to shush her and shot her a look.
"Everything is fine, Gina. Your uncle and I talked."
"Good," she hugged her father tight. "'Cause I don't want anybody fighting anymore!"
"Agreed," Kurama said, rubbing his daughter's back.
Kanoli descended the stairs, yawning. "Daddy what's for breakfast?"
"There's seven of you, so I'm not doing all this cooking! Everybody has a job."
So they all pitched in, except Hiei of course. Kuwabara handled the coffee and juice, Kohai and Yusuke did the bacon and eggs, while Kanoli did the cinnamon rolls. Kurama and Gina were the least skilled in the kitchen so they had the job of slicing fruit and setting the table.
After everyone had washed up and sat down, Hiei magically appeared out of nowhere, throwing Yusuke a look.
"You're in my spot," Hiei informed him.
"Oh really?" Yusuke teased.
"Yes, really. Now get up."
"C'mon Hiei, I'm a guest. You aren't really going to make me get up are you?"
"Hn." Hiei narrowed his eyes and took an empty seat beside Kohai.
"Itadakimasu!" Kuwabara exclaimed. Everyone dug in.
"So Hiei," Yususke said in between bites. "What'cha got planned this weekend?"
"Peace and quiet," Hiei answered. "Hard to achieve that when you have three children prattling on and on."
"Hmphf. Well don't forget next weekend is your weekend," Yusuke reminded him.
"Really?" Gina piped up, excited. Kohai and Kanoli weren't nearly as ecstatic. Their personalities clashed, and they'd seen quite enough of each other over the past few weeks. They exchanged looks, forming a silent truce not to kill each other for Gina's sake.
Breakfast conversation was light and joyful, with no underlying tension for a change. After breakfast and the dishes were done, Yusuke and Kurama loaded up their car with the three kids and took off, with Kuwabara waving at the door. Kanoli started in immediately.
"Uncle Kurama, are you sure about letting Uncle Yusuke drive? My father says he-"
"Alright smarty pants that's enough from you," Yusuke warned.
"I was only saying." Kanoli let out a deep, dramatic sigh.
"Yeah well, you're always 'only saying'. Didn't anyone ever teach you the art of-"
"Yusuke, watch out!" Kurama exclaimed.
But it was too late. A semi-trailer transporting a mobile home was taking up more than its fair share of the road, and even though Yusuke swerved to avoid hitting it, the passenger side of Kurama's car slammed into the front bumper of the semi, tearing a hole in the car. Kanoli, who had been sitting behind Yusuke, used her power of foresight to yank both Kohai and Gina to her side of the vehicle, but the same could not be said for Kurama. He had a deep gash in his head, and the impact of the truck had crushed his hip, leaving him unable to move.
"Kurama!" Yusuke screamed at the same time that Gina exclaimed "Dad!"
"Gina…Yusuke…I'm….I'm ok…." Kurama rasped. But clearly Kurama was not. He was barely breathing, and when he spoke a trickle of blood flowed out of his mouth.
"Kurama! Hang on!" Yusuke turned to his son. "Call 911!"
"OK Dad!" Kohai exclaimed as Yusuke tossed him his phone. Yusuke jumped out of the car and made a beeline for the driver of the truck. "Hey asshole! What the hell do you think you're doing? You can have a big trailer like that on this street!"
"I can if I have a permit moron!" The driver shot back, waving a piece of paper. "What the hell kind driving was that?"
Yusuke ran for the guy, ready to pummel his face in. A strong arm held him back.
Yusuke turned around. "Let go of me…Hiei?" Yusuke asked as his friend tugged on his arm and pulled him to the other side of the car. "How did you get here?"
"We live one street over. We heard the crash and my Kanoli sent Kazuma and me a message of distress."
"Yeah, It's Kurama! We have to get him to a hospital!" Kuwabara had arrived and was shouting at Kurama and trying to get him to remain conscious. Kanoli and Kohai held Gina, who was wailing and shouting for her father.
The police and ambulance had arrived, but could not get Kurama out of the car. The fire department arrived and had to call for their special forces team which had the materials necessary to cut the car apart and get Kurama out. But there was not time for that.
"He's losing too much blood!" Kuwabara exclaimed. "They'll never make it in time."
"Sir, we have no choice," a fireman was saying. "We cannot get him out-"
"Oh move out of the way!" Kuwabara exclaimed and shoved the fireman and two police officers aside. By then a crowd had formed on the street and the police were struggling to keep them back. Kuwabara grabbed the door and pulled with all his might. The door buckled, and finally pulled free from the car. The fireman and police stood there and stared at Kuwabara in shock.
"Out of the way fools!" Hiei snapped with such authority that they all fell back. The ambulance rushed in and carefully lifted Kurama from the car. It was then that everyone saw the extent of Kurama's injuries. His whole right side was deep crimson, and his clothes were bloody ribbons. Yusuke choked back a sob. Even Hiei gasped, and moved to shield the children, especially Gina, from the view.
Yusuke bolted for Kurama, but Kuwabara caught him in his strong arms and held him tight.
"Urameshi! Urameshi!"
"Let go Kuwabara!" Yusuke shouted and struggled to get free, to no avail. "I have to get to Kurama. Kurama! Kurama!" Yusuke yelled and finally broke free and chased after the ambulance. Kuwabara chased after him.
"C'mon Urameshi! I'll get the car and we'll go to the hospital. Hiei will stay with the children," Kuwabara decided, looking towards his partner. Hiei nodded solemnly. He had had enough of hospitals. Kurama was his closest friend, but his presence at the hospital wouldn't make a difference one way or the other. Besides, the hospital was no place for the children and his impatience and quick temper might lead to an incident with one of the incompetent fools.
Kuwabara and Yusuke sped to his house to get the car. The crowd was in awe, both at Kuwabara's show of strength when he pulled the car apart and Yusuke's and Kuwabara's speed when racing to the house to get the car. There were whispers in the crowd. Both Hiei and Kohai were conscious of the whispers, but there were more pressing matters to deal with now; foremost being trying to keep Gina calm.
"Daddy!" She screamed. "No! No! No!"
All of their efforts to calm her were to no avail. When they got back to the house, Hiei had to use his jagan to sedate her and get a handle on the situation. He instructed his daughter and Kohai the importance of remaining calm, and assured them that Kurama would be ok. After the children were somewhat settled he went downstairs to talk with this visitor.
"So Koenma," Hiei addressed the Reikai deity. "Is the fox going to make it or not?" He wasn't pleased at all with Koenma's answer.
"That Hiei, depends on Yusuke."
That depends on Yusuke? What does that mean? Find out in the next installment of The Letter?
Chicas! I KNOW, I KNOW it's been two years, but I assure I never forgot about this story. Distractions, writer's block, other stories, and just plain old life got into the way! But my muse is back and we agreed that she would not abandon me for that long again. Stay tuned for another chapter within a week!
Peace and Love
Ng714