Chapter Two- Solution Mystery Revealed

Yusuke woke the next day, feeling strange but good. It took him no time to figure out that the strange feeling was a result of the mystery solution that got on and into him. He spoke to Kurama who had come by as he got ready for work. He told him of the tip-off, his discovery of the lab, the disposal of the liquids, the chairs, and the accidental spill on himself.

"And nothing happened," Kurama stated as Yusuke greased his hair back.

"Nothing. I've got a strange feeling here," he said, indicating his stomach. "But, that's it."

"Yusuke, perhaps you should not work until you are completely well," Kurama said. "We do not know if the solution was harmless or has a delayed reaction."

Yusuke shook his head. "Sorry, but I've got regulars who depend on me. Besides, it could be stomach cramps that'll go away eventually."

Kurama inwardly sighed as Yusuke continued to get ready. His boyfriend was stubborn, he knew that. He had seen that side of him often enough in all the years they've known each other. Once Yusuke had made up his mind, practically nothing and no one could change it.

"Oh, Yusuke. I talked to Mother and she wants to invite you to dinner in a couple of weeks. Just the three of us."

"Really?" Yusuke's head popped out of the kitchen with his usual grin. "Sounds great. I'll let my regulars know that I'll be closed that night." He ducked back in and Kurama's brow furrowed. Was it his imagination or did Yusuke's hair look a little longer? He came out a few minutes later to reveal that it wasn't his imagination. He grabbed some scissors and a trash can. "Yusuke, you need a small haircut."

"Huh?"

"Your hair seems to have gotten a bit longer since you woke up."

Yusuke brought a hand up and back to find his hair even with his collar. Usually the only time his hair was that long was when it wasn't greased back. "Yeah, I guess I could use a trim."

Kurama and Yusuke sat down, the former behind the latter and the can positioned to catch any stray pieces that slipped through Kurama's fingers. He raised the scissors and began to snip the excess hair, dropping them into the can. He snipped the last bit and smiled in satisfaction. Perfect, he thought.

His smile vanished and his mouth dropped. The hair was growing again and going past the collar. He cut it again and it grew back and lengthened more, this time past the shoulders. "Yusuke, you hair keeps growing back and getting longer each time."

"Really?" Yusuke said in a weak voice that concerned Kurama.

"Yusuke?" He moved to crouch in front of his boyfriend and felt his forehead. He pulled it back. "God, you are burning up."

Yusuke moaned and clutched his stomach. "Maybe…I should stay home."

"That would be best and I will stay to take care of you." He helped Yusuke into his pajamas and then into bed. He went to wet a rag and put it on the forehead. "Kurama, thanks for staying with me."

"Of course. I cannot leave my boyfriend when he is not at his best."

Yusuke sighed. "Kurama, I'll likely be your girlfriend before you know it."

"You refer to the solution from last night. We do not know if it was one to change your gender. This could simply be an illness with a rapid hair growth serum."

"Maybe," Yusuke murmured as his eyes slid shut. He hadn't fallen asleep, he just couldn't keep his eyes open. He gave Kurama the impression that he was asleep, but his mind was racing. He so wanted to believe Kurama's idea of an illness solution, but considering the nature of the case he had closed, he believed he had fallen to a gender potion. He was certain that he would be a girl by, at least, tomorrow morning. He felt his abdomen burn and suspected he was gaining a womb and a girl's reproductive system. Man, I'm probably becoming a girl on the inside before being one on the outside. Or it could be an illness with a hair growth side effect. That would be odd, but that would be better than becoming a girl. He then did fall asleep, firmly convincing himself that he was just sick.

Kurama gently brushed some of Yusuke's long hair back and sensed that he had fallen asleep. He gathered up the couch cushions and a couple of pillows and laid them beside Yusuke's bed. He cooled the rag and, as he put it on the forehead, he thought Yusuke had longer eyelashes. He shook his head slightly. No, I am imagining it. He is not becoming a girl and even if he is, I will still love him. I am certain that he would still love me, even if he became a girl. Kurama smothered a yawn as he stretched out on the cushions and fell asleep, grateful that tomorrow was Saturday.

Yusuke felt a tightness in his pajama top when he awoke. He opened his eyes to see sunlight pouring through the window's curtains. He laid there and found that aside from the tight top, he felt a lot better ad would definitely be working tonight. He slowly sat up, the rag falling onto his lap, and looked over at Kurama who was asleep beside his bed. "Kurama," he said softly and a hand flew to his throat at the higher-pitched voice. He looked down to see breasts straining against his top. Despite his certainty that the solution was a gender switch one, the shock of seeing himself in a female body prompted him to scream which jolted Kurama to wakefulness.

A scream of horror prompted Kurama to wake with a jolt. He sat upright and saw a girl in Yusuke's pajamas screaming as she looked at herself. He got up and put his hands on her slimmer shoulders. "Yusuke, calm down!" he said firmly.

"Calm down!?" she repeated a teenage girl's voice. "Kurama, I'm a girl now. You can't tell me you would be calm if you woke up as a girl."

"You are right. I would scream too. Okay, you will need a new wardrobe. Perhaps Keiko will loan you some clothes."

Yusuke moaned. "Kurama, I don't want her to know I'm a girl or anyone else for that matter."

"You are Keiko's height now and your clothes will not fit right. Plus, when you go to work, you will have to explain what happened and prove your identity."

Yusuke sighed, knowing Kurama was right. "All right. Call Keiko." She watched Kurama head for the phone and then got up, grabbed her bathrobe, and headed for the bathroom. She closed the door and stared into the mirror, barley recognizing her face. Her brown eyes had softened and her hair was even longer than last night. It ended above her slightly curvy waist. Her nose was slender, her lips were full, and her angled jaw and chin were curved.

She stripped off her clothes to fully see her body. She had full breasts, a flat stomach, firm hips, graceful yet muscular limbs, and delicate fingers with a growth of nails. Her lips curled up into a smile. Damn, I'm attractive. I'm sure Kurama would agree.

"Wait. Yusuke's a girl now?"

"Yes. She will need help adjusting to being female and some clothes as well."

"I could loan her some clothes, but wouldn't it be better to try to cure her?"

"It would, however, all of the liquids were disposed of. It could not hurt to make sure, though."

"Right. I'll grab some clothes and come over. Once she's dressed, we'll head to that house and scour it for a way to cure her."

"Thanks, Keiko." Kurama hung up and headed back to Yusuke's bedroom but paused at the closed bathroom door. He suspected Yusuke was in there, trying to take in her new body. I did not want to seem like I was staring, but I was able to admire her looks. She is very attractive and, as I thought, I still love her. Her gender and body are the only things that have changed. She is still the same Yusuke I love.

I do hope we find some answers at that house. I would like Yusuke to be normal again. However, if we do not find answers, I will need to explain to Mother that my boyfriend is now my girlfriend. Kurama sighed softly and hoped deep down that they found a solution.