Disclaimer: They aren't mine.
Alright, I have some straight stuff with Kurama. It was weird writing him with a girl. It's a little…more than I've done in the past. I don't know if you'll like it. It was just to show how no one could be with him but Hiei… you'll understand. I don't know what else to say, I like it. It makes me a little happier, and it has some really powerful stuff in it.
~*~~~*~
Chapter 4: The Photograph
The monster looked lovingly at his Degenerator. It was only a matter of three weeks, before all the calculations lined up, all the stars were aligned in the correct pattern, and every minute detail that held the fate of the worlds would be perfect, for the destruction of all. He did not wish for destruction, merely to be able to get into the Spirit World. He belonged there, but had fell as Satan had so long ago, to the catholic religion. He fondled the Degenerator lovingly, imagining his entry back into the Spirit World, to take his place where Koenma, the toddler, sat in his seat. Not for long. He would finally rule the worlds.
~*~~~*~
Kurama opened his desk drawer. He was fumbling around in if for a few minutes, looking for a very special item. He knew he had it, he had to have it. His fingers passed over broken pencils, graded tests, shoestrings, and empty candy wrappers. "Why am I such a slob?" He began yelling at himself as his efforts to find the item proved worthless. About to give up, his fingers finally found the glossy paper they were looking for. Drawing it out slowly, Kurama found the only known photograph of Hiei. Kurama had taken the picture when Hiei was in his bed one night, exhausted after being chased from tree to tree by a lightning storm. Kurama had had a lot of homework to do, so he was staying up as the youkai was asleep. Kurama had taken a much needed break, to go to the bathroom and grab some water. On the way to the kitchen, he passed by his Polaroid. Grinning wickedly, he grabbed up the camera and, silently entering his room, snapped a shot of Hiei. Hiei had bolted upright in bed, frightened by the sound of the shutter. Kurama knew it would be the case, so he had dropped the photograph and camera into his desk before Hiei knew what was going on. Hiei looked at Kurama automatically, and demanded an explanation for the alien noise. Kurama blamed it on the storm. Hiei did not believe him, but, not knowing what else to believe, had to accept the answer. Kurama didn't think about the photograph until days after the night it was taken. The photograph was actually quite beautiful, and it showed Hiei in a completely new light, innocence and peacefulness drawn across his somber brow. The youko knew how much damage it would cause Hiei to confess that Kurama had taken his picture, much less as he was asleep, so Kurama knowingly had always kept it to himself.
There had been many close calls with that photograph. Kurama, pouring over the photo, hadn't picked up on Hiei's ki until the youkai was standing behind him, demanding to see what Kurama was staring at, Kurama, placing the photo on his desk, to run to the bathroom or for some water, had come back to find his nosy little demon poking around his room. Kurama had barely gotten away with any of those, and for that reason, Kurama kept the photo in his junk drawer, where no one would find it unless looking for it. "And they might not even then." Kurama laughed at himself. Many times over the past few days, Kurama had wanted to destroy the picture of the demon that had destroyed him, but Kurama had held himself back. He knew the picture was much more important to him than the simple gratification of destroying it. And, deep down in his soul, he wished that Hiei would change his mind and come back to him.
Kurama smiled at a memory of Hiei, and he decided that Hiei would return. "Yes, Hiei will return and I will patch up my relationship with Shiori. Life will make sense once again." Kurama decided, with a note of finality. Kurama's neck prickled, and he had the sense of being watched.
~*~~~*~
On the other side of town, Hiei reached his ki out past the limits of others, past all the boundaries put up by normal senses. He worked his jagan until it hurt, pushing towards Kurama's house. He needed to see how the fox felt, no matter what it did to his body. As much as he could never see the fox again or let him know that he was watching him, Hiei had to know he was alright. The fox had been turning himself human, and it was not healthy for anyone involved. Hiei had to make sure the fox didn't wind up dead. He would never be able to live with himself. He still loved that stupid boy.
Head swelling with the pain of reaching his jagan past it's limits, he finally sensed Kurama. Kurama seemed happy, content, determined. "An unsafe combination" Hiei decided, as he jumped off his tree and began strolling, head still throbbing, towards the edges of where Kurama's ki could reach. If he didn't overwork his jagan so hard this time, he might be able to get an idea of what Kurama was thinking, as long as he didn't leave his house and feel Hiei feeling for him. It was a risk, but Hiei had to do it. He had to see what trouble that half-human was getting himself into.
Hiei gasped. He felt Kurama very clearly now, almost to the point of literally hearing his thoughts. Hiei had never felt this close to anyone before. Even after their one passionate unforgettable kiss, he didn't feel as close to Kurama as he did now. He actually felt the inside of Kurama. He had to see him. Carefully veiling his ki, Hiei crept closer and closer to Kurama, until he was seated in his tree, outside of the youko's house. Peering into the window, he saw Kurama looking at something. Hiei had to see what made Kurama overcome with his feelings of contentment, happiness, and determination. He now had his face almost pushed against the window, trying to see what was in Kurama's hand. Kurama had shifted his weight. Hiei could make out a vague outline. It was a photograph, but of what? Yes, he could almost… see… it…
~*~~~*~
Kurama completely left the living world, as he allowed his mind to be free and select one of many, many memories he had of Hiei. The only thing Kurama worried about was finding a memory that would spark some sort of insight into who Hiei was or how much the youkai had loved his youko. Kurama probed deeper and deeper, further cutting himself off from the rest of humanity, and opening himself up for any sort of attack, physical or mental or psychic or anything. He didn't care, as long as he was without Hiei.
~*~~~*~
…it was Hiei! "He got me sleeping… that bastard! How could he do that to me?!" without thinking, Hiei punched straight through the glass. Kurama's trance was broke, as he whirled around, only to freeze under Hiei's glare. Kurama could feel the heat emanating from Hiei, as the fire demon got more and more angry.
*YOU STUPID YOUKO!* he shouted *What gives you the idea that I might maybe be ok with the idea of you even thinking of taking my picture?!?!* Hiei bellowed out, alerting all people of the pain Hiei was suffering. *I thought it would be OK. I thought we could work it out, but you stole my image, and put it on a piece of paper. What gives you the right?* Hiei finished in almost a whisper, before running off.
Kurama sat where he was, still clutching the picture, not able to move or create a sound. He could hear his mother running up the stairs and bursting into his room, yet he could not look at her. He could hear her asking questions and see her picking up broken glass from his floor, cutting her skin. He could not move. He had been mistaken. He did not need to find a cure for their relationship, it would fix itself. Not anymore, though. The secret he had held from Hiei, the picture he had stolen from Hiei's sleeping body had led to the further demise of the already tattered relationship. It was Kurama's fault, that he no longer had Hiei. Kurama could not move.
~*~~~*~
The next day Kurama had to go to school. Not because he was forced to, Shiori actually begged him to stay at home, but since he could not explain his situation to her, he had to go to school. He was not looking forward to it, but it was better than staying at home being pumped for questions from his mother, about what broke the window, and why he wouldn't move. Kurama walked very slowly to his school.
*Oh, Shuuichi! I got this for you!* a very excited girl squealed, thrusting a rose into Kurama's hands. He looked at the rose, then at the girl. She was the same age as him, possibly older. She was very pretty, and obviously knew of his love for roses. He smiled at her, sweetly.
*Would you like to go for a walk?* he asked her. She paled at his question, as his murmuring group of followers suddenly fell silent.
*Oh, silly. We have class!* the girl laughed out, pretending that Kurama was simply joking with her. Kurama took the hand she was waving at him into his, and he pulled her closer to him. He breath quickened as he pulled his face closer to his.
*I can teach you things that no class will ever teach you.* he breathed in her scent, moving his nose around the aura surrounding her face, taking in the smell of shampoo and flowers that seemed to encompass her. She gave into him, *sure,* as he led her through his group of followers, away from the school. "I need a distraction, and she's as good as any. She's not a rebound! Well, maybe. I need love. I'll just talk to her. I'll just kiss her. I'll turn around right now. This is wrong. I love Hiei. I don't even like girls" Kurama kept thinking, as the entire scene with the girl was happening. He knew what he was doing was wrong, but he did not care. The only way he could see fixing the pain he was feeling, was to fill the hole in his heart with something else, even if it wasn't love.
They walked to the woods near their school, and Kurama led the girl deeper and deeper into the trees that were growing thicker by the step.
*What's your name?* he asked the girl, who was shaking with fear and anticipation that this boy was sending through her body.
*T..T…Toya.* She replied, the lump in her throat momentarily impairing her speech.
He found a large rock, and sat on it, still holding on to her hand. *Hello, Toya.* he smiled at her, bringing her to sit in his lap. He brushed his hand over her cheek, which flushed at his light touch. Cupping her chin in his hand, he brought her lips against his. Instead of feeling the unrelenting shock that he felt as he kissed Hiei, he felt more… spitty. He opened his mouth a little, and penetrated her mouth with his tongue, massaging her tongue, silently telling it to stop with all the saliva. He had never been so grossed out, yet he couldn't stop now. His hand dropped from her chin, and moved to her shoulder. Sliding his hand off her shoulder, he found her breast, and he cupped it in one hand, before opening her uniform, and actually touching the skin around her breast. He teased the skin, stroking it lightly, sending small thrills through he body. He could feel her quiver every time he touched her. Reaching the bra, and pushing it away, he finally encountered her nipple. Kurama paused at it, confused as to why men were so obsessed with them. He broke his kiss with Toya, and instead moved his head down to inspect the nipple. He tasted it (to which Toya moaned in delight), to see if it tasted any better than her mouth, which it did not. Kurama, thoroughly unsatisfied with the encounter, picked Toya off his lap. Without a word, he exited the forest, leaving Toya half-dressed and sobbing.
Kurama was very angry with himself. "Why did I think that girl would take the place of Hiei? Why do men like breasts so much? I need to find Hiei. I need to explain what happened… I need to go to school." And so, Kurama went back to school. The girls that usually follow him every day had disappeared, and he had a very nice, quiet lunch alone. After lunch, he overheard a conversation that two girls were having:
1: He kissed her and touched her breast!
2: Yea, but that's not all! He stuck his tongue in her mouth!
1: I know! He wouldn't stop, so she had to push him away for air!
2: She's so lucky!
1: I know! I can't believe anyone could push Kurama away
2: I am totally going to get him a rose now. I never knew how much he loved those flowers!
1: So am I!
And a nice large crowd of girls came upon Kurama, each with a rose of assorted flowers in their hands. "So, Toya had made the truth fitting to her purpose, forgetting how I left her half-dressed and sobbing. It seems being popular is more important than being happy." Kurama thought morbidly. He did not like the idea that girls would give up their body and be humiliated, just to gain approval from their peers. Kurama pushed through the crowd again, and went to his next class. He liked it better when they were off buying roses.
~*~~~*~
Yusuke glared at Keiko's back. He couldn't believe how unfair she was. He couldn't believe she was mad at him. He loved her. He wanted to be with her. He had no idea who this stupid Degenerator person was, nor did he care. What was the point of being alive, if he had to live without Keiko? At this thought, Keiko turned around to look at Yusuke. She started to smile, but, remembering that she was mad at him, stopped and shot her head back towards to teacher. Yusuke decided it was time to talk to her. After class, he would wait for her to get out of the room.
But Keiko was too fast for him. She shot out of the room, as if she were running a race. Yusuke ran after her, shouting her name the whole way, creating a ruckus in the hallway. Finally, Keiko stopped running, and turned around, tears flowing down her cheeks.
*Lets go to the roof.* Yusuke said. Keiko nodded. They went.
*Keiko, I know I've been an ass. I know I suck. I know you have every reason to hate me and it surprises me that you ever liked me, but now I love you and I don't know what to do about you not loving me anymore. You became the only reason that I ever come to school anymore, and if you aren't with me, I don't think I'll ever go. Maybe I'll take my mom's advice and drop out and get a job.* Keiko gasped at Yusuke's startling confession. The tears she had finally stopped began to flow again, and she grabbed for Yusuke. They were in an embrace, so tight and so lovely, until Keiko raised up her head. Yusuke lowered his lips onto hers in the innocent bond of a kiss. They shared a moment of pure bliss, and all problems were forgotten on both sides. Life, to Yusuke, made sense again.
~*~~~*~
Genkai had put a ward around her place, warding off Kuwabara. There was no way he could see Yukina now. He would not stand for that. He stood at the edges of the ward, and yelled at the top of his lungs for Yukina. For four hours straight, he stood there, yelling for her. Somewhere within those four hours, Hiei glided by Kuwabara, jumped out of the trees and deliberately walked, slowly, to Genkai's. Kuwabara switched his yelling for Yukina to yelling at Hiei, but only for a moment. Hiei, satisfied for a moment, entered. Kuwabara continued to yell.
*The oaf wants you.* Hiei told his sister. She looked at him, confused as to why Hiei would be telling her that. She always thought that Hiei had a crush on her, too. She shrugged, figuring that Hiei just loved her as a friend and nothing more, then went to the front door. She opened it and peered out, faintly hearing Kuwabara's yells. She exited, and began walking down the path towards the source of the yelling, still unable to hear Kuwabara. But she could hear him.
*Yukina! I'm sorry I was an ass! I don't know why I lied1 I didn't want to hurt you! I just liked you so much! It was a power thing! I know I'm stupid! Please forgive me!* She heard over and over again. He sounded hoarse. It made her smile, that he would go through so much pain, just for her. She began to run down the path, until she saw Kuwabara. She threw herself into his arms, telling him she forgave him. He stopped yelling the moment he saw her, she was just so beautiful. As she forgave him, he sighed a deep sigh of relief. The spell was broken, and Kuwabara went back to Genkai's with Yukina. When they entered , they noticed that Hiei had left. Not really caring about him, Yukina and Kuwabara dropped onto a couch and cuddled, happy to be over their fight.
Except for one small burn from Genkai, to remind Kuwabara not to lie to Yukina, or suffer even worse, Kuwabara had escaped his first fight unscathed. For the first time, he was still with a girl, even though a small fight had tore them apart. He was growing up, finally. Smiling, he nuzzled Yukina's head, who purred in response. "Like a cat!" Kuwabara thought, surprised. "I love her even more."
~*~~~*~
Outside Kurama's house, the roses began to wilt.
~*~~~*~
Koenma and Botan agreed to try once more, to get the Urameshi team and friends to help with the Degenerator guy. They asked everyone to meet them at Genkai's. Everyone showed, save Kurama and Hiei. Botan looked at the four that had arrived. She knew Koenma would be upset, but he could talk to the demons, if need be. She told Kuwabara, Yusuke, Keiko, and Yukina exactly what their mission would be. She explained that Yukina was going to be going to school, as Yusuke's cousin. That way, no one would question why Kuwabara liked her so much, or wonder why she was hanging out with such a ruffian (Yusukes growled at Botan for that). They would start tomorrow, and Koenma and Botan would work on getting Hiei and Kurama to their school, too. Right now, all they needed to do was keep their eyes and ears open.
*That means no sleeping, Yusuke.* Botan joked at Yusuke, who grumbled again. He wasn't enjoying this meeting. He was waiting for Botan to end the meeting, so he could go home. He began to tap his fingers, signaling his boredom. Botan glared at him.
*At least you could listen!* She shouted, as she whacked him with her oar. *Fine, go! I'm done.* Kuwabara and Yusuke cheered, and ran out of the room. Botan and Yukina and Keiko stayed behind, to give Botan an update on their boys. Botan listened, excitedly, as she heard all the details about the reconciliations. She became very worried about Kurama and Hiei.
~*~~~*~
At school, Kuwabara and Yusuke decided to check around the school during class, for unusual behavior from anyone (aka cut class) while Yukina and Keiko surveyed the scene in class. They agreed to meet at lunch, to share information.
Lunch approached steadily. Keiko and Yukina were so far empty handed. Yusuke and Kuwabara, on the other hand, were following two separate people. Yusuke's guy kept whispering to himself about killing everyone, and hating all the 'worlds.' Yusuke knew that was a bad sign. Kuwabara's, on the other hand, kept talking about 'bringing down the walls' and 'complete chaos.' They were satisfied with their findings, as they said during lunch. The next day, Yusuke would go to all his boy's classes and Kuwabara would go to all of his boy's. Yukina and Keiko would continue to go to their own classes. (*I'm not giving up my school work, when you boys have the situation in control. I want to be at the top of our class.*)
~*~~~*~
*What happened?*
*He doesn't love me.*
*Why do you say that?*
*Because he found this.*
*A photograph?*
*I wasn't supposed to have it. He doesn't take pictures. Never has.*
*He'll forgive you.*
*Are you really so sure?*
Botan sighed. She had never seen Kurama so upset.
~*~~~*~
*I don't deal with them anymore.*
*Why? What made you deci…*
Koenma sighed. Hiei had disappeared, again. He would just have to wait for the Youkai to stop jumping, before attacking him again. Koenma knew that Team Urameshi would fail, unless Hiei and Kurama joined the team. But how?
~*~~~*~
OK, I know I didn't really further the plot, but I wanted to get this one hammered out. I needed to get Yusuke and Kuwabara back with their girls, but still have Hiei and Kurama apart. I need to figure out what this monster is gonna be doing, what his name may be, and all that jazz. I'm so disorganized. J The more you respond, the quicker I'll post! J