Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho . . . just believe me. If I owned the show I'd make way more episodes and do a whole bunch of other neato stuff, but I don't, so don't waste your time and my time attempting to sue me. I'm poor okay? Good, glad we've established that. Okay, continue!

Author's Note: Hey again. Well, I'm trying to wind this story down and finish it up, so I'm sorry that this chapter is so short. I keep trying to keep my plot straight and for whatever reason I'm having trouble. I think I'm either stressed, tired, hungry, or just excited that school is almost out . . . knowing myself as well as I tend to, I'd say it's a lovely combination of all of them. Well anyway, read this and I promise I'll try and finish this story up in a timely manner, okay? Great. Thanks! ^_^

Chapter: 7

The halls were crowded during passing time, as usual. Yusuke hated crowded halls. He sighed as he adjusted the books in his arms to get a better grip. He was content enough, a little dazed still, but content. He understood Keiko's desire to beat Amissa in the campaign, but Keiko had obligated her time to him, and like he had never broken a promise to her, Yusuke could not remember a time prior to the present that she had broken one to him. He was a little . . . confused, but at least he could gratify himself in saying that he had passed gym class. Yes, he'd told Mr. Takeshi everything he needed to know, and even gave him a few ideas on how to sweep Ms. Yugumai off her feet.

He sighed. Kurama was scheduled to meet with him after school, and the fox had indeed assisted him in finishing his report. Kurama was going to have it proofread by his teacher, and then visit the college and get it double- checked there too. After that they could begin the final draft. Yusuke, ever resistant, was determined to keep his promise to Keiko.

He yawned and stopped to look at two large posters on the wall. One was of Amissa with her sugary sweet smile, and the other of Keiko with her fiery, resilient eyes and determined smile. He shook his head. He hoped that Keiko would win; he thought that she deserved it, and if she did, he'd be at the dance that she worked so hard to set up . . . yet another promise he made to himself.

The last few hours of a slow day passed by at a moderate pace for Yusuke. He was tired, and he wasn't sure if it was 'sleepy' tired or 'heart' tired . . . he was just . . . tired. He got out of class and went to Ms. Yugumai's as per the usual.

"Hey Ms. Yugumai." He greeted. He smiled a small smile as he saw a beautiful vase with a generous mass of large, white daisies arranged nicely on her desk.

Ms. Yugumai looked up with a sweet, happier than usual smile, but this only lasted for a few moments. Her expression suddenly altered into one of concern and of question. She stood up and walked gracefully toward him. Yusuke eyed her curiously.

"What?" He asked.

She said nothing, but rather placed the back of her hand on his for-head and frowned. "Yusuke, perhaps you should go home." She said, taking a step back.

"Go home? Why? What about--"

She shook her head. "You look pale, and I think you have a bit of a fever."

"But I have to pass this course." He argued.

"Oh Yusuke, you've made so much progress in the past few days, I'd pass you tomorrow if need be. There is no use in being here. You simply don't look well."

Yusuke frowned. He didn't look well? He felt okay . . . maybe he felt okay . . . he wasn't sure. Actually, he felt sort of numb, almost as if something were missing, but he just couldn't put his finger on what it was. He felt so light that the breeze could knock him over, but yet so heavy that he could leave his indent in the ground when he hit it. Maybe she was right.

"Yeah, I guess . . . uh, thanks I'll see you later." He said and started to leave.

"Yusuke," started his teacher's voice. He turned to look at her over his shoulder. She smiled easily and nodded toward the flowers. "Thank you." He smiled back at her and left the room.

He had an hour until he could meet Kurama, so to kill time and do some serious thinking Yusuke retreated up to the roof. He laid down on the hard, but comfortable surface and closed his eyes. Numb, he felt numb, he felt heavy, he felt light, he felt exhausted, and now that someone had brought it up, Yusuke felt a little queasy too. If he was sick it was do to his little walk in the rain the previous night, but all the other awkward feelings were do to . . . to what? One word - Keiko - that's all it was. Something about being forgotten by the one person in his life who had always remembered unsettled him. The one person he had counted on to be consummately there for him was not, and that seemed to throw him through a weird, hazy loop. Granted, he had always told her that he wished she would just leave him alone, but he hadn't meant it, and he was sure that she knew that. Actually, he was still quite positive that she knew that, the only difference now was that she had forgotten him . . . he wasn't on her list of top priorities right now, but he had been for the longest time before, so she was entitled to forget him . . . she was, but it made him feel . . . tired, and contradicting, and numb. He yawned. Tired . . . contradicting, and . . . and numb. And at that moment Yusuke feel victim to a catnap.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Yusuke."

Yusuke heard his name being summoned from somewhere beyond the darkness. The voice was soft and tenor and familiar. He floated towards it, carried atop waves of black silk in an ocean of hazy half consciousness. And then, the darkness was gone and bright, painful light, cut through his vision as his eyes fluttered open. He groaned.

"Damn it." He mumbled, putting a hand in front of his eyes. He sat up and shook his head to try and clear some of the sleep away. He remembered the voice and its familiarity and looked for its owner. He found him sitting off to his side. "Oh hey Kurama." He greeted somewhat sourly.

The youko turned human smiled easily. "Nice nap?" He asked.

Yusuke rolled his eyes and stretched. Actually, the nap HAD been nice, but sleeping on cement probably was something he'd try and avoid from that point on. He cracked his neck and stretched, trying to rub and work out the kinks and soreness in his body. "So what are you doing here?" He asked Kurama who was waiting patiently.

"I'm here to help you talk to Mr. Sakoji, remember?"

"Oh yeah, did I sleep through that?"

"No, we can still catch him if we hurry." Kurama said and he climbed to his feet. He extended his slender hand out to Yusuke who took it, grateful for the help. He was pulled to his feet and forced to ignore the fact that his bones popped in several places in protest of the sudden movement.

The two boys made their way down to Mr. Sakoji's room and knocked lightly on the open door. The math teacher, a stern looking, set in his ways type of guy, looked up sharply from his work of grading papers. His frown turned to a sort of smile when he saw Kurama standing there, and then to a deep frown when he saw Yusuke standing next to him. Yusuke frowned back at him. Sakoji cleared his throat.

"Shuuichi, please, come in." He invited. He stood up and greeted Kurama with a handshake. "So then what can I help you with today?" He asked.

Kurama smiled. "Well . . ."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Well THAT could have gone better." Kurama said, glaring over at Yusuke.

Yusuke looked back at him and rolled his eyes. "What? We got the deal didn't we? I mean, I get to pass."

"Thanks to who again?"

"Aw, I coulda done it myself." Yusuke said in a teasing manner.

Kurama eyed him harshly. "Indeed. You're just lucky that he didn't take your skin off with that ruler."

"I don't know why he got so upset."

The fox sighed. "Yusuke, when you ask for favors from someone who all READY does not like you, it is usually NOT a good idea to say, and I quote, 'Woah, that's your WIFE? I thought she was like . . . your Grandmother or something, hey maybe you should tell her to seriously consider a face lift and some lipo, ya know?'"

Yusuke chuckled. "It was just a suggestion, he didn't have to go all crazy mad on me. I mean, it's a good thing you were there to pacify everything."

"Luck Yusuke, your life runs on luck." Kurama said dryly, and let out a sigh. If he were still the demon he once was, he probably would have killed Yusuke a LONG time ago, but seeing as how he wasn't, all he could do was see the humorous side of it . . . and with Yusuke, humor was kind of hard to miss.