Is it customary to update even if no one reviewed the original chapter? Well, I got a little impatient; I just want to post post post! Here it is, Chappie 2!

Disclaimer: I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho or Mc Donald's...

An Issue

-Kurama-

Kurama woke up to the sounds of birds chirping and to the sight of natural light illuminating his bedroom. He sat up, refreshed from the night's sleep, yawning as he stretched. He brought his legs down and slid on some slippers, grabbing his hair brush as he stood. He turned around, catching a glimpse of Hiei resting in his recliner. He smiled.

Going into the bathroom, he brushed his hair out and then put it up into a bun. He ran himself a shower, washing up quickly before stepping out and drying himself. He grabbed his robe and his brush and went back into his bedroom. Hiei was up at that point, standing by and staring out of the window with his arms crossed.

"Good morning, Hiei," Kurama said, smiling at him as he went over to his closet. Hiei turned to him slightly, casting his crimson eyes up at him. Kurama searched for the appropriate clothes to wear as he spoke. "I wish I'd been awake when you arrived," he said, turning to the bed and laying his things down on it. "I would have let you have the bed." Hiei turned to the window.

"How often are we going to go through this?" he asked in his usual stern tone of voice.

"Until you take the bed," Kurama said, disrobing and then dressing. He wasn't modest about being nude, especially not around people he was closest to. He really didn't see why people were, and this was only a temporary body for him, after all. Hiei didn't say anything else. He just stared out the window.

After he was fully and neatly dressed, Kurama let his hair down and brushed it out. It always poufed when he brushed it, though it was still full-bodied even after a good night's sleep. Once he was through getting ready, he made his bed and then went over to Hiei. "I'm going to go make breakfast now. It'll be ready within the hour. You can join me if you like."

"Hn." To Kurama, that was a yes. He smiled again, left the room, and went into the kitchen. He busied himself preparing their breakfast: Spanish omelettes with bacon, pancakes and fresh squeezed orange juice. Hiei had sat down at the table halfway through the preparations, watching Kurama cook. Kurama seemed to be at ease as he did it, humming to himself, acting as if he was doing nothing more than watching TV.

Kurama finished, setting the plates down with the juice and sitting across from Hiei. He smiled at him and handed him the syrup. He then turned his attention to his own breakfast, cutting his stack of pancakes into fourths. Hiei held the dish filled with syrup, looking at it thoughtfully for a moment before glancing up at Kurama and raising an eyebrow.

"For the pancakes," Kurama said with a nod. Hiei shrugged and sat the dish down. He picked up a pancake and dipped it into the top opening of the dish. Kurama looked a little surprised, but then just smiled. He took the dish and poured syrup some on his own pancakes. Hiei watched him as he ate his pancake, a little syrup dripping on his chin.

When Kurama sat the syrup dish down, Hiei quickly picked it up and used it as Kurama had. He tore his omelette in half and slapped it in his pancake and then put some bacon inside. He rolled it up and then began to eat it. He was a sticky mess when he was done.

After breakfast, Kurama cleaned up and returned to the dining room. Hiei seemed to be a little disengaged from the entire situation. Kurama figured he was just getting used to being in the ningenkai. He leaned to face Hiei, as he still sat in the dining room chair.

"I have to go to work now, Hiei. Will you stay in the house?" Hiei shrugged, hopped off of the chair and walked past him. Kurama turned and watched him. "If you don't, it's alright with me. Just don't leave the door unlocked." Hiei turned to him sharply. Kurama went to get his keys. "I know you never use the door. Just wanted to mention it." He opened the door. "See you later, Hiei."

-Hiei-

Hiei watched him leave and listened to him lock the door. As soon as he was sure Kurama wouldn't be coming back, he balled up his fists.

"Kuso!" he exclaimed. He went over to the window and gripped the frame tightly. "K'so..." he said again, this time muttering it under his breath.

-Kurama-

"Excuse me, miss...?" a short, elderly woman said, yanking on Kurama's uniform vest.

"Yes ma'am?" he asked, turning away from pricing the boxes of cereal on the cart. He looked down at her. She was looking up at him through squinted eyes. Seeing how confused she looked, he decided not to correct her about his sex.

"How mu—" she began to stammer. "How mu...how much is...how much..."

"You would like to know the cost of these noodles?" he asked her, referring to the product she held in her hand.

"Ye...ye...yes..." Kurama smiled at her.

"It seems the price is 39 cents a pack, ma'am," he said, placing his hand on her shoulder in an attempt to stop her from looking at everything else but him. "Or 3 for a dollar."

"Huh?" she said, leaning her head towards him. "Speak up, miss."

"39 cents, ma'am," he said again. She nodded and began to waddle away. Kurama smiled at her again and went back to pricing cereal.

"Boy, if I had this job, I'd go nuts." Kurama turned around, startled to see Kuwabara standing on the other side of the cereal cart. He smiled at him.

"Well, it's not for everyone," he said. Kuwabara looked closer at the cereal price tags.

"That's some cheap cereal," he said, giving a slight chuckle afterwards. He looked back up at Kurama. "So...I heard Hiei came back."

"Yes," Kurama said after checking to make sure he was tagging the cereal with the correct price. He continued to tag again. Kuwabara studied him closely.

"And he's staying with you?" he asked, picking at one of the boxes.

"Yes." Kuwabara nodded and looked away, running his hand across the side of his hair distractedly.

"So, I guess you won't be needing me for a while." Kurama looked up at him, frowning in confusion. Kuwabara was avoiding eye contact. Was he that sad about it? Kurama flashed him a smile.

"Oh, Kuwabara, of course I will." Kuwabara looked at him, finally. "What makes you think I won't?" Kuwabara shrugged.

"Hiei's still got a problem with me, but I don't know why. I mean, I tried talking to him. Maybe he just needs his space." Kurama nodded.

"That's probably it," he said. He began to stack the cereal on a separate cart. "But that shouldn't stop the two of us from enjoying each other's company."

"I guess you're right. I could pick up some dinner."

"That would be nice of you, Kuwabara," Kurama said, smiling at the offer.

"McDonald's's okay?"

"McDonald's is perfect." Kuwabara patted him on the back and then walked off.

"See you later, Kurama."

"Goodbye, Kuwabara."

-Hiei-

Hiei slashed his sword through the air, striking at invisible enemies and opponents. He took a step back, looking out over the crashing waters below him. He stood high upon a rock formation, training as he usually did during the day. He felt different that day; he was angrier than usual.

It wasn't very cold out, but the height he stood at above the ground was where the air was coolest. Hiei stopped training and just stood there, goose bumps spreading throughout his bare chest and arms. He gripped his katana tighter, growing angry again. What in the three worlds was the matter with him?

It never took effort to continue training, or to start it even, for Hiei, but that afternoon, he struggled. He let his katana fall to the ground and he dropped down next to it, sitting Indian style and lowering his head. He would get to the bottom of this, even if it was the last thing he'd do.

-Kurama-

Kuwabara had picked Kurama up from work and went through the drive-thru of the McDonald's near both their apartments to pick up dinner. Kurama let him inside his apartment and shut the door behind them. Kuwabara sat the food on the table.

"It was nice of you to pay, Kuwabara," Kurama said, going over to him and sitting down at the table next to him. Kuwabara nodded, eating a few French fries. He reached inside the bag and pulled out their food. He ate another fry as he sat down, handing Kurama his drink. Kurama took a sip and began to eat.

"You ready for school?" Kuwabara asked him, taking a bite of his sandwich.

"Yes. I've had everything ready since last week." Kurama wiped his mouth with a napkin and looked up at Kuwabara. "How about you?"

"Eh," Kuwabara said with a shrug. "As ready as I'll ever be, I guess." Kurama nodded.

"There's not much for me to look forward to, Kuwabara. Except that you'll be there...and the others."

"It'll be nice to have you with the gang," Kuwabara said, nodding as he continued to eat. "We can hang out and everything, all together." Kurama smiled, liking the sound of that.

"Yes," he said in agreement. When they finished, Kuwabara settled on the couch. He turned on the TV and propped his feet up on the coffee table. Kurama, meanwhile, slipped into his bedroom to place a phone call.

"Hello?" a soothing, familiar voice on the other end spoke. Kurama gripped the phone tighter and then loosened his hold on it. He felt utter relief at hearing her voice again.

"Hello, okaasan," Kurama said, having to sit down on his bed.

"Shuuichi!" Shiori exclaimed. "It's so nice of you to call."

"Yes," he said, and looked down. He really didn't know what to say.

"I'm so sorry things didn't work out," she said, her voice saddening. It hurt Kurama to hear her like that. He never meant to hurt her; there was just no other way. "I wish you would come home." The hairs on the back of his neck stood up.

"Home?" he asked, lowering his eyes. "Okaasan...our home no longer exists."

"Don't say things like that, Shuuichi," she said, sounding as if she'd cry at any moment.

"There were decisions for us both to make, 'kaasan, and the decisions we chose were for the best. We had to sacrifice our...our home."

"Shuuichi..." she said, beginning to sob. Kurama had to employ everything he had to keep from crying, also. He missed her so much, it was almost too much.

"Okaasan...?"

"It doesn't have to be this way."

"There is no other way, okaasan. I'm sorry." She was silent for a moment, speaking only after she found her voice.

"I want you to come home." Kurama held himself with his free hand, gripping the receiver tightly with the other. He wanted to see her again, he did. But she knew the situation and bringing it up every time they spoke was not good.

"I cannot."

"Who are you talking to?" Kurama heard a male voice in the background. He stood up quickly, his youki automatically rising, his hand balling up into a fist.

"He's there?" he asked, not being able to hide his anger and disappointment.

"Shuuichi..." Shiori said lowly, sounding meek and glum. Kurama, for loss of knowing what to do, just slammed down the receiver, the sound of plastic hitting plastic ringing out loudly. He grabbed his face, trying hard to hold back tears. In his years in his human form, he knew that if he did not vent his frustrations violently, they would vent themselves as tears. He needed someone to talk to.

He left his bedroom, stepping out into the living room seconds later. He hated to spring his problem suddenly on Kuwabara, but he could not hold back his tears and he knew that no matter what he did, or didn't do, Kuwabara would sense something wrong.

"Kuwabara..." Kurama murmured, snaking his hands around his sides. Kuwabara looked up from the television to face him suddenly, giving him a surprised look. He stood up quickly and went over to him. Putting his hand on his shoulder and giving him a concerned look, he spoke.

"What happened, Kurama?" he asked. Kurama shook his head, suddenly not wanting to talk. He hated the fact that the Shuuichi part of him was so full of need of human emotions.

"It's just that..." he began, but stopped. He felt weak standing there, but he knew there was no way to get around it. He had to use common sense. He could not afford to destroy the apartment, which is probably what he would do if he didn't take control. Kurama wiped his eyes.

"It's okay, Kurama," Kuwabara said, slowly putting his arms around him. He held him gently, feeling a little awkward because he never really comforted another guy that way before. But Kurama was his closest friend, well, besides Yusuke, and something had happened to him. This wasn't the time to act immature. "Now tell me what's going on."

"That man," Kurama said angrily, letting his face rest on Kuwabara's chest. Being held only made him want to cry harder, and he did, though he really didn't want to. "Why did she have to fall in love with him?"

"Shiori?" Kuwabara asked, even though he knew. He rubbed Kurama's back. "She didn't do it to spite you, Kurama, you know that." Kurama nodded.

"Yes, I know. It's just that..." He sighed. "I want to be with her, to live with her again. Why did she have to marry him?" Kuwabara held him tighter, feeling bad about the entire situation. "I tried to be the good son, but he...I just can't bear him." Kurama pulled away from Kuwabara only to put his arms around his neck. "I love her so much...and she doesn't seem to...to understand that it's solely because of him that I left...and why I can't go back."

"Give her time to see, Kurama, or have her come over to stay for a while. You two really need to talk to each other." Kurama nodded again.

"Yes, a talk is well over do." He let Kuwabara go and straightened out his shirt. "I'm sorry," he apologized.

"It's okay," Kuwabara said. Kurama sat down on the couch and Kuwabara sat next to him. He propped his feet up on the coffee table again and stretched his arms out over the back of the couch.

Kurama sighed, finally having stopped crying, but still feeling as though he needed a hug. He scooted closer to Kuwabara, placing his head on his shoulder. He moved his hair from his face and began to watch TV.

-Kuwabara-

Kurama was going through a lot of things, so why should he push him away? He knew Kurama loved his mother dearly and that the feeling was mutual between the two. He just wished that Shiori had found someone different. He put his arm around Kurama and pulled him closer, letting him rest against him.

Kuwabara knew how hard it was to be alone. He lived in an apartment with his sister, Shizuru, a few blocks away from Kurama. She was older than him, and always either at work or out with her friends. Kuwabara was usually doing the same things, but at different times, so when Shizuru was gone, he was at home and vice versa. They hardly saw each other.

Kuwabara had done his share of growing up since the Dark Tournament. He liked to hang out with Kurama more than with the others because he felt that Kurama was the most down to Earth and the calmest out of all of them. He could always count on him to be around and to talk. In that way, he was his best friend.

"Uh, Kurama?" he murmured after about an hour. Kurama had been drifting off, but woke up when Kuwabara called him. He lifted himself up from his slanted position.

"Yes?"

"Uh, I would stay, but it's getting late. I gotta go in at like...eight." Kurama nodded.

"Sorry if I ruined your evening." Kuwabara stood and stretched.

"Not at all," he said. Kurama walked him to the door.

"Have a safe walk, Kuwabara. And a nice night."

"You, too. Try to think about the good times." Kurama nodded.

"I will."

-Kurama-

Later that evening, after doing the housework and watering his plants, Kurama settled in his bedroom. He wasn't necessarily tired, but he lay in bed, anyway. He tossed and turned for a while before realizing he wasn't about to get to sleep just yet.

He rose from the bed and went back into the living room. He went over to his stereo system and selected a CD to listen to. Putting it in the disc slot, he grabbed the remote, went over to the couch and sat down.

Using the remote, he pressed play and skipped to track number 3. It was one of his favorite songs. He settled on the couch with a puzzle book and hummed along to the music. Once the fourth track began to play, he stopped and listened to it carefully.

He didn't usually listen to the entire CD, just a few select tracks and number four was not one of them. But he found that he liked it and wanted to learn it, so he put it on repeat and listened to it over and over again as he worked on his fill-it-ins. By the end of the night, he had it memorized. As he laid down to go to sleep, he could still hear it playing. He hummed along to it as he lay in bed, his eyes almost wide open.

-Hiei-

Hiei had been sitting outside in the tree for the past few hours, seeing Kuwabara in the apartment with Kurama, holding him, and being with him on the couch. He'd left the forest with every intention of returning to Kurama's place to see him, and to, perhaps, feel a little better after being so angry. The opposite, however, is what he felt.

Kuwabara had made Hiei's twin sister, Yukina, fall in love with him somehow. She didn't know Hiei was her brother, yet, and so Hiei had the hardest time trying to keep him from her. If he tried too hard, she might find out and Hiei could not let that happen.

And here Kuwabara was now, putting his arms around Kurama, the second being Hiei had the strongest feelings for. It did make Hiei angry, but at the same time, he felt it was for the best.

If there was one thing Hiei'd convinced himself of, it was that he would never be able to be Kurama's shoulder to cry on. Kurama would never cry in front of him, for one, and Hiei had trouble comforting even Yukina when she cried and she meant everything to him. How would he react, anyway, if Kurama knowingly shed a tear in his presence?

He stayed in the tree even when Kurama tried to sleep the first time. He was not sure why Kurama had decided to listen to the same...what's it called...song over and over. It made no sense to him.

There was something else he couldn't explain, something he felt when Kurama began to hum and then to sing. Kurama was very soft-spoken with a very calming voice. When he sang, even though the song was not a ballad, Hiei felt...serenaded. He, of course, did not know this himself. He was very out of touch with what ningens called emotions...feelings.

He thought for a moment that Kurama had fallen asleep. He'd gone through his nightly routine and was now resting peacefully after tossing and turning for a while. Hiei came closer to the window and slid into the room. He walked over to the bed, startled to see Kurama turn and face him.

-Kurama-

"Hiei?" Kurama asked, his eyes coming to focus on the youkai. He smiled as he sat up. "Do you want the bed?"

"Do I ever?" Hiei asked, walking towards Kurama's recliner. "Just get your rest."

"Is there anything I can do for you?" Kurama asked, not wanting to seem rude...to Hiei. Hiei sat his katana against the wall and took off his cape. He turned to Kurama with a grin.

"You could go to sleep." Kurama smirked back at Hiei and turned back around.

"Sweet dreams, Hiei," he said, getting comfortable under all his sheets and over his pillows.

"Hn," was Hiei's response.

Did you like it? Hate it? Feeling indifferent? Please review and let me know what you think. More is coming soon!

J3