Hey there! I'm back!!
Disclaimers: I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho. If I did, I wouldn't have to write fanfiction.
Here's Chapter 1 for all who've been waiting!!
Kurama sighed, standing at the crosswalk waiting for it to turn green. In the mean time, he just watched as cars drove by, heading to wherever their destination was.
He glanced over at Shuiichi, standing at his side. He couldn't help but smile. It was interesting having a little brother around, even if they were just step-brothers. He had to say, he enjoyed spending time with Shuiichi, though they really didn't spend much time together as of late.
But now that things were calming down with Spirit Detective issues, and with really nothing to do, Kurama was hoping that he would be able to spend some time with his family.
The light finally turned green, and he, Shuiichi, and the group of people behind them were finally able to cross the street.
"Shuuichi?" the younger teen asked.
"Yeah?"
"Who's going to be there, exactly?"
Kurama shrugged. "I'm not sure, really. I can imagine Yusuke would be there, since he was the one who invited us. And I'm assuming Keiko will be there as well, since those two are now inseparable. Shizuru might be there as well, and Yukina too, which means Kuwabara won't be too far behind."
"What about Botan?"
"I'm not sure. She might be there, but that's not guaranteed."
"And Hiei?"
"Hiei is the least likely to be there. However, that doesn't necessarily mean that he won't be there."
Shuiichi nodded. Hiei, Yusuke, and Yukina were really the only people he hadn't met yet. He met the others at the wedding. He only knew about them based from what he was told. However, he couldn't help but get the feeling that his step-brother had a very…interesting…taste in friends.
The two of them finally reached the park, and, thanks to Kurama's fox-like senses, they were able to find the group in just a matter of minutes. As Kurama had said, Yusuke, Keiko, Kuwabara, Shizuru, and Yukina, were there waiting for them.
"There he is!" Yusuke said, being the first one to spot the Yoko and his step-brother.
Kurama smiled. "Hey," he said, approaching them, Shuiichi right beside him.
"Is he your step-brother?" the raven-haired teen asked.
"Yes. Yusuke, this is my step-brother. Shuiichi, this is Yusuke Urameshi."
Shuiichi bowed slightly. "Nice to meet you," he said.
"Same here."
Kuwabara walked up to the two of them. "Hey Ku-…Uh…Shuuichi. How's it going?"
Shuiichi didn't miss the slight glare his step-brother gave the taller boy with his emerald eyes, before smiling and saying, "Fine. How about for you, Kuwabara?"
The younger boy didn't listen to Kuwabara's answer, trying to think about that slight exchange between them. It wasn't the first time he had heard Kuwabara stutter when it came to his step-brother's name. It was rather strange, really. Was it really that hard to say 'Shuuichi'? Where did the 'Ku' come from?
"So, how are you, squirt?" Shuiichi heard Kuwabara say to him.
He tried hard not to pout, though he really didn't like being called 'squirt'. "I'm okay," he replied. "But I have an entrance exam that's coming up."
"Yeah? I hate those. You're going to the same high school that your brother went to, huh?"
Shuiichi smiled proudly. "Yup!"
"Well, good luck. I heard that that's a hard school to get into."
Kurama placed a hand on Shuiichi's shoulder. "I'm sure he'll be able to get in," he said with a small smile. "He's been studying really hard."
The red-haired teen looked at the three women. "And how are things with all of you?" he asked.
"Okay, really," Shizuru said, lighting a cigarette. "Things have been pretty boring these days, though."
"Peaceful," Keiko corrected. "I think that these days have been pretty peaceful."
"No," Yusuke said, "she's right. It has been pretty boring." He laughed when Keiko elbowed him in the ribs.
"But things have been alright," Yukina said.
"Oh, Yukina, this is my step-brother, Shuiichi. Shuiichi, this is Yukina."
Yukina and Shuiichi both bowed slightly. "I've heard about you," Yukina said. "Kazuma and Ku-…"
Kuwabara cleared his throat loudly. "Yukina! Um…I need to talk to you for a minute." And he led her away from the group.
"I thought Yukina knew about this already," Kurama whispered to Yusuke.
"I thought so too," he replied. "But apparently, Kuwabara didn't tell her not to call you 'Kurama' around your family."
"I'm just glad the others know."
Yusuke nodded.
Kurama cleared his throat, noticing the wondering look Shuiichi was giving him, then said to Yusuke, "Where's Botan?"
"She had some stuff to do, so she couldn't make it here."
"Ah. I see."
"Yeah…But…wait…" Yusuke, looking around, began to count the people that were there. When he finished, he sighed, looking up into the trees.
"What are you doing?" Shuiichi asked.
"I'm…looking for someone…" he replied.
"In the trees?"
"Yeah, well…He likes sleeping in trees."
Kurama tilted his head slightly to the side, a bit of confusion filling his eyes. "Hiei's here?"
"Yeah, I somehow got him to come to this little gathering. If only I could find him…"
"Now how in the world did you manage that, Yusuke?"
"Wasn't easy, let me tell you. But, I got him to come…Ah…"
He walked up to a large oak tree, looking up in it. "Hiei, wake up!"
Nothing was said, but Kurama and Shuiichi noticed the branches rustling slightly.
"Come on down, Hiei. Ku-…Shuuichi's here."
'There it is again,' Shuiichi thought. 'Why do they all do that?'
The branches once again began to rustle.
"Come on, Hiei! Shuuichi's here."
"Hiei," Kurama called. "Why don't you come on down?"
The branches rustled, when Shuiichi saw something black jump down from the tree. It was a rather short figure, at least short compared to the others. He was actually about his size, Shuiichi figured. He wore a black cloak, and a white headband around his forehead. His black, spiky hair stood on end, and at his side was what appeared to be a sword.
Kurama smiled. "It's been a while, Hiei."
"Hn," came his reply.
"What have you been up to?"
Hiei said nothing, his crimson eyes glancing over at Shuiichi. "Nothing important," he replied. He couldn't really say with the human boy around. "What have you been doing for the last three years?"
The red-haired teen shrugged. "The usual, I guess."
"Hn."
Kurama chuckled a bit. Hiei would never change. Turning slightly, he placed his hand on Shuiichi's shoulder. "Hiei, I believe I've told you about my step-brother, Shuiichi. Shuiichi, this is Hiei."
Shuiichi bowed slightly. "Nice to meet you, Hiei. Shuuichi has told me a lot about you."
Hiei said nothing.
"Don't take it personally, kid," Yusuke said. "Hiei is really anti-social."
Looking at Yusuke, he turned his attention back to Hiei "Is that a real sword?" he asked.
"Yeah. What of it?"
"Why do you have it?"
"Is it any business of yours?"
Kurama gave Hiei a slight glare, then looked at Shuiichi. "Maybe you shouldn't be asking that, Shuiichi."
Kuwabara came up to the group, standing next to Hiei. "Yeah," the tallest member said. "Not that Hiei has an answer to that question anyway. He just likes having it to ki-…"
Using the sheath of his sword, Hiei quickly swiped at Kuwabara's legs, pulling them from underneath him. The taller man gave a yelp as he fell forward.
Yusuke sighed, shaking his head. "They never change, do they?"
"As if you do?" Keiko asked, coming up to him.
Shuiichi watched the group, as Shizuru and Yukina went over to Kuwabara to make sure he was alright. Looking up at his step-brother, the younger boy had to wonder, 'What kind of group of friends does he have, anyway?'
TBC
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