Warped
by xDarkxMagicianxGirlx and Ookami no Kokoro
Disclaimer: No different from chapter one, we still don't own Yu Yu Hakusho.
Chapter Two
Unaware that he had closed his eyes, Yusuke blinked them open. He gasped when he noticed the two were falling.
He felt as though his body was being pulled downwards. Opening his eyes, he took in the bluish-white environment, realizing they were no longer in the alley.
Where are we? Yusuke thought, looking around.
Suddenly, they both stopped falling, seemingly just to hover in the air. However, there didn't even seem to be a ground. "What is this?" Kurama said, his voice echoing in the nothingness. It was back to his normal human voice, and his eyes were back to their regular jade.
"Got me.."
Looking around, he noticed that everything looked the same. There seemed to be no up or down, no sense of direction at all. It was just....nothing.
"I take it.. whoever that person was, was who you could sense.."
"I believe so. I also think that he was the one controlling the people in the club....."
Yusuke nodded. "What was the point of it though? To get us here?"
He shook his head. "I don't know. I'm wondering if we'll be able to find out."
"What was with you in the alley?" Yusuke suddenly asked. "You sounded like Youko Kurama."
He looked over at his friend. "I'm not sure. For some reason, there was something about him that made me stand on end. I can't explain it, really...."
Yusuke sighed and looked around again, This is great..
He vaguely wondered if this was how astronauts felt. As he tried to move, he realized that he was flipping. He tried to stop, but, with nothing to stop him, he just kept going.
Yusuke watched as his friend started flipping in the air, and chuckled slightly.
"Yes, very funny." Somehow, he managed to stop, and he realized that swimming was the only way to move around in a place like this. But, even so, where would they go?"
The younger teen turned away, rolling his eyes slightly. Boy someone is uptight.
He wondered how far this place went. Closing his eyes, vines from his body began to grow and spread out into the space, trying to find someplace to settle on, showing them what would be land.
Yusuke turned back and watched as the vines stretched out into the nothingness.
As most of his vines continued to stretch, one of them finally came to a stop. Calling back the others, he used that one vine. He handed Yusuke the end of the vine, holding on himself. "Here," he said.
He took hold of the end, figuring the vine was going to take them to whatever it hit.
"Maybe you should tie it around your waist."
The teen looked at Kurama, nodding. "Alright..." He quickly tied the vine around his waist and nodded again to his friend.
With a nod of his own, the vine began to pull them both towards wherever it hit. Though it was rather slow, Kurama had a feeling that they should be careful.
When the fine started moving, Yusuke wondered why Kurama had had him wrap the vine around his waist. We're going kinda slow..
Suddenly, black beams of energy shooting at them. Kurama gasped, one of the beams hitting him in the shoulder. He nearly let go of his hold on the vine, but tightly wrapped his fingers around it.
"Kurama!" Yusuke yelled as he saw the black beam hit his friend's shoulder.
More black beams shot at and around them. The fox tried his best to dodge them, but, being in the front, it was more difficult for him. He felt his grip on the vine loosening with each hit he took.
Yusuke started untying the vine that was around his waist. He pulled himself up to Kurama. Seeing his friend weakening, he wrapped the vine around his waist, tying it in the back. There was some extra and he held onto that.
Feeling the vine around his waist, and Yusuke right behind him, Kurama used some of his energy to cause the vine to split, wrapping it around Yusuke's waist. He let out a cry as another blast hit his chest.
Yusuke gasped again. He looked at the oncoming attacks and at Kurama's separate vine. Glancing at his friend's pained face, he grabbed hold of Kurama's vine and pulled himself in front of the teen, using his body as a shield.
"Yusuke, don't.....!"
The younger teen shook his head, as a beam grazed his shoulder. "I don't want you to get hurt anymore, Kurama."
He could only watch as more of the attacks came at them, some hitting Yusuke. He felt a sense of admiration, similar to the time when Yusuke risked his life to help him when he was using the Forlorn Hope to save his mother.
He groaned softly as one beam hit him in the chest. His left eye was closed as he endured the pain. But the thought of moving so Kurama got the full blasts again never crossed his mind.
Placing his hand on the vine, he closed his eyes, commanding the plant to pull them faster, hoping they would reach the 'ground' soon.
Yusuke felt the vine pulling them faster. 'I hope we get there soon..' The vine suddenly pulled them out of what seemed like a cloud. The beams disappeared, and, as they approached closer, the 'ground' beneath them seemed to be nothing but a yellow surface.
As soon as they came out of the 'cloud', Kurama slowed the speed of the vine's pull, slightly exhausted.
Seeing the beams gone, Yusuke grimaced and let go of Kurama's vine.
Panting, Kurama concentrated his energy into pulling them both the rest of the way down, which still seemed to be a long way, as his vision became slightly hazy.
Yusuke looked down at the yellow 'ground' beneath them. "We can stop here, Kurama. Don't waste your energy."
He shook his head. "If we stop now, we're never getting down there."
"Let me at least help," he replied, wondering if he could transfer some of his energy to the long plant.
Looking back at Yusuke, he nodded slightly. "Place your hand on my shoulder, and transfer your energy to me. I'll use some of it to control the plant."
He nodded, placing a hand on Kurama's shoulder, transferring the energy.
Closing his eyes, he felt the power flow into his body, and he used some of it, mixed with his own energy, to speed the plant slightly.
Feeling the plant speed up, he closed his eyes also. Making sure not to transfer too much energy at a time.
After what seemed to take forever, their feet finally touched the yellow 'ground.' As the plant shriveled up, Kurama fell, sitting on his knees.
When his feet touched the ground, Yusuke fell on his butt, rubbing his arm subconsciously.
"How do you feel?" he asked, slightly nervous that he had used too much of his friend's energy.
"Fine." He was a bit tired and sore, but felt alright.
He nodded, looking around at the strange site before him. There was nothing but the yellow ground they sat on, and a strange green road that he had not seen when they were in the air. Looking at the 'sky' they had came from, he was surprised to see that it wasn't blue and white, as it had been in the 'cloud', but purple.
"This is weird..."
"Yes, it is." Though his body protested painfully, he got up onto his feet, looking around.
Yusuke did the same, except it wasn't nearly as painful.
Looking down the green road, he asked, "Which way should we take? Left or right?"
Looking down both routes, he shook his head. "Are you sure you're up for going anywhere? You look kind of drained..."
He flashed his raven-haired friend a small smile. "I'll be alright."
He nodded in response, knowing Kurama was too stubborn to be talked out of going.
He wasn't sure which direction to take. Usually, he would let his instincts guide him, but..... His instincts weren't giving him an answer this time.
Yusuke looked down the right, then the left. "Too bad the munchkins aren't here to tell us which way to go.."
Kurama gave a small laugh. "Munchkins?"
He shrugged. "You know.." He made his voice go a bit higher. "Follow the Green brick road, Kurama! Follow it!"
He laughed again, ignoring the protest of his side.
Yusuke smiled and sighed. "But really, which way should we go?"
He shook his head. "I'm not sure. I'm as lost as you are."
"You mean your fox instincts haven't kicked in yet?"
He shook his head again. "Usually, I'd be at least a LITTLE familiar with what I was dealing with, even if I'd never been there before. But here....I'm not sure what to think."
"I guess there's only one way to decide..." he replied, digging into his pocket for something.
Looking over at his friend, he asked, "What are you doing?"
"Looking for a.. Ah! Here's one!" He pulled out a quarter.
He blinked. "What's THAT for?"
"To decide which way we go," the younger teen replied, getting ready to flip it. "Call it.."
"Um..... heads...."
"Okay, heads we go right, tails we go left." He flipped the coin and caught it.
"What is it?"
"Tails..."
"Then I guess we go left."
Yusuke nodded, shoving the quarter in his pocket and heading left.
Kurama followed after him. He wondered if leaving the decision up to the flip of a coin was really the best way to do it, but then decided that they had no other ideas anyway, and might as well just go with it.
A small breeze picked up as they walked, and Kurama closed his eyes to the wind's gentle touch, inhaling deeply. Despite their circumstances, he felt relaxed, as if nothing was wrong at all.
Yusuke felt the gentle breeze and sighed deeply, folding his hands behind his head.
Opening his eyes, the fox looked up at the purple sky. But he spied something strange, causing him to stop walking.
Not hearing his friend's footsteps behind him, Yusuke turned and looked. Seeing Kurama looking in the sky, he too looked.
There was a certain shine, coming down towards them. Only when it came closer did he realize that it was one of the same black beams that had attacked them earlier.
This is really starting to be a pain.. Yusuke thought.
"Look out!" He rammed himself into Yusuke, knocking them both off their feet and onto the ground, just as the black beam hit and exploded the ground that the younger teen had been standing on only seconds ago.
Yusuke's eyes widened as he looked at the exact spot he had been standing. "T-thanks, Kurama.." He looked at the older teen on the ground next to him.
He nodded, quickly getting to his feet, then helped Yusuke get to his. "Come on!" he said, looking at the sky as more black beams appeared.
He nodded back, and they started running.
As he ran, he jumped up to avoid the shower of energy that were trying to kill them.
However, with his lack of energy, he faltered, hitting the ground, just as a beam fell upon him.
Yusuke turned quickly, but was too late to grab his friend out of the way. "Kurama!" he yelled, running back, avoiding more beams.
In his helpless state on the ground, he could do nothing as more beams bombarded him, ramming his body harder into the ground. He grit his teeth, trying to ward off the pain.
Yusuke dodged a beam and ran over, bending over Kurama's body. "Are you alright?" he asked hastily.
He could only reply with a low groan.
Not knowing what else to do, Yusuke put his arms under the older teen's arms and half dragged, half carried him, hoping safety was close.
"Yusuke..... just..... forget about me...... I'm only slowing you down......"
"No, I'm not going to just leave you here to die!" the teen replied, wincing as a black beam hit him in the back.
He felt the heat of the explosion as it hit his dark-haired friend in the back, and saw the expression of pain as it did so. Why....? he wondered. Why does he keep doing this.....?
There's got to be a safe place around here somewhere, Yusuke thought, looking around. The only thing that mattered right now was getting Kurama to safety.
Feeling guilty enough as it was, he used his feet to help Yusuke a little by walking. It doesn't make sense. Why would he keep doing this for me?
Turning his head a bit, he saw a dark orange cave. We have to risk it, he thought, changing his course from the green path to the cave.
Through his hazy vision, he wondered what Yusuke was up to, but didn't ask as he followed the younger teen, though he didn't have much of a choice.
"We're... almost there," Yusuke panted, as another beam barely missed him and grazed his shoulder.
He closed his eyes, trapping the tears that were threatening to fall. He couldn't stand the thought of Yusuke getting hurt any longer. For me..... he reminded himself. He's doing this to help me.....
He finally reached the cave, and pulled Kurama in, helping him sit down near the wall.
Leaning his back and head against the cave wall, he panted, trying to regain his breath.
Yusuke stumbled backwards, sitting down and leaning back against the wall opposite his friend. He rested his head on the wall and closed his eyes.
A deathly silence passed over them, save the sound of their heavy breathing.
"Why?" Kurama asked suddenly.
The younger teen opened his eyes, and through blurred vision asked, "Hmn?"
"Why are you always..... getting hurt for me?" He opened his own eyes, trying hard to fight back the film of tears that was building up in each of his emerald orbs. "Why are you always so willing to get killed just to help me?"
Yusuke closed his eyes again. Having them open was making him dizzy. "I don't know... because..."
"Because....?"
"Because...." He paused, he was tired and he just wanted to sleep. "Because.... I like you.... Kurama..."
His eyes widened significantly. He wasn't sure what he was expecting to hear, but that certainly wasn't it. "W.... w-what.....?" Maybe he didn't mean it that way, or maybe he's too tired that he doesn't know what he's saying.... But.... he couldn't.....
The younger teen groaned softly and placed a hand on his arm.
Snapping out of his shocked state, Kurama crawled over to the younger teen, sitting on the side where he was holding his arm. "Does it hurt a lot?" he asked quietly.
"No," he replied, eyes still closed.
"Liar."
Yusuke sighed. "Okay... just a little.."
Placing a gentle hand on his arm, he closed his eyes, using some of his energy to heal him.
The younger teen suddenly pulled away before Kurama could heal him completely.
His emerald eyes met Yusuke's chocolate ones, filled with confusion. "What's wrong?"
"I don't want you to waste your energy," he replied softly.
He shook his head. "I'm not wasting my energy. Not at all."
Yusuke shook his head. "No, I'll be fine."
"Yusuke, please, let me help you."
He shook his head again. "I don't want you to wear yourself out. I told you, I'll be fine."
His eyes held a slight pained look in them, before he looked to the ground, his crimson bangs shadowing his eyes.
The detective looked over at Kurama, seeing the pained look then watching him drop his gaze.
"I'm sorry. Really, I am."
Yusuke blinked. "Sorry, for what?"
He turned away from Yusuke. "I shouldn't have brought you to that club. I should have just gone alone, like I had planned. If I had, you wouldn't have to be here, and you wouldn't have gotten hurt...."
He crawled over to Kurama on his hands and knees. Placing a hand on his shoulder, he said, "But you would've gotten hurt.. or worse.."
"It would have been better than seeing YOU get hurt....." he whispered.
He leaned his back and head against the wall. "Hurt? What do you mean, I've been in worse spots then this." He chuckled slightly.
"Yes, I know....." So quietly that it was hardly heard, he whispered, "It was hard watching those times as well....."
Yusuke had barely heard his friend, let alone understand what he had said.
Moving away from him, Kurama leaned against the wall opposite Yusuke, staring outside as black rain began to fall. I don't think he meant anything by it, he told himself, thinking of Yusuke's earlier comment. Probably just a friendship sort of way........ But why does that hurt so much?
Feeling Kurama move away from him, Yusuke opened his eyes. He looked across at the older teen. I guess he doesn't feel the same way.. he thought, a bitterness nipping at his heart.
Just a friend, he told himself. That's all I am. Of course, he has Keiko after all. Why would he see me as anything but a friend? He tried to convince himself that that's all there was to it, and that it would never change, but the pain never went away as tears burned his eyelids.
Yusuke sat there, his eyes never leaving the older teen's face. He saw the pained expression in his eyes. "Are you alright?" he asked, concern flooding over him.
No. No, I'll never be alright. I can't be alright.... "Yes, I'm fine," he replied, trying to hide the quiver of pain in his voice. Lies, he thought bitterly. That's all you can do, you can only lie....Lie to him, to Kaa-san, to yourself.... That's all you ever do right!
The ebony haired teen didn't believe him and stood up painfully. He walked over and sat down next to the fox teen. "What's wrong? You can tell me.."
Dammit, Yusuke, why can't you just leave it alone! I can't, don't you see that?! He shook his head, afraid that the sob in his throat would escape if he tried to speak.
"Is... this about what I said earlier?" he asked, practically reading Kurama's mind.
Finally, he opened his eyes, thick with unshed tears, replying with a faint nod.
Yusuke sighed, closing his eyes and placing his head on the cool cave wall. "Well." He paused. "I. meant what I said.."
Still mistaking it for nothing but friendship, the fox tried so hard to control his trembling, failing miserably.
The teen's eyes widened as he saw Kurama start trembling. "What's wrong?"
He turned to look at Yusuke, the tears finally flowing down his cheeks. "Dammit, Yusuke, I love you! Okay?! I can't stand to see you hurt, because it hurts me so much! I love you so much! I wish I didn't feel this way, but I do!" No longer in control of his own body, he threw himself at Yusuke, burying his head in his chest, afraid of the anger and rejection that he thought were sure to follow.
He gasped silently, and was even more shocked when Kurama came at him. He pulled his body away from the wall, pulling his jacket off and putting it over Kurama's trembling form.
He sobbed into Yusuke's chest, fear and pain grasping at his heart. Don't hate me, please. I couldn't bear it if you hate me. I don't want that to happen. I'll settle for friendship, I don't care, as long as I can still be with you somehow.....
Yusuke smiled a bit and leaned over the older teen. "I. love you too, Kurama," he whispered in his ear, before closing his eyes and leaning his head back on the wall gently.
His sobs ceased immediately, his eyes widening as he looked up at Yusuke. He.... he didn't just say that, did he? I.... I was just imagining things..... "W-what did you say....?"
"You. heard what I said.." he replied, his eyes still closed.
No, I'm dreaming, aren't I.... he.... he didn't..... oh god..... "You...... you mean it? You're.... not just saying that?"
Yusuke opened his eyes, looking straight into the tear streaked jade eyes of the teen before him. He smiled, lifting a hand up and moving a couple of red strands of hair out of Kurama's eyes. "Of course I meant it.."
New tears gathered in the emerald orbs as he stared into Yusuke's face. But no longer with these painful tears. Never before had he felt such a sense of relief, as something coursed through his heart and soul, something he couldn't describe, or even begin to describe. "Yusuke....." He couldn't even get himself to talk, and cursed himself slightly for seeming like such an idiot.
"Shhh.." Yusuke replied, placing a finger on Kurama's lips. He smiled, and placed his head on the wall. Sleep was getting the best of him, and the teen was inches away from falling into a deep sleep.
Kurama closed his eyes at the gentle touch. No longer was the pain he had felt present. Instead, it was replaced with a warmth that was so unfamiliar to him. Softly, he kissed the finger on his lips.
Yusuke's hand moved gently from Kurama's lips to his waist. His breathing became even and he mumbled something that sounded like 'goodnight' before falling asleep.
Kurama smiled, moving closer to the younger teen. Closing his eyes, he whispered his own, 'goodnight', before sleep touched him as well.
~*~
Okay, I felt bad for leaving you hanging like that last time, so I stopped here. Getting good, ne?
by xDarkxMagicianxGirlx and Ookami no Kokoro
Disclaimer: No different from chapter one, we still don't own Yu Yu Hakusho.
Chapter Two
Unaware that he had closed his eyes, Yusuke blinked them open. He gasped when he noticed the two were falling.
He felt as though his body was being pulled downwards. Opening his eyes, he took in the bluish-white environment, realizing they were no longer in the alley.
Where are we? Yusuke thought, looking around.
Suddenly, they both stopped falling, seemingly just to hover in the air. However, there didn't even seem to be a ground. "What is this?" Kurama said, his voice echoing in the nothingness. It was back to his normal human voice, and his eyes were back to their regular jade.
"Got me.."
Looking around, he noticed that everything looked the same. There seemed to be no up or down, no sense of direction at all. It was just....nothing.
"I take it.. whoever that person was, was who you could sense.."
"I believe so. I also think that he was the one controlling the people in the club....."
Yusuke nodded. "What was the point of it though? To get us here?"
He shook his head. "I don't know. I'm wondering if we'll be able to find out."
"What was with you in the alley?" Yusuke suddenly asked. "You sounded like Youko Kurama."
He looked over at his friend. "I'm not sure. For some reason, there was something about him that made me stand on end. I can't explain it, really...."
Yusuke sighed and looked around again, This is great..
He vaguely wondered if this was how astronauts felt. As he tried to move, he realized that he was flipping. He tried to stop, but, with nothing to stop him, he just kept going.
Yusuke watched as his friend started flipping in the air, and chuckled slightly.
"Yes, very funny." Somehow, he managed to stop, and he realized that swimming was the only way to move around in a place like this. But, even so, where would they go?"
The younger teen turned away, rolling his eyes slightly. Boy someone is uptight.
He wondered how far this place went. Closing his eyes, vines from his body began to grow and spread out into the space, trying to find someplace to settle on, showing them what would be land.
Yusuke turned back and watched as the vines stretched out into the nothingness.
As most of his vines continued to stretch, one of them finally came to a stop. Calling back the others, he used that one vine. He handed Yusuke the end of the vine, holding on himself. "Here," he said.
He took hold of the end, figuring the vine was going to take them to whatever it hit.
"Maybe you should tie it around your waist."
The teen looked at Kurama, nodding. "Alright..." He quickly tied the vine around his waist and nodded again to his friend.
With a nod of his own, the vine began to pull them both towards wherever it hit. Though it was rather slow, Kurama had a feeling that they should be careful.
When the fine started moving, Yusuke wondered why Kurama had had him wrap the vine around his waist. We're going kinda slow..
Suddenly, black beams of energy shooting at them. Kurama gasped, one of the beams hitting him in the shoulder. He nearly let go of his hold on the vine, but tightly wrapped his fingers around it.
"Kurama!" Yusuke yelled as he saw the black beam hit his friend's shoulder.
More black beams shot at and around them. The fox tried his best to dodge them, but, being in the front, it was more difficult for him. He felt his grip on the vine loosening with each hit he took.
Yusuke started untying the vine that was around his waist. He pulled himself up to Kurama. Seeing his friend weakening, he wrapped the vine around his waist, tying it in the back. There was some extra and he held onto that.
Feeling the vine around his waist, and Yusuke right behind him, Kurama used some of his energy to cause the vine to split, wrapping it around Yusuke's waist. He let out a cry as another blast hit his chest.
Yusuke gasped again. He looked at the oncoming attacks and at Kurama's separate vine. Glancing at his friend's pained face, he grabbed hold of Kurama's vine and pulled himself in front of the teen, using his body as a shield.
"Yusuke, don't.....!"
The younger teen shook his head, as a beam grazed his shoulder. "I don't want you to get hurt anymore, Kurama."
He could only watch as more of the attacks came at them, some hitting Yusuke. He felt a sense of admiration, similar to the time when Yusuke risked his life to help him when he was using the Forlorn Hope to save his mother.
He groaned softly as one beam hit him in the chest. His left eye was closed as he endured the pain. But the thought of moving so Kurama got the full blasts again never crossed his mind.
Placing his hand on the vine, he closed his eyes, commanding the plant to pull them faster, hoping they would reach the 'ground' soon.
Yusuke felt the vine pulling them faster. 'I hope we get there soon..' The vine suddenly pulled them out of what seemed like a cloud. The beams disappeared, and, as they approached closer, the 'ground' beneath them seemed to be nothing but a yellow surface.
As soon as they came out of the 'cloud', Kurama slowed the speed of the vine's pull, slightly exhausted.
Seeing the beams gone, Yusuke grimaced and let go of Kurama's vine.
Panting, Kurama concentrated his energy into pulling them both the rest of the way down, which still seemed to be a long way, as his vision became slightly hazy.
Yusuke looked down at the yellow 'ground' beneath them. "We can stop here, Kurama. Don't waste your energy."
He shook his head. "If we stop now, we're never getting down there."
"Let me at least help," he replied, wondering if he could transfer some of his energy to the long plant.
Looking back at Yusuke, he nodded slightly. "Place your hand on my shoulder, and transfer your energy to me. I'll use some of it to control the plant."
He nodded, placing a hand on Kurama's shoulder, transferring the energy.
Closing his eyes, he felt the power flow into his body, and he used some of it, mixed with his own energy, to speed the plant slightly.
Feeling the plant speed up, he closed his eyes also. Making sure not to transfer too much energy at a time.
After what seemed to take forever, their feet finally touched the yellow 'ground.' As the plant shriveled up, Kurama fell, sitting on his knees.
When his feet touched the ground, Yusuke fell on his butt, rubbing his arm subconsciously.
"How do you feel?" he asked, slightly nervous that he had used too much of his friend's energy.
"Fine." He was a bit tired and sore, but felt alright.
He nodded, looking around at the strange site before him. There was nothing but the yellow ground they sat on, and a strange green road that he had not seen when they were in the air. Looking at the 'sky' they had came from, he was surprised to see that it wasn't blue and white, as it had been in the 'cloud', but purple.
"This is weird..."
"Yes, it is." Though his body protested painfully, he got up onto his feet, looking around.
Yusuke did the same, except it wasn't nearly as painful.
Looking down the green road, he asked, "Which way should we take? Left or right?"
Looking down both routes, he shook his head. "Are you sure you're up for going anywhere? You look kind of drained..."
He flashed his raven-haired friend a small smile. "I'll be alright."
He nodded in response, knowing Kurama was too stubborn to be talked out of going.
He wasn't sure which direction to take. Usually, he would let his instincts guide him, but..... His instincts weren't giving him an answer this time.
Yusuke looked down the right, then the left. "Too bad the munchkins aren't here to tell us which way to go.."
Kurama gave a small laugh. "Munchkins?"
He shrugged. "You know.." He made his voice go a bit higher. "Follow the Green brick road, Kurama! Follow it!"
He laughed again, ignoring the protest of his side.
Yusuke smiled and sighed. "But really, which way should we go?"
He shook his head. "I'm not sure. I'm as lost as you are."
"You mean your fox instincts haven't kicked in yet?"
He shook his head again. "Usually, I'd be at least a LITTLE familiar with what I was dealing with, even if I'd never been there before. But here....I'm not sure what to think."
"I guess there's only one way to decide..." he replied, digging into his pocket for something.
Looking over at his friend, he asked, "What are you doing?"
"Looking for a.. Ah! Here's one!" He pulled out a quarter.
He blinked. "What's THAT for?"
"To decide which way we go," the younger teen replied, getting ready to flip it. "Call it.."
"Um..... heads...."
"Okay, heads we go right, tails we go left." He flipped the coin and caught it.
"What is it?"
"Tails..."
"Then I guess we go left."
Yusuke nodded, shoving the quarter in his pocket and heading left.
Kurama followed after him. He wondered if leaving the decision up to the flip of a coin was really the best way to do it, but then decided that they had no other ideas anyway, and might as well just go with it.
A small breeze picked up as they walked, and Kurama closed his eyes to the wind's gentle touch, inhaling deeply. Despite their circumstances, he felt relaxed, as if nothing was wrong at all.
Yusuke felt the gentle breeze and sighed deeply, folding his hands behind his head.
Opening his eyes, the fox looked up at the purple sky. But he spied something strange, causing him to stop walking.
Not hearing his friend's footsteps behind him, Yusuke turned and looked. Seeing Kurama looking in the sky, he too looked.
There was a certain shine, coming down towards them. Only when it came closer did he realize that it was one of the same black beams that had attacked them earlier.
This is really starting to be a pain.. Yusuke thought.
"Look out!" He rammed himself into Yusuke, knocking them both off their feet and onto the ground, just as the black beam hit and exploded the ground that the younger teen had been standing on only seconds ago.
Yusuke's eyes widened as he looked at the exact spot he had been standing. "T-thanks, Kurama.." He looked at the older teen on the ground next to him.
He nodded, quickly getting to his feet, then helped Yusuke get to his. "Come on!" he said, looking at the sky as more black beams appeared.
He nodded back, and they started running.
As he ran, he jumped up to avoid the shower of energy that were trying to kill them.
However, with his lack of energy, he faltered, hitting the ground, just as a beam fell upon him.
Yusuke turned quickly, but was too late to grab his friend out of the way. "Kurama!" he yelled, running back, avoiding more beams.
In his helpless state on the ground, he could do nothing as more beams bombarded him, ramming his body harder into the ground. He grit his teeth, trying to ward off the pain.
Yusuke dodged a beam and ran over, bending over Kurama's body. "Are you alright?" he asked hastily.
He could only reply with a low groan.
Not knowing what else to do, Yusuke put his arms under the older teen's arms and half dragged, half carried him, hoping safety was close.
"Yusuke..... just..... forget about me...... I'm only slowing you down......"
"No, I'm not going to just leave you here to die!" the teen replied, wincing as a black beam hit him in the back.
He felt the heat of the explosion as it hit his dark-haired friend in the back, and saw the expression of pain as it did so. Why....? he wondered. Why does he keep doing this.....?
There's got to be a safe place around here somewhere, Yusuke thought, looking around. The only thing that mattered right now was getting Kurama to safety.
Feeling guilty enough as it was, he used his feet to help Yusuke a little by walking. It doesn't make sense. Why would he keep doing this for me?
Turning his head a bit, he saw a dark orange cave. We have to risk it, he thought, changing his course from the green path to the cave.
Through his hazy vision, he wondered what Yusuke was up to, but didn't ask as he followed the younger teen, though he didn't have much of a choice.
"We're... almost there," Yusuke panted, as another beam barely missed him and grazed his shoulder.
He closed his eyes, trapping the tears that were threatening to fall. He couldn't stand the thought of Yusuke getting hurt any longer. For me..... he reminded himself. He's doing this to help me.....
He finally reached the cave, and pulled Kurama in, helping him sit down near the wall.
Leaning his back and head against the cave wall, he panted, trying to regain his breath.
Yusuke stumbled backwards, sitting down and leaning back against the wall opposite his friend. He rested his head on the wall and closed his eyes.
A deathly silence passed over them, save the sound of their heavy breathing.
"Why?" Kurama asked suddenly.
The younger teen opened his eyes, and through blurred vision asked, "Hmn?"
"Why are you always..... getting hurt for me?" He opened his own eyes, trying hard to fight back the film of tears that was building up in each of his emerald orbs. "Why are you always so willing to get killed just to help me?"
Yusuke closed his eyes again. Having them open was making him dizzy. "I don't know... because..."
"Because....?"
"Because...." He paused, he was tired and he just wanted to sleep. "Because.... I like you.... Kurama..."
His eyes widened significantly. He wasn't sure what he was expecting to hear, but that certainly wasn't it. "W.... w-what.....?" Maybe he didn't mean it that way, or maybe he's too tired that he doesn't know what he's saying.... But.... he couldn't.....
The younger teen groaned softly and placed a hand on his arm.
Snapping out of his shocked state, Kurama crawled over to the younger teen, sitting on the side where he was holding his arm. "Does it hurt a lot?" he asked quietly.
"No," he replied, eyes still closed.
"Liar."
Yusuke sighed. "Okay... just a little.."
Placing a gentle hand on his arm, he closed his eyes, using some of his energy to heal him.
The younger teen suddenly pulled away before Kurama could heal him completely.
His emerald eyes met Yusuke's chocolate ones, filled with confusion. "What's wrong?"
"I don't want you to waste your energy," he replied softly.
He shook his head. "I'm not wasting my energy. Not at all."
Yusuke shook his head. "No, I'll be fine."
"Yusuke, please, let me help you."
He shook his head again. "I don't want you to wear yourself out. I told you, I'll be fine."
His eyes held a slight pained look in them, before he looked to the ground, his crimson bangs shadowing his eyes.
The detective looked over at Kurama, seeing the pained look then watching him drop his gaze.
"I'm sorry. Really, I am."
Yusuke blinked. "Sorry, for what?"
He turned away from Yusuke. "I shouldn't have brought you to that club. I should have just gone alone, like I had planned. If I had, you wouldn't have to be here, and you wouldn't have gotten hurt...."
He crawled over to Kurama on his hands and knees. Placing a hand on his shoulder, he said, "But you would've gotten hurt.. or worse.."
"It would have been better than seeing YOU get hurt....." he whispered.
He leaned his back and head against the wall. "Hurt? What do you mean, I've been in worse spots then this." He chuckled slightly.
"Yes, I know....." So quietly that it was hardly heard, he whispered, "It was hard watching those times as well....."
Yusuke had barely heard his friend, let alone understand what he had said.
Moving away from him, Kurama leaned against the wall opposite Yusuke, staring outside as black rain began to fall. I don't think he meant anything by it, he told himself, thinking of Yusuke's earlier comment. Probably just a friendship sort of way........ But why does that hurt so much?
Feeling Kurama move away from him, Yusuke opened his eyes. He looked across at the older teen. I guess he doesn't feel the same way.. he thought, a bitterness nipping at his heart.
Just a friend, he told himself. That's all I am. Of course, he has Keiko after all. Why would he see me as anything but a friend? He tried to convince himself that that's all there was to it, and that it would never change, but the pain never went away as tears burned his eyelids.
Yusuke sat there, his eyes never leaving the older teen's face. He saw the pained expression in his eyes. "Are you alright?" he asked, concern flooding over him.
No. No, I'll never be alright. I can't be alright.... "Yes, I'm fine," he replied, trying to hide the quiver of pain in his voice. Lies, he thought bitterly. That's all you can do, you can only lie....Lie to him, to Kaa-san, to yourself.... That's all you ever do right!
The ebony haired teen didn't believe him and stood up painfully. He walked over and sat down next to the fox teen. "What's wrong? You can tell me.."
Dammit, Yusuke, why can't you just leave it alone! I can't, don't you see that?! He shook his head, afraid that the sob in his throat would escape if he tried to speak.
"Is... this about what I said earlier?" he asked, practically reading Kurama's mind.
Finally, he opened his eyes, thick with unshed tears, replying with a faint nod.
Yusuke sighed, closing his eyes and placing his head on the cool cave wall. "Well." He paused. "I. meant what I said.."
Still mistaking it for nothing but friendship, the fox tried so hard to control his trembling, failing miserably.
The teen's eyes widened as he saw Kurama start trembling. "What's wrong?"
He turned to look at Yusuke, the tears finally flowing down his cheeks. "Dammit, Yusuke, I love you! Okay?! I can't stand to see you hurt, because it hurts me so much! I love you so much! I wish I didn't feel this way, but I do!" No longer in control of his own body, he threw himself at Yusuke, burying his head in his chest, afraid of the anger and rejection that he thought were sure to follow.
He gasped silently, and was even more shocked when Kurama came at him. He pulled his body away from the wall, pulling his jacket off and putting it over Kurama's trembling form.
He sobbed into Yusuke's chest, fear and pain grasping at his heart. Don't hate me, please. I couldn't bear it if you hate me. I don't want that to happen. I'll settle for friendship, I don't care, as long as I can still be with you somehow.....
Yusuke smiled a bit and leaned over the older teen. "I. love you too, Kurama," he whispered in his ear, before closing his eyes and leaning his head back on the wall gently.
His sobs ceased immediately, his eyes widening as he looked up at Yusuke. He.... he didn't just say that, did he? I.... I was just imagining things..... "W-what did you say....?"
"You. heard what I said.." he replied, his eyes still closed.
No, I'm dreaming, aren't I.... he.... he didn't..... oh god..... "You...... you mean it? You're.... not just saying that?"
Yusuke opened his eyes, looking straight into the tear streaked jade eyes of the teen before him. He smiled, lifting a hand up and moving a couple of red strands of hair out of Kurama's eyes. "Of course I meant it.."
New tears gathered in the emerald orbs as he stared into Yusuke's face. But no longer with these painful tears. Never before had he felt such a sense of relief, as something coursed through his heart and soul, something he couldn't describe, or even begin to describe. "Yusuke....." He couldn't even get himself to talk, and cursed himself slightly for seeming like such an idiot.
"Shhh.." Yusuke replied, placing a finger on Kurama's lips. He smiled, and placed his head on the wall. Sleep was getting the best of him, and the teen was inches away from falling into a deep sleep.
Kurama closed his eyes at the gentle touch. No longer was the pain he had felt present. Instead, it was replaced with a warmth that was so unfamiliar to him. Softly, he kissed the finger on his lips.
Yusuke's hand moved gently from Kurama's lips to his waist. His breathing became even and he mumbled something that sounded like 'goodnight' before falling asleep.
Kurama smiled, moving closer to the younger teen. Closing his eyes, he whispered his own, 'goodnight', before sleep touched him as well.
~*~
Okay, I felt bad for leaving you hanging like that last time, so I stopped here. Getting good, ne?