Warped
by Ookami no Kokoro and xDarkxMagicianxGirlx
Chapter Three
A gentle wind whistling through the cave brought Kurama back to the conscious world. He blinked rapidly, through blurry vision, trying to remember where he was.
Yusuke shifted underneath him and mumbled something in his sleep, but didn't wake up.
The sudden movement startled him slightly, as he pulled away from the embrace, the jacket on his shoulders falling to the ground.
Not feeling the weight on him anymore, Yusuke blinked his eyes open and rubbed them with his hand.
Events of.... was it the day before?...... were recalled to his mind, as he looked at Yusuke with vivid emerald orbs, a slight flush on his cheeks.
He continued to rub the sleep out of eyes. "What time is it?" he yawned, forgetting where he was.
He shook his head. "I'm not sure," he replied, his eyes never leaving the other teen. Yusuke looked confused for a minute. "Kurama... what are you doing in my..?" He suddenly looked around at his surroundings. Wait, wasn't that all just a dream?
The fox's thoughts were similar to, if not exactly the same as, Yusuke's. It wasn't just a dream..... The whole thing...... I wasn't dreaming..... He lowered his head, covering his eyes once again with the shadow of his bangs.
After getting his bearings back, the younger teen looked at his older friend. "Something wrong?"
He shook his head, a bright smile on his lips as he looked up at the younger teen. "No. Nothing's wrong. I'm just..... surprised.... is all."
Yusuke shifted into a more comfortable position sitting on the floor. "Me too," he replied, a grin playing on his lips.
Though the smile remained on his lips, he looked down at the ground, his emerald orbs flickering with some sadness.
"Now if only we could find a way out of here," the dark haired teen replied, looking out the cave's entrance.
"Hmm....."
He turned back to Kurama. "Got any ideas?"
He shook his head in a silent reply.
Yusuke sighed, his stomach growling. He placed a hand on it, to try and silence the noises.
Looking up, he gave Yusuke an amused look. "Hungry?" he asked.
"A little." He grinned.
Getting to his feet, the fox teen dusted his jeans off. "Well, I suppose we can't do much if we're hungry."
Yusuke blinked and looked up at Kurama. "Hmn?"
He just flashed another small smile. "I suppose we should look for food."
The boy stood up in front of Kurama. "Okay."
Looking at Yusuke, he added, "Though, there isn't much point for BOTH of us looking for food. Maybe you should wait here....."
"But.." he protested, not wanting Kurama to get hurt.
He held up his hand, silencing the younger teen. "Don't worry about me, Yusuke. I'll be fine." Smiling, he left the cave.
Yusuke sighed, plopping back down on the ground. "Sometimes he's too stubborn."
Getting away from the cave, he let out the breath that he had been holding inside for a while. This gave him some time to think things through.
I hope nothing happens to Kurama.. Yusuke thought as he pulled on his jacket, looking out the cave entrance.
Looking around, the fox tried to use his senses to find a suitable meal for the both of them. But he found it hard to concentrate on anything as he thought of the night before.
Laying back on the floor and resting his head on a rock, the young delinquent closed his eyes, still reliving the events which he had thought a dream.
Somehow, he came across a pink lake. Bemused, as he looked into the water, he spied strange looking fish. But, with no other choice, he began to fish for them.
A low growl came from Yusuke's stomach. "Guess I am hungrier than I thought." He sat back up, glancing outside.
As he walked slowly back to the cave, he looked up, seeing grey wood, tipped with white leaves. How strange can this place get? he wondered. Shrugging it off, he decided that they needed SOMETHING to cook the fish. Plus, he still needed time to clear his thoughts.
Yusuke sighed, looking down the other end of the cave. "I wonder what's down there.." With that, he got up and wandered into the darker part of the cave.
Dragging the pile of wood behind him, the fish hanging over his shoulder, he entered the cave, seeing the other teen not there. "Yusuke?" he called, placing the logs down.
Yusuke walked further into the back of the dark orange cave. His footsteps were drown out by a gurgling spring near him. "That's odd.." he replied, looking closer at the water. "It's red.."
"Where did he go?" the fox wondered, placing the fish down on the logs. Looking down the dark cave, he stood at his full height. "Did he......?" He began to walk off into the shadows of the cave.
The spring was starting to get hot as Yusuke placed his hand in the red water. Steam started building in the cool cave and the teen pulled his jacket off, leaving it on the floor before walking farther into the back of the cave.
"Yusuke?" the fox called, walking blindly down the darkness. "How far could he go?" Sighing slightly, his eyes turned a gold hue to help adjust to the darkness.
As he continued walking, he failed to see the huge hole stretching across the cave.
He slipped and a small yell escaped him before he pulled himself back up. Dusting himself off, he looked down, seeing a huge spider web. Where there's a web, there must be a spider. He sighed, seeing no way across he stepped into the darkest part of the cave and walked back.
He was beginning to get rather worried. "Yusuke!" he called louder. But all he heard was the gurgle of water.
Yusuke continued to walk back, grumbling softly as he tripped over a rock.
"Yusuke!"
The teen stood up, rubbing his head. He looked around. He had thought he had heard his name, but could barely see in the darkness.
"Yusuke, are you here?"
"Kurama?" he asked, walking forward but walking into a boulder near the wall. "Ow..." He rubbed his nose.
"Yusuke!"
Yusuke looked in the direction the voice had come from, "Kurama? Where are you?" he walked toward the voice but ran into something hairy. "What the heck?"
"Yusuke, where are you?" He stopped, feeling a strange presence in front of him.
"I'm right here.." he replied, feeling whatever was in front of him. "There's something.." Eight piercing green eyes suddenly looked at him. "Uh- oh..."
The figure moved slightly, and the fox teen could make out four pairs of legs. The large spider suddenly knocked Yusuke to the ground with it's leg, it's eyes narrowing into what seemed like a glare. He groaned as he hit the wall.
"Yusuke!"
Hearing Kurama's voice, the spider turned on the fox teen. His startling green eyes fixed on the boy.
Kurama growled, taking a step back, slowly reaching up into his hair to pull out the rose that he kept hidden there.
Yusuke groaned as he got to his feet. He couldn't see anything but knew Kurama was here with him. He couldn't shoot at the monster for fear he would hit the older teen.
The spider swung a huge hairy leg at Kurama, trying to hit him.
He jumped up, avoiding the twig-like leg, landing back. "Rose Whip!" The petals suddenly melted away, as the stem of the flower grew into a thorny whip.
Yusuke heard Kurama's yell and he knew the older teen was fighting the monster. He closed his eyes and ducked down, trying to find his way to the source of the perfume.
The spider grew annoyed and shot some of it's sticky web at the fox teen.
Kurama gasped, barely missing the sticky substance. However, some of it hit the hand that held the Rose Whip, trapping it against the wall. No matter how hard he pulled, he couldn't free his hand.
A screeching noise came from the creature as it looked at it's prey. It almost sounded as if it was laughing at Kurama.
Yusuke covered his ears at the screech. "Kurama?" He stood, hitting his head on something hairy, his eyes widened as he realized he was under the spider.
As he pulled, trying to free his hand, he stifled a gasp as he realized that the sticky substance was growing up his arm.
A movement caught his eye, and he saw Yusuke right under the spider. "Yusuke!"
Yusuke looked in the direction of the voice. "I... I can't see anything, it's too dark.." he replied, though he was sure that he was under the spider. Maybe I can use my Spirit Gun here..
The spider looked at Kurama again, fangs dripping with venom. His eyes had a hungry look in them and he shot another clump of web.
It hit him on the chest, pinning him to the wall. It began to spread over his body, covering every part of him in the sticky substance.
The younger teen heard the string-like web hit Kurama and he started to panic. Closing one eye, he aimed his finger directly above him. "Here goes nothing!" A huge blast came from his finger and went straight through the spider, leaving the detective beneath covered in the spider's blood.
The spider swayed and it's legs gave out as it fell in the exact spot it was standing, dead.
Kurama let out a small sigh, but didn't have time to feel relief as he noticed that web wasn't stopping.
Yusuke sighed also, pulling his leg out from underneath the spider. His clothes were covered in blood from the spider and he looked around. "Kurama? Where are you?"
"I'm over--" He was cut off as the web moved over his mouth.
"Kurama?!" Yusuke panicked as he stumbled toward where his friend's voice had been. Approaching the teen, he noticed he was covered in web.
The webbing was too thick for him to breath. He couldn't see anything, and all he could feel was the sticky substance around his body.
Yusuke panicked, pulling at the web, but it didn't work. "What do I do?!" A few tears started falling from his eyes as he grabbed hold of the web over the older teen's face. His fists started to glow as he used some of his energy to pull it off.
He felt the web being lifted from him, a warmth surrounding his face. Yusuke.... he thought.
When the web came off the teen's face, he sighed in relief, continuing to pull the rest off.
He gasped for air, leaning back against the wall cave as the rest of the webbing was removed from his body.
Pulling the last of the webbing off from Kurama's arm, the younger teen fell backwards, laying on the floor panting. "Sorry.."
"For what?"
"If I hadn't come down here, that wouldn't have happened." He caught his breath, still lying on the floor.
The fox sat down on the ground next to the younger teen. "It's fine, Yusuke. Really...."
He sat up, looking at Kurama. "I'm so stupid sometimes.."
He shook his head. "You're not stupid, Yusuke."
He smiled slightly. "Hiei or Kuwabara would've agreed with me." He stood up, putting his hand out to the older teen. "Come on, let's go back to front of the cave."
Nodding, he accepted his friend's hand. "And, I'm not Hiei or Kuwabara, so I'm not entitled to agree with you." He smiled slyly.
Starting to walk back, Yusuke walked into a rock in the middle of the path. "Ouch.."
"Are you alright?" he asked, though he saw the rock on the ground.
Yusuke nodded. Guess I don't have much energy.. I can't see anything back here..
Changing his eyes back to their original green, he concentrated into turning his energy into an aura around him, providing a light for Yusuke to see.
Looking at him, Yusuke smiled. "Thanks.." He got closer to Kurama so that he wouldn't trip on anything else.
He nodded, beginning to walk towards the entrance of the cave. He kept the aura around him until some light from the outside could be seen shining inside.
Noticing the fish and wood on the ground, Yusuke suddenly was reminded of how hungry he was.
Extinguishing the energy aura around him, he bent down next to the wood, arranging them in a pile and starting a fire. Impaling the fish on twigs, the fox held them over the fire.
Yusuke walked over and sat opposite Kurama. He looked into the fire, and then at the teen across from him.
His eyes looked up at the younger teen for a moment, then quickly back down. What's wrong with me? he wondered. We already...... we already talked about how we both felt for each other..... Why am I so embarrassed? He felt a blush spread across his cheeks.
Seeing the blush on his friend's cheeks, Yusuke quickly averted his gaze. "What.... what do you think the others will say about..... everything?" he asked suddenly, breaking the silence.
"I.... I'm not sure, really," he replied honestly, taking one of the fish from the fire and checking to see if it was cooked enough. His eyes looked up at the other. "What do you think they'll say?"
The younger teen shrugged, leaving his eyes on the cave floor. He started to rub his bare arms without noticing it.
Lifting his head up, he asked, "Are you alright?"
"Fine," he replied, looking up and giving Kurama a small reassuring smile.
"Are you sure?" he pressed, watching the younger teen rub his arms.
"Yeah, I'm sure," he replied, just noticing he was rubbing his arms and quickly stopping.
Nodding, he returned to the task of cooking the fish. Other than wondering what the others will think, he thought, we haven't really talked about.... that.... Maybe the whole thing was really just a joke, or his way of making me feel better..... I don't know...... It just seems a little too good to be true....
Yusuke sighed and crawled over, sitting next to Kurama, his leg brushing against the older teen's. "So where did you find this fish?" he asked, trying to make conversation.
He flushed slightly. "I.... found a lake nearby....' he replied.
"It looks good," he replied, smiling.
He smiled himself, nodding. "But I'm sure anything looks good to you right now, seeing as how you're so hungry."
He smiled again and looked into the fire. Without thinking, the younger teen leaned over, resting his head on Kurama's shoulder.
Kurama stifled back a gasp, feeling a warmth rise up his body. He almost dropped the fish he was holding into the fire.
Seeing the older boy almost drop the fish, he quickly sat up, a blush forming on his cheeks. "Sorry.."
"No! No.... it's okay....." A smile found its way to his lips, as he looked down at the ground, a slight flush still on his cheeks.
Yusuke smiled back and got up, walking toward the cave entrance.
He watched his younger friend with curiosity.
He looked around outside, then turned around. "Be right back."
"Yusuke...?!" But he could do nothing as the other teen left. Kurama sighed slightly. I'll never understand him, will I? he wondered.
The younger teen walked out from behind a tree. "I feel better.." He looked around a bit, folding his hands behind his head and walking slowly back to the cave.
He wiped his brow with the back of his hand. "Finally, all done," he said, rather to no one. Fishing around in his pocket, he found a rubber band, which he used to tie his hair back in a loose ponytail at the bottom of his head.
Yusuke walked into the cave about ten minutes later, arms folded behind his head and a distant look in his eyes.
Seeing the other teen return, the fox looked up, only to see a far away look set in the chocolate orbs. "Yusuke?"
"Hmn?" The teen in question pulled himself out of his thoughts and looked at the older boy.
"What were you thinking about?"
"Nothing.." he replied, giving the other a small smile before sitting down.
Seeing that he didn't want to talk about it, Kurama nodded, handing Yusuke one of the fishes on a stick.
Yusuke took the fish from Kurama. "Oh? For me? I've always wanted one of these! How did you know?" He smiled playfully.
He shook his head, smiling. "Don't you know? I'm psychic."
Taking a bite from the fish, Yusuke couldn't help looking over at the older teen.
Kurama just sat, his knees drawn up to his chest, leaning against the wall of the cave, staring at the fire, the light dancing in his emerald orbs.
He could tell the fox teen was thinking, and decided not to disturb him.
He snuck a glance at his younger friend, before returning his gaze to the fire. He had said it..... but how do I know we were talking about the same thing?
Yusuke finished as much as he wanted to eat, before lying back on the floor, arms sprawled. I wonder what's up with Kurama.. He hasn't really been himself since...well since last night..
Sighing, he stretched his legs out, somewhat noticing that Yusuke had eaten most of the fish. He shrugged it off, not really caring anyway.
Hearing his sigh, Yusuke turned his head to look at Kurama. "Is something wrong?"
He shook his head. "No. Nothing's wrong," he replied.
Yusuke nodded and looked back up at the ceiling of the cave. I wonder where we should go next?
Glancing outside, Kurama looked up at the purple sky. We have to find a way out of here......
"We should leave soon..." the younger teen sighed.
Kurama nodded, still staring into the fire. "But where would we go, exactly?"
Sitting up and looking out the entrance he replied, "I don't know... maybe we should just follow that road."
"I suppose. That seems as our only choice."
Yusuke nodded, getting to his feet.
The fox stood as well, throwing green dirt on the fire to put it out.
Walking to the entrance to the cave, Yusuke stopped to wait for the other teen.
Making sure that the flame was completely out, Kurama walked up next to Yusuke. "Shall we go?"
Yusuke nodded, a small smile on his lips.
As they walked along the green path, a gentle wind brushed by. Smiling slightly,
Kurama reached back, trying to liberate his hair from the rubber band. He winced slightly as the rubber band wouldn't let go, and he painfully tried to pull it out. I guess THIS wasn't such a good idea.
Yusuke chuckled a bit, walking over. "Let me help you." He gently untangled the band and took it out, handing it back.
Taking it from him, he stuffed it back in his pockets. "Thanks," he said, rubbing his head slightly. "I wouldn't have used it, but it was the only thing I had."
Smiling gently, Yusuke nodded and looked around.
Looking around also, Kurama noticed that something was amiss. This is where the lake and the trees were, he realized. So.... where are they now?
A chill went down the younger teen's spine and he rubbed his bare arms again. Maybe I shouldn't have left my coat back there..
Glancing at his friend, he asked, "Is something wrong?"
"No.. I'm just kinda cold.." he replied, looking at the older teen.
"Oh...." Realization hit him, looking at his friend. "Where's your jacket? Did you leave it back in the cave?"
He nodded but then quickly added, "But I'm fine."
"Do you want me to go back and get it? I can see in the dark better than you can."
"No. I'm fine, I don't need it."
"Are you sure?" he asked, concern in his emerald eyes.
"Yeah.. the cave's too far-" He stopped, confusion filling his chocolate eyes as he noticed the cave was gone.
Looking back, his eyes filled with wonder as he too noticed that the cave was no longer there. "It's the same thing........"
"Same thing? As what?"
He looked at the younger teen. "This is the area where I found the lake and the trees. But, as you can see, they're no longer here. Just like the cave."
"Maybe.." Yusuke thought, glancing around, "this place is controlled by our feelings."
"Our feelings? What do you mean?"
He looked at the older teen. "Well, I am sure when you went out to look for food, you were hungry. And when we were being attacked, I wanted to get you to safety." He placed a thoughtful finger to his chin. "Well, yours makes sense. But I wasn't hungry when I was looking for food."
"You...weren't?"
He shook his head. "But.... maybe it was because I wanted to find something for you to eat."
Yusuke nodded. That must be the secret to this....world.
"But then, what about that spider? Or the black beams that were attacking us?" He usually wasn't the one asking the questions, and instead was providing the answers.
However, he had a feeling that Yusuke was better at explaining this....place....than he was.
He thought about it, glancing up at the purple sky. "I'm not sure..." he replied honestly. "Maybe, the world wanted us to realize.... our feelings."
"Our.....feelings....?" His heart leaped in his chest.
The younger boy nodded, keeping his eyes on the sky. "From last night..."
Kurama stopped walking, looking down as he fiddled with his hands. "Yusuke.... I.... I think we need to talk about that....."
Yusuke stopped, turning and looking at Kurama. "All right."
"I..... um...." He chuckled slightly, more out of shame than anything. This was so easy in my head, he thought. But now..... He shook his head slightly to clear his mind.
"You...what?" he asked, tilting his head a little in confusion.
"I.... I don't know. I..... I guess I just feel that this is all too good to be true....."
"What do you mean?" Yusuke asked, still confused. "Do you. not think I was being truthful?"
He shook his head. "It's not that I don't think you're being truthful, it's just that...... There are different kinds of love, you know? For example, I love my mother and my family. I also love my friends. Those are two different kinds of love. And then....." He looked up at the younger teen. "I love you." Quickly, he looked away again. "How do I know that we were both talking about THAT kind of love?"
"This is how you know.." He touched Kurama's cheek gently with his hand, turning the teen's face toward his own and planting a gentle kiss on his lips. He broke it and only inches away said, "I love you, Kurama."
As if just realizing what he had done, Yusuke blushed deeply and turned away from the older teen.
He blinked, eyes wide with surprise, a red hue spreading across his own face. For a moment, he wondered if it had been his imagination. But the warmth he was feeling told him that it was definitely real. He smiled, placing a hand on Yusuke's shoulder.
Yusuke turned, looking at the teen before him. "I'm really sorry, I... wasn't thinking.."
He shook his head, before gently brushing his lips over the younger teen's.
His heart fluttered with happiness, and the red on his face deepened. Before Kurama could pull away, though, he kissed him back.
His cheeks burned with blush as he realized how deeply they were locked. But, not being in total control of his own body, he leaned forward against Yusuke.
Feeling Kurama lean on him, Yusuke put his arms around the other's waist.
The fox shivered slightly, feeling the other's soft touch.
Yusuke felt Kurama shiver, and he broke the kiss. "Do you believe me now?"
He nodded, placing his head on Yusuke's shoulder. "I'm sorry I doubted you...."
Planting one last kiss on Kurama's forehead, he sighed. "We... we should get going."
Even though every sense in his body told him not to, it felt like the best thing.
He nodded, though not really ready to leave the warmth of the embrace. "Y-yes...of course," he replied. He felt his heart screaming at him as he pulled away from Yusuke.
Yusuke smiled gently, starting to walk down the green road.
As they walked, the fox was tempted to ask one last question that lingered in his mind, though he felt that he should just leave things alone as they were.
The younger teen noticed that Kurama still had something on his mind. He took hold of the teen's hand and looked at him. "What's on your mind?"
"I.... well.... I was....... just wondering......"
He blinked, his eyes focused on Kurama.
"I guess I was just wondering.... HOW.... this came to be.... I mean, I always thought that you and Keiko....."
He smiled. "I did too... but I realized there was someone else.." He looked at the fox teen. "I realized I only liked Keiko as a friend or a sister or something.. and you MORE than a friend.."
The blush returned to his face. "But how? When?"
"Not really sure," he replied, and suddenly found himself wanting to ask Kurama the same thing.
"When did you realize?" he asked, almost shyly.
"I think maybe it was when you were fighting Karasu..." he replied looking at the ground. "When did.... you realize?"
Karasu, huh? Boy, that brings back memories.... "Well, I'm not sure either, really. Ever since you risked your life to help me save my mother when we first met, two strangers to you, I might add, I always ADMIRED you. But..... I guess after my fight with Touya, after I had 'passed out' in the ring, and.... I guess the way you acted when I was getting hurt....."
Yusuke blushed a little. "I remember that.."
"But I don't know. As I said, I've always admired you, but I don't really know when that changed....."
Yusuke smiled, a shiver running through his body. He did his best to hide it and realized after how cold it was outside.
Not many things could escape his sharp eyes. He wondered if Yusuke remembered his animal senses. Though, since he was trying to hide it, he decided not to say anything about it.
The teen looked down the green path, wondering if it led to anywhere.
A harsh wind blew by, and Kurama pushed back his crimson hair as he looked up at the sky. It seemed to be darkening.
Using the hand that wasn't in Kurama's, he put it around himself, trying to warm up.
Looking around, he saw a strange object being blown towards them in the wind. He stopped, turning around, and caught it. Only once he grabbed it did he realize that it was Yusuke's jacket.
Yusuke blinked. "Where did...?"
Kurama shrugged. "I have no idea." He handed the younger teen his jacket.
Taking his jacket and putting it on, he found it warmer then it should've been. A thought struck him and he smiled wide, looking at Kurama. "Thanks."
He smiled in return before looking up at the sky. He then frowned, watching as it became a darker purple.
"What's wrong?" he asked, seeing Kurama's frown, then looking up into the darkened sky.
"That."
He watched as the sky continued to darken. "What does it mean?"
He shook his head, indicating that he didn't know.
What is with this world? It puts us together then tries to split us apart again..
The gust of wind became stronger; so strong that Kurama was almost knocked off his feet. "What is going on?"
"I.. I dunno.." he replied, getting closer to the older teen so that he wouldn't fall over.
Using his hand to shield his eyes, he watched as the wind blew up green dust. It whirled into a cloud, blowing over the two.
Yusuke coughed and closed his eyes as the dust swirled around him.
The dust became too much that the fox had to close his eyes as well. He coughed, trying his best to hold his ground.
The younger teen suddenly took Kurama's hand. 'We can't get separated..'
Feeling Yusuke's hand, he grasped it tighter, though not enough to hurt him. What is going on with this place?! What is it trying to accomplish with us?
He closed his eyes tighter. Kurama wanted me to be warm... and I got my jacket. Well I want him to be safe.. maybe he'll get transported outside of it..
His coughs became louder as the dust became thicker. We've got to get out of here......
Yusuke opened one eye, seeing the dust thicker and Kurama still next to him. Why didn't it work?
Suddenly, holes opened up beneath both of them, causing them to fall under the ground.
The dark haired teen yelped in surprise and accidentally let go of Kurama's hand. ~*~
^_^ Another day, another chapter. How was it? No flames please, CC however is welcome.
by Ookami no Kokoro and xDarkxMagicianxGirlx
Chapter Three
A gentle wind whistling through the cave brought Kurama back to the conscious world. He blinked rapidly, through blurry vision, trying to remember where he was.
Yusuke shifted underneath him and mumbled something in his sleep, but didn't wake up.
The sudden movement startled him slightly, as he pulled away from the embrace, the jacket on his shoulders falling to the ground.
Not feeling the weight on him anymore, Yusuke blinked his eyes open and rubbed them with his hand.
Events of.... was it the day before?...... were recalled to his mind, as he looked at Yusuke with vivid emerald orbs, a slight flush on his cheeks.
He continued to rub the sleep out of eyes. "What time is it?" he yawned, forgetting where he was.
He shook his head. "I'm not sure," he replied, his eyes never leaving the other teen. Yusuke looked confused for a minute. "Kurama... what are you doing in my..?" He suddenly looked around at his surroundings. Wait, wasn't that all just a dream?
The fox's thoughts were similar to, if not exactly the same as, Yusuke's. It wasn't just a dream..... The whole thing...... I wasn't dreaming..... He lowered his head, covering his eyes once again with the shadow of his bangs.
After getting his bearings back, the younger teen looked at his older friend. "Something wrong?"
He shook his head, a bright smile on his lips as he looked up at the younger teen. "No. Nothing's wrong. I'm just..... surprised.... is all."
Yusuke shifted into a more comfortable position sitting on the floor. "Me too," he replied, a grin playing on his lips.
Though the smile remained on his lips, he looked down at the ground, his emerald orbs flickering with some sadness.
"Now if only we could find a way out of here," the dark haired teen replied, looking out the cave's entrance.
"Hmm....."
He turned back to Kurama. "Got any ideas?"
He shook his head in a silent reply.
Yusuke sighed, his stomach growling. He placed a hand on it, to try and silence the noises.
Looking up, he gave Yusuke an amused look. "Hungry?" he asked.
"A little." He grinned.
Getting to his feet, the fox teen dusted his jeans off. "Well, I suppose we can't do much if we're hungry."
Yusuke blinked and looked up at Kurama. "Hmn?"
He just flashed another small smile. "I suppose we should look for food."
The boy stood up in front of Kurama. "Okay."
Looking at Yusuke, he added, "Though, there isn't much point for BOTH of us looking for food. Maybe you should wait here....."
"But.." he protested, not wanting Kurama to get hurt.
He held up his hand, silencing the younger teen. "Don't worry about me, Yusuke. I'll be fine." Smiling, he left the cave.
Yusuke sighed, plopping back down on the ground. "Sometimes he's too stubborn."
Getting away from the cave, he let out the breath that he had been holding inside for a while. This gave him some time to think things through.
I hope nothing happens to Kurama.. Yusuke thought as he pulled on his jacket, looking out the cave entrance.
Looking around, the fox tried to use his senses to find a suitable meal for the both of them. But he found it hard to concentrate on anything as he thought of the night before.
Laying back on the floor and resting his head on a rock, the young delinquent closed his eyes, still reliving the events which he had thought a dream.
Somehow, he came across a pink lake. Bemused, as he looked into the water, he spied strange looking fish. But, with no other choice, he began to fish for them.
A low growl came from Yusuke's stomach. "Guess I am hungrier than I thought." He sat back up, glancing outside.
As he walked slowly back to the cave, he looked up, seeing grey wood, tipped with white leaves. How strange can this place get? he wondered. Shrugging it off, he decided that they needed SOMETHING to cook the fish. Plus, he still needed time to clear his thoughts.
Yusuke sighed, looking down the other end of the cave. "I wonder what's down there.." With that, he got up and wandered into the darker part of the cave.
Dragging the pile of wood behind him, the fish hanging over his shoulder, he entered the cave, seeing the other teen not there. "Yusuke?" he called, placing the logs down.
Yusuke walked further into the back of the dark orange cave. His footsteps were drown out by a gurgling spring near him. "That's odd.." he replied, looking closer at the water. "It's red.."
"Where did he go?" the fox wondered, placing the fish down on the logs. Looking down the dark cave, he stood at his full height. "Did he......?" He began to walk off into the shadows of the cave.
The spring was starting to get hot as Yusuke placed his hand in the red water. Steam started building in the cool cave and the teen pulled his jacket off, leaving it on the floor before walking farther into the back of the cave.
"Yusuke?" the fox called, walking blindly down the darkness. "How far could he go?" Sighing slightly, his eyes turned a gold hue to help adjust to the darkness.
As he continued walking, he failed to see the huge hole stretching across the cave.
He slipped and a small yell escaped him before he pulled himself back up. Dusting himself off, he looked down, seeing a huge spider web. Where there's a web, there must be a spider. He sighed, seeing no way across he stepped into the darkest part of the cave and walked back.
He was beginning to get rather worried. "Yusuke!" he called louder. But all he heard was the gurgle of water.
Yusuke continued to walk back, grumbling softly as he tripped over a rock.
"Yusuke!"
The teen stood up, rubbing his head. He looked around. He had thought he had heard his name, but could barely see in the darkness.
"Yusuke, are you here?"
"Kurama?" he asked, walking forward but walking into a boulder near the wall. "Ow..." He rubbed his nose.
"Yusuke!"
Yusuke looked in the direction the voice had come from, "Kurama? Where are you?" he walked toward the voice but ran into something hairy. "What the heck?"
"Yusuke, where are you?" He stopped, feeling a strange presence in front of him.
"I'm right here.." he replied, feeling whatever was in front of him. "There's something.." Eight piercing green eyes suddenly looked at him. "Uh- oh..."
The figure moved slightly, and the fox teen could make out four pairs of legs. The large spider suddenly knocked Yusuke to the ground with it's leg, it's eyes narrowing into what seemed like a glare. He groaned as he hit the wall.
"Yusuke!"
Hearing Kurama's voice, the spider turned on the fox teen. His startling green eyes fixed on the boy.
Kurama growled, taking a step back, slowly reaching up into his hair to pull out the rose that he kept hidden there.
Yusuke groaned as he got to his feet. He couldn't see anything but knew Kurama was here with him. He couldn't shoot at the monster for fear he would hit the older teen.
The spider swung a huge hairy leg at Kurama, trying to hit him.
He jumped up, avoiding the twig-like leg, landing back. "Rose Whip!" The petals suddenly melted away, as the stem of the flower grew into a thorny whip.
Yusuke heard Kurama's yell and he knew the older teen was fighting the monster. He closed his eyes and ducked down, trying to find his way to the source of the perfume.
The spider grew annoyed and shot some of it's sticky web at the fox teen.
Kurama gasped, barely missing the sticky substance. However, some of it hit the hand that held the Rose Whip, trapping it against the wall. No matter how hard he pulled, he couldn't free his hand.
A screeching noise came from the creature as it looked at it's prey. It almost sounded as if it was laughing at Kurama.
Yusuke covered his ears at the screech. "Kurama?" He stood, hitting his head on something hairy, his eyes widened as he realized he was under the spider.
As he pulled, trying to free his hand, he stifled a gasp as he realized that the sticky substance was growing up his arm.
A movement caught his eye, and he saw Yusuke right under the spider. "Yusuke!"
Yusuke looked in the direction of the voice. "I... I can't see anything, it's too dark.." he replied, though he was sure that he was under the spider. Maybe I can use my Spirit Gun here..
The spider looked at Kurama again, fangs dripping with venom. His eyes had a hungry look in them and he shot another clump of web.
It hit him on the chest, pinning him to the wall. It began to spread over his body, covering every part of him in the sticky substance.
The younger teen heard the string-like web hit Kurama and he started to panic. Closing one eye, he aimed his finger directly above him. "Here goes nothing!" A huge blast came from his finger and went straight through the spider, leaving the detective beneath covered in the spider's blood.
The spider swayed and it's legs gave out as it fell in the exact spot it was standing, dead.
Kurama let out a small sigh, but didn't have time to feel relief as he noticed that web wasn't stopping.
Yusuke sighed also, pulling his leg out from underneath the spider. His clothes were covered in blood from the spider and he looked around. "Kurama? Where are you?"
"I'm over--" He was cut off as the web moved over his mouth.
"Kurama?!" Yusuke panicked as he stumbled toward where his friend's voice had been. Approaching the teen, he noticed he was covered in web.
The webbing was too thick for him to breath. He couldn't see anything, and all he could feel was the sticky substance around his body.
Yusuke panicked, pulling at the web, but it didn't work. "What do I do?!" A few tears started falling from his eyes as he grabbed hold of the web over the older teen's face. His fists started to glow as he used some of his energy to pull it off.
He felt the web being lifted from him, a warmth surrounding his face. Yusuke.... he thought.
When the web came off the teen's face, he sighed in relief, continuing to pull the rest off.
He gasped for air, leaning back against the wall cave as the rest of the webbing was removed from his body.
Pulling the last of the webbing off from Kurama's arm, the younger teen fell backwards, laying on the floor panting. "Sorry.."
"For what?"
"If I hadn't come down here, that wouldn't have happened." He caught his breath, still lying on the floor.
The fox sat down on the ground next to the younger teen. "It's fine, Yusuke. Really...."
He sat up, looking at Kurama. "I'm so stupid sometimes.."
He shook his head. "You're not stupid, Yusuke."
He smiled slightly. "Hiei or Kuwabara would've agreed with me." He stood up, putting his hand out to the older teen. "Come on, let's go back to front of the cave."
Nodding, he accepted his friend's hand. "And, I'm not Hiei or Kuwabara, so I'm not entitled to agree with you." He smiled slyly.
Starting to walk back, Yusuke walked into a rock in the middle of the path. "Ouch.."
"Are you alright?" he asked, though he saw the rock on the ground.
Yusuke nodded. Guess I don't have much energy.. I can't see anything back here..
Changing his eyes back to their original green, he concentrated into turning his energy into an aura around him, providing a light for Yusuke to see.
Looking at him, Yusuke smiled. "Thanks.." He got closer to Kurama so that he wouldn't trip on anything else.
He nodded, beginning to walk towards the entrance of the cave. He kept the aura around him until some light from the outside could be seen shining inside.
Noticing the fish and wood on the ground, Yusuke suddenly was reminded of how hungry he was.
Extinguishing the energy aura around him, he bent down next to the wood, arranging them in a pile and starting a fire. Impaling the fish on twigs, the fox held them over the fire.
Yusuke walked over and sat opposite Kurama. He looked into the fire, and then at the teen across from him.
His eyes looked up at the younger teen for a moment, then quickly back down. What's wrong with me? he wondered. We already...... we already talked about how we both felt for each other..... Why am I so embarrassed? He felt a blush spread across his cheeks.
Seeing the blush on his friend's cheeks, Yusuke quickly averted his gaze. "What.... what do you think the others will say about..... everything?" he asked suddenly, breaking the silence.
"I.... I'm not sure, really," he replied honestly, taking one of the fish from the fire and checking to see if it was cooked enough. His eyes looked up at the other. "What do you think they'll say?"
The younger teen shrugged, leaving his eyes on the cave floor. He started to rub his bare arms without noticing it.
Lifting his head up, he asked, "Are you alright?"
"Fine," he replied, looking up and giving Kurama a small reassuring smile.
"Are you sure?" he pressed, watching the younger teen rub his arms.
"Yeah, I'm sure," he replied, just noticing he was rubbing his arms and quickly stopping.
Nodding, he returned to the task of cooking the fish. Other than wondering what the others will think, he thought, we haven't really talked about.... that.... Maybe the whole thing was really just a joke, or his way of making me feel better..... I don't know...... It just seems a little too good to be true....
Yusuke sighed and crawled over, sitting next to Kurama, his leg brushing against the older teen's. "So where did you find this fish?" he asked, trying to make conversation.
He flushed slightly. "I.... found a lake nearby....' he replied.
"It looks good," he replied, smiling.
He smiled himself, nodding. "But I'm sure anything looks good to you right now, seeing as how you're so hungry."
He smiled again and looked into the fire. Without thinking, the younger teen leaned over, resting his head on Kurama's shoulder.
Kurama stifled back a gasp, feeling a warmth rise up his body. He almost dropped the fish he was holding into the fire.
Seeing the older boy almost drop the fish, he quickly sat up, a blush forming on his cheeks. "Sorry.."
"No! No.... it's okay....." A smile found its way to his lips, as he looked down at the ground, a slight flush still on his cheeks.
Yusuke smiled back and got up, walking toward the cave entrance.
He watched his younger friend with curiosity.
He looked around outside, then turned around. "Be right back."
"Yusuke...?!" But he could do nothing as the other teen left. Kurama sighed slightly. I'll never understand him, will I? he wondered.
The younger teen walked out from behind a tree. "I feel better.." He looked around a bit, folding his hands behind his head and walking slowly back to the cave.
He wiped his brow with the back of his hand. "Finally, all done," he said, rather to no one. Fishing around in his pocket, he found a rubber band, which he used to tie his hair back in a loose ponytail at the bottom of his head.
Yusuke walked into the cave about ten minutes later, arms folded behind his head and a distant look in his eyes.
Seeing the other teen return, the fox looked up, only to see a far away look set in the chocolate orbs. "Yusuke?"
"Hmn?" The teen in question pulled himself out of his thoughts and looked at the older boy.
"What were you thinking about?"
"Nothing.." he replied, giving the other a small smile before sitting down.
Seeing that he didn't want to talk about it, Kurama nodded, handing Yusuke one of the fishes on a stick.
Yusuke took the fish from Kurama. "Oh? For me? I've always wanted one of these! How did you know?" He smiled playfully.
He shook his head, smiling. "Don't you know? I'm psychic."
Taking a bite from the fish, Yusuke couldn't help looking over at the older teen.
Kurama just sat, his knees drawn up to his chest, leaning against the wall of the cave, staring at the fire, the light dancing in his emerald orbs.
He could tell the fox teen was thinking, and decided not to disturb him.
He snuck a glance at his younger friend, before returning his gaze to the fire. He had said it..... but how do I know we were talking about the same thing?
Yusuke finished as much as he wanted to eat, before lying back on the floor, arms sprawled. I wonder what's up with Kurama.. He hasn't really been himself since...well since last night..
Sighing, he stretched his legs out, somewhat noticing that Yusuke had eaten most of the fish. He shrugged it off, not really caring anyway.
Hearing his sigh, Yusuke turned his head to look at Kurama. "Is something wrong?"
He shook his head. "No. Nothing's wrong," he replied.
Yusuke nodded and looked back up at the ceiling of the cave. I wonder where we should go next?
Glancing outside, Kurama looked up at the purple sky. We have to find a way out of here......
"We should leave soon..." the younger teen sighed.
Kurama nodded, still staring into the fire. "But where would we go, exactly?"
Sitting up and looking out the entrance he replied, "I don't know... maybe we should just follow that road."
"I suppose. That seems as our only choice."
Yusuke nodded, getting to his feet.
The fox stood as well, throwing green dirt on the fire to put it out.
Walking to the entrance to the cave, Yusuke stopped to wait for the other teen.
Making sure that the flame was completely out, Kurama walked up next to Yusuke. "Shall we go?"
Yusuke nodded, a small smile on his lips.
As they walked along the green path, a gentle wind brushed by. Smiling slightly,
Kurama reached back, trying to liberate his hair from the rubber band. He winced slightly as the rubber band wouldn't let go, and he painfully tried to pull it out. I guess THIS wasn't such a good idea.
Yusuke chuckled a bit, walking over. "Let me help you." He gently untangled the band and took it out, handing it back.
Taking it from him, he stuffed it back in his pockets. "Thanks," he said, rubbing his head slightly. "I wouldn't have used it, but it was the only thing I had."
Smiling gently, Yusuke nodded and looked around.
Looking around also, Kurama noticed that something was amiss. This is where the lake and the trees were, he realized. So.... where are they now?
A chill went down the younger teen's spine and he rubbed his bare arms again. Maybe I shouldn't have left my coat back there..
Glancing at his friend, he asked, "Is something wrong?"
"No.. I'm just kinda cold.." he replied, looking at the older teen.
"Oh...." Realization hit him, looking at his friend. "Where's your jacket? Did you leave it back in the cave?"
He nodded but then quickly added, "But I'm fine."
"Do you want me to go back and get it? I can see in the dark better than you can."
"No. I'm fine, I don't need it."
"Are you sure?" he asked, concern in his emerald eyes.
"Yeah.. the cave's too far-" He stopped, confusion filling his chocolate eyes as he noticed the cave was gone.
Looking back, his eyes filled with wonder as he too noticed that the cave was no longer there. "It's the same thing........"
"Same thing? As what?"
He looked at the younger teen. "This is the area where I found the lake and the trees. But, as you can see, they're no longer here. Just like the cave."
"Maybe.." Yusuke thought, glancing around, "this place is controlled by our feelings."
"Our feelings? What do you mean?"
He looked at the older teen. "Well, I am sure when you went out to look for food, you were hungry. And when we were being attacked, I wanted to get you to safety." He placed a thoughtful finger to his chin. "Well, yours makes sense. But I wasn't hungry when I was looking for food."
"You...weren't?"
He shook his head. "But.... maybe it was because I wanted to find something for you to eat."
Yusuke nodded. That must be the secret to this....world.
"But then, what about that spider? Or the black beams that were attacking us?" He usually wasn't the one asking the questions, and instead was providing the answers.
However, he had a feeling that Yusuke was better at explaining this....place....than he was.
He thought about it, glancing up at the purple sky. "I'm not sure..." he replied honestly. "Maybe, the world wanted us to realize.... our feelings."
"Our.....feelings....?" His heart leaped in his chest.
The younger boy nodded, keeping his eyes on the sky. "From last night..."
Kurama stopped walking, looking down as he fiddled with his hands. "Yusuke.... I.... I think we need to talk about that....."
Yusuke stopped, turning and looking at Kurama. "All right."
"I..... um...." He chuckled slightly, more out of shame than anything. This was so easy in my head, he thought. But now..... He shook his head slightly to clear his mind.
"You...what?" he asked, tilting his head a little in confusion.
"I.... I don't know. I..... I guess I just feel that this is all too good to be true....."
"What do you mean?" Yusuke asked, still confused. "Do you. not think I was being truthful?"
He shook his head. "It's not that I don't think you're being truthful, it's just that...... There are different kinds of love, you know? For example, I love my mother and my family. I also love my friends. Those are two different kinds of love. And then....." He looked up at the younger teen. "I love you." Quickly, he looked away again. "How do I know that we were both talking about THAT kind of love?"
"This is how you know.." He touched Kurama's cheek gently with his hand, turning the teen's face toward his own and planting a gentle kiss on his lips. He broke it and only inches away said, "I love you, Kurama."
As if just realizing what he had done, Yusuke blushed deeply and turned away from the older teen.
He blinked, eyes wide with surprise, a red hue spreading across his own face. For a moment, he wondered if it had been his imagination. But the warmth he was feeling told him that it was definitely real. He smiled, placing a hand on Yusuke's shoulder.
Yusuke turned, looking at the teen before him. "I'm really sorry, I... wasn't thinking.."
He shook his head, before gently brushing his lips over the younger teen's.
His heart fluttered with happiness, and the red on his face deepened. Before Kurama could pull away, though, he kissed him back.
His cheeks burned with blush as he realized how deeply they were locked. But, not being in total control of his own body, he leaned forward against Yusuke.
Feeling Kurama lean on him, Yusuke put his arms around the other's waist.
The fox shivered slightly, feeling the other's soft touch.
Yusuke felt Kurama shiver, and he broke the kiss. "Do you believe me now?"
He nodded, placing his head on Yusuke's shoulder. "I'm sorry I doubted you...."
Planting one last kiss on Kurama's forehead, he sighed. "We... we should get going."
Even though every sense in his body told him not to, it felt like the best thing.
He nodded, though not really ready to leave the warmth of the embrace. "Y-yes...of course," he replied. He felt his heart screaming at him as he pulled away from Yusuke.
Yusuke smiled gently, starting to walk down the green road.
As they walked, the fox was tempted to ask one last question that lingered in his mind, though he felt that he should just leave things alone as they were.
The younger teen noticed that Kurama still had something on his mind. He took hold of the teen's hand and looked at him. "What's on your mind?"
"I.... well.... I was....... just wondering......"
He blinked, his eyes focused on Kurama.
"I guess I was just wondering.... HOW.... this came to be.... I mean, I always thought that you and Keiko....."
He smiled. "I did too... but I realized there was someone else.." He looked at the fox teen. "I realized I only liked Keiko as a friend or a sister or something.. and you MORE than a friend.."
The blush returned to his face. "But how? When?"
"Not really sure," he replied, and suddenly found himself wanting to ask Kurama the same thing.
"When did you realize?" he asked, almost shyly.
"I think maybe it was when you were fighting Karasu..." he replied looking at the ground. "When did.... you realize?"
Karasu, huh? Boy, that brings back memories.... "Well, I'm not sure either, really. Ever since you risked your life to help me save my mother when we first met, two strangers to you, I might add, I always ADMIRED you. But..... I guess after my fight with Touya, after I had 'passed out' in the ring, and.... I guess the way you acted when I was getting hurt....."
Yusuke blushed a little. "I remember that.."
"But I don't know. As I said, I've always admired you, but I don't really know when that changed....."
Yusuke smiled, a shiver running through his body. He did his best to hide it and realized after how cold it was outside.
Not many things could escape his sharp eyes. He wondered if Yusuke remembered his animal senses. Though, since he was trying to hide it, he decided not to say anything about it.
The teen looked down the green path, wondering if it led to anywhere.
A harsh wind blew by, and Kurama pushed back his crimson hair as he looked up at the sky. It seemed to be darkening.
Using the hand that wasn't in Kurama's, he put it around himself, trying to warm up.
Looking around, he saw a strange object being blown towards them in the wind. He stopped, turning around, and caught it. Only once he grabbed it did he realize that it was Yusuke's jacket.
Yusuke blinked. "Where did...?"
Kurama shrugged. "I have no idea." He handed the younger teen his jacket.
Taking his jacket and putting it on, he found it warmer then it should've been. A thought struck him and he smiled wide, looking at Kurama. "Thanks."
He smiled in return before looking up at the sky. He then frowned, watching as it became a darker purple.
"What's wrong?" he asked, seeing Kurama's frown, then looking up into the darkened sky.
"That."
He watched as the sky continued to darken. "What does it mean?"
He shook his head, indicating that he didn't know.
What is with this world? It puts us together then tries to split us apart again..
The gust of wind became stronger; so strong that Kurama was almost knocked off his feet. "What is going on?"
"I.. I dunno.." he replied, getting closer to the older teen so that he wouldn't fall over.
Using his hand to shield his eyes, he watched as the wind blew up green dust. It whirled into a cloud, blowing over the two.
Yusuke coughed and closed his eyes as the dust swirled around him.
The dust became too much that the fox had to close his eyes as well. He coughed, trying his best to hold his ground.
The younger teen suddenly took Kurama's hand. 'We can't get separated..'
Feeling Yusuke's hand, he grasped it tighter, though not enough to hurt him. What is going on with this place?! What is it trying to accomplish with us?
He closed his eyes tighter. Kurama wanted me to be warm... and I got my jacket. Well I want him to be safe.. maybe he'll get transported outside of it..
His coughs became louder as the dust became thicker. We've got to get out of here......
Yusuke opened one eye, seeing the dust thicker and Kurama still next to him. Why didn't it work?
Suddenly, holes opened up beneath both of them, causing them to fall under the ground.
The dark haired teen yelped in surprise and accidentally let go of Kurama's hand. ~*~
^_^ Another day, another chapter. How was it? No flames please, CC however is welcome.