Warped

By xDarkxMagicianxGirlx and Ookami no Kokoro

I just love false endings, don't you? *big grin* Okay, the last chapter WASN'T the ending, and neither is this!

Disclaimers: Neither of us own Yu Yu Hakusho or it's characters. Though I wouldn't mind owning Yusuke ^___^;;

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Chapter Eight

Yusuke's senses started to return to him as he came back to the world of the living. He could feel sheets all around him, and he blinked his eyes open.

Astuko stood over his bed, watching him.

Seeing a blurry figure above him, the teen blinked a bit more. "Mom..?"

"Oh, thank god!" she said, letting out a sigh of relief. Looking at Yusuke again, she asked, "Where do you get the idea to run off for two weeks?!"

"I'm sorry.." he replied, rubbing his eyes.

Her features softened slightly. "Well, it seems you had a rough time, so I suppose I'll let you off the hook for now....."

"Thanks.." he replied, sitting up carefully and looking around for Kurama. "Where's...." At that moment he wasn't sure which to use; the teen's human name or demon name.

Seeing her son looking around, she pointed to a door leading to another room. "Kurama's in the other room with his mother. As far as I know, he hasn't woken up yet."

Yusuke sighed slightly, looking at the door.

"Don't worry. He should be fine."

The boy looked back at his mother, smiling. "I know.."

She smiled at her son, sitting on the chair next to his bed. "So....... Did anything happen between you two?" she asked, a sly smile on her face.

He flushed slightly. "W...what do you mean?"

"You know what I mean."

Yusuke flopped back on the bed, pulling the covers over his red face. "Something MIGHT'VE happened..."

She poked the teen's head. "That's a definite yes, Yusuke. Besides, you're blushing."

Feeling his mother poke his head, he withdrew the covers from over his eyes. "And what if I am?"

"So, I know that something happened between you and Kurama."

He blinked slightly, the redness slowly decreasing. "How'd you figure that out?"

"I know how you feel about him. So, with you acting the way you are, I can only guess that things worked out. Besides, I AM your mother."

Yusuke cursed slightly. 'Why do mothers know EVERYTHING?'

"But really, Yusuke, I'm glad that things have worked out for the best for you."

"Really?" he asked, sitting up, the blush gone from his cheeks.

"Sure. I mean, if you like him, that's your business."

"Thanks mom..." he replied, smiling at her again.

She smiled, leaning back in her chair. "So........exactly WHAT happened between you two?"

"I... I don't really know.." he replied, half truthfully. Looking back at everything, it all seemed kinda like a haze. The first night, though, was tattooed into his brain.

"Oh, come on, Yusuke. I'm sure even someone as dumb as you would be able to remember something," she joked.

"But I'm sure even someone as dumb as me wouldn't share that information with his mom."

"Seems his intelligence has rubbed off on you a little....."

"Haha, very funny," he replied, glancing at the door again.

"Would you quit worrying? Stop looking at that door."

Yusuke sighed, looking around the room instead. "Fine.."

"Well, are you hungry or anything? Not that anyone can eat this hospital food anyway........"

"I'm... kinda thirsty," he replied, realizing he hadn't had anything to drink since he left.

She grabbed the glass of water sitting on the table beside his bed. "Here," she said, giving it to him.

Nodding his thanks, Yusuke drank the glass of water down in no time flat.

Atsuko sat back in her chair. "We were all pretty worried about you, y'know."

Placing the empty glass on the dresser, Yusuke looked over at Atsuko. "I've been gone before, though."

"We were always worried about you then, too. But at least, those times, you had a reason. This time, though, you just disappeared."

Eyeing the green rose on the dresser beside the bed, the younger teen picked it up and twirled it between his fingers, not knowing what to say.

"Now, where do you manage to get a GREEN rose?"

"Kurama... gave it to me..." He looked at his mother. "When we were in that other world.."

"What other world would that be? Since that toddler had no idea where you were either, I guess it can't be one of the three worlds he keeps talking about."

Yusuke explained to his mother about the world the two had been trapped in, leaving out the parts he didn't feel comfortable sharing with her.

"Hm.....That's interesting........So, how did you two get there?"

"We were.. transported there by Yin," he replied shortly.

She looked at him with questioning eyes. "Yin?"

"You know, like Yin and Yang.. they were two brothers that controlled that world."

"Bad and Good, huh? So what did Yin want with you two?"

"Well.. he.. wanted Kurama.." the teen whispered.

Hiei listened to Yusuke, back leaning against the window panel. A small breeze blew by, making the hospital curtain move slightly, revealing part of him.

Yusuke's eyes widened slightly as he saw a bit of black when the curtain moved in the window behind Atsuko. Please don't tell me that's Hiei.... please say he hasn't heard EVERYTHING I've said..

Looking at her son's expression, Atsuko looked behind her to see the small fire demon. "Oh, did I forget to mention that one of your friends was here?" she asked casually, sounding as if it wasn't a big deal. "Well, he's here."

The fire demon shoved the annoying curtain out of his face. He smirked slightly, indicating that he did in fact hear everything.

Groaning slightly, he flopped back on the bed, pulling the sheets over his head again. "NOW you tell me."

She simply shrugged.

"It's not like I wouldn't have heard it anyway," he said casually. "You would have to tell the others."

Sighing again, he pulled the blankets away from his face. "I know.."

"Besides," Atsuko said, "isn't he a mind reader?"

The young demon smirked again.

Oh great I forgot about that.. He slapped himself mentally.

"Most people do."

"You might not want to be in my head, Hiei, you might get lost," Yusuke said, glancing at the fire demon.

One of the doors in the room slowly creaked open, as Shiori came into the room.

Hearing the door creak open, Yusuke turned his head to look at the women.

Hiei looked at her from the corner of his eye, but then averted his gaze out the window.

Astuko got to her feet, looking at Shiori. "How's Shuuichi doing?" she asked.

The other woman smiled softly. "He's resting. He hasn't awaken yet, but I think he'll be alright." Turning to the younger teen in bed, she asked, "How do you feel, Yusuke?"

"I'm fine." He nodded. "Thanks for asking."

She nodded slightly, the gentle smile not leaving her features.

Turning to the young demon, she said, "Oh, Hiei, I've been meaning to thank you for helping us look for Yusuke and my son."

The small fire demon gave a slight nod.

She looked at Yusuke once again. "I'm glad things between you and my son worked out so well."

Hiei gave Yusuke a small smirk, as if to say, It's about time.

Yusuke sighed, blushing slightly. "Thanks.." 'Was it that obvious?'

Nodding again, she turned and left the room.

Atsuko looked at Hiei. "Yeah, I never did thank you for helping either, did I? So... Thanks."

Hiei just replied with a small shrug.

"So... who else was looking for us?" the younger teen suddenly asked.

"Just about everyone," his mother replied.

"They were running around like idiots trying to find you two," Hiei added.

"Let's see. There was Shiori and me, and Hiei, of course. Then there was your friend Kuwabara, and his sister. There was also Kayko, the toddler, and Botan. The old woman, too, and some of your demon friends from the Dark Tournament....." She looked at Hiei. "Was there anyone else?"

Yusuke blinked slightly, taking in all the names. "I hadn't realized we were gone for so long.."

Hiei nodded. "Yukina was looking as well. She also took care of your spirit beast when something happened to it."

"Strange really. There were times when Puu seemed to lose it......"

Yusuke looked from Hiei to Atsuko. "I forgot about Puu.." Realization then hit him that his spirit beast felt everything he felt, and when he had become angry those times, Puu probably did as well.

"There were also times that Puu-chan seemed to be blushing." She gave Yusuke a sly smile.

Slapping himself mentally for forgetting about his other feelings that were transferred to the creature, he flushed a little. "Is that how everyone knew?"

"I suppose so. Except Shiori. She has no idea what Puu is, remember?"

The young teen nodded.

Kuwabara walked down the hospital hall. He had heard from Atsuko that Yusuke and Kurama had been found and were in the hospital. "I know his room was on this floor... what number was it?" Opening a random door, he was welcomed with a scream and a high heeled shoe upside the head. "Sorry Lady..."

Continuing to walk down the hall way he looked at the numbers. "What was Urameshi's room number?" A large shoe shaped red mark was forming on the side of his head as he opened another door. The first thing he saw was Hiei sitting on the window sill.

Hiei glanced at the teen and scoffed. "Great.... The idiot...."

"Really? Kuwabara is here already?"

"Watch it shrimp," he replied, shutting the door. "Yeah I'm here, where's Urameshi?"

"Right here," came the familiar voice from the bed.

"Isn't this a grand reunion?" Atsuko asked, a little sarcastically.

Walking over to the hospital bed, Kuwabara glanced down at the teen. He suddenly grabbed hold of the dark haired teen by the collar of his shirt and lifted his upper half off the bed. "Where've you been?!"

"Nice to see you too, Kuwabara," the teen replied, a cocky tone in his voice.

Atsuko rolled her eyes. "All right, boys, you can duke it out when Yusuke is released out of here. That's in about an hour anyway, so if you can wait that long......"

Dropping the teen back on the bed, Kuwabara crossed his arms and grumbled. "Oh, Yukina said she hoped you feel better. Where's Kurama?"

"He's in the other room sleeping," Hiei replied. "I suggest you don't go in there because your volume and stupidity might wake him."

Kuwabara growled at the demon's remark, but then elbowed Yusuke in the side. "You know, Kayko's worried sick about you..." He gave the teen a 'stupid' grin. "But I am sure you missed her just as much, huh?"

Hiei scoffed, knowing how dense the orange haired oaf was.

Atsuko rolled her eyes, shaking her head.

"Actually, Kayko wasn't even on my mind," he replied, rubbing his side.

Not fully realizing what Yusuke had said, Kuwabara put his hand on his chin scratching it. "Puu was acting really weird too.." Shrugging he looked at the detective in the bed. "Don't know why though."

Atsuko slapped her forehead with her palm.

The fire demon rolled his eyes, wanting to burn Kuwabara to a crisp.

"What?" he asked, looking at Atsuko.

"Forget it. Never mind," she said, inhaling deeply. "If you don't know now, there's really no point in telling you. Besides, it's Yusuke's business, not mine."

Blinking, he looked at Yusuke. "Am I missing something?"

"You were missing something the day you were born......." Hiei smirked. "Intelligence for one thing. A better face for another."

Yusuke sweat-dropped. "I'm still amazed the three world's are still in one piece..."

Kuwabara growled. "I'm gonna rip that smirk off your puny face, Hiei!"

"If you can catch me."

Atsuko sighed. "They've been going at it for a while now. More so when you and Kurama were missing."

The orange haired teen merely crossed his arms and turned away from the fire demon grumbling.

Hiei smirked again, more victoriously.

A quiet knocking was heard on the door from Kurama's room.

Yusuke cocked his head to the side so he could see the door, wondering who it was.

Kuwabara also looked, wondering who's room that was.

It opened slightly, as young Shuiichi poked his head through. "Hi," he said.

The detective remembered him to be Kurama's step brother. "Hi again. Is Kuwabara being too loud?" he asked, glancing at the orange haired oaf.

"Oh...no. But, Kaa-san wanted me to tell you that Shuu-ani is awake."

Kuwabara scratched his head. "Who are you?"

Atsuko shook her head, about ready to strangle him.

Yusuke sighed and looked back at the younger boy. "Thanks."

The other teen looked at Atsuko. "What? It was just a simple question."

The younger boy smiled. "I'm his stepbrother. Don't you remember? We met at Kaa-san and Tou-san's wedding."

"Oh yeah.." Kuwabara replied as his memory suddenly worked.

Hiei gave an agitated sigh and headed for the door. Opening it wider, he passed the young boy and proceeded to Kurama's room.

The younger boy smiled, watching Hiei go inside the room. Looking at the others, he said, "You're all welcome to come see Nii-san too." And with that, he followed Hiei.

The orange haired detective followed Kurama's step-brother into the room.

Yusuke sat up, swinging his legs over the side of the bed.

"How do you feel?" Atsuko asked her son.

"Fine," he replied, standing up but soon finding that his legs didn't want to hold his weight, and he fell back onto the bed.

Atsuko shook her head, helping him out of bed. "Stubborn is what you are," she said.

"I had to get it from someone," he replied, giving her a small smile as she helped him.

She smiled too, as she helped her son into the room where the fox was.

Kurama lay on the bed, talking with his mother and step-father. Seeing the others enter the room, he turned to them and smiled.

Yusuke and Atsuko slowly made their way into the room last, and the younger teen gave Kurama a relieved smile.

Seeing the young delinquent, the fox's smile brightened. "Hey," he said. "How do you feel?"

"Fine," he replied. "How are you feeling?"

He chuckled slightly. "I've been better. But I'll live."

Kuwabara watched as the two continued to stare at each other, and he mumbled, "Now I know I am missing something.."

Hiei ignored Kuwabara and gave the two a sly smile.

Looking up at the other teen, Kurama frowned slightly. "You don't know, Kuwabara-kun? I thought everyone knew........."

"You can't expect someone like him to find out on his own," Hiei commented.

Kuwabara blinked again. "Find out.... what?"

Standing, Shiori placed a kiss on her son's forehead. "We have to be getting home," she said. "But we'll be back tomorrow."

"All right," Kurama said. "Bye."

"Bye, Shuuichi-san!" Shuiichi said, following his parents out of the hospital room.

Yusuke sighed, wondering if he needed to beat it into the orange haired oaf's brain. Slipping away from his mother, he leaned on the wall for support.

"So, Yusuke, when are you getting out?" the fox asked.

"An hour or so," he replied gently.

He smiled. "That's good. Unfortunately, I have to stay here for a few days...."

The younger teen sighed, sadness filling his chocolate orbs. "Oh.."

"Yes. The doctors wanted to make sure the stitches on my head healed properly. Meaning they don't want me out of their sights for a while."

Kuwabara looked from one to the other, feeling completely ignored.

Opening the door, Atsuko decided to let the four detectives talk among themselves. As she left, she closed the door behind her.

Using his arms to support him, Kurama struggled to sit up.

"Maybe you shouldn't get up," Yusuke said, concerned.

"It's alright," he replied, smiling gently. "I'd feel better sitting up, anyway."

"What happened to you two, anyway?" Kuwabara suddenly asked.

Hiei just leaned against the wall. He had already heard this story.

"We were transported to another world," the fox teen said, sounding as if it was no big deal.

"Why were you gone for so long? I mean no big deal, come back the same way you left, right?"

Kurama shook his head. "I wish it could have been that simple..........."

"They wouldn't be here if it was that simple," the fire demon said.

Kuwabara glared at the fire demon.

Yusuke suddenly laughed quietly. "We got back just in time.. they were both at each other's throats earlier."

"I'm a little surprised that Kuwabara-kun isn't dead yet. No offense............"

Hiei shrugged. "I didn't feel like killing him.... Maybe tomorrow though."

Kuwabara growled.

The redhead smiled. He really had missed his friends' strange antics while they had been away. His smile faded, though, as his eyes drooped slightly, a yawn escaping his lips.

Seeing the teen's yawn, Yusuke looked at the two. "Maybe we should leave.."

"No, it's fine," he said, stifling another yawn. "You don't have to....."

"Kurama, you're tired, you should get some rest."

Kuwabara looked from one to the other again.

"No, really.........it's fine............"

Yusuke stumbled over to Kurama's bed and sat down.

The fox teen scooted over some, giving Yusuke more room to sit down.

Kuwabara looked at the two. "You guys are sure acting weird.. Urameshi, you don't even act like this around Kayko.." Then he blinked as the pieces clicked together in his head.

The small fire demon looked at the two. "Maybe you both should get some rest," he said, pushing himself off the wall.

Kurama shook his head. "I'm alright."

"Sometimes you're too stubborn for your own good.." Yusuke said, gently smiling at the other.

"You should talk," Hiei said.

Kurama nodded.

The younger teen sighed.

Looking around, Kurama noticed the red rose on the table next to the bed. He smiled softly.

The Forbidden Child walked over towards the window and opened it. He glanced at the rose, then at the two teens. "I'm glad everything worked out for you two," he said, then smirked. He gave a small wave then jumped out the window and disappeared.

Watching the fire demon, Kurama smiled, knowing that he would be back sometime.

Yusuke smiled also as Hiei disappeared.

Kuwabara blinked, feeling a bit awkward just standing there.

Kurama looked at the other teen, who looked slightly uncomfortable. "Kuwabara-kun?"

"What?" he asked, looking at Kurama.

"Are you okay?"

He laughed. "Of course I am!"

"Are you sure?"

The orange haired detective nodded.

The fox nodded. "So.......what's been happening while we were gone?" he asked, trying to forget his fatigue.

"We've been looking for you, mostly," he replied. "We've been really worried. And then everyone was getting even more worried when Puu kept acting the way he did."

Oh, that's right. Puu reflects Yusuke's thoughts and emotions. Kurama blushed faintly as he recalled the moments between he and Yusuke that could have been reflected by the spirit beast.

"It was weird," he continued, not noticing the blush. "Sometimes he would fly around like he was looking for Yusuke, other times he'd have this blush on his face, then a couple times he got really mad.." Of course, now I know why.. he thought after.

It was Yusuke's turn to blush, and a faint trace of pink appeared on his cheeks.

"Really?" he asked. Yeah, a lot DID go on there, didn't it? Though I didn't expect two weeks worth of it.........

Kuwabara nodded, looking down at the two and seeing their faint blushes. "Ah.. so if everyone found out because of Puu, how did your family find out, Kurama?"

The fox blush deepened. "They......said that they just knew.............mainly because my mother knew how I felt............."

Pulling a chair over, Kuwabara sat down. "Oh.."

Yusuke stole a glance at Kurama, before looking around the room.

"Yes, mothers are like that........."

"Tell me about it.." Yusuke replied.

Kurama nodded, looking at Kuwabara. "When was it found out that we were missing?"

"Atsuko said your mom called the police the night you and Urameshi left. But they told her to wait until morning and call again."

"Oh......That reminds me........whatever happened to those in the club?"

"You guys went to a club?" Kuwabara looked surprised. "The one that all the police showed up at cause everyone was unconscious?"

"You wonder why they were unconscious?"

"Well, when everyone woke up, none of them could remember what had happened. Did you guys do that?"

The fox shook his head. "We fought them, but we weren't responsible for them not remembering anything."

The orange haired teen nodded. "Well, the next morning when the police confronted your parents, they said you would probably come back on your own. Seeing as no one knew where you had gone. The police didn't actually start looking until a few days after. We started looking that morning."

He nodded. "But what happened to all the people there? Are they alright?"

"Yeah, most just woke up with a headache. There were some that looked like they had been in a fight, but couldn't remember being in one."

The fox nodded again, trying to stifle back another yawn.

Yusuke blinked tiredly, and looked out the window, seeing the sun sinking lower in the sky.

The redhead rubbed his eyes slightly, seeing the orange light of the setting sun coming through the window.

Seeing the two tired faces, Kuwabara stood. "I better be going, you need your rest."

He gazed up at the other teen with drowsy eyes.

Yusuke also stood, his legs wobbling beneath him. "Yeah, we don't want to keep you up anymore.."

Kuwabara looked at Yusuke and nodded, walking out.

"Yusuke?"

"Hmn?" he asked, turning slowly around.

"Um.........." He looked down at his hands. "Could you..........stay awhile? I mean, you'll be released soon, anyway........"

Smiling gently, the younger teen nodded and sat back down. "Sure Kurama.."

He smiled back, scooting closer to the delinquent as he sat back on the bed.

Wrapping his arms around the other teen's shoulders, Yusuke placed a kiss on the other's cheek.

He closed his eyes, snuggling closer to the younger teen.

Yusuke smiled, closing his eyes gently

"You going home when you are let out of here?" he asked, his voice in a soft whisper.

"I suppose, I don't really have anyplace else to go.." he replied, opening his eyes again and looking out the window.

"Mm........" He placed his head on the younger's chest, his eyes holding a sense of sadness in the emerald depths.

Resting his head on top of Kurama's, he whispered, "Unless you want me to stay here.."

"You don't have to. I mean, if you don't want to stay here any more, and I don't really blame you, you don't have to."

"Of course I want to stay here..."

"Really?"

"I don't want to leave you, Kurama... and I'll stay for as long as I can..." A small smile appeared on his face. I just hope the doctors and nurses don't make me leave too soon..

"It's not like we're in danger anymore. And, even if they did let you out, you'd still come to visit me, wouldn't you?"

Yusuke blinked, looking down into the teen's eyes. "Of course I would.. do you not want me to?"

"Of course I do. I'd like it if you came by while I was here. But, I just don't want you to be here if you don't want to."

He smiled. "I am going to be here so much, you're going to get sick of me."

He chuckled. "I could never. So.....ARE you going home tonight? I would think, after two weeks of being gone, you'd like to spend some time at home. I would, if I wasn't stuck here."

The younger teen shrugged. "I'm not really sure.."

"You can go home, if you really want to."

Yusuke looked out the window. I don't know what to do... going home would be nice, but I'd like to stay with Kurama..

He leaned closer against the younger teen, almost falling asleep in the embrace.

Looking down at the other teen, then at the door, he said quietly, "I wonder where my mom is.. I should tell her that I'm not going home tonight.."

"Mm....No.....you don't have to do that," he mumbled sleepily.

Looking down at the older teen again, he smiled. "You can even be stubborn in your sleep.."

"I'm not......sleeping......."

"Well, then, I suppose if you don't want me to stay, then I'll have to leave." he replied, a smile still on his lips.

"I don't.....WANT you to leave.......What I WANT is for you to be comfortable and happy tonight......"

"Well, then I guess I am staying here..." he said gently.

"You.......really want to.........?"

"Yes.. I really do, Kurama." he replied, but he was starting to get the feeling the older teen didn't want him to stay.

He snuggled closer to the younger teen.

Embracing the red head, Yusuke moved so that he could lay down comfortably with Kurama still on his chest.

"Mm......" he mumbled.

Kissing the older teen on the forehead he whispered, "Goodnight, Kurama.."

"Mm....Goodnight......Yusuke....."

Smiling, the teen closed his eyes, sleep drifting over the two.