Yu Yu Hakusho: Dead or Alive

Chapter 3: Suspicions

= = =

"Heleft," Kuwabara said, stunned. "Urameshi just ran off!"

"Hn," Hiei said, his eyes calculating and cold. "He ran like a frightened rabbit."

"He ran, yes," Kurama said, staring at the crater. "But not before letting his frustrations show."

Somehow, Kurama could not believe Yusuke would commit murder. It just wasn't in his nature.

When Koenma had told them that he suspected Yusuke of committing a murder, Kuwabara and Kurama hadn't believed him. Yusuke just didn't seem like a murderer. It was still unreal to Kurama. True, if anyone had told him nineteen years ago that the great Youko Kurama would fall prey to a insignificant hunter, he would have laughed it off and killed the demon who dared undersize him so.

But he wasn't Youko Kurama anymore.

And he was concerned for his friend; one of his few true ones.

"At being caught," Hiei muttered darkly. Kurama brought himself out of his musings with a start and realized Hiei was referring to his earlier statement.

"Caught?" Kuwabara echoed.

"Yes, caught," Hiei said, with some contempt. Kurama recognized the 'what-are-you-deaf?' tone and though he would never admit it, he often thought the large carrot-top to be so. "I saw him earlier. I saw him kill that man."

Kurama and Kuwabara stood silent, processing this information.

"Impossible," Kuwabara said firmly. "I don't think Urameshi did it."

Kurama respected his steadfast trust in Yusuke. He himself was starting to doubt. "All the evidence is against him," Kurama pointed out.

"So?" Kuwabara said.

Hiei sighed in exasperation, and disappeared.

"Where's the shrimp going?" Kuwabara asked.

Kurama shook his head. "Who knows?"

But truthfully, Kurama knew.

Hiei went to follow Yusuke.

* * *

Dammit! was all that ran through Yusuke's head as he ran towards Keiko's house. Knowing full well that school wasn't out yet (he had ditched again), he was hoping to leave a message for Keiko and a message for his mother with Keiko.

He opened Keiko's window and hopped in. Making sure that he still shielded his ki, he searched Keiko's house for paper. Easily finding two blank sheets, he began to write notes to both her and his mother.

* * *

Keiko was walking home from school, late as always. Being the class representative gave her certain responsibilities. And again, Yusuke was one of those responsibilities. He's always giving our class a bad attendance average, she thought, somewhat irritably. In truth, she couldn't be angry at Yusuke for long.

She opened the door to her house and stepped in. Tiredly, she dropped her bookbag in a chair when she noticed the two folded sheets of paper on the coffee table. One was addressed to her, the other to Atsuko. Keiko picked up the one addressed to her.

'Keiko,

You probably think I got into trouble again, huh? For once, you're right. I got into trouble, a LOT of trouble. I'll be leaving town for a while, don't know how long. I don't know if I'll come back. Sorry about this, Keiko.

I won't tell you what dire trouble I'm in 'cause, knowing Kuwabara, he'll tell you anyway. Please, it'd be easier if you just forgot about me.

Love,

Yusuke

P.S.: Please deliver the other letter to my mom. Thanks.'

Keiko read the letter three times before she believed it. She had always known that Yusuke was different, but what could he have done that he had to leave Tokyo? And why wouldn't he go to his mother himself? Why didn't he confront HER himself?

And forget about him? What was he THINKING?!?

What had he done?

Yusuke

* * *

Hiei had tracked Yusuke as far as Keiko's house. At the moment, she was reading something. He dismissed it and again began working on finding Yusuke's trail.

* * *

Kurama and Kuwabara had parted each other's company some time ago. Kurama was sitting in his chair at his house, contemplating their talk with Yusuke.

"I don't know, but it wasn't me."

Kurama hated to admit it, but it seemed as if it was indeed Yusuke who murdered the man. And besides, Hiei had seen Yusuke do it. Kurama believed Hiei with all of his heart and mind, but something just didn't add up. Call it intuition, a sixth sense, or a friendship bond, but Kurama could not believe it was Yusuke who had committed the crime.

"Something in his voice, maybe," Kurama mused. "Or maybe, his eyes"

"Or maybe you just don't want to believe it."

Kurama looked up at his open window, where Hiei was perched.

"How did your search go?" he asked.

"I lost the traitor at Keiko's house," Hiei said. Kurama didn't like the way Hiei said 'traitor.'

"Yusuke isn't stupid. He can cover his tracks well, if he wanted to. And you aren't the only one looking," Kurama said.

"I know I'm not the only one looking. But the Ningenkai police couldn't find their hands in front of their faces. They're blind," Hiei said, stepping into the room. He sat down on the bed. "The Reikai police won't do much good either, if Urameshi doesn't want to be found."

"You could find him if you wanted to. It'd be all too easy if you used your Jagan," Kurama said smoothly. Hiei only 'hn'ed and looked away. "Even though you saw it, not even you can believe Yusuke did it."

Hiei whipped his head around, almost snarling. Even though he knew the truth behind both statements, it didn't mean he had to agree. " You didn't see him. The way he raised his arm, the way he aimed--"

"The way his eyes widened in surprise?" Kurama suggested. Hiei glared at him.

The fox knows me too well, he thought.

"I should know you, Hiei. I've known you for long enough, and vice versa," Kurama said. "I can determine things about people upon first meeting them that you couldn't even dream of. And though I trust your judgement, I know Yusuke couldn't have done it!"

"He's killed demons. What's to stop him from taking it one step further?" Hiei asked.

"We both know Yusuke is no killer," Kurama said quietly.

Hiei opened his mouth, but couldn't find anything to say. So he glared, and vaulted out the window.

It was dark now, Kurama observed. It looked like it might rain.

Yusuke, be careful.

= = =

A/N: How's my fic going? Do you like it, hate it? Are you utterly confused?

HeheI plead guilty to the last one too.

DISClAIMER: I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho. So all you nasty little lawyers with big nasty teeth, DON'T SUE!

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