Konoko here and I'm suffering from a bad case of writers block on frozen so
here's a little something to keep you busy. My version of Moulin Rouge.
Have fun.
Disclaimer: I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho or Moulin Rouge. If I did it would take the fun outta me writin' about 'em.
Christian........Yusuke
Satine..........Kurama
Toulouse........Hiei
The Argentinean......Kuwabara (very fitting)
Harry Zidler.......Yomi
The Duke........Karasu
Nini the evil courtesan.....Keiko
Sattie.......Shizuru
The sound effects dude (I can never get his name right)......Yukina
The woman who helps with Satine's costume. I think she's zidler's wife.....Botan
The Bouncer............George
Kitsune Rouge
Act I: The Desert Rose.
Yusuke sat at his desk. He was back in the Ningenkai..alone. He was ghostly pale and had gotten thin from lack of eating. The former spirit detective's once proud and spirited personality had turned into the depression of an old man who had gone through many hardships in life. But he was only twenty years old. Yusuke walked to his window and stared at the gray clouds. The rain tapped softly on the roof of his rundown apartment. He went to the lap top on his desk and turned it on. Seating himself in front of the contraption, Yusuke opened up the word program and slowly began to type.
'The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return..."
'The Kitsune Rouge.
'A nightclub and a bordello. Where the ningen business men of the black market came to the Makai to play and throw away money to the eternal, most beautiful creatures of the Makai. The most beautiful of all these was the man I loved..Kurama. A courtesan. He sold his love to men. They called him the desert rose because of his rarity and he was the star of the Kitsune Rouge. The man I loved is..'
"Dead." Yusuke whispered aloud.
'I first went to the Makai one year ago. I had come from the Ningenkai on a mission. To search out a man named Karasu. I knew nothing of Kurama or the Kitsune Rouge. My employer was Koenma-sama. Back then I was a spirit detective. Nothing could bring me down. My mission had brought me to a small hotel inside Makuro's territory. I was set to stay until the case was complete. There was one problem. I needed a disguise. If I acted as I normally would I would draw plenty of unwanted attention to myself. I stayed in the hotel that first day thinking of what to do. Strangely enough an unconscious carrot-topped oaf fell through my ceiling followed by a dwarf-like youkai. What was really surprising about the situation was that the man was dressed as a goat-herder and the midget was dressed as a nun, which he didn't seem too pleased about it..
The black haired youkai approached Yusuke and apologized.
"Sorry about the roof. I'm Hiei. The idiot that fell threw the floor was Kazuma Kuwabara. He has some ningen illness called narcolepsy. He's perfectly fine one moment then snoring' the next. We were rehearsing a play."
Yusuke looked confused.
"How is he?" Yusuke heard a gentle voice cry. He looked up and saw two others. The one who had spoke had icy aqua hair and garnet eyes identical to those of the fire youkai. Next to her was a woman with long golden brown hair and a cigarette in her mouth. Yusuke sweat dropped. Hiei looked up at them.
"No good. He's out cold, Yukina. Hey Shizuru can you compose the music and stand-in?"
"NO!" Shizuru yelled.
"Well what are we going to do? It has to be ready to before tomorrow night, Oniisan." Yukina asked.
"Yeah I know. Say who are you?" Hiei said looking at Yusuke.
"I'm Yusuke. Listen maybe I can help. I need a disguise and this maybe my ticket."
"Alright you'll have to do." Hiei said dragging Yusuke upstairs.
An hour later Yusuke was dressed in a goat-herder outfit and was listening with a growing headache of the trio's attempt to fit music and lyric together. They weren't doing well. "I don't think a nun would sing about a hill.." Yukina said toying with the sound effects.
"Well get him to say something else!" said Hiei scowling.
"Hiei be nice. What if they were to say the hills are..I don't know screw it!" said Shizuru hitting the piano keys in frustration.
"The hills are incarnate with symphonic melody!"
They all turned to Kuwabara who had awakened with a start. But within two seconds he was on the floor again. They shook their heads.
"Um excuse me?" Yusuke said.
They had begun a big argument about the lyrics. Yusuke just stared at them.
"Excuse me..what about..the hills." Yusuke couldn't get a word in.
He didn't know what possessed him to take this next action but in all the confusion. Yusuke sang.
"The hills are alive with the sound of music.."
The room grew quiet. Kuwabara snapped up and stomped over to the group.
"The hills are alive with the sound of music. The boy has talent! I like him!" Kuwabara exclaimed accidentally hitting him in the wrong place.
Yusuke's eyes crossed and he fell from the makeshift stage on to the ground. They all glared at Kuwabara. He shrugged.
"Oops?"
Yukina went over to Yusuke and helped him up.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, swell," Yusuke squeaked.
"That was a wonderful idea, Yusuke. You should help us write the show. It'll give you a legit reason for being here while you find your criminal," said Yukina.
"Yeah sure."
"Hold on Yukina-san. What about Yomi?" asked Shizuru.
"Oh yes, Yomi."
Hiei thought for a moment.
"We'll use Kurama." He said finally.
'They decided that they would dress me in Kuwabara's best suit and pass me off as a ningen writer who is very successful in the Ningenkai. I would present myself to someone named Kurama and they would put a word in with Yomi, the owner of the Kitsune Rouge. The only problem was when I heard that name whispered I heard Koenma-sama's warning about the place. He said never to go there because I would get hooked and I'd end up wasting my life there with some cheep youkai whore. That's when I burst out with..'
"I can't do a show for the Kitsune Rouge!" Yusuke yelled running to the ladder that led to his room.
The three of them stopped the spirit detective.
"Why not Yusuke?" Shizuru questioned looking angry.
"Well , um, I don't know if I can write one of those bohemian things. Hell I don't even know what the hell a bohemian is!"
"Alright, do you believe beauty?" Shizuru asked.
"Yes."
"Freedom?" asked Hiei.
"Yeah."
"Truth?" Hiei asked
"Uh huh"
"Love.?" Yukina's timid voice asked.
"Of course I do. I believe in that like my life depended on it."
'They all cheered for me save for Hiei. It was decided that I would audition for Kurama that night and I would taste my first glass of Makai Absinthe. Talk about getting drunk. We were so wasted that we saw the strangest fairy smiling and dancing. It was singing too. I find that scary but I was drunk at the time. Next thing I knew I was entering the Kitsune Rouge where I was lost in the sound of music, dancing and wild laughter. Yomi and his beautiful infamous youkai. He called them his Forbidden Flowers. They can-caned around us. I was dizzy with excitement and from the sight of such rare and beautiful creatures. Hiei pulled me along to a booth where we all sat and watched the excitement until everyone suddenly quieted and the lights dimmed save for one bright blue spotlight. Everyone's attention including mine was on the slowly lowering trapeze above us...'
Hiei pulled Yusuke's ear to him and whispered.
"That's him. The Desert Rose."
When he said so a beautiful boy that seemed a little older than Yusuke came into the spotlight. His hair was a beautiful rose red up in styled ponytail and his eyes were perfect emeralds shining with light. His flawless skin was a beautiful cream color and his lips were perfectly shaped. The slender boy wore a beautiful silk shirt the color of rouge and had red rubies sparkling on the sleeves and collar. His pants were black leather with rubies that formed roses on the left leg. His hair was held up by a black ribbon made of satin. The boy was beautiful, simple as that. And Yusuke couldn't take his eyes of the Desert Rose.
"Rich men are glad to die for money." He sang. "They delight in fighting for powers. But I prefer a man who lives. And gives expensive flowers."
'Some one else was to meet Kurama that night..Karasu."
The beat sped up as Kurama swung around the room on the trapeze. It was lowered and a large crowd of men gathered to help him down. He sang again.
"A kiss on the hand maybe quite continental, but roses are a fox's best friend. Kiss maybe grand but it won't pay rental on you're humble flat or help you feed your pussycat."
He danced around the crowd of rich men and passed seductive smiles across the room at all of the customers. Yusuke watched in amazement as the beautiful rose passed his seat a numerous amount of times.
"Youkai grow cold and men grow old."
"And we all lose our charms in the end." He sang being picked up by the men. "But fresh cut or bud shape these flowers don't loose their shape. Roses are a fox's best friend."
Yomi conversed with tall man with long raven silk hair that touched the floor when he sat. Yomi nervously assured him that he would not be disappointed in Kurama.
"When am I going to meet the fox?"
"After his number I've arranged a private meeting totally alone," said Yomi.
"Excellent."
Hiei turned to Yusuke and explained the situation.
"After the show, I arranged for Kurama to listen to you in private totally alone."
"Alone?"
"Yes, totally alone," Hiei and Yomi said at the same time.
Kurama snatched a bouquet of carnations from a man and threw them away and shoved the man to the ground in mock anger. Kurama kneeled down on him and got in his face.
"Cause we are living in a flowery box and I am a flowery fox!" he got up and blew a kiss at the man who fainted on the floor. Kurama turned and waited for all the men to gather around him.
"Come and get me boys."
They lifted him up and carried him while Kurama rested comfortably on their hands. He feigned a yawn as he was carried towards the stage.
"Talk to me Yomi! Tell me all about it!"
Yomi had excuse himself from the table and went to the stage to join Kurama. Kurama strutted across the stage singing.
"There may come a time when a fox needs a lawyer. But roses are a fox's best friend."
He walked up beside Yomi and gave a him a look as if to say explain. Yomi made a signal across his throat for Kurama to wait. Kurama nodded.
"There may come a time when a hard-boiled employer-" Kurama started.
"Thinks you're awful nice!" Yomi finished.
Yusuke sat in the booth becoming over anxious as he watched the redhead dance across the stage.
"Don't worry Yusuke I'll go talk to Kurama and get him to come over here and talk before his number is through," said Hiei.
Yusuke nodded not paying much attention. Hiei walked past the booth next to them and bumped into one of the waiters spilling a drink on Karasu. Karasu was furious.
"Oh sorry about that. Let me help with that." Hiei said using a handkerchief that soaked up quickly.
Onstage Kurama finally got a chance to question Yomi.
"Is he here, Yomi."
"Come now fox, would I let you down? Just hope that demonic lil' midget doesn't frighten him off."
"Hiei's here? Well where's the investor?"
Yomi took a look and saw Hiei shaking the wine out of his handkerchief.
"He's he one Hiei's shaking a hanky at."
Hiei went to Yusuke and snatched his handkerchief making it shake in front of him. The red head saw this and gave a puzzled look.
"Yomi, are you sure?"
"Let me look again."
By this time Hiei was once again trying to wipe the rest of the wine off.
"That's the one, red."
"If you say so."
They ducked down beneath raised sheets and Kurama changed outfits.
"Will he invest?"
"After a night with the Desert Rose how can he refuse?"
"Well what's his type? Wilting flower? Bright and bubbly? Or smoldering tempter?"
"I think it would be smoldering tempter for that psycho. We're all counting on you, red. Remember if you get this right we'll have a real stage, a real audience and you can be.."
"A real actor. I'll never have to fight or sell myself ever again."
Yomi nodded. Kurama pondered this thought with glee. Then he heard his cue in the music and burst out of the sheets singing.
"Cause that's when those louses go back to their spouses!"
Kurama was now wearing a beautiful black tunic with a single un-bloomed rose. His pants and sleeves were midnight black linen while the tunic was sparkling velvet. He was paraded around the room on the shoulders of adoring men. Kurama pointed in the spirit detective's direction.
"Roses.are a fox's best."
He landed onto the small platform where Yusuke sat. Kurama landed in his lap while finishing the last note with a small brush of his lips on Yusuke.
"Friend."
Yusuke looked at the beautiful fox resting on his lap. He knew he was blushing and Kurama being in his face wasn't helping his predicament. Kurama gave a seductive smirk and whispered in Yusuke's ear.
"I believe you were expecting me." He flicked his tongue over the frozen detective's earlobe. Much to Yusuke's hidden dismay, Kurama rose and walked with his hips swaying slightly in front of Yusuke. He faced the crowd of lusting men.
"I'm afraid it's fox's choice." He said pointing at Yusuke.
He gestured for Yusuke to kiss his hand. When Yusuke didn't move, Kurama scoffed offended and pout to the audience. They all pouted with him. Yusuke gave a confused look at the fox. The redhead turned around and gave him a reassuring smile and the audience began to chant his name. Hiei smirked at Yusuke.
"He likes you."
"Um, yeah I can tell.." said Yusuke dazed.
Next thing he knew, Kurama had pulled him to the dance floor and they were flying across the room.
"So wonderful for you to take an interest in our little show."
"Yeah I'm glad to be a part of it."
"Really."
"Hopefully I pass the test."
"I'm sure you will."
"Hiei told me we could do it in private."
"Did he?"
"Yeah some kind of private poetry reading."
Kurama's emerald eyes sparked at the sentence.
"Oh.hmm, a poetry reading. Ooo, I love a little poetry after supper!" Kurama exclaimed suggestively.
They continued to dance until Kurama had disappeared from Yusuke's grasp and was swept into a dance with a new brown haired, brown eyed courtesan.
'Of all those who were jealous of Kurama, the most jealous and conniving was a whore with no dignity..Keiko. I suppose she had her sights set on me because she had been watching me dance with Kurama all evening. She was so disgusting, the way she threw herself at me.."
"So.what's you're name, cutie?" she asked in a lustful voice.
"Yusuke. Um when is Kurama coming back?"
"Oh why worry about him when I have the advantages you need. Kurama can't give you what I can."
"No thanks I actually have an appointment with Kurama," Yusuke insisted trying to pry the girl off him.
She didn't give up until Kurama was on the trapeze performing the finally. That's when Yusuke was able to sneak away and watch the red haired rogue who had captured his affections.
"Roses.
"Roses.
"Fresh cut or bud shaped these flowers don't lose their shape. Roses.are a fox's..best.."
Kurama felt his chest tighten as he gasped for air. He tilted his head back trying to get more air. He grimaced while placing a hand to his chest. His lungs felt like they were ablaze. After a long pause he suddenly felt darkness over come him and he fainted. He plummeted from the trapeze oblivious to the frightened screams. Yusuke panicked as the redhead fell from the swing. But a wave of relief washed over him when Kurama was caught by the bouncer, George. The ogre held onto Kurama giving Yomi a questioning glance. Yomi shook his head toward backstage. George nodded and carefully carried the desert rose behind the curtain. The audience began to mummer and all eyes were on Yomi. He felt their stares but mostly he felt the eyes of Karasu on him. Yomi laughed and cheered out loud as if this was the greatest triumph in history. He then got the whole crowd to chant Kurama's name once more. Yusuke didn't buy it though.
Behind the curtains in the dressing rooms, Kurama was placed on a makeshift bed and propped up. He was deathly pail and his breath was ragged. George returned to the crowd and shook his head at Yomi. Yomi gave a nod and silenced the audience.
"You've frightened the fox away."
A loud "aw" filled the air. Yomi held his hand up to silence them.
"But I know some lonely Kitsune Rouge dancers looking for a partner or two."
They all cheered and their concern for Kurama disappeared. Yusuke was the only one still worried..along with Karasu. Botan had come in to check on Kurama, who was still unconscious. She waved a vile in front of the red head's nose. Kurama came to and looked up at Botan gasping.
"Are you all right, red?"
Kurama gave a weak smile. "I'm fine just these costumes. I got dizzy."
"Just a little fainting spell." Kurama nodded but he then turned his head feeling tired again. He coughed and wheezed. Botan held a napkin over his mouth to cough into. After the coughing spell he rested his head again and closed his eyes to rest for a while. Botan removed the napkin and was about to throw it away when she noticed a few small stains the color of crimson. She looked at Kurama who had fallen asleep and then back at the napkin. Her expression was grim and fearful.
"It's happening again. I've got to let Yomi know..."
A/N: well people how was that for act one. Stay tuned for act two. It'll be coming soon. Hope you're enjoying it to the fullest. You can review if you want. I'm not really expecting any for this one. It's just something to do until my writers block clears up. Any way stay tuned for the second chapter, Act II: The Red Room Mix Up.
Disclaimer: I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho or Moulin Rouge. If I did it would take the fun outta me writin' about 'em.
Christian........Yusuke
Satine..........Kurama
Toulouse........Hiei
The Argentinean......Kuwabara (very fitting)
Harry Zidler.......Yomi
The Duke........Karasu
Nini the evil courtesan.....Keiko
Sattie.......Shizuru
The sound effects dude (I can never get his name right)......Yukina
The woman who helps with Satine's costume. I think she's zidler's wife.....Botan
The Bouncer............George
Kitsune Rouge
Act I: The Desert Rose.
Yusuke sat at his desk. He was back in the Ningenkai..alone. He was ghostly pale and had gotten thin from lack of eating. The former spirit detective's once proud and spirited personality had turned into the depression of an old man who had gone through many hardships in life. But he was only twenty years old. Yusuke walked to his window and stared at the gray clouds. The rain tapped softly on the roof of his rundown apartment. He went to the lap top on his desk and turned it on. Seating himself in front of the contraption, Yusuke opened up the word program and slowly began to type.
'The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return..."
'The Kitsune Rouge.
'A nightclub and a bordello. Where the ningen business men of the black market came to the Makai to play and throw away money to the eternal, most beautiful creatures of the Makai. The most beautiful of all these was the man I loved..Kurama. A courtesan. He sold his love to men. They called him the desert rose because of his rarity and he was the star of the Kitsune Rouge. The man I loved is..'
"Dead." Yusuke whispered aloud.
'I first went to the Makai one year ago. I had come from the Ningenkai on a mission. To search out a man named Karasu. I knew nothing of Kurama or the Kitsune Rouge. My employer was Koenma-sama. Back then I was a spirit detective. Nothing could bring me down. My mission had brought me to a small hotel inside Makuro's territory. I was set to stay until the case was complete. There was one problem. I needed a disguise. If I acted as I normally would I would draw plenty of unwanted attention to myself. I stayed in the hotel that first day thinking of what to do. Strangely enough an unconscious carrot-topped oaf fell through my ceiling followed by a dwarf-like youkai. What was really surprising about the situation was that the man was dressed as a goat-herder and the midget was dressed as a nun, which he didn't seem too pleased about it..
The black haired youkai approached Yusuke and apologized.
"Sorry about the roof. I'm Hiei. The idiot that fell threw the floor was Kazuma Kuwabara. He has some ningen illness called narcolepsy. He's perfectly fine one moment then snoring' the next. We were rehearsing a play."
Yusuke looked confused.
"How is he?" Yusuke heard a gentle voice cry. He looked up and saw two others. The one who had spoke had icy aqua hair and garnet eyes identical to those of the fire youkai. Next to her was a woman with long golden brown hair and a cigarette in her mouth. Yusuke sweat dropped. Hiei looked up at them.
"No good. He's out cold, Yukina. Hey Shizuru can you compose the music and stand-in?"
"NO!" Shizuru yelled.
"Well what are we going to do? It has to be ready to before tomorrow night, Oniisan." Yukina asked.
"Yeah I know. Say who are you?" Hiei said looking at Yusuke.
"I'm Yusuke. Listen maybe I can help. I need a disguise and this maybe my ticket."
"Alright you'll have to do." Hiei said dragging Yusuke upstairs.
An hour later Yusuke was dressed in a goat-herder outfit and was listening with a growing headache of the trio's attempt to fit music and lyric together. They weren't doing well. "I don't think a nun would sing about a hill.." Yukina said toying with the sound effects.
"Well get him to say something else!" said Hiei scowling.
"Hiei be nice. What if they were to say the hills are..I don't know screw it!" said Shizuru hitting the piano keys in frustration.
"The hills are incarnate with symphonic melody!"
They all turned to Kuwabara who had awakened with a start. But within two seconds he was on the floor again. They shook their heads.
"Um excuse me?" Yusuke said.
They had begun a big argument about the lyrics. Yusuke just stared at them.
"Excuse me..what about..the hills." Yusuke couldn't get a word in.
He didn't know what possessed him to take this next action but in all the confusion. Yusuke sang.
"The hills are alive with the sound of music.."
The room grew quiet. Kuwabara snapped up and stomped over to the group.
"The hills are alive with the sound of music. The boy has talent! I like him!" Kuwabara exclaimed accidentally hitting him in the wrong place.
Yusuke's eyes crossed and he fell from the makeshift stage on to the ground. They all glared at Kuwabara. He shrugged.
"Oops?"
Yukina went over to Yusuke and helped him up.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, swell," Yusuke squeaked.
"That was a wonderful idea, Yusuke. You should help us write the show. It'll give you a legit reason for being here while you find your criminal," said Yukina.
"Yeah sure."
"Hold on Yukina-san. What about Yomi?" asked Shizuru.
"Oh yes, Yomi."
Hiei thought for a moment.
"We'll use Kurama." He said finally.
'They decided that they would dress me in Kuwabara's best suit and pass me off as a ningen writer who is very successful in the Ningenkai. I would present myself to someone named Kurama and they would put a word in with Yomi, the owner of the Kitsune Rouge. The only problem was when I heard that name whispered I heard Koenma-sama's warning about the place. He said never to go there because I would get hooked and I'd end up wasting my life there with some cheep youkai whore. That's when I burst out with..'
"I can't do a show for the Kitsune Rouge!" Yusuke yelled running to the ladder that led to his room.
The three of them stopped the spirit detective.
"Why not Yusuke?" Shizuru questioned looking angry.
"Well , um, I don't know if I can write one of those bohemian things. Hell I don't even know what the hell a bohemian is!"
"Alright, do you believe beauty?" Shizuru asked.
"Yes."
"Freedom?" asked Hiei.
"Yeah."
"Truth?" Hiei asked
"Uh huh"
"Love.?" Yukina's timid voice asked.
"Of course I do. I believe in that like my life depended on it."
'They all cheered for me save for Hiei. It was decided that I would audition for Kurama that night and I would taste my first glass of Makai Absinthe. Talk about getting drunk. We were so wasted that we saw the strangest fairy smiling and dancing. It was singing too. I find that scary but I was drunk at the time. Next thing I knew I was entering the Kitsune Rouge where I was lost in the sound of music, dancing and wild laughter. Yomi and his beautiful infamous youkai. He called them his Forbidden Flowers. They can-caned around us. I was dizzy with excitement and from the sight of such rare and beautiful creatures. Hiei pulled me along to a booth where we all sat and watched the excitement until everyone suddenly quieted and the lights dimmed save for one bright blue spotlight. Everyone's attention including mine was on the slowly lowering trapeze above us...'
Hiei pulled Yusuke's ear to him and whispered.
"That's him. The Desert Rose."
When he said so a beautiful boy that seemed a little older than Yusuke came into the spotlight. His hair was a beautiful rose red up in styled ponytail and his eyes were perfect emeralds shining with light. His flawless skin was a beautiful cream color and his lips were perfectly shaped. The slender boy wore a beautiful silk shirt the color of rouge and had red rubies sparkling on the sleeves and collar. His pants were black leather with rubies that formed roses on the left leg. His hair was held up by a black ribbon made of satin. The boy was beautiful, simple as that. And Yusuke couldn't take his eyes of the Desert Rose.
"Rich men are glad to die for money." He sang. "They delight in fighting for powers. But I prefer a man who lives. And gives expensive flowers."
'Some one else was to meet Kurama that night..Karasu."
The beat sped up as Kurama swung around the room on the trapeze. It was lowered and a large crowd of men gathered to help him down. He sang again.
"A kiss on the hand maybe quite continental, but roses are a fox's best friend. Kiss maybe grand but it won't pay rental on you're humble flat or help you feed your pussycat."
He danced around the crowd of rich men and passed seductive smiles across the room at all of the customers. Yusuke watched in amazement as the beautiful rose passed his seat a numerous amount of times.
"Youkai grow cold and men grow old."
"And we all lose our charms in the end." He sang being picked up by the men. "But fresh cut or bud shape these flowers don't loose their shape. Roses are a fox's best friend."
Yomi conversed with tall man with long raven silk hair that touched the floor when he sat. Yomi nervously assured him that he would not be disappointed in Kurama.
"When am I going to meet the fox?"
"After his number I've arranged a private meeting totally alone," said Yomi.
"Excellent."
Hiei turned to Yusuke and explained the situation.
"After the show, I arranged for Kurama to listen to you in private totally alone."
"Alone?"
"Yes, totally alone," Hiei and Yomi said at the same time.
Kurama snatched a bouquet of carnations from a man and threw them away and shoved the man to the ground in mock anger. Kurama kneeled down on him and got in his face.
"Cause we are living in a flowery box and I am a flowery fox!" he got up and blew a kiss at the man who fainted on the floor. Kurama turned and waited for all the men to gather around him.
"Come and get me boys."
They lifted him up and carried him while Kurama rested comfortably on their hands. He feigned a yawn as he was carried towards the stage.
"Talk to me Yomi! Tell me all about it!"
Yomi had excuse himself from the table and went to the stage to join Kurama. Kurama strutted across the stage singing.
"There may come a time when a fox needs a lawyer. But roses are a fox's best friend."
He walked up beside Yomi and gave a him a look as if to say explain. Yomi made a signal across his throat for Kurama to wait. Kurama nodded.
"There may come a time when a hard-boiled employer-" Kurama started.
"Thinks you're awful nice!" Yomi finished.
Yusuke sat in the booth becoming over anxious as he watched the redhead dance across the stage.
"Don't worry Yusuke I'll go talk to Kurama and get him to come over here and talk before his number is through," said Hiei.
Yusuke nodded not paying much attention. Hiei walked past the booth next to them and bumped into one of the waiters spilling a drink on Karasu. Karasu was furious.
"Oh sorry about that. Let me help with that." Hiei said using a handkerchief that soaked up quickly.
Onstage Kurama finally got a chance to question Yomi.
"Is he here, Yomi."
"Come now fox, would I let you down? Just hope that demonic lil' midget doesn't frighten him off."
"Hiei's here? Well where's the investor?"
Yomi took a look and saw Hiei shaking the wine out of his handkerchief.
"He's he one Hiei's shaking a hanky at."
Hiei went to Yusuke and snatched his handkerchief making it shake in front of him. The red head saw this and gave a puzzled look.
"Yomi, are you sure?"
"Let me look again."
By this time Hiei was once again trying to wipe the rest of the wine off.
"That's the one, red."
"If you say so."
They ducked down beneath raised sheets and Kurama changed outfits.
"Will he invest?"
"After a night with the Desert Rose how can he refuse?"
"Well what's his type? Wilting flower? Bright and bubbly? Or smoldering tempter?"
"I think it would be smoldering tempter for that psycho. We're all counting on you, red. Remember if you get this right we'll have a real stage, a real audience and you can be.."
"A real actor. I'll never have to fight or sell myself ever again."
Yomi nodded. Kurama pondered this thought with glee. Then he heard his cue in the music and burst out of the sheets singing.
"Cause that's when those louses go back to their spouses!"
Kurama was now wearing a beautiful black tunic with a single un-bloomed rose. His pants and sleeves were midnight black linen while the tunic was sparkling velvet. He was paraded around the room on the shoulders of adoring men. Kurama pointed in the spirit detective's direction.
"Roses.are a fox's best."
He landed onto the small platform where Yusuke sat. Kurama landed in his lap while finishing the last note with a small brush of his lips on Yusuke.
"Friend."
Yusuke looked at the beautiful fox resting on his lap. He knew he was blushing and Kurama being in his face wasn't helping his predicament. Kurama gave a seductive smirk and whispered in Yusuke's ear.
"I believe you were expecting me." He flicked his tongue over the frozen detective's earlobe. Much to Yusuke's hidden dismay, Kurama rose and walked with his hips swaying slightly in front of Yusuke. He faced the crowd of lusting men.
"I'm afraid it's fox's choice." He said pointing at Yusuke.
He gestured for Yusuke to kiss his hand. When Yusuke didn't move, Kurama scoffed offended and pout to the audience. They all pouted with him. Yusuke gave a confused look at the fox. The redhead turned around and gave him a reassuring smile and the audience began to chant his name. Hiei smirked at Yusuke.
"He likes you."
"Um, yeah I can tell.." said Yusuke dazed.
Next thing he knew, Kurama had pulled him to the dance floor and they were flying across the room.
"So wonderful for you to take an interest in our little show."
"Yeah I'm glad to be a part of it."
"Really."
"Hopefully I pass the test."
"I'm sure you will."
"Hiei told me we could do it in private."
"Did he?"
"Yeah some kind of private poetry reading."
Kurama's emerald eyes sparked at the sentence.
"Oh.hmm, a poetry reading. Ooo, I love a little poetry after supper!" Kurama exclaimed suggestively.
They continued to dance until Kurama had disappeared from Yusuke's grasp and was swept into a dance with a new brown haired, brown eyed courtesan.
'Of all those who were jealous of Kurama, the most jealous and conniving was a whore with no dignity..Keiko. I suppose she had her sights set on me because she had been watching me dance with Kurama all evening. She was so disgusting, the way she threw herself at me.."
"So.what's you're name, cutie?" she asked in a lustful voice.
"Yusuke. Um when is Kurama coming back?"
"Oh why worry about him when I have the advantages you need. Kurama can't give you what I can."
"No thanks I actually have an appointment with Kurama," Yusuke insisted trying to pry the girl off him.
She didn't give up until Kurama was on the trapeze performing the finally. That's when Yusuke was able to sneak away and watch the red haired rogue who had captured his affections.
"Roses.
"Roses.
"Fresh cut or bud shaped these flowers don't lose their shape. Roses.are a fox's..best.."
Kurama felt his chest tighten as he gasped for air. He tilted his head back trying to get more air. He grimaced while placing a hand to his chest. His lungs felt like they were ablaze. After a long pause he suddenly felt darkness over come him and he fainted. He plummeted from the trapeze oblivious to the frightened screams. Yusuke panicked as the redhead fell from the swing. But a wave of relief washed over him when Kurama was caught by the bouncer, George. The ogre held onto Kurama giving Yomi a questioning glance. Yomi shook his head toward backstage. George nodded and carefully carried the desert rose behind the curtain. The audience began to mummer and all eyes were on Yomi. He felt their stares but mostly he felt the eyes of Karasu on him. Yomi laughed and cheered out loud as if this was the greatest triumph in history. He then got the whole crowd to chant Kurama's name once more. Yusuke didn't buy it though.
Behind the curtains in the dressing rooms, Kurama was placed on a makeshift bed and propped up. He was deathly pail and his breath was ragged. George returned to the crowd and shook his head at Yomi. Yomi gave a nod and silenced the audience.
"You've frightened the fox away."
A loud "aw" filled the air. Yomi held his hand up to silence them.
"But I know some lonely Kitsune Rouge dancers looking for a partner or two."
They all cheered and their concern for Kurama disappeared. Yusuke was the only one still worried..along with Karasu. Botan had come in to check on Kurama, who was still unconscious. She waved a vile in front of the red head's nose. Kurama came to and looked up at Botan gasping.
"Are you all right, red?"
Kurama gave a weak smile. "I'm fine just these costumes. I got dizzy."
"Just a little fainting spell." Kurama nodded but he then turned his head feeling tired again. He coughed and wheezed. Botan held a napkin over his mouth to cough into. After the coughing spell he rested his head again and closed his eyes to rest for a while. Botan removed the napkin and was about to throw it away when she noticed a few small stains the color of crimson. She looked at Kurama who had fallen asleep and then back at the napkin. Her expression was grim and fearful.
"It's happening again. I've got to let Yomi know..."
A/N: well people how was that for act one. Stay tuned for act two. It'll be coming soon. Hope you're enjoying it to the fullest. You can review if you want. I'm not really expecting any for this one. It's just something to do until my writers block clears up. Any way stay tuned for the second chapter, Act II: The Red Room Mix Up.