Kurama stared at a smoldering pile of brick.
Yusuke stood calmly and watched him.
The shot hadn't been aimed at Kurama, but at the top of a near-by building. In other words, it had been a warning shot.
"Bring Kurama back. Now." Yusuke said.
Kurama didn't answer right away. When he did, it was with the same distant stillness that seemed to fill this version of Kurama like water fills a glass. "You haven't been listening, have you, Detective? And here I believed that you fully understood the situation." Kurama frowned. "What is taking place within this singular body is not a mere switch between Youko Kurama and Shuiichi Minamino.
"It is a replacement; one which has no undoing.
"It is what should have taken place 5 years ago had Shuiichi not decided to remain for the sake of our "mother".
"A return.
"That is what is taking place.
"A final stroke that completes the circle." Kurama paused and took a step towards Yusuke, "Now. Do you understand at last," Kurama almost smirked, "Detective? If you try to shoot me with your little finger, you also harm your Kurama."
"Bastard." Yusuke growled.
Kurama said nothing.
"Wait..." someone suddenly said.
Yusuke turned towards the voice as did Kuwabara. Only slowly, reluctantly, did Youko turn his own head to gaze upon the one who spoke. It was none other than Tohru. "Wait." he repeated. He was standing now. The tears had stopped flowing, but the reddness in his eyes, the puffiness of his face seemed odd on such a set face. "I don't understand any of this." he said. "How can any of this be true?"
"How can it be a lie?" Kurama answered.
"I don't know."
"Human. Your part in this is played. Stay out of this."
"No." Tohru said. "I can't."
"Why not?" Youko said and his eyes shone with laughter. "Ah, I remember. Love? Do you truly love Shuiichi Minamino, boy?"
Tohru's scowl lost its edge.
"WHAT DID HE SAY???????? Love Kurama? But he's...that is they are.....!!!!" Kuwabara wailed and Yusuke stood there not knowing what to do but conk Kuwabara on his wailing noggin and that's just what he did.
Which left three players standing.
"Haven't you been listening?" Kurama continued, his voice a velvet, mocking whisper.
"I have."
Kurama laughed. "Are you truly that stubborn, then? Look at that fool bleeding at the Spirit Detective's feet if you wish to see the fruit of such stubborness. What is to say that any of this would have occurred if he had forgotten as he should have?"
Yusuke paused. That was strange. When he had said that, Kurama had almost sounded....regretful. Could it be that he hadn't wanted any of this to occur? Yusuke shook his head. So his detective skills weren't working that well for this case, but that just didn't make sense. Surely the Youko would want his...well...his life back for lack of better phrasing.
Right?
Instead of saying anything, Tohru just walked purposefully towards Kurama.
Kurama tracked him. His eyes watched his movements like a hunter; calculating, patient.
Yusuke tensed.
The snow suddenly stopped.
From an impossible distance came the sound of traffic.
Finally, Tohru paused before Kurama. He turned his head and peered up the distance between them. "What is it human?" Kurama said. "What is it you are going to do? Are you going to try to stop me? Save Shuiichi? Is that what you plan on, Tohru-kun?"
"Shut up." Tohru said. His face was hard. His eyes were deep. They caught the light of the late day like deep pools in a snow-covered field.
The Youko waited.
Yusuke watched.
Hiei moaned in a dream or a nightmare.
Then, Tohru reached out. His hand touched Kurama's face and although his hand must have been ice, Kurama didn't seem to feel it or indeed, notice the hand there. He remained impassive as the hand touched his hair and, finally, the two ears there. That hand traced the outline of those two ears, touched the down fur, then gently pulled. Tohru's eyes suddenly widened; so did Kurama's sharp smile. "Convinced n...?" he began to say but was cut off as Tohru's hand suddenly shifted, grabbing a hold of a lock of hair and pulling, hard, until Kurama's face was at his height.
"Just shut up. I'm not convinced of anything. You are you. That's just who you are. No one else...Nothing else..." Tohru whispered and leaned forward to kiss the Youko and the Youko did nothing except close his golden eyes and accept the kiss.
"Aw...guys....?" Yusuke was left saying, waving his hand, "Guys? Remember-I'm still here....ah...guys? Guys?!"
....to be continued...