The Gift of Oneself
Written by xDarkxMagicianxGirlx and Ookami no Kokoro.
Disclaimers: Neither I nor Ookami no Kokoro own Yu Yu Hakusho, though we can wish, right?
Chapter Six
Hearing the other's desperate yell, Yusuke picked the lock faster. With a click, he swung the door open. Seeing Karasu practically choking Kurama, he ran over and forcefully pushed the demon off from the other.
Stumbling slightly from being forced back, Karasu jumped up, landing on the edge of the tub.
Kurama fell to his knees, coughing as he rubbed his throat.
The younger teen stepped in front of Kurama, he wanted to make sure the other was all right, but turning away from the demon wasn't a good idea.
Glaring down at the younger teen, the crow thought through his options. Deciding he didn't feel like dealing with the detective, he disappeared.
Sighing slightly, Yusuke turned around and bent down before the older teen. "Are you all right?"
He no longer coughed, though his breaths came out in shallow pants. Still rubbing his throat, he looked up at the younger teen and nodded. "Yes, I'm fine. Thank you."
He smiled slightly, still looking at the older teen.
He coughed once, before leaning back against the wall. "Leave it to Karasu to come in just as I'm about to take a bath...."
He sighed. "I suppose he knew that I wouldn't be there with you.."
"I guess so....But what am I going to do now? He's waiting for me to be alone.....And I'm still not strong enough to fight him....."
"I'm not sure... I'd stay with you.. but I am sure there are times when you don't want me around.."
He shook his head. "There has never been a time when I didn't want you around. Honestly, I thought there were times when you didn't want ME around....."
Yusuke smiled gently. "I've never felt that way.. and I don't think I ever will.."
He smiled back, then looked at the tub. "Well, I still have to take a bath......"
He nodded. "Do you.. want me to leave?"
"Karasu might come back," he said, looking at the other teen.
"I know.." he replied. "I just figured you'd want your privacy in the bathroom.."
"So....what are we going to do?"
Yusuke stood up and looked away from the teen. "I'd like to stay and make sure you're all right.. but like I said, if you want your privacy, I'll leave."
"Maybe....you should stay...."
He nodded, giving the other a hand to help him up.
Standing, he walked over to the tub, once again filling it. As it was doing that, he looked over at Yusuke, blushing slightly. "Could you.....turn away....for a minute?"
He nodded and turned to look at the door.
Removing his clothes, he turned off the water and got into the tub, sinking until his body was completely submerged. "Okay," he said.
Yusuke turned slightly and sat down on the toilet. He kept his eyes away from the teen as not to make him uncomfortable.
His face was very red as Yusuke sat nearby, so he ducked under the water. Resurfacing, he pushed hair back, trying to think of other things.
"So, are you sure you're all right?" he asked again, staring at the sink before him.
He nodded. "Karasu didn't do much."
He nodded, smiling gently.
After a while, he decided that he was clean enough. He looked over at Yusuke, who was still staring at the sink, trying to determine whether he could stand or not.
Feeling the other looking at him, he asked, his gaze still on the sink. "Done?"
"Yes."
Yusuke nodded and turned around.
Standing, the fox pulled the cover over the drain, and the level of water began to diminish. Drying himself with the towel, he slipped his clothes on, keeping the towel on his head. "Alright," he said. "Safe to look now."
Nodding again, he turned back and looked at the older teen, smiling slightly.
He smiled, looking down at his yellow sweater and white sweatpants. "Did you need the bathroom?" he asked.
He paused, thinking, I was going to take a quick bath.. but I don't want Kurama to be alone again, just in case.. He looked back at the other. "No.. I guess not.."
Kurama frowned slightly. "If you need the bathroom, it's fine Yusuke. I'll just......stay here, I guess....."
Yusuke nodded. "If you don't mind.." he replied.
He blushed slightly. "Well, if you don't mind me being here....."
He smiled. "I don't mind.. but I need to get some clothes.." He started for the door.
He followed behind the younger teen, until they reached the door, where he just stood and waited for the other.
Slipping into his room quickly, he came back out with some clothes to sleep in.
He stepped back into the bathroom, allowing Yusuke to enter.
Entering after, he closed the door and walked over to the tub, starting to fill it up.
Kurama looked down at the floor, away from the younger teen.
Turning the knobs to stop the water, Yusuke got out of his clothes and into the tub. Looking at the older teen, he smiled slightly. "You can look now.."
Glancing at the other teen, he looked away again, blushing deeply.
Seeing the blush, he chuckled and ducked under the water.
He let out a breath that he didn't know he was holding. Is this what's going to happen when we live together? he wondered, slightly amused.
A minute passed and Yusuke stayed under the water, scrubbing the dirt off his body.
Looking over at the tub, Kurama began to worry as Yusuke was still under the water.
Another few seconds passed and Yusuke came up, slightly gasping for air.
He let out a relieved sigh.
He grinned slightly, and started to feel around on the bottom of the tub so he could drain the water.
He looked away again, still blushing.
Draining the water out of the tub, the younger teen toweled himself off and got into his clothes. "Okay, I'm done."
He glanced up at the younger teen, smiling softly.
Mirroring the other's smile, he started for the door.
He followed close behind after the other. "Yusuke?"
"Yeah?" he asked, opening the door and walking out.
Gently taking hold of the other's wrist, he embraced the younger teen from behind.
A little surprised by the embrace, Yusuke turned his head slightly to look at the other. "What's this for?"
"For......everything. I don't know what I'd do without you."
He smiled gently. "It's no big deal.. you'd do the same for me.."
He nodded, pulling away. "But still.....Thank you."
Yusuke turned to face the fox. "You don't need to thank me.." he started, staring into the emerald eyes before him. "Even if you hadn't felt the same way as I did back in Yin and Yang's world.. I still wouldn't let anything happen to you.."
He smiled softly. "I guess the feeling's mutual..."
The younger teen smiled back.
There was a soft tap on the glass in the bedroom.
Hearing the tap, Yusuke started walking toward the bedroom, looking back quickly to make sure the older teen was behind him.
The fox followed after the younger teen.
Walking in, the younger teen looked at the window.
Kuronue hovered by the window, waiting patiently, despite the rain, to be let in.
Yusuke walked over and opened the window as wide as it would go.
The bat demon poked his head in. "Hey," he said.
The younger teen just smiled slightly and nodded his hello.
"Hi," Kurama said. Getting on the bed, he took Kuronue's cape and pendant, handing them to the bat. "I think these are yours."
Taking the cape, the older demon draped it over his shoulders. But, looking at the pendant resting in the fox's palm, he shook his head, closing Kurama's fingers over it. "I want you to keep that."
Yusuke watched the sight before him, keeping as quiet as possible.
Kurama blinked, confusion filling his eyes. "This is your favorite treasure."
"Indeed. That's why I want you to have it."
"Kuronue...." Kurama sighed, a little frustrated. "I...I don't understand what you're trying to do. I...I love you, but not the same way as I had before....I've moved on, but it feels as though you're trying to DO something, here....."
Unconsciously walking a bit closer to the bed, the younger teen continued to watch the other two.
Kuronue nodded. "I know. I'm glad you moved on. Even if I were here forever, I would never try to break you two apart. I'm just glad you're happy." Looking over at Yusuke, he smiled slightly.
Yusuke smiled back, letting out a small sigh. At least SOMEONE isn't trying to break us up.
"But, just because we can't be that way again," the bat continued, looking back at his old partner, "that doesn't mean we can't be friends, does it?"
"Of course we can be friends," the fox replied.
"So then, as a friend, I want you to keep my pendant."
The younger teen looked at the pendant, remembering what Kurama had said about it, and how much it had meant to the bat demon.
Looking at the pendant, Kurama decided to wear it around his neck. Looking then at the bat, he said, "Thank you. I'll take care of it."
"I know." Then, clearing his throat, he said, "Well, I just dropped by to let you both know that Karasu and I are both about to leave this world for now."
He looked back up at Kuronue and nodded slightly, not really having anything to say.
"Thank you, Kuronue. You've really helped us a lot."
Kuronue nodded, disappearing from sight.
Shivering from the cool air that now filled his room, Yusuke leaned over to close the window.
Kurama sat back on the bed, looking down at the pendant that rested on his chest. Removing the charm, he placed it back on the stand next to the bed.
Closing the window, Yusuke sat down in front of the older teen, trying to rub the cold from his bare arms. Looking from Kurama to the pendant, he asked, "I thought you were going to wear that?"
"I will," he replied, looking at the other with a smile. "But just not now. With all that's going on at the moment, I don't want to risk losing it."
He nodded, smiling gently.
Watching the other trying to warm himself, he chuckled softly, embracing him. "Cold?" he asked.
"A little bit," he replied, leaning closer to the other teen for warmth.
He smiled, gently tightening his hold on the younger, providing more warmth for him.
He smiled as he felt the older teen's grip tighten around him.
"Your mom will be home soon," he whispered, not wanting to ruin the quiet atmosphere too much.
Yusuke chuckled softly, and gently pulled away from the other, his body screaming for the warmth. "Guess we should talk to her about the apartment, huh?"
He nodded, a little disappointed from the lack of comfort he now felt once Yusuke had left his arms.
Standing up, a small shiver went down his spine when his feet touched the cold floor. Looking back at the other teen he smiled, even though he could tell the other was slightly disappointed.
"It is rather cold in here now, isn't it?" Kurama asked, shivering himself slightly. He remembered then that he still had a little fever, and even though it had gotten much better from that morning, he didn't want to risk getting sick again.
Yusuke nodded. "I'll go turn the heat up." He started walking out, knowing that the older teen would be all right now that Karasu had left.
Remaining on the bed, the older teen wrapped his arms around himself, shivering slightly, trying to warm himself up.
Walking through the kitchen and into the living room, he saw the small thermostat on the wall. Walking to it, he noticed the heat wasn't even on.
The doorknob rattled slightly, as the door opened and Atsuko walked in. "Why is it so cold in here?" she asked. "Did you leave the freezer open again?"
Yusuke flushed slightly and clicked the heat on, setting it to a comfortable temperature.
From the other room, Kurama cleared his throat loudly, hoping to get Yusuke to remember what he needed to ask Atsuko.
Walking back to the room, the younger teen heard Kurama's hint and turned to look at Atsuko. "Oh yeah.. you wouldn't mind if I went and lived with Kurama when he gets his own apartment, would you?" he asked.
Looking at him, she shrugged. "If that's what you want to do, far be it from me to stop you."
"Thanks," he replied, slightly knowing that would've been her answer all along. Walking back towards the bedroom door, he paused, turning to look at his mother. "Oh, and there's leftover rice in the fridge, if you're hungry." And he headed back into the bedroom.
Watching the younger teen return, he smiled softly.
Sitting back in front of the other, he smiled back. "Well, I guess that's that.. unless, of course, your mom has a problem with me living with you.." he added, the last part more to himself.
"She shouldn't. Actually, when we were looking for an apartment, she was the one who suggested it."
He nodded, a smile still on his lips.
Still smiling also, he leaned closer to the younger teen, resting his head on his shoulder.
Wrapping his arm around the other, he pulled him closer, placing a gentle kiss on Kurama's forehead.
He closed his eyes, snuggling closer to the delinquent.
"You know.. Yin was right about one thing.." he said suddenly, closing his eyes and resting his head on Kurama's.
"What's that?" he asked.
"He said I was a very lucky person.. for having someone like you.." he replied gently, a small smile working its way across his features.
"Really? I always thought it was the other way around...." he said in a soft whisper. His fingers began to play with the loose end of Yusuke's shirt.
He chuckled slightly, opening his eyes and lifting his head gently. "Nah, I think you're confused."
He shook his head. "I'm definitely not. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't even be here right now. But I don't see how you'd be lucky to have me around..."
The younger teen's smile turned into a slight frown at Kurama's words. "Why do you say that?" he asked gently, a serious tone in his voice. "I think I'm one of the luckiest people right now, to have someone like you.."
He looked up at Yusuke with a sad smile. "Someone like me? I've caused a lot of problems for you, and for a lot people I care for. I'm not honest, either, with almost everyone, and even to myself......What good am I?"
"Kurama, everyone has their faults.." Yusuke began, staring down at the other teen. "And you shouldn't talk that way about yourself.."
"Faults are one thing," the fox replied, looking down at the bed, "but being a burden on everyone is something entirely different....."
The younger teen chuckled softly. "You don't actually think you're a burden, do you?"
The redhead said nothing, continuing to stare at the bed.
Embracing the older teen, he smiled gently. "Well you're not.. and no one would ever think that.."
He leaned into the embrace, closing his eyes.
Yusuke gently ran his fingers through the other's crimson hair, trying to make him feel better.
Shivering slightly, Kurama couldn't help but smile, enjoying the feeling.
Seeing the other smile, he looked past the teen's head, his hand still moving through the other's hair. Hopefully he believes what I said..
"Yusuke?"
"Yeah?" He looked back down at the other.
He looked up, still smiling. "Thank you. You always know how to make me feel better..."
The younger teen chuckled, brushing his lips over the fox's forehead.
His smile deepened.
"You two really need a door, or something," Atsuko said, leaning against the wall of the bedroom.
Yusuke blushed deeply, moving his hand out of Kurama's hair. "Couldn't you at least warn me before you walk in?" he mumbled.
Blushing just as deeply as the younger teen, Kurama looked away from the woman, out the window.
"Yeah, well, if I knew when you two would get all lovey-dovey on me, I would warn you when I'm about to come in." She walked out into the kitchen.
The teen sighed, his face a deep red. "Just think.. that won't happen when we get our own apartment."
"Yeah, I was just thinking that." He looked at the other teen with a small, mischievous smile. "To think.....Just the two of us, living together in an apartment....all by ourselves...."
He grinned slightly, the same mischievous smile on his lips.
Smiling, he leaned back against the younger teen, resting his head on his chest.
Lifting his hand, the younger teen ran his finger through the other's hair again.
Sitting up again, he gently pushed the younger teen back on the bed, sitting on top of him.
Yusuke let himself be pushed down, looking up at the other.
Smiling, he lowered his head slightly, quickly brushing his lips over the younger teen's.
Returning the kiss happily, he tilted his head up slightly to deepen it.
Shivering again slightly, the fox teen pulled back, breaking the kiss.
Letting his head fall back to the pillow, Yusuke smiled at the teen above him.
Smiling as well, Kurama leaned forward, placing a light kiss on the younger teen's forehead, before getting off him and sitting next to him on the bed.
Yusuke scooted down, moving his head to rest slightly on the other's lap.
He ran his fingers through the younger teen's messy hair. Even if it wasn't as long as his, he enjoyed its feel when it wasn't gelled back.
The younger teen shivered slightly, closing his eyes as the fingers continued to move through his hair.
Feeling the shiver, he smirked slightly as he gently began to massage the other's head.
Smiling gently, he turned slightly, nuzzling closer to the other. Mom better not come in this time.. he thought.
Feeling the other move closer, he ceased his massaging. Fidgeting slightly, he tried to make himself comfortable without jostling the younger teen too much.
He lifted his head away from the other so he could get comfortable.
After finding a positing that he was contented with, he settled back down, smiling softly.
Replacing his head back on the other's lap, he smiled gently to the older teen and cuddled closer again.
The two teens stayed like that for a while, before Kurama started to fidget again. "I'm hungry," he said softly. "Maybe we should find something to eat for dinner."
Yusuke nodded, gently lifting himself off the teen. "All right."
Smiling, he slid off the bed, standing and waiting for the other teen.
He slipped off the warm bed as well and walked to the door, following Kurama into the kitchen.
Atsuko sat at the table, the cigarette she was smoking in the ashtray on the table as she took a drink from her beer bottle.
Kurama coughed slightly, entering the kitchen. Even if he was still slightly sick, and his senses were still messed up, the smell of smoke was pretty strong in the kitchen then. He never enjoyed smoking, for obvious reasons of it ruining his fox-like sense of smell.
Walking into the kitchen after, he sighed and walked to the window above the sink, opening it and letting in the cool fresh air.
Looking up at the two, she put out her cigarette. "Sorry," she said.
"It's fine," the fox replied, trying to hold down another cough.
Shivering, the younger teen waited until the smoke was all gone before he shut the window.
Leaning against the counter, the fox wondered what they would have for dinner.
Rubbing his bare arms, the younger teen looked from Kurama to the woman at the table. "What do you want for dinner, mom?" he asked suddenly.
She just shrugged, taking another sip of her beer.
He sighed, leaning back on the counter behind him, looking at Kurama.
"I could make something," he offered, looking at the younger teen. "After all, it's only fair, since you both have allowed me to stay around..."
Finally feeling warm, the teen dropped his hands. "But you made lunch, Kurama.."
He smiled. "I wouldn't mind."
He looked at the other. "No matter what I say, I'm not going to talk you out of this, am I?" he asked, feeling slightly defeated.
The fox chuckled. "Nope. I'm stubborn that way."
"Well, if you're going to cook something," Atsuko said, "you'll have to drop by the store. There's nothing in the fridge to really cook a good meal with."
"Fine, if you're going to cook, then I'll go to the store," he replied, just as stubborn. "What do you need?"
"I'm not sure," he replied, thinking it over. "I don't know what to make. Maybe I should go with you."
Yusuke chuckled slightly. "All right then."
Looking at the other, he asked, "Are you going to change first? Or do you just want to go out in your pajamas?"
"I was planning on going out like this," he replied sarcastically before walking back into his bedroom.
"I wouldn't be surprised," Atsuko called after him. "You've done that before, anyway, so I suppose you'd be used to it...."
Kurama hid a chuckle.
The teen flushed slightly as he pulled a sweatshirt over his head. Pulling on some jeans, he buttoned them and zipped the fly, walking back out after.
Opening the closet, Kurama pulled out the umbrella he had used earlier, seeing as how it was raining harder than before.
Walking over, he pulled out the rain coat and his favorite pale green jacket. Handing the teen the jacket he said, "Here, wear a jacket too, it's kinda cold out."
Taking the jacket, he smiled his thanks and slipped it on, opening the door.
Smiling back, he quickly slipped on his shoes and walked out the door.
Closing the door after him, Kurama shivered slightly, buttoning up the jacket.
"Don't worry, the store isn't too far away.. we won't be out here long.."
He nodded, opening the umbrella as they walked out onto the crowded sidewalk.
Pulling the hood over his already damp hair, Yusuke shivered a bit also, weaving between people.
Kurama wondered if there really was this many people during rush hour. He was slightly afraid that he was going to lose the younger teen amidst the crowd.
Walking a bit closer to the other teen. Yusuke cursed as someone bumped into him. "Why are there so many people out? It's pouring.." he growled.
"Rush hour," he replied, trying his best to avoid the people around him while still walking close to the other. "This is about the time that everyone is going home."
He sighed as he avoided people, it seemed they were the only ones going in a different direction. A man with a large briefcase, walking in the same direction they were, suddenly pushed him out of the way and into the other part of the crowd, taking the teen's spot near Kurama.
The fox stopped, noticing the other teen was no longer beside him. He looked through the crowd, but saw no sight of him.
Yusuke cringed slightly as he lost his balance and almost tripped into a man near him. Looking around as he was pushed through the crowd, he couldn't see a trace of the red head. Dammit... he cursed himself mentally.
As he continued to look for the other, he noticed that the rain was beginning to pick up, as the wind that had been so gentle was now blowing much harder. He shivered, but continued to look around.
A person suddenly pushed Yusuke out of the way again and he growled. "Watch where you're going!" he yelled angrily.
The redhead froze, suddenly hearing the delinquent shout angrily. As he was about to head in that direction, a rather large person pushed his way through the crowd, pushing him out into the street as a car was coming. He jumped up to avoid the vehicle, but as he did so, a black energy orb encased him, preventing him to be seen by normal people.
Hearing screeching tires, Yusuke turned to look. Seeing the black orb, he gasped, knowing exactly who was in it. "Kurama!" Forcing his way through the crowd he ran toward the orb, not even noticing that it was above the road.
He banged on the walls of the sphere, trying to break to open. He gasped, suddenly thrown off his feet as it began to move away.
"No! Kurama!" the teen yelled as he ran out into the street after the other, nearly being hit by an oncoming car.
He closed the umbrella, trying to create more room in the already small space. Looking around, he found himself being transported to the top of a building, and his eyes widened when he saw who was waiting for him. "Karasu.....!"
Seeing the other teen going to the top of a business building, he ran into it. Looking at the long line at the elevator he sprinted up the stairs instead.
The orb suddenly landed in front of the other demon. "So glad you could make it," said the crow.
"How?" Kurama asked. "I thought that you...."
"You were misinformed, that's all."
Running to the top of the many flights of stairs, he panted and opened the roof door. Seeing Karasu, he gasped. "Why are you still here?!"
He shook his head. "I left quiet a while ago. But just because I left then, it doesn't mean I couldn't come back. Kuronue believed that we couldn't be here during the evenings, when the truth is that we must return to our world for an hour or so before returning here."
He glared at the older demon, stepping a bit closer.
"I wouldn't do that, if I were you," the crow replied, taking a step back.
The teen stopped. "Why not?"
He pointed to Kurama, still trapped in the orb. "Since the orb is made from my energy, I can do as I wish with it. I could crush him, suffocate him, or something else. You wouldn't want Kurama to get hurt, would you?"
Yusuke stood dead still, his breath caught in his throat and his eyes widened in horror as he watched, his eyes never leaving Karasu or Kurama.
Kurama began against the orb that held him captive. If this is made from Karasu's energy, he thought, then there must be a break point. He cried out as electricity suddenly spread in the orb, engulfing his body.