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 Seven
"Can't have you doing that now," Karasu replied, watching with amusement as the electricity died down.
The younger teen growled, his fists clenching at his sides.
The electricity ceased, and Kurama gasped for breath. There has to be someway out.....!
Seeing the electricity stop, Yusuke's fists unclenched slightly, but he didn't dare move from his spot.
Turning to the younger teen, Karasu's eyes seemed to smirk. "So, Urameshi. What say we play a little game?"
The teen's eyes narrowed into a glare. "A game?"
The crow nodded, as energy bombs suddenly appeared around the two on the roof. "A game where.......you lose." He glanced at Kurama. "...Or else."
Kurama's eyes widened as he saw the energy bombs. This is just like my battle with him at the Dark Tournament. If those bombs touch Yusuke's body, they'll explode......Be careful, Yusuke...
The younger teen glanced at the energy spheres around him. "And what if I win?"
"Then you still lose something, or rather someone, very dear to you."
The fox gasped as electricity once again surrounded him, stopping just as quickly as it started up.
"Kurama!" the younger teen yelled, looking at the bombs around him. So either way I lose..
"Exactly the point," Karasu replied. "But, the question is, which would you prefer to lose? Kurama? Or your life?"
The teen looked at the ground, he already knew the answer to that question, and he was sure the other two knew as well.
"That's what I thought. You can dodge a bit, if you want. But you'll still lose." The bombs suddenly descended, all heading straight for the young detective.
I need to stall as long as I can.. he thought, jumping out of the way as a few closer bombs neared him.
Kurama watched as the delinquent did his best to dodge the bombs that approached him. Getting to his feet, he glared at Karasu. "Why are you doing this?!" he yelled.
"I suppose you could say revenge, for when you killed me," the crow replied.
"So take it out on me then! But you don't have to drag Yusuke into this!"
Dodging the continuous spheres, the younger teen found he was nearing the edge of the roof and starting to tire.
Karasu shook his head. "I'm afraid I can't do that, you see. Though I was willing to kill you before, I find that I can no longer do that, and in fact want you for myself. However, what better way to take revenge on you than to do so through the one you most care about?" He chuckled as the younger teen barely dodged another attack.
Kurama growled, seeing Yusuke slowly tire.
Barely dodging another sphere, he made his way to the edge of the roof, looking at the long jump from where he was to the next building.
The fox teen could feel his blood boiling with anger as he watched the ongoing in front of him. There has to be something I can do.....! Unknown to him, or to Karasu, his body was outlined with a light blue aura.
The younger teen gasped as a black sphere came out of almost nowhere and grazed his leg, exploding the second it touched his skin. The teen let out a muffled cry as his leg gave out beneath him. I guess I lose..
Karasu laughed as the rest of the energy bombs descended upon Yusuke, who had fallen to the ground.
The fox, seeing the younger teen hit, felt something inside him snap, and his once light aura suddenly spread out around him, engulfing him in a bright light, and breaking the orb that encased him.
Yusuke blinked at the brightness of the light. "Kurama..?" When he looked up, he only saw the bombs getting closer. He put his arms over him and closed his eyes tightly, doing the only thing he could to protect himself.
The blue aura, now a wave of energy, engulfed the black spheres before they reached the younger teen, somehow avoiding Yusuke, but pushing Karasu over the edge of the roof.
The crow, initially surprised, cursed for being caught off guard, disappearing.
The light dimmed and disappeared, and the fox fell to the ground.
"Kurama!" Yusuke yelled, surprised by the bright aura but even more afraid for the other. Getting up painfully, he limped over to the red head, collapsing onto his knees near the teen and pulling the other into his lap.
Reappearing, Karasu stood at the edge of the roof, watching the two other teens. "Interesting....." he said. "It seems Kurama used up about half his life force, seeing as how he didn't have enough spiritual energy....."
He embraced the other teen protectively, glaring at Karasu.
Watching them for a minute, he turned. "Well, since Kurama's no use to me half dead, I'll just wait until he recovers......IF he recovers." And with that, the crow once again disappeared.
"This is just great.." He sighed, his leg throbbing painfully beneath him. "If I can't carry him.. then.." The younger teen embraced the other tighter, transferring his own energy to the fox.
Slowly, Kurama stirred, groaning as he opened his eyes.
Yusuke smiled tiredly at the other as he saw him waking, still transferring his energy slightly.
Realizing what the other was doing, he gasped, sitting up quickly. "You can't do that," he said, turning to the younger teen. "You have to conserve as much of your energy as possible."
He only nodded, too tired to argue at the moment.
He looked at the other's leg. "We should get you home."
He nodded again, slowly pushing himself off the ground and wobbling slightly. "What about going to the store?" he asked.
"I'd rather take care of your injury first. We'll worry about that later." He got to his feet, offering to let Yusuke lean against him for support.
He didn't need to be persuaded as he leaned against the older teen, whispering, "Thanks.."
He smiled, nodding slightly.
Suddenly remembering that Kurama didn't have much energy, he looked at the other as they began walking. "You're not too tired are you, I mean to help me..?"
He shook his head. "Not at all. I think your energy was enough."
"Good.." he smiled slightly.
He had lied, of course, knowing that if he had answered truthfully, Yusuke wouldn't have allowed to let him assist. I just hope he doesn't notice, he thought as they walked through the building door.
Yusuke limped beside the teen, which caused him to lean into the other a bit more.
Feeling the younger teen lean against him, he continued to walk at the pace that Yusuke limped in, which was quite slow. Considering his options, he knew there was a faster way to get the teen home. But that takes a lot of energy, too. But, as Youko, I would be able to carry him easier than I am now......
He groaned slightly. "Sorry I'm so slow.." he replied gently, voice barely above a whisper.
"It's alright," he said softly. "It's not your fault. There is a way we could get back faster, if you don't mind...."
He looked at him, slightly confused. "I... I don't mind.."
Looking around, he led the younger teen into a nearby alley, concealed from others passing by. "Lean against the wall for a minute."
The younger teen nodded, doing what he was told to do and painfully moving from the older teen to the wall.
Closing his eyes, his body began to glow again, as he transformed into Youko.
Thinking the fox had enough energy, he looked at him. "All right... but I don't want you holding that form for too long.. "
The fox demon nodded, gently scooping the younger teen into his arms, and, jumping up on the building of the roof nearby, hopped from roof to roof.
Resting his head on the other's chest, he closed his eyes slightly, feeling the wind rush over his body.
Seeing the apartment, he jumped off the roof he currently was standing on, landing in front of the building. Running up the stairs, he opened the door to the Urameshi apartment, walking into the bedroom and placing the younger teen on the bed. Walking out, he went into the bathroom to get the first aid kit.
The teen opened his eyes as he was placed on the bed, watching the other walk out of the bedroom.
Returning, Youko pulled out some bandages and cleanser. He gently cleaned the wound before wrapping the bandage carefully.
Yusuke winced when he felt his wound being cleaned, but he smiled tiredly at the demon as he wrapped his leg. "Thanks..."
The silver-haired demon nodded, smiling slightly, when he reverted to his human body, nearly collapsing on the bed.
"Kurama!" The younger teen shot up in the bed when he saw the other teen almost collapse, wincing slightly as he did so.
The fox teen panted slightly, kneeling beside the bed and looking up at the younger teen. He smiled tiredly. "Sorry.....I guess that took more energy than I thought it would...."
Scooting over slowly, he made room for the older teen on the bed.
Smiling his thanks, he sat on the bed next to the younger teen, sighing deeply.
"Why didn't you tell me how much energy that was going to take..?" he asked, concerned for the other teen.
"I wasn't even planning on doing that until we were on the street," he replied gently, looking at the other. "And I did it so that I could take care of your wound. It was the quickest way..."
He sighed gently, looking down at the bed sheets between them knowing Kurama was right.
Smiling softly, he embraced the younger teen. "Don't worry about it. I'm just glad that you're alright...."
He embraced the other back softly. "I'm glad you're all right too.."
Smiling, he pulled back, placing a gentle kiss on the other's forehead. "Too bad about dinner, huh?" he asked in a joking tone.
He chuckled slightly, leaning his upper body back on the bed and resting his head on the pillow. "I guess so.."
Kurama sighed, leaning against the wall. "I think you're mom fell asleep," he said.
"Probably.." he replied, closing his eyes gently.
"Are you tired? Maybe you should rest now...."
"No.. I'm fine.." he lied, opening his eyes again.
"Are you sure?"
He nodded, looking up at the ceiling above him. "I'm fine..." He glanced at the other teen. "Are you okay?"
"Yes."
He smiled slightly, trying his best to scoot a bit closer to the other.
Smiling as well, the fox ran his fingers through Yusuke's ebony hair.
His smile deepened as he shivered slightly and closed his eyes.
Feeling the other shiver, he fidgeted a little so that he was lying next to the younger teen.
Feeling the teen beside him, he opened one eye to look at him, stifling a yawn at the same time.
He frowned slightly. "You ARE tired...."
The younger teen closed his eye and cuddled closer to the other. "I'm sorry.."
"It's alright. But you should get some rest now...."
He nodded, not really wanting to, but his body was telling him otherwise.
Kurama smiled, gently stroking his fingers down the other teen's chest.
Shivering slightly, he smiled as he felt the gentle fingers over his chest. Yawning again, he fell asleep.
His smile deepened as he noted the younger teen falling asleep. Yawning, he closed his eyes, soon drifting to sleep himself.