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 Eleven
Yusuke shifted slightly underneath the older teen. He had been sitting in the same position, Kurama's head resting on his lap, since the other had fallen asleep.
The fox mumbled slightly, feeling some movement beneath him. Slowly, he blinked his eyes open, stretching his arms.
Seeing the other's movement he looked down and whispered, "I'm sorry... did I wake you?"
Looking up at the other, he smiled softly. "No......" he said, mid-yawn.
The younger teen chuckled slightly, and smiled back.
He stretched again, sitting up. Turning to the other, he asked as he rubbed his eyes, "How long have I been sleeping?"
He shrugged. "A few hours.."
The redhead frowned. "Have you just been sitting there for 'a few hours'?"
"Yes.." he replied honestly.
"You must've been uncomfortable....."
"No, I was perfectly comfortable." He gave the other a small smile.
He smiled as well, leaning against the other.
He gently pulled the other closer. "How are you feeling?"
"Better," he replied softly, closing his eyes.
"Good," he replied, a small smile playing on his lips.
There was a small tap on the window, drawing the attention of the fox. He gasped, seeing Kuronue's battered figure hovering there.
Looking over, Yusuke gasped also, opening the window wide. "Kuronue, are you all right?"
Kurama helped the taller demon in through the window.
"I'm fine," the bat replied tiredly as the fox sat him on the bed.
Yusuke watched as the older teen pulled the demon through the window.
Kurama, looking over the older demon, noted a large wound on his shoulder, among the other various bleeding cuts.
The younger teen slid off the bed, walking out of the bedroom to retrieve the first aid kit from the bathroom.
"What happened to you?" Kurama asked.
Kuronue looked up at him, remembering that the fox hadn't been there at the time.
Pulling a small towel from the closet, he wet it and wrung the access water out, before grabbing the kit and walking out of the bathroom.
Hearing the other return, Kurama stepped back to allow the other to tend to Kuronue.
Seeing Kurama step back slightly, he looked at him, handing him the cloth. "I'm sure you'd be able to clean the wounds much better than I would.."
Looking at Yusuke, he hesitantly took the cloth, turning to his old partner. Gently, he placed the wet cloth on the shoulder, knowing that the largest wound needed the most tending to.
Kuronue hissed quietly as the water was soaked into his injury.
Yusuke opened the kit, pulling out a white bandage and unraveling it, ready to give it to Kurama when he needed it.
Removing the cloth, he took the bandage the younger teen was holding, carefully wrapping it around the wound. "So, what did happen?" he asked again.
The younger teen glanced at Kuronue quickly, before moving his eyes to where Kurama was working. If Kuronue wants to tell him, then he can..
"I was fighting Karasu," the bat replied simply.
Kurama looked at him. "Why were you fighting Karasu?"
Kuronue sighed slightly. "He was about to attack Yusuke......"
The younger teen looked down at the ground. "I was being careless and wasn't paying attention.."
"You weren't being careless," Kuronue replied, looking at him. "Karasu had used Kurama as a distraction so he could attack you."
Yusuke nodded, looking back up at the other two.
Kurama frowned slightly. "I was wondering why Karasu had let me talk to Yusuke......."
Looking at the other, he noticed the frown, suddenly adding, "It wasn't you fault, Kurama, so don't even think it was."
Kuronue nodded in agreement.
Looking at the younger teen, then at his old friend, Kurama nodded slightly, though hesitantly.
He knew Kurama still thought it was his own fault, but he didn't say anything.
Kurama finished bandaging the one large wound, taking the cloth and cleaning a cut on the bat's face.
Kuronue reached up, gently grasping Kurama's hand. "It's really not your fault," he said.
Kurama looked at him, before looking away.
"It really wasn't your fault, Kurama. If it was your fault I almost got attacked, then it was my fault that you got captured in the first place.."
"That wasn't your fault," the fox said softly.
"Right. And him getting attacked wasn't your fault either. So don't worry about it."
Yusuke nodded in agreement.
Kurama nodded, smiling slightly.
The younger teen smiled back gently, before closing the first aid kit and setting it on the dresser next to him.
Placing the bloodstained cloth on top of the kit, the fox looked Kuronue over. "Well, I think we took care of all your injuries......"
The bat nodded, starting to stand.
Kurama placed his hands on the other's shoulders before he could. "But you really should rest."
Yusuke nodded in agreement with the fox.
"But while I'm here, Karasu....."
"Is probably just as injured as you are," the redhead interrupted. "And he probably doesn't have anyone helping him with his wounds. If I know Karasu, he would be conserving what little energy he has. So you should rest a bit."
The younger nodded again, picking up the kit and cloth and turning on his heels to put them back in the bathroom.
Kurama smiled softly at the demon. "You just sit and rest for a while." And he followed the younger teen out of the bedroom.
Yusuke could hear the other's soft footsteps behind him as he entered the bathroom and put the supplies away. Turning, he walked back out.
He looked up at the delinquent as he walked out of the bathroom. "What are we going to do, Yusuke? Kuronue has always been stronger than me, and if HE can't beat Karasu, how are we......?"
He looked at the other. "Maybe if we both fight him.."
Kurama sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm afraid to fight him again......"
"I suppose Kuronue and I could fight him.. that is when he is better.."
He looked at the other, fearful tears brimming in his eyes. "But what if the two of you aren't enough?"
"Don't worry, Kurama, we will be.." He tried to keep his voice reassuring, but he didn't even trust himself.
Kurama sighed, looking down at the ground. "I don't know, Yusuke.......I'd never be able to live with myself if something happened to either one of you........."
"And I'd never be able to live with myself if something happened to you because I didn't try and fight.."
He looked up at the other, then sighed again. "Then we're back where we started. What are we going to do?"
Yusuke looked back at the older teen. "You can choose what you are going to do.. but I am going to fight Karasu.. no matter how much a difference in power we have.."
The fox rubbed his temple slightly. "You sure you want me choosing what I want to do?" he asked.
He nodded. "I trust you, Kurama.."
He smiled slightly.
The teen gently smiled back.
The fox teen indicated the bedroom. "We better go back and take care of Kuronue."
He nodded once, starting to walk with the other teen to the bedroom.
The bat looked up as the two returned. "I really should be going now. Just in case."
Kurama shook his head. "Not yet. Just rest for a little while."
"Kurama's right, you should rest for a while.."
"But, if Karasu....."
The red-haired teen sighed slightly. "And I thought I worried too much. Kuronue, I'm sure Karasu is in worse condition than you are right now, and I'm only asking you to rest for a little while." He looked at the demon with puppy eyes. "Please?"
Kuronue sighed, unable to resist the 'cute' look.
Yusuke chuckled softly seeing Kurama's puppy eyes and Kuronue's look of defeat.
"Fine, I'll stay for a while. But not too long, alright?"
Kurama chuckled slightly. "Agreed."
The younger teen sighed and folded his arms behind his head. "If you don't mind me asking... what were you two like before..?"
Kuronue looked over at the younger teen, then back at Kurama.
The redhead looked at the bat, then at Yusuke. "We were both thieves, as you probably could have guessed."
He nodded slightly, his arms still folded behind his head.
"I don't know if you can tell, though, but I'm moderately older than Kurama," the bat said.
He nodded again. "I figured that.."
Kurama nodded, blushing slightly. "Around 200 years, actually," he said. "But, Kuronue found me when I was a few years old, when I was abandoned......."
Yusuke blinked slightly, he hadn't known that Kurama had been abandoned.
Kuronue nodded. "I was on my way back from.....one of my thefts.....when I found a young kit by himself. I'm not sure why, but I felt sorry for him, and took him in."
Kurama nodded.
"So.. that's why you two have such a strong bond.." he said thoughtfully.
The fox nodded again. "Kuronue taught me a lot, and he took care of me for as long as I could remember. And he kept taking care of me, until the day he died......"
"But when our relationship changed," the bat said, "I'm not entirely sure."
He nodded again, taking in everything the other two were saying.
"It was strange," the bat continued, "when this young, inexperienced fox kit started being viewed, in my mind, as attractive. It wasn't embarrassing, though, that we were 200 years apart. In human years, that would be as two people only two or three years apart. But, for some reason, as Kurama grew older, I couldn't help but feel differently for him."
"I suppose... it was the same for me.." he replied gently, "since I thought I liked Keiko.. but then I found I had feelings for Kurama instead.."
"Oh?" Kuronue asked, curiously. "So, you had a girlfriend already?"
He nodded, a small blush forming on his cheeks.
"That's interesting......"
Kurama cleared his throat. "I'm not sure if Yusuke would like to hear us talk about our relationship, Kuronue...."
Yusuke didn't say anything, he didn't want Kurama to feel uncomfortable with talking about his past, so instead he kept his gaze averted to the floor.
"Is that saying you don't want Yusuke hearing about it, or that you don't want to talk about it?"
"I never said that," the fox protested. "I just don't want Yusuke getting bored listening to us talk about our past."
"I'm not bored.." he replied gently.
Kurama looked at him, then nodded. "I'm not sure when my feelings for Kuronue changed, either. He was like an older brother to me. But.....I guess there was always more to it then that....."
He nodded, looking from Kuronue to Kurama.
"We were happy for about a hundred years," Kuronue said, "before I.....well, you should know by now....."
He nodded again. "I suppose it would've been much different if you hadn't died.."
The older demon looked at Yusuke, smiling slyly. "Yes, I suppose it would've....."
Kurama blushed slightly, knowing the full meaning of Kuronue's words.
The younger teen chuckled slightly, dropping his arms from their position behind his head to his sides.
Kurama cleared his throat again, a little louder than before, as the red hue on his cheeks slowly faded.
Hearing the other clear his throat, he looked over at him.
"Anything else you'd like to know?" Kurama asked, looking at the other teen.
He shook his head gently, not really thinking of anything else.
Kuronue nodded, rising to his feet slowly. "If that's it then, perhaps I should go."
Kurama looked up at the other. "Are you sure you're alright?"
The bat nodded. "And, if Karasu won't be back as you say, then I should be fine for a while."
Yusuke looked from Kuronue to Kurama. "He.. does have a point.."
The fox teen nodded. "I know he does." He looked at the other demon. "Just be careful, okay?"
Kuronue had already been halfway out the window. He glanced at the fox over his shoulder. "You know I am," he said, smiling softly. And he disappeared.
The younger teen placed a hand on the other's shoulder. "Don't worry, he'll be fine.."
The older teen nodded, looking at the other with a small smile.
He gently smiled back, removing his hand.
The fox sighed slightly, leaning into the other teen.
Yusuke moved a few bangs out of the other's eyes. "You know.. I really do wonder what would've happened if Kuronue hadn't died.."
"If he hadn't.....I might not be here right now....."
He nodded gently, even though he wouldn't admit it aloud, he was glad Kuronue had died.
He cuddled closer to the other. "And....that makes me wonder where we would be if that happened.......If I wasn't here right now, and quite possibly, us never meeting at all......"
"It could've also been possible that I would've never come back one of the times I died.." he replied, almost sadly.
He looked up at the other, confused. "I had nothing to do with you coming back after you died....How would me not being here......?"
He smiled, kissing the other's forehead gently. "There was always a reason for me coming back.." he replied, "who's to say you weren't one of them?"
"Well......I know I couldn't have been the reason for the first time you came back, because we hadn't met at that point......." He looked down at the ground. "The only reason you came back was because of Keiko......"
The younger teen looked at the top of the other's head. Keiko had been one of the biggest reasons he had come back the first time, but not the only one. "But nothing happened that way, so I guess it doesn't really matter.."
"She kissed you....." the fox whispered, a tiny hint of jealousy woven in his voice.
He looked at the older teen. "But you've kissed me too.."
"But HER kiss was the reason that you came back to life the first time. I could never say that......"
Yusuke looked down at the ground, guilt from making the older teen sad welling up inside of him.
He closed his eyes, cuddling closer to the younger teen, almost in a desperate need.
The younger teen wrapped his arms around the other, placing his head on Kurama's shoulder and whispering, "Keiko NEVER made me feel the way you make me feel, Kurama.."
The fox smiled slightly, pulling the other closer.
He smiled back slightly, leaning closer to the teen and brushing his lips over the other's.
His eyes still closed, he leaned closer, returning the kiss.
The younger teen leaned closer, deepening the kiss, before pulling away.
The fox looked at the other, slightly curiously.
He chuckled slightly at the other, gently raising his hand up and running it once through the other's hair. "It's getting kind of late.."
"Yeah, I guess it is......"
The younger teen pulled away from the other's warm embrace.
He missed the warmth, but said nothing, and simply watched the other teen.
He started for the bedroom door. "I'll be right back.." With that, he walked out and into the bathroom.
Sighing, he flopped back on the bed, his legs dangling over the edge, as he stared up the ceiling.
After finishing his business, Yusuke walked back into the bedroom, he smiled when he saw the other. "So when were you planning on getting your apartment?"
"When this whole thing blows over......" the fox replied, still lying on the bed.
He nodded, walking over and laying on his side next to the other.
He looked at the other, smiling gently. "I was thinking some place by the park."
"Wherever is fine.." he replied, smiling back.
The fox smiled also.
The doorknob rattled suddenly.
Hearing the doorknob, Yusuke looked at the other, smiling playfully. "Better watch it fox boy, you don't want to do anything that will make you blush in front of my mom."
The fox chuckled slightly, closing his eyes as the door opened.
The younger teen sighed, rolling onto his back and looking up at the ceiling.
Atsuko walked into the bedroom, looking at the two teens lying on the bed. "Well, aren't we bursting with energy?" she said sarcastically.
He rolled his eyes slightly, closing them after. "Very funny.."
She shrugged slightly. "Have you two eaten anything?"
Yusuke thought for a second. "Yeah.. a while ago."
"I meant dinner."
He shook his head. "No."
"Well, I bought some food, if you're hungry. It's in the fridge. I'm going out again." She left, the door creaking as it opened, and clicking softly as it closed.
The younger teen moved to face the other. "Do you want anything?"
"Maybe just a little something...."
He nodded, slowly getting up.
The fox opened his eyes, looking at the other teen.
"Stay here." He smiled. "I'll bring it to you."
He rested on his elbows, half sitting, half lying down. "Are you sure?"
He nodded, walking out the door.
He smiled, lying back down on the bed.
Yusuke opened the refrigerator door and looked inside. A container of fried chicken with some mashed potatoes was sitting on the top shelf. He took the carton, which was still warm, two bottles of water and some eating utensils, walking over to the bedroom door again.
Hearing the other return, Kurama sat up, looking at the other with a soft smile on his lips.
He took the tray which Kurama had left in the room from earlier and set the carton, a bottle of water, and the fork on it, handing everything to the other.
He smiled, looking at the other. "Aren't you going to have some?"
The teen shook his head. "No, I'm not too hungry."
He frowned slightly, though didn't say anything. He scooped some mashed potatoes onto his fork, lifting it to his lips and eating it.
He smiled slightly even when the other frowned, and sat down next to him, taking a sip of his water instead.
He looked at the other, drinking some of his own water, before eating more mashed potatoes.
Noticing the other looking at him, he looked down at the water bottle in his hands, starting to play with it.
He watched the other fidgeting with his water bottle, smiling, slightly amused.
He stopped playing with the water bottle and sighed, flopping backwards on the bed. He could still feel the other watching him.
He looked away from the other, knowing that the other was feeling slightly uncomfortable.
Noticing the other's action, Yusuke sat up softly, scooting closer and resting his head on the other's shoulder.
Kurama chuckled slightly. "You know, you remind me of Kuronue sometimes...."
The younger teen looked at the other curiously. "I do?"
The fox nodded, eating a little more mashed potatoes. Swallowing, he said, "When I was younger, and Kuronue first took me in, I had a hard time trusting him. So, whenever he caught something to eat, he would always give it to me, and not eat anything. He would also try to get me to open up." He shrugged slightly. "I first noticed when Kuronue came back."
He smiled gently, scooting a bit closer to the other.
Kurama smiled as well, placing the food on the dresser.
Pulling away slightly, he looked up at the older teen. "I hope you're not only done because of me."
He shook his head. "I'm really done."
He nodded, debating on whether to take the food into the kitchen or stay with the red head. Making his decision, he leaned back on the older teen.
He wrapped his arm around the other, gently pulling him closer.
Yusuke smiled, cuddling closer and closing his eyes.
"Are you sure you don't want to eat some?" he asked, his voice a soft whisper.
He nodded slightly. "I'm sure.."
"Alright....." he replied.
The younger smiled, his eyes still closed. "Don't worry, I'm fine.."
He nodded slightly, gently gripping the other's shoulder.
Yusuke felt the other's grip gently tighten around his shoulders and he shifted, slightly uncomfortable in his jeans.
"Are you alright?" he asked, looking at younger teen.
He nodded. "Yes, I'm fine."
He nodded slightly, gently placing a kiss on Yusuke's forehead.
The teen closed his eyes and smiled gently.
He gently pushed the other down on the bed, leaning over him.
He didn't object when he pushed to the bed. Blinking his eyes open, he saw the other leaning over him.
He smiled softly, bending over and capturing the other's lips gently.
Leaning forward slightly, he returned the kiss.
He deepened the kiss, gently pressing the other's head deeper into the pillow.
Closing his eyes, Yusuke moved his arms so that they were resting limply over Kurama's shoulders.
He moved his hands down the other's body, until he gently grasped the younger teen's hips.
The teen shivered slightly as he felt the other's hands moving down his body.
Feeling the other shiver, he broke the kiss, looking down at the other gently.
Opening his eyes, the younger teen looked up at the older curiously.
Smiling gently, he leaned down again, this time gently brushing his lips over the other's neck.
A small moan escaped from his lips as the detective felt the other's lips brushing over his neck.
Hearing the other moan, he raised his head, looking up at the other.
He smiled gently, lifting his head slightly and capturing the other's lips.
He deepened the kiss.
The younger teen moved one of his hands, which was still resting gently on the other's shoulder's and started to play with the teen's crimson hair.
He broke the kiss, looking at the teen with gentle, half-lidded eyes.
He smiled back. "Tired?"
He chuckled softly, closing his eyes. "Not tired.....breathless, maybe, but not tired......"
He let out a small laugh, moving his arms from the other's shoulders to place them beside him on the bed.
His smiled deepened, gently moving off the other, sitting next to him on the bed.
Yusuke didn't move from his spot laying on the bed, just looked over at the other, smiling.
He smiled as well, before looking out the window, looking up at the night sky.
The younger teen moved onto his stomach, propping himself up on his elbows and looking out the window as well.
Kurama gasped softly suddenly, faltering slightly as he leaned forward, supporting his upper body with his hand on the bed.
"Kurama?" he asked, looking at the other concerned.
He gripped the sheets underneath his hand tightly, groaning slightly.
Sitting up quickly, he pulled his knees underneath him and sat on them, looking at the other teen fearfully. "Kurama, what's wrong?"
"It's.....It's K....K-Karasu.....!"
Yusuke wasn't sure what the other meant. "What?!"
"He's.....He's trying to.....take over my mind....!"
The younger teen gasped, trying to think of a way to stop the demon from getting full control.
He looked up at the other, life flickering in his emerald eyes. "Help me....please....!"
He looked down at the bed, then remembering how he had done it the last time, he leaned over, kissing the other. Hopefully this works again..
He kissed the other back, gripping Yusuke's shirt desperately, but, as he continued to fight for his own mind, realized that this wasn't going to work again.
Pulling away, Yusuke noticed that Kurama's emerald eyes were still flickering. If that didn't work, what else can I do?! he thought desperately.
"Ngh.....!" The fox released his hold on Yusuke, placing his hands to his head, leaning forward so that his forehead touched the bed.
"I.. I don't know what else to do!" He shook his head, trying to think.
He trembled, tears soaking into the sheets.
Tears started forming in his own eyes as he watched the other tremble. "Kurama, I am right here... I'll help you.. but I don't know how.."
A black aura began to surround the redhead's body. "It hurts.....!" he mumbled. "It hurts.....!"
Leaning forward, he embraced the other teen. "I wish I could take all your pain.." A small tear fell down his cheek and landed on Kurama's shirt.
"Y.....Y-Yusuke....!"
"What?" he asked, looking at the other, a feeling of helplessness settling over him.
"I.....You...you have to....leave.....now.....!"
"No! I'm not leaving you!"
He panted slightly, looking up at the other, the light in his eyes slowly fading. "I....I can't fight it anymore.....You have to.....leave.....I don't.....want you to get.....hurt....."
"I'm NOT leaving," he replied stubbornly. "You'll get hurt if I leave and I don't want you to."
"I.....I don't want you hurt either.......But.....I.....can't control it anymore......"
The teen sat there, unmoving. "I'm not leaving you.."
Exhausted, the redhead suddenly fell back, the aura suddenly disappearing.
Yusuke leaned over the older teen. "Kurama..?"
He lay there, for a while unmoving.
The younger teen placed his hand on the other's shoulder, gently shaking it. "Kurama... please..."
Slowly, his eyes opened, though held no sign of life. The dull green orbs stared out into nothing, and he continued to lay there, seemingly as still as if he weren't breathing.