The Gift of Oneself
by xDarkxMagicianxGirlx and Ookami no Kokoro.
Disclaimers: Neither I nor Ookami no Kokoro own Yu Yu Hakusho, though we can wish, right?
Chapter Thirteen
Yusuke blinked his tired eyes open, he was on his side facing the window. Moving slightly, he found that he was all alone on his bed. "Kurama..!" The fox, kneeling by the bed, had used his arms as a pillow beneath his head. Hearing the sudden yell, he was jarred out of his sleep, blinking tiredly.
"Oh.." the other replied gently, looking at the other.
Looking up at the younger teen, the redhead smiled gently. "Did you sleep well?"
Yusuke nodded. "What about you?"
Kurama nodded as well, getting to his feet, stretching. The dark haired teen sat up, swinging his legs over the side of the bed, facing the older teen.
"Are you hungry?" the redhead asked, blushing slightly at being watched for a while.
"No," the indicated teen replied, looking away and shaking his head gently.
Kurama looked at the other, frowning slightly. "You haven't eaten very well lately. Are you feeling alright?"
"Yes, I'm fine.."
"Alright, if you're sure.."
Yusuke smiled slightly, and looked at the other teen. "Are you hungry?"
Kurama smiled shyly. "Just a little.."
Yusuke chuckled slightly. "Okay, let's see what we can get you to eat," he replied, standing up. He noticed that the food the older teen had been eating the night before was gone, meaning Atsuko must've took care of it. The fox sat on the bed, looking around the room. He still felt a little tired.
Yusuke had been about to walk out, but stopped when he saw the other sit down tiredly. Turning slightly, he looked at the other. "I'm.. sorry I woke you.. If you're tired, you should get some more rest."
The fox teen smiled at the other. "You didn't really wake me. Actually, I'm glad I awoke when I did..." He let his voice trail off.
The younger looked at the other, slightly confused.
Kurama shook his head. "Never mind," he replied.
Yusuke nodded gently and turned. Not looking at the other, he asked, "What do you want to eat?"
"It doesn't matter to me.."
"I'll see what we have.." the former replied, walking out the door.
The fox sighed slightly, lying back on bed. As he did, however, he felt something in the back of his mind, trying to take over again. He held his head, closing his eyes. Yusuke looked around the kitchen. He didn't see much to make for breakfast, so instead he grabbed some bread and put it in the toaster, leaning against the counter and waiting patiently for it to be done.
The redhead groaned slightly, still holding his head as he rolled onto his side in the bedroom.
The detective sighed, grabbing the toast and buttering it. He started walking back to his bedroom. "All we have is-" He stopped in the middle of his sentence, seeing the older teen holding his head. "Kurama? Are you okay?" Kurama let out another moan in response.
Yusuke walked over to the bed, leaning over the other. "Kurama..?" The older's body began to glow a dark aura. The younger teen's eyes widened and he dropped the bread that was in his hand to the floor.
"Ngh..! No! Not again..!"
Yusuke climbed onto the bed, fear and helplessness evident in his chocolate orbs as he tried to think of ways to stop Karasu from getting total control of the fox's mind. As the black aura began to glow brighter, it suddenly dimmed as a white aura tried to overcome it.
"Kuronue?" Yusuke asked, staring at the older teen. "What can I do to help?"
"Just be there for him...." came the reply as the aura disappeared.
He nodded, pulling Kurama closer to him, so that the teen's head was resting on his lap.
Kurama moaned slightly, his eyes fluttering open slowly.
The younger teen gently ran his fingers through the other's hair. "Are you all right?" he asked in a whisper.
The fox sat up slowly, shaking his head. "No..." His shoulders began to tremble slightly. "I hate this.... I hate it all. This.. frustration and pain." His body began to glow slightly. "I can't take this anymore..!"
Yusuke looked at the other. "Kurama.."
His body continued to glow, his energy being used in an attempt to forfeit his life. "I-I don't want to deal with this anymore!"
The younger teen suddenly wrapped his arms around the other. "And I don't want you to..."
The high amount of energy continued to be released, as the fox began to show signs of tiring.
Yusuke! Kuronue said to the younger teen mentally.
Kuronue? he asked mentally, slightly stunned.
What's going on? the bat asked, slightly frantic. Kurama's emitting a lot of energy...
I.. I think he is trying to kill himself.. Tears started forming in the younger teen's eyes and he looked up at the older teen. "Kurama... please stop.."
"I can't.. I can't deal with this anymore!" the fox said, not hearing the other. "I.. I hate it so much!"
"I'll help you deal with it," Yusuke replied, trying to calm the other down. "You can't leave me, I need you..."
Kurama's aura suddenly started to die down, as he opened his eyes and looked at the younger teen. Yusuke's grip around the other tightened, and he looked back up at the other.
Tears slid down the redhead's cheeks, as he closed his eyes. "I'm so tired of it all....." he whispered. "I'm so tired of my life......"
"I wish I could switch places with you, Kurama.." Yusuke whispered.
Kurama shook his head. "I wouldn't want anyone else to have this kind of fate.." He opened his eyes, tears still sliding down his cheeks. "Especially not you.."
The ebony haired teen wiped the tears from the other's eyes. "I just wish I could help you more.."
Kurama closed his eyes to the other's touch, shivering slightly. The younger teen gently loosened his grip and pulled away, still looking at the other.
Feeling the other slip away, the fox looked down at the bed, slightly ashamed. "I'm sorry....." he whispered.
"Don't be sorry.." Yusuke replied gently, "I.. I just don't want to lose you.."
"I just... .I just wish I knew how to handle this better. I hate having to deal with things like this all the time..."
Yusuke nodded gently, understanding the other, he hated seeing Kurama pained all the time. Kurama shivered again, his eyes drooping slightly. He shook his head slightly to clear the fatigue from using too much energy.
Yusuke looked at the other. "You need to get some rest... you used a lot of energy up.."
He shook his head. "I can't.. If I try to fall asleep.. I just can't.."
The younger looked at the other, concerned. "Kurama.. at least let me give you some of my energy.."
"If.. If you really want to..." the older replied tiredly.
"If you're not going to rest.. I see no other option.." Yusuke gently placed his hand on the other's shoulder, starting the transfer.
"Not too much....." Kurama said quietly. "I don't want you to tire yourself out....."
"Your health is much more important than mine.." Yusuke replied, closing his eyes gently and sending his energy in slightly large amounts.
"To you, maybe..." the older felt a large wave of energy through him. He placed his hand on the other's. "I think that's enough....."
Yusuke opened his eyes slightly. "Are.. you sure? "
Kurama nodded, smiling softly. "I'll be fine now. Thank you."