Chapter 2

Author's Note: There has been some confusion, I apologize. This story is an AU. Basically it is Yu Yu Hakusho, the difference is that Yuusuke isn't a spirit detective. That part of the story line never happened. But many other things remain the same.

Kurama stepped out of the car and glanced around him. He tried his best not to stare, but really it was quite hard. It wasn't that there was anything special about the building in particular, but rather that he was supposed to accept this place as his home, especially when he had no memory of it.

The building in front of him was simple enough. It had actually been the rental offices for the apartments across the street, until the owner had decided he'd rather keep his office in his own apartment. As a result he turned the offices into a soft of loft for rental, and apparently it was where he and Yuusuke now lived, with occasional visits by that short boy Hiei.

One floor and one room that was quite big, was divided out into sections by book cases and a desk with a computer. A bed sat over the corner, tucked in next to the closet. Various game systems and games lay scattered around the TV, while food was arranged mostly in order around the makeshift kitchen, which consisted of a mini fridge, a couple hot plates and a coffee machine around an area of cupboards. Actually, for a college home, it looked relatively neat and well kept, not to mention that even if Kurama didn't remember anything in the room it did feel comfortable.

Walking past Yuusuke he wandered over to the non-computer desk which was pushed up against the far wall. Various school books were piled neatly with a small box of highlighters and post it notes, a notebook laying open with notes. Kurama picked up a pen and slowly wrote his name at the bottom of the page. After a moment of comparing the handwriting he came to the conclusion that this was his school work area, after all it looked like his handwriting and the neatness just seemed to suit him.

"It's a bit late and I know you've been in bed most of the day after school here, but well… the bed is yours. I'll take the couch or something until, well… you know."

"Until I feel comfortable." Kurama supplied for him. He was still trying to wrap his mind around the fact that he and this boy were a couple. It wasn't that he had a problem with it, or at least he didn't think he did, but having someone tell you that you were their lover and not even remembering their face, much less their name, was a bit of a shock. He hated being so hesitant, because he was sure it was hurting Yuusuke, but he didn't really know how else to act. Jumping blindly wasn't something he wanted to do, because he knew there was the potential to hurt people more. Turning back to Yuusuke he gave him a small apologetic smile. "I'm sorry Yuusuke, I don't mean to doubt what you're saying, but it's going to take some time."

"Hey, no problem." Yuusuke merely shrugged and dropped down into the couch across from the TV and all the game systems. "Believe me, I understand. Take your time, really. The last thing I want to do is make you uncomfortable."

Kurama nodded and decided to leave it at that. He had a feeling that smile on Yuusuke's face was a carefully constructed mask to hide his true feelings. But better to leave well enough alone, because he really had no idea how to make Yuusuke feel better if he revealed he knew something was still wrong. Nodding to himself he crossed the room over to the closet. He stood at the door for a moment, looking a bit helpless. In front of him was only one door and it was open, but he really had no way of knowing which set of clothes…

"On the left."

Kurama blinked and glanced back at Yuusuke, then he nodded and looked at the clothes on the left. Shrugging he pulled out a set that looked like pajamas and stepped back by the bed so he was out of Yuusuke's sight, then changed clothes.

He couldn't quite grasp everything about any of this, and he had to admit that his head was starting to hurt. He didn't have the memories to look for. He couldn't find them anywhere in his head, it was just like everything was erased. How exactly did one get back the notes from a previous day when the white board had already been washed off? Well… there was one way…

Kurama slowly stepped back out in the main part of the room, now wearing a pair of dark green pajamas. He found Yuusuke still sitting on the couch, but now he was playing one of the games, his eyes mostly focused on the screen as his character ran around apparently shooting zombies or something like that. Kurama stood there for a moment watching him, then slowly moved over to the couch and sat on the opposite end. "Yuusuke…"

"Hm? Something wrong?" Yuusuke pressed the pause button and glanced over at him.

"Um how, well… how did we meet?" He asked softly, not looking up. He couldn't make himself meet Yuusuke's eyes as he asked. Even though it wasn't his fault that he couldn't remember, he actually felt like he was betraying Yuusuke by having to ask about such a personal memory.

Yuusuke's response was a nervous chuckle and he muttered a soft answer that Kurama couldn't make out. After a moment of silence he repeated it slightly louder. "I umm, actually beat you up."

Kurama blinked in surprise and looked up at him. "You… what?"

"It's not like it sounds, really. Just, well, my mom was a deadbeat, always drunk and stuff and you know, god forbid she should actually buy anything besides beer that you could make a meal out of. So I couldn't bring meals from home… so I spent most of my first year stealing them from other kids. Well, I tried to steal your lunch, and well… you kicked my ass."

Kurama couldn't help but crack a smile at that. "I… beat you up? That doesn't really sound like a way to start a relationship."

"Well, you kicked my ass and left me to nurse a nice black eye. But then you turned around and offered to share your lunch with me. You actually threw me for a nice little loop there." Yuusuke leaned back on the couch, looking up at the ceiling. "And well, you started insisting that I share your lunches rather then beating up other kids for theirs. Eventually I took the hint. And I guess it got turned around… because you got teased for hanging out with a punk like me. So I went and kicked their asses for you." Yuusuke smirked at the memory as Kurama watched him.

It was strange. He didn't remember this boy sitting next to him at all, but the way he spoke about their supposed memories, it sounded sincere. Kurama wanted to believe him so much, but he also felt he needed something concrete to support the memories, and that made him feel bad. He still felt that by not remembering he was betraying Yuusuke in some way. His smile wilted and he looked down in his lap. "Well… I suppose I should thank you."

Yuusuke glanced over at him, then reached over and lightly placed his hands on top of Kurama's in his lap. Kurama sat there, a bit rigid, just looking at his hand, not sure what to do.

"You don't need to thank me. And you don't need to be nervous, honest Kurama. Just relax. I promise we'll find a way to fix this. We'll find out what happened and we'll fix it."

Kurama nodded, still not looking up at Yuusuke. "I… I'm going to get some sleep."

Yuusuke gave a small nod and pulled his hand back. "That might be a good idea. I'll see you in the morning."

He found himself sitting there for a few more moments of silence, just wondering if he was really expected to do anything else. He couldn't help but wonder if he'd used to kiss Yuusuke good night, or any other habit that a couple who was living together might do. But nothing jumped out in his mind, and he couldn't bear to look up at Yuusuke and possibly see an expectant look on his face. Instead Kurama just forced himself to stand and to head over to the bed area of the room, murmuring a 'good night' before shutting off the lights and climbing into the bed.

Kurama sighed softly and closed his eyes , rolling over to face the wall. He couldn't help it, but he felt empty, and cold in spite of the blankets. He snuggled a bit closer under the blankets and to the wall, his hand resting against the cold plaster. If nothing else it gave him a feeling of something sturdy while he slept, something concrete that he could hold onto. Even if his memory was gone and he didn't know if what other's said was real he knew the wall was. It was a silly thing, when you thought about it really.

But at a time like this, people apparently got comfort from the smallest of things.

The world around him was different. It wasn't what he was used to, not one bit. Granted, it looked to be the same. It actually looked to be the same world, with plants and trees, sky and ground. But the whole feeling of the place, perhaps even the scents in the air, spoke of a difference that ran much deeper then looks. Nothing stood out to him, everything seemed normal and yet not.

He stood quietly, just looking around him, willing himself to see where he was. Was it familiar? Was it a new place? Was it real? His mind was stuck in an odd state, one that refused to really acknowledge anything around him beyond the fact that it was there. It wasn't that he couldn't remember, it was more like that area of his mind had shut down. He could see there were trees, and there were, but there was nothing beyond that. Nothing was familiar and yet nothing was unfamiliar. It was just there.

He turned his head, looking around him. There had to be something he could grasp onto, some thread of thought that could show him where he was or give him some recognition. But his mind felt hazy, and if such a thing lay around him, he couldn't find it.

A whisper in the air, and hands rested on his shoulders. He stopped moving and just stood there, not saying a thing at all as the hands rested on his shoulders then, slowly, pulled him into a light embrace from behind.

It was warm. Warmth flowed from the body behind him, and he found himself closing his eyes, just enjoying the feeling. It didn't even occur to him to wonder who it was holding him, but rather he just liked the feeling. Closing his eyes and leaning back he let himself be taken in by the warmth… and comfort.

The arms around him felt familiar. Compared to the trees ad his other surroundings, there was something about these arms that reminded him. He wasn't sure what they reminded him of, but he knew it was something just past where his mind was willing to go at the moment.

The head behind him tilted down and a soft voice whispered into his ear. He could hear the words and recognize that they were words, but much like the trees, he couldn't quite grasp what words they were or what they meant. It was as if there was a piece missing in his brain, making him unable to grasp the connection. But the words weren't threatening, they were warm and comforting, much like the arms around him.

As the words were spoken he noticed a soft white glow growing over his skin. It started, almost like a mist, seeping out of his skin and just clinging to him without any feeling. Then, as more words were spoken, it began to change color, shifting to a more shining hue, almost a silver, if air could really be silver. And the color grew over him, covering his body like a living blanket as it warped and covered his entire body.

It must have flowed over his eyes as well, because the world around him became silver tinted, everything around him shining and sparkling in a strange light. Then the feeling of the arms disappeared. And the world around him faded away, melting into a dream.

Kurama sat up in bed and looked down at his arms. He remembered the dream with a solid clarity, swearing it had actually been real. He even could almost feel the slight tingling on his skin from someone touching him. But there was no one there.

There was, however, a small white-ish light still clinging to his skin. Kurama moved his hand through the air and small white wisps flitted away, fading into the air as it slowly came off his skin. In testing he brushed at his arm, setting more of the strange white mist floating away into the air. Somehow the light was clinging to him, like the after effect of… something. But at the same time it wasn't something he could feel, or really touch. All he could do was watch it slowly fade away.

Kurama blinked in confusion and turned in the bed, looking for some hint as to what was going on. The room around him was dark and there was nothing, nothing save for a small purple light coming from outside the window. Kurama crawled closer to the window to see what it was. It was too bright and colored to be a street light.

As he moved closer the color disappeared, fading away. Instead, sitting in the tree, was the same short boy who'd been in the hospital room with Yuusuke earlier, his hand adjusting the white bandana he wore around his forehead. Kurama smiled just slightly and opened the window, leaning out to look up at him.

"What are you doing out here this late?"

Hiei, that was his name Kurama remembered, just shrugged. "I like climbing trees at night."

"Do you always climb the one by my window?"

Hiei nodded.

Kurama nodded himself and thought a bit. Hiei seemed to also be a good friend, or at least that's how it seemed considering his reactions to Kurama. In the hospital he'd noticed that the shorter boy had been distant and quick to act and anger. Now, at night alone, he was actually in a fairly good mood. The scowl that had seemed engraved on his face wasn't there. Either he was in a better mood from the night or he was just more agreeable around one or two people. Kurama, actually had a feeling it was a mix of both.

"Can I ask you a question?"

Hiei gave a single nod, watching him.

Kurama glanced down, fidgeting a bit. He hated asking things he should already know. After a moment he glanced back at Hiei to see the boy fidgeting as well. Kurama couldn't help but wince just a bit.

"We're… old friends." He finally said. "It's… more complicated then that. But that's close enough."

Kurama nodded. "Sorry I needed to ask. I'm still working on this memory thing." He smiled. "But at least it wasn't like Yuusuke, he says I beat him up when I met him."

The side of Hiei's mouth curved up just a bit. "He didn't tell me that part. I'll have to remember that."

"I didn't just get him in trouble, did I?"

Hiei's small smirk tilted, and it couldn't have just been Kurama's imagination that it turned a bit more mischievous. "No, not at all." But for some reason, Kurama didn't quite believe him.

"You know… you don't have to stay out there. I'm sure you can come in."

Hiei shook his head and laid back on the branch. "I like it out here. I won't bother you. You should get back to sleep."

Kurama opened his mouth to protest, but thought better of it and nodded, agreeing. He moved back from the window but stopped and glanced back out at Hiei. "There was a strange purple light outside the window. Did a… truck drive by?"

"The street light behind the tree has been flickering. That's probably what you saw."

Kurama nodded and laid back down in bed, rolling over onto his side and closing his eyes to sleep. He drifted off relatively quickly, even in spite of the fact that a large part of him didn't believe that explanation.