Aha! I have returned!

Little One: What took you so long?

Well, I've had this written for a while, but…

Little One: Prohibition?

Umm… partly….

Little One: Heh heh.

Anyway, I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho! It would be nice, but I don't. So no suing or anything.

Little One: Yeah, what kind of person goes around suing fanfic writers, anyway?

I have no idea, but better safe than sorry! Well, here we go!

Chapter 2

Kurama's eyes widened. There standing in front of him, was his namesake, Youko Kurama. He was slightly taller than Kurama, not by much, really, but Kurama felt as if Youko towered over him. Youko narrowed his golden eyes in a smirk.

"Something wrong, Shuuichi?" He laughed, and his silver hair blew around him, as if touched by a nonexistent breeze. Kurama cleared his throat.

"It's a little unsettling, seeing you face-to-face."

"Hm. Interesting. But I take it you didn't call me out just to chat."

"No, I didn't. I need to ask you about Botan."

Youko's expression changed at this. It was a small change that would have been imperceptible to everyone else, but to Kurama, it was as clear as day. Youko was a part of him, after all. But this change in expression was confusing. There was no way to tell exactly what it meant. Youko's eyes had a strange look in them, a bit of….of…

Vulnerability?

Yes, that was it. But what had triggered it? The mention of Botan?

"What about her?" Youko asked. His eyes hardened again.

"I keep having… incidents with her. Incidents that aren't my fault."

"Are you accusing me of influencing your actions?"

"Perhaps."

"Don't fool around with me, Shuuichi. I know you well enough to realize what you're doing."

Kurama looked over his shoulder at Akiko. She was watching intently. He didn't have much time.

"Fine. No more beating around the bush."

"Good."

"Are you in love with Botan?"

Youko froze, the smirk wiped off his face. Kurama mentally congratulated himself. His joy was short-lived, however. Youko quickly regained his composure, and his mouth returned to its usual smirk.

"What do you think, Shuuichi?" Youko threw back his head and laughed. Try as he might, Kurama couldn't see the humor in any of this.

"I don't know!"

"I think you do."

Kurama hesitated. "Yes. I think you do."

"My feelings for her are not your concern, Shuuichi."

"But your using me!" Kurama cried out in frustration.

"I have lent you my power on many occasions," Youko said calmly. "I have saved your life more times than you can count. And now, I will collect what is due to me. You owe me, Shuuichi."

"You have my body! Isn't that enough?"

"I am a thief, Shuuichi. I'm used to taking what I want, when I want, no matter what the circumstances. And I want Botan."

Kurama was about to reply, but a voice from behind him interrupted.

"Your time is up!!" Akiko shouted.

The green light enveloped them again, and Kurama could feel Youko's consciousness flowing back into him.

As quickly as it came, the glow evaporated, and with it went Youko. Kurama felt a little better, and more coordinated, now that Youko had been restored to his proper place. The strange, empty feeling was gone, but now confusion filled the void.

Kurama now knew that Youko was in love with Botan. That was something, at least. But what was he going to do about it? Now that he knew, he could try to fight it, perhaps, but Youko would mostly redouble his efforts.

"It seems you have a problem."

Kurama jumped. He had forgotten that Akiko was still there.

"Yes, it appears I do."

"You'll make it through, I think. But things probably won't turn out as expected."

That was a strange thing to say… thought Kurama. He didn't say this out loud, though. Instead, he replied with "Thank you, for all of your help."

"You'll need all the help you can get." Akiko said grimly. It gave Kurama the creeps. "I must go now," Akiko turned away. "I have some more business to attend to."

"Thanks again."

"Don't thank me just yet." And with that, she disappeared.

Kurama blinked. "That is the creepiest woman I have ever met."

The next day, Kurama was still depressed and confused. No solutions were presenting themselves, and he was running out of time. He was bound to run into Botan sooner or later, and there was no telling what might happen then. So what was he supposed to do? If only he had someone to confide in, someone who knew about these kinds of things….

Yusuke. Of course! He could talk to Yusuke! He knew Botan better than most others, and he knew a little about relationships (he was still holding his relationship with Keiko together). Okay, so Yusuke defiantly wasn't the best person to turn to, but who else could he discuss this with? Hiei? Oh, that would be fun. 'Hiei, what do you know about romantic relationships?' Heh. Yeah right. That little demon would never listen to his problems with Youko and Botan. What about Koenma? Kuwabara? No, no. Yusuke would have to do.

Resolved, Kurama headed off to Yusuke's house.

"So let me get this straight," Yusuke said, pulling out a cigarette and lighting it. Kurama winced as the putrid smoke entered his eyes, nose, and mouth. "Youko loves Botan, and he's using you to get to her?"

"Yes, that's about right." Kurama replied. "So, what should I do?"

"About….?"

"About Youko!"

"Youko?"

"Yes, Youko!"

Yusuke leaned against the outside wall of his house, puffing on his cigarette. "I don't think it's Youko you should be worried about."

"I don't follow you."

"What about Botan? You kinda led her on."

"But that was…"

"Yeah, yeah. But she thinks you love her. And obviously she cares about you."

"How do you know that?"

"Well, Botan isn't the kind of person who would let just anyone grab her and kiss her."

"I…"

" 'Cause let's face it- you threw yourself at her."

Kurama cringed at Yusuke's choice of words. But they did make a lot of sense.

"Y'know, Yusuke," Kurama said," Kurama said, smiling, "This whole conversation sounds like it should be reversed."

"What?"

"Well, doesn't this seem like a problem you would come to me with?"

Yusuke grinned. "Yeah, I suppose. But you can't be the smart one all the time."

Kurama ran into Botan sooner than he had expected. He had been called to Reikai Palace by Koenma for some strange, obscure reason, and naturally, Kurama was incredibly nervous. But you can't exactly refuse to see the ruler of the Spirit World, especially if he asks you.

He saw her talking to a demon who was running an errand for Koenma. Luckily, she didn't see him, and he decided to sneak past.

{Go talk to her.}

Kurama stopped dead. "What?" he whispered aloud.

{I want to talk to her!}

Oh great. As if things weren't bad enough! Now he was hearing voices in his head!

{Move Shuuichi! Talk to her!}

Kurama was once again overcome with a desire to talk to Botan. He took a step forward, then forced himself to stop. "Youko?" he whispered.

{Shuuichi?}

Kurama heard the voice again. There could be no doubt. It was Youko!

/Youko? Can you hear me?/ Kurama thought.

{Yes, I can! Can you hear me?}

/Yes!/

{……This is interesting.}

/We can communicate?/

{I don't think so. I've been talking to you for a long time, but you aren't supposed to hear me. But you can usually act on what I tell you. I'm like…. Your instincts in battle.}

/Oh? So you've been pulling the strings all along?/

{That's not what I said.}

/Well, I'm not going over there! I'm going to pass them and go see Koenma!/

{Oh no, you aren't. Now go!}

To Be Continued….

Ha, another chapter down! This is gonna be fun! I would have put a key at the beginning, but that would have given everything away! I think you can figure out the /'s and {'s, though. Anyway, I'll put more Kurama X Botan interaction next chapter okay? And it definitely won't take as long to get the next chappie up, so don't worry! And thanks for all the wonderful reviews! They really meant a lot to me! I'll do specific reviewer notes next time!

Little One: If they even stick around that long…

Meanie…