Truth Be Told

By: Anikara

Warning: There will be small hints of yaoi, but that's hardly a warning.

Hello everyone, I've finally updated at last. I'm sorry that I took so long, I've had so much to do and I've started a new fan fiction, so my updates aren't going to be often. Sorry if this chapter isn't all that good, it was kind of rushed and I'm making up the story as I go. I want to thank all my reviewers; all your reviews were read and greatly appreciated. Well I hope that you all review! Well, here's the story.

Chapter Seven: Genkai's Temple

"Yukina-Chan?" Kuwabara shouted loudly as he entered Genkai's temple. Light footsteps were heard on the wooden floor and all looked up to see a smiling Yukina.

"Yukina-Chan! You're here," Kuwabara said as he pulled out the roses he had been protecting since the time he had gotten them. Kuwabara turned beat red as he pushed the flowers near Yukina's hands.

"Hello Kuzama, these are very pretty, are they for me?" Kuwabara nodded in embarrassment and quickly forgot the lines he had been practicing.

The door opened as Kurama came walking in with a slightly flushed face. Hiei was right behind him with the frown he commonly held upon his tough features. He looked up and growled lightly to himself once he saw Kuwabara handing over a bouquet of roses over to his sister. 'Damn Oaf,' he said mentally to himself.

Kurama picked up his hand and laid it gently over Hiei's shoulder to sooth the anger that boiled within the little fire demon. Hiei growled, but slowly dismissed the small exchange that was currently going on with Kuwabara and Yukina.

Yukina grabbed the roses gently and rewarded Kuwabara with a pleasant smile. "Thank you Kuzama-kun," she said with a soft voice, as her eyes softened more than believed possible. Turning to the group she flashed them a bright smile. "I'll be right back, I'm going to put these in a vase," she said to them all before she ran out the room gradually.

"Aawww, did you see the face she made for you, Kuzama-kun," Yusuke teased as he burst out laughing. Kuwabara's face turned into a darker shade or red as he told Yusuke to shut up.

Hiei couldn't help but get angry all over again as he turned towards Yusuke with a strong glare. Yusuke was about to pull a joke out, but as soon as he opened his eyes and saw Hiei's menacing glare, he shut his mouth speedily. But all was too late as Keiko slapped Yusuke roughly before she could even realize that he had already stopped at the last second.

Yusuke fell to the floor hard with a loud thud that echoed throughout the large room. Yusuke looked up at Keiko with a glare as he rubbed his chin softly.

"Why the hell did you go doing that for, I had already stopped laughing!" Yusuke yelled over at Keiko.

Keiko remained quiet for a brief moment before her anger flared up. "You deserved that Yusuke! You should not have laughed at Kuwabara like that!"

Kurama smiled lightly at the group as their feud progressed. He looked over at Hiei with mixed emotions. His smile disappeared from his face as he began to think of the small hiyoukai.

Hiei looked at the group with slight disgust. 'Stupid ningens,' he thought to himself. The hairs on the back of his neck prickled and he knew suddenly that someone was looking over at him. His eyes narrowed to the left and noticed that the kitsune was the owner of those prying eyes.

Kurama's heart skipped a beat as he caught the hiyoukai's eyes. He gave off one of his trademark smiles to cover up the embarrassment he felt for being caught. His head turned towards Yusuke who was picking himself off the wooden floor.

Yusuke turned towards Kurama. He forgot the anger he had just felt towards Keiko as soon as he saw the slightly flushed face of Kurama.

"What's up with your face, catching a fever?" His face brightened as his concerned face lit up with a smirk. "Don't tell me that was a blush. The almighty Yoko Kurama has blushed!" Keiko sighed as she walked sat silently on a mat.

Kurama looked at Yusuke with astonishment, but that vanished as he regained control. "Yusuke, don't jump onto conclusions, I am not feeling all that well, perhaps it is a fever. Don't misinterpret it as a blush," he said calmly.

Hiei looked over at Yusuke and Kurama as he listened to the conversation that erupted from the two. His eyes looked over curiously at the two. 'Kurama has been acting strangely lately.'

Yusuke grinned. "Sure, what ever you say," he teased. Kurama frowned somewhat, then eagerly turned to see Yukina as she entered the room.

"Keiko, can you assist me in the kitchen?" Yukina asked sweetly.

Keiko lifted herself up from the mat. She was glad that she would have someone to speak to other than hearing the group's ramblings. "Sure," she said as she walked out of the room towards the kitchen with Yukina.

Yusuke rolled his eyes. "Well, we're left alone and the toddler and grim reaper haven't came yet, ya have anything in mind to do?"

Kuwabara stood up. "Yeah, since we're all bored we should… maybe, we can play a game, uh…how about…"

"Speak for yourself oaf, I don't plan to wait here. I have no time for childish ningen games, entertain yourself with your useless ways, they'll suit your non-intellectual mind perfectly," he grunted as open the door to go outside.

Kuwabara stared with a blank expression, and then it turned to a scowl. "Why that little shrimp…"

"Kuwabara, stop talking to yourself, he has obviously left," Yusuke said with a grin.

"Shut up Urameshi!"

Yusuke smiled wickedly. "And if I don't," he replied with great amusement.

"Urameshi, I'm warning you!"

"Aahhh, I've been threatened by the almighty Kuzama Kuwabara, I should cringe in fear," Yusuke started in hope of provoking Kuwabara. It was boring and he wanted some entertainment.

It worked to Yusuke's delight. Kuwabara pounced off his mat towards Yusuke as he threw his large arm around Yusuke's throat. Yusuke grinned. 'This could be fun.'

Kurama watched silently as the two teenagers wrestled upon the ground. He looked over towards the door.

'…Hiei…Would you be offended if I were to declare my feelings toward you. I haven't noticed this entire time, but I…I love you. I've always had, since the first time I met you. My feelings grew for you as time passed, but I was unaware of it. And now…I understand. You told me once that love was for the weak and I believe you still go by that line, but would it be all that bad if you were to let it overwhelm you?'

His head turned to the large thud against the floor. It seemed that Kuwabara finally knocked Yusuke to the floor. 'He must be going easy on him,' Kurama said to himself with a light smile.

Yusuke looked up at the grinning Kuwabara. "Is that all you got, felt like be hit by a feather. Damn Kuwabara, you're punches have no affect.'

Kuwabara's grin dropped and was then formed into a deep frown.

"Just shut up, okay!"

"Why won't you both shut up, we have affairs to discuss," came a teenage voice as the door opened.

"Yes! We're late as it is," came another teenage voice, yet this one was that of a female.

"Sheesh, what took you so long toddler, I was beginning to get bored," Yusuke said with annoyance evident in his voice.

"Yeah Botan, I need to be getting home, Shizuro won't be to happy that I'm going back home late.

Kurama looked over at Koenma with annoyance that he held as well. It was getting late and no doubt his family were awaiting his return so that he may explain the events that happened yesterday. His stepfather was probably angry that he skipped off in the morning and skipped again that afternoon; he wouldn't be all that pleased if he were to delay it further.

"Yes Koenma, we must discuss the latest events as soon as possible, this meeting has been delayed for too long already," Kurama said coolly, ignoring to be formal.

"I agree, are you the only people present?"

Genkai walked in from the door as she sat down on a mat, seconds later Hiei walked in from that same door.

'Interesting, did Hiei just have a talk with Genkai?' Kurama questioned himself.

"We're all present now," Genkai said as she turned towards Koenma and Botan. "Now, let's begin."

The teenage Koenma nodded his head. "As you already know, there are the sudden appearances of demons, strong demons, nonetheless. The tunnel to Makai that Sensui created had not been closed in time, well; actually it wasn't monitored correctly to be precise. Without our knowledge an S-class demon entered Ningenkai along with several others. We're not certain of the other demon's power, but I believe that there were both low and high A-class demons that follow him. Since we do have boundaries, A-class and higher demons haven't been able to escape to the realm of Nigenkai. Now that they have, things are going to get very grim for the humans residing here in Nigenkai."

Kurama was a bit shocked by the news. High-class demons were roaming Ningenkai and no doubt that they are after him. His eyes widened as he began connecting some of the dots. First came Kamari, the demon he just discovered recently. She had just transferred to his school about a month ago. She had been searching for someone, going from one male to another.

His assumptions from yesterday were right, she was searching for him this whole time; she must be working for the S-class demon that Koenma mentioned. She's strong, A-class to be exact, so that'll explain her reason for masking her youki signal so well. 'Her powers might be that of mind, which might enhance her abilities.'

The demon brothers that Hiei and he had encountered the day before were ones to be taken into consideration. "Hiei…he revealed my name that night…and I used my trademark rose whip…I completely revealed myself to my enemy…" Kurama thought to himself.

"We now know that the leader of these demon goes by the name of Lord Yukio. He's known to be gruesome yet gentle. He's very powerful and needs to be stopped," Koenma said.

Kurama stared at Koenma momentarily. 'Yukio, a familiar name, who is he? Who can that be…Yukio…' Kurama's face paled slightly. '…I remember…this is worse then I expected...'

"He is residing here in this city, as you obviously might know."

'…He's known to be a deadly enemy, personal experience tells me that…'

"I think I might know where his exact location might be."

'…He's my enemy from the past…'

"So, I'm going to need you all to go. I want you all together."

'…One that enjoys toying with minds…'

"Tomorrow sounds like an excellent day to investigate further, the sooner the better." Koenma turned towards Botan. "Botan you shall lead them there, but stay as far as possible."

'…One that likes to set traps…'

"I have no other information to provide you all with."

'…This could be one of his traps…'

"So it is agreed, tomorrow it is."

"Kurama, is there something you wish to tell us, your face tells all," Genkai asked.

Kurama looked up and closed his eyes softly. "No, but I do want to ask a question. This S-class demon of which you speak of, how did you get his whereabouts?"

"We do have our own private spies and they have told me that the place, where you all shall be going to, looks suspicious."

"We shouldn't act too rash, this could be a trap, we can't afford to walk into a trap foolishly," Kurama said.

"Yeah, Kurama can be right!" Yusuke said as he jumped into the conversation.

Kuwabara sat up. "Yeah! Fox-boy is right!"

"Kurama…not all demons are strategists. Do you happen to know this particular demon, if you do we must be told." Koenma asked.

Kurama narrowed his eyes to some extent. "I don't need to be familiar with the demon, it is just wise to take precautions for we don't have much information over this demon or the demons he has employed."

"Kurama, are you okay?" Yusuke asked.

Kurama rubbed the temples of his forehead. "Yes, I am." Kurama got up and headed towards the door. "I just need some fresh air." With that said Kurama walked out.

"What's wrong with fox-boy?" Kuwabara asked.

Hiei looked at Kuwabara with annoyance. He disliked the nickname that Kuwabara bestowed upon his fox.

"Bakas," Hiei muttered.

Yukina walked in with Keiko right behind her. "Dinner is prepared and ready."

Botan lit up. "I forgot that you two might be here," she said as she joined Keiko and Yukina.

Yusuke and Kuwabara both got up. "I got first dibs!"

"What ever Urameshi! Show manners!" Kuwabara said loudly as he cut in front of Yusuke. Yusuke tripped over and fell, causing Kuwabara to fall along with him. Together there, they wrestled each other.

"Kuzama-kun, there's plenty of food," Yukina said as she stared down at the struggling boys disapprovingly.

"Yeah Yusuke! Behave yourself or you won't get any," Keiko said.

Kuwabara got up hastily and bowed to Yukina. "I'm sorry Yukina-chan."

"Wow, you really are hopeless," Yusuke teased as he grinned.

"Yusuke! I warned you. You won't be getting anything."

"Aawww, c'mon Keiko. I won't do it again. Sheesh, you're no fun."

"She did warn you Yusuke," Botan kidded.

Koenma sighed; this wasn't going the way he wanted it to.

"You should take what Kurama just said into consideration, Kurama may be right and most likely he is," Genkai said.

"Yes, I know, but this needs to be taken care of now and quick. We can't waste any time, we don't even know Yukio's intentions."

Yukina came in. "Koenma-sama, Genkai-sama, will you be joining us for dinner?" Both nodded their heads.

Yukina turned over towards the small hiyoukai. "Hiei, you're more than welcomed to join us. I would really appreciate your presence at the table. Um, where's Kurama?" Yukina asked as she looked around the room.

"Hn. Outside, I'll go get him." With that said Hiei left without another word said. His sister had ways of luring him in like that; he had no choice in the matter, but to join her at the table with the rest of them. He wasn't going completely alone though, he was going to force Kurama into going as well; he had no desire to be left with a load of ningens, excluding his sister.

Yukina nodded, then left to join the rest.

"Is it just me or do you feel like Kurama isn't be all that truthful?" Koenma asked Genkai.

"The kitsune hasn't lied, but I do believe that he is keeping something from the rest of the group. A shame that he is so wise; yet, he makes the simplest mistake as to not inform his teammates of the extra information."

"He hasn't lied?"

"Take note that he answered your question carefully and didn't leave out loose ends. His answer to your question was that he didn't need to be familiar with the demon. That there… leaves many options opened for us to consider. Kitsune's can be… complicated at times."

"This mission is too big for him to be keeping personal grudges! I shall go talk to him right this instant."

Genkai looked over at the door. "That won't be necessary, he will come and tell. Not all his teammates are blinded from the truth. There is a certain demon that he keeps informed."

"I see. Well shall we go, I believe the food is calling my name," Koenma said with a smile.

He got up and led the way. Genkai was right behind him as she took one last look at the door entrance. 'Hiei, Kurama…many things await the both of you."

Kurama was sitting against the same tree he had been with Hiei earlier. It brought some comfort that Hiei and he had sat beside this tree. It was where he realized his feelings for the short hiyoukai, just recently.

It was already getting dark outside, by the time he got home it would be late and he told his mother that wouldn't happen. He sighed heavily to himself.

He already carried enough burdens on his shoulders, now he just received news that a S-class demon is roaming ningenkai, and not just any demon, but a demon of his past…his enemy.

He felt a presence nearing him, a familiar warm one. He didn't look up to see who it was, he already knew.

"Hello Hiei, I believe there is a reason for you being here, is there not?"

"Hn. Yukina has set dinner."

"I see… I'll be there momentarily, you may go on ahead of me if you wish."

"Hn."

It remained quiet for a few minutes.

"They're suspicious of me, aren't they? I made it too obvious that I have knowledge of what's going on."

"Obviously. I presume you've gained extra knowledge since the last time we spoke of this," he encouraged.

"Yes, I believe I have. I've realized many things today. Some good, bad, and both."

Hiei looked up at Kurama inquisitively, the fox was sly and he could add meaning to his words. Hints within words should be taken wisely and Kurama obviously had something small hidden within his words.

Hiei remained quiet as his way of letting Kurama know to continue.

"Yukio is a past enemy of which I loathe, he took something of great value from me as I did him. Call it personal, but I do want my revenge. That is my reason for not revealing what I know to the rest."

"They will expect some answers."

"They'll receive their answers, it just won't contain the full package of all the information I know."

Hiei smirked, "figures."

"The demon known as Yukio likes to set up pieces to fit a puzzle, like a game. He outsmarted me once, when I was younger. A friend and I had stolen an artifact of great power and assessment; the price was that my valued friend died in the process. We were set up, in a game of his personal enjoyment, like chess pieces upon a chessboard. It was my fault that he died," Kurama said as he bent his head downwards with emotional eyes.

"You're speaking of your old friend Kuronue."

Kurama nodded slightly, but Hiei caught it. He put his hand on top of Kurama's shoulder, a very uncharacterized movement. Kurama acknowledged that was Hiei's most outward way of showing that he cared and that he wanted to pacify Kurama's state of mind.

Kurama smiled in appreciation, but said nothing for he didn't want to embarrass the hiyoukai.

Either way Hiei blushed and removed his hand slowly. He didn't know what got over him. He hated to see his fox in that kind of state. He wanted to keep on touching the fox and to sooth him in any way possible; the fact that he desired that scared him considerably.

"I'll reveal more in time, I believe we've delayed dinner."

Hiei nodded as he got up, as did Kurama. Together they walked up the few stairs and entered the temple.

To Be Continued…
Yay, another chapter completed! Well I hope you liked that and I hope that my writing has improved. In one of my reviews there was one that asked more of Kurama's family, don't worry, there will be. I just need to set up the story a bit before I do, okay. Updates are going to be hard to do, this is my last week of school and the worst one possible, sigh. Since summer is beginning I'm going to have a lot of time, unfortunately I will be away most of the time, but I will update every possible time. Please do review my story; it would be significantly cherished. Thanks.

Anikara