All righty then! People wanted me to update, so I shall. ^_^
Truthfully, I'm glad people like this fic so much-I thought I'd be flamed the moment it was put up. This is my first time trying to write drama, so if it isn't exactly drama, please just let me know and I'll try harder! Anyway, enough babbling. Onto the story.
WARNINGS:
This was rated R for a reason. So if you don't feel like you can handle it-go away, don't read. (As of now, it's just general cussing, but it's going to get worse)
This WILL contain YAOI in later chapters. So if you don't want to read yaoi, go away and don't bother flaming me-I'll either insult you back or it will be ignored.
(Pretty much the same as last time)
Oh, and:
Nips-Oh, I usually hate OCs (although many of them are popping up in my writing. . . . rgh) as well, but when this idea popped up, I couldn't resist. Yuck! I hate Mary-Sues (or "Gary-Stus," as you put it.) And I'd like to say something-but I can't without giving away the whole plot and big secret. So . . . I think that's it, I guess. Keep reviewing! ^_^
Also, before I forget, please don't ask about the plot and/or pairings, because (even though it might become obvious) it's hard to say one thing without giving it all away.
-Nagem-chan
Kurama waited until he could hear Yuki's soft, deep breathing before he tried to sneak out that night. He slipped the covers off himself and pulled on a pair of loose-fitting pants and a shirt before peering out his bedroom door to make sure that no one was on their way down the hall. That covered, he opened the bedroom window, cursing the squeaky hinges, and jumped out onto the branch of the tree that Hiei often used as a perch or a bed. The said fire youkai wasn't there at the moment, but Kurama could feel his ki nearby as he leaned back to close the window. Kurama rested on the tree branch for a moment, waiting to make sure that he hadn't woken anyone up-especially Yuki.
The other teen had bragged loudly about how he was going to catch Kurama before they had gone to bed earlier that night. Shiori had shot Kurama a few curious looks concerning the claims Yuki made, but the kitsune had shrugged them off, once again giving the excuse that Yuki had gotten in trouble and wanted to take it out on him. Yuki growled and sulked for the rest of the night after that, and it had not been long before Shiori announced that they had better be getting to bed.
Kurama got to his feet, and, balancing on the tree branch, jumped to the ground, ignoring the slight tingling feeling that shot through his legs as he landed. He began bolting for the fence. His family could peer out the window and see him at any time-with no warning to him. He reached the back fence, vaulted up and over. As he landed, he slowed to a walk. It was only a quarter after eleven. No need to hurry.
Up in his room, Yuki grinned as he watched his future stepbrother bolt across the yard and vault over the fence.
Little Shuichi-kun seems to be in such a hurry, he thought. What a perfect way to get him into trouble. There was no reason for Yuki to go after him-Shuichi would return of his own free will. Then Yuki, Shiori, and Keiichi would be there waiting for him, Shiori and Keiichi furious, Yuki wearing a self-satisfied smile. Shuichi would be forced to explain everything. Why he had actually snuck out was a mystery that Yuki wanted to solve. Shuichi had never been sociable as a little boy-not until the accident that had scarred Shiori's arms. Why was he now making friends with punks?
"Yuki?" Shiori's voice was heavy with sleep as she peered into his room after getting up to use the restroom. "What are you doing up?" Shiori walked into the room, where Yuki was still staring out of the window. "Is there something outside?"
"Shuichi," Yuki answered.
Shiori shot him a glare. "Yuki, he's already said-"
"Go check his room, then," Yuki said. "I saw him running across the yard." Shiori vanished for a moment. When she came back, she was shaking her head, looking upset. "He's gone." It wasn't a question.
"Hai," Shiori said. "I don't know why he's doing this. He never has caused this much trouble before."
"I know," Yuki said. "But he was such a perfectionist that he was bound to crack sometime."
"Yuki!" Shiori said. "Was that needed?"
"Gomen," Yuki said, shrugging it off. As Shiori left, he smiled.
Kurama arrived at the meeting spot first, as always. He sat and rested against a tree, waiting for the others. After a few minutes he heard the rustle of tree leaves that heralded Hiei's arrival. Kurama peered up into the tree he was resting against, and offered a smiled welcome. Hiei shrugged it off, and Kurama went back to waiting for the others.
Kuwabara came crashing loudly through the underbrush of the forest clearing they were in. Kurama smiled and waved a greeting-which Kuwabara returned. Hiei, who'd fallen asleep, shot the ningen an annoyed look. Kuwabara stuck out his tongue-a childish gesture that forced a chuckle from Kurama.
"Where's Urameshi?" Kuwabara asked moments later.
"I'm sure he's on his way," Kurama replied softly. Sure enough, Yusuke appeared a moment later, declaring that he could hear Kuwabara and Kurama's conversation. Kuwabara humphed and Kurama grinned softly.
Yusuke turned to him. "No trouble with Yuki, then?" he asked. Kurama shook his head. "Good. Koenma's gonna be here in a few moments, or that's what Botan told me." The others nodded, and resumed waiting.
Luckily, they didn't have to wait long. Koenma's teenage form appeared in front of them about five minutes later, grumbling about paperwork. Hiei gave the demigod a small glare, while Kurama and the others watched him with mock-interest.
"Stop looking at me like that," Koenma said finally, noticing the tantei's stares. "I called you guys because there's something important I need to talk to you all about."
"Not a new case?" Yusuke butted in. "That's what Botan told us." Koenma gave them a nervous stare.
"Eh, I might have lied to Botan," Koenma ventured, wringing his hands. "Because if I had just said that I needed to tell you something, none of you would have showed up!"
"He's right," Hiei offered.
"Thank you," Koenma said. Hiei sighed and leaned back against the tree, amazed that he was even a part of the conversation. "Either way, I needed you guys to hear this, especially Kurama." As the kitsune heard his name mentioned, he turned his attention to Koenma. "There's a youkai who has recently come into power in the Makai. His name is Yierugan. Sound familiar, Kurama?"
"Hai," Kurama said bitterly. At the tone of his voice, everyone looked over at him. He wore a scowl that was unusual to him. When Yusuke opened his mouth to ask, Kurama said, "He was the one who set up the bamboo trap."
"Bamboo trap?" Yusuke and Kuwabara asked, confused. Hiei felt a small pang of pity shoot through his heart, but it was brief, a moment's weakness. Koenma bit his lip, not sure how Kurama would explain this.
"The trap that killed Kuronue," Kurama said, and they felt his ki spike in anger-Kuronue's death was still painful to him. "He tried to kill me, too, but I was too fast, I knew what was going on. He blinded Kuronue, took the pendant. . . . " Kurama broke off, eyes cold and hard, staring at the ground.
"I'm sorry," Yusuke offered. "I forgot about that. So . . . Yierugan's come into power. Why can't we just kill him?"
Koenma shook his head. "It's not that easy, Yusuke," he said. "Yierugan doesn't have any charges against him in the Reikai or the Ningenkai, and everything he might have done in the Makai has been covered up, or erased by . . . doing a service to the other youkai." Koenma cringed; he had nearly said, "killing Kuronue," but he felt that wouldn't have been such a good idea in front of Kurama. The kitsune heard the words and got the point anyway-everyone felt his ki spike again as Koenma stepped back nervously.
"Why are you telling me this?" Kurama asked, rather coldly. Botan winced to hear this tone in his voice-it was unlike him. She saw everyone around her agreed. "What does Yierugan have to do with me anymore?"
"Kurama, if Yierugan finds out you're alive, then he'll come to kill you," Koenma said. "Like he meant to before." Kurama bristled, his lips curving upward as if to show fangs. On Youko it would have looked threatening-on Shuichi's human body it looked almost comical, yet no one dared to laugh. There was an eerie silence while Kurama lowered his lips.
"Is that all?" Kurama asked, looking up at the night sky. "I want to get back home before daybreak, so 'kassan doesn't have to worry about me." Koenma nodded, and Kurama got to his feet, quickly striding out of the clearing in the forest. Everyone stared at the kitsune's unusual behavior.
"It still hurts him, Koenma-sama," Botan said quietly. "Can't you see it?" She stared after Kurama.
"I know," Koenma said. "Yusuke, Kuwabara-" He looked up into the tree. "You too, Hiei. Just . . . keep an eye on him, all right?" Yusuke and Kuwabara nodded, while Hiei shrugged, the best thing closest to a "yes" that you could get from him. Koenma nodded and walked away, Botan on his tail. Yusuke and Kuwabara stared after them for a few moments, contemplating (which didn't happen very often for the two said tantei) not even noticing when Hiei became bored with their actions and flitted off through the trees.
"Well, I say we've stumbled onto something big," Yusuke said softly.
"Shut up, Urameshi," Kuwabara grunted. "You're starting to sound like Kurama."
"Really?"
Kurama shimmed up the tree outside his bedroom window and hauled himself into the safety of its branches. He peered around, making sure his family wasn't awake, and gently opened the window, once again cursing the squeaky hinges. He eased himself into the room, not wanting to make any unnecessary noise that would wake anyone.
Mental note to self; he thought. Never sneak out at midnight again. Despite his caution, Kurama landed on the carpeted floor with a gentle thump. He edged over to the bed and extended a hand to where his pajamas lay discarded. Just as he curled his fingers about the fabric, he heard a voice.
"Hello, Shuichi," it said.
Kurama whirled around. "Yuki!" he hissed. Named, the teenage boy stepped out of the shadows cast by the moonlight, grinning. Kurama looked about the partly illuminated room, panicked. "You didn't tell anyone, did you?"
"I did, in fact," Yuki hissed. "Right, Shiori-san?"
Shiori entered the room, her eyes red as if she had been crying. "Why, Shuichi?" she asked. "Why did you do this to me? Imagine if I hadn't known what was going on-I would have been so worried."
"You weren't?" Kurama asked, slightly hurt.
"Even more so than I was before," Shiori snapped, unsure how to deal with Kurama's misbehavior. As a child, he had never ever done anything like this. "Shuichi-"
"I can explain," Kurama interrupted. He regretted the words as soon as they left his mouth. How would he explain this without the truth? The truth-he had no doubts that Shiori would accept him, but he didn't want Yuki to hear it.
"Can you?" Yuki asked. Shiori bit her lip, but didn't step in.
"I-" Kurama began, but hung his head.
"Shuichi," Shiori said. "I-you're grounded." It was such an odd thing to say and the words were alien to Shiori's lips. "For a month, Shuichi."
"Hai, 'kassan," Kurama mumbled, ashamed. Shiori bit her lip and whirled to walk away, willing herself not to feel sorry for Kurama because of her son's soft voice and gentle actions. Kurama swallowed hard, feeling guilty for making Shiori worry. After a moment's silence, he turned to Yuki, who had a rather sadistic grin on his face. Kurama frowned-not only did the grin remind him of Karasu, who he loathed, but it annoyed him for some reason. "What are you still doing here?"
"Nothing, but to see you down," Yuki said. "Oh, Shuichi, how I love to get you in trouble."
"Shut up," Kurama hissed, surprised at his own behavior toward the boy. "Shut up and get out of here." Kurama's voice was low-dangerous. Yuki's eyebrows knit in the middle as he frowned, picking up the warning tone in Kurama's voice.
"I wouldn't keep that act up, Shuichi-kun," he hissed in an equally low and dangerous voice. Kurama's eyes hardened, signaling the kitsune's anger in a way words could not. Eventually, Yuki gave up the glaring contest that had arisen between the two and stalked out of the room-just as pissed off as Kurama. The aforementioned kitsune sighed as he heard his future stepbrother leave the room and put a hand to his forehead and sat down hard on his bed, wondering just where he had gone wrong with Yuki.
*sighs* Oi, short chapter. Short, short, short chapter. Gomen nasai, really! I've been busy lately. Oh, and because I'm going to start two new fics soon, updates for this one will be few and in-between, so work with me here, and I'll do what I can.
Once again, please review.
-Nagem-chan