Okay, here we go. I've had this chapter in the wings for a couple of days, and the next one's completed as well. I should update around this time next week, or sooner if something happens.

Before we began, there's something that I need to ask.

I haven't mentioned it in the last couple of chapters, but this story will contain yaoi in upcoming chapters. I mention it because . . . I don't know. I'm not sure if I've gotten that point across yet (what's to bet half of you guys aren't reading the author's note anyway?)

Okay, my lines aren't working, so this is where the author's note ends and the chapter begins.

Kurama flopped down on his bed, happy to be back in his home. He rolled over and inhaled the fresh scent of roses in his pillow before letting his mind wander. So far, Hiei hadn't appeared to have told anyone about Kurama's act in front of Yeirugan's oni, and therefore his life was pretty good.

Unfortunately, that was about to go out the window.

"Get up." Kurama opened an eye to see Yuki, and froze. He wasn't about to explain to Yuki why he was in the Makai. "Shuichi, I said get up." Kurama sat up slowly, glaring at his stepbrother.

"I was sleeping," he said dully.

"Right," Yuki said flatly. "Tell me, Shuichi-kun, were you asleep the whole time I was gone?"

"Perhaps," Kurama said, raising an eyebrow. "When did you get back?"

"Right after I saw you and your little friends in the Makai," Yuki hissed. Kurama swallowed hard. The black-haired boy continued. "When you said 'Yusuke Urameshi' I thought, 'It can't be the same Yusuke Urameshi that won the Dark Tournament.' It seems I was wrong."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Kurama lied, trying to look meek and confused.

"I think you do, Shuichi," Yuki said. "Tell me, just how did you come to be friends with Koenma's prized tantei?" Kurama clamped his mouth shut. "You're not a punk, Shuichi. Just tell me."

Kurama held his head up, looking his stepbrother in the eyes. "I stole the Mirror of Darkness from the vault in the Reikai," he declared, wondering if he should have been telling Yuki this. Yuki's mouth dropped open, and Kurama took the chance to continue. "When Yusuke caught me, I was going to use the mirror to make 'kassan well-she was still sick at the time."

"But how?" Yuki asked. "The Mirror of Darkness takes the life of those who wish on it. Shiori-san is better, but you're still alive."

"Yusuke jumped in at the last second and told the mirror to take his life instead," Kurama said, not wondering how Yuki knew about the Mirror of Darkness. "Because of that, the mirror did not take a life to grant that wish."

"So . . . you were in a great debt to him," Yuki said, the rest of the story coming to him. "And somewhere in paying that debt, you two became friends." Kurama nodded. "Damn, Shuichi, I didn't think you had the guts to steal from the Reikai. Maybe you aren't as much of a goody-two-shoes as I thought you were. " Kurama, who had been tense through the whole explanation, suddenly found this comment very funny, and burst out laughing. "What?"

"Sorry," Kurama said, wiping a tear from his eye. "I just found that amusing. Oh, Yuki?"

"What?"

"Do me a favor-don't tell 'kassan," Kurama said. "She doesn't know about any of this."

Yuki raised an eyebrow. "Okay," he said.

"Thank you," Kurama said.

"Don't want to ruin her image of you, huh, Shuichi-kun?" Kurama could have gaped at Yuki. It was obvious that he was teasing Kurama, but his voice held none of the usual malice, and Yuki was genuinely smiling, his teeth showing as he waited for Kurama's answer.

The kitsune gave a small chuckle and answered, "No, Yuki-kun, I suppose I don't."

"You're in a good mood," Yusuke observed one Saturday when Kurama once agian came over to help the tantei with his homework. "What's the big celebration for? I haven't seen you this happy since before your 'kassan got married."

"Yuki and I are getting along," Kurama said. "No more fights using up my extra energy."

"Ah," Yusuke said, raising an eyebrow. "Any reason why?"

"I dunno," Kurama said thoughtfully, tapping a pencil against his lips. "He said he came back right after he saw us in the Makai."

"You guys talked about it then?" Yusuke seemed surprised.

"Yeah," the kitsune replied. "He knew your name and who you were as the Reikai Tantei."

"Seems like everyone knows," Yusuke grumbled.

"Yes, anyway," Kurama continued, "He seemed to be more concerned that I was on a mission in the Makai with you rather than I was just on a mission in the Makai. So I explained what happened when we met."

"Really. Did you happen to mention that you're really Youko Kurama?" Yusuke asked. "He might just know that name, too."

"I wouldn't be surprised," Kurama answered, and Yusuke suspected that Kurama hadn't heard the comment. "But no, I didn't." He paused. "And why do you think he'd know my name?"

"Just a guess," Yusuke said. "You know, youkai still talk about 'The Great Youko Kurama.' Ever since your appearance at the Dark Tournament, everyone seems to be convinced that you're going to come back." Kurama was silent, and Yusuke wondered if he had said the wrong thing. "Kurama, what's wrong? I didn't mean to upset you or anything, I was just saying what I heard."

The kitsune sighed. "I know you were, Yusuke," Kurama said. "And sometimes remarks like that just make me think about things that I'd rather not think about."

"Such as?"

"Nothing, Yusuke," Kurama said. "Just forget I said anything." After a moment's pause, Kurama spoke again. "The thing was, I asked him not to tell 'kassan, and he agreed. Not only that, but he said something, and it was obvious that he was teasing me, but it was as if he, I don't know, as if he respected me or something."

Yusuke's mouth hung open. "You're kidding, right?" Kurama shook his head. "That's messed up-the guy respects you because he found out you stole something from a world hardly anyone knows about until they die."

"I'm a bit curious to that myself," Kurama said. "But for now, I think I should just enjoy the peace."

"Yeah," Yusuke said. He paused. "Where is Yuki, anyway? I thought you said that your 'kassan would have you everywhere with him once he got back. Now he's back, and here you are without him."

Kurama chuckled. "Yes, 'kassan has him helping her clean house," he said. "She hasn't let him go anywhere all weekend."

"It's only Saturday," Yusuke said. Kurama smiled slyly. "Oh don't tell me you haven't gone back to school yet! My mom made me go Thursday, right after we got back! That isn't fair, Kurama!"

Kurama chuckled again. "No, I didn't go back until late Wednesday evening-I was in the park all day." Yusuke glowered at him. "My mother thought that I must have been tired from jet-lag or something, sent me straight to bed. I'll admit, I didn't wake up until noon on Thursday." Yusuke, who normally woke up at noon on his days off, didn't mention that this was unusual behavior for the kitsune.

He settled for growling, "Lucky," under his breath two times a minute until Kurama left.

Kurama, who was inside the school building during lunch hour, picked up a stack of papers and bounced the edges against his desk, making sure it was even before walking up and setting them on his teacher's desk.

Said teacher glanced up. "Thank you, Shuichi." Kurama gave a short nod. "It's so nice that you can get all your make-up work done on the very day you come back from America."

"It's nothing," Kurama replied, not mentioning he had returned Wednesday of the previous week. The teacher nodded, and-picking up the stack of papers-left the room, leaving Kurama to finish his lunch. The kitsune sat down at his desk, chin on hand, resting his elbow on the desk, looking out the second-story window to the ground below. Tracks ran about the playing feild, and most of the students avoided that area during lunch-the few punks the school hosted hung around there, making it their "territory" of sorts. No one sane went back there during lunch-even Kurama avoided it-no one except . . . Yuki? Kurama's chin lifted from his hand, watching as the boy made his way across the feild.

What does he think he's doing? Kurama wondered, getting up from his seat as he watched Yuki converse with three boys. One suddenly punched Yuki in the face, catching him off-guard, while another ran around him and pinned Yuki's behind his back. The other two proceeded to beat on Yuki, while Kurama watched, feeling somewhat sick. The only student Yuki had ever raised a fist against was Kurama himself, and the kitsune was not favored by the punks who were beating on his stepbrother. What did he say to them? Kurama wondered as the boys dropped Yuki and ran for the building. Kurama, knowing what was going to happen, strode quickly out of the classroom and down the hall.

"Nakano!" Kurama heard the shout of anger before he could see the person yelling. "Why did you raise a fist against these boys? They are perfectly respectable gentlemen! You, on the other hand. . . ."

If only they knew, Kurama thought, the mental image of a beaten Yuki standing in front the teacher racing through his head. As he neared the counsling office, he saw the three boys who had beat Yuki sitting outside, looking smug. The kitsune knew that his brother hadn't raised a hand against the boys, so he eyed their fake bruises critically. They did all right, I suppose.

"What is it, Minamino?" one of the boys hissed. "You want Nakano to beat on you, too?"

"You might want to watch what you're doing next time you put on your makeup," Kurama retorted, in no mood for taunts. "Those bruises don't look very real to me." Without another word, Kurama stalked inside the office.

"Shuichi!" Both the teacher and Yuki said, hints of surprise in both their voices.

"Konnichiwa," Kurama greeted. "What seems to be the trouble?"

"Nothing that concerns you, Shuichi," the teacher said. "Please, you can leave the room. Yuki has nothing to do with you." The teacher made a motion as if to shoo Kurama out, and the kitsune caught his arm.

"But Yuki-kun is my brother," Kurama said. "I'm sure that if you check the records, you'll find what I say is true." Even though most of the staff knew of Yuki and Kurama's relation, they often forgot-their precious Shuichi just couldn't be the brother of a goth like Yuki, even if it wasn't by blood! "So what about my brother doesn't concern me, sensei?"

"Your brother," the teacher spat the word with disgust. "Has been beating on those poor boys outside. Gave them gigantic bruises!"

"Ryo, Takashi, and Kiyoshi, correct?" The teacher nodded. "They were the ones beating on Yuki." He jerked his head toward his stepbrother, who's mouth fell open. "Doesn't he have bruises, too?" This was an understatement, and Kurama was slightly miffed that the teachers hadn't taken into account the bruises Yuki sported. The kitsune's stepbrother had two black eyes, one of which was swollen shut, the other looking as though it were about to do the same, while the rest of his face was either black or blue, and his jaw looked slightly out of place. "He didn't lay a hand on them."

"But the boys out there-the bruises-"

"Wash them off," Kurama said. "I'm sure you'll find they're nothing but a well-made makeup. Now, if I may take my brother to the restroom to get cleaned up-?" The teacher stormed out of the room and returned shortly with Takashi in hand. Wetting a cloth, he threw it at the boy and ordered him to wash his arm, where a giant purple bruise rested. Takashi did so, looking ashamed as the makeup ran down his arm, leaving only slightly reddened skin there.

"Arigato, Shuichi," the teacher said. He glared at Takashi. "Now apologize."

"Gomen," Takashi grumbled in Yuki's direction.

"Come on," Kurama hissed in Yuki's ear, tugging him out the door.

"Wash it carefully," Kurama instructed as he and Yuki leaned over the bathroom sink. "I have something you can put on it to reduce the swelling. Are you sure you don't want to go home?" Kurama asked as Yuki gingerly set his jaw back in place. "I can get you a pass, you know."

"I'll be fine," Yuki growled. "Don't wanna go home."

Kurama sighed. "Can barely see out of one eye and completely blind in the other," he grumbled. "Now sit down a moment so I can apply this!" Kurama pulled a jar of a white cream out of his pocket and began to rub it on the worse of Yuki's eyes. As he pulled his hand away, the swelling visably reduced. Yuki blinked for a moment, surprised. "Now hold still, I still have to finish." The kitsune put a thick layer over the bruises covering his face.

"Shuichi?" Yuki asked once he felt he was allowed to talk. He blinked, and saw Kurama covering up the cream. "Bruise cream? I've tried that stuff before-it's never worked. So why does-?"

"Makain herbs," Kurama laughed before Yuki could finish the question.

"Shuichi, why'd you do that?"

"What?"

"Back there, with the teacher and everything," Yuki said. "They won't like you now, you know. They don't like me. That's why even though I looked worse they said I had caused the most damage. And all I got was an apology."

"Your bruises should be gone by tomorrow morning," Kurama said shortly, changing the subject. In truth, he couldn't say why exactly he had defended Yuki. He hadn't really thought about it. The kitsune had realized what was going to happen, and just went there. The thinking had began after he had gotten inside the office. "I didn't want to apply enough to make them go away totally-it would look bad if you went back to class all healed, but-"

"Shuichi." Yuki's hand whipped out and caught Kurama's chin, lifting it so that the kitsune was looking at his face. Kurama winced at the sight. "Tell me why you did that for me. It ruins you in the eyes of the teachers. Don't you care?" His tone was serious

"Listen, Yuki," Kurama replied, the same seriousness in his voice. He was silent for a moment, and then thought of something. "'Kassan is worried about you, and asked me to look after you, so I thought-?"

"You did it for Shiori-san?" Yuki spat.

"H-hai," Kurama stuttered, wondering why Yuki was so angry.

"Not for me?"

"What are you talking about?" Kurama near shouted, pulling his face out of Yuki's grip. He stood and glared at the boy. "Don't start this again, Yuki, please. I don't want to fight anymore."

"Shuichi, didn't you see it?"

"See what?"

"The looks those boys were giving you," Yuki said, and clarified, "Takashi, Ryo, and Kiyoshi. Every time you walked by, they'd glare at you. Everyone here is jealous of your grades, Shuichi, but those guys were going to show it in a different way than words." Kurama's eyes widened as he realized what Yuki had to be talking about. "They were going to do to you what they did to me. I heard it as I was walking by them during passing period."

"So . . . you. . . . " Kurama could guess, but he wanted to hear it from Yuki himself.

"They planned to do it after school," Yuki said. "But I went to them and asked if I could take your place."

"And they said yes," Kurama stuttered. "Oh, Yuki, gomen nasai, gomen nasai. I didn't realize."

"I should apologize," Yuki said. "Getting you into such an unfavorable position with the teachers. And on your first day back, too. Oh, gomen nasai, Shuichi-kun." He cursed. "But it was that or make you get in trouble for beating them when they jumped you after school." He sighed. "Shuichi, you can fight, right? I saw you with the Reikai Tantei, and you would have to. . . . "

"Yeah, I can fight," Kurama said. He smiled. "It was a hopeless situation either way."

Shiori was livid when Kurama and Yuki arrived home.

"Shuichi! Didn't I tell you to keep a sharp eye on your brother?" she scolded. Kurama said nothing. "Honestly! You're getting into more and more trouble." She looked at Yuki's bruised face (which was better, but still nasty) "Oh, Yuki, do you need some ice?"

"Actually, no," Yuki said. "And I think we'd better get the story straight. Shuichi had some make-up work to get from the teacher at lunch, and he told me to stay, he really did." Kurama tried to look as if this were no surprise to him-he, in fact, didn't even have the class before lunch with Yuki. "But I didn't listen, and he had to stay. Anyway . . . I went to the feild. These punks that hang out at this feild were going to beat up Shuichi after school."

"Why?" Shiori cried, her concern suddenly changing from one son to another. "Why did they want to beat up Shuichi?"

"Because they were jealous of him, I heard it," Yuki said. "So I went out there and I told them to leave Shuichi alone, and they came at me. I was unconscious when they left."

"Yuki!" Shiori cried, her concern driven back to him.

"Then they painted fake bruises on themselves and tried to make it look as if I beat them up," Yuki said. "I probably would have gotten expelled, if Shuichi hadn't stepped in and told the truth. They trusted him."

"Really? Shuichi did that for you?" Shiori asked.

"Hai," Yuki said. "And then he helped me clean up my face." He smiled, looked pained, and stopped.

Shiori smiled. "There might be hope for you boys yet," she said.

"There might," Yuki and Kurama said together, grinning at each other as if their past fights had never happened.