Fragments

Warning: Only some graphic descriptions, and some sexual innuendos.

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho.

Author's notes: This story I'll be straying from my normal style. I'm kind of experimenting with myself so humor me with advice and reviews!

Chapter 2 Antiquities

School ended uneventfully. A few of my more avid admirers insisted on following me for a few blocks on my walk home. Only today that was not my destination. Saturday brought my school week to a close, and there was no need to rush home. (1)

Instead I headed the other direction, towards the guts of the city, and finally shook off the last of my stalkers. My feet took me to my destination without any conscious guidance, and soon I arrived to the small antique shop that persistently held my interest.

It was small, cluttered (a bit to my irritation), and full of many acquired heir looms and old things waiting to be sold. The shop used to belong to a fat man with beady eyes. He was extremely cold to all his customers, and was always charging them twice the worth of their purchases. I felt no remorse from snatching anything to catch my eye, from right under his fat nose.

About six months ago the man was taken in by the authorities for some shady trading, perhaps under the table drug dealing, after all it would be easier to sneak drugs over the border under the guise of an antique.

His daughter, although not on very good terms with the man, took over to save the business. Tsuru was in her late twenties, and very sweet. I noticed right away her lack of experience and offered to help in any way I could. Extremely grateful she gives me discounts for helping her appraise inventory. At first she doubted my accuracy, but I'm always right. After many years of stealing valuables I could evaluate anything...no matter how obscure.

I no longer steal from the shop, although it can be very tempting, but if I do show a great interest in a particular item she is always glad to give it to me free of charge or at least discounted.

It was fun to hide away in the shop for a couple of hours whenever I had time to spare, and shift through all the odds and ends. Tsuru is pleasant company. She had long passed the immature girl faze, and never gives me anything but friendly smiles.

After I enter I walk behind the counter and straight into the back room. I set my bag down here, and call out, "Tsuru where are you?"

"Shuuichi? I'm dusting the bookshelves!" Her voice is muffled at the end as she coughs on inhaled dust.

"Would you like any assistance?" I ask when I locate her. She is wearing jeans and a plain blouse. Her indigo hair (dyed of course) is held back in a low pony tail. She eyes me, but shakes her head.

"No, I feel more like taking a break. Care for a cup of tea?"

"That sounds nice, Thank you."

We head to the back room, and she turns on her tea maker, and sits down exhaustedly on the worn loveseat pushed against the wall. I sit next to her a bit more gracefully than her tired flop.

"A long day I take it?"

"I just got a shipment that my dad made before he left me the business. The police only now handed it over after concluding that nothing was illegal about it. Some of the things...I have no idea what they even are! It took forever for me to catalog them." She rubs her temples annoyed.

"Anything that might interest me?" I figured that there would be a few things she'd be eager to get my opinion on. She'd already received one other delivery similar to this one. The last was full of voodoo statues, and other magic talismans.

"Actually...most of it was just like what I got last time, how I'm going to sell it in a conservative neighborhood like this one...however there was something." Tsuru stands up, and walks over to the back door where the now empty crate is hidden away with straw littering the floor. "I don't think I'll be able to sell this thing, and I couldn't recognize the language, but you like that mysterious stuff so I figured you might want it. Free of course, but you have to help me with book keeping tomorrow."

The tea maker beeps, and I get up to pour us a cup each. When I return to the couch she hands me a small bamboo box. I take a sip of my tea thoughtfully, examining the intricate carvings on the sides. The gulp of herbal liquid prevents me from gasping.

The language carved on the side...its an ancient language from Makai used for spells and wards...

"You said this came in the shipment with the rest of the items? Was anything else unusual?" I ask careful to keep any excitement out of my voice.

"You mean with those funky symbols on it? No. Why? Can you read it?" She is peering at me, but I keep my eyes trained on the aged and splintering bamboo. The artifact isn't beautiful...but the fact that it is from Makai is enough for me to keep it.

"No I can't, but you are right. It is very interesting." I stow the peculiar find away in my book bag, and steer the conversation another direction. "So have you found out why your father was ordering such things before he was detained?"

"No. I don't even know who the original dealer is, so if there are anymore shipments I can't cancel them. I am starting to wonder what he was doing...it had to be more than drug smuggling, but the police seem to think that they have enough evidence to put him away for quite a while. Really I don't feel to bad about it."

"Hm, well I really have no say in that matter. I never knew him very well. He wasn't nearly as kind as you are so I never exchanged more than the customary greeting with him."

"Yeah well I'm his daughter, and I didn't get much more than that either." She sounds sour, and she drains the last of her tea, and then forces a small smile. Her teeth are white from bleaching strips. "How about helping me with the display cases now?"

---

As I left the shop I felt like doing something spontaneous. Anything that would ease this built up urge I had. It was my human qualities screaming to be acknowledged, pulling at the back of my senses, and dancing into the folds of my heart.

There was often such a struggle, between human, and demon instincts. Carefree and emotional vs. meticulous and astute. Often the two overlapped, but I was always stuck between the two mediums. Never happy one way or the other.

It's a struggle that no one knows about. Only two people in all the three worlds have even had a glimpse of myself in such a resolute state while purging myself of the overwhelming instincts that flood me, but neither, I hope, have taken the time to ponder on it much. I'd prefer it to go unnoticed.

Right now I could use one of them.

Under my breath comes a melodious tune. A little ditty I learned when I was young. It raises my spirits a bit, and I search out the ki of a certain detective. He is around the arcade a few blocks over, and I purposely walk the long way home just so I'll 'bump' into him.

I'm smiling more than usual. More emotions splay out on my features, and I do nothing to stop them. Right now I want to give into myself, and be completely human. I don't like this particular area, but all the street punks leave me alone. They saw me with Yusuke once, and never made the mistake to mess with me, although once in a while some hot shot gets an idea.

"Kurama!" Just as anticipated I hear his voice call to me from across the street. I blink and turn his direction with a fake look of surprise.

He jogs over the crosswalk and starts walking down the sidewalk with me. He's wearing his usual green school uniform, and his hair is slicked back with only a few trouble strands hanging loose. I wish he'd leave it natural…he looks cuter that way.

"What are you doing around here?"

"I'm just walking home." I steal a glance his direction. He just kicks a stone into the gutter. So I bluntly ask, "Do you want to have dinner with me and my mother?"

"I don't know. I wouldn't want to annoy her or anything. I'm not the most popular guy around here you know."

My smile widens. "Don't be ridiculous Yusuke. My mom loves when I invite you over. It makes her day to meet my 'elusive' friends." She is always worried that I don't socialize enough.

"Well in that case I guess I could!" We finish walking the rest of the way to my house. The air is already growing chillier, and the rain from a few nights ago seems to be on its way back. Huge clouds hang in the sky, but have yet to release a single drop.

"Shuuichi?" I shut and lock the door behind us as we enter. I remove my shoes, and Yusuke follows suit.

"Yes mother, I'm home." I continue down the hall, and into the kitchen where she is already busy preparing dinner. "I hope you don't mind but I invited Yusuke over for dinner."

"Oh! What a wonderful surprise. No, I love to have Yusuke over. Such a nice boy." She smiles sweetly at him, and I can't help but give him a 'I told you' look.

"Do you need any help?" I'm trying to be polite, but with all this tension swelling under my skin, and causing my brain to short circuit I really just want to go to my room.

"No, That's alright."

Without any further words I climb the stairs and enter my room. A soft sigh rides my lips as I drop my heavy book bag on the floor with a thud. They don't tell you how large the text books will get when you start taking those advanced classes…

"So." Yusuke plops down on the floor next to my bed. Right away he starts fiddling with things on my nightstand. Its a pet peeve of mine, but for the preservation of his happy mood I don't reprimand him. "What'da want to do?"

"We haven't had a case since the tournament, anything interesting happen you'd like to talk about?" Yes it has been a while since he's been over hasn't it? Perhaps that is why I am so impatient, or is that my teenage hormones coming out to plague me?

I rest my back on a few pillow propped at the head of my bead. I can't see his face, but I can hear him alright. "Not much. Just the usual. School sucks, mom and Keiko yapping at me about being 'lazy'."

He leans his head back, and glances up trying to catch my reaction, but I know I'm out of view. "Your uniform...did you attempt to attend school today?"

"Naw. Just had it on, but you know Keiko." He runs his hand through his hair dislodging more strands. They fall over his face giving him the pouting puppy look. "She tries to drag me to that hellhole any chance she gets."

"Hm...that's unfortunate. I'm sure she means well." I slide over to the edge of the bed so I'm sitting directly behind him.

"She's been on my ass a lot lately." He sounds frustrated, and I can almost feel his muscles all tensed up, so I drop my fingers lightly on his shoulders, and gently rub the warm skin held beneath his shirt. He relaxes right away under my touch, causing a smirk to grace my lips.

"Responsibilities weighing you down?" I rest my chin on his shoulder.

"Ch." He turns to look at me, and our faces are a mere inch apart. "Oh I get it." He chuckles light-heartedly, and closes the gap.

The kiss never deepens, but is kept simple and teasing. This is our silent agreement. I am able to let out my natural human tension, while he gets a moment of rebellion. Keiko...he is bound to her. Whether he feels indebted, or just the fact that he cares so much about her, he would never completely cheat on her. Not even with me. A pity really.

No...but his spirit is restless, and his burning fire would dwindle without a moment of freedom. So you see we are mutually using each other. A fact that does not disturb me.

I pull him up onto the bed with me, and we meld together, mildly offering warm touches. Nothing is promised in our trailing lips. We will never cross the barrier that I would with others, but that isn't what I need right now anyway. Nor what he needs.

Rain sprays my window pane, droplets trickling down, catching others and forcing them to fall with them. Like committing suicide but being afraid to go alone...

The morbid thought comes at the same time as my mother's call, and all at once I know I've spent the urge that brought this whole plan into fruition in the first place.

We pull apart, smiles swollen, and head downstairs for dinner. It may be that things feel grander when you quit thinking about tomorrow, but now that I'm falling back into my in-between place a dim gloom is numbing my finger tips. It is like swinging one way or the other brings me to my high points, but just in the middle is where I'm lost. It is where I'm the most true to myself, but also the least sure.

Yusuke declines the offer to stay the night just like usual, and I help my mother clear the table. I decide to join her and watch television instead of leaving her alone to do so. No matter how I prefer to be in my room at the moment, her happiness comes first. She gets so sad when she is alone...another reason I hate lying to her about our missions.

---

"You should invite your friends over more Shuuichi." She is yawning, and I know that going to bed is finally entering her mind. She switches the television off.

I smile gently. She is the most loving person I've ever met, evidently so if she was able to shape the legendary Youko Kurama into a model citizen. Maybe I should make a few new friends just to please her. Although the thought is positive I know I'll never do it.

I could never identify with human children with the exception of Yusuke or Kuwabara. I'm not that close to Kuwabara...Hiei is actually the closest friend I have, but he is not a suitable acquaintance to bring by. Hiei would loathe the idea, and I would not force him into it.

"Dear I think I'm going to head in for the night." I stand up, and hug her.

"Goodnight mother."

"You too Shuuichi. Don't stay up too late, even if it is the weekend."

I wait standing in the living room before I hear her bedroom door shut. Again I ascend the stairs, and am not shocked when I see a water-logged, cloaked, figure standing by my window when I reach my room.

"Hello Hiei." He only grunts in reply. He is standing against the closed window the dark fabric of his outfit still dripping onto my carpet. "Have you been waiting long?"

He shifts uncomfortably, and keeps his lazy gaze at the downpour outside. "Its bad enough you act like a ningen, but to consort with one..."

At first I don't respond, straightening up my room, and changing into a more comfortable outfit; sweat pants and no shirt. Modesty is slim between demons, and Hiei takes this as the signal to change also and strips himself bare of his clinging clothes. He leaves his pants on in the hopes that the thin fabric will dry quickly with his body heat.

Resting my back on the same bed that Yusuke and I shared earlier, I can smell his scent rather strongly, and I grin mischievously. I pick up our conversation where it left off like it never paused. Hiei is the type to still follow. "Why Hiei, I never knew you to be a voyeur."

With Hiei everything is so black and white. There are few shades in-between, and once he comes to a certain conclusion his opinion never budges...or at least publicly. I know of his respect of Yusuke despite his revulsion of the human species. Sometimes his strict beliefs can create quite a few contradictions.

"I'm not in the mood for your play Kurama, just a dry place to stay." Oh, so touchy. However I know that the only reason he watched us instead of just coming in, is that he is too proud to admit that he'd seek shelter here, even if that means waiting an hour or two in the rain.

"Fine." I lay agitatedly on my bed, not in the mood to sleep just yet. I'd like to talk to one of my own kind, but Hiei isn't the most responsive demon. I must say I've had better company.

"Do you think of home often?" I try to strike up conversation anyway.

He sighs dramatically, resigning himself to the philosophical talks I sometimes force him into. Its not that he lacks the intelligence to carry one out, but rather a lack of interest.

"Every second I'm forced to inhale this tainted air that the weak masses breathe. Every weak fool I see, I wish I was away from this miserable excuse for a world." Cruel and blunt. Definitely Hiei.

"I...miss its bruised skies, and vast forests. Here I feel claustrophobic at times. Do you feel that way?"

"Hn."

"Sixteen years...do you think anything has changed?" Its a stupid question. While Ningenkai might advance quickly, life spans are shorter here too. In Maikai demons live long with little to no change in their ways. They adapt, yes, but do nothing to change the ways of society.

"No."

"But really what kind of life did we leave behind? Is it any better than this one?" I wouldn't know for sure about what he left...to get him to speak of his past is like pulling teeth. But I've forced enough.

"Of course it was better. We aren't meant to be here kitsune." Never a truer statement, yet my soul is bound here. Maybe at some point that bond will die along with all my loved ones that live here.

"I'll admit...I miss some of the freedom my old life presented." He scoffs. Now I notice he's moved to the floor where Yusuke sat.

"Having the power to disregard the law? Or do you miss your bed partners?"

Teasingly I sit up, and run my hands down either side of his chest, a frown marring my features. "You of all people should know better than to look down on my lifestyle."

"Stop." He brushes away my hands irritated. "I'm not your toy."

"I never said you were. You're a friend."

Frustrating I tell you. Unless you catch him in the right mood...its hopeless. If I was in my Youko form he could never resist me...or at least he'd be the first to do so. Sadly I've yet to learn how to transform at will.

"I was powerful there. A somebody. but I suppose it doesn't matter, things went foul towards the end." I don't elaborate, and he doesn't ask. "Even if I didn't want to go back it would be nice to visit..."

"Koenma isn't a fool enough to allow us through a portal for a 'visit'." His tone is bored with the conversation.

"If it wasn't for the barriers they have then I wouldn't pay head to his opinion." I think my little bit of defiance makes him happy. He doesn't like the fact that I'm so compliant about working for the spirit world.

"Do me a favor and shut up," That's his way of saying that he is tired.

"I don't want to sleep."

He doesn't catch the hint. Either that or he is blatantly ignoring me. I stretch sensuously, and wait, my eyes gleaming. He must feel them burning a hole through the back of his head.

"Hn." My ego could be entirely crushed with such a uninterested reply to my silent request. But I'm patient, and its not like I haven't had to pursue him before. I need to submerse myself in the feel of another demon- a connection to home, and he needs to relax a little.

My hand drums across my stomach a little, and I smile seductively. I could be at this all day, but I resist the urge to just pounce on him. He doesn't like that much from experience.

"A youko's expertise: seduction."

"Come." I beckon him to join me on my bed, but he hesitates briefly.

"Same rules as last time...and this is mentioned to no one."

I nod. Him and his rules...He is too picky to make the experience truly enjoyable, but enough to leave you satisfied, and that is the objective.

I was surprised when we first came together. I'm not certain as too his exact age but he's yet to reach his first century, young for a demon, practically a child. If demons were bound to the same morals as humans, a sexual relationship would be out of the question, but of course we aren't.

Sex is common, a tool to get what you want, always casual. A weapon if you will, that everyone possesses, Hiei not being an exception. He isn't as experienced and sensual as some of my previous partners, but rough.

His deep touches are almost painful, arousing my most basic of instincts, bringing low growls to leave our throats. We bite each other hard enough to draw blood, but lost in a haze, I can barely feel the pain that will set in later.

Our tempo makes me breathe hard, sweat rolling over our muscles, to glisten in the moonlight. My nails dig into the flesh of his back as we move faster.

Circumstances made this work, but it always rings hollow. The animalistic feelings that shut out all other thoughts is nothing more than skin deep. Usually this is the norm for a promiscuous demon such as a youko. But there was a time.

A time when things felt different. Even now...when my mind is blank with white pleasure, I can still remember, and it hurts.

AN: Ok so second chapter finally complete. (actually this has been on my computer for a while...I'm just really lzy.) This is turning out to be harder than I thought. I keep wanting them to say something, but it wouldn't be in character for them to do so. ACK! Also I keep thinking about changing to third person. Its either third or first person in...one of two people's point of view. What do you guys think?

I want to stab myself! My life is really hectic right now, and the stress is killing me. My move has just settled in, but I'm doing all these events this month, and my annoying aunt from California is coming... Anyway it will be taking me five million years between updates now, because I'm focusing more on my art. I just got into Charcoal...and I'm in love! I'm actually pretty good if anyone wants to check out my deviant art account. I'll be posting my two favoritest charcoals today!

For lack of time... I'll just have to say thankyou by name instead of replying... So sorry. I'll do it next time! Promise!

(1) In Japan students often go to school six days a week instead of five, and they often are in school until about four o'clock.

Thank you to…

lazy fat kitsune

kikira-san (the nicest review Ive gotten. Thanks!)

kurama-sweethart (miss you)

ame-tennyo AKA Hyena Frog

darksaphire (wow such a deep thinker)