Wow, I actually got reviews for this! That makes me so happy, because I
really like this fic. I just wanted to put up another warning now, this fic
is yaoi. There won't be a lemon, and I try to do things very tastefully,
and I haven't had any complaints yet, but if anyone has a problem, I have
posted warnings several times now. Thank you. And a BIG thanks to everyone
who reviewed. (Starts humming the theme song to the first season of Ranma ½
- yeah, it's stuck in my head. I'm trying to learn some songs in Japanese
so I can improve my pronunciation..) Anyway.
Hiei watched the bathroom door close and turned a glare on Kurama. "What's he doing here?" He demanded finally.
Kurama crossed his arms and leaned against the wall, expression serious. He regarded the smaller demon a moment before choosing an answer. "Yusuke will be living with us for now on." He announced, watching Hiei's expression harden.
"And why, exactly, is that?" He scowled.
"I found him attempting to take his rest on a park bench." Kurama answered quietly, nodding at the slight uplifting of Hiei's eyebrows. "Yes, my thoughts exactly. I could not just leave him out there, not after all I owe him, now could I?"
Hiei snorted. "You're too softhearted by far."
He smiled slightly as he heard the shower turn on in the next room. "Perhaps, however, I believe you agree with my decision."
"Well, I believe you think you want him." The dark-haired demon spat, looking away. "You've admitted being attracted to him before. You can't expect to convince me that you're doing this through purely selfless reasons, fox."
Kurama lifted his shoulders in a small graceful shrug. "I like him."
"And what about me?" Hiei snarled, voice dangerous.
The taller man gave a half-smile of amusement. "You, Hiei?" His voice was quiet and calm, like the gentle sway of the ocean on a calm day. "I more than like you. You shouldn't even have to ask. After all, we've been together for a very long time."
Hiei regarded him coldly. "So then, you think to have us both?"
"Would you allow that?"
Kurama's tone was cool, as if he didn't really care one way or another, but there was a light in his eyes, as if he were anxious. If asked not to, he wouldn't. Hiei scowled and looked away. "If it's that important to you." He grumbled.
A hot shower felt very good, especially after the rain. He hadn't had a nice shower like the one he was having now in a long time, not since the hot water at his house had been turned off two years ago.
Yusuke was beginning to feel much better. He didn't regret his decision to take Kurama up on his offer at all. Kurama's house was large, and much nicer than anything Yusuke had ever expected to set foot in. It was nice to be able to pretend someone cared.
The arrangement would work out fine as long as Yusuke managed to keep control of himself, and not do something he'd regret. Something that would get him kicked out for sure. All his teen life Yusuke had been attracted to women, yet for some reason, ever since meeting him, Yusuke had found himself thinking about Kurama in that way. He was embarrassed when he did so, and couldn't figure out what was wrong with him. Kurama was beautiful, true, but apparently all for demons were, and besides, there was the little fact that Kurama was a male.
Anyway, living in the same house as him shouldn't be too difficult. After all, it wasn't as if he actually felt anything for the quiet man. No one had to know about the occasional naughty thought. And besides, Hiei wouldn't appreciate him trying to move in on his boyfriend.
And after all, Yusuke had never thought of other males that way before, and no other guys except Kurama and, strangely enough, Hiei. It must be a trait demons had, making themselves attractive even to people who wouldn't normally look at them that way.
Yeah, that must be it.
Yusuke turned off the water and dried himself off completely, even using the hairdryer her found sitting on the counter, before dressing in the clothes Kurama had leant him to wear while his were washed. He grimaced at his reflection in the mirror, running a hand through his hair to no avail, before exiting the bathroom.
Kurama and Hiei quickly pulled away from each other and, though Hiei glared as if daring him to make a comment, Kurama offered Yusuke his habitual knowing smile, as if admitting he was caught, but thinking it was somewhat amusing.
"Better?" He asked coolly.
"At least you don't resemble a drowned rat anymore." Hiei sneered.
Oh, he was definitely not happy with being interrupted.
"Um, yeah, I feel a lot better." Yusuke answered brightly, shooting Hiei his most irritating I-know-what-you-were-up-to grin. He realized that he really did feel better, at least he was no longer wishing harm to himself to get back at his mother, in any case.
"Good. Your room is this way, if you will follow me." Kurama offered with that slight smile of his. Yusuke followed as he led him up the wide staircase and to a room at the end of the hall. Yusuke couldn't help but to goggle when he saw the room.
"This is too good for me, Kurama." He protested. "Don't you have a spare corner in the laundry room or something'?"
Once again, the half-smile. Was he amused, or was he making fun of Yusuke for acting like some uncivilized lout? "Get some sleep." The red haired man suggested, rather than attempt to address the issue of whether or not there was a more suitable place for Yusuke to sleep.
Yusuke caught his arm as he turned to go, but words failed him as those stunning emerald eyes met his own chocolate colored orbs. "I, um.thanks, Kurama. Really. Thanks."
The smile actually grew a little. He nodded once, and turned to leave.
Before he could stop himself, Yusuke grabbed his arm again, turning the slightly taller man to face him and pressing his lips against the red haired yukai's.
Hiei scowled at the staircase, in plain view from his seat at the kitchen table, as he furiously dunked a tea bag over and over in a mug of hot water. Kurama had never returned from showing the young spirit detective to his room the night before, and all ready it was well past the time the for demon usually woke.
Hiei didn't try to fool himself. He knew what that meant.
Monogamy was not commonly practiced among demons. In fact, from time to time in their five-hundred-year-old relationship both Hiei and Kurama had taken other lovers.
But Yusuke was a human, Hiei could never be happy knowing his lover was with a pathetic, weak, cowardly human. Yusuke wasn't pathetic, weak, or cowardly, but the small demon still wasn't happy about it.
He wasn't happy because he was jealous. Not that Kurama had spent the night with someone else, but that he'd spent it with the only human Hiei respected, even if that respect was awarded grudgingly. He'd been able to be with the one human Hiei would consider taking into bed himself.
Kurama came gracefully down the stairs, followed by a still-surprised looking Yusuke. Well, Hiei knew from experience that Kurama could have that effect on someone who wasn't prepared for him. The usually detached man could be surprisingly creative in private.
"Well well, look who finally decided to get up." Hiei said coldly, glaring. "And both up at the same time. Isn't that a suspicious coincidence?" Kurama looked extremely pleased with himself, damn him.
Kurama bent to kiss Hiei on his way to the cinnamon rolls resting on the counter, and Hiei almost ground his teeth. Normally, in the privacy of their own home, the two of them were very affectionate, but there was someone else there now!
"I'm taking Yusuke to buy new clothes today, Hiei. Would you care to join us?"
"I'd rather die."
Kurama shot him a small, disapproving frown, handing Yusuke a plate and a glass and directing him to help himself to some breakfast. Hiei watched the human move with a scowl, angry with himself for wanting him. Angry at the knowledge that he could probably have him if he asked, but that he would never ask.
"And what are you two fine gentlemen looking for today?" The manager of the nicest men's clothing store in the district asked with a smile, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Her dramatically painted eyes were greedy for the commission the two new customers could bring her, despite the apparent friendliness of her voice.
Kurama smiled his smallest, most mysterious smile, putting a hand on Yusuke's shoulder. "My friend here needs new clothes. Something nice."
"Nice" meant expensive. The manager's eyes lit up and within moments she had shuffled Yusuke into a dressing room with at least twenty different outfits to try on. Unfortunately, Kurama had seen some of those outfits, and couldn't stop himself from trying to picture his new lover in them. As soon as the manager had moved on to another customer, Kurama slipped into Yusuke's dressing room.
Without even giving the human time to open his mouth, he had him pinned against the dressing room wall, kissing him and tearing at that ridiculous school uniform. He usually had more control of himself, but.
What the hell.
Needless to say, they were asked not to return to that particular store.
Whatever the owner of the second most expensive clothing store in the district thought of the sight of his best customer with a dark-eyed, dark- haired boy who was missing the top button of his pants and all the buttons of his uniform jacket, he wisely didn't say.
Truthfully, Kurama liked the second store better than the first. It had a better atmosphere. He explained to the owner what they were looking for, and he soon had the boy stuffed into yet another dressing room. Then the owner directed Kurama to a chair in front of a three-way mirror - perhaps suspecting the reason he wasn't at the nicer store. It had happened before, after all. With Hiei.
"Can I get you something, sir? A drink, perhaps? No? How about a magazine?"
Kurama smiled detachedly, leaning back in his chair and permitting the pampering - humans were such amusing creatures. He watched as Yusuke came out of the dressing rooms time and time again, asking the spirit detective's own opinion of the clothes before giving his own thoughts. All his life Kurama had been able to influence people's decisions - everyone he knew had always tried to do whatever they could to please him - so he was very careful to allow the people he cared for to make their own decisions.
"I think this is the last one, sir." The store owner informed him as Yusuke stepped out in front of the mirrors.
This time the dark haired human wore tight blue jeans and a button down red silk shirt. A simple outfit, really, but there was something charming about the way it fit his form that Kurama instantly took a liking to.
Yusuke grinned at his reflection. "I really like this one."
"He'll wear that one out." Kurama announced.
Yusuke breathed deeply, smiling to himself. Somehow, the air smelled cleaner here than in his home district. He smirked at himself in a shop window, glad to be rid of the old, ugly school uniform - one of the last traces of the life he'd decided to leave behind.
Hie eye drifted to Kurama with something akin to wonder. The man had taken him in, given him a home. No one had ever before cared how he dressed before, but Kurama had taken him and bought him nice clothes that fit properly. He couldn't believe the fox demon seemed to care so much. First of all, he was a demon. Secondly, up until yesterday, Yusuke had thought the guy barely liked him as a person, and hadn't been sure he could completely trust him. Besides that, for some reason he just hadn't thought Kurama capable of caring like that.
Okay, so he cared about his human mother, and Yusuke had caught small hints that he cared deeply at Hiei as well, but Yusuke just wasn't the type people cared about. Or so he'd thought, but then, last night, standing in the doorway to the room he had been given, he had kissed Kurama, and Kurama had responded and things had just progressed from there in a manor that still surprised Yusuke when he thought about it.
One day they were barely friends, the next they were lovers. Weren't those things supposed to take more time?
But everything in his life finally seemed to have fallen into place. No matter how fast things had gone, it felt right. Wasn't that what mattered?
A shop they passed caught his eye because it seemed so out of place, and he stopped.
"Hey, Kurama, you mind if we go in there for a sec?" He asked. Kurama stopped walking to gaze at the edifice. With his long, slim hands in his pockets, eyes half lidded, it was difficult to equate him with the fiery lover Yusuke had known last night.
"A tattoo parlor?" He finally asked, tone mild.
"Yeah." Yusuke gave a small laugh, feeling foolish. No matter how messed up his mother was, she'd always threatened to kick him out of the house if he so much as thought about tattoos, piercings, motorcycles, growing his hair out, or premarital sex. Well, it was time to do what he wanted now. He'd do all of it, just to spite her. It was time to live his own life.
As long as Kurama didn't mind, that was.
"Is that okay?" He asked, trying to sound as if he didn't care.
Kurama crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. "I'll wait out here."
To Be Continued This chappie's getting a little lengthy. I hope no one minds what I'm gonna do to Yusuke, the image in my mind is just too kawaii for me not to. Besides, he's staring a new life asserting his independence and all that. As for ages, Yusuke's 19 and Kurama and Hiei are very old by human standards. By demon standards, they're like, in their twenties. Get? Sugoi.
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Hiei watched the bathroom door close and turned a glare on Kurama. "What's he doing here?" He demanded finally.
Kurama crossed his arms and leaned against the wall, expression serious. He regarded the smaller demon a moment before choosing an answer. "Yusuke will be living with us for now on." He announced, watching Hiei's expression harden.
"And why, exactly, is that?" He scowled.
"I found him attempting to take his rest on a park bench." Kurama answered quietly, nodding at the slight uplifting of Hiei's eyebrows. "Yes, my thoughts exactly. I could not just leave him out there, not after all I owe him, now could I?"
Hiei snorted. "You're too softhearted by far."
He smiled slightly as he heard the shower turn on in the next room. "Perhaps, however, I believe you agree with my decision."
"Well, I believe you think you want him." The dark-haired demon spat, looking away. "You've admitted being attracted to him before. You can't expect to convince me that you're doing this through purely selfless reasons, fox."
Kurama lifted his shoulders in a small graceful shrug. "I like him."
"And what about me?" Hiei snarled, voice dangerous.
The taller man gave a half-smile of amusement. "You, Hiei?" His voice was quiet and calm, like the gentle sway of the ocean on a calm day. "I more than like you. You shouldn't even have to ask. After all, we've been together for a very long time."
Hiei regarded him coldly. "So then, you think to have us both?"
"Would you allow that?"
Kurama's tone was cool, as if he didn't really care one way or another, but there was a light in his eyes, as if he were anxious. If asked not to, he wouldn't. Hiei scowled and looked away. "If it's that important to you." He grumbled.
A hot shower felt very good, especially after the rain. He hadn't had a nice shower like the one he was having now in a long time, not since the hot water at his house had been turned off two years ago.
Yusuke was beginning to feel much better. He didn't regret his decision to take Kurama up on his offer at all. Kurama's house was large, and much nicer than anything Yusuke had ever expected to set foot in. It was nice to be able to pretend someone cared.
The arrangement would work out fine as long as Yusuke managed to keep control of himself, and not do something he'd regret. Something that would get him kicked out for sure. All his teen life Yusuke had been attracted to women, yet for some reason, ever since meeting him, Yusuke had found himself thinking about Kurama in that way. He was embarrassed when he did so, and couldn't figure out what was wrong with him. Kurama was beautiful, true, but apparently all for demons were, and besides, there was the little fact that Kurama was a male.
Anyway, living in the same house as him shouldn't be too difficult. After all, it wasn't as if he actually felt anything for the quiet man. No one had to know about the occasional naughty thought. And besides, Hiei wouldn't appreciate him trying to move in on his boyfriend.
And after all, Yusuke had never thought of other males that way before, and no other guys except Kurama and, strangely enough, Hiei. It must be a trait demons had, making themselves attractive even to people who wouldn't normally look at them that way.
Yeah, that must be it.
Yusuke turned off the water and dried himself off completely, even using the hairdryer her found sitting on the counter, before dressing in the clothes Kurama had leant him to wear while his were washed. He grimaced at his reflection in the mirror, running a hand through his hair to no avail, before exiting the bathroom.
Kurama and Hiei quickly pulled away from each other and, though Hiei glared as if daring him to make a comment, Kurama offered Yusuke his habitual knowing smile, as if admitting he was caught, but thinking it was somewhat amusing.
"Better?" He asked coolly.
"At least you don't resemble a drowned rat anymore." Hiei sneered.
Oh, he was definitely not happy with being interrupted.
"Um, yeah, I feel a lot better." Yusuke answered brightly, shooting Hiei his most irritating I-know-what-you-were-up-to grin. He realized that he really did feel better, at least he was no longer wishing harm to himself to get back at his mother, in any case.
"Good. Your room is this way, if you will follow me." Kurama offered with that slight smile of his. Yusuke followed as he led him up the wide staircase and to a room at the end of the hall. Yusuke couldn't help but to goggle when he saw the room.
"This is too good for me, Kurama." He protested. "Don't you have a spare corner in the laundry room or something'?"
Once again, the half-smile. Was he amused, or was he making fun of Yusuke for acting like some uncivilized lout? "Get some sleep." The red haired man suggested, rather than attempt to address the issue of whether or not there was a more suitable place for Yusuke to sleep.
Yusuke caught his arm as he turned to go, but words failed him as those stunning emerald eyes met his own chocolate colored orbs. "I, um.thanks, Kurama. Really. Thanks."
The smile actually grew a little. He nodded once, and turned to leave.
Before he could stop himself, Yusuke grabbed his arm again, turning the slightly taller man to face him and pressing his lips against the red haired yukai's.
Hiei scowled at the staircase, in plain view from his seat at the kitchen table, as he furiously dunked a tea bag over and over in a mug of hot water. Kurama had never returned from showing the young spirit detective to his room the night before, and all ready it was well past the time the for demon usually woke.
Hiei didn't try to fool himself. He knew what that meant.
Monogamy was not commonly practiced among demons. In fact, from time to time in their five-hundred-year-old relationship both Hiei and Kurama had taken other lovers.
But Yusuke was a human, Hiei could never be happy knowing his lover was with a pathetic, weak, cowardly human. Yusuke wasn't pathetic, weak, or cowardly, but the small demon still wasn't happy about it.
He wasn't happy because he was jealous. Not that Kurama had spent the night with someone else, but that he'd spent it with the only human Hiei respected, even if that respect was awarded grudgingly. He'd been able to be with the one human Hiei would consider taking into bed himself.
Kurama came gracefully down the stairs, followed by a still-surprised looking Yusuke. Well, Hiei knew from experience that Kurama could have that effect on someone who wasn't prepared for him. The usually detached man could be surprisingly creative in private.
"Well well, look who finally decided to get up." Hiei said coldly, glaring. "And both up at the same time. Isn't that a suspicious coincidence?" Kurama looked extremely pleased with himself, damn him.
Kurama bent to kiss Hiei on his way to the cinnamon rolls resting on the counter, and Hiei almost ground his teeth. Normally, in the privacy of their own home, the two of them were very affectionate, but there was someone else there now!
"I'm taking Yusuke to buy new clothes today, Hiei. Would you care to join us?"
"I'd rather die."
Kurama shot him a small, disapproving frown, handing Yusuke a plate and a glass and directing him to help himself to some breakfast. Hiei watched the human move with a scowl, angry with himself for wanting him. Angry at the knowledge that he could probably have him if he asked, but that he would never ask.
"And what are you two fine gentlemen looking for today?" The manager of the nicest men's clothing store in the district asked with a smile, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Her dramatically painted eyes were greedy for the commission the two new customers could bring her, despite the apparent friendliness of her voice.
Kurama smiled his smallest, most mysterious smile, putting a hand on Yusuke's shoulder. "My friend here needs new clothes. Something nice."
"Nice" meant expensive. The manager's eyes lit up and within moments she had shuffled Yusuke into a dressing room with at least twenty different outfits to try on. Unfortunately, Kurama had seen some of those outfits, and couldn't stop himself from trying to picture his new lover in them. As soon as the manager had moved on to another customer, Kurama slipped into Yusuke's dressing room.
Without even giving the human time to open his mouth, he had him pinned against the dressing room wall, kissing him and tearing at that ridiculous school uniform. He usually had more control of himself, but.
What the hell.
Needless to say, they were asked not to return to that particular store.
Whatever the owner of the second most expensive clothing store in the district thought of the sight of his best customer with a dark-eyed, dark- haired boy who was missing the top button of his pants and all the buttons of his uniform jacket, he wisely didn't say.
Truthfully, Kurama liked the second store better than the first. It had a better atmosphere. He explained to the owner what they were looking for, and he soon had the boy stuffed into yet another dressing room. Then the owner directed Kurama to a chair in front of a three-way mirror - perhaps suspecting the reason he wasn't at the nicer store. It had happened before, after all. With Hiei.
"Can I get you something, sir? A drink, perhaps? No? How about a magazine?"
Kurama smiled detachedly, leaning back in his chair and permitting the pampering - humans were such amusing creatures. He watched as Yusuke came out of the dressing rooms time and time again, asking the spirit detective's own opinion of the clothes before giving his own thoughts. All his life Kurama had been able to influence people's decisions - everyone he knew had always tried to do whatever they could to please him - so he was very careful to allow the people he cared for to make their own decisions.
"I think this is the last one, sir." The store owner informed him as Yusuke stepped out in front of the mirrors.
This time the dark haired human wore tight blue jeans and a button down red silk shirt. A simple outfit, really, but there was something charming about the way it fit his form that Kurama instantly took a liking to.
Yusuke grinned at his reflection. "I really like this one."
"He'll wear that one out." Kurama announced.
Yusuke breathed deeply, smiling to himself. Somehow, the air smelled cleaner here than in his home district. He smirked at himself in a shop window, glad to be rid of the old, ugly school uniform - one of the last traces of the life he'd decided to leave behind.
Hie eye drifted to Kurama with something akin to wonder. The man had taken him in, given him a home. No one had ever before cared how he dressed before, but Kurama had taken him and bought him nice clothes that fit properly. He couldn't believe the fox demon seemed to care so much. First of all, he was a demon. Secondly, up until yesterday, Yusuke had thought the guy barely liked him as a person, and hadn't been sure he could completely trust him. Besides that, for some reason he just hadn't thought Kurama capable of caring like that.
Okay, so he cared about his human mother, and Yusuke had caught small hints that he cared deeply at Hiei as well, but Yusuke just wasn't the type people cared about. Or so he'd thought, but then, last night, standing in the doorway to the room he had been given, he had kissed Kurama, and Kurama had responded and things had just progressed from there in a manor that still surprised Yusuke when he thought about it.
One day they were barely friends, the next they were lovers. Weren't those things supposed to take more time?
But everything in his life finally seemed to have fallen into place. No matter how fast things had gone, it felt right. Wasn't that what mattered?
A shop they passed caught his eye because it seemed so out of place, and he stopped.
"Hey, Kurama, you mind if we go in there for a sec?" He asked. Kurama stopped walking to gaze at the edifice. With his long, slim hands in his pockets, eyes half lidded, it was difficult to equate him with the fiery lover Yusuke had known last night.
"A tattoo parlor?" He finally asked, tone mild.
"Yeah." Yusuke gave a small laugh, feeling foolish. No matter how messed up his mother was, she'd always threatened to kick him out of the house if he so much as thought about tattoos, piercings, motorcycles, growing his hair out, or premarital sex. Well, it was time to do what he wanted now. He'd do all of it, just to spite her. It was time to live his own life.
As long as Kurama didn't mind, that was.
"Is that okay?" He asked, trying to sound as if he didn't care.
Kurama crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. "I'll wait out here."
To Be Continued This chappie's getting a little lengthy. I hope no one minds what I'm gonna do to Yusuke, the image in my mind is just too kawaii for me not to. Besides, he's staring a new life asserting his independence and all that. As for ages, Yusuke's 19 and Kurama and Hiei are very old by human standards. By demon standards, they're like, in their twenties. Get? Sugoi.
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