Okey-dokey, well, I do try to alternate these things, you know, so here's
another chapter of some good ole' yaoi. As I've mentioned, school has
started up once more, and it's my senior year, meaning life is going to be
hell until I graduate. I'll try not to wait an entire year between updates
this time though. Sorry the last chapter of ATR sucked, but I did write it
at school. That should be excuse enough, ne?
Also, one last time, I know that Yusuke is a demon, I do. I even know what his demon form looks like, however, I like my own take on it better so, due to this, and the fact that those episodes haven't aired yet, it's going to be waaaaaay different.
WARNINGS: 1. This is yaoi 2. I own nothing
~
For a while, Kuwabara's apparent discomfort and attempts to ignore Yusuke, Kurama, and Hiei were amusing. Now, however, they were getting a bit annoying. It wasn't any of his business anyway, damn it.
"This is one of the villages Spirit World is having trouble getting messages from." Kurama said suddenly, stopping abruptly and pointing at a small town at the base of the hill they stood atop. "The first of many, I'm afraid. Shall we investigate?"
"I'm up for it." Yusuke decided, cracking his knuckles loudly.
Hiei smirked at him. "Are you sure you can keep up, detective?"
"Hey, I just hope you don't choke to death on my dust!"
"Now you're flirting with Hiei?" Kuwabara groaned.
"I am not flirting!" Yusuke objected quickly. Why did Kurama have to look so amused? And why the sudden annoyed look on Hiei's own face? "We weren't flirting." He finished, feeling lame. They weren't, were they?
"I know this place." Kurama stated with a small frown as they drew nearer.
Hiei cast him a glance, and for a moment he looked almost compassionate. Then the moment passed. "We should find rooms right away." The short demon decided coldly. "I doubt any of us would enjoy the consequences of sleeping on the streets in a place like this."
The guards at the gates barely looked at them before letting them pass, then they were inside. Most demons they passed didn't give them a second glance, only passed by as quickly as they could, eyes downcast. The mood of the village was decidedly depressed. Yusuke, for one, was thankful that no one seemed interested in bothering them - he had realized that it probably wasn't a good idea to be a human in a town full of demons.
It wasn't long before Yusuke began to feel eyes on the back of his neck. Just because no one would meet his eye didn't mean no one noticed he was human, after all. By the rigid way Kuwabara walked, he, too, noticed the eyes.
Because a part of him had been waiting for it, Yusuke managed to keep up a false semblance of calm when they were finally challenged as a large, burly demon covered in spikes stepped in their way.
"Well, well, look what we have here. If it isn't pretty little Youko. You look different, but I'd recognize that sweet energy signature anywhere. You even smell the same!"
"Well, Shuko, isn't it?" Kurama crossed his arms, outwardly calm, but Yusuke knew him well enough by now to be fairly certain that that wasn't the case at all. "I'm surprised you remember me after all these years."
"Who in his right mind could forget the legendary whore of Dai'shaal?" He leered. Yusuke's eyes snapped to his lover as a growl rose up in Hiei's throat. Kurama himself showed no reaction; his face could have been carved from stone. The large demon smiled triumphantly, casting a careless glance over their little group. "So, what's somebody like you doing with the forbidden child and a couple of filthy, stinking humans?" He asked finally.
Kurama didn't miss a beat. "The humans belong to us." He answered coldly. "A little entertainment stolen from Ninjenkai is always amusing, wouldn't you agree?"
The demon's eyes widened and he raised an eyebrow suggestively. "You mean .?"
Lightening quick, Hiei grabbed Yusuke's arm and pulled him roughly to his side, holding his arm in a steel-like grip and wrapping his other arm around the human's waist, glaring at the other demon. "That's right." He spat. "They're ours."
The spiked demon considered this a moment before smirking and giving a miniscule mock bow. "Well then, let me know when you decided to sell the pretty one." He chucked, passing them and going on his way without further incident.
As their group began to walk again, Kurama shot Hiei - who still held Yusuke close to his side - an annoyed look. "Why do you get the pretty one?" He demanded quietly.
Hiei snorted. "I know perfectly well who he belongs to, fox, however, unlike you, I have a reputation to protect."
Kurama frowned, casting his eyes over the two of them, but let it pass, trying to ignore the sputters of an indignant Kuwabara as he reluctantly slid an arm around his shoulders.
"Why did that guy call Kurama a whore?" Yusuke asked quietly in a voice he knew only Hiei would be able to pick up.
"If Kurama wished for you to know the answer to that, then he'll tell you himself." He growled antisocially.
Yusuke was silent a moment, but he couldn't help asking one last thing. "D'ya have'ta touch my butt?" He complained, uncomfortable with the possessive presence of the hand on his posterior, he hand that definitely did not belong to his lover.
"Yes." Hiei answered gruffly. "Fox," He raised his voice to be heard by the red haired man. "Pay attention; you're about to pass the inn."
~
"Why are we only getting' one room?" Kuwabara complained. "I don't wanna' share a room with three homos!"
"Look, just chill, Kuwabara; nobody wants you, anyway!" Yusuke snapped, annoyed, as he watched Kurama light candles. He himself would have rather not share a room with the annoying human, but he was more concerned over being able to find the opportunity to speak to Kurama alone.
"I'm going out." Kurama announced as he shook a match to put out the flame.
"What?" Yusuke demanded.
Hiei crossed his arms and sat on the edge of the room's small table, eyes sharp. "Why?" He demanded calmly.
Kurama flipped his hair over his shoulder, completely calm. "There is a reason spirit world cannot get messages from this village; a reason morale is so low, even for demons. We probably will not be permitted to leave without trouble, unless we are only headed further into the lands where this problem is prevalent. Since I am the most familiar with this place, I am the most likely candidate to discover something that would be of interest to us."
Hiei nodded sharply, though his eyes were unsure. "Very well, go then."
Yusuke shot the short demon a glare and hurried to follow Kurama out the door. "You shouldn't go out there alone." He blurted as he closed the door behind himself.
Kurama smiled slightly, leaning against the wall and closing his eyes. "You worry for me, Yusuke?" He asked quietly.
"Of course I do!"
"Hmm." Kurama opened his eyes and looked away. "I grew up here, my dear." He admitted softly. "I lived here up until the day I met Hiei. It wasn't an easy life, and it isn't something I enjoy thinking about." He met Yusuke's eyes unflinchingly, green into brown. "One does what one must to survive."
"Kurama?"
He reached out and cupped Yusuke's cheek. "I am perfectly able to handle myself here, Yusuke, you mustn't worry. I will return to you by nightfall." He turned to go.
"Kurama wait!" He paused, and Yusuke found himself at a loss for words. "There's something I want to tell you." He stammered.
Kurama cast him a small, gentle, genuine smile. "You needn't say it. I know, my dear. And I feel the same about you. Go back inside and keep Hiei from killing your annoying friend. I will see you tonight."
Yusuke caught his arm as he moved to leave yet again, turning him around for a lingering kiss that left them both breathless. They embraced, holding each other tightly.
"I don't have a good feeling about this place." Yusuke confessed, voice muffled by the fabric of Kurama's shirt. "Just, be careful, okay?"
Kurama understood, and stopped trying to downplay the danger. He tightened his hold on Yusuke. "If anything should happen to me, promise that you will take care of Hiei. He is a far better person than you think, and not as strong as he thinks."
"I promise."
Kurama released him, and left without a second glance.
~
"Got any twos?"
"Go Fish."
Scowling, Hiei reached down and took a card. The scowl became amusement as his ruby gaze fell across the boy sleeping on the couch, dead to the world. "What did you dive him?" He asked with a snort.
Yusuke shrugged, busy rearranging his cards. "I dunno. I slipped some of Kurama's herbs in his drink when he wasn't looking. Guess it worked. You got any sevens?"
With an annoyed frown, Hiei carelessly tossed one over. "Too bad it didn't kill him. Are you positive you are not cheating, detective?"
"I told ya already, I'm not!"
"Give me your threes."
Yusuke smirked triumphantly. "Go. Fish."
Hiei ground his teeth, taking another card. "He shouldn't be this late." He said quietly, eyes fixated on his cards as if they were all that mattered. He dearly wanted to pretend the statement was just an idle observance, and not something he was beginning to worry about, that much was obvious.
"He'll be back. He promised." Yusuke crushed his coke can in his hand, also trying to pretend he wasn't worried. "I'm getting another drink, do you want one?" He asked as he rose, surprised at how well he was getting along with Hiei. When the small demon was preoccupied with more than asserting his supremacy over everyone else in the world, he wasn't so bad.
"Sure." Hiei huffed.
While he took two more cans from the mini refrigerator Boton had brought, Yusuke cast a careful glance over Hiei's shoulder at his cards. "Here." He said brightly, handing the shorter man a drink as he sat back down and picked his cards back up. So he was cheating. So what?
"Since you're slightly less annoying than usual tonight, detective, I may as well ask something that I've been wondering for quite some time. Why did you change your hair?" He asked as he popped the top on his drink and took a deep sip. He glared at Yusuke, as if daring him to make some kind of comment about his attempt at conversation.
"Kurama." He answered simply, lowering his eyes. He didn't think even Kurama knew that he was the reason he had changed his hair; but it had been worth the sacrifice. He would trade hair gel and more convenient short hair for the feel of Kurama's hands tangling in the now-longer strands any day.
Hiei smirked, looking back to his cards. "Ah."
"Any queens?"
"Damn it, detective! I know you're cheating somehow!" Hiei yelled, slamming his cards down on the table and rising angrily. "I refuse to play anymore!"
"Oh, come on, Hiei, stop being such a baby. It's just a game."
Hiei grabbed Yusuke by his collar and yanked him violently to his feet. Whatever he was about to yell was lost as their eyes locked. Hiei began to smirk, eyes changing from angry to something else entirely as he slowly brought up a hand to touch Yusuke's face and, just as slowly, traced his thumb softly across his jaw line. His eyes held something strange Yusuke had never expected to see.
"Hiei?"
"Quiet, fool." He purred, face drawing nearly as he forced Yusuke's face down near his. Yusuke closed his eyes.
The door opened and the two of them leapt apart from each other guiltily.
Kurama smiled slightly, closing the door after himself quietly. "Getting along?" He asked calmly, seeming very pleased.
"You're hurt." Hiei accused coldly, eyes locked on the blood seeping through the red haired demon's shirt as he pushed Yusuke away, making the human fall back into his chair with a noisy oath.
"It is only a scratch, my dear. Yusuke, if you will fetch my herbs?" He asked. Yusuke stopped glaring at Hiei and leapt to his feet, hurrying to comply as Kurama allowed Hiei to help him to the bed and remove his ruined shirt. "It is pretty bad out there." Kurama began, pointing to the herbs he wanted. Yusuke removed them from the bag and went to get a drink to mix them in, thankful he had been able to learn enough about them to help his lover. "Apparently," Kurama continued, "One of the noble houses has been snatching up all the land, trying to take control of everything."
"That's all you could get?" Hiei demanded, snatching a roll of bandages from Yusuke with a glare and beginning to wrap them around Kurama's shoulder, strangely possessive and yet gentle. Yusuke had rarely seen this side of him before; he and Hiei tried to give each other their privacy with the lover they shared. It was a strangely compelling sight. Maybe Kurama was right about the small demon.
"Yes, I'm afraid no one is very talkative here. Whoever is behind this is attempting to conceal his actions from spirit world until he has enough land under his control to pose a threat. We will be able to move further into the captive territory without challenge, however, anyone who is already inside and attempts to leave is killed. Not a pleasant prospect, I'm afraid."
Yusuke say beside him on the bed, just wanting to be close to him, and found himself grinning. "This mission is beginning to sound like fun!"
"Fun, is it?" Kurama smiled slightly, a trace of fondness in his expression. "I will leave the fun to you, my dear. As for me, I would like some sleep."
"We all need sleep." Hiei decided coldly, daring Yusuke to challenge his statement.
Yusuke glanced at the bed they sat on. "It looks big enough for all of us." He decided. "You better just keep your elbows to yourself, Hiei. And no puttin' your arm around me like you did in the tent!"
"For the last time," He growled. "I didn't know it was you!"
The two bickered all the way into bed, making sure that Kurama stayed between them, of course. Yusuke turned his back on the two demons and tried not to think about what Kurama's amused smirk meant as the red haired fox demon's arm slid around him and pulled him close
~
"I can't get any further into the territory than this and be able to leave again, so you're all going to have to carry your own supplies." Botan informed them, twisting her hair around a finger. "The information Kurama has found is already proving to be a big help; are you sure you don't want to leave?"
"We'll see it through." Yusuke answered with a confident grin.
Kuwabara nodded vigorously. "Yukeena's home is in the area being taken over; I have to protect my love!"
Yusuke and Kurama exchanged wicked, amused glances over Hiei's head.
"Don't worry about us, Botan, we can carry our own supplies." Yusuke assured her. "We'll fix this thing." He shouldered his pack and grinned at the blue-haired grim reaper. "Who knows? We might even have some fun."
She smiled and was gone.
"You go on ahead, I will settle the bill." Kurama volunteered. Yusuke agreed despite the fact he thought they could probably get away without paying; they might need the money later, after all.
He stepped out into the bright sunlight, trying to ignore Hiei's ongoing mental threats of what would happen to him if he made any comment whatsoever aboiut his sister.
Something struck the back of his head, and the world grew dark.
~
To Be Continued
Okay, well, that's it for now. Check my profile page for my other fics, I'm thinking about starting a Kingdom Hearts fic that I'm really excited about. Check it out even if you know nothing about the game. See you there!
Also, one last time, I know that Yusuke is a demon, I do. I even know what his demon form looks like, however, I like my own take on it better so, due to this, and the fact that those episodes haven't aired yet, it's going to be waaaaaay different.
WARNINGS: 1. This is yaoi 2. I own nothing
~
For a while, Kuwabara's apparent discomfort and attempts to ignore Yusuke, Kurama, and Hiei were amusing. Now, however, they were getting a bit annoying. It wasn't any of his business anyway, damn it.
"This is one of the villages Spirit World is having trouble getting messages from." Kurama said suddenly, stopping abruptly and pointing at a small town at the base of the hill they stood atop. "The first of many, I'm afraid. Shall we investigate?"
"I'm up for it." Yusuke decided, cracking his knuckles loudly.
Hiei smirked at him. "Are you sure you can keep up, detective?"
"Hey, I just hope you don't choke to death on my dust!"
"Now you're flirting with Hiei?" Kuwabara groaned.
"I am not flirting!" Yusuke objected quickly. Why did Kurama have to look so amused? And why the sudden annoyed look on Hiei's own face? "We weren't flirting." He finished, feeling lame. They weren't, were they?
"I know this place." Kurama stated with a small frown as they drew nearer.
Hiei cast him a glance, and for a moment he looked almost compassionate. Then the moment passed. "We should find rooms right away." The short demon decided coldly. "I doubt any of us would enjoy the consequences of sleeping on the streets in a place like this."
The guards at the gates barely looked at them before letting them pass, then they were inside. Most demons they passed didn't give them a second glance, only passed by as quickly as they could, eyes downcast. The mood of the village was decidedly depressed. Yusuke, for one, was thankful that no one seemed interested in bothering them - he had realized that it probably wasn't a good idea to be a human in a town full of demons.
It wasn't long before Yusuke began to feel eyes on the back of his neck. Just because no one would meet his eye didn't mean no one noticed he was human, after all. By the rigid way Kuwabara walked, he, too, noticed the eyes.
Because a part of him had been waiting for it, Yusuke managed to keep up a false semblance of calm when they were finally challenged as a large, burly demon covered in spikes stepped in their way.
"Well, well, look what we have here. If it isn't pretty little Youko. You look different, but I'd recognize that sweet energy signature anywhere. You even smell the same!"
"Well, Shuko, isn't it?" Kurama crossed his arms, outwardly calm, but Yusuke knew him well enough by now to be fairly certain that that wasn't the case at all. "I'm surprised you remember me after all these years."
"Who in his right mind could forget the legendary whore of Dai'shaal?" He leered. Yusuke's eyes snapped to his lover as a growl rose up in Hiei's throat. Kurama himself showed no reaction; his face could have been carved from stone. The large demon smiled triumphantly, casting a careless glance over their little group. "So, what's somebody like you doing with the forbidden child and a couple of filthy, stinking humans?" He asked finally.
Kurama didn't miss a beat. "The humans belong to us." He answered coldly. "A little entertainment stolen from Ninjenkai is always amusing, wouldn't you agree?"
The demon's eyes widened and he raised an eyebrow suggestively. "You mean .?"
Lightening quick, Hiei grabbed Yusuke's arm and pulled him roughly to his side, holding his arm in a steel-like grip and wrapping his other arm around the human's waist, glaring at the other demon. "That's right." He spat. "They're ours."
The spiked demon considered this a moment before smirking and giving a miniscule mock bow. "Well then, let me know when you decided to sell the pretty one." He chucked, passing them and going on his way without further incident.
As their group began to walk again, Kurama shot Hiei - who still held Yusuke close to his side - an annoyed look. "Why do you get the pretty one?" He demanded quietly.
Hiei snorted. "I know perfectly well who he belongs to, fox, however, unlike you, I have a reputation to protect."
Kurama frowned, casting his eyes over the two of them, but let it pass, trying to ignore the sputters of an indignant Kuwabara as he reluctantly slid an arm around his shoulders.
"Why did that guy call Kurama a whore?" Yusuke asked quietly in a voice he knew only Hiei would be able to pick up.
"If Kurama wished for you to know the answer to that, then he'll tell you himself." He growled antisocially.
Yusuke was silent a moment, but he couldn't help asking one last thing. "D'ya have'ta touch my butt?" He complained, uncomfortable with the possessive presence of the hand on his posterior, he hand that definitely did not belong to his lover.
"Yes." Hiei answered gruffly. "Fox," He raised his voice to be heard by the red haired man. "Pay attention; you're about to pass the inn."
~
"Why are we only getting' one room?" Kuwabara complained. "I don't wanna' share a room with three homos!"
"Look, just chill, Kuwabara; nobody wants you, anyway!" Yusuke snapped, annoyed, as he watched Kurama light candles. He himself would have rather not share a room with the annoying human, but he was more concerned over being able to find the opportunity to speak to Kurama alone.
"I'm going out." Kurama announced as he shook a match to put out the flame.
"What?" Yusuke demanded.
Hiei crossed his arms and sat on the edge of the room's small table, eyes sharp. "Why?" He demanded calmly.
Kurama flipped his hair over his shoulder, completely calm. "There is a reason spirit world cannot get messages from this village; a reason morale is so low, even for demons. We probably will not be permitted to leave without trouble, unless we are only headed further into the lands where this problem is prevalent. Since I am the most familiar with this place, I am the most likely candidate to discover something that would be of interest to us."
Hiei nodded sharply, though his eyes were unsure. "Very well, go then."
Yusuke shot the short demon a glare and hurried to follow Kurama out the door. "You shouldn't go out there alone." He blurted as he closed the door behind himself.
Kurama smiled slightly, leaning against the wall and closing his eyes. "You worry for me, Yusuke?" He asked quietly.
"Of course I do!"
"Hmm." Kurama opened his eyes and looked away. "I grew up here, my dear." He admitted softly. "I lived here up until the day I met Hiei. It wasn't an easy life, and it isn't something I enjoy thinking about." He met Yusuke's eyes unflinchingly, green into brown. "One does what one must to survive."
"Kurama?"
He reached out and cupped Yusuke's cheek. "I am perfectly able to handle myself here, Yusuke, you mustn't worry. I will return to you by nightfall." He turned to go.
"Kurama wait!" He paused, and Yusuke found himself at a loss for words. "There's something I want to tell you." He stammered.
Kurama cast him a small, gentle, genuine smile. "You needn't say it. I know, my dear. And I feel the same about you. Go back inside and keep Hiei from killing your annoying friend. I will see you tonight."
Yusuke caught his arm as he moved to leave yet again, turning him around for a lingering kiss that left them both breathless. They embraced, holding each other tightly.
"I don't have a good feeling about this place." Yusuke confessed, voice muffled by the fabric of Kurama's shirt. "Just, be careful, okay?"
Kurama understood, and stopped trying to downplay the danger. He tightened his hold on Yusuke. "If anything should happen to me, promise that you will take care of Hiei. He is a far better person than you think, and not as strong as he thinks."
"I promise."
Kurama released him, and left without a second glance.
~
"Got any twos?"
"Go Fish."
Scowling, Hiei reached down and took a card. The scowl became amusement as his ruby gaze fell across the boy sleeping on the couch, dead to the world. "What did you dive him?" He asked with a snort.
Yusuke shrugged, busy rearranging his cards. "I dunno. I slipped some of Kurama's herbs in his drink when he wasn't looking. Guess it worked. You got any sevens?"
With an annoyed frown, Hiei carelessly tossed one over. "Too bad it didn't kill him. Are you positive you are not cheating, detective?"
"I told ya already, I'm not!"
"Give me your threes."
Yusuke smirked triumphantly. "Go. Fish."
Hiei ground his teeth, taking another card. "He shouldn't be this late." He said quietly, eyes fixated on his cards as if they were all that mattered. He dearly wanted to pretend the statement was just an idle observance, and not something he was beginning to worry about, that much was obvious.
"He'll be back. He promised." Yusuke crushed his coke can in his hand, also trying to pretend he wasn't worried. "I'm getting another drink, do you want one?" He asked as he rose, surprised at how well he was getting along with Hiei. When the small demon was preoccupied with more than asserting his supremacy over everyone else in the world, he wasn't so bad.
"Sure." Hiei huffed.
While he took two more cans from the mini refrigerator Boton had brought, Yusuke cast a careful glance over Hiei's shoulder at his cards. "Here." He said brightly, handing the shorter man a drink as he sat back down and picked his cards back up. So he was cheating. So what?
"Since you're slightly less annoying than usual tonight, detective, I may as well ask something that I've been wondering for quite some time. Why did you change your hair?" He asked as he popped the top on his drink and took a deep sip. He glared at Yusuke, as if daring him to make some kind of comment about his attempt at conversation.
"Kurama." He answered simply, lowering his eyes. He didn't think even Kurama knew that he was the reason he had changed his hair; but it had been worth the sacrifice. He would trade hair gel and more convenient short hair for the feel of Kurama's hands tangling in the now-longer strands any day.
Hiei smirked, looking back to his cards. "Ah."
"Any queens?"
"Damn it, detective! I know you're cheating somehow!" Hiei yelled, slamming his cards down on the table and rising angrily. "I refuse to play anymore!"
"Oh, come on, Hiei, stop being such a baby. It's just a game."
Hiei grabbed Yusuke by his collar and yanked him violently to his feet. Whatever he was about to yell was lost as their eyes locked. Hiei began to smirk, eyes changing from angry to something else entirely as he slowly brought up a hand to touch Yusuke's face and, just as slowly, traced his thumb softly across his jaw line. His eyes held something strange Yusuke had never expected to see.
"Hiei?"
"Quiet, fool." He purred, face drawing nearly as he forced Yusuke's face down near his. Yusuke closed his eyes.
The door opened and the two of them leapt apart from each other guiltily.
Kurama smiled slightly, closing the door after himself quietly. "Getting along?" He asked calmly, seeming very pleased.
"You're hurt." Hiei accused coldly, eyes locked on the blood seeping through the red haired demon's shirt as he pushed Yusuke away, making the human fall back into his chair with a noisy oath.
"It is only a scratch, my dear. Yusuke, if you will fetch my herbs?" He asked. Yusuke stopped glaring at Hiei and leapt to his feet, hurrying to comply as Kurama allowed Hiei to help him to the bed and remove his ruined shirt. "It is pretty bad out there." Kurama began, pointing to the herbs he wanted. Yusuke removed them from the bag and went to get a drink to mix them in, thankful he had been able to learn enough about them to help his lover. "Apparently," Kurama continued, "One of the noble houses has been snatching up all the land, trying to take control of everything."
"That's all you could get?" Hiei demanded, snatching a roll of bandages from Yusuke with a glare and beginning to wrap them around Kurama's shoulder, strangely possessive and yet gentle. Yusuke had rarely seen this side of him before; he and Hiei tried to give each other their privacy with the lover they shared. It was a strangely compelling sight. Maybe Kurama was right about the small demon.
"Yes, I'm afraid no one is very talkative here. Whoever is behind this is attempting to conceal his actions from spirit world until he has enough land under his control to pose a threat. We will be able to move further into the captive territory without challenge, however, anyone who is already inside and attempts to leave is killed. Not a pleasant prospect, I'm afraid."
Yusuke say beside him on the bed, just wanting to be close to him, and found himself grinning. "This mission is beginning to sound like fun!"
"Fun, is it?" Kurama smiled slightly, a trace of fondness in his expression. "I will leave the fun to you, my dear. As for me, I would like some sleep."
"We all need sleep." Hiei decided coldly, daring Yusuke to challenge his statement.
Yusuke glanced at the bed they sat on. "It looks big enough for all of us." He decided. "You better just keep your elbows to yourself, Hiei. And no puttin' your arm around me like you did in the tent!"
"For the last time," He growled. "I didn't know it was you!"
The two bickered all the way into bed, making sure that Kurama stayed between them, of course. Yusuke turned his back on the two demons and tried not to think about what Kurama's amused smirk meant as the red haired fox demon's arm slid around him and pulled him close
~
"I can't get any further into the territory than this and be able to leave again, so you're all going to have to carry your own supplies." Botan informed them, twisting her hair around a finger. "The information Kurama has found is already proving to be a big help; are you sure you don't want to leave?"
"We'll see it through." Yusuke answered with a confident grin.
Kuwabara nodded vigorously. "Yukeena's home is in the area being taken over; I have to protect my love!"
Yusuke and Kurama exchanged wicked, amused glances over Hiei's head.
"Don't worry about us, Botan, we can carry our own supplies." Yusuke assured her. "We'll fix this thing." He shouldered his pack and grinned at the blue-haired grim reaper. "Who knows? We might even have some fun."
She smiled and was gone.
"You go on ahead, I will settle the bill." Kurama volunteered. Yusuke agreed despite the fact he thought they could probably get away without paying; they might need the money later, after all.
He stepped out into the bright sunlight, trying to ignore Hiei's ongoing mental threats of what would happen to him if he made any comment whatsoever aboiut his sister.
Something struck the back of his head, and the world grew dark.
~
To Be Continued
Okay, well, that's it for now. Check my profile page for my other fics, I'm thinking about starting a Kingdom Hearts fic that I'm really excited about. Check it out even if you know nothing about the game. See you there!