And about Yusuke's character I was trying to capture his personality, it was meant to be said like he didn't mean it. You know in that one chapter when Botan tells him Kuwabara heard him because Yusuke cared about him, and he's like 'don't gross me out', trying to be tough. Sorry it never got out that way. Anyway, who really reads these things anyway.
Disclaimer: I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho.
Chapter 3
He woke up shivering, he groaned. It was still dark! He could feel Eikichi sleeping in his coat, at least she wasn't cold. What time was it? It didn't even look close to morning. He had such a headache. He'd dreamt and it had left him disoriented even though he couldn't recall his dreams. He was sure he knew what they were about as they had left him with a cold feeling of terror. He shook it off. Which brought him to his next immediate problem, he was cold. So so cold!! It was freezing out here, he could barely think with the wind whipping in his ear.
'At least it isn't snowing,' he blanched. Now that he thought about it, not only was he cold, he was hungry. Eikichi stirred. A while later her little furry head had snaked it's way through the neck of Kuwabara's coat.
"Nya~n"
"Yes, kitty, it's cold, I agree"
Eikichi meowed again. And again and again and again. Kazuma sweat dropped.
" ' kichi......"
Meow.
"No, we-"
Meow.
"But-"
Meow.
"Oh, fine, I'm going okay?"
.......
"Thank you!"
Kuwabara shoved Eikichi back into his coat and pasted a scowl on his face. As soon as Eikichi was back in his jacket he smirked and, in spite of himself, giggled. He felt good. Cold, hungry, but good. He could just pretend tomorrow didn't bring such ill-tidings. He felt as if he and Eikichi could live forever in this night. He knew he couldn't but that didn't make any less of an attractive thought.
Hmm, now where would he go? It had to be somewhere warm, he wasn't quite up to visiting anyone yet. He'd get to that into the morning, unless he couldn't find a warm place. It shouldn't be a problem, except that he had no money. Most places checked this time of night to make sure it's occupants were spending. Arcades and Casino would throw him out. A hotel was out of the question. Where was he supposed to go? The homeless shelter? Well, he couldn't if he wanted to, he didn't even know where any of them were. His only option was to go find a friend to stay with. There wasn't many more places to go on his gang's turf. He wouldn't want to be caught dead on a rival gangs turf without backup. Urameshi might be able to handle it, but Kuwabara didn't want to take his chances, especially with Eikichi with him.
He really didn't want to disturb anyone this time of night, but he was cold! He already told himself he wouldn't go to Yusuke's of Hiei's. However, Kurama's didn't seem a very good idea now. Kurama was polite, but what if he got into trouble for Kazuma? He lived with his mother, didn't he? He would never go to Hiei's, he might let him stay but then he would owe him. His pride wouldn't allow that. Hiei was already a demon, therefore (in Kuwabara's mind) a better fighter than he, no way was he giving Hiei something more to hold over his head. He doubted Urameshi's mom would care. He knew Yusuke longer than the others at any rate. They had a sort of agreement, a grudging respect. It didn't exactly seem grudging anymore, but what else was new?
He didn't really feel like fighting with Urameshi right now, but figured he was safe. Yusuke had already told Kazuma's mom (or sister, depending who answered the door when Yusuke came looking for him) that he wasn't with any of his normal circle of friends. As for them fighting, Yusuke'd be too tired, because when he went to sleep he didn't wake up until he was good and ready. Unless he wasn't asleep yet, or if he was on one of his rare light sleeps. Maybe he could leave before Yusuke woke up so there wouldn't be any questions. Yusuke was a heavy sleeper, but what if he slept so heavy that he didn't open the door, his mom would but did Kuwabara really want to ask her to stay the night? That would be awkward.
Eikichi's wiggling brought him back to reality. He brought her out of his coat and kissed her head. He laughed,
"Okay, okay, we're getting there Eikichi, just need to turn around."
Soon he found himself, kitten and all, in front of Yusuke's apartment building. He took a deep breathe, he would do this. He was cold. Very cold. Therefore....he would do this. He sighed happily as he got into the warm apartment building. He started up to Yusuke's floor. When he got there he vaguely noted that a bulb had burnt out at the end of the hallway, the same one that was burnt out from when he was here last. It made him feel a little more in tune and he turned his attention to Yusuke's apartment door. He knocked, he waited, he knocked again. Finally he heard slow footsteps make their way to the door. He stood back and braced himself, and the door opened.
"Kuwabara?" Slurred a sleepy Yusuke.
"Uh...hi."
"What are you doing here?"
"Uh....well, I was wondreing, um, if -well, you know- uh...."
"Yusuke! Who is it?"
"No one, ma, you can go back to bed, it's just Kuwabara." Yusuke shouted over his shoulder.
"Okay, night then, he can stay just don't be so loud and shut the door!"
Yusuke turned to look at him and Kuwabara fidgeted nervously. He was glad for the interruption when Eikichi once again burst out the neck of his coat and gave a pointed, 'meow'.
Yusuke blinked.
"Hi...."
"Eikichi."
"I knew that! I was just...surprised....you gonna stand out there all day?"
Kazuma shut the door behind him quietly as Yusuke led him into the kitchen.
"You want something? you look cold."
"...sure."
Yusuke put on a kettle then leaned against the counter. He didn't exactly look tired, that was bad, or was it good? Was he still mad at him?
"Hey Kuwabara, I'm glad you came by," Kazuma sweat dropped, it was probably 4 o'clock! "I wanted to ask you something."
"Uh, okay."
"What was your mom talking about when she said you'd be back for an important occasion? She was looking for you, you know that right?"
"...yeah."
"So what I'm wondering is, if some sort of special occasion or whatever is going on then how come you're here?"
"It's personal."
"So why are you here?"
"Eikichi was cold?"
"Where were you?"
"The park, geez what is this, twenty questions?"
"Idiot, you shouldn't of stayed there unless you wanted to freeze to death, why didn't you come sooner."
"......"
"Tea's ready."
Yusuke took two mugs from the cupboard and poured hot water from the kettle in them.
"Green?"
"Huh?"
"Tea."
"Oh, sure."
Yusuke placed the cup on the table in front of Kazuma.
"I didn't mean to wake you up."
"That's okay, I couldn't sleep."
"Oh."
"You tired?"
"Of course not. Why would I be?"
Yusuke snorted. Just like Kuwabara to let his pride answer for him. Kazuma also found Yusuke reasonably unarguable.
"Dope, you're lying. You can use my bed, I'm not very tired."
"I told you, I'm not tired!"
So much for reasonably unarguable.
"What you don't trust me with your cat? Is that it."
"No, I'm just not tired."
"So you came here, not to sleep, but just to what, exactly?"
"Hmph."
"Kuwabara, look, if I have to, I will drag you to that bed. I know you're tired, I'll probably be going to sleep in a little while anyway, so you might as well just go to sleep."
".....fine."
"Thank you!"
"Come on, Eikichi."
Eikichi meowed once more and followed Kazuma out of the room and into Yusuke's.
Exhausted, he lay down on Yusuke's futon and fell asleep, once again embracing Eikichi.
Forty five minutes later Yusuke quietly slipped into his room holding an extra blanket and pillow. He laid them parallel to his futon a meter away. He sighed and settled down, a little kitten awakening and rubbing against his legs. He smiled down at the little cat. Eventually whimpering and mumbled words met his ears, he glance over at where Kuwabara was sleeping. Kuwabara whimpered again and let out a struggled choke, he looked like he was trying to get away from something but his movements were muted by sleep. When the whimpering got a little louder Yusuke finally snapped out of his trance and closed the gap between him and his friend.
"Hey, Kuwabara, wake up." Yusuke gently nudged him.
"Kuwabara, wake up." He shook him a little more roughly this time.
Kuwabara emitted a moan as he pushed himself up from the futon before he turned his back on Yusuke and held his knees to his chest. For a minute Yusuke didn't know if Kuwabara had heard him. Then he noticed Kuwabara trembling. Was he crying?
"Kuwabara?"
Nothing.
"Are you all right?"
"It's nothing" Kuwabara answered in a hoarse voice still not turning to meet Yusuke.
"Was it a nightmare? Do you want to talk about it?"
Kazuma shook his head and Yusuke sat down on the futon next to him. Aha! So he was crying. Yusuke could see the silver trails the tears left on Kazuma's face. Then suddenly, he didn't know what to do. He knew how to comfort Keiko, but at least he knew why she was upset, and she was a girl. He couldn't imagine Kuwabara's reaction if he hugged him or something. He'd probably hit him, though he could block it just as easily. Bottom line, he just didn't know what to do. So he patted him on the back as if he were a dog or something. He felt stupid. Kuwabara, however, took no notice. And so the two boys stayed sitting like that for over half an hour, Kuwabara crying and Yusuke sitting there with him in silence.
Kuwabara had finally finished crying and was chagrined to find Yusuke still in the same position, sitting next to him, as he was half an hour ago. Kuwabara sniffled and swiped at his eyes to wipe his tears. Once Eikichi sensed he was stable again she came and curled up on his lap, purring.
"Sorry." Kuwabara stated weakly.
"Are you okay now?"
Kuwabara started to answer, but not trusting his voice fully yet just nodded.
"Do you need to talk?"
"It's all right. I'm fine."
Yusuke looked like he wanted to say something more but backed off.
"Well, goodnight then, if you need to, you know, talk or anything you can wake me up."
With that said Yusuke crawled back over to his makeshift bed and slipped beneath the covers. Taking one last look at Kazuma's form, which was now by the way under his own covers, Yusuke ran his hand through his hair and lay on his back, closing his eyes. Soon both boys were off to sleep. One strong, proud and loyal, the other sad, broken, and vulnerable.
AN: you like? I like this chapter, I wanted to end it here, though it's not quite five full pages. I'm open to any suggestions. Thank you all again for reviewing! Sorry if there's any grammar or spelling mistakes. Oh, and Nyan is the sound a cat makes in Japanese, you know, instead of meowing. Sorry about all the comma's, too.