Chapter 10
Kuwabara stared morosely at the rice paper wall. He was still at Yukina's........he should have been home. Jay would be angry if he was too late. Keiko had to leave. She was still grounded. His team was there though...........tomorrow they were going to Koenma and Botan.
Kuwabara felt sick. At least they didn't know.........well, Keiko did but she was satisfied that he was getting help. The girls were sympathetic, his team was..........Kurama was the most sympathetic. They only thought he'd been beaten up. He'd stopped crying a while ago. He needed to get home.
Everyone was still sitting around the table, just staring awkwardly at each other. Kuwabara felt foolish, they had, after all, seen him cry. Yusuke cleared his throat and finally spoke up.
"So.....no gun then right?"
Kuwabara nodded, he'd agreed. How was he going to explain this to Chihasu and Kushija?
"Right, well, we'll take care of Jay."
Kuwabara nodded lifelessly again. This wasn't going to work. The best case scenario was that they cornered Jay alone and threatened him and he felt Kuwabara alone. Kazuma doubted that would happen. The worst case scenario..........things could get messy. Kazuma already felt stupid and weak getting his team to do this.
"What.....what about...the guys that I'm supposed to get the gun from?"
"Call it off."
"I...it's not that simple. See, I mean, I have to pay them because I said I would."
"Stop being honorable and tell them to go screw themselves then."
"No, you see. I can't. I promised I would and if I didn't they said I would have to pay them some other way and I agreed, so....."
"You idiot what did you do that for?"
"Yusuke, calm down." As always, Kurama was the voice of reason. He turned to look at Kuwabara. "Now, what were these alternate methods of payment?"
Kuwabara flushed a little.
"...well, I don't know, I thought I'd have the money, so-"
"Oaf."
Kuwabara glared half heartedly at Hiei.
"What gang?"
"What?"
"I said, what. Gang. ?"
Kuwabara flushed again, maybe he should of paid more attention.
"....I don't know."
Yusuke sighed exasperated.
"How do you get into these messes?"
"Well, I know some of their names."
"Well?"
"Um...Chihasu, I think and....Kushija."
Yusuke's eyes widened as he heard these names.
"You idiot!"
Everyone looked at Yusuke alarmed.
"I know those guys! You just sold yourself off to be some kind os sex slave."
Kuwabara turned red, "WHAT?!"
Hiei looked faintly amused. Kurama scolded him with a serious look.
"Oaf."
"Shut up Hiei! I-I didn't do that!"
"Moron, now I'll have to go straighten this out myself."
Kuwabara lowered his head and stared at the floor. How embarrassing! And not only that, Yusuke was treating him like a helpless baby! He didn't need him to straighten this out......but then again, he was pretty stressed lately from Jay.
"Fine." Kazuma less than whispered.
"You're coming with me Kuwabara."
"Hiei and I will come too, Yusuke, if you don't mind."
Hiei eyed Kurama warily, he didn't need to be volunteered for this......at least it would be amusing. Kuwabara was lost in embarrassment and fright. What had he done? He looked up at his team, he was lucky to have friends like them.
"Er.....thank you guys..."
Kurama smiled and nodded at him. Hiei ignored him and Yusuke also nodded. Yukina kept out of the conversation. Kuwabara changed the subject.
"So.....Hiei, how's Eikichi?"
************
Kuwabara entered his apartment quietly. He'd stayed too long at Yukina's......it was already eleven. It was dark inside except for the glow of the television in the other room. He slowly closed the door.
"Kazuma."
Kazuma jumped three feet and spun around. There was his sister.
"Shizuru."
She smiled at him.
"Mom and Dad are out again. Come watch tv with me."
Kazuma nodded and followed her into the living room. At least Shizuru was talking to him again. She didn't seem angry.
They sat on the couch and Shizuru turned the volume (which was already low) off and turned to him.
"Kazuma.......why do you hate him?" Shizuru looked sadly at him. Kuwabara was at a loss for words.
"..I-I dont! I just......well...."
"Kazuma, I realized that lately I've been totally unfair. I immediately assumed I was right about Jay and.......I never listened to you at all." Shizuru had tears in her eyes. "I'm sorry. Kazuma, please tell me what's wrong. I don't want to distance myself from you."
Kuwabara felt guilty seeing his sister like this when a horrible thought struck him and his eyes widened.
"He didn't do anything to you, did he?!"
Shizuru looked startled at Kazuma before shaking her head in the negetive. She stared at the relieved Kazuma for a minute.
"Why? Did he do anything to you?!"
Kazuma stared back at her. He wasn't going to lie to her.........
".....he used to beat me."
Shizuru gasped and covered her mouth with her hand.
"When we were little.......you were always in the hospital." Tears fell from her eyes. "Kazuma.....I'm so sorry, I didn't know-I didn't even suspect! Oh, Kazuma-"
"Sh, it's okay Shizuru. I should have told you, I didn't know how you would react and.......I'm sorry. So, just be careful around him, okay?"
Shizuru nodded solemnly.
"Oh Kazuma, you weren't beat up by a gang were you?"
"No." Kazuma looked sadly at his sister. He felt like such a loud mouth.
"Listen, don't tell anyone, okay? I'm taking care of this and I'm pretty sure he won't touch you or mom."
"Kazuma-"
"Please let me take care of this."
"All right Kazuma. I trust you. If you can't get rid of Jay though, I will."
Kazuma nodded and Shizuru got up before leaning down to hug him and kiss his forehead.
"I'm going to bed. Sweet dreams Kazu, remember to get your rest."
Kazuma sat contemplating ater Shizuru left before getting up and going to bed himself. Maybe this plan could work.......maybe he would be able to take care of Jay and not expose his secret......maybe.........but Kazuma never was very fortunate.