If it wasn't one thing, it was the other. The only conclusion that could be reached was that the universe was conspiring against them. That…or one of them was lying. But, why would that happen. They'd been through too much to lie, hadn't they?

Perhaps it would be better to begin…well, with the beginning. Back in time, to when they first met, trying to figure out what exactly brought them together, and what held them apart. Maybe some understanding could be found in examining history.

They hadn't met under the best of circumstances, but how often did people meet under the "best of circumstances"?

Maybe now would be a good time to introduce the protagonists of this story?

To the left, running late for class and not caring, we have one Yusuke Urameshi. The bell had rung 30 seconds ago and he was lazily making his way through the hall, hands clasped behind his head as he idly whistled, staring at the ceiling, swaggering down the hall, earphones firmly in place, playing loud enough for the words to be understood at a distance of three feet. Every line of his body, from the torn black t-shirt and faded, worn black jeans, to the lackadaisical manner in which he walked screamed "punk" to anyone who spared half a glance.

To the right, also running late but caring deeply, we have one Shuichi Minamino, transfer student struggling to make his way through the maze of hallways on his second day. Running, and not looking where he was going, he ran smack dab into the center of Yusuke's chest, his momentum forcing both boys to fall and land harshly on their asses. Pulling a headphone out of his ear, Yusuke yelled, "What the fuck are you thinking, asshole?" And thus, our heroes meet. Not a very promising start, to say the least, but it gets better, trust me.

"I'm trying to get to class. Shouldn't you be there too?"

"Fuck off, bastard, I don't need you on my ass, too."

"I'd rather not be anywhere near your ass!"

"You haven't got a chance, nerd."

"What makes you think I'd want it?"

"Oh, let's see…you look more like a girl than half the girls in this fucking excuse of a prison with that long red hair, that pretty face and your fucking prettiness."

Kurama, for that is what his friends from his old school, blinked. "So, not only are you a punk ass looser, but you're a fag too?" he shot back.

"Get over yourself, Cinder-fuckin-ella. I wouldn't do you if you were the last person on earth and my hands had been cut off."

A snort, "I wouldn't let you. You're not my type."

"And just what is your type, ass?"

"Someone with more genetic material." Kurama stood, dusting himself off and picked up his scattered books. He moved to leave and found himself thrown against the nearby wall of lockers. "What is your malfunction?" he demanded.

Gripping the redhead's arm with one hand, Yusuke yanked the second earphone from its nest and growled out, "What's your name, dickwad?"

"Why do you care?" Kurama tried to break free, his head turned in the direction he wanted to go, but found his other arm pinned as well. "Let me go!"

Yusuke bent closer, trying to meet the eyes of the one he held. When the redhead finally did meet his gaze, the boy was amazed at the clear green that met his brown eyes. "Your name," he insisted.

Unsure why exactly, the redhead answered, "Kurama."

"Yusuke," was the reply as the dark haired boy continued to hold the redhead to the lockers. Suddenly realizing he was staring, Yusuke released Kurama, a hint of pink on his cheeks. "Better hurry, if you're more than two minutes late, they'll mark you absent," he added as he returned his headphones to his ear. Just before resuming his earlier gait, Yusuke turned, facing the flustered redhead once more, "Catch ya round, Kurama." With a wink, Yusuke strutted down the hall, still obviously with no intention of going to class. Kurama watched after him a moment bemused before turning and quickly making his way to the classroom and hastily apologizing for being late.

And, thus, our characters meet. Not a great start to be sure, but there's still hope, isn't there? That's what we'd like to believe, isn't it? After all, isn't it hope that keeps us going, keeps us struggling with bad beginnings and with rough middles, hoping that, somehow, the ending will be worth it. And, who knows, maybe it will be, but there is still the middle and we're really still on the beginning of our journey. Where will our path lead us? Perhaps you'd like to hear less from me and more from our heroes. The next time they meet is just as propitious an occasion.

Lunch…or what passed for it in the school cafeteria. It'd been two weeks since our two first met and they'd managed to avoid each other since. If Yusuke had any classes with Kurama, he skipped them. Not surprising, really, considering he skipped almost all his classes, the school was seriously considering withdrawing him, only stopped by the fact that his mother had connections with the head of the organized crime family, the unofficial dictators of the town, and that effectively tied their hands. Kurama had learned the halls, finding them simpler once he'd had a chance to wander about after school. He'd almost forgotten the indignity of his meeting Yusuke, finding new acquaintances far more interesting than one brief encounter that was unlikely to be repeated. He wouldn't travel in the same circles as the punk, anyways.

As I was saying…it was lunch time, two weeks later. Kurama was sitting at a table with food…or what was supposed to be food…some rectangular item that claimed a fleeting resemblance to pizza under its glistening skin of grease, limp cold fries and milk…an attempt at healthy eating, when a hand reached around him, snagging one of the cold fries and dragging it through the pizza grease as his first acquaintance sat next to him. "Hey, red, I thought your name was Kurama? Who's this Shuichi person I hear about?"

Glaring at the insolent punk, he answered, "Shuichi's my name. Kurama was what my friends called me and I got used to answering to it."

Yusuke grinned lopsidedly, stealing another fry and running through the orange pizza topping again, "So, we're friends now?"

"Did I say that?" the redhead answered coldly. "Leave my lunch alone."

"It's not like you were eating it," Yusuke countered, grabbing several fries and shoving them in his mouth as Kurama's hands came up to take them back.

Disgusted Kurama shoved the plate at Yusuke, "Fine if you want them, take them."

"Aww, c'mon, don't be that way. It's more fun if you're mad about me stealing them." Yusuke pushed the plate back. "Besides, you still haven't answered me. We friends?"

Narrowed green eyes met brown ones, "No matter how I answer, you're not going to leave me alone, are you?"

Smirking, "You're smart as they say you are."

Sighing in resignation, Kurama answered, "I suppose we could get to be friends." His eyes flew wide as he felt a hand run through his hair. Shocked, he looked over at the other boy, swatting his hand away. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

Not answering, Yusuke stood. "Catch ya later," he winked as he spoke. Touching the flaming locks again, he walked away, chuckling lightly at the redhead's discomfort.

Kurama was so upset by the encounter, he didn't taste the food he mechanically put into his mouth. It was probably better that way. His mind was racing around in circles. Yusuke had never denied being homosexual when they'd met in the hall and this second encounter shattered any remaining doubt. Kurama was shocked. Yeah, he'd been called girlie before, but no guy had ever hit on him. It was disquieting to say the least. Down right creepy when one actually was honest with their assessment. A shudder traveled up his spine as he deposited his now empty plate in the trash and made his way to his next class.

Now, this is a school, of course, and you know a school has more than just two students. So, let's meet a few other students, shall we. It ties in well with our next…well, it's not really an encounter since one participant wasn't aware of the action, but we'll use that word for lack of a better one…our next encounter between the two we're most interested in.

Yusuke was seated on a sturdy tree root. The tree itself was thickly leaved and even on the sunniest of days, the root was dark. It suited him. And his friend. Between his legs, facing away from him, a shorter boy, Hiei Jaganshi by name, sat, moving slightly as he faced away from Yusuke. They were under the tree to watch the track team practice. They both enjoyed the sight of lithe young bodies scantily clad working up a sweat. Yusuke spied the flaming red locks of his new friend and he murmured, "Hey, you heard anything about Kurama?"

Hiei spared him the smallest of glances as he continued to move, "Who's Kurama?"

"That new redhead," Yusuke answered, grunting.

Grunting as well, Hiei asked, "Ya mean Shuichi?"

"Yeah, him…told me his friends called him Kurama."

"Gotta thing for him?"

"He's pretty." Yusuke groaned loudly.

"You do go for that type, don't you?" Hiei panted out, letting his hands come to rest on the ground.

"Complaining?" Yusuke asked, rubbing the boy's back.

"Nah, not really. But, you sure he'd be up for it?" Hiei looked over his shoulder, his eyes so odd a brown they seemed red, "He seems a bit straight, in more ways than one."

"I just think he's inexperienced. He said we could be friends." His own chocolate colored eyes followed the bright red hair as it moved inside, track practice having reached an end.

"Plan on sharing?"

Yusuke shrugged, a lecherous grin on his face, "If I get my way, you'd better believe it!"

Hiei snorted, adjusted his clothing and moved to walk away. "I gotta walk my sister home. See ya later."

Yusuke shifted on the branch, also adjusting his clothing. "Yeah, later." His eyes were still watching the red hair, now joined by a taller teen he knew. Growling slightly, he watched the two walk together into the locker room.

Hiei looked over to see the same sight. Rolling his eyes, he left the shade of the tree. Things would get interesting now with the idiot involved.

Now, to the other side of the field, shall we?

Kurama enjoyed running. It made him feel free, light, as if he could fly away. He could feel the smile on his lips as he flew past his teammates in the 100 and 400 meter dashes. He loved the short burst of speed in the 100 meter, and the longer paced effort of the 400, but his favorite event, by far, was the 1600 meter race. Four times around the track, pacing himself, holding back just enough for that final burst of speed in the last leg of the last lap. That he relished. He loved the feel of the wind through his hair, the pounding of the track beneath his feet, the panting breaths of the others as they caught up to him past the finish line. This was bliss. He could even forget about the encounter over lunch when he ran. Almost forgot it completely until the tall high jumper walked over to him. "Hey, that Urameshi dude bothering you today?"

Kurama looked up, a little surprised he had to look up. He was usually one of, if not the tallest in a group. "Urameshi?" he repeated.

"Y'know…that punk, Yusuke Urameshi."

"Oh, I didn't know his last name. What do you mean, bothering me?"

"I saw him buggin' you at lunch."

Memory erased by practice came back, "Oh, that…no, it wasn't anything really. I can handle myself, thank you."

"Kuwabara," the taller teen, with strangely orange colored hair and a face a mother and few others would love, said while offering Kurama his hand.

Not wanting to repeat his mistake with Yusuke, he answered, taking the hand, "Shuichi."

Kuwabara pumped the hand a couple of times, "Pleased to meet you. If you ever need any help with Urameshi, let me know. I'll be happy for an excuse to pound him."

"I'll…uh…keep that in mind." Kurama was glad his locker was in a different row than Kuwabara's. The guys in this school were just too….friendly…and he wasn't sure he cared for it.

Well, now, our school's population reaches four…and a track team. I'm sure they all have their own stories, their own little intrigues, romances, problems. But, that is not the focus of this story, so sadly, they will remain merely shadows, mostly supplied by your imagination. We now have our main players and the stage is set for our drama to unfold and maybe as we journey together through this history, we'll find the answers to the questions I asked to begin with. It may seem obvious right now, but trust me, there is a lot more to this story.

A/N Well...it's been awhile since I've written anything I could post here...I just started freewriting and this is what came out. Hope you like it. Review and let me know...make me happy and keep me writing ;)

Disclimer: I don't own 'em...they're not mine, though I think they may own me ;)