Well, now, what do we have? We have one punk who doesn't understand why he really wants to know the redhead. We have one transfer student who's confused by and attracted to the brunet. What will develop? How long do we have to wait? What will their next encounter bring? And am I going to shut up and get to it? What you do need to know is that Kurama did do as Yusuke instructed. He did get some sleep. He actually slept better than he had for some time. He woke up feeling peaceful. It's nice to wake up that way, isn't it?

And Yusuke? He didn't get much sleep. He was trying to figure things out. He was feeling things that he'd not really ever felt before. It didn't so much as bother him as it did confuse him. And, let me tell you, punks do not like being confused. Why do I tell you this? It has a bit to do with our next encounter, actually. Shall we get to it? Okay, then, let's go.

After school, track practice again. Yusuke and Hiei back under the tree. What were they doing there? Watching the track team, of course. And what else, I'm sure you're wondering. If you read carefully, I think you'll know. Am I just being coy? No, I have a purpose, and their actions aren't as important as their words. When the actions merit it, I will tell you what happens, dear reader, you can be sure of it, and in as much detail as I can. But for now, you'll have to rely on that wonderful imagination of yours; the one that supplies the students in the school, the track team, the other doctors and nurses….I'll stop and get to the point now.

Hiei sat on the jutting root today. Why? He felt like it, I suppose. Does there need to be a reason? Yusuke sat facing away from him, moving similarly to how Hiei had moved the day before, but his mind was focused on the redhead. "Y'know, Kurama's got a lot of shit going on."

Hiei figured this would come up. He just really didn't care for the timing. "How so?" he asked.

Yusuke grunted a bit, "His mom's over in ward four."

"Shit, man," Hiei managed to growl out. Ward four was the cancer ward, every one knew that. A grunt and then, "You get anywhere with him?"

"Fuck, man," Yusuke growled, "I couldn't."

"What?" exploded from Hiei's mouth.

Yusuke came to rest on the ground on his hands and knees. "I just couldn't. Shit, he's holding back some serious shit, y'know?" Isn't he just so wonderfully eloquent?

Hiei's hands massaged the other boy's back. "You're falling for him, aren't you?"

Normally, this comment would have caused Yusuke to turn on Hiei and threaten to pound him. But, all that happened was Yusuke watched the redhead as he ran and he quietly answered, "Could be…"

Hiei looked at the boy kneeling before him. There was no "could" about it, he knew. "You're falling hard, man. Always knew you were a soft touch, Yusuke." He stood, adjusting his clothes. "Catch you later," he said.

"Hey, wait," Yusuke called out, standing and adjusting his own clothes. "Didn't you say your sister said she was walking home with Kuwabara?"

"I'm following them."

"Why don't you give it a rest for a day? I want you two to meet."

Now, if Yusuke had suddenly declared, "I'm straight," and proceeded to prove it, Hiei would have been less surprised. As it was, a feather could have landed him on his ass. "You want me to meet him?"

"Well, yeah. How else are we ever gonna get to where we share?"

Okay…who else is confused? Let me tell you, Hiei is among you. He was thinking he'd have to find someone else to watch the track team with, given Yusuke's comments. Yeah, they'd joked about it yesterday, but…"Are you insane?"

"Whadda ya mean?" Captain Clueless strikes again. I did mention walking oxymoron, right? Well, our dear boy used up all his intuition last night and, well, you're reading it.

"You…you are insane. You're falling hard for Kurama and you still want to plan a threesome?"

"What's sex got to do with falling for someone?" And, here, good reader, is why some people just don't get the emotional impact that others have during sex. But, then…we'll leave it at that for now.

Unable to think of an argument, for obvious reasons…or maybe not so obvious, does it matter, the point is, Hiei couldn't come up with an argument. "Fine, I'll meet him."

Yusuke smiled. Y'know, for a punk, he's not really much of a punk. Smiles, cheerfulness, queerness don't really add up to "bad ass punk," do they? They walked across the field as the teams ran their final laps and did their cool down stretches. Whit a casual disregard for rules, about the only truly "punkish" quality our Yusuke can claim, the two walked over to the redhead. Yusuke squatted next to Kurama and ran his fingers through the sweat drenched locks, "Sleep well?"

"Don't do that!" Kurama growled out, continuing his stretch, not swatting the hand away. I bet your wondering why I said that. Well, let's describe Kurama's present position and you'll understand. The redhead was seated, one leg strait out in front of him, the other bent, its foot resting against his thigh. Both hands were wrapped around the foot of the extended leg, his forehead to his knee. Not really in a position to smack someone away.

"Aww, don't be that way. I brought someone for you to meet." Thought he was going to say something about how they'd been through so much, didn't you? Remember, Yusuke, punk, yes, idiot, no. Keep that in mind. Truth be told, Kurama was expecting the same thing you were, too. Surprised, he turned his head to the side, resting his cheek against his knee. "This is Hiei," Yusuke gestured to the other boy.

Kurama wiggled his fingers at Hiei as he switched the position of his legs, "Nice to meet you."

Hiei grunted in acknowledgement. "What's your time on the hundred?"

Kurama turned his face back to his knee, "Eight nine three." Yes, our Kurama runs 100 meters in 8.93 seconds. Pretty impressive, isn't it? Trust me, it's really impressive.

"Nice," Hiei answered. "I only got down to nine oh one."

Kurama turned his head and smiled, "That's where I was end of last year."

Hiei grunted. Kurama stretched both legs out in front of him and pulled once more, groaning slightly as he felt the pull in his calves and hamstrings. Do I need to say Yusuke liked the sound? Hiei did too. Kurama, had he known they'd like the groan, would have stifled it, or skipped the last stretch. As it was he just missed the expression that passed between the other two boys. He was busy shaking out his legs…an action the other two enjoyed as well.

The coach, it should be noted, had seen the two walk over. But, like many of the other teachers, he was afraid of Yusuke's mother's connections. So, he ignored them, even though he would have yelled ferociously at any other mere civilian, or traitor, that walked onto his track. Kuwabara noticed, too. He was torn. Walk home with Yukina, pound Urameshi, both tempting prospects. When he saw Kurama wave, and then smile, walking with Yukina won out.

Let's get back to our trio. Hiei asked a question, which I'm sure many of you may wonder about. "How'd you shave so much time?"

Kurama laughed…well, almost. "I cheated," he answered. After sitting up and leaning back on his hands, he continued, "I grew almost six inches over the summer. Longer legs, longer stride, faster time."

Here, my dear readers, we have a dilemma. Is Kurama flirting? Ask Yusuke or Hiei, and the answer would be "yes"…most resoundingly. Look at him, they'd argue, leaning back, his legs out before him, his eyes sparkling, skin glowing from practice. He looked good enough to eat…anyway you want to use that word. Ask Kurama, and he'll tell you he's just being friendly to someone who had a common interest and another person who'd become a strange type of friend. See our dilemma. Remember it, it comes up later.

Yusuke shook himself a bit. "Hey, after we go see your mom, you wanna get something to eat?

Another dilemma. Kurama knew Yusuke would try something. That was a given. But, it felt good to have a friend, too. Someone who understood. Yusuke had shown that either he understood, or he was better at controlling himself than Kurama gave him credit for. Wanna know the truth, my dear readers? I can't say. Again, I'm not being coy, but Yusuke himself couldn't tell you, and if he doesn't know, how am I supposed to?

Our redhead stood, the coach having called the team in. "I'll think about it," he answered, hoping the time in the locker room would give him time to sort out the now confused thoughts swarming through his head. We're back to the friend/guy hitting on him quandary.

In the locker room, Kuwabara came up to Kurama. "Ya gonna be okay with those two?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine. Thanks, Kuwabara," Kurama answered carefully. Remember, Kuwabara equals too friendly guy in Kurama's head.

Kuwabara smiled, "That's good. Remember, if you need help, just ask, okay?"

"Thanks," Kurama repeated, pointedly turning back to his locker and pulling stuff out of it. Kuwabara left, not that he'd gotten the hint, but that he wanted to meet Yukina and walk her home.

Let's give Kurama a bit of privacy while he showers and rejoin the other two, waiting in the hall. By now, the entire track team knew who Yusuke and Hiei were there fore, so they passed quickly. Well, except for Kuwabara, who paused to glare and posture at Hiei. Hiei looked bored as he dead-eyed Kuwabara. It's a whole lot more unnerving to not get a response out of someone, isn't it? So, unnerved, Kuwabara left.

Kurama was the last one out of the locker room. He still really hadn't reached a decision about dinner. He knew that he didn't have a choice about company to the hospital. So, he did what we all do when faced with ambivalence. He put off making a decision, telling himself he'd decide after he saw his mother. More ambivalence rose. He wanted to see her. He loved his mother very much, but he hated the thought of that tube in her throat. This decision was a forgone conclusion. He would go see his mother. Actually, to him, it wasn't even a decision to be made. Love does that to you, y'know. Remember that, too, my dear readers. Love makes some painful decisions for you without your express consent.

I'm sure you're ready to move on from the philosophy, aren't you? Well, let's rejoin our boys as Kurama is coming out of the locker room.

"You almost take longer than a girl," Yusuke muttered.

"Actually, the girls have all left," Hiei helpfully pointed out in a dry voice.

"If you're coming, lay off," Kurama growled out, walking away from the comedy duo.

Hiei and Yusuke moved to catch up, Yusuke flanked by Kurama and Hiei when they did. Thinking this an opportune time, Yusuke flung his arms over both the others, ignoring that they both stiffened under his touch. 'Both?' I know you're wondering. Yes, both, and here's why: Hiei and Yusuke don't have a touchy relationship. Yes, they touch, but they're not touchy. Make sense? Hope so, 'cause if I explain much more, they'll continue on without me, and I'm sure you don't want that. So, Yusuke had his arms draped over Kurama's and Hiei's shoulders. Kurama didn't really feel that he could say anything since Hiei was receiving the same treatment. Hiei didn't say anything because he knew what it was…an excuse to touch the redhead.

A/N: I looked up track records after I wrote the chapter above. Our boys are really fast. I googled "high school track records 100 meter dash" and Ohio was the first state to come up. The lowest time there was 10.48 seconds. I changed "high school" to "Olympic" and the world record is 9.84, set in 1996 by Devon Baily. I thought about changing their times, but my muse wouldn't let me and happy muses mean I write more...I'm sure you'd rather that. I love the reviews :D Keep 'em coming, they make my muse happy too.