In the morning, Kurama woke with an unfamiliar weight on his chest. His eyes remained closed as he tried to puzzle out what was going on. Softly, he heard Youko's voice, "It's Yusuke, don't be afraid. Do you remember yesterday?"

In his head, he replied, "Yeah, mostly." He felt his stomach roiling a bit.

"Don't worry, little one. You get some time to rest and recover before you have your next encounter."

"But…"

"With Hiei. He'll allow you Yusuke for awhile. He'll even tell you so, knowing that you need the time to adjust, to become comfortable with this degree of freedom."

Amazed, "He's not going to be jealous?"

"No, little Shuichi. He knows, he understands better than Yusuke does."

A sigh, "How do you talk with them? I thought you lived in my head?"

"Hiei is a jaganshi, he can hear me if I want him to. Yusuke hears through his connection to Hiei."

"Oh…how long?"

"That doesn't matter, little one, what matters is that they're ready for you and you're ready for them."

"Manipulative fox."

"Yes."

Yusuke moving against him pulled Kurama away from his mental conversation. "Good morning, Kurama," the brown eyed boy murmured sleepily.

"Good morning, Yusuke," his voice more awake.

"Talking with Youko?"

"How did you know?"

"I heard you mumbling about a manipulative fox." He yawned and stretched before seeking out the green eyes. "They're still beautiful, you know."

"I…I've come too far to go back, don't you think?"

Yusuke smiled and caressed the redhead's cheek. "I'm glad you feel that way, Kurama." He nuzzled the redhead a bit. "I love you. Are you hungry?"

Unsure how to respond to the affectionate statement, Kurama hesitatated.

Yusuke nuzzled him once more. "Don't answer until you're sure. Until then, just accept it. I love you."

"Okay," Kurama murmured.

Yusuke pushed himself up off the bed. "Hungry?"

Before Kurama could say anything, his stomach rumbled loudly, drawing a laugh from Yusuke. "I suppose I can't politely decline after that," he murmured, blushing.

"I wouldn't let you decline, either," the brown eyed boy grinned. "Stay here, I'll be back."

Kurama moved to sit up, his body a little stiff from last night's activities and sleeping under Yusuke. His belly also itched from the dried cum still there. He was about to rub at it when Yusuke reappeared in the doorway, unashamedly nude. In his hand, he held a washcloth and approached the redhead. "I'm sorry I fell asleep on you before I washed you," he said, kneeling next to the bed and gently rubbing the damp cloth over the pale skin.

"You don't have to…"

"I want to. I enjoy taking care of Hiei and I want to take care of you, too." He smiled up at the redhead, "Allow yourself the freedom to enjoy it."

Kurama blinked, this statement giving him pause, causing wheels to turn in his head. Tipping his head to the side, he asked, "Isn't that selfish, though?"

Yusuke moved to sit on the edge of the bed. "So what if it is? Isn't that thought just another binding? And, which of us is being selfish? You for accepting it, or me for doing it? I told you I enjoy doing it."

Kurama held Yusuke's frank gaze a long moment, this statement working its way into his head. After an eternity, he smiled a little. "I think I'm starting to understand a little bit."

Yusuke regarded the green eyes a short time, "Yeah, I think you are. You always could figure things out quickly." He bent in for a kiss, kept brief when Kurama's stomach complained, which was echoed by Yusuke's, causing both boys to laugh a little. "Stay here. I'll bring breakfast." He left the room, grabbing a tee shirt as he did.

Kurama sighed back into the bed, mulling things over while staring at the ceiling. His eyes began to scan the room, taking in the fighting posters, the desk piled with manga, the clothes scattered on the floor, his eyes finally lighting on the clock. He gasped and sat up again when he saw it read almost 10 o'clock. "Relax," Yusuke's voice came from the door. "It's the first day of break, remember?"

"Oh," Kurama blushed, looking over to see the brunet wearing his tee and nothing else as he carried two steaming plates. His eyes followed the lines of the white fabric to where it stopped, tantalizingly close to where dark curls crowned the heavy weight of Yusuke's flaccid shaft. He felt a twinge of desire course its way through his body, eliciting pain signals from his lower back and anus.

Yusuke hadn't missed the wandering green eyes as he walked across the room. "Not till later," he reproved, his voice teasing. "You need food first, and a bath, and a back rub."

Kurama brought his eyes up to meet the warm brown ones and teased back, "Are you going to feed and bathe me?"

Handing the plate that contained scrambled eggs, "No, you can feed yourself. But, I would like to bathe you, if you'll let me."

Kurama paused a minute, almost arguing within himself and with Yusuke before he smiled and said, "I'd like that."

Yusuke smiled, "Good, now eat before they get cold."

Kurama turned things over in his head, thinking his conversations with Youko and Yusuke over. He was getting no where fast, and decided to distract himself a bit, "Why are you wearing a tee shirt?"

Yusuke laughed, "Have you ever cooked? I didn't want to get splattered." He then became serious, "Don't think too much, okay. Just let things happen for now. You'll understand eventually.

Kurama dropped his eyes to his plate and stirred around the eggs a bit. "It's kinda disorienting, and …a little frightening."

"I know," Yusuke caressed the redhead's cheek, "but, you'll be okay. I promise. None of us, not me, not Hiei, not Youko wants to hurt you."

Softly, still looking at the plate, "I know."

Yusuke set down his empty plate and took Kurama's half eaten plate away from him. He scooped up some of the soft eggs and held the fork out to the redhead. "Eat."

Kurama smiled and opened his mouth, letting his mind solely focus on the simple pleasure of being taken care of. A couple of times, the thought came up that he wasn't a child, but he'd remind himself that Yusuke enjoyed it. Before long, the eggs were gone. "Let me put these away," Yusuke said, indicating the plates, "and then I'll start the water running in the bath."

Kurama mused while he listened to Yusuke move about in the apartment. 'Free to be taken care of…free of expectations…of niceties…is that what they mean?'

"Not completely," Youko answered softly, "but you're getting there. You still have much to learn. Enjoy your bath."

"Talking with Youko again?" Yusuke asked from the side of the bed.

Kurama looked up, a little surprised. "How did you know?"

"You get a bit spacey, and I can see a bit of gold in your eyes when you're talking to him." Yusuke paused, thinking, "And, well…I can sort of hear him…I can hear you, too. I thought that had to do with Hiei being a jaganshi…being able to hear him…but, I guess not…I can hear you in my head."

Kurama paused. He froze physically and mentally while that statement permeated his mind. Softly, in his head, he could hear Yusuke plead, "Don't close your eyes again, please. They're so beautiful."

"It's so much to take in," he replied the same way.

He felt Yusuke sit on the bed and wrap his arms around him. "I know," he whispered physically.

"I won't…I won't go back," Kurama murmured, resting his forehead on the shoulder of the one that held him.

Yusuke tightened his arms around the redheaded one. "I love you."

"I know," he whispered back.

Yusuke rubbed his back gently. "Progress already," he quipped before pulling away. "C'mon, don't want the tub to overflow." He pulled the redhead's hand for him to follow.

Kurama submitted to Yusuke's lead into the bathroom. The air was warm and softly scented of eucalyptus and the tub mounded high with "…bubbles?"

Yusuke grinned, "Yeah, I like 'em. And, it's a good excuse to shower afterwards," he winked, deliberately seductive.

"Why do I think I'll finish this experience in more need of a bath than I am now?"

Yusuke wrapped his arms around the redhead, "You know me that well already?" His lips went to the graceful neck, just under Kurama's ear, "Bath first, though. And I want you to let me do everything for you. You're not even allowed to sit up by yourself. Trust me with your body." He pulled back and looked into the clover green eyes, waiting.

A moment of hesitation, and Kurama's eyes showed quiet decision, "Okay. I trust you." He gasped and his eyes widened as his feet were swept out from under him. His arms went around Yusuke's neck as he sought warm chocolate eyes.

Yusuke met his startled gaze. "I won't hurt you. Trust me."

"I was…was just startled. I do trust you." This statement earned him a quick kiss on the lips before Yusuke carefully turned his attention to walking across the room and slowly lowering Kurama into the warm foamy water. He almost giggled, "The bubbles tickle."

Yusuke grinned at him, and finished lowering his precious burden into the water. With utmost care, he leaned the relaxed body against the end of the tub before slipping his hands out from behind the back and under the knees of his lover. His bubble covered hands came up and caressed the pale skin of the redhead's face before his lips came in and gently touched the parted petals across from him. The openness of the green eyes before his was just as much of a drug as it'd been the night before, perhaps even more so with exposure. Kurama let his head rest on the end of the tub, his whole body relaxed as he watched Yusuke. "Close your eyes and let your mind drift," Yusuke murmured as he reached for the washcloth. Yusuke would have rather stared into those green eyes forever, but Youko's voice in his head reminded him he had more to do. He could feel Hiei's growing impatience as well. He watched as Kurama hummed a sigh and closed his eyes, his expression peaceful, unguarded. Reluctantly, Yusuke looked away to turn off the water and dip a clean washcloth under the foamy bubbles. He began with Kurama's feet, carefully lifting each one from under the water and thoroughly cleansing it, even between the toes before returning it to the water. Kurama's feet were a little ticklish and he flinched a couple of times, but his body remained relaxed, his eyes closed, his expression calm.

Yusuke removed his hands from the water and quickly pulled off his tee, returning to the water to wash Kurama's ankles and calves with the same care he'd used on the redhead's feet. Continuing on, Yusuke deliberately opened the fragile connection he'd formed with Shuichi and Youko. The red showed, green hidden, as they were physically. Silver rippled around the red one and showed Yusuke wounds, old and new. Silently, so as not to disturb the red one and put him back on guard, Yusuke, blue-black here, rippled softly over the still form, gently soothing away the old wounds and helping new ones to heal as much as he could. There were some he could not touch, however, and some wounds on his own form the red one would soothe away later, when he was more healed.

Youko moved to hold both Yusuke and Shuichi, wrapping around them and letting them both rest in the timelessness that was his realm now. Yusuke held the red one, caressing him as Shuichi remained relaxed, his eyes hidden, surrendering to Yusuke's touch, to Youko's touch.

Slowly, Yusuke became aware of the physical world again. He had moved into the water and was straddling the redhead's lap as Kurama rested limply against his chest. Yusuke's hands were caressing the exposed back and Kurama was breathing softly into his neck. "I love you, my Shuichi, my Youko, my Kurama," Yusuke whispered into the red hair.

Kurama mumbled something into Yusuke's neck that sounded like "We love you, too," but was so soft, Yusuke wasn't totally sure.

He tightened his arms around the body of the redhead, "Time to wake up, love. Open your eyes. I can't quite hold you up in a shower."

Kurama stirred, his arms moving to hold Yusuke. "I'm awake," he mumbled, nuzzling into the brunet's neck, "but, it feels so good to be relaxed." He yawned, burying it in Yusuke's shoulder.

"I know it does," Yusuke agreed easily, his hands continuing to rub the back that was slowly regaining tension, preparing to support the weight of the redhead's body. "Take your time, we're not in a hurry."

"Mmmm, good, 'cause I don't think I could hurry right now." Slowly, he pulled his head away from Yusuke's shoulder, his eyes open, seeking out warm chocolate.

Yusuke almost gasped when the deep green eyes, more like pine than clover, met his. He did gasp when the change in the redhead's posture brought together their erections, causing them to rub together under the clouds of eucalyptus scented bubbles. Kurama moaned at this contact and his eyelids drifted halfway closed, but refused to close completely, wanting to be lost in the chocolate colored orbs.

"Here or in the shower?" Yusuke asked, rocking his hips lightly against the redhead's body.

Kurama moaned and wrapped his hands over Yusuke's shoulders, pulling him over his body as he leaned back against the tub. "Here, just like this," he answered, letting his hips move against Yusuke's.

"We'll make a mess," Yusuke murmured, his hips returning the action.

"We're taking a shower anyways," Kurama returned, his arms sliding under Yusuke's and around the brunet's back.

"True," Yusuke conceded. Through this, their eyes remained locked on each other, each unwilling to break eye contact, unwilling not to be bare before the other. Silently they continued to move against each other, the water making sloshing noises and the bubbles dissipating as they were thrashed about, but neither boy caring. All that mattered in the world was held between green and brown. As the tension between them grew too unbearable, the two kissed, their eyes drifting closed, but both still connected. The kiss remained fairly innocent, only lips touching, exploring, as their bodies moved with increasing urgency. With a whimper from one of them, their bodies found completion in the warm sudsy water and they relaxed into the tub, their kiss becoming deeper as their tongues, freed now, explored the other's mouth. A long time passed, almost as timeless as the Youko's world, and they were forced to pull away by the need for air. "I love you, Kurama," Yusuke murmured, his eyes opening, meeting the dark soft green orbs.

Kurama opened his mouth and hesitated. "I can't say it yet, Yusuke."

"I don't expect you to, Kurama. Don't feel you ever have to. Just know, I love you."

"I want to, but…"

"You're not ready yet. I understand and I'd never rush you. Take all the time you need."

"Thank you," Kurama whispered, his arms tightening around the brunet above him.

Yusuke kissed the redhead. "C'mon, you need a shower," Yusuke groused, pushing himself off the redhead.

"So do you," Kurama countered, moving to follow Yusuke as he stood. The brown eyed boy reached down and pulled the plug, releasing the water from the tub before stepping out of the water and moving to start the shower. Kurama remained standing in the draining water, feeling the pull around his ankles, watching as the reduced foam lowered along his legs. He was musing when Yusuke's hand came to rest on his forearm. "It's like it's taking all the hurt away, pulling it out, draining it out my toes," he said softly. Yusuke remained silent, lacing his fingers with the redhead's, making no move to hurry him in anyway as green eyes continued to watch the water recede until it was all gone. "Is that silly?" he asked, his eyes coming up to meet patient brown.

"Why would it be? It's how you feel. It's how you experience things. There's nothing silly about it. Besides, it's good for the hurt to be leaving. Are you ready?"

"Yeah," he answered softly, allowing himself to be guided out of the tub under the warm spray. Yusuke was gentle and loving as he washed the redhead's body from head to toe, washing his hair, his face, every part of the redhead that hadn't been washed in the bath, every part that had, even lifting his feet and cleansing those. Kurama laughed a little. "You're very thorough," he teased as Yusuke finished one foot and tapped the ankle of the other.

"Would you rather I wasn't?" the brunet countered.

Kurama laughed and when Yusuke stood back up again, took the washcloth from him. "My turn."

"Oh, why is that?" Yusuke quizzed, his head to one side.

"I want to," Kurama answered simply. And that was all there was to it. He didn't feel he had to because Yusuke had washed him, he only wanted the pleasure of washing Yusuke, for no other reason than to do it.

Yusuke searched the green eyes a moment before conceding, "Okay."

With the same care Yusuke had given him, Kurama washed the black hair, his face, neck, all the way down his body, even his feet, between the toes. "And I'm thorough?" Yusuke quipped back at the redhead.

"You knew this about me before. I don't do things half way."

"No, you don't, do you?" Yusuke wrapped his arms around the redhead as he stood up.

Though Kurama tried to fight it, he yawned hugely, burying his face in Yusuke's shoulder. Before he could apologize, Yusuke murmured, "You're going through a lot. You need more sleep right now. It's okay. Let's dry you off and put you back to bed." With delicate care, Yusuke did just that.

"Hiei will be here when you wake up. He wants to talk to you, to see how you're doing. I'll still be here, too, so don't worry. Love you." He bent down and kissed the redhead.

"I won't worry," Kurama murmured as his eyes drifted closed. Yusuke left the room and his eyes focused on the clock long enough to see it was close to eight o'clock. Tiredly, he wondered how the water stayed warm so long.

Youko wrapped his silver form around the red one. "Don't worry about anything, Shuichi, just rest." And the red one drifted within silver.

A/N: A brief note on Japanese style bathing rooms: My source is Kimi wa Petto, which is a live action show, but the bath tub is large and raised in the center of the room. The whole room is tiled and the shower faucet is set into one wall. I want one! lol

Another brief note: When males are relaxed, they will be erect…there are muscles in the penis that when contracted, as they are most of the time, will make the male appear "flaccid" but when those muscles relax, they extend, as any other muscle does. Now you know why cold has such a…detrimental effect on males.

Last brief note: I love the smell of eucalyptus...I work in the airport and we (the company I work for) has a spa store that carries Thymes Eucalyptus and it is the most wonderful smell...we also have a lavender and eucalyptus candle...to me, that is just a very masculine scent.