Hey guys. Thank you all so so much for reviewing and answering my pole. I've just been wondering lately about that question and I just wanted to ask. Anyway I do hope you will all enjoy this new chapter. A spirit starts talking to Yusuke, someone who seems vaguely familiar to our young Toushin. Who is she? And what does she want from him? You'll have to read to find out.

Catch Me When I'm Falling

Disclaimer: This goes for all other chapters as well. I dont, have not ever, and will not ever be so lucky as to own Inuyasha or Yu Yu Hakusho. I can't even have a piece of Kurama's pretty hair.

"Ko-Rei"

Chapter 2

"Who is she!"

Okay, now she had his attention. Her voice was filled with anger, rage, and curiously enough, jealousy.

Yusuke was taken aback and even Kurama and Kuronue looked surprised at the demand. He'd been perfectly content to ignore Keiko's normal rants, but she'd never actually accused him of cheating...looking yes, cheating no.

Before he could stop himself, he yelled back, something which startled all present including Keiko. Yusuke often argued with her, but not once in all their years of friendship had he ever raised his voice in such a way at her.

"What the hell are you talking about, Keiko? I've never ever cheated on you before! Where are you getting this from?"

Keiko blinked before yelling back. "Oh come off it, Yusuke!" She exclaimed, face flushed. "You've been disappearing an awful lot lately, without informing me. What are you trying to hide, hm?"

Yusuke couldn't take it anymore and got in her face. "Woah, woah, woah! Since when have I ever had to answer to you? For one I have a job to do and I can't help it that I'm gone a lot. And if I want a little time to my self, you can damn well be sureI will take it! I don't need some little bitch telling me what I can and cannot do. I have a mother, Keiko, and newsflash she is not you."

:Kurama's POV:

A hush had fallen over all those present. Kuwabara, angered by what he thought were harsh words spoken in the heat of the moment by Urameshi, went to step forward and tell Yusuke off for yelling at a girl. His mouth was just opening to spat out at his friend when he found himself unable to speak. His eyes shifted with panic until he felt a fleshy, leaf-like substance clinging to his mouth, preventing him from speaking. Kuwabara sighed and glanced at Kurama who had turned his attention back to his friend's predicament, only the pointer finger extending in his direction told him who was responsible.

Beside the unfortunate silent boy, Kurama watched with some concern as Yusuke fought to control his demon blood. If Keiko wasn't careful her accusations could push the young Toushin too far. He knew Yusuke would never hurt the girl on purpose, but if she made him mad enough to go into a demon rage, there was little anyone could do to keep him from attacking her or anyone else in the midst of his rage.

He himself would like to aid Yusuke, but knew that this was something he should not interfere in. This was between Keiko and Yusuke. He had the strangest feeling that this fight would be the fight to end all fights. He had no doubt who would be the victor.

Poor Yusuke. I really wish there were something I could do, Kurama sighed inwardly.

She's still yelling at him? Yoko spoke up sleepily from somewhere in Kurama's subconscious. He had been awake and on edge all day, ready to get back to his native home, but had fallen asleep the minute the young woman had opened her gaping cavern.

Unfortunately for Yusuke, Kurama responded softly. Although this time Keiko seems to have pushed Yusuke over the edge. She just accused him of cheating on her.

Kuso! How far over the edge? And what do you mean she accused him of cheating? It would be a cold day in hell before he ever cheated on her...not that I would blame him. Yoko spoke in a deceptively calm tone, though Kurama knew the silver kitsune was brimming with animosity. Yoko had never told Yusuke this but, Shuichi knew the youko hated the girl with a passion. He felt she held Yusuke back from becoming something greater than what he already was. Yusuke was a powerful demon. He could go back and rule Makai one of these days if he really wanted to. And she was always around, spoiling his fun.

She was also afraid of Kuronue, though no one really knew why, except maybe Yusuke. And she was wary of Yoko, though she liked Shuichi, the more human side of him. She loathed the fact that Yusuke had agreed to move in with him when he moved out of his mother's house. She hadn't minded when it was just Kurama, because Keiko thought of him as a friend. Kurama liked her well enough when she wasn't being demanding. He knew she could be nice when she wanted to, however she was too controlling and Kurama could see that, although she wanted what was best for Yusuke, it was clear she didn't know what that was. She didn't understand Yusuke the way a demon could. And as soon as Kurama had agreed to let Yoko out a bit more when Kuronue came along, Keiko became demanding, wanting to spend time with Yusuke every spare second the poor boy had.

She would show up at odd hours of the day and drag Yusuke off. And the Toushin never complained. He loved her so he tried to do her right. Kurama respected Yusuke for trying, but could see it was wearing heavily on the boy's already battered and weary soul. Some day soon Yusuke would break. Kurama hoped today wasn't that day.

Kurama knew that Yoko, the silver kitsune half of his soul, respected Yusuke greatlyboth for his quick wit and ever sarcastic attitude. The young Toushin was brash and loud, something that normally would have turned the youko off. Instead Yoko and Shuichi were in total agreement that the cocky attitude was just the surface of the once street punk, turned veteran fighter. At times Yusuke was an even greater enigma than himself and it never ceased to surprise Kurama of the things he learned about the younger boy.

For example, Kurama knew Yusuke had always wondered who his father was. He'd confided in his friend that he had no idea who the man was or even if he were still alive. He knew Yusuke felt saddened that he'd never known a father.

Don't worry. I think Keiko is about to realize Yusuke is not someone she can control anymore, Kurama told his counterpart, chuckling when he heard the answering snort.

As if anyone could control a Toushin of his power. The detective doesn't need to be coddled and picked on. He needs to be free.

This statement sprang from the kitsune's mouth surprised Kurama. And although he agree with Yoko's statement, he was surprised by the conviction in the old fox's voice. Shaking his head at the odd enigma that was his counterpart, Kurama turned back to the fight at hand.

:Yusuke's POV:

Yusuke honestly had no idea what or who Keiko was referring to. He knew he'd been spending an awful lot of time with Kurama and Kuronue lately, and as a result he hadn't been around her much. But that was no excuse for her to accuse him of sneaking around behind her back.

"Keh! Your brain must be fried Keiko. You know I'm not cheating on you." Yusuke went on to defend himself to try and find out where Keiko got her information and why she seemed to think he cheated on her. But he was stopped when a soft spiritual voice spoke up from the back of his brain.

What's the matter my beloved, is there something wrong? The cultured voice spoke up from the deepest recesses of Yusuke's mind causing him to stiffen at the unexpected voice in his mind.

Luckily his friends simply thought it was from Yusuke realizing he'd just yelled at Keiko and thought he was about to get his face beat in. When he realized everyone was more focused on Keiko's reaction than on him, he growled and his thoughts once again turned inward. The voice he heard...it sounded so familiar. Where had he heard it before? And all at once the proverbial lightbulb was lit in Yusuke's mind.

You know how every little child has an imaginary friend? Well Yusuke was no different. It just so happens that Yusuke's friend wasn't quite so imaginary. Ever since he was little, Yusuke had heard a woman's soft alto in the back of his mind, always seeming to sooth his world and quiet his weary soul. Most people would be quite frightened to hear a voice that wasn't their own invading their mind. But lets be honest, Yusuke wasn't most people.

And for some reason his "Ko-Rei" or "Little Spirit" as he'd dubbed her when he was little, had never made him feel afraid. She had never harmed him either, though Yusuke had always felt she could if she really wanted to. No, his "Ko-Rei" had always looked out for him.

He was a bit surprised to hear from her, though, since he hadn't heard from her since he was 14; since before his little "accident." Truthfully he had forgotten all about her with all that had happened up to this point. He had no idea who she was or even if she was alive or dead. Still he was a bit excited to hear from her again. She was always a source of comfort to him when he was little, singing in his ear to put him to sleep when his mother was drinking with her 'buddies' or making him laugh when Keiko wasn't around.

So where have you been? Yusuke spoke up in his mind, seeking her out and waiting for the soothing voice to wash over his body. I'd almost given up hope, thinking you were just a product of my childish over imagination. In his mind he pictured himself crossing his arms in front of his chest and could feel his "Ko-Rei's" amusement as he tried to hide behind a wall of indifference.

It didn't take long for him to hear the soft seductive laughter coming forth. Have you missed me, little one? She purred to him and Yusuke fought not to pout. She'd always called him that; that along with her 'beloved'. Little one? Well, there was no way he was little anymore. So why did he let her get away with it? If anyone else dared to call him little one, he'd knock them senseless. But for some reason he'd never bothered to dissuade her from calling him that. And it felt good when she called him 'beloved'. It made him feel good...however weird it was to have a spirit talk to him.

How can I miss you when I have no idea who you are? Maybe I'm crazy and I simply made you up to take care of my perverted urges. He had always wondered what she looked like since she'd never once bothered to actually appear to him. He wagered she was probably more beautiful than anyone else in the three world's combined. Even when he was little, just her voice reminded him of beauty. She'd only ever spoken to him whichdisappointed him when he was younger. He'd always wanted to see her.

This time her laughter was louder and it almost seemed as if she were standing directly behind him, speaking very close to his right ear. Perverted urges? She taunted. Those must have been some urges if you made me up when you were a child. She was silent before he heard her teasing voice wash over him again. Why? Would you want to know me, little one? She asked and this time Yusuke couldn't hold back the shiver at the purely seductive way she breathed across his skin.

Why was he feeling this way? She'd never made him feel like this before. Of course he'd been a child when she first made herself known to him and the feelings she directed to him had always been purely motherly. Now...well now they were making him feel things that he should only feel towards Keiko.

What do you mean? Yusuke asked. Are you really going to tell me who you are now? After all this time? Why couldn't I know when I was child? It would have been nice to know why I had a spirit hanging over my ear all the time. And how do I know you're not just some poltergeist who decided to haunt me for the rest of my life? Was he being a bit sarcastic?

She was silent again and Yusuke figured she wasn't going to answer him until he felt the undeniable feel of a soft body pressed snugly against his back. Soft fingers glided over his skin and until he felt the goose bumps rising on the back of his neck and arms. She...she was touching him, really touching him. In all his years of hearing her voice in the back of his mind, she'd never seemed more real. Soft arms came around to embrace his front, to clutch at his chest, and Yusuke fought to hold in the moan when it felt like a tongue came out and traced lightly over his neck. For a moment Yusuke was startled and tried tilting his head to the side, trying to see if he could actually see her. But it was no use. He couldn't see her, not even a wisp of hair.

What do you think, my beloved? Do I feel real to you?

One part of his mind kept screaming that this wasn't possible, that maybe Keiko had finished ranting now and had decided to forgive him for...well whatever she thought he'd done and was hugging him. And yet, Keiko's hugs had never felt as comforting as this.

Shit! Keiko! He thought, realizing he'd allowed his mind to wander. Was she still yelling?

His worst fears were realized when he lifted his head and realized everyone was staring at him now with a mixture of expressions ranging from curiosity to suspicion. Keiko was staring at him oddly as well, though she'd lost the anger from before. Yusuke fought to talk, to speak, to say something, even as his "Ko-Rei's" arms tightened around his torso, almost as if protecting him from the many prying eyes. He could almost feel the growl travel through her body and into his own.

Who is this child, my little one? And why do you allow her to speak in such a way to you?

Well that's enough for now. Once again I'd like to thank all of those who bothered to review. Oh yeah and stop complaining that I'm not updating my other stories. Writer's block is a serious bitch and I have enough emotional problems in my life to distract me from my writing. I agree it is hard to update all my stories and yet why am I always blamed for not updating. There are plenty more of you writers out there who have just as many stories as I do and haven't written in awhile. Sorry about that, but people who complain are even less likely to motivate me to write. But don't worry people I will tell you that the story I complete first will be Secrets In His Eyes. This is the one everyone wanted and it will be the first one I finish. I'm also working on the next chapter for Mitosis and should have that up within a couple of days.

Just a few things. I'm not sure if "Ko-Rei" really translates to "Little Spirit" but I think I'm close. I mean Ko-Enma means little Enma so I'm going off of that. If I'm wrong, oh well. I like the name and it is staying. Okay so who all really wants to know who this woman is. Sadly you will not be finding out for at least chapter 6. So you must keep reading so you can understand and look forward to finding out who she is to Yusuke.

Ja ne

Kura-kun's-lovr