Well here's the fourth chapter. I'd just like to take this time to thank you all who reviewed. All your reviews were so supportive and it causes me to be able to write faster. When I have inspiration I can't seem to stop writing so keep those reviews coming. Anyway I had this chapter typed up already, as well as the next however I won't post that one until tomorrow. I figured I should post this chapter where you will uncover Yusuke's decisions behind his relationship with Keiko. So without any more preamble, I introduce the next chapter.

A Long Time Coming

Chapter 4

And as Yusuke's eyes rose to glance around the room at his friends, Kuwbara, Boton,and Keiko, Kurama and Kuronue, still waiting patiently by trying to scope out a threat, he realized what his decision would be. It would be hard to leave his friends, yes, but Yusuke felt as though his soul was telling him to give in, to go with her, where ever it was she wanted to take him. Besides, he would see them again someday. She'd told him he could come back. It wasn't like he'd never see them again.

Yes, he answered finally. Yes, I'll go. Where ever it is you want me to go, I'll go.

The body hugging him suddenly went very still behind him. The arms withdrew, the presence left, and Yusuke suddenly felt very alone and detached. What had happened? This wasn't all some sick joke was it? If she was playing around with him he was going to be one pissed off Toushin.

She came back with a vengeance and when she spoke her voice sounded excited and intense, as if she was worried he would not accept.

Are you sure? Her voice asked as a white light began to flood his mind making him feel light headed and suddenly very tired. His eyes closed and his head spun with the force of her energy suddenly invading his body.

I just told you my answer. What, do you think I'm going to back out now? That would be half-assed. Take me away, he commanded her confidently. He was not afraid. He trusted her. He was going and that was final.

Very well, Yusuke.

Can I say goodbye to everyone?

His spirit lady chuckled. Of course you can. I told you I wasn't kidnaping you. You may tell them you're leaving, but a word of warning if I may? Yusuke waited for her to go on. This next year is going to be one of the hardest and most intense periods of your life. You're going to learn things your friends won't ever accomplish even in their wildest dreams. Choose your words wisely when speaking to your friends. Tell only those that you trust and only those that can truly understand your decision.

Yusuke processed her words and knew she was right. If he told them all he was leaving, they would pester him about where he was going and why. And although he had no idea where he was being taken to, he knew that her words were true. Yusuke's eyes widened at her last statement. What should I tell them then? He questioned her. And who do I trust the most?

I suggest you look deep inside your heart for the answers to which you seek. I cannot answer for you.

Yusuke turned to look again at his group of mismatched friends. Now the only problem was, who could he trust enough to know they would not search for him if he asked them. He knew if he suddenly disappeared Koenma would have a fit. However this was bigger than Koenma at the moment. Besides Koenma would be fine with just Kurama and Kuronue to protect the world. Not very many demons could fight and come out on top against such powerful demons.

His eyes continued to travel over the room, searching the eyes of his friends who seemed to be off in their own worlds now. Hardly anyone was paying attention to him and Keiko anymore. Finally his eyes seemed to stop and ultimately settle on Kurama and Kuronue who were conversing quietly to each other. His eyes ran thoughtfully over both demons, watching as they joked around and teased each other, Yoko occasionally making a stray comment here and there.

And suddenly he knew his decision. He knew without a doubt, he could trust both demons. If he asked them not to search for him, they would respect his wishes. And if he told them that this was something he had to do on his own, they would understand. Because they trusted him.

Decision made Yusuke turned back to the situation at hand. Before he relaid his message he had something he had to do first. Turning to Keiko he suddenly placed his hands on her shoulders looking deep into her eyes, trying to find the emotion he'd been searching for, for what seemed like a life time. A myriad of emotions flitted across her face; confusion, worry, pain, anger, fear, jealousy, love. Yes, her eyes held love, though Yusuke was disappointed that the one emotion he truly wished to see was not present. Yusuke sighed. He was about to do something he should have done a long time ago.

"Keiko," he spoke out loud for the first time in what seemed like an eternity. Upon hearing the seriousness in his voice, he knew everyone had stopped what they were doing and were staring curiously between the duo, wondering what he was going to say to his childhood friend. But he didn't care. This was something he had to do. She peered curiously at him, wondering what he was going to say to her. Everyone else had ceased to exist for Yusuke as he spoke to his childhood friend. He wet his lips nervously. "Keiko," herepeated her namesoftly, hoping to soften the blow. "You've been my best friend for so long. I'm truly grateful for the wonderful years of friendship you've given me." He watched as her eyes lightened and gazed at him softly. He was only sorry he was about to crush her sudden happiness. "Keiko, you know I love you, but I'm sorry. I can't do this anymore. It's over."

Dead silence. He could almost feel the tension permeating throughout the street corner. "Wh-what!" She gasped and Yusuke flinched as pain filtered through her voice. "What do you mean?" Keiko asked breathing harshly, tears already gathering in her eyes. She staggered back a bit and stared at him in growing anguish. Her mouth opened and closed for several second before she finally found her voice. "Why, Yusuke? I-I thought..."

"No, Keiko. You may love me, but you still haven't accepted me. And if you can't accept me, then you don't love me, not really," he spoke softly, trying to make this as painless as possible.

"Bu-but Yusuke, I do...I do love you," She gulped as she tried to take in what he was saying. Her hands were shaking now and Yusuke only sighed.

"Then why have you never accepted me for the way I am?" He asked her, truthfully wondering why it was she had never been able to accept his bad boy reputation. Everyone else had accepted him quite easily, even more so after his transformation into his demon form. Even Hiei had, but that was after careful years of timid friendship. And Hiei didn't trust anyone. That said a lot coming from the silent fire apparition.

His other friends weren't afraid of him, thinking he was going to wake up one day and turn on everyone, killing them in their sleep just because he was a Mazoku. Kuwabara had never been afraid of him, even back in their glory days when they were still getting into street brawls every day.

Kurama and Kuronue had taken him under their wing, so to speak, and had taught him all about the demon realm, exposing him to many secrets no one else was privy to. And they had even less trust than Hiei a lot of the time. Kurama was always afraid no one would ever be able to accept him for what he was. He still hadn't told his mother about himself, though Yusuke had often encouraged the red head to just get it over with. That way he would have his answer one way or the other. If she couldn't accept him after everything was said and done, than she didn't deserve a son such as Kurama. And the only demons and humans Kuronue trusted were Yoko, Shuichi, the red-headed side of his partner, and Yusuke.

"But, Yusuke, I've always accepted you. I just know that you could make something more of yourself. You can't fight forever Yusuke. Sooner or later you'll have to accept that."

Yusuke shook his head sadly. She still didn't understand.

"Of course he can," Someone spoke up, reminding Yusuke yet again that he and Keiko weren't alone. Glancing sideways, Yusuke was surprised to find Kurama standing close by his side. His eyes were calm as he directed them steadily towards the flinching girl. "He's a demon. He'll always be fighting, Keiko. If you can't accept that aspect of his life, then you can't accept the real him. That's what makes him Yusuke." Yusuke wondered if the words spoken were coming from Yoko's side of the soul. He fought to give the fox a hug, knowing what it cost to speak up like that. Kurama hated hurting anyone and Kami knows this was hurting Keiko immensely.

His "Ko-Rei" was still silent behind him, as if she were digesting every word and feeling coming from him and the others. You have true friends, Yusuke, she spoke softly. 'Tis a real gift to be able to have such trust in them and them in you.

He mentally thanked her as well.

"Bu-but he doesn't have to," Keiko trembled, turning her turbulent eyes off the handsome fox and onto the young Toushin. She used her fists to pull herself close and clutch at his leather jacket. She looked up at him sadly, tears slipping down her cheeks in a steady stream. "Don't you see, Yusuke? You don't have to keep fighting. You can stay here with me, learn to live a life of peace."

"You still don't understand, do you human?" Kuronue spoke up bravely. "Even now you don't understand him."

"Don't you see, Keiko? He likes fighting," Kurama defended him. "It's in his blood, has been since even before he was born."

Yusuke watched Keiko's face as she bit her lip and fought not to burst into tears in front of everyone. "Don't you see yet? Don't you understand how I feel? Do you know how good it feels to know there is a whole world out there depending on my strength and the things I can do with it? You've never needed me like the people of this world need me, like I need them. They need someone strong enough to protect them and I can give them that. You, however, have never needed me like that, not really. You're a strong woman Keiko and you've always told me I don't need to protect you. But, Keiko," he looked deep into her eyes trying to convey through action as well as words. "I need to be needed sometimes. You've just never realized before how much I wanted to protect you. Even after the things you've seen me do, after witnessing the acts of power I'm capable of producing, you still don't want me to use that power to protect you. It hurts Keiko. Somewhere inside my heart hurts that even after all this time, you still have no idea who I truly am."

Well, wasn't that just a long time coming? I hope every believed the breakup was believeable enough. I could have been really evil and make Yusuke call her a bunch of names and get into a really big fight but I wanted their relationship to end somewhat peacefully, however you don't really know how Keiko reacts until the next chapter. Soooooooooo you'll all just have to wait and till the next chapter. Ha ha.

I also wanted to express my surprise at home many of you actually like the idea of putting some Kurama/Yusuke and Kuronue/Yoko moments in here. I honestly didn't expect there to be so many fans of that nature. That just means I'll have to work harder to keep you all interested, but don't worry I think I can manage that. Oh and thanks for answering my pole so far and if you're interested I have another question, which you might find interesting enough to answer. So here it is.

1.) Kurama or Yoko, which side of him do you like better?

I'll give you my response and then you guys can review and tell me what you think. Let me point out before I start and maybe it will give you something to think about. It is clear, at least to me, that Kuramaand Yokodoin fact have two distinct personalities. Kurama is more human in nature, calm, although still calculating, gentle and wise, while Yoko clearly is cold, ruthless, and not above playing with his enemy before killing him. This was made clear to me during the first transformation of Kurama after his run in with the Idun box. Yoko clearly refers to himself as Yoko Kurama and when he transforms back, he refers to his counterpart as Shuichi. So clearly there is some distinction there.

Okay anyway my answer is Kurama. In the beginning I really liked the idea of Yoko in all his glory however there is always soemthing so enigmatic about Kurama that I just find him the most interesting character. He has so many different emotions and yet you never seem to see them. He is always calm, unless you threaten his mother and something I find interesting is he does not believe in Mercy. He will kill if someone offends him. And at one point he is training Kuwabara before the tournament and he says that Hiei cannot prepare him for the viciousness of the fights. Anyway I believe there are so many sides to Kurama that I just love his character all the way.

Okay I think that is enough talking. Feel free to answer if you want and I care not how long your reviews are. I think some of you are a little worried you'll offend me or something but I truly love reviews and I don't mind hearing what you people have to say. So write how ever much you want.

Ja ne

Kura-kun's-lovr