Chapter 16
Omg!! Sorry this took so goddamn long. Don't worry, I haven't abandoned the story.
"Does anyone have problems with that?" Koenma asked the group, noting the solemn expressions on their faces as the mission was explained. Everyone nodded, except for Yusuke, who seemed deep in his own thoughts. "Yusuke? Yusuke!! Are you listening to me?"
"Huh?" Yusuke looked up to face a very annoyed Koenma. "Umm… I'm listening now, hehe."
"Did you hear a thing I said about the mission?"
"Sorry…I had something else on my mind." Yusuke said quietly.
Kurama was observing the young spirit detective ever since the meeting began. He was worried about Yusuke. Not only was he distracted the whole time after the pictures were shown, he looked troubled and hurt. And sorry, Yusuke Uremeshi never says sorry. 'What's going on with him? What did he do during the time he was gone?'
"Yusuke." Koenma sighed. "I am only going to repeat this once, as you need to hear it. Pay attention. We are going to infiltrate Shikosume's castle. Yes, again. But this time, our target will be Hikaro and Narako. You will have to get them alone, and place this mirror in front of their face. Anyone looking into the mirror cannot tell a lie. The point is to get them to confess all that they have done and bring them in, understood? Oh, and to get them to tell us what kind of drug they are keeping from us."
"Sounds simple." Yusuke sat back in his chair.
"It's harder than it sounds. They are not stupid, and will not be easily tricked. Oh, did I mention that Narako lives in a different castle? Well, you will have to split up in teams of two. Hiei obviously cannot go back to Shikosume's castle. Kuwabara, however, can. The only people who have seen him are the lowly servants, and they will not pose much of a threat. And since he's been there before, he will know the layout of the place, being able to be a guide. So Hiei, you're going to Narako's castle and Kuwabara is going to Shikosume's. Now I'm left with Yusuke and Kurama." Koenma paused, thinking of how to determine who is going where.
"I'll go to Narako's castle." Yusuke stated loudly. "There's really no decision to make. I am the leader of this team, and it's obvious that I will take on the more dangerous enemy." Even though Yusuke was telling himself that this really was the reason he wanted to go with Hiei, his heart knew that his jealousy simply could not allow Kurama to be with Hiei at this moment. Besides, he wanted to confront Narako.
"Well, I guess the decision is made. We'll start out tomorrow morning at 9am sharp. I'll explain in detail of what you have to do then. In the meantime, you guys get to have the rest of the day off. Rest up, get ready. I'll see you bright and early in the morning." Koenma waved his hand to dismiss the team.
Kurama ran to catch up with Yusuke. The boy had been avoiding him since he came back, and Kurama really wanted to finish their talk before their mission started. "Yusuke!" Kurama called out.
Yusuke turned around to see a disheveled redhead running towards him. 'Shit. I should've walked faster.' He didn't want to deal with rejection right before a mission, but Kurama was already a few feet away. "Yes?" Yusuke said with a bored voice.
"We need to finish our talk." Kurama grabbed Yusuke's arm and held onto it, not wanting the boy to run off again.
"Really, Kurama, there's nothing to talk about. I think you made it pretty clear that you wanted Hiei."
"No, you're wrong." Kurama stopped in the middle of the street, staring into Yusuke's eyes. "I'm serious, Yusuke. Hiei and I did have a past together, but I love you. Yes, I do love Hiei. And I'm sure that he has some kind of feelings towards me, but if I had to choose, it would be you. It will always be you, Yusuke, no one else." Kurama's eyes softened as he said the words, putting all of his love for Yusuke into his gaze.
"But…I saw you and Hiei in your bedroom! Don't even try to lie about that." Yusuke didn't know what he felt. One moment he was happy that Kurama wanted him, but he couldn't dislodge a nagging feeling that this wasn't as simple as Kurama told it. No, he couldn't be happy and rejoice, yet.
"Oh…that… I'm sorry that you had to see it, Yusuke. I'm sure that I've hurt you so much. I'm so sorry. Let me tell you something that may ease your pain. You see, I am hiding something from all of you. Hiei knows now, and you will too. Every year on a certain day, my other self emerges and takes control of me. Of course we are the same person, but we are also different. Yoko and I, let's say that he is the one who wants Hiei, and I want you."
"Are you telling me that it was Yoko in that bedroom and not you?" Yusuke asked unbelievingly.
"Yes. But I am also to blame, since I am Yoko." Kurama moved Yusuke to a bench on the street.
"You're confusing me." Yusuke looked at his lover blankly, not knowing what else to say.
"I am a human, and my other side is a demon. You already know that humans and demons have different ways of thinking and acting. Humans are more emotional." Kurama took Yusuke's hands into his own. "I would never try to hurt you, Yusuke. You are the one I choose."
"How come I sense there's something more than you wanting me?"
"Because, you are sensing Yoko. He is a part of me that I cannot control nor ignore. We are the same."
"Are you saying that although you want me, you're demon part wants Hiei, making you want him too?" Yusuke knew it was too good to be true.
Kurama lowered his head. "Yes. That is what I'm saying. I want both of you."
"God! Why didn't you just come out and say it? You do know that it can't happen right? I don't feel that way about Hiei and I'm sure he doesn't feel that way about me." Yusuke took his hands back and started to walk away. "I'll forgive you for now, but I'm not sure that I can live with loving someone who has someone else on his mind. Get ready for the mission. I'm going to get some sleep."
"Yusuke-" Kurama tried to say something, but Yusuke waved his hand and disappeared around a corner. The redhead sighed. This was getting more difficult than he thought it would be.
Hiei stood paralyzed as the words rolled over in his mind. 'Kurama loves me still.' Hiei had been following the two humans since they left the office. Although he knew that Kurama was going to choose Yusuke, he was not prepared for the confession that the redhead wanted him also.
"You can come out now, Hiei." Kurama said softly.
"You knew I was here the entire time?" Hiei jumped down from a nearby tree.
"Yes."
"Hn. So you chose him instead of me." Hiei tried to keep his voice emotionless.
"You know that I love you, Hiei. And if the world was perfect, then I'd have you both." Kurama hated being in such a complex situation.
"But the world is less than perfect, and you would have to chose someday." Hiei turned his back to Kurama, indicating that he was going to leave.
"Hiei, what do you want?" Kurama asked, his voice dropping to a whisper. The question stopped the fire demon in his steps. Kurama placed his hand on the smaller demon's shoulders, and turned him around so they are face to face. "Through this whole thing, I've never asked what you wanted. I just assumed that you would want to be with me."
"Baka. You assumed that because it's true." Hiei stared into pools of emerald eyes.
"Hiei, I really don't know what to do. For the first time in my life, I am unsure of myself. I'm unsure of this decision I will make. I mean, how do you choose between the two you love the most?"
"Kurama. If I were anyone else, I'd probably tell you to pick me. But, I respect Yusuke and I care for you too much to let you make the wrong decision. You know, you have time to consider your choices. The mission starts tomorrow, so I would get ready for it if I were you, and come back to this after everything else is settled."
"You're right. I'll go home. Thanks Hiei." Kurama refrained himself from hugging the little demon and giving him a great big kiss. Instead, he walked quickly away, leaving Hiei behind.
Hiei blinked back tears. In all his life, he rarely cried. 'I can't believe you're going to shed tears for this human!' He scolded himself. Running through the city to the dense forest, Hiei was very glad to have his speed. Other people couldn't see him all red-eyed when they couldn't see him at all.
Slowing to a walk as the trees loomed over him, Hiei wondered at the mission and how it will go. At least it was a chance to get to know Yusuke Uremeshi better.