Chapter Five- Weekend Date, Part Two

"How was your time with Yusuke, Shuichi?" Shiori asked at dinner that night.

"A lot of fun, Mother."

"That's good. He seems like a nice young man. He certainly was quiet when I met him almost a year ago."

A year ago? I've known him for almost a year? Well, perhaps our love for one another isn't as sudden as I thought. He put his fork down and folded his hands on his lap. "Mother, I have something to tell you. Yusuke and I are actually seeing each other. He's recently become my boyfriend."

Shiori blinked, caught off guard by her son's bold admission. In all actuality, she didn't know Yusuke all that well; their first and only meeting was brief and they didn't share actual words. Her impression of him was a quiet, respectful young man. She saw the small happy smile on his face. He makes Shuichi happy and that is what every mother wants for her child, however…

"If he makes you happy Shuichi, that's all right with me, but I will want to meet him."

"Of course, Mother. Whenever you like."

Yusuke raced for Kurama's house, eager for his date with Yoko and wondered what the fox had planned. He approached the woods to see Yoko at the trees' edge with a couple of large backpacks and a gentle smile. The teen grinned back as he went over and put his arms around Yoko's waist while Yoko leaned down and gave a deep loving kiss, arms around the neck.

"I have been wanting to do that for days," Yoko whispered when they parted.

"And I've been looking forward to our date since Kurama asked me out. So, what are we doing?"

"Well, as schools are closed tomorrow, I thought we could go camping in Demon World. I heard you say you have developed an interest in botany. I would be happy to introduce you to some demon specimens."

"Sounds like fun, but you do know that the demons there will want to kill me." He hoisted a backpack onto his back.

"I expect only the strong but foolish ones will attack." Yoko took the other bag.

"Good point." Yusuke honestly hoped to fight some demons during the trip and also wondered what Demon World looked like. I get the feeling that whatever I picture will be wrong.

Yusuke looked up reflexively as he saw lightning flash and thunder boom. No dark clouds in the sky- a red sky. He looked at the barren rocky landscape before him and spying forests in the far distance. This is where Yoko and Hiei came from? It looks so unwelcoming and yet looks like a good place to train and grow strong.

"What do you think of my home world?"

"Seems to suit demons."

"Correct. There are varied environments here just like in Human World and each type of demon has his or her preferred place to call home."

"What's home to you?"

Yoko flashed a fanged smile. "What else? A fox hole, but one suited for a fox demon. Actually, it is in the forest behind us."

Yusuke turned to see a large lush forest and Yoko heading into it. He hurried after the silver fox, along paths of thick trees, full bushes, and narrow almost invisible paths. He turned a bend in a bush and saw Yoko pushing some branches aside to reveal a hole in the ground. He gestured to it with his head. "After you, Yusuke." The detective leaped into it and felt himself slide down an earthy slope and came to a stop on his back. He scrambled to his feet, stood to one side of the slope, and looked around, stunned.

He had come out in a lavishly decorated entrance hall. A long plush carpet extended from the slope and down a very long hall to a set of wooden double doors. Vases and other treasures sat on rocky pedestals against the earthy walls and pictures hung on the walls by sturdy roots.

Yoko came down the slope, saw Yusuke's slack-jawed look, and gently pushed his chin up. "I take it that you like what you see?"

"I expected it to be exactly like fox holes back home, but this is something else!"

"I am pleased to hear that. Let me show you where we will sleep."

"We?"

"Yes. You are my boyfriend and in Demon World, lovers sleep together even if they are not mates."

Yusuke nodded as he followed the fox. It makes sense to keep your beloved close; to make sure no one takes him or her and it tells others that the person has already been taken. And I belong to the most feared thief in Demon World and speaking of him, I wonder how large his bed is…or is it a nest? The double doors were thrown open and Yusuke entered an equally lavish room with an enormous canopy bed that could easily accommodate half a dozen adult demons and have room left over for a group of four to six baby demons. A desk littered with scraps of ancient parchment sat up against the wall near the bed. A door on the other wall several feet from the bed's foot was open to show a fancy bathroom and everything in both rooms was dusty and dirty. Clearly, this is Yoko's idea of camping.

"If we're staying here, then what's in our bags?" he asked as he set his down.

"Food, mostly, as well as some human essentials, toiletries, and a few items to clean up our home." Yoko set his bag down and pulled out a duster, a cloth, and furniture polish in addition to bathroom cleaners.

It took several hours to clean the bedroom and bathroom as well as put away the food, essentials, and toiletries. Yoko then led Yusuke back to the surface and to a lush area where an array of plants was laid out before them. "I thought I start with medicinal herbs that can be found on both worlds. This flower here, is Chamomile. It can be used as a sedative for anxiety and relaxation."

"It also heals wounds, right? I read that it does that."

"It does indeed. It can also reduce swelling and over here is the plant Echinacea which can also heal wounds." Yoko used his claws to cut away some of the plant and put it in a sandwich bag. Yoko kept pointing out herbs, occasionally adding cuttings in separate bags. Yusuke impressed Yoko every so often with the knowledge he had gained from the book. This show of information made it clear to Yoko that Yusuke was serious about learning about plants. Perhaps he will be able to use plants the way Kurama and I do in battle. He certainly can adapt techniques to match his style.

"Yoko, I was wondering about that plant you used in the tournament against Karasu."

"You mean the Ojigi? Yes, that is a dangerous one as you well know. It is extremely dangerous when grown with demon energy. Are you implying that you wish to use this plant yourself?"

Yusuke blinked and smiled. "It's like you read my mind."

"It will take time. Most non-fox demons never learn control of an element of nature. However, your spirit energy is quite strong and you grasp new techniques quickly so perhaps it will not take too long."

"Great." So far, this camping date was going wonderfully. They had a hidden home for a camping site, Yoko had shown him some herbs for healing, and he agreed to teach Yusuke how to summon plants, especially the Ojigi.

The rustling and his senses alerting him to the presence of demons brought Yusuke to full alertness. He stood to face one direction and Yoko did the same, having been brought to awareness at the exact same time. Gradually, demons appeared from all around them and Yusuke smiled grimly in anticipation of a fight. For several long moments, there was silence and no movement. Then, with several battle cries, the demons all charged. After that, all that was seen were the blasts of spirt energy and rose whip lashes that splattered the ground with blood and body parts.