Chapter 2: First Day
The remaining weeks went fast, for there was a lot to get done, mostly the moving. Not only did Kurama have to help his okasan move, but he had to get his stuff packed and taken to his new place. By the end of the first week, everyone was settled in their new places.
After saying goodnight to his okasan, Kurama closed the door of his new apartment. It had been a long day and he was ready to take a shower and relax. Taking in the view of the first floor, he realized it was small, but it would do. Shori had decided to get new furniture for the new home, so he took the 'old', which consisted of a couch, loveseat, and coffee table with two end tables. He'd purchased a small two chair dinette set for the small breakfast nook off the galley kitchen. His okasan had wanted to give him her dinette set, but it was way too big, consisting of six chairs and an extra leaf. He wondered if his okasan had wanted him to take it so she could get a new one, along with the new living room suit. Making his way upstairs to the only full bathroom, there was a 'powder room' downstairs, he went to take a long awaited shower. Getting it as hot as possible and still wishing he could have made it hotter, he stayed until there was no more hot water before finally turning it off and stepping into the only bedroom. He had brought his bedroom furniture with him, which was a double bed, a night stand, a small bookcase and his desk. The room still looked empty even with all that, for the room took up the whole upstairs, outside the fact of the decent size bathroom and the small landing from the stairs.
Pulling underwear on, the red head laid down on the bed in exhaustion. After helping with the last of the moving, along with his okasan staying and helping him finish unpacking, he couldn't get his mind to stop racing. Glancing at the bedside clock, 9:45pm, he realized it was not too late, yet he was starting his new job in the morning and wanted to be rested. His step-father had promoted a guy named Rick to oversee his 'training' into the company. It was so he could take over the branch here, then in a few years move on to open a new location and train his step-brother to take over for him here. He liked the idea of having a ningen job, for it was his first step into living a 'normal' ningen life. He just hoped Koenma didn't need him for awhile. He didn't want to have to come up with an excuse on his first day as to why he couldn't come to work.
He must have fallen asleep because he woke up to the sun peeking in through the curtains across the bed. A few minutes until seven am, well he didn't need to be at work till nine and it was only a 15 minute drive, but he still got up and showered (again), dressed in a nice suit and headed downstairs for breakfast. While eating a bowl of cereal he checked his cell phone, he had decided not to get a phone in his apartment and just use his cell phone as his main form of communication. There were several messages, one from his step-father wishing him good luck on his first day, another one from Rick saying he looked forward to meeting and working with him and the last one was from Yusuke. It dawned on him that he hadn't seen Yusuke or Kuwabara, or anyone for that matter, since that day on the beach when Yusuke came back and they had talked to Genkai about her property and what she wanted done upon her death.
Not recognizing the number that was left, but thinking it would be nice to hear a familiar voice, he dialed. After about six rings, he was about to hang up, when the sleepy voice of the tantei answered. "Hello, this better be good."
"Yusuke, still sleeping in I see." Kurama said, noting the clock on the kitchen wall.
"Fox boy, is that you?" Yusuke asked in a chipper voice when he realized who it was. Both he and Hiei used the nickname 'fox' after finding out he was the legendary yoko spirit. "Its 8:15 Kurama, I don't call that sleeping in." The raven haired continued. "Hey, how have you been? I didn't get a chance to talk to you much at the beach. You seemed down and I would have called you earlier but Keiko has been very possessive this month, I haven't even seen Kuwabara." He explained.
Kurama tried to sound chipper. "I am doing well Yusuke. At the beach I was just thinking about how everything had worked out and the dealings with Yomi and all." He then changed the subject. "I'm starting my new job today." He informed, taking another quick look at the clock.
"New job? What made you want to get a job? Doesn't working for Koenma count?" The raven haired joked, getting into a teasing mood.
"Yusuke." Kurama lightly chuckled. "We will not be tanteis forever and if I plan on staying in Ningenkai, I will need a way of supporting myself." He said, but on the inside he was wondering if Yusuke would ever think about the future and how he was going to support Keiko. 'He would probably let her have a job, while he stayed home and took care of the kids.'
Yusuke laughed, saying. "Well you know me. I don't think that far ahead. I'll cross that bridge when I get there." He then whispered. "Let's get together this evening. I'm sure I can get away for a few hours." It also sounded like he was covering the phone, obviously not wanting Keiko to hear.
"We can meet at Genkai's. I have a few things to tell you." Kurama suggested with a soft smile while taking one last look at the clock. "I have to go. I don't want to be late on my first day."
"Good luck fox boy." With that, the phone went dead.
His first day went well. It was mostly a 'get to know everyone' and a 'tour of the office.' He met the lady that would be his secretary on the side until he was ready to hire his own and then was shown a small corner office. That was the day in a nutshell and he actually got to leave at four. Making his way into his apartment, he decided to change and head right over to see Genkai.
Even though the apartment was close to the temple, it was still a two block walk to a side entrance, then a few blocks to the main stairs and then the hundred stair climb to the main building. It still beat meeting in the park which was at least 4 miles away and this way he could walk and not worry about parking. As he made his way to the top of the stairs, he heard a commotion. Walking through the main room to the center garden outback, he had to hold back a laugh at the sight playing out before him. Genkai was soaked from head to toe with soap and water from Puu, who was flapping his wings and body, shaking off water (kind of like a dog). "Stupid bird, if you were not a part of my moron student, I would have had fried bird by now." The old master grumbled. Puu knew she didn't mean it as he stopped shaking and nested his head into a towel she was now holding. She started rubbing his mane gently, giving whispered reassurances as he made cooing 'puu' sounds. "Don't just stand there…you could help this old lady." She said as a way of acknowledgement.
The red head never questioned how she knew he was there, for he had the same 'talent' at sensing auras. Seeing a stack of towels on a nearby bench, he grabbed one and started drying a wing that was being held out so he could get underneath it.
"I can't leave him too wet or he'll just leave water puddles everywhere and he doesn't like staying outside until he dries. So what do I owe the visit?" She asked, not stopping in her drying and moving on to the other wing.
"I guess you can say I'm coming to introduce myself as a new neighbor." Kurama said as he went to get another dry towel.
"Really…the only place I can think of is the South End Apartments and what would have made you move there?" She questioned.
Over finishing drying Puu and getting him in a room with a fire to keep him warm, Kurama explained what had happened over the past month and then told her about Yusuke meeting him there.
"I haven't seen him in a month either." Genkai stated as Yukina came walking into the room, showing a big smile when she saw Kurama.
"Kurama it is so good to see you….how have you been?" She asked as Kurama got up off the floor to give her a hug.
"I am fine Yukina and how are you doing?" He asked as they both sat down at the small round table in the room.
"I'm doing well, it is a lot of work to keep this place together and with taking care of Puu, I stay busy, but I enjoy the company very much." The ice maiden said, giving a giggled smile towards Genkai.
"Ha." Was the reply.
Kurama knew Genkai enjoyed having Yukina with her. Now that she was getting old she needed more help than she would admit and saying that the ice maiden could stay with her was a way of saying she would like the help, without saying it out loud.
Yusuke came in the room, hearing the sound of soft laughter. "Did I miss a joke?" He asked as he made his way over to sit at the table.
"Dimwit, you are the joke." Genkai said, looking at her student and taking in the fact that he was still wearing his hair down and not up with the help of gel.
"Ha ha….funny grandma." Yusuke muttered. Turning to Kurama, he grabbed his arm to pull him into a shoulder hug. "And you're looking good fox boy?"
"You look good too." Kurama said, returning the pat on the back while also taking in the raven haired's 'new look'.
Yusuke quirked. "If you're talking about the hair, Keiko likes it like this. I really think she would like me to wear it long like when the Mazaku showing, but I don't think I can take it that long." While he talked, he had been pulling on his hair at different places, seeing how long it was getting.
"I will go and make some tea." Yukina said bowing and excusing herself.
"Hey, I got a chance to call Kuwabara and he should be on his way." Yusuke said, catching the ice maiden before she left the room.
"Oh it would be nice to see Kazuma again." She said, closing the door.
"I have no idea what she sees in him." Yusuke muttered.
"Maybe it's the same thing Keiko sees in you." Kurama said, receiving a 'ha' from Genkai and a punch on the arm from Yusuke. They made small talk until a voice was heard coming up the stairs.
"Yukina…Yukina…where art thou Yukina." Kuwabara yelled making his way into the room a few minutes later.
"And you call me a moron." Yusuke replied, giving a look to Genkai.
"No, you're the dimwit." She answered
"Hey guys…long time no see." The tall orange haired boy said, making his way over to the others. He gave each a hug as they stood up and even the master gave him one.
"Hey, I didn't get a hug from you grandma. What makes him so special?" Yusuke said with hurt in his voice.
"I was soaking wet earlier from giving your bird a bath. Now that I think about it, I should have hugged you and got you wet." She replied giving a hug before sitting back down.
The boy sighed. "Yeah I guess I need to thank you for taking care of him. Keiko would love to have him, but he won't fit in the apartment. If I knew how to get him small again we could keep him as a pet." Yusuke said.
Yukina made her way in carrying a tray loaded with tea and cups. "If I can get some help please there are two more trays with food. I'm sorry it took me so long, I just assumed you all could stay for dinner." She said, placing the tray on the table.
"I'll help."
"Thank you Kazuma and it's nice to see everyone back." She said smiling and the two made their way out to get the trays.
Dinner consisted of small talk and before long it was getting dark. Kurama had told the others his story about his job and moving, in turn he found out that Yusuke had been spending his month with Keiko, literally with her 24/7. They got an apartment together and were in the process of starting their own restaurant. Kuwabara in the mean time, upon graduating from high school, was getting ready to start night classes at a local college.
"I thought it would be easier to go at night so then I can still help you guys with the demon slicing and dicing." Kuwabara finished, acting like he was using his spirit sword.
The red head didn't mention that he'd talked to Koenma about wanting to quit the team. Though he assumed he would have to tell them sooner or later.
"Speaking of which, has anyone heard from the shrimp? I can't believe he didn't come back and at least say good bye to us." Kuwabara said looking to Yusuke and then Kurama for his answer. He was assuming they would have been the last two to see him before they returned from the Makai.
"I haven't, I guess he doesn't like goodbyes." Yusuke said softly.
"I have." Kurama said and sat his tea mug down before looking to Kuwabara.
"You did!?" Came out in stereo.
"Yes." Kurama said closing his eyes and thinking back to the last time he had seen the fire demon. He opened them and look to Yusuke. "It was after I left you, so you could pay your respects to Raizen. He asked me to take care of a few things and told me to tell everyone here that he was asked to stay and become Mukuro's heir."
"I miss Hiei." Yukina said. "He was going to look for my brother for me. I guess he didn't find him."
"I'm sure he's still looking Yukina. I don't think Hiei would be that mean and not keep his promise." Kuwabara said, taking Yukina's hand in his.
Kurama and Yusuke were sweat dropping. Yusuke finally broke and while nervously scratching the back of his neck, said. "Yeah, I'm sure he'll find him. Maybe that's why he's staying as Mukuro's heir, to keep up the search."
Kurama looked at his watch. "I should get going. Some of us do have work tomorrow." He said.
"I'll walk you out." Yusuke said, giving goodnights to everyone, including giving Puu a pat on the head and telling him to be good for the old lady. He also told his spirit-beast he would be around more often to see him. Kuwabara stayed to help with the dishes, he did anything to get to stay with Yukina awhile longer.
Kurama talked to Yusuke for a few more minutes outside at the base of the stairs. They made promises of getting together sooner and both wondered if Koenma was going to need them anytime soon now that their said 'vacation' was over.
The red head let himself into his place around eleven, wanting nothing more than to get to bed. He laid there thinking about Hiei for the first time in a month. He missed him, that was all there was to it. Looking over to the window, he realized that he hadn't even unlocked it or left it open like he did in his old bedroom. It was always his way of saying 'welcome' to leave the window opened, or at least unlocked if it was raining, so the fire demon could come in at anytime and make himself at home. There would be no reason to do that here. Hiei would not know that he had moved and most of all he would never be coming back to the Ningenkai, now that he had a reason to stay in the Makai.
'Why do I care if he never comes back, we were friends, nothing more. Even though I had thought about it many times, he would not want me, especially after what Yomi did. That's why I told him I was not interested in him in that way, making it a joke, to tell myself right then and there that it was never going to happen.' He remembered the look of confusion and what he thought was sadness in those crimson eyes, though Hiei had tried acting mad. 'Could Hiei have wanted something more than a friendship with me?' He fell asleep thinking about the answers, making his sleep restless.
End Chapter 2