Chapter 4: The Melt Down

Kurama had a long night. First he got some last minute work done that needed to be presented in the morning. When that was done, he sat on the couch and thought about how his life had changed and his decisions over the past few months.

Living with his okasan and going to school had been easy, he thought. His okasan never questioned him about going or being out late, or what he was doing on the weekends. She just assumed it was for school. She never called the school to see if he was there when he had to miss classes because of a case. The school never called her because they knew she had been deathly ill at one time and assumed that he was staying home to take care of her, thinking she still might be sick. His teachers never had a problem because he always turned in his work within a record amount of time and was always ready to take tests, even if he didn't know about them.

Now though was a different matter, he had more obligations and less excuses. His step-father was expecting him to take over the office in town. That meant a lot of training, which he was getting from Rick. He was expected to be in the office nine to five, five days a week. Trying to come up with excuses as to why he was late or why he needed to leave early or better yet, why he couldn't come in at all, was getting harder and harder. He had already had several meetings with Rick and a few with his step-father about it. All he could say was sorry and that he would try and do better. And now Koenma wasn't going to let up either.

'Damn him.' He thought, 'I will get out of this somehow. I wonder what Hiei would do.' Now he did it, opening that can of worms again, Hiei, gods how he missed him and wished he were here now to listen to his problems. The first thing he would probably hear is 'Why did you want to stay with these stupid ningens?' Then he would be asked why he wanted to work when he could go back to the Makai and get all his stashed money. He laughed at the conversation he was having in his head with the fire demon. 'I'm losing it.' He thought as he got up to go to bed.

He awoke to a loud pounding, after seeing that it was five in the morning. He threw on his robe as he ran downstairs to answer the pounding that was coming from his front door.

"Come on Kurama, I know you're in there, open up." Yusuke yelled, just then the door opened and he was caught off guard, his fist still in the air getting ready to pound again. He blinked, taking in the sight of Kurama in his robe and his hair in disarray.

"Were you not up?" Yusuke asked as Kurama stepped aside to let the raven haired boy in.

Green eyes took one quick look outside to make sure no one was looking and that the peace had not been disturbed by the loud knocking before closing the door. "Yusuke, I don't need to be at work till nine and what are you doing up so early?" He said, closing the door.

"I wanted to talk to you before you went to work. You are hard to get a hold of so I thought the only way was to get you in the morning." Yusuke said, looking around the apartment and taking in the fact that it was also in disarray. This could not be where the fox lived. There were pizza boxes and Chinese takeout on the coffee table, empty bottles of various liquids, including beer, all over the place and stacks of stuff from papers to clothes everywhere else. "Are you sure this isn't my place?"

"If I knew I was going to have company, I would have cleaned up." Kurama said as he went to move stuff off the loveseat, motioning Yusuke to sit. He then cleared an area on the couch and also sat down.

"I can ask Keiko to clean for yeah….she didn't mind doing it for me. I'm sure she wouldn't mind doing it for you." Yusuke said. He had never known Kurama to be this messy, thinking he was the only one to do this. This was not the fox boy he used to know.

Kurama tried not to huff. "Thank you…but I can take care of it myself. Now what is it you wanted to see me about?" He asked placing his fingers on the bridge of his nose and squeezing his eyes shut while he used his other hand to rub his temples. He was also starting to take big breaths.

The action didn't go unnoticed by the detective. Thinking maybe the red head had not been getting a lot of sleep and feeling a little guilty for waking him so early, he said. "I just wanted to talk, we haven't done so in awhile and we never seem to have time."

The red head watched as Yusuke scratched his head and seem to be thinking. "Did Koenma send you?" He had to know.

"No…no." Yusuke quickly stammered, holding up his hand in a defensive manner. Seeing the look on the red head's face, he broke. "Okay, I can't do this, not to you. Botan sent me, she told me some of what's been going on with you and Koenma okay and for that matter, me and Kuwabara have been worried too. You don't come on missions anymore and we miss that. Not to mention we never see you at grandmas and she's right next door." He admitted.

Kurama gave a firm nod, saying. "I thank you for your concern Yusuke, but I am doing well. I see Genkai when I can and as far as missions go, I do not think you need me anymore. Kuwabara has more than improved to help you. I only want what is best for me right now and if that means quitting and hurting a few feelings so I can live a normal life, then so be it."

Yusuke could understand. "Well, I heard what diaper boy did to get you to stay on. I don't approve and will tell him so myself. Are you sure there's not another reason for you quitting and don't give me that crap about being a third wheel or anything."

The red head shook his head. "There is nothing else wrong…I just wish to concentrate on work, my classes and get on with the life I decided to live."

Yusuke wasn't convinced. "You miss him don't you?" He had to get to what he thought was the real reason for Kurama's behavior. 'I'm stepping onto a dangerous topic here and may not leave this place alive but I got to know.'

"Miss who?" Kurama asked, trying to control his reaction even though he knew the 'who' Yusuke was referring to and he tried to put on an innocent face.

The raven haired didn't fall for that either. "Knock it off fox boy. I know you know 'who' I'm talking about. I certain four foot something fire demon, always wears a black cloak, has black hair that stands up in a spike with a white star on the front and known most of all for his temper 'and' the fact that he wants to kill Kuwabara for dating his sister. Oh yeah and goes by the name Hiei and/or runt, shrimp…." He was acting like a smart ass, trying to get the red head mad so he might open up.

Kurama was not going to fall for the detective's ploy and said calmly. "Like I said before, I did fine before Hiei and I'm doing fine without him."

"That's not what I asked." Yusuke growled.

Kurama sighed. "If it will get you to drop the subject, then…'yes'…I do miss him."

"I'm not going to drop the subject Kurama. I can see why you might miss him. I've been thinking about it. He was your best friend, someone like you that you could talk to. You told me once about how you two met. You've known each other since you were…what…nine…ten. You had a connection that even me and the idiot don't have. You knew what each other were thinking without even saying anything, he would only open up to you, not to mention you two were a kick ass fighting duo." Yusuke said.

Kurama listen to him rattle on and realized that everything he said was true. He fell back into the couch and let the all the emotions he had been hiding for months come forth. The headaches from losing the mental contact and the loneliness he felt not having the only demon he considered a friend besides Kuronue. Tears that were forming in the corner of his eyes started to fall and he silently cursed himself for losing it in front of Yusuke.

Seeing the tears, Yusuke got up and sat down beside the red head, saying. "Hey…are you alright…I didn't mean to upset you." He was shocked when the red head leaned into him and started crying harder. Placing his hands around the lean figure, he pulled him into a tight embrace letting the tears soak his shirt while rubbing small circles on his back and whispering. "You had something special with him and he threw it all away to stay and become Mukuro's heir." They sat that way in silence for awhile, until Kurama stopped crying. "I think Hiei is a jerk." He didn't realize he had said it out loud until the red head looked up.

"No Yusuke." Kurama said with a shake of his head as he pulled out of the embrace and wiped his eyes. "He hated it here. There is nothing here to keep him. If you think he would stay for Yukina, you are mistaken. He never wants her to know he is her brother. It was hard for him to except the fact that she was staying, but he knows Genkai and Kuwabara, even though he does not approve of their relationship, will take care of her."

"Not even you?" Yusuke asked in confusion.

Green eyes blinked at him. "Why would he stay here for me?" Kurama questioned back, a little confused at the remark.

"You two had a close relationship, what happened to make him want to give that up." Yusuke wondered.

"We were friends…nothing more." Kurama said needing to make sure Yusuke believed that. He didn't want the raven haired to know his true feelings towards the fire demon and also didn't want him to jump to conclusion that they may have been closer than friends. 'Since it will never happen.'

Yusuke wanted to believe that, but he had always thought the two had been closer. 'Well, I got this far, I might as well dig in deeper.' "Since we're on the subject of spilling things, I went to the Makai to deal with Raizen…Hiei…well I still don't understand that, but since I'm here, I'll ask. Why did you help Yomi?"

Kurama was now the one shocked. His was from the change of subjects. He finally said. "I was only doing so, so I could help get inside information to keep a war from starting. I admit I had known him for a long time prier to him being a Lord and that I owed him something, but that did not interfere with my objective in making sure he would not become the King. With you on Raizen's side and Hiei on Mukuro's, I thought it only wise to be on Yomi's."

Yusuke watched as the red head's face went void of expression. He seemed to be thinking of something, but then shook his head and look towards him with a small smile.

"Something happen?" Yusuke asked before he realized that was a stupid question.

The red head shook his head. "No…nothing, I was just remembering the years with him and how he tried to use me by threatening my family and friends. Thanks to you and your idea of a tournament, I was able to break his hold." He said. No one would ever know about that night, the night that changed his thoughts about having a relationship with Hiei.

Kurama then seemed to realize that he was still very close to Yusuke and got up. It wasn't long before he was pacing.

Yusuke watched the fox, wondering what he was thinking about now, but asking. "Are you sure you're alright, you're not going to do something stupid are you?"

Kurama paused and turned to look at him, saying. "Why Yusuke, what would give you that idea?" He gave the raven haired a mischievous look before adding. "No, I will not do anything stupid." He then presented an innocent smile to his friend, knowing Yusuke cared and wished he could help, though he knew there was nothing the tantei could do.

Yusuke gave a nod and got up, saying. "Well I'll get out of here so you can get ready for work. Don't worry about Koenma, I'll talk to him and get him to let you go." He paused seeming to be trying to think of what to say next. "And…'Rama…I'm glad you told me some of what's been bothering you…I know I'm not Hiei, but…well, I'm here if you need me…you know that…right?" He paused at the door. "I'll see myself out. Again if you need a shoulder or anything else and I mean 'anything' just, give a call…got it?" He added making sure the red head heard him.

Kurama closed his eyes and gave a nod. Opening them, he said. "Thank you Yusuke and I will." He stood there and watched the young man leave, closing the door behind him.

Feeling emotionally drained and knowing he looked the part, with not having much sleep and the puffy eyes from crying. Kurama went to go to work and dropped of the paperwork he'd finished the night before then left, letting his looks be his excuse as to why he needed to go home.

End Chapter 4