YYF14: Hey, peoples! Chapter 2! Thanks for the review, supernerd3333. Anyway, a comment on the last story that I wrote: I thought it was pretty bad. I've read it over, and I thought I could do better. So I tried to make this story better. Anyway, I'll stop talking, and I hope you guys like chapter 2.
Yusuke's POV
"I don't see why we have to go to Genkai's, Kurama!" I complained, me, Kuwabara, and Hiei all following Kurama up the mountain to Genkai's temple.
"We need to train, Yusuke, in case there is a demon that we need to take care of that we cannot handle as of yet," Kurama replied calmly.
"Yeah, like that'll ever happen…" I muttered. But then again… it gives a chance to beat up Kuwabara…
I grinned, and started to run up the hill.
"I bet I can beat you, Kuwabara!"
"You're on, Urameshi!"
When we reached the temple, (I won the race,) we were surprised to see Botan there, talking with Genkai.
"Hey, Botan! Why're you here?" I asked, walking over.
"Koenma's staying here, and I had brought him, but I ended up talking with Genkai. He's inside, if you want to say hi, but be careful. He's actually sitting peacefully. Don't make him upset."
I shrugged and entered the temple, as the rest of the gang headed out back to start training. I'd just say hi to Koenma, then go and train with the guys. I really wanted to beat Kuwabara up.
I opened the door quietly, and blinked. Botan was right. He was sitting at the window, chin in hand, the wind gently playing with his hair. He did seem peaceful, instead of how irritated he had been seeming as of late. Me, the person who almost never pays attention to the guy, noticed his agitated…ness. If that's even a word. I shook my head.
"Koenma?"
He didn't respond, so I walked over and tapped him on the shoulder.
"Koenma?"
He winced, turning around. I frowned. I had barely touched him…
"Oh, hello, Yusuke."
"Hey."
I winced inwardly. He was a lot different than when I last had seen him. He seemed a lot thinner.
"Why are you here?"
"Just wanted to say hi. Me and the guys are training this week, and when we got here, Botan said you were here if we wanted to say hi, so…" I shrugged.
He nodded and turned back to face the window.
Koenma's POV
To say hi… He snapped me out of my trance just to say hi… My mind kept trying to figure out why he cared enough. People don't care about robots, they just keep assigning them tasks to do. Yusuke probably could tell I wasn't going to talk anymore, so he left. I half wanted the company, but then I remembered- robots don't have friends.
My Spirit Energy angrily cut my arms, and I winced. I'm not supposed to feel pain, but I do. There's something wrong with that.
Yusuke's POV
I walked outside, arms behind my head, thinking about the encounter with Koenma. He was acting really weird, and I didn't know why. I decided to forget about it for now and have fun beating up Kuwabara, but I promised myself that after training, I would talk to Koenma and see what was wrong.
Koenma's POV
That night, I lay in my bed, on my stomach, as the bruises hurt when I laid on my back, and thought about that day. I hadn't done anything but look out the window, have that small talk with him earlier, and hurt myself. Even stamping would have been better than today. I actually have to think when I do my job, so it distracts me from the world. Now that I'm "free," I have all the time in the world to think. I don't even know how long I have to stay here.
Yusuke said that he was training this week, so I hoped that I wasn't staying the same length of time he was. I didn't know why, but being around Yusuke right now… It wasn't helping matters. He had the perfect life, always having a friend around, always having something to do… My life was routine, now. How pathetic. I was about to inflict another injury, but there was a knock at the door, and I jerked in surprise. Who would visit me, and at night?
"Come in."
Yusuke, of all people, opened the door as I sat up. I groaned mentally. Why did it have to be Yusuke, when I was just thinking about him?
"Hello, Yusuke." I had to be polite, no matter what I felt.
"Koenma? Can I talk to you?"
"Well, I'm not asleep, so sure." There, that sounded like me. The old, carefree me.
Yusuke came over and sat on the bed, thankfully not next to me. He sat on the end of the bed, while I sat near the head.
"You've been acting weird, lately." Oh, no. He noticed. Now he's going to ask me all sorts of questions… My Spirit Energy rebelled in my dismay, and Yusuke blinked, sensing my disquiet.
"So you know you've been acting weird."
"I have not been acting weird, Yusuke."
"Yes, you have. I've been here all day- well, almost all day,- and I haven't seen you leave your room once. Once. That means there's something wrong. You look skinnier than you usually do, and you're energy feels all wrong. C'mon. You can tell me."
I wished I could believe him. I wanted to tell him how I felt, and I wanted him to tell me that I was wrong, but I knew it wouldn't happen. It wouldn't happen because I was no better than a robot, and no one cares for them.
Yusuke frowned, sensing my depressing thoughts. He moved closer and put his hand on my knee. I hurriedly moved my leg, making his hand fall off. He gazed at me sadly.
"Koenma. I don't want you to hurt yourself."
I moved away from him, not wanting to feel his gentle touch. My attempt failed. He only moved closer and put his hand on my shoulder. I started, but he held me tighter. I slapped his hand away and held my shoulder tightly, trying to block it out. I had injured it a few days ago, and it still hurt. He narrowed his eyes in concern.
"Koenma?"
He reached over to pull up my sleeve, but I grabbed his hand. I tried to push him away, but I wasn't strong enough after what I had been doing to myself. He overpowered me easily.
He rolled up my sleeve, exposing the cuts and bruises. I clenched my eyes shut as I saw Yusuke's eyes widen in shock. I was both embarrassed and angry at myself for letting Yusuke find out. To make things worse, my Spirit Energy was inflicting more cuts on my arms right in front of Yusuke.
He stared at me in disbelief. "Koenma? You're doing this to yourself?"
I stayed silent, pulling my arm out of his grasp. Pulling down my sleeve, I turned away from him and opened my eyes.
"It doesn't matter, Yusuke. My life is pointless."
He stared at me like I was crazy.
"Are you serious? Koenma, you can't honestly tell me you believe that!"
"…I do, Yusuke." Why did I tell him that? He didn't need to know!
I heard him sigh exasperatedly.
"Botan told me that you've been acting different. Inhuman. Well, you aren't human, but still… I'm worried about you. What happens to the Tantei if the boss is MIA?"
"Not my problem." Why can't I just shut up? I keep telling him things that I don't want him to know!
"Koenma."
I looked at him. "What?"
"Tell me what's wrong."
"Why do you care?" I'm nothing better than a stupid machine…
"No, Koenma, you are better than a stupid machine. You have a life, whether you want to admit it or not."
"…Just go, Yusuke. Please…" How did he know what I was thinking? My Spirit Energy probably told him…
"Just two more things. One, promise me you'll sleep tonight."
I stare at him indifferently. "Why does that matter to you?"
"Because it does, Koenma. Just promise me."
"…Fine. I promise."
"And the second thing. Show me the rest. Tell me everything."
"Not now, Yusuke-"
"Yes, now! I want to know what's wrong with you!"
When I hesitated, he growled, and I flinched away from him. His expression softened, but was still firm.
"Please, Koenma."
I looked at him seriously, searching his eyes. I needed to be able to trust him. He smiled gently.
"You can trust me."
I nodded, and slowly removed my tunic. I heard his gasp of shock. I didn't blame him. It was unbelievable. My ribs were showing quite plainly, but were hard to see, as bruises and cuts littered my chest and back. However, the injuries on my chest and back were healing. The cuts on my arms were still bleeding, and the bruises still ached.
"How do you live with this?" Yusuke asked, touching my arm gently. I didn't respond.
Suddenly, his gaze lowered, and my cheeks turned pink.
"Is there anything-"
"No," I answered hurriedly. "I didn't hurt my lower body. I still need it…"
"So nobody gets suspicious," Yusuke finished. He shook his head, and rose.
"Well, thanks for telling me. I'll see you tomorrow."
He left the room and I put my tunic back on, confused. I didn't know what Yusuke was going to do with the information he had just gotten, but I hoped he wouldn't tell anyone. I didn't think I could stand two people knowing. Well, I had promised Yusuke I would get sleep… I lay on my side and pulled the covers over me, closing my eyes. My shoulder ached, but that was the point. I half wanted to get up and do something to occupy myself until morning, but the promise I had made to Yusuke kept nudging me.
I frowned. I'd made and broken promises before. During these past three months, I had promised Botan the same thing I'd promised Yusuke, and I didn't follow through. So why was this any different?
Thankfully, sleep claimed me before I had to think anymore.
YYF14: Okay, I did a lot of jumping around with the POVs this chapter, but that's okay. I'm gonna put up another chapter today, later this afternoon, so watch out for that. So... Nothing more to say, so, ja ne till next chapter and review if you wish!
