"So, where are we going?"

I exhaled, glancing at her from the corner of my eye. Azumi walked by my side as only she could, shoulders back, spine erect, though with a lope to her step. A crimson blouse – a rare gift of color – hugged her abdomen, flowing sleeves kissing my hand, my thigh. She wore little makeup, the barest touch of foundation, lip balm which caused her mouth to look incredibly moist. I'd told her ornamentation was unnecessary – she was stunning, no matter what she wore or did to herself – but she insisted.

After all, this was the first time I'd asked her on an outing.

"I have reservations at a bistro later this evening. Until then, why don't we go somewhere you enjoy. The park or an arcade, perhaps?"

"You think you've got my number, don't you?" But disgust shed itself for the impostor it was and she grinned, teeth flashing. "Sounds like fun but can we grab something now? I'm starving."

Ten minutes later found us crossing the street, arcade in sight. Though small, Yusuke held the space in the highest regards, one of the few places he frequented when not working or at home. Azumi eyed the gaudy neon sign but said nothing, steering me into a restaurant specializing in burgers and other greasy foods.

"I'm telling ya, it's stupid!"

"And I'm tellin' you to shut up!"

I froze at the voices, as familiar as those of family members. Don't tell me–

But there they were, Yusuke and Kuwabara, hands fisted in each other's shirts. Some patrons watched on in horror but most went about their business, used to the shenanigans.

The two had been regulars here for years, after all.

Azumi blinked, brow furrowing ever so slightly. "Is that . . . Kuwabara?"

Before I could speak, the giant of a man noticed me, stepping into the aisle. "Hey, Kurama!"

"About time. Know how many times I've texted you?" Yusuke waved his hand in the air before sitting, spinning in his seat. "So, what brings you all the way out–"

He stopped mid-sentence, mouth falling open. Oddly enough, Azumi and Kuwabara acted in a similar fashion, eyes incredibly wide, three fingers rose to point, exclaiming in unison:

"What are you doing here?!"

I could not gauge my expression as they fell into separate banters with her, first Yusuke, then Kuwabara, each trying to override the other. This ruckus was different from the one before and everyone stared, even the cooks peeking through the door.

Yoko found the entire affair hilarious.

"I take it you know each other?" I ventured after we were all seated at the table, mine and Azumi's food ordered, theirs already half-eaten.

"Yeah, this is the crazy chick I told you about from work, the one who hit me then made me strip in her car." Yusuke huffed, munching on a fry.

"U-Urameshi! You can't accuse women of–"

"That's not how it happened and you know it." Azumi took a fry from his plate as if it were her own, moving slowly, easily. Smirking, she ate it while he watched, chin propped in one hand. "You didn't dream about me, did you?"

A snort. "You wish. Keiko blows you out of the water." He rolled his eyes, lips twitching. "Bet she's better in bed than you, anyway."

"Wouldn't you like to know?"

Kuwabara and I watched with rapt attention, not quite knowing what to make of them. Azumi – the very woman who hated eating in restaurants – was eating Yusuke's order and he wasn't fighting her, exhibiting an ease I'd only seen with our group.

She'd never tried to eat my food. Not once.

"Your turn. How the heck do you know Kuwabara? He didn't try anything funny, did he?"

"What kind of man do you think I am?!" Kuwabara began to rise but thought better of it, pleading gaze turning to me. "Kurama, tell her I'm not like that."

"I know, Yukina's your whole world."

Wonders never ceased. She knew Yukina as well, or at least of her.

"Yeah." He smiled, a dreamy glow overtaking his face. "Yukina."

"Answer my question or–"

"Urameshi, she's the one I told you about! The lady who protected Yukina from those guys in the village!"

My eyes widened further, turning to her as our own food arrived. True, Azumi told me of the incident but left out the demon and human's names, as well as any descriptive details other than the thugs they fended off together.

Yusuke took the news in stride. "Huh. Small world. Hey fox boy, you gonna eat that?" He stared at my plate from across the table, eyeing my hamburger.

"Leave him alone, you lech." Though when she turned to me, Azumi raised a brow, making no motion to eat. "Kurama? Fox boy?"

"Old nicknames from our school days, pay them no mind." My voice sounded hurried in my own ears and I forced my breathing to slow, glaring at Yusuke.

He grinned. "Haven't seen that look in a while." Taking a bite of his burger, he leaned toward Azumi, elbows on the table, mouth full. "So Odawara, how do you know Kurama?"

"Fox boy," She murmured to herself, drizzling ketchup over her own fries. "Oh, sorry." Picking up a red-rimmed fry, she glanced at Yusuke before popping it into her mouth. "He's the one I'm giving dance lessons."

Yusuke choked; Kuwabara tried and failed to swallow his drink, soda snorting though his nose and onto his pickles.

"No way!" Yusuke cackled, not even attempting to contain himself. "Him? That's the guy?"

"Yep. Minamino's improved a lot – we've started going to clubs to practice sometimes."

"Oh really?" He smiled, the cat who ate the canary.

"Don't even think about it." She bit into her burger, lips gathering condiments and crumbs. "If I see you in any of my haunts, we're taking it outside."

A lull as we ate, each lost in thought. More than anything, I wanted to run, to flee with her to a place untouched by my past. Though no such place existed, at least not in Mushiyori.

Not anywhere, since she was this close to my friends.

"So what's your story? You said you met years ago and, no offense Urameshi, but you're not smart enough to go to school with Minamino."

Thus began a very condensed tale of how we knew one another, which we took turns telling. We made sure to leave out any talk of demons or the supernatural, anything which could hint at the secrets of the three worlds as well as my own. When asked how Yukina factored into the equation, Kuwabara explained gravely how a man wanted her for her tears, an ability she saw first-hand in that little village. We rescued her, though with this too he gave little detail, excusing with the subject being difficult to discuss.

Azumi took his words at face value, sipping her water. "Why didn't you go to the police? If she was being held against her will, they should have handled it."

"Yukina can't pass for human, you saw that yourself." Kuwabara swallowed, napkin crumpling in his fist. "If anyone mistreated her after everything she went though, I'd–"

"No, I get it. You did the right thing." Another sip and she straightened, turning my way. "Why didn't you tell me about these guys? All this time, I thought you were this sad sack who didn't have any friends."

Another snort and Yusuke hunched forward, doubled with silent laughter. "The opportunity never presented itself. One does not mention two men while rehearsing dance steps."

She considered it, head tilting. "I guess not."

We finished our meal and Yusuke stretched, back popping. "So, what are you guys doing?"

"Just killing time, probably heading to the arcade." Finishing off her drink, she caught the look in his eye, the competitive edge. "You want to come to?"

"N-no! That's really kind of you to offer but we've got stuff to do." Kuwabara stammered, slipping from the booth and motioning Yusuke to follow. "Right, Urameshi?"

"Nope, I'm free." He caught my look but ignored it, following us out of the restaurant. "It's not like it's a date or anything."

The word rolled from his tongue with a childish lilt, a lesser man would have fallen for the taunt.

I settled with a glare.

September 2020 OTP Drabbles

Prompt 9 – Hanging out with friends