Kuwabara discovered it was very easy to hide from his dad and Shizuru in the city. Neither of them really knew the sorts of places he went now. He wandered the streets, hurt and anger mixing inside him, all of it boiling down to one desperate question.
Why?
Wrapped up in his thoughts, Kuwabara wasn't paying attention when he rounded a corner and he walked straight into Urameshi. The other boy shoved him and glared. "Watch where you're going, stupid!"
Kuwabara glared back. "I'm not in the mood, Urameshi."
Something about his tone or expression must have told Urameshi he was serious, because the other boy actually backed off. "What's eating you?"
For a second Kuwabara considered telling Urameshi about his problem. He almost instantly discarded the idea. Urameshi wasn't the sort of person one could confide in. "None of your business," he snapped. "Just leave me alone."
Urameshi rolled his eyes and walked away. "Fine, whatever. It's not like I care."
Reluctant to face his dad, Kuwabara didn't go home Saturday night. Instead, he hid out at Kirishima's house. Of course he had to avoid Kirishima's parents in case they called his dad, so he had to wait until after midnight to sneak into Kirishima's room, and he had to be gone before his parents got up the next morning.
However, by Sunday afternoon, Kuwabara realized he couldn't avoid his father forever, and his steps reluctantly turned toward home. Shizuru met him at the door and her hand connected solidly with his face. "Don't you ever scare us like that again!"
Kuwabara gingerly touched his cheek. He guessed he deserved that, but he wasn't ready to apologize either. "Where's Dad?"
She glared at him. "Where do you think?"
Kuwabara turned and sat on the front porch steps to wait.
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