Somewhere on Autumn Woods Drive

By Rikku Minouke

Disclaimer: I hate that I don't own YYH.

AN: Smexy Kitten, so happy to hear from you again. Glad to have your reviews and criticisms back. So I will update a second time today for you! Hope you enjoy. I missed you a ton! (hug!)

Chapter twenty-three

At the time I never gave Kurama enough credit. He gave up a lot for me when he barely knew me. Through the pregnancy he put up with all my symptoms, all my break downs, and he even took all the rumors with stride. Not once did he lose his cool, calm mentality. We got through everything together, that included all the horrible things people said about the two of us.

Thursday rolled around as I decided to eat a yogurt at the breakfast bar. The cinnamon granola was so yummy today, I feel like I could eat twelve of these. I set the spoon in my mouth and closed my eyes letting my tongue really indulge in the flavors.

"I think you are enjoying that a little too much," Kurama's voice made me yelp slightly, dropping the spoon on the counter. He chuckled at me as I opened my eyes to see him approach with the plaid pants and white undershirt. "Good morning, Botan."

"Good morning Kurama," I said nervously picking up the spoon and wiping the counter with the sleeve of my cheap pink long sleeve from Target. "Uh… so how are you doing today?"

"Very well, thank you," Kurama smiled at me, hint of tease in his eyes. "I'd ask you the same, however, I saw the interaction with the yogurt you just had. That kind of speaks for itself."

I tsked him then. "Don't be jealous Kurama. It's just a parfait."

His laugh was contagious. "I would just like you to know, that a parfait couldn't even compare to me." His hand rose to splay against his chest.

"Be careful Kurama," I momentarily bit my bottom lip to hide my smile. "Your ego is starting to show."

"Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn," Kurama said and I laughed again.

"Ok Rhett Butler," I shook my head and took another spoonful of yogurt in my mouth.

A heavy pounding started on our door and both Kurama and I looked at each other in confusion. "Were you expecting anyone today?" I shook my head and looked at the clock. It was almost one in the afternoon and I knew my parents would both be at work.

Kurama stood and walked to the door. Turning the handle and pulling the door wide, I hadn't expected to see a fist fly in and make contact with his jaw. I dropped my yogurt on the floor, as Kurama staggered backwards. Jumping from my stool, I felt the squish of my breakfast between my bare toes. My hands flying to my chest to clasp together at my collarbone.

"That's me going easy on you, asshole!" Yusuke stomped through the front door. Kurama straightened and rubbed a thumb at his bleeding lip. "How dare you? Is that why you let her move in with you? So you could take advantage of a woman going through a tough time? That's like picking up a woman at a funeral!"

"Yusuke?!" The shock in my voice drew his attention. But his eyes only made contact with my face for a second before descending to see the small bump at my belly.

"Damn it Botan," Yusuke shook his head with anger in his eyes before he threw another punch at Kurama. Luckily he'd been expecting this and dodged the fist.

"Can we talk about this Yusuke?" Kurama asked and took a small step back. "Let's handle this peacefully. Like adults."

"Like adults?" Yusuke laughed. "You knocked up one of my best friends! Do you have any intention of at least marrying her and raising your child?"

"Wooh," Kurama exhaled deeply. "What?"

"You got to be kidding me?" Yusuke threw his hands into the air in aggravation. "You could at least make an honest woman out of her. I expected so much more from you Kurama! You were supposed to be better than everyone else. I mean, come on, I thought you were better than… whatever the fuck this is."

"Yusuke!" I shouted, trying to draw his attention. He seemed so caught up in his rant. Momentarily I glanced at Kurama, who's lip was still bleeding. "Yusuke Urameshi!"

"Don't even get me started on you Botan!" Yusuke turned to point a finger at me. "You let this … man… not even sure I want to call him that any more… defile you and get you pregnant? You are such a better person than that too! What the hell is wrong with you people?"

"Kurama's not the father," I tried to yell at him but with every word, my voice got quieter. Silence followed my statement as Yusuke closed his eyes and took a deep breath, clenching and unclenching his fists.

"What?" His eyebrows rose even with his eyes still closed.

"I am not the father," Kurama said for me. My heart was beating so fast that I was starting to get dizzy. I took a slow breath from my nose and sat back down on the stool and braced my hands on the counter.

"What do you mean you aren't the father?" Yusuke opened his eyes to study Kurama with a deadly look in his eyes.

Kurama looked at me nervously and I wasn't sure if it was because Yusuke might kill him or if it was because I looked like I was going into labor. So I shook my head, trying to clear the fog. "Kurama has been taking care of me since I found out that I was pregnant, Yusuke." I explained. "He's the good guy. You don't need to hit him again."

"Who then, is the father?" Yusuke turned to me, still with anger in his voice. But that expression dropped away when he saw my fragile state. "Botan?"

"I'm fine," I told him. "Just dizzy. You got me a bit more worked up than normal."

Kurama slowly moved around the bar, keeping an eye on Yusuke as he walked around him. He walked over to me and grabbed a rag from the sink to clean the floor. "You stepped in it." He whispered and I gave a sarcastic laugh. Using the rag, he cleaned my foot first.

"That tickles…" I tried not to giggle while he grabbed my ankle and cleaned the yogurt from my toes.

"Done," he said and started on the floor.

"Is someone going to explain?" Yusuke nearly shouted, slamming his palms against the granite top.

"Sit, Yusuke," Kurama stood and tossed the dirty rag one sink. He turned and set one hand softly on my shoulder as I laid my hands in my lap. Looking up at him now that I wasn't feeling like I was going to faint any moment, he asked, "Did you want another yogurt?"

Shaking my head, I said, "No, I'm not really hungry any more. Maybe in a little bit. You should grab some ice for that." I lifted a finger to motion to his lip. There would most definitely be a nice bruise there soon. That was no doubt Yusuke going easy on him.

"I'll be alright," Kurama chuckled. "I am tougher than I look."

"Guys?" Yusuke sat on a stool. "Come on."

"Sorry Yusuke," I shrugged slightly. "Kurama's not the father."

"Then who is?" he was getting aggravated. It wasn't hard to tell.

"My ex from Cloud," I told him and I waited for it to sink in.

"The one with the red hair?" I nodded and he ran a hand over his jelled hair. "I knew it ended bad, does he know?"

"No, I don't plan on ever telling him," I said honestly.

"You should have let me believe it was Kurama," Yusuke shook his head. "I would have gotten over that. But this guy… this guy I might kill if I ever see him again."