Somewhere on Autumn Woods Drive

By Rikku Minouke

Disclaimer: I don't own YYH

AN: I love to write when I get home from work. A nice day, beer in my hand, and I grab the laptop and head for the deck. Forcing the neighbors to listen to my music and my tone deaf voice, that's how I write.

Chapter thirty seven

It was hard avoiding people in my hometown. Everyone had questions and when they didn't get them answered, they made up their own. After a while it made things difficult for me to still go out with my head held up high. However, I knew Kurama and my friends had my back when times called for it.

I sat next to Yusuke at the Eden Prairie mall in their food court. It was really nice during the school year. That meant during the day I could shop at my own pace and eat my lunch by the fireplace. There were no children I had to work around in the dressing rooms or worry they would steal the comfy chair when I went to throw my trash away.

Today, Keiko had to help her dad with work, so naturally the next person in line was Yusuke. "Couldn't you have gone tomorrow or something when Kurama wasn't working?"

Tapping my fingers against my bottom lip as if I were actually thinking about my response, I shook my head. "No. Plus this way, you get to see the baby."

"Botan, he's not even born yet," Yusuke rolled his eyes as he tossed a few more fries in his mouth.

"So that means you spend more time with me," I laughed. "I don't see the problem, here."

"We are shopping…"

"Yeah," I nodded like I didn't hear the annoyance in his voice. "I need shoes. My feet have gotten bigger. Stupid hormones and swelling muscles."

"All I just heard was: Bitch, bitch, bitch. Which sounds awfully similar to: grumble, grumble, grumble. However there is difference," Yusuke finished his fries and rubbed his hands on his jeans.

"I'm not even going to ask what the difference is," I laughed. "Are you ready to try Kohl's for shoes?"

He moaned but stood up. "How about you go to Kohl's and I swing through Games by James to check out the new Magic block."

"Seriously?" I raised my eyebrows as I pushed myself up. "You're still playing that card game?"

"Fuck yeah I am," he looked at me like I was out of my mind and I just shook my head.

"Alright, let's go," I shrugged and we headed to the lower level. Waving goodbye to Yusuke, I found myself in the shoe section of Kohl's. Why is it that most of women shoes are bright colors? I wanted something that was comfortable and cute but not stick-out-ish. Pretty sure my belly does enough of that for my liking.

"Well, if it isn't Botan," my back went straight at the voice behind. If I could have just shank to a mouse and found a hole to hide in, that would be me right now. Turning around with a fake smile on my face, I looked up at the man. He was a good foot taller than me and I was tall for a woman. Wow, he'd definitely gained weight since high school.

"Genbu," I said and instantly my nose went on full alert at the stench wafting from him body. Good thing it wasn't during my morning sickness otherwise I'd be blowing chunks on the floor at our feet. "It's been a long time."

"Five years," he nodded but his eyes were on my belly. It made me want to cross my arms in front of myself to hide my baby. "I'd heard you were back in town."

"Yep," nodding I shifted uncomfortably. He really was a big guy. I felt like a child compared to his size. Genbu had always been big, but now he was tall, broad, and easily four hundred pounds. "It's been a few months now."

"You have been the talk of the town," he stepped closer and I tried not to gag. But when his hand reached out and rubbed my belly, I felt like my world was crumbling. "Especially because of the baby. Everyone wonders who the father is. And if this is why your back. Did the little princess come back to mommy and daddy after spreading her legs too much?"

"What the fuck do you think you're doing?" Yusuke appeared and Genbu dropped his hand. "Don't touch her with your grimy hands, Genbu."

"Yusuke," Genbu grumbled. I sighed as Yusuke walked up and glared at the man in front of me. "I should have known you were here with her. We were just getting reacquainted."

"Yeah? Reacquainted?" Yusuke laughed and got closer to him. "How would you like it if I rubbed your belly as I reacquainted my fist with your face?"

"Fuck Yusuke," Genbu laughed. "You really think you can still beat the shit out of me?"

"I know I can," Yusuke then stopped and leaned backwards with a look on his face that I hadn't seen in a long time. That's when I knew he was up to something. "But I don't have to."

"What are you babbling about now Urameshi?" Genbu raised his eyebrows, taunting Yusuke.

"Your boss is her boyfriend," Yusuke smirked when Genbu sucked in a sharp breath. "Imagine how much hell he can cause for you, once he finds out what you said to his girl."

Holding up his hands, Genbu stepped back. "You win Yusuke. I'm leaving."

"Nice seeing you again Botan," he turned, shaking his head, and walked away.

Sighing, I rubbed my belly tenderly. "Thanks Yusuke, he's always been such a creep." I felt like I could breathe again in more ways than one. "Jeeze he smelled bad."

"What do you expect when he all he does on overnights is work on crushing cardboard and making sure the trash compactor doesn't overflow," Yusuke shrugged. "He spends his work day with trash so he started smelling like it after a while. "

"I can't believe he works at Target," I admitted. "I thought he was supposed to be a Future Farmer of America or something."

We walked down one of the shoe aisles as we talked. Stopping to look at a pair of black Nike tennis shoes, I listened to Yusuke talk. "He was an FFA member in high school. Then he went downhill from there. Guess he couldn't cut it as a farmer with his weight and drinking growing. Can't be a farmer if you can't plant your crops, can you?"

I laughed and shook my head. "Guess not." Looking at the size boxes, I grabbed one. "Help me try these on Yusuke."

"Serious question for you now," Yusuke took the box from my hands as I sat down. Looking up at him expectantly, he continued, "Has Kurama gotten used to your smelly ass farts?"

"That's not a serious question Yusuke," I laughed. "But I blame it on the baby when one slips out."

"You really blame the baby for that? Awful, Botan," Yusuke chuckled up and bent down to help me put the shoes on. "Someday I'm gonna tell your kid, you blamed your gas on him."

"You wouldn't dare!"