A continuation from chapter 4, Love is War. (Shizuru/Yukina, Kuwabara+Yukina).

Not all stories will be connected, and if they fall in the same universe as another story I'll list it above in some notes.

Yukina didn't realize she'd made a mistake until after it was too late.

She has been rather excited to go on her "first date." Kuwabara had asked her, and even explained to her what it meant...to him, to her...to the future of "them."

It seemed he liked her beyond the feelings of a friend, and now he had found the confidence to tell her that in a way she understood. Kazuma had always been kind to her, and made her feel warm and safe. She valued his friendship, and respected him greatly...she was not certain of her own feelings in the romantic sense, but she was eager to try this out with Kazuma. She believed in him, and their relationship...together they would figure this out. He was so good to her...surely she felt the same for Kuwabara.

The date was set for Saturday, and it had been a week of planning. A week of getting help from Keiko and Botan, of picking out an outfit (a cute a-line blue dress with white butterflies at the hem), of rules, on ways to measure how a good date should go, and what equaled a bad date. Yukina had considered asking Shizuru to help with a new hairstyle, but something had held her back that week. There was an ache in her chest at times when she looked in to Shizuru's eyes. It hadn't been going on long...and she wasn't sure what brought it up, but it seemed to only be with Shizuru. Yukina could only hope the tightness in her chest was some sort of temporary problem.

Yukina forced the strange feeling deep down, and had eagerly awaited Saturday. When the day arrived for the date, and Kazuma showed up dressed in a nice button up, and slacks, Yukina had immediately complimented him. He had looked so very handsome, and with a blush extended his arm, charming her further. He led her all over the city. He took her out to eat, and dancing, and showed her how to bowl. The laughter had been loud and lingering through out the whole night. Kuwabara's face has been alight with delight and happiness, and Yukina was happy to see Kuwabara so thrilled. She was touched her presence could do this for him.

When the night ended he brought her home, and walked her up the shrine steps-insisting to take her to her front door.

"Yukina..." Kuwabara's voice shook awkwardly as they arrived at the shrine, "I had a really nice time...thank you for being with me tonight. I hope you had...had a good time to."

"Yes...I had a wonderful time Kazuma."

"Good...good. You're happiness...well it means...it means the world to me," Kuwabara chuckled, sighing deeply.

At the doorstep, she waited expecting what Botan called, "a goodnight kiss." She'd been told about this act, and was eagerly looking forward to trying this final part of a date.

Kuwabara's face was so red it practically glowed. He took her hand and brought it to his lips, gently brushing them over her knuckles.

"G-goodnight!" He sputtered.

"Oh...its not on the mouth?" Yukain asked him, looking at the back of her hand. That had felt like nothing...and Botan had said it would be on her lips.

Kuwabara's eyes grew wide and his hand flew to the back of his neck, and her proceeded to rub it nervously as he explained, "Well! I-I had...I mean...I want to kiss you Yukina. If...if that's not too forward...if that's...if that's okay with you?" The question hung nervously in the air, and Yukina could only giggle at Kuwabara's floundering.

Holding out her arms she invited him to her, "Oh Kazuma...yes please. I would like to follow through with all the details of this date."

"We don't have to kiss on th-the first date Yukina! It's not like...like a custom or anything!" Kuwabara had tried to warn her.

"It's okay Kazuma...please kiss me goodnight," Yukina insisted.

She wished now, that she had listened to him.

He had exhaled a nervous breath and leaned down. With gentle hands he took her face, and angled hers towards his. His touch was light, and exceedingly gentle. Despite his size, she believed he could hold a snowflake and have it remain perfectly intact. He leaned close and kissed her, his nose lightly bumping against hers as their lips met. It was warm, pleasant, and gentle...there was nothing wrong with this kiss. But when Yukina closed her eyes-it was not Kazuma she was thinking of.

Her eyes had closed, and Shizuru had popped in her head. The thought of Shizuru, at that moment of kissing Kazuma, made Yukina's heart explode with emotions-emotions she never felt around Kuwabara. Desire, yearning, giddiness, lust...Oh God! She shouldn't be doing this with Kazuma! Her throat tightened as Kuwabara pulled away. He smiled at her, wished her goodnight and turned away, dazedly marching away from the ice maiden, unaware of her current state of mind.

She remained frozen in place at the shrine door...and this was where she'd been for the past hour.

'Oh God...I...I've done something terrible!' Yukina thought, pressing a hand to her mouth. She couldn't explain what was wrong...the date was fun. Kuwabara was a delight...but this was wrong. She did not like Kuwabara the same way that he liked her...she had been wrong.

Wrong!

Shaking she turned for the door, and went inside. She had to...she needed to do something. Going to the kitchen, she picked up the phone and dialed a number Kuwabara had taught her many times until she had memorized it. The phone conncected, and rang twice before a familiar voice answered.

"Kuwabara residence..."

"Sh-Shizuru..." Yukina choked, tears flooding her eyes. Shizuru's voice had sounded so...lonely. Was it because of her? Had Shizuru's kind friendship been more? She knew...Kuwabara must have gushed to her about the night the two of them had shared. What did Shizuru think? Was she happy for Kazuma? Did she want Kuwabara and herself to be together? If Yukina told Shizuru her feelings, would Shizuru hate her?

"Yukina? Yukina what's wrong?" Shizuru's voice was alarmed on the other end.

"Please...please without alerting Kazuma. Can you please come over?"

Yukina didn't have to ask again.

Instantly Shizuru answered, "Yes-i'll be right there."

Yukina hung up the phone and went to wait outside. Folding her arms over her chest, Yukina paced back and forth, tear gems falling on to the porch.

She had made a mistake!

She had made a horrible mistake...she'd taken her relationship with Kazuma too lightly. She had asked for a kiss from him without understanding his feelings or her own heart.

...What would become of Kuwabara now?

He was at home, surely happy and excited. Imagining all sorts of dates, and dreams-that could never happen now. Not with her. Not when Yukina's heart was awakening to these confused heavy feelings towards his sister!

"Yukina!"

Yukina's head sprang up, and there she was. Shizuru jumped over the last shrine step, and come racing for Yukina, her brown hair whipping behind her. Shizuru had on her jacket, and pjs...her shoes didn't match. Shizuru must have been in a hurry. Yukina leaped from the Shrine's porch, and raced towards Shizuru meeting the woman half way. Her hands instinctively flew up, and seized the taller woman's face. Yukina tugged the woman down, and pressed her lips against a shocked mouth. Shizuru froze against Yukina for a moment, bent at an awkward uncomfortable angle. But then Shizuru's arms were wrapped around Yukina and Shizuru was angling against the shorter woman, taking the ice maiden's breath away.

Shizuru was different from her brother.

Kuwabara had treated her like glass-gentle and soft...careful of her delicate form.

Shizuru was trying to melt Yukina. Shizuru's left hand lifted Yukina off the ground, her arm tucked into Yukina's waist, her right hand tangled into Yukina's hair, gently but firmly pulling her head back so that Shizuru could press her sure lips against Yukina's trembling ones. The emotions that bubbled in Yukina where tenfold of anything she'd felt with Kuwbara, and when she closed her eyes, she saw Shizuru's face in her mind's eye. Love and understand bloomed and exploded within Yukina's body, and the ice maiden only pulled away from the kiss, because all too soon Shizuru was tugging away.

Shizuru looked alarmed, confused...and maybe a little hopeful. She held Yukina away from her at and arm's length, clearly trying to find her footing.

"Yukina...but...Kazuma-"

"Oh Shizuru! I made a mistake!" Yukina choked reaching for Shizuru's face again.

Shizuru sunk easily into the touch, and captured Yukina's mouth again.

They were not ready to speak yet...even if they wanted to.

Yukina held tight to Shizuru for all it was worth, knowing that when they broke apart they'd have to face with what to say to Kuwabara. Yukina could only hope that this blunder could be remedied. That Kuwabara wouldn't be hurt by all this...that...that...

'Oh God...I've made a terrible mistake.'

Yukina rejoiced in her understanding of her new found love, and mourned the pain she would surely be causing her gentle friend who was unaware of the pain that would await him.

End