Thank you everyone for the reviews so far and putting this story on your story alerts lists. Here's the next chapter, enjoy
And I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho or any of it's characters.
Hiei flitted through the trees after leaving Kurama's house. Unable to relax or sleep due to the emotions wracking his body. He sighed as on memory came to his mind unexpectedly.
"How's the patrol?"
"Nonsense."
"You could go back to human world. I'd make sure no one came looking for you."
"Heh. That's not why I stay."
'Yeah, the fear of other demons never scared me off of anything. The real reason I didn't go back was because of Kurama I guess. I have no idea how to gauge him anymore.'
Hiei let out a sigh as he continued flittering through the trees, thoughts muddling themselves in his head and becoming even more muddled as the night grew on.
Eventually he decided to follow the blasted fox tomorrow to try and figure some things out. Especially why he didn't come back for the tournament for the next ruler of demon world. It didn't suit Kurama in Hiei's mind and he was going to find out, no matter who's feelings got hurt in the process, even if they were his.
Kurama groggily rose from sleep as the suns rays trickled in across his face through his open window. He rubbed his eyes and methodically got dresses. Today in a plain pair of dark green slacks with a light green button up short sleeve shirt. He proceeded downstairs to his human mother and put on his personality only his human mother and human classmates ever saw.
"Good morning Mother, did you sleep well last night?"
"Shuichi, you're up! I slept well, thanks, but I'll sleep better when your step father and brother return from that business trip."
"Oh yes, they'll be back and a week or two yes? And than things will be less hectic
around here."
"I guess your right. Do you want some breakfast or should I just go to work now?"
"Don't worry about me mother. There's no school today and I'm going out. I'll pick
something up while I'm out."
"Be careful, I'll see you tonight Shuichi."
"Goodbye Mother."
And with that Kurma's human Mother left the house and went to work. Kurama soon followed suit planning to wander about on one of the few days off in his hectic senior year of school. And aimlessly he left the house.
After an hour of mindless wandering he came into a somewhat busy shopping and restaurant area. He continued walking trying to clear his head.
"Kurama."
The redhead paused for only a minute thinking someone had called his name. He shrugged it off and continued to walk.
"HEY, KURAMA. TURN AROUND YOU IDIOT!!!!!"
Kurama turned slowly with a pained expression. Very few knew him by that name and even fewer actually called it out on a crowded sidewalk. He was greeted by the sight of a stupidly grinning Yusuke and an embarrassed Kayko He began walking towards them drawing some murmurs from the passerbys at the scene Yusuke had called.
"See Kayko, if you want to get someone's attention you have to yell really loud, not just say their name once."
"But Yusuke, that just drew a lot of attention and,"
Kayko grabbed Yusuke by the ear and dragged it to her level so she could whisper without being heard. This spawned a yell of pain from Yusuke in the process.
"Besides, we're not even supposed to call him Kurama in public unless we're only in earshot of each other. We don't want to make anyone else he knows suspicious of him. Remember he's Shuichi normally."
A look of obvious realizations dawned on Yusuke's face as Kayko released him and Kurama came closer. He turned to Kurama.
"Geez, sorry man, didn't mean to scream like that but Kayko didn't get your attention and I acted before I thought about it as usual. Guess that just proves my stupidity."
Yusuke broke into a laugh and brought his hand up behind his ear as he did so. Kurama made a forced smile, still upset a smidge due to his human emotions at the scene Yusuke had made. He turned to Kayko.
"So Kayko, was there something you wanted or did you just want to say hi?"
"Well, a bit of just wanting to say hi and wondering if you wanted to join us for lunch.
We don't get to talk much anymore cause of no cases anymore and different schools."
"Plus man, I gotta tell you about the demon world tournament. It was awesome man.
Twice the number of competitors as last year."
Kurama smiled and nodded and allowed himself to be dragged into a small restaurant of their choosing. However before any food was ordered or any stories swapped Yusuke remembered he'd promised to meet Genkai and he'd already pissed her off enough in the past months and didn't want to be killed when he saw her again. He departed with a hasty goodbye and a quick shy kiss with Kayko. Kayko and Kurama ordered light lunches for themselves. After the meals arrived Kayko started speaking again.
"Sorry about Yusuke, we invited you and Yusuke was going to discuss the tournament
with you and he left. Sorry if we cost you any time you had planned for something else."
Kayko's face gained a small disappointed look.
"It's fine really, I had nothing planned. Just enjoying a day of freedom from school."
Kayko's face returned to normal and the two made small talk till almost all the food was gone until Kayko's faced gained a serious expression as she gazed at Kurama.
"Kayko is there something wrong? You look very serious and I rarely see you like that
unless you're pissed at Yusuke."
Kurama's voice had a smidgen tint of nervousness not sure what to expect from Kayko.
"What's been bothering you Kurama? And don't deny it and say nothing. Something's
been off with you for a while and our other friends may not be as perceptive but I can tell
something's up so what, you can tell me."
Kurama sighed a sigh of defeat after Kayko finished talked and closed his eyes.
'My mask slipped or Kayko's just really good at gauging people. She might laugh
though. But don't you want someone to know?"
Kurama looked back at Kayko still trying to figure out what to say to her when a figure across the room caught his attention. A figure that had crimson pools of eyes, who was shorter than average, and had wild black hair. A figure that stared at him for a minute and quickly fled out the door. A figure who was none other than the one causing his distress. None other than Hiei himself. After the figure left Kurama spaced out of look of surprise at first on his face eventually replaced by one of slight agony.
Kayko has no idea at what Kurama had seen but she was suddenly remorseful for bringing up the topic and she was desperately trying to get Kurama to snap back to himself.
"Kurama, Kurama what's wrong, come on, say something. Kurama?"
Hiei was on the sidewalk after exiting the restaurant stealthily slipping through the crowd. Mind racing.
'Someone finally sees that there's something wrong with him. But what happened when
he saw me? A look of surprise on his face and possibly something else…NO, there was
no other emotion on his face. He was just surprised to see him and that's it! Don't try to
gauge this as being something it's not. Well, maybe I should stop gauging his reactions
and actually confront him tomorrow. Maybe.'
Hiei continued weaving throughout the sidewalk crowd knowing full well he'd probably never confront Kurama on one of these whims. He'd been getting them ever since he'd started watching Kurama again and he knew, acting on one of these whims could destroy him but he had to help Kurama and stop him suffering. Hiei continued debating what he was going to do as he continued along the sidewalks.
To be continued
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