Chapter 2

'Six months……Six long months.' Six months since they defeated Taiga, six months since Yusuke's wedding, six months since Kuwabara proposed to Yukina and six months since Hiei had started a relationship with Youko.

Deciding to play hooky and leave work after lunch, Kurama found himself walking down a busy sidewalk. He wasn't even paying attention to where he was walking and had to apology several times for bumping into someone. His mind was full of thoughts and they were slowing eating at him.

His subconscious must have realized what he needed, for when he stopped to look at a display in a store front window. He realized the blow up palm tree he was looking at was part of a familiar display. Having walked almost a mile from work, he was now standing in front of Yusuke's restaurant. Shrugging his subconscious, he went in. Entering the restaurant was like walking into another world, well if that's what you considered Hawaii. The whole place had been turned into a luau of sorts. Anything even remotely Hawaiian was hanging, sitting, taped on walls or in the windows. Along with two beige grass skirts hanging above the kitchen door, complete with two matching pink/red leis made of fake flowers.

Making his way to the counter area and taking a seat on a stool, he looked around, noticing the place was relatively empty since it was after lunch. There was a group of four men in one corner, dressed in business suits, who were still in a heated discussion about a problem they were trying to solve, their lunch long since eaten, except for a half full pot of coffee.

Glancing to the other side, Kurama saw Yusuke sitting at a table with a man who was also in a business suit. On the table in front of them was an open briefcase with papers strung about.

Turning back to the counter, the red head was about to pick up a menu, when Keiko came out of the kitchen.

"Well, hello there, stranger." She said, grabbing a cup and saucer to make tea. She was wearing a very colorful muumuu that covered her round belly. She had been very strict as to how much weight she gained so far and it showed in the fact that she was 'all baby.'

"Hello…how are you feeling?" He asked.

"I'm doing pretty well, though I don't see you missing work just to come and ask me that." She said with a smile, placing the cup of tea in front of him.

Taking a sip, Kurama smiled back. "I decided to take a walk and I guess my subconscious told me a needed a cup of tea." He said, toasting her with the cup.

"Well, Yusuke should be done in a minute. We've dealt with him before." She said, motioning with her head to the man.

Kurama's eyebrow went up.

"Sorry." She said, realizing the red head didn't know who the man was. "He's in advertising and is going to run a few ads in the paper for us." She told him.

"I think you two are pretty much established, why worry." Kurama said, taking another sip.

"It doesn't hurt to run ads every few months, just to let people know we're still here. Also to get tourists and maybe attract some new people." She said, starting to grab empty cups and plates off the counter and putting them on a tray.

Kurama looked back over when he felt Yusuke look his way. The raven haired casually displayed a 'thumbs up' with his folded arms and managed to look him right in the eyes.

Kurama got the meaning and reached for his wallet, after placing a few dollars on the counter, he stood up. Keiko came back over.

"He'll be up in a few." She said, taking the money. It had long since been settled about him paying for his food. The short battle had been won, by him of course. She walked over to the register, causing the dancing bobble hula girl, stuck to the top, to wiggle her hips when it opened.

Looking at the four men in the corner, who were still in a heated discussion, oblivious to the outside world, Kurama headed to an unmarked door behind the counter.

Whispering a few words in Keiko's ear and rubbing her belly, Yusuke soon followed his red headed friend to the roof. Every time he came up here to have a talk with the man, it reminded him of the first talk they'd had on the roof of the hospital. Only instead of seeing a purplish school uniform, it was a business suit.

"So what's up fox-boy?" Yusuke asked as the door closed behind him. Not seeing the red head cringe at the 'fox-boy' part. "Haven't seen you in awhile, everything okay with Hiei?"

"I guess so." Kurama said, not bothering to turn around from where he stood in the corner looking down at the traffic.

"You don't sound so sure. Has Youko been causing problems?" Yusuke asked as he came to stand by his friend and look out over the city.

"No." Kurama said with a slight shake of his head. "That there lies the problem. He still has not talked to me since that first night." He told him. After that first night when the red head stopped watching the two to go and comfort Shuiichi, the spirit yoko had stopped communications with him. The six other times Youko has been out, he has forced Kurama to go and stay with Shuiichi, so he had no idea what was going on with the two, or how the relationship was going. After a night together, Youko would tell him he could come out and that was it. He knew something physical had happened, for his body would be sore and tired in the morning. He also knew something different had happened this last time because when he woke up, his back and thighs were hurting. Since Hiei never talked about the nights he was with the spirit yoko, he didn't say anything either.

"You need to talk to him." Yusuke said.

"Which one?" Kurama muttered. He couldn't help it.

"Funny." Yusuke said, rolling his eyes and turning to face one of his best friends. "You need to let Hiei know that this is bothering you. How's Hiei acting now?" He asked.

"He seems to be eager for the full moon, like he can't wait for Youko." Kurama said, still looking down.

"So you think he's becoming more attracted to him." Yusuke said, crossing his arms.

"I think so." The red head shrugged. "Hiei's more content the next morning and happier. I do not know what happens when they are together, but Hiei seems to like it more and more." There was a little sadness in his voice.

"Is he avoiding you?" Yusuke asked, hearing the sadness.

"Not really." Kurama shrugged. "He likes my company and likes doing things with me. That has not changed." He said, finally looking at the raven haired.

"I know it's none of my business and you don't have to answer, but what I meant was the physical end. Is he still comforting you and giving into your needs?" Yusuke asked, he really didn't want to hear the details of a male/ male relationship, but he was worried about the red head and wanted to help.

"Yes…saving you the details…let's just say I made a decision about how it should be." Kurama said, letting a soft, nervous, smile show.

"Well, you still need to talk, maybe make a dinner and spill your guts…you can't go on like this…I mean it's like some sort of love triangle." Yusuke said and ran his hand through his hair in frustration.

"That is exactly what I asked." Kurama said, his smile getting wider as he remembered asking the fire demon that question.

"You know you can always put an end to it." Yusuke said seriously.

"I agreed to this situation." Kurama said, losing the smile. "And Hiei seems to be happy. I can not offer him what he wants right now." He turned his gaze back to the city.

"Do you think you will ever be able to give him what he wants and what if he starts wanting more?" Yusuke asked.

Kurama shrugged, still looking down.

The door to the roof opened and a man leaned his head out. "Sorry to bother you, but Ms. Keiko needs you, no real hurry she said, but…"

Yusuke cut him off. "That's okay…tell her I'll be there in a minute." The man nodded and shut the door.

"Go." Kurama said, ending the conversation.

"Well come back if you want to talk." Yusuke said, making his way to the door. "And stay as long as you need." He added when he opened the door.

Kurama gave a short nod as Yusuke turned and headed down, the door closing behind him.

The red head didn't know how long he stayed on the roof, for he didn't know what time he had even made it to the restaurant. Looking up to see the sun on the horizon, he hurried down and quietly left. He still had to go back to work and get his car before heading home.

End Chapter 2

Lyrics to the song: Shades of Gray - by: The Monkees

When the world and I was young…Just yesterday…Life was such a simple game, a child could play.

It was easy then to tell right from wrong…Easy then to tell weak from strong…When a man should stand and fight, or just go along.

(Course)

But today there is no day or night…Today there is no dark or light…Today there is no black or white…Only shades of gray.

I remember when the answers seemed so clear…We had never lived with doubt or tasted fear…It was easy then to tell truth from lies…Selling out from compromise…Who to love and who to hate…The foolish from the wise.

It was easy then to know what was fair…When to keep and when to share…How much to protect your heart…And how much to care.