This chapter gets a little tense at the end.

Chapter 9

Youko could sense he was being watched and said to Puu. "You know you are a special bird, to bad you are half of your master."

Yusuke walked out after hearing the comment. "And just what's that suppose to mean?" He said, walking over to Puu, who in turn, wrapped his long neck around the boy's shoulder and began to 'puu' softly.

"Nothing, it was just a way to get you out here." Youko smirked.

"I'm out here." Yusuke shot back.

"So you are…so now let me guess, since you have been keeping an eye on me for the past hour or so, that you are…my body guard." Youko smirked, looking to the raven haired when he didn't get a response, he guessed again. "No, then you are watching to make sure I do not do anything to jeopardize the ningen boy?" He said. When he saw a flicker in the chocolate eyes, he knew he'd guessed right.

"Come now, why do you care for the boy, he was only 'my host.' He had the ability to create Kurama, I will give him that, but the boy is worthless." Youko said.

"That 'boy' saved your life." Yusuke said.

"I should have killed the boy's soul when I had the chance. I knew I was making a mistake when I decided to let him live." Youko spat.

"Kurama said you were too weak to kill him." Yusuke stated, his anger was rising as he thought about the yoko killing the innocent ningen soul for his own greedy use.

"I still could have done it when I awakened, but by then Kurama was there and he kept me on a tight leash." Youko spat again at the tone Yusuke's voice had taken.

"You weren't strong enough to beat Kurama were you?" Yusuke asked, something had him thinking about what all Kurama had told him and then he thought about the first time Youko had made his appearance. He was not there, but the others had filled him in, something to do with a smoke and Kurama regressing to his true form. 'Youko almost always keeps his door closed, unless he is summoned, forces his way out, or appears without his control.' He knew Kurama had been summoning the yoko for Hiei and he has been forced out by potions, but how many times has he forced his way. He has seen Kurama's eyes turn gold and his hair get silver streaks, but Youko rarely fully appeared. Was Kurama controlling it? And Youko had made a comment to Hiei about 'always having to finish Kurama's battles for some reason or another'. He made a metal note to talk to Hiei about that.

"You do not know what you are talking about." Youko's voice got deep, holding an edge that could cut ice.

Knowing he had hit a nerve with his remark, Yusuke shrugged. "I know Kurama."

"That half ningen could not keep me 'contained' as you call it." Youko said, moving to stand in front of the former tantei and flaring his energy.

"So you say." Yusuke muttered, standing his ground. He'd never went one on one with Youko, but in a way was looking forward to seeing who would come out on top if they did battle it out.

Youko stood there, his anger pouring off him in ripples. Yusuke still maintained his ground with Puu standing firmly behind him. He had un-wrapped his neck and moved into a protective stance behind his 'master', after feeling the tension in the air.

Youko closed his eyes and took a step back. Yusuke watched as the fox seemed to be having a dizzy spell.

Opening his eyes, Yusuke almost gasped as he saw green blended in with the gold. When he looked to the silver hair, he saw red highlights. Trying to stay calm and showing indifference to what was going on, he waited.

"I need to lie down. I do not feel well." Youko finally said and turned to head back inside. As he opened the door, Genkai was standing there having been watching the exchange.

"You can stay in the room you were in earlier." She said and waited until Youko disappeared behind the door before walking out to Yusuke.

"Well that was interesting." She said.

"I think I hit a nerve." Yusuke said, rubbing Puu's neck, trying to calm him.

"Maybe we should hit a few more." Genkai said, placing her hands behind her back.

a)a)a)a

Night fell and the gang was playing cards. Since it was Saturday night, Kuwabara didn't have classes and his homework could wait. Yusuke had called Keiko and explained what was happening, she took it better than he thought she would. They decided to take turns watching the fox, to one, make sure he didn't leave the grounds, and two, since Yusuke had caused either Kurama or Shuiichi to show themselves, though only a smidgen, then just maybe one of them will appear soon, so one of them wanted to be awake.

At midnight they all called it quits and went to their rooms with Genkai saying she would take the first watch. She stayed at the table with a fresh pot of tea. Yukina's room was next to Youko's and she paused to slide open the door, wanting to take a quick look to make sure everything was okay. The moon light was just at the right angle and she gasped, closing the door and running to get Genkai. Hearing noises outside their rooms, Yusuke and Kuwabara came out.

"What's happened?" They asked.

Genkai slid the door back and they all peeked in to see a red headed figure laying on the futon.

"He came out." Kuwabara whispered.

"Is it Kurama or Shuiichi though?" Yukina whispered back.

"I don't want to wake him. He has been through enough right now. Let's just hope he awakens that way in the morning." Genkai said, closing the door. "I'll still keep watch." She added, walking back to her tea.

a)a)a)a

The next morning the gang walked in to find Kuwabara asleep at the table, he was snoring worse than a freight train.

"Well if that doesn't wake him." Yusuke said and pushed the orange haired hard enough to push him off the table. Hitting the floor, Kuwabara jumped.

"I'm awake…I didn't fall asleep." He said, yawning.

"Yeah right, did you check on him?" Yusuke asked, taking a seat.

"I checked on him when I relieved Genkai." He said.

Looking at his watch, Yusuke asked. "And when was that?"

"About 5." Kuwabara answered, looking over to see the watch.

It was now a little after 8. "I'll go check." Yusuke said and got up to head to the room. Sliding back the door, he cursed. The room was empty and the window was opened.

He ran back to tell the others.

"He's gone." He yelled.

"What!"

"Kuwabara can you sense him on the grounds." Yusuke asked.

The boy closed his eyes and reached out. Opening them, he looked to the raven haired. "No." He said…man was he feeling guilty.

"If he has left the grounds then he must be in his ningen form." Genkai said.

"What makes you say that?" Kuwabara asked.

"Youko said he would not leave, he may be an arrogant demon, but he will keep his word." She said.

"Then let's go to the apartment." Yusuke said and headed out.

Not seeing any sighs that the red head was at the apartment, they headed to the park.

a)a)a)a

The red head made his way through the park as the sun rose over the city. He was thinking he should head home and call his okasan, but decided to take a walk in the park.

Now that he was sure the spirit yoko was no longer in him, he was feeling good about life. Now maybe he could live a normal life and maybe that fire demon wouldn't come back.

Not paying attention to where he was walking, for he had been walking awhile, the lean figure came upon an area that was secluded from the rest. Walking into the deep foliage, he continued to think about what he needed to do, but stopped in his tracks as he saw three men standing on the path. They looked like they had been drinking and appeared to be drunk.

"Well, well, looky what we have here." One of them slurred, seeing the boy.

"I say we have a piece of ass." Another one said, also checking the figure over.

"Is it ass or pussy?" The third one said.

"Let's find out." The first one said, rushing the red head.

The red head went to run, but was grabbed. He cried out and tried to get away, but the other two had ran over and started to hit him. He fell on his stomach and then felt weight on his hips. His mind was screaming and he could have sworn he heard the spirit yoko laughing at him. Closing his eyes and praying that what he knew was going to happen wouldn't, he heard a yell.

"Get away from him." Yusuke appeared and hit the one that had been on the red head's hips. Kuwabara came right behind him and hit the one who was trying to kiss the boy and had been holding his arms.

The third one who had been holding the red head's feet jumped up and went to fight, but because he was drunk, the punch he threw missed. Yusuke hit him and he fell to the ground unconscious.

He turned to find the red head to see the boy had pulled himself into a ball and trying in vain not to shake, but most of all not to cry.

"Kurama?" Kuwabara said, worried.

Yusuke looked to the taller boy, who in turned shrugged.

"Shuiichi." Yusuke said softly, lowering himself on the balls of his feet.

The big green eyes looked to him with fear. "Let's get you back to the temple." Yusuke said softly and went to touch the boy, but the red head jerked back.

"Why?" He heard.

"Why what?" Yusuke asked, trying to stay calm and reassure the boy.

"Why did Kurama not protect me and why did Youko laugh?" Shuiichi whispered.

Barely hearing the words, Yusuke's eyes went wide and he looked to Kuwabara.

"I don't know." Yusuke finally said, looking back to the red head. "But let's get you back to the temple, you'll be safe there." He helped the boy up and the two led him back to the temple. Hopefully where they could get some answers.

End Chapter 9

Lyrics to the song: From the Inside – by: Linkin Park

I don't who to trust, your surprise (everyone feels so far away from me)

Happy thoughts sift through dust and the lies (trying not to break, but I'm so tired of this deceit) (Every time I try to make myself get back on my feet) (all I ever think about it is) (all the tiring time between) (and how trying to put my trust in you takes so much out of me)

(Course)

Take everything from the inside and throw is all away…cause I swear, for the last time, I won't trust myself with you

Tension is building inside steadily (everyone feels so far away from me) Happy thoughts forcing there way out of me (trying not to break, but I'm so tired of this deceit) (every time I try to make myself get back on my feet) (all I ever think about is this) (All the tiring time between) (and how trying to put my trust in you takes so much out of me)

I won't waste myself on you…you…you…waste myself on you…you…you.

I'll take everything from the inside and throw it all away…cause I swear, for the last time, I won't trust myself with you…everything from the inside and just throw it all away…cause I swear, for the last time, I won't trust myself with you….