Chapter Four:

Between Scandals and Dreams

Kuwabara slowly walked down a long staircase with lush red carpeting and stepped onto the beautiful marble floor of the ballroom. All of the wall length windows on the opposite side of the room were open, revealing the gorgeous night sky, sprinkled with stars as a huge moon hung overhead. He was wearing a white tuxedo and top hat and had a black cane in his right hand.

To his left, Yukina appeared in a blue, off-the-shoulder, dress with matching shoes and gloves. Her hair was tied back, with small curls of her blue hair framing her cheeks. Her bangs fluttered in a breeze and she blushed as she saw him.

Setting aside his cane, he silently walked over to her and took her hand. Leading her to the center of the room, he whirled her and twirled her as they danced along. A lovely waltz started to play as other couples entered the room and began to dance. One of which turned out to be Yusuke, in a black tux, and Keiko, hair up in a pony-tail, who was wearing a dress that was identical to Yukina's, accept it was a buttery shade of yellow. Yusuke and Keiko danced along happily and smiled as they saw Kuwabara and Yukina, who smiled back.

The song ended and the people dispersed. Kuwabara looked down at Yukina who was flushed a bit from dancing. He leaned down slowly, and when their lips were mere centimeters away, Yukina punched him in the gut.

Sitting up rather flustered and in pain Kuwabara glared at Genkai, who stood beside his bed. Aww man…just a dream…

"Get up, slacker, now that you're better it's time you started to pull your own weight again." She said as she walked out the door. Grumbling about indecency and really good dreams he slowly went about the habitual tasks of his morning routine. Taking a shower, combing his hair, brushing his teeth, and getting dressed. Woo…

"Stupid Genkai…Now that we're not sick she acts like she wants us to make up all the work we didn't do…pshh, fat chance! Right Urameshi?" Kuwabara said as he flexed in front of the mirror. Turning around to yell at him to get up, he noticed that their shared room was very much Yusuke-less. Staring blankly out into the room he silently wondered just where the hell Yusuke went off to.

EARLIER WITH YUSUKE

Having tossed and turned that entire night and just barely having been able to sleep, Yusuke sat up as soon as he heard movement of the others in the house. He knew they would be surprised to see him up at 7, but, oh well; it was way too boring to just lay in bed listening to Kuwabara snore. Sliding the covers off of himself, Yusuke stood and stretched his aching muscles. He could just feel that today was going to be a very long day.

Ugh…I can't remember the last time I had a good night's rest…oh wait…yes I can. Yusuke thought to himself with a grin. Thinking back on it now, he couldn't believe that it actually happened.

It had been the last night he shared a room with Keiko…

flashback

Recently, it had gotten hard for Yusuke to sleep at night because he was so sick. He was forced to either sleep with his mouth open, or sleep upright, because every time he lay down, he wouldn't be able to breathe through his nose. It was very annoying, but it couldn't be helped.

It was about nine thirty and he was sitting up in bed, glaring out the window…into the black-nothingness that had settled with the coming of nightfall. Being so sick made him extremely crabby. He did NOT want to talk to anyone. Ever. Never again. It was THAT bad. So YEAH I'm being a big baby but DAMNIT this is stupid! All I want to do is sleep and that's really all I'm allowed to do until I'm better and I can't do it! AAAGH!

It was then that he heard a faint giggle from behind him. Thoroughly pissed that someone was laughing at him he jerked around to glare at the offending person. An offending person who stood in the doorway grinning like a cat. "Keiko…." Yusuke growled under his breath, a small warning for her to go away that she completely ignored. Glaring at her for all he was worth he mentally sighed. He knew that look; the look of an utterly mischievous idea forming behind bright hazel eyes. Of course she would choose NOW to do that…

A pout played with her lips. His eyes narrowed, those lips had become increasingly dangerous as of late; they could make him do whatever she asked of him. Dangerous. "Oh but Yusuke, I hold in my hands the solution to both of our problems!" And with that statement she promptly walked over to him and handed him a half-empty bottle of cold medicine. He stared at it; if he weren't so set on being manly and if Keiko hadn't been right in front of him, he'd have shed huge, blubbery tears of joy. "Kuwabara's already taken his dose. It'll start working in about a half hour. WHICH MEANS!-" she bellowed giddily, doing a strange sort of half-dance, "THAT THIS'LL PROBABLY BE THE LAST NIGHT YOU SPEND IN MMMYYY ROOM!" she finished off with a little hop and a spin.

After gulping down the rather disgusting medicine he turned to back to Keiko, who was happily tidying her bed. "So I guess this means that the snow has let up?" He said, it was more of a statement that a real question but Keiko answered anyhow.

"Only for a little while; poor Genkai had to walk back through a blizzard to get that stuff for you two." She smiled to herself at the memory of seeing the elderly woman covered, completely in six inches of snow; it was a truly hilarious moment. Suddenly feeling eyes watching her movements she turned around to look at Yusuke. He was smiling at her. She didn't know why but she suddenly felt very conscious of her looks. Smoothing her slightly wrinkled t-shirt that was about five sizes too big for her and casting a glance down at her worn and torn jeans and tennis shoes, she felt herself flush against his stare. She was sure she looked like a total idiot, standing there with her face as red as a tomato and her frumpy clothing; how embarrassing. He's so weird! One minute he's being a total goofball and the next he sends me a look that makes my heart jump into my throat! She almost couldn't look up to meet his gaze, but she managed somehow. "Wh-what?" she stammered as he slowly got out of bed.

Making his way over to her, he noted that she looked exceptionally cute in that shirt. He suddenly felt extremely manly as he walked up to her, promptly picking her up and slinging her over his right shoulder. "Y'know Keiko…" he said as he walked slowly over to her bed, determined not to loose his grip on her, despite her wild kicking and extremely loud shouts of protest. Flopping her down onto the bed, he leaned in close to her, "You look really nice in my t-shirt, but I was wondering if I could get it back?"

Staring flatly at him as she folded her arms across her chest, she said, "What are you talking about you raging idiot? This is MY-"

Covering her mouth with his hand, he smirked at her, "That, my dear Keiko, is the shirt I was wearing the day I first met you." It took a second or two, but the confusion on her face cleared as realization set in. He was right and she knew it. She looked up at him with such an adorably embarrassed face that he was tempted to just kiss her right there on the spot. But he held back, he didn't want to scare her off like last time.

He suddenly became very suspicious of her as she shot him and extremely sultry look. What is she up to? His thoughts were suddenly cut short as she leaned forward and whispered into his ear, "Ok, I'll give it back." Without hesitation, she began to lift her top off; needless to say, Yusuke just about died of shock.

"KEIKO!" he hollered as he dove forward and yanked the hem of the shirt back down. "What are you DOING!"

Inwardly smirking she continued to play her little game, "But, Yusuke I thought this is what you wanted!" she said as she gave the shirt a determined tug upward. It was no use though, Yusuke's grip was strong as steel.

Leaning forward and resting his head on her shoulder he frowned, "This isn't what I want…"

Suddenly upset that he actually DIDN'T want to see her naked…though she really wouldn't be if she took it off because she had put on a tank top before slipping on the shirt, "Am I not…pretty enough?" she muttered, feeling completely ugly and rejected.

Hearing the sad tone of her words he looked up and pulled her into a tight embrace and laid a gentle kiss on the top of her head, "You're gorgeous, Keiko" he said as she shyly wrapped her arms around him, holding him in a loose hug.

"Then…what is it?" She asked, confused.

Hugging her tighter to his chest, "If…if we're going to do...that...I want it to be romantic" By the end of this sentence Yusuke's cheeks had been stained a dark shade of red. It was always so difficult to say what he was really feeling, so embarrassing, but somehow, he knew Keiko would never laugh at his emotions.

While he spoke, Keiko could feel a blush creep onto her face. He talked as if he really cared for her. This notion sent waves of happy, tingly feelings all through her. "Thank you…Yusuke, you're so sweet" She said as she gently cuddled into his embrace. As she rested her head on his chest she could hear the rapid pace of his heartbeat, realizing that hers was pumping just as fast.

Slowly, as if not to frighten her, Yusuke pulled back a bit and softly kissed her. Relishing in her sweet taste and adorable surprise. Having never really kissed a girl so gently, he assumed that when she closed her eyes and leaned in, that he was doing something right.

Feeling her hands run up his arms and play with the hair on the back of his head, made him moan into her mouth. Slightly frightened at the prospect of what that moan meant, Keiko pulled away.

"Sorry, I'll slow down." He murmured as he leaned back onto the bed, pulling her down with him. Nodding her head, Keiko gently settled herself next to him and slowly began drifting off to sleep. "I'm…sleepy" she whispered with a soft yawn. Yusuke leaned forward and pulled the covers up over them. As he moved to lie next to her, he turned and kissed her lightly on the forehead and then she'd gently curled her arms around his stomach. Sighing contentedly, Yusuke had cuddled up close to her, holding her in his arms, and fallen asleep.

A.N: I'm so sorry that this chapter took so long! The fluff had to be perfect! Anyhow reviews are welcome! Can't wait to hear from the readers!...as long as the readers aren't going to be viciously mean Oo; I think the next chapter will focus on Kuwabara and Yukina's relationship…and a ton of humor, wish me luck!