Chocolate : Chapter 2 : Approach

By TearStar

I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho…

14

Genkai set out early the next day. She packed her suitcase and met with Botan. She advised Kurama to stay in the temple for security reasons and to keep him under monitor.

"Botan, after you accompany me to Koenma's, you come back here and look after those two."

"Yes, Genkai." –Botan bowed and looked at the two men.

Yusuke was all over Kurama the whole time. He's always beside Kurama, if not, behind Kurama. He always gets what Kurama wants and needs. He turned himself into a servant over the red head.

"So? Let's get moving." –Genkai

"Hai!" –Botan.

"Yusuke, you don't have to do that."

"What?"

"Fan me."

"It's hot. I don't want you sweating."

Kurama chuckled a little "I'm not 'that' sick, Yusuke."

"Nah! I'll take care of you. It's almost lunch time. Come on, let's eat."

Yusuke folded the fan and went to the kitchen. He came back with a tray at hand; with two plates and a glass of milk. And so they ate together, with Yusuke talking a little, to kill the boredom and ice that was threatening to float over their heads.

'Oh such a weakling.'

Kurama laid down his plate and took the glass of milk.

'You can't even take care of yourself, Shuuichi.'

'Shut up!' –Kurama answered Youko

'Oh. Weak dogs bark loud… it is true to you.'

'You won't overcome me.'

'…Let's see about that.'

…And with just a second, Kurama's abdomen wound hurt again.

"Agh! Agh…" –Kurama dropped the glass of milk.

Yusuke laid his plate and panicked like hell.

"What, Kurama? Your abdomen again?"

"Y-Yes."

"But Genkai healed it, right?"

"…It will continuously come back. Agh!"

Kurama is leaning forward and gripping himself; fighting the abdomen wound that slowly grows. Yusuke stopped breathing that moment. The sight of Kurama like that, in pure agony, makes him feel pained too. He tried helping up Kurama but Kurama won't cooperate; he won't move. There was nothing Yusuke could do to ease the pain but to put his arms around Kurama's shoulders and hug him in empathy…

'Oh Kami. Please, ease the pain for Kurama.'

14

Kurama opened his eyes only to find himself in a cot.

'I fell asleep? Where's Yusuke?'

Kurama tried sitting up but his wound cringed and quickly sent him back on the cot. He sighed and pulled up the blanket over his head when he smelled something. He threw the blanket and looked sideways, there he saw a bouquet of roses and a helping of melted chocolate and strawberries.

"You're awake." –Yusuke slowly opened the door

Kurama batted and put his hand up to block the sun that peeked through the open door.

"Like my presents?" –Yusuke confidently asked, pointing to the strawberries.

"Yeah… I'm sorry for falling asleep on you a while ago, Yusuke."

"Nah! Forget about it. Here, have some."

Yusuke grabbed his gifts and put it closer to Kurama. He picked a strawberry and dipped it in the melted chocolate.

"Say 'ah', Kurama."

Yusuke held the strawberry at Kurama's lips; Kurama complied and let it in.

"Ahhh."

"Delicious?"

"MnMnMn."

"Well, in that case…"

Yusuke dipped more strawberries with chocolate and held at Kurama's lips. When Kurama opened his mouth…

"Ahhh… hey!"

Yusuke took away the strawberry and ate it.

"That's mine!"

"I bought it. MnMnMn."

A good second passed and then laughter filled the room.

14

One two three four five six seven eight, eight seven six five four three two one… These numbers keep ringing through the chirping of birds in the middle of the forest.

"One… two…"

"So early for exercise."

Yusuke got up from his knee bending exercise to face Botan.

"Oh… you're back. What's the news?"

"No words yet from Genkai."

"Please, tell her to be fast. Kurama is constantly attacked by the wound's pain."

"I know… Do you really love him?"

"…Yes."

"You're awful! You made yourself his servant."

"I want to." –Yusuke turned his back on Botan and began doing sit ups.

14

'Shuuichi.'

"Hmn…"

'Shuuichi, wake up. You're alone. They left you.'

"Liar…"

'Open your eyes and see for yourself. You're alone.'

Kurama did. He walked to the hall, hoping to find Yusuke and Botan there, but it was empty.

'You see?'

Kurama went to the kitchen, still it's empty.

'I told you. It's just you and me now.'

"No…" –Kurama went out to the grounds, to the garden; still nobody there. He decided to walk back to his room. When he opened the door, he saw Yusuke.

"Yusuke!"

Kurama approached Yusuke and tapped his shoulder.

"Hey, face me. Where've you been?"

Yusuke slowly turned to face him; then the image morphed into Youko.

"Huh-Eh!"

Kurama stumbled backwards…

'Just give up, Shuuichi. You'd be better kept inside of me, not me inside of you.'

"No, you're just a dream, you're not real."

'I am… how about this?'

Youko walked towards him and then suddenly strangled him. Youko stood him up by clenching his neck. The sound of Kurama struggling for air pleased the said Youko.

'You feel the pain, right? So it means I'm real…'

Youko let go of his neck and pressed his abdomen. Kurama screamed of pain. Then Youko did the worse; he raised his clawed hand and brought it down fast; stabbing through the abdomen wound…

"…AGH!!!!"

14

"…AGH!!!"

"Kurama?"

Yusuke dashed out the woods and into the temple with Botan close behind.

"Kurama!"

He rushed to Kurama's room and found him on the blood-flooded floor.

"Help here, Botan!"

14

The whistling kettle called out, announcing 'the water is ready'; with Kurama realizing it's for him. Then he heard Yusuke's footsteps, running to and fro in a hurry; and again, Kurama knew it's because of him. Everything Botan and Yusuke do is for him. They get tired for him… and he just feels so… sick and guilty of it.

"K-Kurama?! Hey, where are you going?"

Yusuke saw Kurama creeping out the room.

"Yusuke…"

"Where are you going?"

"Out…"

"And why???" –Yusuke asked, sounds scolding.

"…So you and Botan won't get tired of taking care of me."

Yusuke put down the tray of food, grabbed Kurama's hand and dragged him inside the room.

"Yusuke! Yusuke…"

"You stay here… and we are not getting tired of taking care of you… so would you stop behaving like that."

Yusuke retrieved the tray and went back in, locking the door behind him. Kurama felt like he wanted to throw up…

"Yusuke… Why are you like this to me?"

"Hmn?"

"…Do you like me?"

Yusuke didn't answer…

"Yusuke?"

"…Just eat your lunch, ok. I'll be outside."

14

Botan observed Kurama and can't help but notice the 'mysterious' behavior the red head is showing. Sometimes he holds his abdomen in pain, and sometimes he moves his mouth; as if talking to himself. Then there are times she sees him clutching his hair and laughing, but his eyes look different… all of it scared Botan.

"Yusuke?... Have you ever seen Kurama look so scary?"

"What are you talking about?"

"…Sometimes he talks to himself."

"...Genkai didn't tell you?... It's because he is having a dispute against his old self."

"Old self? I think he's going crazy."

"He's not!... Genkai said his demon form is trying to overcome his human form… and if that happens, it would be bad. The demon form is said to be dangerous and very strong."

"But aren't they the same person?"

"The human Kurama is different… Will you just cook dinner?!? I'm starving."

"You're changing the topic!!!"

14

Chap 3!