Okay, here's chapter one. I like it, but it is a bit dull if you ask me. Of course, that's often the case with some chapters. I hope you guys and gals like this, don't forget to let me know afterwards.

Italic comments are thoughts from Youko's soul.

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Words Once Spoken: Chapter 1

A few hours before sunrise, Kurama snuck out of the house. He left a note for his mother saying that he and some friends were going on the camping trip that he had told her about. By the time he arrived at Genkai's, it was a cool summer morning. As he approached, he could tell by the peaceful silence that he was the first to arrive. Chances were that Yusuke would be late and Hiei wouldn't show himself until it was time to leave.

At the top of the long staircase he stopped. There was nobody in sight, as usual. It would be relaxing to stay outside and enjoy the scenery for a while, there was no hurry. A light breeze had picked up as he stood there. As he turned to face the refreshing breeze, his red locks blew out behind him. He closed his eyes and let his awareness wander. When Yusuke's energy could be felt at the bottom of the stairs he smiled. It's time to preform.

Easily slipping into a cheerful personality, he went to greet his former team mate. As the spirit detective came into view, it was clear that he hadn't changed much while he had been in demon world. Being forced to awaken early and climb these stairs seemed to have irritated him like always. The fact that he was muttering to himself didn't phase the redhead in the least. He looked up and caught sight of Kurama. "Hey Kurama!" He called, waving cheerfully, all of his anger forgotten. He's definitely the same.

"Hello Yusuke. It's been a while." Kurama replied. Yusuke seemed to get sick of the stairs, so he just jumped over the remaining steps. Should I really be impressed by that? "You're surprisingly early." Kurama commented as Yusuke landed beside him.

Yusuke grinned at him. "Yeah, well I got into the habit of waking up early while I was in Makai. When tons of hostile demons attack you in the middle of the night you learn to sleep as little as possible." He grabbed Kurama's arm, something that annoyed the redhead greatly, and dragged him to the temple. Yusuke cupped his hands around his mouth to call for Genkai, giving Kurama a chance to free his arm. I hate when non lovers touch me.

Genkai stepped out of the door and looked down at the two visitors. "What are you bothering me for?" she grumbled. "You don't need my help to open a portal Kurama." She shut the door behind her as she stepped out anyway. Same old Genkai.

This was something Kurama hadn't mentioned to Yusuke, they had only talked once since he returned. Before the boy could comment, Kurama spoke up. "Yes but we still need to wait for Hiei to show up so we thought we'd say hello." At the mention of Hiei's name, a grin broke out on Genkai's face. She gestured for them to follow her.

She led them around to a small yard where they found Hiei. He was sitting on a white marble bench next to Yukina looking like an animal caught in a trap. His eyes looked almost frantic as Yukina, who sat next to him, chatted away cheerfully. Kurama's face brightened quite noticeably at the sight of the koorime. How perfect, let's go. It was time to inform his new lover of his new title.

He went over and sat down by Hiei. One of his hands found Hiei's and grabbed it in a very obvious manner. There was a sudden silence when everybody saw this. They have good eyesight. Hiei tried to pull his hand away but Kurama refused to release him, and instead sat there smiling "Let go Kurama." Hiei practically growled. No way.

Beaming kindly, Kurama replied "What if I don't want to?" Everybody's eyes widened at this unusual behavior from Kurama. "I'm sorry Yukina, but we really must be going." Yukina, who was the least affected by Kurama's behavior, smiled and gestured for them to go ahead. Kurama stood up, bringing the smaller demon with him. "Come on Hiei, let's be on our way." He dragged the resisting demon behind him. He could escape if he really tried. Yusuke came to his senses and followed his friends into the woods.

Kurama came to an abrupt halt in a small clearing. "I'll open it here." He told them, releasing Hiei's hand. Ah darn, I was having fun. The small demon quickly moved away into a tree behind Yusuke, who gave Kurama a sort of confused look. Kurama closed his eyes and put his arms out in front of him. His energy became visible around him as the plant life stirred. He closed his eyes, as he allowed a pleasured expression to come to his face, making sure to let Hiei see his expression as he threw his head back. He'll see that a lot more than that soon enough.

Vines shot out of the ground in a circle around him. Before him a small tear in the dimension appeared. Now, his eyes were clenched shut tightly and he cried out as strands of energy appeared to rip from his body. Why don't you just let me help? If you used my power this wouldn't hurt you! They flowed from the three points of energy on his body, forehead, chest, and abdomen. Yusuke called to him in a worried tone. Energy continued to feed into the tear until it had grown into a full sized portal.

Then as suddenly as it had begun, Kurama's energy faded. "What the heck was that?" Yusuke yelled, rushing up to him. Hiei had moved closer too, showing concern for his friend. It's already working. Yusuke's determined face told Kurama that they weren't going anywhere unless he explained.

"Well Yusuke," he responded calmly, "when opening a portal you usually need psychic abilities of some sort. I don't possess any, so I used demon energy. Youko knew how to do it in the past, but his ability to use plants and energy to tear dimensions only recently awakened in me. Actually, the change took place when we fought Sensui. I only realized it a little over a year ago." He could tell Yusuke wanted a better response so he continued.

"If I tapped into Youko's power it doesn't hurt me. In this form though, I am only able to open the portal. It is all I can concentrate on while doing it. The energy that is ripped from my body isn't life energy, but it comes very close. It is a replacement for the psychic energy that is usually needed. This energy that demons have is the same energy that creates connections like the mating bond. Its use in any other way however, causes a certain amount of pain." he paused "We should go through now." He looked up peculiarly at Hiei before turning into the portal. I can't wait to see this.

Within the passage, Hiei sped quickly past Kurama in hopes of being able to avoid the strangely behaving Kitsune. "Hiei!" he called, but as he knew would happen, the koorime ran on. Hiei should pay more attention to him, he thought, smiling. He'll learn. Hiei exited the portal ahead of them with a flying leap. Kurama stopped Yusuke just as he was about to follow. The very amused grin on Kurama's face made Yusuke suspicious.

Kurama gave Yusuke one of his plant wing things (I don't know what they're called) and leapt out of the portal. In the air outside Yusuke saw why Kurama had stopped him. Below them was a large lake, one that Hiei had jumped right into. The small demon jumped out of the water and stood there with clothes dripping wet, glaring at the mischievous redhead. Let's take him right now! I want him so bad!

Kurama ignored the glares as he openly enjoyed the way Hiei's clothes clung to his body. He licked his lips just a little bit, making sure only Hiei noticed it. The little Yokai(sp?) quickly moved into a tree at a safe distance as he fought off a blush. I win. "Shall we go then." he said to his other companion, his amused smile still on his face.

"Uh, sure..." Yusuke said, deciding not to ask about his normally calm friend's strange attitude towards Hiei. After all, he probably didn't want to know.

They were traveling through a snow covered forest a short while later, it seemed seasons were opposite in Makai. Kurama hadn't made any more strange faces at Hiei, in fact he had said almost nothing at all. The group seemed to have very little to discuss. "So where are we going anyway?" Yusuke asked, breaking the silence.

"There is a village a day away from here. There is a good chance of finding eligible demons there. Children are probably our best bet." We should just kidnap some, it's better than facing her again. Kurama replied, still walking. He hadn't paused once since they began walking. Hiei had been staying out of sight in the trees. Mainly since Kurama kept eying his wet body whenever he was near them. Yusuke was the only one acting normal, which doesn't matter if nobody else is.

There was nothing left, it seemed, of their complete comfort around each other. A gap had formed in their kinship, now barely held together. The only ties they had to each other now were the people they knew and the things they stood for. Kurama felt this loss, but pushed it to the back of his mind. Hiei was what mattered right now.

The rest of the day was silent except for a few brief comments. As it got dark, Yusuke and Kurama decided to stop for the night, though all of them could have kept going. Hiei came out of the trees, his clothes had dried during the day and he had decided to make an appearance. Something that was, needless to say, unusual for the little demon. He just can't stay away from me! Hiei's stare bore into him.

Kurama's eyes visibly brightened when Hiei came up to the fire and actually sat down. "Nice of you to join us." he greeted his soon to be lover. Hiei didn't bother to give a response. His senses stayed high as he kept a close watch over the fox. More for his own safety than for his friend's. This is going to be fun.

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Tell me what you think about the Youko comments, too much, too little? Should Kurama respond? Let me know please.

I didn't really make this clear but when youko comments or uses the terms 'we' or 'us' to refer to themselves, it is kind of like that way that royalty would refer to themselves in the third person. I have always thought that was fun to write.