Thanks so much for all the response. I didn't realize what a monster this was going to be until after I'd made the promise of revision. Your reviews keep me motivated, though. Keep it up and maybe this won't take as long as I expected it to.
I know a lot more about the plotline now than I did all those years ago when I first began this fic. One thing I am unsure of, however, is the timing of the marriage of Kurama's human mother in accordance with the plot. As I doubt that it is a piece of information as important as other cannon facts, I'm not going to worry about it.
As before, I'm taking great creative license with the YuYu storyline. The characters are older, but certain things (such as Yusuke's being a demon) haven't occurred yet. Basically I would say take the events from the cannon story and just shift them so that the characters are older…I would put up an AU warning, but that has a connotation, at least to me, that I don't think really applies. Anyway, the whole reason for fanfiction is to change the cannon, twist it so that it fits in with the twisted ideas in one's mind, right? To be safe, let's say that everything that happened up to the tournament happened in my version of the world, and everything after does not.
Check out the top panel on page 97 of volume 3 of the YYH manga for a neko-ish Yusuke picture. LOL, it kind of scares me. Page 134 of volume 7 has another one. Hee! That one may be even worse! Someone mentioned that they were drawing mini-comics for this fic (sorry, I'm not at the moment on a computer in which I can look up who it was…) Anyway…got a scanner? I really wanna see those! Many people have expressed the desire to see Neko-Yusuke; if I can get a hold of a scanner, I'll put up some pics someday, but if anyone else has any pictures, I would love to see them! Put them on a free image hosting site and let me have the link; I'll put it in my bio.
Warnings: Yaoi-ness, of course. AU-ness, I guess. And the ever-depressing fact that I don't own YYH. Sigh. If I did, then I could change whatever I want without having to worry about getting yelled at…
"This isn't your place." Yusuke said as Kurama pulled into the driveway of a large two-story. There was a decided note of suspicion in his voice now in the dark car that hadn't been there in the bright restaurant.
When Kurama glanced at him, he could just make out the young human glaring, shoulders hunched. He very much reminded Kurama of an animal, backed into a corner and wounded. In many ways, that was just what he was. Wounded certainly, though emotionally, not physically. He was an astoundingly strong young man, but even he had a limit. Kurama was afraid the dark-haired boy was dangerously close to that limit. What would happen once that invisible line was crossed?
The fox didn't want to know.
"What the hell's going on?" The youth demanded.
Kurama cut off the engine and shifted in his seat to face the young detective, reminding himself that he needed to be careful with the other boy, at least until he healed a little. Yes, powerful and arrogant Yusuke Urameshi certainly was, but something had set him off this night. Something had reminded him of the hurt he tended to ignore, and until he could get his mind off of it, stop dwelling on the pains of his life and begin coming out of the uncharacteristically vulnerable mood, he would be a danger both to himself and to others.
Kurama was not the least bit surprised when Yusuke's hand darted out to turn on the overhead light.
The fox smiled as gently as he could manage.
"You certainly are correct in your assessment that this is not the home in which I lived with my mother for so long." He told him quietly, choosing his words carefully. "I assure you, however, that nothing is amiss."
"Kurama…"
He couldn't fight a small chuckle, morbidly amused. Yusuke was stubborn and difficult at the best of times. Tonight, his embarrassment over the discovery of his terrible situation made it even worse. Kurama had long had his suspicions over the boy's home life, but never before proof. It had to bruise the boy's ego to have him know.
He couldn't have been in a very good mood to begin with, anyway.
The fox reached out and lay a comforting hand atop the detective's knee. Yusuke only jumped a little.
Good for him.
"I moved out after my mother's marriage." He informed him lightly. Strangely enough, Yusuke's suspicion did not offend him. He actually found it vaguely amusing. Morbid again, he supposed.
There was something about the shadowed light in the car and the quiet press of the night around them that made their conversation seem somehow intimate. Important. Kurama realized when he spoke that his voice was a quiet purr, nearly the same tone he used at night, alone under the sheets with a lover, and couldn't say as he was overly concerned.
"There was not really enough room for a family of four," he continued, "And keeping my secrets, I soon found, was quite a challenge. Also, my stepfather became quite concerned that Hiei was being a bad influence on me…I chose to leave, and Hiei chose to move in with me." He wasn't certain if Yusuke had known, or just suspected that the two demons lived together, but the boy showed not the slightest trace of surprise. Well, better he be prepared, anyway. "We have found the arrangement to be quite a…" He leaned a little closer to Yusuke and smiled, licking his lips. "Pleasurable experience." He concluded.
"You're doing that on purpose."
Kurama leaned in a little closer, hand sliding up Yusuke's leg. He could smell the rain on the young human, and the citrus scent of his hair gel.
"Doing what, my dear?" He asked quietly.
"Trying to make me uncomfortable."
Kurama drew back, hand sliding away from Yusuke's thigh to rest on the seat between them.
"I apologize." He said quietly. "I didn't realize…"
Yusuke relaxed a little now that the fox was no longer practically crawling into his lap. Kurama carefully didn't think about how exciting the predator in him had found the detective's discomfort.
"You do it without even thinking, don't you?" Yusuke asked quietly.
Kurama gave a small laugh. Even to him it sounded bitter.
"It is merely my nature, my dear. You must not take anything by it." He reached up and turned off the overhead light, bathing them both in darkness. "We should go inside." He decided, no longer enjoying his time alone with the lovely boy.
"Maybe we better rethink this whole thing." Yusuke suggested.
Kurama looked sharply at his companion. "No." He said simply. "We've settled this. There is no point in going back now. Remember, you said you did not wish to offend me. You're coming dangerously close to it now."
Yusuke got out of the car wordlessly, not waiting for Kurama to come around with the umbrella. The fox took a few moments to compose himself before following.
A quick tour of the house and Kurama showed Yusuke to the room he was to be using.
Yusuke hung back by the door as Kurama entered the room and showed him where the closet and the connecting bathroom were.
"Whatever is the matter?" The fox asked when he realized that he had not been followed into the room. Yusuke frowned, looking like he was considering becoming quite sick. "You aren't going to try backing out again, are you?" The redhead sighed. Despite the teasing, the human boy's reticence was beginning to hurt his feelings.
"No…no." The usually loud, brass boy was somewhat hesitant.
"Then what is wrong?"
The dark haired boy entered the room as if afraid to touch anything, like a well-behaved (or perhaps just well-threatened) child in a shop full of breakable items.
"You don't have anything…" He hesitated. "Smaller?"
"No…"
"Listen, Kurama, I really appreciate this, but I really wouldn't mind if you just put me on the couch, or even some small corner of the laundry room, really!"
"Yusuke!" Despite himself, Kurama gave a small, surprised laugh. "Why ever would you even suggest such a ridiculous thing? What kind of host would I be to invite you to live here and then treat you so unkindly?"
He shook his head, looking around the room. "This is too nice, Kurama."
He frowned at him, warning him with his eyes to stop being so difficult. "You're just being dim now." He said scornfully. "I really am offended now."
"I'm sorry, but I'm just not comfortable…"
"Stop." Kurama commanded abruptly. "This is not the Yusuke Urameshi I know. The Yusuke I know would accept my kindness and take as much as he could without hesitation." He sighed and sat on the bed, shaking his head. "Unless you cease this behavior, I will be forced to attack and kill you, having no choice but to accept the fact that you are not Yusuke, my friend, but some vile imposter – an enemy who must be neatly dispatched."
Yusuke's jaw dropped and he stared at him in stunned silence. Kurama took the opportunity to observe the human boy in more detail. He had become considerably thinner in the months since the tournament. That wasn't good; not just because it was unhealthy, but because it would make him weaker in battle, as well.
"Well, Yusuke?" Kurama crossed his legs, perching his hands atop a knee. The human boy's shivering had not quite stopped yet, which worried him. "Are you an imposter?"
"Hell no."
"Well, then, whatever could the problem be?"
Yusuke glared at him. "All right, fine." He spat. "Damn but you're hard to fight with."
"Really, now?" Kurama gave a small smile and stood. "How unfortunate for you. Now, my dear, I do request that you shower before climbing into these nice, clean sheets Hiei has so thoughtfully washed."
"Hiei does the laundry?" Yusuke asked, following him into the bathroom.
Kurama piled a towel and washrag into the boy's arms. "He likes the way detergent smells." He answered, adding a fresh bar of soap to the pile in Yusuke's arms. Better not to mention the many times he had come home to find the small demon curled up on the couch with a pile of warm, clean laundry.
Kurama searched through a drawer under the sink until he found several bottles of travel-sized shampoo and conditioner. He added these to Yusuke's arms.
"This is all I have at the moment, I'm afraid. I don't share my personal shampoo."
"This is fine."
Kurama caught the boy's eyes and smiled slowly, carefully. "Hiei may be willing to share, if you ask." He said quietly, a fine thread of suggestion in his tone. "He's very good about that. Sharing, I mean."
Yusuke's face colored fetchingly. "Um…this is fine. Thanks."
"All right, well…just keep that in mind." He left, brushing Yusuke's shoulder on the way out. He smiled to himself as the young human gave a small, surprised jump.
The smile left his face the moment he left the guest bedroom, closing the door after himself. Teasing Yusuke was very enjoyable, but now he had another, much less pleasant task to accomplish.
Telling Hiei.
After the rain, which had been much colder than Yusuke would have liked to admit, a hot shower was like heaven to the young man. For a very long time he found himself just standing under the water with his head tilted back, enjoying the warmth and relaxing under the steady fall of water.
If he could have a shower whenever he wanted, then he promised himself never again to argue with Kurama's somewhat rash decision to take him in.
When had Kurama ever been rash? A part of Yusuke's mind wondered. When had he ever done anything without reason?
He quickly hushed the traitorous thought. He had eaten and was warm and soon would be fast asleep in a real bed under clean, crisp sheets. He would not allow suspicion to ruin that for him.
Or so he told himself. Nevertheless, his mind continued to worry.
Kurama's behavior disturbed him most. The fox had always, since the day they first met, been somewhat flirtatious. There had always been a fine note of suggestion hidden beneath his words and lurking behind his bright, lovely eyes.
Yusuke had never considered taking him seriously before, though.
"It is merely my nature, my dear." He had seemed so very sad when he had said that. Nearly ashamed. For a moment Yusuke had actually had to fight the urge to apologize to him.
Apologize for what, though?
The truth was, he wasn't sure.
A brilliant glare, twin rubies glittering dangerously in the hallway's dim light, focused on him as if he was the only person in the world. He had always enjoyed that gaze, the way it made him feel special and exclusive. Even now, knowing that the owner of those blood red eyes may very well be furious with him, a part of him enjoyed being the target of that razor-sharp gaze.
"What," Hiei bit out finally, "Is he doing here?"
Kurama sighed, leaning his back against the wall and crossing his arms. He had hoped to break the news to his lover more gently, but of course the small and mistrustful demon would have known the moment the fox and the detective walked through the front door that they were there – and that something was not "right."
"Yusuke will be living with us from now on." He answered finally, sighing softly as he watched the smaller man's face harden.
"And why," he demanded with a sour scowl, "Is that?"
Kurama looked away, unable to enjoy having all of Hiei's attention focused on him when he was feeling so guilty for not running the idea by his lover before making such a rash decision. He enjoyed the emotions he had learned to allow himself to have since beginning his life in the human world, but sometimes they could be quite…annoying. If only he could keep the emotions he liked and ignore those he found inconvenient.
"I found him attempting to take his rest on a park bench." He answered quietly, nodding at the slight, surprised uplifting of Hiei's eyebrows. "Yes, my thoughts exactly." He murmured, remembering his own shock. He admired Yusuke. Respected him. He had never expected to find him in such a deplorable position. "After all he has done for me, I could not in good conscience just leave him, now could I?"
Hiei snorted. "That's an insufferably weak sentiment. You sound human."
Kurama closed his eyes. "Yes, I suppose it is a rather feeble sentiment. However…" He opened his eyes to look at his lover, allowing himself a small, genuine smile. "I know you agree with my decision."
"And I know you think you want him." The small demon answered acidly. This time he was the first to break eye contact. "Don't try to argue, you've even admitted to being attracted to him before. There is no possible way for you to persuade me that you are doing this for purely selfless reasons, my fox."
Kurama lifted his shoulders in a small, graceful shrug. Arguing was useless.
"I like him."
"And what about me?" Hiei snarled dangerously.
Despite himself, Kurama gave a small, quiet laugh. "You, Hiei?" His voice dipped down, becoming quiet, seductive, and deliciously intimate. Hiei allowed himself to be drawn into his arms, soothed by the gentle, sensual purr. "I more than like you, Hiei. You and I have been together for a very long time, after all."
Hiei's arms closed around him slowly and he leaned his head against his chest, closing his eyes. Kurama knew the other demon was listening to his heartbeat. For as long as they had been lovers, Hiei had always enjoyed listening to his heart. He had never explained why, and tended to become quite cross when asked about it.
"You think to have us both, then?" He demanded coldly.
"Would you allow that?" Kurama whispered. He kept his tone light and careless. If Hiei minded, he would certainly respect his decision.
But Hiei had not quite been in the human world long enough to have accepted ideas such as monogamy.
He snuggled against Kurama, hands kneading his back. "If it's important to you, then do whatever you want." He answered gruffly.
Sex was a casual thing for most demons and for partners to stay together for as long as he and Kurama had was certainly an anomaly. Though, while they had been lovers for what amounted to a very long time no matter what world's standards they were going by, they had certainly not been exclusive that entire time.
But Kurama had never before asked permission. The influence of his new life, he supposed, grateful Hiei had not commented on his strange behavior.
Come to think of it, though, it seemed as if it had been a long time since he had seen Hiei with anyone else. Of course, he had never been quite as enthusiastic as Kurama about choosing lovers, and hadn't had nearly as many as the lusty fox, but Kurama couldn't remember seeing him with anyone else since long before the fox's death . Kurama hadn't even thought about it.
It was an extraordinary revelation.
He wondered, briefly, if Hiei loved him.
He quickly threw the thought away. Love was a human sentiment, and the smaller demon would laugh if he even mentioned it. Kurama shouldn't hurt himself with such thoughts.
The door to the bedroom he had given Yusuke opened a crack and the youth's head stuck out, hair slick from the shower. His face colored quite charmingly at the sight of the two demons embracing each other.
"What now?" Hiei demanded, lifting his head to glare at the detective but refusing to move away. "What do you want?"
Hiding behind the door in a most awkward and amusing fashion, Yusuke stuck a hand out, gripping his wet clothes.
"Can I use your dryer? I really don't wanna' sleep in this while it's still wet."
"You could always sleep nude." Kurama suggested. "We do."
The human's blush deepened. He scowled angrily.
"I…!"
Hiei snatched the clothes away from him with a glare. "I'll take care of it," He said gruffly. "But only this once. From now on, you do your own laundry or you stay naked."
Kurama laughed as he watched the small demon saunter away. They had discussed Yusuke many times, of course. Hiei shared Kurama's attraction for the human boy.
"I believe I can find something for you to borrow, my dear." He offered warmly. "Go back inside. I will return in a moment."
Yusuke sat on the bed, then quickly got up. He paced around the room three times before moving back to the door and pressing his ear to it, but there were no sounds from the outside hall.
Alone in an unfamiliar room, nude and vulnerable.
He was beginning to miss the park.
What the hell was taking Kurama so long?
Kurama opened the door without knocking and immediately had to fight the urge to laugh as Yusuke jumped, spun around, and tried to cover himself. He had been in the middle of the room, and there was nowhere to hide.
"Funny." Kurama said quietly. "I never would have guessed you to be the modest type."
"Kurama!"
Chuckling, he carefully lay the boxers and pajama bottoms he had brought atop a chair just out of Yusuke's reach.
"I hope you do not mind that I took so very long." He apologized with a small smile he knew the human would be unable to read. He gestured with the mug in his hands. "I prepared you some tea that should prevent you from becoming ill after your time in the rain."
"Thanks…I think."
It was obvious Yusuke was going to make no move to come closer to take either tea or clothing. Amused beyond words Kurama turned to set the tea on the dresser. Through the mirror he caught sight of Yusuke making a mad dash for the chair.
"Are you feeling better?" He asked, keeping his back turned. Through the mirror he watched the human boy dress with no little bit of interest.
"Um, yeah. A lot." He finally managed to struggle into the pajama bottoms and looked up, paling when he met Kurama's eyes through the mirror. "You…?"
"Well, that is certainly a relief." He said warmly, going to the door. "I will see you tomorrow. Don't go to sleep without first drinking that tea, understand?"
He left the room, closing the door softly behind him.
To Be Continued
What? The second chapter ended without the Kurama/Yusuke hookup? That's right, my dears, we're taking our time now! Woot. For those who like the quick hookup, be content with the visions of naked Yusuke which I have supplied. Would our dear spirit detective really be so uncomfortable with his nudity? Personally, I think so. He's so arrogant he has to be shy…or something like that. Anyway, uncomfortable is cuter.
The Kurama/Yusuke thing probably won't take as long as the Hiei/Yusuke thing, even with the slower pacing. It will, however, take them longer to fall in love than they did originally.
I began to wonder how many people really wanted to read the same story all over again, even if it is better written than the original. I began to worry, as I tend to do in excess. So, to those who reviewed, just let me tell you that there is no way for me to tell you how much it means to me. Please keep it up!
Response to Reviewers:
Mieco - First review for the revision. Yay! So far, I'm very happy with how everything's going, and I'm even a bit ahead in my writing. But now I'm starting to feel the pressure; I really don't want to disapoint anyone again!
KyoHana - The "my dear" thing is just a personal thing. I just like it, like hearing him say it, and think he would. (Heused it in the original, too, actually, though not as much.) I like using it so much that I have to fight the urge to have him say it every time he speaks. Oop. That would be bad. In my mind, there's something elegant about the phrase, and I just see Kurama as elegant (as well as manipulative and cunning...)
Tazzy - The funny thing is, when I first wrote the neko form, I got a lot of complaints that it wasn't right and "obviously you don't know enough about the series to be writing this." Now, with the revision, it seems like everyone is voting for the neko form. Well, I personally love it, not to mention I actually have a valid plot reason for it, aside from the kitty jokes. Like "my dear," Neko-Yusuke is staying. Thanks for the great review, all the support is so encouraging!
kit-kit - Be sure to watch for the next chapter. We aren't finished with Atsuko quite yet...
cryptic.kitsune - Hmm, you never know. I do live for encouragement. ) Much of the old stuff will make a reappearance here, but I'm adding some new stuff and changing other things around completely, so hopefully I can spice it up a bit. Watch for it!
Jena - It will be slower, but not as slow as Hiei. I like the fight toward the end of the original, and may consider duplicating it. (Kurama is so very hard to get to know, after all...) I actually think it would be possible for Yusuke to "jump" someone; he doesn't seem beyond a one night stand. But the original set-up was all wrong, and it would certainly take him longer to fall in love. (Playing on the assumption that there's a difference between love and lust. Nevertheless, the recipe needs more lust in it anyway before anyone's jumping anything this time. Giggles.)
Okibi - Ahh! The pressure! Now I'm afraid of disapointing you! ) On a side note, writing Yuske and Hiei's little spats is my favorite thing about this fic. That, at least, is one area that will not change. Thanks for such a great review.
Fier Shadowquest - Enjoy. Chapter three should be up next Monday, barring emergency.
KC - Interpret it however you like; it's fun for me to read other people's impressions of it. That's why writing (any form of art, really) is sooo nifty. )
Allright, everyone, see you next week!