I am really, really into this right now, can't get it out of my mind! What have you all done to me? I've mapped out a rough sketch of what is going to happen (I keep forgetting…) There are going to be many, many changes to the "Rescue Kurama" arc of this story. Personally, this makes me very happy. I enjoy surprising you. Hope you all like it, too!

The crossovers in the original are probably going to stay. There will, of course, be others. One thing I will tell you is that you might want to look into reading one of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time books. It'll be a long time before it comes up, but you'll be prepared at least. (The other crossovers will all be anime/manga, unless inspiration strikes.)

Marie: "Stop! Raymond, your brother is not a monkey."

Watching Fox tonight. I am such a potato. But I have to have background noise if I'm going to get any work done! Does that count as ADD-ness?

I love the first few chapters of this. It's so refreshing to be happy with something I wrote…

Warnings: Yaoi. AU. Don't own anything. Those damn, dirty apes are plotting to take over the world again. Sigh.

"Don't frown."

"Mm?"

"That face is human. If you frown, you'll get premature wrinkles and will cease to be pretty. Don't frown."

Despite himself, the troubled expression left Kurama's face as he turned away from the window the face his lover.

"You would leave me if I became wrinkled, Hiei?" He asked in amusement, permitting one of his rare, genuine smiles.

Hiei snorted and looked away. They both knew very well that Hiei enjoyed Kurama too much to leave him for such a shallow reason. Even before their relationship had become amorous, the two had shared a chemistry unparalleled in any other relationship either demon had ever indulged in. It was more than sex between them. They were friends as well. Companions.

"What's bothering you so deeply?" The smaller demon asked instead, shifting a little closer. He followed Kurama's gaze back out the window and scowled. "Upset that you haven't been able to seduce the detective yet?" He asked, watching the boy train out in their small backyard. "It's only been two weeks. Even you have to give it time."

Kurama snorted in amusement. Hiei was kidding, as much as he was able, anyway.

"He wore that shirt yesterday."

"So?"

Kurama sighed quietly. Some things Hiei considered too unimportant to pay attention to. "I have been watching him closely. I have only seen him wear two different shirts and one pair of pants aside from his school uniforms since he came to live here. And he only has two uniforms, as far as I've seen. Both the uniforms and the regular clothing are in terribly shabby shape."

"What's your point?" He asked. "He's unfashionable? We should kick him out because he's not trendy?"

"No." He chucked. "No, my dear. But it bothers me to see him in such a state, nevertheless."

"It isn't our problem."

"I want to help him." The fox murmured quietly, watching the human out in the yard. "It pains me to see such a good person in such a deplorable state."

"Bringing him to live here isn't help enough?"

"I want to do more."

Hiei shrugged, growing bored with the conversation. "Do whatever you want. I honestly don't think he'll let you help him though. He's proud."

"So are you." He commented, lips quirking. "Yet I can still make you beg."

Kurama's backyard was too small for the kind of training Yusuke was used to. The small herb garden and tiny porch took up most of the room, leaving only a small square of green grass for him to practice on. Still, he was managing.

Finishing his workout, the youth sat down cross-legged to meditate. When finished, he opened his eyes to find he was not alone. Kurama sat in one of the white lawn chairs on the porch, looking warm and comfortable in an overlarge green sweater and fawn-colored slacks. He had pulled his hair back into a loose, thick braid, and had a soft-looking scarf wrapped around his neck.

"Good work today?" He asked pleasantly as Yusuke rose. A pack of cards was in his hands and he shuffled them leisurely as he spoke. "You work quite hard, don't you?"

"Well, you know…"

"Join me." The fox requested.

"Why?"

"I want to talk. Nothing more."

Yusuke moved forward and pulled out one of the chairs, sitting across from the other boy, unable to think of an excuse not to.

"Are you enjoying your stay with us, Yusuke?" he asked quietly, continuing to shuffle his cards.

"Yeah…it's great. Lot's more time to think and train and…" he trailed off, unable to discern where, exactly, Kurama was going with his questioning. A horrible idea occurred to him. "You aren't throwing me out, are you?"

Kurama actually laughed. It was such a rare and surprising noise that it left Yusuke stunned for several moments. "Certainly not." The fox murmured, looking up at Yusuke at last. His eyes were warm, amused. "Hiei and I both are enjoying having you here."

They passed in silence for a few moments.

"Do you want to play a game, Yusuke?" Kurama asked at last, spreading the cards face down across the table.

The dark haired human boy shrugged. "What kind of game?" He asked finally.

"We will both chose a card. If mine is higher, then you have to do me a…favor. If yours is higher, then I will, in turn, be at your service." He smiled, eyes cool. Yusuke reminded himself forcefully that the note of suggestion in his companion's tone meant nothing. "If one of us draws the ace, then it is considered a drawl."

Yusuke narrowed his eyes. "Is this another ploy to get me in a skirt?" He demanded. "Did Hiei put you up to this?"

"Hiei isn't even here right now; he went grocery shopping." Kurama sighed. "I'm just bored, that's all. Won't you play with me, Yusuke?"

"I…"

"Don't you trust me?"

Keeping his expression neutral was more difficult than usual as Kurama watched the suspicious human boy before him try to figure out what he was up to. He had tried to be as innocent as possible while proposing the "game," but innocence was never an act Kurama had been very good at.

"I understand if you don't want to play." He said finally after they had been silent for far too long. He kept his voice light, but tried to add in a note of hurt, as if he was somehow offended.

"No," Yusuke said quickly, finally agreeing. "No, I'll play." His hand snapped out and he grabbed a card, face lighting up at the card he had chosen.

Of course, he had no idea that the deck was filled with nothing but queens and jacks. There was one king and one ace, and Kurama knew exactly where each was.

Smiling in cool detachment, he withdrew the king.

"All right, my dear, what do you have?"

Yusuke brandished his card, showing a jack with great pride.

Kurama revealed the king, and enjoyed the way the human boy's face paled.

He swallowed hard, trying very obviously not to look nervous and failing.

"What do you want?" Yusuke asked.

Smirking, Kurama motioned him forward by cocking his index finger at him. Yusuke leaned reluctantly into the table, and Kurama met him halfway, tilting his head to reach the human boy's ear.

"I want you," He whispered, lips brushing the soft shell of skin, "To let me…"

"What?" The human boy asked. His voice, Kurama noted with a pleased surprise, was a touch breathless.

"Purchase some things for you." Kurama finished.

Yusuke pulled back, eyes wide with surprise, face flushed with embarrassment. It was wonderfully obvious that he had expected to Kurama to ask for something sexual in nature. That he had been preparing himself to comply was a good sign.

"What do you mean?"

"You can't have expected me not to notice the sorry state of your attire, can you?" He asked logically. "I want you to allow me to take care of you – as a favor to me."

"You're being stupid."

"Unfortunately for you, you already agreed. You're going to go to the store with me and we're going to pick out outfits. After that, we're going to buy you anything else you need and you are going to let me."

"What kind of outfits are we talkin' here?"

"Normal ones." Kurama answered, nearly laughing. "We have a verbal contract, my dear. I am afraid you cannot back out."

"How is this a favor to you?" He scowled. "It just sounds like more charity to me."

"It is a favor…"

"Because it'll hurt his reputation to be seen with someone dressed like he just climbed out of a dumpster." Hiei leapt nimbly down from the roof and bunched a hand in Yusuke's shirt, pulling. "Get up. That's my seat."

"You got a seat in every room of the house saved just for you?"

Hiei glared. "Take it as a rule. I sit across from Kurama. Always. Understand?"

"Why?"

The glare intensified. Kurama hadn't thought the small demon would answer, but he did, biting the words out as if they were foul tasting.

"I like. To look. At him."

This time, fighting a smile was impossible. He felt it spread across his countenance, knowing that it was one of those real smiles that lit up his face and made his eyes shine with warmth and affection.

Hiei had that effect on him. The man gave compliments but rarely, but when he did they were always…

Sweet.

"Thank you, Hiei." He murmured.

"He…he's not the only one who thinks you're pretty, you know!"

This time, Kurama did laugh, purely happy.

Kurama was very much enjoying himself, his time alone with the young human boy he was beginning to feel such affection for. Yusuke scowled and grumbled, but it was obvious he was enjoying himself, too.

Or rather, he was enjoying the attention, anyway. More and more Kurama got the feeling that the young detective was most unused to being cared for, much less having the full interest of another person focused fully on him.

"This is so damn girly." He complained as Kurama filled his arms with shirts. "We gonna look at makeup next?"

"Insulting again, Yusuke." The fox sighed, not the least bit offended. "Whatever will I do with you?" He had to turn away to hide a smile. There were several things he could think of to do to the boy, but he doubted said boy would be comfortable with most of them. Yet. "I think you have a good start here, my dear. Why don't you do try those on? I'll pass over anything else I find."

"Isn't there a three item limit?"

"I am a very good customer here, Yusuke. No one will say anything to you. And Yusuke?" The boy stopped halfway to the dressing rooms and turned back to him. Kurama let him see his smile this time. "I expect you to come out and let me see everything."

"What are you, my mom?"

"I am paying for everything and so I should make certain I approve of the choices before putting down my money for them."

Yusuke heaved a heavy sigh and continued on his way, grumbling under his breath. Very amused, Kurama looked through the racks of clothing for a few more moments before taking a seat before the dressing room mirrors and waiting.

He waited until he was certain enough time had passed before standing and going to the door he knew Yusuke was dressing behind, going up on tiptoe to peer over the separation.

"Having problems?"

Yusuke jumped, spinning to face him and clutching the shirt he had been taking off to his chest.

"Kurama!"

How charming for someone so strong to be so modest. Kurama wanted to laugh, but suppressed the urge.

"You were taking so long, I felt I needed to check up on you."

"Don't try that innocent act with me!"

He blinked, making his eyes as large as he could. "Whatever do you mean?"

"Will you go away?"

"Rude." He tsked. "Now, are you going to come out to show me the clothes, or will I have to come in there?"

"Kur-a-ma!"

Yusuke, much as he was loathe to admit it, was having a very good time. For all his protests, Kurama had managed to talk him into several outfits of the type which he would have never chosen for himself. Silk button-down shirts in bright, jewel-tone colors, several pairs of nice, name-brand pants, a few Chinese-style tunics. He owned a pair of leather pants, now, and wasn't sure if it was he or Kurama who had chosen them, they had been laughing so hard at the time. He had tried them on as a joke, really, but Kurama had sobered when he had come out of the dressing room wearing them and had promptly made the purchase.

It was a new and exhilarating experience, having someone pay him such consideration as the fox had shown. Merely by acting as a concerned friend Kurama had served to tame some of the furious hostility that had been burning within Yusuke's soul since almost longer than he could remember.

The red haired demon even thought to stop at a store to buy toiletries to replace those Yusuke had been making do with. He had run out of hair gel two days ago, and was very thankful for the stop.

Or he had been, until, while looking at the large selection of gel products (and teasing Kurama about choosing the most expensive) he had happened to look up to catch a glance of Kurama's face, unguarded.

"You know," Yusuke had drawled, turning away so Kurama wouldn't know he had caught the look, "I think maybe there's a change needed." He put the product he held back on the shelf and turned back to the fox with a grin. "I don't feel like bothering with that stuff anymore."

The green-eyed boy had shrugged, nonchalant.

"Whatever you want, my dear."

Later, it would be impossible for Yusuke to explain to himself exactly why he had gotten the feeling just from that tiny glance at Kurama that the fox preferred him without the hair gel, or why he even cared, but he had decided then and there that he could get used to the annoying feeling of bangs in his eyes.

Anyway, the previous look was for a Yusuke that no longer existed. He had a new life now, a new beginning. He hadn't been to school since almost a week before moving in with Kurama – what need was there, really, for tough-guy punk Urameshi, terror of every schoolyard gang in the district? Demons didn't care what he did to his hair (except, perhaps, Kurama) and he was beyond trying to intimidate humans.

"Are you hungry?" Kurama asked with a smile as they headed to the car.

It seemed to Yusuke that Kurama smiled a lot more lately. He didn't know if it was just that he was spending more time around the fox and so he noticed it more, or if somehow Yusuke's presence had initiated some sort of change.

He toyed for a moment the thought of asking Hiei, but banished the thought quickly. The small demon was as likely to lie to him as to just not answer. Yusuke rarely saw the dark haired imp, but the two had certainly not grown to be friends over his time living with him. Hiei tolerated him at best.

He wondered if it had anything to do with Kurama…

"I could go for something, I guess." Yusuke decided with a shrug, trying to sound as indifferent as possible.

Kurama gave a cool chuckle, warmth in his eyes as he glanced Yusuke's way.

"Are you still pouting about my forcing you to spend the day with me?" He teased. "Is it such an odious task? Really, my dear, I'm not certain how much more of this I can take. I may begin to weep if you continue to hurt my feelings so."

"That threat's only gonna hold for so long, man, before I'm gonna have'ta force you to come up with something new."

"A new worry to fretover." He sighed. "What shall I ever do?"

Yusuke began to laugh. It was a goofy, completely embarrassing laugh, but he couldn't stop it.

Kurama looked very pleased with himself as he slid into the driver's side of the car.

The quiet clink of glasses and plates and silverware, the indistinguishable murmur of voices. The restaurant was bright and warm and not very crowded, creating a safe, inviting atmosphere.

Of course, Yusuke was halfway convinced that even a cheap fast food joint full of screaming kids could seem downright cozy if Kurama was there with him.

Not that Kurama would ever be caught dead in a cheap fast food joint.

"I am very glad you agreed to my little game this morning, Yusuke." The fox informed him with one of those small, quiet smiles that meant everything and nothing. A pale, manicured hand reached across the table to grasp Yusuke's lightly, and the young man did not pull away.

That was interesting – the fact his initial response had not been to jerk his hand away as quickly as possible. There was a time not too long ago when he would have.

Trapped between the urge to turn his hand to squeeze Kurama's, and the knowledge that he should pull away, Yusuke remained as he was, frozen awkwardly in place.

In such a situation, there is only a short time span in which one can respond. Once that time has run out, things become uncomfortable.

Kurama held onto his hand for several moments after that time limit passed, and removed it just as Yusuke was deciding to force himself to do something.

"What looks good to you?" The fox asked, concealing himself behind his menu.

"Kurama…you know how much this all means to me…right?"

A stretch of silence. Slowly Kurama's eyes appeared above the top edge of his menu, warm and glittering. His gaze locked onto Yusuke's for several long moments, neither speaking. An understanding beyond words seemed to pass in the silence between them.

Blood rushing to his face (and other parts of his body) Yusuke was the first to break eye-contact, ducking his gaze to his own menu.

To be Continued

A moment of clarity. Sometimes, when you know, you know. How long you ignore it after you know, is another matter completely. See you next week, I hope. I liked this chapter and thought Kurama's teasings were fun...I'm thinking maybe I'll get a few complaints about Kurama's behavior...but I can only write him the way I see him. The part where Hiei states that he likes to watch Kurama is my favorite, by the way.

I haven't yet made a decision about the piercing, so you still have time to comment. I might push it back until later in the story, though, because I don't think the popular vote would be very in character right now...(it was going to be next chapter...oh well. Back to the drawing board.)

Waaa! All my hits stats have reset! I knew that it was a possibility, but I miss those big numbers!

Response to Reviews:

KyoHana - first review for chapter three. Muffins for you. Mmmm, I think we'll see Kurama in such a state many times in the future. Thanks for reading!

BlueUtopiah - Yay! (Happiness) Hmm, Hiei is one of my favorite characters to write in all the world...but I can't say as he's too fond of me...(Snicker.) Thankies!

kit-kit - Chapter four is served.

Abi - My real goal is to put Yusuke as off-balance as possible

Tazzy - I was really happy with that scene, too. Mm, your tatoo comment has given me a wonderful idea. Thankies!

Mieco - I couldn't bring myself to leave those ends untied...it was a sad scene to write, but I really liked the tenderness Yusuke showed for his mom while he was saying goodbye. It is really nice to be posting things I'm happy with again. Thanks for the support!

Fluffy's Brevis - Thanks. Now, let's see if it stays that way...

Cryptic.kitsune - Hmm, you never know. Some say flattery is more powerful than chocolate...Mmmmm...chocolate...

Itsjustme182 - The French maid's uniform was just a random joke. Sorry, there was no point to it other than the thought made me giggle. I've actually read a fic where a guy had his navel pierced and it was really, really hot. It's become one of my favorite things, but as for whether or not Yusuke gets one, I guess we'll (myself included) will just have to wait and see. I don't hate anybody!

hyperdude - (Blushes)

Jena- Hmm, I actually never thought about that...though I wonder how often Yusuke would be fighting topless. I thought DBZ was the only show where topless-ness was required before a fight...not that I would complain...(lol) Hiei...mischievious or perverted...who knows? Probably both. Must lead to some pretty (Ahem) interesting things in private...

All right, that seems to be it for this week. Don't forget to review! And all comments and suggestions are certainly welcome! Next chapter... something good happens. I think. Maybe. Bai bai!