Several times in the writing of this chapter, I got stuck. If it sucks, don't come crying to me. It was bloody painful getting started...
All right, so I said I was going to wait on the whole piercing decision. Well, when I went back to change what I had written and decided that I actually liked it. So, though it doesn't go with popular opinion, it's staying. There might be something more later on, though…
(Z)
Yusuke had not had a good night's sleep. He had tossed and turned all night, seeking sleep though his mind had been unwilling to rest. Every time he closed his eyes, he had been able to see nothing but bright, warm eyes, peering into his own.
Somehow those eyes held all the understanding of the world. Somehow, they knew everything about him, yet accepted it all unquestioningly, and were still able to look upon him with fondness.
How could he feel at ease with those eyes watching him all night?
The moment had only lasted a few seconds, yet somehow it had felt like years. He was sure that sometime during that singular moment he had finally understood those quiet smiles and teasing words Kurama was so well known for. He had understood Kurama.
The moment had passed, and he found himself as lost as before, except for a new, impossible feeling that there was something to Kurama's teasings other than the fox's "nature."
He had found himself assaulted with a barrage of images and half-formed ideas. Oh, the possibilities!
How in hell could he have slept with that running through his mind?
It wasn't fair, he decided around three in the morning. Because of his feelings, he had allowed himself to think these things about the man who had so selflessly done so much for him. Kurama was helping him, and so Yusuke wanted him to care about him. He wanted it to mean something.
Unfair.
Unfair to Kurama, unfair to Hiei, and unfair to Yusuke as well.
It was his mother's fault, he decided. He was so starved for affection that he was willing to hurt himself by imagining that others felt for him – cared for him the way he so wanted to be cared for.
By six a.m., Yusuke Urameshi was up and getting dressed, having decided a brisk jog in the cool early morning air was just what he needed to clear his head.
He cursed quietly as, stretching his arms up above his head to pull on his shirt, there was a slight pulling of pain lower on his body. After lunch the day before, he and Kurama had gone for a walk around the town. Somehow, Yusuke had ended up going into a tattoo parlor, though he couldn't for the life of him remember why. He hadn't had the smallest drop of alcohol at lunch, but maybe he had been drunk all the same.
Drunk on Kurama? Sometimes the youko had frightening effects on people. Even more frightening that Yusuke, too, could be affected.
How much more potent had the fox's strange, alluring magic been before he had come to reside in a human body? Yusuke didn't want to think about it. Surely the man had been able to get anything he wanted with the merest hint of a smile.
Yusuke was definitely falling under the youko's spell, whatever it was.
However it had happened though, whether at Kurama's manipulative urgings or Yusuke just merely wanting to show off, (had there been something about a dare, maybe?) Yusuke had gone into the shop, alone, and had come out with an…addition. An addition he had refused to reveal to the curious Kurama.
He would never know what the hell had possessed him to get his navel pierced.
Hurt like hell now, though.
Cursing his own stupidity, Yusuke finished dressing and slipped out of the house.
(Z)
The call had been unexpected, but not entirely unwanted. He had, in fact, been hoping for it ever since the strange disappearance of Urameshi. And while he was pretty sure he knew the exact answer to the riddle that had left Koenma's office in near chaos for the past few weeks, (It was the shrimp's fault! It had to be!) he wasn't stupid enough to tell anyone of his suspicions.
This was the chance he had been waiting for, he knew. The chance to prove to the world, as well as himself, that he could do absolutely anything that punk Urameshi could.
And now, finally, the call to act had come.
He stared at the letter in his hands, nearly gibbering with joy, images of his eventual stunning acts of bravery dancing through his head.
It would impress everyone (the image of a small girl with sad, wine-red eyes and long, beautiful blue hair flashed through his mind and he felt his face begin to flush.) At last he would be looked at with the admiration and respect he deserved.
"Why is your nose bleeding?"
He gave a jolt at the sound of the voice; he had forgotten he wasn't alone.
"And stop grinning like that; it's creepy."
Hastily wiping his nose with the back of his hand, Kuwabara turned his starry-eyed gaze to the small ferry-girl beside him.
"When are they gonna call us in?" He asked impatiently, remembering belatedly that he was in the reception area of Koenma's offices.
"They called us ten minutes ago. I've been trying to get your attention all this time." Boton tilted her head, squinting up at him. "Are you all right?"
"Just excited!" He said truthfully, passing the oni that stood holding open the door of the toddler's office.
The place was a mess, bespeaking the importance of the mission he was about to be assigned. (A mission he was going to do all by himself! The young human could barely contain his glee.) Obviously all of the young child's resources were going toward the no-doubt momentous task he was about to ask Kuwabara to undertake.
He sat down in a chair situated before the desk and his knees knocked together with nervous energy, as he found himself unable to stay still.
"Well?" He asked, jittery with enthusiasm.
The toddler's chair was turned around, and he couldn't see the squirt. But his voice came from the other side of the chair, strained and just barely this side of panic.
"Kuwabara. I'm glad you're here."
"I came as soon as I could."
"Good…good."
"You can count on me. I can handle this, even without Urameshi." Especially without Urameshi.
"I hope so, Kuwabara." He answered gravely. "This mission is of the utmost importance to the future of the world. Kuwabara…" His chair turned, swiveling to face the young human sitting before his desk. There was something off about him. Something…missing. His eyes were large and filled with tears, his bottom lip trembling. "Kuwabara," He wailed finally, " I need you to find my binky!"
Kuwabara felt his jaw drop, along with his stomach. Disappointment curdled deep within his gut, along with embarrassment, and fury, and the mad urge to laugh.
The brat had lost his pacifier.
(Z)
Kurama was halfway through his breakfast, and two-thirds through the morning paper when he heard the front door open and close quietly. Hiei's eyes flickered up from his own meal, and he stared at Kurama, waiting for the fox's response to what-or who-ever was entering the room behind him. (Whether he liked to look at Kurama or not, his primary reason for always insisting on sitting across from him was so that the two could watch each other's backs, Kurama knew. The other excuse had been nice, though.)
When Kurama failed to show surprise or hostility to the newcomer, the smaller demon ducked his head back to his food, dismissing the chance of a potential threat.
Setting his paper aside, Kurama smiled at Yusuke as the young human boy entered the kitchen.
"We wondered where you had gone, my dear." He stated, noting how the boy's t-shirt clung wetly to his body, how his messy black bangs were plastered to his forehead. "Out exercising so early? My, but you're an active one."
He shrugged, refused to meet his eyes, and mumbled something incomprehensible, staggering to the refrigerator and removing a gallon jug of water. Kurama watched with a mixture of amused fondness and disgusted fascination as the young human removed the lid and began to gulp down the clear, cold liquid as if he had been about to die from thirst. With some alarm, Kurama wondered just how long the dark-haired boy had been out running. With the degree of physical strain the detective commonly put himself under, the risk of dehydration was high.
"Perhaps you should sit." He suggested, alarm growing as he realized that the human had already consumed nearly half the jug.
Without pulling his lips from the water, Yusuke plopped down into his usual chair between the two demons.
Hiei's nose wrinkled.
"You stink, detective."
"Hiei!"
"He should have showered before joining us." The small demon insisted petulantly, pushing his plates away and crossing his arms. "I've lost my appetite."
"Do try to behave!"
Yusuke finally pulled himself away from the water with a loud gasp, turning a tired glare on the diminutive demon.
"Why don't you bite me?"
Hiei bared his teeth.
Kurama rose and the argument broke off, both of his companions staring at him. He forced a small smile onto his face, though inside he felt a growing distress. "I will not have this." He stated finally. His voice was soft, dangerous. Even Hiei paled a little. "You are both old enough to know how to use manners and I expect you two, at the very least, be polite to each other. Now, apologize."
"Sorry Kurama."
"Sorry, Kurama."
"Not to me!" He flung up his hands in exasperation as the two shot hate-filled glares at each other, scowls spread across their pretty faces.
"Wait!"
"Hey, where are you going?"
He stopped, partway out of the kitchen, at their protests at his exit. "I cannot abide being near either of you when you insist on behaving in such a fashion." He stated without turning around.
He could not restrain an exasperated sigh as he heard a hissed "this is all your fault" as he left the kitchen.
Hiei flickered past him in the hallway, and reached their bedroom long before the angry fox did. As the redhead entered the room, he found his longtime-lover sitting on the edge of their bed, glaring daggers as him.
"Don't. Start." Kurama glared, closing the door after him. For good measure, he locked it, too, and leaned against it.
One of Hiei's eyebrows rose, a graceful arc. "Start what?"
"You're going to try to calm me down, and right now I very much want to be angry with you."
The small demon snorted, crossing his arms and looking away. "He did stink. I was only being honest."
"If you keep antagonizing him, he will leave us!"
"You mean he will leave you. Has it ever taken you so long to get something you wanted?"
"You're such a bastard." He sighed, crossing the room to sit next to the dark little fiend. "You know you'll never have him if you keep treating him like an inferior. Our detective is not that kind of boy."
"I'm being realistic." Hiei reached up and pulled harshly on a strand of his companion's soft, glistening hair, making the fox hiss. "If you can't seduce him, then what chance do I have?"
Kurama nudged him, anger already melted away. "Don't speak like that." He chided, laying down. "You could seduce him. You're just too stubborn to try." He gave a soft chuckle at Hiei's snort, leaning up only long enough to grab Hiei's arm and pull him down atop himself. He smiled into the wine-red glare. With those eyes on him, he was the only person in the entire world. "You seduced me." He reminded the demon on his chest gently.
"You were a mess then. An oni in a tutu could have seduced you."
"Well, they do look so very sexy in tutus…"
Hiei snorted, laying his head against Kurama's chest. "I'll have to remember that next time you ask me to take you to the ballet."
Kurama hummed his agreement, closing his eyes as his hands shifted in Hiei's clothing until they were resting against the bare skin of his lover's sides.
"You know what we should do?" Hiei asked after several moments of contented silence.
Kurama's eyebrows rose, but he did not open his eyes. "I know what you're going to say, and the answer is no. I was about to go out and do some gardening."
"Come on," Hiei implored smoothly, "It won't take long."
"That's what you said last time."
Hiei lifted his head. His eyes, so often hostile and unreadable, were openly warm. Kurama was certain that, even among the other lovers the small fighter had had in his life, he was the only one to ever see that look.
"Kurama…"
"I don't feel like it. I'm not in the mood."
"The sun is perfectly positioned." The dark little demon said, voice so very persuasive.
"All right." Kurama sighed, unable to fight a smile. "Fine. You win. We can take a nap. But only ten minutes."
"Ten minutes." Hiei agreed with a nearly imperceptible smile.
(Z)
"That's not my binky." Koenma complained, taking the small plastic pacifier Kuwabara offered him and throwing it across the room.
"I told you buying a new one wouldn't work." Boton, next to him, singsonged.
"It's just like the old one!" The large fighter complained.
Koenma shook his head, tears filling his eyes. "It's…it's not the same."
Wearily, Kuwabara took a step back, fearful of yet another river of tears. As it was, they were already standing ankle-deep in tear-flood.
"Can't you just give a new one a try?" He pled.
"I WANT MY BINKY!" The toddler wailed.
Kuwabara ducked under a fresh onslaught of tears. This was it, he decided. He wasn't destined to go down fighting, he was going to die right here and right now. By drowning.
Damn Urameshi. And damn the shrimp, too. Surely this was his fault, somehow.
Koenma's wails became full-force, eardrum-bursting baby screams. Boton bunched a hand in his jacket and managed to drag him from the office, sloshing through the tears and miscellaneous office supplies as numerous oni attempted to calm the distraught child.
The reception area was still unexplainably dry. Kuwabara winced at his sopping wet socks, pulling one off and ringing it out.
"Urameshi would have never been asked to do something as stupid as this." He grumbled, ringing it out.
"Actually," Boton corrected tiredly, staring at the soaked and ruined hem of her kimono, "A week before he disappeared he was in here looking for Mr. Blankie. Now that was a mess."
(Z)
It was just nearing twilight when Yusuke finally gathered up the courage to go in search of Kurama. He was ashamed, to tell the truth, to have upset the fox when the man had been so kind as to take him in.
Plus, Hiei had vanished shortly after Kurama had left them, and Yusuke had certainly not wanted to go looking for the red haired demon and find him in some sort of embarrassing situation. (Embarrassing for Yusuke. He doubted anything could ruffle Kurama.)
But Hiei had returned about an hour ago and the two had shared a tense and silent dinner in which there had been no sign of their housemate.
Yusuke hoped now, at least, it was safe to go looking for him.
He hadn't taken into account, however, just how difficult it would be to find the former thief. It was Hiei who showed him the right direction, after Yusuke had interrupted his evening meditation a total of three times.
Yusuke headed for the garage.
The backyard of the house the two demons shared was too small for much of a garden; even Kurama's small patch of potted herbs looked to be too much for it. But the garage was large enough for two cars. The creative fox had placed his precious car in the first half of the garage, and fiercely warded the other, until it became a veritable greenhouse, much better suited than the tiny backyard (yet Yusuke still doubted it was large enough for the plant master's entire horde of flora.)
He found Kurama there, as Hiei had reluctantly promised he would, but he did not approach him right away. Still behind the wards, he was not yet within the range of the demon's senses, and had to himself a few rare, stunningly important moments to observe the other man without his knowledge.
A person is always different around others than he is when by himself. Thinking himself alone in his garden, the red haired beauty seemed to have lost the elegant aloofness which always ruled everything he did, and gained, if it was even possible, more elegance and confidence. No one watching him move about the greenhouse would ever confuse him for human, Yusuke was certain. No human could ever look so perfect.
Dressed in a pair of faded, torn, and stained jeans and an overlarge gray t-shirt, he was stunning to Yusuke. His hair was pulled back into a high, messy tail, and his nose and cheeks were smudged with dirt. He was completely in his element.
He was beautiful.
Kurama straightened from his crouch and finally caught sight of Yusuke as he reached for a water pail. Instantly he was transformed, loosing the relaxed harmony he had held while Yusuke had been watching and becoming once more the impossibly perfect, elegant man he thought he was beginning to know.
He had never before considered that the other could be an illusion. He wondered if Kurama ever acted the way he had seen beyond the garden. Perhaps alone with Hiei…?
Pushing down a sudden urge of jealousy that he most definitely did not want to think about, Yusuke stepped past the wards and into the greenhouse as Kurama gave one of his small, unreadable smiles and motioned for him to join him.
He stepped past the wards and gasped at the sudden hot, moist heat.
"It seems you've found my little hideaway." Kurama observed. For a moment he looked as if he had been about to wipe his hands on his jeans, but then he paused as if re-thinking and grabbed up a towel from a worktable, cleaning his hands on that, instead. "Is there something you need?"
"No, I just…" Yusuke shrugged, loosing all the words he had rehearsed just mere minutes ago. "Just wanted to talk, you know."
"Do you mind if I continue, then?"
"No, no, of course not." He watched him for a few moments as the fox returned to work, missing the man he had seen when he had been watching without the other man's knowledge. "Look, I wanted to apologize for earlier…" He said finally, feeling stupid and awkward.
Kurama glanced at him over his shoulder, smiling. "Hiei started it with his rudeness. Nevertheless, it is he you should be speaking with…though it's not as if you didn't have something to do with it as well."
"Yeah…I know." He shifted, wondering what the hell was wrong with him. He shouldn't need to apologize for fighting with Hiei, he shouldn't feel so clumsy around Kurama, and he shouldn't get that strange, fluttery feeling in his gut every time he looked at the man. Wincing, he turned away from his companion, reaching out to idly finger a leaf of some ferny-looking plant. "I felt like I owed you an apology first, though…because of everything you've done for me."
There was a silence, and then he felt hands on his shoulders. Kurama turned him toward him, catching his chin in his hand and staring into his eyes with an intensity that made the young human afraid to breathe.
"After everything you've done for me, my dear?" He asked quietly, voice taking on that rare, intimate tone Yusuke was beginning to become so very fond of. "I fear I will forever be in your debt."
Yusuke managed a small laugh somehow.
"Why don't we call it even, then?" He asked, shocked to hear the breathless tone of his voice.
Kurama smiled one of those small, mysterious smiles, shifting his gaze past Yusuke to the plant the young man had been looking at. His fingertips lightly brushed the young detective's shoulder as he reached past him and gently broke off a small section of the delicate leaves.
"This is coriander." He said quietly, eyes locking with Yusuke's once more as he brandished his prize. "It's a very useful little herb…a primary ingredient of curry, and its oil is used in beverages, candy…" He leaned forward a little, lips almost brushing Yusuke's as he spoke, voice the faintest whisper. "And in the language of fauna, it is used to symbolize a deep, all-consuming lust."
"Oh…" He breathed, unable to find his voice, much less move. He could feel Kurama's leg against his own, feel the warmth radiating against his body. The fox did not break eye contact as he lightly brushed the leaf against Yusuke's cheek, leaning forward even farther. His lips brushed Yusuke's as he tucked the leaf delicately behind his ear.
His hand slid past once the leaf was secure, long, elegant fingers coming to rest gently against the back of Yusuke's neck as the fox tilted his head ever so slightly, pressed forward just the slightest bit more, and skillfully deepened the kiss.
His hand slid away, the feel of his lips faded slowly.
Yusuke opened his eyes and found himself alone in the greenhouse.
(Z)
Kurama could not help but to feel quite pleased with himself.
He wondered if it would be cruel to gloat of his actions to Hiei. He couldn't help it; things had gone so well.
Glancing at a mirror hanging in the hallway, he had to admit to himself that he might not be feeling quite so cocky in an hour or two. He had been using a large amount of his power in the greenhouse – more than he should have, anyway (Hiei would be livid if he found out.) He was still riding the power. It made him…different…than he usually was. Less careful.
He felt too powerful and strong to be careful.
In an hour, he would be regretting his rashness with Yusuke in the greenhouse. In an hour, he would be wracking his brain for an excuse he could tell the young man.
Oh well. What was life without regrets?
Kurama stopped at the hall closet, selecting a large towel and a fresh bar of scented soap and bath salts. A long soak would do. He could work things out there, as well as ride out the rest of his power, safe from the chance of further mishap.
Not to mention he was still filthy from his work in his garden.
"Kurama."
He turned, feeling a slight jolt to the confidence his power buzz brought him at the sight of Yusuke stalking purposefully toward him.
He had hoped, at the very least, to have some time to think before the human confronted him.
He had never seen such bright intensity in the human boy's chocolate dark eyes, and felt just enough fear to realize that the power was beginning to wear down.
The dark-haired detective stopped before him, staring at him for a long stretch of time.
Finally, he held out his hand, a clump of coriander clutched in his fist and a bright blush spreading across his face.
Kurama reached for the offering, hand closing around Yusuke's even as he took a step to close the distance between them. He bent his head to kiss him, but Yusuke acted first, throwing an arm around his neck and pressing his lips to the fox's.
Hungry was all Kurama could think. Yusuke was so hungry.
For affection, for friendship, for love.
The coriander slipped, unnoticed, to the floor.
(Z)
To Be Continued
So, there it is. Slower, but not as slow as it would usually be. Nevertheless, I think the build-up may have been sufficient. What do you think?
Yes, yes, I know I use a lot of plant symbolism in Bridges, too. I just find the idea so fascinating and elegant…perfect for Kurama. (I seem to use the word "elegant" a lot too. It's one of my favorite words…)
Hmm, fluffiness between Kurama and Hiei, and a glimpse into the relationship they keep secret from the rest of the world. Let me know what you think of that, too.
And yes, I know the significance of Koenma's "binky." (I doubt Kuwabara does though, or if he does, I doubt he remembers...) The scenes involving those two were really just to keep pacing problems from making me want to become violent.
Response to Reviewers:
BlueUtopiah - I'm glad you like him! I am so very fond of my version of our little fox...
KyoHana - Well, if people are getting perverted images, then I guess my job is done...lol. I'm glad you like Yusuke; the little punk gives me so much trouble!
Mieco - Thanks for the support. You're right, one should be hesitant to play cards...well, to play any game, really, with the fox. Hee.
cryptic.kitsune - I am having loads of fun with this. (Although having these three in my head again is proving to be a greater distraction than I had anticipated.) LOL, I have no boundries...
meikouhaikitsune - Thankies!
Kit Ninja - Ahh (blushes.) Actually, I don't know why, but the slicked back style he usually wears just really annoys me. I finally drew a pic of nekoYusuke I like, though I don't think it looks much like him (maybe that's the point, though?) If I can ever get ahold of DarkAvalon's scanner I'll put it up so everyone can see what's in my head...(scary thought...)
Dark Avalon - Your eyebrows must have muscles of steel
Jena - I adore that picture. Looking at it, and the few others I've found, I find myself wondering how anyone can insist those two aren't an item. Actually, I love all of the chapter-dividing artwork in vol 8. (But why is it going to take so freakin' long for vol 9 to come out? Pouts...)
Fran - Ack! You've caught me! Yes, I do try to update on Mondays. If I have a deadline, then I seem less likely to disapear for months on end, like I am so well-known for...
kikira-chan - Hmmm...just going to have to wait and see, I think...(That arc is going to be a little different than the original; that's all I'll say...)
kit-kit - Thankies!
Itsjustme182 - Yusuke may just be the most difficult-to-write character I've ever come across in my life. Sometimes, I just want to beat him, he makes things so difficult. I think it's because the cannon Yusuke is so...flat. (In my opinion, anyway.) Anyway, I'm glad you're liking him. Thanks for reviewing!
sae - Thankies!
Kurai-Youkai - Umm...okay?
Phew, that was a lot. Thanks so much, everyone! I can't wait to hear what you think of chapter 5...please be kind!
Lotsa Love,
Kit.