The Childhood Friend of Kurama Part 2: Ayame's Frustration and Kurama's Regret

It's only been since yesterday since I saw Shuichi in town, and the frustration hadn't stopped building up inside of me. I could've gone without seeing him for the rest of my life and he ruined it for me. I hoped going to the park would calm me down, but memories of the two of us coming to this park as children kept coming back. Almost everywhere I went had a certain memory of the two of us together, which made it that much harder to forget him. I sighed as tears made their way down my face.

"Damn you, Shuichi Minamino. Why'd you have to ruin everything? I was so close to forgetting about you."

Since I was the only person on the bench, I decided to lay down and think about yesterday's events. I thought Shuichi would've let go of his insecurities and finally summon up the courage to tell me his big secret, but he never even tried to tell it to me when I saw him with his friends, who I realized must've known his secret.

'Now that we've met again, what happens now? If I'm going to forget about him, it'll take some work.'

It frustrated me to think he didn't trust me with his secret, but what frustrated me even more is that these new friends of his seem to know the secret. I've been nothing but a good friend to Shuichi and was always around for him to have someone to talk to, so why couldn't he trust me with his big secret? As soon as I got home, I headed for my room. Wanting to vent my frustration, I picked up a pillow from my bed and tossed it against the wall, knocking over a framed picture from my dresser. I hurried to pick it up and gasped when I saw what picture it was. It was a picture of me and Shuichi at the park sitting together on a bench. Shuichi's mother, Shiori, had taken it when she was babysitting me and it was taken not long after we became friends. I smiled slightly as tears fell down my face. This picture was the very first picture taken of the two of us together, a picture I always cherished above all others taken of us. After taking it out of the broken picture frame, I carefully placed it in my wallet and headed out to the supermarket to get some food.

Kurama's POV:

As a way to try and forget the hurt look on Ayame's face when I saw her yesterday, iI invited Yusuke and Kuwabara over to my house. Unfortunately, Ayame ended up being all we talked about.

"So Kurama, what happens now? I mean if she's living here again, you're bound to run into each other more."

"Considering how things ended for the two of us, it'll be quite awkward. When we talked yesterday, I could feel the tension coming from her. I could tell it was difficult for her to be near me."

Kuwabara whistled and shook his head.

"Urameshi was saying he could feel the tension, too."

I looked at Yusuke as he nodded in confirmation to Kuwabara's statement.

"Considering how much more in tune I am to my senses, I could definitely feel the tension. I'm surprised she didn't...you know, slap you or something."

"I doubt someone like Ayame would consider doing something like that, Yusuke."

I looked up at the living room window as I felt a familiar presence.

"It's unlocked, Hiei."

"Hn."

Hiei opened the window and jumped in, locking it behind him. Kuwabara raised an eyebrow as he looked at his former teammate.

"I thought Shorty wasn't coming back yet."

"Replacements for his patrol unit must've arrived. He said he'd remain here permanently when they did."

"Why?"

"To keep an eye on Yukina."

"Oh, yeah. He's playing the role of big brother."

"Hn, I am her brother, fool."

I chucked slightly as I recalled that day. Right before Genkai died, Kuwabara found out that Hiei was Yukina's brother after he and his sister, Shizuru, invited Yukina to live with them. Shizuru accidentally revealed it to Kuwabara during an argument over finding Yukina's long-lost brother and surprisingly, Hiei took this piece of news well. He also didn't mind the fact Yukina lived with them, although he wouldn't reveal it out loud. He, over time, had come to accept Kuwabara's feelings for Yukina, who finally reciprocated those feelings.

"I suggest you prepare yourself, Fox."

"For what, Hiei?"

"Your mother ran into your little friend at the supermarket and invited her over."

"What?!"

I stood up abruptly at this piece of news. I had a feeling my mother would eventually run into Ayame in town, but I never expected her to invite her raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms.

"Kurama, you're making it seem like it's a bad thing."

"At the moment, it is, Yusuke. In case you forgot, Ayame and I are no longer friends."

"Maybe your mom invited her over to see if you two could patch things up."

I put a hand to my forehead, then looked at Hiei.

"When is she supposed to be coming?"

"Hn, around dinner, supposedly."

I thanked Hiei for his piece of news and after he took off,I looked at Yusuke and Kuwabara.

"If you don't have anything planned,I suggest you plan on sticking around here.I may need your support in case things with Ayame doesn't work out."

"Urameshi and I were planning on staying anyway,Kurama,so don't even worry about it."

At that point,my mother had walked in witth a couple bags of groceries.

"Oh,Shuichi.I see your friends are they staying for dinner?"

"If Father and Kokoda don't mind visitors,Mother."

"Of course they can stay for 's not every day your friends come to see you boys again."

"You,too,Ma'am."

"Just call me 'am makes me sound old."

As the three of us helped my mother put away the food,I looked at her.

"I heard you invited Ayame over this evening."

"I did,Shuichi.I ran into her at the supermarket and suggested she come seemed a little hesitant,but agreed to stop by when I mentioned what I'd be cooking."

"Which is...?"

"My meatloaf and homemade scalloped potatoes."

I smiled as I remembered growing up with that Ayame would come over to have the meatloaf and potatoes,she would comment on that being her favorite dish that my mother soon as that thought was over,my mind drifted back to how awkward the visit would be.I wanted everything to go smoothly but knowing how rough things were with me and Ayame,I had doubts that it would happen.

That's a wrap for part Ayame expresses frustration,Kurama hears from Hiei that his mother,Shiori,invited Ayame over for dinner after running into her at the 3 will be in Kurama's POV as dinner preparations are finished and Ayame in part 3,Kurama expresses concern when Hiei reveals he plans on approaching Ayame about her grudge against tuned to see what happens