Sora: Here's the redone chapter two for you guys. Enjoy.
Quote: "A poet once this sentence penned, a man is rich who has a friend- I read it and I thought how true- he must have had a friend like you." Unknown
It truly is unsettling how something that seems so inconsequential can destroy lives. It was interesting, Kurama mused, how even the strongest of warriors could be turned into a mere shell because of another being. What was truly remarkable about that was the fact that the other being didn't intend to do any damage.
For weeks Yusuke had been deteriorating, fading into a shell that was barely recognizable as their fire-tempered friend. The cause had to be Keiko, for at first there had been worried glances, small attempts at talking to him. But as the weeks progressed her efforts to make peace with Yusuke became fewer, until they stopped all together. It was at this time that Yusuke reached the point he was at now, the point where he ignored everyone and their attempts to reach him.
It was because of this that Kurama was standing outside of Yusuke's high school, when he'd normally be at his own. The others had decided that he would be the one to talk to Yusuke, something about him having the most patience. Sighing he caught sight of Yusuke's dark hair as he made his way too the gate entrance. An amused look flash through his eyes; Yusuke hadn't even made it past second period. To be truly honest, Kurama was surprised he showed up at school at all.
"Yusuke," He called softly in his low baritone. Yusuke merely glanced up, only long enough to give Kurama one of his darkest glares. This reaction caused Kurama to raise an eyebrow. It had been a long time since he had last been on the receiving side of that particular glare. It was somewhat unnerving. That glare was mainly reserved for Yusuke's greatest enemies.
Shrugging off his unease, Kurama called out again, "Yusuke, please wait." This time Yusuke didn't even respond, he just continued to walk on, eyes straight ahead. Glaring at his friend, Kurama stepped forward and grabbed Yusuke's green-clad arm. That was a mistake. No matter how close you are to a fighter, or even how good of a fighter you are, never ever try to restrain them when they're not right in the head. Yusuke's punch took Kurama by surprise; it was something he had not been expecting. Kurama gazed at his friend, rubbing his jaw, and watched as shock registered on Yusuke's face. Apparently Yusuke hadn't been expecting to throw that punch either.
The silence stretched on as the two friends stared at each other, both unbelieving of what had just happened. "I…" Yusuke started, but couldn't complete as he once again fell into the silence that surrounded them. Seeing this Kurama tried to speak as well, it was, after all, what he came here to do. But before Kurama could even open his mouth a shout of "Idiot!" broke the silence, followed by Yusuke falling forward with the force of the hit that someone had landed on him. Kurama blinked. It was a very rare occasion when anyone could sneak up upon them.
To Kurama's surprise his eye's meet those of a sapphire-eyed young woman. Giving a quick glare in Yusuke's direction, she bowed to Kurama, forcing the surprised Yusuke's head down with her hand; and apologized, "So sorry sir. Please ignore my friend's stupidity. I'm afraid it's an incurable disease." Bowing once again, and a quick, "Please excuse us," she promptly turned, pulling at Yusuke's ear, and disappeared down the street.
Kurama remained in that spot for a few minutes, slowly analyzing what had happened. In the end he could only come up with one conclusion, that, even though he had known Yusuke for some time, he did not know his friend completely. There were still some mysteries that remained about the spirit detective. Shaking his head he turned and started toward his own school. It wasn't surprising in the end that they didn't know everything about Yusuke; he had, after all, never spoken of his own past.
-
"One year," the black-haired girl ranted as she pulled the young man behind her, "One stinking year is all it took to reduce you into this mess? Yesh! If I had known that I would have locked you in an insane asylum years ago!" Yusuke let the young woman pull him along; still trying to figure out how the connection he had with Kagome had stayed strong enough for her to tell that he was in need. When they had been children Kagome had always known where he was and if he needed her help. It was amazing that time and distance hadn't dispelled that ability. As Kagome slowed down to a calmer pace, most of her steam blown off by her rant, Yusuke let one of his rare smiles light up his face. One of those smiles that where rare for even when he was happy…
Sighing, Kagome came to a full stop. Her hand still clasping Yusuke's, she looked straight ahead, not wanting to see that empty expression where life should shine, "You haven't been this bad in years, what happened?" The sadness in her voice was evidence enough for her worry. Yusuke glanced to the side, his eyes full of past regret. "I guess it's really nothing, a relapse perhaps." In response Kagome squeezed his hand and continued forward.
"We should buy something, some flowers at least." Yusuke could only nod. It would be nice to spend some time with his dearest friend, even if the cause for the reunion was the anniversary of their fathers' deaths. "No sunflowers," he grunted, "the Old Man always hated those things." Giggling, Kagome nodded, "Right, no sunflowers."
-
"Have you talked to the detective yet?" That cold voice was the only greeting Kurama got when he arrived home from school. Casting an amused look toward the forbidden-child, Kurama shook his head, "We were…interrupted before I could say anything." The fire-demon gave him a questioning look. "Someone Yusuke seems to know showed up before I could truly say anything." He turned away from the watchful red-eyes and began to put his school things away. "Interesting thing is, she managed to sneak up on us; didn't even notice her till she made her presence known." That caught the small demon's attention. "A human?" his voice spat out in disgust. Kurama merely nodded. Yes, her smell was human, as far as he could tell.
"Do you have any idea who she could be?" the red-eyed demon questioned his friend. At Kurama's negative shake, he pressed, "A possible student or relation to the Old Woman?" Kurama's eyes narrowed in thought, focusing on the sent of the human girl he had just met, than he slowly shook his head, the crimson tresses waving gently. "No," came the quiet voice of the fox, "She had a sent I am not familiar with." Green eyes glanced to the side. "It almost had a holy-power taste to it, like that of a miko, but it was very weak." Shaking his head once again, Kurama slipped out of the room and down the hallway to begin his homework. Leaving behind the black-haired demon to ponder what exactly that meant, to them, and to their detective friend.
-
"That was your friend?" Yusuke couldn't help but laugh at Kagome's shocked face. They were at their fathers' grave. Kagome was kneeling down, her head tilled up as she gaped at her friend, and Yusuke standing, his hands in his pockets, reading the familiar tombstones. Shaking his head, he chuckled once again. "Yes, is it really that shocking?" He asked, giving her an inquiring glance.
She gave him a blank stare. "Frankly, with your attitude, yes it is shocking. However did you gain such a polite, not to mention patient, looking friend?" Kagome asked, recalling the clam way the red-head had reacted to Yusuke's unexpected punch. Not many people could tolerate that. She turned back to the tombstones and gently placed the blue-bell flowers onto the graves, no sunflowers as promised.
Looking to the side, Yusuke sighed. He hated to lie to Kagome, but he couldn't tell Kurama's true story, mainly because that particular story involved demons and stolen treasure, not to mention it really should be Kurama's choice to tell it or not. Instead he opted for a lighter version, hoping Kagome would just leave it at that. "He got into trouble while his mom was in the hospital. Guess you could say I talked some sense into him."
Raising an eyebrow, she asked, "Talked?"
Yusuke growled. "Yes talked, I am capable of that every now and then."
Raven locks waved in response as Kagome shock her head, a smile on her face. "I guess there's hope for you yet." She jumped up and started to walk away, leaving Yusuke standing by the graves of their fathers. His eyes narrowed and, with a shout of 'hey,' he dashed after the retreating girl's back.
As the two disappeared around the corner, a gentle wind blew at the incense they had lighted, causing it to swirl around the headstones, distorting the epitaph.
Beloved fathers:
We are borne to live, and live we shall until our death,
And in death we shall break from time.
Sora: That's it for now. Please tell me if I missed any errors. And those who've already read this, or are just reading it now, please give me some feedback on how you like, or dislike these chapters.