Bleeding Hearts
By Yami no Kokoro
Chapter 3
Yusuke's POV
I sigh, glancing at the watch I had half an hour ago found laying beneath my kitchen counter.
Kurama isn't supposed to be here for another 10 minutes. He's not gonna' stand me up. Stop freaking out, Yusuke. Just because you were so eager you showed up 15 minutes early doesn't mean everyone has to.
Yeah, I know what everyone's thinking. Me, early? Just goes to show what love does to a guy.
I can't help but glance at my watch anxiously again. Exactly 15 seconds have passed.
I just hope today goes well.
Kurama's POV
I smile softly, watching the 17-year-old Spirit Detective pace anxiously in front of the park bench we'd agreed to meet at over the phone.
I must have shown up about three minutes ago, always preferring to be early rather than on time, yet I haven't been able to move forward since, and now I'm coming dangerously close to being late.
He's incredibly handsome, dressed in a white wife beater and blue denim jacket, casual as always. His raven black hair, instead of being slicked back into its usual style, is falling loosely down into his deep chocolate eyes.
And he's pacing back and forth, waiting for me. Why can't I move forward?
Because he's incredibly handsome.
And I don't want to betray Hiei.
Stop it. I immediately push back the thought. How long can I continue to hide behind that excuse? Hiei has likely 'betrayed' me a hundred if not more times already. I shouldn't pretend that I owe him anything.
One minute until the time that we've prearranged to meet. Walk forward now, before I completely change my mind and leave him waiting there.
Sighing, I step from the trees and call his name.
He spins to face me and grins. He looks so happy now, that I can't help but smile as well.
And suddenly, I can't see how I ever considered leaving.
Yusuke's POV
Twenty minutes after he appears I can still hardly believe that he actually agreed to come.
Of course, I don't know what exactly this thing constitutes as. So far nothing has happened to imply that this is anything other than a meeting between two old friends.
We're wandering the park, chatting easily about times gone by, me talking - ok, bragging - about all of the battles I'd single handedly won, him agreeing and gently correcting me at the points where I exaggerate.
"Yeah," I laugh as we turn out of the large park and onto the main street, "and after that I needed to save Kuwabara's butt again as usual."
"Or," he cuts in, smiling at me. "What about the time when we all had to save you when Kido had you trapped by your own shadow?"
I can feel my face heat slightly.
"Oh, right." I decide to stop bragging after that. For a few minutes we wander in a comfortable silence, simply enjoying each other's company.
This is nothing like my 'dates' with Keiko, where we had to go looking in every window, running into every third store to let her try on dresses. This is . . . peaceful.
"So, how is Kuwabara?" He asks finally. I shrug.
"Same as always. Annoying, bigheaded. Except he's been studying like crazy all year so that he gets good grades on his exams. He's hoping to get accepted into Tochagani next year." The redhead's brows raise. "I know." I add, shrugging. "I was kinda' surprised when I heard."
"Tochagani is quite a good school." Kurama agrees, eyes moving to the window of a shop advertising demon-warrior action figures. I nod, smirking at several realistic looking visages.
"So, where are you going next year?"
He hesitates at my question, and moves to get a better look at the window.
"That one looks quite a bit like Gouki, don't you think?"
Ok, major subject change. Something's up.
"Kurama? We're talking about college, remember? Not action figures."
Hey, I sounded really responsible there for a minute.
He sighs, and turns to face me.
"I won't be attending college in the fall, Yusuke."
I gape. I realize I'm gaping. I close my mouth quickly, and then reopen it, this time to speak.
"But . . . Kurama, you're brilliant. You're more than brilliant; you're a total genius. You could probably have gone anywhere."
Brushing one strand of rose colored hair behind his right ear, he shrugs, lowering his gaze.
"Probably," he agrees, not boastingly. "This year I just . . . I never felt like applying. It got to January and I just finally decided not to bother going. I've had enough ningen education."
My companion turns abruptly back to the window.
End of subject. Ok . . .
"Wanna' go in? We can see if there are any plant wielding action figures."
"Or any that shoot energy from their fingertips." He agrees, smiling back at me and opening the door.
We step inside, and I decide that I can't just let his whole future slide 'cause he's depressed. Once again daring to bring up the untouchable subject, I ask,
"So, what are you gonna' do for money when you get out of school?" I pick up an American figure labeled 'Incredible Hulk' and marvel at how much it looks like a fully powered up Toguro, only green. "Rob a bank or something?" From across the small aisle the kitsune flashes me a mischievous grin and my eyes widen. "No way."
The grin disappears, but his good humor remains.
"Actually, no. I gave that up for good three years ago, remember? My stepfather has offered me quite a prestigious job at the company where he works, starting this summer, and I've accepted."
I nod, laughing nervously. Of course Kurama wouldn't rob a bank. He's not a thief . . . anymore...
"So, what will you do after high school?" He asks me, turning to a new shelf and picking up some kind of silver-eared animal demon called 'Inuyasha'. An almost eerie copy of Kurama's own Yoko form.
"No college for me either." I reply. "Twelve years of that prison were way more than enough for me."
"And I assume you won't be stealing money to make your living." He smiles, putting the doll back down, and I lift up a backward facing box on my own shelf to turn it around. Keiko's compulsive neatness is seriously starting to rub off on me.
"Nah. Actually, I was thinking of spending some time in the Makai after school ends. Check out my own little kingdom, play Demon Ruler for a while."
Kurama freezes at my words, dark emerald eyes going wide as he looks up to face me suddenly.
"Wh-what?" Then he catches sight of something that makes him take a step back. His eyes flick down to it, and then back to my face.
Abruptly he turns, and leaves the shop.
I stand, staring after him for a long moment.
Ok, what just happened?
Finally, I decide to follow him and find out. Shoving the box unceremoniously back onto the shelf I begin to move after him, but spin back in surprise as it clatters to the ground.
Lying on the floor in a packaged white box, is a monster figure with eyes glaring up at me from every part of its arms and chest.
Gods, I am such an idiot.
7 MONTHS EARLIER
The four teammates sat in Genkai's temple quietly. The aftermath of a battle with a power hungry demon sect had left them all injured and Botan and Shizuru, who had gotten caught in the crossfire, in bad condition.
Yukina and Genkai were both healing them now, as the boys waited for their less serious injuries to be treated.
Hiei seemed a bit more on edge than usual, and Kurama was shooting him sad and angry glances. Yusuke noticed the normally inseparable demons' attitudes, but figured that it was some kind of lover's feud that he'd rather not get in the way of.
Kuwabara was too busy thinking of Yukina to notice anything was going on, but even he looked up in surprise when Kurama said tightly,
"When?"
Hiei glanced up from his broken wrist and replied evenly,
"By the end of this month at the latest." The kitsune nodded and turned to look back out the window, a deep cut running across his cheek giving his usually gentle features a much harsher edge.
Or perhaps that had more to do with the death glare he was aiming at the sky.
"Kurama, I said that you could-" The fox cut off Hiei's unnaturally soft voice.
"I can't."
The koorime actually growled in frustration, moving to stand beside the plant tamer at the window.
"Why not?" He asked sharply. Kurama's deep green eyes moved to meet his.
"Shiori." He replied simply. Hiei nodded, turning away instead, leaving the fox to watch the back of his head sadly.
"You would stay here just for this mortal woman."
Kuwabara looked to Yusuke questioningly, and the boy only shrugged. He was pretty much as in the dark as the carrot top.
Where was Hiei going?
"Her, among other things. You could stay." The demi-koorime shook his head obstinately.
"No demon belongs in this realm. I'm not turning down her offer, Kurama. If I go I'll have my own kingdom in the Makai."
"Wow, wait. Your own kingdom? When did that happen?" Yusuke was ignored by both of his partners, who turned to glare at each other.
"Is it really the kingdom that you're going for?"
"What exactly is that supposed to mean?"
"Well, I was just wondering what else she's offering."
"Hey, guys. Calm down!"
"I'm not leaving to be with Mukuro, Kurama. No demon, not even you, should stay holed up in the Ningenkai like this. I always said that I'd be leaving once I got the opportunity."
"Yo, people?"
"And I'm so very glad that you were kind enough to grant me the opportunity to tag along, Hiei. But I'm not just a demon anymore. I've made a life here and I'm not ready to leave it."
"I will not stay here for your ningen ideals, Kurama! I'm going to the Makai with or without you."
There was a long pause, and Yusuke and Kuwabara, who were both on their feet now, despite various leg and chest injuries, waited silently for Kurama to reply.
Slowly, he stepped back towards the temple door, never taking his eyes from Hiei's.
"Then I suppose this is where we must part ways."
Were his eyes damp? The setting sun's light on his face made it seem so.
"Goodbye, Hiei."
In an instant he was gone from the temple. Yusuke watched the door as it swung shut, then turned to see Hiei's reaction, but the koorime had already disappeared.
PRESENT
Yusuke's POV
His cheek still carries the faintest scar from the wound that had never healed. If I'd ever bothered to pay attention in English class I'm sure that I'd know some fancy word that described that situation.
And now I'd accidentally brought up the old wound when all I'd wanted was a new relationship.
Stupid, stupid.
Not bothering to pick the pseudo-Hiei off the floor I turn and run from the store after the fox, hoping that he hasn't run too far.
Kurama's POV
I stop right outside the store and lean up against the building's brick wall, arms crossed over my chest.
Why does Inari spite me so? The day was going so well, I had actually avoided thinking about Hiei for perhaps half an hour or so. And then Yusuke had said that he might be leaving too, and he'd picked up that stupid doll . . . maybe Hiei was right after all. If Yusuke leaves . . . once school ends . . . what will there be for me in this realm?
Shiori, who is too wrapped up in her new family to really notice my absence anyway. A pity job in my stepfather's company working in an office day in and day out. Could the freedom loving Yoko in me handle a life such as that?
"Kurama!" The shop's doors bang open and Yusuke spots me, eyes wide and worried. I force a smile to my lips, though I think I'd rather be crying.
"I'm sorry Yusuke, I didn't mean to leave like that. I just . . ." I trail off when Yusuke shakes his head, clearly not believing my bright facade. A strange look enters his eyes, and my breath catches.
"Kurama . . ." he stops as well, then sighs, leans forward, and touches his lips to mine into a soft and then quickly deepening kiss. Without even thinking I respond, my hands moving up to finger his fine, silken tresses.
His own wrap around my waist, pulling me away from the wall and up against his well muscled form. His lips are gentle but demanding, and it's clear he has been waiting to do this for a very long time.
For an endless moment this lasts, us lost in our own little world of euphoria without thought, without anything but the feel of each other.
"Hey guys, get a room!" The words pull me back violently to reality, and I break away, eyes following a young man in black clothes riddled with chains as he strides past us and down the street, shaking his head. Only after he'd turned a corner do I return my gaze to Yusuke, who is watching me earnestly.
"I'm sorry I brought the Makai up before, and I'm sorry if it freaked you out. But, Kurama, I'm not Hiei. The Ningenkai is my world, and I wouldn't leave it forever. Especially if I have anything worthwhile keeping me here."
My mind is in a small state of shock. I'd kissed Yusuke and the world hadn't ended, I hadn't been struck down for abandoning my old love, and my heart hadn't shattered into a million pieces at the thought of it. Actually, I feel better than I've let myself in ages.
"Not Hiei . . ." is all I can reply, a bit numbly. "You knew?" He grins.
"Give me a bit of credit, Kurama, you two were always together. But if I could see what he had better than he could then I'm hoping that his loss can be my gain."
I notice, belatedly, that my arms are still wrapped around his neck, and his around my waist. I don't move back, instead lowering my gaze and replying softly.
"Yusuke, I can't-"
"Hey." He cuts in. "I'm not saying that you have to forget Hiei, or even that you've got to love me, but everyone has to move on at some point, and you didn't seem particularly set against that kiss a minute ago. So maybe I'll be able to help you get on with you're life.
"So what do you think? Can you give me a shot?"
Yusuke's POV
There's a heart-wrenching pause as I wait for Kurama to respond. He raises he gaze slowly, biting his bottom lip nervously. It's an incredibly adorable expression on him, and one that I don't think I've ever seen before. That one look almost makes up for the fact that he still hasn't answered.
Almost.
Finally he takes a deep breath and murmurs,
"I can't promise anything, Yusuke. A demon's heart is so rarely given away that it takes much longer than a mortal's to heal. I need to get over Hiei, I know . . ."
My heartbeat is already quickening, and a grin breaks over my face before I can stop it.
"Well, I think I might be able to help you out a little there." I reply, leaning in so that our lips are almost touching again. I just want to kiss him again, so badly. The sensation I'd felt when I'd touched him earlier had been electrifying, burning, and freezing with passion all at the same time. It was better than anything I've been able to imagine, and trust me, I've had to deal with too many sleepless nights imagining the kitsune's lips against mine, feeling his hands running through my hair . . .
I can't do anything yet, though. Not until I get his consent. Not until I see what I've been waiting for.
"Just give us a shot." My words are softer than a whisper, barely a breath against his lips, but I know that he can hear me. He has got fox ears, after all.
He finally does answer, but only in the fashion of a trembling smile and a minute nod. That's more than enough for me, and I lean in to lightly brush my lips over his again. He tightens his grip around my neck, pulling me closer.
Gods, this is incredible. I never thought I'd actually have a chance with him, yet here he is, in my arms.
Nothing's gonna' happen to mess this up.
I won't let it.
TBC