Disclaimer: Don't own YYH character or show, just my OCs and this apparent soap opera style plot

Kuronue groaned and clutched his head. He felt awful and tried to remember what had happened the night before. He remembered going off on his own for a walk to clear his head, but that he was bombarded with his thoughts about his father, Kara, and his past. He then remembered running into a guy from one of his classes. The guy had recognized him and invited him over to his friend's house.

Kuronue remembered walking into the house and smelling nothing but smoke and beer. When he was offered; however, he didn't remember taking the drink even though he wanted to. All he remembered having was ginger ale, something he always drank when he was stressed. He did remember his memory getting fuzzy after drinking the ginger ale though.

Damn it, no wonder they say go places in groups in this place. But it looks like I'm back in my room. What happened?

Kuronue was facing his nightstand and saw the glass of water Kara had left for him. He assumed that he must have called Kurama and that he got him back here. Moving slightly, Kuronue froze. He felt someone's arm around him. Now he was more concerned that somehow this guy got him wasted, and then he ended up in bed with some random girl.

After he turned over, he was relieved. Kuronue saw Kara there sleeping and concluded that she must have helped him. But why? Sure they were friends and really close, sure he had helped her before, but Kara didn't owe him anything and taking care of a drunk is going above and beyond. He would know. He had to deal with his father numerous times after all.

He was brought out of his inner ramblings when Kara stirred. After stretching, she opened her eyes and saw Kuronue staring at her smiling. She returned his smile and curled back up against him.

"What time is it?" he whispered.

"Late," she replied.

Kuronue nearly shot up, but his headache returned and he thought against it. "Why didn't you wake me?" he asked. "Better yet, why didn't you go to class?"

"I asked Kurama to go on my computer and e-mail my teacher and say I was taking care of a sick friend and that I wouldn't be coming to class today, but that I would go get the notes from her later."

"Why?" he asked.

"Don't look so surprised. I was the only one you would talk to last night. There was no way I was going to leave you here to wake up somewhere you may not even remember being in."

Kuronue's smile widened when he realized how much Kara was giving up just to help him this once. "You didn't have to do that."

She rubbed his shoulder comfortingly. "I know, but I wanted to."

Kuronue didn't know what came over him, but he ended up kissing her forehead and saying, "Thank you," so softly that she almost didn't hear him.

"So what couldn't you tell me?" Kara asked him. They had both gotten dressed and she was now making breakfast (or brunch at this point).

"Huh?"

"Last night I asked you why you drank and you said you wanted everything to go away."

"I did?" Kuronue asked. He was extremely shocked since he didn't remember drinking willingly. "Kara, I don't know why I said that, but I didn't pick up a drink…that I know of."

"What do you mean?" Kara asked.

Kuronue sighed before answering. "I was taking a walk to clear my head, which didn't work, but I ran into a classmate. I went over to his friend's house. They offered; I refused. Then I asked for ginger ale and I guess I shouldn't have trusted them."

"Yeah, but that doesn't explain what you said after," Kara stated.

"And what was that?" Kuronue asked attempting to remember.

"I asked you if it helped and you said no…maybe you were talking about the walk or something…anyway I told you talking about it would help and then you said you couldn't tell me. You said it had to do with your father and your mother and then said a lot of stuff that didn't make any sense."

Kuronue looked out the window to avoid her gaze and sighed sadly. Kara thought he wasn't going to say anything more but was surprised at what he said next.

"It's getting close to the anniversary of my mother's death. It happened a few years before I met you when we were teenagers," he explained.

"What happened?" Kara asked.

"That's what I can't tell you," Kuronue said. "If I tell you anything more, you'll be in danger."

"From who?"

"From my father," Kuronue answered reluctantly. "There's a reason why I don't want my father to know who my friends are. I tried for a long time to not have any friends after we moved again. Kurama wouldn't let that happened, though; and even though I'm grateful, I really wish he had left me alone."

"Maybe that's why you kept telling him to leave you alone last night," Kara thought out-loud.

Kuronue was shocked. He had never spoken that way to Kurama even when he thought it was best. When he saw Kurama later, he would have to apologize. It seemed like his friend was the one who directed Kara to him when he needed her.

"I'm sorry," Kuronue said after a few minutes of silence.

"For what?" Kara asked innocently.

"For making you worry," Kuronue stated, "for hurting Kurama, and most importantly for getting you involved."

"Kuronue, involved in what?" Kara asked again.

"You're smart..." he said. "I'm sure you can figure it out."

Kara continued cooking and thought back on all the information Kuronue had given her. Kuronue was upset, mostly from the fact that the anniversary of his mother's death was coming up over the holiday weekend, but also because of his father. Kara knew that his father was threatening anyone Kuronue got close to (luckily, he didn't know anyone yet) and that he was sending people to watch Kuronue at random times. Why would his father have to send people to check up on him when he never did anything wrong? And what was so dangerous about his mother and father that could put her in danger if she knew?

Kara gasped when it hit her and looked over to Kuronue who had buried his face in his arms. He knew that she figured it out and part of him was actually glad she knew.

"So I see you're feeling better," Kurama stated when he went to go check on his friend.

Kuronue was too ashamed to look at him. "I owe you an apology," he admitted. "I didn't mean to talk to you the way I did."

Kurama smiled sadly. "Yes, you did. I know you, Kuronue. But I understand that sometimes you'll need Kara over me. That's what you needed last night."

"You took a big risk letting her near me while I was that intoxicated," Kuronue told him.

"You wouldn't have done anything," he said trying to reassure his friend. "I knew that you would talk to her. But I want to hear for myself…why did you go drinking?"

"I didn't," Kuronue defended. "I know it seemed like I did and with how depressed I've been it would make sense. But I only asked for ginger ale. That jerk either spiked my drink or gave me an actual drink."

"Well, if that's the case then maybe you should report him," Kurama suggested.

"Nah," Kuronue replied. "I just won't hang out with that guy anymore. If he tries it again, though, I will. I just feel so bad for worrying you and Kara. And now for getting Kara involved as well as you."

Kurama looked at him not betraying any emotion. "So she knows, too?"

Kuronue nodded. "I let her figure it out for herself. I didn't think I could say it again. Not to her at least."

"Kuronue, as your friend and someone who cares for you like a brother, I really think you need to talk to someone."

"Who? The cops? If I do that and my father does find out about you or Kara…I don't even want to think about the outcome."

"I wasn't talking about the police, although now that you mention it, I will suggest it again," Kurama stated. "I was talking about a therapist. Anything you tell them is kept in confidence as long as it won't cause harm to you or others in the present or future. They can't report anything regarding the past as if would breech confidentiality."

Kuronue fought to laugh. "Alright, where the hell do you learn this stuff?"

Kurama smiled. "Law shows and, of course, my mother's soaps."

"Oh God, we're in trouble if that's where you got your information," Kuronue joked.

"It's actually very accurate," Kurama claimed.

"You keep telling yourself that, bro," Kuronue teased.

Kurama smiled. Kuronue hadn't called him that in a very long time.

"Hey, Kuronue?" Kara called.

"Hm?"

"I was wondering if you wanted to go on a trip with me," she explained.

"A trip?" Kuronue asked. "Where?"

"Well, remember when I said that for the test, I was going to take it early and then if Jesse asked me I would tell him that my mom wanted me to come home this weekend and wanted me to leave on Friday?"

"Yeah?"

"Well, I am actually planning on going home, but the drive is seven hours and I didn't want to go alone. Plus, I didn't want to leave you here when…" she stopped.

"Yeah," he answered is a whisper, "I know. I'd love to go with you. Just one request. Can we make a stop about once every two hours? That's about how long I can go without freaking out."

"Of course we can," Kara said smiling. She went over to hug him which took him by surprise. "I'm glad you're coming with me."

Kuronue smiled and hugged her back. "Me too."

A/N: So what's the big secret? I'll let you all think about it for a couple of chapters. We all know how soap operas turn out. Painfully obvious with plot twists. I actually finished this chapter last night but I had to rush off to bed. Had an early morning. You all know how it goes. Anyway, I'm on a roll with this story so I might post a few more chapters of this one as I work on my writer's block for my other stories in the midst of studying. If you have any requests, I would ask now. lol