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Somethin' to talk about	By : chilli Category: Yuyu Hakusho > Yaoi - Male/Male > Yusuke/Kurama Views: 12297 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: This author does not own the fandom, Yu Yu Hakusho. No profit shall be made or gained from the writing found hereafter

Chapter List
- 1
- 2
- 3
Chapter 2

Later that night found Kurama steadfastly ignoring the sounds from outside his window.

It was a good night for studying. The soughing sounds of nature as the wind blew through the upper reaches of the trees that bracketed the house created a distinctive ambience that was quite conducive to studying, he felt.

Or it could be if it wasn�t for that God-awful noise outside. The pencil in his hand snapped under extreme pressure.

Still, having frequently been only feet away from one of Yusuke and Kuwabara infamous �discussions�, he was able to ignore such distraction.

He took another bite out of his apple as he looked in confusion at the broken pencil. Tossing it in the garbage, he selected a highlighter to underline a particular passage in the book he was reading.

Pebbles pelted his window. Unnoticed, a muscle twitched under his eye.

They had been coming with increasing regularity the longer he studied.

Shifting in the chair, he read with rising interest the topic of next week�s homework assignment. No matter what Hiei said, even he was forced to admit that humans were indeed a fascinating species.

A rock hit the side of the house.

He glanced up inquiringly, his face calm as his mother entered his room. Shiori had a bemused look on her face.

She cleared her throat, looking particularly discomforted.

Being a single mother, she had often stressed herself over her son. Was she being a good mother? Where did one draw the line between being an interfering mother or allowing your child to find his own way? And especially not being of the male persuasion she used to despair of ever comprehending her child.

Then as he grew older, she realized her previous worries were too�narrow. Finding out he was a yokai was something of a relief. It may not have made sense to others, but she frankly felt a certain amount of relief to know her son�s air of cool calm had absolutely nothing to do with any mental health issues.

�Dear, I know we spoken about this already, but I really think you need to either talk to him or tell him to go away before he breaks�� She winced at the unmistakable sound of glass breaking.

There was a guilty silence outside. The low voiced �Oh shit� easily made it to Kurama�s sensitive ears.

Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath. �Never mind.� Sighing, she walked out to find out which window had broken.

The noise Kurama made, as he stalked to his window, was more akin to that of an animal. Irritated beyond measure he opened his window and received a face full of pebbles.

Yusuke quickly dropped his other handful and instead tried to look nonchalant as if he hadn�t just broken a window. Or had just threw pebbles in Kurama�s face.

Kurama glared down at the youth. �Go. Away,� he suggested in a voice just shy of a snarl.

Uh oh, Kurama got that Run-Little-Mortal-Before-If-You-Value-Your-Life, Yusuke thought uneasily. Face wary, he eyed the pissed off figure framed in the window.

Making a snap decision, he decided discretion was the better part of valor. �Okay, yeah, so I�ll see ya tomorrow,� he said airily, shoving his hands into his pockets in an overly casual way.

�Sides, the way Kurama was looking, it wouldn�t be long before some weird looking plant appeared and tried to get friendly.

Like, with his ass.

Yusuke tried to make his retreat look as cool as possible. He had heard a suspicious rustle in the bushes, and being no fool, put his retreat into full gear.

But he was already making plan for another foray to Kurama�s house.

He had thought of a brilliant idea.

Tomorrow was going to be my lucky day, he thought confidently.

The next day, Kurama spent a small amount of time dodging Yusuke�s pathetic and juvenile efforts to either attract his attention or simply to talk.

They would talk when he was ready and not one damn minute before.

It wasn�t simply Yusuke�s rejection of him. Not that he had been angling for Yusuke�s attention.

Live long enough and even someone with his vaunted looks and charm experienced rejection.

No, it was the laughter that soured his stomach. Just thinking about the sound of Yusuke�s laughing revisited the churning sensation in his stomach.

It had cut at him like the finest of blades.

Grimly Kurama threw his attention into his books. It was evening and he would have several tests next week when he returned to school.

�Still not talking to him?� Shiori asked as she silently appeared in his door. She eyed her brooding son sympathetically. It was an unusual look for him, she determined.

He looked up, brows raised curiously. �Him? Him who?� he responded with a failed look of disinterest.

However, she was his mother and while he had successfully succeeded in hiding a major secret from her, this was not something he was able to hide from her perceptive gaze.

But whatever she intended to say was lost as music began playing.

Loudly.

Outside.

Brows contracting into twin frowns, that make them look startlingly alike, both mother and son hurried to the window.

Their jaws dropped at the sight of Yusuke�s smug, defiant face.

Music swelled. Yusuke�s mouth moved.

Without thought, �Oh, fuck me,� fell from Kurama�s lips. He covered his face with a hand as if it would hide the horrifying spectacle taking place on the front lawn.

�And I am telling you I'm not going. You're the best man I'll ever know. There's no way I can ever go.� Unfortunately for the family, Yusuke�s English (as well as his singing voice) wasn�t the best, so the sound was akin to hearing a dog try to sing.

Mr. Kayuku wandered into the room. A bemused look on his face, he peered at his wife and stepson. �Dear, there�s an insane child singing on the front lawn. Shall I get the hose out?�

Kurama looked momentarily hopeful then his shoulders slumped in defeat. �He�ll just think of something worse.�

�What could be worse?�

A shudder shook Kurama�s lean frame. There was a sick look in his eyes that spoke of untold horrors. �Trust me, you don�t want to know.� His voice was grim.

In his bedroom, Shu-kun rolled his eyes. He leaned out the window. �Dude�.You suck!�

Yusuke absently flashed the boy a brilliant, cocky grin. His grin widened at the look of increasing desperation on Kurama�s face. He toed the volume of his boom-box to an even higher level.

That Kurama�s neighbors were peering at him in disbelief didn�t bother him one bit. Hell, he didn�t live in this neighborhood, the fuck he cared.

�And I am telling you I'm not going, even though the rough times are showing. There's just no way, I'm not wakin' up tomorrow mornin' and findin' that there's nobody there.�

Acting on impulse was what got him into this mess in the first place. He decided to do a little �reverse psychology�. Kurama and the others weren�t the only ones that had smarts, he thought smugly. Mentally he patted himself on the back.

If acting on an impulse got him into trouble, an actual plan should get him out of Kurama�s bad graces.

And this? It was a fucking AWESOME plan.

Besides, if more neighbors kept on gawking then Kurama would be real desperate to shut him up. That�s where the real part of the plan came in. He just had to get a foot in the door�then all he had to do was talk fast.

Kurama would forgive him, they would get pizza and ice cream tomorrow and everything would be back to normal.

�Tear down the mountains, yell, scream and shout. You can say what you want, I'm not walkin' out. Stop all the rivers, Push, strike, and kill. I'm not gonna leave you, There's no way I will.�

�If I talk to you, will you shut up?� Kurama shouted over the music, an air of desperation in his voice.

Instantly Yusuke shut off the music. �Duh.�

Applause came from the relieved neighbors.

Grinning manically Yusuke bowed several times to his irritated audience before bounding happily towards the house. At the last minute he remembered to slow down and look beaten.

Shu-kun met him in the hall. The boy had a serious look on his face.

�Uhm�you know, man, if Shuichi was anybody else, like, say a girl, you singin� outside? That would have been kinda cool. But you�re a little kinda stalkerish, ain�t ya?� He looked vaguely nauseated.

Yusuke�s mouth worked. There was a dawning look of comprehensive on his face. He looked up at Kurama. The stern look in the green eyes spoke of complete agreement with his younger sibling.

�My room�Now!� A stern finger pointed to the kitsune�s room.

�I�I just wanted to talk you to.� Yusuke no longer faked the beaten, downcast look.

�And naturally your wants and needs take supreme importance over what I want.� Biting sarcasm was in Kurama�s voice as he turned away. �I said, get up here�NOW!� he barked when it didn�t seem like Yusuke was moving fast enough.

Looking suitably chastened and head hanging low, Yusuke obeyed with suitable alacrity.

In the hallway upstairs, Shiori turned away. A hand to her mouth muffled her giggles.

�This had better be good,� Kurama said quietly. He shut the bedroom door once Yusuke was inside then leaned against the desk with a closed look.

Yusuke�s heart sank. Trying to buy time, he wandered around the room as if he had never seen it. Touching and examining this and that as he sought frantically to find the right words to explain.

Usually he left the glib and smoothing to Kurama. People took one look at his red-head friend and happily opened the contents of their wallets, suckered by the solemn, earnest expression on the pale creamy face.

Me, Yusuke snorted to himself, they usually reached for the phone to call the police.

Fetching up by the bed, he dithered. �Look, man, I�m sorry, okay!� he burst out. Like a marionette whose strings had been cut, he plopped down on the bed. There was a disgruntled look on his face.

�Look, ain�t you ever done something you wished you could take back?� He looked imploringly at Kurama.

�No.�

�Well, fuck you then!� He looked at Kurama, feeling a spark of resentfulness at the ever perfect, flawless face.

At the anger that flashed across Kurama�s face, Yusuke backpedaled hurriedly.

�Shit! I�m sorry, sorry, sorry!� Yusuke angrily ran a hand through his hair. He pulled hard, using pain to focus his thoughts.

�We both know that�I�m�that I�m a fuck up,� he admitted with raw, painful honestly. �Hell, my whole friggin� life is one big fuck-a-rama.� He laughed bitterly, staring at the carpet.

�Look�I am sorry. I didn�t mean to�ah�hurt your feelings,� he said awkwardly, squirming inwardly at this chick-flick moment. But if this was what Kurama wanted, then by damn he would just have to man up and just fucking do it.

�I wasn�t laughing because you�re, like, gay. I mean, I kinda figured out the gay part, maybe like, a couple days after we met. I was just laughing because of the idea of you and me�that�s so never gonna happen.�

Kurama�s eyes slowly narrowed. He looked even more dangerously languid.

Yusuke hurried, sensing he was further pissing Kurama off. �Anyway, I�m sure you get more play from guys than I�ve ever gotten from chicks. And you know I�ve tried hitting on just about every chick in the city!�

He winked and leered at the unmoved kitsune. �Man, you probably gotta beat �em off your ass with a stick.� Yusuke laughed nervously. It petered out at the level look Kurama gave him.

Pushing away from desk, Kurama sauntered to the bed and sat beside Yusuke. The other carefully inched away. Yusuke wasn�t certain he liked the vibe he was getting from Kurama.

Leaning on one arm, the long length of his body deliberately displayed to its best advantage, Kurama looked at Yusuke. �So, let me get this straight,� he said politely, his face studiously blank. �I�m gay, apparently a very slutty bottom and one who is not good enough for you?�

Eyes widening in utter horror, Yusuke sputtered his denials. �What? Where the fuck did you get such a goddamn, stupid idea like that?� he demanded hotly, sitting up straight. �Cause, for sure, I didn�t say any shit like that!�

Meticulously Kurama recited all the damaging words. He was enjoying himself way too much this new game. I must remember to tell the others, he mused in hidden amusement.

Though initially a little irritated at Yusuke�s thoughtless words, his irritation died at the look of true dismay in Yusuke�s eyes.

That good of an actor Yusuke was not, he thought wryly.

Deciphering the rough and rambling sayings of his young, hot-headed friend had become an amusing pastime for him. It certainly kept him on his toes, and made being around Yusuke a definite adventure.

He was relatively sure that what Yusuke was implying was that he attracted more male attention than Yusuke attracted female attention; that men were constantly hitting on him.

Flustered, Yusuke ran a hand anxiously through his hair. �That�s not what I meant,� he protested weakly.

�Then what did you mean?� Kurama responded softly. Crossing long legs, he looked down. Long, graceful fingers idly smoothed a crease in the fabric.

Damn, but Kurama got some freakishly long legs, Yusuke thought distractedly and briefly lost his chain of thought as he watched Kurama�s fingers move.

With an effort he dragged his attention back to the matter at hand. �Uhm, I meant�� He cleared his throat, wondering at the huskiness of his voice. He shifted, feeling an uncomfortable tightness in his pants. A hectic flush played on his cheeks. He prayed that Kurama didn�t notice.

Not much escaped a sharp-eyed, mischievous kitsune. Licking his lips, he peered up at Yusuke through the sweeping fan of his lashes. His lips curved upwards in a waiting smile.

Yusuke froze. His eyes locked on the dangerously wicked curl of the kitsune�s pink lips. Time seemed to stand still. He met the heavy-lidded look dead on. Dots of sweat popped out on his forehead. His tongue suddenly felt too thick and his mind cloudy.

�Ghnnn��

A knock at the door broke the spell. Kurama instantly switched his expression to one more suitable to grandmothers and babies as he sat back. �It�s open.�

Shiori opened the door and peered into the room. She directed a cheery smile between the two boys. �Sorry, Shuichi. Yusuke, I just wanted to let you know that I had Shu-kun bring in your boom box.�

Blinking as if coming out a daze, Yusuke peered at the woman. �Huh? Oh, yeah, thanks. Kuwabara probably would be kinda pissed,� he said in an offhand manner.

Kurama bit his lip. He swiftly hid his amusement as his mother�s eyes changed. Shiori stepped further into the room. �You seemed to be rather lacking in concern with other people�s property,� she said softly. She studied Yusuke with the distant curiosity of a scientist with a rat.

Actually, she was rather curious about this particular friend of her son�s. Oh, sure one heard rumors and gossip about Urameshi Yusuke and his mother, but this was one of the young men her son called friend.

One whose careless words had hurt her son�s feelings.

And that, more than anything, made her want to get to know this boy very, very much.

Anyone that could cause her son to express more than cool politeness was someone she definitely had to know.

However, this lack of respect he was demonstrating was troubling. She wondered if anyone had ever taken the time to teach Yusuke the rudiments of proper, civilized behavior.

She felt weary sadness at the uncomprehending look in the child�s brown eyes. It was clear that no one had ever tried to show him the proper way. Beneath the tough exterior, she was positive Yusuke had a good heart. Otherwise, why would her son have bothered to remain friends with him?

�It�s just Kuwabara�s,� Yusuke protested. His brow furrowing, he shot a blank look at Kurama. �Tell her�it�s just Kuwabara.�

Shiori�s eyes narrowed. The look on her face dared her son to repeat such arrant nonsense. �Get out.� She came to an abrupt decision. This simply would not do. If this boy wanted to continue his friendship with her son, some ground work of manners and respect needed to be laid first.

�What?� Yusuke jaw dropped. A dark look slid over his face. It was look that almost made Shiori turn tail. But something inside her told her if she backed down now, she would be backing down to this child for the rest of her life.

And she would be damned before she ever backed down before a child.

�Did I stutter?� she inquired with saccharine sweetness. Something flickered in Kurama�s eyes. Amusement, she decided.

�I said get out. I don�t want you seeing my son, talking to my son, or communicating in any way, shape, form or size with my son until you repay me for the window you broke yesterday. It will cost you about six thousand, eight hundred and thirteen yen.�

She faced down the scowling young man with cool, steely eyes.

Yusuke�s face relaxed. He gave her a twisted, deliberately infuriating smirk. It always worked on Atsuko, so he had no doubt it would work on Kurama�s mother. Pissing her off, making her so mad that she just gave up.

Having grown up with virtually no adult role model other than his mother Atsuko, and the various hard-faced men that frequently shared their apartment, he had little experience with mothers in general. With no help from his mother � or any other adult � Yusuke had basically raised himself.

When most children were being kissed and tucked in at night, he was crouching in a corner, the safest place to be when the inevitable fight broke out. When other children sat down to dinner with their family, he had learned to negotiate through a smoky haze of black clad trouser legs and men with cold eyes in search of something to still the gnawing ache in his belly. He learned to dodge careless blows and bottles thrown at his head, how to flatten himself, or duck and roll to the sound of gunfire.

Yusuke had only the vaguest concept of how parents interacted with their children. At a tender age, he had learned to fend for himself. Atsuko was usually too drunk to shoulder her responsibility as a mother, and perforce, he had learned to take care of her as well. Cleaning up after her when she threw up, getting her into bed and making her eat.

As such, Atsuko�s lack of responsibility had given Yusuke a decidedly warped outlook on parenthood. It didn�t help that at times, in Atsuko�s drunken maudlin, her conscience would kick in. She would remember that she was a mother. That she was supposed to be taking care of Yusuke. Her fumbling attempts would last only for a short while, but it was enough to further reinforce Yusuke�s perception of mothers.

Which was why when he spoke, his voice held a note of impatient carelessness. It usually got Atsuko away from him. �Look, sorry t�break it to ya, but your boy�he�s a grown man. So if he wants to talk t�me, well then, I guess he�s gonna do it without your blessin�. So yeah, I don�t think he needs his �mommy� to tell him what t�do.� The roll of his eyes invited Kurama to share in the moment.

Shiori�s eyes froze.

�Get. Out.� There was a note in her voice that effectively captured Yusuke�s attention.

�Say what?�

Kurama uncoiled his long length from the bed and stood. �Yusuke, you, of all people, know the value I place on my mother. And, I do not appreciate the manner in which you address her.� His expression was cold and flat.

Yusuke looked between the two, his brows drawing down in confusion. �But...� He looked from Kurama�s stony expression to Shiori�s equally frozen expression.

�Mother is right,� Kurama stated quietly. He ignored the look his mother sent him. He, like the rest of Yusuke�s friends, knew of the rough childhood Yusuke�s experienced and had been the unwilling witness to many exchanges between Yusuke and his mother.

He sighed silently before speaking gently. �Yusuke, you are woefully lacking in care for other people�s property.� He privately figured he would give Yusuke a couple of days to stew then arrange to give the money to his friend. It wouldn�t hurt for the boy to spend a few days without him.

Besides, if I give him too much time Yusuke is likely to forget, he thought ruefully

Yusuke�s face lost all expression. He gave Shiori such a black look it made her flinch. The door closed violently after the departing, angry yokai.

�That went kinda well,� Kurama said calmly in the relieved silence.

Shiori gave him a disbelieving look. Shaking her head, she left the room.
Yusuke stormed into his apartment. Kicking an empty beer can out of his way, he stepped over the careless sprawl of limbs of one of his mother�s drunken friends. With the ease of long practice he disregarded the slurred voice calling his name.

Unlocking his room door, he slammed the door behind him and locked it again. Locking his door prevented the drunken fools in the living room from using his bed either as a toilet or hotel room.

Inside, Yusuke paced angrily for a couple of minutes before flopping onto the bed. �Who the fuck she think she is?� he muttered. �Dammit, he�s a fuckin� grown man�or yokai. Or whatever. He can make up his own damn mind.�

And just why was it so important that he talk to Kurama? he wondered. It wasn�t the first time the thought crossed his mind. Just the thought of not fixing this shit with Kurama was fucking weirding him out.

At the sharp ache the thought brought him, he surged to his feet and began pacing again.

Dammit! I tried to apologize, he thought angrily. A sudden thought occurred to him. What if he never forgive me? Aghast at the very thought, Yusuke felt an icy chill.

Shivering, he stumbled back to the bed and sat down heavily. Abruptly he shook his head, dislodging the disquieting thought.

This shit is screwing with my mind, he decided firmly.

�Yeah, totally fucking with my mind,� he said aloud, smirking to himself. His smirk died as another thought occurred. But what if it was true?

There was knock on his bedroom door. �Yuuuuuu-chan�?� He rolled his eyes at his mother�s slurry voice. With a sigh, he ignored her repeated requests to �hey baby, c�out n� mee m�frienz�. It wasn�t difficult. When she was this drunk, nothing she said was ever important. �Sides, he had more important matters to think about than her drunken ass.

Hands clenched at his sides, Yusuke ruminated on the total unfairness of the situation. It wasn�t like I deliberately tried to break her fucking window, he thought with self-righteous indignation. �Like I even got any money to fix that damn window,� he snorted. The door rattled as someone tried the doorknob.

�Awwww, c�mon out Yu-chan, I wan ya t�mee m�new friends,� Atsuko called through the door with a drunken giggle. She banged on the door again then began singing his name in time with the rhythm.

�Will you fuck off, old woman!� Yusuke finally screamed as the noise got on his nerves. His eyes flickered to where his boombox sat in the corner. A determined glint in his eyes, he hauled himself from the bed and stalked over to turn it on. Viciously he turned the volume higher to drown out the sounds of the drunken singing.

�Fuck her.� Which mother he was referring to, he wasn�t quite sure. With a shrug he generously decided to split it both ways.

�I�ll just wait until they calm down �fore I talk to �im again.� A plan in mind, he smirked as he prepared for bed.

* * *

Three days later, Yusuke sat staring at the phone in his apartment. There was a morose look on his face. Sighing he rose to his feet. �Damn, that woman can hold a grudge.� This had been his tenth attempt to talk to Kurama.

And every time he got shot down.

A devilish look took over his face. Quickly he sat back down and dialed a familiar number. �Kuwabara, my main man,� he said suavely into the phone.

�Look, whatever it is, I�don�t have any money, don�t have time, don�t have a spare room for you to crash in, don�t have another boombox to �loan� you, or all of the above,� Kuwabara stated wearily.

Yusuke frowned into the phone. �Dude, I�m, like, hurt that you would ever think I call you just because I want something. We�re friends. Can�t one friend call another without an ulterior motive?�

He held the phone from his ear at the guffaws from the other end.

�Sure they can, unless their name happens to be Urameshi Yusuke.� Kuwabara laughter held a note of cynicism.

Fuck you, Yusuke wanted to say but since he needed money he bit his tongue. �Look, man, Kurama�s old woman is ragging on me and he�s acting like a pussy and won�t talk to me.� His voice held a note of disdain.

Over the phone came the sound of applause. �Good for him! �Bout time he stood up to you,� Kuwabara snickered gloatingly.

�Hey, are you gonna fuckin� help me or not?� Yusuke shouted indignantly. Angrily he ran a careless hand through his hair, further disheveling the gel-free black silky strands.

�Help Yusuke or not help Yusuke.� Kuwabara pretended to think. �Hmmm, let me think. NO! Especially with that shitty kinda attitude.�

With gritted teeth, Yusuke snarled, �Look, I�m fuckin� sorry. Now will you help me?�

Kuwabara sighed heavily. �Urameshi, even if I wanted to, Kurama would totally kick my ass if I did,� he spoke frankly. �I know what went down over there and dude, I gotta tell ya, ya fucked up. You know��

Yusuke slammed the phone down on Kuwabara�s beginning lecture with a muted growl.

�Who the fuck need your sorry, punk ass?� He glared at the innocent instrument.

You do, a snide voice reminded him.

He slumped in the chair. �Shit�shit�shit.� He rubbed his face before propping his elbow on the table and resting his chin in his hand.

Asking Keiko for the cash was clearly out of the question. If Kurama had already got to Kuwabara, then the clever fox would make sure Keiko was aware of the situation.

There had to be a way to get the money for that that damn window.

* * *

Kurama was growing uneasy.

It had been three weeks.

He was back at school and hadn�t received a call from Yusuke. He checked his cell phone again, just to be sure.

There were signs that his rebel rousing friend was around, but that was all he could find.

Signs and glimpses.

Late at night he sensed Yusuke�s signature energy outside, but when he went to look�nothing. He had thought it was his imagination, but he found indications of Yusuke�s presence. There were crushed remains of cigarette butts on the ground.

The others were getting worried as well. They hadn�t seen Yusuke either.

Though he would vehemently deny he was worried, Hiei had spent considerable time checking in the Makai.

Yusuke wasn�t there either.

Even Koenma, with his network of spies, could only vaguely sense him.

It was clear Yusuke didn�t want to be found.

But why? Kurama felt a pang of guilt. Surely he didn�t think we were that mad at him? he thought uncomfortably.

What else could the boy think? You�ve all turned your backs on him when he asked for help, a cool voice said. His mental construction of his yokai side stepped out of the darkness. A silver and gold figure, the thick, full tail beat the air idly.

Yes, but his total lack of respect for others was unacceptable, Kurama argued with his more logical side.

And for that, he is ostracized? If you want his attitude to change, then you needed to speak plainly to him instead of this �dancing� around. He is your friend�not some enemy that needs to be outwitted. You are trying to force him to be what you want him to be.

He disrespected Mother.

He disrespects because that�s all he knows.

Kurama sighed as he came out of his introspective mood. Perfect posture gone, lost somewhere as his worry increased, he slumped on couch. The deep scowl on his face did little to mar the ivory perfection of his face.

�Damn.�

The phone rang. Dispiritedly he leaned over and answered it. �Minamino Shuichi,� he said, forcing pleasantry into his voice.

It was his mother.

�Still no word on him?� Shiori's sigh over the phone was heavy. She bit her lip, regretting her role in all this. While she knew she was right, perhaps things could have been handled differently.

�No�� Kurama flopped on his back. Laying a forearm over his eyes, he continued talking. �We�ve been looking for days. This is the longest he�s ever been out of contact with any of us.�

�Have you thought about, maybe putting up posters?�

�Yes, but we collectively decided we enjoy living without massive pain,� Kurama replied dryly. Shiori chuckled softly.

�Will you be coming home for the holidays?�

�If we haven�t located Yusuke by then, I think so,� he said grimly. �I�ll doubt however, I�ll bring much joy.�

Five days later, Kurama admitted defeat. Reluctantly he packed his bag and headed for the train station.

* * *

The sound of the train wheels clacking over the rails normally induced the mind to a lulling state.

However, the occupants of the compartment huddling at the far end were anything but calm or lulled.

The object of their fearful gaze sat quietly, staring straight ahead.

The fact that he sat alone didn�t exactly register in his conscious mind. Though he heard their nervous whispering, it only provided a background for his disjointed thoughts.

Exhaustion pulled at him, unconsciousness was like a siren call to his exhausted body. It was all he could do to stay upright. With a shudder, he firmed his dwindling will power. He had to reach Kurama. He looked at his watch in numb incomprehension, the numbers blurring and wavering before he gave up.

He was so tired. The irresistible impulse to simply rest his head was so slyly seductive. Yusuke caught himself listing to the side. He was vaguely surprised at the effort it took to straightened himself.

He had already started at Kurama�s apartment. However, the guys that lived across the hall had told him that Kurama had already left, probably to spend the holidays with his family.

Which was why we�re playing the music so fucking loud, one of the inebriated fellows had shouted happily. Yusuke had been cheerfully offered an invitation to join. But the need to see Kurama, talk to his friend dominated all thought.

A two hour journey to Kurama�s place was now a four hour journey back.

Unnoticed, blood trickled down his face. The cuff on the right sleeve of his jacket was a dark, growing stain. It marred the light green fabric. At the bottom of his cuff, a ruby bead formed before silently dropping on the bench seat. It joined the spreading pool of red on the seat.

It set fresh whispers of consternation on the watching people.

Yusuke stared straight ahead.

* * *

Three o�clock in the morning.

Shiori looked blearily at the clock in disbelief. Her husband was already on his feet with a robe thrown over his shoulders.

�Who could be here at this hour? The boys are home, aren�t they?� she said in confusion as she joined him at the door.

Cautiously they proceeded down the stairs. Whoever was at the door resumed knocking.

�Who is it?� Mr. Kayuku asked calmly, as if it was an everyday event that someone came to their house at three in the morning.

�Urameshi Yusuke.�

Shiori�s eyes widened. There was a strained quality to the boy�s voice that disturbed her. Bypassing her husband, she quickly unlocked the door.

�Yusuke�� was all she had time to say to the shadowed figure at the door.

�I��ave da�oney f�indow,� Yusuke slurred indistinctly. �Ca� talk t�im now?� He swayed, blinking rapidly at the double image of Kurama�s mom.

�Are you insane�!� she cried in a low voiced, furious whisper as she dragged the boy inside. �Don�t you know what time�� Her voice trailed off in a horrified gasp at the sight of his viciously battered face. Her hand fluttered to her mouth. �Oh, dear god in heaven��

�Oh, god,� Kurama whispered as he and his stepbrother came down the stairs to see what was going on.

Yusuke peered up at them. He smiled beatifically at his friend.

It was painful to watch as his swollen lip split and blood ran down his chin. �See�?� He thrust a hand into his jacket. It took several attempts to pull out whatever was in his pocket. Fumbling, he wrenched a massive wad of crumpled bills from his pocket.

�Got more��

�Yusuke�� Kurama breathed his eyes narrowed and dangerous. He drifted nearer, picking up the unmistakable stench of blood. �What have you done? Where did you get this money?�

An indignant look tried to cross Yusuke�s face. It got lost somewhere amid the bruises and blood. �Leg�ly�got it leg�ly. Din� tink ya�d talk t�me if I diddit�othe� way,� he said protestingly. A look of sly cunning sat oddly on his battered face. �Fight! Fight!�

Kurama closed his eyes in horror. You stupid fool, he wanted to scream. �Mother, would you please get the First Aid kit.� His voice was tight with suppressed rage.

When Yusuke was better, then I�m going to beat the hell out of him, Kurama promised himself.

Yusuke looked at Shiori with earnest hopefulness. �I�talk �im now?� he asked tentatively, looking at the woma for the answer as he was guided to the kitchen and sat down.

Shiori and Kurama exchanged glances. �Yes, dear�of course you can talk to him,� she replied soothingly, her heart breaking at the horribly battered figure.

Kurama abruptly stilled. He straightened from bending over Yusuke. His head turned. His nose seemed to quiver, smelling something just beyond the range of human senses.

�Mother, could you please call Kuwabara Kazuma and tell him I need him here� urgently?� he said with forced calm.

�Kurama, what�s wrong�?� she asked quickly. She was becoming increasingly alarmed by the rising tension in the air.

�Mother, just do it!� Kurama snapped harshly. He ignored the slight gasp she made as he endeavored to remove Yusuke�s jacket. Whirling around, he grabbed the pair of scissors from the drawer and began cutting the material.

�Hey, hey, hey! Wha�cha doin� dat fo?� Yusuke slurred indignantly. Reflexes slowed, he tried to pull away. Easily Kurama restrained him.

�Shhh, shhhh�� Kurama hushed the fretful boy soothingly. �I just need to get your jacket off. I�ll buy you a new one,� he promised recklessly.

�Damn well betta,� he slurred. Settling back, he only watched with only mild curiosity as his precious jacket was sliced up.

That, and a teasingly familiar scent made Kurama�s fingers slow. Silky brows knit delicately as Kurama discretely sniffed.

Fingers made nimble by assiduous practice suddenly developed a fine tremor. Slowly he straightened, his narrowed eyes fixed on Yusuke�s placid expression. Kurama�s face went flat and dangerous. Murderous fury transformed his face into something far more than demonic.

Shiori came back into the kitchen, extending the phone to her son. �He wants to talk to you.�

His back to his mother, Kurama�s face underwent a remarkable transformation. In the time it took him to turn around, only gentle concern was on his face. With an apologetic smile, he took the phone from her.

�Mother, could you please finish cutting Yusuke�s jacket off? Be especially careful when you get to his back,� he said before taking the phone and stepping away.

His mother safely distracted and now busy, Kurama turned away. His gentle concerned expression vanished.

His eyes blazed with murderous rage.

�Kuwabara�Yusuke�s been poisoned,� he stated flatly.
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