Yu Yu Hakusho belongs to Yoshihiro Togashi, Jump Comics, and anyone else with legal claim, and unfortunately that's not me! Anyway, I'm just borrowing them, but I promise to put them back where I found them...eventually. Please don't sure me because I don't have any money, and frankly you'd be wasting your time.

*sidestory to Blood Dance*
*for YuChan*

He walked along beside his best friend, the blood still raging in his veins, seeking some sort of relief, and finding none. He kept his dark eyes fixed on the sidewalk, figuring that was the safest place to look by far. He was right and wrong. If he looked at nothing but the concrete, he could shield his eyes from the overwhelming brightness of the life around him, an after-effect of the ritual he'd been witness to he surmised. However, it also allowed his brain to replay images of a slender redhead twisting with sensual grace along the backs of his eyelids.

"K'so!"

"Daijobou, Urameshi?"

"Eh?" He hadn't realized he'd cursed aloud until Kuwabara's question actually sunk into his mind. "Aa, daijobou." It was not a very convincing affirmative and he was fixed with a solemn glare from his taller friend. Yuusuke sighed and raked a hand through his hair.

"I don't know." Now he was met with a puzzled stare from his right. He had no idea how he was going to talk about this, and he wasn't even really sure that he wanted to, how did you tell your best friend that you were turned on by a mutual friend? A mutual friend of the same gender, one who had just proven to be the single most erotic creature you had ever seen. He sighed again.

Yuusuke was rarely this confused by his feelings. His emotions ran strong and true, and he cared for all of his friends, but this was different, this went beyond caring. This was desire.

What about Keiko?

He stopped dead in his tracks; hands shoved deep in his pockets and a scowl on his expressive face. He cared a great deal for Keiko. He loved Keiko. He knew that... did that conflict with this strange flutter in his chest that he felt when he thought of Kurama? The flutter that warmed at his core and spread languidly through his limbs to pool in his groin.... Wait! How could he be feeling this?! How could he be thinking this?! How?!

"Urameshi?" Kuwabara's voice cut into his thoughts and he started, jerking straight to meet his friend's small dark eyes. "Are you sure you're okay? You've been acting strange since we left Kurama's bower in the park."

Yuusuke chewed the inside of his cheek as he regarded the carrot-topped boy. His deep brown eyes narrowed as he considered the images that played over and over in his mind. Every now and then he would force himself to think of Keiko, or anybody else, for that matter, but found his thoughts constantly returning to Kurama, and not just from this evening. Kurama at the Ankoku Bujutsuukai, Kurama protecting him from Hiei's GhostSlayer sword, Kurama's friendly easy manner at a recent picnic together, recalling a hundred random images of the red-haired bishounen's easy manner and friendly grace.

"I think so," he turned to his tall friend, hands still jammed down into his pant's pockets, "hey, Kuwabara?"

"Yeah?" The boy beside him had resumed his easy pace back home, both of them walking together as far as the third bus stop before they would part ways.

"Do you feel anything... different?"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

Yuusuke sighed and raked a hand through his slicked-back hair. "I don't know, just... different, you know..." He didn't know how to broach the subject with Kuwabara, after all one didn't just come out and say, 'so, you still feeling horny after watching Kurama dance nearly naked in the park?' But then again, that wasn't entirely it... he wasn't just horny, not in the random pubescent way that most teenage boys were horny. No, he wanted something specific, he wanted Kurama, another boy; he wanted to feel the older boy's skin beneath his hands, taste his flesh on his tongue, feel his breath across his face, hear the moans and gasps he had heard earlier while watching the redhead dance. He wanted Kurama.

"Well," Yuusuke's head snapped up, hoping that Kuwabara understood how he was feeling. He knew his friend had been affected by watching the youko ritual, hell, Kurama could have had a brick wall coming on command after that spectacle. "I do feel kind of strange."

Dark chocolate eyes fixed on the tall gangly boy and he caught the faintest of blushes spread across the prominent cheekbones. So, he thought, Kuwabara was just as affected as well, but he doesn't seem to be as indecisive as I am right now.

"I mean," the boy continued, "I feel something strange, I don't know what it is, but I..."

Yuusuke's face turned back to watching where he was going as he listened to his friend's voice trail off, uncertainty thick in his words. He tried to seem nonchalant as he asked his next question. "But what?"

Kuwabara sighed heavily and he stopped, eyes glued to the sidewalk and a frown plastered on his long face as he tried to think out an answer to Yuusuke's question. Yuusuke knew he wouldn't come to the right conclusion, it just wasn't the way he thought. Kuwabara's upbringing didn't leave room for that possibility, and his prejudices only reinforced the barriers against that train of thought, but he was satisfied knowing that he wasn't the only one left floating untethered in a sea of hormones. Kuwabara couldn't yet put a name to what he was feeling, but Yuusuke knew what it was, after all he still had Kurama imprinted on every nerve ending, too.

"Never mind, Kuwabara. I know."

It was a strangely quiet and accepting thought and it caught his attention. Kuwabara turned to regard his shorter dark-haired friend, a question poised on his lips, but something stopped him. Some shared, unnamed understanding that didn't really need to be voiced; it was still there demanding attention in a thousand subtle ways, waiting to run its course. He didn't need to know, didn't have to ask, and so he didn't, just kept quiet in the certainty that whatever it was, it was enough disrupt the balance of both of their lives.

"Yeah." They walked on in a companionable silence until they came upon the bus stop. Yuusuke scrubbed a hand through the short hair at the nape of his neck, shivering a little at the tickle across his palm. He turned his dark eyes up to his friend to find the other boy watching him.

"Heh, well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow, ne?" They didn't have school, since it was Saturday night already, but they had planned to get together the next day at the ramen shop, along with Kurama and Hiei. Yuusuke's stomach clenched at the very thought of seeing Kurama again so soon before working out these strange feelings.

"Yeah, I guess I'll see you then." Kuwabara turned and slowly ambled his way home, hands still shoved in his pockets and shoulders slumped. Yuusuke knew that he was still trying to figure out what these strange sensations rushing through his blood were, knowing he'd never stumble over the real answer.

"Right," he whispered at his friend's back. Yuusuke watched the tall boy walk until he disappeared around a corner and sighed quietly. If only he could calm this storm still churning away, but he didn't know how. Well, he knew how, he just didn't know if he could go through with it.

He knew there was something going on between Hiei and Kurama, he would have had to have been blind, deaf, and dead to miss it. He had been less than pleased to leave the fox back in the bower with Hiei, but knew that with Kurama passed out as he was that there would be no taking him home in that condition. As much as he hated to admit it, Hiei was the best one out of all of them to keep watch.

Another thought hit him, right on the heels of that last; he realized didn't want to leave Kurama with Hiei because he wanted to be the one the youko woke up to. He wanted to be the one with his arms around the slender redhead, warming the soft pale skin, stroking the silken hair, kissing those lips, and easing the torment that he knew must have still been driving through the kitsune's blood with more pent energy than gale force winds.

Before he knew it he was standing at the front door to his apartment. Yuusuke blinked and looked around, not realizing he'd walked here in a daze of his own thoughts, instead he twisted the key in the lock and pushed through to his room as quickly as he could. Kurama occupied the bulk of his mental activities, memories cut together at random, flashing from battle sequences to more quiet moments, to the display of the last few hours.

He found the blood rushing through his body a little faster with every flash of the fox's stimulating dance, until he found himself on his bed, clothes in a pile discarded by the closet door, back curled against the wall, and his demanding arousal in his hand. A few sure, quick strokes and he was shuddering uncontrollably and biting his lower lip to muffle his cries and moans.

It didn't take much for his imagination to conjure up Kurama kneeling over him, half-dressed in the whisper-thin silk robes clinging to his pale form, easing down his body, pressing him into the bed with his slight weight settling provocatively between his thighs. If he closed his eyes he could feel a warm wet tongue tracing patterns over his skin, followed by gentle breaths that both enticed and seared his sensitized body. Velvet soft lips traveled over the cords of his neck and down, dropping gentle sucking kisses in the hollow of his throat and peppering his collarbone with fluttering touches.

"Uhn." Yuusuke trailed his free hand over his chest, the other still pumping at the erection that hadn't ebbed even during the walk home from the park, and teased his own nipples, as the phantom Kurama's fingers circled the tender flesh, followed by a deft swirling tongue and teeth. The dark-haired boy's fingers blazed the path over his skin for Kurama to follow, over the centerline of his torso, tracing the ribcage and muscles of his abdomen as he shifted restlessly over the tangled sheets.

His slender hips jerked in time with the pull of his hand as the callused fingers of his other hand continued their slow progression down his aching body. The attention he lavished on himself made even sweeter by the images of a ravishing redhead poised above him, engaged in the most delectable torture of his body and soul. He could have Kurama here.

Finally, and after what seemed like a small eternity, his free hand wrapped around his hard length, and the image in his mind's eye changed. Suddenly, Kurama was astride his hips, gloriously nude and all pretense of teasing gone. With a particularly vulpine squirm of a warm wet tongue over the point of the darker boy's chin and lips, the lithe youko lowered himself onto Yuusuke's insistent erection and tossed his wealth of vibrant red hair back with strangled sigh deep in his throat.

Yuusuke imagined his hands running over the smooth silken skin, caressing the gently sloping shoulders, tracing the marvelously flat planes of Kurama's chest and abdomen with his eager questing fingers, trailing their way down to the fox's arousal nested in dark red curls. As he drew one nail teasingly over the hot silky skin, the delicious youko moved, his muscles clenching and slender hips thrusting involuntarily into the tormenting sensation.

"Ah!" He managed to clamp down on the cry, knowing all the while it wouldn't have mattered because his mother wasn't home anyway. All that did matter at this moment was that he was trapped within the warm confines of Kurama's body, and that warmth was shifting all around him and above him, two slim strong hands twining into his thick dark hair and a trail of sweet hot breath brushing over his ear.

The fox's erection twitched in his hands, begging for attention, and he set to work, trying to keep a rhythm, any rhythm, to his pulling and squeezing. He couldn't concentrate though, not with the infuriatingly sexy youko rocking steadily against him, firm buttocks pushing back against his raised legs, his heels braced against the bed.

Long red hair draped over his body as Kurama hung his head, panting with the need for release. The tendrils of silken fire melted a deep wet red as they stuck to his sweat-dampened chest, dragging erotically over his sensitized nipples. Yuusuke bit his lip at all the sensations bombarding his body; the tickle of Kurama's hair, the slide Kurama's soft skin against his own, the pull of gentle fingers in his hair, the rhythmic pound of the youko's body against him, the mesmerizing heat engulfing him. Yet, beneath all of that, beneath all the things that threatened to overwhelm his body, he could feel the persistent buzz of Kurama's blood frenzy, an electric tingle emanating from the base of his brain and spreading liquid fever through his bones until he thought he'd simply explode.

Golden sparks fired behind his eyes as everything he'd ever known coalesced into a glowing throb between his legs and he lost control, his orgasm pushing him over the threshold to unconsciousness.

He shivered, blinking his eyes to clear the dancing spots of white and blue heat, and shivered some more, feeling his own semen cooling rapidly on his chest and stomach. He was alone. He had been alone through the entire marvelously vivid encounter, his phantom-Kurama dissipating with his imminent release to leave him with both hands wrapped around his erection, and no resolution to the frenzied buzzing in his blood.

"Damn."

He'd meant the curse to be angry, but it just came out sounding rather forlorn and sad, a slight crack tingling in the back of his throat. Yuusuke sighed and uncurled from his side to flop over onto his back, fingers of one hand idly smearing his ejaculate over his skin as he stared at the ceiling. His other hand slowly crept up to his hair, running his fingers through the heavy dark strands the way he'd imagined Kurama doing... it wasn't the same.

With a heavier sigh than his last, he pushed himself up off the bed and padded to the bathroom, quickly cleaning himself off and getting ready for bed. A quick look in the mirror alerted him to the presence of a stranger in the room. Who the hell was that boy staring back at him with a downturn expression on his face?

A fierce grumble and a manic grin plastered on his face managed to convince him that, nope, he was still Urameshi Yuusuke, bull-headed leader of the best team of Reikai Tantei ever with a distressing soft spot for a certain redheaded reincarnated youko. He sighed again and turned off the light, crawling under his covers and looking out the window over his bed.

Damn, damn, damn!

He was pleased that this time, he did manage to sound angry. He had hoped that a little self-gratification would have calmed the persistent buzz that crawled through his brain, but he was dreadfully wrong, instead every nerve screamed for Kurama, insisting that a lust-born figment of imagination wasn't enough, no matter how realistic his testosterone-fogged brain might have thought it was. Yuusuke slipped into a relaxed curl against his sheets, arms tucked into his chest, fingers toying with the open end of his pillowcase, and drifted off to sleep with one last whispered 'damn' and the beginnings of a very erotic dream playing over his cruel subconscious.

He didn't need to see the door to know that Kurama had arrived. If the sudden change in air pressure from all the girls inside the restaurant sighing collectively hadn't been enough of an indicator, every inch of his body practically hummed with the fox's proximity. A second later that hum was very nearly wiped out by the screech that interrupted as he felt Hiei's ki right alongside the redhead.

He didn't have anything against Hiei, he rather liked the recalcitrant fire demon, as much as one could and not be put off by his rather dismissive attitude, it was just that his presence interfered with his own body's unnerving, ridiculously immediate, desire for Kurama. Well, that and the fact that he was standing rather close to the redhead at the moment, closer than usual anyway.

Yuusuke grimaced as the demon pair approached and he saw the welcoming smile on Kuwabara's face falter for a second before quickly being recovered. So, he's still confused, is he? As he felt Kurama's hand descend on his shoulder in friendly greeting, Yuusuke had to bite back the urge to shudder a groan. He felt his temperature rise and a deliciously languid throb in his groin. Oh, this is going to be a long day. Gods, just don't let me do anything extraordinarily stupid.

Yuusuke felt rather proud of himself after managing to spend the entire day with Kurama and not blurt out something incredibly embarrassing or, worse yet, drag the fox off behind some bushes or a convenient building, the rest of the team be damned. But, now it was time to say goodbye. It was getting rather late and all four of them were struggling to stifle little yawns and still remain polite, well not so much Kuwabara and Hiei, who never managed to be polite around each other, but it was clear that Kurama was nearly sleeping on his feet.

Must have had a rough night last night, he thought, and nearly groaned aloud as his mind recalled perfectly what he'd imagined the redhead had been doing. Not with me, that brutally honest part of his brain insisted on contributing. Teme! He never understood how he could lose to his own subconscious.

He took a deep breath and opened his mouth to speak when Hiei speared him with a strange, knowing glance and left with a trademark 'hn.' Yuusuke swallowed nervously. Had Hiei known what he'd been thinking? Were Hiei and Kurama as close as he thought they were? Only one way to find out, and hopefully ease the rumbling strains in his body that seemed to increase in pitch and volume the more time he spent around the youko.

"Where'd Hiei go?" He managed to keep the note of desperate curiosity from his voice and mentally patted himself on the back. Kurama turned to regard him with a small smile and Yuusuke swallowed audibly as those wide emerald eyes twinkled at him in the half-light of the moon and stars and streetlights.

"He's needed in the Makai for a while." The soft alto was warm and clear, no sign of stress or strain. So, Hiei was going to be away, hmm? Well, that was convenient... at least he didn't have to worry about how to talk to Kurama away from the short-tempered and possessive fire demon. Before he lost his nerve, Yuusuke decided to grab the bull by the horns, so to speak, and take advantage of the situation.

"Come on, Kurama. I'll walk you home."

The older boy blinked at him, clearly a little confused at the gesture, but knowing it wasn't meant as a slight against him. Kurama was fully capable of taking care of himself should anyone accost him on the street, not that anyone would for even though the fox looked like a spun glass figurine, he radiated Wild and Untamed. Perhaps that was where the attraction lay... well, part of it at any rate. Yuusuke wasn't going to lie to himself that he hadn't dreamed about that lithe body against him the night before, and try to turn something purely physical into something deeper, although he had to admit to wondering what that was like; a relationship with the fox. He wondered if Hiei knew.

"Thank you, Yuusuke, that would be nice," Kurama's polite dusky voice snapped him back to the present and he scrubbed a hand through the short hair at the nape of his neck, his typical nervous gesture. He caught the redhead's quirked smile in his direction and self-consciously lowered his hand, reverting to shoving both fists into his pockets to be on the safe side.

"Oyasumi nasai, Kuwabara-kun," Kurama called politely as he turned and started the scenic walk home. Yuusuke watched Kurama a while as the boy occasionally stopped to finger a tree or plant nearby that would shiver and stretch out to his presence as though aching for his touch. He suppressed a tingling shudder every time those slender fingers brushed across the flora, desperately trying to reign in his imagination.

"Ja, Kuwabara!"

He flashed his tall friend a beaming grin that hid the manic dance the butterflies were doing in his stomach and with a jaunty wave, turned and caught up with Kurama, not really caring what Kuwabara was thinking at the moment. He'd caught the flash of surprise across that long face when he'd offered to walk the slender redhead home. He'd also seen the twinkle of something caught between understanding and jealousy in the small dark eyes. So, maybe he really did figure it out after all.... Yuusuke grinned in the darkness.

He strode alongside his friend, surreptitiously sneaking glances out of the corner of his eye, noting how comfortable he felt around Kurama, even when his brain was buzzing and his blood was singing in his veins, somehow the youko seemed to project this wealth of serenity. Except of course, if he was about to kill something, then he projected nothing but anger and all bets were off. He couldn't help but smile again. His friend's dual nature suited him so perfectly.

They walked along in a companionable silence. Yuusuke studied the redhead every chance he could and yet tried to remain inconspicuous while Kurama inhaled the wonder of the night when the world was asleep and the plant life he loved so much came alive, no longer to be overshadowed or drowned out by the daily clamor of ningen running to and fro.

Kurama seemed to have fully recovered from the ritual last night, as a matter of fact; he seemed even better for it now. Yuusuke didn't know all the particulars about why and how youko acquired new tails, and felt that he would be told if ever the need arose, but he thought that the fox seemed marvelously rejuvenated since that night, fresher somehow, more... just more. If that were possible.

The long red hair that had always fascinated him in its vibrancy brushed over Kurama's shoulder and against his back and framed the elfin face of pale skin and the most incredible big green eyes he'd ever seen. He wondered why he'd never noticed before. Then again, since last night it seemed as though his body was making up for lost time, having every intention of simply drowning itself in the fox, but not knowing how to get his brain to overcome its reluctance.

Before he knew it, they had reached Kurama's door, and the redhead was inviting him in for a drink before he left. Yuusuke accepted without hesitation, knowing that if he left tonight without saying anything, he'd never get up the courage again. He stood in Kurama's room, toying with a glass of iced tea, shivering as the condensation melted and trickled over his fingers. He watched Kurama moving about the room, straightening up the bookcase, hovering worriedly over a small plant he had rescued a few days ago. Lithe and graceful, the boy's sensuality seemed completely subconscious and Yuusuke could only chalk it up to the influence of a centuries-old fox demon spirit. He'd seen the youko up close no more than a handful of times and found him incredibly intimidating, he much preferred the gentle soothing aura of Minamino Shuuichi, not that he didn't appreciate the tall Silver Youko, he did... who wouldn't.

Firming his resolution, Yuusuke carefully placed his glass on Kurama's desk, slowly, to control the shaking in his hands, and walked over to where the fox was putting his books away, back turned to him. He was close... so close... he could feel the warmth of Kurama's body around him and he reached out a trembling hand to stroke the soft red hair.

Kurama started, unaccustomed to such a soft touch from Yuusuke, as he felt the rough fingers lightly twining in his hair and caressing the back of his neck. He turned slowly.

"Yuusuke, nani wa-" He was cut off as Yuusuke moved both hands to his slender shoulders and gently pressed him back against the wall, moving his body over him to join in one warm, greedy, definitely aroused line of young human boy. He blinked as dark warm eyes bored into him, hot, hungry and desperate, but without the confusion of someone who wasn't sure what was happening. Yuusuke clearly knew what he was feeling... and what he wanted.

"Yuu-" Again, he was cut off as his young friend moved in quickly and pressed their foreheads together, a long shuddering sigh brushing over his cheeks, quivering fingers brushing over his lips.

Yuusuke stared into Kurama's face, wondering how he'd never noticed the delicate blend of stunning greens that sparkled in the depths of his friend's eyes. He was wondering how he never noticed the simply beauty present in the soft curve of the pale cheeks, never noticed the plump fullness of the lips, lips that Kurama parted in question. So tempting, so inviting, so... close. Could he do this? After last night's erotic vision of what he wanted to do with the fox, to the fox, could he truly do this?

Yuusuke's eyes felt heavy all of the sudden as he rolled his chin forward and managed to work up enough nerve to brush his lips over Kurama's. He'd meant it to be a kiss of reverence, but once he met that velvety warm flesh and swallowed the redhead's huff of surprise, the fire behind his eyes engulfed him, body and soul. He pressed forward, eagerly claiming the fox's mouth as his hands moved to cup Kurama's face, thumbs lovingly, devotedly, tracing over the elegant cheekbones, committing the flesh beneath his fingers to memory.

Gods, I'm kissing him! I never thought... I... I need... I need more.... Gods, Kurama, help me! Please!

He deepened the kiss, taking advantage of Kurama's lips parted in surprise, to slip his tongue into the warmth of the fox's breath, ignoring the pleading in his mind and acting instead on the exquisite torture in his body that only the youko could remedy. Yuusuke felt gentle hands on his chest and the thrill of that simple touch inflamed his senses and pumped his hips in an urgent roll against Kurama with a desperate moan.

"Yuusuke!" The fox pushed him off, gently but firmly, only holding him at arm's length instead of trying to toss him across the room. He was panting, out of breath from the force and shock of Yuusuke's kiss.

The dark haired boy stared at his friend, the curl in his groin growing more insistent as he took in Kurama's appearance; lips swollen and wet, eyes dark and heavy, chest heaving, brilliant red hair tousled from his fingers. He went beyond being male or female or even that mesmerizing androgyny that belonged to his youko form. He was simply beautiful.

The hunger reared up in him again, constricting painfully around his middle and drawing cold tingles in his limbs. He could feel the tips of Kurama's fingers resting lightly against his chest and leaned into them, laying his hands over the fox's to force the palms flat against his body. An incredible heat radiated out from those hands, and he found himself slowly rubbing his thumbs over the backs and reveling in the silky soft feel of the redhead's skin.

Yuusuke never looked away from those glowing green eyes, he just couldn't find the strength of will to break the gaze, and so he caught the flickers of confusion that brought marvelously bright sparks of sunlit gold across the verdant depths. He felt the air in the room become heavy with the scent of roses and recognized the languid embrace of Kurama's ki, it was not the sudden rush that he was familiar with when they fought, but calmer, more relaxing somehow. He nearly sagged under the weight of a strange sense of relief. If Kurama didn't kill him for his indiscretion, he might actually survive this night intact.

"Yuusuke?" The older boy's alto was soft and warm and just as confused as his eyes. Does he truly not know the strange hold he has, the compelling power of his presence? Is it possible that Kurama is that oblivious? No... Minamino Shuuichi is that oblivious, either that or completely unconcerned with his looks; Kurama on the other hand, knows better.

"Kurama, I..." he trailed off. I... what? How do I say what it is I need? I need you, Kurama. Why can't I get images of you out of my head?! Why do I see your face and your body everywhere I look?!

The inner struggle wreaking havoc in his mind must have been evident in his eyes, for Kurama's expression softened to one of emerald compassion. Yuusuke found himself shivering uncontrollably, and with both his hands still holding the youko's over his chest, he turned and backed Kurama to the bed.

The green eyes opened wide as the redhead landed on the bed, his vibrant hair fanning out about his pale face and the collar of his tunic coming open to reveal a slender neck, one of Yuusuke's hands on each side of his head now. Every muscle in the wiry body tensed as Yuusuke leaned in, drawn to the newly exposed flesh, and inhaled Kurama's scent; a fresh earthy smell with soft notes of wild rose that was indelibly linked forever in his mind with the fox. As he placed a gentle sucking kiss at the juncture of Kurama's neck and shoulder he felt the hands on his chest spasm and push again.

He lifted himself away from the fox to find those green eyes hazy with a sheen that glinted oddly in the light of the room. Yuusuke blinked and concentrated on the shifting glaze over those incredible eyes until he realized they were unshed tears. He was frozen in place, less than a foot separated him from Kurama and yet he felt as though he were miles away as the unfamiliar glisten of tears threatened to break him.

"Yuusuke...." His name was a sad whisper from Kurama's lips and it struck him in the heart. He shook off the trance he had been in since he'd started his walk with the redhead, instantly cognizant of his position above the youko and effectively trapping the other boy under his greater weight. With a wrench, he scrambled back off the bed, shock and disbelief holding his body rigid and his eyes wide as he stared at Kurama.

The fox pushed himself up onto lean back on his hands, eyes wide and wet, yet so remarkably understanding that it made him want to scream. How could I have done that?! Was I really going to force myself on Kurama?! Could I have done that? No! Never! He knew that, Kurama knew that... but... now what?

"Kurama, I... go... gomen nasai, I..." Yuusuke knew he was stammering, but he couldn't do anything else, he was simply rooted to his spot horrified with what he had done, and what he'd been about to do.

A soft huff of a sigh bubbled from Kurama's lips as he stood, advancing slowly until he was directly before the darker boy. Yuusuke could have sworn that the bright compelling gaze flickered to the window behind him ever so quickly, before settling on his eyes. He swallowed hard and waited for the redhead's anger to catch up with him, perfectly prepared to be turned into plant food... and he deserved it, he knew. Instead, he nearly stumbled back with shock and amazement as Kurama smiled softly and reached up to cup his face in two infinitely gentle hands.

"Daijobou, Yuusuke, wakatta."

He jumped, every muscle twitching in response to Kurama's contact and his words. He understood?! How can he, when I don't?! If he had been surprised by the simple words then he would have been completely floored by the fox's actions, had Kurama not been holding him up.

The soft, fuzzy pools of lush green that made up his whole world at the moment seemed to engulf his vision, blocking out all else. He couldn't quite understand why until the emerald field vanished and tender lips caressed his own in a soft kiss that was more than friendly, yet chaste and sweet.

When Kurama released him from the spell of his skin, Yuusuke sagged against him, knees weak and head spinning as he felt slim, strong arms encircle him protectively. A sad, heavy sigh whispered past his ear and he felt the tickle of Kurama's hair over his cheek as he simply hung there in the youko's arms, defenseless and vulnerable, until the redhead spoke again.

"I think its time for you to go home, ne, Yuusuke?" The question was asked without a trace of anger or bitterness in the warm alto and as he peered back up into those bottomless eyes he knew that it truly was all right, Kurama truly did understand.

"Hai, wakatta." Bolstered by the knowledge that he hadn't lost Kurama's friendship, Yuusuke straightened and made for the door. He could feel his cheeks burning as he turned back to the older boy, his hand clenching the doorknob.

"Kurama?"

"Hmm?"

"About what happened... I... well, I... Hiei...."

A warm smile widened on the lovely face as Kurama regarded him, eyes luminous at just the mention of the Jaganshi's name. Yuusuke felt his heart clutch painfully in his chest at the evidence of what had only been a suspicion in his own mind, and yet he couldn't help but be happy, knowing he had been right about those two.

"Don't worry, Yuusuke, everything will be all right. You'll see. Yakusoku."

Even after everything that had happened that night, Yuusuke could not help but believe Kurama's promise, he had to. One more look at the bright light in Kurama's eyes and he felt a smile break over his own face, one that the fox greeted with a quiet laugh.

"Oyasumi, Yuusuke."

"Oyasumi, Kurama." He knew he didn't have to worry anymore. Even though the strange stirrings he felt at the thought of the reincarnated youko had died down somewhat, they were still there, but he didn't need to fear them. He and Kurama had confronted them tonight, together, and they had won, a mutual understanding breaking their hold over him and setting him free.

With his hand still on the doorknob, Yuusuke gave Kurama a happy wave and with a lighter heart than he'd had when he'd arrived, he stepped out into the night. Maybe he'd take the long way home tonight.

He didn't get three steps outside when something stopped him. Yuusuke looked up, feeling a strange and foreboding prickle in the back of his neck, and met a pair of deep red eyes belonging to a familiar black-clad form perched on the gable of Kurama's roof. A sword-sharp spike of panic raced up his back, connecting painfully with his brain, until he realized Hiei was doing nothing more threatening than looking at him, but then again, with Hiei that could easily spell death.

They stood that way for what seemed like a small eternity, Hiei wordlessly conveying a hundred different sentiments and threats in his crimson gaze; everything from imminent and painful death if he ever caught Yuusuke with his hands on Kurama again, to a fierce protective and possessive streak, to a look of profound understanding as to what he was feeling. Yusuke started, his eyes widening as he saw that understanding and had to look again to make sure that was indeed what he had seen. The deep bottomless red eyes never wavered, and with a quick nod, Hiei vanished, leaving Yuusuke following the quick wisp of black that disappeared into Kurama's open window.

Yes, he'd been right about those two. He'd been right, and now he could be happy for them.

  *OWARI*