InuYasha Fan Fiction / Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ With Meaning ❯ Visits ( Chapter 8 )

While walking down the streets Kurama passed a park, and his kitsune senses ignited with the pleasure of greenery and fresh air. He paused and stood casually upon the edge of the grass, taking in a deep breath and smiling at the briskness of morning dew combined with youkai perception.

He let out a freeing breath, tilting his chin up to the heavens as he blinked and then bemusement overtook him- he wondered how the little red kit was doing.

It had been a while since their first dinner, and Kurama couldn't get a niggling thought out of the back of his head. It was burrowing into passing fancies and conversations, hissing underneath all his goings and doings of the days.

He wanted to visit Shippou.

Kitsune were very curious and strange creatures, and finding another of his kind amongst ningen (and loving and loved by one no less) had perked up his spiritual ears. He was intrigued, he was keen, and he was determined- a very potent combination in a kitsune.

So he set out to find Kuwabara.

He found the big lug at the public library, toiling over a book on child care and the legal system. He blew out a fondly exasperated breath as he approached- recalling days when rock concerts or roughing around were all that his friend cared about.

And then there had been reikai and youkai….and Yukina.

Kurama shook his head and cleared his throat- watching as Kuwabara looked up inquiringly with a pencil firmly held in his lips. The fox grinned faintly, watching the man roll his eyes and smile as he took the pencil from his mouth and used it as a bookmark.

“Yeah?” sounded the quiet inquiry; his eyes darting about to the other patrons of the quiet library.

Kurama swallowed and took great care to look unhurried and careless. It wouldn't do to display his hand. He shrugged lightly and tilted his head to regard his friend. “I just got bored- it seems that my vacation time has me restless.”

His friend leaned back, his broad shoulders pressing into the back of his chair and near hiding it from the kitsune's view. “Well sit down then; could use some company.”

Kurama smiled broader and took a seat opposite, folding his hands under his chin while watching his friend return to his work. He found himself enjoying the way the redhead focused- intent and determined. Slowly a rough essay came upon a once blank paper- Kurama felt a fierce pride well up in him-

Kuwabara had shown them all.

His friend finally sighed and sat back, casually leafing through his rough and absently editing as he started a conversation. “What were you doing before, anyway- to find me here?”

Kurama murmured before replying. “I had been at the college to settle some things for my brother- but I didn't find you there. And where else would you be?”

“Ah, how is Shuichi doing?”

Kurama smiled. Many people found it annoying that Kuwabara didn't bother with titles unless he truly just met a person and respected that distance, like with Kagome. Kurama just found it another facet of a dynamic soul. Kuwabara wouldn't fake his feelings of respect to appease egos or society.

And the kitsune liked it.

“He's doing well, though he's a little overwhelmed.”

Kuwabara nodded and started shuffling his papers into organization. “Yeah, first year is like that- he'll get it though. He's a smart cookie.”

Kurama smiled and settled- leaning into the table on his elbows so their conversation wouldn't irritate anyone else. Just to save his friend the embarrassment. “Hmm, he is. He's very thankful that you helped him out with Tsukino-sensei.” Kuwabara blushed, smiling and shrugging his shoulders.

And that was another thing. Kuwabara wasn't really used to being thanked either.

“So are you done the essay?”

Kuwabara startled and then nodded, absently shuffling through his bag to organize everything and fit it in. “Yup, I can get out of here.”

“You want to go for some tea?” Kurama smiled.

“Sounds good.” Kuwabara smiled as he stood and pushed his chair in. “Though, Kagome-san would probably make better tea.”

Kurama smiled. Glad he knew his friend well enough to delicately steer him. He pretended to think for a minute, watching his friend wave farewell to the librarian. “Well,” he spoke lightly, “We might as well just go visit them then.”

Kuwabara smiled and nodded as he held open the door, glancing around absently to get his bearings before setting out in the direction of the shrine and the neighboring house they were heading to.

Kurama leaned back and straightened his shoulders as he smiled, pleased with himself.

….

They had walked a bit of a way before Kuwabara crumbled his brow and narrowed his eyes. He felt slightly suspicious; Kurama was too satisfied. He snorted out a laugh and shook his head. Grinning unrepentant at his friend- “That was uncalled for.”

Kurama raised both eyebrows and blinked, unforthcoming.

Kuwabara shook his head and snorted again, willing to let it drop at that.

It didn't need to be said out loud anyway.

So the pair continued on their walk, nodding to people vaguely recognizable from their first search for Kagome. Kuwabara laughed when Kurama stiffened up upon hearing a scratchy feminine voice- but it wasn't Yuka and Kuwabara made fun of his friend.

In turn he blushed when one of the children looked up at him in awe, his height near making her fall backwards onto her bum; and Kurama smirked with all reciprocal humor.

It was a much slowed procession the closer they got to her abode, Kuwabara hesitant to intrude and wear out a welcome he'd received so heartily. He swallowed and suddenly found his throat scratchy, his eyes closing briefly.

When they opened he found the concerned face of Kurama beside him, and Kuwabara sighed and smiled- endeavoring to get over his brief and numbing hesitation.

“Are you okay?” Kurama inquired quietly, taking care to weave them through the crowded streets without drawing any more attention than they naturally couldn't avoid.

Kuwabara's face darkened; of course, beauty and the beast. He shook himself from the unsolicited thought- Kurama couldn't help it even if he did take some carefully noted pride in it. He was a kitsune and beautiful with his human face.

Kuwabara sighed, “Nothing important.”

He heard Kurama clear his throat. “I still wonder.”

There was a pause as Kuwabara collected his thoughts. “Do you think we should have called or something?”

“I don't believe so.”

“Why?”

“I get the feeling that she is lonely.”

“No, she's not quite lonely…”

Kurama arched one eyebrow, his green eyes curious.

Kuwabara hesitated only slightly before plowing ahead. Kurama wouldn't laugh at him- he was a good friend, had been ever since… “I think she's okay- she loves her son too much to be lonely. But, maybe, she feels out of place.” He sent a quick glance to his kitsune friend.

Kurama had a thoughtful look on his face, his eyes far off and wondering. Kuwabara waited until he returned his attention to him before continuing- “I mean, she seems older than her friends, and they were pretty rude. I don't think she knows how to talk to them without being bulldozed or something. And her son, he's not human right? And I saw no others in the house.”

Kurama made a soft sound, “They mentioned people trying to set her up- perhaps she had a kitsune husband…” His face scrunched up. Kuwabara laughed quietly as he guided the distracted kitsune around a corner. “That's not right. There are no traces of a male influence in their house at all. A kitsune especially would leave some kind of territory mark.”

Kuwabara snorted, trying not the laugh out loud as Kurama gave him a startled look. He cleared his throat sheepishly- time to change the topic. “I don't think she's ever been married.”

Kitsune eyes lit up, and Kuwabara twitched nervously- maybe he hadn't killed the conversation after all. “Nor engaged in any relationship at all.”

Kuwabara stopped and looked strangely at his friend, almost amused to see the fox startle and not-quite blush at this attention.

Kurama cleared his throat- “I was subjected to a soliloquy from that damnably confusing woman you two left me with.”

Kuwabara grinned Cheshire like. “You were willing to play that martyr at that point.”

Kurama huffed and turned his nose up- “That woman should be locked in a padded room- I don't know how she gets anything done with her confused rambling.”

Kuwabara laughed and then tapered it off, staring up the street to the garden in front of Kagome's house. He hadn't been aware that they'd come so close. He took in a deep breath that expanded the barrel of his chest, rapidly letting it out as he realized it made him look that much larger.

He blew out a sigh quietly and then smiled at his friend, ignoring his intense eyes as he started up the garden path and went to wait upon the veranda.

…

Kurama let out a relieved breath- he'd managed to distract his friend. He swallowed and quietly knocked on the door, keeping his gaze steady so the man wouldn't know what he had done.

He half thought Kuwabara had been trying to distract him, so he figured he was safe.

He just hadn't wanted the burly gentleman beside him to second guess Kagome's welcome.

Kuwabara was a curious man, so full of morals and hurt that Kurama sometimes didn't understand him. And he was working on it. He sighed as he heard soft footsteps from within the abode, and straightened as Kagome opened the door, glancing behind her knee with a smile at the enthusiastic Shippou.

Green eyes grinned up to them, hands grasping his mother's pant leg as he used her for leverage and laughed. “Kuwabara-san! You came back!”

Kuwabara lit up at the child, catching him easily in his arms when he leapt out from behind his mother. The pair roughed around for a minute under Kagome's brilliant gaze, her face bright and exuberant as she beckoned them to come in. “Tea?”

Kurama nodded and greeted her politely, carefully toeing off his shoes as he avoided Kwuabara and Shippou making the most of the small space. Kagome's laugh rang out loud, a startling sound that was chased by a stunned stillness- Shippou giggled at their expressions from under Kuwabara's arm- hung like a sack of potatoes.

They murmured and restored conversation- tea served and voices light.

Kurama really enjoyed it- his ability to continue observing Shippou quietly while Kuwabara made the most of his time eased him. He let his senses flare to examine the way Shippou's soul was glowing and reaching for his friend, and the unconscious warmth with which Kuwabara responded and wrapped the kit in. Kurama smiled behind the edge of his tea cup and carefully averted his eyes.

He ended up locked in the blue gaze of his hostess, her steady face examining him and wondering.

He swallowed and carefully put down his tea.

When she cleared her throat and looked towards her son he spoke, careful to keep his voice unassuming. “How old is Shippou?”

“Hmm, he's in the third grade.”

Kurama's eyes flickered and one side of his lips twitched up in a smirk. “Seems to be rather intelligent for such a young boy, you must be proud of him.”

Her gaze turned to him, a blaze behind her eyes and a proud tilt under her chin. “My baby makes me proud all the time.”

He smiled and nodded his head- “Indeed,” Kuwabara's loud guffaw interrupted them, and Kagome's startled gaze grew joyous as she watched the two rough house across her floor.

He opened his mouth to continue before Kagome sighed and turned to him- a furrow between her brows (he fought the urge to approach and smooth it away with his thumb- something so beautiful should never be so marred).

She pursed her lips and then shook her head- “Let's just not bother, okay? I know, and you know. That's all there is to it.”

Kurama blinked and straightened- unused to anyone guessing his intention or calling him out so openly. His amusement doubled under her arch look.

Kuwabara sat down with a tired breath, his careful eyes glancing between the two of them as Shippou tripped up to them. Kurama straightened and watched her as she soberly eyed them both- “Be a good dear Shippou, and get my jewelry box.”

Shippou's eyes widened before he nodded hesitatingly, his form slipping from the room reluctantly as he sent one anxious glance back at his mother.

“I don't like playing games, Kurama-san- especially when my son is called into question.”

Kurama froze, then swallowed and nodded his head- easily recognizing his folly. His mother probably would have reacted in the same protective manner; Kurama had a habit of forgetting that humans were not as callous and unfeeling as most demons had been raised.

Kuwabara cleared his throat and shifted, his eyes dark as he tried to deal with the hostile press of their souls against each other- to be fair Kurama had put his foot in his mouth.

Said fox winced and offered his friend a contrite smile. Kuwabara nodded his head carefully and mopped a hand down his face, looking everywhere but at the two adults calmly regarding each other from across the table.

Green eyes blinked and blue eyes calmly remained- steady and unrelenting.

Shippou's quiet feet pattered into the room, and Kagome smiled at her son before pulling him into her lap- small jewelry box clutched in his hands and all. She took a deep breath that raised her shoulders- and when she looked back to them her eyes had the dreamy otherworldliness they'd seen for that brief moment in time during dinner- the sad reminiscent air to her again as she carefully pulled her son closer to her bosom.

She gestured to the box with her chin- “Open it.”

Kurama and Kuwabara both hesitated, sharing confused glances before the fox dared stretch out his hand. He hesitated slightly before actually touching the box- but no traps snapped at his fingers or pulled at his soul.

He swallowed as he pulled the box across the table towards himself, biting his tongue as he lifted the decorated lid and smelt the carved wood. The lid was heavy - real wood - and the hinges well cared for as he lifted the top. He stared dully for a moment before his eyes widened and his gaze snapped to the strange duo sitting there so calmly- watching him like they were a set statue immortalized for all of time.

He licked his lips and let out a breath as he pushed the box over to his friend.

“I'm sorry.” He said carefully, unable to look her in the eye.

He half saw her nod- “Never doubt that I love my son- Kurama-san. He's my pride and joy- no matter what curiosities it presents to one of your nature.”

He nodded his head and looked to Kuwabara, trying to find a distraction from the very honest reprimand she'd given. His friend had curiously removed an old wooden top, rolling it between his fingers as his hand idly reached in to draw out a little rocking horse.

Kurama swallowed and nodded his head- it had been wrong of him to fish for clues by using her bond with her son.

He choked as Kuwabara pulled out a fanged necklace- a clear and empty marble on the end. His wide eyes turned to the quiet pair- their gazes steady on Kuwabara's ignorant interest.

Kurama licked his lips and whispered- “You must be very close to the past- to have such artifacts.”

“Hmmm, I've kept all of the results from Shippou's talents.” Shippou bowed up and grinned, his eyes sparkling and his teeth displayed with pride under the gentle woman's intimated delight.

Kurama nodded his head- “I truly am sorry.” A woman so endeared to a child not of her womb- a youkai child not of her world …but then, Shippou was her world.

Kurama tipped his head in acknowledgement.

The conversation fell unto Shippou's accomplishments- the grades he received and the pretty little picture he'd drawn for her just the other day.

Kurama carefully held his tongue whenever he felt another urge to pry- he didn't want to wear their welcome out just because he'd fallen prey to his damnable kitsune curiosity.

Kuwabara loved it here.

And truth, Kurama found he was content there as well.