Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ A Drug for Everything ❯ Chapter 1

Title: A Drug for Everything

Authors: Makoto Sagara and Skeren Dreamera

Archive: www.afallenangel.net/makotosagara/frames/fanfiction.html, www.fanfiction.net, www.foreverfandom.net (under Makoto Sagara), www.mediaminer.org, www.nfiction.net, www.gundam-wing-fanfiction.net (under Skeren Dreamera)

Category: Shonen ai

Rating: R

Pairings: Kurama + Yuusuke, Kurama + Hiei + Kurama, Yuusuke + Keiko, Kuwabara + Yukina

Warnings: Shonen ai, language, OOC, set after the Raisen saga

Disclaimers: We don't hold any claim over Yu Yu Hakusho. Yoshihiro Togashi-sensei, Funimation, TV Tokyo, and a few other companies own it and its characters. We are only using them out of deep love and reverence and mean no offence. We make no money off of our joint adventure. Please, remember that suing is bad for your karma and your skin! ^_^

A/N: This is the first time that Mako has worked on a YYH fic, so cut her some slack. She usually only does GW or WK, but seeing as how she's a HUGE fan of YYH and HunterxHunter (another anime by Togashi-sensei), she decided to let Skeren drag her into this little mess of a wonderful fic. ^____^

.Chapter One

Kurama ducked away from the school yard quickly, mind divided between avoiding those people who had no qualms trying to follow him home, and the part of him that was saying to go ahead and let them. It wasn't fair that his fox side wanted to come out and play so badly. It was making things more difficult than they had to be. His feet took him towards Yuusuke's apartment instead of home though. It was one of his days to tutor the other in math.

Yuusuke threw open the door as soon as Kurama knocked. "Hey, Kurama. You want something to drink before we start. Don't mind Mom... She's, uh, tired," he said, his smile faltering for a moment.

Kurama smiled at Yuusuke, shaking his head a bit. "Actually, I was thinking we could study at my house today. My kaa-san isn't home for the evening, and there would be less distractions for you."

Yuusuke blinked. "Yeah, sure. Let me tell mom, and then I'll grab my books." He moved to the other room, shaking the woman on the couch. "Mom, I'm going to Kurama's house to study. I'll be back later, alright?"

"Yuusuke? Bring something home for dinner too," Atsuko muttered as she gave him a bleary smile.

"Okay." He let her fall back to the couch, and went to his room to get his things. He then returned to where Kurama waited in the doorway. "Let's go."

Kurama chuckled quietly, stepping back out the door with Yuusuke in tow. "I'm not sure I lost all my admirers on the way here, so I hope you don't mind the long way."

Yuusuke shrugged. "I don't really have to worry about that. They seem more afraid of Keiko than they are of me."

"So they should be." Kurama slid Yuusuke a sly glance, noting that Yuusuke's presence seemed to deter the few that were still lurking around as they headed back to his house. "I've long since noticed that women listen to others of their kind rather than males given the chance."

Yuusuke laughed. "No, Keiko's got a mean left hook. And she's not afraid to use it." He rubbed the left side of his jaw. "Guy or girl."

Kurama laughed, unlocking his door and opening it before stepping inside, gesturing for Yuusuke to follow. "I've never made the mistake of annoying her."

Yuusuke took his shoes off by the front door as he entered. "Yeah, well, she seems easily excitable around certain people." He looked around, not having been at Kurama's recently. "So, can I get something to drink?"

Kurama toed off his own shoes, heading for the kitchen. "I think I likely have a better variety than you did. Do you want anything specific?" Kurama wasn't thinking, not entirely, and his eyes had a faintly gold tinge as he moved into the other room.

"Hmmm, got any ramune?" Yuusuke stepped into the living room and sat calmly on the couch as he asked.

Kurama turned a little, opening the fridge and peering inside. "I'm afraid not. Kaa-san must have taken the last one again..."

Yuusuke looked into the kitchen, giving the redhead an odd look. "Alright... um, water then, I guess."

Kurama stood, pushing the door closed with a flick of his wrist and moving to the cupboard. "I got a hold of some cocoa, and tea... Are you sure you want water?" Kurama got down enough for himself, then a mug, glancing under the shelves at Yuusuke to make sure he wanted water before he got down his glass.

Yuusuke shook his head. "Nah, Keiko's been on me to drink more, and the old bag's been helping her. Guess I should actually listen once in a while. Just don't tell them."

Kurama shook his head, pulling down a glass before changing his mind, putting the mug down and getting another. He took both to the fridge, pouring purified water in one, and chocolate milk in the other. He didn't even pay attention to the fact that he added a bit of something to both. The fox wanted to play.

Yuusuke sat back, getting comfortable. "So, have you seen Hiei recently? Yukina said he's been gone for a while."

"Actually, I haven't either. He should be around here again soon though. He's been gone too long not to." Kurama swept into the living room, handing Yuusuke his water before settling back with his own drink.

Yuusuke smiled as he took the glass. "Thanks, man." He took a drink. "This sorta tastes a bit off. Something wrong with your purifier? Not bad though." He took another drink, draining almost half of the cup.

Kurama glanced to Yuusuke sideways. "I might have added some lemon juice. I tend to do that to water often, so I don't think about it." Kurama shook his head, drinking his own as quickly before setting it aside to get Yuusuke's books.

Yuusuke nodded. "That's cool. It was just a bit unexpected. So, what do you know about trigonometry?"

Kurama set the book before him down, looking at Yuusuke. "I'm in pre-calculus, Yuusuke. Trigonometry comes before. Where are you at?" Kurama moved around from his chair so he was beside Yuusuke, pulling his glass with him as he set the book down in front of them.

"Er, chapter four?" Yuusuke said, flashing a grin.

Kurama peered closely at Yuusuke and opened the book to the first chapter, leaning down to get a notebook. "You have no idea where the class is at, do you, Yuusuke?" Ignored with the effort of long practice, Kurama's fox side was gleeful. He'd get to play soon.

Yuusuke shook his head. "I, ah, had to be reminded that I had to take this class."

Kurama set a notebook and a few pencils down on the table and pointed out the first equation. "And this doesn't make a bit of sense to you, does it?" Kurama's voice was a bit lower, eyes a little flashier, but he didn't catch it. Then again, he'd used the same thing on Yuusuke, so the other would be sliding into his own demon form. Slowly.

Yuusuke leaned over, ignoring the fact that his hair was actually starting to get long enough to tickle the back of his neck. "Not a lick," he replied, drinking a bit more of his water. "Should it?"

"You're halfway through the school year. Yes." Kurama laughed, sipping at his milk in time with Yuusuke, then setting it aside. "Looks like we'll be here a while then." Kurama drew out a problem. "Lets see how close you get to the right answer."

Yuusuke picked up a pencil and looked at the book to see how it was done. He then looked at the problem on the paper and chewed on his pencil to think. "Like this, right?" he asked, quickly trying to find the square root of 343.

Kurama glanced over the paper and cursed a bit. "Sorry, that's a prime number... Here, something else." Kurama put his hand over Yuusuke's to still the puzzled series of division signs that were being spread all over the paper. "A different number would be better."

"Okay, I thought that that was just me." Yuusuke nodded, moving a hand to run over his chest. For some reason, it was starting to get itchy... He couldn't place why.

Kurama glanced sideways at Yuusuke, eyes vibrantly gold. "Sometimes, I don't realize what my hands are doing in math. Here, 615. I know that isn't a prime number."

Yuusuke looked at the number, flicking his hair out of his eyes. Wait. The only time my hair is long is... He looked at Kurama. The fox was starting to show. "What the hell was in that water, Kurama?"

Kurama blinked at Yuusuke, then a lock of hair fell across his vision, and no small bit of surprise showed on his face as he caught the change of hair color. "I have no honest idea."

Yuusuke's eyes grew cold and his chest started to itch a bit more. "Tch, right. Why am I starting to change then?"

Kurama just shook his head, impatiently pushing his hair back behind his ear as he looked at Yuusuke with his bright gold eyes. "I am going to apologize now for not realizing how... off it was. I really do put lemon juice in my water though. It would be stupid to lie about it."

Yuusuke blinked, ignoring the odd sensation to rip into something. "Yeah, it would be. Look, Kurama, I think I should go home." He stood, and the itching grew worse.

"I wouldn't advise it. You know you are a bit more... aggressive. You wouldn't want to risk hurting Atsuko, would you?" Kurama got to his feet as well, snatching up both glasses and heading into the kitchen to pour them out.

Yuusuke nodded, trying to keep himself in check. "Well, I wasn't really gonna go home. I was gonna go see the witch about this... problem."

Kurama came back, still looking like his normal self, though infinitely paler, and deeper of voice. "I thought she was going to get that scroll she wanted from the other city this weekend..." Kurama was headed for the stairs; he knew he had a counter plant in here somewhere, unless his other side made off with it somehow.

Yuusuke followed Kurama. "This hasn't happened before. I can normally keep this side in check... I don't like the way this is making me feel now."

Kurama glanced over his shoulder at Yuusuke. "At least it is still entirely you, Yuusuke." He pushed open the door to his room, going to his closet and opening it before leaning up to look for the seeds. He disappeared inside, only to reemerge with a tail and empty-handed. "Nothing there..."

"Eh, Kurama? You have a tail now, and your ears are showing," Yuusuke said, moving a bit back. He didn't really associate Yoko with very good memories.

Kurama flicked the tail around his side with a little sigh, and then looked at Yuusuke. "So are your markings. I'm so sorry about this, I knew I should have just come home and hidden in my closet." Kurama shook his head, the reddish silvery hair falling forward as he started to go through his drawers.

Yuusuke moved closer to the window, and was surprised when he bumped into something warm and solid. He spun around to see a black clad shadow that let out a growl.

"Watch where you're going, Uremeshi," Hiei snapped, hopping from the ledge to land on the floor silently. "What happened to you two?" His blood red eyes were traveling between the two transforming youkai curiously.

"Yoko decided he was bored. I was painfully stupid and ignored him. He decided to include Yuusuke in his visit." Kurama shrugged, apparently less than caring about it now. Yoko wasn't really another personality so much as a difference of his opinions and attitude.

Hiei snorted, perching on the edge of Kurama's bed. "Stupid comes to mind. Why would he want Uremeshi?"

Yuusuke blinked. "Excuse you both?"

Kurama straightened up, moving to his bed and settling onto it, apparently giving up on the plant. "School is boring. I want to play. I like you, so I included you." There was a shrug, and gold eyes slid to Hiei. "I know you don't mind me being like this."

Hiei shrugged. "Why would I?"

Yuusuke continued to blink. "What do you mean 'you like me'?"

Kurama settled himself more comfortably, undoing his shirt as he finished into his transformation. He didn't want to rip the thing. "As in, I like you. As to you, Hiei, it was something I considered."

Hiei's eyes glanced over Kurama before flicking to Yuusuke. "You've never be subjected to Yoko outside of the fighting ring, have you?"

"Uh, no! Why would I need to?" Yuusuke pushed his hair back, irritated.

Kurama curled his tail over his hip and twiddled it between his fingers, watching Yuusuke in amusement. "I don't just like to fight, you know."

Yuusuke took up a perch on Kurama's windowsill, watching both of the other demons since they seemed to be perfectly comfortable with one another. "Eh, hadn't thought about that, actually."

"I could tell. You seem a bit nervous, is all." Kurama gave a slight shrug, peering with amusement from one to the other. "I need to change, as I find these clothes far too snug." He got to his feet, taking off the shirt and jacket as he walked to the closet.

Yuusuke nodded and headed for the door, leaving so Kurama could have some privacy. Hiei just stayed where he was on Kurama's bed. "He's too human at times. No wonder he didn't want to be a Demon Lord when Raisen died."

"Can't blame him, can you? It would just be fighting all the time. At least the smaller territory I had was well protected." Kurama shimmied off the clothes he'd been wearing, pawing though his closet for anything bigger.

Hiei rolled his eyes. "Yes, and Mukuro was not an easy target, was she?"

"Not entirely." Kurama finally found a pair of shorts that would work and pulled them on, dismissing the rest in annoyance. He'd just have to get more clothes.

"You should tell Yuusuke that he can come back in," Hiei stated dryly.

Kurama grinned, moving to the door and opening it to see Yuusuke pacing outside his room. "You didn't have to leave. You could have just closed your eyes." Not that he was more than barely dressed now, but he wasn't nude anymore.

Yuusuke turned around and looked to see Kurama nearly naked. "No. I'd rather give you privacy," he said quietly.

"That would have been privacy. I'm not ashamed of my body in either form, you know. Get back in here with the rest of us would you?" Kurama moved back, considering the two demons he had in his room.

Yuusuke walked past Kurama/Yoko and into the room. Hiei sneered at him. He could have sworn he saw the other demon mouth 'wimp'. "What did you say?" he growled.

"Oh, did you want me to say it out loud? Wimp." Hiei didn't even care if the boy reacted. All he did was zip over to the windowsill as Yuusuke tried to swing on him. "At least you're ready to fight. Too bad you're still slow."

Kurama pushed his door shut, watching the other two. "Don't taunt him because he couldn't deal with seeing me nude, Hiei."

"I don't see what his problem is. From what I've seen at that school he goes to, the girls are nearly nude during... exercise time," Hiei replied lazily.

Kurama prodded Yuusuke over into a chair before splaying himself out over his bed. "Enough. I don't care for being compared to a female."

Yuusuke looked Kurama over. "Um, no problem there, buddy." He shifted in place, obviously uncomfortable.

"Is that what it takes to get you to look at me then?" Kurama tossed his arms out. "We really must do something."

Hiei just glared at the prone boy. "What do you suggest, fox?"

"Me? I already did all the hard work in getting us like this in the first place. You know, Yuusuke was asking after you earlier, Hiei." Kurama rolled to his side, fox ears twitching a bit as he looked from one to the other.

Hiei switched his glare to Yuusuke. "Why?"

Yuusuke shrugged. "Just asking. Yukina was a bit worried. That's it."

Kurama pushed to his feet, moving to Yuusuke. "Where all do those markings of yours cover, Yuusuke?"

"Huh?" Yuusuke asked. "My markings? Um, back, chest, legs, arms... I think that's it. Why?"

"Because I haven't gotten to see most of them, why else?" Kurama peered at Yuusuke, a slow grin working across his face. "Can I see?" He had confidence that Hiei would find this too amusing to leave.

Hiei got comfortable on the sill, just watching the seduction that Yoko was working on Uremeshi. Yuusuke sat back in his chair. "Uh... I guess..."

Kurama leaned in after Yuusuke, blinking almost innocently at him, though the grin didn't go away. "You don't have to get naked, Yuusuke. Though, seeing if those marks went everywhere would be intriguing. I wouldn't be so mean as to steal your modesty like that."

"Yeah, right. And Kuwabara's really a genius," Yuusuke retorted quietly, earning a snicker from the direction of the window.

"Come now, I haven't started to strip you, now have I?" Kurama turned a little, peering at Hiei. He loved that oh so rare laughter, and he rewarded it with a smirk before he looked back to Yuusuke.

"Back up," Yuusuke commanded, using a tone he hadn't bothered with since inheriting Raisen's territory and title. "I'll show you, but you have to back away first."

Kurama inclined his head, pulling back. "Of course, you only needed to ask, you know."

Yuusuke nodded, and began to slowly unbutton his top. He hadn't realized how tight it had gotten through his transformation. It was really a miracle he hadn't ripped it before now. He took it completely off, showing that his arms, chest, and back did indeed have the distinct markings of one from the line of Raisen, and his hair fell to frame his face and neck. "Happy now?"

Kurama inched back to perch on the edge of the bed. "You said you had others."

"Yeah, but I'm not taking off my pants to show you. Get over it," Yuusuke bit out. Hiei just shook his head. The fox was too intrigued now. He'd find a way to get what he wanted.

Kurama sighed a bit, running his fingers along the edge of the bed. "Is it that you have nothing underneath the pants that you hesitate?"

Yuusuke's eyes all but popped from their sockets. "No."

Hiei glared. "Humans. Modesty. Remember? Or have you blocked your human side already?"

"My human side is fine walking around naked as much as I am." Kurama leaned forward, and how he was still stable like that was a mystery. "You did say you'd show me if I back off."

"I also didn't say I would show you all of them. That I'm sure of." Yuusuke was now wishing he could just go somewhere else. He was really not comfortable with the way the nearly naked Yoko was staring at him.

"There isn't any reason to be modest unless you're ashamed of your body." Kurama said it offhandedly, glancing to Hiei as he stopped eyeing the marks on Yuusuke briefly.

Hiei moved from his perch. "Maybe he doesn't like the way you're already undressing him with your eyes, Kurama."

Kurama flicked his gaze back to Yuusuke and sighed. "Force of habit. He's lovely, as are you, Hiei. You know I like looking at pretty things."

Yuusuke shifted in his chair. "Men are not pretty."

Hiei snorted. "You should watch how you phrase things."

"Fine, beautiful, exotic, intriguing. Pick one, all apply." Kurama gestured airily, noting that Yuusuke's aggression had vanished.

"I don't remember you being like this before." Yuusuke's voice finally strong again.

"Maybe you just weren't paying attention." Kurama met Yuusuke's gaze levelly with his gold.

"No, I remember you being blood thirsty. Not a hormone reduced creep." Yuusuke's stare grew a bit dangerous.

"I was busy. You'd prefer I was working on killing you?" Kurama settled back into the bed, never breaking the gaze.

A cold glint came to Yuusuke's eye. "I'd like to see you try," he growled.

Hiei just watched. He really didn't care if they both wanted to kill each other. Either way, he'd be amused, and if Uremeshi died, he could go back to Makai and only come up to Ningenkai to check on Yukina.

"You just want to fight." Kurama's voice was smug, and he got to his feet, flicking his fingers over Yuusuke's collarbone. "If you want to fight, then say so."

"You must be mistaking me for Karasu. I don't want you dead," Yuusuke said.

"You don't think fights are just about killing. I know you don't, or Kuwabara would be long since dead. But your aggression is returning." Kurama moved back as though stung, glancing from one guest to the other.

Yuusuke snorted. "Kuwabara's a joke." Hiei snickered again.

Kurama laughed. "Yes, but he's a rather amusing one, isn't he?"

"He makes a nice punching bag," Hiei added.

Kurama let the mood drift into playful teasing as he relaxed. He'd been too forward anyway. The Karasu comment had cut. The memory was still bothering him, since nobody had ever unnerved him so badly before that. "I've noticed you both seem to enjoy that past time."

Yuusuke shrugged. "I think of it as toughening him up."

Hiei rolled his eyes. "He is a distraction."

"Distractions aren't bad things, or you would have taken your sword to him instead of your fists." Kurama rolled onto his stomach, resting his cheek on his covers. It was good the other two were talking.

"I've considered it," Hiei replied. "Only Yukina has stopped me from doing so."

Yuusuke started to fidget in his seat. He was really feeling the urge to hit something, or someone, but he didn't want to hurt either of his friends. He was still, indisputably, the strongest of the three, even with his half-human blood.

Kurama peered over at Yuusuke. "You're twitching."

"I hadn't noticed," Yuusuke replied sarcastically.

Kurama rolled his eyes. "Just don't start pacing."

"Well, you know, I'd rather beat something up, but Kuwabara's not here, the hag is gone, you're both twitchy as well, and besides, I think I'd break anything else."

"Hiei is always twitchy. I'm not twitchy. I want to play. I have nothing to play with though." Kurama didn't even try to move.

"I am not twitchy," Hiei protested gruffly. "And your definition of play is not like others."

"I haven't ever played with you, so how would you know?" Kurama turned his head to eye Hiei.

Hiei glared at him. "You think that I am dumb? There are stories about your 'playmates' and yourself all over Makai."

"I'm not as... affluent... as the stories make me out to be. I'm pickier than to indiscriminately take anything that moves into my playground." Kurama lifted his head to glare at Hiei. "You can't believe everything you hear."

"I never said I did," Hiei replied. "But there are enough that seem to be true."

"I like beautiful things." Kurama shrugged, though his glare didn't lighten. "I don't remember most of it, you know."

Yuusuke stood up, beginning to pace. Hiei raised an eyebrow at the boy, and turned back to Kurama. "Why would you?"

"Because it was my life?" Kurama dropped his head back to the bedspread with an annoyed sigh.

Hiei gave an unimpressed shrug. "Yes, but from what little you've told me, it's amazing you remember anything at all."

Kurama growled a bit. "I shouldn't have forgotten anything."

Yuusuke paused in his pacing. "You haven't forgotten anything important. Why worry?"

"What makes you presume that is the case, Yuusuke?" Kurama rolled over, ears twitching as they tracked Yuusuke across the floor.

Yuusuke looked at the kitsune on the bed. "You're still alive, aren't you?"

"I like to believe so." Kurama tipped his head to look at Yuusuke in amusement.

"Then don't worry about it. It's not that important, or you'd remember." Yuusuke said this simply before returning to his pacing.

Kurama turned his head to look at Yuusuke. "It's not often you give good advice."

Yuusuke shrugged. "I have my moments," he replied. "Guess it comes from being around Keiko so much."

Kurama couldn't help the bark of laughter. "I thought her fists talked for her around you."

"Sometimes I listen when she actually speaks." Yuusuke turned to grin at Kurama. "But not often."

"Of course not often. It's either that, or you like her violent tendencies." Kurama's words were said in amusement, meant to poke fun.

Yuusuke smirked. "I suppose you could say that."

Kurama moved to his feet, looking at one, then the other. "I'm going to get a drink to replace the one I removed from myself. Do either of you want a snack while I'm down there?" He flicked his tail from side to side. He wanted to run around, wrestle, something besides lay around.

Yuusuke shook his head, still wary because of the last time he'd accepted a drink from Kurama. Hiei stood up and moved over to Kurama. "Yes," he said. "But I'm coming with you."

Kurama peered at Hiei in amusement. "I won't go running outside again."

Hiei snorted. "Yes, right. Like that makes me trust you any more. Just go."

Kurama rolled his eyes, flicking his tail as he opened his door and headed downstairs.

Hiei shot a look at Yuusuke, who continued to pace, and followed the fox downstairs. "He's restless."

"I'd noticed. He isn't used to the expanded energy." Kurama smirked, skipping most of the steps as he moved down the stairs. He ended up being fast enough that he had to skid to a stop in the kitchen. He really did need to do something other than schoolwork more often.

Hiei snorted as he watched the taller demon. "No, he isn't used to being basically trapped in that form."

"I can't go back to the other right now either, you know. I'm actually rather balanced between both sides of me. Though, I wish I didn't have the ability to hide things from myself." Kurama gave an annoyed huff, getting some crackers and some more milk, and then gesturing for Hiei to pick something.

Hiei took some juice, sniffing it first. "I don't have that problem."

"Lucky you. You also don't have two lives. I do." Kurama spun in place, catching his balance again quickly. He was feeling very energetic.

Hiei glared at Kurama. "That's annoying."

Kurama blinked at Hiei in perplexity. "What is?"

"Your bouncing and his pacing. It's annoying. Do something with your excess energy."

Kurama set his things aside and advanced on Hiei, leaning down so he was almost touching noses with him. "Such as?"

Hiei stepped back. "I don't know. Just stop that."

Kurama followed, watching Hiei. "If I kissed you, what would you do?"

"Punch you, more than likely," Hiei responded, his red eyes watching everything Kurama did.

"But you aren't sure." Kurama didn't move closer, though if he did, he'd be doing that which he asked.

"Nothing is certain until it occurs," Hiei stated coldly.

"Then I hope you don't hold it against me." Kurama smiled slightly and dipped forward, resting a light kiss against Hiei's lips. He was quite ready to jump away from any fists.

Hiei froze before shoving the fox away. "I am *not* one of your playmates," he growled.

Kurama smiled a little bit. "No, you're a friend." He straightened up, turning to get his snacks.

Hiei eyed the taller demon. "What do you have on your mind?"

Kurama shook his head. "That's the first time I've actively kissed anyone in my human lifetime Hiei. That's all." Kurama glanced to Hiei, gesturing with his glass. "So, you're going to take the juice back up?"

Hiei just shrugged. "I suppose so."

Kurama couldn't resist. He flicked his tongue over his lips. "I could barely taste you like that, but you didn't punch me." Kurama then headed back for his room.

Hiei flushed slightly, looking at the juice in his hand before shaking his head and following the white haired fox up the stairs.

Yuusuke looked up from his feet, which were slowly going to burn a hole in Kurama's floor, as the two returned. He then looked back down, ignoring the way that his pants were all but clinging to his legs now that the transformation was completely finished.

Kurama flicked a glance over his shoulder to Hiei, not having missed the mild change, and then he moved into his room, head tilted at he regarded Yuusuke. "I like having carpet."

Yuusuke stopped. "Sorry about that," he said, sitting back in the chair he'd been in earlier.

Kurama just smirked. "If I'm not allowed to grow grass in here, you aren't allowed to kill the substitute."

That caused the other teen to blink. "Why'd you want to grow grass? You'd have to cut it to keep it under control."

"I'm a plant wielder, Yuusuke." Kurama seemed to be baffled about how Yuusuke could have missed that.

Yuusuke shrugged. "I think it would be annoying."

Kurama looked offended by this. "It wouldn't. I don't understand how I've survived this long like this."

Hiei took his perch back up on the windowsill. "Shiori."

Kurama seemed to slump a little with that, moving to perch on his bed, the container of crackers being set on the bed as he sipped his milk. "That's true."

Hiei smirked into his juice before taking a drink. He pulled it back, trying to read the kanji characters on the carton. "Orange juice?"

Kurama glanced at Hiei. "That's what it looked like to me." He rocked a little in place before settling back down. He had too much energy.

Yuusuke started to clench and unclench his fists. "Don't you have something more exciting to do here, Kurama? I can't sit still for very long like this."

Kurama drank his milk quickly, and then put the empty glass and the crackers on the floor. "Of course! But I'd have to get permission from Hiei to go out into my backyard first." He gave the fire demon a playful smirk.

Hiei snorted. "Like you need my permission." He shook his head, returning to his juice.

Kurama got to his feet, leaning down to pick up a few crackers, then headed back out the door, tired of holding still when there were other things to do.

Yuusuke idly followed Kurama, too agitated to stay in the small room. Hiei decided to follow both of them as well. There was nothing to do with both of them gone.

Kurama burst out his back door into the lush garden. It was Kurama's little haven, with the plants grown almost across the entire back yard. He hadn't ever shown it to them before.

Hiei had never been formally invited to the garden, but he'd been in there before. It was nice and quiet. Yuusuke looked around at the plants, and blinked. "It's... nice."

"It's mine." Kurama moved around the yard at a pace, eyes half closed. He always did this, paced the garden when he came out and let the plants have some ki.

Hiei snorted, perching up in a branch of a tree. "Really? We hadn't noticed."

Kurama glanced to Hiei in mild annoyance, his extra exuberance fading a bit now that he was among plants. "You can pace or run around out here to let off some of that tension, Yuusuke."

Yuusuke shrugged. "I don't know why, but I feel a bit better out here. Strange."

"Your type isn't meant to be inside anymore than mine, Yuusuke." Kurama rolled out onto the grass on his back, clearly content.

Yuusuke nodded, absentmindedly taking in all the plants and trees. "I doubt Hiei's comfortable inside. Am I right?" He looked at the little fire demon in the tree, who looked almost happy.

"Shelters are a waste. Trees are better." Hiei shook his head, closing his eyes and leaning against the tree trunk.

Kurama laughed, pushing himself up to a sitting position, and then to his feet, before approaching Yuusuke, tugging on him. "Come, sit."

Yuusuke looked around. "Where? I can't climb trees like Hiei."

Kurama smirked, tugging Yusuke down as he sat back down. "I didn't tell you to climb. I told you to sit."

Yuusuke tipped over, and flipped quickly, landing on his haunches. "Thank you for almost making me hit my face, Kurama."

"You're quite welcome, Yuusuke." Kurama gave him a sly look, noting he hadn't bothered with putting his clothes back.

Yuusuke sat down, getting comfortable in the plush grass. "So, what now?"

Hiei glared down at the black haired boy. "Are you dumb, or what?"

Kurama leaned back into the grass, peering up at Hiei in amusement.

Yuusuke returned the glare, pointing up at the fire demon. "I'd watch it if I were you."

Kurama got a wicked gleam in his eyes. "Hiei, do you think Yuusuke would punch me?" It was clear what he was referring to.

Hiei switched his glare. "Yes."

Kurama smirked. "Now, now, it's your own fault that you didn't."

"Don't ask stupid questions then," Hiei said coldly, sitting back and getting comfortable once more.

"You're just upset I didn't ask faster." Kurama rolled his eyes. "I can fix that if you like."

Yuusuke blinked. "Do I want to know what the hell the two of you are talking about?"

Kurama was getting playful again, but only with these two friends. He had much higher standards now. "I could show you, Yuusuke."

Yuusuke continued to blink, almost owlishly. "Show me what?"

Kurama gave a faint shrug. "What we're talking about."

Yuusuke stopped blinking and looked at Kurama suspiciously. "Well, if I'm going to punch you for it, are you sure you want to risk it?"

"I've done it once today without getting a black eye. Only friends now, though. Only friends." Kurama flicked his gaze to Hiei, making sure he understood what that meant. He wasn't casual anymore.

Hiei shook his head. "Well, Urameshi's a bit more of a hothead than I am, so... Do whatever you want."

Kurama looked back at Yuusuke. "You game?"

Yuusuke cocked an eyebrow at Kurama. "I... suppose so."

Kurama chuckled. "Remember you said so." Then, Kurama swept in, rolling over on top of Yuusuke on his hands as he brushed a kiss across his lips.

Yuusuke just froze as Kurama kissed him. *My first real kiss, and it's from Kurama?!*

Kurama pulled back, gold eyes fixed on Yuusuke as he stilled, before he started to move back.

Hiei just watched, trying not to feel a bit jealous as he observed the two boys in the grass.

Kurama pulled fully back, settling on his heels and sweeping his tail around his ankles. "What's with the freezing?" Kurama looked at Yuusuke, then up to Hiei, clearly wondering over the trend.

Hiei shrugged. "Never been kissed by a guy before. Bet Urameshi's never kissed anyone. Keiko looks like the type to hit and ask questions later, too."

"Oh." Kurama swept his eyes down and to the side, turning around to lean his back against the tree trunk.

Yuusuke shook his head. "Why did you just do that?" he shouted, moving away from Kurama quickly.

Kurama glanced back to Yuusuke. "You're both my friends."

Yuusuke glared at the kitsune. "Where I'm from, guy friends don't kiss other guy friends."

Kurama met his gaze easily. "I only have two friends."

Hiei jumped down from his tree branch, sitting in between the two. "It doesn't matter, Kurama. Look at him."

Kurama glanced over to Hiei, and then looked over Yuusuke as asked. He'd been more considerate about that since Yuusuke expressed his annoyance with it.

Hiei sighed. "He's afraid. How old is he again?"

Kurama looked back to Hiei. "Still young. Only a bit younger than my human life." Kurama looked to Yuusuke, rather calm himself. "You don't have to get mad to cover it you know."

Hiei glared at Kurama. "He's younger than your human form? That's little better than a newborn demon. Let him be."

Kurama tilted his head, looking up at Hiei with the oddest expression. "I'm not hurting him, Hiei."

"No, you aren't hurting him, but you are confusing him," Hiei stated, looking at Yuusuke, who was starting to calm down a bit.

"I wasn't about to attack him, Hiei." Kurama didn't seem to see how he was flawing. He did remember some things, but this entire kissing thing was purely Kurama, not Yoko.

Yuusuke finally found his tongue. "You fucking kissed me! Not even Atsuko does that."

Kurama raised his eyebrows at Yuusuke. "No?"

Yuusuke shook his head. "No."

"Did you like it?" Kurama tilted his head, watching. He hadn't really done much more than a brush of lips, but it was clearly enough.

Yuusuke blinked. "I hadn't... really thought about whether I liked it or not," he said distractedly.

"Would you then?" Kurama tilted his head a little, flicking a glance from one to the other. He wasn't really sure how to handle this now.

Hiei snorted. "What do you want from me, Fox?"

Kurama turned to look at Hiei fully, and then shook his head. He didn't exactly care to admit to ignorance...

Yuusuke turned to look at Kurama. "Why did you do that?" he asked, a hand going up to brush against his lips.

Kurama lifted his chin a little. "I wanted to."

"Why?" Yuusuke repeated.

Kurama didn't answer, flicking his gaze between the two uneasily. "I just said why."

Hiei took pity on the other boy. "Kitsune are distracted by things they find pleasing to the eye. Evidently, we qualify into that category."

"Oh," Yuusuke said, feeling dumb.

Kurama sighed a bit, relaxing a fraction. "I'm just pickier now." Kurama gave a slight shrug, composing himself.

"With age comes wisdom," Hiei stated.

Kurama shook his head. "No. It was humanity that did it."

Yuusuke moved a bit closer. "Humanity?"

Kurama tipped his head to look at Yuusuke. "That is what I said. I meant it."

"Don't expect a full answer out of him like this," Hiei said. "Stop confusing him. He wanted to know what you meant exactly. Are you sure you're the one who lives with humans?"

Kurama laughed quietly. "Yes, I live with humans. I've avoided most of them at all costs for most of my life."

Yuusuke looked at Kurama. "They're not all that bad."

"I've had a hoard of touchy-feely crazies following me around since I was four. I'm too pretty as a human." Kurama's voice was incredulous.

"They're not all that bad," Yuusuke repeated. "Besides, it could be worse."

"How?" Kurama was still eyeing Yuusuke. "They follow me home. I have to take a different route every day, and I know this city better than anyone else I've ever met."

Yuusuke stood. "At least your mother pays attention to you," he said, moving over to the fence of the yard.

Kurama sighed. "Yes. Yes, she does. You're right."

"So, like I said, it could be worse," Yuusuke restated.

"I'm still a kitsune though. Kaa-san is the only mother I've had. I picked well." Kurama sighed. "My first one was much worse than yours. She may not pay attention to you, but she hasn't abandoned you either."

Yuusuke looked at Kurama like he was dumb. "Atsuko was too drunk to help me regain my body when I died. I think I'd be better off sometimes."

Kurama smiled a little. "Yes, well, I can't dispute you." He hadn't made any move to get up, and finally looked back to Hiei. "Looks like your temper was a bit worse this time." He needed to lighten the mood.

Hiei snorted. "You are lucky neither of us hit you, dumb kitsune."

"I am lucky. I'd happily risk violence from the two of you again as well." Kurama smiled, flicking his tail up over his leg as his ears flicked around.

Yuusuke turned around to look at Kurama. "Don't press your luck, Fox-boy."

"It's not as though I have anyone to try my luck on. I wouldn't go near anyone else at this point." Kurama glanced to each of them. "Besides, if you do decide to punch me next time, I had warning."

Hiei snorted before leaning over to kiss Kurama. "Next time, I will punch you."

Kurama blinked a few times, caught off guard. It was too fleeting for him to return it. "Why would you go and do a thing like that?" Kurama was looking up at Hiei, and he ran his tongue over his lips unthinkingly.

"Repayment," Hiei said, jumping and then leaving. "By the way, your hair is starting to turn back to red, Fox. Might want to look into that," he called as he flicked off in the direction of Genkai's temple.

Kurama couldn't help it, he let out a low chuckle, and he leaned back into the tree. "Repayment, huh?"

Yuusuke shook his head, looking down to see his markings fading. "I think he was right, Kurama."

"He was. It wasn't permanent. I've had the most kisses today that I've had in sixteen years."

Yuusuke shrugged. "First one that I was awake for," he said, moving back towards Kurama's house. "I need to go pick up dinner still, and I haven't done any homework."

Kurama pushed up to his feet, catching at his shorts as they slid down his hips. He didn't want to end up nude in the yard. That was a bit much. "We can run something over, and then get to the pile of homework you have. Since it's the weekend, you have some time."

Yuusuke nodded. "True, but the bat's coming back tonight, and I have to train with her all day Sunday."

Kurama nodded a bit. "I have to visit with her to see if she has anything that can help me figure out what I did."

"Yeah, that would be nice," Yuusuke said sarcastically, heading up the stairs to Kurama's room and picking his shirt up to put back on.

Kurama didn't let go of his shorts, since they'd fall off, and he hunted around for a shirt. "My inner desires aren't always subject to being controlled, Yuusuke."

Yuusuke shrugged, relaxing as the white ears disappeared and Kurama's hair turned mostly red. "It's alright. I won't blame you. This time."

"I can't guarantee I won't do something stupid like that again." Kurama flicked his glance to Yuusuke. "It wasn't just the kitsune in me that wanted to kiss you either. I just think too much normally."

"Well, you'd better watch yourself. Keiko's faster than I am sometimes," Yuusuke replied, walking downstairs to gather his books off of the coffee table.

Kurama shook his head, following after Yuusuke to the living room. "I'll keep that in mind. See you tomorrow then Yuusuke?"

Yuusuke nodded, toeing his shoes back on and shifting the books in his arms. "Yeah, sure. Tomorrow, Kurama," he said, opening the door and making his way home.

Kurama closed his eyes, wondering if what he'd just put into motion had really been in his best interest. He'd see in the morning then.

To Be Continued.