Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ A Drug for Everything ❯ Chapter 2

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.com, 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. ^____^

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Chapter two

Yuusuke opened the door the next morning to find Keiko standing there, her brown hair in short ponytails. "Heya, Keiko," he said as he moved to let her in.

Keiko eyed him suspiciously as she stepped through, toeing off her shoes, and shifting her book bag a bit. "Where were you yesterday, Yuusuke? You were supposed to help me at Master Genkai's temple."

Yuusuke looked at her for a moment before turning to enter the empty living room. "Kurama came over. I had math tutoring with him. I told you and the hag that the other day."

Keiko said down in front of the table and took out her English book. "Yeah, I forgot. So, how did it go?"

"Er, alright, I guess.... You want something to drink?"

"Only alright? I thought you were having trouble with trigonometry?"

"Yeah, I am, but it was okay. Hiei showed up in the middle of it."

Keiko blinked a bit. She still wasn't too sure about the small black haired demon. "Really? Um, get me some water while you're up."

Yuusuke rolled his eyes. "Yeah, he came over," he called from the kitchen, pouring two glasses of the clear liquid from the container in the refrigerator, but not before sniffing it. "We just talked."

He returned to the living room, and set the glasses down on the table. "Let me go get my books, and then you can call me an idiot," he said, grinning cheerfully. He had made it all the way to his room before the phone rang. "Could you get that Keiko?"

"Sure," she answered, picking up the phone. "Urameshi residence. How may I help you?"

"Umm... Keiko?" Kuwabara shifted his feet a bit. He'd been expecting Yuusuke; it rather killed what he had to say when he heard the female voice. "Get Urameshi to Genkai's, would you?"

Keiko's smile faltered. "What's wrong, Kuwabara? Did something happen to Master Genkai?"

Kuwabara shuffled again, feeling like he was going to be scolded. "Well... No. She's just kinda mad that he didn't go with her yesterday and wants him to come in earlier today..." He glanced behind him and blinked as he saw Kurama being let in by Yukina. "And... stuff."

Keiko sighed a bit. "Well, I'm tutoring him in English today. Can it wait for an hour or so?" She looked over to see Yuusuke coming in, and she frowned.

"Uhh, just a sec." Kuwabara set the phone down beside the cradle. "Genkai? Keiko wants to know if it can wait."

Genkai glared at Kuwabara. "Why? I want that boy here now."

She said something about English." Kuwabara shrugged. "So, I tell her no?"

Genkai thought for a moment. "Then it's about his studies? He had better be here in an hour. No excuses."

Kuwabara nodded. "Of course, Genkai." Kuwabara returned to the phone, picking it up. "Still there?"

Keiko rolled her eyes. "Yes, Kuwabara. I'm still here. What did Master Genkai say?"

"She said he has to be here in an hour, and that she won't take any excuses." Kuwabara thought for a second. "So I guess that gives you half an hour or so."

Keiko smiled again. "Alright. He'll be there then. Good bye." She hung up the phone before looking at Yuusuke, who was scowling now that he was sitting down.

"What did the old witch want?"

"She wants you at the temple in an hour. So, I guess we'd better try to get this over with as quickly as possible. It sounded important."

Yuusuke sighed, frustrated. "It's always important with her. Now, let's just get this over with."

Kuwabara hung up the phone, moving off in search of Yukina, while Kurama approached Genkai. "Genkai?"

Genkai looked up at the tall teen. "Yes, Minamino?"

Kurama inclined his head a bit as he settled across the table from the older woman. "Do you have any scrolls or books that have information over the plants that can trigger a change between forms?"

Genkai looked at Kurama questioningly. "You're interested in changing your forms more freely?"

"Not precisely. There is certain information I may have used, but I find myself unable to remember what it was. I simply need to be able to remember." Kurama considered what he said and nodded slightly.

Genkai continued to eye him, lighting a cigarette. "Care to tell me what happened? Or do I drag it out of that dolt when he gets here?"

Kurama sighed a bit. "The other side of my personality is hiding things from me."

Genkai signaled to Yukina. "Yukina, show Kurama to the restricted scrolls. He's looking for the one about shifting forms."

Yukina smiled brightly at them both and nodded, gesturing for Kurama to follow her. "This way."

Kurama inclined his head to Genkai as he rose. "Thank you." Then he followed Yukina out of the room.

Genkai took a long drag on her cigarette. "It's not good when you aren't truthful with yourself," she said aloud to no one in particular.

Kuwabara had moved into the room in time to hear the comment. "Genkai? You talking to yourself?"

Genkai looked up the orange-headed boy. "Sit down. I hate straining my neck. And be quiet. I'm thinking."

Kuwabara blinked before taking up the seat recently vacated by Kurama. It sounded kind of important.

"Get that stupid look off your face. Something's up with Minamino. Got a feeling that that dumb pupil of mine is mixed up in this too."

Kuwabara looked slightly offended, but tried a kind of smile instead. "Genkai?"

"What?"

The smile looked like a serious grimace, so he dropped it, knowing it didn't look right. "Did he tell you something was wrong with him?"

Genkai eyed Kuwabara, grinding her cigarette out in the ashtray next to her on the floor. "No, but he's acting strange, even for him. You think I got this high up by not paying attention?"

"Of course not, Genkai. Didn't mean it wasn't a good question." Kuwabara shrugged slightly. He wasn't stupid, no matter how he acted or looked usually.

Genkai nodded. "Yes, it was...You should know with that one it's more of what he doesn't say that's more important."

Kuwabara nodded a few times. "You think Urameshi'll be acting weird once he gets here?"

"Probably not. He's got Yukimura with him, right?"

Kuwabara nodded. "Yeah, she answered his phone for him."

Genkai nodded. "Good. Get out of here. I need to think."

Kuwabara nodded, then got to his feet. He caught sight of Yukina and drifted after her. "Yukina, light of my life!" Then, he was out of earshot.

Genkai rolled her eyes. "Why she puts up with that lump, I have no idea." She looked up to see Kurama come in carrying some scrolls. "Find what you were looking for?"

Kurama looked to Genkai as he set the pile down on the table. "I'm not certain if what I am looking for is here yet."

She snatched up a scroll, her eyes scanning the Chinese characters quickly. "Well, it's not in this one." She picked up another one, reading it. "Here, this one." She shoved it at the boy.

Kurama took the scroll, unrolling it so his gaze could run over the contents. He was immersed enough he didn't keep his inner monologue inner. "So that's what it was."

"So, what are you keeping from yourself, and me as well?"

Kurama blinked up from the parchment, clearly not up to his usual mode. He'd been arguing too much with himself recently. It could only be worse if he had two personalities instead of the fractured one he had. He turned the scroll around, tapping a part of the text. "Just that." It didn't seem harmful in the least, just bringing out natural tendencies and surfacing any Demon shape within a human for a span of time, before the person returned to normal.

Genkai looked over the text, her scowl deepening. "And your Yoko side has been pushing to emerge?" She flicked her serious gaze up to Kurama. "There are only two ways for this to actually occur."

Kurama shifted in place a bit, her scowl making him wary. "Oh?"

"'During a certain time when the two worlds of Ningenkai and Makai converge, the hiding youkai will show their true selves for a short span of time. Thus it is easier to expunge them from Ningenkai to Makai,'" she quoted from the text. "But, that hasn't happened for nearly three centuries, and isn't due for at least two more. The other way is a drug, called the 'Truth Finder'."

Kurama made a face. That would be the juice that particular plant had had. Goody. He could change shape if he put some work into it now, but he tried to avoid it. "I see."

Genkai thought it over. "Of course, your situation is a bit different. You can use the Potion of Past Life to become Yoko as well. For a very limited amount of time, of course." Her stare got colder. "I wouldn't suggest using this drug on either yourself or Yuusuke. It could result in something dangerous."

"I had no intentions of using the information like that." Kurama murmured the words, taking it back so he could look for how it could be dangerous. That didn't sound good.

Genkai looked at Kurama. "I never said you did, but I was warning you against your other side. The 'Truth Finder' also brings out the more dangerous sides of youkai in hiding. Yuusuke would get extremely violent if given enough. With his power levels as they are, that would spell disaster."

Kurama looked pensive, running his finger down the paper. "There was a counter plant as well." It was a murmur. He unrolled more of it, searching. He looked a slight bit worried.

Genkai shook her head. "It's nearly extinct, even in Makai."

Kurama growled a little, lowly, while eyeing the scroll. "So I see." It finally became clear what was odd about Kurama. He wasn't as composed as he normally was, less likely to watch himself.

Genkai looked him over carefully. "I would suggest you keep someone you trust around you at all times. You seem to be struggling with your darker side."

"Not darker, just less civilized." Kurama glanced to Genkai, gold briefly tinting his green eyes before it was gone. "Though I will try to follow your advice."

Genkai nodded solemnly at him, looking up to hear a familiar footfall entering the temple. "The idiot is here."

Yuusuke stepped into the room, grinning. "Heya bag, what's going on?"

"SIT!" she commanded, pointing to another cushion beside Kurama. "Since you thought it wasn't necessary to join me in my journey yesterday, you will be staying here all of tonight and tomorrow. You will start by cleaning the temple grounds."

Yuusuke glared at her. "HELL NO! I had to study! You can't get mad at me about that!"

"Go. I have no patience to deal with you right now. Take Minamino with you." She dismissed them both with a wave of her hand before leaving the room, Keiko quickly following behind her to talk.

"Man! I can't believe this! Don't go to school, I get yelled at. Go to school, I get yelled at. This sucks."

Kurama laughed quietly, looking over at Yuusuke. "I wouldn't be too concerned, I just got a lecture as well."

Yuusuke glared at Kurama. "You don't know what 'clean the temple grounds' means. I'm gonna spend all night just doing that!"

Kurama shook his head. "Didn't you hear her? I'm being gifted with the joy of being taken with you."

Yuusuke blinked. "Oh! You're getting punished too? Great." He stood and walked to a small room with cleaning supplies, taking out two brooms. "I'll take the north section. You take the south and the stairs." He ran off before Kurama could protest.

Kurama eyed the broom with a shake of his head then moved off, amused. "Of course, I doubt that's what she had in mind."

Hiei stopped in front of Kurama in a nearby tree, glaring. "No, that's exactly what she had in mind. You're being punished for what you did yesterday. Where's Yukina?"

Kurama glanced up to look at Hiei, using the broom deftly so it wouldn't take as long. "I'm being punished then, hmm? Wonderful. At least it's not writing lines. Yukina is with Kuwabara."

Hiei snorted. "Why does she waste her time with that oaf?"

"He pays her attention, and she likes it. For any other reasons, you'd have to ask her yourself." Kurama peered over at Hiei.

Hiei glared a bit harder. "Tch. Find out what you did to Urameshi exactly?"

"Yes." Kurama frowned a bit. "And to myself if you remember."

Hiei shrugged. "Not the first time you've done it to yourself," he responded, flicking off to find Yukina.

Yukina was, indeed, with Kuwabara, out in the back garden. Neither one was speaking at the moment, but he was carrying her basket as she picked berries.

Hiei found Yukina, and glared directly at his sister's 'escort'. "Yukina."

Yukina turned her head, inwardly amused as Kuwabara returned the glare. "Hiei!" She then moved to him and swept his hands up in hers for a squeeze.

Hiei's face softened as the ice demoness touched him. "How are you?"

"I'm doing well! Where have you been? Have you been on your travels these last weeks?" Yukina smiled sweetly at her brother. She knew he was her brother, but she was careful to never again accidentally say so.

Hiei blinked his red eyes at her. "I've been around," he said obliquely. "I went to Makai for a while."

Kuwabara finally pulled his attention away from Yukina for a moment. "Shrimp."

Hiei glared up at the tall boy. "Useless waste of space."

Yukina glanced from one to the other in mild confusion, while inside she was amused. She loved seeing how they changed their attitudes around her. "But Hiei..."

Hiei looked at Yukina. "Yes?"

"Kazuma isn't useless..." Yukina gave Hiei puppy eyes as Kuwabara nodded, unwilling to upset the ice maiden.

Hiei rolled his eyes. "You've seen him fight, and you still say that?"

Yukina nodded immediately. "Kazuma is very brave."

"He's an idiot that doesn't think about what he says before acting."

Kuwabara moved forward, setting the basket down. "Like you can say anything, half pint!"

Hiei jumped up to stand on Kuwabara's head. "Sure, I can say a lot of things. Most of them being I can still kick your.... backside up and down this temple, and all of Ningenkai."

Kuwabara moved, aiming to hit Hiei off of him. "Get offa me you runt!"

Hiei jumped into the nearest tree. "You're far too slow."

Yukina giggled, watching them. She couldn't help it. "You guys get along like brothers!"

Hiei turned to glare mildly at Yukina. "Never. Not even if he was a demon."

Kuwabara looked shocked. "Lady of beauty, never say such things! I could never be related to that scoundrel!"

Hiei snorted. "Who'd want to be related to someone that stupid? I'd rather be related to Urameshi. At least he has half a brain."

"I have half a brain!" Kuwabara shook his fist at Hiei.

Hiei snorted again, his face obviously amused. "Really? Prove it."

Kuwabara spluttered. "I don't need to prove a thing to you, skunky." He was apparently satisfied with his new insult.

Hiei raised one eyebrow at Kuwabara before looking to Yukina. "And you spend time with this moron?"

Yukina had a hand over her mouth as she watched Hiei. "You do look a little like a skunk Hiei."

Kuwabara just grinned, picking up the basket. "Yukina, are you going to pick anymore berries?"

Hiei glared at both before looking at Kuwabara. "Better to look like a skunk than a rejected piece of rock."

Kuwabara lifted his chin. "Better a rock then a rodent!"

Hiei narrowed his eyes at Kuwabara. "You're slow like a rock too. Can you keep up?" His voice was cold and challenging.

Kuwabara passed the basket back to Yukina. "I can keep up to anything you can dish out!"

Yukina sighed, taking the basket. "Not in the garden!"

Hiei hopped out of the garden, onto one of the paved walkways. "Try me."

Genkai walked out of the temple with Keiko behind her. "Get out of my temple. Both of you!"

Kuwabara turned, glancing to Genkai and taking a deep breath. "He started it!"

Genkai puffed out her chest. "I don't care! Go! Get off my property before you join the dolt! Now!"

Keiko placed one hand on Genkai's shoulder. "Master Genkai, you should try to calm down. It's not good to be so worked up."

Yukina looked from one to the other, then moved and went to kiss Kuwabara on the cheek. "See you later Kazuma."

She waited until Kuwabara started to wander off in a happy daze before looking to Hiei. "Please come visit against soon, Hiei."

Hiei grunted before taking off. He stopped at the front of the temple. "Fox, leaving now. Watch out for that oaf." He then took off through the trees.

Kurama blinked at the interruption from the almost trancelike actions before he managed to focus a bit. "See you later, Hiei." Then, he returned to his duties, finally meeting up with Yuusuke outside.

Yuusuke blinked a bit as he met up with Kurama. "Was that Hiei that just zipped off from here?" He leaned against the broom, smirk on his face.

Kurama looked to Yuusuke, nodding as a small smile crossed his face. "Indeed. He had yet another argument with Kuwabara, from the sounds of it." Kurama glanced around. "You done with your section?"

Yuusuke snorted. "Uh, yeah. Why do you think I'm here?"

"You were slow and started over here?" Kurama's little smile moved into a smirk of amusement as he stepped back enough to twirl the broom without smacking Yuusuke with it.

Yuusuke picked up his broom and smacked Kurama on the leg with it. "Thanks..."

Kurama gave Yuusuke an indignant look. "You're welcome, but no need to resort to violence." Kurama returned the gesture, thwaping Yuusuke's hip with the bristled end.

Yuusuke took his broom's handle and popped Kurama on the backside. "Now who's resorting to violence?" he asked, snickering, before flipping back about ten yards.

Kurama yelped, skittering to the side, a playful gleam in his eyes. "Well, I'd have to say that you are." Kurama moved after Yuusuke, a smirk on his lips as he ducked around Yuusuke to return the hit in the same place.

Yuusuke flipped in time to avoid the hit. "I thought you were faster, Minamino?"

Kurama laughed a bit, using his broom to kill Yuusuke's landing so he'd land on his backside. "You doubted?"

Yuusuke laughed, swiping Kurama's feet from out underneath him so he'd land on his rear as well. "You should pay more attention."

"As should you, you idiot," Genkai said, moving into view. "Are the two of you finished yet? I have more chores for you now."

Kurama looked at Yuusuke, then at Genkai and back again, an idea forming. Maybe they could outrun Genkai? He caught Yuusuke's gaze, mischief in his own.

Yuusuke shook his head. "She'll just get us later," he said, standing up. "What now, hag?"

Genkai kicked him in his backside. "That's master to you. Now, get your butt inside that temple and sweep it out. Then you can clean the floors by hand." She pointed. "Get!"

Kurama got to his feet, brushing himself off as he looked to Genkai. He hadn't really conveyed much, but Kurama never paused to consider how Yuusuke could read him so well. Not that he had any doubt of it. "Are you going to tell me why I have been added to the chore list?"

Genkai looked at Kurama. "Do I have to kick you too, Minamino?" She lifted up her leg in threat. "I may be old but I can still beat some sense into you."

Kurama strolled inside, keeping an eye on Genkai, though he never lost his smirk. "Of course not, Genkai."

Genkai eyed the two boys as they entered the temple. She then turned to Yukina. "Yukina, spill some tea in the kitchen. They need extra work for their insolence."

Yukina looked at Genkai for a moment before she smiled. "Of course, Genkai." Then she went inside and, as the pair was passing the kitchen, she fumbled the tea, sloshing some all over the floor. "Oh no, the tea!"

Yuusuke checked in the kitchen and moaned. "Are you okay?"

Keiko came in and took Yukina's hand a second later. "Well, we'll just leave you two alone to clean this up. Yuusuke, Master Genkai said that when you're done cleaning you and Kurama should come down to the library. She wants to talk to you."

Yukina followed Keiko out. "I'm so sorry to give you guys more to do..." Then she closed the kitchen door behind her, her concerned and apologetic look fading a little as she followed the other girl.

Keiko broke out into laughter. "That was terrific. Genkai's idea?"

Yukina gazed at Keiko innocently. "I'm sorry Keiko, what do you mean?"

Keiko laughed more. "Please. I know Genkai's work when I see it. She's irritated with Yuusuke. She's making more for him to clean." She stopped, pulling out a list. "Oh, she asked me to get some things from the shops. Would you like to come with me?"

Yukina smiled brightly. "I would love to go with you! Shopping just isn't the same when you have to go by yourself."

Keiko smiled as well. "I know the feeling. We can go see my parents as well. That way, we can take as long as we want, and when we get back, the boys will be nearly done."

Yukina smiled at Keiko. "That sounds wonderful. You have the things you need to get what's on the list?"

Keiko looked down at the list. "Ah, some of these we can't get. But I'm sure if I asked my otou-san, he'd help us out... It is for Master Genkai, after all."

Yukina nodded. "Let's go then, the sooner we go, the sooner we can watch the show." Then she tugged Keiko down the hall.

Keiko nodded, allowing the other girl to drag her out of the temple.

Yuusuke growled. "I know that bat set this up. Why she so mad with me?"

Kurama shook his head. "I'm here with you. Perhaps asking to get into her scrolls over that thing I mentioned to you yesterday was a bad idea." Kurama shook his head, wringing out his rag. "I'm being punished with you. She even threatened to fight me if I didn't comply."

Yuusuke laughed. "Man, she might be old and weaker now, but she still packs a mean punch. So, what did you find out?"

"It brings out more of a person's underlying personality, aside from the obvious that happened, and makes youkai a bit more aggressive. I don't feel more aggressive though... do you?" Kurama looked over at Yuusuke in concern. "I'm still not pleased that happened."

Yuusuke got the rest of the tea up, and grimaced. "It's okay. Just... don't do it again. I didn't really enjoy the experience."

"I had no intention of doing it in the first place, but now that it's been done, I won't be doing it to myself, or you, again. It's pointless to use the same trick twice." Kurama moved around the room, dealing with the countertops.

Yuusuke nodded, grabbing a bucket and filling it with hot water and soap. "Yeah, I know. Besides, that's not our style."

"Precisely. Sneaky is good and well, so long as you don't lose trust in the process by being stupid about it." Kurama seemed immensely pleased, looking around the kitchen. "What's the next room?"

Yuusuke sighed. "Training room."

Kurama made a face, picking a couple scrub brushes from under the sink. "She really must be mad at us to want all this done in one go." Kurama shook his head. He was glad he'd worn dark colors.

Yuusuke looked at Kurama. "Be glad that there are two of us this time."

"I would have long escaped home if I was left with this by myself." Kurama laughed a bit. "Even if I can't dodge a broom, I can run."

Yuusuke led the way to the training room. "She always finds me. Or sends Keiko and Yukina after me... You try telling those two no. One guilt trips me and the other hits me..." He hung his head, taking a brush and rolling up his sleeves. "Well, time to work."

"At least you just have to clean. Kaa-san somehow talks me into going out to social gatherings with her for work. I'm still stunned that my cheeks haven't taken on a permanent red tone from all the pinches I received as a child." Kurama grimaced, rolling up his sleeves. "Or that my other end has received since they switched."

Yuusuke shook his head, dipping his brush in the water and starting to scrub the floor. "Be grateful," he said bitterly. His tone meant business, and put an end to their conversation.

Kurama shook his head, getting down to join Yuusuke on the floor with his scrubbing. He just wanted this done.

Genkai came in a bit later, flicking her ashes on the newly scrubbed floor. "You missed a spot, dolt."

Yuusuke growled, cleaning the spot again.

"Good," she said, taking a look around. "Not a bad job. You... I'm letting you go early. Go down to the library."

Kurama leaned back on his heels, surveying the area he'd covered. He sincerely hoped that 'you' had to do with them both, because he was already on his way to his feet.

Yuusuke dumped his brush in the bucket with a shout of joy, and ran from the room, heading down to the library. He was just happy to get the hell away from chores that the old bat had him doing.

Genkai watched Yuusuke leave. 'Maybe I've been too rough with him.' She looked at the redhead. "Well, what are you waiting for?"

Kurama dropped his brush in the bucket, and then walked out of the room, barely refraining from doing what Yuusuke just did. "Just making sure." He gave in to impulse when he left her sight, darting after Yuusuke.

'As smart as that boy is, he's not as smart as he thinks he is. He didn't even bother to translate the rest of the text about the 'Truth Finder' drug. And now, I have to tell them both,' she thought bitterly, walking down to the library. She shut the door behind her and looked at both boys. "I'm going to have to keep you both here until Monday morning."

Yuusuke looked at her like she'd grown another head. "WHAT?"

Kurama blinked a few times, trying to see if he heard that correctly. "Why is that?"

Genkai sighed as she sat down at the single table, looking at the boys and signaling for them to take seats as well. "You didn't translate the rest of the scroll, did you, Minamino?"

"I thought I had." Kurama moved to sit. He honestly thought he had, but his mind wasn't entirely where it should be at the moment, and hadn't been for the last week, being worse now.

Genkai pulled the same scroll down from its resting place, a single finger pointing at the bottom. "That is what you missed. There is a forty-eight hour time period for the drug to run out of your systems. I would rather you were both here so you didn't damage anyone or thing. Keiko will be here tomorrow to help you do your schoolwork, Yuusuke. I will also have the girls going to your houses to pick up clothes and essentials for you. Until Monday morning, I suggest you get comfortable."

Kurama eyed the scroll like it was the cause of all this trouble, and then sighed a little. "I need to call my Kaa-san and tell her I won't be home this evening."

Genkai nodded. "There is a phone in the front hall." She looked at Yuusuke. "Would you like to call Atsuko as well?"

"Why bother? Not like she'd miss me," Yuusuke said. "Besides, she knew I was gonna have to stay here anyway."

Kurama gave Yuusuke a fleeting smile as he left the room, going to place his call. It only then occurred to him to wonder how it was that Genkai knew it had been used. He really needed to fix that problem.

Keiko and Yukina returned a few minutes later. "Kurama," Keiko called, laughing. "How was your punishment?"

Kurama hung up the phone, turning to look at Keiko and Yukina as the girls smiled at him. "The cleaning went well." He was moving back to the library, not wanting to face the pair on his own.

Keiko looked at Yukina. "That was almost rude. I wonder what happened?"

Yukina shook her head, also baffled. "He's been acting odd all day."

Keiko stopped to think before moving into the kitchen to put away the few purchases they'd gotten. "Now that you mention it, so has Yuusuke. You don't think something happened yesterday, do you?"

Yukina furrowed her brow slightly in thought as she helped Keiko put the things that belonged in there away. "It's possible."

Kurama moved back into the library, settling back next to Yuusuke. "The girls are back."

Genkai nodded. "Well, I will ask them to go get some things for you from your houses. You have permission to go out on the grounds. I think the drug will start to take effect again soon." She then left, finding the two girls in the kitchen. "Did you get it all?"

Yukina nodded a bit, but looked to Keiko to be sure.

Keiko smiled. "Yes, Master Genkai." She handed the older woman the bag with the things she'd had her father buy. "My otou-san was more than happy to comply for you."

Genkai smiled. "So my name still commands respect," she said wistfully. "Well, girls, I need you to run a few more errands for me. Yuusuke and Kurama will have to stay here until Monday morning. You will have to go to their houses to get them some clothes and other things." She looked at Keiko pointedly. "Make Atsuko help you, and tell her pointedly that Yuusuke is staying here."

Keiko nodded. "I understand."

Kurama shook his head with a groan, putting his head on his quickly up-drawn knee. "I can't believe I got us into this."

Yuusuke stood up. "I was going to have to stay here anyway. You're the only one that's not used to it." He idly began to rub at his chest. "I think Genkai was right about one thing though."

Kurama lifted his head, dropping his foot to the floor. "True. I'm certain you're not used to having company while you are here though."

Yuusuke shrugged. "Sometimes Kuwabara stays over... Hiei's usually prowling around as well. It's interesting, I guess."

"Well, Hiei and Kuwabara got chased off grounds by Genkai. I guess you'll just have to do with me." It was funny, Kurama was starting differently than before, and he shifted in place to accommodate the tail that was there, covered in red fur that made it so once Kurama glanced he couldn't look away from it. "I've officially reached the lowest humiliation."

Yuusuke blinked. "How?"

Kurama flicked the lone sign of the transformation around into his lap and gestured at it. "As though ending up with red hair in my human form wasn't bad enough. I was never meant to be a red fox."

Yuusuke sighed. "At least my transformation let's me keep a somewhat normal form. Look, I don't like being around all these books and scrolls... I'm going outside to go into the forest. Interested?"

Kurama nodded, considering his tail before deciding it wasn't a bad thing. As long as he never hit an orange color like Kuwabara's hair, he'd stay happy. "I have to agree with you. It's... too confined in here."

Yuusuke snorted, pushing his growing black hair out of his eyes. "Let's take the back way. I dunno if Keiko's still here, and she hasn't seen me like this yet."

"I thought she did after the tournament." Kurama turned and headed out for the back way as he was talking, never really thinking about doing otherwise.

Yuusuke ran out of the temple as fast as he could, heading directly for the trap-ridden forest. "No way... She only saw my real power. She never saw me after I was summoned down to Makai by my.... by Raisen. Of course, I had to explain to her why I was gone so long, but I didn't tell her about what inherited his title and kingdom fully entailed. Some things she just shouldn't know. For her safety."

Kurama was right with Yuusuke, though he kept his attention thrown out to the forest around them as well. "True, she's only human. You look good in your other form though, long hair suits you."

Yuusuke hopped over a pit of quicksand. "It's too long. It gets on my nerves. Bad enough normally."

Kurama jumped up, taking to the tree branches above Yuusuke so he didn't have to bother with as many traps. "You could tie it back."

Yuusuke shrugged, punching a few creatures that tried to get in his way. "Not like this long enough to remember," he said, growling as a bigger dog-like creature jumped out at him. He took a few moments before kicking it square between the eyes. His markings were starting to become much more obvious on his arms.

Kurama moved ahead, dropping to the ground to deal with a few himself before Yuusuke caught up. "True. I like it though, might just be personal bias." Kurama flicked his locks, ignoring the silvering tone. Height seemed to be the last thing that came to him.

Yuusuke ripped off his tight t-shirt, getting a few more of the things in the forest a second later. "Possibly. I only like long hair on girls though. Personal thing, I guess."

Kurama chuckled a bit, his tone deeper. He was undoing his shirt so he wouldn't rip it, but was grateful he hadn't felt like being confined that morning and worn something breezy. "So my hair bothers you?"

Yuusuke punched the last of the obstacles out of his way. "I didn't say that. It actually works for you. Dunno why."

"As long as you don't say that I look like a girl, I'll be happy with that." Kurama shrugged from his shirt, tying the sleeves around his waist like a belt after flipping the shirt so it wouldn't irritate his tail by hanging down. "Looks like we're out of monsters."

Yuusuke laughed deeply. "Took you long enough to notice. Come on," he said, taking off through the trees once more.

Kurama grinned as he took off after Yuusuke, laughing softly as he moved up beside him. "Where are we going, hmm?"

"Does it matter?"

Kurama shook his head, dipping and dodging around forest debris. "Not even a little."

Yuusuke took a bush like it was nothing. "I didn't think so. Besides, there's a series of dried up swamps coming up."

"I think I heard about those before." Kurama spun a bit, landing sideways as they broke the tree line, a large smile on his face from the forest run. He hadn't done that for far too long.

Yuusuke smiled. "Of course. That's where I defeated Rando to become Genkai's apprentice."

Kurama laughed, eyes half closed as he looked around. He felt good. "So that's it. I needed to do that."

"Needed to what?" Yuusuke asked, skidding to a halt as they reached the edge of the swamps. "Hmm, there's water here again. Want to beat up man-eating fish?"

Kurama licked his lips, his grin returning to his face. "I needed to run. But beating up fish? That sounds amusing."

Yuusuke nodded. "It is." He took off his tight shoes and dived directly into one of the pools. "It's pretty deep, but they're all connected. See you down there." He smiled wickedly and dived again.

Kurama laughed, following Yuusuke's example though he'd abandoned his shoes near the temple. He took his shirt off and dived in. Time to play at beating up some fish.

Yuusuke found one of the fish, which actually resembled eels, and grabbed it behind the neck, trying to drag it up towards the surface to get a bit more air into his lungs at the same time.

Kurama found it too amusing, darting around underwater for a few minutes before surfacing and climbing out, soaked head to foot in the swamp water. He so needed a bath. The fish kept avoiding him. He saw Yuusuke surface and moved over. "I thought you said they were man eating! They were swimming away from me."

Yuusuke smiled, tossing the fish up on the ground. "They tried to eat me the first time I was down there. For some reason, they like me. Did you try not hiding your youki?"

Kurama looked at Yuusuke. "I wasn't. I was a greatly shining thing. At the moment I don't feel like playing with my energy though, I feel grimy." Kurama frowned at himself, flicking his tail. He didn't like it being slimy.

Yuusuke shrugged, diving yet again. He was having too much fun. The next fish he saw, he blasted it with a tiny little Rei Gun. He was bored, and filled with the sense to try and hurt something enough that he didn't want to be too near the temple grounds with Keiko and Yukina around.

Kurama moved to the edge of the pool so he'd be nearby when Yuusuke surfaced. He flicked his tail a bit, flicking water at Yuusuke when he surfaced, a small smirk on his lips.

Yuusuke sneered, tossing another flopping eel-fish on the pool's bank. "Thanks for that," he said dryly, hopping out onto the ground and laying down to look up at the sky. "I wonder how she makes it always so sunny here."

Kurama stood, moving over to Yuusuke and sitting down next to him. "It's not near a city. No smog."

"No, I mean, like one time, it was pouring down rain outside the temple grounds, but Genkai sent me out here to train and it was as sunny as it is now."

"It's a distance away Yuusuke, haven't you ever danced in and out of the line of rain?" Kurama turned to look at Yuusuke, his legs folded under him. "It's a very unique thing."

"Yeah, but I was out here for four hours. Never saw a drop of rain." Yuusuke looked over at Kurama. "Odd, ne?"

Kurama laughed a bit. "Maybe this area is just special." He shook his head, peering at his filthy hair. "Is there any clean water anywhere around here?"

Yuusuke looked at Kurama. "You're too vain. Only clean water around here is back at the temple. And I think this place is protected by Genkai's remaining reiki."

Kurama nodded a bit, running his fingers through the hair so there was a hope of getting it back to it's pale color. "Of course I'm vain, when I'm not fighting or stealing it's practically all I have to work with." Kurama put a hand to his forehead and pulled a seed, growing it out in his hand until he had a makeshift comb of thorns that he started to work through his hair. "Besides, I'm pale like this, it's like being permanently stuck in white. I look like an idiot dirty."

Yuusuke snorted. "Then go take a bath back at the temple. I'd rather stay here."

Kurama retracted the comb and shook his head, fingers tucking the seed away before he moved his hands to his tail. To be honest, he was actually managing to get almost entirely clean. "So am I, I won't go indoors again unless someone makes me."

Yuusuke sat up. "I wouldn't go that far, but..." He shrugged. "It's up to you."

Kurama laughed a bit, then shook his head, his tail flicking away once he got the last of the moss off. He felt much better. If it wasn't so slimy, he would have been able to enjoy the water better. "I haven't taken the time to just come out into the forest like this in months. My garden is the only thing that's been keeping me healthy."

Yuusuke looked at Kurama. "All you had to do is ask Genkai. She'd've let you come out here any time you want. Not like you can't handle yourself. Besides, we're here often enough for you to have realized that."

Kurama closed his eyes, leaning back on his hands. "Sometimes I'm so busy being human, I forget I'm a fox, Yuusuke. I didn't realize I was hurting myself until just now."

Yuusuke got up and started to do a few flips, reveling in the way his muscles bunched and stretched as he moved. "Eh, must suck to be like that then."

Kurama opened his eyes, looking at Yuusuke for a moment. "I just never took the time, and if I had, I would have been fine. I was just being stupid. I've been doing that often lately." Kurama got to his feet, stretching out with his arms over his head and his tail stretched behind him. His clothes were sticking to him as he did, then he looked back to Yuusuke as he curled his arms back to himself.

"Got a staring problem?"

Kurama flicked his tail, shaking out the stretch. "And if I do?"

Yuusuke shrugged, flipping onto his hands. "Just asking."

Kurama spun on his heel, moving back a few paces before turning back to Yuusuke. "Want to play tag?"

To Be Continued.