Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Birth-Dazed ❯ Birthday Wishes ( Chapter 8 )

Chapter Eight...

"Gotta hand it to Kurama, these are really good." Yusuke complimented, while munching happily from the cookie in his hand. "He should open a bakery or something." Brushing his hands off from the crumbs he sat himself up from a laying position under a tree at the park.

He smiled to himself thinking about the moon being a big lemon iced cookie, and a laugh escaped his mouth. "Too bad these ones are gone."

Yusuke closed his eyes and let out a deep breath. 'Maybe I should go home?' He thought. 'If I'm gonna spend my birthday with my friends, I can at least spend tonight at home with my mom, who knows, we might even have a nice time.'

Standing, he brushed off any dirt that may have gotten on the back of his jeans. Then began his walk home.

Botan landed in the park a few minutes after the spirit detectives departure, gasping for air and coughing. "Yusuke?!" She called out. "Yusuke!?" Looking around she expelled another breath then climbed back on her ore and flew off.

"Why is no one ever around when you need them?" The girl complained.

* * *

Yusuke got to his building but stopped outside of the door. It was too early for it to be so quiet on the other side. Although, to determine how late it was he'd first have to get a watch.

'Maybe she went out again?' Sticking his key into the lock hole, but before he turned the thing, Yusuke pulled it back out and tried the knob first. Last time he used his key he just ended up locking the door instead of unlocking it.

The door, of course, was unlocked as it usually is so, shoving his keys back into his pocket he pushed the front door open and walked inside. "Mom?"

"Surpriiiise!" Atsuko shouted, turning on the lights.

"Aha ha," He laughed looking around at the decorations in the room, very distasteful, must have been Kuwabara's handy work. "What is all this stuff, my birthday isn't until tomorrow?"

"I know but, we decided to throw you a surprise party today." His mother tossed a strip of streamer his way.

"We?" Yusuke caught the flying strip of paper, unintentionally, with the top of his head and he pulled it down looking at it. "That's nice but, where's everybody else?"

"That's the funny part, they never showed up." His mother walked over to him pulling him inside the house by his shoulders, and then she slipped a party hat on her sons head. "Get in here silly, you can't have a party in the doorway."

Yusuke watched his mother moving around the room. He walked further into their house and took a seat on the couch. This is getting uncomfortable, any normal night hanging out would have been cool, but, a surprise party. No way.

"So, they didn't show up," He wondered out loud then murmured. "I guess that's the surprise part."

Atsuko handed her son a slice of vanilla cake, his favorite, and then she got up from the couch retrieving a slice for herself. "Maybe they're just running a little late."

"Maybe... but Kurama said he couldn't make it, and if he's not coming than neither is Hiei but... Kuwabara, Botan and Koenma should be here though." It didn't make sense to him.

Did they ditch him on purpose?

"Oh well, we can still have some fun until they show up. Right?" His mother looked hopeful.

Yusuke didn't know what to say. Alone, in a room, with his mom. The master of birthday disasters, even if she only stuck with her personal favorite victim- him. Who only knows who else's parties she's ruined just by showing up!

"Yusuke?" His mother asked, after noticing how long he was taking to answer.

'But she is my mom.... and she has been trying.' He argued with himself. With a smile he turned to his mother saying, "What the hell." His cake was put down on the coffee table, he'd eaten enough sweets for one day, or at least for the moment. "What do we do first?"

Beaming Atsuko stood from the couch, then walked over to the mini radio on the floor in the corner of the room. "I've got some party music, we can dance if you want to?"

She listened to the cassette tape start and she clapped her hands together doing a little step. "Come on, it'll be fun."

"Dance with my mom? A girl?" Yusuke looked more than skeptical, but he couldn't blame her for trying. "Well, you are better looking than any of the other girls I've ever danced with." He teased.

"Yeeah, and what girls have you ever danced with?" She walked over to her son holding out her hands for him to take.

"I'll let you know when I have an answer." Replied her son, as he held out his hands taking hers in his own. Pulling Yusuke to his feet, he couldn't help but shake his head and laugh. "This is so lame."

"You lead." Atsuko said.

"It's dumb, I don't even know how."

"Oh lighten up, just take one step." She pushed. This was her one shot to make up for all the crummy birthdays her son has ever gone through because of her, and until his friends arrived she was going to try her hardest.

"I've never partner danced before." Yusuke continued trying to excuse himself.

"I'll teach you then." Atsuko pushed him back as she leaned forward and he followed her lead, making little, slow circles around the room. "You see?" Atsuko asked after they cleared a circle around half the living room.

Yusuke was watching their feet and then he looked up nodding. "Yeah." He raised his hand into the air over her head, indicating for her to twirl under his slightly shorter than her height arm.

"Look whose become advanced." She complimented causing him to blush.

"Shut up, okay." His blush deepened. "You're gonna make me wanna quit."

Shrugs. "Alright, my lips are sealed."

The song ended and Yusuke couldn't be happier that a fast tempo'd song had started.

"I'll show you how the kids my age dance." Taking his mothers hands back into his, Yusuke stepped to the side, but Atsuko didn't follow what he was doing and he banged into her shoulder.

"Hahaha, come on mom. You gotta go when I do." Hoping she had it correct, she began to spin in the same direction as her son and the two of them began to whirl around the room, much like the slow dance only they were going faster. Almost galloping.

The two of them laughed and laughed the faster they spun. And, recognizing the song that was playing, Yusuke started to sing the words of the song as it played.

"I can work hard on my job Friday afternoons." He led the song.

"Um..." Atsuko wasn't too familiar with this generations music so she really couldn't tell. "Even a..." Listened to the radio and rushed the words out. "..-taxi can be caught quickly."

"I jump in heading for you." Sang Yusuke.

And together they sang, "Wheeere are you gooing to?" They broke into a fit of laughter at how incredibly bad they sounded, but at the moment they didn't care.

They could have sang all night if Atsuko hadn't kicked the coffee table accidentally when they went by. "Hahaha, are you alright?" Her son asked not meaning to laugh.

"Oh, I'm fine." She said pausing from their twirling. "I'm a little winded though."

"Yeeah, dancing's kinda tiring." Dropping his mothers hand, he walked over to the couch taking a seat. Atsuko joined her son, sitting at the other end of the couch as though she were trying to compact herself from being over to far and touching him.

The two fell silent the only noise in the room was that same song still playing away on the radio. Yusuke began to kick at the carpet with his socked foot, avoiding his mother at all cost.

".....We can have that cake if you want?"

Yusuke held his stomach, rubbing his hand back and forth. "No thanks, I've had enough sugar for one night."

"Oh...." Silence.

"Is there anything for dinner though?" He asked hopefully.

Popping up from the couch, his mother nodded her head. "Yeah, Kuwabara came by and made something for us." She walked into the kitchen gesturing for her son to follow.

Yusuke stood, following his mother into the kitchen. "Uuh, yeah speaking of Kuwabara... when do you think he's gonna get here?" He didn't wanna seem rude but he had to ask, cause if they weren't gonna dance the only thing left was... talking. Yikes.

"Who knows, maybe." She had begun to fix their plates with the rice and fish Kuwabara had come by and made. The food was still just as hot as it had been when it was first made earlier that night.

"Maybe...." His words trailed. Sitting down at the table he picked up his fork and dug in. Atsuko ate as well, wondering what they were going to do now. 'Oh Yusuke, I'm trying... just... stop being so damned stubborn.'

"So how's school going?" She asked. 'Always a good opener.' The woman thought.

"Pretty good now, cause I've got help from Kurama and Kuwabara..." He answered adding. "But I still have to go to summer school."

"That's too bad, I had to go to summer school when I was in high school." She assured.

"So... you're not mad?" He was a little confused by that.

Shakes her head. "No, I understand. Schools a pain in the ass."

Yusuke smiled at her understanding. "So then you'll pull me out?"

"No." She shot him down. "You're still going."

"Haha, can't blame a guy for trying."

'Come on 'Tsuko you're on a role. Ask him something else.' She coached herself. "How are things with Kuwabara? You two still in love?"

"It's good..." He added. "I actually started to wonder why I beat him up for so long?" A hand went behind his head and he laughed. Atsuko laughed as well.

"I remember when you'd come home from school scowling about how horrible your day was because you saw him, then I turn around and the two of you are swapping spit in your bed room."

"Mom!" He held a hand to her mouth. "No more shots at us, at least not when he's not here to share the punishment with me."

Atsuko moved his hands and laughed. "Okay, I won't."

The phone began to ring on it's hook, causing the two of them to jump. "I'll get it." Said Yusuke, praying to god it was Kuwabara saying he was on his way.

"No, I'll get it." The two of them got up to get the phone but Atsuko, being closer, reached it first. "Hello?"

Yusuke sat back in his seat finishing his dinner, while keeping an ear to the phone conversation. "Yup.... I think so.... no not tonight... Yes...." He watched this speech pattern go on for a while then she finally said goodbye.

"Was that Kuwabara?" He asked.

"Wha-, no. That was one of my friends." She sat back down.

Yusuke narrowed his eyes. "And let me guess, you're leaving later- or maybe right now." He was becoming mad, really mad. "Or better yet, my friends obviously aren't gonna show up, maybe yours can come over instead, it'll be just like old times, right mother?!"

"Yusuke?" His mother began to plea, but he warded her words off by getting up from the table and leaving the kitchen. "Yusuke wait!" She grabbed her son back.

"I'm not going anywhere.... Tonight, is your night." She emphasized. "I'm not gonna ruin it.... not this time, won't you please just forgive me? I'm trying."

He could see tears in his mothers eyes, and he hated it. Not the tears but himself, he chewed that kid out for being a jerk to his mother and what was he doing right now? Not even giving the woman a chance because of his own selfish pride. He vowed he would never let his mother cry because of him ever again, and he's letting her down.

No. He won't. Not anymore. Lowering his guard, he stepped up to his mother and hugged her tightly. "I'm sorry mom... I'm a jackass and I know it. But I don't mean to be."

"Ha," She ran her fingers through her sons hair. "You just get that from me son, it's okay." She teased but her actions were comforting and forgiving. Speaking louder than any words could give.

"You know what I'm always thankful for Yusuke?"

He smiled, being sarcastic. "Lower prices at bargain mart?"

Atsuko smiled in return, though she swatted the boy on the back of his head. "No silly, through all the horrible things I've done... I knew you still loved me as much as I love you."

Moving back a bit, Yusuke asked. "How do you figure that?"

"Because," She felt the tears in her eyes fall. "You never stopped calling me mom."

Yusuke lowered his eyes, "Looks like my cover is blown." He smiled and hugged her again. "...You know how I know?" He asked.

"How?"

"You cried for me... when I died... not like you're gonna cry now but the effect's still the same." They were silent again. When Atsuko sniffled, she pulled back from her son and clasped her hands together.

"So what do we do now, before we get all weepy eyed?" His mother asked.

"Well, we've got cheesy little party games that we still need to make up for." Her son said, his voice returning to its usual tone and manner.

"Great! We've got 'pin the tail on the donkey' first on the list." She took his wrist leading him towards a corner of the house.

"Uuuh, on second thought..." He started to protest.

* * *

Yusuke was now making his way through the park, the party was... better than he'd of hoped for. He and his mom actually had mother and son fun. No interruptions or harsh words... they dropped all their bullshit with each other and were a real family, maybe not again, but in the making of.

And for the first time inside, Yusuke really felt happy. But first he had to take care of something, a certain red head was about to get an earful.

"Hey Urameshi." Kuwabara greeted when he saw the boy coming towards him. "Looks like you found me."

"Yeah looks like it, Shizuru told me you were here." His voice was low and cruel.

"Well you found me so what's the problem?"

Finally reaching the jungle gym, Yusuke climbed up the side of them to where his lover was sitting. "You know damned well what my problem is," He snapped. "You left me alone with my mother, surrounded by some cheesy surprise party, that I thought was supposed to be for us!"

Kuwabara looked like a guilty wolf in sheep's clothing, and not knowing what to say he said nothing.

"So I take your stunned silence as an indication that you did it on purpose then?"

"Sorry Yusuke." He lowered his eyes, feeling really bad. He didn't think he'd freak out. Atsuko said she'd take care of it. He called and everything!

"Ha," He scoffed. "sorry... and I take it that was you on the phone checking up on us then, huh?"

"So you figured it out, then... But gee Urameshi, all I wanted was for you and your mom to get along. And I know you wanted it too." He crossed his arms. "So be mad at me all you want but I'm not gonna stop trying until you two are back in good graces."

Yusuke smiled at his boyfriend. "I'm not mad... I'm glad that you did it." Kuwabara looked shocked.

"You are?"

Nods. "Yup... at first it was uncomfortable, and then it wasn't..." His smile widened. "It was actually really nice."

"You mean it?"

"Yeah, so... thank you." He leaned his head on Kuwabara's shoulder.

"You're welcome, Yusuke."

They were silent for a moment, before Kuwabara wrapped an arm around Yusuke's shoulders. "I know it's a little early but, happy birthday."

"Thanks, but according to the new watch Kurama got me... it's midnight. So you're right on time."

"That's good, wouldn't want you to chew my head off."

"Ha ha." He sighed. "So what about this other gift that you got for me?" He straightened up looking at Kuwabara waiting for the gift.

"Oh, that... you'll think it's dumb but... here." He dug into his pocket pulling it out.

"Huh," Yusuke climbed down the jungle gym opening a tiny little suede case. Inside was a hand made beaded bracelet, with little white beads going around encasing four blocked letters on either sides that read large YU and KK separated by little plus signs. "YUKK." He said to himself.

"See! I knew you wouldn't like it." Said Kuwabara joining his lover on the grass.

No dumbass, our initials make YUKK. That's actually pretty funny." He turned to Kuwabara with questioning eyes. "What's this for?"

"Um... well, I'm not saying anything that you don't wanna hear but" He looked away and blushed. "It's a promise bracelette."

"A promise for what?" Yusuke asked.

"For... whatever, I don't know."

"Huh," He walked over to him with a mischievous smirk. "Okay, so this means if someday you and me get old and we're not married I'm gonna kick your ass."

"Wha-... you serious?" He questioned.

"Yeah, aren't you?" Yusuke wondered.

"Yeah sure!" He picked his lover up spinning him around. "Cool!"

Laughing. "Alright alright, put me down. I'm not a girl."

"Right."

Giving him a quick kiss, he looked down at his wrist and said. "Now let's go break this thing in and do something couply."

"Yeah."

The two began to leave the park when a panting Botan dropped out of the sky. "Yusuke, I finally found you."

"Hey Botan, come to wish me happy birthday?" Yusuke asked.

Botan caught her breath quickly, saying. "Yusuke, I need to get you and the others to Koenma quick, or I'm in big trouble."

"Why what happened?" Asked Kuwabara looking concerned.

Botan hopped on her ore gesturing with a pat for the two boys to climb on. "There's no time to explain here get on."

"What?! Can this thing carry three people?" Argued Yusuke.

"Just get on!" She was becoming frantic. Kuwabara didn't have to be told again and he climbed onto the ore, holding Botan around her waist. Yusuke groaned a sigh but climbed on as well, holding Kuwabara around his waste.

"Comfy? Good, then lets' go." The ore elevated into the air higher and higher until it's three passengers were clear out of sight.

To Be Continued.......

.....................

Yusuke: Hey guys, it's Yusuke and I know a lot of you have been wondering what's been goin' on with me and Kuwabara lately, like, why is he so bent on getting in my pants. On the other hand maybe you're not.

I must- wait a second, I've said that before... what I meant to say was- Hey gang it's Yusuke, and I know what your thinking, 'that was warm and fuzzy' well it's about to get a lot softer- oh sure we'll be the same wise cracking smart asses we always are but I mean... Wait, I've said that before too.

Does that mean we're showing a re-run?

Kurama: No Yusuke it means we're showing some lost episodes until we return.

Yusuke: Lost episodes... like reruns?

Kurama: More like shows that haven't been seen but should have.... They're dated.

Yusuke:....?

Kurama: It's not important, but on the first lost episode of Yu Yu Hakusho. We're going on a skiing trip in the mountains while staying at the Kuwabara family cabin. While Yusuke and Kuwabara are entering a skiiing competition, Hiei and I will be learning to ski, while secretly I'm trying to find out what his Christmas card had actually meant. You won't want to miss our very first lost episode: Anti-Freeze.

Kuwabara: Hey wait, don't forget that after the long vacation away we'll return with our first ever movie: Blood Rain, and you can finally find out what Botan has been trying to tell us all for weeks. Until then see you guys around.