Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Coming Clean ❯ Forced Changes ( Chapter 17 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Disclaimer: This story was written by me, mhmartini, for enjoyment purposes only. All characters taken from a show/series/book/etc. are property of their respective creators; I am only borrowing them. Original characters are mine. The storyline is mine. I am making no money from this endeavor. The only �profit� involved is the joy of writing and the reviews of my readers. No copyright infringement is intended.

Anime/Manga: Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Fantasy / Hentai | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 11.27.2004 | Updated On: 06.03.2007 | Pages: 4 | Words: 5.9K | Visits: 922 | Status: Completed

Kurama entered the kitchen quietly. He looked into the refrigerator, and closed the door without taking any food. As he started to wander back into the living room, Shiori stopped him. "Shuuichi, dear, what's wrong?" she asked sweetly.

"Nothing, Mother."

"You're lonely, aren't you? I haven't seen Hiei in quite awhile." The kitsune let out a deep sigh.

"Yes, Mother. Hiei is in Makai for a while. I miss him." Shiori smiled and gave her son a comforting hug.

"I know. It's difficult to be away from those we love," she murmured softly. Kurama returned his mother's hug, feeling better almost immediately.

"I do love him, so much. And I miss him terribly," he replied. As he withdrew, he took a seed from his hair and with a quick burst of ki caused it to blossom into a beautiful flower not native to the ningenkai. He handed the bloom to his mother. Shiori smiled down at the blossom in her hand, but when she raised her eyes, her gaze passed her son to look at something behind him, something that caused the smile to fade from her face. Seeing her reaction, Kurama whirled around to face the new threat, only to be confronted by a very angry and confused stepfather.

"What the hell is going on here?" he growled. "First I hear you talking about a love interest, a MALE love interest, and then you do that...thing with the flower. What the hell are you?" Kurama unconsciously shrank back a step.

"Father, let me...."

"DON'T! Don't call me father. You are not my child, you...freak." Kurama's heart bled at those words.

"Let me explain, please," he asked softly, almost desperately.

"Go on, explain," said the older man coldly. Not quite sure where to begin, Kurama drew a deep breath.

"Well, to begin, I am not what I seem..."

"No shit, Sherlock. Let's see, you seem to be gay and not human. How's that for what you seem to be?" Kurama looked at his stepfather, his heart sinking lower yet.

"I am a demon," he whispered. If anything, the look on the older man's face grew more intimidating.

"Demon? What kind? How old? Why are you here? Talk, boy!" Something inside him bristled at his stepfather's arrogant tone, and Kurama took a forceful step forward.

"I am a fox spirit, and I stopped counting at around one thousand years old. In Makai I am known as Youko Kurama, among other names..."

"And Hiei, your so called 'best friend' that you just confessed your love for, what is he, and what is he to you?"

"Hiei is also a demon. He is the most important person to me. I love him." At this revelation, all emotion left the human's face.

"Out," he said softly.

Shocked, Kurama whispered, "But, Father..."

"OUT!" the older man roared.

Shiori had stood to the side quietly, not wanting to make the confrontation any worse. She knew that her husband would have a hard time accepting the truth about her son. Only her deep love for her child allowed her to accept it at all, and she often wondered how she would react if someone other than her beloved Shuuichi had revealed the same truths to her. Now, she watched in horror as the two people she treasured more than life itself were torn apart.

When she heard her husband bellow "Out!" at her son, she ran to the man. "No! Please, don't let it come to this." The slamming of the front door cut off anything else she was going to say. She looked around, realizing that she and her husband were the only ones left in the house.

Kurama ran. He didn't really notice or care where he was running to, he just needed to run away. All of the relief of his mother accepting him for who he truly was evaporated. His life was ruined. His lies had been discovered, and the time to pay the price was at hand. When he finally stopped running, he found himself in the park. He wandered among the plants there, but they brought no comfort. More than anything he wanted someone to talk to. He wanted Hiei. But his fire demon was in Makai, and might not return for weeks. Alone and upset, Kurama settled himself under the largest tree and waited for this wretched day to be over.

The first rays of the morning sun awoke the kitsune, who had been dozing fitfully under his tree. Kurama stood, and brushed his clothing off. He was still wearing his school uniform from yesterday. 'Convenient,' he thought to himself. Needing to take his mind off of the events of the previous day, he trudged to school early. After cleaning himself up a bit in the lavatory, he prepared to face the day. Many of his fangirls kept asking him what was wrong. It was obvious that he was unsettled. He merely shook his head and smiled. He was concerned about what to do next. He wasn't ready to just leave Ningenkai forever; he still wanted to be close to his mother.

In the last class of his day he was wondering where to go after school when a voice from the door interrupted his thoughts. "I am to take Shuuichi Minamino to the principal's office," a young office aid was telling the teacher.

"Minamino, off with you. Take your things as well. The bell will ring in a few minutes, I don't expect you'll be back." Kurama nodded, and gathered his few belongings. Most of his things were in his, no, his mother's house; he had left without taking anything with him. Dreading what awaited him, he walked slowly towards the office. As he entered, he saw his stepfather sitting across the desk from the principal. Kurama stiffened, not knowing what to expect. The principal stood and regarded one of his favorite students carefully.

"Minamino, your stepfather is here to pick you up today. I understand there have been some problems at home, young man. He won't tell me exactly what is going on. You're a top notch student with an excellent record, so if you need some time off, feel free to take it. As long as you keep up with your work and your grades don't fall, the absence won't be counted against you this time. If you need anything, you can always come to me." With that, Kurama's stepfather rose to his feet, and turned to leave. Kurama was about to protest, to say he'd rather stay, but the older man took him by the arm and led him through the door. When they got to the car, the human merely said, "Get in," in a cold voice. Tired of resisting, Kurama obliged.

They had driven for a few minutes in silence before the older man finally spoke. "Shuuichi, I...I don't hate you. I cannot accept what you said yesterday. I don't know how to accept it; it goes against everything I have ever been taught. I want to try, though." Kurama could barely believe what he was hearing. His stepfather continued, "I need time to come to terms with all of this; with your...heritage and your...lifestyle. It's not something that's easy for me. I can't have you living in our house just now." Kurama's hopes started to fall at this. If they weren't going home, where were they going? He realized that his stepfather was going into town, away from their house.

Before the kitsune could voice his questions, the older man interrupted. "Your mother is in quite a state. She didn't sleep a wink after you left yesterday. She barely even sat down until this morning, when she called the school and they confirmed that you were there. Shiori and I talked for a long time last night, and we reached a compromise that we can both live with. If you can accept it also, then we can try to adjust to these revelations."

They had stopped in front of a tall building. Although the ride had taken awhile, it was really only about a mile from the school. Kurama got the impression that his stepfather had made the ride take longer on purpose, to be able to say everything in the car. They got out, and the tall man led his stepson inside and up to the third floor. Taking a set of keys from his pocket, he opened one of the doors and stepped in, motioning the kitsune to follow him. They were in a small but comfortable, furnished, one bedroom apartment. The human turned and held the keys out to the red head before him. Confused, Kurama didn't move.

"It's yours, Shuuichi. It's paid for. Although I cannot accept you living in my house, we aren't going to throw you out on the street. Even though you're a bit young to have your own apartment, you are a responsible young man, and we trust you to make responsible decisions. Your mother and I will support you. As long as you maintain good grades we don't require you to take a job. If your grades begin to fall, we will expect you to start working and help support yourself. This way your mother knows where you are, and that you're off the street, but you and I are free to pursue our different lifestyles in peace. Now, get cleaned up a bit, and we'll go pick up your things and move them in here. Your mother wants to take you shopping tonight."

Kurama accepted the keys. He wasn't sure whether to be relieved or upset. He was glad that he was not going to be forced to live in the park, or take up residence in Genkai's temple, or worse yet, return to Makai permanently while still in his human form. He was also angry that he had been kicked out of the house he had grown up in by a man new to their family. The fox did appreciate the fact that this man could have put him out on the street, or worse yet, turned him in (there was a huge black market dealing in demon slaves). As he looked at the keys in his hand he whispered, "Thank you....Father." The human flinched a bit at the name, but did not speak. Kurama looked into each room to acquaint himself with his new home, and finally went into the bathroom to wash his face and try to make himself more presentable.

Shiori practically smothered her son with a tremendous hug the moment she saw him get out of the car in the driveway. "Shuuichi! I was so worried! Are you all right? Where did you sleep? Did anyone bother you?"

"I'm fine Mother, no one bothered me. It's alright," Kurama answered softly, as he reluctantly broke the hug, and went to his room to begin collecting his belongings. After a few minutes, Shiori slipped in and closed the door.

"Shuuichi, please don't hate him for this. He felt terrible last night after you left, and went out to try to find you, but he couldn't. He wants to accept you, but he was raised in such a strict household. He just can't take this all in at one time." Kurama stopped packing to look at his mother.

"I know, Mother. I know most humans cannot imagine a demon in their midst, and most humans frown upon same sex relationships. It's not an issue in Makai. Male and female demons barely differentiate between each other. In battle, both are equal. The only reason to chose a partner of the opposite sex is to procreate. Sex itself is not a passionate, loving act. It is used as a source of pleasure, or as a source of power. Very few demons ever experience love. If a demon is lucky enough to feel it, the gender of his mate is irrelevant."

Shiori held her questions inside. She was curious about her son's relationship with his boyfriend. She did not understand much about demons and their ways, and she hoped that he had found the passionate, caring warmth that acts of love create. Seeing the curious look on his mother's face, Kurama gave her a simple answer: "We haven't yet." Shiori embraced her son warmly.

"You don't have to explain or answer to me, Shuuichi." With a playful smile she continued, "You're what, a thousand years old? I trust you to make your own decisions." Despite his dour mood, Kurama smiled, and continued packing his things.

After they had dropped his belongings at his new apartment, Kurama and Shiori went out shopping together. Shiori's husband declined to accompany them. Before he left Kurama's new home, he turned to his stepson and reached out his hand. "I want to try, Shuuichi. Please be patient with me. If you need anything, call us," he said as he shook the kitsune's hand.

'Well, it's a start,' Kurama thought, grateful that his family had not been completely ripped from his life. Then he and his mother embarked on their shopping spree.

Kurama was completely exhausted when they finally returned to his new apartment. He now had everything he could need, and even more that Shiori thought he couldn't live without. They had been to every type of store imaginable. Their bags contained new towels, bedding, bathroom accessories, pots and pans, dishes, a television, a vcr, a stereo, two telephones, an answering machine, and numerous other items that Kurama had no idea where to put, as well as more food than the fox could possibly hope to eat any time soon. When they had put the food away and dumped all of his new stuff on the couch, and chair, and floor, Shiori turned to her son. "I can stay here, if you want me to. I don't mind sleeping on the couch," she offered. Kurama smiled, and shook his head.

"No, Mother. You should go home now. Your husband will be worried. I'll be fine here. I'm so tired, I just want to fall asleep anyway." With a final hug, a few tears, and a weak smile, Shiori left Kurama alone for the first time in his new home.

The kitsune showered and changed, and made his bed. He expected to fall asleep immediately. Sleep evaded him however. After several hours of tossing and turning, Kurama finally decided to get back up and start putting his new possessions away. He had gotten about one third of the way through cleaning up when he became suddenly restless. Throwing on some clothing again he decided to take a walk. Meandering through the streets of Tokyo at three in the morning was probably not what Shiori and her husband had meant when they said they had trusted him to make responsible decisions. Still restless, Kurama broke into a run, and continued jogging around until shortly before dawn.

When he returned to his new apartment, Kurama still did not want to sleep. Although he was covered in sweat, he didn't take a shower. Instead he plopped down on his couch and stared at the dark television, not noticing the passage of time.

Hiei landed in his tree, exhausted. It was shortly after sunset. His work in Makai had been tiring, and to make matters worse, all he had been able to think about for the past two weeks was his fox. He wanted to curl his arms around his beloved kitsune and drink in the smell of the red head's hair. Hiei would never admit it openly, but the combination of the shampoo, the seeds hidden within, and Kurama's own unique scent was the sexiest thing he had ever inhaled. Looking into his boyfriend's window, Hiei was surprised to find the window was shut. The lights were off. The room looked completely deserted.

Curiously, the hiyoukai nimbly walked further along the branch he was on to peer inside, still unable to make out the features of the room in the dark. Hearing someone approach below him, Hiei snuck towards the trunk of the tree, practically dissolving into the shadows there. He relaxed considerably when he recognized the figure drawing near the house. Silently he flitted to the ground, and waited, semi-illuminated by a nearby streetlamp for the person to approach.

Shiori nervously eyed the youth standing to the edge of the circle of light cast from the lamp above. She was about to turn, and go into a neighbor's house rather than approach the stranger, when she recognized the silhouette. "Hiei!" she called out gladly. The youkai nodded at her. "You're back! It's been a few weeks since I've seen you. Come in." Shiori invited the small demon into the house. Her husband and stepson were out and were not expected to return for a few hours more.

Hiei noticed immediately that the house was strangely barren of Kurama's scent. The kitsune had not been in the dwelling for at least a week. Hiei was immediately worried. Shiori hung up her coat and went into the kitchen to prepare some tea. "Where is Kurama?" Hiei asked, following her. Shiori set down the teapot she was holding and looked at the apparition before her.

"You were away, you don't know yet." Hiei's gaze burned, and his jaw clenched as a wave of fear rushed over him.

"Know what?" he asked tensely.

"Ten days ago, my husband found out that Shuuichi is a demon. He also discovered that Shuuichi has a boyfriend, you. My husband was raised in a very strict household, and these things are new to him, and more than a bit repulsive. They had a terrible argument. I'll leave it to my son to tell you the details. Shuuichi now has his own apartment in town."

Startled at this revelation, Hiei could only stare at the woman before him in silence. Shiori had stated the facts quite concisely, but her tone betrayed the hurt she suffered because of this. "I can take you there, or I can give you directions. I am sure Shuuichi will be glad to see you. I miss him so much. I haven't seen him since the first day he moved. He told me on the phone that he needed some time to adjust, and every time I go to visit there's no answer at the door. I'm a little worried, but his school hasn't called, so it can't be too bad." Shiori was unaware that the principal had excused Kurama's absence, and so would not call the family if the kitsune were not in school. The fact was Kurama had not been to school since he had moved.

Hiei accepted the cup of tea that Shiori offered him. He sat with her for a while, asking questions and trying to get some idea of what had happened, and why his fox would block his precious human mother out of his life. Finally, Hiei felt he had gathered all of the information he could, and rose to go to Kurama's new home.

"Wait, Hiei," Shiori called, before the small demon could leave. She took some food from the refrigerator and made a sandwich. "Shuuichi loves chicken salad on toasted rye. Please take this with you, and tell him I want to see him." Smiling, she handed the wrapped morsel to the hiyoukai. Hiei nodded, and slipped out the door. Shiori cleaned up the kitchen before her family returned, so there was no need to discuss her surprise visitor with her husband.

Hiei found the apartment building easily, and blurred up the stairs to the third floor. He noticed that there was a large tree next to the building, with sturdy branches extending under what he calculated to be Kurama's window. Choosing a more traditional (at least in the human world) entrance, Hiei knocked on the door. No answer. He knocked louder. Nothing. Hiei was slightly concerned. It was well after ten o'clock, and his fox was missing. Narrowing his eyes, Hiei slipped out the window at the end of the hallway and into the tree. Walking lightly, the small demon reached the desired window and slid it open. When he climbed in, he was startled at what he found.

Kurama had always been tidy, almost to the point of obsessive. Everything had a place and was organized and put away. The living room he stood in was a mess. All sorts of things sat on the couch, the chair and the floor. What was more curious was that the majority of these items were still wrapped and in the bags from the stores. Hiei made his way through the clutter in the dim room towards the only room with a light on. This room turned out to be a kitchen. The kitchen wasn't exactly clean; barren would be a better word. There were no dishes or small appliances on the counters. The table was bare. The only thing in the kitchen was a lone, red haired figure, facing away from the door.

Sitting in a chair by the table, Kurama ignored Hiei as he approached. Hiei circled around Kurama, and stopped short when he saw the kitsune before him. "Fox?" he asked cautiously. Kurama glanced at him, but said nothing. The youko's eyes were bloodshot, with dark circles beneath them. It was obvious that he had not taken care of himself. His skin looked less than healthy. His expression, however, is what caused Hiei the most pain.

Kurama looked utterly defeated. He seemed broken, with no spirit left in him. Hiei immediately pulled a chair next to his boyfriend's and sat down, reaching out to take the other boy's hand in his own. "Fox, what happened to you?" he whispered.

"I got kicked out," was the reply.

"Kicked out?" Hiei was shocked that such a thing would happen to the "perfect son."

"My stepfather found out that I am a demon in love with a man, and he kicked me out."

"Fox," Hiei muttered, as he gathered his beloved into an embrace. Feeling Kurama's thin frame in his arms, Hiei drew back. "Fox, when was the last time you ate something?" Kurama shrugged. Pulling the sandwich from his cloak, Hiei extended it to the wasted figure before him. "Shiori made this for you. She said you like chicken salad on toasted rye, but the bread's probably soggy by now." Kurama ignored Hiei and the sandwich.

Undaunted, Hiei unwrapped the sandwich and scooted his chair closer to the kitsune. He slipped his left hand around the fox's shoulders, and picked up half the sandwich with his right hand. He held the sandwich to the red head's mouth. No response. "Kurama, you have to eat." Hiei gently touched the bread to Kurama's lips, trying to get him to open his mouth. Kurama tried to back away, but Hiei's firm arm around his shoulders prevented his escape. Reluctantly, Kurama opened his mouth and took a bite of the proffered food. This continued slowly, with Hiei feeding Kurama, until half the sandwich was gone.

"Feel any better, Fox?" Hiei asked, reaching for the other half of the sandwich.

"Yes, actually," Kurama responded. "Hiei, no more. Please." he asked, before the hiyoukai could pick up the other portion.

"Alright. Let's get you cleaned up and into bed. You look like you haven't slept in a week," Hiei coaxed, pulling the kitsune into a standing position, and guiding him out of the kitchen. Kurama acquiesced, gathering some towels and nightclothes, and going voluntarily into the bathroom to shower and change.

When he emerged, Kurama felt much better if still depressed. He went into his bedroom and found Hiei waiting for him. "Okay, Fox, time for you to get some sleep." Kurama climbed into his bed, surprised at how comfortable it felt. Relaxing, he felt Hiei carefully tuck him in. As the fire demon turned to leave, a soft voice called to him.

"Hiei, stay. Please?" Hiei turned to the kitsune and nodded, heading towards the windowsill. "Not there; here...with me," Kurama amended, raising the edge of the covers in invitation. Caught off guard, Hiei hesitated, but agreed when he saw the pleading look in his friend's eyes. Discarding his cloak, tank top, boots, and belts, Hiei climbed into bed with his boyfriend. Kurama wrapped his arms around Hiei's small waist, and nuzzled into him affectionately. Hiei mimicked the embrace, unsure what to do or what to expect. Snuggled up to Hiei's warm body, Kurama fell asleep quickly. When he was sure the other was asleep, Hiei adjusted his arms to a more comfortable position, still wrapped protectively around his beloved.

"I'm sorry, Fox. Sorry I wasn't here for you when you needed me the most," he whispered, before joining his kitsune in sleep.