Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ His Reasons to Live ❯ Waiting for him is worth it. ( Chapter 9 )

His Reasons To Live


Smoke rose off the small white stick of cancer and swam into the morning air. The glow on the end of the cigarette lit up Yusuke's face as he sat on the steps of the shrine watching the horizon. Taking the cigarette into his hand, he flicked off the ashes and sighed. Sleep was not an option for him anymore. Nothing but nightmares of the past. Yusuke put the cigarette to his lips and took another drag. It was just another day in his life.

The sun had risen before he came out here but it was still cool. He sat on the stairs in a pair of loose black sweat pants that had snap up buttons on the sides and a black wife beater. Yusuke yawned as he put his cigarette on in the ash tray beside him. He smiled as he pushed the ashtray back in the hiding spot under the bush. Kagome thinks of everything.

His enjoyment of the morning was shattered as he looked down the stairs as he heard footsteps.

It was Kurama, Hiei, and Kuwabara.

What the fuck were they doing here? Yusuke noticed they saw him. He stood as they stopped a few stairs away from him. He narrowed his eyes as he looked down at him. Kurama was pleasantly wearing a pair of jeans and a white button up shirt. Kuwabara was in his usual jeans white shirt and yellow jacket. What could Yusuke say, some things never change. The thought led Yusuke's eyes to Hiei. The short demon was wearing black pants and a black shirt. Typical of them...

"Utada-san..." Kurama whispered. Hiei just glared at Yusuke

"What are you doing here?" Kuwabara asked.

"What can't I visit a friend?" Yusuke asked with a vicious snort. "Not that it's any of your damn business."

"This early? She's most likely asleep." Kurama replied. Yusuke just stared at them.

"The idiot has nothing to say." Hiei smirked.

"The only idiot here is you and maybe Kuwabara-san." Yusuke said. Kuwabara looked at Utada as he said that. He felt as though he knew that attitude.

"What did you say?" Hiei growled out. "Don't test my patience!"

"Don't test mine youkai." The hidden detective said. They were surprised when he said that. "I may have the use of only one eye, but I'm not blind guys."

The way Utada said the last line struck a cord in Kuwabara. He reminded him of Yusuke's calm attitude. He actually look at Utada now. They were similiar in a number of ways, but Utada's son was almost the identical twin of Yusuke. But Utada....he had the stance, the attitude, and the speech. What was going on?

"You insolent..."

"Shove it!" Yusuke said cutting off. "I've been called names by enough youkai who think they can just intimidate me..." He smirked cockily. "Not that you intimidate me..."

"Utada-san it is not wise to get on Hiei's angry side." Kurama said trying to defuse the fight.

"You don't think I intimidate you boy?" Hiei asked ignoring Kurama along with Utada. "Then you haven't been around enough of the dangerous youkai."

"Want to try me?" Yusuke asked. Hiei grinned viciously. That was his answer. "Let's see it."

"Oh...you really are a stupid human."

"Hiei....don't..." Kurama said.

"Yea Hiei...leave him alone." Kuwabara said. He watched as Utada turned and walked away.

"No...he asked for it." With that Hiei disappeared.

"Hiei no!" Kurama and Kuwabara ran up the stairs to see if they could help Utada.

Yusuke smirked as he felt Hiei's presences behind him as he stood beside the Goshinboku. He side stepped just in time for Hiei's fist to miss him. He ducked under Hiei's foot and swept his leg at the unprotected one. Hiei jumped back as Yusuke stood almost lazily. He watched as Yusuke tilted his head back slightly.

"Come on, is that all?" Yusuke egged on. Hiei growled again and charged at Yusuke.

Kurama and Kuwabara watched as Utada evaded and dodged Hiei's advances by a hair's length. "He's good...but not that good..." Kuwabara said.

"Let's just hope Hiei doesn't land anything...." Just as Kurama said that Hiei landed a kick in Utada's side. He winced at the impact sound, but noticed Utada only going to his knees.

Yusuke winced at the kick, but went to his knees quickly. He grabbed Hiei's leg and pulled it forward. Hiei not expecting that, went down into a split. Yusuke raised his fist and punched Hiei twice in the face before he jumped to his feet and flipped over the man. He then kicked the youkai in the back of the head sending him forward.

"Wow..." Yusuke heard Kuwabara say as he had his back to Hiei and dusted off his pants. He froze slightly when he heard the unsheathing of a sword. Kurama shouted out as Yusuke cursed. He didn't have his weapon on him and he couldn't ruin his cover.

"DAD!" He looked up to see his gun skidding off to the side after being thrown. Yusuke quickly reacted and jumped off to the side rolling over himself as he got his gun. He undid the safety in the roll and as he jumped to his feet he had the gun ready to fire and aimed at Hiei. Yusuke smirked at Hiei, who had his sword at Yusuke's neck, but Yusuke's gun in his face. He could see out of the corner of his eyes that his children were holding the other two.

Susa had Kuwabara pinned to the ground. Yusuke mental laughed. Poor Kuwabara. Susa was like him in the way of fighting, though it is a bit more refined due to Sesshomaru's training. His eyes went to his daughter who was standing next to Kurama smugly. Yusuke's eyes went down to her wrist to see her bracelet of small needles on. He raised an eyebrow.

"He can't move from the neck down." Nefertiri said with a smile.

"Hm..." Yusuke looked back at Hiei. "The kids are good." Yusuke smiled.

"Wouldn't have it any other way..." He replied.

"What in the bloody hell!" Kagome said as she stomped out there in a robe with Hakuya following her. Kirara raced ahead of them and jumped onto Yusuke's shoulder hissing at Hiei. "You better not spill blood on my shrine!" She glared. Kagome turned to Susa and Nefertiri. "Set them free..."

"But..." Susa tried to object.

"NOW!" Kagome glared at them.

"Yes Daibo-chan!" They replied. Susa got off of Kuwabara and crossed his arms. Nefertiri reached up under Kurama's hair and pulled a small needle from his neck. Kurama's body loosened as he flexed his limbs.

"Acupuncture points?" Kurama asked. Nefertiri nodded.

"Prefer stealth over brute strength." She replied as she glanced at her brother.

Kagome turned onto Yusuke and Hiei. "Explain!"

"Ask him..." Hiei said. Kagome turned to Yusuke and her angry immediately disappeared when she saw him become pale.

"Daifu?" Hakuya asked from behind her mother. Yusuke's gun dropped as he began to cough violently. His body dropped to the ground kneeling over so his forehead was on the ground. "DAIFU-KUN!" Hakuya ran to her godfather and knelt beside him. Kagome ran to her and pulled Hakuya away.

"DAD!" His children shouted going to him.

"Shh...." Kagome whispered as Kurama and Kuwabara came to them. She had a hand on Yusuke's back as he continued to cough. She looked up at Nefertiri. "Go get his medicine, Susa get a glass of wine." The two nodded and ran off.

"You shouldn't mix wine with his medication." Kurama said as he knelt down too.

"I know what I'm doing." Kagome said. Hakuya was beside her mother watching her godfather. She knew he had attacks like this, but she never saw one. Kirara had gotten into her arms as soon as her mother pushed her away. She put her cheek to Kirara's as she watched her mother take care of him.

Yusuke gasped as he tried to breath before coughing again. He left hand was tucked to his chest as his right reached out from under the messy ponytail and claw at the ground. God it was so much worse now. He couldn't breath between the coughing. It was slowly suffocating him.

"He doesn't have any medication left!" Nefertiri said as she ran back.

"Damn..." Kagome said. She knelt down and looked at Yusuke. He wasn't spitting up blood, that was a good sign. "We need to get him inside. Can one of you carry him?" She looked up at the three men.

"I will," Kurama said. Kuwabara helped Kagome lift Yusuke up, but was hard considering his body wanted to stayed curled. Eventually Kurama was able to lift him up. Yusuke legs were wrapped around Kurama's waist. Kurama held him tightly to the front of his body like a little kid. As they walked, Yusuke was still coughing and he started to claw at Kurama's back.

When they got inside the home, Yusuke was placed on the couch. Kagome got a cool towel and placed it on his throat. She grabbed the glass of wine Susa presented to her. Lifting his head, she slowly poured some into his mouth. Little amounts at a time so he wouldn't cough it back out. It was only a table spoon of wine that she made him swallow before laying his head back down.

The wine seemed to have soothed his throat and lessened the coughing. Kagome sighed as she sat on the floor beside the couch.

"Will dad be okay?" Susa asked.

"He'll be fine," Kagome said. "He will need to go retrieve his medicine from Jineji though." Nefertiri frowned and turned going upstairs. Hakuya put Kirara down and watched as the kitten got onto the couch and laid on Yusuke chest as it went up and down. "Susa, Hakuya why don't you go upstairs and keep Ri-chan company."

"'Kay!" Hakuya said. She grabbed Susa's hand and dragged him away as he seemed to want to stay.

"He should be dead..." Hiei said. "Even the Spirit files on him say he should."

"Lady Lucky loves him too much to let him die." Kagome replied.

"Will he really be okay?" Kuwabara asked. The miko smiled as she pet the kitten and put a glowing hand to Yusuke's throat.

"Why don't you stay and find out?" She smiled.

---

Yusuke found himself jolting awake. He heard a weak mew and looked down to see he flipped Kirara onto his lap. He scratched his head and smiled. "Sorry Kirara..."

"You gave us quite a scare." Kurama said from right beside Yusuke.

Yusuke blinked before yelling out in startled fright and flipping himself over the back of the couch. He heard laughing and a weak mew again. Kirara jumped from the floor onto the back of the couch glaring at Kurama with the 'how-dare-you-do-that-to-my-master' look. Yusuke peeked over the back of the couch right next to Kirara and looked at Kurama.

"AH! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE!" He stood up pointing his finger.

His finger got slapped by Kagome. "It's rude to point."

He pouted and looked at Kagome. "What are they doing in the house?"

"I let them stay until you awoke." Kagome said. "No more bloody battles in my yard next time got me!" She glared at him.

Yusuke gulped and backed away. "Gotcha."

"Utada you're whipped." Kuwabara said as he laughed. Kirara smirked as she snuck around Kuwabara. She jumped up and bit his butt. "OOOOOWWWW!!!!" His swung his butt from side to side trying to get her off.

"Kirara!" Yusuke said. She let go as Kuwabara swung his hip toward Yusuke. Flipping in the air, she landed in his outstretched hands.

"Hm..." Hiei walked to Yusuke. "Do you always have coughing fits like that?"

Yusuke put Kirara on his head and looked at Hiei. "I just didn't take my medicine." He smiled. "No worries."

"Oh that reminds me..." Kagome said putting her fingers to her lip. "You need to get more Nefertiri says you have no more."

"I don't have any at Fluffy's place either...dammit. And Nefertiri's dance is tonight." Yusuke ran his hand threw the side of his head. "God...Kagome can you cover for me tonight?"

"Yusuke...I don't think that will help. You promised Nefertiri." Kagome frowned. "Plus you were my ride. Sesshomaru's busy and Jaxxia is working late. Angel and Hagiri are like rabbits, you know I can't get a ride."

"Dammit!" Yusuke put a hand over his face. "I need my meds Kagome, you know that."

"I know..." Kagome said.

Kurama glanced at Hiei. 'Take his place fox, it would do us good to get closer to the woman. Easy to get answers.' Kurama nodded and looked at Kagome.

"If I may, I would like to substitute." Kurama said. Yusuke looked from Kurama to Kagome. His eyes told her that he didn't like it. Kagome frowned and shrugged. He sighed and reached up to grab Kirara.

"Fine," He replied as he tilted his head to the side. "I should get going if I want to try to make it back in time."

"Aren't you even going to say goodbye to your daughter?" Kuwabara asked with a frown. What kind of father was he to just disappear like that? He saw how upset Nefertiri was when she realized her father would have to leave to get his pills. He wondered how much Utada did for his kids.

"It's probably best that I don't. She'll try to get me to stay, if I do I'll go into another fit worse than the first." Yusuke replied as he set Kirara down on the ground. Kirara walked past Hiei out the open sliding door. "I'll be back as soon as possible."

Kagome nodded and hugged Yusuke. "Be careful..." She kissed his cheek as she pulled away. "You know the fastest way to get there, use it." Kagome said.

"Alright, just take care of yourself." Yusuke said. Kagome got the message. 'Be careful around them.'

"You best go Utada, you are burning daylight." Hiei said. Yusuke glared at the short demon before leaving the same way Kirara did. Damn, Hiei always pissed him off like that.

---

Kagome sighed as she put the last touch of her eyeshadow on. The dance was like a costume dance, so Kagome decided that she would go as Yusuke wished her to go. An angel. Her white wings were perfectly balanced on her back thanks to Angel herself. Her white dress shimmered with glitter as did her arms, neck, and face. Kagome's eyeshadow was a white shimmer as her lips were painted with a pale pink.

"My, my don't you look lovely!" Angel said from behind her. Kagome turned and looked at her.

"Thanks for coming over Angel." Kagome said as she stood.

"No problem, I love doing stuff like this."

"I thought for sure you and Hagiri had a night planned." The miko whispered as she headed out of her room with Angel in tow.

"I tired him out earlier today." The blonde grinned. Kagome sweatdropped as they climbed down the stairs.

"Well now, don't you look like a perfect goddess." Hagiri said as he raised the soda in greeting. On the couch next to him was Kurama. The red head stood and turned to Kagome. The young woman blinked as she stared at the detective. He was dressed in a fox mask. His outfit consisted of a white tunic over a long sleeve shirt. His pants were slightly baggy and cut off at the ankle leaving him in slippers. It was all white and it contrasted with the red markings on the mask.

Kagome had one word to describe that. "Wow..."

Kurama lifted his mask and scratched his cheek. "Angel was very insistent on this outfit."

"I wonder why..." Kagome raised an eyebrow and looked pointed at the blonde.

"Well an angel can't go without her fox servant now, can she?" Angel said. She quickly when to Hagiri and stole his coke while hiding behind him. "Anyway, the role of Prince Charming is filled and Nefertiri is already the Princess."

"Hey what's Susa?" Hagiri asked.

"Yakuza...actually....I took the outfit idea from Final Fantasy VII. I copied after Reno's clothing for the Turks, but only in black." Angel replied. Kagome raised an eyebrow.

"If I may ask, where is your daughter Hakuya?" Kurama asked looking at Kagome.

"Oh...ah....she's with Sesshomaru...her..." She hesitated. "Her father." She smiled at Kurama. The fox narrowed his eyes slightly. Her hesitation gave way to her lie.

"Daibo-chan?" Kagome turns to see Susa and Nefertiri on the stairs. Susa was dressed up in his black Reno outfit with his hand in his pocket. Nefertiri though...her dress was a jade green color and poofed out in the skirt. Angel had made it similar to a Cinderella dress, but the sleeves were different. The dress was a strapless, but had drapping sleeves off the shoulder. In essence, she looked beautiful.

"Damn Susa, you pull off the Yakuza look real good." Angel said as she put her chin on Hagiri's shoulder.

"Whatever..." Susa rolled his eyes. "This is going to be boring."

"Just because you can't kick someone's ass doesn't mean it's going to be boring." Kagome said with a small smile.

"Damn, he's just like his father." Hagiri smirked. Angel grinned and wrapped her arms around her lover's waist.

"Daibo-chan, may we get going?" Nefertiri asked as she lifted up her dress and headed to the door.

Kagome, Angel, and Hagiri gave each other meaningful looks. This was not lost on Kurama. Kagome soon sighed and agreed. "Yes, plus we got to figure out how we are going to fit into my car like this."

"Oh I want to see this." Angel said as she followed them out.

----

Susa sighed as he turned to see his sister sitting in a chair by herself. Dammit, he tried to coax her into a dance with himself or one of his friends, but was sadly rejected. He ran a hand through his hair. For the past two days, he remembered how Nefertiri was talking about this night. How their dad was going to be amazed by the decorations and whatnot. Shaking his head, Susa sighed again. Damn his father, he always screws up everything.

Kagome was having similar thoughts. She watched Nefertiri from the corner were she stood. The girl hasn't moved an inch. 'If only Yusuke was in well health, then he'd be here...' She thought as she put her fingers to her lips in thought.

Suddenly a cup of punch appeared in her sight. "Maybe a drink will ease your woes." Kagome eyes turned to see Kurama there with another cup in his other hand.

"Thank you..." Kagome said as she took the cup that she was being offered. She took a sip and then let her eyes drift back to her goddaughter.

"Does Yoshi do this often?" Kurama asked as he looked out of the corner of his eye to Kagome. His mask was lifted on top of his head as he drank some of his punch.

Kagome pulled the punch from her lips and let a breath out. "He is a good father really, but ever since his illness has been kicking up lately it has been difficult. With no mother and only the guidance of friends, the kids are depending more and more on their father's love."

"But he's in no shape to do what they wish of him." Kurama said as he took both their cups and set them aside.

"He hides the worst from them and gives them all the love he can." Kagome replied. "Yoshi's heart is in the right place, he just sometimes can't always give it out." Her companion looked at her. "He's been hurt once too many."

"What do you mean?"

"Yoshi's woman left him, his friends left him, and he was alone with twins. What do you think I mean?" She replied.

Kurama noticed the frown marring the young woman's face. "My lady, it seems I have upset you." He bowed as he put his mask back on. "May this servant ask the angel for a dance as forgiveness."

Kagome blinked before giggling. "Of course you may..." She felt herself being spun out into the dance floor. "Wow...won't your mate be jealous?" Kagome asked.

Kurama smirked as he danced with Kagome. "I see, so you know?"

"Not that hard, especial with the hints he's been giving." Kagome smiled. The fox blushed under his mask as the dance was cut off.

"What's going on?" Kurama asked.

"No idea..." Kagome looked up at the DJ who started to talk.

"Now, ladies and gents no disrespect but I've got a request for the Princess in a green dress to stand in the middle of the floor please?" Nefertiri blinked as the girls around her started to whisper. "Don't be shy, come on." She stood and walked onto the floor under the ball. "Now, there is a special surprise here for you...if you would just turn around."

Nefertiri didn't understand what was going on. None-the-less, she turned around as the spotlights focused on the door. The DJ put on a soft rock song as the door was pushed open. Nefertiri's eyes widened as she saw the person behind the door.

Yusuke smiled at his daughter as Kirara trotted out in front of him toward her. He was dressed in his black Prince Charming costume with gloves and boots. The whole nine yards. His hair was pulled back into a braid and his bangs covered the eye patch that covered his injured eye. He walked after Kirara toward his daughter.

"Princess, your Prince Charming has arrived." The DJ said softly as he put on a slow song.

"Daddy?" Nefertiri looked up at him as he got to her. Yusuke gave her a soft smile. He put a hand on her head for a moment before pulling it away.

"I promised you didn't I? When have I ever broken my promise?" He said. "Hell if I didn't make it back I had been prepared to have Angel and Hagiri set up a dance back at the shrine for you." Nefertiri's eyes began to water as she leapt into his arm hugging him. Yusuke smiled and hugged her back. "May I have this dance?" He asked.

She pulled back and wiped her tears. "Yea...." Yusuke grabbed his daughter's hand and twirled her into position as they began to dance.

Kirara smiled and pranced around their feet. They were locked in a special father-daughter dance, just for her. Nefertiri smiled. Her father never let her down. They danced in a swirl of black and green. With only the grace of a demon blood that blessed them.

Susa smirked. So the damn idiot made it. He looked over to see Kagome looking at him. They both grinned before looking at the doorway that was still opened.

Angel and Hagiri stood there with big smiles on their faces. Yusuke had arrived at the house in a hurried mess. Angel was able to get his costume together and do his hair and face as Hagiri got the car ready. In the car, she had groomed Kirara into perfection. She even gave the kitten her own little medal around her neck.

They looked at Kagome and waved slightly. Angel gave thumbs up and then promptly leaned on Hagiri's shoulder. "Tired?" He asked. Angel nodded slowly. "Too tired for other activities I have planned?"

Angel's head perked up and looked into Hagiri's eyes. There was a mischievous glint sparkled in Hagiri's dark purple eyes. She smirked. "If we leave now, perhaps I'll be able to shake off my tiredness."

"Then let's have Prince Charming find his way home." Hagiri said as he pulled Angel toward their car.

Nefertiri smiled at her father with a shine of glee in her eye. It was times like this that she knew that waiting for her dad were worth it.

---

End of the chapter.