Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Intangible ❯ Past Acquaintance ( Chapter 14 )

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.Fourteen.

 

Another week passed by uneventfully. I was more than recovered by this time. In fact, I was bouncing all over the place like some kind of Easter bunny on steroids. School had started again unfortunately, and I made a promise to Kurama to go. I really didn't know how I managed to get suckered into that deal but I did—and there was nothing I could do.

 

Kurama could be really scary when he wanted to.

 

I had almost the same reputation in college as I did in high school and junior high. I mean, honestly, I didn't do anything. They just heard about my delinquency in my younger days and assumed I was still exactly the same. Only the teachers really looked past the rumors—and these teachers were probably the first decent ones I ever had since…ever. Of course I still got on their nerves when I ditched classes and showed up a month later—but I impressed them with my amazing knowledge in return. It wasn't like I was dumb or anything. I was just too lazy to answer questions on exams.

 

So there I was one day wandering around through the library in my school, looking for anything worth reading. I mean I loved my manga—but sometimes even I could crave something else to read. Finally I spotted a book that looked interesting and sat down to read. I had heard about it from Keiko and well, she said she liked it so it was worth a chance, right? I glanced at the cover.

 

“`The Odyssey',” I murmured curiously. It was a heavy book. I flipped to the first page and began reading.

 

Two hours later I was being booted out by the librarian. I decided to take the book home with me and continued reading it while on my train ride. It was an interesting little piece of fiction. I mean hell, it was written by a blind man so that in itself deserved some credit. But I liked the story a lot more than I originally would have thought. I was never all that into Greek mythology but this Homer guy really did write it well. And it wasn't all about gods and monsters.

 

I was so engrossed with the book that I failed to notice when the train stopped. I still continued reading all the way through up until the lights in the car went out as well. This time I did look up.

 

“What the fuck?” I cursed.

 

There were a few people sharing my car and they all looked mildly confused—some downright panicked. I frowned slightly and put away the book, waiting for something.

 

That something came in the shape of our conductor shuffling into our car with hands raised.

 

“Ladies and gents, we apologize for the inconvenience. It seems the electrical rail outside has sort of died out on us,” he announced. Immediately people began to protest loudly. He looked around nervously. “I assure you, though, we will have you back on your way as soon as possible. We have contacted emergency workers and they are on their way.”

 

I arched an eyebrow. Wow, it wasn't every day I got to be stuck in a dead train. I smiled crookedly and took in the astonished—somewhat angry—expressions on the rest of the passengers' faces. It was kind of fun.

 

The conductor then left our car and headed down to the next one. I couldn't help but feel a little sorry for the poor guy. He was relatively young and didn't look like he was cut out for speaking in front of people. After he left, though, the people were still grumbling and I got annoyed. What was wrong with these people? It wasn't like they meant for the rail to break down on them. I wondered about this for a while before realizing what I was doing. I was defending the train staff. God, I had really grown too soft.

 

Muttering out my disgust I decided to walk through the cars—just for curiosity's sake.

 

No one paid me any mind until I entered my fourth car. I was near the end and about to step into the next car when a voice called my attention.

 

“Yusuke?”

 

I looked to the side and saw only one person sitting in the corner, a shock of red hair still noticeable in the dim light. I nearly did a double take and leaned in closer to the figure's face. “Kurama?” I exclaimed incredulously.

 

The same look of surprise was sprawled on his face before he smiled back gently. “I wasn't sure if it was you,” he commented.

 

I plopped down on the empty seat beside him. “What are you doing here?” I asked in the same amazed tone. Of all people to meet in a stalled train underground—it was destiny!

 

I then promptly rebuked myself for that retarded logic.

 

“I was on my way home from school,” he answered.

 

“So late?”

 

“We went to watch a movie.”

 

I stared at him for a moment. “Dude, you have to tell me where your school is,” I ordered.

 

Kurama laughed lightly. “It's for my class, Yusuke—International Studies. The movie was foreign,” he said.

 

“That's still better than my school!”

 

“And you? I didn't know your classes ended so late.”

 

I scratched my chin. “Well, they don't. I spent pretty much the entire day at the library,” I admitted.

 

Kurama arched an eyebrow. “Interesting, but what about your other classes?” he asked.

 

I laughed and shrugged carelessly. “Hey, you told me to go to school—you didn't tell me to go to all my classes. And I only skipped out on one. There's this really good book that I found and it totally blew me over so I pretty much forgot about everything else. Here!” I explained quickly before whipping out the worn paperback out of my bag.

 

Kurama looked at it for a moment. “I never thought of you as the classics type,” he commented curiously.

 

“Me neither,” I agreed before laughing.

 

Suddenly the train jerked and I went sprawling over to the floor, as did quite a few others. I looked up and saw Kurama, who was still posed just as elegantly as he was before the train decided to have a seizure. Damn fox. I glared darkly at him just as the car lights flickered on and off. Kurama threw me a mildly surprised look.

 

“That was strange,” he said.

 

I grunted. “Yeah, it was strange how you managed to stay in your seat,” I muttered.

 

Kurama stared at me calmly, but I could just see the grin hiding behind his gaze. And just as I finally resumed my original position the train sparked back to life. The dimness in the car gave way to a piercing brightness that had me cursing to no ends.

 

“You really should refrain from swearing so much.”

 

“Fuck, shit, and fucking hell!”

 

I was only teasing Kurama. He knew it. And all he could do was stare at me exasperatedly. I liked that look on him. It made him seem more human. I grinned maniacally as the train started moving again, with much applause from the rest of the passengers. “Are you trying to apply for sainthood or something, Kurama?” I inquired.

 

“You of all people should know by now that sainthood is quite an impossible goal for me,” he replied lightly.

 

I arched an eyebrow and shrugged. “Anything's possible,” I remarked with a grin.

 

“Why Yusuke, I've never seen this side of you.”

 

“Shut up.”

 

But I was still smiling. Kurama always did have that effect on me. He was calm, wise, and just pure strange. He was happy one moment and then the next nostalgic. I never did understand that part of him. He went through a lot in his past, I know, but even after all this time he was still regretful. I would say that he's made up for his past. He would say he could never make up for his mistakes. Despite what others think Kurama could be extremely hard on himself when no one was looking. It was like he would never allow himself to be happy for too long. I didn't get it. And I don't even think anyone else realized this. He hid himself very well and it was only through my near obsessive watching of him did I catch a glimpse of this darkness.

 

And again I wondered if being with Hiei would remedy this. Hiei was Hiei. I couldn't really imagine him comforting Kurama when he was feeling down. But then again, maybe in love Hiei was different.

 

“Why Hiei?”

 

Kurama looked at me suddenly. I could tell my question surprised him—hell, it surprised me. It just came out. I guess it was because I was wondering if Hiei was really right for Kurama.

 

“He understands me well,” came Kurama's soft reply.

 

I blinked and looked at him. Kurama's eyes were hidden from me. I hated it when he did that. “But he's so…Hiei,” I remarked, cocking my head to the side. I didn't know why I was being so persistent in this matter. It wasn't like I wanted to hear what was so special about Hiei that I didn't have. But in a sense, I wanted to know what it was that Kurama saw in him that I couldn't fulfill. Maybe it was my masochistic attitude—but I just needed to know.

 

Kurama finally looked at me. His gaze was soft and he smiled slightly. “He knows my past and he knows my present. And he knows how to handle both—something that not even I can do at times,” he said quietly.

 

For a while we sat in silence. I faced away from him and was staring at the window before me, watching the scenery pass us by in a dreamlike fashion. I knew I wouldn't like the answer. And yet I was still dumb enough to ask. Call me headstrong, call me hopeful, but I was still just a plain dimwit. Now I could see why Kurama wanted Hiei. The latter was the only one who knew all his faces—and the only one who knew how to snap him back to reality if needed. But the simplest answer was this: Kurama wanted Hiei because he loved him. And that was really all the reason he needed.

 

Who was I to think that I could ever stand a chance?

 

“Well, Hiei is a cold little bastard, but I guess I can see where you're going at,” I said.

 

I felt Kurama's eyes land on me. I couldn't bear to face him, though. “You don't disapprove then?” he inquired.

 

I narrowed my eyes and looked at him curiously. “Why would I disapprove? I'm helping you out aren't I?” I asked, a little more harshly than I intended.

 

Kurama turned his gaze to the floor. “You helped me because I asked. I just wanted to give you the full explanation,” he said.

 

“Love is love. I don't need any other reason than that.”

 

My words surprised him. He scrutinized my face, reading so deeply into my eyes that I had to look away momentarily. Forcing on a smile I leaned back in my seat. “There were a whole bunch of reasons why I loved Keiko but in the end they didn't matter. All I needed to know was that I loved her for herself. Nothing anyone could say or do would change that,” I murmured.

 

The mystery of love was something that would forever remain a secret.

 

“Profound words, Yusuke.”

 

I looked at Kurama and broke into a wide grin. “Well, of course! I'm the most profound person in the universe. Didn't you know that already?” I announced proudly.

 

Kurama smiled back at me. “There are those that would beg to differ,” he pointed out.

 

“If you mean Kuwabara, don't. I doubt he even know what profound means.”

 

“Harsh.”

 

“Well, I can be that, too.”

 

We shared a grin for several seconds. When the train lurched into a station, two more people left and all that remained in the car was Kurama and I. After a few minutes I stood up and stretched, eyeing Kurama wickedly.

 

“The joys of having an entire car to yourself,” I commented airily.

 

He threw me a suspicious look and I laughed.

 

“Live a little, Kurama. There's no one here watching. I once ran across all the seats. Keiko was with me. She nearly pummeled me to death, but it was great fun. I tried to get her to do a dance by the pole but she wouldn't have it.”

 

Kurama shook his head, smiling helplessly. “You really are reckless, Yusuke,” he said with a chuckle.

 

I smirked and crossed my arms. “Like you've never been reckless,” I remarked dryly.

 

For a moment Kurama's laughing gaze dulled into one of grimness. I frowned slightly as I realized that he was starting another one of his trips down memory lane. I sighed wearily and walked over to him, snapping my fingers in front of his face. Kurama blinked and looked at me in surprise.

 

“Hey, no more thinking of the past. It's over and done with. Youko is just a memory, not who you are now. Savvy?”

 

My words of comfort must have stunned Kurama because he continued staring at me like I was nothing he had ever seen before. Finally, I placed my hands on my hips in a haughty manner. “Savvy?” I repeated with more force.

 

Kurama then smiled at me. “Thank you, Yusuke,” he said humbly.

 

I gave an aggravated sigh. “You foxes are so troublesome. Besides, it's not like your past is going to come and attack you—”

 

I hadn't realized before but the train had been stationed for an unusually long amount of time. And when I did realize, it was all due to the flying dagger that came through the open doors. I caught it with my hand automatically and stared at it dumbfoundedly before a strange figure landed in the doorway menacingly. I stared at him in amazement before looking at Kurama, whose expression told me that he knew this person.

 

“Okay, so forget what I just said,” I remarked, dropping the dagger to adapt a more formal stance. “Friend of yours, Kurama?”

 

The youkai was tall. His hair was a bizarre mix of blue and orange streaks and his amber eyes glittered coldly. On his pointed ears were a series of decorative piercing to which I stared at with some fascination. I should have been a little more wary considering the daggers he held in his hands but I somehow felt that he was not as much of a threat as he appeared to be.

 

“So you have taken to living with the humans. I never thought it possible,” he began in a distorted tone. It seemed to be mixed with half wonder and half grief.

 

“Ryu,” murmured Kurama.

 

The youkai gave a bitter laugh. “So you remember me?” he inquired, his voice broken.

 

I stared at him in confusion. He seemed to want to hurt Kurama, but his eyes and tone of voice said otherwise. He appeared torn—traumatized—by some kind of internal conflict. I looked to Kurama for some sort of clarification, but his attention was focused solely on Ryu. His expression shocked me, though. It held such a great sadness that I had never seen before on him and so much remorse that I just wanted to reach over and hug him. Instinct told me to remain still, though. This was something far beyond my reach.

 

“I never forget anyone from my past, Ryu.”

 

“You've done one hell of a job at hiding. But maybe I simply wasn't trying. It seemed like whenever you came to the Makai I always missed you. But not anymore. I decided to finally come to you.”

 

Kurama began to move towards him, but Ryu stepped back quickly, as if he was some kind of disease. When I studied him, I noticed that there were tears in his eyes.

 

“You took my family away, Kurama. You took them away,” he whispered hoarsely.

 

Kurama froze, pain tracing every feature of his face.

 

“I followed you. I followed you to the very end! And you betrayed me! You used me like some kind of puppet. Was I that meaningless to you? You could have left my family alone—or at least killed me with them. But then you left. You left and never gave me an explanation.”

 

Ryu's words chilled me. There was desperation evident in his tone—a pain and desire for the truth that was palpable. I felt sympathy rise from within me for his wretchedness. No one deserved to live like this.

 

“It was a mistake. Your family was never supposed to be involved…”

 

“Lies,” broke in Ryu, his eyes glowing with renewed vigor. He no longer possessed that torn expression. All that existed was rage. “All lies, Youko. And now you will pay with the same kind of pain you caused me.”

 

I steadied myself in preparation for a fight, but surprisingly he didn't attack. He merely turned and left the car with a mighty jump into the distance before disappearing altogether. Leaving us with his cryptic words, I turned to face Kurama questioningly.

 

“What did he mean?” I asked. Kurama was staring at the floor, trapped in some sort of emotional breakdown. I reached over and placed a hand on his shoulder hesitantly. “Kurama?”

 

He suddenly looked up in alarm. “Mother,” was the word I managed to catch before he ran out of the car in a dash.

 

I followed him without further thought and together we ran past the streets in a wild rush. Kurama didn't say a single word to me, but I knew what it was that tormented his mind. Ryu's threat came back to me like some kind of sick reminder and I prayed that what I was thinking wouldn't come to pass. When we reached Kurama's neighborhood, it was eerily silent. The lampposts were lit on and all the houses were dark. I spotted his house easily and felt uncertainty lodged in my stomach. Kurama ran to his house and unlocked the doors with a swiftness that rivaled Hiei's. I followed quietly, already fearing the worst.

 

“Mother!”

 

Kurama's stepfather and stepbrother were away on a fishing trip. But that didn't explain the uncanny silence that befell the house. It wasn't that late and Kurama's mother generally always stayed awake until her son came home. I glanced around the room as Kurama headed up the stairs. I knew already, though, that he would find no one. I closed my eyes and tried to imagine how I would feel if my own mom was taken away without me knowing. I would probably feel anger like none other.

 

When Kurama came back down the stairs, though, I could see no anger in his eyes. I saw grief, turmoil, anguish, but no rage. His situation was different from my imagined scenario. His kidnapper had been acting on vengeance—and Kurama, it seemed, thought his reasons to be justified.

 

“He took her,” he said in a tone I never wanted to hear from him.

 

I laid my hand on his shoulder bracingly. “We can find her!” I whispered urgently. Kurama was quickly falling into despair and I needed to make sure that he wouldn't. “We can call the others. They'll be here in a sec!”

 

I then stood up, ready to call up Kuwabara and everyone else on the phone, when Kurama's hand latched onto my wrist firmly. I looked down at him in surprise. He was sitting at the foot of his staircase, looking at the floor with dead eyes.

 

“I don't want them to know,” he said flatly.

 

I kneeled down beside Kurama, trying to look at him in the eye, but he wouldn't let me. Whatever he was feeling was lost before me and I grew more and more worried with each passing second. I had seen Kurama down before—but never like this. The way he was now was like he had lost all hope.

 

“You don't deserve this,” I said to him.

 

He remained silent and out of my panic of losing him entirely, I did what I would normally have done to Kuwabara whenever he lost his composure: I punched him. Kurama fell back against the wall and I wondered for a moment if I had hit too hard. But I disregarded that when I saw him look at me finally.

 

“Look, Mr. I-Deserve-This-Because-Of-What-I-Did-In-The-Past, it isn't over yet! I don't care what you did to Ryu, but you need to stop martyring yourself. Revenge is never a good thing and your mother doesn't deserve to be punished. You got me?”

 

It seemed I had managed to get through to Kurama because he nodded slightly as he stood up, rubbing his jaw. I felt a little guilty as I watched him do this.

 

“I still don't want the others to know.”

 

I grinned stupidly. “Fine! Then it'll be the two of us! More than enough I think. Let's go!” I exclaimed, grabbing his hand and dragging him out of the door. “Can you track him down?”

 

Kurama closed his eyes for a moment. Though I had gotten better at tracking down youki in the past few years, I still left it to everyone else. I was more for kicking ass.

 

“He could have killed her already,” murmured Kurama suddenly.

 

I looked at him. It was funny how Kurama always assumed the best when it came to everyone else, but when it came to himself he was as optimistic as a kid about to get a root canal. I was getting more than frustrated with him—I was getting downright pissed off at his hopelessness.

 

“Don't assume the worst yet, lover boy. This is your family we're talking about. I would have thought you of all people would continue fighting for her until the very end.”

 

“I would have if I hadn't felt that I deserved it.”

 

To this I could say nothing more.

 

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TBC

 

Kurama's turn to angst now. >.<