Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ My Kitsune ❯ Chapter 9

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

I decided to join this stupid game because I
understand how important it is for us to maintain our
friendship with these people. Earlier on I caught
Kurama staring at me, I looked back at him and
wondered why he was staring. I shrugged to assure him,
to let him know that I don't mind and he had given me
a small smile, then he looked away. I wanted to reach
out and ask him why his head was full of many grey
shifting thoughts that made his energy swirl around in
agitation.

Something is distarcting him, what could it be? He
wasn't even focused enough to listen to Koenma's
explanation of the game's rules.

I could see his relief when that moron Kuwabara
repeated the rules. Sometimes having a friend with
slow mental pick-up is useful.

He joined the game and they were surprised when I sat
with them to play. Almost half an hour into the game I
am down to my last 4 cards, all of them are sixes.
Yusuke stared at the 7 card pile of 9's on the table
his hands are pretty full and he looked at the cards
like he wanted to burn holes into them.

From the onset I knew this game is going to be easy.
I wanted to laugh at them, and their gulliability. I
don't need my Jagan to see the cards they deal and the
cards on their hands all I have to do is look at the
reflection of the cards on their eyes.

Didn't they know I have superior eyesight?

Kuwabara besides me and his sister Shizuru was having
no problems either, they're using the other method I
didn't bother with. Sensing the lie within the spoken
words. But I have the least amount of cards and I
will win this round.

Yusuke growled besides me and glared at Kurama. He
smiled sweetly at Yusuke just to annoy him. "Okay,
dammed Kurama has too good a poker face," he mumbled
as he pulled out a card from his hand and laid it face
down on the pile "I'm adding another 9, that makes 8
nines."

I looked at his eyes and saw that his only 2 was
missing. I smirked at him "Call, that's a truth."

"What!?!" he shouted "Fuck! Koenma are you sure these
cards are psychic proof?!" he gathered up the pile and
groaned as Botan laughed and Kuwabara pointed at him
as he jeered. Koenma poured him a shot.

"Oi Urameshi, do you need a hand with that? Looks
like your having trouble holding on to your cards."
Kuwabara jeered.

"I'll kill you Kuwabara," Yusuke grumbled as he took
his shot and tried his best to arranged his cards. Out
of the 8 there was only 2 nines and his 2. If I play
this right I'll win. And since Yusuke lost it was my
turn.

I laid down 2 of my cards "2 sixes." I said simply my
other cards on my knee. Shizuru who had decide to sit
between me and Kuwabara to make sure we don't kill
each other looked at her hand and laid out 2 deuces,
hn, this is fun but too tiresome.

"2 more to the pile." she said being as vague as she
could, she knew her brother is listening to the lie in
her words.

"Another six." Kuwabara chimed in putting in a 4 of
hearts.

Koenma readily put in a queen of diamonds "and
another." he said to Botan who threw in her ace of
clubs "and another." and Kurama smiled at her as he
put another ace in "this makes 8 sixes."

Yusuke groaned and decided to play safe he put his 2
down "that makes 9 sixes."

I put the rest of my cards down "2 more."

I saw Shizuru raise her eyebrows at me. I have her
trapped, I say as little as possible in as vague
manner as I could to keep her off balanced. She has no
sixes and no deuces. She has to lie or call it, I
looked at her squarely then grabbed a handful of
chocolate Pocky, my hands are free now, I can have all
the chocolate, let them have the other flavors.

"No way, that's a bluff." she said.

I smiled "Kampai."

"No!!!" she cried as she turned over my last pair of
sixes on the pile.

"Hiei were you lying when you said you can't read the
cards?" Koenma asked.

"Your accusing me of lying in a game that revolves
around lying?" I asked back. "I wasn't, I can't see
through your cards." and it was the truth. I stood up
and went to the bar fridge to get my third bottle of
beer. No one disputed my claim to it as I sat down on
the sofa behind Kurama.

Yusuke was royally pissed and wanted the game to
continue he hates to loose. Technically the game was
over, but Kuwabara's just too good at pressing
Yusuke's buttons.

3 rounds later Kuwabara won, Yusuke's hand was not so
full now it was Koenma having trouble with all his
cards and Botan. I sat down on the floor again so I
can reach the pocky's better I ran out of the
chocolate ones and decided the green ones were not
that bad. I leaned on Kurama and he smiled at me.

Yukina excused herself as she spilled a bag of
chocolate covered twisted things on the snack bowl
"Hiei-sama, I'm sure you will like these too, they're
chocolate covered pretzels." she said to me with a
slight bow.

"Domo." I said and tried one, she was right. I was
eating it one after the other, someone pushed the bowl
closer to me, I nodded at Botan who had a handful on a
paper napkin in front of her. So, it's her favorite
too.

It was the chocolate I couldn't resist. Beer and
Chocolate, if this party turns into a disaster I at
least know that beer and chocolates taste great, the
pizza was good too but not as good as chocolate. I
wonder how that vodka taste like. Yusuke's red from
it, he couldn't concentrate, and I can smell a higher
concentration of the alcohol stuff Kurama was talking
about.

Kurama will win in 2 rounds if he plays this well, I
was getting sleepy though. I drank the sweet
refreshing beer and propped my head against his arm. I
hadn't meant to close my eyes but I was so sleepy...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hiei has eaten all the chocolate Pocky, and is now
popping mini pretzels, he seems to handle the alcohol
well, and I was surprised he won. I think I know how
he did it, but since he's one seat away from me even
if he can read the reflection on my eyes it dosen't
affect me. It was a flawless game nevertheless it was
as if he could read Yusuke's mind. But Yusuke would
have complained if he felt Hiei prying.

I was surprised when he leaned on me, he does know
this isn't normal behavior. But it made my heart swell
because he was unafraid and uninhibited, he showed our
friends that he liked me and trusted me. But then
again he could be drunk...

He's warm against me, his eyes blinked sleepily and I
smiled at him I decided I want out of this game.
Trust Koenma to find a card game that takes forever to
play.

The small hand that kept reaching for the pretzels
slowed down and then stopped completely. I was down to
my last 2 cards when I realized Hiei was asleep. I
took his half finished bottle from him and gently laid
his head on my lap.

"He looks so sweet and innocent when he's asleep."
Botan said with a sigh.

I smiled and decided it was no use denying it
anymore, Hiei had done it by falling asleep on me.
"Yes, isn't he?" I brushed my free hand over his
temple.

"It's true then?" Kuwabara asked.

I blushed, this wasn't something I wanted to discuss
to the whole wide world, but I answered honestly "I
don't know yet, he's new at this." the clock said it
was almost midnight and the fact that he was still out
despite the talk and the attention meant that he was
really out cold. I told them my observation.

"So too much alcohol and he passes out, is he suppose
to be doing something else? I mean what happens when a
fire demon has too much alcohol?" Yusuke asked.

"Well in my expirience they loose their temper easy
then go on a burning rampage. Hiei isn't a pure fire
demon though." I said being careful not to say too
much, Yukina and Kuwabara are present. "I should put
him to bed." I put my cards in my breast pocket, and
got ready to lift him.

Yusuke stood up and swayed on his feet "Whoa shit!"
He propped himself against my head then he sat back
down "Okay, Kuwabara ask Keiko where the futons are,
put them out here." he said indicating the spot with
slack wristed accuracy.

"I know where they are." he said as he went to fetch
them. He swayed a little but generally stayed on his
feet.

"Thanks guys." I said to no one and everyone.

"What for?" Yusuke asked, his eyes were bloodshot and
bleary. He is drunk but he can hold his drink well.

"Nothing, just missed all of you." I said lowering my
head so they wouldn't see me blush.

"Kurama-chan." Botan reached over the table to lay a
hand over my shoulder "Your drunk." she said her hands
were full of cards and I could tell she's in a worse
state than I am. We had decided to let the girls have
just half a shot, but since Botan is holding half the
deck, I'm actually surprised she's still awake.

I chuckled "Congratulations Koenma-sama that is one
nasty drinking game you invented, maybe it should end
when one of you finally passes out?"

"One of us? Your still in the game Kurama. You have 2
cards left. Where were we?" the demi-god is
surprisingly tolerant to alcohol, he's had more shots
that Yususke but he's perfectly alright, despite the
redness of his cheeks.

Kuwabara laid the futon out in front of the veranda
and helped me carefully arranged Hiei on it. He didn't
even stir. I checked his pulse and his breathing. They
were both strong and even, I shook my head. So if I
want Hiei out all I have to do is give him beer, that
information will be useful in the near future.

I threw my final cards into the pile and Koenma ended
up with them. It was a long game and they decided to
just count who won by the number of cards left on
their hands. Koenma lost big time and he vowed
vengence on the hapless demon he confiscated the deck
from.

So we hung-out, traded stories, poked fun at each
other, laughed, teased and generally renewed our bonds
of friendship. I had to sing twice at Karaoke to
appease the grim reaper, and Yusuke is a surprisingly
good singer, even though he deliberately murdered the
lyrics. Koenma danced on the coffee table to a lewd
song Kuwabara sang just because we asked him. And Hiei
lip synched a rap song in his sleep.

That Kuwabara!

We were looking for a new Karaoke CD and the T.V.
defaults into the local MTV channel when the player is
empty. DMX came on with his hip hop single 'What's my
name' and Kuwabara's face lit up like a kid on
Christmas day. He sat Hiei up carefully despite my
protests and braced him against his chest, he was
really out because he didn't even stir. He then held
the mic under Hiei's lips, Yusuke got the idea and
joined in. I was outnumbered and out maneuvered.

I had tears and stitches from laughing too hard.
Koenma was in tears on the floor his fuukuman all
dirty rolling on the carpet with him. The girls
squealed and cheered saying things fans say to their
idols on the stage.

They made Hiei nod to the beat, one of his hand
under (Yususke's commands) did the gestures while his
other hand (under Kuwabara's control) held the mic
right up to his lips. That's what you get for falling
asleep too early in this crowd...

Understand that this is just fun between friends. In
no way did that diminish our respect for Hiei, in fact
I believe that endeared him to the girls. Hiei is too
reserved sometimes, alright most of the time, he feels
he doesn't belong with us because we are either human
or half human. Add to that the fact that he's
uncomfortable when it comes to matters of affection,
and you've got a dear friend you want to hug or punch
on the shoulder and can't because he has erected these
barriers between you.

I understood Yusuke's and Kuwabara's wanting to take
advantage of Hiei's helplessness to make him have fun
with us, but I took Hiei from those two lunatics
before the next video came on. I tucked him away from
their line of sight and declared my ownership of him
just to threaten them from touching him again.

Of course the girls squealed.

I had so much fun though. I wish Hiei was awake so he
could share in it. It would have been perfect, but
then again we would not have seen him do DMX.

It was around 1 in the morning when Keiko bade us
good night. After some whinning from Kuwabara and
Botan, who were hogging the microphone, we finally
agreed to call it a night.

I wanted to go home and bring Hiei with me but it
would be downright disturbing if my mother saw me
carrying a man in my arms up to my bed...

Yusuke saved me when he offered me a beer to wash the
vodka down and laid face down on another futon, he
said "Kurama stay the night, Kuwabara is staying
because I'm not letting him drive like that. Koenma
wanna stick around? There's something I want to know
concerning the Makai and this might interest you too."
Yukina excused herself as she handed us our pilows.

"I suppose I could, I'm not expected till morning.
Thanks Yukina."

"Hang-out then sleepover... aren't we a bit too old
for sleepovers?" I said as I sat on coffee table
facing the futons.

"Greeaaat girl's you can have my room, we're camping
out here. Kurama," He yawned hugely, and patted the
futon besides him which lay next to Hiei who was now
making baby snores. Kuwabara returned from Yusuke's
room with several blankets, he threw us one each,
turned all but one light off, then claimed the longest
couch for himself. Koenma laid belly down on the other
couch, I had no choice but to take the other futon on
the floor.

"Okay, Koenma have you heard any funny business from
the Makai?" Yusuke began in a voice that drawled and
slurred.

"Yusuke you are obviousely inebriated. I doubt if
you'll remember anything of what Koenma will say." I
said I lay on my back looking at the ceiling. The
vodka buzz was telling me to close my eyes and go to
sleep.

"Yeah your right," he yawned again "Just got me
worried, that's all."

"Why is something suppose to be happening?" Koenma
said his beautiful hazel eyes half mast.

"I dunno, I just want to know what's happening there"
Yusuke murmured trying to focus. I looked at Yusuke
who was in a white tank top he removed his shirt
earlier during the game.He's on his belly still and I
wasn't so sure about his state, I had asked him to
keep my involvement in this a secret.

"Well, not much, the 3 year truce is almost over, we
are all worried." Koenma sighed "I have to put up more
effective barriers between the worlds and find those
little escape holes, I have a couple weeks worth of
paperwork backlog, my dad will be home in 3 days, he's
going to punish me if he sees my in tray, and here I
am hanging out. Yep lots of work for me ."

"I'm going to the Makai in a week, I'll take a week
off and see what's going on myself." Yusuke turned
over and looked at me "So you and Hiei are out of here
tommorrow?"

"Yes, we have a 10 am flight." I said my eyes closing
down on me. "Thanks again for the guy you recommended
Yusuke."

"Ssnoprblm." he said "Damn Hiei, I'm never playing
cards with him again. It's like he knows all my
cards." he said scratching his sides.

"I'm curious too but he's out." I said because I'm
not sure about my theory "You have work tommorrow?"

"Uh-huh."

"Kurama you going to USA?" Kuwabara asked

"Aa."

"I want a football jersey okay? A New York Giants
Jersey and old issue All Stars."

"I don't know that man." Yususke glared at Kuwabara,
embarrased by his friend's request.

I chuckled.

"Well when you guys come home you'll definetly bring
souvenirs for us, this way I get what I want ne?" he
reasoned.

"Of course Kuwabara." I said "A New York Giants
Jersey and Coverse All Stars."

"Kuwabara you have a very thick face." Yususke
remarked

"The thicker the tougher." he said with a goofy grin.

"What about you Yusuke? Anything you want in
particular?" I asked.

"No, you shouldn't-" he began but I cut him off.

"Don't refuse me, that's rude." He smirked at me as I
used his own words at him "Besides, Kuwabara's right,
this way you get what you want and that saves me the
guesswork."

"Hmmm, US?" he turned over on his side facing me "I
want an authentic cowboy hat, you know, the black,
dusty, old kind you see in the cowboy movies? Looks
really cool." I can see his eyes in the semi darkness
sparkling. There's something about talking in the semi
darkness that I find... disturbing. I don't know, I
don't like semi darkness in general, I feel safe in
complete darkness, but... I'm just glad Yusuke and
Hiei are here. They make me feel safe.

"Black huh? Bad guy hat. That's nice. Koenma?" I
asked.

"Huh? What?" He asked wiping drool from his lips as
he looked around confused.

I chuckled not even bothering to hide it now, and
Kuwabara snickered.

"What?" Yusuke asked glomping his pillow.

"Koenma was drooling on your couch." Kuwabara replied
still snickering.

"Shut up Kuwabara you don't know anything." The
Reikai prince looked up from his pillow and said
proudly "I wasn't drooling on the couch, I was
drooling on the pillow."

"Awww man, that is so gross." Yusuke muttered as I
broke down laughing, I covered my mouth because I was
getting too loud. I can see Yusuke shaking his head
but his smile is unmistakable.

"Oh, sorry, your right, big diference." Kuwabara
nodded sagely "I should get my facts straight first
before I speak out."

"Is that pillow mine of Keiko's? Dammit if that's my
pillow Koenma I'll make you handwash that." Yusuke
muttered turning his head away from me to look up at
Koenma.

He sniffed the pillow "I don't know Yusuke smells
pretty clean." He ignored Yusuke's attempts at
identifying the pillow his elbows were on and told me
"On a serious note Kurama, I'm sure you remember the
rules of living and interacting with human's right?"

"Koenma." I said chiding him for even asking me
something I lived and breathed for more than 15 years.

"Well, make sure you guys don't get into trouble," He
covered his mouth to yawn "Take care of Hiei." he
added.

"I will, you don't have to tell me that."

"Keh, I thought you swung that way." Yusuke said
abandoning his efforts to extract the pillow from the
Junior lord of the underworld. He laid back down and
looked at me instead "Shit man, if I'd known earlier I
would have made advances." I blushed, I felt my entire
face go hot."

"Damn, I don't know that man." Kuwabara said and
Koenma laughed. I tried not to but failed, I covered
my mouth laughing at Yusuke's bold faced declaration.

"Huh?" he looked at us "Oh shit. I said that aloud?"
He pushed his face into his pillows "Sorry Kurama it's
the vodka talking." he took a peek at me and he was
blushing. He looked sweet.

I reached over to him still chuckling and gave him a
back scratch "That's okay, at least I know you like
me."

"Ohhhh, that feels good." he said aching into my hand
" I love Keiko very much you understand, but I've
always admired you, down, scratch lower, hmmmmm that's
it."

"Hey how come he gets a back scratch?" Kuwabara
complained.

"Because Yusuke proposed to me and I have to refuse
him. This softens the blow a little." I answered
smiling at Yusuke who was the picture of bliss.

"Neways, would have been fun," he sighed "I hope you
and Hiei have a great time together, you two are just
perfect for each other."

"See Kuwabara? It works. He even gave us his
blessings." I stopped scratching.

"Hey! Did I tell you to stop?" Yusuke complained.

I smiled innocently at him "But I dumped you
already." he grinned and shook his head.

"I respect you a lot, I'd rather have you as my best
friend than loose you to a one night stand." He looked
at me and I can see that he was serious. He reached
out and touched my cheek with the pads of his fingers
before he sighed and withdrew.

"So Yusuke, how long have you had a crush on Kurama?"
Koenma asked all of a sudden.

"I'll answer that if you'll answer first Koenma." he
asked back. Apparently, drinking dosen't dull Yusuke's
wit.

Koenma grunted and lowered his head I had no doubt he
was blushing, I can almost hear him wishing he never
opened his mouth.

"You guys are freaking me out." Kuwabara said "Am I
the only straight guy around here? First Kurama's gay,
then Yusuke's bi, then Koenma's ... what? Gay? Bi?
Aren't you suppose to get married and continue the
kami line or something?"

Koenma buried his face on his pillow and groaned.

Time to save Kuwabara from the wrath of the gods. I
turned away from Yusuke and faced Hiei "I wonder if he
is..." Koenma must be blessing my name right about
now. I can see his small face highlighted by the
yellow light of the lamp, where Yusuke's were in
shadows, Hiei can be clearly seen.

His face is smoothed into the peacefulness of sleep,
no trace of guile, hate or anger in his features, he
looked a child in bed content and happy after a good
story and a glass of warm milk. It's his eyes that
carry his age, you look into them and see the adult
hiding behind the child's mask.

"Did you see how he listened to Kurama about the
beer?" Yusuke snorted in disbelief " I swear he was
ready to bring his pet out to make sure he gets more."

"And the way he leaned on you and slept on your
shoulder." Koenma added glad the spotlight had moved
from him.

"He trusts me." I said simply.

"Does he know yet? I mean-" Yussuke asked.

"I feel the same way you feel towards me. I fear
losing a best friend to something he may not want." I
laid a hand over his, his brows creased, then smoothed
again as he settled back. I let his hand go.

"Wow, he really likes you." He remarked, I can feel
Yususke's body heat as he looked over my shoulder at
Hiei.

"You'll have time to tell him, you are going on
vacation with him aren't you?" Koenma asked smiling,
but his eyes held meanings within meanings.

"Really Koenma, you need to go out, find a nice girl
or boy, whichever you preffer, and have some fun. Your
thousands of years old don't tell me your Dad never
lets you out on a date." I said teasing him.

He sighed heavily and looked at the carpet. That
wasn't the reaction I was expecting. "There are times
I wish I wasn't Koenma." We waited listening to him, I
nodded sympathetically. "It's just that I barely have
time for myself you know."

"You should go out on a vacation. I know!" Yusuke
looked at me and I dreaded his next words "Kurama you
got room for a third person in your party?" he said
with a wicked grin.

"Urameshi your hopeless." I said deliberately using
his surname. Koenma ducked his head. He must be
burning hot enough to fry eggs on.

"Ohhhh, threesome, I think they have a word for that
in French hee hee." Kuwabara said, while Yusuke
laughed at the expense of his boss.

"No seriously Koenma, you should ask your Dad for
some time off. You earned it, how long has it been
since your last vacation?" Yusuke asked trying to stop
the laughing fit and stearing the conversation away
from the gutter of Kuwabara's mind.

"Vacation? I'm lucky if I get a day off." Koenma
whined.

"You have no day-off? Man I hate to be in your
shoes." Kuwabara said dryly.

"That's not good Koenma, trust me. Ask your Dad for a
week off, he's handled this job for millenias before
you came, I'm sure he can cover you for a week."
Yusuke said in a serious tone which he destroyed by
yawning and stretching out like a swimmer.

"I suppose your right, won't hurt to try." he sighed
"I am tired."

"Then go to sleep, it's 2 am anyway, I have school
tomorrow and noodle house." He turned over and bundled
the blanket over his stomach.

"Me too, school tomorrow." Kuwabara turned over
facing the couch's back rest. "Good morning guys."

"Good night everybody." I said softly as I resumed
watching Hiei's sleeping face. I'm not going to get
any sleep tonight...