Title: Growth of a Spirit Detective
Author: Azalea J.
Beta: The wonderful Amymcclair
Rating: R
Disclaimer: Yu Yu Hakuksho was created by Yoshihiro Togashi and adapted by Funimation studios. I claim no rights to characters or settings or dialogue. I am making no money off this work.
Warning(s):. Yaoi [Boy on Boy Sex], Violence, Angst, Descriptive Lemons, SPOILERS, Slight Voyeurism and Maim-ment. Warnings are chapter-specific.
Pairing(s): YusukexKurama, YusukexHiei, eventual YusukexHieixKurama, hints at HieixKurama and KuwabaraxYukina.
Word Count: Approx. 9 100

Summary: Anime-verse (with slight allusions to the manga). Through the dark tournament and things with Sensui, three demons find themselves growing inexplicably closer. Now that things are finally over, (his gig as spirit detective and the demon tournament) Yusuke’s lost with what he should do with his time. He’s fighting with his demon and human desires alike, and doesn’t know which way to turn. In the end, it may be the two he’d been the closest to in the last couple of years that end up saving him. THIS IS NOT A KEIKO BASHING FIC, NOR A SUICIDE FIC.

A/N: IMPORTANT – This fic is set up slightly weird, but it’s done this way for a reason… The first two ‘chapters’ are actually two separate one-shots, or prologues, showing developments between Yusuke and Kurama, and Yusuke and Hiei. Each one-shot is crucial to the story. The ‘third’ chapter will actually be the first real chapter of the actual fic. I also ignore most of the last episode of the series (Ep. 112), and therefore this is an ‘alternate ending’ fic.

Nighttime Balm

-Growth of a Spirit Detective: Prologue 1


Kurama dodged Toya’s iceblade, feeling the coolness brush his skin as he just barely missed having his head cleaved from his body. He clenched his teeth, his eyes narrowed. No more delaying the inevitable, it’s time I met my responsibility. And make my stand.

Seeing the iceblade coming for his torso, he dodged back, bringing up his left arm to protect his chest. “Ahhah!” Blood splattered the concrete of the stadium, but he couldn’t allow himself the time to recover. The iceblade flashed, and Kurama spun out of reach, running to avoid further slashes. As he ran, he dug the fingers of his right hand into the gash gracing his left arm. He ignored the pain, urging his eyes to remain clear and focused as he ran from the death Toya dealt. His fingers were forced in deeper, past the largest bone in his arm and into the nest of nerves and tendons. There he buried the seed, amidst the freshest blood his body had to offer. There, where the seed could take root in the heart of his energy.

He withdrew his fingers, leaving the seed, and jumped around Toya’s blade, then danced back and fell away from the continued assault. I need only a few moments… The seed twitched in his blood stream, and Kurama fed it all the energy he could spare. He felt the husk break, and the vines shoot forth, feeding off of his energy and blood alike. He forced the plant to do his bidding, had it root itself securely in his blood stream. The majority of the vine he had coil close to the surface of his arm. Leaves brushed the ragged edges of his wound, sending flashes of pain throughout his body. He coiled his youki, readying himself.

“You shouldn’t have run,” Toya was saying as he pursued him. “I cannot guarantee a painless kill that way.” And he lunged.

Time slowed. Kurama fell backwards, away from the blade aimed at his heart, but he wasn’t dodging this time. Instead of falling away, he merely strengthened his stance, anchored his right foot behind him as he maneuvered his left beneath Toya’s blade. He flared his energy, fed the plant more, and the vines shot from his wound. They twisted themselves around the iceblade, diverting it from Kurama’s heart. Stopping it. And they pushed themselves through Toya’s robe and flesh and bone. Bursting from his back in a shower of blood.

Kurama never broke eye contact with Toya. He bit his lip to keep from crying out, and blood dribbled from his mouth.

The fight was over before even Koto had realized what had happened.

“But… how?” Toya wheezed around the blood in his lungs, “Your energy is locked inside of you? How could you manipulate your death plant!?” He gasped, his eyes lighting on the wound in Kurama’s arm; the blood flow now staunched by the vines. “Insane… You actually sowed the plant’s seed into your own body!”

“It was my only option.” Kurama answered in a voice barely louder than a whisper. “My power is locked inside. By inserting the seed into my open wound, the plant could enter my blood stream and take root in my imprisoned energy.”

The light in Toya’s eye was fading. “You really are… something.” And he fell from the blade the vetch had formed at Kurama’s behest. Landing in a bloodied heap on the concrete. Kurama could still hear his heartbeat. Steady, but slow.

“Un-be-lievable turnaround!” Koto was shouting into her mike, “I’ll take a ten-count: One! … Two! …”

On the sidelines, Yusuke grinned with a clenched fist. The coils of fear he hadn’t noticed growing inside him loosed their strangle hold on his lungs. “Now it’s my turn!”

“Five! … Six! …”

Kurama watched Toya critically, warring with himself as blood dripped from his arm and the smaller, multiple wounds littering his body. His breath he continued to measure, pacing himself, keeping his fatigue hidden as best he could.

“Nine! … Ten! -And Kurama wins! Please update the scoreboard.”

From his twisted position on the concrete, Toya glared up at Kurama. “You have won, I admit. Please, kill me!” Though blood flecked his lips and his eyes were sullen, Kurama could see the death wish livid in every angle and contour of his expression. “I will not.”

Toya was nothing but shocked.

“You never answered.” His words were getting harder to form; his lips didn’t wish to cooperate. “What do you plan to do with this island, if you get it?”

Toya spat. “Who cares!”

“I too, have spent… years in shadow.” He drew a silent, shaky breath. “Interesting how unexpected, regret can appear. That is what this life does. I only… wanted to know if, you could have made your life better, nobler, than mine has been…” his body lost the strength to animate, his eyes dimmed, then shut, and his arms went lax at his sides. His legs, however, seemed quite content as they were.

“KURAMA!!!” Yusuke’s eyes bugged from his skull; he almost didn’t check himself in time, from dashing into the ring and grabbing the comatose redhead. Was… he…

Koto, brows wrinkled, went over to inspect the situation. Her ears twitched. “Wait people; Kurama has a faint heartbeat. It seems he’s slipped into unconsciousness while still on his feet!”

There were angry and nonplussed shouts form the spectators. Yells of ‘what does it take to KILL these guys!?’, and the like.

His heart eased in relief, Yusuke clenched his fists. “Okay! Now we’re getting somewhere! -And foxgirl!”

Koto jumped.

“Just so we’re clear, the rest of the fights are all mine.”

“Not. So. Fast.” Yusuke, Koto, Hiei and the rest all shot ‘what-the-fuck-now’ looks in the direction of the voice, and found the third member of the Masho team already in the ring and making his way over to Kurama’s prone body.

“Huh?” Koto.

“What!?” Yusuke. Fists clenched.

The large fighter laughed. “You forgot something; he’s still standing in the ring. Yes, looks to me like he’s volunteering to fight again.”

“Oh give me a break!” Yusuke shouted, incredulous, “Kurama’s not even conscious anymore! I’m taking this fight!”

“Uh…” Divided, Koto gazed from one combatant to the next, and finally, shakily decreed; “A-all right! Team captain decides! It’s Yusuke versus Bakuken!”

Before anything more could be shouted, an announcement was proclaimed over the loudspeakers. Correction: The next fight will be Kurama versus Bakuken.

“What?” Koto looked whipped.

“WHAT!!!?” Yusuke and Hiei both looked about ready to slaughter that damned committee and the stupid PA combined.

The announcement continued. A fighter standing in the ring cannot be removed against his will. As will cannot be determined here, the fighter remains.


Hiei took a step towards Ruka’s force field, murder glinting in his eyes.

“Don’t even think about it, Hiei.” Ruka smirked. “Unless you wish to be torn to shreds.”

Hiei glared at the woman from the corners of his eyes. Beneath the ward, his jagan flashed.


Without warning, Bakuken snagged Koto by her collar and flung her form the ring. “Looks like you’re not needed anymore, kitten.” He turned then, toward Kurama. “Now that the ref is outta the picture. We can REALLY have some fun!”

Before Yusuke could shout, Bakuken had sent Kurama across the ring with a fierce right to the face. The demon landed with a crash.

Yusuke’s eyes shot wide, his mouth went dry, his hands clammy. And he felt something within him crack.

Bakuken stomped over to Kurama. “You look so peaceful with your little flowers.” And kicked him in the side.

Yusuke’s fingers clutched the edge of the ring, the concrete crumbing unnoticed under his grip. The sight of Kurama rolling bonelessly, the vines growing from his arms snapping and twisting, seeming to cry out in pain on their master’s behalf; almost did Yusuke in. The demon was coated in blood, his clothes shredded, and his eyes overhung with hair matted with more blood. Dead leaves cluttered the stadium and haloed his form.

“Nuh!” Koto had hauled herself onto the edge of the ring. “Kurama is definitely down, Bakuken. Now step away, so I can start the count!”

“You again?” Bakuken grew irritated.

“Uh, I’m just gonna do my job, okay? One! … Two! …”

“You must think you’re a comedian. Nobody humiliates my teammates and gets tuh slip away with a ten-count!”

“Nine! … Te- ahh!?”

“Say ten!” Yusuke shouted from the sidelines, watching helplessly as Kurama was dragged to his feet by the front of his robe; his head lolling helplessly onto his shoulder.

“Oh look! He’s back on his feet again; I guess that means he wants more!”

Watching Bakuken punch Kurama again, Yusuke’s vision was clouded by rage. His spirit energy spiked in response, and that something in him that had cracked before, now split clean in half; loosing a flurry of feelings into Yusuke the boy wasn’t prepared for. Not that he was really in any state of mind to contemplate the situation. The only things going through his head at that moment in time were concern for Kurama, ensuring Kurama’s salvation, and the painful torturing and eventual death of Bakuken.

A voice reached his ears, and he was coherent enough to recognize the voice as belonging to the one he was going to severely dismember. “I won’t risk enjoying myself any longer.” Bakuken sneered. “I’ll just break your friggen face!”

Yusuke snarled, his spirit energy surging into his index finger, and he raised his arm, hand and finger alike to aim at the back of Bakuken’s skull.

“Stop, Bakuken,” Commanded the remaining robed figure at the Masho side of the ring.

“Why the hell shouldn’t I punch his face in, Rishou?”

“Well, if you’d like a Reiki blast in the back, go right ahead. Look behind you, dumbass.”

Bakuken turned and surprise registered, along with fear.

He hesitated for only a moment then tossed Kurama over to Yusuke. The demon landed and flopped over in a crumpled heap.


Within Ruka’s cage, Hiei relaxed his arm. But only slightly.


Coming back to himself, Yusuke’s eyes hooded in sympathetic pain at the sight of his friend. He lowered his arm as he made his way over, and knelt beside him.

Kurama’s clothes were ripped past mending. His hair was mattered and tangled with blood and leaves and dust. He was scraped and battered wherever Yusuke caught a glimpse of bare skin, and his arm…

“Nnn…”

Kurama’s left arm was hardly recognizable. The vetch had all but covered it, and coagulated and fresh blood coated the rest. The vines, thick at their base, pulsed from the open wound, spreading the ragged edges of the cut and allowing thin trickles of blood to run into the dirt. But the trickles were thinning, and Yusuke could see, even now, it wouldn’t be long before the leaves completely staunched the flow. Some death plant; ends up saving its victim? Or maybe Kurama had done that on purpose.

Saving a more thorough inspection for later, Yusuke hefted the lax form into his arms, and carried him carefully over to the ring wall, where he rested him gently. “You’ll be okay.” He muttered. Straightening and turning to face the ring and Bakuken, Yusuke’s concerned gaze was replaced by one of murderous intent. Now to beat the piss out of Mr. Shithead…


A few minutes later, a silent, mostly demon crowd looked on in stunned horror at the battered and broken corpse that was once Bakuken of Team Masho. Yusuke could care less. Jumping back to the grass that ringed the stadium, he walked steadily back to where he’d left Kurama propped against the wall.


Kurama had regained a semi-conscious state in time to witness the removal of Bakuken’s horrid sweat mist, and had since been focusing all his energy within. It was a surprise, though a pleasant one, to see Yusuke making his way toward him now.

Kneeling beside his teammate, concern radiating off him, Yusuke asked him quietly, “How you doin’?”

“I’ll survive.” Kurama gave his teammate a weak grin. “Sorry I couldn’t finish the first three of them, as I planned…”

“Shut up.” The softness of Yusuke’s tone completely overrode the harshness of the command. “How’re the wounds?” A quick once-over and he struggled not to wince.

“My injuries from team Masho are nothing compared to this death plant. It’ll take a great deal of energy and concentration to remove. Eh heh – I guess we really do reap what we sow?”

“Just get some rest, okay? These last two guys’re gonna be lunch meat real soon.” Yusuke got up to leave, when a gentle touch on his arm, almost a caress, stopped him. He squatted, and a subtle surge of electricity raced through him as his met Kurama’s gaze.

“Be cautious with them, Yusuke. Whatever plans the shinobi have for this island, they want it very badly, and these last two members are, without a doubt, the strongest.

Yusuke wanted to tell his teammate not to worry- he was Yusuke Urameshi, after all. He wanted to thank him for the advice. He wanted to- blinking his eyes away, Yusuke rose, cracking his knuckles in anticipation, and headed for the ring and waiting Jin,.


Kurama watched his teammate go as he refocused his youki internally.

Relieved, though exuding a calm, nonchalant exterior as always, Hiei flexed his arm and tallied his strength. Good. It was returning fast.


---


Team Masho had been… interesting; Yusuke reflected, as the group made their way down the hallways of their hotel. Gama, with his blood paints. Toya… Bakuken had made a wondrous punching bag. Jin- ho man, he had to go another round with the wind master REAL soon. And Rishou… Actually, he hadn’t watched Kuwabara’s fight too closely. After the ruling from the committee removing him from eligibility, he had spent half his time worrying about Kuwabara’s ultimate demise, and the other half…

Yusuke fought to keep his eyes on the hall ahead.


Breathing softly into Yusuke’s shoulder, his arms and vines cradled into his chest, Kurama rested and reserved his strength. He had fought tooth and nail against being carried like some vixen to the room, but when a particularly sharp movement on his part caused one of the vines growing from his arm to snag on his pants and rip at his wound… his shock and ensuing pain had allowed the detective to swoop in and scoop him up without a fuss. Since then he’d given himself over to the detective’s care and concentrated instead on removing the deadly plant from his system. It was proving to be a pain in more ways than one.

“As soon as I saw you, my love, I felt like I could do anything. That’s the power of love, baby.” Kuwabara was primming for Yukina. Yusuke chuckled as he caught Hiei glowering. And he laughed harder as the koorime turned his haughty gaze on the detective instead.

The vibrations of the chest he was leaning against caused Kurama to peer around, curious. “Yusuke, don’t pester Hiei.”

“Yusuke wasn’t pestering Hiei, Kurama, he was making fun of me.” Kuwabara jumped up behind Yusuke and caught him in a neck hold – almost causing him to drop Kurama “Weren’t you, lousy detective. Just because I’m in love, and you haven’t even gotten to first base ye-“ he was on the ground before he could finish; moaning in pain.

“And that’s without hands, moron. Next time maybe you’ll be smart enough to keep your wise-ass remarks to yourself.” The troupe walked on, barely [save for Yukina] glancing back to see if Kazuma would live.

Letting Shizuru open the door for him, Yusuke walked on in and headed straight for his and Kurama’s bedroom.

“Not going to stay up and play cards with us, Urameshi?”

Catching the flit of black from the corner of his eye as Hiei vanished out the window, Yusuke never turned nor slowed as he replied to Kuwabara’s inane request. “Kurama needs time to rest - so do I, for that matter. And you’re not looking so hot yourself. Everyone should just crash tonight. We can get all chatty and shit tomorrow.” And he shut the door with his heel.

So absorbed was he in his thoughts of possible balms for Kurama, his brain never touched on the fact that with Yukina had come Shizuru and Botan. And with Shizuru and Botan…

Had he actually bothered to turn, he would have caught the very anxious gaze of one Yukimura Keiko.


“Is he going to be alright?” Keiko asked; her worried gaze fixed on the shut door as she seated herself at the couch around the table with the others.

A soft click and the masked fighter disappeared into his room.

Ka-shhhh. Shizuru placed a beer to her lips and took a hearty draught.

“He’ll be fine. He’s just worried right now, Keiko.” Kuwabara answered her, shuffling the cards. “With Kurama hurt as he is; you know how Urameshi gets.”

“I guess… And Kurama?”

“A good night’s sleep and he’ll be good as new. Yukina, I don’t suppose I can impose on you to dress my brother’s wounds?”

“Oh, not at all. Just a moment, I’ll just go get some herbs and bandages.” And the Ice maiden left for the bathroom.

“Thanks. Deal, bro, so I can kick your ass at rummy the same way I did at 99.”

“Oh yeah? You just wait and see - with the power of my love I-“

---

The blessed silence of their room almost caused Yusuke to reel. Instead, he made his way over to the large, king-sized bed, Damn hotels, making me feel poorer than I already am. and gently laid Kurama so his head sunk pleasantly into one of the huge pillows [the ones you seem to only find at hotels….]. Sitting beside the redhead, Yusuke stretched over and turned on the bedside lamp, chasing the darkness to the corners of the room so swiftly, it took his eyes a moment to adjust.

Blinking to clear spots of neon green from his eyes, he looked over to find Kurama had scooted himself so his back was propped against the pillows and wall. His right hand was hovering over his most pressing wound, forcing his youki to do his bidding and remove the harmful plant.

Swiftly he took in any further damage - swiftly because, really, in the time it had taken Yusuke to rip Bakuken to shreds and bring Kurama back to their room, the Youkai had fixed himself up quite well. He was depleted, though, Yusuke could sense it; and the remaining tare** was giving him problems.

Taking his mind from Kurama and placing it on himself for a moment, Yusuke concentrated. A couple hundred bruises - nothing new. A few cuts and some REALLY sore ribs from Jin… if it weren’t for his spirit energy, he’d be fit to fight. But for some reason, his Reiki was… MIA.

Whatever, some sleep and he’d be right as rain.

Focusing back on Kurama, he asked quietly, “Anything I can help with, ‘Rama?”

A pair of green eyes greeted him with a smile. “No, Yusuke. I’ll be fine with a little time and sleep. Thank you. You can go and join the others, if you wish. There’s no need to feel compelled to assist me.”

“Heh, no, I meant what I said - we could all use some rest - myself included and you and the brain-case most of all.” He paused for a moment, just listening. He could hear the muffled sounds of the others in the other room. Old maid, it sounded like. Or Rummy… “They’ll all be heading off soon themselves. Today was… fuck. Today blowed. Some parts were fun but… Fuckin’ committee…”

Kurama laughed. “We are only the guests after all.” He frowned down at his arm, apparently lost in his own healing.

Yusuke looked on. He licked his lower lip, wanting to help but knowing that really, there was nothing he could do. Instead, he wandered over to the adjoining bathroom, and went about cleaning the few scrapes and cuts he sported. He wiped dust, grit and grime from his skin, and massaged an incredibly sore set of ribs. By the time he returned to the bedroom, Kurama had drifted off. The vetch was still growing from his arm, but it looked sickly and brown and was smaller than it had been. Internally he sighed in relief.

Moving around to his side of the bed, Yusuke shut the light off and silently pulled the covers over Kurama’s form. The kitsune sighed in his sleep.

Smiling, Yusuke sat and just observed.

---

He’d lost track of time. For a while he just gazed at the fox, absorbing the look into his memory of Kurama’s peaceful visage as he slumbered. Then he turned and just sat staring at his hands. Something had changed.

He didn’t know what. And he didn’t know exactly when or… how it would affect him.

Without really thinking about it, he decided that thinking about it would be his worst option, and with his mind churning the way it was, without actually focusing on anything, he knew, without realizing it, that he would never get to sleep this way. Truly, Yusuke was at a standstill. He couldn’t even understand his own thoughts.

It was around three in the morning, when all sounds had finally, simply ceased, that an image came to the fore of his mind – an image of Kurama, lying on the bed as he was now, sleeping the rest of the wounded. He finally hit on it that, really, while he’d been sitting there not really thinking of anything; he’d been thinking about the fox the whole time.

Not once had Keiko, or thoughts of fights or food or training, entered his mind. Not once.

He’d been thinking of Kurama…

Turning to look at the kitsune, he thought back to how he’d wound up bunking with the fox in the first place. When the group had arrived, finally, at their room [after the fiasco with Rinku and Zeru] they’d found it to house three rooms (all with bed and assorted sheets, pillows, bed-side tables and lamps), four couches, one coffee table, and varying amounts of carpet. Nothing more (besides the bathrooms). It was wordlessly decided that Hiei would sleep outside; the masked fighter, Yusuke and Kurama would each take a room, and Kuwabara would take the couch of his choice.

When the girls had arrived, Yusuke had given up his room without a fuss, and was all set to make himself a sleep-worthy place on one of the spare couches opposite Kuwabara, when Kurama had offered him half his bed.

He’d made a good point, the beds were fuckin’ large; and before Yusuke could protest, his bag had been tossed [courtesy of Kuwabara] into his new room. And Kurama had informed him he didn’t snore nor move much in his sleep.

He hadn’t had a choice in the matter.

Looking away from Kurama, Yusuke resumed staring at his hands folded in his lap. When had he started to notice Kurama as such a close friend? When had he started to notice him as… a possible Keiko?

Bad word choice.

He didn’t think of Kurama as boyfriend material or anything, just… well, he had a dick, right?

Fuck, he was thinking about Kurama like that? He wasn’t gay!

Fuck, he hadn’t even lost his virginity yet.

That was it; he was just desperate.

But no, he hadn’t been thinking about sex - well, now he was. But before he was just thinking about Kurama. Not sex with Kurama, just Kurama.

Fuck this was confusing.

A shfffffft sound from behind him caused Yusuke to glance swiftly over his shoulder.

He couldn’t discern what alarmed him more - finding Kurama awake, sitting up and gazing at him in question; or being surprised at finding Kurama awake, sitting up and gazing at him in question.

In question? Wait, what the fuck - his arm! Yusuke looked down, and a smile of instant relief split his mouth. Kurama’s arm was mostly whole. The wound was still open, but it was healing nicely, and the vetch was completely gone. His youki seemed to pulse with energy and life.

“Yusuke?”

His name, spoken softly from pale lips caused Yusuke to meet Kurama’s inquiring gaze.
“Yusuke, have you slept?” He glanced toward the clock on the end table. “It’s three in the morning? Is a wound plaguing you? … Yusuke?”

Yusuke opened his mouth and was horrified to hear a sound that he shouldn’t have been capable of making emerge. It was a cross between moan, a gasp, and a squeak. It wasn’t intelligible. He closed his mouth once more.

“Yusuke?” Kurama shifted closer, placing a hand on Yusuke’s thigh. Truly worried. “Yusuke, are you in pain?”

Yusuke gasped and doubled over, breathing harshly. Oh… fuck… I don’t - what the fuck is wrong with me?

“Yusuke?” Kurama pulled the detective into his arms, trying to look at his face. But Yusuke fought him, and the best he could do was get his palm over Yusuke’s forehead. “Yusuke, you’re burning up!” Pulling the reikai tantei over his lap and onto the bed, Kurama leaned over him and tried to analyze the situation. He began feeling Yusuke, touching and prodding. Looking for wounds or infections.

Yusuke gasped again, his eyes shooting open before squeezing shut once more, and he did his best to curl into a ball. “Kurama,” He gasped, the first intelligible noise he’d made, and dug his hands into his crotch. “I don’t… I need - Kurama, I need…uuuuhn.” He pressed his palms in deeper, his hips pressing back.

Kurama looked down, and knowledge seeped into his mind. Yusuke giving him odd looks. His being over protective… Yusuke was a loyal friend by nature. It would make sense that he would feel a certain sense of closeness and protectiveness toward his friends. But now he’s having feelings about, or at least thoughts of, me. Thoughts and feelings he feels he should really be having for Keiko - or the female populous in general. He’s confused. And I’m betting he hasn’t had a chance to seek proper release lately, what with all the training and the tournament… He’s so young. No wonder it came to this. His hormones are at their breaking point.

Swallowing, Kurama leant over the detective and gently caressed a flushed cheek. Eyes flew open and the body stiffened almost immediately. So young… “Yusuke, I know what you’re going through. And all I can tell you is that it’s perfectly normal, you shouldn’t be ashamed of what your body decides to do or chooses to react to. I can however offer to help you in anyway I’m able, if that is what you want.”

Yusuke was breathing harshly, digging his hands deeper into the crotch of his jeans. Kurama forced himself to maintain eye contact. With a whine, Yusuke tore his eyes away. “Kurama, I don’t know… what… I’m so hard…”

“You’ve let your passion build up inside you for too long, Yusuke. Masturbation isn’t just something that feels good; it’s a need. The body craves release; it’s a way to relieve stress and relax muscles. It’s almost a form of self-preservation. And you’ve been under quite a bit of stress lately, Yusuke.”

The detective’s flush could have lit the bed on fire.

“Kurama, I- you’re-”

“I’m male, Yusuke. I won’t make any effort to hide that fact - even if it mattered.” He was met with a look so pleading and desperate in its nature, he couldn’t help but fall into the detective’s lips. He thrust his tongue deep into the welcoming orifice, feeling and hearing the moans beneath him and returning them in kind. He swiped his tongue along the inside of Yusuke’s lower lip, and the body beneath his bucked. It was passionate, hot and mindless. When he finally came back to himself, he didn’t want to let go. When he finally did draw back, Yusuke was almost hyperventilating beneath him, his wrists white where his hands disappeared into his crotch.

“Help me…”

Without deliberation, Kurama gently scooted back, and helped Yusuke to relax and stretch out. He gently removed Yusuke’s hands from between his legs. The detective was trembling. The bulge in his pants looked uncomfortable.

Kurama ran a hand down Yusuke’s stomach.

The detective trembled; his hands fisted the sheets and his eyes squeezed together.

He brushed his hand down over Yusuke’s jeans, and cupped the heat there.

The detective bucked and whimpered.

“K-Kurama…”

Massaging gently, Kurama leaned over the twitching form beneath him, and drew the cartilage of Yusuke’s right ear into his mouth.

Eyes shot open and Yusuke keened.

“Shhhhh… Yusuke. You’ll wake the others.”

Kurama didn’t have to elaborate. Whether Yusuke understood the ramifications or not was questionable; he did however understand a command when he heard it husked into his ear. Self-same ear currently was being sucked into that hot, moist, mouth. A tongue was dragged behind the cartilage, and his hips twitched into the heated hand steadily massaging his cock.

The fingers stroked along the shaft beneath the thick threads, then moved back and down between his thighs. A finger traced up the seam of his jeans, then massaged just behind his balls. Yusuke tried to concentrate on his breathing; it was hard and shallow and he needed oxygen or he’d pass out. Kurama was making his way now by mouth and tongue, down the tendon and the throbbing artery in his neck. Nibbling and supping at the flesh, his hand never ceased its movement between the detective’s legs.

It was exquisite torture; building Yusuke up, winding him… He bit his lower lip to stifle his own cry as his hips pressed back into the bed.

Kurama felt the bulge beneath his hand swell and erupt. The tendon in the neck he was sucking on tightened, and beneath him he heard a quiet, muffled sob.

Rising over the euphoric detective, Kurama watched carefully as he recovered. His hand he kept still where it was.

Breathing harshly, Yusuke slowly regained his prowess and opened his eyes to find Kurama gazing at him steadily from above.

His eyes bulged and his first reaction was to run.

Running was hampered by a bed, two arms, and a solid body above his; so he opted for pressing as far back into the pillows as he could, instead.

Watching Yusuke carefully, Kurama sighed and removed his hand.

Yusuke shivered very slightly, “Kurama?”

“Do you regret what happened?”

It was a simple question, but finding the answer wasn’t so simple. For a time, he simply gazed steadily into Kurama’s eyes, thinking. Swallowing, finally he said, “No. I mean- it felt… good.” He averted his eyes.

There was that flush again.

“Yusuke…”

“It felt really good, actually.” Yusuke ignored the stickiness in his pants. “I… heh, I never thought I’d be able to get it off with another guy.” Almost as an afterthought, he muttered, “Guess I am gay…”

“Not necessarily, Yusuke. You were in need, and I was the only one immediately available-“

“No. I mean, not only that but… I guess… I’ve been checking you out a lot lately, Kurama.” You and another certain demon… “Without even realizing I was doing it.”

Kurama blinked.

Yusuke sighed and sat up, placing his face in his hands. “I dunno. Thanks for helping, ‘Rama. I needed that. I don’t know what’s been going on with me lately. If I’d been dating Keiko this’d be cheating – and a lot less complicated – but I’m not. And now I’m starting to think I never will… I… fuck. I’m just going to go sleep on the couch.” He started to get up.

And the next moment found himself flat on his back with Kurama’s hands undoing his pants.

“K-Kurama!?”

“You’re confused, Yusuke.” Kurama told him, eyes fixed on the job at hand. “And I think you’re wanting something a little bit more than a hand job. And the last thing you need right now is ample time to think.”

“W-what?” Yusuke started to have trouble again with his breathing. His eyes fixed on Kurama’s hands as they tore down his zipper and delved inside to grasp his sticky, satiated length.

“And I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want you as well, Yusuke. I never thought about it too much – you were a young ningen – very young. And Keiko held sway over you. However now you’re right beneath me, and in such need… You’ve grown up a lot, Yusuke, since we met. If you really don’t want this, you’d better stop me now.” He grasped Yusuke’s dick and looked the detective square in the eye. “Because I don’t intend to stop.”

His gaze was hot and fierce, but somehow almost… reasoning.

Yusuke understood; he wasn’t the only one who’d been holding it in for far too long. And he realized with a quickening of the heart, that this wasn’t algebra. It was crystal. He wanted to fuck Kurama like the guys in porn. He wanted to have the fox all to himself – if only for the duration of this tournament.

In an instant, Yusuke’s visage had changed from one of intense surprise and confusion, to one of intent. Kurama could see it in the detective’s eyes; he was going to be fucked. Yusuke didn’t need to be seduced, convinced or assured. He needed to know what his options were and then left to make his choice.

Choice made - Yusuke would act.

With an abrupt lunge forward, Yusuke had planted his lips firmly against Kurama’s, and began kissing him out of his mind. Kurama reciprocated almost instantly. It was wet, open-mouthed and clumsy; but damn if it wasn’t hot.

Hands tore at Kurama’s tunic, pulling it open and pushing it down over smooth shoulders.

Never breaking the kiss, Kurama shrugged the tunic from his back and arms, and then returned to removing the detective’s pants. Pushing Yusuke back down onto the bed, he urged him to lift his hips, and when he complied, Kurama tore his lips away so he could work the jeans down over molded thighs.

Yusuke’s cock jumped up, eager and turgid. The boy was surprisingly large – not huge, but a good size; the head pulsed, and the shaft glistened with previous ejaculate.

The sight was mouth watering, and Kurama was down on the detective before the thought of doing so had even entered his mind.

“Uuuuuuuuhhhhh!” Yusuke’s head fell back with a fwump, his hands fisted into Kurama’s hair to pull the redhead tighter against him, and his hips bucked spasmodically. Instantly he wanted more, he’d never felt such a consuming sensation; so hot and – “Uhng…” so fucking GOOD! “Kurama – fuck! Don’t. Stop.” He gasped.

Taking Yusuke deeper, Kurama lifted his right hand from where it was helping his left hold down fiercely bucking hips. Nibbling on the head, teasing now after the sheer thirst of before, Kurama moved his hand down his own chest, shivering slightly as he brushed over a nipple. Moving farther, Kurama started to remove his own pants, pushing and tugging, wiggling with his hips until they were pooled around his knees. Good enough.

Licking down the side of Yusuke’s length, Kurama moved his hand up and scooped a sizeable dollop of precum from where it was blooming out of Yusuke’s slit. Cupping it in his index and middle fingers, he reached back down and probed between his ass cheeks, searching until the fingers were swallowed into his pucker. He moaned around Yusuke’s shaft as they slid in deep and massaged the walls of his passage. After so long…

Yusuke was in the bowels of Limbo as he floated in Nirvana; it was intoxicating and too much, but at the same time, not enough. Not nearly enough. Every time he started to get close, Kurama would withdraw. It was maddening. And then Kurama moaned, sending a thrill so far up his cock his balls sang. He opened bleary eyes to a sight that almost sent him off the edge. Almost.

Kurama was kneeling between his spread legs, cock deep in his mouth, lips smeared and glistening with precum. Red hair cascaded down along smooth shoulders and Yusuke’s hips held down by his left hand. If that wasn’t enough, as his eyes traveled further they locked onto a fleshy ass high in the air; the kitsune working himself slowly with two fingers up to the knuckles.

“Fuck, ‘Rama…” He couldn’t tear his eyes away, the sight of those fingers rising and disappearing between those white globes of flesh.

Kurama swallowed abruptly, and Yusuke grunted, watching as the fox’s eyes opened onto him, his lips drawing up over his length until the head sprung from its moist confines and slapped Yusuke’s stomach.

Rising high on his left hand, Kurama maintained eye-contact as he carefully added a third finger, and sunk all three as far as his hand would allow.

“Kurama…” Yusuke trembled.

The fingers bottomed out of his ass, sunk back to the knuckles, then withdrew once more. Then slowly, oh-so slowly, a fourth finger was added and Yusuke added a moan of his own to Kurama’s as they sunk minutely to the knuckle; a fraction of an inch by fraction of an inch.

The fingers bottomed and Kurama’s lust-clouded eyes lidded. “Are you going to fuck me, Yusuke?” he gasped. “Or shall I finish this myself?”

The fingers went down.

Yusuke moaned and shut his eyes. When he opened them, the fingers had bottomed again, slowly, and Yusuke snapped. With a grunt, he’d heaved himself over and pushed Kurama down, and Kurama’s pants flew off somewhere unknown at the behest of impatient hands.

Kurama smiled as his back hit the covers, and he lifted his legs up towards his head. He didn’t have time to do much else, to his delight, as Yusuke crashed onto his lips, forcing his tongue deeply into Kurama’s hot orifice.

Aware of Yusuke’s hands to either side of his head, Kurama kissed back and stroked down the detective’s chest, feeling it tremble under his chaste touch. He kept moving down until he located Yusuke’s throbbing length: drooling precum onto his lower belly. Grasping it loosely in his left hand, Kurama traced his right down until he’d located its eminent destination. Using his hands as a guide for himself, he guided Yusuke down until the tip brushed against his pucker. Then he moved his hands up to Yusuke’s hips and urged him gently down and into him.

As the head pushed past the first ring, Yusuke broke the kiss with a gasp and moan. His head fell into the crook of Kurama’s neck, and he pushed his hips down firmly, keeping to the crawling pace Kurama had set.

Kurama’s head lolled, and his eyes widened. His mouth gaped, but he could take in no air. After so long, to be filled thus… “Nnnnh…”

Yusuke seated himself fully, his balls trembling against Kurama’s ass, and air flooded into Kurama’s chest. Without noticing it, he’d begun to work his fingers into the pliable flesh of Yusuke’s ass-cheeks. Massaging and kneading forcefully as he trembled beneath the weight of the pleasure throbbing up his ass.

“Kurama, I… fuck. You’re so tight…” Yusuke was trembling likewise above him. It felt so good, being engulfed in the moist, searing heat of Kurama; having his ass massaged just added to the feeling. “I think… I… fuck.” Yusuke’s hips bucked minutely and his trembling increased, balls tightening where they rested.

Kurama’s head snapped up, and he quickly slipped his hand between them, took the base of Yusuke’s cock between his index finger and thumb and squeezed. He’s never had sex before, let along anal sex. And I teased him so much… It’s a miracle he didn’t cum sooner. “Not yet, Yusuke. Try to calm down.” He husked aloud into the ear conveniently placed just beneath his throat.

After a time, when Kurama’s legs had started to cramp and Yusuke’s trembling had subsided considerably, the Kitsune felt it safe to release the poor boy.

As Kurama’s fingers released his heated flesh, Yusuke lifted his head from its rest behind Kurama’s neck and blushed as their eyes met. “Sorry, ‘Rama…” He scratched his nose self-consciously, resting his weight on his other hand.

Kurama smiled, “No need to apologize. Now…” He gave Yusuke a thoroughly lust-induced look and bucked his hips. “And be silent, or Kuwabara’ll come in to see if anything’s wrong.” He whispered.

Yusuke was horrified at the mere thought. “If Kuwabara comes in here now, I think I’ll di-“

“Urameshi! I felt something, I’m not sure what exactly, but I-“

Three pairs of eyes bulged.

Time stopped, and all three were paralyzed.

Kuwabara was too shocked to even think. There was Urameshi and Kurama and both were… both were. And instantly brain caught up to sight, and he started to gabber incoherently. “Urameshi! You - he, Kurama. I think my brain just imploded…”

Kurama closed his eyes, took a deep breath, then looked on at Kuwabara in all his boxer-clad glory and spoke softly. “Kuwabara, I would appreciate it if you left us alone. Nothing is wrong here - we’re both fine.” An unintentional glare glinted in his eye.

“Uh… right. Sorry, Kurama. I’ll just…” Shut.

Kurama looked up at Yusuke and couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped him. Yusuke’s expression was priceless; a cross between horror, incredulity, and a promise of imminent death was still being aimed at the closed door. What was less amusing was he could feel the boy softening within him.

Well, he couldn’t have that.

Subtly, he clenched his muscles around Yusuke’s cock.

Yusuke jumped nearly out of his skin. He looked down at Kurama. “’Rama… I’ll kill him.”

“Later; and I won’t interfere. For now…” he clenched his muscles again, and the interruption was forgotten. With little urging, Yusuke pulled back his hips until his prick escaped the confining heat. “Fuck.” So cold… Reaching down, Yusuke guided himself back, then pushed in again until his balls sung. He could do this, it was simple.

And why hadn’t he done it before? Fuck. So good…

Out again. In.

Simple rhythm.

Out again- Kurama pushed back, and Yusuke took that as a sign he could go faster. Pulling back, he pushed back in, still carefully, still slowly, but swifter. And the friction drove him mad. He began to build up his tempo, gaining speed and reveling in the give and swallow of Kurama’s ass. I’m fucking Kurama. I’ve got my dick up another guy’s ass… And he was absolutely wallowing in bliss.

Kurama was moving steadily beneath him, pushing back to meet him and urging him on faster and harder; clenching his ass muscles to motivate.

As if Yusuke needed any more motivation.

“Uhng… ‘Rama…”

“Faster, Yusuke.” Kurama gasped, pushing back and squeezing at Yusuke’s ass with his hands.

Yusuke began to snap his hips jerkily, forcefully, until Kurama was biting at his own arm to stifle the sounds of his pleasure.

The sound of his balls slapping wetly against Kurama’s ass only spurred him on.

“Uhh.” He grunted. His arm muscles had started to seize. Shifting to accommodate his weight, he thrust in again and almost came when Kurama moaned and bucked upwards helplessly.

He liked that…

Loosing himself swiftly to the sensations, Yusuke pumped his hips again and marveled as Kurama arched so far off the bed their chests rubbed. To either side, Kurama’s legs were trembling, and his eyelids fluttered. His chest heaved.

Yusuke did it again and again, forgetting why exactly but reveling in the reaction he got from Kurama each and every time, and drowning in his own pleasure.

Kurama’s head slumped to the side, his left hand fell to the sheets and his right to his member, stroking roughly and pulling at the overly sensitized flesh. “Unnn, Yusuke. Uh-ah... Mmmh, Harder…”

His eyes dilated and his breath short, Yusuke pumped harder, his hips working his dick into that wondrous heat and tightness faster. Each time feeling his dick enveloped in the massaging folds of skin, and released unwillingly with a tight, suction-like feeling that drove him mad. Suddenly he felt the feeling growing within him peak, and with a grunt he pushed his dick in as far as it would go and stilled, then shook with the tremors of his orgasm; the hot cum pulsing through him and erupting into Kurama again and again, until he was dry and shaking uselessly, hardly able to hold himself up.

Once the tremors had stopped, he slumped bonelessly to the side, his breath coming in short, panting gulps.

The slide and slurp of Yusuke’s flaccid member leaving his body caused Kurama to moan, and he pumped his fist harder, his legs falling back onto the bed, his muscles relaxing.

“Fuck, Kurama.” Yusuke mumbled from his side, his eyes still dilated, as he came back to himself slowly and watched the hand Kurama had between his legs. The sight could have gotten him hard and hot all over again - if he hadn’t been completely exhausted from having cum twice already. As it was, in his mindless state, it was enough to make him want to touch without really understanding why.

Reaching over, he gently dug his finger into Kurama’s cum slit, and watched the precum bloom around his nail then spill over the side.

Kurama gasped and ceased his movements.

Fixated on his hand and the trail of cum glistening down the shaft, Yusuke slowly drug his finger down until it met Kurama’s hand; he then cupped his hand over Kurama’s, feeling their combined warmth join and grow.

Kurama whined, then his eyes shot open as Yusuke tightened his grip around Kurama’s hand, and likewise, tightened Kurama’s grip around his own penis. Then he pulled down, and dragged up, and Kurama came hard. His shout muffled in the crook of the arm he’d thrown over his mouth. White spurts of cum sprayed over his stomach, and Yusuke smiled, “Nice… ‘Rama…” and passed out, finally; curled up to Kurama’s side.

Breathing slowly and coming back to himself, Kurama released his member, and took Yusuke’s hand in his own, sticky as it was. Rolling over, he placed the hand on his hip, and kissed the detective tenderly on the lips. Softly.

Outside the window, a pair of crimson eyes disappeared into the night in a flit of black.

---

Yusuke awoke to obnoxious sunlight streaming in through the open window and glaring him in the eye. He groaned and rolled over. For a moment he just lay, allowing his body to wake up in its own time. But then memories caught up with recent information, and he jerked upright.

He was alone in the bed.

And he’d been wiped clean.

Looking back out the window, Yusuke could tell it was still early.

Did he wake up and just… leave. Or did he leave last night after…

Before Yusuke could think too deeply on the subject, a familiar form stepped from the adjoining bathroom and made his way towards the bed, rubbing freshly washed hair dry with a fluffy white towel. “Ah, so you’re awake I see. Pleasant dreams?”

Yusuke grinned. “Yeah. There was this one where I fucked the sexiest guy I knew - in fact, he resembled you a bit, Kurama.”

Kurama laughed and sat down on the edge of the bed, throwing the towel at Yusuke, who caught it deftly. Looking up, he was met with a pair of alluring emerald eyes and suddenly he was being kissed. Slow and soft and full of promise.

As Kurama withdrew, Yusuke felt the warmth of his own smile touch far deeper than his face.

Tying his hair back, Kurama checked his seed stores. I’ll have to stock up… Then he glanced over his shoulder at Yusuke. “I’ll be out preparing for our match tomorrow - my arm could use a bit of exercise to limber up - in case you need me for anything. You’ll probably want to stretch your muscles a bit yourself, actually. I hope you’re a bit more relaxed with yourself now, Yusuke.”

“Yeah, Kurama. I owe you.” He ran a hand through his hair.” “I should probably take a bath first, then maybe I can get Keiko to take a walk with me to - fuck! I just ignored her last night! I walked right past her! And now, I have to tell her…” He didn’t have to finish.
“Don’t worry, Yusuke. You were concerned about me at the time, and she knows, as well as I or any of us, how one-track-minded you are. And she’s a very open-minded and forgiving girl; I’m sure she’ll just be relieved it was you who told her, and told her truthfully.”

“Damn Kurama. Do you always know just what to say, -or is it just blind luck?”

“A little of both, I suppose.” He smiled, turned to leave. “Good luck.”

“’Rama?”

Kurama stopped and glanced back.

“Thanks, Kurama, for… Just thanks.”

“Anytime, Yusuke.”

---

“All I’m saying is you could have stopped by at our room a lot sooner than you did - it’s not like we’re on a field trip with chaperones or nothing.”

“I don’t know; you just seemed so… happy, with Kuwabara and Hiei and Kurama…” Yusuke winced. “I didn’t want to interrupt anything.”

“Interrupt? Heh, us guys just batchin’ it? A bit of female intervention would have been nice. – And I bet it killed you to just be sitting there watching, unable to yell at me for being stupid.”

“Yes, it did almost kill me. Sitting there, being unable to do anything while you were beaten almost to death.” She spun to look at him, and he saw tears glistening in her eyes. “Why don’t you ever tell me about these things before you go off and get hurt? Why do I always have to find out through Botan?”

“Keiko, I-“

“If you got killed, Yusuke, I… I don’t know what I’d do!” tears running steadily down her cheeks, Keiko crumpled to her knees and just cried silently.

Yusuke squatted down beside her. “Keiko, I’m sorry. I was going to tell you this time, honest. But we were all sorta dragged into this, and everything happened so fast, I was so preoccupied with training and getting stronger that… I let a few things go… a lot of things, actually. Sorry, Keiko. I promise, I’ll always tell you in the future, kay? I’ll always make time.”

“You asshole.” Keiko glared at him through her tears. “We both know you’ll just forget again.”

Yusuke scratched his chin and laughed. “Yeah, well, it was worth a shot, right?” He grew serious. “I am really sorry, though.”

“I know.” She got up and continued through the trees. “It is a nice island.”

“If you forget about all the demons out for human blood, then yeah.” It was, actually - grasses and trees, shrubbery all lush and covered in dew. No wonder the shinobi had wanted it so badly… Too much nature for Yusuke’s tastes, but a nice place.

He followed behind her for a time; the only sound the rustle of the grass and leaves beneath their shoes. Then finally, he caught her arm and urged her silently to stop and face him. She gazed at him in question, but held her tongue. Damn he loved her. - Just… not like that. “Keiko, there was something… I wanted to tell you.”

“Yes, Yusuke?”

“I… I love you, Keiko. I always kinda have…”

Keiko’s expression was blank.

Okay, moving on…

“But I don’t want to lead you on; it would just be cruel and completely unfair to you.”

Still blank. Was that good, or really bad?

“I’ve been discovering a lot about myself, lately, Keiko. A lot. And one thing I’ve just recently come to terms with is that… that I can’t ever be with you, Keiko. Not in the way you’d probably like. Because I love you, Keiko but like a sister. I’ve always depended on your strength when things got bad. You were always there for me. But… I… I guess… dammit this is hard, Keiko…” He took a deep breath. “I like guys.”

Blank.

Okay, it just wasn’t fair for her to make him spell everything out in plain Japanese.

He sighed. “Sexually.”

A glint of realization lit in Keiko’s eye, and then…

Blank.

“Oh… I, I see.” She turned and continued down the path.

Dammit! “Keiko, wait!” he jogged to catch up to her, but she kept walking. “I wasn’t sure myself, but for the longest time I… I’ve been checking out this guy I liked - well, a couple of guys, actually. And recently I… had sex with one of them. And I… I liked it. Keiko, I don’t want you to hate me for this, but I wanted to tell you. I didn’t want to lead you on, and… dammit, I’m sorry, Keiko.” He stopped and just cringed. What was he supposed to say?

“Yusuke…” Keiko stopped walking, and turned to face him. “I wanted to tell you, when I saw you fighting Chuu, it was the first time I’ve ever seen you truly happy. You had a genuine smile, and you were having… fun. At home, you never really fit in, but here, in this Youkais’ tournament, you’re really… Yusuke…” She laughed. “I’m not sure if this is making any sense, but… that’s what it looked like… to me. You aren’t like ordinary people, Yusuke. You think differently, see the world differently - you are different. But it’s a good different, because it’s you.

“If you like other men, Yusuke, well then there’s nothing I can do. I guess maybe a part of me was hoping you’d grow up someday, and we could… get married.” She blushed just a smidgen. “But I always knew somehow that that just wouldn’t be you. I want you to be happy, Yusuke, because I love you. And no matter what you do in life - as stupid as it may be - I’ll always be there somewhere, cheering you on. And if you’re gay,” She smiled. “Then go get ‘em, tiger.”

He grinned. “Keiko… you’re the best friend a guy could ask for.”

“You know, Yusuke, I was impressed with that move you pulled.” She pointed at him with her index finger and said, “Bang.”

He laughed.


-TBC…


**Tare: Any of various vetches [plants]. The seed of a vetch.

A/N: I fiddled with the plot line of the anime a tad to make this work, and I apologize for the redundancy of the first part of the chapter – yes, that was actual dialogue and action from the anime - I felt the fic needed it. Hopefully I did my part in adding my own creative flair to stop it from becoming a mere re-cap of the episodes.

Also, the last part - with Keiko and Yusuke, if you’ve seen the episode then you know that some of the dialogue is from the anime - not me, but I added my own two bits in there and (obviously) changed quite a bit, so I’m just hopping no one was offended in any way because of that.

-Azalea J.