Somethin' to talk about

Chapter 1


Yusuke clapped his hand over his mouth to hold back his gasp.

With all the stealth at his command, he carefully backed away from the doors to Genkai’s temple. He didn’t want to alert the others to what he overheard.

At first horrified, he was tempted to interrupt the little gossipy hen session in the room (with some carefully applied blows to vulnerable places). However, his sense of ridiculous caught up with him.

Tears of mirth, manfully suppressed, brimmed in his eyes. It made getting down the multitude of stairs a dangerous task.

Still he managed to get a safe distance, all with a chest tight with suppressed laughter before it became too much. Sprawled on the first landing—he didn’t think he would be able to proceed any further—he gave free rein to his laughter.

Just barely he was able to keep the sound down—in case the others came to investigate—still he couldn’t resist the uncontrollable urge to laugh.

Because that shit they were talking about? About him and Kurama?

Too fucking funny.

Hiei folded his hands primly into his cloak. He watched, with a critical look in his eyes, as the giggling lunatic rolled on the ground above them. “Well, I said this day would come,” he remarked somberly. Yet by the look in his eyes, he seemed almost morbidly happy.

“Hush…” Kurama replied softly. Though he had to admit he was a little…disturbed by Yusuke’s unwonted levity. “Perhaps…something greatly amused him?” he suggested with a slight frown.

The diminutive fire demon perked up, a gleeful look glittering momentarily in his cold eyes. “Perhaps the large, ugly one drew that stupid rei sword, tripped over his feet and impaled himself on it?” he replied almost hopefully.

Kurama gave him a long, flat stare. “Hardly,” he replied crushingly.

“Damn…” Hiei muttered under his breath. He gave a nervous look at the laughing, former detective. “Do…do you think…it’s contagious?” he asked, struggling to hide his fear.

Red silky brows drew together. “Excuse me?” Kurama asked, looking confusedly down at his friend.

“That…noise he’s making.” Hiei gestured at Yusuke. Unwilling to show fear, still at a fresh peal of laughter from Yusuke, he took a step back.

Kurama looked from Hiei to Yusuke, his puzzled stare fading to a look of unholy mischief. Feigning sorrow, he dolefully shook his head.

“Unfortunately, my small friend, what Yusuke has is dreadfully contagious.” Hiei’s eyes grew round with horror. A small smile tugging at his lips, Kurama continued with grave seriousness. “Why, I’ve seen dozens, hundreds of people stricken with a similar malady. And…” he leaned down to whisper, “It’s been known to cross species.” He straightened, giving Hiei a solemn nod to emphasize the gravity of the situation.

Abruptly red eyes narrowed, catching a glimpse of laughter in the large green eyes. “May your stalk,” his eyes dropped meaningfully to Kurama’s crotch, “be as stiff as seaweed.” In a flash he was gone in a fit of affronted dignity.

Laughing now himself, Kurama tried to call to the fire demon. “Oh, come on! I was just playing…!”

Snickering, he vowed to do something nice for Hiei. But it was so much fun to tease his small friend.

Turning his attention to the giggling loon on the landing, he slowly smiled at the free, unrestrained joy Yusuke exuded. Sauntering up the stairs with easy grace, a smile still on his lips, he quickly joined his laughing friend.

“Care to share the joke?” he asked in a pause of Yusuke’s laughter.

Taking a look at the smiling face of the red-head only set off another bout of laughter. “They…they…they think…” Yusuke couldn’t finish as the very idea set off another round of gaiety in him.

Kurama darted a curious look up at the temple then back to Yusuke. A patient look on his face, he braced himself when Yusuke fell against him. He smiled encouragingly. “Yes…?”

“…think we’re lovers!” Yusuke managed to gasp out before falling backwards, more laughter spilling from his lips.

Kurama’s smile vanished abruptly. Glancing at the laughter filled face then back at the temple he quickly put the pieces together. “And you perhaps find this, perhaps…amusing?” he asked silkily.

Currently in the running for the title of Mr. Oblivious of the Danger in Front of Him, Yusuke continued to laugh.

“Hell yeah!” Yusuke retorted, laughter winding down. His chest rose and fell with the effort of his breathing. He cocked a knowing brow towards Kurama’s averted face. “Think about it, man! Tell me that this shit ain’t funny?” He grinned at his friend, inviting the other boy to share in the joke.

His amusement slowly faded at the odd stiffness he belatedly noted in Kurama’s posture.

A tilt of the head and red hair shielded Kurama’s face from view. “Surprisingly enough, I don’t find the idea particularly amusing. Perhaps it’s because I see someone with exemplary qualities that I am sorely lacking.

“Someone with a warm, giving personality that instinctively draws people to him. A man who, without even knowing the true character of another, offers that person the rarest gift of all—trust and loyalty.” Standing up, he refused to look at a gaping Yusuke as he brushed loose dirt from his clothes.

“Of course, it goes without saying that a person like that is a complete and utter fool,” he added pleasantly. “Will you tell the others that I have an unexpected appointment I must attend?” When at last he looked at Yusuke, he was distantly amused at the imperceptible flinch Yusuke gave.

“Dude…Kurama, man…c’mon,” Yusuke said uneasily as he got to his feet. He shifted awkwardly from side to side then scratched his head. He cleared his throat uncomfortably and tried out his ‘famous’ puppy eyes. It usually worked in getting him out of all sorts of trouble with Keiko.

Kurama’s eyes narrowed at the ploy. Something cold and dangerous flashed briefly behind the liquid shimmer of his eyes.

Yusuke gulped audibly. He tried to brazen it out, pulling on his ‘tough guy’ persona and stupidly tried out a smirk. He opened his mouth to speak.

“Yusuke,” there was an edge to Kurama’s voice that caused Yusuke’s smirk to vanish. “I am not Keiko, so please do not presume to treat me to one of your patented soulful looks.”

Turning, Kurama walked away. Back straight, posture rigidly correct he sauntered down the stairs.

Slumping, he watched his friend retreating back. Plopping down on the stairs, he drew up his legs. Folding his arms, his chin on his hands and sighed dispiritedly. “It was supposed to be funny,” he muttered to himself.



This story is complete. I just need a beta if anyone is willing...?