Carbon

I’ve been a bit swamped lately so updates might be a bit scattered for a while…

Chapter ten

Kurama was pleased to see Yusuke relaxing, splayed out on his bed in a pair of jeans and a sweater he’d obviously borrowed from his closet when he returned from school. Hiei was sitting at the foot of the bed, picking at his fingernails.

“Is something the matter, Hiei?” Kurama asked.

Hiei glanced up and then looked over at Yusuke. “I stayed near but didn’t come inside until your mother left.”

“It wouldn’t have been a horrible thing to say hello.”

“Yeah,” Yusuke agreed. “Shiori likes you.”

Hiei stared at him. “How do you know that?”

Yusuke shrugged. “You’re friends with Kurama. If Kurama likes you, so does his mom.”

Kurama looked startled at Yusuke’s pronouncement. “C’mon, Kurama. You know how she worries about you not having a social life.”

“She said this to you?”

Yusuke shrugged again. “I just get the feeling she kinda worried you didn’t have a whole lot of friends.” As Yusuke looked up at Kurama, he felt a strange pounding, like a heartbeat throughout his entire body. He was facing Kurama before he realized he’d stood and was trailing his fingers over Kurama’s face before he decided to touch him.

“Y-Yus- Yusuke?” Kurama stuttered.

Hiei decided to merely watch and wait to see where the situation was headed. He’d intervene if need be, but by the scent of Yusuke, it seemed as if he’d only be in the way.

Yusuke leaned in and nuzzled his nose in Kurama’s neck. Kurama shuddered and dug his nails slightly into Yusuke’s back. Not enough to cause the Toushin discomfort but enough that he felt it. Yusuke growled possessively and planted a kiss on Kurama’s neck. Kurama cried out softly and gnawed on his lip to maintain control.

“Y-Yusuke,” Kurama breathed. “You’re not in your right mind. Pl-please…”

Yusuke sank his teeth into Kurama’s neck and Kurama placed both hands on Yusuke’s chest. Kurama shoved Yusuke hard and knocked him on his ass. “W-why did you stop me?” he growled from the floor.

“You’re not thinking clearly. You wouldn’t be doing this if you were in your right mind.”

Yusuke shook his head, trying to clear it. It was obvious that Kurama was right, but at the moment, he couldn’t muster up the brain-power to care. All he knew was that Kurama had rejected his advance and he’d have to live with that for the time being.

After taking a few deep breaths and blinking several times, he finally managed to get his bearings. It was an unpleasant realization. He’d basically just sexually assaulted Kurama and he knew he was lucky to have escaped the situation with nothing more than a bruised backside.

Yusuke stood up. “I’m sorry, man,” he muttered. “Don’t know what happened.”

“What happened is your demonic instincts are tired of being suppressed,” Hiei explained. “Kurama didn’t want to be a victim of your confused libido.”

Yusuke felt blood rushing to his face. For not having a heartbeat, my blood sure moves fast, damnit, Yusuke thought. “Sorry.”

“It’s fine, Yusuke,” Kurama assured him.

Yusuke shook his head and stalked past Kurama. Kurama was about to follow but stopped when Hiei closed a hand around Kurama’s wrist. “Let him think,” said Hiei.

Kurama turned to face Hiei and the look of defeat on his face clenched at Hiei’s heart. He didn’t like seeing Kurama so depressed. Hiei let his hand trail upward from the kitsune’s wrist and stroked Kurama’s cheek. Kurama leaned into Hiei’s hand and cast his gaze downward, his heart skipping beats at Hiei’s unusual show of affection.

“Thank you, Hiei,” Kurama muttered.

Hiei placed his hand on the back of Kurama’s neck and pulled him downward. As Hiei placed a light kiss on Kurama’s lips, the kitsune felt his anxiety melt away. He pulled Hiei to him by his shoulders and pressed his body close, deepening the kiss.

Hiei clasped his hands behind Kurama’s neck and pulled his partner to the bed where he could kiss him more comfortably.

A sudden knock at the door had Kurama and Hiei spring apart. “Shuuichi?” Kurama’s mother called.

Kurama cleared his throat. “Come in,” he replied, giving Hiei a look warning him not to leave.

Shiori entered and smiled at Hiei. “It’s nice to see you again,” she greeted him. “It’s been quite a while, hasn’t it?”

“Yes,” Hiei responded. “It has.”

Shiori turned to Kurama. “I saw Yusuke in the hall but he seemed bound and determined to take a shower.” She smiled. “I was just wondering if he would like me to drive him to his mother’s house to retrieve his belongings.”

Kurama made a sour face. “I don’t believe he has much of value at home, but I shall ask.”

Hiei stared at Kurama, understanding fully what the kitsune was implying.

“I see…” said Shiori. “Would you like to take him shopping or shall I?”

Kurama chuckled. “It would probably be best if I take him. He’s rather stubborn about these kinds of things.”

Shiori nodded. “Dinner will be ready in about an hour. Kazuya and Su-kun are coming. Will you be staying, Hiei-kun?”

Hiei bristled slightly at the honorific but tried to hide his displeasure. “I have to leave soon,” he replied.

Shiori nodded. “It really was nice to see you, dear. Don’t be a stranger.” She exited the room, smiling to herself.

= - = - = - =

Yusuke greeted Kazuya and Suichi as they walked in the door. Kazuya pulled Shiori into a quick kiss and she flushed and giggled. Suichi stuck his finger in his mouth and pulled a disgusted face while his dad and Shiori weren’t looking.

As they all sat at the table, Kazuya smiled at Yusuke. “So, you’ll be joining us at the new house?”

Yusuke gave Shiori a shocked look. He hadn’t expected her to say anything but it made sense when he thought about it. Shiori and Kurama were rather open with each other. “Uhh… yeah,” Yusuke replied. “I-I hope I’m not causing any trouble.”

Shiori gave Yusuke and encouraging smile. “None at all, Yusuke-kun.”

Yusuke couldn’t help but return Shiori’s smile.

“You’re a good influence on my Shuuichi.”

Yusuke was stunned again. It struck him then that she must have no clue what he was really like. “It’s not… I mean.”

“Don’t be modest, dear.” She reached across the table and patted Yusuke’s hand. “You’ve brought him out of his shell.”

“Mother,” Kurama said, a warning tone marring his voice

Shiori just smiled at Kurama. “I apologize, dear. I’m just very fond of Yusuke-kun.”

Yusuke sensed Kurama’s aura prickling with agitation but he let the argument drop. Yusuke was slightly embarrassed at Shiori’s open praise and assurance that she liked him. He wasn’t used to that kind of attention. He thought it was impossible for him to love Shiori more than he already had. Yet, he felt his fondness for her growing every time she spoke.

Yusuke stole glances at Kurama all through dinner. He found himself comparing Kurama with his mother. He’d never noticed before but they had the same face shape and their noses were almost identical. Kurama had also inherited his mother’s grace and posture but Kurama’s presence was all his own. Yusuke felt a familiar heat pooling in his stomach. He’d been getting fluttery and warm sensations more often lately when he thought of Kurama.

Kurama was different from Hiei in a lot of ways. Where Kurama was bright and open, Hiei was mysterious and dark. Kurama was a subtle sort of sexy where Hiei’s appeal was blatant. Yusuke decided that both were intriguing in their own ways.

The sudden image of Hiei and Kurama both looking at him with their respective lust-filled gazes had Yusuke’s stomach doing flip-flops. He found that the more the thought about it, the less he cared that they were male. He cast a guilty look at Kurama, knowing that being attracted to both of his friends would be troublesome. He was afraid that Hiei was falling in love with him and that Kurama had already loved him for some time.

It made him uncomfortable, to say the least. He walked into Kurama’s room after dinner and saw Hiei sitting on the bed. “I think… we have to talk about something,” he greeted Hiei.

Hiei looked up at Yusuke, a multitude of unspoken questions in his eyes. The sound of Yusuke’s uncertainty sent a jolt of mild panic through his system and he stared at Yusuke, waiting for him to continue.

“I… I asked Kurama to stay downstairs for a bit so I could talk to you,” Yusuke began. He bit his lip, unsure of how to continue. “I realized something…” He flopped backwards onto the bed and glared at the ceiling. “Is it okay for me to like both of you?”

“’Like?’” Hiei questioned. He gazed down at Yusuke, careful to keep his face impassive and his posture upright.

“I… I have feelings for both of you.”

Hiei’s apathetic mask melted away and he suddenly found himself at a loss for words. On the one hand, he was elated at the prospect of his desires coming to fruition. On the other hand, he didn’t understand why they were having this discussion without Kurama.

“I guess… I just. I wanted to tell you that I can’t. It’s… I can’t do that to either of you.”

Hiei’s heart sank to the bottom of his stomach. His core ached to reach out and touch Yusuke. “What do you think you’d be doing to us, detective?” Hiei couldn’t keep the edge of pain out of his voice; not for lack of trying.

“If I pick one of you over the other, it wouldn’t be fair.”

Hiei raised an eyebrow, finally understanding what Yusuke was getting at. “What would make you think you’d have to choose?” he asked, an amused glint in his eyes.

Yusuke sat up abruptly to and his jaw dropped, catching Hiei’s implication. “You mean I can have both of you?”

“Certainly,” Kurama responded from the door. “My apologies, Yusuke; I was curious.”

“I didn’t know that was okay!”

Kurama smiled at Yusuke. “It’s not terribly unusual for a demon to have two lovers. In fact, it would be strange for you to only have one.”

“That’s indecent!”

Kurama and Hiei both laughed. “You amuse me, Yusuke-kun,” Hiei laughed.

Yusuke stared at Hiei, shocked that he’d just added –kun to his name. He sputtered incoherently for a moment before Kurama settled beside him on the bed. “Wait… what… what about you guys?” Yusuke asked.

Kurama and Hiei looked at each other. “What do you mean?”

“Well… are you guys going to have other lovers too? I don’t want to be part of a clusterfuck.”

Kurama laughed while Hiei only stared at them both, puzzled. “Yusuke, Hiei and I are more likely to become lovers with each other rather than any other demon.”

Comprehension dawned on Hiei. “Hn. It was my intention all along to have both of you.”

Yusuke stared at him, the idea of having two lovers was a little overwhelming. Added to the fact that Kurama and Hiei would be screwing each other too… it was overloading Yusuke’s senses. “Hey!” Yusuke shouted suddenly, making both of his friends jump. “How the hell did Hiei know I would agree to that?”

Hiei’s face fell for a moment. “I didn’t. I merely hoped.” Hiei looked at Kurama. “For Kurama’s sake as well as mine.”

Kurama caught Hiei’s gaze and gave him a weak smile. He mouthed the words thank you before turning toward Yusuke. “I’m glad you agreed,” he said.

“You guys wouldn’t get jealous of each other?” Yusuke asked. The whole concept was too good to be true. “And what would we tell Kurama’s mom?”

Kurama and Hiei looked startled. “What do you mean?” Kurama asked.

“It’s not like…” Yusuke froze for a moment; suddenly worried. “Is it okay for me to be dating her son when she doesn’t know about it?”

“Oh!” Kurama exclaimed. “We could certainly tell her about us if you’d like. I recommend leaving out the part about Hiei.”

Yusuke nodded. Much as he disliked the idea of lying to Shiori, he knew she wouldn’t understand. He flopped backward onto the bed again. I still kind of don’t understand myself…

Hiei reached down and ran his fingers absentmindedly through Yusuke’s hair. It looks as if I’ll get everything I wanted after all.