Carbon

Disclaimer: I don’t own Yu Yu Hakusho. This is fanfiction for which I make no money.

You guys must hate me after where I ended the last chapter… Probably going to be pissed at what happens next.

Chapter 12

To his credit, Hiei didn’t laugh. Although, it was a small comfort to Yusuke considering that he couldn’t even look at Hiei at the moment. Hiei had been kind about it but Yusuke was still completely embarrassed by how much of a disaster the whole thing had been.

Earlier:

Hiei pushed Yusuke onto the bed, taking a moment to gaze at the beautiful nude body before him. Yusuke’s face was flushed and he was breathing heavily. Hiei kneeled to begin preparing Yusuke. However, Yusuke didn’t last more than a minute of having Hiei’s talented mouth and fingers working on him.

So now, Yusuke had his face buried in the pillow and was resolutely ignoring Hiei’s attempts to cheer him up.

“You’re a teenager,” Hiei repeated. “I’d be stunned if you’d lasted any longer.”

“Shut up, Hiei,” Yusuke growled, his voice muffled by the pillow. “Seriously. Stop talking.”

Hiei placed his hand on the small of Yusuke’s back. “Go away, damnit, I’m tired.”

Hiei chuckled. “I wasn’t planning on starting anything.” He rubbed Yusuke’s back, admiring the tanned skin until his line of vision was blocked by the jeans Yusuke had insisted on pulling back on before he flopped onto the bed.

“You don’t have to be nice about it,” Yusuke muttered, peeking sideways at Hiei.

“Would you feel better if I laughed?” Hiei asked.

It had been a joke, but Yusuke didn’t find it very funny. He sat up abruptly and pulled his knees to his chest. “What the hell were you doing with your hand anyway?” Yusuke demanded. “That’s what… y’know… did it.”

Hiei smirked. “I’ll tell you if you look at me.”

Yusuke looked up, finding it slightly less mortifying to look at Hiei than he thought it would be.

“I was preparing you.”

“What?”

Hiei chuckled. This will be fun to explain. “My cock will hurt you if I don’t stretch you first.”

Yusuke’s eyes widened. It took a moment to figure out what Hiei had meant and he scrambled backward, hitting his head on the wall behind him. “IT’LL HURT WHAT?” Yusuke demanded. “Where were you… you were planning to put it… in there?”

Hiei tried very hard not to laugh but a chuckle escaped anyway. “Where did you think I was going to put it?”

Yusuke sputtered for a few seconds before shouting “I don’t know!”

Hiei raised an eyebrow. “Really, now where would you suggest?”

Yusuke couldn’t make his voice work for a minute. “I… I can’t… THIS CONVERSATION IS DONE.”

Hiei nodded. “I’m glad we have that cleared up. It should make things easier on Kurama.”

“Kurama probably could have explained it without making my head explode.”

Hiei couldn’t help it, he laughed. “Yes, perhaps I should have waited until after I explained it to make your head explode.”

Yusuke launched a pillow at Hiei. “Figures you’d find a sense of humor at the worst possible time. That wasn’t even funny.”

“I’m glad you know.”

“So… you were just gonna… do that without telling me first?”

“I assumed it would become clear at some point.”

Yusuke groaned. “I need a nap. You’re freaking exhausting.” He threw himself back down onto the pillows and didn’t protest when Hiei lay beside him and traced lazy patterns on his back. The feel of Hiei’s fingers lulled him to sleep.

= - = - = - =

Yusuke was still asleep when Kurama returned so Hiei met him in the hall and recounted the time he’d been gone.

Kurama choked back laughter. “Perhaps you shouldn’t be telling me this,” he said. “Won’t Yusuke be upset if he finds out?”

“I thought it was pertinent information. Now you don’t have to explain it to him.”

Kurama nodded. “Indeed, I suppose not. How long did he last?”

“Almost a minute.” Hiei smiled. “I’m rather impressed, actually. It’s an improvement.”

“An improvement on what?” Kurama asked.

Hiei could have smacked himself. Of course Kurama didn’t know about the time he gave Yusuke a hand job. “We played before. He lasted 30 seconds and immediately fell asleep.”

“What?” Kurama was stunned. “What did you do?”

“I just used my hand.”

Kurama shook his head, he was clearly annoyed. “Decided to throw caution to the wind, then?”

“Kurama-“

“It was foolish of you.”

Hiei scowled. “I know that now. And I apologized to him.”

Kurama looked skeptical.

“He wasn’t angry, why are you?”

Kurama just shook his head again. “I’m glad you learned your lesson.”

“I’ve handled things a lot better since then,” Hiei growled. “I don’t appreciate being condescended to.”

“I’m not being condescend-“

“Are you guys going to keep arguing about me all day or are you going to come in?” Yusuke asked from the doorway.

“Did we wake you?” Kurama asked.

“Kind of hard to sleep when a demon walks into the house.”

Kurama flushed. He was mortified that Yusuke had heard he and Hiei talking about him.

“Don’t sweat it, fox-boy,” said Yusuke. “I had a feeling the jerk would tell you anyway.” He pushed Hiei playfully and turned around to sit on the bed. He grinned at his friends.

“You’ve gotten over it then?” said Hiei.

Yusuke nodded. “Life is way too short to worry about shit like that too long.”

“I agree,” said Kurama. He sank beside Yusuke and grasped his hand. “Did you have a nice nap?” he asked.

“Yeah… it’s nice to sleep with Hiei, he’s so warm… feels safe.”

Hiei grunted.

“I like sleeping by you too, Kurama,” Yusuke continued. “It’s like you make the room more comfy, or something.” He leaned sideways and rested his head on Kurama’s shoulder.

Kurama stiffened at the sudden show of affection.

“Toushin are like that,” Hiei reminded him. “They’re nearly as affectionate as Kitsune.”

“Right,” said Kurama. “I’d forgotten.”

Hiei gave Kurama a stern look. “You’ve been forgetting a lot lately.”

“What are you implying?”

Yusuke sat up straight. The conversation was confusing him.

“You used to have full access to your demonic memory, why is it that now you forget things?”

Kurama shook his head. “Now is not the time.”

Hiei sighed. “It’s infuriating when you refuse to explain things.”

Kurama didn’t respond, he just gave Yusuke a reassuring smile and brushed his hand over Yusuke’s before squeezing it gently.

Yusuke felt warmth fluttering in his stomach and turned his gaze to Kurama’s. Neither demon reacted when Hiei stormed disgustedly out of the room. There was a long moment where the pair said nothing. The air suddenly felt thick and heavy. The atmosphere was making Yusuke feel light-headed and he almost wished Kurama would say something.

“Kurama?” Yusuke muttered.

“Yes, my dear?” asked Kurama.

Yusuke faltered. He wasn’t sure what to say. Overwhelming warmth had spread to his chest and he wanted to clutch Kurama to his body and simply hold him. His demonic instincts were being oddly affectionate. He gave in and pulled Kurama tightly into his arms. “Is something the matter?” Kurama asked.

“N-no,” Yusuke replied. He suddenly felt choked up, as if being so close to Kurama was almost painfully wonderful. “I just… wanna hold you for a bit.”

Kurama sighed and laid his head on Yusuke’s shoulder, rubbing his back lazily. Yusuke inhaled the sweet scent of Kurama’s hair an quickly began feeling intoxicated. “I want you, Kurama. But…” Yusuke bit his lip. “N-not just your body.”

Kurama pulled away and looked into Yusuke’s eyes. He smiled. “I feel the same way about you, my dear.”

Yusuke kissed Kurama, letting the pressure be light. The kiss was a hello, almost a question. Kurama kissed back, letting Yusuke set the pace. He ran his fingers through Yusuke’s hair, relishing the softness that spilled through his fingers. Yusuke held Kurama, pulling him closer. He wanted to feel the kitsune in his soul. He wanted to consume and be consumed. His desire was mounting.

Yusuke let his hands drift down to the hem of Kurama’s shirt and slid them up to feel Kurama’s toned abs. Kurama made a soft whimpering noise as Yusuke explored his body, roaming upward to his pecs and back down around his back. Yusuke tugged on the waistband of Kurama’s jeans briefly before reaching back up to tangle his fingers in Kurama’s soft red locks. He moaned; the feeling was heavenly. Yusuke broke the kiss, breathing heavily. Although they’d been moving slowly, he felt like the blood was rushing through his veins and seeming to congregate in his lower half.

“Do you want to stop?” Kurama asked.

“No,” said Yusuke. He leaned up on his knees and kissed Kurama more feverishly than before. Kurama slid his hands up Yusuke’s sweater and pinched his nipples lightly. Yusuke moaned. He leaned forward and gently pushed Kurama onto his back, trailing kisses down the kitsune’s neck and collar bone. He unbuttoned Kurama’s blue, silk shirt and admired each inch of exposed pale skin. His hands were shaking. For some reason, being with Kurama made him nervous. His stomach was all tied up in knots and he couldn’t make himself continue to undress Kurama.

Yusuke backed himself against the wall, hugging his knees. Kurama sat up, looking at Yusuke questioningly. “What’s the matter?” he asked.

“I’m afraid I’ll screw up.”

Kurama touched Yusuke’s knee and flinched when Yusuke moved away. “I… I guess it’s ‘cause I… I lo-…” Yusuke shook his head. “It’s not like this with Hiei. I just…want Hiei. I want him so bad. But with you… don’t get me wrong, I want you something fierce but… I guess I don’t mind so much if I’m not good when I’m with Hiei.”

“Why?” Kurama asked. He didn’t quite understand what Yusuke was getting at.

“My emotions are all tied up with you and with Hiei, they’re not. I guess… I love Hiei but I’m in love with you. Does that make sense?”

“Yes.”

“Is that bad or unfair to Hiei?”

“… well, not really.”

Yusuke sat up a bit straighter. He was afraid Kurama would think it was weird for him not to be in love with Hiei.

“Hiei is fully demon. Most demons are not loving creatures. I’m not sure how it is with his kind but I know that Toushin are the type to fall in love. You know that I’m half human so there’s less fear of me rejecting your heart. But with Hiei, there’s the hesitation. It’s quite alright.”

Yusuke let out a long stream of air. “It’s really okay?”

Kurama smiled. “Yes. And I love you too.”

“I know...” Yusuke muttered, blushing.

“Really?”

Yusuke laughed. “It’s kind of obvious. It’s written all over your face. Besides, your mom was so happy when we told her we were dating.”

Kurama looked away.

“It’s not a bad thing. “I think it’s awesome.”

Kurama gave a feeble smile.

“What?” Yusuke’s face fell. “Aren’t you happy about it?”

“It’s not that, Yusuke, I just… I want you to be comfortable enough to be with me physically. It seems that the only way you’ll feel comfortable is if you’re sure you’ll be able to please me, am I right?”

Yusuke shrugged. “Pretty much.”

“Then I think the best course of action would be for you to sleep with Hiei.”

Yusuke stared at Kurama, wide-eyed. “Wh-what?”

“Keep practicing with Hiei until you feel you are good enough.”

Yusuke kept thinking about what Kurama said the entire evening. He didn’t even have a chance to think about how much school was going to suck the next day when he walked into class wearing a blue uniform. Not to mention, what kind of hell he might get from his friends for skipping on Friday.

He sighed as he buckled himself into the back-seat of Shiori’s van. Hiei hadn’t returned the night before and he was irritated with him. He knew that Hiei would be outside the school gates all day but it still annoyed him that he hadn’t returned.

When he got out of the car, a feeling of extreme anxiety washed over him. He had a terrible feeling about walking into that building. “Thanks, Shiori,” he called over his shoulder.

“You’re welcome, dear. I’ll be back at four to pick you up. Have a great day!”

Yusuke grinned and strode toward the school, pointedly ignoring the many stares he received as he walked to the school. Kuwabara walked right past him and did a double take before he realized who he was. “Urameshi?”

Yusuke raised an eyebrow at his friend. “Who were you expecting?”

“You a pod person or sumthin? I didn’t recognize you.”

“What? If I was a pod person, do you think I’d tell you?”

“You’re wearing blue.”

“That’s our school’s uniform,” Yusuke grouched. He didn’t like the way this conversation was going.

“And your hair.”

“What about my hair?”

“It’s all… normal. You don’t have gel in it.”

Yusuke scoffed. “Damnit, I shoulda stayed home.”

“Oh, I forgot to ask. Where were you on Friday?”

Yusuke rolled his eyes. “I was playing hooky, what else?”

“Your ma said you weren’t home.”

Yusuke froze in midstep and turned to face Kuwabara.

“She was real weird about it. Said not to expect you back there and she didn’t know where you were. Guess she was drunk.”

Yusuke sighed and shook his head. He started walking again. “I got kicked out,” he said, scuffing his shoe against the tile.

Kuwabara grabbed Yusuke’s shoulder and spun him around. “Damnit, Kuwabara! Knock it off.”

“Whaddya mean you got kicked out?”

Yusuke shoved past Kuwabara. “It’s exactly what it sounds like. I don’t live there anymore.”

“Where do you live then?”

Yusuke thought seriously about lying to Kuwabara or at least refusing to tell him. In the end, he told Kuwabara the truth. “I’m living at Kurama’s. He… uh… offered to take me in when he heard.”

“How’d he hear?”

“Y’know how I have to have Hiei or Kurama with me all the time? Well, Hiei was… there when it happened.”

Kuwabara scratched his head. “Why’d she kick you out all of a sudden?”

Yusuke shrugged. “She’s a shrew. Let it go.”

Kuwabara wanted to press Yusuke for answers but decided to let it drop for the time being. Each boy went their separate ways and didn’t meet up again until Lunch.

Kuwabara kept giving Yusuke sideways glances until Yusuke finally snapped and asked him what he was staring at. “Keiko… uh… saw you get out of Kurama’s mom’s car this morning. She’s kinda worried.”

Yusuke blew his bangs out of his face. Wearing his hair down was annoying but he didn’t have any hair gel. Kurama had acted all funny about it when he’d asked. He had a feeling Kurama preferred it down. But it’s still a pain in the ass. “Why’s she worried?”

“Well…” Kuwabara chewed on the end of his chopstick. “She said she called your mom this weekend too and got yelled at.”

“Huh? My mom yelled at Keiko.”

“Uh… yeah.” Kuwabara took a bite of his sandwich. “She, uh… she said that your mom called you some mean names and said she didn’t want you to come back.”

Yusuke felt his stomach plummet. “W- mean names?”

“Yeah… somethin’ I don’t care to repeat. But… a rude way to say someone’s gay.”

“Bitch,” Yusuke muttered. He took a bite of the lunch Shiori had packed him that morning. It tasted surprisingly good in spite of how miserable he felt.

“I never heard you talk about her like that before.”

“I didn’t know she was homophobic before.” Yusuke ground his teeth. “After all the weirdos she goes drinking with, I thought she would be okay with that kind of thing. But I guess not.” Yusuke tossed his chopsticks into the bento box. He’d suddenly lost his appetite.

“Are you sayin’… are you sayin’ you’re like that, Urameshi?”

Yusuke stared at Kuwabara. He’d been half ranting to himself and didn’t realize that he’d said those things out loud. “And if I was?” His tone was challenging.

“It’d be a shock, is all. Not like I give a care either way.”

Yusuke felt like he was going to tear up. He hated how he was sometimes easily moved to tears. He was stressed out already because of all the emotional upheaval. It was hard for him to keep the tears at bay, but he managed. “Thanks,” he muttered.

“No problem, man,” Kuwabara replied.

So, are you guys mad about the lack of lemons? There’s a good reason for it. I promise that things will pick up pretty soon. There is a conceivable end in sight, but we’ll get several more chapters before it even becomes apparent.

As always, reviews are love!