Against All Odds

A/N: Thanks for the reviews and words of encouragement. Here's the next chapter, hope you like it even though there are no lemons in it. Kinda working on that part still.

Glossary:

Gokiburi: Jap. roach (as in cockroach) [You'll see when you get there. I was a very bad person to say the word, but it fits the character]

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Chapter Two: Almost a Valentine

Six months later….


Kurama watched intensely as Yusuke back flipped and then charge again at Hokushin and one of Murkuro’s generals. “So how goes his training?”

“He seems to be doing well enough,” Murkuro commented as Yusuke was caught in Hokushin’s elastic limbs. She watched as the young Toushin turned the tables on Hokushin and her general by flipping himself behind Hokushin’s torso. She smiled in amusement as the two seasoned warriors went down. “He seems to be very determined to get back to Ningenkai.”

“That he is,” Kurama commented as he watched Yusuke be attacked from behind by one of Murkuro’s men. He frowned as he saw several females watching the battle with great interest and from a safe distance. “Who are they over there?”

Murkuro turned and frowned as soon as she saw them. She summoned one of her soldiers and nodded towards the females. “Pathetic girls. Not one with enough youkai amongst them.”

[Don’t tell me you haven’t gotten a good look at them, Suichi] Youko teased vastly amused. [Are you jealous?]

‘Shut up, Youko’ thought Kurama as he looked at Murkuro blankly. Then it hit him as to who they were. “Are they Yusuke’s rabid fan club?”

Murkuro grunted as she watched her men blast the pesky, weak females away from the battle. She smiled as several of the girl screamed in agony as they ran away. “They are. Annoying creatures. You kill a few but they come back again and again and in more numbers after each time. Like gokiburi. They swarm but there’s not a powerful one in the bunch.”

“Indeed. They started appearing last month,” Hiei said as he appeared right next to Kurama. “As soon as they found out that he was unable to go back to Ningenkai.” He glanced at Kurama. “As to know if they are rabid, that remains to be seen. It would be amusing to see if they are as- rabid as your fan club.”

[Ask Yusuke if they started leaving underwear in his bed yet] Youko demanded. [Better yet, ask him if any has crawled into his bed yet, like when we found that blonde girl with the big breasts in your dorm room]

‘I will not ask Yusuke that’ Suichi scolded. ‘Besides it doesn’t matter to me-’

[But it does to me] Youko argued. Suichi could feel the waves of annoyance coming from the fox spirit. [Come on, Suichi! I’m bored! I want to know-]

Lifting an eyebrow, Hiei looked at Kurama’s neutral by slightly pink face. [He has taken to locking his room at night]

[Damn] Youko scowled. [Then ask him if-]

“As amusing this is- I think we have more to discuss than whose gokiburi are more desperate to bed their idol,” Murkuro said dryly as she looked at Kurama and Hiei. “Such as the message from your human and Reikai contact.”

“Yeah, what did Hinegeshi say about the toddler and Botan?” Yusuke demanded as he landed right next to Kurama.

‘The toddler and the woman still have yet to be found,” Hiei said as he looked at Urameshi. The marks of his father almost faded away.

“Hinegeshi said that there has been talk about King Enma’s anger towards Koenma’s continued arguments for you and he cannot dispute what you have done here in Makai, no matter how large of a threat you may seem. She has reported that Enma is still thinking about allowing you to go to Ningenkai for a visit,” Kurama said as he looked at Yusuke. “With power dampeners on and definitely not to live, your uncontrollable blood is still considered quite dangerous.”

“Power dampeners?” Yusuke scowled as he wiped the sweat off his brow. He thought about it- a chance to see the old neighborhood, play a few games, beat the hell out of Kuwabara, get a homemade meal and see... “I guess I can use them if only for a short visit until I get my blood under control.” He stretched to work out the kinks in his shoulders. “Makai is a great place to visit- but home is where the soda, arcade, meat buns and noodles are.”

[Keiko doesn’t even rate a mention in that list?] Youko questioned with a scowl.

‘Just because he doesn’t mention her doesn’t mean he doesn’t care about her, Youko’ Kurama admonished. ‘You know that Yusuke is very private when it comes to Keiko.’

“And how does your woman fit in your list?” Hiei asked slyly. “Or does she even rate at all?”

[Hiei’s been snooping into our conversations again!] Youko gasped in outrage. [Suichi, I want to teach the busybody a lesson-]

Alarmed, Kurama’s eyes widened. ‘Youko! Don’t you-‘

Hiei’s eyes widened and he glared at Kurama as images started to inundate his mind. But it was the image of him lounging in nothing except a black feather boa and enthusiastically sucking a chocolate lollipop in the shape of penis that caused the small fire apparition to growl dangerously. [Kurama-]

“Hey! That’s none of your business,” Yusuke said as he scowled at Hiei. He grabbed the front of Hiei’s cloak.

[We got him] Youko chortled gleefully. Kurama simply covered his face with his hand. [Oh, be honest, Suichi, those were pretty funny images- I particularly like the image of him-]

[I would not finish that thought if you wish to live in that body, Fox] Hiei growled.

Not aware of the mental conversation, Yusuke continued, “And before you start getting funny ideas- she isn’t my woman-”

[She’s not? Then let’s claim her before the panty thieves do, Suichi] Youko said gleefully. [I like the way she smells! And she has nice panties! She wears silk!]

‘Stop that! You know he’s only posturing so stop thinking about her like that, Youko’ Kurama sighed, exasperated. ‘And you know you weren’t supposed to do that! If she ever found out-’

[I will have you know that sniffing female panties is a time honored tradition! It’s like sniffing a potential female’s delectable and private regions to make sure she’s healthy and fertile enough for kits! Perfectly natural!] Youko scowled. [It was instinct! I had to sniff them!]

‘It wasn’t tradition or natural or instinct! It was just you being your perverted self!’ Kurama scowled back. ‘And there was no reason for you to take them!’

[What?] Hiei stared at Kurama in disbelief. “You took panties?”

His face becoming red, Yusuke shook Hiei. “What the hell are talking about? I never took girls’ panties! They were all thrown at me! Are you even-” He looked at where Hiei was looking at and his eyes narrowed in on Kurama’s covered face. “And just what are you two discussing? And whose panties were taken?”

[I didn’t take them! Suichi did!] Youko defended innocently. [And he took a deep whiff-]

‘Only because you took control of my right hand! And shoved them in my face!’ Kurama growled as he fisted the guilty hand in question.

[Detail, details] Youko waved that away. [Anyway since Yusuke has no claim on the girl- let’s claim her before the panty thieves find out and it makes them happy-]

“Are you sure, Youko, if they did hear him deny her, it would make the panty thieves happy?” Murkuro asked as she looked at Kurama. She looked at the stunned faces of the three. “Oh, did I say something wrong?”

Fighting for some control, Yusuke scowled at Murkuro then at Kurama and Hiei. “What the hell are you talking about? Who’s a panty thief? Were the panties Keiko’s? I want to know- And no private conversations!”

[There have been thieves after the girl’s panties?] Hiei demanded with a scowl. He glared at Kurama. [Why? And where was the fool?]

“It’s nothing that big, Yusuke,” Kurama said mildly. ‘And behave, Youko.’

Murkuro looked at the Toushin and asked, “What are panties? Because that has been the topic in their minds for several seconds now-”

Yusuke let go of Hiei’s shirt and stepped forward towards Murkuro. His blood started to boil as he thought about guys going into Keiko’s underwear drawers. “What panty thieves?” He scowled as he grabbed the front of Kurama’s shirt. “Who’s been stealing Keiko’s panties and why hasn’t Kuwabara done anything? He’s supposed to be looking out for her!”

[Whatever you do, don’t tell him that you have your own pretty silk blue pair] Youko advised gleefully. [He’d really hurt you, Suichi! Now calm him down! Bye!]

‘Youko! Get back here! Get back here now! I’m not taking the heat of this by myself!’ Kurama mentally bellowed. But silence answered him as the Fox went into hiding. ‘Stupid Fox!’

Yusuke shook Kurama slightly as his friend remained silent for a second. “Kurama! Get back to the here and now! Stop talking to Hiei!”

“He isn’t talking to me, he’s scolding Youko,” Hiei scowled indignantly and gave Kurama’s non-communicative second soul a deadly look, “who has conveniently disappeared.”

“Even with the problems he’s been having, Kuwabara is looking out for her. He and his friends are the ones that helped hold on to the thieves,” Kurama said as he gave Yusuke a placating look. It was not good that the markings were starting to appear on Yusuke, a clear sign of his losing control. “Keiko and her friends were the ones that actually caught them. With the help of Puu- he was visiting Keiko at the time.”

[They were rank amateurs] Youko snorted [If it were me, I would have never been caught]

‘Oh, now you’re back?’ Kurama scowled.

[I had to powder my nose] Youko yawned. [Besides, I knew you could do it]

“Puu was visiting Keiko?” Yusuke asked in disbelief. “And how did she explain a big bird like him to her parents and friends? You’d they’d call animal control.”

“When he flew into the backyard, she said that he was an exotic ostrich and they were about to call animal control. But she explained that it probably missed her because she was taking care of him up at Genkai’s temple,” Kurama said with a slight smile. “Her parents were about to send him back immediately, but after the incident, they decided to allow them to stay.”

“I guess that’s all right. Having Puu as a watch-bird,” Yusuke said grudgingly then thought about it. “But who were the damn thieves? And what happened to them? They aren’t going to bother her again, right?”

“They were new initiates of the football club and it seems that for an initiation rite, one of their tasks was to steal underwear from ten girls. And Keiko happened to be one of them. And I don’t believe that that they will bother the girls again. When she and the girls finished exacting their revenge on the entire club, they were more than sorry for their actions,” Kurama said with a slight smile.

Knowing Keiko and her fertile mind for revenge, Yusuke grinned proudly. “I’m sure they were. So what did she do? She put itching powder in their jock straps? Take all their clothes and replace them with frilly girl stuff? What?”

[She did all that?] Youko wondered [Suichi- she just might be the girl for us if we could make her forget Yusuke]

[Don’t even think about it] Hiei growled. [She’s off limits]

[Why are you so angry? Are you upset that you don’t have your own pair?] Youko scowled

“Well? What did she do?” Yusuke demanded.

“She was a bit more-creative than that,” Kurama coughed as he remembered. “She and the other girls-ah, accepted the club’s apology. And she got together all the girls in the school to have a class fund-raiser and they sold specially marked food, with the marked ones filled with a naturally powerful laxative.”

“And?” Yusuke asked with a grin. “Knowing Keiko, there was more to it. There has to be!”

Grinning at the memory, Kurama coughed, “Not really- except that when they started practice in the park, there was a commotion and several of them went in their pants. Somehow the entire incident was taped and was shown through the school’s hijacked TV program with several hidden females explaining the purpose of the boys’ humiliation. When the boys tried to find the mastermind, they were confronted by an angry mob of girls. And parents who had daughters.”

Yusuke stared at Kurama for a moment then burst out laughing. “That’s just so Keiko!”

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He gnashed his teeth as he watched the laughing Toushin from a distance. Things did not seem to be going as well as planned. Why was the Urameshi happy? He wasn’t supposed to be happy! What the hell was so funny? Nothing was funny! Nothing was going on as planned- He still could not find Jin or Touya. The two damned traitors were no where to be found. And he still couldn’t find a way to make that stupid human pay for the humiliation. No matter what he tried, the fool escaped his traps with amazing ease.

There had to be a way to catch the damn fool. And he would, even if it cost him his life!

“Risho! Come in Risho!” called out a voice from the air. Scowling, Risho looked up to see a one-eyed imp flying towards him, and landed on his hand. The imp scowled as it looked up at him. “You sure are a hard one to find. What the in the seven hells are you doing here? Aren’t you worried that you’ll be caught?”

“They can’t even see me, let alone catch me,” Risho sneered. “What do you want?”

“Master heard that Enma has decided that Urameshi will get a power inhibitor for a brief visit to Ningenkai,” the imp reported. “And he said that you would know what to do next and to let him know about it.”

Lifting his eyebrow, Risho smiled slowly,” Yes, I do know what to do about it. Go tell your master that Urameshi will be dealt with a punishing blow soon.”

“Understood,” the imp said as it started to fly away. Risho watched as the imp climbed into the sky and disappeared amongst the clouds. The traitors could wait. The fool could wait. Right now, there was only Urameshi.

Using his abilities, he opened a small portal that took him to the farthest corners of Reikai.

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Bemused, Murkuro stared at Urameshi and then at Kurama who had also burst into laughter. When she looked at Hiei, he merely snorted. [Idiots]

“They are quite amusing and they seemed to be fascinated by this human girl,” Murkuro said calmly as she looked at him. “But as I asked before, what are panties?”

She looked amused as Hiei merely ignored her question, so she did it the only way she knew how: she searched his mind. As he glared at her, she merely shook her head and snorted, “So it is a type of undergarment. Typical. Seems like males, no matter what species are fascinated by a female’s undergarments and her scent.”

“So what do you plan to do, Urameshi?” Hiei demanded impatiently.

“I’m going to visit,” Yusuke said as he stretched his muscles. He looked at Kurama. “And can you tell Genkai and Keiko that I’m coming for a visit? By the way, what day is it? And how long before I can get the dampener?”

“I’ll go ask immediately,” Kurama offered. “And it’s nearing the end of January. So Keiko should be able to take a break from school soon.”

Yusuke nodded. “And how about the toddler and Botan, you have any idea on where they are?”

“We are still looking for them,” Kurama admitted as he looked at Yusuke. “And Hinegeshi has been trying to inquire about their whereabouts as well. But it seems that everyone has absolutely no clue on where they are. Also, I’ve been hearing some things about how Koenma and Botan, but there hasn’t been anything substantial.”

“What kind of things?” Yusuke asked as he looked at Kurama. “What- like they’ve eloped?”

“That is a rumor that is circulating,” Kurama admitted as Yusuke and Hiei stared at him. “But the more sinister one is that Koenma has been kidnapped by outside forces and Botan was killed in the process. Because of the fact, as I said before, no one knows where they are.”

“I sure hope that he and Botan have eloped,” Yusuke said as he shook his head. “Is Reikai that big? Do you need help searching? Perhaps if Hiei could-”

“There is no way that I am going into that sickening place,” Hiei raged as he glared. “It is positively disgusting there!”

“It’s not so bad,” Yusuke scowled as he looked at Hiei. “And you don’t actually have to go there- you can use your Jagan-”

“They have ogres dressed in loincloths who think of nothing but paperwork and food, they have ferry girls who think nothing of picking up cute dead spirits, they have SDF who think of nothing except keeping the demons they have in line and stopping those they don’t have out of the boundaries,” Hiei raged as he glared at Urameshi. “The place is filled with clouds and torturously happy music that infects your mind for weeks on end until one is quite willing to cut their head off to make it cease.”

Confused, Yusuke looked at Kurama. With a straight face, Kurama coughed, “The last time we were there, Botan was in charge of the PA and played ‘It’s A Small World’ and the CD was stuck on repeat. For the two hours we were there.”

“Ouch,” Yusuke winced then smiled as he slapped Hiei on the back. “Well, think about it this way- Reikai seems a lot like high school. And you still have to go and use your Jagan there.”

Infuriated, Hiei glared as he crossed his arms. “I’m not going.”

“And I say that you are,” Yusuke scowled back as he crossed his own arms.

“What makes you think that I am?” Hiei challenged with a scowl.

Yusuke smirked as he leaned down to look at the short fire apparition. “Because if you don’t- I’m going to tell your sister that the song you hate most is your favorite song.”

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“Damn,” Masaya snarled as he slapped his hands on his desk. Everything was going so well until now and then came the order from King Enma… “Damn.”

“Problems?” Risho asked calmly as he emerged from the shadows. “Anything I can do to help you, Masaya?”

Startled, Masaya turned and scowled. “There is nothing wrong.”

“No? Not even Enma’s order to allow Urameshi to visit Ningenkai for a day?” Risho asked sweetly. He smiled at the startled look. “Word travels fast.”

“Indeed it does,” Masaya scowled as he looked at the demon. He did not like the fact that there was a spy in Reikai that was working for the demons. It was a serious breach in security. ‘And just look at the ease that Risho has been able to come into my office! And it is in one of the most guarded wings in all of Reikai!’

Perhaps he should just simply cut his losses and tell his commander what has been going on with Risho, even at the expense of himself and his career. “There is nothing to worry about.”

Risho’s eyes narrowed slightly as he watched the stupid captain. If there was anything he knew about leading, he knew when one was about to rebel. “Good because it would be a pity if Urameshi should even get a chance to go back to earth. The second he was there, he would definitely renew his acquaintance with his woman.”

“Most likely he would,” Masaya agreed as his hands fisted. Who would he protect more? Reikai or Keiko?

Motioning Masaya to come closer, Risho lowered his head as if to impart a secret on him. “In fact, when I was spying on Urameshi, I heard him tell Kurama to let Keiko know that he was coming by for a visit. And that he wanted to spend time with her since she was almost on what humans call- a vacation.”

“I see,” Masaya said as he worked his jaw. “So he wishes to spend time with her?”

“Yes, he does,” Risho nodded his head, pleased that Masaya understood. “And from the look in his eye, a visit like this could- quite possibly cement their connection even further. After all, they had not seen each other in quite a while and she is- quite lovely. And well, you’ve seen Urameshi. Even now he has females, the surviving ones at least, following his training schedule and when he is not. I even heard that he has taken to locking his room when he wishes to have more- privacy.”

“And this concerns me, how?” Masaya asked coolly. “I have no interest in Urameshi-”

“But you do in your little angel, do you not?” Risho said knowingly. “And you would not like her to become a tarnished one- would you? Or even a dead one?”

Masaya narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean, Risho, a dead one?”

“Didn’t I tell you?” Risho asked in surprise. “Murkuro has been ordering her soldiers to keep any and every female away from Urameshi. They can even go so far as to kill them!”

“I see,” Masaya said as his eyes met with Risho’s.

“I think that you do,” Risho said as he looked at Masaya. ‘Fool.’


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Kurama, Hiei and Murkuro watched patiently as Yusuke studied the power inhibitor the two SDF guards, Kyo and Yoshiro, brought with them.

Yusuke looked at the power inhibitor then at Hokushin. “I still say that it looks real gross.”

“And it feels slimy as well,” Hokushin agreed as he took the inhibitor from them. He grimaced as he remembered the pain of it when it latched on to his body. “It will feel as if your insides are being eaten alive- draining you of your energy.”

“Oh great image,” Yusuke grimaced. He looked at the slime ball and took it. “Come here, you ugly slime ball.”

Kyo stepped forward to look at the former spirit detective. “Remember this is only a temporary visit, Urameshi. You cannot stay in Ningenkai for more than two days. Please do not make us hunt you down.”

“Don’t get yourself all in a twist, I’ll be back,” Yusuke said with a glare. Taking a deep breath, he splattered it over his torso.

Hiei grimaced in disgust as he looked at Urameshi and the power inhibitor. [I would never do that just to see a woman]

[And wasn’t that you who wanted a Jagan so that you could see your sister?] Murkuro asked.

“Hn.”

“This isn’t so bad, kinda clammy though,” Yusuke said as he looked down at the thing. And started screaming as it felt like a thousand knives were going through his body and eviscerating him from the inside.

Kurama winced as he watched his friend fall to his knees in pain, the markings of his father appearing and disappearing. He closed his eyes as his nose twitched as the scent of burning flesh wafted towards him. Startled, Kurama’s eyes shot open. “What the-”

“There’s something wrong!” Hokushin shouted as he ran towards Yusuke then was thrown back by a powerful wave of wild youkai energy. He quickly landed on his feet and erected a barrier as he watched his king’s son scream in pain. “Yusuke!”

Kurama leaped to save the two SDF guards from being fried to a crisp by a stray wave. He erected a barrier as he watched Yusuke grab his head, screaming. “Yusuke!”

“What is going on?” Murkuro demanded just as she made a shield to guard herself from the wave of wild energy. “What is this? Why is his youkai going crazy?”

“His body is rejecting the inhibitor!” Kurama shouted as he poured more energy into the barrier. His nose twitched at the scent of burning flesh. “His youkai blood is trying to burn it off! Hiei! Can you get that thing off?”

Withdrawing his katana from his side, Hiei looked at Hokushin who nodded in understanding.

“I’ll hold him!” Hokushin hollered as he ran towards Yusuke and tackled him from behind.

“Get it off!” Yusuke hollered as he tried to beat his fists against the inhibitor. “Get it off!”

“Hold still!” Hiei shouted as he started to swing his katana down- then was thrown back as another wave of wild energy erupted from his chest.

“Yusuke!” Kurama shouted as he saw Hiei and Hokushin thrown back as energy erupted from Yusuke’s chest, burning the inhibitor away. He raced towards his friend as blood spewed from where the inhibitor used to be.

“Keiko! I’m sorry!” Yusuke shouted as everything went black.

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Keiko’s happy smiled dimmed as nothing happened. She looked at her watch again then looked up. And saw nothing except an empty meadow. When Kurama had told her that Yusuke was coming home for a visit, her heart nearly burst with joy. Yusuke was coming home! Maybe not to stay- but definitely for a visit! And he was going to stay for Valentine’s Day! They could spend the whole day together because she was going to do the unthinkable! She was going to skip school just to be with him!

But now…nothing was happening. There wasn’t anything going on. Just the wind blowing. And the pain in her heart. The one that knew he wasn’t coming home this time around.

“Puu?” chirped the big blue phoenix as it nuzzled her cheek. Keiko looked up and smiled at him as she buried her face among the feathers. She felt hands on her shoulders, but ignored them as she tried to get rid of the lump in her throat.

Sadness for her friend pierced the gentle ice maiden’s heart as no one came through the portal. She stilled her own cry of dismay when Keiko fell to her knees, staring at the night sky before her. Walking over, Yukina grasped her friend’s shoulders, worried as she buried her face against Puu’s long, slender neck. “Keiko?”

Lifting her head up, Keiko looked at her friend and smiled. “I’m fine. It’s too soon- he hasn’t got a handle of his powers yet.” She cleared her throat. “Yusuke was always impatient- he probably hadn’t- he hadn’t gotten control of his powers yet to make the inhibitor work properly. He probably burned it out.”

“Yes, that’s what the dimwit probably did,” Genkai agreed as she looked at Keiko. Her heart was heavy as she thought of the heartache the little girl was going through. “He was always impatient and eager to move on when training was over. Eh?”

Lifting her head up at the bright lights and at the silhouette that was taking form, Keiko felt her heart nearly burst again from the pain. “Hello, Hiei. Welcome back to Ningenkai.”

“Hn.” Hiei grunted as he looked at Urameshi’s woman, deliberately not looking at Yukina. “The results of the power inhibitor- It did not work. Yusuke will train some more to get his blood under control.”

“I figured as much,” Keiko nodded as she averted her eyes from him. “Thanks for telling me.”

As he turned to go back into the whirling portal, Yukina blurted out, “Hiei, Keiko was thinking that he was too powerful for the inhibitor to work or that he was too impatient that he didn’t get complete control-”

Hiei’s eyes widened slightly as he heard Yukina talk about the woman’s suspicions. He slowly turned around to study the small figure who was lifelessly petting Urameshi’s spirit beast. “She was not far off. His blood burned the inhibitor off- As I said, Urameshi will be doing some more training to calm Raizen’s blood down.”

“And how long will that take? Is he doing well in his training?” Genkai asked curiously.

“He is diligent in his training,” Hiei admitted as he looked at the old woman. “And determined.”

“Now that’s surprising,” Genkai commented as she looked at Hiei then at Keiko as she slowly picked herself up. She looked over at Hiei. “But then again maybe not. How is he doing inside?”

“He is as he always has been,” Hiei shrugged as he looked at Genkai. “Just more so.”

“Tell him to stop being so impatient and stop getting so frustrated with himself,” Keiko said as she walked towards him and gave him a small smile. “It’s more important that he get it right than to come by for a- for a visit.”

“I will tell him that,” Hiei nodded and turned to leave then stopped as he felt a warm hand grab his sleeve. Hiei looked to see who would dare touch him familiarly. His eyes narrowed dangerously as he looked at the detective’s woman. “What?”

“Can you-can you please give this to Yusuke?” Keiko asked as she held up a bag. The smile on her face faltered slightly as Hiei looked at her as if she had two heads. “It’ll be Valentine’s Day tomorrow- and it’s been about three years since he’s gotten any from me. So could you please give these to him? Oh, and I made some for you and the names Kurama mentioned, Murkuro and Hokushin- I marked the boxes. And can you give Kurama his? I haven’t seen him around in the past two weeks.”

Taking the bag as if it were housing a bomb, Hiei answered carefully, “Kurama has been indisposed for a time. I will give these to him.”

“Thank you, Hiei,” Keiko said gratefully and bowed. When Hiei nodded brusquely, Keiko gave into impulse and gave him a bear hug. She kissed both his cheeks before letting him go with a furious blush. “Give a kiss to Yusuke for me, please. Thank you!”

Hiei stared at her then abruptly jumped into the portal. When the portal disappeared, Keiko looked at Yukina who was looking at her with wide eyes. “I think I scared him. I didn’t even get a good-bye ‘Hn’.”

“I think you did,” Yukina agreed. “He doesn’t seem like the type to get hugs, does he?”

Clearing her throat, Genkai said dryly, “Not unless they like courting death.”


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Kurama was at a loss, he had no idea what to do. He had just finished healing Yusuke with the help of Hokushin but now that he was awake…Yusuke was refusing to say anything. He could deal with an irrational Yusuke, an impulsive Yusuke; a depressed Yusuke, hell, he could even deal with a dangerous one. But this was a side of Yusuke he had never seen. It was as if he had given up all hope or reason to live. It was like…

[It was like seeing Keiko back at Genkai’s temple] Youko finished. [This is not good Suichi- he can’t stay like this, we have to do something]

‘Agreed, but what?’ Kurama asked as he worriedly looked at his friend.

[Maybe you should tell him a joke] Youko suggested. [The one about the naked woman and-]

‘Will you please be serious?’ Kurama growled in annoyance.

[I am being serious!] Youko growled back indignantly. [That always gets me up! In more ways than one, but that still gets me up from my dumps!]

“Urameshi is not you, Youko,” said Murkuro as she looked at Kurama. “And I do not think that the Toushin will be pleased if you did tell him a dirty joke. What say you, Hokushin?”

Hokushin cleared his throat. “Though it is part of his humor- I believe that he would not appreciate it right now. Instead I think it would be best if- what is that?”

Kyo grunted as power crackled fro his hands. He looked at his partner, Yoshiro who was also crackling with spirit energy. “Someone is coming through from Ningenkai.”

Kurama looked from Hokushin and saw a familiar swirling glow with a black shadow darting in the center emerge from the sky. When the shadow landed, Kurama looked at the familiar demon in surprise. He was holding a medium sized paper bag gingerly and had a strange look on his face. For Hiei, he looked unsettled. “Hello, Hiei- did you tell Keiko what happened?”

Yusuke looked up to see the portal opening again and saw Hiei jump out. He blinked as he saw Hiei get in his face and gave him an angry look. “What? What happened? What did Keiko say?”

“She said to stop being so impatient and getting so frustrated with yourself. And that your getting your powers under control is more important than a visit,” Hiei growled as he looked at Urameshi in the eye. He dumped the paper bag in front of him. “And this is for Valentine’s Day. She wanted you to have it- and she said there was something for everyone.”

Snatching the bag, Yusuke upturned the contents. Several gaily wrapped packages of all sizes fell to the ground. His eyes huge, he picked up a red box and saw the name written on the tag. “This is yours, Kurama.” He picked up a dark blue and white wrapped box and read the name. “This is Hiei’s. Don’t disappear.”

‘As if he would listen’ Kurama snorted as Hiei grabbed his box and disappeared into the trees.

Yusuke looked at the thinner, silvery boxes. “These are for Hokushin and Murkuro.”

Taking a deep breath, Yusuke picked up his own yellow and blue box. “And this one is mine”

As Yusuke proceeded to tear open the box, Murkuro and Hokushin opened theirs and found a chocolate daisy. They watched Kurama curiously as he opened his gift. The monk cleared his throat. “I am not sure: What is the purpose of theses chocolates?”

“On Valentines Day in Japan, human girls give chocolates to boys that they like or people that they love or appreciate,” Kurama explained.

[Hurry up and open it! I want to see what Keiko made for us!] Youko urged as he willed Suichi’s fingers to move faster. [Oh! Now that’s talent!]

“She is very good at making chocolate,” Kurama commented as he lifted up a rose for Murkuro and Hokushin to see. He smiled as he saw the other figures there. He saw the shape of a fox’s smiling face and a book with the wording Biology and A+ mark on it. “She remembered that I was taking that test.”

[Suichi! Go see what she made Hiei!] Youko ordered. [I want to see if ours are better!]

[Hn. I have no desire to let you see my chocolates] Hiei snorted.

[Ours has to be better, she decorated ours with nuts! And colored chocolate!] Youko crowed.

Kurama looked over at Hiei in the tree. “What did you get, Hiei?”

With a chocolate rose in his mouth, Hiei jumped down to show the remains of a chocolate knife, decorated in milk and white chocolate; a dragon with nuts used as scales and what looked like an eye, decorated in white chocolate. “I assume she attempted to make the Jagan.”

[I think ours is still better!] Youko sniffed. Hiei merely rolled his eyes. [Now see what she made for Yusuke!]

Nodding, Kurama walked to look over Yusuke’s shoulder. He made no move to touch the chocolates. “So what figures did Keiko make you?”

“What she knows I miss,” Yusuke smiled as he lifted the box. “She made a meat bun, a bowl of noodles, a video game and a soda.”

“I see,” Kurama said faintly as he looked at the chocolate figures that graced the tissue paper.

[She really does know him, doesn’t she?] Youko said quietly.

‘Yes, she does,’ Kurama agreed quietly as he grasped his box. He saw one more lump hidden under the tissue paper and under other figures. As his hand reached out to push away the paper, Yusuke quickly took the box away.

“That’s an animal underneath. It’s an old joke between us, you don’t want to see,” Yusuke said quickly as he closed the box. He looked at Hiei. “So did Keiko say anything else?”

Remembering what Keiko did, Hiei looked at Urameshi and smirked at him. The opportunity was too good to pass up. “Yes, she did want me to give you something- but I think that I would like to keep it for myself.”

“What did she give you? I want it!” Yusuke scowled. When Hiei only smirked, he grew angrier. “It’s mine! Keiko gave it to me- so give it!”

“I will not!” Hiei said as he turned away. He avoided capture by moving quickly. “I like it- so I refuse to give it.”

[It really must be good if he wants to keep it] Youko said as he studied Hiei. [Find out what it is]

“Hiei, what did Keiko give you to give to Yusuke,” Kurama asked as looked at the fire demon.

Jumping into a tree, Hiei smirked down at the frustrated former spirit detective and Kurama. “Keiko gave me a hug and a kiss.”

At that the fire demon disappeared amongst the trees. Stunned, Yusuke could only stare then he went after him, bellowing, “Hiei! Get back here! How dare you do that to her! You can’t take advantage of Keiko like that!”

[She hugged Hiei? And kissed him?] Youko said faintly. [Hiei?]

% = % = % = % = % = % = % = % = % = % = % = % = % = % = %

“Well? What happened?”

“It seems that Urameshi is much too powerful for the power inhibitor. Such a pity.”

“Indeed it is. Was it fixed?”

“Such a question! I would never dream of tampering such a powerful device!”

“No, I’m sure that you wouldn’t, Risho. If not you then who did you get to do it? Was it possible that it was the fool Masaya?”

“How incorrect you are! But then he already is under suspicions, no, no, it was someone else.”

“You mean to tell me that you know someone in Reikai that actually hates Urameshi?”

“Not really hate him- he just can’t stand one of his teammates. And he’s more than willing to see Urameshi suffer for it.”

“My, my, those boys do rack up the enemies, don’t they?

“Yes, aren’t we lucky?”


% = % = % = % = % = % = % = % = % = % = % = % = % = % = %


[I don’t want to give it back! It’s mine!]

‘No, it’s hers. And we have to give it back.’

[Do you really think we should do this?]

‘Do you really think we have a chance with her?’

[We could try to make her forget him]

‘Do you really think that she would? You saw what she made him- she knew what he wanted and she wasn’t even there when he said that.’

[Just coincidence. Pure coincidence. I know that we can make her forget him with time]

‘And you say that I’m delusional. You honestly think that she can totally forget him’

[Okay, maybe she doesn’t have to forget him. But since he’s there and unless he gets control of himself, he won’t be able to come here if ever, so maybe she could live without him?]

‘And you really think that would be living for her?’

[It could be]

‘Do you really think that?’

Sighing at the silence, he laid the garment where it could be plausibly found. Unable to resist temptation, he peeked inside her open window and smiled as the moon shone on her face. She looked as if she were sleeping the sleep of angels. He looked closer and saw the tracks of dried tears on her face.

[See? She was crying over him? How can she love a guy that makes her cry?]

‘Women are mysterious things. Let’s just put it somewhere she can find it-’

[She looks like an angel. Let’s help her have more pleasant dreams-]

‘I am not crawling into bed with her-’

[Why not? You’re here and he’s there. She has to know that you’re interested in her. You can court her! And maybe have some kits with her-]

‘Even if I am interested in her, all that’s on her mind is him.’

[She can’t really be thinking of him all hours of the day!]

He sensed her moving and quickly darted away. She twisted and turned slightly before settling down again, and sighed out a name that settled all arguments.

“Yusuke.”

**********************************

TBC....

A/N: Hope you enjoyed this chapter! I'm still trying to figure out how to make a lemon happen. Actually, I have the lemon, but I just don't have the right scene just yet.