Carbon

Chapter 2

Yusuke didn’t have the moment of disorientation when he woke the next day. He was too busy being alarmed by the sudden presence of an unfamiliar human in far too close proximity for his comfort. He was halfway out the door before Kurama snagged him by the arm and pulled him back. The action nearly sent Yusuke’s demonic instincts over the edge and he was about to toss Kurama into the wall before he realized he hadn’t been attacked.

“My future step-father and brother are here,” Kurama explained. “Do not be alarmed. They are harmless.”

Yusuke was astonished at how calming Kurama’s words were but he still descended the stair-case with a bit of trepidation and he had to rein himself in to keep from growling at the man who had his arms wrapped around Shiori. Shiori was one of his humans and he didn’t like the idea of a person he’d never met holding her in such a vulnerable way.

He’s not the enemy. Calm the hell down… Yusuke scolded himself.

Shiori turned to Yusuke with a pleasant smile. “Good morning, Yusuke-kun,” she greeted him brightly. “It’s lovely to see you again.”

Yusuke grinned. Shiori’s genuinely sweet personality had a knack for banishing any negative feelings he’d been about to have. No wonder Kurama loved her so much. “Morning, ma’am,” Yusuke replied.

“Shiori,” she corrected him. “Yusuke-kun, meet my fiancée, Kazuya Hatakana. Kazuya, this is Yusuke Urameshi. He’s a good friend of Shuuichi’s.”

Yusuke inclined his head to the tall man. He was quite handsome and seemed to adore Shiori. He decided to give him a chance. “Pleased to meet you,” he said.

“The pleasure is mine,” Kazuya responded. “My Shuichi is somewhere around here…”

“Oh,” said Yusuke. “Is your son’s name Shuichi, too?”

Kazuya chuckled. “Yes. It was one of the things that helped me speak to such a striking beauty as Shiori.” He gazed adoringly at his future wife. “Having something in common with a stunning woman gave me confidence to as her on a date.”

Shiori blushed and giggled. Yusuke took notice of the slight agitated energy coming from beside him and cast a glance at Kurama. His smile seemed genuine enough as he greeted his soon-to-be step father.

“Where is Shu-kun?” Kurama asked.

“I’m here,” a short boy who looked to be a few years younger than Yusuke replied. He was exiting the kitchen with a teapot and cups.

Kurama smiled at him. “It’s nice to see you,” he greeted him.

“Same here, Shuuichi,” he said. He smirked. Every time he called the tall redhead by his name, he felt a funny sensation that it couldn’t really be his name. It was too surreal but the younger Shuichi couldn’t put his finger on why.

“So, I came bearing good news!” Kazuya exclaimed. “I managed to get time off for Easter. I had hoped we could spend it together.” He smiled lovingly at Shiori and placed a hand on her shoulder.

“That sounds lovely,” Shiori said. “Will the company be alright without their President?”

Kazuya grinned. “I have a top adviser overseeing the newest project. He’s quite capable. “Now, Shiori, I was hoping to take everyone out for Brunch.” He looked over at Yusuke. “Would you like to join us?”

Kurama nodded to Yusuke’s inquiring look. “That would be great,” Yusuke replied. “Thanks.”

Kurama smiled at Yusuke’s manners. Decorum was so unlike Yusuke and he was glad his friend was making an effort. “I’ll just change,” said Kurama. He and Yusuke returned to his bedroom.

“I like him,” said Yusuke.

“As do I,” Kurama agreed. “He treats my mother with the utmost respect and adoration. I couldn’t be happier for her.”

Yusuke picked up his backpack and pulled out his jean and t-shirt ensemble. Kurama frowned. “What?” Yusuke asked.

Kurama bit his lip. “I’m afraid you won’t be allowed in the restaurant wearing that,” Kurama replied. He walked over to his closet and selected an outfit that was slightly too broad for him and held it up to Yusuke. He smiled. The ocean blue shirt he’d picked was very flattering to Yusuke’s skin tone. He handed the shirt and a pair of rather expensive-looking dress pants that were slightly too large in the waist to Yusuke and Yusuke began changing. The shirt felt luxurious and Yusuke wondered idly if it was silk before deciding it probably was.

Kurama’s gaze flickered over Yusuke’s bare chest before he selected a white dress shirt and khaki pants and changed with his back to Yusuke. Yusuke found Kurama’s modesty a bit strange but he couldn’t decide why. He made up his mind to ask Kurama right then about his sudden comfort with changing in front of him.

“This is going to sound really weird,” Yusuke began. He waited for Kurama to turn before continuing. Yusuke was momentarily distracted by the sight of Kurama’s collar bone before the kitsune finished buttoning his shirt. “Uh… I feel all comfortable around you.”

“What do you mean?” Kurama asked, frowning. It really did sound odd to him.

Yusuke shrugged. “I just… you don’t think I’d share a bed with just any guy, right? I mean… it feels all normal if it’s you and I don’t ever get naked in front of other dudes. Okay, I was still wearing boxers, but, you get it right? That’s why I always skipped gym.”

Comprehension dawned on Kurama and he smiled. “You’re asking if this has to do with suddenly discovering your demonic heritage.”

“Yeah.”

“I see… Yes. I believe you would feel more comfortable around me due to your being a demon. In Makai, the culture isn’t quite as hung up on avoiding appearing homosexual.”

Yusuke’s eyes widened in shock. “I didn’t mean-“

“Of course not. I’m merely suggesting that your demonic instincts are making it easier for you to disregard hetero-normative discomfort.” Kurama paused and a small smile played across his lips for a moment. “Which also means that you trust me; else you wouldn’t have been comfortable turning your back to me or sleeping in such proximity to me.”

Yusuke felt like his insides were squirming unpleasantly and decided to let the conversation drop. He didn’t like the explanation because it made sense. He resolved to evaluate it later. Or perhaps simply forget it entirely.

LINE BREAK

Yusuke was glad Kurama had loaned him an outfit. After being driven in a town car to a really fancy looking restaurant, he felt that his normal clothes would make him look like a drifter among royalty. Or something like that…

Brunch was pleasant enough. Kazuya instructed everyone to order anything they pleased and Yusuke was struck by the fact that his menu had no prices on it. He ordered something that sounded inexpensive and settled into polite conversation about school, tactfully dodging questions about his plans for high school. He listened quietly to the discussion about the wedding to take place in September. It sounded both extravagant and intimate to Yusuke.

“Of course, you will be invited, Yusuke-kun,” said Shiori. “You may even bring a date if you wish. Are you and Keiko still an item?”

Yusuke cast Kurama a sideways look and wondered how much Kurama talked about him to Shiori.

“We’re on and off…” Yusuke replied, choosing to evade the question.

Shiori took the hint and changed the subject to floral arrangement. “My Shuuichi is somewhat of a prodigy in the garden.”

“Mother…” Kurama muttered. He was clearly embarrassed. It was funny for Yusuke to watch. He didn’t expect Kurama to be bothered by much of anything.

“Oh, don’t be modest,” she insisted. “Your roses are the most beautiful I’ve ever seen. If you didn’t have such high aspirations of being an engineer, I’d try to convince you to be a florist.”

Kurama glanced at the snickering Shuichi before changing the subject to Shiori’s dress. Shiori was all too happy to gush about how beautiful it was while managing to avoid sounding annoying. Yusuke was beginning to like Shiori even more. She was exactly what he imagined when he thought of what a mom should be. He was so pleased to know that Kurama had such a beautiful family.

Yusuke climbed into the car beside Kurama with a melancholy feeling about his own life but a genuine happiness that Kurama was so happy with his. Once they returned to the Minamino household, Kurama invited Yusuke to walk with him to the library to return a few books. Yusuke happily agreed and enjoyed the silent leisurely walk while he contemplated what to say. Kurama avoided prompting him. He waited patiently for Yusuke to explain. Once it became clear that Yusuke was struggling with what to say, Kurama changed his mind about not leading.

“Is there a reason you’ve suddenly begun visiting me at night?” he asked.

Yusuke sighed, a puff of steam exiting his mouth upon exhale. “Kinda hard to explain. I feel like-“ Yusuke was cut off when he tripped over his own feet. He landed flat on his face. “Fuck!” he shouted as he lifted himself onto his hands and knees.

Kurama jumped slightly at the sudden outburst but offered Yusuke a hand to help him up. Yusuke hauled himself to his feet without taking Kurama’s proffered hand and glared moodily at the cloudy sky.

Kurama awkwardly let his hand fall to his side and began walking when Yusuke moved forward. It was then that he noticed the lack of grace in Yusuke’s movements. It was almost as if the toushin felt uncomfortable in his body. It was odd, to say the least.

“See? This is what’s bugging me,” said Yusuke. “I feel like I’m in the wrong skin. I can’t sleep half the time and stay up all night pacing back and forth. Or I’ll have creepy nightmares that scare the shit out of me and I feel like my instincts got dialed up past eleven. I guess… I’m howlin’ for the moon or something.”

“Howling for the moon?” Kurama prompted.

Yusuke glanced over at him before looking back up at the overcast sky. “Like I’m hoping for something better than this. Maybe it’s cuz I’m growing up. I’m gonna be sixteen in a few days and my… uh…” Yusuke shrugged. “But why am I bugging you with this?” He smirked at Kurama. “You’re not my therapist.”

A moment of silence ensued as Kurama contemplated Yusuke’s words. It was true that Yusuke’s troubles were rather upsetting to Kurama, but the kitsune couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride that his friend was exposing his vulnerabilities to him when his demonic blood should have made him more guarded. “What do you suppose this ‘something better’ might be?”

Yusuke shrugged and yet again, cast his eyes to the grey abyss above. The clouds felt both endless and depthless. They were caging Yusuke in and he didn’t like that. “I think… I might be miserable. But I can’t really tell. It just feels like… why…” Yusuke was having significant difficulty phrasing his thoughts.

“Perhaps ‘why does the world suddenly seem colorless and incomplete?’”

Yusuke nodded. That was exactly it.

“I think that it has a bit to do with your natural yearning for the home of your ancestors. I went through that for quite some time after the Dark Tournament, immediately following my transformation.”

“Kinda wish I hadn’t died…”

Those words tore open a barely scabbed wound on Kurama’s chest. Yusuke’s hand automatically went to his neck to search for where his heartbeat once pounded in the artery. The lack of its life-affirming beat still gave Yusuke a sense that he was not yet fully alive. In spite of his obvious animation, Yusuke still had a distinct feeling that he wasn’t really living.

“You’re the only person who received an opportunity to regret their own suicide, Yusuke,” Kurama snapped, unable to prevent the icy words from leaving his lips. “I recommend you do not waste it.”

Yusuke stopped walking and stared at Kurama, shock evident in his posture and expression. “I didn’t-“

“It doesn’t matter what choice you had, Yusuke.” Kurama similarly paused but kept his face turned from Yusuke, worried that it might betray more of the sadness and less of the anger. He wanted Yusuke to know he was angry, not sad.

Yusuke let Kurama’s words stab him in sore places for a moment before replying. “I guess I deserve having you pissed, but I really don’t want you to still be depressed about it.”

Kurama’s shocked gaze met Yusuke’s mournful one. “I can’t stand to face Kuwabara knowing he’s still probably all hurt by it. Keiko forgave me right away cuz she didn’t have to watch. I haven’t seen Hiei and I guess I kinda hoped that if you were sad, you’d keep it to yourself. But I didn’t expect you to take my death as an insult.”

“Yusuke…”

“Listen; I know it was a dick move and just because it turned out okay in the end doesn’t make it any less shitty but… I really am sorry. I just could only think about saving the world. If I let myself wonder if you guys were going to be okay, I might not have gone through with it.”

Kurama bit his lip. He was torn between forgiving Yusuke on the spot and bursting into angry and agonized tears. He opted for a middle ground; letting his heart forgive Yusuke and fighting back tears of sorrow. It was the best he could do.

“It was terrifying, Yusuke. I didn’t think that such a simple thing could end the world.”

Yusuke was confused. “The demon apocalypse?”

“No…” Kurama’s gaze was devastating and beautiful to behold. Yusuke couldn’t look away. “Your death.”

“Shit…” Yusuke muttered. “Shit.” He wrapped his arms tightly around Kurama and pulled him into his chest. “I…” A vice gripped his heart to the point of restricting his breath and he held onto Kurama as if his friend was the only thing anchoring him to the earth.

When Yusuke pulled away, blushing in spite of the cold, he suddenly realized he was shivering again. “Didn’t realize how cold it was…” Yusuke muttered. He pulled his coat tighter around himself.

Kurama frowned. “If you’re cold, why not flare your ki? It should make you feel warmer.”

Yusuke gave Kurama a weird look. “Spirit energy doesn’t make me feel warmer.”

“No, Yusuke. Youki.”

“Ohh…” Yusuke tried focusing on the demonic aura surrounding him and powering it as gently as he could. Apparently, he failed the gentle part because Kurama was knocked backwards a few steps before Yusuke could rein in his energy. “Whoops! Sorry…”

“That’s alright,” Kurama murmured. He looked shaken but tried not to let Yusuke notice.

“I guess I’m still not used to it…”

Kurama nodded his agreement.

The pair returned to Kurama’s house where Kazuya and Shuichi were saying good bye to Shiori. Yusuke and Kurama each bade the men farewell and watched them leave.

“Would you two like something for lunch?” Shiori asked.

“I’m still pretty full from brunch, but thanks,” Yusuke replied.

“Perhaps later,” said Kurama.

“Okay.” Shiori smiled. “You boys have fun.” She exited the living room and Kurama frowned at her retreating back. He had the strangest sensation that his mother knew something he didn’t and it bothered him because she probably did.

“You alright Kur- um… Shuuichi?” asked Yusuke.

Kurama nodded. “Did you have any plans today?”

Yusuke looked at his watch. “I should probably go see Keiko at some point. I’ve been avoiding her for no good reason.” He cringed. “I’ll bet she’s gonna let me have it.” Yusuke grinned. “I’ll be back later for my stuff.”

“Sure,” said Kurama.

Yusuke nodded and walked to the front door to retrieve his shoes. He had his hand on the doorknob before he remembered he was still wearing Kurama’s clothes. He stopped and turned around to look at Kurama. “I guess I should change and give you your clothes back.”

“That’s fine, Yusuke. You may keep them.” He smiled. “They don’t fit me quite right and they look better on you.”

Yusuke pondered that for a half a second. “Yeah, but I doubt that.” He turned and ran into the door. Cursing under his breath, he took a step back, opened the door and managed to leave the house without further incident. Had he looked back at the house, he would have seen Kurama smiling broadly at his retreating back from the front window.

My chapters are usually longer than this… sorry about that.