The Island

Untitled


- The Conclusion -


Keiko Yukimura cautiously made her way down the narrow sidewalk, moonlight at her back, as she precariously balancing the stack of presents she was carrying in her arms. The varying shaped boxes, in their colorful wrappings and bows would list dangerously to one side then the other with each step she took, as if taunting her. Sighing exasperatedly, Keiko knew that if she didn't hurry up, she would be late for Yukina's Christmas party. The young Koorime had heard about the western style tradn ann and it had fascinated her. So, deciding that it would be fun to hold a party, she had invited all of her friends over.

At first, Keiko had been hesitant to accept. She had been avoiding a certain red-headed kitsune ever since the incident just a few short months earlier. The team had been assigned to deal with demons terrorizing a cruise ship and it had been thought at the time to be a simple job to be followed by a relaxing cruise. But a sudden storm had changed all of that as the ship had sunk and the group had been separated and left stranded in three separate locations, on a deserted island. She with Kurama and, they had learned soonafter their rescue by Koenma, Botan with Hiei and Yusuke and Kuwabara with Yukina.

If that hadn't been bad enough, she had soon discovered a rare Makai plant which inhabited the island. A plant which shot out lust inducing spores which she and Kurama had gotten a healthy does of. Needless to say, what had followed had been her first and only foray into could only be described as a sexual romp. A very pleasurable romp, but a romp all the same. With Kurama of all people. There had been no way she could have foreseen herself falling for her friend during that short time period, but she had.

After being rescued, she'd determined that everything that had occured on the island had been either due to the effects of that blasted plant, or in her head. So as a result, she had stayed away. Whenever Yusuke or anyone else would invite her to go along anywhere that Kurama might happen to be, she'd declined. She just didn't think she could take the embarassment nor the emotional turmoil where he to deny that what had happened had meant anything to him. But she knew that she couldn't avoid him forever and so, she'd given in and accepted the invitation.

Might as well get it over with, she thought. With the sting of regret plaguing her heart, Keiko quickened her steps slightly in the hopes of reaching her destination sooner.

She was only two blocks from the house in which Yukina had chosen for her ningen home when the sound of rapidly approaching footsteps was heard. Keiko, not being able to see clearly due to one of the present's strategic position, was unable to avoid the near collision which occured as a young punk perhaps a few years older than herself rudely rushed past her. His left arm caught her right shoulder as he passed, causing the brown haired girl to lose her balance. Arms flew up, unwittingly throwing the precious bundles up into the air. There were seven distinct thumps as the presents impacted with the concrete, followed by a pained "Oomph" as Keiko followed soonafter.

"Oww." Keiko grumbled, bringing a hand up to rub at her now sore hip. Shifting around from her sprawled place on the sidewalk, Keiko glared heatedly at the retreating back of the teen, who had not even bothered to yell out an apology for knocking her down. "Jerk!" she cried out angrily.

Mumbling some more, Keiko manuevered onto her knees so that she could retrieve her fallen items. Thankfully she hadn't bought anything breakable. She was so intent on gathering up the packages that she didn't hear the footsteps, this time at a more subdued pace, approaching. She was reaching out for the final package, when a pair of polished black boots appeared in her field of vision.

"It would seem you are in need of some assistance." A smooth, familiar voice spoke from above her.

Keiko froze, her hand halfway to its target. Glancing up, she saw Kurama kneel down before her, his hand reaching out to pick up the final present between them. Keiko smiled, attempting to hold off a blush as Kurama assisted her, wordlessly snatching some of the items from her arms, lightening her load.

"Are you going to Yukina's?" he asked, his soothing voice rushing over her, much like the ocean waves had done to their heated bodies that fateful day.

She nodded. "Yeah, I think I might be a little late though."

Kurama smiled, discreetly glancing toward his wrist. "A little," he agreed.

Keiko swallowed in an attempt moisten her suddenly dry throat. "A-are you going too?"

"Yes, I was invited several days ago. I thought it might be fun to get out a little while."

Keiko glanced toward her companion, noting how nice he looked. He was dressed casually in the clothes that she had dubbed Kurama-wear. A white button up dress shirt and black pants. He wore over this a light overcoat that came down to his lean thighs. His long red hair flowed wildly about him, enhancing his looks. Once, before the incident on the island, Yusuke had joked that Kurama looked feminine. She had disagreed then, and much to her dismay, she still felt the same way now. To her, Kurama wasn't feminine. He was, to put it simply, elegantly handsome. She finally managed to break her train of thought to find that Kurama was looking at her curiously. With a blush she realized that she was still staring at him. Quickly rising to her feet, Keiko smiled once more.

"You look very nice, Keiko."

Her smile brightened. "Thanks, so do you."

She hadn't gone all out trying to look beautiful, it was just a party among friends, but she had dressed with care. She'd worn a new dress, nothing daring or low-cut, just a simple flowing thing she thought was pretty. It wasn't as though she was expecting to pick up guys, perish the thought. In fact, she'd never thought about 'picking up guys' before. Although, if Kurama were to be willing.... She shrugged the thought off with a slight blush as she saw Kurama silently waiting.

"Oh, we should go."

She laughed awkwardly before beginning to walk again, Kurama falling into step beside her. A silence fell over them as they continued on to Yukina's house. They arrived at the door a few minutes later and Kurama shifted his armful of presents to one hand so that he could ring the doorbell. The sounds of laughter and idle chatter could be heard through the door and there was the muffled sound of someone inside calling out for them to come in. Kurama turned the doorknob, pushing open the door before stepping back to allow Keiko to enter first.

They paused just inside of the doorway to set the presents on a table that was set up for just that reason, when they both noticed that the laughter and chattering that had been going on before they'd entered had ceased quite suddenly. Keiko and Kurama glanced at one another before turning to look at the other guests to find there was some snickering going on.

Botan, who was standing between Yusuke and Hiei, was laughing behind a hand pressed over her mouth. She motioned silently, pointing above their heads. Keiko looked up curiously and stared at the pearly white berries and green foliage suspended above their heads.

"Uh..." Keiko stared, dropping her gaze back to the roomful of people now watching avidly. "Um...

Kurama tilted his head, arching a brow in question as he observed her discomfort. Glancing above their heads, he then noticed the glistening berries and lovely emerald foliage for the first time. "That's mistletoe, isn't it?" he mused out loud.

Keiko turned sharply, startled slightly out of her personal embarrassment. Was he smiling slightly, or was she just imagining that? Did he know what mistletoe was meant for? If he did, he wouldn't be smirking, would he? Her face darkened a slight shade of rouge.

"There's a tradition, if I am correct, where two people who stand beneath mistletoe are meant to kiss..."

Kurama slowly shifted his gaze toward her face, his smirk broadening into a dark grin. She could have sworn she saw fire matching his crimson hair dancing in his sparkling eyes. Suddenly the whole room narrowed, shrinking until it was only the two of them standing there, separate from everything and everyone else. The blush deepened, and her mouth fell open in a breathless gasp.

Is he going to kiss me? Is he really going to kiss me?

Kurama leaned down, his smirk widening as he watched her expression. Keiko's eyes fluttered shut in anticipation, but snapped them open in disappointment as just before their lips came into contact with each other, Kurama quickly moved his head to the side and gave a quick peck on the cheek. As he straightened back up, he heard several boos, and a few rude comments.

"You call that a kiss," Hiei asked with a snort as he crossed his arms over his chest.

After much complaining, Kurama leaned back in, his right arm slipping around Keiko's waist and drawing her body closer to his just as their lips met. He wanted to smirk as he felt her begin to respond to his lips as they caressed her own. Keiko slid her arm up Kurama's arm that rested at her hip, her hand reaching up to his shoulder, then finally his neck. Entwining her fingers in his luxurious red hair, she opened her mouth for him when she felt his tongue lightly run over her bottom lip. She moaned quietly as his tongue ran over her teeth and then moved further into her mouth.

Kurama brought his other hand up to Keiko's chin, tilting her head to give him better access to her mouth as he happily delved his tongue inside. He felt her grip on his hair tighten as the kiss deepened, his tongue now dualing against her own. His heart leapt for joy when a slight moan escaped from deep within her throat. Keiko's other hand discreetly slide under Kurama's coat and over his hip. He was slightly surprised when her hand ended up on his rear, gripping him to her tightly.

"Gee, you think they've practiced this before?" Yusuke asked sarcastically as he watched the couple kissing for far longer than was necessary.

"Hey, I thought Keiko was your girl, Urameshi," Kuwabara asked, glancing between the completely out of it Keiko and Kurama, and Yusuke.

"I suppose they had to find something to do while they were on that island," Hiei said with a slight smirk. "Maybe we should give the lovebirds some time alone," he said loud enough to break Kurama and Keiko apart from one another.

Keikokedoked away blushing while Kurama avoided looking at everyone except his spirit detective partner, knowing the fire demon would most likely know what had happened. Hiei smirked before he ushered everyone back into the living room and out of the hallway, leaving Keiko and Kurama time to collect their thoughts.

Keiko shifted restlessly, as though suddenly realizing how she'd behaved in front of a roomful of her friends.

"There's no need to be uneasy." Kurama's mellow tone massaged her ears. So calm, so in control, so perfectly aware of everything and always confident. How she wished she could feel like that.

She smiled awkwardly, not feeling very assured. "Right. They'll never stop teasing about that."

Kurama's mouth perked up into a grin. "Probably not."

"So how have you been?" Keiko began softly, "It's been awhile since we've actually seen one another long enough to talk..."

Kurama turned his gaze smoothly away. "That's because you've been avoiding me."

Keiko's smile vanished. "Ah..."

"I didn't think our stay on the island was all that bad, a bit unconventional perhaps," the small curve of amusement tipping his mouth up dropped. "But I'm sorry. If it was a bad memory for you, I won't bother you anymore, Keiko."

"N-No... it's..." she trailed off. Taking a deep breath she began again. "You aren't bothering me, Kurama. I just thought that.... perhaps you wouldn't want to be rded ded of....what happened."

Kurama arched an eyebrow, curiosity peaked. "Why would you think that?"

Keiko turned quickly in surprise to stare at Kurama, her widened eyes locking with and holding his own.

She sighed. "Because it... I wasn't... It wasn't...I don't know the words, but it wasn't like it should have been or ... or might have been. It was all something caused by some weird plant and... Who wouldn't be uncomfortable after something like that?"

"I see." Hened ned away. "Are you ashamed then? Of what happened between us?"

"I don't know. I've just been so uncertain, I've thought and thought and..." Keiko faltered, then began again. "Everytime I see you I just can't help thinking oh, now what will he think of me? Then I panic and have to go the opposite direction. I guess... I guess I felt like I behaved..."

He turned to look back at her, his gaze touching her softly.

"I've always been a good girl... and..."

A kind smile touched his lips to match the tender stare. "It's okay. I think I understand."

He reached out and she stepped forward, folding into his embrace. Keiko melted into his arms, much like she had on the island. It felt the same ns its it had then, so comfortable...so right. She wondered why he was holding her.

"I'd never think anything bad of you, Keiko." Kurama murmured softly into her hair. "I just hope that you do not think poorly of me for my actions towards you on the island," he continued, his hands beginning to rub soothingly up and down her back as she relaxed further into his embrace.

With a contented sigh, Keiko raised her head from where it had drifted to rest against his chest so that she could look into his eyes once again. "I don't think poorly of you at all, Kurama-kun," she spoke softly. "How could I when you were so kind to me?"

He blinked, confused, but didn't ask. Instead, he just smiled. "I'm glad." tevetever it was that he'd done to be kind, he was glad for it. Keiko wasn't holding anything against him, she wasn't angry, she was just embarrassed. A huge weight fell off his shoulders, lightening his smile.

"I'm very glad," he amended. "Perhaps you would like to give this human dating thing a try? I'm sure that we could find something in common that would help to remedy your unease around me."

Briefly, Keiko wondered if she was hearing things. Had Kurama really just asked her out? On a date? She felt her heart speed up in anticipation at the thought of actually going out with Ku. Of. Of being around him and just hanging out, and perhaps the chance to get closer to the kitsune who had so abruptly worked his way into her heart. She was unable to reply immediately so instead she simply nodded, which caused Kurama's smile to grow wider.

"How about tomorrow night? We could go to see a movie perhaps? Or would you rather do something more public? A sporting game of some sort? Something like that."

Keiko's smile gave way to joyous laughter. "Anything, as long as it's with you."

Kurama chuckled lightheartedly. "It's settled then. I'll pick you up at seven?"

"Yes, seven would be fine." Keiko agreed, and as if on cue, a voice sounding suspiciously like Yusuke's reached their ears as it called from the other room.

"You know, you two are still under the mistletoe."

Both looked up simultaneously noticing at once that, yes, they were still under the innocent piece of foliage. Keiko giggled slightly, burying her head into Kurama's chest. She felt his fingers as they grasped her chin in a tender hold, tilting her head back up so that she was once again looking into his beautiful green eyes.

"It would seem we are inclined to kiss again." Kurama said, a smirk tugging at his lips.

Keiko nodded. "So it seems. But you know what, Kurama?" Keiko asked as he leaned down toward her.

"What?"

"Even if we weren't standing under the mistletoe...I wouldn't object if you were to kiss me."

His head tilted ever so slightly. "Is that so?" Amusement once again underlined his tone. "I'll remember that for future reference."

His hand slid down from her chin, around to the nape of her neck, sweeping up into her hair. Keiko sighed as Kurama's lips touched hers, a bry moy moan against his mouth as her body seemed to flush suddenly all over.

Apparently mortals were able to obtain perfection, because at the moment, Keiko could imagine nothing more perfect than what was happening to her right now. After awhile, in which both were so caught up in the wonder of the moment that neither acknowledged the assortment of chuckles and at least one feminine "awwww", the new couple broke apart to stare at one another with matching smiles.

"I guess we'd better join the party, huh?" Keiko said softly.

"Hm, I think perhaps you're right." Kurama replied with gleam in his eye. "We wouldn't want to disappoint Yukina, now would we?"

"No, definitely not." she grinned happily.

With that, the two shared one last tender kiss before joining their friends in the next room.

~*~

The End