True Dedication

Chapter 3

They heard a small gasp coming from the front door and saw Kurama standing there, eyes full of…anger?

“Kurama….” Hiei and Yusuke said in unison.

“Hiei...Yusuke…? What on earth is going on?” He asked as he looked from one to the other.

Hiei stared into those bright green eyes, and looked away. He couldn’t believe he didn’t sense the fox’s presence. His being in the ningen world was messing with his demonic abilities. Yusuke couldn’t even move his mouth to form words. He was just as shocked as Hiei to see their friend there. It’s not like they were doing anything wrong, and yet the longer Kurama stared at his two friends, the more apprehensive Yusuke began to feel.

‘Why am I even feeling this way? Am I jealous of Hiei and Yusuke? No, I can’t be, what is it then?’ Kurama thought as the emotions took hold.

He would not stand there and suffer any longer, so he turned to walk out the door. Yusuke grabbed his arm before he could step on the welcome mat. Kurama turned to face his friend. What met him were those coffee colored eyes. Yusuke saw the hurt in his friend’s features, but he couldn’t understand why?

“Kurama…we weren’t doing anything…if that’s what you think.” Yusuke began to explain, hoping Kurama would listen. “All I did was showed Hiei how to hug. He didn’t know what it was, so I figured I’d show him.”

Hiei rolled his eyes at Yusuke’s explanation, but it was the truth. He had no purpose for a hug for he never used it. He got ready to go, giving the fox and detective a glancing look then was gone in a black blur. Yusuke and Kurama looked at each other hesitantly, seeing who would break the silence. Of course, it was Yusuke.

“Hey…I thought you were on your way to school.” He said crossing his arms over his chest.

“I was when I realized I had left my wallet here.” Kurama said sheepishly.

“Uh huh.” Yusuke said wryly. “So, might as well make this your day off. Seeing as you are all ready late as it is.” Yusuke stated with his famous smile.

“I suppose so. Well then, let me change out of these clothes at the least. I can afford to miss one day, seeing it’s close to break anyway. Then you can tell me what we’re going to do for the rest of the day.” Kurama walked towards the staircase in his slippers and proceeded to climb them.

Yusuke heard Kurama upstairs trying to find something to throw on. As he waited downstairs in the borrowed sweatpants and T-shirt, he thought of what they could do for the rest of the day. ‘Well first I have to get a change of clothes.’ He said to himself looking down at his wardrobe. ‘Then maybe we could go out somewhere.’

His thoughts were interrupted when he saw Kurama coming down the stairs in a pair of form fitting jeans and a light blue polo shirt. He had his hair tied with a thong.

“Okay, so this is officially a hooky day… so what would you like to do? Our dinner reservation is at six so we have until then.” Kurama stated.

“I think I can come up with something the both of us will enjoy.”

Yusuke walked over to where the kitsune stood and placed his hand on Kurama’s back. The kitsune shuddered at the contact, sending many sensual feelings throughout his body. ‘What is he doing to me?’ He thought as he felt the warm hand leave him. The scent of dishwashing liquid mixed with Yusuke’s already masculine scent drove him wild.

‘I wonder what his problem is.’ Yusuke inquired as he noticed Kurama’s sudden change in demeanor.

He also took a whiff of Kurama’s scent, fresh roses with an overwhelming aroma of cinnamon spice. Yusuke’s body shivered at the thought of having Kurama in his embrace, calling out his name in the heat of passion.

‘What is wrong with me!’ His mind cried out. ‘I think not having any alcohol is driving me insane.’

The two had yet another stare-off, both with confused and hesitant smiles.

“I…better go get freshened up. I have to stop by my house and get some spare clothes. Can’t keep wearing yours ‘cause you won’t have any left.” Yusuke said with a laugh and ran up the stairs.

“Okay, well after you get ready, I can drop you off at your house then we can go on our way. I’ll just finish straightening up down here.” Kurama called out. He took the time to look at his living room to notice his curtains were missing and dust still clung to his furniture. ‘What am I going to do with you Yusuke?’

Upstairs, Yusuke headed for the bathroom, shutting the door and locking it. He checked himself out in the mirror as he turned the sink on.

“Not a bad looking guy.” He said admiring himself.

He went over to the tub, turned on the shower and hopped in. He allowed the water to stream down his muscled body. Little ripples formed down his chest and torso. They made their way down his chiseled legs and disappeared down the drain. He grabbed the shampoo overhead and poured a good amount in his hand. Smelling it, he said aloud “Cinnamon spice.” He lathered it on his scalp and scrubbed his hair, then rinsed himself clean.

He turned the water off, grabbed a towel off the rack and wrapped it around his waist. He could hear Kurama still cleaning up downstairs and saying something about, “My curtains, my favorite curtains.” Yusuke shrugged his shoulders and went into Kurama’s room.

“Fox-boy sure is a neat freak.” Yusuke commented looking around Kurama’s bedroom. “Now let’s see if he has anything else that will fit me.”

He walked over to the closet and opened it. Seeing a pair of blue jeans and a white t-shirt, he threw those on the bed and went over to the dresser. Opening it up he found that Kurama had his underwear nicely folded next to his socks.

“You gotta be kidding me. He actually folds his underwear!” Yusuke said laughing. He didn’t even notice the company he had standing in the doorframe.

“Find something amusing, Yusuke?” The fox questioned as he made his way over.

Yusuke yelped, turning to meet his friend’s gaze. A sweat drop formed on the side of his head.

“He….Hey Kurama….I was just looking for some spare underwear, that’s all.” He said trying to redeem himself.

“Oh, is that all? Then why did I hear laughter. I didn’t know underwear could tell jokes?” Kurama quipped.

Yusuke a bit irritated by that comment said, “Nah, you see I was laughing more at the fact you actually fold your underwear. I mean who does that anymore?”

“I do.” Kurama declared. He went over to his bed, sat down, and crossed his arms over his chest. He noticed the clothes on the bed and nodded his head.

“I see you found something to wear, but can you fit them? I have more old clothes somewhere around here.”

“Uh…yeah I think they will be fine.” Yusuke replied.

Kurama gave him a once over and started out the door. Yusuke could still feel a bit of anger coming off the fox and called out to him.

“Uh…hey Kurama…”

“Yes, Yusuke?”

“Look…I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings about earlier. We were only hugging, and if that bothered you, I’m sorry. I just needed…”

“Yes, I understand Yusuke. However you need to dry off and get dressed before you catch a chill.”

“Um yeah, I forgot.” Yusuke replied looking at his half-naked form. He was just about to drop the towel off his waist when he felt someone watching him.

He turned to see the fox still standing there, his green eyes watching him intently. Kurama saw that he was caught. His smile took on a vulpine quality, and then disappeared out the room, closing the door slowly behind him.

‘Oh my,’ Kurama thought as he quickly went downstairs, ‘When had Yusuke filled out in all the right places, I wonder. Not that I have been looking, but his demon heritage must have helped out in some way. Those tight abs are not possible.’

He made his way downstairs and to the couch to wait for his friend to get himself ready. As he let his mind wander, Kurama was plagued by the fact he saw his two friends hugging, practically groping one another. Although it was not so, that’s how he perceived it. This caused a bit of jealousy to surface and when kitsune’s are afflicted by jealousy, it is not a good thing.

“Why were they hugging in the first place? Was it because Yusuke disclosed his secret to him, or was it that Hiei somehow procured the information from his mind? Whatever it was this will not continue.” Kurama concluded.

He then closed his eyes for a moment to clear his mind of any negative thoughts towards his two friends. Giving a big sigh, Kurama soon fell into a light snooze.

Still in Kurama’s room, Yusuke now sat on the bed. He was replaying what just happened in his head. He thought he saw that same glint in his friend’s eyes before, when he was trying to get Kurama to get ready for school. He received the same look from Keiko whenever she ‘wanted’ him. But a feeling that surrounded Kurama was none he could have imagined.

“What’s wrong with me? I can’t fall in love with my friend. I mean I have Keiko.” He said aloud. He fell backwards on the bed, eyes plastered to the ceiling.

In truth, Yusuke knew that He and Keiko were over. He could sense it every since he got back from Makai. Things weren’t the same. Keiko would give him weary looks every now and then and ask him questions like, “You’re not going back are you?” or “Do you think you’ll transform at any moment?” and his favorite “What do you love more, me or fighting some random demon?”

‘Maybe I need to find out where we stand. Just to make sure that I make the right decision.’ He thought putting on the spare boxers and then threw on the pants and shirt. Checking himself out in the mirror, he nodded and walked out the room.

‘Maybe I’ll give her a call after we come back from dinner.’ He said drawing in a deep breathe.

As he headed downstairs, another thought occurred to him. Why did Kurama seem angry with him for being near Hiei? Yeah, it was odd to see the fire apparition actually allowing someone else to touch him without a sword in his chest or back. But why did Kurama act as if he was upset or better yet jealous.

“Nah, he wasn’t jealous.” Yusuke concluded. “He was just shocked to see that and he overreacted.”

Nodding his head in agreement, he came to the last step to see Kurama fast asleep on the couch. Yusuke smiled to himself and called to his friend. The kitsune woke up and saw Yusuke standing there, his hands placed on his hips.

“Ready, Kurama?” Yusuke asked. He placed his hair in its trademark slick back style and smiled.

“Yes, I’m ready; I didn’t plan on taking a little nap.” He said stretching. He stood up and started walking towards the door. “Yusuke, if you don’t mind me asking where exactly are we going?”

“It’s a surprise. Now let’s go, we have to stop by my house and then we’re off.” Yusuke said eagerly.

They hopped in Kurama’s blue mustang and drove in the direction of Yusuke’s apartment. When they arrived, Yusuke turned the knob and it opened.

“Figures, she didn’t even lock the door.” He said pushing it in.

Kurama followed behind Yusuke as he searched for the light switch. Finding it, he turned it on to reveal a messy living room, followed by a disarray kitchen. Yusuke shook his head and walked thru a clear path leading to his room. He opened his door to find everything the way he left it, clean.

“Well, it’s nice to know she didn’t step foot in here. Kurama you can sit down if you want. I’ll only be a second.”

Kurama sat down on Yusuke’s bed and waited for him to finish packing his belongings. Yusuke walked over to his closet, grabbed his red duffle bag and started stuffing some clothes in it. He grabbed t-shirts, a couple of blue jeans, some boxers, and other supplies. Once he was finished, the two of them walked out the house, Yusuke locking up and headed to the car. Yusuke tossed his bag in the back seat and they drove off, while Yusuke gave Kurama directions to their next destination.

“Ok, it’s just around this corner then make a left.” Yusuke directed, gesturing with his finger.

Kurama turned left and found a parking space just up the street. They abandoned the car and started walking in the direction Yusuke had pointed out. Kurama began to feel uneasy about the neighborhood they arrived at. So many run-down homes, beggars wandered the streets; it just wasn’t a pleasant place to be. Kurama stayed close to Yusuke as they made a right turn to a big lot.

“Yusuke…what is this doing here?” Kurama asked a bit too excited for Yusuke’s taste, but he only smiled.

“Well, what do you think it is fox-boy? It’s a carnival, duh.” Yusuke replied, smiling.

“I know what it is Yusuke. What I meant is why is it here of all places?”

“Oh. As you can see this neighborhood hasn’t seen the best of times. So they decided to have it here. What’s even better is its all free. So come on.” Yusuke said.

“How did you know about this?” Kurama asked as they walked.

“I saw it on TV last night. I thought it would be a good idea to have fun occasionally. Ya know, away from fighting and lying around.” Yusuke replied, grabbing Kurama by the wrist and pulling him towards the entrance.

The fox allowed his raven-haired friend to drag him towards the entrance.