Behind Closed Doors

The next morning, they dressed quickly for school. Yusuke insisting on fixing breakfast so Kurama could work on more of his homework and then hugging him tightly before they left. “Thank you so much,” he whispered.

“I love you, Yusuke,” Kurama murmured as he returned the hug. When Yusuke stepped back to open the door, “I’ll meet you after school. The office is closer to your school than mine.”

A look of fear chased by quiet acceptance went through Yusuke’s eyes. “I’ll be there, Kurama.” As the redhead watched, Yusuke put on his normal self, the self that every one saw. His eyes hardened, the punk attitude came on in full force as he slung his bag over his shoulder and slid on his shoes. “Let’s go, you don’t want to be late,” he said, his voice even different than it had been just a moment before.

Kurama was amazed at the change, but now understood fully how he could miss that Yusuke was in such pain before. He leaned in and kissed Yusuke on the cheek, “Thank you for letting me in.”

Yusuke shrugged, a flicker of something running through his eyes and softly he replied, “Thank you for being there to let in.” He turned and opened the door, letting Kurama pass through first before turning to lock the door. He slouched down the hall, “Catch you later.”

“I’ll see you later,” Kurama smiled and left, following the brunet down the stairs and then heading in another direction to get to school.

The day passed in a flurry of inquiries about his health, catching up with classes, and trying to avoid overly enthusiastic girls, and some boys, who wanted to express their relief he was doing better. By the end of the day, he had his homework finished and had turned it all in, was more than ready to leave, and was almost looking forward to counseling as a way to get away from the mob. He was excused from chores because he’d been sick and left quickly, avoiding the majority of his well-wishers, who still had to finish their tasks.

When he arrived at Yusuke’s school, he found the brunet talking to Kuwabara and Hiei. His eyes narrowed, but he forced his expression neutral as he walked up to them. “Good afternoon.”

Hiei didn’t look happy at his arrival, “Aren’t you supposed to at your school?”

“I’m finished there for the day and I have much more important things to take care of.” His eyes flicked to Yusuke as he reached out with his ki to offer what silent support he could. He could feel Yusuke greeting him, pulling his ki in. This made him relax a little. Though, Hiei looked like he sorely wanted to make a smart remark, only stopped by Kuwabara’s presence. In a sweet voice, he added, “There are some things that are just more important that taking care of one’s needs.” His eyes were sharp, threatening to turn gold as he nailed Hiei with a look.

Kuwabara laughed, “I’m glad you’re feeling better, Kurama, but are you sure you’re not still sick. You’re not making much sense.”

Hiei returned the glare, “No, he’s making perfect sense.” He shifted his stance to more fully face the redhead, “So, you mean to say you haven’t claimed what could be yours.”

“No, Hiei, what I’m saying is that there are things more important than staking a claim and proving how strong I want people to think I am.” Kurama tipped his head to one side, “I already know how strong I am, I don’t need to prove it to anyone.”

Hiei glared a moment longer, the look in his eyes cold enough to burn through Kurama, had the redhead cared. Hiei then took off in a huff, letting Kurama know he’d wounded him.

“Hey, where’d the shrimp go now? He was makin’ a fuss about wanting to go off and do something and now he’s just up and left?” Kuwabara complained.

“Let it go, Kuwabara,” Yusuke groused, but his eyes were on Kurama. He sighed and the redhead could see tension draining from his body. “I’ll see you tomorrow, okay, Kuwabara. Got things to take care of.”

Kuwabara shrugged, “Okay, see ya. Later, Kurama.”

“Good bye, Kuwabara-kun,” Kurama replied. When Kuwabara left, Kurama stepped closer to Yusuke, “You okay?”

“Yeah,” Yusuke returned, his voice soft. “He started making smart remarks about you coming over last night. I told him to shove it and then Kuwabara came up.” He let out a shaky breath. “I’m glad you showed up.”

They started walking and Kurama brushed the back of his hand against Yusuke’s, “You’re welcome.”

“So, what’s this guy’s name?”

“Yuki Yuudai. My mother’s friend went to him when she was getting away from her ex-husband.”

“Oh.”

They walked in silence the rest of the way to the office building. They rode the elevator in silence to the twenty-first floor. The reception room was small, empty of people aside from a woman sitting at a desk entering things into a computer. A single sofa and love seat were arranged in one corner across from the secretary’s desk. The colors were soft pastels, designed to help people feel at ease, but Kurama could tell that Yusuke felt anything but. Yusuke walked to the secretary, “We have an appointment.”

“Yes, sir. Please, have a seat. I’ll let Yuki know you’re here.” She stood and slipped through the only other door in the room, directly across from the one they’d entered.

Yusuke didn’t sit. He paced, his hands working the handle of his school bag while Kurama stood near the love seat and watched him. He was pleasantly surprised that Yusuke had approached the woman. He knew this was hard. It was hard for him, and he was along as support.

A youngish looking man came out of the door, “Hello, I am Yuki Yuudai. You are?”

Yusuke bowed, “Yusuke Urameshi.”

Kurama bowed, “Shuichi Minamino, though my friends call me Kurama.”

“How would you prefer I addressed you?”

Kurama shrugged, “Yusuke is used to referring to me as Kurama, so that may be simpler.”

Yuki bowed his head, “As you like. Please follow me.” He led them through the door. It led to a short hallway with three other doors attached, two on one side of the hall, one on the other. He led them into the first of the two. “Have a seat,” he gestured to the couch that sat across from a single chair as he closed the door. Both were overstuffed and matched in a soft fabric. There were end tables on both sides of the couch and a table between the couch and chair. All three had boxes of tissues on them.

Yusuke sat in the middle of the couch, dropping his bag on the far cushion. Kurama sat next to him, placing his bag next to the arm of the couch. Yusuke slid his foot so that he could touch Kurama and then challenged Yuki, “Now what?”

Kurama watched Yuki’s eyes flick to their feet before he looked at their faces as he sat, “Now I ask you to tell me why you’re here.”

Yusuke squirmed uncomfortably a moment, but Kurama didn’t answer. He knew Yusuke had to give the reason. He watched as the brown eyes flicked to the door and then to his. He nodded and Yusuke began to speak, still looking at Kurama, “I’m here because someone I think I love screwed me over and someone who loves me very much wants to help me.” Yusuke’s eyes left Kurama’s and turned to Yuki, “I was with this guy,” he watched carefully for any reaction and Yuki just nodded for him to continue. “I was with this guy and I thought we were friends. He…he and I, we had sex, and it started out great.” Yusuke’s eyes went back to Kurama and he reached out for the redhead’s hand. For the rest of the hour, he spoke more freely than Kurama had expected of what happened between him and Hiei. Yuki asked a few questions and he answered them, though most of the time, he looked at Kurama while talking.

“Kurama, how did you become involved?” Yuki asked, startling the redhead a little.

“About a month ago, I saw what was happening. I hadn’t known before.” He glanced at Yusuke, who nodded, and told the story of what he’d seen and what happened, slightly edited, but nonetheless, the whole story. When he finished, Yusuke squeezed his hand and he returned the pressure.

“And since then?”

Yusuke answered, “I’ve been kinda avoiding everyone for a while, but yesterday, I went and saw Kurama because he hadn’t been feeling well. I saw Hiei last night and he said things that scared me and I called Kurama and he came over and stayed the night with me.”

“I have noticed you rely on him a lot.”

“He hasn’t changed how he treats me. My other friends don’t know what went on, any of it, but he knows and he still treats me the same. He…he told me he respects me even though…”

Yuki leaned back in his chair, “You’ve been very open with me and I appreciate that. I also appreciate you’ve been through a difficult time.”

Yusuke looked at his lap, “Kurama wants to help me and he’s being very patient with me, the least I can do is make the effort.”

“Do you love Kurama?” Yusuke only shrugged, still looking at his lap. “What about Hiei, do you love him?”

Yusuke looked up now, “If what Kurama is showing me is love, then what I feel for Hiei isn’t it.” His eyes went down again, “I don’t know what it is, but I still have feelings for him, too.”

Yuki sat silently in his chair long enough that Yusuke finally looked up, “I would like you to come once a week, Yusuke. I would like you to come alone. Kurama may come and wait in the waiting room, but I would like to talk to you without him.”

“For how long?” Yusuke asked.

“I don’t know. I can’t tell you that, Yusuke. If you’re honest with yourself, then less time.”

Yusuke lifted his chin in challenge, “What about us?” He lifted their joined hands, “Are you going to tell us what to do and not do?”

Yuki looked them both in the eyes, “No. I will ask that you take care of each other and not rush things, but I think both of you have the sense to do that without being told.”

“Alright,” Yusuke agreed, “I’ll come next week. Anything else?”

“Not this week.” Yuki stood and opened the door. He led them to the single door across the hall. “Does this time work for you?” he asked as he stood with his hand on the door knob.

“Yeah.”

“Then, same time, next week.” He opened the door. “We value the privacy of our clients,” he said as he bowed. The door led back to the main hallway of the office building and was labeled as a now defunct candy company’s office in old peeling letters that no one had bothered to remove.

“What now?” Yusuke sighed as they walked back to the elevator.

“Would you like to come to my house for dinner?” Kurama asked softly.

“How much did you tell your mother?” Yusuke asked, just inquiry, nothing more in his voice.

“That you had been in a bad relationship. She overheard some of what we said and asked.” Kurama pushed the call button and the waited in silence until the elevator arrived.

Yusuke sighed and looked at the ceiling of the elevator, “You know, I haven’t told anyone else that I’m gay, much less anything else about what’s happened. And that guy, Yuki, it didn’t phase him, but I know Kuwabara would freak out just at that part. Not because he’s got issues with gays. I mean, I know one of the guys in his posse is gay. But he’d freak because of the way we fight sometimes. He’d wonder if I was getting off on it, y’know.” He sighed, “I don’t know what Keiko would do. She may be upset ‘cause she expects us to be together or she may be relieved.”

He looked at Kurama as if he wanted to say something, but the door opened and they were again back on the main floor. They walked in silence to the train station and then to Kurama’s house. Shiori wasn’t home yet when they arrived, so they sat at the kitchen table with drinks before Yusuke continued talking, “What about you? Does your mother know you’re in love with another guy?”

Kurama shrugged, “I haven’t told her because it’s not come up, but it doesn’t bother me either way. It’s the person I love, not your gender, though I think you’d be one scary girl.” Yusuke laughed with Kurama. When they calmed again, Kurama said, “I love for who you are, Yusuke, not because of your body.”

Yusuke smiled, “That feels so good to hear, Kurama.” He turned to his homework and Kurama followed suit after watching the brunet for a moment. They worked in silence save for a few questions and answers until Shiori arrived home.

“I’m home, Shuichi,” she called as she came into the room. “Oh, hi, Yusuke. Will you join us for dinner?”

Yusuke slid his hand behind his head in an embarrassed gesture, “If it’s not too much trouble, ma’am.”

“We’d love to have you. Please do stay,” she smiled at him.

“Thank you, ma’am, I’d be honored.”

Shiori smiled and the rest of the evening was spent in comfortable companionship. They ate dinner and then Shiori insisted they watch a movie together, an old Kurosawa film by the title Rashomon. They spent an hour afterwards discussing the movie and would have talked longer if Shiori hadn’t looked at the clock and declared it too late for more conversation. She drove Yusuke home, Kurama along for the ride.

Kurama walked Yusuke up to his door, “You okay?”

Yusuke thought a moment before answering, “Getting there, I think.” He stepped in and hugged Kurama, “Thanks for being there.”

Kurama returned the hug, “You’re more than welcome. Good night, sleep well, I love you.”

Yusuke kissed his cheek, “Sleep well yourself. Good night. Ummm…” He stepped back, “Can I do my homework at your house?”

“Of course, anytime you want.”

Yusuke smiled, “Thank your mom for dinner, will you?”

“Yes, I will, though you did several times.” Kurama smiled, “Good night, Yusuke.” He leaned in to kiss Yusuke’s cheek and the brunet turned so that their lips met briefly.

Yusuke smiled at Kurama’s surprised blush, “Good night.”

A/N: So...another chapter...I'm tired and on a deadline of my own making so I've not much to say here.

Broken Wings: Yeah, he is a little bit of a jerk, but it is allowed within cannon...Hiei, did, after all, want to be the strongest and would do what he had to.

Diane: Thank you.

kit-kit: I'm glad you did :D

nette: Lots of questions...answers coming...thanks

YamaNeko: If you want to read Kurama killing Hiei, try my story "If Only..."

Devious lil Devil: Teasing is fun. Enjoy...

Back to work for me...and then to work...ja ne.