True Dedication

True Dedication

By: Nette

Disclaimer: I do not own anything Yu Yu Hakusho or claim them as my own characters. They belong to Yoshihiro Togashi.

Chapter 1
*flashback*

After Yusuke’s return from the Demon World, he and Keiko decided it was time for them to move forward with their engagement. A year of living with one another and trying to put the wedding together Keiko and Yusuke’s relationship seemed to be fading fast. Everyday seemed to spark a new argument for the couple. Yusuke would say one thing, Keiko another leaving both distressed and unable to be in the same room with the other.

However, their last fight ended with tears, harsh words, and one depressed Yusuke.

With the last of his dignity and dismay, Yusuke turned to his only friend who could help him through his time of need: Kurama. Yusuke summoned up enough courage to knock on his friend’s front door. Kurama opened the door with his trademark smile in place.

“Well, hello there, Yusuke. What brings you by here this time of night?” He asked, allowing Yusuke to walk into his home.

“Hey, fox boy.” Yusuke said his head hung low.

“What’s wrong Yusuke? Did something happen to you? Is it Keiko?” Kurama, quite disturbed by his friend’s demeanor, closed the door quickly standing by his side.

“I don’t want to talk about it right now Kurama. And no, nothing is wrong with Keiko.” Came Yusuke’s reply as he found his way over to the couch and sunk into the soft cushions.

Kurama sat next to him, eyes scanning his friend with a sigh.

“Then you can tell me when you are ready.” Kurama said finally. “Would you like something to eat, or drink perhaps?” He asked as he got up from the couch and headed towards the kitchen.

“Nah, I’m okay.” Yusuke said as he waved his hand in the air dejectedly.

Kurama shrugged his shoulders as he entered the kitchen, flicking on the light and opening the refrigerator.

“Hey Kurama.” Yusuke called out.

“Yes Yusuke?” Kurama replied coming back into the living room with a glass of orange juice. “Do you need anything?”

“Uh…I was…wondering if you would…let me crash here…for awhile…” Yusuke asked.

As he waited for his friend’s reply, he shifted on the couch trying to get more comfortable.

Kurama looked at his friend in disbelief. Of course, he wouldn’t turn him down in a time of need, however the fact that Yusuke came to him and not Kuwabara was a surprise. For that matter, Kurama wondered why Yusuke was out this late. He should have been home with Keiko.

‘Something must have happened’ Kurama thought. He roused from his thoughts to see Yusuke still waiting for an answer to his question.

“Of course you can stay Yusuke. As long as you need, but I do have one question for you.”

Yusuke looked away. He could feel a pain in his chest from the hurt look on Keiko’s face. Her crying echoing in his mind as the sound ate away at his soul. Kurama’s smooth voice awakened Yusuke out of his memory.

“Yeah, and what’s that?” He said trying to regain himself.

“Why didn’t you ask Kuwabara? Or stay with Genkai?” Kurama asked, avoiding the Keiko subject for now.

“Well, I was considering going to the old hag but memories of staying there before, was just too much. And the baka is on some exchange program in another country or something.” He stated bluntly, twirling his fingers.

Kurama watched as his friend twirled his fingers, a habit the black-haired youth must have picked up.

The redhead found it difficult not to probe Yusuke for more information. However, he was able to stifle his curiosity and pulled Yusuke to his feet.

“Then you have no choice. You can stay here as long as you like. I do have one stipulation though Yusuke for you to agree to.” Kurama said as he fixed the pillows on the couch.

“Yeah, and what’s that?” Yusuke’s left eyebrow rose in suspicion, his hands finding their ways to his hips.

Kurama gave a short laugh as he replied with that smile of his, and a twinkle in his eyes.

“That you wash your own underwear.”

With that out of the way, he walked out the room and up the stairs to his room, leaving Yusuke yelling up at him.

“Kurama you sick jerk! I was never going to let you near them!”

*end flashback*

That was a week ago, one long, miserable, boring week without word from his mother, Kuwabara, or even….Keiko. He was tired of being stuck in the house with no money, and no change of clothes since he didn’t go home or to Keiko’s apartment, (he just borrowed clothes from Kurama). He didn’t dare venture there, not yet anyway.

It was a hot Monday afternoon in July and since his removal from being Spirit Detective, he was bored and restless. It was a good time for some rest and relaxation. However, Yusuke was still feeling down in the dumps. He had no money, nowhere to go and especially no girl. Life was just dandy. Sure, he had the house to himself since Kurama was at school then work and wouldn’t be home until later that evening, though there was still something missing.

“But what!” He yelled as he dragged himself off the couch.

He let out a huge yawn followed by a series of stretching his limbs to bring life back to them and headed for the kitchen. When he came to the refrigerator, he noticed there was a note posted with the help of a white fox magnet.

“Yusuke, I may be a little late coming in tonight, don’t wait up for me. Sorry for the inconvience, but I have prepared you something to eat.
-Kurama
P.S. Please have the house clean when I get in.”

Yusuke laughed to himself.

“Starting to sound like her, now.” He said trying to hold back his bitter tears. “Damn Keiko.”

He threw open the door to see a container holding the food Kurama had made. He grabbed a bottle of spring water, Kurama wasn’t much of a drinker, and walked over to the table. He set the food out in front of him and examined what was inside. Finding the big container had some small fried fish, vegetables and rice.

After he ate, he headed to the living, turned the television on to some afternoon cartoons and nodded off.


It was around eight that evening when a tired and fatigued Kurama arrived at his home. He placed his workbag near the door along with his shoes and hung his coat on the coat rack.

When he saw that the television was on, he knew Yusuke was close by. He found his friend asleep on the couch, positioned awkwardly. His left hand rested on his stomach and his right arm lay across his face. He also noticed the pile of trash surrounding his friend.

“Yusuke, what am I going to do with you?” He asked himself as he reached for the remote control.

He was not in the mood to clean anything up so he turned the TV off. As he made his way to the stairs, he heard his roommate stir.

“Hey there, fox-boy.” Yusuke yawned as he wiped his eyes. “When did you get in?”

“Just a few moments ago.” Kurama replied without turning around.

He started up the stairs again when Yusuke called out to him.

“Sorry about the mess, I was-”

“It’s okay Yusuke; we will discuss it in the morning. You just get some rest and I will do the same.” He said trying to give Yusuke his best smile but it came off as a sort of tired grin.

Yusuke only nodded his head and went back to sleep, all the while thinking of a way to make amends with his friend.

‘Damn, if he kicks you out, where will you go, jackass.’ He thought as sleep overcame him.

Kurama sighed as he reached the top step, heading for his bedroom. He grabbed the pajama bottoms off the edge of his bed putting them on, finding himself too exhausted to take his routine shower before bed. As he climbed underneath the covers, he thought:

‘Tomorrow…we have to talk about this ‘arrangement’.” He turned the light off and let the darkness consume him.


The next morning, Yusuke woke to the fresh scent of pancakes, eggs, bacon, and rice cooking.

“Mmm, something smells good.” He said as he rose from the couch, with his stomach growling a bit too loud for his liking.

As he walked in the kitchen, he saw Kurama standing near the stove wearing a red robe and green silk pajama bottoms. Kurama turned to face Yusuke, saw his friend grinning ear to ear and rubbing his stomach eagerly.

‘He must have smelled the food.’ Kurama thought putting the last batch of pancakes on a plate on the table.

“Morning, Kurama.” Yusuke said as he sat down. ‘Man he looks good this morning.’ He thought.

His eyes zeroed in on all the food, taking in which one to eat first.

“Good morning Yusuke, sleep well?” Kurama asked as he too sat across his friend at the table.

Taking that as his cue to dig in, Yusuke grabbed his fork, stabbed at a full stack of pancakes and placed them on his plate, followed by the eggs and bacon.

“Yeah, I slept all right. How about you? You looked wiped out last night.” Yusuke said as he poured syrup over his food.

Kurama offered him a glass of orange juice which Yusuke happily accepted raising his glass.

“Well, yesterday was stressful; I had to give a presentation in one of my classes and at work I had to go over all the plans for the construction that is set up for next month. You know about the project to help restore old abandoned homes, well that’s what I had to deal with.” Kurama explained as he took a bite out of his bacon, before taking a sip of his juice.

“Oh, sounds pretty important.” Yusuke commented, eyeing his friend cautiously.

‘I hope he forgot he said he would talk to me today’ He thought, though his fear was not too far off. Kurama spoke just as his thoughts finished.

“Yusuke we have to talk about your living arrangements here.” Yusuke just nodded as Kurama continued. “It seems that you have become accustomed to living like a ne'er-do-well but I am not. I like to see my living room when I come home, not walk through a pigpen. What I am trying to say-”

‘Here it comes’ Yusuke thought as he braced himself for the bad news. ‘Even Keiko had her limits with me’ He swallowed hard as he heard the next line.

“You need to start pulling your own weight around here. For instance cleaning up your mess in the living room today could be for starters.” Kurama stated gesturing with his hand toward said room.

Kurama noticed the relief expression on his friend’s face as he spoke those words.

“Yusuke, are you okay?”

“Yeah,” Yusuke laughed. “I’m fine. Thought for a second there you were kicking me out, funny eh?”

Yusuke looked down at his now empty plate and grimaced. He knew that Kurama was staring at him. Taking a chance, he looked up to see forest green eyes staring back. He only saw compassion and that he would never think of such a thing.

“Yusuke, why would you think I would tell you to leave?” He asked a bit hurt by his friend’s accusation.

“I dunno. I guess I’m used to being tossed out somewhere. At home, at school, hell even at Genkai’s but enough about that. How about I get started by cleaning the kitchen?” He replied as he got up and took his and Kurama’s dishes over to the sink. “You need to get ready for school. So go on, I can take care of these.”

“Are you sure Yusuke?” Kurama asked a bit wearily.

“Of course I am. If I can handle a bunch of demons I can sure as hell take care of some dirty dishes.” He replied with a smirk.

“Well, ok then. Hey, how about this for an idea? What if we go out to eat tonight instead? I have the night off.” Kurama suggested.

“That sounds good. Now get moving fox-boy or you’ll be late.” Yusuke stated as he pushed Kurama out of the kitchen.

They came to a stop at the staircase. Kurama turned around to look his friend in the eyes.

“Okay, okay. I get the point, mother.” He said trying to stifle his laugh. ‘I never knew how beautiful his eyes looked when he’s angry.’ Kurama thought taking in Yusuke’s form from head to toe.

“Kurama….what’s wrong is there something on my face? Clothes?” Yusuke asked checking himself out to see what the fox was looking at.

“Oh, I’m sorry Yusuke. No there’s nothing on you.” He replied. “I’m going to go get ready now.”

With that, Kurama headed up to his room to get ready for work while Yusuke went back into the kitchen to get started on the dishes.


A/N: I will be revising/reposting these chapters so you may want to reread them just to see what changes were made. The other chapters will be revised as well until I reach chapter 18 which everything should be good by then. Til then, ja ne :D