Downtown

-o-

Chapter 2, Working the Party

-o-0-o-

Keiko looked up in surprise. "A party at your yacht?"

The red-head, pretty boy, genius nodded. His long crimson hair fell about his face, haloing it handsomely, ending a few inches below his shoulder. His eyes were a green like a lush plant, gleaming with mystery and a knowing look. All the girls' hearts fluttered when they spotted him, following him around like his shadow. Sure, Keiko thought he was handsome, always had, but that didn't mean she had to be sending him love notes.

"My mother and her fiancée decided I could have one, so I'm going to."

"No alcohol?"

"Of course not. Wouldn't even think of it."

"When?"

"Today actually. I'm so sorry for the late notice, but I wasn't able to get it to you on Friday. When I came to the Ramen House, your parents said you were out." His name was Shuiichi Minamino. "It's just at six."

"Sure. I'll bring some food," Keiko commented with a smile. Shuiichi smiled a bright white smile.

"That would be wonderful! Thank you, and I do look forward to seeing you there!" Shuiichi said smoothly before walking over to his seat respectively. Keiko smiled softly; when she brought the food she would be able to ask about Yusuke.

Keiko had taken Yusuke's advice and spoken to her parents about what happened. Okay, she didn't tell everything. But at least she spoke up right. That was definitely easy to remember . . .

Should she tell them?

Keiko watched her mother's calm, simple face flash a bright attractive smile, thanking the elderly couple for picking their restaurant. She was so oblivious about what happened to her daughter . . . should she shatter this naiveté by telling her everything and cause her worry that could damage their business. Guilt rose in Keiko's stomach at having wanted her mother's attention so much . . .

'She doesn't need to know . . . I won't make her worry. I'll just say fell . . .,' she thought.

"Mom?"

"One moment honey!"

"Yes, ma'am . . ."

Keiko sat in the living room behind their restaurant, fiddling with her hands and listening to the familiar sounds of dishes clashing together and of noodles being stirred. An hour passed by and she limped around the room, straightening pictures and pillows. Finally her mother walked into the room, wiping her hands on her lace apron and dabbing the sweat from her face.

"Now, what was it that you needed?" Mrs. Yukimura asked gently, eyes patient, but somewhat distracted.

"I tripped on my way to get your pictures and I twisted my ankle. I couldn't get the pictures for you. I'm sorry!" Keiko spilled out quickly, twisting the soft cloth of her shirt between her fingers.

"Oh that's alright, hon. We'll go get them later. How about your ankle? Can you walk? Let me see it, dear," she cooed, talking Keiko's black and blue ankle into her nimble hands.

Keiko hated how she always did that . . . always calling her dear, honey, hon, darling . . . pet names. But she never heard her name. She was used to it, but rarely heard her own name so when she did hear it, it startled her.

Pain throbbed in her ankle and she stiffened under her mother's grasp.

She doesn't need to know. Like they said, innocent is bliss.

Right?

Her mother rushed her to the doctor before school and she got herself an ankle brace and some soothing medicine. Her parents seemed to always want her okay, asking her if she needed anything then . . . But they were growing distant again . . . And it hurt her more than she was willing to admit.

-o-

Keiko limped across the plank towards the exquisite yacht, holding a large pot of her best beef ramen in it. She looked around for a familiar face, having come early to help out.

"Hey, Kurama! Where do you want these lights?" a familiar voice called out. A small smile touched her lips as she headed towards it.

"Entangle them in the fence's bars, thanks! That would be great!" another familiar voice shouted back. Looking up, she smiled in return to the pearly white one that shone down at her. "Keiko! Glad you could make it!"

"Hi, Shuiichi! Where can I put my ramen?" she called up to him. Shuiichi looked around for a table and looked towards the yacht's railings.

"Yusuke!"

"Yeah?"

"Do you remember where I put that table?"

"Sure, I'll go get it!"

"Yusuke! You don't have to do that . . . !" Shuiichi trailed off and shrugged. He smiled.

"So what can I do to help?" Keiko asked. He looked around again and ran over to help Yusuke with the table. Setting it on its side, they flipped the legs out before setting it upright.

"You probably have a more artistic hand than either us. Could you help arranging the food?" Shuiichi asked and she nodded willingly. Shuiichi glanced at Yusuke then to Keiko. "Oh I'm sorry! I should've introduced you! Yusuke, this is-"

"We've met before," Yusuke interrupted, flinging a blue tablecloth over the table. Yusuke glanced at Keiko then to her black ankle brace. "How's the ankle?"

"It's doing better. I can walk a little at least. How's your back?" she asked. He wrinkled his nose.

"Itchy."

Shuiichi looked back between the two. "I'm really missing something here. How did you two meet?" Keiko flushed and bit her lower lip, glancing towards Yusuke.

"I became lost one day and he helped me back home," she explained with a shrug. Shuiichi lifted an eyebrow.

"That doesn't explain the ankle and back," Shuiichi pointed out.

"My ankle was hurt; that was one of the reasons I needed help back."

"And his back?"

"She broke it when I was carrying her. Should lose a few pounds, this one!" She started towards him in anger, too quickly for her ankle. She fell forward and he quickly caught her by her arms, lifting her back up gently. "You know, you fall down too much."

"It's not like I do it on purpose!" she cried, glaring up at him, annoyed at the smirk he held firmly on his face.

He bent down and picked up the string of lights, resting it on his shoulder. "I better get back to this before it's too late. When does the party start again?" he asked quizzically.

"Six, Yusuke, six p.m."

"Alright. I'll get it up by then."

It was tedious work, wrapping the multi-colored lights around the posts all about the yacht. He knew it would take a while, but he needed the money. Looking up momentarily, he watched as Keiko arranged the bowls of food around on the table after she set the picnic blanket over it. She had placed the blanket so that the corners of the blanket fell over the front, forming a sort of triangle. A smirk touched his lips before he turned back to his work, careful not to drop the lights into the seawater below.

-o-

The place was swarming with teenagers by 6:10 and Yusuke found himself unable to leave without being noticed. All the teenagers were prejudice against him and he wouldn't be able to get out without a fight.

Kurama caught his eye and shook his head towards a door. Yusuke nodded, heading towards it as Kurama dispatched himself from his many female companions. Leaning against the door, Yusuke waited as Kurama approached him, eyeing the people glancing at him in annoyance.

"Yusuke, could I ask you a favor?" Kurama asked, leaning against the wall next to him.

"Depends," he said, a smirk resting on his lips. Kurama smiled, closing his eyes and pushing a lock of crimson hair behind his ear.

"That's just like you . . .," he murmured before looking up, emerald eyes meeting dark ones. "I've noticed someone hitting the punch bowl and lately way too many people have been creeping about it. Could you get rid of the it? I'll distract them and I'll pay you more."

Yusuke let his head hang slightly before he looked up. "Yeah, yeah, I'll do it. But I'll be expectin' that money," he drawled out, his smirk growing. With a bored sigh, he pushed himself off the wall and watched as Kurama walked out onto the deck, motioning all of the party goers over.

When all of the excited teenagers had followed their idol onto the deck, Yusuke made his way to the table of snacks and punch that Keiko had set up so carefully. Now the bowls were misplaced, snacks littering the tablecloth and floor, stained by the punch. His nose wrinkled slightly at the sight of soggy pretzels, slightly reddened from the fruit punch. Picking up the bowl carefully, he dipped a finger in it and stuck it in his mouth and grimaced. Not only had the punch been spiked, but they'd used the cheap stuff to.

Yusuke scoffed. All the richies here and they couldn't even get some good quality brew.

He headed towards the bathroom to drain the offending liquid down the toilet when someone cried out. He looked over his shoulder to see a glazed over glare looking his way. Others turned to look at him, the same lazy angriness on their faces. Only a few were sober and then there were the few who didn't really care about the punch so much as they did as staring up at Kurama.

A few drunken teenagers stumbled towards him, mouths hanging agape, making them seem to be the picture of stupidity. One clumsily tried to pop his knuckles, only succeeding in having his hand slide across the top of his hand, scratching his own arm.

"What is trash like voo doing here!" Scratched-His-Own-Arm cried, flinging a finger in his direction

Yusuke rolled his eyes, continuing on his way towards the bathroom. He ignored the sudden cry of, "HEY! I'm talkin' to voo!" as he opened the door to the disgustingly clean bathroom and proceeded to dump the concoction down the porcelain latrine. Muttering something underneath his breath as he flushed the cheap liquid down the toilet, Yusuke looked up to see that they had advanced and now he could reach out and touch them if he wanted to.

One of them decided to reach out instead . . . Actually a few others did, but their aim was off and only one was able to actually touch him. The blonde boy in front of him grabbed him by his shirt's collar, holding it up slightly like he was trying to lift him up. Blondie tried to tower over him and it was slightly working seeing how he was taller than Yusuke. Seeming more annoyed than anything, Yusuke glared up at the pretty boy without care.

"Do you need something cause I'd really rather talk to somebody else," he stated impassively, a cold smirk lighting onto his face.

"You stupid scum!" Blondie growled out, bringing back a fist, thumb inside of his clenched fingers. He threw his fist forward towards Yusuke's forward, but instead it met contact with the hard wall behind his head. Blondie let out a hiss of pain, grabbing his wrist and looking at his hand. "I think I broke my frickin' thumb!"

"You don't even know how to form a fist correctly!" Yusuke sneered. He fixed his own fist and held it up. "See, it's like THIS!" His fist connected with the middle of the pale boy's face.

---

"Keiko!"

She looked up from where she sat by the perimeter of the yacht, vision blurred slightly. Having not realized soon enough that the punch had been dosed with cheap vodka, the star student was finding it hard to stand upright, even harder than usual with her twisted ankle.

Shuiichi crouched down beside her slumped form, leaning his head down as he tried to look at her face where it was hanging against her chest. "Keiko? You alright?" Her eyes met his and he sighed as he recognized the look of them. She was undoubtedly drunk.

"I don't feel so good . . .," she murmured and a fear crossed her face as she studied him with squinted eyes. She began to scoot backwards away from his form. "Leave me alone! Please . . . leave me alone . . ."

"Keiko. It's me . . . Shuiichi. I'm gonna help you, alright?" He reached out a gentle hand, but she swatted it away fiercely, tears starting to cloud her eyes as everything became just a blur of colors.

"NO! Leave me . . . alone . . . please . . . Don't touch ME!" Keiko slapped pitifully at his hands as he tried to help her up. Tears spilled over her cheeks and confusion built inside of Shuiichi at the way she was acting.

"Shh . . . shh . . . It's okay. I won't hurt you."

"Don't let them touch me . . . Please . . . go away . . .," she murmured, pulling herself into a ball to attempt to get away from him.

"Keiko?"

Looking up at the familiar masculine voice of her savior, a look of pure desperation crossed her face. "Yusuke! Make him go away! He keeps touching me!"

Yusuke glanced at her then to Shuiichi who held up his hands. "I was trying to help her, but she's drunk and keeps talking about people touching her."

"I know you wouldn't touch her, Kurama. I'd be surprised if you'd ever even touched a girl's shoulder," Yusuke muttered as he knelt down beside the drunken girl. "Hey Keiko, it's me. You okay?" Her eyes were wide with fear as she looked up at them.

"He tried to touch me! Make him go away! Make him go away!" Launching herself forward, she cried out the slurred words as she buried her head into his stomach. He fell backwards at the sudden weight, one of his hands coming up to rest on the back of her head.

Yusuke glanced over at Kurama who smiled gently. "I'll get the others calmed down. You take her home. Her house is on the road two rights from here on the corner and it says 'The Ramen House' at the top of it."

"I'll find it," he promised. "I'll be back for my paycheck tomorrow." A grin touched his lips as he gathered the intoxicated girl into his arms, ignoring her mutterings. Slipping past the fumbling teenagers, Yusuke quickly jumped off the boat and ran out of the dock so he would not be easily sighted.

Keiko mumbled in his arms, gripping his shirt tightly in petite fists. It seemed her encounter had affected her more then he had thought. He held her tightly against him as he walked on the sidewalk, streetlights shining above them.

Her eyes shot open, looking around franticly before looking to him. "Where are we!"

Keeping a quick step, he responded, "On the way to your house." She sank back in his arms, relaxing.

Popping back up, she grabbed his chin so he would look at her. "You won't leave me alone? Promishe?" the frail girl slurred. He nodded, staring into her hazy eyes.

"Dammit, would you let me go!" Yusuke cried as he tried to gently pull her hand off his chin without letting her fall.

"You! You called me fat!"

Rolling his eyes, he wrenched his chin out of her grasp. The Ramen's House distant form came into view and he accelerated his pace so to get there faster. Keiko constantly tugged on his arm, trying to grab his attention to argue over the fact that he had called her fat. With a sigh, he clamped a hand over her mouth and they stared each other down.

"Do you have a key?"

She nodded. She pulled it out and put it in his hand.

"Good girl," he praised her mockingly and her brow furrowed. Yusuke pulled his hand back suddenly, face scrunched up in disgust. "I cannot believe you just licked me!"

She grinned tauntingly and pointed a finger into his face as he unlocked the door. "You! called me facht!"

"Would you just get over it!" Though she was making his arms ache from holding her so long. It wasn't that she was heavy; it was just holding her for that long was causing his arms to throb.

He stepped inside the lightless building, rays of moonlight streaming through the cracks in the shaded windows. Finding his way around chairs stacked on top of the tables precariously, Yusuke stepped quietly up the stairs, following Keiko's whispered directions. Painted a soft pink, a door loomed before him. Opening it, he walked in carefully, trying not to make the door squeak.

A soft bed lay invitingly before him and he lay her gently onto the covers. She stared up at him, eyes round and innocent. "Yusuke?" she whispered as he pulled the quilt out from under her to tuck around her.

"Yeah?" he muttered, sounding slightly harsh.

"I don't feel so good . . ."

Quickly, he grabbed her trashcan and she leaned over, spilling the contest of her stomach into the tin bin. He rubbed her back, pulling her soft hair away from the bile. It was going to be a long night for her.

"I've gotta go. Take care of yourself for once, kay?" he murmured, beginning to stand up.

She grabbed his ankle from where she was leaning over and looked up at him woozily. "You liar. Yoush said, you wouldn't leave. Are you going to break your promishe?"

He sighed. "Fine, I'll stay til you fall asleep. Happy?"

"Very," she whispered, a small smile touching her lips before she buried her face into the trashcan, his hand massaging her back gently as he held her hair back.

---

A/N: Hi everyone! Yes, I did actually update! GASP! LOL! I hope this chapter is good for you guys who have been waiting for this and I thank all of you who reviewed and put this on story alert! Don't think I'm sounding conceited or anything please, but I would really recommend putting this story on story alert because if you actually want to read this story, I'm afraid I don't update often so being told me e-mail would be the easiest way for you guys to find out about new chapters!

I'm gonna answer some of your questions so I can clear some stuff up.

Q: The plot sounds oddly familiar . . . (-blackfphoenix)

A: I can assure all of you that I didn't take the plot from anyone and if it is familiar to anyone else's story then I'm sorry and it is just a coincidence!

Q: Is Yusuke the spirit detective yet? Because he started to say Kurama. (-daydreamer53221 and Sevetenks the Ultimate F)

A: I don't believe I'll be putting anything in here about him being a spirit detective. I don't think I'll be putting any fantasy-aspects into this story, but you never know where your mind will take you. Kurama is just a nickname you will understand later in the story.

Q: Are you going to end up bringing mostly everyone into the story? (-KittySand Katie)

A: I don't know if I'll be able to fit everyone into a character, but I'll try.

Review! Please? I know this chapter wasn't as long, but I hope you guys still like it. If you have anymore questions, I'll try to answer them!