Part Twelve: More Angst, Anger, and Denial

Kuwabara finally returns to the room and stands by the window staring out into the forests surrounding the building. He rather envied Yusuke for not having to be stuck here with a bunch of psychotic evil…things. 'Why does my life only go from bad to worse?' he wonders. He presses his forehead against the cold glass. At least both brothers were out. He was delighted at not having to listen to either demon or deal with them touching him. He was already trying to forget his conversation with Ani. 'It doesn't matter what he says. He's still the same evil…thing that I have face four times now. He's not capable of changing nor is he capable of being decent.' He only wonders why it seems like he's trying to convince himself of that.

He doesn't move until he hears the door open. Slowly, he pulls himself from the window and turns towards whoever it is. He manages to bite his tongue before saying something he will regret. "Well, it seems that you are learning," Oto remarks after a few minutes in which Kuwabara forces himself to stay silent when he really wants to tell him off. "My brother said he had a conversation with you."

"So?" Kuwabara says.

"He commented that you seemed more than a little unwilling to admit that you may be attracted to men."

"I am not going to talk to you, Oto. If I didn't want to talk to your brother than I sure as hell DON'T want to talk to you!"

Oto chuckles. "He also said that you would snap shut like a book."

"Go away!"

"What if I don't want to?"

Hearing the slight drop in the burly demon's timbre makes Kuwabara back away. "G-go, away!" he forces out starting to worry that he was about to get touched again. The burly demon merely smiles before approaching him and backing the carrot-top back towards the bed. Unfortunately, Kuwabara doesn't realize this until he falls back onto it. A curse escapes him and he tries to get up but finds himself pressed firmly down by Oto's hand. "N-no," he whispers, "Not again." He struggles to get out of Oto's firm grip to no avail. "Let me go, I don't want to be touched by you!"

"Your argument grows wearisome, Kuwabara," Ani remarks as he walks into the room. He shuts and locks the door before approaching both of them.

"I don't give a damn! Tell your brother to let me go and just stay the HELL away from me!" Kuwabara yells.

"No," Ani tells him calmly.

"Dammit, I am NOT gay!"

"You are the only one who thinks so."

"Shut up!"

"Very well," Ani answers. It doesn't take long for Kuwabara to realize that he shouldn't have said that. He realizes the mistake once his clothes are removed by Oto.

"N-no," he whispers, "not again." Of course, his pleas fall on deaf ears.

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For a moment, Yusuke can only stand there dumbfounded. "Koenma? I am being set up with KOENMA! Why would anyone think I could ever like that weak-willed, spineless, poor-excuse for a ruler?" he demands.

"I know you," Genkai answers calmly. She gives the demon a stern look.

"Stop acting like you are four and actually use the brain you've been given. This isn't going to kill you so stop whining."

"I still don't know why you are setting me up with him."

"That is something for you to figure out, dimwit. You have a brain use it."

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When nothing happens after a few minutes, Itsuki looks up at the blue eyed man towering over him. "You once told me that not all demons were evil…I almost believed you," Shinobu says.

"I wasn't lying, Shinobu. There are all kinds of demons…as there are all types of humans; good and bad. That's just the way things are."

"Then tell me this, Itsuki; what would you consider yourself?"

"I am not evil…not truly. I make my own decisions based on what I think is best. I am not cruel by nature."

"Then why? Why didn't you come after me?"

"Because you needed more help than I could offer! You would have done the same thing again and then I would have had to watch you die once more! I would not have been able do stand it. I love you, Shinobu and I always will but I can NOT stand watching you die! I would rather never see you again than to lose you. My sanity would not endure such a loss…not again."