Title: Blurred Silhouettes

By: Aina Song

Fandom(s): Yu Yu Hakusho

Genre: Yaoi

Rating: PG

Warning(s): Language; Angst; Altered Scenes; Deleted Scenes; soooo much Saap…

Pairing(s): Yusuke + Kurama

Reviews: Yes, please! For the love of God, someone give me a cookie!

Author's Note: Standard Disclaimer. This story was not written for money. Italics = demon telepathy.

Another Note: This is a two-part fic, but both chapters will be under this same title, so stay tuned for the conclusion.

Teaser: As far as everyone knew, Keiko had been the one to revive Yusuke after he'd died the first time. What if her kiss had been rendered unnecessary? What if someone else had gotten to him first?

Part Two - Forgotten

(Nearly one year later…)

Genkai and the others watched the cave entrance intently. They had a felt a pulse of power several minutes ago, and even Botan could sense an approaching presence. The feel of the threat had passed nearly an hour ago, but they were reluctant yet to give in to their hope.

Eventually the soft echoing of footsteps reached their ears, and at last shadows emerged from the cave. Koenma, followed by Kurama and Kuwabara - lugging an unconscious Hiei on his back - and finally…

Everyone stared.

His pants were torn in various areas, his shirt was missing… as was his right shoe. His skin was cocoa-brown, and tattooed here and there in a deep chalky blue. His hair had grown out, wild and long, reaching below his waist. He left the shadows of the cave with Kurama and Koenma to either side of him, his posture strong, his steps sure, though his head was lowered just enough to hide his eyes behind strands of his hair.

Keiko was the first to recognize him, racing forth to throw herself in his arms. All stared as they realized this tattooed being was their friend and unofficial leader Yusuke. Botan and the others could not resist their curiosity, asking about his dramatic change in appearance. The dark youth took it in good humor, a half-smirk playing at the corner of his mouth.

But then he flinched and cut their questions short, turning back to watch the cave entrance. Everyone followed his gaze.

"It appears not everyone feels this case is resolved," Kurama slowly commented as a number of uniformed men and women stepped out of the cave's shadows.

"Koenma," the one in charge demanded authoritatively. "You know Spirit World won't overlook this treason."

"Treason?" Kuwabara protested hotly.

The man ignored him, continuing to speak only to the demigod prince: "You have disobeyed my orders, delivered directly from your father to erase that boy. You've let the Mazoku emerge, fully knowing what that would bring. You'll take responsibility and come with us."

"Yes, I'm no fool, Ootake," Koenma sighed, arguing none of it. "I realized what the consequences would be."

But at his side, Yusuke clenched his jaw in sudden anger. "You stupid tools," he blurted angrily.

Each and every one of the uniformed beings flinched before the ire of a creature known to be dangerous and unpredictable.

"Think you can hide behind your uniforms and push decent people around?" Yusuke growled, fisting his hands at his sides. His stance was vengeful and taut, as though fighting to hold himself back. "Look. I don't start fights with the defenseless - but you're starting to piss me off, and that's a whole different thing! And since you're all new here, I'll give you a tip," he added through clenched teeth: "Threatening the guy who helped save us will definitely piss me off."

Beside him, the demigod prince's own stance became a little more self-assured.

"Koenma did what he could to help, and if getting rid of you is what it takes to protect him…" Yusuke's fierce brown eyes narrowed, and a hint of red flashed across them, "I'll kill you all, one by one." His threat was cold and filled with promise, leaving no doubt toward his conviction. In that instant, he sounded very much the demon he resembled.

Ootake and his underlings fled.

Glad the nuisance had passed, Botan and Genkai began to lead the others away from the cave. It had been an unnaturally long night, and more than half of them yearned for their beds.

Kurama paused as a firm hand gripped his wrist, glancing over his shoulder.

Yusuke gave him an unreadable look, his tone serious and withdrawn as he spoke. "We need to talk."

"Do we?"

"Alone."

The redhead quirked a slim eyebrow, and gave a slow nod of his head.

~o~

In the living room of his family home, Kurama watched from a chair as Yusuke paced restlessly across the floor. The redhead had rarely seen his friend so evidently disturbed. He idly thought it fortunate that his mother had gone out for the evening, as he doubted even he could explain away Yusuke's new feral appearance.

When at last the dark youth ceased his pacing to stare into the unlit hearth, Kurama deemed it time to give his friend an opening. "Perhaps if you tell me about it, I may know how to help."

Yusuke's back tensed, but after another moment he spoke. "I died."

Kurama held back a flinch. "Yes…"

"I died tonight," he repeated more firmly.

Sighing, the redhead tried to reason; "You were reborn, Yusuke."

"Yeah…" The tattooed demon turned away from the hearth, still not meeting Kurama's gaze. "It wasn't even the first time I'd died. Last time, it was because I'd pushed a kid out of the way of a speeding car."

"Yes, Lord Koenma said as much when he'd hired Hiei and myself."

"But you knew before that, didn't you."

An ancient presence within his soul stirred. Yusuke's gaze was suddenly on him, dark and unwavering. There was something fierce in those dark eyes, some wild force struggling against its binds. It called to Kurama, and to Youko, who was paying close attention now. Slowly, the red-haired youth straightened to his feet. "The demon blood…"

"Got something you wanna tell me," Yusuke growled low in his throat.

Sighing, Kurama nodded and at long last confessed, "I am the white shadow you remember now, yes. Youko often tested his reach while I slept, and when he discovered your spirit he could not seem to stay away."

"Yeah, and what about you?"

He blinked. "What?"

Growling impatiently, Yusuke crossed the room and none-too-gently gripped the redhead's arm. His fierce brown eyes narrowed, and a hint of red flashed across them, as though he was trying to rein in some terrible urge to strike. "I never felt right remembering Keiko's kiss," he hissed through clenched teeth. "And now I think I know why."

Kurama drew in a breath, for once not knowing what he might say - until suddenly Yusuke shifted forward and captured the demon fox's lips in a hard kiss. A small surprised noise escaped him, to which Yusuke responded with a low guttural groan; the tattooed youth lifted his free hand to weave his fingers amongst strands of red silk and grip the back of Kurama's head.

The kiss was not gentle. It was a heated show of dominance, with a hint of passion and desperation. Kurama's energy surged into awareness, and the entire length of his body became flushed with instantaneous reaction. He pulled himself closer against Yusuke's chest, quickly nipping the dark youth's lower lip. Yusuke growled low in his throat, this time for a different reason entirely, and the redhead chuckled softly as Yusuke shifted and lifted him off his feet. He wrapped his legs around Yusuke's waist and gripped the back of his shoulders; the tattooed demon turned and found a wall to brace Kurama's back.

Yusuke broke the kiss, but did not wander far, skimming his mouth and teeth along Kurama's jaw toward that tender bit of flesh just below the redhead's ear. He bit down. Kurama let out a low moan, arching up, and the dark youth rocked forward to meet him.

"You did something to me," Yusuke hissed, his warm breath playing down the fox demon's neck. "I want you bad, Kurama…" He lifted his head, dark brown gaze fierce and feral. "If you have any thoughts to stop me, better do it now."

The redhead's chest heaved as he drew in a deep breath, but when he looked up, it was with Youko's pirate-gold eyes. "I have no objections," he murmured, a silken purr in his voice. "Save one."

"And that is?"

"I marked you with my energy when I revived you," he revealed. Something untold flashed across his gaze as he added, "I wouldn't mind if you returned the favor…"

A weighted silence fell between them, charged with meaning and consequence. Yusuke's eyes darkened again, and he gave a fierce growl as he shifted forward and abruptly bit down upon the curve of flesh where neck met shoulder.

Kurama drew in a sharp breath, dropping his head back against the wall, his nails digging into the tattooed youth's arms and pulling him even closer. Yusuke bit down harder in response; his dark energy flared and wrapped around them both. Some tendrils gathered together where Yusuke's mouth had latched onto Kurama's shoulder, seeping into the torn flesh and inviting itself among the flow of ancient power hidden beneath.

Yusuke held fast for several more seconds, then slowly released the redhead's shoulder. A small moan escaped Kurama's throat, and their gazes met, pirate-gold greeting bloodied brown. They did not speak; the significance of what they had just done was far too potent to complicate with useless words.

But then the darker demon's eyes grew feral again, and the fox's blood sang. Their mouths came together in another hard and hungry kiss, and the freshly bleeding mark on Kurama's shoulder was swiftly forgotten.

THE END