What\'s Protection Got To Do With It?

Hi everyone! Shiny-chan is back! How have you all been? This has been an interesting couple of days that’s for sure. I’ve had

the whole week off of work because my boss doesn’t listen to me but I’m so used to that anyways. She doesn’t listen to anybody,

and she’s the reason why our store had such a high employee turnover rate. Most of the newbies can’t stand her for more than

two weeks, so it’s just the people who have a high amount of patience (like me) who still work there. Yeah, I’m a sad sad

puppy. Anyway, on a lighter note, I was reading an amazing story that made me LMAO! It’s called Things I am not allowed to do

at Hogwarts by Roozette. It is soo funny! The first chapter is my fav though. Everyone should check it out. I know I said this

would be a crossover with Claymore, but I still won’t be having them come into the story for a while yet. Never fear! They will

eventually come. Now to respond to my reviewers.


Bats: Omg O_O I almost did the same thing with wasabi once, although I didn’t make a big production like that. When I first

saw it, I thought it was guacamole, and I absolutely love that stuff so I piled it on top of my salad. I take a huge bite and

my eyes immediately started to gush water and I felt like my brain was being burned alive. Needless to say I have not touched

wasabi since then. Your story made me laugh so thank you. Confessions are fun aren’t they? But it’s really not that easy with a

bonehead like Yusuke.


Tina109: Hey nice to hear from you again! I bet you’re hanging off your seat to see what happens next huh? Well hopefully, the

humble authoress (yours truly) will not disappoint!


Thrnbrooke: Yup yup I do indeed think the secret is out. There is the trouble with getting Yusuke to admit it though. . .

So without further ado! On with the story!

XD


Chapter 16: with iced lemon cookies on top yumm.


Kurama stood there like a statue staring at the back of Yusuke’s head. He slowly tucked his hair behind his ears and rubbed his

ears lightly.

“I’m sorry Yusuke; I don’t think I heard you correctly. Would you repeat what you just said?” Yusuke turned around, glaring a

hole in Kurama’s head. His face was a bright glowing red that almost lit up the dark tower balcony.

“I SAID I hate everyone who takes your attention . . .” Yusuke’s face drained of all color and he swayed where he was sitting.

He slowly shook his head and turned away.

“It’s nothing Kurama.” He stood up on the railing and jumped off the balcony to run towards the forest. Kurama leaned over the

balcony and watched Yusuke as he entered the forest. Really Yusuke should know by now that it was impossible to avoid the sly

fox when he wanted to talk. Kurama started down the spiral staircase that would lead him out of the astronomy tower. He passed

a group of giggling girls who turned to sigh when he passed them on the stairway. It was mostly quiet in the hallway shortcut

he had chosen to get to Gryffindor Tower, the only thing making a noise his own footsteps. He reached the portrait of the fat

lady and stated the pass word. When the door opened, Harry was sitting by the fire, engrossed in playing wizards chess with his

mother. He sat next to her on the couch and watched the game. His mother was winning of course. She had always had a brilliant

strategical mind and the proof was that Harry was only two moves away from being checkmated. He cleared his throat and waited

for them to look at him.

“May I ask you both for a favor? When I feel Yusuke’s energy coming, will you either go hide or move to a different area? It is

about time that he and I had a long chat about what is bothering him. I almost got there earlier but he ran into the forest.

Will you please do that for me?” Shiori and Harry looked at each other and nodded.

“Sure honey. Harry and I had a conversation we needed to finish privately any way. You will tell us when he’s coming right?”

Kurama nodded and began to stare at the fire. He was going to pry the truth out of Yusuke. All he needed to do was lie in

wait for his elusive Yusuke.

--------------------------In The Forest------------------------


Yusuke ran, darkness blurred past him as his face was scratched by the dense foliage he was moving through. He stopped at a

clearing somewhere near the middle of the forest and slumped against a particularly large tree that looked to be centuries

old. Yusuke put his head between his knees and hugged himself tightly, rocking gently with the sobs now coming from his body.

“You are such a friggen idiot Yusuke! Just gotta go blab that you’re in love with him. I might not have said it exactly; he’s

smart enough to figure it out.” Yusuke turned around and knocked his head against the tree.

“I” smack “AM” crunch “SO” crack “FRIGGIN” creak “STUPID!” Crash! The poor tree couldn’t stand up to the abuse of Yusuke’s

head and fell, knocking over several other trees in the process. A tear fell on one of the larger splinters he was sitting on

and mixed with a drop of rain. Yusuke looked up and shook his head. The rain was beginning to fall faster and faster until it

became a veritable downpour and still Yusuke sat there, crying until he was soaked to the skin. He reluctantly rose from the

ground, brushing mud and wood chips from his dirty wet jeans and tee shirt that clung like a second skin. He walked slowly

back through the forest, through the path he had paved on his way in. He wiped his eyes and trudged through the Great Hall,

leaving a puddle of water behind him. Yusuke dragged his feet when he got to the tower and waited for the portrait to open.

He climbed through the portrait hole and went over to the fire and sat right in front of it, warming himself.

“You were out for a while Yusuke.” Kurama knelt beside him on the carpet before sitting next to him Indian style. Yusuke

glanced at him for a minute before turning back to the fire and away from Kurama.

“You can talk to me you know.” Yusuke sighed and still gazed at the fire.

“I won’t go away until you tell me what’s going on with you. I can stay here all night if you feel like it.” Kurama was

beginning to feel insulted that Yusuke thought the fire more important than he was. Kurama got up and went upstairs to get a

fluffy dry towel for Yusuke. When he returned, Yusuke was still staring into the dancing flames.

“You’re not going away are you?” Kurama held the towel out to Yusuke.

“I just said I wouldn’t Yusuke.” Yusuke sighed and turned to Kurama, taking the towel from his hands and rubbing it in his

dripping hair, tossing the sodden towel on the couch when he was finished.

“This fire reminds me of you Kurama.” Kurama tilted his head curiously.

“Oh? And how’s that?”

“These flames are beautiful. They are passionate. They look innocent and light, untouchable, yet if you underestimate them

they will destroy you. They are graceful, and they almost seem as if they are dancing. They are fierce.” Yusuke turned and

looked Kurama straight in the eyes.

“And I feel warm and complete when I’m next to them. Kurama, I understand if you might hate me for this, but I’ve loved you

almost since the first time I met you. I understand if you don’t feel the same way. But you wanted to know what was bothering

me so much so . . .” Yusuke got up and walked quickly towards the stairs to their room.

“Wait.” Yusuke froze and slowly turned around to see Kurama getting up from the floor and striding towards him. Kurama moved

his hand up to stroke Yusuke’s cheek before sliding it to cup the back of Yusuke’s head. Kurama pulled him closer and kissed

him lightly. He pulled back slightly and then gave Yusuke another, more passionate kiss. Yusuke’s mind was blank and he was

stunned for a second before he began to kiss him back. Yusuke pulled away and looked up at Kurama confusedly.

“What..?” Kurama smiled at him and pulled him into a tight hug, burying his head into Yusuke’s neck.

“I never thought you would love me Yusuke. I feel like the luckiest man in the world! I love you too. I love you so

much. . .” Yusuke slowly brought his arms up and held Kurama to him like a lifeline he could never let go. Kurama backed up

to the couch and swept the wet towel on the floor and laid down with Yusuke on top of him. They continued to hold each other

until they fell asleep, right in front of the crackling fire.