Summary: Spirit World has put you through the ringer when it comes to missions, along with your handler Kurama. You were promised no more, and yet Kurama pulls you into just one more. The question is: Can you handle it?
Pairing: Kurama x F!Reader
Word Count: 1993
Disclaimers/Warnings: Mentions of previous violence, but nothing even remotely graphic.
A/N: This is a follow-up story to Hunter. For the pairing, I noted female reader. However, if you decide to read this and have not read the original oneshot, there is no mention of gender. That being said, I still recommend reading Hunter before this. Some references to it don't stand on its own as much as I would like them to.
Original Oneshot: Hunter
Masterlist
You leaned your head against the concrete wall, closing your eyes and sighing. The recent gauntlet of missions had taken its toll on you, barely giving you a moment to rest. The last one (less than a week ago, mind you) was supposed to be the last for a while before they swapped you out for a different team. But of course, another mission was dropped into your lap. And wow, did your body ache, your feet being the least happy.
Kurama, you had better get here soon.
You were ready for a break. You understood that you were making up for past transgressions, killing demons and the like. Had you really been that terrible to deserve back-to-back tasks for the past few months? You hadn’t thought so, but you supposed most other hunters felt the same, and you had been forced to work with some of the most narrow-minded people. Spirit World had their reasons, you guessed.
Footsteps broke through your thoughts, quiet and purposefully loud enough to get your attention. You know who it was.
“Don’t fall asleep on me just yet,” Kurama chuckled.
“I’d like to hope you know me better than that,” you said, pushing yourself away from the wall. Your back threatened to rebel. “So, where are we headed to this time?”
“It’s not far from here.”
“Yeah? Where exactly?” You eyed him, trying to keep your face free of suspicion.
“All in due time,” he smiled and gestured for you to follow him. “Now come on. We don’t want to miss the train.”
Shrugging, you fell into step with him. You should be used to this by now.
You boarded the train. It was fairly crowded, but not so much so that the two of you couldn’t find a handle overhead to hold. Kurama took the one closest to you, presumably so you all could discuss the mission without too much interference. The older woman sitting in the seat across from you glanced up, studying the two of you before returning to her book.
The doors closed, and the train left the station.
The quiet murmur of the fellow passengers and gentle sway of the car normally would be enough to lull you to sleep. You were thankful to be standing, though your feet disagreed with your decision. There was less chance of you passing out. And even if you did, Kurama would probably swoop in as he had been recently. Sometimes it felt more like he was babysitting than actually assisting you.
Shaking your head, you leaned in closer and kept your voice low. “So are you going to tell me where we’re going?”
His forearm brushed yours as he did the same. “Not far. Perhaps 30 minutes away.”
“That close? You’d think we would have noticed something sooner…”
“Not necessarily,” he mused. “This is more of a low-priority mission. Telltale signs could be more low-key.”
“Hmm… I suppose… But what are we looking for?”
“Classified, I’m afraid.” He smiled apologetically.
“Okay… What level of manifestation or entity are we dealing with?”
“Also, classified.”
Figures. Always classified.
You chewed your lip in frustration, a bad habit of yours. This wouldn’t be the first time Kurama had kept information from you. You had a habit of jumping ahead once you thought you knew everything, but you had been working on that. You were extra careful when the two of you had to infiltrate a hotel run by a low-level demon, keeping an open mind and eye for extra details. If you hadn’t, the other demons hiding out would have gotten the drop on you and more human souls would have been eaten. That had to count for something, right?
But this… This felt different.
“Okay. Let’s take a step back.” You fixed him with a steely stare. “How can so many details be classified? It’s a low priority and coupled with possibly harder-to-sense signs, that could mean what we’re up against is on the weak side. What aren’t you telling me?”
Kurama hummed and pulled away with a smug smile.
You little—
You glared at him, not noticing the extra sway in the train car. You pitched forward. Kurama’s free arm wrapped around your waist, preventing your inevitable face plant.
“Careful. Are you alright?” he said.
“Y-Yeah. Thanks,” you responded, righting yourself.
His fingers twitched at your side before finally releasing you. He nodded and returned to his neutral position.
Again with that, the hesitation. Especially in moments where he was protecting you. Whether it was pulling you to the side to get out of sight of your target, covering you from a rather ferocious youki blast, or just a light hand to your lower back to guide you down the right path, he always stayed in contact for a hair longer than necessary.
“Of course,” he replied coolly.
Guess that’s the end of that conversation.
Silence fell over you. Every now and then, you would venture a glance at him. The closer to your stop, the more fidgety Kurama became. Kurama never fidgeted.
What could possibly make him so… Nervous? Anxious? Those weren’t words you would have ever used to describe the scarlet-haired man. Could he have been lying to you about this mission? Was the target overpowered to the point where he was worried for your all’s safety? No, that couldn’t be it. But what could it—
Kurama’s fingers were on your chin, his thumb pulling your bottom lip from your teeth.
“You’ll chew a hole if you’re not careful,” he said in a near whisper.
His stare was intense, like it would bore through you. He grazed your lip in a soothing motion.
A quiet but pointed cough sounded from a seat in front of you. An older woman stared pointedly.
This was the one time he didn’t hesitate to pull away. Neither of you looked at each other for the rest of the trip.
The unique chime of the station resonated through you. Where had you heard that one before?
Kurama motioned toward the open doors. This was your stop. He wasn’t waiting for you to reminisce over the melody. He was already off the train by the time you released the handle. You rushed after him, stopping after exiting to catch which way he went.
Just as you were about to chase after him, something tapped your heel. The senior woman from the train was nudging you with her cane.
“Don’t keep them waiting any longer,” she wheezed and winked, motioning toward Kurama.
She left suspiciously quickly before you could come up with a rebuttal.
What was that about?
“Are you coming?”
You whipped around.
Kurama had finally stopped and was waiting for you. He had a curious look on his face, like he was gauging your reaction. But what exactly?
“Y-yeah.”
You jogged over to him, trying to rid yourself of a creeping sensation you couldn’t quite place.
“Are you alright?” he asked.
His brow was furrowed with what seemed to be genuine worry.
You nodded quickly. “Just… Something about all of this. This isn’t a normal mission, is it?”
“No,” he said, smiling at you sheepishly.
And all you could see was little Shuu-chan. That was the day you had finally coaxed him to climb up the tallest tree at the park with you. It was supposed to be a race to the middle, and he had beaten you with ease. At the time, you couldn’t understand why he smiled at you like that.
Kurama cleared his throat. “We should get moving.”
Nodding, you jogged after him. This time he waited for you to reach his side before setting off again.
He guided you down the streets that were filled with little shops, their signs begging you to stop in for a cup of coffee, a yakitori skewer, a bouquet of flowers. It wasn’t too dissimilar from the main city. It was at least much less overstimulating. Here, you could pick out distinct smells and sounds as you kept a quick pace next to Kurama, instead of them all melding together into some incomprehensible cocktail. It was… Nice.
The shops and sidewalks bled away, leading you toward the actual suburbs. It was comfortingly quiet. The most people you saw were a few individuals on their balconies, hanging up laundry to dry. It brought you a level of peace only felt in a distant memory, one you didn’t want to ruin.
“There is no mission, is there?” you asked, barely allowing your voice to raise over the hum of air conditioners from each passed home.
“No.”
You side-eyed him, trying to figure out just what he was up to. Kurama continued to look ahead, his lips plastered in a stony straight line. His eyes were another story. They seemed to sparkle.
Is he… Excited about this?
Staring ahead, you allowed him to lead you further. The fox-demon-turned-human had never led you astray before. Why would he now?
Eventually, he stopped in front of a home. Beyond the wall bordering it, you could see a tiny, neatly manicured yard, similar to the rest of the homes you had walked past.
Kurama turned to you, the mirth in his eyes gone. “Stay behind me until I signal.”
The stark contrast in his mood caused your throat to tighten. All you could do was nod.
You followed him down the path to the door and stayed directly behind him as he rang the doorbell.
”Mother, it’s me,” Kurama spoke into the intercom.
Heh? Mother? Shi-Shiori?! I—Has something happened to her? Is that why this isn’t a sanctioned mission? But… He’d be much more anxious about it, wouldn’t he?
The door opened.
“Oh, Shuuichi! Welcome home.”
“Hello, Mother. I was hoping you were here.”
He knew she would be home. He doesn’t leave anything up to chance. What is going on?
“You could have called,” she teased.
“I was trying to surprise you,” he chuckled.
I can’t sense anything off. Everything seems so… normal.
“Actually, I wanted you to meet someone,” he said.
“Oh?” His mother’s voice held a tinge of excitement.
Wait.
He stood aside, leaving you in full view of his mother. She was just how you remembered her. Maybe with a few more laughing lines and grey hairs, but it was still her. The same woman who held an overly serious Shuu-chan’s hand as they came to the park. Your heart swelled into your throat.
She gently smiled at you, clearly happy that her son had brought someone home. There was just one problem: she looked at you like she had never seen you before. And still your heart wouldn’t budge.
“Or rather, reintroduce someone,” Kurama said softly.
His palm settled on your lower back, pushing you forward gently before revealing your name.
Shiori gasped sharply. Her hand covered her mouth, tears pricking the corners of her eyes.
Eh… She’s going to— Shuu-chan, what do I— I don’t—
You did the first thing that came to mind. You bowed. You bowed and spewed something about it being nice to meet her again. You couldn’t remember exactly what.
Hands gingerly pressed into your shoulders, guiding you to stand. The tears were freely streaming down Shiori’s face now. Her arms flung around you, those tears spattering onto your clothes like you were on the outskirts of a waterfall.
Phantom smoke filled your nostrils as she held you. It was just like when she had bundled you and her son to her after Shuu-chan had pulled you out of your burning home. Her relief soaked into you, but this was different from when your aunt and uncle had held you back then. There was no pity or sympathy for you losing your family mixed in. This was joy, joy that you were alive, safe, and well. This was…
You didn’t spare him a glance, but you knew Kurama was smiling. You hugged his mother back, clearing your senses and falling back into place.
👉👈 could you maybe do the league with a soft gamer girlfriend (like the pastel pink gamer girl™️)
Oh sure! We love these psychos, I mean, who doesn't? I have another request I really should have finished a long time ago but maybe it’ll be posted tomorrow? Not sure, but I'll try! Anyways, I hope you like the head canons Anon! Have a good day/night!❤︎
Dabi-
•He thinks your whole pastel aesthetic thing is quite cute, and the entire gamer thing fits you. However, he is not a fan of having to remind you to take care of yourself once and a while
•For example, Dabi sometimes needs to remind you to sleep, like he will bear hug you then turn off the god forbidden gaming systems you have. That is if he doesn't bother to unplug a cord from your computer or whatever else you have
•He doesn't mind playing video games himself, but he isn't as into them as much you are. He's the type not to play video games as a type of hobby and be busy doing something almost always (literally just missions)
•If he does have the time to do something with you, and he'll take you out and try to go to the movies or go on a walk. If you refuse to do it, he'll drag you. Like, he WILL pick you up over his shoulder and walk out the door. He has done more than once, so don't think he won't do it again
•Even if he has to drag you around and remind you to sleep can get on his nerves, he's glad that he has at least one good thing in his life
Toga-
•She honestly adores you. Himiko loves seeing the pastels, and she loves cute things. I mean, she noticed you because of your fairy kei fashion style
•She loves playing video games with you, mostly since she's able to spend more time with you due to you two staying up together till about 4 am
•If you play games alone it's mostly battle royal or just a random cute game, though she likes adorable things, however, she is also psycho kitten, so you got a bunch of gorey/slasher games for you and your girlfriend
•If she can spend time with you, there's a big chance of the two of you staying as long as you can playing video games, watching movies, or just talking in general
•She adores you, teases about how cute you are, and loves you for being her adorable geek
Spinner-
•He enjoys games himself, and with you, but he despises some of the games you play
•Dont get him wrong, he likes the games and all, but you fangirling about how "cute" and "attractive" some characters are, it can make him a jealous lizard boi, but you can make it up to him *wink wonk*
•He likes playing games, but him rage quitting is frequent. I mean, that's the main reason you want to play games with him, to prove you're the superior gamer. It's a top priority in a relationship
•He doesn't go outside mostly since of the "jokes" a lot of teens make towards him, plus he is also wanted for his..occupation, so video games are one of the few ways the two of you spend time together
•He finds the pastels cute. He once agreed to you dying his hair a pastel magenta. It lasted for a while, mostly since you complimented him a lot for it
•He thinks having a cute pastel gamer girl is sweet and he takes much pride of having you as his girlfriend
Twice-
• He's cool with it, though he isn't the best though he tries to play the games with you
•Like Dabi, he sometimes needs to take care of you, or remind you to, like after you wake up, have breakfast ready for you, or make tea for you
•Though he doesn't get annoyed about it. He's alright if you're doing good
•Jin thinks you're adorable and helps you get a bunch of outfits and gaming systems as gifts and such
•When he has the time to see you, the both of you do whatever, playing video games, watching a movie, playing board games, or whatever you decide to do together
•He doesn't mind what you do, if you're happy about being with him it's all he cares about, supports you, and wouldn't have mind taking care of you and keeping you happy is his number one priority
Shigaraki-
•He cherishes you like he is crazy about you. He already loved you, but when he found you were into gaming. You better be in for a long ride because you're going to stay with him for a while
•The two of you are up playing video games all the time when you're spending time together, like hands down. There are multiple days when you and Shigaraki spend time together.
•Just like the usual Shigaraki has Kurogiri get the two of you counsels, video games, snacks, etc. Poor Kurogiri has to look at a long list the two of you wrote
•When he loses a game, yes, he will be a little pissed off, but will he lash out on you? No, you're unique to him. But he doesn't want to lose you, and if you keep winning over, over, and over again, he'll give you the silent treatment. I mean this is still Shigaraki we're talking about here
•Just like the rest, he finds your pastel self sweet and loves to see you having fun. Finding someone who's also into gaming as much as he was, made him extremely excited for your relationship
•Shigaraki loves you, and though he will get slightly embarrassed about it, he will admit it to you and anyone that would ask what he thinks about you, a less crusty, shorter, and a cuter pastel version of him.
Summary: Your coworker Kuwabara convinces you to join him and some friends for drinks after work. Something was not quite right about the whole situation. Then you meet Shuuchi. Takes place post-canon.
Pairing: Kurama x Reader
Word Count: 4,476
Disclaimers/Warnings: Just fluff.
A/N: I really need to get back into Yu Yu Hakusho. It was my first and favorite anime. I haven’t written anything for this series since I was in middle school. Really hope I got certain details right. It’s been a while... I do remember Kurama’s lore differing between the English and Japanese versions. Went more for the Japanese. And holy crap there are so many spelling iterations for certain names. I chose the ones I remember. Also, I’ve never actually been to Japan but have been studying the language and culture to travel there one day. Translations for certain words are at the bottom just in case.
Masterlist
To say your coworker tricked would not necessarily be fair. When Kuwabara invited you for drinks on a Friday night, he was acting suspiciously normal - the “keeping it cool” kind of normal. In the year you had known him, he was generally loud, borderline obnoxious while still having the biggest heart you’d ever known. The hulking redhead was an absolute softy. Despite being tired from overtime during the week, you couldn’t bring yourself to say, “No.” You did, however, interrogate him on the details.
“Where is this at?” you sighed defeatedly.
“The izakaya a block over. Right after work,” he grinned, the corners of his mouth not quite reaching his eyes.
That was a start. Good food and drink. But what was he up to?
“How many people?”
Kuwabara swallowed a large chunk of omuraisu. “Just a handful. I know you don’t like large crowds. If it makes you feel any better, Yukina will be there!”
Ah, yes. Little Yukina. You had met her multiple when she would stop by the office to bring him a bento lunch. She was a sweetheart.
“That’s a given,” you smirked. “You two are almost inseparable.”
“Yeah, well...” His face turned red as a strawberry. “I’m just glad she said, ‘Yes.’ Your idea of a low-key proposal was perfect.”
“Oh, stop! She would have accepted regardless,” you waved off his praise. “Now don’t distract me. Who else will be there?”
He held up a finger for each person he listed. “Urameshi, Keiko and Ku- Minamino.”
The stutter on the last name did not go unnoticed but you chose to let it slide. Minamino... You could at least tell Kuwabara gave you the person’s family name.
“Who is that?” You quirked an eyebrow while sipping your bottled tea.
“Heh? You’ve met Urameshi Yusuke before, but I don’t think you’ve met his wife Keiko...”
“No, I mean Minamino-san.”
Choking on his drink like you weren’t supposed to catch him deflecting the conversation, he set his bottle down. “Old friend of ours. Urameshi and I met ‘em when we were in middle school.”
Still not much to go off of. You leaned back in your seat with a grimace. They had all known each other for so long. It would be way too awkward for a newbie like you to just join in.
“Look.” Kuwabara rested his arms on the table. “It’ll be fun. I promise! It’s just a few drinks. And besides you need a break from all the studying.”
“The N1 won’t pass itself,” you scoffed playfully.
“You don’t even need that last JLPT level for your job. You can afford one night to enjoy yourself.”
You glanced up into his pleading eyes. Groaning dramatically, you relented. “Fine! I’ll go...”
Your redhead coworker fist pumped in victory.
“But!” He froze. “If I fail that exam, I’m blaming you.”
His laugh bounced off the walls of the lunch room, garnering the attention of some of the other employees. “Fair enough!”
The end of the day came faster than you had expected. Kuwabara was already hovering around your cubicle as you closed the last of your files, obviously suspecting that you might try to sneak out on him. Begrudgingly, you trailed after him to the izakaya.
Your mood immediately brightened when Yukina spotted you and called out in the most adorable way possible. She was waiting patiently with Yusuke (as he preferred you to call him) and who you guessed was Keiko. The other person Kuwabara had mentioned was absent.
“Yukina-chan! Good to see you, again. It’s been a while,” you beamed at her.
She nodded apologetically. “Yes. I’ve been getting the public area of the dojo ready for cherry blossom viewing.”
“Ah! I forgot that was coming up...”
You had managed to miss the last of the cherry blossom season the year prior. Moving to Japan was a huge stepping stone in your life.
“You should join us there in a few weeks,” she invited, motioning to the group. “We will all be there.”
“Speaking of,” Kuwabara interjected. “You’ve already met Urameshi. This is Keiko.”
“Nice to meet you,” you bowed lightly.
Keiko responded in kind.
“So where is Minamino?” Kuwabara looked around.
“Mina- Oh!” Yusuke’s confusion seemed to clear with a sharp look from Keiko. “Yeah! Shouldn’t be too far behind.”
What was with the weird air around this person’s name?
It was then you noticed a head of crimson hair rounded the corner.
“There you are!” Kuwabara waved the new redhead over.
He waited to reach you all before speaking. “I had a last minute to report to finish. I hope you haven’t been waiting too long for me.”
“Nah!” Yusuke responded with a grin, shoving his hands into his pockets. “Just got here a couple minutes ago.”
You had to admit this Minamino guy was pleasing to the eye. His deep green eyes worked perfectly with that long hair. That, however, did not stop you from shooting a quick scowl at Kuwabara. He was trying to set you up. Again.
Your coworker grinned shamelessly at you. “So, this is Minamino Shuuichi.” He then proceeded to introduce you.
“It’s nice to meet you, Minamino-san,” you politely smiled into a bow.
He mirrored you in the pleasantries. “The pleasure is mine. And Shuuichi is fine.”
You then found yourselves ushered inside, Kuwabara not wanting to let you escape the outing. You were trapped in between Yukina and Keiko. The boys had done the same with Shuuichi who looked about as pleased as you. How many times had they forced him into the same situation.
A round of sake and karaage was served and the chatter continued. While everyone else joked about, you kept mostly to yourself, only throwing in quips at various intervals. Shuuichi was on the quiet side but was still fairly engaged. He seemed a bit... Overwhelmed might have been the right word for it. It was when he excused himself to go the restroom that things livened up in a sense.
Yusuke mentioned a time when they were in middle school and he had “rescued” Kuwabara and his kitten from a rival gang. His wording choice set Kuwabara off, stating he could have handled it himself. Of course that sparked a heated yet somehow still playful argument between the two. So not too different from the first time you had met them. By the time Shuuichi returned, Yusuke had slid into his seat to keep the fight going with Keiko snagging the one her husband previously occupied in an attempt to calm him down. Poor Yukina was trying her best to get Kuwabara to change the subject. With no other choice, Shuuichi took the empty spot next to you. A small part of you wondered just how much of this your coworker had actually planned.
Leaning towards Shuuichi slightly, you wondered out loud, “Is this normal for them?”
“Yes,” he chuckled. “What started it this time?”
“Something about a gang kidnapping a kitten... Aikichi I think was its name.”
“Ah! I remember that story. It usually does end like this.”
You took a sip of sake while venturing a glance at Shuuichi. He wasn’t glued to the verbal fight taking place like everyone else. He was watching you curiously but intently with those malachite eyes.
Before you could respond, Keiko and Yukina had given up and turned back to you.
“So Kuwabara mentioned you’re from out of the country,” Keiko started, now pointedly ignoring her husband. “Your Japanese is great! How long have you lived here?”
“I wouldn’t say that.” Embarrassment was clear in your voice. “I’ve still a lot to learn. It’s only been a little over a year since I moved.”
“Heh?! You’ve been here that long and Kuwabara hasn’t invited you to join us before?” She shot a glare towards him that he pretended not to see.
Either he was great at multitasking or the argument was truly planned, because he indignantly responded, “I have, too! There’s always some excuse like work or studying. Mostly studying.”
“Like I told you already, that exam won’t pass itself,” you quipped light-heartedly, a snarky smile adorning your face.
“Like I told you already,” he mocked, “you don’t even need the N1.”
“Woah! Like JLPT N1?” Yusuke chimed in.
“Y-yeah,” you looked away, resisting the urge to hide your face in your hands.
Shuuichi’s gaze on you was so potent you could practically feel it. “Seems you’ve been studying the language more than you’ve led us to believe.”
When you finally looked at him to give a snarky retort, his lips were curled in a playful smirk. Whatever words you had planned abandoned your tongue in that moment. This guy was definitely enjoying himself now.
“So Kazuma said you had taken the N2 exam shortly after moving here, right?” Yukina piped up.
“Yes...” you drawled. What was she getting at?
“Well, amidst all the chaos, did you ever get the chance to do any cherry blossom viewing?”
Was this her version of a segue? Was she giving you an out?
“Mmm... I did technically see them but I never did go to a park or anywhere else with a group like everyone else...”
“Oh!” Keiko clapped excitedly. “Now you definitely have to come to the dojo when the season is in full swing!”
With that she gave you her number so she could contact you about it later, prompting everyone to exchange numbers with you. Though hesitant at first, even Shuuichi followed suit.
The rest of the night was pleasant and without another incident between Yusuke and Kuwabara. Maybe you should have taken up the offers for drinks sooner. You were actually having fun. Shuuichi grew a bit more lively, throwing his two cents into the conversation more often. At one point, he rested a hand on the back of your chair, leaning a bit closer to you without it being uncomfortable. It could have just been the alcohol causing him to relax more, but part of you wanted to believe he was enjoying himself.
It felt like it ended too quickly. Now outside, your phone showed how late it had gotten. It was time for the band of misfits to go their separate ways. Yusuke and Keiko were the first to depart for the nearby station, but not before Keiko insisted you text her in the morning. Both Kuwabara and Yukina wished you well before going their own way, leaving you with Shuuichi.
“I guess that’s my cue to head home. See you around?” You took a step away towards your apartment building.
“Yes,” Shuuichi cleared his throat. “If it’s not too forward, may I walk you home?”
Your hands wrung together nervously. “Are you sure? My apartment is literally just around the corner.”
His smile was bright even under the veil of darkness. “I am, yes. I would feel better knowing for sure you made it back safely.”
Relenting, your lips tugged up into a shy smile. “I suppose I wouldn’t mind the company.”
You didn’t see Shuuichi again until you all met up at the station a few weeks later, but you did hear from him quite a bit. He texted you frequently, most of the conversations short like he wasn’t quite comfortable with that communication method. There were, however, a few longer ones that let you get a tiny read on his personality. Calm energy, intelligent, a hint of mischief. Kuwabara had done a much better job at pairing you up this time.
It was early on a Sunday morning and thankfully the station was not as busy as it usually was on the weekdays. Shuuichi had made it there before everyone else, the morning light causing his hair to shimmer like rubies. You barely had a chance to greet him before Yusuke and Keiko arrived along with the ever prompt train. Once you had found your seats, Shuuichi settled next to you, allowing you to have the window.
“Have you ever been to the countryside?” Keiko asked, stealing your attention from the speeding landscape.
You shook your head. “Not yet. Work keeps me fairly busy.” You hadn’t even taken much vacation time aside from Golden Week last summer.
“A lot of firsts for you today,” Shuuichi smiled. “This will be quite the adventure.”
The way his face lit up was infectious.
The rest of your time was spent with the gang informing you on what to expect which honestly wasn’t much, but they did try to make it sound exciting. It was mostly just hanging out under the trees with some drinks and snacks - casual and relaxing. Yusuke livened it up, regaling stories about sparring with Kuwabara and always winning. Leaning in to murmur in your ear, Shuuichi clarified that it was almost always. Kuwabara had managed to get the jump on him a few times. Your snicker earned you both Yusuke’s glare before he continued with how he was just holding back so he didn’t hospitalize his friend.
It wasn’t until the train reached your destination that you noticed the mountainous landscape dotted with dense tree lines that were devoid of any cherry blossoms. Odd considering that is what you came here for. Shuuichi stood, holding out a hand to help you up which you gratefully took. This station was tiny compared to the prefecture you left behind, more like a platform than anything. The group led you down a long winding path before reaching a massive stairway with larger than life torii framing the entrance.
Calling out for a race, Yusuke bolted up the steps with an annoyed Keiko chasing after him.
“Forever a teenager,” Shuuichi laughed and shook his head.
You nudged his arm just as you started up the stairs. “At least he’s having fun.”
“Fair point.” He skipped a couple steps to trail up by your side.
Reaching the top, you finally saw what you had really missed out on last spring. The blossoms were absolute perfection, better than what you had seen online. They were white giving off an ethereal, pale pink glow as the sun shone through the thin petals. The wind had gently released some of the flowers from their branches, littering them on the ground.
“Are you alright?” Shuuichi called to you, his hand brushing your elbow.
Your mind snapped back to reality. You didn’t even realize you had stopped walking until then. “Y-yeah. I just... This is...”
Beautiful, wonderful, gorgeous, serene... None of the words would transfer out of your brain to your voice.
“Breathtaking?” he finished for you.
All you could do was nod, about to be lost in the haze of petals, again. Before you could, the movement of Kuwabara waving at you all caught your attention.
“Come on.” Shuuichi grazed your forearm as he left your elbow to take your hand. “We’re being left behind.”
His warm hand was a nice contrast to the cooler weather and you had no issue with holding it as he brought you with him to follow the others towards a more secluded spot to view the blossoms. Yukina sat on a blanket that was already laid out under one of the trees with food and drink, greeting you all as you picked a spot to rest.
You could see why this was a yearly tradition. Aside from one moment when Yusuke and Kuwabara tried to randomly spar after another argument, the day went by relatively peacefully. It was a shame when sundown was approaching. It was time to head home. Working together, you helped clean up and bring everything inside. The sun was just hitting the horizon by the time you made it back to the station platform. Thankfully, you didn’t need to wait long for the train. Exhaustion overwhelmed you shortly after you took your seat, falling asleep within twenty minutes.
A gentle squeeze to your hand brought you out of your slumber. The sky had darkened considerably. You found yourself leaning on Shuuichi’s shoulder. When did...
Bolting upright, you stammered, “I’m so so-”
“Don’t be,” he smiled and stood, holding out his hand like before. “Let’s get you back to your apartment.”
Out of the corner of your eye, you noticed Yusuke’s wide grin as you took Shuuichi’s offer. The redhead must have seen him and just shook his head as led you off the train.
Shuuichi: Good morning
You: Morning! What’s up?
Shuuichi: Any chance you’re available tomorrow night? I was thinking the new kaitenzushi that opened.
You: The one a few blocks down from that izakaya?
Shuuichi: That’s the one!
You: Sounds like fun. Sure!
This was how a lot of your weeks were going. One of you would text the other about meeting up with Kuwabara finding out and grilling you with questions the following work day. He always wanted details to see if Shuuichi had made a move yet. Despite your ever growing crush (something you would never admit to your coworker), the most you two had done was hold hands when he would lead you somewhere. Even through the genuine joy you could see he felt, he was still holding back.
You were mulling all this over one evening while watering the plants on your poor excuse for a balcony. What would you label your relationship? Was there even one you could use? You were friends but felt there was something more. Or at least, that’s what a small part of you wanted to think, a part the Kuwabara shamelessly encouraged, insisting Shuuichi liked you more than he let on.
Setting down the small watering can, you headed inside and went to close the sliding door. Before you could get very far, a black blur shot through the opening, coming to a halt on the table you had recently pushed aside to lay out your futon. The blur turned out to be a spikey-haired man of a shorter stature. His piercing red eyes bored into your very soul. Dramatic? Yes. Is that what it felt like? Absolutely.
“So, you’re the one Kurama has grown fond of,” he sneered.
“Wha- Who’s Kurama?” Out of all the questions swirling in your mind, that was the only one you managed to voice.
You were frozen to the spot. If he could reach your balcony on the fifth floor and move as fast as he just did, you didn’t have much hope of escaping.
“Tch,” he scoffed. “He hasn’t even told you. If you’re as intelligent as he claims, you should be able to figure it out. You’ve spent much time together.”
The only person you could think of was... Oh... That first night at the Izakaya. Kuwabara’s stuttering. Yusuke’s confusion.
“Shuuichi...” Your voice was barely a murmur.
“Hn. Not bad. Didn’t take you as long as I thought.” The man hopped off your table and passed by you on his way out. “Hiei, by the way.”
And he was gone.
Another dinner with Shuuichi was planned for a few nights later. You hadn’t texted him about your “introduction” with Hiei, feeling it was better to talk to him in person about it. The later part of your work day was overwhelmed with your anxiety, so much to the point where Kuwabara was stopping by your cubicle regularly to make sure you were okay. You weren’t.
If Shuuichi really was this Kurama, what did that mean? Unless comic book heroes were coming to life, Hiei obviously was not human. No human could move like that. So then, what was Shuuichi? Not that it really mattered. You were more curious than anything, feeling that you had an accurate read on his personality. Lying by omission was probably the closest he was to being flat out deceitful. Right? He hadn’t done anything to hurt you and it was doubtful that he would. But what would he do if you confronted him about all this?
Your thoughts continued to cloud your mind as you left the office and headed to the izakaya you originally met at. Shuuichi was waiting just outside the restaurant door which he held open for you when you reached him. The smile he greeted you with seemed burdened.
Making yourself comfortable at a small booth, Shuuichi sat across from you. This was usually the part where you would ask each other about their day but that didn’t seem like it was going to happen. The awkward silence permeated the air even when the server came to take your drink order.
“Is everything okay?” You fiddled with your hands in your lap, finally deciding the quiet was too much.
“I was about to ask you the same thing,” he spoke softly, watching you carefully like anything too sudden would cause you to bolt. “You seem distracted.”
“You could say that,” you sighed.
Two beers were brought to the table before you could say anything else.
You took a swig from your glass before beginning again. “So, I met someone earlier this week...”
“Oh?” He calmly took a sip of his drink.
Nodding, you continued, “Mhmm... His name was Hiei.”
Shuuichi’s movement faltered as he set his glass down.
“So you do know him,” you confirmed softly.
“I did not say anything,” he tried to defend.
“You didn’t need to.”
Looking up into his eyes, there were no traces of anger, just uncertainty. “What did he tell you?” he cleared his throat.
“He called you ‘Kurama’. Honestly, that was about it.”
Suddenly the bubbles swirling in his beer were the most interesting thing in front of him at that moment. “I see... I do go by that in a certain circle.”
“I’m assuming Kuwabara and Yusuke are part of that circle.”
He arched an eyebrow at you. “What makes you say that?”
You snickered half-heartedly. “Looking back at it, they almost blew it the day we met.”
“That does sound like them,” his lips turned up in a smirk.
“So what is with the name? Is it just a nickname or is there something else to it?” You leaned on the table curiously, your beer long forgotten.
“There is something but...” He sat back against the booth cushion. “I’m not sure if I should talk about it, especially here.”
You nodded. “Okay. But just to satiate my curiosity, does it have anything to do with what Hiei is?”
His eyes widened with confusion. “With what he is? Why wou-” He pinched the bridge of his nose in exasperation. “He showed up on your balcony.”
“Yup. He’s pretty quick for someone so tiny.”
“That he is,” he chuckled with an edge of surprise, probably not expecting you to take this so well.
Leaning in closer, you ask, “So I take it that, yes, he is not human?”
Shuuichi sat up straight, lacing his fingers together while bracing his elbows on the tabletop. He examined you for a few moments before striking up a bargain. “How about this: We have our drinks and enjoy our time here. Afterwards, we can head to the park and I answer your questions there.”
It wasn’t necessarily a bad plan. The park was a public area. There was more of a chance of someone else being around in case something happened.
“Deal.”
You raised your glass to clink against his and he obliged.
The summer air was warm with a light breeze to keep it comfortable. Shuuichi had led you to a park bench where you both rested. He angled himself to where he was partially facing you.
“Are you sure you want to know?” The seriousness of his eyes tampered with your temptation.
“In all honesty?” You met his gaze. “I’m not sure... But I’ve come this far. Might as well.”
He sighed, “Alright then... What would you say if I told you that youkai exist?”
“Well,” you contemplated while worrying your bottom lip. “I guess it’s surprising, to say the least, though not completely outlandish.”
His eyebrows shot up. “So you would believe me, then?”
“I already do, Shuuichi. Every culture seems to have their own version of youkai, demons, fairies and all that. And while it could just be that humans are collectively unimaginative, is it really so hard to believe that some of it might be real? After meeting Hiei... It kind of opened up a new door of possibilities.”
To say he was stunned would be yet another understatement. He flopped against the bench, letting his arms rest on top of the back. He had diverted his gaze away from you and looked off in the distance. Cicadas took their chance to fill the silence between you.
“He’s forcing my hand and he’s not even here,” Shuuichi murmured. “Yes, about Hiei.”
You propped an elbow on the back of the bench, leaning on your arm to fully face him. “And what about you?” you asked with soft curiosity.
When he looked back at you, you could have sworn his eyes were a golden amber for a split second. “Yes and no...”
Tilting your head quizzically, you urged him on. In short, he was a thieving kitsune known as Youko Kurama from another world called the Makai where most youkai resided. About to be killed, his soul left his body and found refuge in the human world, in a human baby still in the womb. He even gave you a smattering of information about his life as a human; His mother is an absolute saint, especially so when he met Yusuke.
“Does it bother you?”
“What? That you aren’t totally human?”
At some point, you two had moved closer together, shoulders grazing each other.
“Yes...”
“Not really, no.”
His body stiffened noticeably. “Why? I’ve done horrible things in my life.”
“And?” You laid your hand on his and squeezed it gently. “What you were and are does not change who you are. If you are as terrible as you claim, you would not be feeling guilt and regret right now.”
“I could hurt you,” he spoke in a low voice.
“You could. But. I don’t think you would. There have been plenty of situations where you could have, yet you didn’t.
He flipped his hand over to cling to yours. “But-”
“No,” you stopped him. “You sound like you’re trying to convince yourself right now.”
His emerald eyes stared back at you with a sigh. “Are you sure? I have refused romantic relationships in the past because of the dangers.”
“Kurama...” The name he gave you the choice to use rolled off your tongue. “You deserve happiness and you should not have to hide yourself.”
That was the real truth of the matter. He didn’t want to deceive his significant other like he had his mother.
He pulled his hand away from yours and cupped your cheeks instead. “I would like that,” his breathed, warm breath fanning against your lips as he brought you closer.
Translations:
Izakaya- Japanese pub/tavern
Omuraisu- Omlette over bed of rice
Karaage- Japanese fried chicken (Bite-sized. Usually found in Izakaya)
Torii- Tall, red gateway generally at the entrance of or inside a Shinto shrine. Marks a sacred/spiritual area.
Kaitenzushi- Conveyor belt sushi restaurant
And for those who don’t know, JLPT is the Japanese Language Proficiency Test. N1 is the hardest level.
Summary: Kurama reminisces over his early human childhood memories while he waits for you to regain consciousness from your comatose state.
Pairing: Kurama x F!Reader (Can be read as platonic)
Word Count: 1,864
Disclaimers/Warnings: Short depictions of bullying, childhood trauma. Angsty but there is still some fluff to be found.
A/N: Set post-canon. This pulls in bits of Supernatural lore, specifically some of the creatures seen in the series, but is not actually set in the Supernatural universe. This is something I’ve had in my head ever since I started the series over five years ago. Feels awesome to finally have it written out! Hope you all enjoy!
Masterlist
Your breath was slow as it filled your lungs, almost as though it were fueling your comatose slumber. Kurama stood idly against the wall, watching over you in the hospital bed. He didn’t necessarily need to be there, but he felt like he should. For what it’s worth, he hadn’t seen or heard from you since you were children. He wondered if your eyes still held the same fire that coursed through them all those years ago.
In his younger years before puberty, he hadn’t been the most popular amongst the children at the playground. His bright ruby hair and green eyes made him stand out and not in a good way. While the parents found him adorable, most the kids did not. His mother, Shiori, always did her best to keep a close eye on him, but being a single mother presented various challenges for both of them. She was unable to catch every moment when the other children would pick on him, purposely leaving him out of their fun. His first true glimpse into humanity should have left him jaded, and it did, at least until you showed up.
One morning, while his mother was preoccupied, one of the boys shoved him onto the gravel, scuffing Kurama’s hands as he braced himself for the fall. It hurt, just not enough to make him cry. He was still a demon of the Makai after all. It would take more than that for him to show pain. He glared up at the boy, but his view was blocked by the small back of another child.
“Why do you have to be so mean?” Although your voice was quiet, it still managed to express more rage than a yell or scream ever could.
The boy’s retort died on his tongue. He could have said something. Any child would have, however lackluster it could have been. There was just something about that situation that made him turn tail and run back to his friends.
“You didn’t need to do that,” Kurama’s voice was just as soft.
Spinning on your heels, you swung around to face him. Your face was serious with the twinge of a pout on your lips. “But neither did he.”
You watched his confused expression curiously, the brightness in your eyes not dimming for a single moment. He wasn’t sure if he should thank you or just leave, still unsure of this being human situation.
“What’s your name?” You cut through his thoughts.
“Shuuichi.”
Your hand shot out to help him up as you gave him your name. He accepted it reluctantly. The warmth of it seeped through his skin, a warmth he still remembered as he stood by your side in the hospital.
Reaching his feet, he continued to study you. Why didn’t you act like the others? You grinned and squeezed the hand you were still holding for whatever reason. “Wanna play on the swings, Shuu-chan?”
He didn’t really like the nickname. Others kids tried to call him that and were shot down immediately. Yet from you... It sounded right, like you were the only one meant to call him that. He joined you on the swings every day you two met up at the park. When he learned you and your family moved in next door, the days you weren’t at the park were spent at one of your houses.
He wouldn’t be adverse to hearing you say it again. Kurama thought about what it would be like now that you were an adult. Would it still sound just as right? Would you even remember the nickname, or even him for that matter? You had only known each other for a couple of years. Did he make as much of an impression on your life as you did his?
The day you had to leave was one of the most upsetting in his human life, second only to his mother’s terminal illness he and Yusuke had managed to cure with the Forlorn Hope artifact. He had woken from a light sleep, sensing a demonic entity nearby. Then, there came a faint smell of smoke. Fully alert, he dashed to the window to peer outside. The smoke was coming from your home.
By the time he flew down the stairs and out the kitchen side door, the house was already engulfed in flames, no doubt due to the demon. He flung himself over the fence and ran to the large tree that grew beside your window on the second floor. You had your window thrown open when he started climbing, your choked coughs and sobs were engulfing all of his senses. You couldn’t reach the branch that protruded out to you, but he could close the gap. He could get you out of there.
And he did. He grabbed your hand and pulled you onto a sturdier part of the branch before the end broke off and fell into the grass below. The way you sobbed in his arms... He couldn’t bring himself to pull away and have you climb down the tree with him. No. He opted to wait for the fire department to safely bring you both down.
Shiori cradled the two of you in her arms after the firemen brought you to the paramedics for a check-up. Other than smoke inhalation, you were physically fine. Emotionally? That was an entirely different story. Losing your parents and the newborn baby brother you had been so excited for was not something you should have had to experience. You had stopped crying, but it was like you weren’t even there. The light in your eyes had dwindled to nearly nothing.
Over the following few days, you stayed with the Minamino’s. You barely ate and your sleep was plagued with nightmares. Your dreams were filled with the demon that destroyed your life. You had caught a glimpse of it before you were rescued but that was all it took. Kurama desperately wanted to help you sleep, help you live. His abilities had not yet amassed to their full potential, so the plants he knew would work, he could not grow. For the first time in his long life, he felt truly hopeless.
Your aunt and uncle, your only living relatives he quickly learned, were at the Minamino’s doorstep later that week. They had come from overseas for you as soon as they had heard about your family. While they were clearly apprehensive at the thought of staying any longer than necessary, they still allowed you enough time to say your goodbyes. Shiori embraced you as any mother would, full of warmth and love. When you hugged Kurama, you poured every part of you into it. You didn’t want to leave but understood you had no choice.
“Goodbye, Shuu-chan.”
The last words he heard from you echoed in Kurama’s head. He had thought that goodbye was permanent. It never once crossed his mind that you would find your way back into his life.
“Kurama?”
His mind snapped back to the present.
“Botan,” he greeted casually.
The blue-haired reaper was tentative in her response. “How is she doing?”
“Still dreaming. She should wake soon.”
The djinn Koenma sent him after should be dead before dawn if the carnivorous plant he seeded in the creature’s chest had anything to say about it. Then, its spell would be lifted.
“Good...” Botan stared at the floor like it was the most interesting thing in the world.
“Did you find out anything?”
“We... We found a lot on her, but I don’t think you’ll like it.”
“Will it explain why she was there?”
Botan relented with a sigh. “Yes.”
Kurama stepped forward, gently swiping at the hair that had fluttered onto your face because of the air conditioning vent above you. “Then, tell me.”
She huffed and came around to stand on the other side of your bed. Gripping the railing, she watched your peaceful form. “Kurama... She comes from a line of hunters. At least on her mother’s side, she does.”
He glanced up at Botan before placing a large hand over yours.
“Against her mother’s wishes, her aunt and uncle trained her to continue that line. She excelled at it for quite a few years.”
No... Not you of all people.
“Why past tense? What has changed recently?”
“She started working alone after her caretakers passed away. We’ve found instances of her starting a hunt but not following through. The most recent was a small nest of vampires in the United States. They were breeding cattle to feed off of, never once having a drop of human blood. She... She wound up defending them against other hunters.”
Despite the short couple of years he spent with you, that sounded more like you. Kurama held your fingers so delicately as though they were glass, stroking your knuckles with his thumb. “So she was hunting tonight...”
Botan nodded nervously. “I believe so. It wouldn’t be hard for a skilled hunter to put together the pieces from all the news reports of missing women.”
Yes... The missing women found dead a week later after they had been reported, drained of blood with only a tiny needle wound as the culprit. Had you beaten him there only to be captured yourself?
“I wonder what you are dreaming about...” Kurama muttered more to himself than anyone. Most djinns preferred their victims to have pleasant dreams as they fed on their blood. Complacency lowered the chance of the human waking up and escaping.
Silence settled in the tiny room, tense and thick. Botan’s head hung low with her gaze still on you. You certainly did not look like a hunter by any means. Then again, your unassuming looks could aid in how dangerous you really were.
“You know Koenma will want to see her when she wakes up,” Botan’s quiet voice still felt too loud for the room.
“Yes... However, I would like to speak with her first.”
“Of course. I will leave you to it.” Botan left and returned him to the quiet of the room.
About an hour later, sunlight was just barely beginning to peak over the horizon. He had sat himself in the chair next to the bed, waiting for you to open your eyes. He had spent most of the time racking his brain on how he would explain everything.
You had caught Spirit World’s attention with this one. It sounded like you had been trying to atone, but Koenma still needed to do his job. Maybe, if he took a liking to you, then you would be more like Kurama or Yusuke and be assigned random missions to protect the three realms. Although, that may have been wishful thinking on his part.
He heard the sheets rustle ever so slightly. Your eyes flitted under your eyelids. Kurama surged forward, taking your now twitching hand in his. A dry, raspy groan left your throat as you slowly woke. Even in the low light, your eyes had trouble adjusting. Yet, they settled on him regardless. Confusion turned to recognition when you were finally able to focus properly, his original question being answered.
Having a little too much fun with these little teasers... So you all get another one! Excerpt from a shorter oneshot to drop next week.
For what it’s worth, he hadn’t seen or heard from you since you were children. He wondered if your eyes still held the same fire that coursed through them all those years ago.
