Housemates

"You're shitting with me, right "

Yusuke said to no one, in particular, he sighed looking at the white ceiling counting the swirls in the mold till his own anger simmered down then he snapped back to the problem at hand.

" Dammit hiei "yusuke muttered looking down at the small fire demon. hiei's usually arrogant face was eerily calm, and transfixed on what was left of a game controller.

" that's the fourth one this month" Yusuke groaned hiei looked him in the eyes " it's that oafs fault " he countered not looking the least bit guilty.

The little brat not only did he break the brand new controller, but the tv had a spider web of cracks spanning from one side to another.

Hiei let the pieces of the controller fall to the floor and crossed his arms. "I don't know what you're mad at me for detective i don't lose " hiei claimed.

In the corner of the room, a snort came from Kurama who had witnessed the whole ordeal from his spot on the saggy lazy boy. Yusuke guessed it was hard to read when hiei and Kuwabara played video games.

Both Yusuke and Kurama realized why hiei never lost at video games against Kuwabara. When he went against Yusuke he would silently admit defeat promising that would never happen again although hiei won more matches against Yusuke anyway.

The demons pride was on the line he couldn't accept the fact Kuwabara could actually beat him. The first time they moved in Kurama helped hiei learn how to play. At first hiei in denial, why waste his time on trivial human games. Although curiosity got the better of him and by his standards the only one who could ever best him was Kurama.

To be fair Kurama could beat all their asses in video games no one in the house seemed to mind.

That wasn't the problem, dumbass Kuwabara just had to boast whenever he beat the half-pint. Which resulted in a broken controller this was one problem hiei couldn't solve with his Jagan's eye.

Yusuke was about to retort, about how they had no money to keep replacing stuff. when Kuwabara walked in he was holed in his room studying, but came out every now and then to take a break. immediately Yusuke locked eyes with him. Maybe he should give him a new shiner for being so foolish. Yusuke thought long and hard about releasing his pent up aggression on his friend, but decided against it at the last minute before closing the distance between them.

" How are we supposed to have our horror movie marathon now dummy ?" Yusuke grumbled.

Kuwabara looked over Yusuke's shoulder to get a glimpse of the tv then over to hiei finally he looked back Yusuke.

" Is this what you do when you can't win short stuff," Kuwabara said a big stupid goofy grin on his face.

Yusuke glared how dense could the guy be. The instant the words left Kuwabara's mouth hiei sprung up from the carpet. " fake fights mean nothing if you cannot best me in life! " Hiei snarled muscles tense. Yusuke knew that pose anywhere, hiei was seriously going to fight Kuwabara in this cramped apartment.

Luckily, Kurama intervened stepping in front of hiei Yusuke never noticed that the fox left the couch.

Like always Kurama was the voice of reason in the household without him the whole place would be shot to high hell.

" hiei it isn't worth the trouble we're all friends here there is no purpose to fight Kuwabara " Kurama consulted hiei who slowly relaxed but was still pretty irritated.

Kuwabara who was now standing by Yusuke's side was oddly quiet which wasn't like him at all. Yusuke rolled his eyes, and with a grin stepped on Kuwabara's unprotected foot. Which made Kuwabara yelp in shock Kuwabara swiveled to face him Yusuke was howling with laughter now.

Just like always he would mend the group back together. Out the corner of his eye he spotted hiei failing to suppress a grin.

"Urameshi you punk! "Kuwabara yelled swinging miserably for Yusuke's head. Yusuke dodged every fist with a crackle of laughter. this went on for a while as they exhausted themselves. soon they were both laughing lazily not making an effort to avoid Kuwabara's punches Yusuke leaned against the wall man he was tired.

" hey urameshi, "

"Yeah what is it Kuwabara?" Yusuke responded his spirit detective work had left him depleted. last night he had to kick some demon ass they weren't particularly strong but slippery so it took him a while.

then this morning their boss was stealing souls from people looking for the detective who beat up his weak ass sons. Yusuke smiled faintly recalling how he taunted the guy over the useless lot he calls children. Course the older demon wasn't much of a match for Yusuke either.

" have you slept like at all urameshi?" Kuwabara said looking guilty his eyes shifting from Yusuke to the floor.

Probably because Kuwabara usually helps him with his spirit detective work and probably because he liked fighting just as much as Yusuke did.

Recently though Kuwabara had to study, for an important test. so Yusuke had to fight by himself which he didn't mind but hed like a damm break once in a while.

Across from them, Kurama tilted his head " me or hiei could have assisted you Yusuke " Kurama said softly beside him hiei made a hmpf sound crossing his arms. Yusuke knew hiei wouldn't lift a finger unless there was something for him to gain.

Yusuke let out a dry laugh " I don't wanna be a bother " he said getting unsteadily off the wall, yusuke walked over to the lazy boy plopped down and closed his eyes. Yusuke could tell Kurama wanted to say more, but for now had decided against it.

The only thing this tattered old sofa was good for was sleep. Yusuke sunk into the worn spot his body finally relaxing. man this felt good the others in the room seemed to respect his need for a quick nap by leaving the room one by one until it was just Yusuke and his thoughts.

It didn't take long, for the tired spirit detective to fall sleep.

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Yusuke woke up in a daze,and had a general loss of time. Not to mention a puffy orange jacket was draped over him. Yusuke sat up pushing the jacket aside he stretched his arms towards the ceiling. looking out the patio doors near the kitchen he could tell he slept longer than expected it was pitch black outside.

The house seemed empty, nobody was around and Yusuke heard no noise which was odd since it was never quiet in the apartment.

Yusuke gathered the time from the old wooden clock. Kurama had brought the clock from his own home. the dark mahogany wood framed the actual clock part what made it special though was the tiny fox engraved on the surface of the wood.

Yusuke had never been good at telling the time, lucky for him Kurama was smart and understood his dilemma. So after Kurama got out of school he spent a good thirty minutes teaching Yusuke how to understand it better. Yusuke at the time joked how Kurama should become a teacher but Kurama merely laughed at the suggestion.

It was midnight, everyone was most likely asleep.

Or so Yusuke thought. out on the patio a movement caught his eyes. somehow he missed the fact that hiei was standing on the railing his black clothes blending in with the obsidian sky.

Yusuke hopped off the couch silently. what was hiei up to out there did he do this often waiting for everyone to go to bed so he could stand dangerously on the ledge like he was Batman or something.

Looking behind him Yusuke grabbed the orange puffy jacket. it was October it's probably freezing out there. Yusuke promised he would give this one back it smelled like Kurama and was incredibly soft on the inside. Yusuke had a bad habit, of stealing jackets. Kurama knew that yet still put it over him while he took a nap or what was supposed to be a nap.

Yusuke chuckled stepping over the empty cups of instant noodles on the carpet. Yusuke let out a very loud audible " shit! " Usually he cooked for the group. why did no one wake him up. Yusuke sighed no use in mulling over it now. He slid the patio door open, and immediately cold swept over his limbs he slid the door back behind him. before his eyes could register the night around him.

He couldn't see in the dark so he was fortunate for the small lightbulbs above his head. Hiei, on the other hand, stood still as a pillar. Yusuke had a feeling hiei knew he was here so he stood next to him. obviously yusuke wasn't crazy enough to actually stand on the railing though.

It was windy that particular night, wind blew his hair astray it felt nice though. the city looked beautiful from where Yusuke was standing he leaned forward to get a better view of the city and its many colors of light stark against the dark sky twinkling like the stars themselves.

Yusuke could see the appeal of being out here so late at night. at first him and hiei said nothing to each other in a way they didn't have to. Yusuke was enjoying the cool air on his face it ruffled his gelled hair loosening some strands, And hiei was standing over the city who knows what was on his mind. Yusuke couldn't read the demon like Kurama could.

" Yusuke next time don't be such a fool " hiei finally spoke still facing the city Yusuke studied Hiei's crimson eyes for a hint of what the hell was trying to say.

Hiei looked at Yusuke from the corner of his eye impatience showing on his face." If i have to eat one of those dreadful things again i'll fight you myself " hiei said his voice full of disgust.

Yusuke assumed he meant the instant noodles that was ridiculous. did hiei actually hate them that badly Yusuke looked up hiei didn't joke about things like this.

Yusuke couldn't suppress the urge to laugh. this was the same ruthless demon that slew anyone in his way oh God Yusuke was shaking with laughter it spilled out of him filling the quiet of the night.

Once Yusuke calmed down because he realized people were sleeping. He asked the question he came out here for.

" why are you out here hiei? " yusuke asked he knew hiei liked sleeping in trees for some odd reason, but why stand over the city late at night. he wasn't sleeping so something was obviously on his mind. Yusuke doubted that his being here was helping the demon but hiei didn't reject his company either.

"I can't sleep in that room I never do".

Yusuke looked back over the railing again at the city trying to find an answer in the swirl of lights blurring together. how long had this gone on did hiei stand here every night or maybe he went off somewhere to sleep in a tree. He had a feeling it didn't have to do with the room itself but the inhabitant hiei and Kurama shared a room since the apartment was small.

Yusuke pushed himself off the railing grinning.

" hey hiei, may I ask a question? " Yusuke said.

all he got for a reply was a grunt which Yusuke took as a yes " did you and Kurama have a lovers quarrel or something? " He Said innocently almost laughing Yusuke was joking, of course, he looked up at hiei looking for a comeback but found none hiei wasn't even looking his way.

Yusuke gripped Hiei's cloak "look man I was joking I didn't mean anything " he explained.

However, hiei turned around and Yusuke saw something out of character. Hiei's face was getting reddish pink yusuke blinked nope still there he wiped the sleep from his eyes. it can't be hiei of all people was he dare say it blushing. Hiei eyed the orange jacket Yusuke wore with weary eyes.

" you should go back to sleep detective," hiei said simply landing like a cat as he jumped to the ground.

Yusuke frowned like he could Kuwabara snore like a chainsaw. he at least needed prep time to fall asleep before Kuwabara. Which means he was going to be up all night well at least he got some sleep.

Of course, he wasn't just going to end things the way they were hiei didn't move an inch but now that they were on equal footing there was no way for the small demon to avoid him now.

slyly Yusuke wrapped an arm across Hiei's shoulder leaning in close Yusuke looked hiei in the eyes. Hiei, of course, had his arms crossed in defiance

" i thought i told you to leave ".

Yusuke beamed " you know if you want i could help you get with Kurama".

It turns out Yusuke always knew what to say to get under Hiei's skin the demon swiftly escaped his arm and opens the sliding door. Man Yusuke was absolutely breathless from laughing poor guy couldn't take a joke. Yusuke fell back on the railing looking up at the concrete of the next patio above theirs hiei was gone now it was just him.

Who knew where the little guy went though. if he couldn't sleep in the room he shared with Kurama Yusuke doubted he went to sleep in Yusuke's bed Kuwabara was in there.

Sighing Yusuke went back inside the apartment might as well clean up the mess the guys left Yusuke looked around for hiei he was nowhere to be found.

Sliding the door behind him carefully so he didn't wake anyone up. yusuke picked up the empty noodle cups smiling damn he better not skip sleep again or hiei will kill him Yusuke begin to wonder if all demons hated processed food then again he should know.

Yusuke made his way over to the kitchen noodle cups tucked under his arms. He must look weird carrying instant noodle cups in the middle of the night wearing a puffy orange coat luckily nobody saw as he disposed of the empty cups.

When he looked up proud of his handy work he heard light snoring. upon closer inspection the counter had a small body laying on it.

How had Yusuke missed hiei again he was right in front of his eyes passed out on the kitchen counter maybe yusuke should consider getting his eyes checked.

With a grunt yusuke cautiously slung hiei's unconscious from over his shoulder, and not for the first time today he wondered just what the hell he was doing with his life.

He didn't get payed enough for hiei's head to be pressed in the crook of his neck not nearly enough. yusuke closed his eyes for the love of puu he better not slobber on him.

Eventually, Yusuke reached the couch and slowly lowered hiei down. Hiei looked so peaceful while he slept it almost made Yusuke laugh it's been a while since he saw hiei sleep. sadly Yusuke didn't have a marker to draw on his face and Yusuke wasn't going to risk his life by doing that either.

Just one thing was out of place. Yusuke would hate to lose this jacket but hiei needed it more than he did yusuke stripped the jacket from his arms and threw it over hiei.

There his job was finished. yusuke sat on the end of the couch and stared at the broken tv it was going be a long night.