The Better Man

Chapter Sixteen


Shizuru was about to knock on the door when she heard talking. Her hand paused midair and she held her breath.

"You like him don't you." It was a statement.

"Is it that obvious?" Kagome asked.

"Hmmm, not really but I know you well enough to see it. Plus you kissed him."

"That was an accident."

Rin's laughter was heard. "But you didn't pull away, you leaned forward."

"Keh, doesn't matter he has a girlfriend."

Shizuru turned around and walked back down the hallway. She stopped in front of Kuzuma's door and knocked lightly. He answered to it, "Can I come in?"

"Sure."

She opened the door and walked inside. He was laying on his bed staring up at the ceiling, what was he thinking about? She wasn't sure how to approach the subject, then again blunt was more her style. She loved her brother and wanted him to be happy. Yet he'd been after Yukina for almost four years and that relationship didn't seem to be going anywhere. It was apparant the girl cared for him but something was missing. That was chemistry and that spark that made a relationship last. Yukina came from a race that didn't reproduce with males. Shizuru wasn't even sure if the girl knew what a sexual relationship would contain. He'd been courting her all this time and they hadn't even kissed. At this rate he'd die a virgin. "Mind if I ask you a few questions?"

"What?" He eyed her strangely.

"Hows your relationship with Yukina going?"

"It's going." He muttered.

"Really? Have you kissed yet?"

"Don't ask me something like that."

"Why not?" She sighed, time to be blunt. "Listen Kuzuma, I want you to be happy. But have you considered that Yukina isn't the right one for you? Have you even tried to kiss her yet? Atleast see how she responds to you? I know you love her but if it's never going to go anywhere how can you be happy? You're a man, don't try to ignore the fact that you have needs. As much as you seem to like your hand, it won't keep you happy forever. I think you should find out if your relationship with Yukina can ever be anything more. As harsh as this might sound, don't waste your life waiting for something that will never be. Specially when there is someone right in front of you that you might be happy with." She saw his suprised look and walked out the room.

He rolled over in the bed and grunted. What the hell did she mean? Yukina would let him know when she was ready. "Hey, I don't use my hand that much." He yelled at the closed door.

Kuwabara dropped Kagome off at the apartment, asking her to tell Shizuru that he was going to see Yukina. He drove over to Genkai's thinking about what his sister had said. He knew he loved Yukina but was Shizuru right? Would their relationship never change? If so then where did that leave him? He knew Yukina loved him but what kind of love was it?

His thoughts went back to the girl he'd just dropped off. Why did she make him feel the way she did? He shouldn't be thinking about another girl besides the one he was with. Yet lately he'd been thinking about Kagome more and more. Not in a good way either, she'd probably hurt him if she were to find out about the nasty thoughts he'd been having. He'd always thought about furthering his relationship with Yukina but she hadn't given the sign yet that she wanted a sexual relationship with him.

He pulled the car along the sidewalk and got out. Maybe he should take his sister's advice and see how Yukina felt. He walked up the steps, the girl saw him and ran across the yard to greet him.

"Kuzuma."

"Hey, can I talk to you?"

"Okay. Is something bothering you?" Her eyes widened when he lowered his head.

He pressed his mouth against hers, hoping to coax her into kissing him back. Her mouth opened in shock but her lips remained unresponsive and stiff. He pulled back and looked into her face, she was staring at him in confusion. "Sorry, can I ask you something?"

"Yes, what is it?"

"I was wondering about us. About maybe going a little further," He blushed as the words left his mouth.

Understanding dawned on her suddenly, so thats why he had kissed her. "I see. I don't know Kuzuma, I've never thought about having a forbidden relationship with a male before. I know why some people do it but I've never thought to have one."

"I see." He felt his hopes slowly fall. If she'd never thought about it before, it meant she'd never thought about it with him. Not that he was just after sex it was more than that. He also wanted the relationship and the love to go with it. But he would like to have a family someday.

"I'm sorry Kuzuma." She smiled at him, not understanding why he looked so upset. Maybe she would ask Genkai about it later.

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