A/N:

Hiya, and welcome to Heart Of Thorns, a Kurama x Oc' fanfic. I've always wanted to write a Yu Yu Hakusho fanfic, but found it hard to start of because all of the characters are so complex with their own ways of speaking/answering, way of thinking, etc. This is my first Yu Yu fanfic, so I hope you guys enjoy!

Prologue:

Looking back now, I'd laugh if someone told me ahead of time all the things I'd have to go through. Things I would gain and lose- so many sacrifices that would end in disappointments…

…

… The falling petals of a cherry blossom tree. It's what started it all… It's how I first met him. The impossible boy with the mysterious eyes. That held so much knowledge and secrets…

Eyes that I could get lost in them forever…

A spin of an empty glass sprite bottle- Remi waited with bated breath. She would never admit it, at least not aloud, but it was their last game-playing such a kid-ish game when they were starting High School tomorrow.

The bottle slowed down, and Remi couldn't help the smirk that formed on her lips at just who it landed on. The already irked raven boy glared back, defiant. "TRUTH OR DARE, BITCH." The boy's scowl got deeper. "Go on. We don't have all night."

"Who said I wanted to play?" Otoni countered.

"Why are you pussying out, horse face?" Saryl, their sassy redhead friend with messy curls quipped suddenly, bored eyes drooping slightly from her place beside them. A down pillow was under her; the hard wooded floor had become uncomfortable after a couple of hours having stayed in the same spot. "Its about to be 1 in the damn morning, horse face, hurry it up!"

"Saryl, calm down…" Remi muttered, although inwardly agreeing. The game had drawled out for too long- Missy, Cain, and Sam were huddled up in their sleeping bags, long since having fallen asleep. Besides the three playing the stupid game, Jackson quietly read his book on the other side of the room, uncaring to their game. With a huff, Saryl blowed a strand of curls blocking her view back.

"Well tomorrow's our first days of hell…"

"High school." Otoni corrected. " Don't tell me you're actually looking forward to tomorrow."

Saryl snorted. " FUCK no! How could I, when all of us are going to different schools. We even went as far as all picking the same first 4 choices…"

Regardless of them all picking the same schools, no one had gotten in their first choice. Jackson, their nerd had managed to flawlessly snag admission to Japan's best school nationwide…

Meiou Academy. The school for the budding geniuses and the gifted. Money and talent wise. Although they all had picked Meiou as the 4th option (after all they were no Jackson's, and knew their chance of actually getting in were slim-more like NEVER) one look at their dreadlock friend's gpa, and he had their school officials knocking on his doorstep, eager to snag another genius. Jackson was the luckiest of them all: he would be in a school surrounded by beautiful, smart people all the time. The BAS-tard. Remi had to let out a sigh, dragging Otoni and Saryl back beside her, who had started making their way towards their beds.

"Uh uh, we're finishing this, it's your turn Otoni." Said boy only sighed.

"I already said I didn't want to play this stupid game-"

"- oh for the love of- okay! Let's change things up a bit, hm? Challenge it up a bit. A little challenge is good for ya, right?" Remi and Otoni exchanged wary looks. Saryl had apparently gotten fed up. Remi was the first to ask.

"Just what kind of a challenge are we talking about..?" Saryl's lips quirked up in a Cheshire's grin, and Otoni suddenly wished he had fallen asleep long ago like the others…

Next Morning:

He could smell the strong musk scent of the cherry blossom trees behind his bench, relishing in the sweet smell of the morning dew lightly covering all the plants nearby. A smile curled Kurama's lips, eyes closing in content with the cool breeze- a temporary refuge against the blazing heat when the sun would shine in all its glory later on in the day.

All was quiet and serene, yet Kurama heard the nearly indiscernible whoosh of something lithe landing on the bench's arm rest next to him. He didn't even have to look to know who had just joined him in one of the rare moments of utter peace and relaxation. "Good morning Hiei."

The fire apparition didn't bother with a greeting, opting to observe him. His scowl deepened at the sight of Kurama's school bag and uniform. "Is it not tedious having to keep up the mortal farce, Kurama." Hiei quipped coldly, nose crinkling in distaste. "Thousands of years old, yet you're headed towards that institution who's reservoirs of knowledge is a child's play compared to yours." Kurama smiled slyly.

"Since it has been quite calm, I thought enjoying the scenery before school wouldn't be a problem. Is there something on your mind, Hiei?" Kurama asked, pertaining to Spirit World dealings. Hiei looked at him again, and Kurama instantly knew that was a no. It was peaceful for the most part. 'Ever since Yusuke entrusted Enki into power.' "you must be bored beyond your mind, Hiei."

The fire demon only scoffed.

"Speaking of the Spirit Detective-" Kurama gave him a disapproving look, not liking how the Jagan user invaded his mind without permission. Hiei motioned his head down the street. As if on cue, Urameshi's loud ass voice was heard as a trash can was kicked into view. Another voice yelled back, and Kurama watched in amusement as Yusuke howled a string of curses, threatening to unleash a "spirit gun up your asshole" to said other individual. Kurama laughed, glancing at Hiei who was looking the other way sternly, though a slight shake of the shoulders said otherwise.

Kuwabara swung at Urameshi, marginally missing his head and hitting a pole instead. "NICE ONE, BLOCKHEAD. You were 24 inches away from socking me in the head this time, WAY to go!" Yusuke sniped, bawling. They were headed their way, yet Kuwabara was the first to take notice of the two demons spirit energy.

"Oh hey, Kurama!" Said demon smiled politely, getting up to greet the teen. A hand rubbed the back of his head.

"Good morning Kuwabara." The redhead mused, obvious to the fact that the large teen had omitted Hiei from the greeting. "You do know it isn't only me-" Kurama jumped a bit at the intensity of Kuwabara's complain, opting to take a step back. His ears were sensitive, due to Yoko, after all.

"- Why the hell would I greet shorty over there?!" Kuwabara pointed at the fire demon. Hiei scoffed throwing the idiot a icy glare.

"Ah, the puppy followed its master all the way out here?"

"!"

"Oh-hohoho!~" Yusuke snickered from beside Kurama. Kuwabara's face turned red, a crease digging deep between his brows.

"Why you! ~ WHAT THE HELL IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?!" Hiei smirked.

"Oh? Didn't you know? You're always trailing after the Spirit Detective, after all."

"The hell are you trying to say, shorty?!"

"Nothing important. Just that animals should be kept in leashes when taking them out for walks."

Much to Kurama's displeasure, people where staring to crowd over them, curious to see if whether an encounter between Hiei and Kuwabara would happen. Yusuke was already dispersing the crowd (rather rudely), and Kurama decided he would tend to the rose bush he planted near the park's small garden years back. The park had been one of his escapes to think in peace before the whole Dark Tournament fiasco. Kurama had planted some seeds in the nearly dead garden, tending to the soil with his own mix of herbs and such, so that the soil could support plant growth. A couple of years later, it had flourished into a 'plant utopia'.

The garden glistened in all its glory. Kurama let out a small smile, crouching down to caress a rose, feeling the contempt, and happiness from the plants around him. He could feel they were taken care of good, and recognized that they seem to know he was the reason for the majestic state. "You all have grown so beautifully…" Kurama praised, feeling the plants vibrate with joy at his words. The wind picked up, a cold breeze wafting across the garden. Kurama got up, pushing his bangs back. A sliver of light pink invaded his view, and the Fox demon delicately plucked a cherry blossom petal that had landed on his nose. "How odd." The redhead quipped, looking back at the cherry blossoms. "It's the middle of August…. Still too early for you to be shedding-"

"- ALL I KNOW IS THAT THE STUPID CHALLENGE SARYL MADE IS IMPOSSIBLE! HOW THE HELL ARE ANY OF US GOING TO ACCOMPLISH THAT BY THE TIME SHE SAID?! UGH!"

He raised a brow. The heavy tapping of chunk heels neared him, and Kurama could only side step who ever it was that was running into him, effectively surprising said person as they had realized too late the encounter, letting out a surprised yelp. They stumbled, but Kurama flawlessly caught the other before they face planted unto the floor… And his prized rose bush. Kurama watched as the girl steadied herself using his shoulders as a support, and nearly let out a laugh when she suddenly stiffened, realizing the situation. Her shot up, an appalled look crossing her face. Big, slate gray doe eyes peered back, framed by black bangs.

"Uhhhh…"

"Are you alright?"

"…."

"..?"

"….."

…

Kurama didn't even see her move to bolt as she was already down the path, already out of sight. 'She's fast.' He raised a brow, confused at her response. "Did I frighten her somehow..?" Hiei appeared beside him, having been fed up by Kuwabara's antics.

"Hn." Hiei didn't say another word, disappearing in an instant. Kurama pondered on the strange encounter before making his way to Meiou, slipping the fallen cherry blossom tree into his front pocket. He paused though, looking back to catch the gleam of something shiny beside his shoe. A cellphone. Metallic green with a cartoon fox phone charm dangling from the side. Kurama gazed back towards the direction where the girl that had bumped into him earlier had bee lined to.

Remi's P.O.V. :

Saryl had finally done it. She'd thought of the one thing I wouldn't be able to do. I growled under my breath, not caring if people looked at me weird, or at how fast I was running. So what if my skirt was riding up? I'm wearing shorts under. Not like I'd wear it willingly. Stupid uniforms. "Goddam, not the best way to start off the first day of school, let alone high school!" Dammit all, I was now full blown yelling. It was all red's fault, the idiot. She just had to force Otoni and me into a ridiculous dare. She knew we wouldn't back out, using our pride against us. "Ugh, I don't stand a chance!"

The challenge seemed fairly simple. Whoever of the three could find a boyfriend/girlfriend first by the end of the year would have to be bossed around by the winner for the entire of next year. Sure, it sounded silly and childish, but I was NOT going to pass up the opportunity at sweet revenge against 'miss hermoine granger'/a.k.a Saryl and her crazy eternal bedhead, and "Weasley"/my rather affectionate name for Otoni. On top of trying to see who could snag a date first, we had all agreed that if one of us got kissed first before the of the year, the winner would get to pick where we would go for our big annual summer retreat. Which was very important to me.

… Last year, it had been Missy's turn, and let's just say it's not the most fun thing to do over the summer break having to pick up horse shit, and tend a farm. As much as I loved her folks- honestly, they were the sweetest- I did NOT want to spend it sharing sleeping quarters with Henry the shit eating horse. Or Larry the fucking chicken. I shuddered.

I swear that damn chicken was plotting my death.

… That's why I was so determined to win. Besides shoving it in Saryl and Otoni's faces, I was gonna have to swallow my pride and set aside my tomboy streak. I would seduce a guy, didn't matter who, into dating me, and winning this damn bet. Even if it was the last thing I would do. At least… That's what I'm trying to convince myself of…

…

Welp, there goes my perseverance… "- ALL I KNOW IS THAT THE STUPID CHALLENGE SARYL MADE IS IMPOSSIBLE! HOW THE HELL ARE ANY OF US GOING TO ACCOMPLISH THAT BY THE TIME SHE SAID?! UGH!" I lied. There was no way I'd be able to seduce any guy, let alone a fly. I'm barely 5'3", wide shoulders, thick thighs, with small pouch of fat in my underbelly. My eyesight was as bad as a bat, so I had to wear these thick, black glasses that made my eyes look bigger than they actually were. While my hair is long and jet black, majority of the time it was in a poorly attempted braid with flyaway baby hairs protruding everywhere. Even Medusa was better looking than me. Might as well start suppressing future memories of cleaning Harry the horse's shit—

BUMP!

"?!" I felt my foot collide with something as my shoulders briefly crashed onto something tall. I yelled, feeling my self fall forward head first before I could stick my arms out defensively. Seconds before I'd essentially, and quite literally would eat dirt, I felt myself being pulled up to my feet, a small tug on my forearms. I hadn't even noticed I had a death grip on whatever I had latched on to potentially drag into the fall with me, until I heard a soft voice.

"Are you alright?"

….

….

….

HOLY SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!

I FROZE. "…." I was too busy mentally freaking out that I hadn't noticed my eyes had betrayed me and were moving to glare at the person in front of me.

… Which only caused me to almost shriek in the poor guy's face. The handsome redhead who looked like one of those 'overly-cliched-princes-right-out-of-an-obnoxious-ass-fairy-tail.' He looked like one too with that uniform he was wearing, which looked kinda familiar now that I-

-wait a minute. I frowned inwardly, although it probable looked really creepy from the redhead's perplexed stare.

His hand. My weird look intensified, and I booked it out of the park. 'he had caught me by hand.'

… Don't get me wrong, I didn't run away cuz I was embarrassed or some lame excuse like that. No. I ran away out of reflex. Seriously. Take the whole 'survival of the fittest', 'fight or flight' theory to truth. I ran because I felt the sudden fear creep up on me, my skin tingling from where pretty boy had grabbed my hand. His touch burned, like if the skin had been engulfed in fire. Whatever it was that caused me to run away from the guy, also left me with a weird feeling in the pit of my stomach, and a strange urge to wanna throw up this morning's breakfast. An annoying hum was stuck in my ears, similar to static on a Tv. I hadn't even realized I had ran all the way to my new school, briefly bumping into a teacher standing at the gate. I looked back throwing a quick "Sorry!", passing by two boys rough housing and trash talking each other as I entered the school's auditorium for Freshman Orientation. The place was packed with giddy freshmen, which I rolled my eyes and took a seat at the front, trying to catch my breath. Apparently I had made it just in time for the same teacher I bumped into walked up unto the stage, everyone going quiet. I shifted in my seat, trying to get comfortable since I sensed this guy probably had a long ass speech. I got distracted though, midway through it, opting to try and flatten out my baby hairs. Something soft rested on one of them, and I pulled it to find a cherry blossom petal. "Huh, they're already starting to fall." I muttered to myself admiring the cherry blossom's vibrant color.

A/N:

As this is my first YuYu fanfic, feel free to provide some constructive criticism on the characters. It's been so long since I've last watched the show, so I'll have to revisit the series again to get a good feel on all the characters and be able to write them the best I can. Please be aware that I don't have a beta, so any mistakes, please don't blatantly point them out. I'm trying my best.

By the way, I soon will be updating another fanfic I have on this site. That other story I consider to be a bigger priority, since I first started out 'Heart Of Thorns' as a sort of mini project to get rid of my writer's block for the other story, known as 'Lost and Found'. I'll be updating it soon, so if you haven't read it, feel free to check out that D. Grayman fanfic.

Ja ne! ~