A Bittersweet Romance-Itsuki and Naru

by the Rurouni Idoru

Rurouni's note: A quick warning. This fic is seriously Sensui spoiler-heavy. I mean, like, it won't even make sense unless you've either seen the whole Sensui story or read spoilers about his entire life. Contains kinda-sort Shounen-ai. (I mean, it's still a male body. If it makes you feel better, just imagine Naru's wish was granted.) And shut up. I'm a hopeless Itsuki/Sensui fan. They're cute together. And shut up. Itsuki says he thought she loved him.

P.S.: If you leave reviews, I'll love you forever. Or, you know, for a while.

I make no claims to own YYH, Itsuki, or any part of Sensui. But I like to think I did give Naru a personality she wouldn't have had otherwise. So I guess this interepretation of Naru is mine. But you can use that, I don't care. It'd make me happy, actually.

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She came to him again. Itsuki knew it was her beacuse none of the others came to him with tears in their eyes. She rushed to the water, running until she could run no longer. She broke into a swim and quickly reached the center. Sensui Naru climbed into the boat and wrapped her arms around Itsuki.

"What is it this time, Naru-chan?" She drew back from him and looked him straight in they eyes. Her deep voice carried across the water, so that, had the portal been closer to completion, demons could have heard.

"I'm gonna die." Itsuki smiled wryly.

"It's an inevitability for all of us." She rolled her eyes and then looked away from him.

"You know what I mean. I won't last much longer." She flicked a tear out of her eye. Itsuki had to admit, it was strange, seeing the tall, lean, very masculine body of Sensui Shinobu crying and speaking as a girl. Of course, it wasn't like Itsuki minded.

"The Doctor did say--"

"Not that." Naru looked up again. "The Urameshi boy. He'll kill Shinobu and the rest of us in the process." Itsuki narrowed his eyes in concern. Did she have such little faith?

"You beleive Koenma's new lapdog can destroy Shinobu?" Naru looked away again, pursing her lips while her tears flowed. It was obvious that she was not only sad, but angry. Anger was an emotion she didn't usually exhibit. "Handpicked Reikai filth?"

"Shinobu was handpicked by Koenma." Itsuki's eyes widened. She was right. Her breathing began to sound shuddering. Her shoulders shook as a whole new flood of tears began. "So he'll die, and so will we. I'm going to die alone." Comforting her was one of his favorite parts of her late-night visits. She actually craved affection and tenderness from Itsuki.

"You won't be alone. There'll be the other six...."

"They don't count. I want someone to mourn me. I want someone to care. But no one will. You're the only one I can ever talk to." Itsuki smiled kindly.

"I'll miss you when you're gone. I love talking to you." She turned away from him and looked at the bottom of the boat.

"You'll miss Shinobu more than me." He tightened his grip around her shoulders, not easy since she was in a man's body.

"You know I care about you and Shinobu more than anyone. When you all do die, I'll lose two very dear friends." He drew his head onto her shoulder. "The other five will barely even register in my mind." She gave him that forlorn look again.

"Really?" Itsuki nodded, still smiling. She sniffled and more tears rolled down her cheeks. She embraced him frantically. He gently patted her back as she sobbed hysterically.

"Don't worry. I'll be here. I'll always be here." She pulled away from him, wiped her eyes, and tried to smile.

"Yeah, thanks." She paused and looked away again. "I want my own body. I wish I could have my own body. A girl's body. Then maybe I could be happy." Itsuki considered this. Psychological theories he had heard drifted around his mind. Was she the part of Sesnui that regretted everything the Reikai work ever led to? She had constantantly shown indifference to the entire plan about the tunnel. Did she want nothing to do with any of them? Shinobu, Kazuya, Minoru, the rest, did she want to abandon them? "If I could have my own body, I could, um...I could...never mind." She was avoiding his eyes again. He looked at her, concerned once more. "I want someone to love me. But it won't happen. Not like this." Her head was hanging.

"Not like what?"

"This. When a man thinks of a beautiful girl, Sensui Shinobu's body is most likely not what comes to mind."

"That's not true. this is the only way I've ever seen you, and you're the one I think of when I think of a beautiful girl. She moved in toward his face, searching for signs that he may have been lying. To her relief, she could find none. Itsuki repeated her curious gesture, sticking her head closer to hers.

"What's wrong, Naru-chan?" Her eyes darted away from his shyly.

"I'm just feeling...I can't put my finger on the word." He leaned forward slightly and spoke quietly.

"That happens to me sometimes." She began to lose control over her emotions and her movement. She found herself sliding her head slowly closer to Itsuki's.

"Never happens...to Minoru." Itsuki found himself in the same position as Naru.

"But I like you better than Minoru." The two drew even closer.

"Itsuki...." He put his arm around her, placing one hand on the back of her head. Naru's eyes wavered for a moment, and then closed.

"Ssh." Itsukui's heart was racing, but he hid it well. Even if Shinobu would never even consider taking him as a lover, there was always Naru....

"But...." Naru cut her own sentence off this time. Her breathing was heavy. She was on the verge of crying yet again. But she continued moving forward. She wrapped her arms around Itsuki. She knew she should have been happy. Someone cared. Better still, Itsuki cared. Her lips parted slightly, and she drew in a deep breath. After what seemed like an eternity, their lips touched. And the two continued the kiss for a long moment. Naru slid her head away from Itsuki's and onto his shoulder. From the sniffling he heard, Itsuki judged that she was crying again. He just embraced her warmly again.

The pair sat in what could be called the afterglow of the kiss for some time. Naru finally stopped crying.

I'm glad I won't die alone. I'll have you." Itsuki smiled sadly and nodded. "Itsuki...I have to tell you something while I still have time. I...I..." Her eyes closed peacefully. "I..." Silence. Itsuki lowered his eyes. Naru was sleeping. Which could only mean....

Sensui's eyes fluttered open. "Itsuki-san?" Itsuki could tell by the tone of Sensui's voice. He was speaking to Shinobu. "Did Naru visit you again?" Itsuki nodded.

"Mm-hmm."

"It appears she needed some rest. So do I, actually. We have a big week ahead of us. Goodnight, Itsuki-san."

"Goodnight, Sensui-san." Shinobu then left Itsuki alone in the boat to contemplate the night's events.

Itsuki smiled.