#baufic

I.

He’s trying to keep his breathing under control. If he doesn’t, he’ll bleed out. Then he won’t be any good to anybody. Especially not these poor kids, these kids who have lost their mother and father to these fucking demons. 

In his chest, his heart aches for them, for everyone who had to suffer in this life. 

It aches for the older sister that never was given the chance to marry, have children, and grow old.

All because of one man’s god complex. 

Inhale, exhale. Concentrate. Find the blood vessels. Stop the bleeding. Can’t die yet. Not until these kids are safe. 

Gripping his katana tighter, he locks eyes with his enemy. 

A man mustn't run from a battle. 

Racing forward, with a blade colored gold, he goes to sever the demon’s neck. 

He hopes, in a future life, for the power to cut through anything.

II.

Kurama blinks as he stares down at the manga that depicts four characters ready for battle on the cover page. 

If he were anybody else, he wouldn’t have thought much of it. Even Yusuke or Hiei would have probably never spared it a second glance. Honestly, for a second, he even thought it was a stretch to think that it could be the four of them together. Maybe he’s getting sentimental after all these years, wishing for the four of them to reunite and take on the evils of the world like the good days.

But no, the nine-tailed fox character with squinting eyes and a sultry smile resonates with him. 

So he picks a copy up and takes it with him to Yusuke’s ramen restaurant.

By the time he’s finished reading it, he’s sure of it.

This is their story.

Of course, it’s a stitched-together tale. The works of editors and other influences are clear. Obviously, there are embellishments. It’s a telephone version of their tale.

But it’s their tale nonetheless.

With trembling hands, Kurama takes a closer look at the authors and can’t help but let out a wet laugh.

Yusuke pops his head out of the kitchen and looks at him curiously. “What’chu laughing about over there Kurama?”

Kurama lifts up the manga and points right at the names of the authors with a bright smile.

Written by Kawahara Kazuko and Kai Yumi. Drawn by Kawahara Kazuko. 

III.

Yusuke is bored as hell. 

To be fair, that’s how he feels most of the time nowadays. 

Fuck demon lifespans.

That’s how he ends up wandering around town aimlessly, trying not to think about how the lack of a need to care about time feels more like a noose than the freedom it’s supposed to be.

He’s passing by the edge of a new park when he hears a vibrant sound from a violin.

Then there’s the strike of the keys on a piano. 

A duet.

Yusuke could care less about music, especially classical shit (that was definitely more up Kurama’s alley and back in the day, especially during a study session). 

But something is pulling him forward. 

He sees them in a little stadium at the center of the park and every fiber of his being knows these two auras. 

Her hair is black this time, but her eyes are a warm brown like the first time he met her. The violin is nestled under her chin and her fingers dance over the strings, her body swaying with the song. She might be taller than him this go around.

His hair is blonde (and though Yusuke misses that vibrant orange, he’s still glad to see his friend’s hair still sticks out like a sore thumb). Unfortunately, it’s not coiffed, but cleanly cut. His jaw is softer but his cheekbones are as sharp as ever. His frame is still as huge as ever, and his long fingers show mastery over the piano keys. 

He knows jack shit about music, but even he can tell they’re no amateurs. The crowd that’s settled around the little stage tells him as much. 

He feels his mouth go dry and his throat threatens to close up. 

Yusuke’s never been so glad to have been bored.

IV.

Hiei’s been trailing him for a couple of days now.

Honestly, he’s disappointed. Back in the day, at his best, Kuwabara would call him out for being a stalker in a matter of minutes, even when he suppressed his energy. It had become a bit of a game, not that Hiei would ever admit that. Obviously, this reincarnation would require a significant amount of training before he could be half the man he used to be. Hiei is both annoyed by the idea and anticipating it.

So far, all Hiei can conclude about this Kuwabara’s life is that it is quite bland. 

The boy goes to school, hangs around with his adolescent friends playing catch or going to the arcade, then goes home to diligently study before going to bed. 

He lingers in the shadows as another day goes by. Orange and pink bleeds into blue as the sun starts to set in the distance. 

In a minute, Kuwabara will make a sharp right and keep... that’s not a right. 

Hiei leaps off his branch to follow. 

When he sees the teen’s destination, the fire demon can’t help but think that really, he shouldn’t have expected anything. 

The human opens the door to a pastry shop, and a bell jingles to welcome his presence. From the large window, Hiei observes as the reincarnation moves behind the counter and puts on an apron before disappearing into the back of the store.

Assuming that it would be a while before this Kuwabara came back from his apparent job, Hiei chooses to take a nap. 

It’s about three hours later that the high school student leaves the pastry shop, waving goodbye to the owners. A bag, no doubt full of extra sweets, hangs off his arm. Stuffing his hands in his pockets, he whistles as he heads toward what Hiei knows is his home. 

Right before he crosses the threshold, Kuwabara turns, digging into the pastry bag, pulling out a delicately made cupcake. He bends to place it on the ground before straightening up and looking directly at where Hiei is hidden in the brush of the trees. There’s a smug look coupled with a wide grin and if there was any doubt in his mind before about this being Kuwabara, it’s gone, replaced by the feeling of wanting to murder the buffoon. 

As if feeling his malicious intentions, Kuwabara cackles. 

“You’re not as good as ya’ think, ya’ stalker. I’m a nice guy though. So I’ll let ya’ have this as a consolation gift. It’s handmade by yours truly. See ya’ round.”

With a final smirk and a two-finger salute, the cheeky fucker is gone.

The cupcake is terrible, he tries to tell himself. 

V.

He’s fucking eleven. 

Yusuke, for one heartbreaking moment, wishes he didn’t find him this time around. There are no locks of hair for Kuwabara to even attempt to coif. He’s the smallest he’s ever been in all his lives. His parents have to wheel him around.

When he tells Kurama and Hiei about it, they go seek him out on their own terms. 

Hiei comes back looking shaken and absolutely furious. The fire demon is ready to rip open the heavens to tear Koenma a new one. 

Honestly, Yusuke would be right behind him the moment he tried. 

“He reeks of death,” Hiei mutters.

Kurama goes and comes back with pained eyes. He’s clenching his fists so hard they’re trembling. 

“I visited him while he slept. He… he’s so frail. He only has a couple of months left.”

Yusuke wants to punch something. But how the fuck do you punch cancer?

So Yusuke settles for just… loitering around the hospital. He smokes outside the door and gets yelled at by the nurses. 

Kurama keeps visiting while Kuwabara’s sleeping. He leaves flowers.

The stubborn bastard doesn’t admit it, but Yusuke knows Hiei’s taken up residence at one of the hospital’s tallest trees. 

It’s only three months before his aura flickers away like a candle blown out. It feels like a stab in the gut in a way the other times Kuwabara left them doesn’t.

It’s not even a couple of hours after that, that a cat is nudging Yusuke’s leg, a letter tied to its collar. 

Thanks for keeping me company. I missed you guys. See you next time.

+1

“You ass, took you long enough.”

“Shut up Urameshi. You know how many times I’ve had to go through this shit? You can deal with waiting a couple of years.”

“You look well Hiei.”

Yusuke’s arms are crossed, and he’s tapping his toes against the ground. Kurama’s leaning against a tree, fiddling with a rose petal. Kuwabara is sprawled out on the floor, gazing up at the clouds in the sky. 

“Hmph, I suppose you expect me to apologize for not perishing earlier?”

“Urameshi’s just pissed that he died earlier than you.”

“What was that you piece of shit -” 

“It’s comforting to know that even after all these years, you two still get along like peas in a pod.”

“Enough of this prattle. Isn’t there somewhere we have to be?”

“Oh my god, yes, finally. Let’s go.”

Kuwabara lurches himself up into a sitting position. “You just got here! Don’t you wanna, I dunno, look around or whatever?”

“Smell the roses?” Kurama remarks cheerfully, choosing to ignore the exasperated looks on his teammate’s faces. But then he turns more pensive, before stumbling upon an epiphany of sorts. A self-satisfied, knowing smirk is directed towards the shortest member of the group, causing Hiei to bristle. 

“Ah well, there’s always next time,” Kurama lends a hand to Kuwabara, pulling him up. They start walking together towards the end of this realm. It’s not long before they stand together in front of a blinding light. “Really Hiei, after all these years, you could stand to be more honest with us.”

“Shut it fox, I will cut you.”

“Huh?” Yusuke and Kuwabara both look at Kurama curiously.

Kurama’s face is damn smug at this point. He cups his hand over his mouth to mock whisper to the two former delinquents. “He’s just eager for all of us to be reborn at the same time. He missed us.”

“You’re an absolute fool if you think that’s the case. If I’m eager to do anything then it’s to get away from the lot of you as fast as possible!” 

Spencer had never really liked the idea of physical contact with another person. He didn’t like handshakes nor sitting too close to people where they were almost touching. Going his way out to mostly avoid having to touch another person. You could say he is a bit of a germophobe if you would.

But that was before you.

Everybody at the BAU knew Doctor Spencer Reid had a massive soft spot for you, ever since you walked in the doors at the FBI, the moment he laid his eyes on you he knew he was hit, Spencer had fallen for a person he didn’t even know the name of at the time, hell even the whole FBI knew how much he liked you, everyone except you. For a member of the BAU you had an extremely impressive knowledge on criminals and murder, but when it came to love you were facing a wall almost stupid on the subject of love.

You were so oblivious that you never noticed how all of his rules was thrown out the window the second you it came to you. You never noticed how his touches would linger on you’re shoulder when explaining something to you or how he would scooch closer to you when you all set at the round table going over a case, or in the jet how the seat next to you was always reserved for him. You never saw how he would stare at you with his adorable big brown puppy dog eyes like if he didn’t, he would be striped of all life.

Being the same age and having common interests made the two of you inseparable from the start, oh and ofc Spencer’s massive crush on you. You two had been best friends for almost 6 years now and in these last 6 years Spencer’s crush had only been grooving bigger and bigger.

“Earth calling Doctor Reid! You there pretty boy? Or are you too busy making lovey eyes to you’re crush over there?” Morgans voice snaped Spencer out of the spell like trance you had put him in.

“What?” not really hearing what he said, Spencer only then looked back at Morgan, locking eyes with him. Spencer’s eyes getting used to looking at something closer again needed some time to adjust. “Sorry? what did you say again? I didn’t quite hear you.”

Snickers could be heard from not only Morgan but also JJ, Emly and Rosi, “Man she got you hooked pretty boy huh? You sure that shot to the leg didn’t effect your braid as well?” spencer still confused didn’t  get time to answer before the sound of  JJ’s voice broke the laughter.

“Guys Hotch just texted we got a case”

And only a few minutes later there they were sitting around the round table explaining the case. You sitting next to Spencer, like always. No one really had seats around the table that was theirs, but you and Spencer did no one had ever mentioned it or even talked about it, but everyone on the team knew it. it was an unspoken rule. No one sits next to Spencer unless it’s you.

Spencer scooted closer to you while the quick briefing was happening, not really completely listening but enough to drop his point of view on the different point’s of the statements on the murders here and there, before randomly info dumping something only just related to the case at hand, no Spencer was far to busy loving the heat you’re  body gave off you’re arm touching his. He loved how warm you were. But once again he was broken from his thought’s by a voice.

“Ok guys wheels up in 20”

Spencer turned his head to you. You’re pretty face already looking at his face. “So see you on the jet. Save me a seat ok” it wasn’t really a question because you know he would he always did.

And like always there you were sitting next to him, you where almost sitting on his lap with how close together you were sitting, but neither of you minded, his hand around you’re waist and chit resting ever so gently on you’re shoulder.

You didn’t fly for long before landing and getting of the jet. The drive to the small town station wasn’t that bad either, it was a small town on a big land a lot of desert with not so much town. When you and the team walked in Spencer’s hand still hadn’t left you’re body it was still ever so gently resting on the small of you’re back.

Having been introduced to the sharif and the people you were going to work with. Next thing was splitting into teams on who were going where and doing what, and with Spencer’s injury it was not hard to see he was going to have to work from the station.

“So who’s staying with Reid at the station?”

Darek was quick to shot a look between you and Spencer before saying. “actually I think Pretty boy is going to be most comfortable staying here with Y/N here more then any of us others” Spencer stopped and looked over at you expectingly.

The other’s looked over to you. You feeling and uncomfortable feeling having all eyes staring at you waiting for an answer Hotch’s voice sounded “Y/N? you’re ok with staying here with Dr Reid?”

“Of curse I’ll stay here with Spence! Can’t have him getting lonely now can we.” You said with an adoring smile on you’re face. “Grate you two stay here and see what you can find on victimology and see what’s may connect the victim in any way’s. sharif could you find a desk for the two of them they can use as work station?”

“Sure yeah of curse, I’ll go find 2 desks for the two of you-“ he was quickly cut off by Spencer. “No one will be fine, we have no problem sharing a desk.” Quick looks was shared between the team. You’re voice rung out. “yeah one is fine I have no problem sharing a desk with Spence.”

“ very well then, I’ll go find and clear a desk you guys can use. In the meantime you can just wait here.” The sharif went off to find a desk you could use. Not even a minute later he came back, and showed you and Spencer to the desk. “well we should get started now huh?” you asked Spenser. He responded with a nod and a dorky smile.

Hours later you were sitting on the desk with you’re legs crossed with a Spencer leaning up against you’re thigh. The news had in someway slipped out to the press and the phones were going off like crazy. “ We know who his next victim is. I’ll go outside and deliver the news to the team.” And with that you hopped off the table and walked out the back door.

and around 5 minutes later a female cop walk up to the desk you only 5 minutes ago were siting on. “So I se you’ve been working hard huh you deserve a teat here I brought you some coffee from the coffee machine.” Handing the Warm cup To Spencer he thanked her knowing damn well he wasn’t even going to thing about drinking it.

Spencer didn’t pay much attention to her or what she was saying to be honest, that was until she leaned half sat herself on the desk not only that but a little too close to him touching his arm. Spencer almost panicked but calmed himself. “please don’t touch me nor sit on my desk I’m a bit of a germophobe.” He said as calmly as he could

“A germo-what? But you let that other girl full on sit on the desk and she was touching you? That doesn’t make any sense buddy.” She said almost offended. “ yeah but she’s different. She’s so much different then you.” With that said she stormed off. And didn’t approach the team again especially not Spencer or you.

 But at the end of the day you caught the killer. And was packing up to go back home. You and Spencer was the fist in the jet. “spence?...” Spencer was confused by the tone and turned around. When he did he did see a smile on you’re face like always you’re expression was impossible to read. It scared him. What if he had did something wrong? Had he done something to make you sad or mad? He didn’t know and he couldn’t read you. It scared him.

“spencer am I different to you then others?” the question made him panic. “Wh-what are you talking about of course not-“ he was quickly cut off by you’re voice. “Spence I heard what you said to the female cop.” Silence the only thing there could be heard was the steps you took to take you closer to him.

“ you- you heard that?! I can explain ok! It’s no because you’re different! I mean you are diff-“he was cut off by the soft touch of you’re lips on his. He was surprised but quick to kiss back, scrabbling with his hands to hold the sides of you’re face. “I like you Y/N. I like you a lot, I would even say I love you but I would want to scare you away like that.” “I like you a lot to but..” he was quick to think of the worst. “but?...” “ but I would love you if you took me on a date.” The smile returning to his face. “of course! Of course I will” hugging you with a smile.

The happy little session you had was cut off with a loud “fucking finally!” you and Spencer turned around to see the whole team standing there. You were embarrassed. Realizing they had probably seen it all or at least most of it. “my man! So you finally got the girl” ohh man this was going to be a long flight home for you and Spencer.

Spencer have had aa problem with his contacts for a while, and now have to wear his old glasses for a week or so. He didn’t partially have a problem with it. back a few years after he joined the BAU he wore them all the time (season 2 btw).  

He didn’t really care about what people thought, everyone had seen him with his glasses anyway, he was fine with glasses had no problem with them, sure they could be annoying and fog up easily, but he didn’t mind.

And that Wednesday morning wasn’t any different. He had been busy getting new glasses because the old once broke so he hadn’t been able to see since Monday and that did so he couldn’t work. He finally came back to the BAU. And of course, the first he went looking for, after putting his jacket and bag down, was of course you, his favorite boy, he wasn’t going to tell you that though.

After Spencer had looked for almost 10 minutes and simply could not find you, he went to JJ and Morgen to see if they know where you may have gone of to.

“Hey... uhm… Guys do you know where (M/N) is? I can’t find him.” Only after he asked he realized maybe it was not the best idea to and Darek Morgen, JJ was fine but Morgen. No yeah Morgen was totally going to tease the shit out of Spencer after he found you.

“Oh (M/N)? yeah last I saw his he was with Pen in her office.” JJ gave him a small smile after telling but before he could go Darek couldn’t wait with start teasing Spencer. “Oh lover boy looking for his little crush huh?” Spencer’s face turned red and his ears felt all hot.

“What!? Crush?! Wh- what no no…no no. ofcoursenotwhywouldyousayoreventhingthatwhat. No.” Darek and JJ started laughing. “Calm down pretty boy go find you lover boy ok.”

Without a word Spencer quickly left the scene to go find you where he hopefully thought was in Penelope’s office.

Not long after Spencer reached the office. And when he got closer, he could hear the voice of not only Garcia but also you. But just as he was about to push the door wider to step in and greet you and of course Penelope. He heard you say something interesting.

“That’s exactly why I hate glasses. They look all dorky and stupid they fog up. And is honestly just ugly, they don’t look good on anyone!” Spencer never cared what people thought about him he really didn’t. but… you were not people. You were (M/N). His (M/N). Your opinion matters the most to him. He cared what you thought about him.

He stopped himself before opening the door. He couldn’t let you see him like this. He wouldn’t.

But if he had just stayed a little longer he would have heard what was actually being said.

“What!?!?” Pen looked shocked wide eyes looking at (M/N). mouth gape staring at you. “why would he say that?! He’s only like ten! He’s too young to think that! Plus glasses does not make everyone look ugly that is an insult to me and my beauty!”

“I know Pen. I told my little brother that to. But he’s just scared he doesn’t want to get bullied and picked on by his friends and the other kids in the school.” you looked back at her. “and yeah you do look absolutely amazingly gorgeous.” You said that with a smirk on you’re lips.

“Ugh… darling you’re too sweet on me. But I know my glasses are so stylish and absolutely fabulous!” they both of you laughed. Then you checked the time. “Oh sorry Pen I got to go back to my desk, can’t stay here and chat forever. If only.” “See you later hun.”

You took you’re coffee mug from her table, thinking you could might as well fill it up on you’re way back. Plus you really needed something to wake you up, and that something is a hot cup of coffee.

When you walked in ready to finally get you’re hands on a nice cup of coffee you saw spencer. You’re face lit up. You haven’t seen him in days and he hadn’t texted you why, almost made you think he was ignoring you, you would have if he hadn’t texted you yesterday saying sorry he hadn’t answered back, but not telling why.

Spencer almost had his entire back turned to you. “ Hey Spence how-“ before you could say anything more Spencer hurriedly took something off his face and hid his had and the object in his pocket. He quietly and fast greeted you before running of. And that’s wired because you’ve never seen Spencer run by choice. Something was definitely wrong.

All day Spencer had avoided you and you didn’t know why. Evry time you walked into the same room as him we were fast you walk out laving you there confused and dazed. Why didn’t he want to talk to you? Normally you were the first he would greet. And he would normally be all excited to see you after only not seeing you for a day.

This was wired like really wired. He have never ever acted like this. So why? Did you do something? What could you have done to make you’re nerdy best fried avoid you, like you were the plage or something.

You really didn’t know. But what you did know was you were going to find out.

And that’s what you did, you went into full detective mode. You asked almost everyone on the team they thought it was wired as well. If there was one person, he never ignored it was you.

While you were asking around trying to find out what you could have done. Penelope was the 2.0 version of Sherlock Holmes. She had a feeling what could be wrong with Spencer. So while you were out asking trying to find out what was wrong, Pen was literally interrogating Spencer.

And after not so long Spencer knew she had figured it out, there was no point in hiding it for her anymore. He told her everything how he had hard how much you hated glasses and he was sorry for basically spying on you and her.

Penelope though was confused. What does he mean hated glasses you had no problem with it. you thought glasses were cute, and even had reading glasses yourself. But then she realized that he hadn’t herd the whole conversation, so while Spencer was rending between how sorry he was for spying and how sad he was about you.

She stopped him and tried to explain what was really said in the conversation and that he had misunderstood it all. Penelope didn’t even have time to finish her explanation before Spencer rushed out, yelling a quick thank you.

When he finally found you, you were sitting at you’re desk looking extremely down. Spencer felt like a big bucket of water just got splashed over his head. he felt so bad when he saw how stressed and sad he had made you. Thinking he should have just talked to you from the start.

He quickly walked over to you and stood at you’re desk. You were quick to notice him, standing up. Before you could ask him or say anything he started ranting about how he had herd you wrong saying how you hated glasses and how he saw sorry he didn’t just talk to you after the whole misunderstanding.

You caught on what had happened. And it wasn’t his fault he didn’t know how to deal with it, you know Spencer had always had trouble with explaining and acting on his emotions and just instead shut of thinking it would go away, and just solve itself.

You couldn’t get a word in, so you did what you had wanted to do since seeing him for the first time. You grabbed his head and shut him up with planting you’re lips on his soft ones, cautious at first, but when you didn’t feel any protesting and instead feeling him start to deepened the kiss kissing you back.

You moved one of you’re hands to the back of his head into the curls in the back, when you did that Spencer leaned further into you and the kiss. You backed away Spencer’s lips quickly trying to get closer to yours again. He looked at you as you look at him.

“You’ve been ignoring me because  you thought I didn’t like how you looked in glasses?” there was silence for a while before nodding his head slowly. “Baby why would you think that.” Spence looked down at the ground studently feeling embarrassed.

“it’s ok Spence. Please don’t look down you look so cute with you’re glasses on” when you said that Spencer’s ears turned red, and a wobbly smile had formed on his lips.

“You’re so pretty. You know that right? You’re my pretty boy” … “Wh-what did you just say” had he herd you wrong? Was he hearing things? Or did you just say he was you’re pretty boy? “ you want to be my pretty boy Spence?” all Spencer could do was nod, still thinking he was dreaming or something. “And glasses or not you’re my pretty bot no matter what Spence.”

You’re lucky no one was in the office at the time or you and Spencer would never hear the end of it but that wasn’t what mattered right now. All that mattered was Spencer at the moment.