InuYasha Fan Fiction / Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Ultimatum ❯ Chapter 2 ( Chapter 2 )

Giggles filled the air as two small children ran through the woods. Laughter was easy as they played tag together, neither one straying far from the clearing.

 

It was a simple game, tag. Yet it showed their friendship clearly enough. The little girl's hair whipped around as she twirled across the clearing, clutching a pink teddy bear. The boy would run after her, always slowing down right before he was to touch her.

 

The little girl laughed, a rich tinkle of childish delight. “Yusuke, you aren't trying hard enough!” She stopped twirling to stare seriously at the little boy. “You don't have to let me win, you know.”

 

The little boy blushed. “Who was letting you?” he blustered. “Maybe you're just really fast.”

 

She scoffed. A smile suddenly brightened her face. “Let's go by the river! Maybe we can see some fishies.”

 

“Aw, Kags,” whined Yusuke. “It's not like we can catch em.”

 

Horrified, Kagome looked up at him. “I don't want to catch them! I just want to watch them.”

 

Yusuke let out a very loud sigh. “Alright then. I suppose it wouldn't hurt.”

 

She squealed in delight and they rushed to the river.

 

They were having such a grand time, splashing water at each other, trying unsuccessfully to see a fish, enjoying each other's company.

 

It was then that it happened. Kagome let go of her pink teddy bear, her most prized possession.

 

“Oh no!” she wailed! Yusuke looked over and saw the devastation on her face and instantly knew that he had to get that bear back for her.

 

“Don't worry, Kags. I'll get it for you. You can count on me!” And he began to run alongside the slow moving creek. He rushed ahead of the bear and waded into the water. In his hands he briskly caught the soggy bear.

 

“I caught it” he bellowed!

 

Kagome began to dance in happiness. “Yeah! My champion!”

 

Yusuke staggered back over to her. “I'll always be there for you, Kagome. Don't worry.”

 

She smiled. “Thanks, Yusuke.” And she gave him a childish kiss on the cheek.

 

The clearing rang with her laughter and his groans of boyish disgust, as the children resumed their play.

 

 

“Yusuke Urameshi! Stop and explain to me just what you are doing!”

 

“Geez, Botan. Chill out. And I've already told you, several times. I am going to visit my cousin. I will be gone for at least a week. Now go fly away and leave me in peace.”

 

Yusuke Urameshi, local punk and bully, was walking down the street with a pack slung over his shoulder. Alongside him was a blue haired grim reaper having a panic attack.

 

“But Yusuke! Just what am I supposed to do without you? You are the captain of the team, for crying out loud. And you can't just go running off without any notice! We have a possible crossing of a demon with a large magnitude of power! Is the team just supposed to deal with that without you?” Botan was wringing her hands while she walked and practically shouted her problem at him.

 

Yusuke grunted. “Botan, we are getting weird looks from people walking by us. Either they are attracted by your blue hair, or the fact that you are shouting about demons. Tone it down, already.” He stopped walking to look at her. “The team can take care of this themselves. It's not as if I'll be real far away. And it isn't even a confirmed sighting. Besides, this is more important.”

 

And he kept walking.

 

Botan was near tears when she shouted at him as he walked away. “And just what am I supposed to tell Koenma?”

 

“Tell him whatever you want, Botan,” he threw over his shoulder. “I know you'll come up with a good excuse for me. See ya in a week!” And he rounded the corner.

 

“Oh bother. I'm in for it now.” And with a small pop, she disappeared.

 

 

Kagome's mother answered the door with relief.

 

“Hello, Yusuke. It is so good to see you.”

 

“Hey, Aunty. How's she doing?”

 

Mrs. Higurashi sighed with a troubled frown on her features. “She's been practically comatose this past week. She won't talk and she hardly eats. She doesn't respond to anything. When she came back form the hospital, she said sorry once, and that was it.”

 

Mrs. Higurashi wiped away sudden moisture at her eyes. “It was good of you to come, Yusuke. I know you two have grown slightly distant lately, but you were our last hope.”

 

Yusuke was silent for a moment before responding. “Think nothing of it, Aunty. Here's hoping I can help.”

 

She nodded, and gestured for him to come in the shrine. “Souta offered to share his bedroom with you. His is the second room on the right.

 

Yusuke nodded and went to find his bunkmate.

 

He was sitting in his room, playing a fighting game on the T.V. The room was filled with the jumpy background music and loud thuds from punches hitting their mark.

 

“Hey, Squirt.”

 

Souta looked up and grinned. “Yusuke! I'm so glad that you are here!” He threw himself at Yusuke for a back-breaking hug.

 

“Do you wanna play with me? I have a second controller! The game is really fun, and I know you are always good at these things.” Souta was trying to drag Yusuke over to the game while rapidly talking.

 

“Slow down, Squirt. Don't you think I should go see your sister?”

 

Souta quieted down. “Oh yeah.” His face grew troubled. “I don't know what you can do, Yusuke. I've tried getting her to play games, and I've tried talking. I was even gonna through a bucket of water on her, but Mom said I shouldn't. She didn't think it would work and that we shouldn't needlessly get her wet…” He grew quiet for a moment. “We don't know what happened to her, Yusuke. She came back from visiting… this guy, and next thing you know she's hurting herself.”

 

Yusuke looked down at Souta. “Do you know the name of this guy, Souta? Maybe it would help if I went and talked to him.”

 

Souta hesitated, and then quickly denied it. “None of us know who he is. I would have beaten him up if I could have, though, Yusuke! Just like you showed me! I wouldn't have let him hurt my sister like that!” Souta was getting angry - he would have defended his sister at all costs.

 

Yusuke put his hand on Souta's shoulder. “Calm down, Squirt. I'll go see what I can do then, hm?”

 

He walked off to Kagome's room. He opened the door and looked around. It hadn't changed much since he had been here last. The motif was pink flowers and the furniture was white. It seemed like it should be a room with a happy atmosphere. Instead it was threatening, choking it's occupant down one day at a time.

 

Yusuke finally looked at Kagome. His heart silently called out to her. She was curled in a small ball on her bed. She had withdrawn into herself, not caring about the rest of the world. She looked unkempt. He knew her mother dressed her, and combed her hair until it shined, but there was a certain lack of luster in her spirit. It pained him. Kagome used to be one of the most cheerful people he had known. She never had a mean thing to say to anyone. She had made his day when she would call and talk to him. She got him through some tough times when he was little, just like she had done to everyone else as well.

 

Well, now it was time to return the favor.

 

He walked into the room and began to talk to her. It wasn't anything important or disapproving. He just began to talk to her.

 

“I've missed you, Kags. Life is boring without your constant phone calls. I barely even go to school anymore. I have a girlfriend. You know her. It's Keiko. She sends her regards. She also says that she is doing her best on forcing me to go. She's almost as good at it as you are.”

 

Kagome remained silent.

 

He walked over to the window and threw it open wide. “It's bright and sunny out today. The God Tree is standing tall today. It is just beginning to turn gold. The air is great, clean and fresh. I love opening windows and letting the air sift in. Kuwabara wishes that he could be here with you, but Shizuru won't let him miss school. He says that you need to come visit. Buyu is looking up at me. He must want some fish snacks. Remember how I was always getting him treats from the cupboard behind Grandpa's back? That must be why he's so fat now.”

 

Yusuke went and sat on a chair by Kagome's desk. He continued his monologue for quite a while, filling Kagome in on all the recent news, telling her what she had been missing. Half of what he said didn't matter, but Yusuke knew he was getting across. He was letting Kagome know that life moved on, irregardless of her personal pain.

 

When the sun began to set, Yusuke finally stopped talking. He walked over to his bag and lifted out the pink teddy bear.

 

“I brought this for you, Kags. It probably still smells bad from the creek. It helped me get by when we moved away. I think that it will help you too.” He set the bear down next to her on the bed.

 

“I think I am going to go get some food. My stomach's been grumbling for a good hour. I'll talk to you later Kags.”

 

As he was leaving, Yusuke noticed an arm snake over and grab the teddy bear. He shut the door to the smell of salty tears.