Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Life Goes On and Life Changes ❯ Get the Ball Rolling ( Chapter 3 )

Author's Personal Note: I apologize for the lateness of this chapter. I will get back to bi-weekly updates after this but a lot happened. I was in a big car accident (I am okay) and then it was the holidays. I was working on this chapter and then had to scrap it due to subpar writing on my part as I tried to write during nights where I couldn't sleep at the hospital for family. So it's been really rough on this end but here I am. I will do this entire story and share it all with you. I can't thank you enough for kind words and for your patience.

A/N: This fanfiction contains original storylines and a character of my own. I try to keep the established characters as in character as possible except for the differences in romances. There will be romance such later on but I don't want to rush it. I'm using this fanfiction to build my writing muscles so to speak. Please enjoy.

Disclaimer: I do not own or make any profit from the characters or storylines of Yu Yu Hakusho. I just had this stuck in my head forever (literally a few years) and finally decided to share with the world.

Without further delay, here we go.

Chapter Three: Get the Ball Rolling

Holy shit did his shoulder hurt. Yusuke's teeth clacked painfully together, keeping him from screaming out. With a grunt of effort, the teenage demon hoisted himself out of the boulder he'd been thrown into hard enough to make a dent. His hands balled tight into fists. Tight enough to feel his nails prick the skin and some knuckles crack. As though someone had stuck him in Kairi's kettle and lit the stove he felt his temperature rise. God damn he was all beat up. This was like dealing with the friggin' old lady on a whole different level. Yusuke was frustrated, he was impatient, he was feeling a red hot ball of anger he'd never felt in a training session before.

The day had started well enough. Yusuke teased Koenma over breakfast before running out for his first one on one training session with their goddess host. She said she'd be going hard on him today to learn his limits. Learn where his control is. To find where and how to make him grow stronger. Kairi had been pretty open with it but Yusuke had underestimated her words. And now he felt like an idiot.

Anger wasn't new to Yusuke by any means but this was different. This anger burned, this anger felt petulant like a tantrum waiting to go off. He wanted to growl, he wanted to hit her back but god damn it he couldn't even make contact with the woman.

A blast of blue colored energy flew by him in that instant, not meant to hit him but to bring him back to the moment. “Daydreaming won't make you stronger Mr. Urameshi.”

“Ngh, screw you!” Yusuke fired off a quick shot of his spirit gun only for Kairi to disappear from the line of fire. Her foot promptly connected with the middle of his back.

“Are you always so rude when things aren't going your way?” The tone was teasing, belittling. It made Yusuke's blood heat up even more.

He jumped up hard with a growl and came at her, his fist caught easily by her hand and held there. “Shut up! You friggin' old people all the damn same.”

The goddess' eyes widened, Yusuke's growl had been on the more, animalistic side. His energy was crackling away unsteady and overwhelming. It was growing in an alarming way and he seemed to be more lost in sudden anger. Kairi knew what was happening, his emotions were winning. His demon instincts were pushing into the forefront and Yusuke had no idea it was even happening. Not because he was losing himself, no; but because the energy itself was just too strong. If she was anyone else the danger of the current situation would be immediate. Still, he was a fascinating sight to behold. She wondered, what would happen here with a few more pushes?

“Hmph, energy cracking about like that and still blocked. It's like you're not even trying. I expected more, but perhaps all you can do is underperform.” She made sure to smirk at him as she spoke.

The growl that came from the boy caused her very torso to vibrate and he took a swing at her with his other arm. She pulled away and sent a small stream of energy at him. One more push just to gauge his base potential… but what?

Yusuke's fingers made to power up his spirit gun. The boy seemed partial to that move. A Spirit World move…

Her move.

“Spirit gun!” The blast was huge but untempered, erratic in its power and Kairi aimed one of her own.

The boy's face and arms showed blue markings, mazoku markings, and she knew it was time to set him on his ass. Without a word she sent her gun straight at him, no reserves, and broke through his energy. Yusuke yelled out in surprise and she watched as he slammed harder into the ground than she'd dared to send him before. Trees broke, rock disintegrated, the boom that followed must've been heard in the adjoining worlds.

Kairi floated in the air for a moment taking in the energy readings below her. They had hit unimaginable levels for even a mazoku so young. This boy had promise, but no handle on the demon energy at his disposal. It would take time, a few years to at least get him to manage that. No wasted time there. Yusuke now had hundreds to thousands of years before him. If he'd even thought that far ahead. Something told her he did not. Kairi relaxed her energy and let herself drop down gently.

“Yusuke, come on out. I know you're conscio-” her words were cut off by the young demon launching at her, a form of pure energy at this point. Even Kairi barely caught his fists in time.

“Grrrrrrr…”

“Yusuke, Yusuke! Enough now. I've assessed you, reel it in!”

Her words had no effect. The boy growled, markings a deep color on his skin.

No stranger to an out of control demon the goddess before him eased calm healing energy towards him through their hands. “Yusuke, listen to yourself. You're barely coherent. That's enough.” She thought of something else. “Do you really want Koenma to hear you act like this? What would he say? You're not in control.”

Recognition and understanding flashed in the boy's eyes. His red demon energy that had been swelling through the area began to recede. The muscles in his arms went slack and he blinked up at her.

“There you are…” Relief was evident in Kairi's voice.

Now this was embarrassing. Scary almost. Yusuke jumped back and looked at himself. His hair felt normal, disheveled but not longer like before when his hand ran through it. But looking down he could see the tattoo-like markings. How had he lost it like that? Growling like a damn monster and just going in, not for the fight, but to get her back for it all.

“Ah, ah I know that look and you have done nothing wrong.” Kairi tutted.

Yusuke looked at her for a second and then sat down arms and legs crossed with his eyes off to the side. Looking his normal obstinate self before saying, “That's bullshit and you know it.”

Shaking her head the woman before him made her way over. “No, dear I did all of that with the intention of driving forth your demonic instincts. The asshole here, simply put, is I.”

Confused agate eyes found their way to stare at her. Widening as she shrugged. “You want me to lose control like that?”

“I do not. I wanted to know where your potential is, your limits are, what's a trigger for you, and where your control issues are. Anger is a major drive for demon energy as I'm sure you've noticed. I needed to see your lack of ability when it comes to handling everything in order to learn where we need to start.” Kairi sat beside him and looked him in the eyes.

“Sure you didn't do it to show me I'm a weak link?”

“Hah!” Her laugh was practically a bark. “Yusuke Urameshi you are anything but. Your potential is superb, it only took me a moment to get you to realize yourself which means you're very self aware which is fantastic. Your style is, hm admittedly sloppy but I believe that can be refined. Give or take a few hundred years you could very well be a grand rival for some of the strongest beings out there.”

“If I can get my ass under control,” Yusuke muttered petulantly.

Nudging him with her elbow Kairi answered, “And we'll get you there dear. Although you are going to have to work for it.”

Yusuke made a face but didn't answer. Nothing for a few minutes and then…

“I am myself. It was just… like the energy was in charge. I was friggin' me though.”

“I know.”

The demon shifted uncomfortably. “When I was dead, before I woke up everyone there was saying I'd change into a monster. Evil and everything. They called me bloodthirsty, they said I was a threat. That'd I'd be… different.”

Kairi's head shook solemnly. “This isn't what they'd said. This is you having to learn to deal with new instincts and greater energy that can overcome your sensibilities. You're still Yusuke. Just some… additions to the mix.”

“I just, I don't want to change into someone different. I like me.”

Kairi smiled, “Good. Then you won't. If you were going to wake up a man-eating monster, Yusuke, you would have done it in that cave.”

Yusuke shrugged uncomfortably. Refusing to make eye contact he said, “Everyone else thought so though, even my friends looked at me all weirded out after they saw me and noticed the change. But…”

“But?” Kairi prompted.

“Koenma… Koenma said, `No, not Yusuke.'” He stopped there. The wind blew easily over them, drying the sweat on Yusuke's skin. Kairi took in a deep breath, tasting salt. Damn it she'd messed up again.

Kairi's response came out in a whisper but he had no problem hearing her. “That meant the damn world to you didn't it? To hear that. He had no doubts that you'd be yourself.”

“It still means everything.”

“Yusuke,” Kairi started. “I'm sorry. I used him on you at the end there and that seems to be a grave error on my part.”

The boy shook his head. “Nah, it stung yeah but I think that made calming down easier.”

“Because he didn't see you different.”

“He still doesn't. My other friends were either scared, interested, or decided I was suddenly superior to my old self but he just…” Yusuke gestured with his hands openly. “He just said not Yusuke and then talked to me how he always did and had me run here with him without a second thought.”

“I get it. I do. You should tell him that you know. What it means to you.” Kairi smiled a bit.

Yusuke tch'd and rolled his eyes. “No way in Hell Kairi.”

“I thought you might say that.”

The boy blushed a bit and rubbed behind his head. “Sorry, I got all stupid about it.”

“No.” It was just a small simple word but Kairi's tone made it so definite. “No, you didn't. I know what it's like you know. To worry about staying yourself. You don't get to be my age and fight in the wars I have without worrying.”

“What is your age?” Yusuke grinned like a fool as he asked, making Kairi twitch.

“At the risk of sounding childish, shut up Yusuke.”

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Koenma's boredom had become just about too much to handle when he finally saw the other two returning to the house. The godling had been draped on his stomach over the side of the porch with a pile of books next to him. The books were interesting enough and it seemed that Kairi's library was extensive enough to keep him occupied but even in Spirit World Koenma was used to someone's presence. Even if they were just in and out of the office or there for commentary. There was never so much quiet as when he waited this afternoon. With a resigned sigh the teen admitted to himself that he'd have to learn to embrace that quiet from time to time. As the other two would need hours at a time to train.

He sat up straight as they headed over. The clothes he was wearing rubbed him oddly. Yusuke had even snorted in laughter this morning. Not dressed as the prince he was Koenma was sporting a blue polo shirt and slacks. Kairi had insisted he wear the more casual clothes he'd purchased to blend in among humans since he wasn't exactly being the Chief Administrator of Spirit World at the moment. He pulled the collar a bit before greeting them. “How did it go- yeesh Yusuke! You look about as wrecked after you did at the tournament! Where's the rest of your shirt?”

The demon boy blinked a few times and looked down to see the remnants of a white t-shirt barely hanging on one side of being tucked into his jeans. “Huh, another one bites the dust all right. At least this time my shoes survived.”

“You're always a wreck after anything physical aren't you?” Koenma tried to sound disapproving but instead he just sounded amused. “You're really impossible you know that?”

Kairi rolled her eyes at the two and Yusuke grinned like a fool. “Dear brother, is that all you've read? Slacking today?”

Koenma shrugged, “I'm actually not feeling too solitary today. I've only read half of what is here.”

“You guys are nerds,” Yusuke said teasingly before ripping the rags of shirt off of himself and throwing them to the side. He sat next to Koenma, a ragged scraped up shirtless wonder and took off his shoes.

“She's apparently a nerd that can kick you around. You're a mess and I think there might be one smudge of dirt on her Yusuke.” Koenma couldn't have sounded more pompous if he tried.

A vein pulsed on Yusuke's forehead. “Shut up.”

“Soft spot for the boy at the moment Koenma,” Kairi called from inside the house. “He couldn't land one punch after all.”

“Hey, if you're in the house be in the house instead of chiming in out here!” Yusuke yelled over his shoulder.

Koenma held in his laugh, “She's right, you seem pretty upset.”

“Hmph, I'll get her next time.”

Kairi's voice rang out from further in the house, “Doubt it!”

“How'd you get so damn strong anyway? It's annoying,” Yusuke all but growled.

Koenma joined in merrily, “Actually I've been meaning to ask you about that myself Kairi. I knew from word around Spirit World that you'd been an involved fighter but I must admit I couldn't obtain any details…”

There the silence came. It almost oozed out of the house. Stress thickened the air slightly and both young men felt it enough to look at each other.

When the soft clacking of porcelain resumed Kairi stated in a very even tone, “If you clean up yourself Yusuke and Koenma you help me get a proper tea together… I'll tell you children a story.”

They complied quickly.

________________________________________________________________ __________________

All three of the odd household were seated on the porch. There was a platter piled high with meats for Yusuke and sandwiches for the other two. Sweet treats on another and the whole pot of tea was in the middle as well. Redressed and cleaned up Yusuke picked at his snack but kept his eyes on Kairi. He knew Koenma noticed it too. Kairi had promised to be open but was staying quiet. Nibbling absently on the corner of a sandwich, her cup of tea steaming in the other hand.

She was like Hiei in this way, Yusuke had noticed. She could stay quiet and thinking of how to start the conversation for hours. But he was impatient and he had the feeling Koenma was too. So came his mouth…

“You know, some of your moves are like a friend of mine's. Kurama. I noticed before the session got too heavy. You got this,” Yusuke wiggled his hand in the air, “this flowy way of deflecting stuff.”

That had done it. Kairi's eyes snapped to Yusuke's and locked on. For the first time since they'd gotten here almost a week ago, Kairi seemed shocked. “Yoko… Kurama, by any chance?”

“Yeah when he can be. Usually all human-ish though.”

She looked thoughtful for a moment. “Yes, yes that's right he would have to be still. I haven't heard from him really since the incident.”

Koenma sputtered, “Wait, wait you know him? Personally?”

The goddess nodded.

“So, you have some style similarities `cuz you know him?” Yusuke pushed.

“No, there is a more solid reason for that.” Kairi finished the sandwich and reached for another. “Yoko Kurama was my first fighting partner you see.”

Now it was the boys' turns to be shocked.

“I did indeed say it was story time, didn't I? All right then. About three to four thousand years ago there was the start of the Netherworld War. You should know about that right, Koenma?”

Koenma nodded. “Yes, the Netherworld wanted to reign over humans as well as demons and dispose of Spirit World. A war was fought and ultimately ended with father sealing the king of the Netherworld.”

“Is… is that what… he…?” Kairi had never spoken so quietly.

“Eh? Is that not right?”

“No,” she answered, her voice grave. “No it isn't. Father didn't even want to fight the war, he just wanted to obliterate all demons and rid the Netherworld of it's mortal army.”

Yusuke's teeth gritted together so hard the enamel squeaked. Koenma looked into his cup almost angrily.

“I didn't believe in genocide to make it easier. So, I went to the Demon World to fight.”

The young demon looked at her. “Who trained you in Spirit World?”

“Aha…” Kairi looked sheepish. “Positively ...no one. I knew I had tremendous energy and thought I could learn as I went. And father wouldn't blow up the world if his only heir at the time was there so… I nicked a sword from a weapons room and ran off.”

“You're kidding.” Koenma hadn't blinked in a solid minute.

“No, I'm afraid I'm not. It's lucky for me that I ran into Yoko when I did. He was in support of my view on it; he also had no interest in following Netherworld as he was intelligent enough to realize the need for balance. Demon gods should judge demons and humanoid gods should judge humans. It's the way it was originally set up and still should be. It's unfortunate that the war ended differently but we did everything we could.” Kairi sipped her tea. “He taught me how to utilize the weapon. He taught me basic combat and how to take a hit. And I grew from there through our experiences together. Even after the war I just… kept fighting. I didn't believe in just remaining an overseer anymore. I believed in taking part when it felt my responsibility. You can imagine, I'm sure, how father contested that. I didn't care though. I had no doubts. In very short, that's how I got so strong Yusuke.”

“So you became a badass because you decided your father was a dick, ran away to Demon World and became fighting partners with the fox King of Thieves?” Yusuke asked.

Kairi smiled. “He wasn't quite that established as a thief yet. At that point Kurama was only about a thousand years old. I was years on years his senior.”

“Jerk is older than he told me he was at first.” Yusuke mumbled into his cup.

“Oh, don't tell him I said it he'll be very cross with me. So sensitive about his age.” The woman next to him seemed flustered.

Koenma chimed in, “So were you earlier according to Yusuke.”

“Ah… aha.” Kairi looked between both boys. “Would you believe I'm not exactly certain on the year? I do have an estimate I can share but I'm not able to pinpoint it perfectly. Years weren't measured in the same fashion as they are now long ago.”

Koenma had a calculating look on his face. “Considering you say you're thousands of years older… over five thousand at least… Six?” She shook her head. “... seven? Eight?”

“More about ten and change darling.”

Tactless as ever Yusuke spit out a bit of tea and raised his voice unnecessarily high. “Holy shit you're ancient!”

Never faster had a hand smacked the middle of his forehead in response. Yusuke tumbled backwards and off of the porch. The red imprint of a Kairi's knuckles dead center of his head. “I know you aren't great at minding your manners Yusuke, but do try not to be entirely uncouth. Next time I'll make it hurt.”

“That one hurt!”

“Nonsense you still have your head.”

Koenma grimaced at the scene. “Yusuke, you really are impossible.”

A/N: Please let me know what you think. Again I apologize for the long waits… But another chapter will be posted in a few days. Thank you for reading!