Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Revolution ❯ Chapter 1 ( Chapter 1 )

 

He hadn't been left out. He'd merely retired. That was what Kazuma Kuwabara had always told himself. He had no stake in the final tournament, that simple. But something never sat right.

 

Of course Kuwabara didn't understand what his comrades had gone through. And he didn't really understand the politics involved. But there was that nagging thought. “You're weak. And don't try to justify your weakness by saying you have no demon blood in you. Neither did Genkai. You're a failure, Kazuma Kuwabara.”

 

 

YU-YU HAKUSHO: REVOLUTION

by jak981125

 

The back-story was uneventful enough. Five years had now passed since Yusuke's return. Kuwabara was now 22 years old, self-employed, and single. In college he had discovered a new talent. He had a mind for scientific management. He now acted as a consultant to several Tokyo industrial plants. He had nearly lost touch with Yusuke and Keiko and only saw them about twice a year.

 

Keiko had married Yusuke the day after her high school graduation. It was a humorous sight to watch her deliver her valedictory address while she was so very obviously pregnant (although I doubt her parents were amused). They now lived together in Kyoto with their daughter. Keiko was an accountant and officially Yusuke was listed as unemployed though in reality he worked as an intelligence agent to both Koenma and Enki.

 

Amazingly enough, Koenma had briefly dated Atsuko Urameshi. Briefly. Very, very briefly. That relationship collapsed after about two weeks which was about two weeks too long. Then one day Shizuru was doing Botan's hair and she absent-mindedly said a few complementary things about Koenma which unintentionally put ideas into Botan's mind. Botan developed a crush on her employer and eventually married him. Atsuko went back to her old habit of dating a different guy every week. Yusuke was immensely relieved. How would you like your mom to not only be dating your boss but to be seen in public with a guy who has a pacifier in his mouth?

 

No one else had taken a spouse. Shizuru and Kurama had been through a failed relationship with one another (she dumped him). Hiei and Mukuro were still cohabitating but had never married nor had they made any contact with any of the others since Enki's coronation (except Yusuke who couldn't always be avoided seeing as how he worked in Makai). Yukina still served as Genkai's housekeeper and lived with her. Not a week passed when Kuwabara didn't stop by, supposedly to check in on Genkai but always spent hours attempting to flirt with Yukina with no results (I'm sure Hiei would have been relieved).

 

Kurama and Kuwabara were roommates now and shared an apartment in a prominent shopping district. Though Kurama sparred daily with Kuwabara he had long since given up the use of his supernatural abilities. He hadn't used his rose whip or any other plant techniques in years. Though he was now capable of turning into Youko any time he wished he didn't dare. In fact he had only done so twice in the last five years. Once he transformed when his curiosity got the better of him. He punished himself by fasting for a week and wound up in the hospital. The other time was when Shizuru dumped him for another man. The anger drove him to transform for a little less than one full second but it was enough to scare him. He really had nothing to be afraid of with the increased control he had over the fox demon. For the most part a peaceful domestic life seemed to suit him well.

 

The same could not be said for Kuwabara. He grew increasingly restless. He would often walk the streets at 3AM obsessing over his failures. Even in the quiet Tokyo night he could not be at peace because he sensed hundreds of spirits everywhere he went (his perceptions were now much stronger). He had failed to kill Toguro Ani. He had only managed to incapacitate him for about 45 seconds after which point he could have pulled himself back together but chose to wait. He had made no progress with Yukina. He had utterly failed against Sensui. And he had to sit out of the Demon World Tournament. Well he didn't HAVE to… did he?

 

“Could I have made any difference?”

 

Kurama looked up from his coffee and sighed.

 

“Kuwabara, you really have grown insecure,” he grumbled. “I already told you that you could have. Why do we have to go over this every single morning?”

 

Kuwabara looked down at his half-eaten breakfast with disgust.

 

“And don't waste that. I do grow tired of you wasting my cooking,” said Kurama with a grin.

 

“I'm not hungry,” mumbled Kuwabara.

 

“Sure, then on my way to work I'll catch you at that corner café.”

 

“No really, I'm not hungry. Hey Kurama, you ever think about quitting your job? Maybe become a cage fighter or something? You'd really kick some ass.”

 

Kurama laughed so hard he spit out his coffee. “Now what on earth brought THIS up? Could you picture me…”

 

“Yes I could,” interrupted Kuwabara. “But I was mostly thinking out loud. I think about stopping this consulting stuff all the time.”

 

“And what would you do?” asked Kurama.

 

“Well, what would YOU do?”

 

Kurama thought for a moment. “I suppose self-employed botanist would be an obvious choice. I do hate having to rent land to plant a garden but that's the price you pay for living in an apartment.”

 

Kuwabara grinned. “Maybe you should. A man should stick to his talents. I've been thinking about becoming a medium.”

 

“Well it's not like you're not a talented consultant,” replied Kurama.

 

“I envy Urameshi and Hiei,” said Kuwabara with a sigh. “While I'm out there spending my days figuring out how some plant can assemble a motor 25 percent faster they're out there making a difference.”

 

Kurama laughed once again at that.

 

“What? Did I say something funny?”

 

“Hiei spends his days doing border patrol,” said Kurama. “He's probably bored out of his mind most of the time.”

 

“Yusuke's not,” replied Kuwabara. “He's a spy. Never a dull minute.”

 

“Never a safe minute either, Kuwabara. But then again I get the distinct impression you're feeling burned out. I don't know, maybe you should quit if you really feel that way. Maybe you should talk to Koenma and Enki.”

 

Kuwabara sighed. “My problem is I don't know what I want.”

 

* * *

 

Genkai sat back in a recliner chair in the back room of her house playing a video game. She was well aware that Kuwabara had entered her house and was standing behind her despite the fact that he had not made a sound.

 

“Don't disturb me, I'm on level 12,” was all she said.

 

Kuwabara stepped outside and waited patiently while he watched the sun setting. He whistled a little tune to himself. It was a tune he had often heard Yukina hum to herself when she was cleaning or cooking for Genkai.

 

“She's not here.”

 

Genkai's voice broke Kuwabara's train of thought.

 

“So did you win?” asked Kuwabara.

 

“No,” she replied. “I crash landed. She's not here Kuwabara. I gave her the day off.”

 

“Oh but I didn't come here to see Yukina, I came her to check on you,” said Kuwabara.

 

“Sure you did,” retorted Genkai sarcastically. “You've been saying that nearly three times a week for the last five years. Next thing I know you spend the next four hours hitting on Yukina and nothing gets done.”

 

“Can't help it,” said Kuwabara with a grin. “But I swear that's not why I'm here.”

 

“Then what do you want Kuwabara? I'm a very busy lady.”

 

“Well I was just wondering if you had ever thought about coming out of retirement. You know, just a little.”

 

“And why would I want to do that, just a little?” asked Genkai suspiciously.

 

“Well it's just that I was kinda thinking maybe I could take lessons from you,” replied Kuwarbara.

 

“Kinda thinking? Maybe? Get the hell out of here Kuwabara.”

 

“Wait a minute, what did I do?”

 

Genkai frowned angrily. “Look, I'm too old to go taking on half-assed students who aren't serious enough. And there's no good reason to train you. If you're just feeling bored take up a hobby or something. But don't go wasting my time.”

 

“Oh yeah, like you time is so precious,” muttered Kuwabara under his breath.

 

“What was that?”

 

“Well all you're doing right now is playing video games. What's important about that?”

 

“Hey, I'll have you know that saving the earth from an invasion by the dog people from Mars is very important,” said Genkai with a smirk. “I'm not mocking you. You're a good person Kuwabara. But I have always restricted my training to serious warriors who are in need of it. When Yusuke came to me he had already been appointed Spirit Detective. I had to train him and he stuck to the training regiment.”

 

“Anyone who wants something bad enough will stick to it,” replied Kuwabara.

 

“She's not in love with you,” said Genkai. “She comes from a land with no men. She has no idea what flirting is. She thinks you're just being nice.”

 

“What are you talking about?” yelled Kuwabara angrily. “I'm not talking about Yukina, I'm talking about training.”

 

“It's all the same,” replied Genkai. “Deep down you know that. You don't have the heart to be a lover or a fighter. You didn't have the guts to bring things to a head with her. You'd rather play this little charade so you don't risk rejection. Go home and be a consultant.”

 

“Damn it!” yelled Kuwabara. He angrily kicked at some gravel and walked away.

 

End Ch. 1

 

© 2006 Joseph Kerner

 

Disclaimer: Yu Yu Hakusho is not my creation.