Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Revolution ❯ Chapter 5 ( Chapter 5 )

“Where is he, Kuwabara? Where's my boy?”

 

“I don't know. When I got back to the apartment he was gone. I've been out for a few days at Genkai's.”

 

“Who is Genkai?”

 

Kuwabara sat down and sighed. Shiori, Hatanaka, and Suichi were all visibly worried.

 

“I'm sure nothing's happened to him…” began Kuwabara.

 

“There were these monsters!” interrupted Shirori. “I couldn't believe my own eyes!”

 

“Are you sure?” asked Hatanaka. “I mean I know you're not type to imagine things…”

 

“Of course I'm sure!” she replied. “Don't you remember?”

 

“I had a concussion. I can't remember a single thing that happened that entire day or night.”

 

“He had something in his hands; it looked like the stem of a rose plant. But… it was ten feet long and had these huge thorns…”

 

Kuwabara was most uncomfortable. And the fact that he was also speaking to Hatanaka and Suichi… oh if only he could have spoken to Shiori alone!

 

“Look…” he began. “There are things Kurama never told you…”

 

“Who's Kurama?” asked Suichi.

 

“Oh for heaven's sake, leave this to me, Kuwabara!” came a voice from behind. All of them turned to see Yusuke standing there. “Kuwabara, he's in Makai right now. And ma'am, there are some things we'll have to tell you about you son that will be… well, difficult. And you might not believe me because I wouldn't have believed it myself a few years ago. Kuwabara, show her. Light it up. She needs to see something supernatural so she can believe us.”

 

Kuwabara sighed and stood up. “Jigen Tou!”

 

Kurama's family was astonished. Yusuke, who had been expecting this, was no less astonished to see Kuwabara display this amount of power.

 

“Your son is a demon,” began Kuwabara.

 

---

 

“Where have you been?” asked Botan. “You've been gone all day.”

 

“I had to deal with this Yomi business,” replied Koenma as he sat down in his office chair and took his shoes off. “Oh my feet are killing me!”

 

“Yomi business? I thought you already decided to send him to the lowest level of heaven.”

 

“Not that. His autopsy.”

 

“EW!” said Botan with a cringe.

 

“Oh come now Botan, you've had to go and retrieve tons of souls from some pretty grizzly deaths!”

 

“Yeah,” she replied. “But I never watched them put on a table and gutted like a fish. Besides, everyone in Makai and Reikai already knows how he died.”

 

“Yes. Foxglove extract in his tea. Foxglove. Cute. Real cute. Whoever did this knew what they were doing. Yomi's sense of smell and taste were uncanny. Somehow the assassin gained access to his kitchen and managed to completely mask the taste and odor. A real pro. Obviously it wasn't Kurama. He would never use poison. He would consider it cowardly not to face an opponent in combat. But someone sure wants everyone to think it was him.”

 

“Well I'm sure Yusuke will get to the bottom of it,” said Botan.

 

“If Enki lets him get to the bottom of it,” replied Koenma.

 

“What are you talking about?”

 

Koenma took out his pacifier. “Who's the most likely suspect? Who had the most to gain?”

 

“Shura.”

 

“Bingo. And Shura is one hell of an actor. He gave the impression that he was oh so very furious and that any little thing might lead him to declare war. And he made sure to make a big show of hostility towards Yususke. Crafty eh? He's up to something but if Enki sends the Spirit Detective to find out what it is… well the implication is that it would be seen as an act of war. I never would have thought it of that kid back when I first saw him.”

 

All of the sudden, Botan gasped. “Koenma! I just had the most marvelous idea! I know how we can get to the bottom of this!”

 

“How?”

 

“You make a deal with those demons that Kurama killed. You were planning on sending them to Hell, right? If they agree to tell you who hired them, maybe you can promise to show them some leniency.”

 

Koenma's face lit up. “Honey that's brilliant!” He ran up and embraced her. Just at that moment, George came in.

 

“Don't you ever knock?” growled Koenma.

 

“Sorry sir,” he replied. “Just wanted to tell you that I took care of that assignment.”

 

“What assignment are you talking… Oh no! Oh you big blue idiot, you didn't!”

 

“But sir, you told me to take those troublemakers who came after Kurama to Hell.”

 

“WHAT?!” screamed Botan. She picked up her oar.

 

“Wait a minute! What did I do? Hey! Can't we all just get along?”

 

In a fit of anger, Botan chased George out the door and down the hall. Koenma slapped himself in the head as he listened to the commotion in the hallway.”

 

“Can't we all just get along? Get along with THIS you oaf!”

 

“Ow! Not the face! Not the face!”

 

---

 

“But why?” cried Shiori. “Why did he run away from me? Why couldn't he just tell me himself?”

 

“He spent his whole human life hiding this from you,” replied Yusuke.

 

“He always wanted you to see your loving son and nothing else when you look in his eyes,” added Kuwabara.

 

Shiori couldn't stop sobbing. It wasn't the revelation of Kurama's identity that did it. It was when they told her about the Mirror of Forlorn Hope. That just about killed her.

 

“Please find him,” she begged. “Find my baby. I don't care about anything else. I just want him back. I'll do anything.”

 

“I'll go back to Makai and do my best,” replied Yusuke. “Kuwabara and I should go now.”

 

“Wait.” Shiori cut off a lock of hair and gave it to Yusuke. “Give this to him. Tell him I still love him. NO WAIT! Don't tell him that. If anything I love him more. I do, I really do.”

 

---

 

“So now what?” asked Botan. “What are we going to do? Our only evidence has been sent to Hell.”

 

“Can't we retrieve them?” asked George as humbly as he could.

 

“You keep washing dishes!” hollered Koenma.

 

“Lord Koenma, please stop being angry. You TOLD me to take care of them.”

 

“I told you to do it tomorrow. And now look what you've done. No, we can't retrieve them. The living can't communicate with anyone residing within any of the afterlives nor can a living being pass through the gate into one. We're stuck.”

 

“Can't we take one of the people who have recently died and send them in to go fetch them?” asked Botan. “We can let a dead soul back out of an afterlife gate.”

 

“It's Dark Hell, Botan,” replied Koenma. “No one in their right mind would spend even an instant there voluntarily no matter what.”

 

“What about someone who was going to be sent there anyway?” asked George.

 

“If we're about to send them there they're not going to be wanting to help us,” replied Koenma.

 

“Unless we offer them leniency too,” said Botan.

 

“What is this, plea bargain week? There aren't many people or demons sent there and the ones damned to that place are usually relatively naughty to say the least.” Koenma sighed. “Who do we have right now?”

 

“Just one, sir. A demon from Mukuro's district that was executed for eating demon infants.”

 

“Send the bastard in.”

 

---

 

It was getting late and Yusuke and Kuwabara were walking home from Shiori's house.

 

“Gees Kuwabara, I don't ever remember you having this kind of strength,” said Yusuke with a grin. “What have you been up to, wrestling cows or something?”

 

“Well since you're working in Makai, Genkai had to choose a new successor for earthly work.”

 

“And she picked you?” said Yusuke with a chuckle. “Man she must be desperate!”

 

In anger, Kuwabara threw a punch at Yusuke but the much faster Urameshi dodged it. The force of the punch was so great that it caved in the side of a parked car without Kuwabara actually making contact with it. The car's alarm went off. The two looked at each other and ran for it. As soon as they had gotten a few blocks Urameshi started laughing again.

 

“You haven't changed at all. Strong as an ox but every bit as dumb and slow as one.”

 

“You're just jealous, Uramesi,” said Kuwabara, playfully knuckling Yusuke on the head. “I've become stronger than you.”

 

“Hey genius, I had more brute strength than Sensui and look where that got me. It takes way more than that to make a great fighter. Come on, let's go bar hopping or something. Bet I can drink you under the table, pal.”

 

“Nah, I haven't been home in a long time. And my neighbor's had to take care of Eikichi. Time to take that cat off her hands. The place won't be the same without Kurama though.”

 

“Did Genkai really teach you everything she knows?”

 

“Everything that has any practical use and is worth passing on to future generations,” replied Kuwabara.

 

“She didn't do that for me.”

 

“Well I'm sexier, so there. Smell you later Urameshi. And stay safe in Makai. Sounds like some bad stuff is going down over there.”

 

Yusuke waved goodbye and disappeared into the shadows. As Kuwabara walked along he suddenly felt a tap on his shoulder.

 

“What? Did you forget something, Urameshi?”

 

Kuwabara turned around and to his shock he found himself face-to-face with a tall figure whose face was wrapped in bandages.

 

“Uh…. Can I help you?”

 

“That remains to be seen,” replied a gravelly female voice from inside the bandages.

 

---

 

A brutal wind was kicking up across the plains of Makai. It was too much for Yukina. She was now riding on Kurama's back and he was doing all he could himself not to be pushed back. Yukina was obviously frightened and clinging to Kurama very hard.

 

“We have to stop for the night!” hollered Kurama. “One more day won't be a problem.”

 

“Um, ok, if you really think that's best.” She didn't argue. The poor thing was scared stiff. “Wait, what's that?”

 

“What's what?” All of the sudden Kurama felt it too. “Earthquake! Hold on as tight as you… Too tight! Can't breathe!”

 

But the poor girl was too terrified to hear him. The ground rumbled very hard. So hard in fact that Kurama was knocked over and Yukina lost her grip and fell off. The two of them were separated. After a few terrifying seconds it was over.

 

“Yukina, are you alright?”

 

“Yes. Thank you for asking.” All of the sudden the earth opened and Yukina fell in with a shriek. Without even thinking, Kurama turned into Youko immediately and dove straight in after her. He caught her arm with his left hand and jammed the claws of his right hand into the side of the opening. As scared as Yukina was she was still quite awestruck by Kurama's demon form. She had seen it before but up close it was quite a sight. He pulled her up closer to him.

 

“Here, use me as a ladder to climb out,” he ordered. Yukina grabbed his tail and pulled herself onto his back. Before she could do anything else Kurama started slipping. Kurama concentrated and a large tree sprouted on the surface. He flung out the rose whip with his free hand and caught a hold of the tree. But now the crack in the earth was closing up again. Kurama climbed up as fast as he possibly could, pricking his hands quite badly on the rose thorns. He just barely made it up on time.

 

As he reverted back to his human form Yukina collapsed to the ground and started crying. The jewels were landing all over. Kurama was so emotional at the moment he was trying very hard not to break into tears himself.

 

“Yukina… Yukina, don't…”

 

She looked straight up at him breathing hard and struggling pathetically not to cry. I don't suppose anyone could have explained what happened next, least of all Kurama. But the next thing he knew he grabbed her in his arms and began kissing her passionately all over. Yukina was shocked and started pulling herself loose from his embrace.

 

“Yukina, oh I'm sorry… I don't know what I was…” Yukina just stared at him wide-eyed. “Yukina, please say something.” She didn't say anything but slowly reached up and touched the left side of his face. She just looked so astounded. The next thing you knew, SHE was kissing HIM.

 

“I know what love is,” she panted as she buried her head into his chest. “But I have to admit that I'm ignorant about romance. I used to think my mother was crazy for getting involved with a man but… Oh Kurama, this isn't some spur of the moment thing you'll end up regretting, is it?”

 

“No. Not even a little.”

 

Kurama had never admitted it but he'd developed great affection for three woman in his life at once some time ago; namely Botan, Shizuru, and Yukina. He was not the type to talk about these things. He worked up the guts to ask Shizuru out but that didn't work out because of his inability to talk about the past or family matters. He couldn't seem to discuss all his feelings with her either. Botan had gotten married. He'd tried to steer clear of Yukina because of how Kuwabara felt about her. But at this moment all the sweet little things about her that he'd loved were floating around his mind with greater intensity than ever before. If a personality could have a physical appearance, hers would have been more dazzling than the sun. He didn't know what he'd say to Kuwabara but at the moment he didn't care.

 

---

 

“Oh Yusuke, that's so sad!”

 

Keiko started sobbing her brains out when Yusuke told her about his encounter with Shiori.

 

“Mommy! Mommy! Daddy, why's mommy crying?”

 

Yusuke sighed. “Mommy's ok, Yuka. Why don't you go up to bed, ok sweetie?”

 

“Ok. Bye-bye mommy. Don't be sad.”

 

Keiko reached over and embraced Yuka with one arm without saying a word. She had stopped crying but she was still very down in the mouth.

 

As soon as Yuka disappeared up the top of the stairs, Yusuke sat down next to Keiko and started rubbing her back. “Sorry. Forgot how emotional chicks are.” Keiko smacked him in the chest for that remark and wouldn't even look at him. “Look, I had to tell you that story so you'll understand when I tell you that I'm going to Makai in the morning and I'm not coming back until I find him and give him this.” Yusuke showed Keiko the lock of hair.

 

“What's that?” she asked.

 

“A lock of Shirori's hair,” replied Yusuke. “She wanted him to have it so he'd know she still loved him… Oh no, not again with the waterworks! Keiko please.”

 

“I can't help it!” she sobbed. “I can't even imagine what that poor woman is feeling right now and all the time he's out there in that awful demon world too upset to talk to her, thinking maybe things will never be the same again. What's happening Yusuke? What's happening to the world? How did things ever get this messed up?”

 

“I'm sorry,” he whispered.

 

“I'm living in a messed up world,” continued Keiko. “And in a few months I'll be bringing another life into it. I'm pregnant again, Yusuke.” She started crying again.

 

Yusuke fell to his knees. “Pregnant?” he said in a whisper.

 

“And don't you give me any grief about it, Yusuke Urameshi. I'm already stressed out enough and the last thing I need is you…”

 

Keiko never got a chance to finish. Yusuke practically tackled her and kissed her.

 

“GRIEF?! ARE YOU KIDDING?! THIS IS GREAT! For heaven's sake, stop crying, this is a fantastic occasion.”

 

“Huh?” Keiko was quite frankly shocked to get this kind of reaction.

 

“This isn't a time for tears. This is a time for music and flowers and champagne and cigars and for hours and hours of celebratory love-making! Or we can just skip all that other stuff and get straight to the love-making.”

 

“Uh, who are you and what have you done with my husband?”

 

“I've loved being a parent. Don't you get it? You're talking about what a bad time this is to bring a baby into the world. Did you stop to think that this is twice as good a time for us to have a kid as it was when Yuka was on the way? This time we're mature responsible adults with a home, a car, and two good paying jobs. And Yuka will have someone to play with. Isn't that great?”

 

“It is, but Yusuke, do you think you could get off of me for a minute?”

 

“Why?”

 

“I think I'm gonna barf.”

 

“Ok, but when you're done can I tackle you again?”

 

---

 

“Who are you?” asked Kuwabara suspiciously.

 

The stranger (who you and I both know is Mukuro, so let's not play games here) held both her hands in front of her with the palms facing Kuwabara and placed them close together.

 

“Hit my palms as hard as you possibly can and if you can knock me to the ground I will answer you.”

 

“Huh? Are you some kind of weirdo or something?”

 

“Do it!”

 

“Ok,” said Kuwabara. “But keep in mind I literally hit harder than a wrecking ball. I'm sure you're a demon underneath those wrappings and that's the only reason I'm going along with this.”

 

“I don't intend to let you knock me down so easily,” she replied. An outline of orange ki surrounded here body. “Do your worst, Kazuma Kuwabara.”

 

“How did you know my…”

 

“No more questions! Do it!”

 

Kuwabara threw the hardest punch he could but it was like hitting iron. She didn't flinch.

 

“Is that all you've got?” she scoffed.

 

Kuwabara desperately tried to think of some clever comeback but nothing came. “Yeah, I guess it is,” he said at last.

 

“Then you are worthless.”

 

“Hey, now wait a minute! I'll show you who's worthless. Get those hands back up.”

 

“You just said…”

 

“Forget what I said. I was just warming up. Brace yourself. “

 

“Ok. Do it.”

 

“Rei KÅ Dan!”

 

This time Kuwabara easily knocked her onto her backside.

 

“Alright,” he said. “That was my end of the bargain. Now who are you?”

 

Slowly Mukuro stood up. “In the event of an insurrection against the rightful government of Makai would you be willing to fight on the proper side?”

 

“If Enki asked for my help I'd give it to him,” he replied. “I doubt it'll happen.”

 

Mukuro undid the wrappings around her face. “I am the demon Mukuro. I am the former monarch of one-third of demon world and current territorial governor.”

 

“Wow, you're that lady Hiei's shacking up with!”

 

“Amazing. Hiei's description of your personality fits you like a glove.

 

“So what do you want with me?”

 

“Why, to finish your training, of course.”

 

“What is it with masked women wanting to train me all of the sudden?”

 

End Chapter 5