Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ The Tree ❯ Chapter 3: Summer ( Chapter 3 )

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Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho or Keiko.

The Tree: Living

I picked at the long sleeve of my shirt as I sat underneath our tree, the hot humid weather causing the cotton fabric to stick to my skin. Silently I wished I had worn a tank top instead, yet even as the thought passed through my mind I knew I wouldn't have risked it. I can't have people seeing the marks that line my arms, a silent testimony to how weak and pathetic I am with out you. Tilting my head back I looked up at the leaves that had long since sprouted from the tiny buds and grown, covering the branches as they did so.Amazing how our little tree seems so much more luminous this year then in the past…it seems to give off a strange, almost ethereal like, glow.

Yusuke, I went to see her yesterday.

When she hadn't answered the door I let myself in, only to be greeted by darkness, except for an eerie blue glare being emitted from the living room. Heading towards the pale glow I tripped over something in my path, falling hard on my knee and hissing as pain shot through my leg.

I got up slowly, putting my hand on the wall, using it as leverage, as I stumbled blindly looking for the light switch. Finally I found it and turned it on gasping at what I saw; trash littered the floor and covered the counters, dishes were piled high in the sink and pots lay forgotten on the stove, a thick layer of dust coated anything the garbage hadn't already concealed.

Reaching the living room I looked around with tears stinging my eyes. Sitting on the floor surrounded by empty beer bottles, some broken others put down carelessly, was Atsuko holding another full bottle. Her greasy unkempt hair was sticking out at odd angles, her clothes dirty and stained. She was staring, with eyes glossed over, at the television, a familiar face gracing its screen. There a 4-year-old Yusuke pushed a little brown haired girl on the swings, smiles adorning both of their faces.

I slowly edged towards her, softly calling her name but receiving no response or indication that she heard. Suddenly she turned, looked straight at me with unseeing bloodshot eyes, and called out in a voice hoarse from misuse and slurred from alcohol, “Yusuke. Yusuke, you've come home!” Smiling she tried to get up and make her way over to me continuing to call out your name. Your laughter coming from the TV was the last straw.

I…I couldn't take it. I had to get out of there. So I ran until I came upon the spot I'm sitting in now; the same spot I sat in all through last night, not being able to bring myself to care if my parents were worrying or not.

At least now I know why our tree is so bright and cheerful this year. It's giving back what you so wrongly took with you, Yusuke. It's doing something for Atsuko and me that we can't do on our own anymore.

It's living.