Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Youko Kurama: Rebirth of a Legend ❯ Just Another Day ( Prologue )

Wingzero: As promised, I finally had enough time to start my first Yu Yu Hakusho fic. If you don't like shounen ai, then don't read at all. The couples are the following: Yusuke/Kurama, Hiei/Botan, Kuwabara/Yukina, Koenma/?????, Keiko/?????, and OC/OC.

Kurama: Who's the OCs?

Wingzero: Well, at least they're not being paired with the main characters. ^^U

Kurama: Oh. Any relationship to us?

Wingzero: You never know………

Disclaimer: Wish I did own Yu Yu Hakusho. If so, Kurama would be SOOOO mine!!!

Japanese Translations:

baka = idiot

kitsune = fox

koorime = ice demon

makai = demon world

ningen = human

ne? = Isn't it?

Omae o koruso. = I will kill you.

reikai = spirit world

youkai = demon

One summer day, the spirit detectives were waiting for a mission to go on as one of them didn't have school. The other two had summer school, but they didn't want to attend so they did anything possible to get out of it. They were even thrilled to be receiving a life threatening mission with no chance of survival; yet, they manage to come through with minor injuries, for most of the team.

I sighed as I glanced outside the window. Being summer, I had no homework whatsoever, but that didn't stop me from pursuing my academics. Mother said that I was being ambitious and was very proud of my accomplishments. In fact, she was going to buy me a car once I received my license. I thought we couldn't afford another one, but she had been saving ever since I attended school and received good grades.

My life as Shuiichi Minamono wasn't exactly the best one. I was known as being the perfect student and the perfect son. My personality was more on the reserved side with me being slow to anger. When I do, you'd better watch out, because I can become very dangerous. Okay, so I wasn't exactly born human. That in itself was another story.

In my first life, I was Youko Kurama, a renowned thief. I have stolen valuable property from highly secured mansions, houses, and other buildings. My ruthlessness was what made me famous throughout the makai, that and my less than nice plants. I can control plants from this world, which were deadly to normal humans. Then one day, my burglary was less than perfect and I was nearly killed, but I managed to escape into the human world. I then fused with the unborn child of Shiori. I used this time to recover from my injuries, but I found myself stuck inside this human body. From my human mother, I learned about compassion, love, and mercy, which I had nothing to do with while I was a youkai.

"Shuiichi," a soft voice called from behind my bedroom door.

I turned around in my chair and answered that voice, "Yes, mother?"

"Could you please pick up a few items from the grocery store for me?" Shiori asked politely. "I'm busy cooking dinner and I need them to finish, but I don't want to burn the food."

"Sure thing," I assured her. It wasn't like I had anything better to do. Besides I liked helping her, even if I was busy with school work, not that I was. Most of the time, I was ahead of the class by a whole lot. My teachers had petitioned for me to skip a grade because they couldn't force the class to speed up due to my advanced learning. I stood up from the chair and walked over towards the door before opening it. Mother held out a small list for me. Her note was written neatly, something close to my own writing.

"Is there anything else I can do for you?" I asked, wanting anything to preoccupy my time and relieve me from this boredom.

Shiori brushed a stray lock of her brown hair away from her face. "I think that won't be necessary." She gave me one of those smiles. "Thank you." She spun on her heels before walking downstairs and towards the kitchen. Even though she in the other room, I could hear her singing the song she used to when I was little. Those were some times.

I strolled downstairs, being careful not to make too much noise, though I hardly make any in the first place. For a few seconds, I watched Shiori as she fixed dinner. It was times like these, I loved my mother. Then I headed out towards the grocery store when suddenly I saw a black blur race past me on top of the buildings. I dared not race on the ground as it would make humans suspicious of me.

"What brings you here, Hiei?" I instantly knew it was him because of two things. First of all, he was the only fast youkai I knew who constantly wore black. Second, I can smell his scent.

The black blur jumped in front of me. "Fox, where are you going? Do you have a mission?"

"You must be that bored to be asking that," I laughed lightly.

Hiei huffed indignantly. "I'm not bored. I needed the training and that Genkai wouldn't let me train near her house."

"Oh so you need the exercise," I teased him again. "With you lying around, you must be gaining the extra pounds of fat."

"Shut it, fox," Hiei growled softly, though he knew I was only teasing him in a playful manner. "What is that?" His crimson eyes fell on the piece of paper in my hand.

"A grocery list," I answered a confused fire youkai. "My mother requests that I procure these items in order that she can create dinner."

"Why do you even bother with that?" Hiei inquired in an exasperated tone. "Your human mother should be able to handle that without your assistance."

"I do not want to trouble her," I replied with a small smile. "She is currently making dinner and does not wish to burn the food so she sent me to retrieve the necessary products."

"You're becoming soft." His crimson gaze never left me.

"If that offends you, then I shall be off," I commented slyly. I continued my trek towards the grocery store. "After all, I do not wish to consume black, inedible food."

"Baka kitsune," Hiei growled softly, though he knew I can still hear him.

After a few more steps, I had noticed a small fire youkai still trailing behind me. I guessed he must miss the action and thrill from going on missions. As the both of us were reformed youkai, we don't randomly attack people or steal from them. Yusuke and Kuwabara were attending summer classes or detention. I figured it was the latter as it was evening. That or they were getting into mischief as usual. It wasn't common for some of the rivalry schools to send their bullies to beat up either of them. I wished they wouldn't have beaten the living daylights out of those bullies when they know the normal humans didn't stand a chance against them. I mean come on. If those two can handle fighting pure blooded demons, then normal humans were no match for them, even on a bad day.

"You must be really bored," I said casually as if I was talking to any other person.

"Someone needs to watch your back, fox," Hiei grunted. He had taken to walking on the fence, next to me. "You're being careless."

"Is that so?" I asked him with curiosity. "Or perhaps you're the one being careless?" I suddenly jumped up from where I was walking and cuffed him on the back of his neck to his surprise.

"Like I said before, baka kitsune," Hiei scowled in an undignified manner.

"Oh hush up," I laughed slightly. "How is your sister doing?" I knew he wanted to change the topic. In response, I received a grateful nod. That was the close I could get to a thank you from Hiei. He wasn't much for pleasantries.

"She's doing fine the last time I checked up on her," Hiei answered bluntly. That was how it was with Hiei, straight and to the point.

"I heard she is living with Genkai," I said casually as we strolled down to the grocery store. Hiei for once wasn't racing ahead or storming off.

"That is correct," Hiei explained the situation. "For rent, she does chores around the temple and helps out with training the other students."

"I never knew Genkai had students," I said, caught off guard. Yusuke was her latest student before she passed away. Yet, somehow he managed to find a way of bringing her back from the dead. Don't ask how, because I don't know and I wasn't there to witness his hair brained idea being placed into action.

"She normally doesn't, but she has nothing better to do so she teaches amateur to intermediate students. If you're wondering fox, she doesn't teach any of the advanced students, because she reserves the right to choose whom she sees fit to pass down her skills."

"Oh. You haven't told her, have you?" I gave Hiei a look crossed between confusion and a glare.

"No, I haven't told Yukina," Hiei said in a very soft voice, quite out of character for him. "She doesn't deserve a cold hearted brother like me. She deserves someone to protect her and look out for her without being ashamed of him."

"You accomplish those objectives from within the shadows," I said thoughtfully. "And I might add you're very good at them. Why don't you tell her? She's bound to figure out one of these days. I suppose she'll be upset not hearing it straight from you."

"I suppose when she's ready," Hiei sighed.

"Or more likely when you're ready," I teased him. I scooted over towards my left just as a fist came swinging towards me. "You'll have to be faster than that."

"Who is this girl you're talking about?" An annoying voice interrupted our conversation. There stood the source of the voice along with Yusuke.

"It's nothing you should be concerned about," Yusuke said nervously, while scratching the back of his head. "So drop it." The grease slicked hair boy knew Hiei's secret. He was there watching the tape Koenma sent them. Kuwabara was there as well, but he didn't stick around at the end, because he fell head over heels for Yukina once he saw her picture.

"If it has anything to do with my ice princess, then it concerns me," Kuwabara announced with his chest puffed out. I could have sworn Hiei was on the verge of killing the other red head right then and there, but he didn't due to the large amount of people in the building. Not to mention the fact, it was against the law for youkai to kill ningens, no matter the circumstances.

"She's in good heath," I spoke up before Hiei could open his mouth. "In fact, she's living with Genkai as we speak."

"You mean Grandma is letting people live with her?" Yusuke asked, more like yelled.

"That is correct," I said, nearly wincing at the decibel of his voice. "She is also training young students though she is very selective on which advanced student she trains."

"Are you pulling our legs?" Kuwabara asked with a great amount of suspicion. He leaned forward, narrowing his eyes.

"I am most certainly not," I huffed indignantly. "If you're calling me a liar, then you're calling Hiei one, because it was him from whom I obtained the information." The said person growled at the short haired red head.

"Never mind that," Kuwabara muttered under his breath.

"What brings you here?" Yusuke asked what was on his mind.

"Fox here is running errands for his ningen mother," Hiei answered with a scowl.

"And Hiei followed me here with nothing better to do," I added. "What are you doing here?"

"There was nothing to eat at home," Yusuke said, clasping his hand behind the back of his neck. "She's too drunk to do much anyways."

"Go figure," Kuwabara said sarcastically. "It reeks of alcohol at your place, Urameshi, even I can't stand the smell of it."

"Which means, I shouldn't be visiting you until you air out your home," I said while sweat dropping massively.

"Whatever," came from Hiei.

"That reminds me, I have to pick up the items on my list," I said, going back to my original task.

"I still have to get a few things too," Yusuke pushed his cart behind us. "Keiko promised to teach me something about cooking."

"Though it wouldn't do any good," Hiei commented rather rudely.

"Hiei, that wasn't nice," I scowled at him.

"It wasn't supposed to be nice," Hiei put it that way.

The others fell, anime style. We finished running our errand mostly in silence with Yusuke asking questions about the produce and Kuwabara going on about Yukina. I ended up having to separate them in order to prevent them from fighting and thus us owing the owner of this store money to fix the damage.

Upon arriving home, I found everything to be normal, except for the constant shouting. That was very odd. Why didn't I hear any of it while I approached home? Then it hit me. The other voice was none other than my lazy, good for nothing father. What could he possibly want with mother? I never considered him to be my father. In fact, my youkai father was much more caring than my human one and that was saying a lot. Mother never yelled, save for when she was trying to get our attention.

"What do you want?"

"I want our sons," he demanded from my mother.

"You can't have them," Shiori yelled back at him. "Where were you when they were growing up? What did you give to them except for their genes? Why did you even bother coming back after disappearing out of our lives? We are better off without you and will always be."

"Out of my way wench," he growled loudly enough for me to hear him. Suddenly, I heard a body banging against the wall and raced towards the source. Mother was lying on the ground unconscious. At least, she wasn't severely injured.

"Get your belongings packed, we're leaving," he barked at me. A wild fire blazed in his eyes.

"No."

"You will do as your told boy," he growled very angrily at me. "Or don't think I don't know about your little secret, Kurama."

My eyes widened at the sound of my youkai name. I narrowed my eyes, becoming calm after he caught me off guard. "What makes you think I'll listen to you and what do you know of him?"

"I'm not naïve as you think, Youko Kurama," he laughed but in an evil way. "I know you used to be the legendary bandit, Youko Kurama, before you bungled a high risk robbery. You escaped barely alive and that's why you merged with my unborn son. Am I right?"

"Big deal if you're right," I said as if I didn't care, but in truth, I was very worried. Shiori had no clue I used to be a youkai. Would she think less of me? Most likely she would and I won't take that chance. On the other hand, I couldn't kill him, stupid reikai rules and such.

"What would your mother think?" He said with an evil grin and glanced to where mother was lying on the floor.

"Don't drag her into this," I growled at him with such ferocity he stepped back. "She has done nothing but loved you, and look at what you did to her. You left her when she needed you the most. She had to take care of two children while maintaining her job. It wasn't easy, but we managed to hang in there. No thanks to you."

"I thought you cared too much about her," he said, taking a step towards her. His hand reached down towards her when I suddenly jumped in between and grabbed his arm, before twisting it behind him. He struggled to get out of my death grip, but as a human, he didn't stand a chance against me even in my ningen form.

"You will not touch a single hair on her head," I spat at him. I tightened my grip, if that was even possible. "If you so as dare to look at her the wrong way, I will kill you, and I don't care about the demon rule of not killing humans. Her welfare is worth it."

His eyes widened once he heard my bold statement. "You wouldn't dare?"

"If you know so much about my youkai life, then you would know I had very little morals or a code of honor," I said, not bluffing or exaggerating. It, in fact, was the whole truth and nothing but the truth. "My death tree needs to be fed. You'll do perfectly."

"Shuiichi?" a soft voice called out to me.

I was startled that my grip on him loosened and he was able to escape through a window. "Mother." I kneeled down next to her, checking for any injuries. "Are you okay? He didn't hurt you that much? Can you stand up?"

"I'm fine Shuiichi or I should say Kurama," Shiori whispered, though I heard it crystal clear.

That was when I started to back away. She knew, but how? She sensed my unease and closed the distance between us. "I'm not angry at you or scared." Her eyes told me she was telling me the truth. "What is your youkai form like?"

If she asked that before, I couldn't change for her in an instant. I had to use that age reversing juice, but now, I found out a technique that I can use to transform back into my youkai form. Upon seeing my hesitation, she gave me a smile and squeezed my shoulder gently. I closed my eyes and transformed into my youkai form. When I opened my eyes, I saw her staring right into my golden ones.

Her hand reached up towards the top of my head. Then I felt gentles strokes against my white fluffy ears. I closed my eyes and started to purr. Huh? Since when do I purr? Do foxes even purr? I never knew, because I never allowed anyone to touch my ears. They were really sensitive and often hurt under most people's touch.

Then I heard giggling coming from my mother. I opened my eyes to see she had an amused look on her face. She reached over with her other hand and petted my other ear. I leaned onto the wall and dozed off until Shiori nudged me.

"It's time to wake up Shuiichi," she informed me. She stood up and straightened out her dress. "Or do you want to be called Kurama?"

"I don't care," I shrugged. "A name is a name."

"Very well," Shiori said, taking her leave with me a step behind her.

I was still in my youkai form, because it took energy to transform into my human form and I was lazy that evening. Besides, I haven't eaten anything in my youkai form for awhile. If Shiori didn't mind, I'll stay in this form for the evening until I leave tomorrow.

Dinner went by rather quickly and I found myself very bored inside my room. I rolled over on my bed, sighing out loud. My tail swayed very slowly and my golden eyes were a dimmed from their usual brightness. A rustling sound caught my attention. Before I can close my window, a black blur hopped right inside.

"Kurama, what are you doing in your demon form?" Hiei asked, taking in my looks.

"If you want to know, Shiori asked to see my demon form," I replied ever so bluntly like he would do in this situation.

"Why would you tell her about your demon form?"

"She already knew about it," I replied, while rolling over yet again. I now was laying on my stomach, watching Hiei. "She told me she heard me while my father and I were discussing a few things. He too knows, though I have no idea how he attained that information. He isn't around enough so I figured someone must have told him."

"You know you're going to be in trouble for this," Hiei stated.

"It's not my fault," I shrugged. Shiori had found out while he and I were `discussing' our problems. "What brings you here?"

"Botan."

"What about Botan?"

"She's driving me nuts."

I began to laugh before completely busting up and falling off my bed. "You can't seriously be trying to escape from her. I thought if you can handle Kuwabara, then you should be able to handle one ningen girl."

"She's no ordinary ningen," Hiei scowled. He crossed his arms and was currently towering over me. "Botan works for Koenma and she's knowledgeable in the spirit world affairs."

"So?" I asked slyly after I recovered from my bout of laughter. "Keiko knows about the makai and reikai. She's not that scary unless you make her angry. You didn't anger Botan, did you?"

Hiei shrugged. "It's most likely the answer."

"What was the last thing you saw her doing?" I asked; curiosity getting the better of me.

"She was chasing me yelling `Omae o koruso,' Hiei answered truthfully.

"That would definitely qualify as her being very pissed off at you, ne? What did you do to have caused her to express such a strong emotion?"

Hiei stayed silent, lost in his thoughts. "I do not know which part of our conversation that set her off into such frenzy. I asked her if Koenma had any more missions for us, but she said that things have been very calm lately and the ningen world didn't need our help for now. I balked at her saying that Koenma very well was keeping me out of the loop because he didn't need a loose canon out there in the field. She whined to me about telling the truth and such. I refused to believe her and was about to head towards Koenma's office when she gave chase."

"You really do know how to impress the ladies," I chuckled at his misfortune. "Don't worry I can help you out there."

The half koorime only raised a brow at my proposal. "What are you jesting at, fox?"

"For once, you should learn to trust people or at least give them the benefit of the doubt for such trivial matters," I said casually, while waiving my hand a little. It was then I noticed my companion narrow his eyes, to which I sighed in response. "Tell me Hiei, how many people, ningen or youkai, do you trust?"

"Three," Hiei stated rather flatly. I knew immediately whom he was referring, well at least two of them. Yukina was an obvious choice as she was his twin, though she didn't know it at the time. The other one was me, because he trusted me enough times to seek shelter at my house while it was raining and couldn't get back to Genkai's temple in time. The third person was a complete mystery. I knew it definitely can't be Kuwabara, as the two were constantly arguing. It didn't leave me many options left. "The third one is Yusuke."

"Were you reading my thoughts again?" I asked, peeved that he would dare go through my inner most thoughts. He shook his head in response.

"I knew you knew the first two, because they were obvious," Hiei leaned back against the wall. "The third one was a surprise, even to me. I don't know how, but that boy is completely honest with himself and others. That's how I know I can trust him to a certain extent, not to mention he has somewhat of a code of honor."

"You do have a point," I said thoughtfully.

Soft quiet steps broke our conversation. Shiori must be coming up to check on me and make sure I wasn't going to bed at a late time. Even though we didn't have class the next day, I still went to bed early compared to humans my age.

"Shuiichi," she called out in a soft voice.

"Yes?" I replied a bit louder so that she could hear me. Hiei remained silent during our entire conversation.

"What time are you going to bed and is there someone with you?"

"Hai, a friend dropped by," I called in response. "He's in need of refuge from a very angry woman, whom he stupidly annoyed." I heard a growl coming from his throat but paid no heed to it. "Would you mind if he stays the night? I can have him sleep on the floor if you wish."

"That's alright dear," Shiori assured me. She opened the door until her eyes settled on Hiei. "Would you by any chance happen to be a full youkai?"

"Does it matter to you?" Hiei slightly snapped at her, which received a glare from me. I wasn't expecting him to treat her like family, but I wished he would show her a little respect. No wonder why Botan was chasing after him. He often tended to shoot of his mouth, which in turn got him into trouble.

Shiori shook her head to answer no and turned her attention to me. "One of your friends is asking to see you. He calls himself Yusuke Urameshi and said it was urgent that he meets up with you."

"I wonder if it's a mission," Hiei said. The corners of his lips turned lightly upward in a smirk.

"No, it's not that," the said boy entered the room. "I'm trying to escape Keiko."

"What did you do this time?" I asked exasperated. Once Shiori saw that we were getting alone fine, she went back downstairs.

"Seriously, I didn't do anything," Yusuke said, pretending to sound innocent. "I followed the recipe to the letter and she told me off for doing so."

"You're not the only one escaping the angry wrath of a ningen," I informed a very confused Yusuke. I nodded my head towards Hiei. "He's trying to escape the wrath of one spirit messenger with blue hair."

"Botan?" Yusuke laughed before busting up. "I never thought him to go for that type."

"Are you quite finished?" Hiei asked, extremely irritated.

"No!"

Yusuke: That's it????

Kurama: Well, what do you expect from the first chapter? After all, she's pretty much setting up the fic. You can't expect her to jump right into the action.

Yusuke: But I'M BORED!!!!

Kuwabara: You're not the only one, Urameshi, so can it!

Yusuke: I'll CAN you!!!

Kuwabara: *runs for his life as Yusuke chases him with the frying pan of death*

Wingzero: v_v Boys??? What have I said about borrowing my belongings??

Yusuke: *stops* May I please beat up Kuwabara with your frying pan of death?

Wingzero: Be my guest.

Yusuke: *resumes chasing Kuwabara*

Kuwabara: O_o!!!!!!

Hiei & Kurama: -.-;;;;