Two-step
Prologue
Okay, what the fuck.
No seriously I swear I am just a head with floating limbs. I look down only to see a sorry sight, I have no torso or even thighs. I pretty sure I have a head at least, to double-check I pursed what is supposed to be my lips and let my tongue lick them.
I could feel how dry and chap they've gotten.
I was surprised I even figured out i'm damn near bodiless as this space was pretty dark with little light. My skin was a darker brown so I can barely make it out. I couldn't move my pathetic excuse of what's left of my human body. I could not even move one bit.
This has to be some strange nightmare. I thought, as only a dream could make such bizarre and terrifying situations. I continued to examine my severed foot, it looked as if it were badly sliced. The edges of the skin where the supposed slice was looked ripped as opposed to a clean and even cut. If a murderer chopped my body up, I'm insulted talk about poor craftsmanship.
I should be terrified but I lack a core therefore the shock hasn't really come to me. So I'm coping with a joke or two.
As if almost instantly, a blank blue light comes on and my mutilated body is now bathed in it. The shape of this light was a rectangle, it looked alot like a TV screen. As far as i'm concerned it probably was.
Running in a crowd
In a faceless town
I need to feel the touch of a friend
In the countryside
I wander far and wide
The isolation gets me again
As if things could get more bizarre, the intro to fucking Yu Yu hakusho was playing on the screen.
I don't know where to go
When I feel like crying
Oh my!
At least I get to watch something? I thought, at the very least I won't be bored.
It's time to open myself
Do something new
I want to stop, and grow up a bit
Then suddenly, my power and
confidence start swelling up
Magically erupt
And it's all because of the
kindness that I feel
From people I don't even know!
I haven't watched the show in years but opening whether it's sub or dub it's something I grew fond of.
My eyes rarely moved from the screen, it felt like more than one day past as I watched every single episode without skipping even a second. Yes, I watched every single event to Yusuke's first death, to the spirit detective saga, their misadventures in the dark tournament, the chapter black saga, and the finale.
"Welp, guess that's over am I going to pointlessly binge-watch another anime?" I decided to actually use my vocal cords. Just to see how it sounded, it was strained as if I was sick.
Well that was shit but it could be worse.
"You didn't just watch this because I was feeling generous Player 1."
Wait a minute, WHAT….
The screen was talking much to my dismay before I could even respond the distorted voice went on.
"Me and my friends are bored, so we decided to play 'how much can one human screw up an existing timeline?' and you my dear are that human."
Well I figured that much, who else would it be talking too? But my name isn't "player 1" it's…
Wait, what is my name again?
Oh shit
Oh shit! I forgot my fucking name!
"Why can't I remember my name? When will I wake up from this nightmare?" I muttered.
It's either I have an acute case of amnesia or i'm just that stupid.
"Oh young human girl! It's not a nightmare this is reality, and you died in one of the most gruesome ways possible. Which is why you lack a body. I erased memories of your name, death, and how you became player 1."
My jaw became slacked at this revelation.
"Just in case your thinking 'why?' it's because you humans tend to have an impulse of cheating our little game even after we made a deal."
I furrowed my eyebrows. I must've made a deal for some reason, but I was still skeptical that this wasn't a crazy dream. So I opened my mouth to ask a question before the entity decided to cut me off again.
"If I am dead, why do I still have by body instead of being a soul or ghost or something?"
"I'm getting to that." the voice said calmly.
"Remember we made a deal so I'm simply holding your soul in place so we can reincarnate you with your memories of your former life."
"Wait so you're giving me another chance at life?"
"Yes, although it was only for this game otherwise we'd send your soul on its merry way." the voice chirped as if that wasn't the most terrifying shit to even been said.
"Okay since I have no other choice but to play, what is this 'game' I'm apparently supposed to play?"
"Your going to the universe of that show you just watched, I think you humans call it an anime? I want you to assimilate into those four boys social circle "
The screen changed to the last frame of the anime to head shots of main character with general information along with what class.
Almost like it was RPG profile for party members.
I didn't play video games that much and rpg was a genre I rarely play, the last time I took interest in an rpg was that Brave frontier app. Of course after a week or so I got bored and I deleted the app since it was taking the reminder of my space on my phone.
"That's it?" I asked skeptical as ever, "There's a catch to this isn't there?"
"I wouldn't call it a catch." the voice said seemingly amused, although slightly. "There is a set of rules to follow…." the mysterious voice trailed off and the screen changed showing a list of what I suppose is the 'no-no' part of this game.
What you can't do
1. Once you change an event of a set timeline (minor or major) it branches off and you can't go back. Ever.
2. Your not immortal, you only have one life: you die, you lose.
3. Any attempts of finding and exploiting a loophole or cheating will result in a game
over.
4. You can't kill any character that wasn't even present in the original timeline.
5. You are allowed to talk about the events of the future to any characters but you are
not allowed to speak about your past life or circumstances and that includes our
Little discussion.
"Okay fair enough…" it doesn't sound too bad but I can't help but feel that these rules may screw me over.
"Any questions about this?"
"Not really."
"Good! Now it's time to pick a new body, do you want to keep your appearance or change it?"
A big yellow box with question marks on all six sides, it reminded me a lot of Mario.
I thought about this but I asked a question to be sure. "Wait, Yu yu hakusho takes place in early 90s Japan right?"
"Affirmative…"
"And if I go to this universe I'll be in early 90s Japan?"
"Yes…"
I bit my lip, If I change my appearance to resemble a average Japanese girl at this time I could blend in easily. Up until now that's all i've been doing, being wallflower and socially awkward to people i'm not already familiar with.
Being as melanated as I am in a homogenous society such as Japan may cause me to stand out and even subjected to harassment. The former seems so easy to do yet I it didn't feel right. Honestly with how pathetic I am I still don't understand how I made a deal to interact with these anime characters.
This is a hardcore fan's dream, not mine.
Though despite myself I made what would be the worst decision of my life.
"I want to keep my appearance please!"
The top of the box bursted open, inside occupying it was human girl around 3-6 in terms of age. The child had brown skin similar to mine and curly hair that complemented her petit face. The body was limp however with her arms dangling around while the body was floating around, nothing but soulless shell.
And most importantly the body wasn't mine.
My eyes twitched in disgust. "Is this some type of joke? If you couldn't tell i'm 19 not a toddler."
The voice just simply laughed "If you remember the rules, we can't have 'spirit world' as they call it, knowing about our existence, we would be destroying worlds and recreating over and over again.
They have every profile of every human on earth ever. In order to start this game smoothly you need to assume an identity. Since you wanted to keep your appearance I picked an existing identity closest to you visually and worked from there. As for the age you need to learn Japanese culture, language and customs as well as basic knowledge of this universe. It's best to start out as a young child that way you can't be suspected for change of personality. The child's body has brain memory stored in it. Once you come into this body you'll also assume her knowledge of that universe before her death. "
The small body suddenly morphed. The child's small broad nose turned into a rounded button nose, her thin lips transitioned to a more fuller set of lips. Her hair curled into a more kinky texture.
The body looked more like me as a child with minor differences but I ignored that fact focused on the fact that I was staring at a soulless body of a killed child.
"D-did you kill her?"
"No, let me explain. This isn't simply an 'anime' that you watch anymore it's a reality, meaning that there is thousands of sentient beings in that reality.
This body belonged to Kiara Takayama, she is ¼ Japanese and was reluctantly taken by the Takayama family after Saki Takayama a haifu as well as Kiara's mother had died.
They're a rich family whose business is basically this universe's 'Fujifilm'. Saki was born due to one of the important figures of the family Ryuji Takayama, was messing around with a foreign mistress that night. Despite their high-esteemed reputation in the public and political eye they are not loyal to their wives and do unsavory things…"
Like most politicians and corrupt businessmen? I mentally snorted
"Since Mr. Takayama had a prominent political career it put the Takayama family in state of distress. To keep the mistress mouth shut they paid her half a million to keep it quiet and sent her back to America with Saki. Saki went to have a normal life and got married."
"...And Kiara was born?"
"Yes, but the husband died in a car crash before she was born and Saki died of an illness before Kiara turned five. The foreign mistress old and gray couldn't take care of Kiara and called up the Takayama's. She threatened to blackmail them if they didn't take her. One day Kiara was alone outside and the bouncy ball she played with bounced off into the street. On April 10th Kiara Takayama died due to a car crash," when you start the game it'll be like 'Kiara' never died in the first place.'
I grimaced at the unorthodox yet tragic story of this little girl, she lead a short life and I just agreed to mutilate her body to bend to my needs and taste.
I'm a body snatcher.
"Now come into this shell human child."
It was weird but I felt my functioning body fade into existence again, but this time I was transparent like a ghost.
Well technically I am a ghost.
I felt a tugging force pulling me to the the body, the more closer I got the more I slipped out of consciousness.
"How does it feel?"
"Well awkward, I haven't been in a 5 year old in 14 years. I'm a freaking pipsqueak!" I examined my snatched body pudgy little hands and feet. I was a little bit chubby but what 3-6 year old isn't? The screen in front of me changed again. This time it was a reflection of myself or should I say Kiara?
"Now we get to the final parts: powers and questions. In order to get a upper hand you have an option of copy any supernatural power from an existing character you've in your universe think of it as an evolved form of 'spirit energy' somewhat. Just please just not anything too outlandish.
Also you should know your powers will be connected to your emotions and stamina both in body,mind,and spirit.
Due to that your powers will grow with training. But your 'spirit energy' and it's natural abilities will be much harder to tap into in exchange for your usual powers ,and you will need special training if you ever want to reach at least an A class with your chosen powers.
You can also choose not to have any powers but training to become psychic isn't against the rules and your spirit energy won't get locked away. After that you are allowed to answer your final questions then your on way. Take time to choose your answer..."
Ohh cool, I get superpowers?! I thought, but as usual there is always a catch isn't there?
I could choose no power and start from scratch, but I'm not exactly considered the best athlete in the world with my noodle arms and running out of breath in a few minutes due to my laziness.
If my goal was to "assimilate" with the main four and be recognised as a fifth member (as well as a second psychic.) as a human psychic I'd suck, Kuwabara being as build as he is would already be miles ahead of me and If I got my ass-kicked especially in the beginning they would just eject me from the team! Especially since i'm a girl i'd just create a stigma and damsel myself!
The anime was never one to include weaker characters in dangerous affairs, which was why Kuwabara got the short end of the stick during the last arc of the series.
Welp cross that off the list.
I started thinking about the 4 elements of nature (+ Darkness and light).
Which sounded badass at first but the whole tied-to-emotions thing second guess myself.
After awhile I moved on to superhero powers because of the complications of that what-element-beats-what system I have to worry about. It felt like hours coming up with the right power.
I could Copy Buffy Summers powers and be a epic martial arts master with heightened human abilities but Yusuke already fills that role kinda.
Aggghh is there anything useful? Yusuke has stamina and endurance, Hiei has speed, Kuwabara is a psychic, and Kurama is a cool cucumber with high intelligence. What could I possibly add-
Wait…
...that's it!
Why didn't I think of it earlier? All I need is a power that adds to their dynamic!
Defense and healing!
Considering how hard their asses get beat almost to near death their most likely gonna need that, like a lot.
I thought as hard as I can to remember which characters power with defense and healing. In the end my best options where Orihime Inoue and Gwen Tennyson. I almost instantly disregarded Orihime's powers even though she has spiritual awareness and healing I didn't want to potentially deal with 6 annoying little fairy spirit things. It wasn't also the type for hand to hand combat.
Gwen's powers on the other head are much more malleable, it can be applied to martial arts making it potential for death to an opponent very great. It's perfect for defense, healing, and tracking.
"Can I copy Gwen Tennyson's powers?"
The screen changed to show a picture of 15 year-old Gwen Tennyson with a small bio.
"Gwen Tennyson's abilities with mana and energy is very useful! Smart choice…"
Gwen Tennyson you probably are universes away from me but you rock for existing!
"Look in the box."
I did as I was told and took a peak, all I saw was would seems to be a simple piece of candy wrapped up, nothing else was there it was an otherwise empty box.
"Um...thank you?"
"It's like a tootsie roll….eat the candy and you shall gain your powers, though fair warning: the minute you swallow that candy you be unconscious while you warped to the designated universe until you land safely."
"Anymore questions?"
"Yes, how the hell am I gonna explain these powers to spirit world?"
If anyone's gonna prove to be trouble it's them. Worse-case scenario I get mistaken as a demon and they try to kill me, or even worse they declare i'm a prodigy and make me spirit detective.
If that was the case I would have noped out there so fast!
"I'll let you figure it out, a game isn't a game without obstacles"
Typical, well I should have expect as much.
"Hiei has a freakin' third eye that reads minds and Kurama a deceit-sensing plant am I on my own on that too?"
"No, I will block-out your mind from mental-invision of memories of your former life and this conversation and as for the fox his plant will be rendered useless against you. Just act like your telling the truth."
Knowing him he'll probably see right through me though.
"Okay, this is my last question: how will I keep track of all of this?"
"You will be granted a familiar who will reside in the deepest recess of your mind safe from invasion. However don't expect said familiar to give you information on 'what you should do next' or your erased memories. It that all?"
"Yes."
"Very well then. I wish you good luck Human girl, you may need it in the future."
I chewed the chocolate-like taffy, eventually swallowing it.
Suddenly my world blacked out.
Yu Yu hakusho belongs Yoshihiro Togashi, I just own the OCs okay?
I also took some inspiration from several existing self inserts: Lucky child, Future Talk, SHINOBI: the rpg, Catch your breath, and The blood alchemist.