Different Hearts, Same Song

by Skyler-Kaiba

In this story, the worlds of Yu Yu Hakusho and Cyborg 009 come together as the Blessed re-emerge and plan to make their own 'special' breed of cyborg-like beings. Kurama and Joe are the first to meet, and the rating is for later chapters, as creation of a new race can involve some very "adult" situations.

1. Chapter 1

Cyborg 009 and Yu Yu Hakusho Crossover: Different Hearts, Same Song

A/N: This story was inspired by the events in Cyborg 009 vs. Devilman, which was a pretty awesome thing to watch. Only 3 episodes long so far, but definitely worth checking out! And chronologically, in Yu Yu Hakusho canon, this takes place after the end of the series, as I want all the characters to be at their peak. In 009 canon, this takes place after the events in Call of Justice, which is also an awesome anime that I somehow missed last year, but caught back up with thanks to Netflix! Right now, there's only 1 story arc, but I REALLY hope they make more. I guess that seeing Cyborg 009 and Devilman being crossed over so seamlessly is what really made me go "okay, it can be done...but MUST be careful to keep everyone and everything on both sides true to what the franchise presents." I am attempting to do that here, but if anything's out of sorts, feel free to let me know in a review and I will fix it in subsequent chapters. Hoping to present this as a movie and/or series idea, but I'm not gonna hold my breath.

Chapter 1: I Wanna Dance with Somebody

One evening, in downtown Tokyo, a red-haired man and a dark-haired teenager walked side-by-side, conversing about their day and expressing excitement at the prospect of a new family member. It was Shuichi Minamino and his younger stepbrother, Kokoda. Their family was going to be adopting a baby girl from India, whose parents were too poor to keep and take care of her. Though she had been unnamed when they first adopted her, Shuichi's stepfather had decided to name her Helen, as he hoped that she would be the one to help the two boys connect with and better understand the fairer sex.

As the two started to get towards the outer parts of the city and the night wore on, Kokoda moved a little closer to Shuichi, feeling a little unnerved due to the lateness of the hour and the fact that the outer parts of the city were known to be a little strange. He asked, "Shuichi, I don't know how you deal with all of this so well. I know you and mother have gotten used to it, but...not sure if I ever will." Shuichi laughed and said, "Well, to be fair, a few demons do come here from time to time, but most of them are harmless. Just former fighters in the last demon world tournament looking for poor and sickly humans, that no one will miss, to prey upon."

Kokoda told him, "So they won't mess with us?" Shuichi shook his head, "No. They know who I really am and that I am very protective of those I love. So you have nothing to worry about, Kokoda." They soon arrived home, but all wasn't quiet. Quite the contrary, they found Shiori and their stepfather knocked out on the floor. Gasping, both boys ran over and managed to wake up Shiori.

Shuichi asked her, "Mother, what has happened? Where is Helen?"

Shiori answered, her eyes full of tears and her voice shaky, "Some guys calling themselves the Blessed carried her off. They said she was far too special to grow up with a half-human scum like you."

Kokoda clenched a fist and bolted out the door, not even thinking, and wanting to help rescue his baby sister. Shuichi shouted, "Kokoda, wait! We don't even know where they took her yet!" Knowing he was too late, he cursed under his breath, then looked at Shiori and asked her, "Did you see where they took her?"

Shiori told him, "They headed south, toward Master Genkai's temple. Please, hurry and help her, Shuichi! I have a very bad feeling about those people…"

Meanwhile, Joe Shimamura, aka 009, had come to Tokyo as well, for Christmas. He always spent Christmas here, as it was all he had ever known before becoming a Cyborg. As he randomly ran in acceleration mode around the town, he detected a human teenager running through the city as well, his heart racing and seeming to be panicking. Since he knew that it was not normal for humans to be in panic for no reason, he decelerated and walked over to Kokoda. He asked the boy, "Is everything all right?"

The boy replied, looking ready to punch him, "No! Everything's not okay! My baby sister has been kidnapped by some guys calling themselves the Blessed!"

Knowing of the Blessed because of his previous encounters, Joe gasped and asked, "Are you certain of this?"

Kokoda nodded his head, "It's what my mom told me, and she NEVER lies! Now get out of my way!" He punched Joe in the gut, but it didn't seem to phase him and he gasped, startled that the man in front of him wasn't even flinching. "What the-? Why aren't you hurt?"

Joe sighed and explained, "Because I'm no longer an average human, dear boy. Now, I know you're scared, but did you see which way they took her?"

Kokoda replied, "They took Helen south, toward the temple of Master Genkai, a friend of my brother's."

Joe nodded, "I'll go and rescue her then. You just go back home and stay safe. Rescuing someone from the grips of the Blessed isn't anything a normal human teenager, like yourself, should be involved in. Hurry!"

Kokoda gulped, but nodded, "Even if you aren't normal, are you sure you'll be okay by yourself? From the way you were talking about the Blessed, it sounds like even the genetically enhanced have difficulties with them."

Joe laughed, knowing exactly what he was referring to, and said, "Genetically enhanced...no, that's not how I'm not normal, but never mind. You just focus on getting home. I'll be fine, okay?"

Kokoda nodded his head and started walking home, but he didn't get very far. Just a few blocks from where Joe stood, a man emerged from the wall, having blended in with it due to his abilities. It was 007, also known as Great Britain. He told Joe, "Hey, 009, did I hear you and that boy correctly? His sister was taken by the Blessed?"

Joe nodded, "Yes, it seems so. I don't know what they have in store for her, but since it's the Blessed, the only thing we can be sure of is that it isn't anything good." He then heard Kokoda yell and take a few steps back from a nearby alleyway. He gasped and then activated his Accelerator, dashing over to him without a second thought.

Having also heard his brother yell due to his enhanced demon senses, Kurama came running as well, keeping up with 009 with no difficulty. He smiled, "Well, seems like my brother had some company after all. Who are you?"

Joe nodded and replied, "I'm 009, but my friends call me Joe. It would be nice to count you among them, but it seems like there's more to you than meets the eye."

Kurama chuckled and nodded, "That would be correct. I'm part demon, fox demon, to be more precise. But don't worry, I mean no harm. To prove my point, let me show you something." He dashed over to Kokoda and the stranger, and positioned himself between them. He asked, "Who are you and what do you want with my brother?"

The stranger responded, "Oh, wouldn't you like to know, fox boy? A shame really that you gave up all the strength Yoko Kurama gave you, for such pathetic beings. Tell me, are their women worth it? Because I heard recently that one of the ladies of Spirit World turned into one of them just to be with you. Is this true?"

Kurama growled and replied, "Even if she did, what business is it of yours?"

The stranger told him, "Because a Grim Reaper turned human, mating with a former fox demon, could produce a child strong enough to enhance."

Joe, knowing exactly what this man was talking about, said, "Enhance...you mean make into a weapon, like with me and my friends?! Because if that's what you mean, then that's really no enhancement at all! It's just cruel experimentation and playing with their emotions! You're no better than Black Ghost if that's what you think!"

The stranger sighed and shook his head, "Anyone can make a weapon, whether they have a good heart or not. A person's true character is revealed in how they use that kind of power, whether or not they were the one behind its creation." He smirked and added, "And since fate saw fit to give me two perfect tools." He walked over and grabbed Kokoda's arm, intending to drag him off to be part of whatever he was planning, "I will make use of them. One more piece to the puzzle and I'll be able to create perfection."

Kurama asked him, "Perfection...what on Earth do you mean by that? No one can create a perfect being. And you won't involve my brother in this!" He ran over and lashed at the stranger with his Rose Whip, though also careful not to hit Kokoda or the pink bundle in the stranger's right arm. The stranger dodged and laughed, "You'll see what I mean in a matter of months, Yoko. Don't you worry. Oh...but there's a couple of more things I need from your two friends over there. It shouldn't take me long at all." He pulled something out from the black robe he was wearing, a needle, and ran over to Joe, who quickly activated his Accelerator and got out of the way, "So, ever the stubborn one, huh? Well, maybe this will change your mind." He grabbed Joe's Super gun from its holster at his side and aimed it at the baby's head, "If you don't cooperate with me, I can't guarantee another day for this baby girl. Now, on your knees."

Not wanting an innocent child harmed, Joe nodded and kneeled, submitting because of his protective nature around humans. The next moment, the stranger laughed and kicked Joe in the stomach, hard. He then said, "That was far too easy. Despite your enhanced abilities, seeing a human child in danger makes your skin crawl. Why is this, I wonder?" He shrugged and bent down over Joe, using the needle in his hand to extract some cells from the roof of his mouth.

Kurama growled, dashed over and kicked the stranger away from Joe. Joe nodded in gratitude to the redhead, who then spoke up and said, "The answer is simple, friend. Since we are not human, we are able to see them for all they are and all they can be, if they are given time to develop."

The stranger responded, "I don't have that kind of time. Just one more thing I need…" He ran to 007 and demanded, "Give me a tissue sample, or the girl gets it."

007 crossed his arms and glared, "If you weren't putting that girl's life in danger, I'd say no. But since humanity means a lot to me, fine. Take what you want." He sat down cross-legged and flinched as the stranger took some skin samples from his hands, "But I don't see how much more advanced you hope to get than the Blessed."

Joe nodded and added, "The Blessed are an example of this. Though they're human in origin, they're much more enhanced. How and why they come about, we don't know, but...we do know this. Some within their ranks are trying to wipe out the rest of humanity, seeing them as little more than trash. But there are also those among them that like to act as Guardians, protecting humanity from itself and any other threat to its existence. So, which are you? The Guardians...or the Annihilators? Because if you're the latter, then I'm sorry, but your story ends here. Accelerate!" He ran behind the stranger, but something he didn't expect happened. The stranger set down the pink bundle and kicked his arm, stopping him from punching him. Joe yelped in surprise and jumped back, finding his arm bent out of shape. Startled by this show of force, he turned to the stranger, "Are you….?"

The stranger replied, "I'm among the latter of the Blessed, and I refuse to be brought down by an outdated joke like you!" He then created an icy wind around himself and forced it outward, freezing everything around him.

Aboard the Dolphin 3, Francoise gasped as 009's and 007's brainwave communication channels went blank, going to static because of the drastic drop in temperature. She asked, "009? 007? Is everything okay? Hello?"

001, aka Ivan Whisky, woke up and told her, "They're okay, 003. They got disconnected because of a sudden drastic temperature change there. We should hear from them again momentarily."

While everything was frozen, the stranger broke Kokoda free of the ice and laughed as he carried the terrified teenager away with his sister, going to Demon World for some even darker recreation, it seemed.

Knowing where he was going, and not caring if he lost limbs in the process, Kurama jerked himself free of the ice and went after the stranger, his protective older brother nature toward Kokoda now in full swing. Annoyed by the redhead's presence, the stranger groaned and looked back, "I had a feeling an ice storm wouldn't be enough to stop you. You demons are too stubborn for your own good at times. Take this!" He set down the baby girl again, then took out a gun and shot Kurama in the side, which caused him to cry out in pain and fall over, breathing hard. The next moment, however, his hair began to change from red to silver, and his eyes gained a light yellow tinge to them, his yoko side taking over to help him survive. He rose to his feet and ran over to the stranger, ignoring the blood running down his clothing. He then punched at the man's jaw, but it didn't seem to do anything. In fact, the man grabbed his hand and twisted Yoko's whole right arm behind his back, fracturing it. While Yoko would survive it, if he were to change back into human form now, he would quickly lose consciousness. Kurama asked, "What do you want with my brother and sister anyway?"

The stranger replied, "Since you're not going to live much longer anyway, little fox, telling you matters little. Your brother is going to be father to a new race of beings, and your sister is going to be enhanced, to have similar powers to Ivan Whisky. Doesn't that sound wonderful? I'm going to make them better!"

Yoko growled, "As 009 said, that's not enhancement. That's cruel experimentation, and I won't have my family subjected to it! I'll die first!"

The stranger gave a cheeky and slightly scary grin, and responded, "Oh, that's easily arranged, old boy." He formed some ice on his hand and into a saber and then gutted Kurama. He tossed him aside and left for Demon world, leaving him unconscious. Despite the huge wound on his torso, however, Yoko awoke again after a few moments, and managed to force himself to walk to Genkai's temple, knowing it was the only place he could go safely, and without alarming civilians.

As he made his way there, Yusuke, who was coming back from a visit to Keiko, gasped as he spotted him and darted over, helping him stay up. He asked, "What the hell happened, Kurama?"

Kurama explained, his voice shaky because of guilt, "My brother and sister are being taken to Demon world for some kind of experiment. I...I tried to stop them, but…" Joe and Great Britain happened to see the badly hurt fox demon as well and quickly joined up with the two boys. 009, seeing the wound on Kurama and having overheard just a little of what he said to Yusuke, asked, "But what? They got away with them?"

Kurama nodded, "Yes. I am not entirely sure what he meant, but he said that they were being used in an experiment."

Joe thought a moment, then said, "You said Demon world for an experiment right?" He thought to 001 and 003, through their brain wave communication, 'I think someone found out about the High Teen number Cyborgs and wanted to keep going with the idea. Though I'm not sure who would be smart enough, or twisted enough to do that aside from Black Ghost and Dr. Adams. Whoever it was though, they seem to be planning to blend demon blood, Cyborg technology and human DNA...creating a tri-racial being.'

003 responded, asking, 'How can you be so sure, 009?'

Joe answered, 'Because he took a sample from my mouth, close to where the accelerator is, and also took some samples from 007.'

Dr. Gilmore spoke aloud, inside the Dolphin, "How could you let him do that, Joe?!"

Joe responded, thinking back, 'He was threatening a human child! What was I supposed to do? Just let her die?'

001 replied, trying to diffuse the aggression he was sensing, 'You did the right thing, Joe. Though it doesn't seem to have done much good. The thoughts of the fox demon you helped out are starting to fade. Is he all right?'

Joe looked at Yusuke and Kurama again, noticing that he was close to losing consciousness and told Ivan, 'No, he's in pretty sorry shape.' He then asked, "Can you take him to a hospital...uhh….?"

Yusuke nodded, "I'll make sure he gets some help, and the name's Yusuke Urameshi. You are?"

Joe responded, "I'm Joe Shimamura. Nice to meet you. Do you happen to know how to get to Demon world?"

Yusuke told him, "I do, but...for now I think it's best that everyone stay here until we can figure out what sort of experimentation we're talking about and where exactly in Demon world that guy took Kurama's brother and sister." He looked at Kurama, who looked at him sadly, and replied, "Kurama...I know, you want to go help now, but you're not in good shape." He then looked at 007 and 009 and told them, "Maybe it's best if we team up for this. I've got a bad feeling that there's more to what that Blessed guy was doing than just creating new life."

009 nodded, "I agree. I just hope we aren't too late to stop them."

Yusuke smiled and nodded, "No worries. We can do this."