Ok, so this is my first Yu Yu Hakusho fanfic so I apologize if it's a little….sucky. So I decided to start with the totally unconventional pairing of YusukexBotan XD. It should only be a two part story, so I hope you enjoy this!

-Coffee Break-

Tentatively taking a sip of his unsweetened coffee, Yusuke Urameshi suddenly turns around and lets his trademark glare pierce into the digital clock hanging above his head.

25 March 1:35 p.m.

Three years on the dot. He muses to himself. Sliding back into his seat, he starts strumming his fingers against the table rhythmically, and prepares for the onslaught of memories ahead. Three years since Keiko left him.

--

"Yusuke, you're not listening to me!"

"Why should I listen Keiko? I know the next words out of your mouth are gonna be some crap about me applying for college." He digs his hands into his pockets, ignoring the blatant look of despair spread across her delicate features.

"You don't understand, college means everything in this world. I mean, how do you expect to find a respectable job without a college degree?"

"Keiko, I work my ass off at the noodle shop day and night. What, is my business not respectable enough for you?" He adds with a sneer. Before he can defend his case, Keiko interrupts, her now solid and scolding voice turned into an emotional and cracking whimper.

"You're unbelievable! You think…you think I'm doing all this, just for me? The only reason I hound you like a dog is because I care about you Yusuke, and I hate seeing your life go to waste like this."

"Well thanks, but no thanks Keiko. I don't want or need any of your help." He gives a two fingered salute and prepares to walk away from their argument, before she speaks up again.

"So now what? You're just going to run off and leave me in the dark like you always do? God, that's just like you Yusuke, always thinking of yourself." She lifts up an accusatory hand and prods her finger at his chest.

"You're still the same selfish four year old boy I knew way back when. Why won't you just grow up?"

"Maybe I don't want to?"

A dead and unexpected silence passes between and when Yusuke sees Keiko hand raise up swiftly, he braces for impact. But instead of smacking the daylights out of him, she chooses to point again.

"Well when you're ready to take responsibility and act like a man, call me." Turning on her heels, she prepares to walk out.

"Because unlike you, me and rest of the world have grown up."

--

It was a bitter, final farewell from Keiko, and although her last words still irked him, it wasn't the reason why he spent so much time dwelling on the past.

He just couldn't believe an eighteen year connection like theirs could end in a heartbeat.

Secretly, their separation had torn him to shreds on the inside, but his brave hearted, foolish pride wouldn't hear any of it. Now, three years later, she was over in America preparing for medical school, he was still running his noodle shop but, that long awaited 'I'm sorry' would likely never transpire. Keiko's focuses were now solely transfixed on her boyfriend and she had no time to deal with old wounds.

Whatever, if she wanted to be with someone else, then fine.

He didn't need her.

Contorting his body into a sulking pose, Yusuke mentally makes a note that break time would be over in an hour. Of course, he was boss of his own eatery. But even a prestigious title like that didn't stop his employees from riding his ass whenever he was late.

So enthralled in his own thoughts, Yusuke barely notices the faint but sing-song utterance of his name coming from the morning rush's crowd. Dismissing it as a call for another man, he continues walking; ignoring the increased volume of his name, before the perpetrator affectionately attacks him with a bear hug.

"What the…" he blurts out, body stiffening at the unfamiliarity. Looking down, he could only spot his attacker's familiar mass of bright powder blue hair and when a meow escaped her lips, it finally clicks that this psycho crazed hugger was…

"Botan!"

"Yusuke!" She peps. "For a moment there I thought you were going to leave me stranded!"

"No…I'd never." He murmured, grabbing her into his own hug. It's been years since he's last seen her, and although he should be 100% happy to see his old friend, a part of him can't help but feel hesitant. After the last Demon Tournament, Reikai designated a new rule that any unnecessary trips to the Ningenkai would be forbidden. But, Botan was here, decked out in human clothes and not an oar or spirit floating in sight. How the hell did she get here?

She must've sensed his uneasiness because before he knew it, her embrace went cold and she pulled back only to cross her arms over her chest.

"Well, you don't look too happy to see me."

"I am, I am." He reassured in a flustered manner. "But Koenma shut off all unnecessary travel between the Ningenkai and Reikai. How'd you manage to get back here?"

"Yes, well of course Koenma did make a ban on all extracurricular voyages outside of Reikai through the main portal. But, as any good ferry girl knows, there are a million ways to escape to Ningenkai and Koenma hadn't banned any of those! Why, with just a little elbow grease, we were able to find another way out!"

"Uh-huh. And just how much elbow grease went into this little plan of yours?"

"Oh, not that much." She answers. "Just two years worth."

"Two years?!" He cries out in shock. "You've been at this for two years?!"

"Don't worry, that's nothing. I've been alive for centuries Yusuke. Why, two years is like a walk in the park for me."

"Yeah, a long walk in the park." He grumbles.

"Well all that matters is that I've missed you guys." She wraps her arms around his own and drags him in the opposite direction. Now, tell me, how is everyone? Kuwabara, Kurama, Keiko?" Keiko's name was drawn out in a purr and when Yusuke turned his head towards the deity's direction, he noticed the Cheshire Cat grin plastered all over her face. But, he couldn't bother feigning amusement and when Botan saw that, her smile faltered.

"Last I heard she was doing good, off to med school in the US, has a new boy toy following her around."

"Last you heard? Has she not been keeping contact with you?"

"Sort of. Keiko and I broke up years ago. I honestly have no idea how she's doing except for all these rumors floating around town."

There is an unusual silence emanating from his bubbly friend, in a moment he was certain Botan would scold him for being so stupid. But distress clouds her amethyst eyes instead of fury, forcing Yusuke to horribly transfer to another topic.

" Kuwabara, Kurama and the others are doing good!" He lets outs a forced yet hearty laugh, scratching the back of his head for comfort. "Somehow Kuwabara managed to get into grad school, he wants to be a scientist and Kurama's busy helping his stepdad run the family business."

"What about you? Street fighter or homeless bum living in a cardboard box?" she mumbles.

"Neither you idiot." He groans, resisting the urge to smack her upside the head. "I opened up a noodle restaurant down the street; I actually have to head back at 2:30."

Glancing down at the watch adorning her wrist, she begins tugging his body further from its original destination. "Perfect timing! It looks like you have plenty of time to catch up with me. Come on, I saw a nice little coffee shop on the corner. We can go hang out there."

He tries to persuade Botan out of their coffee run, reminding her that three years of catching up would take longer than an hour. But the woman's grip on his arm is tighter than a vice grip and with an audible groan escaping his lips, Yusuke can only imagine the hell his workers are going to put him through once he shows up late again.