A/N: How long has it been since I wrote a Yu-Yu Hakusho story? Far too long in fact. It would have been like visiting with old friends if I didn't have a gnawing fear as to where the group is investigating. This story is a cross over between Yu-Yu Hakusho and Higurashi no Naku Koro ni or in the English version When They Cry. For anyone who has not seen 'Higurashi' let me put it to you this way; it makes 'Elfen Lied' and 'Devil May Cry' look like a Disney movie. It is extremely gory but at the same time extremely intelligent. Albeit extremely confusing but it all pulls together in the end. It is the type of show where everyone has their own conclusions as to what is really going on. This story is based off of mine. I think that I'm retarded because I didn't see the category for 'Higurashi' anywhere on here so for now it will just be under YYH.
One more side note as well since this is a YYH story I apologize ahead of time but it contains my OC from years ago, Keaka Kuwabara. It just wouldn't be my YYH story without her. Again...sorry for her.
Hinamizawa; the supposed cursed village where the residents that have been long dead allegedly still reside. The name alone is enough to keep most people away. Nearly everyone in the country of Japan has heard at one point in time of the awful tragedy that occurred leaving the village empty no land developer even considering to flatten it to make room for commercial use or high rise apartments. Yes most stay away because all children know that anyone who goes near Hinamizawa surely vanishes without a trace.
As the group of five approach the path that would lead to the old mountain village even the two demons couldn't help but vainly suppress a shudder. The two siblings most perceptive to apparitions and things of that nature stop dead in their tracks with hearts beating wildly and bated breath not wanting any part of the village that is teeming with activity. It is the brash young leader of the group that takes the first step ahead glancing over his shoulder at his companions.
"What the hell are you all just standing around for?" Yusuke Urameshi asked his friends. He took in each of their appearances noting the blanched looks of horror on each that were nearly identical.
"This place…this place…" Keaka Kuwabara states simply bringing a hand to her forehead as if steadying herself from falling over.
"Urameshi don't go in there." Kazuma Kuwabara says placing a hand on his younger sister's shoulder. Yusuke's glance turns to the eldest in the group who stares past him with narrowed eyes.
"This entire area is practically writhing with demonic energy. It would be wise for all of us to keep alert at all times." Kurama said taking a step forward to stand next to Yusuke followed by the smaller black clad demon already have shaken off the momentary fear that had gripped him.
The two siblings hesitantly walk up to their team silently agreeing to start their journey into the supposedly cursed village.
While others stay away one might ask why these seemingly normal teenagers would be doing walking into what some called the very portal into hell. In truth only two of the teenagers are fully human, the leader doesn't yet know he carries demonic blood, while the other two, as before said, are in fact fully fledged demons despite their youthful appearance.
For this team is none other than team Urameshi and together they have seen the worst part of life. The group were given authority from the spirit world and its miniature ruler to keep the demons who may enter the human world in line thus protecting those who could not protect themselves. This is the reason why they are entering Hinamizawa a place where allegedly nightmares are born.
Granted any information on the place was scarce aside from the old story that everyone, aside from Hiei, had heard.
"You see Hiei…" Kurama began to describe as they walked up the path. "Hinamizawa was a village that I believe only had about two thousand residents if not less. They lived up here more or less isolated from everyone else keeping to themselves. A natural disaster is what killed everyone. Poisonous gases leaked from the ground thanks to an underground volcano erupting one night killing everyone in their sleep."
"Wasn't it a few days before anyone was able to come up here too? I think I remember someone saying that before." Yusuke said receiving a nod from Kurama.
"All the same I don't see what has everyone so on edge. It is just a demon after all." Hiei replied arrogantly staring straight ahead as they walked.
"It is a natural reaction. I must admit even I am unnerved by being here." Kurama stated.
"Yeah no shit but at the same time it's kind of exciting you know, like a rush or something." Yusuke said feeling his adrenaline pump into his blood stream at full force.
"Speak for yourself Urameshi." Kuwabara stated. "This place is all kinds of bad."
The group continued on in silence keeping their pace steady as they walked along the dirt path that was lined with trees. Different species of birds called to one another as they flew from one perch to another as they insects chirped noisily in the tall grass. The group had been informed of the demonic activity in the area around the mountain earlier on in the year but because of snow and then mud in early spring the trek hadn't been considered worth it since the energy was confined to that one area and it, as previously mentioned, had not been inhabited for some time.
Simultaneously all five members of the group stopped dead in their tracks the only sound around them was their breathing.
"What happened to the birds?" Keaka asked timidly glancing up at the tree's before her eyes returned to what lay ahead of them whatever that may be.
"It would seem we have nearly reached our destination." Kurama replied his voice soft and calm as usual.
"Let's get this over with and get the hell out of here." Yusuke said taking a step forward leading as always with his friends following behind as usual.
Judging by the sun, their watches had stopped working some time ago, it took them roughly an hour to finally reach what appeared to once have been the town.
"How long ago has it been since everything happened here?" Kuwabara asked his throat clenching nearly choking off his words.
"It was June of nineteen eighty three." Kurama answered surprised as well at the condition of the town.
"Almost thirty years and this place looks like it could have been abandoned yesterday." Yusuke said to himself his eyes wide but from what exactly he wasn't quite sure.
"It should be run down by now. There shouldn't be anything left hardly by now, it's been so long since anyone has lived here but…I half expect someone to walk out of a shop." Keaka commented swallowing hard as well.
"It would be in our best interests to stay together." Kurama said finally breaking the uncomfortable silence that had developed as each wrestled with their own thoughts.
"Hm." Hiei said in his usual manner. "I do not need to be babysat." In a flash he was gone to where ever he deemed worthy of his attention.
"Please be careful Hiei." Keaka stated quietly taking in a deep breath.
"Keaka and I will go west into town." Kurama said placing a hand on his friends shoulder feeling her trembling underneath his touch.
"Guess we'll go uhhhh…that way." Yusuke said pointing north.
"Very well, we'll meet back when the sun is three quarters of the way across the sky." Kurama said.
"Be careful Kesaki." Kuwabara said bringing his eyes to fall upon his young sister.
"Sure, sure I will." She said offering a small smile but it was obvious it was strained. "You too Kazuma. Please watch out." The two nodded to each other before they parted ways.
Kurama and Keaka kept their eyes open each keeping their observations more or less to themselves. Despite their silence Keaka had gripped Kurama's hand tightly refusing to let go with her fingers tightening as they walked further into the village.
"This place…this place…" She said simply her eyes frantically moving from the empty buildings that surrounded them.
"Do you see anything?" Kurama asked curiously his own eyes scanning the area around them keeping his ears open as well.
"No, nothing it's more of a feeling. You feel it too don't you?" She asked softly. Kurama nodded.
"Yes. I do feel something. It is unlike anything I have encountered before. There is the demonic energy yes but there is something else that I can't quite place." He replied.
"I think it's confusion." She said her eyes moving down to the road as they walked.
"Confusion?" Kurama asked wondering what she meant.
"Yes, there is no doubt in my mind that this place is cursed because of what happened but Kurama I don't think that the people who once lived here know they are dead." She said shaking her head.
"Why do you say that?" Kurama tightened his grip around his friends hand as she moved slightly closer to him. She gave a small shrug.
"I don't know. It's just a feeling that I'm getting." She said. The two neared the edge of town walking towards what appeared to once have been the residential area. Kurama continued to walk stopping only when he felt a tug of resistance on his hand. He turned to his friend.
"Keaka-chan why have you stopped?" He asked. Her cheeks were flushed while sweat glistened on her forehead dripping down. The young girls mouth was slightly agape as her breathing appeared to be labored.
"Let's investigate here." She said distantly as if in a daze. Kurama's own eyes fell upon the house still feeling the same sensation that had been over flowing him since they had arrived.
"Alright." He said catching the name remotely on the mailbox. "Maebara."
The two walked up to the house slowly each scanning the area around them as well as the residence sending out their energy to search for anything malevolent finding nothing other then what seemed to hang in the air around them.
The front door was open probably from years before when the bodies of the occupants were taken out. Albeit from the stagnant air in the place that permeated it the house appeared to be nothing out of the ordinary.
"Do you think it would be safe enough for us to split up kit?" Keaka asked hesitantly. Kurama stopped in his scanning for a moment to turn his attention to the girl. A part of him wanted to say no but the words that came out of his mouth would be the ones to haunt him.
"I suppose so. If anything scream." He said simply receiving a nod.
"You too." She said with a small smirk playing across her lips. Kurama smirked back with a nod knowing that she was teasing him. Kurama entered the kitchen taking in its tidy appearance running a finger across the countertop.
"No dust." He said aloud glancing at his pointer. His mouth turned down as he moved his attention to the fridge opening it. Naturally there no electricity and what appeared to have once been food had spoiled but not at the rate that it should have been. "There shouldn't be anything left in here and it looks newly spoiled."
It took a lot of for the old fox to become fearsome but there was something about the place, aside from the stories and energies he was feeling, that caused him to call out to his friend and make his way down the hall in an attempt to find her.
Keaka had opened a few doors finding a closet as well as the bathroom before she entered a bedroom. The sleeping mat on the floor still laid open along with some blankets strewn aside as if someone had just hastily woken and run off. She knelt down to it placing her hand palm down hovering above the bamboo mat her eyes widening as she realized there was a stain in the shape of a body on it.
Quickly she stood up backing away slowly as if afraid something would pop up from the floor and grab her. She turned around swallowing down her uneasiness noticing the desk. Cautiously she made her way to it placing a hand on the seat pulling it out. Her stomach flipped wildly as she sat down placing her hands in her lap closing her eyes for a moment to steady herself. She rubbed at her eyes before opening them again.
'I wonder who this room belonged to.' She wondered to herself her eyes falling on the desk drawers. Shakily her hand reached down opening the top drawer. She rummaged finding nothing more than pencils and pens before moving to the next drawer. She couldn't help but let out a gasp of amusement at the magazines in that one. 'Well I can bet this was a guys room.' The bottom drawer held papers in it most blank but a few with words scribbled across them. Keaka pulled one out glancing at it her eyes scanning it.
May 15, 1983
So Hinamizawa isn't as bad as I first thought. Okay so it's boring as hell, whatever but I mean at least I've made some friends which is more than what I had back home. It's still funny to think of this place as home but I guess it was for the best.
Keiichi
"Keiichi." Keaka said the name aloud her eyes scanning the words a few times.
'I'm Keiichi.'
Keaka jumped up from the chair knocking it over with her hair standing on end. Quickly she turned banging into the desk loudly. Her eyes glanced around the room wildly her hand still gripping the paper. For as long as she could remember she had heard voices that called out to her when physically there was no one there but this one had been different. Normally the voices held a whisper effect to them or an echo as if they were reaching her from across a vast chasm or long hallway but this one had been real as if someone had been standing a few feet away from her. It had been clear.
Her feet remained planted on the floor as she held her breath waiting for more receiving only silence.
"Keaka." She let her breath out as Kurama entered the room walking over to her.
"Kurama." She said breathless walking quickly over to him her movements seeming rigid.
"What happened?" He asked his voice coming out more forceful than what he had meant it to be.
"A voice, I said something and someone replied." She said.
"What did it say?" He questioned his eyes falling to the paper she held. He grasped it from her hand when she offered it to show him.
"It said, 'I'm Keiichi'."
"Man this place is worse than a graveyard." Kuwabara said breaking the quiet around them.
"No kidding. I just keep expecting something to jump out and scream, 'here I am', but this is way worse." Yusuke replied in agreement. The fact that the buildings were still in good condition was unsettling enough but what was worse was the fact that it felt like they were being watched even though he sensed no one there. "How you holding up partner?" Kuwabara's pallor and sweating not lost on him.
"I don't know man. You know I'm not one to back down from a fight but this place makes me want to run away screaming like a little girl. It's not even like there's anything there, I mean there's definitely something here but I just can't figure out what yet and that's the worst part." He said. "Normally I can tell the difference between a ghost and a demon but here there doesn't seem to be a line to draw."
"What do you mean?" Yusuke asked his tone flattening out slightly.
"It just seems kind of…I don't know, jumbled I guess." He said after thinking it over a for a minute or so. "Whatever it is this place is no good. Why did we get sent out here anyway? I mean if there is a demon lurking in this area who cares? As long as it's not bothering anyone."
"Beats the hell out of me." Yusuke said truthfully shoving his hands into his denim pockets. "Damn Koenma didn't have any frigin' info as usual. I swear that damned toddler just does this shit to piss me off."
"Well maybe if you didn't pick on him so much we wouldn't have this problem Urameshi." Kuwabara chided.
"Shut the fuck up. Like you're one to talk, you make fun of the magic midget too." He replied. Kuwabara opened his mouth to say something but stopped closing his mouth with an audible plop. The ball rolled across the grass from apparently nowhere. The two stared down the school house as if waiting for something receiving only the stifling silence that enveloped the village.
Without another word spoken the two walked up to the door pushing it open with a bang.
"It looks…clean like it was just left behind." Kuwabara noted as they walked down the short hallway.
"Yeah just like the rest of this place." Yusuke replied. They reached an open door glancing in briefly before walking in. It appeared to be a normal classroom with the teachers desk in front of the chalkboard and the lessons still written on it. Rows of desks were lined together to form groups of four while small cubbies sat in back of the class some still with items left behind by their occupants.
Curiosity took over for the two teens as they walked past the desks glancing inside of some. Yusuke flipped through a text book reading the name printed on the front of it.
"Furude Rika." He read glancing at some of the pages. "This is just a primary school book." He commented more to himself placing it back down.
"This desk over here has geometry homework in it." Kuwabara said. "Looks like high school stuff."
"Well if the village was small maybe the school was integrated. It would make sense if they didn't have a lot of kids just to have them all in the same school." Yusuke said. Kuwabara nodded in agreement picking up a deck of cards before placing them back down.
Yusuke walked towards the cubbies his finger tips grazing a jacket that had been left behind.
"Kind of scary when you think about it. I bet the kid that owned this just thought they'd bring it home the next day only to go to bed and not wake up again." He said thoughtfully.
"Yeah kind of makes you think, huh?" Kuwabara said. Yusuke nodded stopping front of another cubby glancing into it. He reached out to grasp the metal bat biting on his lip. It felt cold as if someone had put it in a freezer or it had been left outside in snow.
'Neene.'
Yusuke dropped the bat jumping as it clattered to the floor. Someone had tugged on the hem of his tee shirt.
"Did you hear that Urameshi?" Kuwabara asked loudly fear evident in his voice.
"No but someone just touched me!" He nearly shouted back unnerved as well. "You heard something?"
"Yeah it said, 'neene', I think." He replied nodding his head.
"Well what the hell does that mean?" Yusuke asked his voice taking on its normal cynical tone.
"How the hell should I know Urameshi?" Kuwabara shouted at him. Yusuke ran a hand through his gelled hair tugging on it somewhat.
"Screw this place. Let's find this damn demon and get the hell out of here." Yusuke said making his way to the door with his friend close behind him. Hurriedly the two made their way back down the path towards the town stopping dead in their tracks with their eyes widening at what lay before them.
Kurama led Keaka out of the house readying themselves to turn in the direction he had originally intended for them before making their detour.
"Hi." The voice caused them both to turn around. The boy stood before them seemingly human and quite friendly but they both knew that looks could be deceiving. His hair was brown sticking up at odd angles here and there. His eyes were warm holding no malice behind them towards the pair. He appeared to be about Yusuke and Kuwabara's age.
"Hello." Kurama greeted back. "We were just on our way." He glanced down at Keaka taking in her appearance. Her body seemed more relaxed around the stranger oddly enough when he would have bet the sudden appearance would have sent her on high alert.
"I haven't seen either of you in Hinamizawa before. You guys new?" The boy asked readjusting his backpack better.
"Yes we are. It's a lovely village that you live in." Keaka replied before Kurama could answer. He narrowed his eyes at his friend taking in the aura around her. Something was wrong. Very wrong.
"Meh, it's alright. I mean it's quiet. To be honest I haven't really lived here that long myself but great I'm not the new kid anymore. Thanks for that." The boy said with a grin his eyes falling more on Keaka. She shrugged.
"No prob." She moved away from Kurama offering her hand to the boy. "I'm Kuwabara Kesaki." Kurama stared at his friend feeling his demon heart thud in his chest. As long as he had known the girl she never cared to reveal her full name if she could help it always preferring to go by her nickname. Whatever was going on he had to remove her from the situation quickly. "This is Minamino Shuichi."
Kurama couldn't help rolling his eyes at being introduced as well to the boy who had appeared out of nowhere.
"I believe that we have to be going now Keaka." He said gripping her by a hand before the boy could shake hers.
"I'll see you guys at school tomorrow right?" He asked receiving a nod from Keaka who was being led away. She waved back at him smiling sweetly. "Oh I'm Maebara Keiichi." He called after them through cupped hands.
It wasn't lost on Kurama that there was a sudden onslaught of noise. In any other setting it would have been a relief after the silence that had settled upon them but only caused him to become more untrusting and distressed as he pulled the young girl along behind him. Traffic droned from the town as well as some chatter from people who were nearby. The abandoned ghost town had suddenly burst to life in a matter of seconds leaving him to question what had happened.
"Keiichi-kun." Keaka said from behind him giggling a little after the name fell from her lips. Kurama stopped suddenly.
"Wasn't that note from a 'Keiichi'?" Kurama asked turning around quickly. Keaka only stared up at him blankly.
"Note?" She asked shaking her head somewhat in question. Kurama had folded the paper placing it in his pants pocket. He took it out to show her.
"Yes Keaka, this note the one from the house. It was written by a Keiichi." He watched as the realization came back into her eyes. "Listen to me carefully. Something has happened and I'm not sure what but if my fears are confirmed then we are in a lot of trouble. We must find Kuwabara and Yusuke."
"What the hell?" Yusuke shouted once he found his voice again. Kuwabara simply stared in disbelief. "This place was abandoned. Where did all the frigin' people come from?"
"I told you this place was bad news Urameshi." Kuwabara replied his head swimming from the sudden noise. "We should uh, go the where Kurama told us to meet at."
"Yeah that's probably a good idea." Yusuke replied.
"Now watch as the game begins."
