Author's Notes:Hello everyone and welcome to my new story for a beloved and very dear anime to me.
I want to say I am aware the premise sounds similar to a few other stories, specially Melon Liquor by Night Kunoichi. I want to say this was written before I found that story and it is 100% different and all similarities are purely coincidental. I have also cleared it with that author that it's ok to publish this despite a similar premise, I got the blessing so don't worry. Also please go check out her story its AMAZING.
This story is created with 2 OC's near and dear to my heart from my teenage years. They have evolved with me and I hope you enjoy them as well. I also want to thank Hawkstout. I don't know their account if they still have one, but she does write loads of amazing stuff on a few sites so if you know her, go give her a big fat YOU ROCK for me to lift some spirits. (Please don't push for story updates etc) she has helped flesh out this story, help with lore, and help with the OC's.
I hope you enjoy.
"." is talking
'.' is thinking
~Chapter 1 Start~
The most important part is that…
I'm dead, or at least I think I am.
I don't remember much, there are a lot of blank spaces. I assume my death must have been pretty violent and involving head trauma.
Lots of head trauma…
Unless I'm not dead, in which case I guess I have selective amnesia from head trauma.
Is that even a thing?
Damn I wish I had google.
To start off my story you need to know one thing.
Loud noises scare me, I keep wetting myself, things are frightening and funny all at the same time, and I'm pretty sure I'm a baby.
Like, a literal infant.
Wait that was more than one thing...
Give me a break I think I'm only a few weeks old.
Or maybe months?
Shit this must be one hell of a coma.
Let me back track a tad to where it all begins… or rather ends.
Pictures cascaded by, like the start of an old movie, you know, the kind that used film and had a tendency to combust into flames.
Huh? Retro film doesn't normally do that?
Well, I guess that trope lied to me. It's probably not the first time.
There are pieces of things vaguely related to one another in the feature film that is my life. The flames and burning holes sort of confuse the plot, and my life really needs-needed to learn what constituted a period and comma, or perhaps even an em dash? What is an em dash you ask? Well it's honestly a stylistic choice, oh...you don't really care do you.
Sorry I'm kind of a literary nerd.
No, no, I'm not a genius. I'm not a straight A student or a writer. I'm just an insomniac with google. Or… I was.
So what's the point?
I guess there really wasn't one other than to complain about the state of affairs.
The state being a complete disarray of my memories and... well, the entirety of who I am.
Not being able to walk is a bitch as well, but I digress.
I do remember friends, my first kiss, how I got bullied in second grade, my aunt's wedding, my grandma's funeral, my best friend's worst day, my best friend's best day, the day I got arrested (It's not as bad as it sounds, I was 16, smoking my first joint when my besties' Dad caught us and decided to arrest us both to straighten us out. So absolutely embarrassing)
That's right, I can use parenthesis, but my motor control is non-existent.
In fact, let's fast forward past this part, hearing me night blog while shitting myself probably doesn't make for good entertainment.
-Break-
The important stuff happens junior high. The very first day of junior high.
So picture it. I'm thirteen years old, and I'm just starting my first day at a new school.
But, before I was a thirteen year old starting junior high, I was a twenty-six year old first year medical intern. An award winning dancer… if you count fourth and fifth from the ages five to eighteen award winning. It's the equivalent of "You tried!" awards in dance terms, but it kept my Mother at bay. I loved dancing, but the competitions were a pre-cursor to pageants for her.
I remember that about her. I remember my parents were Virginia Adair and Richard Adair. I was born in the good old US of A in the summer month of June 22nd, 1989. A seven pound two ounce overdue baby. The start of my reign of disappointment to my Mother I'm sure.
What a contrast to my chubby bubby reincarnation, born to Elizabeth Mukai and Hirohito Mukai.
I know we're in Japan and I am born and raised Japanese, but yes, that's an English name. My mom is an Irish-American; first generation—I mean my current Mom. Mom of right now. She was a teacher in Japan who ended up immigrating when she married dad.
So my new name—my current name is Anastasia Mukai. What a funny joke right? I'm a hafu with an incredibly western first name. Thanks mom!
Also, the irony does not evade me on the meaning of that particular name.
I was born December 10th, 2000 in Tokyo, Japan.
My only consolation is, at least the time period isn't too different from when I was alive, err, previously alive.
-But I have puberty to look forward to again with the added bonus of perpetual culture shock!
So this is me: 5'6, pale as an Irish leprechaun, with slightly waved ginger locks just past my shoulders, pale green-blue eyes, and dark freckles contrasting against my paleness. I look pretty much how I did in my other life, except my nose and eyes were shaped a touch different. Other than my nose and eyes, I looked just like my mother; gaining the aforementioned traits from my father.
People often thought my dad was babysitting me at first.
My body surprisingly wasn't all that different from my previous life.
I think.
Keep that in mind, it's all conjecture. I think I remember this. I think this is who I was, but maybe I'm just making it all fit so I don't go insane. That's a possibility too.
I was petite, but pure muscle. Having been enrolled in professional dance classes since I was three years old, I had built up lean muscle. Mom thought it would give me an edge in getting accepted into private schools, she wasn't wrong.
I wasn't well endowed in the chest department, and it often made me feel uncomfortable. Having grown up the first time with DD's in a southern town of a country built on big breasted women, I felt out of place with my less curvy and more petite frame.
It made dancing a lot easier, it really was an industry skewed towards the perfect 'dancer's body'. Well, the people judging were skewed towards it, my dancing hadn't been any worse or better in my previous body.
I was, however, scoring higher this time around. Sadly, still only getting fifth place on a good night.
But back to my first day. Like I said. This is where the story really starts.
I smoothed my magenta skirt as they finished the welcoming ceremony. I was officially a student of Meiou Junior High. The name brought back a fondness to the older anime of my previous youth, and I couldn't help but smile at the distant foggy memory.
I scoffed thinking back to old fanfictions detailing original female protagonists being sent to their world and attending the school. It was a common theme among fanfiction I may or may not only have read, but written. I think, again, memory is a bit foggy.
Out of all the memories I managed to retain, it would be of reading fanfiction. Typical.
With a sigh I gathered my book bag and went to find the locker I was assigned. My wavy orange locks bunching painfully under my strap and I winced as I awkwardly adjusted the strap and my hair. The result caused my fly-away wavy hair to bunch up into a twisted mess.
Except…I had no idea where I was going, direction sense was not something I had.
Thankfully after a few minutes of feeling lost, a prefect directed me to where the first year lockers were.
Grasping my locker number tightly in my left hand, I scanned the lockers one by one until I found mine. I brushed the pads on my fingers across the number in a weird nostalgic giddiness.
'177' I put in my combination and opened my locker feeling entirely too anxious for someone who was attending junior high for a second time. I placed my runners inside the locker, my unneeded school books, my gym uniform, and my lunch. I wasn't entirely used to not having everything with me as I was acclimated too back in America, I felt kind of naked without the weight of my books.
I was entirely too engrossed in my thoughts about the differences to notice anything and ended up turning and almost walking into someone who was standing curiously behind me.
"Oh, gees, sorry!" I quickly spouted, looking up. I had almost bowled over a male student. He was average height and stood with an air of ease. He held his hands up in surrender as he gave me a 'good-ol-boy' smile.
"It's quite alright, I was rather close so I'll take some of the blame." He responded, his smile widening as his eyes swept over my anxious frame. I took that moment to really look at him.
Huh, nice to see I am not the only one with red hair here. Hopefully, I'll be less of a freak here than in elementary school. His eyes were probably the most fascinating part of him. He was very clearly full Japanese, but he had such green eyes.
I mean the red hair was odd as well, but people here had an array of hair colour so I kind of just accepted the notion that all Japanese people had black or dark hair to be another trope that lied to me.
"Ahh, um, hi! My name is Mukai, Anastasia, but you can call me Ana." I curled my grown out bangs around my ear and smiled wide trying to ignore my anxiety for a moment. I had made an unfortunate choice 2 years ago to have straight bangs. It did not look good, I burned all the photos. So now, I had awkwardly grown out bangs that just barely tucked behind my ears.
Was I staring too long? I wasn't sure what was polite eye contact and what wasn't, I don't think I was ever really good at it to be honest.
I never really did fit in in my new culture either. I was a southern girl born and raised. I missed my southern accent, but at least I still remembered English...mostly. It's hard to retain when you hardly ever get a chance to speak it. I was really hoping the English classes in this school were up to par.
His lips were moving.
Oh shit! I wasn't paying any attention, great first impression.
Now his lips weren't moving.
Oh God, speak Ana speak!
"Sorry wha?" I blurted. What a sight I must have been, messy hair tucked to the side away from my strap, uniform hanging awkwardly off my gangly frame, and my face just positively ballooning with red. Curse my irish heritage!
He echoed a smooth chuckle, "I was asking what class you were in." His patient tone clarified for me. He continued to smile warmly at me.
"Oh, um..." I rifled through my bag looking for my class assignment sheet. I must look like such a spazz, poor...oh God, I didn't even get his name. Oh my god I really am a spazz.
Fucking great.
"Ahh it's class 1-4." I assumed he was asking because we have last names near each other.
"Same class then. Mind if I follow you? I seem to be a touch lost." he smiled so very calmly. He turned to stand beside me now and motioned for me to lead.
Oh bullshit, he was feeling sorry for my clumsy ass. Probably wanted to make sure I wasn't late after almost running me over. Gotta love pity.
"Uh, sure, that's fine." I closed my book bag and cleared my throat. It was suddenly very dry. What was wrong with me? I mean sure, he was pretty, but I've been around prettier, after all I had seen-
I had seen…
What had I seen?
I can't remember, fucking great. Maybe he was the prettiest person I had ever seen, or it was the coma. I am going to blame the coma.
But still…I wanted to make a good impression, I didn't really have anyone lining up to be friends with me.
I didn't really have a whole lot of friends here, being significantly older (at least in my own head) made it hard to connect with a bunch of prepubescent kids.
This one seemed pretty nice though, tranquil, collected, and kind of annoying. No one pities me!
That's all you really need in a friend. A calm mind, unpredictable nature, a little crazy, and a whole lot of pity. Strongest bonds for a friendship!
No wait, that didn't sound right at all, but why did it come to mind so quickly?
Looking around I felt a nervous feeling creep up. Ah…
Damn this kid for being right! I was so lost in my thoughts I got actually lost.
"Umm, I don't actually know where we are." I blushed feeling entirely stupid.
"I think our class is just down the hall actually." He walked ahead of me, so sure of himself. He moved so gracefully it was like he literally glided across the floor.
Which was of course impossible.
"At least I was on the right track." I whispered to myself, but he must have caught it because I heard him chuckle.
He waited for me to enter the classroom ahead of him. My, my, such a gentleman, a man after my southern courted heart.
Sitting ourselves down we noticed the teacher had already arrived and was waiting for the bell as she idly looked around, giving us a curious look. She had her hair up in a neat bun, a knee length circle skirt in periwinkle with a soft cream blouse. Her tall heels gave her a lift enough to look older than the rest of the students, but it was obvious she was decently short.
As it rang the teacher started roll call without missing a beat. It was too fucking early for her energy I swear. Her heels clicked as she pivoted to look at us.
"Minamino, Shuichi."
"Present." the same composed and collected ginger spoke up.
Wait what?
~Break~
This was the big important thing. Minamino Shuichi. My first big clue, although it didn't really seem like a clue to me at the time. It was more me almost having a panic attack.
The teacher ended up calling my name several times before Shuichi elbowed me. Yeah we were seated next to each other. Woohoo close last names!
Ok, this could easily be explained away. So he had a similar name to a character in Yu Yu Hakusho. So we went to a school with a similar name from the anime.
All coincidence of course, Shuichi is a common name, it's probably like...Steve, or Billy-bob.
A quick google will ease my fears.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN NOT IN THE TOP 1000!?
I smashed my phone against my desk bristling. Stupid phone, it was clearly at fault.
"I am sure whatever the phone did, it didn't mean it." I jumped in my seat and turned to see the boy in question seated at the desk beside mine, lunch in hand peering over my shoulder with quick green eyes.
Lunch. Right. I stared down at my unopened bento box.
"You know how unruly technology is, if I don't show it who's boss the rest will walk all over me." I opened my bento and pointedly ignored the oddly familiar boy. I received no resistance to this and was pleased.
He was happy to sit there and eat while reading. I on the other hand was dicking around on English sites looking up the familiar anime in hopes I could ease my fears.
"What's a Yu Yu Hakusho?" his voice startled me. I jumped again, the phone clattered from my hands onto the floor. Of course he could read English, Just my fucking luck.
"WHY?!" was all I could splutter as I picked my phone off the ground and blew on the screen.
"I'm sorry." Shuichi laughed out, not sorry at all. His stupid perfect hair moved like silk over his shoulders at the motion.
Ass.
"Uhh, nothing, just something I heard on the way to school I was curious as to what it was." Stupid google, this is all googles fault.
"Doesn't look like it's bringing up results."
"No...it doesn't." I paled as I threw the offending contraption into my book bag haphazardly.
~Break~
Yeah that was a tough day to say the least...it was not a good day, nope, it was a pretty shit day.
I still wasn't convinced, even if Yu Yu Hakusho didn't exist, it didn't mean I was in that particular universe, it didn't even mean Shuichi was, well, Kurama. All it meant was I wasn't in my own world anymore.
The year difference, the lack of popular headlines and world events, the complete lack of shows I knew as well as artists. Now that it dawned on me it seemed so obvious.
But the question was of course now being, where was I… how was I?
I suppose why as well but who cares about that right now?
"Is your phone behaving today?" Shuichi questioned as he took up his seat next to me. He was perfectly kept as usual.
"As much as it can." I shrugged, exhausted from staying up all night on google. I took a warm sip of my drink hoping to leech some semblance of life from it.
"Should you really be having coffee?" his eyebrow was raised in question, but his grin spoke volumes.
"Keep being nosy and find out what happens if I don't have it." I glared at him and his aberrant red hair. He laughed at my weak threat, and I went back to nursing the aforementioned beverage.
"I didn't mean to offend." He was still smiling warmly and I couldn't help but smile back. Despite how much his presence ruined my re-life, life again? Eh whatever. Anyways, despite how much his presence was the root of all my trouble, he was still a kind classmate. Who wouldn't smile back if they were in my shoes.
I couldn't help myself though as my smile faded into a thin pressed line of determination as I took a moment to really look at him.
His eyes were a deep shade of green, his hair was a much darker red than mine. No, not darker, truer, it was a truer red. He was tall for a thirteen year old, and lithe. He did look an awful lot like...
"You ok?" I blinked owlishly as I came back down to earth.
"Huh?" eloquent.
"You've been staring intently at me for the past five minutes.
"Oh, umm, sorry, I was just lost in my thoughts..." I was probably blushing. Damn this pre-pubescent body.
"It's ok, I was almost wondering if you had fallen asleep."
I never got a chance to respond as the bell rang and our first class began.
~Break~
The week was pretty uneventful. It was full of loads of homework, long school days, and getting used to the fact I was probably in Yu Yu Hakusho; although I refused to acknowledge it.
Shuichi was a fine desk mate. He was always on time, respectful of my space, and was quiet. He made it easy to ignore the growing realization of where I was.
The only downside was the amount of girls he started collecting that would often follow him around, ask him out during lunch, or give him all sorts of baked goods. It was getting tiring considering I was pretty sure one of them kept pelting me with paper balls during class.
I'm positive I became public enemy number one for the seating arrangement.
Since nothing...demony had occurred I had chalked up my whole ordeal as some sort of coma trip, or drug trip, or just straight up mixing things up in my whole...reincarnation. Yu Yu Hakusho was probably never even a show to begin with.
Great I wonder what else I made up in my drug induced delusion.
I was startled out of my thoughts at some of the students slamming the classroom door. With a curse I dropped my notebook smacking Shuichi's knee in the process.
With a quick english swear I bent down to pick up my notebook when my finger collided with Shuichi's, who had also coincidently moved to retrieve the fallen object.
I felt a zap and a warmth spread through my body. I quickly recoiled and it disappeared leaving me feeling empty and cold.
"I uh, thanks, I'm going to go get a..." I didn't know what to say so I just stood up, grabbing my bag, and walked out of the classroom. I didn't have to look at him to feel the ice in his stare.
Smooth
I walked briskly (ran) to the girls bathroom and stood at the sink breathing deeply trying to shake the chill away. I splashed some water on my flushed face, I didn't really know why, it just seemed to be the thing people did in moment's like these.
The rush of cold soothed my reddened skin, but did nothing for my panic however.
What the fuck was that?
It felt like I was on fire and I had this tugging from the pit of my stomach that made me feel like vomiting.
Jesus fucking Christ, that couldn't have been normal...but he didn't seem to notice...right?
Right?
'Fake it till you make it' I suddenly heard my mother, the previous one, utter in my head. Her perfectly pronounced words echoed making me feel even sicker.
I was not good at acting at all, it was one of the reasons my father convinced my mother to remove me from pageants. I was absolute garbage at it. It's also probably why I never place well in dance.
I took a moment to collect myself, well as much as someone in my situation could, and then left the bathroom only to find myself nose to nose with Shuichi.
Oh fuck me.
He looked intensely at me.
"I think we should talk." His eyes looked incredibly dark and dangerous. I suddenly felt like I was 5 again. His stance was closed off, hands in fists at his side, the knuckles turning a nice shade of 'I'm going to beat your head in school days' style' white.
Oh god please no, please don't do this. I had a simple life, normal life, don't put me here, I'll end up eaten by something!
"I...uh...sure..." he tilted his head in a silent order to follow him, and started walking down the hallway not even bothering to see if I was still following. This time he wasn't gliding.
I followed him through the halls and up the stairs, counting every single one in an attempt to still my beating heart It was kind of like counting sheep, except instead of getting sleepy I was getting vomity.
I couldn't remember a time I felt this close to death, in fact I couldn't even remember the one time I died. Did it feel like this?
He lead me to the roof and he closed the door, placing himself in front of it silently. I hadn't even seen him move. One minute I had followed him onto the roof, the next I heard the door click shut and he was behind me with his looming presence.
I was fucked.
"So...I hope this isn't your way of confessing to me...it's a touch axe murderish." I was chuckling awkwardly. I crack stupid jokes when anxious, stupid! I was going to die and my last words were an anxious one liner. How embarrassing. Please don't let me remember this in my next life!
Maybe he would find me utterly charming and let this slide?
He wasn't laughing, not even a smile. He looked grim. His lips pressed in thin lines and his eyes narrowed.
Guess I really wasn't that lucky.
He looked suddenly very predatory. His once good boy charm had slipped away leaving me feeling like a very small rabbit in the big old forest.
"Who are you." he pressed, walking towards me. He moved soundlessly and I could feel the strength waft off him in waves. His shoulders were perfectly square and I couldn't help but marvel just how strong he suddenly looked. What was once a lithe 13-year-old suddenly looked like the lumberjack from Snow White, and I was pretty sure he wanted to cut out my heart.
"Anastasia, you know that." I echoed out trying to appear as small as possible. Maybe if I looked real innocent and doe like, he'll let me slip away to meet some dwarves.
"Don't lie to me." his tone was icy and I shuddered. He was a hair's breadth away from me now, I could see his breath twisting out as he breathed in the crisp April air.
He smelled of petrichor in June. You know, when the plants are their greenest and the pavement gets so hot it bakes your bare feet until the moment it rains? Yeah, that's the smell of petrichor in June.
"It is I swear! It's the only name I've got!" Which was true, I didn't remember my previous name at all. Lost in that cascade of picture perfect memories.
"What was that in the classroom then?" He looked mad. No, scratch that, he looked furious, furious and deadly.
"What was what?" stupid move. I knew it was, but I couldn't help it. Not only was I smart ass by nature, I was also freaking the ever living fuck out.
He had me pressed against the door in seconds, his arm against my neck pressing deeply against my clavicle. I felt my bones wane the slightest at his strength and gasped.
"I will not ask again, what was that? It felt like you pulled a piece of my soul out for a mere second." I could feel the heat from his arm contrasting against the cold metal of the door. It was then I realized I didn't have my jacket and that I was so close to him, that to anyone looking, it looked as if we were kissing. Focus.
So that's what that was...I should probably pay attention; he looks really unimpressed.
"Pay attention." his breath brushed my cheek and I flinched. His skin was touching mine now and I couldn't think. I felt suddenly very warm, too warm. I felt the pull at my stomach increase until I felt like I was going to burst.
The world started to spin, and just as the ink blots had almost covered my vision, I felt nothing but the cold harsh spring air.
But the smell of petrichor lingered.
He let me go so suddenly I sagged against the door and slid to the ground. My head was swimming and I feared I was going to die just from the proximity. I couldn't grasp any singular thought.
"What are you doing?" his hand was reaching for his hair. Why was he doing that? I knew it was dangerous, but I couldn't remember why. What was it about his hair?
"I don't know." I choked out trying to get my bearings. I felt pathetic. What good was it to be in a world you watched on TV if you were garbage at remembering any of it.
Don't cry, don't cry, he'll probably eat you...
I am a big strong woman in the body of a 13-year-old, I can do this.
I was totally crying.
I bit back a sob and looked up and as sincerely as I could, uttered out a meek 'I don't know' again. I don't even know if he heard me muttering through sobs anymore. I felt the snot start to clog my nose and gave a gross and wet sniff.
His lips were pressed together so tightly they almost disappeared. His hand had stilled at the nape of his neck. He was staring hard at me now, but his thoughts seemed elsewhere.
I was plant bait, or fertilizer as it were.
'You know the kinda eats,
The kinda red hot treats
The kinda sticky licky sweets
I crave'
I couldn't help the tune that sung in my head.
'Oh Kurama, don't be like Seymour.' I begged silently.
He looked down at me and sighed. I felt elation in my chest, maybe I'd make it to my 14th birthday yet! His hand left his hair, devoid of man eating plants, and he stilled for a moment. He seemed to be debating with himself.
Kneeling he hesitantly reached out for me, his hand lightly brushing mine.
The same warmness spread, but not as strongly this time. I felt the pull at my stomach hum and I started to see spots again.
"Your soul is reacting to mine, so is your spirit energy, as small as it is." He explained increasing the pressure slowly. His brows knitted together in concentration, but all I could think was how warm he felt.
"I...what does that mean?" If I was in a better state of mind I'd probably have thought to sound more surprised than I was at the mention of spirit energy, but could you blame me? I was attempting to focus on his words and not pass out.
"I'm not sure, but it's concerning. I've never heard about anything like this happening before." he looked quizzical now, almost child-like in his wonder. His hand was tracing mine now in awe.
The warmth snapped and Kurama jolted back, rocking on the balls of his feet his eyes were wide in surprise. I felt faint but a lot more stable than before as the colour was fading back into the world. The pulling in my stomach was replaced with a dull humming and I was worried that whatever happened had killed me.
"What was that?" I felt terrified now.
"That would be a tether...I think." He looked equally concerned. His eyes crinkled in a way that seemed unfair, someone so beautiful shouldn't have such a look.
Wait, no, hormones stop. Focus now.
"Tether?" I managed to get out, I needed to stay on topic for once.
"I think your soul, and mine, just finished synchronizing and tethered."
Oh dear, this wasn't going to end well.
"I still don't follow." I sobbed, I wanted to go home, go cry into a tub of ice cream and mourn everything I seemed to have lost.
~Break~
We never really got to talk all that much more about what had happened because the bell had rung the very moment I asked. Kurama had issued an apology and helped me up with a sudden tenderness that contrasted so starkly from the Kurama he had shown me previously.
It was clear whatever happened used up a lot of spirit energy, or so Kurama explained as he helped me to class. Apparently I had started to draw on his spirit energy when I found myself without any. It was almost instinctual; the minute we had connected my body started to use his reserves so I didn't die from the phenomena that had just occurred.
It was kind of handy actually, to bad it did nothing for the wounds I received from his anger. Or help me with the pop quiz we were met with in class.
I was nursing a nasty bruise on my back from hitting the door, and Kurama was spending the class ignoring me with a very grim look on his face. He wasn't pleased and I could tell he felt guilty for hurting me. Every time I winced he would purse his lips and sit straight like a board.
I felt bad, I mean, I know it wasn't my fault, but I still felt...responsible. If only I had chosen any other school.
'Go to a private school' they said 'It will enrich your life! Broaden your horizons…'
Ugh.
I turned to look at him and he was staring at me. His eyes held such an intensity I felt like squirming. He slipped a note and turned back to the teacher. I couldn't help but notice how much older he looked now that I had finally relented that he was indeed Kurama.
I mean, yeah he was young, but the way he held himself…how could I have not realized who he was sooner.
Unfolding the note I tried to discreetly read it. I'm not sure if the Teacher noticed or didn't care, but my hands were so shaky it was a wonder no one called me on it at all.
'Meet me after school'
This wasn't going to end well.
~Break~
He met me just outside the gates and suggested we head to his place since his mother was still at work for a few more hours. I agreed, if only to not further piss off the plant master. I was starting to feel a little better finally, after spending the day lethargic and dozing in class. I imagined it was because of the energy I had 'stolen' from Kurama throughout the day.
He didn't live too far from the school; it was clear he lived in a nice neighborhood. I mean, don't get me wrong, I lived in a nice place as well, but Kurama lived in a neighborhood of houses while I lived further downtown in a condo.
I could feel he was on edge. I don't think he trusted me all that well, not that I blamed him. The whole thing seemed insane and impossible. If I were him I'd have blamed me thoroughly. I'm pretty sure the only reason I wasn't dead was because we didn't know if it meant his untimely end as well.
Which...wasn't a good thing. As far as I remembered Kurama was an integral part of the team, and without him, Yusuke would have died long before they could subdue all the big baddies.
Shit, I could literally mean the end to this world. Great.
As we approached his house, I couldn't help but wonder what it would have been like to visit his home in any other circumstance.
Would it have been on a happier note? Would we have been doing homework together, elbow to elbow? Would I have blushed with a juvenile crush? Would we have been friends? Classmates?
He unlocked his front door and invited me in, a perfect gentleman. I took my shoes off and donned the visitor slippers and waited awkwardly as he led me up the stairs and into his room. His home wasn't large, clearly a start up home his parents must have bought together long ago. It had 3 bedrooms located on the top floor. All I could see of the first floor was a decently sized living room leading into what looked to be a kitchen merged with a dining area.
His room however was located furthest from the landing.
It was simple, clean, and not at all what I pictured.
I don't really know what I pictured, but I expected more plants, not a plain full-sized bed with blue blankets with 2 matching pillows perched perfectly at the top of the bed, a simple computer and books on a computer desk, and a picture of him with his mother that looked recent. A long dresser was against the far wall and he had what looked to be a small closet that was closed and had an extra school shirt hanging from the knob.
"I would appreciate your attention considering the current state of affairs." He sighed trying not to sound as annoyed as he was. He was being gentle with me now, I couldn't help the bitter feeling at the thought that this was all because of the circumstances and not because he gave two shits about me.
It kind of sucked knowing you were a burden and not a choice.
"Sorry, I space easily." My lips tilted slightly as I gave a shrug.
"I never noticed." was that a joke? Maybe there was a chance yet?
"So... you wanted to talk?" that got his look to change to a more serious one. He motioned for me to sit down and I took a seat on his computer chair, feeling his bed was a touch too intimate for 'Classmates who just got their souls connected to each other forever'.
"Yes, this is concerning...I don't know if you can feel it but our souls are now on the same wavelength. I can feel your...existence with startling clarity." He made a flourish with his hands as he tried to explain it as delicately as he could.
I was probably a pretty loud existence.
Huh, that must have been that weird buzzing I felt in my gut.
"Why or how I have no idea, it's never happened before." he finished with a sigh. He had sat down on his bed as he stared intently at me. His fingers clasped together in thought under his chin and he regarded me coolly for a moment.
He was still in his school uniform, perfectly pressed. Why was he always so put together? My hair was a mess, my skin coated with dried sweat, I felt cold and hot all at the same time.
It was entirely unfair.
"What does this mean?" I decided to get through this so I could go home, vomit, and then go to bed. A change from my 'Crying into a tub of icecream' plan, but still a good one.
"Honestly? I have no idea, it could mean nothing, it could mean our lives are linked, it could mean we will feel what the other feels." He elaborated. He spread his hands out and gave me a small smile, an encouraging smile.
"I... hope not." I gulped knowing what his future held. I really didn't want to feel what he felt, and I really REALLY didn't want to be his liability.
"Your spirit energy is also growing at an alarming rate from being near me, it must have been happening all along but accelerated at our proximity." He motioned for me to sit down in his computer chair. There was something he wasn't telling me, but I didn't have the energy to argue.
I took a moment to sit back against the chair exhausted, trying not to slump too hard into the chair.
"That...makes sense, I mean, I've been zapping your spirit energy all day… but... what now?" it didn't actually make sense, I remember almost nothing from the anime, except a basic plot outline, I literally had zero idea what he was talking about. I didn't even understand what spirit energy was, technically I wasn't even from this world. I suddenly felt so frustrated by the missing pieces.
I had all the makings of a terrible fanfiction.
Fantastic.
"Now...I need to tell you about demons." He sat up straight and looked just as uncomfortable as I felt.
He was 100% serious.
Fuck me.
Why couldn't I have been reincarnated into Harry Potter post-war?
~Break~
He had just finished explaining that he was Kurama, previously thief extraordinaire, and that demons were drawn to humans with spirit energy. It had been an hour long explanation because I kept asking questions and being a complete and utter useless mess.
I remember thinking I was dead, so dead. Ok not dead, there was a good chance that if I died Kurama would as well, so this became our little secret. The first of many.
I felt awful, he was forced to be my demon bodyguard. It felt wrong to solely depend on him. So I had urged he teach me how to use my energy.
~Break~
"Wait, you guys were linked this whole time?" Kuwabara uttered out confused.
"Shut up you idiot, we are trying to listen!" Yusuke shouted back as someone smacked Kuwabara upside the head.
"If I can continue?" I spat out bristling as I eyed my audience daring them to interrupt again.
~Chapter 1 End~
Author's Notes: And that's the end! Please read and review and give suggestions, guesses, or whatever. I really don't care what you write, just express yourselves and have fun. I'll try to respond to any and all reviews.
I hope you enjoyed this. I have no update schedule at this time. I have a daughter who is more than demanding so I tend to write when she's napping or down for the night. On occasional days my Partner takes her so I can spend a few hours writing (Its amazing, bless him as he works during the day at home)
Once I am back at work I will have some free time during the day so it may become more consistent. I am hoping the 2 chapters I have already written help keep me consistent since my writing schedule is so erratic.
Much love everyone.