Chapter 1

Reminiscences

Corey yawned quietly and stretched upwards towards the red sky. The young man, age nineteen, was wearing a brown t-shirt, blue jeans, tennis shoes, and a pair of black leather gloves with the fingers cut out. His short brown hair was spiked up, and he looked out towards the horizon with hazel eyes. He was the youngest general and the leader of the Rebel Army, and he was up in a nearby tree branch, resting. He was lost in his thought as he stared outwards.

Six months…where has the time gone? He thought to himself as he watched the sun go down over the horizon. He smiled lightly, So much has happened… Corey closed his eyes as he began look back at the last half of the year…

******

"No, dammit, I refuse!" Corey yelled, turning away from Liz and John.

"Corey! It's been over a month and there is no sign of Derek or anything!" John protested. It had been 5 weeks since Derek and Corey's assault on Lee's Tower…and since Derek's disappearance. The three of them were all in Liz's bedroom, where the baby now resided, who was sleeping blissfully at the moment.

Corey had returned to the Rebel Base, injured and with no energy left. He didn't utter a word to anyone. It took him three days to talk to Liz and John about what had happened… about the evil he had seen in Derek…and how both he and Lee disappeared.

Soon after that Corey was given control of the entire Rebel Army. The troops welcomed him warmly, but Corey didn't know what to do at this point. He still had to take in the death of Jade and the possibility of death of Derek…although he refused to admit it. There was also young Cory Maison, son of Derek and Jade. He was parentless now. Corey and Liz were given the position of his godparents when Jade first had him, leaving them the responsibility of raising the child. They both were happy to do it, but they hadn't expected to have too.

"Come on, Corey…he's gone. We all have to accept that!" Liz said, tears forming in her eyes, "Even if we don't want too…"

"We never found his body! He might be able to come back! Look at me! I did!" Corey protested.

"He would have come back if he was alive…" John said, trying to reason with the young man, "…and we can't ask Koenma, seeing as we can't get in touch with Spirit World, thanks to Darkine's soldiers."

Corey frowned and turned away from his two friends. He didn't want to hear it, but he knew that they had to do something. The soldiers and residents of the Rebel Base all wanted to know what happened to Derek. Corey, Liz nor John had said anything on the matter, only that Corey was now in charge and Derek was gone.

"Fine…" Corey said, admitting defeat, "We'll make the announcement at dinner…Derek's memorial will be held in five days…"

******

The news of Derek's death did not come to much of a surprise to the Rebel Base, although that didn't make the matter any easier. All of them knew of the prophecy: "Only a Kartana and a Maison can defeat the Darkine", and with Derek gone…well, it didn't leave much hope.

Corey himself made the announcement, although he didn't want to do it. Liz and John had both decided it would be for the best if their new leader did it. He left shortly afterwards, leaving Liz and John to answer any questions. He couldn't stay in that place. He had to get out of the base and get some air.

The Rebel Army now resided on top of a large hill. If Darkine attacked, they'd have the advantage over him. It was large enough to keep all five of the Mobile Fortresses on top of it. What was really nice about the area was that it had a small patch of forestry, giving Corey a nice spot to hang out.

The young man walked past the large fortresses and up towards the patch of woods, and closed his eyes as he sat underneath a tree.

I'm sorry, Derek…I failed both you and Jade. What the hell kind of hero does that make me? The thoughts of his two best friends being killed were tearing Corey apart internally. He had trouble sleeping at night…and then there was the baby.

Little Cory had no idea that either of his parents were dead, and it left Liz and Corey parenting the boy. He felt terrible for him, and once again the sense of guilt for his parents death weaved its way back into Corey's soul.

He sighed lightly, "Sorry, kid…I'll do my best…to raise you like your dad would…"

******

The memorial service was held as scheduled. It was similar to Jade's funeral, and a plaque was placed with his name on it next to one with Jade's, and at the top of both of them read "In Loving Memory of Two Brave Warriors".

As with Jade's, the people of the base all let a flower fly into the wind in Derek's remembrance. Even little Cory, who was carried in Liz's arms, let go of a flower, giggling as it flew off. Corey was the last to let his go, and sighed quietly as it floated away.

"Good-bye, Derek…I guess it's for real this time." Corey said, smiling lightly. Liz walked up to him and smiled, holding out a gurgling baby towards him.

Corey laughed. "What do you want, kiddo?" He took the child from Liz and held him, then blinked, "Hold on…" and Corey's eyes suddenly widened.

Liz blinked. "What is it, Corey?"

"'A Kartana and a Maison…Liz! What if… what if Cory was…" He looked down at the smiling baby boy, and Liz quickly caught on.

"Cory Maison…'A Kartana and a Maison…' Oh my God! You don't really think that Cory is…?" she asked, looking towards her friend.

Corey lightly shook his head. "I have no idea…but with Derek gone…it would make sense, right?"

"But Corey…he's just a baby!" Liz said, clearly worried about the whole idea, "Are you seriously planning on using him in battle??"

"Of course not…I don't want to, but I mean…what if it is our only choice?" He looked down at the child again, who was curling up against him, which made the young man smile, "He is Derek and Jade's son…and they were two of the strongest demons around. If he's got their genes…then he will be a powerful warrior, but I'd wait until he was old enough."

"And how old is that, Corey?"

Corey sighed. "I don't know…Derek and I started Demon Slaying together when I was fourteen…but I don't want to put Cory against Darkine at such a young age…" He sighed again and handed the now sleeping baby back to Liz.

"This world is completely screwed up, Liz…it doesn't care that a child has to fight to help its survival…" He closed his eyes and rubbed his temples,

"But if it does come down to Cory and I fighting Darkine, I'll protect him with my life…and train him to Derek's and my level. I promise…he won't fall…"

******

A few more months passed, and life was peaceful. It seemed as though Darkine was taunting them with his power…at least that's what it seemed like to Corey. The others were all just enjoying the peace at the base. Even with the calm that had befallen the base, Corey never stopped training.

Every day, from 7am to 1pm, Corey was out extending his limits. Each day he got a little stronger, and he knew he would need every last ounce of strength to be able to defeat Darkine. The Spirit Cuffs, an old favorite of Corey's, had been on him for over three months. Liz and John both warned Corey that this might be hazardous to his health, but he didn't care. He needed strength to survive.

******

Corey opened his eyes to find that the sun had set. Still up in the tree, he hadn't even realized how late it had gotten. He smirked lightly and jumped down from atop of the tree.

Must have been really spacing… He thought to himself and walked back towards the base, Six months…and not a single attack on the base. What the hell does that mean? Has Darkine given up? No…he's really taunting us. Without Derek around, he thinks were useless… Corey stopped and closed his eyes, head down. A grin spread out on his lips.

"So, Darkine…you think I'm useless?! How's this for useless?!" He brought his hands up into the air, and swung them downward, unleashing his full Spiritual Energy.

Through out the entire area, through the base and probably to the closest colony, which was about 30 miles away, Corey's spiritual energy could be felt. The center of the energy, Corey, was so powerful that one without a strong enough power wouldn't even be able to approach him without getting injured. He stopped the flow of power and let out a sigh, his mind going back to when he first felt Darkine's power.

It's still not enough…I don't have the strength to beat Darkine yet…I'm almost up to Derek and Yusuke's levels, but neither of them could beat Darkine…

"Corey!!" Liz yelled, running outside with John at her side, "What's wrong? Why'd you unleash all that power?! Did someone attack you?" She asked, getting up next to him and checking him for injures.

Corey laughed. "No, no…just seeing how far I've gotten, and how I compare to Darkine."

John put his hand to his chin, rubbing it lightly. "And?"

"And…" Corey said, smiling lightly. He put his hands behind his head, "…I'm not even close!" He laughed, which worried Liz and John.

"I hardly find that funny, Corey." Liz frowned.

"Sorry," he said, smiling still, "But there's no reason to worry about it. What would that accomplish?" He scratched the back of his head and looked back to the base.

"You always amaze me, Corey…" John said, scratching the back of his neck.

Corey blinked and looked at him. "Why's that?"

"Because…you've only been here for a year, and you've earned the respect of everyone, and the strength of a leader." John smiled and patted Corey's shoulder, "I'm sure Derek would be proud of you."

Corey smiled lightly, "Thanks, John. I appreciate that." Corey looked over at Liz, "Where's the rugrat?"

Liz chuckled. "With Ellen. She's a wonderful babysitter. She's great with kids."

"Good to hear…well, let's get going then." Corey smiled and began to walk off, Liz and John following. Corey began to feel an attachment towards Cory Maison…as if he was his own son. With Derek and Jade gone, he was pretty much the boy's father, and would raise him like any other father would.

Not that I'm going to make you call me 'dad' or nothing…I'm gonna tell you your dad and mom's stories…and how we were Spirit Detectives…and life before this miserable world. Who knows, kiddo…you might be the one who changes all of it.