Disclaimer: I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho, or any of its characters. If I did, I wouldn't have to buy the DVDs every month, would I?

Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust

By

Relick

Yuusuke lay facedown in a pool of his own blood. He had never minded the smell or the taste of it before. But this time it sickened him, nauseated him. I can't die… not yet… Using what little strength he had left, Yuusuke lifted his head to look upon his executioner.

Before him stood a tall young demon, clad in worn leather armor, and long silver hair tied up loosely into a ponytail. He held in one hand, a whip of thorns, in the other a sword of pure energy.

"Prepare to join the others, Urameshi. It's over." With these words, the demon empowered his aura, colored in a deep shade of violet. "Admit your defeat, and I'll finish you off quickly." He began to walk toward where Yuusuke was collapsed. "Well? What do you say?"

Yuusuke uttered something inaudible.

"What was that? I didn't quite hear you." The demon said mockingly as he knelt down next to Yuusuke's battered and broken body.

"I said…that I'm not…gonna die…unless you're coming with me!" With that, Yuusuke leaped to his feet, and readied his trusty reigun. However, he didn't have the energy to fire it, let alone stay on his feet, and fell back to the arena floor. Kuso…how can I fight him if I can barely move?

He had come so far. They all had. But now, all their hard work would have been in vain. The blood they shed. The tears they wept. It all would've been for nothing.

Yuusuke closed his eyes and thought back. Why am I here? The answer was simple. Botan…it all started with Botan…

Hey everyone! Relick-chan is finally back with a new fic! It's been awhile, and I had lost most interest in Yu-Gi-Oh by the time I wanted to write again. So, unable to write new chapters to the stories I started, I decided to write something entirely new! HUZZAH! Yay for Re-chan!

Although that's not entirely true…

I actually had this story planned a LOOOOOOONG time ago, around when I first got into Yu Yu Hakusho. I just never got around to writing it. And I was having trouble with the beginning. I had all the exciting parts planned, the plot twists, the ending…I just didn't have any idea why the reikai tantei were even participating in this tournament…Bad planning on my part.

I know this chapter's a bit short (okay, VERY short) but once I get into it, it'll get better! Leave a review on the way out and you get a present from my magic bag of tricks! Just no flames please. Those will be thrown to Hiei-chan's Ensatsu Kokuryu-ha technique. You don't want that blasted at you. It'd hurt…

Ja ne for now, minna-san!