I do NOT own Yu Yu Hakusho because if I did I'm pretty sure the characters wouldn't like the kinds of things that I might have them do. Alrighty enjoy!
Would God Still Love Me?
Chapter One
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Katagi Shugorei was walking home after a tough day of school and he couldn't wait to get home and take a nap. The way he was walking took longer to get to his apartment, but he found it necessary to do so, and he really didn't mind walking all that much.
"Ugh, now I just have to think of what I should make for dinner, not that I ever have to make anything big. *Sigh* I'll probably just make ramen...again," he mumbled to himself as he went along his way.
Katagi seemed to be just a normal 15 year old kid. He was kinda short for someone his age, around 5'6 and as he walked a long braid swung gently behind him. His hair went all the way passed his butt and it shone a reddish gold color in the sunlight. It contrasted wonderfully to his fair milky skin. The only thing anyone could say was odd about him was his eyes. His right one was a silver blue and his left one was a brilliant violet.
Since he was very young Katagi had been an orphan. Up until a year ago he had lived in the Ainokesshou Orphanage run by a reverend and nuns. He now lived on his own in an apartment. Why? Well, the orphanage sorta...kicked him out you could say.
Well, not really, but getting rid of him was the objective so they put him in a special program that got him his own place and paid for his school tuition until he was eighteen, then they would drop him like a newborn giraffe.
Now, why would an orphanage be so desperate to get him out of there you might ask? Because at some points when Katagi was growing up some...abnormal, things happened to him. They only usually happened when Katagi was seriously angry.
They were small things, but noticeable. His fingernails would grow a bit and his ears seemed to point at the ends. Also his canines would become pointer and lengthen just a tad. Now this would be bad news for anyone really, but for Katagi it was much much worse. Since the orphanage was very much devoted to God these changes condemned Katagi in the eyes of everyone as something unnatural.
His life at the orphanage was made miserable because of these occurrences, but Katagi refused to let that keep him down. He strived to live a good life and abide by the laws of the Lord and try to prove to the people at the orphanage he was normal. Though he admitted to himself he probably would have given up ages ago if he didn't have support from his one and only friend from the orphanage, a nun named Sister Minbou.
She had been the only one there for him through those hard years and tried every way she could to help and protect him from the others. The only reason he had been hesitant about leaving was because he would also be away from her. As a memento she had given him a necklace with a silver cross on it that had sapphires embedded in it and he wore it all the time.
Other than being without her, Katagi's life was pleasant now that he was living on his own away from all the misplaced hatred towards him. He attended Sarayashiki junior high school where people seemed to accept him. He was kind of shy and quiet so no one really noticed him much, but he was okie with that. Most thought he was a nice guy and since no one knew about the strange happenings of his childhood he was left alone and wasn't the target of teasing or harassment. Yep, even though his life was rocky at some points in the beginning he liked it just the way it was now.
"Hey, where do you think your going?" A voice called out behind him. He turned around and behind him were three thugs from Kasanegafuchi junior high school *Oh no, not them again. How did they find my new route home?* Katagi thought as panic started to creep up on him.
"What do you guys want?" He asked and immediately gave himself a mental slap. He knew exactly what they wanted.
"We want to finish our little game," the guy who looked like the leader said taking a few steps closer to Katagi. "We never did get to finish it," a smirk slipped onto his lips that made Katagi's insides churn. One of the other guys came up beside the leader.
"Yeah and the boss ALWAYS finishes what he's started," Katagi gulped and took a few steps back.
"Well, sorry, but that's one game I am NOT going to finish," Katagi stated trying to keep his voice from wavering, but doing a poor job of it. The other goon now stepped up with the other two and pulled out a switchblade.
"Well, that's not really your choice now is it?" He sneered and licked the side of his blade.
"I don't know how you got away last time, but you aren't going anywhere now," the leader said, starting to advance on Katagi. Katagi took more steps back and looked around for anything that could help him. But there was nothing so he did the first thing that popped into his head.
"Uh um BEAR!!!" He shouted pointing behind the guys. They turned around and looked, but saw nothing.
"What the hell are you talking about? There's no bear," goon #1 said as they turned back.
"WHAT THE HELL!!!" All three of them yelled as they saw that now there was also nothing in front of them.
"There he goes!" Goon#2 exclaimed as he saw Katagi far down the path.
"After him! Don't let him get away!" The leader ordered and they all took off after him.
Katagi was running as fast as he could and blessed his luck that those guys were as stupid as they looked *Shaman King you are now at the top of my favorite list, and they say T.V. never teaches you anything,* he thought as he ran, but he could hear the thugs behind him in hot pursuit. He wished that he could go unnaturally fast like sometimes he did in his childhood at odd moments, but his speed stayed the same so he focused on just running and trying not to trip. There was no way Katagi was going to let them catch him and finish their "game". It sent a shiver up his spine just thinking about it as he ran.
**FLASHBACK 2 WEEKS AGO**
Katagi was walking home through the park he usually went through. Not only was it a short cut, but it was a lovely place. As he went along three guys suddenly appeared in front of him.
"Hello there," the leader greeted him in a deadly sweet voice. Katagi stopped and just stared at them prepared to give them anything they wanted. He may have had very little money to buy what he needed to live, but he wasn't going to be stupid enough to try to keep it. He cursed his luck that no one was around.
"Can I help you?" Katagi asked in a steady voice or what he would like to think was a steady voice.
"Yeah you can help us by giving us all your money," Goon #1 said. Katagi quickly took out his wallet and got out his money and held it out to them. The leader came up to him and took it and looked through to see how much was there.
"Can I get by now?" Katagi inquired, trying to keep his voice firm, but not enough so to make them think he was being uppity and rude, which might set them off. The leader put the money in his pocket and looked at Katagi then suddenly started looking over his body with what looked like a predatory gaze. That made Katagi nervous and he took a step back.
"What?" The leader grabbed Katagi's chin so he couldn't step back further. Katagi immediately tried to struggle out of his grip, but the jerk was at least two times his size and a lot stronger then him. "What are you doing!?" Katagi was starting to panic.
"Man, for a guy you sure are a looker," the leader said examining Katagi's face. That made Katagi stop and a cold sweat start to form onto his skin. He didn't like where this was going, not one bit. "Don't you agree boys?" He asked his cronies looking over at them. Goon #2 came up to them for a closer look.
"Yeah, I guess he is, for a guy," Goon #1 started doing a creepy chuckle.
"Actually, if it wasn't for the guy school uniform I would have thought he was a girl," the leader laughed and looked back at Katagi and leered at him. Katagi started to struggle again.
"Let me go! I gave you what you wanted!"
"Now we want something else from you. We're going to play a little game. Are you going to play with us willingly or are you going to make us force you?" As he asked this he used his free hand and brushed it gently against Katagi's neck and played with a strand of hair that had gotten loose from his braid. Katagi shuddered in disgust and tried harder to get away. He had been prepared to give them anything they wanted, but that? That was absolutely out of the question.
"No, let me go! What you are suggesting is blasphemy and I will not par take in it!" Goon #2 made a sound like a buzzer.
"Eeee wrong answer kid," before Katagi could even blink the leader let him go then delivered a hard punch to his stomach that made Katagi double over in pain, then Goon #1 kicked him in his side causing him to fall to the ground and gasp for breath.
"Hurry, drag him over to the side. We don't want anyone to come down the path and see our play time," the leader sneered.
"Right boss," both the goons chirped, and they each grabbed one of Katagi's wrists and started to drag him off the path. Katagi flailed and kicked trying to free himself.
"No! Stop it! Let me go!" He cried out, now going well beyond panic and heading into the zone of hysteria. The leader looked around then straightened his hair back and smirked, following after his cronies. The goons dragged Katagi into the bushes and found a clear spot.
"Okie now hold his arms down," the leader ordered. The goons got down to their knees and pinned Katagi's arms above his head.
"Stop it! Leave me alone please!" Katagi pleaded desperately. His mind started to reel at the events that had happened so suddenly, and about what was going to happen to him. The leader looked down at Katagi hungrily then got down and started to crawl over his body. When he got to face level he put his mouth next to Katagi's ear.
"Shh quiet now. It will be a lot more fun if you stop struggling. I promise," he purred into his ear then let his tongue start to map out the grooves of it. Katagi shuddered in revolt and started to struggle violently as tears started to prick at his eyes.
"NO STOP!!!" Katagi practically screeched. The goons snickered and the leader just pushed his body down more firmly on top of Katagi's struggling one. To Katagi's horror he could feel just how excited the leader was, and struggling seemed to make him even more excited. Tears started to go down Katagi's face and the leader lapped them up with long lazy strokes of his tongue.
"Oh well, sometimes it's better when their feisty," the goons howled with laughter at that. The leader started tugging at Katagi's uniform, and he pulled so hard the buttons popped off and the fabric tore.
"No, please don't do this, please!" Katagi begged starting to tire from struggling so hard.
"But you're so warm and inviting," the leader cooed as he slipped his hand into his torn shirt and started to explore Katagi's chest. Suddenly Katagi started to feel something weird build up in his body and grow stronger with Katagi's panic. The leader started to let his hand roam farther south and whatever it was in Katagi overloaded.
"STOP IT!!!" He screamed and all three guys were thrown backward by some unseen force. Katagi wasted no time thinking over what had happened and he got up and ran, stepping on the leader as he went and he ran all the way home.
**END FLASHBACK**
Katagi could feel tears coming to his eyes as that memory washed over him. When he had gotten home he must have taken at least 100 showers, even when the hot water ran out and it turned freezing. He had felt so dirty and violated and he had horrible nightmares almost every night afterward. Then there was the fact of HOW he had gotten away. He didn't want to think about if he had been the one to make them fly back because it would just prove further that he wasn't normal. If he wasn't normal and was something unnatural he could never get into heaven because he would be some kind of Satan spawn or something as some kids called him in the orphanage.
He tried to nail into his head that maybe he had found some strength and thrown them all off and it just seemed like they flew back on their own. He also noticed that when he got home his nails, ears, and teeth grew again.
He didn't want to, but he forced himself to go to school the next day. He hadn't told anyone what had happened and pretended everything was all right. He found that new route home because no one used it anymore and people barely knew about it. He realized how stupid that was now. He didn't think about if they did find him. There would be absolutely no chance of someone coming to help him.
He could hear the thugs getting closer and he urged his legs to go faster, luckily he had always liked running and walking so he was in pretty good shape.
*Just one more block, one more, then they won't dare go into Urameshi's territory,* he thought frantically. Yusuke Urameshi was the toughest kid in his school and Katagi was lucky enough to live in his territory so he was pretty much safe from people from other schools.
His legs felt like they were about to give out, but there was no way he was going to stop. He was amazed that those guys weren't exhausted and hadn't given up by now. Katagi passed the one block mark, but the guys were still going after him. *Man, don't these guys give up? I can't run home because then they'll know where I live. My only chance is to lead them somewhere where guys from my school hang out,* he thought of a café place a few blocks away from his apartment that the guys from his school had claimed was theirs.
If he could get there he would be safe and hopefully they would teach those guys a lesson for coming into their place and picking on someone from their school. Normally Katagi hated violence on anyone, but he was prepared to make an exception for these creeps.
He changed the direction he was going and started running in the direction of the café. To his dismay the thugs were getting closer and closer. Why the one time he needed and wanted that weird speed did it not work? He saw that he was almost to the café and he started using his last bit of strength and pushed himself faster. *Just around the corner and I'll be safe* he kept repeating to himself. He got to the corner and rounded it, but he hit something, hard, and fell to the ground and heard an "Oof," from whatever he ran into.
*No I was so close!* he wailed to himself then his eyes widened when he realized just what he had run into. Also sitting on his butt from the collision and staring back at him was none other then Yusuke Urameshi! And standing behind him was his friend Kazuma Kuwabara, the second toughest in his school, and two guys he didn't know. One was short with black hair that he couldn't even guess how it was able to stand straight up like it did with a white star burst in it. He had intense red eyes and he was wearing a white head band and some weird black dress or long coat type thing. The second guy was probably taller then Katagi was and he had blood red hair and magnificent bright green eyes.
"Ow man that hurt," Yusuke said rubbing his head.
"Where you running to in such a hurry kid?" Kuwabara asked with a confused look on his face. Absolute relief washed over Katagi.
"I *huff huff* thugs *huff*," Katagi was having a difficult time just breathing from pushing himself so hard let alone able to talk. The guys just looked at him with questioning looks then to Katagi's horror he heard.
"We got you now you little bastard!" The creeps were almost right on him! Katagi tried desperately to scramble away, but the leader practically jumped on him and planted his foot right on Katagi's back forcing him back down and smacking his chin into the sidewalk. Katagi could taste the metallic tang of blood as his teeth bit into his cheek. It filled his mouth and squeezed its way out of the sides of his lips.
"You *huff* ain't getting away this time, pretty boy," goon #1 said as him and the other caught up. In Katagi's panic he was able to find his voice.
"No get off me! Stop it!" He cried out in pure terror.
"HEY!" Yusuke jumped to his feet and smashed his fist into the side of the leaders face. He stumbled back and off of Katagi, but his goons caught him before he fell. Yusuke placed himself in between Katagi and the thugs. "What the hell do you think your doing!?" The thugs looked up to see who had done that then their eyes widened in terror.
"YUSUKE URAMESHI!?!?!?" Kuwabara then stepped in next to Yusuke.
"Can't believe you guys would be stupid enough to come into our territory," he said to them.
"And trying to beat up one of our own people in our territory is way beyond stupid," Yusuke sneered giving a very intimidating look. The thugs looked around and just seemed to realize where they were.
"I told you that kid wasn't worth all the trouble, boss," goon #2 whispered.
"Shut up!!!" The leader snapped then put on his best business face. "We just have some unfinished business with him, and then we'll leave."
"What'd he do to you?" Kuwabara asked.
"Well, that doesn't concern you," the leader retorted. Yusuke started to laugh and when it died down into a chuckle he said.
"Making demands from us isn't going to help your situation."
Katagi slowly got into a sitting position; he was so tired, and was trying to get his mouth to stop bleeding and he spit the blood out close to the manholes in the sidewalk. The red headed guy came over to him as Yusuke, Kuwabara, and the thugs continued to talk. He crouched down next to him and touched his shoulder. Surprised, Katagi recoiled from the touch and he looked up to see those incredible green eyes.
"Sorry, here," the red head said with an apologetic smile and handed him a handkerchief. Katagi smiled and took it from him.
"Thank you," he said and pressed it to his mouth to soak up the blood. Then the black haired guy came over to them.
"This is pointless," he said to himself, then said to Yusuke. "Yusuke, just take care of them already," Yusuke looked over his shoulder at him.
"Alright hold your horses; we'll be done soon," taking this as his chance the leader rushed at Yusuke and tried to punch him. Yusuke dodged easily and uppercut him. Then soon all five were fighting.
In less then six minutes the thugs were barely recognizable and Yusuke and Kuwabara barely had a scratch. The three started to run away when the leader turned around and pointed at Katagi.
"This isn't over punk! We'll get you when you least expect it! I always finish what I start!" Yusuke punched his fist into his other hand.
"And I suggest you start running," he threatened taking a step forward. One could barely tell, but the leader paled and started running after his goons that hadn't stopped.
"Ha, nothing but cowards," Kuwabara scoffed. Him and Yusuke gave each other high-fives then walked over to the others. Yusuke looked down at Katagi.
"Hey, you okie kid?" Yusuke asked.
"Yeah, I think so, I just bit into my cheek," he answered spitting some more blood out toward the manhole.
"Here lemme help you up," Yusuke held out his hand and Katagi took it. Yusuke pulled him to his feet, but Katagi was still tired from all the running and stumbled. The red head quickly grabbed his shoulders and steadied him. Katagi thanked him again.
"Hey," Kuwabara said suddenly, "You're in some of our classes at school aren't you?" Katagi nodded.
"Yeah, your name is Kotachi right?" Yusuke asked. Katagi let out a weak laugh causing more blood to spill out his mouth. He quickly pressed the handkerchief to his mouth then said.
"No *cough* it's Katagi."
"Oh, right, sorry," Yusuke apologized rubbing the back of his head with a sheepish smile.
"It's okie," Katagi assured him. "After saving me you can call me anything you want," Yusuke laughed.
"Nah Katagi's good. You probably don't know our other friends, this here is Hiei," Katagi turned his attention to the short one with the impossible spiky hair.
"Nice to meet you," he said politely making a small bow, but Hiei just turned his head and made an "hn" sound. Katagi raise a confused eyebrow.
"Aw don't worry about the shrimp, he's like that to everyone," Kuwabara said hitting Hiei on the back.
"Touch me again, baka, and you'll be just as tall as I am," Hiei threatened and when his coat thing moved Katagi could see a hidden katana at the guy's waist. *Whoa, note to self: don't piss him off,* then his attention was brought to the red headed guy as he held out his hand.
"And my name is Shuichi Minamino, nice to meet you," Katagi smiled and shook his hand.
"Same here," Katagi couldn't help but noticed his heart sped up as he shook Shuichi's hand.
"Why were those guys after you anyways?" Asked Kuwabara. Katagi looked down at the ground and he could feel his face start to heat up in shame. What was he going to tell them? He was too embarrassed about the truth and he hated lying.
"Uh...do guys like that really need a reason?" He finally said, not making eye contact.
"Pfft no. Damn punks picking fights with anyone from our school," Yusuke huffed and Kuwabara nodded in agreement. Katagi didn't think Hiei or Shuichi bought it, but they didn't say anything.
"Do you live around here?" Shuichi then asked Katagi.
"Yeah a few blocks away from here," he pointed in the direction of his apartment building. "I couldn't go back to my apartment cause then they would have known where I lived so I lead them this way to the hangout our school goes to," Yusuke laughed and slung his arm over Katagi's shoulder.
"That was smart thinking, you're lucky you ran into us, literally," the weight of Yusuke's arm was a little much for Katagi's tired body, but he bared it.
"Yeah you're telling me,"
"Why don't we walk you home? We were heading that way anyways," Shuichi offered. Hiei grunted in annoyance.
"Liar, we were going the other way," he muttered. Katagi didn't want to be a problem to his saviors.
"No, that's okie. You guys already helped me out enough; I don't want to be a bother."
"We don't mind we'll do it anyways," Kuwabara insisted.
"Yes, and anyways I offered" Shuichi added. Katagi bit his bottom lip and looked the way the thugs had gone. He couldn't be sure if they could be somewhere waiting for the guys to leave. Probably wouldn't be a bad idea to have a few bodyguards around.
"Alright, I guess if you're sure," he answered.
"Sure we're sure. Let's go," said Yusuke and they headed off toward Katagi's home.
On the way back to his apartment Katagi was glad they went with him since every so often he would stumble from exhaustion. Then his head kept feeling funny as if something beside his brain was in there. Finally, after a time Katagi thought was too long, they arrived at his apartment building.
"Here we are," he announced. Yusuke let out a whistle.
"Pretty nice place."
"Thanks, it works for me," the orphanage may not have liked him, but they weren't about to let people think they would put one of their charges in a dump, wouldn't reflect highly on them. Katagi lead them to the stairs and they were about to go up when they heard shouting.
"Muffy! Muffy get back here this instant!" It sounded like an old woman's voice. Katagi covered his eyes with his hand and shook his head letting out an amused chuckle.
"Not again."
"Huh, not again what?" Kuwabara asked with a confused look.
"You'll see, you guys might want to back up," he answered. They did what he asked and Katagi put down his book bag, (Yes he's had one the whole time I just, uh, didn't mention it) and braced himself at the bottom of the stairs.
"Muffy, no don't go near the stairs!" The voice yelled and no sooner had she a white fluff ball came jumping from the top step. Katagi quickly went up the stairs and caught it before it was able to land and hurt itself. "Oh no, MUFFY!"
"It's alright, Mrs. Saiyaki, I got him!" Katagi called up the stairs. In his arms was a yapping white terrier trying to smother Katagi with licks.
"Katagi, is that you? Oh thank goodness," the voice said from the top of the stairs. Katagi retrieved his book bag and motioned the guys to follow him. All of them with odd looks on their faces.
They went to the top of the stairs and waiting there was an old woman about the size of Hiei in a pink robe with very thick glasses and grey hair pulled back into a tight bun.
"Oh, Katagi, thank you so much, what would I ever do without you?" the old woman exclaimed in delight, taking Muffy from Katagi's arms.
"It's no problem Mrs. Saiyaki," Katagi said wiping the slobber off his cheek.
"Oh, Deary, you're bleeding," she said seeing some blood drip from Katagi's mouth. Katagi quickly wiped it away.
"Oh, it's nothing to worry about, I just fell and bit my cheek," more like he was slammed down, but it wasn't really a lie.
"Oh alright, who are your friends?" She asked seeing the guys behind him. Katagi made introductions between them and the old woman. "It's nice to see you're finally bringing some friends over, I worry you're lonely sometimes. Well, I better go put Muffy inside, as a thank you next time I make cookies I'll make a batch just for you. Chocolate chip right?"
"Yes, that sounds great, Mrs. Saiyaki, see you later."
"Good-bye Dearies," she said then she went into her apartment that was right next to Katagi's.
"She seems nice," Yusuke said after she left.
"Yeah, she's my next door neighbor and she's really quite sweet. Well, thanks for helping me home."
"No prob, anytime," said Kuwabara. Katagi took Shuichi's handkerchief from his pocket intending to give it back, but it was drenched in blood.
"Uh...hehe I think I'll wash this then give it back to you some other time."
"That's fine," Shuichi said giving him a smile that seemed to make Katagi's knees weaker then they already were for some weird reason. Katagi took out his key and unlocked his door.
"Guess I'll see you guys around," they waved good-bye to him, except Hiei, and he went inside. As they were going down the stairs Shuichi had a serious thoughtful look on his face.
"Hey, Kurama, what's up?" Yusuke asked noticing his expression.
"I don't think those guys were chasing him because they wanted to beat him up," Yusuke and Kuwabara stopped.
"What do you mean?" Asked Kuwabara. Kurama didn't answer for a moment.
"I don't know. It's just a feeling."
"Beating him up was far from their minds," Hiei suddenly said.
"How do you know that?" both Yusuke and Kuwabara asked.
"I was going through Katagi's mind as we were walking here."
"Hiei, that's not very polite," Kurama said disapprovingly. Hiei just shrugged.
"I was bored."
"So what did they want?" Yusuke asked as him and Kuwabara got in front of him. Hiei just walked right by them, pushing them out of the way.
"They were trying to rape him," Yusuke, Kurama, and Kuwabara's mouths fell open and they just stood there, looking at Hiei's retreating back.
==========================Ch.1 end