Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Yu Yu Hakusho nor do I own the original story line for the Anime. I do however own rights to my plot and my original characters.
Author's Note: Hello, everyone! So, this is the start of my Shuichi story. I also would like my readers to know that this is running in parallel to my White Balloons story staring Hiei and Kiyoko.
Remembrance
The little bell rang as the door swung closed. It was a slow day at the shop and the spring rain had kept most people away. The slight rumble of thunder sounded in the distance. Kurama sighed as he looked around the shop. There wasn't much to do. He had already changed the water in the flowers and clipped the dead leaves from the plants. He had swept and mopped the showroom floor. All that was left was to restock.
Looking at the clock he decided that two hours was more than enough to bring some seeds and soil in from next door. Grabbing a towel he wiped his hands and placed it back on the counter. He headed for the door and hesitated there for a moment. Should I lock it? Shaking his head he decided against it. It would just be more of a hassle if he locked it. After all, he was just running next door to grab a few things. It would be maybe two or three trips at the most.
Stepping outside there was a large gust of wind that blew the hanging plants that swung on the small awning. I suppose I should take these in as well. It seems that there's a large storm coming. Going back inside the shop Kurama grabbed a small step stool. The stool had once been a pure white but now was all dirty with smudges of potting soil.
Heading back outside Kurama placed the stool down on the cement sidewalk. Climbing up he reached for the hanging plants. They wiggled as he unhooked them form the support poles that allowed the awning to protrude from the building. The awnings were made of green and white cloth. Looking up at them for a few moments Kurama shrugged. He didn't mind the colors, though they weren't exactly what he wanted. They were shabby and it was time he got new ones. He had after all only cut off the part that dangled over the edge because it contained a provocative store name.
The person that owned the corner shop had actually used the space for selling 'adult entertainment'. The location was what attracted Kurama to it in the first place. The owner of the sleazy store was having a hard time staying afloat. So he had put up an apartment for rent above the bakery next door.
Kurama had seen the ad in the newspaper and thought it was a reasonable price. He admitted to himself that he had relied on the hope that they 'adult entertainment' store would go out of business and it had. When it did Kurama asked the owner if he would be interested in selling it to him for a portion of what he still owed to the bank. The owner agreed happy to be rid of the place. Now, Kurama didn't want to ask why the man's business wasn't doing so well but he man gave him the information anyway.
"It's that damned free porn on the internet!" he had exclaimed. "People don't want to pay for things they can get for free! The damned internet is going to ruin me!"
Kurama just kept silent as he helped the man carry boxes out to a moving truck he had rented. The man was on the short side and had a greasy head. As he carried the boxes to the truck Kurama was praying that he didn't drop the box to reveal the things inside.
Within a few days the previous owner was completely moved out…well sort of. Kurama had gone into the store front to clean up and in doing so he found quite a few things that he would rather not have seen.
Chuckling Kurama carried the plants inside. To this day, he was still somehow finding things that the previous owner had left behind.
He had remembered the day that his mother, stepfather, and younger stepbrother had come by to help arrange the new coolers that he had bought. They all had to be against walls so that they could have access to outlets. So, Kurama, his stepfather Kazuya Hatanaka, and his stepbrother Shuuichi Hatanaka had been pushing and pulling large tables and counters away from the wall when there was a thump and shuffling as if a stack of papers had fallen.
Hearing the noise his mother had moved in to investigate to see what had fell. Everyone had gathered around to see. There was an audible squeal of terror and embarrassment from his mother. To his dismay and discomfort it was a dirty magazine. His mother scrambled to pick up the magazine and Kazuya had grabbed his younger son and covered his eyes. Now, his step brother Shuuichi was sixteen and Kurama doubted that he has never seen a naked girl but all the same he wasn't sure if his parents were willing to accept that yet.
Looking to her eldest son, Shiori stared wide eyed at him. Kurama had put up his hands in defense, shaking his head and letting out a nervous chuckle. His mother looked back down at the cover of the magazine and started to laugh. She had known that the place had been rented as an adult entertainment store before this. She also knew that her son wouldn't keep something like this out in the open even if he did or didn't like looking at naked women every once and a while.
He placed the plants on the counter. It had been a good laugh for all of them except for Shuuichi who wasn't allowed to look. He smiled. It had been a while since he had seen his family. He decided he would call his mother once he closed the shop.
Again Kurama headed outside to go next door. The wind picked up even more and raindrops started to fall the same way they had been on and off all day. I should have listened to the weather this week; he thought has he pulled some keys out of his pocket. He fiddled with them as he walked about 5 meters to where the door to the storage and his apartment were attached to the same building as his flower shop.
It was a large amount of property for someone to own. He had saved while working at his stepfather's company for three years. After that he had moved out from his mother's house and started life on his own. He had rented the apartment and bought the shop on the corner so most of it was paid off. Trying to poke the key in the keyhole he was rushing to get inside. It figured that the more he rushed the longer it took for him to get inside the building. Finally, the key went in and he unlocked the door. Quickly he gave it a shove as the rain started to grow heavier.
Sighing he turned on the light. He looked to his right at the wall that connected the old bakery to his flower shop. "I should really put a door there," he thought as he looked at the back corner where he kept the extra potting soil and seeds. Walking around, he looked at the old bakery.
Over the last year it had accumulated so much dust from not being used. The previous owners were an adorable old couple. Every morning the old woman would give him a banana nut muffin on his way down to the flower shop. In return, he would give a red rose to her husband free of charge.
Kurama remembered the old woman telling him that she knew the rose was from him and if he had been younger she would scoop him up and would let no other woman have him. It made him laugh every time. She and the old man were so cute and after all those years of being together, Kurama could tell that they still loved each other.
Living with them for about a year he noticed the cute things that they would do with each other. Every now and then the old woman would give a peck on the cheek to her husband when there were no customers. The old man would smile and she would smile back. It was nice to live above the two. In a way their love inspired him. It made him desire a similar relationship one day.
Towards the end of the year things had changed. The banana nut muffins stopped coming and the shop was closed most of the time. They little old woman had grown ill and couldn't keep up with the business. The old man tried his best to keep the business open and keep his sick wife company. Ultimately, the two closed down the shop and the man stayed by his wife until his wife left this earth. He passed on only a few weeks later suffering from a broken heart.
It was sad how fragile the human existence was. It was scary how something as simple as loneliness could bring and end to a once vibrant person. There were days that he wanted to just leave. To go back to Demon World and be Youko Kurama once more, but the very same reason he had for wanting to leave was keeping him here.
He wanted to escape the delicate web of emotions that humans succumbed to. However, leaving wouldn't prevent him from feeling the things like sadness and loneliness. He realized that if he just left, his mother may die the same way the old man had. Just the thought of it depressed him and he knew he wouldn't be able to live with himself if he left the woman that cared for him.
Certain emotions for humans were so much stronger than those of demons. Lust, greed, envy…the sinful emotions were all more powerful for demons. However, happiness, sadness, loneliness were so much more powerful for humans. If he were to revert back to his demon form, the emotions would be more of instinct rather than effected by the things and people that surrounded him. He knew that even Youko Kurama had grown attached to these humans and perhaps these humans had tamed him.
Shaking his head Kurama dug through some boxes to gather some seeds that he could start growing. Summer was coming so he would grow some of the flowers that grew locally. These he could put in the backyard and let them grow naturally. This way he could sell them for cheap. Grabbing five packages of azaleas he put them in his pocket. These would grow nicely in the coming summer months. Rummaging through some other boxes he settled on some orchids and some hydrangea.
He grabbed a box of some plastic green pots. He would use these to get the hydrangea bushes started. After all it was a bit late to start the hydrangea from scratch. It needed to be a bush before it would flower so he would have to use his demon powers to get the plant started.
Hurriedly he rushed out the door to bring the pots next door. Mother Nature wasn't kind to him. The wind was getting worse by the minute and the rain fell like small little pins that stung with coldness. Stumbling through the door the bell clinked and clanked against the glass. The cardboard box was soggy with the rain from outside as he made his way to the counter. Placing the box on the counter next to the dirty towel from earlier, he noticed a small frail figure.
It was a young woman. She was small and fragile looking. Looking her up and down, he noticed that in her hand she had a broken white zinnia. It was the same zinnia that he had thrown away earlier while he was tending his flowers.
Glancing out the windows at the weather and then again back at the girl he wondered why anyone would be out in this weather. "May I help you?" he asked.
The girl looked up at him. Her face had some dirt on it and so did her clothes. Her hair was plastered down around her face and the dirty clothes clung to incredibly thin form. She didn't look healthy at all.
Her face flushed a bit. "Well," she said before hesitating. She twirled the zinnia in her hand. "Um…"
She was silent.
Swallowing he urged her on. She made him slightly uncomfortable. "Yes?" He didn't want to push the girl but the weather was getting bad and he didn't want her to have to leave once it got worse.
"M-may I please buy this flower from you?" she stammered out.
Looking at the flower in her hands he questioned why she would want such a pitiful looking flower. It was missing half its petals and the stem was broken in a few different places. "Wouldn't you like a better flower?" he asked gently.
"Well, I can't afford a better flower" she said refusing to look up at him.
That's when he felt it, the pity that had been there the moment that he laid eyes on her. It swelled in the pit of his stomach and he wanted to help the girl. Her tiny hands clutched the flower.
"There is no need to purchase the flower miss. I was planning to get rid of it because of its poor shape. If you would like you may just simply take it" he said trying not to show his pity.
It didn't work. He could tell that she knew he was giving it to her out of pity. "Please sir," she said. "I wouldn't feel right just taking it from you. I think that I should pay you for it. May I do you a favor in return?"
He was dumbfounded. He had just met this girl and she was already asking to help him. He didn't know what to say. He couldn't out of good conscious allow her to pay for that flower.
An idea hit him. "Would you be so kind as to wait her while I run next door? I have to bring back some potting soil. When you see me coming back will you open the door for me? If you do that, I will consider the flower paid for." It wasn't a great plain and it wasn't a large favor but it was all he could think of at the moment.
The girl smiled. It was an odd smile. Awkward and out of place just like the girl. He smiled back. "I'll take that as a yes" he stated as he headed towards the door.
The young woman followed him as if ridding his heals. She followed him like a puppy as if she depended on his every move. It was an odd behavior but he decided not to pay it much mind.
Hurriedly he opened the door with very little effort. Wind rushed into the shop blowing around some wind chimes that he had used as decorations. Quickly, he ran next door as he hunched his shoulders to slightly protect him from the harsh elements. Rain pounded down on the roof as if a small child had spilt and entire box of marbles on the floor.
Sighing, he again made his way to the back corner of the former bakery. He tried to be as quick as he could. Looking at his soil inventory, it would be soon that he would have to order some more. Quietly he stacked three 11kg bags on a table. He then hoisted them up onto one of his shoulders. It wasn't heavy so he didn't need any help from Youko on this.
After shutting off the light, he reached around the back of the door locking it manually. He gave the knob a giggle to make sure that it had locked and pulled the door closed behind him as he stepped out into the unpredictability of spring rain.
Jogging slightly, he splashed in a few puddles as he made his way back to the shop. As if on cue the door swung open and the young woman held it open for him. He was thankful for it. He walked over to the counter and placed the bags down with a thud.
He was soaked. Wiping his forehead with the back of his hand he let out a deep sigh. He turned around and noticed the girl staring at one of the wind chimes. It was a large wind chime made of long bamboo. He didn't know why but he decided to give it to her.
Walking over he reached up in front of her and took down the wind chime. The girl blushed like mad and looked down and away at the ground. He just smiled down at her and walked back to the counter. The girl studied him as she reached for something under the counter. He brought up a large off white piece of paper. He spread it on the counter and placed the wind chimes in it. Carefully, he wrapped the chimes up and then taped the paper shut. Finishing up, he then placed the bundle into a plastic bag.
Coming around the counter, he walked back over to the pale blue eyed girl. Outstretching his hand he offered the bag to her.
Smiling he spoke, "This is a thank you. You braved the weather to come to my shop and you did me a favor. I think that makes each of us even don't you?"
The girl just opened her mouth not knowing what to say. Her face was flushed with her blushing. Gingerly she took the bag from him. "T-thank you," was all she managed to say.
Chuckling Kurama smiled. "You're very welcome. Now before you go I must ask you your name."
"My name is Kiyoko," the girl said quietly.
He could tell that she was embarrassed. So he tried his best not to embarrass her any farther. "Well Kiyoko, it's very nice to meet you. I think you best be going though. The weather doesn't seem like it will be getting any better soon."
The girl nodded as she reached into her ripped pocket. She held out her tiny hand out to him. Not sure what she wanted from him he held out his hand palm up. Opening her hand she released 75 yen. She really didn't have much money. Smiling, he reluctantly took the money. He knew; judging by her appearance; that the girl really didn't have much money at all. 75 yen must be a lot for her.
She then walked over to the door before turning back to him. "Thank you," she said smiling her odd but beautiful smile. There was something about this girl that he couldn't put his finger on.
The bells around the door chimed wildly as the door flung open as the small woman pushed it open. He watched her as she slightly struggled to push the door back closed. Her tiny fragile looking body hurried away as her chestnut colored hair whipped around her face.
Now that the young woman was out of sight Kurama looked at the clock. It was 19:15. He would be closing shop in about 45 minutes. "I suppose I should start on the hydrangea," he said sighing. Picking up the box of plastic pots he carried them and a bag of soil to a small room in the back.
All the walls were white and the tables were plain silver. The good things about these tables were that they didn't stain with the potting soil. Spreading out about fifteen pots he filled them with potting soil. He looked around the table top he searched for the packs of seeds. That's right, he thought. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the packs of azaleas. He pondered for a moment trying to remember where he put the other flower seeds. They're in the other room… He walked back into the other room and looked around for the packets.
It seemed that he had misplaced them. "Now, where could they be?" he asked himself. Walking back into the other room he leaned against the table in front of the pots. Putting most of his weight on his hands the table creaked a bit. Then it hit him. Leaning over the box of green plastic pots, he shuffled them around. The packs of seeds had fallen to the bottom of the box.
Reaching in, he pulled the packets out of the box. There were twenty packs of hydrangea seeds. He would start by growing the fifteen pots that he had out. If need be he would just grow some more when the time came. Grabbing a pair of scissors that he kept in a tin can along with some pencils and pens, Kurama opened the packets of seeds. The seeds inside the packs were tiny brown specks, which were not much more then a small amount of powder that gathered in the corner.
Pulling a pot close to him, he inserted his pinky into the soil creating a small crater. It was an intimate process he shared with his plants. He would give them life and he preferred to use his bare hands rather than tools that modern florists use to keep their hands from getting dirty. Into the small crater he poured the contents of one of the packs. Gently, he dusted the dirt over the hole covering the seeds. Then bringing his index finger to where the soil met the side of the pot, he inserted it. Calmly, he took a deep breath and exhaled as a surge of spirit energy traveled down his arm, through his finger and into the soil.
The soil on top began to break and crack as a small sprout emerged from the surface. As if a time-lap video was filming the life of the sprout it gradually started to grow. Kurama poured more energy into the little pot and the plant grew and grew. Eventually, he decided that it was a good size to stop aiding it with his powers. He would do the same to the other fourteen plants. After they had gotten to all about the same size he would just allow them to grow naturally from there.
Once he was done, he grabbed a towel and walked over to the sink that was in the back corner of the room. Turning the faucet he let the water turn warm before he put his hands under it. Rubbing them together he got as much dirt off as he could before he touched the soap bar. Grabbing the bar he wiggled it between his hands. Placing it back to the corner of the sink he continued to rub his hands clean.
As he turned off the faucet the wind howled warning people not to go outside. "That's one bad storm," he commented to himself draping the towel over the edge of the sink.
He walked out of the room and all of a sudden everything went black. There was a thud and a whispered swear under his breath. The power had gone out and he had stubbed his toe on the corner of the doorway.
Taking a deep breath to calm himself he exhaled. I guess it will be an early night. He walked over to the register and lifted the draw part of it. Since there was no electricity, the draw wouldn't open so he had to do it manually. On the bottom of the draw there was a tiny hole that contained a switch to open the register. Grabbing a pencil he stuck it in the hole and pressed a small button. The draw flew open.
Placing the register draw carefully back down flat, he began to count his draw. He didn't make much today. In a grand total he made a measly 7,500 yen. Glancing up out the window, he could tell that the storm would not be going away anytime soon. From the looks of it he wouldn't be opening up shop tomorrow anyway if he didn't have any power.
Shoving the money in his pocket he headed for the door and stopped. He switched the light switch into the off position and stared out into the storm. He really didn't want to go back out there. Then glancing to the right he looked at the wall that connected his shop to the bakery. Again he thought; I really need a door there.
Author's Note: So, that's it for chapter one. I hope you all liked it and I hope that you'll rate and message me on what you think. Also, I think that the OC for Kurama isn't going to be revealed for some time yet (maybe in a couple of chapters). I still have some more background events that I want to go through that I hope you'll enjoy. So please tell me what you think!
