Yu Yu Hakusho: New Dreams, Old Nightmares

Hey all, and welcome to my first fic on this site! This fic is a continuation of the end of Yu Yu Hakusho. I loved the entire series, but if you're like me, you found the end to be incredibly…well…rushed is the only word for it. The ending of the series and the final episode left open so many possibilities for all the different characters. This is my take and my little story/chapter/saga as to what happened after the end of the series.

Note – I do not own any these characters or the anime in question, although I DO have three Yu Yu Hakusho related claims to fame - The character designer of YYH and the president of Perriot thought my Kurama costume was the best they had ever seen, my Youko Kurama and remarkably, Kuwabara cosplays turned many fangirls into a puddle by their own admission (;;; ), and I ran into a smashed Justin Cook at about two in the morning in Anaheim, and he wanted to take me out for a few drinks.

Justin, if you're reading this, you're so on at Anime Expo this summer.

New Dreams, Old Nightmares

Chapter 1: Welcome Home

"Come on, everyone, let's go home. I'm starving and I haven't had a double cheeseburger in two years!" Yusuke said, holding his shirt and wringing it to try and get the salt water out of it.

He didn't mind too much, though. They had all just engaged in a gigantic waterfight in the shallows, watched over by the sunset. The salt air tickled his nose and the cool water lapped at his ankle. The seagulls and the noises they made sounded like music. He closed his eyes and raised his face to the west, bathing it in the beauty of the dying sun.

After two years, Yusuke Urameshi was home.

The wave rolled back out towards the ocean, taking with it the sand beneath his heels. He fell backward with a yelp and a splash.

"While I'm sure your training has left you exhausted, surely you do not lack the strength to stand?" Kurama asked with a chuckle. He stood further up on the beach with Shizuru, the only two who did not jump in the water earlier.

Yusuke turned to look at his friends. Keiko was by his side, kneeling next to him in the water, not wanting to let him out of her sight. Botan, Kuwabara, and Yukina were still chuckling, all doing their best to get the water out of their own garments. Yusuke braced himself and got to his feet, brushing himself off.

"Hey, what do you guys want to do tonight?" Kuwabara asked. "It's great to have you back, Urameshi, we should all get together and celebrate!"

Yusuke laughed and walked back up the beach towards his friends. "Promise you won't kill me for this?" He placed his hand behind his head. "I'm really tired and I'm soaked. I got sand in places that my underwear is riding up in and I'd prefer to get home before I get a nasty rash."

"Gee Urameshi, you don't have to be so technical."

"Might I suggest that we postpone the festivities until tomorrow? It would allow Yusuke some time to recover."

"Yeah, then we can throw a kick-ass welcome home party!" Kuwabara yelled, punching his fist up in the air.

"Don't get ahead of yourself, little bro." Shizuru said.

"I'm not a little kid anymore, stop treating me like one!"

"Not a chance. You'll always be my little brother," she exclaimed, grabbing him in a headlock and running her knuckles through his orange hair.

"We should all agree to get together at Genkai's tomorrow evening. Yukina, would you like to come shopping with me? We're going to need a lot of food for tomorrow!" Botan asked, grinning and clapping her hands.

"Sure!" Yukina replied.

They were all walking away from the water now, having reached the edge of the trail that led through the woods back to Genkai's compound. Keiko reached out and grabbed Yusuke's arm as they were walking.

"Sounds like it might be fun! How is the old fossil?"

"Master Genkai will outlive us all, I fear." Kurama said over his shoulder.

Truth be told, Yusuke was still in shock. This was the first time he had been back to Ningenkai, although he met with Kurama regularly in Makai. He was amazed to see how everyone had changed. Kuwabara looked more like a man now, Yukina was a few inches taller, and even Shizuru carried herself better.

And then there was Keiko.

He looked at the girl who was on his right arm, holding his hand.

She had definitely grown and matured over the last two years. Her hair was an improvement, and her uniform was filled in all the right places. Yusuke noticed this absentmindedly as he could still feel her lips pressed against his in the second kiss they had ever shared.

Was she really sixteen now? Was he? So much time had gone by so quickly that he could barely believe it.

Keiko turned and saw Yusuke looking at him out of the corner of his eye. She blushed slightly and leaned her head against his.

"I missed you, Yusuke."

He gently squeezed her hand in reassurance. "I missed you too, Keiko. More than you'll ever know…"

Kurama had his hands in his pockets, smiling. He was happy for his friends, and also for himself. Now that Yusuke was back home, he would finally be able to free his guilt that he kept for the last two years.

Kuwabara's voice cut through his thoughts as he spoke to his sister and Yukina. "What type of food do you think we should bring? Let's see, some pizza, some sushi, those little octopus sausages I like so much…" he said, counting off on his fingers.

"Just don't get anything that would be too hard on grandma's dentures," the former reikai-tantei replied. He got a slap to the back of the head from Keiko for that comment.

"Ow!" Yusuke yelped, nursing his head. "Keiko, what the hell was that for?"

"Yusuke, you should speak better of her than that, after all she's done…"

"Lighten up, would you? I was only kidding."

"Aww, look at the two precious lovebirds! Great way to make a move on him, Keiko!"

"At least she's actually made a move, bro."

"Wha…what's that supposed to mean?" Kuwabara asked, a sweatdrop on the back of his head. He blushed and looked up the trail about twenty feet where the two blue-haired apparitions were chatting excitedly about food.

Yusuke stopped and looked around at the beautiful forest. The wind was making the trees sway ever so gently, and the leaves cast shadows on his face. It was getting darker.

"What time does the last train leave back home?" he asked, suddenly, making the others stop.

Botan checked her watch. "Umm, about two hours."

"Hmm, that would place us back there around ten tonight, right?"

"Don't worry, Yusuke. Master Genkai stated that we are welcome to stay the night if we wish."

"I might have to take you guys up on that tomorrow, actually."

"What? This is your first day back to Ningenkai in almost three years, and you just wanna go home?"

"Kuwabara, nothing sounds better to me right now than going home, taking a nice hot shower, and falling asleep in my own bed. I might have demon blood and all that, but that doesn't mean this isn't my home."

Keiko stopped and pulled on his arm slightly, causing her to face him.

"You sure?" she asked with a small smile, but serious, pained eyes as she looked at him. The expression was enough to make Yusuke's heart break right there in that instant.

Make her understand. Talk to her. Tell her what's going on.

Later. Not right now. Just enjoy this.

"How about we give you guys a call later tomorrow?" he yelled, turning his head towards the others.

" 'We?' "

"Yes, dumbass, we. The two of us have a lot of catching up to do and a lot to talk about."

Kuwabara turned around and yelled. "Aw, come on! You can hang out with all of us! You see Kurama on a regular basis in Makai and now that you're back, why do you want to hang with Keiko first?"

Yusuke could tell his friend was joking but it annoyed him anyway. "Okay, fine. Let's go by seniority. I've known Keiko since we were just out of diapers and I didn't start beating three shades of shit out of you for at least another ten years after that. Keiko comes first," Yusuke finished with a much lower voice as he lowered his head. "I've made her wait long enough."

Shizuru, without missing a beat, without even changing her pace, walked past her brother and grabbed him by the ear, causing him to wince as she dragged him away.

"Come on sis, let go! Us humans gotta stick together!"

"Fine, I'll stick with Keiko. Move."

"Kurama? What about you? Back me up on this!"

"I'd love to offer my assistance, were I completely human…"

"Why me…?"

Kurama turned to Yusuke, and smiled. Yusuke gave a nod to his friend. "I'll see you guys tomorrow then. And Kurama…thank you."

"Seeing the look of joy on Keiko's face is more than enough. Just try not to put me in the middle next time," he finished with an upbeat note.

With that, the quintet was gone, leaving the couple in their wake.

They stared at each other, for a while, studying the features that had become so different in the last years, but somehow, stayed warm and familiar.

I can finally hold you again…I missed you so much…

Tears formed in the corners of her eyes and threatened to break free.

Yusuke gently moved and kissed her forehead. "Come on, spitfire, let's go home."

Keiko nodded.

Well, that was it for chapter one! I don't know where I plan to take this story just yet but like the summary said, there's very little that couldn't be incorporated into a Yu Yu continuation. Please read and review!