"Start All Over"
By ss10009
Genres:
Action/Adventure; Humor; Drama; Supernatural
Languages:
English; some romanized Japanese
Disclaimer:
YuYu Hakusho does not belong to the author of this story. Those rights go to Yoshihiro Togashi. This fanfiction is created for purposes not associated with profit. Meaning that, if you paid to read this story, well, you're a damn fool.
Summary:
Warudo, a dimension controlling demon, has successfully turned Yusuke Urameshi's world upside down by changing exactly what Yusuke defines as his world. Find me, then defeat me, Warudo challenges. But both steps are impossible without Yusuke's friends, who, in this new dimension, do not know of him or of their mutual adventures.
Timeline:
...Must it matter?
Spoilers:
There are three rulers of Demon World and one of them is Yusuke's—! I'd recommend watching all four animated seasons, in whatever language you should happen to choose.
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CHAPTER 1 - A Lapse in the Timeline
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"A mission, Yusuke? That's a pretty tired excuse considering the fact that you quit working for Koenma three years ago." Keiko was annoyed, that much was obvious. Her hands were on her hips, which were currently clothed in a summer yukata. It probably all had something to do with the fact that, as of today, it had been exactly one year since she had tackled him on the beach, allowing them to share their first real kiss. As Keiko had been hinting at for the past three weeks, this counted as their anniversary. "If you didn't want to go to the festival, you should have just said so instead of lying to me about a new mission. The first option hurts less, you know."
"I'm not lying to you! And it's not that I don't want to go," Yusuke said, trying to avoid the fact that he seriously didn't want to go as skillfully as possible. He hated the idea of having to get dressed up in traditional clothing, then taking a two hour train ride to some small town, and winding up in some overly romantic festival that would end with him saying the wrong thing to Keiko by accident, thus forth causing her to slap him and not speak to him for three days. He knew it was going to end like that. It always ended like that.
Yusuke took a deep breath. "It's just that doing this favor for Koenma is more important."
"More important than our anniversary?" Keiko asked, angrily.
Yusuke looked confused. "Anniversary?"
"You forgot," Keiko said quietly, her voice sounding less angry than it did earlier but definitely more hurt.
"No, I—I didn't... I just... Was waiting for the perfect time to say 'Happy Anniversary.'" Yusuke paused. "Happy anniversary," he offered, trying to sound sincere and not like a screw up.
But Keiko was Keiko, meaning that she could always tell when Yusuke was being a screw up. You didn't spend your entire life around someone and not know when they were pulling something out of their ass, after all. Keiko turned away from him. "Go on your mission, Yusuke."
"Keiko—"
"Just go!" Keiko replied, taking off and running upstairs, leaving the restaurant area of her family's ramen shop and going off to the living quarters.
Yusuke called after her, twice. She didn't respond though, and Yusuke was fairly certain he heard a door slam. He sighed. What did the hell did she want out of him? He loved her—and more than anyone else. Girls were just too damn particular these days. It was complicated, all of it. But he'd apologize later, because, as it turned out, Keiko had been wrong. He actually did have a mission with Spirit World.
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Nothing in Koenma's office seemed to have changed since Yusuke's last visit a few years ago. The desk chair, however, was empty, and Koenma didn't seem to be around anywhere.
Yusuke didn't let this bother him, and instead took it as an opportunity to talk to his old teammates. It had been a long time since they'd all been in this setting. Sitting around and conversing, waiting for Koenma to tell them exactly how the world could possibly end next... Sweet nostalgia.
Whatever conversation might've began was immediately cut short, however, as the large doors to Koenma's office were opened abruptly. Koenma strode to his desk, long legs walking purposely to the workstation overflowing with paperwork.
"Sorry for the wait, folks," Koenma said. "Long time no see."
"Pacifier breath," Yusuke greeted, with joviality. "Sure has been a while."
Koenma's eye twitched ever so slightly; he was in adult form, but it was like no one had noticed. "As you know, I have a mission for the four of you. Just like old days, huh?"
"We don't need your attempts at nostalgia, Koenma," Hiei said.
"I can see the team dynamic hasn't changed a bit..." Koenma muttered, and then proceeded by clearing his throat. "There's some trouble in Demon World. A fairly charismatic demon has taken it upon himself to try and cut out a portion of Human World for him and his followers."
"Warudo," Kurama said, "I've heard of him. Lately, he's been given the border patrol quite a bit of trouble, right, Hiei?"
Hiei's response came in the form of a grunt.
Koenma nodded. "It's not that he's high classed. It's just that he's got legions of followers. It's more a case of stamina and endurance on border patrol's end than anything else. Although..." Koenma broke off, looking as though he were trying to decide whether or not he should finish his sentence.
"Although...?" Yusuke prompted.
Koenma winced. He had concluded that it would save him a lot of hassle if he just shut his mouth, but it was too late for that now. "Although his power might be slightly problematic. He mainly fights using either his fists or a sword, but there are rumors that he can do more. Mind you, they're just rumors."
"More as in... what? Like magical dress up abilities in some kind of shoujo anime?" Kuwabara asked.
"Watching shoujo? Somethin' you need to share with the class, Kuwabara?"
"I don't watch it! I was just using it as an example, Urameshi!"
Koenma cleared his throat. "Some say he can control time and space."
There was a pause.
"OK, am I the only one who thinks that time and space controlling demons sound really, really dangerous?" Kuwabara asked.
"Your worries are primarily unfounded," Kurama replied. "Think of this situation in terms of probability."
"Oh, God, this sounds like math class," Yusuke said, prepared to drown out everything Kurama was about to say just like he'd done with his junior high algebra teacher.
"The ability to control any of the five dimensions, width, height, depth, time, or space is quite rare. No known breed of demon is associated with any of these talents. Demons with these abilities don't seem to pass them on to offspring, making the distribution of the ability completely random. A dimension controlling demon would have to be considered one that controls all five of these principles, simultaneously. Which is next to unheard of, before now, of course."
"But all you're saying is that they're really uncommon? As in, extremely uncommon? How's that make this guy less dangerous?" Kuwabara asked.
"You remember the demon class system, don't you? How the majority of demons are very low level, and only a handful will ever make it to A or S class level?"
Kuwabara nodded.
"Combine the probability of becoming a high class demon with the probability of being able to control all five dimensions. It's theoretically plausible but..."
"Highly unlikely," Hiei finished. "Whatever he may be able to do with dimensions isn't our main concern. Besides, it's not unlike a demon to lie about their powers in order to build up a reputation."
Kurama nodded. "True."
"So the main concern is...?" Yusuke prompted.
"Stopping him before he can break through the barrier and reap havoc and mayhem among humans. It can take some ability to get into human world, but," Koenma said, "once there, damn near any demon can make the place his playground."
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"Exactly how long is it gonna take for this guy to show?" Yusuke asked. "And why do we have to do this in stakeout format?"
"Yeah," Kuwabara agreed. "Are we trying for an element of surprise or something?"
"We're waiting," Kurama said, slightly exasperatedly. It was the third time he'd told Yusuke and Kuwabara this. The two of them, particularly Yusuke, who was accustomed to rushing in, fists flying, were like children on a long road trip: unfailingly impatient. "Eventually, he will come to us."
"Is that before or after we die of old age?" Yusuke asked. "Or maybe just plain boredom?"
Kuwabara stopped fidgeting, a thoughtful look on his face. "Is that even possible, dying of boredom?" he asked.
"You see why I hate this whole 'stakeout' business, Kurama! That doofus is never going to shut up!"
Kuwabara spoke indignantly, "Hey, I'm not a—!"
"Would the both of you be quiet?" Hiei asked, bitingly. "You sound like a pair of children complaining to a parent."
Hiei's metaphor didn't feel inaccurate. If Yusuke and Kuwabara weren't an old married couple, than they were definitely a pair of preschool siblings. Kurama, lucky as ever, was playing the role of mediating mother.
There was a rustle in the trees that didn't go unnoticed, and immediately the group tensed.
"You guys hear that?" Yusuke asked in a low voice.
Kuwabara's eyes darted between several trees, unable to precisely discern the sound's exact source. Hiei and Kurama, however, had their eyes trained on an inconspicuous tree in the middle of the forest.
"There," Kurama said softly.
The enemy demon dropped whatever cloak of surprise he might've been trying for and leapt from the tree, accompanied by about four others.
They were small in stature, smaller than Hiei, and their only words were a series of hisses. At the most, they might have been lower level 'D' class.
"Is this supposed to make us lower our guard or something? Or are they serious?" Kuwabara asked, eyeing the four demons. He wondered if he should use his spirit sword or just his fists.
A few moments later, it was discovered that whatever beings these were, they could talk. Albeit in small, barely coherent sentences.
"Kill, spirit detective," they chanted, gathering around the group. "Kill, kill, k—."
Hiei was the one to act, slicing through them all with a quick movement of their sword. If it had been a few years back, Kuwabara would've only seen a couple of blurs.
Once the creatures lay dead at their feet, the forest they were standing closely to seemed to come alive with eyes. Emerging from the darkness, many creatures, looking similar to the ones than Hiei had just slayed, lunged with vigor.
Their vigor, thankfully, didn't seem to help them much, considering their severe lack of power.
"Is there strategy to wear us out?" Kuwabara asked, using his spirit sword to slice through roughly three of the small demons at once. "Or just annoy the hell out of us? 'Cause if it's the ladder, then they're really succeeding."
"If either of those, then the former," Kurama replied, slicing through several with his Rose Whip.
It took several minutes to clear the forest. Kuwabara's sentiment that the demons were only there to provide them with annoyance felt more accurate by the second. The demons were attacking from all directions, and, although they were easy to kill, it took longer than any of them would've liked. Any attack that could eliminate them all at once would be too risky to use, in case it took out a teammate.
"Finally," Yusuke breathed, punching a fist into his palm. "I'm not even sweaty or anything. Good-for-nothing bastards. Could've at least given me a warm up."
Kurama looked thoughtful. "That was most likely a distraction then. Those demons were much too weak to threaten any of us, so they weren't ordered to attack us to try and drain our energy. Warudo should know better than that, considering our strength."
"Maybe they weren't ordered? I mean, plenty of demons hated all of us because of the Dark Tournament and all of the demon-busting we've done," Kuwabara offered. "It could be a coincidence."
"There are no coincidences," Hiei said. "The only other explanation is that Warudo wasn't expecting us, or any high class demons, to show opposition to his plan."
Kurama agreed, "That's a real possibility."
"So let me get this straight. Warudo might not know we're here, meaning that we've got the element of surprise on our side. Or Warudo knows we're here, and he's trying to distract us. Meaning that we've got to find out what the hell he's trying to distract us from finding out."
Before anyone could deliberate on either possibility, a newcomer entered the clearing.
Three claps of his hands. That's all it took for the newcomer to announce himself as the stereotypical conceited villain. Yusuke rolled his eyes, turning to the source of mock surprise, which, presumably, was Warudo.
"Close, my friends, but no cigar," said the airy, feminine voice. The holder of the voice had skin tainted a pale blue, and wore robes that looked fit for a prince. His hair, which forcibly reminded the group of Karasu's, in the sense that it was long, black, and gleaming, was tied in a ponytail. "I've known the entire time that you were here; I just wanted to keep you occupied until my arrival. Some of you appeared to be bored." He directed this last comment at Yusuke and Kuwabara.
"You're Warudo," Kurama said, in a tone that said he wasn't seeking confirmation.
"Did I not introduce myself? I'm quite sorry. My name is Warudo, a future leader of Human World. Though I can see that there are opposing factions that would prefer I not have such an addition to my title. That's why the four of you are here? The former detectives of the Spirit World, correct, right?"
"And you already talk too much for my taste," Yusuke said, frowning.
"It's been a long day, I'm sure. And my tardiness surely didn't help anything. If you must exert some frustration, then feel free..."
Yusuke didn't need the invitation. His fist had landed in Warudo's face before the metrosexual demon could properly finish his sentence. Warudo's body hit the ground. "If you didn't piss me off so much then I would've gone easy on you, especially considering the fact that you looked like you might be afraid to get your clothes dirty. But you do, so I didn't."
Warudo slowly got off of the ground, his right cheek gashed and bleeding. He didn't look like most people who had just gotten punched by Yusuke. Or, in other words, he was still conscious.
"But civility is wasted on some," Warudo said, pulling a handkerchief from his pocket and wiping away at the blood lazily. "If you want a brawl, then I've got no choice other than to deliver."
It must've been a code word or something. No sooner had he said it than a million demons (or at least a hundred) seemed to emerge from the trees. They weren't particularly powerful, but with their en masse arrival, they'd distract the others while Yusuke fought Waldo. The majority of them seemed to be 'C' class.
"Now, Yusuke Urameshi, you will face me," Warudo said, his voice sounding decidedly more sinister. But despite the increase in sinister qualities, his voice still wouldn't have scared off a butterfly.
"I don't really like being told what to do," Yusuke said. "But since I've been wanting too so badly, I guess I'll have to take the invite."
Warudo began to square off, and Yusuke followed suit. Yusuke observed Warudo for several moments, thinking about what Genkai said about rushing in without information. Warudo really didn't seem like anything of a challenge, though. He was more of a pompous annoyance. But even a pompous annoyance could have a few tricks up his sleeve.
Some say he can control space and time.
But...
Whatever he may do with dimensions isn't our main concern.
He wasn't going to get his ass kicked by this guy. What had Kurama said?
Theoretically plausible... But, as Hiei had finished, highly unlikely.
Yusuke was about to break the stalemate himself when Warudo beat him to it.
He came at Yusuke with his fists flying, and, for a few seconds, Yusuke wanted to burst into laughter. This guy couldn't be serious.
And he wasn't.
Warudo's form improved moment before the punch made impact. He went from klutzy fool to skilled martial artist in a few milliseconds. Soon, Yusuke's skull began to throb.
"Bastard," Yusuke growled, more towards himself than towards Warudo. He'd just been thinking about not getting caught off guard by surprises! That pissed him off more than anything.
It was the last time Yusuke let his guard down, and he returned Warudo's punch with interest. The fist fight continued, and the spirit energy gathered within Yusuke's fists steadily increased.
Suddenly, Warudo jumped away from the fight in a quick series of back flips.
Friggin' show off, Yusuke thought.
He pulled an extremely small dagger from his belt, and took on, what Yusuke presumed, was what this guy took to be a sword stance. It was on the same level of ridiculous as his wind up for throwing a punch.
"And you're planning on doing what with that?" Yusuke asked. "'Cause it sure as hell can't be fighting."
"I won't try to defeat you with this dagger, Mr. Urameshi. No, I'll try and defeat you with this sword."
Yusuke's eyes narrowed, not seeing the sword in question. In a few seconds, however, the dagger extended, forming a full length sword. It was thick and long, and, Yusuke mentally snickered, probably compensated for something.
"A magic dagger, if you'll excuse me. They're quite easy to carry. A friend of mine has an affinity for them, and he insisted upon giving one to me."
"Well, if you don't mind, let me get my weapon out, too," Yusuke said, aiming his finger towards Warudo.
Warudo ran towards Yusuke with a quick burst of speed. Yusuke adjusted his aim again, though not before Warudo's sword could make contact with his chin. It was a fairly deep cut, Yusuke thought, not anything to put him in mortal peril but still... The fight would have to end quickly.
Warudo drew back, as did Yusuke. He charged again, but this time Yusuke was ready. As Warudo jumped into the air, to attack Yusuke from above, Yusuke fired his spirit gun.
Warudo's body hit the ground with a thud.
Yusuke put his finger down and began to walk over to where Warudo lay, immobile. "Still alive down there, Warudo? No? Good. 'Cause if not I'll have to do that to you again."
"There will be no need," Warudo said, his voice choked, though still polite sounding. "Soon I'll be quite dead to this world. This world. But you haven't really won, Yusuke Urameshi."
"I haven't won? This isn't exactly the Dark Tournament. None of that technicality shit flies here," Yusuke said.
"Trust me when I say that you'll see what I mean. If you want to win, Mr. Urameshi... Assemble each key player. If you can do that you can give it another try. To find me, then defeat me."
"Defeat you? For all your pomp and circumstance you're not very bright are you? You're lying on the ground and dying. You've already been defeated."
Warudo's final gesture was a smile. A stupid-looking pompous smile.
It bothered Yusuke, though he wasn't sure why. Find me, then defeat me, Yusuke thought. He tried to brush it off as Warudo having a sudden case of deathbed insanity, but still...
Apparently Warudo's goons hadn't realized their boss was dead yet. Or, seeing as Koenma had mentioned that Warudo had copious amounts of charisma, perhaps they were fighting to avenge the guy or something. Did it really matter?
Yusuke joined the fight with his friends, occupying himself with the seemingly endless stream of 'C' class demons.
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Yusuke dragged himself home, arriving there about a half hour before midnight. He pulled off his clothes and took as quick a shower as he could. He was covered in grime, but he didn't think it would be particularly befitting to have the hero of the day fall asleep and drown in the hot streams of water coming from the shower head.
Wrapped only in a towel, Yusuke emerged from the shower, staring at the phone. He should call Keiko... She probably wouldn't be awake though, unless she was cramming for some test. Yusuke did recall her mentioning something about an upcoming history exam. But, then again, Keiko tried to avoid cramming for tests at the last minute.
His hand reached for the phone anyway, dialing her number. The phone rang and then re-directed Yusuke to the answering machine. Briefly, he debated whether or not to leave a message. He decided on "not," returning the phone to its cradle. It was best this way; now he'd have time to get his act together before he messed up. Again.
Tomorrow is a new day, Yusuke thought. She won't be anywhere near as pissed, and we'll be back to where we were. Wherever the hell that was.
With this somewhat comforting thought, Yusuke slipped beneath the covers of his bed, closed his eyes, and was out cold within seconds.
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Notes:
1 - About the name Warudo
WA-RU-DO isn't a standard Japanese name, I'm sure you've noticed. I tried to do one of those weird English translation... things. Warudo was first supposed to be bad English for "world," but then I noticed how close it was to "Waldo." And how appropriate that would be. Where in the world is Waldo? So it's more like a Japanese translation of Waldo, I guess. Oh, what's that? No one actually cared about the back story behind the name? Oh... I'll shut up now. Sorry.
2 - About the Japanese usage
Oh, and I spent a lot of debating on use of Japanese. I wasn't sure if I got it right, though... Should I have said "Urameshi-san" instead of "Mr. Urameshi?" "Reikai" instead of "Spirit World." At the same time, though, I know how annoying it is to have someone use incorrect, fan girl Japanese for no apparent reason, so... I decided to make it a stick-to-what-you-know situation. Hope it doesn't bother anyone!
3 - About the fight scene
I don't think I've ever really written one before. I've avoided "Action/Adventure" categorization for that very reason. Somewhat. Kind of. Anyways... Was it too vague or detailed? Did it make sense? Did it seem YYH-verse possible?
4 - The Yusuke/Keiko
For some reason I'm in love with this pairing now. Don't ask me why. It's so... canon. I usually don't go for that type of thing.