A Matter of Choice

By: Shadow Kage

Disclaimer: I don't own YYH or TM.

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"Blah" – Youkai Tongue (Speech), "Blah" – Normal Tongue (Speech)

'Blah' – Thoughts, 'Blah' – Telepathy

Blah – Flashbacks/End, Locations, Dream Sequences/End, Time (Days, Hours, etc)

(Blah) – Author Notes w/ A/N: inside, alternate name if not mentioned

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Summary: It's been three years since Yusuke returned from the Makai. In this time he has grown and matured much, no longer is he the same arrogant teenager who thought he could do whatever he wanted and beat anybody. No, experience had taught him that much, now he lives with his childhood sweetheart, Keiko Ukimura, as her husband. He is now also a father to a lovely six year old daughter. Now, however, Yusuke's mother has received an invitation to come visit her family from when she was a child.

Note: Some characters may seem OOC (Out of Character). This is an AU/Crossover.

Note 2: Yusuke is 20 in this fic, along with Keiko.

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Chapter One: The Invitation

Yusuke dodged to the left as the punch went sailing over his head. In the next instant, he planted his fists into his opponent, taking him out with a two punch combo.

"Is that it?!"

"You've beaten everyone here! And you still want to go another round!?" exclaimed Yusuke's boss.

"Yeah, I haven't even worked up a sweat yet," said Yusuke.

"Man I swear, ever since you started studying the different fighting styles in the world, you've been next to unstoppable. Here's your money, you can take the rest of the day off as well, as I promised," said Yusuke's boss.

"Thanks Seino," said Yusuke leaving the construction site.

He had taken a job as a construction worker to make some extra money on the side, since Keiko had opened up a restaurant. It was actually kind of funny to him; he always thought Keiko would get a job as a doctor or in a big corporation, but their jobs left enough time to spend with their six year old daughter, going on seven in a few months time. He decided to buy a present for Keiko, his mother, and his daughter. Stopping by a few stores, he purchased a few items and then started towards home.

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A girl about six or seven years old skipped home. She had been let out of school early for good performance and for being ahead about three months, plus she had punched another boy who had tried to feel her up. When she arrived home she noticed her grandmother was home. Deciding to go see if she was okay, she found her pouring her booze down the sink in the kitchen.

"Grandma, why are you pouring your booze down the sink?" asked the girl.

"Because I made a promise to your parents that I would never touch the stuff again. It caused me to miss a lot of time with your father while he was growing up. I don't want to make the same mistake with you, so I'm getting rid of it all. You want to help me?" asked the little girl's grandma.

"Sure!" said the girl as she set her bag down and climbed up onto the counter and then began pouring the booze down the sink too. "Grandma, what was daddy like when he was my age?"

"Your father was a handful; he was very rebellious and got into many fights. He almost never lost any, and that was when he was untrained too. His first friend was your mother, he treated her poorly at first, but eventually he came to see her as a friend too. She was very responsible for her age and very smart, just like you," said the girl's grandma as she rubbed her nose against her granddaughter's playfully. "Now let's finish this up before your parents get home."

"Okay grandma!" said the girl happily.

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Keiko sighed as she left work, it had been a long day and she wanted to get home and relax. Everyday the customers seemed to be getting pickier and pickier, wanting it done a certain way or they would send it back to be redone. Closing up for the night she made her way home. Along the way she had to smack around a few drunks, but nothing serious. She was glad that she insisted on Yusuke teaching her how to defend herself; she now knew how to make people regret what they did, without having to slap them. Arriving home she found that her daughter was already home and surprisingly so was her mother in-law. Making her way to the kitchen she saw all the liquor bottles on the counter. Instantly she was worried that her mother in-law might be drunk.

"Atsuko!" called Keiko.

"I'll be right there Keiko!" replied Atsuko, a few minutes later making her way to the kitchen. "Yes Keiko?"

"What are all these liquor bottles doing on the counter and empty? I thought we told you could stay here as long as you didn't drink!" said Keiko.

"You did. I went through my hidden stashes and drained them down the sink. I missed Yusuke's childhood by being drunk all the time. There is no way I'm going to miss my granddaughter's childhood. She even helped me drain them down the sink and made sure that they were rinsed out with soap and baking soda to kill the alcoholic smell," explained Atsuko calmly.

"Oh! I'm sorry I jumped to the wrong conclusion Atsuko. I guess hold habits die hard," said Keiko, taking a seat at the table.

"It's okay. I probably would have done the same thing. You're just looking out for me and your daughter. I should have done it a long time ago, but I was just too blind to see that Yusuke was growing up so fast," said Atsuko. "Anyway, I received a letter from my father and brother in-law."

"You have a sister?!" asked Keiko shocked, "Does Yusuke know?"

"Yes, I have a sister, and yes, Yusuke knows. However she passed away when Yusuke was about eight years old, she left a son and daughter behind, along with a husband and two sisters," said Atsuko.

"That's sad," said Keiko.

"I know, that's why we moved to Sarakashi, it was a chance to start anew," said Atsuko.

"I'm home!" yelled a voice.

"In the kitchen Yusuke!" replied Keiko.

"Hey mom; what'd you do with all the booze?" asked Yusuke seeing the counters covered in empty bottles.

"I dumped it all down the sink and Kasumi even helped me dump them," said Atsuko.

"That's nice, now exactly what is going on here? I come home and the two of you look like you were enjoying a story at my expense," said Yusuke.

"Don't worry Yusuke, I wasn't telling any of those stories. I received a letter from your grandfather and uncle, inviting us over for a few weeks," said Atsuko.

"Okay, but only so Kasumi can meet her great-grandfather," said Yusuke. "I don't really like it there; it's too noisy in that part of Tokyo."

"Yusuke, they live out by the shrine now," said Atsuko.

"Huh? What happened? Did the bank foreclose on them or something?" asked Yusuke.

"Actually no, somehow their house was transported to the base of the shrine. About a few acres away from the steps to the shrine," said Atsuko.

"Okay, we'll go. I always liked grandpa's place, it's nice and quiet. Besides I can see if Tenchi has a girlfriend yet," said Yusuke.

"Just remember, you're taken!" reminded Keiko sternly.

"I know. I just want to see if he finally grew a backbone. He was always afraid to say something to the girls that came around the shrine with their parents. I think he was afraid of getting yelled at or hit by them," said Yusuke. "I know I got a few hits from them, but they were nothing compared to your slaps Keiko."

"Glad to know, that I'm the only one who can keep my husband in line," said Keiko as she kissed him softly.

"Oh, I wouldn't be so sure Keiko. There's Botan, Genkai, and even my mother. Plus Kasumi's been acting more and more grownup. She got sent home from school early again for punching another boy who tried to feel her up," said Yusuke kissing her back just as softly.

"How do you know?" asked Keiko slyly.

"It's on the note in front of you," said Yusuke as Keiko punched him playfully, then kissed him gently on the lips teasingly.

"Get a room you two," said Kasumi playfully.

"Oh, we'll get a room later tonight. Until then, where did you punch him?" asked Yusuke as he lifted her up onto his knee.

"I punched him right in the nose and then slapped him across the face. When that didn't work I kicked him in the crotch, hard," said Kasumi proudly. "Nobody feels me up and gets away with it!"

"That's my girl, but next time, don't hit him so hard," said Keiko. "The school said he was crying the rest of the day."

"Well he deserved it! Next time he tries it, I'll do more than just punch, slap, and kick him! Next time I'll shove him!" said Kasumi sternly.

"Okay, but just don't hit him too hard," said Yusuke. "Just wait Kasumi, when you're older, I'll train you to control your strength better."

"Okay daddy, but can you show me how to hide myself where I stand?" asked Kasumi.

"Honey, even I can't do that, but I think your Uncle Hiei could help you with that," said Yusuke.

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Flashback – Three Years Earlier

Yusuke had just returned from the Makai and went to see Keiko and his daughter Kasumi, who was extremely glad to see him again. They were at Genkai's Shrine and having lots of fun, Kasumi and taken to calling Genkai, Grandma Genkai. Though she didn't mind, she was actually flattered and honored to have Kasumi call her Grandma.

"Hey Genkai," said Yusuke surprising her greatly. He had never called her by her name before; it was always an insult, grandma, or some other name.

"Dimwit, you've matured greatly. Though you shouldn't have left your daughter for those three years," said Genkai.

"I know, but I had to learn how to control myself or I could have done something that I would regret for the rest of my life. How have you been doing?" asked Yusuke.

"Well, your daughter is very spirited. She will be very strong when she's older. I hope to be around then to help train her. She's dear to me," said Genkai.

"I know. Who else is here?" said Yusuke.

"The Sociopath, the Fox, Botan, Koenma, Yukina, and Shizuru are here as well," replied Genkai as Yusuke nodded and left to meet with them.

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"Tell me Hiei, why Shizuru of all the women in the world? Why choose to respect her?" asked Kurama.

"Because Shizuru is nothing like her brother," said Yusuke entering the room from the hall. "Shizuru Kuwabara has no code to follow to the last letter. She will do what needs to be done, even if it means sacrificing one life for thousands of lives. However, she also knows that one life is just as precious as a thousand lives. She has seen the dark side of humanity, Reikan, and Youkai, and she accepts it, but she also accepts that each has a gentler side, no matter how powerful, dangerous, or vicious a being is. Am I right Shizuru Kuwabara?"

"He's got it right on the money," said Shizuru with her eyes closed, but when she opened them, she was shocked, along with everyone else. Yusuke had a long scar running down from the left side of his forehead, above his left eye a little, to halfway down his left cheek. "What happened to you?"

"This is a souvenir from the oldest Toushin alive, Treizen. I had to fight him to receive my Youkai name and to be accepted into the Toushin Clan of Zen, my father's clan, because I am a hanyou. I didn't beat Treizen, but I lasted half a day fighting him, longer than even my father, or so I'm told," said Yusuke.

"You fought with the Ancient Toushin?! Treizen is said to be one of the strongest Youkai alive and the one of the oldest, being over fifteen thousand years old!" exclaimed Kurama in surprise.

"Maybe, but I don't care, I earned my place among the Toushin Clan of Zen. My Youkai name is Reizen, since I am the only Toushin in ten thousand years able to use Reiki. You should be able to use Reiki, Kurama, because of your condition, a Ningen and Youkai body, two bodies, yet one body, two minds, yet one mind, thus two ki types," said Yusuke surprisingly everyone even more by his level of maturity. "Now Kurama, what's this I hear about you having a mate now?"

"Yes, I have a wife, and I love her very much," said Kurama. "I married Botan and we are expecting our first child very soon as well."

"Congratulations Kurama, I hope you'll give Botan my greetings and congratulations. I'm here today, to ask each of you a favor. This is just a precaution, but Keiko and I have discussed it for a long time. Hiei, you are considered very dear to Kasumi, she considers you her uncle. She doesn't care if you're related by blood or not, to her you are her Uncle Hiei, no questions asked," said Yusuke. "I want to know Hiei, will you watch over my daughter, if Keiko and I are dead before she reaches adulthood?"

Hiei was shocked; he was being asked a very high honor. Normally only those of the same Youkai type were asked. Rarely was a Youkai of another typed asked such an honor; Hiei didn't know what to say.

"Shall I take your silence as a decline?" asked Yusuke slyly.

"No. I accept your offer. I would be honored," said Hiei.

"Very well, then from this day forth you are Kasumi's godfather, however there is one catch to this title. You must reveal to the one you keep secrets from your secrets. Yukina, would you please come out from behind the door," said Yusuke, while Hiei scowled at Yusuke. "She deserves to know Hiei. If you won't tell her, then I will. I have made no promise not to tell her."

"Hiei, what does he mean?" asked Yukina.

"I know where your brother is. I know who he is, but he has a past, a criminal past," said Hiei slowly.

"Please, tell me! I don't care if he has a criminal past or not!" said Yukina starting to cry as she begged Hiei to tell her.

"I'm your brother. I thought that with my past you wouldn't care for me. I was afraid," said Hiei as Yukina just hugged him tightly, surprising him greatly.

"Oh, Hiei!" said Yukina happily and sadly. "I don't care for your past. I love you Hiei! Please don't keep secrets from me again! I'm your sister."

"Alright Yukina, I promise to never hide secrets from you again. Just don't cry, you shouldn't have to shed tears," said Hiei, hating to see his sister cry. Yukina just nodded, but still wouldn't leave his side as she stood up.

"Yukina, I have a question for you on behalf of Keiko," said Yusuke.

"Yes?" asked Yukina curiously.

"She wishes to know if you, providing that Kasumi isn't an adult and that Keiko and I are not alive anymore, would you watch over our daughter until she is an adult? Until she is able to take care of herself?" asked Yusuke.

"I'd be honored," said Yukina softly.

"Then from this day forward you are Kasumi's godmother. If anything happens, to Keiko and I and we are not able to take care of her before she is an adult, then she will go to you and Hiei. Kurama and Botan are her other godparents, if for any reason you are unable to provide care for her, then she will go to them until you are able to provide care for her," said Yusuke softly, yet sternly.

"Very well, I will be living here at Genkai's Shrine before and when she dies," said Yukina softly. "Please bring her by every weekend; she likes to spend her weekends here, because of the quietness here and because she gets to see Genkai, Hiei, and myself."

Yusuke nodded and Yukina did the unexpected, she hugged him. Surprised by the action, he didn't immediately hug her back, but after a few moments he did. Yukina was the like the sister he never had, to him anyway.

End Flashback

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A/N: My first attempt at an YYH/TM crossover. A few characters may be a bit OOC than from when they were in the series. Now for the poll:

What should happen next?

What should some of the pairings be? (Aside from Yusuke's & Kurama's pairings!)

What do you think of the story so far?

That's it for the poll! Until next time,

--Kumori Shadow Kage