Well, here we are at the beginning of the next Story in my Saga. To those of you who have read my first story, Captured!, you know why I've named this sequel, The Aftermath. If you haven't yet read it, I strongly suggest you do (And review, please) before you read this story. It will give you the background you'll need to understand what's going on in this sequel. You will also know that my works will always be in script format. This is the way I write... well, unless the plot begins to write itself.

Now, I'm setting this part to begin one month later. "Why?" You might ask? Well, gee whiz, look at how much paperwork poor Lord Koenma had to do!! All those demons he had to sort out (LOL). Secondly, I wanted to pass the time to be closer to more important "events" that will be happening during this sequel. Also, our favorite Toushin sure has needed some time to rest and try to heal. Wouldn't you say?

Now, if I don't include every itty bitty little detail about something in any of my stories, it might not be an oversight on my part. If you feel I've done this, just use your imagination to fill in the blanks. It's called 'Reader Participation', lol. If you have any questions or thoughts feel free to leave them in the Reviews and I'll respond in my added chapters or by updates. But, please, no Flames! I don't particularly care for being "burned", even if my "name" is Hiei.

So then... Without further stalling, let's cue the new and improved theme opening...

Scene 1 ------------------------------------------- Genkai's Shrine

Yusuke, clad in a fluffy white bath robe, is sitting on the porch looking toward the woods. He soon feels a gentle presence that he recognizes as Yukina. He looks up as she comes closer. The short ice maiden offers Yusuke a cup of herbal tea and he takes it with a short, polite nod.

Yusuke- Thank you, Yukina.

Yukina smiles and watches him look back towards the woods. Yukina glances in the same direction, knowing that there's a permanent portal to Demon World that lies in that direction. Yusuke has spent nearly every day sitting on this porch and watching. The Toushin only disappears to his room when Keiko or Shizuru or other visitors come to the Shrine. Quietly, Yukina lays a hand on his shoulder a moment, then turns and goes back inside. She pauses when she finds Koenma standing just inside the entryway in all his teen glory.

Yukina- Oh, hello, Lord Koenma. Welcome.
Koenma- (Quietly) I just dropped down to see Yusuke.

Yukina nods, bows slightly then slides the shoji door open again. She motions and Koenma moves to look out toward Yusuke.

Koenma- (Quietly) How has he been?
Yukina- (Quietly) Quiet... Very quiet... He showers multiple times a day still... Then he sits out there and just... waits...
Koenma- (Quietly) Has he been eatting?
Yusuke- I have demon hearing, ya know!

Koenma looks back toward Yusuke, then goes across the porch to stand beside him. For a couple moments Koenma just stands looking towards the portal with Yusuke.

Koenma- So... Have you?
Yusuke- Have I what?
Koenma- Been eatting?

Yusuke half glances up at the godling, then shrugs.

Yusuke- I eat when I'm hungry. What have you been up to?
Koenma- The usual. Paperwork... Interviewing demons... Going over Satjiyu's records...

Yusuke gives no indication that he heard Koenma mention the name. He just sips the tea. Koenma decides to just sit down on the edge of the porch to keep Yusuke company for a while. After a few silent minutes Yusuke sighs and lowers his eyes.

Yusuke- (Quietly) How... long has it been? The days just seem to all run together down here...
Koenma- Been?
Yusuke- Since... that... ended?
Koenma- It's been a month.

A couple more moments of silence, then Yusuke nods and stands.

Yusuke- I guess you have more questions than just concerning my eatting habits.

Koenma stands. Yusuke looks back toward the portal once more.

Koenma- Only if you're ready, Yusuke.
Yusuke- I'm as ready as I'll ever be, Junior... (Quietly) They're not coming back...

Koenma looks back toward the portal, now realizing what.. or who Yusuke had been watching for. He turns and follows the Toushin back inside.

Yusuke- Are we gonna do this here or... up there?
Koenma- Wherever you feel most comfortable...
Yusuke- Then that would be anywhere but.. down "there".

They enter the shrine and close the sliding door.

Koenma- So you haven't been back to your own territory even?

Yusuke turns to give the Prince an annoyed look.

Yusuke- What the...?

Yusuke catches himself, remembering where he is. That the atmosphere in the Shrine has changed some since Yukina's been in charge of it.

Yusuke- What do you think? When I'm ready, I'll go... I spoke to Honshin and left him in charge...
Koenma- Don't you mean Hokushin?
Yusuke- Yeah. That's what I did say...

Koenma waves the whole matter off, deciding not to antagonize his friend about it.

Koenma- Well, it would be easier to hook you up to the MEM up there.
Yusuke- Fine. Whatever.

As Koenma re-opens his portal Yusuke looks toward Yukina who is lighting a ritual candle in the main room.

Yusuke- I'll be upstairs for a while, Yukina.

Yukina turns to smile at Yusuke as she nods quietly then moves to the next candle (1). Yusuke turns back toward Koenma.

Yusuke- Has... he... been processed yet?
Koenma- If you mean Kuwabara...

They both glance nervously toward the ice maiden. She doesn't seem to have heard them. Koenma motions and Yusuke follows the Prince through the portal. They continue the conversation in a hallway of Koenma's palace.

Koenma- No. I placed him in a holding tank. He's in a limbo state for now.
Yusuke- What the h--- are you waiting for?

Koenma looks at Yusuke.

Koenma- It was his request... He asked to see you one more time...

The godling looks away and shrugs.

Koenma- After what Kazuma had been through I couldn't refuse him that. So we're waiting on you.

Yusuke sighs.

Yusuke- So he wants me to come and shove his a-- over that bridge?

Koenma stops walking and crosses his arms.

Koenma- Why are you upset at him, Yusuke?

Yusuke stops. He opens his mouth to speak, but nothing comes out. Finally, he turns to look out one of the wide hallway windows.

Yusuke- (Quietly) It's not him... I'm the one who failed him... I failed all of them...
Koenma- How do you figure...?
Yusuke- I've gone head to head with the likes of the Toguros, Sensui... Lord Yomi...

Yusuke raises a clinched fist to lean it against the window. Koenma moves closer to the detective calmly, watching him closely.

Yusuke- Even... Hiei.. twice... But yet I fell right into that pathetic a--hole's trap... And took them with me... I couldn't protect them... I.. (Quietly) I failed them.

Yusuke feels his legs grow weak and moves across the hall to sit on a fancy bench.

Koenma- (Quietly) Everyone meets their match sooner or later... Except me, of course.

Yusuke tilts his head up at Koenma, unamused.

Koenma- Sorry. I'm just trying to lighten the mood, Yusuke.

Yusuke rolls his eyes and changes the subject.

Yusuke- You do know that... they're both... pregnant to me... Right?
Koenma- If you mean Hiei and Kurama, yes.

Yusuke drops his head into his hands and curses angrily.

Yusuke- D--- it!! I want them both back, Koenma! But then I.. I can't blame them for...
Koenma- Yusuke,...
Yusuke- Don't! Don't tell me everything will be okay! Cause it won't!! Nothing will ever...!

Koenma goes over to grasp Yusuke's shoulder when he starts to shake.

Koenma- Not as long as you insist on blaming yourself like this.

Yusuke turns empty eyes up to look at Koenma.

Yusuke- Well, who else is there?
Koenma- It was Hiei that Satjiyu...

Yusuke stands up and clutches Koenma's shirt.(2)

Yusuke- You blame him and I'll...!
Koenma- I didn't say anything about blaming anyone... Now settle down!

Koenma quirks an eyebrow when the detective shies back and turns away from him.

Koenma- Yusuke, I'm your friend... I don't want you to feel threatened by me.

Yusuke shakes his head and starts walking again. Koenma falls into step with him.

Yusuke- It's not you... If I don't control my temper I'll... blow this place up... or...

A couple ogres pass them, looking strangely at Yusuke. The Toushin catches the look and tilts his head, a few strands of his slicked-back hair springing out.

Yusuke- Kill... something...

The ogres nearly fall over each other as they hurry on their way. Koenma now notices that Yusuke had forgotten to change out of the fluffy, white bathrobe.

Koenma- Don't kill those two, Yusuke.. They work in my records department.
Yusuke- Why were they looking at me like that?

When Yusuke turns his gaze back to the Death Prince he follows where his eyes are focused. Immediately Yusuke "eeps" and clutches the bathrobe shut tighter.

Yusuke- Oh, h---... Do you have someplace where I can change,... friend?

Koenma chuckles pleasantly and motions the Toushin ruler into the nearest elevator before they come across anymore ogres.

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(1) Sorry, I know nothing about the inner workings of Shrines, so I'll just wing it. If you know, let your imagination play.

(2) Can someone give me the proper names of the different articles of clothing that Koenma wears in his "teen" form, please? I'll send Hiei and Kurama over to your place to do the River Dance for you.