An Asian girl with short black hair, glasses, and a baby blue shirt that says "Acupuncture: Feel Sick? Come in for a prick!" comes in with her boken (a wooden Japanese sword) named "Botan" (Remember how she hits people with her oar? Well I like doing the same! ^_^) in tow. She gets down on one knee and a spotlight comes on...

Disclaimer: (sings in a corny Broadway-style voice a la the tune "Happy Birthday")

Yu Yu Hakusho ain't miiiinne!

If I did it would be fiiine!

I'm broke as a cow goes mooo!!

So with the lawyers don't sue!

This is a crappy disclaimer,

and it couldn't get any lamer.

If this ficce doesn't bore

then I hope there's many mooorrrrrree!!

^^;;; O-kie, there goes my Broadway career down the hole before it even starts...

*clears throat and gets back up* Oh yeah and all of the original chars that ya never see in Yu Yu Hakusho do belong to me ^^V. Plus this is my first fic so *bows* be easy on me please! I'd love constructive criticism!

Before I start I would like to inform that the red string description is partially of my own creation, I don't now if there really is a story about the red string of fate, but I do know that it is well used in some romance anime. If there truly is a myth about the red string, then please someone tell me and I would be more than obliged to acknowledge it as such. If not then I hope I can just let my imagination lead the way.

Also for your info this shall be what the word's will look like in thought while /this/ will be my author's notes. And these* will mark any Japanese word's that I'll translate at the end of the chapter for our non-Japanese phrase knowing fans for their learning experience. ^_^

Got that? Good. Now that that's settled... *Looks at imaginary button that appears in from of her* As the author of this fic, START-O!!

*pressed button with her hand pointing in the air and all fades to black*

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Everyone knows the timeless old tale of a boy and a girl meeting each other as children, in many romance stories, especially in anime. It is a sign that the two will eventually become a couple, and live, as the cliché goes, "happily ever after." But what is the strength that could possibly hold such a bond throughout life? Although the term "soul mate" is considered a strong icon in our society, can something so preordained be so simply handed down on a silver platter? Is fate merely something that is there, or something that we must create for ourselves? In reality, marriages are falling apart by the minute. If you look at our society, love is becoming nothing more than an ideal in place of lust. What is the point of our obsession with romance if there is no real love and just passion? Stories like these become nothing more than fairy tales like the old saying above was borne from. What is it that constantly gives us faith that we will find as we call it "true love"? That is what inspired me to write this fic...

Bonds Never Cut

Chapter 1- After School Drama

*The voice of an unfamiliar girl narrates *

Once, when I was a little girl,

I met this little boy who couldn't play with his friends.

A little girl of about 6 years of age runs up to a little boy with short hair sitting on the porch of an old Japanese style house in a pair of pajamas. She has two short French braids on the back of her head and is clad in a little red yukata* with a blue obi and the bottom replaced with a pair of matching pants. Her faced is shadowed, and so is the boy's, hidden from view of the "audience". She holds out her hand to him and takes him into the yard to play.

One day I had to go away,

We see the little girl guided by her parents out the door to a moving truck. The little boy is solemnly looking from the front of the walls to his house as the girl waves back sadly.

and amidst my sorrows I nearly forgot about him.

Years later we see the girl again, this time older with longer hair in its usual braids and dressed in a school uniform with a gray skirt and a light bluish-gray button-up top with a red necktie walking solemnly through the streets towards school.

Then one day he came back again,

The little boy, now a young man, is wearing a bluish-gray blazer, kakis and a red tie runs up to the girl and once by her side he holds his hand out to her. She hesitates on whether to take it.

and brought me into the light once more...

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Did you ever hear the story of the red string of fate? It is said that if a couple truly loves each other a string will connect their souls will be intertwined no matter what may happen.

However...

Despite what many may believe, it is not the same as soul mates, for they are preordained in the spirit world. A red string must be earned by devotion, trust, and faith. Sadly today these are rare...

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/I'm a big fan of music while reading, so I recommend any of your YYH song faves like "Homework ga Owarananai " or "The Homework Never Ends" the Japanese ending to YYH or "Daydream Generation" its 4th ending song or any other you may have! I'll also recommend some other songs to listen to throughout the fic that inspired me to do this story. I'll either post them as author's notes like now, or use the lyrics at specific scenes. So if you have them enjoy and if you don't use what you like or download them. Well I've said enough so *bows* enjoy the ficcie! /

"Hey Urameshi! Wait up man!" Kuwabara called out while running to catch up to his friend.

The green clad spirit detective turned his head to his orange haired partner looking rather peeved, "Yeah, what is it doofus?" he said in his usual voice filled with attitude.

"Hey, what's you problem? I just say 'hi' and all of a sudden you're insulting me." the toughest punk of Saryashiki Jr. High retorted with an exasperated face. How the heck did I, Kazuma Kuwabara, become friends with this jerk? And he's suppose to be my rival, too!

"It's not like I don't insult you on a daily basis anyway, so what's the big deal?" Yusuke countered back with a snort.

"Geez you're touchy today..."

"Well that's cause today I went to school." as Yusuke lazily swung his satchel onto his shoulder for that 'cool guy coming home from school' look, or to be more precise 'Look Ma! I went to school so get the hell offa my frickin' back!' look.

"I think it's just more than that..." Kazuma said thoughtfully.

"Ya, don't say Sherlock..." throwing his friend a bleak look.

"Alright then, if you're not gonna tell me then maybe I'll just ask Keiko... Hey where is she anyway don't you usually walk home with her?"

"WHOA, whoa! Ya don't wanna do that..." turning to the carrot top with this hands stretched out waving in front of him with an alarmed look on his face.

"And why not?"

"Cause she's pissed off, that's why. And she's probably going to think that I sent ya or something."

Kuwabara paused then said what we would all ask, "So whatcha do this time?"

"I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING, ALRIGHT?! SO WHY DON'T YA KEEP YOUR FAT NOSE OUT OF IT?!?!" Which caught the stares of the innocent pedestrians passing by.

Being never one to just accept intimidation Kuwabara 'the man' fought back for his pride, "You keep sayin' crap like that and I'LL be the one giving you a fat nose, ya punk!"

"WHO YOU CALLIN' A PUNK, BASTARD?!?" Yusuke now fully aggravated.

"YOU! YA BASTARD!!"

"KISAMA*-!!"

"YARO*!"

Both, now totally ignoring the nervous crowd gathering, began their usual wrestling tussle which usually lead to nowhere. Beginning with Yusuke taking Kuwabara's right wrist and twisting it painfully to his back and Kuwabara swiftly turning around and grappling his arm and brining to Yusuke's foot, and so forth...

*five minutes later*

The two boys finally noticed a few onlookers beginning to pull out their cell phones to call the police so they stopped suddenly and looked blankly at the crowd forming, still in a very painful headlock on Kuwabara's end. Eye's wide open they stood straight again releasing each other from their kung fu grip and looked at the crowd for a quick second.

"Ha ha ha ha!" Laughed Kazuma with an arm behind his head, "Gomen na sai, about that minna-san!" Knowing to keep his manners lest his aneki* Shizuru find out about this and reprimand him, aka kicking him in the face, again.

"Ha ha ha ha" laughed Yusuke just as corny "yeah we were just playing you know how young boys can be..." he faded as he and his comrade zipped away before the cops came. Now was NOT at day to get busted.

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Once they were at a safe distance the two teens were FINALLY able to achieve some sensible dialogue.

"So what happened? She did kinda look a little upset today in class." Kuwabara tried with one hand in his pocket.

Not being the type to open up, Yusuke felt hesitant to say anything. Usually the only one who he would ever talk to anything even remotely emotional would be Keiko, and even that was like a chance when pigs would spread their wings and fly to the BBQ pit.

"Well..." he started.

"Yusuke! Kuwabara-kun!" Yelled out a familiar gentlemanly voice.

"Hey Kurama, this isn't your usual route home from school. What's up?" answered Yusuke asked his red-haired friend resisting the urge to hug him out of gratitude for buying him some time.

The handsome young bishonen* smiled back as he caught up to his friends, with shopping bag and all, "I'm just getting some groceries on my way back for 'kaasan* she's coming home late from work today and didn't want to keep 'tousan* and Shuichi waiting long for dinner. The grocery store near your school had the produce she needed."

"But how did you know we were here?" asked Kuwabara to his fox-friend.

"I heard the onlookers talking about two young men about to get into a street brawl. I assumed it was you and followed the trail you left and here you are." The read-headed young man stated proudly

"Oh." both of the boys answered as they sweat dropped.

"Although something like that is normal from the two of you, I can't help but ask what exactly was the near brawl about?"

"Urameshi here wouldn't spill the beans on why he's more rude than usual." Kuwabara said jerking his thumb at the raven-haired punk as said punk gave him a glare while mimicking his friends statement by flapping his mouth in a taunting matter behind his tall friends back.

"And now that I've just remembered," the blue-clad young man said as he turned to his friend before he saw his antics, "What happened between you and Keiko?"

"Here we go..." Kurama stated plainly as he almost expected this. That girl is the only one who could ever get him like THIS.

"We got in a fight. Happy now?"

"Well DUH what else is new?" the orange-head stated obviously,

Kurama shook his head, "But what happened that made her so mad?"

The troubled spirit detective sighed in defeat, since he couldn't get both Kuwabara AND Kurama off his back with a two man assault, "Well its all started around lunchtime..."

~3 hours earlier~

"Yusuke!" Keiko Yelled as she passes through the door of the usual rooftop where the young delinquent would go for sanctuary whenever he didn't feel like coming to class. She walked in front of his lazy figure sitting back to the wall. "Yusuke!"

"What is it Keiko?" he blurted out in an exasperating manner. He had just gotten back from another case from the, as Yusuke referred to Koenma when Botan wasn't around, little pacifier-sucking toddler. It wasn't even a big enough case necessary for all four of the tantei* so it was a solo operation which didn't require and fighting but a lot of running around and no time to goof off. Meaning Jorge, the blue oni*, had finally gotten a well deserved break which was badly planned so most of the young toddlers help was gone and Botan was off guiding other souls. So he "volunteered" Yusuke, as the main tantei, but would be awarded "supposedly" with another ticket to the Martial Arts Championship in Kyoto. Which, again, proved to be false.

I can't believe I got ripped off again! Stupid toddler... I oughta ask for pay dammit! Yusuke though bitterly. He was tired and it wasn't too long after Ankoku Bujutsukai* and instead of taking his usual week off from school his mother actually decided to check if he was going to school again in her periodic motherly attention in the rare time while between sake* bottles. And to top it all off he was about to be nagged again by his girlfriend.

Needless to say he was stressed out.

"What is it?!" Said Keiko incredulously, "Yusuke, you're skipping out AGAIN!!" Yusuke winced as she emphasized 'AGAIN' and turned back to his indifferent face.

"Because of the tournament and all of those cases, your way behind in your studies. I'm getting worried that you won't even be able to graduate middle school" She added in a slightly worried tone.

"Keiko, you know I gotta do these things. I mean, Botan told you the reason why I had to go to the tournament. Plus I told you why I had to go to that stupid case yesterday!" He added in another bitter huff.

"I understand that Yusuke." she said matter-of-factly, "But you have to think about your future, there is no way you can keep up this detective job forever..."

Yusuke had caught her there. One thing he never really gave mind to was what his future might be. He was always the type to think about the here and now and rarely planned ahead. His fighting techniques was a clear example of such. And thinking about it now, especially with the point Keiko just made didn't make it any better. It made him uncomfortable, and he didn't like that. "Look, why don't you just leave me alone!?" he yelled out suddenly as he leapt up standing to face his girlfriend.

Keiko gasped out in shock but regained her composure, "Because I worry about you Yusuke! I mean, you go off all the time chasing demons and rarely come to school. I know how life has been for you and I know its been tough, but you still have a life here!" she said with a sincere voice with her hand on her heart.

"Well I've got enough people worrying about me and placing their so called "concern" to fill up Koenma's office, and I'm sick and tired of people reminding me that I don't have a real future while I'm getting my ass kicked trying to save their sorry hides!!" His anger was beginning to build and it wouldn't be too long...

"WELL I'M SORRY IF I'M JUST TRYING TO REMIND YOU OF REALITY INSTEAD OF THOSE STUPID FIGHTS!" Keiko finally yelled getting upset.

"WELL MAYBE IF YOU USED THAT MODEL STUDENT BRAIN OF YOURS TO THINK ABOUT IT MAYBE YOU WOULD SEE HOW I FEEL!!"

"NOT IF I HAVE TO PUT UP WITH YOUR BAD ATTITUDE!!!"

"THEN WELCOME TO MY WORLD! WHERE I HAVE TO PUT UP WITH YOUR BITCHY ATTITUDE 24/7!!!!"

...before it blew up in his face.

The couple stopped in shock from what was just said. Yusuke had NEVER, even with his dirty mouth, EVER said anything like that to Keiko.

Oh crap... the young man thought.

"Yusuke..." Keiko finally struggled to get out. He couldn't get over what he just said as well, and it practically paralyzed him. When nothing else could come out Keiko quickly turned her head, her eyes hidden by her hair, and ran downstairs. But not before Yusuke saw traces of...

Tears? Yusuke thought in alarm. He had never caused Keiko to do something like THAT except out of worry. "Keiko? Keiko wait... Keiko, I'm sorry!" he cried out as reached out his hand after her, but she paid no heed.

He sunk back to the wall and slid down with his back against it. Stupid! I'm such a dumbass!! he though with closed eyes struggling to keep his own emotions in check.

Keiko...

~back to present time~

/Hey, again! I've got another song to suit this one its another YYH song, "Taiyou ga Mata Kagayaku Toki" or "When the Sun is Shining Again" another wonderful ending song from later on in the series I consider it a perfect theme for the two of them./

The three tantei stood there in a neighborhood they has walked into to hear Yusuke's story with some privacy in a shocked silence.

"Oh my..." Kurama finally said in shock.

"I don't believe you!!" Kuwabara, ever the gentleman said in disgusted surprise, "You don't say stuff like that to a girl you idiot! Especially not to someone like Keiko!"

"I know..." Yusuke said accepting his mistake.

"She was just worried about you, Yusuke." his fox friend added, "We have been busy lately with cases from Reikai*, so of course the time apart would obviously cause some strain on your relationship with her."

"Yeah maybe you should really apologize to her and just try harder in school, for her sake." Kazuma stated placing a comforting hand on his friends shoulder.

"This isn't just about school... its been building up for some time..." he finally said downcast, still a little hesitant to spill his guts.

"Then maybe you should fix what crumbled." a usually bubbly voice added.

The three boys turned around following the voice to its blue-haired owner standing right around a bend dressed in her modern clothing. Her arm extended behind the wall looking as if she were holding on to something.

"Botan!" The one under the veritable hot seat cried out, "What are you doing here?"

"Supporting two friend's relationship," she said pleasantly, "come on girl step out!" he pulled on her arm and on the end she pulled out...

"Keiko..." Yusuke said almost in a shocked voice, as if he had almost expected her to come out from somewhere. She was looking down at her feet from where she was standing nervously.

"Yusuke, are you still mad at me?" she said finally looking up to him.

"Come on boys," her cheerful friend called out suddenly to the other two young men, "let's stand over there and allow these two to talk." as she grabbed her two friends arms leading them to a few good feet away from the pair.

The couple stood there for awhile in an awkward silence. Fortunately, their anger had dissolved some time ago.

"Keiko-", "Yusuke-" the two of them said at the same time not knowing what to say. The air was still tense.

Perhaps this was too soon... Keiko thought. "Ano...*"

"Yeah?"

The young brown-haired girl took a slight breath, "I wanted to invite you to meet a friend of mine at another school." she said finally breaking the ice. "Her school is having a festival and she'll be performing tomorrow after school. And is it ok if I invite the others to come too?"

"Um, sure." Yusuke finally said a little shocked by her sudden formality. I guess its only natural, considering...

"What do you think, minna*?" Keiko turned her sight beyond Yusuke to the three others standing at a distance, "Would you like to come?"

Botan thought about this for a moment and whispered to the others, "Maybe we should, a group would be more comfortable than the two of them alone."

"I don't know, Botan" Kurama whispered back with uncertainty, "maybe we should let them have some time alone apart from each other instead."

"Yeah but those two are way too stubborn to say anything on their own." Kuwabara interjected, "This could go on for months years even! I mean, it took me and Kurama to get Urameshi to just tell us why he was upset."

"I agree, you wouldn't believe what I had to do to get Keiko to come..." the ferry-girl said with her finger pointing up.

"I suppose...those two are rather difficult." the opposite side of the argument stated, "Alright, but I'll have to come a little later on and meet you there. I have to finish up a biology lab."

"Alright then its settled!" Botan finally said out loud enough for the couple to hear, "We'll meet in front of the school this time tomorrow!" she said as she bounced over to Keiko and grabbed her arm with excitement, "Oh, this is going to be such fun! Which school is it?" she asked facing Keiko.

"Utagawa* Jr. High, its an art school" Keiko said with more optimism, "that way, she pointed in the direction they were facing. "Its not too far from the school. near downtown."

"Well that's not too far from of our schools at all." Kurama joined in. Then he turned in the direction of his house, "I will see you all tomorrow, then. I'd better get home before the vegetables get bad."

"Yeah I'd like to see what the festival's about." Kuwabara added, "we never have stuff like that at our school."

Yusuke just stood in his spot, still looking at Keiko till she turned to face him and he look down before their gazes met. All was not well just yet.

"I have to go," Keiko said turning her head to towards the others, "I promised mom and dad to help with the store."

"How bout you, Urameshi, coming?" his orange-headed friend called back as he started turning towards home.

"Uh, yeah, I'll go." the last teen said before going on his way. Might as well...

End of Ch 1.

Arahazi: Wow!! I can't believe it!! My first Chapter done! I hope I'll be able to keep this up after finals. I won't be working on it then I'm sad to say cause if I do I know I will be pulled into a vortex of no return, and I'll surely regret it later.

*a strange voice calls out suddenly* its not like you don't have enough to distract you anyways...

Arahazi: Urusai*!! Teme.... *sigh* meet Pioko *a crudely drawn samurai comes out dressed in a brown and yellow outfit not the best combination* do you wanna get smacked?

Pioko: No ma'am.

Arahazi: Good. *looks back to readers* Don't worry I don't maim unless provoked. Anyways, I'm guessing you're wondering when the characters that I made up will be coming in...

Pioko: Maybe they just don't care. They probably just think it'll be some badly made Mary Sue.

Arahazi: What a heartbreaking accusation *she dramatically paces the back of her palm on her forehead as if she would faint* you break my heart my dear musie.

Pioko: Yeah, yeah. *suddenly flips through a file that popped out of nowhere* BTW your conscience called. She told you that you can probably work on the next chapter tomorrow night IF, and I emphasize this, if you study chemistry, any other important and upcoming finals, and draw out your final sched first.

Arahazi: Yes tell her I will. *faces the readers* Yes I listen to my conscience folks it keeps me at that level of responsibility that keeps me from banging me head on a wall for doing something stupid. Ahh college life... Anyways, I should wrap this up soon cause this is getting long, you're probably wondering what's going on with the first part of the story. Don't worry these characters play an indirect, yet important, part in Yusuke and Keiko's relationship. Just remember, all couples go through this, a time where life puts their bond on the strain. hopefully what will happen with the characters Yusuke and Co. is about to meet will help strengthen their bond. HOPEFULLY....

Well that's my two cents. So Ja bye bye till next chapter. ~_^

Translation

Yukata - a summer cotton kimono

Kisama - a offensive way of saying "you"

Yaro - similar to above

aneki - similar to onee-chan or older sister but its usually used when the younger sibling gets older

Gomen na sai - "I'm very sorry"

Bishonen - a pretty boy or very good looking

okaasan - mother

otousan - father

Ankoku Bujutsukai - the Dark Tournament

Reikai - the spirit world

Utagawa - The word Uta means song. I thought it would be appropriate since it's an art school. I hope I used this right. If I did any Japanese students have full right to grill me.

Ano - Its a phrase like "Um"

Minna - everyone

tantei - aka spirit detectives

oni - ogres who serve the spirit world

Urusai - Shut up