Misguided Rage:

Our story opens 1 year after the Demon Tournament, Yusuke and Keiko have finally settled down together, although not engaged, Keiko's parents have given Yusuke their blessing to pursue their daughter's hand when he is ready. They live together in an apartment, which is right above the restaurant that is the first expansion of Keiko's parents' restaurant, which Yusuke and Keiko run together. Keiko does most of the cooking while Yusuke does a lot of the physical labor that helps her out. Yusuke has secretly purchased an engagement ring for her, now that they are living together, it is the last step for them to take in order to fully join their lives together.

Yusuke and Keiko are at their apartment in Mushiyori City, Yusuke seated on the couch while Keiko throws together a plate of her family's famous ramen.

"So have you spoken to Kuwabara lately? I haven't heard from him in what seems like months?" She asked as she worked diligently in the kitchen.

"No. You know him. He'll pop in randomly and for no reason, so that's just the cue I wait for." Yusuke responds as he rolls his eyes, thinking about the multitude of times that Kuwabara would randomly show up and begin puffing his chest back in their high school days.

"Well, maybe you should reach out to him sometime soon? I think it would be fun to see him and Kurama. I know that Hiei is apparently still doing his patrols in Demon World, right? So he'd be kind of hard to reach?" She asked, slowly beginning to plate the food from the wok.

"I don't even know where to start looking for them to be honest with you. Kuwabara finally moved out of his family's house and I'm not sure where he is. And you know Kurama, he is only found when he wants to be." Yusuke shrugged his shoulders and smiled back at her. "Plus, with us running our own ramen shop now, it isn't like we can just take the day off and going looking around the city for people."

"That's actually exactly what it means, Yusuke, we are our own bosses, remember?" She shook her head and chuckled slightly. "I would think of all things you would remember, it would be that you finally don't have any authority figures you have to answer to, other than me, of course.", as she set the plate down in front of him, followed by one in front of her own seat. She then picked up the food with her pair of chopsticks, lifted it to her mouth, and ate it, smiling proudly. "Mmm, you know, you're pretty lucky you found yourself a woman who can cook. Otherwise you'd be eating crappy frozen meals for the rest of your life."

Yusuke quickly began downing the food Keiko prepared, taking a large amount of noodles and meat with his own chopsticks and chomped it down, then sighed a loud, satisfied sigh.

"I won't like Keiko, when you're right, you're right. Not to mention, you're quite the looker, although I do hate that your hair is so long. I remember when you used to keep it short." He teased her.

"You mean, when it got singed off because I ran into a burning building to save a certain someone? Yes, I remember that as well. I like my hair long." She said as she gave him that side-eyed look that she often did. "So watch it…" She said, taking another mouthful of food.

Yusuke shuttered slightly, swallowing down the food in his mouth before smiling nervously again.

"Oh…yeah…no…I like your long hair too! Definitely makes you beam and umm…look more lady-like?" He tried to cover his tracks…WHAM! And he would catch a slap to the back of the head.

"You haven't grown up since you were 10 years old, do you know that?" She scolded. She then took a deep breath followed by a low sigh, then picked her head up with a bright smile, knowing Yusuke wouldn't argue with her at this point. "So, tomorrow, we are going to go see Kuwabara! RIGHT?"

"Yeah, sure, sounds like fun." Yusuke answered, and she was right, he knew better than to argue at this point. And secretly, although he wouldn't admit it, he wanted to see his old friend as well.

THE NEXT DAY:

Yusuke and Keiko could be seen walking together, Keiko's arm happily and tightly wrapped in that of her man's arm. She held herself close with a big smile on her face, her white sundress covered in flower décor blowing in the wind. He was dressed in his yellow cutoff shirt and blue baggy pants. The two were not normally able to get out and about since they ran the new expansion of ramen shop that her parents owned, so she was absolutely thrilled while he rocked his ever indifferent attitude about walking around town.

"Well, you know Kuwabara better than anyone, where is it we would find him?" She asked, turning to smile brightly at Yusuke.

"I'm not sure to be honest. I don't think Kuwabara knows where he is half the time, so finding him isn't going to be the easiest thing in the world, ya know?" He answered, looking around at the many stores along the street they were walking on. "I mean, there's the comic shop, the arcade, the coffee shop, and pretty much anywhere they sell kittens."

"Then that means we are going to have a nice long day of travel and exploring!" She laughed and smiled again, so happy just to be there with him.

Yusuke's eyes widened and started looking around more frantically, trying to find his freight train of a friend. Yusuke then stepped into the first coffee shop he could find with Keiko in tow, scanning the front room with his eyes but yet did not see his friend. He sighed, then went up to the counter.

"Hey, barkeep, I'm looking for a guy, he's about yay tall" Putting his hand a few inches above his own head, "orange hair, and probably not too bright."

"Yusuke! That's no way to talk to about your best friend! He is plenty smart!" Keiko spoke up, objecting to Yusuke's description.

"I'm just describing him how I remember him is all." He replied, looking back to the barista. "So have you served anybody like that recently?"

The barista shook her head. "I can't say that I have, but my best friend works at the comic shop on Odikawa Street, and that person seems to go in there regularly. He talks about him going in and making kind of a ruckus if they don't have what he's looking for. Then he leaves with a couple friends of his. I hope that helps."

"Thank you very much! It certainly helps out a lot!" Keiko exclaimed, knowing exactly the comic shop the barista spoke of. "We are going to head there now then! Have a wonderful day!" she happily said as she pulled Yusuke out of the coffee shop and up the street. "Aren't you excited?! We haven't seen him in weeks! Imagine all you'll have to talk about!" She giggled, that bubbly side of her was coming out again.

"Yeah, he'll probably talk about how much he misses the old days and how he thinks he could still take me in a fight." Rolling his eyes back and shaking his head. "The guy has had a one track mind since the first moment I met him."

"You should be happy to see him! He's been the closest thing you have had to a best friend in your entire life! Think about everything you two have been through together, Yusuke! Not to mention, he feels the same way about you. And you know that. You guys are best friends that aren't willing to admit it." She soundly stated as they continued their trek through the city.

30 MINUTES LATER:

"Finally, geez, I forgot how big this city is. It took us forever just to get here." Yusuke complained as they opened the front door to the comic shop, being greeted by…

"WHADDYA MEAN YOU DON'T HAVE SKULL CRUSHER ISSUE 17!? YOU CAN'T BE SOLD OUT ALREADY! IT JUST CAME OUT TODAY!" He yelled in his loud, raspy voice.

"YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS! I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR IT TO COME OUT FOR 3 WEEKS ALREADY!"

The large man balled up a fist and shook it at the clerk. He was dressed in a white T-shirt with the characters from his desired comic book and a pair of blue jeans.

"Now if you don't go get me a copy from the back, I'm gonna get really angry, you hear me!?" he shouted.

"Christ, Kuwabara, what kind of way is that to act? What are you, seven years old?" The voice came from across the room.

The large man turned around, looking to see where that statement had come from.

"Who said that? Come say it to my face, I dare you!" He retorted, angrier now.

Yusuke stepped from behind a shelf of comics and crossed his arms over his chest, Keiko standing there with him. She knew well of Kuwabara's temper and simply stood there slightly disappointed in him, but knowing he didn't really mean any of it.

"Tell me Kuwabara, does a standoff like this bring back memories? Or have all the times I smashed your head into the pavement given you memory loss?" He smirked.

"Yurameshi!? Keiko!? What are you guys doing here? I figured you'd be busy at the ramen shop! Hahaha!" He laughed and approached them, grabbing Yusuke into a headlock and applying a 'noogie', all the while, donning a wide grin the entire time. "It's awesome to see you, man, and of course, you too Keiko!"

"It's nice to see you too, Kuwabara, we were told that you might be here today. You apparently still have a little bit of a reputation with your temper." Keiko teased and smiled.

"Will you let go of me, you big ox!?" Yusuke shouted, squirming from his friend's hold. "Yeah, Keiko insisted that we come see you and Kurama today. Kind of a special get together type thing, I don't know."

"No way! That's totally cool!" Kuwabara said happily. "I've been meaning to come out to your side of town, but, you know me, I tend to get a little…uh…side tracked. Haha!" He chuckled. "Hey speaking of Kurama, he works over at city hall now! I see him all the time!"

"City hall?" asked Keiko. "Wow, what does he do there?"

"He's, umm…" Kuwabara stopped to think for a moment. "Something about the local department of agriculture, I think?" He answered, putting his hand to his chin and delving deep into thought.

"Careful there, Einstein, wouldn't want you to hurt yourself trying to pronounce another big word." Yusuke said to Kuwabara.

"Oh please, Yusuke, you don't even know what agriculture means. Stop being so childish." Keiko sternly responded. "Anyway, we should all go over there and pay him a visit!" She stated matter-of-factly.

"Yeah! That sounds like a lot of fun! Count me in, for sure!" Kuwabara said excitedly.

"Ok then, let's go!" she said happily as she took back Yusuke's arm and led them to the door, Kuwabara not far behind.

ACROSS THE CITY:

The two dark figures stayed in the shadows.

"Can you taste it, young one? Your time is coming. You'll soon be able to hold his heart in your hand. And there is nothing more fulfilling than killing someone who has wronged you." Spoke the shorter figure.

"Yes, sir. Is this where I'll find him?" responded the other.

"Yes, it is. Hehehehehe" He snorted.