Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho.
Author comments: This prologue serves as an introduction to my OC and her relationship to the characters of YYH. Enjoy :)
Prologue
[20 years ago]
"What did you bring me?" Genkai asked.
The teenage Koenma gently adjusted the blanket-wrapped bundle in his arms to reveal a peacefully sleeping baby. "She was found my one of my men in the demon world," he explained. "All of her family members are dead. We're not sure where she came from and her spirit energy is different from ours. She's definitely a human though."
"And what do you want me to do with her?" Genkai asked suspiciously.
"Adopt her." Then he added quickly, "Just for a while so we can keep an eye on her."
"With all due respect Koenma, I'm not running a nursery here. And I'm not exactly what you would call the motherly type."
"I know, but please consider it as a favor to me. She would definitely die if we left her in the demon world."
Genkai looked at the curled up baby sleeping contently with its thumb in its mouth completely oblivious to the fact that its fate was being decided at that moment. Koenma thought Genkai's face softened ever so slightly.
"How long do I have to keep her?"
"However long you see fit."
Genkai sighed. "Fine, leave her here. But don't blame me if she gets killed by a demon or grows up incapable of normal human relationships."
"Uh not at all." Koenma said weakly as he passed the bundle over to Genkai. "Just, try to keep her alive."
"Does she have a name?"
"Yea, it's May, the month she was found."
[12 years later]
"Genkai! I'm leaving now!" A little girl with blue-gray eyes and brown hair that barely reached her shoulders stood at the entrance of Genkai's temple. She wore a light blue Yukata which looked odd with the overstuffed backpack on her back. In one hand she tugged a suitcase and in the other she had what appeared to be a newspaper clipping.
"School starts tomorrow?" Genkai asked.
"Yup! I called the owner of the house and told her I'd be arriving this afternoon so I can move in before school starts."
Genkai sipped her tea. "Alright. Try not to get into too many fights. If you must, then do it discreetly."
"Yes Genkai," May replied cheerfully and hugged her adopted mother goodbye. Then she skipped, or tried to skip as best as she could with all her belongings, down the mountainside towards the nearest train station.
"Let's see… It says 42 Magnolia Boulevard. This should be it!" May said happily looking from the newspaper clipping in her hand to the number 42 on the front door. She was not too good with directions but after three hours of walking she managed to find the place and she was feeling quite proud. Nevertheless, as she looked at the perfectly kept one story suburban house with its neatly trimmed grass and perfectly even walkway, she can't help but feel a bit nervous. She must've been standing outside the door staring for some time because suddenly it opened.
"Did you need something?" A boy about her age with bright green eyes and red hair asked.
"Um yes, I'm looking for Shiori Minamino. I'm renting the empty room."
"I see. That's my mom. Come in." He stepped back allowing May to follow him into the house. The inside of the house was simple but neat, and as she made her way towards the kitchen, the smell of chicken soup filled her nostrils and dissipated any uneasy feelings she had previously. Still she felt there was something odd about the boy.
"Mom, the tenant is here," the boy said to a woman in the kitchen.
"Oh thank you for getting the door dear. I didn't hear the knock." May immediately recognized the voice of the woman she spoke to on the phone. In person she had a kind face that seemed to hold a permanent smile. Her brown hair was pulled back in a low ponytail and she appeared to be the one responsible for the chicken soup. May liked her instantly.
"Are you May Hayashi?" She asked kindly from over the kitchen counter. "I didn't expect you to be quite so young."
"Yes Mrs. Minamino. Please call me May. Don't worry, I know how to do most chores," she said confidently.
"That's not what I'm worried about. You shouldn't be out on your own at this age. It's dangerous. Also, working while you're in school will affect your studies."
"Don't worry about that. I can take care of myself but I really need a place to stay so I can go to public school."
Mrs. Minamino looked concerned for a moment. Finally she said, "Alright, let's get you settled in first. Shuichi, would you please show her the room?"
May followed Shuichi to a room near the back of the house. It was a comfortable size and had one closet and a window but May noticed something missing. "Where's the furniture?"
"You didn't bring any furniture?" Shuichi asked.
"Umm I thought all rooms had furniture." May said sheepishly recognizing her mistake.
Shuichi stared at her for a moment as if he wasn't sure if she was joking. Then he went to tell his mom something and came back a minute later. "Let's go," he told her.
"Where are we going?"
"To get you a mattress."
It was just past 5 p.m. as the two kids walked towards the marketplace located just around the corner. May's strange feeling about the boy grew even stronger as they walked. Even though it was weak, she was sure she sensed demon energy coming from him. After fighting demons with Genkai for the last seven years, May was pretty confident in her ability to differentiate demon from non-demon, and this boy was definitely the former. However, he didn't seem evil and his mom was perfectly human.
"Which one would you like?"
"Hunh?"
"Which mattress would you like?" Shuichi repeated, looking at a row of twin size mattresses laid out in front of them.
"The cheapest one," May replied automatically.
They paid the cashier who told them that they will have it delivered by tomorrow. "Tonight you can sleep in my room and I'll sleep with my mom," Shuichi told her.
"Okay thanks," May replied absentmindedly. Then, before she can stop herself she blurted out, "You're a demon aren't you?"
Shuichi froze in his tracks. "You know about demons?"
"Yup. I grew up with Genkai so I'm used to fighting demons. I used to hate them because my family were all killed by demons but now I know not all demons are bad." Then she added "But if you try to attack me I won't hesitate to take you out."
"Don't worry I won't attack you. It's true I'm a demon, but I just want to live a peaceful life as a human now… as Shuichi."
"Who are you? If you're not Shuichi I mean. Why are you in this human body? How come your mom is a human?"
He contemplated for a moment what he should say. "I'll tell you but please don't tell my mom or anyone else."
May promised and Kurama told her who he really was.
After he was done, May stared at him for a long time. "So you're basically a 1000 year old fox demon living in a 12 year old human's body." Then she giggled. "No wonder you talk weird."
"What do you mean?"
"You don't sound like a 12 year old. You sound more like a butler."
Kurama laughed. "I see. I'll take that as a compliment."
May and Kurama became friends from that day forward. May stayed at the Minamino residence for three years and went to the same middle school as Kurama. Before high school began, she took on a part time job working for Koenma. She earned enough money so when high school started, she was able to rent an apartment of her own. Even though Kurama went to Meiou High, the two of them kept in constant contact. Later, May followed Genkai to the Dark Tournament where she met Yusuke, Kuwabara, Hiei, and the rest of the gang. The last she heard from Kurama he had told her that he, Hiei, and Yusuke were going to the demon world.
[1 year later]
[The sound of a ringtone playing] Fukkiru hazu no kokoro ni sotto yokogiru kaze wa yasashi-
May was in the middle of her sophomore year psychology class but as soon as she saw the caller ID on her cell she snuck out of the lecture hall. "Hello? Kurama?"
"Yes it's me. Are you busy?" Kurama asked.
May could hardly keep the excitement out of her voice. "When did you get back? How was the demon world? What happened to everyone?" A few students passing by gave her odd looks but she pretended not to notice.
"I got back yesterday. Everything is fine now. The demon world is unified under a new ruler and there shouldn't be any trouble in the human world for the next two years at least," Kurama explained. "Listen May, there's something I have to tell you. Can you meet me later?" Kurama's voice sounded troubled.
"Yea, I'm done after 3. Where do you want to meet?"
"Let's meet at 3:30 in the Garden café then."
When May arrived at the café, she saw Kurama was already there. He was seated at one of the tall chairs near the back corner of the café where there were not many people. She took the seat across from him. "Kurama?" His expression reminded her of the image of a little boy who just found out that Santa Clause wasn't real.
"May, I need to tell you something."
She waited for him to go on.
Kurama looked out the window. "Remember on the first day we met, you told me your family was killed by demons?"
"Yes."
"The demon that killed your family was Youko Kurama."
May was sure her heart stopped beating for at least five seconds.
"I found out from Yomi during this trip to demon world," Kurama continued wearily. "After I found out, I asked Koenma whether it was true. I'm so sorry. I didn't want to keep it from you."
May felt as if someone was choking her. "You killed my… but… why?"
Kurama sighed. "Your ancestors lived in the demon world for a short period of time but they were very well known in the region where they lived. There were many rumors saying that they were humans who came from another world and had hidden treasures with incredible powers. When the bandits and I heard of those rumors, we attacked them."
May looked at the man sitting in front of her as if she was seeing him for the first time. Tears were streaming down her face but she ignored them. "I hate you," she said before running out of the café.
Author comments: I actually had a lot of fun writing this prologue especially just imagining what a twelve year old May and a twelve year old Kurama would be like. I think deep down I'm still twelve. :D This intro focused a lot on the relationship between May and Kurama. I love how complicated their relationship is and I sympathize with both of them, especially May who is probably my alter ego. Their history will be important for the future development of the story and I'll leave it at that. Next chapter uploaded!
