Chapter 3
A Promise Between Friends
It didn't take long for the kids at school to hear about Yusuke getting killed and everyone reacted differently to it.
Teachers and students who had long been the victim Yusuke's bullying were relieved, even joyful, that he was road kills. Other students were indifferent, and then there were very of us who felt genuine remorse that he was gone. Though only Kayko and I could call him "friend" some people just felt bad because, bully or not, Yusuke was still a person. He was still someone's child and he was still gone.
Goten and Trunks walked me to his wake that night. I was surprised at the turn out. I expected Kayko, Yusuke's mom Atsuko, and a few random people who just felt bad, but there were a lot of students there and quite a few teachers.
We stood with Kayko as mourners went inside to pay their respects.
"Half of them are celebrating," I said wiping tears from my eyes.
"I could understand not liking Yusuke, but what kind of jerk goes to a wake to and talks about how glad they are that someone is gone?" Trunks said patting me on the back comfortingly.
"It doesn't matter. . . Yusuke's dead. We're never going to see him again you guys," Kayko said tears filling her eyes.
I reached over and hugged and we both cried our eyes out. Trunks and Goten stood awkwardly, unsure of how to console.
"Urameshi!" someone shouted.
Kayko and I looked up through our tears to see Kuwabara trying to fight off Okubo, Matt and Josh as he made his way inside.
"You're scared! You weren't supposed to die! You have to come back so I can fight you again!" Kuwabara started crying. "I have to fight you again." They pulled Kuwabara back and apologized to everyone from the disruption.
"Kuwabara. . . I didn't think that he would be upset about this," Goten said.
I stepped away from my friends.
"Sis. . ." Goten started.
I ignored him. I walked inside and kneeled in front of Yusuke's small shrine. I only had this chance to say goodbye to Yusuke.
"I don't know what to say to you," I said awkwardly. "I mean, this morning we were laughing and joking around like always and now. . . We're not. It's so weird and I don't know what to do, Yusuke. You were my best friend in the whole world. I'm not capable of getting anything done with your help. I'm such a helpless person. I mean, I seem strong but I'm really just a big soft little girl at the core. Everyone has someone that makes them better and I had you. Without you I'll probably just go to school everyday and be a good student. . . I guess there's no reason for me to be whining now is there? You'd probably just tell me to shut up or tell me to continue feeding your ego and to be honest I don't like either of those choices. So, for me, just remember and take this to heart, you were my best friend and I'll never forget you. . . Good bye."
I walked off onto the porch and stopped in front of Trunks.
"Kairi?" he began.
I wrapped my arms around him and cried my eyes out. By saying goodbye I'd made it true that he was dead.
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The next day, I awoke late in the evening. I'd slept the day away. It was almost six o'clock. The sound of my phone ringing it's generic tone was calling me from my sleep. I was still in a horribly depressed, but felt that human contact would do me some good.
I answered the phone still under my blanket.
"Hello?" I said glumly.
"Good morning, Kairi! Not still in bed I hope."
The voice was cheery and perky and happy.
". . . Botan?" I asked.
Botan was a girl that worked for Spirit World. She was the grim reaper in laymen's terms. She was also my liaison between here and the Spirit World. She told me my assignments as Spirit Detective and filled me in on anything I needed to know.
"Bingo!" she said.
"Botan, I really can't handle doing a mission right now. My best friend just died yesterday and I haven't really-."
"Yusuke Urameshi! Age 14. Killed by a red sports car saving a little boy," Botan said. "We've met."
"So you took him over to the other side. I suppose you told him all about me then," I said.
"Absolutely not! You can do that yourself," she said.
"How? He's dead? Even if he were a ghost I still can't talk to them or see them outside of my dreams at all," I said.
"Well he's coming, back," she said.
I came out from under my blanket and sat up.
"Coming back?" I asked.
"Yes. We didn't expect Yusuke to die at all yesterday so Koenma's decided to give him a second shot at life," Botan said.
"Wow. . . Okay then," I said.
It wasn't everyday that you found out your best friend could come back from the dead, then again, my dad was dead for the first 8 years of my life and he was alive now.
There's not a very fine line between normal and paranormal in my life.
"When can I expect to see him?" I asked.
"Soon, but you have a very important job to do in order to help him," Botan said.
"Lay it on me," I said.
"Koenma's already put a pulse back into his body so he's alive, and Kayko's already managed to keep his mother from going through with the funeral," Botan said. "All you need to do is help her keep him safe until he returns."
"No sweat," I said.
"Good, and when he does come back he'll be your responsibility," she said.
"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked.
"You'll find out soon enough," she said.
The line went dead and Botan was gone.
I sat my phone back on my nightstand and looked out my window. Nothings but forests and trees as far as the eye could see.
My phone rang again. I answered.
"Hello?" I asked.
"It's Trunks."
"Oh, hi," I said.
"You sound better," he said.
"I am. I just talked to Spirit World," I said.
"A new mission?" he asked.
"No. About Yusuke. He's a special circumstance right now," I said.
"Meaning what?" Trunks asked.
"Just. . . Don't get used to him not being around," I said.
Trunks sighed. "How'd he manage to that?"
"Sudden unexpected death," I said. "Yusuke wasn't expected to die so he has a chance to come back."
"Well, good for him," he said.
"So why'd you call?" I asked.
"Goten said you'd been in your room all day. I was calling to let you know I was coming to kidnap you, so you could get some air, but seeing as how you're not depressed anymore it doesn't matter," Trunks said.
"So we're not allowed to hang out just because?" I asked. "I'm happy to see how much our friendship means to you."
Trunks laughed. "Just me and you though alright. You can't bring Goten or Kayko along like you usually do alright?"
"Fine," I said.
"And you have to promise me one more thing," he said.
"Okay," I said. Trunks never asked anything big of me, so I was sure it was a small request.
"Look at Yusuke dying as a chance to turn over a new leaf," he said.
"New leaf how?" I asked.
"Be a better person than you were before, GJ. Even after Yusuke comes back try to actually so some good rather than punching people in the face," Trunks said.
I smiled. "That's more of asking me to make a lifestyle change than making a small promise. I've got serious anger management issues, just like Gohan did."
"And now Gohan's the nicest guy you could ever meet," Trunks said. "You know how to be nice too."
I rolled my eyes. "Come and get me, Trunks."
I hung up the phone and climbed out of bed.
I guess it wasn't too much to ask for me to be nice once in a while. To actually go to school and use the brain I knew I had. Having high expectations for me wasn't too much especially since I could meet them.
It was my issues with anger and what had fondly been called my "stupid Saiyan pride" that kept me from being the nice girl everyone loved.
And anyway, I kind of liked being notorious.