E.H.:

Thanks a bunch for the reviews, everyone! Not much else to say here! Hope you enjoy this next chapter!

"Typical enough for me
And I burn inside in agony
What power will enable me
To make this decision

Despair has fallen over me
No way to hide the agony
Embracing my calamity
To save myself once and for all"

Criminal – Disturbed

It's Criminal Not to Care

Yusuke strode through the annoyingly bright hallways; hallways he'd thought he'd finally put behind him once and for all. Apparently, that was just a lie. His face set into hard lines of anger, frustration, and dismay. After all these years, after all this time…now Koenma chose to rescind his apparent 'ban' from Spirit World halls? He'd be damned if Koenma didn't give him answers; and damn good ones at that! He reached the office doors and ignored the ogres who were scrambling to reach the door before him. His foot raised and slammed into the heavy doors; they flew open with a jarring thud. A loud squawk of surprise flew from behind the stack of papers strewn near the desk. The toddler sized ruler jumped onto his desk to peer over a particularly tall stack.

"Yusuke!" Anything scolding he was about to say died off as the former spirit detective approached the desk with clouded fury within his brown eyes. The half-demon slammed his hands down on the desk; cracks spider webbed away from his palms and fingertips as he glared the toddler down.

"What'd the hell you want now? I was forcibly retired, remember that?"

Koenma gulped semi-audibly. "Yes, I do. However, regardless of that needless notion, I need your help."

"Yeah, yeah. Tell me one I haven't heard. Been there, heard that, bitched 'bout it after."

"Yusuke, please! I don't think you understand! Your world is being threatened!"

"When isn't it?! Huh, Koenma?! When isn't the world in danger?! I ain't your hero! I have a life now! A family!"

"And if you want to continue that life and let your family continue to have a life, you'll help me!"

Yusuke's glare softened just barely around the edges. "Say what?" Koenma was almost shocked by the calmer tone the former spirit detective was using. This wasn't the same pig-headed teenager he'd first hired years ago.

Koenma rubbed his tired face. "There is…a very delicate case I have on my hands. The information is all of the utmost confidentiality; truly the most top secret."

Yusuke frowned, leaning back to cross his arms. "I'm listenin'."

A heavy sigh fell from the toddler as he sat back in his seat and nodded. "I think I need to show you rather than tell you this time." He slid out of his seat and as he rounded the desk, morphed with a poof of blue smoke into his older form. "Please understand that this is with the heaviest heart that I do this."

"Just shut the hell up and show me already."

"As you wish."

They walked on in silence through the long hallways and corridors into the records department. Koenma dismissed the staff before moving to the confidential files vault. He opened the vault and motioned Yusuke inside first. Yusuke complied before stopping just inside. He opened his mouth to comment only to fall silent as Koenma shut the vault and moved past him to the back wall. Without warning, it opened to reveal a long, narrow staircase.

"Where the hell you takin' me?"

"You'll understand shortly."

Yusuke rolled his eyes and followed Koenma down the long staircase only a little un-nerved by the resounding slam of the doors closing behind them. A subtle glow came from the bottom of the stairs as they drew nearer and grew in strength as they reached the end.

Koenma turned and looked at Yusuke solemnly. "This is a place not even ogres are allowed to touch…only the royal family. In other words, you're the first besides my father and I to ever be admitted down here."

"Pretty damn secretive, then."

"Exactly. What I'm about to show you…and tell you…is beyond confidential. Obviously, you will need to inform the others at some point, but other than that; Yusuke no one is allowed to know about this."

"Let me guess, the world will end and fall to friggin' pieces if I do?"

"I suppose that'd be the apt description, yes. Just…listen." Koenma turned and walked to the large orb in the middle of the small room. "Orb of Thothamun…show Yusuke the Thread Wheel."

The orb pulsed for a moment before spinning; as it spun an image of a large wheel began to appear. In the wheel, several spider webs of branches reached out from the center. Yusuke frowned, leaning closer. Each thread trailed off into a small point of light.

"And what the hell am I lookin' at?"

"The Thread Wheel. The world is actually a network of spider webbing spindles throughout space and time, Yusuke. Alternate paths intersecting frequently where multiples of the same beings live simultaneously in different planes of existence; all with different rules. Where one is a magical type being, another logistical scientific, and so on goes the wheel. Their only common thread is Spirit World. In lesser terms…" He turned and looked at Yusuke. "Me."

Yusuke blinked a few times before letting out a long breath and running his hand through his gelled hair. "Damn. No wonder you don't tell anyone your dirty little secrets."

"Yes, well…unfortunately, they always have a way of finding their way out at some point."

"So what does this gotta do with me?"

"That…you'll just have to watch yourself." Koenma waved his hand beside the orb. "Orb of Thothamun, show Yusuke…what happened yesterday."

Yusuke shot a look at Koenma from the corner of his eyes before turning his attention to the orb. Like a badly depicted movie, the events scrolled before his eyes. He could feel his eyes widen in surprise as his very own face appeared in the images alongside Kuwabara, Kurama, and Hiei. A demon he'd never seen before was attacking them. It all moved so fast that he hardly had time to react as he watched the four get blown back from the demon. His eyes centered automatically on the same person his look-a-like did; Kuwabara lied with a large branch shoved through his chest cavity. He almost reacted similarly only to hold himself back. The events seemed to spin too quickly for him to register the change until he watched as Kurama was literally torn apart against a boulder as the energy blast shred him painfully. Hiei was sliced to bits, ironically similar to the way he usually killed his own opponents. The last death he watched was his own as the demon tore his still beating heart from his chest. The demon looked gleeful before the orb stopped the images. Yusuke stared at the glowing surface in shock before he looked at Koenma.

"What…the fuck did I jus' see, Koenma?"

"Your death…in another universe. That demon has somehow found a way to jump through dimensional space. He's hunting every one of your personas down. Along with Kuwabara's, Kurama's, and Hiei's. Each time he does this, that universe falls into chaos and destruction."

"He's hunting us?!"

"Yes."

"But why go kill them?! Why not come after us here?!"

"Because, you're the strongest versions of yourselves. He won't stop until all of you are dead."

"So, what?! We sit and wait for his fuckin' bitchiness to find us and kill us?!"

"No. That's why I needed you now, Yusuke. There are still many versions of you left. In fact…where I need to send you next is one that is nearly on par with your level…well, with you past human only level. He's not a half-breed like you…"

"Wait. Let me see here; if there's this many universes than…is there only one Demon World?"

"No. There are just as many Demon Worlds as Human Worlds. However, in some…the demons are in control and humans hunted and revered. In some, they work side by side."

"Shit." Yusuke ran his hands down his face. Then what Koenma said earlier sank in. "Wait! What d'ya mean where you need to send me next!?"

"I need your help with this Yusuke! He's hunting down the weaker personas first in order to gain more strength to face you as you are now! He's not expecting you to come to him. It's the only option we have, Yusuke!"

"I can't jus' pick up and run off like this! I've got a kid, Koenma! A kid!"

"And if you don't, he'll kill off many more of you in who knows how long before he comes for you. He will probably be strong enough to kill you at that point and then what? Leave your son behind in an Armageddon world where he's left trying to grow strong enough to avenge you? You can't tell me that's what you want, Yusuke."

"Of course it ain't!"

"Then help me…please."

Yusuke turned away to glare at the wall; torn between walking away from this or his families' continued safety. "Goddamnit, Koenma. What choice have I got?"

"Not much, and for that I'm really sorry."

"Jus'…give me a day to properly explain this to Keiko."

"…you aren't planning on telling her about the whole thing—"

"Fuck off, Koenma." Yusuke snarled; his patience snapping. "If you try to keep me from telling my fuckin' wife why I may never fuckin' return, I'll walk the hell outta here and never look back. You understand?"

Koenma stepped back and held up his hands. "Fine…I understand. I think it best if…you move them to Genkai's temple to stay with Yukina while you are away. Probably best for Shizuru as well. I'm sending Botan to stay with them and keep me in the loop on what is going on."

Yusuke nodded, letting out a long breath. "All right." He followed Koenma back up to the office. Once there, Koenma summoned a portal back to Human World. Yusuke stepped through into a dark alleyway. The streetlights here were broken and if anyone saw him emerge they were either heavy druggies here or drunkards too far gone to be able to piss correctly. Shoving his hands deep into his pants pockets, he set off back to home. The walk was usually a fairly brisk, bustling one during daylight hours into most of the evening hours. However, at three-thirty am as it was now…it was deader than a cemetery. The cool night air didn't bother the half-breed. His pace slowed as he neared home; his feet came to a stand-still outside the yard. His right hand lifted to his hair in a habitual motion of nervousness.

"Fuck…she's gonna kill me this time for sure…" He grumbled before approaching the door, crossing the threshold into the darkened house. He quickly relocked the door. Slipping off his shoes, he didn't have to look up to know she was already awake.

"Yusuke…?" He straightened to look at her concerned face. Keiko worried her lip between her teeth. "Where were you?"

"Somewhere that'll get my ass pummeled no matter what I say." He sighed before holding up his hands as she opened her mouth to reply. "I was in Spirit World. Koenma paged my old communicator mirror and I didn't wanna wake you up."

"Oh." Keiko's face fell even more. "What did he…want?"

'More than I know how'ta give.' Yusuke mused to himself before moving to guide Keiko to the couch. "Remember that demon Botan warned us 'bout?"

Keiko's eyes filled with emotion as she nodded. "Yes…he's…coming after you, isn't he?"

"Kind of. He's…he's jumping from dimension to dimension killin' off…me…" He grimaced at how stupid he sounded.

"I'm…not sure I understand."

"Trust me, its friggin' mutual."

"What do you mean by dimensions, Yusuke?"

"Apparently, there're lots of 'em. More than one human world; hell, more than one demon world at that. This demon bastard is jumpin' time and space to kill off the other versions of me. Then he's gonna come for me."

"There's nothing you can do, is there?"

"There is." Yusuke looked away and winced as Keiko's small hands slid into his. "I…in order to keep you and Keisuke safe, I gotta…go. To another dimension and fight this demon. He ain't strong enough to kill us…yet."

Yusuke turned back as wet drops fell onto the backs of his hands. "Keiko?"

"Y-you don't…know if y-you're coming…b-back do you?"

He hated to lie to her; it killed him inside every time. But he knew it would be too cruel to let her know that there was a very good chance…he wasn't coming home. Koenma hadn't outright said it, but Yusuke figured it out fairly easily. "Hey! Don't you be like that! 'Course I'm comin' home! Why wouldn't I? I've always come home to you! I ain't changin' that now."

Keiko closed her eyes in an effort to hide the doubt she felt in his reassurances and forced herself to nod. "O-okay."

"I'm takin' you to Genkai's temple tomorrow. You and Keisuke'll be safe there 'til we get back. You got it?"

Wiping away her tears, Keiko nodded. "I'll pack us up first thing tomorrow. Do you have to go inform the other's at all?"

"No. Koenma's sendin' Botan with communicators to everyone else…"

"Poor Botan."

"Yeah. She's gonna be stayin' at the temple with you girls to make sure you stay in the loop."

"All right. Are you coming to bed?"

"I can't sleep right now. But if you want me to—"

"Yusuke, come to bed with me…"

Yusuke stared into Keiko's honey-brown eyes. He nodded and rose, sweeping her into his arms. He carried her to their room and laid her out on their bed. Kissing her with all the emotions he'd kept bundled inside during this whole crisis, he showed her how much he was going to miss her.

…..

Keisuke fell, with a flop and heavy pants of breath onto the top step leading to the temple. "W-why i-is…th-the temple…s-so…high…uuuuup?!"

Keiko laughed lightly, helping him to his feet. "Because, that's just how Genkai liked it."

Yusuke snorted beside her. "Yeah, tough, bitchy, and a pain to deal with."

Keiko shot Yusuke a look, but let his foul mouth slide this time. They made their way to the front door; as they approached it opened. Kuwabara stepped out with a strained smile.

"Yo, Urameshi! Been a while!"

"Yeah. Sure has! You haven't changed a bit, Kuwabara! Still ugly as usual!"

"'Ey! Lay off me!" Kuwabara turned and eyed Keisuke before grinning. "Dang, Urameshi! He looks jus' like ya! But with Keiko's hair'n'eyes!"

"Yeah, he's my runt." Yusuke chuckled, ruffling Keisuke's hair. "Where's your brats?"

"Inside with Yukina. Come on in."

They all walked inside and into the main gathering room. Yusuke spotted Kurama and nodded in greeting to the fox demon. Kurama returned the gesture; he looked as unhappy with everything as Yusuke was feeling. Yusuke's eyes wandered to where the twins sat. They both looked like their mother; however Yuzuki had his mother's hair color while Hinako had a hair color that was a mix of Kuwabara's orange-red and Shizuru's brunette. Speaking of chain-smoking broads…Yusuke spotted her sitting off to the side, taking a drag from her lit cigarette. He felt a pang of longing go through him at the sight of the tobacco stick. He'd quit when Keiko became pregnant and never before had he desired a cancer stick like this since.

Botan rose from where she was seated and looked at Yusuke apologetically. "Yusuke, I—"

"Save it, Botan. You aren't to blame."

The mood in the room was somber and quiet. Even the children were staying silent. Keisuke refused to leave Keiko's side. Yusuke choked out a dry laugh.

"Guess this's where the party begins, eh?"

Kurama scoffed a soft chuckle, "Indeed, Yusuke."

"So, are we meetin' the runt somewhere or is he comin' here?"

Botan opened her mouth to reply.

"Hn." Came from the doorway as Hiei stepped into the room. If looks could kill, everyone would have been twenty feet under in Hell. He barely nodded at Kurama and Yusuke in greeting.

Kurama nodded once, "Hiei."

"Well, guess we're all here." Yusuke sighed. The group managed to make it out into the courtyard. Once there, déjà vu hit them all like a hurricane of memories as the portal yawned open in wait.

Yukina turned and tugged Kuwabara down for a chaste kiss and a long hug. Kuwabara held her carefully but firmly before kneeling down and dragging the twins into the large hug. Yuzuki buried his face into Kuwabara's shoulder to hide his tears while Hinako had no qualms sobbing her eyes out into his neck.

"Daddy!" Hinako cried, clutching him tightly. Yukina turned away from the sight; soft puffs of the dirt lifted from her tear gems filled the air.

Yuzuki leaned back and wiped his eyes angrily. "You better come back, daddy."

Kuwabara laughed heartily. "'Course I will! I got two of the cutest kids in the world to come play with and the most beautiful wife to come home to! I ain't gonna be gone long. Jus' you kids wait! Daddy'll be back in no time!"

Keiko's eyes were already waterfalls by the time Yusuke turned to her. She smiled weakly through her tears and hugged him tightly. "I love you, you jerk. I'll be waiting for you. So don't you dare make me wait long, you hear me?"

Yusuke smirked, holding her close. "Yeah, yeah. I got it. I won't let you down."

He pulled away and turned to Keisuke. He bent and pulled the boy into his arms before releasing him. "You take care of your mom, you hear me? She needs ya. You gotta be my little man and protect her; make sure she laughs more than she cries…got it?"

Keisuke smiled and nodded. "You got it, dad."

"Good." He straightened and threw his bag over his shoulder. Yusuke turned and looked at his team-mates. "Well, what the hell're we waitin' for?! Let's go kick this bastard's ass!"

"Heh! Been too long since I kicked someone's butt!" Kuwabara chuckled moving forward with the other three.

Hiei grunted. "You have to be able to kick someone's ass in order to miss it."

"Yeah, yeah! Missed you too, you little jerk!" Kuwabara replied.

Kurama laughed, shaking his head. He moved forward, having already said his goodbyes to his mother and family earlier in the day. He was not, however, expecting a certain blue-haired reaper girl to come running up to him and grab his arm. The three other men paused to look back at them. Kurama turned with slight confusion on his face. He looked into watery orchid pink eyes.

"Botan?"

"You be safe, Kurama. All right? I just…wanted to tell you that…" She turned her face away so that he didn't have to see her tears falling straight on.

Kurama frowned before turning her face back to look at her in the eyes. His voice was too soft for anyone else to hear. "I will return. So, please, stop crying for my sake. I can't stand to see you this upset. You should always wear a smile. It suits you best."

Botan blinked rapidly before nodding. She moved to hug Kurama and was surprised when he returned the hug.

"This is not the last goodbye." He sighed before pulling away and nodding to her. They stepped away from each other. Kurama turned and moved to follow the other three men.

Hiei turned with a derisive snort while Yusuke and Kuwabara eyed him both suspiciously and in amusement. He'd be interrogated for this later, he was certain. But for now, the mission took precedence. They all turned one last time to look back at their respective loved ones or family. Hiei looked to Yukina and nodded goodbye to her before turning and stepping through the portal first. Kuwabara blew kisses to his family, ignoring the disgusted look Yusuke threw at him. He then stepped through the portal. Yusuke held his hand up like his trade-mark spirit gun, pointing it at Keiko. She mirrored it back before they both pretended to pull the trigger at one another. He then gave her a thumbs-up and stepped through. Kurama waved to Botan and the others before stepping backwards into the portal.

Yusuke stared ahead of them. To say the portals Koenma cooked up left someone disoriented was a huge understatement. But this, this trip had to be the most disorienting of all. They were standing on a huge building overlooking a large bustling city. It looked like…

"Tokyo?" Kuwabara asked, looking around confused. "How come we're in Tokyo?"

"If Koenma failed…" Hiei's warning was weighty and filled the anxious air with more tension.

"No, Koenma did not fail. Look over there." Kurama pointed forward past the buildings ahead of them. A huge billboard was advertising something called 'demon acupuncture' before switching to a glorified yakuza leader. "It may be just a small assumption, but I don't recall any new trends of 'demon acupuncture' in our world nor of any yakuza leaders being in control of Tokyo."

"Well shit…looks like we made it after all." Yusuke grumbled.

"How're we gonna find this demon guy?" Kuwabara began to scan their surroundings.

"The hell if I know." Yusuke snorted.

"What are you four doing up here? This is private property! You ain't allowed to be on Tarogane's tower!" All four turned at the angry shouts of someone behind them.

Bwahaha! Cliff hanger! How's that little twist? Hope you didn't really think I was gonna keep our favorite four heroes dead for real? This is probably some of the most 'angsty' this story will be. I hope you guys are enjoying this one! Please leave me a review to let me know what you think so far!

Thanks!

Erika Hearken