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Phantoms

X

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The room was lit by the sunlight streaming through the open windows. A cool breeze swept through, disturbing the curtains. Kuwabara only leaned his face towards the wind's direction, breathing deeply. Spring had finally come. He smiled and felt strength renew his old skeleton. He wanted to go outside.

He blinked when he felt a prickling in his senses. Kuwabara turned to the door and saw a young man step into his room. For a second, his mind was foggy. The dark ponytail and mischievous face seemed familiar, but he couldn't quite… Then his memory cleared.

"Urameshi. You're still visiting me?"

Kuwabara watched the surprise hit Yusuke. He grinned to himself. Yusuke walked over to the bed and sat down by his feet.

"You remember me, huh? Well, this is the first time all week. I was beginning to feel discouraged," he replied, smiling.

Regret pierced Kuwabara. "Yukina stopped by this morning with the kids. I didn't remember them," he said. He looked at Yusuke sharply. "You should be honored!"

Yusuke looked upon him with open affection. Kuwabara allowed his gaze to wander over his friend's unchanged appearance. He never envied Yusuke's fate. His own wish was always for a normal life and that included old age. He only wished illness hadn't plagued him. That was the most painful thing for him. The memory lapses were more prolonged now and most of the time he was quite carefree about it. But he was always aware that something wasn't complete. When the memories flooded back, Kuwabara could only grit his teeth and bear it with as much dignity he could muster. If Yukina and the children could put on a brave face for him then he sure as hell could do the same. He looked at Yusuke. He knew he had been visiting every day. His mind had placed him as the "nice but no-good teenage rebel" and Kuwabara laughed now. Even when he didn't remember his old friend, the very appearance of Yusuke was undeniable and universal.

"Man, between you and Keiko, I don't know. She's gonna outrun you if you keep this up, Kuwabara."

Kuwabara's ears perked. "How's she doing?"

Yusuke shrugged. "Running the household still. The grandkids are all afraid of her. She's got major power."

Laughing, Kuwabara pointed a finger at Yusuke. "Don't tell me you're afraid of her too, Urameshi."

"What do you mean 'too'? I was always afraid of her, you dolt," replied Yusuke, grinning.

It was always "Urameshi" and "Kuwabara" between them. No matter how many years had passed, that still remained the same. Kuwabara knew the reason why. They were both stubborn men. But they were also best friends. Nothing else was required. Kuwabara's reiki had remained just as strong in his old age even if his body couldn't keep up with it anymore. He knew his time was coming soon. He suspected it was the reason why Yusuke had been visiting so often. Kuwabara smiled at the seemingly younger man before him. He would miss this.

"You better not waste the rest of your life, Urameshi. I'll personally come back from the dead and give you nightmares like you did me."

Yusuke watched him without saying anything. Then he smiled. He placed a warm hand on Kuwabara's leg. "Yeah, yeah. I love you too."

--

Jin snapped the gum in his mouth, grinning in satisfaction when Touya turned to glare at him. He had acquired the habit of chewing gum when he visited the Ningenkai a while ago. The rubbery texture fascinated him, and he was thoroughly impressed by the teenage girls who showed him how to blow a bubble. Even now in the Makai he continued the practice, driving his friends to the edge; Jin only laughed to himself.

"This mission does call for stealth," remarked Kurama with picture perfect calmness.

Damned if the kitsune always made him feel like a child. Jin shrugged his shoulders. "Won't do it again, I promise," he replied, winking.

Kurama shook his head, but his smile was amused. Touya was less forgiving and placed an ice cold grip on his arm. "Don't mess this up," he warned.

Jin shivered at the numbing sensation traveling up his arm and offered a placating smile. "Lighten up a little, man! Otherwise you may just freeze up those wrinkles of yours permanently," he said.

Touya just shook his head.

"So where's good ol' Yusuke anyway?" inquired Jin curiously.

"He's gone ahead of us in search of Koenma," answered Kurama.

Rinku tugged his yoyo upwards. He offered a skeptical look to the kitsune standing beside him. "So he's leaving us all the hard work? That's not fair…"

Suzuki cracked his knuckles. A predatory grin filled his face. "That's fine with me. I've been needing a decent workout."

Jin pointed a finger at him. "Oi, where's Shishi anyway? He's usually hovering on your shoulder like the little gremlin he is," he asked, waggling his eyebrows.

The blond rolled his eyes. "You know how he is when it comes to Yusuke. He opted out of this one because he felt he had involved himself 'too much with that commoner' already. He's probably sulking somewhere by now."

Jin laughed as Kurama looked around the group, clapping his hands twice. "The gossip is very entertaining but shall I get back to the main point of our meeting?"

"Touchy," muttered Rinku.

Kurama raised one cool eyebrow at the younger youkai. Rinku ducked his head. "So the mission is simple," continued Kurama once Rinku had sufficiently expressed his contriteness. "We are to be Yusuke's guards in basic terms. While he's searching for Koenma, we're to provide distraction so the others may not discover him first. We'll be divided into three groups. Jin and Suzuki. Rinku and Touya. I will go on alone. We'll be dispersed over the Reikai. The distractions…I shall leave up to you gentlemen to decide."

Suzuki grinned wickedly. "Ooh…Kurama, you sure about that?"

"Just no deaths," added the kitsune with his own mischievous smile.

Rinku pouted. "It's too bad Chuu can't come," he lamented.

Jin smacked the smaller youkai on the back. "He could if he would. Hell, he wanted to, but he's got other responsibilities now," he said, chuckling.

Touya shook his head gravely. "I still can't believe that he of all people…"

"Well, luck's a skill too, right?"

Kurama watched the four fighters before him with mild exasperation. Idleness had brewed an unhealthy sense of gossip in them; this mission would hopefully provide them reborn focus. He did wish Yusuke hadn't left already. The younger man was always better at inspiring a united effort. Especially with this lot. Kurama sighed. Neither of them had heard from Hiei, but Yusuke hadn't expressed his concerns. Always the dark horse by nature, Kurama was sure that Hiei would probably make his grand entrance sooner or later. It wouldn't have surprised him if Hiei was already on Yusuke's tail—just to make sure the latter wouldn't land himself into unnecessary trouble; Hiei was overprotective like that.

"Yusuke is relying on all of us."

The solemn words succeeded in drawing everyone's attention to Kurama again. The kitsune's green eyes shone brightly in the light. "It's not just him, though. If the Reikai falls, all of us will suffer the consequences."

The underlying gravity of the situation struck home, and Kurama was gratified to see the serious expressions from the four fighters surrounding him. For them, this mission was of political significance. The True Disciples didn't look upon the Makai favorably, and if they were to completely take over the Reikai then the demon population would most likely have a war on its hand—a war that would doubtless be won by the Reikai. Youkai were aplenty but only a tiny percentage of the population would be strong enough to present a real challenge to the Reikai; even then, the spiritual and ancient weapons the Reikai possessed would ultimately triumph.

This wasn't all, though. Their mission's purpose was first and foremost a rescue plan. The politics and schemes didn't concern Yusuke one bit. For him, this was about helping out an old friend. And because they were all friends with Yusuke, they too were much more personally involved. Kurama knew without fail that there was no one amongst them present that would ever turn their back on Yusuke. Such command and loyalty were only proof of Yusuke's own mightiness. Of course, the former human would never think anything special of himself.

Kurama smiled to himself. Koenma had better be prepared; being on the receiving end of Yusuke's temper wasn't anything pleasant.

"So now I shall instruct you on how to separate your souls from your bodies…"

--

Yusuke gently traced the characters on the gravestone with one finger. He never got around to crying. For some reason, the tears wouldn't come. He wondered if he was in shock. The vast emptiness he felt contradicted that notion, however. It wasn't shock. He felt a heavy turmoil burdening him, but there was a sliver of happiness to be found too. He smiled to himself.

"I wonder why I'm not sad."

An icy draft blew past him. Strange weather for spring. Yusuke knew who it was immediately.

"Paying your last respects, Hiei?"

The way he spoke was distant, shuttered. Yusuke was aware of Hiei's concerned gaze but he ignored it; he wasn't going to do anything foolish. The shorter youkai walked up to the grave and placed something small near its base. A hirui stone. Its smooth surface reflected the sunlight brilliantly. It was different from Yukina's stones; the blue was mixed with crimson and black. Yusuke finally looked at Hiei.

"The oaf should feel privileged. I have never bestowed this to anyone voluntarily."

A smile tugged at Yusuke's lips. "I'm glad. I can't seem to muster up the tears."

Hiei stared at the epitaph, eyes hard and unwavering. "Then I will cry for both of us."