Fighting to Live Again
"Botan?" Yusuke called out, a smile forming as he realized it was her. "Haven't seen you in... years. How've you been? What brings you all the way out to my neck of the Demon World woods?"
Botan smiled weakly at him. "I've missed you," she told him. "I wish I was here just for a visit... Ningenkai is in trouble again..."
"Human World?"
"Yes. Kuwabara has contacted Koenma. He said his psychic awareness has been bothering him for weeks," Botan informed them, looking over the four now-somber faces.
Hiei looked meaningfully at Kurama, who stood beside him. This is what we've been sensing.
The ex-spirit detective looked only slightly surprised with this news. "Saving the world?" he asked softly. "Well, that is, after all, what I do best," he laughed. Glancing at Aurora, he frowned, "Will you come with us?"
Startled, shimmering golden eyes moved slowly to meet intense brown ones. For a moment, she did not respond. Indecision flickered over her expression, several mixed emotions fighting one another for dominance. Human World... Disgust lasted just a moment too long, and Yusuke was able to decipher it before it was quickly and skillfully hidden.
Disappointment seared through him though he tried his damnedest not to allow it to show on his face. He remembered Kurama telling him she'd never been there. He remembered how Hiei loathed to be there. Would she go simply because he asked her to?
:-:-:-:-:
"I'm sorry, Yusuke. My hands are tied."
He was on the verge of punching Koenma for the third time in his life. "So, what? You're just going to allow Human World to be destroyed?" Though the rage burned through his soul, he kept his tone even and did not yell.
Koenma looked at him, his expression one of utter defeat. "I'd be thrown from Spirit World if I did anything to interfere."
Furious brown eyes flashed, "You know, I used to know a guy who cared more about honor and loyalty than his standing as royalty. I guess I never really knew him at all."
Koenma blanched, "Yusuke, wait!" But the demon king was already walking away.
:-:-:-:-:
Pale eyes lost somewhere between gold and green narrowed in understanding. Pain was flickering at the corner of acknowledgement, threatening to diminish rational thought.
The war for survival had already begun. The Human World would suffer dearly for their indiscretions.
Those same pale eyes danced with poorly disguised indecision. A demon did not belong among these humans. However, something more important, something not often experienced by any demon, prevented any retreat whatsoever. Love.
:-:-:-:-:
"Run."
"But you can't take them alone!"
"We don't have a choice. I'll keep you safe; I'll hold them back as long as I'm able."
"But-"
"Go! There isn't much time."
There wasn't much time, at all. The doors were being broken down, windows were being shattered. The soldiers would be upon them in a mere matter of minutes. "Take the others somewhere safe. We don't all have to die tonight."
Indecision burned brightly in his eyes. The honorable thing would be to stay and fight. However, the other non-fighters of the group needed someone to protect them as they moved to find another safe house.
"For the love of all that is holy, go already!"
:-:-:-:-:
He sighed, "There will be a war."
She shook her head, "I would not call it a war. That would imply both sides have an equal opportunity of victory."
"What would you call it, then?"
"A massacre."
:-:-:-:-:
Yusuke watched the sun set over the city he once knew quite well. Nothing was the same here anymore. The air was thick with death and destruction; it was faintly similar to the air of the Makai. Where buildings once stood, rubble lay useless in the fading light. The quite cries of those on the brink of death just barely reached his ears. He could do nothing to help them. He had failed them. He had sworn to protect this world from something just as this... and he had failed.
His watch shift was nearly over. Heaving a great sigh, he pulled another cigarette from the pack in his breast pocket. Lighting it and taking a long drag, he tried to focus his thoughts onto something more beneficial. Like the ever-dwindling food supply, or where the hell Kurama was and why he had missed the last three scheduled check-ins, or whether or not Hiei would be able to recover, or Aurora... Or how on earth they'd find their next safe house. None of them ever stayed safe for long; someone always found them.
With another cloud of smoke exhaled, tears began to well up in his eyes. How the fuck did it end up like this?
:-:-:-:-:
A raven-haired man, his once youthful face aged by hardship and weariness, knelt before the dark stone of a grave marker. It was simple, plain, with only a name inscribed on it. The air was frigid, as winter was beginning to take over for autumn. The snow seemed only fitting for this occasion.
"I'm so sorry..." he whispered. I can't do this anymore...
:-:-:-:-:
Nearly twenty years have passed since the Kakai Barrier was taken down completely, and the Demon World has settled into a time closer to peace than it had ever seen, however not all is as it seems. In the face of another possible World War, word is leaked of demons moving freely into the Human Realm. Several Human World governments declare war against Demon World; an action that will spell the end of Ningenkai. Cities are falling, buildings are crumbling and death is lying heavy in its wake.
Yusuke, Kurama, Hiei, Aurora and several of their demon comrades will take a stand beside old allies, partners and friends to defend a world that is quickly tumbling into ruin. In the face of this new danger, can they prevail or will they die trying?
This is the sequel to Learning to Live Again. Please let me know what you think. I should have the first chapter up shortly. Thank you for reading and reviewing! :)
This story is somewhat based off an idea I was struck with while listening to the song The Only Hope for Me is You, by My Chemical Romance.
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho, any of its characters or its universe. I do not own the song The Only Hope for Me is You. I do not make any money off of this. I only own the plot of my story and the characters I've created for it.