Yu Yu Hakusho: The Next Stage
Chapter 26: Case File
Marth sat against the wall, leaning his head back against the cool wood. As he shut his
eyes, he opened his mouth to speak.
"So, how did you resist them, Yuki?" he asked.
"It was simple, once I realized what it was," Yuki replied in his usual soft tone. He felt around for the palm of the nearest girl. "Her pulse seems fine," he said, feeling the steady beat in her wrist.
Marth shot up, quite alert now, fighting the soporific effects of the blossoms.
"Really? How?"
"Well," began Yuki slowly, "throughout the song I felt as if something was missing from it. As soon as I felt those cold, lifeless hands wrap themselves around my neck, I realized what it was. The music lacked emotion, which is the essence of music. Those hands made me realize that she wasn't using her own soul to feel the song, but it was some external force driving the notes. But that was all it was. Just notes. No feeling."
"I think I understand what you're talking about," Marth replied, once again leaning back against the wood paneling. "When she danced, I also noticed that something was missing. Now that you mention it, there wasn't any emotion in the movement. It's so hard to explain, but deep down I knew it."
The door flew open at the end of the room, and out of the darkness stepped Mayumi, Tohiro, and Takashi. All three looked like they'd seen a lot of action.
"So? How'd it go?" asked Marth, leaping to his feet and rushing forward to greet them.
"Everything's going to be okay, I think," Takashi said as he looked down at Mayumi, who clutched his arm tightly. Yuki also came toward them.
Marth stared at the blood on Takashi's clothes, the bits of rubble on Mayumi's dress, and the rips in Tohiro's shirt.
"You guys look awful," he said bluntly.
Takashi smiled, and Mayumi giggled. Tohiro just shook his head.
"It's good to have you back, Mayumi," Yuki whispered.
"Thanks, it's good to be back," she replied with a smile. She let out a yawn and stretched her arms over her head.
"I'm s-sleepy!" she exclaimed.
Yuki chuckled. "Those are the blossoms I created to get these Dolls to sleep. Since you've defeated the Masquerader, I expect they'll be back to normal when they wake up."
"I'm sure they'll be wondering where the hell they are," Tohiro muttered with an amused look in his eyes.
"Yes, and that's why you'll be a gentleman and help them home," Takashi said with a laugh.
"But, wait!" Marth interjected. "Tohiro is afraid of girls!"
"That's right!" Mayumi said happily. "He's terrified of them!"
Tohiro glared daggers at the rest of the group, who burst into a fit of laughter.
Takashi sat against the coolness of the rock in the smooth, white sand. As he let the gentle, salty sea breeze graze his face, he stared out over the ocean water. He sat beneath the shade of a palm treeoverlooking the beach, and he was finally at peace. This was his secret spot, where he would mull over things when he needed a place to think. The beach was perfect. There was something about the deep, vast sea that helped him put all his problems into perspective. It made his problems seem so tiny and insignificant, which helped him to resolve things. This place put him in the right frame of mind.
"Hey," said a sweet, soft voice behind him. He whipped around to find Mayumi standing there in the shade, her long, raven hair cascading down her back. The wind pushed it against her smooth, pearly skin. She wore a sleeveless yellow top and navy shorts, along with a pair of pink sandals. Her beautiful, blue eyes shone silver in the sunlight, and they bore deep into his soul. His breath momentarily stopped. This was how it was every time he saw her.
"Hey," he replied breathlessly. She smiled and sat down next to him in the sand. Oh, he loved it when those lips smiled.
"It really is beautiful," she said, looking out over the water. "I can see why you come here often."
"How did you know I came here a lot?" he asked, not taking his eyes off her.
"It was a simple guess. You've always loved the water, Takashi."
"Yeah." He leaned his head back against the rock and looked out over the water.
The two sat in silence, thinking about everything that their minds could fathom. "So much has happened," Mayumi breathed.
"Yeah, I know what you mean. So much has happened in such a short time."
"Are you still hung up over it?" asked Mayumi, turning to face him.
He didn't meet her eyes.
"I don't think I'll ever get over it. I took someone's life, May. I've never actually taken a life before. I've just beaten them up real badly. But I was caught up in the moment. He told me what he was going to do with you, May, and I reacted with rage."
"Well, I expect that we're not finished with taking lives like that."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, aren't we going to have to keep this thing up? You know, hunting demons and killing them for Spirit World?"
"I guess."
"Do you think it's natural? I mean, do you think it's in our nature to kill others?"
"We're fighting for survival, so yeah, I suppose."
"But not only for our survival, Takashi. Do you think it's okay to kill others to protect our loved ones?"
Takashi thought for a moment.
"Yeah, I think so. But I guess if you can avoid killing them, you should."
"Yeah, you should."
Mayumi looked back across the ocean scene. The foamy waves washed up against the sand with a soothing rhythm, and they both felt at peace.
"What do you think the future will be like, Takashi?"
"I don't know, May. But..."
He stopped and hesitated for a moment.
"You can say it," Mayumi said. "I'll listen. I won't laugh at you."
"But all I know is that I want to protect you."
Mayumi stared at him. She felt her breath catch as well when Takashi turned to look at her. For a moment they shared a deep understanding of each other as they gazed upon one another.
Mayumi leaned forward and met Takashi's lips. In that moment, everything was forgotten, and all that mattered was their unspoken agreement to protect one another.
Takashi kissed her back passionately, at last feeling as if Mayumi understood him fully for the first time. He allowed himself to get lost in her kiss and let his mind go blank.
They broke apart.
"Thank you, Takashi," whispered Mayumi. She lay her head in his lap and let him stroke her hair as the both of them stared out upon the water. Both felt as if it symbolized a new life, a new beginning, a rebirth out of the darkness.
Koenma opened the file that lay on his desk. He brought out the first five sheets of paper from the file, which were profiles for five various people linked to the case.
Mayumi Urameshi
Born: February 2
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Blue
Blood Type: AB
Biography: Ms. Urameshi was born on February 2nd to the third Spirit Detective Yusuke Urameshi and his wife Keiko Yukimura. Both parents ran a restaurant together and lived in the apartment above. At age 9, Ms. Urameshi was hit by a car and sent into a six-year comatose state. Spirit World authorities believe that this was a mechanism used by the Kekkai Barrier to send her back to Demon World. Most likely she reached an A-class demon energy level, which the Barrier detected. Her soul was sent to Demon World while her body remained in Living World. After six years, the Barrier created a gap for her to escape through. Authorities are still unsure as to how this happened.
At the age of fifteen, Ms. Urameshi was given the protectorship of the legendary Time Stone. During the Tournament of the Three Worlds, she was forced to fight her father's predecessor, Shinobu Sensui, who returned after authorities believed him gone forever. Letting the Stone overcome her, the Ma-zoku demon blood came out and forced her to kill him. Upon her return from a mission to recover the other lost Stones, her rage revealed her full Ma-zoku form, and she destroyed the Living World and parts of Demon World in the process. Spirit World had to restore order to Living World after she was returned to her human form, and decided to take the Stones back as a safeguard.
The man responsible for stealing the Stones, Rei Ishimura,a.k.a. the Masquerader, took possession of Ms. Urameshi's soul. Four other young men went in to rescue her from his grasp, where they discovered that he had a whole collection of "Dolls," or young women whose souls he ensnared. The rescue mission was successful, but not without Mr. Ishimura's death.
Ms. Urameshi went on to marry Takashi Kuwabara, a childhood friend, after high school. They had two twin boys, and she continued to protect Living World alongside her husband.
Takashi Kuwabara
Born: May 11th
Hair Color: Orange
Eye Color: Blue
Blood Type: B
Biography: Mr. Kuwabara was born on May 11th to Kazuma Kuwabara, a close partner to Spirit Detective Yusuke Urameshi, and to his wife Yukina the Ice Apparition. Given Mr. Kuwabara's uncle was none other than the famous fire apparition Hiei, his ice and fire background made him Spirit World's choice for the Water Stone's protectorship.
Mr. Kuwabara fought alongside Ms. Mayumi Urameshi for many years as childhood friends. He participated in the Tournament of the Three Worlds and headed the rescue mission of Ms. Urameshi from the Masquerader. He also served in many other missions under Spirit World's employ and was trained by many great warriors, including the psychic Genkai.
Mr. Kuwabara married Ms. Urameshi after high school and had two twin boys with her. Although he continued to go on frequent missions under Spirit World, he joined the military and rose to the rank of Lt. Colonel.
Yuki Minamino
Born: September 24th
Hair Color: Red
Eye Color: Green
Blood Type: A
Biography: Mr. Minamino was born on September 24th to the legendary spirit fox Yokou Kurama, who took on the human name Suichi Minamino, and his wife Botan, guardian of the River Styx. He trained with many of the greatest masters in all three worlds, including the psychic Genkai. However, Mr. Minamino was forced to overcome blindness when attacked by a spider demon.
Seeing as how his father had skill with plant powers, Spirit World found it fitting that the Earth Stone be given to Mr. Minamino. It proved quite useful in amplifying his already superior skills with the plant kingdom. A participant in the Tournament of the Three Worlds, and as an agent on the rescue of Ms. Urameshi, Mr. Minamino continued to serve Spirit World as a protector of Living World throughout his high school career. However, Mr. Minamino retired from the warrior's life upon graduation. He went into medical school and became one of Tokyo's most prominent doctors. Eventually, he married a nurse named Taka Ito and had a single daughter with her.
Marth the Wind Master
Born: December 15th
Hair Color: Blue
Eye Color: Red
Blood Type: O
Biography: Marth the Wind Master was born on December 16th to parents Jin the Wind Master and his human wife, Anishi Wanagumi. He lived in Demon World until the age of nine, when his family moved to Living World as a favor to Spirit World. There, Marth trained alongside the other protectors as the keeper of the Wind Stone due to his family background of wind powers. He trained with Genkai, the famous psychic master. He competed in the Tournament of the Three Worlds, as well as participated on the rescue of Ms. Urameshi. Marth the Wind Master served on many other missions before and after that particular case.
He went on to become a pilot for a major airline corporation, although he continued to serve under Spirit World as a fighter and protector for all three worlds. He married Sani Kurumi, another pilot, and had a single son.
Tohiro Toguro
Born: June 12th
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Black
Blood Type: B
Biography: Mr. Toguro was born on June 12th to the famous Younger Toguro and his wife, Tanokai. Spirit World knew that he'd be the best choice for the Fire Stone, and thus became the next protector. When he moved to Living World, he trained under the great Genkai, and also under Hiei, a fire apparition. Mr. Toguro picked up on his techniques, including the incapacitating Dragon of the Darkness Flame, which he used on the rescue mission of Ms. Urameshi. He was left with a crippled arm from that day on. At one point, he also participated in the Tournament of the Three Worlds. He's also been on many cases for Spirit World.
After his graduation from high school, not much is known about him. Rumors say that he went back to Demon World to compete for the position of King. Upon his winning of the title, however, Mr. Toguro refused the position. Under the new leader's rule he protected the fragile Demon World society. Any evidence of a family has never been found.
Koenma smiled to himself. With an air of finality, he brought down the stamp upon the parchment with a loud thud. The seal of Spirit World glistened red upon the front page of the file. He closed the folder and held it in his hands for a few moments, allowing the memories to flood back to his mind. It seemed like only yesterday that he had gone down to Demon World to explain Mayumi's new life as a meandering soul.
He offered it to Jeorge, who stood in front of the desk with a reminiscent glaze in his eyes. The ogre took it with gentle hands then looked up to Koenma to receive further instruction. Koenma began to speak with a tone of conclusion in his voice.
"Put this back in the Records Department. I've finished now."