Disclaimer: I don't own YYH
A/N: For the Kuwabara Birthday Week on Tumblr. According to Togashi, Kuwabara's birthday is February 27th! So happy birthday, Kazuma!
This is more sad than funny and not my usual OL. Get your tissues.
Chapter 29: Wish
Characters: Kuwabara, Yusuke, Hiei, Kurama, Sayaka, Botan
Rating: K+
Summary: A mulberry is a tree. Kuwabara was a man. He is gone now but has left three precious things to his three closest friends...
X -x-x-x-x- X
She sighed as she gathered the papers together. It had been a long time since she had done anything in Human World.
But things were different now. People changed and grew closer. The worlds weren't so separate anymore.
It was because of those boys. Yusuke Urameshi and his friends. So much influence from such a small source.
She sighed. She understood why she was called in. Lord Koenma had buried himself in paperwork, and Ayame refused to leave his side.
Hinageshi was busy comforting Botan who had the job of ferrying the soul.
Someone who knew of the three worlds was needed to read the Will. She would do, Koenma said.
It wasn't like she hadn't met one of them before.
"Sayaka?" Yusuke asked, blinking his eyes a few times. "Why do I know that name?" He pondered with his finger to his chin, as she shook with anger.
"I was there to evaluate you! When you died the first time!"
The half demon scratched his head. "Huh...the little kid, right? I guess I remember you." He shrugged. "Doesn't matter. Let's get this over with…"
She sighed heavily and took a seat on the floor. The table behind her was still adorned with candles and pictures of the deceased. She looked up at Yusuke. She was a bit surprised he was first. No one had seen him since…
Well, anyway.
She sat cross legged and laced her fingers together. Letting her eyes wander, she could see Demon World had been interesting for Yusuke. His hair was long now, and his inherited tattoos showed brightly. His human energy was barely noticeable and he reeked of demon aura. She sighed heavily. What a shame.
Footsteps brought her out of her stupor and she looked up to see Kurama stroll in. His hair was grayed on the sides now and he was cutting it shorter. Seemed his human body was indeed aging and it would only be a matter of time before it died and Youko was let loose. She shook her head.
"Kurama…" Yusuke nodded to the fox.
The fading redhead nodded back. "Yusuke. It's been a while."
She gathered the papers together. "Well, we read his normal Will to his sister, wife and children. You two will hear this one. Since I highly doubt Hi-" and she stopped as a third walked in.
"He what?" his scathing voice asked. She gasped as all the dark flooded into the room. It dripped off the swordsman in waves. He was a little taller now, but other than that, looked no different.
"Hey, Hiei," Yusuke greeted.
Hiei said nothing to him and instead turned his attention to her. "There had better been a good reason why a messenger was sent to Mukuro, and why I had to it explain to her…"
She shrugged. "I would guess Lord Koenma wanted to make sure you got this message. It was his final wish after all."
Hiei scoffed. "What could that fool possibly want from me?"
She shook her head. "He wants nothing... except to give you something."
Another rude noise. "I want nothing from him."
"Then why are you here?" Yusuke challenged. The air started to fill with energy.
Hiei narrowed his eyes. "You know why."
"Respect for Yukina, I would gather," was Kurama's answer.
"No," Hiei growled. "I'm here to see what he wanted of me and if it has anything to do with my sister. Yukina does not need my support, but if that fool wants me to do something in her name or his spawn…"
"That pesky messed up honor code of yours that makes no sense, huh?" Yusuke teased.
Hiei simply crossed his arms and remained silent.
She sighed and shook her head. "I'm going to start.
"This is the last Will and Testament of Kazuma Kuwabara." She cleared her throat and began reading his words.
"I, Kazuma Kuwabara, of sound mind and body…
"Oh, heck, who needs that stuff? My legal human Will was read to my family and I said all that stuff there. This is kinda more like requests to you. Things I hope you'll think about. Things I hope will help.
"Kurama, you can go first." The aging thief looked up. "I shouldn't break doctor patient confidentiality, but then again, what is anyone gonna do? Arrest a dead guy?"
She saw all three flinch. Yes, all three, even Hiei, though the fire demon would never admit it. She continued.
"Kurama, when I became a therapist, I did it so I could help people. I wanted to make a difference again. I never thought it would make a difference in any of my friend's lives.
"Until one day, Shiori came into my office."
Kurama gasped. They all did, really, but she kept reading before anyone could respond.
"She remembered me of course, and said she would only be comfortable talking with me. I tried to talk her out of it, get a new doctor, but she wouldn't have it.
"Our sessions started slow, just talking about normal things and stresses. I finally had to ask after about four weeks, why she was coming to me.
"Kurama...I don't know any other way to say this...but she knows."
The kitsune's eyes nearly bulged out of his head. "W-What?" he hoarsely whispered.
She nodded. "She doesn't know exactly what she knows but she knows, you know?" She had to hold in a giggle. "She knows you aren't quite human. And at first she came to me because she thought she was crazy. She thought she was losing her mind to think such a thing about her son.
"I didn't tell her anything. I couldn't betray your trust like that, Kurama. So, I listened. After a while I asked her, if it was true that you weren't human, would she love you any less?
"She didn't even hesitate. She said no. She said you're her son no matter what and she would love you no matter what.
"She stopped coming after that. Said she got her answers. So my gift to you, my friend, is that your mother knows and accepts it already and is ready for you to tell her if you want."
All looked at Kurama to see his eyes brimming with tears. The old demon had never been known to cry, but it seemed everyone had their limits. "I see," he finally said. "Thank you…" He gathered himself with a sniffle and she decided there was time for emotional things later. She had a job to do.
"Next is Hiei. Now, I'm sure he didn't show and if he did then I know why. And you'll find how I know here in a second. If he's here, read this part. If not, I have a different one." She nodded.
"First, I wanna say; Hiei, you're an idiot. A complete moron. You called me a fool all the time but you're the biggest one."
Hiei was now growling with fists clenched. "This is why I was called here? To be insulted by that degenerate?"
She kept reading, unperturbed. "How could you deny your family like this?"
Hiei immediately stopped his march towards the door. "That's right, shrimp. I know. I know Yukina is your sister. And Yumi and Hiruko are your niece and nephew. How could you? I knew you were a selfish punk, but I never knew it was this bad. I wish I could come back from the grave and beat you up myself."
Hiei grit his teeth. "He understands nothing!"
"I'm also really pissed none of you told me. As soon as Yukina told me, I suddenly got all the little jokes Urameshi and Kurama would throw around." She paused then.
Now the Jaganshi's eyes were bulging.
She smirked. "Yeah, that's right, dwarf legs. She told me. She knows. And even though I don't want to betray my wife, who told me to keep it secret from you...gee, must be a family tradition or something - I am doing this for her. I'm giving her what she needs most.
"Of course that's if you have the balls to actually go talk to her, jerk."
Hiei had no words as he stood there dumbfounded. "I...I...that monumental idiot." And with that, a smudge of black disappeared.
She chuckled. "And now I'm sure he ran away like he always does."
The two left shared a laugh.
"And last but not least, Urameshi… I wanna say how sorry I am. I wish I could have helped. But when I saw I couldn't...well, it's really what made me want to become a doctor. I couldn't help you, but I could help others, maybe.
"I know you blamed a lot of people. You blamed Botan and that broke her heart. You blamed Koenma and he just took it. And you blamed yourself.
"It wasn't your fault. Accidents happen. But it was really her death that started it all. You left and it all fell apart. You see, it just doesn't work without you, Urameshi.
"I'm not trying to blame you for anything, it's just how it is.
"But things happen for a reason, and I know why I was put here. I'm supposed to right the wrongs.
"After Shiori, I doubted I would get any other interesting cases. But when a concerned mother walked in with her daughter, everything changed. You see, she said her daughter was seeing things and having hallucinations. She was worried she had schizophrenia. I thought maybe she was spiritually aware like me, so I talked with her.
"The kid wouldn't talk with her mom there so I finally got her out and listened to what the girl had to say.
"Her hallucinations were really specific. Her dreams were really familiar.
"I took my suspicions to Koenma and after I threatened to beat his face, he told me the truth.
"That seven year old little girl, is the reincarnation of Keiko."
Yusuke was already crying. "No...no…" Kurama put a hand on his friend's shoulder.
"I was pissed," she kept reading. "I screamed at Koenma, how could he be so cruel?! How could he reincarnate her as another human?! Even if no accidents happened, she would still age and die before you!
"But then Koenma told me, with my hand around his throat, hehe," she paused. It actually said "hehe." She blinked.
"He told me that she is a hanyou. A half breed. Half demon. Her dad was a demon and her mom human. She died in childbirth. So her dad gave her up in Human World. She looks totally human and has no powers right now, so no one is the wiser!"
Yusuke had already hit the floor, Kurama holding his sobbing form.
"So, I was thinking maybe you could meet her when she's older and like teach her powers and stuff. You could live here or in Demon World. I mean, I know it's not perfect but she'll live a lot longer and if you teach her to get stronger she can defend herself.
"I wish I could have done a lot more...for all of you. I hope you all take my advice and even if you don't, I tried.
"My real wish is that you become friends again. My real hope is that you don't fall away again and you remember the good old days. That's my only real request.
"I love you all, even Hiei. Just don't tell him. He'd probably dragon blow up my grave or something. See you later, because I know I will.
"Yours truly,
Kazuma Kuwabara."
She put the papers down.
Yusuke sniffled. "That ass…" he chuckled and stood up. "Did the son of a bitch leave the girl's name?"
She nodded. "Hitomi Kigarashi. Here's her address and her school."
He took the paper with the information and laughed. "Seven, huh? Gee, only eleven years to go."
Kurama smiled. "That isn't so long, Yusuke."
The mazakou nodded. "No, it isn't."
She walked out to let them cipher through things alone. Her job was done.
"Can't believe it's been a year already," Yusuke mused, leaning against the stone.
Botan smiled pleasantly. "Yes. Time flies." They shared a glance and all hard, misplaced feelings were gone.
They both turned to see Kurama walking up with an older woman on his arm. Botan gasped realizing who it was. "Oh, Shiori!"
The elder woman blinked. "Is this the reaper, son?" she asked timidly.
Kurama chucked. "Yes, mother."
Botan smiled bright and shook the woman's hand. "Oh, I'm so glad you know these things now and I'm so glad to meet you!"
The mother shyly blushed and smiled back. "Yes, me too."
More footsteps signaled Shizuru approaching within a cloud of smoke. Behind her was a small ice maiden, hands folded in front with a loving smile on her face.
Behind them was a sight none of them expected to see. The master of the Darkness Flame with a giggling red haired, red eyed ten year old on each arm.
The twins were swinging Hiei's arms without a care in the world for how much power was in them, laughing and singing.
Hiei was not amused.
"Oh, Hiei you look so adorable-" Botan started.
"Shut up or I'll gut you," he warned to the ferry girl, making her shirk back in nervous laughter.
Then everyone laughed at his expense.
Yusuke sighed and leaned back on the stone again. It went quiet as they all gathered around it. "I still can't believe the day he died…" he said.
Shizuru blew out some smoke. "Yes, as it got closer to the day he'd say stupid things like wouldn't it be cool if I died on that day. I wanted to punch him but I probably would have killed him. The chemo really weakened him."
Yusuke looked up at the sky. "Why don't we have a cure for that yet?"
Kurama smiled. "Maybe someday. Our medicine is leaking into Human World now." His smile became warmer as Shiori snuggled to his arm.
A pause. "This is what he wanted most. All of us together and friends again." They all nodded at Yusuke's comment. Well, except Hiei, who was distracted.
"So, maybe we should do that. Just get together here. No matter what happens in our lives, we should gather here, at least on this date," Botan offered.
Yusuke grinned and slicked back his now short hair. "Yeah. We'll gather here every year on his date."
He popped a beer and shook it at the grave stone. "Happy birthday, you bastard!"
The rest shook their heads. "Happy birthday!" Botan cheered.
"Happy birthday, my love…" Yukina said as she left flowers.
"Happy birthday, daddy!" the twins sang, leaving their own flowers.
"Happy birthday, bro."
"Happy birthday to the man who gave me my son...my whole son…" Shiori whispered as she bowed to the marker.
To which Kurama added, "Happy birthday, my friend."
Hiei said nothing. Instead he dropped a goldenrod flower next to the others.
"Wasn't he allergic to goldenrods?" Botan asked, which received a cruel grin from the swordsman. "Oh."
All rolled their eyes and Yusuke finished his beer. "Okay, lunch is on me!" Cheers erupted as they followed the ex detective, leaving the stone where it stood.
Kazuma Kuwabara
Died February 27th
~End
