A/N: So, this is the very first chapter of what will hopefully become a full fledge novel. It chronicles the events of the series...if Kuwabara had died that night, beneath the bridge. And mark my words, everything is different.

A fist came down on Kuwabara's face, and then a second one. Cartiladge bent and blood spurted forth, a strangled groan leaving Kuwaraba's swollen lips. All that he could taste was iron, filling up his mouth and streaming down his face.

"I can't believe that he's still just standing there!" laughed one boy, a tall thing with crooked nose.

The second boy nodded, tpping the bat that he had been holding against the toe of his shoe. "I know. It's crazy, Takuhoshi! If he keeps this up for much longer, then I may have to jump in there myself."

Takuhoshi laughed again, a nasel sound, head tilting backwards as he did. "You should, Kenja! You won't believe how much fun this is!"

The highschooler's words were accompanied by another fist swinging out, this time catching Kuwabara in the gut. He gasped, arms moving to wrap around himself, chest heaving as he tried to rake in a decent breath of air.

Above the three of them, a girl with blue hair could only watch on in pity. "Sometimes, I forget just how cruel the human world can be."

There was no one around to hear her words, silent to the human ear as they were. Instead, they were swallowed up by the wind and carried off, into the distance where they were completely ignored.

Botan ran one hand through her hair, fingers curling in her bangs. She closed her eyes, drawing in a deep breath. Below her, the voice of Kazuma Kuwabara filled the air. And it was a pained thing, as both of the older boys moved in closer, one swinging fists and the other wood, over and over again.

Without trying to, Botan found herself counting the strikes.

One.

Two.

Kuwabara hit the ground, struggling to get his shaking limbs to co-operate with him.

Three.

Four.

Five.

He gave up, arms folding to cover his face instead.

Six.

Kenja tightened his grip on the bat in his hand, only to swing once more.

Seven.

And that, she knew, was the fatal blow. Even with her eyes closed, the reaper could picture Kuwabara'as body go limp, arms falling away from his face. Takuhoshi laughed again and Kenja chided the younger fighter, insisting that he get up and stand through it.

When Kuwabara didn't move and didn't speak and didn't breath, they both took off running. Just like the bullies they were, eager to get away from the consequences of their actions. Not that they would, of course. A special home had already been slotted for both Kenja Iromota and Takuhoshi Ren, and it was not in Heaven.

But that was seldom a comfort to Botan anymore, and it most certainly would not be a comfort to young Kuwabara when he woke up.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-

It was nearly five minutes later when Botan caught sight of her newest charge, his pale form floating just outside of the entrance to the tunnel. Kuwabara's face was drawn into a tight line, lips pursed and eyes narrowed, both arms folded over his chest. Pensive, almost, as though he already knew what had happened.

Which, given the notes that Botan recieved on the young boy, would not be much of a surprise. Kuwabara may not have been the best of students, but he was a perceptive person and it was only right that it carried through even in death. Even in the situation that left so many others confused and afraid.

"Kazuma?" questioned Botan, lowering herself down until she was eye-level with the newly created ghost. "My name is Botan, and I'll be your guide from here on out."

"My guide?" Kuwabara's gaze shifted, from his own body that was still laying in the middle of the ground to Botan. "So this isn't a dream, is it?"

Botan shook her head. "No, it isn't. I'm really sorry to have to be the one to tell you this, but you've died."

Kuwabara pursed his lips together, tilting his head down so that he was looking at his feet. "I knew that it felt too weird for me to just be sleeping. Those guys...they really killed me?"

"Yes...I'm sorry, Kazuma." said Botan, nodding her head. "But this means that it's time for us to go, now."

"Wait! No way! Don't I even get to say my good byes, or something?" demanded Kuwabara, eyes widening. He didn't want to leave right then, without even seeing his sister one last time. Hopefully, his death wouldn't mean that the deal made regarding Okobu's job was turned null and void. The shorter boy needed that job, and Kuwabara wouldn't want to be the reason that his friend's entire family suffered.

Full lips pursing together, Botan shifted her grip on the oar beneath her. It wasn't exactly protocol to let people say farewell when their deaths were expected, as Kuwabara's had been. Still...

"Alright," she said after a moment. "I will give you two days, Kazuma. But then you have to come with me, alright? It isn't that bad on the other side, I promise."

-x-x-x-x-x

It was small. His wake, that was. It took place at home, in the dark of the living room. There were a few candles lit but nothing else, and Shizuru sat in front of her brother's photo with her head hung. The black dress she was wearing, Kuwabara decided, did not look good on her.

But then, she didn't usually look good in dark colors. They made her skin look sallow, as though all of the color had been drained from it. Red rimmed both her eyes, which were dry now but that didn't hide the fact that she had been crying earlier.

And behind her, sitting quietly around Kuwabara's old living room, were the three boys that he had grown up with. Okubo shifted, one hand coming up to scrub at his eyes, and Kuwabara gave a heavy sigh.

"Come on guys, you need to quit crying." he muttered, and it didn't matter that none of them could hear. Saying it to the wind was enough, because at least it was being said. "It'll be fine."

From behind him, Botan moved to rest her hand on Kuwabara's shoulder. "Do you want to wait until the others have shown up? Or are you good now, Kazuma?"

"No I - there aren't going to be others, I don't think. I don't, uh, I don't have a lot of friends." muttered Kuwabara, lips curving down into a frown. "It's just those guys and my sister."

"Oh." Botan lowered her eyes, because that was always such a hard thing to hear. People died all the time, yes, but some deaths were more difficult to be dealt with then others. Like those who would not be getting a second chance, or who were leaving behind people who needed him. And those three boys...that young girl...they would sorely miss Kazuma Kuwabara.

Giving another heavy sigh, Kuwabara tilted his head back, looking up at the cieling instead of at his family. "Let's just go, Botan. I don't...I don't wanna watch this."