Good afternoon, everyone. It's been a long time since I touched this story, and a lot has happened. My father had a cancer scare and my mental health worsened to the point of briefly dropping out of college, just to name two big occurrences. I'm currently in possession of a laptop and wanted to take full advantage. Usually the chapters would be written and thus formatted on my phone, hence why it can appear clunky and awkwardly in post. I will attempt to revise past chapters and work anew on the next.

To everyone who has continually supported me and my writing, I thank you from the bottom of my heart, and wish you nothing but good health.

-V

A suntanned hand absentmindedly reaches to fidget with a pressed blue collar. Brown eyes glance over to the now empty spot, right where a classmate of hers had often sat, and the figure shuts her eyes and sways, as if in pain.

Only fourteen, and he'd died saving a child… they really were too much alike.

"I'm calling in my favor."

"Only to be expected. What is it that you need?"

A few papers shuffled on the desk. He seems to be thinking about his words. He's hesitant, and dread coils within her.

"I'll have to mess with your timeline." He warns, still not completely meeting her gaze. She huffs, bitterly amused at his non-joke.

"What else is new?" When his eyes flash to hers guiltily, she shakes her head. "Milord. Simply tell me what it is you require, you and I can both see it's… time sensitive."

"I'll have to alter your physiological age. While you're reaching your vicennial point in life, the charge I'm leaving in your hands will be a half-decade or so younger. You'll need to blend in to watch over him."

Relief crashes into her so forcefully that her knees nearly clack together. "That's all?" she clarifies. "I thought- I figured it would be something with memories again. I wasn't looking forward to having to deal with the ramifications."

Koenma flinches, and the words, though not harsh, settle heavily over the two of them.

"What my father did was…is-"

She holds up a hand, stopping his word flow immediately. "Be frugal with your words, little prince," she warns, not unkindly. "Between gossip and treason is a very thin line that I am not worth crossing. You've already stuck your neck out for me too much as it is."

It's true, and both know it, so Koenma leans backwards. After purposefully meeting her gaze, he says five very important words:

"I am not my father."

She nods once, eyes flashing with understanding. "If I thought you were, we wouldn't be friends."

Koenma is stunned into silence. A few moments pass, before the woman tries to retain levity and asks lightly, "So, my mission?"

"Y-yes… of course, I have the paperwork here. His name is-"

"Urameshi Yusuke…" Her eyes open, blinking slowly as she stares at the empty spot where he'd always convince her to sneak up to, only to be corralled by his friend, Keiko. She's a sweet girl; reminds her of herself, once upon a time.

After only watching him for a week, he'd died. Koenma was going to be furious, and she briefly had the (rather selfish) thought that she had no idea if she could survive another god's consequences.

"Oh shit, he's really not taking it well, huh?"

She blinks, a few pesky tears making their way down her cheeks, and looks up in disbelief. There, on the back of a reaper's oar, sat her charge.

"Yusuke?"

"Oh, shit- Kagome? You can see me?"

The blue haired girl who accompanied him put a hand to her mouth. "Oh, dear."