Reikai Tantei Ryou
Chappie Two! This is a good chapter for those of you who haven't seen Yu Yu Hakusho, to get introduced to the other characters. Hee! Set during no specific time frame for either series.
Chapter 2-
Meet the Detectives!
"Ok, I must warn you of this. Yusuke-kun will think you're a girl. Kuwabara-kun will call you a girl and laugh at you for looking like one. Kurama-kun, you should get along perfectly well with. Hiei-kun will probably just ignore you."
"Ok, but what exactly sets these people apart from everyone else?"
"Well, Yusuke-kun went through a predicament much like yours. He died and was brought back with the capabilities of using his spirit energy in the Rei Gun.
"Kuwabara-kun had the capabilities of sensing spirits and after some small amount of training, focusing his spirit into a broken off end of a sword into his weapon now. But, he's improved and doesn't need the broken piece anymore.
"Kurama-kun is human, I guess. He was a fox demon that escaped into the Ningenkai- human world- and became the child of a couple. He just grew up with the power over plants and the mind of his demon self in a human body."
"Reincarnated, basically?"
"Yes. I suppose. Hiei-kun is just a fire demon who doesn't like people. Antisocial, I think. Silent all the time."
"I see. Just like how Seto-sama used to be... so, what is this 'spirit energy' you keep talking about?"
"Well, every being has some, just most can't focus it. It's spiritual energy- kind if like life energy- inside your body that you can use in various ways, like sensing spirits, and as a weapon. It's kind of hard to explain."
"Ok."
"Oh, there's Yusuke-kun's house. Good, Kuwabara-kun's there, that will make this so much easier. Oh dear, Keiko-chan is there as well. She won't be able to see you, and neither will Yusuke-kun's mother."
Ryou just nodded, lost and confused.
Botan took them in through the open window. She seemed to change slightly.
"Hello all. I'm here in my human form."
Ryou guessed that the human form was the way she got a physical body to be able to be seen by normal people. I guess that's how she gets a body... Ryou sighed and crossed his legs, sitting in midair.
"Hi Botan-chan." A guy with orange hair greeted. He was tall and burly.
"Who's that?" The guy with gelled black hair asked. He was a little shorter and obviously a fighter. Almost like a black-haired Jounouchi. In fact, he almost was Jounouchi. Except Jounouchi didn't glow with a green aura...
"What? There's someone here besides Botan-chan?" A girl whom Ryou assumed was Keiko asked, looking around. She had short brown hair and a very sisterly look to her. She reminded Ryou of Anzu.
"Yeah, a... is that a guy or girl?" The black-haired guy, who Ryou was now thinking was Yusuke, cocked his eye.
"Guy." Ryou frowned.
"This is Ryou Bakura. His case is much like yours, Yusuke-kun. We're hoping to let him become a Reikai Tantei member."
"You look like a girl!" The one with orange hair- Kuwabara- pointed and laughed. Keiko slapped him.
"So, you're a ghost?" Yusuke asked.
"Yes."
To Keiko, this looked very strange. It seemed that Yusuke and Kuwabara were talking to Botan and thin air.
"I died saving my... my friend from a car and died doing so."
"Oh, Botan was right, basically the same thing happened to me."
"His wavelengths will be matched up on Sunday."
"What, no golden egg that hatches into an evil flesh-eating monster?"
"No time. And plus, he has a clean slate to work with. He hasn't ever skipped class or beat people up." Botan gave Yusuke a slightly dirty look that made Ryou laughed.
"Urusai!" Yusuke growled.
"Well, we just came to give you a heads up. Do you know if Kurama-kun is at his home right now?"
"Should be, it's after school."
"Thank you!" And with that, Botan disappeared from normal human sight, grabbed her oar and Ryou, and flew off.
"Life just gets stranger and stranger, doesn't it?" Kuwabara asked.
"Yep."
"Ok," Botan turned to a different part of town. "Hiei-kun and Kurama-kun like each other. We try to hint that off as much as possible. Just to clue you in. It's actually quite fun. Yusuke-kun and Kuwabara-kun have a running bet."
Ryou just nodded. He and Seto often had had fun poked at them for their hidden emotions before professions. It was comical.
"Hm, I sense two forms approaching. One alive and one an actual spirit." A red-headed boy said calmly from his place on the bed. He set aside his homework. "I assume the living one to be Botan-san in her living form, for it has a familiar air to it."
"Hn." A short black-haired demon commented from his place on the windowsill. He glanced indifferently outside.
"The other... I'm not sure about the other one. I've never felt it."
The short demon just nodded as there was a knock on the door. He disappeared up the tree outside Kurama's window.
"Come in."
A woman with long black hair and a pleasant smile opened the door. "Shuuichi-kun, your friend Botan-chan is here."
"Arigato kaa-san."
Botan walked in and the woman closed the door. Ryou was right behind her.
The short demon appeared back in the room in a flash, startling Ryou. He would have stumbled, had he a body, but instead he passed halfway through the wall before correcting himself.
"Who's your friend?" The boy asked, indicating the wide-eyed Ryou.
"This is Ryou Bakura. As you may be able to tell, he is a ghost right now."
"Hello. I am Kurama." The red head smiled.
"Hiei." The short demon grunted.
To Ryou, Kurama didn't seem that strange. He looked like a normal green-eyed high school kid. He was even wearing a dull pinkish school uniform, except... something. He sensed a power, and for a second there, he felt saw a red glow around him. Ryou blinked it off and shook his head.
Hiei looked like a demon. Short, tall black hair, elfish facial features, and vampirish teeth. His blood-red eyes glared and a white headband adorned his forehead. He dressed in a black cloak and held... a sword. Ryou sensed a power there too, overwhelming.
"Didn't she just call him Shuuichi-kun?"
"Shuuichi is my human name. My demon name is Kurama."
"I see."
"So, what's his story?" Kurama asked.
"Died by being hit by a car." Hiei muttered, keeping his eyes closed. "Saving his 'friend' from it."
"How did he-?"
Hiei smirked and pointed at his forehead.
"Huh?"
"He has a Jagan."
"Jagan?"
"Implanted third eye. It tells him things through telepathy and has other powers as well. That's why he has the cloth over his head." Kurama explained. "I, personally, prefer he not use it, lest he get into business he needs not know about."
"Ah... I see." Ryou just nodded, pretending to fully understand.
"So, why is he here?"
"Well, Koenma-sama and I hope to make him another Reikai Tantei."
"That's all we need, another ningen." Hiei muttered.
"Please, don't mind him." Kurama smiled pleasantly. "He really doesn't like humans."
"I can tell." Ryou just nodded calmly.
Kurama chuckled and cocked his head. "You seem like a very nice person. What caused you to risk your life for this other person? And Hiei-kun, before you say anything, some people take offense to the excuse 'weak ningen emotions'. Some of us are humans."
Hiei snorted disdainfully. Ryou had the feeling that if he had said anything like that, Hiei would find a way to slice his spiritual body in a thousand pieces.
He laughed nervously a little. He could tell they were close. "Well, he- I mean, we... oh, I don't know how to phrase this without sounding pathetic."
"Love." Kurama said simply.
Ryou let a bit of crimson grace his cheeks. "Yes." He nodded slightly.
"I see." Kurama checked the clock. "Well Botan-san, to obtain a normal human guise, now would be about the time to leave."
"Oh, thank you." She opened the door. "We will see you again after he's back in his body. I'll be sure to alert you. Come on Ryou-kun."
"Coming." Ryou floated after her.
The door closed.
"Weak ningens." Hiei seemed to spit.
"Remember, I am one of those 'weak ningens' you continue insulting." Kurama reminded, taking his textbooks once again and working on Pre-Calculus.
"You're different; you are a youkai on the inside."
Kurama chuckled. "But I still have those 'weak ningen emotions', Hiei-kun." He had a certain look in his eyes that matched his dazzling smile.
Hiei reddened slightly but didn't move from his place in the window sill and kept his eyes staring at an oh-so-interesting place in the blank wall.
"So, what today?" Ryou asked, yawning. He had spent the night watching over his koi and running his fingers through his hair, wishing they could only feel each other. He could survive without sight, without hearing, without smell or taste, but to not feel his love, that was torture upon torture. To not feel was a living hell.
"Well, you could go to school and still learn."
"True! I'll do that! See you later Botan-chan!" Ryou flew off in the direction of the school.
He sat in his empty seat. No one would sit there, given that his story had been on the news and was known as dead.
It surprised him that Seto was sitting over with Yuugi and his friends. They had long faces, glancing at the spot in which Ryou would stand, watching them. Staring in Ryou's direction and not seeing him. It pained Ryou to see his friends like this.
Obviously, Seto had not informed them about his possible revival. It would probably raise their hopes too high.
Ryou walked over to them, silent and invisible. He put a hand on Seto's shoulder and sighed.
"I don't know." Seto said sadly. "Last night, I could have sworn I felt him near me. And even now, I feel that he's still here. Maybe I've finally lost my mind."
"Or maybe his ghost is here." Jounouchi looked around.
"It's normal to feel that way, losing someone so close to you." Yuugi commented. He had noticed even Honda and Jounouchi didn't tease Seto as they normally would have, but all for good reason.
Seto looked around along with him longingly, but to no avail. He couldn't see him, the one standing in front of him.
The homeroom teacher came in, silent. Everyone returned to their desks and Ryou went to his. The majority of eyes came his way, but no one saw him.
"As you know," the teacher commented, "Ryou Bakura is... no longer with us. But that does not mean that your education will stop. You will still attend classes as normal."
No one groaned. No one passed notes or made a rude comment.
Yuugi wondered if he'd ever see his friend again, even as a ghost or after he himself had died. In his mind flashed the scenes of when the two had admitted their love to the group.
"Minna?" Ryou asked, flushing brightly. "Um, we- Seto and myself- need to tell you something."
"What, you're engaged?" Jounouchi had snickered, joking.
"No! Um, we..." By now, it was very obvious.
"We're dating, and we have been for several months now." Seto filled in, taking a flushing Ryou's hand and entwining their fingers.
Silence. That had been a long silence; no one had been expecting that, even if they had seemed really close.
But now, it seemed futile.
Anzu concentrated to the best of her ability on her notes.
Jounouchi remembered all the commentary the little white-haired boy had made on his dueling capabilities, even if they were none-too-helpful.
Honda remembered back at the Duelist Kingdom and afterwards, how Ryou had come into the fold.
Yami Yuugi was in his soul room, wondering why he still sensed power from the Sennen Ring.
Seto blamed himself still for everything that was happening. If only he'd watch where he was going... this wouldn't have happened. But he told himself to look forward to Sunday. He'd have his Ryou-chan back in his arms then. And he'd have him answer in person
"Ne, I'll have to ask Seto-sama or someone for notes once I come back to life. This is too boring to remember." Ryou yawned. He wished his friends could see him. He wished they'd talk to him or something.
The rest of Thursday went by slowly. The day dragged on.
Friday, again with the school and the work. But something else happened. Seto had asked for Ryou's body to be moved to his home. The doctors didn't care; they had thought him near-dead anyway and were glad to have another space in their wards.
Of course, Ryou finding out about this move scared him slightly.
"Botan-chan! Botan-chan, my body is gone!" Ryou floated around frantically, hoping he had just found the wrong room.
"Oh, don't be worried Ryou-kun. It was just move to your friend's house."
"Huh?" Ryou asked, stopping his search and giving a cute puzzled expression. He cocked his head to the side.
"The one you saved from the car. Seto-kun, your lil koibito..."
"Oh, Seto-sama!" He sighed happily. "I thought they had gotten rid of it."
"Well, I was watching, and they were just going to pull the plug on you. But, he was there and stopped them. You're very lucky to have him, you know?"
Ryou flushed. "Well, I feel like paying a visit to my body now."
"Hop on." Botan smiled cheerily.
"People are going to start thinking that I am weirder than they already do." Seto mumbled, touching the mildly warm forehead of his beloved. "Everyone assumes that you're dead. But you're not. I-I didn't tell Yuugi-kun and your other friends that you may come back though. It would get their hopes up. I myself admit that it's hard to believe."
"Well, at least someone's talking to me." Ryou mumbled.
"Everyone missed you. It's just... desolate without you at school. I actually ate lunch sitting next to Jounouchi-kun, and that surprised me a lot. Usually you'd sit between me and the others. That-that made me feel more comfortable and you knew it." A tear rolled down his cheek. "I miss you. Honda-kun even suggested pulling out an Ouiji Board to contact you if you're a ghost. But... I don't need a silly thing like that to tell me you're here. I can sense you, your presence. I know you're here listening to me right now. And I thank you for that. Probably wondering where your body went, huh? I know you were at school. And I know you stopped to visit your friends on the way to the hospital. I-I don't know, maybe I'm just saying this cause I hope you'll answer. Maybe."
He stood.
"Just remember that I will always love you Ryou-chan. Chigiri." He turned and walked out of the room.
Ryou let a small, sad smile cross his features. "Seto-sama..." He hugged himself lightly and sat in the middle of the room in midair. "Bokono Seto-sama, aishiteru mo. Bokono koishii Seto-sama."
Ryou hovered above the school. It was Saturday and Seto was staying after to make up some work he had missed for whatever reason. Probably a mix of things.
He couldn't enter the Ring, let alone his soul room. His Yami couldn't see him, and thankfully hadn't taken over his body.
"Here you are." A voice said to him as footsteps approached.
"Huh?" He looked down and saw Kurama standing there, looking up at him. "Oh, konbanwa Kurama-san. How'd you get here?"
"I'm a demon. Finding your exact location was the hardest part."
Ryou nodded. "No wonder you're a Reikai Tantei."
Kurama's face fell serious. "Ryou-kun, do you know what it is to be a Reikai Tantei?"
"Um, I assume I do..."
"I never wanted to be a part of it. I was forced into it."
"Huh? Why?"
Kurama closed his eyes, remembering. "Yusuke-kun's first mission was to recover three stolen artifacts from the Reikai. The thieves had escaped to Ningenkai. Hiei-kun and I were two of those thieves. Yusuke-kun killed our partner."
"What?"
"Yes, I had helped them steal the items. I had interest in the mirror so that I could use it to heal my mother. The mirror granted the bearer one wish- at the cost of their life. I had wanted my mother to get better."
"So that's why you empathized with me."
Kurama nodded. "After our partner was killed, I used the mirror, but Yusuke-kun intervened and offered his own life instead. We both made the wish, and somehow, both of us lived. Then Yusuke-kun defeated Hiei-kun and collected the items."
Ryou remained silent, compelled by the story unfolding.
"Later, Yusuke-kun was sent on a mission to defeat the four legendary Saint Beasts of the Makai world. Koenma-sama sent Hiei-kun and myself along with him. That is how we become part of the Reikai Tantei. We killed the Saint Beasts."
"You had to kill...?"
"Yes, and you will have to as well."
"I will?"
Kurama nodded. "I just wanted to warn you."
Ryou bit his quivering lip.
"Are you sure you wish to do this?"
He nodded. "I love Seto-sama, and I will do anything to return to him. Even-even this." It hurt him, the thought of what was to come, but he would.
Seto exited the school, sighing. He had to run by work that night, and probably stay overnight. Starbucks is a good friend, a very good one indeed.
A figure stood behind him. A figure that just called for his attention.
Turning, he saw a boy not much older than he with long red hair and emerald eyes. "I bring a message."
"Yes?" Seto was used to people sending messages to him.
"Ryou-kun loves you and looks forward to returning, no matter the costs."
"Huh?" Seto blinked in surprised. But when his eyes reopened, the stranger was gone. "Who-?"
"Hey Ryou-chan." He slid into the chair that sat next to the bed where the still figure lay. "Don't come back without me, ok? Well, unless it's your only chance to return, and then take it and I'll forgive you. Just, forget my babbling, come back. I have to go into work, but I'll try to be back as soon as possible."
He thought for a few seconds. "I got your message. Your friend delivered it, and then just disappeared. What kind of people are you hanging around with now?"
His face fell serious as he slowly planted a kiss upon his love's head. "I promise I'll be back, and so will you. I love you. Oyasumi."
"Oyasumi nasai, Seto-sama." Ryou smiled, resting his head in his hand as he floated cross-legged in mid-air.
Japanese terminology!
Urusai: Shut up
Arigato: Thank you
Kaa-san: Short for okaa-san, mother
Koishii: Beloved
Bokono: My
Aishiteru mo: I love you too
Chigiri: Promise
Reikai: Spirit World
Makai: Demon World
Ningenkai: Human World
Tantei: Detective
Oyasumi: Good night (Nasai added for politeness)
Konbanwa- Good Evening
Song of the Chapter:
Angel
Sarah McLachlan
Spend all your time waiting for that second chance
For a break that would make it okay
There's always some reason
To feel not good enough
And its hard at the end of the day
I need some distraction
oh beautiful release
Memories seep from my veins
Let me be empty
oh and weight-less and maybe
I'll find some peace tonight
In the arms of an angel
Fly away from here
From this dark, cold hotel room
And the endlessness that you fear
You are pulled from the wreckage
Of your silent reverie
You're in the arms of the angel
May you find some comfort here
Your so tired of the straight line
That everywhere you turn
There's vultures and thieves at your back
Storm keeps on twisting
Keep on building the lies
That you make up for all that you lack
It don't make no
difference escaping one last time
It's easier to believe
In this sweet madness
Oh this glorious sadness
That brings me to my knees
In the arms of an angel
Fly away from here
From this dark, cold hotel room
And the endlessness that you fear
You are pulled from the wreckage
Of your silent reverie
You're in the arms of the angel
May you find some comfort here
You're in the arms of the angel
May you find
Some comfort here
So, how's it so far? I don't expect much, really. Not even sure how a Yugioh and Yu Yu crossover came up within my mind. Eh-heh... heh. **nervous laughter** No, the idea didn't come from the other Yu Yu/Yugioh crossover floating around.
Will Ryou return? This question will affect people who haven't seen Yu Yu more than those who have, and well, depending on how well you know my writing style and me. Neh...