The newly revised chapter eight!

on with the show!

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EPISODE EIGHT: BATTO'S MISTAKE

Keiko stood on the porch, her face turned away from the trauma in the living room.

Yukina, Hiei's sister, was weeping rather loudly in the living room. Her cries were shrill, and hurt Keiko's ears. Keiko just couldn't block out the high-pitched cried, no matter how hard she pressed her numb hands to her ears. It was Boeton's heavy sobs and regretful words that made Keiko's heart want to drop into the pit of her stomach however. Boeton had her head pressed firmly on her bent legs, and she was quietly asking, "How many of them have to die?" No one answered, though she asked the question many times.

Keiko stood alone, and thought of Yusuke. Thought of that very short time of happiness that she had with him. She closed her eyes and whispered hatefully, "Until Kuwabara screwed it up!"

Realizing what she'd just said, she collapsed, and sobbed. "Oh my God! Kazuma...forgive me...forgive me!"

Without telling the others she took off running, as the sky decided to turn bleak and the rain began to fall. The heavy rain made her clothes stick to her body, and she realized she didn't know where she was going. She found herself in a crowd of people with umbrellas, walking along the sidewalk. She kneeled down and began to sob an apology to her love's best friend. In her mind's eye she saw him, and Yusuke...

Flashback…

Keiko peered into the room that Hiei, Kurama, Genkai, Yusuke, and Kuwabara had all once shared during the duration of this damned tournament. She wanted desperately to talk to Yusuke about Genkai's untimely death-her murder. She walked by Kurama, and Hiei, who talked softly with Koenma, and Boeton, she didn't want them to stop her as they had been doing all day.

"Yusuke's with Kuwabara, don't disturb them just yet, wait until they both come out here," everyone had advised Keiko. She didn't want to admit it, nor would she ever say it out loud but it made her sick with jealousy to think Yusuke was alone with Kuwabara. It wasn't that she hated him, or thought he wasn't a decent guy it's just that…before Kuwabara came alone it had been her that made Yusuke feel better when something was wrong, and now it seemed like Kuwabara was trying to take her place.

Something inside her just couldn't bare that...

When she reached the room, she opened the door, and was about to call out to Yusuke when she saw Yusuke and Kuwabara.

Seeing the two together wouldn't have stopped her from barging in and trying to take over so she could talk to Yusuke and try to comfort him as it had been her job over the years, but this time…for the first time she really saw Yusuke and Kuwabara.

As Keiko had gathered from watching the two, they way they comforted one another was by picking fights, and teasing. If it were something that the two boys warranted, "serious enough," the two would be quietly chitchatting and passing back and forth a bit of advice. There would be no contact between the two when they comforted one another, not a hug or the taking of a hand, or a gentle caress that Keiko used to help Yusuke feel better. But Keiko supposed that was how boys were, they dealt with pain differently then how she would deal with it, and over time of getting used to Kuwabara's presence she'd gotten used to seeing how the two consoled each other through tough times.

But she had walked in on something that felt completely different.

The two weren't talking, or smiling, or anything it was absolutely still in the room not one of them moved. She wasn't used to this silence, she'd never seen either of the two so quiet-especially around each other. Keiko shrunk back hiding behind the door, choosing not to make her presence known.

Very quietly she gazed at the scene before her.

Yusuke was kneeling before Kuwabara whom sat still as a statue on one of the beds watching Yusuke as he worked on changing the bandages on Kuwabara's chest. Yusuke had found some scissors and cut through the rust stained gauze and peeled back the layers staring fixated at the task at hand. Keiko felt her own eyes staring in a trance as Yusuke snipped away the layers of white that slowly got redder with each layer. And then the bandages were in a pile on a floor and Yusuke was taking a rag and soaking it with warm water. He rang it out before turning to look back Kuwabara's chest, and both men took in a deep breath as Yusuke reached out to clean the sore gaping holes on Kuwabara's chest with tender care.

It was as if it was the first time Keiko truly saw Kuwabara. She had done what most young females her age would do. Taken in his loud voice, big frame, and rugged face, written him off as some miscreant, as something that couldn't be broken, and had just accepted that this guy was some sort of machine. Not capable of being hurt, or having softer emotions, or being anything other the loud and obnoxious. Keiko felt her guilt lean heavily against her as she vowed to not ever judge someone again…and in that odd transfixed silence she continued in watching the two, doing her best not to cringe away from the blood and infection she saw on Kuwabara's chest.

Kuwabara just quietly stayed still through the whole process, letting Yusuke clean and dress the wounds. Kuwabara would grip the sheets below him, and that was his sign that there was any pain. Yusuke's brown eyes would catch the simple movement, and he'd stop letting Kuwabara regain composure and relax. And then as carefully as before, he'd start doctoring his friend up again, dipping the rag once more in the warm water and working on removing the traces of old blood, which would be replaced with new blood.

It made Keiko sick to see red watery tears wash down Yusuke's hands and drip down his arms.

It was all so surreal.

Keiko had been in shock when Toguro had stabbed Kuwabara, and hadn't really reacted to Kuwabara being so ruthlessly attacked by Toguro, but seeing those four holes standing so vibrantly out on his chest brought it all back. Brought back all Kuwabara had endured while she cried and asked to go home. She found her cheeks wet when the memories completed, and suddenly she knew how agonizing those tears were when Yusuke cried.

She held her hands close to her chest as Yusuke pointed at three of the five holes, "These are the deepest the other two are just gashes."

Kuwabara nodded, and smiled, "Yeah, I'll...I'll get it checked out as soon as we're home. I have a real good doctor."

Yusuke unrolled some more white bandages, and then looked up at Kuwabara, "Why man, why? You didn't have to do that...charge forward like that...what if...what if Toguro had intended to kill you! You would have died! That...that would have destroyed me..." Yusuke raised the bandages to Kuwabara's chest but didn't apply them, just stared squarely at the big man's chest and tried to endure waiting for an answer from Kuwabara.

Kuwabara looked at Yusuke as if confused, as if the answer should be so obvious, and with a shrug of his shoulders simply said, "It was either me or you...he would have killed you Yusuke, and if you died who would take care of poor Keiko? She needs you man."

At those words, Keiko shoved her clenched hands to her mouth, and closed her eyes. Kuwabara had been thinking about her...he had thought how alone she would have been, but then again that was how Kuwabara seemed to be. He wasn't bright, not the strongest fighter, and not very attractive either, but he seemed to have this naiveté, an innocence about him. It was like he was certain people were good, even if no one else could see it. He thought of others, without realizing it. It was such a natural thing to him.

As natural to him as breathing.

Keiko looked at Yusuke who was staring up at Kuwabara eyes shining and he pressed his forehead to Kuwabara's knee, holding the bandages tightly in his hands. Yusuke's face was contorted with pain and he growled, "You're so…so stupid man…" Yusuke's arms were wrapped around Kuwabara's leg then and he dropped the bandages on the floor. Yusuke was shaking badly and gripping Kuwabara like that man was going to disappear if he let go. Kuwabara blinked lightly and stared down at his friend a thoughtful look on his mug. He bent towards Yusuke, and rubbed the smaller man's back with his large hands, not saying a word as Yusuke continued to mutter, "I don't need an asshole like you to take care of me. I'm not weak. I'm fucking Yusuke Urameshi! I'm a bad ass…and I'm…I'm strong. Stronger then you! So don't you…don't you think that I need protectin' or that I appreciate you being here and all…because I'd be damn fine without you!"

Kuwabara smiled lightly a soft expression caressing his hard features, and with ease Kuwabara snapped back, "Ah, quit your bitchin' Urameshi.."

Keiko closed the door, and left with the other girl's to mourn for Genkai, and pray for her soul feeling a little wiser and more mature after having watch Yusuke and Kuwabara interact.

End of Flashback…

Keiko continued sobbing on the street, kneeling down, weighed down with sorrow. No one in the crowded streets stopped to check on the girl who cried in the rain. Who had no shoes on, whose hair was tousled, and who had curled in a ball just sobbing. She was in a crowded city and no one noticed her. She didn't know what felt worse. Being alone outside Genkai's house, knowing Yusuke was far away and unable to come back to her, or being alone in this city mourning her friends, and no one even bothering to lift a finger to help her.

She couldn't decide which was lonelier, so she just remained curled up and sobbed in time with the rain.

Back to Yusuke and the others…

Yusuke stood facing Kuwabara a glowing digit still pointed at Kuwabara's head, and barely moved when Youko Kurama pushed past him to see if Hiei had clung to the edge. Youko, looked at Kuwabara, as if he was seeing the filthy demons he killed regularly, as if that was not the image of his friend.

"Kuwabara...you…YOU BASTARD!"

Yusuke reacted then dropping his hand and turning to Kurama, "Wait! Stop!"

Kurama ignored Yusuke and reached for Kuwabara claws and fangs, tools he normally did not use in a fight, at the ready. He was ready to kill Kuwabara, ready to do horrible things to the man he called friend…all the while having to endure Kuwabara just staring at him. Kurama's attack fell short, his sharp claws at Kuwabara's neck.

He was crying, and sweat was on his face, blood trickling down his lip he was biting. "No..." Youko Kurama whispered, as Kuwabara continued looking at him. "NO! DON'T YOU LOOK THAT WAY!" Youko Kurama grabbed Kuwabara, and began strangling him, and to Youko Kurama's surprise, he was flung off, and the tables were turned. With a quick jerk, Kuwabara snapped Youko Kurama's arm at the elbow, the demon howling in pain.

A loud noise shattered the air, and Kuwabara barely had time to doge the blast Yusuke had fired.

Yusuke approached Youko Kurama, and scooped him up, placing the demon in Kazuma, and Kari's care, the two numbly accepting the charge and just staring at what had once been their son. The couple looked at Yusuke, tears wetting their cheeks. Yusuke looked away in shame, and turned away from them. He was glowing still, and his hair was growing, and strange marks were appearing on his face. Yusuke was serious he was ready to kill his best friend.

Inside Kuwabara's empty shell, Batto was staring at Yusuke, mouth open, and eyes wide.

He couldn't believe Yusuke was letting his demon form out...was letting his real colors show. Batto had not expected this, not expected Yusuke to be so willing to kill his, "best friend," and Batto panicked to think that maybe he'd pushed too many buttons, and gone too far with this act. Batto had to think fast and smiled at Yusuke smugly saying, "Trade one friend for another...I'm not surprised. My father told me you didn't give a damn about me...it makes sense why you're so eager to rid yourself of me!"

Yusuke looked at him, and whispered hoarsely, "You have no idea what I'm feeling right now Kuwabara. You can't possibly know…KNOW WHAT THIS Is DOING TO ME!" As Yusuke spat the last sentence the ground cracked beneath him and the air filled with static so intense Kazuma and Kari had to sink to their knees from the strength of it.

Yusuke swallowed calming himself down so he could lower his voice again, "You...you are my best friend. Before this, before me becoming a spirit detective, BEFORE I DIED-YOU WERE MY BEST FRIEND..." Yusuke paused, he'd lost control of his voice again, "and you always will be Kuwabara. I knew you were going to be my best friend when we first met. I don't know how I knew...I just knew. There was something about you…that I liked, and I couldn't stand it! I was a loner, but…beating the hell out of you day after day when we were rivals, always made me feel happy…because I knew in some twisted way we were friends. Kuwabara...as sick, and twisted as this sounds, and is, I'm going to kill you. You stole away my friend, and yours...and if you ever come out of this, if we succeed and bring you back to your old self, I know you'd look at me as if I had betrayed you by letting you live after what you just did."

Yusuke sighed, "All I've done since this beginning is cried…I'm weak that way…we all are. I can still remember how hard you cried when Sensui…" Yusuke gave out one short, bitted dejected laugh before whispering, "I'm done crying for you...dumb being a little pussy...I should have killed you the first time I saw you like this...I should have known this would happen...you are not our Kuwabara...not the same guy that I hung out with every chance I got. You're not the man I wanted to stand at my side in every battle, not the man I knew I could depend on. You are no longer the man I want my children to admire as their favorite uncle…You are no longer my Kuwabara." Yusuke raised his finger, energy charging up, "Bang."

A large blue blast was fired, and Kuwabara cried out dodging. He flung himself back, surprised and terrified. Batto cursed himself for killing Hiei. He shouldn't have done that. If he was going to do it, he should have killed them all at once. Killing the short demon had been a very foolish move and he knew it. He stared at the spot he'd just been at. The blast destroyed that part of the cliff, and suddenly he heard a small snapping sound. The necklace that held Kuwabara's soul had snapped off, and to his horror tumbled over the cliff. He screamed, startling everyone, and they all watched in amazement, as "Kuwabara," flung himself off the edge of the cliff after it.

Yusuke stood still, no emotion on his face, no pity or sorrow, nothing showed on his face, even when Kari screamed with agony. Yusuke looked at Youko Kurama, who sat with his knee bent, and good arm hugging it tightly.

Yusuke knew at once he was crying.

Yusuke dropped to Kurama's side, "Tomorrow...we will see if Hiei is truly dead...we'll look for his...his body...and then we'll go and kill Kuwabara." Youko Kurama snorted, hugging his leg tighter. "You? Kill Kuwabara! You won't do it! You care for him too much! I know you do!" Youko Kurama looked up at him with his golden eyes, and his face calmed at the expression on Yusuke's face.

"I...we've lost Hiei...and Kuwabara a long time ago...Kuwabara is still suffering...and it's time for me to end it. Let me kill him...I know you want your revenge for what Kuwabara…for what that guy just did to Hiei but…" Yusuke's voice was shaking, "but let me kill Kuwabara...he is my best friend...and if this has to happen than I have to do it."

Kurama hesitated, but nodded, and then glanced over at Kazuma and Kari, who were very stiff, and scared. "Come," Kari croaked, "We'll help set your arm..."

OFF THE CLIFF

The necklace spiraled down, Batto reaching for it. He knew he could not let it break, or Kuwabara's soul would escape, or disappear. If it disappeared that would be it, they'd have to wait who knows how long until Kuwabara was reincarnated to attempt this again. But then there was the off-handed chance that Kuwabara's soul was still just strong enough to force Batto out of his recently acquired body-and that could mean the end for Batto.

In the jewel Kuwabara still lay sleeping inside. He was too weak, and he felt as if he was dying...his soul being kept in captivity too long to acknowledge the events going on. He's just seen Hiei stabbed and killed, a guy Kuwabara had thought of invincible. None of this seemed real anymore. How could any of this be real?

Batto's hand firmly grasped the necklace, and he pulled the necklace to him clutching it tight. He looked down at the rushing waters below and by curling up in a ball protected himself best he could as he headed for the water. He fell right in, the deep water and when he came out he clutched the necklace. He was amazed that Kuwabara's fragile human body had not broken in the fall. Smirking he tied the necklace around his neck, and began to head for home.

What he did not notice however was there was a tiny crack on the red jewel, and that Kuwabara's soul seemed to be regaining its lost strength.

End of this chapter.

Episode nine is basically about what Kuwabara is dreaming about right now, and Kurama's arm getting set, with some "my best friend is gone," angst on the side. See ya in the next chapter.