Prolog:

A couple years ago at a anime club I saw the first four episodes of a super cool Anime called Yu Yu Hakusho. It had an intriguing premise. The lead character dies in the first episode and the rest of the show is not a flashback. (Later, Excel Saga would top this by having its lead character die five times in the first episode, although some would have preferred several more times.)

I was excited to find out that Yu Yu Hakusho was coming to the cartoon network, but after a couple months my enthusiasm completely died out. And, no, it wasn't the age old dubbed verses subtitled battle. It was the fact that after the first five episodes the series crashed and burned in the most grotesque way imaginable. What had been a quirky, funny teen drama suddenly morphed into a typical fight anime with it's multi-episode fights and endless tournaments.

So, the thought occurred to me, what if Yu Yu Hakusho had not been hijacked by the Dragon Ball Z writers? What would it be like? So I decided to hijack the show back. The new show, Yu Yu Hakusho Re Pure, is a restart after episode five.

To summarize: Yusuke Urameshi dies. He is taken by a shimigami named Botan to her boss named Koenma. Koenma tells Yusuke that he can have his life back if he can pass a trial. Yusuke does, sort of, and with the help of his friend Kayko and his enemy Kuwabara he makes it back to the land of the living. Once back he notices that Kuwabara is being blackmailed (over his love of kittens) by a guy with horns. He makes his public return, saves the cat and runs down the horned guy. The guy was actually being controlled by a demon and Yusuke is able to capture it. Botan appears and tells him that he has what it takes to be a spirit detective. And, Koenma tells him he has no choice.

And now our story restarts.

Yu Yu Hakusho Re Pure

Kayko and Yusuke walk to school. Yusuke is silent and brooding. Kayko tries to cheer him up but gives up. They arrive at the school yard and all the kids shun Yusuke (for his reputation of being a thug).

Yusuke rolls his eyes. "Nothing changes."

Kuwabara slaps him on the back. "Hey, buddy! I was worried I would miss my chance to kick your ass!" Kuwabara, backed up by his posse, strikes a menacing pose.

Kayko explodes. "Aren't you even going to thank him for saving your kitten?"

"I will, I'll only kick his ass 155 times. I'm giving him one free pass."

Yusuke strikes a fighting pose. "What are you going to do? Kiss me?" Kuwabara makes a face.

Yusuke is slapped in the back of the head by Mr. Takanaka. "Homeroom in two minutes boys."

Kuwabara smirks. "Hey, you're alive now. We have time."

The kids file into homeroom. Yusuke broods in the back. "How could this day get any weirder?"

"Good morning, class! I'm your new homeroom teacher, Miss Botan."

Yusuke gets a "No Way!" expression on his face, only to look slowly up to see Botan, dressed the way a normal teacher would dress.

"She's so dreamy!"

Yusuke turns to see Kuwabara drooling. Yusuke looks nauseous.

...

Yusuke sits on the roof of the school, cutting gym.

"Hello, Yusuke!"

"Botan! What in the world are you doing here?"

"I'm here to help you, silly. I have to teach you about all your neeto new powers and warn you about the powers that you used to have but will now be receding."

"This is the dumbest thing I've ever heard. And, how come everyone can see you now?"

"I'm in human form now. I have to be. I'm your assistant. See for yourself."

Yusuke reluctantly touches Botan's cheek with his hand.

"Yusuke, take your filthy hands off that teacher you animal. I'm going to beat you two extra times for that!" Kuwabara stands at the door to the roof and points.

Botan smiles. "It's our hero, Kuwabara! You were so wonderful when you stood up for your friends and that kitten."

"I'm your hero, Miss Botan?"

"Absolutely." Botan shakes Kuwabara's hand. Kuwabara is stunned. "But, I'm surprised that you haven't figured it out yet you silly boy."

"Figure what out?"

"Didn't you feel something when I walked into the room?"

"I ..."

"Didn't you feel something deep down in side?"

"I ..."

"Didn't you feel something deep down in your soul?"

Kuwabara falls to his knees in front of Botan. "Miss Botan will you marry me?"

A giant sweat mark appears besides Botan's head. "Didn't you feel the tickle?" Botan asks nicely.

Kuwabara eyes grow wide. "You're a ghost?"

"Close, I am a shimigami. A guardian of the dead. I guided Yusuke back to the land of the living with help from you and Kayko."

Kuwabara looks down, defeated. "So, Yusuke saw you first?"

Steam comes from Yusuke's ears. "What is that supposed to mean?"

Kuwabara is somber. "My code of honor says you have first dips at dating Miss Botan."

Yusuke keels over.

"I am glad you came up here. Yusuke is now a spirit detective. He was especially impressive running down that punk who was torturing you."

"That punk was a spirit?"

"He was possessed by an evil demon. That's why he was always a step ahead of you."

"I don't know what to say."

"Well, if you could do me a favor, it would make me really, really happy."

"Ahhh, sure. I think." Kuwabara puts his hand to his head, embarrassed.

"I need you to protect Yusuke Urameshi."

Yusuke doubles over laughing. "He's going to protect me?"

Botan grabs Yusuke by the shoulders. "Yusuke, listen to me, you did all right against the demon boy, but your fighting skills are decaying. The more you use your spirit abilities, the worse at physical fighting you will become. It's the law."

Kuwabara ears prick up. "Does that mean he can no longer kick my ass?"

Botan lowers her head. "He already no longer possesses that ability."

Yusuke brushes Botan aside. "That's not true. I will always be able to kick his ass."

"Boys, I'm a teacher. No fighting without my permission."

Kuwabara gets down on his knees and begs. "Please, Miss Botan, let me at him."

"Well, if you agree to my favor, sure! But make sure he can recover from your beating. You do have to guard him."

Kuwabara stands erect. "I'll agree to your favor if I also get a kiss."

Yusuke turns beet red. "So much for your code of honor. Kuwabara, you're a pig! I'm not going to kiss you, and neither is Bo..."

Botan kisses Kuwabara.

Kuwabara is in shock.

Botan winks. "But, remember I'm a shimigami. I'm not allowed to date humans."

This brings Kuwabara down to earth. "Okay, Yusuke, bring it on."

Yusuke charges Kuwabara and lands the first two punches, but Kuwabara absorbs it and knocks Yusuke down with one punch.

Yusuke tries to get up but Botan stops him. "How many times has that happened before, Yusuke?"

Yusuke looks down. "Never. But's it's because I was dead."

"No, it's because your fighting ability is fading. Now, I want you two to shake hands."

Reluctantly the two shake hands.

"I still owe you 156 beatings."

"My kiss was worth so little?"

Kuwabara steps back in shock, but then an idea flashes across his face. "Wow, I get it now, you'll like a secret agent who will do anything to help Urameshi."

"Bingo!" Botan winks, points up and sticks her tongue out.

Yusuke smiles. "Botan, you're not going to make us kiss and make up?"

Kuwabara cringes and Yusuke laughs at him.

Botan turns on him. "You might not laugh so hard when you find out your assignment. This school sits on an interdimensional door to the spirit world and many demons have all ready escaped. Your job, and Kurabra, you and your gang will help him, is to capture these demons and seal the door."

Kuwabara nods. "I will brief my men."

...

Yusuke walks home, with Kuwabara and his gang. Before long, they are stopped by some thugs.

"Hey, Kuwabara, I don't know why your hanging out with Urameshi now, but we owe him a beating, so get out of our way!"

Kuwabara's gang flanks out. Kuwabara points his finger. "No one fights Urameshi without going through me first! I'm the only one allowed to beat him up now."

"What, Urameshi's become a sissy?"

Yusuke looks annoyed. "No, it's just that if you can't beat these guys, why should I fight you?"

The other gang grimaces and assumes fighting stances.

Yusuke drops back and pulls out a magnifying glass. Botan appears in his memories.

"Yusuke, this is a neeto, cool tool for you to use. It's a spirit lens and with it you can pinpoint the location of a demon."

Yusuke points the lens at each of the gang members in turn.

Botan continues. "Most of the demons who have escaped are loners who infect a single human and use them to form gangs. Find the one with the demon and you break the back of the gang."

Yusuke points his lens at the smallest gang member. Through the lens he see horns on the guys head. "Gotcha!"

The gang members and Kuwabara's gang engage in fighting. Yusuke uses his speed to get around the pile of bodies to surprise the demon possessed boy and knock him out with one punch.

Botan again appears in his memories. "Remember, Yusuke, you have power over the spirit world, so if a boy is possessed by a demon, fight him with confidence."

The demon boy's gang sees their leader go down and they high tail it. The demon comes out of the boys mouth and Yusuke's catches it.

"Well done! Nothing less is expected from the spirit detective and his bodyguards!" Botan rides up on a bicycle.

Yusuke hands the demon to Botan who puts it into the basket on her bicycle. There is a small flash of light.

"There, that nasty beast has been sealed away. He'll be doing major time for his crimes. Well done!" Botan gives all of the boys a hug.

"Oh, I understand now. You like older women!" Kayko appears out of nowhere.

"Nonsense, Kayko, I was wishing him good luck on the test tomorrow."

"Miss Botan, why are you still hugging Yusuke, then?"

Yusuke and Botan jump away embarrassed.

...

Mr. Akashi and Mr. Iwamoto meet in the teachers lounge.

Mr. Iwamoto adjusts his glasses. "Looks like all of the cockroaches are gathering together."

"Indeed."

"Well, don't worry, I have the perfect plan for tomorrow that will rid this school of Yusuke Urameshi for good!"

Mr. Akashi smiles a sinister smile.

To Be Continued