Yu Yu Hakusho Re Pure Episode 11 - Why One Shouldn't Skip Gym Class

Yusuke leaves his house and breathes in the still cold early spring air. He wonders if this day will be stranger than the day before, as nearly every other day had been in the last two months.

Yusuke sighs. He is getting used to things being weird.

"Good morning!"

"Hey Kayko." Yusuke sees Kayko at the front gate. Kayko usually walked with him to school, so at least that wasn't too strange.

"Oh, Botan called me up last night. She has a message for you."

"And, what would that be? That she was signed to be a News Announcer Woman? That she got a recording contract?"

Kayko giggles. "I'm sure if she did she would want to tell you personally. Do you think your girlfriend would make a good idol singer?"

"What is the message?" Yusuke voice showing some annoyance.

"Don't skip gym today."

"Yeah, like that's going to happen. If I go to gym class now, people will realize that I don't have my old strength. It will be a lot harder to you guys to protect me."

"Oh well, I tried." Kayko sighs. "Oh, one more thing. There's a big meeting today during lunch on the roof."

"I'll be there."

...

Yusuke is awakened from his nap by the rest of the gang coming through the door to the school roof. Yusuke gets up and stretches. "Hey guys, what the big ..."

Whack!

Yusuke is cut off in mid sentence by a shot to the back of the head with a kendo training sword (also known as a Singapore Cane).

"What the ..." Yusuke turns around and doesn't see anyone, until he looks downward and sees an elderly lady who wears a wide red hat over her light pink hair.

"So, this is the great Yusuke Urameshi? Botan, I have to agree with you. This is one boy desperately in need of help."

Yusuke turns up his nose. "Botan to you know this tacky old lady?"

Botan walks over to Yusuke. Her eyes burn with demonic anger. She gets in Yusuke's face. "That is our new gym teacher. Miss Genkai. Don't tell me that you skipped gym?"

"What's the big deal?"

Genkai pokes Yusuke behind the ear with her kendo practice sword. "It's too bad you missed gym. I would have liked to seen how well you could harness your spirit energy. But, you haven't made much progress at all."

Angered, Yusuke turns around. "Look old lady, you look like Chibi-Usa's Great Grandmother with that weird hair of yours. And, you're going to lecture me on harnessing my power?"

Genkai gives Yusuke a stern look. "First off, as your teacher, you should refer to me as Miss Genkai. Second of all, doesn't it bother you in the slightest that some tacky old lady was able to sneak up behind you and brain you with a training sword? If this was a combat and I was a demon you would be dead."

"What are you talking about?"

"Your awareness of the spirit world is very weak right now. I could help you refine it. This awareness could help in the physical world as well. That's why you should come to gym class."

Yusuke turns up his nose. Not interested."

"Um, Miss Genkai?"

Genkai looks over to the rest of the gang. "Who are you, boy?"

"My name is Kuwabara. I'm currently being used as a body guard and as muscle in combat. But, I would like to refine my powers so I could help the team out more."

Genkai smiles. "Well, I'm sure that if I trained you within two weeks you would be running circles around this stupid slacker."

"Watch it you old hag."

"Yusuke, if I am such an old hag, try to attack me." Yusuke lunges at Genkai, who not only avoids his grasp but easily trips him as well.

"Yusuke, I am a great spiritual master, but I can still kick your butt. Wouldn't being able to fight again on the physical plane appeal to you?"

Kuwabara smiles. "Come on Yusuke, are you chicken?"

Yusuke rages against Kuwabara. "Okay, if he's doing it then I'm doing it too!"

Genkai smiles. "I hope that you won't get cold feet after the first two lessons."

Botan steps forward. "That's great Yusuke, but we do have a couple more important things to discuss and this lunch period isn't that long."

The rest of the group nods.

Botan clears her throat. "In the last couple of weeks, two of Kayko's friends were targeted by a demonic attack and they were turned into monsters to attack this group. I have reason to believe that Kayko will be the next person targeted. Therefore, Kayko will need a bodyguard, just like Yusuke."

"That macho chick?" Yusuke mutters.

"Now, Yukina isn't quite a fighter yet. What about you Hiei?"

Hiei gets a 'deer caught in the headlights look.' He gives Botan a sideways glance towards Yukina who's eyes are glowing like fireballs.

A giant sweat drop appears besides Botan's head. "Well, I see that might not be wise. Kurama?"

Kurama smiles. "I think I would be the right person for the job."

Kayko starts raging. "And, how is Kurama going to be able to protect me from demons if he's being mobbed all the time by his little fan girls?"

"But, I don't encourage those girls."

"And, who is going to protect me from being trampled by his fan club?"

Botan goes over to Kayko. "Kayko, I don't think we have a choice. Our first priority should be to keep you safe. Once we find out who has been directing these demons towards your friends, we won't have to continue that arrangement."

Kayko turns up her nose. "Oh, great. I get to be guarded by a playboy."

Botan smiles. "And, the last order of business. Yukina and Kayko, there's a special project that we need to work on. I'm free Wednesday and Thursday nights. Would that be okay?"

"Yes." Both Yukina and Kayko say in unison.

Yusuke rolls his eyes. "What type of special project is this?"

Botan winks and sticks out her tongue. "It's a se-cre-t."

The school bell rings. The gang heads toward the door. Yusuke pulls Botan by the sleeve. Botan stays behind with Yusuke.

"What was up with Yukina?"

"A spirit detective should be observant. Don't you remember Yukina's first day of class?"

"Not really, other than Kuwabara got all smiley faced when she introduced herself."

"Well, before she came, Hiei sat next to Kayko."

"Yeah, but they never talked to each other. Hiei always talked to Kurama and Kayko always talked to Megumi and Ryoko. They always had their backs to each other."

"Didn't you notice how Yukina insisted on having Kayko's chair?"

"But, Kayko didn't care."

"Pay more attention to the details Yusuke. It can save your life. Yukina is very possessive of Hiei."

"That is so third grade. And, they're half demons!"

Botan waves her hand in front of her face. "Yes, yes, but why expect them to be mature, just because they're half demons?"

Yusuke rolls his eyes. "So, Botan, this special project wouldn't have something to do with getting those two girls to bond together?"

Botan pinches Yusuke on the check. "There's hope for you yet, detective, but we got to hurry to get to class!"

...

Classes are over and those without clubs have gone home. Mr. Iwamoto waits for his son Seaman in a empty hallway.

"I'm here!"

"Son, we're in big time trouble. Twice you've tried to do away with those pesky kids and twice you have failed. If you fail a third time ..."

"It would be your neck. As for me, I'll just say that you didn't give me enough resources to get the job done."

Mr. Iwamoto becomes furious. He grabs Seaman by the lapels and pins him against the wall. "You ungrateful brat! "You would sell out your own father?"

"You're selling out the entire human race."

Mr. Iwamoto slaps Seaman and then dumps him on the ground.

Seaman rubs his check. "Do you think that human emotions are going to matter to our bosses? You're screwed pops unless I deliver.

Mr. Iwamoto just fumes at him.

"And, I'm sure that our bosses are going to view your physically attacking me as especially helpful in getting the job done."

Mr. Iwamoto punches a locker in frustration.

"Luckily for you, I do have one last demon in my arsenal. With the pitiful allowance you give me, you're lucky I still have one. However, I don't think it will succeed."

"What?"

"That group has beaten up and arrested my other two demons, and my last demon isn't any stronger."

Mr. Iwamoto eyes start burning with demonic fire. "I see. I'm afraid you'll just have to lend it some of your life force so it can succeed."

Seaman cringes in terror.

Mr. Iwamoto raises his hands over Seaman. Energy waves flow from Seamen to Mr. Iwamoto's wrist watch. Seaman turns pale and his eyes turn hollow. Mr. Iwamoto puts the watch on his son's wrist. "Your life force should make a big difference for that demon. Too bad you're not getting it back."

Seaman walks away, stumbling like a zombie.

...

Yusuke, Kayko and Kurama arrive at Yusuke's place.

Kurama smiles. "We're haven't been mobbed so far."

Kayko rolls her eyes. "I guess I should be thankful for small favors?"

"Well, I think I'll leave you two love birds alone."

"Shut up, Yusuke. No one asked for your opinion."

Yusuke turns up his nose. "Oh, come on Kayko. Couldn't you tell I was kidding ? After all, who would want to go out with a violent girl like you?"

Kurama motions for Yusuke to come to him and out of earshot of Kayko.

"Yusuke. You've only seen the nice version of Kurama. I would advise you to turn down the volume in your attacks on the girls in our group. Then you won't have to see the not so nice version of Kurama."

Yusuke eyes grow wide in shock. "No problem, guy. I didn't know you liked Kayko."

"Turn down the volume on all the girls, Yusuke. I don't give warnings twice."

"Yeah."

Kurama notices that Kayko is sneaking off so he runs after her.

Yusuke shakes his head. "What was that all about?"

...

"I'm home."

Atsuko gives Yusuke a hug.

"Hey, you look like you're in a good mood toady."

"Well, I should be. I'm starting another painting tonight."

"Why does this not surprise me?"

"Will you be going to the library tonight?"

"I ..." Yusuke remembers that most of the troops were on call in case there was a problem with Kayko. "I guess I will stay in my room."

Well, try not to make too much noise."

"I'll play some music." Yusuke didn't even want to think of the implications of his mother's previous comment.

Yusuke goes to his room and sighs. "At least life couldn't get any weirder."

Yusuke does not notice that there is a suspicious shadow on his window sill.

To Be Continued!