Heya everyone, it's been a long time since I've updated, ne? Well sorta, I did write a Three Little Pigs story, kinda funny. But that's beside the point. Anyways I've got a few notes, and then we'll be done here.
At the beginning demo means but. Towards the end I used the term bluette, I'm pretty positive that isn't a real word, but you'll just have to deal with that.
Er, well this isn't a shonen-ai like most of my work, but next week I should have out a story that is.
Warnings/Disclaimers—I do not own Yuu Yuu Hakusho, if I did all hell'd break loose, just keep that in mind and the fact that this is rated for sexual humor/content and language…
Well without further ado, the story—
Ningenkai-Urameshi Household, 2003
-Flash Back-
"You don't have to go, Yuusuke," Keiko muttered hopelessly starting up the nine-years-old argument all over again, much to Yuusuke's dismay. He groaned, loudly too, before turning around to face his wife exasperatedly, a half filled bag sprawled haphazardly on the bed behind him.
"Keiko," He whined in a very unbecoming way for a man of his age. "If I've told you once, I've told you a million and one times, I'll be fine. You should be used to this by now anyways."
"Demo…" Keiko protested weakly, but Yuusuke would have none of that. Quickly he claimed her lips in a chaste kiss, effectively silencing his fretful wife.
"No buts, I promise I'll be all right, 'side K'rama will be there to make sure I don't lose my ass doing something stupid." Yuusuke grinned goofily, placing his hands on Keiko's shoulders reassuringly, not that it was actually reassuring.
"Last time I left you in Kurama's care, you both came home with no shirts and as pale as ghosts," the brunette pointed out skeptically, making Yuusuke laugh nervously.
"You got a point there- still can't figure that night out either…."
"Hehehe, leave it to you to screw something up and not remember it." There was a short pause, then Keiko continued: "Fine I'll leave you alone, but you have to promise me something."
"I always do."
"You have to promise to come back from the tournament in time for our child's birth, and I mean for you to come back in one piece. And please, please, please don't do anything rash." She grabbed one of her husband's hands and placed it on her swollen belly for a stronger effect.
Yuusuke thought about it for a moment, more for a dramatic effect than anything, and then replied: "I promise."
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Yuusuke watched in horror as his opponent jerked around and shoved her long, jagged dagger straight through his stomach. This wasn't supposed to happen; I gave up- you can't attack someone after they give up. He thought to himself bitterly. There was a short pause where everything seemed to stop, then he gasped out in pain as the sharp, sickening crack of bone filled his ears and showed the starting point of the dagger's trail through his chest; heart, lungs, ribs, and muscle all gave way to the blade as it carved its way through Yuusuke's body. Then everything went black, and his body failed.
-Flash Back-
"Welcome to the semi-finals of the forth triennial Makai Tournament!" Koto cried cheerfully from her box seat above the stadium. There was a roar of cheering before she was able to continue: "Remaining with us today are Yuusuke, Yomi, Ayumi, Kurama, Enki and his wife Koko! The pairings as decided by lot are as follows: Yuusuke and Yomi, Ayumi and Koko, Kurama and Enki. Now, let the blood fest begin!"
There was another immense wave of cheering that took several minutes to die down, and then the fighting began. For the first time Yuusuke beat Yomi, but he was completely drained of energy and could barely stand when the referee called the match to an end. Enki beat Kurama, and Ayumi beat Koko. Nobody died, although Koko came very close to it because Ayumi seemed pissed at, in her words, '…beating someone as pathetically weak…' as the former ruler's wife. But since Koko had admitted defeat, she got to see another day. The next battle was against Yuusuke and Ayumi—who ever won this one would go up against Enki to decide the next ruler of Makai, and it started immediately.
"Now, let the next battle begin!"
Yuusuke and Ayumi stood face to face on the giant plant that made up the battle arena, each waiting for the other to attack. The referee glided the flying eye she used to relay the action back to the stadium, about. She was trying to get a good angle to catch the up-coming fight, so that the audience members would be please. But then Yuusuke's posture suddenly slackened and he smiled apologetically; Ayumi growled, knowing what was to come next.
"I'm sorry, but I can barely stand, let alone fight- I yield." Although he couldn't hear it, the audience below was jeering madly. The tournament, all things considered, had been the most unremarkable tournament thus far; barely any bloodshed, no death, and minimal threats had been what had made it up. But when the referee had called the match to a close and announced Ayumi the winner-by-default, things had gone down hill.
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She watched in sadistic contentment as her blade kissed flesh and bit through bone, before crushing it in a ferocious trail of gore leading all the way to it's victim's jaw line. He was already dead, the way his body stood only because of the blade shoved deep within him was a sure sign of that, but Ayumi felt the need to deal one, final blow. Drawing her blade out with a sickening shink, the girl watched the body of her victim fall to its knees, and before the rest of the corpse could follow suit she swung her blade across its neck. The jagged blade caught on the spinal cord briefly, then, with a downward saw-like motion, the spine cracked and gave way, along with the rest of the dismembered skull.
"Pathetic little bitch," she growled spitting on the head disrespectfully. She didn't move when the tournament 'guards' grabbed her, she didn't flinch when she was told her punishment for her actions; she only paid attention to the dead eyes looking up at her— laughing at them cruelly. She felt a sharp sting in her arm and soon everything went black, her lips still twisted in a grotesque smile.
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How could this happen to me? he thought to himself as he floated aimlessly above the stadium of jeering demons. I made a promise, hell I even gave up my pride to keep it, yet I still end up dying!
The crowd had quieted, and during that time Koto chose to speak, and she sounded oddly choked up: "And so ends a great life." It was all she could manage, but it still made an impact.
I didn't know she liked me, Yuusuke mused, or thought that life in general had any great meaning. I guess you can't judge a book by its cover. The ghost form floated down closer to the audience, trying to find a familiar face; he did.
Kurama stood stalk-still, his hands fisted so tightly by his sides that they bled. His face was a mask of anguish, hate, sorrow, regret, disgust, and his emerald green eyes showed all of this like a tumultuous slide show, each image battling for dominance, but he just stood there, alone in a sea of enraged, yet oddly unfeeling, creatures.
Yuusuke felt a pang of guilt in the area where his heart should have been, but wasn't. Not only had he left Keiko after promising he would be careful, but all of his closest friends as well. How would they take this? It was his third time to die, would they take it seriously? Yes, they would have to. No one can come back to life three times in a row, it just didn't happen. Sure they would probably be in denial for a while, but it would hit home, he knew it would. Would they try and make Koenma bring him back? Would they get mad when he told them he couldn't? He hoped they didn't. Koenma didn't deserve it, no, not at all.
His train of thought was broken when he felt a familiar presence behind him, and he turned in midair to face her. Botan looked so sad, it was obvious she had been crying, but she tried to smile for him.
"Hey Botan, guess it's time for me to see the toddler one last time," he jested halfheartedly. Yuusuke hated seeing her so sad, he hated seeing anyone close to him sad.
"Oh Yuusuke!" She sobbed, zooming over to him a little wobbly on her oar before pulling him into a wet hug. "It's finally happened, I didn't think I'd have to guide you so soon! W-why?"
"Please Botan, calm down," he said frantically. "I don't want anyone to cry over me. 'sides we might get lost if you keep sobbing like this." I smile at her, hoping to at least cheer her up a bit.
She looked up at him, her mouth twitching into what could poorly pass as a smile.
"There, that's a little better. So, do you have a place for me this time?" He asked float over to the rear of her oar.
"Of course we do," she replied softly. "Now hang on tight, we don't want a repeat of last time." Yuusuke chuckled and straddled the oar tightly. Before they sipped off, he managed to look down one more time, hoping to catch a glimpse of his redheaded friend, but he was already gone.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXThey crossed the River Styx after about half an hour of flying. It seemed that it was harder for Botan to access the portal to Reikai from Makai, and her current emotional state wasn't helping, but they made it nonetheless. Dismounting from the oar, both Botan and Yuusuke made their way to the Gates of Judgment quickly. The Ferry Girl activated the intercom, muttered a few words into it, and soon the large doors swung inward.
"Come on, Yuusuke, Koenma's waiting." Botan turned and grabbed Yuusuke by the arm. When he looked at her questioningly, she smiled and replied: "You remember how it is, it's really easy to get lost, 'specially since Koenma's office was moved."
At least she's smiling now Yuusuke thought as he chuckled and let the bluette drag him through the throng of paper-laden oni. It didn't take them long to reach the large double doors that marked Koenma's new office, and when they pushed them open they were greeted with a very tired toddler.
"Ah, Yuusuke," Koenma greeted warily. "Botan can you leave us? The others will need to know."
"Yes sir," Botan turned to leave, but thought better of it and, catching Yuusuke off guard, grabbed him in a bone-crushing (if he had had bones) hug. "We'll miss you Yuusuke, take care." And with that she left.
"Well, I guess you were right when you said our next meeting would be a helluva lot more formal," The second-time-ghost, third-time-dead man jested once again trying to lighten the mood.
"Same old Yuusuke," Koenma replied with a smile. "How've things been?"
"Same as always, 'cept Keiko's seven months pregnant, and I guess I'm dead," Yuusuke answered taking a seat. "So, where 'm I headed? Heaven, hell?"
"Actually I need to speak with you about that—"
"Don't tell me I don't have a place this time? Botan already said you did!"
"No, no Yuusuke, that's not it at all, quite the contrary," Koenma said giving Yuusuke an almost vulpine grin, one that belonged more on Youko than on the demi-god. "I wunna make you an offer, there'll be no strings attached."
"What kind?"
"How would you like a third chance at life?"
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Eh, I'm sorry for how graphic this chapter is, but it had to be put in, that it did.
Well, please drop off a review, flame whatever, I'll take it : )
'Til next time-
-Catie-brie