AN: Ok. Here is the ficcie that I have wanted to write about the theme but I couldn't get a decent story line thought up until I talked to the co-author of this story, Telle (a.k.a. FortySeventhLight). The story line is rather different I must say and I hope and pray that you guys will get something out of it. Enjoy! I speak for both of us.
Disclaimer: All right, all right. I finally watched the anime after 5 months of intensive education. I still do not own it! I don't even own the idea, Telle does.
"Why not, Yusuke? Why won't you come?" Keiko asked repeatedly while walking down the street with him after school.
"Why not? I'll tell you why not!" Yusuke spat out of sheer irritation. "It's because church is a place for a bunch of religious freaks! It's a place where you don't freaking belong, and I won't be caught there for anything!" Keiko looked devastated, almost frightened underneath his threatening, yet protective gaze. She had no idea the subject would be so sensitive to bring up with him. He looked at her sympathetically and took her hand, holding it to emphasize his last statement. "I don't want to lose you Keiko. I love you too much to see you throw away your life on something that may not exist."
"Yusuke, listen to me. If you die, you'll go to hell forever. A person never knows when they're going to die. Who knows? This may be the last time I see you. If God wants me to die tonight, then I will. He can also let me live until I am 90 years old. It's always best to be prepared to face eternity. I love you too much to see you do this. I've never been happier in my life since I got saved. I am involved and I absolutely love everyone here. And, if I might add, the guys there don't act completely perverted like you do. Please promise me you'll come with me one of these days," Keiko argued back tired of hearing Yusuke refuse church and dismissing the need for God in his life.
"Church may be for you, Keiko, but not me. I might go sometime but not now. I'll see you tomorrow, ok?" Yusuke finally told her planting a kiss on her lips.
Keiko sighed and looked at the ground. "All right. Promise me you'll come sometime, please?" Yusuke grumbled something under his breath, and she looked on sadly, concluding with her next choice of words. "I need to get home, though because one of the ladies at the church is picking me up for the service tonight. I forgive you for refusing to come tonight. I love you," she finished turning on her street that led to her house.
He would have glared had he not cared for her so much, but he found himself staring at her retreating form, watching her as if it would be for the last time. What if what she said about this hell place was true? What if he suddenly stepped out into the street and got hit by a car...again? Would he just go back to Reikai, or would he dissipate into nothing? He had died twice, so there was no telling what would happen should he die a third time.
"Ah, forget it." he hissed, turning on his heel and walking the opposite direction, all the while fighting against his conscience which told him to take the matter seriously.
Why won't he come with me? Keiko thought to herself. It's as if he is afraid that he'll be convicted and he doesn't want that. Keiko walked along the street feeling a heavy burden for her friends. So far, Hiei, Yusuke and Mukuro had refused church all together, whereas Botan, Yukina, Kurama and Kuwabara didn't really care one way or the other. If only I could make them understand the need and burden I have for them she thought.
Three hours later as Keiko and her friend Min were driving home, Keiko told Min about the struggle she had been having with her friends lately.
"All you can really do now is pray and live the life that a Christian is supposed to lead." Min's words spoke to Keiko's heart.
Keiko sighed. "I guess you're right, but it can feel so hard sometimes."
Min smiled. "God works in mysterious ways, you know."
"I guess I have given up hope," Keiko started as a tremendous force plowed into the side of the vehicle skidding them toward the edge of the bridge forcing Min to lose control of the car.
"God, please help my friends come to you and believe," were Keiko's last words as the car flipped over the rail and rolled down the cliff crushing the girls as it went.
"Church. Me. Keiko's really gone off the deep end." Yusuke grumbled to himself as he went around straightening up his room. "Who ever heard of such a thing?"
RING! RING! RING! The jangling of the telephone jolted Yusuke out of his routine as he went to answer the phone. Who the heck is calling at this time of night? he thought to himself.
"Hello?" he spoke into the phone.
"Is this Yusuke Urameshi?" a man's voice asked.
"Who else would it be?" Yusuke replied, making no effort to hide his irritation.
"Yes. Mr. Urameshi, I am Dr. Kishi, the emergency surgeon on duty here at the regional hospital. I am calling because you are the closest person to a girl named Keiko that we have been able to contact. I am afraid something terrible has happened to her."
Yusuke's protective instincts kicked in. "What's happened to her? Is she all right?"
There was a pause at the other end of the line. "Mr. Urameshi, this is going to be rather hard for you to take."
Yusuke became impatient. "Come on, will you please just tell me the freaking point and cut out the crap?"
"All right, all right. She was on her way home from church tonight with a lady named Min. They were hit by what authorities have found out to be a drunk driver. Min lost control of the vehicle and rolled down the cliff. She is currently in the intensive care unit. Keiko, I'm sorry to say, was killed instantly."
Yusuke dropped the phone to the floor and froze upon the spot, his eyes glazed with guilt and hatred for himself as Keiko's words rang in his ears. Who knows? This may be the last time I see you. The news hit him like a brick in the stomach, and was more painful to him than any blow delivered to him by the criminals he captured. How can this be? How could this have happened? My Keiko... Yusuke's resolve melted and he ran out of his house with tears streaming down his face and headed towards the hospital. It can't be true. It isn't true.
The phone still lay on the floor beside the stand. "Hello?" Dr. Kishi called repeatedly.
Dead silence.
AN: Ok, it is still in the works, ideas are being thrown around, etc, etc. Please leave a review suggesting what Telle and I should do from here. Many thankies!
