SailorStar9: Wow, and another chapter goes up. Sorry about the wait. My brother's been hogging the computer ever since Monday. Anyway, this the long-awaited Chapter 43. Read and review.

Disclaimers: YYH, Magic Knight Rayearth and Sailor Moon aren't mine.

Chapter Summary: Hiei and Kurama are visited by two of the kings of Demon World with a very dangerous proposition. Meanwhile, Yusuke prepares himself for his own long journey home. He finds out that the only thing more difficult than making an irreversible decision is trying to convince Keiko that everything will be all right. Won't it?

Chapter 43: Departing The Living World


"Yusuke." Sutou begun, coming out of the dark night.

"Mrs. Kuroko. Why the serious face?" Yusuke asked.

"I think it's best that you've went to the Demon World." she replied.

"I never intended to say this, but the agents of the Spirit World paid me a visit a while back to give me an order to kill you. But I rejected it. Then I received Genkai's call that you were coming. The first I saw you, I laid my heart at rest, but now I changed my perspective. I can feel your terrible power. I simply can't believe Genkai's words now. I fear that one day, my children will have to battle you. I had wanted to help you just now, but my Spirit Energy is way too low in comparison to you and the three visitors." she added.

"I understand. I have no intention of interrupting your life anymore." Yusuke nodded.

As Yusuke turned to go, Kuroko stopped him.

"The palm reading I gave you earlier revealed another thing; you'll have to be separated from a group of comrades who went through thick and thin with you." Kuroko advised.


Meanwhile, Suiichi and Ami were heading home after their long-awaited date. After the battle against Sensui, it had been a while since they had some alone time together.

Is it me or am I the only one getting this feeling that we're being followed? Icy rose her question to the redhead beside her.

It isn't just you. Kurama replied and the pair stopped in their tracks.

The three strangers trailing them stopped simultaneously.

"Visitors during this time of the night? I'm afraid it isn't good news." Kurama commented.

"This." the head of the three held up an orb.

"It's from King Yomi. He instructed us to hand this to you." he added.

"Yomi! How did he know I was here?" Kurama questioned.

The three strangers said nothing and took their leave.

"Why do I get this sinking feeling things just got more complicated?" Icy sighed.

"I agree." Kurama nodded.

Finding a wooden chute nearby, he tossed the orb against the wall.

The crystal shattered and Yomi's image appeared.

"It's been a while Kurama. When I knew you were alive, you have no idea how glad I am." Yomi greeted his former partner.

"I had hoped to get your answer, but alas I could only communicate through this speech globe. Did you return to the Demon World? I felt your energy. Your Demon Energy had improved quite a lot, I can feel that. Think about it, we used to be such weak demons in the past. But now,y power far surpasses yours. By how much? I wonder… I can almost control the entire Demon World." Yomi added.

Kurama clutched his fist in silence. Icy placed a comforting hand on his clasped fist and Kurama relaxed considerably.

"Remember Raizen and Mukuro? When we were born, those two were already the most powerful heads in the Demon World. However, over the hundreds of years, my powers are in par with the two of them. One more step and I can take control of the Demon World." Yomi said.

Then, he changed the subject.

"Ah yes, I heard about your mate. She's the reincarnation of Lady Kallan yes? You certainly have great taste. Kurama, I want both you and your woman to help me. I firmly believe that you'll agree to this. Return to the Demon World with your lovely mate and help me."

As Yomi's image started to fade, he ended the conversation with these words, "Anyway, I've finally found the demon who blinded me for the past one hundred years. In order for you to meet him, I kept him alive."

"So he knew about me too." Icy noted when Yomi's image disappeared.

"Yeah." Kurama nodded.

"He's found your assassin too. I expected nothing less from that old partner of yours." Icy smiled.

"How did you know?" Kurama inquired.

"A great magician never reveals his tricks, Kura-chan." Icy told him smilingly.

"Old friend of yours?" Hiei asked, appearing beside the pair.

"Yup." Icy quipped.

"He also knew about my past incarnation." she supplied.

Hiei chuckled at Kurama, "Distracted much?"

The redhead sweatdropped.

"You're so totally engrossed that you didn't notice me. It isn't like the usual you." Hiei noted.

"A massager from the Demon World came to me too. I assume this is from Mukuro." Hiei replied as he tossed his speech orb against the wall.

Mukuro's image appeared before the three.

"Hiei, I'm pleased to meet you. I'm Mukuro. I do not meet anyone easily not because I'm afraid of any danger, but because I do not want to be recognized. I'll come straight to the point. I've long noticed you. Come and join my ranks. Actually, I've already heard of your name, it's pretty famous among the thirteen levels in the south-eastern side of the Demon World. The child genius who ascended to a Calls A demon when he's merely five years of age. A bandit who escaped to the Human World. There's still time to turn back. Join my ranks. I'm sure you've heard of the 'Three Alliance'. Raizen, Yomi and I had clashed for the last five thousand years and it ended in a stalemate. Allow me to let you onto something, Raizen's life is already on the edge. Once he dies, Yomi will definitely launch an attack. He's a person who'll take advantage of the confusion after Raizen's death to control the Demon World. If Yomi sent his men to recruit you, reject his invitation. That's the smart way. If you wish to die, then go over to Yomi's side." Mukuro said.

"The Demon World will return to it's former situation shortly; to the situation before you were born. I can reassure you'll see that happen. You'll definitely stand on my side then." Mukuro promised and her image disappeared.

"Hn, he hides his intentions behind flowery words." Hiei scoffed.

"So he intends to split us up. He must know about the battle against Sensui. They should have felt the intense energy emitting from the battlefield. This is interesting." Hiei smirked.

"I'm going over to Mukuro." he decided.

Kurama gave him a side-glance.

"Don't worry, I'm not submitting to him. But in order to increase my power, the best way is to keep on battling. Going over to Mukuro, I can fight to my heart's desire." Hiei assured his best friend.

"Then what about Hotaru?" Icy questioned.

Hiei frowned slightly. His past memory was still fuzzy, but he knew he was very much in love with the Messiah of Silence.

"I'll talk to her. She'll understand." Hiei replied.

"For your sake Hiei, I certainly hope so. Otherwise, you'll have four very ticked off Outer Senshi after your blood." Icy advised.

"Hn." Hiei snorted and he went off, leaving the two fox demons alone.

"Does he even know that Mukuro is a woman?" Icy rose a brow at Hiei's disappearing back.

"She is?" Kurama voiced his surprise.

Icy gave him a 'duh!' look.

"Hiei's going over to Mukuro. And if I'm not mistaken, Raizen should have sent his men over to Yusuke by now." she noted.

Shaking her head, she added, "This is going to be one heck of a thorny triangle."

"No kidding." Kurama nodded.

Then Icy's expression softened, "Whether or not you are going over to Yomi's side, I'm behind you all the way."

Kurama turned to face her.

"I don't want you to get involved in this, Blue." he said in concern.

"A little too late I'll say. Yomi expressively mentioned me too." she reminded him.

"I wonder how Yusuke's going to break this to Keiko." she added, looking up at the ceiling.

"Pretty difficult, I'm assuming." Kurama noted and the two went their way.


"I'm going to the Demon World." Yusuke confessed to Keiko in a café.

"Huh? Why did you say this so suddenly?" Keiko asked.

"This, this, that, that." Yusuke replied as the two exited the café.

"I see." Keiko nodded.

"Then how are you different from before?" she asked.

"On the surface, I'm still the same. But honestly, I want to go tot the Demon World." Yusuke replied.

"When?" Keiko asked.

"Tomorrow." Yusuke replied.

"have you said anything to your mother?" Keiko asked.

"Yeah, and she asked me if this place is as far as America." Yusuke grimaced.

"Then, will you come back?" Keiko asked.

Yusuke thought for a while, remembering what Hokushin told him about the Demon World.

"Probably." he replied.

"When?" Keiko pressed.

"Don't know." Yusuke confessed.

Right now, the two sat on a grassy slope by a canal.

Lying on the grass, Keiko added, "I'm taking the High School exams tomorrow."

"The first Girl's High School in the district?" Yusuke guessed. "Isn't its sister school beside it?"

"Yup." Keiko nodded and she stood up.

"When you come back, give me a call and I'll introduce my boyfriend to you." she said as she started on her way.

"Be careful on the way." she cautioned.

"Keiko." Yusuke stopped her.

"Don't do this to me, please?" he begged.

Keiko laughed, "It's too late idiot. Goodbye."


Later that night, Yusuke headed over to Keiko's family ramen stall.

"Sorry, we're closed for the day. Please come back tomorrow." Keiko's father said when he heard someone enter the ramen stall.

When he rose his head, he exclaimed, "Yusuke! It's been a while!'

"Hey Keiko, Yusuke's here!" he hollered to his daughter.

"Forget it! I'm here to eat." Yusuke waved it aside.

"Nonsense!" Keiko's father shouted.

"Keiko, get down here and help!" he shouted upstairs to his daughter.

Keiko was down after a while and pouted at her father.

"I'm studying." she protested.

"Getting a higher education isn't going to help our business get better." Keiko told her.

"Get me a Set A." he instructed.

Keiko said nothing and set to work.

After a while, a steaming tray of ramen was set before Yusuke.

"Sorry to keep you waiting." Keiko said.

"Enjoy your meal." she added and was about to head back to her room when Yusuke asked, "Aren't you going to sit with me?"

With nothing better to do, Keiko plopped herself on the seat opposite of Yusuke.

"Man, this is delicious." he complimented.

"Thank you." Keiko huffed.

Offering a piece to her, Yusuke asked, "Want one?"

"No thanks." Keiko replied flatly and turned away.

"It's my birthday today." Yusuke tried to strike up conversation.

"I know." Keiko replied uninterestedly.

"So…" Yusuke begun.

"Then.." Keiko prompted.

"I'll return after three years. This I'm certain." Yusuke promised.

"So what?" Keiko rolled her eyes.

"Will you marry me?" Yusuke asked.

Keiko shook her head, "Proposing marriage after getting dumped?"

Keiko's father laughed out loud, "I bet you've never heard these words come out of his mouth!"

Yusuke grinned at her.

"Three years yes?" Keiko noted.

"Yup, three full years." Yusuke confirmed.

"I'm not certain about the future and it's a long time…" Keiko remarked.

"Keiko, I love you!" Yusuke shouted after her.

"Alright, I know that already!" Keiko replied.


SailorStar9: Yusuke finally proposes. Kurama doesn't want Icy to be involved in this war, but Icy isn't going to back down just because he says so. And what will happen when Hiei tells Hotaru about this? Stay tuned for the next chapter.