"Where the ding-dong is this place?!" Yusuke clutched the address in his hand as he stepped off the train and walked around aimlessly.
"You know, it wouldn't hurt to ask for directions," Sayomi suggested. "By the way, why did you dress up? You didn't dress like this for Koenma or Genkai."
"Shut up, Sai," Yusuke mumbled. "I don't know this Kuroko chick. I need to present myself as someone worth helping."
He was dressed in gray slacks with a navy-blue jacket over a white shirt. Sayomi looked down at her usual black cargo pants and purple tunic. Her cloak was pushed back behind her shoulders so she could feel the sun on her skin. "I've never seen you care about that before. I'm just saying it's different. No need to be so defensive."
"Didn't sound that way to me." Yusuke scowled.
"Then maybe you should get your hearing checked. Oh..." Sayomi smiled when she saw a small town in the distance. "Maybe they'll know where to go."
Yusuke sighed. "Yeah, I guess it's better than wasting time trying to find it ourselves."
When they approached the town, they asked an old man who pointed them down to a path. They followed the trail until they reached the edge of the woods just outside the town. It continued through the woods, past a barbed fence with a sign.
"Up in the mountains?" Yusuke scowled at the trees.
Sayomi walked up to the fence and read the sign. "Private property. Beware of guard dogs! Should we be worried?"
"Nah!" Yusuke followed the path into the woods with his hands stuffed into his pockets. "Dogs aren't anything to be worried about. They might scare off villagers, but they're not much of a threat for us."
"Ah, okay." Sayomi kept her senses alert for anything dangerous. Better to be safe than sorry.
About 15 minutes later, Yusuke stopped and looked down. "What the hey? Weird, unearthly bones..."
Sayomi stepped forward to get a look. "Can dogs kill demons, Yusuke?"
"Not any dogs that I know of." Yusuke looked up at the trees, searching for whatever was responsible.
Sayomi followed his example. There're two sources of bloodlust in the air. They're coming from... She looked up as two shadows shot out from the trees.
Yusuke and Sayomi quickly jumped out of the way. The two figures landed with hard stomps that cracked the ground.
If we hadn't dodged, that could've been our heads. Sayomi glared at the two children who stood ready to fight. Then she arched her brow in confusion. Wait...
"Kids?!" Yusuke yelled, just as surprised.
There was a boy and a girl with long brown hair. The boy had spiked bangs with the rest of his hair tied back. The girl let her bangs hang free while the rest was tied as a bow on her head. They wore yellow jackets with jeans and sneakers. The boy wore a red shirt while the girl favored green.
The young boy glared and ground his teeth. "Stop harassing Mom, you demon reject!"
"You're beneath Mom's contempt!" The girl shouted.
Sayomi blinked and asked, "Are they the ones who killed those demons?"
Yusuke glared down at them and said, "C'mon now, kids... Go play somewhere else."
"Let's get 'em!" The kids dashed forward and started punching.
The boy attacked Yusuke while the girl attacked Sayomi. Yusuke blocked the boy's punches with a single finger. Sayomi dodged the girl's punches just enough so she missed her target.
After a couple minutes, Yusuke put his hands in his pockets and just dodged the boy's fists. Then he jumped and used his finger to push off the boy's head. Sayomi took that chance to jump over the boy. The girl quickly followed with a kick. "Yah!"
"Hyuh!" The boy was stunned as his sister kicked his face. He rubbed his injury and groaned. "Oww..."
"Oops! Aw geez!" The girl glared up at Yusuke and Sayomi who looked down at them from a tree branch.
Yusuke made a goofy face and waved his hands to taunt them. "Whatcha waitin' for? C'mon and get us!"
"You don't have to rub it in, do you?" Sayomi scowled at Yusuke's childish behavior. I know they're kids, but even Rinku was strong for his age. Not to mention the gaming brat.
"You're teasing us!" The girl growled.
"Now we'll get serious!" The boy warned.
"Good job, Yusuke..." Sayomi glared at the teen.
The kids held their hands out between them and started to channel their aura. A large white sphere of aura started growing bigger and brighter between them.
"Eh?!" Yusuke watched as their aura mixed and grew stronger.
"Kaisei! Fubuki! Stop that this instant!"
Sayomi and Yusuke froze as a woman's voice echoed through the trees. The kids instantly relinquished their aura and turned to the source of the command.
"Mom!" The boy's eyes widened with surprise.
"We stopped! See?!" The girl raised her hand high to prove it.
Realizing the kids were done attacking, Yusuke and Sayomi jumped down from the tree. When Sayomi landed, she looked up and gasped. Mother...?
"You must be Yusuke and Sayomi." The woman stood tall with long black hair tied back in a ponytail and warm gray eyes. She wore a long-sleeved black shirt with jeans and sneakers.
"And you're Kuroko?" Yusuke asked.
"Yes." Kuroko smiled. "Master Genkai called ahead."
Sayomi let out a slow breath and flexed her hands. Right... The first Underworld Detective. She just looks so much like... A mental image of her mother's last smile flashed through her mind. But she's not... She's human.
As Kuroko led the way to her house, she said, "I taught these two to deal with any demonic aura they sense. But once they get to know you, they'll let you pass unhindered."
Yusuke scowled and pointed back to the entrance. "Then that stuff about 'dogs'..."
Kuroko laughed and said, "Sounds better than 'Beware of kids!'"
"And those bones...?" Yusuke asked.
"Demon remains, I expect," Kuroko answered casually.
Yusuke glared down at Sayomi. When she felt his stare, she arched her brow at him. I won't say I told you so.
It was nightfall by the time they reached Kuroko's house. Her husband greeted them at the door with a smile. "Good evening. My name is Shogo Sato. I am a writer and Kuroko's husband."
Shogo led the way to the living room as Yusuke and Sayomi introduced themselves. He left the room just as a kettle whistled from the kitchen.
"'Yusuke Urameshi' and 'Sayomi'?!" The young boy laughed.
"Weird names!" The girl teased.
Yusuke glared and pointed at the kids. "And what're your names?!"
"Tea?" Shogo came back to the living room with a tray of drinks.
Sayomi smiled and accepted a glass. "Thanks."
"Introduce yourselves, kids," Kuroko ordered.
The young boy stood up straight and said, "Kaisei Sanada, nine years old! I love TV!"
The young girl mimicked her brother and said, "Fubuki Sanada, eight years old! I love Masato Hagiwara!"
"Sanada? Not Sato?" Yusuke asked.
"Sanada's way cooler!" Fubuki answered.
Kaisei clasped his hands behind his head and frowned. "Sato's so common!"
"Dad should change his name! It's too sweet," Fubuki explained.
"Like sugar?" Sayomi asked as she drank her tea.
As Shogo cried crocodile tears, Kuroko laughed and patted his back. Sayomi couldn't look away from the woman for more than a moment at a time. She seems to really enjoy her life right now. She has a mate, children, a home... They all look so happy together. Is this what a family is supposed to be like?
Her eyes wandered to the young siblings and saw herself and Yasuhiro. If Mother had lived, could we have been this happy?
"Hey, Sai! Come look at this!"
Sayomi snapped out of her thoughts and looked at Yusuke. He was grinning and pointing down at a book in his lap. With her curiosity piqued, she looked over Yusuke's shoulder. She blinked, trying to figure out who she was looking at.
Yusuke pointed down at the heavyset girl in a school uniform. She had short black hair and she smiled between her four friends. Yusuke stared up at Kuroko with skepticism. "This... is you? The middle girl?"
Sayomi's eyes widened as she compared the girl in the picture with the woman sitting before her. I gotta admit that wasn't my first guess...
Kuroko laughed and said, "Uh-huh... I was just fourteen then. In the three years I was a detective I grew over a foot without gaining an ounce. The girl on the right was my best friend."
Sayomi looked down and arched her brow. The girl on the right wore a long black coat with a white doctor's mask. Half of her bleached hair was shaved. Was this her team?
"I'll be a detective in 5 years!" Kaisei declared.
"Sure you will, you wuss." Fubuki stared at her brother doubtfully.
Kuroko stood up and asked, "Care for some coffee?"
"Wouldn't say no." Yusuke smiled.
"I'll take some if it's not too bitter," Sayomi said.
"We want coffee too!" The siblings cheered with their hands raised.
"Geez, I didn't have my first coffee till I was ten." Yusuke stared at the kids with wide eyes.
"They like you and want to do what you do," Kuro explained.
"Awww!" Sayomi smiled and poked Yusuke's head. "You're just great with kids, aren't you?"
"Oh, shut it!" Yusuke snapped.
Once everyone had their coffee, Fubuki glared and pointed at Yusuke. "Willya show me your killing move, Yusuke?"
"Naw..." Yusuke grinned. "You're too young."
Yusuke almost dropped his cup when Kaisei started snuggling up to him. "I'll never forget that night, boy!"
Yusuke glared while Sayomi laughed at his predicament. He pointed down at the boy and turned his glare on Kuroko. "Did you teach them this stuff?"
"Well... Yeah." Kuroko smiled.
About an hour later, the kids were asleep in their bed upstairs. Sayomi smiled as she imagined their mother tucking them in. Then her attention was brought back to their reason for coming.
As Kuroko took a drink of her tea, Yusuke asked, "So you quit when you got married?"
"That's right." Kuroko nodded. "I met Shinobu just before that."
Yusuke and Sayomi exchanged identical looks of surprise.
Kuroko rested her chin in her palm as she thought back. "I knew right away how powerful he was... and how fragile, as well. But you seem to be okay. You'd probably go a good ten years on the job."
"Except I've been fired," Yusuke said bluntly.
Kuroko smiled and turned to her husband. "Will you read his fortune, Shogo? I'm sure it will be informative."
"Okay." Shogo reached out with an open palm. "Let me see your hand, Yusuke..."
A fortune teller? Sayomi watched as he studied Yusuke's palm. Is he a psychic like Kuwabara?
"You are content with life, but..." Shogo's expression became serious as he told Yusuke his fortune. "You have an itch for danger that you always need to scratch."
Yusuke smirked. "So far, so good."
"You might try to look for trouble, but it's best that you don't." Shogo smiled. "It would be wasted effort, because danger will always find you."
Sayomi froze when she picked up three familiar aura signatures. Oh no... Why are they here?
Kuroko and Yusuke immediately picked up on the intruders. Yusuke eyed the door and asked, "You expecting anyone this late?"
"No..." Shogo watched the door, on edge despite his lack of awareness. "I have a meeting with my editor tomorrow, but..."
"Ding Dong."
In an instant, three bald men in monks' robes stood in front of the door. The monk in the middle scowled and said, "Good evening."
Kuroko stepped forward. "And you are...?"
"None of your business. We –"
"Hush, To-Oh!" The middle monk warned his partner to his left.
"His name is Hokushin," Sayomi said from beside Yusuke. "The quiet one is Seitei. And you already met To-Oh."
"You know these guys?" Yusuke asked, keeping his eyes on the intruders.
"Unfortunately..." Sayomi muttered
Hokushin glanced at Sayomi briefly, then looked at Kuroko and said, "My apologies. We haven't much time. We're here to see Yusuke and Sayomi..."
Sayomi glared at her old teacher when she heard her name. I knew it. I'm in trouble.
"How'd you know they were here?" Kuroko asked.
"We tracked their aura," Hokushin answered. "We've come here from the Demon Plane."
"Interesting... and rather bold." Yusuke stepped forward to talk to the monks directly. "I sense no demonic aura from you three."
"Heh..."
"Now don't be rude, To-Oh," Hokushin scolded.
"Care to fill us in?" Yusuke asked.
"By Underworld ranking, my two companions are Class-A, while I am Class-S," Hokushin answered calmly.
"No way!" Yusuke glared. "Classes -A and –S could only enter the Human World through the portal that we helped close. And no one came through it."
Sayomi bit her lip as she remembered that her brother had slipped through.
Hokushin raised his hand. "We didn't come here by that route, or any like it. There are less obvious ways."
"What?" Yusuke stared at the monk in disbelief.
"What's all this stuff you're talking about?" Kuroko asked.
Yusuke explained what had happened with Sensui and his plan to open the tunnel between worlds. When he finished, Kuroko did her best to wrap her head around the case. "Holes to the Demon Plane, Class-S demons... that's all new to me." She sighed. "Guess a lot's changed since I retired twelve years ago."
"So how did you get here?" Yusuke asked.
Hokushin started to undo his robe as he explained. "The Underworld was so spooked about Class-A and –S demons that they deployed a hastily devised force field to pen them. It was effective enough, but as you know, it allowed any demon of Class-D and under to pass through. That is why we were able to send Sayomi to the Human World. So the trick is to enable us to pass for Class-D."
When Hokushin opened his shirt, there was a large red organ attached to his chest.
"Eesh!" Yusuke reeled with disgust. "That's pretty gross!"
Sayomi's eyes widened when she saw the parasite. "I'm glad I didn't need one to come here..." It almost looks like Ichigaki's work.
"It's an organic device that all but nullifies our power," Hokushin explained. "We must wear them until we return to the Demon Plane. There are other ways to get here, but our laws forbid their use. When we must come to the Human World, these devices allow us to do so for a brief time."
Sayomi scowled. That's gotta be the first time I'm feeling grateful for being so weak back then.
As Hokushin fixed his clothes, Yusuke asked, "So you've come here to see me, why?"
"Did Sayomi not tell you?" Hokushin glanced at the demoness before looking back at Yusuke. "There's someone who would like you to return with us. That someone is your true father."
Yusuke glared at the monk. "Y'mean the demon with the throwback thing?"
"That's right." Hokushin nodded.
Yusuke's eyes narrowed as he remembered the fight. "Sai told me about him. Shogo's right, trouble finds me real easy. So my demon dad's still alive?!"
"Very much alive," the monk said.
"And still strong?" Yusuke asked.
"Of course."
"Fine!" Yusuke ground his teeth and clenched his fist. "Take me to him! Now! I've got a few things to say to that geezer!"
"Patience, please," Seitei said quietly. "There's more we need to tell you. As we said, our laws are strict about travel between the Human World and the Demon Plane. You are no more exempt from them than we are. If you choose to come with us, it must be with the understanding that you intend to join us."
"Join you?" Yusuke asked.
"Become a denizen of the Demon Plane. We're not allowed to bring back outsiders," Seitei explained.
"Is that another Demon Plane law?" Yusuke asked.
"It's the law of our country..." Hokushin answered. "Which is one of many in the Demon Plane. The Demon Plane as such is indeed lawless, and that is its ideal state. But various groups have naturally settled into their own territories and imposed their own rules. However, a great change is coming to all the realms. Three demons are embroiled in a conflict that threatens to engulf the entire Demon Plane."
"Is one of them... my dad?" Yusuke asked.
"Yes." Hokushin nodded. "He and the others each have enough power to rule the Demon Plane. But frankly they don't get along. For instance, they have distinctly different ideas about food. Human energy is the staple sustenance of all three..."
Sayomi and the others stared at the monk, listening carefully.
"...But one of them is of the opinion that this is not necessary or desirable. Another craves human flesh, but believes in practicing moderation. This isn't always easy, as you might imagine. The third believes it's perfectly fine to gorge on humans. There are so many of them, he says, and they breed like rats. This is just one matter on which they can't agree. They are equal in power, however, so a precarious balance has been kept. If one ever struck at another, the third would simply hold back and attack the survivor. This state of affairs has been maintained for 500 years."
"Five hundred years?! That's wild!" Yusuke cringed at the large number.
"Indeed," Hokushin agreed. "If they have one thing in common, it's patience. But that balance is about to be upset. The one who will not devour humans is on the brink of death. His name is Raizen, and he rules our country. This same Raizen is your true father."
Yusuke glared at Hokushin.
Hokushin continued, unfazed. "He hasn't eaten for nearly 1000 years, and is about to succumb to starvation. I admit I don't understand why he has chosen to do this. But I assure you... his will is our will. We stand by him."
Yusuke jerked his thumb at himself. "So what do you want from me?"
"When Raizen dies, it will be entirely up to us to defend our country. But we're not strong enough. We need any ally we can get. The king knows you've entered the Demon Plane before." Hokushin's eyes shifted to Sayomi.
"Yeah, which didn't exactly warm me up to him!" Yusuke yelled.
"He was not sure at that time what you might amount to, though he sensed a certain potential," Hokushin explained.
"Then what you're telling me..." Yusuke said slowly.
"Yes?" Hokushin urged Yusuke to continue.
"Is that your ship's sunk and you've been cast adrift. Now you're grasping at straws to keep from going under."
"That is about the size of it," Hokushin allowed. "My power is trifling next to the king's and the other two demons. At present that is how you stand next to me. We ask you to come to the Demon Plane to train."
Sayomi listened quietly as Yusuke spoke with her teacher about the old man. They didn't waste any time telling him everything. If the old man knew Yusuke was there, then he knows I was there too. If he sent them, then that probably means he can't wait anymore.
A moment of silence passed as Yusuke watched the three monks. Then he said, "Something's fishy here, but I can't think what. How can I be sure that any of this is the truth? And the answer is, I can't. However..." Yusuke smirked. "I can find out if you're actually stronger than me."
Hokushin scowled. "You would like to test me?"
"You got it," Yusuke confirmed.
"Not inside the house, please," Kuroko said. "Go outside."
"After you." Yusuke waited for the monks to walk out first.
Sayomi followed behind Yusuke. Before she shut the door, she turned to Kuroko and Shogo with a bow. "Sorry about all of this."
They walked just a little way from the house. The area was generally the size of a large front yard. When Yusuke turned to face Hokushin, he hesitated. "But that thing limits you. You'd fight me while you're only Class-D?"
Hokushin stood across the small field, staring at Yusuke. "As I said, I must wear it until I return to the Demon Plane. But Class-D power will serve me well enough."
Yusuke glared dangerously at his opponent. "This is no game. I'll show no mercy."
"Exactly so," Hokushin agreed easily. "Enemies should have no other objective. At my current level, one blow from you will annihilate me. If such a blow were to land, that is."
Yusuke's glare darkened.
Hokushin smirked. "Power is one thing, but ability is another." He punched the tree directly to his right. The impact caused the tree to shed leaves from its branches.
Yusuke blinked curiously as Hokushin removed and tossed his outer robe to the side. He got into a fighting stance and said, "Let's go. This match will be over before all these leaves hit the ground."
"Yeah, whatever." Yusuke ground his teeth angrily. "Just bring it!"
"Rrr... Shah!" Hokushin dashed straight for Yusuke.
Yusuke's eye twitched at the monk's slow speed. "Either way, he's dead! Take this!"
Yusuke threw a right cross and gasped. Hokushin's head twisted and stretched out of the way of Yusuke's fist.
In his twisted state, Hokushin smirked. "I am, as you see, quite flexible. I can stretch my hand out to grab a rock twelve miles away."
"Rarr!" Yusuke clenched his teeth as he grabbed the monk's neck and tried to pull him apart and strangle him. However, Hokushin only stretched and twisted more around Yusuke's arms and over his head. "Graah!"
"Forget it," Hokushin advised. "I'll just keep stretching." He reached into a hidden pocket in his shirt and pulled out a knife. Before Yusuke could react, the monk stretched his arm and struck him with the weapon. Yusuke glared as the last leaf fell to the ground.
Hokushin smirked and untangled himself from Yusuke. "If I were at Class –S power..." He pulled back the knife and pulled a string of tiny flags from the tip. "I'd have easily strangled you. This jest will have to do for now. Call it a psychological win." In a puff of white smoke, the knife turned into a rose. "I set a time limit, demonstrated my ability, and tricked you into thinking you'd lost. What do you think?"
Yusuke stared at Hokushin, obviously annoyed.
Sayomi arched her brow curiously. Did that all go over his head or is he just pissed off that he lost?
"Not satisfied?" Hokushin asked.
"No!" Yusuke yelled.
"Then you really have no choice. Come to the Demon Plane, where I can take this limiter off..." Hokushin smirked. "And hand you your head in a basket."
"Hmph! As if!" Yusuke scoffed. "I'm not buying your con."
"Con? Do I smell sour grapes?" Hokushin asked.
"Not the fight!" Yusuke pointed at the monk. "This so-called mission you're on! Something about what you said sounded off, and I've finally figured out what it is."
But he was telling the truth... wasn't he? Sayomi stared at Yusuke, but snuck glances at Hokushin to see his reaction. What did he figure out?
Yusuke glared and slipped his hands into his pockets. "According to you, King Raizen, my dad, is a human-eating demon. He needs the energy of humans to survive. Now he's dying because he decided 1000 years ago, for reason unknown even to you, to remove humans from his diet. And you say you've gone along with this." Yusuke pulled his right hand from his pocket.
"That's right," Hokushin confirmed. "What's your point?"
Yusuke smirked and aimed his trigger finger at the monk. "So why are you still eating humans?"
What...? Sayomi looked at her old teacher in disbelief.
"Well? I'm waiting." Yusuke smirked.
Hokushin returned it. "How did you know?"
Yusuke dropped his smirk and glared at him. "I once fought an eater of human souls. Your breath smells like his, so it seemed a good bet. Whatever you're really up to... be aware that I hate anyone trying to sucker me. So come clean, or..." He took a step forward.
Hokushin raised his hands in surrender. "All right, all right, I'll explain everything."
Yusuke didn't give him the chance. He dashed forward and hit the monk in the face with a strong right cross. The force of the blow sent Hokushin skidding backwards as his head twisted around several times.
Sayomi's jaw dropped at the sudden move. Then she grinned. I've never seen him take a hit like that before!
Seitei and To-Oh seemed just as surprised by Yusuke's attack.
Yusuke clenched his fist and said, "That's just to put you on notice. Next time, if I don't like what I hear, you're dead."
"I must say, I didn't see that coming. You're fast, and your intentions are hard to read." Hokushin quickly unwound his head. "I haven't given you the whole truth because we thought you wouldn't understand the basis of our fellowship."
Yusuke stuffed his hands into his pockets. "What I figure is it's not about diet. I know about demon cravings, and what you eat is a matter of individual choice. What really binds you guys as a group, a country, has to be something a lot more important. So save yourself some trouble and level with me."
"Heh... Seems I misjudged you." Hokushin smirked.
Yusuke waved off his comment. "There are two opposing demons that still feed on humans, but I get that you have your reasons for siding with the fasting king. You could've just said that to begin with, y'know."
Hokushin stared at Yusuke. "You are King Raizen's son. You think like him. As for that bond... it's because King Raizen is someone like you."
Yusuke blinked, confused by the monk's comparison.
Hokushin smiled. "It fulfills me to fight for him instead of the others. My ultimate goal is to stop feeding on humans as well. There are... alternatives. But right now my comrades and I can't afford to become weak."
"Why do you want to fight the other two demons?" Yusuke asked.
As Hokushin shrugged back into his robes, he said, "Because the king doesn't like them. And what the king doesn't like, I don't like."
"Makes sense," Yusuke muttered.
"Yes it does," Hokushin agreed bluntly. Then he turned to leave with his companions. "I really hope you'll agree to meet King Raizen. We'll return in a week. Give us your answer then. I imagine you've already decided, but you have things to take care of. Sayomi, I expect you to be there with him."
Yusuke and Sayomi watched them until they disappeared in the woods. Sayomi let out a sigh. I guess I have no choice now.
"Yusuke..."
Yusuke and Sayomi turned to see the former Underworld Detective standing behind them with one arm holding onto the other.
"Kuroko?" Yusuke looked at her worriedly. "What's wrong? You look upset."
"It's probably best that you go to the Demon Plane," she said firmly.
But I thought... Sayomi looked at the older woman, unable to understand her sudden change in character. I thought she liked Yusuke...
Kuroko kept her eyes on Yusuke and said, "You talked matter-of-factly with a demon about his human 'diet.' Your humanity seems to be, well, fading."
Sayomi flinched at Kuroko's choice of words.
"You... may be right," Yusuke said quietly.
"I wasn't going to tell you, but the Underworld got in touch with me..." Kuroko looked down at her feet. "With an order to kill Yusuke Urameshi!" She looked back up at him. "I declined to accept it, and then I called Master Genkai. She told me I'd done the right thing. And I was feeling okay about it, at least... until a minute ago. Now you scare me."
When Sayomi caught a glimpse of Yusuke's sad expression, she looked up to see Kuroko with no trace of anger or hatred. She likes him, but...
"Master Genkai may trust you, but I can't. You may face my kids one day and... well..." Kuroko squeezed her arm, uncomfortable with the situation. "I wanted to help you, but I don't... have the strength. I'm sorry."
"Don't be." Yusuke smiled at her. "And let me just say... thanks."
Before he could leave with Sayomi, Shogo came outside and called out, "Yusuke, a minute?"
Yusuke stopped and turned to face the man.
Shogo stood next to Kuroko and said, "I saw something earlier, but how to tell you...? Anyway, I saw a great parting in your future... between you and trusted comrades."
"I see." Yusuke turned back to the forest and waved over his shoulder. "Thanks for the heads up. Let's go, Sai."
Sayomi silently followed him back down the mountain. A great parting? I know it was inevitable, but it all happened so fast. I guess this means my debt will be paid off sooner than I expected. I just hope Yusuke will be okay leaving everything behind.