Because I will not have internet for the next week, I give you the next chapter. Sorry for any grammatical mistakes or punctuation, I wanted to get this out before I lose contact with the www.
Chapter 3
Kuwabara woke up at eight o'clock alone in his bed. He dragged a hand over his face, recalling the incredulity of last night, and shook his head in disbelief.
Wait … was it just last night? The last time he had awoken he had unknowingly lost almost a month of time. Loosing time… that was one of the signs, good god this was not happening. Immediately, Kuwabara ripped off the sheets and went into the living room. The dates on the calendar were still crossed off exactly how Urameshi had done previously. He rubbed his face again, as if trying to ease the anxiety out of his head. After rubbing his face red, he finally got up the courage to check the answering machine, the irrefutable evidence- the verification of his fears, that he was in fact loosing time.
In just his boxers and goose bumped skin, Kuwabara approached that telltale blinking red light.
He pushed the button. In a preposterously calm voice the machine's recording began.
You have forty -two missed messages. Message one: Moshi moshi Kazuma, this is Aikihiro. You didn't come into work this morning, but there wasn't a formal request for leave. We're just calling to make sure everything is alright. Also on your return to work tomorrow please bring a doctor's note or verification of an excusable absence. Click.
Message two: Hey man, It's Urameshi. I kinda wanted to talk to you about something, maybe we can hang out soon? Play some videos games like old times? Well, give me a call when you get this. Click.
Message three: Moshi moshi Kazuma, this is Aikihiro again. This is the second day in a row you haven't come into work. Please call us immediately. Click.
There are forty- two of these? Shit… this was not good. Kuwabara put his face in his hands, starring at nothing in the darkness of his palms. He sat like this for several minutes listening to the vocal tug-of- war between Urameshi and his job. When he finally looked up he almost jumped out of his skin. Sitting across from him in his favorite reclining chair was the red headed boy he had saved from the bullies.
Although the boy's appearance had startled him, understanding quickly dawned. The only way the kid could be here, was if he was not actually here.
The red hair, the fact that Kazuma was the first name to come to mind- He's either a hallucination or a spirit. No, there was no way this was a spirit. He was a spitting image of himself, exactly as he had remembered, a spirit could never mimic this well.
"Kazuma?"
"…hai?"
"So that is your name?"
"…hai."
Fuck.
Loosing time, Hallucinations, two strikes.
Message 15: Moshi moshi Kazuma, we are giving you one week to return to work. If you are not back by June 1st your position at our company will be terminated.
Kuwabara rose, the kid's innocuous blue gaze never leaving him. He could no longer sit still as the weight of his predicament crushed the air from his lungs. On the way to the sink Kuwabara saw a yellow sticky note attached to his refrigerator door.
Message 20: Hey Kuwabara, it's Urameshi again. Was wonderin' what you're up to today. Gimme a call.
Kuwabara bent at the waist to read the note which was written in very sloppy Urameshi- like handwriting.
Kazuma,
You look really peaceful sleeping. I didn't want to wake you. Last night you really scared me. Call me at work if anything like that happens again, I don't care what these dickbags say I'll be there in at your door in a sec.
Always,
Yuus.
Underneath was in barely legible writing was what Kuwabara assumed to be Urameshi's work number.
Kuwabara sighed and leaned back against the sink. When he realized how reconstructive it was of last night's scenario he moved to stand next to the refrigerator.
"What are you doing here?" He asked his hallucination, his voice not completely empty of malice. He knew why he was here. Why else would the child be here besides the irrefutable fact that he… no he would not allow himself to even think it. He wondered if Shizuru had also had hallucinations of her younger self as well before her disappearance.
"I want to help people," The boy said with unshakable aplomb.
Oh yes, he thought sarcastically, he remembered this phase of his life. There was no debating it that was definitely his… what? Kuwabara examined the young features and the preteen confidence, nine year old self?
"Give it up, kid." Kuwabara remarked callously. He went into the bedroom to put some clothes on. When he emerged he wasn't surprised to see the kid still there, looking at him as if expecting something. Kuwabara sighed, and shook his head, as if to dislodge what he was seeing.
"How can I make you go away?
"By helping people. Making them happy."
You got to be kidding me.
"No, that was your ideology. Spoiler alert, kiddo, it don't work. I'm losing time, I'm hallucinating you, I- "
"I know that helping people is the answer. I know making others happy can save me!"
Kuwabara almost laughed at the irony. His hallucination of his nine year old self was giving him tips on how not to be crazy. He remembered all too clearly how optimistic he was. He grimaced as he recalled Shizuru's quick mental decline.
"It's getting worse," the boy persisted, "I know it's getting worse, because I'm you. I can help you, me, I can stop it. And we can start by helping Yuusuke."
Kuwabara's head snapped up.
No, oh gods no.
"You've been helping him? While I was… unaware?" Kuwabara didn't bother to say it out loud. Correctly thinking the his younger self nodded earnestly.
"You can't do this!" Kuwabara said out loud for effect. After the words left his mouth he felt overwhelmingly tired.
"You can't do this!" He said again with more force.
"I have to do this," Was the only answer he got before blacking out.