Disclaimer: I do NOT own Yu Yu Hakusho, nor do I own its characters.
Note: I will do my best to keep the characters in character and follow the manga's storyline rather than the one seen in the anime.

JANUS

Kazuma coughed down at the drawing as a sudden blow of nausea went straight to his gut. His digits glossed over the thin layers of wax, and the paper's crisp edges stung his skin.

What a bizarre, disturbing piece of art. Did he really have such a warped mind as a child? Never mind that. Who in hell was responsible for sending him this mess in the first place? Was the old man playing some sort of sick joke on him?

None of this was making sense, not a single lick.

He shifted his awareness onto other details. There were these bird-like creatures in the illustration, though he was not so sure if they were genuinely birds. The firmament itself appeared shattered; the dimensional membrane was cracked like an opaque mirror only to be flayed away by a ghastly fiend.

What kind of child draws these sorts of things?

Oh, right. He drew it, he drew this…eyesore.

All the more unsettling was the monster's ability to cut through proportions, how it manipulated reality. …And with a blade? No, it was clearly a sword.

Kazuma's breath hitched when he discerned the familiarity.

Was this a prediction that had come to pass or is it one yet to be? How did he, as a boy, know that such a feat was even feasible? And who was the foreboding figure exactly?

It could not be him, it just could not be. Why? The entity looked nothing like him, that's why. What with the red hood with its overcast which shrouded its features, the gruesome grin, and the savage demeanor overall. There were no eyes on the guy, none drawn at all, just…blackness.

But was he so sure about that? How did he know he was not in denial? And—oh, yeah, did he take note that he could not see the being's face?

It all had to be a coincidence, or so he kept telling himself over and over for about five minutes until he managed to push the whole idea aside.

There was another thing about that picture, where the paper was littered with depictions of vaults and stones and all to which was fenced in by enormous bars.

This he had no difficulty following, perhaps even inclined to, due to the personal experience of when dealing with the dead. Whether it this was due to his keen psychic gifts, or the loss of life in the emergency room, death was always impending around him. He understood well that he could not escape death, as all people do. Death was inevitable.

After folding the paper in quarters, he stashed the drawing into his coat pocket and all prior to the search for his cellphone. He combed about in the vehicle for the device, including having checked the glove compartment and the compartment under the armrest, before it suddenly dawned on him— He had inserted his phone into the receptacle strapped on his belt, and had done so since before he had left his house. He reached behind him, on the right side of himself, and retrieved the mobile.

With the device in hand, he tapped the screen and lo and beheld that the service was without connection. Baffled, he did not understand as to how the location could be a dead zone. He was in what was known to be the busiest part of town, for crying out loud!

He swore acridly, but then swiftly fell into silence when his eyes beheld her face.

Yukina, his dear sweet Yukina…

She was his consolation in this mad, abysmal world. She was precious. She was a pure, melodious vision.

Inversely, his existence was flawed in comparison, his rind marred down to the marrow with battle scars.

He remembered the fresh scent of her creamy flesh, the silky texture of her watery "sea foam" hair, and the way she peered up at him with those crimson puddles of hers. He studied the fine details of her lips, noting how petite her mouth was, and how delicate the lines were. Her gaze reflected her innocence while those eyelashes laced kissed lids, beauty unspoiled…

…Violated. …Complicated, faceless, and broken. The ginger was undeserving of her, as he had been told so avidly by those who knew him.

Fate was cruel, as was life in general.

Having comprehended that it was only a snapshot, he sucked in a quivering breath. He pressed the power icon on the monitor and returned the mobile back into its holder, securely. And with the need for assistance in mind, he slunk out of the vehicle, locked the doors and began trekking.

…TO BE CONTINUED…

Sorry for such a short chapter, though I "hope" you do enjoy reading this one though no matter the length.

I want to take this opportunity to thank my readers and reviewers. Thank you!