Disclaimer: I do NOT own Yu Yu Hakusho, nor do I own its characters.
WARNING: This fiction contains dark things, including sick humor, and is not for the faint of heart.
PLEASE NOTE: Kuwabara happens to be my favorite character from the series. I am NOT bashing him in any way, though I am looking at him from a realistic standpoint… So, Kuwa-fans beware, this is not for those who hold a total romanticized view of him and tend to forget his flaws. The previous chapter featured his mangled perception on the world.
TOOL
Wanting out of this fog, and as soon as possible, Kazuma picked up the pace.
The soles of his boots bashed against all in his path, breaking the dead stillness with the thwacking sounds that reverberated off the surroundings. Though the beat was originally faint, it was magnified ten times by the obscured structures.
He continued to hoof his way down the pavement, shadowing the chain-link fence until he had reached its end. Upon reaching the edge of the sidewalk, he traversed through the empty thoroughfare, never minding the pedestrian laws as he ran. He suddenly bolted midway in the intersection, shortly afterward, when he beheld with his eyes—
"…Blood?"
—Smeared on the asphalt beneath him.
With catholic eyes, he faltered and took several steps back. "What the hell happened here?"
He scanned the road, noting the bits and chunks of flesh were spread across the surface like marmalade on toast. The expression upon his features contorted, supposing that a terrible accident had occurred sometime recently… But that did not explain the peculiar characteristics of the streaks, which come across as though someone drenched in blood had wallowed on one lane and then tottered off down another.
Kazuma studied the stains, observing how fresh they actually were, as his eyes followed the trail to the left of him. That was when he had caught sight of a silhouette, one that lurched away and disappeared into the fog.
Wait. There was someone here after all?
He palmed his face, deadpanned at how slow he had proved himself to be just then. "Duh. Where the fuck else could the blood have possibly came from?"
…Blood?
Ascertaining by how incredibly awkward the person's gait was, or at least by what he had seen, there was no doubt in his mind that the individual was terribly injured.
"SHIT." He hissed at himself.
However, there was something mightily strange about this. He had not sense any source of life or energy in the entire area, not even from the figure. And yet, as unnerving as these contexts were, the philanthropist within himself had kicked in, and so he pushed his own needs aside and proceeded after the character.
"HEY. COME BACK!" Kazuma called out as he ran blindly through the mist.
Note that Kazuma's lack of good judgment was based either upon his good nature or sheer folly, though most likely the latter. Mind you, Yusuke would never consciously pursue after an ominous form, especially one that casually left behind a trail of blood and possessed no spirit signature. No, you have to be out of your ever bloody mind to do such an absurd thing as that.
Maybe the psychic's brain was broken, too, for if he had heeded to his common sense he would have headed off into the opposite direction. Why? Because he had pierced reason in the ass and fucked it, right in the new hole he had created and with his finger rolling around in the wound.
Has not experience taught him anything?
According to The Encarta Dictionary, to be "stupid" means to be "regarded as showing a lack of intelligence, perception, or common sense".
So, if you lack any of those mentioned you are considered "dimwitted" by default.
On the other hand, even though those terms befitted Yusuke quite well, this may not necessarily be the case for the psychic.
Why?
"Insanity" and "stupidity" were NOT exactly one and the same and, though the two shared great similarities with one another, there was a thin line between the two of them. A stupid person does not think before he acts and therefore is deemed risky, but an insane person does think and yet puts himself in reach of harm's way anyway.
The psychic was "a bit off", which implied that he not exactly "stupid".
Yusuke had "lunacy" eating at him at one point, absolutely, though only for a short amount of time and for a blameless reason. He needed to adjust to his awakened demon nature and he was confused as to where his life was taking him.
Kuwabara was "insane" all the time, since day one.
Hell, he had to be "mad" in order for him to unremittingly challenge others who persistently mop the floor with him.
For Yusuke there was no way out, no other way around it, when facing Sensui. Then again, Yusuke was not thinking clearly when he had sacrificed himself. He happened to admit to this later, personally, and likewise mentioned toward his own negligence.
Besides, Yusuke had been blackmailed into the role of being a spirit detective, while Kazuma had put himself out there and without a gun held to his head. Yusuke had created a democracy in Makai, had brought peace to the worlds, and still managed to established a personal business of his own while Kuwabara clung wretchedly to his dreams of Yukina. And while Yusuke had proven himself to be perfectly stable, despite having jumped the gun so many times, Kuwabara was an outright "disturbed" tool.
Kuwabara's relationship with his team had always been a fatal one, although in some twisted way this stooge was needed. For an example, he had offered himself up to Toguro, freely, and still lived to tell the tale. Again, he naively spared a boy who had attempted to murder his closest friends, nearly killing his posse off like insects caught within a giant roach motel.
He had his priorities all wrong, that or something was not right with him.
Kazuma was obsessive and eccentric, self-righteous and condescending. His unwavering determination, though oftentimes an admirable trait, was explicit unadulterated mania, while his virtues were based solely on a speculative understanding of himself and the world around him.
In honesty, he had driven himself beyond deserving anyone else's respect. This was why his friends were so few and far in between. No one could bring themselves to respect a "madman", especially one who was so insecure and had so many faults.
Unmistakably, the man was loathed, though not just for those reasons mentioned.
"HOLD ON! I'M A DOCTOR!" He shouted as he continued the pursuit. "I CAN HELP YOU!"
No shit, Watson. That's what doctors generally do.
The clouds above him revolved like a wheel as the light around him had begun to wane.
Darkness draped over the entire town, perturbingly suffocating the remaining light like an opaque coverlet drawn over a sleeping newborn. The unforeseen blackness almost blinded him, having swiftly encroached upon his reality.
Well, this was not what he had expected.
He balked, nearly crashing into a large, hollow pole. But as a result of having knocked against the sluice anyway, a dull clanging vibrated in his ears.
"Shit. Shit. Shit."
Fortuitously, he could see the energy that made up the structures with his inner "third eye". Nevertheless, until his eyes attuned, he pulled out his cellphone and employed the built in flashlight.
The latest technology was not so bad after all, eh, Kuwabara?
…TO BE CONTINUED…
I'd like to thank those who insist on reading this story. I also like to thank my readers who continue to follow and wait patiently.
The good stuff is coming, don't worry. :)
Author's Second Note, aka THE VERBAL THROW UP: I try to be a realistic fan of this guy. Yes, despite being a fan I am not blinded to his faults nor to the reasons why others may not like him. The way I see it, both his fans and the ones who "hate" him tend to fail in seeing all sides of him. While the haters only see the bad, the fans only see the good. I don't want to be like either one of those fans. I try to be reasonable and look at the whole picture, with all its details, from a logical standpoint. I also did quite a bit of research, mind you, and consider what I am writing and for what reasons. Truly, there is not enough fiction on Kuwabara, but at the same time many fail to see the true potential he already has or lies hidden. They keep... romanticizing him, writing off his bad traits as though they are nonexistent and only focusing on what they believe to be good traits. Honestly, a true fan wouldn't and shouldn't need to throw away his faults but utilize them in order to make interesting situations and plots. Kuwabara has plenty to offer his fans and the like, that is, to work with. I've come to realize that you don't necessarily need to add anything to him, but if you wish to please make sure it's not too outlandish and that it doesn't butcher his character completely.
And to be perfectly honest, I love love this character because "of" and "for" his flaws! It's one hell of a good damn reason why I prefer him over the other characters, for the others are just too damn perfect for my tastes. Think about it all for a moment and do your research on what it takes to make a great story with great characters. I ought to know, I've fucked up so many times myself and had gotten sick of doing so. By the way, most of my friends HATE Yu Yu Hakusho for many...valid reasons why (sadly). Notwithstanding their excellent and indisputable points they have made to me, somehow I still stay loyal to this anime... Kuwabara is my ONLY reason why.
The Third Note: Allow me to clear this up even further. This story is based on what I've read, seen, heard, etc...and is my interpretation of them. Yes, I am utilizing all information. Please be patient, for not everything has not been reviewed or mentioned and will be throughout the story.
I INSIST THAT YOU READ "WORMBOY" FOR IT GOES WITH THIS STORY.