It was kind of funny, I forgot about Tsukime at the last chapter….Let's just say she joined Keiko and Shizuru
Chapter 9: The Flame of Hope
Yusuke…
I was frozen, I couldn't move, my mouth won't open.
Yusuke Urameshi, My best friend…
Was lying there with a deep wound on his chest, I felt something wet sliding down my cheeks and realized it was tears. My legs gave in and fell down the ground, I felt so weak as if my will to live was already gone.
That man…
Shinobu Sensui turned his head and saw me on the ground; he gave me a sad frown then smiled at me. I clenched my fists and a lot of tears fell down my face and stained my beautiful Kimono, then Kuwabara walked over to Yusuke then kneeled down to grasp his shoulder.
"Hey…Urameshi…Stop that…Come on…." He said nervously while smiling, but there was no response at all, Kuwabara shook him but more pain engulfed in my chest, it was like a wound that cannot be healed. Kuwabara shook once more but tears only came out of my eye.
"I've already done that so stop making fun of me!" Kuwabara shouted at his face, I couldn't bear to watch anymore. I bit my lower lip to prevent me from sobbing but I failed then soft wails were coming out from my mouth.
"U-Urameshi?!" Kuwabara called out again….He's already gone…
As in Gone….
Forever…
Everything became invisible to me, I couldn't hear Kuwabara crying, I couldn't hear the demons hording, and it's all senseless to me now. The only thing that was clear was Yusuke's lifeless body, though I noticed Kuwabara, Kurama, Hiei and Yuzai go inside the demon portal when Shinobu got in.
Koenma and Mitarai was looking at me with very sad eyes, my memories swirled around my mind about Yusuke, how he smiled, laugh and cry. It's all I know now and nothing more.
(Cue: Search this song: Cold by Jorge Mendez piano and Violin Instrumental)
"Hello there, Neighbors!
I clenched my teeth and turned trying to see who interrupted our fun, it was a kid just around my age with black hair pushed back. He was holding a stem with leaves making it an umbrella
"Who the hell are you?" asked the demon named Hiei; I closed my eyes and huffed wanting to finish all the trouble.
"The names' Yusuke Urameshi and I'm a spirit Detective." He said with a stupid grin in his face.
I remembered when the first time I saw him with that cocky smile laid upon his mischievous face, he was willing to beat up Goki that time, he even pushed me away because he wanted to finish him on his own, I was so pissed off at him, it was my job as a watcher to protect the city.
That time when yusuke was beat up I felt determination and power, he's really strong and doubt he'll give up.
" Hey" He grabbed me by the elbow and I glanced at the Detective.
"You have a place to stay?" He asked as I huffed, it was unusual of him. First he was an angry ogre now he started to become a bright angel.
"Well actually, she lives really far away from Tokyo…Well she doesn't have a place to stay! I always see her sleep on abandoned buildings or sometimes at the park. Koenma always forget to provide her a temporary home!" Botan explained and I glared at her furiously, she nervously laughed and I sighed.
"Well at least stay here for a while." Yusuke said taking my things away from me and threw them on the sofa, he dragged me and without thinking what will happen he threw me on it.
"You're going to sleep on the Sofa." I was shocked when he just said that.
"Why are you-"
"Well I have to thank you for helping me earlier from Gouki…and throwing a one heck of a celebration." He said turning away from me, Botan smiled at the both of us. She went by the window and took out her paddle and bolted out from the apartment.
Meanwhile I lay down on the sofa and Yusuke lay on his bed, he stared at me again and I did the same.
"So…Where you from?" He asked.
"I live just outside Tokyo along with a kind old woman Genkai, you should probably visit her. She might be able help you with your Spirit gun." I said closing me eyes.
He turned his back on me and a minute later I heard him lightly snoring, I closed my eyes but then I was startled but he started mumbling words.
"Just…Stay…Out…of my way…" He said lightly, I curled my lips into a smile.
He gave me a home when I didn't have one; he welcomed me with open arms, I was so happy that time. He was not just strong but kind and compassionate. That's what that I like about him, he cares about his friends even though he's powerful, he give importance then he will strike down who hurts them. Yusuke helped Kurama that time the saved Keiko from Hiei.
"Yu-Yusuke…." I muttered, my legs slowly moved and I was surprised that I was already stand up, I took one step slowly then and did the same with my other foot. More tears fell down my eye then my hands were shaking violently.
"Yusuke…"
"Hey, I appreciated what you've done earlier." He said, I glanced up to him and nodded.
"So are we friends now?" I asked him, his face turned into an angry one and looked away from me but he glanced once more and sighed, I grab the 2nd artifact and handed it over to him.
"Yeah, yeah…Something like that." He said and took it from my hands, we both left the hospital and I closed my eyes and thank the gods nothing bad happened today.
"Acceptance could be a bitch sometimes." Yusuke said in his annoyed tone and I ignored him but deep inside I felt joy.
When I was near him I couldn't feel his spirit and life energy anymore, he was a blank slate. Nothing, it was all gone, no feelings or emotions.
"Yusuke…I-I'm sorry…" I was closer to him now, something was curling inside my stomach, it was shame, and guilt for leaving him, and I shouldn't have left him. If I have come here faster I would have saved him, if only I was by his side I would have protected him…
But…
I wasn't here with me…
"Tsume!" Yusuke screamed my name; I opened my eyes and smiled weakly at the detective.
"I'm not sleeping. Don't worry about me we should worry about the whistle. " I noted to the detective as he grabbed my collar, Kuwabara and the Kitsune gasped when Yusuke pulled me from Kurama's grasp.
"Urameshi stop that!" Kuwabara scolded the detective, Yusuke suddenly punched me and my face is tilted to the side.
"Yusuke-"
"Listen you stupid ass! You've been telling me to worry about the whistle? Well guess what buddy?! I'm going to shove my fucking fist inside your throat! Those punks over there are worrying over your health but then you tell us to forget you and throw away your life for a stupid fucking whistle?! Damn you, Damn you to hell! You're human you son of a bitch get real! I don't care if we have to kill the bad guy or save a damsel in distress! Think about your fucking health first! GET REAL YOU ASSHOLE! ALL THIS TIME YOU'RE SAYING YOU'RE OKAY BUT YOU'RE NOT!" I just stared at him for a moment with my usual blank expression, he raised his fist again, I was ready for any hit he would give me. But nothing collided my cheek or jaw, he pushed me away into Kuwabara's arms and I watch the detective turn from me.
I was here now with him; I fell on my knees then touched Yusuke's cold hand. I grasped it as hard as I can then sobbed loudly, the last time I cried like this was when Master Genkai died. Koenma and Mitarai knelt beside me then tried to soothe me with calming words but I couldn't hear them, it was nothing to me anymore.
Yusuke was like my flame of hope; he makes me filled with hope when he is near me. No matter how big or hard the problem he's always there to encourage me that I can do it, that we can make…Like when we were at hanging neck island…He promised to defeat Toguro so we can all go home.
Where is that hope now?
Someone blew the candle; it's gone now….My hope is gone…Shinobu blew that hope away from me…..
I removed my hand from his, it then softly went to him face and cupped and caressed my thumb on his cheek lovingly with such care.
After for so many minutes of play games, Yusuke and I had fun. I went to our apartment's rooftop and laid down on the hard surface, I watch the moon and the stairs and I sighed in satisfaction.
"So want to talk about your date with the girl Natsuko?' he asked, I let my head fall to my side and face him.
"I told Natsuko I wasn't the one for her…Botan went here and tackled me a hug, Natsuko slapped me hard on the face….Botan told her that I'm her boyfriend… "I said with sadness in my eye. Yusuke just snorted and shook his head.
"Women. It's hard to understand them…" Yusuke said softly to me, I shook my head disagreeing his own belief.
"Women are not hard to understand…Yusuke…It's just that….They want someone to understand them…What they feel and what they really want…What they want to believe in and what they want to do…Women are more like us than you think. Men always hide their feelings because they have to be tough but deep inside they have feelings too." I said while looking up in the sky. He stared for a while and did the same.
"Maybe…Sometimes…Keiko wants me to be real…But I think….Yeah…thanks a lot you know it all playboy….She even introduced me to her new crush…But well…I think everything's going to be okay now…" He said while giggling, I chuckled a bit and smiled with such gentleness.
"Oh…Yusuke…." I sobbed out, I threw myself towards him and my cheek was lying on his chest, I feel his blood touching my cheek but it doesn't matter, he was so cold, he has no heartbeat, no life, nothing…
I cried loudly, my arms hugged him and I can't help the pain, his arms will not embrace me back, he will never…ever embrace me back, he's gone now…
"Koenma…Please…Is there…No other way?" I sobbed, I turned my head to the other side to look at Koenma, Koenma looked away and it's clear to me that there's none, I cried louder then I screamed, Mitarai and Koenma jumped, it was like a screeching owl.
~ Keiko's P.O.V. ~
I didn't know why Puu suddenly closed his eyes, he also became cold too. Shizuru was looking at him with sad eyes.
The both of us jumped when Tsukime leaped from Shizuru's arms then screeched out loudly, we both cringed then Tsukime flew to my shoulder, I saw tears coming out her eyes then whimpered.
"Tsukime? What's wrong?" I asked her, she only wept and ignored me.
"Keiko…I can feel…Feel baby brother….he is very sad…Tsume….She is too….Her sadness is too much…" Shizuru said as the cigarette from her mouth fell on the ground.
~ Tsume's P.O.V. ~
"Yusuke…Yusuke….Yusuke…" I whimpered and cried loudly, I don't care if someone hears me, I don't care if they get irritated, my best friend is gone…But….For some reason I feel something inside…It's like a blooming flower, its love right?
"So what were you playing?" He asked, I turned my face at him and raised my eyebrows.
"What?"
"What piece were you playing?" Yusuke asked with a curious look, should I tell him?
"Um…It's a song that I…I used to like when I was the just a child." I said gently to the detective.
"Didn't know you were able to play a Koto, can you play the piece?" He asked, I then stared down on my lap and nodded slowly.
I gently plucked the strings and remembered the song, the tempo and speed gets a bit intense bit by bit and made a slow speed when the song was about to end. Yusuke stared with a surprised expression and I just stared at the moon.
"That…was…Awesome!" He said when he leaned much closed.
"Umm…Thank you…"
I can't help it, the pain was so much.
"I'm so sorry Yusuke!" I shouted loudly, I felt Koenma pat my back but it really wasn't helping, nothing can.
After minutes the spirit detective stopped grumbling and took a look at my spirit beast.
"Hey Tsume, what are you going to call your pet?" he asked me, I just look blankly at it and sighed.
"Maybe…Tsukime…"
"Why? Is it because it's close to your name?" He asked with a smirk.
"Something like that…But it means Moon eye, since its eye color looks like the moon." I said with a smile.
"Nice one…"
"Maybe yours should be Puusuke." I said while chuckling.
"Shut up!" He shouted at my face, I laughed it off then he gasped.
"What?" I asked him softly.
"This was the first time you laughed." He said in awe.
"Really?" I asked him while still laughing.
"Yeah and it's not….annoying, it's sounds really…Nice." He said while I blushed, I stood up from the sofa and turned my door open.
"Sweet dreams Yusuke." I said while opening the door and shut it behind me.
"Good night!" I heard him say, I smiled and for some reason I felt so confused, what was that just now? Why did I react like that? Is it a girl thing?
I shook my head and changed into my pajamas; I placed Tsukime on the left side of the bed and smiled at her.
"You can sleep right there Tsukime."
"Wuu-Wuu!" She responded to me then closed its eyes; I did the same and let the darkness blanket me.
Yusuke please…Don't leave me…
My vision was really blurry and the first thing I felt was pain, Yusuke, Botan and Jin was there. I gasped when I saw them and realized what just happened.
"Yusuke…Botan…Jin…? Are…you…dead too?" I asked them weakly; the detective unexpectedly grabbed my collar and lifted me up in a sitting position.
"What the hell damn it, are you trying to kill yourself?!" He shook me violently, I felt really dizzy now then Botan tried to pry yusuke's hands away from my collar.
"Yusuke stop it she's in no condition-"
"Shut up will you?!" Yusuke warned the grim reaper, she lifted her hands away from Yusuke and gave him a nervous grin; he returned his attention to me and slapped me.
"Were you trying to kill yourself?!" He asked me the question again, I just stared at him.
"Hey answer me you stupid bitch!" My whole body was shaking and tears swelled up in my eye, I'm alive…They save me…Why do they…
"Why did you save me?" I asked him, tears were sliding down my cheek.
"I saved you because…I mean who's going to help us fight the team Toguro tomorrow huh?! Genkai's dead and if you're dead…We'll have a really hard time to kill them!" He shouted at my face, I clenched my fist and bit my lower lip.
"You should have let me die you know! I can't live like this anymore!" I weakly said tom him, the tears are now falling down my face.
"Why?! Because you're masters died?!" he angrily asked me.
"No…Because of this guilt…I wanted to punish myself…I wanted to die…But you ruined that for me…And now look what you've all done…I have to live so I can continue this pain…The pain of guilt, pain and anger!" I said to him, he slapped me hard and he stood up.
"Shut up! You're starting to piss me off! It's like you're not even Tsume Gekko, the Tsume I know would never show his feelings and hides his pain! He always act tough and always think that his the boss! You're not even him any more…Just a girl who's so guilty about her master's death. I need to go somewhere okay?! Stop killing yourself and just get back to the hotel room!" Yusuke said while leaving me with Botan and Jin, I watch as he left and ran off.
He was right…I'm never like this…
"Yusuke…I'm so sorry…I'm so sorry that I broke our promise…." I whispered, I sobbed again then whimpered. It's my fault he is dead, it's always my fault….
He's my happiness, my hope, I feel nothing when he's not with me, I always wanted to follow him everywhere, he's the only one that truly makes my heart beat faster, he's always there for me….
" Our Promise is Broken…Because of me….I'm sorry….There's no way I can fix the pieces anymore….I know you are angry at me Yusuke….I'm sorry…I couldn't my promise…." I pulled myself away from him, my hands crept at each side of his face, and I leaned close then remember his smiles and laughs.
"Yusuke…"
"What?"
"Promise me….Promise me you'll defeat him…" I said to him, he gave me one last smile and laughed.
"Really Tsume? I thought you're a tough guy- I mean….girl!" He said while laughing, I didn't response to what he said but instead I gave him a look.
"Just promise me damn it! Promise me that you'll live " I scolded the spirit detective; he regained his posture and nodded. He suddenly lifted his hand and I tilted my head when he lifted his pinky.
"What?" I asked him.
"Just do the same, it's called 'THE PROMISE' thingy…But it's really called a pinky swear." He said, I lifted my hand and did the same.
I gasped when he twirled his pinky to mine…What the hell…
"So THE PROMISE won't break….Because it's knotted." He said, he lets go off my hand and smiled.
I looked at my hands and back to his face.
So…..Our promise won't break….
The promise won't break….
~o~
"You've been through so much huh Tsume? You even changed your name to protect yourself. You're so tough you know that? You seek the truth and you wanted to protect everyone. But guess what? You can't protect anyone Tsume, not all of them." Yusuke said, I shot him an angry look. Is he telling me that I'm weak?
"Why?" I asked him, he then grinned ear to ear.
"Because I'm going to help you!" yusuke said happily, my angry expression faded into a relief one.
"Just promise me Tsume that if you need help or anything just call my name okay? No more running away, Promise?" he asked me, I nodded. He lifted his hand with only with his pinky open.
"Promise!" I said happily, I wrapped my Pinky to his and we both suddenly turned our attention to the moon.
"I'm sorry Yusuke…." I said to him and leaned closer t his face, my lips touched his forehead. I moved away from him, I stood up then felt something different happen. Everything seemed so cold; I felt air swirling around me.
It grew stronger and stronger until strange spirit energy glowed around my body, it wasn't normal energy, instead of blue it was pure white light. Koenma and Mitarai moved away from me then covered their eyes with their arms; a huge beam of light appeared out of nowhere then fell down at me.
My energy was boost to the max level and all my cuts were healed. My black Kimono turned white, I examined myself then I heard Koenma yelp.
I feel so powerful right now…I turned towards the portal and gazed at it with deep thought, I glanced at yusuke then smiled at him.
"Yusuke….I will avenge you…I promise…." I said to his lifeless body, I ran to the portal then jumped inside.
The whole place was giving me a head ache; I noticed that the Kekkai barrier was broken. I suppose that Kuwabara used his spirit sword that can cut through dimensions, I slowly went inside and I fell into the demon world, there as a forest, I saw my friends heaving down there, Shinobu was wearing some kind of armor.
He was about to strike my friends but I fell down gracefully then shielded my friends using a very rare barrier; I heard Shinobu gasped when the barrier disappeared.
"T-Tsume?! It's you! SISTER!" I heard Yuzai shout with joy, I turned to them and smiled brightly and turned my attention back to Shinobu who was smirking.
" I see you've become now with the moonstone…You've accepted the powers that Tsukiyomi gave you and became the Tsukiko priestess…That's good Mujakina…" he said with interest, I took one step forward and charged at him.
He tried to throw a punch at me but I took his hand, he was surprised. I smirked at him then released a lot of sprit energy; Shinobu was thrown away with brute force. He slowly stood up then growled at me with anger.
"For your information…My name…Is Tsume Gekko…" Spirit energy was emitted from my body then it swirled around like a tornado, beams of light bursted out from my palm then energy gathered there. I howled in fury then threw it at Shinobu; he jumped away then ran over to me.
He did a flying kick but I bended forward to avoid the attack, Shinobu then turned and punched me in the face but I didn't feel any pain.
"You call that a punch Shinobu?" I asked him, he then smirked and I felt his spirit energy getting stronger. He gathered his energy then balls of light blasted out from him, it's like the sport Yusuke told me that he had in gym glass but I couldn't remember the name.
"Waxing Gibbous: Moon light dash!" I ran towards him then hit he balls with my moon light dash, When I was close to him my power disappeared, I smirked then used a rare power that made him scream in pain, I was able to break his breast plate, I saw the opportunity to strike him at his chest but that stopped when he threw a punch at my gut.
I was thrown harshly, I was about to stand up but he dashed over to me with blinding speed and stepped in my chest with brute strength, I laid here while gritting my teeth in both pain and anger.
"From the start I knew you'll be a nuisance to my plans…I'll end your life…That tiny fame of light you have…." He growled, something formed in his hand, it was sprit energy with sacred energy, and he was ready to finish me until someone hit him…
What?!
"Sorry if I crashed your party!" I heard a familiar voice scream out, my eye widened then looked up, I saw a huge bird with someone riding on it, I gasped loudly when I saw the person that I've been urging to see, it was Yusuke Urameshi….
Yusuke…
YUSUKE?!
"Phew I just got in time! I'm sorry that I'm late guys! I was just having a nice nap, actually a really nice nap! Until I heard someone who was making crying noises…" Yusuke said while turning over to me, I slowly stood up then stared at him for a long time.
"HOW CAN THAT BE?! YOU HAD NO HEARTBBEAT! You were already!" Kuwabara screamed at his face, yusuke just looked at him with a childish look then pointed felt his chest.
"Well yeah…About that…" Yusuke trailed off, Yuzai went over then felt his skin.
"He's a demon….I see….Now understand now!" Yuzai said happily with wide eyes.
"What?" Kuwabara asked Yuzai who was brimming with joy.
"I never thought it was possible, you see, someone told me before that if you were human with a demon ancestor, then you are part demon! You revive when you die!' Yuzai explained to the redhead who was still in shock.
"Yusuke, now that you are a demon….How does it feel?" Hiei asked Yusuke who was still looking at me with a smile in his face.
"I don't know…I don't feel a heartbeat that's all…Which is weird, how am I supposed to live without a heartbeat?!" Yusuke asked them, Kurama and Hiei started to laugh, Kuwabara was still in shock.
"You'll get used to it…" Kurama said to him and assured that everything is alright, I walked over to him then Yusuke turned to face me.
"Hi…" Yusuke said with a smile, I clenched my fist then threw it at him, Kurama and Hiei stepped away when he was thrown with brute force.
Yusuke stood up then a vein popped in his temple, he ran over to me and grabbed my collar.
"WHAT WAS THAT FOR?"
"THAT WAS FOR BEING SUCH AN ASS! YOU OF ALL PEOPLE MADE ME CRY!" I screamed at his face, I pushed him then he landed on the ground, I started kicking his gut and stepping his face many times, I can hear him curse.
"WELL IT'S NOT FAULT THAT I DIED! " He angrily said until the both of us started arguing like kids, everyone sweat dropped then Yuzai began whispering in Kuwabara's ear.
"Are they always like this?" I heard Shinobu ask them, Kurama and hiei shrugged their shoulders then smirked at us.
"You have no idea…" Hiei said.
"Ummm…Guys I think you should stop now…" he said nervously, the both of us turned to Kuwabara and looked at him with a grim look.
"Stay away…" we growled at him then he moved away from us with fear, we heard Shinobu clear his throat and we turned our attention towards him then growled in anger.
"I'm sorry to interrupt your lover's quarrel but…Your enemy is still here…" Shinobu said while smiling.
Yusuke took one step forward; I took his arm to stop him.
"What now?" He asked me with a frown, my lips tugged up into a smirk then said three words.
"Kick his ass"
"I always do."