Part Two


Chapter Eighteen

Okay, so maybe sealing my powers like that was a little rash, but how was I supposed to know I'd need them someday? They were a huge pain; why wouldn't I get rid of them? It just figures my powers would be just as big of a pain now that they're gone as they were when I had them.

Yare, yare; can nothing in my life be simple?

Fortunately, Yamato-san thinks that I can 'level-up'—her words, not mine—with the guys this summer anyway; it just won't be anywhere near the level I had two months ago. Instead, I'll have to try to find my 'niche,' like with Urameshi's Spirit Gun and Natsuko-san's naginata. I honestly have no idea what that niche may be; I've had so many powers for so long that I used so regularly that I couldn't say one power came more naturally to me than another. Not that it matters, I guess. Yamato-san said spirit powers don't manifest the same way psychic powers do. Which means I have to start over from the beginning before working my way back to where I was. And I only have twenty-nine days to do it.

Yare, yare.


Answers

Kusuo sat on the edge of the dojo's engawa, his bare feet brushing the tops of his school shoes as he stared sightlessly ahead. The others were probably done showering now, but he still couldn't bring himself to move. How could he have been so stupid? So selfish?

All he'd wanted was an ordinary life, but all that time, it was having his powers that allowed him to live as normally as he had. Allowed his friends to live as they had, without chaos or oppression. His mere presence kept away any and all who would do harm to those he cared about (or couldn't care less about). And with a single stroke of thoughtless selfishness, Kusuo had ruined everything.

"Hello, Saiki-san."

Kusuo started at the unexpected voice, his head shooting up. Dressed in the same red and white miko style uniform as her cousin, Kuwabara Natsuko was making her way toward him with a red-tipped, aluminum stick in hand that she tapped along the ground as she took step after tentative step. He stared at that stick for a long moment; he'd legitimately forgotten she was blind. Her sightless red eyes were focused on him with a quiet intensity that made him resist the urge to shift. Did his aura give away how unnerving he found her to be?

"Yes, it does." Natsuko smiled softly. "But your thoughts are more telling than your aura, and that will likely remain the case until you again learn to shield your mind."

Kusuo frowned. Well, that's disconcerting. No wonder the others freaked out when I told them about my telepathy.

"Ah." Natsuko blushed. "I apologize. It is very difficult to turn it off as mine, as was yours, is not a territory-based power."

"Hm." Kusuo's eyes narrowed in on a stone in the center of the walk. Natsuko was coming up on it, and he didn't want her to fall if her stick missed it. Her stick did miss, but she stepped over it anyway.

"Thank you for your assistance, Saiki-san." She made it to the dojo without further incident and groped along the engawa to make sure there was enough space for her to sit beside Kusuo without being pinned between him and the nearby post. She sat with a sigh and slipped her socked feet out of her zori style sandals. A pseudo-comfortable silence settled between them.

"You are wondering why I have come to sit with you."

Kusuo said nothing; why bother when she already had her answers?

"You are conflicted."

Wow, you must be psychic.

"No need to be rude, Saiki-san. I came here to help you, not to mock nor to be mocked."

Help, huh? What a strange world Kusuo now lived in that he was the one needing unspoken help instead of offering it.

"Everyone needs help in life, Saiki-san. To accept it when offered is not a weakness; even if you never asked for it in the first place."

Kusuo sighed. "And what exactly are you planning to help me with? Your cousin and I already talked about my psychic powers—they're gone for good—and how I'll have to train to up my spirit energy instead. We made a plan to meet up on Monday morning to spend the summer here, and your father is already waiting to send us back to school. Sorry to say there's nothing left for you to do."

Natsuko frowned, genuine hurt lining her face. "I do not appreciate your condescending tone, Saiki-san; there is no need to be rude. And what help I offer is not physical, it is more…spiritual."

"Meaning what?"

"Meaning your aura is in turmoil, and I am here to sooth what uncertainty I can."

Great; she's going to play shrink. Personally, Kusuo didn't put much stock in psychobabble, but that was largely because no stranger could ever understand the complex inner workings of his mind. It also didn't help that Kusuo would know exactly what the therapist was thinking regarding diagnosis, disbelief, amusement, or outright boredom, which meant Kusuo would actually be adding to his mental stress by talking to such a person one-on-one. He didn't even want to consider the types of secrets he would inadvertently discover because his counselor was thinking too loud about another person's case during their session.

On the other hand, Kusuo had, for a little while at least, considered the possibility of becoming a psychologist himself. It seemed like a pretty cushy gig for someone who could read thoughts so deep even the patient may not realize they were there. But then Kusuo realized he didn't care enough about other people's problems to listen to them all day every day; he had enough to deal with just from gleaning people's peripheral thoughts. No need for a highly concentrated dose of other people's crazy pills.

Not that it matters now. As previously stated, his powers were gone.

Natsuko giggled, pulling Kusuo from his thoughts. "You never say much, but you always have so much to say."

Kusuo looked away, fighting down a mild blush at again being caught lost in pointless thoughts. He really didn't like the idea of someone else rooting around in his mind. He perked up at a sudden thought: would his germanium ring work in reverse?

"Yes, it will."

Yare, yare. Kusuo pinned Natsuko with a sideways stare. He definitely needed to make sure he picked up that ring before meeting Teruhashi at the station.

Oh crap! Kusuo straightened up, his eyes widening just a bit. What time is it?

He scrambled for the phone his parents insisted he carry now that he didn't have telepathy. He lighted the screen at the same moment Natsuko checked hers and said, "16:07. School let out almost an hour ago."

Kusuo stood. I need to go.

"Ah! Wait, Saiki-san!" Natsuko pinched the back of Kusuo's yukata in a deceptively strong grip before he could take a single step. He glanced down at her; brow furrowed with annoyance.

What?

"You have not allowed me to help you yet."

I don't need help.

"Maybe not, but someone close to you does. I can feel it radiating from your aura." Natsuko stared deep into Kusuo's magenta eyes, her expression stony. "You are not just any Reborn, Saiki-san. You are special. You came to this world to this place at exactly this time for a reason."

Oh? And what reason is that?

"You came to protect someone. Someone important to the person you were; so important, you could not live without them, even with a completely different life." Natsuko's grip on his yukata grew weak as her hand began to tremble. "You suffered so much loss, so much pain and anguish over this person. You dedicated your whole life to her, and now, you have finally found her again, and for the first time, things are right in this world."

Her? Kusuo sighed and rubbed his forehead with one hand. Let me guess; I came to this world to save Teruhashi-san.

Natsuko let out a startled laugh. "Oh no, not at all. Teruhashi-san isn't a Reborn, she could not be, so she cannot possibly be the person you came here to protect. In fact, it is quite the other way around."

Kusuo's brow furrowed. What's that supposed to mean?

Natsuko smiled mischievously. "It means, Saiki-san, that while Teruhashi-san may believe she is God's gift to the world, she is really only God's gift to you."

His mind went blank. Offu.

Natsuko let out another soft, bell-like giggle. "Yes, I thought you might appreciate that, Saiki-san."

Shaking himself, Kusuo pinned Natsuko with a stern frown. You can't honestly expect me to believe that God created Teruhashi-san specifically for me. What purpose could that possibly serve?

"Well," Natsuko canted her head, "that largely depends on the purpose you assign her. Nadi-chan has seen a lot of futures for you, Saiki-kun, and because we have a soul bond, I am able to read her mind even when she is shielded, which means I, too, have seen many of your futures. Teruhashi-san plays a prominent role in almost all of them."

Kusuo swallowed uncertainly. What kind of role?

"Again, that is largely up to you. In some futures, she is your closest friend and confidant while in others you are the bitterest of enemies. I have seen futures where you are lovers, estranged acquaintances, and more than a few where Teruhashi-san died in…some rather horrific ways. In those futures, she becomes your obsession while in the futures where you realized how she affects you sooner, she becomes your drive to do better."

Uh-huh. Kusuo cocked an eyebrow and crossed his arms, his tone turning condescending. Tell me, little goddess, how exactly does Teruhashi-san 'affect' me?

Natsuko's stern expression melted into a soft, knowing smile. "A better question, Saiki-san, would be 'how does she not affect you?' Once you know the answer to that question, you will find the answer to your own."

She brushed her hand across the engawa, searching for her stick. Her fingers hit it at just the right angle, and it rolled out of her reach and onto the ground. Kusuo slipped on his shoes and stepped forward, picking it up without a thought before wordlessly holding it out. Natsuko beamed at him.

"Thank you, Saiki-san. Though truth be told, I prefer flesh to metal. I am far less likely to stumble on the path or fall on my face if I have a sturdy arm to lean on." She tilted her head and raised one shoulder with a sweet, angelic smile. "Would you mind?"

Yare, yare. Kusuo held out his hand, which she took, and pulled the petite girl easily to her feet. You realize those sorts of tricks don't work on me?

"Of course not." Natsuko looped her arm around his elbow and stepped close, clinging to him with both hands. "And the day you realize why that is, you will be that much closer to your answers."

Kusuo started for the main gate without looking for his school bag. One of the guys had probably grabbed it, so there wasn't much point.

"Hairo-san did."

Kusuo grunted in acknowledgment as Natsuko fell easily into step beside him. Silence reigned during their walk, which Kusuo appreciated. If there was one thing he had truly come to enjoy over the last three months without his powers, it was those few, rare moments of peaceful quiet.

Most of the dojos were empty now, their inhabitants having gone off to who knew where save a few who were quietly meditating. Kusuo noticed a remarkably ordinary looking man with spiky blond hair sitting by a little girl with long blue hair tied back to expose her fish-like ears. She didn't look any older than Yuuta.

Maybe I should bring him sometime. Except, when would he get the chance with Yuuta and his family gone all summer? Kusuo forced down a mental sigh at the reminder, and quickly shunted all thoughts aside when Natsuko looked up at him with inquisitive red eyes. He'd had enough of her shuffling around though his mind already.

"My apologies, Saiki-kun, but it cannot be helped. I do not mean to be rude."

Yare, yare. The first thing he was going to do when he got back home was grab his germanium ring and never take it off ever, ever again.

The temple gate came into view as they rounded the cornered path, but Natsuko tugged him to a stop with a soft, "Oh!"

Kusuo quirked an eyebrow at her, though he knew she couldn't see it. At best, she could see his outline through the manifestation of his aura; his actual features would be lost to her.

"I almost forgot to mention this, but in addition to the five of you, who must obviously return, please bring Teruhashi-san as well. Naturally, all your friends are welcome, but it is important that she come especially. She has a very dangerous territory that she needs to learn to close lest someone become overexposed and something drastic occur."

Drastic like what? Kusuo wondered, and Natsuko's brow furrowed.

"I honestly could not say, but it is possible that if someone becomes over-attached to her, they may attempt to monopolize her or force her into an unwanted relationship. Whatever the case, it would be best for her to gain as much control over her territory as possible, as soon as possible. At the very least, the ability to weaponize her power, however seemingly benign, would be in everyone's best interest."

Weaponize, huh? Kusuo smirked, remembering his brother's bewildered terror when her Angel Tears had called a mob to her rescue a few New Years ago.

"Oh! So, she already has some practice? Wonderful!" Natsuko smiled as she started walking again. Kusuo kept pace with her to make sure she didn't fall over any unexpected obstacles. "That will make things much easier."

"Hey, Kusuo!" Hairo lifted his hand, a school bag dangling from his fingers by the handle. "What kept you, man? I grabbed your stuff."

"Thank you," Kusuo said as he and Natsuko crossed the last bit of garden using the zig-zagging wooden walk and stepped off onto the flagstone courtyard. "I had some things to discuss with Kuwabara-san."

"Oh, yeah?" Hairo's head tilted in genuine curiosity. "What kind of things?"

"Training and stuff." Kusuo shrugged. "She wants us to bring Teruhashi-san along and said we could bring the others too."

"Seriously?" Kuboyasu asked Natsuko, and she nodded with a soft, knowing smile. Kuboyasu grinned and slapped his fist into his palm. "Hell yeah. Mera promised me a fight to see how good she can be after eating a bunch of really good food. It'd be awesome if we don't have to wait until after summer."

Again with Mera? Kusuo frowned slightly, considering Kuboyasu more closely. He'd always seemed to have an antagonistic-type relationship with Mera before, but then, their only real interaction had been when the group was stranded on that island, and they were none of them at their best back then. Ultimately, Kusuo shrugged. What did he care either way?

"All right!" Kuwabara stepped off the engawa and into a pair of zori. His yukata was opened at the front, exposing his stomach to the waist as he scratched at his well-formed abs. "You kids ready to go?"

Shun snapped pole-straight, his face taking on an expression of awe mixed with horror as he saluted. "Yes, sir! Thank you, sir!"

Kuwabara scowled. "Enough with the 'sirs,' kid. I ain't that old."

"Yes, sir! Sorry, sir!"

Kuwabara rolled his eyes but didn't comment. Instead, he looked the boys over with a critical eye. "You look exhausted enough, but Nadi must have healed you after, 'cause I know Urameshi wouldn't go so easy on you punks that you wouldn't have at least a bruise or two."

Kuboyasu scowled. "Who'er you callin' a punk, punk?"

Kusuo stifled a groan. He could easily see this devolving into a name-calling competition of posturing stupidity, and he really didn't have time for that. Teruhashi and Yuuta were expecting him home right now so they could all make their 17:30 train to Osaka.

"Sorry, kid," Kuwabara said unexpectedly as he waved Kuboyasu down. "We'll have to pick this up later. Wonder boy over there has to get home, right Saiki?"

Kusuo blinked, surprised, but made no attempt to respond. Not that it mattered. Like his daughter, Kuwabara could no doubt read Kusuo's mind.

"Eh?" Shun looked a Kusuo in bewilderment. "Did you have some place to be, Kusuo?"

Looking over, Kusuo considered dismissing the question but what was the harm? He nodded once. "I'm spending the weekend in Osaka."

"That's awesome, Kusuo!" Hairo clenched his fist with fire in his eyes. "Osaka has some of the best festivals, and Osaka Castle is amazing! There's also a ton of temples, plus the harbor and palace gardens. And—!"

"Yare, yare. I'm not going to sightsee, Hairo."

The red head was visibly surprised. "You're not? O-oh…well…why are you going, then? Visiting family?"

Kusuo shook his head. "Teruhashi-san got tickets to a Cyborg Sentai show at Universal Studios Japan. She roped me into taking Yuuta."

Kuboyasu snickered. "At least you won't need to be a part of it this time. Mera told me about that time you were forced up on stage to rescue Teruhashi from L-Ginger."

Stifling a growl, Kusuo looked away. Damn you, Teruhashi-san. Why was it always her getting him into these uncomfortable situations?

"All right, kids; you can rib each other on your own time." Kuwabara held out his right hand and with barely a spark, a sword of golden light appeared in his palm. The sword hummed and whoomed with even the slightest movement, and Kuwabara swung it with practiced grace to slice a wide scar in the air to show a sliver of the view of southern Tokyo from the roof of their school.

"Last stop, punks." Kuwabara motioned at the scarred scene with a jab of his golden sword. "Everybody off."

Yare, yare. Kusuo rolled his eyes and stepped through the tear.