I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho. I want to state that there are no demons in this story. This rated M for the character death in a later chapter.
Chapter One- The Target
Yusuke's fist was a blur as it flew through the air and connected with the cheek of his longtime rival, Kuwabara. He heard bones crack and the air being forced out of the lungs before his opponent flew backwards and landed on the ground with a satisfying thud. He grinned as Kuwabara's friends rushed to his side as the downed boy lifted his bruised face to give Yusuke a glare.
"Just you wait," he growled. "You'll pay for this, Urameshi."
"Sure, if you ever beat me," Yusuke shot back as he walked away. He knew Kuwabara would never win a fight against him. He consistently worked out at a local gym and attended martial arts classes, having won a scholarship when one of the teachers observed his skills in one of his street fights. Those classes helped him learn to hit harder, faster, and with more accuracy. There was no doubt in his mind that he would be a boxer or a martial arts instructor. Either one would pay well, plus he'd be able to fight for a living.
It'd be a lot better than getting a boring job, he thought with a shudder. He knew his mother and his childhood friend, Keiko, wanted him to do well in school so he could pass the exams to a high school and then to a college and earn a high-paying job. The thing was school didn't interest him and he would rather spend his time fighting and working out.
Speaking of working out, it's almost time for martial arts class, he thought, looking at his watch. He headed off for class. His skills from street fighting had helped him move up through his classes quickly and he now found himself in an intermediate adult class. He was shown respect from his classmates, a kind he didn't get at school and he enjoyed it.
"Yusuke!" a voice called as Yusuke was doing warm-up stretches. He looked over to see Touya who was just as skilled as Yusuke to be in the adult class though he was older than Yusuke, though not by much as far as Yusuke could tell.
"Hey, Touya," he greeted as the ice blue-haired guy began to stretch beside him. "Missed you the last couple of classes."
Touya gave a slight shrug. "Yeah, well. I had some important errands that take a lot of time and I had to devote myself to it."
"Sounds irritating."
"It may sound that way, but it is necessary work."
The teachers entered and the class lined up with Touya in the line behind the front line where Yusuke stood. He felt a bit bad about lying to Yusuke for he liked his friend but he had been ordered to be vague about his absences. He did so, knowing that he may be able to speak plainly to Yusuke before too long. Touya belonged to a gang who was looking to induct a member or two and, to him, Yusuke would make an excellent member. If Toguro agrees, then we will need to clear away the obstacles that would prevent Yusuke from moving into the gang's home as it is ordered that we live together and we do so out of protection.
Touya still had Yusuke on his mind as he headed home. Home, in this case, was a grand manor that had been home to the gang's members for countless generations…at least that was the story that had been spread through the city. A part of the story was true and that was that the house had been their home for generations, but a gang did not live there. The gang was actually a pack of werewolves.
There were seven of them with Toguro as their tyrannical alpha. No one questioned his decisions or orders and none challenged his authority for he was vicious in showing who was in charge. That didn't mean he didn't care about his pack's safety; he was just very strict in how the pack operated.
Touya opened the door and was met up by Toguro's elder brother. "The alpha wants everyone in the den now and in wolf form as well." Elder Toguro promptly turned into a gray wolf and padded off for the den. Touya changed to an ice-blue wolf and followed the older werewolf.
Elder Toguro and Touya entered the den to see the other members: Red-furred Jin, sky blue Bui, and black-furred Karasu, Risho, and Toguro. The alpha sat on a throne so that he was taller than the others, even Bui who was the biggest wolf as well as tall when human. Once the last two were seated, Toguro regarded the pack with piercing eyes and everyone cowered which was how he preferred it.
"I have witnessed a teen boy, who is very strong, take out a taller boy in a street fight. I want him as a member of our pack. I heard his opponent call him Urameshi."
Touya crawled forward with his ears folded and his tail tucked: The way one was to look when addressing Toguro. "Alpha, I believe you speak of Yusuke Urameshi. He is in my martial arts class. He would make an excellent werewolf."
Toguro's eyes narrowed. "Of course he will. I just said I want him for the pack." Touya whimpered as he crawled backwards to his spot. "Now, as he is to be one of us, it is our responsibility to clear away his human life in order for him to live here without anything to get in the way of being a werewolf.
"Karasu, you will go to City Hall and look up Yusuke's records. Get his address, his family, and any other pertinent information. Do this tomorrow and bring it to me."
"Yes, alpha," Karasu whispered. Karasu was quick and light on his feet and able to hide in the shadows easily. Toguro often assigned him to information gathering and he did his job well. This time would be no different.
Toguro looked at the gray wolf. "Brother, once we have Yusuke's address and family history, you will go there while the boy is out and murder everyone in his home."
"Of course, alpha." Elder Toguro did not resent being ordered by his younger brother as Toguro carried the alpha gene while he did not. Born alphas were rare but a non-alpha can assume that role in a number of ways. The brothers' genes were made clear through scent after they were bitten and both were content in their destined roles. Elder Toguro was almost as vicious in attacking as his brother and was therefore the designated killer.
"Jin, you will be responsible for collecting Yusuke's school records once he is turned."
"Yes, alpha." Jin was inwardly excited. He did not get assignments very often. Toguro tended to give the jobs to Karasu, Bui, and Elder Toguro while he and Touya stayed home and taught how to be vicious werewolves by Risho who took to his teaching duties with gusto.
"Touya," Toguro said softly. "Since you have established a sort of friendship with Yusuke, continue to know him and you will help insure he is out when my brother attacks."
"Yes, alpha."
"Good. You are all dismissed and will stay in wolf form until morning." Everyone murmured, "Yes, alpha," before departing.
Risho, Jin, and Touya headed down to where Risho lectured and demonstrated his techniques. Jin pranced beside Touya. "Oh, you got a mission too. We're lucky, we are."
"Alpha could have assigned Bui to keep Yusuke out of his house during the attack," Risho sniffed. "That you have a class with him was a lucky coincidence."
"But if I didn't, Alpha would not have known his first name," Touya protested.
Risho turned and bared his teeth at Touya. "He would have known from Karasu's mission. Alpha could have easily and harshly disciplined you for speaking without permission. You were to wait for him to tell you to speak. Clearly, I need to re-teach proper etiquette when speaking to the alpha."
"It's not necessary," Touya said.
Risho smacked Touya's cheek. "Do not backtalk me! I am older and you will listen to me as I am your teacher as I was long before we were bitten. Now, come." He turned and led the younger werewolves to the classroom.