Dark Beginnings

Within the Japanese city known as Aoharu City, incidents involving numerous high school students and their staffs have occurred. These incidents have sparked a rivalry between the schools, leading to numerous fights but in the end, friendship and justice prevail. The students would stand together to put an end to any threats to their schools.

One of these schools, Taiyo High, is known as "The High School That Loves Freedom". This carefree school seems like the kind of school any student would love to attend…but it's also been the victim of certain incidents, along with the other local schools.

And it's in Taiyo High where a new battle is about to begin, starting in the early hours of the day.

Laying on the floor in one of the classrooms, a large, older man looks up at his opponent who had just defeated him in battle.

"How…how could this be?" said the old man. He looks up at his younger enemy who has white hair and long claws.

"Hehehe! Old and slow," said the younger man. "You call yourself the head of the Imawano family? You are a disgrace, Raizo!"

"Why…why did the Darkside Student Congress send you?" asked Raizo.

"It's simple; you, Hyo, Kyosuke, and Batsu are the biggest threats to them. They sent me here to eliminate all four of you. But don't worry, for I have no intention of doing their dirty work. I have my own plans." The younger man raises his fist and says "I will take over Japan. Soon, everyone will bow to me Kurow Kirishima." He then looks at Raizo and said "That is why I let you live for now, as you could be useful for me in the future."

During that moment, another younger man, with long white hair and a sword walks in the classroom.

"That's quite an accomplishment that you're trying to achieve," said the other person. "Do you really believe that you're capable of pulling it off?"

Kurow turns to face the other person. "Hyo? What an unexpected surprise!"

"Trying to take over Japan will be a very difficult task," said Hyo. "The power of teamwork runs very strong at these schools and it will be unwise to underestimate it."

"The power of teamwork?" said Kurow. "Don't make me laugh. No such 'power' will ever stop my plans. You will find out soon enough."

Hyo pulls out his sword and gets in fighting position. Kurow smirks at the challenge.

"It seems that you are willing to find out the hard way," said Kurow as he gets in his own fighting stance. "Very well, Hyo."

The two clash in an epic battle.

Later that day

Standing right outside of the school known as Sarayashiki Jr. High, one of its students, Yusuke Urameshi, thinks a lot about his fights at the Dark Tournament, including his fight against Toguro, the strongest opponent he has ever fought at that point. He now begins to wonder if there's anything else worth his time in the world.

"Toguro was the strongest opponent I ever faced," he said to himself. "Maybe in the world. So, if I beat him…then what else is left for me to worry about? There's no one else who could possibly be as tough as him. At this point, I might as well go back to school. That seems to be more of a challenge at the moment."

At that moment, the bell rung to signal the end of school for that day. Yusuke could see the kids walking about out of the building. One of them is his childhood friend Keiko Yukimura and the other his rival-turned-best friend Kazuma Kuwabara.

"Oh great!" he said to himself. "Just my luck; Keiko is going to chew my ear off for not being in class again."

While talking to her friend, Keiko looks and sees Yusuke standing on the sidewalk in front of the school.

"Yusuke?" she said.

Kuwabara, while talking to his own friends, also notices Yusuke as well.

"Urameshi?" he asked. "What the heck is he doing right here next to school? You'd think he'd be as far away as possible since he hates it so much."

Keiko, also confused, walks up to Yusuke and says "Why were you hanging around here? Were you thinking about coming to school today or something?"

"Oh, come on, Keiko!" said Yusuke. "You know how much I hate school. Why would I want to come today?"

"Well, you're still in a school uniform and I don't think you want to stay in Jr. High for the rest of your life."

"Nah, I think Urameshi likes being at this school," said Kuwabara. "He thinks being a dummy is a good way to stay here anytime he wants."

"Oh, really, Kuwabara?" said Yusuke. "After beating up my fists with your head so many times, it's a wonder that you even know how to use your brain."

"Hey, that was a long time ago! I can take you on any day now, Urameshi!"

"Guys, really now?" asked Keiko. She looks at Yusuke. "I was really hoping you would finally grow up, Yusuke. Education is very important."

"Yeah, whatever…" said Yusuke. "I've heard that so many times already."

"Hey, Kuwabara," said Okubo, one of Kuwabara's friends. "Let's head to the theaters. I heard that there's this new scary movie that they're showing."

"Yeah, that sounds cool!" said an excited Kuwabara. "Maybe once we're finished, we can head to the arcades before it gets too late."

"Well now that school is over, I better get home now," says Keiko as she walks away. "I'm going to do my homework because I actually do want to graduate."

During the conversation, the blue-haired reaper girl Botan, dressed as a schoolgirl, walks up to Yusuke.

"Yusuke, Kuwabara,…I'm glad I found the both of you together," she said. "This is very important."

Kuwabara, knowing that Botan showing up means that this must be serious, looks at his friends and says "Uh…you guys go to the theaters. I'll meet up with you later."

"Okay, then. See you there," said Okubo, as he leaves with the others.

"So, what is it, Botan," asked Yusuke.

"I just received news from Koenma that there is a dangerous spirit lurking somewhere around here in Japan," said Botan.

"A dangerous spirit?" said Kuwabara.

"How dangerous are we speaking here?" asked Yusuke.

"So dangerous that it puts everybody's life in danger if it's unleashed," said Botan. "This is the spirit of Imawano."

"'Imawano'?" asked Yusuke.

"Who the heck is Imawano"? asked Kuwabara.

"I don't have all the details yet," said Botan. "All I know is that he's the spirit of a deceased warrior who wants to take over the world. He's lurking somewhere here in Japan."

Despite how serious this news seems to be, Yusuke doesn't appear to be interested and turns around as if to walk away.

"Sorry but there's no way this Imawano spirit is any more dangerous than Toguro and you see what I did to him," he said. "Hey Kuwabara, how about filling in for me today and take out this spirit on your own?"

"What?" said Kuwabara. "Are you crazy? I'm not doing your dirty work for you just because you're lazy!"

"Now Yusuke, you know that as Spirit Detective, it is your job to stop these beings!" said Botan. "Don't think that you're too good for it just because you beat Toguro!"

But Yusuke refuses to listen and walks away, saying "Well if you want this to be done so much, then go find Kurama and Hiei."

Kuwabara and Botan watches as Yusuke walks off, angry at his seemingly cocky attitude.

"Great!" said Kuwabara. "Now he thinks he's the stuff just because he beat Toguro. Who's going to convince him now?"

"Well I guess we have no choice but to get Keiko to do it," said Botan. "He listens to her more than anybody else."

"Have you already told Hiei and Kurama?" asked Kuwabara.

"Not yet. I'd be lucky to find Hiei but Kurama should be easy to find. In the meantime, Kuwabara, you might want to make sure that your friends are safe. Since we don't know exactly where this spirit is right now, it means that he could be anywhere and we don't even know it. See you later!" said Botan as she runs off.

"Oh…well okay then," said Kuwabara as he runs to catch up with his friends.

Meanwhile, as Keiko continues to walk home, she walks a past a teenaged boy in a blue schoolboy uniform. Although she pays him no attention, it is not until he starts to talk that she finally stops walking.

"You must be quite fearless to be walking these streets by yourself…Keiko," said the boy.

"Huh?" said a nervous Keiko. "Do I…know you? How do you know my name?"

The boy chuckles and says "You may not know me already but don't worry. You will know me soon enough. Real soon, Keiko!"

Without warning, the boy raises his fist and punches Keiko in the face, knocking her down. He then walks up to Keiko and grabs her up by her hair. He then starts punching her in the stomach with so much force that it lifts her into the air.

With Keiko bleeding from the mouth and barely conscious, the boy walks up to her and places his foot on her head, saying "You want to know who I am, don't you? Fine. My name…is Batsu! Batsu Ichimonji." He then kneels down and says "Now say my name."

However, Keiko, who is so much pain and barely conscious, is unable to respond.

"Say my name!" the boy repeats. "SAY MY NAME!"

At that point, Botan shows up at the scene. She stands terrified at what she sees in front of her.

"Keiko!" she screams. He looks at the badly injured Keiko and then looks at the boy. "You leave her alone, you creep!" she angrily yells.

The boy looks at Botan and says "Feel free to do something about it."

Despite her anger, Botan knows that there's nothing she can do about it. She stands helpless as she looks at her friend on the ground. Suddenly, she sees Keiko's eyes slowly opening up. Botan calls out Keiko's name let her know that she's here.

"Bo…Bo…Botan…" she barely says.

The boy then looks back down at Keiko and says "I told you to say MY name!" He then kicks Keiko in the abdomen, knocking her up against the wall, which renders her unconscious.

"KEIKO!" yells Botan. Finally, having seen enough, Botan attempts to attack the boy but gets knocked down with a hard slap to the face.

"Now it's your turn to know who I am," said the boy. "My name is Batsu Ichimonji. I come from Taiyo High School. Make sure that you tell your friends about me. All of them, including Yusuke."

"What?" said Botan. "How do you know about him?"

"That doesn't matter. What matters is that you know about me, the one who beat up his friend. So, if you want Yusuke to do something about it, then tell him who I am and see if he has the guts to face me. Now, I'll be on my way and don't you forget."

The boy walks away laughing like a maniac as Botan rushes to Keiko's aid. Cradling her in her arms, Botan says "Don't worry, Keiko. He's gone now. We've got to get you some help and tell Yusuke about this."

However, Keiko loses consciousness before she can say anything.

A little while later, Yusuke is busy playing the arcade games when suddenly he sees Botan running towards him.

"Yusuke…" she says as she tries to catch her breath.

"Damn, Botan," he said. "Let me guess; Jr. is throwing a tantrum and now he needs a new pacifier?"

"It's not that, Yusuke! Keiko has just been attacked!"

Within just a few seconds after those words, Yusuke quickly stands up out of his seat.

"She's just been WHAT?" Yusuke yelled.

In almost no time, Yusuke and Botan head straight to Keiko's apartment where she lays in bed, being seen to by her parents. By now, Keiko is slowly recovering and is therefore conscious by the time they arrive.

"Hey, it's Yusuke," said Keiko's father.

"Yusuke?" she says. "You're here."

"Keiko…are you okay?" asked Yusuke.

"Yes," said Keiko. "I'm feeling better now. Botan brought me here and now my parents are taking care of me."

Yusuke sighs in relief knowing that Keiko is feeling better. "What happened to you? Who did this?"

"It was this boy named Batsu. Batsu Ichimonji. He wore a blue school uniform and he's from Taiyo High School. He attacked me but…I don't know why."

"'Batsu Ichimonji'?" asked Yusuke.

"Do you know who he is, Yusuke?" asked Botan.

"No, I've never heard of him."

"But he knows you. He mentioned your name."

"Well, it doesn't matter because one thing he doesn't know is that messing with my friends means that he'll get the ass beating of his life!" yelled Yusuke as he gets up to leave.

"Yusuke, where are you going?" asked Botan.

"Nobody ever touches Keiko and get away with it, so I'm going to make sure I kick his ass today! I don't care if I don't get any rest, that jerk is going to pay for he did!" He then looks back at Keiko and says "Don't worry, Keiko! I'll find him!"

"But Yusuke, what about your mission?" said Botan. But Yusuke doesn't hear her as he's already running out of the door.

"'Mission'?" asked Keiko. "What do you mean by 'mission'?"

"Umm, I mean…his homework is his mission," said Botan as she tries to be careful around Keiko's parents. "Yeah, that's what I meant." To avoid having to explain everything, Botan quickly gets up and leaves the room herself to follow Yusuke.

As he continues to run, Yusuke remembers everything he was just told about Batsu by Keiko and Botan. For him, this is war.

To Be Continued