| Disclaimers:
Yu Yu Hakusho is the property of Yoshihiro Togashi, Shonen Jump
Weekly, Fuji TV and Studio Pierrot.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "NANI?
What did you say?" Koenma
nearly fell on his table at the latest news. "I
said, Kurama is acting weird and he cut his lovely hair."
Botan frowned. "How
do you mean acting weird?" Kuwabara
asked. Yusuke
remained silent, afraid that Kurama's behavior may have something to do
with the incident while they were at Yomi's territory. Hiei was silent too. "He
hadn't recognize me and he looked younger.
His hair was short too."
Botan reported anxiously. "Is
there some kind of makai sickness that resembles that?"
She continued. "Nah!
What are you talking about?"
Koenma rasped. He needed the whole group to be complete.
A report had just been submitted about the rising number of
demons roaming the ningenkai. How
they got there undetected, no one knew exactly.
And now this news coming from Botan, some problem with Kurama. "Koenma,
Koenma-sama!" A
familiar blue oni called frantically. "What?
I told you, we should not be disturbed."
The demi-god chided the blue oni. "Yes,
but...." "Please,
I'm terribly soory for this."
A low alto voice entreated. The
whole group inside the room gasped. "Ku-Kurama?"
Botan gasped. "Iie.
I look fairly like him."
The youko smiled, encompassing the whole group. "What
is going on here?" Koenma
demanded. The
youko bowed gracefully and smiled seductively.
Koenma gulped. "I
am sent here as a messenger in behalf of Inari-sama--god of the foxes.
I wish to inform you that Kurama has asked our god for a
favor." "What
favor?" Yusuke and
Kuwabara asked simultaneously. "Hn."
Hiei snorted. "He
asked to be given a normal human life, with no recollection whatsoever
of his past youko life and his involvement with the makai and the reikai." "NANI?"
Everyone was stunned. "So
that means the reikai tantei, the makai tournament and everything and
everyone connected with the makai had been erased from his
memories." The youko
continued. "Then
the job is completed. Why
are you here?" Yusuke
asked grimly. This was
selfish, very selfish of Kurama, but then he had his reasons and it was
his life anyway. "We
request you to stay away from him.
The cycle of change has not yet been completed.
If he were to encounter anyone of you and gain memories again, he
may not be able to gain what Inari-sama had granted. A pity...." The
youko added, as he directed a slanted, calculating look at each one
inside the room. "If
you are his friends, you will allow him his request."
The youko said softly. "B-but
he's a youko, at least in spirit."
Kuwabara said confusedly. The
youko smiled again. "For
now. But after the
completion of the cycle, he will become completely human in body and in
spirit." Koenma
nodded wearily. What else
could he do? Inari was a
god and definitely not under reikai control and denomination.
Inari was Kurama's god after all.
If the god granted the youko's wish, who was he to disallow it? "If
he dies, where will he go?" Botan
asked. "To
reikai. His demon soul will
be absorbed back to Inari. The
human body possesses only human soul."
The youko explained and bowed again.
"Thank you and I will inform Inari-sama of your
acceptance," said the youko and disappeared. "Dimension
travel. Youko technology at
its best." Koenma
muttered matter-of-factly. The
gang stared at one another. The
implications of the whole situation just sunk in. Kurama-Kurama was gone. "Ehm."
Koenma cleared his throat. "We
still have a job to do." Yusuke
nodded. His heart felt
heavy. He felt very, very
guilty. Could it be
possible? Had he
contributed something that drove the youko to his decision? Hiei
scowled. The stupid fox had done it!
What was wrong with him? Did
he really want to become a pitiful and weak human? Can I take this? Not
seeing him again and pretending he never really existed?
The fire demon asked him self. Kuwabara
was the only one who looked cheerful at the situation. "Well,
at least I can still get to see him after the cycle is completed,
without mentioning about reikai and makai, of course." The carrot-haired youth said. Botan
smiled a little tearfully. "Y-yes,
you're right. B-but I'll
miss him." Botan
sobbed. "Come,
come, Botan. It's all
right. At least after the
cycle, he will be under our supervision.
At least, that's something."
Koenma muttered, sucking his fuukumen furiously. "Right,
Yusuke, what are you waiting for?"
The demi-god glared at the youth. "O-K.
" Yusuke whispered,
for once subdued. Botan
raised an eyebrow, then a worried frown creased her forehead.
Everyone's so gloomy already and this is just the first day.
The ferry girl sighed, forcing a smile on her sorrowful face. ********************************** ********************************** |