Old Promises and New Beginnings

I’ve never done this before, but what the heck I like trying new things. Since I only got 85 hits on this story so far and seven people left me reviews I thought I would respond to them.

JovianWolfGirl: Since I’m writing this at your request you automatically have the first response. I’m glad that you like it so far. That makes me so happy! I hope that every chapter will be to your liking.

KuwaLove: Yay! You’re reading this story too. Being honorable and a gentleman can lead to trouble, but so can being a girl crazy 11 yr old. I’m Kuwabara sure can handle it though.

Katzztar: *skims over SM collection* I don’t remember that episode…I do remember one where they were fighting. I don’t know if it was over a guy though, but it may have been a reedited scene since it was the English version. Little kids or teenagers, both Makoto and Kuwabara still kick ass! They’re both so tough yet sweet.

Anon: Thanks for reading and I’ll definitely keep writing this story.

Jade Tokier: I’m glad the idea didn’t seem farfetched. I remember receiving my fair share of marriage proposals when I was kid. I even recall proposing a couple of times.

She-wolf: *runs away from the wrath of She-wolf* Please don’t hurt me! *cowers in a corner* I’ll do my best to have the next chapter posted sooner. I must admit that I’m a little flattered to see you showing so much enthusiasm.

LemonKitty: I’ve missed your glomps. I agree Chibi Kuwa is very adorable!
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Old Promises and New Beginnings
Chapter One: A Chance Meeting

Don’t own YYH or SM.


cillaxox: This story will mainly be about Kuwabara, Makoto, Minako and Kurama (he doesn’t appear until later on). Just so you know this chapter will jump around between Kuwabara, Makoto and Minako, but it’s not in a confusing way.

Kuwabara= 19
Makoto/Minako= 18

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Kuwabara Kazuma was in a corner café sipping a cup of coffee. Across the table from him sat his friend Yusuke. The detective was busy complaining about what being a Spirit Detective did to one’s social life. Yusuke was particularly upset, because he had plans with Keiko that he had to cancel for apparently no reason. Koenma had assigned them the task of bringing in an apparition who claimed to have valuable information. They spent all morning searching for the informant, but never found it.

“This was the weekend she was finally going to do that thing I wanted. Do you know how long it took for me to convince her to do that? It took a damn long time! Koenma owes me…”

Kuwabara paid little attention to what his friend was saying. He stared out the window watching the city he used to call home. It was still a bustling metropolis. People were everywhere; the sidewalks were crowded with them. It seemed like everyone was out enjoying the Saturday afternoon. He glanced up and down the street. There were more stores on this strip than he remembered. Things had definitely changed, but they were still the same.

“You listening to me?” Yusuke asked, looking annoyed at his companion’s inattentiveness.

“I heard ya.”

“Don’t look like you’re listening.”

Kuwabara couldn’t resist a friendly jab, “Maybe cause you’re boring me.”

Yusuke motioned the waitress over and asked for a refill. When she returned with the drink the attractive woman flirted shamelessly with the young man. He finally told her, “I got a girlfriend.”

“Aww too bad,” she pouted. She pointed at another waitress. “My friend and I get off in thirty minutes and thought the four of us could do something, like a double date.”

The detective smiled at the girl’s persistence. “Like I said I’m spoken for,” he pointed at Kuwabara, “but he isn’t. Maybe your friend and him can still get together.”

Kuwabara chuckled at the suggestion. “Have you forgotten about Yukina?”

“She hasn’t so much as given you the time of day in four years.”

“That doesn’t mean anything.”

“Yeah it does, it means you’re never gonna date her.”

The redhead felt his face color. “I don’t want to rush her! I’ll wait as long I have to for her.”

“You do realize she’ll outlive you by like five hundred years.”

“That doesn’t matter,” Kuwabara slammed his hands on the Formica tabletop, “true love conquers all!

Yusuke rolled his eyes at his friend’s clichéd response, “Too bad it can’t conquer your stupidity.”

The waitress, along with several customers, watched the two young men argue. They were getting pretty loud and the thought of trying to calm them down overwhelmed the server. She was praying that they would stop when a high-pitched electronic beeping interrupted the duo’s bickering.

Kuwabara looked at his watch. He stood up and picked his jacket off the back of his chair. “Time to go.”

“Already?”

“Time flies.” The carrot-top reached into his wallet and set some money down on the table.

“Did you leave a tip?”

“Of course I did. I’m not a cheapskate like you.”

Yusuke looked over at the waitress and said, “We’ll get back to you about that date.”

Kuwabara pulled on the meddling detective’s arm. “Give it a rest Urameshi.”

The waitress smiled sweetly at the pair as the left. “Come back again.” As soon as they were gone she mumbled, “Weirdos.” Suddenly she was happy they weren’t available.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~


Kino Makoto had come a long way from the tomboyish ten year old she used to be. She had grown her hair out. It fell to her shoulder blades in chestnut waves when she wore it down, but usually she wore it in a ponytail, some habits die hard. She was tall, 5’10” without heels, but in a graceful athletic way that few people possess. Over the years her martial arts training had left her in incredible shape. However, no matter how much she trained the curves that clung to her body could not be eradicated. She had muscles; they weren’t massive ones that gave her a freakish look, but the kind that a person found out about only after it was too late. The only things that hadn’t changed were her eyes. They were still the same rich shade of forest green.

Her outward appearance reflected the beauty that lied within her heart. She was brave and loyal beyond all doubt. Her friends all knew that they could rely on her. She could be brash as well as stubborn, but these traits were never used to bully a person. Instead they were used to keep her fighting when those around her fell. She defended those in need, never letting harm come to anyone in danger. She was truly an exceptional young woman.

Makoto walked down the sidewalk with her friend Ami, a petite girl with blue hair and sapphire eyes. She was a genius with a temperament of a lamb and heart of a lion. They had just come from a double celebration with their other friends Usagi, Rei and Minako. Yesterday they started their summer break and then earlier today Usagi’s long-term boyfriend proposed to her. After the impromptu party they went their separate ways, promising to meet up again the next day. Minako went with Rei to her temple; Usagi and her fiancé went back to his apartment while Makoto and Ami decided to go shopping for a little while.

“I can’t believe Mamoru finally proposed to Usagi,” Makoto said as she stared in the window of a boutique.

Ami smiled as she thought about the life her friends would be starting together. “I’m so happy for them.”

“I want to get married too.”

“You will someday. I’m sure we all will.”

“So you want to get married too Ami,” the tall brunette teased.

Ami blushed, “I didn’t mean it that way. I just meant that…” She buried her face in her hands to avoid saying anything else.

Makoto stared at her reflection in the window. She fingered the brim of the green baseball cap she was wearing. It was the same one that she received eight years ago. It had lost some of its color and was worn in a few places, but she still insisted on wearing it.

‘That boy, I wonder where he is now.’

“Makoto?”

“Yes Ami?”

“What were you thinking about just now? You had a faraway look in your eyes.”

The brunette pulled her hat down over her eyes. “Nothing important, just somebody I used to know.”

The two girls resumed walking. They were standing at the crosswalk waiting to cross the street when a tall man came around the corner and ran into Makoto knocking her to the sidewalk.

“Are you okay?”

“Why don’t you look where you’re going jerk,” the grounded girl suggested in a not too friendly tone.

“I’m sorry.”

“You should be!”

The man held out a hand to Makoto, which she refused accept. After she pulled herself to her feet she looked at the guy who knocked her down. She did a double take once she saw him. He was six feet tall with a very muscular build. He had light red hair and through his faintly tinted sunglasses she could make out blue eyes. His facial features were rough and rugged, but still pleasant. He was wearing a short-sleeved white shirt that was tucked into a pair of khaki pants and had a black sports coat slung over his right shoulder. He wasn’t the kind of man Makoto was usually attracted to, but there was something that drew her to this stranger. She felt that she had seen him somewhere before, but she couldn’t quite place it.

“Are you okay Miss?”

The girl blushed when she realized how intensely she was staring. She nodded her head dumbly. “I’m fine.”

“I should pay more attention to where I’m going.”

“We’re both to blame.”

A man with black hair approached the one in the white shirt. “We need to get going.”

The redhead man said, “I’ll be there in a second.” He turned his attention back to the brunette he ran into. “I’m really sorry. Are you sure you’re okay? You’re not hurt are you?”

“I don’t think so.” She patted down her sides. “Everything seems to be in place.”

“That’s good.”

“Come on Kuwabara, we don’t have all day!” the raven-haired fellow hollered.

“I said I’d be there in a sec Urameshi!” Kuwabara calmed down and told the woman in a much nicer tone, “I gotta go my friend is being impatient.”

“Only because you’re taking forever,” Yusuke growled.

Makoto watched the young man walk away. Her bottom lip was trembling. ‘Kuwabara…no it can’t be…can it?’

Ami gently shook her friend’s shoulder. “Makoto are you all right? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

The brunette gave her friend a reassuring smile. “I’m okay Ami. In fact I’ve never been better.” She looked down the sidewalk and was just barely able to make out Kuwabara as he walked further and further away. She didn’t take her eyes off the redhead. “I just remembered I have something I need to do. I’ll talk to you later.”


~*~*~*~*~*~*~


Aino Minako, the years had been kind to her. The pretty girl had grown into a ravishing beauty. She had big cornflower blue eyes that still reflected a bit of innocence. Her hair flowed down her back like a golden river that came to a halt just below her bottom. She no longer wore ribbons, opting to let her hair hang free. Her body was slim. It wasn’t full of curves, however, it was still nice.

She was a vision and she knew it. Although she was aware of her beauty she was modest. When a compliment was sent her way she would smile and thank the sender, but she didn’t let it go to her head. She never flaunted her looks or used them to manipulate others.

What people found most charming about her was her smile. It was warm and inviting yet at the same time mysterious. One had to wonder if they got to know the young woman better whether or not she would impart her secrets. However, once they did get taken into her confidence they soon realized that mysterious smile was only hiding her mischievous streak. The bubbly blonde loved to have a good time. She enjoyed joking around, but did her best to ensure her jokes didn’t go too far and hurt a person’s feelings. She was kind and supportive, even to strangers. She had a good heart that was full of love and best intentions, making her a wonderful person and an even better friend.

Minako sat on the floor Rei’s, a sable haired psychic with amethyst eyes, bedroom floor. She was in the middle of telling a story when her friend interrupted her. “What’s your problem Minako?” Rei asked with a hint of annoyance, “You’ve been scratching your finger ever since you got here.”

The blonde laughed, “Maybe I’m going to receive a lot of jewels.”

“First of all that’s if your palm is itching and it’s money not jewels.”

“Are you sure about that? I could’ve sworn it was the other way around.”

Rei quickly changed the subject, “What do think about Usagi and Mamoru getting engaged?”

“It took them long enough.”

“That’s for sure!”

The two girls giggled. Minako lay down on the floor and stared at the ceiling dreamily. “I can’t wait until a guy proposes to me.”

“Me either.”

The blonde looked over at friend. “What about Yuichiro? Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten about him.”

The psychic smiled as she thought about the handsome temple apprentice. “I haven’t forgotten about him. It’s just that he took so long to admit his feelings and…”

Minako’s mind drifted as her friend talked about her relationship problems. She looked at her left index finger. With each passing second it became itchier and itchier. There was a tiny red string on it that was glowing, she wondered if it was the source of her finger problems.

The red bow, she was the only one that could see it. Throughout the years it remained a constant reminder of what happened eight years ago. The aura had faded over time, but it never completely left. She didn’t know what it meant, but she was reasonably sure it was a good thing.

‘I wonder where you are Kuwabara. I wonder if you still remember me.’

She held finger up to her face, the red glow had intensified, and she noticed that a strand of red string was leading away from her finger…it had never done that before.

‘What do you lead to?’

Her whole hand felt like it was on fire. Whatever was causing the strange sensation was close.

‘Should I follow?' Her hand grew even hotter. ‘I guess that means yes.’

“Rei I have to go.”

“But you just got here.”

“Trust me, this is important.”


~*~*~*~*~*~*~


“What does it feel like to be home?”

Kuwabara grimaced at his friend’s question. He held no fond memories of the city. This was the place where his parents died. “It’s about what I expected.”

“I bet you’re glad to be back.”

The taller man shrugged his shoulders. “No, not really.”

Yusuke suddenly remembered his friend’s loss. “I’m sorry I didn’t mean to drag that up.”

Kuwabara slapped the detective on his back. “No harm done.” The pair came to stop in a vacant lot. “This is the spot, but I don’t see Botan anywhere.”

Behind them a trashcan rattled, they spun around and prepared to confront their attacker head on. They saw a blue ponytail before they saw anything else. Without seeing the face they already knew who it was. “It’s only Botan,” Yusuke said.

“Bingo!” The ferry girl chimed.

“That got old a long time ago,” the detective stated curtly.

Kuwabara intervened before Yusuke could get another smart-ass remark in. “I hope you have good news.”

Botan shifted from one foot to the other. “You see the thing about that is…”

The young men looked at her expectantly.

She cracked under their scrutiny and wailed, “I’m so sorry!”

“You don’t have anything to be sorry about, unless…” Kuwabara started.

Yusuke finished his friend’s sentence, “There was no informant.” The ferry girl’s silence was answer enough. “Damn it all! This mission was a waste of time! I could’ve been at home having the best sex of my life!”

Botan blushed while Kuwabara covered his mouth with his hand and held in a laugh. He could sympathize with the detective’s frustration. He too had plans that had to be abruptly cancelled. He turned to the blue haired assistant and asked, “What went wrong?”

She only addressed Kuwabara since Yusuke was still venting his anger. “Turns out it was all a setup. The message we got from the so-called informant was a fake. Apparently she wanted you and Yusuke out of the way so she could steal a rare object from Spirit World. Fortunately Kurama was there to deal with her.”

“It’s strange that she got rid of Yusuke and me, but forgot about Kurama. I guess she didn’t plan it out very well.”

Botan nodded her head in agreement. “It certainly wasn’t very smart of her.”

Yusuke popped up and screamed, “It doesn’t matter, because we spent the whole day in Tokyo for no damn reason!”


~*~*~*~*~*~*~


Makoto was tucked away around the corner eavesdropping. She could make out one voice in particular, the guy was screaming so loud she had no choice but to hear him. She knew it was the one called Urameshi. She recognized Kuwabara's voice, but was unable to understand what he was saying. The third voice was definitely female and she was also speaking too softly to be heard. She crouched and decided to wait for them to finish talking.

‘Kuwabara, I can’t believe we meet again. Maybe you really were serious about marrying me.’

She smiled as she thought about the day they first met. The memory wasn’t as clear as it used to be. She only remembered the major events of that day, him sticking up for her, him giving her the hat, the pictures and the kiss. No one had ever defended her before. She reached up and felt her hat; it was one of the few remaining items from her childhood. She was pretty sure the pictures were still around, but she would have to go through some boxes to find them. And the kiss, it was the first kiss she had gotten from somebody outside her family. For a second she imagined that she could still feel the brush of Kuwabara's lips over her cheek.

‘I guess I’ve forgotten that too, maybe I’ll get him to remind me.’ Makoto chuckled at her forwardness. ‘I’m getting ahead of myself. I still need find out if he remembers me. Maybe can talk to him after his friends leave. Yeah that’s what I’ll do! I’ll invite him out and if he doesn’t remember me then I’ll give him a refresher course.’


~*~*~*~*~*~*~


Minako’s eyes were glued on the red leash leading away from her finger. She lost track of how many people she had run into, it got to the point that she finally stopped apologizing. She had been walking for about half an hour and so far the string showed no signs of ending. She wanted to take a break, but she had feeling she was almost there.

She saw that the string detoured to the right three blocks ahead, disappearing around behind a decrepit brick building. She knew then that her search was drawing to an end. She ran the rest of the distance and came to a halt at the edge of the building. She chanced a peek around the corner and saw there was an empty lot. Other than that she couldn’t make out much due to a chestnut object obstructing her view.

“Makoto move your head I can’t see.”

“Oh sorry.” The brunette scooted to the side. “Is that better?”

“Yeah thanks.”

“No problem…Hey wait minute what are you doing here?”

“Me?! What are you doing here?” Minako demanded.

“That’s none of your business,” Makoto stated defensively.

“Then you shouldn’t worry about why I’m here.”

“Fine!”

“Fine!”

Kuwabara cocked his head to left. “Did you hear that Urameshi?”

The Spirit Detective turned in the direction of the noise. “I think we’re being spied on.” He yelled to the assailants, “Come out we know you’re there!”

Makoto and Minako stepped from around the corner.

Kuwabara instantly recognized the brunette. “You’re that girl I ran into.”

Makoto waved shyly. “You remembered.”

“I hate to interrupt a touching reunion, but what the hell do you think you’re doing here?” Yusuke asked in an agitated voice.

“Be nice Yusuke,” Botan warned.

Kuwabara told the girls, “Don’t pay any attention to him.” He looked at each one of the young women in turn. He was having a hard time deciding which one he found more attractive: the brunette in the tank top and jeans or the blonde in the tight t-shirt and shorts. “Is there something I can help you with?”

Minako took a deep breath then said, “I know this is going to sound weird, but I wanted to know if you used to live here, in Tokyo.”

“Yeah I did, but I moved away when I was twelve.”

The blonde girl absorbed what she just heard. ‘It must be him.’

Before Minako had a chance to ask her next question Makoto interrupted, “Then you must remember me.”

The young man gave her a blank stare. Minako also eyed her friend strangely.

“My name is Kino we met at an amusement park.” She took the baseball hat off her head and held it up for Kuwabara to see. “You gave me this.”

Kuwabara searched the recesses of his mind. “I don’t think so.”

Minako stepped in front of the girl. “Well then maybe you remember me. I’m Aino and we also met at an amusement park. I was lost and you helped me find my teacher.”

Botan said, “That certainly sounds like our Kuwabara, he’s always helping people.”

Kuwabara looked embarrassed. It was obvious that the two girls remembered him, but he couldn’t place either one of them. “Are you sure you got the right guy?”

Minako put her hand on her hips and stated firmly, “In my entire life I’ve only met one Kuwabara Kazuma and you are him.”

Makoto nodded her head in agreement. “That goes double for me.”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t remember either one of you.” Kuwabara walked past the two girls. “I have to go, I got a train to catch.” Yusuke and Botan followed him out of the empty lot.

Makoto frowned. “Can you believe that guy?” the brunette asked rhetorically. She yelled at the carrot-top’s back, “Go ahead and leave! We don’t care!”

Minako looked up at her friend. “We’re going to follow him right?”

The brunette fixed a look of determination on her face, “Of course we are.”


~*~*~*~*~*~*~


Kuwabara, Yusuke, and Botan walked in uncomfortable silence. The redhead could see the train station up ahead, but it felt like it was a hundred miles away. He wanted nothing more than to leave Tokyo.

“Are they still following us?”

Botan looked over her shoulder. “I’m afraid so Kuwabara.”

“What’s their problem?” Yusuke looked back at the two girls. “You must have done something really special to make them remember you after all these years.”

“I wish they’d tell me what I did,” Kuwabara complained.

“You could always try asking them,” the ferry girl suggested.

“It’s worth a shot.” Kuwabara stopped in his tracks and waited until the girls caught up with him. “What did I do to make such a strong impression?”

Makoto told the young man in a soft voice, “Eight year ago you asked me to marry me.”

Minako looked bewildered. “You said you were going to marry me!”

Yusuke punched his friend in the arm. “You sure did get around when you were a kid.”

“Kuwabara you scoundrel!” Botan scolded.

The carrot-top faced his friends. “Now isn’t the time!” He turned back around to the girls. “I asked both of you to marry me?”

“Actually I asked you to marry me,” Minako corrected.

Kuwabara sat on a nearby bench and placed his head in his hands. “You’d think I’d remember something like that.”

Botan tugged on Yusuke's shirtsleeve. “Let’s leave them alone.”

“And miss the fireworks?” The detective sat down next to his friend, “I wanna see what happens.”

The ferry girl tugged on the dark haired man again, but nothing happened. She gave up and took up the last seat available on the bench.

Kuwabara looked at Minako and Makoto. They both seemed so excited about seeing him and he couldn’t even remember them. “I don’t know what you expect from me.”

“Maybe dinner,” the brunette suggested.

Minako put in her own opinion, “Anything, but a long walk would be nice.”

“I’m not sure how to tell you two this, but I’m getting on a train in less than ten minutes and I’m going home. I have somebody waiting for me there.”

The girls looked crestfallen. Even though they knew this had been a possibility it still hurt to find out they had been replaced. Their only consolation was that he was being so nice.

“Stop lying Kuwabara!” Yusuke looked at the girls and said, “He doesn’t have a girlfriend.”

Minako asked, “Is that true?”

Botan answered, “There is a girl that he likes, but so far she hasn’t return his affection.”

Makoto slammed her fist into her left palm. “So there’s still hope!”

“Hope for what?” Kuwabara asked.

Minako told him, “We can get to know each other better and see where it goes from there.”

The girls began talking among themselves as they planned out everything they could do with the very single young man. Even Botan got in on the discussion.

Kuwabara being the only voice of reason said, “I don’t live in Tokyo anymore.”

Minako and Makoto let out simultaneous sighs of disappointment. “I had forgotten about that detail,” the blonde stated sadly.

Yusuke shook his head in sympathy of the girls’ situation. “Too bad you don’t live in our city then he wouldn’t have any excuses.”

Kuwabara and his friends made their way into the station and found the spot where their train was leaving. Makoto and Minako not wanting to be left behind followed them inside. The train pulled into the depot. Kuwabara looked back and told the girls, “Look it was nice to meet you, but I really have to go.”

Makoto and Minako watched as the trio boarded the train. A station employee was walking around and keeping an eye on everything when Makoto called him over. She pointed to the train Kuwabara had boarded and asked, “Where is that headed?”

The train whistle blew signaling that it was about to leave. The girls waved at the train as it pulled away. Minako looked up at her friend and asked, “Are we going to follow him?”

“You mean get on a train and follow a guy that we only met once to a new city?”

The blonde nodded her head. “That’s what I meant.”

Makoto told her, “Not without packing a few things first.”


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cillaxox: *laughing* I wonder if anyone noticed the part where I poked fun at myself.

I know this chapter is unedited (like the last one), but I should have that fixed soon.