Darkness Within the Light

Good morning.

I apologize. I posted the wrong chapter. The chapter that was originally posted here should have been the next one. I apologize.

This chapter is an important one, being that it explains what had happened to Kuwabara during the three years his friend's had gone. This also take place a week after Kuwabara runs away, and two weeks since the three demons last saw our tourmented carrot top. Again, I apologize for the misunderstanding and confusion this may have created.

SinkingIntoDarkness.

Disclaimer: I do not nor will I ever own Yu Yu Hakusho. I am also not making a profit from this story.

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Yusuke met up with Kurama and Hiei at Koenma’s office. It had taken two weeks for them to finally get Botan to take them to the Underworld. Whenever they were about to face the demi-god, something would happen, causing them to post pone their visit.

Yusuke didn’t dare go over Kuwabara’s house, afraid of what he might find. He wanted to ask Koenma how Kuwabara got this way and he wanted to know before he faced his best friend again. He wanted to be prepared to help him with whatever he went through those past three years he was in the makai.

Kurama and Hiei wanted to learn the truth as well, afraid for their human comrade and only human friend; even if Hiei wouldn’t admit to that.

All three of them wanted answers and they needed them more then ever. Kuwabara resigning from the underworld detectives was surely not a good sign and they were even more worried over the fact that Koenma had kept his early re-instatement a secret.

Yusuke barged into Koenma’s office, startling the demi-god from his paper work.

“Koenma, we need to talk and now!” Yusuke shouts.

“Yusuke? What’s wrong?” Koenma asks, concerned for his favorite underworld detective.

“Why didn’t you tell us you re-instated Kuwabara before us?!” Yusuke shouts, now at Koenma’s desk.

Yusuke leaned over the desk, disregarding the piles of paper work Koenma had to sign and stamp for approval.

Koenma looked a bit shocked at first before he sighed.

He knew they would have found out, but he hoped it was after this whole ordeal was finished.

“I’m sorry Yusuke. I didn’t tell you because I didn’t think it was important for you to know.” Koenma says; he knew a migraine was coming at any moment.

“Like Hell it’s not important! When my best friend is involved then it’s damn well important! He just quit!” Yusuke shouted.

Koenma’s eyes widened.

“What?”

“It is true. We spoke with him and he quit the team…” Kurama says, looking seriously at the demi-god.

“What I don’t get is why he would quit…” Hiei says, glaring at Koenma.

He had a feeling Koenma was behind Kuwabara’s strange behavior; he wasn’t sure how or why, but his gut was pointing at the demi-god.

Koenma turned away from them.

“It’s worse then I thought…” Koenma mumbles aloud to himself.

“Tell us what happened…what happened to Kuwabara…?” Yusuke asks sadness in his eyes.

“…tell us what happened those three years we were gone…what happened to him?”

Koenma sighed.

“He had it rough while you three were gone, I can tell you that. What really started this whole mess was the fact his parents died the first year you three were gone…” Koenma started.

“Wait a minute, hold up!” Yusuke shouts, waving his hands in the air.

“Kuwabara had parents?!”

“How else do you think he and his sister got here? What? You think they just magically appeared out of thin air?! Of course they had parents!!” Koenma shouted, his pacifier almost flying out of his mouth.

“I know that!” Yusuke shouted back, pissed that Koenma thought he was stupid or something of the sort.

“It’s just…I don’t know, I’ve never really seen his parents is all, and he never talked about them…I thought they were dead or something.”

“Well they weren’t. They were in fact very dedicated parents who struggled to support their two children. The reason you never saw them was they worked. Kuwabara doesn’t talk about them because he thought you knew and figured there wasn’t a reason to tell you about them.”

“Oh…” Yusuke says, looking a bit thoughtful at what Koenma said.

Koenma sighed as he took out two files that he kept in his desk drawer.

“Kuwabara Kazuma Sr. and Kuwabara Rachel.” Koenma announces as he places the two files on top of his desk.

“Wait…Kuwabara’s mom was an American?” Yusuke asks.

“That would explain his rough features and his hair color, not to mention his height.” Kurama says.

“You should talk fox?” Hiei snorts, referring to Kurama’s unnatural hair color and eyes that weren’t normally found in the Japanese heritage

“Point taken.” Kurama says.

“Yes. Kuwabara’s mother was an American and received his hair color and facial features from her side of the family. His height was from his father, who was 6’ 6”, though his mother was fairly tall for a woman; standing at 5’ 10”. Shizuru has her father’s features.” Koenma says.

“As well as his attitude…” Koenma mumbles, remembering the man’s sarcasm when he had met him after the accident.

“Well, that explains a lot.” Yusuke mumbles.

“Yes, well, Kazuma sr. was a traveling business man. He basically worked in advertising. His mother, on the other hand, was a nurse. She actually worked at the same hospital your mother went to a few years ago; when you first met Yusuke.”

Kurama looked at Koenma in shock.

“You mean the kind hearted, orange hair woman I met at the hospital was Kuwabara’s mother?” Kurama asks.

Kurama could never forget her. She had helped Kurama and his mother get through the long ordeal. Kurama never got the chance to thank her for her kindness, since he had taken his mother home at noon, which was when Rachel; Kuwabara’s mother, was home sleeping.

Kurama thought about the woman and was shocked that he had realized the connection sooner. The way she laughed; her silliness yet serious tone; even her smile was somewhat like Kuwabara’s.

“Yes, she was the very same Rachel you met.” Koenma says.

“Hold up! Are you tellin’ me that Kuwabara’s mom helped Kurama’s mom and knew them before I met Kurama?!” Yusuke asks, not able to believe the information.

“Yes.”

“Damn…it is a small world!” Yusuke says in shock.

“Can I continue?” Koenma asks, getting a bit annoyed with the sudden out bursts.

“Sorry.” Yusuke says.

Koenma clears his throat.

“As I was saying, they were basically workaholics. Their father worked during the day while their mother took the night shifts at the local hospital. It wasn’t until several months after you three left that Kuwabara’s father had gotten the break he was looking for he had landed it big with a company in America. He was asked by the Comcast Cable Company if he would work in their advertising department. They had heard of his excellent marketing skills here in Japan and wanted someone of his caliber to work for them.”

“Damn…Comcast Cable is like huge…wait a minute…America? You mean the USA America?” Yusuke asks.

“IS there another USA?” Hiei asks, snorting at the stupid question Yusuke just asked.

“I was being sarcastic! You mean…Kuwabara would have moved to America?” Yusuke asks in shock.


Kurama and Hiei looked at the demi-god in shock as well, realizing how huge it really was.

Koenma nodded.

“Rachel quit her job and had set up a place to stay with her sister in New York, which is where the Advertising Head Quarters of Comcast is located in. Kazuma and Rachel were going to fly to the Newark National Airport in Newark, New Jersey and get settled there for a while before sending word for both Shizuru and Kuwabara to join them. They figured they wouldn’t be living directly in New York, but they wouldn’t be too far of a drive to get the Advertising Head Quarters either.”

Koenma sighed.

“However, they didn’t make it to the Newark airport…” Koenma says while opening up the file that said Kuwabara Kazuma Sr.

“Kuwabara Kazuma Sr, Height: 6’6” Weight: 200 pounds, Age: 47. Date of Death: July 8, 1992. Cause of Death: Plane crash over the Atlantic Ocean.”

Koenma closed the file.

“However, it was more then that…you see the plane Rachel and Kazuma Sr. had taken had been hijacked by terrorist who were planning to crash their plane into one of the federal buildings of the USA. They didn’t succeed because several of the passengers, Rachel and Kazuma being two out of the twelve people to over throw the four hijackers and crash the plane into the ocean. There were thirty six people on that flight; fifteen men, thirteen women, and eight children; including the two pilots, seven stewardess and the four hijackers.”

The three demons looked at Koenma in shock. None of them could speak for the shock was that great.

“Every single one of those passengers, excluding the hijackers, was sent to heaven; Kuwabara’s parents included…” Koenma said his voice just above a whisper.

“It was the hardest thing to do…to tell Kuwabara that his parents died saving hundred of lives, but he wouldn’t be able to say good bye to them…” Koenma says, holding back tears at how the teen had taken the news.

“Kuwabara…” Yusuke whispers, holding back tears of his own.

“That must have been horrible to lose both parents the way he and Shizuru did.” Kurama says, holding his chest.

He could feel his heart hurting for Kuwabara knowing what it was like to lose someone close to one’s heart.

Hiei wouldn’t look at anyone, knowing the lost of a mother; having never gotten the chance to remember his own mother.

“After that, Kuwabara devoted him self to his school work; wanting to make his father proud of him. He excelled, doing excellent, however slowly he seemed to lose himself. He ended up being alone; not having his best friend there to help him and now his father gone; he had to relay on himself. His three friends slowly vanished from his life, either moving or losing touch with him.” Koenma says, putting away the two filed.

“Eventually Kuwabara was alone. It was at this time, now a year and a half since you three left, that I thought of re-instating Kuwabara as an underworld detective; after discussing it with my father. He thought it was a good way to keep an eye on him and make sure he wouldn’t lose control, especially with the weapon he carried.” Koenma says, leaning back in his chair.

He gazed over the three demons that had a sad look on their faces, mixed with other emotions.

“Kuwabara seemed to be doing much better by the end of this past year. Not only did he seem to be himself, but also he seemed to be achieving in school. However, not only a month before you three returned from the demon world; another tragedy occurred. Kuwabara’s cat died…” Koenma says.

“His cat died.” Hiei says looking as if Koenma was kidding.

“Koenma, I really doubt the death of a cat would cause Kuwabara to act the way he does.” Kurama says, doubting Koenma’s suggestion.

Yusuke looked at Koenma, a bit worried.

“Wait a minute…you mean Eikichi? She died?” Yusuke asked.

Koenma nodded.

“She was run over by a car.”

Yusuke flinched. He still had a type of phobia with cars since he was killed by one when he was fourteen.

“Shit…I can’t believe he didn’t lose it sooner…” Yusuke said.

“What do you mean, Yusuke?” Kurama asks.

“Well, Kuwabara loved that cat…” Yusuke but had to stop and laugh.

“He was actually threatened by some punks who took her as hostage. They wanted Kuwabara to steal some mangas or they would kill him; his kitten.”

“Did he do it?” Hiei asks, interested in the story.

“Nope. He bought the mangas but like the idiot, he forte to take out the receipt for them. If I hadn’t shown up, they would have killed her.” Yusuke said.

“Hn. He’s a fool to let bunch of scum use such a creator make him do their bidding.” Hiei scoff.

“I thought it was stupid too, but then I saw how happy he was to get him back…I don’t know…it seemed like she was his life, his baby as he called him…” Yusuke says.

Kurama looked at Koenma.

“So is that when Kuwabara started to act weird?”

“No. It was actually when I realized he was holding in emotions that he shouldn’t have.” Koenma says.

“He was heading down the path that leads to depression. I couldn’t see him do that to himself, so I gave him a mission that I thought would help him get his mind of his troubles, however, it only made it worse.” Koenma sighed.

‘But hopefully Kuwabara will pass this trial and be his old self once more.’ Koenma thinks.

At that moment, the doors to Koenma’s office flew open. The four turned to see a distraught and shabby looking Shizuru stumble into the demi-god’s office.

Yusuke’s eyes widened.

“Shizuru! What the hell happened?!” Yusuke shouted as he ran towards his best friend’s sister.

She saw him and glared.

“Stay away from me you bastard! I cam her to talk to the mini bastard!” Shizuru shouts, pointing at Koenma.

Yusuke stopped and looked at Shizuru in shock.

“Shizuru what the hell happened?”

“I’ll tell you what the hell happened!” Shizuru says, glaring at Yusuke.

“Your best friend needed you, that’s what the hell happened!” Shizuru shrieked before falling to her knees, covering her face.

Yusuke looked at Shizuru in shock.

“Kuwabara? What happened to Kuwabara?!” Yusuke shouted, running towards the fallen girl and falling in front of her.

Shizuru glared up at him.

“There is no more Kuwabara, that’s what happened.”

Everyone in the room was in complete shock at Shizuru’s words.

“No…you don’t mean he’s…” Yusuke said his eyes wide.

“No…not the way you’re thinking…Kuwabara’s not dead, but he might be better off dead…” growls Shizuru.

“Shizuru took a few deep breath, trying to contain her self.

“A week ago Kuwabara ran away, just leaving me a note that said he had to think or some kind of crap like that. I figured that he wouldn’t last that long, since he’s not that stupid to go off his own yet.” Shizuru snorted.

“Well, I wasn’t worried until he hadn’t shown up for the first three days. I decided to go looking for him, since his best friend didn’t seem to care.” Shizuru said, glaring daggers at Yusuke.

“I do care!” Yusuke shouted, taking offense by Shizuru’s accusation.

“How the fuck can you say that if you haven’t even seen him in over two fucking weeks?!” Shizuru shouts, glaring directly at Yusuke.

Yusuke turned away from that glare, knowing that she was right. He could have at least visited Kuwabara and could have asked Kuwabara himself what had happened over the three years that he was gone, instead of going to Koenma for those answers. Yusuke was afraid of how Kuwabara would react to his questions and it was that fear that kept him from seeing his best friend.

Shizuru nodded in satisfaction that Yusuke was guilty for neglecting her brother.

“Anyway, I spent the past four days looking him. I know he wouldn’t have left the country because he doesn’t have enough money to do that; so I knew he was still in this city somewhere, I just didn’t know where.”

Shizuru closed her eyes, a tear escaping them as she remembered what had happened several hours before.

“I found him…I found him surrounded by seven thugs that had demonic like auras…The leader of them had his arm around my little brother and was acting like he owned him…the bastard…They were just sitting in that dark alley playing poker and talking about things Kuwabara would never do, like stealing.”

Shizuru opened her eyes.

“I tried to save him, but he didn’t even remember me! His own fucking sister! Those bastards brain washed him into thinking he’s one of them and the worse part is….” Shizuru closed her eyes, more tears running down her face.

“…They told him to beat me…” she turned away, not wanting to continue the rest of the story.

Yusuke’s eyes widened at that.

“No…it couldn’t have been Kuwabara! You know he wouldn’t have hit you! He wouldn’t even hit a guy cross dressed as a girl!” Yusuke shouted.

“It was him! I know what my own brother’s damn aura is! It was him!” Shizuru covered her face.

“Shizuru…tell us where this took place. Where did this happen?” Kurama asks determination in his eyes. He was going to get Kuwabara back, and fight for him if he had too.

“It was down some dark alley way that ended in a dead end…” Shizuru said, starting to calm down a bit, glad that she got most of that out of her system.

Koenma looked at her with sad eyes.

‘I might have gone too far. I must call this off.’ Koenma thinks.

“I’m going to look into those demons and see if I have record of anything suspicious in that area. Yusuke; bring Kuwabara back home.” Koenma says, looking dead into Yusuke eyes.

Yusuke looked at Koenma and nodded.

“I will.” Yusuke stood up and started towards the door.

“Shizuru…I promise you…I will get your brother back and I will never leave him again.”

“You better keep that promise Yuskue or by Kami I will kill you.” Shizuru says, not looking at Yusuke.

Yusuke nodded, not looking at Shizuru either.

“ You don’t have to worry about that, cause if that happens I’ll save you the trouble and kill my self.” Yusuke says before leaving the room with a quiet Kurama and Hiei behind him.
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