Hello again minna-san. Ah, so I have decided to do an epilogue. By now, you all should know my usual warnings and disclaimer ect. So, without any further prolonging, the epilogue to Slipping into Crimson.
-HieiKuramaFan
Epilogue
After an hour or so of searching, Kuwabara happened to stumble upon the life-less body of Yusuke. Hit with a stunned silence, it was another few minutes before he called out to Kurama, who wasn't far behind him. When the kitsune stood beside Kuwabara and his emerald eyes rested upon their friend; he brought a hand to his mouth and stood as Kuwabara had for a minute or two. Trapped in silent shock. However, regaining his wits, Kurama told Kuwabara to grab the toushin lord's feet; which the human did without question, and he himself placed his hands around Yusuke's shoulders. On the count of three they lifted him gently and carried him all the way back down to the temple; where the other members of their search party joined with them shortly afterward…
Well, now it was three weeks later and everyone was again joined at Genkai's temple. This time however, in a quite somber mood; much unlike the last. The funeral was being held in the center of the field just beyond the forest. Yusuke was to be buried beneath the lone tree that stood there; his grave never to be bothered unnecessarily except for tending purposes.
Kurama stood at the exit of the forest, greeting the mourners with a nod; head bowed, a brief handshake and a pat on the back. The kitsune himself was dressed in a simple black suit, nothing fancy yet nothing relaxed or casual. A tear or two fell from those emerald jewels he called eyes.
Why Yusuke, why?
He thought as he greeted distant family, friends, and supporters of the deceased toushin lord.
…I know you were hurting inside; I know you were hurting a great deal… but still, why jump to such a drastic conclusion? Why not think your options through completely when the emotional pain and stress on your heart and mind had been relieved, even if only a bit? What if… what if your end had needn't have come so soon… what if perhaps, that letter was incorrect? Why leave us Yusuke? Couldn't you see that we cared for and loved you too? Couldn't you see that…?
His eyes lifted to gaze at the tree that was on the hill slightly above him. They rested on the outline of the casket that sat beside a mound of freshly dug earth. Another tear fell as he greeted Yukina, trying to drive the inevitable sadness from his mind.
Yukina kept her head down as she continued walking up the hill. She was dressed in a simple black dress with a hat that had a small black veil that hung down over half her face. She brought a handkerchief up to her face and wiped her eyes gently, small hirosecki stones leaving a trail behind her as she walked. Everyone she passed in the small isle that had been set up with chairs in rows of five people across, eight people back, seemed so sad, so hopeless. Not that she wasn't sad herself, but with everyone else's emotions around her being so strong, their sadness was rubbing off on her and mixing with her own despair.
Oh Yusuke-san… Why did you think that you had to kill yourself? I know you were upset because of Jin but… there are others here who need you…
She glanced over at Kuwabara as she took a seat next to him. The orange haired man looked miserable as he stared dead ahead at the casket.
…who are lost now because there is a big empty hole in their hearts where you used to be. Yusuke-san… now Kazuma seems so lost. You played a big part in his life, more so than you probably ever thought… He needs you, Yusuke-san… and so do we. Why did you have to leave?…
She folded her hands in her lap and looked up to the sun that was shining down as much as it could through a cloud filled sky.
Kuwabara put his head in his hands and dug his fingers into his hair. It wasn't right. Nothing was right now that Yusuke wasn't there… He sniffled and a tear leaked out of the corner of his eye and dropped onto the leg of his pants.
Urameshi… Nothin' feels right now that you're not here… I don't feel like myself now that I can't see your stupid cocky smirk and hear your smart-ass comments… I told myself that I'd outdo you one day… I'd be better than you, I'd catch up to the level you were on… but, how am I supposed to do that now? How am I suppose to follow you now, Urameshi? …Heh, right about now you'd be tellin' me to stop my whining and get over it… heh, heh, but you can't, can you?
Kuwabara turned his face up, the casket's polished lid shining in the bit of sunlight that touched it. More tears came from his eyes as he thought with a grimace.
…I guess bad shit really does happen to good people, doesn't it?
Many other mourners started to fill the seats around them, and it wasn't until the seats and quite a bit of space surrounding them was occupied before Koenma, in teen-form, stepped forward. He gave a small sigh before he began.
"Hello everyone… we all know the reason we're here today isn't a happy one. We've all just experienced what could very well be the biggest loss of our time. Twenty-four is far too early a time for someone's life to end, and it is no different for Yusuke."
He paused in his speech to wipe the tears away from his eyes. In the audience, there were many sniffles and wiping of eyes as he continued.
"However, the point is that Yusuke's life has ended, and now we are all here to say good-bye to our irreplaceable friend. But let's take a moment or two to remember why Yusuke is going to stick out so much in our memories, why we're going to miss him, and perhaps a few of our own personal remembrances."
The casket was opened and slowly, one-by-one everyone came up to pay his or her last respects to the former Reikai detective. Once everyone had said all they needed to say, Kuwabara, with the help of Kurama, Hiei, and Chu started to lift the casket to lower it into the hole. However, Koenma asked them to stop for a moment or two longer and when the four men looked questioningly at the prince of Reikai, Koenma added.
" Please… Because I-I've found a poem that appears to have been written by Yusuke, and I think it should be read as well."
The four nodded and the prince of Reikai took his position again. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a folded, wrinkled up piece of paper and unfolded it. Taking in a breath beforehand, he started to read the words upon the paper, that if anyone was close enough to see; had Yusuke's half cursive, half print writing upon it.
"What is Death . . .
Death is nothing.
I just passed to the other side.
I am me and you are you.
What we were to each other, still is.
Use my name like you always did.
Talk to me like you always did.
Don't use a different tone.
Don't look so serious or sad.
Keep laughing to things that made us laugh...
Pray. Smile. Think of me.
Let my name be said at home like before,
without special efforts and sadness.
Life signifies what it always signified.
It is still what it was before.
The line is not cut.
Why would I be out of your thoughts because
I am simply out of your sight?
I am waiting for you.
I am not far...just on the other side of the road.
You see, everything is okay.
Continue..."
Everyone had their heads bowed respectfully thorough the whole reading of the poem that Yusuke had written himself, only god knows how many years ago. Once Koenma had finished he assisted Kuwabara, Kurama, Chu, and Hiei in the placing of the casket in the ground and of the burying of it. Many of the mourners placed flowers at the head of the grave, and many more finally broke down completely in tears and sobs as a sudden wind blew softly through the leaves of the tree and over the mourners.
However… off in a tree at the edge of the forest stood the figure of a person. Strands of wild red hair fell across deep blue eyes that were swimming in tears of grief. The said person drew in a shaky breath and swallowed hard to keep the sobs from overtaking him.
"I'm sorry Yusuke… I'm so sorry I didn't come back in time… But I promise, I'll be with you soon… real soon."
Jin whispered softly before he turned and flew off. Moving too fast for any demon or mortal to see headed for the depths of Makai. Leaving no proof he had been there except for a simple solitary leaf that fell slowly from the tree to rest on the ground, and two or three drops of water on the branch on which he had been standing. All the while with no intention of coming back…
….To be continued in "Bloodstained Hurricane"