"This New Life", chapters 1 & 2 of an ongoing multi-part YYH fanfic by JM
Reverie.

The story takes place somewhere mid-series (Pre-Sensui Arc), but from there
on, the series time-line changes.

Teaser: Someone from the Reikai Tantei's past returns with news of a
team-mate who needs their help.
Rating: PG-13, for language.
Warnings: None.

My work can also be found here: http://webpages.charter.net/jm116/yyhfan/

Any and all C+C is appreciated. You can contact me at: jmreverie@charter.net

(Please have mercy on me; this is my first time posting!!)

~Jane



This New Life Ch 1




I knew Yusuke was lounging up there, on the school's roof. I couldn't see
him yet from where I was, but I knew he was leaning against the wall, hands
behind his head, staring up at the sky with a cigarette hanging out of his
mouth. He was not supposed to be there, but Yusuke is not the type to do
things because he's supposed to. It's not that he's bad or feels the need to
rebel, it's that his heart just isn't in schoolwork, just like certain other
particularly ningen practices. He doesn't know it yet, but there is an
innate reason for this. Later, he will learn that he's not completely human.

Neither am I, for that matter. I was once, but that was a long time ago. The
world was different then and so was I. I've lived two lives, and now I'm on
my third. Well, that's if you count my previous life as really living.
Actually, I had been dead for quite a number of years, so this, technically,
is my second life, but who's counting?

Who was there to count? I had been so lonely in this new life.

"Urameshi," I say to him in a low, non-threatening voice.

He wasn't surprised to see me. He doesn't know me, but he could sense my
approach, stealthy though it was. His cool brown eyes met mine, and he took
one last drag from the end of his cigarette before putting it out. Yusuke
didn't seem to be in the mood for talking, I could tell.

I just stood there, keeping my gaze level with his as he took in my
features. 'Would he find me familiar?' I wondered, though I knew he would
not know me. Part of me wished he would, but I pushed that fleeting thought
quickly aside. My short blue hair was combed and gelled back in similar
fashion, showing off my prominent widow's peak. I also wore the same uniform
as he, though mine was navy and tailored to actual school regulation. When
he said nothing, I slowly withdrew from my own back pocket a pack of
cigarettes and lit one.

"Well, do you have something to say or are you going to stare at me all
day?"

What I was doing there was risky, so I was somewhat nervous; still I did my
best to remain cool. I inhaled a deep drag from my cigarette, impressed with
myself that I didn't choke. This smoking, it's new to me. I had always
thought it a dirty habit, but in this life, I don't mind it so much. It's
relaxing.

His eyes were still locked on mine as I strutted over to the wall and sat by
him. Yusuke had the oddest look on his face. I put my hands behind my head
and turned my head towards the sky.

"Kid, there's only room on this roof for one Urameshi. Now quit the act and
introduce yourself."

I smiled. The plan I had, I believed then that it could work. I extended my
right hand, "The name's Yurei. I'm the new transfer student. I attended the
first 2 periods and got bored. Some of the other guys joked that I could go
join Urameshi on the roof if school really was that painful," I shrugged,
"So, I thought, why not?"

Yusuke shook my extended hand, amused for the moment. "Ah, a kid after my
own heart. So, your first day, and already you want out of here?"

"Yeah. Sitting around listening to teachers talk about things I don't give
two shits about, then being questioned on it. No thanks."

Yusuke stood up. "Lets go somewhere else."

______________________________


"Oh no," I thought. "Yusuke wants to fight me. I can feel it." I'd known
from the start that this would be inevitable. Yusuke has been associated
long enough with the spirit world to sense my rei. Maybe not as well as
Kuwabara can, but he could, nonetheless.

I followed him through the woods and into a small clearing behind the
Sarayashiki middle school. He was quiet just about the entire way there and
so was I. In my former life, had I been anxious, I would've made chit-chat,
but... Not in this one. Not when I knew the reikai tantei might become
suspicious about me.

"You're not normal." He says.

I cock my head to the side, but my expression was still friendly. "So, what
of it? You're not either."

"So, let's see what you can do."

"I can't right now."

"Why not?"

"I only use my full abilities when absolutely necessary. I'm avoiding
someone right now. I do only little things."

Yusuke looked thoughtful. I don't know what he was trying to make up his
mind about, but while he was, I noticed that we weren't alone. Hiei was
watching us from up above. That was when I realized this wasn't a good time
to conk out on the macho routine, so I decided to do something risky.

I knocked Hiei out of his tree.



End Ch 1

"And thus he dies by the sword before he can do whatever he came to do..."
~ List friend, Red, from YYH ML

__________________________________


Ch 2



Looking back, what I did was really, really stupid.

Knocking the fire demon out of his tree... Really, really stupid... It's
possible he could have killed me. And yet... The look on Hiei's face, it was
so... hilarious... I think I was the very first to ever accomplish such a
feat. (Well, and live to tell the tale...) I saw his eyes go wide in shock
when I touched him. As Enma-sama had told me when I was born, that those of
the Makai are less able to feel my rei the more I exert myself so... To
Hiei, I must have vanished. I didn't think about that little detail, then,
when I confronted him. Honestly, I did not mean him to fall. I only meant to
move him. But... Oh and poor Hiei... He landed on his head...

I don't know why I think it's funny, I shouldn't. That's just not like me.

While Hiei was getting to his feet, I jumped from his former tree to the
ground. I am also able to move very quickly, because of how my rei is.
Sometimes I feel like I'm more spirit than human, though Enma-sama assures
me that I am mortal and will die.

Hiei raised his katana and rushed at me. He looked angry.

I sidestepped it, while Yusuke looked on. He had this smirk on his face.
Yusuke thought Hiei's little fall there was quite funny, too, I could tell.
He was just smart enough not to burst out into laughter for once. Maybe Mr.
Immaturity was just too curious about the situation.

Hiei kept swinging at me and I kept eluding him. It was too easy. I don't
know if I'm faster, but I could sense him and he could not sense me, so I
had the advantage. Still, I refused to fight him back. That really wasn't my
intent, to initiate combat earlier, but. As I said, things just sort of
happened. And, my refusal to fight, I believe now, was angering him more.

While I was avoiding Hiei, Kuwabara came into the field and stood by Yusuke.
All we needed now was Kurama and all the Reikai Tantei would be together. I
doubted he would know about all the action going on; he's a devoted student
and loves his ningen life. However, once I used my power to cause harm to
Hiei, he would know. And so would Enma-sama, too.

I gathered my rei into my hands and focused... then tossed it Hiei. It
wouldn't have been good to for him to summon his kokuryuu-ha or anything
drastic like that. I wasn't even sure if he would, but what else was left if
he could not touch me? So, I let my rei-ball knock him out.

"Yurei, do you know what you just did?"

"I. Knocked out a demon, didn't I?" I didn't know what to say to explain
myself. I couldn't just be like... Gee, I was only trying to be macho for
you all, sorry... Yeah, right.

"He's an ally."

"Oh." I stared at Hiei. He was lying on his front, face in the dirt.

"You two go back to school or something. I'll handle Hiei."

Kuwabara gave me a once over, and then reached over to lead me away from
Yusuke and Hiei. It seemed to me he was being very familiar. He had this
expression on his face that I just couldn't read. It were almost as if he
were on the verge of amazement or confusion and could not decide which to
feel or what to say.

"Did he know?" I wondered.

He opened his mouth and spoke. "Huh?"

I hoped and prayed my face wasn't giving my emotions away. I have trouble
sometimes keeping secrets. It's not that I want to tell, I don't. My face is
just honest.

"You're a Reikai Tantei, aren't you?"

"Why, yes, I am. You are, too, am I right? Your rei gives you away."

He smiled at me. I mean really smiled - I could see the warmth in his eyes.
"Yours does, too." Kuwabara then coughed and looked at his feet, before
giving me another quick once-over, taking in my appearance. "So what do you
call yourself?"

"I'm called Yurei. Sometimes people think I'm more spirit than human. The
name just sort of stuck."

"But you are alive?"

"I'm human, like you."

Kuwabara put both his hands in his pockets and relaxed his stance a bit,
though he still looked a bit surprised.

"So what brings you here, Yurei?"

I grinned at him. "Well, I'm here to train with the best if you'll have me."

"Does Koenma know about this?"

I hoped my smile would not falter, thinking about certain things... I was
prepared, though. "No. His father is the one responsible for me becoming a
Reikai Tantei..."


To be continued...

Jane Reverie
December 12, 2003



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