Author: Sam & Merrianna

Story: Dark Reunions: 1 of ?

Series: n/a

Rating: R: Language, Sexual Ideations, Violence

Story Summary: Ten years have passed and mysterious letters start showing up; no one knows where they're coming from.

Spoiler: From the beginning of the series until the end of the Dark Tournament, pretty much (at any given time).

Category: Paranormal, AU, Action

Setting: AU: Ten years after the Dark Tournament ends (it's alternate from the moment they leave Hanging Neck Island, in fact).

Disclaimer: Yu Yu Hakusho is a trademark of Yoshihiro Togashi, Shueisha, Fuji TV, Studio Perriot, Media Blasters, and Central Park Media. We are in no way connected with these people, and we do not claim ownership to these characters, lands, or names. We have borrowed them to share a story... and most likely not a story Yoshihiro Togashi would have written, had he had the time or no. We are making no money from this, and it is just for our entertainment, and that of free entertainment to a select group of friends. Thank You.

Distribution: Please ask first?

Note: Special thanks to "Rogue" for the excellent beta.

Feedback: Yes, please? Especially constructive. samwise_baggins@yahoo.co.uk or merrianadragon@yahoo.com

Webpage: http://www.oocities.org/samwise_baggins/index.html

Ten years. It had been ten long years and she hadn't seen him once. Of course, that was kind of expected, having gone to different High Schools and all. Somehow, though, Keiko Yukimura thought she'd always keep in touch with Yusuke Uremeshi. But first different High Schools, then his mother moving yet again, and they'd lost touch almost immediately and never regained it. In fact, she'd seen none of the old gang: those who'd been involved in that horrible Dark Tournament. Not a word, not a sight… not even Puu to keep her company.

Of course, Keiko had her theories as to why the guy had moved, why his mother had opted to leave despite the fine apartment. It was a theory concerning the Yakuza and their influence in the Uremeshi household. Atsuko had never been very wise, though she was street smart, and blackmailing the Yakuza for funds most likely had caught up with her. That meant either the Uremeshi's had moved to escape retaliation, or something worse had happened.

Keiko preferred to think they'd escaped retaliation.

Unfortunately her theory had proven correct. The Yakuza, having lost track of Yusuke, decided to shift their attention to those he had close relations with. That meant the Yukimuras.

The Yukimuras had put them off for a little while, but when they had Keiko raped, her parents finally gave in. They promised to provide any information about the Uremeshi that they came across. That wasn't enough. The mob demanded monthly payments as well. In order to met these payments the Yukimuras had to keep the restaurant running late hours. This ruined any plans of University for Keiko, as she had to help out.

She'd tried dating after High School, but it hadn't worked out. Mainly due to the pregnancy resulting from the rape. Others complained that she was no longer fun to be with, distant and sad all the time. She couldn't help it. Motherhood, the Yakuza, and the loss of Yusuke's friendship had taken a serious toll. It was as if she'd never fully recovered.

Now, Keiko worked in her parents' restaurant and did the family accounting for her mother. She was a big help, they raved, but why didn't she find a nice man to settle down with. There were more and more frequent hints that their grandchild needed a father. Her father had even wondered what would have happened if the Uremeshi boy had stayed in the area… looking at his daughter in a wistful way. It concerned her family that she seemed to be thinking of Yusuke just as often as she had when he'd first left: every day, sometimes more than once. It was those thoughts that kept her from finding a love of her own, kept her sad, kept her family and friends worrying and hinting and guessing.

With a sigh, the twenty-five year old woman shook her head to clear the morose thoughts. She gave a wan smile to the elderly man at the counter, finished tying the box of food, and stepped back as he turned to shuffle out. She had to get her head together during working hours. She had to finally come to terms… had to… forget Yusuke Uremeshi. The thought filled Keiko's heart with pain and she had to catch her breath at the intensity of it. No, she wasn't ready yet. She couldn't forget her childhood friend and teenaged crush. She just couldn't do it... yet.

Sad eyes roved over the restaurant, and Keiko was glad that it was finally empty. She moved from behind the counter to start washing tables and straightening chairs. As she worked, barely aware of the darkening sky, the woman let her mind drift back over the years once more. Thankfully, the sound of someone entering the shop drew her from such depressing thoughts.

Looking up, Keiko smiled absently, the gesture not reaching her brown eyes. There was no one there, and that made the half-smile fade completely. She'd distinctly heard… ah… on the floor was an envelope. Someone had either dropped it or left it. Keiko was willing to bet it was the latter.

Fearfully Keiko opened the envelope and pulled out the single folded sheet. With a frown, she glanced over the very brief typed message. A cursory glance over the entire missive did not reveal who the sender was. That terrified the single mother.

A shiver crept up Keiko's spine and she shoved the paper into the envelope, crumpling them into a ball. She didn't like this at all… even though there was nothing overtly threatening in the note. It was just… creepy. This was probably another payment drop. The thing she hated most was that they always insisted she bring her son, Masato.

Turning back to finish her work, the brunette felt a sudden spurt of relief that her shift was over. There was her father coming in the back entrance, preparing for the supper rush. With an absent nod, Keiko hurried over to change out of her apron, knowing he'd let her go wherever she wished now that he was there. She did not intend to tell him about this newest meeting.

She headed up to the family room, meeting her son as he arrived home from school...late as usual. Also, as usual, he was sporting a torn uniform and many bruises. The scowl on his face bespoke a typical day at school; he was holding an ominous yellow note.

"Not again, Masato. This is third detention this week." Keiko sighed feeling more exhausted than she ever had working a double shift downstairs in the cafe'. She held out her hand, "If you keep this up you'll beat Yusuke record."

"Yeah, maybe I'll ditch ya like he did."

Tears welling up, the woman felt as if she'd been slapped. Shaking she tore the note from her son's hand, "Go... to... your... room." Her voice was low and menacing. She didn't need this right now.

Wisely, Masato listened, though his rebellious streak showed as he proceeded to knock all things down that were in his path.

After her son's door slammed shut, Keiko sank to the floor. She pulled the mystery note out once more and read it. It hadn't changed since the last time she'd read it, of course, only a location, time, and date. Nothing else. Just those three items, neatly typed on plain white paper. She couldn't stand how the Yakuza played with her life hated how she couldn't simple explain to people. Despite how that affected her son.

Keiko stood slowly, her quick mind racing over possible ways excluding Masato form this meeting. Maybe... maybe it really had been dropped instead of delivered. Suddenly, she realized just why she'd been so determined to figure out the mystery behind the letter. She had a slim hope, a micro-chance that it had come from Yusuke instead of the mob, some practical joke or even desperate call of need. Depressed, she slumped and let her eyes slide from the paper. It's not Yusuke's style. Heck, I doubt he even knows what a typewriter looks like, the dummy.

Hugging herself, Keiko collapsed to the floor defeated, tears slipping down her face.