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thefamilyeldritchabomination · 9 months ago

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Maze-Chapter One: What's Next? Pt. 2

The soft rhythmic beat of the modified heart monitor and respirator harmonized as two figures stood over the bedside of the comatose Yusuke Urameshi. It had been over twenty years, twenty three to be precise, since that fateful night when Spirit World had the massive hostage situation from Divine Rights. Twenty three years since Yusuke ended up in a vegetative state all because the zealots decided to use a massive weapon as a political statement and forced Yusuke to make a choice. TWENTY THREE YEARS since Keiko lost the love of her life, finding out she was pregnant, and forcing her into the life of a single mother raising their only child alone. Kurama, running a hand through his silvering red hair that gave a pinkish tint, couldn’t help but feel anger towards the whole situation that took away the one man that saved him all those years ago from a terrible mistake. He glanced over gently at Keiko who had suffered the most from the loss as she changed out the bedside flowers in Yusuke’s vase in hopes that one day he’ll return like before. Kurama, even at age forty eight, couldn’t help but feel the lingering guilt towards the twenty three year long situation, if only he had been the one to disarm the weapon. The ‘if only’ had ate at Kurama’s mind every time he came to visit Yusuke at his hospital bed, knowing full well that he'd never return.

Keiko, despite everything, managed to raise Tomoko on her own and franchised her family’s business to support themselves with. Sure, Tomoko had the lethal combination of her mother’s intelligence, her father’s temper, and both parents’ ability to throw a punch, kiddo managed to avoid getting into any major conflicts unlike Yusuke during his teen years. Of course, the outcome for how Tomoko came out was likely from the surrounded upbringing from Kurama and Kuwabara giving out a hand to Keiko while she made up a proper living situation to raise a child in. That was the only thing Kurama could take a bit of pride in knowing that he was able to help Yusuke in that respect and be there for his child. Keiko ran a finger along her styled hair, flecks of silver glistening in the waning sunlight as night time ready itself to blanket the cityscape. There came a knock by the hospital door, Kurama feeling a bit ill to his stomach knowing all too well what was to come as the doctor entered the room. From the look on Keiko’s face, she clearly felt that same sickness as the doctor motioned for her to take a seat. Yusuke’s mother had passed five years ago from her prolonged alcoholism taking a toll on her liver, leaving Yusuke’s care in the hands of Keiko. “Mrs. Urameshi, I know this is a hard topic for you, but given that your husband has been in a coma for well over twenty years now with no signs of recovery, we implore you to please consider taking him off life support. There have been no signs of brain activity since the day Mr. Urameshi was brought to us, we feel it would be in his best interest to let him go.” The doctor began the same old song and dance as many of his predecessors did before when the no brain activity diagnosis came. “I know, but as hard as it is to believe, my husband, I feel, will come back like he did before.” Keiko, having seen Yusuke revive from the dead twice in her life, was on the same boat as his late mother about the decision to keep Yusuke hooked up.

“Mrs. Urameshi, please be reasonable. Mr. Urameshi has no brain activity, there is absolutely no possible chance that we could even revive him, given that he’s been gone for twenty three years by now. The kindest thing you can do for your husband would be to take him off life support and allow him to peacefully pass away. I and the rest of the hospital staff understand just how difficult this ordeal has been, half the staff even watched your child grow up here during each visit. We’re not trying to be malicious, just realistic is all.” The Doctor attempted to reason when Kurama stepped in. “With all due respect, Mr. Urameshi is a very dear friend of mine, any dealings of having him removed from life support would have to go through me first. Like his wife, I have faith that he’ll return, the man has always been too stubborn for death to take him.” Kurama spoke as he glanced at Yusuke, protecting Keiko in his stead.

“Mr. Minamino, with all due respect, while you may be the one footing the medical costs for Mr. Urameshi, the choice comes entirely down to his caregiver, his wife.” The doctor adjusted his glasses for a moment before looking over towards Kurama.

“Shuichi, it’s alright, I can handle this. I will talk to my daughter about this first before any decisions are made, please have a good evening.” Keiko got up and was ready to leave the hospital, not wanting to deal with this any further.

The doctor couldn’t get another word in as Kurama helped Keiko out of the room and towards the twilight of the outside world. The crisp night air stung their lungs a bit from the stress and pressure of the topic of Yusuke being removed from life support. The sadness on Keiko’s face was very clear as Kurama consoled her on that topic being brought up once more. There had been many doctors Kurama had to dismiss on Keiko’s behalf whenever that bothersome topic arrived. However, this time, it was a bit different. The hopefulness that Keiko once had long before seemed a bit dimmer and less bright as it had. Normally, the first thing Keiko would’ve asked right away was to seek another doctor for Yusuke, but now, there was nothing but a contemplative silence that tore a bit at the former thief’s insides. The possibility of saying a final goodbye to Yusuke was now on the table and not a word was needed to be conveyed about it.

“What if he’s right? What if having Yusuke on life support for so long had been the wrong thing?” Keiko finally asked as she stopped walking to look at Kurama. “Keiko, don’t say that, Yusuke has died twice and managed to revive himself afterwards. He’ll come back like before, just like that old saying, ‘third times the charm.’” Kurama looked at Keiko, hoping that would help, not only for her, but for himself as well.

“I know, but, would that even be fair to Yusuke? If he revived now after twenty three years, how are we going to explain that he missed the birth of his own child or even missed out on her growing up? How are we even going to start to explain that Atsuko is no longer here or that the Spirit World has been going through some major political turmoil since Jorge took over in Koenma’s place?” Keiko unloaded every single concern the moment they passed a less crowded place to spill it out in.

“I don’t know, but we have to try, for Yusuke’s sake, we have to. Maybe we can arrange to meet up with Kuwabara and his family for dinner to discuss things. I can even try to bring Hiei in as well if you want?” Kurama offered as some women eyed him on the corner, even at forty eight, Kurama looked as though he was in his late thirties and still very attractive. “I haven’t heard Hiei’s name in a while, he’s been so deep in work over in the demon world as of late.” Keiko gave Kurama a very surprised look upon hearing Hiei’s name after the last six months since they last saw him.

“I know, we haven’t spoken to Hiei since the incident and it’s clear, Kuwabara likely blames him for not saving Yusuke. He’s been working so hard with Mukoro to continue Yusuke’s vision of the human and demon world integrating with one another in peaceful coexistence to make up for it.” Kurama sort’ve winced a little upon realizing just how much of a hard time Hiei was having since the event happened.

“I’ll do the dinner, but for now, let my daughter and myself talk about this first. I think that’s the best course for us right now to do.” Keiko reached the bus stop, ready to take that ride back to the family restaurant on her own to think over things.

“Alright, but if you need anything, just know you can ask either Kuwabara or myself for anything to help you out with.” Kurama said as he watched Keiko board the bus, watching as it drove off, leaving Kurama alone to his own thoughts.

Life went on as it had after the glory days of tournaments and assisted spirit detective work ended that cold day, making a stop at the grocery store for dinner and continuing the long walk back to the luxury apartment complex. The business that Kurama’s stepfather had started grew over the years and was now considered a major name in the industry thanks to Kurama’s age-old business advice. The key to the door clicked as Kurama made his way into the silence of home. It had concerned Kurama’s mother for a while now that her son hadn’t married yet given how popular he was with the girls back in his school days, but Kurama couldn’t tell her. It was all thanks to the ‘ick’ factor of being an already grown adult having to restart life as an infant, everyone in Kurama’s human age group was very much still a cradle rocking sort of taboo. Kurama took in a deep breath as he began preparations on making his evening meal of Kitsune Udon, something of a comfort meal after the day he had. There was a silent debate about taking Kuwabara’s offer to get Kurama a cat to make the apartment less isolating. As the food was cooking, Kurama took this time to call up Kuwabara on the phone, hoping he wasn’t too busy helping with high school entrance exams.

“Hello, Kuwabara residence, this is Yukina speaking.” Yukina greeted the call, she hadn’t changed over the twenty three years of being in the Human World.

“Hey Yukina, it’s Kurama, I was wondering if I could speak to Kazuma please?” It had been a while since Kurama had used Kuwabara’s first name as he waited on the line. “Oh Kurama, of course I can get Kazuma up. I think he just finished helping our sons out with studying for their high school entrance exams.” Yukina could be heard calling her husband over to the phone, the clatter of their children could be heard getting their school supplies put away.

“Hey Kurama, how’s things been?” Kuwabara’s voice could be heard outside of the phone, his volume control was still needing work.

“Could be better, the latest doctor for Yusuke has started the talks about removing him from life support.” Kurama could hear Kuwabara’s brow crease upon being informed of the day’s event. “Dammit, not again. How’s Keiko handling this? I know that topic about Urameshi has been a hard one for her.” Kuwabara’s voice finally lowered a bit as his concerns for Keiko could be heard in his tone.

“She’s decided to sit Tomoko down for that conversation, I think Keiko is considering discontinuing life support for Yusuke.” Kurama explained, expecting an explosive reaction. “We need to support her then, Keiko’s has finally started to accept that Urameshi is gone..” Kuwabara finally said after a long pause of having to think things over. “You too?” Kurama was surprised by Kuwabara’s acceptance of possibly letting Yusuke’s body die.

“Kurama, you, me, and Hiei all knew Urameshi wasn’t going to come back after that blast. His soul is gone and destroyed, all we’ve been doing was keeping that one physical thing left of him alive as a display. We should’ve done better for Keiko when Atsuko passed away and should’ve had that talk with her about letting go.” Kuwabara gave his thoughts on the matter, his voice cracking after finally saying what needed to be said. “I know that, just, it’s Yusuke we’re talking about. We just haven’t figured out a way to bring his soul back is all…there has to be something, anything..” Kurama’s mind was racing a bit upon hearing that, clearly there had to have been another option that he wasn’t seeing just yet. “Kurama, do you hear yourself right now? We tried demon world medics for this when the news broke out. If the demon world wasn’t able to help Urameshi, that should have been a sign for all of us that it was goodbye. I’m scared too, I’m so scared to see Urameshi’s body go, but Kurama, we can’t keep holding onto that false hope of him returning.” Kuwabara reasoned, the voice cracking becoming more noticeable as he tried to reach Kurama about the situation and its reality.

“You’re right…you’re absolutely right Kuwabara, tomorrow, I feel we’re going to need to help Keiko after the talk. I’ll be contacting Hiei next about this.” Kurama had to put on a different voice than the one he truly wanted to use, despair and grief.

“I think that’s really all we can do right now for Keiko and Tomoko, I’ll be sure to bring the beer over to Keiko’s Restaurant tomorrow.” Kuwabara could be heard holding back a sniffle, knowing full well what the news was going to be for tomorrow.

“That sounds good Kuwabara, I’ll see you soon then, goodbye.” Kurama hung up before Kuwabara could say anything else, holding back the temptation of throwing the phone before going back to the next task, calling Hiei.

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