𝐒𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐄 𝐁𝐎𝐌𝐁!

Sango listened as he spoke, her dark eyes remaining fixed on him while Kirara purred beneath his touch. The little demon cat had always been a good judge of character. She had learned long ago to trust that instinct almost as much as her own.

A faint smile touched her lips at the mention of feeding strays. “Then you already have Kirara’s approval,” she said. “That is usually a good sign.” She rose from the ground, brushing the dust from her clothes before adjusting the giant bone weapon strapped across her back. The village was not far from where they stood. Smoke drifted lazily above the rooftops in the distance, carrying with it the familiar scent of evening meals and cooking fires.

As Yusuke explained his situation, Sango’s expression softened slightly. New to the area. No place to stay. Looking for honest work rather than begging for coin. She had seen far worse. “You should not have much trouble finding work if you can fight,” she said. “And if you can cook half as well as you claim, there are probably a few families who would try to keep you around permanently.”

A quiet laugh escaped her before she started toward the village path, Kirara hopping lightly onto her shoulder. “As for somewhere to stay…” She glanced back at him. “You may stay with me.”

The offer came easily, as though it were the most natural solution available. “There is no reason for you to waste money on an inn while you are trying to get established. Stay for as long as you need. Earn some money first. Worry about the rest later.”

Her kindness blindsided him. Not only was he a stranger but he also wore strange clothing. Didn't any of that register with her, and she's still here opening her home up to him. Personally yusuke wasn't the type to look at a gift horse in the mouth so he will accept the gift.

"Thanks a lot..Sango was it? I'll make sure ya don't regret it. Hell to celebrate I'll make us one hell of a fish dinner. I saw a little fishing spot not too far from here on the way. Trust me after I'm done cooking you'll be sad t' see me leave too." There's a bit of confidence in his smile.

“Oh yeah, hell of a road t’ get here too lemme tell ya. But she’s doin’ great so I’m proud of her.” Yusuke spoke contentedly as he happily continued to devour his meal. Having this little heart-to-heart with her is certainly doing wonders for their relationship, that’s for sure. They’ve both even expressed the desire for a family one day.

Hearing that he was a good son did catch him off guard. If she focused enough on his face she might have actually caught the sight of a little blush that developed on his face for a moment. Warmhearted compliments like these were always Yusuke’s undoing.

"What gives..I can't help but notice every friggin' time I slave over this stove t' make us somethin' good you jus' push it to the side and go into your room giving me the 'i'm not hungry' excuse. Jus' tell me, somewhere along the line of scopin' the place out and shoppin' di I do somethin' y' royally piss ya off or somethin'?? Because if yer gonna throw out the meals I make ya might as well be spittin' in my face. So what's your deal? I already asked if ya had allergies I should worry about."

UNPROMPTED

"I don't—I didn't mean—I-I didn't ask you to do all that...." She deflates visibly as he pressures her for an answer. The simplest answer was that she was terrified of getting attached. Every time she does the people around her either turn out to be fake or get taken from by Akira through any means necessary. "Y-you didn't do anything wrong...." She was gripping at her shirt as she tried to form the words she wanted to say but they kept getting caught in her throat.

He remembered when he told her 'I hope he recognizes you.' And went on to tell her that the bums may seem happy now, but there's always something they're afraid of, and that's her when she finally gathers the courage t show the world their true colors.

Daisuke had a boxing gym in Tokyo, and Yusuke had found it. The second he walked in it's like he could smell the anxiety emanating from him..or maybe it was just from Kurai, either way, someone was nervous.

The gym was packed, as people continued working out. They looked at him, then at her and Daisuke was in the back, head of the table. The minute he saw Kurai it was as if his heart sank in the pit of his stomach. "You..what are you even doing here?!" He asked almost violently.

"At least ya recognized my client." Yusuke said pulling out his business card. "My name is Urameshi Yusuke, director of Toryu-tei detective agency. That's my client, a woman you and your friends sexually assaulted years ago. Before you deny it I'd like everyone t' know that I've already shown her a photograph of Daisuke here and she ID'd him perfectly." Said Yusuke.

--------

"Tch, sexually assualt?? Her Ugly ass?? You should've seen her in school she was NOTHING BUT A WHORE. I'm surprised if she hasn't slept with the staff." Daisuke said.

Yeah right, Kurai could have barely spoken to him..and he's sposed to believe she asked for sex in high school?? "Keep talkin' glass jaw. It's gonna look terrible for you after ya lose in court. Ya can save yourself the embarrassment and give us your DNA freely. Cause my client has a daughter that we'd like t' test if she's yours. Believe me, ya don't wanna go through all the paperwork when the court gets ahold o' this." Said Yusuke.

"Please, you'ren ot getting a damn thing from me so..just get outta my gym before I call the cops for tresspassing." He said.

-----------

Well that went over as great as he thought it would..guess he has to pull out plan B. "Guess ya really don't recognize me..run my name in the boxing database. Look for the name Urameshi." Yusuke said and immediately, one of the men in the gym rushes to the office to look up the information.

"OH SHIT!! Urameshi!!I knew that name sounded familiar. He was the rookie boxer rising through the ranks with an impressive 50 wins and 0 Losses, he even had an exhibition match with former featherweights at the time. The only thing that kept him from getting a license was his age, as he'd needed to be seventeen. They used to say that this would be the guy who'd come for your title rain champ." Said the man within the office. He had even pulled out a picture of Yusuke in his youth.

And just like that the gym looks at Yusuke with a whole new light now that extra information had been dumped.

"So what!? A washed up rookie, still wouldn't give you what you came for." Said Daisuke.

"Then screw it..I just wanna knock yer teeth down your throat because I personally believe my client and for what ya did I'm gonna make sure it hurts, unless the undisputed champion is more of an undisputed bitch!" Yusuke didn't know but attacking him in the ego was one way to set Daisuke off and soo-

"You know what!? we'll do two rounds, 3-KO rules." He spoke up and demanded that the gloves were brought for the fighters.

Yusuke turned around and looked at Kurai, he'd place both his arms at her shoulders in a way to comfort her. "I'm sorry for bringing you back at this place, but it's like I told you, they're more afraid of you than you are of them because yer here t' reclaim your life...and them?? They would've avoided you until they're backs were in the grave. So..we've go one down and two more t' go..but don't worry I'm gonna be with you every step of the way. Also..no matter what happens in that ring..believe that I know what I'm doin'." Yusuke spoke to her softly, he'd even give her a gentle smile as he slowly began undressing himself, the jacket was gone, and so was his shirt, which left him shirtless.

The crowd all fell silent once they saw the irezumi on his back, a detective..who's crossed bridges in the underworld. Now they're wondering who this man is.

However, they've both equipped themselves with gloves and the bell had sounded to begin the fight. Yusuke had shown excellent footwork at the beginning but his punches?? Less than ideal, incredibly telegraphed to the point that Daisuke could have avoided them easily and had tossed a few punches at Yusuke which all connect, body and face. and for those two rounds that's what the match had been, Yusuke missing punches and Daisuke connecting each, but Yusuke is showing guts, there was..something admirable about him not touching the math, not staying down.

With a few seconds left in the ring Yusuke seemed to have gotten desperate and went in for a grapple but Daisuke pulls out of it. Yusuke had held on soo tight that he managed to rip the man's shirt from the front.

"Desperate bastard!!!" Daisuke said as he gave Yusuke one last punch that sent him flying and his back touches the math. The referee counted one, two and all the way to ten and Yusuke failed to stand up in time.

"Shit dammit!!!" Yusuke yelled out as he seemed in a rage and tore off his own gloves to throw a cheap shot at Daisuke and that busts his nose open. But Daisuke hits back and it sent Yusuke flying once more.

"GET HIM OUTTA HERE, CAN'T EVEN TAKE A LOSS! And I better not see you or your whore here again or BELIEVE me i'll be pressing charges." The man said as everyone in the gym huddles together to force the two out of the gym, toss out like old rags. Yusuke was on his bareback..his face was incredibly bruised but he made a bloody grin as he held up his fists with traces of Daisuke's blood along with the rest of it that splattered over his chest. "C'mon..let's not look too happy..and get outta here slowly."

UNPROMPTED

----- She bristles at the accusation. This is why she didn't want to be here. She didn't want to hear those same insults be thrown at her again and again. She hoped maybe he would feel some sense of shame now that he had a family. To at least be willing to bury the hatchet but... It's clear he hasn't grown much in the past two decades.

To her surprise Yusuke comes to her defense and lays down a challenge. A fight!? Was he insane?! "Y-yusuke you can't be serious—" But oh indeed he was. And so she had to stand there as with his shirt and jacket in her arms and watch in horror as he fought and ultimately lost.

"Yusuke!" She rushes to his side but quickly the men in the gym surround them and force them both out of the building leaving her to fall on her ass.

Her vision was white hot with rage in tears. "YOU HAVE NO SHAME YOU MONSTER!!! I HOPE YOU GET WHAT YOU DESERVE!!!" She shouts, letting out just a fraction of her repressed anger until she finally catches Yusuke's bloody grin. Just what was he smiling about? He got hurt! And Daisuke maintains denial of the whole thing...

“This is soo much bigger than jus’ me winnin’ a boxing match, besides ya gotta lose a few battles if you wanna win a war. And right now we’ve got what we needed..” Yusuke said as he stood up with her help. His answer alone should have been more than enough for her to know that he lost on purpose. “Besides..we got what we came for and wound up with a little more…I could sme-..see regulars at the gym of his but there were definitely some newcomers too. These days everyone’s carryin’ a phone with them and they’re antsy when it comes down t’ recordin’ videos.” He said as they began walking away from the place, though Yusuke seemed to be directing them towards red pickup truck that seemed to be parked within an empty lot that’s not too far from the gym.

“Someone had to have recorded us…..they had to have gotten what we said..something like this on a star like Daisuke’s gonna ruin him. If we managed t’ prove them right..then whether he’s the father or not he’ll never recover from this. Being the aggressor makes it easier t’ spin the story that I’m makin’ shit up and Daisuke’s really a victim. But now they’re asking another question: Why make something like that up knowing you can’t even overpower the guy? Why risk getting slammed? Believe me I did more damage than he thinks.” Yusuke’s words were soft as they stopped at the pick up only to be greeted by a taller blond male.

“Hello, my is Takashiro Kenjirou. I’m a licensed physician. I heard about Uramesh-san’s request, and i’m here to do my part.” The man had said as Yusuke showed him his knuckles and his chest, where laid traces of Daisuke’s blood. He began to collect the samples immediately before he’d then treat the areas and also cleaned his face. “So, did you get to show off how big and tough you are in front of your client??” Kenji had asked.

"It's because you have a rebellious spirit." A voice spoke out to them, however not a single person could be seen until a mascot-shaped cat exited from the darkness. Just like her, the cat seemed to be wearing some kind of get-up as well.

Before Yusuke could have commented about her name being..literally on the nose he'd had to deal with this feline. A talking one at that. "Ya know if this happened nine years ago..I would've probably freaked out. Ain't every day you see a talking cat." Said Yusuke.

Yueliang had to take a moment to think what he might have meant with wrong time. Then she thought back to Rex Lapis falling and her expression turned solemn a moment.

No one can say that yusuke does not work hard for his yen. This time it had only took him a day to find the three guys who's assaulted her but he remained silent until he could prove without a shadow of a doubt that it's them so he spent the next four days gathering information. Now, before they could go any further he wanted her to confirm that it's them as well.

So after knocking on her door (during the day so the kid can be at school) and being invited in he gently sent her the picture that he's taken from his phone.

Kyota Hoshi: classic case of peaked in high-school. Life had not been necessarily kind to him as he's become nothing more than Aman pumping gas into people's car. "Dude's usually overworked, crappy apartment..worse than mine really..I live in my office." According to the picture it looks like Yusuke had taken it from a side view as he seems to be looking around in the photo.

Sasaki Daisuke: it looks like he's living comfortably, at least on the surface. The picture also included his wife and daughter both sitting at the table. It's important to note the daughter in this photo is significantly younger than Kurai's own. "Office guy, who's also working tall hours, got together with a meek woman, turned her into a house wife and even got a kid with her. From what I can tell the Dude's pretty happy."

Yasui Sosuke: last but not least, this was the hardest picture he could have come by, considering this man was a star. A local Tokyo boxer who's made a name for himself in the world. Holding two belts over his shoulder, making him Tokyos Unified Champion, just two belts shy away from the Undisputed title in Boxing. "Of all of 'em this guy is living it large. He has a luxury home in Osaka but as luck would have it he's staying in Tokyo for a week. If we're gonna confront them then..he's our best bet t' start with. But before we go..I want to do this for you..no extra charge but if you can get me a dna sample of you and your daughter's, then I'll have my guy run it with his after I get it."

UNPROMPTED

She didn't expect him to find them so fast. She was expecting a week maybe even more.... But he arrived at her doorstep a few days later with the proof of the men's identity.

Her face was pale and she was shaking from having to look at these disgusting men, but she managed to nod. "Th-that's them...." Out of the three of them she hoped it was Daisuke... Not because he was the kindest but he was the biggest pushover of the three. Look at those two..... Living their lives as if they did nothing wrong.... At least Hoshi was stuck with a dead end job.

That’s about the reaction he expected from her, after all these were men who had done awful things to her in the past. The larger part of him hates himself for bringing such unsightly memories bubbling back onto the surface..but he wanted justice for her and for her daughter. 

Though when it came down to her DNA. It was inappropriate however- “I’d take a smooch from ya anything.” Maybe it was the way she was soo..petrified over the pictures as what drove him to say that. After all Yusuke tends to fight trauma with a laugh, perverted joke..anything but to actually ‘feel’ it in the moment..at least not right now.

"N-no I'm not married...." She clarifies as she takes a seat and starts pulling out an old year book, a folder, and a picture of a girl. She looked a lot like her but was clearly younger and didn't have the same.... assets as her. "This is my d-daughter.... I'm trying to find her father... t-to press charges."

She carefully opens the yearbook and turns to a page where there was a small group of boys standing together. It was of the schools baseball team. There were circles around three of them. "Kiyota Hoshi..... Yasui Sosuke..... Sasaki Daisuke.... These were the three that assaulted me... I-I want to find out which of them got me pregnant.... And press charges for failing to take responsibility to support me and my daughter." Now that she was up close it was clear how tired and worn down this woman was. There wasn't even shame in her eyes as she exposed such a traumatic event to a stranger.

It looks like he’s just the first step considering she was assaulted by three boys and either one of them could be the father of her daughter..someone who looks close in age to him..huh. There was sympathy in his eyes for her. “A case like this..I’d love t’ jus’ say ya don’t have t’ pay me and I’ll do it for free..but if I did that we’d be hre in the dark with a toilet that couldn’t flush.” He spoke under his breath, but he’ll definitely take the case.

Yusuke then took out his phone and began snapping pictures of her yearbook, or specifically the students in said yearbook. Unfortunately, Japan was far more private than the west soo grabbing their info online was going to prove to be hard..but luckily for him, he has a first-year high schooler who could find a virtual needle in a virtual haystack.