A/N: I read the author's note on Enduring, Waiting which was timestamped 2012 and read "after 8 years, I return to fanfiction writing". Here we are 8 years later: I'm finally writing what I guess could be the spiritual response to Keiko's one-shot. I wonder if I'll write the next portion in 2028? We'll have to see.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters from Yu Yu Hakusho. (Do people still do this?)


"Get your noodles! Tasty noodles!" Yusuke Urameshi, age 21, not currently dead, called out from behind the counter of his little pop-up stand. "Fresh ramen! Come and get it!"

"Yeah, I'll get an order of the miso ramen," said a familiar voice. "If you can give me some time later."

Yusuke grinned. "Of course, Kuwabara. What's up? You need to talk about your hemorrhoids?"

Kazuma Kuwabara frantically looked around to see if anyone overheard. "Come on Urameshi, I don't have hemorrhoids. Stop making things up."

"Sure you don't One miso ramen coming up." The portable kitchen burbled and clanked as noodles boiled gently and Yusuke chopped up some ingredients.

Kuwabara leaned against the counter, awkwardly twiddling his thumbs and rubbing the back of his neck. He shifted his weight between his feet, giving his best impression of a drunken sailor.

"So, uh, how are you things with you and Keiko?"

"Same old, same old," Yusuke attempted to appear super focused on food prep, despite having everything ready to go, trying to hide a slight grimace.

Kuwabara squinted suspiciously. "What did you do this time?"

"I didn't do anything," Yusuke snapped. "I just can't tell what that girl is thinking." He slung the noodle basket, shaking out the water and dropping the noodles into a giant bowl. He grumpily tossed in the soup and remaining ingredients.

"That'll be 500 yen." He plopped the bowl down.

"Hold on, I've got it." Kuwabara fumbled in his blazer pocket. "Ah, here we go!" He pulled out his wallet with great gusto, accidentally knocking something else to h the ground.

"He man, you dropped something," Yusuke pointed at the box, trying to get a better glimpse. "You really shouldn't keep so much stuff in your coat if you're going to lose it all the time."

Kuwabara immediately crouched down to pick it up, cradling the box in his hands. "Phew! That was close. If I lost this, I wouldn't know what I'd do!"

Yusuke grinned. "What? You carry around a pacifier or something? Kind of a weird thing to leave in a box."

"It's not a pacifier you loser." Kuwabaera's voice was subdued, which caused Yusuke to drop his smile.

"What's wrong? Is it important?"

"I'd like a shrimp ramen, " prompted a loud and slightly annoyed voice behind them.

The boys snapped out of it.

"That'll be 500 yen," Yusuke repeated, clearing his throat. Kuwabara struggled to get out the coins, but quickly moved to the side.

Yusuke was busy for a little while, making food for students and office workers coming out for a quick dinner alternative on their way home.

About an hour later, Yusuke leaned on the counter with a sigh. Life as a noodle cart vendor wasn't easy, but it sure beat the alternatives like going to college just to work a 9-to-5 in an office building somewhere.

He started to clean up when he caught a glimpse of Kuwabara in the shadows. "You're still here?"

Kuwabara's eyes bugged out a little. "Did you forget? I said I wanted to talk to you."

"Oh, yeah, that." Yusuke grinned sheepishly. "Sow what's the problem this time?" He rinsed off his prep station. "Does it have anything to do with the weird box?"

The cube in question was delicately placed onto the counter with immense gravity. The lid was cracked open to reveal a twinkling ring with tiny diamonds.

Yusuke looked up at Kuwabara. "Hey man, I'm flattered and all, but I don't swing that way. Plus, what would Yukina and Keiko think?" He took great delight in seeing his friend begin to turn a fun shade of red. "Calm down, dogus I'm joking. It's for Yukina, right?"

Kuwabara calmed down and nodded. "I'm going to ask her to marry me."

"Well congrats and good luck. What did you need to talk about with me?"

"You know who her brother is, right?" He gently closed the ring box with a snap. "As far as I know he's the only her only living relative. I wanted to ask for his blessing or something."

Oh boy. Yusuke tried to sidestep that whole conversation. "Don't you think that's a little old fashioned, asking for his permission before talking it out with her? Personally I think she should be the irsst person who learns about this"

Now Kuwabara looked truly concerned. "You think so? I don't know. I just wanted to have his approval, I guess."

Sensing the momentum building, Yusuke pressed forward. "And you can totally do that later. I'm not saying get eloped or whatever, just talk it over with Yukina and THEN figure out the brother situation."

"You know what? You're right. I'll ask her to marry me. We're both consenting adults after all. Thanks Urameshi!" He sprinted away, a passionate and determined look in his eyes. "Yukina, my snowdrop and love of my life, here I come!"

Yusuke blinked. Wasn't he going to wait? He shrugged, chuckling to himself. Kuwabara was never one to sit still when Yukina was involved. He set about closing down his stand for the night.


Sometime later, he stopped by a quiet neighborhood restaurant, opening the door to a familiar interior, which by all means appeared to be closed.

"Yusuke, is that you?" A call came from behind the kitchen curtains.

"Yes, Mrs. Yukimura," he called in return.

"The usual?"

"If it's not too much trouble, ma'am." He settled down on one of the counter bar stools. Mr. Yukimura came out with some lite appetisers snackers.

"How are you doing these days? Feels like we haven't seen you in forever." He gave a wink.

"If by forever, you mean last night, then sure." Yusuke grinned back.

"I don't know how you stand being around noodles all day and then you come here to eat them for dinner. Even I get sick of noodles sometimes."

"What can I say?" There's just no comparing the stuff I sell and the delicacies that come out of your kitchen"

Mr. Yukimura gave him a cheerful clap on the shoulder. "You certainly know how to flatter an old man."

"You're not that old," Yusuke said, earning him another friendly grasp on the shoulder before Mr. Yukimura disappeared back in the kitchen.

Yusuke sat comfortably in the warmth, at a counter he must have eaten at hundreds of times since he was a kid. Heck, since Keiko went to college and he'd begun eating here almost everyday, his meal count must be into the thousands.

"Have you spoken to Keiko recently?" Mrs. Yukimura came out with a tray set.

"We have a call tonight," Yusuke split his chopsticks and clapped his hands. "Itadakimasu."

"Please give her our regards," Mrs. Yukimura smiled. With an 8-hour time difference, between their work schedules, Keiko's classes and extracurricular activities, the only time they could arrange to speak was extremely late, which Yusuke somehow managed around once a week. When he remembered.

He finished the meal and after thanking both of the Yukimuras again, headed home. Home was a little bachelor's pad he'd managed to secure. The rent wasn't too bad, what with it being in the rougher part of town - not that it bothered him. There wasn't anything in the human realm that he needed to worry about. At least, when it came to his safety.

He unlocked the door, stepping into the darkened space. He flicked on the light, only to have it flash once in a second of brilliance before plunging him into the dark.

He cursed.

Then he remembered he was supposed to buy more light bulbs at the store since he was out.

He cursed again.

Well, not that he needed the light anyway. He strolled into his apartment, solidly tripping on some trash bag he'd left at the entrance that he'd forgotten.

Oh right. He'd overslept and ran out of time as he dashed out of the house. Might as well take care of that now.

One trip to the trash disposal area later, he found himself, sitting in the dark.

Nothing much to do until 2am when Keiko would call.

Love was a funny thing. He'd asked Keiko to wait for him when he went to the demon world and wait she did. A whole tree years. Then they reunited on the day at the beach, where he thought they'd be together forever. But then Keiko had left to study abroad for college through a fancy scholarship. Girl was too smart for her own good and now she was on the other side of the world.

He wasn't lonely. They'd been together for so many tears that being apart wasn't much of a concern. Yes, in the dark, his mind twisted around his heart.

Darn that Kuwabara for picking today to bring up rings, which led to weddings, which led to living together and starting a family…

On one hand, he sometimes itched for his younger days, of being a detective, a fighter, a leader of a demon force. The chance to duke it out in the ring with the stronger the spirit and demon worlds had to offer. But Keiko's face waved in front of him. Keiko wasn't in that world and she meant everything.

He sat on his tatami mats, back against the wall, hand next to the phone, his thoughts his sole company.

Sometime later, the phone rang, jerking him out of a partial dose.

"Hello?" He almost fumbled the lump of plastic.

"Yusuke?" Keiko's voice came through loud and clear. "I'm sorry I'm late."

He glanced at the digital clock glaring across the room. 4am. "What kept you?"

"I have a big presentation tomorrow and my group needed to make some last minute changes."

Yusuke ran his hand down his face, trying to clear away some of his grogginess. "A presentation? What about?"

He didn't care. Not really. But be damned if he was going to sit in silence instead of listening to Keiko's voice. It was a voice that had saved him, that had carried him through some of the toughest fights of his life.

"...suke...Yusuke… Are you there?"

"Yeah, I'm here."

"Are you listening?"

"Do you want the truth?"

"Yusuke. What is the point in asking me if you don't care?" Sometimes I wonder if it is worth doing these calls at all. You're always distracted."

That struck a nerve and a blend of irritation fueled by a deep fear rushed through his veins.

"Did you think that maybe I'm trying my best despite it being four o'clock in the morning? No shit I'm distracted. I'm tired as hell."

"That's exactly my point. There's no reason for you to get exhausted like this."

A jab of doubt swirled in his stomach.

"So you don't want to do calls anymore?" his question came out with more anger than he intended.

"Maybe not. I don't think they're helping either of us. Maybe we need a break."

He knew she meant the calls. He knew that she wasn't talking about them, If he knew that, then why was his heart still pounding?

It was time to break out his safety charm, the one he always busted out when they were on the rocks.

"Marry me, Keiko."

He sigh was weary and exasperated. "I wish you'd stop asking me that whenever you're in a pinch. It's a really annoying habit of yours."

"But it works, doesn't it?" he answered with a cheeky false bravado.

"No, it doesn't." Her tone was curt and colder than he'd faced in a while. He could feel the sinking feeling in his stomach and his chest tighten,, He tried to avoid lashing out in anger; that wouldn't get them anywhere.

He coughed. "Well, I guess I'll say good-bye for now."

The silence stretched between them.

"Goodnight, Keiko."

"Yusuke." Keiko's voice was quiet and a little unsteady, like she was trying to hide quivering emotions. "It's always been you and the answer has always been yes."

His heart thudded and butterflies chased away the dark cloud.

"Good night, Yusuke."

He dropped the phone inside the cradle with a small clatter and closed his eyes with a soft smile. He pulled out his futon and dropped on the soft cotton, where he promptly fell asleep until…

""Urameshi! Urameshi!" there was a pounding on his door. Yusuke rolled over to look at the clock. 7am. He stomped to the door.

"Would you keep it down, Kuwabara? The neighbors are going to complain-"

Kuwabara jumped inside with a giant hug and a crash. "She said yes! Yukina said yes!"

Yusuke was shot up with adrenaline in an instant. "That's amazing man!" He thumped his friend on the back as they both tried to sit up. "I mean, we all knew she would, but that's great that she yes." He ruffled Kuwabara's hair with a noogie. "Have you set a date?"

He was getting a bit swept in the excitement, but he didn't care. It wasn't everyday your best friend got engaged.

"Nah, not yet. It probably won't be for a while. We need to figure out how we're going to get all our friends there, what with some of them in the demon world, spirit world, and the human world."

"Does this mean I have to be the best man?" Yusuke fake frowned. "Sounds like a hassle."

"Of course man. You're going to be there, and Kurama, oh, and I guess Hiei. Not to mention Botan and Koenma…" Kuwabara continued to list various guests they'd need to invite.

A bit of mirth and a sudden mental image popped into his head. He started laughing and couldn't seem to stop.

"What's the matter with you? This is serious stuff, you know."

Yusuke tried to catch his breath. "Oh I don't know. I just can't wait to see Hiei's reaction!"

"Why would Hiei care?" Kuwabara leaned forward.

That was when Yusuke realized his slip-up. He backed away, wincing slightly. "Well, you remember when you were asking about Yukina's brother?"

Kuwabara nodded gravely. "Yeah. What about him?"

Yusuke raised his eyebrows and gestured with his hands to try to convey the connection without actually saying it aloud.

"I don't see…" then Kuwabara's eyes widened. "Oh." He took a deep breath as his eyes bugged out completely.

"WHAT? WHEN WERE YOU GOING TO TELL ME? DO YOU THINK I'M SOME SORT OF IDIOT?"

Yusuke rubbed his temples as the headache started to move in. But he just couldn't stop smiling.