Hakusho: Parenthood

Chapter 14: H stands for Harmony

June 4, 2011

Yusuke Urameshi was never much of the comforting type.

If anything, he was more of a punch+kick+total butt whooping = friendship type of guy.

So when one of the demons he helped get settled in Human World, Jiro Akiyama, announced his presence in his ramen shop sobbing like a madman, followed by a boy who looked about his twins' age, Yusuke could only stare at them in dumbfounded silence. Yusuke awkwardly stared at the crying man and then at his customers whom were openly gawking. That was to be expected. Even in his human form, Mr. Akiyama was an overwhelming albino man with the physique of a professional bodybuilder. An abnormality in Japan. He took a glimpse of the boy sitting next to the giant man. For some reason the kid was wearing a thick wool scarf that covered the entire bottom half of his face despite the hot weather.

The boy's reddish-pink eyes stared back at him through pure white lashes. An albino also. Yusuke's eyes squinted as he peered down the boy's scarf. There were two larger than normal bottom canines poking out of the boy's mouth indicating demon descent, but his energy seemed more human. So he was a half-demon too...Wait...Didn't Jiro always have two little girls? And wasn't his wife a full demon also? Then how...?

Yusuke's brow twitched when Jiro's sobbing fit increased in volume. The tips of his ears grew crimson and he gnashed his teeth together when he noticed that all of his customers were becoming uncomfortable.

"What the hell are you crying about, Akiyama? You're scaring my customers!" Yusuke crossed his arms as he gave the giant a questioning glare. "And who's this?"

Jiro rubbed his eyes with the palms of his hands as he attempted to calm himself down. "I-I screwed up...I r-ruined—*Hic*—everything...N-Not only d-did I ruin my own life, b-but e-e-eeeveryone else's!" He broke down crying once more. This time even louder than before.

Yusuke ran a hand down his face. Would it be wrong of him to deck this guy in front of his customers? He turned to the lanky boy who barely made a sound. "So, uh, what's your name?" Yusuke gently asked, using a tone usually reserved for his kids.

"...Makoto..." The now named Makoto mumbled as he silently drew circles on the counter with one thin finger.

"Good to meet you, Makoto. The name's Yusuke." Yusuke pointed at Jiro. "Do you happen to know why he's acting like an overgrown baby?"

The circle drawing stopped as Makoto raised his head an inch higher. His desolate gaze remained on Yusuke as his lower lip slid upwards to cover his prominent bottom fangs. He resembled a kick puppy. "...It's, uh, 'cause I'm a bastard...and, uh, a freak..." Makoto wrung his hands together as he slouched. "My mom said I was a freak...she doesn't want me anymore......no mom wants me...I'm no good..."

Yusuke's mouth fell open as he stared wide-eyed at the depressed child. He switched his attention to the older albino with a much more serious expression. "Jiro. What the hell is this about? And I swear if you keep crying I will pummel your mammoth ass in front of everyone in this building."

Jiro sniffled as he tried to soothe himself. His tears successfully abated as he stared back at Yusuke with regretful eyes. "Remember when I first visited this world in order to see if it was good enough to settle in? A year before your sons were in their mother's womb? My marriage was rocky at the time. My wife and I would constantly argue, and it was such a mess. When I came to this town I befriended a woman who seemed so nice before and we spent a large amount of time together. Before I knew it our relationship grew intimate."

He jammed his hands into his long wild locks and tugged with a groan of self-disgust. "We had an affair! I never spoke to her again after that night because I felt so damn guilty! But apparently just that one night was enough to get her pregnant! And even more apparent was the fact that she lied about taking a pill to prevent it..." He reached a hand over to Makoto in order to pat his head, but froze and reluctantly brought the hand back when the child sent him a stoic glare. "These few years living in the Human World was leaving a better impact on my marriage, but then the universe finally decided to pay me back for my sins this very morning. That same woman somehow found my address and stood on my doorstep with Makoto here—"