What’s Lost is Found / We Meet Again:

[This took place after Chapter Black.]

Reficul had found Kazuma once again. After all these years, his light was slowly coming back again. It wasn’t as strong as it was when Kazuma was a child, but it shine more prominently than the other humans.

He first appeared to Kazuma as a human, male teenager who looked to be around the same age as the ginger head (aka: his human form and when he still had his long hair). Kazuma really thought nothing of him besides perhaps being another punk trying to take the place that Urameshi had (a goal he once possessed himself), just like the other chumps who tried so effortlessly to achieve. He wasn’t much concerned about him, especially since he had his mind focused upon other things (like studying and Yukina). He literally saw him as just some cocky bastard of a stranger whom he happened to bump elbows with from time to time.

[Unsurprisingly, because of having that wonderfully nice personality of his, Reficul seemed like a total creep and an asshole. Kazuma began to often get into fights and arguments with him, most of which Ref started. Reficul would often call him out, in his own bittersweet rancid way, inciting him as he beleaguered him. Kazuma was perturbed by him. He was always popping up whenever he wasn’t wanted or when he felt like it, simultaneously out of nowhere, teasing and riling him up to no end.  He often said that if it’s a fight the dick wants, he’ll gladly oblige, delivering it right to him, in the face.]

Of course, Reficul, being the nosy and possessive creep that he is, spied and stalked Kazuma like property. Well, he actually was, if you think about it.

Reficul found out in the shortest amount of time as to who exactly Kazuma’s friends were, what he was interested in, and most of all, whom he had his hearts set on. Yes, jealousy definitely arose in this dark prince’s heart. He became easily envious of the turquoise blue haired girl. And it didn’t help that she was an ice maiden, because he knew then that the girl could never fully understand what it’s like to be in a romantic relationship. The girl merely cared for him as a friend, but Kuwabara was too blind to see the truth of this matter. He was too determined to prove his love to her, which not many people approved of. Shizuru was one of them and most certainly the Koorime’s brother. His “older sister” always got onto him, reprimanding him for his blind sighted stupidity.  And the fire demon, he just didn’t like it.

And then one day Kuwabara’s friends left for demon world. Kuwabara wanted to go at first, but his sister talked him into staying. And despite having Yukina around (not to mention focusing on his studying), Kazuma couldn’t help but feel abandoned by his friends and left completely out. Ref could tell he was trying his best to live life as an ordinary human, but was having such great difficulty in doing so, more so in the inside than outside. He had grown to accustomed to the lifestyle of fighting demons and other possibly evildoers. Living a normal life is hard, but he was putting up masks to cover that up. He honestly didn’t want to retired from the crime fighting biz, but felt that he had to.

Reficul also discovered that Kuwabara was gradually regaining all of his powers back, but he also noted that Kazuma was having great difficulty of unlocking them from within. Thanks to those seals. His binds were also the cause of his human DNA being so dominant, causing him to also grow up looking very human in appearance.

Reficul still loved him, though, and was still very much obsessed with him. Unfortunately for Kuwabara, he was also very angry with him, mostly because Kazu-kun was flirting with another person that was not him. He did consider the fact that it was not Kazuma’s fault, since the guy honestly didn’t remember him, but it still didn’t change the matter at hand. Kazuma was his, not the girl’s or anyone else’s (legitimately and rightly in his own mind). Both his heart and his soul belonged to him.

It was Kazuma’s father’s decision to accept Yukina as part of the family, anyway, and it was all thanks to relative of Raizen for help setting it up when he came back from demon world. Kuwabara began to not spend so much time with Yusuke as time went by, instead spent more time with his social friend, Kurama.

Speaking of Kurama, many thought that he was Kazuma’s boyfriend or girlfriend. Kazu-kun never did deny that he was gay, but instead was rather peeved by their assumptions due to the fact that he is loyal to the girl he claimed to love. It didn’t take a real genius to figure out that he was at least bisexual, even his own gang of humans knew that. They were the ones responsible for Ref overhearing about how Kazuma was obsessed over Urameshi for the longest time.

Apparently the man had two loves, one for a demon who’s blood was in dormant and the other was the ice koorime. Of course, Kuwabara picked the lady out of the two, knowing that the other relationship was impossible to ever occur. He couldn’t help but love the rival he learned to respect, they became best friends, but in time those most secret of feelings began to die. Now he only hoped for Yukina to someday return his feelings, but even that situation was appearing to be utterly hopeless. Kuwabara may act like a fool on the outside and appear to not be the sharpest crayon in the box, but in reality he really wasn’t. He was just constantly stuck in the rut of denial, holding firm to the red string of fate that was gradually beginning to fade away.

He was honestly becoming frantic over that issue; despite he could perhaps have anyone due to his boost of popularity as he became older. Kuwabara was naturally a charmer and a flirt, a handsome gentleman with a stylish sense of fashion. He was usually polite and courteous, less otherwise provoked; full of loyalty and devotion, was passionate, flamboyant, a hopeless romantic, honorable and noble, had a good sense of humor (not to mention funny), and a kind and understanding heart. Lots of people liked and admired him, loved to hear what he had to say, and was considered a star amongst the populace (famous in the sense of being a hero), even his enemies respected him (finally). He may be a punk, but he was more like a knight in shining armor. And as he matured into an admirable man, he was becoming a pioneer of sorts as he aged, and sometimes seemed as though he had came from a more imperial bloodline (he was becoming more sophisticated, putting aside some of his old unrefined ways).

His father-figure, though, always told him that “once a punk, always a punk”, reminding him that habits die hard and that one can’t be what they are not no matter how hard they may try. (He wasn’t accusing him for it or anything, especially since he was the same way growing up, and to be perfectly frank he was pretty much into everything himself.) And it was the truth; he was still involved with his punk lifestyle, even though how he was maturing. He was evolving into one of those high classed punks, the very ones who have earned their respect from everyone around them, and not the everyday type you may meet on the streets. He was also now a hard worker and not at all a louse, though he sometimes did kick-back and get lackadaisical in his own free time. He still hung out with his human friends and they would all go to the arcade from time to time and did things together (Kazuma can be as carefree as a butterfly, then be as serious as a guard dog).

[Note: While Kuwabara is considered to be a white and shining knight, Reficul is more like a dark knight.]

Kazuma was really beginning to feel so very alone, even after his friends had came back from demon world. He was beginning to find that they were slowly drifting apart from one another. It was highly understood, his friends were demons, and he was not. He was human and was considered to not understand what it was like to be of their kind, at least that’s how he figured what they felt. They still cared for him, like true friends should. And Kazuma was always there to support them whenever a problem should arise or when he was needed (mostly because he just wanted to be there).

[Even after Yusuke was fired from being Spirit Detective, he still found himself saving the world a few more times.]

Reficul knew about these feelings, having watched him long and close enough to see past the masks the fiery ginger head samurai would wear (Ref was invisible during most of his stalking/spying). He could understand greatly his feeling of loneliness, like having a part of yourself that is missing and you just can’t seem to find it no matter how hard you try to find it. He felt the same way, that emptiness, especially after Kazuma had faded away from his own life, lost in the dark sea of people.

Some more time had passed and the gang (including Keiko) was invited to participate in tournaments held in demon world by the new King of Makai, Enki. The games were for fun, of course. Kazuma’s friends had invited him as well as the others to demon world to tag along, though Kazuma was determined to participate in them himself. It was utter undeniable proof that he could not retire from fighting, and neither could he stay away from that sort of life style.

Despite coming across terrifying strong youkais, not to mention standing in demon world of all places, make no mistake that Kazuma possessed a great fighting spirit. He was filled with great courage and did not actually care who he was facing up against. His determination did not waver and did not dissipate. Ref came to admire him even more for this, especially when he had demonstrated his strong sense of justice and as well having honor, strongly keeping to it.

Kuwabara had caught glimpses of the demon-god from time to time (in his god form), noticing that his red eyes were focused upon him. The ginger head merely shook (not shrug) it off, believing that he may just be assuming things. There was just no way a demon could find any interest in him (his moments of boastfulness is nothing but a front), because demons were interested in the others. They always were.

And for the sake of building up memories to keep with them forever, Kazuma and his teammates (and friends) decided to make a temporary band together. They did so while in demon world, making their own music as well as singing together. Not many people admired Kazuma’s singing, a lot of the demons thought him to be an obnoxious weirdo. Not that Kazuma cared, because he honestly didn’t. He was a very unique and different artist than most, mostly because he didn’t stick with the same music or material.

The song “Friends” was a rather sad song no matter how happy he sounded singing it, he expressed how he felt abandoned, left behind, and always having to wear mask to cover it all up like everything is cool. Not that anyone noticed. He sang several other image songs, too, but one that really caught the eye was the one he called “Disposition of a Man”. Everyone thought it was funny at first to see Kazuma on a horse, of all things, stifling their laughter in the begging of the song as he made a dramatic entrance. Once the song had ended, chaos had erupted, things were burning down and demons were screaming. Kazuma stared for a moment and then laughed; the others angrily reproved him for it afterwards.

[The horse reminded Ref about how Kaguya loved horses. He once introduced her to some demon steeds (from hell itself), as frightening as they were, they were better than the ones in human word (they have six pairs of eyes on their heads and are black).]

Once they returned to human world, however, even though they seemed to be so close at the time before, it was now more apparent than ever that everyone was beginning to split apart from one another. They shared memories, they laughed, but Kazuma knew very well what this sort of thing meant. It was little over half a year when everything happened and Kuwabara found his world crashing down around him.

Yusuke was oddly enough still dating Keiko, who happened to be his acclaimed fiancé (more from her end than his, though). Keiko had decided to take her education further by going to college that was abroad, deciding that America would be the best choice (she had learned the English language while both in middle and high school), despite her father’s pleas of wanting her to stay and just simply take over the family business with her man (her dad is quite the sexist). Yusuke decided to spend most of his time in demon world to pass the time while she was away, closing his noodle stand a few months after she had left. Kurama, incidentally, went back on his word he told Yomi, and went back as well.

And then finally, to Kazuma’s surprise and distress, Hiei came for Yukina. Whether he told her he was her brother or not, Yukina already seemed to know and told Kuwabara the truth. She also told him that they will always be “friends”, which was a major blow to the heart. He informed her that he would wait for her, for eternity if he must, but she told him not to and thanked him (and his family) for everything he had done for her. (Ref was like; “Good riddance! Nice knowing ya, bitch! Don’t let the door hit yeah, where the dog should’ve bit ya! You, too, statured challenged one!” Yes, Ref is such an ass. And he said it while Kazuma’s mind was no longer present. Reficul can be nice/polite when he wants to be, key word are “when he wants to be”.)

Kazuma could do nothing to stop her from leaving, though he wished now that he could go with her. But that was impossible, just like changing her mind and trying to get her to realize his deep romantic feelings for her. He should have known and expected that this would happen, after all, she had told him time and time before that she was looking for her brother (and that’s all she seemed to really talk about). She obviously belonged with him and the others, just like he did not. And to think he wanted to be a doctor or a scientist in hopes to impress her, he even went to that fancy school (and it took a lot of hard work to get into it, too).

From there on, Kuwabara began to mope, even when he didn’t show it on the outside, he was suffering from major heartbreak and rejection from the inside. Those who were closest to him knew this, particularly his cousin (sister) and his uncle (father). Shizuru informed him that love isn’t free, it’s never painless, and having your heart broken at least once is a natural thing. It happens to almost everyone. (She told him after bopping him on the head a few times, trying to literally knock some sense into him.)

[Kazuma knew deep down that she was right, he even quoted two of famous Shakespearean quotes: “Love goes by haps; Some Cupid kills with arrows, some with traps” and “Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind, and therefore is winged Cupid painted blind”. Mr. Hopeless Romantic that he is, he intends not to fall in love so easily ever again. He claimed that Cupid is a beast, a deceiver.]

Nevertheless, Kazuma also couldn’t help but feel disgruntled towards the two people who helped shape his life, particularly because it was their idea to let Yukina stay, which caused him to develop such false hopes.

Kirishima, Okubo, and Sawamura also tried their best to try to cheer him up. Alas, it was hard, almost nearly impossible. Everyone he once knew and had grown close to had left him in the dust. He often took long strolls to help him blow the trauma off. Eventually he became sick of his appearance, particularly his hair if nothing else, which had changed. He was no longer spending the time or the effort to put his orange locks up in that pompadour that he was widely noted for, and neither did he cut it. He just let his hair dangle freely, allowing it to fall wherever it pleased.  He also inevitably changed his attire and did not wear so much white. He started to dress classier, more professional.

Parenthetically, Kazuma still went to school, but decided to transfer his degree in science to law. He saw no reason to try to be something he (in the long term) wasn’t cut out for, so he went into what seemed more logical and better suited his talents and desires. He was the warrior of justice and love after all.

During and before that time, right after the tournament, Kazuma had a genuine face to face confrontation with Reficul finally (not much funny business involved). Apparently he knew his “father” and had become very well acquainted with his family while Kazuma had gone to demon world with the others. Ref had been invited by Kazu’s “father” to play a game of cards (poker night, along with smokes, beer, and chips). The two became more acquainted with one another, particularly on the ginger head’s side of the field.

Though they are still trying to get along with one another, they are on much more friendlier terms.

Then the two even started hanging out, which became more frequent as time went on (they went places, even with Kuwabara’s gang of normal friends, and found out that had a lot in common). It wasn’t even a month before they became good friends, Refical always being the instigator (the one who would always step up) of the things they did and would do. He even showed up late at night and threw things (anything he could get his hand on) at Kazuma’s window to gain his attention, in order to talk him into hanging with him (Kazuma would sometimes yell at him and tell him that he was crazy). Kazuma usually either wanted to go to bed or study, but sooner or later would just give in and go with him anyway.   

[Note: Kazuma is 19 and is not too far from his 20s, which is about half a year after Yukina left. He is surprisingly the youngest of the Rekai Tantei, being that he was born on the 3^rd of December (I found this out on Japanese websites).]

They would go to the arcade (Dance Dance Revolution, Ref was the first person he ever got to play it with), go shopping, go to night clubs (and dance), to the amusement park, drink, party, basically paint the town red, and even just went on strolls or out to eat with each other. Ref can be such a childish bastard that he either tries to scare Kazu, push him in the fountains (usually by lifting him up, spinning him around and then dunking him), chases him around, and even rough house with him.

Eventually, Reficul began to fill the empty spot that once was his best friend’s place in his heart, none other than Urameshi Yusuke. Reficul has yet to take the place of Kazuma’s female love, though, which the poor man still bemoans over. Kazuma still suffers with that void in his heart, tragically haunted by memories. He’s very sensitive. Sometimes Ref teases him for being so thin-skinned (and girly).  

“But it is a first step, a battle won in the war.” That is how the dark prince sees it; nevertheless it is the first battle of more to come, for life for them both is about to take a dramatic turn for them (and for the rest of the world).

Other Interesting Facts: Ref calls Kuwabara pet names, like "Pumpkin" or "Pumpkin Head". He sometimes calls him "Angel Cakes", which really makes Kauzma to turn redder than a tomato and get all flustered about it. Well, honestly, all of the names he calls him does. He calls him "Hero boy" at times and sometimes calls him a woman or makes certain implications that refer to him "being one trapped inside a man's body". He says things like "Nag, nag, nag! You sound like a bitchy woman! ...Only bitchier! Did you take your hormone pills today, sweetheart?" xD Poor Kazuma.