This is my basic headcanon for Yusuke's life up until he dies in the series (the first time). It is how Yusuke Urameshi grew up and how he deals with his homosexuality because he has a thick wall between him and his emotions. But why? They are the shields for which he hides his softer self. Because he doesn't know how else to survive in this world. So basic resistance to an aspect to himself that is seen as weak and dealing with his attraction to his first male friend (well, future male friend), Kuwabara.

This first scene relates a little to Yusuke's flashback with Keiko before he fell into the river. Ah, youth~

The first time Yusuke Urameshi had the distinct feeling of being different was when he was 10 years old. He was at the park by himself on a swing. He stood on the wooden seat and swung back and forth while holding onto the plastic coated chains. Yusuke was chubby cheeked, still growing out of adolescence. His hair was still fluffy, black, and it tickled the back of his neck because he needed a haircut. He wore a white sweatshirt and denim shorts. Summer was ending, but it wasn't school time yet. It was late in the day and he was waiting for Keiko and until then, he was bored.

To occupy himself he watched a group of boys playing a pretend game. It looked like tag, or cowboys and Indians. He remembered vaguely that he'd beaten them up the other week for trying to bully him and calling him a demon. It was nothing new to him, but that didn't mean he would take their shit. Through out his decade of life he'd always heard of himself referred to as a demon or the son of a monster for the way he fought. That was fine by him. It made him look tough. People left him alone. The boys that played eyed him wearily sometimes, but since Yusuke didn't advance towards them they could easily forget he was there.

There were a few other kids there at the park, mostly younger kids with their parents. Yusuke mostly ignored them, more interested in the rowdy play of the boys that were at least a couple years older than him. He was always attracted to the fighting and the rough housing. He liked to fight too. He was in the majority of fights at school. He got to prove to everyone that he was better at least in that aspect.

Another boy ran to the group now from outside the park and Yusuke lifted his head with curiosity. The new comer had something tucked under his shirt and he only pulled it out once the other boys were surrounding him. He had pulled out what Yusuke assumed to be a comic book but this comic book was getting a lot of attention.

Curiosity sent Yusuke hopping off the swing and he quietly walked over to get a better look. They didn't notice him so he just peeked between the gaps of boys. What his young eyes saw was a hentai, full of exaggerated tits and blurred out female genitalia. The boys he was around all snickered and were fascinated by the pictures. They all made agreeable comments that it was "cool" and "hot". Yusuke was confused. His nose even wrinkled at the pictures, it didn't settle well in his stomach. Seeing all the drippings coming from the lower area and the soft, squishy-ness of the person did nothing for him.

Just then one of the boys realized he was not part of their little friend circle. He stuttered dumbly for a moment before he jumped away. They remembered the beating he'd dished out last time, even though Yusuke was two years their junior. Yusuke glared at them once he'd been discovered peeking. They bolted so fast that they even dropped their hentai in the grass. Yusuke did not chase, but instead he crouched down, picking the comic book up by it's spine. He looked at the cover and saw it had the picture of a slutty looking woman in a school girl uniform. What did those other boys see in this comic that was so interesting? He wondered. He didn't see anything cool about it. He humphed as he stood and flipped through the pages. It was nothing but women in sex positions. He kept flipping through them, expecting there to be some sort of fight scene that he'd missed that the other boys had seen. But there was nothing like that in this book. How disappointing.

"Yusuke!" Yusuke looked around and saw it was Keiko running towards him. She was in a soft pink dress and her hair in pigtails. Mr. Yukimora was off in the distance watching. "What are you looking at?" She asked innocently and Yusuke held up the book, spread pages for her to see it's pictures. Before he could explain, Keiko's face turned bright red and she became angry. She walloped him across the face and Yusuke blinked, finding his ass on the grass and the comic book face down between his legs. He didn't even remember the 3 seconds it took for Keiko to run back to her dad, crying, "Daddy! Daddy! Yusuke has a dirty book!" She stomped her foot and Mr. Yukimora chuckled awkwardly, patting the girl on the head.

"He's just a growing boy, Keiko. Boys look at that sort of thing." He father replied.

"It's gross! He's a pervert!" She cried and Yusuke stood, leaving the comic on the ground. He didn't understand what he'd done. Normal boys liked these kinds of things? It was full of gross stuff. But girls thought it was gross too? He liked to gross out Keiko, it was funny. He grinned and ran over to his friend, who was still puffy faced and angry.

"Hey Keiko, when are you gonna grow a pair of boobs like that?" Yusuke asked and Keiko turned on him, hand raised to strike. Yusuke laughed and ran away as she gave chase.

"Pervert!" She cried and Mr. Yukimora laughed because of their antics. They were really just children still. They wouldn't know what the big deal was until hormones struck. Ah, blissful youth, when everything was simple.

Of course everything was fun and games until Yusuke fell into the river and caught a cold.

Fact: boys go through puberty around 9 to 14, or I've heard 10 to 15. My sister had wondered if it was too young but it's right in the average range. Besides, Yusuke is 14 when the series began, so he's technically still going through those whirlwind hormones through most of the show. Talk about overload.

I'm trying to keep this as accurate as possible to the show and for growing up in a rough town. I noticed a lot of fun quirks that Yusuke had in the anime and it'll be expanded upon. I've not yet completed this story, but I've gotten enough done to where I feel like posting it. So if anyone has any suggestion or questions, please feel free to comment.

avert .org- Preventing AIDS and HIV and very informative and supportive about homosexuality.