Yu Yu Hakusho/Heartwarming

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  • Yu Yu Hakusho is a series focused on an emotionally challenged angry boy and generally doesn't lend itself to these, but when they show up, they are especially poignant.
    • Two such moments occur during the Dark Tournament arc. The first (and this troper's favorite) occurs toward the end of Yusuke's final test, absorbing the Spirit Wave Orb. He has spent a long time in absolute agony as this energy integrated itself in his body, and Puu, his spirit beast, has been suffering the same torture. In time Yusuke starts to run out of strength, and gives up, resigning himself to die. Suddenly, he's pulled back by a splash of water on his lips, and he opens his eyes to see Puu flying off again to fetch more water in his wings. Puu is obviously in pain, even as he does this, and as he shuffles back to Yusuke, he trips, spilling the water all over. It only gets worse (or better) when Puu just stands back up, and goes for more.
      • Not moments later, Puu trips again, but this time, a large rock dislodges from the ceiling, threatening to crush and kill Puu. At this Yusuke stands up, and rushes over, blood still bursting out of him. In a particularly heartwrenching cry of "Screw this test! I'm getting us out of here!" he smashes the boulder, saves Puu, and integrates the orb into his body in one swoop. This is also a Crowning Moment of Awesome.
    • Another moment comes some episodes later, during the final showdown with Toguro. Toguro is frustrated with Yusuke's inability to reach his full power, and declares he will kill one of his friends if he doesn't do it on his own. Toguro chooses Kuwabara. Though said death is later subverted, as Toguro and Kuwabara both realized Yusuke only needed to think Kuwabara was dead.
    • And finally, at the end of the series, in the wrap-up episode where we see what everyone has been up to after this all finishes up, all the characters, minus Yusuke, find themselves at the beach, enjoying themselves. Keiko stares out at the waves, and finally declares that she can't wait for Yusuke anymore. Of course, it's at that moment that Yusuke shows up, saying she doesn't have to anymore. Long story short, they kiss. Finally.
    • At the end of the manga, Yusuke is forced to choose between three buttons that'll either a)shut down a cults doom cannon, b)fire it or c)self detonate it, killing him for good as he's already in a spirit form. The cult is obsessed with the number three, and tell him that he'll only guess the right button if he has their god's blessing. After a long think, he chooses the blue button, as it's Keiko's favorite color. As he puts it; "They've got their god, I've got my goddess". When she finds out how he chose, they have a different touching beach moment.
    • There's also the scene where Mitamura reunites with his three students after he's been cured of his terminal illness and they've been released of the mind control they were subjected to when they agreed to become Ichigaki's guinea pigs in order to cure him. What almost became a great tragedy has a happy ending.
    • Mitari/Seaman's Heel Face Turn. Even though he tried to kill him, Kuwabara still saves Mitari's life, which makes him question the Mind Rape induced view of humanity that Sensui subjected him to. In the end, when Kuwabara is kidnapped by Sensui, Mitari begs Kurama and the others to let him help them "if it's not too late". Kurama then extends his hand and tells him that it's never too late to make a new start.
    • There's a example in the manga chapter "Special Day." Hiei goes to talk to Mukuro, and tries to get her to admit her father sexually abused her. Mukuro kind of knows he's right, but her memories have been altered so that she remembers her father as loving and kind, however, so she punches Hiei through the roof. Literally. Undaunted, Hiei goes to visit Kurama, gets another plant like the one that is trapping Toguro-ani, and traps Mukuro's father in it... and pots it, presents it to Mukuro, tied up with a bow, as a freaking birthday present. And wishes her a happy birthday. Obviously, you do not want to be on Hiei's bad side. It's their smiles that make it a CMOH, because otherwise... brrr.
  • Their fight in the anime is exceptionally poignant, especially in the end, where Mukuro wins by stopping the Dragon of the Darkness Flame, and the two share a conversation about breaking away from the past at long last. A weakened Hiei then collapses, Mukuro catches him, and the stern facade that they both have melts away as they embrace. Considering the type of person Hiei is, this is highly noteworthy Character Development. The soft piano music that plays in the background struck this troper hard.
  • Kurama's selfless love for his mother, especially during his last fight in the Three Kings arc. Aside from keeping in touch with her by phoning her from Makai, he undergoes a dilemma which of his lives to give up. With the memory of a sakura tree in their back yard, he manages to defeat Shigure and move on with his life in the human world. Afterwards, Yomi helps him get back to his feet and a two-sentence conversation single-handedly defines Kurama's character arc:

Yomi: Kurama... have you forever forsaken yourself as Youko?

Kurama: Oh no. I never leave anything behind.

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