Beyond Death
by White Cat

Hi, everyone! *bounces and waves*

Another one ... yes, I know ... *covers hears to block out groans* I can't help it!! When inspiration hits (whether literally or figureatively, it doesn't matter!), it won't let go until I've done *some*thing about it ... please bear with me ... ^.^;

Comments!! Comments are wanted, needed, hunted for! Pleeeeeease? ^.^;

And a special thanks to both Cricket-chan and Slyph-chan ... 'cause if they hadn't caught some (vital) mistakes, this thing would've been a LOT worse! ^.^;

Okay ... onwards! *hides eyes*

--WhiteCat-chan, hyperactive (again) kitty ... My homepage: http://www.oocities.org/SoHo/6315 ~~~~~

Nekochan Press presents ...

Beyond Death

a short piece of fluff from the pen of WhiteCat-chan ~~~~~

I nod, trying to muster up a smile. "Hai, Shuuichi," I tell him, careful to use only his human name - for it is only his human half that has died; the youko, even as the two of us stand there, talking, had reentered the Makai, straight into the arms of the one he loved. Shuuichi sighs heavily, looking back at the body, and the metallic gleam of the golden ring on his fourth finger. Once more, I touch his shoulder, and he startles; when he looks at me, there is an expression of keen grief in his fine features. "Are you okay?" I ask him gently, slipping easily into my role as a comforter, as the guide who eased souls into their final departure.

He gulps, then nods, looking at his hands, the ghost's hands. "I guess so," he murmurs, "but ... but it's strange. I - I have all of Kurama's memories; in a very real way, I *am* Kurama, but I'm not. I - there are parts of me he did not have, and vice versa. But there was one thing we both shared, and that was our love ..." he trails off, his voice wistful, looking towards the open window. I understand immediately; both human and youko sides had fallen for Kurama's beloved Hiei; now that the youko side was content, what was left for the human side? For poor Shuuichi?

He pushes himself off the bed with a lightness of grace that must have come from long years of sharing a body and mind with the fox-spirit and thief. That same rueful smile touches his lips, as he bows to me. "I'm ready to leave, Little Death," he tells me calmly, using the old nickname. I try not to cry; he is my friend, and I will do everything I can to make this easy for him. And anyway, what could be worse than losing the one he loved ... and to himself, too!

I pull my oar from its special pocket, swing my legs over it, gesture for him to do the same. He does so without complaint, wrapping his arms around my waist as we take off, flying through the nighttime sky, cutting easily through the cold air. He remains silent, his cheek against my back, and I feel a dampness back there; I know he is crying, but I also know better than to say anything. I wish I could ease his pain, the loss of no longer having Hiei for himself, but there is nothing I can do.

We arrive at the Reikai offices, and I am surprised when Koenma-sama himself is waiting to greet us. Usually, he waits until the spirit is processed, and is given an 'okay,' if he ever does plan to meet them. But, I suppose, Shuuichi is different; he was one of our best detectives in a long time, alongside his three companions and teammates. And there is someone who stands behind Koenma-sama, shadowed, making it impossible to see his face.

Koenma-sama is in his preferred baby form, flashing his closed-eye grin, chewing happily on the Fukuumen. I say nothing, alighting the oar and allowing Shuuichi to step off. His eyes are clear, though they sparkle with tears that bring out their intense color. He bows low to Koenma-sama, his voice a low murmur as the two of them exchange polite greetings. I stand back, nervous, uncertain of what to do, and try to get a better look at the figure hovering in the shadows behind my boss. He's not very tall, whoever he is; maybe a head shorter than I am. Spiky hair crowns his head, and his slender body is composed in a position of trained relaxation.

Wait a minute ... I blink, lean closer. Yes, that is spiky hair I see, in a distinct style that only one other I know had - has. Shuuichi doesn't notice the figure yet; he is still talking politely with Koenma-sama, the two of them remembering times when Kurama/Shuuichi would do something silly, for the sake of amusement, or something self-sacrificing, for his friends. I pay no heed, inching closer to the darkened figure.

Suddenly, I find myself staring into dark-bright red eyes; I gulp nervously; those are definitely Hiei's eyes that glare at me, full of his usual sullen quietness and guarded nature. I open my mouth, wanting to say something in my shock, but he lifts a slender finger to his mouth in a hushing motion, gesturing for me to remain quiet. I am burning with curiosity; I know that it is not Hiei's time yet, and I can feel his unique presence in the Makai - as well as directly before me. What the hell is going on?

Koenma-sama appears to be enjoying himself, trying to spark Shuuichi's dull attitude up with a few lame jokes. Finally, he stops, chewing furiously on the Fukuumen, opening his eyes wide and eyeing Shuuichi's solemn face. "Come, come!" he insists in that same adorable, squeaky voice of his, "don't feel bad! I was going to wait until later to give you your reward, but I guess we'll just have to do it now." He turns and beckons to the figure who stands in the shadows. "You can come out now, Hiei."

Shuuichi's face goes blank with shock and he stumbles a little; I move quickly to catch his arm, the two of us both staring with open mouths at the slender, familiar, dark figure before us. "Nani?" I whisper in shock, as he breaks away from me to move towards Hiei, reaching faltering fingers up to his face. For a moment, the two just stare at each other, a moment humming with a nervous tension. I hold my breath as finally, Shuuichi's fingertips brush the skin of Hiei's cheek, and blink when the human is graced with the Koorime's half-smile.

"But ... Hiei!" His voice was a hoarse whisper, his face still a blank mask of shock, though it was quickly dissolving into a wary happiness. He looks up sharply, glaring at Koenma-sama. "But what about Kurama?" he demands, and I smile; that was Shuuichi, caring about his other personality, even now.

Koenma only shrugs, smiling happily. "Oh, Hiei's there, too."

"Nani?" he demands, and finally manages to break off his almost worshipful study of Hiei's face. "So this one is a fake?" he asks in a shattered voice, sounding like a lost little boy. "Or is the Hiei with Kurama the double?"

Koenma frowns; obviously, he did not intend his gift to be taken that way. "They're both the genuine thing," he tells us, scooting forward, patting Hiei's knee. The fire demon shoots him a sour glance, before looking back at Kurama, with that same endearing half-smile. "When your human side died, there was a part of Hiei that went with you. He loved both sides of your nature, just as both sides of you loved him. When you, Shuuichi, died, the part that loved you died and followed you. Therefore, this *is* your Hiei - the part that cared for you - the *human* you - above everything else. The part that was Kurama's - *that* part is in the Makai with him right now. You both get to keep your lover." He folds his arms and grins impishly, as if he had achieved something great.

And he has. Shuuichi's face goes even paler, his eyes darkening and dilating in shock. He goes to his knees, wrapping his arms around Hiei's slender waist, staring up into his lover's eyes, then gives a watery smile, settling his head against his beloved's chest, over the heart. Hiei remains stiff for a few seconds, then relents, allowing his hands to comb through the human's thick red hair, smoothing the fiery strands and collecting them into handfuls before releasing them. The half-smile on his face has grown; now it is a full-fledged, gentle smile that graces Shuuichi, and I smile, feeling the prick of tears. The scene is so utterly beautiful, the two of them together - as they *should* be - lost in the other's presence.

Beside me, Koenma-sama clears his throat a little; I turn to see that he is shuffling some papers in his hands. He looks up at me and winks, edging the Fukuumen to one side to talk to me. His voice is low, a mere whisper, in an attempt to not disturb the two lovers. "Arigato, Botan," he tells me. "You couldn't have handled it better."

I respond in kind, my voice low, but still upset. "I didn't know!" I hiss at him. "Why didn't you tell me?!" I glare at him, and he shrinks a little from my gaze, then sighs, shuffling his papers some more.

"I couldn't," he explains. "What's the fun in telling someone before the surprise?"

Before I can respond to that, he stuffs about half of his stack into my hands. "Those are souls waiting for your guidance," he tells me firmly, leaving no room for argument. "You can yell at me about it later. Go!"

I frown, then pull down one eyelid and stick my tongue out at him. I don't blow the raspberry I want to, because the tender scene is still going on between the two of them, and they seem so happy, it would be a crime to disturb them. I pull my oar out from its pocket once more and take off, careful not to lose any of the sheets as I cut easily through the air.

As I fly, I think. It truly was a sweet thing that Koenma-sama had done for Shuuichi; I am happy that Kurama's human side wouldn't be alone throughout eternity. I smile, remembering the silly grin on his face as he watched the two embrace, and shake my head, feeling my own cheerful grin widen, a giggle threatening to escape.

There's hope for that boy yet, I tell myself, even as I perform an intricate back flip over and through a cloud.

There's hope for him yet.

Whee! Haven't felt this nervous about posting a story since the first one! I think I'll go get a popsicle and hide now .. ^.^

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