Chapter 24

Here it goes...

Disclaimer: I do not own...Yu Yu Hakusho...

"Is there really a way to bring her back?" Botan asked anxiously. "We do owe her don't we?" Koenma stated smiling up at her. She simply shrieked and hugged him.

"Okay Botan...now...I want to surprise the others...so keep this a secret..." He stated as Botan nodded.

"Do you expect me to go back sir?" She asked tilting her head to one side. "Please...make sure they do nothing to her body..." He whispered.

A knocking was heard at the door interrupting the two. "Please come in!" Koenma beckoned. He entered and smiled at the young lord, a woman floating next to him.

"She has arrived sir..."

Koenma looked up at Keiko and watched her invisible tears fall from her small face. "Thank you..."

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Kira sat there staring at her mother's body blankly. Quickly she turned and ran to a corner of the destroyed room. Hurling could be heard, with her sobs.

"Kira..." Ing sadly stated running towards her. "Are you okay?" He asked placing a hand on her back.

Kira never looked up at him from her crouched position. She only shook her head as more slush threatened to burst out of her mouth. "She can't..." She whispered taking a deep breath.

Ing rubbed his hand in circles on her back hoping to soothe the pain that burdened the young girl.

Hiei looked at her daughter and then at the strange boy. He sighed and turned his gaze to his beloved that lay still on the ground. "I couldn't save her..." He whispered.

Her eyes lay closed never revealing their beautiful sparkle, the smile that was always placed on her face was gone, and the rosiness of her cheeks were pale. He closed his eyes hoping that his tears would not spill. Not until he could mourn alone. 'Alone...I never thought I would be alone again...' He thought sitting next to Keiko's lifeless form. "Keiko...please...come back..." He whispered grasping her hand.

He gasped at the coldness of her skin and simple placed her hand back on the ground. Her warmth was not there to comfort him anymore. He wasn't going to hear her sweet laugh again, or see her smile, which brightened his day. Her voice would never reach his ears and soothe his anger. She was gone...and she was never coming back.

Frustrated the fire demon punched the ground, cursing the Gods for his lost. "I was meant to be alone wasn't I?" He shouted.

"Hiei, please remember that you are not alone..." Kurama spoke walking back in. "Hn..."

"You still have your daughter. Someone that will always resemble Keiko...she will be the one to help you get through this." The fox continued placing a hand on Hiei's shoulder.

Hiei made no move and only stared at the ground.

Kurama slowly removed his hand after hearing the bubbly grim reaper arrive. "Botan? Why have you returned?" He asked.

"I am here to pay my respects to my friend..." She whispered walking over to Keiko's body.

Yusuke soon entered the room sadness in his features. "We should leave now, and make sure that Keiko has a beautiful funeral. I don't want her body to rot in this hell hole..." He mumbled.

"No!" Botan shouted stepping in front of her dead friend.

"What?" Hiei asked looking up at her. "Do you want her to rot you bimbo?" He shouted ferociously.

"Of course not, it's just that...no! We will not take her body anywhere...I still have to pay my respects!" She shouted falling to her knees. She picked Keiko's limp form up into a gentle hug.

"We cannot move her from here..." Botan whispered looking at the others.

"Woman! Are you crazy! I will not have my wife rot in this place. I am taking her!" Hiei shouted pushing Botan out of the way.

"Hiei!" Kurama scolded.

"You can't! Don't touch her!" Botan shouted swinging her oar to his head. Hiei fell to the side with a thump raising his hand to his pulsing skull. "You little...!"

"That's enough father!" Kira shouted running towards them.

"Kira?"

"Please listen to Botan. I think that we should wait a little longer. I want to be with mama, for a little longer...I want to be with her father! I want her here!" Kira shouted as Hiei grasped his daughter in his arms. "I didn't want her to leave...I want to see her smile at me again...to sing me to sleep...to scold me when I do something bad. I want her alive again...just so I can see her smile...just for her smile..." Kira cried.

The group looked at the two sadly.

"Botan, what is Koenma's reason to stay here for a while longer?" Kurama asked startling the ferry girl. "Um...how did..."

"I am quite smart dear Botan..."

She only sighed and looked at the rubble that cluttered the floor. "That is a surprise..." Botan smiled.

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"Keiko you should be lucky that I am doing this for you..." Koenma whispered looking through her files. "Thank you so much!" She whispered again for the 10th consecutive time.

"Yes Keiko, I've heard you already..." Koenma sighed.

Keiko sucked in a deep breath and then smiled stupidly, knowing that breathing wasn't a priority anymore. "How long will this take?" She asked looking at the baby.

"It shouldn't take that long...you should be back in your body in an hour..." He smiled.

"Wow that fast. It took Yusuke longer didn't it?"

"Much longer. But this is a special case...you saved the world..."

Keiko gasped and pointed a finger to herself. "Me...but Yusuke saved the world several times..."

"Lets just say that I like you better..." He laughed.

Keiko smiled at him and looked around the room to waste time.

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"How long are we going to stay here...?" Kuwabara stated looking at Keiko sadly. "At least another hour!" Botan shouted.

"We can't wait that long!" Ing finally spoke. "It's disrespect to just leave a body out here..."

"He's right Botan..." Yusuke stated looking at her dangerously.

Botan clapped her fingers together trying to come up with a diversion to pass the time. "Um...oh...um..." She stuttered.

"We need to stay here for a while, to make sure that the demons around here leave and calm down..." Kurama informed.

"That makes since, but..."

"Yusuke we shall stay...no but's about it..." Kurama glared looking up.

30 minutes later

"Koenma is it almost ready?" Keiko asked. "Be patient Keiko, it is hard to acquire your power?" He explained.

"My power? What are you talking about?"

She glided towards the desk and stared at the baby, waiting for an explanation. He gulped at her stare and sighed in defeat.

"Keiko we will be using your power to bring you back to life. We will rewind time, but only for you, to the most recent point where you were alive. So when you awake your powers will not be with you. I'm sorry..." He finished fidgeting through more papers.

Keiko only shook her head and grinned. "Koenma I really don't care about my power, without them I probably won't have to deal with stuff like this anymore..." She laughed.

Koenma smiled as her laughter echoed through the room.

"Keiko you are very spirited..." He complimented.

"Well Koenma as you can see, I am dead. Therefore I am but a mere spirit..." She remarked.

Koenma chuckled at her statement and returned to his papers.

"I am glad that you are taking this without regret. It's makes my job much easier..."

Keiko frowned at his sentence and looked up to the ceiling.

"But my powers were the reason I met...Hiei..." She sighed.

"But you shall be back in his arms again, remember...your powers will be the reason you go back to him as well..."

Her eyes went wide for a second at the reality of his sentence. "You are very true..."

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"Fox! You cannot be serious! I will not leave my wife in a place like this! We shall just kill the blasted demons!" Hiei shouted frustrated with everyone already. 'I have just lost my wife! My love! And these idiots are keeping me from putting her to rest! They do not know what I am going through!' Hiei thought shutting his eyes tightly.

He felt a slight tug to his hand as he opened his eyes to see his daughter frowning. "Father, please...respect their wishes..." She whispered.

"Child don't tell me you are agreeing with this! This is wrong! I am going to take her now!"

Botan quickly appeared before him, her arms spread out wide.

"You shall not take another step...20 more minutes..." She stated through gritted teeth. ' This would be a lot easier if I could just tell them what is going on...' She sighed at her silly thought.

Hiei's eye began to twitch at everyone's tendency to piss him off. "Step away...or I will kill you..." He threatened resting his hand on his sword.

Botan stared at him warily and gulped. Her eyes darted to Kurama for help knowing that he understood.

"Hiei you are being crude..."

"Crude? My wife has just died! And this twit won't let me take her home, so she can get her parents respect, and a peaceful burial!" He shouted placing the sword to Botan's chin.

"Come on Hiei. I am doing this for a reason..." Botan smiled sheepishly. Sweat dripped down her skin making her even more nervous.

"Hiei stop!" Kurama ordered pulling him back. Botan sighed in relief at his action and fell to the ground. "Thank you..."

"As much as I hate saying this..." Kuwabara interrupted. "The shrim-...Hiei...is right!"

Yusuke looked at him dumbfounded at his sentence, but only gained his composure and nodded agreeing with the orange haired teen. "I'm sorry Kurama but carrot top is right..." Yusuke spoke.

"We shall respect Botan's wish!" Kira shouted stepping towards Botan.

"Look I may be like your uncle and all Kira. But shut up!" Yusuke shouted. Kira glared at him as Kurama placed a hand on her small head.

"This is no time for arguing..." Kurama spoked.

Unfortunately he was never heard as the group began bickering over the predicament. He sighed as he watched the unwanted sight before him.

Ing only sat and watched the group with awe. "Um Kurama...sir...are they always like this?"

"I'm afraid so..."

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"Keiko. It's time..." Koenma spoke. "What am I supposed to do?" She asked already nervous of her comeback. He grinned at her expression and only explained. "Just stand near your body, and leave the rest to us. Now go!"

"Yes sir..." She bowed. She looked up at him tears visible in her eyes. "And Koenma?"

"Yes..."

"Thank you...for everything..." She whispered flying off.

"Any time Keiko..."

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Ing watched stupidly at the argument which had already taken away the twenty minutes Botan had asked for. Yet noone seemed to notice the pass of time. He sighed and looked at Keiko who's hand twitched. He smiled and turned back to the team only to look at the dead woman again with surprise.

She smiled at him still laying down and made a small wave.

"Um sir...Hiei..." He spoke tapping him on the shoulder.

"Not now boy! I'm busy...!" Hiei stated arguing with the grim reaper.

"Kira?" He then stated walking over to her.

"Ing can't you see that we're in the middle of something!" She scolded.

He only frowned and walked over to Keiko. He kneeled down besides her and smiled. "It is nice to see you back ma'am. But it's amazing, how did it happen?" He asked.

"That is my little secret Ing..." She whispered. "I'm glad that your back..." He smiled tears prickling his eyes.

"Why do you cry? You hardly even know me?" Keiko asked wiping his tears.

"I...just couldn't stand another death because I couldn't help..." He whispered. Keiko only hugged the boy and patted his back.

"My dear boy...you saved my daughter and I thank you for that..." She soothed.

Ing stayed in her arms shocked at the warmth she gave away. He had never been hugged like this before, only by his mother. "You remind me of my mother..." He blurted.

"Oh do I?" She asked glaring at the group that was making ruckus. "Yes. Your hugs are very enjoyable..."

"Anytime you want a hug, just ask my dear boy. Now look at them...they don't even know that I am back..." She grumbled trying to stand.

"Ing be a dear and help me up..."

"Of course..." Ing stated. He placed one of her arms over his shoulder and helped her stand.

"Ing who are you talking to?" Kira asked looking at the boy. She gasped at what met her eyes. "Mother!" She shouted drawing everyone's attention.

"Mother...MOTHER!" She cried running towards Keiko with all her might. She flung herself into Keiko's arms knocking her mother and Ing down to the ground.

"Kira...oh...my daughter..." Keiko spoke tears streaming down her face.

"I thought you left us forever mother! I thought that you were never going to come back. I would have died just to be with you!" She shrieked in between sobs. She hugged her mother closely, hoping that this was not a dream, hoping that her mother would not just disappear.

"Ing why didn't you tell us?" She snapped at the boy.

Ing glared at her and stood up. "I was trying to, but you all wouldn't listen so I went to help her..."

Kira looked at him with a frown. "I'm sorry..." She whispered letting go of her mother. "Mother...father wants to see you..." Kira smiled running to Ing.

"Oh you do?" Keiko asked looking at Hiei. He looked at her with his crimson eyes. She blushed feeling his gaze burn into her. In a second she was in his arms, tight in an embrace.

"Never...ever...scare me like that..." He mumbled.

"Of course not."

"You left me alone Keiko. And I felt like I did before I met you. I never want to feel that feeling again. You promised yourself to me, when we got married and you shall stay with me forever..." He whispered into her ear.

Keiko smiled at his statement and cried silent tears. He felt the wetness of her tears on his cloak and looked at her face. "Keiko?"

"I love you...and you will always be mine..." She spoke placing her soft lips onto his. He replied by hugging her tighter and kissing her back more passionately.

"Um...not to be a bother or anything. But I would like to see my friend..." Botan stated tapping Hiei on the shoulder. Hiei only growled letting Keiko go.

"Oh KEIKO!" Botan shouted hugging her.

The others soon reached Keiko hugging her and saying how happy they were to see her back. Hiei looked away and smiled taking a sigh of relief.

"Father?" Kira asked walking towards him with Ing right besides her.

"Yes?"

"She scared you didn't she. She scared you to death?" She whispered clasping Ing's hand for support.

"Yes...she did..."

"And you blamed yourself for her death, didn't you sir?" Ing asked looking up at him.

Hiei looked at the boy and only smirked.

"I guess we are alike." Hiei mumbled placing a hand on Ing's shoulder. "Thank you for taking care of my daughter..."

"No problem, sir..."

Hiei tensed when he felt someone hug him from behind, but only melted into her arms after realizing who it was.

"Hiei...let's go home..." She yawned.

He only smiled at her and swooped her into his arms. "Kira let's go...!"

"And Ing...can he-"

"He can come my dear. I believe we have room at the house..." Keiko informed looking at Hiei.

Hiei looked at her as if she was crazy.

"That boy, in the same house with my daughter..." He whispered to her.

"Hiei...please, the boy needs a home. We owe him..."

He only shrugged in defeat and walked home, followed by the others.

3 weeks later

"Dinner's ready!" Keiko called as the three were seated. "Okay, here you go Kira, Ing, and Hiei..." She stated kissing Hiei on the cheek. He only smiled.

"Are you sure you should be cooking Keiko. I mean you've been..."

"Hiei, it's been three weeks..." She interrupted. "I'm fine don't worry about it. I mean who's going to cook, you?" She laughed sitting down.

"Eww...no dad. Let her cook..." Kira spoke stuffing her face with a chicken leg.

Ing stayed quiet enjoying his food and the conversation that was taking place with his new family.

"There is nothing wrong with my cooking. Ask the boy, I cooked for him last time. When we were out training..." Ing choked on his soda as all eyes were focused on him.

To get out of answering the question he stuffed his mouth with spoonful of mash potatoes.

The two girls looked at Hiei and only smirked. "Stupid boy..." He whispered.

They soon finished their dinner and began to get ready for bed.

Keiko walked into Ing's room and smiled as he lay to sleep. "Keiko?"

"Yes?" She stated looking down at him. "Thank you for everything that you are doing for me..."

"Ing don't worry about any of this. I am happy to do this...especially for you..." She smiled.

"May I ask for a hug?" He asked blushing slightly.

Keiko only laughed lightly at him and hugged him tightly.

"Thank you..." He whispered again.

Hiei watched Keiko walk out of Ing's room and shut the door. "I have to say that boy has grown on me..." Hiei sighed walking towards her.

"He has, hasn't he?"

He only nodded and walked with her towards their daughter's room.

Kira lay still sleeping hugging her stuffed rabbit closer.

"That makes her look weak..." He huffed staring at the stuffed doll.

"Hiei she is a young girl..." Keiko sighed tucking Kira in and placing a kiss on her forehead.

"I know but she is my daughter..." He stated doing the same.

"Your daughter or not...she is keeping that rabbit..." She smiled hugging him tightly.

They were soon in their room preparing for bed themselves. Keiko walked towards the balcony they had and stepped outside. The nightly cold hit her sending goose bumps down her bare arms. Her nightgown really didn't give off that much warmth. She hugged herself as she stared at the moon.

"What are you doing out here?" Hiei asked walking behind her.

He placed his arms around her small waist and rested his head on her shoulder.

"Hiei?" She asked in a hush whisper.

"What is it?"

"Will we be together for eternity. We will won't we?" She asked surprising him.

He only chuckled sending chills down her back.

"Keiko of course we will...I will always be with you forever. Destiny has brought us together and we shall stay together. Because if we don't, destiny will surely be angry at us..." He stated.

"Huh?"

"We shall always be on each other's side. No matter what life throws at us..."

She smiled warmly and placed her hand on his face, caressing his cheek softly.

"How surprising. I bet nobody expected for us to be together..." She laughed.

"But I like surprises..." He whispered turning her around. He kissed her lightly on the lips as she smiled at him.

"Together forever?" She asked.

"Well you were the time sorceress shouldn't you know?" He asked bringing her close. He pressed another soft kiss on her lips and slowly pulled away. He then looked down at her as she stared at him lovingly.

"Yeah...together forever...sounds about right..."

A/N: THE END!

AW MAN! Tell me if it was good! I tried to make it the longest chapter for you all! To apologize for never updating! I hoped you liked it! Please review...

I hope I did good... .