Hello everyone. I knows it's been about a month, so here's the last chapter of Every Rose Has Its Thorns. Thanks for waiting patiently for it and for not flaming me! Last time I checked I had about 80 reviews, so I'm grateful for that! (But it doesn't mean I wouldn't like more...) Anyhoo, I hope you like the final chapter!

Disclaimer: I Do Not Own Yu Yu Hakusho. (Boo hoo.)

Every Rose Has Its Thorns

Chapter Seven : Epilogue: As The Snow Falls...

Normal POV

Five years later...

She exhaled, her warm breath creating a cloud in the brisk air. She gazed at the gray sky and held out her hand to catch the small flake snow. It melted and vanished after landing on her warm skin. She snuggled deeper into her scarf which was not doing well against the cold. She blew her steaming Styrofoam cup, checking if it was cool enough for her to drink without burning her tongue.

She noticed another white speck drop from the heavens above, she sighed creating another fog of air. It was only late autumn and already it was snowing. She hadn't recalled it being so cold last year, or the year before that. But it didn't matter how cold it got, she would also sit here, on this day. Why did she freeze her butt off on this day? She really didn't know. All she knew was that today was special. So special, each year she would venture out into the cold and sit on the park bench until late at night.

She checked her scalding coffee once more and deemed it safe to consume. She rose the cup delicately to her lips and tipped it gently until she felt the strong coffee taste entering her mouth. She licked her pink lips for any remnants of the flavor leftover from her tasty beverage. She gazed upward, through the falling snow, at the black silhouette standing a few feet away from her. She felt the cup slip out of her hands, but didn't even acknowledge it falling to the ground. The brown liquid stained the newly powdered ground.

"... Hiei?" The figure was fully visible now, his spikey raven hair and glowing crimson eyes was all she took in.

"Onna." The sound of his voice was something almost foreign to her, so deep and rich, but she never forgot that sweet, melodiuous sound. His planted feet barely crushing the snow, his breath creating small puffs of fog into the air, his captiving eyes that left her breathless...

"... Is it really you? Y-you really came back." She couldn't hide the shock in her voice, nor could she conceal the happiness. All she could do was daintily cover her gaped mouth with her hand. His hard demeanor softened as he gazed into her amethyst orbs.

"Hai."

"What happened? Is Mukuro alright?"

Flashback

"Hiei?"

"Mukuro." He pulled one of the big curtains away, showering light into the poorly lit room. Mukuro winced at the sudden change of lighting. "Lie down onna... You're still not well."

"I'm fine. I need to telll-"

"Not many humans ventured into Makai, but we caught them all like usual. Basically uneventful." He went to the other curtain, speaking of his daily report to her like he had always done before.

"That's good, now I-"

"And we found the rogue demons that planned to sneak into Ningenkai. The master minds have been taken to prison cells." Mukuro's good eye twitched and she glared at the form walking around opening the multiple number of wine colored curtains. Almost annoyed, she tried to continue.

"Great, I-"

"And-"

"Hiei!" He stopped for a moment, shortly glancing back at her over his shoulder.

"Hai?" She growled, but calmly began.

"I'm not really sick. And I haven't been for a year now." Her eye was shut, awaiting for a harsh reply.

"... I know." It snapped back open quickly.

"Nani?" He sighed, he really hated repeating himself.

"I know. Those doctors told me after that check up a year ago. You think I don't know what goes on around here baka onna?" He opened the last curtain and the room was full of bright sunlight. Mukuro stared at him for a few seconds, and finally she smiled.

"No, I never thought that for a second."

"Good." He said and tied the last drape so it would stay in place. Then he looked out the glass window, touching it with one unshielded hand. It was cold, he wondered if it was like that where she was.

"Why didn't you leave a year ago?"

"... I know you'd never keep me here without a good reason." She was shocked, then again, Hiei would always be Hiei. Perhaps that was a bad thing? She laughed at the thought.

"You know me too well Hiei." She finally answered and he scoffed, stuffing his now chilled hands in his pockets.

"Hn. Maybe a bit too well." She chuckled and the room was filled with a small silence.

"So are you just going to stand there?" He glanced at her with a questioning look on his face. "I can't keep you any longer. Go. You're becoming an eyesore." He smirked and undid the hinge on the gigantic window. A wind of cold air blew into the room, changing the temperature dramatically. He placed a foot on the window sill, prepared to leap out. "... Hiei?"

"What?"

"I'm only going to say this once so you'd better be listening... thank you." He was, for once, at lost for words. And quietly, in an almost hushed tone, he replied.

"Hn."

End Flashback

"... Nothing." He shrugged. "As for Mukuro, she's fine." Botan let out a small sigh of relief. "Were you worried?" He cocked a brow and she glared at the smug look on his face.

"About Mukuro, yes. You could have died for all I care." She absently waved her hand at him.

"Hn." She smirked at his response. "What happened here?" He took a breath of clean Ningenkai air for the first time in five years. So pure compared to the polluted atmosphere of Makai.

"Nothing, nothing, Kurama just asked me to marry him (1), that's all." They exchanged wry glances, each pair of enticing eyes searching the other.

"I guess I have to kill Kurama then." He said so aloofly that you'd think he was talking about the weather. Botan narrowed her eyes to give him a skeptical look. After no hint of withdrawl, she asked in a bit of worry.

"You wouldn't really kill him, would you?"

"You wouldn't really marry him, would you?" She couldn't suppress small giggles that slipped out of her lips.

"Maybe."

"Then maybe I have to kill him."

"And why is that?" He grinned egoistically and somewhat proudly, like he had won the Ankoku Bujutsukai single-handedly.

"Because you're mine." To her amazement, there was no sarcasm, nor was there any hint of cruel teasing. That sort of made her blush.

"Are you placing a label on me?"

"Maybe." She felt like smacking him on the head for his impudence.

"I'm not some tub of sweet snow you know."

"I know. You're my onna."

"You're so stubborn."

"You're pretty stubborn yourself."

"Hmph." She gave up. This fire demon was too... could she describe him as jerkish? No? Then he was perhaps too perplexing. Yeah, that was the perfect word. She felt a shiver ran through her body. He raised a brow at her after seeing her body shake a bit. She chuckled at his expression while rubbing her shoulders for warmth. "Was it this cold five years ago?" Botan felt strong arms wrap around her lithe form. Her heart pounded at such closeness to the fire demon and she flushed involuntarily.

"Iie." His breath tickled her ear and she melted into him. After he pulled back, she stared into his eyes, forgetting the cold, out-of-season breezes and the falling snow. He grabbed her chin, pulling her closer. "Botan."

"Hiei." She felt his lips upon hers and she smiled. It was a small chaste kiss, lingering for an intoxicating moment of time. When they pulled back, she took the opportunity to bury her face in his neck. She smelt the same tantalizing scent she had five years ago. They stood like that for a few moments in the numbing chilliness. "Ne, Hiei?"

"Hai?"

"How long are you going to hold me?" She sweat dropped. The wintry temperature becoming more appearent to her. Though she enjoyed his company, but man was she freezing! He didn't answer and she thought maybe he too was noticing the arctic chill.

"... Not long." She only felt him pull her closer. He buried his face in her hair and inhaled deeply. The silky strings danced across his face and the wonderous smell of apple blossoms was all that registered in his mind. She, also lost in his aroma, had almost forgotten to answer, stuttering out a small incoherent response.

"A-and how long is that exactly?"

"... Just forever." Botan couldn't help but smile. She wanted to pull back to see if he was blushing or not, but decided against it. Instead, while trying to steal his warmth, she spoke as passively and sincerely as she could, the smile not yet faded from her features.

"Hai, hai. Forever..."

-Owari-

(1) I'm just telling you, she was joking about Kurama asking to marry her. Ok? Good.

(A/N) Its finally done! Thank you all you beautiful reviews who've read my story! I could have never done it without you guys! I hope you like this epilogue, cause I'm a little embarrassed... Fluff all the way... I just wish I could have made it longer, you know? Please review because it would mean a lot to me!
Special shout outs to BloodeyRose, Mihoshi05, KitsuneKMC, YamiHaruko, DarkHuntress1265, BlueFireIce, Vindiya, Miss Kyoshi, Jessica, Alangriel, Robin Autumn, Girl from the Ashes, Scarlet Amaranth, Red Kitsune Flames, Tsuki Koorime, Ryukotsusei, Caecuslupa, death to the shadow, Reni-Chan, Soxp, kaikira, H/B always, Kate326,Asanisan, heartluv, Crystal Koneko, Thorn Willowfly, YamiHaruko, kahel09, HakushoRurouni, La Editor, Kelsey R Hill, hieifan, Living Dying Light, DudettRin101, soulanubious, XxDyingxCryxX, Silverchild of the winds, Chaoskiller, Hiei's lil Angel, Hiei'sAngel101 , gab, arena, Mr. Bunny-chan-san, and reincarnatedcrazybutterfly.

Really hope I didn't miss anyone! Thanks again and definitely look out for another one of my stories!