oh, if only i could see your faces when you discovered this piece of surprise! i totally know that none of you were expecting another chapter to a finished story. i did warn you that this was possible. now that i have your attention i would like to point out that i have gone through every chapter of this adventure and edited it. fixed mistakes and added some extras here and there.. if you find anything that doesn't make sense, please let me know, i want this to be perfection if i can make it so. thank you so much for taking the time to read this, and please don't forget, the adventure continues in The Key.

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A year later and he hadn't moved. It sure didn't feel like a year, felt like it was only yesterday. He barely ate, didn't talk to anyone who bothered coming into her room and trying. He didn't want to talk, he just wanted her back. He didn't even know what they were telling his mother. How was he going to account for being gone for so long? He supposed he would just have to figure it out. Either that, or he would die here. What difference would his life make now? She was gone, the only purpose in his life taken away because he wasn't strong enough.

He had gone over the battle over and over again in his head. The power she emitted, he knew that it came from within himself. She took it, and he would never have an answer as to why she felt it was necessary. Sure, he had his life, could be with his mother, but what she didn't ever consider when she made a decision like this was the true effect it would have on him. He was devastated, would drift through life with no real meaning or purpose. What kind of life was that? Stupid bitch, should think more about other people than herself.

Being angry didn't work either. Deep down, he knew that those thoughts were wrong. He stared at the Dragonite plant, it's leaves still going well despite the other side. The tree had grown so much since they had planted it, and they were wrapping around each other like a lover's embrace. It was something he would never feel again. A tear slid down his face. Koishii...

"You're pathetic," said Hiei, sitting on top of the roof of the temple. Kurama remained unresponsive, "Look at you, sniveling like a child. You're weak, at least she's not here to see that," still, Kurama didn't move, "You can sit there all you want, she's never coming back," nothing. Hiei jumped down, standing in front of where the fox sat, "It's good that she's dead. She never had to see the truth about you. A pathetic and weak loser, couldn't even protect his own mate."

"THAT'S ENOUGH!" screamed Kurama, pinning Hiei against the Dragonite. His green orbs portrayed hatred for this small fire demon. One more word, and he wouldn't hesitate to kill his own friend.

Hiei just smirked, "About time you moved."

"What do you want Hiei?"

"To wake up and think, Kurama! Sitting here and wallowing in your useless sorrow is doing nothing to benefit anyone. You think she would want you to just sit around here?! If she were here-"

"If she were here. But she is not, now leave me in peace," said Kurama, turning his back on Hiei.

"You cannot honour her this way. Go live your useless human life like she would have wanted, like she sacrificed herself for. In the history of Makai never has there been more devotion than the two of you. Even in death, she submits to you. Make her proud, or I'll have to kill you," and Hiei left after those words.

Kurama balled his fists at his side. Hiei was right, that was for sure. The moon was out and he could swear he heard the whisper of his name. He looked up, despite the tears in his eyes. Her face resided in that glow. He wished that he didn't see it, but knew that he always would. He smiled sadly, wiping the tears from his eyes. The mourning would never end, but he was going to do everything in his power to make her proud when they were finally together again. He opened the door to his bedroom, all traces of sorrow from his face gone. He left the temple, returning home to his mother. This life or the next, they would have their eternity.

...

want to find out what happens next? tune into the key! it is the sequel to this story!

and so it ends here :(, but only for now. there will be more kurama and san, oh yes. thank you so much to everyone who was apart of this, to everyone who kept me going. i love you all, and that is why i've decided to continue on with the sequel. please meet me there, and we'll continue the adventure together. until then, i hope you enjoyed part 1

rain0205