Dearest Readers,

Today is Monday, July 9th 2012 and to think this story was written my sophmore year of high school, in 2005. How time flies! While I probably should delete this, in all its sappy glory, the fondness I feel for it hasn't waned in the slightest. So instead, I will just edit by fixing the unforgivable grammatical and spelling errors. I feel I should also adress that over the years there have been reviews that ask "why!" or state that they find this short stories main plot inplausible, and rightfully so! The reasons "why" were not given in this story, as it was originally intended to be a prequel to a much more lengthy story that ended up being lost in the workings of my life. Now I find myself having more time to write again and also have much more inspiration. So the sequel is in fact, finally, upcoming!

Until Next Time,

N. M. M.

THE TREE: PARTING / GOODBYES

As I walked through the park I noticed our tree. Do you remember our tree, Yusuke? We planted it when we were in kindergarten and it was about as tall as we were then. Now as I look at its bare branches weighed down with the falling snow, I can't help but remember everything. As if my memories are all stored in this solemn looking tree... our meeting, the games we played around its base, meeting Kuwabara and you beating him up. Your death and miraculous comeback. Koenma, Hiei, Kurama, and Botan. Yukina and Shizuru. Our first kiss…and our last goodbye.

I remember you led me here, holding my hand reassuringly in your strong grasp. As we reached the trunk you pulled me into your arms and rested your cheek upon my head, crushing me against your chest in a warm embrace and blocking out the harsh bite of the new winters wind. Slowly you pulled back and looked down at me with tears in your brown eyes…it...it scared me. Why were you looking at me like that? Why did your eyes hold such an empty lost look?

Tentatively, I reached up my hand and cupped your cheek and you nuzzled my palm in response, causing your tears to trail over my hand and down my arm before finally coming to rest on the frozen ground. Then leaning down you kissed my lips with such sorrow that it made it sweet, and after lingering there for a few minutes you whispered in my ear;

"Goodbye, Keiko."

Then you turned and walked away.

You walked away and didn't look back, leaving me standing there shaken and confused. After all you were just going on another mission. You would be back in no time…wouldn't you? Why then did this 'goodbye' feel so final? Why did it feel as if you were saying 'goodbye' for the absolute last time?

Realization hit me and I sank to my knee in the snow.

You were gone.

Forever.