Hiei was, as usual, standing on a tree. The tree was in a forest next to the beach where his sister and the others were playing. He saw when the Keiko girl yelled to the world that she wouldn't wait for Yusuke any longer. He had known, for a while now, that Yusuke was returning to the human world. It thusly came as no surprise to him when Yusuke walked up to Keiko and told her he didn't want her to wait any longer either. Then everyone on the team laughed and played in the water, except Shizuru and Kurama, who weren't in clothes they felt like getting wet.

But they were happy; all of them. Hiei had found a sort of contentment too. If this were a book story now would be the end. Now would be the happily ever after. But, as Hiei knew, life wasn't a fairy tale. History wouldn't stop—time wouldn't stop and let them have happily ever after. Life wasn't like that. Still, Hiei figured his former teammates would live moderately happy lives. They had joyful futures together. He felt a familiar emotion coil up inside his stomach. Bitterness. No. He had no place in their futures. Not even Yukina's. She would be better of without him.

There was no time to say goodbye, he had to go back to Mukuro soon. He had no doubt this would be the last time he saw some of them. He might meet up with Yusuke, maybe Kurama or Yukina at the next demon world tournament, in 2 years. He might not. It didn't matter. It would be better if he just disappeared from their lives. They would be happier that way. Yes, they would be much happier, because he didn't belong with them. He let down the shield for a second. For one brief moment, he let them know he was there. It was the only way he knew how to say goodbye. Then he put his shield up again and left the human world behind him.

--

Kurama was laughing on the beach, sand crunching beneath his feet, when he felt Hiei's aura. He knew that this was his old friend's way of saying goodbye. He suddenly felt slightly lonely. Sure, he had other friends, but Hiei had his own irreplaceable traits. He would miss him, and sadly, Kurama knew that Hiei would be surprised even now, to know that everyone did care about him. He knew that Hiei would doubt that they cared for the rest of his life. And he knew Hiei wouldn't believe it if he told him they did care. It hurt.

'Cheer up, he has Mukuro, she'll make him happy!' said the voice of Yoko in his mind.

'I hope so…' he replied, sounding doubtful. Yoko knew he couldn't convince his other half to cheer up, so he resumed his silence.

--

Yukina sensed the fire apparition from the former team Urameshi put down his aura shield to say goodbye. His aura felt so negative, she wanted to comfort him. But he was gone in an instant and she knew he wouldn't come back to see her anymore. He had always watched over her, she knew because she sometimes spotted him in the trees near wherever she was. She felt cold, suddenly, colder than she had ever felt in living memory. She stopped moving and tried to think why she felt like hell was freezing over. Even when she had been imprisoned by Tarukane, she still felt warmer than this. She had had the hope that her brother might find her. She had had the birds to come and end her loneliness. But then she got humanoid friends, and Hiei had become the person she had thought of as a reluctant older brother.

Now she was more alone than ever before. Ever since she had been freed from her prison, and even on occasion before she had been kidnapped, there had been a warm, fuzzy presence around her; like she was being protected. When Hiei had left just now, the presence had left too. She didn't understand everything, but quite suddenly she knew she would be alone like this for a long time, maybe forever. Because Hiei, and his constant, unknown protection had been the warmth that helped melt the snow around her heart—had helped her make friends with humans as well as animals. She wondered momentarily why Hiei hadn't shown himself when he watched her as a child, or why he had watched her. She knew it was he, for the comforting aura she now understood to be his was the same as the one she felt before Tarukane kidnapped her. Then despair washed over her again. She would never have the chance to ask him. That goodbye had been forever. And he had left before she had a chance to respond.

Yukina fought to hold back her tears.

--

Botan felt herself stiffen but couldn't figure out why. She felt like part of her had left. Sure, it was part of her she could live without, but it was still gone and she didn't know how to feel.

--

Yusuke felt Hiei's aura leave and felt a small, sad smile rise in his heart. So Hiei had said goodbye, huh?

'Good luck, old friend' he thought. He would miss the short demon, but it was better this way. Hiei was with Mukuro. Slowly Hiei's scars would heal, and he could have his happily ever after. Like he had with Keiko.

--

Keiko saw Yusuke stop playing and freeze suddenly. His face closed up and he looked away from her, towards the forest. He didn't seem to see the trees though. He appeared deep in thought. Then he turned and smiled at her reassuringly, love for her written all over his face.

--

Kuwabara felt a familiar aura flash in his mind. The shrimp. Hiei.

'But didn't Kurama say he lived in demon world now? Was I the only one who felt that?'

"Hey, guys did you—" he started to ask, but then he looked around and saw their faces. Yusuke's eyes were glazed over and he seemed stiffer than usual. Kurama's eyes were downcast, and he looked utterly miserable. Yukina was sniffling, trying very hard not to cry. Botan was biting her lip and had a searching look on her face. Keiko looked confused.

"Yeah, we felt it Kuwabara." Yusuke sounded rather sad, for all that he had just been reunited with Keiko after 2 years separation.

"What's wrong? What did you guys feel?" Keiko was slightly upset that she was the only one that didn't know what was happening. It was Shizuru who answered first.

"The gloomy, angry, short—guy from the dark tournament let his aura flash a few seconds ago. It seems to be his way of saying goodbye for along time. Possibly years." No one was quite sure how Shizuru felt about this development. She didn't let her emotions show on her face.

"Or forever," murmured Kurama softly. At his words, Yukina burst into tears. Valuable jewels "thunked" at they hit the soft sand.

"What's wrong Yukina? Don't let that shrimp get to you!" Kuwabara and Hiei had never much liked each other, but they hadn't HATED each other either. Kuwabara couldn't help but be both angry and jealous that Hiei should make his Yukina cry so easily.

"Shut up, Kuwabara," Yusuke's voice was rather dead sounding. Keiko understood how the others felt.

'Like how I felt when Yusuke left for Demon world, and I didn't know if I would ever see him again…"

--

But in the end, they all moved on with their lives, even if they only did so grudgingly. Yukina spent a lot of time alone, and Kurama refused to make new friends. The others felt how one feels when someone in your math class, someone you don't really know, moves away. You don't know how to feel.

Hiei, however, felt pretty good about life. All of them, were in for a surprise….