Title: Look After My Cat

Summary: A story of what could have been.

Warnings: Character death, grief, guilt. AU

Extra: This fic assumes that Genkai remains dead, as Yuusuke would beat the crap out of Koenma if he brought back one dead team member and not the other. So they're both dead. And there's no mention of Yukina because although she's incredibly upset over both losses, she's returned to her home of ice and has resumed her search for her brother. If there's interest, I may write that as a side-fic to this one.

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"Dammit. Why couldn't I just get rid of all the crap myself. Why did he have to die?" Yuusuke mumbled with clenched fists at Kuwabara's wake. Koenma had done as the youth had requested, and had organised a wake that was even better than Yuusuke's had been.

Kurama put a hand on his shoulder, but he shrugged it off. He didn't want pity or understanding, why couldn't anyone see that? Sure they won the Tournament, but it wasn't worth it. Losing Genkai had been hard enough, but Kuwabara on top of that made it unbearable.

And it was all. His. Fault.

"Don't be so hard on yourself, Yuusuke." The red-haired youth murmured softly beside him. "Losing him has been hard on all of us, but he accepted his fate. You avenged his death, just as he asked of you. There was nothing else you could have done."

"I could've been better." He said softly.

"We all could say that, Detective." Hiei said from his place beside Kurama. "The fact remains that he is dead. Beating yourself up won't change that. So either get better, or die yourself, because that's what will happen if you live in the past."

Afterwards, Boton and Keiko were spending time helping Shizuru find a new place to live. She couldn't stand seeing her baby brother's room and all his things. Kurama and Yuusuke helped to pack it all up while they were out, and Hiei was nowhere to be seen.

"Typical." Yuusuke grunted as he lifted another box. Kurama only chuckled sadly.

"We all deal with our grief in different ways, Yuusuke." Kurama reminded him. "Hiei and Kuwabara may have clashed often, but never doubt that Hiei respected him in his own way."

Off in a nearby park, Hiei sat on his favourite branch, fingers trailing over the dozing kitten in his lap. He wasn't human, and found their death rituals strange. But, in his own way, Hiei would do his part to remember the honourable human that not only helped rescue his sister, but gave his life to save everyone. He remembered the youth's flippant words as he went to fight the Elder Toguro.

"If I don't make it, look after my cat."