So here it is: the beginning of my next YYH fanfiction! I've been fighting with my muse for the past month or two on this one (she won), and I finally decided to just throw up the first chapter and pray I don't drown on the rest. That's just my standard warning for those who would like to read my work. I tend to have dry periods were it is impossible to write. And for that, I apologize in advance.

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho or any of its characters. I do own the kids though.

Chapter One—One More Year

"Happy Birthday Keiko!" came a chorus of laughing voices as a smiling brunette blew out the candles on top of a vanilla and chocolate birthday cake.

Her eyes were shining with happiness as an arm snaked around her waist and pulled her tightly to her husband. She laughed, playfully pushing at his chest. "Yusuke, let go! I haven't even cut the cake!" One hand came up unconsciously to brush her short locks. She had cut her hair a few years back to give herself a more professional look, but even now she would forget how short her hair was.

Yusuke faked a growl. "Come on Keiko! Just one little birthday kiss. The cake can wait!" A few joking hoots and catcalls came when he kissed a willing Keiko. He glared at them all. "Psh, your jealousy is pathetic. After all, I have the most beautiful girl in the world as my mate!"

Rolling her eyes, Keiko punched him lightly in the side. "That's 'wife' in Japan, Yusuke," she teased, knowing full well that Yusuke used that word unconsciously after those years in Makai. It was one of the more obvious signs. Some of the other signs were...less apparent. But Keiko had experience most of them by now. After all, she had been Mrs. Urameshi Keiko for many years.

They had had a very small wedding, with their parents and close friends in attendance. Even Koenma had gotten out of his office to attend, claiming that he wanted to make sure Yusuke really would get hitched and settle down. It had been a lovely event, even with the sparring matches at the end.

"So tell me Mrs. Urameshi," smiled Shizuru, "How does it feel to be thirty?"

"To tell you the truth...I still feel like I'm fourteen!" Keiko admitted sheepishly, feeling her still soft cheek as Yusuke left her side to pretend to beat up Kuwabara for claiming that he could take on Yusuke any day of the week still. They were all standing around Keiko and Yusuke's backyard. "I can't believe time has gone by so fast..." She trailed off, eyes following her husband.

Kuwabara's older sister seemed to understand what was going through her mind. "It's great that he chose you over Makai. If he didn't, then he wouldn't be worth your time." She smiled with gentle amusement as she lit a cigarette. "Still..." She took a long drag before blowing out the smoke, crossing her arms. "You two look good together."

"So tell me Shizuru, how does it feel to be thirty-three?" chuckled Keiko with some honest curiosity.

"Worse than it did to be thirty-two, but damn better than thirty."

"Huh? Why?"

The still pretty brunette brushed back long locks of hair with her free hand. Hints of silver strands twinkled in the light. She leveled a stare at Keiko. "It's hard to come to terms with the fact that you're aging. That's why I went on that crazy binge." She stuck the cigarette back in her mouth, still looking relaxed. "Stupid of me."

Keiko didn't say anything, but she knew what Shizuru was referring to. Indeed, the memory was still fresh in her mind: they had all celebrated Shizuru's thirtieth birthday. Still pretty, but she had gotten a bit fatter with age and lack of exercise. Not surprising since she was still pursuing her dream of being a beautician, and often didn't have time for anything else. But a few days after the party she disappeared. Kuwabara had gone crazy with worry for his sister, but they hadn't been able to find her. She finally returned after a few weeks, at least two sizes smaller and with three men who wouldn't leave her alone. She never explained exactly what she had been doing, but had kept the weight off and eventually persuaded two of the guys to leave her alone. The other one she still saw on and off.

"Keiko-san," spoke a gentle, masculine voice.

She turned to meet a sharp emerald gaze that softened as he smiled at her. He offered her his arms and she gladly hugged him. "Shuuichi! Or should I call you Kurama?"

He chuckled. "We've gone over this many times. Either one will do in present company." Crow's feet formed around his eyes as he smiled, and Keiko took a good look at his face. Even now, he was still very handsome—what had made him look feminine as a teenager had made him very masculine and beautiful as he got older. For some reason, he had never had a serious girlfriend—something that caused serious speculation among the females in the group of friends.

To many women's chagrin, he had eventually cut off his long hair to a much shorter length. Yusuke had looked at Keiko with a lot of amusement when she brought up the subject, and told her it was probably more professional for Kurama to not have rock-star-type hair.

"I can't believe even Hiei is here," marveled Keiko as she took Kurama's arm when it was offered. The small fire demon rarely showed up at events, usually only arriving to the ones that Kurama initiated—Keiko had a suspicion that the handsome red head was one of the few who could actually persuade Hiei to come. She had learned from Yusuke the truth about Hiei and Yukina. Even if he had tried to hide it, she had been with him for so long that she could recognize any sign of avoidance and would promptly stomp it into nothing. He hadn't stood a chance of keeping their relationship a secret. Still, siblings—it was quite astonishing when she imagined the sweet, polite Yukina next to the much brusquer and angry Hiei.

The topic of their conversation was standing off on the side of the yard, unwilling to converse much with the others. Yukina had wandered over with a very happy Kuwabara to speak to him. Hiei had not changed at all over the years, still as small and deadly as he was when everyone had been in their early teens.

"Indeed." Kurama's face was curiously blank. "He's waiting for what was promised." His words were not directed at Keiko, more of an aside to himself, but she heard them all the same, and glanced with confusion at her friend. What did he mean?

"Ah, Keiko!"

She smiled at the blue-haired girl trotting up to greet them. "Botan! How are you?"

"I'm doing wonderfully! It's always quite busy in Reikai you know!" She took Kurama's other arm, but kept her body turned towards them both to speak to the other woman. Her pink eyes shimmered with a mixture of excitement and delight. "But enough about me; you should go and start opening presents!"

Kurama smiled at each woman on his arm before chuckling. "It seems I've been designated the guide of two lovely women. Shall we?"

As they headed toward the table placed out for presents, Keiko couldn't help but find it amusing that she was having a birthday party. In truth, she didn't care much for parties—but they threw them all the same, more as chances for their group of friends to get together and catch up on recent events. That was enough of a reason to endure party after party.

She smiled at Kurama and Botan, who were chatting with a relaxed manner. Though Kurama had aged just as Keiko had, Botan still looked the way she did when Keiko had first met her. It was astonishing really. In fact...

Doing a quick look around, Keiko noticed a disturbing trend. Those who were fully human had aged with the years, gaining wrinkles and beginning to lose the youthful figures. The demons and spirits had not altered at all. Even Yusuke still looked to be in his teens, even well-muscled as he was.

She felt herself going down a darker path of thought, wondering if those who were human would die much earlier than everyone else. Would...she die before Yusuke even looked older? When Kurama gently propelled her towards the pile of presents, she shook herself out of her musings, unwilling to put a damper on such a wonderful event.

Beginning to open the gifts with only half of her mind on the task, she felt lingering worries. She was thirty now, and had begun to put on a little bit of weight—try as she might to keep it off. There were no white hairs yet, but Shizuru had started showing signs of her age, and she wasn't much older. An image popped up in her head, of a wizened, grayed, old woman standing next to a smiling, youthful Yusuke. She shuddered visibly.

"Keiko, are you all right?"

She glanced up to meet the concerned face of her husband. A smile formed on her face, and she shook her head, bringing up one hand to caress his face as a response. "It's nothing." When he brought up his own hand to cover hers, she felt that wonderful shiver that always went up her spine when they touched. That, if nothing else, eased her worries, and her fingers squeezed his lovingly.

His breath blew warmly into her ear as he leaned next to her. "I've got a gift for you, but I'll give it to you later, okay?"

A smile formed onto her face; she twisted her body to look at him and wrapped both arms around his neck. As if on command, Yusuke lowered his head and their foreheads touched—all other activity seemed to cease around them, and both reveled in the comforting and familiar contact.

After another minute, she reluctantly pulled away to focus her attention on the presents before her, thanking her friends for their thoughtfulness even after all these years of parties and birthdays. That moment with Yusuke had reassured her more than anything else. What was she going on about? In truth, Shizuru was still quite lovely, and those who had aged just looked more mature, not like they were fifty years older than the demons and spirits. She still had a good waistline and Yusuke had always shown his appreciation for that. They were only in their thirties for Kami's sake! Not very old at all. She was honestly touched when Kuwabara came up to her with his present hidden behind his back, and revealed to her a small white kitten with black spots splashed across her back and face.

Scratching the side of his nose with one finger, he looked embarrassed when she kissed him on the cheek. "W-well you know. Found the poor thing in the shelter and thought you might like her. I made sure she had a good temperament and all her shots." He grinned as he shyly, but possessively laid an arm on Yukina's shoulder; she had come up with a larger present that they had kept away. "It's Yukina's and my gift to you guys. We figured we'd get you something together."

Keiko laughed at the particularly bashful expression that crossed Kuwabara's face when Yukina kissed him on his cheek. It was just adorable. Kuwabara had spent years courting Yukina, and she had had very little notice of it—until Genkai had gotten tired of the ridiculous run around and explained it to her one night. It had, at first, bothered Yukina to no end, and she had retired back to Makai for several years.

During that time, Kuwabara had been devastated, and focused even harder on his studies in college rather than think about the beautiful girl who had run away from him. Keiko knew very well that Yusuke had noticed Kuwabara's depression—even if he claimed that he and Kuwabara weren't that close. He spent almost every night either calling Kuwabara up for some banter, or actually driving down to Kuwabara's dorm to visit and have a sparring session. Neither of them ever said how much that time meant to them, but Keiko had seen it in Yusuke's eyes. The unbridled joy at having such a good friend, and being able to fight without worry of injury; it had also sustained Kuwabara in his worse depressions.

Yukina returned, but this time Kuwabara was careful to keep his distance; he was afraid that she would leave again if he got too close. Keiko had to admit, those had been some crazy years when suddenly it was Yukina who was the subtle wooer. She and Yukina had never been close enough to talk about what had changed her mind, but Keiko was dying to know.

Whatever it had been, it had made Kuwabara a very happy man.

Keiko returned her thoughts to the present as she opened the large present Yukina and Kuwabara had placed in front of her, while Yusuke playfully growled at the kitten who was brave enough to growl back to his delight. Inside the wrapping were several large bags of food that would sustain the cat, as well as a variety of toys—some well bitten and clawed.

Kuwabara grinned at her astonished look. "Some of these things are Eikichi's old toys that she got too big for. And don't worry; this kitten's definitely old enough for solids, no need for milk." He glared suspiciously at Yusuke who was now attempting to pet the kitten the wrong way. "Hey, pet her the way the fur lays, not the opposite. Cats hate if you do it wrong. You better not hurt her, Urameshi!"

As if to prove his point, the kitten scratched Yusuke warningly. "Ouch!" was his immediate response, bringing his hand up to suck at the wound. "Thanks a lot, cat," he remarked sarcastically.

Hiding a grin, Keiko took the kitten from him, petting her the correct way. "Hmm...I think I'll name her Yuki." Both Kuwabara and Yukina looked pleased by her choice of name. She held up the small cat to Yusuke. "What do you think Yusuke?"

He shrugged, having no real opinion. "I'd rather name her Biter, but it's whatever you like."

"Well thank you Kuwabara and Yukina! I absolutely adore her."

A hand tapped on her shoulder, and she turned her head slightly to see Kurama with a small present. "I think this may be the last one. It's from both Hiei and me." He smiled his charming smile, which didn't keep Keiko from suspecting that Kurama had probably just attached Hiei's name to the gift for politeness's sake.

She accepted the gift after handing Yuki back to Yusuke who now regarded her with a cautious stare, and carefully opened the wrapping. Inside was a lovely necklace with a small violet stone in the center and tiny diamonds sparkling around it in a spiral shape. "Thank you Kurama," she smiled at him and then looked over at where Hiei was sitting. "Thank you Hiei!"

He didn't dignify her call with a response.

"If you hold the jewel up in the sunlight and turn it like so..."

Several people murmured with astonishment as the stone revealed a small cross of light in the center that twinkled in and out based on how it was held. Keiko was speechless. "It...really is beautiful. Thank you." Kurama had always held the position of choosing the best and most elegant gifts—and this most certainly proved it!

"You didn't spend too much on it did you?"

He shook his head with reassurance. "Oh no, I'm a very good shopper. Don't worry about that." He smiled when she motioned for him to lean down so that she could give him a kiss on the cheek as well.

"Hey, careful Urameshi. She's kissed two other guys besides you today, and who knows who could be next," teased Kuwabara with a grin.

"Yeah, yeah. Hey Yukina, give me a kiss, will you?"

The two men began to fight again, arms waving and kicks flying without hesitation. Any smiles that appeared because of the common spectacle were quickly hidden or suppressed. Though most were amused, Hiei grunted in annoyance, finally standing up from underneath his current tree. 'This is pointless," he thought scathingly, having endured enough of the party for one lifetime. He would never admit to anyone that a small part of him actually enjoyed events like this. It made him feel wanted.

He walked over to where Kurama stood and muttered, "I'll see you later, fox. I've had enough of this."

Kurama nodded, almost unnoticeably, but it was enough of a signal for Hiei who disappeared without another word. They had been partners for long enough to know each other's movements quite well. Even after Kurama had left Japan for years to go to college and grad school overseas in America, they still knew each other well enough that time and distance made no difference in their relationship.

An arm stealthy snaked around his on one side. He glanced over in surprise to see a slightly drunk Botan grinning at him. His other arm was quickly taken by an equally inebriated Shizuru. "Cooome on, Kuuurama! Let's go to a karaoke bar!" Botan said energetically.

Yusuke, hearing that suggestion, smirked at Kuwabara who smirked in response, in acknowledgement of a new challenge. The black-haired man then grabbed Keiko around the waist, keeping her close enough that their bodies touched, all the while holding onto Yumi firmly with his other hand. He hadn't even gotten a beer yet, but he could tell tonight was going to be great. "Yeah, let's party!" he shouted with delight. "To the cars! We're going to go singing!"

"Hold up, Yusuke!" Keiko protested before he could get carried away. "Don't forget, Genkai was willing to babysit all the kids, but I don't think she'd like it if we didn't appear to pick them up in a few hours."

Laughing sheepishly, he grinned at the rest of their friends. "Well, maybe just a few hours at the karaoke place. And then we'll pick up our little lugs."

Everyone was quick to agree to the suggestion, all piling into their own cars after some quick arguments about which karaoke bar they should grace with their presence. The next three hours at the bar was an enjoyable time well spent, before all reluctantly went their own ways, another birthday party finished with a bang. And if Keiko wondered darkly how many more parties they would have together, she quickly stowed the thought for another time, preferring to enjoy her thirtieth birthday party as best she could. Because a girl only turned thirty once in her life.

It was with light hearts and good humor that two cars arrived at the front of Genkai's temple, headlights flaring against the ground in the arriving darkness. Yusuke was the first to get out of the silver minivan, courteously opening Keiko's door before sweeping her off her feet. "Come on Birthday Girl, I'll give you a piggyback ride up the steps!"

She let out a laugh, both arms languidly draping around his neck. "I'm not a child Yusuke. I can walk fine on my own," she said chidingly, though with amusement as he adjusted her so that he was holding onto her legs as she clung onto his back. Kissing the back of his head gently, she rested her head onto his shoulder, trusting him completely. She was grateful that she was not wearing a skirt, but instead had put on a pair of comfy old jeans this morning.

"Come on Kuwabara: me versus you! First one to reach the door of the old hag's temple wins. Hope Yukina hasn't been eating a lot of sweets." Keiko winced inwardly at Yusuke's continual reference to Genkai as a hag. Of course, he never referred to her like that in front of the children, but when he wasn't acting the father, he still used nicknames like that. She smiled against his shoulder, knowing though that it was love and mutual respect that drove him to call Genkai such things.

Kuwabara bristled at the insult and knelt down so Yukina could hop onto his back, which she did so with a giggle. "My love is as light as a feather! There's no way you can beat us—not when we're together."

"Yeah yeah, red string and all that, right?" Yusuke drawled out mockingly as they set themselves ready for the race. "To show I'm an impartial and fair guy, I'll let Yukina do the countdown instead of my mate."

"Ready? Set. Go!"

Both males charged up the stairs with an intensity that was imprinted in their movements and faces. Keiko squinted her eyes closed at the cold and sharp wind that blew her hair back from her face, and glanced over at Yukina. The boys were neck-and-neck as they zoomed up the stairs, often taking four or five at a time. She grinned at Yukina and gave her the roll of the eyes for their men. The small woman's response was to smile indulgently back and whisper something into Kuwabara's ear as he began to lag behind, puffing much harder than the barely-out-of-breath Yusuke.

Whatever she said spurred him on like nothing else could, and Yusuke actually came to a halt to stare in amazement as Kuwabara exploded up the steps and had already reached the designated end, jumping up and down with glee. "Wow. I wonder what Yukina said to him?" Keiko wondered out loud in shock.

Shaking herself out of it, she tapped him on the shoulder. "Looks like we lost, love. We still better get up there though before Genkai gets tired of babysitting."

"All right. Hang on tight!" He picked up the pace, sprinting up the steps with ease until they reached the top.

Kuwabara was grinning openly at his win over his much younger-looking rival, though Yukina still looked relaxed and reserved as if she hadn't just inspired Kuwabara to inhuman speed. Making the peace-sign, he laughed. "Take that Urameshi! I told you I couldn't lose with Yukina by my side!"

Before Yusuke could come back with a retort, the large doors to the inside of the temple swung open behind Kuwabara and Yukina, and soft lights from lamps on the inside permeated the cold night. Shadowed by the light, a small figure stepped forward, arms relaxed behind her back. "It's about time you got here. The children are getting restless." Genkai smirked slightly as Keiko lightly came down from Yusuke's back.

"Mommy! Daddy!" called one voice, and a little girl ran out, clutching the hand of a smaller boy who was rubbing his eye sleepily. "You're here, you're here!" She leaped up and landed in Yusuke's awaiting arms. "We missed you!" Her black pigtails swung around, barely avoiding hitting her father in the face as she hugged him tightly.

The tottering boy happily went to Keiko, hugging onto her leg with a firm grasp. "Mama."

She knelt to hold him close to her, picking him up. "Hello Kane. How are you feeling?"

Big solemn brown eyes stared into hers as he rested one cheek against her shoulder. "Good. Miss you." He slipped quickly into a light doze now that his mother was here to keep him safe. It was a far cry from his older sister though, who was energetically exchanging words with her father, bouncing up and down with unused energy that sent both pigtails flying. Keiko suppressed a smile at the way Yusuke let her wrestle his arms with her whole body.

At the same time, another happy reunion occurred with the Kuwabaras as two energetic children happily made their way to both parents. From their similar movements and facial structures, it could be assumed that they were twins, though their hair colors were quite different. The boy had orange hair like his father with dark red tips that confused most people, since boys rarely dyed their hair at such a young age. Keiko was willingly to bet that his strange hair color came from his demon heritage, though the boy had showed no other signs of being a demon. The girl had dark grayish blue hair—a sign of her status as an ice maiden and she had demonic powers to back that up. Both had reddish brown eyes that seemed to almost glow in the dark.

Originally, many of the friends had been confused by how Yukina and Kuwabara had conceived such different children, in terms of power and hair color. The ice apparition had been happy to explain it, though even now it sounded a bit strange to her.

"Oh, I see what you mean!" Yukina said with some surprise. "I forgot that it is different in the Human World. Well, you see...ice apparitions like myself usually have a child once every hundred years. It is always a girl and it is always conceived without the help of a male."

Keiko was reminded of how Yukina's mother must have betrayed those standards, since Hiei had been born.

"But I..." Yukina trailed off, biting her lower lip and staring down at her clasped hands that were entangled with Kuwabara's. He was remarkably quiet and content, letting Yukina run the conversation completely and Keiko was almost embarrassed to witness the pure love and wonder in his eyes that always shone through whenever he looked at his wife. "I wanted a child with Kazuma. So when I sensed the time was right, I..." A blush formed on both their faces.

Yusuke threw up both hands, waving them crazily. "Whoa, whoa, we get the picture! No need to go on about that particular night!" Keiko shot him a look and he grinned sheepishly back.

"What do you mean: the time was right?" queried Kurama, one hand gripping his chin as he considered her words. Out of all of them, he seemed the most interested in the actual mating habits of ice apparitions and less on the romantic part of it.

"Why, when I knew I could conceive my own child! I wanted it perfectly aligned so that we would have two. Just like me and my brother." The aqua-haired girl looked back down at their hands, eyes unreadable. "I did not want a child to be alone." The unspoken words hung in the air. Like me.

There was an uncomfortable lull in the conversation, but after a few more minutes the group was able to go on to less serious topics, like if Yusuke and Keiko were ever going to have another kid—a question which sent Yusuke after Botan for her cheekiness.

Keiko was brought back from her memories by the squeals of laughter when Kuwabara picked up both twins and swung them around like two airplanes circling. He tossed them up in the air before expertly catching them in his arms. "Come on you two, time for bed. See you guys later!"

They made their way down the stairs, with echoes of the two children complaining together. "We're not sleepy!" "Not sleepy!"

An arm was slung over her shoulder as Yusuke kissed her temple. "Come on Keiko. We better head home also. Michiko actually fell asleep!" Indeed, the small girl was clutching onto Yusuke's cradling arm, oblivious to the world around her. The girl must have worn herself out during the day to actually fall asleep before getting home.

Readjusting Kane in her arms, Keiko turned to look at Genkai. "Thank you so much Genkai-sama for watching over them."

The elderly woman brushed her thanks aside with a hand. "Forget about it. It's always a pleasure for young ones to be running around this temple. It can get lonely for an old woman in this temple." Her smile was gentle, taking away attention from the harsh lines that had long ago settle on her face that normally accented her age. Keiko was surprised to really realize that Genkai was getting on in the years. And that was an alarming thought.

If her smile was a little off, no one commented on it. "Well, thank you all the same. We should be heading home now, but I hope you won't mind if we visit again soon." She promised to herself that they would spend more time with Genkai—why hadn't they noticed her isolation sooner?

As they walked away, Yusuke waved towards the darkened figure of his teacher. "See you soon, old hag!" He blinked at Keiko's irritated look. "What? I always call her that."

"Not in front of the children, Yusuke!" she hissed back, indicating how Kane was stirring in his doze. Keiko couldn't stop the smile from sneaking across her face when Yusuke lightly bumped her hip as an apology.

They didn't say anything else for a long time, not when they arrived home to Yuki who had been playing with her toys, not when they tucked in their children, and not when they lied in bed, curled around each other. And staring deep into each other's eyes, they knew nothing needed to be said. Yusuke gently caressed her cheek with one hand. She grabbed his hand so that he couldn't withdraw it, laying small kisses into his palm.

Even though they didn't need to say anything to feel the connection between them, Yusuke didn't hesitate to whisper the words that had captured her heart so long ago.

"I love you."

Thank you for reading. It'll probably pick up the pace in a few chapters, but I'd like to completely set up the current situation first. If you have a moment, please tell me what you think and if there's anything I should work on. Hope you enjoyed!