Under the Cherry Blossom Tree
The memories of the past few weeks flashed in Kuwabara's head as his tears streamed down his cheeks and fell on her Yukina's cold, pale face.
Scarlet fever had taken control of her body. Her nose, red and swollen and her face a blushing red and hot to the touch. Kuwabara, at her bed side every hour of every day. The first signs of her fatal disease appeared while walking outside the temple of the late Genkai-shihan. Kuwabara, being nearby, saw her collapse, and immediatly ran to her side. He tenderly cradled her in his arms and every so gently carried her home. He lay her in bed and lay damp pieces of cloth on her forehead because he felt that Yukina was burning up with a very high fever.
He stayed at her bedside all that night not sleeping a wink. In the morning, her bright pink cheeks had now simmered down to a soft peach tint. She started moaning as she awakened from her dreamless sleep. Kuwabara ran over and gripped Yukina's hand tightly in his own. As she awakened she managed to murmur, "Oh, my sweet Kazuma-san."
He blushed with joy and when he heard those sweet words come from the dear Yukina's lips. She was still too weak to talk and much less get out of bed. All of her friends came to visit her, even Hiei, and brought her flowers and candy. Everybody else brought her extra food and wished her a quick recovery. Everyone left quite clueless of what ailments might be causing Yukina's trouble.
As the days wore on, Yukina grew weaker and weaker but, her dear Kazuma-san stayed with her all night and all day long. He cooked her warm meals everyday. Everybody knew that Yukina's days on earth were numbered, but Kuwabara would not accept the truth. He asked Botan to come and try to heal Yukina but their final efforts to try to save Yukina's life were futile.
Now he sat under the cherry blosson tree with Yukina's limp body cradled in his arms. He stayed there, just staring into her souless eyes until dusk. that night he buried her under the cherry tree where she would lie in eternal sleep.
THE END.
