"Are you sure this is a good idea, Genkai?" A woman with long brown hair done in a braid and ice blue eyes asked cautiously. "If you do this, there's no way you'd see him again." Her eyes were full of the suffering she knew her friend to be hiding. One does not simply forget the one they love, even if they had sold their soul to be a demon. Toguro was a fool, but she knew Genkai had loved him. The betrayal even reached her own heart.

"I wish to live in peace. I have no desire to enter any more of these demeaning battles that solve nothing… I want to go home and that's all," Genkai said as her face looked determined and yet her friend could still see the hint of her tears threatening to fall. It had been a long fight, one that there was more lost than gained. Something Genkai had not been as accustomed to. Even though she had been warned. "Akari… I wish to be alone for a while. I need time."

"Of course. If you need anything, please do call on me," Akari answered with a small bow. As she rose, she could no longer sense Genkai nearby. Akari had tried to tell her countless times that this would end badly. But she could not have predicted this much. Even with her abilities to sense things more than the average enlightened soul. Demon blood mingled with a humans did strange things. Turned some into monsters and others… like her, just trying to get by and find their own way like any other mortal.

Akari's chipao dress was form fitting and a deep red with the dress reaching her upper knees. Ivory embroidery made the flowers seem saint like among the blood like color. While Akari was much taller than Genkai, she was considered average by most and rather small in figure. The shorts she wore left little to the imagination but covered the essentials while her shoes were a simple black that matched her shorts. They made her rather desirable but then her fighting skills were rivaled only by her teammates that were now disbanded.

Turning herself in the direction of her own home, she sighed heavily as she transported herself to a small hut north of Tokyo. Near Genkai but enough of a distance where she wouldn't feel intrusive. Sensing the agony though made her look into the distance at the ocean that was just behind the hut. The sunset was a strange hue of indigo tonight, as if the sky itself sensed the tears. The red at the base reminding her of the bloodshed that was spilt. All for what… more dead humans and demons? Walking inside, she decided to forget it and carry on with her training. Meditation being first on her list.

So many decades had passed since that day as Akari opened her eyes and stretched in the most inelegant way possible on her small cot. Long hair frizzled and flowing almost to her knees. Yawning as she sat up and scratched her stomach. A simple night shirt covering her that hardly reached past her rear, she quickly shed it to change into shorts and a button up sleeveless shirt that tied at her navel. The times had changed and she quite enjoyed the new style these days. Plus, she had been contacted by her old friend Genkai. Since that day they had remained out of contact, but despite that she knew there was no ill will. Just time and life happened.

Braiding her hair, it seemed to sort itself after all the brushing she did and glistened healthily again. Years had not touched Akari and she still looked to be in her early twenties despite being quite a few years older… just how much only Genkai knew. Putting on some aviator sunglasses, she covered her blue eyes and teleported to Genkai's estate. More exactly at the bottom of the long set of stairs. The mountain air soothed her and it would give her time to say just what she could think of. But somehow, nothing seemed right.

Reaching the top, she could see her aged friend. Moving the sunglasses to rest on the top of her head, she started tearing up. "Good to see you, old friend."

"Don't start that 'old' crap, Akari. I hear it enough from Yusuke," Genkai said with a scoff as she looked at her friend. "Sorry I didn't contact you sooner, but I figured you should be the first to know. I'm dying."

It hit Akari but then it made sense. Her energy had dwindled greatly since she heard rumors that she gave her powers to this demon child born of humans, Yusuke. But why she would contact her only now was strange. Last she heard Yusuke was in a demon tournament of a different kind. But that was over a year ago now. He hadn't come back to the human world yet, but it was only a matter of time.

"I see. What can I do for you, Genkai?" Akari asked as Genkai motioned her to follow to her home.

"Train Yusuke. He is a rare case of human to demon. I know not many who live that I trust this task to. Given, he is stubborn but he needs someone to continue his training so he does not get led astray. That moron has given me more grey hairs than any child could…"

"And yet you consider him to be your child in a way, do you not?" Akari commented and the following silence confirmed that. "As I thought. And a student of yours that you care for so much shall be taken care of under what knowledge I can give. Funny how everyone thinks your strict. There's a reason I don't have an apprentice."

"I'm aware," Genkai said with a laugh as she led Akari to the kitchen where she started preparing a kettle for tea. "Men would have a difficult training with your certain personality, but I fear I must give my student to you. Just don't make him more stupid."

Laughing loudly, Akari smiled for the first time in a long time from that. "I'll do my best." Talking to Genkai over tea made it seem like no time had ever passed. Just a few weeks or months. They talked about the tournament, training Yusuke, Togoro, and even how Akari had gotten by. Still that small hut near the ocean, still the same old carefree Akari. Still the serious yet strangely humored Genkai. Long into the evening had come before Akari's stomach started to growl.

"Oh, my… looks like it got rather late," Akari said with an embarrassed giggle.

"And you're a demon, honestly," Genkai added with her own laugh. "Such a threatening demon when your stomach starts growling."

"Hey now! That's hardly nice…" Pouting, she set her tea cup down and started to stand. "I'll come by tomorrow and we can continue then."

"I look forward to it. I feel Yusuke will be returning soon and I wish to show you what I mean to leave behind. I have a feeling I won't be lasting much longer though. Old age has finally caught up with me."

"I understand. As much I don't look forward to it, I will listen to your final wishes tomorrow. Until then I wish you a good evening." Saying their good byes seemed harder now than any time before. Although it wasn't final. Soon a final good bye would be said, and that was a strange thing to think about.

Sleeping that night seemed to be impossible. As much as she was hungry she couldn't manage to eat much. The next day seemed to come too fast and with no sleep it was the first time in a long time she had to use her demon energy to stay awake. Human natures helped her stay grounded to that side of herself. But this was a unique day, one she had to be ready for in all forms. Human and demon.

"Well, shall we get started?" Genkai said as Akari made her way up the stairs before the sun was even over the hills and trees. Simply nodding, Akari was brought into the manor and the final arrangements were discussed. "I'm leaving the property to the kids, also to you too I suppose to train Yusuke. Everything pretty much goes to Yusuke. House, my things, my training resources, which is pretty much all I've got." Genkai shrugged as Akari sat across from her. "I only have one thing to give to you. That box over in the corner."

Akari looked over and it was an old chest. Not very large but not small either. Like a jewelry box that a human woman would have. "I'm honored you would think to give me anything."

"Don't open it until you need it. You'll know when."

"As always, full of secrets. I just wonder when Yusuke…" And as she turned her head back, Genkai had a peaceful sleep look about her. Her energy was gone. A tear fell as she approached her old friend. Feeling her wrist for a pulse, she confirmed what her demon senses already knew. "My dear friend, sleep well and may we meet again someday." She could sense two other presences arriving. Explaining herself could come later, but she disappeared for now. Hiei and Kurama moved quickly, that much was for sure. Only meeting Yoko years ago, it was the only way she met Kurama. Hiei was infamous and the stories revolving Yusuke made them all recognizable.

Teleporting before they could sense her as she made her demon aura almost nonexistent, she sighed as she found herself at the beach. The place she first met Genkai all those years ago. That was when the tears came. Every one that she held back from that day many decades ago. The sickening sobs and weakened state made her go to her knees and cover her eyes as the salt water lapped at her knees and retreated. As if comforting her, it continued to remind her that it was constantly there for her to absorb her tears.

"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry." The lament went unheard except for one who was near that she was too filled with her grief to sense.

"She says she knows," Koenma said in his child form. "She also wanted you to know that it was not your fault. That even though she did not speak much after the tournament she could feel your presence. That, to her, was more than enough to continue on and live the life she wanted. Genkai… thanks you for that."

Looking up and listening, she wanted to believe him. She had heard of this Koenma so many times and yet with him talking to her she could scarcely believe it yet. "I couldn't do anything, and now she puts me in charge of this demon… to train a demon. It seems like she is doing anything but thanking me."

"He needs guidance. Yusuke will need more guidance now. Genkai knows you're the only one who could possibly reach out to him and touch his soul in a way he understands. Soon, he'll take over the demon realm and he needs you to help him do it. Admittedly, I'm worried which is why Genkai and I both agreed you'd be the best trainer to get him to be a good leader instead of someone who is lost. He's gotten better, but he needs more."

"So… that was her goal. And yours. To have the demon realm under control which is near impossible as I'm sure you're aware."

"Not control, but to be in the hands of someone who is trustworthy."

"Funny… I find demons to not be so trustworthy beings. Too human like and yet even worse than that."

"You are trustworthy. I think you'll find you're slightly biased, although their reputation hardly helps," he admitted with a sigh. "Just give him time and training. See for yourself the young man Genkai and I would trust to run an 'uncontrollable realm', as you call it."

Then he disappeared. Looking back up to the sky, she noted how she felt a presence now where Genkai's house stood. Three demons and a human… At least one human with exceptional spiritual energy. Perhaps she needed to trust someone, but to trust a demon after what had happened not just once, but time and time again… it was asking too much.