Ayumi

"Bye Mom, I'm going to school!"  Ayumi called as she closed the door behind her.  (Ayumi Urameshi, age 15, daughter of Yusuke and Keiko Urameshi.).  Ayumi looked in front of her to see Kurama,

"Good Morning Kurama"

"Good Morning ms. Urameshi, how are you doing this morning?"

"Good thank you, and you?"

"Very good" Kurama said gently, "Oh…today is Valentines Day isn't it?"  Kurama said smiling.

Ayumi nodded, "Yes…" Ayumi blushed a little and turned her head.  Kurama nodded, "Let me guess who it is…is it…."  Ayumi slapped her hand over Kuramas mouth as Hiei glared at them, "Hn"  He said nothing else and walked on.  Ayumi felt Kuramas hand on her shoulder and gently he whispered in her ear, "He'll be at spirit world until 12:00, drop it off at his house and head off to school" Kurama pulled away from Ayumi and gave her a wink.  Ayumi blushed and her black hair fell to her shoulders.  She nodded looked up at the trees in the small forest where she was.  Spring would soon be here and today was the day.  Ayumi gripped a corner of her pack and walked deeper into the woods to Hiei's house.

            Sakura put her wet rags over the heater and sighed; "I hate cleaning the toilet" Sakura went to her room and changed into her school uniform.  She straightened her hair and smelled smoke.  A bolt of shock ran through her spine, "Oh No, I left the wet rags over the heater, they'll catch on fire!"  Sakura raced into the kitchen and saw the kitchen was in flames.  Sakura screamed and pulled the fire extinguisher out of the wall and sprayed it into the fire, it grew and Sakura ran to the phone, yanking it out of the wall, cord and all.  Sakura cursed under her breath and ran into her parents room and used the cordless-"Fire Department, there's a fire here, at 176 Oak Lane, house 154, hurry!"  Sakura didn't both to put the phone back on the hook.  She raced into the safe and got a bag from the closet and stuffed papers and money into the bag then raced from room to room gathering things no one could replace and as she finished heard a yell from outside, "Sakura!" 

Sakura peered outside and saw Ayumi running in.  Sakura grabbed the bag and raced into the living room where Ayumi was.  Ayumi grabbed her arm and drug her to the door.  Sakura was breathing heavily; he had taken in too much smoke.  Suddenly wood splintered above them and Ayumi gasped and threw Sakura out onto the lawn.  Stunned and confused Sakura blacked out, but not before seeing Ayumi get crushed under a pile of ceiling and fire.

            Ayumi slowly opened her eyes, "My head…" Ayumi peered below her and lost her balance and began to fall to the ground, but managed to levitate back up.  "Just perfect, I'm dead, where's Botan then?"  Ayumi said remembering the countless times her father had told her the story of how he had died.  She rolled her eyes at the thought and heard a ding-dong.  Looking up she saw a young woman riding an oar with blue hair, "Well…hello Ayumi, fancy seeing you here" Botan giggled and covered her mouth with her sleeve.  Ayumi smiled, "Good day Botan, death in the teens must be a family affair huh?"  Botan laughed again, "Yes, just as well as dying saving people, and I guess that means you know what comes next?"

            Ayumi nodded, "I get to come back to life?"

Botan frowned, "Well no" Botan looked at Ayumi seriously, "Not exactly anyway"

Ayumi shivered, "Too young to die" A picture of Hiei flashed through Ayumi's head, 'Hiei' she thought softly.  "Botan," Ayumi started, would Sakura have died if I hadn't saved her?" Botan nodded, "Yes, unlike Yusukes case, she would have died from her own foolishness" Botan looked at Ayumi who had a 'tell me more' expression.  Botan sighed, "She put wet rags over the heater, catching the scarves on fire, then she ran around gathering things instead of escaping, quite a 'wise' friend you have there" Ayumi shook her head, "So…what do I need to do to come back?"

Botan nodded, "right, in order to come back, you'll have to talk to Koenma." Botan said beginning to fly away, "Oh yeah, and why not go to your wake, I'm sure you might find that interesting…." Botan waved good-bye and Ayumi frowned, "What's interesting about everyone you love crying?"

            Ayumi floated over to her house and looked down.  Gathered around the house were school friends, teachers and others.  The family time where the family visited wouldn't be for a while though.  Ayumi didn't care much about them, most were just there to look good, and her only friends were the people she had been around with since she was born.  Ayumi floated to a nearby tree and rested her head against the tree and looked into the night sky.  It was growing dark and the only light was from a few houses and the moon.  The night grew cool and slowly the people left and it was time for the family time.  Ayumi floated down and saw the only people she cared about, crying.  Kuwabara tried to comfort Keiko who cried miserably and her three siblings.  Yusuke tried to keep a straight face but broke into tears, "The spirit world…darn they better let her come back to life!"  Kurama was huddled in a corner, weeping and squeezing his legs.  Her grandmothers and grandfather comforted each other and Hiei was the only one silent.  He said nothing but looked at the others and walked out the door without a word spoken or a tear shed.  Ayumi followed him as he sped home, she had trouble seeing him and saw him disappear into his house and latch the door.  Ayumi floated inside an open window and watched as Hiei fell face first onto the table and cries his heart out, "Hiei…." Ayumi said softly.  Hiei grabbed the card Ayumi had put on the table earlier that morning, and his hands trembled, "Ayumi…. I'm…so sorry…your dead…. I promise on white day, I'll visit your grave" Hiei broke into a fit of tears and opened a drawer and placed a picture of Ayumi in front of him,

"Ayumi…"Ayumi smiled and watched as slowly the tears receded from Hiei's eyes and he fell asleep.  Ayumi place her hand on Hiei's shoulder and gentle flew out the window where Botan was waiting. 

"Ack!  Botan?!"  Botan smiled at Ayumi who was shocked to she her, "I've come to get you, Koenma wishes to see you immediately!"  Ayumi nodded, "Anything to come back to life" 

            Botan and Ayumi arrived at Koenmas office and were greeted by a large blue ogre, "Master Koenma is waiting for you" Botan bowed and led Ayumi to Koenma who was in his adult form, "Hello Ayumi!"  Very softly he said, "and Botan…." Botan rolled her eyes. Koenma had already explained to her that he believed that calling him a kid ran in the family so…he decided to approach Ayumi as an adult, "Ayumi, Botan have a seat" Koenma said pointing to two red chairs.  Ayumi looked around Koenmas office; it was plain except for stacks of books, papers and a huge oval television in front of Koenmas office.

"Let me start by saying Ayumi, this is most interesting…who would've known that dying would become a family affair in the Uramehsi house!  Anyway, back on the subject, I'm sure you want to come back to life, am I right?"  Koenma said with a gleam in his eye.

Ayumi was taken back and stuttered a yes.  Koenma clapped his hands, "Good then…in order to become alive again, it will be much different from your father with a few similar things, kissing, alerting through dreams etc, however there is one problem…. your spirit waves are rather unusual, and you won't be able to come back as a human," Koenma paused, "But as a demon" Ayumi just stared at him,

"A…demon?"  Ayumi stuttered, "But…what…why…no!"

Koenma shook his head, "Well…if you don't want to…."

"I do!"  Ayumi said interrupting Koenma who gave her a sharp glance, "I want to come back Koenma-san, but as a demon?"

"Hm…don't worry, you'll still be in your body and returning and all…but you'll change into a demon...err something like Hiei…hopefully you'll be less like him and less, 'kill everyone' and 'destroy the world' though."  Ayumi blushed to herself, "Like Hiei." She thought softly and nodded, "A demon…. as long as things are the way they were before…but won't I age differently?" 

Koenma nodded, "Yes, hm…I'll use Hiei as an example…he's 56 years old really…but because he's a demon, he appears to be only about sixteen in human years…you'll age much the same…simply put, when your 165…you'll look in your early or mid-twenties, age is very different, you'll see loved ones die unless they're demons too"

Ayumi nodded, "I have many questions…but I'll do it"

"Good, and now onto the next thing, the kiss!"  Koenma said, "In order to do so, you must contact another demon to pass the demon essence to you and then you'll be a demon."

Ayumi smiled, "Sounds simple enough, I know two demons so it should be okay"

Konema turned his ack around and made strange noises.  Botan shrugged and turned to Ayumi, "Ignore him, I'll see you later at your house" Ayumi waved good-bye and entered the road that took her back to earth.  Koenma turned to Botan, "We have to make this work Botan, if we don't get it done by Tomorrow, Yusuke will come barging in and killing everyone in sight until his daughter is returned, of all daughters, why did it have to be his!"  Koenma moaned and Botan left his to wallow in his misery, laughing all the way.

            "Hey Botan, I have two demons in mind, Kurma…and Hiei"

Botan nodded, "I can relay the dream to them, you stay here in case Kuwabara's around, he'll be able to see you and then nobody will get any sleep!"  Ayumi stared at Botan confused at her reply and floated around, "Why…" Botan smiled and went on ahead into Kuramas house and after a few minutes returned to Ayumi, "alright, Kurama is ready" 

Ayumi gently floated into Kuramas room and noticed he was laid uncomfortably in his chair in the living room.  His room was a white color with little to decorate it except for a few essentials and one tiny light shade kept the room a light.  Ayumi floated up to Kurama and entered his dream.

            Kurama's dream world was filled with a field of bright red roses.  On top of a large hill Kurama was laying staring up at the sky.  Ayumi smiled and ran up to Kurama who looked up,

"Oh, hello Ayumi, I thought you might come here"

Ayumi blushed, "Your dream world is pretty, and peaceful"

Kurama nodded and rubbed a rose through his fingers, "I love roses, they're so pretty and delicate," Kurama paused and sat up facing Ayumi, "Please, do sit" Ayumi did as she was instructed and Kurama nodded, "So…I guess your coming back, am I right?"

Ayumi nodded, "I'm coming back alright," Ayumi turned her head into the distance, "But not quite the same."

Kurama cocked his head in confusion, "Not the same?"

Ayumi looked at Kurama with mixed emotions, "you see, my spirit wave links are different and because of that I can only come back as a demon, and in order to do that I have to have a demon kiss me, and the only two demons I know are you and Hiei"

Kurama laughed slightly to himself, "I think you should get Hiei to kiss you" Kurama said with a wink, "However, I doubt he'd go for that…." Kurama laughed at the thought and stood up, "If Hiei has done nothing by 5:00 p.m tomorrow then I'll kiss you…. but do try your best with Hiei" Kurama winked and began down the hill leaving Ayumi alone.  Ayumi felt her face turn bright red and began walking back to the entrance of Kuramas dream.

            "Back already Ayumi?"  Botan said greeting Ayumi.

Ayumi nodded, "Now off to Hiei's," Ayumi paused then said softly, "this should be interesting…"

Botan giggled, "Yes…being that Hiei is a tough guy, I can just imagine the worst-case scenario, 'He'll barge into your house, murder everyone and cause mass destruction" Botan laughed at the thought but Ayumi wasn't amused.  "Lets get going, Hiei does tend to wake up early, and its…." Ayumi looked at the clock tower that was lit up in the city, "3:30 a.m" Botan and Ayumi slowly floated up to Hiei's house and crept inside.  Hiei was lying with his head on a table snoring.  The picture of Ayumi was still where he had left it and Hiei's hand was weakly laid beside the picture.  Ayumi put her hand on Hiei and Botan did her magic and Ayumi found herself inside Hiei's dream world. 

            Hiei's dream world was filled with darkness and Ayumi looked around for even the smallest glimmer of light, but found none, or did she find Hiei.  Ayumi walked on through the darkened world, looking around for Hiei.  Small shrubs grew on the edge of cliffs that littered the land.  Ayumi climbed onto a ledge and peered at the sun, it was covered with a gray mist, but did provide the only source of light.  The orange sun beat at the horizon. It was sunrise.   Ayumi peered over closer to the sun and saw a figure practicing sword fighting, it was Hiei.  Ayumi blushed and crept closer to Hiei and hid behind a rock nearby.   Hiei immediately sensed her,

"Hn?"

Ayumi peered over the rock as Hiei wiped his forehead with a towel and began walking over to the rocks where Ayumi was.  His fist firmly over his sword he looked into the rocks where Ayumi lay.  Ayumi crawled out from behind the rocks and looked and smiled at Hiei,

"Hiei…."  Ayumi blushed and Hiei cocked his head,

"What are you doing here?"  Hiei said gruffly.

Ayumi looked at Hiei, "Hiei…I'm coming back"

Hiei smiled, "Hn, so, let me guess…you want someone to kiss you or what?  If that's what you came here for, forget it" Hiei stood there and said nothing.  Ayumi looked at Hiei and noticed he was shirtless.  Despite being over forty, him being a demon made him appear only seventeen.  He hadn't changed since her father and him worked together.  Hiei noticed she was staring at him and replied with another "Hn" and began to walk away.

Ayumi ran up to him, "Hiei, what I wanted to tell you…was that I'm coming back…" 

"You've already established that" Hiei said cutting Ayumi's sentence short.

"No back as a human," Ayumi continued, "but as a demon, like you and Kurama, and in order to…I have to receive the kiss of a demon.  Kurama and you are the only demons I know and it's okay if you don't want to…." Ayumi was cut short as Hiei let his hands go around Ayumi's waist and pull her into a hug.  Ayumi felt her face turning bright red and Hiei spoke gently, "I will…." Hiei pulled himself away from Ayumi and began walking off but stopped and turned towards Ayumi for the final time and looked at her. The orange sun shining brightly behind him, his expression was focused, and a gentle smile lay under his face.  Ayumi nodded smiling and turned back to the way she came.  No words were needed; Hiei's expression said everything.