Epilogue

Sadie's gift was a DVD.

They put it in and watched it right away.

It was a series of clips from the camera she'd borrowed from Botan.

Music played in the backround. Everyone smiled and laughed in the video, unaware of what was coming.

The end of the video came and they saw Sadie's face.

"Hey, guys," she waved, "I told you I wasn' going to die!" Her grin disappeared just as soon as it appeared.

"Look, I'm really sory, but..." A tear escaped down her cheek, "I had to leave. I had no other choice," Sadie paused to wipe her cheek dry, "The Guardian of the Elements appeared to me in my dreams while I was in training with Genkai. She showed me what was going to happen and it was horrible. I'm not allowed to say what, but she also showed me how to prevent it from happening. I didn't hesitate. I would do anything for you guys. Even sacrifice my own life. Thankfully, it didn't come to that.

I'm sorry I couldn' tel you about it before now, but I do promise that I will return someday. The Guardian has said that it is so, and so it shall be."

Sadie paused again and, when she looked back at the camera, it seemed as though she were staring straight through it at them.

"Yusuke," she finally said, "Don't lose that appetite. It's your most redeeming quality," Sadie gave a short choked laugh as tears fell down her face, "Say 'hey' to Keiko for me, unless she's watching this, too. Otherwise it would be redundant."

Keiko sobbed quietly. She was thankful for how well Sadie'd taken care of Yusuke when she couldn't be there. Now what would he do? Sadie kept him out of trouble. She was such a nice girl, too. Why? Why?

"Kuwabara..." Sadie frowned as though she were trying to think of what to say to him. Finally, "Keep dreaming."

Yusuke and Kurama chuckled, knowing full well what she meant.

"Touya," she moved on, "Thank you for everything."

Everyone turned to Touya, confused. A single tear ran down his cheek. Even though he knew she would come back, he would miss her so much.

"Chu, Jin, Suzuka; you guys have been like brothers to me. I really hope you're not taking this too hard."

Tears went flying. The three of them threw an arm over the other's shoulders as they sobbed quite dramatically.

"Kurama," the room fell silent, "I'm really sorry it didn't work out between us. Thank you, though. For helping me to realize where I truly belong. I know you'll meet someone just for you someday."

Kurama felt tears fall from his eyes. Something that had not happened in many years. I'm sorry, too.

Sadie stopped talking. Even on the video, it was clear how much her body was trembling.

"Hiei," she choked, "I-" Her shoulders shook with silent sobs, hands covering her face.

It was hard for them to watch. Never had they seen Sadie look so broken.

"You..." Yusuke clenched his fists, "...Idiot! Always so freaking happy. None of us even had a clue."

Kurama looked up as Hiei stood, "Hiei?"

Hiei wrenched his eyes from the screen and lef the living room. He couldn't watch this anymore.

Some of them yelled at him in protest, but, little did they know, Hiei only went just around the corner so he could still listen.

In the middle of the night, the video was fast forwarded to the end.

The figure on the couch had his knees pulled up against his chest, arms wrapped around his knees, and his chin resting on top of them.

"Hiei... I... I am most sorry to you. I know how you must be feeling right now. Betrayed, hurt, angry, and sad, but I don't really blame you. I am the first person you allowed yourself to love."

There was a pause. A few sniffles and she gave a tiny laugh.

"You could probably end up hating me and I still wouldn't blame you. I wnat to remember the bond we forged. The fact that I love you was only one reason why I mated with you. I knew this bond would keep us connected no matter how far apart we are. Even in a different world."

She blew a kiss at the screen, "I love you, Hiei. Everyone. I'll see you again soon."

The screen froze on her smiling face.

An emotion he'd never known welled up inside him and when he stood, something fell from his lap.

He bent down to pick it up. What he found surprised him. He'd never thought it was possible.

It was his very own Hiroseki stone.

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Stay tuned for the third and final installment of the 'Cliche Trilogy'.