And so...

I got home safely from my flight. Even though I had slept a lot while there and on the plane. I felt like sleeping some more. I unpacked my stuff in my old room and crashed on my bed. It was only three in the afternoon, but I couldn't keep my eyes open. And I wasn't going to fake it. Thankfully I slept all night and even late into the next day.

Knock Knock

"Lil'?" My mom liked to shorten my already short name.

"Mmm?" I groaned to her through the muffles of my pillows.

"You should really try to get up." She told me.

"It's already noon, dear." She brushed my hair with her fingers.

"I know." I said to her. I heard her take a deep breath in.

"What happened?" She kept asking me.

"You know what happened." I let her believe I was dumped.

"I've never seen you so torn up about someone honey. I don't think you're telling me the whole truth." She admitted to me. I took a deep breath and looked her in the eyes.

"I'm heartbroken. What else is there…?" She sat with me in silence for a little while.

"Your birthday is this weekend, how about we plan a little party?" She asked me. I shook my head in response.

"I really should start looking for a new job." I sat up. A numbness came over me. I suddenly couldn't cry anymore. Didn't even have the urge.

"Are you sure? You know Mark, your old supervisor, keeps calling asking for you to return." She told me.

"You know I can't mom. Mike could follow me there." I gathered my hair into a messy bun.

"I know; just thought I'd let you know. Maybe he can recommend a new job somewhere else?"

"That's ok, I know a few places to apply to." I got up and she left my room to let me change.

The next few days were me spent in front of a computer doing nothing but filling out job applications. Any time I started thinking about Genkai's manor, the guys, the girls, even Hiei; I forced myself to look for more jobs. I almost started making myself believe it was a dream, just so it would be THAT much easier to get through.

My parents would go to bed their usual times and I would stay awake, sipping tea at the kitchen bar. It became my new routine. I would sit, quietly, sipping my tea, staring into nothing.

"Hmm…" I sighed.

It's times like these, Kuwabara would occasionally join me if he was on break from school. I thought.

Or Hiei would come up behind me rubbing my neck.

Hiei...

I finished my tea, washed my cup, and headed for bed.

Will life ever be the same?

The next morning, I woke up to my cell phone buzzing. I did everything I could to not sound like I had just woken up. It was a call for one of the many jobs I applied for.

"Tomorrow sounds great! What time?" I asked as I rushed out of bed to my note pad and pen at my dresser.

"Wonderful, thank you. I'll see you tomorrow morning!" I smiled as I hung up.

First time I smiled since I got here. I thought. It was one of the jobs I was really hoping for.

I got dressed as quickly as I could and ran down stairs. I needed to shop for interview clothes. I left so much of my things when I left Mike. I wasn't sure what I had verses what I didn't have anymore.

"Well you're in a hurry." My dad noted to me as I rushed passed him to the coffee maker.

"Sorry! I got a call back for an interview tomorrow so I gotta do some shopping!" I told him as I poured myself a cup of hot coffee in a thermos.

"Tomorrow? But its your birthday tomorrow." He said to me.

"If its for a job dad, I don't care." I laughed as I sweetened my coffee. I grabbed my keys and purse.

"Ittekimasu!" I cheered as I stepped out the door. I stopped as I shut the door behind me.

Haven't said that in a while…

I shook my head and forced myself to my car. I blasted my music as loud as I could to prevent myself from ruining the one positive day I was having.

While I was shopping for interview clothes, I noticed the tattoos I had on the back of my hands. I took a deep breath and sighed. I'll need to cover them for the interview. After picking out the clothes I needed, I found a makeup store and looked for the heavy duty stuff. Thankfully the ladies were really helpful and even taught me how to cover it and make it last. I looked at the time, all this shopping was helping me pass the day away. I stopped at a little sandwich shop for lunch.

BUZZ BUZZ

I looked at my phone and saw my mom calling.

"Hey mom." I answered.

"Hey your dad told me you went shopping for interview stuff. It's been a while though, are you ok?" She sounded concerned.

"Thank you mom, but I'm doing good actually. Getting out of the house today is helping me." I explained.

"Oh good! Well don't have too heavy of a lunch. I'm getting started on dinner, but it won't be ready for a few hours." She told me.

"Alright I'll be home soon. Love you." We hung up and I walked around the shopping mall a little bit more. I noticed more things I needed, like nice shoes, stuff for my hair. Once I was done I headed to my car and dropped all the bags in my trunk.

"Hm?" I looked around the parking lot. I felt like I was being stared at.

That's weird… I thought as I quickly and cautiously made it into my car and locked my doors.

That was almost to the level of sensing something like before. I turned on my car and jumped from the suddenly loud music I forgot I left.

"UGH! Way to go Lilly. Nothing like scaring the shit out of yourself." I grumbled to myself. I kept a close eye on everything around me as I pulled out of the parking lot.

I don't think I'm being followed…not anymore at least. I thought while taking a deep breath, calming my racing heart. Nothing like scaring myself while already being spooked.

I pulled into my parent's driveway and decided not to tell them about my weird sensing moment. They may either overreact to it, or think I'm crazy. Either way, not good reactions. I pulled all the stuff out of the trunk and forced myself to the door until my dad helped me through.

"Hold on, I need you to hold something!" He jokingly chuckled to me.

"Ha ha…thanks, dad." I smirked to him.

"Bought out the mall?" He asked jokingly again while closing the door behind me.

"I just realized all the stuff I'm left without since I left most of my stuff at Mike's." I explained, they both nodded as I ran upstairs to my room.

I tried on the full outfit that I wanted to wear for the interview tomorrow and posed in front of the bathroom mirror.

Botan and Keiko would be proud. I though with a sad sigh.

"Lilly! Let me see you!" My mom hollered from the kitchen. I went down stairs and did a little model strut for her. We both got a nice laugh out of it and she approved the outfit.

"I never would have pictured you to wear something like that. I guess Japan had a bigger influence on you than I thought!" She smiled to me.

I shrugged to her as a response since I didn't feel like reminiscing. I went back upstairs and put away the clothes and decided to test out how to cover my tattoos on my own. My mother called when dinner was ready.

"Wha-what happened?" She stuttered as she stared at my hands. I smiled proudly.

"I only covered them with makeup, but I'm glad to know it fooled you!" I smiled. My dad was thoroughly impressed as he stared at my hands throughout dinner.

The next morning came without anything to disrupt, thankfully. I was worried I wouldn't sleep well. I got up and ready with time to spare. I was proud of myself with every moment I over came.

One step closer to a normal life…I suppose. I thought as I poured myself coffee.

I heard my dad yawn obnoxiously as he and my mom entered the kitchen. I saw at the bar scrolling through social media on my phone.

"Morning you two." I smiled as I sipped my coffee.

"Wow, you're certainly excited for today!" My mom smiled to me. She was always the more, morning person, of the family. Not even my siblings enjoyed mornings like she did.

"I'm ready to get back on track." I smiled.

"You were never off track, but glad you're taking life by the horns!" My dad smiled as he attempted to tousled my hair. I dodged quickly thankfully.

"Happy birthday, sweetie!" My mom hugged me from behind.

"Yea! You birthday girl!" My dad shouted then stretched.

"Thank you. Today is the first day to a new life. I can feel it!" I smiled to them.

My mom insisted on making breakfast before I went to my interview. Although it was a good idea, I didn't need a growling stomach to embarrass me. They wished me luck as I left out the door.

I entered the building and even though I was early, they had me wait. That's the worst. Thankfully it was all worth it. It went so well the guy told me what the uniforms were and to go ahead and get the clothes since I'll be starting soon. I nearly skipped out of the place with pure joy! Things were finally taking a turn for the better.

I pulled into the driveway and noticed my parent's car was gone. I thought about giving them a call, but figured I'll look for a note first.

"Mom? Dad?" I shouted as I walked in. Just in case one stayed behind. But no response. I glanced in the living room at the coffee table, no note. Looked at the kitchen bar and saw a small piece of paper.

Went out to get something special for the birthday girl!

Tell us all about your interview when we get back!

Mom and Dad

I smiled and set the paper back down. What to do while I wait? I ran upstairs and washed the makeup off my hands and brushed out my hair from the loaded product style it was in.

DING DONG

I heard the door bell echo through the house.

"Oh they probably need help, or the mailman." I said out loud to myself. I was home alone, why not?

"Coming!" I shouted as I ran down stairs.

I reached for the door and pulled it open smiling.

"Heh." My expression dropped as I saw Mike staring at me on the other side of the threshold.

I looked down and saw a gun in his hand.

I looked right back in his empty eyes.

I wasn't scared.

"Do you have any idea how hard I looked for you?" He started. His eyes were freakishly wide.

"You don't even appreciate it." He pointed the gun at me as a finger.

"So, heh." He forced a psychotic chuckle. I saw how he was slightly sweating. Was he on drugs?

"So you know what I figured?" All I did was lift a brow in response.

"Answer. Me." He deepened his tone as he lifted the gun closer to my chest.

"What did you figure, Mike?" I asked without any interest.

"That I don't deserve this-this abuse! This neglect!" He pointed to himself. Wow.

"And you especially. Don't deserve to live." He pointed it right back at my chest.

"And I don't care because the cops won't have me! They won't take me! I'll take myself and I'm ok with that!" He got louder as he kept the gun to my chest. He stopped and squinted at me.

"Aren't you scared?" He asked. I took a deep breath with much disinterest.

"I'm not afraid of you." Was all I replied.

"Too bad for you." He shrugged.

BANG

A punch of force in my chest flew me back. I landed flat on my back not being able to get up. I was left staring at the ceiling above me.

"You undeserving bitch!" He shouted to me just before...

BANG

I saw a large splash of blood shoot up to the ceiling of the entry way, then immediately heard the thud of his body hitting the ground.

Every second felt like hours. I laid on that floor trying to breath. I wasn't in pain. I just felt the wet warms of my blood pooling all around me. I closed my eyes as I felt my heart slow down.

Ba bump

I saw Japan…The Japan I wanted to be in.

Ba bump

Genkai's place…how green and lush it was with nature. So beautiful.

Ba bump

The gang…Kurama, Botan, Keiko, Yusuke, Genkai, Kuwabara, Koenma, Yukina

Ba bump

Hiei...

His touch

His warmth

His beautiful crimson eyes

I opened my eyes as I felt tears fall from my face. I closed them again with a smile as I sighed my last breath.

The END

Ok no just kidding...kind of.

This was the ending that I personally made to MY liking and how I make my stories. I like to kill my character at the end. Don't ask why, I'm just evil that way lol.

But a great thing happened while I was writing this story, as I'm sure you've seen in the reviews...

I ended up with AMAZING readers who fell in love with the story and OC. I felt so bad upsetting them because they were so great to me. So I held a voting for an alternate ending (to be fair.)

Alternate won.

Chapter 10 is a complete Alternate ending, BUT it is also in a sense...a continuation of the story. So if you wish to see the 2nd ending option, feel free to keep reading. Nothing will leave you confused (well it shouldn't...)

If you don't mind the cruel ending I originally made, then feel free to stop reading here and leave your review!

Thank you!

Your author,

Sara