AN: Thanks to the reviewers again! Everyone goes a bit out of character by now, but I wanted the story to end on a good note. One more chapter after this to finish this story off. I hope y'all liked it. It's my first YYH fanfic, so hopefully my next ones will be *a lot* better. Anyone who wants to beta-read for me, please email me at ElvenDragonSorceress@yahoo.com Thanks! :)

~ElvenDragonSorceress~

Chapter 12- The Final Meeting

Kurama found a note taped to his door the next day after he'd gone to the store Hiei worked at and found out he wasn't there. "He's gone off on a vacation with his kids. He'll be gone for two weeks." Caleb had said. He'd given Kurama an odd look. "Why are you looking for him?" Kurama had simply said that he was an old friend that was looking for him. Caleb had called Hiei's cell phone after Kurama had left and left a voicemail. "Yeah, Vince, it's Caleb. Some dude came in here today looking for you. He said his name was Suiichi, but I don't think that was his real name. I told him you were on vacation for two weeks. Lemme know if something's up, ok? Later." Kurama read the note: "To 'Suiichi': If you want to talk, meet us at the Shrine of Shoyra in Old Forest. Come alone. Don't tell anyone. Hiei, Shoyren, Tawna." Kurama set the note on his dresser. He grabbed a fresh rose from his dresser and left a note for his mother, saying that he was going over to a friend's house and didn't know when he would be back.

Kurama found the Shrine fairly easily. When he got there, there had been only a couple of young dragons there putting offerings at the foot of the Shrine. When they saw Kurama, they left in a hurry. Kurama walked over to the shrine and examined the carving. "So that's who Shoyra was." There was a small inscription below the carved picture. "Shoyra of the Dragon Clan of the Old Forest. Warrior, Protectress, Mother. May her soul find peace." Kurama noted the large amount of flowers, both new and old, surrounding the Shrine. He heard someone coming and hid himself behind a large tree. Three figures cloaked in black from head to toe slowly walked up to the shrine. They each placed a rose on the shrine. The shortest of the figures placed a blood red rose, while the other two, who were of equal height, placed white roses. They then all knelt in front of the Shrine. The one in the middle, who had placed the red rose down, stood up after a few moments of what seemed to be prayer. The figure pulled out an amulet shaped like a dragon and placed it in a depression in the shrine that appeared to be shaped just for it in the center of the image. All three figures stood as the middle one stepped back from the shrine. They then removed the black hoods of their cloaks. One had long golden-blonde hair. The one in the center Kurama instantly recognized as Hiei. To Hiei's right stood the third figure, who had shorter black hair. All three simultaneously transformed into their half-demon, and then Dragon forms. They bowed to the Shrine, and turned to face Kurama. "Come out, Kurama. We know you are there." Hiei called out. Kurama sighed, doing his best to hide the tremble in his hands and knees. He knew. Hiei had lured him here to kill him. "You wanted to talk. Speak quickly, for we wish this to be short business." Hiei stared down at Kurama. Shoyren and Tawna, the two other dragons, seemed to be holding themselves back. "Well…I…" Kurama stuttered. He couldn't think of the right words to express what he felt. "I guess I wanted to apologize. It took me a long time before I really realized what I did to you, all of you. I did not listen to you when I should have, Hiei, and because of that grave error I gave you a wound you should never have had to bear. I orphaned you, Tawna, Shoyren, and I did nothing to pay for my crime. With all my heart I beg now for your forgiveness." Kurama dropped to his knees and bowed his head. Tawna and Hiei bowed their heads and began to turn away from Kurama. "NO!" Shoyren yelled. "I will not let mother's death go unavenged just because this murderer said he was sorry! He will die for what he did!" Shoyren turned and prepared to burn Kurama with a blast of his fiery breath. As he did, Hiei felt Shoyra's soul leave him. He could only watch as Shoyren blasted Kurama with an inferno of flame. Much to everyone's surprise, the flames parted around Kurama, raging past him and dispersing harmlessly behind him. Shoyren roared in anger and went to again blast Kurama.

"Shoyren!"

Shoyren stopped. Between him and Kurama was a beautiful woman. Her dark hair flowed around her despite the lack of wind. "Release your anger, but do not release it upon him. He has shown true remorse for what he has done, and he has paid dearly enough for it. That day years ago, Kurama lost his truest and dearest friend, a loss that has pained him greatly and will pain him for the rest of his life. The friendship between Kurama and Hiei cannot be repaired. Let go of your anger, my son, and be free. This anger you hold, it binds you like a chain. Release yourself from it and go, or I shall never be free." Kurama stood up shakily. He'd been certain that Shoyren was going to kill him. He had no idea who this woman was or where she'd come from. She turned to him. "Kurama, I forgive you for what you did. I understand now that it was a misunderstanding, nothing more." "Mother…" Shoyren dropped to the ground, crying. "Why did he have to take you away from us? Why did you have to die?" The woman went over to him and hugged him. She spoke to him in a low voice that no one else could understand. After a few moments, Shoyren got up and left. The woman stood up and faced Hiei and Tawna. "Farewell, Beloved." Hiei closed his eyes and bowed his head. "Goodbye, Mother." Tawna also closed her eyes and bowed her head. Kurama then realized that it was Shoyra herself that had saved him. She turned from Hiei and Tawna and walked towards the Shrine. She faded away as she reached it. Hiei looked up at Kurama. "You may be forgiven, but it is as Shoyra has said, our friendship is over. I never want to see or hear from you again." Hiei and Tawna turned and left Kurama there alone. After a hour or so of thought and reflection, Kurama rose and disappeared into the wood. Hiei, Tawna, and Shoyren returned to the living world.