A Single Flower
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A/N: Here is the last chapter of A Single Flower. Enjoy everyone!
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Being back in human world was a nostalgic yet unfamiliar experience. After being in demon world for quite some time, everything seemed so new and exotic. But going back to the place where I truly grew up and met the people who changed my life, it was comforting.
I had expected Yusuke to return immediately because there was without a doubt someone waiting for him, but he still had things he wanted to take care of. Kurama had returned with me, but he actually never stayed for long. He split his time between the human world and demon world. I joked he might as well have been the ambassador of connections for the two worlds.
When I first returned, I made my way back to Master Genkai's and informed her and Yukina of what happened alongside Kurama. Both were of course surprised of the outcome, but there seemed to be a sense of relief when they heard what occurred. And from that point, things didn't seem to change too much as, I had returned back to the room that I had once used while I was at Master Genkai's place.
Yukina and I talked about my family and she brought up her brother and I sheepishly ignored the question. A promise was a promise after all.
Things began to become routine and more so when Kurama's visits to the human world were more frequent. Soon, he'd be back here for quite some time, he told me when he came to visit to relay more information between the two worlds.
While life was beginning to settle down, for the first time, I didn't mind it. I was actually content with what was happening, and I knew that with everything that had happened in demon world, this was the best kind of normalcy.
It was one day when Yukina and I went outside to see Kuwabara, Shizuru and Keiko visiting. Genkai had called all of them and us to meet with her to discuss something of great importance.
It was a good time to catch up as well. While I had seen Kuwabara and Kurama on and off due to them relaying the news to us, Keiko and Shizuru were rarely seen. Shizuru with her budding career and Keiko with school, kept them rather busy. It was quite the treat to have us all here. It would have been better to see other familiar faces, but one couldn't complain with the turnout.
We all eventually sat down and waited for what Master Genkai had to say. First thing was to check up on the status of Yusuke. Kurama informed us that he still had things to take care of in demon world. Hard to believe since Keiko was over here in human world.
"I see, so Yusuke still hasn't come back." Master Genkai remarked. "What the hell is he working on?"
"No one is sure specifically." Kurama replied back. Then again, was Yusuke really working on anything at all.
"Oh come on, we know what he's doing. He's picking fights. It's not like he cares about anything else now." Kuwabara complained loudly. Bad word choice as Keiko was among us.
"You don't need to protect me guys." She started. "I'm just glad to see Genkai, let's just focus on that." She told us. In a way, her long hair seemed to reflect her more mature personality. Surprisingly that was possible for Keiko. But you could tell that there was still more to the situation but we didn't press on.
"Yeah, me too. It's a relief to see that you're still well." Shizuru added on.
"I'm happy day you're alive." Kuwabara chimed in. It seems we all wanted to cater to Keiko's wish.
"Well that's a peachy spot I'm in. Sticking around so you don't have a bad day." Master Genkai shot back and we all laughed. It was true though. Having her around the temple, there was always something to learn or do. She had a lot to teach.
"Well, I didn't know all of you would be here." We all turned around to see Botan, cheerful as ever. Yet another familiar face. It was good that she could join in on this reunion as well.
"Hey, Botan!" Keiko greeted her immediately.
"Hey Keiko, love the hair!" She remarked on the length.
"Well that's convenient, Genkai must have called you around the same time she did for us." Kuwabara added in.
"Me too." We all turned to the side to the source of the voice and were surprised to see Koenma stand before us, and of course in his adult form.
"Koenma, where did you come from?" Kuwabara asked.
"Well, that's a lengthy story you'll just have to ask my dad." Koenma replied.
"You cheeseball." Kuwabara did not humor him and I let out a small chuckle.
"Good, you're all here. Now sit down." Master Genkai instructed and even Koenma and Botan obliged. "There's only one reason why I asked you all to come. These recent years have caused me to think about my legacy. And so I want to tell you what to do after I die." That got serious really quick. And on such an unhappy topic.
"Genkai, you shouldn't talk like that." Kuwabara tried to laugh off.
"It brings bad luck." Shizuru added in.
"You won't die soon." Yukina threw in.
"You look good." Keiko said her two cents.
"You look better than I do in some days." Botan informed her.
"I think everyone agrees that you still have a lot of energy in you Master Genkai." I also didn't like the subject of the topic.
"Just shut up, and let me get this done." Master Genkai sighed out at us. She opened the doors to the room we were in and stared at it and we all looked on at her backside. "Once you've given me a teary eyed funeral, I'll be leaving this whole estate to your group." We were surprised by this. "That includes this temple and the surrounding land." Thinking back, Genkai had a very large property ownership. "A shore on one side and a stone wall on the other will tell you where it ends. Leave nature as it is. It takes several hours by car to reach the closest town. Not a convenient place for humans to live, but perfect for apparitions. The kekkai barrier is down, but it'll take a long time for humans and demons to live in peace." She brought up a good point.
"I spent my life trying to understand a demon and failed. Make this a safe house to bridge a gap I never could." Was her final wish to us. Truly a legacy that Master Genkai would be remembered by, but hopefully she still had some time to see us begin on this wish of hers. The more I thought about it, the more I'm sure it was my wish too, to see demons and humans live together peacefully.
After that, everyone but Master Genkai and Koenma decided to take a step outside her temple walls and head to the stairs and look at the land of Master Genkai's. "Amazing, all this land belongs to her." Kurama remarked as we saw the large stretch of trees before us and even the grand staircase in front of us.
"Yeah, definitely something we won't be chopping down. We'll do a lot of good stuff here." Kuwabara spoke.
I nodded. "We'll all see to that."
"We have time, we can go down to the shore." Shizuru suggested.
"Yeah, let's go! You game Yukina? It's guaranteed fun!" He turned immediately to her.
"Sure!" Yukina agreed.
"Oh, thank you for my invite lover boy." I said punching Kuwabara jokingly.
Everyone laughed and we all walked down the stairs and made our way to the beach. Us girls stopped once we realized the boys had stopped following.
"Hey, enough flirting boys!" Botan called up to them.
"Hey, if you want, the five of us could go to the beach alone." Shizuru said to prompt them to follow.
Kuwabara rushed down immediately and made some remark about Yukina and a bathing suit. Some things just never changed.
The beach was rather familiar, as I had been here once before. Shizuru and Kurama remained back, content with the view of the sunset from where they stood. The rest of us decided to get a closer look.
"Oh my, perfect ending for a perfect day." Botan remarked as she looked beyond the horizon.
"A sunset by the ocean is the most romantic thing I've ever seen." Yukina added in.
"Really?" I asked. "Well…it sure is a beautiful sight." I added.
"Most romantic huh…this is going to be my hour!" I heard Kuwabara cheer himself on as Keiko asked Yukina to join her in getting their feet wet.
"Maybe not, Kuwabara." I teased as I watched the girls head over and I thought about whether or not I wanted to get my feet wet.
"Best take advantage while the sun's up!" Botan said taking off her shoes and darting towards the shore.
"I will! I'm going to catch me a starfish!" Kuwabara decided on joining in too.
I smiled and didn't move and looked on at the sunset. It really was a picturesque scene. After what happened last time I was at a beach, I'd hate to ruin the moment with one of my antics.
I heard Kuwabara yell out Yukina again snapping me out of my thoughts. Yukina had made her way back to them. Botan had some shells in her hand and Kuwabara had a freakishly large starfish in his hands. I decided enough was enough in dwelling in the past and was going to take a step forward to join them, until Keiko's shout diverted my attention.
"This is the end!" She shouted out at the top of her longs. We all turned to her.
"I'm tired of waiting for you, Yusuke! Half my life I waited for you to come around. Even when you were here, you weren't really! You weren't here for me! Go on, fighting! But it's time I get what I want!"
"I could cry…" I heard Botan murmur.
And I felt the same sentiment. To have your heart wait on someone, it was often a burden. Not only that, but the idea of wanting to move on in hopes that maybe time could move on normally again for you. It was a struggle to decide which path to take. Even though I knew how Keiko felt, it's not like I knew what to say about it because I didn't even have the answer for myself.
But someone did. "I don't want you to wait either." The all too familiar voice and I looked over to see it was my favorite half-breed. Yusuke was standing right before Keiko. "See, you don't have too." He said waving to her.
"Yusuke!" Keiko exclaimed as she ran straight to him and the two toppled over. When Keiko regained her composure, she looked right at him and their lips met. As if nature wanted to keep their moment to themselves, a wave crashed right over the two of them.
"Bingo." I heard Botan say and Kurama and Shizuru chuckled over the situation. I could see why as the two were now apart and looked at each other with a surprised look.
Yusuke made the next move by taking his jacket off and made a chase for Keiko towards the ocean as a comeback. He was quick to not only splash her, but also Kuwabara, prompting him to run into the ocean to get back at his best friend.
Botan, Yukina and I all joined in and it was pure bliss doing something as simple as splashing water at each other in the ocean.
Of course, all fun things came to an end as we realized the sun was sinking further and further away. We all stepped out and watched the remaining moments of the sun setting. From there, we all decided to head back to the temple and everyone would just stay there for the night.
In my room, I had finished changing out of my clothes from earlier and I opened the window to let the night breeze enter my room. I looked out and thought about how today really did end perfectly with boy wonder coming back. It seemed like a perfect ending. If only things really did ever have an ending.
I turned around to head into bed, but not before letting out a sneeze. "You're going to catch a cold that way." I turned around to see Naoki's head at my window.
I smiled widely to see my brother there. "When did you get here?" I asked walking over. "How?"
"I made the trip with your friend, Yusuke Urameshi. Of course we parted ways shortly. I had to make preparations for tomorrow." I tilted my head. "I promised I would show you the tree. I didn't think your memory was that bad, sis."
I stuck my tongue out at him. "I didn't realize it was so soon." I defended myself. Besides, it's not like I ever really kept track of my birthday anymore what with having dates mesh between when I was told I was born by my father and when I had been actually born in demon world.
"Well, this was the time we visited the human world. I suppose, it's close enough." Naoki remarked. "Now, I'm sure it would be fine if I borrowed a room for the night?" He asked.
I nodded. "Of course." I walked out of my room to let him in and guided him to a free room for the night. He promised me in the morning as we made our way there, that he would fill me in on how everyone else was doing back in demon world.
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In the morning, we traveled with everyone to the busses, as they all had places to get too as well. Kuwabara and Keiko had school, Shizuru and Kurama with school, and Yusuke wanted to check in on his mother.
Naoki told everyone while we were on riding together about the situation over in demon world. As far as the place collectively, demon world was settling down from the tournament. You had a few rogues trying to sneak in and cause mischief, but they were promptly taken care of. Those who were first to lose in the tournament had the job of watching over humans who wandered in and demons who tried to cause trouble and break rules. We were all rather happy with how demon world was looking.
As for the syphs, Yoruka was now fully built and everyone was working together and living peacefully. Once I left, they all agreed to uphold the idea of not needing a leader and everything was to be decided together. So far it was working. I was very happy to hear that. I couldn't help but chuckle nervously for Kurama when Naoki mentioned that Himawari had made a comment of him visiting again. "They're not my friends." I told him jokingly.
Eventually the bus thinned out with our group and it was just me and Naoki. "It's so strange to be using something like this as a mode of transportation." He remarked to me.
"It might have been quicker on foot, but I'd like to blend it. Plus, I'd take this over the large insect things any day." I shivered at the thought when I was told about such methods. Bugs were the worst.
"You are the strangest. Oh, and now that it's just us, I figured I should let you know now. Those committees set up to control the traffic between the two worlds, that Hiei is part of the first watch." He informed me.
"Is he now?" I said. It was the first time I heard about any news from him really. I figured Kurama never really ran into him or he just chose not to talk to me about since I left things sort of in his hand. "I'm guessing he must be busy." I said thinking about how I had asked for a response from him before I returned.
"Perhaps. We didn't talk much when I went through him and the others to get here. I still don't see what you see in him." He said crossing his arms.
"That's…hey, Naoki!" I frowned hoping this conversation wasn't where it was leading.
"I'm not playing protective older brother. I'm just saying, I'm not fond of the guy. It's ultimately your choice, and his, and seeing as there wasn't really much from him-" He stopped and looked at me. "Sorry, that was probably too far."
I shook my head. "Not at all. It was just the truth."
As if to prevent any awkward silence, the bus finally came to our stop. And yet another nostalgic place. Ayanagi city.
Naoki led me to the forest that surrounded the house I grew up in. We didn't head towards the place at all. In fact, we headed opposite from it. Eventually, we stopped and I didn't see anything except for the same type of trees I had seen for the last half hour we had walked around.
"Shion's power is pretty neat in where she can actually set up illusions elsewhere. They're a bit weaker and have to look more similar to the area around and they can be undone by others than herself if given the necessary information. In this case, a simple world will do. Toru." He said and the image of the trees began to slowly disappear.
I smiled to myself at the fact that the word was the name of my father. It only reminded me of what my mother had truly been like.
Once the illusion of the trees cleared out, all that was left was a clearing. "That's…not right." Naoki said stepping into the clearing and towards a hole in the middle of it. There was no tree that he spoke of. Just a clearing and the hole. "There's supposed to be the tree that our mother had planted." He looked around.
I frowned. To say I was disappointed was an understatement. "Well you said it could be undone by others." I said trying to not show it too much, since Naoki was already vocalizing it.
"Yes, but only Shion, I and our mother knew of this place." He frowned and then turned towards me. "I'm sorry…Sakura."
I shook my head. "It's not your fault. Maybe that old geezer mentioned my dad's name in passing and found it. He probably removed it himself. He was never fond of me." I said thinking back to my late grandfather.
The two of us saw no point in staying and had a quite ride home. Perhaps it was better this way. Returning to Ayanagi city every time to be able to see that tree would have been a hassle. And I thought not out of trying to convince myself out of my disappointment, but because it was how I truly felt. Yes, my father was buried there, and I would visit him on his anniversary, but the human me had also been "buried" there and it didn't feel right to return. Still…it would have been nice to see it.
When we returned, not much else was said, and it was pretty late, so we retreated to our rooms. Naoki's time was short and he had to return the next day.
I saw him off and made sure he gave my regards to everyone else. Things returned to normal for the most part. Yukina and I helped out around the temple and Yusuke would visit us since he wanted to catch up with Master Genkai, but also because he wasn't quite sure where to go since he returned. He was no longer a spirit detective officially. That didn't stop Koenma from giving him cases here and there. Simple ones though. He still wanted to do something here that didn't always revolve around fighting.
We figured visiting and talking to Master Genkai help him sort out some things.
"Hey, Yukina, are you off?" I asked her as she was heading toward the temple gates.
"Yes, I thought it would be nice to take a walk. Would you like to join me?" She asked.
I shook my head. "It's alright. I think Puu wants a bit of company, but perhaps I'll look for you after." She nodded and headed out while I made my way over to where Puu stayed.
I grabbed a brush and decided to first start off with grooming the oversized bird. Yusuke failed to do so when he last visited. Actually, I think he failed to do so on any occasion. I figured if I was going to do his job, might as well go all the way by giving him a wash too. I headed back out to get a bucket of water.
When I went back outside, I saw Yukina heading towards me. "Back already?" I asked.
"Well, when I was heading out, I ran into Hiei." My eyes widened. Hiei was actually in the human world. "He said my brother was long gone and prompted to return my hiruseki stone to me."
I bit my lip that Hiei had lied to Yukina. He could have gone on with the fact that her brother was still lost. Regardless, I looked at her and noticed she had a gentle smile about her. For someone who had lost her brother, she didn't seem fazed at all. "I decided it was best that he hold onto the stone." She smiled at me. Maybe this was something best left for Hiei to figure out when it came to Yukina and her brother. "I wanted to tell you, because it doesn't seem like he has left the human world after our exchange."
"So that's why you came back." I said. I looked past Yukina in the direction of the gates. If Hiei was still here, I don't think it was to wait to see me since he could have easily made his way here or let me know to meet him. He probably was avoiding me.
"Thank you, Yukina." I said. "Well, maybe we'll run into him on that walk." I told her to acknowledge the information she told me, but also to tell her that I wouldn't be trying to meet up with him.
Yukina shook her head. "Why don't you go? I'll take care of Puu from here." She said as she walked over and grabbed the bucket from me.
"Oh, but-" And then she prompted to rush me out. Even Puu came out and nudged me along. "Okay, okay. I know when I'm not wanted." I joked and I headed out.
Though she didn't voice it, Yukina knew that I was closer with Hiei, if you could call it that. And Puu being Yusuke's spirit beast only made sense for it doing what it did. Still, after everything that was left off, I didn't want to see him since he was the one who was supposed to come see me.
Still, a walk would be nice. Rather than head to the beach like usual, I decided to take the path towards the forest. I was always so busy speeding past it from the temple to the busses, that I never really took the time to see the surrounding land.
Eventually, the peaceful sounds of nature lulled me into feeling rather lazy as I fell on my back into the grass. The sky looked expansive and the clouds hung so low, I thought I could almost reach them. I turned my head from side to side to follow the sound of birds and it was then I saw a single flower catch my eye. I sat up and then picked it.
"That must be rather lonely. I'm sure you'd look much nicer in a vase than all the way out here alone." I was now talking to flowers. Wonderful.
As I got up, I noticed a few more flowers in the distance and I headed over. They almost formed a trail and I was intrigued. These flowers weren't too familiar on Master Genkai's land. Seeing as how plentiful they were, I took the one I plucked and tucked it behind my ear as an accessory of sort. I continued to follow them until I reached a clearing.
I stopped quickly as I saw in the middle a cherry blossom tree that stuck out like a sore thumb among the green trees. It was the time for them to blossom yes, but there weren't any other trees like that around here. I walked over to it and placed my hand on the truck.
The flowers that surrounded it at its base made the area seem so dream like. Even more so when I looked behind the tree and saw Hiei lying against it. He seemed to be asleep and I walked over and bent down to rest on my heels and have my hands rest on my knees. He didn't budge and it seemed as if he really was asleep.
A blossom petal fell and landed right on the tip of his nose. I couldn't help but chuckle and decided to reach my hand out to grab it but was quickly stopped as Hiei's hand grabbed my wrist and his eyes opened and met mine.
I blinked at him and then I proceeded to have my hand released. "I didn't mean to wake you." It was all I could think of.
"Hn." Was all he replied with as he got up and wiped the petals off of him himself.
"You always have a knack of finding secluded areas." I said admiring the flowers and the tree.
"I had a little help." He finally spoke. I raised an eyebrow at him. "You would think you'd know a little more about this tree."
My eyes widened as I put two and two together. "This is…that tree?" I exclaimed. "Is that why when Naoki and I went to go see it, there was just a giant hole? You're the one who moved it? How did you even find it?"
His jagan eye glowed underneath his sash. "Of course." I frowned. "And what makes you think you could just move it? What if you had damaged it?" I yelled.
"Do you really think I'd do something like this without Kurama's help?" He shot back.
"Oh great, you got him involved. And you didn't answer my question! Why did you move it? You had no right." I lectured him.
"You and I both know it was better to have it moved somewhere that doesn't tie you into the past of your father or your mother. I've heard of Genkai's plan to use this land as a fostering place for humans and demons to live together. A wasted effort. But it's something that seems fitting for you. The flowers were just something extra. For your birthday." He said with eyes closed and he leaned against the base of the tree.
"You're always having to play it so cool." I said. He explained all that effortlessly and while most found it to be a sweet gesture, coming from him you couldn't really tell what was the reasoning behind it. I smiled at him but I still felt a bit of sadness.
"If the flowers are for my birthday…then probably you have an answer that I won't like hearing." That was what I had wanted for my birthday. Hiei wasn't one to sugarcoat things, and he wouldn't, but I'm sure the extra mile he put into moving my mother's tree and surrounding it with flowers was because I'd end up hurt.
"I do." He said looking at me now. "My answer is that I don't have an answer." A gust of wind came by and the petals from the tree fell and blew past us.
Cherry blossoms were always so fleeting in life.
I looked down. "Well, that's rather convenient."
"It's not a matter of convenience. You're asking me to talk about something that isn't there." I bit my lip. Idiot, that was an answer right there. I wanted to tell him to say nothing more as I understood, but he went on. "All you've done is planted a seed and expect results right away. You of all people should know that's not how it works."
"I of all people? What's that supposed to mean?" I asked him out of genuine curiosity and not out of defense. It didn't sound like a reprimand coming from him.
"Even in the most adverse conditions, a seed can still be planted and eventually blossom. I am me, and you are you. In the end, if that's what brings us together, so be it." He spoke and he stared right at me.
Cherry blossoms, no matter how fleeting, they still bloom every year.
It may not be today, tomorrow, next year, or ever that Hiei would return my feelings. But for the first time he was acknowledging them and not only that but he accepted them. I could feel my heart wanting to burst out of it's chest. I know for him to accept them, it meant he cared. This whole clearing was something to show he cared. If you could take care of a flower, it meant you could take care of others and maybe even grow to love them. I had to believe it was so.
"Hiei…" I didn't have anything more to say and neither him and I let my actions take over and I ran up to him and threw my arms around him in an embrace. And to be held back by the person you love, this was enough.
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Fin
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A/N: And that's the end to A Single Flower! But don't fret, because if you go to my page you'll see the first chapter of the sequel is already up! It's been a crazy ride through Sakura's story and a huge deal for Hiei to just accept her feelings! Of course I still love those two together and I won't leave it just there.
Thank you to everyone who's read this and stayed with it! I hope you enjoyed it and I also hope you read and enjoy the sequel!