Spreading Your Wings

Epilogue

When I look back on my life, many moments stand out. Meeting my sister for the first time, joining the Rekai Tentei, winning the Dark Tournament, the defeat of Sensui, meeting Mukuro. Being exiled from my homeland, shunned from my bandit family, losing my tear gem, and never being loved. Until her.

Above all those memories are my memories of her. The first time I met her and heard her sing, the first time we went out on her roof, our first kiss and our first dance. The way she looked the day I left and the way she looked the day I came back. Our mating and our wedding, and the birth of our two children, Hina and Rai. Her strength, stubbornness, humor, smarts, and her absolute love for me. The way she looked at me and the way her skin felt against mine. And then, finally, her death.

We both knew it was coming, but neither of us ever mentioned it. Her demon energy had all but diminished three days before she died. Her unnatural demon genes had "expired", causing her death. The were only created and they couldn't keep functioning anymore…

She died peacefully in her sleep, nestled in my arms. She had a smile on her face. Had it not been for my strange dream, I wouldn't have woken up to notice she was no longer breathing and her energy was gone.

I saw her in my dream, but she seemed somewhat sad. She kissed my cheek, and then whispered into my ear, "I will always love you, Hiei. And you are never alone. I will forever watch over you."

And then she disappeared. I reached out for her, called for her, but she didn't come back. I didn't know until I woke up a few seconds later that my nightmare was a reality.

So now I stand before her gravestone, two days later, going over all my memories of her.

I felt a hand enclose around my own and I looked to my right where the person stood; Hina, my first born and only daughter.

"She was amazing, wasn't she?" she asked quietly through the silent tears that fell from her crimson eyes.

"Yes," I said with a small smile, "I wish you could have known her as a teenager. She was a lot like you."

She gave her own small smile and tucked a piece of her blonde and white streaked hair behind an ear. "You tell me that all the time."

"It's true."

I turned to my left when my son, Rai, walked up beside me. Rai ran a hand through his spiky black and violet streaked hair and gave a sigh.

"And I guess you're gonna tell me how much I look like her, right?" he asked, turning his hazel eyes on me.

"Hn."

Rai gave a low chuckle at my response. As a child, he and his older sister had thought that the response had meant that I was mad at them. Kelly finally explained to them that it was my "all purpose response."

I looked Rai over quickly. He really did look like a male version of Kelly. He looked like Ryan, with his rounded features, pert nose, and the dimples he hated so much. It was ironic. We named him after his uncle without ever knowing how much they would look alike.

I then turned to look at Hina, named after my mother. She had inherited her appearance from my koorime side, minus the blonde part of her hair. She looked like Yukina's twin, meaning that she too looked like the person she was named after. Her crimson eyes, sharp cheekbones, and all around beautiful face left an impression on whomever saw her.

"Hina, your gems are scattering everywhere," came a gentle voice from her other side.

I turned to look at Hina's mate and husband, Takeshi. He was Sora and Delia's only child, born a year before Hina was. The two had grown up as best friends until one finally bent. I had been happy with her decision. Takeshi was a good man and he loved her more than anything.

"I know. I just can't stop them," Hina said, never letting go of my hand. She looked down at the tear gems that had gathered at her feet.

Kelly and I had been so surprised when she had cried her first tear gem. She had inherited not only looks from my koorime side, but also some of the abilities of them as well. She cried tear gems and had deadly ice powers, though she did not give birth every one hundred years. From her mother's various demon genes, she inherited the ability to create barriers and water manipulation.

Rai, on the other hand, had inherited my fire manipulation, including control over the darkness technique. From Kelly, he inherited wind manipulation and the ability to create weapons from their demon energy.

Both had some thunder skills and the uncanny ability to emanate music form their bodies. They had inherited their mother's love for music. Hearing Hina and Kelly sing together with Rai playing his various instruments was always the highlights of my days while we all still lived together. But of course, they grew up and moved out to start their own families.

"Hina, go comfort Brett," I told her in a soft voice, "He's still young for a demon. He'll never say it, but he'll want his mother."

"You'll be okay?" she asked.

"Hn. Who do you think you're talking to?"

She nodded, but I could tell she didn't believe me. She gave me a quick kiss on my cheek, then let go of my hand and went to stand with her mate and son.

"I should go to Mona and Rikku too," Rai said to me, referring to his mate and his daughter, "Don't tell me you'll be okay 'cause I know it's a lie. But… I know you'll want us to be okay too."

I nodded, not saying anything. He clasped my shoulder, looked me in the eye, then quickly turned and left so that I wouldn't see him crying. But I knew. I always knew when either of my children were crying.

I turned back to look at the gravestone again. As far as gravestones go, it was beautiful. It was white marble, as pure as her soul. Her name was carved into it at the top in intricate lettering and lilies decorated the corners. Her date of birth and date of death were printed just under her name. She had died at the age of five hundred sixty-three. She had lived a long time for a half-demon that hadn't inherited the genes of a long living demon, like Yusuke had. Her half-millennium birthday party had been a huge event. We had all known she wouldn't get much older, so we tried to give her the best time we could.

I smiled at her epitaph. It had been hard to pick out, but I believed I did a good job with it.

"She went dancing and singing through life, and now in death; and even in death she will be loved."

I looked up again, this time taking in the scenery. I had chosen to bury her in a field not too far from the bug fortress. It was a wide meadow, a clearing in a forest. Wild flowers grew everywhere and birds sang all day long. It was the same place where I had first met her. I was convinced it was, even though there was really no possible way. It was just a place in her mind, but I knew better. I knew it was here.

I turned to survey all the demons that had shown up. There were a few humans too. Her fifth and sixth generation nieces and nephews. She had still been so involved with her family even after her parents and siblings died.

I saw Yomi and Shura, Mukuro, Sora and Delia, Noah, Trey, Koenma, Botan, Ayame, and George. Jin and his mate Rori and their son Takeo. Rinku and Suzuga. Chua and Natsume and her brother. Suzuki and his mate Karin. Touya and his mate Calina and their daughter Yummi. Shishiwakamaru and his mate Tanya. There were several demons from border patrol and officials in the demon political world that we had worked with. Even Hokushin and a few monks had come.

So many lives she had touched. So many. And they weren't even all here. There was Shizuru, Genkai, and even Shiori and Atsuko had come to love the girl. And of course the deceased members of her family. They were all touched by her love and spirit.

I turned to look at the six other people she had touched, perhaps more than all the others. Youko Kurama and Brittany (in her second life as a demon), Yusuke and Keiko, and Kuwabara and Yukina all slowly walked towards me. Their litter of children were scattered behind them, keeping their distance. They knew this was private for now.

They stopped just before me to take in my tired appearance.

"When was the last time you slept, Hiei?" Youko asked me.

"Two days ago," I answered with no emotion in my voice.

"She will never forgive you if you pull what she did," Brittany told me sternly, though her fox ears were flat on her head, her tail dropped, and tears fell from her eyes.

"I know."

"But you're gonna do it anyway," Yusuke said.

"I… don't know."

"She said she made you promise," Yukina pointed out, tear gems slowly gathering at her feet.

"I promised I'd try."

"Listen, shrimp! Do you really think she'd want you to live the last years of your life wallowing in misery?" Kuwabara asked.

"It doesn't matter."

"Don't lie, Hiei," Keiko said, her own tears falling.

I didn't say anything. I couldn't.

"The tournament is coming up soon," Yusuke said quietly, "She'd want you to win just once more, take my place."

I couldn't help but smirk at that. I had won numerous times, as had many others of my friends. Yusuke had won the last three tournaments.

"Yes, maybe I will…"

"It would make her happy," Brittany added, attempting to wipe away her tears, but they just kept coming.

I nodded.

"I'm sorry she can't be brought back," Yukina said sadly.

"She wouldn't want to," I said, looking back at her gravestone, "She lived a good life. She finished everything she had to do."

Koenma had regrettably informed me that he could not reincarnate Kelly or grant her a second life. Her situation… was too different. There would never be a body to handle her half-demon soul, and her half-demon genes of her original body were not functioning, so she would not be able to use the body again. I didn't mind though. Like I said, she wouldn't want to come back.

The others nodded in agreement. Kelly had fulfilled her purpose in life. She was meant to die now. She had no regrets.

Brittany walked forward then, and knelt down in front of the white marble. She pulled a seed from her hair and cause it to sprout into a beautiful lily, Kelly's favorite. She placed it on the grass before the stone and whispered, "Be good up there. No more craziness. We all want Spirit World to still be intact when our time comes." She stood and placed a hand on the top of the stone. "I love you, Kelly."

She then turned and walked back, squeezing my hand on her way. She passed Kurama, whispering something to him that I couldn't hear, and then she disappeared.

One by one, they said their last words to her and then left. They didn't want me to see them cry. No one did.

That was why I found myself still standing in front of her grave three hours later underneath the starry sky, by myself. Everyone else had left.

I watched the stars gleam overhead as I sifted through the memories. I thought maybe they would bring me solace, but all I felt was pain. Unbearable pain, like nothing I had ever felt before.

I fell to my knees and felt my first tears run down my face. The very first tears I ever cried.

"Kelly…" I sobbed out. I never realized how empty life could seem. I had never felt this empty, not even before, during my years of abandonment. The world just seemed so much less colorful now. So much more dreary. The music and the light was gone. My life was gone.

No, silly. You still have many years ahead of you.

I snapped my head up in shock. There was no way…

Yes way.

I stayed perfectly still as two ghostly, yet familiar arms wrapped around from my back to my front, over my chest. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her head rest on my shoulder. Everywhere she touched felt cold, but I couldn't actually feel her skin, or any pressure.

'Cause I'm dead. Duh.

"Then how?"

Koenma gave me a few minutes to say good-bye. Well, good-bye for now, at least. He has a place reserved for you.

"I see," I said dumbly, while attempting to wipe away my tears.

I heard her chuckle.

Don't wipe them away. I never saw you cry before. You deserve to show weakness. But… I still want you to be happy so… no more tears after tonight.

"Hn. Of course."

She laughed. God how I missed her laugh.

I laugh whenever one of our children laugh. Just remember that.

"I will."

Live a good life. Live, laugh, and love, remember?

"Yes. I promise this time."

Good.

She shifted so that her ghost was in front of me now.

Hiei, your songbird will always be singing. I will sing and wait for the day that I can finally sing for you again.

I nodded. I couldn't seem to speak anymore. She placed a see-through hand on my cheek.

I love you so much. Thank you so much for loving me too. For taking me the way I was. For giving me so many years of happiness. For… everything.

I nodded again. "Thank you. For the same reasons. And I love you too."

She smiled, her gorgeous smile.

I'll always be with you, Hiei. In your heart. Every night, look to the stars, just as we always did. That's where I'll be watching you from.

"I will."

She nodded, a smile still on her face, but I could see the glitter of the tears falling down.

So, until your time comes… good-bye. I love you.

As she slowly faded away, my tears fell even faster and I whispered, "Good-bye. I love you too… Kelly."

The last thing I heard was her happy laugh, and then she was gone.

I slowly stood, took one last glance at her grave, then made my way home.

As I laid in my bed, I looked up at the stars, looking for her.

And I saw her. A single star shone slightly brighter than all the others, then went back to normal.

I smiled through my tears, suddenly looking forward to the next day. I drifted off to sleep knowing that one day I would join her, and we would be together forever. But until then, I would live each day to the fullest, laugh whenever I could, and smile whenever I got the chance. Just like she taught me. I wouldn't dissapoint her, just as i had promised.

OMG ITS OVER!! omg, this cant be happening. i just stated these stories! ah, this is depressing.

but hopefully you dont all hate me. i know its sad, but its a happy sad. she died when she was suppossed to, and she died happily. i wrote this as the epilogue becasue it explained everything basically. it showed how Hiei had changed, how he could say he loved her without hesitance now and how he smiled more easily, how he obviously loved his children. and the kids! i explained the kids and how they ended up and i showed everyones mates and whatnot.

but i cant even not cry whenever i read this. but i think that's because i realize its completley over... wow.

but its actually not! my next story on fanfiction isnt really a story. its a collection of oneshots from the two stories, ranging from Hiei's first reaction to kelly's bedroom, to the birth of Hina. and its appropriatly titled, A Bowlfull of Craziness! hahaha. i had to do it.

so i would like to thank all my reviewers. i would name them, but the list would be much to long! but my faithful and favorite reviewers know who they are. i think ive had more conversations with them than i do my regular friends lol.

so as thanks, any of my readers may request a one-shot of any scenerio you want besides a lemon. i will post it in A Bowfull of Craziness. i know this isnt exactly the best way of saying thanks, but hopefully you'll make use of it. just leave it in a review or send it in a pm! i love to write and ive ran out of ideas. actually, im writing an original story now for my friends, which will not be posted on here.

but anways, thanks so much again and i hope you liked it! rememeber, its not really sad! lol.