WRITERFREAK001:

This chapter took longer to write for some reason. I am hoping the characters aren't too OOC for you guys.

Also – be honest with me – is this story too boring? I haven't gotten too many reviews so I'm feeling a bit insecure about what people honestly think about "Rescue."

Anyway – here's the next chapter!

Rescue

~ WriterFreak001 ~

~ CHAPTER THREE ~

I don't like it, but the time to say goodbye has come. Koenma cannot delay the mission any longer, so here we are, embracing one another tightly. I am afraid to let you go, and I can sense that you don't want to let go. It comforts me knowing how reluctant you are… that at least… you're having second thoughts about leaving me behind.

"Be safe, please." I mumble against your neck, and you kiss my cheek softly. "I can't… I can't do this on my own." I close my eyes as our lips touch gently. "I don't want to do this alone."

"I know," you slowly drop to your knees and press your forehead against our growing child. My hands find yours and squeeze them firmly as you press a kiss just above my belly button. "Protect your mother," you whisper, making my heart melt. You rise back to your feet and close the distance between us in another kiss. "I will try my damnedest to get back as soon as I can."

"You better." A single tear falls down my cheek, and you wipe it with your thumb. "Or else I'm going to storm into Makai and haul your ass out of there myself!"

You laugh a little. "And you have my blessing to do just that."

"Don't think I won't, Yusuke. I'm serious." I give him one more tight hug and another kiss before slowly releasing him. Too keep myself from reaching for him again, I take a step back and wrap my arms around myself. "You should go now. Koenma's waiting."

You nod gently and turn towards Koenma, who is waiting near the shrine gate. With a wave of his hand, the prince of the Spirit World opens a portal Demon's Door Cave. Without any words, you slowly walk away from me, and I silently beg for you to turn around – just once – before leaving.

The space between us feels so distant and fragile, and my pride is the only thing keeping me from wavering in despair of losing you again. I love you, and yet, I hate how much the world depends on you. It's a lot to handle, I know. I only wish I could somehow carry the burden alongside with you. We're a team. We always have been. There's so much I wish I could do to help you live an easier life.

Tears threaten to fall, and my nose burns. You walk further and further way, and I can barely hear your footsteps anymore. Flashes of my worst nightmare returns, and all I can see is you disappearing… fading into nothingness. My heart begins to ache painfully at the thought of losing you all over again, and an immense wave of deep fear sends me spiraling towards you.

You stop suddenly as I call out your name and whirl around, your strong arms catching me before I fall to the ground over my dumb, swollen feet. I embrace you as if my life solely depends on your warmth to survive. "Don't… Don't you dare die again, Yusuke." Tears spill down my cheeks as my fingers clench tightly at your shirt. "I don't know if my heart can handle it."

"I won't, Keiko." You mumble against my neck before lightly kissing the base of my neck. "I promise." You leave a trail of short, hasty kisses along my jawline and kiss me hard on the mouth when our lips meet. It was swift and bruising all at once, short-lived but long enough to mean goodbye. "Aishiteru. Both of you.," you whisper ever so softly to my ear before forcefully tearing yourself away from my arms. You sprint towards the portal full force and, within a blink of an eye, you are gone, with Koenma following in tow.

I sank to my knees with one hand resting on our child and the other against my pounding heart. The loneliness I feel after every time you leave has never felt stronger, and I don't know if I'll ever see you again.

"Oh goodness, Keiko!" Yukina teeters over to me and tries to help me stand, but I don't even know if I can walk at this point. The grief I feel from you leaving all over again is almost too much for me to bear. I close my eyes and exhale a long, deep breath. Yukina carefully drops to her knees beside me and places her ice-cold hands on my shoulders. "You must already miss him terribly, but you're not alone this time. You'll have me, Botan, and Shizuru right here with you. Don't forget Puu, too! But most of all, you have your unborn child, who needs you to stay strong."

My eyes widen a little. She's right. I'm not waiting alone anymore. I instinctively wrap my arms around the child growing within me and close my eyes. Tiny feet press up against my hands as if to serve as a reminder of the life we are trying to build. My eyes flutter open, and Puu is standing right in front of me. He presses his fuzzy blue head against my forehead before he lets out a small, comforting sound. Carefully, I wrap my arms around his neck, and he gently pulls me to my feet. I lean against him, and he smiles. Puu!

Yukina sweetly grins as Puu helps me walk back to the temple, and once inside, Yukina stays by my side to aide me to the back room so that I can rest. "I'll walk around the temple and make sure all of the wards are still working properly. You take as long as you need to sleep. Puu will be just outside if you need anything."

She squeezes my hand and starts to walk off, but I instinctually grab her wrist. She stops walking and turns around. I smile softly. "Thank you."

"I know it's going to be hard, Keiko. But I strongly believe Yusuke will find his way back to you, and you to him. We just have to have faith that everything will be all right." Yukina smiles a little, and I nod, hoping she is right. "Now, just lay down and rest. I'll brew up some warm tea as we wait for Koenma to return."

After she closes the door behind her, I exhale a quiet, shaky breath and blink back some lingering tears. "I will be strong," I whisper softly. "I have to be."

Slowly, sleep overtakes me, and I eventually find myself dreaming of our memories.

oOoOoOo

~ MEANWHILE WITH YUSUKE & KOENMA ~

Yusuke stops walking as soon as the portal disappears and turns to Koenma with an evident frown. "All right, Koenma. Before I leave for Makai, I think it's time for you to come clean about what the hell is going on. I know you are keeping secrets from me, and it's only a matter of time before I find out. So spill it if you know what's good for you."

"What do you know?" Koenma asks cautiously, and Yusuke crosses his arms and shifts his stance.

"I couldn't help but overhear Yukina mention something about you activating a barrier around the temple at night. On our way here, I noticed sutras carved into a bunch of trees leading up to the temple. Now I know Genkai never used spiritual sutras to fight her battles for her; she thought they were dirty and lazy tactics. However, that doesn't mean she didn't know how to use them." Yusuke paused and shifted his feet a little bit more before continuing. "Genkai taught me everything she knew – including her knowledge of sutra spells. So, if you want me to go to Makai and take care of the demonic disturbance for you, then answer my next question."

"Go on." A sweat drop is evident on the side of Koenma's face.

"I get why you would be protecting Keiko and the baby from demonic threats while I'm gone. But why are you also shielding her from the Spirit World?"

oOoOoOo

WRITERFREAK001:

I hope you're still enjoying the story so far! Until next time. :)