Chapter 16

Farwell

Riku stopped walking toward the others and looked to the right. The others looked over to where the wolf was staring. They saw Yukina and Hiei running toward them. "YUKINA" Kuwabara yelled happily. He bolted toward her with the others running behind him. Riku started to slowly walk behind them. When he reached Yukina Kuwabara threw his arms around her. She smiled and returned the hug. (YUCK!!!) "It's so great to see you again!" Yukina said breaking the hug. Kuwabara was blushing. "Yukina!" she looked behind Kuwabara to see Boton and Keiko rushing toward her. The three had a group hug. "We were so worried about you!" Boton said with teary eyes. "Thank goodness your alright" Keiko said with tears flowing from her eyes. "I've missed you all so much" Yukina said with a smile. She then hugged Yusuke and Kurama.

By now Riku had reached them. Everyone was asking Yukina questions about what she'd been up to. They stopped when they noticed Riku. Yusuke walked up to him. "We owe you big time. Just want you to know, your cool with me" Yusuke said extending his hand. "I have to admit, you're a pretty good fighter" Riku replied shaking Yusuke's hand. "Yea you were awesome fighting that Sirus dude" Kuwabara said patting Riku a bit hardly on the back. So this is Kuwabara Riku thought. Yukina had told him about each of her friends. She knew Kuwabara had feelings for her but she just didn't fell the same way. "Don't forget he also helped Yukina find us" Kurama said smirking at Riku. Hiei walked toward Riku. "Not bad, for a wolf" he said. Riku merely grinned at the fire demon. He was use to Hiei by now.

"You were an awesome fighter. Especially with the attack you used at the end" Yusuke complimented. "Yes, I'm curious to know how you were able to use such an attack in your weakened state" Kurama said looping an arm around Boton. "I just asked the wolf spirits to help me, and they did" Riku replied.

"What are you going to do now?" Yusuke asked. "What else? I'll head back to my village" Riku replied turning around and walking away. "Riku wait" Yukina said. Riku turned around to see Yukina running toward him. She looped her arms around his neck. "Thank you so much Riku. If it weren't for you, I'd have been bear food weeks ago" she said looking up at him. Riku smiled and returned the hug. "Making new friends is a good enough thank you" he said. Yukina kissed him on the check. "I guess this is goodbye" she said breaking the hug and taking a step back. Her friends walked to her side. Kuwabara was a little jealous that Riku got a kiss from Yukina. "Maybe our paths will cross again someday. Just remember, if you ever come to the U.S. and need a place to stay, you and your friends are welcomed to stay in my village. Farwell" he said. He spun around and took off running toward the south. Goodbye Riku Yukina thought as she and her friends, minus Hiei, waved the wolf goodbye.

A few minutes later

Riku stopped running as he stood on the top of a cliff overlooking a huge valley. I miss her already. Me and her just weren't meant to be. No point in mopping about it. She's gone and I have to accept the fact I'll never see her again he thought. He wind morphed and headed home.

A few hours later

Yukina and the others were on a private plane Koenma sent to pick them up and take them home. The plane was pretty much a cockpit with a large space in the middle with a coach, table, and a few chairs in it and a cargo hold. Yukina sat in a chair with Boton and Keiko to her left and Kuwabara to her right. Kurama was next to Boton and Hiei was on a chair opposite them polishing his katana. Yusuke had fallen asleep on a chair next to Hiei. Kuwabara was telling Yukina about the courageous things he did to try and find her. "… so then the squirrel bit my nose and…" Yukina stopped listening. Thoughts of Riku filled her head. She could fell a funny felling in her chest. Maybe I should have told him how I felt. No, that would just have made it harder to say goodbye. Oh Riku, I miss you so much she thought. The rest of the trip back to Japan went on without much happening.

At Riku's village

Maya was chasing Rogato around the house with her spear in a killing position. "How dare you step on my tail again!!!" she said angrily. "Come on sis, your over reacting" he replied. "I'LL SHOW YOU OVER REACTING!!!" she screeched back. Kovu shook his head as his daughter continued to chase one of his sons.

Just then the wind picked up. A small tornado appeared in front of the house. When it disappeared Riku stood there. Maya and Rogato both stopped dead in their tracks. "I'm back" Riku said smirking. "Riku!!!" Maya squealed running to him. She threw her arms around him. Rogato messed up Riku's hair a bit as he rubbed his head. "So Yukina's back with her friends" Kovu said walking toward them. "Yea. Summon the pack to the fire and have a few falcon demons come to. I have some news" Riku said heading for the house. Kovu nodded and headed for the alpha building. Maya and Rogato followed Riku in.

One hour latter

Riku was standing in the village square. He had a clean outfit on, eaten dinner, and had a bath. "Okay Riku your up" a wolf demon said. Riku grabbed a mike and walked to the middle near the fire. Everyone went silent. "As you all know, I was on a journey to help the ice maiden Yukina find her friends. It turns out her friends were captured by the Dark Moon pack. Along with one of her friends that wasn't captured I infiltrated the fortress and freed her friends. Afterwards I battled Sirus. I'm here to tell you the wars over. Sirus is dead and the Dark Moon pack has fled to the shadows" Riku said into the mike. Cheers went through the crowd. The war had been going on for generations and it was over.

Riku walked back to his dad's side. "I'm proud of you son" Kovu said putting a hand on Riku's shoulder. "Thanks" Riku replied. The falcon demons took off to spread the news. Riku headed back home.

When he got there, he headed for his room and fell into his bed. Now that that's over I can relax a bit. Yukina came to his mind. I wish I could tell Yukina how I really fell Riku thought drifting to sleep.

Little did the wolf know, a certain toddler had been watching him since he fought Domaru.

Don't think that the story's almost over. This is only the beginning and a lot more will happen. Next chapter, how Riku and Yukina are doing a week after saying goodbye and Riku get the surprise of his life. Review please.