Chapter Two-Hiei's Choice

            Aymui hovered outside her home as her family sat tearfully to breakfast, barely managing to eat.  Rice plucked against Keiko's mouth but fell back into the bowl as she burst into tears again.  Yusuke put his hand over his wife's shoulder and pulled her closer to calm her.  Keiko's tears quit and Yusuke stood up and walked outside,

"Botan!"  Yusuke screamed.

Botan blushed, frightened and shocked.  Botan transformed into her 'human' self and floated down to the ground in front of Yusuke.  Yusuke spat angry curses at Botan and Ayumi covered her ears, she had learned the hard way not to make her father mad.  Ayumi looked by the Japanese maple tress in their front yard and saw that Kurama was leaning against one of the trees laughing to himself while Hiei was in the branches without a hint of emotion on his face.  Yusuke ignored Botan and stomped over to Hiei and Kurama,

"What the heck is wrong with you?  My daughter is dead and you're…laughing?!"

Kurama continued to laugh, "Would we really laugh…if she wasn't coming back?"

Yusuke stopped, "Coming back…. but I didn't see her in a dream…how can she be…coming back?"

Botan hopped over to the duo and clasped her hand over Kurama, and turned to Yusuke,

"Yusuke…it's too early yet to know these things.  But…" Botan waved her finger and kept one eye closed, "You'll see alive tonight…but don't be surprised if something is a little…different"

Yusuke tilted his head, "A little…different?"  Botan began walking away and picked took out her oar, "Just wait a little Yusuke"

Ayumi hovered in the breeze and sighed as she looked at Hiei.  Botan half smiled realizing what was wrong with Ayumi, "Don't worry about it Ayumi, Hiei will come through, he always has, even if he does wait until the last minute…"

Ayumi sighed, "But…he has never had to face a challenge quite like this…."

Botan giggled, "I'd hardy consider it a challenge…it's only a kiss…unless…. (Ivy suddenly forms above Botan and Ayumi)  this is your first kiss…. and his too…" Botan blushed, "Well…. when Yusuke and Keiko kissed to bring him back to life…that was his first kiss and your mothers too…." Botan realized her words weren't helping and said no more but left Ayumi to be alone. 

            Hiei meditated on the dream he had the night before, Ayumi was there…and she asked me to kiss her to bring her back to life.  As many times as Yusuke had told of his revival, I believe it to be true…but to think that I would kiss her…that I would love…let alone like her?  Yeah-good thinking Ayumi, why don't you just rely on Kurama?

            Without another thought Hiei zipped off the tree branch and raced towards the woods to relax his mind from the dream the night before.  Training is the only things that will keep me from thinking; I must put everything into this training.  With that Hiei ran deeper into the forest.

            Ayumi sat by her own body and sighed, "Where is Hiei?  It's nearly noon…he promised…." Botan suddenly appeared behind Ayumi,

"Hiei has went off to training…but I'm sure he'll be back" Botan noticed her words weren't very helpful and sat down beside Ayumi, "I'm sorry Ayumi…that I can't offer advice in this situation, you see, those born as spirits like me never really have feelings of love, just caring…like I care that master Koenma is safe…but I don't love him…" Botan pauses and Ayumi looks at Botan unable to say anything for a while.  After five minutes have passed, Ayumi turns to Botan, "You're lucky.  Not to have to deal with these things…here I am and I'm in love…but the Hiei I met last night was different…he was shielding his true emotions from me all alone.  It's as that black cloak of his covers what he really feels, but in his dream world, it's not on and he feels free to express himself because on one can see him…but he's the same Hiei…the same Hiei that I love"

Botan smiled, "I wish I could understand what you mean by love…but I can't say I do…only love was removed from me at birth…the ability to fall in love, but knowing how to care for someone…but never in that way…parents are just regular people…if they die…I can't find myself shedding tears…and it leaves me feeling empty…just every now and again" Ayumi put her hand on Botan's shoulder, "It's a shame….we're handed the fates we don't want. But, others are given the ones that we want"

            Ayumi looked up to see a shadow leaning against the door.  Ayumi looked harder to see that the shape was that of Kuwabara.  Ayumi felt the color from her face leave as Kuwabara approached where she was standing and stop in front of her,

"Ayumi?"  Kuwabara looked straight into Kuwabara's eyes, he could see her, "I can see you, and I'm looking straight into you you know.  And I know that you know that"

Ayumi sat down and so did Kuwabara.  Botan bowed to the two and left the room and Kuwabara studied Ayumi, "So…are you coming back to life or not?"

Ayumi nodded with a little doubt to her facial expression, Kuwabara nodded, "What's the catch?"

Ayumi said nothing, Kuwabara could see her, but couldn't hear anything she had to say.  Kuwabara studied her, "Did you find someone to kiss you yet?"

Ayumi nodded and stood up and let her left hand make a whipping motion.  Kuwabara understood, "So Kurama…and" Ayumi squatted down to Hiei's height and Kuwabara jumped back, "No way!  Hiei?  The short little runt?!"

Ayumi blushed and clasped her hand over his face as she heard footsteps coming up to the door, her father.  Kuwabara felt a chill come up his spine and raced outside to greet Ayumi's parents who said nothing but sat down in front of Ayumi's coffin and Keiko prayed silently as Yusuke violently shook his fist at the sky, "Koenma…" Yusuke hissed through his teeth.  Ayumi felt it was best she left and went outside and looked at a sundial on the fresh green lawn surrounded by dense woods, "12:30" Ayumi said quietly.  Botan appeared beside Ayumi, "Botan, quit appearing and disappearing so suddenly and often!"  Ayumi hissed. 

"Gomen Nasai" Botan said bowing. "But…I have something important to tell you…it's about Kurama…he's just been taken to the hospital, he's been having a lot of stress lately and it's having a pretty negative effect on him.  He won't be able to kiss you to say the least."  Botan gave Ayumi a worried look, "Which means that if you want to come back to life…we'll have to trust in Hiei"

Ayumi didn't appear worried, "So?  It's not like I'll have to wait around for a couple of years."  Botan smiled and a sweat drop appeared behind her head, "How long Botan?"

"Uh…your slightly above average in length…five years"

Ayumi sighed, "Five years, darn" Ayumi looked at the ground and glided towards a nearby tree and sat on one of the top branches.  Botan floated over to the tree that Ayumi sat in and Ayumi sighed, "Go away Botan, I need to thing" Ayumi drifted off to sleep and Botan slipped quietly away.

            Ayumi dreamt of Hiei and bolted awake just as he was about to wipe away her tears.  "Hiei!"  Ayumi screamed.  Ayumi rubbed her head and looked at the clock tower in the distance, "6:45, Hiei's not coming…."

Ayumi heard a rustle in the bushes and looked down to see a dark figure moving around the darkness towards Ayumi's house.  Her father, mother and other siblings were always in bed by now…could it be Hiei?  Ayumi jumped down and followed the shape into her house.  The figure zipped down the hallway at high speeds that only Hiei could perform.  Ayumi felt tears of joy sting her eyes and Ayumi rushed to her room where Hiei knelt beside Ayumi's cold body in the darkness. 

"Hn.  I guess you weren't lying…you are all gold…but do you take me for a fool?  Would I kiss anyone?  My mother or beloved sister?  No, no one, love is a foolish emotion only for the weak."  Hiei held Ayumi's hand tightly, "But…this is the exception" Hiei leaned forward and kissed Ayumi on her cold lips and clutched her body tightly, brining it to his.  Ayumi felt strange and one minute she was seeing herself and Hiei, the next she was looking into Hiei's eyes, his lips against hers.  Feeling the warmth of Ayumi's body, Hiei pulled away and looked at Ayumi.   He said only a, "Hn" before zipping away.  Ayumi felt tears and the voices of her family filled the air.  Keiko turned on the lights and gasped at Ayumi, "My baby…." Keiko embraced Ayumi and Yusuke followed.  Her sister and brothers crowded around her and Ayumi could only stare out the window in the darkness, a tear hanging on the corner of her eye.