CHAPTER 1

The cold wind blew her brown hair gently. She, Yusuke, and their friends all agreed to spend the day with a picnic by the beach near Oba-san Genkai's temple. But it was an hour early, and being there alone was not as pleasing as before, for she found time to recall the last conversation she had with her parents. The last, yet she was not able to explain why tonight she wouldn't be sleeping on her bed, and tomorrow morning they might not see her get out of her room, or the coming days and weeks and months and years, they won't see her again.

A tear found its way to her cheeks, as she whispered, "Oka-san, Ottou-san, aishiteru."

There were so many things she wanted to say, but why now that Keiko Yukimura lost her courage.

"Keiko-chan, have you been crying?" A concerned voice greeted her as she walked into the kitchen. Her mother has always been very sweet and loving. Keiko just couldn't embrace the fact that she had to be away from her.

"Doushitano Kei-chan?" she loved how her father calls her that. Nevertheless, his sickly sweet charms couldn't lighten the burdens of the young girl.

"I'm... I'm okay." she replied in a soft and hesitant tone. Seeing that the two grown ups were not satisfied, Keiko added, "I am. Really.", and walked to the sink and started to arrange some utensils. It should be the perfect time to talk to them before customers turn up for snack time. "I'm going to Oba-san Genkai's temple with Yusuke and the others."

They nodded in reply, while her father let out a wide grin for assurance. They were silent for a moment. Only the sounds of spoons and forks touching the table, the blare of the fishes being fried, and drops of water touching the sink were heard. She stood still, watching her parents work. "Don't forget that I love the both of you, and I always will." Both smiled at her sweetly, she beamed back and advanced to them, gave them soft pecks on the cheeks.

"Are you sure you're alright?" her mother queried again.

Keiko hated lying to anyone of the two, "Hai." but she just couldn't tell them. "I should be going now.", again a courteous smile was returned to her. "Arigato Oka-san, Ottou-san."

"Hey! What's the 'thank you' for? It's not the first time you were allowed to go there?" her father kid.

"Not just for allowing me. For everything. For being my parents."

They were surprised of how solemn the words were uttered. Feeling proud, they gave their daughter a warm hug. She hugged back tightly, as if she never wanted to get out of their embrace. But she knew they would speculate on the way she has been acting and might ask her several questions she cannot answer. Slowly, she pulled herself from them. "Goodbye Oka-san, Ottou-san. Gomen nasai." Before they could respond, she rushed out of the kitchen, and out of the house. Her tears were ceaselessly falling as she ran to the train station.

The sound of the waves breaking on the shore which she loved so much didn't help her calm down. "Stupid rules!" she silently cursed. "Stupid human-eating youkais! Stupid Enma!" she buried her face on her hands, 'What the hell are you saying Keiko!' she shouted to herself. 'Enma is the king of the Spirit World, and more than that, he is Koenma's father! How dare you curse him?!'

As far as she and Yusuke were concerned, they weren't causing any harm to any being. Yes, they knew about the rules that human-eating youkais are strictly prohibited to cross the portal that connects Makai and Ningenkai; and with the blood of Raizen running through Yusuke's veins happened to be an indication that he might turn out to be one of the forbidden youkais. But isn't Yusuke half human? So it wasn't an excuse after all. But the urge, the desire, the craving they feel for each other were undying; and they never regarded the consequences of Yusuke breaking into Ningenkai to be with her. They never thought of the possible outcomes their hidden romance would bear. She even laughed at the thought that she and he were the modern day star-crossed lovers.

Keiko let out a soft sigh. Before she knew it, the Urameshi Band was already eyeshot, fast approaching. Everybody was laughing just like the old days, well except for Hiei of course who remained at one end of the site, arms crossed eyes locked on something very interesting from the group. Kuwabara? Kurama? She did not want to know, but she did notice one time that Hiei was looking at Yukina in a very different way. No, not that he likes her or want something from her, sort of, just wanna see if she's okay.

Botan waved at her, she waved back, and the gang raced towards her.

"You're early." Yusuke remarked, as he grabbed her by the waist and playfully swayed her left to right.

She sniggered, "I'm always."

Shizuru and Yukina laid the picnic blanket they brought. Kuwabara put out the foods from the basket—fruits, chips and canned drinks. Botan gingerly arranged them as Kurama watched her with delight. Hiei was standing a couple of steps away from them, while Koenma and Genkai were much more reserved than usual. As soon as the snacks were ready, they all gathered around the large blanket. Yusuke had asked them earlier not to talk about the discussion with King Enma or anything with concern to that. He and Keiko just wanted to have fun with them for the last time, which they would bring along as one of the memories to keep them strong.

With Kuwabara around, laughing was not hard to do. He obviously took the center stage and gave everyone stomachaches with his silly jokes. But Kuwabara wasn't all the happy type of person, he can be as sensitive as Keiko or Yukina. He has always admired Yusuke and considered him his best friend, a brother he never had. The fact that he'll be spending the rest of his life away from him was a terrible pain. All of a sudden, he stopped from cracking up jokes. His expression became serious, eyes deep. Everyone kept silent; they knew what's on Kuwabara's mind, and admittedly, they felt the same.

"I remember back then, I was so mad at you for always winning over our fights." he began, his gaze was glued on his feet. "And then when you died, I was so mad at you for dying. I thought you were so stupid and... but... the kid..."

Yusuke knew what was coming, and he can't let their last gathering be tear jerking. "I remember you were shouting at my funeral! And man! I realized you have such a big mouth Kuwabara!" thinking he could change the atmosphere and bring it back to what it was a while ago. Keiko chuckled, but it was a fake one, she and Yusuke were probably thinking of the same thing. Still, no one reacted.

Kuwabara continued, "You helped me a lot y'know! But I'd still think you're stupid! How could you break the rules! Damn it Yusuke!" in some ways, Kuwabara was aware that he didn't know what he was talking about! 'Of course, to be with Keiko, you dimwit' he scolded himself.

Keiko was partly hurt with Kuwabara's sudden outburst. 'Does he mean to say he should've stayed in Makai and forget about me? He should've looked for someone else to love? That I'm not worth breaking the rules?' she wanted to voice the exact words, she bet it would kill Kuwabara in guilt, but she chose to understand him.

"I'm sorry." Kuwabara murmured, his head almost touching the ground. He shouldn't have said those words in the first place. 'Keiko, please say I'm forgiven' he silently prayed.

Keiko sighed. Well, she once felt stupid herself realizing what she and Yusuke have done. "Hey Kuwa! Y'know, I'll miss you!" her voice began to trail off, "I'll miss you all..." She hadn't forgotten what she and Yusuke have talked about avoiding the dramatic scenes, but they have to at least bid their farewells to them leaving them words from the heart. She just wished she did that before she left her parents. She gave Yusuke a look, 'Is he mad that I broke the agreement?'

Yusuke, sitting next to her reached for her right hand. He held it tight, assuring her it's okay, as his own tears found their way out his eyes. "I have never felt so right in my whole life. Funny, but when I did what was the most forbidden, that's when I felt really proud of myself." He squeezed her hand, she gently pressed back.

She leaned her head on his strong shoulder, 'I love you, Yusuke, and I'm so proud that I was banished because of that.' she thought.

Everyone remained quiet while the sky slowly turned into reddish shade. Genkai stood up, "It's time." he muttered.

The group looked at her and nodded, but Yusuke and Keiko were puzzled on what's going on. 'Time for what? It isn't time yet, if the TIME they're referring to is their departure. Well, not until the sun has completely set.' They got on their feet. Kurama handed Keiko a bouquet of white roses that seemed to have been pulled from the back of his head. She delightedly accepted them. Shizuru advanced to them and placed a white veil on the lovers' head, Kurama assisted her. As they walked back to the other end, Kuwabara and Yukina hooked around them a white cord. Koenma and Botan followed handing the two white lighted candles. Hiei presented them a small plushy scarlet box, and while the two opened it to reveal a pair of plain silver rings, Genkai proclaimed, "As you place those rings on each other's hands, you are taking each other to be lifetime partners. You will cherish, love, and protect each other. Stick together in sickness and in health, for good times and bad, for richer and poorer, 'till death do you part."

Yusuke slid the ring on Keiko's ring finger. She did the same. In unison, they chanted the phrase everyone was dying to hear, "I do." He held her hand and gently pulled her from the ground. When both have gained their balances, he cupped his hands on her cheeks and mildly placed his lips on hers. Of course it wasn't the wedding they were dreaming of, but it was perfect.

Kuwabara, raising the goblet on his right exclaimed, "Cheers! To Yusuke and Keiko. Happiness and Forever love!"

Yukina handed the two their glasses. "Cheers!" they all answered.

"Even if you'll be away, we're still under the same big sky." Kurama said matter of factly. "And cheers for that!" as he clink his glass with the others.

Yusuke looked up to the sky, if he could only stop the sunset so that he and Keiko won't have to be away with those they love. 'If only.'

The sun has completely set. 'Now' was the time that 'the TIME has really come' and there was no chance of turning back. Yusuke and Keiko handclasp together, silently counted the last seconds of being at Ningenkai. They examined the place and faces surrounding them.

"Don't be sorry for us. We're not sorry for ourselves y'know." Yusuke remarked.

"We're not." Shizuru replied. She walked towards Keiko and hugged her, "We'll just think you're on Vegas for the honeymoon." she chuckled softly.

Keiko released her hand from Yusuke's and wrapped them around Shizuru's neck. She was the sister she never had. Botan and Yukina joined the two and they started sobbing. Kuwabara, Hiei, Genkai and Koenma remained at their places.

Kurama presented Yusuke a pack. "Some stuffs." he said. Yusuke replied with a grin.

The sky was entirely dark. A lightning flashed from above followed by a roar of thunder. It was King Enma's signal to Prince Koenma—to finish the duty he left. All eyes were set on Koenma, he bowed his head and slowly walked to the two. It was against his will to send them away, but he has to. It definitely was the hardest and most painful thing he ever done as the prince of the Spirit World.

The prince made not a glimpse to anyone, and though his head was cast down, the sparkles of tears being held back were apparently shining like tiny stars from the heaven. He pulled his pacifier from his mouth, stretched his hands and striking light began to fill the whole area. The light gradually vanished, leaving a black spot that round and wide. It was the portal to the cast out land. The land where his friends will spend the rest of their lives, Koenma was not even sure if they WILL have a life in there. He willed himself not to cry as he lifted his head. How he wanted to say, how sorry he was; that he did not want things to be like that, but he can't find the right words. Instead, he bowed his head once again, waiting for the two to step into the portal.

Yusuke dangled the pack Kurama gave him into his shoulder, his other hand gripped into Keiko's. They were ready. Casually, they began to walk towards the opening. Before they moved to their last step, they waved to the group and mouthed, "Sayonara."

With that, they disappeared. Koenma clutched his pacifier and the opening dissolved. His knees slowly and weakly touched the ground. All the tears he tried to hold back succumbed. His friends gathered around him to comfort him. They felt the same pain that the prince was enduring.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I hope you're still enjoying the fic…it's a tearjerker by the later chapters, or so they say…I guess it's because I made it that's why it doesn't move me the way it does to the readers…anyways, please be kind to leave reviews!!! Ja-ne!