Author's Note: This may come across as stupid, but I hope that I gave the correct gender to Kuwabara's cat. Other than that, please continue to read and review.

Look in the future.
Look in to my eyes,
and tell me it's all right.
Tell me where we're going.
I'm so afraid.

'Cos I don't know,
what's going on with my life.
But it'll be all right tonight.
Will it be all right tonight?
Are we doing all right, in old L.A. tonight?—

"Old L.A. Tonight"—Ozzy Osbourne

An End to Bliss

Chapter X

Despite the fact that Kosuke Urameshi was forced to sit on the lap of one of the most ruthless killers alive, he forgot all about his fears once he reclined on his mother's lap—next to her pregnant belly—with a tippy cup in one hand and a teddy bear in the other.

His mother, however, was not so relaxed. Although she only received a slight bump on the head, which could not be seen through her hair, she nervously rapped her fingers against her son's tummy and bit her upper lip.

"Everything's going to be fine, Kayko," her husband said, while he wrapped his arm around her and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

But Kayko did not respond.

"Come on, Kayko, just try and relax."

Again, Kayko did not respond.

"Come on, Kayko. Can't you be more like your son?"

On that comment, Kayko turned to Yusuke.

"My son doesn't understand everything that's going on…He's too little to understand."

"Yeah, I know," Yusuke replied with another kiss for his wife, and one for his son. "But worrying about it too much isn't going to make it any better."

"…I suppose you're right, Yusuke."

Yusuke smiled, and kissed his wife again. "I know I'm right…Plus, we've got Chu guarding us, and Kurama'll be back any minute."

Kayko was about to respond to her husband's statement when the telephone rang. Yusuke left his wife and son to answer it. And while Yusuke was away, Kosuke turned to his mother and flashed her, his big brown eyes and a happy smile. Kayko smiled back, even though it was a forced smile.

When Yusuke returned he informed Kayko, "I just got off the phone with Kuwabara."

"Is everything all right over there?"

"Yeah, Yukina's fine. Elder Toguro never came to their place. Kuwabara told her everything that I told you."

"Thank god for that."

"Yeah, definitely."

"Were did Kurama go, by the way?"

"He went to get a piece of glass to replace the one broken in Kosuke's nursery…In case Elder Toguro comes back, I wanted to leave the impression that we're still here."

"I take it that means we're going somewhere?"

Yusuke nodded. "Yeah, tonight we're spending the night at Shizuru's. All of us'll be there. Chu, Kurama, Hiei, Kuwabara, Yukina, and Shizuru of course. Her boyfriend's away on business, and she could use the company. I informed Botan about what happened earlier today, and she relayed the messaged to Koenma. Those two'll eventually arrive tonight as well. Then we're going to listen to what information Koenma can tell us and discuss strategy."

"Will Kaito be there?"

"No, I'm afraid not. Kaito's out of the country on business, which means we won't have anyone who can create a territory where no violence can enter."

Kayko's face did not show much confidence after hearing that statement.

"…How long're we going to be there?"

"Well, depending on what information Koenma gives us, we may begin our hunt for Elder Toguro tomorrow; and hopefully I'll be back in a few days…"

"A few days?"

"Yes, Kayko, a few days. After I leave, if you want to stay with your parents' that's fine. But you'll need to make sure that you bring along Kosuke's playpen, so he'll have something to sleep in, and enough clothes that'll last you and him for a couple of days."

When Yusuke, Kurama, Chu, and Kayko—along with Kosuke—entered Shizuru's residence, Shizuru greeted her guests with a warm 'hello.' Each of them returned the warm greeting, while Kayko did her best to hide her nervousness, as she carried Kosuke into the house.

Kuwabara, Yukina, and Hiei had already arrived, along with the Kuwabaras' cat, Eikichi. Like Kuwabara, Yukina had developed a love for Eikichi, even though he sometimes annoyed her when he chased away the birds that Yukina wanted to befriend. But Eikichi was quick to catch Kosuke's eye, as the toddler began to exclaim his name.

Kayko smiled—though it was still a forced smile—and placed Kosuke on the floor to toddle after the cat.

Yusuke, Kurama, and Chu laughed at Kosuke's actions before Yusuke said, "Well, I think I'm going to chat with Kuwabara and Hiei for a while."

"Right behind you, Yusuke," replied Kurama.

"Same here, mate! I could use a drink while we're at it."

Yusuke placed Kosuke's playpen beside a wall, while he, Kurama, and Chu entered the sitting room.

Kayko followed slowly behind them, until Shizuru stopped her.

"You know, Kayko that with the exception of your clothes, your hair being longer, and that diaper bag over your shoulder you remind almost exactly of how you were that day we were walking to the stadium during the semi-finals of the Dark Tournament."

"Huh?"

Shizuru smiled. "Your face's buried to the ground."

"Well…it's just that…"

"I know; Kazuma told me."

"Oh?" she said with a sigh.

"You don't have to worry, Kayko, everyplace in this house's secure. If Elder Toguro even thinks about trying to break in—that is if he can find us first—an alarm'll go off notifying all of us. And there's no basement, attic, or fireplace he can even think of trying to enter through."

Kayko looked at Shizuru and smiled.

"In other words, just try to relax, okay?"

Kayko continued to smile, and replied, "You're just like Yusuke…But…I'll try to not let it bother me."

After Koenma and Botan arrived a discussion began at Shizuru's table between Yusuke, Kuwabara, Kurama, Hiei, Chu, and Koenma; while Kayko, Yukina, Shizuru, and Botan played on the floor with Kosuke and Eikichi.

"So Koenma," began Yusuke, "what has Spirit World intelligence discovered on Elder Toguro?"

"Or on this benefactor of his?" added Kuwabara.

"Unfortunately our information's very limited. This has been the first time since the first Demon World Tournament that we've had a situation like this, plus considering the fact that I had written off the elder Toguro as a past memory. But one of my assistants told me today that she sensed demon energy that was around the same level as the elder Toguro."

"And where was this at?" asked Yusuke.

"In the area around Genkai's temple."

"When?"

"Within a few hours after you contacted me."

"…It may be him…but at the same time in the forest around Genkai's temple there're some powerful apparitions."

"But none of them're at the same level as Elder Toguro," Koenma pointed out.

"Well, what about this benefactor of his?" Kuwabara asked again.

"We've received no information on him."

"Then it looks like all we'll have to go on Elder Toguro's benefactor is what Elder Toguro told us," said Hiei.

"Which means that whoever's helping Elder Toguro's someone we've encountered before," added Kurama.

"Can I be brutally honest?" began Yusuke. "I don't give a damn who's benefiting Elder Toguro. Compared to Yomi or any of the other fighters from that first Demon World Tournament, I don't consider it much of a threat."

"What if it's one of those blokes, mate?"

Yusuke did not respond to Chu's question, but Hiei did.

"Let's pray that's not the situation."

"Let's not worry about the elder Toguro's benefactor right now," began Koenma. "I'm more concerned about Elder Toguro, based on what you told me earlier."

"Which is?" asked Yusuke.

"Which is the fact that you told me even if we pierce the elder Toguro's heart and brain he'll still survive."

"Blimey, that's a problem."

"Even if we encounter Elder Toguro again, if he can recover from having his heart or brain pierced what good'll it do?" responded Hiei.

"Well, Kurama, couldn't you use your Sinning Tree again?" asked Kuwabara.

"I could…but I think that's just a temporary remedy to a long term problem."

"Which means?" began Yusuke.

"It means, Yusuke that even if Kurama used his Sinning Tree again, what're the chances that somebody new'll just come around and free Elder Toguro again?" answered Koenma.

"We need Elder Toguro dead, and you should know that better than anyone, Yusuke," Kurama added.

Yusuke gestured to Kurama. A gesture that stated, 'explain?'

"If I was to use the Sinning Tree to ensnare Elder Toguro again, and one day someone was to again remove him, what kind of threat do you think that'd pose for Kosuke and your unborn child?"

"Or my unborn child," interjected Kuwabara, before he turned to Yusuke. "Well, Urameshi, you're the guy who won the Dark Tournament by defeating his younger brother. Surely you've got some ideas?"

Yusuke placed his chin between his thumb and first finger on his right hand. "…Hey this Yusuke, I don't have a freakin' clue."

Kuwabara's eyes became enraged, as he lifted Yusuke up by his shirt collar. "What the hell're you saying you stupid fuck! That's my kid's future!"

"For once I actually agree with Kuwabara," replied Hiei, who was equally as upset over Yusuke's comment.

"I can't believe Yusuke'd talk like that over something so serious as his children," said Kurama.

"You've got a weird way of handling problems, Urameshi," responded Chu.

"Even at nearly twenty-two years of age, you still haven't figured out how to properly use your brain, Yusuke," added Koenma.

"And me getting overworked about it, is really the best way to handle it," replied Yusuke.

Kuwabara paused, and released Yusuke.

Yusuke took a deep breath. "Look, you guys know that I love my wife and kids more than anything. But if I was to worry too much, I'd accomplish nothing."

Kuwabara, Kurama, Hiei, Koenma, and Chu looked at Yusuke in a manner that showed they understood him.

"…But…I've to confess…I really don't know what to do."

"You stupid bastard!" exclaimed Kuwabara. "Why couldn't you've said that before?"

"Sorry Kuwabara, I'm saying it now though."

"Of course at the same time if we've learned anything from fighting along side Yusuke, we should know that he's a man of surprises," replied Hiei.

"Very true," acknowledged Kurama.

"So what's our strategy for tomorrow, mate?"

Yusuke placed his elbows on the table, folded his hands, and placed them under his nose. "We're going to set out for Genkai's temple. If Elder Toguro was spotted there today perhaps we can discover something more about him tomorrow, and who's helping him…But until then, I think we should have another drink, and call it a night."

Early the next morning, Yusuke rose from his slumber to discover his wife still sleeping beside him, and his two-year-old son standing in his playpen that Kayko insisted being placed in their guest room.

"Hi Daddy!" the toddler said, when he noticed his father.

"Hey there, little buddy," replied Yusuke. Yusuke lifted his son out of the playpen, did his best to change him, and sat him on the bed next to Kayko.

Kosuke giggled, and played with his mother's hair until she finally woke up.

"Huh…Kosuke?"

"Hey," replied Yusuke with a kiss. "Don't worry, I changed him; so it's one less thing for you to worry about."

Kayko smiled. "It's about time you changed his diaper."

Yusuke returned the smile. "Yeah…I suppose so."

Kayko kissed her son, and turned to her husband. "You'll be leaving soon, right?"

"…Yeah."

"We're you going, Daddy?"

Kosuke's question caught Yusuke off-guard. "Just to the country for a few days, Kosuke."

"I wanna go!"

Yusuke smiled. "No, Kosuke. I need you to stay here, be a big boy, and look after your mom. You can do that for me can't you, Kosuke?"

Kosuke smiled, stood on his mother's lap, and gave an excited, "Yeah!"

Yusuke and Kayko laughed, while Kayko ran her fingers through Kosuke's hair.

"Will it just be a few days, Yusuke?"

"…I hope so."

"Yusuke?"

"…Yeah?"

"Do you think we'll ever be able to live a normal life?"

"…What to you mean, Kayko?"

"I mean, first King Yama and now this. Do you think that this'll happen again?"

"…I don't know…But it's something I hope doesn't happen again…I just want to live a normal life with you and Kosuke and the new baby…I must confess, I never predicted what my life'd turn out to be once I became a spirit detective nearly eight years ago. And now I truly want to put all of that behind me…but sometimes I can't help what happens to me. It's like Toguro said, this life's a cruel world…But hopefully, this'll be the last of this bullshit I'll have to put up with."