Hello, people. It's been a while, huh? And that's not fair, well, to you it isn't. It's wrong of authors to start posting something, and then quit without giving the readers any notice. That has happened to me before, as a reader. And for this, I am sorry.

I'm not quitting, though. I'll spare you the details, but with the program I have it's hard to upload chapters, which explains the absence of updates on this story. But I had an opportunity yesterday, and I took it. Hopefully, I'll be able to post the rest of this story with little or no delay (again hopefully).

Here's Chapter 4. I wish I could date this, but I typed it all so far back that I forget. Damn it. Oh well, enjoy anyhow:

"No, NO, NO!", Koenma exclaimed, banging his fists on his desk. Or, at least Yusuke assumed he was pounding the desk. He couldn't see that much through the communicator. "How did this happen? Hiei's not the type to be cut down by an average criminal!"

"The butcher wasn't going after him. Kurama looked like he'd zoned out of something, he'd keeled over. The butcher was going for him, but Hiei pushed him out of the way and took the blow instead."

"Kurama did what! Where is he? We can't have that kind of behavior on a mission."

"I don't think he's in any condition to be yelled at", Yusuke stated flatly. "When we got here he lay down next to Hiei and hasn't moved since. Koenma, did you know they were a couple?"

"WHAT! What are you talking about!"

"Right before Hiei died. They were…kissing and saying they loved each other."

"Damn it", Koenma sighed. Had he known the two were romantically involved he wouldn't have sent them in together like this. To see your lover murdered right in front of you…damn it. "Why didn't I see this?"

"Koenma", Yusuke began. "Couldn't you, you know, bring him back? Like you did me and Genkai?"

The godling sighed. "Those were different circumstances I'm afraid. I can't just randomly resurrect people, pick and choose who dies and who gets to come back. It's just not how the system works. Death doesn't run that way." They both cursed.

"So, he's gone?"

"Yes", Koenma responded sadly. "I fear all we can do is give Kurama a shoulder to cry on."

'A little late for that', Yusuke thought, remembering Kurama's hysteria earlier. He hung up and returned to the Temple. He'd thought it best to ask Koenma alone and not get everyone's hopes up that Hiei might be coming back.

Yukina was sitting on the temple steps, crying, a small pile of tear gems gathering at her feet. Though she didn't know Hiei was in fact her biological brother, she'd always felt close to him. Kuwabara sat next to her, trying to comfort her, telling her that Hiei died a heroic death and Koenma would definitely send him somewhere nice. Yusuke had to admire Kuwabara for being so nice, he wasn't even calling Hiei 'Shrimp' or 'Shorty'.

Genkai and Botan sat around on the porch, the ferry girl trying very hard not to cry, the psychic's face expressionless. "Is he--?" Yusuke began, but Genkai cut him off.

"I tried to get him away but he was like a rock. He's attached to Hiei like a leech." She got up and led Yusuke to a small room at the end of the hall. "See for yourself", she said, gesturing inside. He took a step into the room, though he really didn't want to.

They'd laid Hiei on a bed and covered his body with a sheet. Yusuke could see the outline of the fire demon's physique through the covers. On the other side of the body, curled up in a ball, lay Kurama. He'd stopped crying awhile ago, now he lay quietly with his head resting on Hiei's chest, as though he was hoping to hear the failed heart start up again. It didn't occur to him that all the warmth had fled Hiei's body, that it had grown stiff with Death. Even if it had he wouldn't have cared. He looked up when Yusuke entered the room, not at the Detective, but at the floor near Yusuke's feet.

"Kurama", Yusuke said softly. The Fox didn't look at him but he could tell that he was listening. "Come on Fox-boy. Get up. He's gone. There's nothing we can do." Kurama didn't respond, he remained where he was. As Genkai had stated, the redhead was as a rock. "Come on Kurama. Please." He sat by the Fox and patted his back. "I'm sorry, Man. But you can't stay here in bed forever."

"Yusuke." Kurama had found his voice. "Please. Let me be." His tone was as soft-spoken as usual but there was a firmness to it. The Detective sighed and left Kurama on the bed next to Hiei. Not able to stand seeing his friend like this he shut the door behind him.

Kurama watched the door shut, suddenly plunged into darkness. He didn't care though. He choked back a sob and hid his face in the sheets covering Hiei's chest. His fault. It was his fault Hiei was dead. Why had he stumbled? He should have died, not Hiei. Why?

Hiei disliked being dead. He disliked it strongly. Being dead was annoying. He could see his friends but they weren't aware of his presence. It was quite unfortunate in Kurama's case. Hiei felt the Fox could use some words of comfort. Nothing the others said to him seemed to be having an effect.

He'd felt himself die. The Fox had wanted to give him some of his lifeforce but he stopped him. Kurama could have transferred all his energy to Hiei but it wouldn't have helped. Besides, Hiei knew Kurama wouldn't do well in a weakened state right now, he needed all his energy.

Then he'd felt nothing. He was falling down a bottomless black hole full of nothing. How long he'd fallen, he didn't know. It seemed like an eternity. But when it was over he was floating in a star-dotted sky over the city. He drifted down the streets, out of the city, to the Temple. He knew they must have taken his body back there.

When he arrived he passed his sister and Kuwabara on the steps. Though he loathed himself for admitting this he was sort of grateful to the baka for comforting her. He lingered near them for a moment or so, then continued he trek.

Suddenly a sharp, prickling sensation shot up Kuwabara's spine. He shuddered and looked around. "What is it, Kazuma?", Yukina asked.

"Nothing", he said in a slightly dazed voice. He turned around and smiled at the ice maiden. "It's nothing."

Hiei continued up the steps to the Tmeple. He passed Botan talking to Koenma on her communicator. Whether she noticed he was there or not, he didn't know. He heard his name as he continued past the ferry girl. He supposed Koenma was assigning her to bring him to the Reikai. Whatever. He'd go with her so long as he got to see Kurama first.

Genkai was in the hall. She looked up right at him and he knew though she couldn't see him, she knew he was there. The old psychic was waiting across the hall from a room whose door was open. He could hear Yusuke's voice, it sounded as though he was talking to someone.

"I'm sorry Man, but you can't stay here in bed forever." There was a pause, then a soft voice answered. Though Hiei couldn't comprehend the words spoken he recognized Kurama's voice. Yusuke stepped out, a frustrated expression upon his face. "He won't move", he grumbled as he shut the door.

"Give him time and he'll get up", Genkai stated. "We're not alone."

"Huh?"

"We're not alone." She gestured in Hiei's direction. "He's here."

The fire demon ignored them. There was someone more important he had to see. He made to open the door but his hand went right through. He swore, for a moment he forgot he was dead. Feeling rather awkward, he took a step forward, walking through the door. He looked up and if he still had skin he probably would have jumped out of it.

Against the wall furthest from the door was a bed, on it were two figures. One was a quite obviously distraught Kurama. The Fox was curled up into a ball, his face buried in the sheets, emitting muffled sobs. The sheets of the bed were draped over something, revealing the silhouette of a body. HIS body. Hiei felt he would have fainted if he weren't a ghost.

Hiei arranged himself so he was sitting cross-legged--five feet in the air. This was all very strange. He tried to ignore this strange sensation that was Death and instead focused all his attention on his grieving lover.

Kurama's hair hung over his face like a funeral veil stained with blood, his body shaking as he cried. Hiei wished the Fox could see him, hear him at least, so he could comfort him. He doubted that in this emotional state Kurama would even sense him. The fire demon groaned in frustration and let himself drift to the other side of the room. Perhaps he should wait until the redhead had calmed down some, then try to make contact.

"Hiei", someone said behind him. He turned around. By now he'd drifted back into the hallway, the only person there besides him was Botan. The ferry-girl stared at him, her face adorned in a somber expression that looked quite unnatural there.

He scowled. "What do you want?", he said. Couldn't she see he was trying to adjust to being dead?

"You know this is my job", Botan said. He quirked an eyebrow, he didn't know she could sound so serious.

"I'm not going anywhere", he stated flatly. She could take him wherever she wanted--once he spoke with Kurama. Afterwards it didn't matter to him where he was sent.

"I'm not taking you to Koenma yet", the ferry-girl replied. "He has to get all your papers together first." She gave him a sad look. "Hiei, I'm really sorry--"

"Save your pity for someone who cares", he growled. She stared at him, startled. "There's only one thing I care about right now."

Botan let her eyes drift to the door, knowing who was behind it. "Do you want to talk to him?"

"What do you think?", he snapped. No, he'd much rather float about unseen, forced to watch his dear Fox cry.

She flinched but stayed put. Hiei was in a very awkward, helpless position right now. "Perhaps we should let him get over the initial shock first?", she asked meekly, afraid of how he may react. It was a form of habit, it wasn't as though the fire demon could make good on any threats of physical harm now.

"Hn", was his only response. He crossed his arms and stared into space.

Botan shifted uncomfortably. "Uhm…do you want to talk about it?"

He heaved an annoyed sigh. "What's there to talk about?"

"You know, you could talk to him while he's asleep", Botan suggested. "While he's dreaming."

"Hn." Silence drifted back through the wall to check on Kurama. The Fox had cried himself to sleep. Poor thing. Hiei hovered a few feet over the redhead, staring at the exhausted form. He thought about what Botan had said. Perhaps…

"Kurama", he said softly.He knelt next to the Fox and whispered into his ear. "Kurama."

The Kitsune stirred and rolled over. "Hiei?", he murmured.

"Yes, yes Kurama. It's Hiei. Why were you crying?"

"Hiei…you're dead." Suddenly he began to cry again as though this were a nightmare. "You're dead and it's my fault."

The fire demon was taken aback. Kurama blamed himself? "No, it's not your fault."

"Yes it is", Kurama sobbed. "I was incapable of defending myself and you had to help me. It's my fault."

"Don't say that. It's not your fault you got dizzy." He longed to touch Kurama, to smooth his hair or rub his back. "Kurama, you're--"

Then he stopped. He didn't want Kurama to find out this way. To be told this in a dream. Then the Fox may wake and not believe any of this to be real. This would probably be the last time Hiei could talk to his lover for awhile; he'd prefer that Kurama knew this was reality. "I love you Kurama. Remember that. I'll always love you."

"I love you too, Hiei", Kurama said in a dreamy voice. "Hiei?"

"Yes?"

"I miss you."

Hiei choked back a sob. Damn, he didn't realize he'd be able to cry as a ghost. "I miss you too." He wiped his eyes before the tears could escape. "But we'll see each other again. We'll be together again. And then nothing, nobody, will be able to separate us again. Ever. Until then, you have to be strong, okay?"

"Mm-hm", Kurama nodded in his sleep.

"Good." He reached out to stroke his lover's cheek but stopped himself. "Fox, my tear gem and katana. They're yours. Take care of them."

"I will."

"And Yukina. Look after her, too. Though I suppose the Clown won't let anything bad happen to her." He sighed. "Most importantly, take care of yourself. You still have a life to live." The Fox nodded again.

The door opened, startling Hiei. "Hiei?" Botan again. "Koenma has your papers together. If you're done here?"

"Let me finish", he growled coldly. He turned back to his Fox. "I have to go now."

Kurama began to cry in his sleep again. "Goodbye Hiei."

"No, not good-bye. This isn't permanent. I'll be waiting for you on the other side. I love you, Kurama."

"I love you, Hiei." The fire demon hesitated, then lowered his head so his ghostly lips just barely met Kurama's solid ones.

As he'd anticipated, Kurama started awake at the paranormal contact. He gasped and opened his eyes wide, searching the room for a few seconds, before closing them and returning to sleep.

"Hiei?" Botan tried again.

The Jaganshi sighed and got up. Giving one long, last look at Kurama, he followed the ferry-girl out of the room. Botan shut the door behind them and led Hiei outside. "You ready?"

He glared at her then stared up at the stars. "Hn. Do your worst" he replied airily. He looked back over and saw Botan had her back to him.

"Okay, we're set" she announced, turning around. She held her oar in one hand.

Hiei stared.

"I am NOT riding that."

I hope I still have some people patient enough who are reading this. Please review, I like the feedback. As always, constructive criticism is quite welcome.