Someone was banging on the door, waking her up. She had no idea who'd be knocking on their door at three in the morning. Unless he'd come home and didn't have his key.

She got up and donned a robe. "Puu?" went the strange little blue bird as she passed the makeshift bed he was in. She ignored him and went down the hall, to the door. If it was him…she was going to kill him.
He'd disappeared late that morning. Where he went, she didn't know. She hadn't seen him since. She was going to kill him.

Fuming, she opened the door and nearly exploded. "WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN! YOU THINK YOU CAN JUST DISAPPEAR ALL DAY AND NOT TELL ME WHERE YOU'RE GOING! IT'S THREE IN THE MORNING FOR CRYING OUT--"

She was interrupted, however, when he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her. At first she was surprised, then she grew angry. "YUSUKE!" she screamed, pulling away. He thought a little kiss would make everything better!

Then she noticed how Yusuke didn't seem himself. He looked sad. "What's wrong?"

He looked up at her, face somber. Numb, he felt numb all over. After seeing what had happened to Hiei and Kurama today, he didn't know how to feel. Silently, he wrapped an arm around her waist and rested his head on her shoulder.

"I'm never letting you out of my sight again", he whispered into Keiko's ear.

"Has he said anything?" Koenma asked.

Genkai shook her head. "He hasn't said a word. I believe he's still in shock."

"Damn" he stated. "Poor guy."

The psychic and the godling (currently in his teenage form, as this was a rather serious occasion) stood a little apart from the others. They were both watching another figure who also stood apart from the group, stood in solitude, ignoring everything and everyone save his own grief.

Clad in a plain black outfit borrowed from one of the others, the wind blew his hair about wildly, resembling flames. He didn't look at any of his fellow mourners, just stared straight ahead. His eyes never left the fresh mound of broken earth, or the glossy black marble marker that stood at its head. Eyes that glistened with tears he was too proud to shed.

They'd buried Hiei on the west side of the Temple, near the base of a large Sakura tree. Behind the black marker identifying his resting spot was a graceful whit trellis, on which Kurama had swiftly, quietly coaxed a rosebush to weave its stems and branches through. The Fox hadn't said a word to anyone since the night Hiei died. The morning after the incident Genkai and Yukina had come to take Hiei's body, prepare it for burial. Kurama had risen and wordlessly surrendered his lover's body to the two, silent tears streaming down his face.

Now he couldn't hold it in any longer. He let himself slide down against the Sakura tree and dissolved into wet, salty misery. Gone. Hiei was gone. He wasn't coming back. Ever.

Koenma watched the Fox cry. Several minutes passed and Kurama ceased sobbing, staring at the grave with a blank expression on his face. He bit his lip and approached him. "Kurama?" he ventured. No reply, no acknowledge of his presence. "I'm very sorry about Hiei. Had I know ahead of time… You have my most sincere, deepest sympathies and regrets." Still no response, it was as though the godling was trying to console a brick wall. He sighed. "I apologize, Kurama. I can't bring him back. I really wish I could, but--"

"I didn't ask you to" the redhead interrupted hoarsely. "I never did."

Koenma recoiled slightly. Kurama's voice lacked the warmth, the tranquillity it usually carried. There was no emotion in his tone at all. He sounded…dead almost.

"You needn't worry for him" the godling continued. "Though I'm sure Hiei wouldn't admit it, he did a lot of good in his life. His afterlife will be peaceful."

Kurama didn't say anything, merely closed his eyes and nodded to show he'd heard. Koenma shifted uneasily and backed away, letting the yoko have his space. At the moment, the redhead was strangely intimidating, repelling even.

"Well at least he's talking again" Shizuru muttered.

"Yeah" Keiko said. "Poor guy. He saw Hiei die too."

"Did you know that Shorty died in his arms?" Kuwabara asked grimly.

"How horrible" Yukina whispered, a lump in her throat.

"Man, funerals suck" Shizuru continued. "I'll bet Genkai has some sake stashed somewhere. Anyone else up to looking for it?" There were murmurs of agreement. Even if they found no liquor the weather looked like it may worsen anytime and all weren't keen on getting wet.

As everyone suspected, it began to rain. Everyone began to flee inside, save Koenma and Botan, who were returning to the Reikai, and Kurama, who remained at his position by the grave. "Kurama" Yusuke called. "Hey, you're going to get soaked." When he didn't receive a response he sighed and went outside to retrieve the redhead.

'Damn, why does it always seem to rain at funerals?" he thought. Was the Sky also mourning the departed? Or was it a form of washing away some of the sorrow, so those left behind may rid themselves of at least part of the grief and move on? He shrugged, deep matters weren't exactly something he was an expert on.

He came to stand by Kurama. "Hey Fox-boy, you're going to catch a fever or something if you stay out here."

"It doesn't matter" Kurama stated dully. "He's dead. And I'm to blame."

"What?" Yusuke frowned. "Kurama, it wasn't your fault."

"Yes" the yoko replied firmly. "It is. Had I not swooned like that, Hiei wouldn't have been put in that position. He wouldn't have been killed. I should have been the one who tasted that blade's steel. But no, Hiei had to sacrifice his life to save mine." He bowed his head. "I don't know why I stumbled like that. I should be the one lying cold and dead in that grave. It's more than I deserve. I'm worthless."

Yusuke listened, horrified. Then he felt angry. "Snap out of it! Kurama, I realize you miss him. We all miss him. But never, EVER, call yourself worthless." The Fox appeared to be ignoring him. "Hey, are you listening to me!"

"You're wrong" Kurama replied. "If I weren't worthless then I would have defended myself, and Hiei wouldn't have died saving my pathetic hide. He died for no reason. I don't deserve to live. Hell, I shouldn't even be allowed to exist, after allowing him to take that blow. What act of cowardice was that on my part?"

Up in the tree, watching Yusuke argue with the Fox, resided a very disgusted Hiei. He was half-tempted to use the Detective's body to yell at his lover. Instead he floated to the ground and stalked away from the scene, utterly repulsed. Koenma had allowed him to attend his funeral and see everyone one more time, and he hated how Kurama was attacking himself.

"Okay Hiei" Botan said. "Time to go." He looked at the oar and scowled. He hated that damn thing, he wanted to chop it up into a million little pieces. The Jaganshi sighed and looked over his shoulder. Yusuke had abandoned oral negotiating with Kurama and was now dragging the Fox into the Temple.

"Don't worry" the ferry-girl said, following his gaze. "Kurama just needs some time."

"He blames himself" Hiei grumbled. "He has no right to blame himself. He didn't ask me to save him, I chose to. He bears no responsibility for my death whatsoever. Damn him, whenever he can't change something he feels it's his fault. Baka no Kitsune, that arrogant fool doesn't even know he's--"

Hiei realized he was speaking aloud and immediately stopped. He stared at the ground and shifted uncomfortably on his feet. "Hiei?" Koenma asked.

The Jaganshi glared at him. "There's something about Kurama that he doesn't know yet."

"And that is?"

Hiei scowled. "All I'm saying is that it was no accident Kurama swooned. Something has occurred that he hasn't discovered yet. That's all I'll tell you, except that I would check him about his health were I you. That's all I'm saying." They gave him a questioning look but decided not to press the issue.

He couldn't just come out and directly tell them. He highly doubted they'd believe him if he had. He was still very confused about the matter himself.