I would like to thank all who read and review this story so far. I didn't get as many reviews as I had hoped for but at least I know that there are a few people out there who don't think my story is lame. And I present to you all the final chapter of Autumn Walking Musings.

Disclaimer: I have not, do not, and will not own the wonderful anime known as Yu Yu Hakusho.

The wind blew the dry brown leaves that had fallen of the tree. These leaves almost seemed to dance, a final dance before they were to be broken down and returned to the earth from which they came from. The leaves flew past a set of stairs that seemed to reach to the heavens. The leaves weren't the only things on these stairs. A head of flaming red hair billowed with the wind.

Kurama walked up the steps towards Genkai's temple. He took his time, for there was no need to rush. His green eyes looked ahead at the numerous more steps he had left. He quickened his pace a little. Okay maybe he could speed up a little. As he climbed up the steps he looked around at his surrounds. Not much has changed since the last time he had been here. It was still serine and calm as ever. He took a deep breath. He had to admit that he took a liking to Genkai's place. It was a perfect place to get away from the activities of the Human World and yet still be close enough to it to not feel the sense of missing it.

He saw the temple bridge up ahead and knew that he neared the very top. As his feat reached the top where the steeps ended and the temple began he looked around. A smile came to his face. It still hadn't changed. He made his way to the main building of the temple already sensing the energies of several others. As he reached the sliding door, it opened and revealed the form of a young girl with aqua colored hair. Her wide red eyes widened even more and a serine smile reached her lips as looked over at the fox.

"Kurama-san! It is very nice to see you again."

Kurama smiled at the girl and nodded as he walked to the porch of the temple taking off his shoes before entering.

"And it is very nice to see you as well Yukina."He replied.

Yukina gave him another smile as she moved out his way and closed the screen door behind him as he entered. The fox looked around at everyone else as they gave him their own greetings.

"Oi! Kurama!"

Kurama smiled at Kuwabara politely and moved to sit down on a mat next to the tall orange haired young man. He looked across from him at the long brown haired woman Shiziru as she waved slightly and gave him a small smile around her cigarette. He then looked over at the small old woman with pink hair. Genkai looked up from her cup of tea and gave Kurama a small nod before returning to it. Yukina returned to her seat on the other side of Kuwabara and the large boy took that moment to divulge her into some form of conversation. Eventually everyone was brought into conversation asking how they had been and telling what they had been up to. Genkai, of course stayed out to it for the most part, giving short answers the questions directed at her. Everyone was here, well almost everyone….

"Dammit! Every time I walk up these freaking steps they always seem to get longer!"

Yusuke was annoyed. One he had been woken up earlier than his body was used to. Then he forced to get of his bed and dress himself to go to the old hag's place for a reunion of sorts. It wasn't that he didn't want to see everyone again, but you had to understand that it was a long way from his apartment to Genkai's temple. Which meant a long train ride and he had to take it with Keiko. This wouldn't normally be too much of a problem but the girl had told him over the phone that on their way there they were going to discuss their wedding plans. And when Keiko said they were going to do something, she made sure that they did it. That was the longest three hour train ride of his life. She made him discuss possible plans and dates for the wedding and smacked him upside the head anytime she noticed him dozing off.

"And now I have to deal with these long ass stairs, going up to the stupid temple to see if the old fossil is still alive."

"You know you really sound like a baby when you whine like that Yusuke. It's kind of pathetic."

He glared up at the form of his girlfriend/fiancé and stuck his tongue out at her childishly.

She rolled her eyes at him and continued walking up the stairs. He sighed in disbelief and continued to drag his self up the stairs. How could she do it? They had been walking forever it seemed and she wasn't even breaking a sweat while he was ready to collapse. How was it that he, a person who fought all of his life, died only to come back to life, become a Spirit Detective fighting demons, die again and become a demon worn out from a hike up some set of steps and she who had knew hasn't gone through any sort of form of exercise or training in her life, besting him in walking up these steps. It made no sense.

"We're getting closer."

He lifted his head up and noticed the overhead bridge of the temple.

"Finally." he drawled out as he quickened his pace a bit going past Keiko.

His feet reached the top step and he looked around. Nothing had really changed. He placed his hands in his pockets and waited for Keiko to reach the top of the steps.

"Do you suppose everyone is inside?"She asked him as she stood next to him.

He shrugged but headed to the main building of the temple. Before he could take another step the screen door slid open and revealed Kuwabara.

"Uremashi."

Yusuke looked the other boy and nodded.

"Kuwabara."

The two looked at each other for a moment, silence around them. Keiko stayed where she was and the others in the temple got up from their spots to look at Yusuke from behind Kuwabara. The silence was broken as Kuwabara let out a yell and charged at Yusuke. He pulled back his fist and brought it back to strike Yusuke.

Yusuke smirked and dodged the punch before quickly throwing his own punch into Kuwabara's face. It, of course, landed and made the other boy fly through the air and land some few feet away from the raven haired boy. Yusuke looked at Kuwabara and chuckled.

"Still as weak as ever. At least that's one thing I can count on never changing."

Kuwabara picked himself up off the ground and looked at Yusuke with a grin on his face.

"And I can always count on you being the same old bastard."

The two friends laughed and everyone else shook their heads as they took in the behavior of the two friends. Yukina, Kurama, and Shiziru made their way out of the temple to greet the two new arrivals.

"How have you've been Yusuke?"Asked Kurama.

Yusuke turned to the red head and shrugged slipping his hands in his pockets.

"I've been worse. So going on with you fox-boy? How's your mom and all."

Kurama smiled slightly.

"She is fine and I'm doing well also."

Things went on like this for awhile as everyone settled in. Everyone broke away from their conversations as they heard a yell. They looked to the steps to see the smiling blue haired face of Botan.

"Now you guys wouldn't be as rude as to start the party without me now would you?"

The girls quickly walked over to the Grim Reaper and chatted away with her, their little click of females complete. Genkai shook her head and walked back into her temple knowing that they would be out there for awhile before coming back inside. She wanted to get as much peace and quiet as possible before then. The three boys gathered together and decided to take a walk, letting the girls catch up with one another.

They took a path in the back of the temple that would lead them into the woods. They kept walking not fearful of what awaited in the woods. If any creature or demon living in the temple woods they would feel more sorry for it then the other way around if it were trying to cause problems for the human, demon and hanyou. They chatted among themselves; Yusuke making a joke about Kuwabara, getting the human boy relied up. Kurama would dish out his own humor, poking fun at both boys quieting them down as they ponder the true meaning of the fox's words.

"You know this would feel a bit more like old times if Hiei was here." said Yusuke suddenly.

"I kind of know what you mean. I hate to admit it but things aren't really the same without the shrimp around with his whole doom and gloom attitude."

"There aren't many things which Hiei would return to the Human World for, and casual social gatherings don't make it on his list."

The three continued on into the woods, talking of past things unaware of the eyes that were watching them. A black blur flashed over the tree tops and Kurama looked up slightly a small smile forming on his lips. A rustling and small crunch was heard and Yusuke turned to it slightly. He looked over at Kurama and the two caught each others look. Yusuke grinned and nodded before he and Kurama stopped walking. Kuwabara unaware of all this kept walking.

"Though it is nice not having the shrimp around. I don't have to worry about his stupid death glares or the insults he flings at me everytime he opens his mouth. In fact I almost wish he were here! I'd show him how much I've improved since the last time when he opens his mouth to-"

His sentence was cut short as a black booted foot slid out of nowhere and tripped him. He yelled and flared out his arms in the desperate attempt to keep from falling. But gravity always wins so he fell face first in the ground. Yusuke laughed and Kurama hid an amused smile and a chuckle behind his hand.

Kuwabara slowly got up and rubbed his face as he looked up at what had tripped him.

Hiei looked down at Kuwabara, irritation in his eyes. His outstretched foot still remained in the same place as before and he folded his head across his chest and glared at him.

"And what exactly would you do, you loud mouth fool?"

Kuwabara quickly got to his feet and looked down at the smaller demon glaring at him.

"H-Hiei! What did you trip me for you shrimp!"

Hiei snorted and turned away from him walking over to the other two.

"Is it really my fault that you're so absent-minded to figure out that my foot was there in front of you? I see you haven't changed when it comes in the matter of stupidity."

Kuwabara growled at him was stalked up to him as they neared the other two.

"Hey Hiei, how's it goin?"Asked Yusuke, still chuckling every now and then.

The fire demon glared at him.

"It's fine before I had to come back to this ugly world and the see the even uglier fool."

Kurama managed to stop Kuwabara's outburst.

"But Hiei, why are you here?"

"Business."

"Really? And what kind of business would that be?" asked Yusuke being noisy as ever.

Hiei offered him another glare before turning away and walking on in the path.

"Business that is none of yours."

Kuwabara mumbled something about rude little shrimps as Yusuke shrugged and the three walked up to catch of with the fire demon.

Some time ago found them walking out of the forest and walking near a cliff's edge. Over the cliff lied a small beach, the ocean's water shimmering in the even sun.

"We mush have walked quite a distance to reach the shore's edge."Said Kurama.

No one replied as they all walked to the edge of the cliff and looked out into the ocean. The sun was starting to set and the shimmering of the sea was starting to dim. The four boys looked out into the ocean, relishing in each other's company though none of them would say so out loud.

Kurama looked out into the ocean, lost in his own thoughts as the wind blew his wild mane of hair. His past laid behind him and his future still stretched in front of him far beyond his own line of sight, but he was content with living in his present and in the presence of those close to him.

Hiei looked down at his closed fist, which held the tear gem he secretly treasured. He looked out into the ocean as his fist clenched around it tighter. Someday he might be able to deal with the inner demons of his mind and when and if that day came he would reveal the truth to his sister. Until then she and he would have to be content with the lives they lived now.

Kuwabara looked out into the waters, breathing in the sea air. He had come so far, accomplish so much and he knew that there was only more to come. His adventures weren't yet through.

Yusuke looked out into the sea a small smirk on his face. He'd over come so many odds and cheated a death a thousands time and even overcame it twice. He faced and beaten enemies he was never suppose to win against. He closed his eyes briefly. Now that his abnormal life had come to an end he was ready to enjoy the dull drab of everyday life.

"We should probably head back. The girls are probably worried."

The four friends took one look at the setting and the ocean, these two things symbolizing one chapter in their lives ending and the countless others waiting to read. The four turned and headed back into the woods each leaving with some peace of mind about what laid ahead for them.

Owari

And that's the end! I had fun writing this story it changlled my skills as a writer trying to stay in character with everyone. I think I did a pretty good job. Tell me what you think and be in store for more of my wonderful stories in the near future. Later!