Disclaimer: see previous chapters.

A super duper extra special thank you to all my reviewers! THANK YOU! You've made this my first story to reach triple digits in reviews. YAY YOU!

And so what do I do to reward your wonderfulness? I present to you this 15th chapter, which I think is the saddest chapter I've ever written. Great, huh? So grab the tissues and enjoy!

Comforting Heat

Chapter 15

"What do you mean 'no'!"

Koenma sighed and bowed his head, knowing this was going to happen. The young demon in front of him had faced death so many times in his life that he'd no doubt become numb to the fact that eventually, everyone, including him, had to die.

"I'm sorry, Yusuke. This time there's no going back."

"But….why……I mean….." Yusuke sat down in the nearby chair, his anger dissipating, leaving him with an empty, yet calm feeling. "So I'm…..dead? I mean, really, honestly, truly dead?"

"Yup."

The succinct response caught Yusuke's attention and he looked up at the junior god, a bit bewildered. For all the times he faced death…. For all the times he'd died, or watched one of his friends die…..all the emotions typically involved in such a momentous occurrence…

"That's it?"

"What do you want me to say, Yusuke? Obviously I'm sorry you're dead but I would think that you would be, I don't know, kinda grateful for the rest. You're only 23 years old in ningen years but you've been through more than most have in a lifetime."

Yusuke was staring at Koenma, not blinking, twitching or anything. The junior god was becoming worried that he'd gone into shock when Yusuke's voice broke the silence. It was quiet, almost childlike in its curiosity.

"What about Hiei?"

Koenma's fists clenched at the mention of the volatile fire demon. He knew Yusuke and Hiei were lovers and despite the improbability of Hiei in a relationship with anyone, the few times Koenma had spied on the couple, he'd found them to be happy and oddly enough, well matched. Yusuke seemed to bring Hiei out of his self-imposed stoicism. Koenma recalled seeing Hiei smile, honestly smile and his heart had stopped as Hiei had transformed before his eyes. But now that Yusuke was dead, what would this do to the fire demon?

"Well…..Botan is on her way to get him now. I thought you two might want to say goodbye."

Yusuke swallowed hard. He wasn't prepared to say goodbye to Hiei. He had, as Koenma said, seen too much in his lifetime. But Hiei…..he wasn't ready to give up Hiei. He would never be ready or willing to give up Hiei.

"I can't do it."

Not once in all the years he'd known Yusuke had the young man ever told him he couldn't do something. He'd been told he wouldn't do something, or that they shouldn't be doing something, but never, ever had Yusuke ever told him he couldn't do something.

"I'm sorry, Yusuke."

"Stop saying that! Is that all people can think to say when someone or something dies! I'm sorry! Well fuck you, Koenma! I won't---"

Yusuke's tirade was cut short when the door to Koenma's office opened and Botan tentatively stuck her head in.

"Um, I'm sorry, but I figured you wouldn't hear me knock because of the yelling. Um, I have Hiei here. Is it ok to come in?"

Koenma just waved Botan in and braced himself for an angry fire demon. Botan walked in and bowed after Hiei passed by, closing the door on her way out. She'd already talked with Yusuke on their trip in to the Rekei and she had no desire to stick around and watch Yusuke and Hiei say goodbye.

Hiei entered Koenma's office and shot the junior god a look, then fixed his eyes on Yusuke. He was tense, annoyed and wary. He knew something was wrong from the moment Botan showed up at Mukuro's. The normally bubbly and talkative grim reaper was suspiciously quiet and even though she did answer his few questions, she was being very vague and spoke little in reply.

Hiei had heard Yusuke yelling at Koenma from the other side of the door and he thought he'd caught the word 'dies' but he wasn't positive. Looking at Yusuke now, Hiei could see the anger in the toushin's eyes, but there was something else, simmering just below that he couldn't identify.

"What's going on?"

Yusuke couldn't look away from the crimson eyes. He wanted to look into them for as long as possible. How can I say goodbye to you? What am I supposed to do?

"Yusuke." Deciding he didn't care about Koenma's presence in the room, Hiei reached out and wiped away the single tear that was rolling down Yusuke's cheek. "Talk to me."

Yusuke blinked away the rest of the tears and turned away, sniffling and running his hands through his hair.

"Um, Koenma, could you, uh, give us a moment?"

"Sure."

Yusuke waited until he heard the door click shut before he started his story, hoping that by keeping his back to Hiei, he would be able to get everything out without breaking down.

"I, uh, have to tell you something. You see, while you were at Mukuro's, I thought I'd go to the Ningenkai and visit. So…." Yusuke let out a shuddering breath and wiped at his eyes. "….I was on my way back home when I decided to stop for some ice cream. And well, there were these guys…..robbers actually…and well, you know me….."

Yusuke turned around to face Hiei and the fire demon stood still, waiting for Yusuke to get to his point. Then his eyes registered something and Yusuke thought he'd figured it out.

"Yusuke….did you kill a ningen?"

It was said with nothing but awe and concern. Hiei knew what kind of punishment Yusuke would face for killing a ningen. But surely Koenma and Kami would be lenient with Yusuke after everything he'd done for them.

Yusuke couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh. "No, Hiei. The robbers killed me. I got shot."

Yusuke waited for a reaction from Hiei but none came. He stood there, staring, and then finally he sat down in a chair and looked annoyed.

"So you'll have to hang out here for a few days while they process you back into the real world again? Why did they need me here for that?"

"No, Hiei, you don't understand." Yusuke went to kneel in front of Hiei, placing himself between Hiei's legs and resting his hands on his thighs. "I'm not going back this time. It's official. Urameshi Yusuke is dead."

Hiei let his mind process the information. Yusuke is dead. Really dead. He won't be sent back to the Makai or the Ningenkai to live as Yusuke or anyone else. He would not be coming back to the fortress and he would not be there when Hiei came crawling into bed. He would not be there. Yusuke was dead.

Hiei reached a shaky hand out to touch Yusuke's cheek. "How could this be?"

Yusuke looked into the unbelieving crimson eyes and shuddered at the slight touch. He closed his eyes and leaned into the touch, craving the warm feel of Hiei, now more than ever. Hiei's hands cupped his face and brought him forward. Trembling lips pressed against his and salty tears invaded the sweet kiss. Yusuke mumbled against Hiei's lips, feeling helpless and desperate.

"I'm sorry, Hiei. I'm so sorry. I'm an idiot. I should have…."

"Shhhhhh….Don't cry…….I love you, Yusuke….shhhhhh…"

But even as Hiei said the reassuring words, his eyes betrayed him, spilling forth tears to mix with his mate's. He heard the light clicking noise as tear gems formed and scattered across the floor, but he paid them no mind. They were of no importance to him. Only the demon before him meant anything.

Yusuke wrapped his arms around Hiei, pulling the fire demon in close. He felt Hiei's arms wrap around his neck, one hand immediately burying itself within his hair and his breath hitched. Hiei always played with his hair. Will he find someone else and play with their hair? How long will it take him to find another to share his bed?

Yusuke broke the kiss and buried his face in Hiei's neck, crying and squeezing his love for all he was worth.

"I can't lose you, Yusuke."

"I'm sorry, Hiei."

Hiei brought Yusuke's face up and kissed him again. It started out hesitantly, then desperation kicked in and Hiei pressed the kiss further. Yusuke whimpered and pushed Hiei back into the oversized chair. Once more. Just one more time. Let me feel your skin, your touch, your heat. Just one more time….

As Hiei's hands slipped under Yusuke's shirt and began to lift it over his head, Yusuke began to fade. Panic struck both demons and they grasped for each other, even as Yusuke's body became translucent.

"No! Yusuke! Come back!"

"Hiei! Oh Kami, please, just one more time! Please!"

But their pleas were in vain as Yusuke was claimed by the Rekai, leaving Hiei gazing wild-eyed into the empty space that only seconds ago was occupied by his love. His chest hurt so much he thought it would explode and his whole body trembled. He can't be gone. No. I won't let this happen.

"KOENMA!"

Koenma burst into his office at the anguished scream and he found Hiei, in his full demon aspect, heading straight for him. If he could die at the hands of a demon he would be terrified for his life right now. Even so, he still took a few steps back.

"Bring him back. NOW!"

Koenma stood there, sad brown eyes staring at the overwrought fire demon. "I can't, Hiei. I'm sorry. My father---"

"Fuck, Enma! I won't let you have him!" Hiei started to unwind the ward on his arm. "I'll level this whole place if that's what it takes to get him back!"

"Hiei no! He'll kill you! Think about this for a moment!"

As Koenma approached Hiei in an attempt to stop him from unleashing the darkness dragon upon the Reikai and thus sealing his fate in an afterlife of eternal torture at the hands of his father, Hiei was engulfed in white flames and disappeared.

"Hiei! Father! Please don't destroy him! Don't punish him for this! Please, I'm begging you!"

Koenma fell to his knees and he suddenly heard his father's voice in his head.

I have sent him back to the Ningenkai. There will be no need to torture him. He will do that himself. The Forbidden Child will slowly destroy himself.

Koenma bowed his head in defeat and slumped down to the floor. "Oh Hiei, I'm so sorry."

To be continued…

A/N: This chapter is dedicated to Red Kitsune Flames who was not only my 100th reviewer, but has been so supportive of everything I've done. Thanks again!