Disclaimer: see previous chapters.

A/N: So this is the end. I'd like to thank everyone once again for reading my little story and encouraging me to share my imagination. I loved hearing from each and every one of you and I look forward to hearing from you again with my next round of stories. I hope you like the ending.

Comforting Heat

Chapter 18

Hiei walked down the street, waiting impatiently for the ferry girl to arrive. He didn't know what happened to Yoko's spirit. Once he materialized at the scene of his death, he was alone and remained so for several minutes. Maybe he managed to jump again. Hiei couldn't remain in the alley for too long, disgusted at the sight of his naked body lying in a pool of blood, his dead crimson eyes staring out, unseeing. Disgraceful.

His only consolation was seeing the charred body of the kitsune lying next to him. Serves the bastard right.

"Hi there!"

Crimson eyes looked to the side to see a cherub-faced young girl with short blonde hair and a pale pink kimono. Her big blue eyes sparkled and Hiei immediately disliked her.

"Skip the pleasantries, let's just get this over with."

The perky girl's features fell under the harsh tone and she pulled her oar out and the pair took off for the Rekai in what Hiei considered blessed silence.

The ride wasn't long and soon he was being led towards Koenma's office. The young girl insisted on escorting him, claiming she would be remiss in her duties as a ferry girl if she didn't accompany him to Koenma's office. Hiei acquiesced so the young girl would be quiet.

As they rounded a corner Hiei stopped in his tracks as a pair approached them. One was a tall, elegant woman with long dark hair and an equally dark kimono. By her side was a beautiful young man with red hair, pale skin and disarming green eyes. They came to a stop a few feet away from Hiei and the ferry girls took a few polite steps back.

"Hiei."

"Kurama."

"Please, call me Shuichi."

Hiei nodded and left his head hanging.

"I….I'm….sorry, Kur—Shuichi."

Those warm green eyes smiled and he tilted the fire demon's chin up with a delicate finger and leaned in, placing a gentle kiss on Hiei's lips.

"Don't apologize. If anything I should apologize to you. You were a good friend to me and I ignored your advice about Yoko. I'm sorry for all the trouble I've caused you. And I want to thank you. I'm finally free of Yoko and Koenma is sending me back as Shuichi, no time lost."

"I'm glad."

"Goodbye, Hiei."

"Goodbye, Shuichi."

Hiei continued down the hall, following the ferry girl to Koenma's office. The young girl knocked on the door and when she heard the ok to enter, she opened the door and bowed as Hiei walked past her into the office.

Hiei just stood there, arms crossed over his chest, waiting to be given the bad news. Koenma read his file, brow furrowed. When he was done, he closed the file and looked up at the fire demon.

"Hell of a way to go, Hiei. What were you thinking?"

"Obviously I didn't think he would kill me. I wasn't suicidal."

"But your intent was to kill him."

"Yes."

"Because of Shuichi?"

"That boy was doomed with that fox living inside of him. Do you know what he did to get into that club?"

Koenma hung his head and sighed. "Yes, I do. But that doesn't excuse----"

"Shuichi is safe and he forgives me. That's all that matters."

"Indeed."

"So let's get this over with."

Hiei stood there, proud as ever and all Koenma could do was offer a somber nod in return. Any other gesture would have been lost on the fire demon. He wasn't one for sentimental scenes. Unless you're a golden-eyed toushin or blue-haired Koorime apparently.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Hiei followed the junior god silently, already having come to terms with his fate of spending eternity in a state of torture and darkness. He wasn't kidding himself. Despite his service as a Rekai Tantei, his misdeeds more than outweighed his good deeds. Koenma stopped and pointed to a doorway at the end of a long ramp. It was fairly plain looking, no decorations, no signs of impending pain and despair.

"There you go. Your home for eternity. Goodbye, Hiei."

Hiei just nodded and headed for the door. He wasn't scared. If anything, he was looking forward to the pain. It would distract him from all that he'd lost. He stopped in front of the door, hand tightly grasping the handle. I wish I could have seen you one more time, Yusuke. One more time to tell you I love you and to look into those amber eyes. My one true weakness.

Hiei suddenly turned around, his pride and sense of self lost to his desire, to beg Koenma to see Yusuke before he entered his afterlife, but the junior god was gone. He slowly turned around and opened the door. The sight before him was enough to freeze him in place. Green fields, blue skies and warm, golden sunshine.

"What in the name of Kami?"

"What were you expecting? A dark pit of tortures and flames?"

Hiei spun around to see Koenma standing there, a smirk wrapped around his pacifier.

"I thought…"

"Do you honestly think that he'd let me have a moment's peace if I did something like that to you?"

"He?"

Koenma nodded past Hiei and the fire demon turned around to see Yusuke standing only six feet away, hands shoved in his pockets, smirk in place.

"Yusuke?"

"Hey there."

Yusuke slowly approached and enveloped Hiei within his arms, squeezing tight. Hiei didn't respond at first. He just stood there, mind trying to comprehend what was happening.

"Hiei?"

Yusuke's worried voice broke Hiei's frozen state and he quickly threw his arms around Yusuke, holding on as tight as possible.

"Yusuke. Oh gods…."

"I missed you too."

Yusuke looked up, a smile of thanks on his face and Koenma just nodded his head in acknowledgement before sealing the door and returning to the Reikai. Yusuke pulled back to look down at Hiei and plant a gentle kiss on his love's lips.

"So…this is real? You, you're real?"

Yusuke chuckled and rested his forehead against Hiei's. "It's all real, Hiei. You really think Koenma would send you to some pit of torture for eternity?"

"I thought Kami might. He's never been my biggest fan."

"You've got a point there. But you've done too much to save their asses and he knows it."

"Yusuke."

"Hmmm?"

"……."

Yusuke frowned slightly. "Hiei?"

"Did….did Koenma tell you….?"

"No. Do you want to tell me?"

"Not yet."

"We have time."

Yusuke gave Hiei another gentle kiss but when he tried to pull back, Hiei just lunged forward, not letting his lips escape so easily. When they finally broke the kiss, Hiei buried his face in Yusuke's neck.

Yusuke could feel the body within his arms tremble and he knew the fire demon was trying to quell his emotions. Maybe I'll help him out a bit.

"Hey, guess what? In here, we don't have to worry about having sex. As a spirit, you don't have to worry about hurting me anymore. How's that for a blissful eternity?"

Hiei chuckled and he silently thanked Yusuke for lightening the mood, knowing he was fighting back tears which he was loathe to shed. I'm done crying.

"Idiot."

"But I'm your idiot, right?"

"Forever, Yusuke."

The End.