Meanwhile, back in Spirit World, Koenma was sitting at his desk reading over Kiki's file when he heard a knock at his door. "Come in, door's open, Hinag…" he replied looking up at her, "Oh wait it's you, Shiori. How nice to see you."
"Thank you, sir. Hinageshi is here too, she's got a little girl with her. Botan went back down to check on my son."
"Yeah well you see him up here every now and then. He likes checking on his former patients, seeing how they are getting along. He wasn't up too long ago."
"He came up for the day before his birthday; we spent the entire day together," she smiled in a daydream. "Sometimes I forget that Shuuichii is a demon and is able to travel from Earth to here in Spirit World, without having to go through the pains of dying."
Koenma saw Hinageshi walk in behind Shiori with the girl walking beside her. The little girl kept swerving her head to and fro, gazing at the vast halls of the gate. Koenma changed from his toddler form into his teen form. "Wow, lady, that kid got as big as you. Can I do that, too?" asked the girl.
Koenma knelt down to her and beckoned her to him. "Wow, mister, you look like Superman. Can you fly like him too?"
"Who's Superman?" asked Koenma, looking at either of the two women.
"He used to be Shuuichii's favorite superhero. He's this comic book hero that has a big red cape, blue suit, and red boots. He flies around the world and saves people. The kids love him. I'll explain more to you later about him," replied Shiori, as she knelt down to admire the girl. "Hey I recognize you, you're that Kiki girl. Mr. and Mrs. Kyoshin's daughter. Wow you've gotten big. Last time I saw you, you were almost two. How old are you now?"
Kiki counted on her little fingers then showed her whole palm to Shiori. "Wow, you're five. You're almost a woman now."
"Who are you lady?"
"This is Mrs. Minamino, Kiki," replied Koenma, "Don't you remember her?"
"Well it's been three years since I died, I don't think she'd remember that well. Kiki, you can call me Shiori if you like."
"What does died mean?" Kiki wondered, looking up at both Shiori and Koenma.
"It's like when you go to sleep and end up in your dreams forever," Shiori replied, "I went to sleep one day and a beautiful angel came and brought me here to Spirit World."
Kiki smiled big and giggled, "That happened to me too. I went to sleep before lunch today and these two ladies brought me here, a blue-haired lady and this red-haired one." She looked up at Koenma eyes, "Did that happen to you too, Mister?"
"No, Kiki, I live here. My name is Koenma. This is my home," he smiled with tears pooling in his eyes.
"Wow, your house is neat. It's so big. I wish mommy and daddy could see it. Can they come up and see it too?"
Koenma's tears poured down his cheeks, "No, I'm sorry, they can't come up right now."
"Why not? I want them to see it. I want them to come here. This place is big enough, maybe Megumi and Saito can come too."
Koenma hugged her tightly in arms, "I'm sorry, it doesn't work that way."
"Can I go see them? Please?" she requested. "I couldn't see my friends yesterday or this morning 'cause I was sick, but I'm fine now, Mr. Koenma." She looked up into his eyes and saw the tears streaming down. "Hey why are you crying, Sir? Big people aren't supposed to cry, only babies and kids do that."
"Are you okay, Sir?" asked Shiori, in concern. "Hey, Hinageshi, could you take her over to George for a while? I want to be alone with Koenma for awhile."
"Hey, Blue Ogre. You want to say hi to Kiki?" Hinageshi asked as Shiori closed Koenma's door.
"Hey, what's wrong? I've never seen you so torn up by a client before," she asked as she knelt back down and hugged Koenma.
"I'm sorry, she just got to me. She's such a sweet, innocent girl. I don't know if she's ready to hear that she's dead. I don't think she'd grasp that notion. I'm beginning to feel she just wasn't ready to die." He sniffed back his tears, trying to keep calm.
"Well maybe you should have her go to Earth as a ghost. You know ever since my death, I've found my calling here, to involve deceased children in activities here in Heaven's Garden and allow them to visit their parents and loved ones in their dreams. This helps the children and the parents deal with the death in a positive light. With her, since both of her parents, the Urameshis, my son and daughter-in-law, her brother, and my grandchildren are able to see ghosts, she should spend time with them as a ghost until all are willing to accept her passing."
Koenma looked at her, thinking to himself for a while. "Yeah, I like that idea. And I may have her materialize back on Earth. Maybe soon too."
The next evening, back on earth, the Kyoshins were back in their house, hosting their daughter's wake. Crowds were gathered around their house to pay their respects to Kiroki. Among the crowd were the Urameshis, the Minaminos, Kuwabara and his wife, Yukina, and Botan dressed in a black kimono. Yusuke and Keiko were kneeling before Kiki's alter and casket. Kurama stood outside with Shizuru, hugging her as tight as he could, trying to comfort her tears.
"Hey, Botan, thanks for coming," commented Seaman, still seated beside the door with his wife.
"I'm so sorry I took her. She's such a sweet girl," replied Botan.
"I know, but that's your job right? You take the soul to Spirit World, after he or she is done with this life."
Kurama overheard Botan and Seaman's conversation as he and Shizuru walked in. "Hi Yumi, how have you been? I know this must be hard on you," said Shizuru, in a soft voice.
"Thanks, where's your two?" asked Yumi.
"Saito and Megumi are off playing, my mom is watching them. Sakura is…there she is, she was visiting her uncle Kazuma. Can you say hi, Sakura?" The little toddler ran up and hid behind her mother. "Okay so we are being shy today. Well sometimes with a large crowd like this, she gets scared. Hey hon, do you want to take her, I want to sit and chat with Yumi, if you don't mind?"
Kurama hoisted the little girl onto his shoulders. "Come on, Saks, let's go talk to Botan." He motioned to the blue-haired woman to follow him into a vacant corner of the veranda. "Hey, how did everything go yesterday? I forgot to ask."
"Before I met with you, I took Kiki to Spirit World. I left her with Hinageshi. Your mother was up there talking to Koenma about something. That's when I came back down and met with you in your office."
"What did you do with Kiki?" he asked curiously.
"I said I left her with Hinageshi and Koenma." Botan noticed Kurama covering his face with his free hand. "What's wrong?"
Kurama shook his head. "Hey, Seaman, come here," he yelled.
Seaman stood up and walked over to his friend. "What's going on, Fox boy?"
"Take a wild stab where Kiki is, man," suggested Kurama.
"She's up in… Botan you didn't leave her with Koenma, did you?"
"Why yes, that's where all the souls end up, going up to him. Why?"
Mr. Kyoshin placed his hands over his mouth and eyes. "You should've come back down with her. Not left her there," he replied in a fake weep.
"Yusuke, come here," motioned Seaman with his hand. Yusuke hastened his pace and stared with questioned look on his face. "Guess who has Kiki right now."
"What, he has her?" Yusuke shook his head, "Now he knows what it's like. Botan, you don't leave someone like Kiki up in Spirit World."
"I feel sorry for her," Botan responded.
"Save your sympathies for Koenma. Megumi is her same age, five," explained Yusuke, "I'll tell you what five-year-olds love to do. They love asking questions. Megumi does this to me all the time. But she isn't half as bad as Kiki."
"Kiki's a good girl. She's a sweet angel," commented Botan, "You said it, Kurama, she's cute, funny, curious, and spunky."
"Fox boy, you have a three-year-old, but that's no excuse for lying to this woman." Seaman shook his head. "Botan, you've missed the man's point. You don't leave a five-year-old in Spirit World, especially Kiki, the Question Queen."
"Hey, Kurama-kun, I can feel a very strong spiritual presence here," whispered Shizuru, "So can Yumi. Actually I sense two spirits."
"I'll bet you a million yen who they are," sighed Kurama, whispering back to her, "and judging by one of them, he's not too happy."
Megumi ran straight to Yusuke, followed by Saito. "Daddy, can we play with Kiki? She's here. See."
Yusuke rolled his eyes and stared at Kiki's ghost. "Go play in her room, but keep her out of sight of the other guests. We don't want to scare any of the other guests." "She looks very much the same, except for the ghost look."
Shizuru peeked at Kiki as Saito and Megumi walked her back into the house. "Well, dear, she's back. What now?"
"Botan," came a stern voice behind her, "may I have a word with you?" Botan stared straight ahead with a sheepish grin and a drop of sweat.
"Can we all come too?" asked Seaman, "I think you need our support right now, Koenma."
Before entering his house, Seaman knelt down beside Yumi and whispered into her ear. "Guess who's back here, again." Her eyes widened and she motioned to an older woman in the yard.
The woman walked over and bent down. "Hey, mom, I need to go inside with Mitarai, please. Could you take my place here to greet the guests?"
"Yes, dear," she complied, "however it seems that a great majority have already gone home for the evening."
The group gathered in an isolated room, away from the other guests. Everyone sat on chairs and sofas, while Koenma paced the floor. He looked into Seaman's eyes, then into Botan's.
"What did my little girl do now?" sighed Seaman, rolling his eyes.
"She's a good girl, cute as a button, and very curious," replied Koenma in a nervous voice. He held his fingernails close to his mouth, and continued to pace the floor.
"That's not what I asked. Why did we all see her down here in ghost form just now?"
"Well, Kurama's mother suggested bring her down here to get both you and her comfortable with her passing. I figured that I should do it now."
"Do it now, when everyone, except for our small group in here, wouldn't understand what the nature of a ghost is?" asked Kurama in a concerned voice, as he sat in a recliner and placed Sakura on the floor. "I know that my mother is a smart, caring woman. She understands the wishes of the dead, because she is dead too. I think her idea of having Kiki down here part time is a good one. But, I don't think she meant now."
"Koenma you are such a coward. Please answer Mr. Kyoshin's question. What did…?"
"Never mind, Urameshi," sighed Seaman, as he sat on his couch, hunched over, with Yumi's hand on his back. "I've got the message. Kiki was asking Koenma a gazillion questions, since she got up there."
"I can't get any work done, and she's got a string of questions for me," sighed Koenma, as he plopped into a recliner beside Botan, who was seated on the floor. "'When's lunch?', 'Who's my mommy?', 'Why do you work with boogie monsters?' What's that, by the way? 'Where are the toys?' 'Can I watch your big TV?' Just on and on. Is there a way to shut her up?"
"Koenma, welcome to our world," chuckled Yumi, as she scratched her forehead, "We had one and the Urameshis' have one too. Kids that age love to do that. They ask way too many questions and get into stuff they aren't supposed to. Half the time you scold them, then you end up laughing at their antics."
"Hey, Keiko, do you remember what happened the day after Christmas, a few months ago?" asked Yusuke, as he leaned back in a cushioned chair, with one leg crossing his lap.
"Yes, and I have the picture of Yoshi in my purse," replied Keiko, as she pulled the purse into her lap and searched inside the zipper. "Thanks a lot for taking this one, dear," she commented as she proceeded to give Sakura the photo and asked her to give it to Botan.
Koenma saw it in Botan's hands, "Who or what is that thing?" He grabbed it and showed the group, trying to keep his pacifier in his mouth. Sakura stood beside Botan and patted her hands with hers.
"That's a six-month-old drag queen," sighed Seaman, laughing as hard he could, "Kiki and Megumi's handy work." Everyone else was driven to tears, and Koenma spat out the pacifier from laughter.
"That day, Shizuru, Keiko, Yumi, and Yukina were out shopping. Kurama was home with his two. I had Megs, Kiki, and Yoshi in my care at our house. I was on my bed taking a nap. Megs and Kiki are also at the age where boys are gross. Megs said she changed her mind and wanted a sister, not a stupid brother. Kiki whispers that she can solve the problem. I heard one of them tiptoe in my bedroom, make a scuffling sound, and tiptoe back out. The next thing I hear is Yoshi screaming. My curiosity got the better of me and got up and went to his room. When I saw him, I dashed back to my room and grabbed my camera out of my top dresser drawer. Then I went back and…" Yusuke paused, almost in tears from laughing so hard, "I…I took that picture of my son in Kiki's baby-doll dress and Keiko's red lipstick smeared on his…" The black-haired man couldn't speak any further, as his hands covered over his eyes, and tears dribbled down his face.
Kurama kept staring down the hallway, towards Kiki's room. "What's the matter, dear?" asked Shizuru.
"I keep hearing this thudding sound from back there, like someone's hitting a wall, or…What are you guys doing back there?"
"Daddy," yelled a little voice, "Kiki's not being fair. How do I do what she's doing?"
"What is Kiki doing?" questioned Seaman. Kurama didn't answer him, instead stood up and walked back down the hallway.
"Kyoshin! Get down here right now! You too,Yusuke. You have got to see this."
The two guys walked down, followed by Shizuru and Yumi. "Kiroki Kyoshin! You get your ghost-butt out of the wall right now!" scolded her father.
"But daddy, I can walk right through it now. See. Neat, huh." Yusuke and Seaman almost started to cry from laughing too hard at Kiki. Yumi couldn't believe her eyes and Shizuru closed hers and rubbed her forehead, both in laughter, too.
"I want to do that too, daddy," pleaded Megumi, "Can you teach me to walk through walls, please?"
"Yeah, me too walls," Saito tried to repeat. Kurama planted his butt on the floor and covered his eyes with his hand. Tears started gushing out of his eyes.
"You what?" he cried, laughing as hard as he could. Yusuke leaned against Seaman, and Yumi buried her face into Shizuru's shoulder and all five adults busted out laughing.
"But Mr. Kyoshin, why can Kiki walk through walls?" asked Megumi, looking at the two men standing.
"Honey, Kiki's a ghost. She can do that because she's a ghost," replied Yusuke.
Megumi's eyes opened wide, "Say! I've got this good idea, Daddy. Can I become a ghost?"
"Yeah, me too, ghost," chimed in Saito, "Daddy, I want be ghost too, please?" Kurama cried as hard as he could.
"No you can't be a ghost, son. Neither can you, Megs," Kurama smiled, trying to contain his laughter. The two moaned and Kurama went on further, "Sorry, guys, we don't need anymore ghosts." He sat for a moment, then his eyes started to widen. "Hey, kids you want to come back out with us?" "Hey Yumi, can you check to see if theirs anybody outside?"
She nodded and ran to the front door. She quickly ran back, "There is just Kazuma and Yukina outside. Everyone else has gone home. I've asked if they'd like to come in. They are in with Keiko, Sakura, and the two from Spirit World."
The group marched back into the main room with all three kids. As everyone was seated back in their spots, Kurama spoke out his thoughts. "Hey I think I have figured out something. It might work, if Koenma would go with it."
"What's your plan? Is it to keep Kiki out of my office?"
"Well you know how many times I come up there. Everyday, sometimes twice."
"Yeah," replied Koenma, "I see you up there on a regular basis."
"How do you do that without having to die?" asked Yumi, "Don't you have to die to be up there?"
"Not everyone up there is dead, hon," answered Seaman, "Koenma and Botan are from there. They are…what are you?"
"I'm the son of Enma, myself. Botan and Hinageshi are both carriers of dead souls; we have ogres working in filing. I'm the head of Spirit World."
"Wow, that's what I do," replied Yumi, "I head a small business firm in Tokyo, so what you describe is basically like a corporate office type setting. That's why you were having trouble with Kiki. Kids get bored easily and they try to entertain themselves."
"That's why my mother suggested Heaven's Garden and also suggested Kiki to come here to the living world," explained Kurama, "She knows what kids like, she raised me all by herself."
"Then why can Kurama go up there? He makes it sound more like he's going the northern mountains here in Japan," questioned Yumi.
Shizuru smiled at Yumi and said, "My husband isn't human and the kids are only half humans. They are actually fox demons. Incase you haven't noticed, Sakura and Saito are starting to develop pointy tips at the top of their ears. They are demons. They can do stuff that humans can't do. Like…Hey dear, do you remember what you did Christmas Eve?"
"I brought Saito and Sakura up to see mom, while you were shopping and hanging out with Keiko. We spent the whole day with her, touring all the areas in Spirit World. Saito loved Heaven's Garden because it's just like you are thinking. It's a lush, outdoorsy environment with trees to climb, maze gardens to walk through, and beautiful waterfalls and springs to play in. Adult spirits and souls, like my mom, run it and it's for dead children to go play in and act like children. The dead children there admired him and Sakura because they were the only kids there still alive. Saito even met a friend there and they played."
"Do you think when you go up there that you can take Kiki up and back with you? Maybe the kids can go too?" suggested Shizuru, scanning her eyes between her husband and Koenma.
"I like the idea, actually," replied Seaman, "It gives her a chance to get used to her new situation as a ghost. She is not suddenly yanked from her old home and us. She stays here with her stuff and her bed. And it would give us a chance to still be with her; it wouldn't hurt as bad as not having her here. And then I think if Kurama can come by and get her, when he leaves for Spirit World, she goes with him. He can introduce her to his mother. You know, Shiori, Kiki?" he asked his ghost-girl sitting on his lap. She shook her head. "It would be like when we took you to your first day of preschool. You meet everyone in this Heaven's Garden place. I think you might make a few friends up there. Then you get to come home after awhile and be with us again."
Kurama smiled and shook his head, "I do like that idea, I go up every morning before 5:30 AM to check on and chat with my former patients, and then I go up again after my shift at the hospital, at 5:00 PM. I can transport Kiki with me at those two times." "I would like to do this for her tomorrow."
"Tomorrow's the funeral, dear," yawned Shizuru, trying to keep awake, "When does it start, Yumi?"
"Twelve noon is her funeral. You'll have plenty of time to take her to Shiori, Kurama. If she were there at the funeral, she'd be bored to tears. Knowing her, she'd try to get her b-o-d-y up and then wonder why it's not working. Then she'd scare everyone trying to find out why," Yumi chuckled, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't laugh at something that's supposed to be sad."