I have heard the plea of my reviewers
And I must comply to their wishes!
Here, from sessha to you...
The Price of Kindness: Chapter 10

Here it is... the last chapter. I hoped it would never be here. blows nose Well, I hope everyone has enjoyed the journey with me. It was long... longer than intended, but everything got in the way it was supposed to. For instance, there is a song imbedded in this chapter (In the parenthesis: (lalala) ). If anyone guesses this song, and emails me the answer they will receive the prize of a sneak preview of "The Captain and the Spirit" my next work. They will get the first full chapter for their own pleasure, of course I am trusting them not to distribute it out willy-nilly and claim it as their own.

email: dathomirprincess89 (at ) msn (dot) com

Disclaimer: No matter how long I pray, no matter how many chickens I sacrifice, YuYuHakusho will always belong to Yoshihiro Togashi-san. Such is life, sigh.

((I will come to you in the silence))

Youko stepped into his room, the morning light streaming through the window. He could see the faint line of Macha lying peacefully in his bed. He walked dumbly over, almost not believing she was breathing. But there she was, her chest rising and falling in a normal fashion. He pulled a chair next to the bed and watched her breathe. He closed his eyes and just listened. Just a few hours before, he wouldn't have believed that he would see the pink in her cheeks, or feel the warmth of her skin. But now, holding her hand, it was as if she never left. He held her hand gently, stroking the back with his thumb. His eyes roamed over her face, her features were smaller in sleep, as if she was trying to be 'grown up' while she was awake. But with all defenses down, she was a mere child.

Youko bit his lip. How did a fearsome, terrible thief fall so easily to a child? It was silly when he thought about it. When he first found her, he could have easily killed her as the other demon was going to do. But she didn't cry in fear when she saw him, she smiled, grateful to be saved. She was so trusting of a stranger, this intrigued him. How can someone live like that? Trusting everyone you see? This went against everything Youko knew. He trusted no one except Kuronue. He would have killed his own band if it meant saving his life.

((I will lift you from all your fear))

Macha stirred in her sleep, her head turned to face Youko. He held his breath hoping she would wake, but her breathing continued steady and Youko sighed. He remembered the last time he watched her sleep; he was carrying her to his mansion. He cradled her in his arms like a child and held her close. Before he just used the excuse of not dropping her, but looking back, he just wanted to feel her warmth. This girl had warmth around her that gave a calm affect greater than the sun and kept him going. He thought about his life just a few weeks ago, before he met her. Had it really been so cold? Had I never smiled? Just thinking about her made him smile inside. He felt warm deep in his heart, a place he didn't think the sun could reach, but it did. He in his mind, she turn to face him, the sun at her back, making her face glow. That smile radiating farther than any star and her eyes deeper than any ocean. He wanted to explore those depths and travel to that star.

Then he saw that slash across her eyes, blood pouring down her face as she reached up to him with a cold, shaking hand. Her words were soft and her body was so fragile Youko was afraid any movement would break her. But she broke herself as she breathed her last. But now, lying in front of him, his hope of living life was restored, lost before with her life.

((You will hear my voice))

Macha stirred again, this time, shaking her head. Her hand squeezed Youko's then released a little. Her head turned to face him and she bit her lip. Youko froze, was she awake? Her nose moved as Youko heard her sniff the air. Then she smiled, her hand squeezing his.

"Youko-sama," she said quietly, her voice raspy. "You smell nice... like roses."

Youko laughed and pulled her hand to his face, holding it against his cheek. "I'm glad you like it. If you want, the neko-gumi will give you a bath as well."

The smile fell from Macha's face. She turned her face away from his glad she was blind so that she could not see his face. "Youko-sama... I... I made a deal with Kuronue-san."

Youko frowned. "What do you mean?"

Macha bit her lip. "I'm not staying."

((I claim you as my choice))

"What do you mean? You're not going any where. You're staying here." he said a bit louder than he intended, a worry creeping in his voice. What did she mean?

Macha waited a minute, weighing her words. "Once I repay you my debt, I'm going back... to spirit world."

Youko paused, letting that sink in. he chuckled and Macha cocked her head confused. "That's impossible Macha, you can't do that."

"I can Youko-sama; I don't wish to burden you any more. With me gone, you won't have a weakness, and I--"

She stopped speaking when she felt Youko's hand disappear from her own. However it was replaced with pulling her up and a tight embrace. She felt Youko's breath on her neck and his arms wrapped tightly around her. She froze. She wanted to put her arms around him and complete the hug, comforting him, but dare not move, what he would think!

"It's impossible for you to leave Macha. The wish... the way I want you to repay me... is to stay. Stay with me forever."

Macha's heart stopped. That was what she truly wanted to hear. She wanted to repay him his kindness and rest in peace. She didn't want to burden him by staying any longer than needed. But with this, she had to stay. She wanted to be with him. To grant his wish. She reached up and held his shoulders, laying her head in the crook of his neck.

((Be still and know I'm here))

"Ok..." she said simply, tears leaking from her eyes."I'll stay. If that is your wish."

"My wish and need." he said. He pulled back and took her head between his hands, resting his forehead on hers. "I need you with me Macha. I love you. You may be my weakness, but you are my greatest treasure, more valuable than any gold--more beautiful than any painting and more priceless than any gem."

As he spoke, tears poured from Macha's sightless eyes and she covered them with her hand. Never in her life did she ever imagine someone saying this to her. As an outcast of her clan, she never dreamed of finding love. But she found it in the most interesting way: a show of kindness to one in need. And the price of his kindness was her love and he gave it back to her tenfold. How could she ever ask for that, and here it was sitting in front of her.

((Do not be afraid, I am with you))

Youko pulled her hands down from her face, holding them in his own. His face was inches from hers, her natural warmth coursing through him. He could feel her trembling and her breath was ragged now, he had never been so close to her. She couldn't see him, but she knew that he was so near to her and when he leaned in more, his nose touching hers, she smiled. Inside her mind, she was in the dark, but the closer he came the darkness grew dim; a light was at the end of the tunnel. She knew that her sight would never return, but her mind, trapped in the dark was about to be set free.

Youko leaned forward, placing a gentle kiss on her lips. His cold lips startled Macha, but after a moment, they grew warm and the light grew. He pulled away and she could feel him stroke her hair gently. Macha pulled her hand out from his and reached up. All the time that she knew him, she always wanted to touch his ears, now seemed like a good time. She smiled and laid a hand on his head, searching. Her fingers touched the silk soft velvet and she petted them. She felt Youko sigh and she heard his body relax. He got up and moved to sit on the bed next to her, keeping it so her hands never left his ears. She reached up another and stroked the other one. His hands left her head and he chuckled. How nice it felt. After a moment, he let out a small growl of pleasure. Macha giggled, that wasn't quite the answer she was expecting.

((I have called you by name))

Macha felt him reach around her, grabbing her waist and pulling her closer. Her hands dropped to his shoulders and his hand went behind her head. A fluttering feeling crept through Macha's stomach. What was this? What feeling was this? Youko was so near to her, and she was still so restless. Youko felt the same he wanted to hold her close and never let her go not to anyone. If he could freeze this moment he would and stay like this forever. He pulled her to him and let his lips touch hers again.

This time, her hands had a mind of their own. They wrapped around Youko's head and pulled him. The scent around him was intoxicating, Macha felt dizzy with its sweetness. She parted her lips slightly to inhale the smell. Youko felt this and did the same wrapping his arms around her waist she fell back, her head hitting the pillow. She could feel him on top of her, their chests meeting, their hearts pulsing together. He pulled his lips from hers, and kissed the side of her mouth, trailing butterfly kisses down her face to the base of her neck. Macha pulled her head back unsure of what do to. Anything that was pleasure to her before was small in comparison to what Youko was making her feel.

((Come and follow me, I will bring you home))

She felt Youko's breath near her lips again. He raised a hand and stroked her face, Macha did the same. In her mind she saw his face hovering inches from hers, glowing with a light she always saw around him. An angel above her, asking her to be with him. How could she ask for anything more?

((I love you and you are mine))

Neko-gumi: team cat. (The maids, who are in charge of the baths, see Chapter 6)
Well, there it is. Good luck everyone! I hope you enjoyed the story and will read it over. If you pick up anything that I missed, spelling, criticism that you have, please review and I will fix it and re-post the chapter.

Sayonara minna!