"Why does it take a minute to say hello and forever to say goodbye?"
Author Unknown

Keiko, My Beloved

"Talking"

'Thinking'

Stressed
Yusuke sighed as he rolled his eyes and sat upon the blanket. He couldn't believe he was sitting in the park on a pink 'Hello Kitty' blanket with his friends. Kagome had talked them all into a picnic. His brown eyes moved over and noticed that Hiei was carrying a mini-cooler. Kurama sat at the edged of the blanket looking around for anyone that might notice him. Kuronue calmly sat obliviously to the 'Hello Kitty' blanket. Kagome happily hummed and Hiei gave her the cooler. She opened it and clapped her hands.

"You got me ice cream!" Kagome happily said as he growled. He had stolen most of the ice cream from Kurama's fridge. The Miko had threatened to turn him into a girl if he didn't replace the ice cream. Hiei replaced the ice cream with interest. Kurama turned to the scene and his eyes narrowed.

"That's my Cherry Garcia!" Kurama growled.

"Hn."

"Thank you Hiei-chan," Kagome teased as he glared at her.

"I want that ice cream back," Kurama mumbled.

"It's mine!" Kagome pouted.

"He stole it from me!" Kurama argued.

"Ha! You got robbed!" Kuronue laughed as he pulled the ice cream pint from Kagome's arms. He quickly opened it and grabbed a spoon.

"Hey!" Kagome and Kurama growled.

Kuronue grinned and scooped up most of the pint on his spoon and stuck it into his mouth. He grinned and Kagome clenched her fist as she growled. Kurama was glowering from his corner as he mourned his ice cream. Kuronue grinned in victory before his eyes widened. He swallowed the ice cream and grabbed his head as he cursed. Kagome began to giggle and Kurama grinned. Hiei raised an eyebrow at this.

"My brain! It hurts!" Kuronue shouted as he gripped his head.

"That's what you get for eating my ice cream!" Kagome teased as he growled.

"Why does my brain hurt so much?" Kuronue whined.

"It's called a brain freeze Okinawa," Hiei simply said.

"I'm not a fruit bat!" Kuronue growled as he glared at Hiei.

"Yes you are, my prince of the fruit bats," Kagome mockingly teased with a grin.

"Since we are going by rank then you must service your prince," Kuronue whispered as she blushed.

He tossed the ice cream carton and Kurama caught it. He got to his knees and Kagome squeaked as she turned to run away. Kuronue pounced on her and she reached out to Yusuke for help. He chuckled and shook his head at her.

"I refuse to interrupt a youkai…they are possessive," Yusuke explained as she growled at him.

"Traitor!" Kagome howled as felt Kuronue shift.

She was pressed down into the blanket on her stomach and Kuronue held her arms above her head. Kagome struggled to break the hold and Kuronue laughed. He positioned himself so he held her hips still with his knees. Kagome continued to wiggle and he leaned down to her ear.

"Stop wiggling," he softly growled as she blushed.

"Get off me!" Kagome ordered with a tease.

"Your Prince demands service and you must obey," Kuronue declared.

"You want service?" Kagome questioned as she relaxed.

'Uh-oh,' Kurama thought as he watched with mild amusement.

"Yes…you must serve your Prince," Kuronue worriedly said.

"I'm sorry…but you're going to have to wait," Kagome sang as her Miko ki pushed to the surface.

"You wouldn't," Kuronue challenged her.

Kagome turned her head and his eyes widened in panic. Her eyes were swimming withmischief. Her Miko ki pushed into him and he instantly felt warm.

"Watch it…this is a public place," Yusuke growled. He didn't want to attract attention.

"Kuronue," Kagome warningly sang.

"I love you," Kuronue whispered as she chuckled.

Kagome focused on her energy and weakened him enough that she could push him off. The Miko ki paralyzed him leaving him to roll off of her. She chuckled and crawled over to him. His indigo eyes were wide in shock and excitement. Kagome placed her hands on either side of his head and brought her lips inches from his.

"I can't move," Kuronue whispered.

"No…but you are aware and alive," Kagome pointed.

"This isn't fair," Kuronue growled as he struggled against her power.

"You can subdue a youkai that easy?" Kurama questioned.

"I can subdue, purify, and turn hanyous human," Kagome listed as she let her breath trail on his lips.

"The Tama enhances your power?" Yusuke questioned.

"Correct," Kagome answered as she placed her hands on Kuronue's face.

"Bondage without the bonds," Hiei simply said as Kurama grinned.

Kagome pulled away from Kuronue and his smile turned into a scowl. She grinned at Hiei and chuckled.

"You've been around Kurama too long," Kagome laughed.

Kurama chuckled at this, but he began to laugh when he noticed Kuronue's frustrated glare. The poor Koumori couldn't move and Kagome was currently distracted. She heard the growl and turned to find a scowl on her bat's face.

"Frustrated?" Hiei questioned as the growl grew louder.

Kagome softly chuckled and leaned down. Her lips brushed against his and she quickly pulled away. He scowled at her.

"Can I have my body back?" Kuronue questioned. "If you're not using it."

"Fine," Kagome sighed.

Kuronue quickly sat up and pulled her to him. Her eyes widened and before she could protest his lips covered hers. Kagome sighed as he softly kissed her and Hiei snorted at the scene. He pulled away and grinned down at her.

"You taste like Cherry Garcia," Kagome mumbled.

"I passionately kiss you and you relate me to ice cream?" Kuronue questioned with a snort.

"Can we leave?" Yusuke questioned with a sigh.

"Why?" Kagome whined.

"I'm sick of sitting on this damn blanket!" Yusuke growled.

"Where's Kuwabara?" Kagome questioned.

"He's visiting Yukina," Kurama supplied.

"Where'd Hiei go?" Kuronue questioned.

"He's in the process of tracking down Kuwabara because he is visiting Yukina," Yusuke answered in one breath.

"Finally!" Yusuke shouted as he pulled his ringing communicator out.

He flipped it open and they all crowded around it in slight interest. Yusuke was surprised to see Koenma. The toddler appeared to look grim. Yusuke raised an eyebrow.

"We've found Keiko's body," Koenma suddenly said.

Yusuke stilled and the communicator fell from his hands. Kurama reached out and caught the communicator before it could it hit the ground. Kurama raised the communicator to his face and sighed. His emerald eyes didn't portray the worry he felt.

"Where's Yusuke?" Koenma questioned, the worry was evident.

"He's…in shock," Kurama replied.

"I'm going to open a portal Reikai. We have Keiko's body with us, it was found in Makai," Koenma explained.

"No youkai got it?" Kagome questioned.

"No, her body is unharmed…at least physically." Koenma explained with a weird face.

The communicator shut off a portal quickly appeared. Kurama looked over at Yusuke before he sighed and stepped into the portal. Yusuke stood up but didn't move toward the portal. Kagome squeezed Kuronue's hand and sighed.

"Yusuke?" Kagome whispered.

He stood there staring into the portal with no emotion. Kagome sighed and glanced away from him. She looked to Kuronue and smiled.

"Go on…we'll be a moment," Kagome whispered.

"Are you sure?" Kuronue questioned with worry.

"Trust me," Kagome sighed as he raised an eyebrow.

Kuronue frowned before he relented and went into the portal. Kagome turned to Yusuke and saw that his eyes were watering. She reached out and grabbed his wrist. He didn't respond her.

"It's my fault," Yusuke whispered.

"Yusuke, what ever happens…you can't be blamed," Kagome whispered.

"I should have kept her out of Reikai…I should have left her alone," Yusuke said as his fists clenched in anger.

"Yusuke…I'm sure she's living," Kagome assured.

"Living…why not fine or okay?" Yusuke angrily said.

"I don't want to lie," Kagome answered.

"When this is over…I want a favor from you," Yusuke stated.

"What?" Kagome questioned in worry.

"I want you to block her memories of me," Yusuke firmly said.

"I can't do that," Kagome protested as he turned her grip around.

"It will protect her!" Yusuke shouted.

"I will do it…but will you be able to live with that?" Kagome questioned.

"To keep her safe…I will," Yusuke firmly said as his voice cracked.

"If she wants to, she'll remember," Kagome warned.

"She won't," Yusuke assured as he walked into the portal.

Kagome sighed as she followed him into the portal. She had never suppressed a memory before. It would be a new experience for her. Kagome sighed and figured that it had to be like subduing a youkai or putting up a barrier. The thought still didn't make it seem right.

She looked dead to the world. Keiko appeared to no longer be apart of the world. He skin was pale and her lips were a gently hue of blue. Yusuke quickly walked over to her and grabbed her hand. They could see him flinch at the coolness of her skin. He reached up and brushed her chestnut hair from her face. His hand shook and they could see his emotional battle.

"She's alive," Koenma assured.

"Why not bring her to a hospital?" Kurama questioned.

"We tried, but her body is surviving on the energy from Reikai. If she is removed from this realm she will die," Koenma explained.

"Where did you find?" Yusuke calmly asked.

"She was found in the barrier," Koenma answered.

"The barrier?" Yusuke questioned.

"I was about to cross the barrier and we found her inside the barrier," Botan answered with a sad tone.

"Will she live?" Kagome questioned.

"She should recover," Koenma replied.

"If she recovers can she leave this realm?" Kagome questioned.

"No," Koenma answered.

'She's dead…she's close to dying,' Kagome reasoned.

"Can't the dead only survive here?" Kurama questioned.

Yusuke tightened his grip on Keiko when he heard the question. Koenma sighed and Botan looked away before she took a step back. Kuronue continued to gaze at Yusuke. The man was breaking apart at the sight of Keiko.

'Would I break if I lost Kagome?' Kuronue wondered. 'Would she break if she lost me?'

"Keiko is on the verge of dying…her ki was drained," Koenma answered.

"She used the energy from the barrier to survive and now she has become dependent on it," Kurama summarized.

"Save her," Yusuke whispered.

Kagome raised her eyes and met his. She flinched at the brief flash of desperation in his eyes. He repeated his words again. Kagome released Kuronue's grip and walked over to the woman.

"I don't know what will happen if I transfer some of my ki into her," Kagome replied.

"Save her and then make her forget," Yusuke whispered.

"You can't carry the sorrow alone," Kagome whispered as she reached out and touched Keiko's forehead.

"Just…please…save her," Yusuke pleaded with a soft whisper.

"I can't predict what my energy will do to her," Kagome tried to convince him to change his mind.

"Can we use his energy?" Kuronue questioned.

"Energy donations must be from the same gender and species or else extreme changes will occur," Koenma explained.

"Do it," Yusuke firmly whispered.

Kagome sighed in defeat and closed her eyes. She wished that she didn't have to be the one to do these things. The results always came back and bit her in the ass…save for Kuronue…he just bit her in the neck. Kagome softly glowed a powdered blue, she could feel the energy leaving her body and mingling with Keiko. It felt like someone was drawing her blood. The effect was calming and Kagome relaxed. Her eyes turned and watched as Keiko's body regained some color, some life. Kagome quickly pulled her hands away and lost balance.

"I got you," Kuronue whispered as he held onto her limp form.

"Thanks," Kagome whispered as she held onto him.

Kagome smiled up at him before she turned over to stare at Keiko. The young woman's eyes fluttered opened. Her eyes held a bit of gray, but nothing noticeable. She sat up and turned toward Yusuke.

"Keiko," Yusuke whispered.

Her eyebrows furrowed as she gazed at him. Her eyes traveled to Kuronue and she held back a scream. She soon turned her attention to Yusuke.

"Who are you?" Keiko softly asked with a bit of fear.

"You made her forget…thank you," Yusuke whispered with pained regret.

"I didn't have time to block her memories," Kagome voiced.

"Who are you people?" Keiko firmly asked as she looked at all of them.

She glared at everyone in the room for good measure. She didn't know anyone or anything that was going on. The office door's slammed open and a blue ogre ran into the room. Keiko's eyes widened before she screamed and grabbed onto Yusuke.

"Koenma sir!" The orge shouted as Keiko screamed.

"What is it?" Koenma questioned as he winced at the screams.

George looked toward the hysterical girl and winced at her yells. He then walked around to Koenma and whispered into his ear.

"Her family has been killed."

Author's Notes:

That was needed change in the story...
I will update, i've just been distracted by life and the amazingness of sporks!
Please review