Disclaimer: Don't own YYH or Osa.

Note: I'm baaaaaaaaaaack!

Warning: Hinting towards sexual "theme".

Japanese to Know:

Suki koto o nan demo shinasai - Do as you please;Do whatever you like

Chapter 31

Itami
(Pain)

Hokage rested in her bed, trying to ignore the pain. It throbbed throughout her entirety.

"I had hoped that I would get to see Osa be happy before I died. I always thought that I'd be standing there when she said 'I do'. Thought I'd live to be a hundred," she laughed, staring through the dark at the ceiling.

Darkfire chuckled. "I guess you haven't seen her and Kurama then."

"Kurama?" Hokage said in disbelief. "Ah, well, good for her. She deserves a man like him."

"You have no idea."

Her door was wrenched open and Yuusuke stood silhouetted in the frame. "Hokage, get up. You and Hiei have some explaining to do."

"Yuusuke—"

"No! I'm tiered of waiting!"

Hokage pushed herself from the bed and fumbled over to Yuusuke. Smiling weakly, she brushed passed him and walked as normally as her failing body would allow her. Together, they made their way to Koenma's office.

Upon entering, Koenma roared, "Where the Hell have you been?"

Hokage slumped down in a chair and stared sleepily up at the young lord. "Do you really want to know?"

"Damn it, don't toy with me!"

"I've been in Hell. Darkfire had some business to take care of." Her eyes wandered to Kurama, whom was sitting beside Osadyro on the plush, red couch. Angel leaned against the far wall, looking uninterested. Kuwabara and Yuusuke found comfort on the floor. Hiei, on the other hand, was nowhere to be seen. "Where's Hiei?"

"He's given us all he chooses to. Now you need to fill in the blanks," Koenma sighed, pacing atop his desk.

"What do you want to know?"

Koenma stopped and turned his sharp eyes to her. "I want to know what in God's name is going through your head."

Hokage smirked at the thought of explaining this for God. "About my plans for the Three Worlds? Or in general?"

"Damn it, Hokage!" Yuusuke snarled, jumping to his feet. "Hiei said you were planning a war!"

"Ah, that part of my mind." She sighed and shifted. "This war is necessary. If I hadn't planned it this way, it still would have happened. But I fixed it so that you all won't die."

"Die?" Kurama repeated. "What on Earth are you talking about?"

"That doesn't matter because it won't happen as long as you do as I tell you."

"And if we don't?" Angel challenged, peeing at her through one eye.

"You will do as I tell you. If even one of you dies, you all die." She clenched her fists. "I'm not going to let you die."

"The Spirit World has armies, Hokage. You don't need to worry," Koenma said, pacing once more.

"No, Koenma, you mustn't release your armies. You mustn't."

"Then how am I to protect this world?"

"You just have to do as I say."

"I can't do that."

Hokage jumped to her feet. "You have to!"

"D…" Osadyro whispered.

"Osa, please, you must believe me. You must live…and this is the only way," she whispered, shivering in anger and pain.

"You know I'll always stand behind you."

"I don't want you behind me! I want you right beside me, Osa, believing in me."

"I do, D, I believe." She took Kurama's hand. "Tell us what you want us to do."

"Sleep, train, do whatever it is you need to do to get ready for the biggest war you'll ever partake in."

Osadyro nodded and stood with Kurama, leaving the room. Yuusuke and Kuwabara followed them out; and soon Angel left. Darkfire, too, turned to leave, but stopped at Koenma's command:

"Wait. We still need to talk."

Hokage turned back and seated herself. "About?"

"About my army. Even if I say 'no', my father can overrule me. I can't guarantee that they won't appear."

Sighing in frustration, Hokage rubbed her temples. "Koenma, I don't want anyone to die. If your armies come charging out, all Three Worlds are doomed."

"How exactly did you come across this notion that we're going to die?"

"Darkfire knows a man who can see the future. I saw the vision as though it was a dream. But I can change that vision…I am changing it."

"Can you change the future like that?"

"The future hasn't been written. So, really, there's nothing to change."

Koenma sighed and finally seated himself in his chair. "I'll do as you say…on one condition."

Hokage looked up expectantly.

"You must tell me everything you plan to do."

"First, I will tell you what I've done."

"What have you done?"

"Know, Koenma, that what I'm about to tell you cannot be undone."

Hiei stood out on his balcony and stared into nothingness. Not to say that there was nothing to look at, he just wasn't looking at it. He let his vision blur and fade. Never once in his long life had he tried to recall a forgotten memory. Now, he was trying to recall them all.

"Damn it," he cursed, tensing. "That black-winged angel said I could remember. I'm in that same place…why won't anything come?" He slammed his fist on the ledge in agitation.

"You're trying too hard," a voice whispered in his head.

"I want to remember."

"Do you really?"

Hiei faltered. There were not many who challenged his word. But the voice of a figure he did not know was daring him to second-guess his own thoughts.

"Are you so uncertain of your own desires that you cannot answer?" the voice mocked. "Or perhaps you are so certain of your thoughts that you don't feel the need to repeat yourself."

"I just want to know why. Why my life was so worthless."

"Worthless?" The voice laughed. "My dear demon, look at where you stand today. Look at the people, friends who surround you. You were spared. Saved by an angel who swore never to care. Someone loves you. How can you say you are not loved?"

Hiei rested his arms on the railing and laid his head upon them. He couldn't help but think of all the ways he could end all the pain. He couldn't help but think of all the lives he took. Of all the devastated families. The fear in their eyes. Guilt.

"Dearest Hiei, do not dwell on things that can't be changed. The past should remain forgotten. Remembering wouldn't help anything. Focus on what's right in front of you."

"Hiei…."

The demon, startled, whirled around. He stared through the dark at a figure in his doorway. "What?" he said, motioning the being forward.

"Can we talk?" she questioned, closing the door.

"Sure, Hokage," Hiei murmured, coming inside.

The girl sat on the floor and avoided Hiei's eyes. "Why did you come for me? Why did you follow me into Hell?"

"I owe you—"

"Oh, ok. Well, sorry I bothered you." She began to stand, but Hiei grabbed her hand.

"That's…not…the only reason."

Hokage sat back down and looked intently into Hiei's eyes.

"It's just…you…you weren't afraid. Even when you should've been, you trusted me. You loved me when no one else would." He stroked the back of her hand with his thumb. "You showed me it was ok to let my guard down and love back."

She caressed his cheek with her free hand, smiling softly. "All I ever wanted was to love and be loved back. I didn't, and don't, care who or what you are. I love you for who you are now: a bad-ass bastard." Laughing, she leaned forward, head resting against his chest. "You saved me, Hiei. You saved me from myself."

Hiei wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. "And you saved me."

Tears formed on her lashes. "Love me, Hiei. Love me and never let me go. Take me from the night and thrust me into the light. Rescue me from the darkness, Hiei."

He took her chin and tilted her face to him. "How should I love you?"

"Any way you want."

Slowly, uncertainly he leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. He pulled back and whispered, "And if it hurts?"

"Suki koto o nan demo shinasai," she replied, kissing him once more.

Aw, love. Two broken hearts now become one. Hehe...now you're imagination will take you on a ride you really don't want to be on. And if you do want to be on that ride, I have three words for you: Shame on you.