Disclaimer: I have no right to anyone or anything in the YYH World.

Remember how I warned you at the beginning of this story that each chapter would represent a different time frame? Well, we're taking a BIG jump here. So let's move forward twenty years and see how things are going, shall we?

No Matter What

Chapter 13

Yusuke hesitated as his hand held the doorknob. What am I doing? He doesn't want to see me. I'm the one who told him….

"I would never turn you away, Yusuke."

He heard the strong voice carry through the door and his hand tightened on the metal ball. How did he…? Yusuke shook his head and chuckled. Who am I kidding? He opened the door and followed the trail of bloody splatters to find Hiei sitting on a cot, dressed in nothing but a pair of boxers, wiping himself down, a growing stack of bloody towels collecting on the floor.

He closed the door behind him and walked over to a nearby table, leaning against it, arms crossed over his chest. It had been almost twenty years since they'd seen each other. Since I pushed him away. Yusuke had aged, albeit more gracefully than others thanks to his repressed demon genes, but Hiei hadn't changed much. He had a certain maturity about him, and he seemed a bit bigger than Yusuke remembered, but he was still the same fire demon that he'd fallen in love with in what now seemed to be another lifetime.

"Hey."

Hiei just studied the man before him. There was no doubt it was Yusuke. Even with silver streaked hair and a face aged with a few wrinkles, Hiei still saw the brash young man that he'd given his very soul to so many years ago. He looked soft in the body, but his eyes still sparked with life.

"You looked good out there."

Hiei gave the barest of nods and returned to wiping the blood and dirt from his body.

"You don't seem too upset about losing."

"I have learned not to dwell on things that are in the past."

Yusuke buried the cringe from the stab of pain in his chest. I understand. Thank you for not telling me outright that you've gotten over me, Hiei. I think it would kill me.

"You're stronger than I am on that account I'm afraid."

Hiei closed his eyes and fought to keep his composure. Yusuke's very presence was threatening his willpower. Thank Kami I didn't know he was here before the match.

"Yusuke….why have you come here?"

He wasn't sure what to say. When Koenma and Botan had showed up at his birthday party with a ticket to the Makai Tournament, he thought it was some sick joke. Even after he tried to decline politely, his friends kept at it until finally Keiko had overheard. "Go. It might be your last chance."

Yusuke shivered at her words, his own mortality suddenly closing in on him. But he didn't come here because he was dying. He came here to see him, even if it was just from a distance. And it had been worth it just to see him on the giant screen in all his glory. It was the best birthday present he could imagine until Mukuro herself had found him and led him to this room. "He wants to see you whether he admits it or not."

Yusuke let a self-deprecating laugh loose as he rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly feeling like his old self. Hiei was transported back in time, a familiar dull ache becoming a sharp pain as he once again gazed upon the man he had tried so hard to forget.

"I came here to ask you why you didn't come to my 60th birthday party."

Hiei scoffed and tossed the rag into the awaiting pile and leaned forward, his elbows on his knees.

"I've been a bit busy."

The former lovers smiled at each other, so much being spoken between them in that instant. All their affection, all their regrets, exchanged without a single word being uttered.

"If you don't get out of my way, I'll incinerate you where you STAND!"

Suddenly a boisterous dark-haired girl with blazing crimson eyes invaded their quiet discussion as she slammed the door open and close and made her way to her father's side.

"You were magnificent!" She threw her arms around his neck, ignoring the groan from the many injuries she was agitating.

Yusuke smiled fondly at the scene, remembering a time when he was his little girl's hero. Granted, he was a hero for fixing a flat tire on her bike, not for battling a powerful demon for leadership of an entire world. His children knew nothing of his prior life's exploits. They just knew he was friends with a few demons. Everyone had been given strict instructions by Keiko not to mention anything about his time as a Rekai Tantei.

Tenshi planted a big kiss on her father's cheek before releasing him and turning to face Yusuke.

"Mom said she saw you here at the tournament. How have you been, Yusuke?"

"Fine, Tenshi. I'm flattered you remember me. It's been a long time."

The young demon tapped her head and smiled. "How could I forget the only person other than dad who has been able to beat me in cards?"

"I see. I saw your match earlier. You looked good. You reminded me of a certain someone I knew a long time ago."

The young girl rubbed the back of her neck and winked at Yusuke, chuckling. "Yeah, dad told me I'm just like you were back in your Tantei days. Pretty funny, huh?"

Yusuke's eyes widened in surprise and he blinked a few times before he smiled and looked at Hiei.

"Yeah, funny."

"Tenshi. I need to finish cleaning up and get treated."

"Oh! Would you like some help?"

"No, thank you. I'll find you and your mother later, ok?"

"Ok." She kissed Hiei on the cheek and headed for the exit, grabbing Yusuke along the way. "C'mon, let's give him some privacy. You can tell me stories from when you two worked together."

"Uh, yeah, sure."

"I'd like Yusuke to stay, Tenshi."

Tenshi looked back at her father, then at Yusuke and back again. She knew all about her father and his friend. Her mother had told her a long time ago when she was mad at her father, thinking he'd fallen out of love with her mother. Mukuro had explained everything about their relationship and Hiei's and Yusuke's relationship. She felt sorry for them actually. All of them.

She smiled and let go of Yusuke's arm.

"Of course. I'll see you tomorrow then?"

"You will see me tonight at the banquet."

Tenshi deflated at her father's commanding voice. She had hoped to avoid the boring dinner and steal away with Shuro, leaving their parents to the boring matter of arranging their marriage.

"Alright, fine. See ya around, Yusuke."

"See ya, Tenshi."

Yusuke and Hiei just gazed at each other long after the door quietly closed behind the young demon girl. Finally Yusuke made the first move, slowly approaching Hiei and going down on his knees. He let his eyes wander over the half-naked demon, appraising his injuries before starting the task of treating them as he no longer had the sustained energy to do even minor healing.

He turned, aware of the piercing crimson eyes following his every move, and retrieved a bowl of fresh water, a stack of clean cloths and a jar of salve. As he gently cleaned and bandaged Hiei's arm, chest and thigh, he didn't try to fight the blazing blush to his cheeks. He was grateful to be so close to the fire demon again, touching the warm flesh and inhaling his intoxicating scent of pine and burning embers.

Hiei watched in fascination as Yusuke's slightly trembling hands began to delicately roam over his torso and treat his wounds. After awhile he closed his eyes, reliving the all too brief moments when those hands were confident and demanding, holding him close, pushing him down and taking possession of his body.

"You can open your eyes now. The scary part is over."

Hiei opened his eyes at the sound of the quiet voice and found Yusuke still kneeling in front of him, trademark smirk in place. He reached out and caressed Yusuke's rosy warm cheek, letting his thumb run across the gently curved lips. He leaned in, his eyes boring into Yusuke's as their lips met. He had planned on a chaste kiss, nothing more than a sweet, tortuous reminder of days gone by, but as he pulled back Yusuke lunged forward, demanding more. Hiei willingly obliged, reaching out and pulling Yusuke closer as his tongue was allowed access to terrain it had long since given up ever exploring and tasting again.

When the pair finally broke for air, they rested their foreheads against each other, nothing but their breathing audible for several reverent moments. Then Hiei brought his hands up and cupped Yusuke's face as he gazed into the amber eyes, a smile on his face.

"Happy Birthday, Yusuke."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Yusuke and Hiei remained together in the small room until it was time for Hiei to attend the banquet. Yusuke lay within the fire demon's protective arms, an arm and leg draped over the muscular body possessively, his face nestled into Hiei's neck. Both knew their time was up but neither wanted to be the one to break the peace of the moment.

Without saying anything, Hiei slowly let go of Yusuke and disentangled himself from the man's limbs. He padded over to the bathroom and turned on the shower, then returned to the bed and held out a hand to Yusuke.

They showered together, neither speaking a word as they each washed the other, slowly, lovingly, that spoke of their intimate knowledge of one another's body.

After the shower they dressed and once again stood facing each other and the reality of their situation.

"I guess---"

Hiei placed two fingers over Yusuke's lips, stopping whatever the toushin had to say. He stepped into Yusuke and kissed him. It was a controlled passion that passed between them and when they broke for air, Hiei buried his face in Yusuke's neck, nuzzling the still-warm flesh.

"I always have and always will love you, Yusuke. Never doubt that."

Yusuke closed his eyes and fought to keep his body from shaking as he held onto Hiei as if his very life depended on it.

"I love you, Hiei, and no matter what, I will come for you."

They held onto each other for as long as possible until finally, they knew it was time to say goodbye and resume their lives without each other.

Hiei placed one last tender kiss on Yusuke's kiss-swollen lips and left the room, not wanting to be the one left alone in the room that smelled of their lovemaking. There were some things even he could not face.

Yusuke stood there, staring at the closed door and wondering if that would be the last time he would ever see Hiei again. After all, he wasn't a young man anymore. He turned and looked around the room one last time, committing to memory everything about the place so his dreams would be vivid. As his eyes roamed, they spotted something white hanging on the far wall.

He walked over and took the white scarf down, bringing it to his nose and inhaling deeply. Hiei. He wrapped the scarf around his neck and headed out the door in search of Koenma and Botan. As he closed the door behind him, he was confident he would see Hiei again. I will always come for you, Hiei. No matter what.

To be continued…..

Question: I love this chapter so much and yet I feel like it's weak. I designed the chapters to stand on their own and act as glimpses into Yusuke's and Hiei's relationship through the years and this chapter does that. But I feel it's lacking something. Any ideas?