A.N.: Remember how I mentioned that this would be AU? Here's one reason why. I had way too much fun with this chapter.

"I CAN RETURN TO LIFE?!"

Botan grinned at me, obviously enjoying my shock. "Yup. The higher-ups have decided that today's the day."

It can't be that easy. "So what's the catch? I have to stand on my head for the rest of my life?"

"Once bitten, twice shy, eh? Not this time, though! This is the real deal: complete revival!"

"No more, no less!" Fucking hell, Koenma just appeared up behind me.

"What's with you lately? You keep popping in! Don't you have a job?!"

"My dad's back, so I have some time on my hands. I can now devote my full attention to returning you to your body. Good thing too, since tomorrow's the deadline. Can't miss that."

"Why? What'll happen?"

"Well, it's like this: The soul and the body have harmonics, so to truly return you to life, we have to send you back on a day where they match precisely. In your case, the cycle is longer than average."

"How long is long? A month? A year?"

"Fifty years."

"Fifty-?!"

"Rather a long haul for you mortals, isn't it? We miss tomorrow and you've got a half-century wait on your hands. Another reason why the Underworld Council decided on full and immediate revival. So that's the situation—tomorrow you live again! We just need a little help from one of the living."

"What kind of help?"

"Vital energy from the living, added to the power from the Underworld."

"You mean, like a sacrifice?"

"Do I look evil? We'll just borrow a little energy as a catalyst. A little breath of it, into your body."

"Breath, how?"

"You know, Yusuke. Through the lips." That bastard was making fun of me!

"Say what?!"

"What's the matter? Haven't you heard of 'mouth to mouth' resuscitation? Artificial respiration is a proven lifesaving technique. The only difference is that we're transferring life energy instead of oxygen. You'll send a message to three people in their dreams tonight. All you need is for one of them to understand and act on it." With that Koenma flew off to my body, leaving me to think on my own.

"Three people, huh?" Well, Keiko's one. But the others…Mom? No. One look in the apartment showed that she was gone. Yet another drinking binge, most likely. So who else?

In the morning, before school started, I saw Keiko walking down the street, looking preoccupied. Two blocks from school, she was stopped by Kuwabara.

"Hey, Yukimura! Wait up!"

"Kuwabara? What's wrong?"

"I had the weirdest dream last night, and I wanted to talk to you about it."

"Oh, what about?"

"I dreamed that Urameshi was glowing, and that when I…I…" he looked around, then leaned closer to her to whisper in her ear, "When I kissed him," he moved back out of her personal space, "He came back to life. What—I mean, why, would I-"

Keiko put a hand on his arm. Her eyes were wide. "Kuwabara. I had the same dream."

"You think maybe we should…"

At the same time, they both turned away from school and started back to my apartment. The first street corner they got to someone stopped them.

"Keiko?"

"Um, do I know you?"

"You used to. You were with Yusuke a few times when he helped me out. My name's Matsu, and I've got a question for you."

"You do?"

"Last night, I dreamed that Yusuke was-"

"Glowing?" Kuwabara was a pretty impatient person.

"Yeah, how-"

"Follow us." And all three took off in a run. Next to me, Botan whistled.

"Those are some good friends you have there."

"Yeah," Who knew?

Ten minutes and they were at my building, ignoring the elevator and thundering up the stairs. Keiko spent a minute digging out the key mom had given her to help check up on me, and then they were all inside. Botan and I followed them into my room.

"He's not glowing." Matsu blinked, seeming relieved and confused. Kuwabara shook his head.

"Something's not right. He doesn't feel right."

"Botan," I looked at her, she looked back. "Why aren't I glowing?"

"The glow starts at your feet and works it way up. Your whole body won't start glowing until noon."

Kuwabara twitched, the grabbed the comforter and yanked it off. My feet and ankles were glowing. Everyone gasped.

"So. Our dreams were true." I almost laughed; Kuwabara was pale, and I had a pretty good guess why.

"That means he needs a kiss." Thanks for the obvious, Matsu.

"Yeah." No one moved. Why weren't they moving?

"In the dream, his whole body was glowing. Should we wait for that?" Of course, Keiko would be the logical one.

"That might be best. I think we should wait here."

"Yeah." Oh boy. Kuwabara was going to need to sit down soon. He was way too pale to be healthy.

"What about school?"

"C'mon, Keiko, you can skip one day."

"Okay, okay, I'll stay. But who's going to kiss him?"

Utter silence followed her question. They all looked really uncomfortable.

"I'll do it." WHAT?! "He helped me with my science test, and with Okubo keeping his job. I owe him. I'll do it."

"I'm sorry Kuwabara, but I'll do it. Yusuke helped me clear my head and win my match. Just one win was all I ever wanted, and since I got that, I've been approached by several schools offering me boxing scholarships. All that work would have been for nothing if not for Yusuke. I'll do it."

"No. I'm going to play the best friend card and overrule you both. I'll kiss Yusuke."

"Keiko-"

"Yukimura-"

"NO!" the boys both shut up. "Unless you both want Yusuke to hit you into next week for taking his first kiss?" They shook their heads. "Then I'll do it. I'm the only person here he won't kill kissing him."

As they waited for noon, Keiko called her parents to let them know she wouldn't be at school today; she'd be watching over me. Kuwabara and Matsu retreated to the living room to talk ("So, boxing, huh?").

When noon arrived, and my body was glowing gold, Keiko mustered up her courage and planted the kiss on my lips. Getting my body back wasn't anything exciting. It was like falling asleep then waking up in my body. It felt good.

"Hey. Nice kiss."