A/N: Finally! The long awaited finale to Roses for a Queen! I would like to thank all of you who have read it from the beginning and I send all my love to those of you who actually took the time to review; Luca4ever, Rose of the Moon, Shadow Ice Maiden and Anime-Kunoichi! altogether, I got 12 reviews for this thing, which I hope increases after this is posted and the sequel is posted.

Beyond that, the basis for this story does not belong to me. YuYu Hakusho doesn't belong to me. Besides that, all OCs and places mentioned are mine. I would like to reiterate that use of the places mentioned, (i.e. The Singing Stones and the Tower of Hyre), please ask me before you do so, though I will probably have no problem letting you do so.

Jesa's Guide to the Makai and the Person's and Artifacts Therein has been mostly converted to a nonmagical form, so if you would like a copy, whether for your own story or just for the heck of it, please notify me and we will work out a way to get it to you. A map of the Makai that I have created specially for this story (and the sequels) is also available if you would like to know just where the places mentioned are located. I included the demon city mentioned in the first few books of the manga series, but that is the only part of it that is not created by me.

Midway through the third course, I went to take a drink from my goblet, a solid piece of rare red crystal, and stopped just short of drinking, placing it back onto the table instead. Chikara glanced over with a slightly concerned expression on his face.

"Is everything all right, Sanya, dear?" I blinked, looking at him distractedly.

"Hmm? Oh, no, nothing's right, right now." I replied, looking back down at my goblet. Chikara frowned and leaned forward slightly.

"Then what's wrong?"

"Someone just tried to poison me." I said, reaching out and wiping a finger around the lip of my goblet. Holding it up, I muttered something almost unintelligible under my breath and watched as my fingertip started to glow an unhealthy looking shade of yellow. "Kesherbane, if I'm not mistaken." Kesherbane was one of the most potent and deadly poisons in the Makai until it was abolished about three hundred years ago. Made from the pollen of a rare flower from the highest reaches of the Ridgeback Mountains and the sap of a tree found either in the Hykul Valley or on Nesuli Mountain, it could kill in as small of a dose as a few grains. After the abolition, legal trading of the powder stopped, but there were many other ways of obtaining a lethal dose, all of which were illegal. Almost undetectable, it was an assassin's favorite weapon, killing slowly and almost imperceptibly. Almost no one bothered to protect themselves against it anymore, because of all the difficulty in even getting it, but I had always preferred to be on the safe side when it came to poisons and other ways of being killed unknowingly, wrapping myself in a cocoon of protective charms and spells. These had saved my life numerous times, along with my built-up resistance to many of the more common powders and liquids. Chikara just looked at me as if I was insane.

"Kesherbane?" He asked incredulously. I nodded. "But that was forbidden nearly three hundred years ago! Besides, my barriers would never have let it in." He shook his head, refusing to believe me. "You must be mistaken." I looked at him coldly.

"I am never mistaken about these things." I said, my voice as chilling and brittle as ice. He looked at me, surprised by my tone. I stared at him. "I was one of the top chemists at the time of its discovery, I'll remind you. I know of about four hundred sixty-two different ways to kill you with just the stuff you have at this table." He glanced down at his food, suddenly seeing it in a new light. "If I say it's Kesherbane, it's Kesherbane." He nodded, swallowing nervously as he remembered that I was still dangerous to him, even if he thought I didn't have all of my power. I turned back to look at my goblet. Without moving a muscle, I incinerated it, turning it and its contents into a fine reddish-yellow powder. The demons near me looked over with trepidation, but quickly turned back to their own food when I glanced at them. I picked at the rest of my dinner, not eating much. To my relief, the meal ended quickly, and we all exited the dining hall to gather outside, next to the forest.

I looked around once we had gotten outside; during the whole of my stay at the Tower of Hyre I had never been allowed to go outside, so I was glad to breathe the fresh air again. Studying the Silent Forest, I wondered how the tall hedge that now surrounded the trees had gotten there. Then it occurred to me that Chikara had probably had servants erect it especially for the Hunt, seeing as there hadn't been anything there when I'd first come here. I didn't have very long to contemplate about it, though, because Chikara got the crowd's attention by raising his arms. They must have been watching him for a signal because they immediately stopped their mutterings and looked at him. He smiled genially.

"Friends and esteemed peers. I have invited you all here for the commencing of the forty-year Hunt and the determining of the host for the next one." I looked at him, slightly surprised. His tone had the sound of genuine excitement and anticipation, but the words themselves sounded as if some stuff-bag in a dusty old room somewhere had written them for a formal occasion, not a hunt. The cat demon continued in the same manner. "There are a select group of us competing this Hunt for the prize of the White Stag, an item of the winner's choosing given from the host, myself, and the hosting of the next Hunt, to be held forty years from now. All fourteen of us have been carefully selected by a power unknown to any here to compete and no one can tell the outcome once it has begun. I would like to wish all of the competitors good luck in this Hunt and may the best demon win." With those words, he indicated an area specially set-aside for those participating and their packs. Thirteen other demons of varying species and appearances detached themselves from the crowd and strode over to stand next to their hounds, which were as diverse as their masters. I cast my gaze over them, trying to decide who might win and, if they did, what they would ask of Chikara.

The brilliance of silver reflecting the Makai sun drew my gaze like a moth to flame. I stared as Youko took his place among the competitors to stand next to a pack of strange creatures that I recognized only vaguely. Confused, I let a tendril of thought ease into his mind.

What are you doing there? I asked, wanting to know, but afraid that I wouldn't like the answer. Youko hid his surprise by looking down at his hounds in a pretense of checking them over one last time.

I was invited. He said simply. It seems that Chikara didn't even know of my supposed death. And neither had any of the other guests, so it was fairly easy to blend in. That pretty much covered everything, except for one matter.

Where are the others, then? I asked nervously. Youko answered in the same tone.

Hidden somewhere inside the Tower. He said, running his hands along the body of one of his hounds. They snuck in with Hakana's help, and even now should be setting up the diversion that will allow you to get to the amulet. I would have said something about that, but just then Chikara asked for, and got, silence again. I cast a slightly worried look at Youko's back before terminating the link and giving my attention to Chikara.

"Now friends, the moment we have gathered here for." He said, raising his hands above his head. At that movement, a section of the ground near him started to tremble and I took an involuntary step backwards before I realized it was just that section; no where else was the earth shaking. As I watched, the sky grew dark and the bright sunlight gave way to duskiness. With a grinding noise, the door began to open and Chikara's Hunters spilled forth into the fresh air that they hadn't breathed in forty years, their red eyes glinting in the dim lighting with a crazed intensity. As I looked at them, I realized that Ito had been right, the creatures were pitifully thin and I could count every rib on each creature's side. All except one, that is.

Junei stood proud and defiant in his place next to Chikara, his smoldering gaze almost daring anyone to protest. He looked no different from that day in the woods when he had chased Hakana into my lap and jump-started this whole mess, his flame-colored fur still as vivid and unnatural as ever, his similarity to the wolves of the human world still as obvious as ever.

Everyone inhaled at the sight of the creatures that had caught the White Stag for the past several thousand years, giving Chikara almost complete power. Most of those who had come didn't expect it to change now, either, and were resigned to their fate, held in the hands of a power-crazed demon. I hoped that he would lose and Youko win, just to spite him. I stopped myself with an effort; my plan wouldn't be able to be enacted if I was too caught up in seeing Chikara humiliated. There was a way to do this, the boys would help immensely with their distraction, and I was going to find it. Chikara would have no power to stop me. Ito had been right; he was very much concerned with his appearance and what others thought of him, much more than how he treated others, except for those who were more powerful than he was. So he would squander his power in this pointless Hunt, while he lost what he had been leaning on more and more recently.

I smiled grimly, secure in the knowledge that no matter what he did, the end result was going to be the same.

(Hiei's POV)

I glanced around the richly furnished room, empty but for myself, Hakana and the wood imp's cousin, Ito. The others were waiting somewhere else as we tried to find Li. Ito looked around the room almost unbelievingly.

"She's gone…" He said for the billionth time in the past five minutes. I groaned silently, already sick and tired of this place, even though I'd only been here for a few hours. "The Lady's gone…" I turned to him, my already worn patience worn even further.

"If she's not here, then where is she?" I asked with painful slowness. Ito looked up at me, his eyes wide.

"I…" He seemed to cast around for a logical answer. "She…" Then something seemed to hit him, seeing as his eyes suddenly went wide with shock. "The Dark Lord. He must have taken her to watch the Hunt…" I blinked, slightly confused, then started to the door as what he said hit me.

"Well, then, what are we doing here, wasting time?" I said impatiently, holding the door open. The wood imps looked at me, confused. "If we're to help her, we need to start preparing." They seemed to understand, finally, and followed me out into the hall. I turned to Ito again. "Now, which way is the room?" He pointed soundlessly and I turned to look in the direction he pointed; up, to the top, several levels above us. I nodded and set off up the sloping hall that wound around the Tower in a spiral. As we started off, though, I felt the Tower tremble and stopped, placing my hand against the solid rock wall. Ito looked around, also startled, but Hakana simply looked upwards with a horrified expression on his face.

"What is it?" I asked from between clenched teeth. He looked down to me, his expression not changing.

"The Hunt." He said simply. "It has begun."

(Li-Sanya's POV)

I watched as the gate into the Silent Forest slowly opened. The hounds or other beasts of the competing demons all turned to look at the opening with anticipation. No one spoke now, not even in the tiniest of whispers; their attention was riveted on the dark space beyond the gate. A pinprick of light appeared in the space and I blinked, sure I was imagining it. It didn't go away, though and as I watched, it actually drew closer. Several moments later, its form was clear enough to identify that of a stag.

Completely white, it seemed to glow with its own ethereal light. The only thing that took away from its seeming pureness was the pair of blood red eyes. I was suddenly reminded of Hiei's eyes when I saw them, but I knew there was a difference. The White Stag had no human intelligence, no feeling towards anything else, leaving the eyes blank. It stopped at the threshold of the gate and looked over the hounds eager to begin the hunt with an uncaring gaze. All of a sudden, it rose up on its long hind legs and opened its mouth. A sound like that of a hunting horn erupted forth and it spun and leaped away into the forest, quickly disappearing into the darkness. The hounds all bayed in their own way and leaped after it, Chikara's Hunters in the lead. As soon as the last one entered the Forest, the gate slid shut with a hollow boom that echoed through the once again silent forest. Even though I knew they couldn't have gotten that far, I couldn't hear the sound of the hounds' baying as they chased their elusive quarry.

As if a dream, Chikara turned to look at me, a half-smile on his face. "Well, then." He said, holding out his arm for me to take. "Shall we gather inside?" I nodded and reached out to take his arm. Just as I touched him, though, the front door of the Tower slammed open, drawing everyone's attention. My eyes widened as I saw the deer demon stumbling towards us. It was the same stag that had served me several of my meals and he had been a good conversation partner. How I knew it was him, I had no idea, because he was now covered in the sticky redness of fresh blood and there were several gashes all along his arms and legs. Chikara turned to him with a displeased frown.

"What do you want?" His voice was cold and haughty, as if nothing was wrong. The demon almost collapsed as he stumbled to a halt, but caught himself at the last moment.

"Inside, sir!" He gasped out holing his hands to a wound in his side. "The menagerie…they're escaping…" Chikara's and my eyes went wide, but for different reasons. I was thinking that this must be the distraction that Youko had talked about. The other cat demon's thoughts couldn't have been further.

"What?! No, impossible! There's no way that they could get out! I can't let them escape now! Not after spending so much time and energy getting them in the first place!" He strode off to the Tower with long, angry strides, several other male demons falling in behind him. In the confusion that ensued outside, I found it fairly simple to slip inside after Chikara and his entourage had gone through. Instead of heading to the menagerie, though, I went further down, to the hall where my room was. Shortly before I came to my room, I paused by a section of the wall that seemed like any other in this tower made of stone. Checking to make sure no one was watching, I quickly reached out and grasped the torch bracket nearest me, pulling it forward and to the side, as I had seen Chikara do.

The chamber was exactly how it had been several weeks ago, when Chikara had shown me the amulet. Quickly crossing over to the throne in the middle, I knelt down at the front, searching for the small, carved piece that was the key. Finding it, I twisted it and pulled outwards, causing it to slide out smoothly. The next piece I pushed in, depressing it so that it lay flush with the rest of the throne. This caused another piece to extend and I took that and twisted it ninety degrees to the left. The whole piece came out then, leaving a dark hole in the black throne. Reaching in, I felt my hand close on the thin chain the amulet hung on.

I stared at the clay disc as I brought it out. Looking at it now, it didn't seem so threatening. Still, I made sure to keep the eye from pointing towards me, just in case. I took a deep breath to settle the sudden nervous tingling in my hands and gripped the chain and the disc firmly to dispel the tremors. With a quick jerk I broke the fine chain and let it fall to the floor with a light series of –chinks-. Now holding the disc with both hands, I closed my hands, seeing the words branded like fire across the back of my lids.

"Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter. Grant me the strength for this cursed eye to blind. Help me to make the vessel splinter, for the wielder to be subjected to the kind." I paused, feeling the eddies and currents of the power now flowing around me in an invisible river. Opening my eyes, I stared at the amulet with a fierce intensity. "By the order of your Queen, be no more!" The last words were shouted as I pressed my thumbs into the center of the disc, pulling the edges towards me. The wards on the clay circle that prevented just this sort of thing gave way before the onslaught of the power I had summoned. First a hairline crack appeared, and then one side started to pull away from the other. Finally, with a –crack- it split evenly into two halves. I felt the power that had been stored in it seep away and I released the power I had just wielded. Letting the now harmless halves of the disc drop to the floor, I slumped back against the throne, exhausted. The sound of footsteps racing down the hall made me look up just as Chikara came around the corner and into the chamber. He saw me first and his horrified expression changed briefly to confusion. Then he saw the broken amulet on the floor next to me and any confusion there had been disappeared in an instant. His brows snapped together and he took a step forward, raising his hand as if to strike me.

I stood up wearily then, not really wanting to do anything more, but knowing I had to. "By the order of your Queen, feel the consequences of your actions." I said, holding one hand up as if to stop him in his tracks. He froze and I watched solemnly as his skin and fur started to turn a pale white-gray. His eyes went wide with terror and he correctly placed the blame on me. With a growl that quickly turned into a wordless roar, he stepped forward, slower this time, but still surely. He was now standing not a foot in front of me and I was too tired to move out of his way.

I felt his arm come down across my face and shoulders, saw it as it came down like a dead weight, heard the sound it made as it cleaved the air with its passage. The force of it sent me sprawling across the floor and into the wall with a hard bump. Through eyes starting to fail on me, I saw as he tried to step forward again, but fail because his body had become too much stone. Finally, even his face became cold marble and he was frozen in place. His terror and rage filled face was the last thing I saw before I blacked out.

(Hiei's POV)

I had to give it to Ito. He really knew how to pull the different strings in this place. When the wood imp had first proposed the plan, I had thought him crazy, but when I actually saw how he planned to do it, even I had to be impressed. The tiny guy was a genius when it came to disrupting things. Now, I raced down the curving hall, followed by the sounds the newly released animals in the menagerie voiced their freedom and following the silver form of Youko. Beside me, Yusuke kept pace beside me and for once didn't have any smart remarks to make. Behind us Kuwabara stumbled along, already at his endurance's end.

All of a sudden, I lost sight of Youko and slowed down, trying to find him again. Hearing movement from up ahead to my left, I slowly advanced forward. I came upon the open section of the wall and looked in on an odd scene.

Right in front of me, next to a large, black throne that glinted in the dim lighting, was Chikara. Or, at least, I thought it was Chikara. The cat demon was pale as marble, as were his clothes, and he was frozen in place with one arm outstretched as if he had struck at something. As I edged around him, I caught a glimpse of his face and shuddered despite myself. A mix of terror, rage and some unnamable emotion was etched upon his features.

Looking away, I glanced around the room at the rich furnishings before my gaze settled on Youko. The fox demon was kneeling by the wall, leaning over something. I started to walk over to him, but then he shifted and stood up. He looked over his shoulder, at me and at the stone cat demon behind me. His face was the very picture of despair and I couldn't help but wonder why. Then I saw what he was holding as he turned completely around and I understood.

Li's still form was curled up against him, her pretty face marred by a long scratch that stretched from her temple to her chin. The only reason I didn't think she was just sleeping was the fact that her face was white as snow, the gold of her hair not helping the comparison. I didn't speak as Youko walked slowly out of the room and back up the hall, just stood there looking after him for a moment. Finally, I went over and collected the two humans, who had been staring at Chikara with a mix of fascination and disgust. They came silently at my wave and we followed after Youko in silence.

As we emerged back into the bright glare of daylight, I looked around at the demons still there. They were all looking at something I couldn't see and muttering. Suddenly, I had a very strong desire to be taller, so I could see. Then I reminded myself that I didn't have to be taller, just more powerful than everyone else. Three seconds later, there was a clear isle through the crowd. I walked down it, hands in my pockets and not looking at anyone else. Yusuke and Kuwabara followed me, but walked a bit slower and more self-consciously. At the end, I looked over the open space, thinking that whatever was there, it couldn't be more surprising than finding Chikara turned to stone and Li more or less dead. I was right, but the sight still surprised me, though why, I didn't know.

Youko was arguing with a rather intense dragon demon. He had his arms wrapped protectively around Li, but it didn't stop the dragon demon from trying to pluck her away. As I watched, rather shocked, the argument gained a new level of volume, causing several other demons to turn their heads and regard the two fighting.

"You can't have her!" Youko replied to something the dragon had said. The other's eyes blazed.

"I won the Hunt!" He pointed at his hounds, which were sitting nearby around the limp body of what seemed to be a stag. "I have the right to request any one thing from Chikara that I wish and that is the girl!" He tried again to snag Li, but Youko struck out at him, leaving three long, bleeding gashes in his hide. He growled and took a step towards Youko, raising his other arm to strike back. Youko snarled at him, all thought of ending it civilly banished from his mind.

Figuring that if this progressed any further, Li would almost certainly get even more hurt than she already was, I darted in and took hold of the limp cat demoness, telling Youko what I was doing so he'd let go. He let go and turned on the dragon demon with both hands, eyes narrowed. As I took Li back to where Yusuke and Kuwabara waited, the thought crossed my mind that the dragon demon didn't stand a chance if he didn't know who Youko was or very little if did know. I handed Li to Yusuke, having found that she was heavier than she appeared, and turned back to watch the fight, half-hoping that Youko might need some assistance. To my surprise, I found it already finished, with Youko pinning the dragon to the ground with one hand around his throat. The loser was sporting another set of gashes on his other arm, but Youko didn't have a scratch on him. The fox demon picked his would-be opponent off the ground, still with one hand, and threw him into the midst of his hounds. Dusting off his hands, he turned and came over to reclaim Li from Yusuke.

"Yusuke, get that brat to get us a portal out of here." He said, his voice raspy and hoarse, but it didn't have the disgust I was expecting. Instead, his tone was flat, with no emotion what so ever. "I have no desire to remain in the company of such filth." The dark-haired human nodded and pressed his watch-piece. A few moments and several heated questions and answers later, a swirling circle appeared in front of us. We stepped through and exited the Makai once again.

-Fifteen days later-

(Li-Sanya's POV)

I had no recollection of what happened after I blacked out in the Tower, but Yusuke and Kuwabara were more than happy to fill me in. Apparently, Youko had had to fight another demon for me, though, when I asked Kurama, he had no idea what I was talking about. Soon after they came back to the Spirit World, though, Hiei told me that Youko had marched straight into Koenma's office and gave the toddler the lecture of his life. Botan said that her boss hadn't spoken for two days after it. From what I understand, though, they were all out of their minds with worry for me.

They had found me in a comatose state, on the verge of death, and the doctors in the Spirit World all swore that they had no idea how I had hung onto life that long or how I made the miraculous recovery that I did. Even I had no idea. All I knew was that I was happy to be back in the land of the living with my friends. From what I could see, my friends were all just as happy, especially Kurama. The moment I opened my eyes, he had been there, like the living embodiment of care and concern. After a while, though, it got annoying and I told him as much.

"Kurama!" I said, exasperated, as he fiddled with my bedcover for the millionth time in the past five minutes. "I'm fine! You don't have to make everything perfect!" Hiei glanced up from where he was sitting by the door.

"You can say that again." He muttered. I barely succeeded in keeping my sudden smile from showing, though I let him know that I found it amusing. Kurama hadn't caught it, though, so he just looked up at me.

"Well, yes, but…" He trailed off, unable to find a good reason. I sighed.

"You ran out of reasons a good thirteen hours ago, Kurama." I said, gentling my voice to soften the effect. "I could use some time to myself, if you really want to do something for me." He blinked, but nodded and stood. I couldn't bear to see his expression of disappointment, though, so I added, "I'll have Hiei tell you when you can come back in, okay? I promise it won't be long; I just need a rest from having people constantly in here." I was rewarded by his understanding smile and I smiled back. He left, then, grabbing Hiei and dragging him with him, despite the short fire demon's protests. As the door shut behind them, I leaned back into my pillows and sighed, closing my eyes with exhaustion.

Ever since I'd woken up early yesterday morning, everyone had been in and out of my room, asking me questions and talking about stuff. I had tried to answer all of their questions, especially Koenma's, but I was still weak from the breaking of the amulet and my mind didn't seem to always work all that well. The first time it had happened, they'd thought I'd actually gone back into a coma. Then I woke up and was fine. The second time had been when I was talking to Kurama. I had been talking about what I had done in the Tower when I just seemed to space out. When Kurama had asked me something, I had had no idea what he was talking about. This had lasted for about an hour and a half before I remembered anything about the mission or even who the others were. Episodes like these had happened several more times over the past day and the doctors, after examining me, said that they had been caused by my hitting my head so hard on the wall and that I might never be free of them.

Unbidden, the verse that had been written on the back of the amulet came to mind. Rather surprised, I recited it softly to myself, fitting in what the others had told me and what I knew of how it had come true.

"A cursed eye, a demon's wrath.

The queen's own law, a thief lord's whip.

Two humans and one who has no home,

Traveling together for this trip.

Go now, past the haunting notes,

To where the Lord holds sway.

Darkness will light the path,

A fire will show the way.

Now, queen, triumphant return,

Back to the one you hold dear.

The day has begun to dawn,

On the birth of a New Year.

Six shall go, six shall come,

But two in one will take the role,

As broken the disc will be,

Taken for a great toll.

Now tell me true, the answer you know,

What is given freely, stolen it cannot be,

Taken in gratitude, held close to the heart.

Can soften a demon's heart and can never truly be seen.

More precious than gold, more beautiful than silver,

Both protection and a weapon, never seen in war,

Sometimes found when the other is gone,

Not even the purest evil can mar?"

I sighed, trying to remember everything it had meant. "Now, let's see…There was the amulet, Chikara, myself, Kurama/Youko, Yusuke, Kuwabara, Hiei and Hakana that were mentioned. We six went to the Tower, where the 'Dark Lord' held sway and we went past the Singing Stones, the 'haunting notes'. According to Hiei, the 'darkness that lights the path and the fire that shows the way' were the tunnel and himself. I was triumphant and I did return, on New Year's Day none the less, to see Kurama looking at me intently." I smiled at the memory of how I had woken up to find Kurama's face scant inches from mine and refused to do anything until he was out of my face. "We all came back, even Hakana, who chose to stay with us rather than return to his actual home. Youko and Kurama are two in one and Youko played the part of an invited guest, which, apparently, he was. The disc was broken and the toll was Chikara's life and my own collapse. But the riddle at the end is still unanswered." I rolled over to stare at the wall in frustration. "What is it?"

I fell asleep with it still running through my mind and my dreams were all based off of it, some odd and obviously unrealistic, others that were so realistic that I wasn't sure if I was dreaming or not. When I woke up, for a moment I wasn't sure if I had woken up.

The room around me was dark and there was someone sitting on the edge of my bed, but in the lack of light, I couldn't see who it was. Propping myself up, I reached out and gently touched whomever it was to get their attention. I felt more than saw them turn at my touch.

"Li?" Youko's voice was soft, as if he didn't want to break the silence. For a moment, I didn't say anything, but then, I smiled slightly, knowing he couldn't see me in the dark.

"Yes, it's me." I replied, just as quietly. "What are you doing here? I thought I told Kurama to leave me alone for a while." He laughed gently.

"You did." He chuckled. "But you forgot that I'm not exactly him, as he's not exactly me, though we're the same." I didn't quite follow the whole of what he said, but I got the general gist.

"Right." I said slowly. "So, what are you doing in here, then?" He was quiet for a moment and I could feel him shifting his position as if he was uncomfortable. This was the first time I'd seen him since I'd woken up. In fact, I was rather surprised that he hadn't come to see me sooner. Sitting further upright, I leaned forward.

"Youko? Is there something you wanted to tell me?" My imagination immediately created a whole assortment of reasons for why he would come to see me in the middle of my nap, instead of waiting until I woke up. His hesitant manner wasn't helping.

"Yes…I wanted to tell you something." He repeated, sounding unsure of himself. I frowned into the darkness.

"Well, what is it?" Twenty new reasons popped into my head. He paused, then seemed to make up his mind.

"This." Leaning forward, he pressed his lips against mine before I could protest. For a second I was shocked, then I gave in and kissed him back, suddenly forgetting every reason my mind had come up with. Lost in my emotions, I didn't think it odd that the riddle popped back into my head. Smiling against Youko's lips, I said the answer silently to myself.

Love.

A/N: Well, there you have it. The end. However, it's not the end of the story, just this part. The sequel will follow Hiei and an OC through their adventures, though Li will be coming back (why wouldn't she?) and more OCs will be introduced. What fun!

I have decided to give you guys a list of the original characters that were used in the production of this story. They are as follows:

Li-Sanya

Chikara

Hakana

Ito

Junei

That's about the lot of them. Wow. Only five. Well, there will be more coming in the sequel, so I guess it's not that bad...Still...ah, well.

I'm going to post the epilogue, which will serve as an introduction to the sequel, right after this is posted. So, keep checking for it. See you later!

Haliaetus