A/N: Well, it's really short, but here's the epilogue to Roses for a Queen and the introduction to The Fire Lord. (That's the first time I've mentioned the sequel's title, by the way.) Enjoy.

I rolled over in my bed, expecting to see Kurama lying there next to me. When I found the bed empty, I propped myself up and blinked down sleepily. On his pillow was a note, hastily written in his handwriting. I sighed and reached over to pick it up.

Li, Hiei's gone missing, or so Yusuke informed me this morning. I tried to wake you but you refused to wake up, so I let you be. If you need us or want to know where we are, use the communication device Koenma gave you. It's sitting on the dresser.

Love, Kurama

I sighed again and rolled back over the other way. Across the room, I could see the surface of the dresser. The small black communicator was sitting next to a slim vase that held a single red rose. I smiled, unable to stay mad at Kurama for long.

Getting up, I quickly dressed and took a shower. As I finished drying my hair, I went over to stand in front of the dresser, staring at my reflection in the mirror. The past two years hadn't done much to my appearance, but my hair now reached the small of my back and I had grown about an inch. The golden eyes that stared back at me, though, were still the same ones that had defied Chikara at the last, stubborn and proud, but still full of youthful energy. Quickly pinning my hair up in a messy bun, I picked up the communicator. Pushing the large button on its side, I kept it held down as I spoke to it.

"Hello? Is anyone there?" A moment later, Botan's voice answered me, sounding harried and tired.

"Li? Oh, thank goodness! Can you come help us? I'm afraid we're not getting very far in finding Hiei." She said through the static.

"Sure. Where are you?"

"We've managed to track him to Piccalla Creek, but now even Kurama's lost the trail." I bit my lip for a second before I answered.

"Okay. I'll be right there." I let the communicator go dead and, pocketing it, I strode out of my room, down the hall and the flight of stairs to the living room. Going straight to the bookshelf, I quickly located what I wanted and turned back around, calling up a portal to where the others were.

It was time to keep my promise to Hiei.

A/N: So, how many of you remembered Li telling Hiei that she'd help him find the Fire Stone? And, how many of you, having just read that, went back to find the exact spot where it happened? Just kidding. Anyway, the Fire Stone does play a large part in the Fire Lord, so you should keep that in mind when you start reading it.

Thank you so much to all of you who have read this thing from the very beginning as well as to all of you who might read it after it's finished. I don't care when you read it, so if you want to send me a review months after it's complete, I'd love to hear from you.

So, this is goodbye until The Fire Lord is posted. Adios, my dear readers and good luck!

Haliaetus

(Wow. I felt like I was dying there and giving you guys my last words...creepy...)