Wow... I didn't expect so many people to like this story so much... I never intended it to go on very long, so I'm sorry to inform that this will be the last chapter of 'Love is Timeless'.

Thank you for your support, please feel free to read my other stories. The 'My Story' saga is also a drama/romance for those of you enjoyed this.

Enjoy the final chapter of 'Love is Timeless'.

Youko Kurama stood silently in the tree, watching the intruder. A neko with tawny ears and a long tail tread barefoot through the underbrush. Occasionally, her light brown pants would get caught on a thorn or a tree branch would scratch her exposed arms, but she made no noise. Her tight, sleeveless shirt matched her pants and both were tight enough that nothing was left to the imagination. Every now and then she would look up into the tree tops and Youko would catch the glow of her blue eyes, but she never saw him.

All in all, she was absolutely beautiful. Youko shook his head, it was a shame she had to die.

--

"Why should I tell you anything?" she purred, the torch-light bouncing off her bared fangs.

"Just kill her,Youko," an ugly demon called from the edge of the light. "We all know she was sent to kill you."

"Shut-up, idiot!" another demon growled. "How long's it been since we had a woman round here? And you wanna go killin' her!"

"Silence."

The arguing demon band fell silent at the command of their leader: the infamous Youko Kurama.

"You will tell me your name and your business," he ordered, staring into the neko's perfect blue eyes.

"Why should I tell you anything?" she repeated slowly.

Youko screamed in rage and grabbed the girl by the throat, throwing her her across the clearing where she landed on the ground and didn't move.

--

"I apologize for my behavior earlier." Youko lifted the pot from the fire and poured more tea into his guest's cup. "We all knew you were after my life, if I hadn't treated you that way, well, I would have had to kill them all."

The neko laughed and sipped her tea. "I understand. But what will happen when they find out you let me live?"

"Oh, I only used this crew for one heist. I'll leave them tonight." He gestured to the corner of the cave where three bags of gold sat. "I'll just pick it up and leave in the middle of the night."

"Rob the robbers. You truly are the Demon World's greatest thief and liar."

Youko drank his tea. "Yes, well I feel at a slight disadvantage at the moment. You see, you know so much about me, yet I don't even know your name."

She laughed again and drank some more tea, suddenly feeling very uncomfortable. 'Oh get over it,' she told herself. "I'm Risty."

Youko rose and took her hand across the fire, lightly kissing her fingertips.

"An honor, Risty, Demon World's greatest assassin and tracker." He took his seat again. "I would be honored if you would leave with me tonight."

--

Risty sighed and rubbed her head against Youko's bare chest. They laid together near a small stream, the dying fire casting a pale glow over the trees. Youko wrapped his arms tighter around her, enjoying the feel of her skin.

"Promise me you'll never be gone that long again," he begged, kissing her hair. "I can't stand you being away so long."

"I don't like it either, love," she replied, brushing her lips against his throat, "but I have a job same as you do."

"Retire."

"What?" she looked up into his eyes.

"Retire. Stop killing people," he paused, "and stay with me."

"Why don't you retire and stay with me?" she argued.

"Because I can't be with you when you work." He kissed her and gently pulled her head back to his chest. "But you can be with me. Forever."

"Forever?" she asked skeptically. "You promise?"

"I swear to you, we will be together forever."

--

Risty turned and locked the door to her small apartment as Kurama looked around. He ran his hand over the kitchen counter and the back of the sofa, trying to see the Risty he remembered in this setting. He imagined her sitting on the sofa reading a book or walking around the kitchen in underwear like she used to on those rare occasions when she decided to cook.

While Kurama was absorbed with his thoughts and memories, Risty snuck up behind him and locked her arms around his waist, rubbing her head against his shoulder. Laughing, he gently unlocked her arms and turned to face her.

They stared into each other's eyes for a long minute, until they could no longer hold themselves back. Relief rushed over her as she released everything she'd been holding in all these years. Electricity pulsed through them as all the old love and passion came rushing back.

Though neither of them wanted to, they eventually had to stop to breathe.

"You can be with me. Forever," he told her, gasping for air.

"Forever," she agreed. After-all, she had proof now. Not even death could stand between them. "You promise?"

"I swear to you," he began, pulling her towards the door he assumed led to her room, "we will be together forever."

-Forever Never Ends-