I walked through the halls of the large palace. Wow, it was so lovely here…Hard to believe this was a place only the dead had the privilege of seeing.

The ferry girl who was escorting me, Hinageshi, showed me to a room where a small boy, not much older than a baby, was sitting at a desk, signing papers and giving orders to the ogre employees. Hingeshi bowed and introduced me. The boy's eyes narrowed in sorrow at the sight of me.

"Amaterasu…" He greeted me. "I had hoped I wouldn't see you for a long time, yet…"

I bowed respectfully. He may look young, but I got the feeling that he was the head honcho around here. "I'm sorry, sir…But how do you know me?"

The boy smiled. "I'm Lord Koenma. I'm Yusuke's boss. I've heard a lot about you from him and his friends."

"Oh," I said in surprise. I had known that Yusuke was working for the underworld, but I hadn't known anything about his employers. I bowed again. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

Koenma sighed, and held up a sheet of paper, reading it. "Well," he said, "it's time to assign you to your afterlife. Considering the good you've done in your life with helping your brother defeat demons, you're eligible for paradise."

"Paradise…" I laughed. "I don't know if it's going to be paradise without Hiei, but at least I know he's safe, and alive."

Koenma didn't answer. He just stamped something on my paper, and beckoned to a dark-haired, kimono wearing beauty behind his desk. She approached me.

"Ayame will take you to your rightful place."

Ayame escorted me through a door, where everything was soft and fuzzy-looking. This didn't look so bad. I smiled and thanked her, and walked down the pathways. There were small, Japanese-style houses lined in rows. Only some of them had name plates by the doors, which meant that they were the occupied ones. I walked until I found an empty one that I liked. There was nothing inside. No furnishings, or nothing. I wondered if there was a store or something here.

"This'll do," I said out loud. Then, before my very eyes, all sorts of furniture shimmered into existence. Everything I would have wanted or needed. I darted outside, and saw a nameplate on the house now, one that said Okami. I blinked in amazement, before going back inside. How pleasant…Maybe it wouldn't be as hard to be here than I had thought. I wondered how long it would take to forget Hiei…

**************

It was hard to keep track of time in paradise. There was no sun, only a constant, hazy grey light. The one thing I didn't have in my house was a clock. It was slightly irritating, but I suppose this way, time would pass by much faster. I doubted I would ever see Hiei again, because I didn't think demons could go to paradise, no matter how much good they had done in their lives. I was extremely depressed to think that, but what could I do?

Once, I heard a knock at my door. Curiously, I got up from the chair I had been sitting in, and walked to the door. I had met a few of my neighbors, but none of them seemed like the types that would come and visit me. I opened the door.

"Tera!"

I gaped in shock at who I saw. "Susano?" I squealed, throwing my arms around him. "How'd you find me?!"

"One of my friends told me that they saw another house with the Okami name. I was hoping that it was you."

I raised my eyebrow. "You were hoping I was dead…?" I replied. He laughed.

"No, you're right. I wasn't hoping that. But, I thought, that if there was any of our relatives dead, I'd prefer to see you here." He gave me a small smile. "How did you die, Tera?"

I sighed, going back inside my house. Susano followed me. "I was protecting the one I loved. It wasn't so bad."

Susano frowned sympathetically. "Maybe it wasn't bad for you, but I bet he's not too happy."

I shrugged. "I don't know. It's not like he loved me back or anything."

"I'm sorry."

I didn't actually mind that much. Maybe being dead was better than living a life where I was in love with Hiei, and he didn't feel the same. I don't know. I hadn't been given much time to think that through.

Susano talked for a long time. I told him all about Tao, Hiei, Yusuke, and the others. Everything we'd been through. It had only been a few months, but it felt like an eternity.

"I'm glad," Susano said, after I had finished my story. "It sounds like you were taken care of pretty well in life."

"Very well," I replied. I did miss them all quite a bit. But I might eventually see Kuwabara, Keiko, and Atsuko here someday…

**************

Susano visited me often over the time since I'd been dead. He allowed me my personal space, but I still got to see him quite often. When there was a knock on my door one day, I wasn't surprised.

"Coming!" I called, running to the door to meet Susano. Only, when I opened the door, he wasn't the one there.

"Ayame!" I said in surprise. I backed away so she could come in, and hurried to the kitchen to boil water for tea. Yes, even though I was dead, I could still enjoy human comforts like food.

"How are you doing, Amaterasu?" Ah yes. She was another one who wouldn't call me by my nickname. I smiled.

"Great!" I said brightly. "I can see why this is called paradise."

Ayame smiled sadly. "Are you sure about that?"

I sighed, my smile slipping off my face instantly. "Well, I assume you know what I'm going to say. You know, the whole 'it'd-be-better-if-Hiei-was-with-me-thing.'"

Ayame smiled pleasantly. "Well, I can help with that."

I froze. "What…?"

Ayame approached me. "You've been given another chance at life. It's your choice to accept it, though."

"Another chance at life?" I repeated. "How is that possible?"

Ayame's smile hinted that she had a big secret. "You'll find out if you choose to accept."

I wanted to live again. More than anything I think I've ever wanted. To see Hiei…

"But Susano…" I said slowly. It had been so wonderful to be with him, so how could I lose him again?

"It's your choice," Ayame said. "You can have as long as you want to decide. I'll be ready when you do."

She turned and left my house.

Ugh. I'm sorry it's taken so long to post this. I've been unbelievably busy. Hope you enjoy!