Kumiko looked at her grandmother in dismay. The woman she had remembered seeing so young was… old. She was sick. She was in pain. More disturbing than anything else, she was human and she was dying.

Kagome tried to smile at her granddaughter. "Kumiko, don't worry. It'll be okay."

"But… Obaasan, you were so young before… How did you age so quickly?"

"You remember your grandfather; you remember what he was." The elderly woman smiled sadly. "When he was sent back to Makai, I stayed young for a while… but my body is suffering from being away from him. He was forced to leave… and I don't know how to bring him back."

Kumiko wiped away her tears angrily. After another quiet moment with her grandmother, she rose. "I'll be back later Obaasan. I have to go meet with someone for a while."

Kagome nodded. "Take your time. I'm not going anywhere yet."

Out in the courtyard of the shrine, Kumiko took a deep breath. She had been trained as a miko and she knew what she had to do. Even if she could not save her beloved grandmother, she deserved what Kumiko might be able to give her. The young woman jogged over to the well house. She had been working on the old well for some time, knowing her grandmother's adventures through them.

Kumiko placed her hands on the edge, feeling the power dwelling in it. With a flash of pink, she sent a tiny bit more energy in and the well awoke. She immediately jumped into it.

Blue lights swirled and she touched down. Looking up, she saw strange, colorful plants above her and smiled. She knew it was Makai.

She climbed from the well and looked around, spreading her miko energy as well. Demons lurked everywhere, watching her carefully. She put up a barrier around herself and another around the well and began to walk. She knew one would attack eventually and then she could ask her questions.

"What the hell are you doing here? You're human."

She followed the sound to a young man in human guise. His black hair was slicked back and he wore jeans and a white t-shirt. Her brows furrowed. She knew she had seen him before somewhere…

"I'm looking for Hiei."

He looked shocked. "Really now? That's interesting… Why are you looking for him?"

She raised her chin proudly. "I am his granddaughter and my grandmother is dying."

The man looked shocked. "Fuck! Kagome is dying?"

Kumiko's eyes widened and she realized why she recognized him. He had been a friend over her family's before the demons were all pushed back into Makai. Her grandmother still had pictures.

The man grabbed her hand and started to run. She couldn't keep up and he sighed. Stopping, he kneeled. "Get on my back."

Kumiko blushed but obeyed and the demon world began to flash by.

They entered a part of the forest that seemed to be scorched. It surrounded the entrance of the cave. "Hey Hiei, it's Yusuke. Get your ass out here." A moment after he said that, Yusuke stepped to the side and a short, spiky-haired demon appeared. A tree behind them fell.

"What do you want?"

Yusuke pulled Kumiko around. "Your granddaughter came all this way and that's all you're gonna say?"

Hiei's eyes widened slightly. "Kumiko?" Had it really been so long that he had a grown grandchild?

"Yes Ojiisan. Obaasan needs you. She is dying."

Something nearby burst into flame. "How?"

"She is old. She says she's been away from you too long."

"Take me to her."

Yusuke and Kumiko led him back to the well. He stared down at it, then looked at his granddaughter. "Impressive."

She nodded and looked at Yusuke. "Would you… like to come too?"

The three of them jumped together and floated through the blue lights. As soon as they touched bottom, Hiei was gone.

Yusuke and Kumiko climbed out and the twenty-five year old led the way into the house.

Hiei was already kneeling at Kagome's bedside, examining her. Her eyes opened and they stared at one another.

"Hiei," she sighed happily.

He nodded and stroked her cheek gently. "You will recover," he ordered.

She laughed.

"Miko, you will recover," he ordered again. His eyes flashed toward Yusuke and Kumiko. "I love you, so you must recover."

And after a few days with him never leaving her side, her youth began to return…

Yusuke had had a little "talk" with a certain toddler in the spirit world. With a little help from a few of his demon friends and a little miko that was brave enough to go to Makai just to save her grandmother, of course. With that, Yusuke, Hiei and Kurama were allowed to stay. Koenma wasn't sure if he could be brought back to life like Yusuke had been and he didn't want to risk it. Plus, he'd missed having a team to do his dirty work. Botan just wasn't demon enough to handle anything like the boys had during their youth.

Months had passed and Kagome lay with her mate in their bed. She was back to looking as though she were only in her late twenties.

She kissed Hiei. "Thank you for returning."

"I apologize for ever leaving."

The communicator rang as they ran their hands over one another. Kagome answered. "yes?"

Botan looked surprised. "Oh, um… Is Hiei there?"

"He's busy." And the miko hung up. They had lost time to make up for.

My grandparents have been separated for 20 years.

Last year, i found out she was dying after battling her diseases for years.

He rushed to fly there with me and stayed with her night and day and kept telling her he's always loved her.

She couldn't speak but her eyes said the same. Their LGMH