A Bouquet Above

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A/N: Thanks for being so patient lovelies! I mean what's the next word above patience? Saintly! Here is chapter 3 if you're still out there!

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Blurry images of Botan being taken away and the jagan user were replaying over and over in my head. I could tell it was a dream, but the pain still felt real. I didn't know how to escape this endless circle, until I realized that I had at one point seen Yusuke. That's right. Yusuke, had arrived. He had to save Botan. That's what his job was.

"Yusuke!" I found my body had jolted out of the mind loop, and I was now sitting upright. There was no pain.

"Sakura, you're up."

I noticed that I had been laying down on a futon. Next to me was Keiko, still resting, so the voice wasn't from her. I looked straight ahead and a smirk met my surprised face.

"Naoki!" I exclaimed and then realized that Keiko was still next to me, sleeping.

"I knew you were reckless, but three out of four limbs broken is bit of an overkill. It was difficult healing those broken bones, but we managed." My older brother managed to keep his voice quiet. "Can you get up? If so, we should move outside." He motioned to Keiko, and I nodded.

I found myself being able to get up just fine. The bones that had shattered from the encounter before, had been healed and it was as if I had never gotten injured at all. I followed Naoki outside of the room so we wouldn't disturb Keiko.

There were only two people I knew of capable of such advanced healing. One was not at her full capacity due to being with child and the other was, Keshiki, a syph. "Who else came here with you?"

"Well if you're thinking Keshiki, you're correct. She returned quickly though after you and Ms. Keiko were taken care of promptly. I decided to stay behind as did-"

"HEY! YOU'RE FINALLY UP LADY SAKURA!" I recognized that boisterous voice anywhere.

Both me and Naoki looked up ahead to see Himawari who had Tsubaki walking on the other side of her. The two of them were heading our way and were accompanying Hinata.

After Himawari's shout, Hinata ran up to me and I held out my arms to embrace her. I was so relieved to see her safe. I held her up and looked at the trio who stood before me. "I'm always missing something good when I get knocked out. What happened this time around?"

Naoki crossed his arms. "We were hoping you could answer that for us."

"Yes," Tsubaki nodded. "Out of nowhere, we were summoned here by Hiei."

"She says summoned, but it was more like forced." Naoki scoffed.

I learned to ignore any remarks Naoki said towards Hiei, but I couldn't dismiss that last one. "Wait, Hiei asked you to come?"

Tsubaki nodded. "It was a very quick message, but you could tell it was urgent. We came right away. It was a good thing we decided to bring Keshiki too. Yukina was completely out."

"Out? What do you mean?" I asked. I then remembered about Keiko. "And why was Keiko hurt? I remember seeing Yusuke last…"

All three syphs looked at Hinata who had been tugging on my shirt. "Mom, if you'd just listen!"

Hinata tugged on my shirt. "When dad came back after, he found me first. I had been crying because you were really hurt, mom. Aunt Yukina tried to help, but you were still in a lot of pain. Dad was really angry. Really, REALLY angry, mom.

Hinata's POV

Aunt Yukina and I made our way to the other end of the temple, but when I heard you scream, I decided to run back. I saw Yusuke there too, but he wasn't doing any better. Aunt Yukina didn't listen either and she followed me. She saw Keiko hurt, and Yusuke was hurt, and you too mom.

Kurama, Kuwabara, and dad came back. Kuwabara was screaming a lot because Tsubaki got hurt when him and his mom were trying to head away from the temple. Kurama was mad too but I'm not sure why. Yuuko wasn't with him or her mom.

But you should have seen dad, mom. Aunt Yukina tried to help you, but dad sent her away because she was starting to panic and it wasn't good for the baby. At least that's what he told me later. But yeah, dad? He was angry. Really, really, REALLY angry, mom.

He didn't say anything though. Instead he just got really quiet, and then he started to leave, so I followed him.

He told me, "Hinata, stay with your mother."

"Dad, where are you going? You have to stay with her, dad." I started to cry, but he picked me up.

"You don't need to cry, she's not dead. Your uncle should be here soon." He said uncle really weird by the way.

"Are you going after the guy who hurt mom?" I asked him.

He didn't say anything and just patted me on the head. And then he left.

End Hinata's POV

"Right after he left, I heard uncle Naoki and everyone else come up. They healed you and everyone else. So while you rested, Himawari and Tsubaki played with me." Hinata beamed at her ability to recount what had happened.

I patted her on the head. "You're such a good girl. Still…to think your father did all that…" I felt my face get a little hot. One was never really used to that kind of attention with Hiei.

"What are you all blushing for? I think he's done more than that if we've got little Hinata here-" Tsubaki quickly clamped her hand over Himawari's mouth before she said anything more to influence Hinata.

I didn't even need to turn around, but I could also feel Naoki's glare towards Himawari. "In any case, it looks like they haven't returned. Just what kind of fight do you have going on over here?" He turned to look at me.

I crossed my arms and shook my head. "Beats me. I've been only getting fragments of the story. The Netherworld. You ever hear of it?" I then turned to look at Hinata. "Hey, if Keiko's here, you should go find Enishi and check up on Tsubasa."

Hinata frowned but agreed.

The others came with me into another room and sat down in a circle with me. It was night time, but there was something going on out there. And I could tell it was something Hiei had gone out for.

"Are you sure you heard Netherworld?" Naoki asked me. I confirmed with a nod.

"What have you heard about the Netherworld?" Tsubaki asked me.

"It's a world that acts to demon world as spirit world is to the human world. A war broke out between them and spirit world and it was sealed away." I explained what little I knew.

Himawari tilted her head back and forth. "That's one way of putting it. I guess you could say it's the simple version."

"And the fleshed out version?"

"It was before any of us were born," Naoki started. "The Netherworld at one point wanted to take over the demon world and absorb it into one realm. In order to do that, they had to activate portals in the human world. Spirit world has to do the same in the demon world if it ever wanted to merge with the human world. By having a cross system, it's kind of a way to keep balance and powers in check."

Tsubaki continued for him. "Of course, Spirit World, was not happy with that decision, so, as you said, they waged war and ended up sealing the Netherworld."

"I'm still confused. You guys have given me more information, and that's something I'm wondering if the others know, but how does some world just unseal itself?" I had to ask, because this bugged me from the beginning.

"That's the thing. The only way to unseal the world is with those same portals that we mentioned earlier. We were told they have already been released. But that's not the alarming part. Those portals are only known to very old demons, the netherworld, and spirit world. I only know because it was a story passed down from Lady Shunka to our mother." Naoki explained.

"You don't think there's a traitor in spirit world do you?" Tsubaki asked realizing what Naoki was getting at.

"You can't rule out the possibilities." He said gravely.

Himawari then chimed in. "Don't forget, it could be someone with the ability to cross dimensions as well. Someone like that Kuwabara fellow. Not saying he did it, but if someone has a power like his, that can be a factor too. But they're pretty rare, and like Naoki said, they would have to have knowledge of these worlds."

"All of this is just speculation. It shouldn't matter right now if the threat of the netherworld takes the human world is here and happening, and we have people we know and care about fighting this crazed netherworld lord." I ranted.

"Think about it rationally, Sakura." Naoki tried to calm me down. "If Yusuke defeats him, that's fine for human world, but if this an inside job from Spirit World, who knows if it can happen again. With both human world and demon world now living jointly, it's a concern for us as well."

"Naoki's right. Koenma is still in the human world. Perhaps we should let him know about this perspective."

I let out a sigh. I forgot how these two were much more calm and rational than I was. "You take on Naoki's side much more often now, Tsubaki." I pouted. "Glad to see you two are still doing well." I teased to lighten the situation somewhat.

Her face instantly became deep shades of red. "That has nothing to do with anything!" Naoki chastised me but I could see a bit of pink in his cheeks as well. Ah to make up for the years he went without being embarrassed by a younger sibling, was a wonderful thing.

I got up and swung my arm as if I was winding it. "I feel better now, so I'm going to go join the guys. They should also be informed. Plus, whether they've won or they're losing, I'm sure they could use some healing. Naoki, unfortunately Koenma is trapped in Spirit World, when Yakumo went and destroyed it. Instead, you should go get the other kids and bring them here. We may have been attacked here, but it's the safest place right now."

I turned to Himawari and Tsubaki. "You two should stay here and guard the others. No one else would be able to fight otherwise."

Himawari gave me a thumbs up. "Man, you sure you didn't want be the leader?"

Naoki nodded. "If those guys manage a win, regrouping here would be ideal. And the fastest way to get message to Koenma."

"You talk as if we've already won." I teased Naoki for thinking positively for once. He was much more of a realist.

"You're rubbing me off on me." The two of us got up and decided to grab a ride from Puu.

"Mom?" Hinata, who was now accompanied me by Yusuke's son, Enishi had made their way to where Puu was being held. "Are you leaving too?

"Hey, are you going to go find my dad?" He chimed in as well.

I bent down to eye level with the kids. "Yeah, we're going to head out now." I patted both their heads. "Enishi, you'll take care of Hinata right?" He gave me a thumbs up, even though I could see he sensed something was off.

I pulled Hinata in for a hug. "We'll be back."

"And when you come back, you'll both train me right?" She asked burying her head into my shoulder.

"Sure." I said to appease her. Even if things turned out okay, even if Hiei did get angry over me being hurt, I couldn't really say if he would stick around for something like that.

I waved goodbye to them both, and me and Naoki climbed onto Puu's back.

"Hard to believe Hiei can have a cute kid like that." Naoki said to lighten my own mood.

"Watch it." I said back to him but I let out a small chuckle. As we flew over the city on Puu's back, I looked ahead to see a building completely engulfed in purple light. I imagine that's where Yakumo was, and seeing spikes of energy, the group was already fighting.

"You sure you'll be okay heading down there?" Naoki asked me once more.

"That's assuming I can get through that barrier. Not sure how they all did it." I murmured to myself. "Down there." I told Naoki to take my mind off on the problem ahead. "Maya and Yuuko are the only ones who aren't at the temple."

Naoki stood up on Puu's back. "Be safe." He jumped off and Puu and I continued onward.

Puu did seem a bit more sluggish, and I could that was a reflection of Yusuke. "Hang in there Puu." I said petting the spirit beast's neck. "Just a bit more guys."

Out of nowhere, Puu did gain momentum, and we picked up speed towards the purple barrier that surrounded the skyscraper, the guys were no doubt fighting on. "Right, barrier." I reminded myself.

I didn't have time to think of a plan, because as soon as we got close, instead of the barrier blocking us, it was a huge explosion. A vast amount of power went and knocked Puu back and me. "Whoa!" I could only try to hold onto Puu for dear life.

When I got the giant bird relatively calm after that surprise, we both noticed that the once ominous purple-hued barrier was no more. The fact that Puu was alive and hadn't plummeted downwards, was also a good sign.

"Let's go down, Puu." I instructed, and we started to descend.

"Hiei!" I shouted out. "Kurama, Yusuke, Kuwabara!" There was no response. "Come on you guys." I said quietly to myself.

From above, I began to see the pile of rubble move in several locations. Emerging from them were faint outlines of people. I focused in on them, and I could see they were who I had been looking for.

I felt so at ease knowing that they were alive. "Puu, stay low. I'm heading down." I said and jumped off the spirit beast.

I landed on my feet and saw Hiei and Kurama first, than Kuwabara came into vision as well. They both looked pretty beaten down. A group effort against one person. While they won, to see them all so disheveled, and I can't imagine what the case would be if the information Naoki gave me was true.

I turned around to see what they all had been looking at and saw Yusuke holding Botan. She was alive. I felt like I could cry of happiness.

"Hey, you're late half-breed." Yusuke was the first to greet me.

"Sorry, traffic was the worst." I joked about.

I turned around to see Hiei had walked up behind me; Kurama as well, but he continued onward towards Yusuke, and Botan.

"Hinata was worried." Were the first words that came to my mind.

"So you thought leaving her behind was the best option?" He replied back.

I nodded, feeling the tears well up again. I had thought about it all the way over here. I had said some awful things to him before he went into this fight. If he was gone, those would have been my last words.

And even though he was standing before me with the same attitude as always, there still lingered that gravitational pull he had on me from the day we met. It's the only reason why after everything, I found myself leaping towards him to put my arms around him.

"She'll be happy, you know. Hinata, will be happy to know you're okay." I told him with my head buried in his shoulders.

"Hn." I heard him say. "I'm sure she's relieved your arms and legs are fine to smother her again as well." He referred to the limbs that he probably had seen broken.

I eventually let go, and after avoiding the teases of the other guys, started to heal their injuries, as well as Botan. Once things seemed doable, we all traveled on Puu back to the temple.

I'm sure to everyone waiting back there, they all looked like heroes walking in.

Kuwabara had been the first to run over to Sonome and Tsubasa. Enishi helped Keiko over to Yusuke. You could see Kurama look on happily at Maya and Yuuko. My brother helped Hinageshi get Botan in safely.

I had already expected Hiei to have left, but he remained despite this all looking too much of a happy reunion for him.

"Mom! Dad!" And both our attentions averted to Hinata who had joined the commotion and ran towards us.

She crashed right into the both of us and hugged us equally. Hiei only patted her on the head, so I decided to pick her up and hold her. "We're back." I told her trying to match her big smile.

"You act as if it was the last time she would have seen us." Hiei said keeping to himself again.

I sighed and passed Hinata off to him against his will. She didn't seem to care that he was closing himself off. "Mom said you're both going to train me now." I winced realizing I had promised that and the fact that she remembered.

I then thought about it and I smiled back at her. "That's right, your father promised anyway he would be sticking around." I cooed towards her, but it was really just to annoy him.

From the corner of my eye, I could see Naoki looking at me. He was probably waiting for me to give the news of what we had discussed. I turned to him and shook my head.I think we had given Hinata enough of a scare for the time being.

I looked around and saw all the kids who were happy to have both parents back. I then turned to Hiei who was now trying to calm an excited Hinata down. That information could wait.

I saw Naoki nod and head inside with Tsubaki. I had to thank him later for this rare moment that we could be called a family. Or the closest thing that me and Hiei could pull off.

"Anything I should know about?" Hiei asked, seeing the interaction I just had with Naoki.

I shook my head. "Nothing right now."

"It's never nothing with you." He replied very quickly.

And then the small piece of mind I had of being civil around Hinata with him disappeared. I was so worried of my last words to him, but at this rate, my last words with him would always be harsh. I suppose while things were peaceful again, it would be a chance to talk things out, like I wanted to before.

"The last thing I said to you before all of this, we really should talk about it while you're still around. We can't really leave it at nothing, I realize now."

Hinata looked up from Hiei, and at me and I could see she had a worried expression on her face that we were going to fight. I was hoping he would watch his words carefully around her.

"Like I said, Sakura. It's never nothing with you." He said the same words, and yet, his tone wasn't even close to the harshness from before. It was gentle, coming from him.

Hinata who had looked so worried before, had her expression soften, and she found herself embracing her father. She knew something. I only had an inkling, but it was a good one. It wasn't nothing.

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A/N: I'm back. I mean that is if anyone is around to read in the first place? I'm on summer vacation, so I'll do my best to churn out more chapters! That's the end for the movie, but obviously it serves as a great base for what I have to come. I hope you guys enjoy and thanks for sticking around! See ya for the next chapter!