Disclaimer: I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho. Never have, never will.
AN: I apologize to anyone who was hoping this was an epilogue because it is not. I told everyone who had reviewed that I decided against an epilogue. The current ending is perfect and I honestly didn't have much of an idea for the epilogue so I saw no need to write one.
This chapter is the explanation of the chapter titles that I promised (sorry it took so long to get out, but I really didn't want to write it). The formatting is kind of strange, which I apologize for, but fanfiction messed with my format and I really didn't want to sit here and attempt to fix it. The way this works is pretty easy. I gave the chapter title and the song's artist in case you wanted to listen to any of the songs. I also included why I picked the song which could be for its meaning, title, or lyrics. And finally, I explained why each song fits.
Chapter 1: Unmistakable
Artist: Backstreet Boys
Picked for: Meaning
Reason: The idea of the song is that when you find the one you're looking for, you will know for sure that they are the one. Basically, this chapter was a set up chapter and I tried to demonstrate Shyle's misconceptions about relationships, especially her belief that relationships are easy to understand.
Chapter 2: I'll Run
Artist: The Cab
Picked for: Meaning
Reason: This song is about a guy who is willing to do anything for his girlfriend, which is another of Shy's incorrect beliefs about relationships. In times she realizes that a relationship won't work if only one person makes sacrifices.
Chapter 3: Trouble Is
Artist: Backstreet Boys
Picked for: Meaning and title
Reason: In this chapter, Keiko and Shy discussed her issues with relationships and love, which is what the song is about. This chapter was also named because Mecca makes his first appearance and, obviously, he is what the 'trouble is.'
Chapter 4: Face Down
Artist: The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
Picked for: Meaning and title
Reason: This song's meaning fits to an extent since it is about an abusive relationship, although Shy and Mecca clearly weren't in a relationship. But more importantly, the title fits because Shy hit her face on the counter, which was inspired by of the song's title. Get it? She landed 'face down.'
Chapter 5: We All Roll Along
Artist: The Maine
Picked for: Meaning and title
Reason: This song is about friends, which is why it fit this chapter perfectly. I used the chapter to demonstrate the characters' friendships. As for why the title fit, the chapter advances the story, moving the characters on to a new location.
Chapter 6: Risky Business
Artist: The Cab
Picked for: Title
Reason: Shy committed some 'risky business' by asking Hiei to stay out of her mind. She hadn't been sure how well he was going to take it.
Chapter 7: Can't Take It
Artist: The All-American Rejects
Picked for: Title
Reason: Named simply because Shy was losing patience with Hiei and his presence after each of her runs.
Chapter 8: Let It Roll
Artist: All Time Low
Picked for: Meaning
Reason: This was another chapter that revolved around a friendship, this time Shy and Kuwabara, rather than the whole group. There really isn't much to the choice other than it being about friends hanging out.
Chapter 9: You Can Let Go
Artist: Backstreet Boys
Picked for: Meaning
Reason: During this chapter, Kurama convinces Shy to tell her parents about the Makai by using the argument that they will love her no matter what she says or does, which happens to be the meaning of the song.
Chapter 10: Say Anything (Else)
Artist: Cartel
Picked for: Title
Reason: Shy spends much of this chapter trying to figure out how to talk to Hiei and her parents. So, basically, the title is a reference to the difficult conversations Shy has to face.
Chapter 11: Weird World
Artist: Backstreet Boys
Picked for: Title
Reason: Honestly, I struggled picking a title for this chapter. I decided on this one in the end because Shy tells her parents about the three worlds, which was no doubt weird for them. As I said, I struggled.
Chapter 12: Up Against the Wall
Artist: Boys Like Girls
Picked for: Title
Reason: In this chapter, Hiei puts Shy on the spot by asking her some rather difficult questions, in other words putting her back 'against the wall.' I had another reason that had to do with the lyrics, but I can't remember what it was so yeah… Sorry about that.
Chapter 13: Weightless
Artist: All Time Low
Picked for: Meaning
Reason: Yes, I imagined this to be the song playing in the car ride to the restaurant, but I chose it for another reason as well. The song perfectly describes Shy's desire to get the hell out of Genkai's. She feels confined and trapped staying at the shrine and can't wait to leave, to feel 'weightless.'
Chapter 14: I Must Be Dreaming
Artist: The Maine
Picked for: Title
Reason: Twice in this chapter Hiei does something that Shy can't quite understand or believe. First he growls at Daisuke and then he sleeps with his arm wrapped around her. Hence the idea that she 'must be dreaming.'
Chapter 15: Kill Me in a Record Shop
Artist: Boys Like Girls
Picked for: Lyrics
Reason: The first line of the song is "Your kiss will be the ultimate," which makes my reason for choosing this one rather obvious. This chapter contains Shy and Hiei's first kiss. It was one of the few titles that I had picked out well in advance.
Chapter 16: All at Once
Artist: The Fray
Picked for: Meaning and lyrics
Reason: I think that this song fits Hiei incredibly well. It describes his quest to find someone who is right for him and his struggle to come to grips with his feelings once he has found that someone. This is the chapter where he and Shy get together and he informs Yusuke that he plans to make her his mate, despite the sacrifices it will require of him.
Chapter 17: Fall Away
Artist: The Fray
Picked for: Meaning
Reason: This song is about trying to escape from your past, but being unable to do so, which honestly couldn't fit Hiei's situation any better. He reveals to Shy that his past will drive Yukina away and also prevents him from even revealing himself to her thanks to the vow he made when he received his Jagan.
Chapter 18: Vegas
Artist: All Time Low
Picked for: Meaning
Reason: Surprise! It's another friendship song. This time around it's some Shy and Keiko bonding time. I was starting to run out of songs about friends and naming chapters like this one was getting really annoying.
Chapter 19: The City is At War
Artist: Cobra Starship
Picked for: Lyrics
Reason: Some of the lyrics of this song are in the chapter and, honestly, that's why I named the chapter as I did. Still, the lyrics do fit the situation well and I think it works. In case you don't remember, this chapter is the one where Yomi calls Shy a whore.
Chapter 20: Dance Hall Drug
Artist: Boys Like Girls
Picked for: Meaning
Reason: This is the chapter where Mukuro tells Shy to take her time with Hiei and make sure she is ready before she becomes his mate. The song fits perfectly because it is about girls who are too willing to give up their virginity and end up regretting it. This chapter was easy to name since it was another one that I had picked a title for long in advance.
Chapter 21: Five Minutes to Midnight
Artist: Boys Like Girls
Picked for: Meaning
Reason: This title is kind of pathetic, but I simply couldn't think of a better one. This chapter is probably the first one where Shy begins to love Hiei and this song is about falling in love… I think. Anyway, like I said, it's pretty pathetic.
Chapter 22: Lose It
Artist: Cartel
Picked for: Title
Reason: The name of this chapter refers to Hiei's need to keep control over himself. In this chapter, I introduced the idea that Hiei had to strive not to lose control when around Shy because he wanted to give her time before he made her his mate.
Chapter 23: Panic
Artist: Backstreet Boys
Picked for: Title
Reason: So I guess this chapter was named for the title, but I'm not entirely sure. The title certainly fits since Shy was panicked about telling her parents that she was dating Hiei and Kuwabara was panicked about marrying Yukina… so yeah, I'm going to say it was picked for the title.
Chapter 24: The Beach
Artist: All Time Low
Picked for: Meaning
Reason: Yet another song about friendship, which was what this chapter was meant to demonstrate. It's too bad it wasn't called 'The Amusement Park' rather than 'The Beach.'
Chapter 25: Don't Wanna Lose You Now
Artist: Backstreet Boys
Picked for: Meaning and title
Reason: This one is pretty easy to understand. Hiei went with Yusuke and Kurama to the Makai, leaving Shy behind, and she is worried about losing Hiei. The song also describes how much she's come to care for Hiei, which is important when she breaks up with him.
Chapter 26: On Top of the World
Artist: Boys Like Girls
Picked for: Meaning
Reason: This song is about missing your loved one who is far away. Obviously that fits Shy's situation since she is in the Ningenkai and Hiei is in the Makai.
Chapter 27: I Want It That Way
Artist: Backstreet Boys
Picked for: … honestly I simply couldn't think of a title.
Reason: This chapter was named based solely on the fact that the song was in the chapter. Pathetic, huh? I couldn't for the life of me think of song to use as a title.
Chapter 28: Superman
Artist: Five For Fighting
Picked for: Meaning
Reason: I'm scared to even attempt to explain this one. I'm just not sure I can do it justice with words. The song itself is about how even a hero has weaknesses and flaws, which is something Shy realizes. It inspired this story due to the feeling it creates in me when I hear it. The best suggestion I can give so that you will understand why it fits is to listen to the song.
Chapter 29: Running From Lions
Artist: All Time Low
Picked for: Meaning and title
Reason: This chapter was very easy to name, in fact I had too many choices, but I decided this one fit best. In this chapter, Shy is trying to run from her feelings for Hiei, case and point being her use of the elevator rather than the stairs. And there is also the fact that she was literally running from a lion in the form of Disma.
Chapter 30: Free
Artist: Boys Like Girls
Picked for: Meaning and title
Reason: Yes, the title fits this chapter incredibly well since Yomi frees Shy and Keiko from their cell, but that is not the reason I chose this song. The song is about a person who wishes that their ex will move on because they know they will be happier, and better off, that way, which just so happens to be Shy's mentality concerning Hiei. I originally planned for a conversation to occur in this chapter that would convey these feelings, but it never happened. The closest thing to that conversation takes place in the previous chapter. Despite that I still wanted to include this song as a chapter title.
Chapter 31: Everything But Mine
Artist: Backstreet Boys
Picked for: Meaning
Reason: As I said in my author note at the end of the chapter, this song is an ideal description of what is going on in Hiei's head after Shy breaks up with him. He wants to be with her, no matter the cost, and he will wait if he has to. She had become important to him and he wasn't willing to give up on their relationship.
Chapter 32: Skyway Avenue
Artist: We the Kings
Picked for: Meaning
Reason: This song is about a couple sacrificing everything to be with one another. "'Cause if you jump, I will jump to," is a line that I think describes Shy and Hiei flawlessly. They plan to bind their lives together so that when one dies the other will as well. Another wonderfully fitting line, "'Cause I will die for you," is pretty self-explanatory.
Chapter 33: The One
Artist: Backstreet Boys
Picked for: Meaning
Reason: This song is about being the right 'one' for your partner, which is what Shy is for Hiei. Plus, I think the lyrics depict Hiei perfectly, meaning that the song would be from Shy's point of view describing Hiei. Beyond that, I thought this was the perfect song to end the story with.
AN: Alright, so I got thirty-five reviews for last chapter, which obviously isn't more than thirty-five, but that's not a big deal. I probably would have written some side-fics even if I'd only gotten one review. I've been inside Shy's head too long to just up and leave. There is a new pole on my profile where you can vote for what side-fics you want to see. If you have any ideas that I did not have, feel free to PM me with them.
I have ideas in the works for my next story. In fact, I already have my original characters designed. It'll be a war story focusing in the Makai, but my OC's will all be members of the Spirit Defense Force, so I was wondering if anyone has some information on the SDF. I plan to do some research, but I'd love to hear things withouth having to search. It'll be a Hiei/OC story so I hope to see some of you there.
I'd just quickly like to say why I wrote this fic. Normally I write characters with spirit or demon energy, so I wanted to challenge myself by writing a human character with no abilities, which is where Shy came in. I also wanted to address the issue of a human having a relationship with a demon, a problem many writers tend to ignore. And finally, I to write a story that cast all of the characters in a postive light, without bashing anyone (aka Kuwabara or Keiko).
And finally, I'd like to thank everyone who reviewed this story. You all made writing 130,000 words possible. I'd especially like to thank WistfulSin, who reviewed every chapter. I hope to hear from you all in the future.