I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho. Colaban, Yuto, and Hina are mine. This is an alternate ending to Depths of Darkness which is starting with chapter three as the deviation point. If you have not read at least the first two chapters of the original story, I ask you to do so now. Also, a shout out to Abyssdancer for suggesting I post the alternate ending.

Chapter Three- Reconsideration

Yusuke groaned as she opened her eyes. She was sore and sticky. She so wanted a bath. She came to the realization that she could feel her arms and legs again; the drug had worn off. She looked over and up at her bound wrists. If I could just get free, I might be able to escape or even fight back. She closed her eyes and tapped the demon energy inside her. A cold breeze rippled down her body, but she didn't shiver. That's it, I've tapped it. Now, to use it.

She opened her eyes and they were glowing white. She stretched her long delicate fingers toward the ropes and managed to touch them with her fingertips. A coat of frost covered the ropes on her wrists and it raced down the entire length on both sides. The frost hardened to ice and when Yusuke strained her arms, the ropes shattered into pieces of ice.

She sat up, rubbing her wrists as she looked at the ice shards. Not bad for a beginner. Maybe my Spirit Detective training helped. Now, I need to get dressed and get out of here. I don't care about arresting Colaban; I just want to get as far away from him as possible.

She rolled to the side of the bed where her clothes lay on the floor, wincing slightly at the bruises from the first and second sessions. She had just gotten to her feet when the door opened and Colaban came in with a tray for two. "Good morning, my ice detective. I have a cozy breakfast for two. Oh, don't worry there's no drug in any of it this-," Colaban broke off when he saw Yusuke standing beside the bed. She braced herself for the explosion.

"Well, well. You broke the ropes, or should I say, shattered them?" He looked at the water spots on the sheets and carpet and…smiled. Yusuke couldn't believe it. Why would he smile?

She was so stunned and confused by his actions that she sat back down on the bed. Colaban sat across from her and put the tray down between them. He pressed a cup of tea into her hands which brought her attention to him. "You seem pleased that I broke free."

"Oh, yes, quite pleased. I figured sooner or later, you would access your ice powers. I want my mate to be able to defend herself."

Yusuke swallowed her bite of croissant before saying, "I told you before, I will not be your mate. Is that why you've been acting nice to me sometimes?"

"Yusuke, I'm not just a demon, I'm a businessman. I see this opportunity as a business deal as well. In order to win over the client and seal the deal, I need to wine and dine my client. Of course, a little bit of flattery is necessary too."

That would explain his "ice detective" comment earlier, not to mention bringing food and drink. If he so desires me, why hasn't he used a drug to make me want his attentions? Heh, maybe he hopes to win me over by treating me with kindness.

"Now, then," Colaban said, putting the tray aside once the food and drink were consumed and sliding closer to Yusuke. "I think we need to work on our relationship. No sex this time, just casual exploring of each other's bodies." Colaban ditched his clothes before tenderly brushing stray hairs from Yusuke's cheek with the side of his hand so that he could place his hand there.

Yusuke was actually melting at his touch and not disgusted by it. He knows how to please a girl as far as touches go. Hmm, I think I may reconsider his plan for me. I love how his touches make me feel and if I want to continue this good feeling, being his mate would be worth it. I just need to turn on the charm and let him know that I've changed my mind.

Colaban was brushing more loose strands off her face when she put her hand on it and gently lowered it to her lips where she kissed the palm while her fingers caressed his knuckles. She released the hand before leaning forward to run her fingers across his muscular chest. She moved her hands to his shoulders and kneaded them with her fingers.

"Mmm," he said softly. "That feels good. You've got the magic touch, my dear."

"I feel so much tension," she answered in soft, tender voice, pressing her fingers in deeper. "Or are those muscles I feel?"

"It's tension all right. Being a businessman can be stressful and I end up tense."

Yusuke continued to massage; first the shoulders, then down the arms, and back to the chest. Colaban reached out to cup and stroke Yusuke's breasts and again it felt good and it confirmed her decision earlier: Yes, she'll be his mate. He was tender and gentle as opposed to the previous times. His hand moved to her stomach and she shivered at his touch. "Yusuke?" he asked, slightly concerned. Was she disgusted at his touches, despite her soft words?

"Sorry. That area's a bit sensitive."

"I imagine it would be more so if you were pregnant."

"You would like that, wouldn't you?"

"Oh, yes. I'm guessing that you wouldn't, am I right?"

"I have…reconsidered the idea. I decided to be your mate, after all."

Colaban's eyes widened. "You have? You will?"

"Yes. Your touches feel so good and I started thinking that being with you wouldn't be so bad."

"You're starting to realize that being my mate and staying a girl would be preferable?"

She smiled charmingly. "Yes, absolutely." She put a hand on his cheek and ran it down to his lips.

He kissed her palm before standing, getting dressed, and picking up the tray. "I will return later, my ice detective. Perhaps, we can couple then."

"Yes. I would like that."

Colaban stood in the doorway for a moment, drinking in Yusuke's naked body before closing the door and leaving.

She smiled contently, positively glowing at Colaban's happiness and that she was the cause of it. He kept saying he wants me as a mate and for me to stay a girl. I was against it, but all that flattery was sweet, his touches were great, and I did think earlier that I like looking like a female Hiei. I can stay the way I am and be Colaban's loving mate, perhaps even give him some children. Now…I need to practice my powers. After all, he wants me to be able to defend myself and I certainly don't want to disappoint him or myself.

She held up a hand, palm face-up, and focused on her power. She had no idea what ice apparitions did with their powers, but she had seen Hiei's fire moves and since she was an ice apparition due to his blood then she could adapt his moves for her ice. She bore down and a plume of ice erupted upward before fading out. Damn. I managed to freeze the ropes, so what's wrong? Maybe I can freeze objects by touching them like I did the ropes. She spied a jug of water on a windowsill and went over to it before touching it with a finger, focusing on her power. The jug and the water within froze over. Good. Now, what else can I practice on?

Yusuke fell asleep after practicing and deeming herself decent for now. She had learned to freeze any size object she chose as well as unfreeze it, much to her surprise. All she had to do was touch the frozen object and will the ice to return. She unfroze everything she had touched so that she would be fully charged when she decided to demonstrate what she learned. Right now, she was curled up with the covers over her body and her clothes draped neatly over a chair. She needed her clothes easily accessible once Colaban decided to let her wear clothes again. She was so exhausted from practice that she didn't hear Colaban come in.

Colaban entered, quietly closed the door, and smiled at the sight of Yusuke sleeping. She is so beautiful and looks more so when asleep. This will be my future: A beautiful mate asleep in bed when I arrive from work, maybe a child or more in a few years. He removed his clothes, climbed into bed behind Yusuke, and gently shook her shoulder. He heard her murmur his name before rolling over and blearily opening her soft, red eyes. She focused on him and sat up with a gasp.

"Hello, my dear. I didn't mean to startle you."

Yusuke stifled a yawn. "Hello, honey. It's all right. I was just so tired."

"How come?"

"I was strengthening my powers. Practicing wore me out. But it was worth it. I'll be able to defend myself just as you hoped."

"That's good." He pulled the sheets to expose Yusuke before he climbed on top of her. He planted a loving kiss on her lips as he caressed her arms. He felt her fingers run across his body gently and lovingly. His hands ran over her sides and rubbed her hips before moving them to her butt and down her legs. Yusuke moved her hands up and stroked his horns and she was rewarded with a hum of contentment. Perhaps his horns are a sweet spot. That's definitely worth noting. She gave a murmur of content as Colaban continued to run his hands up and down her legs. God, that feels so good! Perhaps, this time will be more gentle and loving since I've agreed to be his mate.

Colaban grinned at Yusuke's response to his rubbing. He wasn't sure if Yusuke would ever succumb to his charms, so he had been pleasantly surprised when she confessed to reconsidering the notion of being his mate, staying a girl, and she may even desire to be pregnant. "Hmm, Yusuke? What do you think about carrying my child?" he asked as he moved up to cup and stroke her breasts.

She put her hands on the back of his neck and pulled him closer, his hands pressing down on her breasts. He saw red eyes full of lust and desire. "Oh, yes," she said, her voice low and breathy. "I would love to have your child."

"Then, let's do it. I promise to be gentler than I was the last two times."

"That would be nice."

"All right, then." He inserted his manhood into Yusuke's body and began to slide it in and out, gently and slowly before going faster and faster, but always gentle each time. She moaned with each thrust, but soon she was saying, "A little harder, please." Her voice had a pleading tone to it and he found he could hardly say no to her.

"You've got it," he answered before thrusting harder and faster still. She screamed in delight and her screams excited and aroused him in a way he hadn't felt before. What was it with this kid? He was feeling true attraction and love for her and why not? She had already given herself over to him. She's mine. No female's ever returned my affections, mostly because I just wanted to rape them. But, Yusuke, she's different. Yes, she's originally a guy who had been planning to arrest me. Now, she's decided to stay with me and together we'll have a life and a family. It's my dream come true.

He kept thrusting, harder and faster with each insert. Yusuke continued to scream in delight and when he fired into her, she screamed his name in absolute ecstasy. He responded by calling out her name as well before rolling over to lay beside her. He panted from the effort and he heard her breathing just as hard. He looked at her to see complete and total affection for him in her eyes. They sparkled for a moment before a tear escaped from both her eyes and became stones that joined a small pile between them. He felt bad that he made her cry during their coupling, as much as he wanted to have jewels to sell.

He brushed some strands from her face. "I'm sorry, my dear. I didn't mean to make you cry this time."

"It's all right," she answered. "They were made out of love, not pain and I think they are even more beautiful."

He looked at them a little closer. "You know, I think you're right." He gathered them up and put them on the bedside table before turning back to Yusuke and pulling her toward him so that her head was against his chest. He sighed as he hugged her and fell asleep with his arms around her. She snuggled her head against his chest and fell into a contented sleep, feeling safe and secure in the arms of a demon she had hated and now loved deeply.