Chapter 33: To the Dawn of a New Tomorrow

Yomi lost the next battle he fought. Like many predictions said, he used too much power against Yusuke Urameshi and no longer had the strength to go on. Two big contenders defeated each other in the end, and Yomi lost to an unknown fighter named Shousei that otherwise would never have had a chance at victory. Miwa and Kurama were both watching from a viewing room at the time, and when Yomi was declared the loser, the room's atmosphere turned into a strange mix of shock and reluctant acceptance. Yomi, the ruler of Gandara for hundreds of years, was out of the tournament. A harder loss to accept than a human-born ruler like Urameshi, but anyone who watched Yomi fight that kid wasn't exactly surprised. Shirai, who was also in the viewing room with them, left in a hurry the instant the battle ended. Miwa had never seen him run so fast.

The following day, Yomi decided to leave with his son, so the three of them saw him off. He was calmer than Miwa expected. She had to remind herself this was the same Lord Yomi who once invited her to sit at Unification Council meetings, whose plans to rule the Demon World had been completely left by the wayside. Now, he was a father leaving on a training journey with his son.

"My fight with Urameshi made me reevaluate things," Yomi explained, "I'll train Shura to beat him, in the right way."

"Gimme credit," Shura huffed, "I could beat him right now. I'll train so I can beat you, Dad! And of course, I'll be tougher than you three."

He pointed directly at Kurama, Miwa, and Shirai, but Kurama was the only one able to form an answer. "Something to look forward to."

Yomi smiled, listening to his son throw punches at an imaginary opponent. He left a message to pass along to Yusuke: He would love for a chance to fight him again. Their fight gave him a sense of peace he never had before. "As for you, Kurama, I want you to know that I respect your decision to leave your past behind."

"...Same for you."

Yomi took a step forward, placing himself in front of Shirai. "We are no longer working together towards a unification," he said, and he extended his hand. "But I hope you will still keep in touch, Shirai. You're a good man."

Shirai stared down at the bare hand offered to him, hesitating for only a second before accepting it with his own. "Thank you, and I will be in touch…Yomi." They shook hands, firm and cordial, but Shirai's hand lingered in the air for a moment longer as they let go.

Yomi pat Shura's shoulder, indicating that they were to leave. Shura pulled a childish face at them and immediately took off, but before Yomi followed, he had one final thing to say. "Kurama, Miwa, I'm happy that you took my invitation. Best of luck to you both."

The two glanced at each other, Miwa's cheeks a bit more flushed than before. So much had changed since they received the Spirit of Words inviting them to Gandara. Miwa still remembered the uncertainty of her seal's condition, the vague intent of Shirai's letter, the fear of Hiei leaving for Mukuro's side, the imagined consequences of Raizen's death ending the three-way stalemate, and the concern over Kurama's mysterious past with Yomi. The Miwa from one year ago would never guess that they'd part ways on such amicable terms. Shura was far ahead by the time Yomi turned and followed, but the former lord of Gandara did not rush to catch up. He simply walked away with the same dignity as always.

Shirai sighed quietly once Yomi's tall silhouette was out of sight, which made Miwa grin a little. "Do you even know where they are going?" she asked.

"Well, of course," he answered innocently, "He just asked that I keep in touch, after all."

Miwa's grin softened. "That's great."

Shirai nodded, and then he shifted his attention to Kurama. "If I may say so, I am also glad that you accepted the invitation to Gandara. This outcome has far exceeded our initial expectations."

Kurama chuckled, and Miwa realized it may be the first positive emotion he had ever expressed in front of Shirai. "It wasn't just us. We must also credit Yusuke for suggesting this tournament."

"He is truly an interesting character," Shirai said, "The tournament has not even ended, but I am already optimistic about the future of Demon World."

"I think Yusuke has that effect on people," Miwa chimed in, her grin returning. "His optimism rubs off on you so easily…"

And that optimism carried until the tournament's end a few days later.

Yusuke himself lay unconscious in the infirmary since his battle. But with the impeccable timing that seemingly came naturally to him, he bolted upright from sleep like a jack-in-the-box just in time for the closing ceremony. Unlike with Miwa, the infirmary did not prohibit visitors for him, and after a quick check-up, the nurses allowed him an escort to the arena so he could stretch his legs and witness Enki be crowned the new ruler of all Demon World. Yusuke, somehow already full of energy, practically threw himself out of bed, but he couldn't hold his balance for too long. Kurama had to support him with one arm over his shoulder as they walked, but he was so eager that they left without even getting Yusuke a shirt to wear over his bandages.

Enki, a huge red ogre with a surprisingly kind face stood humbly on the main stage next to Koto. He was at least four times her size, and he wore an unassuming tank top and drawstring trousers that could easily be his loungewear. To Miwa, he looked like someone's favorite uncle who wanted to proudly explain a very domestic hobby he had been engrossed in for the past couple months. She saw him around both on screen and with her own eyes, but even with his size, Enki easily faded into the background of other menacing, muscular competitors who made fighting their entire life. Even the demons who watched Enki win one battle after the other were in disbelief at how such a gentle giant overcame the stacked tournament roster.

Koto swooped her hand up with a grandiose flourish. "Well, the fights have been long, the fights have been tough, but as all great things do, this romp has come to an end. And so, I present to you the winner of this tournament, and our new sole ruler of the Demon World, Enki!"

The audience's cheers shook the stadium, recognizing his strength and the new rulership. Enki continued smiling humbly at them all, showing no signs of an over-inflated ego.

"I thought for sure it'd be Yomi…" Yusuke said quietly.

"He lost in his first match after you."

Kurama explained what had happened since Yusuke was last conscious. Mukuro, who was the last former lord standing, defeated Natsume in Round Four, but then she lost to Enki himself in the following round. Perhaps, like Yomi, Mukuro exhausted herself against Natsume. It was difficult for an outsider like Miwa or Kurama to deduce, but regardless, Enki had defeated her. Learning all this, Yusuke stared agape at the stage. He would never have guessed the kind ogre who showed up with his wife to pay respects to Raizen would be so powerful.

Enki took the microphone, cleared his throat to silence the audience, and began to speak. "Well, here I am by strange circumstances and the mystery of the matching. But I've come to believe that luck is just as important as planning in this life. So, I'm taking leadership over us, but I'm making it only a three-year term." An enthusiastic murmur spread through the crowd, already anticipating another tournament in the next three years. Enki allowed them a moment to speculate. "The rule was whoever wins, no matter what, all demons have to obey his or her laws, and so I'll hold you to that. It won't be hard to remember. I'm only enforcing one great law." He cleared his throat again, holding the suspense for a few moments longer. "My law is, from now on, there will be no mischief in Living World."

Another pause for the crowd to react, and it sounded like confusion.

"We've been fighting for too long. It's something I learned from an old friend," Enki explained, aware of the confusion his proclamation would cause. "This is how I'll honor his memory. I'll create a council and figure out the particulars of this in a week."

Yusuke looked around. "Where's Yomi? I'd like to see his reaction."

Miwa answered, "He left on a training journey with his son not long after his loss."

"But he is looking forward to fighting you again someday," Kurama added. "He said you gave him a sense of peace he had not felt for a long time."

A satisfied smile graced Yusuke's face. Miwa recognized the look: Excitement at the promise of another good fight against a worthy opponent.

Enki's deep voice pulled their attention back to the stage. "Well, thank you for coming, everyone, and for listening to me." He raised one hand, opening his arms to welcome the bright future he had in mind. "Things are going to start getting better around here!"

"So, Yusuke," Miwa said, leaning forward to get a better look at him, "Now that the tournament you proposed has ended, what do you think of the results?"

"Hah," Yusuke grinned, standing up straighter as if he had planned this ending all along, "All's well that ends well, or somethin' like that."

{00}

Miwa closed the zipper of her bag, wondering not for the first time how everything she prepared for returning to Demon World could fit in something so small. But packing for travel always made her take a long look at the room she would be departing from with a small sense of nostalgia and longing. She had only stayed in this single room for about two weeks, the duration of the tournament. The organizers, of course, provided lodging for all the fighters. Nothing particularly luxurious, but Miwa often wondered if her connection to the tournament's sponsor came with the privilege of her building being close to the arena.

Either way, the room served her very minimal needs during the tournament. All she needed was a place to sleep, keep her clothes, and get cleaned up. A single bed, a small desk, and a simple attached bathroom. Compared to the full suite she had stayed in during the Dark Tournament, it was nothing special, but it was more than Miwa expected. She originally envisioned being put up in a hostel with roommates she had never met; at worst needing to sleep with one eye open if she had to fight them. Instead, she was given a room that oddly reminded her of the simplicity of Himari Shimizu's bedroom. That was a bedroom she had not seen for a few months, and with her belongings slung over her shoulder as she prepared to leave, Miwa had never felt so eager to return to it. To that room, and to using the Himari Shimizu name once more.

A small knock interrupted her thoughts, so Miwa tore her eyes away, exited her temporary lodging, and closed the door behind her with a final click of the latch. "I was wondering when you would show up," she said, smiling up at Shirai.

"I thought I would spare you the trouble of finding me yourself," he said.

"Are you leaving today too?"

"Yes, after I see you off, of course."

It was two days after the closing ceremony. Most of the fighters left the following day, but Kurama and Miwa waited until Yusuke was back on his feet. She was on her way to meet them, but she knew at some point, Shirai would make an appearance. "Have you gotten a read on Enki yet?"

Shirai nodded. Only by observation. I'm sure it's no longer appropriate for me to read the memories of our new king, but I see no reason to denounce his rule."

Miwa laughed. Yusuke's own confidence in Enki had dismissed her doubts, but she was glad to see Shirai in agreement. "What's next for you, then?"

Shirai adjusted the straps of his own bag, but he held even less items than Miwa's did. "I suppose I will continue my personal research. Maybe one day I'll finally publish something about the old cultures of Demon World."

"Since we're on the cusp of a new era, I'm sure that would be fascinating to read as a comparison."

"I also would love to hear about what you get up to, Miwa." Shirai extended his hand. "I do hope that we keep in touch, even after our current arrangement is complete."

"Of course!" Miwa reached out and took Shirai's bare hand in hers. "We're accomplices, right?"

They shook hands. Neither mentioned it was the first time in decades that their bare hands had touched, but Miwa did not take that fact for granted. This too, was another relationship that she had never expected would resolve on such good terms. As Yusuke said. All's well that ends well, or something like that.

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything," came Kurama's polite voice. He approached slowly from down the hallway, carrying his own belongings on his back.

"No, not at all," Shirai said, letting go of Miwa's hand. "I apologize if I delayed your departure plans."

"Oh, no, nothing like that," Kurama assured. He truly did not seem bothered. "Take your time."

"I shouldn't. You both should get back to your lives." Shirai stepped back and patted Miwa gently on the shoulder, as if giving her permission to go.

Miwa gave him one last wave before stepping closer to Kurama. It was almost time for them to meet Yusuke. "Good luck with your research," she said, a smile hiding the feeling of loneliness for leaving an old friend behind.

"May life treat you both kindly moving forward," Shirai said, returning the smile and bowing his head.

Then, he turned swiftly on the ball of his foot, walking away with the usual straight posture. Kurama and Miwa politely watched him leave, waving until Shirai's figure disappeared around the nearest corner.

"Shall we go?" Kurama asked.

Miwa hesitated for only a moment, thinking about how she was really returning to Living World with him. The final resolution she had never expected, for many reasons. …All's well that ends well, or something like that. So, Miwa nodded, and together they walked in Shirai's opposite direction.

"Miwa…" Kurama said cautiously, "You still have some kind of arrangement with Shirai?"

She wasn't surprised that he overheard. Voices carry in hallways, after all. "Yeah, it was an idea I had back when we went to see my tribe. I wasn't sure it would be necessary, but unless Enki's council comes up with specific rules against it…" She sighed, steeling herself for what she was certain would be some protest. "...there are some humans whose memories I want him to rewrite."

Kurama frowned, already imagining some potential candidates. "What for?"

"...To make things right by them." She waited for some kind of rebuttal, but none came. Kurama only looked at her, trying to understand what she wanted to do. "I'll explain it more when we get back. I'm still not sure what's the best course of action yet. But right now, we need to find Yusuke and the others."

Kurama was still frowning, but he reluctantly agreed.

They soon met Yusuke, Touya, Jin, and the others outside the main tournament venue. Kurama, Miwa, and Yusuke were the only ones with plans to return to Living World, so this was the planned location where they would go their separate ways. Their parting words held no traces of sorrow or loneliness. The atmosphere held a very clear promise that they would all someday meet again. Maybe in three years, each will be stronger than they are now. Yusuke waved good-bye to Jin and the others with the full extension of his arm, already excited for the next time they would see each other.

When their numbers dwindled down to three, Yusuke turned and awkwardly scratched at his chin. "Actually," he said sheepishly, "I'm gonna take a small detour before heading back home, so you two can go ahead without me."

"Is something wrong?" Miwa asked.

"No," Yusuke said, waving off that concern with a brush of his hand, "I just thought I should stop by Raizen's grave before I head back. Give him a final report, and all that. I also wanna make sure Hokushin and the monk-ettes are gonna be okay without me."

Kurama chuckled. "That's very thoughtful of you, Yusuke."

"Heyyy, are you trying to say something?"

"I'm complimenting you."

They laughed, and once it died down, Yusuke gave them a two-fingered salute. "Don't get lost on your way back, you crazy kids!"

With that silly good-bye, Yusuke whirled around and sprinted off into the afternoon sun.

Kurama laughed to himself. "...You noticed that he didn't mention how long he would be on this detour, right?"

Miwa nodded. "He'll come back. Yusuke has never let us down."

"Do you think Kuwabara would be as forgiving? Or Keiko?"

"Maybe if we explain it to them first."

Their numbers down to two, Kurama and Miwa started down the road into the forest, where Shunjun would be waiting to escort them across dimensions to the Living World. This walk, which would only last around thirty minutes, would be their last act in Demon World. At least for the time being. They were both eager to return to their human lives.

"...Miwa." Kurama slowed his walk, looking a bit more serious than before. "Did you also want to greet your parents before you go back?"

She stopped. "...Greet them?"

"Yes." Kurama also stopped a couple steps ahead. "What Yusuke said got me thinking about it. I don't know where they were buried, but their deaths became the impetus for how we met. I thought that, before you start your After, you might want to see them and tell them you're moving forward with your life."

"...And you? Are you going back alone?"

He shook his head, but then he glanced down, uncharacteristically bashful. "I also would like to greet them, if you do not mind…"

Miwa blinked stupidly at him, taken aback by the unexpected request. A bashful part of her own brain wondered what it was he wanted to say to them, and her cheeks flushed a bit. But Miwa quickly collected herself. "They weren't buried, so there is nowhere for us to go."

He looked up, also surprised. "Then, what-?"

"My tribe is full of nomads. They don't have a specific burial site for the dead." As Miwa talked, she reflected on the ridiculousness of how, after knowing Kurama for so long, she had never explained this to him. It had been decades since she last explained something about her tribe to anyone, but after leaving Shirai, no one cared to ask. "…They believe that by returning the ashes of the dead to the water, they become part of the water cycle. The rain, the ocean, the rivers. That way, the dead will accompany them wherever they go."

Kurama's bashfulness receded, and he relaxed. "That sounds very comforting."

Miwa smiled, recalling something she hadn't even thought about for many years, and pointed to the clouds above. "You've already met them. Every time I made rain fall from that sky."

Kurama looked up, and many dark purple clouds floated lazily across the red sky. A little over a week ago, Miwa made those clouds rain over the Okunenju plateau where they fought. It even rained the day they had met. He did not say it aloud, but this explained something he had been curious about for a long time. Despite basing her entire oath on revenge and paying a debt for her parents' deaths, Miwa had never seemed sad about their absence in her life.

"So," she continued, "there's no need for us to visit anywhere." She paused, her cheeks flushing again. "Let's go home."

"...Yes, let's go home."

They continued walking, this time in contemplative silence; each of them thinking about the human life they were about to return to. Now that Enki prohibited any demonic mischief in the Living World, Shuichi Minamino and Himari Shimizu can start putting serious thought into what their lives would look like in the future. No more worries about the balance between worlds. A new era where demons and humans could, potentially, coexist in harmony. At that moment, they could only imagine what Spirit World was doing about Enki's one great law. Would they be involved with the council Enki planned to create? Would they stand aside and continue overseeing the human afterlife as Demon World found its footing under new leadership? Only time would tell.

Eventually, their walk brought Kurama and Miwa deep into the forest. Their meeting place with Shunjun was still some ways away, but it seemed the two of them had one more person planning to see them off.

Hiei waited on the path ahead, boredly leaning against the base of a tree, and he only stood up when Kurama and Miwa stopped walking.

"So, Yusuke is going back after all?" he said, his tone sounding more like a statement than a question.

"That's what he says," Kurama said, "after he takes care of some things."

Hiei's direct stare swept over them both. "And I guess you're both going off, too?"

"That's right," Miwa answered. This time, it was actually a question. "Our lives are there now."

Hiei did not refer to it as "going back" for them. But despite that, he did not show any protest for their return to Living World and their human lives. Instead, he pulled a clenched fist from his pocket and tossed a small object at them. Kurama, who was closer, caught it with one hand. He opened his palm so he and Miwa could look, and a small, round gemstone attached to a necklace rested there. It glinted in the sunlight with an elegant luster Miwa had only seen a few times in her life. A Hiruiseki stone, just like the one Yukina entrusted to Hiei in case he ever found her twin brother.

Kurama exchanged a look with Miwa, and something very familiar flashed across his face for just a microsecond. His fingers closed around the stone, and he looked up solemnly. "Hiei, I can't accept this," he said, sighing ever so gently, "especially not in front of Miwa."

Hiei stared at him, not understanding what Kurama was saying. Miwa, on the other hand, pressed her lips tightly together and held her breath, trying her damndest to hold back a certain feeling that was ready to burst.

"I appreciate our friendship and all that we've been through," Kurama continued, holding the stone to his chest, and closing his eyes in an apologetic frown, "but I'm not interested in you that way."

Hiei, finally catching on, clenched his fist and visibly shook in anger. "You fool!" he snapped, "I'm not giving that stone to you!"

Miwa couldn't take it anymore. She burst out laughing and doubled over, clutching her stomach with both hands. Her eyes shut tight, threatening to spill tears. Even without seeing, she knew just how hard Hiei was glaring at her.

"What is so funny?!" he shouted, and a heavy foot stomped closer, but the attempted threat only made Miwa laugh harder.

"Relax, it's a joke," Kurama intervened, having the audacity to sound exasperated at Hiei's reaction. Truly, Kurama was the only person who could ever tease Hiei like this without getting threatened or killed, and he knew it. "You want us to give this to Yukina, right?

"That's right," Hiei huffed, pulling back a bit to regain his composure. "I want you to tell her that her dear twin brother's been dead for years."

Miwa took a deep breath, also collecting herself. "You could return it to her yourself, Hiei," she said. "You're the one she entrusted it to."

Hiei looked away. "I'm staying here, in Demon World. I want her to call off her ridiculous search for me."

Miwa narrowed her eyes. "...Is that so?"

Kurama looked down at the stone again, thinking to himself. "...Even if you did want that, I won't shut this door for you." He held out the Hiruiseki stone. "You'll give this to her, at your own pace."

Hiei stared at the outstretched necklace, but then he glanced at Miwa, as if waiting for her to offer an alternative. She did not. Miwa smiled pleasantly at him, denying any support for what he had wanted to do. "Like I said, you're the one she entrusted it to."

Hiei scoffed, but he willingly took the necklace back. "You two are just as stubborn as the first day we met."

"I don't think we could have survived this long if we weren't," Kurama said, not showing any pride for his friend on his face. Hiei wouldn't have liked that.

Feeling generous, Miwa decided to give him a lifeline. "What are you going to do from here on?"

After the Hiruiseki Stone was discreetly returned to his pocket, Hiei folded his arms over his chest and leaned back against the tree. "Preparing for the next tournament, of course. I doubt Yusuke was thinking this far ahead when he proposed his plan, but I'll take full advantage of it."

Kurama chuckled. "That'll be something to look forward to." He adjusted the bag strap on his shoulder and glanced down the path. "...I'll go on ahead to see if Shunjun is ready. Take care, Hiei."

With a wave and a smile, Kurama separated himself from their group and walked away, dismissing Miwa's questions and attempts to follow. She and Hiei watched him leave until his silhouette was no longer visible through the trees, a bit surprised by the sudden departure. He didn't need to do that…

"How considerate," Hiei said, breaking the silence, "leaving the girl he loves alone with another man."

"You say that as if you're someone he should be concerned about." This was the only thing Miwa could say to hide her internal groaning; it was shameful how everyone but her seemed to know.

Hiei stared at her. "Not if you're the one who would make him worry."

Miwa gave in and groaned aloud, now regretting engaging with his sarcasm. She would get back at Kurama for leaving her here like this. "Forget it," she sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose, "You're right. He's just trying to be considerate."

Hiei scoffed. "I fail to see the point."

"You don't need to." Miwa let go of her nose and breathed in deeply. With everything going on after Miwa forfeited, and the fact that Hiei liked to make himself scarce, they hadn't really spoken at length since her fight against Kurama. But it wasn't as if she had something to say that couldn't be said in front of other people…

"...I know Kurama wants to go back to his human family," Hiei said, staring boredly at the path Kurama took. "Did you choose this After because of him? Or do you truly enjoy your human life?"

Miwa paused, unsure if she was more surprised by the question or by the fact Hiei was the one with something left to say. "...I'm pretty sure it's both," she answered quietly.

He huffed, but then he smirked at her. "Then the next time I see you, you better not be caught up in your old habits and chasing after human psychics again."

She laughed. "If I end up chasing human psychics again, it's going to be something I decide to do for myself. Whatever comes next, I'm going to make something of my life, too. …Maybe I'll see you at the next tournament!"

Hiei did not answer. He simply nodded in acknowledgement.

Miwa's smile softened, sensing the end of this conversation drawing near. "If you need anything from us, Hiei, just ask. Even from Living World, we'll help any way we can." She thought he would reject her offer, but to her surprise he nodded again. Miwa took a few steps forward, indicating that it was time for her to leave. At first, she considered wishing him luck with his training, but she held it back. Hiei didn't rely on luck. "I can't wait to see what you make of yourself out here."

She waved good-bye with a bright smile, and then she quickly disappeared into the trees. Miwa did not see it, but Hiei, still leaning with his arms crossed, returned the wave by raising his fingers. He had considered saying more. He wanted to point out that, as the one who knew Kurama and Miwa the longest among their so-called team, he noticed something intriguing. Miwa was a demon who smiled quite often, to humans and demons alike, for many different reasons. She smiled at those she cared for when she was happy, she smiled at her targets while lying through her teeth, and she smiled at her enemies when she was angry. Over the years, Hiei had come to recognize the differences, and that recognition was why he knew this was the path Miwa would choose in the end.

Hiei noticed early on, within a year of their first meeting, there was one smile that only ever appeared when Miwa was with Kurama. A delighted, content smile that, if Hiei were forced to choose, he would say suited her best.

He had considered telling her this, but in the end, he decided against it. Who knew? Maybe that idiot snake would figure it out for herself one day.

{00}

In the Living World, the sky was blue, and white clouds floated above. Just that fact alone made the world itself seem so bright. The air smelled of plants and trees, with faint whiffs of car exhaust and the light scent of rain that probably had fallen a few hours before. The smell of blood and rotten flesh did not permeate the air here, as it did in Demon World. Living World was run by so many more rules, keeping the air smelling cleaner and fresher than Demon World could ever hope to achieve. A world governed by rules instead of power and strength, and for a demon, it was so hard to navigate and learn.

After deliberating for so long, this was the world Miwa chose to return to.

…But she still hesitated to open her front door. Standing there like a creepy stalker, she stared at the doorknob as if her piercing gaze would turn the round piece of metal. Kurama walked with her up to the entrance of her apartment building, but the moment she was alone, the reality of her life hit her all at once. This was the first time she would walk through this door and return to the Himari Shimizu name without her oath. This was the first moment of her After, the real After, where she would decide how to live in this house from now on. Slowly, Miwa stretched out her arm and closed her fingers around the cold silver knob. One small turn, and she yanked it open before her brain could convince her she was too afraid to do this.

She only had a few milliseconds to glimpse Iizuna, possessing Takeo's body, standing in the entryway before he blew a red and gold party blower into her face.

"Welcome back, my little goldfish!" Iizuna beamed, sticking a second party blower in his mouth and blowing them both at the same time. "Congrats on returning from the tournament without dying!"

Miwa flinched and leaned away. "...I'll admit. I wasn't expecting that."

Iizuna blew the party blowers one more time, and the paper stretched to mere centimeters from her nose, but she slapped them out of his lips. A year ago, Miwa would have threatened him. But somehow, she had become used to Iizuna's antics. Enough to know he would pull something the moment she opened the door. She may have brushed the party blowers out of her face, but even though he was purposefully being annoying, the gesture now felt kind; even calling her a "goldfish."

"Don't tell me you actually bought those because of me."

"Nah. It was somebody's birthday at the office the other day, so I swiped a few extra." Iizuna pulled a third party blower, this one purple and silver, and blew in it playfully from a safer distance. "Anyway, word about the new king's law has already reached this side. I have a feeling the demons are gonna be restless for a while."

Now that she finally had room to enter the damn apartment, Miwa stepped into the living room and dropped her bag next to the couch. "He's supposed to be creating a council. Hopefully they'll find a way to enforce it across dimensions."

Iizuna sighed dramatically. "That's gonna put me out of business, y'know." He wiggled Takeo's fingers in front of his face. "What I do surely qualifies as 'mischief.'"

"You sound oddly calm about losing your method of income…"

"Meh, it's fine. I've got money saved up; partially thanks to you. This line of work could never last forever, and I'm sure my knowledge of integrating into human society will be worth something in the new king's reign."

Miwa tried not to be too jealous of his nonchalance.

"Meanwhile," he grinned, turning back to her, "you'll be keeping your nose clean and continue playing human schoolgirl, right?"

"Himari Shimizu is almost out of high school, you know…"

Iizuna shrugged. Without looking in Miwa's direction, he casually plucked the fallen party blowers off the ground and chucked them in the trash bin. "My point is that you ended up coming back here." A weaselly grin that did not suit Takeo's face appeared. "What changed your mind? I haven't forgotten how uncertain you looked before you left."

"I decided what was really important to me. That's all."

"Uh huh." He tapped his chin, pretending to contemplate her vague explanation. But then, his carefree attitude dropped like a mask falling off his face. "Well, you've come back at quite the crossroads, little goldfish."

Miwa, who was just about to toss her things into her room, stopped immediately with the bag's strap still dangling from her fingers. "What's that mean?"

Iizuna's arms folded over his chest. "Takeo's parents are calling him back to his hometown. They're getting on in years and want him to start learning the family business."

A familiar chill swept through Miwa's body. Takeo's family ran a real estate agency in a small suburban town a few prefectures away. When he was in university, he even studied business to help after graduation, but he stayed in the city where he currently worked to gain life experience away from home. He told Himari all this over dinner one night while she was still in middle school, but back then, the impending departure of Himari Shimizu's father was something Miwa didn't take too seriously. Back then, "Himari Shimizu" was just a name, and Takeo Shimizu was a fake guardian. She didn't think it would happen while she was still in school, but when the time came, the Miwa of a few years ago planned to cut ties and find another way to continue her oath. Now, however…

"As far as he knows," Iizuna continued, "he hasn't spoken to Himari about it yet. But if he decides to go, it would be before your graduation. Himari will have to mov-"

"You mean that Takeo is already aware? Even though you're possessing him?"

Iizuna blinked, not expecting the interruption. "Yes. I'm controlling the body, but if I am allowing him to remember his day-to-day life, his consciousness sits alongside my own."

"So, you know what he wants to do?"

"...It was always his plan to go back one day. You already knew that. But right now, he's worrying about uprooting your life here and thinking of how he can turn them down."

Miwa sighed, opened her bedroom door to toss her things aside, and slammed it shut. "He doesn't need to do that."

"Oh?" The seriousness in Iizuna's face was replaced by that weaselly smile again. "Did you come back here to give up that name?"

"That name is mine. But…" Her eyes swept over the small apartment. "...I came to this place more than five years ago and took over his life. I need to give it back."

Where would Takeo be in life if Miwa hadn't forced her way in? He was young and single, no longer a rookie at his job and competent. He had the rest of his life ahead of him to experience. Instead, Iizuna helped her brainwash him into believing Himari Shimizu was his daughter, and for over five years, he took on the responsibility of caring for a teenager. A responsibility that, in truth, should never have been his. Maybe, if Miwa never walked into this place, he could have gotten a real girlfriend by now; possibly even married. Instead, someone as young as him was made to carry the burden and stigma of a single father.

Iizuna clapped his hands together in light applause. "Despite coming back here, you're actually abandoning this little game of pretend."

Miwa nodded. Himari Shimizu could not continue like Shuichi Minamino. Kurama may have robbed Shiori of a normal son, but she still raised him as her own. She chose the life of a mother. Himari and Takeo were not like that. As the one who disrupted Takeo's life, Himari would be the one to correct it.

"I heard about your friend that can manipulate memories. You're going to have him erase you from Takeo Shimizu's mind, aren't you?"

"It's the right thing to do. For him."

"There's gonna be a lot of cleanup for the people who know you as his daughter. …Sounds like a pain."

"...It's the right thing to do."

"...Well!" Iizuna threw his hands into the air and walked towards Takeo's bedroom. "If you two are gonna split up, Takeo going back to his hometown would be the perfect opportunity." Iizuna entered the room, without bothering to close the door behind him, and Miwa heard the bed springs creak under his weight. A moment later, Iizuna left the room in his real body, this time closing the door. Takeo, no longer possessed, lay unconscious as his body adjusted to no longer being inhabited by a demon. "But, as someone who's lived in that guy's head for several months now, I could speculate exactly how he would feel about your plan."

"So can I. Anyone would feel betrayed and used. But I'm not his daughter, so I shouldn't be in his life anymore."

"Maybe not. But even if he learned the truth, would that feeling of betrayal permanently overwrite what happened over the years?" Iizuna shrugged. "Maybe it will, maybe it won't. Humans are emotional creatures that way…" He had expected her return today, so he already had his things packed in a small shoulder bag. "I simply think that, with the kind of power your friend has, you have the opportunity to make things right without such an extreme solution."

With a small wave, Iizuna left the apartment. And for the first time since they started working together again, Miwa had no idea if he would ever need to return.

{00}

"He's right, y'know," said Kuwabara. Beside him in their small cafe booth, Kurama nodded in agreement.

"I'm not saying he's wrong," Miwa said, leaning her elbows on the table. "But I completely disrupted Takeo's life. How can I ever make that up to him without…removing myself from it?"

"Oh c'mon, Miwa," Kuwabara said, grinning at her to cheer her up. "You'd be sad if he forgot you completely, right?"

"Well…yeah…" she answered, fidgeting uncomfortably, which made Kuwabara snicker.

"And even if you have Shirai erase his memory, you can't undo what's already been done." Kurama held his chin. "There must be a way to rewrite his memory so he is no longer responsible for Himari as a parent, but still able to remember the life you've lived together."

"Yeah," Kuwabara said, "Definitely better than suddenly leaving a big hole in the past five years of his life."

Miwa lowered her head into her arms. "I'll figure something out. Somehow…"

It took nearly a month for life to have any form of routine again. Reintegrating back into their human families, catching up on all the schoolwork they missed, and in Miwa's case, convincing Saya and Taichi that everything was fine; she would not be disappearing again anytime soon. With the new school term starting, the craziness of the tournament was slowly becoming a thing of the past, and Miwa could no longer hide from preparing for high school graduation and college entrance exam season. That morning, Kuwabara joined them for a weekend study session at the library. Although he was well into high school by now, the life of an alternate student was still tough, and Kuwabara needed to keep his grades up at all costs. It was nice, in a way, for the three of them to get together for something so mundane, but Miwa liked to think making this a regular practice would help both Kuwabara and her in the long run. After they finished their work for the day, they changed location to a nearby cafe where they could talk more freely.

"So, your friend Shirai is gonna come here and rewrite his memory?"

"That's the plan. Now, travel between worlds is much more stable."

Kuwabara twirled the straw for his iced coffee between his fingers and stared out the window. "I still can't believe they're not restoring the Kekkai Barrier, after everything we went through with Sensui. I don't sense anything bad, but just the thought of an A or S class demon walking around out there still gives me chills."

"You do know that we fall into that category too, Kuwabara," Kurama said, pointing at both Miwa and himself with a smile.

"True, but…"

"It's an adjustment for everyone," Miwa pointed out. "But since Koenma is in charge, Spirit World can't coax demons into doing bad things here anymore either."

Koenma, who had also secretly attended the tournament, returned to Spirit World with news of the new ruler, and in a surprisingly short time, overthrew King Yama himself. After the Chapter Black case, he apparently started investigating Spirit World's files to learn how Sensui had come into possession of the tape. However, Koenma ended up finding so much more. Falsified reports, documentation of brainwashed D-class demons, and even the true reason for why lower-class demons were allowed to pass through the Kekkai Barrier. As long as Spirit World forced demons to cause trouble in the Living World, they could paint all demon kind as the bad guys and declare themselves the benevolent protectors of humanity. The untapped power of the human spirit would solely belong to Spirit World. In truth, most demon crimes before the barrier were just contracted work by the humans. The most malicious acts, against both demon and human kind, were largely done by the humans. After the barrier was created, that behavior was forced to hide in the criminal underworld, where eventually Sensui himself would witness it firsthand. If Hiei had kept the Chapter Black tape and watched its contents, he may have seen the horrible acts of humanity that preceded the barrier's creation.

"Y'know," Kuwabara sighed, taking a long sip of his coffee, "after everything I've seen since learning about all this stuff, that might be the only thing more unbelievable than demons walking around on Earth."

"Of course, this does not mean all demons were innocent," Kurama explained. "But in ancient times, the majority of demons just liked to cause mischief when coming to the Living World."

"That stuff was all before either of you were born, huh?"

Kurama nodded.

In the end, humans became the simple, innocent creatures of the three dimensions. Spirit World was their guardian against the evils of Demon World and humanity's guide to the afterlife. The demons, meanwhile, were left to pick up the pieces, and their hatred of Spirit World and disdain for humans grew over the millennia until its origin was no longer known.

"Now that Koenma has exposed everything," Miwa said, "the three worlds are going to have to learn how to coexist again."

Kuwabara leaned one elbow on the table to hold up his head, and he sighed dramatically. "Man, this just means more weirdos are gonna keep coming up to me."

Before Kurama or Miwa could ask him what he meant, two girls they had never seen before approached their booth.

"Hey Kazuma," said a tall girl with long, straight black hair. She glanced down and saw Kuwabara's school bag. "Studying even on a weekend? How studious of you!"

"So what if I am? Don't you have homework too?" Kuwabara already sounded exasperated.

Next to the black-haired girl was another girl of equal height, but her light brown hair was tied up in a high ponytail. She ignored Kuwabara's question about homework and looked at Kurama and Miwa. "At least you got to study with such lovely flowers on each hand." The girl grinned at Kuwabara. But before he could respond, she tilted her head to Kurama, who was sitting next to him. "Is this one your girlfriend? Introduce us!"

Spit nearly flew from Miwa's lips as she pressed them shut to hold back laughter. Kurama stared blankly at them, but he did not say a word. Kuwabara's eyes bulged, and his lips pulled back in silent shriek.

"Don't assume," said the black-haired girl, nudging her friend in the arm, "they might just be here for that whole spiritual consultation thing."

"What are you talking about?! They're my friends!" Kuwabara exclaimed, slamming his palm on the table. "And can't you recognize a man when he's sitting right in front of you?!"

"A man?"

In unison, they both leaned forward, easily passing what could have been a "polite" distance. Their eyes examined every detail of Kurama's face, and he still didn't say a word to them. Perhaps Kuwabara getting annoyed on his behalf was enough, but Miwa's ab muscles were beginning to hurt from holding back her laughter. If she stopped to breathe, then surely she would not be able to keep it in.

"What about her?" The ponytail girl whipped her head to stare at Miwa. "Not your girlfriend?"

A wicked thought came to mind, quickly calming Miwa's laughter.

Kuwabara's face flushed, and his fists clenched. "I just told you they're both my friends!"

"And I'm a guy, too," Miwa lied, smiling pleasantly with her very feminine face.

"No way!"

The two girls leaned in even closer than they did with Kurama, close enough for Miwa to feel their exhaling breath on her cheeks. She hid her discomfort to continue her pleasant smile, but these girls were refreshingly bold in their rudeness. This had to be what an animal at the zoo felt like. That thought rushed to her lips, ready to burst out in sarcasm, but she held it back. Even in her free time, Miwa tended to dress in a loose-fit tomboyish style. But even though her hair was shorter than Kurama's, she had never been mistaken for a man. However, you could convince someone of almost anything if you appeared confident enough.

The black-haired girl straightened up. "You've got some pretty friends, Kazuma," she said, a devilish grin on her face. "We should all hang out one day!"

"Yeah yeah," Kuwabara said, agreeing by definition of words, but his demeanor expressed the exact opposite.

"We'll see you at school, okay?" said the ponytail girl, casually waving and ignoring Kuwabara's discomfort. "Nice to meet you, Kazuma's friends!"

Miwa waved back while still smiling politely, but Kuwabara and Kurama did not follow her example. When the girls left the cafe, the small bell hanging on the door jingled merrily. The ambient noise of the store filled the silence their departure left behind, but around their small booth, Miwa broke that silence by finally breaking into a fit of giggles. The boys stared at her as she buried her face in her arms, her shoulders bouncing up and down with each laugh.

"...Sorry about that, man," Kuwabara said, turning his apology more to Kurama.

"It's alright…" Kurama's answer was calm, but clearly being mistaken for a girl didn't sit well with him. Still, he tried to play it off by changing the subject. "You seem really popular."

Kuwabara groaned. "I predicted an earthquake early in the first term, so now they think it's amusing to treat me like some weird animal."

Miwa remembered her zoo analogy and laughed even harder.

"Y'know, Miwa…" Kuwabara said, glowering down at her, "I'm glad you had fun with your joke, but you don't have to deal with those two on Monday."

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Miwa said, raising her head and wiping away small hints of tears. "But it took the heat off you two for a minute, right?"

Kurama sighed. "Miwa, isn't it almost time for you to meet your friends?"

She pulled back her jacket sleeve to check her watch. "You're right." After quickly digging through her bag, she tossed a few coins on the table to cover the cost of her drink. "Oh," she said after standing up. "We're going to see Genkai next week, right? Is meeting at the station okay?" When the boys both agreed, she slung her bag over her shoulder, gave them a quick "See you later" and left the cafe, making the bell jingle just as merrily as it did with the two girls.

The boys watched her leave through the cafe window. She waved at them one last time as she passed by, and the last thing they saw before she disappeared past the frame was her small, black backpack bouncing off her shoulders. To both Kurama and Kuwabara, it looked a lot like the water pouch she carried around for the past few years, and neither of them were sure if she was even aware of the resemblance. Or, if after all this time, she had just grown accustomed to having something small on her back as she walked around.

Kurama stood up to occupy the seat Miwa had left empty, and just as he sat down, Kuwabara asked, "Where's she off to?"

"I believe they are going to see a movie." Kurama reached across the table to retrieve his drink - an herbal tea - and looked happily at the cafe window again. "Ever since we came back, she's been seeing her friends outside of school more often."

"...She didn't hang out with them before?"

"No, she…" Kurama looked down. "Even in middle school, she was too busy maintaining her network with the demons living here. That was her way of staying useful…"

Kuwabara fidgeted with his coffee cup. "But, if she's seeing them more now, that must mean she's really adjusting to a life without her oath."

"I like to think so," Kurama said, smiling again before taking a sip of his tea.

"...What about you?" Kuwabara asked slowly, trying to phrase it properly. "She still hasn't given you an answer, right?"

Kurama lowered his cup. "I don't want to rush her."

"But it's been over a month. Almost two." Kuwabara rested his chin on his hand. He had his own hopes for this outcome, but despite how selfish it sounded, he was getting tired of waiting!

"You know how much she has to adjust to right now," Kurama said patiently. "I never even knew how hard it was for her to call me a 'friend' before she renounced her oath…"

Miwa was, among many things, diligent. Two weeks after they returned, she sheepishly explained to him how "hollow" that word had felt the past few years. It was such an abrupt announcement, too. She stopped him just as they were about to part ways while walking home from school, deciding out of nowhere that she must explain why she needed more time. Kurama quietly listened to her reasoning, and rather than feeling down for needing to wait longer, he felt guilty for never realizing how she felt about that word.

Kuwabara leaned back in his seat. He heard about all that too. "Okay, that would take some getting used to, but shouldn't you still be like…" He waved his hands around. "...taking her out, or something?"

"...Taking her out?"

"Y'know, to see a movie or to eat somewhere."

"As her friend?"

"No, to show her that you're a man!" Kurama stiffened, and Kuwabara stopped immediately. "Wait, uh…." Perhaps Kurama was still bothered by the two girls from earlier. "That's not what I meant. But, uh… You know how she is! If you don't do something different, nothing's gonna change!"

Kurama relaxed, and then he took another sip of his tea. The thought had, of course, crossed his mind many times. "I really don't mind waiting. I'm already thankful she is not avoiding me, but even without her trying to explain herself…"

It did not escape his notice that, even if they weren't discussing his feelings for her, Miwa would sometimes get flustered when they talked. She'd suddenly turn red, stumble over her words, or have a hard time making eye contact, yet she would carry on as if nothing was wrong. It was quite endearing if he were to be honest. But for her sake, he never called attention to it.

"...I know she is thinking about her answer."

Kuwabara sighed. "Alright. At least you finally said something."

"Yes. And I'm glad I did, so thank you for the encouragement, Kuwabara."

Things were awkward at times, and of course he wondered what could happen if Miwa turned him down. Her shyness was genuinely surprising to him, and it could easily carry after turning him down. But Miwa made it clear that becoming real friends was the bare minimum of what she wanted in her After, and he would be there for that, no matter what she decided.

{00}

The invitation from Genkai was, while a pleasant surprise, also a mysterious one. Keiko received the initial call and spread the news to Shizuru, Kuwabara, Kurama, and Miwa, and they immediately made travel plans to her mountain temple. But no one, not even Mr. Sensitive himself, knew what could be so important that the old psychic would ask them all to come.

They left on a noon train on a Saturday, after waiting for Keiko to finish up some student council work that morning. Keiko's hair had grown much longer since starting high school, and her green blazered uniform really suited her, but she was the only one in their group traveling in such an outfit. Before they boarded, Shiruzu asked if Keiko had brought a change of clothes, but she insisted that it was fine; less for her to carry around. And once they were on the train, they were either very fortunate, or Keiko was extremely lucky. Within minutes, she found two empty rows of three chairs on their express train, and Kuwabara and Kurama helped flip the front row so they could all face each other on the two-hour ride. In the empty chair sat all their bags, but Miwa kept an eye out in case someone needed a seat and was brave enough to sit with a group of strangers. Thirty minutes into the trip, Kuwabara had eaten through half of the bento box he bought at the convenience store, and Keiko and Miwa exchanged stories of high school life as Kurama quietly listened in, but he did chime in every now and then. Shizuru, who was reading the newspaper in the window seat, suddenly gasped, and grabbed all their attention.

Keiko, who was sitting next to her, leaned over Shizuru's shoulder, and she also gasped. "Isn't that Hiei?!"

Kuwabara coughed on his food and nearly dropped his bento. He reached out for the newspaper, but then found himself in another coughing fit and pounded his chest with his fist. Instead, Kurama took the newspaper from Shizuru's hands and opened the page she had marked. He sat in between Kuwabara and Miwa, so they both leaned in closer to read once Kuwabara recovered. In the bottom-left corner was a short article with the very bold and outlandish title, "Possible Alien Abduction? Victim Recounts Lost Days!" But the title wasn't the craziest thing; not to this group, at least. Below the recounted story was the victim's sketch of what he had seen. Short figure with spiky hair, sharp eyes, and a mysterious third eye on its forehead.

Although the crude sketch more resembled some kind of gnome than an alien, it was definitely Hiei, without a shadow of doubt.

Kurama, who was a very fast reader, summarized the story for everyone. The middle-aged male victim had vague recollections of suddenly waking up on a hard table under bright white lights, and the figure he drew stood above him. The figure said some words he did not understand - something about sending him home - and the next thing the victim remembered was waking up in a park near his house. The only "real" corroboration of his story was that his family reported him missing for three days, and the victim could remember nothing other than waking up on that table. He didn't even know he had been gone for so long.

Kuwabara took the newspaper to get a closer look at the sketch, but he kept glancing over at Miwa. She had, for nearly a full minute, hunched over in her seat, arms wrapped around her stomach, trying to stifle laughter so she wouldn't disturb other passengers. Kurama attempted to calm her down by patting her shoulder, but it didn't have any effect.

"Her sense of humor is making less and less sense to me…" Kuwabara muttered, looking between her and the crude picture of Hiei.

"But a lot of stories like this have been coming out lately. Weird sightings and abductions," Keiko said, deciding the wiser course of action was to let Miwa's laughing fit pass naturally. "Is this because of that barrier not getting rebuilt?"

Kurama nodded. He also gave up on calming Miwa down. "This has actually happened many times even before the barrier was dismantled, but doors open both ways. With more and more demons traveling to this side, it's not surprising that sometimes, humans are accidentally pulled into the Demon World as well."

"So that's what happened to the guy who met our alien friend?" Shizuru asked, snatching the paper right from her brother's fingers. "At least the poor guy got back here in one piece."

Miwa suddenly sat up, her laughing fit now gone, but her cheeks still seemed a bit red. "That's Hiei's job now," she explained. "Him and a bunch of other demons who lost in the tournament are on patrol duty. They're supposed to find any lost humans, erase their memory, and send them home before the miasma ends up killing them. Although, this one seems to still remember some things." Her lips twitched, the sign of another laughing fit waiting to happen.

"That's…too bad," Keiko said, looking down at her hands. "If it's dangerous for humans to go, there aren't a lot of opportunities for a real cultural exchange."

"...Demon World has always been a dangerous place," Kurama said, smiling gently at Keiko despite his words. "Even if they are behaving now, the tensions between worlds cannot be solved overnight."

"But now, the demons who come here can learn new things and bring it back with them!" Miwa said, looking far more optimistic. "That's gotta amount to something, even if it's just three years."

Shizuru chuckled. "You sound like one of those diplomatic ambassadors."

Miwa laughed, albeit a bit embarrassed.

"...Do you think Genkai wants to see us because a demon is causing trouble?" Kuwabara asked, gloomily looking down at his half-eaten lunch. He didn't want to say it, but the last time Genkai went through the trouble to get them all together, Sensui and his group were opening the tunnel.

The group fell into a pensive silence. Shiruzu was thinking the same as her brother, but in her mind, it didn't make sense to invite non-fighters like herself or Keiko if someone was causing trouble. She first looked at her watch and then snapped open the newspaper. "Finding out is just a matter of time."

So, a few hours, a long bus ride, and a small hike later, their group finally arrived at the bottom of the giant stone staircase leading up to Genkai's temple. The total commute just from the nearest train station was already an indicator of how remote the old psychic's home was, but even after getting off the train, their surroundings had already become incredibly rural. After the bus, they may have just as easily stepped into a children's story about an ancient forest, completely cut off from the rest of society. Surrounded by nothing but trees, only someone wandering aimlessly lost for days could ever stumble upon this place by accident.

Kuwabara sighed heavily upon seeing the hundreds of stairs, remembering the pain climbing them will cause. "Miwa, do you think you could use your water disk things to give us a ride?"

"Do you think Genkai would appreciate you taking a shortcut?" He slumped over in defeat, and Miwa was the first to start climbing. "C'mon. I'll only carry you up if your legs fall off."

Soon, they were all climbing, and Kuwabara stubbornly tried to prove to himself the stairs were no trouble by charging ahead. Shizuru watched him skeptically, wondering aloud if tripping over his own feet or running out of stamina would come first. The rest of them paced themselves, but Miwa lingered closer to Shizuru and Keiko, just in case the stairs were too much for them. Not everyone in their group was a seasoned fighter, after all. In the end, Kuwabara got to the top and pushed open the wooden gate without tripping nor running out of steam, but he was heaving by the time the others caught up. Shizuru would have made a snide remark, but a door to one of the side rooms slid open without them even announcing themselves.

"Hey guys!" Yukina called, smiling warmly at them as she stepped onto the walkway.

It was rare to see her without the blue kimono. Instead, the ice apparition wore more "human" clothing: a pale pink dress with a brown, cotton sweater. Kuwabara excitedly ran over to greet her, and as they exchanged pleasantries, Yukina accidentally revealed that Kuwabara came to visit her quite often. Shizuru and Keiko both grinned cheekily at him, but he escaped their teasing by Genkai appearing at the door and beckoning them in. The six of them sat in a row across from her, and for a few minutes, they chatted about simple stories, catching each other up on what they had all been doing. But when the subject turned to Yusuke, Genkai sat silently. Until she spoke, the only sounds were the birds chirping outside and the bamboo fountain by the pond tapping against a rock.

"So, Yusuke still hasn't come back," she summarized, arms folded over her chest. "What the hell is he working on?"

"No one is really sure, specifically," Kurama admitted.

"At first, he was going to make sure the monks were okay," Miwa said. "But other than that, he was really vague on the details."

"Oh, come on, we know what he's doing," Kuwabara said, rolling his eyes. "He's picking fights. It's not like he cares about anything else now."

Shizuru jabbed him with her elbow, and he took the silent hint. He glanced apologetically at Keiko and shamefully lowered his head.

"You don't have to protect me, guys," Keiko said, and to their surprise, she tilted her head with a smile. "I'm just glad to see Genkai. Let's focus on that."

"Yeah, me too," added Shizuru. "It's a relief to see you're still well."

Kuwabara cheerfully pointed to himself. "I'm happy every day you're alive!"

"Well, that's a peachy spot I'm in. Sticking around so you don't have a bad day."

"That's not what I meant!"

There was the faint sound of footsteps, and suddenly Botan entered the room. "Well, I didn't know you all would be here!"

"Hey Botan!"

"Hello, Keiko. Love the hair!"

Then, when no one was looking, Koenma suddenly appeared in the room too. He graced them with his teenage form, and he also greeted them with a casual wave and usual humorous tone. It felt so normal that, for a moment, it was hard to believe they were in the same room as the being who now governed all of Spirit World. But Genkai sat them all down after announcing that finally, everyone she called had gathered.

"There's only one reason I asked you all to come," she said sternly. "These recent years have caused me to think about my legacy, and so I want to tell you what to do after I die."

The bamboo fountain clacked against the rock, punctuating their stunned silence. Kuwabara tried to laugh it off as a joke, but Yukina, Keiko, and Botan all insisted that she seemed too healthy to talk about such things. Genkai groaned, appreciating their concern but annoyed that it was interrupting what she wanted to say. She stood up and opened the side doors, giving their room a full view of the mountain range outside.

"Once you give me a teary-eyed funeral, I'll be leaving this whole estate to your group. That includes this temple, and all surrounding land. A shore on one side and a stone wall on the other will tell you where it ends."

The land was so remote, and it took so long just to reach the nearest town. Genkai called it inconvenient for humans, but perfect for apparitions. Just as their group had discussed on the train, Genkai also had been putting a lot of thought into what it will take for humans and demons to live in peace. She spent her whole life trying to understand one demon, and she failed. But things were different without the Kekkai Barrier. It would take a long time for the two worlds to learn how to coexist. Demons may be stronger, but in this world, they were still the minority, and atrocious human acts were a very real possibility. Human or demon, it was so easy to become hostile towards a being you do not understand.

"Make this place a safe house to bridge the gap as I never could."

That was it. Her simple, yet very important, reason to summon them all to her temple.

Kuwabara was going to say something, but Genkai shut him up really quick and shooed them all outside, ordering them to take a look at the land she would bequeath. Very quickly, they were all forced back to the tower of stone steps, which gave a wonderful view of the valleys before them. As far as they could see, the land all belonged to Genkai's estate. It was beautifully pristine, and Kuwabara rightfully pointed out a lot of good could be done in a place like this. Shizuru suggested they go and look at the shore, and Kuwabara invited Yukina to join them. They descended the stairs, leaving Genkai and Koenma at the top to watch over them. About halfway down, Kuwabara came to a stop and looked back. Kurama and Miwa stopped, asking him if something was wrong.

"…I met Genkai for the first time ever after going up these stairs, and I ended up fighting against Rando. Though I didn't know it at the time, it was the first case Urameshi and I worked on together." He reminisced aloud about everything that happened after. Maze Castle, meeting Kurama, Miwa, and Hiei for the first time, Tarukane and meeting the love of his life, Toguro and the Dark Tournament, Sensui, and now this. "This treaty sounds great, but it means that's all over. Gotta move on. It's just… It's just hard to believe."

"True, we've all been through a lot," Kurama said, "But when we need to, as you just have, we can remember."

Miwa touched her hair, thinking of the lotus ornament she did not wear today. "We remember what it was like before this. The good and the bad. That's how we'll make the future better."

"Heh, I guess you're right."

Botan called up to them, as she and the others had pulled far ahead. Shizuru threatened to leave them behind, so they quickly followed the girls to the beach.

By the time they arrived, the sunset turned the sky and sea a bright orange. The waves quietly lapped against the shore, spraying them all with a gentle mist. Keiko and Yukina took off their shoes to play in the waves. Soon Botan, Miwa, and Kuwabara quickly followed, looking for shells and starfish in the shallow water. Shizuru and Kurama stayed behind near a boat resting on the grass, watching them all from afar. The girls left footprints in the sand as the waves washed over their feet, but Keiko and Yukina chatted as they walked along the shore. Keiko pointed out that sunsets make you think too much, and that they should come back in the day sometime to really enjoy the beach to its fullest. Kuwabara called for Yukina, wanting to show her a giant starfish he found surprisingly quickly, and Yukina trotted over for a closer look, leaving Keiko alone on the shore. She stared out at the horizon, lost in her own thoughts brought about by the sunset. But then, she cupped her hands around her mouth and started screaming.

"You idiot!"

She was screaming to Yusuke.

Feelings that must have been locked away for years came out in her voice. So much of her life had been spent waiting for him, and even when Yusuke was around, he wasn't truly there. They made a promise before he left, that they would get married in three years when he returned. And yet, even after the tournament ended, he was still gone. For no explicable reason. He could keep on fighting, but once the three years were up, that was it. She would move on for good. She was tired of waiting.

Her screams echoed across the beach, as if she had hoped somehow, the waves would carry her words across dimensions to the person she wanted to hear them the most.

But then her cries received an answer.

"I don't want you to wait either."

Farther down the shore, a tall figure cast a long shadow in the sand. Blue jeans, red jacket, and a brown bag hanging off one shoulder. This person, who appeared from nowhere, was awfully familiar. Keiko, and everyone else who came to the beach, stood stunned at this person's arrival.

At Yusuke Urameshi's return.

"See?" He said, waving at Keiko with one hand. "You don't have to."

Keiko's feet moved slowly at first, but soon they were running towards Yusuke as fast as they could. At the last moment, her feet pushed off as Keiko leapt into the air, tackling Yusuke to the ground in a hug. Even from afar, Yusuke's grunt of pain could be heard as his head slammed back into the sand. Keiko pushed herself up, maybe intending to say something at first. But instead, she quietly lowered her head and kissed Yusuke on the lips. Of those watching, only Kuwabara and Botan had a visible reaction. The former stiffening up with wide eyes while the latter whispered a surprised, "Bingo."

Yusuke and Keiko's moment was, however, very short-lived. The ocean, which had until that moment been very calm, suddenly pushed a very tall wave that crashed right over their heads, soaking them both to the skin.

Kuwabara poked Miwa in the shoulder. "Was that you?"

"No, I swear!"

When the water receded, they were both sitting up, staring blankly at each other as if suddenly pulled back into reality. Keiko was the first to laugh, and Yusuke soon joined her, pulling off his jacket. "Oh, you're gonna pay for that one, Keiko!"

He chased her into the sea, accusing her of stealing some lip time, but Keiko splashed water at him with her hands. "Come and get me, tough guy!"

"You know I could dump this whole ocean on you if I wanted!" He shoveled water back at her, shaping his own hands like cups. But then, he suddenly turned around and kicked up some water with his foot, and it landed right in Kuwabara's laughing face. "Bang!"

Kuwabara charged into the water after the cackling boy, and Miwa couldn't contain herself anymore. She immediately sprinted after him while Botan convinced Yukina to join the water war.

When he finally got close, Kuwabara put Yusuke right into a headlock. "What's up, Mr. Mazoku. I thought you were going to Demon World to become king?"

Yusuke grabbed Kuwabara's arm to pull him into a headlock of his own. "I will someday, but who's gonna be here to kick your ass?"

Kuwabara somehow pulled himself free and twisted Yusuke's arm up. "Well, if you're going back, I better give you the beatdown now I was always too nice to give!"

Gobs of water slashed into both of their faces. "C'mon, save the beatdown for later!"

"No fair, using your water powers, Miwa!"

The girls joined the fray, but Keiko pulled away to coax Yukina into getting closer. Meanwhile, Botan and Miwa both splashed the boys (Miwa used her hands instead of her powers) as they continued to wrestle like silly teenagers. Kuwabara managed to catch his footing, lift Yusuke off the ground, and toss his whole body into the water. But just as he stood up to enjoy his victory, Botan tackled him down too. Yusuke, seeing an opening, threw some water at Miwa, and she didn't even block it. It splashed over her head and torso, soaking through her clothes, and she quickly declared her revenge. This time teaming up with Keiko, their combined might hit Yusuke in the chest with a torrential downpour.

Their laughter echoed across the beach, much farther than Keiko's earlier screams. Perhaps even their echoes wanted to celebrate the joy of their friend finally returning to them. The mystery of the former detective's whereabouts was resolved, and everyone who wanted to return to Living World was now home. Starting tomorrow, they could move on to the future Genkai wanted them to create. To the future that they each hoped for themselves.

When their water war ended with no clear winner, they each returned to the sand soaking wet. Miwa quickly dried everyone off, throwing the salty water back into the ocean, and the sensation made Kuwabara shiver. Yusuke tugged his jacket back on, but when his eyes landed on his bag, he remembered something.

"Hey, Miwa." He waved her over and stuck his hand in his bag. Luckily, after a quick flick of Miwa's hand, his bag and its contents survived the ocean wave. After rummaging around, he pulled out a long, white envelope and handed it to her. "Some reading for the trip back."

Miwa stared at it curiously before taking the envelope. "What is it?"

He grinned. That silly, cocky-as-hell grin.

"Something I think might really suit you! If you're interested."

Notes: With this, the Demon World Tournament has finally come to an end. This arc was so much fun to write! I got to really focus in on Miwa's relationships with other characters, and Miwa herself has gone through so much. But! Just because this chapter covered the final episode doesn't mean this story is over yet! Miwa's After is only just beginning, and I'm looking forward to diving into how her feelings will change.