Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Before I Die ❯ Chapter 22

Jin was so nervous the entire night he hardly slept well. When he was able to sleep, he was unable to wake up in time as the ice master. Touya was wondering why Jin was sleeping so late, prompting him to shake the redhead somewhere around mid afternoon. “Jin, you have to wake up. It is getting quite late.”

 

Moaning softly from not sleeping too well, Jin slowly opened his blue eyes to the room lit mostly by the sun. “I am sorry,” he apologized wearily while rubbing his eyes. “I just couldn't sleep too well last night, I suppose.” His eyes clean of any sleep, he moved to the side of Touya's bed to try and wake himself up.

 

“It isn't like you to sleep so late,” pointed out Touya as he rested his cheek upon Jin's shoulder. His arms wrapped around the redhead's chest, Touya held onto him there. “What has gotten you so exhausted these past few weeks?”

 

Jin knew that Neleen didn't want him to speak of such a thing to the ice master, causing him to bite his lower lip, as he hated lying to his closest friend. “Don't worry too much about it, Touya,” he said in attempts to sway Touya from thinking anymore on it. Jin placed his hand upon the icy chill of the ice master's, turning to him. “Just know that I love you, and I am trying my best to cure you of this.” When he saw Touya about to tell him it was impossible, he leaned in quickly for a kiss to stop the ice demon from doing so.

 

The kiss did indeed stop Touya from speaking much else on the situation as he managed a weak smile at the wind demon. “I just hope you don't taste the blood on my breath,” he whispered between them insecurely.

 

“I don't mind it,” said Jin in return before excusing himself from the bed for the time being. “You didn't catch a bath yet, have you?” He knew that whenever Touya needed one, he always had to be escorted to do so considering he was losing so much of his energy.

 

“No, the doctor came in to check on me, but that was about it. I told him I would be fine if you bathed me as you have been doing the past few months.” Touya paused in his words, hissing in pain as he grabbed onto his throat. “God, it hurts so bad even when I just swallow.”

 

Jin frowned in worry as he held onto the crippled ice master. “Come on,” said the wind demon. “I will get you cleaned up at least.” His gazed graced the outside world beyond the balcony doors. “How about we go outside and get cleaned up?” Touya gazing at him awkwardly, he elaborated. “What I mean is, we go deep into the forest where nobody will find us and get cleaned up in the river.”

 

Grabbing both of their towels, Touya wrapped them around himself as the cool morning air graced him. It was a bit painful for him to breathe in, but he managed as Jin guided him through the boundaries of the Alma Kinan. The sound of the water trickling down the calm stream leading to a body of lake water ahead brought a smile to Jin's face as he helped Touya down upon a nearby rock formation to help him get undressed.

 

“The weather isn't too intense for you, is it?” He asked aloud, removing the towels from his body as well as his shirt.

 

“It only hurts a bit when I breathe, but I will make it,” Touya insisted, as he was soon unclothed for stepping into the stream.

 

Having to see Touya's body unclothed for the first time in daylight made Jin whence inwardly. He hadn't realized how much weight his companion had lost upon seeing his chest bones and ribs. “You haven't been eating well, I can see.”

 

Touya looked over at Jin slightly out of the corner of his eyes before looking back down at the water, cooling his heated body. “I cannot swallow food too well. You know that.” Having the water wash over his demonic form, he tried to avoid the conversation. “My throat hurts too much for me to even think of swallowing anything, including air.”

 

Jin followed behind Touya into the lake water. Wrapping his arms around the ice master, he held him close to his body. Closing his eyes, he buried his nose into the bi-colored tresses of the ice demon. “I promised you I would watch out for you and take care of you. I will keep that promise,” he whispered within Touya's hair.

 

Not having the energy to say much else in the situation, Touya merely nodded while continuing to clean himself. His eyes drifted about the beauty of the forest, putting a bit of peace to his heart. He knew if anything, he was lucky to witness such a thing with his time growing so short.

 

 

 

When night covered the world once again, Jin knew this was the night that Neleen was going to perform the ritual she promised him. Stepping outside of the inn, he found a few of the villagers standing around with several lit torches. The fire's light dancing upon his skin, Jin made his way into the small crowd to search for Neleen only to find Galleria. “Hey, Galleria, where is Neleen?” Jin asked as he made it over to the shaman.

 

Galleria turned towards the dirt path leading to the shrine. “She is getting prepared for the ritual of sending the soul.”

 

Jin wiggled his ears slightly, not liking the sound of what she just said. “Excuse me? What exactly does this entail?”

 

“I suppose she never told you then, did she?” Galleria sighed to herself, shying away from the look on Jin's face. “When we break the seal on the door leading to the true rune once belonging to your friend, we have to offer a sacrifice to the Gods in order to do so.” She heard Jin gasp in shock during her explanation. “I am sure she didn't tell you this, because she felt bad for the situation and wanted to help.”

 

“But she didn't have to do this!” Jin insisted almost angrily. His yelling causing most of the villagers to go quiet and back away from the wind master. “She should have told me this was what was going to happen!”

 

Neleen could hear the outraged demon just around the turn of the dirt path she was walking upon. A tender smile gracing her, she made it to the confused demon to place her hand upon his back. “Jin, come with me this way, please.”

 

“Neleen, if we want this to work,” said a nearby villager, “we don't have time to waste.”

 

She nodded at the woman's concern. “Do not worry. This will only be a moment.” Neleen placed her hands on Jin's shoulders to turn him down the road, which would lead them to the shrine. The shrine coming into view, a ray of the full moonlight seemed to illuminate each of the carvings and designs on the stone structure within the tree trunk. “Jin, the reason I didn't tell you about the soul sending ritual is, because I knew, just like Touya, you would have picked the alternative regardless of your feelings for him.” She knew it was dawning upon Jin now why Touya probably chose what he did. “Touya didn't want there to be any sacrifice to save his life. While that's an unusually kind thing for a demon to do, I know as well as him that there is a chance the rune could heal him completely of this sickness.”

 

“But why do you have to take the fall for this?” Jin asked.

 

“Because of my gift to see the past and future,” Neleen answered, turning to the wind master. “I was meant for this ritual if it were to ever occur.” Once again, she attempted to comfort Jin by placing her hand upon his broad shoulder. “Do not look so upset. In the end, your friend will be saved, and I believe that is all that matters here. If I didn't want to help, I wouldn't be offering to do this.”

 

The sound of the villagers caught both of their attention. With the torches lighting up the darkened path, Galleria came towards the two. “Neleen, we better do this now while there is time to do so.”

 

Jin shook his head at Galleria. “No, I didn't mean for it to be like this!” He exclaimed, as he wanted to stop the ritual. “If I had know, I wouldn't have suggested you do this!”

 

Neleen closed her eyes and shook her head at Jin's outburst. “I thank you for your concern, demon, but it is my time to go. I foresaw this, and I was ready for it.” Her heart couldn't help but feel a bit of joy at the mere thought of witnessing what she had with the two demons. “The seal on the door will be released, and you can save the one you love. Do not fret about me, wind demon.” Stepping backwards slowly, she made her way towards the altar structure. The moonlight covering her entire body, her form appeared to be glowing as she closed her eyes and lifted her head up towards the sky to release her spirit into the heavens.

 

Watching with wide-eyes, Jin eventually turned away when Neleen's body and soul was nowhere to be found. “Pointless sacrifices,” he growled almost angrily. “It is always better to die in battle then to give up your spirit in such a manner.” He turned to Galleria with a shake of his wild, red hair. “And you call us demons barbaric.”

 

Some of the villagers were obviously appalled by his statement, but the shaman woman was quick to raise her hand to keep anyone from lashing out. “We don't expect you to understand our ways, Jin,” said Galleria almost sternly. “Neleen knew it was her time to go. Some of us never have that ability and are taken from this world by surprise. She was preparing herself for this moment, and now in the afterlife, she can watch over us all.” Jin obviously was still not being understanding, but regardless, Galleria walked over towards him with her torch still firmly in hand. “But why waste time when your friend is suffering as he is? She did this for you both. It is wise you get as much sleep as you can so that in the morning, you may take off on your journey and find what is rightfully yours.”

 

Jin was silent, listening to the shaman's words to him. “How can I face Touya after knowing his true reasons for wishing to just die? I went against his words.” It was all he could think about as he turned from the village, heading back to the inn for the remainder of the night with the task of talking to Touya about what he had just done. Walking back up the wooden stairs to the Alma Kinan inn, he opened the creaking door slowly to step back inside of the dark main area before making it through the hallway to his bedroom he shared with Touya. His hand touching the wooden doorknob, he turned it slowly to allow himself inside.

 

The room was quiet, as Touya was obviously asleep. Jin could hear the rasping breathing the ice master took whenever he slept lately. It was difficult for him to listen to, knowing that Touya had a hard time breathing and swallowing. Jin was mindful of the pillars lining the room to keep the ceiling in place as he advanced towards his companion's bedside, which was basking in the moonlight. Jin's features darkened from the limited light in the room, he smiled down at Touya though it was quickly replaced by a somber frown at what had recently occurred.

 

Making sure not to rouse Touya, he lied down next to him carefully. “Oh, Touya,” he whispered softly. “I am sorry; I am so, so sorry.” The ice master didn't move or wake from his deep sleep, making Jin relieved, as he didn't want to explain the situation to the one he loved. He moved his hand carefully to the warmed cheek of his companion to brush the pallid skin gently. “Early in the morning, I have to leave to find your rune. I will return. I promise.” Not bothering to move for the night, he closed his eyes and remained next to Touya. He knew catching at least a few hours would do him some good before making his way out to the cave system.

 

 

----

 

 

With the coming rise of the sun, Jin was out of bed in time. He grabbed some of his belongings he was going to take with him mostly being weapons and food to bare on his journey. Touya was still asleep when he woke, but he knew better then to wake him to speak of what happened last night. With a sorrowful sigh, he made sure to at least kiss Touya goodbye for the moment. “I will see you soon. Be well for me.” Taking his leave of the room, he made his way to the main area of the inn to see Piper there, lounging about, it appeared.

 

“Jin?” She asked curiously as she saw the items he had with him. “Where are you going?”

 

He continued on his way out the door as Piper quickly followed behind. “I am afraid I have to look for the last resort to curing Touya's illness and having him be well again.” Jin had a feeling she was just going to continue asking a series of questions he just didn't have time to answer. Turning around, he held onto her shoulders to keep Piper in place. “Please, I need to ask this one favor of you. I want you to stay here with Touya and make sure he is well and remains with us. I don't want him to slip into the abyss without me nearby.”

 

Piper could tell he was serious and wanted her to do this for him more then anything. Hesitantly at first, she nodded her head several times. “Y-Yes, I will do this for you.”

 

“Thank you,” he praised quietly between them. “You are a good friend.” Turning from her, he headed hastily for the front gates of the Alma Kinan where Galleria was waiting for him with a few of the villagers. He had a hard time wanting to face them, but he knew she was there to greet him for a reason. Stopping just outside of the clan gates, he nodded at the shaman woman.

 

“I have a feeling you still aren't very forgiving of what occurred last night,” Galleria said aloud as she came closer to the wind master, who had his head lowered.

 

“I should have listened to Touya to begin with,” Jin admitted as he shook his head. “Because of my mistake, I have to make up for it. I won't let Neleen's death be all for nothing.”

 

Galleria smiled softly at the wind master. “She foresaw her death approaching and was ready to accept it.” Digging into her pocket, she pulled out a map for the demon to use. “Take this with you. It will guide you to where the True Water Rune is being held. It may not mean much, but I hope you would accept our blessing on your journey.”

 

Jin was about to shrug off the idea of such a thing, but decided he needed all of the help he could get—regardless of it being superstitious to him or not. “I would like that.” He stood and watched as Galleria moved her arms about in a foreign fashion. It was almost as if she were doing a dance of some kind before bringing them back to her chest to bow to him. A smile expressed upon his face, he nodded to the shaman before turning and heading on his way.

 

Piper made her way into Touya's bedroom to find Dr. Sur'don already there. “Doctor, what are you doing here?” She made her way over to where he was resting upon Touya's bedside. The young woman was able to see he was very much into his work when it came to checking up and making sure the ice demon was alright. “Is he okay?”

 

Sur'don removed his fingers from the demon's neck with a quiet sigh. “His body cannot take much more of this,” he quietly spoke as he ran his fingers through his hair. “I fear any day now he may die.”

 

“Jin will eventually return with an answer!” Piper expressed enthusiastically. Her hands in fists, she shook them at the mere thought of how determined he was, knowing he wouldn't let Touya down. “He won't leave his friend to die. As we speak, he is on his way to find Touya's old, lost true rune, which may very well heal him.”

 

Hearing of such a mythical item, the doctor's eyes widened for a moment as he stared at Piper in awe. “You mean this creature had one of those?” Witnessing her nod, he gazed back at the slumbering Touya. “I've read of such things but never believed they existed! He must have been quite powerful to have the powers he did as well as that true rune!”

 

“Just don't speak of what Jin is doing to him,” said Piper as she clasped her breast. “We must keep his hopes alive while the wind demon is away.”

 

The sound of Touya in discomfort snapped Sur'don's attention to the patient. The doctor's hands upon Touya's head and side, he tried to relax the demon while he slept uneasily in his condition. “Just hang in there. Jin will be back,” he whispered to the sick demon. The ice master seemed to tense and then relax under the words coming to him.

 

 

 

 

The journey before Jin was a long one, and he was unable to find the cave system before nightfall. “Why would they bury it so deep within the woods?” He could only wonder as he came upon a spot to stop for the night. The sound of thunder catching his hearing, he perked his elfin ears at the sound, gazing up at the dark sky to find the lightening dashing about in the clouds in the distance. “I cannot afford this to happen now. I really should stop and rest, because I cannot find where I am going in the dark let alone if I am half asleep.” Sighing softly, he sat down upon a moss-covered rock to recollect his thoughts. “I cannot let Touya down. He has never let me down before.”

 

Jin thought back on some of the times he was sick and Touya was there to watch over him and care for him. Some of the kind and loving things he would let slip to make him feel better caused Jin to smile even then. The feel of rain however, tapping upon his nose, brought him back to the reality he was within. Sighing irritably at the conditions, he picked up his belongings and hurried to the nearest shelter.

 

His bare feet getting mudded by the coming downpour, he jumped into an opening of a cave he saw not too far away to take refuge there. Watching the rain cascade down just outside of the mouth of the cavern entrance, he rolled his eyes with a slight shrug, looking to his belongings for something to use for light. “There's got to be something around here.” Coming across a decent piece of wood he could hold on the cave floor, he searched around for some rocks to use as well for flint. Striking them together, he was able to light up the piece of wood he found. “There,” he mumbled, as he took his torch to hold it up to gaze down the cave.

 

The torch lighting most of the beginning of the cave, Jin widened his eyes at remembering what the entrance looked like to the cave system leading to the ruins he had to go within to find the true rune. Pillars made of stone and halfway embedded with the side of the caves made the pathway clear for him to follow. Several markings and text were written sloppily about the walls, but the language was not that he was familiar with. His fingers rolled over the markings as if to make them out only to find none of it made any sense to him. Picking up his belongings, he made his way slowly down the cave system, awing at the inside of it. “Whoever made this place sure did put a good bit of detail within it.”

 

Jin felt as though he had walked for hours when he finally came upon some light. The doors he was told about that would lead him to the ruins of the fallen city were soon within his sight. They glowed a rather soft, gentle hue of light blue. The torches on either side of the wall had blue flame flickering about whenever the air teased them. He advanced upon the door slowly, almost entranced by the appearance of it. The regal design caught his attention, as it was nothing like he had ever seen before. “This must be it. This must be the door Neleen was speaking of,” he said to himself as he placed his hand upon the double doors.

 

Whispers hissing across the empty cave spooked the wind master. He looked about to find himself to be the only one there at the moment. Believing it was all in his head, he frowned slightly with worry he was losing it before putting what strength he had into opening the two doors. The doors bathed in blue light slowly opened under the wind master's administrations to reveal a rather bright glow on the opposite side. Jin brought his arms up to block it before lowering them slowly as his sensitive, demonic sight got used to it.

 

A stone passageway set before him, Jin took it cautiously to find himself in the old ruins Neleen spoke of. “Ruins indeed,” he gasped, as he saw nothing but remains of the once wonderful city from the entrance. Finding a place to douse his torch he had created, Jin did so as he hurried outside of the stone overhang, which still stood proudly. “I'm almost there!” He said as encouragement to himself, taking flight to make haste through the remains of the capital.

 

Nothing appeared to be left, Jin noticed, as he continued on his journey. Only rock and rubble was left to give an idea as to what was once there. Jin could only wonder what could have caused such devastation before finding something, which caught his eyes immediately. “There it is!” He exclaimed aloud, diving down to an altar in the very center of the ruins. His feet hitting the cold, broken ground, he ran to the true rune in attempts to remove it from where it was being kept, forgetting the warning he was given. His hands landing upon the rune, a shock raked through his body, sending the wind master flying in the opposite direction where his back hit a corroded pillar harshly. Coughing heavily from the wind being knocked out of him, he looked up through his wet hair in wonder as to what just occurred. It was then what Neleen had told him dawned upon Jin.

 

“…I will be able to do it and release the seal upon the door, but it will be up to you to break the seal on the True Water Rune…”

 

“Up to me…” his voice trailed off. Jin closed his eyes and shook his head at the thought of trying to break a seal he knew nothing about. Getting back to his feet, he glared down the glowing rune, surrounded by a powerful spell as the rain continued to come down and dampened his form. “I don't care if I have to rip this blasted thing off its pedestal—it is coming with me!” Running towards the rune once more, he grabbed onto it tightly only to have the same reaction once more. This time, however, he refused to let go of it. “NO!” He growled through his teeth. “I won't leave this place without you!” The power being too much for him at one point, Jin howled in agony and fell to his knees, releasing the true rune.

 

His hands becoming fists, he pounded one onto the ground angrily. “No…no…NO!” His body shaking in anger and frustration, Jin was unable to think of a solution to the situation he was within. “Please don't do this,” Jin begged somberly as he lied there out on the ground. His eyes shimmering with tears, he thought only about Touya and the times they shared together. “Please…I just don't want him to die…” Closing his eyes tightly, he sucked in his lower lip. The images of Touya flashing again and again in his mind, his heart could only hurt so much worse at the thought of losing him.

 

Bringing himself back together, he gazed back up through the downpour at the true rune. He slowly pushed himself back up to his feet though staggered a bit from the pain still raking through his body. “He is everything I have. He is the only thing I have,” he confessed to those willing to hear. “Please don't let me have come this far to turn back now. I refuse to do so. All I want is for him to live…”

 

His words obviously touching someone or something, a bright light suddenly began to emit from the rune. It was so bright that it lit up the darkness surrounding the city, causing him to raise his arms yet again to keep the light at bay until his pupils could adjust. The orb of light seemed to encase the true rune. It removed the ancient artifact from the altar it was upon and hovered there soon before the wind master. “What…?” He wondered to himself as he opened his hands to allow it to rest there in his palms.

 

The whispers hissing through the rain once more, Jin looked ahead to see a white mist come together in the figure of Neleen. “Jin,” her voice whispered upon the wind. She smiled best she could in the form she was granted. “I knew you could do it. Nobody of evil or selfish intentions could break our magic barrier. Even if you were born of evil, I knew not an ounce of it was left within your body.”

 

“Neleen…” His face wet by the rain and covered mostly by his shaggy hair, he had not the ability to look into her eyes. “I am still sorry for what I have done to you.”

 

“I foresaw my time,” Neleen expressed once more. “I was told by the spirits that creatures born in evil would lead me to my time in an unexpected way. When I saw you near our boarders, I knew you were the one, but I wasn't ready to sacrifice myself for some demonic being.” She paused and recollected her selfish thoughts, not proud to admit them though they were true. “It wasn't until you told me your story about your ill stricken friend that I knew that there was more to the both of you then met the eye, but I didn't want to see that right away.”

 

“Neleen, I…”

 

Neleen shushed the wind master by placing her fingers upon his lips. “I have a new life waiting for me after I left my physical form. I have no regrets for what has happened.” Her gentle smile turned into a serious frown there within the darkness of the storm. “However, you must hurry, Jin. Your friend doesn't have much time left. Please, he needs you now. I will be, forever, within the woods surrounding Alma Kinan.” With that said, she disappeared within the darkness, leaving the wind master to complete his journey.

 

Jin tried to recollect himself after what he had just seen. Shaking his head to bring himself back to reality, he pocked the True Water Rune and took to the skies once more no matter how dangerous the conditions were.

 

 

 

Regardless of how long it took him to run through the wild storm, Jin soon found himself back at the gates of Alma Kinan. The lightening and thunder still raging about with the wind blowing harshly in every which direction, his bare feet splashed through the dirt and mud to make it to the inn quickly. Throwing open the door, he made it into the hallway and tore down to his bedroom where he and Touya slept together.

 

“I have it!” He yelled excitedly though, obviously, out of breath and soaking wet. “I have it!”

 

Sur'don didn't seem to turn around right away as Piper did. “Oh, Jin…” Her tone suggested sadness when she spoke. It brought a sort of dread to the wind master as he realized a lot more people were in the room that needed to be as his smile of triumph faded.

 

The villagers parted from one another to allow him through as he made it to Touya's bedside, seeing nothing but the ice master sleeping on his back with one hand over his chest while the other rested at his side, Touya's fingers slightly curled to almost create a fist. Kneeling at the bedside, he gazed at the doctor with a curious expression. “What…what is it? What is wrong?”

 

Swallowing hard, Dr. Sur'don looked at Jin with a shake of his head. “He passed away three hours ago, Jin. I am sorry that there was nothing I could do.”

 

“No…please, no, don't say that!” Jin begged as the tears he almost always refused to show began to flow down his cheeks. “Please…please…!” He looked to the others, hoping this was some cruel joke only to find all of the villagers looking away from him, too ashamed to gaze him directly in the eyes. His tear filled eyes looking to the `slumbering' Touya, he cupped the back of his head and helped the ice demon at least sit-up in his arms as he brought him to his chest. Jin could tell by how lifeless the body felt that Touya had indeed passed on without him. “TOUYA!”

 

Having to hear such a commotion from what he thought was a grown man tugged at Sur'don's heart as he removed himself from the chair he was sitting within. “We should leave him alone for awhile,” he suggested to those who wished they could help.

 

“Why…? Why did you leave me…?” He asked sorrowfully over and over again as he buried his face into Touya's messy and thin hair. As he cradled the ice demon in his embrace, he heard something tap upon the wooden floor. The sound catching his attention, he placed Touya back down upon the covers before reaching under the bed where the object fell to pull it into clear view. It was a round, perfect jewel, the size of small pearl. It baffled Jin as to why Touya would have such an object in his hands until it dawned upon him.

 

“Your tear frozen” Jin recalled saying in the past to Touya.

 

“It's a reason why ice demons never shed normal tears. Usually they turn into jewels, but it's more frequent for the women of this village more so than the males,” Touya explained with a shrug. “However, for males, we only cry jewels when we choose to—normally in a fit of joy more so than sadness. It is usually given to the one we love.”

 

“I hope to one day receive mine.”

 

“I am sure one day it will come,” Touya's voice echoed through Jin's mind.

 

Realizing the tear had been given to him as a symbol of Touya's love, it made the departure all the more painful for Jin as he held the item close to his chest. “What have I done to deserve this…?” Not having the energy or desire to even move, Jin rested his body next to Touya's with a sorrowful expression at reminding himself his companion wasn't sleeping, but forever departed from the physical realm.

 

Above the physical realm, however, Koenma was watching the scene below carefully, as he had his eyes upon the ice master for some time, knowing he was to pass soon. The spirit of the creature resting in suspended animation in the heavens before him about the many roads within the Spirit Realm, he thought long and hard on the situation at hand. His cheery Grim Reaper next to him, Koenma felt her pleading gaze upon him. “I would say in his past and present life, he did commit quite a few crimes, which would lead me to punish him again.”

 

Botan gasped at hearing Koenma say such a thing, hoping he wouldn't consider such an act.

 

“However,” the fair ruler began, “it is under my belief that the last few years have shown me something quite interesting about these two. They are not the demons they have been born to be. They have made up for their sins.” Here, Koenma nodded at Botan. “I do believe he has earned his life renewed.” With a simple wave of his hand, the spirit of the ice master glowed a bright light before it was sent back to the physical body it had come from.

 

With all the commotion Jin put himself through, the wind master had fallen asleep right next to the body of Touya. He was not awake to witness as Touya scrunched up his face and flexed his body slightly as he stirred awake. Opening his eyes slowly, he let them focus to the world he believed he left behind. “What…where am I…” He wondered to himself as his eyes shifted about. “I am…alive?” Moving his hand to his throat, he found that it no longer hurt whenever he breathed or swallowed. Touya also noted that the taste of blood was not hinted anywhere. His narrow, icy-orbs gazed down upon the slumbering wind master beside him. He smiled a relieved and excited smile as he saw his companion there beside him. “Jin…!” He whispered excitedly as he shook the redhead roughly. “Jin! I am awake! I am alive!”

 

Jin was still extremely exhausted when he finally was able to find his body again from the deep sleep he was within. Opening his eyes slowly, he was unable to believe at what he was witnessing before his very eyes. Adrenalin rushing through his body, he woke up a lot quicker then usual. His blue eyes wide and his mouth open, he was speechless at seeing Touya alive and obviously well. “It cannot be…! I thought you were dead!”

 

“Shut up and just hug me, you fool,” Touya insisted happily as he hugged Jin tightly, burying his face into his neck. Pulling back from the hug, Touya witnessed as Jin was crying tears of joy at having his loved one returned. Reaching his thumbs up to his eyes, he cleared them away for the wind master. “I am back where I belong, and I couldn't be happier.” Inching forwards, Touya leaned in for a kiss.

 

Feeling his icy lips upon his own put a lot of ease on his once broken heart. “I thought I lost you forever,” he whispered, resting his forehead upon Touya's. “Thank whatever creature is watching over us…”

 

“So you believe in such things?” Touya questioned with a raise of his brow inquisitively.

 

“When such miracles happen before my eyes…yes, I do,” Jin answered sincerely as he kept a tight embrace upon the ice master.

 

 

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Jin threw the last of their belongings upon Wind Song's sturdy back, tying it down so that it wouldn't get jostled from the playful griffon. The mythical creature craning his head around to nuzzle the wind demon, Jin was there to stroke the half bird's beak. “I know you don't want to leave, and neither does Touya, but we shouldn't stay here and burden the others.”

 

It would be three months before the demons decided it was time to pack up and leave the Grassland tribe. Touya had gathered the last of his things as well when he ran into the doctor and Piper at the lobby of the inn on his way outside. “Oh, I see you both haven't left yet either,” said Touya with a chuckle as he dropped his bags upon the floor.

 

“We wanted to be able to see you both off and make sure you didn't want to stay with the Grassland tribes. You know they would welcome you,” Sur'don insisted, trying to persuade the demons to stay, as he had grown attached to them as well.

 

“I know very well they would but, we cannot afford to trouble the Alma Kinan any longer,” said Touya as he sat down upon an empty seat nearby the doctor. “Besides, Jin tells me he wants to explore the world of what is beyond the Grassland and Zexen territories. With all that has happened, we realize even for demons, life is too short to stay cooped up in an inn day in and day out.” He got to his feet, causing the boards to creak beneath him as he did so. Grabbing up his luggage, he threw it over his shoulder like it was nothing. “We thank you all for your hospitality and taking us in when nobody else would. You have no idea how much it meant to us.”

 

Piper was silent during the conversation. She did appear to have something on her mind, but she dared not say it until the demon waved goodbye to them both and made his way outside of the inn and down the stairs to meet up with Jin. Rushing to the inn door, she threw it open and called out the demon's name to stop him. “Touya, wait a moment!” She urged as she hurried down the stairs. When the ice master stopped to listen to what she had to say, the Grassland woman made sure to come in close to him. “I am sorry if you take this wrong but, you have no idea how lucky you are to have who you do.”

 

Touya's expression was filled with shock and a bit of seriousness until gazing over at the wind master Piper was looking at. He thought about everything Jin did for him the past few months, a smile pressed upon his face as well as a light chuckle emitting from his throat. “Piper,” he began between the two of them, “I understand your feelings for him. When I met Jin, he was hard to resist in such a way. He just has that aura about him, you know?” Here, he placed his hand upon her shoulder. “But I promise, I don't ever take the love he gives me for granted.”

 

Holding her hands to her chest, she nodded at Touya. “I am envious. I couldn't help but be so for a good while.” She sighed, lowering her head upon feeling guilty. “I guess that is my sin to share.”

 

“Your sin will disappear as soon as you find the one for you.” Touya was offering her what hope he could. “I pray you do find the one your heart yearns for, but in the mean time, I better get on my way.” He waved goodbye to Piper as well as the doctor, who was reappearing from the inn door.

 

Jin got upon the back of Wind Song, helping Touya along as well. Upon doing so, Galleria soon made her appearance before the two, wishing to see them off as well. “Thank you so much for allowing us to stay and giving us the hope you could. It means a lot.”

 

Galleria smiled a tender smile as she reached her hands up as if to embrace Jin but placed them there upon his cheeks. “May those damned in hell turn around to be as wonderful as you two are. It is amazing what the power of love can do to some people. It sure can vanquish all evils.” It was as if that realization brought tears to the young shaman's eyes, but she withheld them for their departure. Moving her hands from Jin's cheeks, she brought them together as if to pray. “I have no doubt the winds will be with you when you travel on your journey far from here. But please remember, you're always welcome back at the Alma Kinan.”

 

Wind Song's wings beginning to flap excitedly, the griffon lifted several inches off of the ground. Jin and Touya waved goodbye to the villagers and fellow Grasslanders before the creature took off into the skies to disappear above the canopy. With the sight of the world before them, Jin held onto the reins of Wind Song, grinning over his shoulder at Touya. “So where to first, my love?”

 

Touya held onto Jin tightly, not wishing to fall from Wind Song's back. Thinking about the world set out before them, he merely answered, “I don't care. As long as I am with you, I don't care where the wind takes us.”

 

The griffon flying high with a loud kree, the two ventured to the north hoping for a better life, which was granted to them anew.

END

 

END NOTES: Yeah, sorry for this chapter being so damn long, but my last ones or major ones tend to always be. oO; So it is officially 8:19 AM in the morning upon me finishing this, I had NO sleep yet, and it is my 25th birthday! Hooray! =P

 

The reason I was primarily focusing on this piece was because it was so closed to being finished, and I wanted to get it completed to knock a story off of my list I have. And even though there are now two out in circulation, I have a lot more in private, so having this one done is a nice breather for me. Phew!

 

Suikoden III was an excellent game full of wonderful places, but the Alma Kinan Tribe had to be my absolute favorite place. I play their theme music “Mysterious People” whenever I need to relax. It just takes me to a whole new level of serenity. The game with its three major plotlines and many characters to choose from grew on me like a major addiction when I first played it. I just couldn't put it down! So, I decided to throw my fandom into it, thus this story was born.

 

I was going to actually kill off Touya in this story, but I always seem to not be able to do that. I either don't have the heart to do it, or I get enough people glaring at me if I ever mention doing so. Hehe =P Also, the illness Touya was stricken with was lung cancer.

 

Yes, I apologize for the complete and totally OOC attitudes. Sadly, there is only so much you can gather from Jin and Touya as people in the YYH universe as they don't appear as frequently as one wants them to. =( So, I hope they weren't too dissatisfying in that department.

 

Also, Sana is not copywrite to me—I meant to add that in the beginning, but I am too lazy to do so. She was the chief of the Chisha Clan in the game, thus not belonging to me. =P

 

Thanks to all of those who review for your support. Love ya! =)