Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Ghost Fighters ❯ Epilogue ( Epilogue )

Epilogue

 

“Come visit us sometime, ok?”

 

Koenma nodded as he shook hands with Winston. The Reikai tantei were all in the waiting room at Kennedy Airport, saying their good-byes to the Ghostbusters while waiting for their flight back to Japan.

 

“We're really gonna miss you guys,” Ray said, clapping a hand on Kuwabara's shoulder. “We make a pretty good team.”

 

“Yeah, it was a blast,” Kuwabara grinned.

 

“Hey, where's the short dude?” Peter asked. “I mean, Hei or Hiya or whatever his name is.”

 

After the warehouse incident, Hiei had followed them back to the firehouse and only then was the Ghostbusters introduced to the `extra' person.

 

“It's Hiei,” Kurama answered. “He left before us. He's not exactly the social type and doesn't like crowds.”

 

“Hn. I kinda guessed that,” Peter snorted.

 

Kurama smiled at him but Peter could see that for a split-second, Kurama had glanced worriedly at Koenma.

 

Koenma was standing by the glass windows, watching the airplanes take-off. He sighed softly, looking up at the sky. He was startled out from his reverie by a light hand on his shoulder. Turning his head slightly, he saw Peter behind him and the rest of the group a slight distance away.

 

“Urm, listen,” Peter scratched his head self-consciously. “Er, I'm sorry for all the remarks I made to you guys before, especially you about your paci… urm, you know, that thing. I hope you won't hold it against me, I mean, with you being a God and all. And err…” Peter stopped talking and took a deep breath. “I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm sorry… about everything, my insults, your loss, everything. And I think that you're an OK guy, I mean, God, after all.”

 

Koenma smiled slightly. “Thanks, Peter. And thanks for your help. If there is anyway Reikai can repay you for your assistance, don't hesitate to ask.” Koenma pulled his hands from his pocket and dropped a small keychain of a blue pacifier into Peter's hand. “Just suck it if you need us,” Koenma grinned mischievously.

 

Peter raised his eyebrow in disbelief at the object but stuffed it in his pocket anyway. They shook hands just as the boarding announcement came on the speakers. Saying their last goodbyes and a few parting taunts, the Reikai tantei left their newfound friends for home.

 

 

At the Reikai Palace…

 

Enma Daioh glared down at the still figure standing in front of his desk. The second Koenma stepped into the Palace, Enma-sama had screamed for him to come into his office.

 

Koenma, still in human form, stared down at the floor, partly because he didn't want to look at his father and partly because his mind was still preoccupied with Shiryou's death.

 

“Koenma,” Enma Daioh began. “Do you have any idea of the consequences of your reckless action?” Koenma wisely kept quiet as Enma-sama continued. “Because of you, Reikai had to put off many necessary works and oni to search for you in the Ningenkai, which has created a tremendous back load of paperwork. Because of you, we will all have to work doubly hard to catch up. Because of you, we now have more humans who know of our existence. And because of you, I have been worried SICK.”

 

Koenma looked up in surprise at the last sentence. His father had never shown much care for him before. It was always “Koenma do this” or “Koenma do that.” Other than those orders, they have never had any other conversation or any show of feelings towards each other.

 

“Look, son,” Enma-sama sighed. “I know how much Shiryou meant to you, but there are times when you got to stop and think, instead of rushing off in an emotional state. You could have been killed. The Reikai tantei could have been killed too.” Enma-sama paused, letting his words sink in. “But…I got to admit, you were brave to face Shiryou, and I think you have the makings of a fine God.”

 

Koenma stared at his father speechlessly. During his journey home, Koenma had thought up of numerous scenes with his father but never did he expect Enma-sama to act this way towards his disregard of Reikai law. Enma Daioh was smiling down at him and Koenma slowly returned the smile.

 

However, as sudden as his change of temperament, Enma-sama's smile turned into a frown and he yelled, “But I cannot overlook the fact that you have broken Reikai's law. You are grounded until further notice and you will stay in the Palace, catching up with all the work that you have so selfishly left behind for poor George and Botan. And you can start with this pile.” Enma-sama banged furiously on his desk and George hurried into the room with a seven-foot high stack of papers.

 

As George piled the papers onto the desk, Enma Daioh picked Koenma up and firmly placed him onto the chair, pushing a stamp into his hand. With a sigh, Koenma picked up the first piece of paper and settled himself for an incredibly long working session.

 

Enma Daioh nodded to himself, satisfied with the scene and made his way to the door. But just before the door closed, he looked back at his son and observed that he still has not reverted to his God form, a sure sign of something wrong. Koenma had always felt much more comfortable in the baby figure that he was commonly known for, especially when he was doing work. Enma stared at his son a moment longer and closed the door with a sigh.

 

 

Two days later…

 

Koenma was still hard at work. The Reikai tantei was prohibited from visiting him but they sent word and inquiries through Botan. Botan was getting worried about Koenma and confided to the Reikai tantei that he was still in human form. Koenma had never held the form that long in Reikai before. He was also barely eating and was focusing all his energy into his work as though trying to drown in it. The Reikai tantei could do nothing but offer words of comfort, while Botan and George offered their presence.

 

A knock came on the door and Botan poked her head in the office. Koenma was still reading and stamping away as he had done for the past few days. It wasn't until Botan was directly in front of the desk did Koenma acknowledge her.

 

“Yes, Botan, what is it?”

 

“Urm, we have a problem with one of the soul processing.”

 

“What's the problem?” Koenma asked, not looking up or pausing in his work.

 

“Urm, well, we don't know whether the soul should go to hell or heaven.”

 

“Ask Enma-sama. He always handles those cases.” Koenma reached for a new stack and placed it in front of him, concluding the conversation.

 

“Urm,” Botan nudged the pile a few inches to the side, peeking at the minor God. “But Enma-sama told me to bring the soul to you. He said it's time that you learn how to handle such cases.”

 

He stamped the paper he was reading and put it in the Out pile. Laying the stamp aside, he rubbed the bridge of his nose and let out a tired sigh. “Ok, bring the soul in and give me his file.”

 

Botan left the file she was holding on the desk and went to get the soul. Koenma closed his eyes, still pinching his nose bridge and remained in the position even when he heard the door opened again. It wasn't until he heard the door closed did he open his eyes and reached blindly for the folder, never looking up at the newcomer.

 

“Ok, tell me your name and what you were doing for most of your life,” Koenma ordered as he flipped the file open, not even bothering to read the information on the page.

 

“Well,” a soft tenor replied. “I spent most of my life training to be a Reikai leader with a certain demi-God until one day, I was possessed by a witch's curse and killed hundreds of humans. Then I was banished to a desert planet for five hundred years before managing to escape into the human world, and wrecked havoc again. However, during that time, I saved my best friend and destroyed the demon who wanted to kill him. Unfortunately, I died in the attempt.”

 

From the first word, Koenma froze in his seat, his ears hearing but not listening to the sentences. He frantically scanned the page of the file and noticed for the first time what it contained.

 

“Oh, sorry, I forgot my name,” the voice continued. “I am known as Shiryou.”

 

Koenma looked up slowly at the owner of the voice. Shiryou stood there with his light blue eyes twinkling in mischievous happiness with the familiar long plaited blonde hair draped over one shoulder. He was wearing a light blue tunic with gold trimmings and a gold phoenix design with matching pants. Shiryou stared back at him and grinned.

 

“Hello, Koenma.”

 

Koenma got up from his chair and made his way cautiously to the figure, wondering if it was a mirage or a figment of his imagination. Stopping a foot away, Koenma lifted a hand and gently touched Shiryou's face. It was warm.

 

“You're real,” Koenma whispered.

 

Shiryou nodded, still smiling.

 

Koenma gave one last gaze and flung himself into Shiryou's arms. “Shiryou, you're back. You're you. You're.. you're…” He stopped trying to speak and broke out in a mixture of sobbing and laughing.

 

Shiryou hugged him back and a few tears dropped unheeded from his eyes. After a while, Koenma pulled away slightly and fired out rapid questions.

 

“I thought you were dead. Why are you here? Botan said you're a soul, but you're alive. What happened? Where's the other Shiryou? Is he dead? Are you real?”

 

Shiryou was flabbergasted with all the questions. “Wait, wait, one at a time. Ok, let's see. I'm here because Enma-sama found me among the waiting souls and took me out of the line. Then he processed me and, you can say, brought me back to life. He thought it would be nice to surprise you. The other me is gone. He's not dead really, just gone. You see, he was only a small part of me, which was fed upon until he completely took over, so when he `died', that part of me just sort of vanished. And yes, I am real.” Shiryou smiled and hugged Koenma again. “And I am glad to be back.”

 

 

The door to the office was slightly ajar and Botan, George and Enma-sama were peeking at the friends.

 

“Enma-sama,” Botan sniffled softly. “That was so nice of you.”

 

George nodded, too choked up to speak.

 

Enma Daioh blinked rapidly to stop the tears. It wouldn't do for a God to cry. “Nonsense,” he said gruffly. “It wasn't about being nice. I just didn't want to waste all that talent, that's all. And Shiryou has tremendous talent. They both do.”

 

They stayed there for a while longer until Enma-Daioh softly but firmly nudged the two away. “Come on. No time for being sentimental. We got work to do, especially with that lazy son of mine and his friend, hugging and crying like children. George, go get the next stacks of papers. Botan, go and process all the files that have been stamped. Now.”

 

The two hurried off to do their chores but Enma Daioh stayed back to take a last glance at the reunited friends and smiled to himself before he quietly shut the door.

 

 

“Oh, I miss you so much,” Koenma sobbed out.

 

“I miss you too, Koenma. More than you know,” Shiryou replied softly, stroking Koenma's hair.

 

Koenma hugged Shiryou harder, wanting to never let go incase it was all a dream, incase he lose Shiryou all over again.

 

As though he read his mind, Shiryou whispered, “Don't worry. I'm not going anywhere this time. I'll be right here with you. Always.”

 

 

Owari