Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Stairway to Heaven ❯ Stairway to Heaven ( Chapter 1 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho. I never will. So please don't sue. I also do not own 'Stairway to Heaven,' by Led Zeppelin. I was not born in the 70s and cannot play the guitar... yet.

Summary: The Reikai Tentai realize just how much they had missed after being separated for six years when a teammate becomes gravely ill.

Stairway to Heaven

Yusuke hurried down the hall of the hospital, his brown eyes darkening as he reached the room his friend was in. Kurama had contacted him about an hour ago and he had just been able to get off of work. He came to the door of Room 431 and knocked softly. Kurama opened to the door for him and he stepped inside. The whole team was assembled for the first time in nearly six years.

Kuwabara lay still, hooked up to a heart monitor and an oxygen tank. Yukina sat in a chair next to the bed, clutching his hand and crying for all that it was worth, small tear gems falling to the floor. Hiei's hand was placed gently on her shoulder, his ruby eyes closed. Yes, in the beginning, he had disliked the orange-haired punk, but now, now he felt a new range of emotions flood through him. Kuwabara had taken good care of Yukina. He could not say anything against that.

Kurama leaned against the wall, his eyes on his fellow teammate. He had said very little about the whole ordeal. Yusuke only glanced at him and everyone else before going up to where Kuwabara was lying. He grasped his friend's shoulder and squeezed slightly. The former punk now turned husband and father could not give up yet.

"How did this happen?" It was the only thing Yusuke could come up with.

There's a lady who's sure
All that glitters is gold
And she's buying a stairway to heaven

An awkward silence filled the room. The constant beeping of the heart monitor was the only sound shattering the stillness around everyone. Each team member was absorbed in his own thoughts, trying to figure out how this had happened. They had missed so much in six years. None of them saw this coming. In fact, the last time Kuwabara and Yusuke had seen Hiei and Kurama was when Hiei finally told Yukina that he was her long lost brother.

-flashback-

"Yukina, I have something to tell you." Hiei looked at his sister. Their mother's tear gem was on a chain around her neck. He stared at the ground and took a deep breath before looking at her again.

"What do you have to tell me, Hiei?"

"I'm your brother." Yukina hugged him tightly, tears falling free from her eyes and crystallizing before they hit the ground.

"Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

"I was afraid of what you would think."

When she gets there she knows
If the stores are all closed
With a word she can get what she came for
Ooh, ooh, and she's buying a stairway to heaven

Kuwabara's jaw dropped. Hiei was Yukina's brother. He did not think it was possible. He had never thought that it was possible. 'Well, that would explain all of the threats Hiei made at Kurama when he joked around,' the orange-haired punk thought. 'Still, is what he was saying true?'

There's a sign on the wall
But she wants to be sure
'Cause you know sometimes words have two meanings

-end flashback-

Hiei glanced out of the window. He was the only one who had said nothing since he arrived. The sight of his sister pouring her heart out in tears made him cry inside. He did not want to say anything. He felt Kurama's eyes on him. They all had something to learn about each other.

Kurama was married and living somewhere in the United States. He was a doctor and his wife was a writer. Hiei had only seen her once and that was when she was in the hospital. It was the only time he had seen the kitsune cry.

Yusuke was married as well. To Keiko, of course. They had two children, twins, a girl and a boy. The boy looked like his mother, brown hair and light brown eyes. The girl looked like her father, dark hair and dark brown eyes. Both acted like him. Hiei smirked inwardly. Those two were sure to be a handful. That was the only reason why Keiko was not here.

Yukina. Yukina had finally married Kuwabara. Hiei had seen the wedding from a distance. That was before he told her that he was her brother. He had stayed in a tree, overlooking them. Yukina had never bee happier. His sister and Kuwabara had a little boy. A girl was on the way.

He saw two birds sitting on the sill, singing softly as they began to gaze at the sinking sun. It was getting late.

In a tree by the brook
There's a songbird who sings
Sometimes all of our thoughts are misgiving

Kurama lowered his eyes. He could feel Hiei's pain and sorrow. He glanced at Kuwabara. The man had not stirred. He felt a wave of guilt being propped up onto his shoulders. 'I should have been here,' he thought. 'This may not have happened.'

'Do not blame yourself, Fox.' Kurama's eyes widened slightly. Hiei was actually speaking to someone, even if it was through telepathy.

'I would have been able to see this coming, Hiei.' The fire apparition's eyes turned to him. He raised an eyebrow.

'You had not even seen the fact that your wife had become ill.' Kurama's eyes darkened but he said nothing in reply. 'Sorry.'

'She's on her way, Hiei. I don't know what to tell her.'

Ooh, it makes me wonder
Ooh, it makes me wonder

'Tell her what?'

'Why I left so suddenly.'

Another knock came on the door before the doctor walked in. Yukina looked up at him. He could not see the gems on the floor at her feet.

"I'm afraid I have some bad news."

There's a feeling I get
When I look to the west
And my spirit is crying for leaving
In my thoughts I have seen
Rings of smoke through the trees
And the voices of those who stand looking

Yukina's eyes widened in fear. She did not want things to get worse. The doctor gave her a look of sympathy. 'No,' she thought. 'No it can't get any worse.'

"I don't think his heart will be able to take the stress anymore. He is barely hanging on as it is." Yukina could not take it anymore. She hurried from the room, Hiei following her. She was too upset to listen to whatever else he was going to say. She did not want Kuwabara to die. He, their children, their friends, and Hiei were everything to her. Kurama looked at the doctor. He had to know what was going to happen.

"What's wrong?" He asked softly.

"He is highly likely to die tonight."

Ooh, it makes me wonder
Ooh, it really makes me wonder

Both Kurama and Yusuke felt lumps form in their throats.

"I am truly sorry." With that, the doctor walked solemnly from the room, leaving an air of anxiety and melancholy.

"How are we going to tell Yukina?" Yusuke asked quietly, his voice barely audible as he stared down at his friend.

"He is not going to die, Yusuke."

And it's whispered that soon, if we all call the tune
Then the piper will lead us to reason
And a new day will dawn
For those who stand long
And the forests will echo in laughter

'What did he tell you, Kurama?'

'That it is likely Kuwabara will die tonight.'

'. . .'

'I'm not going to let that happen.'

'Don't do anything stupid, Fox. I'm not going to explain it to your wife what happened to you.'

'Andrea will understand.'

'What are you going to do?'

'How is Yukina?'

'Don't avoid the question.'

Kurama shut off the link. This was something he had to do. He took out a plant that he had been taking well care of. Yusuke looked at him worriedly but remain silent as Kurama gingerly crushed the plants between his fingers.

If there's a bustle in your hedgerow
Don't be alarmed now
It's just a spring clean for the may queen

Kurama placed the crushed leaves of the plant in an extra I.V. that he had gotten from somewhere Yusuke did not know and took the old one off. He replaced it with the new one and sighed as he took a seat in an extra chair. He was exhausted now; some of his life energy and most of his spirit energy had been carefully transferred into the plant.

Yes, there are two paths you can go by
But in the long run
There's still time to change the road you're on

'Fox, Fox, wake up.'

Kurama did not stir. His eyes were shut tightly and he felt someone shaking him gently. He did not know that he would be so drained after he had helped Kuwabara.

'Damn it, Fox, get up!'

The command jolted Kurama awake and he found himself staring into a pair of dark brown eyes. Yusuke shook him again for good measure and stepped back. Hiei was standing by the window, the usual scowl forming on his face.

'He should wake up soon, Hiei.'

'Stupid Fox.'

'I was careful.'

Hiei nodded his head.

And it makes me wonder

Kuwabara was moving underneath the blankets. Yukina stood up, holding his hand in hers. Onyx eyes slowly fluttered open. Kuwabara smiled weakly at Yukina. He did not feel anymore pain. He saw all of his friends staring at him.

"Yusuke, you punk." Yusuke squeezed his shoulder.

"Don't to that again, Kuwabara. You scared us to death." Kuwabara laughed slightly. Kurama patted his shoulder once Yusuke moved his arm.

"Don't worry, I'll keep your secret." Kurama nodded and heard the door open cautiously. Keiko stepped inside, followed by two five-year-olds, Kage and Kari. There was a child in her arms and she handed him to Yukina. Another woman followed her inside. Kurama gasped silently and went to her, hugging her as she walked in.

"Who's she, Kurama?" The kitsune only smiled. Yes, they had a lot of catching up to do.

Your head is humming and it won't go
In case you don't know
The piper's calling you to join him
Dear lady, can you hear the wind blow
And did you know
Your stairway lies on the whispering wind

"It would appear that we have a lot to explain about what happened in the passed six years." There were nods of agreement. Kurama moved back to his chair and motioned for his wife to have a seat on his knee. He put an arm around her slim waist.

"Kurama, you dog, you got married. It's about time." Yusuke smiled and picked up his daughter who had been incessantly tugging the leg of his pants.

"Yes, I did get married. This is Andrea, or A. J. as she is so fond of being called." The woman smiled, her blue-green eyes sparkling. "What about you, Yusuke?"

"I think everyone here can take a wild guess." He motioned to Keiko and the two children. "These are Kage and Kari." At the sound of her name, Kari made a gun out of her fingers and said 'bang,' mimicking her father's spirit gun. Yusuke smiled proudly. Keiko frowned. That was not something she wanted her children to learn but it had been no use. They learned anyway.

"Hiei?" The fire apparition only glared. He had nothing to say.

"You're not married yet? What's taking you so long?" Hiei turned to face Yusuke, who was laughing. Kuwabara chuckled, stroking his son's hair.

"Nothing."

"Afraid?"

"No. I haven't found anyone." There were smiles. Everyone knew Hiei was lying.

And as we wind on down the road
Our shadow's taller that our soul
There walks a lady we all know
Who shines white light and wants to show
How ev'rything still turns to gold

"I'm glad you guys came." Kuwabara was sitting at the table in his kitchen. He had been home for nearly three weeks now and was doing a lot better. Kurama had said that he planned to move back to Japan. Of course, they were thrilled. Koenma spoke with them once, saying that they would still be given missions every now and then. Botan was her normally bubbly self.

Things had returned to normal.

And if you listen very hard
The tune will come to you at last
When all are one and one is all
To be a rock and not roll

They all stood in Kuwabara's living room, a camera resting on a stand. The timer was ticking.

Click.

The picture of everyone was finally framed in the hall.

And she's buying a stairway to heaven

The End.