White Blindness
by Mina Lightstar

The blood that was oozing from Itsuwari's body was fascinating, and Kurama watched it form a dark puddle under the demon's body. Sometimes he wouldn't realize - or would forget - how much blood was flowing through someone's veins. When it was spilled... morbidly fascinating, even after all this time.

And now, Itsuwari's blood coated the floors of the tower, washing his death onto the rock. Kurama took a cautious step forward, expecting the demon to leap up and strike him at any moment. He reached out, making to take hold of his spear and pull the weapon from the apparently dead demon's body. His fingers hovered inches away from the fine lance, trembling slightly, before withdrawing, leaving the spear impaled deep into the demon's back.

Kurama backed up, away from the body. He didn't want his weapon back; he could easily make another. That one was fine where it was: thrust into the black heart of the demon who had attacked several dozen humans, stripped them of their sight and - in many cases - their eyes. Itsuwari's death was a small vengeance, he supposed, but vengeance nonetheless. The demon's death wouldn't restore the people's sight, and it wouldn't heal their eyes... They wouldn't even know that the creature who had taken their sight had been disposed of. But at least Kurama and the others would know that Tasuno Itsuwari would never harm another living creature again.

Kurama took a deep breath, and then turned his head to eye Fukuro. The Jaganshi met his gaze with an inquiring one of her own, and raised an eyebrow.

"He is dead," she pronounced. "Will you not take your weapon back?"

Kurama shook his head. "It has touched both a black heart and madness... and has stilled both. I don't... need it back." He frowned at the body again, staring at the way the long, thin spear seemed to loom over the powerful body that was - or had been - Itsuwari's. Powerful, resourceful demon as he was... Itsuwari had not been immune to simple steel through his heart.

"Fukuro..."

"Yes?"

"...Burn it."

"The spear?"

"That, too." He glanced back at the fire demon. The calm, somber look on her face, and her soft tone of voice were nothing like the usual hard demeanor she more often put into practice.

"You wish me to incinerate his body?"

Kurama nodded, once again turning his attention to the still form. "I've had my... vengeance... but you haven't had yours." That was for Mother, and Yukina, and Keiko, and Seung, and everyone else who will never be the same because of you.

Fukuro's reply was laced with wry humor. "Ah, but I've cut him down many, many times, youko. And each illusion that fell, I pretended it was him in one way or another. But if you would like me to--"

"And I want to make sure that he doesn't get up right after we leave," Kurama added, only a fraction of humor in his voice. He didn't... doubt the demon's demise, exactly; it had just seemed a little odd for the entire thing to be over.

"I would like him to burn in the fires of the Inferno," the Jaganshi told him. "But since those are not available to us, I will have to suffice. Until he gets to Hell, and burns there."

Kurama felt her youki begin to stir, and Itsuwari's body was suddenly ignited before his eyes. The fire was blue, white-hot, and Kurama had to take another step back so he wouldn't have to squint. The body burned, and Kurama waited as it did. He wanted to be sure that Itsuwari would not just sit up after they had left the hallway.

When the body had sizzled to nothing, Fukuro released her youki, letting the fire take its own course. It died down almost immediately, and Kurama was glad to see that nothing remained of Tasuno Itsuwari. Nothing except a blackened, scorched circle on the ground, that is.

"Good riddance," Kurama muttered.

"Not even. Just 'riddance' would suffice for one such as he."

He nodded absently, already composing himself for the next confrontation that awaited them. With the Sphere so close, it was hard for him to focus on any source of magic that wasn't very near him, but he was certain he would have felt something if any harm had befallen Hiei.

"Fukuro."

"Hm?"

"Thank you." Hiei had often chided him for taking too long to fight, for dancing around with the enemy instead of just going straight to the point, for buying time trying to learn something from a foe that didn't have any information he needed... Wait until his lover found out that he might not have made it if it hadn't been for the other Jaganshi.

Kuwabara had said those words... not long ago. It certainly seemed like a decade ago, but... Kurama shook himself. He had been too long off the battlefield. In some ways, not long enough.

"Think nothing of it," Fukuro replied. "When I think of a way for you to repay me, I will speak it." She paused for only a moment, and then declared, "Shiryoku is dead."

Kurama might have been surprised. He should have been surprised. But he wasn't. He acknowledged and accepted the information with nothing more than a tired shake of his head. "She... had gone on ahead. We couldn't... stop her in time." How had she died?

He'd expected a Sister of the Hand to be much more emotional about the death of one of her own. Fukuro displayed no great deal of anguish over Shiryoku's demise. "Most likely, there was nothing you could have done. Shiryoku was a good woman, a fine woman - and a damn intelligent woman." A deep, heaving sigh. "But she was also a loving mother - a very loving mother. And a fool mother, who loved her son right up until the end, even though he was mad beyond healing. I won't pretend I understand it, I won't pretend to agree with it... but I accept it for Truth."

So Shiryoku was dead. Kurama closed his eyes briefly. "What does this mean, now...? What does it mean for Jumon...?"

"I don't want to think about it. I just want this over with - the sooner, the better."

Kurama nodded, opening his eyes and staring up the staircase. "Then let's go."

No further words were exchanged as they continued up the tower. They had disposed of the demon that had taken others' sight. Now, ironically, they had to dispose of the only demon that could give it back.

Kuwabara felt Katachi stiffen in his arms. She had ended up in his embrace somewhat by accident. Stripped of their sight, and suffocated by the intense energy emanated by the White Sphere, they were practically blind in all senses. For some reason or another - and perhaps unconsciously - they had drawn closer together for at least a semblance of protection.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"Itsuwari is dead." Her words were spoken without any trace of emotion.

Kuwabara might have made some sort of comment about that, but refrained. Itsuwari was a madman, and in Kuwabara's opinion, he was far more vicious than Jumon... but he was still Katachi's brother. He imagined himself in Katachi's position for a moment. Psycho or no, she had lost a member of her family.

"How do you know?" he tried to ask. The words never left his mouth because suddenly she slumped against him.

"Both of them," she murmured. "Both of them are gone..."

"Both?" Kuwabara repeated. He tightened his grip around her, trying to offer comfort even though he didn't think he could help very much. "Both of them?"

"Mother."

Kuwabara blinked. He hadn't expected that at all. "Shiryoku is..."

"She's dead," Katachi whispered. She sounded empty. "I... I knew it, when it happened, but I didn't want to believe... Even when I felt her signal..."

Kuwabara wanted to say something - anything - to try and make her feel better, but couldn't think of anything. He let her absorb the shock of her loved ones' deaths on her own, offering his body as a pillar of strength to draw from. His mind, however, was occupied with other matters. He did feel sorrow for Katachi's loss, but he was far more concerned with how they were going to escape this battle alive.

Even if Hiei and Kurama managed to stop Jumon and kill him... what would happen to the tower, without Jumon to hold it up? If they do win, will the collapsing tower be the death of us?

Part of him wanted to remain where he was. They had found an apparently safe hovel in the midst of the tower, and they had no idea if Jumon had any cronies - be they illusions or real - lurking around, waiting for them. Another part of him wanted to try and get out. He didn't want a tower collapsing around him any more than he wanted Jumon descending on him while he couldn't fight back.

But he quelled his fears, buried his doubts, and assured himself that Hiei and Kurama would be all right. He remained right where he was, huddled with a still, silent - and no doubt grieving - Katachi.

And he hoped.

Hiei was surprised that he'd managed to keep his grip on the Orb. It was searing hot, burning into his palms. He was only thankful that he had some immunity against Fire, due to his origins. Otherwise, the heat might have burned him to the bone.

Somehow, amidst the pain and his efforts to pull the White Sphere away from Jumon, Hiei managed to gather the presence of mind to gather the energy of the Orb. He didn't know how to use it, he didn't know how dangerous it was to try to handle, and he didn't know if his spirit could stand the assault. All he did know was that if he didn't take it, Jumon would.

And if Jumon took it, Hiei wouldn't stand a chance.

So he gathered his youki, taking his own magic and drawing in the power that was residing in the Sphere. He was nearly overwhelmed after only a moment. He didn't understand how so much raw power could be contained in such a small object, and he didn't understand how anyone could ever have had the power - or the will - to control all of what this Orb had to offer.

And then he realized that he was not the only one tapping into the power of the Sphere. Jumon was, too, and Hiei could tell by the look of sheer determination on the other demon's face that they were not just wrestling for the Orb itself; they were fighting over control of it, as well.

He hastened his efforts to take in as much as he could, and then some. It was only by pure will that he managed to refrain from collapsing. The White Strength that the Sphere appeared to possess was made to empower - and perhaps even to overpower. It washed over Hiei like a tsunami, taking him to new heights - literally. He could have sworn he'd been nearly lifted from his body, and had nearly blacked out. But if he did, Jumon would win.

He could hear the Dragon, circling their struggling bodies over and over again. It was still around. It could not - would not - help him; the Orb frightened it, repelled it. But that didn't stop it from swirling around them, Sending Hiei its encouragement and anger. Hiei had grown accustomed to the Dragon's presence in the back of his mind, and so the hissed Yes, yes! didn't faze his concentration.

"Let go," Jumon snarled, sweat beading on his forehead and running down his face. He tried pulling harder on the Sphere, but Hiei refused to relinquish it. He wasn't using any of the Orb's powers, and Hiei didn't think he could. Both of them were too preoccupied with trying to get the Orb away from each other.

Each of them had absorbed half of what the Sphere had to offer; they were equals. The only thing that remained to be done was for Hiei to somehow gain the upper hand. They were exhausted already, and there would be no way for Hiei to keep on as he was for much longer. What he was doing at the moment was very dangerous. He and Jumon were playing with a power they knew nothing about, and they were taking much more of it than they should have been. Hiei knew that he was risking his youki by doing this, and took comfort in the fact that Jumon appeared to be as exhausted as he was.

"You let go," he hissed back, forcing his hands to remain on the burning surface of the Sphere.

Yes! Yes! the Dragon howled encouragingly, pleased at Hiei's attitude.

"No, you," the other demon growled.

Hiei didn't reply, realizing that they were beginning to sound like children, in addition to acting like them. His Jagan's Sight was beginning to blur around the edges, and little streaks of white lightning were beginning to appear, as well. He was lightheaded, tired, and holding on only with his desire not to let Jumon win. If he released any of the power he'd managed to gather, Jumon would get the upper hand, and Hiei would die.

But how was Hiei supposed to get the upper hand in the battle...? He had to think fast, because he didn't know how much longer he'd be able to defend his half of the Orb's energy. He was lucky that all he had taken so far hadn't meant the burning out of his youki. The sheer power could have very well seared away his magic for good, rendering him useless as far as youki went.

He looked at Jumon again, and reaffirmed that the other demon was holding just as much of the White Sphere's energy as Hiei was. The amount they were holding at the moment was hazardous as it was; to take any more would be unwise - provided they even survived it. Even with only half of the White Sphere's energy inside his own, Hiei could feel it eating away at him, slowing burning his rei, causing potentially permanent damage.

But if he released a small amount, even just a little trickle, it would be all Jumon would need to overpower him and force the rest of the Sphere's power away from him. He would lose both the Sphere and the battle.

However... if he were to release it all... Jumon was a more powerful demon than Hiei was, surely, but he was also only a demon. He was no demi-god, and Hiei had gathered from his experience that the White Sphere had never been intended for just one demon to handle on his own. So a small amount of more power may very well give Jumon what he needed to win - but to suddenly have all of the Sphere's power surge into him, without having time to prepare...

It was a gamble, but Hiei didn't have a great deal of options open to him - and holding out the way he was wouldn't solve anything. Eventually, he might very well Silence himself, and then he wouldn't do anyone any good at all.

So he released all the White Energy he had taken from the Sphere. "Release" wasn't quite the word, though. He had relinquished the power, and had given it to Jumon.

"Give" was quite an understatement; Hiei hadn't just given the energy to Jumon. He had pushed it, shoved it, forced it into the other demon. He had released all he had at once, and Jumon - who had been trying to pull in all he could - had sucked it up before he knew what was happening.

For a moment, nothing happened. They remained exactly where they were, frozen still. Hiei didn't have any of the Sphere's energy, and Jumon had it all. The other demon's eyes bulged, the Sphere in their hands pulsated, and then Jumon screamed, feeling something inside of him that Hiei could not.

Hiei did feel the White Sphere begin to react under his palms, and released it before it could do him any harm. He was going to roll away, but didn't make it in time.

Evidently, Jumon couldn't handle the complete power of the Sphere in his hands, and Hiei was blinded in all senses when whatever happened... happened.

He didn't see it, and didn't hear it, but he felt it. He was certain that Jumon felt a great deal more than he did, but the feeling of the Sphere's power exploding from the other demon's body, rippling out in waves, shook Hiei to his very core.

And then they were blown apart, by an invisible force that felt like thunder, yet had no sound. The Dragon retreated; Hiei wondered if it had been able to hear the sound that accompanied the feeling - and had been frightened of it. Hiei rolled several feet away against his will, and was aware of Jumon doing the same. He pushed himself to his hands and knees as soon as he stopped rolling, looking for both his opponent and the Orb. He wavered, nearly falling over, but managed to keep himself upright.

The Sphere remained on the ground, unscathed. Jumon was closer to him than he'd thought, and the renegade demon was also trying to rise. The other demon looked as exhausted and drained as Hiei felt. Hiei wasn't surprised; his own youki was literally exhausted. He had none left to spare, and wouldn't until he'd had at least half a day's recovery. And Jumon... Jumon probably had no youki at all - and never would again.

Hiei didn't think that the mad demon realized that fact. As soon as Jumon was on his hands and knees, he looked first at Hiei, then at the Sphere, and then back at Hiei. He made as though to try moving forward, but his limbs failed him and he tumbled onto his stomach. Despite his obvious weakness, Jumon started trying to pull himself across the debris-littered floor. Even then, he couldn't muster the strength to move his drained body even an inch across the chamber. He looked over his shoulder, looking as though he expected pity.

Hiei gave Jumon a mild glare and raised a fist threateningly. "Don't even try it," he growled. He didn't have enough youki to light a candle, but he could still grind Jumon's face into the stone floor.

Jumon blinked tiredly, looking back at the glowing Sphere. And when Hiei thought the demon was going to keep trying to get to it, Tasuno Jumon's head fell back onto the floor, and he was still.

Hiei watched the still body for a few moments, wondering if the demon had simply dropped dead. Either way, he knew that Jumon had been stripped of his magic; he could already feel the loosened strings of a spell fading away. Hiei felt a quick wave of relief wash over him. That was White Blindness, most likely. Gradually, the White Blindness would vanish.

Hiei crawled forward, toward the fallen Tasuno lord. Part of him envied Jumon's position; he wanted nothing more than to sleep for a good, long while. And when he was kneeling over the other demon's body, looking at his unconscious form, he contemplated the renegade's fate. Unconscious, vulnerable... Jumon was no threat now, especially now that he had no youki. He was pale, weakened, lying on the cold floor of the tower. He had lost.

Hiei pondered ending the demon's life. He saw no reason to let him live; the demon was guilty of many things, including the murder of his own mother. Madness or no, Jumon's crimes were not forgivable. Hiei could end it all; he still had another dagger in his other boot. Or he could simply strangle the other demon in his sleep. The gods knew that the demon deserved it.

But Hiei was better than that.

So he left the demon lying there, unconscious and alone. He crawled away, knowing almost for certain that Jumon would not awaken for several hours, if not days. He intended to go and find Kurama, or one of the others... but that thought didn't get very far.

He collapsed very much how Jumon had, falling the short distance to the floor. He must have blacked out before he hit the ground, because he never felt the impact.

Kurama ran as fast as his legs would carry him, fearful and hopeful at the same time. He was worried, despite the logical side of his mind telling him over and over that if Hiei had died, he would have felt it. On the other hand, the power of the White Sphere may have been preventing him from sensing Hiei's death. The churning youki had died down and stopped altogether, but Kurama could sense neither Hiei nor Jumon's energy.

And that was the very core of his worry.

A myriad of possibilities ran through his mind. Both of them were exhausted, both of them were unconscious, both of them had stretched their powers to the utmost limit and had been silenced, or both of them were...

"Calm, youko," Fukuro advised him. "Be calm. Don't fear the worst just yet."

The stairs seemed to never end, but at last Kurama and his Jaganshi companion tore through the open doorway of the top-most chamber of the tower.

The first thing Kurama noticed was that the chamber was a state of disaster. It looked like ground zero of some sort of explosion. The roof had collapsed; some rocks were scattered throughout the chamber, but the rest of the roof appeared to have either been blown away, or destroyed. The sky was visible for all to see, its huge, fluffy white clouds moving across its - for now - blueness. And the next thing Kurama did was swing his head to and fro, searching for Hiei. He didn't have to look far.

Hiei was lying in a crumpled heap in the middle of the room, and Kurama could see that Jumon - and the glowing, humming Sphere - was nearby. Neither of them were moving, and Kurama swallowed nervously.

"Kura--"

He was sprinting across the room before his name was out of Fukuro's mouth. He heard her boots tap against the hard ground as she followed him, but he didn't slow or look back until he was at Hiei's side. He threw himself to his knees and put a hand on Hiei's back.

To his immense relief, Hiei stirred at the touch. Kurama resisted the urge to hold him, not knowing if Hiei had suffered any serious injuries or not. From what he could sense through touch and with his rei, Hiei's youki was exhausted - lowered to a dangerous degree. Kurama doubted he could summon up enough magic to burn someone's thumb. He tested the mental link between them, tried to send Hiei a message... and Hiei didn't respond. He didn't even have the energy to use his own telepathy.

"Hiei?" Kurama asked anxiously. He watched as the smaller demon pushed himself to his hands and knees, removing his hand from Hiei's back. Instead of getting to his feet, as Kurama expected, Hiei changed his mind and settled down again. This time, he stretched out on his back, laying his head in Kurama's lap. "Hiei?" Kurama asked again.

"Not hurt," came the soft reply. "Just tired. Very, very tired."

"You could have lost it," Fukuro informed him. "You could have been Silenced. Whatever it was you and Jumon did..."

"The Sphere," Hiei explained. He hadn't yet opened his eyes. "We had a... tussle... for the Sphere. Damn thing nearly killed us."

"Nearly?" Kurama echoed. He glanced over at the fallen form that was Jumon - the crumpled body that Fukuro was already inspecting. "He isn't dead?"

"As good as," the Sister declared, her hand hovering over the limp demon. "He has been Silenced. And that may not be all that was done to him."

Before anyone could ask, Hiei said, "It held him a moment longer than it did me. Only a moment. That is the sole difference between our conditions."

Kurama had to take a deep breath, feeling Fukuro's youki churn more powerfully. If Hiei had been... "Gods..." He looked around them, at the tower that was still standing. "But if Jumon is now without youki... should we get out of here quickly? If the spell he helped weave to create this tower--"

"Not his doing," Hiei pronounced. "The White Sphere created the tower all on its own. Why or how, who knows? Jumon had nothing to do with it, really."

"I've shielded him," Fukuro announced. "As strongly as I am able to." She glanced at Kurama, at Hiei in his lap, and then coughed a little. "If the two of you can keep an eye on him, I will search for Kuwabara and Katachi, and bring them here, too. Then we'll have Eiyo send for help, to contain the Orb and take it back to the Fifth. Eiyo and a few others should be able to undo what the Sphere has done." She paused, and then shrugged. "And even if we cannot, it doesn't matter. There was no great harm done, considering that Morvec was already doomed. The important thing is to get the Sphere shielded and in the proper hands."

"Will the Hand exile it again?" Kurama asked. Could they exile it again?

"I do not know... I really do not know. We'll think of that once we get back to the Fifth."

"We'll watch Jumon, then. Go find Kuwabara and Katachi, if you please."

Fukuro nodded, and ran from the chamber at a steady jog. Kurama listened to her footsteps as they faded from earshot, and took another look around the chamber. He thought he caught a glimpse of a hand peeking out from behind - or under - one of the large chunks of what used to be the ceiling. That was Shiryoku's body, he gathered.

"A sad ending to this story," he murmured. "The mother dead, one son dead, the other all-but... I wonder what Katachi will do."

"Not an ending, Silvertail. Only another beginning." Hiei paused before adding, "And Katachi will hurt, but she will be all right in the end. Time continues to flow, and pain will dull, lessen, and eventually fade. That's how it goes."

"A sad chapter, then," Kurama lamented. "The end of a chapter... making way for something new."

"Ah." And then Hiei's eyelids lifted, revealing the red eyes that had been hidden underneath them. For a moment, Kurama wasn't sure if Hiei was actually focusing on him, and a part of him began to worry. Was Hiei stricken with White Blindness...?

"...Did I ever tell you that you had pretty eyes...?"

Kurama swallowed, relief and joy melding together, and again he had to restrain himself from wrapping the other half of his soul in a tight embrace. There would be plenty of time for that later. Plenty of time - and Kurama would waste none of it.

"You have beautiful eyes," he retorted, his mouth breaking into a wide, relieved smile. "Strong, beautiful, seeing eyes... And I love them. And you."

"Always and forever, Kurama," Hiei vowed. "Always and forever."

Kurama's smile widened, and he closed his eyes and tipped his head back. He took a deep breath of the fresh air that was blowing in from the top of the tower, and then opened his eyes to stare at the sky.

He didn't see the patch of blue sky. His vision was filled with milky, cloudy whiteness. It encompassed all of his vision, and he was stunned. He froze, his smile slipping, beginning to hover on the edge of panic.

White Blindness. He had White Blindness. But how? Jumon had no magic; his spell could not function without the youki to guide it and operate it. Unless... unless the spell was something Jumon had somehow managed to tie off - or if the spell could only be broken with the mad demon's death.

It's my turn, he thought with despair, squeezing his eyes shut, not wanting to see what had befallen him. It's my turn... I was so close to everyone...it's only natural that I... I'm bli--

A pair of hands took one of his, and Kurama lowered his head, his eyes opening out of habit.

Hiei was still there.

Koenma was quite cute, Eiyo admitted. When he was behind a mirror and could be whisked away at any moment. "And there you have it, Little Enma," she concluded. "We have solved our 'problem' without any real damage."

"'Problem' is an interesting word for it," Koenma muttered, studying her with a sardonic expression. "I would have called it a 'catastrophe'. Or perhaps an 'apocalypse'."

"Have you so little faith in me?"

"Woman, I wouldn't trust you to serve my tea the way I like it."

"A pity. I was thinking of extending an invite." Perhaps it was best that her tale had been only minimally revealing. Most of what had transpired had been business of the Hand only - the exceptions being Hiei's friends. Though technically, they were now "family"; sworn to secrecy, yet they had not been Cleansed.

"You are a real piece of work, Eiyo," Koenma sighed, shaking his head. "A real piece of work."

Eiyo couldn't resist giving the prince a smile. "I must be, if I am to keep order here, and to keep watch everywhere else."

"I suppose you are right, in that."

He should be, Eiyo thought. They were both watchers, and both had a great deal to look after. Koenma was young, but already had a lot of responsibility. Things would only worsen for him as he grew older. Perhaps when he had a few more centuries behind him, he and Eiyo would be able to get along better than they did.

"And where is it now?"

Eiyo raised an eyebrow. "The White Sphere?"

"You know very well what I'm talking about, Eiyo." Koenma's voice was not hostile; it was tired and a little exasperated.

"Indeed... The Sphere is here, in the Fifth. And here it will stay, until we come up with a means of sealing it away as our predecessors did long ago."

"And it is safe there?"

"Jumon was a powerful demon," Eiyo pointed out. "More powerful than most. Everyone knows what it did to him, and I highly doubt anyone here believes himself capable of handling that sort of power. I know I would not touch the thing with a ten-foot pole. It is in a safe chamber in the higher sections of the Palace, sealed and shielded by the most powerful Spirit wielders we have, and the wards have been tied off. It is as safe as it can be, I suppose. A watchful eye never hurt anyone, either."

Koenma nodded slowly. "A good procedure, and excellent precautions. Not foolproof, though."

"Is anything?"

"...No." Koenma cocked his head. "It seems that the Hand's original duty has been returned to them."

Eiyo cocked hers the other way, just to spite him. "I suppose that is one way of looking at it."

"And the damages the Orb caused? The tower, the shifting, the... the sun..."

"All taken care of," she assured him. Those things had been the first to be undone. "The tower remains, though it is hardly a threat. As for the patch of blue sky and the sun rising in the North, those were only a temporary reaction to the Summoning. Things righted themselves right under all our noses. Very likely, no one noticed anything different. And if they did, they will believe they were imagining things once they see that it is all well now."

Koenma nodded again, looking satisfied. For a few moments, he did not speak. When he did, the smile he gave her was warm and kind. "You and yours did well, Eiyo."

Eiyo returned the smile, but hers was just a mite devious. "And I assure you, Little Enma, yours did well, too." She cut off their communication just as utter confusion came over Koenma's face, and leaned back in her chair.

Let him wonder what that meant - for a good many years to come.

Fukuro was surprised to find Katachi in the library, sitting at one of the many peaceful tables. She had a book in front of her, but she wasn't reading it. Her chin was perched on her hands, and she was staring ahead into space. She didn't even hear Fukuro approach.

Fukuro said nothing, even as she came to a halt right behind the girl's chair. She studied the silver-haired woman, feeling sympathy for her. Katachi had been put on a tentative suicide watch; she had been given rooms in the Palace to stay in until she was over the shock of her mother's death. Even though Katachi had never exhibited a great deal of grief over Shiryoku's passing - or her brothers', for that matter - it didn't mean that she hadn't been hurting inside. The Tasuno Family was a strong one; they grieved silently and with wonderful composure in public.

The entire incident had somewhat changed Eiyo's perspective. Before, the High Lady might have sent Katachi on her way, to carry out her fate as she would on her own. But for some reason, Eiyo had permitted her - insisted that she - stay in the Fifth until she healed. Whether Eiyo's hospitality was a sort of homage to Shiryoku, a return of the favor Katachi had done them by helping fight her own brother, or simply a gesture of kindness, Fukuro didn't know. And Eiyo more than likely wouldn't say.

Katachi had been watched like a hawk for the first couple of days. Fukuro had taken it upon herself to serve as the first guardian. She considered the other woman her ally, in more than one sense. They were allies on the battlefield, and off of it. Fukuro considered anyone who had a lost a beloved loved one an ally.

But Katachi, while she had grieved, had not displayed any signs of wanting to end her life. Very likely, she knew why she was being watched so closely, and had welcomed the company silently. They had eased off after Eiyo was certain that suicide would not be Katachi's answer to the death of her family, but Katachi rarely came out of her quarters. To see her in the library now was perhaps a sign. She was healing, slowly but surely.

Fukuro touched her shoulder, softly so she wouldn't alarm the other demon. "Katachi."

"Fukuro." The acknowledgement was soft, not pleased yet not disappointed.

"You are well?"

"As well as can be expected." The girl bade Fukuro to come and take the place in front of her, and Fukuro complied. Katachi spoke again as she settled herself into the chair. "You can all stop fretting over me. I know as well as you that 'that' isn't the answer."

Another thing Fukuro liked about Katachi was her intelligence and common sense. "Good, then. You will heal?"

"I'm healing." She paused before going on. "Mother and Itsu are dead. I know it, I can deal with it. It's... how they died, and why they died, that troubles me."

"You'll forgive me," Fukuro interjected, knowing what she was about to say was wrong, "if I feel no pity for Itsuwari."

"Itsu chose his own path," Katachi said. "Whether or not he was a little touched with madness, we'll never know. But he chose his own path - I'm sure he was sane enough to do that. It's... Mother, I meant."

Fukuro had never had a great deal of affection for Shiryoku; the circumstances surrounding their families' pasts had gotten in the way of any chance for close friendship they may have had. All the same, Fukuro hadn't disliked Shiryoku at all. "Your mother chose her own path, too. She was a fool at times, and paid for it, but... who knows what happened up there that day?" She stopped there, feeling rather like she had gone too far by calling Shiryoku a fool.

But Katachi didn't appear to take offense. "What puzzles me most is... the one who started all this... still lives. And really, if anyone should have died, he should have."

Speak the Devil's name and He shall appear, Fukuro recited, noticing movement from between two rows of bookshelves. One of the unsettling things about Jumon now was that he had no youki. They couldn't sense him at all, even though he wasn't shielded.

Katachi couldn't see Jumon, and her gaze had dropped down to the book she must have been trying to read. Fukuro didn't tell her who was behind them, nor did she ask - even though she must have sensed that someone was there.

Jumon didn't come near them, though he did regard them with curiosity when he appeared from between the shelves. He cocked his head at them, blinking his innocent, lost eyes at them. Fukuro felt no pity for him, even if she was fascinated by what handling the White Sphere alone had done to him. In addition to stripping him of his youki - which was usually enough to drive any demon to suicide - the Orb had stripped him of what little of his sanity had remained. If Fukuro hadn't been perfectly aware of the demon's crimes and malicious actions, she would have believed him to be an innocent, uncertain demon with a mental disorder. She stared at him for awhile, until she heard more footsteps coming their way. She didn't bother trying to find out who was coming; she already had a pretty good idea.

Her suspicions were proved correct when Sayra appeared from around a corner. The concerned expression on the girl's face turned admonishing when her eyes fell on the wayward Jumon.

"You shouldn't have wandered off," she told him.

Jumon didn't reply. He only nodded somberly, aware that he had done something wrong, but probably not knowing what it had been.

Sayra reached out and gently took his arm. "Do you want to go to the Inner Gardens?" she asked. "They're very pretty, and it's relaxing to be there."

Jumon tilted his head to the side, looking like he was contemplating the offer. "Pretty?"

"We could watch the fountains spray," Sayra went on. "They make pretty patterns sometimes." She gave his arm a tender tug, and Jumon fell into step beside her as she led him away from Fukuro and Katachi's table. "Come, come. I'm sure you'll like them."

Fukuro watched Sayra and her charge vanish from sight. Sayra's voice faded as they left the library, and Fukuro couldn't help but shake her head. The one demon that the Hand had truly feared... was now that. Not only no longer a threat, but staying in the Crystal Palace.

"Eiyo says that he will eventually wither away and die," Katachi said, startling Fukuro out of her thoughts. "Until then, she is letting him live out his last moments here."

"No surprise," Fukuro replied. "Demons who have lost their youki - even those who didn't have the strength to light a candle - feel... less demonic without it. It is a part of us, and the loss of it affects us greatly."

"But with all he's done... why is Eiyo letting him stay here - alive?"

Fukuro shrugged. "The High Lady's reasons are her own." She found herself repeating the thoughts she had had before. "Perhaps out of respect for Shiryoku. Who knows? Eiyo probably won't say."

Katachi nodded, her eyes never leaving her book. "...How long... am I permitted to stay here?"

Fukuro blinked at the change of subject, but then became thoughtful. "Well... it really depends on what you want," she explained, already rising from her seat. "If you believe you are well enough, you may go whenever you wish. And if you believe you are well enough... you may never have to go at all."

With that, Fukuro glided away from the table, looking back over her shoulder only when she was several feet from the other demon.

Katachi hadn't moved an inch.

And Fukuro took that as another sign, leaving the library wearing a satisfied smile.

"No way!"

Yusuke's voice was laced with joyous, amazed disbelief. Keiko could hardly contain her own excitement, and wrapped both of her arms around one of her boyfriend's. Seung was smiling - a broad, gleeful smile that they hadn't seen in days.

"Really?" Keiko squealed. "Are you serious?" Before Seung could reply, she turned to Dr. Ikari, who was scribbling notes at his desk. He was still smiling. "A puppy?!"

Dr. Ikari laughed, a lighthearted chuckle. "But of course, my dear. You didn't think he'd be doomed to rely on nothing more than cane and the kindness of strangers, did you?"

"Well, no, but--"

"I think it's cool," Yusuke declared. "A big, cuddly guard-dog just for you, Seung."

Words could not express how relieved it made Keiko feel to see Seung looking so happy. "Just be sure to remind your little sister that he's a working puppy," she chided. Seung would be moving back in with his parents, now that he had been discharged from the hospital.

"I'd like to meet him soon," Seung replied.

"And you shall," Ikari assured him. "You'll spend a lot of time together, since we'll have to see to it that you two learn how to work together. You'll be partners, and best friends. And he's not exactly a cute, little puppy; he's a big, fluffy puppy."

Yusuke checked his watch. "Well, Seung's mother will be here any minute. She said she'd come to pick you up right after work."

"Then we'd better be going," Keiko added. She bent and kissed the top of Seung's head while Yusuke shook Dr. Ikari's hand. "We'll see you soon, Seung."

"I hope so. Tell the others I said hi?"

"Sure."

Keiko and Yusuke took their leave from the hospital, striding through the halls with their arms linked. Keiko took note of the waiting room and smiled. There was no more White Blindness, and thus no more crowded waiting room, filled with panicking people.

It had been nearly a week since Kuwabara and the others had returned from Makai, or the Fifth, or wherever it was they had ended up after the battle with Jumon. It didn't matter. The point was, everyone was safe, and Jumon had been stopped. And with Jumon's Silence came the breaking of the spell that had caused White Blindness. It had been a gradual reversion, but hadn't taken more than twelve hours or so for everyone in the city to be cured of the "mysterious disease".

For nearly the entire population of Tokyo, White Blindness had been, and still was, an enigma. It had both appeared and vanished without a warning or a trace. It had been a traumatic experience for everyone, and no one would ever know why it had happened. Everything was back to normal, for the most part. For those who had lost their eyes, however, things would never be the same... Keiko supposed that eventually those Itsuwari had attacked would grow accustomed to their new lifestyle - as Seung had. It would be hard, no doubt, and Keiko admired their courage to do as well as they were able. But she was glad that they - Seung especially - were making the effort. Complete eye transplants were not yet possible, and so they had no choice but to at least accept their new way of life. If they leapt into it while being optimistic, all the better.

The bright sunlight greeted them upon their exit from the hospital, and it wasn't the only one. Kuwabara and Yukina were waiting for them outside by the mailbox, and all raised their hands simultaneously when their eyes met. The would-be couple joined them, and Keiko let Yusuke relate the tale of what had happened, and what was going to happen to Seung. Yusuke's eager, cheerful voice captured Kuwabara and Yukina's attention as the four of them began to walk down the street.

Despite what Yusuke had wanted, he, Keiko and Yukina hadn't been able to get the full story of what had happened in Makai until a day or so had passed. Hiei had been all-but asleep on his feet, and had declared that he wasn't doing anything until he'd had at least sixteen hours of rest. So Yusuke had waited, and while he waited, he and everyone else tended to other things.

Kurama had taken care of his mother, and had spent some time with her and the rest of his family. Yusuke and Keiko had checked up on their respective families and verified that everything was all right - and assured them that they had not been harmed in any way. Kuwabara had likely done the same, though Keiko was certain that he had taken Yukina with him. But as soon as it could be managed, they had reunited back at the temple.

Kuwabara had been the narrator for the story, and had insisted on calling it "The Urameshi Team and the Tower of Doom", much to Keiko's amusement. He had told the majority of the tale, interrupted only occasionally with corrections from Kurama or Hiei. The two demons had recited their own chapters of the story, as well, reciting what had happened to Itsuwari and Jumon, and what the White Sphere had done... and what had been lost.

Keiko had not seen Katachi or Fukuro; they had remained in the Fifth, and had not returned with the others. Rinto had departed soon after their return, leaving with a warm farewell and a gentle reminder for Keiko, Yusuke, Kurama, Yukina and Kuwabara to hold true to the code of silence of the Hand. Yusuke had assured the young demon that he and "Eiyo" had nothing to fear.

In a way, a citywide sweep of White Blindness had yielded some fortunate results. Because of the mysterious affliction that had infected a good deal of the population, Kurama and Kuwabara - as well as Yusuke - had been able to get away with missing work. It wasn't easy, Keiko mused, to battle evil and hold a nine-to-five job.

"I'll need a new cook," she realized suddenly, interrupting her chattering friends. With Seung gone, she had lost the best chef she'd ever had. But at least I didn't lose one of the best friends I've ever had. "Lucky Seung got an early retirement. Now I'm without a cook."

Kuwabara chuckled and gave her a wide smile. "Time to put an ad in the paper," he suggested. "And then you hope that anyone who applies will be at least half as good as he was."

"And is," Yukina pointed out, hugging Kuwabara's arm. "He still is, I'm sure, if he has someone to help him know where everything is."

Keiko nodded, smiling at the way Yukina and Kuwabara were walking together. They weren't a couple, not yet, not "officially". Yukina wanted them to be, Kuwabara wanted them to be... but neither wanted to rush the other. Keiko and Yusuke had resolved not to intervene; it would happen when it happened, and would happen the way it was meant to happen. All the same, it was a little bemusing to see them so close, but so far.

"Kuwabara could be your cook," Yusuke offered. "Though I'm not sure how many patrons you'd attract with that move. His face might scare them away!"

"No, my spoon would scare them away - after they saw me shove it up your ass."

Keiko snickered, hiding it behind her hand. Things were back to normal - or as normal as they ever got. Keiko had long ago accepted the fact that the group of friends she had fallen into was an odd pocket, and their secret uniqueness was part of what kept them so close together after all these years.

"So who's up for ice cream?" Yusuke asked, still grinning at his latest jab.

Ephemerally, Keiko wondered if Hiei had ever gotten the carton of ice cream Kurama had "owed" him. They hadn't seen either demon in several days, and Keiko suspected that they would see even less of Hiei now, given his new "profession".

"I'd love some," Yukina put forth, just as Kuwabara chirped, "Ice cream would be great."

"I'm coming, too, of course," Keiko added. "Maybe we'll even snatch Kurama later and go to a movie. It'll be good for us to relax; tomorrow's Monday."

"I hate Mondays," Yusuke grumbled. "The work week starts on Mondays."

"I don't mind work," Kuwabara said. "Except from Monday to Friday, from nine to five, or when there's something good on television."

Keiko laughed, aware of Yukina echoing her, as Yusuke and Kuwabara sounded off instances where they disliked being at work. They continued down the busy street, moving forward in more than one sense.

Travels between worlds, sorcery, blood, tears, anguish, battles between good and evil, death... It was part of their lives; had just been, and just might be again in the future.

But tomorrow was another day, and each of them had learned to take it one day at a time.