Summary: Botan is a high school exchange student who gets off at the wrong
stop. Kurama was just being polite. He is trying very hard to help a very
paranoid Botan.
Disclaimer- I do not own this show. If I did everything would turn out differently.
Rain At The Train Station
Rain on Me
It's raining again and once more I am caught in the downpour. Am I just that unlucky? I suppose so. Here I wait for a complete stranger to pick me up because, apparently the school could not provide me with transportation from the station to my new "family." Great. I always knew that I was brash but not this brash that I completely descended to stupidity. Gosh, it's getting late and I'm feeling really cold. I should have worn the pea coat like Mom said, instead of putting it away in my suitcase. Oh, if she could see me now. She would give me the sternest look as I cower in fear like a three-year old. I can't believe that I actually went through this.
I mean, actually participating in the school exchange program within Japan. I always wanted to do this but to actually pull through is quite surprising for me. I mean this is me were talking about. I'm not necessarily "Miss Go Getter," I'm more flaky and arbitrary. It goes with my personality you know. Cheery, absent-minded...the works. I'm really starting to be annoyed with this family, could they have forgotten that I was coming. I was really looking forward being their daughter for this semester. I think I'm going to sneeze...
A-A-AChooh!
"Bless you." Who said that? I think I'm really starting to get really sick because I'm hearing things. I really need a tissue right about now. I'm sniffling and it is rather disgusting. I really want to be in bed right now. I want my Mommy.
"Miss, here you go," that voice again. Maybe I'm not delusional after all.
"Here, Miss, I suppose you require the use of a tissue." The voice said. I turned around and a saw a boy standing a few feet across from me holding an umbrella with one hand and offering me with Kleenex on the other. I was surprised to see him there because I thought I was alone in my predicament. Of course I took the tissue; it was free. Now that my nose feels a little cleared up, I felt that I should thank him for his kindness and for the Kleenex. I slowly approached him, but then he spoke and startled me. "Would you care to join me under my umbrella? I assure you that it is far better than standing outside in the rain and risk further illness."
"I bet it is. But what will you get out of it?" I started to be suspicious first the 'Bless you,' then the Kleenex, now the umbrella. I've heard about this people. They would act all gentlemanly, then when you least expect it they strike and then.OH MY GOD! What if this mere boy is one of those? I quickly start grabbing the pepper spray in my bag. JEEZ! It's not there. Maybe, I could use my purse as a mace then hit him when he least suspects it, then run away. That's right. Thank you Dad, for all of your training.
As I stand there wondering how can I hurt this guy if he starts attacking me, I felt that I was no longer pestered by the rain, which is odd because it is still raining. I looked up and I saw the black umbrella over my head and this auburn headed boy was standing right beside me. My eyebrows started to furrow. What in the world?
"Excuse me," I asked. "I have neither declined nor consented to your offer, why are you suddenly over here."
"Because, Miss, I thought that by the time that you have decided to shelter underneath my umbrella, the rain would have stopped and you would have already acquired the flu."
"Thanks, I guess." Well, I suppose he's not the type to take advantage of seventeen-year-old girls. Seems to me, he is a sissy. He certainly looks like one with his long hair and feminine features. I would have surmised that he was a young lady close to my age, but then he always said 'Miss'. Girls don't use formalities with each other and that is a known fact, unless maybe to insult each other. I really don't think this boy is trying to vex me.
Where are they? It's been thirty minutes and the rain seems to relentlessly fall. At least this guy has an umbrella over my head. Maybe I should ask him if I could possibly get a cab because I really feel uncomfortable with this guy hanging so closely to me. I mean, I know their address and everything but I just don't know how to get to their place because if I did I would have left the station ages ago. Maybe this guy can help me? He seems to like helping me so far. Maybe I should ask him how to get to the Yukimura's place, which is near downtown Tokyo. Hmmm...decisions...decisions...
"Excuse me,"
"Yes, Miss," I'm really starting to be annoyed with this whole formality thing but I know I won't be staying here for long.
"Do you know how to get to 212 Kinokuniya Way, Tokyo? Or do you know if I can get a cab to take me there because I highly doubt that the family will pick me up anytime soon. So can you help me?" I blabbed. That was always a problem for me; I can't stop talking when I get started. I fidget talking and gesturing with my hands and somehow this amused him. His eyes started to light up as if an idea struck him or that he found my nervousness hilarious.
"Well Miss, it seems to me that you alighted at the wrong station. Kinokuniya Way has it's own stop which is three or four stations down. I assure you that the people who were suppose to pick you up waited for you there..."
"But the sign said 'Welcome to Tokyo'. I thought this was the place..." I started to cry. Here I was blaming, ranting and raving against the people who I haven't met yet, who are probably worried sick about me, all because I did not read the sign correctly and I have not studied transportation within Tokyo. I felt so stupid and provincial and this boy was only being nice to me. I even suspected him to be one of those predators. I felt horribly lost. Tears cascaded down my cheeks, so much for my first night in Tokyo. I'm tired, depressed, lost, and making the Yukimura's worried out of their minds. They probably called mother by now asking if I actually left home and all of them are probably wondering how I got lost in transit. Oh all the horrible possibilities!
"Please, don't cry I have an insufficient amount of Kleenex for you to use, if you start crying," I started to laugh. What kind of reason is that?
"See, doesn't that make you feel a little better..." He wiped my face with the tissue seeing that my hands were occupied with my purse and suitcase. But what will I do now? Call a cab? But I don't even know if I have enough money. Drat!
"So you need to go to downtown, huh Miss, well I can take you there."
"How?" I sniffled. How can this complete stranger take me to where I'm suppose to be? Isn't he also waiting for a ride?
"I'll take you on my bike, of course, that is if you don't mind. As for your suitcase, the stationmaster over there will take care of it until you come back for it tomorrow." Sounds somewhat plausible even doable. But still if this guy does not have evil intentions then if he has a bike why did he not leave earlier. Why go through all the trouble just to help me, unless he is evil.
"Look, that is a really nice gesture and all but why are you helping me, why did you stay the whole time with me offered me Kleenex, an umbrella, and now a ride? What is the deal?" I had to say it to him upfront or else he might think that I am not onto his game. I, Mitsuno Botan, will not be fooled by some opportunist in getting on a bike with him to God knows where.
"Oh, the stationmaster asked me if I could watch you because he said that he know the kind of people that lurk here and he does not want anything to happen to you, Miss. I was just doing him a favor. I am a student at the university at Nagoya and I usually come visit my family every weekend, which explains my bike being here and the stationmaster being acquainted with me. I hope you accept my offer seeing that the rain has stopped and it is getting somewhat late."
I agreed reluctantly for he sounded quite right. It was getting late and I'm still soaked. The Yukimura's are probably now thinking I'm dead or something, so I had to go with this guy. Even if all he said was a lie, I was doomed anyway. We took my suitcase and placed it in a locker provided by the station. Thank God for those. But we did that after I took a fresh set of clothing and changed in the ladies room. I also took out sleeping clothes for I assume that I would have immediate use for them once I arrive at the Yukimura's.
With my purse and sleeping clothes in hand, I followed him to his bike. It was a Yamaha. It was one of those high bike that had the word NINJA written on it. He asked for my stuff and he placed it with his umbrella in the seat compartment. He handed me a helmet that I reluctantly wore. I was afraid of lice. Not that I thought anyone who wore they had lice, but it was better to be safe that sorry. I love my hair and to just infect it with blood-sucking insects is a travesty. I sighed, then I was surprised when he suddenly placed his bomber jacket on my shoulders.
"You might get cold, I drive pretty fast." He said with a wink. Now, I'm starting to wonder what I got myself into this time.
"C'mon, Miss, surely you would like to leave this place. Hop on, and hold on tight."
He wasn't kidding when he said he drives fast. As soon as he got the engine running we were out of the station, and into the open road. We whizzed past several cars. He was completely ignoring the fact that I was screaming my head off because of fear. I was afraid for my dear life. I had no choice but to grab tighter and tighter hoping that I would not fall to my death. We were going so fast that I barely noticed that we had suddenly stopped in front of this ramen shop. I was glad it was over, yet my arms betrayed me and still continued to grip this college guy's waist.
"Miss, here we are 212 Kinokuniya Way, I assume this is where you live?" He asked as I pried my treacherous arms off of him. The sign did say Yukimura's Ramen Shop, so I thought this is it, my stop, the right one this time.
"No, I mean yes, I mean, I will only live here for the semester. I'm in a high school student exchange program in all of Japan. These people are my exchange family. I guess I kinda ruined it, huh? By getting off at the wrong stop. Having a complete stranger take me to where I'm suppose to be and everything and..." I was fidgeting again. I seem to not be able to get out of this bad habit of talking with my hands.
"You don't think of me as stranger still, do you Miss,"
"No, I guess not. Well I've got to go see this people for myself. They probably think I'm dead by now. Thank you for you help..."
"Minamino Shuuichi, and the pleasure is all mine," he said as he handed me my purse and my sleeping effects. I returned the helmet almost completely forgetting the jacket.
"Minamino-sempai." I repeated.
"Wait! What about this? I totally forgot that I was wearing it. Here you go!" I exclaimed as I was returning the jacket back to him. He chuckles and says to keep it until we see each other again. Then that was the moment I noticed how his eyes were affected by the moonlight which glinted a piece of sorrow behind them. They were bottle green. I was left on the sidewalk amazed at how clear they were and how assured I was that I will never see him ever again. He did not even ask for my name. He just whizzed past me, just like that. I knew I had to do it. It seemed right.
"My name is Mitsuno Botan!"
Author's Notes: Yes, this is AU as most of you readers can tell. I have no clue what urged me to write this and hopefully you enjoyed reading it because it will be multi-part. I'm open to comments, flames; anything but please do not sue me. Please review. I will only continue this if people would read and review.
Disclaimer- I do not own this show. If I did everything would turn out differently.
Rain At The Train Station
Rain on Me
It's raining again and once more I am caught in the downpour. Am I just that unlucky? I suppose so. Here I wait for a complete stranger to pick me up because, apparently the school could not provide me with transportation from the station to my new "family." Great. I always knew that I was brash but not this brash that I completely descended to stupidity. Gosh, it's getting late and I'm feeling really cold. I should have worn the pea coat like Mom said, instead of putting it away in my suitcase. Oh, if she could see me now. She would give me the sternest look as I cower in fear like a three-year old. I can't believe that I actually went through this.
I mean, actually participating in the school exchange program within Japan. I always wanted to do this but to actually pull through is quite surprising for me. I mean this is me were talking about. I'm not necessarily "Miss Go Getter," I'm more flaky and arbitrary. It goes with my personality you know. Cheery, absent-minded...the works. I'm really starting to be annoyed with this family, could they have forgotten that I was coming. I was really looking forward being their daughter for this semester. I think I'm going to sneeze...
A-A-AChooh!
"Bless you." Who said that? I think I'm really starting to get really sick because I'm hearing things. I really need a tissue right about now. I'm sniffling and it is rather disgusting. I really want to be in bed right now. I want my Mommy.
"Miss, here you go," that voice again. Maybe I'm not delusional after all.
"Here, Miss, I suppose you require the use of a tissue." The voice said. I turned around and a saw a boy standing a few feet across from me holding an umbrella with one hand and offering me with Kleenex on the other. I was surprised to see him there because I thought I was alone in my predicament. Of course I took the tissue; it was free. Now that my nose feels a little cleared up, I felt that I should thank him for his kindness and for the Kleenex. I slowly approached him, but then he spoke and startled me. "Would you care to join me under my umbrella? I assure you that it is far better than standing outside in the rain and risk further illness."
"I bet it is. But what will you get out of it?" I started to be suspicious first the 'Bless you,' then the Kleenex, now the umbrella. I've heard about this people. They would act all gentlemanly, then when you least expect it they strike and then.OH MY GOD! What if this mere boy is one of those? I quickly start grabbing the pepper spray in my bag. JEEZ! It's not there. Maybe, I could use my purse as a mace then hit him when he least suspects it, then run away. That's right. Thank you Dad, for all of your training.
As I stand there wondering how can I hurt this guy if he starts attacking me, I felt that I was no longer pestered by the rain, which is odd because it is still raining. I looked up and I saw the black umbrella over my head and this auburn headed boy was standing right beside me. My eyebrows started to furrow. What in the world?
"Excuse me," I asked. "I have neither declined nor consented to your offer, why are you suddenly over here."
"Because, Miss, I thought that by the time that you have decided to shelter underneath my umbrella, the rain would have stopped and you would have already acquired the flu."
"Thanks, I guess." Well, I suppose he's not the type to take advantage of seventeen-year-old girls. Seems to me, he is a sissy. He certainly looks like one with his long hair and feminine features. I would have surmised that he was a young lady close to my age, but then he always said 'Miss'. Girls don't use formalities with each other and that is a known fact, unless maybe to insult each other. I really don't think this boy is trying to vex me.
Where are they? It's been thirty minutes and the rain seems to relentlessly fall. At least this guy has an umbrella over my head. Maybe I should ask him if I could possibly get a cab because I really feel uncomfortable with this guy hanging so closely to me. I mean, I know their address and everything but I just don't know how to get to their place because if I did I would have left the station ages ago. Maybe this guy can help me? He seems to like helping me so far. Maybe I should ask him how to get to the Yukimura's place, which is near downtown Tokyo. Hmmm...decisions...decisions...
"Excuse me,"
"Yes, Miss," I'm really starting to be annoyed with this whole formality thing but I know I won't be staying here for long.
"Do you know how to get to 212 Kinokuniya Way, Tokyo? Or do you know if I can get a cab to take me there because I highly doubt that the family will pick me up anytime soon. So can you help me?" I blabbed. That was always a problem for me; I can't stop talking when I get started. I fidget talking and gesturing with my hands and somehow this amused him. His eyes started to light up as if an idea struck him or that he found my nervousness hilarious.
"Well Miss, it seems to me that you alighted at the wrong station. Kinokuniya Way has it's own stop which is three or four stations down. I assure you that the people who were suppose to pick you up waited for you there..."
"But the sign said 'Welcome to Tokyo'. I thought this was the place..." I started to cry. Here I was blaming, ranting and raving against the people who I haven't met yet, who are probably worried sick about me, all because I did not read the sign correctly and I have not studied transportation within Tokyo. I felt so stupid and provincial and this boy was only being nice to me. I even suspected him to be one of those predators. I felt horribly lost. Tears cascaded down my cheeks, so much for my first night in Tokyo. I'm tired, depressed, lost, and making the Yukimura's worried out of their minds. They probably called mother by now asking if I actually left home and all of them are probably wondering how I got lost in transit. Oh all the horrible possibilities!
"Please, don't cry I have an insufficient amount of Kleenex for you to use, if you start crying," I started to laugh. What kind of reason is that?
"See, doesn't that make you feel a little better..." He wiped my face with the tissue seeing that my hands were occupied with my purse and suitcase. But what will I do now? Call a cab? But I don't even know if I have enough money. Drat!
"So you need to go to downtown, huh Miss, well I can take you there."
"How?" I sniffled. How can this complete stranger take me to where I'm suppose to be? Isn't he also waiting for a ride?
"I'll take you on my bike, of course, that is if you don't mind. As for your suitcase, the stationmaster over there will take care of it until you come back for it tomorrow." Sounds somewhat plausible even doable. But still if this guy does not have evil intentions then if he has a bike why did he not leave earlier. Why go through all the trouble just to help me, unless he is evil.
"Look, that is a really nice gesture and all but why are you helping me, why did you stay the whole time with me offered me Kleenex, an umbrella, and now a ride? What is the deal?" I had to say it to him upfront or else he might think that I am not onto his game. I, Mitsuno Botan, will not be fooled by some opportunist in getting on a bike with him to God knows where.
"Oh, the stationmaster asked me if I could watch you because he said that he know the kind of people that lurk here and he does not want anything to happen to you, Miss. I was just doing him a favor. I am a student at the university at Nagoya and I usually come visit my family every weekend, which explains my bike being here and the stationmaster being acquainted with me. I hope you accept my offer seeing that the rain has stopped and it is getting somewhat late."
I agreed reluctantly for he sounded quite right. It was getting late and I'm still soaked. The Yukimura's are probably now thinking I'm dead or something, so I had to go with this guy. Even if all he said was a lie, I was doomed anyway. We took my suitcase and placed it in a locker provided by the station. Thank God for those. But we did that after I took a fresh set of clothing and changed in the ladies room. I also took out sleeping clothes for I assume that I would have immediate use for them once I arrive at the Yukimura's.
With my purse and sleeping clothes in hand, I followed him to his bike. It was a Yamaha. It was one of those high bike that had the word NINJA written on it. He asked for my stuff and he placed it with his umbrella in the seat compartment. He handed me a helmet that I reluctantly wore. I was afraid of lice. Not that I thought anyone who wore they had lice, but it was better to be safe that sorry. I love my hair and to just infect it with blood-sucking insects is a travesty. I sighed, then I was surprised when he suddenly placed his bomber jacket on my shoulders.
"You might get cold, I drive pretty fast." He said with a wink. Now, I'm starting to wonder what I got myself into this time.
"C'mon, Miss, surely you would like to leave this place. Hop on, and hold on tight."
He wasn't kidding when he said he drives fast. As soon as he got the engine running we were out of the station, and into the open road. We whizzed past several cars. He was completely ignoring the fact that I was screaming my head off because of fear. I was afraid for my dear life. I had no choice but to grab tighter and tighter hoping that I would not fall to my death. We were going so fast that I barely noticed that we had suddenly stopped in front of this ramen shop. I was glad it was over, yet my arms betrayed me and still continued to grip this college guy's waist.
"Miss, here we are 212 Kinokuniya Way, I assume this is where you live?" He asked as I pried my treacherous arms off of him. The sign did say Yukimura's Ramen Shop, so I thought this is it, my stop, the right one this time.
"No, I mean yes, I mean, I will only live here for the semester. I'm in a high school student exchange program in all of Japan. These people are my exchange family. I guess I kinda ruined it, huh? By getting off at the wrong stop. Having a complete stranger take me to where I'm suppose to be and everything and..." I was fidgeting again. I seem to not be able to get out of this bad habit of talking with my hands.
"You don't think of me as stranger still, do you Miss,"
"No, I guess not. Well I've got to go see this people for myself. They probably think I'm dead by now. Thank you for you help..."
"Minamino Shuuichi, and the pleasure is all mine," he said as he handed me my purse and my sleeping effects. I returned the helmet almost completely forgetting the jacket.
"Minamino-sempai." I repeated.
"Wait! What about this? I totally forgot that I was wearing it. Here you go!" I exclaimed as I was returning the jacket back to him. He chuckles and says to keep it until we see each other again. Then that was the moment I noticed how his eyes were affected by the moonlight which glinted a piece of sorrow behind them. They were bottle green. I was left on the sidewalk amazed at how clear they were and how assured I was that I will never see him ever again. He did not even ask for my name. He just whizzed past me, just like that. I knew I had to do it. It seemed right.
"My name is Mitsuno Botan!"
Author's Notes: Yes, this is AU as most of you readers can tell. I have no clue what urged me to write this and hopefully you enjoyed reading it because it will be multi-part. I'm open to comments, flames; anything but please do not sue me. Please review. I will only continue this if people would read and review.