Spirits
A/U: Botan was sent to Soul Society to observe the human shinigami as it was unheard but was that all she's suppose to do during her time in Soul Society? Just observing Ichigo Kurosaki or was there more to it, for Botan to be there? (Warning: Botan-centric.)
Chapter 1
"Botan," Koenma's baby voice called out to his long time ferry girl, "Enma-sama has a mission for you."
"Enma daiou-sama?" Botan asks, confused. It wasn't that common for the King to give out a mission to a ferry girl. "What is it? Enma daiou-sama never directly gives me a mission. The only times Enma-sama did was when I had to…" Botan trailed off, having a sinking feeling what the mission was.
"Yes, that's what you would need to do. As one of the only ferry girl (who's free by the way) to have knowledge and more importantly the experience of that world, makes you the top candidate for it." Koenma nodded firmly, while searching for the file for Botan. "George, turn on the screen please." By the time George turns on the screen behind Koenma, the toddler found the folder and gave it to Botan. "Here's the folder with information of what you need to do. Though it's mostly a cover-up of what Enma-sama wants you to do, he says it counts as an official mission as well. The mission would last at least a year and the most would be five years max but it might end sooner than you'd think. You would be able to visit Ningenkai, Rekai, or even Makai if you want to but please do it if you only need things or on holidays. They'll provide whatever you need."
"Hmm…" Botan flipped through the pages that informed her of the past events starting from today and years on before that. "Am I the only one who goes?" Some of the information was quite interesting to her, though she had been there before but it seemed that centuries of not being there makes her loss on some events.
"For now but if you need any back up, I'll send the available one to you. He'll head out and would be guarding you once everything settle for him (you know how he gets if you're in any danger)." Koenma watched as Botan lazily flipped through the pages. "Understand the mission?"
Botan snapped the folder closed and look up to smile at her longtime boss. She held the folder up with her left hand. In a split second it caught on fire, not like the red flames you see every day but a green flame. In seconds the folder vanished with no ashes left. "Understood Koenma-sama, I will be there by the time the portal opens. For now, I should pack, would you give my regards to them?" Botan had to smile with mirth as she sees the face of her boss paled at the mention of informing the spirit detectives of their ferry girl living for at least a year to five years long.
"Don't you want to say good-bye to them Botan?" Koenma asks almost in a frenzy state. He really didn't want to deal with the detectives. They seem to really grown on Botan and became overprotective of the never aging ferry over the past decade. Her appearance and bubbly nature has everything to do with it.
"Oh, Koenma-sama," Botan says with a bright and cheerful smile, "I would love to but the portal will open in less than ten minutes. I need to ready all my things before leaving. I'm afraid I won't have time to personally say good-bye to them, as much as I would love to. Anyways, I got to go. Please be sure to inform them of my love! Oh! And good-bye Koenma-sama! I'll be sure to update you on my progress!" With that, the bright blue haired ferry girl left with a skip.
"Wait Botan! Don't leave me to inform-" Before Koenma could finish his plea, the large double doors shut closed.
"Hmmm," Botan hummed as she browsed through her closet and picking out most of them and fitting her clothing that consist of mostly kimono into her bag. But with the amount of things she puts into the bag seemed to defy laws that's known to most as the bag never grew bigger. Perhaps this was one of the mysteries of Botan as Keiko had brought the bag at a normal human district and gave the bag as a present.
"Botan!" A voice called out to the blue haired ferry girl that belonged to the young ferry girl called Hinageshi. Botan turned to see a dramatic sad face, tear eyed girl. "Are you really leaving for five years?!"
"Silly Hinageshi," Botan started while still shoving things into her bag, she only had a few more minutes left. "I'll be back for visiting, besides, it only might last for five years. It's at least a year with visiting so it's not that bad. It might end sooner than you would think if everything goes along smoothly."
"But-but what about the spirit detectives?" Hinageshi asks on a verge to wail.
"Don't worry because you're going to be the liaison between them and Rekai! This job is a what I will entrust you with, so work hard!" Botan smiled as she finishes packing. With a clap the bag was surrounded into smoke as it disappeared to wherever it was until Botan summons it.
"Botan!" Hinageshi cried and hugged the older girl. "I'm going to miss you!"
"I'll miss you too but I'll be back soon!" Botan says, while prying the girl gently off of her. "I need to go Hinageshi, the portal will open soon and it'll only stay open for a minute." With that said, she quickly began walking to where the portal was held at with a sad Hinageshi waving good-bye.
Botan sighed once she arrives at the portal. It was going to be a long mission and a tiresome one as well. Summoning her oar, she sat on the hovering oar and slowly flew into the portal. "Well here I come again, Soul Society." Once Botan was into the portal and promptly closed quickly behind her.
Rangiku Matsumoto sighed as she pulls back her long silken blond hair behind her ears. Why did she have to wait for so long, especially when she could have been drinking delicious sake? Matsumoto turned her head over her shoulders and shifted her leg to another rock so she could be more comfortable while leaning back.
"Nee," Matsumoto drawled out to a lieutenant such as her, "Nanao."
"What is it Matsumoto-fukutaicho?" Nanao Ise asks as she push up her glasses with her right hand while the other, hand a rather large and thick book.
"Who is this guest to Soul Society that needs three lieutenants and a captain for an escort?" Matsumoto asks, as they were not told of the detail but only to escort the guest as swiftly and in secret as possible.
"I do not know Matsumoto-fukutaichou but Yamamoto-Genryuusai has stressed it that no matter what, we are to escort our guest directly to him." Nanao replied but looked over to the smiling captain. "However, I would suppose that Unohana-taichou would know more than I do."
"Ara, ara," Retsu Unohana chuckled, "Ise-fukutaichou is correct but I only know a bit more than you do. Isn't that so, Isane-fukutaichou?"
"Ah!" Kotetsu Isane said in surprised when the attention was directed towards her, "Eh…I think so? Um…but this is important right? So it doesn't really matter?"
"That's true but I'm so curious!" Matsumoto says with a bit of frustration, "I mean, why couldn't the Second Division escort her if they're so good at what they're doing?"
"That is because they're busy with something else," Ise said, "Did you not listen during our meeting?"
"I wonder when our guest with arrive?" Matsumoto ignores the latter remark Ise made causing Ise to sigh inwardly, "Makes me wonder what status of our guest is to make Yamamoto-Genryuusai to send us all here."
"Well Matsumoto-fukutaichou," Nanao started, catching her attention, "You'll find out soon enough. The portal is opening." With that said, Nanao followed suit and stood behind Unohana and next to Isane.
"Finally!" Matsumoto said while brushing off any dirt that managed to cling onto her shinigami uniform. She watched the portal open to a safe tunnel that lets guests travel without any harm. Matsumoto wonders what kind of guest it was. Maybe some super handsome man or some beautiful woman in high status or comes from a noble family.
But what stepped out of the portal slowly was not of any distinguished family from Soul Society nor any beautiful or handsome women or men. Not of normal appearance either. Sure she seen some odd colored hair and eyes but this one was different.
"Hello there!" A cheerful voice came from a happy looking girl that doesn't appeared more older than a fourteen year old, dressed in a bright pink kimono that reminds Matsumoto of Yachiru's hair. A red obi decorated red silk stitched flowered was tied around her waist in a shape of a butterfly. This girl's hair was colored sky blue, high up in a ponytail. Her big sharp catlike eyes were colored in pink, with a tint of purple in it.
"Botan-sama," Unohana said in a respectful voice and bowed deep waist that was followed by the three lieutenants behind her, "It is a great honor to have you back. I wish you will enjoy your stay here."
The one called Botan bowed back as well before straightening up with a bright smile. "Unohana-sama, it is great to be back. I hope you've been doing well for all these years."
"I have been, thank you Botan-sama." Unohana said once she straightens up, "I hope you have been well for the past years as well."
Botan chuckled, thinking of the events that happened once she met her long time friend Yusuke, "It has been well, I met many new friends."
"That is good, now shall I introduce the lieutenants behind me?" Unohana asks, stepping aside for Botan to see the three women behind her.
Botan nodded eagerly, "Of course! I'll be happy to meet them."
"Of course," Unohana said before gesturing to the one closest to her, Isane who was bowing nervously. "This is my lieutenant, Kotetsu Isane." Gesturing to Nanao who stood proudly, bowed, "This is Nanao Ise, a lieutenant of Kyouraku-taichou."
"Oh my!" Botan widen her eyes in surprise, "A lieutenant is willing to stay as one for Kyouraku-taichou? That's news…back than he goes through them like sake. You must be very competent, Ise-sama."
"Not at all, Botan-sama," Nanao said with a stern face.
"This lieutenant is Rangiku Matsumoto of the Tenth Division." Unohana said, gesturing to the bowing woman.
"Nice to meet you all!" Botan said cheerfully, "As you probably know, I am Botan! I hope that you would guide me through the things I'm not knowledgeable with."
"Shall we go now?" Unohana asks.
"Of course," Botan said, "I'll need to report to Yamamoto-sama soon."
Unohana nodded while holding on to the hilt of her sword before saying, "Minazuki…"
End of chapter 1