Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho.

Summary: The two times he tried to kiss her, and the third time he actually did. Kurama/Botan.

A/N: This is a short story, probably just a three-shot, I think. I've seen this prompt used before, and I just couldn't resist to write my take on my favorite pairing. I know, I know, I still have a lot of stories to finish, but… the temptation! It was too strong. Welp. Anyways, I hope you enjoy this! I'm not a very good writer, but I hope to share my ideas with fellow KB fans so I'm sorry if this isn't very well-written… Well, enough of my blabbering- on to the story!

Chapter 1: First Tries Aren't Always a Success

He first met her fifteen years ago.

Back then, he was cruel, merciless- he was Youko Kurama, the legendary demon thief, feared by all in Makai. Back then, he was also the hunter, the hunted, and sometimes both in few cases.

But when he saw her, he was being the hunted.

He remembered the pain- the bullet, the shot at his shoulder, which was bleeding an excessive amount of blood at the time. He tried to hide, but the drops of blood indicating his trail managed to lead the hunter to his whereabouts, no matter where he ran off to. He recalled cursing the one who hired the hunter to kill him- wondered who the culprit was, but knew there was little time to ponder the answer as he was being chased down and shot at every sight of his shadow.

Then, after hours of running, he saw her.

She floated on that wooden oar, her locks of blue hair glimmering under the moonlight as they flew with the bone-chilling breeze. The cold bothered him, but it did not seem to cause her any discomfort. Her wide pools of amethysts stared down at him with a strange look- at first glance, he thought they were pretty- at second glance, he figured they looked childish with that bright gleam- but after a long, hard look, he realized that glint was not of a child's, but more of a wise entity. She was of Reikai origins- he could tell from her scent and the slight transparent of her form, which didn't even include her suppressed Spirit Energy- and briefly, he couldn't help but wonder about her age.

Then, after a pause that seemed to drag on forever, he stopped staring at her as she pointed at her right.

"There's a portal," she spoke, her voice soft, with a firm edge, "to Ningenkai. You can escape through there. The hunter won't find you in the realm of the humans."

At first, he wanted to brush her off- maybe even give her a brief chastising for even implying that he should make a sanctuary out of Ningenkai. But then he caught the serious look on her feminine features, the flicker of will and determination in her purple orbs, and he lost the capability to even utter out one word of refusal.

He had nodded yes. But he asked her the reason she was helping him.

Her pink lips had curled upwards into a wide grin. Friendly. Even reassuring. "I've been watching you. Been keeping check on your files," was her answer, "and I think you are a nice man."

He wondered briefly if this girl had a sound mind. In what way was he nice? He did not do any good deeds. He was not a fool- he knew Reikai kept files of his crimes- probably in a thick, huge brown folder with a picture of his face at the top. And if this woman did a good job surveying it, she would not be calling him nice. He was at the top in the Wanted list of Reikai- and shouldn't she be cheering for his death?

She seemed to notice the questioning eyebrow he arched at her and a girlish fit of giggles escaped her. She covered her mouth with the sleeve of her kimono, her shut eyelids the only sign of her amusement. "I like to view the best attributes of people, you see, instead of being focused on their bad ones. It is easier to be positive and helpful that way."

He blinked. "Helpful?"

She nodded, the sleeve on her lips removed to reveal a beautiful smile. "Yes. I believe everyone deserves help, is that not right?"

"I do not need any help."

"Yes, you do. You are badly hurt," she told him firmly before ushering him off to the direction where she had pointed. "Run along now. There's no time. The portal will close in fifteen minutes. If you rush for it now, you can make it in time." She paused, turning her head to the left. "And the hunter is on his way, so you'd best be going. No more questions. Go now. Just go straight and you will reach the portal in no time at all."

He wanted more time for inquiries, needed to know more. No one ever bothered showering him with kindness- no, for all the time he lived in Makai, everyone was too selfish and only cared for themselves. He only knew the harsh, brutal world, the rule of 'kill and be killed', and instead of a peaceful air, he had breathed a mist of blood. He had seen more carnage than he should have even when he was at a young age- and not even once did anyone offer him a helping hand. Aside from Kuronue- who had died a long time ago, leaving him alone in this cruel reality. And even then the black-haired demon had been wary of him the first time they met- hell, he even tried to kill him before he agreed to form a partnership with him after he saw how strong Kurama was. He hadn't been nice and welcoming towards Kurama in the first few months they had known each other- it took him a year before he could put some faith in the fox and decided to help him out more.

But this girl- this woman from Reikai- Reikai, for god's sake! Reikai who harbored prejudice towards demons- was giving him the kind of help he didn't deserve, even though she didn't know him. She said she had been observing him, had been reading his files- but was that testimony enough of a reason? She was utterly too selfless for his taste. Mostly because she ignited this strange force to pull at the strings of his heart. He wanted to thank her. Wanted to know her name. But he knew there was no time. No more seconds wasted- except for one question.

"You're supposed to collect my soul, are you not?"

She blinked, startled, but she got over the shock sooner than expected. Another smile pulled at the corners of her mouth. "Yes, indeed. You sure do live up to your name, don't you, Youko Kurama? You are quite intelligent."

"Then why are you doing this? Won't you get into trouble for letting a soul escape?"

"Perhaps." She giggled again, and he watched as she rose the oar higher up in the air. "But I do have faith in you. And I believe anyone can reform, even a thief like you. Everyone deserves a second chance, after all. Besides," She turned around, but not before sparing him a final, fleeting glance, "it is a shame to have you die so soon."

Then, with a last fit of soft laughter, she was gone with a flutter of the wind, leaving in her wake only the whiff of her vanilla scent.

With her advice, he ran on his heels for the portal with the hunter right behind him. He got shot once more, yes- this time at the side of his waist. But she had been correct- he did manage to make it in time- entering the portal and watching it close from behind him just as the hunter was about to go in. A surge of relief had overwhelmed him, and by the time he reached Ningenkai, he saw a woman, probably in her mid-twenties. His energy was rapidly draining, but if he entered another body, he had a chance to regain his power. He went inside the woman and merged with the baby within.

Ten years. He was determined. Ten years, and he would leave. Gone back to Makai. Or perhaps he would search for that ferry girl. Properly thank her for everything she did.

But he did not expect to love his adopted mother- did not expect his own desire to stay until she was no longer of this world. That would no doubt be a long time, and though he was more than happy to be by his mother's side, he knew he would have to wait until she had passed away before he could meet that woman again. And he found himself missing her smile, missing her blue hair, her amethyst eyes- but mostly he missed her kindness. With each passing day, the affections he had managed to suppress grew steadily stronger- no matter how hard he tried to ignore them for the sake of his mother.

But fifteen years later, he met her again.

She was an assistant of that young boy, Yusuke Urameshi- a Reikai Tantei. She hadn't recognized him, but a look of recognition had crossed her visage only for a fleeting moment before she'd brushed it off. He suspected she recognized his Demon Energy, but knew she didn't believe it was him because it was far weaker than before. She stared at him with a doubtful look in her magenta irises, the expression in her eyes a direct contrast to the warm welcome he had seen fifteen years ago.

He decided to help Yusuke after he owed the boy for nearly throwing his life away and saving his mother's. And during those times he did, with Hiei, with the Saint Beasts- though the second time it was mostly due to reason he wanted to be acquitted on all accounts for his past crimes- he wouldn't deny that he had wished to be alone with her. But that chance never came up, even as he helped her close up Keiko's demon eye before- but at the time they were both too preoccupied with the circumstances to engage in idle chatter. They had teased Yusuke at the end of the case, though. But even though right then there was a hint of trust in her eyes when she looked at him, she did not stay after Yusuke had left, leaving as soon as possible after a bid of farewell to dutifully report to Koenma. He was not easily dismissed, however, and knew he would have more opportunities to talk to her. Or maybe just be alone with her, just the two of them.

That right set of circumstances was granted to him at the denouement of the Saint Beasts' case.

She had been unconscious- they found her in Ningenkai, on Yusuke's school grounds with Keiko. They brought her to Kuwabara's, and Hiei left the moment he reached the carrot-top's household. She was resting in Kuwabara's room, and Kurama made up an excuse of wanting to check up on her, to see if she had any injuries before going to see her. It wasn't a far stretch from the truth though- it was partly his reason, but most of him merely wanted to be alone with her, to be fully honest. Even if she wasn't awake, it was enough if he could be beside her.

So now he sat there, on an unoccupied space on the bed, studying her. He reached a hand out after a hesitant pause, his fingers brushing the blue fringe from her long eyelashes. His gaze fixed on every inch of her face, from her thick eyelids, to her well-sculptured blue brows, her rounded, flushed cheeks, and her pink, full lips. His emerald eyes lingered on her mouth, scrutinizing the glossy texture of her soft lips.

Soft, honey dew, inviting lips…

Temptation called out to him and he found that he couldn't resist. Didn't even try. Didn't even want to. He'd realized he waited for this for so long, so he placed a hand on the right side of her head, his face leaning closer to hers. His eyelids fluttered close as her warm breath fanned over his lips, teasing and featherlike as his heart began to race in his chest. His mouth was merely an inch from hers when…

… the door suddenly flew open.

He pulled back with the speed of a lightning bolt, standing up promptly from the bed. Surprise flitted over his countenace for a second, before he quickly regained his composure and slipped his stoic mask back into place.

In came Kuwabara, who was asking for his assistance on his math homework. And Kurama tried not to let his annoyance show as he curved his mouth upwards into a curt smile and agreed to help before they both left Botan alone.

Never mind, he had told himself. He would have more chances. And he would make good use of the opportunity the second time it came.

He was patient, after all. The matter of how long he would have to wait was not relevant.