Before you read: Please be warned that I am a busy girl and I may not update frequently. I probably will not update this until I'm done with Past Life and Lost Souls. But it's not always that I get this inspired to write something other than fics for my beloved Botan so let us savor the moment :)

Off The Sidelines (c) Chibi Botan

Prologue

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Blend in the Crowd

They walked past me, not noticing. They spoke to each other, oblivious to the world around them. They blended in the crowd.

Well, if you ignore that the smaller one had forest green hair. On present times it is not so hard--there is that so called pop teens who wear whatever colors they want. You could even think she's just a cosplayer, or just fooling around. In the busy shopping district of Hiroshima you wouldn't even care. You just go around, minding your own business.

But they are my business.

They lazily strolled, and did not even spare me a single glance. That is good. Now they stopped to look at a dress shop just across the street from my coffee shop. Wiping the windows I could watch them, whispering to each other, maybe debating if the blue dress is worth the price, I just don't care. My eyes focus on her--not the green haired one but her companion. With chocolate coloured hair and eyes, fair complexion, small body frame, she's a beauty. But in the human world she could be easy to miss.

Not with my trained private eyes.

She's the reason I am here, the reason I needed a human guise. To get her. So far it has been nothing but easy. Looking at her now I am sure she'll be worshiping me halfway through Plan A. There is no doubt in my mind that the girl will do as I will command her to.

Now, it begins.

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Cold Treatment

Keiko missed four volleyball practice meets in a row. Four, when she's never missed even one before.

Watching as her teammates get ready, Yusuke tries to think where else to go and look for her. The library is closed, and her friends were mostly home. She was not one who hangs out after class, she always went straight to the Ramen Restaurant. But he just went there, and her parents said she hasn't turned up yet. Just like the other days.

This has been happening for the past few weeks.

When she finally shows up, she would say she just went for a walk, and keeps dodging his questions--very calmly.

Perhaps this is the one thing that bothers him most. She had been so calm, so collected. He can't help but feel suspicious.

And worried.

Worried that he's done something to earn this cold treatment. But try as he might he had no inkling on what he might have done so bad. Because Kami knows he's been refined since he returned. He felt so guilty for those three years he was gone, he made sure she wouldn't regret she waited.

Now, what? There's nothing he could think of but head back to the restaurant, and wait for her to return.

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Something's Amiss

She blew chains of smoke in the air. Her gaze followed the chains as they floated, hovered, and eventually faded above them.

She tried not to look at Kazuma, who paced back and forth about the living room. He refused to sit down or eat or drink or watch the television or read anything. He sure is intent to try her patience, and she would die than admit that it's worrying her too.

A few months ago, Yusuke and their father brought Yukina home. Kazuma assigned himself as her guardian, and from that time the two were inseparable. Knew to this sorroundings, Yukina depended on him to show her around, explain her things. Her presence made him feel like a knight in shining armor. They all lived in harmony.

Until a few weeks ago. Suddenly, Yukina always had somewhere to go, alone.

Shizuru thought it was okay, the girl might just be bored. She explained this to her brother. This hurt Kazuma, but they both agreed to let the girl have some space. She stayed out for hours, but she has never been this late.

Kazuma stopped to stare at the wall clock, as he almost ritually did every few minutes. "Fifteen past midnight." He sighed, and desparately looked at her. "That's it, I'm going to look for her. You can't stop me again," he shouted at her, and was about to run from her (in case she tried to stop him again) when the door opened.

Shizuru looked past her brother. Her eyes slightly dimmed as she watched the girl mutter a polite apology for being late. She talked to someone she met and lost track of time, she explained meekly. Shizuru watched as the girl silently, effectively waved off Kazuma, who was about to embrace her, breathlessly telling her how worried he was, how he planned to find her, to make sure she's alright, and so on.

Before Kuwabara gave another string of awkward remarks, Shizuru instructed the girl to go upstairs to rest.

But not without scanning the girl's face for something amiss.

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Cornered

They disappeared again. This time, they knew the two left together. Where to? That is the question.

With Kurama's advise, they headed to Reikai, intent to wring out from a certain ferry girl whatever information she might have.

If there was someone who could know where the two disappeared to this time, it could be their common friend, Botan.

She better know, because they did not travel to Reikai in the middle of the night for nothing. She must know. She could be the only way to understand this.

Kazuma and Yusuke had been hopeful, even sure that they will get the girl to tell them where Keiko and Yukina is.

That, until she stared at them and gave them a grave, "I have no idea."

.

Thank you for reading!

Written by Chibi Botan, 11 March 2009.

PS: Is it improper (or confusing) that I'm calling Kuwabara "Kazuma" all the time?

PS PS: And yeah, if you find errors / grammar issues please do tell me. I'd love to know anything that will help me improve writing fics.