Karin: Here's a fractured fairytale from me!

Title: Once Upon a Time
Pairing(s): Kurama/Botan, Hiei/Botan, Yusuke/Keiko, Yukina/Kuwabara
Rating: T
Summary: In which a witch's apprentice journeys to prove herself and encounters a headstrong street rat, a fiery princess, a cursed swordsman, a king of thieves, a warrior in disguise, and a honorable prisoner.

Disclaimer: Don't own Yu Yu

Once Upon a Time

When Will My Life Begin?

The breeze tickled her face as she opened the latch to the rooftop, her lantern shining bright amongst the stars. She smiled, glad to see it was a clear night and breathed in the chilling air. Her amethyst eyes shined excitedly as she looked up at the stars. She placed her chin in her hands, sighing in contentment as she gazed up at the many different constellations.

A pull towards the sky called to her. Its vast contents singing to her to leave the ground and be one with the clouds. She bit her lip in giddiness, imagining herself flying through the night sky.

"What are you doing, silly girl?!" her mistress hollered, startling the young woman. "You're letting the cold in, come down here!"

The blue haired girl sighed woefully, grabbing her lantern and taking one last longing look at the sky before shutting the hatch and journeying down the ladder. A short old woman glared at her knowingly from her spot at the cauldron, her worn pink tresses touching her wrinkled face as she stirred its contents. The bright colors mesmerized the young girl.

"Still wasting time looking at the stars instead of doing your chores I see." the old woman remarked making the blue haired girl blush.

"Apologies, Master Genkai." The apprentice replied, going near her cot and beginning to tie her hair back into a pony tail. Fastening her corset, she finished off by tying a ratty cloak over her shoulders. "Sometimes… sometimes I feel like they're calling to me I guess."

"The stars tell us lots of things, Botan. Many sorcerers call upon the power of the heavens and the gods who reside there to answer our questions." The old woman, Genkai, explained continuing her stirring. "But usually the gods never answer. It's time to stop being a dimwit and actually do something instead of sighing like a little girl all day." Genaki reprimanded. The girl, Botan, blushed in embarrassment.

"Sorry, Master, but perhaps maybe—"

"Enough about callings and dreams, Botan. It's time to focus on our work." Genkai dismissed her. Botan nodded, not wanting to incur her master's wraith. It is a well-known fact that Genkai was a very skillful witch that could easily turn a human into a toad in five seconds flat. When Botan was younger and less disciplined, Genkai would transform her into a peony to learn patience. She walked closer to the cauldron, sniffing its contents.

"It smells a little off." Botan commented. Genkai gave a smirk.

"Good. You're getting better at detecting potions. Get the frog's breath on the shelf—that should do the trick." Botan obeyed and sprayed some of the foul-smelling odor into the pot. The pot changed from a poison green to a rich magenta. "Excellent. Ready the vial. This one is ready to be transported."

Once that was done, Genkai packaged the vial into a basket.

"What's this one do, Master Genkai?" Botan asked. Genkai smirked.

"Nothing special. The mother ordered an illusion spell to trick her children into thinking there were demons under their beds when they didn't behave." Genkai cackled. Botan frowned.

"That sounds horrible! Shouldn't she just discipline them instead?"

"We're witches, Botan, not guidance counselors. Eris and Hecate granted us the knowledge of the mystic arts in order to cause mischief to please the gods. Why waste our gifts cause of morality? The world hates what we can do, and we in turn cast spells to punish those we see fit or those who threaten to harm us." Genkai explained. Botan sighed, used to this.

"I know… I just feel like maybe we could perhaps use our knowledge to do good things."

"Let me tell you something, dimwit," Genkai said, "mortals are cruel creatures. If we show them kindness, they'll take advantage and use us for their own gain. Better to stay on top of the chain and it's best you learn that quick." the elder witch readied her red cloak and her hat, the sign of a powerful mage.

"I guess you're leaving again…" Botan said sadly. Genkai nodded. Botan prepared her basket of food and handed it to her. "When will I be able to travel?"

"You're not ready yet, Botan." Genkai replied. "You're still too naïve to survive out in the world on your own. At your state right now, I wouldn't trust you to deliver a cake, much less a potion." She chided. Her apprentice bristled.

"What? I can do it, Master Genkai! I've been with you since I was a babe, learning under you and while I'm not as powerful as you, I can hold my own." Botan protested.

"Do I have to turn you into a peony again to learn patience, girl?" Genkai asked warningly. "The world is too dark and full of criminals. You wouldn't last a day off this mountain." Genkai turned her back, continuing, "you'd probably get mugged by a bunch of thugs the moment you were out of our barrier. One day you shall be able to go out into the world and continue spreading mischief and chaos, but now you are too kind hearted. You will only be disappointed at the state the world has become." Meanwhile Botan was mocking her behind her back, but Genkai zapped the cupboard behind her in warning. Botan squeaked. She looked down at her feet, biting her lip. Genaki sighed, sensing the melancholy swirling around her charge.

"One day, my flower, you shall be able to go wherever you please, but today is not that day." Genkai promised. Botan shuffled her feet and nodded, grabbing the woman's broomstick. Genkai took it and thanked her, making Botan smile, which in turn made her mentor give a smirk.

'I'm going soft.' Genkai thought. She opened the door to their house and traveled to the open yard. Botan stood in the doorway, waving to her. Genkai smirked and saluted, before launching herself into the air and flying off. Botan sighed wistfully.

'One day I will be able to fly among the stars like Master Genkai. One day I will be able to be free.' Botan thought yearningly. She blew out the lantern on the outside porch and retreated into the house. Leaning against the door, she sighed again, grabbing a broom and began to sweep. She pretended she was able to fly with it and then laughed at herself for being silly. Remembering Genkai's words though, caused her to be serious.

"Is this why Genkai won't advance my training? Because I'm too childish?" she asked herself. She received no answer, and growled in frustration. "I can handle myself just fine against thugs thank you! I bet I can turn them all into newts faster than Master Genkai can blink!" this frustration caused her to sweep harder, making dust fly everywhere and send her into a coughing fit.

Botan sighed, shaking her head. She busied herself with dusting the house with all of the relics inside. She had to spend an extra amount of time on one of the statues that portrayed what looked like a blue penguin with funny hair hanging above the cauldron on an incense burner. Conjuring up a flame with her finger, she lit some incense to help clear out the smell of dust. Opening the latch again, her eyes focused once more on the night sky. The starry night twinkled back at her, and she wondered what exactly the gods did all day in the heavens.

"Come to us, sweet peony. Come to us." The stars seem to whisper to her. She closed her eyes, listening to the whispers. She reached her hand out towards the night sky, breathing in the night air. The smell of incense wafted through her senses and calmed her, and the voices grew louder, more insistent. She stretched up, standing on her tip toes, as if to stretch closer to the sky.

The voices grew louder—as if they were shouting. Her mind started to crack at the intensity, images flying through her mind faster than she could comprehend. She saw Genkai, cloaked in the night instead of using her usual scarlet robes. It was raining—she was holding something—what was it?

Botan's eyes snapped open, before rolling into the back of her head and her hand fell limp at her side. Her form slumped, and she fell off the ladder onto the floor with a loud bang.

She was walking in the forest, deciding to trek through under the cover of nightfall instead of being out in the open sky where there was no protection. It was a real pain to be journeying through the forest when she was so old, but she knew it was for the best. She clenched her broomstick at her side, listening to the sounds. Something was following her. She knew who it was.

Their presence grew stronger and she jumped, readying to fly away on her broom, but before she could do so, she heard a unholy howl. They had found her.

Amethyst eyes snapped open, Botan gasping for breath like she was drowning. Sweat trickled down her face as she placed a hand on her forehead, sitting up. The sun shown through the windows, signaling that it was daytime. She placed a hand on her pounding heart. That dream felt so real…

"I don't have a broomstick nor have I traveled in the forest. Could the gods have sent me a vision? I felt old… like I lived a long time." She looked down at her hand, contemplating. Her fist clenched. "Could it be? Could something have happened to Master Genkai?" Botan received no answer, and she sprung up hastily. "I must go! Master Genkai needs me!"

However, her cheek came in contact with a sharp blade, the point cutting into her skin.

"You're not going anywhere." A voice hissed behind her.

Karin: Here you go. Let me know what you think. Should I continue?