Eternally Bound
-A Yuyu Hakusho Fanfiction-
Kurama Youko and Botan pairing
Disclaimer: YuYu Hakusho does not belong to me… demo a cute youko kurama plushie does!!! Nyahahaha!!!
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Chapter 1: Of spirits and demons and chores!!!
"I will claim you for my own…"
Bolting upright on her bed, sweating and breathing heavily, a blue haired deity sighed and held a fisted hand directly to her pounding heart.
"Those dreams again... what do they mean?" wrapping her arms around herself she shuddered delicately and looked out her window to the early morning light. Sighing in resignation and pushing back the confusing fragments of her dream farther to the back of her mind she hurried out of her bed. As resident Deity of Death, she had more things to worry about than just pondering what her nightly dreams meant.
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"BOOOTANNN!!!!!!"
The blue haired deity gasped for the 2nd time that day and this time due to exertion as she scrambled to heed the call of her master. Just as she entered the great chambers of the prince of reikai, she breathed deeply as she stood before Koenma in his toddler form.
"Yes, Koenma-sama?"
Koenma glared at the young ferry girl before him and growled. "Where the hell have you been, Botan? You've been taking too long to finish you're duties and you're lagging behind in your responsibilities!"
Botan merely bowed down her head and murmured a slight word of apology to her master.
Topaz eyes lost some of its anger as he watched his deity even closely. "Have you been getting enough rest, Botan?"
Her head snapping quickly and flushed brick red with his obeservation. "Why do you say that, Koenma-sama?"
"Hnnnn... nothing." Arranging the stack of papers in front of him, he looked at their best ferry girl, "Botan, round up the tantei immediately, this is an urgent matter. Make sure that they all come here. Especially Hiei, then you go back to your room and get some rest. You're so pale, you look like you're going to fall off your feet."
Botan blanched at his words and bowed down in respect before hurrying to do as she was ordered to do.
Koenma looked as their resident deity hurried out of the room with worried eyes and looked down at the papers before him. Hiei would not be pleased when he finds out the details of this case.
A few hours later, four teens stood before him with a deity about to drop on her feet standing right behind them.
"So, Koenma, what's the big deal this time?" Yusuke yawned and looked at the reikai prince, all eyes were trained on the future ruler of Reikai except one pair of eyes. Emerald green eyes watched worriedly at a certain deity as she struggled to keep herself up on her feet. His attention was diverted immediately with Koenma's words as he explained to them the details of their new case. Even Botan, who was half dead on her feet snapped into attention when she heard what was the new case was all about.
All of them had been dragged out from the middle of their classes, much to the delight of both Yusuke and Kuwabara, while Hiei, who was just lounging about, wasn't hard to find. Now, in front of the Reikai prince, they all waited until the prince gave them their current mission, but the fox demon couldn't stop himself from staring the blue haired deity who was barely standing on her own. The calm quiet atmosphere broke when Koenma explained the details of their new case, Yusuke growled deep in his throat as he tried to hold down a screaming and panicked Kuwabara while Kurama held down the fire koorime with a firm grasp.
"When the hell did this happen?" Yusuke asked Koenma above the screaming inquiries of Kuwabara
"Just two days ago, I've just received the report earlier today. That's the reason why I had Botan scurrying to get the four of you immediately here." Koenma muttered and winced at the glare that Hiei was giving him at that time.
As Koenma proceeded to give the details in full to the tantei, none of them noticed when a certain blue haired deity collapsed behind them. Botan was surprised when she heard that Yukina-chan had been abducted as was not surprised at the collective responses that went with the four reikai tantei. As worried as she was for Yukina, Botan could feel her energy leaving her and struggled to keep her eyes open and continue standing but after a few moments, she had no choice and she let herself be taken in by darkness.
"Botan… Botan?" Koenma had just finished talking with the reikai tantei and was about to instruct Botan to guide them to the portal that would lead them to Makai. Jumping up on his table, Koenma gasped when he saw his ferry girl sprawled on the cold ground. "Botan!"
Kurama turned when Botan didn't respond to Koenma's call, his emerald green eyes widening in surprise when he saw their friend lying unconsciously on the floor. Hurrying beside her, he gently lifted her frail form into his arms and tested her pulse. Slow and sluggish, he frowned at the Prince who was know kneeling beside him, behind him stood the rest of their friends, even Hiei looked down worriedly at the ferry girl.
"Oi! What happened to Botan?" Yusuke asked
Koenma frowned and held his hand over Botan's chest, his topaz orbs widening when he realized the situation she was currently in. "Ayame!! Jorge!!! Get in here now!!!!!"
Kurama's arm reflexively tightened on the ferry girl's body as he looked at Koenma's worried face as they waited for help. "What's going on, Koenma?"
"I'm not sure, but Botan's reiki is dropping steadily, if we don't find a way to control the drop in her reiki, we're going to lose her." Koenma explained as Ayame and Jorge hurried in, after quickly explaining to the two, Jorge carried the unconscious ferry girl in his arms before turning to the tantei. "We're going to continue checking on Botan's reiki, while we're doing that I believe you have to be going now. You still need to get Yukina-san back."
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"Ayame…"
The ferry girl looked up and looked at their prince who was still hovering worriedly beside her. His Topaz orbs filled with concern as he looked down at the peacefully sleeping deity. A part of her was envious that the blue haired deity had managed to capture their master's eyes, but another part of her told her that she was being selfish. Botan had been on the job much more longer than her and she also knew that she would gladly give her life if needed be… so she really shouldn't be surprised that Koenma would want someone such as her to his queen. But still… Shaking herself from her thoughts she turned her full attention back to Koenma.
"Yes, sire?"
Koenma looked down at the ferry girl in front of him. Botan's azure locks was spread on the pillows supporting her head and her skin was so pale, her usual pink kimono had been changed to a light sleeping yukata, and she was bundled in her room sleeping peacefully. He frowned. With so many things going on at Reikai and then with the new problem with Hiei's sister, he had not noticed the decline in one of his ferry girls' health… much so with their best ferry girl. He sighed and ran a weary hand over his chocolate topped head.
"How is she?" he mumbled as he continued to eye the sleeping girl
Ayame sighed inwardly as she saw the pained look on Koenma's face. "Her reiki is stable… as of the moment… but it's still beyond her normal reiki so we still have to monitor her."
Koenma groaned. "I must have been giving her too much jobs here… but with Botan's attitude you'd never know if it's too much or not… she never complains…"
Ayame bit her lip. "Yes… she doesn't…"
He looked at the ferry girl standing beside him, "Ayame, make sure that Botan gets enough rest. No one is to bother her for the mean time… is that clear?"
"Yes, sire."
With that command, Koenma turned on his hell and left the room quietly, Ayame sighed again and looked at Botan. "You're lucky you know… at least he's worried about you…" she whispered to her friend as she sat down beside her bed, she sighed again as she laid her head on her folded arms. I've been in love with him since I took this job as a ferry girl… but… "I wonder if he'll ever see me…" she wondered out loud in the room before closing her eyes and nodding of to sleep.
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Slowly opening her eyes to the gloom, amethyst orbs adjusted to the light coming from her side, orienting herself. Eyes widening, she jackknifed from her bed to a sitting position startling the sleeping ferry girl beside her.
"Wha??" Ayame groggily looked up and saw Botan sitting on her bed. Snapping into alertness Ayame jumped up from her chair, "Botan-san! What are you doing up? You should be resting!"
The blue haired ferry girl looked at her friend, "Ayame-san! Yukina-chan! What happened to Yukina-chan?" she asked her friend in a hurry as she grabbed on to her kimono.
Ayame was surprised at Botan's outburst and tried to placate her friend. "Nee, Botan-san, you need to relax… the Reikai Tantei have already left for Makai and are already working to save your friend."
Botan merely groaned as Ayame tried to push her down shaking her head, she tried to push away the feelings of disorientation from her head. Something was wrong… she can feel it… something was happening to her… she just doesn't have any idea why or what's happening to her. A hot lancing pain shot throughout her body, but before she can utter a sound in discomfort, images flashed through her eyes making the ferry girl gasp in response. The last image that flashed through her eyes made the young girl release a blood curdling scream that made the other ferry girl drop down to the floor in shock.
Ayame looked at Botan who was still sobbing on her bed, she slowly tried to stand up and heard dimly the crashing of the doors behind her as the Prince of Reikai entered in a hurry.
"Ayame! What's going on?!" Koenma gasped as he skidded to a halt beside the ferry girl who looked white as sheet. Looking at Botan who was still sobbing in the middle of her bed, Koenma faced the other ferry girl and shook her. "Ayame!"
Ayame blinked and focused her gaze to the man holding her, realizing that it was Koenma who was holding her, Ayame snapped back into reality.
"Ayame! What's going on?" Koenma asked the girl in front of him as she continued to look at him in a daze. Her eyes flitted from him to the still sobbing ferry girl, he heard her take in a deep shuddering breath. "I… I.. don't know…" came the soft whisper, "she just woke up and started to ask about Yukina-san… and then when I told her to get some rest because the Tantei already went to Makai, she suddenly stared blankly ahead and then she just screamed…."
Koenma blinked at her words and scowled. Turning to face the still sobbing ferry girl she started to grab Botan's shoulder when a hand stopped his movements. Looking at who stopped him, Koenma was surprised to Ayame holding his arm, her face focused on the ferry girl.
"We should leave her alone, Koenma-sama…" she whispered to him, and before he can make an appropriate response, he felt himself being tugged out of the room which left him staring the now closed doors of his ferry girl's chamber. In his teenage form, Koenma turned and glared at Ayame. But before he could speak Ayame's soft voice cut him off in surprise.
"She's not from here…"
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Yusuke yawned. "Shit. That has got to be the fastest mission we've ever done!" He turned his head and barely able to suppress his chuckle when saw the dark scowl that the fire demon was sporting at the moment as Kuwabara continued to gush over the ice maiden. Their mission had been completed quickly and efficiently, they had managed to get Yukina out safely from other demons who plan to use her tears and her ice powers to make a place for themselves in Ningenkai and at the same time managed to face the wrath of Kuwabara and the enraged fire demon. He merely shook his head in amusement when his eyes found the too quiet kitsune. "Oi, Kurama, what's up?"
Emerald eyes looked up and saw his friend coming up to him. "Nan demo nai…" he whispered
Yusuke merely smirked. "Yeah. Nothing my ass… you're worried about Botan aren't you?" the detective merely grinned when he saw the faint dull red color the fox demons face. "Heh. Thought so…" turning serious he looked at his red headed friend. "Demo, seriously, what do you think happened to Botan? I've never saw her that pale before…"
The fox demon merely frowned and kept silent. When they arrived at Reikai with news of a new mission, he had been faintly surprised to see Botan… practically dead on her feet. But before he could ask her what seemed to be the problem, Koenma explained the details of the case to them. So tuned in were they to Koenma's report that none of them had noticed when Botan collapsed on the floor. What even surprised him the most was when he held her in his arms, he had sensed that her reiki was almost none existent… very weak… and a flicker of something else. He could have sworn that he knew exactly what that was, but before he could verify his guess, Koenma took the ferry girl from his arms and transferred her to his orge assistant, Jorge. His thoughts ended abruptly when he heard Yukina's soft inquiry. Before he could answer the ice demon, Kuwabara answered for him.
Yukina's eyes widened in surprise. "Is she alright? Is there anything we could do to help her?" she asked worriedly as they came near Genkai's place.
Yusuke merely shook his head. "Nope. Until Koenma tells us exactly what's going on, there's nothing we could do to help her."
Kurama merely frowned and looked up at the blue tinged skies, he knew that Yusuke and Kuwabara will be heading to their respective homes soon enough and Hiei will stay and make sure that his sister is going to be alright… predictably, he do it in secret. "I'll drop by Reikai and see what's going on and give Koenma the results of our work."
Yusuke smirked at him while Hiei gave him a smirk reminiscent of that of Yusuke.
"You go do that fox boy. Tell Botan we said hi to her, ok?"
Kurama merely shook his head at Yusuke's not-so-subtle teasing and made his way to Reikai. Upon arriving at Reikai, he immediately made his way to Koenma's office. Koenma looked up from his papers when he saw the youkai thief incarnate standing in front of him, currently in his teenage form, he smiled at the spirit detective.
"I believe all went well with your mission?"
The kitsune nodded, "Hai. Yukina-san is currently staying with Genkai-san and the demons who kidnapped her… well, lets just say that they're not going to live to trouble any of us again." He answered while a smirk made its way to his usually placid face as he added the last part, remembering clearly just how easily Kuwabara and Hiei killed those demons.
Koenma merely chuckled. "That's good." He answered before he looked down at the papers in front of him, lifting his head when Kurama called him and asked about their friend. Without answering, he looked down on the papers he was currently holding… it was the file on a certain deity of death. He had been compelled to look at her files when Ayame voiced out that Botan wasn't from Reikai. And right now, the results on the file was quite troubling. Looking up at the red headed teen in front of him, he sighed yet again.
"Kurama, as you know something is wrong with Botan-chan," at the answering nod he continued, "right now, we have no idea as to what's the reason for the sudden drop in her reiki, and that's what we intend to find out."
"But, is she alright?"
Koenma nodded. "Yes. Right now, she's doing perfectly fine. But for the meantime, I'm going to request for you to escort Botan to Ningenkai, I think Genkai-san wouldn't mind letting her spend some time there with her until she fully recuperates and find out what's the reason for the decline in her spirit energy."
The red head fox demon merely nodded and made his way to his friend's room. Giving a two soft knocks on the door, he was surprised to see Botan up and about wearing her usual pink kimono. The amethyst eyes deity looked up at him in surprise when she saw him standing outside her room.
"Kurama-san! What are you doing here?" she whispered softly in surprise. She was still feeling weak and disoriented, and the last image still burned clearly in her mind, making her a bit unsure of her surroundings and herself.
Kurama frowned at the soft voiced deity in front of him. Usually Botan was so energetic and ditzy, as Yusuke would call it, but he had never seen Botan look or act this way. "I came here to check on you, Botan-san, and to escort you to Ningenkai."
The ferry girl merely blink and uttered a soft "oh" before moving back from her door, allowing him to enter her chamber. Upon entering her room, Kurama stopped abruptly at the surge of memories that flashed through him as her scent over flooded his senses. Clenching his hands to a white knuckled fist, he struggled to contain the youko in him from breaking free. She, after all, had no memories of him whatsoever. Trying to act nonchalant, he tilted his head a bit and regarded her carefully. "Are you sure you're alright to travel Botan-san?"
Botan lifted her head slowly, true that she was feeling very tired but she can't help but grin brightly at her companion. "Daijobou! I'm sure it was just a silly dizzy spell. I'll be fine in a few hours… oh, and by the way, what do you mean to escort me to ningenkai?"
Kurama regarded her carefully. "Koenma told me to escort you to ningenkai where you'll be staying for a few days until you're fully recovered."
The ferry girl looked at him in disbelief and snorted in a very unlady like fashion to tell him exactly what she thought about that, making the man in front of her chuckle at her antics. "As if. I'm really alright. Mou!"
"He just wants to make sure that you get enough rest before he lets you back to your job… consider it a… vacation."
Botan's amethyst eyes twinkled with mirth at that, "Vacation, eh? In that case, lead me to ningenkai!" she chirped. Her dreams pushed back at the back of her mind as she giggled at her companion.
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AN: AWWWWWW!!!! It's been a long time since I've written anything!!! Guys please review!!! Really need some boost!!! Reviews plsssss!!!!
Aoi-chan