STAND STILL by Danielle Winters
Chapter 2: Creeping in the Light
Botan sighed as she read the invitation in her hand. Yusuke had dropped by in her office the other day and gave her invitation to his wedding with Keiko. She was pleasantly surprised and touched by the former detective's invitation. She was happy that the rowdy and arrogant soul she watched over until he became a spirit detective is finally marrying the woman he truly loves. While she was eager to go for she missed her friends dearly, Botan was hesitant to leave her post as well in the river Styx especially now that there have been a lot of souls being ferried across the river and guided to the Spirit Realm for their judgment. While Botan was already used with the huge number of human souls being ferried on a daily basis, she could not help but notice the significant increase of youkai souls coming in as well. Most of the youkai souls being guided across the river were in Class C and B, quite powerful already and could not be easily killed unless they engaged in a battle to the death. Inhabitants of Makai are pretty much like residents of Reikai; they live for countless number of years and will only cease to exist through natural causes of death (like what happened to Toushin Raizen, Yusuke's ancestor) or if they die in battle (like Toguro and Karasu). As much as Botan wanted to think that many youkai are dying of natural causes, she could not help but to feel uneasy. Trusting her intuition, Botan summoned Hinageshi to her office and ordered the young ferry girl to bring a copy of the reports to Koenma. As Botan commanded Hinageshi to urgently deliver the reports to Koenma, someone back in Makai is presently being pushed on a tight spot.
"You stalked the wrong youkai." Hiei hissed as he stealthily ran across the Forest of Woes in Makai. He was on his way back to Mukuro's castle from his patrolling when he felt like someone was following him. Activating his Jagan Eye, Hiei tried to pinpoint the direction of his stalker; however, the being following him around is as stealthy as he is. To add to Hiei's frustration, his would-be stalker knows how to hide its youki. Hiei knew that he had to lead his stalker astray but his pride wanted him to prove that he is the type of youkai no one should mess around. Hiei saw a hill a few meters away from him. He quickly made his way to the hills and skidded to stop. Unsheathing his sword, Hiei prepared himself to do battle. "It is wiser if you show yourself instead of hiding behind the trees. I know you've been following me despite your efforts to hide your youki." Hiei said. He then heard someone laughed and right before him, someone had appeared, clad in the traditional garb of a Shinto priest while its face is covered by a No mask. Hiei heard a menacing laugh came from the being that stood in front of him. "You dare speak before me you lowly being. You are merely pawns that we can use to do our own bidding." The being said arrogantly and Hiei was perturbed by what it said to him. The being began to laugh again, its ki surrounding its body. Hiei's eyes widened when he saw the color of ki…"It can't be…" he muttered as he prepared himself for a difficult battle. Sensing that Hiei was in danger and sensing the dangerous aura near her territory, Mukuro sprang out of her bed and rushed to where Hiei is. "This isn't good." Mukuro whispered as she quickly made her way to the hill.
Kurama and Kuwabara were having their dinner in Yusuke's ramen shop. Yes, the former spirit detective's ramen stall had been sold as he took over the Yukimura Ramen Shop (the ramen shop that Keiko's family owned). Since their engagement, Keiko's father happily turned over his shop to his soon to be son-in-law much to the delight and embarrassment of Yusuke. Yusuke were telling his friends his meeting with the new Reikai leader, a.k.a Koenma and his visit to Botan's office located near the river Styx.
"Until now, I still find it hard to picture Koenma as the leader of Reikai." Kuwabara commented as he heartily slurped on the soup of his ramen. "And Botan has her own office? Well good for her." He added.
"You should have seen Botan!" Yusuke started. "She was swamped with papers and charts. I didn't realize the gravity of her work as ferry girl before until I saw her the other day barking orders at the other ferry girls. Man I knew she can be bossy if she wanted to."
"Can be bossy? She is bossy!" Kuwabara reacted. "Did you see how she treated me during the Dark Tournament?"
"In her defense, you were injured. She was just looking after your well-being." Kuraman reasoned out. He wasn't too happy by the fact that Botan's name has been dragged in their conversation.
"Well I agree with Kurama here. Your bones were crackling!" Yusuke grinned at Kuwabara much to the taller man's chagrin.
"Shut up Urameshi! I won my battle didn't I despite of my injuries." Kuwabara retorted.
"Yeah…because Yukina was there." Yusuke snickered.
"In any case, are Koenma and Botan attending your wedding?" Kurama inquired trying to keep his voice calm and steady. Yusuke looked at him and nodded.
"Lord Brat and his lovely fiancée confirmed their attendance. Botan's a different story though. She said she might not be able to come considering the number of souls crossing the river Styx." Yusuke explained.
"Surely she CAN leave her post for a day?" Kuwabara questioned. Kurama inwardly agreed to Kuwabara's question.
Kurama will not deny that fact that the ferry girl and former assistant of Yusuke hold a very special place in his heart. If he will be asked when he began developing feelings for the bubbly and charming grim reaper, it was about the time of the Dark Tournament. Unlike the other girls he had met, Botan was the only one who was not wary, embarrassed or awe-struck of his looks. She treated everyone with utmost care and respect.
He had reason to believe that there is more than meets the eye when it comes to their resident grim reaper. He found it odd that a cheerful and bubbly lady would be associated with death.
"But death is already a sad thing for almost everyone..." Botan reasoned out as she and Kurama were talking with each other. The Urameshi Team had a break from the tournament and almost everyone went out either to train or to have fun. Kurama bumped into Botan who had just gone back from Reikai. The two of them decided to walk around the beach area as they looked for Hiei whose arm was injured from his first fight. "The least I can do is to console them on their journey to Reikai for judgment. I really don't want to scare them or make them feel bad about passing away even more. The mere thought of living your physical body is already scary and leaving your love ones brings a pang of loneliness."
"That's what I said to her!" Yusuke shouted at Kuwabara. His voice took out Kurama from his stupor. The next thing he saw was Kuwabara grabbing Yusuke's shirt and Yusuke ready to punch the day light out of Kuwabara.
"Some things never change." He chuckled as he watched his friends and former comrades bicker like teenagers.
Hinageshi flew towards the ferry girls' headquarters as quickly as she can. She was shaken by what she had seen in Koenma's office. Ayame had ordered her to quickly go to Botan and take her away from the river Styx as quickly as possible. Ayame's reiki has been drained already but she stood as she prepared to defend the young ferry girl. Koenma was stone cold on the floor as George tried to put a kekkai barrier around the fallen leader's body. Before Hinageshi flew out, he saw a being clad in a Shinto priest's garb and a sad No mask covering its face. "I hope I'm not yet late!" Hinageshi said to herself she sped towards Botan's office. She saw the roof of their headquarters but nothing prepared her for what she had seen next.
The usually calm and pristine river Styx is now blood red and with swarms of souls trying to pass back towards Ningenkai, Makai and Reikai. The gates of punishment, where all souls both humans and youkai who did atrocities in their life are being punished, has been left open. Her fellow ferry girls are being pulled by the souls in the river while some tried to flee. On the roof of the headquarters stood a being who was wearing the same outfit as the being that attacked Koenma but its No mask bears a smiling expression. On the shore of the river Styx, across the headquarters stood Botan. She summoned a kekkai barrier to hold-off the souls trying to get to Ningenkai and Reikai.
"Botan-san!" She called out. Botan saw her and she had determined look on her face, however, Hinageshi noticed that she was getting weaker and weaker from holding off the kekkai barrier and she continues, she will eventually drain her reiki and life force.
"Hinageshi leave this place!" Botan shouted back.
"I can't! Koenma-sama is down. Ayame-sama is left to defend the Reikai Palace." She yelled as tears streamed out of her eyes. Botan was shaken upon hearing that their new leader has fallen. She closed her eyes and knew she had to hold-off the souls or else chaos will come to Ningenkai and Makai.
"Hinageshi warn Yusuke-san and the others!" She ordered.
"I can't leave you!"
"You must! No one will hold-off these souls. Go! Don't make me repeat myself."
With a heavy heart, Hinageshi flew away but the being standing on the roof of the headquarters was not about to let her leave. Sensing that Hinageshi will be attacked, Botan chanted a spell and a kekkai barrier appeared around Hinageshi. It further drained her reiki but if it means saving Reikai, Ningenkai and Makai, she does not mind losing her life. "I wish I could have…" Botan thought. Hinageshi passed through Botan's kekkai barrier and sped towards Yusuke's ramen shop.
Kuwabara, Yusuke and Kurama were sharing a hearty laugh as they reminisced their dark tournament days. While the memory has its painful part, most of it was filled with good ones as well. The three of them were looking forward to be reunited with Hiei and their friends from Reikai and Makai. The three of them had a few shots of sake since it goes well with the ramen they were eating. Their happy chatter was momentarily disturbed when they heard the sliding door open and a few seconds later, a tired Mukuro appeared with Hiei in her arms. Yusuke, Kuwabara and Kurama rushed to aid the injured youkai.
"What the hell happened?!" Yusuke questioned.
"No vital organs were hit but he is badly injured though." Kurama said as he assessed the injuries of Hiei.
"Hiei was attacked by being who possess sacred ki." Mukuro said. She was panting heavily and she was also injured. Kurama and Yusuke's eyes widened while Kuwabara was clueless.
"Sacred ki? What is that?" he asked but before anyone could answer, Hinageshi barged in. Yusuke caught the young ferry girl who was exhausted.
"What in the three worlds is happening?!" Kuwabara shrieked.
"Yomi had set-up a barrier in Makai to prevent the youkai from passing the boarders to Ningenkai." Mukuro explained. "Many youkai had died these past few weeks because of unknown attacks. I'm guessing these being are the one behind it."
"Reikai's under attack! Koenma-sama has turned into stone while Botan-san is holding off the souls that had escaped from the gates of punishment." Hinageshi reported. Mukuro and the rest of them were stunned to silence.
"Tell me ferry girl, were there beings clad in a Shinto priest's attire and wearing No masks when Reikai was attacked?" She asked as she held the girl's shoulder firmly. Hinageshi nodded and Mukuro's grip on shoulder loosened.
"Two of them attacked us. One in river Styx where Botan-san had set up a barrier and the other is in Reikai palace." Hinageshi added. "Botan-san ordered me to warn you but she assured that she'll hold off the souls as long as she can."
"Who are they anyway?" Yusuke asked.
"Where are the spirits guards? Why aren't they the ones setting up the barrier?" Kurama questioned in a harsh and cold tone which made Hinageshi winced. He was also gritting his teeth in anger and frustration.
"The spirit guards are securing the other gates and have set-up a barrier outside the river Styx as well." Hinageshi answered.
"I saw some in Makai and they reinforced the barrier that Yomi had created when I came here. I guess the siege in Reikai explains their presence in Makai earlier." Mukuro added.
"We have to help Botan-san! If she keeps up, she will lose her life force." Hinageshi said. Panic was evident in her eyes. "Please we have to rescue her and Ayame-san, George and Koenma-sama." Hinageshi pleaded as she tightly gripped Yusuke's shirt.
Botan could feel that she had reached her limit but she refused to give up. The being standing on her headquarters' roof was laughing at her. She wanted to cry for her arms and legs were in pain. "A little more time Botan…just hang on." She told herself. She saw the swarm of soul from the gates of punishment push past the barrier she has made. "Even if I lose my life force here, the spirit guards are already setting up another barrier outside the river Styx. I need to hold them off until the spirits guards are able to build a stronger kekkai barrier around the boarders of Reikai and Ningenkai."
"Deity of Death, you should give up! You know it's inevitable." The being said.
"I will not give up Haruko-sama!" She said back. "Enma-daiou's reign is over. Makai, Ningenkai and Reikai will eventually coexist." Botan added.
"Coexistence?" The being called Haruko removed her mask. "We, the sacred guardians, do not believe in coexistence. Things should be the way as it was. Reikai should have absolute control on Ningenkai. Do not be foolish deity."
Kurama ran out of Yusuke's ramen shop. "Botan's in danger…Botan's in danger" was the only thought that occupied his mind. He was not able to feel that Yusuke was following him and when the former detective caught up with him, he pulled the red-head. Kurama angrily growled at Yusuke.
"Hold you horses Kurama!" Yusuke said as he backed away when the red-head growled at him. "This is a rare sight that you lost your composure but in situations like this, aren't you the one who usually scolds us for charging without a plan?" The red head's features softened as he listened to Yusuke. He clenched his fist as he realized that Yusuke was right.
"I know Botan's important to you Kurama." Yusuke commented and with this, Kurama's eyes slightly widened. "I'm not blind you know. Even though you keep everything under that calm expression of yours, I could tell by the way to treat her that she is someone special to you. Heck I wouldn't be surprised if you admit you're in love with her." Yusuke explained. "But, as you always say to us, we need a plan."
"Gomen Yusuke…I hate to admit this but for once you're right." Kurama chuckled.
"I'm always right!" Yusuke boasted. "And for the record, I think you should quit playing with Kitajima. I know you don't feel the same way to her." Yusuke added.
"Since when did you become perceptive?" Kurama teased. Yusuke just grinned at him as they made their way back to the ramen shop. Kurama looked at the night sky which was oddly tainted with hues of red.
TO BE CONTINUED
