Just A Step between Life and Death

Chapter 2: To miss someone.

When Botan woke up it was already midday. The day before had been a pretty long day and she had needed to rest well. As she woke up late, she contacted Koenma and her boss let her postpone half of the job for that day. So, after eating lunch, Botan transformed into her spiritual form, materialized her oar and went to find the newest souls of that day. Luckily most of them were easy to take to Spirit World, so she could finish the work at time for the report to Koenma.

'Good evening, sir' Botan greeted him after entering to his office.

'Hi, Botan, how was your day?' He asked immersed in papers.

'Good, mister. Thank you. And yours?' Botan said cheerily.

'A little tiring, but it's understandable.' He looked at her happy face, or, more precisely, the fake happy face she was putting. 'Have you finished today's work?'

'Yes sir. As today was half of the work, tomorrow I'll work more.' She told him decided.

'That's my girl.' He smiled. 'Have you seen Yusuke already?' He asked.

'No, sir.' She answered a little taken aback. 'But I'll be going now to Genkai's funeral.'

'Ok, have a nice time.' Koenma told her to dismiss her.

She had found him to act a little strange, but she didn't think too much about it. She flew to her apartment, adjusted herself into her human body and took the train to go to the village next to Genkai's temple.

It was late evening but there was still some time till twilight. When she arrived to the cemetery all of her friends were there, well, except Yusuke and Hiei. She supposed Yusuke arrived late and well, she didn't think that she would see Hiei there. She supposed Kurama and the rest had been the ones to alert the death of the old lady and to prepare the funeral. Botan stood in front of the tomb, lighted an incense stick and prayed for her soul. She knew she was in heavens, but praying for her was the way to remember her in her heart.

When she retired, Shizuru gave her a hug.

'I'm ok, Shizuru, thanks. It's just that… I'll miss her.' Botan smiled a little.

'I know. We'll all miss her.' She brushed her head.

'But, you know? This time she was in peace. She was happy.'

Shizuru smiled to her friend.

They saw as Kuwabara and Kurama brought flowers to the tomb. They were talking about their futures at the university and that kind of stuff. Botan somehow felt a little off.

Then Yusuke finally came, but he didn't bring anything but his smile.

'The hell, you didn't even bring any flowers?' Kuwabara asked him a little angry.

'Say what? My smile is good enough.' He answered.

Maybe for his friends he was dumb, but Botan knew it was true. He had said goodbye to her, Koenma told her, but he didn't want to think that he would never hear to her voice again. So, he didn't bring her flowers, because she was still alive for him, and as long as he brought his smile, he would hear the voice of her teacher and friend.

When Hiei arrived that morning to Mukuro's centipede, his coworkers didn't show any kind of interest in him, they didn't greet him either. But in demon world there weren't much polite people.

So, after saving the three worlds, Hiei began his day with the eternal boring patrolling to search for the stupid humans who had lost themselves into demon world. And no, he wasn't thrilled by it.
The truth is that he became to wonder if it was making sense for him to stay there, to stay as Mukuro's second and do a job that he was bored to do. But, what else could he do? Fight was what he lived for now. Nothing more. He knew his sister. He had his pearl. And the only person in demon world who truly acknowledged him and had some kind of sympathy towards him was his boss, Mukuro. So, yeah, it probably was the best place he could be.

After the patrol, he was called to visit Mukuro in her chambers. As he came in, he saw her as she usually received him: lying on her bed.

'Hello, Hiei. How was yesterday's mission?' She asked with a smile. And that was one of the few polite people in demon world. She was nice.

He shrugged his shoulders.

'Easy.' He said.

'But they needed you.'

'I guess Yusuke called me to annoy me. Just used me for the jagan.'

'But, did you have a nice time?' She asked again.

He looked at her defiantly. 'Nice or not, today I've had double work to do with the stupid humans.'

Mukuro laughed a bit.

'Oh Hiei, I'm so jealous of them. I think that you will leave this in the moment you have a good excuse.'

He looked at her strangely. Maybe in the deepest of his mind that option had roamed for some time. 'I'm just wasting time until the next tournament.' He said.

'Yeah, yeah.' She nodded mockingly.

Hiei took that as the correct time to leave the room.

After a little time, Shizuru came out with an envelope. It was Genkai's will. It named all the guys of the group. Botan looked at her surprised. Her name was also among them. So, that's what she meant her making her to come. She smiled to herself.

As the will told them to take for them her temple and lands, they took the car and went there.

'As far as the eye can see.' Shizuru said. So that was the extension of the lands. It was wide…

They admired the nature of the place, the freedom and calmness. Then Yusuke decided that what was better to do was to leave it as it was. And don't damage it. After all, it was too big for them. And lately it had been a good hideout for demons.

They went through a path that leaded them to the seaside. It was sunset. The orange sun was reflected in the sea, and illuminated them from the horizon. It was beautiful.

Botan, at the sight of it, decided that she had to be the happy Botan, they deserved it.

'I've never seen the ocean before! It's so beautiful!' Yukina said amused. Botan looked at her tenderly.

Then she broke into run to the shoreline laughing. Yukina went with her running and screaming of happiness.
Kuwabara was saying stupid things again about her feelings for Yukina. Botan went to gossip with the Kuwabara siblings as Yukina was talking with Keiko. Shizuru suggested to stay the night there, immediately after Kuwabara was too happy about the idea that he was saying that it could be inappropriate. Botan laughed at that. Kuwabara was a really nice and happy guy.

The friends were reunited in a circle while Yusuke was throwing stones to the sea.

Keiko asked which button he chose, but he didn't want to answer. Then it was when Kuwabara told them secretly that Yusuke told him that the button he chose was the blue button, because blue was Keiko's favorite color, and after that, he mentioned that 'if they've got their gods, he has his goddess.'

Keiko was at first surprised and then embarrassed. She had a really cute face in that moment. And that made all the group of friends laughed. Yusuke and Keiko were so cute. Yukina, for her part, smiled, because she didn't understand what was going on, what Yusuke meant for his goddess and the look on Keiko's face. If there had been a joke, she didn't get it.

Then, Keiko stood up, took off her sandals and jumped to Yusuke. They went to the sea, jumped there and laughed. Shizuru told the others that indeed, that night they were going to sleep there, and then, they joined Keiko and Yusuke.

It was a calm night in the demon world. And it was warm. Somehow, after returning from human world, Hiei found demon world's air suffocating, and more inside of the rooms of the centipede, so he decided to spend the night on top of a tree. There he could take a look of the stopped centipede while he could sleep with the soft and warm air that passed through the trees.

He tried to sleep. But there were some thoughts messing with his head. One was the question he was making himself as why he had stayed in Spirit World until Yusuke pressed the button. Another, the longing he felt for the human world, specially, for the group of friends and sister that he, for his pride, was not meant to be with anymore. And the last one, and the most disturbing one, the face of Botan. It had been a long time since he saw her. He had always considered her secretly a professional in her work. She was top ferry girl, she knew a lot of healing arts, and that was shown to him the first time they met, and she was not a weak girl, she knew how to defend herself. With the metal bait or with her oar, or with her anger. It was difficult to beat her, even if she was not a fighter like him. But what was making him so pensive was the way she acted the day before. She looked extremely calm, and it gave him security (although he wouldn't recognize it), she shared her protection to weaker souls, and then, when he saw her when Yusuke was about to do his job… she was giving all her support to him, and when her eyes met his, he recognized the understanding in them. Could it be… that she had seen through him? But if she did, he wondered what she was thinking, because he felt as if he didn't understand himself anymore.

So, in a part of his mind, he was hopping to hear another call from those guys making him to go to human world.

After eating dinner, they set a little camp in the sand. It wasn't cold, so they had just to spread out some blankets.

Kuwabara had wanted to lie down next to Yukina, but Botan and Shizuru lied down there before him. Botan, interiorly, asked herself if it was good to do that. After all, maybe he would die in a week… She knew Kuwabara wouldn't do anything Yukina didn't want to, and if that made him happy… maybe it wasn't too bad… After all…

Botan stopped her thoughts. She didn't want to think about the death of one of her friends. It was not the time. Her friends were all too happy, and she had to be happy. After all, that information wasn't meant to be known by her.

After some time, when the still awaken could hear Kuwabara's snores, Yukina pocked Botan.

'Botan… I was asking myself… before, when, you know, Yusuke and Keiko did that…'

'Did what?' Asked Botan surprised, turning her face to Yukina.

Yukina looked at her as if she didn't know what to say.

'Well, somehow… locking their lips…?' She asked.

'Ah!' She exclaimed surprised. 'A kiss!' She asked softly.

Yukina looked at her wide eyed.

'I guess… What's its meaning?' She asked impatient.

Botan smiled tenderly. And began to wonder.

'Well, that's done when two people love each other.' Botan saw the frown in Yukina's face. 'But not love as friendship love, or love for the parents, or for people you admire. It's for a person that you love with all your soul, a person that completes you, that makes you feel safe and complete, but at the same time nervous and insecure. It must be a person such important to you that you could give anything to and do anything for. And a kiss is a way to show them that.' Botan explained. She had never lived a love, but, as she knew lots of lives, she knew what it meant. She had read about it and had seen it.

Yukina looked at her amused.

'And how do you know who is that person?'

Botan wondered.

'Well, I'm not sure. But for what I've read, your heart aches when you think of that person, or when you see him, and you get nervous and want to be perfect by his side.' She told her while thinking.

Yukina sighed.

'Since time ago, I believed that I couldn't love anyone, because I was a koorime, and I believed that my heart was made of ice. But then, I thought about my mother. She gave birth to a boy, so she had to love a man. And that made me think that I could love someone.'

Botan smiled at her.

'Of course you can. And you know one thing? You don't have to understand love before you start loving someone. So yeah, Yusuke and Keiko have loved each other since a long time ago, but they were always embarrassed to acknowledge, I suppose this time they couldn't hold it anymore.' She said with a wide smile, remembering old times when Keiko was jealous of her.

'I… when I saw them kissing… I thought that it would be nice…' Yukina murmured looking down. ' I thought about Kazuma…' Botan looked at her surprised. Could it be that Yukina was beginning to feel something for Kuwabara? ' But I think it would be very strange and awkward.' She recognized after all.

'It's normal, Yukina. Anyone would be. And if you're beginning to feel this way for him, it's normal you feel weird about it.' Yukina gave her an impatient look. 'I know you want to experience love, but don't be so eager, girl. Calm down. It would be better to wait till you find your true feelings. You don't have to rush things.' Botan advised her. She couldn't believe she was giving love counsel to someone.

The koorime smiled at her more at ease. 'Thanks Botan. I'll keep it in mind.' Then she closed her eyes.

'Goodnight.' Botan told her in a whisper.

Botan looked sadly at her. She wanted to love Kuwabara because she now knew what love was about, so now Kuwabara's words had another meaning, a meaning that she started wondering if she felt the same. But, if she fell for him… and they became a couple… and all of this happened before a week… Hiei might find out about it, and Kuwabara would be dead man and all of her friends heartbroken.

She felt stressed and tired. She closed her eyes to try to sleep but then sensed someone's hand on her shoulder. It was Yusuke.

'Can I speak to you a little?' He asked.

Botan stood up and they went a little apart from the sleeping group.

'What is it Yusuke?'

'I've brought you something.' He said while searching in his pockets.

She looked at him surprised. 'For me? Shouldn't it be for Keiko?'

'You jealous?' He asked grinning. She knocked him in the head.

'Of course not, idiot!' She changed her annoyed face for the wondering one from before. 'But why for?'

He gave her a little package. When she opened it she saw a pink pendant that looked like a little bottle of perfume. She took it from the string and looked at it. It gleamed magically.

'It's beautiful…'

Yusuke smiled fondly at her.

'It was a long time since I saw you for the last time, well, before yesterday. And when I saw you there, I understood how much I missed you.' He was looking at the sea, dead serious.

Botan looked at him with a smirk on her face. She was trying to hide a wide smile. She poked him on the side with her elbow.

'Come'on Yusuke, don't say such embarrassing things.'

He laughed at her. 'I can't help it. You're one of my most favorite women.' He hugged her with one arm and she rested her head in his shoulder.

'Look' Yusuke told her signaling the pendant. 'This liquid is the water of friendship. So, this way we'll always be friends, ok?' She nodded with her head. 'You don't have to feel apart from the group, because without you, the group could have never been formed.' She thought about all of their adventures and noticed that it was true. 'And it's not just because of your work.' It was really sweet of him, considering he didn't say beautiful words.

Botan looked at the pendant. She was smiling but her eyes were watering. Yusuke noticed this and rubbed her arms.

'Oh, and you have to come to my stall. I'm sure you're gonna love my ramen.'

Botan snorted and felt as her tears run down her face. Yusuke circled her with his other arm and soothed her resting his head on hers. Botan grabbed firmly the pendant in her arms and let her best friend to calm her.

Apart from Botan and Yusuke, there were only two of the group of friends that were awake. Kurama was sit crosslegged looking between his two friends to the moonlight, that made him remember Hiei, and wondered what was he doing at the moment.
Shizuru sensed Kurama's sitting position and sit up a little. He looked at the back of the man who was looking at the night sky and then she noticed Yusuke and Botan hugging. Botan was shaking a little.

'Botan…' She whispered with concern.

Kurama looked back at Shizuru and gave her a little smile.

'Don't worry. I'm sure Yusuke will cheer her up.'

Shizuru sighed and went to sleep. After some minutes Kurama did so too.