Foxy Bedtime Tales
Part IV

As I said last night at the end, Kurama for the first time since meeting Botan feared that the girl loved someone else more than she loved Kurama. He couldn't understand why Botan cared so much about this new Yusuke character, why he was so special in comparison to Kurama, someone who had been by her side since practically day one.

Okay, Kurama had to admit that Yusuke's relation to Raizen did make the part-demon boy special. He was grandson the great demon king Raizen, of all people, and had his blood flowing through his veins; not many in the world could claim that. And despite being mostly human, according to Botan, Yusuke was very powerful and could pit himself against a number of A-Class demons without much trouble...So perhaps there were a few reasons why Botan would find this new boy a little more interesting than Kurama, which only made the fox apparition more jealous.

Now remember, little ones, jealousy is an ugly thing and you shouldn't let it take over you. And ever fortunate for Kurama, this little green monster was only at its baby stages: surprising, huh? However, as he vented at Kuronue all his concerns and worries about Botan's relationship to this new boy, that little monster grew larger by the moment.

"Honestly, what's there to worry about?" Kuronue laughed as they sped through the trees.

"She keeps talking about him," Kurama grumbled, his fingers curling around their latest acquired prize. Now, you know how his eyes get all hot and scary when he's bothered by something? Yes, yes, something like when you brats go and make trouble for Botan. Well, that's how his eyes were right then, and Kuronue didn't like that his partner in crime wasn't coolheaded at this point. So he tried to calm the fox a bit.

"Keh, do you honestly think that some new guy is more important to Botan than you? Come on, Kurama—you saved this girl's life, you've involved yourself into her life beyond recovery," the bat assured as best as he could. "She's so in love with you that she can't imagine living a life without you."

"Oh please," the fox growled. "You're just as important, Kuronue—there's no discrimination between us."

"Fool," Kuronue muttered beneath his breath. "For someone so reputedly smart, you're being an idiot."

Kurama then suddenly stopped at a branch and raised his hand. "Quiet." With subtle hand gestures and signals, like the ones Kuronue taught you last month, Kurama motioned his friend beside him to hide the treetop's shadows. Together they looked down into the clearing and frowned at the powerful group of spirits meeting there. The two thieves didn't make a sound as they listened to the spirits' business. Apparently, they were Spirit Detectives assigned to find our village and to bring in anyone they caught for information. Concerned about the raccoons, and especially their precious Botan, the thieves headed out without making a sound.

Once they were far enough, Kurama ordered his friend, "Kuronue, you go tell Kusa and the others. Tell them to evacuate to the caves."

"Where are you going?"

"I need to settle something. I'll come after you once it gets done."

"Okay."

What could Kurama be up to, you ask? Simple enough, he went to Yoh and Sakura's house, demanding them to know where Botan was. When the young girl appeared from her room, Kurama quickly told the parents to retreat to the emergency caves while he spoke with Botan. Once he finished his business, he would escort their adopted daughter to the retreat. Having all faith in the fox, Yoh and Sakura did as he ordered and wished Botan safety as they left. When the two stood alone in the house, Kurama suddenly announced to her, "Botan, I want you to marry me."

"W-what?" she stammered.

"Won't you?"

You can probably imagine how red Botan's pale cheeks had become. Only recently had she begun to realize her feelings for her savior; and here he was, suddenly proposing to her, at a time of trouble no less! And he was calling her by name! Her heart hammered away in panic and anxiety, not knowing how she should respond. So she said the first thing that came to mind. "Kurama, you don't have to propose to me just to protect me from Kusa-sama. It's all right. I can safely turn down his proposal without your protection."

When I heard that this was what she said to him, I laughed out loud. Kurama probably didn't feel the same way though, and he had to make himself clearer with the girl he loved. "Foolish girl, you think that I'm doing this just so that raccoon can't get his hands on you? Well…okay, I don't want him touching any part of you, but that's not the only reason."

"Kurama…" Botan's attention then darted to her right out the window towards the woods. A great mass of energy had lit the sky, and it was very different from Demon Energy—in fact, it felt reminiscent to the Spirit Energy that Yusuke had exuded during their meeting. That was heading nearer to the village. Remembering that Yusuke would be waiting for her at their usual spot, Botan dashed out the door and towards the trees, only to be stopped by Kurama standing in her way.

"Botan, where are you going?" he demanded, a little annoyed that his proposal had been completely ignored. Honestly, if she was going to refuse him, then he wanted to be as straightforward about it as possible (but he really didn't want her to reject him). Instead, she was running away from him!

"My friend Yusuke is waiting for me over there," Botan said with tears beading up in her eyes. "I have to warn him about the Spirit Detectives."

"Yusuke?" Now Kurama's blood was boiling. Throughout Botan's life, the only person she had called upon without honorifics was him—he was the closest person to her heart. There was nothing that stood between them. But now…now she said another's name without honorifics…another man's name.

"He's the one I met in the woods, remember? He lives in Raizen-sama's household and cleared your name for you. He's a human, but his aura is like a demon's. If the Spirit Detectives find him, they'll arrest him. Please let me go, Kurama," she pleaded. "I have to warn him!"

Upset by the thought of Botan going to this Yusuke, Kurama almost hissed in annoyance, "No, you go with everyone else, and I'll find him." He didn't care if he did sound jealous and petty out loud; he did not want the girl he desired being alone with some boy that she possibly loved.

Mistaking his annoyance at Yusuke as concern for her, Botan said, "I can't do that, Kurama-san. He's my friend." Again, her sweet amethyst eyes begged for permission, and he couldn't find it in his demon heart to tell her she couldn't. In the end, he relented on the condition that he would be allowed to go with her.

She nodded, happy for the quick agreement. Lifting her up in his arms, Kurama leapt into the woods according to Botan's orders. When Botan saw a familiar form, she shouted, "Yusuke!"

Upon seeing her, he ran towards her in happy relief. "Botan, you're here. I was worried that you weren't coming." He then took note of Kurama's presence and took one step back warily. "So you're Youko Kurama."

"Yusuke, you have to get out of here. Spirit Detectives are nearby, and they'll arrest you if they sense your energy signature."

Yusuke opened his mouth to explain the situation, but instead Botan cut him off and told him to follow her. She wanted to take him to the caves with the other raccoons, a place where he would be safe from the oncoming Spirit Detectives. Since he was Raizen-sama's grandson, us raccoons would have welcomed him graciously. No one would want Raizen-sama's blood arrested.

So grabbing Yusuke's hand, Botan started leading him towards safety, but he stopped and forced Botan to look at him. With a straight face, he told her that he was the Spirit Detective that everyone was talking about.

Surprised, she breathed, "What?"

Oh, you can't believe it either? But it's true, children—the great Raizen-sama's grandson was a Spirit Detective. He was an agent of Spirit World, in charge of arresting demons, humans, and spirits that committed crimes according to Spirit World law. Anyway, Yusuke repeated his earlier statement to Botan, confessing to her that he was the Spirit Detective that she and the raccoon demons so feared. "But I'm not here to arrest anyone or to fight," he quickly assured her.

"Then what are you doing here?"

"We're here to retrieve you," a voice revealed from behind Yusuke.

Kurama and Botan gasped in surprise, as any of us would if you knew who they saw. Without introduction, anyone could recognize King Enma's most dutiful son, Prince Koenma, the reputed Judge of the Dead. Standing tall and proud, dressed in detailed silks fit for heavenly royalty the brown-haired man bowed gracefully to his demonic guests. And he was a smart young man, because with a glance he knew that Kurama and Botan recognized him for who he was. "Since you know who I am, that should quicken business," he said without ceremony. "We're here for you, Botan. That's all."

"Me?"

Immediately Kurama stepped protectively in front of Botan and declared, "Forget it, you can't have her."

Koenma frowned at the fox demon's actions. With a glower of his honey eyes, the prince held out his hand. "Hand the girl over."

And in typical Kurama fashion, he smirked and declared, "I've never handed anything over to Spirit World, and I'm not going to start now."

Hearing Kurama's intent made the prince sigh. To quickly resolve trouble, Koenma proposed on forgetting meeting Youko Kurama only if he surrendered Botan peacefully. In normal circumstances, Prince Koenma would have Kurama, a criminal on the Top Ten Most Wanted list, immediately arrested and brought in; however, he had more pressing concerns and would trade Kurama's freedom for Botan. Yusuke also pleaded with the young woman, explaining that they did not want to fight anyone. All that he wanted was for her to come with them to Spirit World for a little while and listen to what Prince Koenma had to say.

Suspicious as ever, Kurama said, "You sound as if you'll let her go once you're done with your business."

Koenma of course retorted, "You sound as if we're kidnapping her."

"Aren't you?"

"No, because we're asking her to willingly follow us," was the answer. "We're here to ask her questions about what happened to my sister and how Botan has survived in Demon World. And I'm sure there are many questions that Botan wants to ask me."

Yusuke, Kurama, and Botan asked together, "Your sister?"

"See, you don't know, but you more than anyone has a right to know." Koenma took a deep breath and calmly stated, "Your deceased mother was my sister—your mother was a princess of Spirit World—the Princess, actually."

"What?"

Aren't you surprised? Well, try to imagine how surprised Kurama and Botan felt knowing this. And Yusuke didn't know this either, so he was just as surprised as the other two. Now Koenma felt sorry that he couldn't give everyone a better explanation, but he wanted to tell Botan everything first before he told others. So he then said, "There are many things we need to discuss, Botan. But we can't speak about them now. Please, come with us and I'll explain everything to you and answer anything you wish to know. But we must hurry." Koenma turned to Yusuke. "How much time do we have left?"

"Five minutes to get back to the portal," the Spirit Detective responded while he looked at his wristwatch. "George-san is probably already freaking out."

Squeezing her hand, Kurama begged quietly, "Don't go with them, Botan. You belong here, with us…with me."

"It's your only chance, Kurama." Fearlessly Botan turned towards the Spirit World Prince. She bowed politely while asking, "Please let Kurama go first, and then I'll follow you. I want to be sure that he's safe and that you'll keep your word."

"I wouldn't do anything to hurt you, Botan, especially since you're my niece. Come, follow me." Koenma didn't even give Kurama a second glance, proving how unconcerned he was about such a big Demon World fugitive. Instead, he held out his hand to Botan and smiled at her affectionately. "You truly are your mother's child. You look just like her when she was your age." When the prince securely had Botan's hand in his, he pulled her close to his side and led her away. While leaving, he told Yusuke to cover their tracks while they headed to the portal.

Before Kurama had a chance to say goodbye, Botan and Koenma disappeared from sight. Panicked and worried for her, Kurama demanded that Yusuke lead him to Botan. Yusuke replied that he couldn't, not when Koenma was already in Spirit World with her. But the young man assured that Botan would return to Demon World if she so wished—Koenma would keep his word on that. But that comforted Kurama less since he instinctively knew that the prince would do all in his power to keep Botan with him for the rest of time.

So that's when Kurama decided that he would create his own insurance.

With a dark growl that would rattle the fiercest demons, Kurama said, "Tell your boss that he has a month with Botan. Any day past that, and I will make sure that he suffers hell for every sunrise she isn't returned to me."

Understanding, Yusuke nodded in confirmation. "Take care of yourself," Yusuke told Kurama as he left.

Once he couldn't sense Yusuke through the forest, Kurama turned back and went towards the secret hiding place for the Raccoon Clan. Oh, you know where they are—they're the caves behind the Forest of Illusion. Well, as soon as Kurama entered the main cave, those who recognized him walked up to him and asked him a million questions at once. He answered the most important one by saying that Botan had been the object of the Spirit Detective's search.

"Botan-chan?" Kuronue's eyes grew large at the news. Sakura and Yoh, as well as Botan's friends and anyone else who knew her stared at Kurama in alarm. "Well, we always did know that she was a spirit," the bat demon admitted. "But who would have thought that those guys would send the Spirit Detectives to find her—and after all this time."

"But where's Botan-chan now?" Haruka demanded with tears in her eyes. "If she isn't with you, where's Botan-chan, Kurama-san?"

"I was getting to that," Kurama groaned as he rested against the cave wall. "Her family is close to Koenma-sama. In fact, he's her uncle."

"Koenma-sama? You mean, the Prince of Spirit World?" Everyone within the cave gasped, just as Botan and Kurama had done before when they had seen the prince. A murmur spread throughout the cave as everyone began commenting and remarking about Botan's origins.

"Botan-chan is related to the Spirit World Prince?"

"See, I told you that she was a princess."

"So you mean she never was a raccoon like us?"

"Who would've guessed? She could perform Raccoon magic better than any of us."

"But to be related to Koenma-sama!"

"He was the one who took Botan away from me," the white fox growled, his fists clenching together. His tail lashed side to side with anger.

Kuronue looked down pityingly at his friend, feeling for him. Now, throughout all these years, Kurama and Botan have never truly been separated. Granted the master thief would be gone for days on a heist, but he never went so far where he couldn't reach Botan in a day's time. But now with Botan taken away to Spirit World, for the first time Kurama suffered loneliness.

Haruka asked the one question afraid felt afraid to ask. "Will she come back?"

With a defeated face never seen before, Kurama looked away from the raccoon girl and replied quietly, "I…I don't know. Koenma-sama said that he would set her free after he spoke with her."

"But?"

Reluctantly, the fox added, "She would have to want to return."

And at that moment, Botan had no intention of returning to Demon World—she wanted to know everything that she could learn about her past, especially about her parents. And those close to her knew in Demon World knew that the spirit girl wouldn't return until the mysteries of her origins were completely cleared. In fact, as she journeyed to the Gate of Judgment, Botan imagined all of the questions she could ask Koenma about her parents and her past life.