Raindrops on a Rose

Chapter 7

Disclaimer: I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho. Never have, never will.

AN: I know I know. I am terrible at updating stories in a timely manner. Let me just tell you all something, being in grad school is HARD! This chapter is more filler, getting from point A to point B, delving to the relationship between characters, etc. The next chapter will hopefully be better as we start getting into the action again. I also have a request. While I love receiving reviews, those that just tell me to update don't really help. I need to know if there is anything I need to work on. Well I'll quit whining and let you all read. Thanks once again to those who are still reading and don't forget to review!


Recap: Botan noticed my eyes drooping and the yawns I was trying to hide and demanded that I go to bed. I didn't even bother to put up a fight, I was too tired. As soon as my head hit the borrowed pillow I was out, glad to have my friends back home and that we were all in one piece.

I rolled over, snuggling deeper into my borrowed bedding. I was still so tired, but I knew that I would need to get up soon; I needed to check on Yusuke and Kuwabara. I rolled again, trying to find the motivation to get out of my warm cocoon. After dozing for a while longer I finally managed to get moving, my bladder was screaming at me. I literally fell out of bed, my foot still being tangled in the blankets, and made my way to the bathroom. After doing my business and washing my hands I splashed cold water on my face hoping to wake myself up. And it did work somewhat, I was more awake then I had been, but not by much.

I left the bathroom, still yawning, and headed toward the kitchen. I was hoping to find some coffee; only copious amounts of caffeine would get me back to normal. The TV was on so someone was up, but I bypassed the living room. Coffee was the only thing on my mind right now. It took forever but I finally found the stuff and set to brewing a strong pot of the caffeinated drink.

I never was a morning person, which partly explains why I was drinking coffee at only fourteen. On days when I had things to do and needed to get my rear in gear, I would use some sort of caffeine to help get me moving. And I certainly needed it after everything that had happened the previous day.

It had taken two days for the guys to defeat the Saint Beasts, but I hadn't really joined the fight until the second day of battle. Everything had happened so quickly and we were all still recovering. I was stiff and sore as all hell but I was at least up and walking.

My coffee was finally finished brewing and I quickly found some cream and sugar, making my perfect cup. I took my cup and went to the living room, hoping to be able to function properly soon. I plopped down on the couch beside Botan, yawning loudly as I did.

"Morning," I mumbled, trying to stifle another yawn.

"Actually it's the afternoon," she said, smiling brightly at me.

I glanced at my watch, "Huh I guess it is. How are the guys?"

"Hiei was gone when I woke up and Kurama went home this morning. Yusuke and Kuwabara are still out."

"Do you need to get back?" I asked, taking a sip of my coffee.

"Are you kidding? There is no way I would leave you alone to look after them by yourself. Besides I was given the next couple of days off."

I smiled, "Guess it's just me and you then." I was actually kind of glad, the coffee was beginning to take effect and I was just realizing that I was still in my pjs. It would have been slightly embarrassing to meet Kurama or Hiei while stumbling around in my pajamas.

Botan and I sat in compatible silence, flipping through channels, and just enjoying the quiet for a while. Botan had already been in to check on Yusuke and Kuwabara since I was dead to the world. She confirmed what Kurama had told me the night before; they weren't suffering from any life-threatening injuries and were recovering their depleted energy while asleep.

"That makes since, the body heals better when it doesn't have to worry about doing other things."

"Yes, now we just wait for them to wake up," Botan replied.

"We may need to stock up on food. I don't know about Kuwabara but Yusuke eats like a pig, even when he's not sick." Botan just laughed. I got up from my seat and made my way back towards the kitchen. "I'm going to change and get another cup of coffee, you want one?"

"No thanks, I never really cared for it."

"Then how the hell are you so chipper?" She just laughed at me again.

I called Keiko later that afternoon; letting her know that Yusuke was fine, just recuperating, and that I would let her know if he should any signs of waking. Then I had to call Atsuko, and man did she ever let me have it. She wasn't too happy with the fact that neither Yusuke nor I had been home for a couple of days. After a scolding that would have probably made even Hiei flinch, I gave her the same story that I told Kurama's mom, just emphasizing the fact that Yusuke got his ass kicked and wasn't up to moving around yet. Lucky for me, Atsuko calmed down and just told me to get myself and my cousin home as soon as he woke up, whenever that was. Sometimes it pays to have a guardian that doesn't pay that much attention.

After getting dressed and making a grocery list, I popped my head into the guys room to see them still snoring. Botan offered to go do the shopping, saying that she would have her boss cover the cost of the food and other supplies. While Botan was gone I set to cleaning what little mess we had made in Kuwabara's house and making something for the boys when they eventually woke up. After Botan returned with groceries and we checked on the guys one more time, she helped me to finish the soup I had started and we set down for dinner. It was only after we had finished eating and finished washing the dishes that we heard the first signs of life from the guys. Botan and I both ran to their room to find that Yusuke was still out, but Kuwabara was trying to sit up.

"Hey easy there big guy," I said moving to his side and gently pushing him back onto the mattress, "you took quite the beating. Just rest for now."

"Rain! Wha- Wher- Huh?" The poor boy's voice was raspy and almost non-existent.

"Shh, it's ok. Hey Botan would you get him some water?" She nodded and dashed to get something to help Kuwabara's throat. I turned back to my friend and smiled, "We won. Everyone except Hiei is bruised and sore but we're alive. You've been sleeping for nearly an entire day and Yusuke is still out."

Botan returned with a large glass of water and helped to move Kuwabara into a sitting position. After chugging two glasses of water Kuwabara was able to talk normally and began to ask some questions that I hadn't already answered. "OK so where are we?"

"Your house," I answered. "Sorry but it was all I could think of. Going anywhere else would have meant awkward questions."

"Hey it's no problem, actually that was good thinking. My family shouldn't be back for another couple of days."

"And don't worry about having to restock anything, I've got it covered," Botan said, winking.

Kuwabara nodded, "So what happened here?"

"We held down the fort," I replied, pointing between Botan and myself. "No biggie."

"No biggie! Are you insane?!" Botan shrieked.

"What?"

"Keiko was targeted, you were seriously hurt, and we all almost died!"

"Say what!?" Now Kuwabara was yelling to.

"Hey take it down a notch you two! Yusuke is still sleeping."

"Sorry but what does she mean about you being hurt and all of you almost dying?" Kuwabara was obviously worried about us.

"My ribs are bruised pretty badly from too many hits to one area. Botan checked me out though and it's nothing serious. But it was a good thing that it ended when it did. We were cornered and wouldn't have lasted long."

Kuwabara let out a shaky breath, "Please don't do that to me again. I don't think my heart can take it."

"Sorry but no-can-do," I said, shaking my head, "I'm in this as long as Yusuke is." I looked down, "He's more than just my cousin, he's my brother and I'll do anything to help him. And that goes for you two as well. We haven't known each other long but you don't go through what we did without making friends. You have to know who you can trust."

Looking up I realized that Botan had tears in her eyes and Kuwabara was gently shaking his head. "You sure are something Rain. I get now why Yusuke is so protective of you."

"Huh?"

"Yeah the entire time we were fighting the Saint Beasts I could tell that Yusuke was worried about you."

I smiled, "Well I am his family. And to tell you the truth Yusuke would be completely lost without me." That made Kuwabara and Botan laugh. "Ok that's enough of this heavy stuff," I stood, "you hungry Kuwabara?"

"Starving."

"Awesome, I'll be right back."

The three of us ate together that night in Kuwabara's room. Yusuke was still out cold, but his heartbeat was steady so we didn't worry. After one more day of bed rest Kuwabara was able to get up and move around, though he was still a bit stiff.

On the third day, after the guys' victory, we had guests. Kurama and Keiko dropped by to visit us and check on Yusuke. I swear Keiko nearly killed me and Botan, she hugged us so hard, and she just wouldn't quit thanking us.

"Ok Keiko enough," it came out harsher than I meant it to, but I was annoyed. I sighed, softened my tone and continued, "Botan and I didn't do anything that any decent person wouldn't have done."

"And you saved us a few times too," Botan put in.

"Exactly so why don't we just call it even?"

Keiko smiled and nodded, "Deal."

Suddenly we heard yelling coming from Yusuke's sick room, "Hey!" Well well, look who's up. Keiko and Botan went ahead, while I bought up the rear. "You better start doing more than clenching your teeth! Tell me what happened to them!"

That was when Botan reached the door and went in without any preamble, "I'd recognize that yell anywhere. What's up Yusuke?"

"Botan? Keiko? Rain?"

Kuwabara began to laugh, "Oh my God that was so great!" Apparently Kuwabara though it would be amusing to play a prank on Yusuke and let him assume the worst concerning us girls, though how he coerced Kurama into following his lead I'll never know. Of course Yusuke doesn't take kindly to being made a fool of and began to beat the crap out of Kuwabara. "Rain! Help!"

"Sorry big boy, but you're on your own. Just don't kill him Yusuke."


AN 2: I know it's short but, like I said, it's more of a filler than anything. Thanks for reading! Now click on that review button and tell me what you think!