Disclaimer: You know the drill; me no own YU YU HAKUSHO, just this plot … enjoy!

Also, I kinda had an OC Hiei moment when he apologized to Botan… yeah, thanks for pointing that out YYHfan-KB.

Anyway, here's the latest installment: R&R


Botan woke up with a terrible migraine. She could barely even turn her head and felt extremely weak. She felt something soft in her arms, only to see a plush, pink and white teddy bear with a heart in its arms. She shifted to see Yusuke sleeping in a chair. He woke immediately.

"Well, this is vaguely familiar." She said haltingly.

"You're finally awake! I thought I'd have to shock you out that mini-coma." He said, groggily.

"How long have I been out?" she asked.

"Two days, give or take a few hours or so." Yusuke replied.

"What happened?" she asked.

"I don't know, you tell me." He replied.

"It hurts to talk…" she said.

He sat beside her on the bed.

"Where does it hurt?" he asked.

She pointed on her stomach, to the spot where Yakumo removed the Power Sphere. She slightly lifted her blouse to reveal a scar which was now fully healed. He ran his fingertips over it. His jaw tightened as he remembered Yakumo: that sinister smirk, his silvery hair, the way he just flung Botan to the ground after he got what he wanted. She held on to his shoulder and gave her brightest smile.

"I'm okay now, Yusuke, that's all that matters." She reassured him.

"No, it's not. I want to know what happened. What did he do to you, Botan? Please tell me." He said, softly.

"I don't want to talk about it, Yusuke." She whispered.

"Botan, I'm begging you to tell me what he did." He said again.

She started to talk:

"I- I- I"

Then Hiei and Kurama walked in.

"Yusuke, do you mind if we talk to Botan privately for a minute?" Kurama asked.

Yusuke looked at her as if waiting for her to say something. She turned away from him and he left.

"Alright, what are you not telling us?" Hiei asked.

"What are you talking about?" she asked.

"This is no time to pretend, Botan. You need to tell us everything." Kurama said again.

"Alright, what do you want to know?" she asked.


She told them everything, answered every question no matter how difficult or personal it was. Finally, they left the room. By the time they did, Kuwabara was there.

"She wants to see you two." Hiei said.

They went in the room to see her crying.

"I wasn't human before I was a ferry girl." She said with a sniffle.

Both boys stopped in their tracks.

"I lived in the Netherworld and grew up in the forests there. I didn't have any special powers or anything, at least I thought so until I was approached by King Enma. It turns out that they need someone who could house the Power Sphere if need be. I am the only one who can contain it because I am the last surviving member of the Netherworld." She explained.

"So why's the thing hurting you so much now?" Kuwabara asked.

"It has been corrupted and is now negative energy, but it's already bonded with my life force so it can't be removed." She replied.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. I guess I was just a little afraid to tell anyone." She said.

"It's okay I understand." Kuwabara said.

Yusuke stared blankly into space.

"Yusuke say something please." she said.

Silence.

"Say what?" he finally said. "I could ask you why it took Kurama and Hiei to make you talk, or why didn't you answer my question. In fact you still haven't answered my question!" he yelled.

"Yusuke?" she said again, fresh tears forming in her eyes.

He simply just walked out of the room, out of the apartment, slamming every door on the way. He was angry, not at her but at himself. He could've handled that better, he let his anger got the better of him. He had to cool off before he spoke to her again.