My Shining Star

I own.. NADA!

Chapter 9 - A Special Birthday

-

I hesitated at the door. Kurama opened it for me and gave me a gentle and encouraging push through the door. Everyone looked up and stared, raising an eyebrow. I felt a knot in my stomach and a lump in my throat. How would they react? Hiei just glanced at me once then stared at Kurama, looking like he was actually talking to him by staring. Yuusuke gave me a concerned look, along with Keiko, who looked pale and worried sick. Kuwabara and Yukina just looked at us blankly. For a moment, I felt like I was completely helpless. I felt Kurama's hand on the small of my back. I took a deep breath.

"Fine, so I didn't go for a ride, okay?" I felt bold right then. They stared. I wanted to bolt but Kurama still had his hand on my back. I knew that if I didn't say something soon, he was going to. "I.." What was so hard about this? It's only a few words.. "I went to Kurama's and met his family." There were raised brows all around. Keiko brightened and ran over, hugging Kurama and me.

"I think I know what this was all about. The next time you do this, call?" I blushed and nodded. The others looked at Keiko then smiled. Kuwabara laughed. I felt like hitting him with my oar.

"Well, 'bout time Kurama picked up a girl!" I looked back at Kurama. Yuusuke hit Kuwabara over the head.

"You don't need to laugh." He said in a light tone. "Dork." Hiei smirked. I watched all of this with an incredulous look on my face. I twitched. Yuusuke ruffled my hair then gave Kurama a light punch on the shoulder. "You take good care of her, do you hear me, fox boy?"

"You needn't tell me to, Yuusuke. I will take care of her." I blushed. This was.. a little embarrassing. But I would endure it for the happiness to come.

-

I laid in my bed that night. Something kept me from sleeping. I could sense death. The wind practically screamed that someone died. I sat up and went to the window. I stared out. Kin stopped by on her way back with the soul of the woman on her oar.

"Why, if it isn't my good friend." She said cheerfully. I smiled then looked at the lovely woman perched on the oar behind her.

"Hello." She looked important and she had that regal look to her. She looked at me, stone-faced. I knew that look sometimes concealed an unending amount of grief.

"You sensed it, did you?" Kin asked, a frown on her face. I nodded.

"I'm not cut off from Reikai, Kin. I can still sense death. How many are there? Just because I can sense it, doesn't mean I can count the flows."

"Well, at least five ferry girls left at the same time I did."

"Oh." I sighed. "I knew something kept me awake."

"How did things work out? I haven't seen you in a while."

"Well, Kurama.. never mind. I'll tell you later. Perhaps I'll come and visit tomorrow."

"Okay!" Kin waved then sped away. I heaved another sigh. Death was something that I handled for a few years now. I know the hardships. I was alive once. Somehow, I forgot the feeling of being alive.

"Botan!" My heart nearly stopped.. Okay, to rephrase that in its proper meaning, I was shocked to hear the voice and see its owner. Reijiro waved to me and I knew I should talk to him. "How are you feeling?"

"Fine, I suppose." I said with forced cheerfulness. My mind was fogged with depression and I needed to visit my friends. I needed to visit Kurama and see him. He would get this gloomy feeling from my mind. "How are you?"

"Wonderful." He began to walk beside me. "Where are you heading?"

"To.." I didn't know how to respond. Luckily, Kurama basically answered it for me.

"Botan!" I whirled around, a smile on my face. I ran to him, flinging my arms around him. He held me with all the tenderness in the world. I nearly cried from the wonderful feeling.

"Kurama-kun!" I looked up at him, blushing lightly when he smiled. His emerald eyes glittered. "I thought you might be home."

"On a pretty day like this? Hah! Hiei wouldn't leave me alone until I took him for a walk." I grinned and looked around.

"Where is he?"

"Back there." He answered. "Got hung up by a 'weird feeling'." Someone cleared their throat behind us and I seperated myself from Kurama. I looked back at Reijiro sheepishly.

"Sorry about that, Rei-kun." I grabbed Kurama's white t-shirt and jerked him forward. "This is a very good friend of mine, Shuuichi, or some of us good friends call him Kurama."

"Hello, Shuuichi." Reijiro offered a smile to him. I looked at Kurama.

"Kura-chan, this is Rei-kun.. or Reijiro. We knew each other back in school." My voice grew distant. I felt a hand under my chin and looked up to see Kurama staring at me with a frown on his handsome face.

"None of this. What did I say yesterday? Did it go in one ear and out the other? I was serious. I don't want you upset about something that will not happen while I'm around." I nodded.

"I know.. I was just thinking." I gave him a small smile.

"Are you sure you can do that? You might hurt yourself." I stiffened and looked up into the tree.

"Come down here and say that to my face, Hiei!" He was a black blur and before I knew it, he was standing in between Kurama and I, his face close to mine. Before he could say anything, I enveloped him in a hug. He stiffened and I saw Kurama trying not to laugh. Hiei pushed me away with a growl.

"Don't EVER do that again." I grinned at him.

"Why not? Poor little Hiei can't handle something nice?" He growled and narrowed his eyes at me. I moved closer to Kurama while seeing Reijiro raise a brow. "I'm just teasing, Hiei."

"Why am I stuck with the idiots?" He asked Kurama. I glared at him. He left and I looked at the two people left.

"How about we all go somewhere where we can talk?"

-

"They said you died, Botan." I bit my lip when Reijiro brought this up. Kurama looked over at me.

"I did." I said softly. "I can't explain it to you. I know I should have listened to you and spared myself a lot of pain. But, I've let the past go. It wasn't easy to accept." Kurama's arm wrapped around my waist and I closed my eyes. "Some things are just meant to be. I was meant to live through this."

"But.." I shook my head.

"Let it go."

"I can't, Botan." Reijiro stared at me. "How could I let it go when I loved you? I still do. That day brought so many pains." I stared at him.

"We can't be together, Reijiro." I stood up and pulled away from Kurama's grasp. "I'm sorry but I can't return your feelings now. You were my best friend. You're just a friend and that's all you can ever be." I ran. Why was everything out to get me? Why did everything hurt so much? I wasn't surprised when I heard someone call to me. People turned to stare but I ignored it. Someone caught me around the waist and stopped me, pulling me to their chest. The soft scent of roses filled my senses. "Kurama.."

"Botan!?" I stiffened. I knew that voice.. I turned my head and looked at the one person I didn't wish to run into in public.

"Mother.." Kurama seemed to understand and pulled away from me, grabbing both my mother's wrists and mine and walking quickly away from the scene. I turned and saw Reijiro stare after us. He had an understanding look in his eyes. I gave him a weak smile then turned and watched as my mother took the lead.

-

We arrived at a place I longed to see ever since that day. My home. The place I grew up in. I hardly noticed anything else but the small house as I touched the railing to the steps. I walked up and stared at the door in front of me.

"Five years.."

"I know." I whispered. My mother opened the door and we walked in. I could feel his arm go around my waist and I tried to draw comfort from him. "All these years.."

"You.. look the same." She turned to us and I couldn't resist it any longer. I ran to her and put my arms around her, crying into her shoulder.

"I missed you.. I was so foolish.. to do something like that when I knew something was wrong!" I could feel her stroking my hair. "I made a mistake and I caused you so much pain.."

"Me? Look at you, Botan-chan. You're a mess." She held me like she used to.. five years ago. "Now, why don't we calm down and settle this without so many tears? You've yet to tell me who this handsome young man is." She gently took my shoulders and pushed me back, holding me at arm's length. That was my mother.. she was always trying to solve problems without pain. Well, I'm afraid this story has many more chapters of pain to go, not to mention the chapters in it now.. So much pain.

"I-"

"Now, go sit down while I get tea." I nodded, tears continuing to flow down my face. I felt him take my hand and lead me, pulling me down beside him.

"I can see where you get those lovely eyes, Botan." I looked up at him to see a tenderness in those emerald eyes that I've never seen before. He brought up one hand, the one that wasn't holding my own, and wiped my tears away. "Now, why cry? This is a reunion with the person who raised you. No pain."

"It isn't like that, Kurama." I said softly, more tears gliding down my cheeks. "I'm not alive anymore.. I can't come home everyday.."

"Who says you can't? Did she? I'm certain that if you asked, you could stay here and it would seem like old times. Keiko will understand." He gave me one of those heart-throbbing smiles and I leaned my head on his shoulder.

"I just.. Things will never be the same again, y'know? I'll never have that back."

"You don't need to have it back." I looked up at him in confusion. "You can begin a new life. That is what Koenma told you about it, right?"

"I suppose."

"Then there's no reason to be upset. Koenma never told you that you couldn't visit your mother, now, did he?" I shook my head.

"Botan-chan! Help me out here for a second?" I got up and went to the kitchen. "Here, you can carry the tray and I'll get these." I nodded, a soft smile working its way to my face. How could she act as though nothing changed? She can because she's my mother. When we got back out into the living room, she sat across from us, just as Shiori-san had. I didn't feel a bit nervous, though I probably should have. With my mother.. she was the most unpredictable woman I've ever met. "Now, introduce me to this gentleman."

"Oh.. right." I smiled. "This is.." How should I say it? "This is my.. my boyfriend, Kurama. Well.. his name is Shuuichi Minamino.. but we all call him Kurama. And Kurama, this is my mother, Jun."

"Pleased to finally meet you, Jun-san." She nodded and smiled.

"The pleasure is all mine." She looked at me and, for an instant, her one glance told me of the countless times she'd cried at my grave. "Now, Botan, I want to know how you're holding up."

"F-Fine.."

"The truth, please." I smiled faintly once more. There was no fooling her.

"I have been hurting, mom. The truth is, the worst of it is yet to come." Kurama seemed genially surprised by my comment. "I've taken on a job. But you have to promise me that once I tell you, you will keep it a secret."

"Who will I have to tell, dear? My friends all know that you're dead and if I start saying that I was talking to you, they'd put me in a mental institution." She gave me a small nod to know that I could talk. I told her everything. And when I say everything, I mean everything. All about Kurama.. Hiei.. Yuusuke and Keiko and Kuwabara.. "It sounds lovely. Now, I know it has been five years since you passed away but I think.. I know I want to get involved in your life again."

"Mom.." I smiled and nodded. "There would be nothing better.."

-

"So, who's coming to Yuusuke's birthday party!?" Keiko asked merrily, smiling. We were all at the ramen shop. The place wasn't as packed as normal.

"I am! Oh, Yuusuke-kun, I know just what to get you!" I gushed, grinning and knowing he hated me at every moment that I said it. Kuwabara cracked up laughing. It was time to get them both back. "Now, if I am not mistaken, you, Kazuma Kuwabara have a birthday also coming up?" He stopped laughing and his eyes widened.

"N-No, of course not!" Shizuru chuckled.

"Yeah, right, baby bro. No use lying, she knows." I grinned and nodded. Then I shot a look at my demon friend beside me.

"And you.." I crossed my arms and frowned.

"Ooh! Fill us in, what did he do!?" Kuwabara grinned. "Did he get in loads of trouble?"

"No." I closed my eyes and heard Kuwabara fall over. "He just wouldn't tell me why he was dragging me here."

"He had to drag you?" I looked over at Keiko then nodded.

"He wouldn't even tell me where we were going, who were seeing, or what it was about!" I scowled. "So, where are we having our little Yuu-kun's birthday party?"

"We're having it at Genkai's. The old hag told us we could have the temple whenever we wanted." Of course, Yuusuke had to be blunt.

"Really?"

"Mm-hmm." Yuusuke nodded.

"Be there at two or somewhere around there." I nodded then looked at my watch.

"Oh! I have to go. See ya later!" I ran out of there as quickly as I could. Mother was hoping to meet me at the mall and help me shop for Yuusuke. I ran into an old alley and hopped on my oar. Then I sped off as quickly as I could, hoping to get there before her so she wasn't waiting.

-

I stared at the wrapped package on my bed. Would he like it?

"Knowing Yuusuke.." I murmured. I had gotten him some clothes. Keiko made the suggestion. I picked out a dark green shirt and the same color light sweats that tied in the front. He would probably use it to train in because it would be easy to move in. I mean, Yuusuke was the one to change my life.. but if I got him anything that didn't radiate 'punk' then he would strangle me. But I had a long card as the second part of the gift. He was able to make me trust again. He was the one who helped me without knowing it. He cared.

"Botan?" I looked up to see mom standing in my doorway, a smile on her face. "Honey, I'm sure he'll like it. Shouldn't you be sleeping? Isn't tomorrow the big day?" I nodded and she came in, sitting down next to me and stroking my hair like she used to. "You even let me read the card that you made for him. I know he'll like it, though I haven't met him. He'd have to be crazy not to." I smiled.

"Knowing Yuusuke-kun, he'll put up a big front and say that I'm only teasing.. but I suppose he might take it to heart." She smiled.

"If he doesn't, he needs a good whack on the head."

"Come now, mother! If anyone gave him another one of those, we may not have a Yuusuke to pick on!" She laughed and gave me a pat on the back.

"I'll see you in the morning, okay?"

"All right." She left the room. Somehow, this felt like old times. Except, I wasn't exactly alone like I was before.. sort of. I had people that I knew cared enough to save my life. I rested my head in my arms and yawned, closing my eyes. I wish.. I could just repay them somehow..

-

I woke up to someone shaking me. I opened my eyes and saw my mother's grinning face.

"Hm?"

"Guess who's here!"

".." I didn't feel like playing these games right now.. Shouldn't she be doing crossword puzzles or something? Two people walked in and I stared at one of them, completely and utterly surprised. "Did he drag you?" Kurama sweat-dropped and Hiei let out chuckle.

"No, actually." My favorite little koorime looked so huggable.. I stood up and moved at the speed of light, catching everyone off-guard. I grabbed Hiei in a life-threatening embrace, grinning.

"You mean, you actually WANTED to come and see me!?" Kurama was doubled over in laughter and mother was taking pictures.. Hiei somehow pulled out from my hug and frowned.

"Not anymore!"

"Hiei!" I latched onto his arm and looked at him with watery eyes. "Y-You wouldn't want me to.. to cry.. now.. would you?" His right eye twitched and he pulled his arm from me.

"Enough of picking on me for two centuries. Go and squeeze the life out of your fox." I frowned.

"I'm still upset at him."

"Hunh?" Hiei blinked at me, his expression changing to one of complete and utter surprise.

"I was kidding, my friend." I gave him a pat on the back and went over to the bed, picking up the gift. "Anyway, who's all there?"

"Yuusuke is currently MIA." Kurama replied. I raised a brow.

"He ran away this morning. Obviously enough, his girlfriend was quick to follow." Hiei muttered, as if disgusted.

"Hm." I shrugged and grabbed Kurama's arm. "Shall we, then?" I stopped and looked at mom. "Do you wanna come? That way you can meet the whole gang!"

"Sure!"

-

When we arrived at the top of the stairs, I sweat-dropped.

"They went all out, huh?" Banners with Happy Birthday Yuusuke.. balloons.. a cake with candles..

"I guess so." Kurama responded from beside me. Yukina looked over and smiled.

"Hello." She waved us over. "I'm so glad to see that you made it. Did you happen to see Yuusuke or Keiko on your way here?"

"No, sorry." I shook my head. "Keiko will get him, though. No doubt about it."

"The gifts go on that table over there." She smiled and pointed us in the right direction. I elbowed Hiei when we walked away.

"You know you should tell her." He scowled at me.

"Leave it alone."

"That should be her birthday gift. She's been looking for you for a long time now, Hiei. You could at least.."

"Hn." I grabbed his shirt and pulled him close to my face.

"Don't 'hn' me."

"Hn." I rolled my eyes and shoved him away. Mother only raised a brow at our interaction and I just shook my head. Yuusuke ran at us and hid behind Kurama, begging him not to tell Keiko that he was hiding there.

"But, Yuusuke, she will eventually see you.. I mean, it is your birthday." Yuusuke came out from hiding. He looked miserable.

"Come on, cheer up, Yuusuke. I mean, look at all these gifts." He looked at them then at me then his gaze went to mother. I knew he would ask so I answered before he had to. "Yuusuke, this is my mother, Jun. Mother, this is Yuusuke."

"Hello, Yuusuke. I've heard a lot about you." Yuusuke's brown eyes met mine and he signaled me to follow him.

"Excuse us." He grabbed my wrist and pulled me along with him until we were far enough away so no one could hear us. "You found her?"

"She found me. I was talking to an old friend of mine. We had gone to school together and he.. well, said something and I ran from him. I'm staying with her now." He smiled.

"So, she understands who we really are?" I nodded.

"Besides, she doesn't want to get put into a mental institution for telling someone she talked to her daughter."

"Hm?"

"I am dead, remember?"

"Yeah." He gave me a slap on the back. "Maybe she'll be great friends with my mom!"

"Atsuko-san? I don't know. It could happen." He laughed and suddenly went quiet. "Hello, Keiko-chan!"

"Botan!" She smiled at me. "Would you believe it took me an hour to track him down? He hid in every place imaginable.."

"Well, he's here now, right? Anyway, I want to introduce you to someone.." It went on this way for a while until everyone knew who she was. Then we began the party. Yuusuke got to cut the cake, with me and Keiko at his side. I was ready with my oar and she was ready to slap him just in case. But he did fine.

"Happy Birthday, Yuusuke!" We all said.. except for Hiei, I'm sure. When it got to the presents, Yuusuke picked up my box.

"Open it first and save the card until afterward." I said quietly. He nodded and tore the paper off the box and opening it, smirking. "I figure that you'll train in it."

"Yeah." He then reached for the card. He was shocked to see that it was a simple piece of paper inside a white envelope. He unfolded it and began reading it to himself. Then he smiled and looked at me. What was next, I didn't expect. He stood up and hugged me, twirling me around with a grin on his face. "Thanks, Botan."

"Every word of it was the truth, Yuu-kun." He nodded. Then he went back through the presents. I left after a few minutes, going out to stand before the great staircase that we had to climb just to get up here.

"Yuusuke, when I first met you.. and saw why you were such a special case, I was surprised. You had not been meant to die. I had wanted to trust you so much. But I haven't always been completely honest with you. All those times I had said that I was fine.. most of the time it was a complete lie. And during Maze Castle, I wished you guys all the best of luck and when Keiko was in danger.. I wouldn't have forgiven myself if they had gotten to her. I know how special she is to you. Well, I give you my best wishes. Have a happy birthday." I turned around. Kurama smiled at me and flashed me the paper.

"I felt bad with all of that on my chest." He came over and wrapped his arms around my waist from behind. I leaned back in his arms, content that we had a small moment to ourselves.

"I have a question."

"What is it?"

"Why do you hug Hiei like that whenever you see him?" I smirked.

"Well, he is my favorite fire demon and I know how much he hates hugs. It's just a way to pick on him and show him how much I like him at the same time."

"He hates it, that's for sure." I laughed.

"That is the point." He chuckled. With a small smile, we turned and watched our friends having fun getting Yuusuke with the icing from the cake. Yuusuke had already succeeded in grabbing Hiei and stuffing cake in his mouth, along with getting icing on his cheek. "They look so happy.."

"I know someone who also deserves to be that happy."

"Hiei..?" He sweat-dropped and stared at me with an incredulous face.

"I meant.. you.."

"Oh!" I grinned. "Well, you've got a long way to go."

"Might as well begin now, ne?" He asked. I looked up at him and my eyes widened. I did not like that evil glint in his eyes or the evil smile that was starting to spread across his face. "You need a little icing on you so that you blend in!" I screamed when he grabbed me, collapsing and just giving up in his arms as he carried me over his shoulder.

-

Long chapter, eh? Wrote most of it.. today.. but if you want to get technical, then I wrote it yesterday, since it is 2:48 right now. n.n Please review!