Last time on The Courtship
Hiei effectively ended the rebellion with the help of a certain dragon. Kuwabara and Touya, (Hiei's old flame) have an interesting conversation. Hiei intervenes and Kuwabara shows Mr. Freeze who Hiei really belongs to. They make up. Koenma is summoned by his father who has informed him that there is an issue with his engagement to Botan.
Koenma couldn't believe his ears.
"Development? What kind of development? You gave your approval of the union-"
"This is not about my approval son," Enma said, cutting him off. "This is about your previous engagement."
Koenma swallowed hard. "I-I thought that was settled."
"It was, but now Lord Takahiro says otherwise." Lord Takahiro was a very rich and prosperous noble who lived in the eastern part of his father's domain. He and Enma once had an agreement on a marriage between Koenma and his daughter Akemi, but later dissolved the agreement.
"Fear not, my son," Enma tried to offer some comfort at the look of panic on his son's face. "I will take care of this. NO ONE makes a fool out of me!"
Koenma allowed himself a small breath of relief. He knew that his father would clear this up, not so much for his sake but so sate the attack on his ego.
Koenma stood. "Thank you, father. I will inform Botan-"
"Are you sure that's wise, son?"
"What do you mean, father?"
"I mean that this will only distress her and may drive a rift between you."
"Perhaps," Koenma admitted, "but I want us to be totally honest with each other."
"A noble intention," his father countered. "But as ruler, there are some things you must protect her from."
"Father, I-"
"I will not debate the point with you," his father cut him off. "But just keep what I said in mind. Why don't you ask that spirit detective of yours for advice? You always seemed to listen to him more than me. You always were a stubborn one."
On the way back to his palace, he pondered on whether he should tell Botan or not. What if father is right? he asked himself. Perhaps I should not mention it. Botan doesn't seem to be in a hurry about our union. But he knew he couldn't keep it from her. I owe it to her to be completely honest with her. If she found out some other way she would never forgive me.
During his meeting with Botan, he debated on how he was going to break the news to her; so much so that he couldn't focus on Botan's report. Botan took notice.
"Koenma?" she asked.
Koenma was snapped out of his thoughts. "I'm sorry Botan, you were saying?"
"I said that these rebellions are causing an increase in our workload, especially since they have been quelled," she said a little stiffly, irritated that Koenma's attention seemed to be elsewhere.
"Oh yes, of course," he said. "That is to be expected. But I am sure that you and your staff can handle it."
"Of course we can," she answered. "But is there something bothering you?"
"I'm sorry Botan, just have something on my mind."
"What is it?" she asked. "I'm starting to get worried."
"I will tell you this evening-"
"Koenma, I'm too worried. I can't wait that long, and neither can you."
Koenma sighed. "I suppose you're right, but not here. Please join me in my private study."
Botan had never been in Koenma's private study. The furniture, sophisticated but comfortable, combined with the bookshelves lined with rare and expensive books and the large mahogany desk made for a cozy scene. But she was too concerned to worry about that.
"Botan, a situation has come up."
"What kind of situation?" Her heart was thumping in her chest.
"I went to see my father today-"
That put Botan on alert. "What? What's wrong? Did he tell you to break up with me?"
"Botan, please let me finish."
"Oh, I'm sorry."
"It's alright." Koenma took a deep breath and hoped for the best as he continued.
"When I was born, as royalty, an alliance was made between my father and one of the lords of the reikai."
"What type of alliance?" Botan didn't like where this was going.
"An alliance through marriage."
Botan's heart nosedived into her stomach.
Koenma continued, wincing at the look on her face. "The agreement was to unite me and the lord's daughter though marriage, thus forging a strong family alliance."
"So what happened?" Botan asked. He obviously wasn't married to her, or was he?
"He and my father had a major disagreement on an issue, and my father broke the alliance."
"Can he do that?" Botan was not up on royal policy, but even she doubted as to whether such an alliance could be broken on a whim.
"Yes and no," Koenma answered.
"What does that mean, Koenma?"
"It means that the alliance can be broken in one of two ways. One way is for both parties to agree to break it; and the other is if both sides cannot agree a spiritual council must be summoned to hear both sides and decide on the matter."
Botan waited. "So?" The tone of her voice put Koenma on edge.
"So," he continued. "My father says that the decision to end the alliance was mutual but Lord Takahiro says otherwise."
"What happens now, Koenma?"
"Well, our union will have to…wait until my father straightens this out."
Botan was at her breaking point. "Wait? How long? And why would your father do this for us? He didn't want you to marry me anyway!"
"Botan, please understand. My father will not straighten this out for us. He will do it for himself and his pride. Lord Takahiro has made a fool out of him, and he will not let such a gross insult on his ego go unpunished."
"How is punishing him going to solve anything?" she demanded. "And you still haven't answered my question. How long is this going to take?"
"I don't know."
"So this could take months? Or even years!" Her voice was rising, and he could hear the emotion behind it.
"Of course not!'
"But you just said you didn't know!" she exclaimed.
"But I'm sure it won't take that long-"
"But you don't know that, now do you?" Botan was looking at him through narrowed eyes and with a look that he had never seen on her face before.
"Please, Botan. We just have to be patient-"
"Patient!" she exclaimed, leaping out of her chair. "You weren't so patient the other night, were you?"
"What?" Koenma hopped off the corner of his desk where he was sitting. "What do you mean by that?"
"What we've been doing this past week. I'll be you think I'm some cheap…harlot don't you?" She turned her back on him.
"Of course not!" He grabbed her arm and turned her around. "How could you say such a thing?" His emotions were getting the best of him. He didn't realize how hard he was gripping her until she slapped him.
"Let go of me!"
"Botan, I'm sorry. But you don't really think that, do you? I love you. I have loved you since the first time I saw-"
"Oh, stuff it! All this time you've been betrothed to her and sneaking me into your apartment to have fun with me while you prepare to marry her," she accused.
"NO!" he was practically shouting now. "That's not true. I gave you my bracelet! Why would I do that if I hadn't intended for us to be together?"
"Perhaps she has one as well!" Botan shouted back.
"This is one of a kind. I only have one to give!"
"Only one to give eh? Well here," she snatched the bracelet from her arm and flung it at him. "She can have this one. According to you, she's the rightful owner," she said coolly.
"What? No! Botan!" he cried as she snatched the door open and prepared to leave. "Just…please…" he was at a loss for words.
She ran out of the room with Koenma trailing after her. "Please…wait!"
"Stay away from me!" she exclaimed.
Their little escapade had spilled out into his public office, which was crawling with ogres. Botan didn't care about making a scene as she stormed out of the office and slammed the door, leaving all eyes on Koenma, seemingly waiting for an explanation.
Yeah, right.
"GET BACK TO WORK!" he roared at his nosy staff.
Botan managed to make it to her room before she collapsed in a flood of tears. She cried and cried, until she had a headache and her tear ducts were dried up. Then she cried some more.
Knock. Knock. "Botan?" She heard Ayame's voice. Botan opened the door.
"Are you ok?" She asked, noticing the state of Botan's face. Her eyes were red and puffy, her nose was bright red, and she had splotches all over her face.
"No," she admitted.
"Is there anything I can do?"
"Yes. Can you handle the workload while I…I…" she was about to break down in tears again.
"Of course," Ayame assured her. "What else is an assistant superintendent for?"
"Thanks Ayame," she hugged her friend and assistant.
She knew where she could seek comfort.
By the time Botan got to Shizuru's, she collapsed in Keiko's arms with a fresh typhoon of tears as she spilled her story. Keiko was ready with words of comfort but Shizuru had questions.
"Did he say why he didn't tell you?"
"No-no," Botan sniffed.
"Did you ask him?"
"No, I didn't."
"Why not?" Shizuru asked.
"Because she was upset!" Keiko exclaimed.
"I understand that. But if she had given him a chance to explain-"
"Explain what? That he's engaged to someone else?" Keiko said.
"So says the other girl's father," Shizuru said. Like Kurama, she was always objective.
"I can't trust King Enma," Botan said. "He's done so much-"
"Yeah, he tried to kill Yusuke!" Keiko, like her husband, was subjective when she was upset.
"Yusuke was already dead," Shizuru pointed out. "But that's not the point-"
"Well, what is the point?" Keiko demanded, seemingly forgetting about the grieving fiancée.
"Well if you'll stop interrupting I will tell you. From what Botan said, Enma was upset because the guy made a fool out of him. He's a man, and extremely egotistical, so he won't let that go."
"He doesn't care about us!" Botan exclaimed.
"Perhaps not," Shizuru admitted. "But he cares about his pride and ego, and that's motivation enough."
"But how long will that take?" Botan wailed.
"Now that I cannot answer," Shizuru said. "I guess that they will have to drag the truth out of this Lord what's-his-name. Maybe the boys can help."
"What could they do?" Botan asked, drying her tears.
"Don't know. Maybe pay this lord a visit. Yusuke and Hiei are very good at…persuasion," Shizuru answered.
"That's right!" Keiko piped up.
"OK," Botan answered. "But why should I forgive him?" She asked.
"Because you love him," Shizuru said simply.
"And he loves you," Keiko added.
"Just talk to him, Botan. Give him a chance to explain why he didn't tell you."
"Where's that bracelet?" Keiko asked, noticing that it was missing.
"I…I threw it at him," Botan admitted.
"One more thing," Shizuru asked. "Did you do it?"
"Shizuru! How can you even think about that now?" Keiko asked, scandalized.
"Just wanted to know. And it might take her mind off things."
"Yes," she answered. "And he did me."
"What!" Keiko exclaimed, but Shizuru merely smirked. She knew exactly who the inexperienced deity would go to for answers.
"So, how was it?" Shizuru asked. "Never mind. You can tell us when you are feeling better."
"You want to stay here with us?" Keiko asked.
"No," Botan answered. "I need to be getting back. I am in charge of the reapers. I can't just shirk my responsibilities because Koenma and I…" she trailed off; not knowing whether to say 'had a fight' or 'broke up'.
"Ok Blue," Shizuru said. "But don't forget to ask him why he didn't tell you."
What will Koenma say when Botan asks him? And what will the boys say? Will they get involved? Will Botan stand by her man or is this the deal breaker? Find out ask The Courtship progresses!
A/N: This is a result of my Monday frustration. And Time on My hands is being modest. She really did come up with the Touya bit. Love you guys, review please!
NG714
