Of You, Me, and Us

Summary: "I like you." When those words left her lips, Botan had expected to hear him utter words of apology. After all, she didn't think he felt the same way about her. She didn't expect Kurama looking at her straight in the eyes before leaning closer to kiss her. And although he didn't say anything, one glance at the expression on his face was enough to tell her: she was his now.

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho.

Chapter 9: Promise

"Don't look at me like that again."

Botan and Kurama sat at the bed, the redhead lying flat against the headboard. She had been busy bandaging him, the air around the two lovers dead silent and uncomfortable. The fox had been trying to get her to talk for some time, though the ferry girl seemed persistent to remain unresponsive, her mouth tugged down in a thin angry line with a deep frown marring her forehead as a solemn look crossed her once vibrant amethyst orbs. She seemed upset with him, and though he knew the cause of it, he said nothing and merely studied her as she proceeded to wrap the white bandages around his wounds.

He blinked at her, caught off guard by her sudden words. "What?" He didn't expect her to be so upfront about it, which was so unlike herself.

Botan didn't respond at once, running the pads of her warm, tender fingers over the white bandage covering his chest. Underneath, she knew bloody gashes and long cuts marred his skin, proof of his barely survived battle with a strong demon during his first fight on their second adventure at the Dark Tournament. She felt his muscles flex, and his body turning into a rigid line under her touch, before eventually lifting her head to meet his gaze.

"Just don't," she whispered.

She remembered Kurama's fight; she was scared for him then. The battle reminded her too much of the one he had with Karasu; it almost felt as if he would have died, and for a moment there, she did think he would. The flicker of light that was his life force had almost faded, nearly disappearing and being eaten by the darkness. It had only been when his eyes flicked open, did she finally sense it appear again, the yellow, mixed with murky red, light flickering and disappearing, before flickering again and building up almost like a flame.

She had breathed a sigh of relief, the despair in her pools of amethyst replaced with a glimmering hope as tears of happiness threatened to fall out from the back of her eyes. But, she couldn't stay grateful for long, the look he had given her before he'd felled face first on the dirt still haunting her thoughts.

Solemn and apologetic with a touch of yearning, his emeralds had darted over her in the midst of the crowd, the words he'd been trying to tell her echoing in her mind: "Goodbye, I love you." Fear gripped at her sides, filling her with a strong sense of despair that she had never felt before. She had thought she lost him. And he had bidded her farewell.

"Botan…" Kurama's features softened.

"Looking like you were going to die," she cut him off sharply before he could even utter a word. Wrath dripped heavily in her voice as she went on, "looking as if it was the last time. Don't look at me like that ever again." She'd been surrounded by death for as long as she could remember, she didn't want the person she held dear the most to even think it. To even think of dying, to even think of leaving her behind. And what would have happened if he had died? Did she have to ferry his soul, too? The way she was forced to with Genkai?

No! Her mind screamed. She wouldn't be able to bear the pain. Not again.

Kurama's eyes were wide over her words, growing even broader as the crystalline tears finally cascaded down her cheeks, her soft wailing turning into violent sobbings that racked through her entire form in a matter of minutes. His insides frantic, he went to grab her by the waist, pulling her into a tight embrace.

"I'm sorry," he whispered into her ear, voice desperate and urgent, "I'm sorry."

"W-why?" she asked him in a shaky murmur as she pulled apart from his chest to peer up at him. She sniffed, and he couldn't help but think how beautiful she seemed, with that pink hue coloring her cheeks and her trembling lips between the front of her two teeth to prevent herself from more bawling.

His eyes softened, then he shook his head. "I…" he trailed off. He was always better than anyone else in regards to words, but he was never good at expressing his feelings. Especially not when she was like this. Not when she was crying, because of him. "I really did think I was going to die," he spoke, voice soft, "and I wanted you to know how I felt, I wanted to tell you I love you before I breathed my last. I…" he stopped there as Botan clutched his shoulders, burying her head once again in the sanctuary she called his chest.

She sighed. "Don't think that anymore," she murmured against his skin, "Just don't. I don't want you to. I don't want you to ever lose hope, to ever think that you'd die. I want you to keep clinging on to your life, even if everything seemed like it was going to be over." She looked up to stare at him straight in the eyes, her features stern and her voice equally firm. "Promise me that you would do that… for my sake."

"Oh, Botan," he whispered hoarsely before leaning forward to gently touch his forehead with hers, "I promise, you know I won't. Do not fret. I will be here," He tilted his head back to let his mouth brush on her tear tracks, the lingering salty taste melting on his tongue, "by your side," and he pulled her impossibly closer, "no matter what."

She pulled back to study him, eyes holding a small tinge of doubt. "Really?"

He nodded his head, a soft, contented sigh falling out his lips as he felt her gentle hand reach up to cup his cheek. He shut his eyes, allowing her warmth to sap through his skin. "Really." He smiled, before flicking his eyes open. "I promise," He grabbed the hand that held his cheek, removing it from its position on his flesh as he brought it to his lips, placing soft kisses here and there over her long fingers, "because I want to care for you to the end. I want to love you, hold you and be there for you until you expel your last breath." Then, he looked up at her, smiling a tender, deep-promised smile, filled with love and affection, all for her. "That, I swear."

She returned the smile with her own, hers a little warmer than his as she allowed him to bring a hand to the back of her head, tugging her closer and closer, their lips merely inches from one another.

"If you break your promise," she paused to inhale a deep breath, "you have to swallow a thousand needles."

And with that, she felt him claim her mouth in a searing kiss, his smile against her lips never lost on her.