Stay Extraordinary

By Rikku Minouke

A shiver ran up her spine as Botan came awake. Her sheets had some how magically ended up on the floor and her bear was now… well no where she could see. Scooting out of bed she straightened her sheets, locating her stuffed animal under the bed, and placing it on her pillows. Then she ate some lucky charms while glancing through today's paper.

On the front page of the Star Tribune they talked about how they released the calls from the collapse of the thirty five west bridge. How people from a steam boat up river, people on the debris in the river, and witnesses on the Tenth Avenue Bridge had called in to make forty calls in all. Some where really panicked while others remained calm. One woman didn't even know where she was.

Also in the paper they had found someone's remains in Russia. They believe the bones may be the son and daughter to the late Czar. In the near future the government will be doing DNA testing to see if it is for sure Nicholas II and Maria. If they are indeed the two missing children then the second burial sight had been found and the two may join the rest of their family in St. Petersburg.

Botan pondered the small article about the Czars family. She had always thought that Anastasia had been missing, but from what the paper said, they already had her remains, as well as her cocker spaniel, Joy. "Hmm, that's mind boggling."

Finishing her cereal, Botan grabbed her purse and departed from her apartment. It was only nine in the morning and stores were starting to open. Quicker then anticipated Botan found a Michaels and walked into the craft store. The place was big with selection, but it didn't take her very long to find what she wanted, seeing as it was labeled, scrap booking.

Hurrying out Botan made it to the hospital by ten and to Hiei's room by ten twenty. Yusuke and Kuwabara were in his room talking sports. Keiko was listening to the two go back and forth about last nights baseball game.

"And when he rounded the bases," Yusuke smirked, "He threw the look at the Baltimore pitcher."

"Oh yeah," Kuwabara agreed, nodding his head vigorously. "It was most defiantly the look."

"The look?" Keiko's eyebrows rose as she stared at the two. "What look? I didn't know that in baseball there was a 'look'."

"Oh come on Keiko," Kuwabara rolled his eyes. "Don't you remember a couple of years ago when there was that huge thing with Tori Hunter and the Baltimore picture?"

"No, I'm afraid I don't know what thing you're talking about," Keiko told them.

"The guy who was pitching last night, Baez, a couple of years ago he hit Hunter really hard in the ribs when he was up to bat," Yusuke informed her. "Tori picked up the ball and threw it back at him and told him to meet him in the club house after the game. Supposedly there wasn't anything after the game."

"Oh, so this look was like a in your face kind of thing?" Keiko asked them, which both smiled brightly and nodded. Keiko then noticed Botan snickering by the front door. "Hey, Botan, how are you?"

"I'm doing pretty well," Botan walked closer to the gathering and glanced over at Hiei, who needed someone to shave him again. "How are you three doing?" They all responded with something around the lines of fare, or good.

"I was going to call you yesterday but I figured I'd tell you in person," Keiko's smile grew and Botan's hope raised a little, not too much cause it would hurt if they fell.

"What happened when I was gone?" Botan asked eagerly.

"Nothing too big," Kuwabara shrugged.

"Right and you think Stone Hinge is nothing," Yusuke shot at him.

"You don't even know what that is," Kuwabara glared and stuck out his tongue.

"Sure I do…" Yusuke looked at Keiko for help who ignored both boys.

"Anyways," Keiko said as Botan went to stand next to Hiei. There was a little more color in his cheeks then she remembered. It might be just her wanting to see it now, but she didn't remember it from the last time she was here. "The new doctor showed up yesterday evening. He looked very, ummm, good humored. "

"Okay, well, I'm glad Yusuke found a good doctor," Botan giggled at that staring at Hiei's features. She gently raised her hand and brushed away his bangs. The two boys sat by the window watching Botan's sad expression.

"Yes, that's always a good thing when he does something right," Keiko nodded. "But Botan, he had some good news. Hiei's been showing signs of brain activity. Not much, but there's still some. That means he could pull through."

Botan's hand stilled in his hair. Joy flowed through her. Hiei was going to pull through! He was really going to wake up and be back to normal. Be back to yell at her, to ignore her, to always out smart her, and to…have himself a wife…A flicker of pain shot through her eyes.

"I'm sorry Botan, I thought the news would make you happy," Keiko said, a bit confused at the look on the bluette's face.

"It does," Botan smiled as she thought about the future. At least he'll be happy with his life. "I just thought that the woman that he got the ring for doesn't know he's here."

"Oh," Keiko said, her eyebrows pushed together. "I hadn't thought about that."

"Do you know what happened to Hiei's cell phone?" Kuwabara asked. "Maybe she's called it."

"Maybe, but it didn't come with his clothes," Botan told them. "It's probably in his car."

"Which is at the bottom of the river," Yusuke grunted. "That's not gonna help much."

The group sighed over the information. "At least he's going to pull through and everything will go back to normal, mostly." Botan smiled and held back her tears of joy, of pain, of longing.