Euphoria

Summary: She could see the desire pooling in his emerald orbs as he looked straight into her eyes and in a voice, low and husky, said simply, "I want you."

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho.

Chapter 12

"I just don't get it," Yusuke's voice was muffled as he continued to munch on the sweet chocolate-flavored bun in his hand, "It's been, like, four weeks, and we still haven't found out anything about the whole aphrodisiac predicament Kurama got himself into."

"Maybe the culprit is just too good at hiding?" Kuwabara suggested as he opened his lunchbox, muttering to himself something about homemade food being better than bought food before he went on, "I mean, it wouldn't be that weird if they were. They did manage to inject the drug into Kurama's blood without him noticing in the first place."

"I know, but," Yusuke let out a loud, exasperated groan, unaware that he threw his half eaten bun to the floor due to the frustration coursing through his being, "I still don't get it. I mean, the whole masking their presence thing I can get, but I just don't understand why everyone's so relaxed about this."

Kuwabara blinked. "Everyone?"

"Yeah, you know." Yusuke held up a finger, writing something in the air with the single digit in hopes that the carrot-top would comprehend it even without him uttering anything. Unfortunately, he only earned another blink in return. He pressed his lips together, eyes shooting daggers at his best friend. "I'm talking about Koenma and Kurama here."

"Oh!" A look of understanding finally crossed Kuwabara's features, but then it quickly dissipated, replaced by an expression filled with confusion. "But, why did you have to be all subtle like that? You could have just said it out loud."

"Dude! You know how Koenma likes to pop up behind us whenever we least expect him to. We can't let him know we're talking about him. That's only gonna make it harder for us to pry some information out of him."

Kuwabara threw the half remnants of the bun Yusuke had been so delightfully chewing on until he'd decided that he didn't need it anymore into a nearby dustbin. Inwardly, he hoped Yusuke wouldn't start asking for his food afterwards. "Guess you're right."

"Still," Yusuke leaned against the wall of the rooftop, "don't you think they're just being too carefree about this? I mean, according to what Koenma had told us, this Yokuboki or whatever it is is obviously dangerous. Kurama could die! But, he's just being so… calm. I mean, I know he's always cool like that and all, but this is something different altogether. Sometimes, he doesn't even look all that sexually frustrated to me anyway."

"It's Yokuboshi, Urameshi," Kuwabara lightly chided him for his lack of ability to even remember the plant's name, "and Botan's been… er, helping him out everyday, so why would he be pent up anyway? If he has an orgasm a day, it should be alright. I mean, sure, his life is at risk here, but let's be honest, this situation is so much better than the cases we've had before. Those didn't leave us any choice but to fight or die. We didn't even have a second to waste. But, this- well, all he has to do is screw a girl and he'll be okay."

"Sure, yeah, whatever." Yusuke huffed, apparently annoyed by how much the carrot-top made sense. But, his tense shoulders seemed to slump down, indicating he had regained a bit of composure. Yet his body language was still frigid; calm but frigid. "But, he can't be this way forever, right? Botan can't keep coming to him everyday just to bone him! She has a life too, and he seems to be enjoying this too much. And what about the whole thing we heard-"

"You mean eavesdropped-"

Kuwabara was ignored. "-from Koenma in his office?" Yusuke growled, recalling the time he and Kuwabara had went to Reikai to check up on Kurama, only to realize the fox wasn't in his room. They had been walking around looking for him until they happened to meet Hinageshi, who told them the redhead was busy discussing a relevant matter with Koenma. About what, they hadn't the faintest clue. But, they soon understood something was going on as they went to the prince's office, and couldn't help but listen in on the conversation taking place from the other side. It took Kuwabara and a whole bunch of ogres, and Hiei, who had coincidentally decided to see how Kurama was doing, to stop Yusuke from kicking the door open. "The puny brat obviously knows something and he's not telling us anything about it! He and Kurama were whispering like they share a big secret or something. And Koenma said that Kurama knows who the culprit is! But, he's deliberately keeping it to himself, and the fox isn't any better for not informing any of us. Here we are, worried sick about him, but he has the nerve to act all sneaky and mysterious with a toddler-prince."

"I don't exactly mind having sex with him everyday," a new voice interrupted; its tone curt and somewhat fierce. The two boys blinked before widening their eyes in recognition. Whirling their heads around, they caught sight of Botan, clad in Sarayashiki's girls-only uniform, sporting a composed expression on her countenance, despite the fire growing in her pools of amethysts. Her arms came to cross over her chest, and her irritated-pressed mouth parted to form out words. "And what's all this about Kurama knowing who's behind all this?"

"Er," Kuwabara pondered if he should even say anything, somewhat frightened at the sight of Botan looking so hurt and angry. He felled silent, turning to look at Yusuke and silently pleading for help with his little irises.

The delinquent creased his brows into a frown, as if asking why he was the one forced to explain everything. He gestured a hand at Kuwabara, indicating he should just go on, and receiving a half exasperated look from the carrot-top. His frown deepened for a moment or two, but the expression soon faded as both boys caught on to the feel of Botan's energy spiking in added wrath.

"Uh, we don't really know anything, Botan," Yusuke answered slowly, as sweat began to bead on his forehead. The girl's physiognomy didn't change, and he made to proceed, "We just overheard. From Koenma's office. We were shocked as well, and I'm kinda pissed at Kurama, myself, but… I couldn't find out more because they stopped talking."

"Kurama," Kuwabara offered with a blank face, "He sensed us. He knew we were listening. So he stopped."

Yusuke turned to look at him. "I still don't know how, man. I mean, I was sure we hid our presences well enough for him not to notice." The fox was usually attentive, but he and Kuwabara had been training a lot lately, seeing as cases had been popping up more these days. And they had gotten better; even to the point they managed to mask their respective energies from the normally careful half-demon at least three times before. But, Kurama must have improved as well. He had grown stronger. And though he didn't notice at first, it wasn't long before he actually did.

"Hard not to notice when you were seconds away from shooting the Spirit Gun at the door," Kuwabara added with a playful edge in his voice, a snicker erupting from his lips. Yusuke glared, tempted to land his knuckles on the carrot-top's cheek. And he did, tackling Kuwabara to the ground before the two engaged in full-blown fist-fight.

Seconds- no, minutes, ticked by before a soft sigh was expelled into the bone-chilling breeze. Yusuke halted in his attempts at kicking Kuwabara in the crotch, letting his bruised-face friend fall to the ground, twitching, before casting his gaze to the one who had let out the sound. Botan's rage-filled eyes had disappeared, taking its place was slight… disappointment? Yusuke frowned, going to sit closer to the ferry girl who flopped down on a spot on the floor of the roof, and paying no mind to Kuwabara who was demanding a rematch.

"Hey, what's wrong? You still angry at him?" Yusuke asked, concern flooding his brown orbs as he studied the blue-haired deity.

Botan managed to force a smile through pink, trembling lips. "Yes, I am. But, I know he must have a reason…" she trailed off as she pinned a transfixed stare on the white, puffy clouds; her eyes devoid of any emotion before she blinked, then in a low, almost inaudible voice, similar to that of a hushed whisper, she uttered, "I just want to know what it is."


"Is something the matter?"

Botan blinked her purple, clouded eyes, her motion and movements slow as she shook her head and shut her eyelids tight before flicking them open again, almost as if to snap out of a spell. She then peered at Kurama; blushing for a moment as she realized the top buttons of the black dress shirt he wore were undone, leaving his bare chest open to her hungry orbs. But then a small voice nagged at her from the deep recesses of the back of her mind, reminding her that she was supposed to be displeased with him, and the flush on her cheeks soon disappeared, fading almost as quickly as it appeared.

"Um, nothing," she bluffed, before firmly chastising herself for her cowardice to be upfront with him. For some reason, she felt uncomfortable, her body practically radiating off waves of tension as she looked away from the fox's scrutinizing ogle, averting her irises to the reflecting mirror.

Kurama blinked at her, a frown coming to marr his handsome features as he caught on to the pathetic lie. Botan had came by a few hours ago- and things should have gone the way they usually would. They should have made love- and that happened- they should have snuggled- that occurred for about five minutes before Botan decided to pull away- they should have talked, she should have been happy- but that wasn't the case. The air around them had been engulfed in an unbearable, interminable silence in the instant she removed herself from his embrace. At first, he assumed it was his imagination, but now as he stood there over the edge of his bed, eyeing her form covered in the pure white sheets, and watching as she tried desperately not to meet his gaze, the revelation hit him that his instincts had been correct all along.

He slowly walked to the bed, hands falling flat on the mattress as his knees crawled towards the ferry girl. Botan seemed to spare him a fleeting glance the moment she felt weight at the corner of the bed, only to look away once more as he started to make his way to her. He hesitated for a moment; letting a dreading feel sink into the pit of his stomach before he quickly brushed it off. Then he extended an arm out, his right hand coming into contact with her cheek, fingers gently running across the smooth, plump skin.

"Something's bothering you," he stated, his voice firm and all too knowing, leaving her no room for excuses and disagreement. "What is it?" His forefinger and thumb trailed downwards to her pointed chin, tugging her face towards his as he looked straight into her eyes. Botan, initially caught off guard, narrowed her slightly wide orbs into slits as she glared up at him.

"You knew," she said, a half growl rumbling from the back of her throat. He blinked, then cocked his head to the side.

"Pardon me?"

"You knew," Botan repeated, cheery voice dripping with slight anger as pools of amethysts reflected hurt and betrayal. Hurt because of betrayal. "The culprit." Kurama's body tensed, turning into a rigid line the instant the two words left her. "You knew, but you never told me."

Kurama's eyes grew broad in slight surprise, before they soon softened as he finally understood the reason behind her odd disposition. Fingers releasing their hold on her chin, the fox expelled a sigh and shook his head, locks of red swaying from side to side following his actions. He need not guess who she found out about it from. "I couldn't," he murmured, hating how vulnerable he came off as he ran a hand through his hair, frustrated digits curling and tugging on the crimson mane.

A huff. "And why not?" Her bottom lip pulled out to form an endearing pout, and he resisted the urge to slam his lips against hers and devour her sweet mouth as he slipped on a stoic mask, eyes darting upwards to hers once more as he uttered,

"I was scared." A pause. "Of losing you."

Botan frowned. "Losing me? Kurama, that won't happen." Her features softened, the wrath gone as swiftly as it came as she felt her hardened heart melt at his words. "I've been through a whole lot worse."

"Yes, but he could have killed you if I were to tell you who he-"

"So it's a guy then?" she cut him short, a half smile slowly curving at the edge of her lips. Green orbs blinked once again at her direction, one, delicate red eyebrow raising in question. She shook her head, and her smile seemed to waver. "I was… worried that it might have been a woman," she admitted with a rosy hue tinting her cheeks.

Kurama's lips tugged upwards to form an amused, cheeky grin, his emerald orbs dancing in mischief as he finally found an effective solution. "And if it were a woman…?" His voice, teasing, drew another blush from her.

"I'd be jealous," she blurted out, even as she gave him a long, hard look. "And don't even think I don't know what you're doing," she went on, eyeing in silent amusement as the smile on his face dropped from his visage. "You can't change the subject. We need to talk." All playfulness aside, the deity sent him a firm, unwavering stare, giving him a clue that she wasn't about to give in unless he told her the full truth.

But, he couldn't.

He shook his head. "I cannot do that, Botan," he mumbled, voice low and tender, "because I do not want to risk putting your life at stake."

Another deep frown came to rest on her forehead. "What on earth are you talking about?" she hissed, her features growing fierce. "I've endangered myself countless times for this team! Remember the incident with Yakumo? I nearly lost my life, Kurama, I was hanging on a thin thread between life and death. But even then, I took pride in what I did. Why? Because I knew I could do something, not just for my sake, but for every last person I held dear. This job never is without any risk, never without the presence of death. I can take care of myself, I'll have you know that. I'm not just an average human girl, and there's no way I'm gonna let you deal with this guy alone." Her voice, firm, and her beautiful purple orbs, determined, told him that she meant every syllable she spoke. That this was serious, and she wasn't about to let him do whatever he wanted that easily.

But, he was not easily dismissed. Much more when he knew he would be pushing her into harm's way. Pearl white teeth gritted, long, sharp fangs poking at the lower half of his mouth and drawing out blood as he clamped his eyes shut and growled out, "I will not drag you into my own fight, Botan. This is my battle, and my alone." His eyelids slid open, focusing on her and staring into her perplexed magenta. "Please understand. I am not only doing this for your own good, but for everyone's as well. I will not involve my beloved ones into this, I refuse to. Besides which," The golden in his vibrant green disappeared, giving way to strong affection as he cupped her cheek in one hand and leaned closer to touch their foreheads together, "this is a matter I have to solve on my own. Something I need to deal with by myself. This is merely a five-hundred-year-old grudge- yet it's something I won't have gone and done with with someone's assistance or involvement. It's between him and I alone."

Botan's features grew tender, a sigh escaping from her honey-dew lips as she fought the tears threatening to spring in her eyes. She couldn't accept it, but she understood. So she would try. Try not to meddle in his fight. Try to keep her mouth shut and merely wait from the sidelines for him to solve everything. She would try, and she would prevail. He would walk out of this, and she would not land a finger on this case.

That, she promised, because she believed in him and his strength. She had faith that he would live.