Chapter 11: Calm Before The Storm

The last Semi-Final match was nothing short of a bloodbath. As usual, Arashi didn't take to the ring, particularly since, as usual, he didn't have to. None of the fights lasted any longer than a minute. Bui displayed a particular mean streak, which was brought on by the fact that Hiei was watching the match. Taka demonstrated his proficiency with his weapon of choice, the kusarigama, and a vicious fighting style by completely, and literally, ripping his opponent apart. Kumo attacked and bit her opponent in the neck then simply stood back and watched as her opponent went insane with terror and tore himself to pieces. Hojo displayed his affinity for the use of his weapon of choice, the glaive. He was able to summon his weapon in a similar fashion that Bui would summon his battleaxes and, while being the weakest member, he certainly showed that he matched Taka as far as viciousness was concerned.

Yusuke, Kuwabara, Kurama, Hiei, Genkai, and Mukuro were on the upper deck of the stadium watching the semi-final round. It was already well known that Team Arashi would advance but watching the battle didn't hurt. Although, it just reminded them all of Team Toguro's all too quick victories at the previous tournament.

"Wow," Yusuke said, only mildly impressed. "Not bad."

"Those guys got a fire lit under them," Genkai pointed out. "Probably brought on by you guys making it this far with the only trouble happening when you guys were in the Semi-Finals."

"I can see where that would piss them off."

Kurama just silently watched and observed, taking particular note of Taka's match. He didn't get a lot of data from the fight, itself, but the overall experience of watching the black haired demon told Kurama all he needed to know. He was going to be ready for this fight. He already was.

"Man…" Kuwabara sighed. "Those guys are strong."

"It's nothing we haven't seen before," Mukuro said, as she stood with her arms folded. "And it's certainly nothing we cannot defeat."

The others looked at her. "So, you think we have a chance?" Yusuke asked.

"Of course. I'm not saying they aren't strong but we can overcome them. If I've learned anything from watching all of you fight, it's to never underestimate you."

"But you only fought me," Hiei mentioned.

"And you would've won, given a little more effort. Something I doubt you will have a problem with this time around."

Hiei just smirked.

"But I have observed all of you battle. You always overcome."

Yusuke stared down at Arashi and the Sorcerer back at him. Power flowed through them both, not enough for anyone else to notice but just enough where they could prove to one another that they would indeed meet in the ring. They formed an unspoken pact with one another that, in the final match, it would be the two of them and this matter would be settled.

The former spirit detective smirked and declared, "No point in breaking tradition."


The next day, the team made all last minute preparations for their final battle. Yusuke was at the cliffs near their hotel, letting spirit energy surge in a controlled state. His stare down with Arashi reminded him too much of his enemies from the past but, somehow, he was far more dangerous, far more deadly. Yusuke thought about Arashi's motives; he did this just to become stronger. Yusuke remembered the days when that was all he wanted but he never would've done anything like this, not even close. Power was never worth losing everything you could protect it with.

Yusuke's mind went to Botan. His friend. She'd always been there for him, even when he didn't deserve it; which, if he were honest with himself, was most of the time. She even risked herself time and time again to protect Keiko. He owed Botan more than he could ever say. She never, ever let him down. He wasn't going to fail her now, not when she needed him the most. Botan had taken the brunt of his stupidity and crassness and time again and, just this once, she needed him to fight for her. A hard request for her to ask, an all too easy request for him to grant.

"Don't worry, Botan," Yusuke said to himself. "I won't lose to that bastard. I won't fail you. Even if were down four losses, I'll kick every last one of their asses and win this." He let his energy subside and he looked up at the sky. "We aren't losing this one."


Kuwabara had his Spirit Sword in front of him. He thought about the display Hojo had put on during the Semi-Finals for his benefit: he was fast, strong, arrogant, and dangerous. But he wasn't unbeatable. While still strong, he wasn't as strong as the rest of the member of Team Arashi. Kuwabara had a new strategy and he knew he could take this guy.

The spirit aware human's mind went to his friend, Botan. He remembered at the beginning how he used to hit on her; it made him chuckle. He was thankful nothing ever came of that. He wouldn't have Yukina for a wife and he wouldn't have an amazing friend in Botan. Both were part of his life and it was because of Botan that it was all possible. She was a great friend. And he didn't mind putting himself on the line for a great friend.

He was going to do his part. He knew he was going to win. He had to.


Near the coast, Hiei stared at the large bonfire he started; it was reminiscent of years ago when he did the same. He had already trained all he could; all that was left now was the battle. He was looking forward to his rematch with Bui. This fire just gave him a calm and allowed him to concentrate on the task at hand and the reason for it.

It was funny: he never could've seen himself doing like this prior to nearly a decade ago before he met Yusuke. The Ryugan bearer couldn't lie, though: despite himself, he, legitimately, wanted to protect Botan. He couldn't explain why; he was starting to think the whole matter with the Hellknights, and having these people in his life as long as he had, influenced him a lot more than he wanted it to. Still, he wanted to win this fight, see what he could do, defeat his enemies, and protect the reaper girl.

Hiei scoffed. "Oh, well… guess I just have live with this mindset. I can protect her… this one time, at least."


Mukuro sat in her room, looking out of the window. She needed no further training and decided to just relax for a while instead. This whole matter showed her another side of Hiei she had only caught a few glimpses of before this endeavor: the side that actually gave a damn about other people. The proof of that came when he even asked her to be on the team to make sure they had five members. Hiei definitely wasn't the same person he'd always been; he wasn't even the same person he was when he first came to train with her.

Her thoughts then drifted to reason why Hiei was fighting, why all of them were fighting: Botan. She knew that the peony girl was afraid of her. Who could blame her? But there was something in her eyes when they first met at Genkai's home and again after the Semi-Finals.

Respect. Appreciation. Gratefulness.

Honestly, it made Mukuro smile. The girl had every reason to be afraid of her but was still approaching her with so many positive emotions. Those same emotions may have been what stayed her hand against killing Hatsuka. True, she wouldn't have gained anything from killing the bandit queen but there was a time when that wouldn't have stopped her. Mukuro was starting to wonder if Hiei was the only one who had truly changed and if the change was for the better. She would get her answer tomorrow in the Finals.


Later on in the evening, the rest of the team was in Yusuke and Keiko's room, spending time together before they all headed off to bed. Kurama excused himself to go see Botan, who wasn't much for hanging with everyone at the moment. No one blamed her. The Finals were tomorrow and it would all end. And, regardless of the outcome, she had the most to lose, which is precisely why Kurama wanted to check on her.

Well, it was one reason.

He went to her room and knocked on her door. "Botan?"

She slowly opened to peek and see who it was. While she really wasn't up to being around everyone else, she always willing to talk to him. When she saw the red haired warrior, she opened the door all the way, putting on a smile. "Kurama, hi," she said with relief in her voice.

He couldn't stop himself from smiling when she smiled, anymore. "May I come in?"

"Of course." She stepped out of the way of the door.

He walked in. "I just wanted to make sure you were alright."

She closed the door, sighing. She was still leaning against it, gathering her thoughts to answer the question. She leaned her back against the wall. "I'm scared. Getting more so by the minute."

He sighed. "I know."

She walked up to him. She was silent for a moment, "The Semi-Final round… and Taka. Now, the Finals are tomorrow… It's all just…" She paused, not knowing how to continue.

"I understand."

She sighed then went and sat down on the couch. "And I can't get over how… it's my father is causing the danger. He's putting everyone I care about in danger, putting their lives on the line to get me."

Kurama sat next to her, putting his arm on the couch just behind her head. "Arashi has caused this. Not you."

"I know… I just…" She sighed. "I can't help it. I'm so afraid someone is going to die. For me."

"Everything will be fine. I know it. Everyone is going to put in their best. You know that. Even Hiei and Mukuro will fight as hard as they can. For more their own egos than anything but they will. And, even if all else fails, Yusuke will get us through. He has every time before."

"I know. But… honestly… that isn't bothers me most."

"Oh? Then what?"

She looked at him and tried to form words. She looked away. "I… I-I-I just…"

He was left very curious as her sudden nervousness. "What is it?"

'Just say it! Just say it!' She looked over at him. She loved those eyes of his. "Promise me… promise one thing, Kurama."

"What's that?"

"That you'll be careful."

He paused. "I'll do the best I can."

"No! No, no, that's not enough! You have to promise me!" She took hold of his hand, frantically, "Please! Promise me! Please, promise! Please!" She stopped to get her breath. "You've been the one thing I can hold on to through all of this. You have to be careful. You can't die! Just… I can't lose you… I need you… please… no matter what happens…"

He placed his hand on her arm, gently rubbing it, "I'll do everything I can. I swear."

She gave a small smile of relief. They both felt the same thing they felt a week ago and after the Semi-Final round. They moved closer and pressed their lips together again.

After the kiss, Botan gazed into his eyes. She had made a decision on something she never had even considered before they had gotten as close as they had. All she needed now was to see if he wanted the same. "I need… to ask you one more thing…"

"Hmm?" Kurama asked.

She bit her bottom lip. She took a deep breath and exhaled all of the fear she had for now. She didn't need it tonight. "Stay with me… tonight…"

His eyes went wide as he could clearly tell what she was asking. Needless to say, he was beyond shocked; by the request, very much, but far more by the person requesting it.

"Please…" She placed a hand on his cheek. She moved her body closer to his. "Please…"

He couldn't deny that he wanted to very much. Oh, did he ever want to. But he didn't want to hurt her or have her do anything she would regret later. "Botan… I… I would love to but… but I don't want to do anything that you don't…"

"I know," she interrupted. "And thank you. But it is what I want. Please."

He stared at her and saw how much she needed this and wanted it. He agreed the only way that would suffice. Their lips met again with no sign of them stopping. They had said enough, for now anyway.


The team was still in the common room, playing cards, but the hour was starting to get late. They figured it was getting close to that time for them to get some sleep but it had been a while since the fox demon had been seen.

Yusuke opened up the door and looked up and down the hallway for him but didn't catch any sight of him. He scoffed, closed the door, and looked back at the others. "Anyone seen Kurama?"

"No, not in a while," Kuwabara answered.

"Last I saw, he was going to check on Botan," Hiei replied.

At that, Yusuke decided now was as good a time as any to bring up a subject he was actually trying to let slide. "I'm not the only one who sees something's going with those two, right?"

"Nope," everyone in the room answered simultaneously, save Mukuro.

"I am oblivious to most relationships between people…" the former Demon King stated, looking at her cards. "That being said, even I can see they have made some sort of connection."

Yusuke paused. He got an inquisitive look on his face. "You guys don't think they're…" He paused. "…ya know."

Hiei looked up, "Who? Kurama? And Botan?" He waved him off, "Don't be ridiculous."

"Okay, but when the last time you saw him?"

The Ryugan bearer shrugged, "Maybe about two…" the realization came over him, "hours… a…go… damn."

Everyone stopped. Keiko shook her head, "Wait. You think… right now… they're…"

"Doing the silk sheet strut?" Shizuru asked.

"SHIZURU!" Yukina shouted, mortified.

"What? I put it nicely."

"Ya didn't have to say it all!" Kuwabara said. "We got the message!"

"But why would they…" Keiko stopped. "…ya know! And now, of all times?"

"Well, we could die, tomorrow," Yusuke shrugged. "Makes people do… things they normally wouldn't do."

She knew her husband was right but this was all still quite the pill to swallow. "But… it's Kurama and Botan!"

"Is it that hard to believe?"

"Well… I mean…"

"Come to think of it… I did see them holding hands a couple of times," Kuwabara remembered.

"Wait… now that I think about it, I did see her kiss him on the cheek."

"I saw them making out in the forest after the Semi-Finals," Shizuru said, lighting up a cigarette.

Everyone looked at her in stunned silence.

"AND YOU'RE JUST NOW BRINGING THAT UP?!" Yusuke yelled.

"No one asked me."

Yusuke rolled his eyes and shook his head. He let out a sigh, scratched the back of his head, "It's official, I guess."

"Whoa…" Kuwabara, Keiko, and Yukina all said at the same time.

"Kurama and Botan…" Hiei said. "Stranger things have happened, I suppose."

"You would know," Yusuke put his hand down.

"I'm more than positive I have no idea what you're talking about."

"It shouldn't come too much of a surprise," Mukuro drew another card. "From what I have seen, they have put a lot of trust in one another. It was probably just a matter of time."

Yusuke smirked. "Are you still talking about Kurama and Botan?"

"Of course. Who else?"

"I don't know. Why don't you tell me… woman who currently lives with Hiei?"

"I fail to see the correlation."

"You sure you wanna do this? 'Cause I will."

She raised an eyebrow at him.

"Alright. Then what do you call what goes on between you and him?" He pointed the Ryugan bearer, causing Hiei to look away uncomfortably.

Mukuro did her best to not betray any emotion. "Not the same thing."

"Oh, really?"

"No."

"Okay, so, Hiei is nothing than a subordinate to you. And, is that why, I hear through the demon grapevine, that he always stays around your palace when he's off patrol?"

Hiei looked around, very unsettled at that profoundly true accusation.

Mukuro paused. A slight shade of red hit her cheeks, though she remained her calm and gathered self. She set her cards down and stood up. "I shall retire for the evening. Good night. See you all in the morning." She left the room.

After she closed the door, the others erupted into laughter at the flustered Demon King. Smiling, Yusuke folded his arms. "Yep, perfect woman for ya, Hiei. She avoids emotions even better than you do."

Hiei growled. "Will you just shut up?!"


Hours passed on deeper into the night, Botan slowly opened her eyes, exhausted from what she just experienced. She had never made love before. She'd never been close to anyone to think she would ever experience something close to it. But here she was, in the arms of someone who cared so much for her. She studied Kurama's face as he slept, memorizing every bit of it. She didn't know what was going to happen tomorrow.

And quite frankly, she didn't care right now. She just knew how she felt right now and how much this moment and this indescribable experience meant to her.

"Let me have this…" she, quietly, prayed. "Please, let me never lose this." She placed a hand on his cheek.

He opened his eyes. He smiled at her and she smiled back.

"Is everything okay?" he asked.

"Yes." She stroked his cheek, "But I just have to say… thank you, Kurama… for everything."

"It's my honor and pleasure, Botan. It always will be."

She kissed him. With that, they drifted back to sleep.


A/N: So, what do you guys think about that? We all knew it was coming but how did you like it? REVIEWS! I really do love those! Please leave me your thoughts!

Next Chapter: Day of the Finals

It is the morning after their first night together and Kurama and Botan both know what is coming, as does the rest of the team.

The Finals are about to begin. We are close.

REVIEWS!