Chapter 14: Forget

Rain splattered the rooftop of the police commander's large estate. The rhythmic beating provided a calm, refreshing backdrop for Botan's pensive thoughts. The weather had become nasty. The blue-haired girl was lying on her back, her eyes looking up to the cream-colored ceiling. Her Master Kisho had just left. She laced her hands in front of her, and a bright stone flashed in the lamplight along with the gleam from the bracelet that encircled her wrist. A silver band locked around a finger of her left hand. The circlet reflected the warm light of the room, and the brightest spot of the ring was sparkling in the middle. The diamond flashed its brilliance.

Botan sighed…. The ring was as bad as a shackle. It bound her to a future she was unsure of, and had not even consented to having yet. She had just put it on moments ago. A favor she did for her cousin. Botan looked at the floor.

Hikaru had presented it to her right after she had woken up in her room. They had found her asleep at the police station, like the two guards that were to stand their vigil over the cell of Youko Kurama. It is only the day after he was captured, but the investigators have concluded that he has broken out, perhaps using Botan as a hostage to do so. She has said that she had no recollection of what had happened. And so it was concluded that Kurama must have used some sort of powder to change her memory…no one really knows. The investigators conclude that there probably was some sort of brainwashing act that went on, possibly rape, and theft, but Botan didn't think of that. The officials aren't really sure what really happened. But Botan should know. There was some sensation that she knew she was missing. Something had been lost during that time in the police station. But Botan couldn't remember what. Heck, she couldn't even remember what had happened the past week. She knew she had disappeared, kidnapped by the villain Youko Kurama. Though everyone said that the experience must have been awful…Botan felt as if it had something to offer. Perhaps it was the sensation she had lost when she had lost along with her memory. But…what was that sensation?

The door to the outside garden was open. The slanted roof prevented the walkway outside, (and Botan's room), from getting wet. The koi pond bamboo fountain outside was being filled again. The bamboo shoot that poured water into another bamboo container…began its process over. It would be a while before the container would again spill its contents into the awaiting koi pond.

"Youko Kurama…." Botan pondered. Her eyes gained a far-off look as she tried to recall the incident earlier that evening. But she just couldn't remember….

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Entering the police station, Botan forced a smile at the guard on duty. It was the day after she had returned home from being rescued by her cousin. Of all the officers available to stand duty, her luck must of have been off today to have this particular person on duty.

The man who sat slouching at the desk in front of her gave her a greasy smile.

"Good day Botan." His perfectly white teeth beamed at her and his dull tan eyes regarded her with a particularly sexual look. Botan had to control herself from grimacing and backing out of the doorway.

"Hello…Kazuki. Uhmm…I'm here to visit-"

"Yes," he interrupted with a sure smile, "Of course…you came to see…me…" His smile sparkled. Botan's nose wrinkled.

"Err…No. I was actually looking for…" Botan was once again interrupted. A loud bang resulted from the man's hand making contact with the mahogany desk. The blow echoed in the quiet building and caused the blue-haired girl leap and flinch. Kazuki's face had darkened and become cross. A frown creased his countenance deeply.

"I know…" He replied, "I know you're looking for Youko." He looked up with his chestnut eyes at the maiden before him. "Do you know how many girls have already shown up?" Periwinkle eyes lit up. 'Other girls have come to see him?' Botan felt a deep abyss seem to form in the pit of her stomach; jealously quickly started to fill the crevice within. A small frown formed on her pretty face.

"Kazuki…please, just let me see him." Her grip tightened on the bowl in her hands. Kazuki looked at her suspiciously down her nose.

"Hmm…I don't think so." Botan's eyes blinked wide. Her hands shook slightly, and she had to bite her lip so that she could keep controlled and not drop the bowl of porridge.

"But..Kazuki! Why?" She exclaimed, a water layer beginning to swell over her eyes.

"Well…" he answered, taking out his gun and twirling the gun by the trigger dangerously, (so that Botan backed up for fear of being shot), "I got orders from Commander Hikaru to not let you anywhere near that fiend." Kazuki smirked and side glanced at Botan. Botan blinked at the mention of her cousin.

"But…" She began, shaking her head, "I don't care! I'm my own person, I can do what I want!" Kazuki scrunched up his nose at her in annoyance.

"But ain't you goin' to marry him anyways? You're as good as his…sadly. You got to do what he wants." Botan frowned.

"I am not Hikaru's, I am no one's." Kazuki began to chuckle.

"I'm sorry Botan, but you sounded rather un-lady-like right there. You sounded a bit too commanding to be an obedient young maiden." Botan stared daggers through her gaze at him.

Another chuckle now ricocheted through the open room, causing Botan to start and the guard to bolt up and spin around, armed with a gun.

"Whose there?" Kazuki demanded of the intruder. A figure stepped from the shadows of a corridor.

"Calm down, Kazuki. It's just me, Juro." A kind-faced man stepped out from the cloaking shadows. His rather small eyes and gentle smile was inviting to Botan after having to deal with his ignorant and arrogant partner and cousin. A smile lit the maiden's face.

"Ah! Juro! How are you!" Botan bounced up to the older boy who chuckled in amusement.

"Botan," He exclaimed, "I should be asking how you are! After the ordeal you have been through, what with Youko Kurama and all. How are you? You're not hurt or anything…right?" Botan quickly shook her head.

"No," she replied, "I'm not hurt. I'm just fine. It's nice to see you again. What have you been up to?" Through their conversation, the two seemed to have forgotten the third person in the room.

"Excuse me," Kazuki said as he stepped right in between the two conversationists, "But I believe that I was talking to Ms. Sasakawa first, dear cousin." He gave a childish and annoyed look over his shoulder at his kin. Juro just smiled apologetically back.

"Calm down Kazuki. We were just saying 'hi'." Juro explained. But Kazuki just ignored this, and instead mumbled something to the like of: "Sure you were…that's how things start…." Juro and Botan gave each other hopeless stares, both knowing that Kazuki was just hopeless.

"Anyways," Kazuki continued, "Botan was just telling me that she wanted to see Youko Kurama." He signaled over his shoulder to the room of prison cells. The statement made his brown-haired cousin flinch at bit. He looked over at Botan.

"But Botan…why would you want to see that monster again?" Botan's eyes dropped to the floor as she heard this. Her heart felt as if it had been hallowed out. 'So,' She thought, 'Even a kind, sweet boy like Juro would think him a monster.' Botan felt a bit depressed. The boys noticed the sudden changed, and pressed her to tell what was wrong, but Botan shook them off and flashed a rather fake reassuring smile.

"Well…anyways, Juro, Kazuki," Botan stated, looking at each boy as she said their names, "Could you please let me see Kurama? I really have to see him." The boys' chestnut eyes narrowed in suspicion, and studied her closely.

"Why do you have to see him so bad?" Juro asked, his eyes landing on the ceramic bowl in the girl's hands. "Did Hikaru give you orders?" Botan clutched her bowl tighter.

"No…" she answered, "But I just wanted to bring Kurama something to eat." She held up her bowl for them to see. "It's just porridge, can you please just let me in? I'll be quick." Botan stared at them. And brown eyes met extremely sincere, pleading lavender ones. They blinked from her gaze and sighed, scratching the backs of their heads in unknowingness. Finally, Kazuki gave an agitated puff of breath, and threw up his arms in defeat.

"Alright…just go. I don't want to think so hard, keeping duty at the police station is suppose to be an easy task. So just…go." He pointed toward the prison door before stalking over to his seat, and collapsing into it, as if he had done an awful amount of work. Botan smiled and quietly thanked him before moving towards the door. But she was halted as Juro threw an arm in front of her.

"I have to check if there are any keys or picks in the bowl first before you go in." Blinking innocently, Botan took the spoon in the porridge and stirred it around the bowl for him to see that all was clear. There wasn't anything in the bowl…but the porridge. Or was there?

Satisfied with the check, Juro took out his keys, and with a loud 'clank', unlocked the room filled with prison cells. The cells were all enormous compared to what was the average small cubicle. The bars seemed to have just been attached to an open room's ceiling and floor. There was a dirt walkway down the middle for people to travel, and the cells seemed to have been divided up into four cells by (the looks of it), placing a metal walls as to make four cells, two on either side of the walkway. Juro, Striding over to the closest compartment on the left, unlocked the door; Botan followed quickly behind. Looking into the chamber, she had to suppress a worried gasp at the sight of the fox demon.

Through the dusty, and unclear air of the cell room, the fox sat propped up against the wall. Shackles bound his wrists and ankles, attaching him to the stonewall. His long shiny hair lay partially dulled and bloodied, and blood was dried leaking from his mouth. Scars marked his right cheek and several places on his arms and legs, as well as his ankles and wrists. His eyebrows were somewhat furrowed in despair.

Botan used all her will power not to run to him and fling her arms around him, and to not burst into tears. Her throat felt as if it had dried up from her attempt to keep in her tears.

"Botan?" The sky-haired girl looked back, startled. Juro eyed her suspiciously. "I'll have to stay here with you while you visit him. You are the commander's daughter, anyways." Botan wanted to object, but finding no way to possibly tell him to leave, she simply nodded her head.

Something fast flew past her ear, and she followed the object with her trained eyes. The object popped before Juro's face, leaving a small cloud of glittering dust. And before he could gasp, he inhaled the powder, and fell to the ground. Panicked, Botan turned halfway around; becoming wary of the direction of the dust, and the still body to the other side.

"Botan…" A ghost-like voice echoed. Botan spun around to face toward the inside of the cell. Youko's head was slowly lifting. His hand could clench, and in his palm, she could see a seed of some kind, covered in a glittering dust.

"Youko…" Botan gasped in relief, "Are you ok? What did you make Juro inhale?" Large worried lavender eyes searched for his gold ones under the cascade of silver bangs. Narrowed gold eyes found hers.

"Sleeping powder." He replied hoarsely. Botan tried to make him sit up properly, and he moved up to sit straight.

"But…" Botan carried on, "But…why did you not want him to be here?" Youko smiled at her.

"Because," he said, locking eyes with her, "I sensed you. And I wanted you alone here." Botan blushed.

'What…?'

There was silence for what seemed like minutes. Botan looked away from the kitsune.

"So…" Botan began, "what…" (Botan stole a glance at the wounds again), "what did they do to you? Did they lash you?" Youko, too, looked down at his wounds.

"Yes." he answered.

"Oh." Botan replied. "What did they charge you with?" Youko looked over at the young maiden.

"Kidnapping and theft…perhaps even rape." Botan started.

"Kidnapping?" She questioned, shaking her head in fustration, "You didn't kidnap me! I came to you on my own. And rape? We never did anything!" Youko adverted his gaze.

"I know." He answered.

"So…" Botan said, swallowing in nervousness, "Did you tell them? About your innocence I mean…for the kidnapping." Youko's eyes darted back to her, staring into her amethyst ones. Botan waited, impatient, before repeating the question with a bit more fury and passion.

"Well…did you?"

"No." Youko answered, "Of course not." Botan's eyes widened in surprise.

"Why?" She asked.

"Because…I didn't want to involve you anymore than you already are. If they knew you came to me, they could expect an alliance. And besides…they would never believe me." Botan was flushed, and she blinked away tears that had welled in her eyes from her outspoken fury. Botan looked away, and noticed her bowl on the ground. Trying to change the mood, she decided to change the subject.

"Uhh…Youko, here." She said, holding up the porridge bowl and smiling sweetly. "I brought you food, porridge." Youko regarded the food with a plain glance. Botan felt a bit rejected by such a petty acknowledgement. She picked up the spoon and taking it and running the excess off onto the rim of the bowl, she offered a little to him.

"Here, Youko, eat." Holding the spoon up to his mouth, she feed him quietly sip by sip, spoon by spoon, until there was almost none left, and he refused to eat. Botan placed the bowl back down onto the floor. Sitting on her heels, she sighed a calming breath, and reached into the folds of her obi, and took out a lockpick. Youko's eyes widened.

"I'm sorry that I didn't bring anything to help your wounds, but I couldn't bring much in, and at least this way I'll be able to get you out." Youko stared as she began fiddling with the shackles that chained him. Pushing the lockpick into the keyhole, she began twisting and yanking at the steel loops to see if she had been able to free the demon of his metal bands. As the shackles came off, Youko rubbed his wrists, and would occasionally flinch slightly as he touched the wounds on his limbs and body, and with every wince, Botan started in worry.

When all the steel bands had been removed, and Kurama was finally freed of his restraints, he slowly began to stand up. Failing the first time, the young girl approached him and helped the tall demon to his feet. To aid his tall frame in remaining erect, Botan helped hold up his torso, and his arm was thrown over her shoulders. Though she was of little aid compared to the full extent that he really needed to stand, she felt better as she stood beside him. Lavender eyes looked up and met with gold ones. She swallowed nervously.

"Thank you." He replied. Botan froze in her place. She blinked as she felt a weight lifted from her shoulders. She looked to Youko, and saw that he could now stand quite well by himself. His eyes were unbetraying to whether or not he was really in a deep pain or not by standing without aid.

"Youko," Botan said, "Are you sure you're ok?" She turned completely towards him and gave Youko a worried look. Youko smirked at her, and narrowed his eyes.

"I'm fine." He said, stepping in closer to her. Botan blushed as she looked up into his amber eyes.

"Youko…?" The demon looked down at her, and somewhat frowned, a scrutinizing look upon his facial features. Botan furrowed her eyebrows.

"What?" She asked aloud. Youko used his finger to tilt her face higher towards his own. Botan stared at him questioningly and cocked her head. Youko smiled sweetly at her, and started to bend down. He reached eye level with her, and stared into the girl's eyes. The youkai's gaze caused the girl to turn a deep red. Youko gave a rather cocky look as he neared his face further forward towards hers. Botan leaned back away a little. Youko persisted. Botan turned her face to the side to avoid being kissed. She lowered her lashes, as if to hide her eyes from his penetrating watch, and smiled. Trying to look anywhere but at him, she looked at their surroundings, though she still clung to his shirt. Youko wrapped his arms gently around her form. Botan smiled as she tilted her head towards him. Still eyeballing the cold stone cell, her eyes widened as her sight skimmed past the door leading to the previous room. Her lavender eyes met brown ones. Kazuki burst in. Youko's golden eyes enlarged. The two leapt quickly out of each other's arms.

"What is this?" Kazuki screamed, drawing his gun, "Botan, step away from him." Youko narrowed his eyes and frowned in disapprovement. Reaching into the tresses of silver atop his head, he yanked out a seed. Flipping his hand, the seed speedily grew into the renowned green whip that had become a trademark of the youkai. A red warning flag flew up as Botan watched the fox lower into a striking position. Her throat felt dry as she saw his eyes, steely and dangerous, meet those of the brown-haired man that had just burst through the doorway. Periwinkle eyes noted Youko's readiness to strike. Fear set into her mind.

A long drag of silence seemed to have ensued before Youko leapt toward the other man in what was really only a second since the man had intruded. Even with his slashes and cuts, Youko could still move much quicker than the average man. But, surprisingly to Botan, her mind raced much faster.

Youko raised his arm, the horned whip poised for attack. Kazuki barely had time move before freezing in his place, his body shivering in shock and horror. His eyes widened to its limit as he witnesses the Youko's body towering above his own. Brown eyes met glaring gold ones. Kazuki let out a scream as Youko tilted the whip and prepared to strike. Botan ran towards them.

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Youko squinted at the weak human before him. He practically reeked of fear and cowardliness. Youko noted Botan's somewhat shocked appearance, but ignored it. He tilted the whip towards the man; and in reaction, the man's face paled in terror and froze up. The side of Youko's mouth curled up maliciously. He began the whip's decent. The green vine-like object began to uncurl, and was headed straight down to open up the weak human's body into two halves. Adrenaline began to course through the fox's body. Blood lust began to become needy after being confined to such an isolated and cold prison cell. All necessities were now pointed toward survival and pleasure. And spilling blood…was fun enough. But the adrenaline was forced to put to a halt. Youko caught sign of pink eyes and blue hair, and his will stopped him.

Wide-eyed, Kurama stared down at the young woman before him. She stood firmly before the frightened man with her arms outstretched in protection. A stern look was soaked into her facial features and she stared back half pleadingly at the youkai. Youko frowned deeply.

"Botan…move aside." The demon roughly tried to move her out of the way. Botan's trained ears picked up a slight sound behind her, and quickly taking her hand back, she intercepted the handle of the knife that Kazuki was holding, keeping a tight grip on it. Kazuki gritted his teeth as her.

"No…Kazuki." She told him calmly. He began to sputter out reasons to stop the thief. Things like 'he's a criminal' and 'you're a traitor, you're the commander's daughter', 'this is undermining everything that the Ningen's Army has worked for', but to no avail. Botan only shook her head sadly at him and lowered her eyes. Taking the knife from him, she tossed it to the floor. Its wooden handle hit the floor with a sharp ringing sound. Youko waited impatiently and furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. The action reminded him of the previous day, through all the torture and incidents of this day, he remembered how Botan has protected him the same way from her cousin. And the thought that Botan had done it again…puzzled him. He met Botan's eyes. His patience was wearing thin.

"Botan…" He pursued, "Let him go. Let me kill him. He's seen you with me. And you wouldn't want that known, would you?" Leaning down and licking his lips, Youko stared down into Botan's eyes. The girl's cheeks became rouge. And she heard Kazuki grab her arm and drag her from the thief. Botan looked back at him.

"He's dangerous." Kazuki whispered to her, "But don't worry. I won't let him brainwash you anymore." He pulled out his gun again, and put a protective arm around Botan's shoulders. Flustered and quite embarrassed, Botan attempted to pull away from the man that clasped her. Freeing herself from his grasp, she turned toward him, and tried to calm him down. Of course, he refused to believe her fast-talking about 'Youko isn't such a bad person'. But of course, Kazuki wasn't one to believe that. Botan looked back at Youko, and could see clearly that he was loosing his patience. Turning back to the guard again, she once again began trying to convince him to let the fox go.

"Please, Kazuki… please just let him go." She pleaded, "Just let him go. I promise he's not that bad." Kazuki stared at her in disbelief and disgust. Trying to get past the 'crazed' woman, he tried to shove past her toward the demon. Botan had to struggle to keep him from getting past and hurting Kurama. But as he pressed on past her and Botan lost sight of his face, she saw a glitter flow into the air and surround them. Botan gasped and looked back to the fox. His hands were sparkling with the dust.

Wide-eyed, Botan asked: "Youko…what was that?" Inhaling the dust, she sneezed, causing the fox to smirk. Botan rubbed her nose before looking back up at the fox. Things seemed a bit fuzzy and out of focus. Her head seemed to dip and spin. Stumbling a bit, she wobbled toward Youko. Seeing the maiden groping for some kind of support, he held out his arm. Finding its strong frame, she clutched onto it and her balance became more stable. Botan's eyes were squinted shut, and her eyebrows furrowed. Botan's head felt as if her ears were about to pop and her head pounded and throbbed. Using his pointer finger to lift her chin, Youko lifted Botan's face to face his.

Golden eyes traced over her countenance. Botan's eyelids fluttered and opened. She appeared to be on the point of swooning.

"Youko…" She whispered, coughing as she felt a cleansing sensation beginning to bloom in her head and create a pounding sensation within her mind. Kurama made no move, but the silver ear atop his head perked and swiveled toward the doors entrance. Someone was approaching, though still far away. Botan's cherry eyes attempted to regain focus, she felt her body go numb, threatening to become a dead weight. She began to think that her eyes were not working correctly, for she again saw sapphire eyes where gold ones should have been on the fox's pale face. She clamped her eyes shut again as she felt drowsiness come over her. Botan felt Youko's face pressing against the side of hers.

"I'll come back one day." He whispered into her ear. Botan swore that the dust she had inhaled must had also caused auditory problems now. Youko's voice was no longer as rich and deep as it had been. It sounded vaguely like her brother's.

'Taisho….'

Opening her eyes, she was surprised that her vision was focused, but to such an extent that she saw things as if a bright light was focused wherever she looked. Looking at the fox's face, she saw gold orbs. She furrowed her eyebrows. Blue…. She had seen blue eyes on this same face before; blue eyes that reminded her so much of her brother. But seeing gold eyes…what did amber eyes mean to her? An impression of sneezing overcame her. But the sensation seemed to go straight to her brain, and she felt her body grow limp, and fall into strong arms.

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Botan felt warm.

'But whose arms are holding me?' She thought, 'Somebody's very warm.' The arms disappeared. Botan felt light… and she felt a sensation similar to as if she was sinking through a semi-thick goop. It easily parted to let her descend further into its embrace. Botan's brain felt tired, and she had her eyes firmly clasped in laziness. All she wanted to do was to relax; but a stab of pain at her pelvis caused her to stir and flail. Botan knew it. There was some nagging reason to not want to fall into the substance that now held her. There was no reason that she couldn't pretend that she had a normal life. A life with no villains, no troubles, no running away from enemies…just her family and her. A life that she could accept if she wanted to. But the question was… if she wanted to.

The pain at her pelvis continued to cause frenzy to her nerves, and send up red flags in her brain that she had to keep struggling to reach the surface from the goop. Botan wanted the demand to stop. She wanted a normal life. A life where she could just live peacefully as her father continued his work as the police chief. Where she could be with her brother, his smiling eyes beaming at her as she conversed with him on a day-to-day basis. She wanted a normal life, one day with a soul mate at her side. But as Botan began to ponder who this person might be, the sting at her abdominal area throbbed to a great magnitude. In annoyance, the teenager opened her eyes to see what it was that bothered her stomach region so. Her eyes cracked open.

And the goop suddenly became thin, and she was falling faster. She was surrounded by water now, and she could no longer feel that there was oxygen. Botan was sure that there wasn't before, but the lack of the gas now was causing her mind to ache and scream for it to breathe. It desperately told her to break the surface of water. But it was too far off now.

Botan was underwater. The coral reefs around her were barren and a dull brown. The pain continued. Her body's 'flight or fight' mechanism kicked in and told her to rush for air. She attempted to swim, but her body felt as if it had gained four people's weights. Botan felt tired. She didn't want to fight anymore. Yet she could feel that nagging annoyance at the back of her brain telling her to keep fighting…for some reason. Botan was torn. She wanted to give up, but instinct told her otherwise, to instead to fight for her future, and the future of others. The Others seemed important. Botan knew they were important. But they were unknown to her. Botan's eyebrows knitted in perplexity.

The maiden squinted through the deep dark water. A light colored figure was approaching. It seemed to be diving straight towards her.

'Who is that?' She wondered, but the image disappeared, and Botan feel into a sleep.

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"Botan…" The blue-haired girl moved minimally. "Botan…!" Someone was calling her name. The person was propping her up in his arms. Botan's eyelashes flickered, and her eyes peeped open. Her cousin stood over her. They were in her room. She was in bed. Hikaru stared at her in concern. Botan sat up by herself, and rubbed her temples and moaned.

"What am I doing here?" She mumbled quietly.

"We brought you home," another deeper voice said. Botan looked at the source of the voice. Behind Hikaru, she was surprised to find her master standing with a smile.

"Master…" Botan whispered, "Where was I?" She cocked her head in confusion. The two men exchanged looks.

"So you too, don't remember." Master Kisho stated. The girl's eyebrows knitted. She looked to her cousin for an explanation.

"You were at the police station where Youko Kurama was being held. And you were knocked out. The two guards there don't remember anything of the past week. We now see that it is the same with you. What were you doing at the police station, Botan? And with a bowl of porridge…." Hikaru's army uniform shone with badges in the lamplight, portraying a heroic image of the handsome young man. Botan's eyes caught sight of them as she was pondering for an answer. Her head still throbbed, and it hurt to recall the reason why she was exactly at the station, (and for that matter, with food), or what the events were of the day. She put a hand to her forehead.

"It hurts to think." She said, "Why exactly is it that we can't remember anything?" The two men looked at each other again. Hikaru cleared his throat to speak.

"We believe that there was perhaps a confrontation, because there were multiple weapons strewn on the ground. But no rounds were fired from the guns, and no cuts or bruises from combat were found on the two guards. So we believe that there must have been something that prevented attack. Why and how the confrontation started is unknown. And that's why we're so concerned about you. Because of Youko Kurama's long history of rape and theft, we were worried that you might have been a victim of either or both." Botan's cousin shifted uneasily, his red eyes scanned Botan over. "So…are you ok?" Botan flushed a deep red.

"I-…" She began, "I…don't think I'm hurt. Or have been abused."

"Are you sure," her cousin pressed, "You weren't touched in anyway inappropriately or out of your comfort zone?" Botan turned from them and played with her hair (which was now free from her hair tie).

"No," She answered, somewhat embarrassed about what they suggested. Seeing Botan's flushed face, Hikaru smiled, and put his hand over hers. Botan gasped and spun toward her cousin in shock.

"That's good to hear, Botan. We can talk later, ok?" He was smiling sweetly at her, and it caused Botan even more embarrassment, especially because it was in front of her teacher who taught her to not let feelings interfere with her long-time goal of killing Youko Kurama.

"Ok." Botan replied, trying to slip her hand from her blonde cousin's, but to no avail.

"Do you want something to eat?" Her cousin offered.

"No." Botan repeated, still trying to escape Hikaru's grasp. She could see traces of disappointment in a suppressed frown on her cousin's face. She took one glance at her master before violently yanking her hand from the blonde. Hikaru looked somewhat cross and hurt, but tried to hide it by smiling.

"I'll be back later, Botan." He said. Before stalking out of the room, he dropped a strange box into her lap. "Just promise me you'll wear this." Then saying his farewell to her and Kisho, he exited the room and was heard later meeting up with a soldier down the hallway. Botan looked up into her master's stern dark brown eyes. They were unreadable as ever.

"Master…" She began, "Is there some reason that Hikaru is acting like this?" Kisho looked into her pink eyes for a few moments before replying: "Yes."

"Can you tell me?" She asked. Her sensei sighed.

"So you don't remember that either?" Botan cocked her head. Kisho sighed again.

"You're marrying him." The maiden's eyes widened. The very thought seemed sudden, but at the same time, curious and familiar…as if it affected someone else that she had known. A flash of amber eyes passed before her mental eye. It was peculiar…because somehow, she felt attached to the pair of amber orbs. They reminded her stunningly of Youko Kurama's. But Botan ignored the image that had flashed before her. She took it as a reminder of her goal of revenge.

"Kisho…" she began, "Have you told me before that I was marrying him?" Kisho's near black eyes lit up.

"No. But you knew before yesterday…. I know you can remember Botan. You could probably remember everything. Just work at it." Botan looked at her teacher in puzzlement.

"But…how do you know I can do this?" She inquired. Kisho just smirked.

"I know you can."

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The bamboo container that was essential to the fountain tipped, and spilled water into the pond. The koi swam away from the incoming water in a frenzy.

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YEAH! Another chapter done! Yes!

Read and Review! (Please? )

Sorry. I don't have time to write the Reviewer notes today, I have to leave to go to dinner with someone. But I'll make it up next time! Till then! Bye!