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 21: Office Visit
Botan struggled, staggered and swayed from side to side as she tried to walk with a load of paperwork in her petite hands. The people around her—fellow ferry girls and ogres alike, even a few of the SDF members—offered her help, but she politely declined their assistance. It was a difficulty, but Botan was used to this kind of thing which was so like a routine for her in her everyday life. Sometimes Koenma was too lazy to fetch for his own paperwork that Botan was forced to do the deed whenever George was not available. At first, it served as a pain in the butt, but gradually, she learned to adapt to the added duty of her long list of other duties as a ferry girl and assistant to the Reikai Tantei. The fact that she could get away from the nosy questions of her coworkers about her love life was a plus as well, so she couldn't really make any complaints.
She tripped on a pebble and sounded a startled cry as her mouth dropped open and her body followed suit. The papers flew and her knees collided with the cold, rough surface of the floor of Reikai hallway. A wince escaped her at the pain that racked through her leg as she tried to move a muscle, but she ignored the pricking torment and went on picking up the fallen papers, grumbling to herself about her lack of luck all the while.
Amethyst orbs blinked as two feet halted right before her kneeling position, the knees attached to the black-shoes covered feet bending low as a hand reached out to give her a few scraps of paper. It took her a slow blink and some moments before revelation hit her that what the person was holding was Koenma's fallen paperwork. Red crept up her neck and cheeks due to the embarrassment, and she briskly accepted the papers into her hands before getting up from the floor.
"Thank you, I…" she trailed off as she lifted her head and met eyes with a pair of emeralds. Instantly, the blush was gone, replaced by a radiant smile as she beamed, "Kurama!"
True enough, her boyfriend stood before her clad in a white dress shirt that was half tucked into his black khakis. His hair was tied in a low ponytail, a noticeably loose tie hanging around his neck and crinkled collar. He looked as if he just got out of work, but he managed to muster a half smile.
"Botan," he said simply, helping her dust off the debris from her pink kimono. Botan tried to stop him, said something about him being too tired to treat her like a queen, but Kurama was not easily dismissed. "You deserve it," he told her in a sweet voice, reaching outwards to brush away a strand of blue hair that was led astray by the gust of wind as the bone-chilling breeze blew past them. Botan tried to keep the paperwork from flying before pursing her lips.
"Rough day at the company?" she asked as she gestured to his disheveled appearance. Kurama's smile faltered just a little, but it quickly came back as she struggled to free one hand off the bunch of paperwork so she could grab ahold of his.
"Sort of. A group of my fangirls at college managed to find a way to sneak in," he answered before taking her by surprise as he took a few of the papers lined up in her left hand, ignoring her protests as he relieved her more and more of the paperwork. By the time Botan realized her 'no's and chastises felled to deaf ears, he was already carrying about two quarter of the paperwork. "Let me help you," he pressed as he caught the flicker of concern flit over her features.
Botan tensed, before relaxing. "Okay," she relented, heaving a sigh as she realized there was no persuading her fox. It was a well-known fact that when Kurama decided that he would do something, no one could talk him out of it. Trying to win against him would only result to the rapid lost of sanity. "What happened with the fangirls, by the way?"
"I succeeded in getting rid of them. But I did get into trouble with my superiors and… my step-father. He's okay with it though, after I explained my situation; he's an understanding man." A short pause lingered in the air. "Stop staring at my torn sleeve, Botan. I just got mauled by a bunch of rabid groupies."
"Sorry," she quickly said, but chewed on the bottom half of her lips to stifle a smile. "It's just odd. Youko Kurama, powerful and legendary fox thief. Getting defeated by a few fangirls."
"I wasn't defeated," he made swift work to defend himself, voice even with an underlying edge of irritation. Kurama could get testy when it came to his fangirls. "And it wasn't a few." A low growl then erupted from his throat. "If I wasn't so afraid of getting thrown into Reikai prison and losing you in the process, I would have fed them to my blood-sucking plants a long time ago. God forbid I handle another day with them constantly trying to tackle me down to the ground."
Botan laughed, and then tucked a hand in his arm. "Hang on, my intelligent fox! You'll survive!" she teased, with intent to cheer him up and offer him some support at the same time. She knew she succeeded as a smile finally grew on his full lips.
"Thank you. You're sweet." They stopped as they reached a large, red set of doors. "I believe this is your stop."
"Don't you wanna come in?" she asked, though she already knew the answer. A giggle left her lips as the fox narrowed his green eyes at her.
"I'm afraid I'll have to pass. You know how the last time I went into the ferry girls' headquarters ended." A shiver racked down his spine at the memory. "I never knew a few of your peers actually saw me as a feast fest, just like my fangirls."
"Well, I didn't know either until you showed up," she rejoinded with a shrug, but offered him a small, sympathetic smile.
He made a weird sound before giving out a light shrug of his left shoulder. "More importantly, you never asked me the purpose of my visit."
She blinked, before recognition crossed her visage. "Oh, right! I forgot, with all the fangirl stories and all. You don't come up here that much, do you? Why now?" she inquired with her brows creasing into a frown as the confusion finally brewed within her.
"I wanted to see Koenma." He handed her the paperwork as she extended her arms in a gesture of embrace. He had blinked as he had thought she wanted to hug him. If it hadn't been for her constant glancing at the papers in his hands, he would have done it. "I needed to discuss a few relevant matters with him."
Botan muttered a thanks under her breath before pinning a blinking, baffled stare on his smiling countenance. "Relevant matters?" she echoed in question, tilting her head to the side.
He nodded. "Yes. I asked him to allow you a small, one-day vacation."
"Why?"
"My mother wants to have dinner," he told her with a soft touch in his voice, the love he felt towards her surfacing and dancing in his pools of emeralds. "She wants to talk about our future plans."
"Future plans?"
"Yes, marriage, children, et cetera, et cetera," he tried to reply in a nonchalant way, dismissing her with an uncaring wave. But the excitement was evident through his grinning orbs.
His girlfriend blinked, before letting her features brighten up in a wide grin. "Oh! I see. Well, we've never talked about it, either, haven't we? Maybe this is a good time to start. When's the dinner?"
"Friday. This Friday," he informed her. "I'll be waiting."
"I know," she whispered and kissed back as he inched his face closer and granted her a light peck on the lips. He pulled apart and she could tell that he wanted to do more, but judging from his frown as he turned to look at the whispering ferry girls at the far end of the hallway, it was clear that he decided against it. He cleared his throat and straightened his back before looking her straight in the eyes. "I wish you luck in your duties today. Hopefully, it will not be as awful as most days."
Her mouth formed a knowing, warm smile. "Thanks." She watched him whirl around and calmly stroll away before calling out, "Don't forget to get a hot shower! It does wonders to an exhausted body."
She wondered if he heard her, but knew he did as he waved a hand at her, though he did not turn around. She could almost feel his smile as she eyed his silhouette grow smaller before completely disappearing from her sight. She spun on her heels and with her hip, pushed the doors open. From afar, she caught the distinct sound of the whispering ferry girls gush. A smile spread on her lips, but it soon wavered into a bewildered frown as she finally took note of the pleasant smell that abruptly intruded her nostrils.
"What the…?" she uttered as she looked up and saw the red rose placed in her blue locks. When did he put it there?
She stared at it for a moment before smiling and laughing to herself. Her boyfriend was such a mystery, but she adored him for that.