Prompt: Endings are just beginnings in disguise.

"What would you do if I die today?"

The sudden, downright question effectively stole Kurama's attention as he heeded the deity who idly sat on the window sill next to his desk, veering his focus away from finishing his annual report which was due the following day. He was thoughtful for a moment before pushing his feet on the floor as a rolling, mechanical sound briefly disturbed the tranquillity of the golden hour when he faced her fully this time, immediately enthralled by the luminous wisps of unclouded tresses, left unbound to delight his eyes with an enchanting dance as it swayed with the humble breeze of the civil twilight.

"Death cannot die. We both know that." He responded softly as if in a trance, belying his discomfort from breaching such subject considering the most recent passing of the oldest mortal from their pack, not to mention the momentous passing of his human mother from a year ago when he literally come to embrace and fully welcome death into his life. Regardless of the mysterious lament, a gentle smile found its way on his lips while watching the uncommon display of grace when delicate arms stretched before the deity propped her petite body on her hands, eyes closed while tilting her head back to savor the warm hues of the dimming sky.

"You're no fun, Kurama."

"By choosing to spend your extremely rare vacations here with me... I beg to differ." He pointed out in response to her disgruntled mumble, chuckling at the adorable jut of her lip while standing from his seat.

"Smarty pants."

He heard her say as he reached her side, crossing his arms to lean sideways against the wall beside her perch, indulging on the prepossessing sight while waiting for the soulful orbs to peek underneath her lids, drawing together his slender brows in a slight frown when graced by dispirited purples afterwards. There was a slight shuffle when he moved closer as the absence of enthusiastic glitters stirred an unpleasant sensation in his chest, involuntarily reaching to brush away an invisible speck on her cheek, desiring to possess her attention. "Is something the matter?"

The deity blinked more at the question rather at the sudden affectionate gesture, surprised that she had accidentally bared her melancholy to the extremely perceptive red-head, quickly finding her bearing upon perusing the worry on Kurama's handsome face before back-pedaling with an unusual, timorous voice. "Nothing... It was a tedious week... Just being sentimental is all. Eh heh..." She dismissed herself as the solemn pools of amethysts hid behind the beguiling gleams of embarrassed mirth, immediately halting the strive when the former thief regarded her with an earnest gape where his green eyes, almost olive with the natural light, reflected his disapproval.

"I am afraid you'll have to do better than that, Botan." Kurama says, now standing closer where he can share the view from the window, basking on the unexpected gratifying sensation when their arms unintentionally brushed against each other as he, too, bid adieu to the last rays of the dying sun. "Tell me what's bothering you." He softly urged.

Botan spared a thoughtful glance at the man beside her, admiring how the final embers of the day seems to make the fox demon ethereally glow. Briefly thinking how inappropriate to open her sentiments when it was obvious that he hasn't completely come into terms with his own. Yet, with his gentle but stern coaxing coupled by his abandonment of the glaring monitor on the desk, she knew there's no getting around the situation.

"I can't help but think since Master Genkai passed..." She says after a defeated sigh, pausing to chide herself for coming up with such a lame and inconsiderate start before immediately changing her approach, gently swaying her head as she focused on nothing ahead. "I mean, I am no stranger to grieving and I just wonder... I wouldn't know because of what I am... But being around with people who has the divine ability that I can never have made me thoughtful of how they will take it once I am the one to die... If the very same people will be saddened by my passing... People I care about the most... People who I made capable of breaking my heart once I ferry them to the afterlife while I..." The deity paused once again to nibble on her lip when her voice gave off a subtle shake, hands coming to rest on her lap before fisting themselves in anxiousness. "I just want to know..." She softly says while compelling her hands to loosen their tight curls as the tension travelled from her very fingertips up to the windows of her soul, baring to him the vulnerability that she hides from the world.

"Will you grieve for me when I am gone somehow?..."

Kurama met her anxious stare with an unreadable expression while imbibing on her sentiments, wondering how such an innocent soul turned out to become the utter contradiction of what she usually radiates, heart rending at the underlying meaning of her words. Regardless of what his selfish and more devious side is whispering at the back of his mind, he could easily suggest for her to find other attachments before they expire. However, having lived for thousands of years, he knew for a fact that the bond shared amongst the gang is the kind that will last for a lifetime. What's more, it was apparent that she was curious but what's eating her up isn't just the thought of her loved ones succumbing to their demise or if she'll be remembered in the unlikely event of her dying, but mostly because...

You fear of being left alone.

He surmised, eyes softening at the unyielding display of distress before wordlessly averting his gaze towards the sky as the heavens finally gave way to the darkness of the night, fluttering his lids closed in careful rumination.

"If you die today..."

The former thief started after a few seconds, settling to humor her initial query while smiling at the anticipatory waves from his side, eyes reflecting the twinkles of the ever-changing distant lights as it welcomed the incandescent pioneers on the velvet dusk before shifting to regard her steadfastly once more. Heedful while moving to reduce the small distance between them, as if testing the waters, before boldly tucking an errant strand of cerulean behind her ear. His fingertips teasingly brushed along her jawline before tilting her chin to convey the truth behind his words, thumb hovering just a hairs breath away from her parted mouth while relishing her soft gasp as he did so.

"Then I will most certainly need to figure out how to die tomorrow."

He uttered with a deeper vocal register and couldn't be more pleased when her cheeks tinted more than its natural stain, the deity gawking at his ingenious statement. Stifling a laugh when Botan had yet to recover from her prolonged state of stupor even after a few moments had passed.

"You stopped thinking." Kurama remarked coolly while pulling away, offering the flustered deity some space, letting out an amused chuckle when she all but pouted like a petulant child before snapping her face away from view, huffing.

"Quiet, you..." She half-heartedly admonished while sulking at her corner, reddened ears straining at the mechanical rain when the former thief resumed his prior perch at the table. Smiling cheekily to herself nonetheless as they settled in a comfortable silence...

"You're still blushing."

Or not.

"Kurama!"

A/N:

I'll just leave this here and be miserable because I can't seem to move on from typing the second part of Quietus Ch7 and this particular scene in The Last Marigold!!! Grraaaawwwrrrr... I'm getting frustrated af. I have the stories in my head but can't seem to decide what to type. I wanna finish the stories before my birthday for goodness sake! Lolll Laughing at my own silliness but it is very unlikely.

Anyways, I'm thinking of making this a multi-chapter fic. I figured that I've only written a few fics that involves the progression of their relationship. Janus? what else...hmmm. Yeah, so majority was all like they're already lovers wham-bham...but considering this chapter... Hmmm Idk. They haven't admitted anything so there's that.

See how jumbled my brain cells are??? :3

Thank you for reading!

Xoxo