Yusuke, Kuwabara, Hiei and Kurama set out towards Yakumo.
His location was no secret. The growing portal to the Netherworld descended to the top of a skyscraper at the center of the city. The amount of energy surging from the tunnel was incomparable to any of the demons in the Dark Tournament.
To the human eye, the arrival of the portal was indistinguishable from the stormy weather brewing in the night sky.
The moon had risen to its full reign.
"'Five days' my ass," Yusuke grumbled as they hurried through the city with near-inhuman speed. "If Koenma survives, I'll kill him myself."
"Hey, can it, Urameshi," Kuwabara objected through his winded grunts. "Focus on this Yakumo jerk."
The day Kuwabara tells me what to do is the day hell freezes over, Yusuke grumbled to himself. But I guess this is close enough.
The four reached the base of the skyscraper, immediately sensing Botan's faint energy signature.
The selected building was under construction. Cranes and steel beams lined the perimeter of the ground floor.
"At least there are no civilians," Yusuke muttered. "Let's go."
They made their way up the forty-plus levels of the building. Hiei arrived at the widescape unfinished roof first, followed closely by Kurama, with Yusuke right behind him, and Kuwabara arriving last as he took the steel staircases up the floors.
At the center of the roof, Yakumo stood with his cloaked back to them.
"You did not disappoint," he remarked, still not turning to face them. "You're just in time."
Yusuke scoffed. "Sorry to tell you this, but... we are gonna disappoint you," he corrected in his infamous cocky tone. "Remember what I said about foiling your stupid plan?"
Yakumo smiled, though they could not see it.
"Give us Botan back—she's got nothing to do with this," Yusuke added, narrowing his eyes at Yakumo's back. "And then we'll consider just kicking your ass back to the Netherworld where you belong."
"Oh, it's quite the opposite, boy," Yakumo sneered, unphased by the threat.
"Uh, guys—" Kuwabara murmured urgently, feeling a shift in the air
"The Netherworld belongs here now," Yakumo turned around slowly.
"—I just sensed Botan's energy disappear…"
Before any of them could respond, Yakumo revealed Botan's body lying across his arms. The Power Sphere hovered above her stomach for a splitting moment as it did before he disappeared with her.
Then it sank back into her.
Kurama's eyes widened with horror as he watched Botan's body reabsorb the sphere.
Her fading level of consciousness returned immediately and she released a blood-curdling scream at its re-entry, thrashing wildly as her body rejected its intrusion this time.
"Botan!" Yusuke and Kuwabara shouted at the same time. "Let her go!" Yusuke demanded, blindly running towards them.
"Urameshi!" Kuwabara called, attempting to stop him.
"Idiot!" Hiei growled, pulling his sword out from his side.
Yakumo deflected Yusuke's oncoming punch with a flick of his wrist. He created a brief barrier with his energy.
Botan writhed in his arms but she grew weaker as her screams were silenced by the blood pooling at her lips.
Yusuke was flung backwards by the momentum of the energy rebounded at him. Kuwabara ran to catch him.
Yakumo chuckled. "You see, this deity has the unique ability to expel and conceal energy," he explained calmly. "The moment she hid the sphere inside her body, those energy-wielding abilities merged with that of the sphere's... And once it was extracted, the Rekai seal was released."
Kurama inhaled sharply, witnessing Botan's form growing limp.
"Yes… She's been feeding the sphere all her energy this entire time until it inevitably overpowered her," Yakumo finished, belting out a tumultuous laugh. "King Enma willingly let her risk her life without understanding how her abilities would actually expedite my plan. What a fool!"
The initial shock struck all four of them as they pieced together exactly how Yakumo's plan unfolded.
"How fortunate for me that she is the key to helping me take down the barrier," Yakumo smirked. "Yet, not even precious King Enma or his ignorant son are here for me to thank them for handing her to me personally."
"Now you get to watch her d—" before Yakumo could finish his next line, Kurama held one fist in the other as he rammed his elbow directly into Yakumo's abdomen.
The action was so instantaneous that neither Yusuke, Kuwabara, or Hiei had seen Kurama shift from beside them.
Yakumo flew back from the force in his gut, dropping Botan in the process. He landed in a stack of steel beams and disappeared into the subsequent debris.
Kurama quickly caught Botan and landed behind the trio of his teammates. He kneeled and gently laid her down.
"H-how did you do that?" Kuwabara stammered. "I didn't feel you move at all."
Kurama ignored the question as he looked down at Botan with growing anxiety and concern. He reached his hand out and wiped the blood that trailed down her cheek from her lips.
"I–I don't know what to do," Kurama murmured, numbly watching her writhe in pain until she weakened.
"Her life energy is waning," Hiei surmised. "Only Genkai can remove it from her once more… She won't make it."
"Hiei!" Yusuke scolded angrily, pausing for a reflective moment. "She'll make it. We'll make sure of it."
Yakumo stood from the pile of now-broken steel beams—drawing the team's attention back to him—and dusted himself off before aggressively removing his cloak.
A violet aura enveloped him, and, moments later, fused together bone-like armor over his abdomen, shoulders, and forehead. A sleek black and red cape flowed from his shoulders.
"This is my true, royal Netherworld form," Yakumo announced. "I have not used this armor in a millenia… You should feel honored that I intend to waste it on the likes of two pitiful demon traitors and a pair of Spirit World lackeys."
Hiei, Kuwabara and Yusuke tensed, creating a blockade in front of Kurama and Botan.
"Kurama, perhaps it is time you take your own advice," Hiei hinted, referring to Kurama's previous assertion that Yusuke's emotions strengthened him.
Hiei tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword in preparation.
Kurama nodded at Hiei once before looking down at the weakening deity. "Stay with me, Botan…" he begged quietly, stroking her cheek with his thumb. He stood, then, and took his place beside the others.
"Your attack was a mistake," Yakumo spat angrily. "Rest assured you won't be able to do it again."
With that, Yakumo vanished, reappearing between the four of them and landing a powerful kick square in Kuwabara's ribs. The force made a sickening crunch, signaling a few broken ribs, and sent him flying as he bounced on and off the concrete floor.
Yusuke growled with anger and jumped in the air, landing behind Yakumo to hail a barrage of energy-infused punches into his back.
Yakumo turned his neck, smirking at the effort, and swung his left arm into Yusuke's head, smacking him away with ease as if he were nothing but a pest.
Hiei flitted in and out of sight with no discernable pattern, effectively reminding Yakumo of why his name meant "flying shadow."
His sword struck the demon king several times, only once drawing blood.
Yakumo raised his injured arm, surveying the open wound. "Perhaps I've underestimated you, demon traitor," he complimented, extending his arm towards Hiei. "However, we are still in separate classes of demon. Let me remind you."
Yakumo sent a charge of violet energy to his finger—similar to Yusuke's Spirit Gun—and shot it at Hiei with imperceptible speed.
He narrowly dodged it. The blast hit a half-built mezzanine of concrete and steel behind him on the roof, causing it to collapse in itself.
Kurama—who'd been taking time to carefully analyze Yakumo's moves and energy fluctuations—immediately saw that Botan was in harm's way of the blast's effects. He quickly teleported to her, gathered her in his arms, and moved across the way while Hiei and Yusuke played a high-octane game of tag with Yakumo. Kuwabara spit out a wad of blood, cradling his bruised abdomen, and reentered the fight.
With Botan in his arms, Kurama observed her pale face and gasped.
Her eyes were closed from her faded consciousness, but something was different in her aura. There was a brief fluctuation, and then… nothing. It was as if she was no longer suffering in pain.
Her energy… it's—
Kurama brought her closer to him, leaning his head down while placing a hand over her chest to confirm what he'd hoped wasn't true.
She's not breathing, he panicked. There's no pulse…
Botan's energy had ceased entirely; her life energy now fully depleted.
The fight halted at the sensation they each felt, diverting their attention to the deity.
With shaky hands, Kurama set her down so delicately—as if she were made of glass and would break at a moment's notice.
"Botan!" Yusuke shouted, running to her side with Kuwabara close behind him.
"...So it is done," Yakumo contended, elated at his success. "The reign of the Netherworld begins now."
He chuckled triumphantly, pointing to Botan. "I'll retrieve the Power Sphere from the girl… now that she's served her purpose."
Kurama stood from her side slowly, keeping his back to Yakumo while his eyes hid beneath his red fringe.
"You will not come near her or the sphere," Kurama vowed, his usual gentle voice taking on a familiar deep, sultry tone.
"Kurama...?" Yusuke murmured questioningly. The fox demon's aura grew immensely within seconds of setting Botan down.
What is this… His energy just jumped from A to a low S-class demon… Yakumo noted the shift in the air.
Mist rose around them on the roof, crackling with energy.
Hiei narrowed his brows, aware of what was to come. Maybe the girl dying was what we needed to win this.
The transformation took mere seconds before his form was revealed.
"Hey!" Kuwabara exclaimed, pointing a shaky finger at his demon ally. "It's the other Kurama—the one from the tournament!" He buckled down and grunted at the pain in his ribs from lifting his arm.
Yoko made his appearance. The fox demon's eyes took in his surroundings as they flitted from the lifeless deity lying below him to that of the arrogant demon king—their molten gold hues seethed with anger.
"The mistake is yours, Yakumo," Yoko threatened, correcting the king's prior declaration. "You took something from me… and now I will show you no mercy."
Yoko pulled a rose from his hair and morphed it into a vine for his trademark Rose Whip. "You won't escape a second time," Yoko promised.
Yoko lashed his whip out wildly without restraint or regard for the others. Whether it was out of fear or shock on Yusuke and Kuwabara's part, they stayed out of his way.
Yakumo caught the thorn-ridden vine after closely following its movements with his eyes. His hand bled with the effort after he ripped it apart with a degree of force.
Kuwabara quickly jumped in with his Spirit Sword, attacking Yakumo's side with vigor. To his shock, Yakumo's armor easily caught the blunt force of the blade and trapped it in its crevice. With the upper hand, Yakumo elbowed Kuwabara in the face, immediately dispelling him of his sword.
Yusuke ran in, flipping in indistinct patterns until he was out of Yakumo's peripheral vision. He raised his arms and joined his hands together. Channeling nearly all of spirit energy into the light gathering at his right index finger, he aimed.
His lips formed the word. "Spirit—"
Hiei placed his bandaged hand over Yusuke's arms, forcibly lowering them and interrupting his flow of energy.
"Hiei, what the hell are you—!"
"Save that for a more opportune moment, detective," Hiei warned, watching as Yakumo stalked Kuwabara's slumped-over form and kneed him in the chin, causing him to fall back.
Yusuke blinked at Hiei and realized what he was getting at.
We have to do this quick, Yusuke internally griped.
Yakumo flitted to Botan's body, phasing his hand into transparency as he grasped the Power Sphere to begin extracting it.
Yoko growled ferally, baring his fangs and summoning what he announced as his Fist of the Demonic Vine. A length of vines with thorns wrapped themselves around his arm and formed a sword-like edge.
"I've never seen Kurama with a weapon like that before!" Kuwabara marvelled from the sidelines, taking a moment to recuperate after his injuries.
Kurama disappeared for a moment and reappeared behind Yakumo, stabbing through his chest. The fox demon smiled as he watched the blood ooze down the vines.
The action effectively halted the extraction process.
Yakumo grunted in surprise at the pain from the razor-sharp thorns that cut through his armor and bone with ease. He swiftly retracted his hand from Botan.
Hiei saw the opportunity and carried her away. He brought her to the sides of Yusuke and Kuwabara, out of Yakumo's reach.
If he gets that sphere, we're finished, Hiei mentally noted.
Yakumo pulled himself off the makeshift sword and held up a finger to flick his energy at Yoko.
With no time to dodge, Yoko's arm was grazed by the shot. He flipped backwards in the air to create distance between himself and Yakumo, landing beside the others while blood ran down the arm that was now absent of his demon vines.
"We can barely get near him," Yusuke spoke angrily. "Hell, I'm just happy to know the guy bleeds."
"...As I said, we must attack him together," Yoko murmured, "That is the only way we can hope to win this."
"You will regret interfering with the Netherworld," Yakumo declared, pausing for a moment before releasing a battle cry. He summoned his familiar violet aura around himself. The demon energy pulsed and radiated across the night sky. His eyes glowed white and his hair raised with the surge of his power.
The four of them recognized that his energy concentration was nearly insurmountable even without the Power Sphere...
"It's now or never," Yoko commanded.
Hiei smirked, removing his cloak and ripping off his headband to reveal his Jagan Eye. He quickly unbound the wrappings on his right arm, as well. The black dragon's markings swirled on his skin while he stretched his arm out at Yakumo.
"Right!" Kuwabara agreed, yelling out as he called his spirit energy to materialize at his hand.
"Got it," Yusuke nodded, watching Kurama summon another rose.
Yusuke mimicked Yakumo's gathering of power. He supported his wrist with his other arm, channeling all of his spirit energy into his right index finger.
"—Dragon," Hiei called, summoning the crackling flames of Makai around him. "...of… the Darkness Flame!" The fiery black dragon was released and hungrily thundered its way to Yakumo.
"Spirit Sword!" Kuwabara extended the length of his raw spirit energy towards Yakumo.
"Thorn Whiplash!" Kurama conjured, morphing the normal Rose Whip into thicker vines with razor-sharp thorns lining their every inch.
Yusuke aimed at Yakumo's rapidly increasing god-like form.
No time to hold back—so here goes…! Yusuke reminded himself.
"Spirit Gun!" he fired, the shot of energy larger than even that of the one fired at Toguro.
The team had just exhausted all of their energies into one attack.
Yusuke's Spirit Gun shot out, leading the charge as it directly hit Yakumo.
Yakumo grabbed the spherical burst of energy, trying to contain it as younger Toguro did in the tournament. Kuwabara's energy joined the charge then, too—piercing through Yusuke's without overpowering it. Yakumo grunted against the impact, losing his ground as the force of their energies pushed him near the edge of the building.
Kurama's whip wrapped itself around Yusuke and Kuwabara's energies; its thorns barreling through the ground and wrapping around Yakumo's open arms, forcing him to maintain his position of holding their energy in his arms so he could not escape.
The screeching cries of Hiei's black dragon echoed through the sky.
Yakumo's violet aura was waning with his growing difficulty of trying to withstand their attacks.
The dragon encircled Yusuke, Kuwabara, and Kurama's attacks. They swirled into one overwhelming surge of spirit and demon energy. The dragon's mouth enveloped Yakumo, whose screams were quickly drowned out, and swallowed him into the floors of the skyscraper.
His charred skin peeled from his body while his muscles were subsequently ripped from the bones. He was careened through the steel and concrete of the building by the dragon as if he were a dog's chew toy.
Yusuke and Hiei made their way down with the dragon, ensuring that Yakumo would not survive the attack. Though if he did, they'd all been depleted of their spirit and demon energy…
Yoko and Kuwabara stayed behind on the roof, with Yoko kneeling next to Botan's lifeless form.
He narrowed his eyes and placed his hand over her, reaffirming that her energy was no longer there.
I've exhausted my energy… Yoko cursed, turning his hand to stare at it in anger.
"I can't save her…?" he whispered to himself, clenching the hand into a fist.
The Dragon of the Darkness Flame—along with the rest of their energies—smashed Yakumo deep into the ground, creating a crater in its aftermath, before they dissipated.
Yusuke and Hiei stood at the edge of the crater, looking down at the resulting damage.
When the dust and debris settled, they jumped down and heard a sizzling sound deep in the ground.
Upon further investigation, it appeared as though Yakumo had been disintegrated by the effects of their energies. The blood and residue of muscle and flesh marred the spot where Yakumo should have been if he survived.
Yusuke plugged his nose at the putrid scent of burnt flesh and turned to Hiei. "We did it…" Yusuke mumbled, allowing a wave of relief to pass through him.
Hiei closed his eyes and hnph'd, crossing his arms over his chest. "Yes, it is surprising we managed to defeat a king."
Yusuke gave a quick chuckle that was cut short as soon as he realized something. "The Power Sphere—...it's still with Botan!"
Hiei nodded and the two quickly returned to the roof of the building.
When they arrived, Yoko was at Botan's side while Kuwabara hovered, hunched over and cradling his broken ribs.
Yusuke approached Yoko cautiously. "Hey…" he began quietly. "She–she still has the sphere inside of her."
"I know," Yoko acknowledged sharply. "I cannot extract it from her, nor can any of you."
"Then… what do we do?" Kuwabara grunted, slowly lowering himself to take a seated position next to Botan.
Just then, another portal appeared. This time, directly above them.
All four of them tensed, looking up at the ring of light in the midnight sky.
Reflected in it was King Enma in Reikai armor. Behind him, they could briefly see the Reikai Special Defense Force repairing the lattice energy field of the barrier leading to the Netherworld.
Before anyone could react, King Enma spoke.
"Yakumo has been defeated," King Enma gathered, his face serious. "As such, the resistance from the Netherworld has subsided. Refortifying the barrier will only take mere hours now."
"What about Reikai?" Yusuke asked, clenching his fists. "It was flooded and everyone was evacuated except Koenma."
King Enma nodded. "Yes, my son declared a Code Red just in time to save those in Reikai… As soon as I'd heard the alert from the palace sirens, I sent a separate task force to rescue him and bring him to the border with me at the edge of Reikai. This is sacred land where the flood could not reach," he explained. "He is alive… However, the palace will, unfortunately, need vast reparations with the damage the flood has left behind. But that is of no concern to you."
Yusuke gritted his teeth, feeling like a lecture was coming on.
"I cannot thank you enough for bringing an end to Yakumo's reign, Spirit Detective and friends," King Enma conveyed.
"It's Yusuke," he corrected irritatedly.
"Indeed," King Enma agreed, pausing for a moment. "Where is the Power Sphere?" he asked, peeking through the portal in search of it. "We must re-seal it and return it to Reikai."
Yoko turned then, reverting back to Kurama in a flash after his last ounce of demon energy depleted.
"It is still inside of Botan," Kurama answered, staring up at King Enma with cold emerald eyes. "She gave her life protecting it from Yakumo… Before her death, Yakumo claimed her abilities as a deity granted him early entrance to this world." Kurama spoke in a low voice, threateningly adding, "You owe us an explanation as to why you let her sacrifice herself without knowing all the possible outcomes."
King Enma frowned at the redhead. "You'd do well to watch your tone, fox demon," he reprimanded. "Need I remind you that your criminal record as the demon bandit Yoko was only pardoned because of your deal with my son."
Kurama narrowed his eyes and King Enma sighed wearily. "Very well," he acquiesced. "Botan knew what her role in this case was. I informed her from the beginning that her sacrifice was necessary to thwart Yakumo's plan to use the sphere to destroy Reikai and Ningenkai..." Kurama remained silent, prompting the ruler to continue. "Admittedly, I was not aware of how her abilities could potentially amplify the energy of the Power Sphere, as this was the first instance Reikai has allowed a deity to conceal something of that magnitude…" King Enma trailed off. "I am guilty of being reckless. I knew she would be in incomprehensible pain as a consequence. For this, I am… sorry for the loss of Botan."
Yusuke and Kuwabara could not find the words to vent their frustrations. Hiei held his tongue on the matter since he was in the same boat as Kurama—a pardoned ex-criminal—and needed to tread lightly.
Kurama, however, did not seem to care how he dealt with his grief. "You will forsake her, then?" he concluded, casting his gaze back at the deity in question—her face serene despite the pain she endured.
"I'd heard stories, King Enma," Kurama began again, his tone cold. "But, to witness your callousness towards someone's life—as the ruler of Reikai, especially—is truly appalling..." he finished, ignoring King Enma's enflamed irritation.
I did not think it would come to an end like this, Kurama mourned, observing the deity. I couldn't come to accept what I tried to deny for so long… until it was too late, he thought regrettably.
The possession he came to feel over her—...It makes perfect sense, he realized.
The bond he'd created with Botan had been strong enough to affect even the likes of the careless bandit Yoko—Kurama's true, primal form.
I've existed for over three thousand years… made countless mistakes. I've let allies down before—Kuronue and Yomi… But this is different. Botan is different.
"—Earth to Kurama!" a familiar voice beckoned him out of his anguished thoughts.
His breath hitched as he turned to the owner of the voice. "Koenma," he responded with surprise. "When did you—?"
"I came through the portal a few minutes ago while you began wallowing in grief," Koenma explained, appearing in his older form. He regarded the fox demon for a moment, noting the questioning look on his face at the nonchalance of the ruler. "I mean, I can practically taste your feelings in the air."
As if on cue, Kurama's wall of impassivity returned.
"I'm… relieved you are alive and well, Koenma," Kurama began. "But can I ask why you've come here from Reikai?" he asked, gesturing up to the ring of light at the portal entrance that King Enma remained within.
King Enma and Koenma met each other's gaze for a moment, then, and shared a brief nod that Kurama and the others did not miss.
"I am here to… extract the Power Sphere from Botan," Koenma said warily, eyeing the redhead's reaction.
Kurama tensed.
"Relax, Kurama, it will be quick and painless," Koenma held up a steadying hand to him before walking and leaning over Botan's body.
A bright green light engulfed Koenma's hands as they hovered over her stomach. The energy emanating from the ruler had far exceeded any amount that the team had assumed he was capable of, to their surprise.
The sphere emerged from her body within moments; Koenma's hands acting as a magnet drawing it out.
"Wow," Kuwabara gasped at the display of unbridled power. "He made that look so easy compared to Genkai. That's amazing!"
Kurama clenched his fists when he watched Koenma perform the mantra to replace the Reikai seal on the sphere and subsequently hand it to King Enma through the portal.
This is what she had to die for… Kurama cursed at the exchange.
"I should be thanking you for removing it, Koenma, yet I feel more anger than relief," Kurama admitted aloud to the ruler and his teammates. He cast his gaze down at the deity at his feet and felt the growing grief and regret overwhelm him.
"Don't thank me just yet," Koenma spoke light-heartedly, calling Kurama's attention to him. When their eyes met, Koenma reached up and pulled his signature pacifier from his mouth for the first time that any of them had witnessed.
A series of audible reactions resounded on the roof—including the likes of Hiei and King Enma.
"Son, what are you doing?" King Enma bellowed incredulously, his brows furrowing at the action.
Koenma stare up at his father with a boldness the team had never seen before due to King Enma's enigmatic reputation with punishment.
"I'm resurrecting my deity, father," Koenma announced as if he were completing a small chore. Before the king could interrupt, Koenma added, "If you ask me, you had no right to go behind our backs in the case and use her as a pawn in your unfinished business."
King Enma's energy noticeably flared with anger at his son's blatant impudence. He grunted and inhaled deeply. "If you use the Mafuuken for this girl, you will have wasted the energy you've spent centuries accumulating," he chastised.
"That is your opinion, father, but duly noted," Koenma acknowledged before reaching out a hand, clenching it into a fist, and effectively closing the portal connecting him to Reikai.
A drawn out moment passed before the ruler turned to meet the shocked faces of Team Urameshi. He huffed wearily. "He's upset, for sure, but at least it's with me and not the rest of you," he shrugged.
Before any of them had a chance to interject with the many questions each wanted to ask, Koenma held the pacifier above Botan's still form.
The same green light as before returned to him, only this time the energy concentrated into his pacifier.
With the utmost concentration, Koenma sent a flow of energy into her with it and quietly chanted, "Lost souls now retrieve..."
Yusuke and Kuwabara leaned in closer to the spectacle. Hiei, having found his cloak, threw it on and stood next to Kurama.
"So the girl will live after all," Hiei commented, placing his hands in his pockets after readjusting his sword at his side.
Kurama ignored him, watching in disbelief as her fingers twitched on the ground and she groaned. Though it was a sound of fatigue rather than pain this time, he noted.
"Botan!" Yusuke shouted, crouching at her side. He chortled in relief. Kuwabara also laughed heartily before doubling over and joking that he'd hug her if they were both in better shape to do so.
Koenma helped her sit up slowly as they all watched the color return to her cheeks and the vital gleam to her eyes.
"How did–How am I...?" Botan stuttered, confusion marring her features. "Yakumo–!"
"Don't worry about it," Koenma smiled before placing the pacifier back in his mouth. "He's been dealt with… And you—you have too much of my work to do, so you can't die yet," he joked.
Botan turned to look at him with tears brimming her eyes. "Oh, Koenma sir, thank you!" she reached up to wipe her eyes.
"Yeah, yeah," he waved off, pausing before leaning in close to her. "I have to catch you up on some things," he whispered, cupping his hand around her ear. "But first, you may want to thank Kurama, too, for willing to stand up to my father before I could."
The ruler leaned back and saw a look on her face that confirmed his suspicions.
Affection.
"These guys were ready to fight my father even after exhausting their energy to get you your life back," Koenma emphasized, rising from her side and sighing dramatically. "And as much as I'd love to stick around for the mushy stuff and celebration, I have a lotta paperwork to do."
With the snap of his fingers, Ayame—another ferry girl in Reikai—appeared on an oar like Botan's. Koenma climbed on and waved a quick goodbye to the team as she carried them off.
The blue-haired deity looked up questioningly at the fox demon standing behind the two spirit detectives.
She looked to him for confirmation, knowing that he'd heard Koenma's whispers.
To stand up to King Enma… she thought in a daze.
Kurama slowly stepped towards her and knelt next to her. Yusuke stared at him with confusion as he said no words and only looked at Botan. Kuwabara, on the other hand, grinned cheekily at their closeness.
"Did you really…?" Botan trailed off, turning her legs to face Kurama.
He nodded once. "You died, Botan," he murmured. "I could not forsake you the way King Enma planned to."
She formed a tender smile at him and felt heat rising to her cheeks. A welcome change to the fever and cold sweat she'd just experienced.
Kurama smiled back; a familiar warmth and sense of peace returned to him. "Ah, it's nice to see the color return to those cheeks," he teased gently, rubbing his fingers across them once more. Though this time, he was not wiping away her blood.
Botan blushed even harder at the action but found that she did not care to hide or dismiss it.
The affectionate exchange caused a stir in the remaining members of the team.
Hiei resisted the urge to roll his eyes at what he internally thought of as "pathetic and unnecessary human weaknesses," while Kuwabara tried to shuffle Yusuke's prying eyes away from the two so they could have their moment.
Yusuke—as dense as he was—thought aloud, "Wait a sec… Does Kurama have the hots for Botan? What's goin' on?!"
Kuwabara forced a loud, boisterous laugh and quickly hauled Yusuke away, biting down the pain in his ribs and chiding, "C'mon Urameshi. Let's go back to Genkai's temple and make sure Keiko's alright."
Yusuke nodded, growing serious. "Right." I shouldn't have involved her in the first place, Yusuke frustratedly internalized. She wouldn't have gotten hurt… I'm sorry, Keiko, I'll be right there with you.
The two began their descent down the nearly destroyed building. Hiei was about to flit away when he stopped and spoke into the air, knowing that Kurama would pick up on it. "I was wrong to pretend I know what that's like," is all he said. Then he disappeared into the night.
Kurama smiled to himself at Hiei's roundabout apology. He knew Hiei would never consider himself "insensitive" to the value of life, but he also knew that Hiei had learned to respect it.
Kurama returned his attention to Botan and gave her an apologetic look. "I'm going to carry you back to Genkai's temple so she can ensure your full recovery," he explained with finality.
He ignored her embarrassed protests and scooped her up in his arms bridal-style. "Kurama, I can use my oar to fl—yyyyy!" she shouted the last part as she wrapped her arms around his neck and held on for dear life after he jumped from the roof to the ground with her.
"Nonsense," he responded, resisting the urge to laugh at her dumbfounded expression. "Think of this as me returning the favor for when you healed me."
Before she could quip anything back at him, he jumped between the trees, still carrying her and listening to her protests on the way to Genkai's.
Thank you for bringing her back, Koenma, he thought, as he looked up towards Reikai with profound gratitude. I now have a second chance to tell her how I feel.