Disclaimer:

I do not own YYH or any of its characters.

Time seemed to stand still as the frigid atmosphere pricked at his skin while Kurama took the moment to contemplate without being disturbed - the birds quieted like they know. The air is chilling and unlike the unloved graves further away, hers was covered in bright blooms as the mid-afternoon light bounces off the polished stone.

Under the cloudless sky, the ambience fragrant with lavenders and vanilla followed by a soft flutter and crisp rustling before a mop of cerulean invaded his peripheral vision.

"Was it you?"

His gentle, non-accusatory inquiry got carried by the sudden breeze that graced their presence. The fox demon, still standing as rigid as a pole while Botan stationed herself a little ways in his front to pour water in the gravestone, cleansing it before placing a single white lily in the vase. "Yes." She affirmed softly prior to joining her hands in prayer.

Kurama briefly tore his gaze away from the tombstone to regard the intimate gesture, spirit slightly lifting from the disclosure. "I see... At least she was comfortable." He says reverently before tucking his hands inside his pockets, eyes drifting to the grave once again.

The deity lowered her hand after the personal rite, mindful of the unusual agitated spectral energy that he emitted, observing the fox demon from the corner of her eye before resting her gaze at the tombstone. "She knows..." Botan started, aware of the inquisitive gaze that settled on her after the utterance. "Even though you didn't get the chance to tell her when she's alive... She knows..." At this, she turned sideways to return his pained expression with a comforting smile in an effort to uplift the red-head even the slightest. "In fact, she told me that you're so stubborn in keeping it from her even thought it was so obvious..."

A soft giggle tumbled off her lips when confusion flitted across his handsome visage, answering his silent question while taming a renegade lock from his pained eyes before resting her hand against his chest in an affectionate manner as if to support his broken heart. "The cherry blossom in your backyard never loses its flowers all year-round ever since you kept on climbing the tree when you were young."

"That is..." A momentary surprise caused his eyebrows to disappear behind his bangs before they scrunched together to form a grievous frown, looking forlornly on the ground whilst balling his fists 'til his knuckles shook and turned white. His mother adored the tree, that's why he nurtured it to bloom regularly even if Sakuras are famed for its fleeting beauty. "I should have told her the truth."

"You already did."

He snapped his head towards her to stare yet again in bewilderment. Botan has always been unpredictable in her outbursts and he was certain that he didn't utter anything if his mind is serving him to a tee. "What - "

"Didn't you tell her a while ago?... After you made the plants flourish?" Botan proffered while gesturing towards the thriving greenery, unapologetic of her indirect admission in reading his thoughts. Thankful to the elements for her heightened abilities. "Spirits rest in peace when they leave no unfinished business behind. For Shiori, not hearing the truth from you wasn't as important as seeing you grow up and become such a fine young man, it's her lifetime achievement for lack of better word... It enabled her to leave with a happy heart... No matter what you are and why you didn't tell her anything, your mother accepted you for just being her son... She loved you from the moment that you opened your eyes and even after she closed hers..."

Silence followed her earnest words as she patiently waited until his disquieted energy eased to a frazzled state. Eyes softening when his shoulders quaked, she stepped closer to cup his cheek, stroking his skin whilst staring at the depths of his troubled soul. "Forgive yourself, Kurama. It's what she wanted me to tell you." The deity solemnly uttered before allowing him some tranquil space and time, bowing slightly to signal her departure before slowly walking away.

Not a few heartbeats later, her footsteps halted while she gasped, startled, when Kurama clasped her hand prior to spinning and enveloping her in a hug, crushing their bodies together while pouring what he had bottled up inside. She sniveled, amethysts glazed before tears started to run along her flushed cheeks when he buried his face in the crook of her neck to silently weep. His grief was finally laid out in the open for her to witness and for her to heal. "I'm here." The deity reassured while soothing his taut back, fitting her cheek in the hollow of his neck whilst being lulled by the rhythmic contractions in his chest. I will lend you my heart if you'll let me, Kurama.

The former thief breathed in ragged breaths as he pulled her in, his inner chaos mellowed by her soothing presence as the deity adjusted to his comfort. After a while, when he was sure to have collected himself, he held her still. Savoring the company of the woman who ironically chased his shadows away after ferrying the anchor of his human life. He briefly thought of how inappropriate it was to cling onto her, but his worry became unwarranted when she settled even further in his embrace, offering a place of safety - a newfound purpose.

Subsequently, when the song of the birds reached his ears and the beating of their hearts concurred, he minded that the wind wasn't as cold as when he was standing there alone.

"Thank you, Botan."

A/N:

Just a random one-shot brought about by the rising fatalities of the pandemic.

Apologies for not being able to update. I'll still finish my works. I promiissseee... I have rough drafts for Quietus and The Last Marigold but they still lack the umphf! factor that I am looking for...

Thank you for reading!

Xoxo