odds2

A/N: Well, here goes the second installment to my fic. There's a little bit of the mission and a little bit of Botan. Hope ya like it.

Disclaimer: I don't own Yuyu Hakusho, only the three new characters in this fic.

LOVE DEFIES ALL ODDS

by Seiyo

Chapter 2

"It's a long time since I've been here," Yusuke mumbled while looking around at the details of the Reikai palace.

"Yes, and I swear it didn't look like this before," Kuwabara agreed with him.

"Hn," Hiei merely stood there thinking of how stupid his two companions looked like.

"I brought you all here so you could learn more of your new mission and not for you to look around," Koenma, seemingly annoyed, told them, "Now can we please go back to our real business?"

"You guys," Kurama called to the two, "We better talk about this new mission."

The Reikai tantei and the prince are now at the corridors of the Reikai palace where Koenma wishes to elaborate on the new mission. They went inside Koenma's office, who walked up to his desk and picked a folder.

"This new mission I'm talking about is a very serious one. Our enemy hasn't done much damage yet, but I'm sure that something big is about to come. She—"

"SHE?!" Yusuke interjected.

"Yes, your enemy is a woman named Akuma," Koenma willingly explained and at the same time, showed them a clip of a blonde woman, clad in velvet robes.

"I get the feeling that we're coming to the era where women are calling the shots," Kurama uttered.

"Hah! It would be easy to defeat this woman, whoever she is," Kuwabara stood up and striked a pose, "One look at the great Kazuma Kuwabara and she will fall head over heels in love," the three facefaulted and Kurama and Yusuke fell over. All were trying very hard to suppress their laughter, "After that we can manipulate her without any problem."

"Uh…I'm sure that won't have to happen," Yusuke spoke up.

Koenma cleared his throat, "Enough talk. As I was saying, Akuma has already started gathering allies from Makai and in no time, she would be able to start with whatever plans she has for us."

"So what does this Akuma really want? I mean, what could be her purpose?" Kurama questioned.

"There is a big possibility that her reason for attack is caused by a certain person or event in her past. You see, she has been locked up for five thousand years now."

"Whew, that's a long time," Yusuke mumbled.

"Right. She was locked up by Queen Suisho. According to our records, she had been the Queen's right hand and was a very loyal subject. In fact, she had been very efficient during her service. Apparently, she had a hidden agenda for serving the queen. When she thought she had gotten the queen's full trust, that was when she striked. She had recruited a number of troops to attack. Akuma is not a really a skilled fighter but carries a great power that she can skillfully manipulate. Fortunately, Queen Suisho didn't really trust her that much and was able to hold Akuma back. She locked Akuma in a sphere which works with the aid of a process which works much like your modern cryogenics, then sent it someplace."

"Cryo-what??!!" Kuwabara shouted.

"Cryogenics," repeated Kurama, "it had been studied that bodies can be frozen in liquid nitrogen and resuscitated when the future comes."

"You mean she froze Akuma?" Yusuke asked, "Why not just kill her?" Hiei, on the corner finally spoke up.

Koenma shrugged, "Queen Suisho is not just your conventional queen. There are some things about her that you wouldn't expect."

"How in the world was she able to get out?" Kuwabara asked in puzzlement.

"Well it appears that one of the advisers in the Queen's court named Shinichi looked for where she was hidden and had set her free. He had known about Akuma's hidden agenda even before she started acting on it. He had secretly followed on Akuma's dealings, but didn't say anything about it. After she was locked up, life went on for him. After Queen Suisho's reign he dropped his position and nothing was heard of him. It seems that he had taken an interest in scheming with Akuma. That's why he looked for the place where she was, and now, Shinichi has found her and set her free. He must have thought that without the Queen, no one can ever stop them," Koenma paused and sighed. "This information is actually unexpected because Shinichi was one of the most loyal to the Queen Suisho. No one has ever thought that he would do something like this.

"He must know how powerful the Queen was and he just sided with her because he knew what might happen to him if he goes against her," Kurama looked up, "Tell us more about Queen Suisho," Kurama requested.

"Hmm…okay. Queen Suisho was a queen apart from the others. When she was young, she really didn't want to have anything to do with palace affairs. Some say that she was quite unruly. She longed to do adventurous things. In our time, she's what you would call hyperactive. Unfortunately, her father died an untimely death and she was the only successor. Her duties had hindered her from doing most of the things she enjoys. It's a good thing Suisho was a quick learner and soon, she was taking her palace duties on with her stride. Her people described her as a strong woman, willing to face any problem for her people. At the same time, she had a good sense of humor and creativity that made her reign, lively and stable at the same time. They considered her as one of the greatest rulers of all time." Koenma then showed them a small portrait of a woman with aquamarine hair and turquoise eyes with delicate facial features. "It's strange though that we have no records of her after she passed away."

"If you'd ask me, she sounds like Botan," Kuwabara commented.

"Yeah, she even resembles her up to some extent," Yusuke added.

"How did she lock up Akuma?" Kurama, ignoring the comments, asked.

"That's what we are trying to find out. These files are old and some have already been worn out over the years, but they say that she had kept something in her possession. Hopefully, we'd be able to restore most of these documents and find out more about her," Koenma studied the documents then looked up, "By the way, where's Botan?"

Yusuke shrugged and looked at Kuwabara

"Don't look at me. Ask Kurama. " Kuwabara then pointed at Kurama's direction.

"I have no idea."

Hiei turned towards them. "She slipped off while we were walking."

"Finally, my room," Botan mumbled to herself as she held the doorknob to her room. She had crept away from the others after deciding to leave the five alone to themselves while discussing the new mission.

Upon entering her bedroom, she let herself fall on her comfortable bed.

"Rest at last," she closed her eyes. However, sleep wouldn't come to her. She kept remembering Koenma and the new mission. So that's why he's been busy lately. That mission has occupied his mind completely. She stood up, walked to her dresser and looked at the mirror. If there wasn't so much to do, Koenma would have walked with me around the garden during afternoons, she thought as she remembered when she and Koenma would stroll around the palace grounds, talking of different topics. She remembered how her heart soared at the simple gesture of Koenma handing a single flower to her. She missed those long walks, those hearty conversations. I wonder when will I be able to spend some time with him again.

A glint in the shadows caught her eye. She looked down to see whatever it was. Oh, it's only the crystal. She got the piece of crystal about the size of a golf ball, only slightly flattened. It was cut into a heart-shaped form and glimmered in the faint lighting like a diamond. She sat down in front of the dresser and sighed. She remembered how she got hold of the thing…

Botan was taking a walk in the forest near the palace to soothe her nerves. She was weary from her day's work, ushering all those poor souls and all. Not only that. Koenma was also angry with her after she had accidentally bumped into his table and all the documents he was arranging ended up on the floor. He was almost done and was only getting ready to attend to some business in Ningenkai.

She rested underneath a tree and looked up into the skies. I hope Koenma would have forgotten about what happened earlier once I come back. She closed her eyes.

"Uhmm…" Botan hastily opened her eyes upon feeling a drop of water falling on her forehead. It was already dark. I didn't know that I had fallen asleep. Must have been because I was so tired. She picked herself up from the ground and walked away. Hours passed but she remained inside the forest. She looked around hoping to see any sign that would lead her home, but there was nothing. Oh my, I did I lose my way. If only I didn't fall asleep, I'd still be able to find a way out of here. She continued walking, the rain and winds were getting stronger every minute. Worse, she was feeling tired, cold, wet and hungry. She hugged herself and leaned on the trunk of a huge tree. Botan was on the verge of tears. I don't know what to do anymore. Thunder struck. The lightning made the trees look sinister demons ready to get her. Botan cringed inwardly. Calm down Botan. You can do it. She took a deep breath, I have to keep on walking, then stepped forward. The storm raged as she walked until her eye caught a flash of light. What was that? She followed the direction from where she saw the tiny glint then bent down. Her eyes widened. There, partially covered with soil was a piece of exquisite crystal. Botan took it raised it so she can get a better look. At the same moment, lightning came once more. She held the crystal tighter, her eyes widening a little more. The lightning illuminated the path in front of her; a path she recognized immediately as the one she always took when heading towards the forest. She felt a surge of energy run though her veins. I found it! I found my way home. She began taking the path. She was nearing the clearing towards the garden when she felt her knees give way. No! I'm almost there. She forced herself to take a step but she felt so weak, she fell on the ground. As tears fell on her cheeks she heard a faint rustle up front.

"Botan!!! Where are you?!" a voice pierced into the night.

"Botan! Answer us!" another voice came

Botan raised her head. Someone was calling her name. They're looking for me!

"Help! I'm over here!" she used her remaining energy to shout.

"Botan!" A shout came from in front of her and then she saw Koenma rushing to her side.

"Koenma…"

"Hush," Koenma stopped her, "don't speak, you're still too weak."

He gently touched her cheeks to wipe away her tears then carried her in his arms towards the palace. There they met George Saotome.

"George, call on one of the servants to dress her in dry clothes and order some food to be brought up to her room."

Koenma carried her up to her room and laid her on her bed.

"Everything will be all right now," he whispered to her ear as he held her hand and sat beside her.

One of the palace servants came to change her clothes, he nodded at the servant and told her, "I'll be back in a little while."

She sighed and knitted her eyebrows upon noticing that she was still holding something in her hand. She opened her palm and gazed at the crystal. Her eyes became tender and a smile formed on her lips. This crystal had led me back home. Thank you…

She closed her eyes and clutched the crystal closer to her heart. After that night, she had kept the crystal as one of her most precious possessions. It had kept her feeling safer and assured. Now something new is bugging her. I feel something bad is about to come. There's something about this new mission that makes me feel anxious. Remembering that night woke something in her senses.

"Oh Koenma," she whispered his name in the darkness. She loved him. She had known that in her heart even before that stormy night and had kept it there for so long. "Why does it seem to me that something is about to happen and that it will change the course of our lives? Why?"