odds1

Disclaimer: Except for the three new ones, all characters presented are owned by Yuyu Hakusho and its creator, Yoshihiro Togashi. All standard disclaimers apply so please, don't sue me for anything.

Hi reader! This is my first fanfic ever so please, bear with me. I'm open to all suggestions and criticisms. You can mail me at seiyo@hotmail.com. Here goes…

LOVE DEFIES ALL ODDS

By Seiyo

Chapter 1

The beautiful woman was looking out into the night sky, her long blue tresses flowing with the wind. She was caressing her tummy enlarged now by pregnancy. She stiffened as a pair of hands coming from behind embraced her, but then she relaxed and rested her head contentedly on the chest of the handsome, hazel-eyed man upon recognition. They stayed that way for a while until the man broke the silence.

"How are you feeling sweetheart?" he asked as he kissed her temple.

Letting out a soft moan, she replied, "Better, now that you're here."

"And the baby?"

"Let's just say he's already asleep…"

Silence fell over them once more as the couple stared out into the starry night.

"The skies always looked beautiful here in Ningenkai…" the woman whispered softly.

Yes, the crowned prince of Reikai is staying for the moment at Ningenkai with his wife, the cheerful Reikai ferry girl and guardian deity of the dead, Botan. The two have been married for two years now. This time it's already Botan's ninth month of pregnancy on their first child and the two had decided that the modern hospitals of the human world is the best place to deliver the baby. All Koenma's work is delivered to him for convenience.

"You're right, and the night sky is especially beautiful tonight," Koenma nuzzled Botan closer.

"I can't wait for our child to be born," Botan mumbled, a smile forming on her lips.

"I wish it would be a boy, Honey."

"Well I would love to have a girl."

"Botan…"

"Okay, let's not fight over this one."

The two stopped talking for a while and resumed their watch on the stars.

"Botan…"

"Yes dear?"

"What are you thinking of?"

Botan let out a sigh before replying, "I was just thinking about us. I'm so happy that you're here with me. Add the fact that we're about to have a baby. We're so far from the times that we almost lost each other…" her eyes sparkled.

Koenma made Botan face him and looked her straight in the eye. "Honey, those things would never happen again. Nothing can take you away from me and I will never leave your side again." He then embraced her tightly. After a while, he slightly loosened his hold and gazed at her beautiful face. "I love you Botan…"

"Oh Koenma, I love you too…" she gazed back at him.

Their eyes locked and then their lips met in a kiss so sweet that it seemed that the world had stopped turning and nothing else mattered. The emotions they felt filled the air with promise that they would never again leave each other's arms… A promise they had made some years ago…

@@@

"BOTAANN!!!"

The shout echoed throughout the whole Reikai palace.

"Ouch!" Botan mumbled as she picked herself up from the floor where she landed after she was dislodged from her seat.

"I wonder what Koenma-sama wants this time," she grumbled as she walked on the corridor leading to Koenma's office. She opened the door and there in front of her sat Koenma in his 'adult version', examining and signing his ever-present stack of documents.

Botan waited for Koenma to acknowledge her presence, but clearly, he didn't notice that she was already there. She sighed exasperatedly and then announced herself, "I'm here Koenma-sama."

"Botan! You're finally here."

"You mean you finally noticed that I'm here. What's happening to you Koenma-sama? I've been standing here for ten minutes and you never looked up once from those papers. Didn't you even feel that someone entered your office? What if someone else sneaked into your office and--"

"Would you stop for a while Botan!" Koenma cut her off and Botan stopped in midsentence, bit her lips and blushed

"Okay, I'm sorry if I didn't notice you right away," Koenma looked at her and noticed her cheeks turning red with embarrassment, "I'm also sorry for shouting at you," he smiled at her.

"I'm also sorry. I don't have any right to nag you like that. I was just thinking that if I were another person, something else might have happened to you," she looked at him in the eye.

"That's okay, I know that you're quite annoyed. Anyway, I appreciate your concern." Koenma looked back at her as her face reddened once more.

"So, what were you supposed to ask from me Koenma-sama?"

"Well, I wanted to ask you to go with me to Ningenkai. I found out about something important and we have to inform the Reikai tantei all about it."

"I guess this is very serious matter huh?"

"Yeah."

"Well what are we waiting for?"

"What do you mean?" Koenma looked at her inquiringly.

Botan raised an eyebrow at him, "Koenma-sama, if this information is really important, we should locate Yusuke and the other as soon as possible right?'

"Oh, right," he said as he regained his composure, "Let's go!"

@@@

"Hahaha! So you're telling us that this girl didn't do anything but smile at you and say 'Oh!' Hahaha! That must have been really annoying!" Yusuke was clutching his belly, his other hand pointing at Kurama while barely able to speak between laughs. Kuwabara, also sitting beside them was laughing so hard he almost fell of his seat!

"Haha! Very funny," the annoyed Kurama said to his friend in a sarcastic voice, "Will you stop laughing! I don't see the point with laughing at me," he turned away and sighed, "I wonder when will I find my match?"

Upon hearing this, Kuwabara's expression changed, "Honestly Kurama, do you really want to meet the girl of your dreams?"

"Well, I—Whoa!" Kurama turned upon feeling a hand on his shoulder, "Koenma! What are you doing here?"

"Did you come here to visit us?" Kuwabara added, obviously surprised at Koenma's arrival.

"We came here to see all of you," Koenma answered, his face serious.

"We? I don't see anyone with you," Kuwabara looked past Koenma's shoulder.

"I came with Botan. As of now, she's on an errand."

It was Yusuke's turn to speak, "Don't tell me you're here because you accompanied Botan on her errand! The very busy Koenma Daiou accompanying Botan on her errand…hmm… now that's something new," He looked at Koenma suspiciously and added, "Is there something going on between you two?"

Koenma was surprised by the question but was able to recover, "I'm sorry to disappoint you but my reason for coming here has nothing to do with that. There is a new mission, and a very important one. There's no time to waste. We have to go to the Reikai so I can give you further information," Koenma answered

"Oh, so what else is new?"

"How about Hiei?" Kurama spoke up, "Isn't he in this too?"

"Hi guys!" a cheerful voice shouted at them.

They all looked towards the direction of the voice. There, standing beside the door was the Reikai ferry girl!

"Botan!" they all said in unison.

Botan was looking behind her, with one hand at her back as if pulling something. Hearing the greeting, she looked at them, smiled, then glanced back at whatever she was tugging. "It's nice to see you all…and I'm sure you'll also be happy to see who I have with me," with a great effort, she tugged once more at the 'thing' until it came into view.

"Hiei!!!" the guys shouted in surprise and then burst out laughing.

There struggling from Botan's firm hold on his tunic was Hiei.

"I guess you did your job well Botan," Koenma looked at her trying to suppress his laugh.

Botan released Hiei who was sending dagger-like glares at her.

"Hn," Upon being set free, Hiei turned his back from her. This sent everyone laughing once more.