Kurama
"Yatta!!! I win again, Yuu-kun!!!" Botan pumped her fist in the air and began laughing really hard.
I just smiled. It was already 8:30 pm; and ever since Botan came, she'd been competing with Yusuke in a computer game. It was her 23rd victory, but Yusuke was still not convinced that he could be beaten so easily.
He scowled. "You were just lucky, Botan-chan," he complained.
"For crying out loud, Yusuke, this is the 23rd time she had beaten you! Why don't you just accept defeat?" Keiko rolled her eyes in exasperation.
"Accept defeat? Accept defeat?!? Are you crazy? Makeru mon ka!!! Let's do this again, Botan-chan!!!" Yusuke challenged.
I sighed. When was this going to end?
Botan yawned. "I don't know, Yusuke; I'm really tired now. In fact, I should be getting home."
"You just don't want to lose!" Yusuke said.
"Seriously, Yusuke, I can't go on anymore! I'm so tired. Besides, there's no challenge," Botan smirked.
"Nani?!? What do you mean there's no challenge?!?" Yusuke fumed. I stood up and grabbed his arms before he could do any damage.
"Now, Yusuke," I said, "there's no need to---"
"I'll show you challenge!!! C'mon and let's go on with the game!!! Why I'll run down that racing car of yours so badly you'll eat my dust!!! I'll make that finish line burn and the crowd cheer and make my name flash in bright neon lights that I'm top racer and I'll…………" Yusuke went on and on and on. I rolled my eyes. No one was listening to him. Poor guy.
Botan giggled. "Sumimasen, Keiko, for infuriating your husband here, but I really must go now, it'll get really late soon," she smiled at Keiko.
Keiko just chuckled. "Oh, don't worry about Yusuke; he's always like this. He'll get over this soon. He doesn't have any reason to get mad anyway. It's true that he is an awful racer," she grinned.
"Hai," Botan nodded. "Well, I better get going," she said, casting a sideways glance at me that was almost unnoticeable, if I wasn't gazing at her too much. She caught my gaze and blushed. She turned back to Keiko.
"Well, I'll be seeing you, Keiko-chan," she said, heading for the door.
"W-wait, I need to get home, too. After all, we live---" I trailed off when I realized what I had just said. Keiko was looking at me in honest confusion, while Kuwabara was grinning like crazy again, along with Yusuke, who had stopped bellowing. Botan was already flushing.
Almost slipped my tongue back there… "I live… pretty far from here… so I better get moving before it gets really late," I continued. Yes, it wasn't very reasonable, but, what else could I say?
I grabbed my coat and walked to the doorway. "Arigato gozaimasu, Keiko-san, Yusuke-kun," I turned to Kuwabara. "Oyasumi nasai."
Botan nodded. "Ja ne!" she called, waving at them. Keiko smiled, and I opened the door. Botan stepped out and as she gave one last bow to Yusuke and Keiko, I closed the door behind us.
The air was cold; the night breeze wasn't very friendly. I myself still felt cold, but that wasn't what I was thinking about. Botan was shivering, and she didn't have much thick clothes on.
She began walking, trying to pretend that the cold night's breeze wasn't bothering her at all.
I watched her walk, rubbing her arms in attempt to keep herself warm. Her pale, light blue hair played with the breeze, making me want to reach for it and give it a gentle caress, just to feel its softness. " Botan," I called, catching up with her.
She stopped and turned towards me, smiling as if she was feeling okay. "K-Kurama-kun."
I took my coat off and wrapped her with it as soon as I caught up with her. She gasped.
"Kurama-kun, you don't have to…" she began.
"I want to, Botan-chan. It's quite cold; you need it more than I do," I said, smiling at her.
Her purple eyes sparkled and her lips curved into a smile. A rather beautiful smile, so gracefully dawning her pretty lips. "Arigato, Kurama."
I paused, gazing down at her heavenly features. It was odd that I hadn't noticed them before: purple eyes that shone so brightly, pale blue hair framing her delicate face, perfect pink lips, often curved into a sincere smile.
I kept my gaze on her, wishing that I could go on doing so forever. Neither did she tear her eyes away.
So blind, kitsune. You have been so blind.
The barrier of the Youko had been too impenetrable.
No more did you focus on other significant matters such as attraction and…love.
Love… it's drawing me near to her. Tempting me to keep on gazing at her, to desire her soft touch, to wish to get lost in her soulful amethyst orbs…
"Kurama…" she whispered.
I stepped closer to her, and reached out to tuck a few strands of her hair behind her ear. My other hand cupped her cheek, rubbing it warmly, enjoying the soft feel of her skin against my palm.
Her hand reached up to touch mine, as if not wanting me to remove it.
I stepped even closer still, my head slightly leaning forward. "Botan…"
She gave a small smile and slowly closed her eyes, approving of what I was about to do.
I lifted her chin up and leaned forward. I could now feel her heavenly breath, mixing with mine. We were so close, but I paused. So much had I wanted to feel her soft lips on mine, yet I couldn't bring myself to do so. It wasn't right; we weren't right. We couldn't be together. No, not now.
I slowly let her go and stepped back. Upon my hesitation, she slowly opened her eyes, purple orbs looking at me in confusion, in disappointment.
I looked away from her, afraid that her eyes would only make me regret not kissing her, though given the opportunity.
"Gomen nasai, Botan-san, I was just tired," I remarked. "We should be getting home."
She gave me one last look of disappointment. Then, she lowered her head and began walking. I followed, and we walked the rest of the way in silence.