Ow!!! I opened my eyes and found myself lying on the floor, to my aching body's dismay. I had just fallen from my bed in my sleep.
I struggled to straighten up and checked the clock. 9:45.
I yawned and staggered to the bathroom. I blinked at the warm water of the shower, pondering about last night's events.
It was really unbelievable, the way Kurama had shown some signs of affection towards me, too. The way he had offered me his coat; the way he had said my name with a "chan" for the first time; the way he had tucked my hair behind my ear; the way he had cupped my cheek…
And the way our lips had almost met in a kiss.
Just thinking about how his emerald eyes sparkled in the moonlight when he was just about to kiss me made me shiver in delight.
But…why had he withdrawn too soon? Why had he hesitated? Was there something wrong with me? Or was it simply because…he had thought that I wasn't right for him?
I turned the shower knob off and put on my bathrobe in depression. Maybe he didn't like me after all.
I picked up a brush and started to brush down my hair. I stared at my reflection in the mirror.
Yes, I was nothing compared to him. Maybe I wasn't good enough. Maybe I didn't deserve someone like him. Maybe I was---
There was a faint knock on the door. "Botan-san?"
I almost jumped back in surprise. "K-Kurama-kun? What is it?"
"I'm on my way to the Urameshi ramen shop; Yusuke had asked me to come over. I don't exactly know the reason why, but, would you like to come, too?"
I smiled to myself. He was still inviting me!
"Hai, Kurama, I'm coming. Please just give me a moment to get ready."
"Okay; I'll wait for you out here."
Yes!!! I jumped up in front of my cabinet to find a nice outfit.
Hmmm…I scanned my clothes.
Nope, too formal.
Not this, too bright.
Not this one either, too thick.
Hmmm… I brought out the outfit that Keiko once gave me. A simple, black dress with a white, long-sleeved overcoat. It was too simple, but I figured that the place I was heading for was just a simple place; it wasn't like I was heading for a party or anything, so I quickly put it on and dashed out the door. I didn't want Kurama to wait too long.
"Let's go, Kurama-kun!" I beamed at him.
He paused to look at me. He just blinked, and didn't budge.
My eyes widened. Oh right, my ponytail!!!
"Oh, excuse me, I forgot my ribbon…" I turned to go back, but he took my arm and stopped me.
"No, wait, you don't have to. You look so much better with your hair loose like that," he smiled at me.
I stared back at him in shock. I…I do?
He chuckled. "Let's go."
I nodded and smiled, following him to the "elevators" again. He had just given me a compliment!!!
***
"Yusuke no baka!!! Look at what you've done!!!" Keiko's voice boomed from inside the shop.
Kurama and I winced. We were just about to enter when Keiko screamed.
Kurama shook his head. "There they go again," he said.
I nodded. He opened the door to the shop and I peered inside.
Yusuke was covering his head with his hands and he was muttering "Sumimasen, Keiko" over and over again. Keiko was glaring at him, a pot on her hand.
Then finally, Keiko sighed when she saw us enter. "Don't you ever mess up again!" she said to Yusuke as he let out a long, relieved sigh. Keiko walked towards us.
"Botan, could you please keep Yusuke away from the kitchen? He just keeps messing up and things keep getting worse when he's around! I just can't stand his clumsiness! Kudasai?" Keiko said exasperatedly.
I nodded. "Sure."
She smiled. "Oh thank you so much!!!" then she turned to Kurama. "Kurama-san, come this way, I have to show you something…" she led him to the back of the counter.
I walked over to Yusuke, who was taking deep breaths, ever so thankful that Keiko didn't start throwing things at him again.
I smirked at him. "So what did you do now?"
He shook me by the shoulders. "Botan-chan, you have got to help me!!! Keiko's been driving me nuts!!! Every little thing that I say or do is always scold here, scold there…help me, Botan-san!!! Onegai? Onegai? " he said desparately.
I rolled my eyes. "Yuu-kun, that's because every little thing you say or do is wrong!"
"Botan, I'm serious!!! I get an earful every now and then!" Yusuke sighed.
I shook my head. Then I just had a brainstorm. If I could help fix things, Keiko would be more grateful, wouldn't she? "Alright, let's go fix things up," I grinned mischievously, pulling him into the kitchen.
Kurama"Arigato gozaimasu, Kurama-kun!!! Thank you thank you thank you…" Keiko smiled after I fixed the problem with their cash register.
I just smiled at her. I glanced back at the door of the kitchen. I knew Keiko told Botan to keep Yusuke out of the kitchen, but just a while ago she pulled Yusuke into the kitchen. I couldn't help but wonder what she was doing. And I knew it was ridiculous, but, somehow I felt kind of…um…how do I put it…I felt kind of…jealous, all of a sudden. I knew I shouldn't be, but, I wished that I was there, too so that I could know what was happening.
Hey, why was I jealous, anyway? There wasn't any point in being, ne?
I sighed. Who was I kidding? I liked Botan. A lot. Hai. A lot.
Just then, Botan popped out of the kitchen, a small bucket in hand. She was heading for the door.
"Chotto matte, Botan-chan…where are you going?" I asked just before she was about to exit.
She turned towards me and smiled. "I'm just going to get some ice at the shop next door. Don't worry; I won't be long," and she dashed out the door.
I tried to convince myself not to worry so much; it was only nearby. And I was just about to believe myself when I heard her scream outside.
"What was that?" Keiko's eyes widened.
I rushed out the store. "Botan!!!"
But I was a minute too late.
She was gone, the bucket on the sidewalk floor.
BotanIt was soft. I was lying on something soft…
Slowly I opened my eyes. My vision was still a little bit blurred, but I could make out two guys peering at me, one with a cap on backwards.
I groaned involuntarily, and the other guy grinned. "Hey, Yoji!!!" he said, "Get over here! Your 'pretty babe' finally regained consciousness!"
"Hey really?" a guy with long, blond hair walked over, grinning.
I blinked, willing my vision to get clearer. But it wasn't of much help.
"Hey, Ken-kun," the guy with the cap said to the one beside him. "She seems to have a very hard time to see us clearly. What did you do to her anyway?"
"Nani? I didn't do anything to her!" Ken said.
I blinked once more. At last, my vision cleared. And I realized that I was in bed. Three guys were looking at me, and according to what I've heard, the one with short brown hair was Ken, and the other guy with glasses on was named Yoji. Another guy with red hair was leaning against the wall, a frown on his face, and a sword in hand. He reminded me a lot of Hiei, only, this guy was much taller.
"Can you talk?" Ken asked.
It was only then did I find my voice. "Who…who are you? W-where am I?"
"Sorry if we had to knock you unconscious. We just didn't want you to scream too much," the guy with a cap on said.
"Um…" I bit my lip.
"Hey, you're really cute," Yoji winked at me.
"Knock it off, Yoji," Ken turned to the guy with a cap. "Omi, get to the point, will you?"
So this guy's name is Omi…
He cleared his throat. "Okay, miss. We just want to know if you happen to know something called the Ruffian's Sphere."
The Ruffian's Sphere! Is that what they're after? But how did they know that I come from Reikai, too?
"And, we do want you to be as honest as possible," Ken remarked, inspecting a glove with claws on it. I gulped. He was already threatening me…
If I say that I don't, will they kill me then?
Hey, maybe I could just revert to my invisible form!
But… since they know that I'm from Reikai…then they must know about that ability, too…
Oh great, what am I supposed to do? The Ruffian's Sphere is one of the Reikai treasures! I can't simply just give away information about it…
Do I have any other option?
"Well…I guess… yes…yes I do…" I replied reluctantly.
"You do?!? " Yoji asked in surprise.
"Um…I---" I gasped. The red-haired guy's katana was pointed directly at my throat. I could feel the cold steel against my skin; luckily the blade wasn't touching me yet…
"Show it to us, or else," he said lowly.
"Hey, watch where you're pointing that thing, Aya!" Yoji reprimanded him.
Aya glared at him, but he slowly withdrew his katana.
"So can you give us some information about it?" Omi prompted.
"The…the Ruffian's Sphere is a treasure of the spirit world…and I can't bring it to you because…i-it's a pretty long way from here…" I said.
"We need it, lady, so bring it to us, now," Aya said.
"H-hai, let me contact the Reikai prince first," I said.
Ken shrugged. "Sure, do what you will."
I sat up and took the communicator out of my pocket. It was a good thing I always brought it with me.
"Koenma-sama?" I said into it as soon as his face appeared.
"What is it now, Botan? I'm really very busy right now," he grumbled.
Yoji peered over my shoulder at the communicator screen. "That's the Reikai prince?!?" he snickered. "You gotta be kidding me!"
Koenma-sama frowned. "Who was that, Botan?"
"Uh…um…" I began. Ken and Omi had peered at Koenma, too, and were now at a laughing fit with Yoji.
"These guys have me hostage…and they want the Ruffian's Sphere in exchange, Koenma-sama," I told him.
"Nani?!?" he roared, his pacifier almost falling down. "Where's Yusuke and the others?!?"
"They don't know I'm here, Koenma-sama," I said hesitantly, afraid the he'll get really mad at me this time.
"Aw, shoot!!!" he sighed and paused to think. For a moment, I was afraid that he might decide not to pay the price to teach me a lesson.
Finally, he looked back at me angrily. "Alright, alright, I'll send another ferry girl to deliver it to the direction of your chi," he said.
I smiled at him. "Arigato, Koenma-sama!"
He snorted. "I'll have the Reikai Tantei deal with this later! You better learn from this, Botan!" and he shut the monitor off.
"Well? What did the little squirt say?" Ken asked, still grinning, just recovering from laughing so hard.
I nodded in depression. They began cheering and giving each other high fives.
I sighed. I was dead meat. Responsible for the loss of a Reikai treasure. Enma-sama will surely punish me severely…