Chapter 4
Botan was still sleeping when the four of them entered the room. The room was a little cool and dimly lit.
Hiei stayed beside the door. Kuwabara and Yusuke both walked across the room and stood by the broken window, while Koenma went to Botan's side.
He didn't do anything for a while. He just studied her. She looked peaceful, Koenma thought. Peaceful and harmless. But after he summoned her powers, he knew Botan wouldn't be the same.
Koenma-sama placed his hand, palm facing downward, on Botan's forehead. A blinding blue light instantly came out of Koenma's palms, radiating through Botan's forehead. He was retrieving Botan's memory of Hiroki and Ira. When she wakes up, she'll be able to remember both of them and the past she had with them. I hope I'm doing the right thing... Then, he stopped.
He examined Botan. She looked like she was dreaming. It must be the past she's seeing in her sleep. Koenma, satisfied that he had recovered her memory, placed his hand on her forehead again. He is now going to summon Botan's power. He had never done it before, and he is forbidden to do such thing unless the Spiritual World is in battle. But he believes it was all that he could do.
And again the blinding light flowed from his hand to Botan's forehead.
Few minutes had past. Botan's body was now covered with blue aura. Koenma's hand was still on her forehead. Yusuke and Kuwabara watched in awe as they feel Botan's energy rising up.
"I didn't imagine for it to be this strong..." Kuwabara remarked, his face wearing an amazed expression.
Koenma continued summoning her powers. A few more minutes and it will be over...
He then removed his hand. Botan was still surrounded by the blue aura. The four of them watched her. Her eyes were still closed. She looked like she was still sleeping, unaware of the great powers she now possess.
Then the blue aura slowly turned to a light shade of pink. The glowing light was able to light up the whole room. It was blinding. They all witnessed Botan's power progressed.
The light gradually died down until it disappeared. Nobody spoke for a minute or so, they were waiting for what would happen next.
Botan opened her eyes. She felt a distinct lightness of her body. It was like she was almost floating. She touched the bed where she was lying and felt if she's still lying on it or not. No, I'm not floating.
She doesn't have any idea on what had happen. She closed her eyes again, remembering what happened before she had gone to sleep. Kurama... Kurama is in danger! She quickly opened her eyes again. She sat up and found Koenma-sama, Yusuke, Hiei and Kuwabara all staring at her.
She frowned for a while, thinking if something was wrong with her. Why are they all staring at me? She shifted her attention to Koenma.
"Is Kurama saved?" She asked.
"No, not yet."
"But he will be..." He added.
"Then, why is everybody wasting their time looking at me when you should be saving him? You think I'm joking, don't you?" She added, hurt was in her eyes.
She stood up quickly. If they're not taking me seriously, I might as well do it myself! Wait... I feel weird, I feel so light.
"No, we believe you. We all know Kurama is in danger. We are going to save him but we need your help." Koenma said.
"Of course I'll help! You want me tell Enma-sama? I'll go right this minute!" Botan prepared to fly to the Spiritual World.
"No, Botan. We don't let them know this time."
"Then what do we do? What can I do?"
"Do you remember who possessed Kurama?"
"Like I told you before, he has eyes of fire and a scar on his left cheek. And he knows me, he called me by my first name. He seems familiar but I really don't know... " Botan stopped. Somehow a name flashed in her mind. She said it aloud.
"Hiroki. His name is Hiroki." She said with a tone of uncertainty.
Koenma didn't say anything. He wanted her to recall everything about Hiroki and Ira all by herself.
Botan's expression changed from skepticism to astonishment as she oddly recalled everything she knew about Hiroki. She remembered him completely. Hiroki... He was...
Then she broke down into tears as she refreshed her mind about the memory of him. He killed Ira... He betrayed me, he betrayed the Spiritual World!
"I'm sorry that you have to recall Hiroki and Ira." Koenma said. He believes that the tears she had just shed were tears for Ira's death. She now remembers everything about Hiroki.
Sorry...? Somehow she felt like Koenma implied something from saying that sorry. Then she remembered what Hiroki had said when she asked him who he was this morning. "I see, someone must have erased me from you." Erased me from you? She silently replayed the morning's event in her mind until she finally understood.
"When he said someone must have erased him from me, he meant you took away the memory of him and Ira from me, right?" Botan asked.
Koenma just nodded and said nothing.
"He discovered he possessed powers. Great powers. He once told me that he is going to be invincible. I took it as a joke until he proved his powers by killing Ira." She related. "I was so scared... really scared." Botan started to feel what she felt as she watched Hiroki killed Ira a long time ago. A long time ago? It seems like it was yesterday...
"I'm sorry," Koenma offered again.
It's gonna be hard on her. I just hope she'll be okay before it's too late.
Botan looked at Koenma's eyes. She can't quite read what they say. It was like it holds a mixture of different emotions. Fear. Pity. Hope. She doesn't know, she wasn't certain what they were trying to tell her.
She shifted her gaze to Yusuke and Kuwabara. Both of them are looking at her expectantly. She also noticed Yusuke's frequent looks at the clock on the wall. She checked the clock herself. It was nearing five in the afternoon. Then she focused her eyes on Hiei. He looked directly in her eyes. He didn't blink the whole time, even once. But his gaze doesn't hold any feelings. It wasn't cold either, it just doesn't say anything at all.
Botan knew exactly what she should do. It wasn't easy trying to forget the pain Hiroki had brought. But my pain can wait. Kurama needs us now. I may not help that much, but I'll do whatever I can...
"So, what should we do to get Kurama back? Do you know how Hiroki got to him?" Botan asked, her voice slightly shaking.
Koenma looked at Botan. He could see Botan's willingness to help Kurama but he could also see tears. I hope she's ready.
"What should I do? What can I do?" Botan asked again. She was trying to cover her pain.
"Well... you could... save Kurama." Koenma finally said. Then he waited for Botan's reaction.
What does he mean by that? She didn't say anything but her eyes told her confusion.
"You have powers, Botan. Great powers like the one Hiroki has. You're the only one that could save Kurama."
"You mean, you can't do anything about it?" Botan looked at Koenma. But he didn't say anything. Until it finally sank in her. I am Kurama's only hope?
"Yes, Botan. You're the only one that could save Kurama now." Koenma said as if reading her mind.
"We'll do it if we can. But we just can't." Yusuke said.
Botan stared at floor for a while, a stunned expression on her face. Okay, I never really had any major fights before. Nobody's life was never in my hands before... She silently made sense of the situation out in her mind.
Doubt if she can save Kurama reflected in her face. She was uncertain. Koenma saw that and the only thing he could offer was to nod at her questioning expression.
Seconds ticked by as the room fell silent. Yusuke, Koenma-sama, Kuwabara and Hiei were waiting for Botan's next words.
"Okay, I'll do it. How do I acquire this great power of mine?" She suddenly asked. Her mind reached a decision. She knows it was going to be a big gamble with Kurama's life on the other side. But if I don't do this, it's like I killed Kurama myself.
Yusuke and Kuwabara both gave her a smile. They were both relieved. The clock was ticking and they will only have a good four hours and ten minutes to get Kurama.
The five of them left the room. They headed for the woods to show Botan what her powers were made of.
The next two hours were spent training Botan. Yusuke showed her basic techniques to handle great amount of powers without being over-fatigued. Kuwabara eagerly share some thoughts. And Koenma informs Botan everything she was capable of.
They have already planned their attack as Botan learned more of her new powers. She was progressing amazingly. After all, her power was designed to be learned that quickly. After two hours, she was ready.
Botan looked at the sky for a while. It was dark already. She remembered how creepy the dark seems to her before. But somehow, it doesn't scare her anymore.
She focused her attention to her fingers. Then she closed her eyes as her thumbs and index fingers from both hands formed a triangle. She concentrated deeply, raising her hands until it faced the sky. Her aura was rising. Then in a split of a second, a powerful energy came from her hands and went shooting for the sky.
She then opened her eyes just in time to see what she just did. The energy she just released was already thousands of miles away. It's lights lighting up the night, looking like fireworks up in the sky. We're coming for you Kurama... We'll save you...
Botan was still sleeping when the four of them entered the room. The room was a little cool and dimly lit.
Hiei stayed beside the door. Kuwabara and Yusuke both walked across the room and stood by the broken window, while Koenma went to Botan's side.
He didn't do anything for a while. He just studied her. She looked peaceful, Koenma thought. Peaceful and harmless. But after he summoned her powers, he knew Botan wouldn't be the same.
Koenma-sama placed his hand, palm facing downward, on Botan's forehead. A blinding blue light instantly came out of Koenma's palms, radiating through Botan's forehead. He was retrieving Botan's memory of Hiroki and Ira. When she wakes up, she'll be able to remember both of them and the past she had with them. I hope I'm doing the right thing... Then, he stopped.
He examined Botan. She looked like she was dreaming. It must be the past she's seeing in her sleep. Koenma, satisfied that he had recovered her memory, placed his hand on her forehead again. He is now going to summon Botan's power. He had never done it before, and he is forbidden to do such thing unless the Spiritual World is in battle. But he believes it was all that he could do.
And again the blinding light flowed from his hand to Botan's forehead.
Few minutes had past. Botan's body was now covered with blue aura. Koenma's hand was still on her forehead. Yusuke and Kuwabara watched in awe as they feel Botan's energy rising up.
"I didn't imagine for it to be this strong..." Kuwabara remarked, his face wearing an amazed expression.
Koenma continued summoning her powers. A few more minutes and it will be over...
He then removed his hand. Botan was still surrounded by the blue aura. The four of them watched her. Her eyes were still closed. She looked like she was still sleeping, unaware of the great powers she now possess.
Then the blue aura slowly turned to a light shade of pink. The glowing light was able to light up the whole room. It was blinding. They all witnessed Botan's power progressed.
The light gradually died down until it disappeared. Nobody spoke for a minute or so, they were waiting for what would happen next.
Botan opened her eyes. She felt a distinct lightness of her body. It was like she was almost floating. She touched the bed where she was lying and felt if she's still lying on it or not. No, I'm not floating.
She doesn't have any idea on what had happen. She closed her eyes again, remembering what happened before she had gone to sleep. Kurama... Kurama is in danger! She quickly opened her eyes again. She sat up and found Koenma-sama, Yusuke, Hiei and Kuwabara all staring at her.
She frowned for a while, thinking if something was wrong with her. Why are they all staring at me? She shifted her attention to Koenma.
"Is Kurama saved?" She asked.
"No, not yet."
"But he will be..." He added.
"Then, why is everybody wasting their time looking at me when you should be saving him? You think I'm joking, don't you?" She added, hurt was in her eyes.
She stood up quickly. If they're not taking me seriously, I might as well do it myself! Wait... I feel weird, I feel so light.
"No, we believe you. We all know Kurama is in danger. We are going to save him but we need your help." Koenma said.
"Of course I'll help! You want me tell Enma-sama? I'll go right this minute!" Botan prepared to fly to the Spiritual World.
"No, Botan. We don't let them know this time."
"Then what do we do? What can I do?"
"Do you remember who possessed Kurama?"
"Like I told you before, he has eyes of fire and a scar on his left cheek. And he knows me, he called me by my first name. He seems familiar but I really don't know... " Botan stopped. Somehow a name flashed in her mind. She said it aloud.
"Hiroki. His name is Hiroki." She said with a tone of uncertainty.
Koenma didn't say anything. He wanted her to recall everything about Hiroki and Ira all by herself.
Botan's expression changed from skepticism to astonishment as she oddly recalled everything she knew about Hiroki. She remembered him completely. Hiroki... He was...
Then she broke down into tears as she refreshed her mind about the memory of him. He killed Ira... He betrayed me, he betrayed the Spiritual World!
"I'm sorry that you have to recall Hiroki and Ira." Koenma said. He believes that the tears she had just shed were tears for Ira's death. She now remembers everything about Hiroki.
Sorry...? Somehow she felt like Koenma implied something from saying that sorry. Then she remembered what Hiroki had said when she asked him who he was this morning. "I see, someone must have erased me from you." Erased me from you? She silently replayed the morning's event in her mind until she finally understood.
"When he said someone must have erased him from me, he meant you took away the memory of him and Ira from me, right?" Botan asked.
Koenma just nodded and said nothing.
"He discovered he possessed powers. Great powers. He once told me that he is going to be invincible. I took it as a joke until he proved his powers by killing Ira." She related. "I was so scared... really scared." Botan started to feel what she felt as she watched Hiroki killed Ira a long time ago. A long time ago? It seems like it was yesterday...
"I'm sorry," Koenma offered again.
It's gonna be hard on her. I just hope she'll be okay before it's too late.
Botan looked at Koenma's eyes. She can't quite read what they say. It was like it holds a mixture of different emotions. Fear. Pity. Hope. She doesn't know, she wasn't certain what they were trying to tell her.
She shifted her gaze to Yusuke and Kuwabara. Both of them are looking at her expectantly. She also noticed Yusuke's frequent looks at the clock on the wall. She checked the clock herself. It was nearing five in the afternoon. Then she focused her eyes on Hiei. He looked directly in her eyes. He didn't blink the whole time, even once. But his gaze doesn't hold any feelings. It wasn't cold either, it just doesn't say anything at all.
Botan knew exactly what she should do. It wasn't easy trying to forget the pain Hiroki had brought. But my pain can wait. Kurama needs us now. I may not help that much, but I'll do whatever I can...
"So, what should we do to get Kurama back? Do you know how Hiroki got to him?" Botan asked, her voice slightly shaking.
Koenma looked at Botan. He could see Botan's willingness to help Kurama but he could also see tears. I hope she's ready.
"What should I do? What can I do?" Botan asked again. She was trying to cover her pain.
"Well... you could... save Kurama." Koenma finally said. Then he waited for Botan's reaction.
What does he mean by that? She didn't say anything but her eyes told her confusion.
"You have powers, Botan. Great powers like the one Hiroki has. You're the only one that could save Kurama."
"You mean, you can't do anything about it?" Botan looked at Koenma. But he didn't say anything. Until it finally sank in her. I am Kurama's only hope?
"Yes, Botan. You're the only one that could save Kurama now." Koenma said as if reading her mind.
"We'll do it if we can. But we just can't." Yusuke said.
Botan stared at floor for a while, a stunned expression on her face. Okay, I never really had any major fights before. Nobody's life was never in my hands before... She silently made sense of the situation out in her mind.
Doubt if she can save Kurama reflected in her face. She was uncertain. Koenma saw that and the only thing he could offer was to nod at her questioning expression.
Seconds ticked by as the room fell silent. Yusuke, Koenma-sama, Kuwabara and Hiei were waiting for Botan's next words.
"Okay, I'll do it. How do I acquire this great power of mine?" She suddenly asked. Her mind reached a decision. She knows it was going to be a big gamble with Kurama's life on the other side. But if I don't do this, it's like I killed Kurama myself.
Yusuke and Kuwabara both gave her a smile. They were both relieved. The clock was ticking and they will only have a good four hours and ten minutes to get Kurama.
The five of them left the room. They headed for the woods to show Botan what her powers were made of.
The next two hours were spent training Botan. Yusuke showed her basic techniques to handle great amount of powers without being over-fatigued. Kuwabara eagerly share some thoughts. And Koenma informs Botan everything she was capable of.
They have already planned their attack as Botan learned more of her new powers. She was progressing amazingly. After all, her power was designed to be learned that quickly. After two hours, she was ready.
Botan looked at the sky for a while. It was dark already. She remembered how creepy the dark seems to her before. But somehow, it doesn't scare her anymore.
She focused her attention to her fingers. Then she closed her eyes as her thumbs and index fingers from both hands formed a triangle. She concentrated deeply, raising her hands until it faced the sky. Her aura was rising. Then in a split of a second, a powerful energy came from her hands and went shooting for the sky.
She then opened her eyes just in time to see what she just did. The energy she just released was already thousands of miles away. It's lights lighting up the night, looking like fireworks up in the sky. We're coming for you Kurama... We'll save you...