Closer
A/N: Hello everyone! This is a companion fic to Fons et Origo. You don't necessarily need to read one to understand the other, I think? But of course, I highly encourage you, dear reader, to check both out. This fic will be composed of drabbles showing the development of the relationship between Kurama and Botan. Not sure how many chapters there will be but I expect a quite few as the ideas pop into my noggin. These will mostly consist of fluff. I hope you all enjoy it!
Timeline: This takes place a little over a year after the end of the manga /the terrorist cult attack on Reikai, placing Kurama at 20 human years old and Yusuke, Keiko, etc. 19 years old. If you are following FeO this takes place two years before the camping trip. Everyone has been busy with their lives, especially Kurama whose schedule is mostly packed with work. Botan still makes time to visit her friends but she and our favorite kitsune have not seen one another in a couple of months. Anyway, on to the story!
Chapter 1: The Heatwave
"Can we please take a break, guys? It's boiling!" Botan groaned loudly for all in their party to hear. It was the middle of July and the sun was beating down upon the group of eight as they walked through the busy amusement park, the buzz of chatter and roller coasters a cacophony around them. They had walked for hours, going on ride after ride and the seatbelt of the last coaster had jerked against Botan so hard she could feel a bruise developing.
"Quit your yapping," Yusuke grumbled, arm slung around Keiko's shoulders. "It's not that hot and we still have a ton of rides to go on!" Botan stopped in her tracks and rolled her eyes, Shizuru gave her a sympathetic look, cigarette between her teeth.
"Take five if you need to, we'll wait up," She said.
"No, we won't," Yusuke countered, "The lines are getting longer as the day goes on. If we wanna go through all the good ones we gotta keep moving." Shizuru frowned but gave their blue-haired friend a shrug and continued. Botan groaned once more but continued to press on, complaining under her breath but not wishing to be left behind. Kurama cast her a concerned stare when he noticed the profuse beads of sweat rolling down her neck. He could hear the pounding of her heart and the heaving breaths she took, he wondered if the thick humidity was making it more difficult for the ferry girl than usual. He'd heard there was a heatwave but hadn't given it much thought until then.
The idea to spend the day at the amusement park had been Kuwabara's plan to take Yukina on a date there, Yusuke invited himself and Keiko for a double date, and Hiei was only tagging along because of Yukina. Shizuru then decided to join and convinced Kurama and Botan as well. But the ferry girl had not expected it to be such a strenuous affair. The park was unreasonably massive and she had no idea who any of the mascots walking around were. On top of that, the heat was unbearable and the crowds were growing heavier by the hour, causing the air around them to feel thick and stuffy.
When they arrived at the next ride Botan was horrified by not only the length of the line but the theme of the ride as well. "Nope!" she crossed her arms and stood still, "I am NOT going on a blackout ride." She had no doubt there would be countless loops and the threat of being jostled around in the dark was not her idea of entertainment. She'd been caught in multiple storms on her oar during her many years of ferrying and that was more than enough.
"It might be cold inside," Keiko reasoned but Botan shook her head vehemently.
"I'm going to sit this one out," she replied. "I think I'll find somewhere to relax and will join you all later."
"Quitter!" Yusuke called out but the ferry girl merely waved him off. She wandered for a few minutes in search of shade, finding a grassy area under several trees off the beaten path. She sat upon the cool grass, wincing a bit from being achy. She rubbed her lower belly where the seat belt had bitten into her skin. Gingerly she lifted the hem of her yellow tank to assess the already green and purple welt.
"That looks nasty," Botan shrieked when a voice came from right behind her ear. She turned in surprise, nearly hitting Kurama in the face as he leaned over her shoulder. He'd anticipated her reaction and moved at the right moment. He bent back over her with an amused grin. "My apologies, I didn't mean to frighten you."
Botan grasped her chest and heaved a sigh, "I'm just glad it was you, Kurama." He sat next to her in the shade, propping his leg up to lean against it while facing her. "You decided not to go on the ride?"
He shrugged in response, "I was a little bored, to be honest." Blue brows rose in surprise and he let out a light chuckle. "I've been here a few times with my family. On top of that, I'm technically ancient so a theme park is not really my idea of fun."
Botan giggled, "Oh, I guess that makes sense." They sat quietly for a few minutes enjoying the light breeze that drifted through the trees.
"You chose a good spot to lounge in," Kurama mused, "It's quiet here."
"A happy accident," she sighed. He observed her carefully, having noticed she was not her typical bubbly self, and he had a feeling it had very little to do with the weather or the rides. When she realized he was staring she sat up, "What?"
"Ah," he smirked a bit sheepishly at having been caught. "Just a little concerned. You haven't been yourself today."
Botan's lilac eyes widened in surprise. She'd thought she'd concealed her gloominess quite well. She quickly gave him a giddy smile and sat her chin in her hands cutely. "I don't know what you mean!" She said in the sunniest voice she could muster. Her playful giggles died down under his skeptical eye and she hung her head in defeat.
"You don't have to do that," his expression grew serious but temperate. "I may not be Keiko or Shizuru, but you can confide in me. We're friends."
Her face flushed in shame and she apologized. She brought her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. "You're right, I haven't been feeling too great lately. There are a lot of changes happening in Reikai-all rather quickly. My duties have increased and while I enjoy my job it's been difficult to keep up. Especially with Lord Koenma's new military Captain, he's been changing things so fast it makes my head spin!"
Red brows furrowed, "What sort of changes, if you don't mind me asking?"
She pursed her lips thoughtfully, "Well, for one, the Captain disbanded the SDF to put together another military, this one is larger and stronger than the SDF ever was. It's made up of all Reikai Interior officers, so now there are these unfamiliar soldiers walking around, enforcing stricter guidelines, making us check in every morning and night, and my fellow ferry girls are heavily distracted by the new…'eye-candy'." Kurama smirked at the term. "Which means someone has to pick up the slack."
"I assume that someone usually ends up being you?" He asked. Botan nodded. "What else?"
She exhaled, "Well, on top of the new military, the Captain and Koenma are planning something else…but I'm not privy to that information. Ayame believes they're putting together a special militia, maybe even a mercenary group, on top of the newly established army." She scrunched up her face, "Ugh and the proposals are the worst thing of all!" The kitsune's eyes lit up with amusement.
"Marriage proposals, you mean?"
"Yes! The people of Reikai are getting engaged left and right. I've been invited to at least thirteen weddings in all parts of Reikai. Even in my district suitors are clogging the hallways, banging on doors to profess their love. Just yesterday he showed up to my apartment," she rolled her eyes. "I opened my door to find him on bended knee, saying, 'I've become an officer in the new army and have pledged my fealty to King Koenma, and wish to make you my bride.' Just, gross. As if I could ever-"
"Who?" Kurama asked with a snicker. She stilled and bit her lip, heat warmed her cheeks, she'd rambled too much without thought.
"I…" she averted his emerald gaze. "I'd rather…not say. It's kind of embarrassing."
Kurama leaned in closer, mischief twinkling in his eyes, "Was it Koenma?"
"No!" She exclaimed, "He would never. That would just be weird."
"Hm…" He gave her a cheeky grin. "Is it someone I know?" She looked at him sadly, almost guiltily. Kurama's brows knit together and he dropped the cheekiness. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," she mumbled. "Let's just forget it." She made to stand up but Kurama reached out and grasped her wrist.
"I must say," his tone was gentle, "Your evasion does little to ease my concerns."
She bit her lip apprehensively but still refused to share. "I'm sorry," she replied. "I was rambling and really shouldn't have said anything." She glanced up with a silent plea and Kurama let her go, dropping the subject for the time being. He stared at his own hand in mild fascination, it wasn't like him to grab her like that.
The quiet that fell upon them grew awkward and neither of them looked at the other. After a while, Botan's stomach began to growl. Wordlessly Kurama stood, for a second she thought he might be mortified and was leaving, but he offered his hand. "Let's grab something to eat," his smile was warm, all discomfort forgotten. She gladly placed her hand in his and used his assistance to stand. He guided them to a nearby food stand that had a mercifully short line and plenty of open seats. "This is my treat," he told her before she'd even had the chance to reach into her purse. She gave him an incredulous look but he insisted.
They chose a table with an umbrella to sit at and ate their food with comfortable conversation, discussing the rides they'd been on, when Botan expressed how surprised she was that Kurama had been bored he grinned. "So what is your idea of fun, then?" she questioned. He drummed his fingers against his chin in thought.
"I can think of innumerable activities," he said. "As for the moment…perhaps a movie…something to get out of this dreadful heat." Botan was somewhat surprised at his acknowledgment of the temperature, he seemed so unbothered by it. But taking a second glance she noticed he was sweating. "What do you like to do for fun?"
"I like to people watch," she laughed. "Humans are so interesting. Definitely more fun than getting bruised and beaten by a seatbelt."
He frowned at that. "That reminds me, would you like for me to heal you?"
"Well, I could do it myself," she wiggled a little in her seat, admonishing herself for not having healed the bruise earlier. But with how hot and exhausted she was she'd figured it would be easier to heal at a later time. "I'm just being a whiner, really."
Kurama decided not to press the issue, "Well, the offer still stands should you change your mind." He took a look around and noticed the area was becoming crowded with people, they'd finished their food and a family was already ogling their table, "Would you like to keep walking a bit? I have a feeling we will be asked to vacate our seats soon."
"Sure!"
The two walked leisurely through the park, taking breaks when needed before choosing to take the shaded path in the gaming area. There was still quite a large mass of people but the overhead tarps made it bearable, plus several of the game booths had fans, they would occasionally stop and watch players try to win a prize. Botan paused at a baseball throwing game where a teenager was trying to knock over a stack of milk bottles and was failing miserably. After a few tries, he grumbled about it being rigged, much to the disappointment of the young lady next to him.
"But I wanted the Sailor Moon plush!" she whined, grabbing onto his arm as they walked away.
Botan turned her lilac eyes toward the prizes lining the sides and top of the booth. The plushies were quite cute, though she had no idea who they were. Kurama followed her gaze, "Do you want a Sailor Moon doll?" She turned toward him and smiled bashfully.
"Well, they're adorable, but I have no idea what Sailor Moon is." Kurama's brows rose, it made sense that the ferry girl wouldn't have much knowledge of pop culture. He knew of Sailor Moon and other anime because he, admittedly, found them enjoyable to watch during his free time…intermittently, at least.
He explained a little to her about the show and manga to which she seemed intrigued. "I have the seasons…you should come by sometime and watch them," His offer was genuine and it made Botan grin.
"That would be fun!"
"Hey!" the game attendant snapped at both of them, making them turn, "Are you two gonna play or just stand in the way?" Botan frowned and made to argue back but Kurama walked toward the booth and handed the attendant some money. While the game attendant busied himself with putting the cash away Botan leaned into Kurama.
"Do you think it's really rigged?" she whispered, covering her mouth with a hand. Kurama nodded.
"Without a doubt." He answered lowly, "But I can handle it." He flashed a confident grin.
Botan took a step back to allow the kitsune room. He was handed a basket of three softballs and picked one up to examine it. The balls were clearly too light to knock over the bottles, which he suspected held lead in the bottom. For a normal human, it would be a difficult game to win, but for Kurama it was nothing. The redhead took aim with the first ball and sent it flying hard in the direction of the jugs, knocking all three over with ease. Botan cheered and clapped.
Begrudgingly, the attendant grabbed the largest stuffed Sailor Moon doll from the top and thrust it in Kurama's direction. Immediately Kurama handed the prize to Botan, "For you," he said. She let out a squeal of excitement, bringing a happy smile to his face. He turned back to the booth and grabbed the second ball, the attendant opened his mouth to protest but Kurama cut him off, "I believe I have two more shots, do I not?"
Finding no space to argue the attendant stepped aside and watched in despair as Kurama knocked down the next two sets of bottles with little effort, earning two more grand prizes. He chose a stuffed Tuxedo Mask and a stuffed Luna. "Now we have a matching pair... and an extra."
"Yay!" Kurama handed her the cat toy and started to walk away but paused when he saw the deity turn around to kneel in front of a little girl, who had been watching Kurama play. "Hello, it seems we have too many prizes. Would you like this one?" She offered the Luna doll and the child's face lit up. She bowed respectfully and thanked her before running to her mom excitedly.
Botan smiled wistfully before joining Kurama again. "That was nice," he said. "I think you may have made that child's day."
The ferry girl's face turned blue, "I ferried her father around this time last year. He died in a car crash." She sighed. "He was such a kind man and was very sad to have to leave his wife and daughter. She had only just turned three then." She gasped, "Oh! They must be here celebrating her birthday, how wonderful!"
As they continued their stroll Kurama realized he'd never heard Botan discuss her charges aside from when she ferried Genkai during the Dark Tournament. He had often marveled at her ability to be so effervescent despite the bleakness of her job. "This is the first time you've ever mentioned a ferried soul before," he voiced.
"Oh, I guess it is." She considered. Kurama motioned toward an empty bench for them to sit on, still holding their prizes. Botan clutched the doll in her lap and rested her chin on its crown in between the blonde odangos. "Nobody really asks and I don't want to bring anyone's mood down."
'Always putting the wellbeing of others before her own,' Kurama thought to himself. He regarded her with a tender eye and wondered if the life she led in Reikai was lonely. His heart stung a bit at the thought and frowned.
"You okay?" She queried, eyes laced with worry. He blinked once and eased back against the bench.
"Yes," he replied. "You know, Botan…I wouldn't mind hearing about your job. It can't be easy work to carry the dead across the River Styx." Botan cocked her head to one side.
"It's not so bad," Her purple gaze grew a little clouded. "Although it is often exhausting, we have to use a lot of energy and we're given an abundance of it...but it still leaves us tired. The higher the rank the more ki you have, and being head ferry girl…well, you know. But it's all I've ever known!" The cheeriness returned to her voice a bit, feeling as though a bit of weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
Kurama pondered on the comment, he'd never previously considered the life Botan must have led before becoming a Shinigami. He wanted to ask her about it but felt it best to save it for a later discussion. She had piqued his interest though, and he found himself wanting more time with her.
"What time is it?" He withdrew from his line of thought to brandish his watch for them both to see, it was nearly 5pm. "Do you think we should meet back up with everyone?"
"Not yet," he said. "I'm enjoying our time together, aren't you?" His green eyes locked with her lilacs, searching for any sign of discomfort. Botan could feel her cheeks warm. She couldn't deny that she was also having a good time. It wasn't often that the two were alone together and aside from their earlier discussion over the proposal, they were having fun.
"I am," she said after a short beat. "But if you're bored-"
"You don't bore me, Botan." He cut her off and placed his hand over hers. Her gaze dropped to the touch and she flushed again but did not pull away. "I hope I don't bore you, either."
She blew a raspberry, "As if you, one of the most beautiful and interesting people I've ever met, could ever be boring."
The redhead grinned roguishly, "Is this your admission of your unyielding love?" Botan turned scarlet from head to toe and went silent until Kurama started laughing, an open laugh she'd only ever heard him share with Hiei, or at Hiei's expense. He turned away from her to try and stifle it.
She smacked him on the shoulder with Sailor Moon, making him laugh harder. "You're a cad, Shuichi Minamino!" His laughter died down at her use of his human name, but the smile stayed, he rather liked hearing her say it.
"Sorry," he turned around to face her again. "I couldn't resist, you're easy to tease."
Botan rolled her eyes, "So I've been told." Not ready to move quite yet from their comfy spot, she pointed at the Tuxedo Mask slung over his leg. "Tell me more about him, who is he again?"
"It may spoil the show a bit," She shook her head at his response.
"I don't mind spoilers."
"Alright then," he went on to give her the details, enjoying her surprised gasp when he revealed that Mamoru was actually Tuxedo Mask and that he and Sailor Moon were destined to be together. She cooed at that, loving the romantic aspect.
"I can't wait to watch it!" She exclaimed.
Kurama felt a flutter at her excitement, "How long are you in Ningenkai?"
"A few days."
"I don't have to work until Monday," he stated, "Would you like to come over tomorrow and start the show?"
She agreed eagerly, 'We're friends, after all...why not?' Her eagerness won another smile from the normally collected Kurama, and it made her heart beat a little too hard. She broke eye contact and scolded herself silently, 'Why am I getting so flustered?'
"I do have one condition," Kurama said slyly, he opened his mouth to finish but was cut off by a familiar voice calling his human name from afar. His brows rose curiously and the two turned toward the source of the voice. "Ah."
Maya, his former classmate came running towards them from behind. She halted a few feet away when she noticed Botan sitting so closely with the red-haired man. Her smile faltered but she continued advancing. "Shuichi," she said as he stood, placing the plush beside Botan on the bench. "It's so good to see you!"
He returned the smile, "It's good to see you as well." He turned to Botan, extending his hand to help her rise. "Botan, I would like you to meet my former classmate- Maya Kitajima."
The women bowed to one another politely, Botan gave her a bright smile, "I'm Botan Sanzukawa, and it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance. It's always nice to meet one of Shuichi's school friends!" Maya held her smile but surveyed the blue-haired woman aggressively, Kurama noticed the brunette's malice and instinctively pulled Botan closer by the waist. While Maya's memories from their junior high years had been erased, including the feelings she'd harbored for Kurama, it seemed that her romantic desires had developed once again. Regardless of their friendship, he would not allow Maya to maltreat the ferry girl.
The deity peered at him in curiosity at the action, but sensed his unease and played along by leaning into his shoulder.
He found Botan's nearness a source of comfort and eased into their performance as a doting couple. A part of him rationalized that she was only playing the part, however, another part of him hoped for something more. Maya tried to hide her disappointment and struck up a conversation with Kurama, doing her best to ignore the blue-haired woman at his side. "Oh," she exclaimed excitedly, "Guess what? I just accepted a position at your stepfather's company! I start in a week from Monday."
Botan sensed Kurama tense at the announcement, she placed a hand on his chest, "Oh, that's wonderful!" She looked up at him with a sweet smile, "Isn't it, dear? Perhaps I could come by sometime and we all could have lunch together?" The kitsune moved his eyes to the deity's face, he could have kissed her in gratitude.
Maya seemed to catch the hint, displaying a forced smile, "That would be nice."
"What department will you be working in?" Botan asked.
"Oh, project management on the fourth floor." Kurama felt a bit of relief since his office was on the fifth with his step-father, and he rarely had to venture any lower. Avoiding Maya would not be too difficult most days in that case.
"Well, congratulations on your new post." He picked up the waiting plush with his left hand and began to steer Botan with his right. "If you'll excuse us, we have to get going."
"Oh-okay," Maya's face was crestfallen as they bid their goodbye, leaving Botan remorseful.
The moment they were out of ear and eyeshot he released a breath he'd been holding, but did not drop his arm from the small of his companion's back, "Thank you, Botan."
She grinned, "Consider it repayment for lunch, dear." His eyes lit up with amusement. He was grateful to the deity and found himself quite glad they had broken from their group. He peered at her from the side, admiring her animated face as she spoke. The heat had her cheeks tinged in pink, a single bead of sweat rolled down her neck and into the valley of her breasts. His emerald eyes ardently followed it, taking pleasure in the sight of the milky flesh of her cleavage. Her tank top hung a little too low, gracing him with a peek of her lacy white bra. He wondered salaciously what the lace hid beneath it, making his hand, still on the small of her back, spasm unconsciously at the thought. She didn't seem to notice, however, as she continued chattering while they walked nowhere in particular.
"Say, Kurama, what was that all about? With Maya…she seemed to really like you." Botan's question peeled him from his lusty thoughts, he blinked and cleared his throat.
He shoved his shameful musings into a metaphorical box before replying, "I know." He gave her the short version of the events that took place in middle school, he told her about Maya's confession, her kidnapping, and having to erase her memories. "However, it seems she still managed to rekindle her feelings."
Botan pouted, "She seems like a nice enough girl and it's a shame you had to wipe her memories"
"It was for the best," Kurama said.
"Well, now that you will be coworkers maybe you can become better friends and get to know her." Botan's suggested. "If you give her the chance perhaps she could even become a romantic partner?" Kurama bristled and stopped moving to look at her. He dropped his hand and placed it in his pocket. He was becoming annoyed.
"You think I should date Maya?" She nodded and he shook his head. "Botan," he chided, "Do you know how old I am?" Another nod. "When Maya confessed her feelings it was like hearing it from a child. Back then I wasn't as familiar with human emotions as I am now, nor was I completely comfortable with even having human friends. But-"
"But you said she's spiritually aware," Botan interjected. "She would fit perfectly in our group's dynamic, just like Shizuru!"
"I don't feel that way about her," he said dryly, wishing to drop the subject.
"That could change," she insisted, missing the rising ire of the kitsune before her.
"Botan, just drop it."
"If you give her the opportunity to-" Kurama cut her off.
"And what about you?" He snipped, giving way to his rising irritation. "Why didn't you accept the marriage proposal you received?"
She regarded him with astonishment. He'd never spoken to her with such scorn, the dark timbre of his voice made her stomach twist with anxiety. They stared at one another silently, unbothered by the few sets of eyes that turned to witness their quarrel. He clenched his jaw for a brief moment before the mask of indifference slipped into place and he suggested they rejoin their group, sensing the strong Ki nearby. He turned on his heel and continued walking with her following along behind him. She picked up the pace to catch up to his side.
Botan wanted to make amends but was not sure where to start. She tried to bring back the pleasantry from before, "You never finished what you were saying earlier. Your one condition-"
"Tell me who proposed to you," He replied flatly. "That was the condition." He'd meant to tease her before, but the change in mood had done away with any measure of levity.
Botan stilled, her smile wavered. "Does it matter?"
"You deemed it acceptable to pry into my love life, why should I be kept out of yours?" She gaped at Kurama, wounded by his cold tone.
"That was different."
"How so?"
She clicked her tongue in irritation, "I just thought-"
"Did you now?" He scoffed, "Did you think it through? Because I find that rather difficult to believe."
"It was Shunjun." Botan snapped. "Shunjun proposed. And I've been told it was foolish to turn him down. He's considered quite the catch in Reikai, after all." She held Kurama's narrowed gaze with equal fervor as she resumed walking, only breaking eye contact when she passed him. After a few agonizing moments, he followed her.
They quickly found the remaining group laughing happily, though Yusuke was nursing a bruised cheek courtesy of Keiko who was not too happy with being groped on a dark coaster. They teased Botan and Kurama about the plush prizes but when Keiko and Yukina suggested they would like a prize Kuwabara and Yusuke took up the opportunity to display their game-playing skills. After the men had won their loves their desired prizes they began a competition on who could win the most games.
Botan busied herself with watching but could feel a set of eyes following her every move. Kurama hadn't spoken to her since their argument and it made her feel unnerved, although she had been avoiding him. She wanted to make up, hating that they fought but did not wish to have an audience so she slipped into "Bubbly Botan" mode and cheered on their friend's impromptu competition.
Kurama, meanwhile, was torturing himself. He was angry for having lashed out at his friend and even angrier that she'd managed to get under his skin just when things were going well. It was rare for anyone, or anything for that matter, to destroy his shroud of equanimity.
'What's with you and the ferry woman?' Hiei sent telepathically. They observed their companions from a short distance away, but the game playing had not distracted the koorime from noticing something was off between Kurama and Botan.
'Nothing,' Kurama said evenly. Hiei snorted.
"That's not what her mind is saying," he countered out loud. The kitsune made no reaction, but Hiei knew his friend well. "If you want her so bad then claim her."
That shook Kurama, he snapped his head to find Hiei smirking. Regaining his poise the redhead replied, "I don't know what you mean, Hiei."
'If you haven't realized it for yourself then you're more of a fool than the oaf. Figure it out,' Hiei ridiculed telepathically before Kuwabara shouted in glee, gaining both demons' attention, boasting of his win against Yusuke. After the ginger-haired man collected his prize the group moved on to the next game. Several hours, and way too many games later they decided to head out. Hiei chose that moment to depart and flitted away into the dark.
By the time they all were heading to the parking lot, it was well into the night and all struggled while carrying dozens of various sized stuffed toys in their arms. Kuwabara and Kurama, being the tallest, toted the four-foot-tall prizes on their backs, Kuwabara carried three all tied together while Kurama carried two in a similar position.
Shizuru had driven Kuwabara and Yukina in her sedan, while Keiko and Yusuke drove Botan in their small SUV, Kurama had driven his coupe. With the ridiculous amount of prizes being stuffed into each of the cars, Keiko suggested they hand off some of them to other people exiting the park. But Yusuke protested, "I'm gonna sell some of these and try to get back some of the money we spent!"
Keiko rolled her eyes, "But there's no room for Botan with all these stupid things!"
Trying to solve the issue, Botan pulled her overnight bag from the backseat of the SUV, "That's alright I can just use my oar and meet up with you."
"No need," Kurama countered while opening his passenger door revealing the empty seat. "You'll ride with me," He said incisively, expressing that it was not a request. Botan hesitated, she cast a furtive glance towards the others. Kuwabara seemed to be the only one to sense her discomfort, scanning quickly between red and blue.
He trusted Kurama with his very soul, but he could never forsake a lady in distress. "Hey," he said in a gruff voice, "Maybe taking her oar would be good. She wasn't feeling well earlier with the heat and all. The cool wind might help."
Kurama gave him a placid smile and gipped Botan delicately by the elbow and escorted her to the car. "It's fine, Kuwa!" She flashed the keen human a placating grin before sliding into the seat and waving goodbye. The moment the door shut her smile fell, not looking forward to the drive.
"I'll keep an eye on her," Kurama assured. "We'll see you later." He walked around to the driver's side and got in, turned the engine to life, flipped the headlights on, and quickly reversed from the parking space. The group watched the car peel out of the lot and onto the main road with a squeal, before the engine's roaring rapidly faded into the distance.
"The hell is up with them?" Yusuke muttered, exchanging a look with the others.
"Maybe they're finally going to hook up?" Shizuru suggested. The others shrugged it off save for Kuwabara.
"Nah," he mumbled. "They still haven't realized they belong together yet." Yukina seemed to be the only one who heard him and she couldn't help but agree.
Kurama drove with his eyes glued to the road at a speed that gave Botan butterflies. He hadn't said a word. She could tell he was still upset and she was dreading another fight. They'd never exchanged harsh words to one another before and it was breaking her heart.
"Hey," They'd driven for a time before she finally broke the silence. "We should talk." His lack of acknowledgment bothered her and her apprehension swiftly switched to frustration.
He remained hushed. A scowl formed on her face and she crossed her arms with a huff. "This is absurd. At least speak to me!" His fist clenched over the steering wheel and he continued to ignore her. "Ugh, fine, but I'm not going to sit here and let you give me the silent treatment!" She started to dematerialize into her spirit form but Kurama, realizing what she was doing, slammed on the breaks and broke her concentration.
Lilac eyes narrowed while he pulled to the shoulder and turned the hazards on. "What is the big idea?" She shouted, temper high. "You treat me nicely, then snap at me, force me to ride with you, and then ignore me! If your intention was to hurt my feelings you've succeeded!" His red brows knit together, contemplating what to say. He wished to be delicate but he was having difficulty holding on to composure, which was unfamiliar ground.
When he didn't answer she unlatched her seatbelt and opened the passenger door, making to exit the vehicle. He tugged her back in and pressed her into the seat by her shoulders, "We're on the side of the freeway, don't be foolish."
"Then say something!" she shouted.
"Botan, I am trying!" He hissed. The hazard lights rhythmically clicked in the background as an overwrought hush fell over them. Another car sped by, breaking the spell of quiet. Kurama sighed and fell back into his seat, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Why are you so angry with me?" She asked bluntly.
"I am not just angry," he said truthfully, unable to put the emotions into words. He mulled over their situation, uncertain of how it all had gone so wrong. It had been a while since they'd seen each other and thus her unusual behavior had troubled him, especially since nobody else had addressed it. Their afternoon together had been fun until Maya's interruption.
'No,' Kurama considered, thinking back to how the deity had leaned into him, allowed him to wrap his arm around her waist, gave him comfort without a second thought. 'That had been…enjoyable.'
When Botan suggested Maya as a potential match Kurama had felt the sting of rejection, followed by a twinge of jealousy when she revealed it had been Shunjun who proposed to her. While he could not explain the newfound feelings to either himself or Botan, he could admit that she was innocent and undeserving of his resentment.
Botan watched him carefully, his expression was aloof as always but she could see the sentiment in his eyes. Regret, remorse, and something else she could not quite place. Her mind ambled to the moment he'd snapped at her when she'd pestered him about Maya. She cringed. "Oh, Kurama," she started gently. "I didn't mean to offend you…the day was ruined due to my prodding a sore subject for you. You told me you weren't interested and that should have been the end of the conversation."
"I am sorry as well," he replied. "I didn't mean to lose my temper."
"It's alright," she leaned toward him and placed a tender hand on his upper thigh. An unbidden fleshly desire roused within him. He locked eyes with her, expecting to find similar enthusiasm, only to be taken aback when all he found was innocence. Her lavender pools spoke of warmth and friendship, her hand upon his leg a simple sign of affection and not an invitation to her bed.
In a rare display of embarrassment, Kurama blushed, damning his libidinousness and averting his gaze. His flush took Botan by surprise. Concern etched her features again, "Are you alright?" He nodded and took her hand in his, patting the top of it gently.
"Yes," he said, "As long as I have your forgiveness for my brutish behavior."
"Of course I forgive you," she said sweetly. "I hope you can forgive me, too."
"Of course," he replied, earning a bright smile.
She sat back in her seat and buckled herself in, "I think the heat may have gotten to both of us." Kurama agreed and pulled back onto the highway, driving at a much more acceptable speed. Upon arriving at Keiko's, where Botan was supposed to meet the brunette, they found the house dark and empty. "Well, she did mention her parents were out of town. Maybe she went to Yusuke's instead?"
"Ah," Kurama chuckled, understanding full well that if Keiko had indeed gone to Yusuke's Botan would be an unwelcome addition. "I think it best you stay with me in that case." He gauged the bluenette for her reaction, surreptitiously delighted when red-tinted her cheeks. "I have a spare bedroom you may stay in."
"Oh," she replied shyly, a demure smile on her lips. "Okay, then."
Kurama's apartment was located in the Motoazabu district of Minato. While Botan did not know much about that part of Tokyo she did know it was a higher-end residential area. After parking in the gated garage and gathering her bag, plus their matching plush toys, he led her through a side door and into a small outdoor garden that led to the building's entrance. Botan paused briefly to admire the blooming hydrangeas before walking into the lobby through the glass door Kurama held open for her.
The small entrance consisted of gray quartz walls and gray stone flooring, to the left were floor-to-ceiling glass windows, on the right was a large wooden door. Next to the door on the wall was the letter D and a keypad entry. Kurama punched in a code, resulting in a light beep and a loud click, he pushed the door open and held it for Botan to enter. They walked through another large hall, past a set of elevators, through yet another set of doors, and into a brightly lit corridor with two doors on opposite sides of the wall.
She followed him to one of the handsome wooden doors where he unlocked it and welcomed her inside. They slipped off their shoes and Kurama beckoned her down a long hallway with several doors. "Let me show you around," he said. He turned left, revealing another long hallway with even more doors.
The first two doors on the left were bathrooms, one half and one full. "The full is all yours," he said. "The floors are heated and there is a towel warmer on the wall." The first door on the right was the surprisingly large kitchen, containing a washer and dryer and a small balcony for hanging clothes outdoors. Returning to the hall he pointed to the last open door on the left, "That's my room." The second right-side door was his home office, and the last was the guestroom.
Walking in she was astonished at the large size, she turned to him with a questioning stare. He chuckled at her expression, "This was two bedrooms when I bought the apartment. I turned it back into one." He watched her set her bag on the floor and flop onto the queen-sized bed with a giggle. She let out a slight moan at the softness of it and his mind immediately began wandering into dangerous territory.
Wishing to distract himself he spoke, "Are you hungry?"
"Famished," she replied. "But I think I may take a quick shower."
"Okay, while you do that I will fix something for us," he said. "When you're ready to join me just go through the door at the very end of the hall." He closed the door behind him and she listened as his footsteps retreated.
From her bag she withdrew the communicator and shot Yusuke a quick message, 'Please tell Keiko I'm staying the night at Kurama's…in his guest room. Good night!' She placed the communicator on the bedside table and dug through her bag for pajamas. To her dismay, she had only packed a light pink, lace, and cotton chemise nightgown with cherry blossoms printed on it. The plan for her time off had been to stay with Keiko who wouldn't care what the deity wore, not a handsome man. Botan fidgeted a bit, wondering if she should just sleep in her regular clothes.
"Ah, screw it," she muttered, thinking about what a gentleman Kurama was and how little he would care. She doubted he saw her in any sort of sexual light and so grabbed her shower things and headed into the bathroom.
Like the rest of the apartment, the bathroom was roomy, tidy, and clean. She checked the towel warmer and found it already turned on with a towel inside. 'Kurama must have done that,' she thought with a smile. The heated floor was already on and it felt wonderful under her bare feet. She rinsed off with the removable shower head, relishing the multi-function pressure settings as they massaged her achy muscles. She winced slightly when the water hit her bruise, it had grown darker and larger. Glancing over at the extra-large tub she was tempted to take a nice soak but thought better of it as the smell of something delicious drifted in. Her stomach growled.
Once she was dried she slipped on a clean pair of panties and the nightgown, she towel-dried her hair and combed her fingers through it. She took a final look at herself in the mirror before returning back to the guest room to deposit her dirty laundry before following the hallway to the door Kurama had mentioned, which was already open.
It led to the living and dining room and connected to the kitchen. On the farthest wall, there was a large dark brown entertainment center with a flat-screen TV in-between two barrister bookshelves. Potted plants, vines, and flowers lined the walls and floor. In the middle of the living room was a large, tufted, cream-colored sectional. In front of the sofa was a dark brown coffee table on top of which were a few books on botany, and a set of Sailor Moon DVDs. She picked one of them up to examine it.
"The food is nearly finished," Kurama called from the kitchen. She turned to her left where the dining table sat, to the left of that was the door to the kitchen, which she meandered into. He was standing at the stove but didn't lookup.
"Is there anything I can help with?" Botan asked.
Still looking down he nodded, "Could you please grab the drinks and take them to the table? I'll be in there momentarily with the rest." She nodded and did as she was asked. It was then she noticed he had already put out two place settings. The chopsticks were dark brown wood with rose petals and they sat on adorable fox rests. It made her giggle.
Kurama came in with a tray of two large bowls of ramen topped with pork and veggies, along with a plate of mitarashi dango. He paused as he spotted her, eyeing her outfit. It was his first time ever seeing her in anything so revealing. She blushed under his stare but neither addressed it. After setting the food on the table they quickly dug in, falling into easy conversation.
"I just can't believe how many prizes they ended up with," Botan laughed regarding the competition between Kuwabara and Yusuke.
Kurama smirked, "And they gave us trouble for having two." She glanced around at that, looking for the Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask plushes. "They're in my room. I'll bring them out when we start the show tomorrow."
"Okay!" She agreed while reaching for a dango, her bowl of ramen empty. "Why is junk food so much better late at night?"
"Food is the most primitive of comfort*," He said with a genuine smile and reached for the second dango.
Botan looked around the warmly lit apartment again, taking it all in. "I'm surprised you don't have more plants," she observed.
"Oh, this isn't the half of it," he countered. "There are more in my room, the office, the kitchen, and the balconies." Blue brows shot up.
"How big is this place?" She gaped.
"About 2400 square feet," he snickered at her shocked expression. "That includes the private terrace." She demanded to be shown to the terrace immediately and with a light laugh, he was more than happy to oblige. They cleaned up the table quickly and he led them to his bedroom.
The room was about half as big as the living and dining room area, with a reading nook off to the side and a king-sized bed with black sheets. She smirked at the number of plants hanging from the ceiling. Before she could comment, Kurama clicked a small remote, which pulled back the curtains on the wall in front of the bed. As the curtains were drawn automatically, a wall-sized window was revealed with a door that opened to the private terrace. Strings of garden lights crossed above, providing a beautiful and romantic atmosphere.
Botan stepped in front of the window in awe. She was completely amazed not only by the size but also the beauty of it. "Oh, Kurama," she whispered. "It's gorgeous!"
He stepped beside her, "Thank you. I'd say I worked hard on it, but the garden has a mind of its own." She giggled. "We should have breakfast there in the morning before it gets too hot."
"That sounds nice," she replied and took a step back as he clicked the remote again to close the curtains. "Well, it's getting late. I think I'll head to bed." The kitsune nodded and walked with her into the hallway; they stopped just outside of her room.
The two stared at one another silently for a few moments. "Botan," Kurama started, "I need to apologize again." She furrowed her brow. "My conduct was completely erroneous this afternoon. I'm very sorry."
Botan placed a loving hand on his upper arm, "Please," she said, "Don't think any more of it. You have more than made up for it." She made to head into her room, but he pulled her back by the arm. She tilted her head in curiosity.
Wordlessly he ran his hand down the arm he held to her wrist before trailing it to her belly, a chill ran through her and her cheeks heated, but she made no protest. His other hand followed suit as the air around them grew thick.
"K-Kurama," she whispered. "What are you-"
"May I see it?" He requested softly.
"See…what?" She trembled; he was so close, and the realization that they were alone in his apartment where no one would interrupt them hit her like a ton of bricks. She didn't want to assume things, but it was difficult not to when she was scantily clad in his arms, and his voice was much too husky. Her heart was beating wildly, and heat began to pool at her core.
"Your bruise…from earlier," Kurama replied, recognizing the timbre of his voice was far too low. "I'd like to heal it."
"Oh," she let out a breathy laugh. "Yes, but…I would have to lift up my gown. It's on my lower stomach." Her blush deepened.
He nodded in understanding, "I won't look." He shut his eyes and held his hands away from her as if shackled by invisible handcuffs, "Guide my hands and tell me when."
Botan bit her lip but did as requested, raising the hem of her nightgown with one hand and guiding his hands with the other. The bruise ran from an inch below her belly button to the top of her pubic bone. She turned her face away and squeezed her eyes shut, "Okay…now."
Through her closed lids, she could still see the purple glow of his ki, the warmth of his hands, and the soothing sensation against her belly made her shiver. After a few moments, he pulled his hands away, she peeked at her stomach and saw the green and purple blemish was gone, and her skin was creamy once again. She fixed her gown before letting him know the coast was clear to open his eyes.
"There, all better," he said, desperately fighting back the lewd thoughts plaguing him. With much effort, he took a step back, and they bid each other goodnight. He watched her disappear into the room and gently close the door. He moved to his own room, walked into the bathroom, and turned on the shower to its coldest temperature.
With a groan, he stepped into the shower stall completely clothed and urged his mind to purge the image of her blue cotton panties just under his fingers. He had not intended to peek, but when he stole a glance and found her head turned with her eyes closed, it had stirred the most erotic emotions within him. What he would give to see her flushed face and milky skin underneath him as he made her his.
"Fuck," he whispered.
*A quote from Sheila Graham
A/N: Ahhh, yes. I had this whole scenario stuck in my head forever. Ridiculous and fluffy, a little sexy, a little frustrating…these are the types of stories I like to write AND read. Hopefully, the characters weren't too OOC, I tried my best and hope y'all were able to enjoy it.
Also, if that apartment sounds preposterous let me tell you that it absolutely is. It is also 100% real and it's in MotoAzabu in Minato. It's close to all the best rail lines and shops and stuff, highly sought after area, just…amazing. Hubby and I were blown away. If you're curious and want the link to the apt PM me and I will gladly share it. Anyway, I hope you all have a great week!