Destiny

Standard disclaimers apply, *sweatdrops* I can't seem to get that phrase away from my fanfics! >_ But…oh well, at least it goes for goody points, ne? ^-^' Chapter done in Kurama's point of view. Anou…my bad, is Botan sounding like Kurama or is Kurama sounding like Botan? *sweatdrops* Huhu…gomen!!! >_

Heya…I was going over my reviews (minna, thank you for having the time!), there's someone there who had asked for more lime? *sheepish grin* Well, you DID have a good point =p I'm a bit under-aged, so don't expect any good lime, but I'll try my best to keep giving off the expected "emotional distress", okay? =^-^= Thank you!

Chapter 11

"Anou…"

I looked down, feeling my cheeks suddenly grow warm. I'm not really the type who would blush that easily, but what I had done was a heavy sin when you look straight down at it. And I did it in front of the whole school body for that matter! I couldn't believe the words that came out of my mouth, but given another situation, I might've done the same. Hyo Imonu, he's been after me ever since I transferred here for some reason. And I didn't exactly like this late trick that he just did. Usually, I would've ignored him, but this time, he's insulting someone other than me. And that someone just happened to be her.

I was so furious that I didn't even notice what I was doing.

"Gomen."

And I meant it. I just hope that her reaction wouldn't hurt as much as I feared it would. But, after everything that I had done to her, I guess, if she did hurt me, I deserved it. Not just because of that show I've put up. I deserved the pain of everything that I had ever done to her. And I hate myself for always being the one who would hurt her the most. Because as my previous anger towards Imonu increases, so would my anger to myself. Much as I try not to think about it, I didn't deserve even the simplest of her smiles. I'm asking for forgiveness, and yet I didn't dare expect it from her. I would much rather preferred to be hated by her, for her to despise me.

Yes, that would be better. Then I wouldn't be so hurt for everything I had done. That was fair for her, isn't it?

I readied myself and dared to look up. I expected a glare, a disappointed and hateful frown, but there was none. Quite the contrary actually, it was so unsuspected that it actually came out as an ironic surprise.

She was smiling.

"It's okay."

I was so shocked I didn't know what to do. I couldn't believe what I had heard, what I was seeing. It's okay. It was such a short, simple phrase, but heaven only knows how much that had meant to me. True, I had intended, even wished, that she would hate me, but now I'm doubting if ever that was even possible. I thought that having her do so would lift a bit of my guilt. But I can't deny the fact that I still want to be loved and understood. Especially by her.

"I don't mind, I'm just glad that I could help you out in getting rid of him. He's been bothering you for a long time, ne?" she asked, her casualness with things was almost a comfort. I stared down at her smiling expression before I even responded. Yes, she still had that smile. And yes, she was still as beautiful as before.

I would've drowned myself again if only those words did not register. What did she say? I blinked. "H-Hai…how did you know?" She knew Imonu was bothering me?

Now, it's her turn to blush. "A-Anou…there were times when I would go to Yusuke's school and I would pass you by…and…" she looked down, her cheeks turning a few more shades of red. She started playing with her shoes, tapping them alternately down the pavement as she tried to avoid my gaze.

I smiled. I smiled as I watched her fidget in her place, smiled as I stared down at the cute way she would play with her fingers in an attempt to divert her attention to something else. So, did that mean that she was watching me then? Not to be a bit egotistic, but I can't help but being honored with that. Whether or not it meant something, I'm not sure. But I was happy.

She was still trying to avoid my stare. Well, I suppose I've been staring a bit too much anyway. I shook my head, our awkwardness almost a bit too much to bear. But she forgave me. No matter how hard I tried to convince myself that I'm not worth her time and understanding, I still can't help the joy I felt when she said those words. Call me naïve, but I'm just too moped out in my own dark world that such a little thing had cost so much. She spoke to me. I couldn't believe it.

Botan and I are talking again.

She somehow got over her shyness and suddenly jumped up, hitting her palm with her fist. "Oh no! I just remembered!" she exclaimed, looking over to where we had left Kuwabara. "Kuwabara-kun! We have to go!" she called, waving an arm up to catch Kuwabara's attention. The latter finally snapped out of his shock from the earlier "show" I had displayed, and started running towards us. I chuckled. I suppose he was able to understand what I had earlier explained.

"Baka Kurama! So you mean you only said that Botan here is your girlfriend because you want him to go away, and so he wouldn't go bothering Botan, right?" he suddenly asked, looking at me while he pointed at Botan.

I merely blinked, looking back at him in mild puzzlement. "Uh…Kuwabara-san…"

"Kuwabara-kun, we have to find Yusuke!" Botan said, running up to the gate as she gestured us to follow quickly.

Kuwabara snapped out again, hitting his palm as Botan earlier did. He then turned to me and grasped my shoulder a bit to violently in a frenzied haste. "Kurama! You HAVE to help us! Yusuke's kidnapped!!!"

I stilled. "Nani?!"

I looked down the letter, clutching it a bit too tightly in my hands. "But…Yusuke is strong enough to take care of himself." I was saying it more to myself than to anybody. I was surprised to find out that Yusuke was taken, especially when Botan said that those who took him were humans. Surely, Yusuke was stronger than that, wasn't he?

We were walking in an overpass now, with me still contemplating on the concept of a human stronger than Yusuke, with Botan remaining quiet by my side as she watched Kuwabara grumble things about Hiei. That was when I remembered. According to the letter, they want Kuwabara and I, together with Hiei, to come to them. I was actually surprised that they know who Hiei and I are. I frowned. Had we been that careless?

"That stupid shrimp! I bet he's lost and looking for his way home!!!" Kuwabara yelled in frustration as he scanned the city He leaned on the rails, keeping still and silent as he looked around. But much to our horror, he suddenly took a deep breath and…"HIIIIEEEEEEEEEEIIIII!!!"

I took a step back. Botan panicked. A few pedestrians below us looked up, their gazes mainly focused on Kuwabara It seems as though Kuwabara had developed a somehow ridiculous search method for all of us. First in my school, now the whole city? But sad to say, he was oblivious to all of that as he tried in vain to call for Hiei. And knowing Hiei, he wouldn't come out because of this. I think he'd even be amused and would let Kuwabara worry even more if he finds it interesting to watch.

"Kuwabara-kun, stop that!" Botan exclaimed, trying to pull Kuwabara away from the rails. She was doing it in vain though, Kuwabara was trying to pull himself free from her grasp and settled on shouting even louder. "Kuwabara-kun, I swear! If Koenma-sama finds out…" she paused, seeming to have remembered something. Indeed, I supposed she had, for her eyes brightened a bit despite the lights of the city as she let Kuwabara go in an instant. "That's it! I remember!" she said happily, abruptly facing me. "When Yusuke became a spirit detective, Koenma-sama gave us a few gadgets that may help in missions. Maybe we could use that!"

Kuwabara glared at her. "You mean you actually HAVE something of use and you didn't tell us?!"

She grinned sheepishly. "Gomen! I'll go get them, go on without me. I'll just meet you two later, okay?" she said, and started to run in another direction.

Kuwabara and I stared at her retreating back as she went down the steps down the overpass. I sighed. Kuwabara tilted his head to one side, a spark of confusion playing in his narrowed eyes. "Oi…Kurama, did she even try to tell us where to meet?"

"Gomen!!!"

I shook my head as Botan repeatedly bowed apologetically in front of us, her things lying sprawled beside her as she did so. That's right, we lost our precious little time looking for each other again, but really, it was no big deal. It was only a matter of minutes, Botan found us from above well enough, even if Kuwabara was in near panic. And he was not pleased, he was exasperated as he continuously scolded her about several points, which, I must say, I need not mention for their absurdity.

I sighed. I was patiently watching them as Botan finally got tired of apologizing and most probably got tired of Kuwabara's ranting. She glared at him and hit him with her oar, quickly dodging Kuwabara's falling form as she headed towards me with her case. "Gomen, oh great sir, I'll just look for someone at least human enough to understand that I too make mistakes!" her voice was sarcastic and mocking as she threw them at Kuwabara. I thought I heard a faint, "That much?!" from Kuwabara before he got hit with the oar again. My head momentarily dropped wearily at the antics they were pulling, only to look up to see her smiling at me. "Here they are!"

I watched her set her things down on the ground. I followed suit and crouched across from her as she pulled out a few objects from the case. Kuwabara seemed to have regained consciousness again as he quickly positioned himself to see as well.

"Uhm…this compass can find a youkai specifically if you put in the right data. We can make use of a hair or nail, anything!" Botan said, holding up a tiny black, spherical gadget with red arrows in the middle. I stared at it as she handed it to me.

"Good, good. Do you have anything that belongs to Hiei?" I asked.

"Er…not exactly." She replied dejectedly.

I raised an eyebrow. "…I see. So what do you intend to do then?"

"Uhm…this ring!" she exclaimed, holding up a ring between her fingers after she quickly snatched the compass from me. "It can help us…er…well, it doesn't exactly meet the purpose…ah, forget that!"

"Uh, sure." A sweatdrop had run down my head. Kuwabara slapped himself and shook his head.

"A-Anou…! There's a remote…"

"Don't tell me, a remote that'll control Hiei's tiny brain if ever he has any, right?"

I sweatdropped. "Kuwabara..."

"Oi, Kurama! Tell that pea-sized pal of yours that if Yusuke dies on this, I'm gonna get his neck! Yes! ONLY his neck, 'cause I'm gonna shove his goddamned empty head right back so he'd hang around Makai looking like a dumb, neckless, idiot!!!"

I shook my head and turned to Botan. "So, what does the remote do again?"

But she was thinking, pouting actually as she eventually tossed the remote aside. "Uhm…I don't know! I knew should've listened to Koenma-sama a bit more!."

"Uh, Botan, we don't have all night."

"Hai, hai! Gomen!"

I can't help but sigh in exasperation, placing a bit of pressure on my temples to ease the headache. And as I glanced at my side and at Kuwabara, it looks as though he's going through the same frustration as I was. I can't believe it really, just a while ago, Botan and I could barely move around each other. But now…this! This little search for Hiei had pushed all things between us aside, me knowing how to look at her again, her knowing how to act naturally with me. I don't know whether or not I should thank Botan's habit of having people in circles, but in a selfish way, yes, I'm thanking it. And I'm thanking the situation as well. In a rather in-denial state, I'm also thanking Yusuke for getting kidnapped.

She rummaged through her things again, and I had to hide a sigh as I watched. Heavens, Kuwabara's already praying for a miracle now. Not that I'm saying that I didn't like it, I was rather amused. But in a situation like this, let's say we were running out of time. But it does give me a good excuse to look at her and talk to her so…nevermind. Yusuke's in danger, I shouldn't let petty schoolboy feelings bother me at a time like this! But still...

"Botan…"

"There should be something in here, I swear!"

I sighed again, shaking my head slowly. But even through all these frustration, I still can't help the slight curving of my lips. I must be going mad, only by reminding myself over and over that Yusuke was in danger could I help myself from laughing out loud. And by the look that Kuwabara's giving, he looked like he's going to be really confused if ever I had any plan of laughing at all. But still I gave the situation its well-deserved (in a manner of speaking) smile. Oh Botan, I love you, but sometimes I tend to ask myself if ever I'd understand this side of your thoughts.

"I found it!"

"I bet Yusuke's dead by now..."

I glanced over at Kuwabara, who seems to be more than impatient to get out of the place, casting Botan a very bored look. I shook my head again.

She ignored him. "This whistle can be heard from miles if someone with a strong ki would blow on it. With my ki, I might probably be able to blow it as far as one mile," she explained, showing us a silver whistle. It gleamed against the city lights, swaying to and fro from the strings attached to it. It was rather simple really, but the clean, smooth surface made up for its simplicity. "Okay, cover your ears, this'll be painful."

Kuwabara and I merely stared at it, obeying Botan's order and covered our ears. She poised it to her lips and blew. She was right, the sound was deafening, but it seems as though Kuwabara wasn't able to hear it. He had let go of his ears, looking around us as the whistle went on in its shrill cry. I glanced over to Botan who finally lost her breath, panting slightly as she looked around.

She frowned, her arm falling dismally beside her. "No Hiei."

Just as she said this, a gentle rustling was heard from behind her, only to be followed by a low thud. We glanced back behind Botan, seeing a certain dark-haired figure behind a tree, muttering curses as he rubbed his head in obvious irritation. "WHAT in the name of HELL was THAT?!"

Kaitou.

So he was one of them.

I never would've thought I'd meet him here. And I never would've thought he'd come this far. I glared at him, not being able to help myself as I watched him look down at the souls of my friends in his hand. He was saying something, but I was too much in a rage to actually listen to all of them. We were seated in the middle of the room, with him being able to win Hiei's, Kuwabara's and Botan's souls in his little territorial game.

"Ne, Minamino. Don't you think a girl's spirit is pretty?" he asked suddenly amidst his other statements. This one certainly caught me aback, the question registering on my mind. A girl's spirit?

My glare sharpened, and I felt my fingers tense as I held my calm. My lips pursed in a thin line, my teeth trying to bite my tongue to keep me from saying anything that might further harm them. But I felt awful, the sudden sickness in my stomach was almost unbearable as I watched him twirl one orb in his hand, his eyes reflecting menace before he joined it up with the other two again. A girl's spirit. He was talking about Botan. He was playing with Botan.

"Would you like me to play with them for a while Minamino? How about if I shake this girl's gorgeous soul, I wonder what would happen…" He was about to take a hold of Botan's soul again when…

"Stop."

And he did, his eyes looking up from the rim of his thick glasses to look at me. "Eh? What's that, Minamino?"

I felt my eyebrow twitch furiously as I forced myself to be calm. "Don't you dare. Or else."

It was a simple threat, but it did the trick. He tensed a little, only to lean forward in mild interest as he looked at me straight in the eye. "I see, so I finally saw you angry. You were always the calm in school."

"Shut up," much as I tried to regain my composure, he was talking a bit too much that it irritates me. I want to defeat him somehow, I want to get out of his territory. The smell was unbearable, the heat was unbearable, and the fact that he held three precious items in his hand didn't help me at all. "Your territory, can the rules be changed?"

"Hm? What do you mean?"

"I mean, the forbidden word, it can be changed, can't it?" I asked, a tiny hope of victory forming in my head.

He smiled proudly, leaning on his free hand. "Of course, I can do pretty much anything I want in my territory."

I nodded. "Look, we're wasting time in here. We both know that neither of us is going to say the word. If you would allow me, I bet you that I can defeat you in 45 minutes, that is, if you let me decide on the rules."

He raised one eyebrow as he looked at me suspiciously. Although, the little flick of curiosity and interest didn't remain invisible to me. I grinned inwardly, straightening myself up as I waited for his answer. Kaitou has always been the one who loved challenges. But I wasn't exactly sure whether or not my plan would work, but I had to come up with a way that would trigger Kaitou's attention.

I looked down to stare at three orbs, their inner light playing around the bright confines of their sphere. Hiei was the first one to have been caught. There was no surprise in that from me really, he was always the one who can't stand rules, I knew he wouldn't last. Kuwabara was next. And Botan had been caught either out of sheer carelessness or her instinct to argue and fight for Kuwabara. But either way, I didn't mind, that was Botan. And I'll be doing this for them.

"Have you decided?" I asked.

Kaitou looked at me. "So…what if I win in this little game of yours, huh?"

I took a deep breath, uncertain of my decision. But as I looked at the floating soul of my best friend, my comrade…and especially that of the one I love, I knew that there was no turning back now. My gaze fixed itself upon Botan's soul specifically, the dim glow almost hypnotizing me. I've had her friendship back, I've had her back, and I'm not going to lose her again just because of Kaitou.

"If you win…"

No. I'll never lose her again. Never.

"My soul is yours."

End of chapter 11