Disclaimer:I only own Aiko, KuKuro, Anata, and any other characters that
Togashi Yoshiro doesn't.
***
Aiko and Hiei were at the dungeon doors the next morning when they opened.
"Nice to know we're remembered," Kurama said dryly.
"You're lucky I even let you out, fox. I'd be grateful if I were you."
"But you're not me, are you?"
"Bakayaro."
"Hiei! These are guests!" Aiko admonished.
"So?"
"I'm sorry," Aiko said, bowing. "Had I known....."
"No big," Yuusuke said, stretching. "Botan was starting to enjoy it in there." Botan began chasing him around the hall, mastrating him with her oar.
"YUUSUKE NO BAKA!!"
"Children." Kurama rolled his eyes and smiled as Aiko wrapped her arm around Hiei's, pulling him closer to whisper in his ear.
"Children....."
"One step at a time, my Ryka."
"One step closer to the bedroom?"
"Ryka...." Kurama was listening closely. Hiei glared at him and he smiled.
"It's good to see you again, Aiko."
"It's good to see you, Kurama." She looked over at Yuusuke and Botan. "Are they always like this?"
"Afraid so." Botan had backed Yuusuke into a corner and was mercilessly beating him. Aiko sweatdropped.
"Er, I'm very pleased to have you here, but I must take you to meet my master, Anata." Hiei threw a look at her.
"Master? But I thought you owned the Yami." She swallowed hard, granting Hiei a weak smile.
"We fell on hard times." She adjusted the cloth tied around her forehead and smiled. "Kurama, will you be joining us?" He shook his head, seeing Hiei's jaw clench, probably at the knowledge of how demons repaid their debts.
"No, thank you. I would prefer to wander around the castle." He threw Hiei a "we need to talk" look. The koorime shrugged and kissed Aiko's cheek, his eyes daring Kurama to smile. Botan shouldered her oar and turned to face Aiko, grinning.
"Ready!" The trio of youkai looked past her at Yuusuke, laying bloody and beaten on the ground.
"Oooh, lookit the pretty little elephants." Botan lifted him over her shoulder and followed Aiko out.
"Now, Hi--" Kurama turned to face a black blur. Hiei was gone.
"Dammit, you little...."
***
"Urameshi seems okay to me," Kuwabara snickered. Ignoring this, Koenma furrowed his brow and changed tapes. A massive black figure shadowed an entire room. "Hey, whozat?"
"'Zat' is Anata," The toddler king replied. "This could get ugly fairly quickly."
"How so?" Koenma sighed and resigned himself to explaining things to the simple ningen.
"Anata isn't satisfied with owning Aiko's Yami. He wants the Makai. Fortunatley, he's none too bright. He thinks defeating Yuusuke will be enough to grant him this wish."
"But what if he does beat Urameshi up?" Koenma's eyes contracted.
"I don't want to consider that possibility right now."
***
"Master," a tiny demon reported, "Lady Aiko is bringing the Tantei here as we speak!" A booming laugh filled the room.
"Perfect," Anata replied. "Raizen's whelp of a desendant is the only one with the power to defeat me. Once my warriors take care of him, I can rule without fear!" The tiny reporter demon bowed low and walked out as his master laughed again.
"Boy does HE need a hobby."
It wasn't hard for the ki blast to find it's mark.
***
Hiei sat on the roof of the Tower, one arm resting on his knee. The Yami was expansive, covering a third of the southern Makai, and exquisite by night. "How'd you know I was up here, Kurama?"
"Don't forget, I lived here too. This was my place to reflect as well."
"I know. It stank of roses for weeks afterwards." Smiling, Kurama stepped behind his friend.
"You're glad to be back." It wasn't a question.
"Hn."
"You're still in love."
"Hn."
"You want to stay."
"Hn." Kurama sighed, knowing his friend wasn't going to reveal anything about his feelings for Aiko or this place.
"It's your choice, Hiei," he said, looking out over the Yami. "Just think carefully before you choose." That gained a reaction. Hiei jumped up, glaring Kurama in the eye. He hadn't grown much since Kurama had met him, five or six years ago, but his obvious anger seemed to make him taller.
"It is my choice, and none of your business, baka kitsune," he spat. "I will stay or leave as I choose. You nor anyone else will persuade me."
"Anyone else but Aiko." Kurama was calm. Hiei had yet to strike him in anger. That was pretty much the basis of their friendship. Without a word, Hiei closed his eyes, arms at his sides. As always, his ruby orbs betrayed his emotions. Kurama's words rang true. Only the purple-haired yokuo could change his mind.
"Stupid fox," he muttered before leaping off of the turret to the window below.
Kurama merely smiled.
***
Botan gazed out over the Yami as the carridge she and Yuusuke shared bounced along the rut-filled road. "It's so pretty....." she murmured.
"Yeah," Yuusuke grunted in agreement. Something about her was bothering him. It had happened last night.......oh, get your mind out of the gutter.
~~~~THE FLASHBACK~~~~
Botan writhed in the throes of a nightmare, her leg lashing out to kick Yuusuke squarely in the shin. "Oy!" He growled, sitting up and rubbing his leg. "Itai! Dammit, Bo---Botan?" The ferry girl's brow was furrowed in a scowl, her face soaking with beaded sweat.
"Stop!" She screamed, throwing her hands out at enemies only she could see. "Get away! Yuusuke, help me!" Yuusuke knelt by her, laying his hands on her shoulders.
"Botan, I'm here," he whispered. " Calm down. I'm here. It's okay." She whimpered. "Really." Subconsiously, he kissed her forehead. "It's alright now. I'm here."
"Yuusuke...." she breathed. "Don't leave....."
"I'm not leaving."
"Stay with me forever." She was calming down. Smiling gently, the black- haired Tantei nodded.
"Forever. I'll never leave." Now smiling, Botan curled up against Yuusuke's legs.
"I love you, Yuusuke." He blinked rapidly. What the hell? Shaking his head and dismissing it as a byproduct of the nightmare, he laid back against the stone wall.
"Just a dream," he murmured to himself.
"Wasn't it?"
~~~~END FLASHBACK~~~~
"Yuusuke?" Lavender eyes gazed worriedly upon the Tantei.
"Huh?" Botan's voice jolted him out of his memories.
"Daijiobu?"
"Hai," he sighed. "Just....thinking about last night."
"What was last night?"
"That nightmare you had? I comforted you?"
"Yes?"
"You said you loved me." Botan's normally pale cheeks flushed. Yuusuke, in an attempt not to do the same, turned to look out at the passing scenery. "Well?" he asked.
"W-w-well what?" she stammered.
"Is it true?" There was a beat of silence. Yuusuke turned around, arms behind his head. "Botan?" She took his face in her hands and pulled him to her, pressing his lips against her own.
***
Akimi: Okay, that's it, that's all you get for free, eh?
Tien-Su: Okay, it's official. You are no longer allowed to watch the Moose Take commercials.
Akimi: I'm actually not sure how that happened. I don't even support Yuusuke x Botan! **shrugs** Oh well. Reviewer recognition!
Kyoko- Arigatou, onee-chan! TTT's not in here because it's pre-us, meaning BEFORE we came on the scene to torture.....er.....ASSIST the Tantei.
icewolfdemon- At your request, I have continued! **bows** Virtual chocolate for being the only repeat reviewer!
Akimi: Okay, that was pathetic. The review button does not contain spyware, people! Push it! Review! Tell me I'm a stuck-up bitch with too much free time! You wouldn't be the first! Just say SOMETHING, DAMMIT!
Tien-Su: You know a fic sucks when the only new reviewer is the author's sister.
Akimi: **bashes with LARGE-MY-FIC-DOES-NOT-SUCK!-MALLET** You, you shut up.
Tien-Su: Yes, ma'am......ooh, a basement.....
Akimi: Chapter Preview!
Chapter Four: Anata reveals his "ingenius" plan, Hiei and Kurama mount a rescue mission, and Koenma humps Kuwabara's head.......what the hell?
Akimi: For the record, I came up with Anata's name BEFORE I knew it meant "you" in Japanese and was too lazy to change it.
Tien-Su: You're dumb......
Akimi: **smacks with YOU-YOU-SHUT-UP-MALLET-OF-DOOOOOOM!** You, you shut up.
Tien-Su: Shutting.
Akimi: Okay, I must go now. Ja!
Tien-Su: We shall see-eth you later-eth.
Akimi: x_x;;
***
Aiko and Hiei were at the dungeon doors the next morning when they opened.
"Nice to know we're remembered," Kurama said dryly.
"You're lucky I even let you out, fox. I'd be grateful if I were you."
"But you're not me, are you?"
"Bakayaro."
"Hiei! These are guests!" Aiko admonished.
"So?"
"I'm sorry," Aiko said, bowing. "Had I known....."
"No big," Yuusuke said, stretching. "Botan was starting to enjoy it in there." Botan began chasing him around the hall, mastrating him with her oar.
"YUUSUKE NO BAKA!!"
"Children." Kurama rolled his eyes and smiled as Aiko wrapped her arm around Hiei's, pulling him closer to whisper in his ear.
"Children....."
"One step at a time, my Ryka."
"One step closer to the bedroom?"
"Ryka...." Kurama was listening closely. Hiei glared at him and he smiled.
"It's good to see you again, Aiko."
"It's good to see you, Kurama." She looked over at Yuusuke and Botan. "Are they always like this?"
"Afraid so." Botan had backed Yuusuke into a corner and was mercilessly beating him. Aiko sweatdropped.
"Er, I'm very pleased to have you here, but I must take you to meet my master, Anata." Hiei threw a look at her.
"Master? But I thought you owned the Yami." She swallowed hard, granting Hiei a weak smile.
"We fell on hard times." She adjusted the cloth tied around her forehead and smiled. "Kurama, will you be joining us?" He shook his head, seeing Hiei's jaw clench, probably at the knowledge of how demons repaid their debts.
"No, thank you. I would prefer to wander around the castle." He threw Hiei a "we need to talk" look. The koorime shrugged and kissed Aiko's cheek, his eyes daring Kurama to smile. Botan shouldered her oar and turned to face Aiko, grinning.
"Ready!" The trio of youkai looked past her at Yuusuke, laying bloody and beaten on the ground.
"Oooh, lookit the pretty little elephants." Botan lifted him over her shoulder and followed Aiko out.
"Now, Hi--" Kurama turned to face a black blur. Hiei was gone.
"Dammit, you little...."
***
"Urameshi seems okay to me," Kuwabara snickered. Ignoring this, Koenma furrowed his brow and changed tapes. A massive black figure shadowed an entire room. "Hey, whozat?"
"'Zat' is Anata," The toddler king replied. "This could get ugly fairly quickly."
"How so?" Koenma sighed and resigned himself to explaining things to the simple ningen.
"Anata isn't satisfied with owning Aiko's Yami. He wants the Makai. Fortunatley, he's none too bright. He thinks defeating Yuusuke will be enough to grant him this wish."
"But what if he does beat Urameshi up?" Koenma's eyes contracted.
"I don't want to consider that possibility right now."
***
"Master," a tiny demon reported, "Lady Aiko is bringing the Tantei here as we speak!" A booming laugh filled the room.
"Perfect," Anata replied. "Raizen's whelp of a desendant is the only one with the power to defeat me. Once my warriors take care of him, I can rule without fear!" The tiny reporter demon bowed low and walked out as his master laughed again.
"Boy does HE need a hobby."
It wasn't hard for the ki blast to find it's mark.
***
Hiei sat on the roof of the Tower, one arm resting on his knee. The Yami was expansive, covering a third of the southern Makai, and exquisite by night. "How'd you know I was up here, Kurama?"
"Don't forget, I lived here too. This was my place to reflect as well."
"I know. It stank of roses for weeks afterwards." Smiling, Kurama stepped behind his friend.
"You're glad to be back." It wasn't a question.
"Hn."
"You're still in love."
"Hn."
"You want to stay."
"Hn." Kurama sighed, knowing his friend wasn't going to reveal anything about his feelings for Aiko or this place.
"It's your choice, Hiei," he said, looking out over the Yami. "Just think carefully before you choose." That gained a reaction. Hiei jumped up, glaring Kurama in the eye. He hadn't grown much since Kurama had met him, five or six years ago, but his obvious anger seemed to make him taller.
"It is my choice, and none of your business, baka kitsune," he spat. "I will stay or leave as I choose. You nor anyone else will persuade me."
"Anyone else but Aiko." Kurama was calm. Hiei had yet to strike him in anger. That was pretty much the basis of their friendship. Without a word, Hiei closed his eyes, arms at his sides. As always, his ruby orbs betrayed his emotions. Kurama's words rang true. Only the purple-haired yokuo could change his mind.
"Stupid fox," he muttered before leaping off of the turret to the window below.
Kurama merely smiled.
***
Botan gazed out over the Yami as the carridge she and Yuusuke shared bounced along the rut-filled road. "It's so pretty....." she murmured.
"Yeah," Yuusuke grunted in agreement. Something about her was bothering him. It had happened last night.......oh, get your mind out of the gutter.
~~~~THE FLASHBACK~~~~
Botan writhed in the throes of a nightmare, her leg lashing out to kick Yuusuke squarely in the shin. "Oy!" He growled, sitting up and rubbing his leg. "Itai! Dammit, Bo---Botan?" The ferry girl's brow was furrowed in a scowl, her face soaking with beaded sweat.
"Stop!" She screamed, throwing her hands out at enemies only she could see. "Get away! Yuusuke, help me!" Yuusuke knelt by her, laying his hands on her shoulders.
"Botan, I'm here," he whispered. " Calm down. I'm here. It's okay." She whimpered. "Really." Subconsiously, he kissed her forehead. "It's alright now. I'm here."
"Yuusuke...." she breathed. "Don't leave....."
"I'm not leaving."
"Stay with me forever." She was calming down. Smiling gently, the black- haired Tantei nodded.
"Forever. I'll never leave." Now smiling, Botan curled up against Yuusuke's legs.
"I love you, Yuusuke." He blinked rapidly. What the hell? Shaking his head and dismissing it as a byproduct of the nightmare, he laid back against the stone wall.
"Just a dream," he murmured to himself.
"Wasn't it?"
~~~~END FLASHBACK~~~~
"Yuusuke?" Lavender eyes gazed worriedly upon the Tantei.
"Huh?" Botan's voice jolted him out of his memories.
"Daijiobu?"
"Hai," he sighed. "Just....thinking about last night."
"What was last night?"
"That nightmare you had? I comforted you?"
"Yes?"
"You said you loved me." Botan's normally pale cheeks flushed. Yuusuke, in an attempt not to do the same, turned to look out at the passing scenery. "Well?" he asked.
"W-w-well what?" she stammered.
"Is it true?" There was a beat of silence. Yuusuke turned around, arms behind his head. "Botan?" She took his face in her hands and pulled him to her, pressing his lips against her own.
***
Akimi: Okay, that's it, that's all you get for free, eh?
Tien-Su: Okay, it's official. You are no longer allowed to watch the Moose Take commercials.
Akimi: I'm actually not sure how that happened. I don't even support Yuusuke x Botan! **shrugs** Oh well. Reviewer recognition!
Kyoko- Arigatou, onee-chan! TTT's not in here because it's pre-us, meaning BEFORE we came on the scene to torture.....er.....ASSIST the Tantei.
icewolfdemon- At your request, I have continued! **bows** Virtual chocolate for being the only repeat reviewer!
Akimi: Okay, that was pathetic. The review button does not contain spyware, people! Push it! Review! Tell me I'm a stuck-up bitch with too much free time! You wouldn't be the first! Just say SOMETHING, DAMMIT!
Tien-Su: You know a fic sucks when the only new reviewer is the author's sister.
Akimi: **bashes with LARGE-MY-FIC-DOES-NOT-SUCK!-MALLET** You, you shut up.
Tien-Su: Yes, ma'am......ooh, a basement.....
Akimi: Chapter Preview!
Chapter Four: Anata reveals his "ingenius" plan, Hiei and Kurama mount a rescue mission, and Koenma humps Kuwabara's head.......what the hell?
Akimi: For the record, I came up with Anata's name BEFORE I knew it meant "you" in Japanese and was too lazy to change it.
Tien-Su: You're dumb......
Akimi: **smacks with YOU-YOU-SHUT-UP-MALLET-OF-DOOOOOOM!** You, you shut up.
Tien-Su: Shutting.
Akimi: Okay, I must go now. Ja!
Tien-Su: We shall see-eth you later-eth.
Akimi: x_x;;