Rose
"NANI!!!" cried Kuwabara on the top of his lungs.
"You mean that creep Yakumo we defeated a year ago, you knew him?!" Yusuke finished for his best friend.
Botan looked down on her hands, nodding ever so slightly.
"Hai, and that's why I hid the Power Sphere in my body. It was so that I could avoid him. Yes, I knew him and I knew his plans, inside out. I fought him, a tough opponent that he was," she admitted.
It was obvious now that Botan could not stand talking about it. But who could?
Everyone knew the feeling, guilt and pain of remembering something you wanted to forget.
Botan chuckled slightly, if you could call it a laugh. Kurama frowned at her attempt to mask her pain.
'Botan-chan...'
FLASHBACK:
"Ah, so you have made it Hime Sakura. I applaud you," the Lord teased, slowly clapping his hands in mockery.
Botan narrowed her candy serious eyes at him; she didn't like him one bit. How dare he make a fool out of her mother!
His long green hair was swaying every way and hsi aura was malevolent and strange. Lord Menomaru pulled out his long blade, smiling with every small step he took towards them.
"Sakura-sama, it's the end of the line for you," and with his last words, the demon launched himself at the goddess, his blade seeking for blood.
Botan saw her mother flinch slightly, barely drawing her katana in time to block the attack.
"'Kaa-chan!"
The young girl raced to her mother, seeing she was in trouble but before she could reach her, a young boy blocked her path, his hand in front of her surprised face.
"That'll be far enough, girl," he said. His hair was white, his eyes full of lust. Botan backed away slightly, recognizing the boy as Menomaru's son, Yakumo.
'His eyes...' she thought. There was something about his eyes, the way he was looking at her... was so... eerie and unforgettable.
Before she could block or defend herself, a blast of red youki threw her to the ground, a loud laughing filling her ears. Pushing herself off the ground, she finally regained her senses.
"Is that the best you can do?! This will be easier than I thought!" Yakumo laughed. Botan snarled.
She was not weak.
She was not helpless.
She had trained seven years for this day.
And she would not lose.
"Yarou!!!!" She picked herself from the ground, her hair flying in all directions, her spirit energy sky rocketing in anger.
Yakumo, sensing danger, subconsciously stepped back, seeing Botan's candy eyes flaring with energy.
She finally snapped.
All of this war...
All of this ridiculous hatred...
All of this horrible bloodshed...
This war...
It was their entire fault!
"Shin-e!!!!" Botan stretched her arm out, her hand glowing with power, and with her final words, she released her attack, hitting the young demon in the chest.
The young girl didn't hesitate before appearing before his pitiful body, starting her assault of punches and kicks, her adrenaline giving her the strength to go on.
Although he was hurt, Yakumo was able to block, some of her attacks hitting him but not killing him.
But she continued fighting.
Everyone was fighting, but why?
What would happen in the end?
Sweat covered her face, her hair in disarray and her breath becoming short and weak. She lost track of time, fighting for what seemed to be an eternity, her spirit energy growing low with every attack she threw at her enemy.
Yakumo was in the same condition as she was, as well as her mother.
But Menomaru was still full of tricks.
"Well, hime, it's time to end all of this. It was amusing but I believe it's time for you and your pathetic friends to all just die," Menomaru stated bluntly. He raised both hands to the sky, his son doing the same thing. Their youki was incredible, all gathering at the hands.
Sakura widened her eyes, and immediately took Botan's hand and ran. Her daughter looked at her confused and clueless.
"Doshite ma? What's going on?"
"Botan-chan run. Run as fast as you can, and don't look back. 'Kaa-chan is going to take care of thing, yoshi?"
"Demo..."
"Run!"
And so she ran, not even looking back, just as she was told. Tears streamed down her face at the thought of leaving her mother behind, and yet she ran, all the way out of the castle.
A horrible feeling throbbed inside of her heart, a sickening wave in her stomach but she ran.
She didn't even notice the countless bodies lying on the battlefield.
She didn't stop for the crimson blood of the dead.
She didn't even notice that her mother was gone.
She didn't stop to check if her father and Kyouji were alive.
She just ran.
Finally, when she reached the end of the forest near the castle, she turned her head.
She candy eyes widened in surprise as she saw a large ball of youki on the top of the castle. It was large enough to desolate half of Reikai!
Before her legs could start running again, the ball of light exploded, destroying everything in its path.
She didn't have time to protect herself.
The comforting white light engulfed her in its arms, holding her tight.
It was over.
It was all over.
END
How was that chapter?
The war memories are over, but trust me, the past isn't over yet.
I know it's sad but things happen ne?
Please review.
Ja.