||* d u l c e *||
Author Notes: Hey, what do you know? I actually came through with an update. *sweatdrop* Anyway, this is going to be a short rant. I just want to apologize for making the chapter so short. It was unintentional. When I cut and paste it from the original, it looked pretty long to me.
Oh yeah, and sorry if Kurama is a little OOC, or maybe a lot OOC during some parts of the time. I know that what he does in this chapter is a very not Kurama thing to do, but I had to get those damn cuffs on somehow. *sweatdrop* Actually, his youko kitsune form might do something that daring and obnoxious, but then again, he's not a youko here. *sigh* Well, just let the story flow.
Again, all reviews, comments, suggestions, and flames are welcome. Actually, I'd love it if you reviewed. I'd love suggestions too. *sweatdrop* I tend to run into a lot of writer's block. Okay, done ranting and on with the fic.
**
Botan's eyes fluttered open and she was welcomed with bright light. She had no idea where she was until she remembered her earlier encounter with idol singer, Kurama, and the ear-shattering screams of his fans. She unconsciously brought a hand up to rub her aching temples and squinted around the unfamiliar room.
It was a rather small, white room with framed paintings hung symmetrically on the walls. Chairs were neatly in order on the other side of the room and plants that gave about a tropical feel stood in the corners. And just by the door, there was a brown business table scattered with papers and folders of all a variety.
Stretching, she propped herself up on the couch in which she found herself lying and laid her eyes upon the door. At the moment that her eyes befell the glossy-painted wood, it swung open and a tall, slim voluptuous woman with long golden tresses strode inside, a clipboard and a few file folders in hand. Botan looked at her oddly while searching for her voice to query where she was.
The woman turned around and faced Botan, a warm smile on her face.
"Oh, so you're awake. Shuuichi brought you here after you fainted out during his performance. You must be quite an acquaintance of his – he left a swarm of his heart-broken fans in my hands and let me tell you, they weren't very nice. I can't really blame them either. They did expect Shuuichi to sing for a whole 2 hours and instead only got about half an hour."
"Excuse me?"
"You're in his studio, hon."
Botan blinked and finally it all set in. She remembered those girls and the fatigue finally overwhelming her before she blanked out.
"Oh." Botan turned red in embarrassment. "I hope I wasn't any trouble…"
"Oh no. Don't worry about it. Shuuichi's been in worse scenarios."
Botan smiled in relief but still felt a little ill at ease.
"Uh, do you know where I can find him? I think I owe him a thanks."
"Down the hall, the third door to your left."
"Thank you, uh…"
"Harumi. Natsuki Harumi."
"Thank you, Miss Harumi."
"Don't mention it…"
"Botan."
"Yes. Botan. Don't even think about it."
Botan groggily pushed herself to her feet and then politely bowed, making her way out the door not long after. Natsuki just smiled and went towards the table at the corner of the room where she sat down and began to file out Shuuichi's schedule.
**
She walked down the hallway slowly, taking her time and racking her brain to think of something to say. She had been so caught up in her thoughts that she had completely forgotten her manners and upon reaching the black door leading to the singer's room, she turned the doorknob and walked in. When she entered, she was still too lost in thought to notice the idol singer lip-locked and in the arms of a girl about her age with short hazel tresses.
When sense came to knock on her head, she felt her face turn unbearably hot and her face turn an unusual shade of crimson. Squinting her eyes shut, she turned around and sputtered apologies left and right that whatever it was she was trying to convey was making absolutely no sense.
Eyes still shut tight, Botan's hands vainly fumbled for the doorknob, but as she did so, clumsiness took over and she fell flat on the ground. Shuuichi and his girl had already noticed her presence long before she had started mumbling and trying to find her way out, and as consequence, they only laughed at the presentation the blue-haired girl put forth.
"Looks like you have company, Minamino. I'll just catch you tomorrow."
The girl pecked Shuuichi on the cheek and went out the door, not bothering to say anything or help the girl who was still on the ground. As soon as she was completely out of sight, Shuuichi stood up from his comfortable position on the chair and went over to help the still shut-eyed Botan.
"Okay, you can look now."
Botan slowly opened one eye and took a peek. Seeing that there was nothing that would blind her, she opened the other eye and sighed in relief, but not before giving him a more presentable apology.
Shuuichi's response to that was a light chuckle and Botan only turned red with anger, but she managed to suppress it and spit out her word of thanks quickly and then turned round sharply to leave.
She was caught off guard by the sudden contact of his hand curling around her wrist. Looking over her shoulder, she glared at the boy.
"What now?"
"Don't you want to stay awhile?"
If it were not for Shuuichi's firm, yet gentle, grip she would surely have hit rock bottom on the ground for the second time in less than five minutes.
"Um, no not really. I've already embarrassed myself once too many times today, and besides I have better things to do than stay here with a…"
Before she could finish, she felt moist, warm lips upon her own. Like all things unexpected, she was shocked at first, but after the current event sunk in, she yanked her arm from his grip and slapped him square in the face.
"What do you think you're doing? Are you insane? Don't you have any morals? What would your girlfriend…"
"Girlfriend?" Shuuichi touched his swollen cheek, a goofy smile playing on his lips.
"Yeah, that girl that just walked out right now! Idiot!"
"Kitajima? My girlfriend?" Shuuichi laughed at the notion and waved her off. "No, she's just one of my fans. She's a fun girl to be around, if you know what I mean."
"Is that so!? Is that how you treat every female that you come across? Just some girl to entertain you?" she asked, simultaneously in anger and surprise.
"That bothers you?" he asked with a casual smirk.
Her eyes widened at his calm demeanor.
"You're no different from a lot of other guys. Now if you'll excuse me, I'll be leaving now, Shuuichi."
And once again, she haughtily turned to leave, but yet again was stopped from doing so. This time, Shuuichi had nothing to do with it. Instead Shingo stood and blocked the doorway, waving its tail in the air, panting and barking excitedly.
"Looks like Shingo doesn't want you to leave."
Botan threw him a dirty look over her shoulder and squatted down to pet the pup.
"Hey, Shingo. Looks like I have to go. I'm a busy girl, you know. I'm always at the park if you wanna come for a visit. I'll even have a few biscuits handy, okay?"
"Oh come on. I know my dog's cute but that's just pathetic."
Botan growled. "Do you think you can keep your comments to yourself? I think I liked you more earlier today when you had a lot less things to say."
Ignoring the pup, she stepped over him and grabbed the doorknob, turned, and had about an inch of the door open when it slammed back shut. Turning around, she saw Shuuichi only centimeters away from her face, his hand firmly pressed against the door.
"C'mon. You can't tell me that you don't find me even the smallest bit irresistible." He drew nearer and nearer and with every step closer, Botan began to feel more nervous and could feel her heart beating faster.
"Oh God! You're a walking gag-machine!"
Shuuichi was now only inches away from her face and she found herself mute but not before she stuttered, "No…Shuuichi, this is wrong."
"What is?" He leaned down some more; so close he was that she could feel his warm breath on her face. It was inevitable that his lips were closing in upon hers again.
"Geh! St…stop…" Botan squeezed her eyes shut and awaited her impending doom, but it never came, and she was greeted with a chuckle instead.
"Huh?"
"Don't worry. If you tell me to stop, then I will. I respect a lady's wish."
Botan arched an eyebrow at the sudden change, and she had every right to be suspicious.
"Whatever. Okay, I'm going now."
Botan was finally able to get the door completely open without any interruptions but as soon as she took one step forward, she found that she could go no more, and it was just then that she felt cold metal encircling her wrist.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing? I have no time to be playing cops and robbers with strange, narcissistic idol singers. So if you don't mind, I would like to be released."
Botan shook her arm and tried to loosen the cuffs and get her arm out but to no avail. Shuuichi, on the other hand, had a playful, teasing grin plastered upon his visage.
"What if I don't want to let you go just yet?"
"That's not your right!" Botan aggressively tried to yank her hand out of the cuffs but only ended up hurting her wrist instead.
He dangled the small silvery keys in front of Botan's face and taunted her. Botan tried to grab the keys with her free hand but each time she went to reach for it, he always pulled them away just short of her reach and laughed.
"You're amusing, you know that?"
"Hey! I don't know if you know it or not, but I'm not one of your pets."
Meanwhile, Shingo watched the key with wanting eyes. It swayed back and forth and he wanted nothing more than to just…
Before Shuuichi knew it, Shingo jumped up and caught the key between his teeth, and in his excitement, swallowed it.
Shuuichi and Botan looked at the golden pup in shock. For Botan, shock soon turned into a murderous glare directed at the red-haired heartthrob.
"Shuuichi!!" Botan was screeching atrocities at the top of her lungs.
"Whoa! Calm down, Botan. Okay, I'll admit this game has gone too far, but don't worry. I'll let you go now."
Botan stopped her flailing and blinked. "You…you have a spare key?"
"There is more than one way to unlock cuffs, you know. You don't just need the key."
Shuuichi rolled his eyes and walked to his dresser, dragging Botan with him, and began to rummage with his free hand through the top drawer for scissors or anything that would work to cut the chain off. Grabbing a pair of scissors, he and Botan walked on over to the table in the middle of the room.
Shuuichi sat on one side and Botan took a seat on the other. Stretching the length of the chain, Shuuichi proceeded to cut the chain. Minutes passed by and a whole stack of scissors and paper cutters lay in a heap on the edge of the table.
Botan tapped her fingers against the table and looked at Shuuichi with annoyed eyes.
"Oh, you really are smart, you know that. And what the hell are these made of?" Botan rolled her eyes and Shuuichi could have sworn that he saw sarcasm dripping from her lips.
"Thanks. Sarcasm is really all I need right now."
"As if you're not being sarcastic yourself. And for your information, I have a right to be sarcastic and moody while you don't! You were the one who got us into this so you have to be the one to get them off."
"I can't. And you witnessed it." He pointed at the heap on the table. "We might have to wait until Shingo spits the damn key out."
"That may never happen! Look, I have to get going. I have things to do tomorrow…people to see."
"What?" Shuuichi feigned hurt. "I'm not good enough?"
Shuuichi expected Botan to at least chew his head off again, but he was only welcomed with her silence.
"You're really hard to figure out, you know that, Shuuichi?"
She didn't bother to look up at him but stared down at her free hand curled on her lap, her lavender eyes no longer glaring murder at him.
As he looked at the girl, he felt a slight pinch inside and knew that it was his conscience scolding him for getting both of them into this mess. Now he began to wish that he hadn't been so flirtatious.
"I can't go home like this…" she held up her cuffed hand to him, "like this with you. I have to get home." She bit her lip and thought up a lie. "My mom's going to wonder where I am!"
"Just tell her that you're sleeping over a friend's house or something. It is Saturday; it'll be a liable excuse and it'll buy us some time before Shingo spits out the key."
At first Botan seemed skeptical about his plan. He did get her stuck to him already, what next? But she found that there was no other way around it, so she acquiesced and asked him for a phone, letting her answering machine pick up.
**
"Ow! You're walking too fast for my pace and the cuffs are scraping my skin."
Shuuichi didn't say anything but shushed her by putting his index finger to his lips.
"Talk later. First we gotta get out of this building without Natsuki stopping us."
"Why?"
"She's my manager."
"So?"
"She's just…ugh…never mind. Plus it'd just be embarrassing for her to see me like this."
"It's your fault."
"Don't remind me."
Grabbing his coat and car keys, he placed his pup in Botan's arms and dragged her down the hallway to the back of the building so that they didn't have to pass by Natsuki's office. They had not gotten more than a yard when…
"Shuuichi?"
At the sound of his name, Shuuichi stiffened and turned to face his manager uneasily.
"Yeah?"
"Leaving so early?"
"Uh, it's already 7:30, Natsuki."
"But you never leave here until well after midnight," she answered, befuddled.
Shuuichi hardly had time to think up an answer when the older woman spoke up again, her voice sly. She had obviously spotted Botan who was hiding behind Shuuichi to keep the cuffs hidden.
"So you wanna have some free time, eh, Shuuichi?" She snickered and resumed speaking despite the flushing teenagers in front of her.
"And you have Botan with you?" More snickering and then her gaze shifted to Botan. "Hey, Botan, you be careful around Shuuichi. He's one crafty little devil."
"Right," came the boy's curt reply. "Well, we better get going now, Natsuki. You just go back and do whatever it was you were doing before coming out here and intruding," he offered, waving her off with his free hand.
"Well, excuse me," Natsuki started haughtily, putting her hands on her hips, "since when did it become a crime for a manager to worry about her client?"
"Never. It's just annoying."
"Hmph. Whatever." Her arrogance soon left her and in place a warm smile. "Well, have fun you two. By the way, Shuuichi, I just checked your schedule and I meant to tell you earlier, but I just got caught up with other things and failed to mention that you have a free day tomorrow. Just be in early the day after. You have rehearsals and you have to get ready. You have another concert."
"Thanks, Natsuki."
"Yeah, thank you. Have a nice night," followed Botan's voice.
"You too, hon."
Shuuichi and Botan waited until Natsuki turned passed the doorframe and into her office before resuming their walk to the garage where Shuuichi's car was parked.
"Wow. You have a busy schedule. It must really be different living the life of an idol singer," Botan said as she stared at his back.
Not bothering to turn around and look at her, he was brief and rather indifferent with his answer.
"Yeah. Whatever."
**
Final Notes: Yes, I have decided to end it here just because I want to be plain old evil and leave you hanging. I think. *sweatdrop* And again, I have the third chapter done, but I don't feel like posting it up until I get the fourth and/or fifth chapter done because I don't want to leave this story to die. That's what usually happens when I don't have an upcoming chapter already written out. Maybe by, oh say, this weekend? Yeah, good time to post up chapter 3.
Okay done ranting. And disclaimers, let's see. All YYH characters don't belong to me except Hiei because I have already bought him off of Togashi-sama. *sweatdrop* Okay, maybe not. In my dreams, yes, he does belong to me. XD And lastly, Shingo, the dog, and Harumi Natsuki-chan belongs to me. Sorry if she turned out teasingly perverted in the end. ^-^;; She wasn't supposed to turn out that way. She was just supposed to be Kurama's older sister figure/manager. Turns out she's playing the older sister part just a tad bit beyond the boundaries. @.@