~*~*~*~*~ Chapter 5 ~*~*~*~*~

Secret Santa had been entirely Botan's idea. While flipping channels she'd happened upon a Christmas special of some show that rather caught her interest. One of the girls on the show pulled out a Santa's hat and told everyone to pull a name from it. The girl introduced the game as Secret Santa and Botan was hooked at once. It solved the problem she'd been brooding over just a view moments earlier: Her miniscule amount of cash. It had occurred to her that she wouldn't be able to buy gifts for everyone this upcoming Christmas and Secret Santa had solved her problem.

The entire gang met for lunch at a nice diner just a block from Botan and Keiko's apartment. Even Hiei was there, which was quite the surprise. Lunch had also been Botan's idea; she'd called everyone up and told him or her to come. (Hiei had been especially difficult to contact, considering he slept in random trees. She eventually asked Kurama to tell him.) Before meeting everyone at the diner she'd taken an old Santa's hat she had stuffed in the back of her closet and filled with little bits of paper with everyone's name written on them. Then she raced to the diner so she wouldn't be late for her own meeting.

When she'd arrived at the diner Botan discovered everyone was already there. The waitress had seated them in a cozy (and very large) booth. They all looked quite confused at why they were called there and even more confused that Botan wasn't there. Everyone rearranged himself or herself to make room for Botan and she scooted in next to Kurama.

"May I ask why we have been called here?" Hiei had asked venomously. He was squished in between Kuwabara and Yusuke (Neither of which he liked very much) and was not at all happy about being there.

Botan countered his venom with sugar, "Yes, you may. The reason we all are here is simple: I have solved our financial problems!"

Her statement resulted in quizzical looks from everyone. Botan grinned, she was very fond of being in the spotlight and now that she had everyone's undivided attention she continued on in a speech-like fashion, "I'm sure all of you wondering how on Earth you were going to buy Christmas gifts for everyone."

"No." Hiei said bitterly, but Botan didn't hear him.

"Well, I have your answer!" She pulled out the Santa's hat from behind her back in a grand manner. She held it up for everyone to see. (Or, in her mind, admire.) Botan positively glowed.

"It's a Santa's hat." Kuwabara said flatly.

Botan frowned. She hadn't exactly been expecting that reaction. She'd more or less been expecting shouts of "Botan; you're a genius!" and "You've solved my problems!" Then she realized that she probably ought to have explained it first. Her grin appeared again and continued as though she was on an infomercial.

"It's not just a Santa's hat!" She reached into the hat and pulled out a little slip of paper that had the name Shizuru written on it. "Inside I have put little slips of paper with each of our names written on it."

"So?" Yusuke asked raising an eyebrow but Keiko masked his sarcastic remark by exclaiming, "Oh! I see! Is this like Secret Santa?"

Botan nodded enthusiastically, "It's exactly like Secret Santa! In fact, it is Secret Santa!"

Keiko clapped, "Oh! That's brilliant, Botan!"

Botan beamed; here was the praise she'd been expecting.

"What's Secret Santa?" Shizuru asked.

"Glad you asked! You see each of us will draw a name from this hat, but don't tell anyone who you got, and that's the person you'll buy a gift for!" Botan paused, letting her brilliance soak in, "Don't you see? You only have to buy a gift for one person!"

Kurama nodded, "That is a good idea!"

"Thanks." Botan smiled.

Yukina piped up, "Why don't we tell anyone?"

Botan paused for a moment. She hadn't really expected this question. "Well...I guess it's just to make it interesting..."

"And it'll keep people from buying an overly expensive gift and then bragging about it." Shizuru added looking at Kuwabara.

"Hey! I have never done that!" Kuwabara exclaimed, offended.

Yukina giggled, "Kazuma! Remember my birthday party?"

Kuwabara blushed and looked down, "Oh, yeah." Kuwabara had bought a rather expensive bracelet for Yukina and had yakked everyone's ear off about it.

Botan nodded, "Exactly! So, everyone, grab a name out of the hat." Botan passed the hat around and everyone followed her instructions, "Everyone got one? Good! Okay, remember; don't tell anyone whom you got. Now! Let's eat!"

~*~*~*~*~

After lunch the group went their separate ways, either to home or the mall. Kurama mingled in the parking lot awhile. Leaning against his car, he pulled the slip of paper out of his pocket and looked at the name.

Botan

So, he had to buy a gift for Botan. Kurama wistfully ran a hand through his hair. But what would she want? He knew nothing about the girl, except that she was extremely nice, hyperactive, and attractively perky. As far as what she would want for Christmas, however, was a complete mystery to him.

Strangely enough, Kurama found that he wanted this gift to be absolutely perfect. He wanted her to open his gift and glow with pure joy as she saw his gift. He didn't care that she wouldn't know who had given it to her, he just wanted to see that expression, he wanted to see her radiance.

He couldn't call her and ask her what she wanted; it'd spoil the point of Secret Santa.

He supposed he could do some detective work and find out what she liked.

But Christmas was only a few days away and he didn't have enough time for that.

He sighed and slipped the paper back into his pocket and opened his car door. He slid into the driver's seat and put the key in the starter and with a noisy jolt the engine turned over and started. Kurama shifted the car into reverse and back out of his parking place then shifted the car into drive. He turned the wheel and took off. He was just driving, no where in particular, just driving. Driving and thinking about what he could possibly buy for Botan. His mind was still a blank.

Kurama stopped at a red light. To pass the time he looked at the side of the road. Some flowers were growing there. They weren't particularly astounding flowers, just you're everyday dandelion. They were growing in a little cluster on the side of the road. Kurama liked flowers. He had, as some would say, a green thumb. In fact, had it not been winter, the entire backyard of his house would have been filled with blooming flowers. His love for flowers and his green thumb had been what been compelled him to pursue a career in Botany. He was very good at it to, which was exactly why he was the only member of the gang to own a house.

Though, he didn't really think dandelions were a flower. He didn't like them; they were too much like a weed. He was, however, very passionate about roses, as he demonstrated many times. That wasn't the only flower he favored. He liked many others such as lilies, cherry blossoms, hibiscuses, irises, peonies....

Peonies.

Kurama had to leave his thought unfinished as the light had turned green.

Peony, didn't Botan mean peony? It did! It was a perfect! He wasn't going to give Botan a flower but it was something to build off of. But what could he give Botan that was peony themed? There had to be something he was sure.

What did people give that involved flowers? He'd seen a lot of fabric with flower patterns. Would he give Botan a dress?

No.

He'd often seen flowers on furniture.

He refused to give Botan furniture for Christmas.

There was flower jewelry.

Jewelry?

Jewelry!

It was absolutely perfect! He'd give Botan a necklace or a ring perhaps! It was brilliant! Botan would love it. He turned the car down a street and sent off searching for the nearest jewelry store.

~*~*~*~*~

Okay, this is short. But I can't decide. Should he get her a necklace or a ring? I'm leaning toward the necklace but a ring would be nice too. I just don't know.

Botan Minamino- I'm sorry there isn't any romantic stuff in here yet! But you realize that they really haven't fallen in love yet. Though, as Kurama demonstrated in this chapter, they're starting to. Or at least Kurama is. I'm one of those people who like to save they part when they actually confess their love till the very end. I don't know why, I just do. But don't worry, the Christmas chapters coming up. And with Christmas comes Mistletoe! *Laughs evilly*

It seems we'll be breaking off from the main plot for now, but we'll get to it real soon.