"Because she doesn't love you!" -Ewan McGregor, Moulin Rouge

~*~*~*~*~ Chapter 23 ~*~*~*~*~

"Botan."

The sleeping, blue-haired deity's eyes gently fluttered open. The lucid, amethyst orbs searched for who had called her name. They rested upon the caller, he was leaning over her, face floating above her own. At first she thought she was still dreaming. So, she didn't say anything, only peered into the emerald pools that were his eyes and felt the warmth of his breath caress her face. She would have given anything for him to lean down a little further, so close his lips might brush hers.

But as she stared into his eyes, she became acutely aware of the cold biting at her fingers. With a sudden jolt she came crashing into reality. This was real. The Kurama that stood before her was the real Kurama. It was no longer just a dream. She could hardly sustain the overwhelming joy welling up inside her. He'd come for her. She sat up so fast Kurama had to jump back.

She shouted his name and threw her arms around his neck.

~*~*~*~*~

Hakuma hit the back wall as he was thrown into his cell. A cracking sound resounded through the air as he slump into a pile on the floor. The last thing he heard before he slipped slowly into unconsciousness was the metallic crashing of the cell door and the turning of the key.

The guard stuffed his key in his pocket as he studied the latest prisoner. They'd found him close to death, deep gashes running through out his body. They'd cleaned him up as best they could and removed all the glass from the wounds. Though, in this humble guards opinion the should have finished the kitsune's job. Any lunatic who did what he did deserved to die. He'd personally met Botan, and was on friendly terms with her. And when he heard what happened to her, he personally thought the young guide to the Underworld was undeserving of her fate. It was a crying shame that such bad things happened to such good people.

At least the fox demon came through, the jailer thought smugly. This creep deserved every last one of those ugly scars. And indeed he had a lot of them, they run up and down his face and arms. You'd never seen so much as what was coming out of him after they'd retrieved him. It was amazing the former villain had turned into a hero. It was horribly romantic.

There were already rumors spreading. Zillions of them, zipping from mouth to ear in the time of an hour. The most popular one being that the ex-thief and the deity of death had fallen for each other. The guard thought this was rubbish, but all the women of the Rekai thought it was wonderful. Like a modern fairytale. Though it sounded false, you had to admit there was a lot of evidence for it. Like, why had the former convict risked so much for the sake of the girl?

Once as he was strolling down the corridors, he heard a woman speak of the love between Kurama and Botan. Having been sick of all these rumors he rudely snapped that it was probably forbidden for a demon to love a woman from the Rekai. All the woman did was gasp excitedly and compare there romance to that of the Ningenkai's Romeo and Juliet.

The guard shook his head wearily and looked once more upon the ice demon in the cell. It was strange, not yesterday had someone else occupied this cell. And as coincidence would have it, it had been this man's sister. She had escaped in the night though. When he had finally worked up enough courage to tell the prince of his failure, Koenma had merely shrugged it off and said with a wave, "We have bigger fish to fry, Ogre."

There were so many things he didn't understand, women above all. So with a resentful sigh, the jailer turned from the cell, muttering a disgruntled insult as he left.

"Freak."

~*~*~*~*~

The young ice demon's trial was the talk of the Rekai. Excited murmurs spread though corridors and talk of possible outcomes of the trial. This was not the first case of kidnapping ever, oh no. In fact, demons kidnapping ningens was as common as eating soup with a spoon. Trials such as these usually went unnoticed by the crowd. But this time it was different, very different indeed.

The demon had not kidnapped a ningen. The demon had kidnapped a very important member of the Rekai. Demons kidnapping anyone from Rekai was simply unheard of. It was just about as common as eating soup with a fork. It was simply not done. Hakuma had shattered the barriers of villainy with such an staggering act. It triumphed over many of Yoko Kurama's various thefts. And the fact that Hakuma had tried to eat one of the Rekai's favorite kind of soup didn't help his case either. The Deity of Death was known and loved through out the palace and in their book anyone with indecency to steal from them the most precious and kind flower of the Spirit World deserved to locked in a cold dark place and the key thrown away.

And maybe some scorpions in this dark place, just to exact their revenge.

So, the day the trial took place the court room was packed. Wall to wall bodies, the large and expansive room was filled with bodies. So many that the Ogre Guardsmen had the time of their life trying to fit the defendant in. Witnesses to the crime were set in the front row. Yusuke, Kuwabara, and Hiei were very squashed in their seats and the three boys were uncomfortably close.

"Move over, you three-eyed shrimp."

Hiei scoffed with annoyance, "You are the one who should be moving."

Yusuke was at wit's end. "Shut up! Both of you!"

Kurama was the end of the bench and looked quite comfortable despite the packed room. His head leaned against the wall and his emerald eyes were half shut as though he were asleep. Hiei regarded his friend with a fleeting sense of concern. Ever since he'd returned from the castle Kurama had seemed exhausted, acting as if everyday was just another obstacle to overcome.

Yusuke wasn't aware of his friend's sudden lack of energy as his attention was turned to a platform in the center of the room. The platform was a good 5 feet above the ground and a small staircase had to be built so those who stood trial could reach what had been nicknamed, "The Platform of Shame."

Whether or not the ice demon standing atop the platform bound and shackled felt any shame was a mystery. But by the way he stood erect and his features set in a grim sort of martyr-like expression said he did not.

The flood of voices in the room ceased at the sound of the Rekai Prince clearing his throat. He stood at one of the adjacent doors surrounded by a flock of ogres. At his convenience, Koenma had chosen to appear in his teen form. It was much easier to command a room when you did not appear as a chubby two-year-old. With a superior smirk he strode to the back wall of the room where he climbed to the top of a similar and much taller platform. At the top of the platform was a podium which the teen stood behind.

The silence in the room was so thick it could be cut with a knife. Only the sound of many breaths being held could be heard in the vast structure. Koenma fixed Hakuma in a steely gaze. The poor soul was doomed from that very moment. When Koenma looked into his eyes he saw the familiar cruelty he'd seen once reflected in Arisu's. And as he saw the steadfast gaze of the kidnapper he knew that he had been the one who had put it there. His beloved Arisu. Corrupted. By the very man who stood before him. Hakuma never stood a chance.

"Hakuma." And as Koenma said his name not a single soul missed the poison that it was laced in.

"Yes." The ruler of the frozen wasteland answered. The tone of his voice sounded as though merely acknowledging his name was an act of defiance.

"Are you aware of the crimes that you have been charged with?"

"Yes."

"And how to you plead?"

"Innocent."

The entire room seemed to gasp simultaneously. Yusuke and the others all at once seemed to be much more alert. However, Kurama still stared blankly before him.

Koenma's teeth ground together infuriated by this heresy. It was obvious that it was just the opposite. Four Spirit Detectives had stated their case. The nerve of this man was aggravating.

"Innocent?"

"Yes." Hakuma answered as though the gasps had been nonexistent and everyone was agreeing with earnest that he was indeed not guilty of these crimes.

"So you are saying you didn't trap Kurama in The Box of Insanity?" Koenma quirked an eyebrow.

"It was Arisu who did that."

How willingly he sold his sister out was a disgrace. "But she did so on your orders."

"No. I gave no such orders."

The room rumbled with murmurs once more before Koenma silenced them. "And you didn't kidnap Botan?"

Hakuma seemed outraged by this. His previously cool voice raised an octave. "I did not 'kidnap' her! I had every right to take her! She was my fiancee!"

Koenma looked at the ice demon as though he'd just told him pigs could fly and, in fact, we're playing croquet in his front yard. And really that wasn't far from what he had said. He glanced over at Kurama for some sort of sign. The fox demon was still stoic as ever.

"She agreed to marry you..." He seemed at a loss for words, "Of her own free will?" It was at that moment he desperately wished that Botan was not home in bed with the flu and a temperature of 105. Had she not been delirious he would have insisted she'd come here. Though, he ought to count himself lucky. It was a miracle that even Kurama had come. He's temperature, though not as high as Botan's, was way up there.

"Yes."

Koenma knew this was a blatant lie. He just had to think of a way to disprove him.

"Wait!" And the entire room turned their attention to the black-haired teen who'd just abruptly stood up. "If Botan was engaged to this guy, how come he had to lure he down to the park with a phone call sounding like it was from Kurama?"

Hakuma looked at Yusuke for a moment before shaking his head, "I made no such phone call. Kurama must have done it himself." Hakuma spoke the fox demon's name with as much hatred as Koenma spoke his.

Kuwabara nudged his fellow red head. "Hey! Did you?"

"I made the phone call." Kurama answered in a lifeless voice.

"Why?" The Prince of Rekai asked, intrigued.

"I wished to speak with Botan." It was the same flat voice he'd spoken in before.

Hakuma nodded. "Yes, and when the thief failed to showed up I spoke with Botan."

Kuwabara was outraged. "Darn right he didn't showed up! It was because you had him locked in that box thing!"

Hakuma glared. "I told you before. It was Arisu who was responsible."

Kuwabara returned the glare while sticking out his tongue and sat haughtily back down.

"So...." Koenma began, interrupting the heated conversation. "You met Botan at the park where, I can only assume, you proposed to her?" The words sounded dubious even as he said them.

"That is correct."

"And she accepted?"

"Yes."

"Of her own free w--" The word "will" died on his lips as the doors to the court room suddenly flew open. A single voice called out, "He's lying! And I can prove it!"

Arisu stood in the doorway. A black cloak clung to her shoulders casting an ominous appearance to this mysterious new witness. Everyone scrutinized the girl with questioning glances. Everyone knew her. She'd been in the dungeon not a day before. This girl was the defendant's sister. Why then, was she accusing him?

Koenma found himself at a loss for words. All he could do was blink down at the woman. When at last he found his words, all he could think to say was, "Approach the bench." His voice seemed to revert back to its toddler state as he said it.

Kuwabara analyzed the look that past between Arisu and the prince. He scratched his head thoughtfully before turning to Yusuke. "Hey, you think something's going on between them?" He whispered.

Yusuke's eyes widened and looked as though he were about to answer but was cut off.

"Please state your name for the court."

"Arisu." The crowd buzzed with excitement.

"And you say you have proof that that this man is guilty?"

"Yes." She turned around and faced the onlookers. "It's very obvious really. Why would she marry Hakuma when..." She pointed an accusing finger, "She doesn't love him!"

Hakuma blanched, "WHAT? Of course she loves me!"

His sister shook her head, "No, she doesn't. She loves not you, but him." The finger found a different person to accuse. The finely manicured nail was directed at the front row, unswervingly meant for none other then the red headed fox demon. The boys' eyes immediately jumped to the size of saucers. Even the dazed Kurama snapped to attention. The emerald pools focused on Arisu in amazement. The girl smiled at the sudden flood of joy that washed over his features.

"And I'm pretty sure the feelings mutual."

Yusuke nearly grinned from ear to ear when he heard his assumption had been right. And the best part of all was to find that the self proclaimed Master of Love seemed to have known nothing of the subtle romance between the fox and the deity. Kuwabara was staring blankly at Kurama, his mouth wide open and gaping. He blinked once or twice before uttering something like, "What?" Hiei, however, continued to face forward with an air of impassiveness. No one saw the small smirk that danced across his lips for a fraction of a second.

The impact of the thronging crowd was much louder. Conversations erupted, shouts of how they'd been right all the time and others muttering how it couldn't be possible. Koenma's reaction was very similar to Kuwabara's. He looked at the fox demon with utter shock. This all thing was news to him. He hadn't even noticed any strange behavior on Botan's behalf. Then again, he hadn't seen the girl for two weeks. But the sad part of the entire thing was how similar the entire situation was. It was as though Botan had held up a mirror to his own life. Another relationship between Makai and Rekai. Hopefully this one wouldn't end the same as the last one did. Koenma had restrain himself from laughing bitterly. It was all horribly, horribly ironic.

Quieting the masses once again he turned to Arisu. "Have you any proof that she loves him?" It was a ghastly question to ask, he knew it the moment it slipped of his tongue. He remarked with a pang of sadness Kurama's crestfallen features. He hoped the she-demon's response would lighten his heart.

"The proof sits there." She once again gestured toward Kurama. "Him and his miraculous escape from The Box of Insanity. I admit, I couldn't quite grasp how it'd happened. So, I consulted the book I'd read about The Box in and found that, indeed, there are a few ways that The Box can be defeated."

Arisu paused a moment to remember what had been listed at the bottom of the page in The Big Book of Tortures. "One was to have someone open The Box before it was too late. Which was pretty obvious. But this didn't happen. I hadn't opened The Box and Kurama had been in there for more then an hour. There was on more listed, however..."She paused once again but this time it was for dramatics.

"A very strong emotional tie with someone outside The Box. And the book I read specifically stated that truly the only emotion strong enough to overpower the dark magic was Love."

Hakuma had listened to his sister's speech with a stubborn wall of denial. "That proves nothing! It just says the he loves her! It says nothing about her!"

Arisu gritted her teeth, "You're wrong! I said a tie! It takes to strings to tie a knot! Botan was the one who saved Kurama from insanity! Botan drew him out of the pits of despair! Though they both were unaware that's what actually happened!"

Hakuma scoffed.

"You want more proof?" Sister asked Brother with a sneer, "Here it is!" And from the depths of her cloak she withdrew a large shard of glass. She raised it triumphantly above her head as a strong light emanated from the fragment.

The Ice Prince gasped. "A piece of my mirror!"

And indeed it was, as was made evident as the light was slowly dissolute into two vague shapes. Soon it could clearly be seen that one had very bright red hair and the other's was a brilliant blue. Botan's voice was magnified the audience.

"Kurama-kun! So what brings you to the park?"

Kurama's voice answered as the present Kurama was hit with an overwhelming sense of deja vu.

"Same reason as you."

"Oh! How lovely! I was afraid I would skate alone!" The past Botan remarked.

"Agreed. Skating is far more enjoyable when done with friends."

The mirror shard's light diminished as became nothing more then a single piece of reflective glass.

"You see, my dear brother." Arisu continued without missing a bit and with a considerable amount of scorn in her voice. "Love is much stronger then you or the makers of The Box could have ever imagined. It can surmount sorrow, overwhelming odds and even..." She nearly turned around but stopped herself. "Has the power to forgive."

Kuwabara couldn't contain himself, he'd been fidgeting through that entire speech. With what he would describe later as a muscle spasm, the red head leaped to his feet. "Here! Here!"

Koenma smiled at the girl whom he had once loved. Perhaps she'd changed. Perhaps she was his old Arisu again. Whatever it was, Arisu was right. Love did have the power to forgive. Lifting a gavel and banging it, he announced to the audience. "In light of these facts I find the defendant to be lying. And hereby sentence him to--"

Arisu spun around and gave him a pleading look. Asking him with her eyes to go easy on her only sibling.

"Banishment. Court is adjourned. Take him away." With that, the noble judge arose and started walking down the stairs. Once he was ground level, Arisu beseeched him.

"Koenma!"

Koenma turned around.

"Please..."

The young prince held up a hand to silence her. Arisu stopped in her tracks, her features turned down into an imploring look.

"Meet me in the drawing room in an hour." And with those final words, Koenma turned away.

The Spirit Detectives arose from their seats. Kuwabara was the first to congratulate his friend on the newly discovered news. "Alright, Kurama! Looks like he finally got a girlfriend. To be honest, I was starting to get a little worried--"

Yusuke brought his fist slamming down on the top of the teen's head. "Hey! Ow! Why'd you do that?"

"Because you're an idiot."

Hiei wrinkled his nose in disgust before turning to Kurama. "Well, Kitsune, it looks like you had nothing to worry about after all."

Kurama nodded, still a little unsure of whether or not he was dreaming. It seemed so unreal. Botan truly loved him? His feelings were returned? It didn't seem possible. He chuckled slightly before looking up.

"I suppose I didn't...But I'd be grateful if neither one of you told Botan."

Kuwabara stopped rubbing his head and looked at the fix demon in surprise. "What? Why?"

Yusuke looked like he was going to hit the carrot top again. "Because if you told her, it'd hardly be romantic, now would it?"

"Oh..."

Hiei rolled his eyes.

~*~*~*~*~

Okay, there are probably a few mistakes in this but I was just to lazy to beta read it. And I would also like to say that I'm aware that in a real court room they would have waited for Botan to be well enough to defend herself but that would have completely ruined the next chapter.

Speaking of the next chapter, I assure you it won't be near as boring as this one, and with plenty of Kurama/Botan fluff it'll make you wish that you could use Chapter 24 for a pillow. Also, the next Chapter will be the last and final chapter. Yeah, I'm sad too. *cries*