AN: Well, everyone, here is the Fourth Chapter of "Once Loved, Never
Forgotten", "Four Arrows, A Nightmare Relived". I feel quite proud of
myself, having made it this far.
For this particular chapter, I need to thank JD Fielding and frith for their inspiring writing. It is because of their works I really found the urge to write something (actually, I was trying to see if my writing could compare, but alas, I am an amateur).
JD Fielding: ::bows:: Wow, thank you for all of your support. Your writing has helped inspire me to write this, and your reviews have helped me continue with my story. Heh, and for your question, yes, Soijiro was at a ceremony for his deceased relative; however, there is an ulterior motive for his absence as well. And as for the "something more dubious afoot", you will see that in this chapter. Heh, but it is not from a person you would expect.
|-Steph-chan-|: Heh, you are one of my inspiring authors too! And I sincerely hope that you continue writing your Kurama and Botan fanfics soon!
angel-trump: Thank you for compliments! I hope that this chapter is just as pleasing as the last five.
[1] I am so sorry, JD Fielding, but I just had to borrow that one, tiny, small bit from your story. It seemed to fit. I do not know if you will even consider this a terrible crime, but I, like any sensible author should, just had to give you credit for your mastermind. I hope you do not hate me for using this bit.
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"This is speech."
'This is thought.'
//This is Youko or flashback.//
Once Loved, Never Forgotten
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Hiei frowned as he tried to make himself comfortable on his couch and prepared for slumber; the day had been a hard one, no doubt of that. However, sleep was far from Hiei, as his injuries and troubles were keeping him awake: both compliments from Botan. Disdainfully glaring at the ceiling, Hiei snorted at the thoughts passing through his mind; a certain blue haired girl and that day's events kept flashing through the demon's head.
//"Hiei, are you all right? How bad is it? Here, let me heal you!"//
"Get out of my head, woman," Hiei growled.
//"Are you always this much of a pain?" Hiei demanded.//
//Botan smiled sadly. "No. I'm usually worse when Kurama's here. And I know what you're thinking: it's a wonder Kurama's still alive when he has to defend himself and protect me while collecting the Jewel shards at the same time. Sometimes I wonder why he keeps on trying so hard."//
//Hiei felt a pang of guilt strike him. "No, I didn't mean it like that, Botan."//
//Botan stared at Hiei as if someone had struck her. Hiei's expression suddenly grew stern with worry as he asked, "What's wrong, Botan?"//
//"You said my name. Twice now."//
//Hiei blushed.//
"Damn it."
For some odd reason, Botan's voice was echoing across and around the lightless room; the girl's voice had even gone as far to ring in the telepath's mind. Trying to block out the imaginary sound, the fire demon took one of his pillows and flung it at his head. Doing so only caused him to get a headache, another problem he currently did not need. Hiei groaned as he turned and laid on his right side, glaring darkly with crimson eyes at his black walls.
"The fox is going to kill me."
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Although she was rather tired, Botan continued to practice her archery. The sky-blue haired maiden was panting for air, her arms sore, and her blue locks were damp from sweat. Her clothes soaked from perspiration were beginning to stick to her body like second skin. Dressed in a priestess clothing, Botan was currently standing in the middle of Genkai's courtyard, shooting several arrows at a marked tree at the edge of the Dark Forest.
'A priestess' thoughts must always be clear,' Botan recited in her mind, remembering all of Mimiru's training from her time in Barako's Village.
WHIZZ! THWOK!
The sound of willow arrows flying through the air and hitting the tree echoed hauntingly through the Dark Forest, causing small creatures to fly or skidder uneasily about the wood.
'She must never have ill will. Hate, anger, lust, and fear must always be avoided; their sweet promises of power are vile lies [1].'
WHIZZ!
'Emotions must be cast aside to attain a pure heart.'
THWOK!
'Love must even be cast aside to gain pure thoughts, a pure heart!'
WHIZZ! THWOK!
'Kurama--'
Botan gasped in surprise as her arrow veered badly off course and struck the grassy ground beside her target instead. Hot beads of sweat rolled down her rosy cheek. Botan could feel her heart beating wildly against her chest. A blush covered her face; however, the archer was unsure if it was from her thought just now or from her exercise. Watching Botan worriedly from a distance, Yukina, Keiko, and Genkai spotted the girl's fatigue.
"Botan, look at yourself! You're worn out!" Keiko exclaimed. "You should take a break right now, since you've been at it for about three hours now. Yusuke and the others will be here soon, and it'll be no good if you're too tired to go out on the shard searching. Kurama will probably scold you for overworking yourself."
"Please, Botan, come sit and rest with us," Yukina coaxed sweetly with a smile, patting the wooden floorboards beside her. To Botan, it was surprising that Yukina's peaceful vermillion pools were the exact same piercing blood-red orbs Hiei owned. "I have some tea and cookies here for us to snack on. You must be quite thirsty after that training."
"Come here and sit down before you faint, girl," Genkai barked with elderly authority. "Your Spirit Energy right now is at an extremely low level. I can tell you're barely standing on your own two feet currently. And Keiko's right, Kurama will get mad at all of us if you faint right now."
Botan smiled cheerily at her young friends and the ripened woman, waving them off with her hand. "No, thank you, you guys. I'm just fine, so you don't have to worry about me. Besides, I can't stop yet. I'm still so far from becoming a master archer, like Barako was; I still need a lot more practice."
Keiko clenched her fist with silent rage. "Why?!" Keiko demanded loudly, stomping up to Botan. There was a certain fury reflected in Keiko's mahogany eyes, a type of anger seen often in Yusuke's fighting eyes. "Why do you have to be like Barako, Botan? What is so special about Barako that you have to be exactly like her? I don't understand why you're doing this to yourself, Botan!" Botan, surprised by Keiko's outburst, took a little step back from Yusuke's girlfriend.
'Yusuke's personality is rubbing off Keiko more than I thought.'
"Botan, please don't make yourself like Barako to please Kurama," Yukina begged in a soft tone that belonged only to her.
Botan, hastily turning her attention away from fiery Keiko to the placid ice maiden, furiously blushed at Yukina's plea. "W-What? W-What are you talking about, Y-Yukina?"
"I know Youko Kurama loved Barako with all of his heart, but Botan, you're not Barako," Yukina pressed with her kind, quiet voice. "And everyone here knows that, even Kurama himself knows that. Kurama discovered that the first night you found the Sacred Jewel of Four Souls in your body and he attacked you thinking you were Priestess Barako. From the beginning, Kurama realized that you were not Barako, but yourself, Botan.
"You must remember Priestess Barako was powerful, yes, but according to Hinageshi, she did not know how to live. Botan, you're different from her, and because you are, I believe Kurama loves you more than the past self, more than Barako."
Botan blushed at Yukina's words, not understanding where "love" had entered the discussion; however, the priestess-in-training had to admit, she was working hard to satisfy Kurama. 'I just wanted Kurama to be proud of me,' Botan thought to herself with a pout. 'I just want Kurama to be pleased that I'm doing my best to help him collect the Sacred Jewel shards. Is it so wrong to wish to be as good as I was five hundred years ago?'
"Yes, it is wrong to wish that, and you should listen to Yukina's advice, Botan," Hiei sternly advised as he entered the stone courtyard like the flying shadow he was; in less than a blink of an eye, he was sitting comfortably in a tree nearby the girls. The women turned and stared at the sable-clad demon of flame in surprise, Botan especially.
"Hiei! What have I told you before about reading my thoughts?!" Botan scolded. "You're such a nosey demon sometimes! My thoughts are my PERSONAL thoughts, so therefore they are not some open-book for you to leisurely read! You got that? So stay out!"
Hiei, ignoring Botan's reproach, continued from his resting spot, "Kurama isn't a foolish demon, Botan, just a blind one. He'll realize his mistake sooner or later, more like later, but he'll realize eventually. Just give him time."
"Just give who time?" Syuuichi asked good-naturedly as he entered the temple grounds. Hiei leisurely turned his face away from his comrade as he sensed another's presence with the redhead human. Walking along side Syuuichi, a somewhat familiar brunette boy was accompanying the Spirit Detective.
"Soijiro!" Botan smiled as she recognized and ran to give the young man a hug. Soijiro smiled as he gazed at the happy high school student. The happy couple did not notice the disgruntled frowns from Syuuichi and Hiei.
Keiko, trying to stifle her giggles, whispered to Yukina's ear, "Heh, it looks like someone is jealous of the new guy. And I wouldn't blame them either. Botan's boyfriend is really cute."
'He sort of looks like Koenma in his teenage form,' Keiko mused.
"I never thought Hiei and Kurama would get jealous of anyone," Yukina quietly pondered in response. "Especially Kurama, since everyone else is jealous of him. Besides, Hiei and Kurama seem like the kind of demons whom would be above that."
"Shush," Genkai silenced. "They'll hear you."
"Botan, why are you soaked?" Soijiro laughed merrily as he returned Botan's warm embrace, his cerulean eyes gazing down at his girlfriend fondly. "You look like you've been working yourself out to exhaustion, which I hope you're not doing. I wouldn't want you to hurt yourself or anything. And what's this you're wearing?"
Soijiro separated himself from Botan, examining her from head to toe. A surprised look washed over the college student's face. "You're dressed like a traditional priestess!"
"Yes," Botan nodded, still smiling. "My--ah--my ancestors were all priestesses, and that profession has been carried through the generations; so now my family, with my mother gone, needs another one, and since I'm the oldest daughter, she has to be me." The story-weaving teenage girl wanted right then to disappear for being not completely truthful to her boyfriend; dishonesty always gave Botan a queasy feeling within her gut.
'Relax, Botan,' Hiei's voice suddenly whispered in Botan's mind, causing shivers to run through the priestess. 'According to Kurama, you told that boy truth--Well, mostly anyway.'
"Huh, I didn't know Urameshi was a holy family," Soijiro commented inaudibly; however, the young man did not speak silently enough to escape Kurama and Hiei's demonic senses.
"Well, I'm glad you're back in town now, Soijiro," Botan chirped, hugging her boyfriend ever more fiercely. "I was getting really worried about you, having you gone for so long."
Soijiro, brushing Botan's sky hair behind her ear, chuckled amusedly, "Yes, I know. Minamino told me all about it when he saw me the other day. He invited me to come with him today to see you just because he thought you were so worried."
Botan and Soijiro stared into each other's eyes for a long moment, their faces slowly growing closer. They probably would have kissed if Syuuichi had not cleared his throat right about then. "Sorry to interrupt your happy moment, you two, but Botan and I need to get going," Syuuichi apologized not so apologetically, although Botan and Soijiro did not notice his relieved tone. "We have an engagement to attend, and I am rather sure that our other companions are already waiting for us, which would be a surprise."
"Well, I can't hold you back from whatever you have to do," Soijiro nodded with agreement, giving Botan one last hug. "I'll call you tomorrow, sweet."
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"Hey, did everyone make it out of that mist all right?" Yusuke inquired as he counted the group members. The Class S Detective sighed with relief when he counted five heads, including his own, the exact number of their party.
"Man, what was that stuff, Urameshi? I don't think I'm going to be coming to Maikai anymore," Kazuma coughed, covering his mouth and nose slightly. He waved away a peculiar looking purple cloud that had followed him through the trees. "That funky stuff that demon let out really smelled funny. Do demons do that all the time? It reminded me of Big Sis's casserole. What about you, Urameshi?"
"Who cares what that mist smelled like?! That demon escaped with those two shards," Hiei growled, waving away the reminiscence of the fog away. Their group had escaped into another forest clearing where the demon's mysterious miasma could not seep through the broad trees.
"Who cares about even that right now, Hiei? Just as long as we all escaped safely with no harm done and with all of the shards we've already collected, we're doing great," Yusuke answered appreciatively. After all, Yusuke had well noted, Botan was currently holding a little over half of the Sacred Jewel of Four Souls, and losing any of their shards would be quite disastrous; Kurama's temper would be of testament to that. "And Kuwabara, Hiei's right, your comments were random and pointless!"
The Spirit Detectives and Botan had just had a surprise encounter with a shard-enhanced demon, and luckily for them, no one had been injured. After bidding Soijiro farewell at Genkai's temple, Botan, Youko Kurama, and Hiei had made their way to Barako's Village in Maikai where Kazuma and Yusuke where supposedly to wait for them. Meeting up with the rest of their team, the five of them headed out in search of another Jewel shard, following Botan's priestess senses and Hiei's Jagan eye. The hunt had resulted the Detectives and priestess falling into an ambush, but a harmless one.
While still arguing, Hiei, Kazuma, and Yusuke continued to discuss their next plans while Botan silently walked away from the group and over to a tree. She was coughing and at the same time trembling fairly violently; she could feel her hands draining of their warmth. Youko Kurama curiously followed the girl, wondering if she had been harmed in the skirmish a minute ago.
"Botan, are you all right?" Kurama questioned, placing a delicate hand on the girl's shoulder. Kurama's fox-like traits sensed some sort of unbalance in Botan; he was not sure if the unbalance was physical or spiritual.
The sound of Kurama's question caught the attention of the other Detectives. Yusuke, Kazuma, and Hiei stared and examined Botan's state.
Feeling rather disoriented, Botan slowly leaned onto Kurama's chest, absorbing the warmth from his body. The fox demon slightly blushed, causing Yusuke and Kazuma to snicker. Kurama glared at the two humans with golden daggers while Hiei glowered at Kurama with crimson embers unnoticed. "Kurama, my head feels a little funny, like I'm really dizzy. And I'm so cold, Kurama. I think I'm--I think I'm going to--" At that moment, Botan's lilac eyes fluttered and the teenager fainted and collapsed in Kurama's arms, causing the fox and the others to panic.
"Botan!" Kurama shouted worriedly, gently shaking Botan in his arms. "Botan!"
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//Botan!//
Jumping up in her cot, Botan sat up and quickly looked around into the darkness. The young lady sighed with reprieve when she realized that she was still in her hut. "It was--It was just a dream," Botan sighed in relief, her body growing less tense and relaxing to some extent. "I wonder whose voice that was calling out to me in that dream, and with that unfamiliar name as well? It sounded quite similar to Kurama's voice but then yet gentler. Hm, maybe I should consult with Lady Hikari about this dream later on."
Looking out the small window, Botan noticed a small purple glow filtering through the sky, signifying the bare beginning of dawn. The priestess stretched her arms and rose from her sleeping place. And about then, Botan noticed her little sister was missing from her resting spot. Quickly getting dressed, Botan lifted the bamboo flap-door and was met with the sight of a younger redhead girl packing and preparing a horse.
"Hinagiku, what are you doing awake so early today?" Botan asked her little sister as she walked out of their hut. "I thought you would still be sleeping as the sun still does." Hinageshi smiled as she packed up her horse.
"I promised to help Lady Sakura heal some of the sick people in her village today; too many people have fallen beneath the epidemic there. If I leave for her village now, by the sun's rising, I shall be there to help right a way. Why are you awake so early this morning? Are you going to go meet Kurama today, Elder Sister?" Hinageshi asked, a little disdain in her voice.
Botan nodded. "Yes, I am meeting Kurama today, Hinagiku. You know that I was going to. Like you to Lady Sakura, I had already promised to Kurama to do so."
"I wish you would not continually meet that thieving fox demon, Sister; he did, after all, try to steal the Sacred Jewel of Four Souls only a while ago. How can you trust him so quickly and rather easily?"
Botan felt saddened for some odd reason. 'How can I possibly not trust Kurama? How can anyone not trust such a gentle soul as his?' "Hinagiku, I wish you would not say such things without fair judgment. Kurama, although he is a thief, has a good soul like any of our villagers or as ourselves; he just chooses to hide behind a cold front to protect himself, his gentle heart."
"I guess you are correct," Hinageshi muttered discontentedly. "However, I still get this irregular feeling, Elder Sister, when I am around Kurama; but his aura is a lot better than the man you take care of at the cave." Hinageshi narrowed her grassy eyes in disgust. "You must beware of that man, Elder Sister; his heart is pure evil, and even Kurama's heart is not so black."
"Shall you always be so judgmental, Hinagiku?" Botan sighed.
"I shall always protect you, Elder Sister, as long as such men prowl about you. They shall taint your purity and power if they get too close to you, Elder Sister."
Botan kissed her sister on the forehead lovingly. "Thank you, Hinagiku for your concern, and I shall remember your warnings. But now, it is my turn to warn you. Be careful when you are in Lady Sakura's village. The illness there has not made its way to our village, and I pray it shall never. When you return here, Hinagiku, be sure to change your clothing midway in between your travels. Burn that clothing as well."
"I shall," Hinagiku nodded, mounting her horse.
"Take care, Little Sister," Botan smiled. "And send my regards to Lady Sakura for me. We must have her visit our village again, when she is not so busy."
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"What happened to her, Kurama?" Keiko questioned worriedly as Kurama carried an unconscious Botan into a spare room. "She isn't dead, is she?" After the secret attack from the unknown demon, Kurama, Yusuke, Hiei, and Kazuma had rushed Botan back to Genkai's temple to receive treatment.
"No, she's only asleep, Keiko. During our Jewel shard hunting, we were misted by a anonymous demon, and Botan was the only one affected," Kurama, having returned to his human form, quickly explained. "I have already tried to awaken her with all of my plant remedies, but nothing the four of us had worked." Keiko and Genkai quickly set up a futon and blankets for Botan; they would have changed her out of her clothes, but they would do that at a later time and wait for the boys to leave the room first.
"Let me try something," Yukina whispered as she made her way to Botan. The ice maiden's hands began to glow, a healing aura surrounding Botan. After three minutes, Yukina discontinued using her Demon Energy and slightly frowned at her slumbering friend.
"What's wrong, Yukina?" Kazuma questioned.
Yukina was silent for a moment, watching Botan carefully, before she decided to speak. "Kurama, how is anyone supposed to heal a person from a dream?"
"What do you mean by that?" Yusuke and Keiko inquired together as the couple they were.
"She's sleeping," Hiei sighed in somewhat relief. "So in other words, we have nothing to worry about. She probably just fainted from breathing in that stuff from before."
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"Kurama, are you here?" Botan whispered placidly as she entered the forest clearing. A slight rustle was heard, causing Botan to stare at the ancient tree in the clearing's center. In immediate reaction, Botan reached for her back and gasped when she realized her quiver of arrows was not there.
'Please let it be him,' Botan begged her thoughts with some fright, her body tensing in anticipation. 'I came here unarmed, like he requested yesterday, so please let it be Kurama.'
And to the priestess' relief, a familiar silver fox revealed himself from behind the ancient tree's trunk. Kurama, with the morning light casting off of his luminous form, smiled tenderly down at the priestess from atop the large tree's roots. He offered Botan a clawed-hand, helping her climb onto the roots beside him. "You came," Kurama murmured.
"You asked, did you not?" Botan replied, finally breathing normally again. She could feel herself smiling inside, somewhat pleased at Kurama's awe of her.
'If he keeps on staring at me like that,' Botan blushed, 'I feel like I am going to melt right into his gentle hands.'
"Yes, I did ask," Kurama, grinning happily, helped Botan walk across the roots. The priestess noticed the slight twitch in Kurama's white ears and a happy flick of his tail. Botan could feel herself grinning in a silly manor as she imagined petting or brushing Kurama's large fox ears. She had to fight hard against her childish imagination before she threw herself at Kurama to play with his adorable ears.
'Who knew demons could be so childishly charming?' Botan giggled to herself. 'Especially Kurama.'
When the couple walked halfway around the tree's base, Botan was met with a stunning sight. A single, wine-red rose growing upon an emerald vine glittered with morning dew in the rising sunlight. Botan lightly petted the delicate velvet petals.
'This reminds me of that young man with scarlet locks and jade eyes in my dream. He was as beautiful as this rose, and probably as dangerous,' Botan thought as she observed the thorns growing on the roses' stems. 'His face was cold and blank, but his eyes were so bright and emotional. He suffers pain, sadness, but he was still gentle. Just like Kurama.'
"Did Hinagiku again argue with you about coming today?" Kurama asked as he watched Botan carefully cup the rose beneath her pale, slender hands.
"Yes, she did, as always," Botan, sighing, deftly observed the rose. "I feel sorry for her, Kurama. My dear little sister cannot forgive demons for what they have done to our parents, to the other villages, to Lady Nadeshiko. To Hinagiku, the crimes committed by one demon are crimes committed by every other demon. I wish so much for Hinagiku to trust you."
'I want her to trust you as much as I trust you,' Botan wished.
Kurama snorted at Botan's words, his golden eyes smirking with hilarity. "I do not need Little One's trust, Barako. She shall either come to trust me or continue to bear my presence; those are the only two choices offered to her."
"You have no patience for my little sister, but you consistently tolerate my companionship, Kurama. Why is that?" Botan asked while she kept her gaze upon the blood-red flower.
'Do you feel the same way towards me as I do you, Kurama? Could you love such a weak creature like me?'
Placing a firm, tender hand beneath Botan's, Kurama replied, "Because you endure my company, Barako."
'I would endure that, Kurama,' Botan smiled, 'and much more.'
Slightly blushing, Botan continued to admire the rose. "How beautiful."
"Yes, you are," Kurama whispered into Botan's ear as he leaned his forehead against her own. Botan could feel shivers run down her spine at the sensation of having Kurama so near. Kurama neared his face towards the priestess', and their lips lightly brushed against each other, barely touching at all. When Kurama's face neared even more, Botan felt her cheeks grow heated and looked down to the ground. Realizing what he had nearly done, Kurama removed himself from Botan and began his retreat into the forest.
'Did I do something wrong, Kurama?' Botan questioned silently. 'Did I hurt you with my coldness, my frightened heart?'
"Kurama, where are you--"
"You must get back to your duties; Little One is probably worried sick for you by now. I shall see you tomorrow, Barako," Kurama murmured, disappearing into the shadows of the trees.
'He will see me tomorrow,' Botan sighed with relief. 'We will see each other again; so, Kurama is not angry with me. I guess he understands how I feel better than I understand myself.'
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"Have you captured her mind within her dreams yet?"
"Yes, I have, sir. But why target the girl when Kurama or Hiei would have been more useful? After all, I've heard Hiei has seen many gruesome acts across the ages, and I've heard that Kurama has seen his share of gore as well. Twisting their bloodthirsty memories to destroy the other Detectives and the girl and attaining the shards would be easier, sir."
"Heh, but using this girl shall make the task easiest. She is, after all, the reincarnation of the woman responsible for Youko Kurama's death five hundred years ago."
"Are you serious, sir? This girl is actually the legendary Priestess Barako?!"
"I would recognize that woman's face even if I had gone through a thousand lifetimes. She is indeed Priestess Barako, Youko Kurama's killer; she shall adequately get the job done. Oh, and before I forget. Here is another Sacred Jewel shard, as I had promised."
"Thank you, sir."
"Make sure you finish the job."
"No worries, sir."
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"Kurama, go home now," Genkai yawned, crossing her arms across her chest. She was sitting cross-legged next to the sleeping Botan, who had started to turn about in her dreams. "It's already late, Kurama, and you, like the others, must be tired from today's searching. Go rest. Besides, your family will begin to worry about you."
Kurama shook his head as he tucked Botan snuggly into her blankets. He brushed a few stray strands of turquoise hair out of the girl's slightly distressed face. The look on her face reminded Kurama of the time Botan had hidden the power sphere of the Netherworld within her body; Kurama slightly cringed at the memory. "No, it is all right, Genkai. I told my parents that I would be gone on a trip with friends for a few days, so they are not expecting me home any time soon," the young man informed quietly, wiping away the recollections. "Besides, I need to make sure Botan is all right. I will not forgive myself if Botan is harmed."
"Kurama, something has been bothering me since this entire ordeal with the Sacred Jewel began," Genkai began, the sleep in her ancient eyes starting to leave. "Tell me, how was it that you came upon Barako and her village five hundred years ago? I know for a well-known fact that the Five Villages were feared amongst demons, even the most powerful, like your self. What pushed you to go to Barako's Village?"
After watching Botan toss and turn a little for a few quiet moments, Kurama turned his attention to the wise psychic. "Grief and madness, Genkai, drove me to the Five Villages that fateful day," Kurama muttered. "Grief over a loved one's death and madness that I could not justify his death led me to the humans. The rumors about their great, valuable treasures seduced me to think that I could either bring my friend back from the dead or have his soul rest in peace from a grand theft beyond worthy of all thieves."
"And who was this precious companion of yours, Kurama, whom deserved such an honor?" Genkai inquired, the woman's coral orbs examining the fox intently. Kurama's speech was reminding Genkai of her past with Toguro and the friendship they had once shared.
"Kuronue, a loyal friend who ended his life to save mine," Kurama whispered with a cheerless chuckle. "Heh, even if I had succeeded in my thievery back then, I would always be in Kuronue's debt. He was always fool, always trying to make me owe him something."
"And was it at this theft that led to yours and Priestess Barako's deaths?" Genkai questioned further.
"No," Kurama growled. "Barako betrayed me the day I stole the Sacred Jewel of Four Souls. She betrayed me, and in retaliation, I stole the Sacred Jewel from her village. And for that, Barako shot me with that accursed arrow and had me slumber for five hundred years, ever fighting the spell to free my soul."
.:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:.
'This place,' Botan whispered to herself fearfully, clutching the Sacred Jewel to herself protectively, 'is far too quiet. Even for an open field. Where are the birds or the other animals?' The priestess shuffled through the field's tall grass, her clothes rustling against the coarse, aureate grass. Chilling wind began to blow against Botan, the girl standing in a middle of a waving sea of gold. The area grew more desolate as the sun hid behind billowing clouds, a sure sign of a coming storm.
'Beware. A traitor comes for you.'
"Kurama?" Botan searched the open field, trying to find some hint to where her loved one was. Her knuckles whitened as her grip upon the Sacred Jewel tightened. "Kurama, are you here?" Dark sensations began to stir about Botan; she shivered at the coldness of such dim emotions. A being with great power and hate was looming nearby, and Botan desperately wished Kurama with his foxy, illuminating grin would appear as promised.
'Watch out!'
A searing pain suddenly shot through Botan as she tried to gasp for air. She grabbed for her right rib and trembled as she saw that her hand was covered with warm, crimson fluid. Botan circled about, searching for her attack, but found no one. Just as she was about to surrender, a blur of silver caught her eye. 'No,' Botan begged, 'please, do not let it be--'
Botan was not allowed to finish her thought as she felt more pain course through her body, this time originating from her left shoulder. As the shock of the attack was too great, Botan fell face-forward into the grass, her blood painting the gold around her scarlet. A malicious, heartless cackle echoed sorely in Botan's ears. "You are a pitiful fool, Barako, to think I was ever in love with you, nevertheless give up my power to be a pathetic weakling like you."
'Liar.'
Botan slammed her fist angrily as she realized she had been Kurama's puppet all along. "You liar. You told me--you told me that you cared for me. I thought you different, Kurama! But I was wrong! Hinagiku had been correct about you all along! You demons are all the same!"
'Traitor.'
"And it is a shame, priestess, that you believed me," Kurama cackled, tossing the Sacred Jewel up in the air. "Well, now that I have what I want, I think some fun is in order. Perhaps your village could use some destruction?" With a sinister laugh, Kurama bounded off in to the shadows of the forest, leaving a dying Botan behind.
'Die.'
.:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:.
"It appears she has finally settled in her sleep," Yukina grinned as she relaxed into her seat. "I think Botan is finally having pleasant dreams now." During the deeper part of night, Yukina had risen from her rest and had ordered Genkai take some sleep of her own. The ice maiden had worried for the elderly lady, knowing fully well that Genkai in her age should not be doing all-nighters (even if Yukina was older than her).
Hinageshi and Kurama sighed at Yukina's news in unison. The young redhead ferry girl had appeared at Genkai's temple in the middle of the night a little after Yukina had changed shifts with Genkai; seeing Botan's condition, the young girl had resolved to stay the remainder of the night.
Hinageshi, turning to Kurama, suggested brightly, "Well, now that Botan should be up and awake any time soon, why don't you go home and rest a little, Kurama? I'm sure Botan would be upset if she found out you stayed up all night to watch while she was sleeping; it would make her even more mad if she saw you absolutely puckered out because of her."
"I think I will take some rest, thank you," Kurama yawned, stretching his arms as he stood. His verdure eyes were heavy with want of sleep. Always remembering his manners, Kurama politely bowed to Yukina and Hinageshi farewell. "Please feel free to inform me if anything happens to Botan, Hinageshi. I will be at my home, sleeping as suggested."
Hinageshi nodded Botan-like cheerily as Kurama left the room. 'Maybe,' Hinageshi thought as she looked to Botan with a small smile on her lips, 'maybe I was wrong about Kurama all those years ago, Elder Sister. Maybe you were right about Kurama. Maybe Kurama does have a gentle soul.'
Right then, Botan rose from her sleep.
"Botan!" Yukina and Hinageshi cheered, both glad their friend had finally woken.
"Get me my bow and arrows," Botan ordered tonelessly as she stood from her bed; there was not even a sign of disorientation as Botan stood erect and tall, a slightly fearsome posture for her to take; the air around the former ferry girl was lifeless and frigid. Yukina and Hinageshi stared at each other curiously, but the two girls complied with Botan's odd request.
"I'll be back shortly with them." Yukina quickly ran out of the room.
"Why do you need them?" Hinageshi asked inquisitively as she stood beside her former sister.
Botan gave Hinageshi a quick, frightening glance. "A demon."
.:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:.
"Kurama! Where are you?!" Botan shouted angrily, searching for her target of her anger. As Botan searched the temple grounds for a familiar silver-white fox demon, she instead spotted a rose haired young man walking away.
'He is that boy from my dream,' Botan thought to herself.
'He is Kurama in a hidden form! Do not miss your revenge, priestess!'
Narrowing her amethyst eyes in fierce fury, Botan hastily shot an arrow at the boy from her dreams.
Turning to the person who called his name, Kurama slightly gasped when an arrow lightly grazed his left shoulder and lodged itself into the tree behind him. The redhead did not know by what he was more surprised: the fact that Botan was finally awake and on her feet or that she was attacking him. "Botan, you're awake!"
There was no response from the girl as she grabbed another arrow from the quiver on her back and placed it in her boy. Kurama ducked as the arrow thudded against the tree above his head. Botan's untied azure locks bellowed behind her and melded into the sky as a breeze blew into her face. The slim white kimono Yukina and Genkai had changed Botan into fanned against Botan's form, giving her an angelic appearance.
'//Angelic or demonic?//' Kurama found himself correcting. '//She looks like Death.//' The fox felt his pulse readily quicken at the chilling thought that had just crossed his mind. Youko's pride would not allow him to take a step back in caution.
"Youko Kurama!" a furious Botan yelled as she fired another purified arrow. "You shall go no further!" She had fired to kill; however, Kurama fortunately dodged the arrow again, this time the missile grazing his left rib.
"Botan! Botan, what are you doing?" Kurama demanded, taking careful note of the burning resentment in Botan's candy-colored eyes. The Detective only remembered two incidents when Botan's eyes glowed with such fire, and both incidents were ones he preferred to forget. But as much Kurama wanted to forget the past, Botan's likeness to Barako and the cold yet fiery hate in the once-sweet girl's lavender eyes were mirrors into the horrendous history.
"You traitor," Botan whispered in a deathly voice, her arrow drawn and aimed. "You are a traitor, Kurama. I should have never fallen in love with you."
"What? In love with me--Botan, what are you talking about? What is going--"
WHIZZ!
Kurama did not get to finish his question as he felt himself grow cold, the searing pain rushing through his chest into every other crevice of his body. His world went black.
.:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:.
"Yes! He's dead!" the demon laughed in his joy. "Ah, now Lord Burraki will have to reward me further for this. Heh, this is my lucky day." The gleeful demon, hiding within the tree, did not see Botan glare loathingly straight at him.
WHIZZ!
THWOK!
In less than another second, the demon was shot down out of the tree, the bloody corpse landing with a sickening crack onto the ground. Botan shook her head as if to wake her from a daze, the girl shifting on her feet. "What's going on? Why am I--"
Botan looked around her and gasped when she saw an unconscious Kurama pinned to a tree with one of her arrows. Blood was soaking into Kurama's clothes from his wound, the steady flow slowly dripping into small crimson puddles on the ground. "Oh, my God--Kurama!" Botan ran to Kurama, panicking. Lifting a trembling hand to caress his peaceful, death-like face, Botan thought better of it and withdrew her hand. In her overpowering grief, Botan cried out in pain and ran away from her horrible act.
.:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:.
"Hey, Botan! Great, I'm so glad that I found you. I ran into Urameshi a while ago, and he said that you were with Kurama. When you didn't answer the phone yesterday, I was beginning to--Botan? Um, Botan, where's Kurama? I thought Kurama was with you," Soijiro asked, a worried expression crossing his face. Seeing as Botan was not responding to any of his questions, Hatsume placed both of his hands on his girlfriend's shoulders, only to feel her trembling beneath him. After a few moments, Botan, with a tear-stained expression, looked at her boyfriend through teary amethyst eyes. The former ferry girl's periwinkle pools were filled with extreme sorrow, as if she had condemned the World to death. Soijiro gasped at the sight.
"Botan, what's wrong--"
"Soijiro, go, go and find Yusuke and tell him to go to the temple! Find Yusuke and tell him to go to Genkai's temple right now!"
"Not before I know what's wrong, Botan," Soijiro muttered, grabbing Botan's arms so she could not run away. "You're not hurt, are you? And why do I need to find Urameshi?"
Crystalline tears began to drizzle down her face as she stared directly into Soijiro's shocked electric blue eyes. "There's no time, Soijiro! You have to hurry! Go find Yusuke! Tell him he has to immediately go to Genkai's temple!"
Seeing as it was no use to argue, Soijiro discontinued his interrogation. Soon afterwards, he began to run for the other Urameshi but stopped when he realized Botan was not coming with him. "But Botan, why--" When the college student turned around, Botan was already gone.
.:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:.
"Uh, where am I?" Kurama weakly groaned, looking around and studying his surroundings. A numbing pain shot through Kurama's left shoulder: a solemn reminder to the Spirit Detective he had nearly lost his life a fifth time. After painfully struggling to sit up and succeeding, Kurama realized he was in one of Genkai's spare rooms at her temple.
"You're in the World of the Living, if that's what you're mainly worried about," a monotonous voice replied. "You've been asleep for about a day now." Kurama looked up into Hiei's stern face. The fox demon frowned at the scowling flame orbs staring down at him.
'So, you have managed to yet again escape Barako's curse, Youko,' Kurama slightly grinned woefully.
"What happened after I fell unconscious, Hiei?" Kurama inquired, trying his best now to summon all of his Energy, Spirit or Demon, and stand up. "Where is Botan?"
Hiei gave Kurama a reproachful frown, and motioned for his companion to sit back down. "From what I've put together, yesterday, after she woke up, Botan shot you with an arrow and nearly put you into that enchanted slumber Barako put you in five hundred years ago. Horrified at what she did, Botan ran away from here and ran into that human boyfriend of hers; Soijiro was it? From there, she told him to go find Yusuke and tell him to go help you while she disappeared," Hiei explained.
"Well, that human boy found the Detective and the oaf, and then they ran here only to find Yukina, Hinageshi, and Genkai already working on getting you free. We didn't even think about Botan until we were sure you weren't going to die. For the past day now, Yusuke and Hinageshi, probably with that other priestess' help, have been searching Maikai for Botan."
Kurama's eyes saddened. "Botan has gone missing?" he whispered.
'She ran away.'
Hiei gave Kurama another scowl, catching the redhead's thought. "Yes, she ran away, fool. Of course she would, after what she did; you, better than anyone, should know how Botan would react when she realized what she did to you. Now, in your own words, Kurama, I'd like you to tell what the hell happened between you and Botan. What did you do to wake her up from that trance and make her mad enough to nearly kill you?"
"I'm not too sure myself, Hiei," Kurama murmured softly. "All I remember is Botan attacking me suddenly, and everything else is black." Kurama buried his face into his hands and shook his head. "I do not understand any of this! Botan, she--It was as if Botan were being controlled, but I know she was not, because of the look in her eyes. She had that same look when she was Barako, and I am sure she was herself, and I--I am not sure anymore."
"Well, we found out she WAS being controlled," Hiei added. "After Yusuke helped you, he found a demon body nearby with an arrow through its heart: one of Botan's arrows, of course. It was a mare, the type of demon that preys upon dreams and memories. I found three Sacred Jewel shards deep within its body."
"How did it cross over into the Human World?" Kurama questioned with a dangerous voice.
"My guess is as good as yours, Kurama," Hiei responded, sighing slightly. "All I know, from what the oaf told me, is that the mare was the same demon we were tailing in Maikai yesterday. I think that's odd in its self, since the demon yesterday only had two shards while this one had three. Seeing as the mare needed all of its energy just to control one of us, I suspect that filthy mite needed a stronger power to cross over into this World. So, I am guessing that in between our hunt yesterday and the time Botan killed it, the mare met with its puppeteer, gained another shard, and tried killing you."
"We can afford worry about the demon and other issues later, Hiei. First, we must search for Botan," Kurama whispered, his eyes expressing his heavily distressed soul.
Hiei groaned at Kurama's annoying depressing behavior. The fire demon was fiercely fighting the tempting urge to punch his good friend in the face. "Kurama, do you honestly want to find Botan and confront her about this?" Hiei questioned. Kurama nodded.
"Of course I do, Hiei. Can you not see that I am worried about her?!"
"Then just go to Maikai and find her, idiot."
.:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:.
For this particular chapter, I need to thank JD Fielding and frith for their inspiring writing. It is because of their works I really found the urge to write something (actually, I was trying to see if my writing could compare, but alas, I am an amateur).
JD Fielding: ::bows:: Wow, thank you for all of your support. Your writing has helped inspire me to write this, and your reviews have helped me continue with my story. Heh, and for your question, yes, Soijiro was at a ceremony for his deceased relative; however, there is an ulterior motive for his absence as well. And as for the "something more dubious afoot", you will see that in this chapter. Heh, but it is not from a person you would expect.
|-Steph-chan-|: Heh, you are one of my inspiring authors too! And I sincerely hope that you continue writing your Kurama and Botan fanfics soon!
angel-trump: Thank you for compliments! I hope that this chapter is just as pleasing as the last five.
[1] I am so sorry, JD Fielding, but I just had to borrow that one, tiny, small bit from your story. It seemed to fit. I do not know if you will even consider this a terrible crime, but I, like any sensible author should, just had to give you credit for your mastermind. I hope you do not hate me for using this bit.
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"This is speech."
'This is thought.'
//This is Youko or flashback.//
Once Loved, Never Forgotten
.:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:.
Hiei frowned as he tried to make himself comfortable on his couch and prepared for slumber; the day had been a hard one, no doubt of that. However, sleep was far from Hiei, as his injuries and troubles were keeping him awake: both compliments from Botan. Disdainfully glaring at the ceiling, Hiei snorted at the thoughts passing through his mind; a certain blue haired girl and that day's events kept flashing through the demon's head.
//"Hiei, are you all right? How bad is it? Here, let me heal you!"//
"Get out of my head, woman," Hiei growled.
//"Are you always this much of a pain?" Hiei demanded.//
//Botan smiled sadly. "No. I'm usually worse when Kurama's here. And I know what you're thinking: it's a wonder Kurama's still alive when he has to defend himself and protect me while collecting the Jewel shards at the same time. Sometimes I wonder why he keeps on trying so hard."//
//Hiei felt a pang of guilt strike him. "No, I didn't mean it like that, Botan."//
//Botan stared at Hiei as if someone had struck her. Hiei's expression suddenly grew stern with worry as he asked, "What's wrong, Botan?"//
//"You said my name. Twice now."//
//Hiei blushed.//
"Damn it."
For some odd reason, Botan's voice was echoing across and around the lightless room; the girl's voice had even gone as far to ring in the telepath's mind. Trying to block out the imaginary sound, the fire demon took one of his pillows and flung it at his head. Doing so only caused him to get a headache, another problem he currently did not need. Hiei groaned as he turned and laid on his right side, glaring darkly with crimson eyes at his black walls.
"The fox is going to kill me."
.:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:.
Although she was rather tired, Botan continued to practice her archery. The sky-blue haired maiden was panting for air, her arms sore, and her blue locks were damp from sweat. Her clothes soaked from perspiration were beginning to stick to her body like second skin. Dressed in a priestess clothing, Botan was currently standing in the middle of Genkai's courtyard, shooting several arrows at a marked tree at the edge of the Dark Forest.
'A priestess' thoughts must always be clear,' Botan recited in her mind, remembering all of Mimiru's training from her time in Barako's Village.
WHIZZ! THWOK!
The sound of willow arrows flying through the air and hitting the tree echoed hauntingly through the Dark Forest, causing small creatures to fly or skidder uneasily about the wood.
'She must never have ill will. Hate, anger, lust, and fear must always be avoided; their sweet promises of power are vile lies [1].'
WHIZZ!
'Emotions must be cast aside to attain a pure heart.'
THWOK!
'Love must even be cast aside to gain pure thoughts, a pure heart!'
WHIZZ! THWOK!
'Kurama--'
Botan gasped in surprise as her arrow veered badly off course and struck the grassy ground beside her target instead. Hot beads of sweat rolled down her rosy cheek. Botan could feel her heart beating wildly against her chest. A blush covered her face; however, the archer was unsure if it was from her thought just now or from her exercise. Watching Botan worriedly from a distance, Yukina, Keiko, and Genkai spotted the girl's fatigue.
"Botan, look at yourself! You're worn out!" Keiko exclaimed. "You should take a break right now, since you've been at it for about three hours now. Yusuke and the others will be here soon, and it'll be no good if you're too tired to go out on the shard searching. Kurama will probably scold you for overworking yourself."
"Please, Botan, come sit and rest with us," Yukina coaxed sweetly with a smile, patting the wooden floorboards beside her. To Botan, it was surprising that Yukina's peaceful vermillion pools were the exact same piercing blood-red orbs Hiei owned. "I have some tea and cookies here for us to snack on. You must be quite thirsty after that training."
"Come here and sit down before you faint, girl," Genkai barked with elderly authority. "Your Spirit Energy right now is at an extremely low level. I can tell you're barely standing on your own two feet currently. And Keiko's right, Kurama will get mad at all of us if you faint right now."
Botan smiled cheerily at her young friends and the ripened woman, waving them off with her hand. "No, thank you, you guys. I'm just fine, so you don't have to worry about me. Besides, I can't stop yet. I'm still so far from becoming a master archer, like Barako was; I still need a lot more practice."
Keiko clenched her fist with silent rage. "Why?!" Keiko demanded loudly, stomping up to Botan. There was a certain fury reflected in Keiko's mahogany eyes, a type of anger seen often in Yusuke's fighting eyes. "Why do you have to be like Barako, Botan? What is so special about Barako that you have to be exactly like her? I don't understand why you're doing this to yourself, Botan!" Botan, surprised by Keiko's outburst, took a little step back from Yusuke's girlfriend.
'Yusuke's personality is rubbing off Keiko more than I thought.'
"Botan, please don't make yourself like Barako to please Kurama," Yukina begged in a soft tone that belonged only to her.
Botan, hastily turning her attention away from fiery Keiko to the placid ice maiden, furiously blushed at Yukina's plea. "W-What? W-What are you talking about, Y-Yukina?"
"I know Youko Kurama loved Barako with all of his heart, but Botan, you're not Barako," Yukina pressed with her kind, quiet voice. "And everyone here knows that, even Kurama himself knows that. Kurama discovered that the first night you found the Sacred Jewel of Four Souls in your body and he attacked you thinking you were Priestess Barako. From the beginning, Kurama realized that you were not Barako, but yourself, Botan.
"You must remember Priestess Barako was powerful, yes, but according to Hinageshi, she did not know how to live. Botan, you're different from her, and because you are, I believe Kurama loves you more than the past self, more than Barako."
Botan blushed at Yukina's words, not understanding where "love" had entered the discussion; however, the priestess-in-training had to admit, she was working hard to satisfy Kurama. 'I just wanted Kurama to be proud of me,' Botan thought to herself with a pout. 'I just want Kurama to be pleased that I'm doing my best to help him collect the Sacred Jewel shards. Is it so wrong to wish to be as good as I was five hundred years ago?'
"Yes, it is wrong to wish that, and you should listen to Yukina's advice, Botan," Hiei sternly advised as he entered the stone courtyard like the flying shadow he was; in less than a blink of an eye, he was sitting comfortably in a tree nearby the girls. The women turned and stared at the sable-clad demon of flame in surprise, Botan especially.
"Hiei! What have I told you before about reading my thoughts?!" Botan scolded. "You're such a nosey demon sometimes! My thoughts are my PERSONAL thoughts, so therefore they are not some open-book for you to leisurely read! You got that? So stay out!"
Hiei, ignoring Botan's reproach, continued from his resting spot, "Kurama isn't a foolish demon, Botan, just a blind one. He'll realize his mistake sooner or later, more like later, but he'll realize eventually. Just give him time."
"Just give who time?" Syuuichi asked good-naturedly as he entered the temple grounds. Hiei leisurely turned his face away from his comrade as he sensed another's presence with the redhead human. Walking along side Syuuichi, a somewhat familiar brunette boy was accompanying the Spirit Detective.
"Soijiro!" Botan smiled as she recognized and ran to give the young man a hug. Soijiro smiled as he gazed at the happy high school student. The happy couple did not notice the disgruntled frowns from Syuuichi and Hiei.
Keiko, trying to stifle her giggles, whispered to Yukina's ear, "Heh, it looks like someone is jealous of the new guy. And I wouldn't blame them either. Botan's boyfriend is really cute."
'He sort of looks like Koenma in his teenage form,' Keiko mused.
"I never thought Hiei and Kurama would get jealous of anyone," Yukina quietly pondered in response. "Especially Kurama, since everyone else is jealous of him. Besides, Hiei and Kurama seem like the kind of demons whom would be above that."
"Shush," Genkai silenced. "They'll hear you."
"Botan, why are you soaked?" Soijiro laughed merrily as he returned Botan's warm embrace, his cerulean eyes gazing down at his girlfriend fondly. "You look like you've been working yourself out to exhaustion, which I hope you're not doing. I wouldn't want you to hurt yourself or anything. And what's this you're wearing?"
Soijiro separated himself from Botan, examining her from head to toe. A surprised look washed over the college student's face. "You're dressed like a traditional priestess!"
"Yes," Botan nodded, still smiling. "My--ah--my ancestors were all priestesses, and that profession has been carried through the generations; so now my family, with my mother gone, needs another one, and since I'm the oldest daughter, she has to be me." The story-weaving teenage girl wanted right then to disappear for being not completely truthful to her boyfriend; dishonesty always gave Botan a queasy feeling within her gut.
'Relax, Botan,' Hiei's voice suddenly whispered in Botan's mind, causing shivers to run through the priestess. 'According to Kurama, you told that boy truth--Well, mostly anyway.'
"Huh, I didn't know Urameshi was a holy family," Soijiro commented inaudibly; however, the young man did not speak silently enough to escape Kurama and Hiei's demonic senses.
"Well, I'm glad you're back in town now, Soijiro," Botan chirped, hugging her boyfriend ever more fiercely. "I was getting really worried about you, having you gone for so long."
Soijiro, brushing Botan's sky hair behind her ear, chuckled amusedly, "Yes, I know. Minamino told me all about it when he saw me the other day. He invited me to come with him today to see you just because he thought you were so worried."
Botan and Soijiro stared into each other's eyes for a long moment, their faces slowly growing closer. They probably would have kissed if Syuuichi had not cleared his throat right about then. "Sorry to interrupt your happy moment, you two, but Botan and I need to get going," Syuuichi apologized not so apologetically, although Botan and Soijiro did not notice his relieved tone. "We have an engagement to attend, and I am rather sure that our other companions are already waiting for us, which would be a surprise."
"Well, I can't hold you back from whatever you have to do," Soijiro nodded with agreement, giving Botan one last hug. "I'll call you tomorrow, sweet."
.:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:.
"Hey, did everyone make it out of that mist all right?" Yusuke inquired as he counted the group members. The Class S Detective sighed with relief when he counted five heads, including his own, the exact number of their party.
"Man, what was that stuff, Urameshi? I don't think I'm going to be coming to Maikai anymore," Kazuma coughed, covering his mouth and nose slightly. He waved away a peculiar looking purple cloud that had followed him through the trees. "That funky stuff that demon let out really smelled funny. Do demons do that all the time? It reminded me of Big Sis's casserole. What about you, Urameshi?"
"Who cares what that mist smelled like?! That demon escaped with those two shards," Hiei growled, waving away the reminiscence of the fog away. Their group had escaped into another forest clearing where the demon's mysterious miasma could not seep through the broad trees.
"Who cares about even that right now, Hiei? Just as long as we all escaped safely with no harm done and with all of the shards we've already collected, we're doing great," Yusuke answered appreciatively. After all, Yusuke had well noted, Botan was currently holding a little over half of the Sacred Jewel of Four Souls, and losing any of their shards would be quite disastrous; Kurama's temper would be of testament to that. "And Kuwabara, Hiei's right, your comments were random and pointless!"
The Spirit Detectives and Botan had just had a surprise encounter with a shard-enhanced demon, and luckily for them, no one had been injured. After bidding Soijiro farewell at Genkai's temple, Botan, Youko Kurama, and Hiei had made their way to Barako's Village in Maikai where Kazuma and Yusuke where supposedly to wait for them. Meeting up with the rest of their team, the five of them headed out in search of another Jewel shard, following Botan's priestess senses and Hiei's Jagan eye. The hunt had resulted the Detectives and priestess falling into an ambush, but a harmless one.
While still arguing, Hiei, Kazuma, and Yusuke continued to discuss their next plans while Botan silently walked away from the group and over to a tree. She was coughing and at the same time trembling fairly violently; she could feel her hands draining of their warmth. Youko Kurama curiously followed the girl, wondering if she had been harmed in the skirmish a minute ago.
"Botan, are you all right?" Kurama questioned, placing a delicate hand on the girl's shoulder. Kurama's fox-like traits sensed some sort of unbalance in Botan; he was not sure if the unbalance was physical or spiritual.
The sound of Kurama's question caught the attention of the other Detectives. Yusuke, Kazuma, and Hiei stared and examined Botan's state.
Feeling rather disoriented, Botan slowly leaned onto Kurama's chest, absorbing the warmth from his body. The fox demon slightly blushed, causing Yusuke and Kazuma to snicker. Kurama glared at the two humans with golden daggers while Hiei glowered at Kurama with crimson embers unnoticed. "Kurama, my head feels a little funny, like I'm really dizzy. And I'm so cold, Kurama. I think I'm--I think I'm going to--" At that moment, Botan's lilac eyes fluttered and the teenager fainted and collapsed in Kurama's arms, causing the fox and the others to panic.
"Botan!" Kurama shouted worriedly, gently shaking Botan in his arms. "Botan!"
.:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:.
//Botan!//
Jumping up in her cot, Botan sat up and quickly looked around into the darkness. The young lady sighed with reprieve when she realized that she was still in her hut. "It was--It was just a dream," Botan sighed in relief, her body growing less tense and relaxing to some extent. "I wonder whose voice that was calling out to me in that dream, and with that unfamiliar name as well? It sounded quite similar to Kurama's voice but then yet gentler. Hm, maybe I should consult with Lady Hikari about this dream later on."
Looking out the small window, Botan noticed a small purple glow filtering through the sky, signifying the bare beginning of dawn. The priestess stretched her arms and rose from her sleeping place. And about then, Botan noticed her little sister was missing from her resting spot. Quickly getting dressed, Botan lifted the bamboo flap-door and was met with the sight of a younger redhead girl packing and preparing a horse.
"Hinagiku, what are you doing awake so early today?" Botan asked her little sister as she walked out of their hut. "I thought you would still be sleeping as the sun still does." Hinageshi smiled as she packed up her horse.
"I promised to help Lady Sakura heal some of the sick people in her village today; too many people have fallen beneath the epidemic there. If I leave for her village now, by the sun's rising, I shall be there to help right a way. Why are you awake so early this morning? Are you going to go meet Kurama today, Elder Sister?" Hinageshi asked, a little disdain in her voice.
Botan nodded. "Yes, I am meeting Kurama today, Hinagiku. You know that I was going to. Like you to Lady Sakura, I had already promised to Kurama to do so."
"I wish you would not continually meet that thieving fox demon, Sister; he did, after all, try to steal the Sacred Jewel of Four Souls only a while ago. How can you trust him so quickly and rather easily?"
Botan felt saddened for some odd reason. 'How can I possibly not trust Kurama? How can anyone not trust such a gentle soul as his?' "Hinagiku, I wish you would not say such things without fair judgment. Kurama, although he is a thief, has a good soul like any of our villagers or as ourselves; he just chooses to hide behind a cold front to protect himself, his gentle heart."
"I guess you are correct," Hinageshi muttered discontentedly. "However, I still get this irregular feeling, Elder Sister, when I am around Kurama; but his aura is a lot better than the man you take care of at the cave." Hinageshi narrowed her grassy eyes in disgust. "You must beware of that man, Elder Sister; his heart is pure evil, and even Kurama's heart is not so black."
"Shall you always be so judgmental, Hinagiku?" Botan sighed.
"I shall always protect you, Elder Sister, as long as such men prowl about you. They shall taint your purity and power if they get too close to you, Elder Sister."
Botan kissed her sister on the forehead lovingly. "Thank you, Hinagiku for your concern, and I shall remember your warnings. But now, it is my turn to warn you. Be careful when you are in Lady Sakura's village. The illness there has not made its way to our village, and I pray it shall never. When you return here, Hinagiku, be sure to change your clothing midway in between your travels. Burn that clothing as well."
"I shall," Hinagiku nodded, mounting her horse.
"Take care, Little Sister," Botan smiled. "And send my regards to Lady Sakura for me. We must have her visit our village again, when she is not so busy."
.:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:.
"What happened to her, Kurama?" Keiko questioned worriedly as Kurama carried an unconscious Botan into a spare room. "She isn't dead, is she?" After the secret attack from the unknown demon, Kurama, Yusuke, Hiei, and Kazuma had rushed Botan back to Genkai's temple to receive treatment.
"No, she's only asleep, Keiko. During our Jewel shard hunting, we were misted by a anonymous demon, and Botan was the only one affected," Kurama, having returned to his human form, quickly explained. "I have already tried to awaken her with all of my plant remedies, but nothing the four of us had worked." Keiko and Genkai quickly set up a futon and blankets for Botan; they would have changed her out of her clothes, but they would do that at a later time and wait for the boys to leave the room first.
"Let me try something," Yukina whispered as she made her way to Botan. The ice maiden's hands began to glow, a healing aura surrounding Botan. After three minutes, Yukina discontinued using her Demon Energy and slightly frowned at her slumbering friend.
"What's wrong, Yukina?" Kazuma questioned.
Yukina was silent for a moment, watching Botan carefully, before she decided to speak. "Kurama, how is anyone supposed to heal a person from a dream?"
"What do you mean by that?" Yusuke and Keiko inquired together as the couple they were.
"She's sleeping," Hiei sighed in somewhat relief. "So in other words, we have nothing to worry about. She probably just fainted from breathing in that stuff from before."
.:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:.
"Kurama, are you here?" Botan whispered placidly as she entered the forest clearing. A slight rustle was heard, causing Botan to stare at the ancient tree in the clearing's center. In immediate reaction, Botan reached for her back and gasped when she realized her quiver of arrows was not there.
'Please let it be him,' Botan begged her thoughts with some fright, her body tensing in anticipation. 'I came here unarmed, like he requested yesterday, so please let it be Kurama.'
And to the priestess' relief, a familiar silver fox revealed himself from behind the ancient tree's trunk. Kurama, with the morning light casting off of his luminous form, smiled tenderly down at the priestess from atop the large tree's roots. He offered Botan a clawed-hand, helping her climb onto the roots beside him. "You came," Kurama murmured.
"You asked, did you not?" Botan replied, finally breathing normally again. She could feel herself smiling inside, somewhat pleased at Kurama's awe of her.
'If he keeps on staring at me like that,' Botan blushed, 'I feel like I am going to melt right into his gentle hands.'
"Yes, I did ask," Kurama, grinning happily, helped Botan walk across the roots. The priestess noticed the slight twitch in Kurama's white ears and a happy flick of his tail. Botan could feel herself grinning in a silly manor as she imagined petting or brushing Kurama's large fox ears. She had to fight hard against her childish imagination before she threw herself at Kurama to play with his adorable ears.
'Who knew demons could be so childishly charming?' Botan giggled to herself. 'Especially Kurama.'
When the couple walked halfway around the tree's base, Botan was met with a stunning sight. A single, wine-red rose growing upon an emerald vine glittered with morning dew in the rising sunlight. Botan lightly petted the delicate velvet petals.
'This reminds me of that young man with scarlet locks and jade eyes in my dream. He was as beautiful as this rose, and probably as dangerous,' Botan thought as she observed the thorns growing on the roses' stems. 'His face was cold and blank, but his eyes were so bright and emotional. He suffers pain, sadness, but he was still gentle. Just like Kurama.'
"Did Hinagiku again argue with you about coming today?" Kurama asked as he watched Botan carefully cup the rose beneath her pale, slender hands.
"Yes, she did, as always," Botan, sighing, deftly observed the rose. "I feel sorry for her, Kurama. My dear little sister cannot forgive demons for what they have done to our parents, to the other villages, to Lady Nadeshiko. To Hinagiku, the crimes committed by one demon are crimes committed by every other demon. I wish so much for Hinagiku to trust you."
'I want her to trust you as much as I trust you,' Botan wished.
Kurama snorted at Botan's words, his golden eyes smirking with hilarity. "I do not need Little One's trust, Barako. She shall either come to trust me or continue to bear my presence; those are the only two choices offered to her."
"You have no patience for my little sister, but you consistently tolerate my companionship, Kurama. Why is that?" Botan asked while she kept her gaze upon the blood-red flower.
'Do you feel the same way towards me as I do you, Kurama? Could you love such a weak creature like me?'
Placing a firm, tender hand beneath Botan's, Kurama replied, "Because you endure my company, Barako."
'I would endure that, Kurama,' Botan smiled, 'and much more.'
Slightly blushing, Botan continued to admire the rose. "How beautiful."
"Yes, you are," Kurama whispered into Botan's ear as he leaned his forehead against her own. Botan could feel shivers run down her spine at the sensation of having Kurama so near. Kurama neared his face towards the priestess', and their lips lightly brushed against each other, barely touching at all. When Kurama's face neared even more, Botan felt her cheeks grow heated and looked down to the ground. Realizing what he had nearly done, Kurama removed himself from Botan and began his retreat into the forest.
'Did I do something wrong, Kurama?' Botan questioned silently. 'Did I hurt you with my coldness, my frightened heart?'
"Kurama, where are you--"
"You must get back to your duties; Little One is probably worried sick for you by now. I shall see you tomorrow, Barako," Kurama murmured, disappearing into the shadows of the trees.
'He will see me tomorrow,' Botan sighed with relief. 'We will see each other again; so, Kurama is not angry with me. I guess he understands how I feel better than I understand myself.'
.:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:.
"Have you captured her mind within her dreams yet?"
"Yes, I have, sir. But why target the girl when Kurama or Hiei would have been more useful? After all, I've heard Hiei has seen many gruesome acts across the ages, and I've heard that Kurama has seen his share of gore as well. Twisting their bloodthirsty memories to destroy the other Detectives and the girl and attaining the shards would be easier, sir."
"Heh, but using this girl shall make the task easiest. She is, after all, the reincarnation of the woman responsible for Youko Kurama's death five hundred years ago."
"Are you serious, sir? This girl is actually the legendary Priestess Barako?!"
"I would recognize that woman's face even if I had gone through a thousand lifetimes. She is indeed Priestess Barako, Youko Kurama's killer; she shall adequately get the job done. Oh, and before I forget. Here is another Sacred Jewel shard, as I had promised."
"Thank you, sir."
"Make sure you finish the job."
"No worries, sir."
.:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:.
"Kurama, go home now," Genkai yawned, crossing her arms across her chest. She was sitting cross-legged next to the sleeping Botan, who had started to turn about in her dreams. "It's already late, Kurama, and you, like the others, must be tired from today's searching. Go rest. Besides, your family will begin to worry about you."
Kurama shook his head as he tucked Botan snuggly into her blankets. He brushed a few stray strands of turquoise hair out of the girl's slightly distressed face. The look on her face reminded Kurama of the time Botan had hidden the power sphere of the Netherworld within her body; Kurama slightly cringed at the memory. "No, it is all right, Genkai. I told my parents that I would be gone on a trip with friends for a few days, so they are not expecting me home any time soon," the young man informed quietly, wiping away the recollections. "Besides, I need to make sure Botan is all right. I will not forgive myself if Botan is harmed."
"Kurama, something has been bothering me since this entire ordeal with the Sacred Jewel began," Genkai began, the sleep in her ancient eyes starting to leave. "Tell me, how was it that you came upon Barako and her village five hundred years ago? I know for a well-known fact that the Five Villages were feared amongst demons, even the most powerful, like your self. What pushed you to go to Barako's Village?"
After watching Botan toss and turn a little for a few quiet moments, Kurama turned his attention to the wise psychic. "Grief and madness, Genkai, drove me to the Five Villages that fateful day," Kurama muttered. "Grief over a loved one's death and madness that I could not justify his death led me to the humans. The rumors about their great, valuable treasures seduced me to think that I could either bring my friend back from the dead or have his soul rest in peace from a grand theft beyond worthy of all thieves."
"And who was this precious companion of yours, Kurama, whom deserved such an honor?" Genkai inquired, the woman's coral orbs examining the fox intently. Kurama's speech was reminding Genkai of her past with Toguro and the friendship they had once shared.
"Kuronue, a loyal friend who ended his life to save mine," Kurama whispered with a cheerless chuckle. "Heh, even if I had succeeded in my thievery back then, I would always be in Kuronue's debt. He was always fool, always trying to make me owe him something."
"And was it at this theft that led to yours and Priestess Barako's deaths?" Genkai questioned further.
"No," Kurama growled. "Barako betrayed me the day I stole the Sacred Jewel of Four Souls. She betrayed me, and in retaliation, I stole the Sacred Jewel from her village. And for that, Barako shot me with that accursed arrow and had me slumber for five hundred years, ever fighting the spell to free my soul."
.:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:.
'This place,' Botan whispered to herself fearfully, clutching the Sacred Jewel to herself protectively, 'is far too quiet. Even for an open field. Where are the birds or the other animals?' The priestess shuffled through the field's tall grass, her clothes rustling against the coarse, aureate grass. Chilling wind began to blow against Botan, the girl standing in a middle of a waving sea of gold. The area grew more desolate as the sun hid behind billowing clouds, a sure sign of a coming storm.
'Beware. A traitor comes for you.'
"Kurama?" Botan searched the open field, trying to find some hint to where her loved one was. Her knuckles whitened as her grip upon the Sacred Jewel tightened. "Kurama, are you here?" Dark sensations began to stir about Botan; she shivered at the coldness of such dim emotions. A being with great power and hate was looming nearby, and Botan desperately wished Kurama with his foxy, illuminating grin would appear as promised.
'Watch out!'
A searing pain suddenly shot through Botan as she tried to gasp for air. She grabbed for her right rib and trembled as she saw that her hand was covered with warm, crimson fluid. Botan circled about, searching for her attack, but found no one. Just as she was about to surrender, a blur of silver caught her eye. 'No,' Botan begged, 'please, do not let it be--'
Botan was not allowed to finish her thought as she felt more pain course through her body, this time originating from her left shoulder. As the shock of the attack was too great, Botan fell face-forward into the grass, her blood painting the gold around her scarlet. A malicious, heartless cackle echoed sorely in Botan's ears. "You are a pitiful fool, Barako, to think I was ever in love with you, nevertheless give up my power to be a pathetic weakling like you."
'Liar.'
Botan slammed her fist angrily as she realized she had been Kurama's puppet all along. "You liar. You told me--you told me that you cared for me. I thought you different, Kurama! But I was wrong! Hinagiku had been correct about you all along! You demons are all the same!"
'Traitor.'
"And it is a shame, priestess, that you believed me," Kurama cackled, tossing the Sacred Jewel up in the air. "Well, now that I have what I want, I think some fun is in order. Perhaps your village could use some destruction?" With a sinister laugh, Kurama bounded off in to the shadows of the forest, leaving a dying Botan behind.
'Die.'
.:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:.
"It appears she has finally settled in her sleep," Yukina grinned as she relaxed into her seat. "I think Botan is finally having pleasant dreams now." During the deeper part of night, Yukina had risen from her rest and had ordered Genkai take some sleep of her own. The ice maiden had worried for the elderly lady, knowing fully well that Genkai in her age should not be doing all-nighters (even if Yukina was older than her).
Hinageshi and Kurama sighed at Yukina's news in unison. The young redhead ferry girl had appeared at Genkai's temple in the middle of the night a little after Yukina had changed shifts with Genkai; seeing Botan's condition, the young girl had resolved to stay the remainder of the night.
Hinageshi, turning to Kurama, suggested brightly, "Well, now that Botan should be up and awake any time soon, why don't you go home and rest a little, Kurama? I'm sure Botan would be upset if she found out you stayed up all night to watch while she was sleeping; it would make her even more mad if she saw you absolutely puckered out because of her."
"I think I will take some rest, thank you," Kurama yawned, stretching his arms as he stood. His verdure eyes were heavy with want of sleep. Always remembering his manners, Kurama politely bowed to Yukina and Hinageshi farewell. "Please feel free to inform me if anything happens to Botan, Hinageshi. I will be at my home, sleeping as suggested."
Hinageshi nodded Botan-like cheerily as Kurama left the room. 'Maybe,' Hinageshi thought as she looked to Botan with a small smile on her lips, 'maybe I was wrong about Kurama all those years ago, Elder Sister. Maybe you were right about Kurama. Maybe Kurama does have a gentle soul.'
Right then, Botan rose from her sleep.
"Botan!" Yukina and Hinageshi cheered, both glad their friend had finally woken.
"Get me my bow and arrows," Botan ordered tonelessly as she stood from her bed; there was not even a sign of disorientation as Botan stood erect and tall, a slightly fearsome posture for her to take; the air around the former ferry girl was lifeless and frigid. Yukina and Hinageshi stared at each other curiously, but the two girls complied with Botan's odd request.
"I'll be back shortly with them." Yukina quickly ran out of the room.
"Why do you need them?" Hinageshi asked inquisitively as she stood beside her former sister.
Botan gave Hinageshi a quick, frightening glance. "A demon."
.:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:.
"Kurama! Where are you?!" Botan shouted angrily, searching for her target of her anger. As Botan searched the temple grounds for a familiar silver-white fox demon, she instead spotted a rose haired young man walking away.
'He is that boy from my dream,' Botan thought to herself.
'He is Kurama in a hidden form! Do not miss your revenge, priestess!'
Narrowing her amethyst eyes in fierce fury, Botan hastily shot an arrow at the boy from her dreams.
Turning to the person who called his name, Kurama slightly gasped when an arrow lightly grazed his left shoulder and lodged itself into the tree behind him. The redhead did not know by what he was more surprised: the fact that Botan was finally awake and on her feet or that she was attacking him. "Botan, you're awake!"
There was no response from the girl as she grabbed another arrow from the quiver on her back and placed it in her boy. Kurama ducked as the arrow thudded against the tree above his head. Botan's untied azure locks bellowed behind her and melded into the sky as a breeze blew into her face. The slim white kimono Yukina and Genkai had changed Botan into fanned against Botan's form, giving her an angelic appearance.
'//Angelic or demonic?//' Kurama found himself correcting. '//She looks like Death.//' The fox felt his pulse readily quicken at the chilling thought that had just crossed his mind. Youko's pride would not allow him to take a step back in caution.
"Youko Kurama!" a furious Botan yelled as she fired another purified arrow. "You shall go no further!" She had fired to kill; however, Kurama fortunately dodged the arrow again, this time the missile grazing his left rib.
"Botan! Botan, what are you doing?" Kurama demanded, taking careful note of the burning resentment in Botan's candy-colored eyes. The Detective only remembered two incidents when Botan's eyes glowed with such fire, and both incidents were ones he preferred to forget. But as much Kurama wanted to forget the past, Botan's likeness to Barako and the cold yet fiery hate in the once-sweet girl's lavender eyes were mirrors into the horrendous history.
"You traitor," Botan whispered in a deathly voice, her arrow drawn and aimed. "You are a traitor, Kurama. I should have never fallen in love with you."
"What? In love with me--Botan, what are you talking about? What is going--"
WHIZZ!
Kurama did not get to finish his question as he felt himself grow cold, the searing pain rushing through his chest into every other crevice of his body. His world went black.
.:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:.
"Yes! He's dead!" the demon laughed in his joy. "Ah, now Lord Burraki will have to reward me further for this. Heh, this is my lucky day." The gleeful demon, hiding within the tree, did not see Botan glare loathingly straight at him.
WHIZZ!
THWOK!
In less than another second, the demon was shot down out of the tree, the bloody corpse landing with a sickening crack onto the ground. Botan shook her head as if to wake her from a daze, the girl shifting on her feet. "What's going on? Why am I--"
Botan looked around her and gasped when she saw an unconscious Kurama pinned to a tree with one of her arrows. Blood was soaking into Kurama's clothes from his wound, the steady flow slowly dripping into small crimson puddles on the ground. "Oh, my God--Kurama!" Botan ran to Kurama, panicking. Lifting a trembling hand to caress his peaceful, death-like face, Botan thought better of it and withdrew her hand. In her overpowering grief, Botan cried out in pain and ran away from her horrible act.
.:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:.
"Hey, Botan! Great, I'm so glad that I found you. I ran into Urameshi a while ago, and he said that you were with Kurama. When you didn't answer the phone yesterday, I was beginning to--Botan? Um, Botan, where's Kurama? I thought Kurama was with you," Soijiro asked, a worried expression crossing his face. Seeing as Botan was not responding to any of his questions, Hatsume placed both of his hands on his girlfriend's shoulders, only to feel her trembling beneath him. After a few moments, Botan, with a tear-stained expression, looked at her boyfriend through teary amethyst eyes. The former ferry girl's periwinkle pools were filled with extreme sorrow, as if she had condemned the World to death. Soijiro gasped at the sight.
"Botan, what's wrong--"
"Soijiro, go, go and find Yusuke and tell him to go to the temple! Find Yusuke and tell him to go to Genkai's temple right now!"
"Not before I know what's wrong, Botan," Soijiro muttered, grabbing Botan's arms so she could not run away. "You're not hurt, are you? And why do I need to find Urameshi?"
Crystalline tears began to drizzle down her face as she stared directly into Soijiro's shocked electric blue eyes. "There's no time, Soijiro! You have to hurry! Go find Yusuke! Tell him he has to immediately go to Genkai's temple!"
Seeing as it was no use to argue, Soijiro discontinued his interrogation. Soon afterwards, he began to run for the other Urameshi but stopped when he realized Botan was not coming with him. "But Botan, why--" When the college student turned around, Botan was already gone.
.:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:.
"Uh, where am I?" Kurama weakly groaned, looking around and studying his surroundings. A numbing pain shot through Kurama's left shoulder: a solemn reminder to the Spirit Detective he had nearly lost his life a fifth time. After painfully struggling to sit up and succeeding, Kurama realized he was in one of Genkai's spare rooms at her temple.
"You're in the World of the Living, if that's what you're mainly worried about," a monotonous voice replied. "You've been asleep for about a day now." Kurama looked up into Hiei's stern face. The fox demon frowned at the scowling flame orbs staring down at him.
'So, you have managed to yet again escape Barako's curse, Youko,' Kurama slightly grinned woefully.
"What happened after I fell unconscious, Hiei?" Kurama inquired, trying his best now to summon all of his Energy, Spirit or Demon, and stand up. "Where is Botan?"
Hiei gave Kurama a reproachful frown, and motioned for his companion to sit back down. "From what I've put together, yesterday, after she woke up, Botan shot you with an arrow and nearly put you into that enchanted slumber Barako put you in five hundred years ago. Horrified at what she did, Botan ran away from here and ran into that human boyfriend of hers; Soijiro was it? From there, she told him to go find Yusuke and tell him to go help you while she disappeared," Hiei explained.
"Well, that human boy found the Detective and the oaf, and then they ran here only to find Yukina, Hinageshi, and Genkai already working on getting you free. We didn't even think about Botan until we were sure you weren't going to die. For the past day now, Yusuke and Hinageshi, probably with that other priestess' help, have been searching Maikai for Botan."
Kurama's eyes saddened. "Botan has gone missing?" he whispered.
'She ran away.'
Hiei gave Kurama another scowl, catching the redhead's thought. "Yes, she ran away, fool. Of course she would, after what she did; you, better than anyone, should know how Botan would react when she realized what she did to you. Now, in your own words, Kurama, I'd like you to tell what the hell happened between you and Botan. What did you do to wake her up from that trance and make her mad enough to nearly kill you?"
"I'm not too sure myself, Hiei," Kurama murmured softly. "All I remember is Botan attacking me suddenly, and everything else is black." Kurama buried his face into his hands and shook his head. "I do not understand any of this! Botan, she--It was as if Botan were being controlled, but I know she was not, because of the look in her eyes. She had that same look when she was Barako, and I am sure she was herself, and I--I am not sure anymore."
"Well, we found out she WAS being controlled," Hiei added. "After Yusuke helped you, he found a demon body nearby with an arrow through its heart: one of Botan's arrows, of course. It was a mare, the type of demon that preys upon dreams and memories. I found three Sacred Jewel shards deep within its body."
"How did it cross over into the Human World?" Kurama questioned with a dangerous voice.
"My guess is as good as yours, Kurama," Hiei responded, sighing slightly. "All I know, from what the oaf told me, is that the mare was the same demon we were tailing in Maikai yesterday. I think that's odd in its self, since the demon yesterday only had two shards while this one had three. Seeing as the mare needed all of its energy just to control one of us, I suspect that filthy mite needed a stronger power to cross over into this World. So, I am guessing that in between our hunt yesterday and the time Botan killed it, the mare met with its puppeteer, gained another shard, and tried killing you."
"We can afford worry about the demon and other issues later, Hiei. First, we must search for Botan," Kurama whispered, his eyes expressing his heavily distressed soul.
Hiei groaned at Kurama's annoying depressing behavior. The fire demon was fiercely fighting the tempting urge to punch his good friend in the face. "Kurama, do you honestly want to find Botan and confront her about this?" Hiei questioned. Kurama nodded.
"Of course I do, Hiei. Can you not see that I am worried about her?!"
"Then just go to Maikai and find her, idiot."
.:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:.