-waves- Ohayo, minna. Yes, I'm alive. Hehehe…though it might not seem that way… Please don't hurt me! I haven't written anything in a long time. Aren't you glad I decided to update this story instead of my others? –sees the pitchforks- o.o Now, now…let's not be hasty…Meep! Here's the chapter!
Disclaimer: I don't own YuYuHakusho.
Chapter 3
"Ohayo minna-san." The voice was filled with warmth and joy. Everyone sighed a sigh of relief. It was the same Botan. But the sigh quickly turned to a horrified intake of breath at her next comment.
"I'm Botan Reikai. And you are…?"
There was a stunned silence. Keiko and Kuwabara turned a ghastly shade of white, Yusuke and Kurama looked like someone had punched them right in the stomach. Hiei appeared like he had just sucked a lemon. Botan blinked.
"You don't…remember us?" Keiko whispered under her breath, hoping it wasn't true.
"Hm? Did you say something miss?" Botan asked, leaning closer. Keiko shook her head and bolted.
"Keiko!" Yusuke got up and ran after her.
Botan blinked. "Was it…something I said?"
Kurama mentally shook himself out of it. "No, of course not. She's…I think you reminded her of someone." He put a note in his voice that he knew Botan would hear, and not ask about. Sure enough, she changed the subject.
"Oh, ok. Anyways, you guys are…?"
"I'm Minamino Suuichi."
"Suuichi…oh yeah! You're in my first class." Botan smiled. "Are you always getting in trouble like that?" She looked at Kuwabara and Hiei. "And you guys are…students also?"
Hiei recovered at that. He put on his normal scowl. "No."
"No…ok, what's your name?"
"…"
Botan smiled. "Ok, Mr. No." Hiei looked nervous.
Kurama smiled. "That's Hiei. And the other guy—"
"—The big oaf—" Hiei interrupted.
"—Is Kazuma Kuwabara, also a student."
Kuwabara, upon hearing his name, nodded. "A pleasure, Botan-san." He still looked shaken. Kurama decided to take pity on him.
"Kuwabara, Hiei, didn't you two decide to go visit Yukina-chan today? It's already noon."
Hiei nodded. "Right. We…did decide to…"
Kuwabara looked puzzled. "We did?" Hiei glared at him. "Oh right! Right, we did." The orange-haired "oaf" smiled at Botan. "I'll see you around, Botan-san."
"Okay. Ja matte, Kuwabara-san. Ja, Hiei-san." Botan waved as the two walked off. She smiled at Kurama. "Ne…Suuichi-san, you do good in that class, right?"
"What? Oh, I suppose so. I guess…"
The blue-eyed woman smiled at him. "I don't quite understand the homework. Do you think, maybe, that you could help me?"
Kurama grinned. "No problem. And just call me Suuichi, ok?"
Botan nodded. "Okay."
Kurama began to explain the writing homework to her. As he did, he observed her. She had the same mannerisms…when she was trying to understand something, like now, her tongue poked out the side of mouth, just slightly. Her brow furrowed slightly, and her eyes kind of scrunched up. That was all the same. Her hair was the same shade, the color of the Reikai sky, and still as long as ever. She looked like she always did…she looked just like their Botan.
So why didn't she remember them? If everything was the same…her mannerisms, her hair, her eyes…her eyes.
Kurama sneaked a peek. Her eyes…they were the same shade of purple as always. Yet…there was something different about them. They lacked…a depth. Age. No…experience. They looked…innocent. Like she had never seen death.
"Keiko!" Yusuke caught up with his not-quite girlfriend. She stood there, shaking, against a building. 'She looks so small…' Yusuke walked up to her and put a hand on her shoulder. "What was that about?"
"Yusuke…she didn't remember us! It couldn't have been her. When you came back from the dead, you remembered us. She didn't…it's not her. How can she not remember us?" Keiko sounded like she was on the verge of hysterics.
"Keiko…" Yusuke said tenderly. The ex-delinquent pulled the ex-valedictorian close and rubbed her back. "We'll get to the bottom of this, I promise. If this really is our Botan, we'll get her back. I promise."
Keiko sniffled. "I know you will Yusuke."
Aww…how sweet. I think this chapter is dumb, and not really as good as it could be, but I really haven't written much in a long time… I'll probably revise this sometime in the future. And now for the responses (I love writing these! But due to time and space concerns, I will only be responding to those who actually leave something to respond to, as opposed to "plz update soon".):
Magiabruxa: How do you know she's evil? (I'm not saying she is or she isn't though…) lol.
Genki-ninja-girl: Wow, is it really your first? Awesome! And yeah, they are so cute!
xXxMysticalDreamerxXx: Thanks! And as for Botan, well…I could give you a hint...but I won't. hehehe…ain't I so evil?
Saiyan under cover: Well….maybe…and I think I read the story you are thinking of.
I won't tell: Hm…does koenma's mom want to give botan a normal life? I won't tell…(at least till the end of the fic.)
Millie-chan: Hehehe…rock on! –high five- I live in insanity. I might put a little bit of Hiei/Shizuru in, but I won't say yes or no…you'll have to keep reading to find out.
Mia Anika: Yeah, that'd be awesome if they were official.
Lynx: Aw…I feel special now. -
Frith: You are not alone! Fear not! –strikes a pose-
Eunc: You'll have to wait for over a year…hehehehe…please don't hurt me? Heh...Maybe Botan can't handle the truth? And two…I doubt that they will fight over her…Koenma doesn't like to fight…he's a wuss lol.
Botan Minamino: She might…you never know.
Reikachan14: Honestly…I have no clue. But I'm not complaining lol.
Lady Nightshade: I know…aint it great? Mwahahahahahahahaha!
And thanks to the other reviewers: gyspyblue, Xen003, Silent Sage, DarkRoseAngelScarlet, Lynderia, S.M., Selene947, half demon/full demon, rita d., sb1, BakurasGrl66, Sakura-no-Tamashi, Jelly 15, ar, Ex-W, Sarah, LivEvil, Kshur32, animegirl007