"No, Botan. Absolutely not!"

"But, Koenma, sir---"

"I said no!"

"But I---"

"I said 'NO'!" Koenma roared slamming his tiny hands down on the desk.

"I need you here! There's been over-activity in our spirit resources lately and we need every hand we can get!" he shouted. Botan's eyes began to brim with tears. She folded her hands in her lap and sucked back a sob.

"I understand, sir," she said nodding her head.

Koenma straightened his posture and folded his hands behind his back.

"Good," he sighed. His shoulders slackened from the hunch he held them in out of irritation. The tension between the two was thick, to say the least. Neither said a word to the other as russet bore into lilac. Finally, with a sorrowful sigh, Koenma closed his eyes.

"You have to understand, Botan. It is very essential that I have you here. You are very vital to the Daioh Empire. Not only are you the most trusted, but you've been in service to us for the longest, also making you the most competent ferry girl that we have working for us. You are an indispensable asset to our monarchy, Botan. I need you here," he said quickly, nodding while he was talking. Botan raised a finger.

"Koenma?"

He nodded, signaling for her to go on.

"I've only asked for the rest of the day off. I've been on missions for weeks at a time and the monarchy was never drastically effected. I don't see how my being a valuable asset to Reikai has anything to do with my request," she pointed out meekly. Koenma's eyebrow twitched slightly.

"Fine. I just don't want you to, then. Is that a better explanation?" said Koenma smartly. Botan's face fell even more.

"Well, why not?" she squeaked. Koenma's eyes snapped open once more and then narrowed on Botan's sullen face.

"I've noticed some... changes in you as of late. Your demeanor has altered noticeably and you appear to be downcast, even angry, often times. This difference became evident to me on one of your returns from a mission on Ningenkai. On one of your recent returns, you came back fuming, going so far as to slam a door in my ogre's face! This behavior is not acceptable from a ferry girl! Now what has been the cause of all this outward aggression?" he asked her crossing his small arms over his chest. Botan bit her lip and began to twiddle her fingers.

"Have you ever noticed how much Urameshi Yusuke-san's girlfriend strikes him?" she asked quietly. Koenma nodded then smiled faintly.

"Often times he deserves it," he chuckled. Botan grimaced.

"Even so, she hits him way too much for it not to be at least considered unhealthy. Not only to their relationship, but also to his character. Yusuke is one of my closest friends, so when she hits him and puts him in a foul mood, that usually puts me in a foul mood," she explained.

"It's clear to me, then, that you have become undeniably attached to Yusuke, yes?" said Koenma rocking back on his heels. Botan nodded. Koenma sighed.

"It is also clear to me, then, what must be done. Botan, you are to remain here in Reikai indefinitely. There will be another ferry girl assigned to your duty of guiding souls until further notice," he told her calmly. Botan shot up from her chair, knocking it over in the process.

"Koenma-kun! You can't do that! I've done nothing worthy of punishment!" she defended.

"This is no punishment, Botan. It is simply something that must be done. I'm sure you haven't noticed, but your attitude affects your work efficiency. So, in order for your to get back into gear, your relationship with the Spirit Detective will be put on personal hiatus," he replied. Botan visibly swallowed and her hands clenched at her sides.

"I an fully capable to apologize for my short-comings, Koenma," she said sternly, "but I cannot apologize for my attachment to Yusuke."

"Nor am I demanding so. I just think that you should put a halt to your visiting him so that you can learn to separate your personal life from your professional. I hold no anger towards neither you nor Yusuke. Do you understand?" he asked, his eyes pensive yet understanding. She gave him a curt nod then bowed. She straightened then turned to leave. Then she stopped mid-step.

"Arigatou, Koenma. I understand," she said before resuming her leave.

Koenma watched his office door close with wistful eyes.

You need this break more than you care to realize, Botan. I assure you, it will work out for the best.

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Botan ambled aimlessly down the hall, not really having any place to be. She blinked heavily lidded eyes and raised a hand to her mouth to release a yawn.

During her yawn, her eyes were closed, of course, so you can imagine her surprise when she herself collide head on with a rather large obstacle. She bounced backward and landed promptly on her rear, biting her tongue in the process.

"Ack! I bit my tongue!" she hollered waving a hand in front of her face.

"Geez, Botan! Your head sure does hurt! I think you've done some damage!"

Botan gripped at her head as she felt her consciousness begin to swirl with pain.

"Tell me about it," she mumbled. She shook her head to rid it of it's dizzy spell. She cracked one of her eyes open and peered up at the offending object.

"Kazuma?!" she screeched. Kuwabara grinned down at her and held his hand out to her. Botan placed her small hand into the palm of his oversized one and he yanked her to her feet. She stumbled forward a bit then regained her balance. She straightened out her kimono and blew her bangs out of her face. Kuwabara laughed.

"I didn't notice you had that much readjusting to do!" he joked. She laughed then nodded.

"Well you did just knock the wind from my lungs!" she responded.

"Aye, gomen, Botan. You're so small, I didn't see you when I rounded the corner," he said while bowing politely. Botan fisted her hips.

"Small?! I am not small, Kazuma Kuwabara! The fact of the matter is, you're just too tall," she said with a nod. Kuwabara rolled his eyes.

"Sure, Botan. You're right... even if I can see clear over your head," he laughed. Botan crossed her arms over her chest and her eyes narrowed dangerously. She continued to glare at him for about three minutes before she broke into a goofy grin. She laughed merrily then dived on him. Kuwabara laughed then lifted her off the ground. He spun her around then set her back down. She took a few steps back to beam at him.

"What are you doing here, Kuwabara?" she asked. He shrugged then put his hands pockets.

"I guess I've missed ya'..." he said sheepishly. Botan looked at him disbelievingly.

"No... that's not true!" she laughed.

"Un hunh! Is too! That new ferry girl is totally screwed up! She mixes up our missions, spaces out, and forgets information that could be important to us! She's a total Space Case!" he exclaimed. Botan bit her lip.

"I wish I could come back. It feels like years even though it's been seven months. You guys don't know how much I miss you," she said.

"We miss you to, Botan! Especially Yusuke. I think he really needs your cheerful manner after finding out about Keiko," he replied. Botan frowned.

Keiko?

What about Keiko?

What had she done to him this time?

"What did she do?" she asked. Kuwabara waved his hand dismissively.

"Iie, she's done nothing wrong. She leaves for college in a few weeks. She told him a week after we all graduated. He carries it all inside, but I can tell he's torn up about it. I am his best bud after all," he said rocking back on his heels.

Botan had long since gotten angry and she sat there glaring at the floor and clenching her teeth so hard it was a wonder they didn't shatter. She would have continued on this way had not a heavy hand been laid on her shoulder. She glanced up to meet the curious blue eyes of Kuwabara.

"Are you alright? You look a little..." he said letting his sentence trail off. Botan laughed uneasily. She scolded herself mentally.

I musn't let my cover slip.

"Of course, of course. Just a tad bit... downhearted, I guess," she said, her usually vibrant eyes now hooded with fatigue.

Kuwabara pursed his lips and nodded understandingly. Then his eyes brightened and he grinned brightly as an idea struck him.

"Oh, I've got an idea!" he shouted putting a finger up. Botan looked at him warily.

Daioh knows how often that happens...

She mentally reprimanded herself then cocked her head to the side.

"And what might that be, Kuwa-chan?" she asked.

"Why don't I talk to Koenma? The runt might actually listen for once," he said. Botan placed finger to her chin thoughtfully.

"I don't know... what difference would it make who's asking? As long as it's not Enma Daioh, Koenma doesn't have to listen to anyone, which usually means he won't," she said after a moment's deliberation. Kuwabara shrugged.

"It's worth a shot. We'll never know unless we try," he said.

Botan nodded. She slid her arm through his and turned him towards the opposite direction of the hall. She looked up at him and smiled brightly as they began to walk.

"No," she said, "we won't."

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A/N: Ack! This sucked! But don't worry, the next chapter will certainly be better. Please review lovers! I'll give you a cookie... or sex. Whichever comes first!