Chapter 1

One month later:

Yuuske, Kuwabara, Hiei, and kurama all sat in Yuuske's room, completely bored. Nothing really important had happened in the last month, and that is something the Uremeshi Team was not used to.

"Damn it," Yuuske complained, "another stupid boring day, even the arcade is getting old."

"Yeah," agreed Kuwabara, "there is nothing to do anymore. I didn't think life could get so boring without fighting demons every day."

"Life is ironic," Kurama added.

"Hn, you all are just foolish," Hiei said annoyed. "If you had any brains, you would do what I've been doing."

"Oh yeah, and what's that? Trying to get taller," Kuwabara said.

Hiei shot Kuwabara a death look and growled. "No you fool; training."

"Well for your information, Shrimp, I have been expanding my terf. Nobody messes with me now," Kuwabara boasted.

"Fighting other humans? How pathetic, no wonder nobody fights with you, why bother with such an idiot?" Hiei smirked.

"Listen . . ."

"Children," Yuuske said annoyed. "Could you shut up already?"

"Hello everyone!" Botan said as she came through the door, smiling.

Kurama stood up. "Good morning, Botan," Kurama said, happy now that she was there with him. She walked right over to him and wrapped her arms around him, and he did the same.

"Kurama, it has been a while. I missed you!" she said.

"I have missed you also, Botan . . ."

"Hey, what about us?" Kuwabara complained.

"Holy crap, it's only been three days," Yuuske said. "Geez, I wonder what it would be like if you were separated for a month."

The two let go of each other and sat down. Yuuske lifted his eyebrow at Botan.

"Is there a reason you've come, Botan?" Yuuske asked.

"Actually, yes," she replied. " I came here from Genkai's Temple. She wants all of you to come this afternoon."

"Why, has something happened?" Yuuske asked anxiously with hope in his eyes.

"No, silly," Botan giggled. "She wants you to meet some people."

"Who?" asked Kuwabara.

"Well, I'm not entirely sure, but I think they are fighters that Genkai believes can help you improve," Botan answered.

"Great, now she's gonna make us work our asses off," Yuuske said.

"Really, Yuuske, you were just complaining that there was nothing to do. Now, when an opportunity presents itself, you'd prefer not to do that either."

"Fine," Yuuske shouted, "I'll go to stupid grandmas' house and let her kick my ass in what she calls 'training.'"

"Hn, that sounds interesting," Hiei said, exited for the challenge, well . . . as exited as Hiei can get.

"Great, then it's all set," Botan said.

"Botan," Kurama said as he turned to her, "since you're here why don't we go out to lunch before we head over to Genkai's."

"That sounds great," she chirped with a smile. "I just have to go to Reikai really quick and inform Koenma of our plans. I'll meet you at your house when I'm done."

Kurama nodded as Yuuske spoke up. "But Botan," Yuuske said slyly, "don't you mean your place?" He smiled fiendishly. "I mean, that's where we went when we when we wanted too. . ."

Kurama and Botan punched Yuuske faster then anyone could anticipate.

"So," Kurama said in his usual calm voice, as Yuuske was knocked out on the floor. "We'll all meet at Genkai's around . . . 2:00 this afternoon then."

Kurama and Botan were eating lunch and talking in a small restaurant that Botan picked out. They were so wrapped up in each other's company that they didn't notice Yuuske and Kuwabara spying on them from behind a bush, close to where they were sitting.

"So, Botan," Kurama said, "Will you be staying with us at Genkai's?"

"Oh, most definitely," She answered.

"Good, then it won't be so boring after all."

"Like it could get boring with those three anyway."

Kurama chuckled. "Right, Yuuske, Kuwabara, and Hiei will always keep the place lively."

"I heard our names," said Kuwabara. "Do you think they saw us?"

"No, stupid, they are talking about Genkai's. When is this gonna get interesting?" Yuuske said, aggravated.

"Botan, I've been wanting to know, how does Koenma feel about how calm things have been?" Kurama asked.

"You know Koenma, he is skeptical of it. He said, 'If something hasn't happened for this long, it means something is going to happen soon.'"

"Hm . . . not used to the quit is he?"

"I suppose not."

"So," kurama said, "How long to you expect we will be at Genkai's?"

Botan didn't answer. Kurama looked up to see if something was wrong and saw Botan looking at him, but, not really looking at him. More like looking through him as if she was in her own little world.

"Botan?" He shook her hand a bit to try and bring her back to reality, but she wouldn't budge.

"Botan . . . Botan . . . Botan . . ."

"What?" she looked at him.

"What was that?"

"What was what, Kurama?"

"You just zoned out suddenly."

"Oh, I don't know what you mean." She looked a little uncomfortable.

Kurama looked at Botan in disbelief. It was not the fist time he had noticed Botan acting strangely like that. She had been in and out of these blackouts for a month now. Ever since the time she fainted. Everyone seemed to forget about that little incident, except Kurama. He was the only one who thought what had happened was more then it seemed. 'Botan may not be a fighter,' he thought, 'but she is not weak. I can't believe that she simply fainted out of stress. We have been through much worse in the past.' He was coming to the assumption that the current blackouts and Botan's passing out were somehow connected. Maybe Koenma was right about her past coming back to her. Botan began to feel uncomfortable with his gaze.

"Really, Kurama, I was just thinking about something."

Kurama was about to question her further when they were interrupted by the familiar shouts of Yuuske and Kuwabara.

"It appears we are not alone," Botan said, wanting to change the subject. She hated lying to Kurama like that. It hurt her to deceive him, but she didn't know how to explain what was happening to her. She didn't want him to worry if it was nothing serious, besides, she needed to figure out what is was, for herself, first.

Kurama decided to let it drop. If something was going on with Botan, she was obviously not ready to talk about it.

Kurama paid for their lunch and they walked out to stand behind Yuuske and Kuwabara, who were too busy wrestling with each other to notice. People began to stare at the two boys fighting outside of the restaurant, so Kurama spoke up.

"So, what started this argument?" He asked half smiling.

Yuuske and Kuwabara froze. They slowly turned to face Kurama and Botan looking down on them.

"Oh, hey. Funny seeing you guys here," Yuuske stammered. "Duffus Brain and I were just taking a walk, then one thing led to another, and we started talking with our fists." He put one hand behind his head and began to laugh uncomfortably.

"Behind a bush that was coincidently right were Kurama and I were sitting?" Botan said with fake astonishment.

"Yeah, boy that's weird," Kuwabara added.

"Well, since we are all here, we might as well head over to Genkai's," Kurama said.

"Sounds good to me," said Yuuske.

They all left for Genkai's Temple, eager to learn about the new fighters Genkai found. Next to the restaurant where Botan and Kurama had been, a man stood up and followed the group, his eyes fixed on Botan.

Sorry, this chapter was kind of slow. Please be patient with me, I am trying to lead into the good parts. In the next chapter the Urameshi Team meet the new fighters, one of which seems to take an instant disliking to Botan, and Kurama takes a disliking to him as well. Botan talks to Genkai about her blackouts. Does Genkai know something about Botan's condition? As Botan's blackouts get worse and threaten her health, Kurama must confront Koenma and find out about her past. Is there a reason Botan is losing control of herself so fast?

I promise it will all come together in the end!