-Tricked-
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Chapter 18 - Hidden Fears
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Botan supported Kurama and set him gently in the steaming water of the bath she had drawn for him. She watched as the water turned red before she could even get a chance to set him fully in there. She took a washcloth and some soap. She gently rubbed his arms, chest, back, and legs. His soft red locks were stuck together with clumps of blood. She rinsed him off. His worst wound was on his back.
"At least I got a victory." He mumbled. She glared at him. He looked over at her with a solemn look on his face. "What?"
"At least you got a victory!? Kurama, you could have been killed! What the hell were you thinking, continuing with the match when you could hardly stand!?" He winced slightly when she squeezed his arm. Her eyes burned with anger and pain. "It hurt me to stand there and watch as you almost died in the ring."
"Botan, please.." She stood up. "I'm sorry. Listen, those demons are not the type to let one give up." He narrowed his emerald eyes at her. He was very upset with her reaction. "I admit, it was stupid of me to try any of that." She smiled slightly, pained.
"I understand, Kurama." She turned around, facing the door. "Call to me if you need me." He nodded and watched her leave.
"Botan?" He heard Yuusuke outside the door. "How are you?" Botan sat down on the bed and waited for Yuusuke to open the door.
"I'm fine."
"You sure? You seem upset." He sat down next to her and watched her. She looked at him then looked right back away. "I heard a little commotion. Everything okay?"
"Everything is just fine." She took a shaky breath. "I-I was just shook up, that's all. Y'know.. from the match." He nodded and set his hand on hers.
"Hey, when has Kurama of all people ever failed?" He gave her a reassuring smile. "He fought strong when he was bound and couldn't move. He risked his life to beat Touya when his energy was sealed. You remember."
"I know.. but it worried me.."
"Just have faith in him. If he keels over and doesn't move for some time, then we'll have something to worry about." She laughed lightly and smiled.
"You're right, Yuusuke."
"Where is he?"
"Primping." He laughed. "No, he's washing his wounds off. The water turned red before I even got him in fully."
"Its even redder. More like my hair." Kurama had a towel around his waist and was struggling to stand up straight. "I think they're ready to be bandaged." Botan stood up and glared heatedly at him.
"Why are you even up?" She crossed her arms. He shrugged.
"I want my bandages."
"Sit." He plopped down in the nearest seat and sighed, rubbing his head. "You're sleeping after we get you done. I need some help. Yuusuke, where is Hiei?" Yuusuke tapped his chin then smiled.
"I think I saw him go into his room earlier. I'm not sure if he left or not."
"Thanks."
"I'll get him for you."
"'K."
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Botan sat in a chair next to the bed Kurama was asleep in. She put her hand on his forehead and caught his temp. It was normal enough. Kurama was in a deep, peaceful sleep and she was glad it wasn't a nightmare.
"You worry me sick." She whispered. Her voice cracked. She got up and left the room, going into the bathroom. She started just cleaning out the tub and the sink for something to do. She sat on the floor and sighed heavily. She leaned her head against the cupboard under the sink, tenderly touching the sensitive area of her stomach. Her back was still a little sore, too. She stood up. There was something about this tournament that she didn't like. Tomorrow would hold the rest of the matches and she could hardly wait. She really didn't want it, but it had to happen.
"Botan?" Botan jumped and looked up, wincing when she jolted her back.
"K-Kurama?" He sat down on the floor with her and looked around. She stared at him with this unreadable look on her face.
"I never knew how much fun it was to sit on the bathroom floor." She scowled at him and fell backwards, closing her eyes. "Now you want to lay down on the floor? Not bad."
"Shut it." She could almost see him pouting. She sat up and kissed his cheek lightly. "How're you feeling?"
"A little better. You and Hiei did a nice job." He paused. "Come to think of it, how in the world did he help? I mean, this is Hiei. He likes to wound, hurt, and kill. He never dreamed of helping anyone else."
"You're right.." She said thoughtfully. "Hm, Hiei might've just been in a good mood.." They stared at each other then burst out laughing. Once they calmed down, Botan tried to calm the pain and so did Kurama. "Not likely, hmm?"
"Not at all." An idea hit her and she smiled faintly. He stared at her.
"Maybe he wanted to help out someone who deserves it, someone he cares about." Her soft tone made it more of a sweet thought.
"That probably is it." He smiled slightly. They heard a knock and Kurama got up, going to the door. Being a demon helped a little. It was Hiei.
"I see you are up." He took Kurama's shoulders and turned him this way and that. "Our hard word isn't damaged any. I suppose it was done well enough." Kurama shook his head and pulled Hiei inside. "What's wrong with you?"
"I need to talk to you alone."
"Come with me, then." Hiei opened the door again and waited.
"Hiei and I will be back in a little while." Botan appeared in the doorway. She looked worried, tired, and in pain. She just nodded. "Don't worry, we're not training." That seemed to relieve her a little.
"See you when you get back, then."
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Kurama and Hiei walked in silence until they were outside and a little way away from the hotel. Hiei continuously glanced at his friend and partner out of the corner of his eye.
"What is this about, kitsune?" He stopped and plopped himself under a tree. Kurama sat down next to him and thought about how to put it. Hiei gave him time. He knew that the kitsune thought this was important.
"I'm a little worried about Botan. She's been acting weird and hasn't been herself lately." Kurama sighed. "She just isn't the same.."
"Everyone changes, Kurama. They can't be the same forever." Hiei crossed his arms and stared at the kitsune.
"I know that. Its just that she's a little up-tight. Just a little while ago when I woke up, I found her sitting on the bathroom floor with her head leaning on the cabinet. I just don't know what's wrong. She won't tell me." Kurama stated. He figured that Hiei could know. She might've told her teacher something that she didn't tell him.
"She didn't tell me anything. You need to learn how to ask. Sit down with her, for god's sake." Hiei scowled.
"I plan on it. I also wanted to say something else to you."
"Which is?"
"That I'm grateful to you for everything you've done. Training her to the best of your ability, helping me out, and just.. being on our side." Kurama's frown told Hiei that he was completely serious. Hiei smirked and slapped Kurama on the back.
"No need to thank me for that." He rolled his eyes. "What you do need to thank me for is not strangling that moron."
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"Well.." Botan stared off the cliff. Tears rolled down her face. "Tomorrow.." She felt more hot tears spill down from her amethyst eyes. "The day of doom.."
"The coming of the dawn." She looked back. Hiei stood behind her. He looked down at her. "Stop crying." She didn't. He sat down next to her.
"Tomorrow is going to be.. hard to go through." She turned to look at him. He looked away, staring out over the churning waters of the sea.
"It will." He agreed in a quiet voice. "Kurama's wounds are almost fully healed." She didn't tear her gaze away from the large, blue body.
"That's good." The wind picked up and whistled in her ears. She shivered. She felt someone's arm slip around her and pull her up. Hiei held her in his arms.
"You're not getting sick. Tomorrow, we'll need every member on our team." He leaped into the air. She felt as though Hiei was more like a brother now. He was kind to her.. or as kind as he had been to everyone but Kurama.
"Thank you, Hiei." The tear trails on her pale face dried and she smiled slightly. He looked down at her and raised an eyebrow. Then he caught on and smiled back at her. The smile looked nice on his face, but it wasn't anything she would get used to. That may have been his last smile. Maybe it was the start of a happier life for all of them.
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Botan watched the small, gleaming droplets slid down the pane of glass. The pitter-patter soothed her to no end. The rain trickled down the window and reminded her of tears, sliding down someone's face. Tears, just like rain, never traveled in a straight line. Broken lines and zigzags made up the trails.
"Rain is pretty, isn't it?" A very soothing, relaxed voice whispered softly. She nodded and turned to Kurama.
"Yes, very pretty." She sat back on the bed. "So soothing, too." He nodded in agreement.
"Anything wrong?"
"No." She answered simply. Her eyes betrayed her. "Just been thinking about tomorrow."
"Makes you wonder who isn't." He said, sitting down next to her. She smiled at him.
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Another chapter down!
-Jess-
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Chapter 18 - Hidden Fears
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Botan supported Kurama and set him gently in the steaming water of the bath she had drawn for him. She watched as the water turned red before she could even get a chance to set him fully in there. She took a washcloth and some soap. She gently rubbed his arms, chest, back, and legs. His soft red locks were stuck together with clumps of blood. She rinsed him off. His worst wound was on his back.
"At least I got a victory." He mumbled. She glared at him. He looked over at her with a solemn look on his face. "What?"
"At least you got a victory!? Kurama, you could have been killed! What the hell were you thinking, continuing with the match when you could hardly stand!?" He winced slightly when she squeezed his arm. Her eyes burned with anger and pain. "It hurt me to stand there and watch as you almost died in the ring."
"Botan, please.." She stood up. "I'm sorry. Listen, those demons are not the type to let one give up." He narrowed his emerald eyes at her. He was very upset with her reaction. "I admit, it was stupid of me to try any of that." She smiled slightly, pained.
"I understand, Kurama." She turned around, facing the door. "Call to me if you need me." He nodded and watched her leave.
"Botan?" He heard Yuusuke outside the door. "How are you?" Botan sat down on the bed and waited for Yuusuke to open the door.
"I'm fine."
"You sure? You seem upset." He sat down next to her and watched her. She looked at him then looked right back away. "I heard a little commotion. Everything okay?"
"Everything is just fine." She took a shaky breath. "I-I was just shook up, that's all. Y'know.. from the match." He nodded and set his hand on hers.
"Hey, when has Kurama of all people ever failed?" He gave her a reassuring smile. "He fought strong when he was bound and couldn't move. He risked his life to beat Touya when his energy was sealed. You remember."
"I know.. but it worried me.."
"Just have faith in him. If he keels over and doesn't move for some time, then we'll have something to worry about." She laughed lightly and smiled.
"You're right, Yuusuke."
"Where is he?"
"Primping." He laughed. "No, he's washing his wounds off. The water turned red before I even got him in fully."
"Its even redder. More like my hair." Kurama had a towel around his waist and was struggling to stand up straight. "I think they're ready to be bandaged." Botan stood up and glared heatedly at him.
"Why are you even up?" She crossed her arms. He shrugged.
"I want my bandages."
"Sit." He plopped down in the nearest seat and sighed, rubbing his head. "You're sleeping after we get you done. I need some help. Yuusuke, where is Hiei?" Yuusuke tapped his chin then smiled.
"I think I saw him go into his room earlier. I'm not sure if he left or not."
"Thanks."
"I'll get him for you."
"'K."
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Botan sat in a chair next to the bed Kurama was asleep in. She put her hand on his forehead and caught his temp. It was normal enough. Kurama was in a deep, peaceful sleep and she was glad it wasn't a nightmare.
"You worry me sick." She whispered. Her voice cracked. She got up and left the room, going into the bathroom. She started just cleaning out the tub and the sink for something to do. She sat on the floor and sighed heavily. She leaned her head against the cupboard under the sink, tenderly touching the sensitive area of her stomach. Her back was still a little sore, too. She stood up. There was something about this tournament that she didn't like. Tomorrow would hold the rest of the matches and she could hardly wait. She really didn't want it, but it had to happen.
"Botan?" Botan jumped and looked up, wincing when she jolted her back.
"K-Kurama?" He sat down on the floor with her and looked around. She stared at him with this unreadable look on her face.
"I never knew how much fun it was to sit on the bathroom floor." She scowled at him and fell backwards, closing her eyes. "Now you want to lay down on the floor? Not bad."
"Shut it." She could almost see him pouting. She sat up and kissed his cheek lightly. "How're you feeling?"
"A little better. You and Hiei did a nice job." He paused. "Come to think of it, how in the world did he help? I mean, this is Hiei. He likes to wound, hurt, and kill. He never dreamed of helping anyone else."
"You're right.." She said thoughtfully. "Hm, Hiei might've just been in a good mood.." They stared at each other then burst out laughing. Once they calmed down, Botan tried to calm the pain and so did Kurama. "Not likely, hmm?"
"Not at all." An idea hit her and she smiled faintly. He stared at her.
"Maybe he wanted to help out someone who deserves it, someone he cares about." Her soft tone made it more of a sweet thought.
"That probably is it." He smiled slightly. They heard a knock and Kurama got up, going to the door. Being a demon helped a little. It was Hiei.
"I see you are up." He took Kurama's shoulders and turned him this way and that. "Our hard word isn't damaged any. I suppose it was done well enough." Kurama shook his head and pulled Hiei inside. "What's wrong with you?"
"I need to talk to you alone."
"Come with me, then." Hiei opened the door again and waited.
"Hiei and I will be back in a little while." Botan appeared in the doorway. She looked worried, tired, and in pain. She just nodded. "Don't worry, we're not training." That seemed to relieve her a little.
"See you when you get back, then."
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Kurama and Hiei walked in silence until they were outside and a little way away from the hotel. Hiei continuously glanced at his friend and partner out of the corner of his eye.
"What is this about, kitsune?" He stopped and plopped himself under a tree. Kurama sat down next to him and thought about how to put it. Hiei gave him time. He knew that the kitsune thought this was important.
"I'm a little worried about Botan. She's been acting weird and hasn't been herself lately." Kurama sighed. "She just isn't the same.."
"Everyone changes, Kurama. They can't be the same forever." Hiei crossed his arms and stared at the kitsune.
"I know that. Its just that she's a little up-tight. Just a little while ago when I woke up, I found her sitting on the bathroom floor with her head leaning on the cabinet. I just don't know what's wrong. She won't tell me." Kurama stated. He figured that Hiei could know. She might've told her teacher something that she didn't tell him.
"She didn't tell me anything. You need to learn how to ask. Sit down with her, for god's sake." Hiei scowled.
"I plan on it. I also wanted to say something else to you."
"Which is?"
"That I'm grateful to you for everything you've done. Training her to the best of your ability, helping me out, and just.. being on our side." Kurama's frown told Hiei that he was completely serious. Hiei smirked and slapped Kurama on the back.
"No need to thank me for that." He rolled his eyes. "What you do need to thank me for is not strangling that moron."
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"Well.." Botan stared off the cliff. Tears rolled down her face. "Tomorrow.." She felt more hot tears spill down from her amethyst eyes. "The day of doom.."
"The coming of the dawn." She looked back. Hiei stood behind her. He looked down at her. "Stop crying." She didn't. He sat down next to her.
"Tomorrow is going to be.. hard to go through." She turned to look at him. He looked away, staring out over the churning waters of the sea.
"It will." He agreed in a quiet voice. "Kurama's wounds are almost fully healed." She didn't tear her gaze away from the large, blue body.
"That's good." The wind picked up and whistled in her ears. She shivered. She felt someone's arm slip around her and pull her up. Hiei held her in his arms.
"You're not getting sick. Tomorrow, we'll need every member on our team." He leaped into the air. She felt as though Hiei was more like a brother now. He was kind to her.. or as kind as he had been to everyone but Kurama.
"Thank you, Hiei." The tear trails on her pale face dried and she smiled slightly. He looked down at her and raised an eyebrow. Then he caught on and smiled back at her. The smile looked nice on his face, but it wasn't anything she would get used to. That may have been his last smile. Maybe it was the start of a happier life for all of them.
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Botan watched the small, gleaming droplets slid down the pane of glass. The pitter-patter soothed her to no end. The rain trickled down the window and reminded her of tears, sliding down someone's face. Tears, just like rain, never traveled in a straight line. Broken lines and zigzags made up the trails.
"Rain is pretty, isn't it?" A very soothing, relaxed voice whispered softly. She nodded and turned to Kurama.
"Yes, very pretty." She sat back on the bed. "So soothing, too." He nodded in agreement.
"Anything wrong?"
"No." She answered simply. Her eyes betrayed her. "Just been thinking about tomorrow."
"Makes you wonder who isn't." He said, sitting down next to her. She smiled at him.
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Another chapter down!
-Jess-