Tricked

CS - After their talk, Botan finds herself a little more in love with our favorite kitsune, Kurama. She wishes no secrets to be kept between them but Kurama seems to think otherwise. What is it that Kurama is so willing to hide?

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Chapter 35 - Healing Old Scars

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Botan let the hot water carress every inch of her skin as she stood in the shower. She may have been there physically but not mentally. She thought about last night. When they had gotten in, they were both pretty tired so they laid down and went to sleep.. only she didn't fall asleep. Something was bothering Kurama. Was it something that she had said? She turned the shower off and got out, wrapping a towel around her lithe frame. She stared at herself in the reflection and felt tears coming to her eyes. How was it that she could be beautiful? She wanted to weep. She looked, even to her eyes, lovely in her reflection. She reached out and gently touched the mirror. Was it that she was actually happy? Did that make her radiant? No, she had been cheerful before and hadn't been beautiful.. to her eyes anyway. Or was it that Kurama made her feel beautiful? She smiled. He certainly did with the way he stared at her.

"My Kurama.." She whispered as she closed her eyes and leaned against the door. Then she backed up and opened the door. She went to her room to see Kurama still asleep. She smiled. She picked out a baby blue t-shirt with the same color skirt. She was having a little trouble clasping her bra with the way it clasped in the back but got it after another try. Then she slid on her panties then the top layers. She walked out of the bedroom and put the towel in the hamper. She was in the midst of cooking breakfast when she heard a chair scraping across the floor.

"You let me sleep in." She didn't turn around but continued to cook. She smiled and got the plates out with some silverware. "Need any help?"

"No, thank you." She said softly. When she turned around, Kurama stared at her. She walked over and set the plates on the table. "Eat up." She then went to the refridgerator and looked in, stopping. "Milk or orange juice?"

"Milk, if you would." He got up and got the glasses while she took the milk out. She poured it in the glasses and he carried them over to the table. "Going somewhere today?"

"A girl's day out with Yukina, Kieko, and Shizuru." She answered. "What about you? Isn't today the day that Yuusuke told you guys that you would have a guy's day out?" She turned around after putting the milk away and had her hands behind her back, untying the white apron she had on. Then she put it over her chair and gave him a smile.

"Yes, I believe it is." She sat down and they began eating, now in silence. Botan had cooked eggs and bacon with toast. "This is wonderful."

"Thank you." She said, blushing lightly at the compliment. She finished her small portion and stood up, putting her plate in the sink as she cleaned up her mess from cooking. When she heard Kurama's fork hit the plate, she turned and saw that he was done. She picked his plate up and put it in the sink to wash. Somehow, she wished every morning would be like this. A nice conversation within the comfortable limits over a home-cooked breakfast. She got on to the dishes and was sort of surprised when he began drying them and putting them away. She rinsed the last cup and handed it to him. When he put it away, he handed her the towel and she dried her hands. She was startled when she felt his arms around her and dropped the towel to the floor.

"Botan.." He began but stopped himself as he leaned down and gently touched his lips to hers. She gasped at the contact and nearly melted in his arms. She pulled away, tears in her eyes. He leaned down again, though, and placed butterfly kisses along her jaw to her neck, igniting fire wherever he placed his lips. Botan stood, as still as if she had been frozen, without any clue as to what to do. His lips touched a certain spot on her neck and she shuddered, without realizing why.

"Kurama.." She whispered almost painfully. He looked down at her and her eyes widened. He was crying. She stared at him in shock. "What's wrong?" She felt her own eyes sting with tears. He closed his eyes and looked away.

"I-It's nothing."

"But.." She stopped. Why was he acting like this? "You're hiding something from me, aren't you?" She asked softly, her tears giving way. "I knew something was wrong last night. You know you can tell me anything." She wrapped her arms around him and pulled him closer to her.

"N-No.. I'm not hiding anything."

"Don't resort to lying, Kurama. I know something's wrong." She looked up at him. He shook his head and pulled away from her.

"I have to go. Yuusuke and the others are waiting for me." He left and she sank to her knees on the floor.

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"Kitsune?" Hiei was in utter shock to see Kurama's cold expression. It wasn't calm. It was cold. It made a shiver run down his spine.

"What is it that you want, Hiei?" The koorime could come up with no response so he shook his head.

"What happened?"

"Nothing." A twinge of guilt tainted his voice.

"You didn't hurt her, did you?" Hiei asked, stopping right in his tracks. Kurama said nothing and didn't stop. The koorime decided to see for himself what he did. He went to the temple. He knew Genkai kept to herself and so gave Botan the entire thing. She had moved into a house somewhere in the woods behind it. He got inside and quietly made his way to the kitchen, where he heard something. Botan was kneeling on the floor, tears rolling down her face and her shoulders were shaking. She hadn't even looked this hurt in her nightmares when she had killed Kurama. What had the foolish kitsune done? "Botan?" She gasped and turned around, her eyes wide.

"H-Hiei? What are you doing here?" She was shocked when he kneeled down in front of her and wiped her tears away.

"Stop this foolish nonsense. Tell me what he did."

"He's hiding something from me, Hiei. We were talking last night and.." Hiei took her chin in one hand and tilted her head to the side. He nodded and sighed.

"When I saw him, it wasn't too hard to guess what he had done."

"What do you mean?" She asked, blinking.

"I am not about to reveal what he wished to keep secret. However, I can talk to him and get him to tell you." He stood up, bringing her with him. He pulled her into his arms for an embrace and met with no resistance. "Be patient with him. He's stupid and doesn't realize what he has. I will speak with him."

"Thank you, Hiei.." He pushed her away and stared into her eyes for a moment before he was gone.

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"What's wrong, Botan? You look a little sad." Keiko said, concerned. Shizuru slapped Botan on the back.

"Nothing a day with the girls can't fix, right?" She asked with a smirk. Botan smiled and nodded.

"Right."

"Then by all means, let's hit the mall!" Everyone stared at Shizuru, not used to her being this cheerful. "What are you staring at? Get in the car!" They did as she said quickly so they didn't make her mad before they got the chance to have a good day.

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"What is wrong with you, kitsune?" Hiei asked harshly. "Hiding something so stupid and childish from her. She won't care!" Yuusuke and Kuwabara were walking ahead of them, going from place to place, scaring different people, so on and so forth..

"Hiei, I can't tell her. I tried to last night but it.. it's just too hard to say."

"What is so damn hard about it? You could have just said 'I want you to know that I had other mates'. It isn't like you're going back to them, you know." Kurama glared at the koorime.

"Two others, Hiei."

"And this is such a crime." He said sarcastically. "You could tell her about arrest records but not about this!?"

"Get off my back, would you?"

"Not until you tell her the truth. She's hurting, Kurama. All because of that stupid little secret!" This seemed to get to him. The kitsune was having trouble comprehending, Hiei noticed. "Will you stop this nonsense? That's all it is. I haven't told her and I won't. You have to do it. You owe her that much." The koorime growled. "That is the reason that you have not marked her, correct?"

"Yes, that is the reason." Kurama stared ahead and sighed. "I know that I'm hurting her but I don't want her to know about them."

"They hurt you. This is some BIG deal, right? Keep doing this and you won't have a third. She cares for you, stupid. Don't ruin it."

"Hiei.." The koorime had stopped listening. "Fine, I'll try to do it later. Now, will you please cut it out?"

"As long as you tell her." Kurama nodded and Hiei was satisfied by this. He cared for the girl and didn't like it when she was hurt. And this would not hurt her. She wouldn't leave him because he got hurt by two other women! As simple as it was, the koorime knew it would be hard on the kitsune. Kurama then attempted to smile.

"It seemed like forever has passed.." Hiei snorted.

"Forever has passed. What was the first one's name? Kumiko?"

"Yes and then there was Masumi.."

"At least you waited fifty years before being stupid again." The koorime pointed out. Kurama gave him a look. "Hn."

"I never thought I would've found another. And you're one to talk!"

"I had no stupid obsessions to possess a female."

"No, you didn't." Kurama said with a smirk. "But you did like one, that I remember."

"We're not talking about me, kitsune." Hiei scowled. "I can't recall children."

"Oh, they had children." Kurama said, frowning. "That weren't mine. Both of them. They didn't love me and I was stupid and naive to think that they would. With all the power I had back then.."

"True, kitsune." Hiei's crimson eyes went to his partner. "I've killed wenches for even thinking of trying to seduce me."

"Kuronue did, as well, I believe." Kurama smiled. "Maybe I am being foolish, Hiei. It wouldn't hurt for Botan to know, right?"

"Of course not."

-

Botan sighed. She couldn't get Kurama out of her mind. He had cried over something and she wanted to know what it was. She saw something in the corner of her eye and, in a flash, she wasn't at the mall anymore.

"Well, well, well.." A female voice said in her ear. "Look at what I've caught in my net. A lovely little creature you are, angel."

"Who are you?" Botan asked, looking around for the source of the voice.

"Me? My name is Masumi." A young-looking demon woman appeared before her with a smile on her face. She had dark black hair and large blue eyes. "I'm interested to know about you, angel."

"Why?"

"Because his scent is all over you, my dear."

"Who's scent?" She was shaking now. "Answer me!"

"My question first. What is your name?"

"Botan.."

"Ah, well, little Botan.. You are covered with my Youko Kurama's scent." Botan then got angry.

"What do you mean your Kurama? He isn't yours!" If she hadn't been chained up, this girl would so get it..

"Did he not tell you about me? Or about Kumiko?"

"Who?"

"We were his mates before you. Too bad he threw us away. It's been over a hundred years since I've seen him. You've tainted his scent now, so I will kill you when your purpose has run out."

"My purpose!?" Botan cried. Her eyes suddenly went wide.

"I plan on using you to lure my Youko back to me. He will remember me and fall back in love with me. Then I will have him and you will be dead!" Botan's eyes filled tears. Is this what Kurama had been hiding? She wouldn't have cared about it if he had only told her..

"Oh, Kurama.."

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Both Hiei and Kurama stopped dead in their tracks.

"You sensed it, too?" Kurama asked and Hiei nodded.

"You get the morons and meet me at the ningen mall." With that, Hiei was nothing but a black blur. He had to find his apprentice. She meant a lot to him. Perhaps more than he would wish to admit. He cared for her like he cared for Yukina. He treated her like a little sister.

"Yuusuke, Kuwabara!" The two turned to look at him. "Hiei and I think Botan's been kidnapped. We've got to meet him at the mall. That is where the girls are."

"Right!"

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Shizuru was way past angry. She wanted to pound someone's head into the pavement. She cracked her knuckles and looked around.

"She couldn't simply vanish, right?"

"No, she couldn't." A voice said behind her.

"Hiei!" Yukina looked at him with wide eyes. "Botan was here a moment ago with us but she has vanished."

"I know. Kurama and the others are coming soon. Until then, I will do my best to find her." He didn't wait for a reply but went forward until he saw something. His crimson eyes narrowed. He smirked. Clever wench, she was. He walked right into it and found himself in a dark chamber with just barely enough light to see by. He walked until he came to where he saw two figures. One was bound by the rope and he was guessing that was Botan. "Masumi, how stupid of you to leave your link open to intruders."

"Who the hell-"

"Hiei!?" Masumi's face changed immediately.

"Hiei.. What are you doing here? Why are you here?" The koorime calmly walked closer until he was just in front of Botan. He drew his katana and cut her loose, catching her in his arms when she fell. He set her down and glared at Masumi.

"Don't worry, bitch, I will not kill you. I believe you already have a score to settle. We will await his arrival." Botan felt like she was too weak to even stand.

"Why couldn't he tell me, Hiei?"

"Because he was afraid you would leave him for it." Hiei's crimson eyes showed his understanding. "He was planning on telling you tonight. I will leave it up to him to tell you the full extent of what happened."

"He is coming here?"

"Not for you, wench. He doesn't care if you die or not. He is coming for Botan." The koorime's harsh words didn't surprise Botan at all but Masumi took it personally.

"Why her!?"

"Because she isn't a cheating, lying, good-for-nothing.."

"Botan!" The kitsune's voice interrupted Hiei's words and Kurama ran toward them. "Masumi? What the hell are you doing here?"

"What have you done to yourself!?"

"I share a human body with Youko now. Shows how much you know about me." He transformed and glared at her. "This is the form you were accustomed to, wasn't it?"

"Yes, Youko.."

"Well, it is your time, Masumi. This is the greatest offense to me and you deserve the punishment." He took a rose from his hair and threw it at her. She let out a choked cry and Botan turned her gaze away. Youko gathered her up in his arms and walked silently away.

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"Botan.. I'm sorry I didn't tell you but I thought-" Botan glared at him, clenching her fists in anger.

"I wouldn't have cared if you had told me! Why keep it a secret!? You can tell me about arrest records until you're blue in the face but not about past mates!?" She wasn't only angry but she was hurt. "You're supposed to believe that no matter what, I'll trust you."

"And that's why I couldn't! I was afraid of losing you!"

"But that is no excuse not to tell me about something that's hurting you! I love you, Kurama. No matter what went on in the past, we're supposed to share secrets! I'll tell you one now. I dated other people! Five to be exact! Koenma, two when I was alive, and two in Reikai." He stared at her. "Do you trust me enough now? Do you think I'll run back to them and cry into their arms saying 'you were better to me'?"

"No." He confessed. She sighed.

"I think it would be better if I stayed with Keiko. She offered." She packed some things without looking at him and left the temple, leaving him to sit there and brood about how stupid he'd been.

"I told you, kitsune."

"I know, Hiei."

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Next chapter:

Chapter 36 - Girl Games

Botan and the girls decide to have a little fun to let loose. Keiko and Shizuru both know what Botan's going through because they've been told by Botan herself. What are they planning?

Thank you for reading.. OMG! Currently 2 more reviews until 300! (nearly falls over in chair)