Botan's POV
Whoa... ugh... I think I've got a concussion.
As soon as my mind began to operate again, the chilling events from earlier ran through it. Soon after, my body went rigid with an almost unbearable pain. I sucked in my breath in a hiss, my eyes clenching even tighter. It seems like I'm in even more pain then before I fell unconscious.
That drop...
Of course, that drop. I had to have fallen about ten feet from the air. I didn't know exactly where I was, but I had to get up and find my way out.
Boy, had I lost a lot of blood. But... I'm a fighter, so soon, I had to be on my feet and out of this clearing, as I was sure I was a sitting duck. It was a wonder how I hadn't been picked off already.
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Botan moaned tiredly. Her eyelids trembled lightly before she reluctantly pried them open. She concentrated and with difficulty, her hazy vision began to focus. She blinked slowly trying to process where exactly she was.
She craned her neck upwards, sending jolts of agony down her spinal cord. She released a pained yelp and let her head drop back to the ground with an uncouth thud. She licked her lips, tasting the dry, metallic piquancy that coated them.
Soon, she concluded that she was still in the field she fell in. She tried vainly to get into a sitting position only to give up moments later due to the pain. She breathed heavily, determined to get to her feet. She gritted her teeth and began to try again. After several minutes of struggle, she was finally able to move into a sitting position. She sighed, blowing her soiled bangs from her face.
Now comes the hard part, she thought to herself. She placed both of her hands on the ground between her legs and bent over as far as she could. She folded one leg so that it was erect, then the other. She inhaled deeply and shut her eyes tight.
And a one, and a two... and a three! she coaxed herself mentally as she hoisted her body upward into a standing position. She stumbled forward a bit, but caught her balance quickly. The grass was tall enough to hide her body when lying down, but it was short enough for her to see over when standing. In the distance, about one hundred yards away from where she stood, was a wooded area. Botan turned and searched behind her but found nothing but field. She knew that if she walked that way again, she would come across that horridly devious plant again. Her painfully tense muscles constricted just at the thought. So, she turned back around and began walking.
If she was lucky, she would run into some nice demon's home and ask for some assistance.
Botan snorted.
If she was lucky.
Botan trudged onward, and though she was in excruciating pain and her limbs were sorely numb, she made it across the field. She released a celebratory sigh as she made it to the edge of the forest... that is, until she saw the great ditch she had to cross.
Botan sighed again, this time in grief, as tears began to well in her eyes. She released a dry sigh, knowing that her body didn't have the strength to scramble down or climb back up the massive hole. Her chest began to ache and she reached up to clutch at the ripped fabric as she felt her knees give way. She fell to the ground on her knees, and the rest of her body went limp. Her arm fell back to her side as her breaths became heavy and slow. Her head bobbed and her chin hit her chest. Then she leaned forward, her head swirling with pain as she plummeted towards the leafy depths of the ditch...
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Botan's eyes began to blur as she desperately fought off the calling darkness that threatened to consume her once more. Suddenly, a figure popped up above her face. She could barely make out the features of a masculine stature from underneath the shadowy confines of the hat he wore. And there was something dark that framed both sides of his face. A scarf, maybe... maybe a head wrap from the sun.
Then, her vision seemed to clear somewhat and she noticed it was neither. It was his long, ebony strands that framed his unreadable face. The stranger turned his face to do a quick visual sweep of her battered body before he looked at her face again.
"You don't look so good," he said blatantly.
Botan swallowed at the sound of his voice. She couldn't focus on his face clearly, but she could tell he was attractive by his becoming tone. She might have been dying, but hell, she was still a girl.
The man leaned a small bit closer, memorizing every detail of her beaten face. He reached out to wipe away some of the dried blood that was caked in the corner of her mouth, and Botan just knew that he was a wealthy man. Either that, or he was gay. His thumb was much too soft, so unlike the rough, calloused fingers of a haggard demon.
The man took hold of Botan's good hand gently. He lifted it to his nose and sniffed curiously. He snorted and set it back on her bloodied chest. Then he leaned down slowly so that his face was right next to her ear.
"Allow me to take you back to my lair. My partner and I will heal your wounds. You can bathe that horrid stench from your skin and stay to recuperate. If you choose to decline my offer, I will stand and leave without a second thought, abandoning you to your fate of death," he whispered to her. Had she not had been so weak, Botan would have shivered from both the coldness of his voice and the warmth of his breath. He drew back to look at her face.
Botan opened her mouth to respond to his offer, but her throat was much too raw for a verbal response. So her mouth sat open, gaping like a dying fish.
"Say it..." the stranger coaxed quietly. Still, he received no response. He frowned and stood, his lean figure looming over her vulnerable form.
"Say it..." he said softly. Botan tried again, but could only manage a small frustrated grunt from the thought of being left on the ground. Then she lifted a bloodied hand from her wounded chest to clutch at his tattered black pant leg. Her fist tightened resolutely and she swallowed to slake her throat.
"...Yes," she responded hoarsely. Upon hearing her acceptance, the man did not hesitate to kneel beside her once more. He slid a hand underneath her back and the other in the undersides of her knees and hoisted her to his chest with ease. Botan's broken arm was cradled to her chest as the other hung loosely at her side, flouncing as he pushed himself up from the ground. He gave her a side smirk as he shifted her weight in his arms.
"I hope you aren't afraid of heights," he said.
Out the corner of her eye, Botan saw something large flutter behind him. Then her eyes widened as she realized what they were. The man laughed at her surprised eyes before he unfolded his large, magnificent black wings. He bent his knees a little then leapt into the air and flapped his strong wings, the sheer force of the back-wind blowing the whole pile of leaves that Botan laid on into a scatter.
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It was a short flight, Botan noted, and amazingly she was conscious for the whole thing. He flew close to the ground when they neared the destination. He landed softly then flapped his wings once more before he folded them to his back.
"We're home," he announced. He pursed his lips and peered around as if searching for something. Then he smiled as he spotted a large rock.
"Ah! There we go!" he chirped as he walked towards it.
"I apologize ahead of time for the discomfort. I have to set you down in order to open the den," he said as he kneeled and carefully set her against the rock. Her head lolled back and he caught it gently before it knocked against the hard stone. He rested her head against the solid surface then grazed a claw along her neck to remove the sticky hair that was pasted against her skin. Then he sighed.
"Such exceptional beauty..." he mumbled. But it was loud enough for Botan to hear. If she had had the resources, she surely would have furiously blushed.
He stood once more and walked over to a certain spot in the large field of grass. He got down on his knees and began to hum dutifully as he ran his fingers through the thin blades of grass. He grinned as his fingers fell into a crease in the lawn. He dug in and then stood, lifting a large blanket of grass with him. He flung it forward to reveal a large, deep hole in the ground. Then he walked back over to Botan and scooped her into his arms once more.
"This can be scary the first time," he warned as he approached the hole again.
Then he stepped forward and dropped into the hollow. They landed with a loud thud, and Botan grunted from the impact. The fierce landing surely would have left any normal person's heels shattered. But then again, he was a demon, not a normal person. Botan turned her head to look down the long corridor, which was dimly lit with candles along the ground and wall. She looked up at his barely visible face and gave a faint smile.
"Arigatou," she whispered. The last thing she saw was his dark brows knit together in confusion before she blacked out once more.
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Botan sprang up in the mattress she was lying on with a shriek. Her head snapped around to examine her surroundings, which she realized were not familiar. Then she looked down at herself and realized her kimono had been sewed back together. She frowned in confusion at first, until she remembered the strange demon from earlier. Well, she couldn't really remember him, only his long, dark hair, that eerie hat, and those massive black wings.
She lifted her hand to her chest and pressed, finding that she was completely healed. Then she lifted her injured arm and moved it around experimentally. She smiled, cracking her dry lips.
"You're other wounds were not fatal. Your gullet might be a little raw and your voice will sound raspy. You'll be alright, though, save for a few bruises and some sore ribs," said a low voice from on the side of her.
She gasped and spun her head around to look at him. He was perched atop of a small wooden table next to her bed. His hands were folded in front of his face with his two pointer fingers pressed together on his lips. His large wings were doubled behind him, adding to his daunting appearance. Botan swallowed hard and opened her mouth to speak, but her jaw just bobbed up and down silently. The man cocked his head to the side. His wings flickered behind him and he grinned crookedly.
"Thank you?" he said teasingly.
Botan's mouth snapped shut and she nodded silently. The man sighed and slapped his hands on his knees. He unfolded his legs from underneath him to sit on top of the table, his long legs nearly touching the ground. He began to swing them childishly, his grin still in play.
"Allow me to introduce myself," he said placing a hand to his chest, "I am Kuronou." Botan nodded and opened her mouth to reply.
"I am---"
"You..." Kuronou interjected, hopping from the table to swagger over to her bed. He sat down and smiled at her. "... are a ferry girl." Botan's brows crinkled.
"How did you know?" she asked hoarsely. He stared at her silently before his smile grew larger. He reached out and gripped the collar of her kimono.
"Because demon women... don't go around wearing these. They dress far more scandalously. Your attire is more conservative," he expounded as he drew his hand back.
"Are you going to... hurt me?" Botan asked, suddenly realizing her frail position. Kuronou lifted his eyebrows amusedly before he erupted in laughter. Botan blushed, her question obviously absurd to him. His laughter slowed and he wiped a tear from his eye.
"Oh, that was funny!" he laughed. Then he looked back at her. "Goodness, no! It would be downright shameful of me to hurt a defenseless being, a defenseless female, no less." Botan sighed in relief.
"Thank you. A-and thank you for healing me," she said shyly. Then she remembered something and smiled. "Did you sew my kimono back together yourself?" Kuronou smiled brilliantly, obviously proud of his work.
"Of course! What sort of a man is a man if he doesn't know how to mend his own clothing?" he asked her teasingly. Botan laughed.
"Oh, I took the liberty of cleansing your clothing of that putrid toxin, also," Kuronou said as he stood from her bed, "but you may bathe, if you wish to do so. This place is rather large, but I have good hearing so just call for me when you want me to show you the way to our underground hot spring." Botan yanked back the sheets and scrambled out of the bed.
"Oh! Could you show me now, then? I don't think I can stand another moment of deigning in my own dried blood and dirt," she laughed. Kuronou nodded.
"Yes, but first, I did not even get your name..." he crooned. Botan smiled.
"My name is Botan," she nearly whispered. Kuronou smiled also.
"A name very befitting of a beautiful flower such as yourself," he said flirtingly. Botan shook her head slowly.
"I am terribly ugly. I'm sure my beauty does nothing for me right now," she laughed. Kuronou frowned and 'tsked' disapprovingly.
"Ah, but beauty cannot be masked. Even through the thickest of fog, you can still see it absolutely," he told her. He gave her a charming smile and Botan felt her knees almost cave in. She had never been on the receiving end of such endearing compliments before.
"Botan...? Do you still want to go bathe? You look a little flushed. Perhaps you should lie back down," said Kuronou. Botan blinked rapidly then shook her head, the blush quickly fleeing her face.
"No! Please lead the way," she said. She stepped forward but nearly stumbled because her legs were still a bit weak. Kuronou stepped beside her and slid an arm around her waist for support.
"Just... take your time... You'll feel stronger soon..." he whispered to her as he led her out of the room.
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Kuronou licked his lips greedily as he peered through the makeshift curtain, being sure not to be seen. He watched as Botan looked around quickly before turning her attention to her kimono.
"Go on..." he whispered as she began to slowly unbutton the Japanese garment.
"Oi!" a deep voice called from behind him, startling him from his show. He spun around quickly and slapped a finger to his pursed lips.
"Shh!" he hissed. His intruder quirked a thin, silver eyebrow.
"What are you doing?" he asked. Kuronou lowered his hand to his side and frowned. His wings fluttered lightly in agitation before settling on his back once more.
"It's none of your query. Now leave," he whispered. His partner chuckled softly before he moved to stand beside him. He lifted his finger to pull the curtain back a little and peer into the next room. His eyebrows lifted in surprise. Then he grinned.
"No... I think I'll stay..." he teased. Kuronou rolled his eyes.
"Now you've gone and squashed my fun, Kurama," he whined angrily. Youko's eyes narrowed at the sight before him.
"Who is that appetizing creature bathing in my spring?" he purred as he licked his lips. Kuronou gripped his shoulder and pulled him away from the curtain.
"Come this way. She might hear," he explained as he lead him a few feet down the corridor. Then he turned to him with a wide grin on his face.
"She is a ferry girl for the Reikai Prince," he said slowly. Youko's eyebrows furrowed.
"What is she doing here in Makai?" he questioned. Kuronou shrugged.
"Who knows? Who really cares? But won't the Princeling be happy to find out whose laps she fell into..." he said rubbing his hands together covetously. Youko cocked his head.
"Are you suggesting we demand money for her return?" he asked him. Kuronou sighed and lifted his hands to slap them on Youko's shoulders, shaking his head slowly.
"No, my friend. My plan is much more elating than that," he answered. Youko folded his arms against his chest and sighed, quickly losing interest.
"Then what?" he sighed. Kuronou smiled brightly and shook his shoulders playfully.
"We're going to rob them blind!" he exclaimed gleefully. Youko smiled, the sound of a new challenge rousing his interest once more.
"And how are we going to do that?" he asked his comrade.
"By befriending the Prince, of course. We return his cute little ferry girl to him safe and unscathed and he'll have to offer us a reward of some sort. We'll be provided with a means of transportation, giving us a way to gain entry. When we get there, we memorize the whole place. When we get back, we map it out. A few moons later..." he said, smacking a fist into his palm, "we strike!"
"How did she get here in the first place?" Youko asked curiously. Kuronou looked up from smashing his hand into his palm imaginatively.
"Oh," he said, "well it's your doing, really. She was attacked by one of your horrid plant friends but managed to escape. Quite beaten up, though. I saw her in a leafy ditch in the woods and I flew down to her. I offered my assistance and she accepted. So, I brought her back to our den," he said with a shrug. Youko stared at him for a moment before he snorted.
"This is my den. I just let you live here," he said as he turned and walked back towards the hot spring.
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Botan unbuttoned her kimono slowly, her fingers trembling with eagerness as she did so. Her eyes were wide and cognizant, scanning her surroundings for any peeping demons. Satisfied that she found none, she slid the garment from her shoulders slowly, trying to refrain from exerting her terribly aching muscles. Upon removing her clothing, Botan found that various areas of her body were spotted with large, dark blots. She reached down to press a finger to one right above her knee. She winced and drew her hand away.
Okay, maybe probing it isn't a very good idea...
She looked back up to the spring, her muscles beginning to relax at the mere sight of the heated fog rolling over the rippling surface of the water. It was such an enticing little area. There were small shrubs and orange wild flowers sprinkled around the small body of water. She limped over and sat on the edge of the pool. She dipped a foot in tentatively before she deemed it safe and then slowly slid into the water.
She sighed loudly as soon as the steamy water lapped onto her skin. Immediately, she cupped her hands under the water then thrusted them upward and into the air. She closed her eyes as a heavy spray of water hit her face and then trickled down her neckline and chest. She looked down at her chest to see strains of dirt and blood slowly streaming from her body and into the water to momentarily murk it before the hotness of it purified it again. She had begun to rub the grime from her shoulders and neck when she remembered how dirty her hair was. She lifted a hand into her mangled mane and brought down a soiled lock to her face to examine it. It was a brownish-orange color, being as it was stained with her own blood.
She sighed and released the lock, letting her hand slap into the water. She gasped in a breath of air and then dropped in. While she was submerged, she shook her head to and fro, causing the filth from her hair to release its hold on her blue strands and dissipate in the water. When she emerged she wiped a hand over her face to rid the excess water. She placed a thumb and a forefinger into her bangs and pushed them back, slicking her hair down.
"Who are you?" asked a sudden, baritone voice. Botan shrieked as her eyes snapped open in shock.
A tall, slender, yet very masculine youkai stood at the edge of the spring, his arms crossed against his chest as his gilded eyes gazed at her naked form. He was even more beautiful than the other, what with his long shimmering silver mane. He stood there patiently, his handsome face impassive and unreadable as his tail thrashed softly behind him. Her attention was brought back to his face when one of his fox ears swiveled atop of his head, hinting his annoyance. His eyes narrowed slightly and Botan noted how well they contrasted against the pale tone of his skin. His jaw clenched in agitation and she noticed she had been staring at him without answering his question. Suddenly aware of her nudity, Botan slapped both of her arms up, making an "X" across her chest. She ducked into the water so that it came up to her chin.
"Your friend, uh, your partner, brought me here to heal me---"
"Yes, I know all of that. But who are you? What is your name and where do you come from?" he interrupted softly. Botan gulped and lifted a hand only to pull a strand of hair from the corner of her mouth before she placed it back on her shoulder.
"M-my name is Botan. I am a ferry girl for Koenma Daioh. I came here for a spirit assembly. I was on my way when I was attacked by a demonic plant," she explained quietly.
"Uen Kusabana," he stated simply. Botan blinked in confusion.
"Excuse me?" she asked him. He gazed at her for a moment before answering. He closely watched her blue strands dance around her head as they floated in the water.
"You wandered into my territory. The Uen Kusabana was planted there to punish any who were foolish enough to be lured in by its seeming beauty," he answered suavely.
Botan's mouth set into a frown. She wanted to get angry at the insult, but a sudden realization swept over her.
So that's why I wasn't attacked by any demons. I was in private territory.
"...But you survived it. I am... somewhat intrigued," he complimented, giving her a sly smirk. Botan felt a wave of warmness hit her face and she decided to change topics.
"I apologize, but who are you?" she asked meekly. He smirked down at her, amused by her naïvety.
"You do not know my name?" he asked her curiously. She shook her head slowly and subconsciously rose a little from the water.
"I am Youko Kurama. This is my spring you are bathing in," he told her. He almost grinned at the bashful blush that immediately sprung up on her face.
"Gomen nasai... your friend, Kuronou, he told me to come in here and bathe. He said I smelled horrible from that plant's drug," she explained with a sheepish smile. Youko gave a quick nod then bent down so that he was crouching near the edge of the hot spring. Then he lifted a finger to beckon her over. Botan swallowed hard then nodded and began to slowly wade towards him. Normally, Botan would have refused then demanded that he leave. But it was something about this demon that made her want to be near him... something obviously dangerous, yet, vaguely alluring.
She stopped in front of him, her eyes wide with both fear and apprehension. Youo reached out and slowly slid a single clawed finger across the skin of her shoulder to remove a sopping wisp of her hair. Botan visibly shuddered from the contact. He grasped a sodden lock of her hair between his fingers and lifted it to his nose. He sniffed it experimentally before he released it and allowed it to fall back into the water beside her. Botan licked her top lip nervously.
"Do you want me to get out?" she asked, intending on leaving. Youko looked over her wet form closely, very tempted to answer "yes". Instead, he sighed then stood.
"No. you need it more than I do," he said as he turned to leave. Botan watched him leave, staring at his long, silky tail as it brushed his calves with each step. When he ducked and pushed aside the fabric to leave, she let out a heavy breath she had been holding in since he had startled her. Then she dropped her arms from her chest and slouched back into the water so that it came right under her nose.
How the hell am I supposed to concentrate on getting back to Reikai with those two around?!
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AN: Ohiyo, Loves. I'm sorry that it took me a while to update. Blame it on momentary writer's block... =.=;
BUT... while my brain was on hold with this story, I came up with FOUR different stories!
1.) Taking Virginities: Yusuke and Kuwabara hold an interesting bet... but where does Kurama fit into all of this? KuBo {not yet posted--might have lemon content}
2.) Dividing Loyalty: Botan: hardworking NY cop. Kurama: leader of a thriving clan of thieves. Botan falls for him and has a tough decision to make: the career, or the guy? KuBo duh! {posted-- some lime content}
3.) When It All Falls Down: Botan and Yusuke's relationship has been thriving for one year now. But Botan is beginning to suspect an affair on Yusuke's part. Kurama consoles her, Yusuke wants her back. Will she go back and mend love, or move on and discover new love? sequel to Envy YuBo/KuBo {not yet posted--lime, maybe lemon}
4.) Payback, Baby!: Yusuke is always insulting Botan. (calling her names, demeaning her ideas, etc...) Now she's fed up. What is she going to do? YuBo {not yet posted-- fluff lots of it!)
Now, I will be updating Loyalty soon, so please, keep your eyes peeled and keep reviewing. I love you all!