AN: Minna-san, konichiwa!! Osashiburi desu! Gomen ne, I'm so sorry for delaying the progression and keeping all of you waiting. Currently, I'm doing a parttime job, then, also, I've been working on a POT fics and a Naruto fics as well!! I had also decided that I should update my fics randomly. Gomen!! Yet, I'm still keeping this fics as lively as possible, so, readers...please be bear with my shortcomings!! And lastly, this fics are dedicated to all KuramaBotan lovers...Minna-san, isshoni ganbatte kudasai!!
Warning : This chapter is rated, readers had been warned.
Standard Disclaimer: I don't own YYH except Ayame Okazawa and Hakkumaru!! Hee...hee, that's too standard for me ne!!
Recap of Chappie 8:
"Better make a call to her and let her know your planning, otherwise she'll be taken!!" Shiori gave Kurama another teasing grin.
"Kasaan?? Please don't tease me anymore...I thought you're suppose to have faith with your son and yes, she's taken by your son, me!!" Kurama grinned and pick up the receiver. Shiori couldn't help but chuckled upon hearing her son's remarks.
Chapter 9: Kurama & Botan - Love Strengthened (Part I)
Three days before New Year...
"Botan...Botan!!" Yusuke bellowed as he rushed over to Botan's room.
"Botan!! Hayakku okanasai (quickly wake up)!! Big news!!" Yusuke knocked Botan's door so hard as if the whole door's going to collaspe. Botan who felt annoyed by the knocking and yelling from Yusuke, she covered herself from head to toe with her warm blanket and began burrowing in her bed. 'Mou...Yusuke...what's wrong with you?? Ima wa nan jigan? (What time is it now?)' she popped her head out from the blanket and stare at her table clock with her sleepy eyes.
'Nani...it's not even half past six!! Yusuke...why are you waking me up at such time...' Botan screamed inwardly when she registered the time into her mind. She quickly sprang up from her bed and stomped towards the door. Yusuke stopped his banging and yelling when he heard heavy footsteps approching the door.
Botan pulled open the door and gave Yusuke a no-thanks-for-your-morning-call glare. She slowly scrolled and sat herself comfortably on her bed. The pain in both of her legs makes her movements even more wobbly. 'Never again, I'll go out to do New Year's shopping!!' Botan sighed and let out another yawn, both her hands stretching up into the air. Even tiny stretches on her body aches her muscles.
"Ano...what is it Yusuke, I'm suppose to have a very good sleep, no thanks to you I'm fully awake!!" Botan shot continuously at Yusuke 'And because of you, I'm half way through with my sweet dreams...' she cursed again.
"Big news...see this!! Read the headlines!!" Yusuke said and passed the shinbun (newspaper) to Botan. Botan scanned through the headlines and as soon as she interpreted what the headlines was, her eyes sprank open!!
HEADLINES: DEATH OF TYCOON, SHIN NO OKAZAWA, SON REFUSES TO TAKE OVER BUSINESS!!
"Dou yu koto (What does this means)...?" Botan stood fridgeted upon reading the headlines.
Two days ago, they received message from Hinageshi that the Okazawa's investigation was over and the soul of Shin no Okazawa was summoned to Rekai. The judgement was finally cast to die when Shin no Okazawa didn't make any diavowal on all those charges held against him.
"The judgement, indeed this man had shared the same fate as Toguro Ototo!!" Botan said with her unusual serious tone.
"No one could get away from the judgement ajudicated by Enma Daio!! Perhaps it would be better this way!! His decendants, Ayame did made the right choice afterall!!" she continued, gently massaging her temple.
"Botan...are you alright?" Yusuke asked when he noticed Botan's sudden mood change.
"Eh...ha...ha, of course...eto, not quite alright actually, my feet's still killing me if you like to know!!" Botan faked a hysterious laughter.
"Mattaku (Really)...you this!!" Yusuke gave Botan a playful headlock for making him worried.
"Gomen ne, Yusuke, and thanks for your concern!!" Botan muttered softly giving Yusuke a slight blush.
"Ah...ah...!! Both you and Kurama are always like that!! I know, no need for all this formalities!! After all we've knew others for many years!! Yusuke brushed off his embarrassement and quickly walk away from Botan and walk towards the door.
"Ne...Botan, it's all over now..." Yusuke turned his head and winked at Botan.
"Yusuke...hai, wakarimashita (Yes, I understand)!!" Botan nodded and gave him an assured smile. Yusuke paused for a while when he recalled something else he need to tell Botan.
"Ah...sou da (that's right), Kurama called up earlier and said he'll be here by nine, since I've invited him to join us for breakfast...Seishun daro (Youthful isn't it)" Yusuke said teasingly.
"Eh...WHAT, he did?? So early? Mou...Yusuke, why don't you let me answered his call??" Botan bellowed, showing Yusuke a horrified look.
"He told me not to wake you up, he said that you must be very tired, he said, you'll rest!!" Yusuke explained.
"Oh...sou desu ka...ah...Kurama-kun..." Botan uttered sweetly when she mentioned her lover's name. (Please imagine when CCS Sakura-chan mentioning Yukito's name )
"Demo(but)...Yusuke...why you still come and disturb my beauty sleep...although Kurama-kun asked you not to?" Botan shot another killing glare towards Yusuke. Yusuke sensed Botan's sudden outburst of rage, he quickly step a few steps away from her.
"Sore ga...sore ga (that one)...wasurechatta... (I forgot)!! Whaha..ha..ha...I was overeacted when I saw that articles..." Yusuke shrugged and laughed out loud.
"Yusuke..." Botan's eyes soften upon hearing Yusuke's words. "Kondo...wa... nani? (What is it now)" Yusuke shrugged when he realized Botan sudden mood swing again.
"Shinpai no kimochi wa...arigatou (Thank you for worrying about me)!!" Botan gracefully bowed before Yusuke and thanked him.
"Oi...oi, I said, it's nothing, besides, I'm not worrying about you...I'm just curious..." Yusuke quickly turned away to hide his blushing facade "if you're not planning to go back to bed, at least come out and help us to do some housework...there are few more things to be done before New Year!! Soshite, I'll treat you your favourite flavor of omuretsu (omelette) for your repayment!!" he continued without turning back to face Botan.
"Hai...I'll be with you and Keiko shortly..." Botan remarked cheerfully.
Two hours later...
After their two hours cleaning, the whole temple look as shine as new (Wha...pika pika!!)!! Yusuke stare those shining statues which he had polished, with satifaction. All three of them were quite exhausted already, nevertheless they seem very energetic especially Botan. Botan excused herself and took a quick hot bath to refresh herself. She then eagerly waited for Kurama to come over. Although they had been getting along for quite sometimes, but she never settles her nervousness when it comes to meeting Kurama. Botan will always stood in front of the main entrance half an hour before their designated time. She would always move around making herself busy while waiting. Perhaps is some kind of tactics for the Reikai girl to calm herself down.
"Oi...Keiko...look, she's roaming here and there again...did you count how many times she had been going around?" Yusuke murmured.
"Hora, Yusuke...she's trying to calm down a bit...so just leave her alone" Keiko said and with that she pulled Yusuke with her and exit the hall.
Just as what Yusuke had informed Botan earlier, Kurama had shown up at Genkai's temple. Upon completing the last steps of the stairs, Kurama sensed a familiar fragrance, mixed with the wind blowing towards him. 'Lavender' he thought with a satisfied smirk on his face. At the main entrance he could see his girlfriend waiting for him, just like a wife would anticipate for her husband to come home and greet him with a heart warming 'Okaeri nasai (welcome home)'
"Ohaiyo, Botan-chan, how are you today?" Kurama greeted when he was just a few steps away from her.
"Kurama-kun, ohaiyo..." Botan greeted back but was not able to finish her sentence, Kurama had already given her a crushing bear hug.
"Waited long already?" Kurama hushes and gave Botan a peck on her forehead. Botan could always feel the passions that Kurama had shown towards her.
"Not really!!" Botan replied and looked into Kurama's green orbs as he finally free her from his embrace.
"I wanted to see you!! Seeing you everyday makes me feel energetic, juden torikaesu (energy regained)" Kurama chuckled and place a hand encircling Botan's waist.
"Kaasan told me that you don't seem alright yesterday...what happened?" He asked concernly, with his gaze fixing on hers.
"Eto...just feeling a little too tired after the shubbings and pushings, but I really enjoy Shiori-san's company...she's so kind and gentle" Botan looked away and blushed, but sooner she regain her composure, she gave Kurama a genuine smile to assure him that she's fine. Kurama's felt like his heart is once beginning to melt like butter whenever he sees Botan's smile.
"I'm happy to hear that too..." Kurama remarked happily. Shortly after that, Yusuke came to join their conversation.
"Oi, Kurama, Ohaiyo, you're as punctual as usual!!"Yusuke complimented and gave Kurama a pat behind his back.
"Ohaiyo...Yusuke!! Punctuality is also a kind of practice and conduct to become a gentleman!!" Kurama chuckled and gave Yusuke a playful grin.
"Heh...where's Keiko-san?" Kurama asked again.
"She's dressing up...she'll be ready soon!!" Yusuke replied nonchalantly.
"Ara...I'll go and check if she need any help!!" Botan said timidly and left the two men behind. Just as soon as there are alone, Yusuke turned around to look at Kurama.
"So...I heard from Botan that your mom had moved over to stay with Hatakana-san!!" Yusuke returned him with a toothy smile and the statement sounds more like Yusuke wanted to point out something.
"Hai, sore de? (Yes, and so??)" Kurama raised his eyebrow and waited for Yusuke to continue.
"Hee...hee, you know, you have the house all by yourself!!" Yusuke poked Kurama and throw him another mischievous grin!!
"Hm...yes, tashikani (indeed), I'm having the house all by myself, so, what are you trying to tell me?" Kurama looked away from Yusuke who's still staring playfully at him.
"You know what I mean..." he continue and laughed devilishly. Kurama could not help but blushed furiously upon hearing Yusuke's remarks. Their little private conversation ended just as soon as their girlfriends enter the hall.
As usual Yusuke would accuse Keiko for being slow, in return, she would protest and both of them would start an arguements. Both Botan and Kurama would try hard to calm the couple down. All four of them went to the nearest coffee house to have their breakfast as Yusuke had promised that he'll give them a treat.
"What, a celebration??" Keiko asked while spreading butter on top of her mushroom omelette.
"Yes, organizing a party just before New Year, making the festive seasons sounds more promising!!" Yusuke exclaimed with excitement.
"It's not bad too, but where will that be??" Botan asked while helping Keiko to refill her cup of coffee.
"Where? Of course at Kurama's place!! He's now a registered bachelor, owing a double storey house all by himself!! Botan, don't tell me you didn't know about this..." Yusuke grinned playfully at Botan.
"Kurama's place?? Is it okay for you?" Botan quickly turn to look at her boyfriend and refill his cup of coffee.
"It should be fine, besides Yusuke said he'll help me to do some cleaning up after the party!! Not only that, he had also decided to come to my house for a sleepover!!" Kurama nodded and gave his friends a warm smile.
"Mou...iiyada yo...Kurama-kun, it's still morning and you're talking about the sleepover already...mou, you're so impatience!!" Yusuke faked a 180 degree high pitch tone and lean closer to Kurama who's sitting just beside him. Upon hearing that, Kurama couldn't help but shivered with goosebumps all over his body.
Keiko who's sitting beside Botan and facing Yusuke, choked hard, while Botan quickly stroked Keiko's back to ease her choking. Just as soon as Keiko recovered, she quickly gave Yusuke a big smack on his head but this time Yusuke didn't retaliate, instead he gave Keiko a playful grin and apologize to her as well as to Kurama and Botan. Weird it seems, but both Yusuke and Keiko seemed to enjoy these sort of lovelife.
"So, it's decided!! After this, me and Keiko will go to supermarket to buy some foodstuffs for tonights party!!" Yusuke exclaimed.
"Then, Botan you'll go with Kurama to help him to clear up the place and get the settings done, understand!!" Yusuke ordered.
"Botan-chan, gomen ne, my place's is a little messy, since my mum had just move most of her stuffs out yesterday!!" Kurama whispered.
"Daijobu (It alright), I don't mind, besides, I would loved to do so!!" Botan said cheerfully.
Just after they finished their breakfast, both Yusuke and Keiko left the coffee house and proceed to the nearest supermarket to buy the foodstuffs. Kurama and Botan left the coffee house shortly after Yusuke and Keiko did.
At Kurama's house...
"Sugoi...the place is quite clean after the moving...though there's still few boxes left scattered in the dinning hall..." Botan remarked while scanning all over the house.
"Gomen..." Kurama blushed as he felt rather awkward for letting Botan to witness such mess, as the place is not usually like that!!
"Ano, Kurama-kun, are these all belonging to you, how come its all scattered here?" Botan asked curiously when she scanned most of the boxes.
"Ah...kaasan thought that these things were hers, so she took them out from the storeroom. Later we realized that theses were actually my stuffs!!" Kurama place a hand behind his head and blushed again.
"Iiyo...let's start cleaning before Yusuke and Keiko's here!!" Botan exclaimed and get herself ready to do the cleaning up.
Indeed both Kurama and Botan were very good in doing cleaning ups!! Within half an hours they had already cleared up part of the mess!! Then just when Botan was about to clear up another box that was scattered somewhere at the corner of the dinning hall, she saw the box was unsealed. She noticed a there's a photo album with a beautiful cover that laid just on the surface of the box. Nevertheless, her curiositie over the contents of the album was bugging her and she was not able to keep her hands off the collections which her boyfriend had kept.
"Ne...Kurama-kun? Can I look at this?" Botan took out the album and asked for Kurama's permission before flipping through it!!
"What was that? Oh, it's my photo album!!" Kurama walked over and stood beside Botan and then stared at the album, furrowing one of his eyebrow.
"So?? Can I? Pluleez..." Botan asked again and gave Kurama her famous puppy stares.
"Oh...why, sure, but before that, please make yourself comfortable!!" Kurama chuckled and took Botan's hand, leaving the dinning hall and proceed to the living hall. Both of them sat themselves comfortably on the couch and Kurama flipped open the cover of the album. The photo album were very well organized. Kurama pointed at some of the photographs which was taken during his lower secondary.
"So, this are your personal collections? Sugoi, Kurama-kun!!" Botan comment and stare at Kurama's collection with an awe!!
"It's actually nothing!! I'm not that type of people who'll keep photographs of my ex-school mates!! I have an obligation to do so!!" Kurama let out another chuckle.
"Obligation?" Botan asked timidly.
"There's a teacher who always have some sort of weird ideas, and there's a time he assigned us a project to organize photo albums!!" Kurama explained and place a hand over Botan's shoulder and pull her closer to him and with his other free hand, he flipped the album.
Botan was so excited as she diligently scanned each every pictures. Kurama's hair was short back then. 'I still pefer his current hairstyle' she mentally thought. Most of the pictures were taken with his female classmates. Botan shooked her head and could imagine his popularity among his school. Base on those pictures, Botan also assumed that he's not those approachable type back then.
Out of more then ten pictures, she had not been able to find one that Kurama would plaster a smile except the one which Kurama had been staring intensely for quite sometimes. It was a picture of him and a girl that was at his age. There, he was at least, he had plastered a faint smile. A moment of silence drowned the dinning hall.
"Heh, your school days seems fun!! Ah, urayama shii (envious)!!" Botan remarked as trying to break the silence. Botan was worried, Kurama had been staring that particular photo for quite some times. Botan continued to stare at him again until Kurama finally turned around and look deep into her eyes. Without saying any thing he gave her a bear hug.
"Kurama-kun...what happened?" Botan asked curiously when Kurama's hug becomes tighter.
"Botan, I'm so glad that you were here with me!!" Kurama hushed.
"Doushita no (what's wrong), Kurama-kun?" Botan asked again, but this time sounds more worried when Kurama called her Botan without the 'chan' behind!! Usually he'll only do that when it comes to important matters. Kurama slowly released Botan and stared into her eyes and turned away again.
"The girl in the picture, she's Maya Kitajima!! We were classmates since first year in chu-gakko!! She's the only girl in school who had caught my attention!!" Kurama showed the picture to Botan and told her about his meeting with Maya. Botan felt butterflies in her stomach when she heard those words, especially the very last part, nevertheless she kept silent and let Kurama to continue.
"She's a very passionate girl, tadashi (however), I realized that I couldn't possibly return her kindness when a youkai had kidnapped her, moreover she's just a mere human who equipped certain amount of rei-ki. With the help of Hiei, I saved her from the hand of that youkai. Later, I erased part of her memories, all of her affections towards me!! After chu-gakko, Kitajima's parents transferred her to another school and it was then, a year later, I met you and Yusuke by faith!! Both of you had changed my life!!" Kurama remarked and let out a faint smile.
"Sou ka?" Botan whispered softly so that Kurama cannot sense her discertainties. 'Not able to return someones affection...especially when two people having the same kind of affections...it's too sad...too hurt...' Botan thought sadly. 'So, he did have a first love after all and she's so cute...should I consider her as his first love, though they never go on a date before, what if...? Mou...Botan no baka, stop making a fuss over the past!!' Botan grumbled inwardly.
"Yes, Yusuke had help me to change my way of life and you...Botan, you have given all the love and affection that I've always wanted!!" Kurama professed and took Botan hand tightly.
"Botan-chan?" Kurama blinked a few times when Botan didn't say anything. 'Maybe telling her the truth is not a good idea, a woman and being sensitives are women's perquisitions' Kurama thought wearily and slightly squeezed Botan's hand to bring her back to reality.
"Botan..." Kurama called her again. This time she answered him when her beautiful violet orbs fixed into his. He could tell that she's not feeling comfortable with the topics when he stared at her now confusing facade. He quickly apologized to her and Botan looked away from him again.
"Nan...nan demo nai desu (It's nothing), you don't have to apologize" Botan shrugged and let out a faked laughter. "Hora, we better get back to work, otherwise, Yusuke and Keiko might think that we're not doing our job!!" Botan continued and sprung up from the couch. Leaving Kurama in the living hall, Botan walked towards the dinning hall. Just when Kurama was about to go after her, he saw Botan's head (still attaching the body!! LOL) popped out from the hall.
"Ano...Kurama-kun, I...I trust you, really, but please give me some time to shove off those stupid invidousness!!" Botan blushed and gave Kurama a genuine smile. With that assurance, Kurama nodded and let out a small and contented chuckle, for those words that Botan said had eased his worries.
Shortly after Kurama and Botan were about to finish their cleaning up, Yusuke and Keiko had also arrived to Kurama's house, carrying bags of groceries with them. Then Yusuke quickly unload the bags and proceed to help Kurama whereas Keiko asked Botan to help her to prepare for tonights dinner.
While in the kitchen...
"So, we have beefs, sausages, mushrooms and fishballs...yummy!!" Botan raised both her hand and cheer with delights "Bansai...bansai, Keiko, you're so kind, all these are my favourites!!" and with that Botan gave Keiko a big bear hug.
"Ne...Botan-chan, gomen...ne, but just try to find out what had happened to both of you?" Keiko asked concernly. Although Botan had tried to be as cheerful as possible but somehow the her heavy heart seemed too obvious for her friends to notice.
"Both of us? You mean me and Kurama-kun?? Why, nothing, what makes you say that?" Botan shrugged upon hearing Keiko's interrogation.
"Based on the way Kurama looked at you and vice versa, you're avoiding his stares, makes me conclude that!! And moreover...experiences tells it all..." Keiko sighed and later place a hand on Botan's shoulder. At that point Botan couldn't hold back her worries and tell Keiko what had happened to both of them.
"Naru hodo (I see)!! No wonder I could see that you're avoiding him!!" Keiko nodded and gently held Botan closer towards her like an sister giving her necessary heartening.
"Jitzu wa (Actually), I'm not mad at him, really, it's just that I'm so embarrassed. Feeling jealous over a girl whom Kurama-kun had not even dated!! Yes, indeed, I'm quite hurt at first when he told me that he had certain fondess towards the girl before meeting me '...and she's so cute too' she frowned.
"Shikashi (however), I was not able to act calm, instead my jealousy ruled over my personality!! I must have looked very ugly at that time!!" Botan let out a dreadful sigh and covered her face with both her hands.
"Hora...perhaps it's not as bad as it seems!! Moreover, I can see that Kurama-kun still had those passionate eyes on you!! To him, you're the most important person after his mother!!" Keiko exclaimed.
"Tsumari (In short)!! You're an apple to his eyes!!" Keiko continued trying to shove off Botan's negative thoughts.
"Apple to his eyes...I'm not an apple...you know?" Botan raised her eyebrow upon hearing Keiko's last comment.
"It's an idiom, meaning that you're very important to Kurama..." Keiko sighed at first, not long after that, loud laughters could be heard from the kitchen.
"Keiko-chan, arigatou..." Botan embraced Keiko tightly, so tight that she nearly had Keiko suffocated.
Whereas...at the dinning hall...
"Hm...Seems like Botan-chan has get over it already..." Yusuke grinned and gave Kurama a mischevious grin.
Kurama just nodded and his heavy heart had just being unloaded. Although Botan's words had given Kurama's heart an ease, but he could tell that she's still building a wall in between them, not to mention when she's trying to avoid their eyes contact at most of the time. At certain time, Botan would keep a distance away from him when they are clearing the remaining boxes in the dinning hall. When he offered to help, Botan would quickly shook her head to turn him down instead of saying 'NO'. This make Kurama's heart aches, nevertheless he also understands that he'll have to give some space for Botan to overcome her uncertainties.
"It's my fault!! I shouldn't had told her that...I'm hurting her again...how silly..." Kurama let out another sigh and cursed himself for having such half-baked ideas of telling Botan about Maya.
"Oi..oi, Kurama, don't be such a kill joy...perk up my dear buddy, otherwise you'll make the situation even worst for both of you..." Yusuke gave Kurama another pat on the back. They finished everything around mid-noon. After that, Yusuke make a call to the Kuwabara residence, informing them to come to Kurama's house for a little gathering at night.
"So...did you know where is Hiei now?" Yusuke interrupted Kurama's though who's still staring towards the kitchen door. "Ah...not sure, but I'm sure he'll come here tonight, for Yukina will be here as well..." Kurama assumed as he massaged his heavy temples to sooth the throbbing pain.
Both Keiko and Botan are still inside the kitchen preparing more foods for tonight's hotpot party (sukiyaki)!! After finishing the preparation, Keiko informed Yusuke and Kurama that she and Botan will be going back to the temple to pick up some of their belongings for tonight's sleepover. Kurama nodded and looked behind Keiko, where Botan's standing at the front door waiting for her already. On the way back, Keiko and Botan met Shizuru and Yukina waiting at the front gate and was about to go into the house!! They were surprise at first when they didn't see Kuwabara and was later told that he's out to buy some more foods for the gathering.
Just before sunsets, everyone were presented at Kurama's house including Hiei. They started the party shortly after Hiei's arrival. Kuwabara and Yukina were quite overwhelm when they learned that Kurama is now the owner of the Minamino resident as they sat around the round table surrounding a big hotpot.
"Oh...Kurama, good for you!! Now you're officially an independent adult!!" Yusuke teased and gave Kurama a hard smack on his back, while Kurama who was at that time savouring a cup of delicious fruit punch had choked heavily just as soon as he received a nice and warm smack from Yusuke.
"Mou...Yusuke, hidoi (bad), how could you smack Kurama's back so hard, knowing that he's having his drinks!!" Botan reprimanded and quickly rush over to aid Kurama by stroking his back to relieve the chokings.
"Ah...suman, suman (Sorry, sorry)!! Too excited already...Kurama...daijobu?" Yusuke asked and let out a loud laughter.
"Ne, Kurama feeling better?" Botan asked concernly while still continuing stroking Kurama's back.
"Hai...arigatou..." Kurama replied as he slowly recovered from choking.
"Yogatta..." Botan let out a sighs of relief. Both Kurama and Botan illiterately stared at each other for quite sometimes. Slowly their stares turns passionate and it seemed like forever, not bothering to look away from each other, even the crowd of spectators are staring at them and teasing them.
"Hn" Hiei smirked as he's the only one who didn't join the crowd. 'Kitsune...looks like your mate is not mad anymore!!' Hiei telepathy Kurama.
'Hiei...so, you're concern about me too...how touching ...!!' Kurama telepathy Hiei in return, earning the Jagashi one of his famous killing glare and later replaced with a smirk.
Everyone seems to have lots of fun!! Both Yusuke and Kuwabara almost had their tummies bursted when they finished most of the foods from the hotpot!! The night ended wonderfully with everyone enjoying games, drinks and music. The groups also shared their recent activities and talked about their past adventures and achievements.
Shortly after midnight, Shizuru, Kuwabara and Yukina bidded goodbyes. Hiei too, was not around anymore!! Perhaps he had also left the place without saying goodbye, as what he usually does. With that they ended the party and four of them began clearing up the junks.
Keiko quickly demanded Yusuke to help her up in the kitchen, nevertheless her purpose was to give more privacy to Kurama and Botan who seemed to have gotten the problems resolved.
"Chotto...Keiko...hora, I'm coming..." Yusuke bellowed and stormed into the kitchen leaving both Kurama and Botan inside the dinning hall, clearing up junks. Taking this opportunity, Kurama quickly walked and stood beside Botan again. Both of them caught each other's glance.
"Botan-chan...I'm almost done, do you need any help here?" Kurama asked politely, somehow he's trying to pull Botan into a conversation.
"It's alright...I'm almost done...too" Botan replied without turning around to look at Kurama. Once again the hall was drowned by silence for quite sometimes.
"I..." both Kurama and Botan said in unison.
"You..." again they shrugged when they were caught saying the same word at the same time.
Both Kurama and Botan stared at each other with amusement. Kurama gestured Botan to speak first but Botan insist that Kurama could go ahead first. Kurama heaved a sigh and closes his eyes to compose himself before pulling Botan towards him and claimed her lips posessively. Botan was bewildered at first when Kurama suddenly crushed his lip into hers, but later, she closed her eyes and savoured every moments she had with Kurama. Botan let out a soft moan when Kurama's tongue teased against hers. They kissed passionately for quite sometimes until both of them broke away and grasps for air.
"Why?" Botan asked as she turned away from Kurama.
"Huh? Why what?" Kurama asked, and Botan let out another sigh before she continued.
"Why did you kissed me...so...suddenly...?" Botan shrugged when Kurama laid his soft fingers and rubbed against her rosy cheek. The touch of fingers sending little shivers through her as it slowly made its way down to her neck, trailing towards her shoulder then to capture her hands. Gently, he pulled Botan towards him and gave her another passionate embrace.
"Botan...please forgive me..." Kurama spoke softly and Botan hastily lowered her eyes again before the expression she saw in his - a glowing warmth that did strange, inexplicable things to her heatbeat and made her catch breath.
It seemed like hours before she drew breath again and her head was spinning with the effect of it, like a runner who has reached the limits of endurance. Her pulses were pounding wildly and her heart seemed to have gone completely out of control, thudding crazily at her ribs and making her even more breathless.
Botan's heart lurched wildly and she felt suddenly as if everthing she ever wanted to happen was happening at once. "Kurama I..."
"Will you?" Kurama asked again, without giving her time to finish, and Botan nodded, her head leaning against the enfolding arms.
"How could I ever be mad at you?" Botan buried her face into Kurama's warm chest "realizing that it hurts so much to hate a person that you've dearly love..." she whimpered.
"Arigatou..." he said softly, and an arm around her waist drew her close against him. Once again, his mouth just touched hers with that soft, teasing lightness she remembered had been a prelude to a much more passionated caress. Before the warm fierceness of Kurama's mouth could completely overwhelm her, however, the cheering sound of Yusuke and Keiko shattered the quiet of the big dinning hall. They both turned and looked towards the kitchen entrance where the cheering couple stood, eyeing them mischieviously.
"So...finally, our Botan O'hime-chan is not mad anymore...otherwise our dear Ojisama, Kurama-kun would not be able to sleep for the whole nite!!" Yusuke remarked glandly.
"Yusuke...are you expecting me to bug you all night, if ever Botan's not goin to forgive me..." Kurama chuckled and stare passionately at Botan.
"Oh...no wonder you suddenly becomes so keen to help me up...instead of bugging Kurama...to show you his game collections..." Keiko remarked and grin mischieviously at Yusuke who just flashed her a trademarked toothy smile in return.
"Anyway...let's clear off the last piles of junks...so we can go to bed earlier...!!" Yusuke remarked extravagantly and so the without delaying further all four worked together to clear off the remaining junks and cleaned the dinning hall.
Another few hours later...
"Yatto (finally), it's all done..."Botan muttered weakly as she sat herself comfortably on the couch beside Kurama, vice versa, Kurama leaned over and settled his head on Botan's shoulder.
"Sou desu (Yes), it's finally done and it's already the next day..." Keiko commented when she look at the clock showing it's almost 2 a.m in the morning.
"Ha...ha...two more days till New Year..." Yusuke who's still as energetic as before, exclaimed excitingly.
"Hai!!" Kurama let out a chuckle upon seeing Yusuke's excitement. The glittering in Yusuke's eyes had already hinted Kurama that the Reikou Hadoken's bearer had already had plans for the soon coming New Year.
"Yappari (Of course), we should always enjoy ourselves to the fullest!! Na...na?" Yusuke queried and let out another toothy laughters.
"Dakara (And then)?" Botan's raised one eyebrow and asked Yusuke to continue.
"Dakara (Like I said), on New Year's Eve (Omisoka), we're going to have the toshi-koshi soba together...it will be fun, just like last night..." Yusuke suggested "sore de (after that), we can stay until midnight just to listen to the joya no kane!!"
"Omisoka ka? Iie no kanji desu (such a good feeling) ...yes...yes, we'll do it!!" suddenly Botan too seem to have regained her energy (Juden...Kaishitte)!!
"Of course we can do it, but before that, Yusuke, you'll have to help me to prepare those osechi ryori before we could go..." Keiko remarked.
"Osechi ryori? Sou sou, kaasan said that she'll be preparing it for me before leaving for holidays!!" Kurama said softly.
"Kurama-kun? I heard that you family will be going off for holidays...you're not going with them?" Keiko asked curiously.
"Not this year...besides me and Botan had already planned to visit the Shinto jinjya (shrine) performance during the first day of New Year, soshite..." Kurama replied and shrugged when Yusuke threw a devilish grin at him.
"Seishun daro..." Yusuke faked another high pitch tone and all of them couldn't help but laugh out loud. They begin to start chatting about last year's New Year where Kurama was not around. That is why, they seem to be more than happy to have Kurama with them for this coming New Year.
Just as soon as their short conversations ended, Keiko excused herself and take a bath before going to bed. Yusuke too excused himself and asked Kurama to guide him to the guest room first.
"Botan-chan, please wait for me for a while! I've something to show you!!" Kurama mimicked and Botan doesn't know how to react upon it answered with a nodded.
'What is he trying to show me...' Botan thought curiously, her hearts still pounding fast. This is the first time that she had ever stay over at Kurama's place. Although they've been dating for about two months or more, Kurama had always been very well discipline. Botan could feel hot cheeks burning when she recalled at certain time Kurama would kissed her passionately, however, they had never go further than sharing hot kisses and warm embraces.
Botan quickly shoved off her thoughts when she hear footsteps coming down from the stairs. Just when Kurama came back to Botan, he was quite surprise to notice her red face. Botan too, noticed that Kurama had stared intensly at her, thus she swiftly move away from his gaze.
"Sorry...for keeping waiting..." Kurama said as walk towards Botan. Her heartbeat fasten, she's now alone in the quiet hall with Kurama and moreover, she's now in his house.
"Botan...shall we?" Kurama also noticed Botan's sudden tense, yet, he tried not to scare her out. Instead he gently laid his hand on Botan's shoulder and with other hand he pulled her along with him and went outside the house.
"Kurama-kun...where are we going??" Botan shrugged when Kurama took her outside and walked towards the backyard.
"Actually, I've been wanting to show you this since afternoon..." Kurama said as he stopped and turn around to look at Botan again "Boku no himienchi (secret base)!!" Kurama continued as his mouth hinted at a smile.
Botan bit her lip anxiously, covinced at last that wherever Kurama would bring her to, she would follow.
"Hai...tanoshimi!!" Botan nodded when Kurama asked if she still want to go. He gently took Botan's hand and both of them went into the backyard. Not far away she saw fences surrounding that small piece of land. Anxiety caught her once again and when she enters the yard, she was overwhelmed to see beds of roses with different colors laying infront of her eyes.
"This...they are all these planted by you?? But...it's already December..." Botan asked excitingly and walked a few steps closer to the feel the petals with her fingers.
"I've spent lots of time planting and taking care of these beautiful living plants...especially now it's winter..." Kurama said as he too walk forward and stood behind Botan.
He then embraced her from behind and he turned her back to face him, gently but insistently, and he studied her for a moment in silence. He let go her arm and ran his fingers down the length of her now flushed cheek and burrowed into her turtle-neck shirt to feel the soft skins of her neck, a touch that shivered through her like fire as she fought with a sudden sense of elation that was quite uncontrollable.
"Do you like it?" Kurama hushed sending another shiver down Botan's spine.
"Like it? I loved roses, they are awesome...!" Botan remarked excitingly 'and they smelled like you too..' she continue , these would eventually be all yours!!" Kurama said as his glittering eyes once again looked into Botan's.
"Mine?? All these??" Botan stood frigeted 'Roses, bundles of roses, beds of roses!! All mine??' She thought as she look away from Kurama and blushed heavily.
"Botan-chan, shiteru (do you know)? Roses are flower of love. Different colors of roses delineate different meaning" Kurama explained and gently held her at arm's length, looking down at her with a small half-smile on his face an a soft dark glow in his eyes that warmed her even more than physical presence.
"I...I've heard of that too..." Botan shrugged and divert her glance towards those roses "Red colors defines love and respect (blush, blush) eto...yellow is joy and gladness...that one over there, the yellow ones with red edges represents...falling in love..." Botan said and glance up swiftly, her lips parted, her eyes searching his face just to see if she just got all the meanings right.
"Kaizetsu (Splendid)!!" Kurama bent his head briefly and brushed his lips lightly across her forehead. "Botan...these roses represents all my love...my love for you...!!" his words whispered against her ear as he bent his head closer, his breath warm on her neck, his lips brushing her soft skin gently, Botan closed her eyes as the strength of his arms was too comforting.
"Kurama-kun...Aishiteru (I love you)..." she said simply, and Kurama gazed at her for a moment in silence, then swiftly he bent his crimson head and buried his face in the soft riot of her blue-colored hair, his mouth warm and ardent against her soft skin as he lowered her turtle-neck collar and kissed her neck and throat and the little pulse that raced wildly at the base of her throat.
"Then...be mine..." he whispered "please...koshiku (darling), please be with me, forever..."
"Last night..." he said, "I was so worried to ever think that you'll hate me forever." He then kissed her mouth slowly and lingerly, his arms folding her yet more tightly to the curvve of his own body. "How could I ever be possibly let you slip away from me...again...so, please be with me...itsumo (forever)...isshoni (together)..." he whispered.
"Hai..." Botan nodded, and Kurama looked up swiftly, his eyes glittering darkly green between those long lashes.
"Yogatta (Great), I was actually looking forward for you to say that!!" Kurama remarked.
"You...you'd have..." Botan shook her head when her words failed her, her eyes huge and unbelieveing, and Kurama chuckled.
"Right now...the best place for you is in my bed..." he told her, and before she realized his intention, he had lifted her into his arms and was carrying in a bridal style.
"Kurama...chotto (wait)...what I mean is yes, no...mou...this is too fast..." Botan shrugged and blushed furiously, especially he Kurama told her that they'll be sharing one bed.
"What...about Yusuke...he'll be teasing us again, once he realized that you're not sleeping with him!!" she continued as Kurama shoved off Botan's protest and began to walk back to into the house.
"Sleeping with him? As a straight man, I'm not interested in sharing a bed with a guy, besides, Yusuke has been threatened with all manner of terrible fates if he dares to interrupt us!!" he told her with that wicked glitter of laughter in his green orbs as he looked down at her.
Botan stared at him startlingly "You...you've told Yusuke what...where..."
"I told him I was bringing you here to the my secret base and confess my love for you..." Kurama said smoothly "Even Keiko-san wouldn't want to interrupt that!!"
"Still...you still have to let me have my bath first...ano...I can't go to bed without having a ...bath" Botan said in a small husky voice.
"There's a bathroom attached in my room, besides I also need to have one too...but, I can let you have the bathroom first..." Kurama interrupted and then captured her mouth with his to shut her up.
"No worries, I will not touch you...if you're not ready...I just wanted to hold you by my side...moreover...the bed would be warmer if you're laying beside me..." he mimicked softly into Botan's ears.
Again Botan's tongue slid nervously over her lips and she scanned her surrounding only to realized that they were already inside the house, and Kurama was about to step his foot onto the stairs. 'Yabai (No good), there's no turning back...'
Botan's cheeks were now hotly pink when Kurama stop and looked at her again. His eyes had a bright, glittering look that promised of what he had told her earlier, that NOTHING will happen to them tonight.
Botan's heart was tudding wildly in her chest and her head too was full of its pounding beat when Kurama stood infront of a door which had his name tag on it. Today their relationship would marked at a higher level. Although Botan had been here at Kurama's house before, but she never get to go into Kurama's room. This is to avoid Kurama from unneccessary reprimanding from his parents, especially his step father, Kenji Hatanaka.
"I really..." Botan lowered her voice as soft as possible so she would not be heard by others, except Kurama.
"You know what an unsaccharrine devil I am..." Kurama interrupted softly, he let out a faint chuckle and despite Botan's protests, he opened up the door and carried Botan and both of them entered his room.
Luminous lights shone through the thin and silky curtain. The first thing which caught Botan's attention was the pleasant scent from the room. 'It's so pleasant, even the room smells like him...' a thought came into Botan's mind as she sniffed. Then she realized that Kurama's room is very neat...indeed, it looks better and bigger althought the luminousity of the lights only allows her to see certain areas.
Kurama slowly walk across the room and towards his bed, gently putting her down to sit on his bed before leaving her. Botan stared at him in the dark, as Kurama's shadow dances on the wall as he walks towards the door and bend down to pick up something from the floor. Botan was surprised when Kurama passed her a bag which she later recognized that it was all her belongings which she had packed for the sleepover.
"This...this, MY BACKPACK..." Botan screeched but she covered mouth as soon as she realized it would not do any good for her to scream and wake up the others in the middle of the dawn. "Why is my backpack in your room??" was the only question which had instantly registered in her mind.
"Keiko-san passed it to me...and asked me to take care of it..." Kurama sat besides Botan as he replied her and let out another chuckle when he saw her face flushed as red as tomatoes.
"My oh my, even Keiko also..." Botan let out a sigh, but the brightness of her eyes owed itself to excitement rather than resentment disregarded of how strongly she had been protesting earlier.
"So...would you like to have your bath first!! Don't worry...take your time...and I won't peek..." Kurama teased and noticed Botan sudden sprang up from his bed. She took her backpacks and walk towards the bathroom. She then stop infront of the bathroom door and turn to face Kurama again.
"Ano...the word you said just now...I take it as a promise you've made...no peeking..." Botan finished her words to Kurama and quickly enters the bathroom to hide her flushes.
'If this go on...I might...' Botan sight as her head tilted downwards and fixed her drowsy eyes on the floor. Nevertheless, she shoved off all her desires and quickly turn on the tap to let hot water fill up the bathtub, while she undress herself.
Meanwhile, Kurama who's been scrolling here and there for quite sometimes, couldn't settled his anxiety, especially when he heard the sound of running water. 'Although, I said I would not peek...but it's really hard for me...especially...' Kurama blushed especially when his mind suddenly had images of Botan's innocent look, the scent coming out from the bathroom, every moments they shared had make his love for her insatiable. And now, something in his mind is bugging him to take her tonight, while the other part of him had tried hard to control these urges.
"Ochitsuke (calm down), I'll have to cool myself down...for Botan, I will..." Kurama hissed and sigh when he realized that his body's becoming hotter.
Few minutes later, Botan came out from the bathroom, wearing a solid pink-colored pajamas. Kurama's breathe was taken away upon seeing Botan's rubbed her slightly damped hair, moreover she smells great. 'She smelled like me...' Kurama thought and stared at Botan for quite sometimes. Her fair and beautiful face, her neck, the collarbones and her slightly exposed chest. Botan stopped when she noticed that Kurama was staring at her intensly.
"It...it's your turn...!" Botan said and awkwardly looked away from Kurama and he just nodded walk towards her. Due to the limited light shone into Kurama's room, Botan couldn't tell if Kurama's blushing when he passed by her side and with that he quickly took his towel and other belongings and enters the bathroom. Just after Kurama closed the bathroom door behind him, Botan gaze was diverted towards the bed, the place where she and Kurama will be resting, makes her feverish, undeniable, she too wanted their relationship to be more intimate rather then kissings and huggings, yet she was too shy to tell Kurama, despite of the facts that she was the one who had protested from the very beginning. She let out another faint sigh and continued drying her hair.
While Kurama's taking his bath, he too couldn't control himself...he have to find a way to stop his urge. He couldn't just ask Botan to go to the other room, because he had earlier assured her that although they are staying in the same room, he would not do anything that she's not willing, he had to prove to Botan that he will keep his words and perhaps it's some stupid male ego, telling him not to give up. However, sleeping with Botan without touching her, could be as hard as towards impossible.
'I can't let this go on...' Kurama hissed and slightly knocked his head against the wall. He then took the shower and showered his head with cold water despite the chilliness that sends shivers from his head till toe. He then sunk all of him into the bathtub to rest himself, both physically and mentally. After a refreshing bath, Kurama put on his milk-colored pajamas and dry his hair with a blower. Botan, who was now laying comfortably in Kurama's bed, was slightly distracted by the sound of the blower when she was about to fall asleep. She sat up once more when the door open up and Kurama came out the door and walk towards his table instead of the bed.
He opened up one of the drawers and took out a rope. When Botan saw the rope in his hands, she asked what would Kurama do with it.
"I know this sounds silly, but, as I promised you earlier, I'll do my best not to touch you...but..." Kurama stated and looked away from Botan, hiding his embarrassment.
"You're goin to use this on me?" Botan asked, eyes widen. "Not you...it's for me..." Kurama muttered, his face still flushing red. Somehow Botan realized Kurama's sincerity of his respect towards her. Once again, both of them remains silence for a short while. Botan then get out of the bed and took a few steps and stood facing the window and stare at the darken sky, a geniune smile plastering on her face when she know that Kurama had also have the same feel towards her.
"Ne...Kurama...you don't have to use the rope anymore..." Botan said when she turned around to face him. She then slowly brought her hand to unbuttoned her pajamas and let it flung open freely, exposing her now naked upper body, shinning under the beautiful moonlight. Her skins is just as fair as snow.
Kurama hold his breathe and quickly went over to cover her nakeness with his towel "What are you doing?" he asked weakly and looked away from Botan.
"You don't have to do this for me...I admitted I might not be able to control myself, not to touch you...but you don't have to do this..." Kurama's hushed.
"Please don't mistrust me...I promise, I won't step out of line..." he begged and shrugged when he felt soft hands carressing his now feverish cheeks.
"I don't mistrust you..." she promised, looking at that handsome, earnest face. "In fact, not only men would go estrus..." she whispered and rest her head on Kurama's broadchest.
"Sometimes a woman would have this kind of urges too...and because...I've loved you so much..." she said, closing her eyes to feel their body searching for each other's warmth as Kurama held her closer and tighter towards his body.
"Botan..." Kurama moaned Botan's name as she pulled his face to hers, kissing him tenderly and he responded in kind. She let herself fall onto the bed pulling him along with her.
Their gentle kisses turns feverishly as they had so many times before. Botan felt the arousal within in her as they explored each other's mouths and decided that this time she would give it all to Kurama. She pulled him to her pressing her mouth hard onto his, kissing him deeply.
She lay on her back and he lay beside her, his leg was over and resting between hers. Her other leg was drawn up over his. Kurama began to kiss her neck, she could feel his tongue, hot on her skin. His fingers reached for his towel which he had used to covered Botan earlier and continued to draw it down, he could hear her breath quicken. His hand led the sides of her pajamas away from her body to show her now exposed chest, her smooth skin beckoned him.
He traced his fingers along her stomach. He could hear her excitement in the breathy sounds she was emanating "Kurama..." she moaned when he slipped his hand under her waist raising her lower back, feeling the longing in her.
Kurama moved back up to her neck and bit lightly on her earlobe, his fingers pressing into her skin. She was inciting him with her soft moans to finally express their desire fully. He lay beside her, his hand slipped down her stomach to her pants and undid the first button, then the second revealing her satin undergarment. He ran his finger along just under the lacy band teasing her, teasing himself. Her hand gripped his wrist gently urging him to continue.
He looked at her again, keeping his hand under her to see her eyes closed, back arched. Kurama's hand slipped away from her pants and rested on her waist, he raised his face to look at her. She couldn't read his expression. His eyes watched hers as she stitched her eyebrows in wait.
"Botan," he whispered, "...you know...we could just stop here right now..." he rested his head on her chest for a moment and his hair tickled her chin.
"Kurama....aishiteru..." she whimpered softly "Dakara...onegai...don't stop..." Botan hushed as her fingernails dug into his back.
"Botan..." their passionate eyes met as Kurama looked up "I love you too..." he stated firmly, yet passionately.
Tears of joy flowing down from her face when Kurama returned her affection 'He loves me' she thought, his words...so firm and so earnest.
"Doshite??" Kurama stopped of what he's doing and asked concernly. He could see her violet eyes full of anticipation. "Kurama..." she whimpered "onegai...don't stop, even if I beg, don't stop"
They spoke no more Kurama took her into his arms she knew that this was what she wanted, more than anything. She wanted to be with him anyway she could. Their lovemaking lasted a long time. At first Kurama had hesitated, if he should go on, when he had hurted Botan, realizing that she's still innocence, nevertheless she encouraged him to continue. "Koishi...let me kiss you..." was all he can say to her, knowing that hurting her in process would be inevitable.
Kurama had been a patient and generous lover, making every moment enjoyable and special, while Botan had been so gentle and passionate. Both of them were tired but satiated. Botan also knew it was something she would never forget. Exhaustlessly, they lay in each other's arms catching their breathe between kisses. He gently stroked her face with his fingers and kissed the tip of her nose.
"Kurama...I'm so contented..."Botan whispered.
"Me too...I don't know what I've done, but kami-sama had been so kind to let me have you..." Kurama stare lovingly at his lover as he brushes a few strain of hairs, to study her beautiful face.
"Are you hungry? I can cook you something to eat..." Botan said as she sudden sprang up from the bed.
"I'm not, how about you? Perhaps I can bring you something if you want..."Kurama offered.
"Nope, I'm not..." Botan shooked her head.
"Then, perhaps we still can have few hours rest...beside, you must be quite tired by now..." Kurama suggested and gently pulled her to lay beside him again. Botan nodded when Kurama reached for her and soon their caresses turned again to passion.
As they fell back together on the bed, she realized that he had once again aroused Kurama's need.
"More?" her eyes widen when she asked.
"More" Kurama confirmed as both of them began kissing wildly again.
TBC...
Japanese Cultures:
toshi-koshi soba (buckwheat noodles in broth) - it is customary to eat toshi-koshi soba, the noodles representing best wishes for a long life.
osechi ryori - This is New Year's food and includes many exotic dishes which are only served on this holiday..
joya no kane - temple bells are rung 108 times, symbolizing the driving away of the 108 evil thoughts in Buddhism.
AN: Minna, once again I apologize for my shortcomings...ano, I never expect that this fics would be so long...but no worries, minna-san, part II is already halfway done!! I'll post it up maybe in a day or two!! Please do support me till the end and please review, all your reviews had given me support to carry on this fics.
Lastly, all my dedications to those who read and like my story and I really appreciate all the supports you all had given me.