Sarasaki High's Gaffe
Chapter 16 - Interest Lost?
"Beep--beep--beep--bee-!" Botan's alarm went off as she rolled over and smacked the snooze button. "Oh I'm too tired." she moaned and fell back to sleep. Shockingly, Minat'te wasn't there.
After a half an hour of sleeping, Ryo finally noticed that Botan hadn't been up and walked into her room. "Botan you idiot! It's time for school." Ryo said as Botan shot up and looked at the clock.
"Ahhh!" she screamed as Ryo laughed. "It's not funny. How come mom didn't wake me up!?" Botan shouted as Ryo rolled his eyes. "Remember, she's in the hospital!" he said as she slapped herself.
"Dad?" she asked as Ryo shrugged. "He's probably gone to see her." he said as Botan shoved him out of the way and towards the bathroom. She hopped in the shower as Ryo stood at the door.
"Oh yeah. Some guy came over looking for you just a few minutes ago." Ryo shouted through the door. "He said he was going to walk you to school but some girl came to pick him and the dude across the street up."
Botan gasped, "Keiko forgot me." she whispered and turned the shower off. She threw a towel around herself and ran towards her room, shoving Ryo out of the way again.
"I'm off to school. Don't be late." Ryo said sticking his tongue out as he heard a bus coming and ran out of the door.
Botan got on her dress and looked for her long pair of stocking white socks and couldn't find any. 'Sock--sock--sock!" her mind screamed as she finally found some in the bottom of her dresser. "Yes!"
She slipped on her shoes and ran down the steps, missing the cat and ran towards the kitchen. 'Pop Tart--Pop Tart--Pop Tart!' her mind began to scream as she found no Pop Tarts.
She looked to find a Nutritious Apple Cinnamon Bar and grabbed it. Running out of the door, she gobbled it down and ran down the street. On her way, she met the neighbor's dog face to face.
"Oh great!" she shouted and tried to slip around it slowly. "Nice doggy. Stay.. stay." she said as she got around it and turned to walk away as it began to growl and jumped at her.
"Ahhh!" she screamed and began to run. She turned a corner and hopped over a neighbor's fence, getting hung on the gate as the neighbor's door opened up. "What the heck you doing in my yard!?" an old lady screeched.
Botan struggled as she saw the lady coming at her with a broom and finally made it off of the fence, ripping the back of her skirt. "No!" she shouted as she looked to see her underclothes underneath it.
Botan heard the dog growling and without looking, she began to run towards the school again.. screaming.
[Fourth Period]
"Hey Botan." Keiko whispered over beside her. "Why weren't you outside this morning?" she asked as Botan sighed with a cheerful grin, "You wouldn't believe this but-"
"Excuse me Ms. Yakima." Mr. Jones said, walking to the girl's desk, like he normally done daily. "-but what's so important, you have to interrupt discussion?" he asked as Botan shook her head.
"Nothing Mr. Jones I-" "Ok." he broke into her apology and turned to the class to begin teaching again. Keiko rolled her eyes, "Botan what were you saying?" she asked as Botan held up a finger.
"-and that's all for today. Um, you have ten minutes of class left." was all Mr. Jones said before walking out of the classroom with a cup of coffee. Botan looked back at Keiko.
"Well, I had a really bad-" "Hey girls." Yusuke said, walking over and interrupting their conversation. "Hey Yuse-chan." Keiko said slapping his cheeks as he became embarrassed. "Stop will ya?"
"Fine. Go away." she said as Kuwabara and Kurama came over, talking about what happened last night with Shizuru. "Hey guys." Kuwabara greeted as Kurama done the same.
"Keiko-" "Wait a minute Yusuke! Botan please finish what you were saying." Keiko said as Yusuke, Kuwabara, and Kurama all grabbed a chair and circled the table, playing Uno.
"Well, I had a really bad morning-" "Hey, why is your skirt-" "SHUT UP WILL YA!" Botan shouted, interrupting Kurama's question as he held up his hands defensively. Kuwabara and Yusuke laughed.
"Well, I had a really bad morning because I woke up-" "Hey guys." Emi approached them as Botan growled. "Ooo!!!!" she said as everybody leaned back in their chairs.
"Woah B, what's up?" Emi said as Botan laughed and shook her head. "I'm sorry. Just feeling really depressed because my friends won't let me talk." she said as everybody became quiet.
"Thank you. Well, I had a really bad morning because I woke up late and then I got chased by a freaking dog all the way here." Botan said giggling as everybody looked weirdly at her.
"-and that's why I won't outside this morning and why my skirt is ripped." she said looking around to see they were still silent. "What!?" she shouted as everybody shook their head and mumbled, "Nothing."
"..uh.. yeah." she said as the bell rung. "Well, I'll check ya guys later." Emi said walking towards Saluki, who was waiting at the door. "Bai." everybody said as they began to walk paired off.
Keiko and Yusuke walked a few feet in front with Kuwabara hanging with his groupie-friends behind them. Botan walked isolated from the group as she saw Kurama walk passed her, saying nothing or not even looking at her.
"Hey Kurama-kun." she chirped happily as he looked back at her with a small smile. "Hey." he said and turned to walk again. Botan's eyebrows narrowed as she saw him walking towards a group of girls.
"Hey Shuichi-chan." Mercedes, his Festival Date greeted him with a kiss on the cheek. Botan felt heart broken.. but why? She didn't really like Kurama that way.. did she?
Kurama and the group walked towards the cafeteria as Botan walked in all late. She saw that the gang had been seated already, talking and laughing, not really paying attention to her.
"Botan." Masqoshki called from a table where Okita, Ryo, Tang, and Saluki were. They all waved as Botan smiled weakly and walked over to their table, taking a seat. "Hey." they all greeted.
"What's wrong?" Masqoshki asked, with concern on his face. Botan shook her head, "Nothing." she said, smiling phonily. "Just feeling a little depressed today." she said looking at her food.
"Why?" Saluki, the green-haired girl asked as Okita frowned. "It's a long story." Botan said, not wanting to talk about it. "Oh c'mon." Tang said as Botan shook her head.
"Ok then." Saluki said with a sigh and stood from the table. "Where ya going?" Okita asked as she gasped. "That's right!" she said snapping her finger as the two ran with their trays. Botan looked at the three guys.
"Oh, they always do that. They run to the bathroom and skip next period." Ryo said shaking his head. Not paying attention, Masqoshki watched as Kurama sat with a brunette girl across the table from him.
"Um Botan." he said as Botan looked at him and followed his gaze. "Don't look-" he said as he saw Botan looking over at the two, kissing. "Hey didn't he like.. go with her?" Ryo asked as Tang glared at him.
Botan shoved her seat back from the table and slid her tray off of it. Everybody jumped as the cafeteria went silent. Botan stomped out of the huge room, kicking the doors open.
"Botan!" Masqoshki called and got to run out of the cafeteria as Keiko did also. The two ran outside of the cafeteria and spotted her running towards the girl's bathroom.
"Botan!" Keiko called and ran inside as Masqoshki stood at the door waiting.
Inside, Botan was found crying as Saluki and Okita watched, sitting on the sinks. "Botan what's-" "Botan!" Keiko interrupted as they all began to ask her questions. Getting annoyed, Botan screamed out loud.
"Sheesh." Okita said covering her ears. Keiko hugged Botan, "What's wrong?" she asked as Botan stopped crying and took a deep breath. "Huh?" she asked again.
"Kurama." Botan said and began to glare. "Kurama told me he loved me and then the next day he's smooching Mercedes!" she said with sniffles.
Keiko awed and snapped her teeth. "Ooo Kurama." she said clenching her fist.
"Let's go get him!" Saluki suggested. "Yeah!" Okita said, throwing her fist in the air. Keiko looked at Botan, "We'll get him for you!" she said as Botan tried to say something but didn't have a chance to.
Stomping out of the bathroom, they shoved Masqoshki out of the way and walked back towards the cafeteria. "Uh.." was all he got to say before Okita shoved a bunch of toilet tissue in his mouth.
Inside the cafeteria, Tang and Ryo were cleaning up the mess while the other students sat talking about stupid things. Kurama, who was back to snuggling with Mercedes, was circled by the three girls.
"What?" he asked as Keiko jacked him up. "Woah!" Yusuke said and jumped out of his seat, "Keiko-Keiko!" he shouted as Keiko's grip tightened on his shirt collar.
"Um?" Kurama said as Keiko and Saluki pulled him out of the cafeteria. Okita shoved a bunch of food into Mercedes mouth as the students got boisterous. Yusuke stood dumbfoundedly watching as his girlfriend drug Kurama outside.
They shoved him into the bathroom, locking the door. "What is going on?" he asked looking around as Keiko pulled his head around by his hair, making him wince. "That!" she shouted.
"What?" he asked, seeing Botan sitting in the corner of the bathroom floor. "What!?" Keiko mimicked Kurama and tried to smack him but was caught by Okita.
"What's wrong with Botan?" he asked as he saw her hurt pink eyes being covered by her knees. "I don't know. Maybe you can tell us!" Saluki said, crossing her arms. "Yeah!" Okita added.
"I do not know why she's upset." Kurama said as Keiko growled. "No!" Botan suddenly stood up wiping her eyes. "Keiko, Saluki, Okita.. thanks for trying to help me but I'd like some privacy to deal with this myself."
Keiko looked at Botan saddened and back to Kurama and shoved him. "C'mon." Saluki said. "Yeah!" Okita added as they walked out of the bathroom, leaving Botan and Kurama inside.
"What was all that about?" Kurama asked, standing up and glaring at her. Botan frowned, "What was all last night's talk about?" Botan asked in a small, unsteady voice.
"Huh?" he asked, remembering she called and he telling her he loved her. "I-.." was all he could get out. Botan's shoulders shrunk down as she pouted, "Kurama why did you say that?" she asked.
"I do love you." he said normally as she began to walk back and forth. "Oh yeah? Well.. why were you kissing Mercedes?" she asked as Kurama's mouth hung open.
"I thought you said you loved me as a friend. I didn't think you'd get upset with me having a girlfriend." he said, realizing that Botan did like him.. more than a friend.
"I thought so too." Botan said sighing, "-and now I know so." she said, walking passed Kurama and out as he looked down sadly and slid down the wall. Why didn't you say so? He thought.
[After Last Period's Bell]
Botan, Keiko, and Yusuke walked out of the school silently as Kuwabara walked out with his friends, fighting and fussing about something weird. Kurama was found walking out alone and miserably.
"Botan you ok?" Yusuke asked as Botan looked over at him and nodded with a small smile. "Yeah." she answered without any voice. Why couldn't she have Yusuke? He sure did care alot.
"Why don't you go talk to Kurama?" he asked as she shook her head. Kurama had started to walk towards the park as Botan watched him, saddened by his mood.
"Go on Botan." Keiko said, patting her on the shoulder. Botan looked down with a heavy sigh, "Ok." she said and looked up at them, "I guess I'll see you tomorrow." she suggested as the two walked to Keiko's car.
Botan walked towards the way Kurama was walking and tried to catch up with him. "Kurama." she said voicelessly as he didn't hear her. "Kurama!" she said, as a small voice peeped out.
He turned to see the white haired girl running towards him. "Botan.." he said lowly and sighed. "What do you want?" he asked as she looked at him weirdly. "...to talk." she said.
"What's wrong with your voice?" he asked as she shrugged. They walked over into the park towards the bench they always sat at where Hiei's tree was.
"Kurama I wanted to apologize for what Keiko done." she said looking ashamed at her fingers, "I didn't tell them everything." she said as Kurama stared straight ahead. "Kurama." she said as he looked at her.
"Gomen?" she said as he nodded and looked back straight ahead. Her eyes watered up, "Kurama I'm sorry." she said and began to cry, making him break out of his hard shell. When he saw Botan crying, he opened his arms.
Botan laid her head on his chest and sobbed a few times before parting. "Were you serious?" she asked as Kurama looked at her confused. "-about what?" asked Kurama.
"When you said you loved me.. were you being serious?"
"At the time I wasn't really sober.. but now I-" he stopped when he heard a movement from above. Hiei... he thought and looked up to see nothing.
"What?" she asked, looking up as she thought about it. Hiei was probably there listening to the whole conversation but why would she care?
"Botan, I love you." he straight out said as she looked at him with a hard stare. "I've always, even when you were a ferry girl. Please forgive my stupidity." he apologized in such a way.
Not able to regret accepting his apology, Botan smiled and gave him a hug. "Kurama you're so amai." she said once again in her ningen life time.
They parted, "So.. will you go?" he asked.
"Go where?"
"-to the Senior Prom and be my date?" he asked as Botan smiled, teary eyed from being sooo happy. "Of course!" she shouted and jumped into his arms again.
Hiei, who wasn't very far from them, now felt heartbroken. After sharing a nice night and a goodnight kiss.. this? he asked himself. I love her too. Deeply like no other. He thought, trying to hold in his secret.
"Hey-" he said coming from behind the tree he sat in and seeing nobody but Kurama and Botan walking linked arm in arm. "I wanted to tell..." his voice trailed off as he looked away. Damn fox. His head cursed before he disappeared.