Botan sat on the back of an open ambulance holding an ice pack to her jaw. Koenma stood in front of her, shaking his head scornfully. Not a word passed between the two until Botan's swollen face split into a gloating smile.
"I got the Bastard," she bragged. Koenma's lips pursed and he lifted an eyebrow.
"Yes, you did. And you lost a mouthful of teeth in the process," he retorted. Botan laughed, which caused him to frown.
"I don't find anything funny about this, Hasaki," he scolded. Botan stopped laughing but kept her smile. She began to swing her legs, which were dangling off the back of the ambulance.
"Oh, c'mon Chief. You know as well as I do I was going after that guy alone. And I still have all of my teeth," she chuckled. Koenma's frown deepened.
"Just look at you. You're a mess. You could have a broken nose and you don't care," he said quietly. It was the truth; she did look a bit tossed. One side of her face was swollen, a deep bruise coming in on her jaw. She had a small roll of gauze in one nostril and the other was caked with dried blood. Her blood stained sleeve was rolled back to reveal a large red scrape from when Dewy knocked her to the ground. Botan shrugged, her cocky grin falling to a light smile.
"Of course I care. I care that I caught the bad guy. I care that there is a small percentage of women in New York that can sleep safely tonight... and that there are a few children that I've saved from seeking the help of a money-grubbing shrink in the future because they're sexually confused. Do I care that I look this way?" she sighed as she looked thoughtfully towards the sky. After a moment, she shook her head slowly, never tearing her eyes from the setting sun.
"No, I can't say that I do. Me looking this way lets me feel like I've accomplished something good. My body aches because I've exerted myself today. Tomorrow, it will ache for the same reason. But the day that it stops aching, that will be the day that I lose my sense of accomplishment. And then, you'll assign me another case, telling me to take Meshi along, and I'll ditch him again and catch the suspect. Then my sense of accomplishment will come back. So no, I can't say that I do care," Botan responded. Koenma shoved his hands into his pockets.
"So... really, what you're letting me know is that you don't care what I say, either...?" he questioned. Botan sighed and dropped her hand that held the ice pack into her lap.
"Why do we have to go through this after every assignment?" she groaned.
"We wouldn't have to if you would just listen to me! Not just as your boss, not as an authority figure, but as your friend, also! Or can you even call me that anymore?" he asked her, his voice gaining volume. Botan rolled her eyes.
"Please don't play that card. Not today," she complained.
"I mean it, Botan! What does it take to get you to start using your head?! If you won't listen to me, who will you listen to?" he asked. Botan frowned.
"Look, I do what I have to do to get the job done. If, by the end of the day, there's one less scumbag scouring the streets and laying in jail instead, why should it matter how he got there?" she growled.
"God-damnet, Botan! That's not the point! I'm not worried about the criminal's safety! I'm worried about yours! One day, you're going to ditch Urameshi, and that'll be the day that you actually need him!" he snapped, a small vein popping from his forehead. Finally, Botan looked down at him, a weary expression on her face.
"Fine, Daioh. Since you 'care' so much, I'll take him with me next assignment. For real," she sighed, too tired to argue with him. Koenma studied her face for a while before he sighed also. She was pretty banged up. So, he would let her recuperate without stress, even if he did know she was lying.
"Hasaki!" shouted an angry voice from behind Koenma.
Botan peered past Koenma to see a very pissed Lieutenant Urameshi holding two hot dogs in one hand and two canned sodas between the fingers of his other. She shrank back, trying to hide behind Koenma's silhouette. But Koenma stepped aside.
"Hey! Traitor!" Botan hissed as she glared at him. Koenma gave her a lazy half-smile.
"You owe him an explanation. I'll see you in two days," he said as he began to walk towards his car. When passing the ambulance, he reached out and ruffled the top of Botan's head, earning a grumble from her. She groaned as Yusuke began to head towards her.
"You left me... again!" he shouted. Botan shrugged.
"You knew I was going to. I always do," she explained lethargically.
"And what does it get you? A busted up jaw and a bloody nose! I tell ya', you gotta' know when to pick your battles, Botan!" he scolded her. Botan held a hand up to stop him from saying anything else and hopped from the ambulance.
"Save it, Meshi. I've already heard it from Daioh," she clipped. Yusuke's frown deepened.
"This isn't funny, Hasaki. One of these days, one of your fantastic stunts is going to get someone killed!" he shouted. Botan rolled her eyes and tried to walk past him, but his arm shot out to stop her.
"You might get yourself killed, Botan. Then I won't even have a partner to yell at anymore..." he told her, his voice quiet, yet stern. Botan rolled her eyes, but couldn't stop the smile that slid onto her face. She looked up at him with something closely akin to playfulness on her face. Yusuke held his breath as he sensed her hand slowly rising...
...higher...
...higher...
Then...
Yusuke gasped at the sudden force of the two hot dogs being slapped from his hand. He looked down to watch as the two meat rolls tumbled from their buns and across the ground. He looked up at the sound of Botan's laughter.
"You know what?" she chuckled as she placed a hand on his chest, "you can buy us some knew ones. It'll make you feel better." Yusuke shook his head slowly, an incredulous grin slowly making it's way across his mouth.
"I want ice cream this time. I dropped mine while running here," he told her. Botan laughed as he turned and offered his arm. Her smile grew as she took it, grateful he spared her from more lecture. Yusuke looked down at her and sighed.
He never could stay mad at her.
Somehow, by about 10:15, Yusuke and Botan ended up in a sport's bar, which was pretty packed due to the pre-Independence Day hubbub. They both sat at a table in the middle of the bar laughing loudly at a story Yusuke had told.
"You're lying! You've... got... to... be!" she pushed out through the laughter. Yusuke pressed a hand to his chest and raised three fingers with the other.
"I swear! Scout's honor!" he laughed. Botan folded her hands on the table and smacked her lips disbelievingly.
"Like you were ever a boy scout..." she said. Yusuke's face contorted into one of confusion as he placed a finger to his bottom lip.
"I didn't know you had to be a boy scout to use that swear. I thought you had to be on a baseball team..." he said thoughtfully, sending Botan into another laughing fit.
"Hey, you want another beer?" he leaned over and asked as her laughter subsided. Botan shook her head.
"Nah, no thank you. I've filled my quota for the night," she answered.
"Oh, c'mon, Botan! We both know that your quota is higher than the regular," Yusuke teased.
Botan laughed again then reached across the table to smack his arm. He smiled and caught her hand. He lifted it to his face to examine it closely. His smile slowly fell as he carefully scrutinized her slender fingers. They were long and her fingernails were clipped close to skin. Her knuckles were soft and worn, probably from the numerous beatings she handed out weekly. He turned her hand over and resumed his examination on her palm. He immediately noticed the few small calluses and dry scabs on the surface. But his eyes narrowed solely on the long jagged scar that began at the base of her thumb and ended about an inch down her wrist. He frowned as he traced it softly with his finger.
"What happened?" he asked looking back up at her. Botan grinned widely.
"Bar fight," she answered. She stared at the bewildered look that plagued his face for a moment before she laughed.
"What?" she said, sliding her hand from his grasp, "Expecting a sob story?" Yusuke smiled cheaply then scratched the back of his head.
"Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you, my dear partner, but there aren't any," she told him.
"Then why are you a cop?" Yusuke asked while reaching for his beer bottle. Botan shrugged.
"Repressed aggression, I guess," she stated flatly. Yusuke's eyebrows wrinkled.
"Repressed?" He snorted. "Hardly."
"Hey, I only dish out to those who deserve. And most of the time they deserve something bad," she said with a shrug.
"So you deliver?" Yusuke asked before sipping his beer.
"Yep," Botan said with a wink. Yusuke smiled.
"You know, one woman can't take down New York by herself," he teased. Botan rose from her chair and stretched.
"No," she yawned, "But I can try."
She released a small squeal at the end of her yawn then dropped her arms, her hands slapping loudly against her thighs. Yusuke stood with his bottle. He held it out and shook it.
"Bottom's up," he said before he pressed his lips to the rim of bottle and tilted his head back. He closed his eyes while drinking, his Adam's apple bobbing with each gulp. As he downed the last contents of the bottle, a small trickle escaped the corner of his mouth and trailed down his chin. When it was empty, he snatched the bottle away from his lips, producing a loud popping noise. He slammed the bottle down on the table then placed his hands on his hips, a victorious grin on his face. Then his smile faltered and he tilted his chin upward thoughtfully. He opened his mouth widely and released a startling, bluntly loud belch.
"Ugh!" Botan said as she scrunched her face up. Then she laughed and shook her head. "You're disgusting." Yusuke lifted a hand to wipe his chin off and grunted.
"You're just jealous of my talent," he teased. Botan snorted.
"I don't think so," she said. "C'mon, let's go. I have to rest up for resting up tomorrow." Yusuke frowned.
"So you're going to get some rest in tonight so that you can rest tomorrow?" he asked. Botan nodded. Yusuke shrugged.
"Whatever. Let's just go. I'm really tired from chasing you down," he said with a wince at the memory of running through traffic with hot dogs and soda in both hands. He just couldn't waste good food.
"Alright," said Botan, "I'll drive you home."
"No, just drive me to the station. My car is there," he said as he followed her to the door. They exited the noisy bar and crossed the street to her car. Botan unlocked the driver's door and they both climbed in. The ride to the station was quiet, save for the small occasional burp from Yusuke.
Botan pulled up in front of the police station and turned off the car. She sighed and placed the side of her head into her palm, leaning her elbow on the door for balance.
"So... are we cool?" Botan said, a question she would usually ask after she left him. And he would usually sigh then say "yeah, we're cool," shake her hand, and climb out of the car. But Yusuke had something up his sleeve this time.
"No," he answered coolly. Botan frowned, his answer taking her off guard.
"What do you mean?" she asked. Yusuke grinned slyly and folded his hands in his lap.
"I said we're not cool. You owe me for leaving me back there, so..." he said. He lifted a hand to dig into his inside suit pocket. Then he pulled out a piece of paper and began to wave it teasingly in the front of her face. Botan's eyes moved back and forth with his swaying hand trying to see what it was he was holding. She frowned and growled in agitation. Swiftly, she lifted her hand to grab at his wrist, her other hand snatching the paper from his hand. She squinted and lifted the paper close to her face, as she couldn't see in the dark.
"What is this...? A ticket? To where? A concert?" she asked looking back up at him. Yusuke shook his head.
"No. To the senator's July fourth ball tomorrow. It's being held at the New York Auditorium of The Arts. I'll pick you up around... eight o'clock?" he said. Botan's mind was still spinning.
"Wait... What?! How did you get tickets to the senator's ball?" she asked confusedly.
"Daioh. And he also told me to ask you to go with me. He said he didn't want to go and that it was a great opportunity for us to get to know more about each other," he told her simply.
"So... this isn't like a... date or anything... right?" Botan asked hesitantly. Yusuke blanched embarrassedly.
"What?! No! We're just attending together! Nothing romantic... But you do have to dress nice," he told her while pointing at her vest, "so none of that." Botan looked down at her vest.
"What's wrong with this?" she asked, looking back up at him Yusuke shook his head.
"Hasaki, you dress like a guy. Hell, you dress better than half the men in our station!" he said. Botan scoffed.
"I do not," she said folding her arms across her chest offendedly.
"So are you going to go?" Yusuke sighed. Botan smiled.
"Do I have a choice?" she asked. Yusuke smiled back.
"No, but I always love to hear your opinion anyway," he answered. Botan laughed.
"Get out!" she demanded pointing at the door.
"Alright, alright!" Yusuke said as he opened his door. He lifted his leg to step out of the car, then hesitated. He bit his lip thoughtfully then nodded as he made up his mind. He turned back around and leaned over to kiss Botan lightly on the cheek. He grinned happily at her surprised face then turned around and hopped out of the car before she had a chance to gather her marbles and pound him. He slammed the door closed then bent down to the window and held up eight fingers.
"Eight o'clock!" he reminded her before he knocked on the window and then jogged towards his car. Botan shook off the remains of her shock and then started her car. She sighed as she pulled off, blowing her bangs out of her face.
"I'm not taking off my coat!" growled Botan as she clenched at her black trench tighter. Yusuke took a meaningful step towards her with his hand out.
"Give me the jacket, Hasaki! You can't go in there wearing it! I have to give it to the bell boy!" he strained through clenched teeth. Botan shook her head and took a step back. Yusuke followed suit and she took another. She swallowed and began to look around.
"NO!" shouted Yusuke, "Don't you dare!"
Botan looked at him again, her eyes alight with mischief. She gave him an evil grin before she turned and made a dash for his car.
But... due to the blue high heel sandals she was wearing, she didn't get very far.
"See? Isn't this nice? And it's not cold in here," said Yusuke as he entered the auditorium. He handed the bell boy her trench and turned to smile at Botan who was glaring daggers at his back.
"I don't know why you want to hide. You look really nice," he said as he looked her up and down. She was clad in a powder blue dress that fit her form like a second skin. It was spaghetti strapped with a dip that made the collar fall and scrunch just below her breasts, showing a fair amount of cleavage. It was open-backed with three thin silver chains linking the material together. Her high heeled sandals, which had failed her earlier in flight, strapped up to her calves.
"I imagine you would, since you picked it out!" Botan snapped while glowering at the memory of him barging into her home and ransacking through her closet. She had been asleep all day, her intent being on staying home from the ball. But she hadn't banked on Yusuke coming to pick her up.
"Yeah," he laughed, "I do have good taste." Botan rolled her eyes.
"I don't want to go into that big ass ballroom with a swollen jaw and a bruised nose, Meshi!" she whined wrapping an arm around herself uncomfortably. Yusuke rolled his eyes. He lifted a hand and cupped her chin gently.
"Let me see," he sighed as he turned her face slowly. He leaned over a little to peer at the small purple spot on her face. He brushed his thumb over the bruise and she winced.
"Sorry," he mumbled. he drew back and pushed his hands into his pockets.
"It isn't so bad. It's gone down since yesterday. You can barely see it now," he told her. Botan shrugged.
"I'm still not going in there," she said with a defiant smirk. Yusuke sighed and shrugged his shoulders.
"Suit yourself," he said as he turned around. He approached the door man and handed him his ticket. He began to walk away briskly then stopped, slapping a hand to his forehead forgetfully.
"Oh!" he said turning to look back at her. He shook his head slowly and sighed.
"I've got two words for you: open bar."
Botan's eyebrows shot sky-high and without a moment's hesitation she was by his side with her arm linked to his.
"You know, I was thinking, maybe this could be fun," she said with a bright grin as they entered the ball room.
They stopped in the large entranceway of the ballroom and Botan almost gasped aloud.
The room was huge.
There was a row of stairs that led to the shiny, marble floor. The tables were pushed to the far side of the room so people could dance slowly to the soft classical music that was being played by the small orchestra on the other far side of the room. In the middle of the ceiling dangled an extravagant crystal chandelier. And right across from where they stood, Botan noted, was the bar which was quite empty save for two women.
Botan smiled, a greedy gleam reflected in her eyes. She would have to rectify that.
"Hey, I'm going to go have a word with the senator's son. Then I'm gonna' get us a table, if I can. Will you wait for me at the bar?" he leaned over to ask her. Botan looked up at him and nodded. Yusuke smiled and unlatched his arm from hers.
"Be good, Botan," he said, giving a playful flick to her nose as they walked down the stairs. She shot him a scowl and he laughed before he turned and walked through the crowd. Botan suddenly smiled and began to rub her hands together covetously.
"To the bar!" she declared as she sifted her way through the dancing people. It took a lot of effort, having been approached by a few men, but when she finally made it to the bar she dropped heavily on a stool. She sighed as she rotated the seat to face the counter. She smiled brightly at the bartender.
"A glass of champagne, please," she said cheerfully. Someone beside her scoffed.
"Doesn't she mean a whiskey straight?" whispered one of the two women sitting next to her, which was followed by a fit of giggles.
"She does look kinda' brutish, doesn't she?" laughed the second party.
Botan sucked her teeth and cocked her head. She was familiar with this kind of talk from other women. It was nothing new to her. She was, after all, a rough gal. But that didn't mean they shouldn't be put in their places. She opened her mouth to say something but before any words could be formulated, the bartender was back.
"Here you go, ma'am," she said while placing Botan's glass down. Suddenly forgetting about cursing out the two wenches who had so rudely insulted her, she brightened visibly.
"Thank you, Missy!" Botan chirped as she lifted the glass to her lips. But then, her eyes narrowed when she heard the two women begin whispering again as she sipped her alcoholic beverage.
Botan looked to her side to glare at the two whispering women beside her. Then she saw that they weren't actually looking at her anymore, but towards the direction of the doors. They were both covering their mouths to gab quietly with wide, astonished eyes. Then her ears perked at the sound of a female chorus of giggles and gasps. Slowly, she rotated her spinning stool to see what the commotion was about. But she couldn't see a thing.
With curious eyes, Botan rose from her seat. She leaned over to the side to see around the rowdy crowd of women, but to no avail. Then she stood on her tip-toes and lifted her chin with the same results. With an irritated grunt, she plopped back on her seat. But still, she didn't look away from the female gathering, she was much too interested now. The crowd erupted in a fit of giggles before a male voice emerged from the group.
"Ah, ladies, my friend and I would love to bask in this sea of beauty, but we must talk with the senator," he said charmingly earning a chorale of disappointed moans.
Botan looked on with rapt interest as the group of pouting women reluctantly parted. Then a tall, handsome man with long black hair stumbled forward and out of the crowd. He sighed then dusted off the brimmed hat that he held and placed it on his head. He looked down at himself with a frown to straighten his crisp, black overcoat. Then he turned back to the crowd. He grinned then cocked his head to beckon for someone else to join him. Botan watched unblinkingly as another man emerged from the crowd followed by a group of about twenty men. This one, she noticed was a tall redhead, he too, dressed in black. The man shook his head and they both chuckled as a waitress ushered their group to a large table.
"Botan! Did you hear me?" questioned a voice from beside her. Botan's head whipped around to see Yusuke staring at her aggravatedly. She didn't even notice him sit next to her.
"Botan, did you hear what I said?" he asked again. Botan shook her head, trying to get rid of the sudden wave of admiration she had been hit with while watching them cross the room to a corner table.
"Huh? What did you say?" she said. Yusuke straightened a little and pressed his lips into a thin line as he glared at her with agitation written on his face. Botan smiled sheepishly.
"I'm sorry, Meshi. My mind was... elsewhere," she laughed. Yusuke fidgeted in his seat. He glanced quickly over at the corner table then back to her. Then he shook his head and sighed.
"I managed to get us a table," he said as he stood. Botan hopped from her stool. She laced her arm through his again then grinned apologetically up at him.
"Lead the way, sir," she said with a mock solute. Yusuke regarded her suspiciously for a moment before he smiled.
"Gladly," he said as he led her across the floor. When they reached the table, Yusuke pulled out a chair for Botan to sit at before he sat down next to her. Almost immediately after they had sat, a pretty young lady approached their table requesting Yusuke of a dance. He looked at Botan.
"Can I?" he asked. Botan's eyebrows frowned.
"Yusuke, what am I supposed to do? Sit here by myself? I don't know any of these people!" she exclaimed. Yusuke put a hand to his chest.
"That's not my fault, is it?" he retorted.
"No, but you asked me out and now you're going to leave me by myself?!" she said angrily. Yusuke blinked a few times then shifted in his seat.
"This isn't a date, Botan," he told her. Botan's jaw fell agape. Beside them, the girl rubbed her arm nervously.
"Um, I'll just go..." she said as she turned to leave.
"No," said Botan, catching her wrist, "it's not."
Yusuke shrugged uncaringly and stood from his seat. He grasped the girl's hand and led her to the middle of the dance floor. Botan sighed angrily.
"I'm not angry," she mumbled to herself. "Just frustrated."
Yusuke was right, really. They weren't on a date. But why did he even bother to drag her out of her bed if he was just going to leave her by herself? Why had he even asked for her permission? Was he purposely attempting to make her jealous? And what kind of girl asks a guy to dance if he clearly attended with someone else? She hadn't wanted to attend the stupid ball in the first place!
Grumbling angrily to herself, she rolled her eyes from Yusuke on the dance floor to scan the rest of the room. It was quite large and filled with nothing but the richest and best known people in government and business.
Her eyes halted when they came across the redhead from earlier and his companion. She looked on as he exchanged words with a woman who stood next to him while he sat. He smiled kindly at her then shook his head slowly, and with a wistful look on her face, she turned and walked away. He sighed relievedly, only to be approached by another woman! Botan could only guess that they were all hitting on him, and judging from the disappointed looks they wore when walking away, getting declined.
Botan watched amusedly as woman after woman, separated by a mere matter of minutes, approached the young man and threw him a saucy pitch, only to be politely turned down. It was almost as if there was a line.
She snorted contemptuously as a tall, lanky, obviously older woman approached him. He laughed softly at something she said, but ended up turning her down also.
He was gorgeous man, she noted. This, of course, he knew, a smug expression on his face as his wickedly jade eyes scanned the room. She almost shrieked out loud when those eyes locked with her own. Instead, she gulped and sunk a little bit in her seat. She was even more surprised when he flashed her a charming smile.
Botan blinked twice then looked down, trying hard to avoid his solid gaze. Had he felt her watching him? Her heart sped into a rapid pace as she felt his inspecting orbs watching her face flush with blood. She sighed shakily.
Maybe she was being paranoid. Maybe he wasn't even looking at her anymore. Maybe, hopefully, another woman had arisen and distracted him. Maybe she should take a look.
Slowly, Botan rolled her eyes upward. She felt her stomach jerk when she found his emerald irises were still watching her, his smile still locked in place. It grew wider as he leaned over to whisper to his hat-donned companion, his eyes never leaving her.
His companion turned from the lady he was chatting with to look at him curiously. The redhead said something and nodded in Botan's direction, prompting his companion to look at her also. She frowned when she saw the lecherous grin that quickly attached itself to his face.
Look at them... staring at me like I'm a piece of meat. They'd better stop looking at me...
She narrowed her eyes dangerously at the two, sending them a silent threat. The effect was dashed, though, when they both began to laugh. She clenched her hands in her lap as anger quickly began to replace her nervousness.
Are they... are they laughing?! At me?!
Oh, how badly she wanted to stomp over there and show them where laughing at Botan Hasaki will get them! But, alas, she was at the senator's ball and she didn't want bad press for ruining it. So, she settled on averting her eyes. If she didn't look at them, she didn't have to see them laughing.
Trying to distract herself, she reached for her champagne glass, although she did not pick it up. She slid her finger along its golden trimmed rim, watching as tiny bubbles floated from the bottom to the top of the glass, only to combust when coming into contact with the surface of the intoxicating substance. That seemed to soothe her ire somewhat. So enchanted with it she was, she didn't even notice when someone approached her table and slid smoothly into the chair across from her.
"We weren't laughing at you."
Startled, Botan yelped and slapped a hand to her chest as her eyes snapped up to meet her intruder.
It was the man's partner, the one with the hat. Immediately she took notice that he was almost as attractive as the redhead, only his looks contrasted drastically from his partner's. His features were mostly dark; opposite from the other's. His long, ebony hair was straight and shiny. It flowed from his brimmed hat to rest at the base of his back. His skin was a creamy, pale complexion, highlighting his pale blue eyes. He was dressed in all black, save for his tie which was made of white silk. He donned a long, black overcoat which swept at his feet as he walked. His hat had a large, silver buckle on the front of it. It cast a small shadow over his face, not at all subtracting from his beauty.
"Who the hell are you?" Botan asked when she was done looking him over. He chuckled lightly, not in the least offended by her bluntness.
"Forgive my rudeness. I should have asked to join you first miss..." he said. Botan swallowed before she answered.
"Hasaki. Botan Hasaki," she answered shakily, cursing herself for sounding so frail. The man looked up at the ceiling thoughtfully, tapping his chin with his finger lightly.
"Botan..." he voiced as if sampling her name. Finally he looked at her and smiled.
"Ah, peony. It does suite you," he complimented. Botan frowned.
"How do you know what suits me?" she asked daringly. He looked over her figure slowly before he looked at her face again, his eyes glinting with mischief.
"Let's just say I'm an excellent judge of character," he responded. Botan rolled her eyes and turned her head to look out at the dancing people.
"Temae nou betsuni, baka daiben nitsu," she mumbled under her breath. He raised a hand to wag a finger and 'tsked' forebodingly.
"Such nasty language, Miss Hasaki! For shame," he scolded playfully. Botan looked back at him.
"You speak Japanese?" she asked suspiciously. He shrugged nonchalantly.
"Of course. I had better know my own language," he said casually. Botan looked him over yet again, and almost slapped herself for not noticing his Japanese features earlier. His eyes, which were light, yet mysterious, were exotic in their beauty. His facial structure was slim, yet masculine, adding to his good looks.
"What is your name?" Botan asked him. He smiled, satisfied with knowing that his presence intrigued her. He placed a hand on his stomach and bowed lightly.
"My name is Kuronou Taneda, loyal comrade to Shuuichi Minamino, trusted business partner to Kurama Ikoyo," he said as he looked back up at her.
"And which is he?" Botan asked nodding towards the redhead. Kuronou turned in his seat to look at his friend, who was busy talking with the senator and his wife.
"He," he said turning back around to face her, "is Shuuichi." Botan nodded.
"And he sent you over here?" she asked. Kuronou shook his head.
"No, I came of my own accord," he told her.
"Why? To laugh at me some more?" Botan said. Kuronou cocked his head to the side and grinned, his dark strands swaying as he moved.
"No, love, we weren't laughing at you, but at that adorable glare you shot our way," he said crossing his legs and folding his hands on top of his knees. Botan's eyebrows frowned.
"Adorable?" she squeaked. She had meant that look to be threatening... not... cute!
"Yes, adorable. It wasn't until after we sensed your anger did we realize you were serious. That's when I came over. I apologize if we caused any discomfort on your behalf," he said. Botan looked at him skeptically before she concluded that he was sincere. Her facial complexion slowly rose to a dusty pink color. Then, as hard as she tried not to, Botan laughed.
"Arigatou. That's very kind of you," she said, her face now lit with a broad smile. Kuronou smiled also, finding her a lot more attractive when she did so.
"Please," he offered, "Come join us at our table."
Botan looked past him at the table he came from and then back at him, shaking her head profusely.
"Oh, no! Thanks, but no thanks. Your, um... entourage is a little too big for my taste. I don't get along good with crowds. I'll just stay over here," she declined. Kuronou pursed his lips.
"They will be dismissed, if it comforts you," he suggested.
"No, it's okay! Really, it is. They don't have to get up just for me..." she laughed.
"Miss Hasaki," said Kuronou as he uncrossed his legs and leaned over, "I insist."
Botan bit her lip and groaned as she watched the table, its small minion of men appearing very intimidating. She looked up to see Kuronou standing next to her, hand stretched for her to take.
She sighed and reached out to grasp it.
AN: I seriously need to apologize to you guys. This chapter totally sucked. I just feel as if I didn't put my best foot forward on this one... more like the one with the sprained ankle. I'm kinda' disappointed. So, I must apologize for my crumminess. Now, with that said...
Phew!!!
That took some mind strength to write... and endurance. Half of me was telling the other half to dump this story and start on another. I'm really sorry it took me this long to update. I have the story completely written out but I'll be updating sporadically seeing as I'm a review-whoring scumbag! Tee hee!
Oh yeah, I'm not really sure what color Kuronou's eyes are. I just thought pale blue would suit his dark features. Don't be angry with me...
Thank you for taking the time to read! PLEASE REVIEW!!
Shameless Plugging: You guys just have to read Foxgloves, by Volpone! Absolutely addictive!!