A/N : Hi!! This is the first fanfiction I've ever posted at ff.net but not the first one I've written keke I wrote this story first without assigning any anime characters as the leads. After much thoughts, I decided to use Botan and Kurama, you'll see why as you read on *grins* I probably have to warn you that the story might or does contain OOCness lolz Anyways, enough with the babbling heheh Enjoy ^_^

Disclaimer : I wish I owned Kurama, Botan and Yu Yu Hakusho but nope… *sniff*


Snow Dust Petals Beneath the Falling Rain
Chapter 1

Loudly and endlessly they kept tapping against the freezing pane like an impatient individual demanding for a shelter to get away from the unpleasant weather... They yearned to get inside, to draw her attention to them even though they knew that they were hated... that she never welcomed them... They were only freezing raindrops falling from the sky up above to make her shiver out of coldness... They knew they were despised for a reason... but then, it didn't stop them to wish and to hope... that someday, instead of hitting the windows of her house violently... they will softly hit that flawless skin of hers... Like they knew, like they heard and like they saw... their demanding hits became softer and softer until they turned completely soundless when each of her graceful steps drew her near the window...

Her long snowy dress trailed behind her as she moved towards the window. She pushed the curtains aside and sighed at the sight of outside. She sat on the wooden bench that was placed just underneath the window and rested her arm on its frame. Looking through the invisible glass, she remained still as thoughts flooded her mind.

She was getting desperate with each passing day because of her mother's condition. Her efforts searching for a cure proved useless until this day. Every time she would tend to her mother's needs, every time she would cry afterwards. For the first time in so many years, living here, in the middle of nowhere enraged her. Never had she complained before about being cut off from the world of technology, of civilization. All she needed was her mother, a house and a roses garden, a place where she spent most of her time. It was no wonder that the surroundings of the house were filled with roses' scent and the reason of her white attire.

She pressed the palm of her hand against the cold pane and felt a shiver ran up her spine. She immediately retrieved it and frowned.

"Stupid rain... I hate you..." she muttered under her breath, talking like it were actually a human being. "Why am I even here looking at you anyways?" she got up abruptly and quickly walked away and as soon as she disappeared behind her mother's bedroom door, the once soundless rain turned insane...

She closed the door carefully, trying not to disturb her mother's rest when a faint voice called out her name...

"Botan..."

Botan quickly turned around and went to her mother's side "Okaasan... did Botan wake you up? Botan is sorry..." she apologized as she helped her mother getting into a sitting position.

The elderly woman smiled slightly "No sweetie you didn't..."

She placed a pillow behind her back "Are you thirsty okaasan?" she asked and her mother nodded.

As Botan poured water in a glass and brought it to her mother's lips, she said "Okaasan, I'm going to return in the forest tomorrow"

She pushed the glass away slowly and took her daughter's hand in hers "Botan... how many times have I told you to stop searching? It is no use"

"I'll keep searching until I find a cure okaasan. You will recover" she smiled and went into her mother's embrace.

Her mother forced a smile and lowered her eyes sadly...

~

She cupped her daughter's face in her hands and stared at her lovely face with a smile "You are so beautiful Botan... it is a shame that I am the only one who can see you"

Botan smiled "Why would I need other people to see me when I will stay with you for the rest of my life?"

The woman laughed lightly but quickly turned away when she started to cough. She released her daughter and placed a hand on her chest. A worried expression quickly took over Botan's once joyful one.

"Rest okaasan, don't talk too much. I'll be back before it gets dark" Botan spoke as she brought the blanket up to her mother's chin. She turned to leave when Mrs. Kongying grabbed her wrist. "Yes okaasan?"

"I love you honey" she whispered as a tear rolled down her cheek.

Worried and confused, Botan knelt down in front of her mother and wiped her tear away "Okaasan what's wrong? Why are you crying?"

She smiled and shook her head "Nothing sweetie... now go before the sun gets too high"

Even though she was not convinced by her mother's words, Botan nodded. She kissed her cheeks "I love you very much okaasan" her lips curved into a lovely smile. With those words, she left quietly not aware of her mother's endless tears that had streamed down her face sorrowfully...

~

Botan wiped the sweat off her forehead with her sleeve and looked up at the shining sun. She had been walking for half a day now and all she could find were useless herbs. She went to sit under a tree taking the branches and leaves as a shield, blocking the sunrays.

"At least it's not raining..."

After a good rest, she continued her journey under the beaming sun. The day passed by quickly and the next thing she knew, the sun had set. She was on her way back home when the cloudy sky suddenly began to roar loudly. Her eyes moved upwards towards the sky. It was more than clear that it would start to rain any time soon. She didn't know what to do next. Run home through the rain or try to find a shelter? She finally decided to stay under a tree even though she knew it wasn't a good place, but it was better than run in the rain after being exposed to the sun all day. In less than a minute, the rain started to pour heavily. Botan tried to stay dry but the bottom of her dress was already wet and dirty because of the raindrops that had hit the earth, making mud splashed on her outfit. She waited patiently hoping that the rain will stop soon but then, things went against her will unexpectedly. The forest was calm, only the melody of the falling rain could be heard but soon, the owls' hooting and the wolves' howling joined in. Startled, Botan jumped lightly and scanned her eyes everywhere. Never had she stayed alone in the forest long enough to hear such noises at night and it somehow frightened her...

"Please rain stop soon..." she begged silently and closed her eyes shut, hoping that the sounds would fade away.

Her wish was only answered by rustling noises nearby. She completely froze "Is... i-s... any-one th-th-there?" she listened for a response but... nothing. "Must be my imagination..." she sighed but the noises came back and they seemed to be closer and louder.

Without much further thoughts she started to run, not caring in which direction she was going. All that mattered was to get away from that thing back there. She ran and ran, through the forest... under the pouring rain... ignoring the tree branches that hit her face, scratched her skin... She was soaking wet from head to toe and even though her legs told her that they couldn't bring her any further, her mind still raced for her dear life...

Misfortune was on her side as she tripped over a log that sent her flying over the small cliff that she was never aware of... A cry of fear and surprise was released as her fragile body hit against the ground and rolled down the mount, dirtying all her body length and messing up her hair along the way... It seemed like an eternity to her, but all she could do was closed her eyes shut and hoped that something will finally stop this nightmare... She felt her body slammed against something hard and before her head collided with the tree trunk, her ears didn't fail to hear the faint melody that was played in the background...