Yusuke walked around the indoor gardens that had been planted for his mother to enjoy. He kicked rocks and pulled harshly on some vine while faint mumblings of 'stupid old hag', ''tou-baka' and 'stupid princesses' could be heard if you stood about three feet from him.
Prince Yusuke was not a happy prince, not he outright an unhappy one; wouldn't you if you had to fall in love and marry someone in a month? Of course, Yusuke knowing the consequences of insulting his mother and father in their faces were to great so he simply retreated to the garden and cussed for all he was worth while beating up some poor plants. He smirked knowing what prince Kurama of Yomi's territory would do to him for this.
Kurama was as before said prince and heir to Yomi's territory. In all of Makai there were three large territories and three overall rulers. Raizen, Yomi and Mukuro. Each of the had a descendant or at least an heir; Yusuke Yomi's descendant, Kurama Yomi's heir and Hiei Mukuro's heir. Although all three princes could be considered somewhat friends that didn't mean their father's were. Yomi had somewhat tight relationships with Mukuro and seeing as he wasn't the nicest person around he didn't exactly have Raizen's morale support. Mukuro was in general ok, she didn't really like Yomi or Raizen but she did what she could. Raizen couldn't care less about anyone else other than his family and close warriors.
Yusuke got along pretty well with both princes but due to paternal issues they were pretty much all rivals. In his opinion Kurama was an ok guy a bit cold, but ok. Hiei was outright chaotic and he was like a foot tall, so he was actually kinda funny but sort of scary at the same time.
Yusuke was so busy thinking that he didn't notice the girl walking up to him, an extremely tall boy following.
The girl slowly looked down at the down and kneeled down to his level. It took Yusuke about 3 minutes to realize he had someone in front of him.
"Umm…." Yusuke was still to busy wondering why he hadn't felt the people with his overly perfect senses.
" Konnichiwa!" the girl said happily " I'm Botan, princess of the human world I'm one of the forced brides." She said with a hint of humor in her voice.
Yusuke gave a grin, he already like the girl she was pretty and seemed like a fun person. She'd make a nice friend, emphasizing the word friend. " Hey nice to meet you and welcome to the trash can that is my "kingdom"." He shot the veeeery tall guy behind her a questioning look.
"Oh pardon my rudeness." Botan continued, " This is my onii-san Kazuma." She said with a cheery smile.
Yusuke nearly fell over at the revelation. They looked nothing alike Botan had blue hair, the guy had copper colored hair, Botan had pretty amethyst eyes and the guy had small bluish/blackish eyes he couldn't tell the difference. Not to mention the height difference. Botan stood a few inches under him while her brother stood at least a head over him.
" Nice ta meet ya Urameshi, I'm Kazuma Kuwabara! The strongest warrior on all of earth." The tall guy said.
Yusuke gave a smirk; he'd like to test that. But still had more things to worry about, namely his pretty sister. "Woah no offence but you don't look that much alike."
Botan gave a sheepish smile, " Half brothers, we also have another half sister named Shizuru. Well actually she's Kazuma's real sister and my half sister."
"Oh ok, are you guys hungry or anything?" Yusuke asked
While Botan began to answer no, her brother answered a loud yes.
"Um ok then how about some tea and ice cream?" Yusuke asked racking his brains trying to remember ningen foods.
"Great, do you have strawberry? I love strawberry!" Kuwabara asked eagerly.
" I'll have whatever you'll have." Botan said with another of her radiant smiles.
Yusuke instantly ordered a maid to bring the food and led the guests to a small courtyard table in the middle of the garden.
"Wow, this is lovely especially for an indoor garden." Botan complimented with awe.
"Thanks, my dad had it made especially for my mom and has some of the best plant demons tend to it." Yusuke explained.
"He must love your mother a lot, sadly my parents didn't get along very well." She said with a sad smile.
Yusuke gave a nod. His parents had also fought on various occasions he knew what it was like.
" This is sooo good, one of the best ice creams I've tried! But still doesn't beat Ben &Jerry's!" Kuwabara commented with approval.
Yusuke gave a goofy grin, that Kuwabara guy was hilarious; he'd give him that.
"Excuse me, I was informed that the prince was residing here." A voice softly spoke from behind them.
All three turned to see a girls of small stature but of great beauty standing there. She had soft sea-green hair and piercing ruby eyes, she had a soft look on her face and a gentle aura surrounded her.
"Hai I'm the prince; and you are?"
The girl gave a soft smile " I'm Yukina it's a pleasure to meet you, I am the second bride." She said calmly.
Yusuke shot her a charming smile; the girl seemed unfazed. That brought a smile to his face. She wouldn't be so easy to woo, just like Botan.
" Here sit with us, I'll get one of the maids to bring you some tea." He said.
" Are you sure they would not mind?" she inquired a soft blush rising in her cheeks.
Almost immediately all of the people at the table knew she was not of royal birth.
"Of course not, they'd be happy to serve you!" Botan said with a smile.
The girl seemed warmed by this and took a seat between Botan and Yusuke.
Kuwabara who had been forgotten took a look at the girl and found love at first sight, " Hi pretty girl! I'm Kazuma Kuwabara prince and strongest fight of the ningen world at your service!" he said with a bow.
Yukina giggled, " Thank you Kuwabara-sama."
" I'm his imouto, Botan pleasure to meet you Yukina –san." The girl introduced herself with a smile. " So Yukina-san where are you from?"
Yukina blushed a bit at all the attention she was receiving but spoke anyways " I was born on the island of koorime. My mother was descendant of one of our elders but sadly she passed away after giving birth to me and my brother."
"I thought koorime couldn't bear boys?" Botan asked puzzled.
"True, but she had a relationship with my father and gave birth to a boy and girl. I was kept with the koorime but I have no knowledge of my dear onii-san but I hope to find him one day no matter what." Yukina looked saddened at this but continued anyways " I was the strongest healer and the person with highest youki in my village due to my parentage. Since my mother was able to give birth to a boy they supposed I could too so I was chosen by your obaa-sama." She concluded.
Yusuke gave her a pat on the back, she seemed like such a sweet girl. But he also understood she was very strong, anyone who braved that kind of past would be.
Botan and Kuwabara were both in tears by the end of the speech.
"That was so beautiful, but so sad" Botan commented " Oh Yukina-san!" she said enveloping the startled koorime into a bear hug.
"My dear Yukina-san" Kuwabara told her while grabbing both of her hands " I, Kazuma Kuwabara will help you find your brother even if it's the last thing I do."
Yukina blushed a scarlet color, " Thank you for your attention Kazuma-sama."
Yusuke gave a hearty smile; apparently he wouldn't be the only person with a bride. True he thought Yukina was great but still, he knew it wouldn't work out he needed someone bolder, someone more confident, for now apparently Botan was winning.
"How about a walk?" Yusuke suggested
"Yes please, I would love to admire the beautiful gardens." Yukina said shyly.
"So it's decided a walking we go!" Kuwabara decided.
Yusuke walked in the front showing the visitors the way, Kuwabara and Yukina walked side-by-side Kuwabara eagerly talking while Yukina listened intently and sometimes nodded or spoke. Botan walked behind all of them, looking a bit awkward.
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Two eyes observed the whole scene. He watched, first was prince Yusuke, behind him were a green haired girl and a tall orange haired man talking happily, lastly was a pretty blue haired girl looking rather flustered and bored. He had heard that prince Yusuke had to wed and had to choose between three maidens. Being in a similar situation he had decided to let Yusuke choose first and decide between the remaining two. He sat on the tree branch watching. Apparently Yusuke seemed rather disinterested in both. The green haired one was chatting with the tall one and the blue haired one had decided to sit down on one of the benches to rest. He gave a smirk, she'd do perfectly she was princess of the ningen world and very beautiful, according to the information he had recollected she was the only true princess out of the three and if Yusuke wasn't interested he'd have her for himself.
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Botan softly sat down. Her brother had fallen head over heels for Yukina in less than a minute. Yukina was very beautiful and had most qualities most men would want in a woman, quiet, beautiful, soft spoken, cool headed…
Botan looked around the garden admiring its beauty; that is until she felt a branch slowly creak from above her and a curse. She looked up into a pair of… green eyes? Slowly a young man about three years older than her landed in the space behind her. She opened her mouth to scream when a hand swiftly covered her mouth.
"Please don't scream." He said in a soft voice.
She nodded so he'd let her go. He did.
Botan gave a frown, " Who are you and what do you want?" she asked heatedly
"Pardon me princess, I am Kurama," he said
"So what are you doing here?"
" Its quite simple really, I am prince to Yomi's territory and…"
"Yomi? Isn't he a rival of king Raizen?" she interrupted.
"Yes so you have apparently heard of us." He said with a smirk.
"That still doesn't answer my question." She said curious to know what a prince of a rival kingdom could want with her.
"Ah, that. Well you see I'm ion the same situation as Yusuke. I must wed before I'm eighteen so I decided to choose on of Yusuke's maidens for myself. I choose you." He said airily, his smirk growing.
Botan's eyes grew wide, " Who do you think you are to decide thing like that for me? I choose my own destiny." She said haughtily.
Kurama gave a genuine smile, the girl was a apparently a challenge he liked that. " Don't worry my dear I'll make you an offer you can't refuse." He said an evil looking smirk on his lips.
" Botan? Where are you Imouto-san?" Kuwabara called.
As Botan made to call her brother she felt two lips pressing on her own and something being put in her hand.
"See you around sweetie." Kurama said playfully before jumping into the tree.
Botan slowly sat down while remembering her brother's call. " Here I am onii-san."
Kuwabara rushed over to her quickly. " What are you doing here?" he asked worriedly, he soon noticed her flushed face " are you ok?"
"Just fine, a bit hot is all." She said with a smile.
" Well come on we left the garden about five minutes ago.
She nodded and followed finally noticed the red rose left in her hand.
Up in his tree Kurama had a happy face; she'd do just fine.
(End Chapter/Author's notes)
Final bride coming up next chapter!
Aww poor Yukina I wonder whom her brother could be (rolls eyes)
The interaction between Kurama and Botan wasn't intended to sound as a forceful thing on Kurama's part. More as a playful thing was intended!
oh well hope you liked!
