Ch.2- Attraction
"This'll be your room while you're here with us," Kurama's mother said, smiling. "What did you say your name was again, dear?"
"Botan, ma'am," Botan said, smiling back.
"Such a pretty name for such a pretty girl," the older woman said. "Once Shuichii brings up your suitcase you can put your things in the closet and dresser. Then you can rest before dinner."
She left just as Kurama reached the door. She pulled him to the side and Botan heard her telling him, "She's a sweet girl. You don't have to explain why she needs a place to stay, but I expect you to be a perfect gentlemen while she's a guest in our house."
Botan busied herself with opening the window and looking out. Kurama came in, his mother having gone downstairs to start dinner, and placed her briefcase-turned-suitcase on the bed. His face was slightly pink and he adverted his eyes from hers. She did the same.
"Thank you," she said. "I'll unpack and meet you downstairs."
"No, unpack and rest," he said.
"I'm fine, but I may lie down for a few."
"Alright, see you at dinner."
He turned to leave but stopped as the ex-ferrywoman called back.
Going to him, Botan threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly. He stiffened but hugged her back.
"Thank you, Kurama," she said. "Thanks again, for everything."
Kurama relaxed and patted her on the back.
"It's nothing. I'd do anything to help a friend."
She smiled up at him before pulling away and making her way to the bed, opening the suitcase, which now contained normal clothes and accessories. She bustled around, putting the stuff away.
Kurama left, his emotions and thoughts running haywire, having now way to sort them out.
One thing he knew for certain: he liked Botan, and as far more than just a friend.
Botan left her room and headed down the hallway looking at the pictures on the wall as she headed for the stairs. She grinned as her eyes fell on many pictures of a small redheaded boy as he grew in life, and finally, at the end of the hallway, her gaze fell on the most recent picture of the boy, which Botan figured to be taken no more than a half a year ago. She sighed as she ran her fingers over Kurama's face on the glass.
Who was she kidding? He'd never be interested in an ex-ferry girl-turned-mortal.
She turned onto the stairs and descended, looking around as she reached the bottom.
She heard voices in the room to the left through the living room and found herself in a kitchen where Kurama stood at the stove stirring a pot as his mother cut up vegetables. They had been talking about her, she knew, because the moment they saw her, they grew silent.
"Oh, dear," Kurama's mother said. "I thought you were asleep."
"I'd like to help with dinner, if that's alright."
"Of course, it's alright," she said and smiled. She pulled out another cutting board and knife, setting them across from hers on the island. She then pointed at the pantry.
"There is a package of bread in there that you can cut up and put in this," she said and pulled out a bread bowl.
Botan smiled and headed to the pantry grabbing the loaf of bread, opening and placing it on the cutting board. She struck up a conversation with the older woman as the proceeded in cutting.
"I'll set the table," Botan offered when she placed all the bread in the bowl and took the cutting board and knife to the sink. Shuichii, would you help Botan set the table as I set out the food?"
Kurama smiled at Botan when she looked up at him.
"Of course, mother," he said. He gestured for Botan to come to him and when she did, he opened the cabinet above them and handed her three bowls and then got out three cups. He then pointed at the drawer below which Botan opened and took out three spoons while he went to the fridge and got the fruit juice.
Together they set the table in the dinning room and once his mother had the food on, the sat—Botan ending up in the seat across from Kurama and next to his mother. Kurama served her and his mother before he served himself. They ate quietly, seldom talking, and sighing happily as the finished, stomachs full.
Botan stood to clear away the dishes but was stopped by a hand on her arm—Kurama's mother—and she sat back down as Kurama stood and took the dishes away to the kitchen. Botan turned to his mother.
"Botan, I trust my son and I trust you, but if either of you are tempted to do anything under this roof, I ask you to think responsibly."
Botan blushed but nodded, silently wondering, as Kurama rejoined them, if she would do anything to stop him if Kurama were to ever try something.
As he smiled at her, she looked down, her cheeks hot, and knew instantly that she would not.
