DEDICATED TO: angkat14-sempai!

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You guys asked for it, now here it is… MERRY CHRISTMAS! Think of this as my gift to you. Sorry that's it's boring...please bare with me!

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She couldn't say another word as she suddenly felt her lips close in a soft kiss.

And faintly, she heard Kurama's frantic voice. "Ack! Get off of her NOW!"

Kami-sama, I must be having a crazy dream!

Just at that moment, she heard little Negi's familiar, cheerful voice. "Daddy, how do mommy breath?"

…HUH?! Did he just said "mommy"?!

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Her mind clamored loudly for attention as she roughly pulled herself away from he warm embrace, spurting around wildly. Confused, she hung her head down, blinking.

A few seconds passed…

Suddenly, her grabbed her head violently and did the only thing she could do.

She screamed.

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"Botan-chan?" a soft voice called out as she knocked on a door, leading to her blue-haired friend's chambers. "Botan-chan, may I come in?"

Her brow knitted worriedly as no answer came. Faintly, she heard the footsteps of someone else walking down the hallway approaching her, stopping at her side curiously.

"Ayame-san, what's wrong?"

Ignoring her, Ayame knocked on the door again, this time louder.

No answer.

"What the--?" Ayame slowly muttered to herself, reaching out for the doorknob. Slowly, she opened the door a crack. "Botan-chan?"

She frowned as she noticed that the room was deserted. Planted her hands on her hips, she turned to her companion. "Hinageshi-san, do you know where Botan-chan has gone to?"

Hinageshi shrugged her shoulders carelessly. "Nope, not a clue. Probably out on a walk. But don't worries," she smiled as she skipped into her role-model's room, "I'm sure Sayuki is with her."

Ayame's eyes raised in confusion. "Sayuki? You mean that single-minded kensha (swordsman) we have in the Reikai Security ward?"

Plopping herself on Botan's bed, she smiled excitedly. "Hai. Koenma-sama didn't tell you? He hired him as Botan-sempai's new bodyguard!" Tiredly, Hinageshi laid down on the bed. "Poor Botan-sempai, I pity her, you know? I still can't believe Kurama-san blinded her! Out of all the people!" She didn't noticed Ayame's facial features shifting slightly. "But once a thief, always a thief I guess…"

Ayame slowly approached the redhead, silently turning on the lights in the dimmed room. "Hinageshi-san," she murmured softly, sitting at the edge of the bed, "who told you that?"

"Why, Koenma-sama did. And I heard many others talking about it. Rumors spread fast in these walls, ne?"

Ayame bit her bottom lip thoughtfully. Finally, she sighed. 'I guess it's just me then…' she though ruefully. Her thoughts were soon interrupted though.

"Ayame-san?"

"Yes, Hingeshi-san?"

"May I can a word?"

She blinked at her. "Of course, little one."

Propping her hands to the back of her head, Hinageshi gazed up at the ceiling, her eyes wondering idly. "I don't know…I have this feeling that something is wrong…"

Ayame raise an eyebrow, her voice slightly confused. "Nani?"

Hinageshi gazed at her. "It doesn't seem right…it doesn't fit. Like I have this nagging feeling in me that Kurama-san really DIDN'T do it…but it's just a feeling…" she voice fell. "Maybe…maybe…" Involuntary, she begin to squirm around. Ayame blinked at her. As if on reflexes, Hinageshi reached with small hands under Botan's pillows and felt around until her hands hit something. Curiously, she pulled it out.

"Hinageshi-san!" Ayame hissed suddenly. "That's Botan-chan's private belongings!"

Hinageshi sat up with an object in her hands. "Who cares?" Curiously, she opened the small box in her hands. Instantly, she blushed dreamily, gushing like mad. "Look, Ayame-san! It's so kawaii!!"

Sighing, Ayame took the frame from the smaller girl, glancing at it. Instantly, she knew what Hinageshi had mean.

There was a single picture in it. Single but lovely. There was the red-headed kitsune in a white, prince-ish outfit with light, gold trimmings. In front of him was the smiling girl she'd known for so long. Botan was in a light, white summer dressing, matching the kitsune as she remembered was the day of a Halloween party a while back. She noted that his arms were around her shoulders and he was smiled contently was Botan smiled happily with no worries in her eyes. They truly looked great together.

What has happened to that girl?

'No. Kurama-san didn't do it. Not to her…' Placing the picture down, she turned to Hinageshi who was eyeing her curiously. "Hinageshi-san, you still know how to get in the Reikai securities ward, ne?"

"Um…Hai."

"Do you have access to our security cameras?"

"…hai…"

Slowly, the older one sat up, silently walking to the door. Turing off the lights, she proceeded out into the hallways. "Come along, Hinageshi-san, follow me."

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Everyone covered their ears as she screamed, nearly making their ears bleed.

Ouch.

Quickly, Youko grasped her arms, pulling her towards him but she violently pushed him around, her screaming creasing slowly. Slowly, she fell to the floor, sobbing quietly to herself as she wrapped herself in a ball. "NO!"

Yusuke slowly approached her, holding out his hand towards her slowly to warm her of his presence. His brown eyes narrowed sympathetically. "Botan-chan…" she kneeled down beside her, touching her shoulders gently. "…we need to talk."

She shook her head, trying to suck in her breath. "…no…no…no…Yusuke, left me…leave me alone…I don't…want to be here…"

Yusuke frowned at the melancholy ball of blue in front of him. Quickly, he turned his head to where Kuwabara was. "Hey, Kazuma, give me a--"

He face faulted as he saw that Kuwabara has passed out on the floor with swirls in his eyes and that Hiei was poking him amusingly with the hilt of his kanata. On reflex, he turned to Kurama, his eyes pleading for help. "Kurama…"

Kurama quickly approached the two as Yusuke moved away, standing up to give him more space.

Negi bit his bottom lips worriedly, clinging onto the bottom of Youko's robe. "Daddy, what's wrong with okassan?"

Youko looked down at his son, smiling sadly as he reached down and picked him up, walking to where his wife sat in her world of solitude. Placing Negi down, he crouched down opposite of Shuuichi.

Youko gently placed the tips of his fingers on the back of her neck, noting her involuntary. Smiling slightly, he added more pressure to his fingertips as they begin to glow a eerie light blue.

"What the--?" Yusuke muttered, bewilder. Hiei walked next to him, bored with the unconscious Kuwabara. Jin and Touya also stood behind the two.

"It's pressure points," Hiei replied, matter-of-factly. "It's meant to calm her down."

Yusuke blinked. "Then what's up with the blue light?"

Jin smiled. "It's ki, Yusuke-kun! By channeling ki to certain points, it makes very good therapy."

Kurama looked on emotionless. It seemed like hours until Youko had finally placed his hand down. Turning to her, he noted that she face was still buried in her knees, though she had stopped sobbing and huffing.

His eyes softened with regret.

"I'm so sorry, Botan-chan."

She still didn't move.

"Botan-chan…" his voice became more pleading. "If your not going to talk to me, then at least listen." Youko's ears flopped up, interestedly as everyone else gathered around her, Hiei at a respectful distance.

Kurama looked at her softly, sighing. "How should I begin…? It guess from the beginning…Yusuke?"

Yusuke frowned. "Well, it all started when that toddler brat all called us into his office that day and when we all first met Negi…"

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Sayuki wiped the sweat of his brow after a hard training session, his sword handing from his waist. His wiped his long, green hair from his face and away from his aqua eyes. He was making his way to Botan's room to see if she would like to accompany him to a late lunch.

A frown graced his angelic face. He'd known Botan since she'd first came to Reikai about 600 years ago and they'd instantly became good friends. It pained him to see her in so much distress, especially after her eyesight was taken away from her…

'that baka Kurama…' his fists balled up angrily as he though of the kitsune. 'I won't allow anyone who makes her unhappy…'

his fists balled up angrily as he though of the kitsune.

He hauled to a stop when he saw Ayame and Hinageshi making their ways out of the bluenette's chambers. His face became solemn as he walked up to them. "Ohayou, Ayame-san, Hina-san, is Botan-san in her room right now?"

He blinked at their confused faces. "Ne?"

Ayame cleared her throat. "Iie, we though that she was with you, Sayuki-san."

His lean form slummed a little bit. "Iie. Koenma-sama told me to go train in the training ward fro today. He implied that Botan-san would still be in her room all day."

Hinageshi sighed, eyeing one eye and wagging our a finger. "Knowing Botan-sempai, she went out for a small walk. I would too if I was locked in my chambers all day and night."

Sayuki nodded, smiling softly. "True. Okay, I'll see if I can find her."

Hinageshi smiled happily. "Hai! A later, Sayuki-san, can you play your flute to me again?"

"Of course."

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"…and after Jin and Touya arrived unexpectedly, that was when you showed up…and here we are now…" Kurama finished softly.

Everyone in the room held their breath as the atmosphere thickened unbearably.

Finally after 10 minutes, Yusuke couldn't take it anymore. "Botan-san, please say something! You're driving me nuts!!"

Youko sighed amusingly, his gold eyes sparkling. "She won't answer you."

"Why not?!"

As if on cue, Botan slumped backwards onto Youko.

"She fell asleep," he replied, matter-of-factly.

Everyone face-faulted onto the floor.

"How come you didn't tell us sooner, Youko?!" Jin cried, shedding tears at the big bump on his head. "Owie!"

Kurama frowned. "When did she feel asleep?"

Youko smiled. "About 6 minutes ago."

Suddenly, he stopped instantly as everyone else grew silent.

They'd all sense it: a Reikai was approaching.

Youko bared his teeth, a deep growling in his throat. "Hiei," his hissed deeply. Hiei raised a brow as Youko handed the unconscious Botan to him. "Protect her with your life."

"Hn…fine."

"Botan!"

A gust of wind erupted through the house. Slowly, a silhouette of a tall male came into view. Youko growled. "Show yourself!"

Aqua eyes pierced threw the smoke to reveal a young man with long, silky green hair, wielding a long sword. His eyes narrowed slowly.

"The infamous Youko Kurama and human Minamino Shuuichi, ne?" His voice ranged slowly, dangerously. "Yusuke Urameshi, Kazuma Kuwabara, Hiei of the Black Dragon… Jin and Touya? …what are you two doing here?"

Jin's ears perked up. "Sayuki?!"

Sayuki lowered his sword and smiled. "Hai. It's nice to see you again."

A dark, grim expression graced Yusuke's face "You three KNOW each other?"

Touya smirked. "Hai, he's Botan's bodyguard and the top persona in the defense ward. Truly a strong fighter…considering he's an aura sorcerer and a kensha. "

Sayuki smiled as he suddenly clapped his hands together in front of his face, smiling sadly. "Thanks for the introduction…however--" Abruptly, he clapped the palm of his right hand to the floor.

The floors started to shake violently. Kurama bared his teeth as pieced of the ceiling started to shake off. Quickly, he took out a seed from his hair and turned it into a whip, slashing at where Sayuki was. The whip made a hollow echo on the floor, confirming that he'd missed him. As the smoke started to clear, he quickly turned to Hiei.

"Hiei, is Botan--"

Everyone froze as they all saw Hiei - his eyes wide in shock, his head slightly picked up upward, his arms spread from his body outward and his fingers spread apart.

…oh…

…and at his body, frozen in an ice block.

She was gone…

…He'd lost her again!

Destiny and fate are toying with him!

"Damn…you…Koenma…"

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"Botan-chan! You're waking up!"

Botan moaned as she tried to open her eyes, though she can tell that the light was just going to shine in them. Wincing, she squinted her eyes open.

And she bolted upright abruptly, gasping. She hear a startled gasp next to her but ignored it. Shakily, she gazed down at her hands.

"I…I can see!"

Her companion blinked. "Well, of course you can, silly. Why wouldn't you be able to?"

Botan turned to him. "But…where is Yusuke…Kurama and the others?" she asked, confused and disbelieved.

He blinked again. "They're all in Ningenkai, going about their daily things…" he placed a hand to her forehead. "Are you feeling okay, Botan-chan? You're acting weird…even for you."

Botan's mouth opened slightly in shocked.

'Was it all a dream? Negi…Youko Kurama…all of it?' she though, speechlessly.

Slowly, she shook her head, turning to him and smiled with her eyes closed.

"Sorry, Sayuki-san! I must've been having a weird dream…thank you for waking me up!"

He smiled back at her.

"My pleasure."

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I tried to make it longer than all of my other chapters. Merry Belated Christmas, minna-san!

Please check out my new story, "Connection." It's under my name: LilxyakusokuxX

Onegai, review!