Runaway Bride
Botan face fell. She was not expecting this "if Kurama disapproves of him then maybe Kurudo is such a jerk as he thought."
Kurama can't help sympathizing with her and at the same time feeling furious. She doesn't deserve this…she deserves better no…the best.
"I suppose you can say no to Koenma right, Botan, you don't have to runaway here just so you'll not be married to him." Kurama asked her.
She let out a heavy sigh feeling suddenly tired and shrugged at him. "I suppose so."
"Why don't you forget about it now and get some sleep, huh?" He suggested and was relieved when Botan agreed.
"Kurama-kun?" Botan asked, as she was comfortable snuggled under the blankets.
"Hmmm…"
"Do you think Koenma-sama really want to marry me off to Kurudo-san"
"Well from what he told me he lost in a bet and that Kurudo wanted you for his prize. Other than that I don't know anymore," Kurama answered feeling the sparks of anger turning into full blast. How dare he claim Botan like an object?
"Kurama-kun?" she called again interrupting his thoughts for the second time. "I'm sorry for yelling at you and thank you for everything."
Kurama smiled against the dark "Anything for you, Botan. Anything" he turned to her to see her reaction but saw a sleeping Botan curled into a ball.
"Goodnight" he whispered and finally lay down beside her but did not close his eyes.
"So…are you going to ignore me for the rest of the trip?" Kurama questioned Botan pining her to the nearest tree blocking her way out with his arms.
Botan's eyes lowered and shook her head refusing to meet his gaze while Kurama growled in frustration. This is going to be a long trip… he thought.
Since the rain has stopped the following morning Kurama decided to return to Rekai immediately so as to avoid any encounter trouble-making youkais. And since they started their trek back Botan remained silent unmindful of Kurama's attempt to start a conversation and explained so as why they have to leave Makai immediately, still he gained no response from her.
"If I were you I would stop acting like a child and it'd be best if you talk to me not ignoring me" He snapped, his patience wearing thin due to his lack of sleep this past few days.
For Kurama, the previous night was pure agony; after Botan had fallen asleep he thought that he would soon follow after since he was kinda tired from looking for her but after a few seconds of lying beside her proved to be exhilarating and frustrating at the same time.He was after all painfully aware of the soft breathing of the woman beside her and her scent filling his nostrils. Such sensation was stirring something inside him, and he knew what was coming…Hell! He wanted her! So to avoid her he immediately stood up and went outside the cave instead and guards it until sunrise. And now this morning, Botan decided to become mute all of the sudden.
Botan's head jerked up and opened her mouth to retaliate when Kurama silenced her with his finger, his body tensing all of a sudden and his green eyes wide and alert carefully scanning the area. And before she could react any further, he grabbed her by the waist and leapt to the highest branch of the tree. Botan stayed from his tight grasp and whispered at him "Another youkai?"
Kurama shook his head and waited for the two beings to appear below whom was having a rather loud conversation. Kurama smirked; they could be easily detected by other youkais by the way they are openly wandering in Makai with their unhidden ki.
"Kuso! I can't believe we're looking for a single ferry girl in here! Who is she anyway?" complained the greed-skinned ogre.
"I heard that she's the fiancé of Kurudo-sama although I am not really sure," answered his twin or so they seem to Kurama since they look pretty much the same.
"Nani! Kurudo-sama is getting married!"
"Well that was just I overheard from his meeting with Koenma-sama"
"So why are we here anyway looking for her?"
The other ogre named Chiro snorted, "Cause Jirohi my friend…his fiancé runaway here in Makai…she doesn't seem to be interested in him…tsk tsk tsk"
"Eh! Why the hell not? Kurudo-sama is a fine man" It seemed incredulous to him that a ferry girl or any other girl for that matter would turn down a marriage proposal by his master.
"Oi! Is she any good-looking?"
"How the hell would you find her if you didn't know what she looks like?" asked Chiro who's looking a bit more than irritated.
"Because I haven't got the chance to look at her picture all that I know is that the color of her hair is blue………well is she or is she not?" he pressed on when he didn't say anything. Kurama noticed Botan to straining to hear the ogre's answer and he had to smile at that.
The other ogre grinned "Oh man! She is a prize! She's so…so…"
"Dumb. I guess if not a lesbian" Jirohi finished for him.
"Or maybe a snob or very picky" Chiro agreed with Jirohi since he can't find any reason why won't she marry Kurudo-sama.
"What!" Botan gasped at the comments and could only grit her teeth in indignation while Kurama tried to keep his temper in check.
"Oh well, that's not our problem as long as we find and bring her back to Kurudo-sama then we'll be off together with the big rewards" Jirohi chuckled.
"Yeah! So we'd better hurry before anyone else finds her." Chirohi said as they walked father away.
Kurama sighed in relief while Botan remained silent but he could sense her anger. As they go down the tree he took her wrist when Botan suddenly swatted his hands. He was dumbfounded by her violent reaction thinking that Botan was upset at the callous remarks those two brainless ogres had said a while ago.
"Now, Botan we knew better right? They are dumb not you and you're not lesbian or…"
"Rewards Kurama? Is that why you're here? To get your big reward!" Botan cut off what he was about to say she was furious and hurt. Heck! Those remarks were nothing compared to what she just learned. Kurama was so sunned that it took a while to answer.
"Really Botan what do you take me for? Being a tantei doesn't mean that I have to do everything Keonma say" Kurama said evenly trying not to be hurt from Botan's harsh judgment but he sounded like anyway as he continued. " I may be once a thief but I always do care about my friends, always, now if you really believe that I could do that to you fine have it your way, you're still going back to Rekai, not to marry you off but at least put you back to safety." And at that he turned his back on her and preceded their walk.
Botan followed after Kurama feeling small and downright shameful because of doubting Kurama's intention Ingrate! Baka! Stupid! Botan shouted at her self. Now it was Kurama's turn to ignore her attempt to make a small conversation. She sighed loudly, it is already past noontime and Botan was really tired and hungry but didn't complain for fear for Kurama. She didn't know why but Kurama's silence was really frightening and actually doing nothing but walking and glancing every now to her direction. Fortunately, he probably sensed her hunger when he stopped under a shady tree and unload some wrapped sandwiches and handed it to her silently along with a bagful of water while she mumbled her thanks and tried to coax a smile from him still he remained distant from her. He was still mad at her.
As they were nearing the borders of Makai to Rekai Botan felt like crying she felt worse, at Kurama's aloofness than to her impending doom. Gathering whatever courage left she tugged Kurama's sleeves silently asking him to turn, which he did.
"Ku-Kurama?" Botan tentatively called him, when he only stared at her she bit her lip and lowered her eyes. "I'm sorry I doubted you and I'm sorry that I'm such an ingrate and I'm sorry that…that" she couldn't continue anymore since the lump in her throat was blocking her words and she could only choked back her tears. Kurama's resolve to ignore her all the way to Rekai melted at the sight of her near tears, his own hurt momentarily forgotten. He sighed and took her hands to his; Botan looked up at him and smiled apologetically.
"We'd better hurry, we're almost in Rekai now." Kurama said squeezing her hands gently and smiled at her. Botan's smile widened she feel like dancing in circles now that Kurama has forgiven her. Clutching his hand tighter to her they entered Rekai together.
Kireii-maeu: sorry for the delayed progress …I've got writer block and I've been quite busy these past weeks… sorry again…anyway thanks so much for the reviews.