Chapter IV: Wanting…Deserving a second Chance
Botan was making herself some breakfast when her cell phone rang. She picked it up and looked at the screen. She didn't recognize the number.
"Hello?" she said.
"Morning, Beautiful."
"Good morning Karasu. How did you get my phone number?"
"Does it really matter how I got it?" He asked.
"I guess not. So why are you calling me this early?"
"I wanted to ask you to have lunch with today."
"I don't know…"
"Oh! Come on, Botan. It's just lunch."
"Oh! Alright."
"Great. Do you want me to pick you up?"
"Actually. I'll drive because I have to do some errands afterwards."
"Alright."
"Where do you want me to meet you?"
"Meet me at Belle Fleur, say around one-thirty."
"Okay."
"Great. See you at one-thirty."
"See you."
She hung up the phone and returned to her oatmeal. After her breakfast, she took a quick shower and got ready to go out. She needed to do some shopping. Since she had left all of her clothes at the penthouse, she had to buy new ones. Not that she was complaining. She loved shopping almost as much as she loves beautiful clothes. She needed some casual wears. She needed some jeans, skirts and tees.
The rest of the morning, she went to her favorite outlets. She bought some jeans and slacks at a Ralph Lauren outlet. She got some shirts at a different shop. While shopping, she noticed a pair of pink stilettos. They looked exactly like the one she bought in Milan three months ago. "I wondered what happened to them. I have even worn them." She thought. Then she remembered. She left them at the penthouse. She remembered bringing them home and just dropped them on a couch in the living room. The maids had probably placed them somewhere.
She looked at her watch. It was twelve-thirty. She could make it to the penthouse and still get to Belle Fleur by one-thirty. Besides, Kurama would not be there. She doubted he even went there since she left. She pushed the thought aside and paid for her purchases. She put every thing in the back seat and carefully but quickly drove herself to the penthouse.
Kurama parked his car in front of the penthouse. He quickly mounted the stairs. Last night, he forgot his laptop and he needed it for an important presentation. He reached under the mat, looking for the key but he didn't find it. He swore he left it there this morning. He pushed open the door and was surprise when it opened. Maybe the maid was here or something. The first thing he noticed was the pink hand bag and set of keys on the counter. He didn't remember that being there this morning. If it wasn't there this morning that can only mean that…No. It couldn't be, could it? Could she possibly be here? The laptop was forgotten as he walked to the master bedroom. Sure enough, there was Botan looking frantically around for something.
"Botan?"
She pivoted around so fast, he was afraid she might have broken her neck.
"Kurama? What are you doing here?" She asked.
"I could ask you the same question."
"I forgot something. You?"
"I left my laptop here."
"Oh! Well don't worry about me. I'll be out of your way before you can say klumnhafluffa himnaflek."
"Say what?"
"Never mind."
She disappeared in the closet. He was too stunned to move. Botan was here and she was acting as if he was a complete stranger. What was wrong with that picture?
"Botan?"
"Yes?"
"Can I talk to you for a minute?"
"Just a sec."
"Okay. I'll be in the living room."
"Alright."
He went to the living room and sat down on a couch. He didn't know what he was going to tell her. He could tell her that he wanted her back but he doubted she would believe him. Botan came down a few minutes later holding a shoe box under her arm.
"So what do you want to talk to me about?" She asked.
"I'm not really sure."
"Oh! Well I have to leave. I'm meeting Karasu for lunch in fifteen minutes."
"What?"
"We're having lunch together."
"I see."
"So what did you want to talk about?"
"Forgot it. It's not important."
"Oh. Okay."
She got her purse and keys.
"Goodbye, Kurama."
"Goodbye, Botan."
She left and he never felt emptier. He couldn't believe he was letting her walk out of his life for good. He loved her, right? He'd give anything to have her back. He needed her. He will not lose the woman he love especially not to a guy like Karasu.
Botan met with Karasu at the restaurant like she said. Throughout the meal, he tried to make small conversation but her mind was somewhere else. She was thinking about Kurama. She couldn't shake the feeling that he wanted to tell her something. If that was the case, why didn't he? She sighed and willed her mind to focus on whatever Karasu was talking about.
"Botan, are you alright. You seem preoccupied."
"Sorry, I'm just tired."
"Well since we're done eating, I suppose we can leave."
"You don't mind."
"Not at all. If you're not feeling well then you should rest."
"Thanks."
"Don't mention it."
She offered to pay for her lunch but he brushed her off saying that he was the on e that invited her. She waited till he was done before leaving. They parted way outside in the parking lot.
She got in her car and turned on the ignition. She didn't lie to Karasu when she said she was tired. She hasn't had a good night sleep since she broke up with Kurama. She was trying really hard to get over him but she just couldn't. Her heart wouldn't let her move on. She thought that if she spend more time with Karasu then her feelings for Kurama might go away but that wasn't the case. Her feelings seems to grow stronger. What was she going to do? She couldn't go back to Kurama. Not after she had left him.
She slowly came out of her trance when she realize her cell phone was ringing. She picked it and looked at the screen. She was surprise that it was Kurama. Why would he be calling her?
"Hello?" she asked.
"Hi, Botan."
"Hey, Kurama. What's up?"
"I wanted to ask you something."
"What is it?"
"Have dinner with me tomorrow night."
"Why?"
"Because I want to see to you."
"You saw me this morning."
"Well yeah, we didn't get to talk and I miss you."
He missed her?
"I don't know if this is such a good idea. We're not dating anymore."
"Just because we're not seeing each other doesn't mean we can't be friends."
"You want us to be friends?"
He sighed.
"I want us to start over. I want us to be together like we use to. I miss you so much, Botan."
"You had your chance and you blew it."
"Do you love me?"
"What?"
"Do you love me? You're always saying that I don't love you but do you love me?"
"I do."
"Then give me another chance. Let me make it up to you. Let me prove to you I can love."
"Kurama…"
"If you really love me, then you'll give a second chance. I deserve it, don't you think."
"Alright."
"Alright, you'll have dinner with me? Or alright, we can start over."
"Alright to both. But this time, we'll do things differently."
"What do you mean?"
"I want you to be you."
"I can do that."
"Great. I'll see you tomorrow night."
"Okay, bye."
"Bye."
'What did I just get myself into?' she thought.
Author's note: Sorry it took so long. I'm stuck in an Inuyasha mode. R&R
