*Flower of Dreams*
*Don't own*
*
Fighting feelings of hatred can take time. When someone really hurts you, its hard to forgive them. Especially when they take you from your best friend. When you have a best friend, that bond stays for a long time if it's true, even if there is distance. If you're a true friend, then you'll accept obstacles and just keep touch. What if you couldn't even do that?
*
Yuusuke was caught between telling and not telling. Should he tell Kurama? He wanted to. Maybe he could tell Kurama not to say anything to Botan that he knew. The hardest part to believe was that Botan looked so upset but she was so cheerful before. Maybe it was that she didn't want anyone to know that she was hurting.
"Yeah, actually, I do. If you have some time to listen." Kurama smiled and sat down next to him.
"Of course I have time." Yuusuke looked at him then down at his feet.
"You see, it has to do with Botan.. You remember that one day we ran into you, right?" Kurama nodded. "Well, she told me that she lost her best friend years ago on that day. She said it was all Koenma's fault and that she still hasn't forgiven him." Yuusuke wasn't expecting any reaction, but he got one anyway. Kurama's jade eyes flashed gold and his hair silver.
"I knew it! She was defending that worthless little toddler!" Yuusuke had never seen Kurama so angered. Then he collapsed back into his seat and sighed. "I suppose I should tell her that I saved myself by taking on a human form. But.. if I do, Koenma might take her from me again."
"So, you were her best friend?"
"Yes, me as in my demon self, Youko. I don't want to tell her and lose her again." Now Yuusuke understood. Everything became so clear to him. Kurama and Botan's unease around each other, Kurama's forlorn and solemn looks, and Botan's misery.
"But if you don't tell her, you will lose her. I know I'm not good with this kind of thing but I seem to be doing okay with it with Keiko. Kurama, the best thing you can do is tell her."
*
Kurama sat in his room, staring at the necklace and the flower. They both meant a lot to him, even to his human self. He didn't exactly know why, but it was as if he was her best friend too. He still held those memories dear to him. Especially that last meeting. He couldn't think of a time when he was more upset. His plant had grown. A lot. It produced three flowers. One meant love, one meant friendship, and the other represented their promise to each other. He wondered how her plant was doing, since she still remembered him. Then he thought about Yuusuke's words.
"I should tell her. Tonight when the moon is full. I'm a little rusty, but Youko, I understand."
*
Kurama stood on the building where Botan lived. He looked up at the shining moon. His jade eyes closed. He opened his now amber eyes. He saw the ledges and knew which window was hers. He jumped down to the nearest balcony and used that to climb down. He peered in her window then opened it and climbed in.
"Botan?" He called out once he was inside. He was in the kitchen. She came out and jumped, her face going pale.
"Can't you be like a normal person and use the door?" She asked with a sigh as she turned the light on. Her eyes widened and she paled even more. He smiled at her and walked forward. She backed away from him and hit the wall. She was afraid to let him touch her. She was afraid he would only be in her imagination. He got closer and she closed her eyes. Her heart was pounding. She felt a warm touch on her face and then his body pressed close to her.
"No, I like using windows much better." He whispered. His face was close against hers and she could feel his breath on her neck when he had whispered. "I've missed you." She opened her eyes and stared at him. Then she reached out and traced her fingers down his face. She smiled and tears appeared in her eyes. Her hand dropped to his chest where she felt the necklace through the thin material of his shirt.
"I've.. missed you, too." It had felt like eternity to her since she had last looked into his eyes. "Koenma told me that you died.. I believed him because when I snuck out, I searched for you.. I didn't find you."
"I escaped." He took her hands and held them in his own. "Just in time." He was pleased with her reaction to him. "My flower has grown."
"So has mine." She grabbed his hand and led him to her room. She pointed to the plant on her desk. "I thought about you every day, Youko. I couldn't help but do otherwise." He remembered her when they had said good-bye. It had been the hardest thing he had ever had to do. He sighed and sat down on her bed.
"Botan." She gasped and turned around. She was now looking at Kurama.. in his human form. "I saw you and knew it was you, but I couldn't say anything. I didn't want Koenma to take you from me again. I thought that if he thought we had forgotten each other, then maybe he wouldn't remove you from my life again. I will not let it happen again. It was my mistake to let it happen last time and I don't make mistakes often."
"I just can't believe that you're back.. I needed you there for me and I looked forward to having those dreams at night. But.. they took a turn these last few days." She looked back at the plant, noticing that the flower that represented love was a little bit bigger than the rest.
"I know what you mean. So have mine. They reflect your feelings of me and mine reflect my feelings for you. I don't know.." He stopped, looking away from the flower and her as if it hurt him to look at them. "Sit next to me." She did just that and was surprised when he pulled her closer to him. "Human emotions have proven quite a battle for me. Seeing ningen females every day and feeling the emotions like this is just too much. I never realized how much humans relied on their feelings to tell them if they loved others. Words cannot describe how much I went through for this." She closed her eyes and relaxed in his arms.
"Have you realized that those feelings are only the beginning?" He looked down at her.
"I have." He answered briefly. "You are aware that demons cannot handle these emotions very well. I have learned not to hold them back. It's strange. I was thinking before that. I wondered why those emotions didn't react to other females."
"What are you trying to say?" He shrugged.
"I still need help figuring out how to hold myself back. Now that I am free for a while, at least.. free to see my best friend." She smiled up at him.
"I can tell you what happened that day now, right? Do not blame Koenma-sama, though. I have learned that blame is not right.. even so, I cannot forgive him for what he did. It all started the day I came back from vacation. Though he said nothing, I could sense that he was uneasy around me. Perhaps he didn't want to do it, but I can't prove that. The next day he avoided me and gave me work in an office. Then one job in the prison. I still can't believe what he said to me.."
*'I know that you are not going to be happy about this, Botan. It's for your own good, I suppose.' Koenma looked up from his stamping and handed her a paper. She could almost feel in her heart that something was wrong.
'What is this, Koenma-sama? I have a lot to do.' He avoided her gaze, not answering. She opened it. It read:
Botan,
We are sorry to say that you cannot ferry in Makai anymore. One of our ferry girls from Ningenkai has passed on, quitting her position. We need you there. We can't choose another, for your routine is pretty much the same as hers. It is a busy schedule, we are sorry to admit. Don't fret, however. There are others who could pick up if you fall ill. It may be messy, but it is something that must be done. The authority of the Council of Reikai hereby stations you to work at Ningenkai. Thank you for your cooperation. Go to Koenma when you think you may be ready for this.
Sincerely,
The Council of Reikai
Botan's gaze went up to Koenma. She couldn't believe the words that were written on the letter. She clutched it in her hand.
'I cannot accept THIS! I would be leaving my post.. my job..' She was near tears.
'I know why you are upset. You may have a few hours to gather yourself and say good-bye to him. It is for the best, Botan. Try to see it the council's way.'*
"I don't understand why it had to turn out that way.." She was so close to tears that she was shaking and trying to hold them back. He tightened his grip on her, sensing more than seeing her sadness.
"It's over now. Crying won't help. I seen you cry on that day then.. when we met up the other day. I don't like your sadness. It affects me in ways I can't begin to understand."
*
Botan contacted Koenma and told him that she was going to watch Yuusuke train with Genkai. When she hung up, she looked up. She looked around for Kurama but couldn't seem to see him. Many students ignored her presence, others tried to hit on her. A group of boys made their way toward her. She didn't notice them. She was too busy trying to find Kurama.
"Hello there." She looked over at them and raised her eyebrow. "Can we help you with anything?" There were evil glints in their eyes, but she just ignored them.
"Can you tell me where I might find Suuichi Minamino? I've been waiting for him for over ten minutes." They gave her looks.. looks that seemed to be influenced by jealousy.
"He has an extra class today." She turned around and smiled.
"Hiei! I figured that if I couldn't find him, I would find you." She paused, frowning. "I guess I'll see you later then, Hiei. I told Suuichi that I would meet him after school. I'll just go and have a little look around." She gave him a smile, which he didn't return. He merely gave her a look and turned around. She ran off toward the school and went inside.
"Can we help you?" An old man asked, presumably a teacher.
"Uh, yes. I am looking for Suuichi Minamino.. Could you tell me where he might be right now?" The man thought for a minute before smiling.
"Ah. Red hair? About ye big?" She nodded, staring at him. "Room 205B." She bowed slightly and thanked him before walking toward the stairs. She sighed. What could he possibly be doing? Staying after for gardening tips? She snickered. Yeah right.
"Botan?" She stopped and backed up, peering into a classroom.
"Suu-kun!" She leaned against the door and smiled. "I was waiting outside for over ten minutes." She pouted. "What is it that's been keeping you?"
"My extra class. You met up with Hiei out there, ne?"
"Hai." Grinning, she stepped into the room. "Photography? I love taking pictures! Why didn't you tell me that you took this class? I majored in this class when I was in school."
"Really? We're working on this. I need a picture of a person. Do you mind?" She blushed lightly and covered her face with her hand.
"Uhm.. well.. I dunno.."
"Come on, it'll be fun. Just stand next to that background and let me turn on the fan. There was another girl that was supposed to do this, but I didn't like her. She was too.. preppy."
"How should I stand?"
"With your hand like this, holding your hair. Now stand just a little to the left.. perfect." She put on her cutest face and even closed one eye against the wind of the fan. He snapped the picture then did a few more. "Thanks, Botan. This class will be over in about twenty. You can come into the dark room with me and develop these." She smiled and followed him in.
*
End of chapter 2! ^_^;
*Don't own*
*
Fighting feelings of hatred can take time. When someone really hurts you, its hard to forgive them. Especially when they take you from your best friend. When you have a best friend, that bond stays for a long time if it's true, even if there is distance. If you're a true friend, then you'll accept obstacles and just keep touch. What if you couldn't even do that?
*
Yuusuke was caught between telling and not telling. Should he tell Kurama? He wanted to. Maybe he could tell Kurama not to say anything to Botan that he knew. The hardest part to believe was that Botan looked so upset but she was so cheerful before. Maybe it was that she didn't want anyone to know that she was hurting.
"Yeah, actually, I do. If you have some time to listen." Kurama smiled and sat down next to him.
"Of course I have time." Yuusuke looked at him then down at his feet.
"You see, it has to do with Botan.. You remember that one day we ran into you, right?" Kurama nodded. "Well, she told me that she lost her best friend years ago on that day. She said it was all Koenma's fault and that she still hasn't forgiven him." Yuusuke wasn't expecting any reaction, but he got one anyway. Kurama's jade eyes flashed gold and his hair silver.
"I knew it! She was defending that worthless little toddler!" Yuusuke had never seen Kurama so angered. Then he collapsed back into his seat and sighed. "I suppose I should tell her that I saved myself by taking on a human form. But.. if I do, Koenma might take her from me again."
"So, you were her best friend?"
"Yes, me as in my demon self, Youko. I don't want to tell her and lose her again." Now Yuusuke understood. Everything became so clear to him. Kurama and Botan's unease around each other, Kurama's forlorn and solemn looks, and Botan's misery.
"But if you don't tell her, you will lose her. I know I'm not good with this kind of thing but I seem to be doing okay with it with Keiko. Kurama, the best thing you can do is tell her."
*
Kurama sat in his room, staring at the necklace and the flower. They both meant a lot to him, even to his human self. He didn't exactly know why, but it was as if he was her best friend too. He still held those memories dear to him. Especially that last meeting. He couldn't think of a time when he was more upset. His plant had grown. A lot. It produced three flowers. One meant love, one meant friendship, and the other represented their promise to each other. He wondered how her plant was doing, since she still remembered him. Then he thought about Yuusuke's words.
"I should tell her. Tonight when the moon is full. I'm a little rusty, but Youko, I understand."
*
Kurama stood on the building where Botan lived. He looked up at the shining moon. His jade eyes closed. He opened his now amber eyes. He saw the ledges and knew which window was hers. He jumped down to the nearest balcony and used that to climb down. He peered in her window then opened it and climbed in.
"Botan?" He called out once he was inside. He was in the kitchen. She came out and jumped, her face going pale.
"Can't you be like a normal person and use the door?" She asked with a sigh as she turned the light on. Her eyes widened and she paled even more. He smiled at her and walked forward. She backed away from him and hit the wall. She was afraid to let him touch her. She was afraid he would only be in her imagination. He got closer and she closed her eyes. Her heart was pounding. She felt a warm touch on her face and then his body pressed close to her.
"No, I like using windows much better." He whispered. His face was close against hers and she could feel his breath on her neck when he had whispered. "I've missed you." She opened her eyes and stared at him. Then she reached out and traced her fingers down his face. She smiled and tears appeared in her eyes. Her hand dropped to his chest where she felt the necklace through the thin material of his shirt.
"I've.. missed you, too." It had felt like eternity to her since she had last looked into his eyes. "Koenma told me that you died.. I believed him because when I snuck out, I searched for you.. I didn't find you."
"I escaped." He took her hands and held them in his own. "Just in time." He was pleased with her reaction to him. "My flower has grown."
"So has mine." She grabbed his hand and led him to her room. She pointed to the plant on her desk. "I thought about you every day, Youko. I couldn't help but do otherwise." He remembered her when they had said good-bye. It had been the hardest thing he had ever had to do. He sighed and sat down on her bed.
"Botan." She gasped and turned around. She was now looking at Kurama.. in his human form. "I saw you and knew it was you, but I couldn't say anything. I didn't want Koenma to take you from me again. I thought that if he thought we had forgotten each other, then maybe he wouldn't remove you from my life again. I will not let it happen again. It was my mistake to let it happen last time and I don't make mistakes often."
"I just can't believe that you're back.. I needed you there for me and I looked forward to having those dreams at night. But.. they took a turn these last few days." She looked back at the plant, noticing that the flower that represented love was a little bit bigger than the rest.
"I know what you mean. So have mine. They reflect your feelings of me and mine reflect my feelings for you. I don't know.." He stopped, looking away from the flower and her as if it hurt him to look at them. "Sit next to me." She did just that and was surprised when he pulled her closer to him. "Human emotions have proven quite a battle for me. Seeing ningen females every day and feeling the emotions like this is just too much. I never realized how much humans relied on their feelings to tell them if they loved others. Words cannot describe how much I went through for this." She closed her eyes and relaxed in his arms.
"Have you realized that those feelings are only the beginning?" He looked down at her.
"I have." He answered briefly. "You are aware that demons cannot handle these emotions very well. I have learned not to hold them back. It's strange. I was thinking before that. I wondered why those emotions didn't react to other females."
"What are you trying to say?" He shrugged.
"I still need help figuring out how to hold myself back. Now that I am free for a while, at least.. free to see my best friend." She smiled up at him.
"I can tell you what happened that day now, right? Do not blame Koenma-sama, though. I have learned that blame is not right.. even so, I cannot forgive him for what he did. It all started the day I came back from vacation. Though he said nothing, I could sense that he was uneasy around me. Perhaps he didn't want to do it, but I can't prove that. The next day he avoided me and gave me work in an office. Then one job in the prison. I still can't believe what he said to me.."
*'I know that you are not going to be happy about this, Botan. It's for your own good, I suppose.' Koenma looked up from his stamping and handed her a paper. She could almost feel in her heart that something was wrong.
'What is this, Koenma-sama? I have a lot to do.' He avoided her gaze, not answering. She opened it. It read:
Botan,
We are sorry to say that you cannot ferry in Makai anymore. One of our ferry girls from Ningenkai has passed on, quitting her position. We need you there. We can't choose another, for your routine is pretty much the same as hers. It is a busy schedule, we are sorry to admit. Don't fret, however. There are others who could pick up if you fall ill. It may be messy, but it is something that must be done. The authority of the Council of Reikai hereby stations you to work at Ningenkai. Thank you for your cooperation. Go to Koenma when you think you may be ready for this.
Sincerely,
The Council of Reikai
Botan's gaze went up to Koenma. She couldn't believe the words that were written on the letter. She clutched it in her hand.
'I cannot accept THIS! I would be leaving my post.. my job..' She was near tears.
'I know why you are upset. You may have a few hours to gather yourself and say good-bye to him. It is for the best, Botan. Try to see it the council's way.'*
"I don't understand why it had to turn out that way.." She was so close to tears that she was shaking and trying to hold them back. He tightened his grip on her, sensing more than seeing her sadness.
"It's over now. Crying won't help. I seen you cry on that day then.. when we met up the other day. I don't like your sadness. It affects me in ways I can't begin to understand."
*
Botan contacted Koenma and told him that she was going to watch Yuusuke train with Genkai. When she hung up, she looked up. She looked around for Kurama but couldn't seem to see him. Many students ignored her presence, others tried to hit on her. A group of boys made their way toward her. She didn't notice them. She was too busy trying to find Kurama.
"Hello there." She looked over at them and raised her eyebrow. "Can we help you with anything?" There were evil glints in their eyes, but she just ignored them.
"Can you tell me where I might find Suuichi Minamino? I've been waiting for him for over ten minutes." They gave her looks.. looks that seemed to be influenced by jealousy.
"He has an extra class today." She turned around and smiled.
"Hiei! I figured that if I couldn't find him, I would find you." She paused, frowning. "I guess I'll see you later then, Hiei. I told Suuichi that I would meet him after school. I'll just go and have a little look around." She gave him a smile, which he didn't return. He merely gave her a look and turned around. She ran off toward the school and went inside.
"Can we help you?" An old man asked, presumably a teacher.
"Uh, yes. I am looking for Suuichi Minamino.. Could you tell me where he might be right now?" The man thought for a minute before smiling.
"Ah. Red hair? About ye big?" She nodded, staring at him. "Room 205B." She bowed slightly and thanked him before walking toward the stairs. She sighed. What could he possibly be doing? Staying after for gardening tips? She snickered. Yeah right.
"Botan?" She stopped and backed up, peering into a classroom.
"Suu-kun!" She leaned against the door and smiled. "I was waiting outside for over ten minutes." She pouted. "What is it that's been keeping you?"
"My extra class. You met up with Hiei out there, ne?"
"Hai." Grinning, she stepped into the room. "Photography? I love taking pictures! Why didn't you tell me that you took this class? I majored in this class when I was in school."
"Really? We're working on this. I need a picture of a person. Do you mind?" She blushed lightly and covered her face with her hand.
"Uhm.. well.. I dunno.."
"Come on, it'll be fun. Just stand next to that background and let me turn on the fan. There was another girl that was supposed to do this, but I didn't like her. She was too.. preppy."
"How should I stand?"
"With your hand like this, holding your hair. Now stand just a little to the left.. perfect." She put on her cutest face and even closed one eye against the wind of the fan. He snapped the picture then did a few more. "Thanks, Botan. This class will be over in about twenty. You can come into the dark room with me and develop these." She smiled and followed him in.
*
End of chapter 2! ^_^;