Delicate Petals
Meh, how many disclaimers did I skip out on? Don't own.
Hey, minna! This is chapter 24. Botan is pregnant and.. I am very sorry for not hinting that they.. (cough).. Anyway, it did happen.
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I stared at her as she lay there, sleeping. She looked like a goddess out of the legends. She had a beautiful, soft smile on those full, cherry blossom pink lips and her hair curled down around her face. The slow rise and fall of her chest and the sound of her even breathing nearly made me drowsy. I heaved a sigh and pulled her closer, my fingers lightly brushing her stomach. I gasped at the contact and narrowed my eyes. I breathed another sigh and rested my head against hers, brushing my lips against the top of her head as I did so. I felt overjoyed at knowing that I was going to be a father but this brought new questions and doubts to mind. I closed my eyes and snuggled into my mate's warmth. Maybe a good night's sleep would help me figure it out.
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I felt a shift in the bed and felt my mate move in my arms. I came into consciousness and blinked my eyes open. Botan clutched at the blanket so tightly that her knuckles were white. I looked over at the digital clock on the stand next to my bed. Six. I had to be to work by eight. I shook her gently, waking her from whatever nightmare she was caught in. She stared at me, blinking for a minute before I leaned down and kissed her.
"Time to get up. I have to be to work in two hours. Kuronue and Hiei need to be up, as well." She nodded and sat up. She put one hand to her head. Worry clouded every sense I had. "Are you feeling well?"
"I'll be fine, Kura-chan. Just get ready." She smiled reassuringly at me and I gave her a weary look. "Really, I'm just tired. You can't take off work just because you're worried about nothing." She set her hand on my shoulder. I nodded and got up, stretching out. Then I went out into the living room. Hiei was asleep on the couch and Kuronue was stretched out on the floor. I knew of only one way to wake Kuronue but Hiei was easy to deal with. If I ever woke Hiei up in the way I wake Kuronue up, I would be beaten with a brick stick then thrown off a fifty-foot building. Sighing, I went out to the kitchen and filled up a glass with ice cold water and poured it on Kuronue. His shriek woke Hiei, who sat up quickly and gave me a look.
"I'm set for the day now." He said rubbing his temples. "Is that the phone?" I sighed.
"No, Hiei, your ears are only ringing." I gave Kuronue a towel. He scowled.
"Future mother, coming through!" Hiei stiffened and his eyes widened. He looked over at her and stood up. I sighed, knowing precisely what he was going to do. He put his hand on her still-flat stomach and closed his eyes. His Jagan began to glow. I rolled my eyes. Kuronue just snorted.
"You sure it's his?"
"Well, he is my demon lover." She said, narrowing her eyes. Hiei had completed what he was doing and stared at me.
"What?" He just shook his head. "I better get ready before I'm late for work."
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I stared forward, growling in impatience every time a girl would come up to me and say hello and do that little thing with their eyes. I smiled politely at this girl who would keep buying stuff just to talk to me. Thrill. Daisuke loved torturing me like this, didn't he? I heaved a sigh. Today looked to be a long day.
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"Gee, Shuuichi, I hate doing this to you but you have to work Haru's shift. He's sick with the flu." I groaned. All I wanted to do was go home and take care of Botan. Why me?
"Damn." I frowned. "Can I call home and tell Botan I'll be home late so she doesn't worry sick?" He nodded.
"I'll take over. Take a few minutes." I smiled for the first time since I was at work. I went to the back and picked up the phone, dialing the number of the apartment. No answer. I remembered her communicator. I put the phone down and took the communication mirror out. She answered and smiled at me. She frowned after a second.
"What's wrong?"
"I'll be home later than expected. I'm on a double. Haru has the flu." She looked a little upset.
"All right. I'll be home waiting for you." I nodded and smiled.
"Can't wait." She laughed.
"I'll bet you're going crazy!" I nodded and said good bye then shut the thing. I stuffed it back in my pocket and left the room.
"Thanks, Dai." I said, my tone lighter than I wanted it to be. "I hope this doesn't happen in nine months." He blinked.
"Huh?"
"What did she tell you yesterday?"
"That she had to speak with you in private and that she needed to borrow you in order to do so."
"That sounds like her, all right." I smiled. "She's pregnant." He grinned and slapped me on the back.
"Well, now I feel twice as guilty for doing this to you." I sighed.
"I feel like hell."
"Don't worry, you look like hell, too."
"Thank you for your kindness." I muttered, sighing and getting ready to face another shift..
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I finished up and finally got to walk home. In the dark. I decided not to go straight home but stop by my cliff. I turned to go in that direction and, when I got there, stared down into the dark waters. My mind clouded with thoughts but I closed my eyes and cleared it out, just thinking about how the wind felt on my face as I stood there. Then I opened my eyes and looked up. Someone's cheerful smile illuminated my world. Botan waved to me from her oar.
"I sort of figured that you would have come here first." She said softly as she flew slowly over to me. She patted the spot next to her and I smiled and got on. She lifted upward and flew slowly over the trees until we could see the bright lights of the city. My arms wrapped around her waist and I pulled her back slightly so that she was closer. Her scent was simply intoxicating. I rested my head on her shoulder and closed my eyes.
"I love you." I whispered. "And I am sure that a child will do nothing more than bring us closer together. But, since I am a demon, I will be very protective. I am warning you ahead of time. Not to mention Hiei and Kuronue. They will also be more than protective." She giggled.
"Koi, this is the best thing that's ever happened to us. The most that can go wrong is if we get separated somehow."
"Separated? I would never let that happen." I kissed her neck. "Never."
XxXxX
I stared hard at the ceiling. My day off. I smiled at the sheer pleasure of being able to stay in today.
"Hiei is looking for you. He said that it's important." I sat up and blinked at Kuronue. He was standing in my doorway, a smirk on his face.
"Heh." I replied, frowning. "I'll be out in a minute." He nodded and left. I could've said 'go away' and it would've had the same effect. But I dragged myself up, wondering what was so important.
"We're training." I stared at him then raised a brow.
"We are?" I asked, crossing my arms. Botan had left earlier for Reikai so I had nothing better to do with my time. But I did want to cram in a little relaxation. Help was scarce at the store and Daisuke was doing all he could to help. So I couldn't exactly have a day off and sit home. Training did sound good so I decided to go along with it.
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Daisuke stood with me in the back room, laughing. I smirked.
"Well, we have five minutes. You can go get a drink and if you're not back by the time break is over, you're fired." He winked at me and I grinned. I decided that coffee sounded good.
"Want anything?" He shook his head. "I'll be back." I said with a wave as I walked out. Who I saw at the food court made me grin. "Keiko!" She turned and looked at me then smiled her sweet smile.
"Kurama-kun!" She hugged me and smiled wider. "Can I walk with you back to work?" I nodded and ordered my coffee. Then we began the walk. "I heard the good news, daddy. Excited?" I chuckled.
"Of course. Anxiety is also not helping." She nodded.
"Well, there is a lot going on. I could understand it." Her smile remained unfaltering. "Yuusuke and I are in the same boat as you two. I found out yesterday." I grinned at her.
"I was wondering why your scent changed and why you seemed so happy. Congratulations." She laughed. "How did Yuusuke take to it?"
"He hasn't stopped fussing over me. You'd swear I was of glass." She looked so radiant and happy. "He can't wait to have someone to take after him."
"I can imagine." I looked in the windows of the stores as we passed them. "Botan seems happy, too. And you look like you couldn't keep a smile off your face if you tried." She shook her head.
"I couldn't." Her grin grew smaller when we got to the store where I worked.
"Don't be afraid to drag Yuusuke here." I winked at her and she nodded.
"Of course not, Kurama-kun!" We parted ways and I went inside.
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"AIIIEEE!" I sighed and slapped my forehead. Kuronue and Hiei were really making some noise. Botan had come into the room and they accidently splashed her with soda. "Enough fighting, you two! I'm more used to Kurama and Hiei than you in there, Kuronue!"
"You should listen." I said, standing up. "And we really need to clean this apartment. My mother is coming over and so is the rest of the gang."
"Why are they coming over, anyway?" Hiei brushed off his clothes. "I don't see a reason."
"I already told you. Botan and Keiko are pregnant and this was their idea to have a get-together. And, since my mother doesn't know about our little.. surprise, I guess it would be nice to expose the truth." I explained. Then I turned to my mate. "You didn't invite Koenma, did you?" She looked down and frowned.
"Of course I did, Kurama. He was the boss of the Reikai Tantei.. I couldn't just-" Shaking my head, I scowled and walked out of the room.
"I have something to do." I slipped on my shoes and left the apartment.
"Like what?" Botan asked, poking her head out of the doorway.
"Like pick my mother up." She sighed and nodded. I knew it was wrong to still be angry with the little godling. But he was the one who.. Shaking my head, I stopped my line of thoughts. I just couldn't help but hate him. What he did to her.. When I got to my mother's house, she was ready and happily waiting for me. "I didn't even call.."
"I know but I know you well enough to know that you never miss an opportunity to pick me up first thing!" I sweat-dropped and didn't bother to disagree. It wouldn't do any good anyway.
"Then, of course, you're ready." I stated and she shoved me out the door. What a wonderful beginning of.. whatever it was.
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Very sorry it's not that long. I will try to update soon but school starts tomorrow if you want to technical since it is 3 in the morning.
n.n Please review and I hope you're not mad for the wait.