Chapter two

The day of the tournament…

"Hey, Kurama, you had been looking for someone since we get here…" Yusuke curiously looked at his friend.

"It's just your imagination, Yusuke…." Kurama replied as he went to the ring for his match.

At Reikai…

"Koenma-san! Why won't you let watch the tournament?" Botan can't help but get worried. Her friends are there but she didn't know what they're doing.

"I'll just tell you later on who won, Botan, go back to your work…."

"Why the hell don't you want me to go? What's the meaning of this? I am Yusuke's assistant, I must be there…"

"Botan, this is a tournament, not another mission…"

"Then I want to be there because I am their friend! Koenma, why are you being unfair?"

"Go back to your work, Botan. Now"

"But!"

"Go!" Botan had only seen Koenma like this… but whatever what happens… she'll go to the tournament…

At the tournament…

"Keiko!" Keiko, Yukina and Shizura walked to the voice they heard. Kurama is on the ring, fighting.

"Yusuke!" Keiko waved her hand as she came near the others.

Kurama caught sight of this, hoping that Botan will be in sight too.

"Keiko! Where's Botan?" Yusuke asked, knowing that the ferry girl would want to see their fights.

"She went back to Reikai with Koenma this morning…"

That got Kurama's attention… Botan's with Koenma? But she said she will not leave him.

"Kurama!" he heard Yusuke shout his name and felt the pain. But he can't fight… its as if his body had frozen.

"Kurama!" Yusuke was horrified as he saw Kurama not fighting at all, he can defeat the one his fighting for, its too weak for him. But he will not win if he will not fight. "Kurama! What's the matter with you?"

"Yusuke! He's not fighting!" Kurama is all bloodied now but still he is not fighting.

"Kurama! Fight! What's the matter?"

Kurama's eyes widened. He knew that smell. He quickly ducked the attack of his opponent, and looked at the audience. 'She's there,' he caught sight of her… her eyes full of concern, its full of tears. "Botan,"

"So… why don't we put some intrique on this…"he heard his opponent's saying. "Why don't we make you angry a little? By loss of someone you care about." Kurama quickly face his opponent as the other one fired, targeting the girl he loved!

"No!" he produced the power no one ever thought he will have since he is now so weak . plants surrounded the ring, even one whip going to the audience, towards Botan, the whip came first wrapping to Botan, who is shock at what is happening, and screamed as a fire ball exploded at the wall she is standing a while ago.

All the audience, even the Urameshi team had closed their eyes at how fast the event happened. What they saw shock all of them. Kurama is in his Youko form, a dangerous glint in his eyes… and a shocked Botan is at his side… his right hand wrapping at her thin shoulders. His opponent is made captive by the killer plants of the famous thief in Makai, Youko Kurama. Yusuke saw the eyes of the fox demon, his inside shuddered at how cold, how emotionless his eyes is. Its always there when Botan's in danger… why didn't see the obvious? "He love her," Yusuke turned his head as Keiko spoke. Keiko smiled, "if you look hard, you can see from how he protect her, how he looks at her, how Botan can penetrate on the mask he always wear, especially how Botan can make him smile when no one can do it. I think Botan has feelings for Kurama also, but she didn't know about yet, I hope they'll find their way sooner, they can't have forever."

Botan looked at the one who saved her. "K-Kurama?" her body's still shaking as she realized what had happened.

"Don't worry, Botan" Kurama said as his arm tightened around her. He can't hurt you know, I'll not allow it."

Kurama turned to the one who tried to hurt his life. "You want intrigue," he said as one of his kille plants neared his opponent, the plants jaw visible for all. "Then you'll get it," his opponents eyes widened as he screamed the last scream of his life.

Botan eyes widened as she heard the scream. Curiosity wins as she tried to look but a hand stopped her head, pressing it more to his chest. "Don't look at it," Kurama said, she could feel as his cheek gently brushed the hair at the top of her head. "It'll haunt you forever, I don't want you to experience that." Botan closed her eyes, she didn't know how long she did when Kurama spoke again, this time to the announcer, "You can now announce the winner."

"Huh? Uh… and the winner is…Youko Kurama!"

Botan simply stared at the ring. Its as if nothing happened, the plants are all gone, so is Kurama's opponent. She looked at him, he can win this in just a few seconds, but what happened a while ago, he almost loss it. He didn't even fight. An arm snaked around her knees then, in the eyes of all the demons and humans, Kurama carried Botan outside the ring to his teammates. Too stunned to react, Botan only stared at him. It's true he's the most handsome guy she had ever seen, Youko or just Shuichi. She could accept that too many girls swoon when he past by. Just like how the lady demons in the audience are whispering words to each other about his looks. His ears looks so cute the she has the instinct of touching it. She blushed at where her thoughts had gone in the past minute. She felt Kurama gently putting on her feet. She was ready to say thank you… when…

Kurama couldn't help but touch her face. Her blush deepened, making him smile. She could do that, make him smile just standing there. "Are you okay?"

Botan stared at him, then quietly said, "Yes," reviving from the shock,she samiled. "Thank you."

He smiled even more. He love her but then he doesn't think that the feeling's mutual. He can face hundreds of demons. But one beautiful woman can make him feel fear inside his heart. He never thought that he ahd a heart before, he never known that love is such powerful. He suddenly feel weak. His fatique taking over on his battered body. Now that Botan is alright, he can now go to a peaceful sleep.

Kurama leaned to her, actually falling asleep. She smiled to his teammates, "he's dead to the world now."

"Let him sleep, Botan." Yusuke said, smiling at the couple. "He just came from a life and death situation." Yusuke knows that if Botan dies, Kurama's life will shatter to pieces. His life will be like that if Keiko dies, he thought as he look from Kurama who is now being carried by Kuwabara to a corner to the Woman he love.

"Thanks." Botan said to Kuwabara as he stood and walked to his teammates. Hiei's the next one to fight, she saw. She lightly brushed the hair at the forehead of youko Kurama, its soft silver streaks gliding through her fingers. Then proceeded to touch his face and then cupping his cheeks. "Thank you," she mumbled then leaned and kiss his forehead. She sat beside him, wanting to watch the fight when she noticed his hand. Without thinking she touched it, willing him to heal. His hand moved catching her. Holding it own his own. She thought he's awake, but then by the way he breath, he's still sleeping. She allowed that hand to hold hers and also allowed his head to use her shoulders as a pillow. She smiled to him even though he can't see it, "You know what Kurama? I think I love you," then laughing to herself, she watch the fight of Hiei, without seeing the smile forming in the face of Kurama as he sleep and the way his hold on her hand tightened, as if he would never let her go.