Chapter8

Botan just stared at the two who were now far apart from each other. "Umm…. I guess we should be going now, right?" Botan turned around quickly and acted as if she didn't see anything. "Koenma and Yusuke have been really worried about you guys." Botan hopped on to her oar and said, "Well, follow me. Ill show you the way to Koenma's. We will tend to your injuries." Hiei turned around and said,

"Well, its not like I'm lost or anything. I can find my own way back. I don't need you to guide me." Even though he was acting tough, it was clear that his face still had a shade of pink to it. He just walked calmly out of the cave without even looking at either Botan or Kurama. Kurama looked down and glared in the corner of his eye, watching Hiei leap off into the trees. Kurama said nothing and followed Botan. She rode slowly on her oar so as not to go too fast for Kurama's walking pace. He didn't even give her a little glimpse. She looked at him for a second and then looked away. She thought to herself.

* I cant believe what I had just seen. But how could…I mean…Kurama and Hiei?* Botan didn't know what to think. This was such a surprise to her. *I mean… their both boys… I still don't see how Hiei…* Botan's heart pounded. She gave Kurama another quick look and he looked back at her with a kind of sad but shy face. He was a little embarrassed of the situation that was going on now. Botan's face turned a bright pink and she looked away. *Why do I keep thinking about it? It's not like I like him or anything. It's not like I should even be in their business. This is something that they have to sort out on their own.* Botan and Kurama continued on their way to the spirit world without saying a word to each other.

* * * *

Koenma was in his chair waiting for Botan to return. The door opened slowly as the reaper entered the room with the redhead. "I'm back sir! I have found them." Koenma congratulated Botan and looked around the room.

" Umm, Botan. Where's Hiei?" Botan explained to him that Hiei wanted to find his way out by himself without her guidance. Koenma understood that he would do that. He's always just so stubborn. Botan thought to herself.

*Well, after I caught them…I would feel embarrassed and would have left too. Should I tell Koenma? Maybe not...I should keep this to myself.* Botan looked at Kurama who was looking down with no emotion on his face. Then all of a sudden he lifted up his head and had a smile on his face. He began to laugh. Botan had a confused look upon her face. Kurama was just thinking of what happened just this morning. Sure he was sad that Hiei had left, but then again, looking back on things and remembering him, he felt so happy. He kept on hearing Hiei say those 3 special words in the back of his mind.

"I love you." Kurama gave out a hopeful sigh and forgot that he had an audience. He stared at Koenma, who apparently had a sweat drop on his head, then at Botan who looked surprised. "Oh, beg my pardon. I was just thinking of something funny. I'm sorry for distracting you two. Well, thanks for finding me Botan, Ill be on my way now." Botan watched him leave. She knew that he was thinking about Hiei. How could Hiei of all people make Kurama so happy? Botan didn't understand. She knew Kurama for a while now, and he was never that happy when he was with her. Her heart began to race as Koenma spoke up.

"Botan! Earth to Botan!" Botan looked at Koenma with teary eyes and said,

"Koenma, do you think that I could make a guys who I really liked happy?" Koenma looked confused as Botan backed away, "I mean, Its not like I like anyone and all but…." Botan just turned around and began to walk.

"Hmmm…I wonder who she means?" Koenma began to blush. "Could it be me?"

* * * *

Yusuke and Kuwabara were watching a movie when a knock came to their door. Yusuke was too lazy to answer it.

"Kuwabara, can you go get the door?" Kuwabara said nothing. "Kuwabara! Get the door!" Kuwabara was too dazed watching the film. The door opened slowly as Kurama walked in.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to just invite myself in…" Yusuke laughed.

"Don't worry about it. I'm glad that Botan had found you. So, do you wanna sit down and watch the movie with us?" Kurama laughed.

"What's do you mean us?" Yusuke looked confused as Koenma pointed to Kuwabara.

"What the Hell!? He's sleeping with his eyes open!!" There was silence as Yusuke pushed Kuwabara on the floor. He was still sound asleep as Kurama and Yusuke began to laugh. Kurama sat down and began to watch the movie. It was a love/horror/angst story. Yusuke felt a little weird watching mushy parts of the movie with Kurama sitting next to him. So Yusuke just pretended he was thirsty or needed to use that toilet. Kurama sighed a couple of times during the movie and Yusuke wondered what his problem was. "Hey, Kurama…" Kurama got out of his trance and smiled.

"Oh, sorry. What is it Yusuke?" Yusuke told Kurama that he couldn't pretend to smile.

"There is something wrong with you. Do you want to let me get in on this?" Koenma shook his head.

"No, I'm fine. You don't have to worry about—" His sentence was cut off by Yusuke

"Its about Hiei, isn't it Kurama?" Kurama's eyes widened as his heart pounded at an alarming rate.

"What? What are you talking about Yusuke?" Kurama thought to himself. *How does he know about me and Hiei?* Kurama's body shook. "Yusuke, I can explain. Well, me and Hiei—" His sentence was once again cut short from Yusuke.

" No need to explain. I understand. Love is a serious thing. I don't want to come in the way of anything. But, you should keep on loving him no matter who sees, ya know? I mean I don't know where Hiei is at the moment, but I bet that he's thinking of you too." Kurama didn't know the Yusuke of all people would understand how he feels. Kurama nodded.

"Thanks Yusuke. I'm glad to have a friend like you." Kurama got up and walked out the door. Leaving Yusuke to deal with Bigfoot sleeping with his eyes open on his floor.

* * * *

Hiei sat up in a broken down tree trying to sleep. His body was shaking. His mind was still on the fact that Botan had caught him and Kurama together. "Damn it!! I can't stop thinking about it! Why should I even care what she thinks about it?" Hiei jumped down from the tree. "Well at least our wounds have healed up." He decided to take a little walk alone. He didn't even know where he was going. He was concentrating on his own problems. "Kurama…I have to find you. We have to sort things out between us. Do we really care what people think of us? Is it so wrong for me and you to love each other? What's wrong with two males being together anyway?" Hiei's face saddened. " And, I've never even loved someone in my whole life…. and, no ones ever loved me back…" This topic was very important to Hiei. He really did love Kurama very deeply. But he wondered if his kitsune felt the same.

* * * *

Botan took her human form and walked around the city. She felt so weird. Her palms were sweating, her face was pink, and her heart pounded at an alarming rate. She only had one thing on her mind… "Kurama" But then again, she thought about how Hiei was with him deep within the cave. She knew that she couldn't make Kurama that happy. But, if she could, that would make her happy. She decided to sit on the park bench where the cherry blossoms blew in the wind all around her. She looked to the ground as she heard footsteps coming near her. A familiar voice rang in her ear.

" Oh, Botan. What are you doing here?" Botan looked up to see Kurama smiling at her and his silky red hair blowing along with the blossoms. Her face turned a deep red as she looked down. Kurama didn't feel nervous being around her after Yusuke gave him such kind words.

"Oh, hello Kurama. I'm just sitting here thinking…about…stuff…" Kurama smiled.

"Well, I was on my way to the Ice cream cart near the fountain.. Would you like some ice cream, too?" Botan stood up quickly and felt so glad to be by him.

"Sure! Lets go!" Botan didn't notice how loud she was. She was just so exited to be with him. Kurama went with Botan who walked beside him and got them both two scoops of strawberry and chocolate ice cream. Kurama even paid for hers. "Thank you Kurama. You are so sweet." Kurama gave her a big smile.

"Oh, it was no trouble at all Botan." Botan checked her watch.

"Oh, dear. I must get back to spirit world. I promised Koenma that I would finish doing some paperwork." Kurama put his hand on her shoulder and smiled again.

"Let me escort you there. I have nothing else to do here anyway."

"Thank you Kurama." Botan blushed as they made their way to spirit world. Botan opened the main door and led Kurama to Koenma's desk. " Koenma doesn't seem to be here at the moment. You can have a seat Kurama." Kurama shook his head.

"No thank you. Ill stand. Tell me if you need a hand Botan. Ill be right here." Botan just smiled as she looked for papers to file.

"Ah, here they are." There was a huge pile of stacked papers in the corner of the room. It looked to be 8 pounds at least. "Oh, well" Botan didn't think and she just picked up the whole pile. She began to walk, as the pile seemed to get heavier with each step she took. Her legs couldn't take any more as she began to fall.

"Botan!" Kurama caught her in his arms. "Are you ok, Botan?" Botan held on tight to Kurama and looked up at him. His eyes were full of worry for her. He was so beautiful.

"Kurama I…" Botan couldn't find her words. She didn't know what to do so she leaped into Kurama's arms and lunged forward to Kurama's lips.

* * * * Koenma was walking down one of the halls of spirit world holding a bouquet of flowers. "Hee Hee. I wonder if Botan will like these flowers? Maybe I should wait a bit longer. I know!" Koenma poofed, and turned into his teenage form. "This might just work." Koenma stopped as he heard footsteps running towards him. He saw a black figure coming at him at an alarming speed. It was Hiei. "How did he get here?" Hiei caught Koenma by the collar of his shirt and pulled him down to his eye level.

"Where is Kurama!?" Hiei panted. "I need to see him NOW!!!!" Koenma pulled away.

"Hmph! Some people have no patience! Well, I don't know where he is. He was here earlier, but he's not here now." Hiei pulled out his sword.

"Then find him." Koenma turned around and said,

"Follow me. I guess the flowers can wait." Hiei followed Koenma to his office door. "Here we can find out where he is using some of my equipment in here." Koenma pushed open the door. Hiei dropped his sword and Koenma dropped the flowers as they both stared with their eyes fully opened to see Botan on top of Kurama with their lips locked.

TO BE CONTINUED