Chapter Zwei

Botan slowly brought the drinks to the two newcomers and went back to washing dishes. A dismal hum hung over the crowd as the rain could be heard above along with the footsteps of the army men. The entrance to the city was one of many but the dark lord had yet to discover one. But everyone knew it was a postponement, the soldiers would soon find the cities.

Tears fell into the water filled sink and the water undulated from the center to the edges. Even water could fix itself, Botan thought as the water stilled. Her thoughts were interrupted by the voice of the redhead. "Excuse me, you wouldn't by any chance have any vacancies?"

"Um, actually we do. Most of the travelers only stay a few nights, so we do." she smiled as best she could and handed him a key. "Here I will show you the way." She said walking to the front of the counter and leading him and the other to their room at the end of the hall. "It's not much but," she paused opening the door to a meager room, "it will keep you safe."

"Thank you." the red head bowed and walked into the room after the other and closed the door behind him.

"You are welcome, Kurama." Botan could not get over the fact that those two were so similar to her friends. She took comfort in their presence, then a sudden interest and what brought them to her little city. Walking back to the bar she heard laughter, something she had not heard in a while.

Botan picked up her pace and stopped as she saw a Carrot top with ragged hair telling stupid stories to a table of Girls. Botan smiled to herself, how, that boy held Kuwabara's countenance. Who she see a Hiei look-a-like too? Would he be there too? She hoped so, though she never thought she could forgive him for lying to her.

"I have to get out of here, I am seeing things" Botan Frowned and left someone else in charge and left the inn, heading for the surface, but then was stopped by a handsome stranger. He had brown hair and beautiful eyes, eyes she had seen before. "Officer?"

"Where are you going Botan? Not the surface I hope." He warned

"Well actually I was, don't worry, I will be fine." Botan said and walked on. "Thanks for your concern." She said and walked out of one of the secret entrances and headed back for the dead playground.

The Children had not stopped playing and why should they? They were happy now in the land of the dead. Botan sat in her swing again and let the wind push her. She closed her eyes and the wind was no longer the wind, but it was darkness, a soothing darkness. She could also feel the sun and the green of the grass could be smelled over the soft hum of the rain. She felt like the world was right again. She knew soon that she would have to open her eyes and make her fantasy just that…a fantasy.

Soon the darkness felt like two hands pressed on her back, pushing her faster and higher on the swing. Caring hands. She opened her eyes and looked behind her to see Hiei, Pushing her. She smiled but a drop of rain hit her nose and the vision melted away like a runny painting.

"Why?" she asked.

"Hn, Woman, you know the solders are coming. Not that I care but a woman like you should be inside serving drinks. Since there are so few of you around." Came a rude voice of a dark stranger.

Botan looked up and frowned at the darkness. " You can't talk to me like that. And I don't care if the army takes me I already lost everything. I saw the end of the world." She jumped off of the swing.

"You saw it?" The stranger asked, "I heard that all who were there were killed. "

"Well I wasn't killed. Who are you anyway? Don't tell me that you have been traveling on the surface. "

"What's wrong with that? Too many people below, I prefer to be alone." He shrugged

"They why have you called me, telling me to get inside?" Botan asked. " If you don't care much for people, why would you care if they took me of not?"

"Hn, I don't know. But you have been warned." The stranger walked off

"Wait!" Botan called, "um, thank you anyway, I was wondering, I mean I am the owner of an inn, well now I am, but I would feel better if you stayed in a room."

"Why should I? I am just fine out here." He didn't stop walking.

"Please? Just one night and you wont even have to pay. I would feel better knowing that you made it okay, I have lost so many people already… Please." She cried

"Don't do that, Baka Onna, I will stay." He said and those words caused her to flinch, but she ignored it and walked on showing him to the inn.

After showing the dark stranger his room, she had the pleasure of showing the carrot top a room as well, All in the same hallway only because it was the closest hall to the exit just in case. It would be a surprise to no one if the city was discovered and so the people lived in a constant fear.

Botan Finished kicking out everyone and was now busy putting away chairs and cleaning up messes and staking chairs…

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Little did she know, she was being watched through the window. A Demon of short stature and green scaly skin smiled and hissed in happiness. He had found the last survivor. The only one that got away from the blast, "Masster will be proud of me nowsss." He hissed and stood his ground waiting for the right time to strike.