Chapter VII: I'm Sorry
Botan woke when she heard a loud noise across the hall. She knew that the others were asleep. She slowly got up from the bed and went to investigate the source of the noise. She opened her door quietly and poked her head out, the hall was dark. She could barely see what was in front of her. She was about to go back to bed when she heard it again. This time it was coming from Kurama's room. She could see that the light was on in his room but the door was close. She wondered what he was doing in there.
She got out of her room and walked toward his. She knocked on the door.
"Kurama….are you alright."
There was no answer. She quietly pushed opened the door. She was surprised when she saw that he wasn't in his bed. She then heard the same noise coming from the bathroom but this time it was much clearer. She closed the door behind her. Her footsteps were muffled by the soft carpet as she made her way to the bathroom. In there she found Kurama. His head was in the sink, puking his guts out. She rushed to him and wrapped her arms around him.
"Oh! My god. Kurama, are you okay…okay stupid question." She babbled.
He nodded. She waited until she was finished. She then sat him on the toilet. He was so docile. He didn't protest when she removed his shirt since he vomited on it. She found a small towel and wetted in with warm water. She wiped his face and chest. She made his brushed his teeth. While he was doing that she left and went to look for something for him to sleep in.
Kurama's closet was neatly arranged. She found a pair of sweat and brought them to him. She closed the bathroom door while he changed. A few minutes later, he came out. If she wasn't so worried about him. She would have noticed how sexy he looked. Even though he was pissed drunk.
"Feeling better?"
"Yeah."
His voice was groggy and he looked dead tired. He was lucky he decided to get drunk on a Friday night.
"Why don't you get some sleep? You'll feel better after a good night of sleep."
He lay down on his bed. She went to turn off the lamp but Kurama had a different agenda. He pulled her to him. In a swift movement, she found herself spooning against him. She debated whether she should push him away or stay like stay. 'Well maybe just for a few minutes. Until he falls asleep.' She thought. Once her mind was made up, she was able to relax. Kurama on the other hand was quiet. His eyes were closed and his breathing was even.
"You're going to have one heck of hangover tomorrow." She whispered quietly.
He shifted to get into a more comfortable position. And in a matter of minutes, he was asleep in her arms. Botan ran her fingers through his hair. It was soft and silky. She stayed liked for a few minutes until she was certain he was asleep. She quietly slipped out of his bed. Before she left she kissed him.
"Thank God, you won't remember this tomorrow."
She then tiptoed out of his room.
The day was almost over and Botan had yet to see Kurama. His car was still parked in the driveway but he was nowhere to be seen in the house. She couldn't understand why Kurama had gotten last night. She knew what happen between him and Miyuki. She was there when he walked in their conversation. She knew he was hurt but she didn't think he would turn to alcohol to dull the pain. She always that Kurama was more mature than that. She didn't know of any parties last night. She didn't think that Kurama would deliberately go out to get drunk. He was under twenty one so he couldn't have brought it himself.
Sitting on the couch in the living room, Botan was desperately trying to concentrate on her assignment. She couldn't focus. She was worried about Kurama too much. She really hoped he was alright. Suddenly, she heard footsteps, and then the front door opened. Kurama walked in.
"Hi," She said.
"Hi,"
His response wasn't exactly rude but it didn't have the usual gentle tone it always had.
"Where have you been? I haven't seen you all day."
"I went out. Didn't think I needed your permission."
She was speechless.
"Kurama, are you okay?"
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"No reason really. I was just worried."
"Well, as you can see. I'm perfectly fine. Now if you're done interrogating me, I'm going to bed."
She was too shocked to stop him. She knew he was mad but why was she so angry at her. It wasn't her fault that Miyuki cheated on him. There was nothing she could have done. True, she could have told him before he found but he wouldn't have believed her.
She put her laptop down and ran after him.
"Kurama, are you in there?"
"Go away."
"I'm not going anywhere. Not until you tell me why you're so angry at me."
"Go away, Botan."
"But I want to talk to you."
"And I don't want to talk to you."
"Why not? What did I do? Look, I'm sorry I didn't tell you what I saw."
The door sprang opened.
"Look, Botan. I really don't want to talk right now."
"But I…"
"No. I want to go to bed and sleep. I feel like shit. My head is fucking killing me and my body is hurting in places I don't even want to mention. I just want to sleep and forget you exist."
Tears welled up in her eyes but she refused to let them fall. She knew why he was so angry and hurt but she'll be dammed if she let him see how much he was hurting her right now.
"I'm sorry." She whispered.
"What?"
"I'm sorry." She said louder. "I'm sorry for worrying about you. I'm sorry for caring."
'I'm sorry for loving you.' She added to herself.
She then turned on her heels and ran to her room. She locked the door and crawled into her bed. She silently cried her heart out.
After his shower, Kurama was able to think much clearly. His head was still hurting. His body was still aching but he couldn't sleep until he had apologized to Botan. He felt like the biggest jerk right. Botan did nothing wrong. He had no right lashing his anger at her. The only wrong thing she did was being a friend.
As much as he tried he couldn't stay mad at her for not telling him that Miyuki was cheating on him. She obliviously thought he wouldn't have believed her and she was right. He was so infatuated with Miyuki that he failed to see what mattered most. He failed to see that she wasn't as truthful as he believed her to be. There were plenty of signs that should have aroused his suspension but he trusted her. He never thought that she would have played him for a fool. And what a fool he's been.
His friends had warned him but he didn't listen. His friends had seen Miyuki for what she was when he only saw what was on the surface. All those lies she told him. All those time she told him she loved when she never did. He didn't even know if she actually liked him or even care for him.
Well it doesn't matter now. Botan care about him and he better apologized while he still could. He went across the hall and look to see if she was in her room. Her door was opened but she wasn't in there. He went downstairs in the living room. He only found her sister, Yukina.
"You've seen Botan?"
"She just went out."
"Thanks."
"No prob."
He went back to his room to get his cell phone. He tried to call her but she didn't pick up. He tried calling her again and she did answer. But before he could talk she hang up.
"Damn." He swore.
He threw the phone on the bed. What did he do now? He didn't know where she was. She wasn't answering her phone. And he didn't want to wait till she get back. Suddenly an idea struck him. She wasn't answering her phone because she knew it was him calling. What if he called her using someone else's phone? He smiled and ran down the hall where's Yusuke's room was.
His friend was reclined on his bed with a biology book in front of him and his iPod in his ears.
"What are you doing?" He asked.
"Studying."
"Okay."
"So what's up?"
"I need to borrow your phone."
"Why?"
"I need it for something."
"Whatever. It's on the desk."
"Thanks."
He got the phone. He tossed his cell phone at Yusuke.
"Use mine if you need to make a call."
Once he was out of his friend's room, he dialed Botan's number. He didn't know how he knew her number by heart. It's not like he called her often. In fact he didn't think he ever called her before today. He waited for her to pick and just like he predicted, she didn't hang up.
"Why are you calling me, Yusuke?"
"It's not Yusuke. It's me. Kurama."
"In that case..."
"No don't hang up."
"What do you want, Kurama. I thought you wanted to forget I exist. I have to tell you stalking me is not the best way to go about it."
"I'm sorry I said that. I just want to talk."
"You want to talk. Now?"
"Look, I'm really sorry for what I said. I was a jerk and I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings."
"Kurama…"
"Please forgive me?"
"I'll think about it."
She then hang up.
Author's Note: Forgive me...