Sunshine – Chapter Four: Impressions
OOOOO
"Where should we go first?" Botan asked the prince, not planning to actually use his input but not rude enough to exclude it.
"How should I know?" Shura retorted snidely, loathing to be pulled around in Botan's surprisingly iron grip.
"Too bad then," she babbled airily. She glanced over her shoulder at her female companions that were tailing behind them, absorbed in their own chatter, "What do you ladies think?"
"Let's get his majesty taken care of first," Shizuru drawled around her cigarette, jerking her thumb in the direction of the nearest clothing store, "Then we can go eat or something."
Shura bristled and turned to glare at the older woman. "His majesty is fine," he snarled through gritted teeth, wanting to put off his part of the trip for as long as possible.
"Sounds like a plain," Botan voiced in agreement, tugging Shura's arm like a leash. "If you're good I'll buy you an ice cream or something," she told him in a babied up voice.
Shura had no idea what his 'eyes cream' she spoke of was, but he did not like the patronizing manner she used while saying it.
"Ice cream?" Yukina perked up, interrupting Shura as he opened his mouth to retort, looking at Botan with a hopeful twinkle in her eye.
"Yep," Botan smiled back at her. "And if you behave, I'll buy you one, too," she told the demon girl with a wink.
"Don't worry, I'll be good," Yukina reassured the ferry girl.
Keiko and Shizuru joined the conversation later and the women entered the store in a jovial manner.
"How my I help you ladies today?" a middle-aged employee asked, wearing a smock with the store's logo over her own clothes.
"Actually, we're mainly here for this guy," Botan answered, pulling her right arm forward to present Shura, who had moved behind her as they entered the store, for fear of shopping or fear of strangers she did not know, "Could you direct us to the little boys' section?"
Shura glowered.
The woman laughed and pointed to her left, "I think you'll find what you're looking for back there."
"Thanks," Botan said, turning to the others, "This won't be too interesting, so you guys can do whatever."
"Well, since I'm here, I may as well pick up some new unmentionables," Shizuru told them without a hint of embarrassment, waving them off and sauntering over to the women's department.
"I don't really need any new clothes, so I'll just tag along," Keiko said.
"I'll go, too," Yukina finished.
"Well, okay…" Botan shrugged while heading to the boy's department, incredulous that they would want to some along.
Once there, Botan finally released Shura and got behind him, pulling the back of his uniform collar down.
"What are you doing?" he asked with discomfort, not liking the feeling of Death's cold fingers so close to his neck.
"Looking for the size tag," she said, pulling out a white tag that presented her with an upside down M.
"You're a medium," she noted simply, sticking the tag back in and releasing him. "Well," she started, clapping Shura on the back, "the sooner we start, the sooner we're done."
He nodded at the sentiment and fiddled with his sleeves.
"See anything you like?" Botan prompted, noticing his hesitation. "I know it's not what you're used to, but, umm…" Botan did not really know where she was going with that statement, so she tried again, "If you miss your robes and stuff, we could always go and join Shizuru and pick you out a pretty dress," she laughed, "We could even get one to match your eyes!"
Shura glowered at her and opened his mouth the say something but was once again interrupted by Yukina.
"It's not so bad, your highness," piped the demon girl sympathetically, smoothing out the imaginary wrinkles on her pale blue dress, "I mean, human clothes in general, not just dresses, though I prefer them…" she trailed off and gave him a small smile.
Subconsciously, it was comforting to here that from another demon. Therefore, for reasons Shura could not explain, he calmed down considerably. "I guess that's kind of neat," he mumbled, pointing at a red pullover.
"That's a start!" Botan all but squealed, feeling as if she could kiss Yukina for getting her charge to cooperate. She decided against that, however, as she could think of two men who would kill her if she were to do so. "Get to it!" she told Shura, going to lean against the wall where Keiko was, hoping to catch up with the human woman she considered to be her best friend.
"I can help you, if you would like," Yukina offered to Shura, being the ever helpful girl she was, following the younger demon as he wordlessly perused through clothing.
Botan allowed herself to relax a little, figuring Shura would not do anything too stupid while he was out of her range. She could tell he was awfully tired, and because of that he would probably want to get everything done with as little event as possible.
"So, Keiko, are you planning to buy anything?" Botan asked the brunette, who had not mentioned exactly what she was looking for.
"Oh, nothing here," she answered, frowning, "Just a new frying pan."
"What happened to the old one?" Botan inquired.
"I cracked it over that idiot's hard head," Keiko grumbled, cracking her knuckles at the thought.
Botan laughed nervously, "Yuusuke misbehaving?"
Keiko allowed herself a tiny smirk, "Not anymore."
"Ah," the ferry girl answered. "So, head injury aside, how has he been?" she asked. Things were awfully slow in the Reikai, and even slower in Japan, where Yuusuke held jurisdiction as a detective. Ever since the Makai Tournament, reasons for Botan to go to the Ningenkai became fewer and fewer. This extended break from paranormal activity should have been considered a blessing, but Botan only felt as if she was gradually drifting away from her mortal loved ones.
"He's been very restless," Keiko sighed, breaking Botan's depressing trail of thought, "It's the lack of adventure, I think. He's trying so hard to be a normal, human boyfriend…"
Botan set her schoolbag down and slipped her arms around Keiko's shoulders. "Don't tear yourself up over it," she said, though she was not surprised Yuusuke also missed the action, "You know he's just doing that because he wants you to be happy."
Keiko smiled wistfully, "I know. Big jerk," she said affectionately. "I just want him to be happy, too."
"You're so sweet, Keiko," Botan giggled, releasing the brunette and patting her on the head.
"Hey. I'm done," Shura interrupted, carrying a few articles of clothing in his arms. Yukina stood a little ways behind him, giving Botan a reassuring smile.
"Riiiight," Botan drew out, looking at his arms, "I'd say you're about a third of the way there. You'd be surprised how fast clothes get dirty when you're out and about."
Shura's shoulders slumped, and for a second he resembled a defeated child, "Then what do I do with these?"
"Try them on, of course," Botan answered, "So you'll know that they fit."
"But I already know," Shura said, puzzled, "They are all medium."
"Fine," Botan sighed, not feeling like arguing with the boy's special brand of logic, "I'll hold on to these for you," she said, taking the clothes from him.
Just as he was turning to rejoin Yukina, Botan spoke up, "Don't forget underwear," she said with unnecessary volume, watching Shura stumble forward a little, the backs of his pointy ears reddening slightly. Laughing, Botan called Yukina over, "Take this," she said, handing the ice demon the control for Shura's wards.
"What is it?" Yukina asked.
"It's a control for the wards on prince charming over there. I just remembered that I'll be needing a few clothes, too. Not as much as Shura, so it'll only take me a minute," Botan explained. "I don't think you'll need it, but just in case."
"Alright," Yukina said, turning to follow Shura.
When she caught up with him, he was casually flipping through shirts, looking as if there was no place he would rather not be. Catching sight of Yukina, he turned to her, his eyes falling upon the black box she held in her hands. "What are you doing with that?" he asked, feeling somewhat betrayed that there was now a fellow demon gripping the metaphorical trigger.
"Botan had to go do something," she answered vaguely, "But she'll be back soon, so don't try to do anything. It really would hurt me to hurt you," she said sincerely, knowing full well what is was like to be trapped against your will.
Shura did not respond, instead returning to the clothes rack. An uncomfortable silence settled between them, and suddenly he wanted nothing more than for it to go away. Searching for a topic, he recalled the familiarity of her eyes. "Do you know a fire demon named Hiei?" he asked out of the blue.
Yukina jumped at the abrupt question. "Yes. I do," she answered with a smile, "Actually, he's my twin brother. Why do you ask?"
Shocked at that piece of information, it took longer for Shura to reply. "Your eyes are the same," he said finally.
"Oh," she said simply, but she seemed pleased, "Do you know him?"
"We're…" Shura began, but did not know how to accurately express their relationship. His affiliation with Hiei was somewhat complex, as he truly did not hate the fire demon as much as he had initially. They would run across each other whenever Shura crossed into Mukuro's territory to cause a ruckus, and Hiei would make sure the prince never made it farther than a mile. The subsequent battle that would take place between the two was quite an entertaining challenge in Shura's opinion, and every time they returned to their respective castles to lick their wounds (literally, in Hiei's case), Shura would vow that he would push himself harder next time. Though it could be seen as a sport, it was certainly no game, as he once had to cut his hair in an attempt to balance a chunk he had lost to Hiei's katana, the sound of it swinging dangerously past his head something he would never forget. He also remembered how close he came to gutting the fire demon, his claws piercing flesh as Hiei moved at the last nanosecond. Their relationship was a bloody one, but Shura liked to call it a rivalry as opposed to a bitter hatred.
"We're acquaintances," he answered at last, figuring Yukina did not need to know the gruesome details.
"Is he okay?" she asked. "I haven't heard much of him in a while."
"He looked fine last time I saw him," Shura lied. In the last battle they had before the prince was whisked away by Botan, the fire demon had leapt into the trees with a few scratches and a wounded arm. Shura had given him worse, so he could only assume Hiei recovered without much ado.
"I'm glad to hear that," she smiled, "He's been through so much and lived, but I can't help but worry sometimes. I've only known of our relation for a few months—I'm just scared of losing him again."
Shura looked confused, "What do you mean?"
Yukina's face fell slightly, "I don't really like to talk about it. Let's just say the Koorime aren't very fond of males."
"Oh," Shura said, though that really did not answer a thing, in his opinion. He would have to ask Botan later.
"No matter. Let's just get back to the task at hand," Yukina said lightly, but with just enough hidden force to steer Shura away from further questioning.
By the time Botan returned, Shura had set aside an ample amount of clothing, and she suggested they should leave if they wanted time to grab something to eat. Not protesting, Shura followed the girls to the check out line.
Botan and Shura paid for their belongings with their otherworldly credit cards and exited the store, the now visible sky making it known that it was considerably later than when they had entered.
"Took you long enough," Shizuru said from the side, slowly getting up from a bench placed outside of the store, a bag in her hand and a fresh cigarette in her mouth.
"Well, as they say, time flies when you're having fun," Botan replied.
"Right," the older woman said, disbelieving.
"Why do I have to carry all of these?" Shura complained from behind, hands weighed down by bags. He desperately missed the demonic strength he had taken for granted.
"Because they're yours," Botan chirped, skipping along.
Shura made and indignant sound. "These are yours," he spat out, moving the fingers that were wrapped around three bags laden with female clothing.
Caught red handed, the ferry girl backtracked and relieved him of her baggage. "I was hoping you wouldn't notice," she pouted.
"Hmph. Can we go back to Kurama's now?" Shura all but begged, noting how awkward that sentence flowed from his mouth.
"Not yet, but soon," Botan tried to pacify.
"There's where I need to go," Keiko interjected, pointing across the street to another store. "I shouldn't be to long, so you guys just go on ahead, okay?" she told them, starting to break away from the group and head toward the crosswalk.
"Alright," Botan said, before they were too separated to hear each other.
"Hey, Botan," Yukina started, "Since you'll be around the human world more often, does that mean you'll be allowed to, um," her face scrunched up as she looked for the right phrase, "hang out with us more often?"
"I don't see why not," the ferry girl answered, "I mean, I'll really only be needed when Kurama cannot keep an eye on our dear prince. Hey, we could even hang around my place."
"Your place?" Shizuru asked with a sort of puzzled look.
"Oh! That's right!" she exclaimed, laughing at her own forgetfulness, "I guess Kurama is the only one I've told so far. You know, since I'm technically a student and stuff, I've been given a sort of fake—but real—address. Just in case the school or anyone tries to send me anything and finds out that I don't really, well, exist. Or something like that, Koenma said."
"So, where is this little bachelorette pad of yours?" Shizuru inquired.
"The White Springs apartment complex. It's about a block away from Kurama's place. Convenience and all of that. It's not really what you would call furnished yet, though. Right now it's just a place to put all of my human stuff."
"I see," Shizuru said, "So, you'll be moving in?"
"Until all of this clears up, yes," Botan answered.
"That's really neat," Yukina said.
"Yeah, I guess it kinda is," Botan agreed, "It's been a good century or two since I've taken up residence in any mortal realm. Especially for actual work." Speaking of work, she glanced to her left, "Hey, Shura?"
"Huh?" he answered ineloquently, not really listening to the conversation but lucid enough to pick out his own name.
"Oh, nothing really. You just looked kinda out of it," Botan commented.
"He's probably just bored of us talking about girly things," Shizuru laughed. "I bet he'd be more entertained if we reminisced about the good ol' days when we were at the Ankoku Bujutsukai," she joked with a wistful and somewhat sad smile.
Yukina visibly blanched at the memory and Botan stifled a laugh.
Shura's interest was piqued, however, as he had heard his father and other demons that frequently visited the castle mention a tournament by that name. Pride getting the better of him, he opened his mouth to comment, "I doubt any story you have would interest me."
"Just keep on telling yourself that," Botan said, not believing him. "Hey, there's the ice cream shop. All in favor of forgoing a healthy dinner?"
"I," both Shizuru and Yukina answered.
"Kinda slow this time of day, huh?" Botan asked as they entered, greeted by only two employees.
"That's because most people are at home having a dinner that's healthy for them," Shizuru quipped.
"Healthy smealthy," Botan drawled, heading up to the counter with her bags looped around her arms. "What do you guys want? Koenm—err I'm buying."
"A banana split," Yukina said with no sign of hesitation.
Not really knowing much about ice cream, Shizuru left it up to fate, "Surprise me. And a vanilla cone for him," she added, catching the lost look on Shura's face.
"Okay," Botan said, leaving them to order.
"Let's sit over there," Shizuru suggested, pointing to the booth that would be furthest away from human ears, just in case something less than normal became the topic of conversation.
Shura sat his bags down next to the table and slid into the booth on the other side of Yukina and Shizuru.
Botan came over to set her bags down and returned to the counter to wait for their orders.
"Um, you're that new girl," the boy who was working at the counter said, "I, um, saw you in the hallway during lunch," he added as an explanation.
"That would be me," Botan confirmed with a laugh.
"I-I'm Makoto!" he said suddenly, thrusting his plastic covered hand out to her.
"Botan," she said, shaking his hand while he blushed profusely. He was cute, but in that little boy way. Botan figured him a freshman. Either that or she was getting old. 'Perish the thought,' she told herself.
"Hey, Makoto," his older looking coworker chided, "Quit flirting with the customer and get their orders. She's too old for you, anyway."
Makoto's ears turned red as he vehemently pulled his hand away from Botan's, "S-sorry!" he said, addressing the both of them. He ducked his head down by the ice cream machine.
Botan giggled and said nothing of it, somewhat flattered.
"Um, here you go," Makoto murmured weakly, handing the girl a tray upon which her orders sat.
"Thank you," Botan said with extra sugar, winking at the younger boy.
Awestruck, he nodded dumbly at her retreating back.
"Got yourself an admirer?" Shizuru asked as Botan returned with their cold treats.
"Seems like it," she answered, batting her eyelashes and sitting down next to Shura. "Here you go," she said, setting down the tray and dispensing the ice cream.
"Hmm. Surprising," Shizuru said, eyeing her cone and stubbing out her cigarette in a nearby ashtray. Whatever it was, it sure was colorful.
"Thank you, Botan," Yukina said.
Shura held the cone awkwardly, watching Shizuru idly lick hers at intervals. Following her example, he licked the cone tentatively, letting the ice cream melt on his tongue before pulling it back into his mouth.
"Good, huh?" Botan asked proudly, knowing that no child—demon, human, or otherwise—could resist the allure of ice cream.
"Adequate," he replied smugly, taking another lick.
"Hmph. Brat."
"Hag," he retorted casually, not bothering to pull his face out of the cone when he said it.
"Some thanks I get," Botan said after being momentarily taken aback. Notwithstanding jabs at her age, she repressed her indignation and changed the subject.
"Hey, Makoto!" an entering customer said, the jingling of a bell signaling his arrival.
"Oh! Hi, Shuuichi!" he answered with a childlike adoration befitting of an underclassman.
Shura, being on the side of the booth that allowed them to see the door, immediately recognized the younger Shuuichi. The prince frowned and made an irritated noise.
Picking up on Shura's annoyance, Shizuru turned around to see what was bothering him. "Hey, Botan, isn't that—"
"Ixnay an the other bray!" Botan squealed at her while tilting her head in Shura's direction.
Though not really understanding the message Botan was trying to get across, Shizuru shrugged it off and complied, going back to her food.
Shuuichi was ordering something and chatting with Makoto, the two obviously being acquaintances from school. Upon receiving his cone, the older boy said his goodbyes and flanked for the door. In doing so, he was met with the same contemptuous eyes that had been on him all day. He frowned at the new boy, who frowned back with equal intensity, the familiar looking blue-haired girl next to him giving her companion a disapproving look. Shuuichi's eyes once again situated themselves on Shura's forehead. Knowing something was definitely up, Shuuichi felt the store, his head full of theories.
"I don't like that guy," Shura suddenly blurted out, "He keeps on staring at me."
"Well, maybe it's just because you're the new kid at his school," Shizuru supplied.
"So is she," he spat, pointing at Botan with his free hand, "The new kid with the unnaturally colored hair."
"Oh, it's not that big of a deal," Botan tried to reassure him. "Maybe it's just because, um, he likes you or something," she joked.
Shura looked at the ferry girl like she had grown another head.
"Hey guys," Keiko said out of nowhere, everyone too absorbed in conversation to notice that she had arrived. She held a chocolate cone in one hand and a heavy bag in the other.
"Welcome back," Shizuru said, scooting herself and Yukina over to make room for the brunette.
"Got what you needed?" Botan asked her.
"Yeah," Keiko said, "'Unbreakable' is what the salesman called it."
"Let's hope that's true," Botan laughed.
"You can eat that, you know," Keiko suggested as she noticed Shura pressing the cone to his face in hopes of what she could only assume was licking all of the ice cream.
Shura lifted his head and gave her a funny look.
"The cone, I mean," she clarified, "It's edible." To demonstrate, she took a small bite out of hers.
"…Oh," Shura said quietly, looking away.
"You didn't…" Botan started before she burst out in hysterics, for some reason or another thinking this was the funniest thing in the universe. She buried her face into her folded arms, muffling her loud and rather obnoxious laughter.
"Oh, Botan, it's not that funny," Keiko admonished her, seeing the embarrassed look on Shura's face and not wanting Botan to make it any worse.
Botan came up biting her lip, considerably quieter.
The rest of their time spent there was spent with the girls chatting animatedly with each other about absolutely nothing while the prince tuned them out, fiddling with his uneaten cone and the melting ice cream pooling within it.
"Oh my!" Keiko exclaimed, cutting into Shura's cycling thoughts. "It's already eight o'clock."
"So it is," Botan said, checking her own watch.
"I promised Yuusuke I'd cover for him at half past, so I really must be going," Keiko said reluctantly, gathering her bag and throwing her long forgotten napkin away. "Bye!" she told them all, hurrying out the door.
"It is kinda late," Botan mused, "For what was supposed to be an afternoon outing, anyway."
"Guess we'll all be going, then," Shizuru said. "Come on, Yukina, I'll walk you back to Genkai's," she offered, getting up and throwing her trash away.
"It was nice meeting you, prince," Yukina said, hoping that using his title would make him feel better. "Thanks again for the ice cream, Botan."
The two of them waved as they left, the jingling of the door announcing their exit.
Sucking on her straw, Botan attempted retrieve any of her milkshake she may have missed, an obnoxious sound attacking Shura's ears. Unsuccessful, she tossed the empty container into a nearby trash can.
"Well, we'd better get going, too," Botan said, sliding out of the booth and picking up her bags. "Aren't you going to finish your cone?" she asked.
"No," Shura replied, throwing the offending cone into the trash can as they left the establishment.
Suddenly, Botan felt sorry for laughing.
When they were a little ways away from the shop, Botan ducked into a nearby alley. "Quick, Shura, give me your bags," she implored him, looking around for people.
Not really wanting to hear an explanation as to why should would suddenly want his bags, Shura handed them to her with no question. The moment they touched her hands, they disappeared in the exact same manner as the boxes from yesterday.
"Why didn't you just do that earlier?" Shura hissed at her.
"Too many people around," she replied, noting the lull in sidewalk traffic.
"Hope Kurama's not too worried," Botan stated randomly as they were walking, "The time I told him to expect us back was over an hour ago."
Shura snorted, "I doubt he would care."
"You know, whatever you've heard about his exploits in Makai really isn't valid today," Botan said in the youko's defense. "Being with humans has really changed him. Heck, it'll probably change you, too."
"I don't want to change," Shura snarled at her, stopping to glare at the back of her head.
She looked back at him, "I never said you did." She shrugged, and that seemed to be the end of conversation for the rest of the way.
OOOOO
"Anyone home?" Botan called as she stepped into Kurama's foyer after Shura, pulling her key out of the doorknob. Receiving no answer, she materialized Shura's bags and handed them to him, "Take these to your room. I'll go find some hangers."
Shura did as he was told and followed the hallway to his room, noticing with distain that out of all the soft places in the house, the cat chose to sleep in his bed. With unnecessary malice, he dumped his clothes onto the bed with as much disturbance as possible, rousing the feline. It regarded Shura with an apathetic stare before setting its head down and closing its eyes.
"I pilfered these from Kurama's room," Botan said upon entering. She picked up a random article of clothing and hung it properly, "I hope he doesn't need them. Here," she said, handing half of them to Shura, "Help me hang these. When we're done, I'll make you something to eat—just ice cream isn't good for a growing boy."
"Oh. I see you have a bedmate," Botan commented when she saw Alfador.
"He won't go away," Shura complained.
"Guess that must mean he likes you."
"I highly doubt that."
"Oh, darn it," Botan suddenly exclaimed as the pile of clothing became smaller, "We didn't get you any night clothes." She walked over to the half full closet and scrounged around. "Here we go," she said, handing him a t-shirt and sweatpants, "This'll have to do until next time I drag you out."
At least she wasn't trying to sugarcoat the truth about shopping. Shura almost smiled at that.
"C'mon," she said, hanging up the last of his clothes, "I'll make you something while we wait for Kurama."
He followed her into the kitchen and sat down at the table. It felt like it had been at least a year since he had last been there.
Botan fiddled around in the cabinets, looking for plates and the like. "Oh, Kurama, you of all people shouldn't be one to prolong this stereotype…" she said dejectedly upon inspecting the refrigerator. It was nearly empty, sans for the pizza box, beer, and lone milk carton.
"What is it?" Shura asked.
"Oh, nothing you'd find particularly amusing."
As if on cue, Kurama entered, his arms laden with plastic shopping bags. "I'm sorry I'm late," he said, setting the bags down on the counter.
"Is Shura being here going to make you make some lifestyle changes, Mr. Bachelor?" Botan asked, once again opening the fridge and waving a beer at him. "I would have congratulated you for having milk, but I can only assume it was for your cat."
Kurama laughed at her. "I realize my refrigerator is looking rather Spartan, and I was going to go shopping yesterday, but…"
"You were too angry at Koenma to do anything productive," Botan finished for him, as if reading his mind. "Don't worry," she waved him off, "I know the feeling well. Let me take care of those," she said, pulling out a chair for Kurama and putting the groceries away.
"Have you had dinner yet?" Botan asked the youko, who answered with a no. "Good then. I'll make you some."
"Really, Botan," Kurama interjected, "You shouldn't bother with me."
"I was going to make Shura an' me something to eat anyway. Well, I was only planning on it before you came," she laughed, "I have nothing against pizza and cold beer, but I don't think Lord Yomi would appreciate me feeding his only son such garbage."
Botan put a few pots on the stove and began cooking rice and some vegetables. Before long, she dropped the knife she was cutting with and let out a yelp of surprise, causing both Kurama and Shura to jump.
"What's wrong?" Kurama asked, standing up to help her.
"Oh, nothing worth worrying about. Just go get me a band-aid or something," she answered, sticking her bleeding index finger into her mouth.
Kurama returned shortly with the requested item, handing it to Botan.
"Man," she laughed as she wrapped the band-aid around her finger, "I've nearly forgotten what it was like to bleed. Sure makes you feel alive, huh? That really does smart."
"Coming from anyone else, that would have been an odd comment," Kurama remarked offhandedly, going back to sit down.
"Very funny," she told him. She started to laugh again, "What's even funnier, though, is that the last time I can remember bleeding, it was when we first met. You remember that?"
"I do."
"There I was, trying to keep Keiko human long enough for Yuusuke to beat the snot out of Hiei, and then you—an ex-con—come out of nowhere, bleeding all over the place, and of all things, offered to help."
"Just doing what mother would have wanted me to do, I suppose," Kurama commented.
"…What happened after that?" Shura blurted out suddenly, dumbfounded at himself for voicing interest.
Botan blinked in surprise. "Oh, the standard 'good wins over bad'. Or, in Yuusuke's case, 'bad wins over worse'. Anyway, Kurama and I were able to get Keiko to hold on until Yuusuke came with an antidote. Then I hauled an unconscious Hiei to Reikai to be dealt with by Koenma. Then I bandaged my poor ol' hand," Botan finished, adding more vegetables to the pot and stirring.
"Yuusuke…" Shura mused aloud, "Isn't he the demon that my papa fought?"
"Part demon," Botan corrected, "But yes, the very same."
After receiving his answer, Shura went quiet.
"That should just about do it," Botan said, spooning out what she had made into three equal portions and setting the plates on the table. "What would you like to drink?"
"Water will be good—I doubt anything else I bought has had a chance to chill," Kurama said, handing his glass to Botan while Shura did the same.
"So, how was your day?" Kurama asked to either of them.
"Terrific," Botan answered.
"Eh," Shura said ineloquently, shrugging his shoulders.
"Though I don't particularly like this whole school thing," Botan elaborated after swallowing a bite of food, "I usually would be happy to go, because it meant just hanging out with Yuusuke and Keiko. Sitting through the actual day is a chore."
"The teacher talked about him," Shura said to Botan.
"Oh, that's right. He heard the name Minamino and was just ecstatic. So were the girls, for that matter," Botan explained. "Mr. Tanaka was his name, but I could see that our other teachers today had a sort of bounce in their step when they found out a Minamino was in their presence."
"I wish they would stop that. After my mother remarried, they wouldn't leave my step-broth—ow! What was that for?" Kurama asked Botan with a frown.
"What was what for?" she questioned back, giving him a smile Shura could not see. "Anyway, how was your day, Kurama?"
"It was a Monday," he said simply, though that explained it all to Botan. Dropping conversation right there seemed to be the general consensus, and they continued to eat in silence.
Shura yawned, bringing Botan's attention to him. "You should go to bed. It's almost ten, and we've got to do this all over again tomorrow. And don't forget about that homework. It's due at the end of the week."
Sleeping was the best idea he had heard all day, so he excused himself to Botan and disappeared into his room, making a disgruntled noise of acknowledgement in regards to the homework.
"So," Kurama started as Botan cleared their dishes, "What exactly was that kick for?"
"I'm sorry," Botan apologized. "You'll think this is funny though, I think. I sure thought it was," she allowed herself to laugh a little. "Your brother is in our class."
"What a coincidence. And?"
"By a chance he happened to sit next to our young charge. I thought this was rather funny at first, but later in the day Shura told me that your brother had been staring at him. I mean really staring," Botan explained, sitting down again and folding her arms on the table. "And I know you might be thinking it's because Shura's new, but so am I, and he hasn't done anything to me. I think it's safe to say that he can see Shura for what he really is, and is suspicious. But what I don't know for sure is if we can let him know the truth or not. Shura being here is supposed to be a secret, you know. It's not that I don't trust your brother, it's just that it would be best to keep people who do know to a minimum."
Kurama pondered this for a moment while he drank the last of his water, "How about you ask Koenma if it's okay, and if it is, we'll tell him. If it's not, then… I suppose I could try my best to keep him in the dark somehow. If you're right that he suspects Shura of being a demon, he'll probably alert me pretty soon."
"That's a fine idea, Kurama," Botan said, reaching into her dress pocket to pull out a cell phone. "And, while we're on the topic of fine ideas, do you have a cell phone? If so, go get it."
"I do," Kurama said, standing up only to return moments later, phone in hand.
Botan swapped them. "Put your number in that, while I do the same. Shura and I were also late coming back, so this'll hopefully prevent any future catastrophes in which we may need to find each other. I'm also putting the Kuwabara's in yours, just in case, okay?"
"That's fine," Kurama said, returning her phone.
"Now that that's settled, I really must be going," Botan announced, getting up and pushing her chair in.
Kurama also stood and walked her to the door. "Thanks for dinner. I normally only get that kind of treatment when I'm at my mother's."
"Oh, you flatterer," she admonished, waving her hand at him. "With compliments like that, I could make a habit out of it," she giggled, materializing her oar and jumping over the railing outside Kurama's apartment. "Good night!" she called back to him, disappearing into the night sky.
He gently shut the apartment behind him and flopped down on the couch, turning on the TV and further unwinding after a long day. However, this relaxed feeling was short-lived as the phone rang.
Reluctantly, Kurama rose to answer it. "Hello?"
"Hi Shuu—err, Kura—um, brother!"
"Kurama is just fine, Shuuichi," the youko laughed. "What are you doing calling so late?" Kurama asked, though he had a very good idea as to why.
"Well, I know this is going to sound stupid, but…"
OOOOO
Comments: When I began this in my notebook, the date was November 5, 2004. Haha… ha. I thought this chapter was awfully boring. Especially the first half. I do actually have something interesting planned. Predictable, but better than this. I'm still bad at transitions, but eh.
I went through and edited a lot of things in all of the chapters, but I know I couldn't have gotten them all. If you see a mistake or twenty, please tell me.
Yeah. I meant for that "year" thing at the table to be a bad joke at my expense.
