Chapter IV: Midnight Visitor.
Botan was sitting on her windowsill thinking about everything that had happen this week. It had been two weeks since they got their mission from Koenma. Since that day she had went back to Yusuke's school. She had returned as an exchange student. She attended classes as a normal student and do everything students do. Surprisingly enough, she found out that she liked going to school. She liked interacting with people. She loves living in Nigenkai. Period.Koenma had arranged it so she had two classes with Yusuke, lunch and chemistry. This arrangement was great since it allowed them to spend a lot of time with each other. They hadn't found out who the demon was but they had gathered a lot of clues about it.
As for their charade, they had managed to convince their friends in believing that they were a real couple. They even managed to fool Kurama and Hiei. Yusuke hadn't said anything about Keiko. Keiko in the other hand had been making Botan's life a living hell. Not only because she thought that Botan had stolen Yusuke from her but also because Botan had got a better grade than her in Mythology which happen to be her favorite subject. Truthfully, Botan was getting sick of her and her rude remarks. The only reason that she hadn't back out of this masquerade was because she had promised Yusuke that she'll help. When she had first met Keiko, she didn't though she could be such a pain. Then again, a lot of things had turned out differently. Like how she had fallen in love with Yusuke. Lately, she had been wondering why she loves Yusuke so much. She knew that he wasn't the most gorgeous guy in the world or the politest for that matter but to her he was all that and much more. He was caring even though he can be cruel sometimes. She suspected that it was because he didn't have any body to take care of him. His mother is always drunk and as for his father, well. And when he had finally fallen in love, he got dumped for some loser. He didn't have anybody to count on. He didn't have any friends well except for Kurama, Hiei and Kuwabara. People feared him. They thought that he is cruel and wicked but they didn't know him. Not as well as she does. She knew that he can be caring and dependable. She knew the better side of Yusuke Urameshi. The side he hid from the world. He didn't want them to see how vulnerable he was underneath that tough guy attitude he's always putting on. With no one to take care of him, he was forced to grow up and be his own man. She knew that underneath this façade of his, he was like a lost puppy looking for someone to care for him, somewhere where he could be safe. Somewhere where he could be himself. "I want to be there for you. I want to care for you, love you like you need to be loved. You won't have to hide yourself from me." She thought.
Since it was getting late, Botan decided to go to bed because she had school the next day.
'Yusuke, turn off that damn radio?'
Yusuke was lying in his bed when he heard his mom yelling for him to turn off the radio. After all, it was almost two a.m. in the morning. He didn't feel like getting into another argument with his mom so he just turned off the radio. He turned on his side and his eyes fell on a picture of Keiko that was on his nightstand. He still thinks about her a lot. He knew that deep down inside of him he still have feeling for her but sometimes he can help but question the depth of his feelings especially since he'd been thinking about Botan a lot too. He couldn't help wonder how she felt about him. He knew that she care for him as a friend. She had never shown any interest in him or any guy for that matter. He had thought that she was in love with Koenma but she had proven wrong. Maybe Botan wasn't interested in relationship. But why? Did someone break her heart? If so then why did she agree to help him with this charade? He played these questions in his head for a while but came up with no answer.
Suddenly, he jumped out of bed. If he can't find the answers himself, he would do the next best thing. He would ask Botan herself. He went to the door and locked it and put on a t-shirt since he was only wearing baggy pants. He didn't go by the door instead he jumped out of the window. He peeked in the window downstairs and saw that his mother was fast asleep on the couch. Slowly, he made his way to Botan's apartment.
The lights were off so he knew she must be sleeping. After all it was two in the morning. He glanced up and saw that her window was open. He leaped into a three branch and jumped into her room. He landed on his feet soundly. The sleeping deity was totally oblivious to her midnight visitor. He made his way to her and gently shook her awake. She mumbled something but didn't wake.
'Botan, wake up.' he whispered.
'Yusuke?' she burbled
'Yeah! It's me.'
'What do you want?'
'I want to ask you something.'
She sat up on the bed and rubbed her face before facing Yusuke. He could tell she was still sleepy.
'This better be good, Yusuke.'
Yusuke sat at the edge of the bed and eyed the girl before him. "How come I never noticed how beautiful she is?" He asked himself. "Maybe because you never pay attention." He answered himself.
'Yusuke, what is it you wanted to asked me.' Botan said again.
'Oh! Yeah, have you ever been in love with someone?'
'What?'
'I mean, have you ever felt in love with someone? Did someone break your heart?
Botan eyes him for a minute before she exploded.
'What? You mean you wake me up at two in the morning just to ask me if my heart have been broken.'
'Uh! Yeah...' he sweat dropped
Botan sighted before she responded.
'Yusuke?'
'Yes?'
'Go home.'
She lay back down in bed. He looked at her and said:
'But...'
'Yusuke, go to bed.'
'But...'
She pulled him to her and laid him beside her.
'Botan?'
'Yusuke, shut up. I want to get some sleep.'
Minutes later, he heard the even breathing of the girl beside him. He knew he should probably leave but he couldn't bring himself to do so. So he just lied beside her and felt into a peaceful sleep.
Yusuke woke up feeling something warm and soft against him. He slowly opened his eyes to stare into Botan's face. She was still asleep. Her head was nestled on the crook of his arm. Her hand rested on his chest and his hand was across her waist. Their legs were tangled together. It was such an intimate position that he found himself blushing. Her night shirt had risen up and was revealing her tights and underwear.
Yusuke couldn't believe he was seeing Botan in her underwear. He felt an uncontrollable urge to touch her. To feel her skin against his own. To see if it was as smooth as it looks. She shifted in her sleep slightly. The movement exposed more of her skin to him. He felt his blood boiled in lust. Afraid that he might do something that he might regret later, he carefully slipped out of her bed and left her apartment.
Later that day, Yusuke saw Botan at school. She was standing next to his locker. She hadn't seen him yet. He had been avoiding her all day. He had even skipped the classes he had with her. Every time he saw her couldn't help but recalled the way she looked this morning. He turned in the hall but stopped on his track as soon as he saw Keiko. All thoughts of Botan flew out of his head.
'Hey, Yusuke.' She said.
'Hi, Keiko. What's up?'
'Nothing special.'
Silence fell between them.
'Umm... Yusuke, I was wondering if you could accompany me to a party that my friend is hosting tonight?'
'Can your boyfriend go with you?'
'Oh! Yusuke, you know he is not my boyfriend.'
'Really?'
'Really. Why? Don't tell me you're jealous?'
He was jealous but he wouldn't admit that to her. He didn't want her to know that he still loved her.
'Or is it because of Botan?' she continued.
Botan? Would she mind if he accepted to go out with Keiko when he was supposedly be dating her. Then again why would she. That was the whole purpose of this charade and she had agreed to it.
'So would you go?' asked Keiko.
'Sure, I'll come.'
'Great.' With that she kissed him on the cheek and left.
He stayed there watching her for a while.
'Hey, Yusuke.' Said a cherry voice behind him.
He turned around and saw Botan. The same lusty feeling he felt this morning returned as he eyed her.
'Hey, Botan. What's up?'
'Nothing. I was just going to the mall and maybe catch a movie later. Want to come?'
Her invitation reminded him that he was going out with Keiko tonight.
'I'm sorry but I can't.'
'Why?'
'I...uhhmmm...Keiko asked me go to a party with her tonight.'
'Uh... Okay. Well, have fun.'
'So, you're not mad.'
'Why would I be mad? After all that's what you wanted right?'
'I guess.'
'Well, see you tomorrow.'
'Okay.'
He watched her before he left the school himself. Why he was expecting her to be mad at him because he was going out with Keiko? Somehow he felt disappointed.
To Be Continued...
Author's note: Please review
