Chapter IX: Picnic and festival.

The following Monday Botan and Yusuke went back to school. Botan was feeling a little bit tired. They had stayed at the beach for what seem like hours last night just talking. When they had finally left and went home, it was almost midnight. They had crawled into bed as soon as they arrived. They both woke up at five thirty. Yusuke had to go home and change for school.

In her first three classes, Botan had barely been able to keep her eyes open. She sat in her classes but hardly heard anything the teachers said. Thank goodness, her next class was lunch. She half dragged herself outside and dropped down on the bench next to Yusuke.

'Are you okay?' he asked.

'Yeah! I'm just a little tired.'

'Maybe you should go home after school.'

'I can't. I have volleyball practice after school.'

Botan was currently enrolled in the school's volleyball team. She had tried out three weeks ago and she was accepted. She was pretty good at it and so was Keiko. She was also in the team and she was pretty mad at Botan. According to her, Botan was trying to steal her life. First, she had stolen her man and now her team. Not that Botan cared. As far as she was concerned, Yusuke was hers.

'Can you skip practice?'

'No, I can't. I have a game next Saturday.'

'Do you have too practice? You looked pale and beside, you're already good at the game.'

'Have you ever heard the saying, "Practice make perfect."'

'That might be but I don't want you passing put in public.'

'I won't.'

After school, Botan stayed while Yusuke went home promising to pick her up after practice. When he got home, his mom and some friends of hers were there. Since he didn't want to talk to them, he went straight to his room and closed the door behind her. He dropped his backpack on the floor and lay down on the bed. Fifteen minutes later, he was fast asleep

. Botan was waiting for him outside when he picked her up. She looked so tired that he was afraid she might be sick. Its thing there was no school tomorrow. When the got to her apartment, he took her backpack and carried inside. Botan felt physically drained. She hadn't got enough sleep last night and all that practice didn't help either. She rested her head against Yusuke's shoulder as he carried her inside. Once inside, he dropped her bag on the couch and carried her to bedroom.

'It's bedtime for you.'

'I can't go to sleep right now.'

'Why not?'

'I have to take a shower. I have tons of homework to do and I'm starving.'

'We don't have school tomorrow so you don't have to do your homework. What you need to do is sleep.'

'But I'm hungry and I absolutely have to take a shower.'

'You can do that. And while you're at it, I'll order some pizza.'

'Great.'

He set her down on her feet and disappeared in the kitchen. Botan quickly got undressed and headed toward the bathroom. After her hot shower, she felt much better. She threw on a sweats and spaghetti strap t-shirt. She put on her socks and went in the living-room. Yusuke was sitting on the couch surfing the channels. She went to him and crawled on his laps.

'Feeling better?'

'A little.'

'The pizza should be here shortly.'

'Okay.'

A few minutes passed then the door bell rang.

'I'll get it.'

She got off his laps and he answered the door. He came back later with a box and set it in front of her. He had ordered her favorite pizza. Chicken, broccoli and tomatoes. She happily ate it and drank some apple juice. After she was done, he cleaned up after her. He sat back down next to her and she went back in his arms to fall asleep moments later.

Yusuke looked down at the sleeping beauty in his arms and thought how lucky he was to have her. She was so beautiful, so sweet, and so caring. Since he started going out with her, his life was perfect. She made him so happy and complete. His feelings for her were growing and he didn't want to repress them. He got up from the couch and brought her to bed. He laid her down before settling next to her. He brushed her bangs off her face and kissed her cheeks.

'I'm falling in love with you, Botan.' He whispered.

Sunlight filtered through the curtains bathing the two sleeping lovers with its golden warmth. It was still early in the morning. The only noise was the birds dinging outside. Yusuke was the first to wake up. He rolled on his side to face his lover. She looked so beautiful. He remembered when they first met, he told her she was too pretty to be the grim reaper and he was right. She looked more like an angel then the deity of death.

Since they didn't have school today, he decided to let her sleep some more. He got off from the bed and went to the kitchen. He opened the fridge and took out some ingredients. He wanted to wake her up with a wonderful breakfast. He sat the stuffs on the counter and started to chop some vegetables.

Botan woke up to the most wonderful smell. She wondered what it was. She got up from the bed and went to the bathroom. She brushed her teeth and washed her face. She went to the kitchen where Yusuke obviously was cooking something. He turned around when he heard her coming.

'Good morning.' He said.

'Morning. What are you cooking?'

'You'll see.'

'Do you need some help?'

'Sure, would you like to set the table for me?'

'Sure.'

She opened the cupboard and took out two glasses then went to the fridge and took out some yogurt, fruits and juice. She set them all on the table and sat down waiting for him to finish. Five minutes later. He presented her a plate of omelet and cheese filled with tomatoes and mushrooms. Just the way she said she like it.

'Well, taste it.'

She took a fork and cut a small piece of egg and put it in her mouth. Surprisingly, it tasted absolutely delicious.

'So?'

'It's good.'

'Really?' he asked, tasting it himself.

'I didn't know you could cook this delicious.' She said.

'Neither did I.'

Breakfast passed quickly. They took a shower and get dressed. Since they didn't make any plans for the day, they just stayed home. It was almost noon, when Botan got a phone call. It was Shizuru.

'Hey, Shizuru- chan, what's up?'

'Hey, B. I'm having a picnic today and I was wondering if you guys would like to come. I already Kurama and he said he'll bring Hiei. Yukina is already here. So that left you and Yusuke.'

'What time is the picnic?'

'In an hour.'

'Sure, we'll come.'

'Great.' '

Would you like for us to bring anything?'

'Sure. If you could make that little dessert for us that would be awesome.'

'I'll make it.'

'Thanks.' 'See you in a little while.'

'Hai, ja ne.'

She hung up the phone. Yusuke was still sitting in the living flipping through a motocross magazine. She sat down next to him and kissed him on the cheeks.

'What's up?' he asked.

'Shizuru is having a picnic and she invited us. So would you go?'

'Sure.'

'Thanks.'

Before they left, Botan made the dessert which actually was pieces of chocolate brownie mixed with whipped cream. She also brought ice cream for Hiei. She put them in a basket. She retrieved a sweater in the bedroom since it was a little bit chilly outside.

'You're ready to go?' he asked her.

'Yeah!'

When they got to the park, most of their friends were there even Koenma. Hiei was helping Shizuru with the picnic blanket while Kurama and Kuwabara brought over the food. 'Hi, guys.' They both said.

Everyone said hello and conversed among themselves. Shizuru finished with the preparation and everyone gathered around. Botan took out the dessert and handed Hiei the ice cream.

'How come he has a special treat and we don't?' Kuwabara complained.

'Yeah?' Koenma echoed.

'That's because he doesn't like my dessert.' She said.

'If you're done with your complaints, we can eat.'

Everyone nodded in agreement. Everyone except Hiei who was shoveling down his ice cream. To everyone's surprises, Shizuru had made their favorites. They happily shoved down their lunch then moved on to dessert. It wasn't before long they were all stuffed. They each found a place to sit and digested their food.

Koenma and Shizuru were sitting together under the shade of a tree observing Botan and her boyfriend. Koenma knew how much Botan adored her lover and him vice versa. He always thought of Botan as a sister and sometimes worried that her job might make her a little cold but he had seen how in love she was with Yusuke. He was really glad that she had finally found someone to love.

'He is in love with her.' He said.

'Yup, even though he is denying it.' Shizuru answered.

Yusuke dropped Botan home before he went home. They had made plans to go to the amusement park. When she got home, she decided to her homework to kill time. She didn't have much to do except writing an essay for Writing Workshop. It took her about forty-five minutes to finish. Finish with her homework, she rested her head against the arm chair and fell asleep. Hours later, a knock on the door woke her up. She was still dazed form her sleep. She opened the door to see Yusuke standing there.

'Hey, sleepy head.'

She mumbled and stepped out of the way. She went straight to her bathroom and took a shower. She dressed in form-fitting blue jeans and a white t-shirt. She wore sneakers to complete her outfit. She brushed her hair and put it up in a ponytail. Yusuke was sitting on the couch when she came out.

'Okay, I'm ready to go.'

'You know if you want to stay here and sleep. I'll understand.'

'No, I want to go to the park. There should be a festival tonight.'

He stood in front of her and released her bound hair.

'Why did you do that for?'

'You look more beautiful with your hair down.'

She blushed and he kissed her. The kiss was sweet yet lustful and passionate.

'Let's get out of here before I hauled you back to bed.' He growled.

She giggled.

It was quite warm outside.

When they got to the park, they went straight to the roller coaster. That night they had so much fun. They tried all kinds of game and do all kind of stuff. When they got tired, they returned home. Yusuke kissed her goodnight before he left. She entered her apartment and locked the door and got ready for bed.

Author's note: I thank those of you who left me a review and I really appreciate it. And for others, who read my fic, please review. I really want to know what you think of it. Thank you. '