Chapter X: The new student.

'Class, we have a new student.' Announced their professor. 'This is Kenny Keitu. He is a transferred student here and would be with us for the rest if the semester.'

Botan was sitting in her Advanced Chemistry class working on a class assignment when the teacher suddenly asked for their attention. He wanted to introduce the new student. Kenny Keitu was what you would call dark and handsome. He was tall and lean. He had cropped brown, an angular shape face with high cheek bone. His hazel eyes held a mysterious glare. Something about him was mystifying and appealing.

'Why don't you take a seat?' The teacher said.

'Yes, sensei.'

The way he walked was a ballet dancer, straight and graceful. When he passed next to her, their eyes met and locked. She quickly looked away and blushed. He sat down right behind her. Once the student had settled down, they all returned to their assignment.

During the rest of class, Botan was painfully aware of Kenny behind her. For some reason, she could feel him staring at her and it made her uneasy. Something about him wasn't right. She sat there rigidly, trying to focus on her work. She was so glad when the bell finally rang.

'Class, tomorrow, we would be doing a lab and you would have a research paper to do. You would be pairing in groups of two. If you want to get a head start, you can choose your own partners.' The teacher said before they all left.

She was on her way to meet Yusuke when she felt someone tapping on her shoulder. She turned around to see Kenny smiling at her.

'Hi.' She said.

'Hi, I saw you in class and I was wondering if you would like to be my partner for the lab tomorrow.

' Ummmm..sure.'

'Great. Ummmm.what's your name?'

'Oh! I'm sorry. It's Botan.'

'That's a pretty name.'

'Thank you.'

'Well, I guess I'll see you later.'

'Sure.'

He left and she went in her way. Yusuke was waiting for her outside of the school ground.

'Who was that guy you were talking to?' he asked her.

'Kenny; he's a new student in my chemistry class and also my new lab partner.'

He didn't say anything but instead he kissed her.

the next day after school, Botan and Kenny were at her apartment working on their research paper. She had invited him over so they could work on it together. He was sitting on her couch using the laptop he had brought over. She sat down on the floor reading a book. Every now and then she wrote something down in her notebook. They stayed like that for the next fifteen minutes until her cell phone rang. She picked it up and it read Yusuke. She got up and excused herself.

'Hi, babe.'

'Hey, honey. What's up?'

'Nothing. What are you doing?'

'We're working on our chemistry project.'

'We?'

'Kenny is here.'

'What?' 'I invited him over so we could work on it.'

'I see.'
A long silence felt between them. Neither knew what to say. Then finally, Yusuke spoke.

'Look I have to go.'

He hung up before she could answer. She turned off the phone and went back to the living room. He must have noticed the solemn expression on her face because her asked if she was alright.

'Yeah! I'm fine.'

'It's getting late. I have to go. I promised my mom to help with the house.'

'Sure. I'll see you tomorrow.'

After he left, Botan called Yusuke back but he wasn't answering his phone. She tried again but didn't have any luck. She gave up after the fourth try.

The first thing she did when she got to school the following morning was looking for her boyfriend. As usual, he was sitting on the roof. She walked toward him and wrapped her arms around his neck from behind.

'Why weren't you answering your phone last night?' She asked.

'That's because I didn't have it.'

'What do you mean you didn't have it?'

'I went out and forgot my phone.'

'Where did you go?'

'I went to see a movie with the guys.'

'Oh!'

'Did you finish your project last night?'

'No, we're supposed to work on it today.'

The school bell rang and they started their school day. He walked her to class. Botan and Yusuke went to her locker to get her books. Then he walked her to class. At lunch time, they met outside. Surprisingly Kuwabara was there. Normally he didn't have lunch with them because he had class that period.

'Hey, guys.'

'Hi, Kuwabara.' Said Botan.

'Are you skipping your class again, Kuwabara?'

'Look who's talking, the king of skippers. And for your info, I'm not skipping. My teacher is sick so we have this period free.'

They bought their lunch. Upon returning to their table, Botan saw Kenny. He was sitting by himself. She put her food down and went to meet him.

'Hey.' She said.

'Oh! Hello, Botan.' He smiled.

'I notice that you were sitting by yourself.'

'Well, I don't know anyone here.'

"Why don't you come sit with me and my friends?'

'Ummmm.sure.'

They returned to her table where Yusuke and Kuwabara were eating.

'Hey, guys, I want you to meet Kenny.' She said.

'This is Yusuke. He's my boyfriend. And this is Kuwabara.' She said pointing at each the guys as she identified them.

'Hi.' Both of the guys said.

'Hey, nice to meet you.'

'Same here.' Said Kuwabara.'

'Yeah!'

Botan sat down next to Yusuke while Kenny took a seat next to Kuwabara. Kenny was very talkative. It didn't take long before they were all engaged in deep conversation. Time flew and pretty soon they had to return to class.

After school, Botan and Kenny left to go to he house to finished their project. Yusuke didn't go with them. He had stayed behind saying he had something else to do and that he'll see her later.

it was almost six o'clock when Botan and Kenny finished their project. They had put together their visual presentation and also wrote their paper.

'We're all done.' She said.

'Yeah, well I better get home.'

'Sure. I'll work out.'

They walked out of the apartment and into the streets. The sun was setting and it was getting dark. They slowly walked on the sidewalk. Half way to his house, they parted ways. Botan slowly walked back home; enjoying the warm cool air.

Suddenly the quietness of the night was broken by the ringing of her cell phone. She took it out of her pocket and flipped it opened. It was Koenma.

'Hello, Koenma-sama.'

'Hey Botan. Is Yusuke with you?'

'No, did you want to talk to him?'

'Well, yes. I call his phone but he wasn't answering it. So I thought he might be with you.'

'No, he's not.'

'Well I suppose I can always tell you what I was going to tell him.'

'Sure.'

'I just received a report from Ogre. And it seems that the siren I sent you two after is dead.'

'What?'

'He was killed two days ago by shape-shifter. I sent some Rekai soldiers after him but he escape to the human world.'

'I want you and the others on this case as soon as possible.'

'Yes, sir.'

She hung up and called Yusuke. This time, he answered his phone.

'What's up, B.'

'Koenma just called. He has a new case for you.'

'But we have even finished the last one.'

'The demon we were looking for is dead. Koenma said that he was killed by a shape-shifter and that the latter had escaped to Ningenkai.'

'Did he say anything else?'

'No.'

'What are you doing right now?'

'Right now I'm standing in the middle of the street.'

'Since you're not doing anything we can hunt for demon.'

'Sure.' 'I'll pick you up in front of your apartment in five minutes.

' Okay.'

As promise, five minutes later he picked her up in front of her apartment. With nothing to go on, they searched the city with no luck. For most of the night, they looked for anything unusual. But find nothing. It almost midnight, when they returned home. He dropped her off and went to his house.

Unknown to the both of them, someone had followed them the whole time.

Author's note: that's all for this chapter. Please review.