Chapter XVIII: Painful separation
The next day, Botan was cleaning out Yusuke's room for Ayame. She removed all the clothes and personal items that he kept in there. She then changed the sheets on the bed and rearranged the furniture, giving the room a feminine look. She wanted to make sure that Ayame was comfortable during her stay in Ningenkai. She opened the shades letting the sun light in. checking her watch, she realized that she had enough time to run to the store and buy some food.
Botan out on her coat and run outside. It was snowing. It started snowing early this morning. Botan loved snow, mainly because it never happens in Rekai. At the store, she got the stuff she needed and hurried back to her apartment. She put away the groceries then decided to call her boyfriend. He answered on the third ring.
"Hi, love." She said.
"Hi babe, what's up?"
"I'm fine. I was wondering if you had plans for us today."
"Not really. Kuwabara wanted us to go see a movie with him and Yukina. So would you like to go?"
"Sure, would they mind if I bring Ayame along?"
"I don't think so."
"Then that would be fine."
"Great. The movie is at eight. I'll pick both of you up."
"Won't I see you before that?"
"I can over an hour early."
"That would great."
"Okay then, I'll see you later."
"Alright, I love you."
"Love you, too."
She hung up and sat down on the couch. Five seconds later, the door bell rang. "Maybe, that's Ayame." She thought. She left the room to answer the door. Instead of the friendly face of her friend, she found Koenma. He was dressed casually in his teenage form.
"Where's Ayame?" she asked.
"She won't be coming."
"What do you mean?"
"That's what I'm here to talk to you about. Mind if I come in."
"Sorry."
She stepped inside and let him in the living room. He took a seat and she did the same.
"So why isn't Ayame coming?" she asked.
"A few nights ago, there was a break in Rekai's vaults. A few items were stolen. They don't have any importance but we don't want that to repeat again."
"What does that have to do with Ayame coming here?"
"My father suspected that someone who had access to Rekai was helping the thieves."
"And you suspected that Ayame was that someone? How could you?"
"I didn't say that. My father ordered all the ferry girls back in Rekai until we found who the culprit is. That's why I'm here."
"What?"
'I'm here to bring you back, Botan."
"But you said I could stay here for as long as I want."
"I know what I said and I'm sorry.. But you know I have to follow father's orders. And you're part of Rekai, too"
"But Yusuke..."
"Look, I know it's not easy..."
"You don't know anything. You never love anyone but yourself."
"Botan..."
"When do I have to come back?"
He sight in defeat. He knew he couldn't reason with her while she was angry at him.
"You need to be back by tomorrow."
"Fine. I'll be there."
Koenma opened his mouth but closed. He knew Botan wouldn't listen to him. And he was glad Yusuke wasn't here either or he would have been in major trouble with the spirit detective.
Botan stood in the middle of her apartment on the verge of tears. Even though she loved Rekai, she didn't want to go back, at least not yet. She didn't want to leave Yusuke. Not right now, she loved him too much. She didn't know what she was going to say to him when she saw him later. At least she had a few hours before she has to tell him the news.
Yusuke was coming back from his training with Genkai. He was so tired. It's been a month since he started training with Genkai. And everyday, training was getting harder and harder. But it was all worth it. All his hard work was paying off. His spirit energy had increased dramatically and his strength was three time what it was before. Not that he was complaining.
Before he went to see Botan, he stopped by his house and took a quick shower. After his shower, he got dressed. On his way downstairs, he met with his mother.
"Hi, mom, I'm going out for a while."
"Yusuke, honey, can I talk to you for a minute?"
"Uhhmmmm....sure. What's up?"
"I just got a phone call from your principle."
"I swear whatever it is, I didn't do it."
"Calm down, honey, you didn't do anything."
"Oh! Then why did he call?"
"The principal called to tell me to congratulate you. He said that you haven't been in a fight for over a month and that even your school-work has improved."
"Oh!"
"So what brought this change about?"
"Gee, mom, I though you will be proud."
"I am but I'm just worried about you. You have been on your best behavior lately. It's downright scary."
"So you rather like it when I get into fight and skips school."
"Well, at least I can predict what you're going to do but when you act like you do now, I have no idea what to expect."
"Well, I have to go. I'm meeting Botan. We're going to see a movie."
"Botan? ...that's it."
"What's it?"
"You've been acting like that since you started going out with Botan."
"I...guess."
"Could it be that Botan had managed to put a leach on you?"
He blushed.
"Botan had managed to tame you in just a few months. Something I've been trying to do for eighteen years."
His blush deepened and his mother laughed.
"Tell you what. You keep out of trouble and keep your grades up. I promise to stop drinking so much."
"Really."
"Really, if you can change so can I."
"I don't want you to change. Just take better care of yourself."
"From now on, I promise to try."
"That's all I ask. I love you, mom."
"I love you too, Yusuke. I'm sorry I haven't been a good mother to you."
"I forgive you. I'm sure you'll do better in the future."
She hugged him and he left. "Well, that was unexpected but definitely not unwanted. Let just see if we can keep this bargain of ours." He thought.
It was cold outside and it was still snowing lightly. He couldn't wait to see Botan and tell her what happen with his mother. He knew that it was weird but he wanted to share every details of his life with her, no matter how trivial it was. He wanted to be her every minute, every hour, even though that was impossible, he yearned for it. He yearned for her. The smile he's been wearing for the last few minutes vanished when he arrived at Botan's apartment. She was lying on the couch like she was in pain. He knelt in front of her and brushed her hair of her face. She opened her eyes when he touched her.
"Yusuke...?" She whispered.
"Baby, are you okay?" He whispered.
"Oh! Yusuke, it's terrible." She started crying.
He pulled her to him and she buried her head in his chest.
"What's wrong, baby? Tell me."
"I...I..."
"You what?"
"I have to go back to Rekai."
"What? Why?"
"Koenma...he came here and...and...told me."
"But why?"
"He said that they needed all the ferries back in Rekai because there was a break in."
"Why do you have to leave because of that?"
"His father's orders and we have to follow them."
"Damn."
"I'm sorry, love. I really want to stay here with you."
"Then stay."
"You know I can't do that. If I disobey Lord Enma's orders, we will both be punished."
"Screw him."
"I wish."
"So when do you have to leave?"
"Tomorrow."
He gently pulled her off the couch and sat down next to her. She in turn straddled him and wrapped her arms around his neck. She kissed him.
"I'm going to miss you so much." She said.
"Me too, it won't be the same without you here."
"I'll come and visit."
"I know but I act better when you're here."
"You do?"
"Yeah, my mom seems to think so. She said that you put a leach on me."
"Come to think of it, you have changed a lot. Why?"
"Because I want to be good for you. I want to give you everything you want."
"I have you. That's all I want."
He hugged her again.
"Do you want to go out?"
"No, I rather stay here with you and show you just how much I'm going to miss you."
One look and he knew what she meant and he was more than happy to comply. Botan woke early in the morning. The sun was already up. She glanced at her clock. It was seven thirty. She tried to stretch but she didn't have enough room. She was wrapped in her lover's arm tightly. Even in his sleep, he was holding on to her. He didn't want her to leave. She smiled at the gesture. Her smile grew even wider as she remembered last night heaven. If she had any doubt in her mind that Yusuke truly love her. They were completely gone now. Last night had been pure heaven, total bliss. They had made love countless time before but last night was different. It was like they had made love for the first time. The way he held her afterward made her fell in love with him all over again. But now she had to leave. She hadn't even left yet but she already miss him.
She slowly slipped out of the comfort of his arms and went to the bathroom. She took a quick shower then got dress in her pink kimono. She sat down on the edge of the bed where Yusuke was still sleeping peacefully. She caressed his bangs off his beautiful face and kissed his forehead.
"Mmmmm..." He sighed.
"I have to leave."
"No stay."
"I'll see you as soon as I can."
He sat up and looked her sadly.
"You promise?"
"I promised. I love you."
"I love you, too."
They kissed longingly. They didn't want to part but fate was known to be cruel.
"Come see me soon."
"I will."
The moment Botan's feet touched the ground; she felt that something was wrong. She couldn't tell exactly what but she could feel it. The feeling of coming home was absent. She brushed the thought aside telling herself that's because she didn't want to be home. She signed her name in and went to her room. Two minutes later, she was called to Koenma's office. She sighed. She really didn't want to see Koenma right now. She was still angry with him for separating from her lover. As mad as she was, she went to the office nonetheless.
"You wanted to see me, Koenma-sama."
"Yes, please sit down."
She took the sit across him. She said nothing instead stared into nothingness.
"Look, Botan, I'm really sorry about this."
"If you're so sorry why don't you let me leave this place?"
"I wish I could."
"But why? I wasn't even here when the robbery happened."
"I told you before you're part of Rekai."
"Then make me human."
"Would you really leave if I did?"
"Why not. If being here is only getting me accused for something I wasn't even aware of, then yes. I would leave in a heartbeat."
"I didn't know you feel that way about Rekai. I thought you like here."
"I do but I like being with Yusuke, too."
"Does he mean that much to you?"
"Much more than that."
"I wish there was something I could do. You know I wouldn't do anything to hurt you, Botan. You're like a sister to me."
"I know. I'm sorry I snapped at you."
"I understand. I'm sure I would have done the same in your place."
"Thanks."
"Don't mention it. Now here's a list of people you need to ferry today."
She scrutinized the list and frown.
"There are all in Mekai. I usually ferry souls in Ningenkai."
"I know if you had got here sooner you would have got one but I'm afraid all the people in Ningenkai are already taken."
"Great."
"You just have to do this for a while."
"Fine."
She got up and left. Botan summoned her oar and was about to take off when she heard her name being called.
"Botan?" Said a voice that she never heard before.
She turned her head to look upon the figure before her. Since she had never met her before, she assumed that she was Koenma's betrothed. The girl was slender and was as tall as Botan. Long brown hair that spilled over her shoulders. She had bid brown eyes with a heart-shape mouth and small noise. She was fairly pretty.
"You are Botan, right?"
"Who wants to know?"
Botan knew she was being rude but she didn't care. Something about her seems familiar but she could have sworn that she never met her before. And that didn't settle well with her. And she'll be damned if she didn't found out why.
Author's note: Please review...
