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Love,

Wolf Princess Aya

Lasting Memories

"What is it, Father?" Kurama asked in a strained voice, confused at the king's hard expression. The queen stood coolly beside him.

"Yusuke, you go," the king commanded.

"Yes sir," Yusuke said softly, bowing and hurrying out, sending a nervous look at his friend.

"Well . . .?" Kurama asked again, looking from his father to his mother and back. Both looked calmly, back at him, though the prince could tell something was wrong.

"Are you going to answer me?" Kurama growled, slowly getting annoyed.

"Kurama, we saw," his mother said finally, staring at her son with disappointment in her eye.

"Saw . . .?" Kurama raised an eyebrow. "Saw what?"

"We saw you becoming jealous of those two servants- Koenma and Riku. And it seems to be because of their friendship with a certain maid . . .?"

Kurama turned white, and then dark red. "J- JEALOUS! Me! No-!"

"We also saw you return to the castle with her in your arms earlier today," the queen added, cold furry now shining in her dark orbs.

"We-!"

"Kurama," the king growled warningly. The prince silenced himself, still glaring.

"Kurama, to say I'm disappointed would be an understatement. For one thing, you are engaged to Hari! But to be- be fooling around with her maid! Unspeakable!"

"Mother, we're only friends-!"

"Silence!" the queen barked. "You know quite well the circumstances of this marriage, my son."

"Yes," Kurama grumbled, looking away. "I decided it, so I go through with it."

"Not only that," the king added, "but I think it's time we added a bit more to this." Kurama looked up curiously.

"If you do not marry Hari," the king said evenly, "you will lose your title, and your half of the kingdom. It will be giving to your brother, Riyouko, when it is time."

"What!" Kurama cried, "That is-!"

"It is decided!" the king bellowed over his son. Kurama glared daggers at his parents, and they stared coolly back.

"And now, my son," his mother said smoothly after a few moments, sending her son an apologetic expression, "to your room. You know what night it is."

"Yes mother," Kurama grumbled, stomping away towards his room. Curse them; curse them and their opinions. There was no way he was going to have them stop him.

Wasn't he?

Botan hummed as she dusted Kurama's room, fluffed pillows, and straightened pictures. 'Honestly, this place is a total pig sty!' Botan thought to herself as she opened Kurama's half of the closet and watched tons of useless junk- and a lot of hats- fall out of it.

'Gods, you'd think Hari would be on his case a little- what's this?' she thought curiously, as her hands and eyes found a well kept peasants robe hidden in the back of the closet, covered by other garments and items.

'Haven't I seen this outfit before . . .?' Botan thought, running the fabric through her fingers. There was a noise outside the door. Quickly throwing the outfit back inside the closet, she whipped around, and found herself staring at Kurama.

"Wha-? Botan?" the prince asked, closing the door behind him. "What are you . . .?"

"I was ordered to clean up your room for you," Botan smirked, gesturing at all the junk on the floor. "Honestly, you'd think you'd be a bit neater, being a prince and all. . ."

Kurama managed a weak smile back. "Of course." He sighed, walked over to his bed, and fell back on it with another large sigh. Botan watched him with a look of concern and curiosity. He hadn't even had a sarcastic remark to throw back at her.

"Are you okay?" Botan asked, sitting next to the prince, who was now rubbing his temples tiredly on the large, feather bed- now complete with a pink comforter, thanks to Hari.

"Mnmmn." he groaned. "No."

"What's wrong?"

"You remember Riyouko?"

"Your half brother? Yeah. . ."

"Well, if I don't marry Hari, I get kicked off the throne and my dear older brother takes over."

"What?" Botan exclaimed, looking disbelievingly at Kurama. "No!"

"Yep."

"I- wait. Why wouldn't you marry Hari?" Botan asked suddenly.

Kurama blushed. "My parents saw us together, and assumed. . ."

"Ah," Botan replied quickly, also turning red. They sat in a moment of silence.

"And that's not all. . ." Kurama sighed a few moments later.

"What's not all?"

"Riyouko. Tonight is the new moon. Another reason I'm in a great mood."

"What's so bad about the new moon?" Botan asked, looking outside. A few hours had past since they had returned, and twilight was settling in.

"Come back in a few hours," Kurama sighed again, "and you'll see." Botan looked sadly at the distressed Kurama. 'There has to be something I can do to cheer him up. . .' she though, biting her lip, 'after all he's done for me. . .'

Looking out the window and into the bustling city street, an idea hit her. Smiling, she turned back to Kurama and leapt on the bed next to him, sending him flying to a sitting position.

"I know how to cheer you up!" Botan smiled as the prince looked at her exasperatedly.

"Really now? And how do you plan to do that?" he asked dryly as Botan raced over to his closet and took out the peasant robes.

"Put this on," Botan smiled, "and I'll come back at dusk!" With that, she left a confused Kurama sitting alone in his room, holding his infamous peasant robes in surprise.

Sorry about not updating but now I am! Stress is upon my shoulder at the moment so be patient.

I really need an idea about Hiei or I might just put him in myself.

Please expect more YYH fanfic or sometimes check if I have written an IY fanfic.

JA!

Aya-chan