Dear Readers,

Another chapter has arrived!

Love,

Wolf Princess Aya

Lasting Memories

Botan awoke in a coughing fit the next morning, unable to breathe normally, her lungs feelings as if they were being held and never let go. As the hacking subsided, she noticed a liberal amount of blood in her palm. With a blank stare down at her hand, she threw her legs over her bed and stood up, wincing in sudden pain.

Hari, she thought weakly. 'Kurama.' she trembled, sobs welling up inside her, 'I don't know how long I can take this. . .'

Sniveling, the maid got painfully down on her knees and fingered under the bed, retrieving the necklace and, with wavering fingers, put it on. Then she turned to her bedside table, where there was a note. Picking it up, she noticed briefly that her blood quickly stained the parchment.

Good morning, Mitsukai!

Here's to hoping today's a nice day! Maybe we can do something tonight. Is that festival going on again? I really miss eating those noodles. It was ramen, correct?

I'm still wearing the rosary, and I hope you're wearing the Shikon! It looked radiant on you. Do you think I should have bought something for Hari? But no- then she would have known I went out. You know, Mitsukai- I just can't talk to her like I can to you. Maybe it's because she's so busy planning or whatever, but still. . .

Anyway, I'll see you after breakfast, okay? Maybe we can talk that idiot Riku into making elephant ears for dinner or something!

See you soon!

-Kurama

A sole crystal tear fell on the letter, soon followed by another.

And the tears continued to fall until the ink was so smudged and the letter was so soggy that it was becoming hard to read. Quickly storing it under her bed so she could read it again later, Botan sobbed into her pillow.

'Oh Kurama,' she thought, biting her lip as the tears streamed down her eyes, 'what am I going to do?'

Kurama watched curiously as Botan silently poured him orange juice. He knew something was wrong. There were three major things wrong with this picture.

One, Botan hadn't said anything to him- or even smiled- when she came in. Two, she was covering her face with her hand and a shawl. Three, she was serving him orange juice. Ever since their first game of One Question, she had always made sure to specially serve him grape juice.

What was going on?

"Are you okay?" he whispered to her as she passed by. But she said nothing, tightening the shawl with her free hand.

'Botan.' Kurama thought, as she walked quickly out of the room, 'what's wrong?' But he a strong feeling she wouldn't tell him. He was right.

She didn't show up at the garden after breakfast. She wasn't in the halls or in her room. Or even with those idiots Koenma and Riku- who, to his great displeasure, had still been making repeated passes at her.Where was she? Was she all right? What was wrong? He found these questions circling in his mind, among all his worries already. Searching through the halls again, the prince perked his ears, listening for her foot steps.

But he heard nothing. He tried to find her scent, but it wasn't there either. Racing down the halls, Kurama checked every room, searched every hall, glanced out every window-

But it was like she had disappeared.

To where, he didn't know. But he was determined to find out.

She was at Kurama's beach. Sitting in the tree that containing the hammock, the maid looked out at the eternal water, her shawl still wrapped tight around her black and blue, scarred face. The wind was blowing, and this morning's cheerful sun was slowly beginning to hide behind darker summer storm clouds.

It's a pity I learned how to swim, the girl thought, emotionlessly, as she looked down at the churning depths of the lake. Or I could have drowned myself.

You could still try, a voice in her head urged. That would show them!

Show them what? Another voice thought dryly, That she was a fool that couldn't balance in a tree?

No- - - that they were all idiots for not paying more attention!

As if they'd care.

They would. I think.

Botan banged her head against the tree once to clear her mind of these pointless voices. It worked.

Sighing and flopping back against the trunk, she was loosening her shawl so she could breathe when the wind got harder- And wrenched it from her hands.

"Oh!" she exclaimed as the thin piece of fabric flew into the lake before she could grab it. "Wait . . .!"

Sighing, she crawled out of the tree, watching as the fabric floated out to freedom on the lake. Might as well head back to the palace, she thought sadly. I'll grab a new one before anyone can see me, and before my afternoon chores begin.

Kurama came to a screeching halt as he ran through the halls. That was Botan he saw out there! Running to the window, he took a closer look.

Yes, it was Botan! Even though her whipping hair was hiding her face, there was no one else it could be.

"Botan!" he called out the window, before leaping out of it. Falling four stories and landing in a graceful, cat like fashion, and the prince ran up to the now terrified maid, who was clutching her face with her hands.

"Where were you!" he asked, gently annoyed, as he stepped in front of her so she couldn't run away. "I was…" he stopped himself from saying he was worried… "You promised to be in the gardens!"

"Something came up," Botan whimpered, trying to run away again, but Kurama grabbed her arm. "Please let go," she pleaded desperately, tugging her arm away while still hiding her face.

"No," the prince replied, becoming enraged, "You didn't talk to me at breakfast either! It's almost like you're avoiding me- and why are you hiding your face like that!"

"Let go," Botan whispered. Through the gap in her fingers, Kurama could see her eyes welling up with tears. "Just let go of me. . ."

"No," Kurama frowned, lowering his voice. "Not until you tell me what's wrong!"

"I can't. . ." she cried, tugging a little harder now.

"Tell me!"

"I can't!"

"What won't you talk to me!" She simply let the tears fall down her face."Botan, this is so pointless! If you're not going to tell me what the matter is, I may as well just leave!"

"Please . . . leave. . ." the maid whimpered, tears streaming down her fingers. "Leave me alone. . ." Kurama glared down at her, causing her to back away slightly. "Just go. . ."And he did. Letting go of her arm with a cold look in his eye, he turned around on his heel and stomped back to the entrance of the castle. And back inside.

Falling onto her knees, Botan put a trembling hand under her collar, grabbing her necklace. Looking at the pendant, her face contorted in a look of pure pain. With a cry, she slammed it to the ground, shattering the diamond to pieces.

Realizing what she had done, Botan broke down, sobbing into her hands.

It was over.

It was all over.

No, it's not really over.

We're only getting to the good part!

But wasn't that sad. Damn Hari!

Anyways, I have a new story 'Over the Sunset' and 'Rose' so please read and review!

And a special shout to my greatest supporter, l-Steph-chan-l who always reviews!

Anyhow, JA!

-Luna