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The sun had melted the last of the snow. Botan noticed this as she opened the curtains to let the warm sunlight in. She let out a small sigh. She couldn't help but miss Youko's complaint of having to wake up earlier than needed.
She bit her lip. 'Maybe I was too harsh with him. I shouldn't have exploded like that…I wish I could take it back.' Her thoughts went back to the dance prior to the incident with Matsuo. Youko had been in his crimson-haired teen form. He had held her gently…much more gently than was to be expected of the usually harsh-tempered kitsune.
Unconsciously, her cheeks flushed in memory of what he had said to her.
'You look like a jewel!'
But even so…he can't have been completely perfect. After all, his timing wasn't the best…
The deity quickly shook her head to clear the romantic thoughts that began to form in her mind. Her heart was beginning to beat at a fast tempo.
'Don't be so fickle, Botan! Two weeks ago you're ogling over Matsuo's looks and now Youko?' she berated herself. She sighed. It had been over two weeks ago when the dance was abruptly ended in a bad memory…but it felt like it had been years, not weeks. She hugged herself tightly as if to block out anymore girlish desires for the gorgeous fox demon. She bowed her head.
'I miss Touya…he would always make me feel better even if Risho was acting like a big jerk.'
Her memory ached for the reminder of Touya's ice blue eyes full of sympathy for her suffering…the velvety voice that could penetrate the worst of her anger and make her feel comfortable. Who said that the Master of Ice had to be cold-hearted? He had been the exact opposite to her.
'Is it getting cold in here or is it just my imagination?' she thought to herself. In amazement, she watched her breath escape her lips in a white puff.
With amethyst eyes opened wide, she looked around the house to search for what had happened. She checked the thermostat. It remained on the temperature she had set it on yet the room was rapidly growing colder. She breathed in sharply. The sudden cold was oddly familiar…
She gasped in sudden realization. It couldn't be true…but it simply had to be true. Touya was somewhere very close. She looked around, half expecting the shinobi to walk in.
"Remember…you have a purpose to fulfill…"
Botan jerked at the sound. "My purpose? Do I have to?"
"If you want a home to return to then you must complete it."
She sighed sadly. "Okay, okay…"
The cold ebbed away as if satisfied with what it had done.
He was only a few meters away from the house. He stared uncertainly at it, trying to come up with the proper method to beg for Botan's forgiveness. His silver tail swished as he thought.
'What could I say to her? I can't kiss up to her…she'll think that I'm only trying to get something from her as that filthy human did.'
He growled, both at himself and at Matsuo. If he had killed Botan instead of wanting to toy with her emotions, the deity's charm wouldn't have manipulated him. If he hadn't been too hasty in telling her his feelings…if the bastard Matsuo hadn't become jealous or tried to rape her… Youko was almost positive that he would have been able to bless the deity's flesh with his lips if Matsuo hadn't interfered.
Thinking about him almost made the fox demon want to kill Matsuo again…if it was possible, he would die repeatedly until the message was encoded deep into Matsuo's delicate mind.
The fox demon felt his blood pulse in his veins, filling him with the demonic need to kill as an outlet for his anger…but that would need to be resisted. There were far more important things than killing. He blinked at that thought. He would've never thought it possible to have a more desperate need than a good kill.
'Should I get on bended knee and beg for forgiveness? That would be degrading…then again it might work…but if she declines it would only create an abyss in my heart.' He gazed longingly at the house. 'Only she will be capable of filling this abyss.'
He was barely conscious of his legs taking him to the house. As he stood before the wooden door, he felt himself panic—an emotion he hadn't felt since he was a newly born fox, cast away from his mother's warmth. He scratched at the door. He didn't know to use the doorbell or knock.
The door opened.
Amethyst eyes were full of an angry fire, flames aimed at the fox demon. "What do you want," she said in a low whisper.
"To…to ask for your forgiveness." His amber eyes cast downward to symbolize that he was lowering his level…that she was now the one with the full power.
Botan blinked, the fire fading away. "It's…it's okay…I know I should still be mad at you, but I probably over reacted some that night." She held out her hand for Youko to take.
Surprised by his good fortune, Youko was only able to stare at the hand in disbelief. "Just like that?" he said. "You aren't going to let me suffer?" The amber eyes flickered upward to take in the faint smile that played at the deity's lips.
"Well…if that's what you want, then I'll guess I'll just let you do that." She smirked and began to close the door.
"No…I didn't meant that I felt the need to suffer…" He stumbled over his words. Within his mind, he berated himself for not knowing what to say.
Botan opened the door all the way. "I know that. I was teasing you. You can come in if you want."
Youko walked in. As was his habit, he fell into a protective couch, searching for any signs of danger with his senses.
"I missed you," Botan admitted. She gazed at the fox demon. His silver hair shimmered in the light as he turned his head to gape at her. "I never thought that I would, but I actually missed your griping."
Her amethyst eyes were full of warmth…a hypnotic warmth that was beginning to seep into the fox spirit's stomach. He crawled toward her as a beaten and unwanted dog would to a person who was offering food—he was uncertain, but at the same time, he wanted to come towards her.
"You missed me? You can't mean that. I killed your mate…doesn't that make you want to kill me?" Youko said in astonishment.
"Who? You killed Matsuo?"
"Yes."
"I-I guess he deserved it. He never seemed to care about what I wanted. He only cared about what he wanted and what everyone else thought about him. But not me…he only saw me as…as a toy, I guess."
Youko crouched a few feet from her. Botan giggled. "You aren't scared of me, are you? Don't be such a chicken!" She scratched behind the kitsune ears.
A purr escaped his lips. He nuzzled her hand. He met her eyes and saw her blush.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Nothing…it's just…strange to feel attracted to a heartless pig like you."
"Pig?" Youko sputtered indignantly. "Heartless? What kind of woman are you?" He gazed at her in stunned amazement.
"And what exactly is that supposed to mean?"
"You're the only female with the courage to be this close to me…without having to be manipulated." He stood got to his feet. "You're different…" he completed lamely. He cupped her chin, running his thumb lightly across her lips. "But…" He spoke in a whisper now. "It's why I love you. I know it is sudden, and I know that you maybe not care for me in return…"
"I do care for you. If I didn't, I wouldn't let you come in the house."
Youko smiled and kissed her tenderly. His arms wrapped around her, pressing her tightly against him. His fingertips ran down her back. Botan buried her hands into the silver mane. The silky tresses fell around her fingers. It had only been a dream to be allowed to stroke the glossy silver hair.
"I don't want you to feel like this will be like the time Matsuo…you know…" Youko murmured.
"I know, and I don't."
(Hopefully you get the idea of where this was going…=^.^=' )
Botan opened her eyes. She sat up slightly and grabbed a silk robe from the floor. She put it on and looked back on the bed where Youko slept, curled into a ball. She smiled and gazed at him lovingly. She now had him in her clutches. Touya would be pleased.
"Good…the first phase of the plans have been complete…"
A sudden chill accompanied the whisper.
Botan nodded in agreement.
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Here's the people who reviewed last chapter in their respective orders! This week's acknowledgement goody is cookies!
~~miyako14: First person to review! I had to kill Matsuo. He definitely deserved it! Thanks for your review! This week's treat is cookies! Take your pick!
~~Moonlite Goddess: I absolutely agree with Matsuo having to die. Of course I coulda let him live to see how he'd react to Botan supposedly dating Suichi….but killing him was more fun! Does that sound too evil…? Have a cookie!
~~ Lifeless-Kanna: I updated! Don't worry! Thanks for your review! Take a cookie—any kind you like.
~~Eun-Jung: Ack! Don't die waiting for more! Here's another chapter! J/k! I know it was short but I kinda got stuck. I didn't want to get ahead of myself! ^.^ Would you care for a cookie?
~~Tesina Gela Gardner: Here's another chapter that was hopefully fluffy enough! Here's a cookie while you wait for more.
~~Mourning Fox: You being violent for being happy that Matsuo's dead? Nothing wrong with wanting him dead. Now, I would have to be mental since I wrote it. Well, here's a cookie anyway!
~~KuramaandHiei4ever: You want fluff? I'll give you fluff! * shoves cotton balls @ u * j/k. He returned to his true love as you can see…did anyone catch the foreshadowing last chapter and this chapter? * sigh * oh well. Here's a cookie.
~~Botan and Kurama lover: I know killing Matsuo wasn't nice, but he did deserve it. You shouldn't be pessimistic. Your fics are good! There's a lot of people out there who just need to be shot because of their crummy fics but you didn't hear that from me! Don't worry, I'll try to take my time. If I rush things, what good will it be? Besides, cliffies are fun and I like foreshadowing! If someone catches it of course… Here's a cookie!
~~Dark Raxiel: Your English seems pretty good for a review! And you must understand a lot to read my fic! At least you know English! A lot of the Hispanics at my school that don't know English don't want to learn it for some reason. No prob! You'll have to see what happens! * wink * Cookie anyone?
~~kawaii Rikku-chan: As you can see, Botan over comes the anger at Youko. Who can resist that face…* smiles * Thanks for your review and have a fresh cookie!
~~orange09: Thanks for the complements and the review! Don't worry! Touya will be there soon! And a twist will ensue! Wait for the twist and the next chapter while you munch on a yummy cookie!
~~Tyedye/Rin: Tsk Tsk Tsk, it's always about the reviewers. They want this, then that! Just joking! I enjoy reviewers having something to say. Sometimes their questions give me ideas! If you kill me about not updating, you can't get another chapter anyway. So torture will have to do…erm…nevermind…I DIDN'T SAY THAT! Here, have a cookie instead of trying to kill me!
~~Volpone: OMG! You're one of the few KuramaxBotan geniuses out there! And you're here reviewing one of my stories? It's so nice of you! * sniffs * My YoukoxBotan fic is nothing compared to yours! You write things I could never think of! You're one of my idols! Okay…I'm sure you hear that a lot so my drivel will bore you. As to your review, I know the characters are a little OOC. Botan's a little stronger than she seems to be than in the anime and Youko has mushy-gushy feelings when he should kill Botan…like he was hired to do… But it'll all work out in the end along with a nice fancy twist that I'll work into it! I'm thrilled that you think my drivel is good! Thanks for your review! Here's a cookie for your review!
~~chocogurl: Whoa! WAY too much sugar! Anyway, you read this chapter so you can get a decent idea of what's going on. I dunno if you should have any cookies, but have some anyway.
~~lil-rosa: Thanks! I'll write more chapters soon! Have a cookie for your review!
Like I said, thanks for reviewing and your name will be up again next time if you review this time!