Thanks for the reviews! =^~^= If you're interested in seeing your name, review! If you've reviewed the last chapter, proceed to the bottom. If you want to see your name up next chapter, then you're going to have to review this chapter!
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The emerald eyes blinked several times. Who would have thought this would have happened? The seemingly innocent slave girl was holding him at knifepoint. It wasn't a threat this time…it wasn't a simple joke to scoff at later on…this was something serious.
He peered into the amethyst eyes, hoping to see a glint of sympathy. There was none to be spared. He felt his heart fall. It seemed that his deity wanted to kill him. He frowned inwardly. 'I should have killed her when I had the chance…' he thought bitterly. Right now was as good as a time as any, but he didn't have it in his heart to kill her now. He looked away from her, unable to look at her.
"What's wrong?" Botan asked. The smirk ebbed away.
"You want to kill me because I killed your parents? Or is this because your precious Touya has demanded this of you?" The answer was spoken quietly, but full of venom.
"Both. If you hadn't killed my parents, I wouldn't have to be here in the first place. I would live a normal life…without knowing the yakuza…or you…" She smiled. "I wouldn't have a purpose if I didn't know you." The hold on his crimson tresses loosened. She stroked his hair lovingly.
Suichi closed his eyes at her touch. He yearned for more…for the love she had shown him the night before…he didn't want to die and have this deity to fall into the hands of an undeserving Ice Master.
"I hate to see someone like you go. All the thieves in Makai are now only lower class demons." Botan murmured. "You and maybe a few others will steal more priceless things rather than junk from random places."
He opened his eyes. He was expecting to feel the icy bite of the dagger at his throat. Was she toying with him now? Was she prolonging his death or was this another one of her silly jokes?
"Why don't you put this knife away? We'll discuss this, okay?" he said, gently wrestling the knife from her grip. He frowned, confused by how much difficulty he was having with trying to take the knife away. "Botan, love, don't be so difficult," he demanded. "Ow!" he hissed in pain as Botan grabbed a handful of his hair and tugged him back from the knife.
"No. You think I'm joking, aren't you?" Her lovely features were contorted in fury. "Why doesn't anyone think I'm capable of taking care of myself?!" She pressed the knife harder against Suichi's throat.
"That's it…kill the bastard off…"
The temperature around the pair dropped quickly. Suichi's senses were suddenly more aware of his surroundings. He took in the icy cold air. "Touya…" he snarled in disgust.
"Touya?" Botan lessened her grip on the fox demon and turned to find the Ice Master standing before her.
He stood casually in his Shinobi attire. He nodded his acknowledgement of Botan and continued to study Suichi in his human form. "So…this is where you've been hiding after our assassin attacked you. You've been licking your wounds in this filthy human world."
Suichi's snarl deepened. "I can survive in both. You can barely survive in the yakuza where you're well protected. How often have you truly ventured out in the world? Only the strong survived after the wreckage the Hell Rains left."
Touya's ice-blue eyes narrowed slightly. "You talk big, but this time the upper hand is mine." He held a hand out to Botan who took it. He pulled her to her feet easily. He flashed Suichi a cool smile. "How does it make you feel to know that the girl who supposedly fell in love with you was only toying with you?"
Botan guiltily averted her eyes from the fox demon.
"It makes me feel as if I should rip your head off and force it in a certain area on your body…"
Touya frowned. "Feel free to try it. You won't make it."
Suichi raised an eyebrow. "Oh I won't will I?" He stood up. He pulled out his rose-whip with the flick of his wrist.
"You won't. I found a weakness in your tactics…and in your human form, it doubles." He pushed more of his Reiki outwards, making the air colder with each passing second.
Suichi shivered. He tried to ignore the temptation to curl into a ball against the cold air. Vapor rose before his lips and instantly froze into tiny shards of ice. He looked to Botan to see her reaction to the frigid air. She also shivered from the cold air, but other than that she seemed fine. Suichi held up his rose whip. "Is that all?"
Touya smiled. "Actually, no. I can make it become colder if you like, but right now lets leave it at this temperature."
Suichi raised the rose whip, snapping it at the Ice Master.
The blue-eyed demon held out his hand. Purple light began to glow in the palm of his hand. He brought the hand to his lips, blowing the contents towards Suichi. Shards of ice formed, flying towards the fox demon at a fast rate. "Shards of Winter!"
The rose whip crackled uselessly from the cold temperature. The icy shards sliced easily through the withered whip. The remnants of the whip fell to the ground, instantly transforming to the form of a shredded rose.
Suichi fell to his knees. 'I feel so tired all of a sudden…' he thought in astonishment. Weariness took over his body. He collapsed.
Botan looked at the fallen fox demon worriedly. "He isn't dead is he?" she murmured.
"No. This is what cold does to humans who aren't used to it. He's only fallen asleep. If we weren't going to take him away, then he would die, but I have other plans." He focused on the amethyst eyes in suspicion. "Why do you ask?"
"I…" She pushed away thoughts for the fox demon. "If he died before we could take him to Risho, this would all be in vain wouldn't it?" she lied quickly.
Touya nodded, accepting the lie as the truth. "Yes. This way I can have my fun with him. I think I'll break every bone in his body…one by one…" He ran the backs of his fingers down the deity's cheeks. "I've missed you," he remarked.
Botan pressed Touya's hand lightly against her cheek. "I've missed you too," she agreed in a small voice.
She brought her arms around his neck and sighed. It felt like an eternity since she had been able to hold Touya this close to her. Touya ran his lips down her neck. He tugged lightly on Botan's scrunchie. Her azure hair fell in silky cascades down her shoulders.
"That ponytail is childish—it's a human hairstyle. You look better with your hair down," he explained. He ran his fingers through the silky strands.
~*~ =^.^= ~*~
Youko slowly opened his eyes. His first impression was that he had become blind. He blinked uselessly and curled into a protective ball in a corner. His ears twitched at every small sound. He shuddered at the memory of his quick defeat. He lay his head on his folded arms in disgust. 'What's wrong with me…?' he wondered angrily.
He lifted his head when he heard the sound of something large, heavy, and metal clang against stone. Light filtered in to allow him to see his surroundings. He was in a rather large cell. In the other corner away from the door a cot lay haphazardly on the floor.
The silhouette of a tall figure appeared at the cell door. "Someone open the damn shades!"
There was a clatter of claws against stone. Light came in from the window opposite from Youko's cell. Youko bristled at the sight of lower-class demons and at the yakuza leader—Risho.
Risho sneered at Youko. He brushed his raven hair from his pallid face. "I had to see it to believe it. That weakling was able to bring the infamous Youko Kurama down."
Youko bristled at his words but merely looked away. He closed his eyes to go back to sleep.
Risho pretended not to notice this. "Since you're here, I have a question to ask you. How would you like to join my group? You'll never have to worry about going hungry nor will you have to worry about having a scarcity of killings."
"I'd never join your worthless yakuza," Youko announced sullenly.
"Hmph. I'll have Touya have his way with you but I'll be the one to finish you off."
"Right. I'll look forward to it." He looked up for moment to watch the yakuza leader walk away. He groaned silently. With Botan in Touya's arms, he didn't have the heart to protect himself against the Ice Master's frigid attacks. He knew that his Death Plant could survive through the Shards of Winter, but he had to feel the blood lust to back that of the Death Plant.
He woke up a few hours later. He heard someone walking towards his cell. His first impulse was to look up and see who it was. His decision was to ignore the impulse. He stretched his limbs and rolled over on his back to stare thoughtlessly at the ceiling. 'What is that…?' he thought. There was a dark stain in the far corner of the stone ceiling. It looked like blood. He wrinkled his nose and looked away.
The cell door swung open.
Youko rolled over to his stomach, quickly assuming a protective crouch. He held his claws ready to strike.
"Whoa! I'm not here to hurt you!"
Youko raised an eyebrow. He sniffed the air. His heart thudded. It was Botan who entered the room. He frowned and leaned against the wall. "If you aren't here to hurt me, why are you here?"
"To give you something to eat. Risho didn't like the little act you pulled when he came to visit. He restricted us from giving you food. Now hold on. I can't see anything in here!" She placed a tray on the floor and flicked on the overhead lights.
The sudden bright lights caused Youko to flinch. "Risho has electricity?" he asked in amazement. He blinked thoughtfully up at the light bulb.
"Yes, but our light source is powered by human Reiki," Botan said "Every once in a while, they send one of the demons out to gather a group of human children."
Youko looked to Botan, about to give her a sarcastic reply. He was distracted, though, from speaking because of what Botan was wearing. His jaw dropped.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" She narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
Youko's mouth worked for several minutes with no words forming. "Your…erm…wardrobe…" he murmured. His cheeks colored slightly.
"What? Oh…this is what I usually wear…they make me wear this," Botan explained.
The clothes she wore barely covered her slim form. She seemed to be wearing a dark blue bikini top. Over it was a baby blue gauzy material that clearly showed her skin. The material was sewn into a sort of jacket. On her lower body a lacy material was tied casually around her waist. Her slender legs were shown, her azure hair down. It fell easily down her shoulders blades. Around her slender neck were three strands of blue string in various shades of blue that was braided together. Hanging on it was something that looked like a sheath.
"They make you wear that?" Youko sputtered. "I mean…with Touya around, don't you get cold?"
"To answer your first question, yes. I'm a slave remember? I have no choice over what I wear and what I do. I have to obey them." She rubbed her forearm self-consciously. "And, no, I got used to the cold. Touya only makes the temperature cold when he's frustrated, angry or sad."
Youko continued to stare.
Botan wrapped her arms around herself. "Now, if you're going to goggle at me, I'll just take your food away. How about that? I won't come back either—no matter how much Touya tells me that you're suffering."
He nodded quickly and looked away. He couldn't shake the sight of her from his mind. Too-revealing or not, Botan looked great. Instead, he focused his gaze on the tray Botan had placed on the ground. "Why are you being nice? I thought you were only in this for revenge."
"I was…and still am, but I don't believe that they should treat you badly just because you're who you are."
Youko smiled sarcastically. "It's a wonderful honor to be the 'great' Youko Kurama. Do I also get to die with high honors?"
Botan shrugged. "I believe I heard Risho talking about torturing you until you either said you would join us or until you died. Whichever comes first."
"Wonderful…" Youko replied with sarcastic emphasis.
"Don't take it too badly. I'll try to make your life a little better. Now eat your food." She sat down on the cot and slid the tray towards him. She giggled, watching him take an experimental sniff of everything on the plate. "I wouldn't poison you!"
Youko made a doubtful sound that sounded halfway between a snigger and a snort.
"Trust me on this. I wouldn't poison you."
His golden eyes moved from the plate to the deity. "You won't poison me yet you insist on slitting my throat?" he demanded.
"Do you want me to poison you?!"
"No…I was just…"
Botan waved the comment off. "The only poisons the yakuza use are derived from plants. You know about plants so obviously you can smell the poison in whatever we'll try to feed you. Does my food smell like poison to you?"
"No."
"Then it's safe." She watched Youko devour the food hungrily. "Happy?"
"I suppose." He blinked thoughtfully at her. Why would she ask such a thing?
Botan stood and pulled out a dagger from the sheath she wore around her neck. The blade flashed in the light coming from across the window. "Now that you're fed, let's put this to use," she said.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
MWAHAHAHA! Another cliffie! How will it end?
Here's the people who reviewed last chapter in their respective orders! This week's acknowledgement goody is brownies!
~~Botan and Kurama lover: I do believe that you are the first reviewer! Yes, I know it is kind of sad…they made such a wonderful couple too… * dramatic sniffing * But Thanks for your compliments! Have your choice of brownies!
~~Thundercat: I didn't know that this would happen either! I just had a few reviewers mention Touya and the idea came to me! Thanx! Have some brownies for your review!
~~miyako14: Yes, I'm evil…I guess, but the cliffie had to be done. If I didn't do the cliffie, I was afraid that I would've kept going and going and going so the cliffie was necessary! I don't want you to be sad! Just wait for the next chapter! Here's a brownie!
~~KuramaandHiei4ever: Nope, not the first, but close enough! I'm glad you loved this chapter! I already got 200 reviews! That's so great! Sugar? No…do you really need more sugar? * suspicious look * I dunno if you can have this brownie…this chocolate brownie…hm…ok, you can have it.
~~PassionateAngel: I didn't want the story to end at complete mush. I mean, sure, Youko had to do some slight work for Botan…but then there's Touya. What's to become of him? I hope to answer that question. Thanks for your review! Here's a brownie.
~~Moonlite Goddess: You never know…will Youko die at Botan's hands or at someone eles? I'm afraid you're just going to have to keep reading to get the answers. Botan doesn't completely hate it. It's her home…she hates Risho for making her stay as a slave or "maid" but it is a home to come back to. I'll try to do my best at making it interesting. I know cliff hangers are evil…but so am I! I wrote it! Mwahahaha! * chokes * Eh hem…thanks for your review! Have a brownie for your troubles!
~~Dark Raxiel: I was just wondering what buttons or whatever that you have to push to get the upside down question mark. I mean, don't questions in Spanish start with upside down question marks and end in a normal one? I dunno…I'll update as soon as I can so you can figure more out about Touya! Here's a brownie.
~~ Lifeless-Kanna: I'll update soon as I can! Do you like brownies too? You can have one if you want!
~~Nienna Whitethorn: What if I wanted you to go crazy waiting for more? What if I just discontinued this story? What do you say to that? J/k! I wouldn't let my poor reviewers go in a mental institution over drivel like this! Don't worry! * winks * Here's a brownie to take your mind off of this for a while…hopefully.
~~Tyedye/Rin: Ur just gonna have to wait to find the ending. Will it be happy or sad? Why am I posing questions…? I'm a weirdo…but have a brownie anyway!
~~LoneWolf7423: I agree with you! Major plot twists like this is fun! Especially when I'm the one controlling this crazy roller coaster ride! Glad you enjoy! Now enjoy your review acknowledgement too: brownies~
~~Spoonerfic: You sacrifice ice cubes to Touya? What kind of weirdo are you?! J/k Youko/&/Touya fic? What's that? A yaoi thing of YoukoxTouya? Ah…you must be an obsessed Touya fan… Glad you enjoyed though! I think… thanx for your review! Here's a brownie.
~~Tesina Gela Gardner: You'll just have to read to see if Botan really does anything to Youko or not! ^.^ I'm so evil! You can have a brownie if you'd like!
~~LiLgUrL: Thanx for your compliments! What's Botan doing? Trying to kill Youko, that's what! Or is she…? Here's a brownie!
~~Mourning Fox: UR on a diet? That must suck! Poor you! I was afraid this chapter was too short…now I think it's too long, but if no one minds, then I'm ok! Thanx for your review! Maybe you can have this brownie…no one has to know!
~~Rosie: Yes, unfortunately she does betray him. What kind of person is she? Uh….I'm not exactly sure just yet. Have a brownie!
~~Hakusho009: Gee! Thanks! I'm not a genius…see, you should look at JDfielding, Volpone and Frith. They are the geniuses compared to me. Read their fic
~~DarkShadowWriter: Cheering people on, huh? Who were you cheering on? You read it twice? That's kewl! I knew this twist would throw everyone into a frenzy! MWAHAHAHA! Glad you enjoy! Take this brownie and enjoy it too!
~~Nakushita: Erm…I think u ate ur own cookie…maybe it was the evil squirrels! J/k! I doubt Youko will kill Botan too…unless I get some insight on this and decide to have him kill Botan, think it's Touya's fault, go on a killing spree and somehow resurrect her…but I dunno. Thanx for offering to name my chapters, but that's ok. I don't want them named. It lets me have more time to write the chapter than think of a chapter name that matches! Maybe I'll come up with chapter names on my next KuramaxBotan fic! Thanks for the review! Take this highly nutritious, vein-clogging brownie!
~~sum 1 who luvs this fic!: * blush * Such flatter from a reviewer. Thanx, but you should look closer at Frith, Volpone or JDfielding. Their fics are much better than mine! EEP! I hope you don't die! I don't need ghosts following me! Have a brownie instead! ^.^
~~orange09: No prob! I was a little behind on updating anyway! Well, I'm planning something pretty big for Touya finding out! That is…if Botan truly still likes Youko… * eerie humming of Twilight Zone *
That was 21 reviews! That's a ton! I got 22 last time! ^.^
Like I said, thanks for reviewing and your name will be up again next time if you review this time!