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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"Wake up…don't die on me…" the amethyst-eyed deity begged in a whisper.
Jin's big, pointy ears picked up her words. He winced. "Botan… he's gone. There's nothin' more ya can do for 'im." He gazed at her fearfully. He was expecting a flat-out breakdown. He braced himself for her heartbreaking sobs or for her to pass out. He was ready for anything he heard a girl would do when a loved one left this world.
He blinked his blue eyes. She wasn't moving, crying or anything. Instead she gazed at Youko, taking in the miserable look on his lifeless face. She took a steadying breath. "He didn't deserve to go like this, Jin," she said softly. "Look at how sad he looks. He didn't even get much of a chance to fight back."
"He could've fought back."Jin argued. "But Risho told 'im that he'd kill ya if he tried to protect 'imself." He was growing weary of Botan's now passive façade. Was she in denial? What was wrong with her? Didn't people usually cry when someone died? Or was that just a human stereotype.
"I know. I just wish that he didn't think about me. He should've fought back anyway. It's all my fault that he's dead now."
Jin frowned down at the motionless body. "Aye, but he's a creature of honor. He didn' want to risk tha smallest chance of ya gettin' hurt at 'is cause." He brought his arms around her as a sympathetic gesture. "Now don't ya be thinkin' of 'im. He died with honor, he did."
The deity nodded slowly. "Let me at least heal his wound. I can't stand to think of him with a big hole in him." She broke away from him and leaned over her lover's body to heal him. At last she stood back. Youko looked less miserable now…less vulnerable with the injury gone. Tears filled her eyes and she looked away.
Jin patted her back awkwardly. "Don' worry about it. If ya still wanna hang around this place, I'll take care of ya."
Risho raised an angry eyebrow, catching the fact that Jin was Botan's crying shoulder. He scowled. "Jin…you backstabbing bastard…" He rushed forward, pushing Touya's lithe form out of his way as he came towards the wind master.
"What? Who are ya callin a bastard?" Jin demanded, turning. His hand left Botan's shoulder and dropped to his side, his fingers curling towards his palm to make a fist.
"You. You can't expect to win her heart by playing the role of 'sympathetic bystander'," Risho snapped.
"I'm not tryin' to win 'er heart. Frankly, I don' give a damn if she loves me, hates me or anythin' in between." Jin took a step forward to meet Risho's challenging stare. "If she cares about you in anyway then I can't stop 'er from going willin'ly to ya, but if she hates ya then stay away. You can kiss me ass for all I care. Ye're only gettin' 'er over me dead body."
Risho grinned. "Why does that sound similar to the fox demon's vow of protection over her? I've got her over his dead body…I suppose one more dead body won't matter much, will it?"
The wind master scowled. His carefree attitude melted away while his fiery temper broke free. "Ya don't give a damn about anyone but yerself, do ya?"
Risho's grin faded away. He cocked his head slightly to consider. The grin returned in a slow wave. "Yes…I don't give a shit about anyone but myself. I was alone when I began this yakuza and raised the two of you Shinobi as my followers. I only needed myself."
Jin raised an eyebrow. "So ya don't give a care about others, eh? Then that means ya also don't give a damn about Botan."
"Feh…" The yakuza leader shook his raven hair in idle frustration. "Why does it matter to you? I do care about Botan…she's a remarkable female."
"Aye, but do ya care about who she is or do ya only give a care about fuckin' 'er?"
Risho flinched at the way Jin had faced the facts and shoved it in the leader's face. Of course he was right. Risho couldn't have cared if Botan was as evil as he was. He only admired her for her courage and, of course, her curvaceous form. He smirked at Jin. "The latter would be more to my suiting. As Touya says, that's is all a females for. Our makers have placed females on the earth solely for the male's purposes. They're good as slaves and as…well…you know, fulfilling our carnal pleasures."
Botan stared in disgust at this demon she had once respected. She shuddered and looked away, unable to meet Risho's insinuating gaze. She gazed down at Youko. 'I wonder what you would say. Did you really love me? Or were you as sick as Risho was?' The very thought of the latter froze her heart. She didn't want the gorgeous fox demon to be after her as an outlet for his needs. She wanted him to love her for who she was as she did him.
'Maybe I was stupid all along. What made me think that hewould really love me…?' she continued to herself sadly.
As she studied the fallen demon, she felt an urge to touch him. After all, he didn't look dead. She had seen the other slaves that Risho kept in a cell. They had all died in some way, but their faces looked pale. Their splayed bodies had also looked stiff. Youko, however, seemed to be only asleep.
'I've never been able to see a kyubi no youko die. Maybe they don't lookdead when they do die…' Botan thought, her hopes suddenly dashed again. She flushed. This was hopeless. She had heard her love's last words, but she still couldn't lose the hope. She couldn't believe that a cheap shot like the one Touya had inflicted would kill a warrior as skilled as Youko.
Jin glanced back at Botan, wondering why she had been so quiet. She had a big mouth. Naturally she would have a comeback to the nonsense Risho had admitted. He blinked in curious amazement as Botan reached a trembling hand to Youko's forehead. "Botan? He's gone! We can't bring 'im back," he said in frustration.
Botan nodded slowly. "I-I know. It's silly of me, but I still can't believe that he'd die like this. It's not fair."
"Fair or no, the deed has been completed," Touya snapped. "I killed him. Nothing you can do will fix it."
Risho turned an angry gaze on the ice demon. "Don't berate the girl. You need to know your place and keep it!" He focused a more sympathetic attitude on the deity. "Now Botan, love, you know that he's dead."
"Shut up," Botan said quietly. She touched Youko's cheeks. She jerked her hand back. His face wasn't cold, as she had expected. His cheeks still had some warmth in it.
"What? What 'appened?" Jin said quickly.
"He…he's not cold!" Botan exclaimed in excitement. "H-he's not dead!" She turned to Jin with tears in her eyes. "He's not dead!" she repeated happily. She flung her arms around the shinobi's neck, unable to abstain her relief and excitement.
Risho scowled heavily. His hand reached for the deity's ponytail. In a swift motion, he tugged Botan towards him. His right hand lay pressed against her forehead, pinning her head against his shoulder, exposing her slender neck. His left hand held both of her wrists tightly, keeping her from escaping.
"He's dead. If he's not dead, I'm going to make sure he is. Which ever it may be, you belong to me and only me." He glared dangerously at Touya's protesting look. He turned his gaze back to Botan. He smiled. "You won't have to worry about anything. Stay with me and you'll never have to be a slave again. I can promise you that."
Botan struggled as well as she could against him. "No!" she managed to utter.
Risho ignored the comment. He brushed his lips down her neck. He closed his eyes. How soft her skin was…so smooth and how wonderful it felt to have her pressed against his lusting body… "You can't refuse what I have to offer."
"Yes I can!"
"No. You won't. I'll change your mind, dear child. You'll only be putty in my hands. Just relax…" Risho smirked and moved his lips down to the softer aspects of her slim, shapely body.
Botan cowered away from his touch. She struggled, but it was getting her nowhere fast.
Jin grimaced at what Botan had to go through. It was almost as bad as the torture Youko had to under go. He began to conjure up a blast of wind that would catch Risho off guard. Just as he was about to release it, Touya had blown shards of ice at the wind master.
Jin spun around angrily. "What the hell is yer problem?! Do ya care about what the bastard's doin' to 'er?"
Touya glanced carelessly at Risho's grip on Botan. He shrugged. "She deserves it for betraying me."
"Betrayin' ya?" Jin threw his arms in the air in frustration. He punched Touya in the stomach, sending the smaller shinobi flying against the weapon-littered wall once again. He looked at Youko without meaning to. He noted his fluttering eyelids. He blinked in surprise and hurried to pull Youko to a sitting position.
Youko opened his amber eyes. At first he could only see everything in a blur. He blinked and his vision cleared. He coughed and spat out the mouthful of blood that had collected. He glared at Jin. "What did you do to her?"
"I didn't do a thing," Jin said. He surveyed Youko's nearly-naked form. "Before ya go play hero, I think ya might be wantin' to put on yer robe first. It's one thing to be tortured before a lady, but wavin' yer privates in front of everyone isn't somethin' I'd recommend."
Youko stared at him in disbelief. He wasn't sure if Jin was making a joke or what. He took it to be a joke and pulled his robe on quickly. He cocked his head to relieve the stiffness that set in. Immediately, his kitsune ears picked up Risho's promises of a better life to Botan. His vision snapped into that direction.
Slowly, his golden eyes narrowed. He could smell the discomfort flowing off of Botan. He stood up and walked with a purpose towards Risho. He summoned his favored death plants from out of nowhere. They wrapped eagerly around his forearms, ready to do his bidding.
"Release her," Youko commanded. "Release her or I'll have my pets do it for you."
Risho jumped at the silky voice. He lowered his right hand to stroke Botan's azure hair. He smirked. "Does this bother you?" he asked deliberately. He lowered his hands even lower to cup her breasts. "Or does this bother you?"
Botan bit her lip, fighting back the cries of disgust at being touched in such a way before Youko—especially by Risho. She looked at Youko, begging him silently to kill Risho quickly. She gasped at the look on Youko's face.
His angelic features seemed to have darkened. He bared his teeth in a scowl. "Get your filthy hands off of her. I warn you one last time," he commanded in a low, animalistic growl. His kitsune ears twitched in anger.
Risho smirked. "What can you do? Your Reikai is low from the bout with Touya. You can't kill me."
"I don't intend to kill you…yet." Youko knew his Reikai was limited, but his plants would help him. He raised a hand, silently commanding his death plant to gnaw at Risho's arms.
Risho screamed in pain and Botan was released. Botan fell to her knees. She closed her eyes tightly, trying to mentally push away the lingering feel of Risho's touch.
Youko glanced down at her. The darkness faded away for a moment as he registered that she was safe. It returned as he watched with mild amusement as the death plants left Risho armless. "Does this bother you?" he mocked Risho.
Risho was unable to answer him.
Youko nodded and commanded his death plants to leave Risho. He wouldn't waste his precious little Reiki on him. He knelt down and swept Botan into his arms. "Did he harm you in anyway?"
The deity shook her head, unable to speak. She buried her face into his chest and clutched at the folds on his robes. She felt like a small child for doing this, but she didn't care. She had her Youko back. His masculine scent mixed with the usual hint of roses relaxed her jangling nerves.
"Botan?" Youko asked in awe. He was unsure of what the silence and embrace meant, but he was relieved nonetheless. He kissed the top of her head, taking comfort from her warm body nestled in his protective grasp. It was wonderful to know that she was now safe in his arms. He could now protect her from anything that came their way. He no longer had to lay strapped to that damned table, feeling helpless and vulnerable.
Risho stared thoughtlessly at the pool of blood that was collecting around him on the stone floor. It took a while for him to register the fact that the blood was his. He began to giggle hysterically.
"That's my blood! It's mine and I'm sitting in it!" he murmured, continuing to giggle.
He looked mindlessly at Touya's incredulous gaze at his master's helpless state. He looked now at Youko with Botan in his embrace. Everything came to him in a flash.
Youko had taken his slave girl! He would have to pay for that!
"What are you waiting for, you dumb ass?!" Risho snapped weakly to Touya. His hysterical giggling had stopped abruptly. "Kill him!" He fell weakly against the wall in a lifeless lump. {Yes, people, that means he's dead. Yay!}
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Sorry about the late update! I had a lot to do! Hopefully this chapter makes up for it!
Here's the people who reviewed last chapter in their respective orders:
Botan and Kurama lover: First reviewer again! I know how you felt at the possibility that Youko was dead. I would've kicked myself if I really did kill the guy. Why would anyone want to kill him? I mean, look at his face! ::smiles:: You flatter me. I'm not that good of an authoress. It's really nice of you to say I did the accents well. I don't think I did—it's not that easy to try and replicate the accent when you hadn't heard the guy talk much in a long time! I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter so hopefully you'll like this one too!
DarkShadowWriter: Wow, did that chapter really make you go that berserk? It's good to know I'm getting some responses like that! Yes…unfortunately, Youko isn't dead. Wait…unfortunately? What am I thinking?! It's great to see he's alive! Are you gonna update your fic sometime soon? Karasu rox!
JDFielding: Yes! I am happy to know that I got you curious! Update as soon as you can, ok? Aw…I gotta figure out why Ren sent Jin and Touya? All on my own? ::pouts::
natsumi-chan: I got you hooked! Yes! I rock! No I don't, but it's great to know I've got readers dying to know what happens! I'm such an evil girl!
Lifeless-Kanna: Yep. Risho liked Botan. I mentioned it a few chapters back too! Poor poor Botan…
Tesina Gela Gardner: A love fight, eh? Sounds interesting. There was some minor fighting in this one, but I plan to have some sort of major fight up soon.
Volpone: Thanks for the pictures of Kuronue. He looks pretty cool. What's up with his hat?! Anywayz, I may stick him in Guilty By Association…but you didn't hear that from me! ::looks around suspiciously: Of course, dear Volpone. I couldn't possibly live with myself if I left Youko to die at Touya's hands!
prettynutter: A little too visual, eh? Understandable. I could make it worse, but since there's girls reviewing my fics and girls are known to be squeamish, I'll keep it at a minimum.
Tyedye/Rin: I couldn't have let Youko die permanently.
Fair Undomiel: That's ok. I want at least someone to enjoy the torture scenes and just not scream in dismay. I'm glad you felt that way when you read it. I'm not sadistic or anything! Don't get that idea! I may be disturbed, but I'm not psycho! It's just good to know that people can actually get into my chapters! Yep, YYH is very addicting. The first episode I saw was when Kurama fought Genbu and I was immediately hooked on it. That was when it came on late at night though…
Sycogerl64: Cool! Read it all in one sitting? Hope ya enjoyed! Yep, Youko can be very naïve sometimes, but you still gotta love the guy!
lil-rosa: Calm down now, he's not dead. It'll be all ok in a while.
Kitsune-0503: I've got more than one Kurama(Youko)xBotan fic up. My KuramaxBotan fic got more than 200 reviews… but Volpone is a genius, not me! All her K(Y)xB fics have more than 200. I can never be that good, but I appreciate your compliments!
Chocogurl: Yep, I was screwing with your mind! It's so fun to do that! One chapter I have reviewers threatening to kill me over something and the next, they congratulate me. The mind is a powerful thing….if only I had one…
Orange09: You like the torture? Thanks! I hope it wasn't too overboard though!
Miyako14: Here ya go! I updated! Thanks for your review!
Crimson Breeze: You must've changed your penname. Of course Youko isn't dead! He's alive and kicking ass. But he's a little low on Reiki, mind you. That poses a threat in next chapter!
Kirah: You must be in a hurry to see the end! I am in a way, but I'm not quite ready to finish it. Hope you enjoy this chapter!
Ame no Kodomo: You like the way I portray Jin you say? Thanks!
Keiko Yukimura 4444: You're dying! Sorry! I've been so busy that I hadn't had a chance to update, even though I typed up the chapter! So sorry. Here's the new chapter! I really hope it makes up for my late update.
Seth: Well, you're just gonna have to read this chapter! Naturally Botan and Youko got together. And you have to read the upcoming chapters to see who dies and who lives. Can't give away too much you know!
AineSironaTsuki: Youko isn't dead, don't fret. As you can see, the 'icky boss' (otherwise known as Risho) is dead. Touya is still alive and so is Jin. There's no telling who's going to die next! Just keep updated and you'll see! Thanks for your review!
Whoa! That's 22 reviews…unless I miscounted. Maybe I should take forever to update next time too! Or not…you might kill me!
Like I said, thanks for reviewing and your name will be up again next time if you review this time!