Hello everyone! I am proud to announce that I have finally come back!

I would like to thank all my wonderful reviewers, once again, and I apologize for taking so long to update. I'm really low on inspiration right now; so, I am thinking of either discontinuing this fic or putting it on a really, really long term hold. I have posted some more details at the end of the chapter. So, enough of the bad news, on with the story!

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho

Is he actually nervous? Botan thought, dumbfounded, the notorious King of Thieves who wasn't even worried about death was scared to tell his mate something.

"You know, maybe we should talk about this somewhere private," Yoko concluded at last. He took Botan's hand and led her away from the commotion of the still partying band of thieves.

When they finally arrived at their destination, their bedroom, Youko ushered Botan into the room and cautiously shut the door.

He kept rubbing his head as he slowly walked over to Botan, who was sitting on their enormous bed.

Taking a seat next to her, he took her hand in his and began rubbing it in a soothing, calming way. This might have worked if Botan wasn't so worried about what his explanation was going to be.

He's so nervous, Botan observed. What is he hiding?

Yoko sighed and then began to speak, "Botan, it's been five years, five wonderful years that we have been together."

"Yes…," Botan said, urging him to go on.

"Well, I've been thinking lately, maybe we should spend more time together."

I am not going to like this one bit am I? she thought to herself.

"And maybe we should start on having a family," Kurama added quickly so Botan would hopefully miss that part.

But to his dismay, Botan had heard every word of it and definitely did not like it one bit.

"You mean you want to have kids, like our kids? But you said--"

Before Botan could ramble anymore, Youko interrupted her. "I know I never wanted kids before, and it is really unusual for me to admit that I do, but," he hesitated, not knowing what to tell her.

"Kurama, is there something wrong?" Botan looked worried. Even after truly realizing her feelings toward the kitsune were fake, she still cared about his well-being.

The King of Thieves just shook his head and patted her hand again, "It's nothing you need to worry about. I just want to make sure that if anything were to happen to me, there would be someone to look after the keep and you."

Botan smiled. He cared so much about her safety and happiness, but all she could feel was the same coldness, the same desolate emotions that haunted her whenever she was around him. And no matter how hard she tried she could never feel the same rapturous love that had seemingly captured the lord's heart.

She leaned forward and captured his lips in a soft reassuring kiss.

Nothing.

Botan hid her tears and spoke to Youko, "Maybe we should talk about this some other time, I'm really tired after today."

"Alright then, you should try to get some rest. I need to go talk to the others for a while about sorting the rewards," he placed a gentle peck on Botan's forehead, "Goodnight."

"Night," she whispered at Youko's retreating form.

Botan watched Kurama close the room door before collapsing on the bed. Sighing, she turned on her side and stared out the enormous doorway that led to the balcony.

She could feel the tears that were threatening to fall and quickly wiped them away.

I can't do this, she thought, I just can't. And this time she just let the tears fall until she cried herself to sleep.

Yusuke and Kuronue looked up from the records they had been studying to see Yoko walk into the room, looking very stressed and tired out.

"What happened to you?" Yusuke questioned the fox as he slumped into a seat next to him.

The lord sighed and ran a hand through his silver tresses, "I told Botan that I wanted to start having kids."

"And?" Kuronue prodded.

"I don't think she liked it very much," Kurama admitted. "Do you think I'm just moving too fast?"

Yusuke pretended to be thoughtful for a minute before answering, "Well, considering how you guys have been married for about five years now, I would have to say…no."

"See that is exactly what I thought, but Botan didn't say anything. She just froze up," Kurama explained. "I mean you and Keiko have been married about two years now and she's already pregnant. I thought five years was long enough."

"Well," Kuronue commented, "Keiko has always been the more motherly figure, and Botan's been more…bubbly."

"Yeah fox, just wait, Botan will see things your way soon enough," Yusuke reassured Youko by hanging his arm across the keep leader's shoulder.

"And in the mean time," Kuronue got up and returned with a gigantic stack of papers, "You can help us finish sorting out all this stuff."

Botan fingered the charm around her neck, pondering the worried thoughts she had had for some time now. Apparently her husband was serious about starting a family, and he had even sure Botan took off the pregnancy-protection amulet she had ever since the beginning of her marriage.

Luckily for her, it was harder and took more time for Botan to get pregnant since she was of Reikai descent, but after almost an entire month without her protection, it was only a matter of time before she was with-child.

She needed to find a way to escape--fast.

But how would she get out? Even though she was mistress of the castle, there were still safety rules Kurama had made that kept Botan from exiting the keep's gates that no one, except Kurama himself, could make an exception for.

Botan was too engrossed with her thoughts to hear the knock on her door.

"Milady?" Juri questioned stepping into the room and looking around before she spotted her mistress sitting on the plush velvet couch before the fireplace. "Oh, there you are. I was sent to tell you Mistress Yukina and Lord Kuwabara have arrived."

Botan jumped up, all previous thoughts forgotten as she was filled with excitement and happiness at the thought of seeing her long time friend after seven long months. "When did they arrive?"

"Just now, they're in the main hall," Juri informed her as she followed her mistress, like a proper hand maid should.

Getting through the crowd of bustling servants who were trying to clear away the luggage proved to be no easy feat for the two petite young women. They had been scanning the area trying to find any trace of the ice apparition and her husband for a while before Botan was able to catch a glimpse of sea green hair.

"Yukina!" Botan exclaimed as she pulled her friend into a tight embrace.

"Oh, Botan! I missed you so much," Yukina returned the friendly gesture full force.

"Where have you been Botan?" Keiko inquired before Botan even realized that she and Shizuru were already standing there.

"I had trouble getting through. By the way, where are Kuwabara and little Kotako?" Botan questioned.

"Kotako is sleeping, poor kid was just exhausted after the ride home, and I'm afraid you just missed Kazuma. He went with the others to have some male bonding time," Yukina informed her.

"Oh well, that's okay. It leaves us more time to do some catching up," she replied happily.

"That's a great idea! We can go out to the gardens like we used to do," Keiko proposed.

Another outburst of laughter sounded through the grounds as Yukina finished telling them about another hilarious episode during the new parents' vacation.

Shizuru chuckled, "That's my baby brother for you, always forgetful."

Yukina smiled, "I suppose Kazuma can be like that sometimes, but enough about us. Shizuru, are you and Hiei really planning on getting married this month?"

"Yeah, I guess we finally are. I thought is was a little fast too, but Hiei wanted it to be this month," Shizuru smiled.

"It's about time. Hiei's brave enough to sneak into an armed fortress by himself, but he can't even find enough courage to ask you to marry him after all these years you have been together," Botan stated.

"Well, you know how Onii-san is about these things," Yukina replied.

"Well, I'm glad you are finally going to have the wedding of your dreams," Keiko congratulated her. "Now all you have to wait is another two weeks before you and Hiei tie the knot. It's going to be the hit of the year!"

That's right! Botan thought. Everyone will be too preoccupied with the wedding to notice if I'm gone.

And so, slowly, Botan's thoughts for escape developed into a full-fledged plan climaxing in the day of Shizuru's wedding.

Well I hope everyone enjoyed the last chapter of this story, and I am sad to say it will be the last one posted for a really long time. Things with school have been getting a little hectic and mid-terms are next week, so I have to start studying. I also am thinking of putting this on hold because I'm not sure I like the way things are going in the fic. It's not exactly how I pictured everything would be going and I'm sorry that I'm stopping before the real plot is revealed. So, please review and tell me what you think I should do!

But there is also some good news along with this, I have started writing a new fic! I'm not sure when I will be done with it and when I'll post it so please just be patient with me! Hopefully it will turn out better than this one. And remember to R&R!

Silver