'Shogatsu Love'
Ne w Year's Day: Part 1
12/27/05
...-...

"Botan, wake up..."

A groan, accompanied by a shuffle of covers being pulled closer to the body.

"Botan, you need to get up. It's New Years! Time for the festival." Kurama said, gently patting the blue-haired girl on the back in a very futile attempt to wake her up.

"No mommy... I don't wanna..."

"Botan..."

"No! No! Get off me..." Came her panicked cry

"Botan?" Kurama whispered, shocked by the deity's plea. What was going on in that head of hers? "Botan... Botan, you must get up. It's a dream," Kurama said, taking her into his arms somewhat awkwardly.

"Get off! I don't wanna! No! NO!" Botan began shaking in his arms. "Don't let them take me. Please don't let them take me Kurama..."

It was then Kurama realized she was awake. "Botan? Are you... all right? What was all of that?" He asked cautiously, slowly withdrawing from the embrace with his deity, no matter how nice the embrace may have been.

"I'm... I'm fine Kurama. I must have had a bad dream, that's all. Hehe, silly me."

"If you're sure. I just wanted to wake you up to see if you wanted to accompany me to the Shinto Shrine. I'll be leaving shortly," Kurama said, and for the first time Botan noticed he was wearing traditional gi and hakama.

"That would be great! Oh... but..."

"What?"

"I don't have anything to wear. My kimono from last night is dirty and wrinkled... and I only brought casual clothing. I wasn't thinking... I'm sorry..."

"Oh, it's no problem. Wait one moment," Kurama said, disappearing for a moment before returning with a white rectangular box in his hands. "Here. Try this."

Botan slowly grabbed the box running her fingers over the top before lifting the lid and glancing at its contents. What she saw before her made her gasp. It was kimono of deep purple with intricate gold designs around the edge. Near the bottoms to pale- nearly transparent- blue serpents were intertwined, their emerald eyes glimmering in the light. The date-jime was the same blue as the serpents, the obi-jime the bright emerald of their eyes.

"Ku-Kurama... it's so beautiful... I... I can't... where did... how did..." Botan murmured in awe.

"So you like it?" He asked hopefully. The kimono itself dated back to previous WWII and was supposedly worn by the notorious geisha Sadayakko. Having seen the kimono in an antique store, he bought it; in hopes to give to Botan as a gift- when he told her he loved her. But now it held a greater purpose. And who knew, maybe this whole extravaganza would end well for him.

---

"Are you almost ready to go?" Kurama called, casting a glance at the silhouette in changing screen- quickly turning his head away again. Just thinking of her there, undressed was enough to run shivers through his spine. He had to stop thinking that way. It was quite improper. Especially when Botan saw him as a friend only.

"Kurama? Kurama? We can go now," Botan said, driving him out of his thoughts.

"Okay," He gently gripped her hand. "Let's go then." He lead her out the door and down the side steps of the apartment and quickly blending into the crowd of travelers, making they're way towards the Shrine.

...-...