Thank you reviewers!!! This fanfic has come a long way, really. When I first started it, I was going to end it at Chapter 9, then I decided 12, then 14, then 18, then 20, but now, I think it might go to 30-all because of you! Arigatou!!!

Kurama's Younger Sister, Kurumi

Chapter 20: Prepare For The Hot Springs (part 1)

"Alright, everyone!" Botan announced after Tashi left, "We've deiced on going to the springs-"

"What!?" Yusuke whined, "I know it's a good offer, but I wanna kill this guy!" Botan smacked him in the head-

"Rrr! Botan, what did you do that for!?"

"Every time I start to talk-YOU INTERRUPT ME!" She screamed back, now having Yusuke's full attention, "Ahem, Hiei was the one who thought it best we actually make sure the back of his head is his physical weakness, so-"

"Woo, woo, Hiei, do you like seeing Kurumi all dressed up-" Yusuke saw a glimpse of Hiei's fist, felt a solid smack on his head, then saw only darkness. Later woke up Kurumi looking down at him, "You know, you should really keep your mouth shut, you're going to end up with Parkinson's..."

Yusuke sat up, head groggy, "What happened?"

Botan sat across the room, her arms crossed, "You interrupted me, again!" Hiei just gave him a cold stare.

"Oh yeah, tomorrow morning Tashi will be picking us up, sp if you girls need stuff for the spring-"

Botan cleared her throat, "Ku-ru-ch-an!" Kurama gulped with a sweatdrop, "Hmm?" Botan grinned back at him, "We have to go shopping for the hot springs, c'mon!" Kurama wrist was grabbed and thus he was taken away.

"Shesh... How does Kurama stand it?" Yusuke wondered.

Kurama was drug all the way to the mall and into a shop that sold general girl things, like cheap and expensive burettes, earrings, bracelets, the latest crosses between bracelets and rings.

"And why are we here?" Kurama asked, startling the clerk with his voice-it was rough again. Flushed Kurama covered his mouth, and smiled under his hands. In a fake, soft voice he said, "Oh! My cold!" He coughed a few times, and then took his hands away, clearing his throat.

My gosh! The green stuff wore out! Oh no, what'll I do!?

He felt Botan's fingers and palm around his wrist, then was out of the store.

"Okay, this is bad!" Botan shrieked, "Um-um-um," Her hands fanning through the air, horizontally, "Yusuke! He has that green gunk! We've got to-wait, the mall will close in an hour. First, let's shop, then we'll get the stuff for you."

Kurama nodded in agreement, hearing his voice again snapped him back into reality a little. Why did I freak out when Tashi was so close to Botan? Is acting like a girl becoming second nature? If a girl really saw something like that, between her best friend and the man who claims to like her, wouldn't she be upset? Maybe I'm just getting used to being Kurumi... I don't think-

Botan jerked him back into the store and smiled, "Ooo! Look at these pink and purple burettes! They'd look great in your fiery, red hair, Kuru-chan!" He smiled and nodded.

"What's the occasion?" The clerk asked in a sweet, yet sales-woman, voice.

"Hot springs!" Botan cheered, "Her boyfriend invited us and we wanna look fantastic!"

Boyfriend? Kurama though and nodded when the clerk looked at him. The clerk smiled and pointed to a kimono shop adjacent to the girly store.

"Then you're gonna need some gorgeous kimonos." She said sweetly, "They're having a sale! So many beautiful, new kimonos, you should check it out! And since it's our sister-shop, you can find matching burettes here for the kimonos there."

Botan's eyes lit up, Must have!!! And in a blink of an eye, Kurama was being carried off again.

TBC Tsuzuku