1.

Botan twisted Keiko's hair up a different way, meeting three side-by-side reflections of Shizuru's grimace, a hapless Mrs. Yukimura, and a wincing bride-to-be. "Well it doesn't have to be like that, silly! It's a great dress, no matter what you do with your hair."

"I don't think so, Botan," Keiko stammered. She turned toward her mother behind them, which was no small feat considering the layers and layers of fabric. "I don't think I want a Shinto dress, Mama."

"Oh, Keiko!" laughed Mrs. Yukimura, "That's why we're here today! We're just finding what you like! We can try every dress shop on the block, sweetheart."

"Yeah, Keiko, maybe that place across the street is more your vibe," Shizuru said. "They have Western-style princess gowns."

Mrs. Yukimura forced a smile at this, and Keiko looked unsure.

Botan had to act. "Aww, Keiko," she said, "You know you'll look beautiful in anything you choose. And I'm quite sure Yusuke would marry you in a kimono or a ballgown or pajamas or a potato sack! Really, dear, this is all about you. What do you want?"

Keiko looked like she might cry, but she blushed and blinked the tears away and said, "Maybe we could try that princess place, just to see what's in there."

"Atta girl! Let's get you out of this one—" Botan was leading Keiko back into the dressing stall when Shizuru said her name. Not in a happy, let's-go-shopping way, but in a there's-a-Spirit-World-problem way. She was getting good at reading the very unreadable Shizuru ever since they began apartment hunting together. "Oh," said Botan, "I'll be back in a jiffy, Keiko!"

Mrs. Yukimura took over where Botan left off, following her attentive daughter, who didn't want to alarm her mother, and so pretended not to notice anything odd about what Shizuru and Botan needed to discuss.

Shizuru puffed on her cigarette before telling her, "Feels like someone is outside."

Not Kurama, please anyone but him. "Who do you think it is?"

Shizuru half chuckled. "Not him. But they're not here for me or Keiko."

Botan blinked at the bright display windows, but didn't see anyone among the passersby. She stepped outside, turning into the alley beside the boutique. "Oh! Well hello, Ayame."

The girl's dress and somber mood clashed comically with the bright morning sun and the more trendy wear of the bustling shoppers walking the boulevard. But Ayame always looks like she's ready for a funeral, and it's nothing to do with what she wears.

"Botan, I'm sorry to interrupt your plans today, but I've come to ask a personal favor. I'm afraid it's a matter of urgency."

Botan had an idea what this might entail, but she liked none of the thoughts that came to mind; Ayame had taken over an old project of hers, which required close contact with Kurama. After a run-in with Spirit World law together and its subsequent life-ruining testimony six weeks ago, Botan was cleared from having to work with him any further. Although I am the one who left the case of Spirit Detective Tools in a thieves' den in Demon World.

"Em, sorry, Ayame, I got lost in thought there. What is it you need?"

Ayame pressed her palms together. "It's the outlaw. I've failed four times now to reach him at a reasonable time. We have yet to even attempt recovery of the Tools."

What? "But I thought the Spirit Defense Force was on that."

"They are." Ayame's eyes seemed to grow somehow more sad. "The officer who went to retrieve the tools from Demon World has been searching for three weeks. I was dispatched to the outlaw—"

"You mean Kurama."

"Yes. The outlaw. Because Koenma believes the Tools were gone before the officer even arrived in Demon World."

How did things go so poorly so quickly? Kurama has to be pulling a stunt of some kind. Wouldn't be the first time. "So how on earth can I help with that? I only went to Demon World when I was pursuing Kurama back to his old bandit lair, so I knew I wouldn't be in any danger once I encountered him. Oh! But of course his old band of thieves would have sold the tools to someone who could actually use them, since they're useless to those with demon energy."

Ayame bowed. "And I have no experience with his kind, as you know."

Botan was unsure if she meant demons or bandits. And he's both.

"I have been sent to his home here, as part of his probation is his required help with this investigation. Each time I have come to gather information from him, he turns me away, citing family issues."

Botan scoffed. "Well I'm sure he's not in a great place with his mother, lately! She was so worried about him during the testimonies that she put out a missing persons report. He was escorted home by human police officers."

Ayame bowed again. "I was not aware."

Of course not. I didn't report it. I didn't want anyone to know I was watching—er, oops. Botan thought she noticed a shadow of a smirk on Ayame's lips before she continued.

"Most of the Tools as you know will have no malignant effect if found by non-spiritually aware humans," Ayame continued. "However, in the wrong hands, some of those Tools could bring about many far-reaching consequences."

I hadn't really thought about that until now. "It didn't occur to me that they would sell them, Ayame. I just figured that Meinuko and Rushiyo wouldn't bother with them at all. I can't believe how naïve I've been."

"Then you understand the urgency. The longer the SDF officer is in Demon World, the more likely those Tools are here, where they can do real damage."

"And Kurama won't talk to you."

"Correct."

Botan crossed her arms. "So what makes you think he'll talk to me? He's probably grounded!"

Ayame smirked fully then. "I think you know why. Besides, I don't have a human form."

#

Botan really didn't know what would be harder—leaving the emotional Keiko on the day they were meant to find wedding gowns together, or seeing Kurama again. She wondered why she was so helpful sometimes; Koenma surely would not punish Ayame for her efforts, as it certainly wasn't her fault that Kurama wasn't working with her. I've had to deal with his passive-aggressive work ethic myself.

Of course, it was likely that his mother disallowed him from leaving the house outside of going to school and his work with his step-father. Botan was certain that if Kurama were her son, she'd never let him out of sight again after his long absence. But he was gone as long with Yusuke and the boys before, wasn't he?—Not without calling her. Botan had been adamant that the SDF give Kurama access to a phone, but they'd refused. Even after everything that he confessed to regarding her, she was still staunchly against that. No sense in driving a wedge between him and his sweet mother. Goodness, her poor nerves.

When Botan had accepted Shizuru's invitation to move in together, she'd find missing posters of Kurama's smiling face on street posts and in shop windows. I can't escape him. Maybe moving to the Human World was a bad idea—or at least bad timing.

But what if he wasn't grounded? Kurama had a history of acting out when he felt Spirit World wasn't agreeable enough with his demands. Just two months ago, he'd staged robberies in several jewelry shops in the area to get his way; of course, he hadn't burgled anything, but merely moved an expensive bit of their merchandise to another part of their own shops. So he didn't even technically break the rules, just the shopkeepers were not very observant.

Is he refusing Ayame just to see me again?

That cut like a knife. Botan hated the thought and yearned for it all at once. On one hand, what he'd done to her was unforgivable, without question. But another part of her wanted him to want her for evermore. It'd serve him right. Only the second time he'd get his just desserts, but it would be enough for me.

She sighed at her own stupidity again, and at her inability to refuse Ayame's request. Of course, after her fourth try, Koenma might just send me to do Ayame's work anyway. And I'd rather resent myself for going voluntarily than resenting Koenma for ordering me.

"Oh."

Botan had arrived, and Shiori was in the garden weeding a window box. The last she'd seen her, Shiori had fallen to pieces at her son having been escorted home with two officers. She'd begun to sob at the sight of him and ran up and hugged him and pressed kisses all over his face. And the officers treated him like a runaway rather than a hostage; of course, human police didn't know that part of the story. But it still made Botan angry.

She'd lost her nerve and was torn between running away and approaching Shiori, but she'd hesitated too long.

"Botan? Is that you? Hello there."

"Hello, Mrs. Hatanaka." Botan approached and Shiori pulled off her gloves to shake her hand.

"It's nice to see you again. I was wondering if you'd ever come back." She smiled but with a hint of sadness.

Botan stuttered. "I'm sorry. I've just been a bit busy is all."

"Well, you wouldn't have seen much of Suichi anyway, I'm afraid." Botan was caught looking at the scars on her forearms, and Shiori chortled at her frantic apology. "Don't be silly. It's a funny story, actually. Suichi was a bit clumsy as a boy. He knocked over a stack of plates, and I acted without thinking. Of course, I'd do it just the same if I had thought about it."

"I'm certain Kur—em, your son told me that story before. But of course he wasn't laughing about it. In fact he was really horrified that he'd caused you such pain."

Shiori smiled sadly. "No, he doesn't often laugh. But he would do the same for me, I think. And for all my efforts, he's still managed to scar himself quite a bit, and I couldn't begin to tell you how."

Botan panicked and grinned widely, pointing at the shears beside them. "Maybe gardening?"

"Gardening can't be that dangerous!" Shiori laughed.

"Ahaaa…"

"Forgive my manners, Botan," Shiori said finally. "Would you like to come inside for some tea?"

#

"I have to admit, Botan, I wasn't sure if his recent disappearance had something to do with you." Shiori poured her another cup. "But I'm thrilled that you knew nothing of it."

Botan smiled politely, unsure how to tread in such dangerous waters. "What did he say it was about?" She figured that would be the most natural question to ask.

Shiori held her cup with both hands, sighing deeply. "He hasn't told me."

"Oh, Mrs. Minam—I mean, Hatanaka, I didn't mean to scratch at an open wound, I'm so dreadfully sorry—"

Shiori smiled and patted Botan's hand. "Please don't trouble yourself about it. I'm waiting for him to be ready. He seemed so…" Shiori took a deep breath. "It looked exactly like he'd been through a heartbreak. And although my husband wishes I'd been more combative about his absence, I trust my son would not have done anything too terrible."

Well… "So he isn't grounded?"

Shiori chortled again, and Botan was sure it was the most elegant sound she'd ever heard. "Heavens, no! That's so silly, forgive me. It's just that he's such a loner, and he loves the quiet. No, if I were to punish my son, it would involve noise and taking away his alone time."

Botan couldn't help but laugh, even as hurt as she'd been by Kurama; his mother was truly charming. It would be so much easier to hate his family.

"I thought his odd behavior was…perhaps that he'd grown out of it a few years ago. So I wondered if it was because I'd remarried. Everyone's seemed to adjust very well, so I still don't understand. But I'm sure he'll tell me, once he's ready." She took Botan's hand this time, smiling at her through unshed tears. "It was lovely to talk to you about this. But I suppose you came to visit with him rather than with me. I beg your pardon, Botan, I didn't mean to get so pensive."

Botan blotted tears with her free hand. "It's been a real pleasure, Mrs. Hatanaka."

Shiori stood and offered to lead her up to Suichi's room, but Botan thanked her and said, "Isn't it the one on the sunny side upstairs?" After Shiori said yes and Botan was climbing the stairs, she thought that any other parent would have been alarmed at a young girl knowing where their son slept.

Oh, family issues indeed!

She hadn't expected his door to be open. Her breath hitched; he only lay there on his bed, where she'd seen him plenty of times, an arm curled under his head and the other propping up a book on his chest. He sat up and set the book aside.

"You heard every word with this door open," Botan said, hoping to catch him off-guard.

"I would have even if it were closed, Botan."

Drat.

"You look nice today. Would you like to come in?"

This is a new outfit. I'm glad I could torture you with it. "I'm only here on business," she said softly as she passed beneath his arm and through the doorway. He shut the door behind her, and she took a seat where he'd been lying, his warmth still evident in the fabric. Kurama took his desk chair and folded his hands in his lap. It infuriated her.

"I didn't want to interrupt you, in case you hadn't come here to speak with me. I was certain you'd leave at the first chance."

"I'd really like nothing more," she admitted. "Except you're pulling another stunt."

He cocked his head. "Am I now?"

Her skin rose in goosebumps and she had to will her breathing to remain steady. "I'm sure you know exactly why I'm here, Kurama."

"I only wanted them to send someone else. Truly, Botan. I simply find Ayame unsuitable to the task at hand. I never meant for them to bother you with this."

Oh. "So you're admitting you're doing it on purpose?"

Kurama chuckled; Botan's heart still fluttered at the sound of it. "I've been nothing but cooperative with Spirit World since our investigation began two months ago. And of course, for four years before that."

Botan knew if she objected by bringing up the fake jewelry heists, they'd only come to another stalemate. She elected to scowl in silence instead.

He replied with a weak smile. "I hate that I've made you look at me that way. But I'm afraid I have something more to confess, and it will ruin any chance I'll ever have of earning your forgiveness."

Botan scoffed. "What could possibly be worse than drugging me with heartshade to fall for you? I risked my life to follow you stupidly into a lair full of demons, sprained my ankle, let you poison me with that—ugh! And all for the chance that you could escape unscathed by Koenma and by your—your—"

"She isn't mine. I'd have to want her." He shook his head. "Forgive me. You were expressing yourself and again I let my pride get in the way."

Botan rubbed the tears off her cheeks, but they were replaced faster than the first came.

"Botan, I want you to be happy to never speak to me again. I want you to put all this behind you. And because I wholly expect to never get this chance again, I must tell you: I never poisoned you with heartshade." He swallowed hard; she was unable to move. "As I told you from my cell, it doesn't create feelings where there were none, it simply amplifies the most primal parts of your brain so that you are more apt to act on impulse. Even the vile creature I left you with…Even she knew her poisoning me with it was not the source of my affections for you."

"Don't you dare."

"Botan. I never gave you any heartshade. I lied because it would help my case, and I thought it might be easier for you to forget someone for whom you thought your own feelings were fabricated."

She began to really sob, and she both wanted his comfort and would have rejected it violently if offered. "That's so much worse, Kurama!"

He couldn't look at her. "I only wanted to do what might be best for you."

"Don't! You're supposed to let me choose what's best for me!" She stood and stormed to the door, but paused on one final thought. "You're good at manipulating the situation, Kurama. But you're only supposed to do that with your enemies."

And that's a wrap! Welcome to chapter one of my sequel to Honor Among Thieves. I recently reread that one, and I'm no longer happy with it. Such is life for creatives, huh? Anyway, because I'm no longer fond of it, I'd like to make this story readable without forcing newcomers to read the first story. I found that I really enjoy the detective-style stories, so I'm going to indulge in that here. As I mentioned in the footnotes of Honor Among Thieves, this one will be a slow-burn style. I live for that, honestly.