Sorry, I know this chapter is a few days late and a bit short. I have recently started a third fanfic over on AO3, because I have negative self-control. I will try my best to keep up with weekly posts for this fic. With that said, I hope you all enjoy!
Botan sighed as she sat at the edge of a small pier on the lake. The distrust from the group had lessened throughout the day, apart from Hiei and Kurama. Though, Hiei didn't seem to distrust Yato. He just seemed to be hoping for a chance to fight him.
"What's got you so quiet, Botan?" Keiko approached Botan from behind, and Botan heard two others with her, who she assumed were Yukina and Shizuru.
"What do you mean?" Botan asked.
"Usually you're the most social out of all of us," this time it was Shizuru who spoke.
"I'm being social!" Botan protested, crossing her arms.
"You're sitting alone staring at a lake while everyone else is over by the campfire. Unless the fish magically gained the ability to talk, that isn't being social," Shizuru noted, taking a drag of her cigarette.
"You make a valid point," Botan sighed, looking out at the lake, and the moon's reflection, "I'm just, I'm not sure about things sometimes."
"Talk to us, Botan," Yukina offered, "It's what friends are for."
"It's just… well this week is supposed to be time for relaxing right? But by bringing Yato along I've already caused things to be so tense, kinda defeating the whole purpose…" Botan began, sounding anxious as she spoke.
"That's what you're worried about?" Keiko remarked.
"Uh… yes? Is that so strange?"
"None of us really care that he's here, and the boys will get over it. Kurama will get bored in a day or two and Hiei will just be stand-offish like usual, but that's about as good as he gets," Shizuru almost laughed as she spoke, "It's fine. Hiei and Kurama both also started out as enemies, and look at them now. He'll click with the group quick enough."
"I sure hope you're right," Botan sighed.
"So, tell us about it," Keiko sat down next to Botan, "Tell us how you ended up being friends with someone who kidnapped you."
"You sure? It's kind of a long story…" Botan looked at the three girls and watched as Shizuru and Yukina also sat down at the edge of the pier.
"We have plenty of time," Yukina smiled kindly.
"In that case, where do I even begin…" Botan told them about everything. About how she had been kidnapped, about how she had spent time debating his ideas once it became clear he wouldn't kill her, about how he saved her life the first time, about how he took her on the mission that led to them meeting Hoku. She told them about how she and Hoku had watched over Yato for a week while he had been out cold. She told them about how the three of them had left to visit the human world, to find someone. She told them about their time in the cave, then about their time after they were separated. Botan told them the entire story.
"That's… a lot. Wow." Keiko sounded a bit lost, Botan had gone through a hell of a lot in a relatively short amount of time.
"If I had a dollar for every time a swordsman with a grudge against the spirit world ended up helping us thanks to some strange honor code, I'd have two dollars. Not a lot, but it's strange that it's happened twice," Shizuru remarked.
That got laughs from everyone there, and Botan smiled at the trio.
"Thanks, guys. I'm glad that you all are more open-minded about Yato than the boys have been so far," Botan admitted, turning to look at where the boys were all gathered around the campfire.
"As long as you're happy," Yukina assured Botan.
"If he betrays your trust we'll kill him though," Shizuru promised. Keiko nodded in agreement.
"I'm sure that won't be necessary," Botan shook her head a bit, but she couldn't help herself from chuckling. She was lucky to have friends like these 3.
"Let's hope so. C'mon, let's go join the others again," Keiko stood up and offered Botan a hand. Botan took it graciously.
"All right," Botan responded.
.
.
.
Yato sat on the opposite side of the campfire from Hiei and Kurama, though the smoke and fire did not stop the demons from staring a hole into Yato's head. At the very least, Yusuke and Kuwabara had gotten drunk and were currently busy with things other than distrusting Yato. Hoku was watching the two boys arm wrestle, and egging them on.
"How're things going over here?" Yato recognized Botan's voice and turned to watch the ferry-girl as she sat down next to him on a log.
"Better than before. How did your conversation with the others go?" Yato asked.
"Oh, so you noticed?"
"Of course. I uh- have a habit of keeping an eye on you generally. To make sure that you're safe," for whatever reason, a sentence that Yato could've said a month ago without batting an eye now felt very embarrassing for him to admit.
"Oh- oh I see," Botan looked away from Yato, and for a moment he thought he saw a hint of rose coloring on her cheeks, but he figured that it must've just been the lighting from the fire playing tricks on his mind.
"Anyways uh, Hoku seems to be getting along with the group well," Yato changed the subject, deciding to try and steer the conversation away from the two of them.
"I've noticed! I knew that they'd love him! He's super innocent after all, it's impossible to not love him," She grinned as she turned back to face Yato.
"You make a good point. I think the only one who hasn't warmed up to him at all is Hiei, but he seems to hate everyone and everything," He joked as he smiled to himself. Yato figured that sooner or later, he would have to end up giving into Hiei's demands for a battle and fight him, but for now, he would just put up with Hiei trying to goad him into a fight.
"Aw, Hiei isn't as mean as he likes everyone to believe. I'm sure he'd still protect Hoku if it came to it…" Botan seemed a bit surprised at her own words, and she quickly tried to cover up for what she'd said, "Not that I think he'll need protecting of course. We're all safe here, right? It's been two weeks, surely if anyone was going to come after us to try and kill us they would've done so already."
"I'm not so sure about that honestly. And given your reaction, I'd say that you've been feeling the same anxiety I have," One of Yato's hands instinctively found his way to the hilt of his sword. It was a comforting item, and he had been in possession of it since he had cast himself into the demon world after finding out the truth about the spirit world.
"So… you think that someone will still come after us?"
"Probably. The queen- Cassandra I mean, that's her real name, wants me dead. And you. But it isn't her I'm worried about. In a one-on-one fight, I think I could at least manage to get us both killed, though ideally, she'd be the only one dying. I'm more worried about her army. The sheer number of middle S-class demons she has under her command is impressive. I can count the members of her army that are stronger than me on one hand, and most of them I could still beat if things go right, but if Helio is involved… I can't beat him," Yato almost shivered a bit. He'd only once seen Helio use all of his power, and it had been just as intimidating as the full power of the three kings. He wasn't an idiot, he knew that there was no way he could beat Helio in a fight, even if he had the element of surprise.
What surprised Yato was how much he found himself fearing death. He hadn't ever really feared death before. He'd never wanted to die, but he hadn't ever found himself so afraid at the idea of dying before.
"...Are you all right, Yato?" Botan's voice brought him back to reality, and Yato realized the source of his fear. He was afraid of dying because he didn't want to abandon Botan. He wanted to stay by her side, to continue being her friend, and he realized that the reason death scared him now was that it would mean the end of that.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Don't worry about the demons who will probably be coming for us. Your friends are strong, and I'm sure that they'll help to protect you," Yato tried to reassure Botan.
"I've been in dangerous situations before, I'm more scared about you. If they come for us all, you'd be the one fighting, not me. And because I'm weak, I can't be out there to help you all…" Botan sounded a bit defeated, and Yato's chest tightened up in sadness.
"You're not weak. Just because you aren't able to cut mountains in half, that doesn't mean you're weak. You're just strong in different ways."
"Like what?"
"It takes a strong person to look their kidnapper in the eyes and decide that they would change their outlook on life in order to get out of captivity. And an even stronger person to succeed," Yato smiled at Botan, watching as her face displayed a mix of surprise and gratitude and a hint of embarrassment.
"Thank you," Botan's voice was quiet, and she scooted a bit closer to Yato as a chilling breeze blew through the air.
Yato nodded and was content to sit in silence with her, watching the flames of the campfire flicker in the dark. They both listened to the talking of the other members of the group, they heard Yusuke and Kuwabara singing horribly. They heard Hiei and Kurama quietly discussing some events from their past. They heard Yukina laughing as Kuwabara's singing turned into a declaration of his love for her. They heard the sounds of their friends all around them.
Yato felt a weight lay itself against his left shoulder and turned to see Hoku sitting next to him, leaning his head on his arm.
"Are you tired?" Yato asked, smiling a bit.
"Not at all, why do you ask?" Hoku yawned no less than two times while saying a single sentence, and Yato couldn't help but laugh a bit.
"You sound very tired," Botan chimed in, "It is getting pretty late, and we've got a long day of fun ahead of us tomorrow! I think I might go to sleep soon myself."
"Likewise. A warrior needs to take care of their body you know, and that includes proper amounts of sleep," Yato knew how much Hoku wanted to be a warrior like he was, and he knew that this would get Hoku to willingly go to sleep, despite him probably wanting to continue having fun with the others.
"Really?" Hoku immediately seemed far more excited at the prospect of sleeping.
"Of course, a healthy mind and body are the most important parts of strength," Yato continued, "It's well past our bedtime I believe, and we will have a long day tomorrow. We'd better get some rest while we can."
"Ok!" Hoku seemed slightly more awake now, but also determined to sleep.
Yato stood up, and Botan and Hoku did as well. Botan bid farewell for the night to her friends, and Ash trotted over to Hoku, deciding that if his owner would sleep, then so would he.
The group made their way into the house, and Yato went up to the room where he'd be sleeping as Botan decided to help get Hoku ready for bed, even though he didn't exactly need the help.
"Isn't it early for you to be sleeping?" Yato recognized Kurama's voice and saw him on his bed in the room.
"I could say the same for you," Yato rebuked.
"I'm here to watch you, not to sleep."
"I know that I'm beautiful and all, but there are things to do other than watching me," Yato grinned, deciding that he wouldn't just continue letting Kurama have the upper hand.
"Sarcasm is unbecoming of you," Kurama's face deadpanned, yet his eyes contained a dangerous glint in them.
"I was wrong. I thought Hiei would be the one who wanted to fight me the most, but it seems that you're itching to kill me. I wonder, is it because of how we clashed during my early days as spirit detective?"
"I do have a nasty habit of holding grudges, though that isn't the main reason," Kurama glared at Yato, "By being here, you are putting all of my friends in danger. For that reason, I hate you and want nothing more than for you to be as far away from the people I care about as possible."
"I have a feeling that you may just get your wish sooner rather than later, but it won't be during this week. Besides, the people coming after me want Botan dead as well, regardless of me being near her. If I'm not watching over her, who else will be? The only other one of you lot who's as strong as me is Hiei, even with your training you can't make up for years of slacking off that quickly," Yato responded, "I don't hate you, but I will not put Botan and Hoku in danger by leaving them vulnerable to an attack by abandoning them. In fact, even if it wouldn't put them in danger, I still wouldn't abandon them."
"You'd better keep that promise."
"I will."