Blazing trails cut through the darkness before fiery blooms painted the night sky. The brilliant and vivacious colors of soaring vermillion, golden and acid green flares burst in the heavens before the booming pyrotechnic report resounded followed by the smell of smoke similar to gun powder.

Botan gasped in astonishment as the blaze of the spectacle seared onto her retina. Fireworks, in her opinion, looks best on ground compared to when she's marveling at it in the sky.

A slight shuffle brought her attention back to her companions seated across the grassy ground, smiling when she noticed that the group has been divided into a more intimate lot. The gang, mostly the ladies, always made it a point to take part in the Hanabi Festival, where they could dress up, eat lots of street foods and spend a romantic moment with their loved one underneath the fireworks.

Loved one...

Her gaze fell on the gorgeous man seated beside her. The deep emerald yukata he wore complements her floral burnt orange kimono, she thought as she kept on stealing glances at the only member of the gang that is left unattached, well, save for her. He seems to take notice of the subtle ogle since his green eyes flicked towards her and a gentle smile graced his lips. She smiled meekly before turning her attention back to the colorful explosions.

Botan hasn't told anybody, but at some point, she started to romanticize her general acquaintance with the fox demon. She hadn't had the guts to tell him because she deemed herself as a woman not worthy of his remarkable caliber, which was why she resorted on being content in loving him from afar. A wistful smile tugged at her lips upon remembering her newly acquired routine, where she devote a few minutes just to take a glimpse of him in Human World before or after ferrying. In the university, in his intern work office, in his apartment or even in grocery - she could do with any. The brief moments worth of watching Kurama brought her contentment in knowing that he is happy where he is.

She moved to lay a hand on the ground sheet as she continue to immerse herself in introspection but was snapped out of her reverie when a warm and noticeably larger hand caught hers before it touched the soft covering.

"Were you busy yesterday?" The rich voice of Kurama muffled the thundering sound of the firecrackers.

Botan tilted her head at his question then blushed when he interlaced their fingers. "I.. Uhmm.. " She stammered while scrambling to arrange her thoughts, taken off-guard by the sudden turn of events.

"It's alright." He said, raising their joined hands to kiss the back of her hand, smiling at her gaping reaction. Adorable. "I was just wondering because you were not able to do your usual unannounced visit."

Her breath was caught in her throat as he settled their hands atop his lap, a knowing smirk tugging at his lips. Crap. She should have known that he would notice, what with his exceptional senses and all. "Kurama...I - Uh.. That is - "

"Woahhh!!!! Since when are you two together?!" Yusuke and Kuwabara exclaimed in unison, pointing at their hands. Botan sweat-dropped when she heeded the vicious glint in the eyes of Shizuru and Keiko, a clear sign of an impending interrogation on their next girl's night out.

"Just recently." Kurama uttered, not missing a beat.

Botan blushed profusely, inwardly pinching her cheek. This type of situation only occurs in Keiko's collection of romantic movie flicks. She did not think that Kurama would accept her feelings so easily. Unless...

"Heh. No wonder you looked like pouncing on Botan everytime we meet." Yusuke remarked while wriggling his brows suggestively at the red-head, earning him a rather painful slap on the arm from Keiko. "Yusuke!"

The diety spared a shy glance at the fox demon who smiled at her in return before making a move to stand, urging her to do the same with the slight tug of her hand. "We'll go on ahead." Kurama announced to the group, reluctantly letting go of her hand to let her say goodbye to the ladies.

"Details, Botan-chan. De-tails." Keiko whispered whilst sharing a warm hug with the flustered diety, which made the latter laugh nervously considering the same expectant expression from the tall brunette and the subtle eagerness in Yukina's smile whom she had just finished hugging.

"Botan." Came Kurama's voice behind her before an arm wrapped around her waist possessively, making Keiko squeal as hearts started to form in her eyes.

"Uhm.. I'll see you guys then, ne?" the diety proffered before letting the fox demon whisk her away from the group.

"You seem awfully quiet. Is something the matter?" Kurama prodded as they walk alongside the glittering lake, regarding the anxious woman beside him while closing in on her ever so little. He hadn't meant to fluster the diety, his direct approach was just to finally put an end to the evasion of the glaring obvious.

Botan nervously nibbled on her lip. She felt jittery knowing that they would finally breach the romantic tangent of their relationship, it didn't also help that they are currently traversing a sequestered portion of the park, alone. "I'm just -...I did not expect this."

"Expect what?"

"You and uh...me." She answered truthfully, looking at their joined hands as she came to a stop. "I mean...Do you really like me, Kurama?"

Kurama pulled on their hands, making her lurch forward and lean to his front with her hands automatically grabbing on his biceps, his arms snaked their way around her trimmed waist to keep her in place. Ardent green eyes met her imploring purple orbs as he spoke humourlessly. "You have no idea how difficult it is to keep my hands off you since the ordeal with Netherworld." He smirked when she gasped at his revelation. "I have been keeping tabs on you, which explains my knowledge of your recent fetish."

"It's not like that!" She rectified, the blush on her face intensifying when the red-head pulled her body closer to his warmth.

"What is it then?" The intentional utilization of a delicious deeper vocal register made her skin tingle in anticipation as his face drew closer. "Why are you adamant on watching me? Were you hoping to catch me changing perhaps? If you wanted to see me naked, all you have to do is just ask, Botan."

"W-what?" The diety stuttered incredulously albeit a little bit stimulated. She became perplexed when Kurama suddenly backed away to a respectable distance. Sniggering at first before his body jerked as he laughed wholeheartedly. He's making fun me! "Y-you! Hmph!" Botan puffed her cheeks before walking away from him.

The fox demon immediately stopped his amusement and went after the diety, grabbing her hand then turned her around to crush her body onto his once more. "My apologies. I did not mean to offend you."

"..."

Kurama chuckled when the adorable woman bit back a reply, though obviously feigning annoyance. He did not miss her blush when she accidentally laid a hand on the exposed part of his chest. "Come home with me." He proposed, leaning down to nuzzle the side of her neck.

"And here I thought you are a gentleman." Botan mumbled, pouting while tracing the seam of his collar. She gasped when he bit on her earlobe.

"I am being a gentleman. You would not want me to mate with you here now, would you?" He muttered sensuously against her ear, his hands creeping up and down her back.

"M-mate?" She echoed weakly but the hesitation in her voice was palpable. Isn't it too soon? But... Who am I kidding...

Kurama stilled himself before pulling back to look at her face, brows furrowed in concern. "You do not want to - "

"I do!" Botan covered her mouth with her hands after her mindless outburst, abashed when his upturned lips slowly morphed to form a satisfied smirk before he proceeded to resume his prior perch on her neck. "I-I mean..." She whimpered when he nipped on her heated flesh.

"Go on..." He mumbled against her skin before kissing her pulse point, smiling when he felt that his intended is pulling him closer.

"I -..." She trembled when one of his hands cradled the back of her head just as his lips traced her cheek until it reached the corner of her mouth.

"Hm?" He hummed before claiming her lips. The kiss was slow and burned but ended too quickly, the type of contact that left her wanting. Kurama smiled at her dazed expression when he pulled back then soon shivered in delight when she lifted herself to temptuously whisper in his ear.

"Would you mind if we use my oar? It would be much faster."

And faster it did...

A/N:

The concept came to me while I rummage through our old stuff and found an old trumpet play thingy that we use during NYE. The notion of fireworks also inspired me to continue the piece for KarasuxBotan. Hopeful to be able to put a nail in that coffin one of these days (...for h114!). I've already drafted 4 stories for that pairing but nothing seemed to have the spice that I'm looking for.

Furthermore, I've been working on Ch3 of Quietus, though my jumbled thoughts impede the progress. Seems like my mind overrides with ideas when writing the fic that I can't decide what to write. My apologies...Hopeful once again, to be able to publish an update within this week.

kyolihk...any suggestions? LOL

Thank you for reading!

Xoxo