Covet

Summary: Look only at me. Want only me. Be mine only. Otherwise, I'll break you. Dark!Kurama and Botan.

Warnings: crazy Kurama, strong sexual innuendos, profanities, drug use (no, not those things you get addicted to in real life. When I mean drug, I mean like, plant drugs... if that makes sense), explicit and mostly rough smut (sorry, I just like that kind of thing), kinks, blood and possible gore, kidnapping and entrapment. And because this is a dark romance fic, a lot of insanity and psychological trauma. Not to forget obsession, of course. There's gonna be a very good dose of that.

Due to the aforementioned warnings, the relationship between the two characters in this fanfic will most likely be toxic and abusive. Note that I don't condone this in real life, nor do I support any of the things mentioned above if it's happening in reality. This is only for the sake of the story. If you don't like this, please don't read.

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho.


Chapter 11

Eyelids fluttered open to reveal half-lidded lavenders as Botan slowly started to wake up from her slumber. Her vision blurred in a clouded haze before she blinked twice to clear it away, darting her eyes towards the body next to hers as she felt a ticklish sensation of red strands tickling her face.

She spun her head fully to regard him with a deep frown as the feeling of his fingers running through her blue mane finally registered itself. The fox's lips were curled upwards into a sated, happy smile, his emerald orbs glinting in what she could only assume was unfathomable love towards her. If this was any other normal circumstances, her insides would have melted into nothing but goo as his stare would have undoubtedly given rise to her more timid demeanor. But this was unlike normal circumstances, and Botan found herself torn between feeling disgusted at herself or in joy over the fact that he reciprocated her feelings. If only she had known his true nature, she would have kept her guard up and wouldn't have fallen into this kind of cheap trap in the first place. But Kurama was an enigma; a mystery to everyone and there was no way anyone could have possibly figured out what laid dormant underneath his calm and amicable exterior.

"What time is it?" she asked him absent-mindedly as she began to conjure up images of the birds that would always visit her and peck on the window of her room in Reikai. She would always feed bread to them and considered them her own little pets that would fly away only to return again for food and in order to keep her company. The recollections managed to keep her mind off the wet and hot sensation of his lips traveling down her neck.

"Hmm." He drew apart once he noticed her lack of attention to his ministrations. Pursing his lips forward in thought, Kurama pondered over what she could be musing over but decided not to dwell on it. "4.00 p.m. You slept in," he answered her after a brief pause, relishing in the way her strands of blue slipped between his fingers as he continued to brush her fringe away from her eyes.

"Did it hurt?" he went on, though worry did not lace his voice.

He was rough with her all night - that, he was certain - but he was confident that it had caused her no pain. If anything, she had enjoyed it, seeming to cling to him even though her moral principles had probably roared at her to stop. She caved in regardless, both due to the pleasure and her end of the bargain that she would give herself to him. She was a woman who would always keep her promises, after all. Although, he knew that he was probably taking advantage of that, utilizing all her weaknesses for his own benefit.

"No," Botan responded in a curt voice, but blood seemed to rush to her face as scarlet colored her cheeks. "I'm just… sore, is all."

"That's good then. Although I know the current situation is very messy, I would have preferred you to be willing," he murmured against her skin as his mouth found solace on her shoulder blade. "I do not bed a woman without consent."

"How noble for someone like you," she uttered drily under her breath. Anger still brew within her, the rage mixing with the feeling of betrayal as she reminisced over everything that took place last night.

She still couldn't believe the cruelty of his actions, yet relief overflooded her nonetheless as he had taken his time preparing her. Despite the tormenting bouts of occurrences, Kurama had been skillful and patient enough to peel off any sort of resistance from her until there had been nothing left of her but a quivering, moaning mess. If he had forced himself on her, it would have no doubt been a world of pain for her, especially with his inclined preference for rough love-making. She was a ferry girl with a huge moral sense, but she would admit that it had been the first time she had been plunged into such an intense and endless world of pleasure. And though she knew better, she had permitted herself to drown in the sensation of it all as her body sought to betray her over and over again. Kurama truly far exceeded his reputation, and she was nothing but easy prey on the receiving end of his brutal assaults. At the very least though, she was granted the guarantee that he would never try to hurt her - only those who would come in between them. But he still held her captive, shielding her from the rest of the world and robbing her off her freedom. Tears stung at the back of her eyes at the prospect of being his prisoner for an indefinite amount of time. Vaguely, Botan wondered if Hinageshi was doing okay without her. The junior ferry girl would always land herself in hot water and had regularly relied on Botan to cover for her mistakes.

Koenma had an infamously-known short fuse, and Botan started to worry if Hinageshi got an earful from him again - only for her line of thoughts to steer into a dead end as Kurama placed a hand at the back of her head and drew her closer to claim her lips.

"A penny for your thoughts?" he husked against the plump flesh of her bottom lip as he caught the skin in between his teeth and tugged lightly before releasing it, green irises watching it snap back before arching an eyebrow at her in a quizzical manner.

"Nothing," she muttered under her breath, voice too low for her taste. She caught a glimpse of gold specks in his peridots, fear suddenly striking at the middle of her chest as the notion of him possibly assuming that she was thinking about another man suddenly entered her head. "It's about Hinageshi. I'm just concerned that she might be having trouble without me around, that's all," she finally added, in the hopes of alleviating the slight tension that had briefly surrounded them. It wouldn't be good for her to bluff either - the fox was a master lie detector, after all.

His eyes narrowed into slits as he stared long and hard at her, as if seeking for some kind of fabrication through her body language before a smile slowly formed on his visage when he found none. He hooked an arm around her waist, bringing her closer to his chest and sanctioned himself a brief, indulgent glance over the blue and purple lovebites he had lavished on her from the previous night, the marks all over the top of her mounds. A growl threatened to sound from the back of his throat before he quickly suppressed the possessive noise, quelling the heat in the pits of his stomach that the sight had succeeded to ignite as he settled to give her a featherlike kiss on her hairline, right at the space between her bangs.

"Your fretting is unjustified, princess," he reassured her with an amused touch in his voice as he trailed his lips lower to her jawline. "I have ordered Hana to disguise herself as you in order to avoid any suspicions. After all," he paused as he traced the bite marks at the junction of her neck, the gentle smile on his face now replaced with a menacing smirk, "I would be hard-pressed if anyone finds out your actual whereabouts. We wouldn't want anyone else to get involved, now would we?"

The subtle threat hung painfully in the air before it steadily settled into her skin, and Botan chewed on the skin of her lower lip in an attempt to stifle a verbal insult. "Right," she agreed, albeit with obvious reluctance in her timbre.

She pushed the feeling of dread away before it could worm its way to her heart as she turned to him with a questioning expression on her features as another question abruptly intruded her brain. He was preoccupied with nipping the tendrils of blue behind her ear when she spoke, "Who's Hana, by the way? I thought you only wanted me. Quite selfish of you to go to such extremes in order to sink your claws into me, only to have a side woman for you to indulge in." She was unable to hide the bitter edge in her voice, wrath and a tinge of envy mixing together to form a snake constricting around in her chest.

Kurama, taken aback by her bold declaration of words, withdrew slightly to regard her with a pair of mildly surprised emeralds. The shock apparently died down soon after though, replaced by a mirthful gleam of slight hilarity. "Do I detect jealousy, my dear?"

Botan visibly scowled. "No," she nearly hissed at him, but he merely broadened the smirk outlining his lips. "It's just unfair for you to take away everything from me, and yet, you're having your fun with another girl. And you have the nerve to ask for her help as well."

The redhead released his hold around her, arm unwrapping from her waist and fingers leaving her form as he tilted his head back, scarlet tresses falling over his shoulders as he ogled at her with piqued interest. He had seen this demanding display of uninhibited chagrin before - it was the same kind of look she would adopt when Yusuke would pull a poor prank on her that would almost always end up going too far. Yet it was a lot stronger, deeply engulfed in a whirlwind of blinding rage. It was the same kind of posture she would endorse whenever she was eye to eye with an enemy.

He allowed himself a moment of brief chuckles before he laid his back against the wooden surface of the headboard, one arm draped over his knees as he tucked a few strands of red behind his ears. "You forgot what I told you yesterday," he finally responded after a while.

At the crease of her brows on her forehead, Kurama couldn't help the merry smile from touching his lips. "Imagine Yanagisawa," he repeated last night's words, one digit scooting to the tip of her blue hair settled dangerously close to her hips. He intertwined it around his index finger, "but in plant form."

He watched as a look of recognition flitted over her features, frown disappearing as she clamped a hand to her mouth to prevent a startled gasp from leaving her. Of course. She had let slip the information from her memories, biting at her tongue at her own sheer stupidity. Then, was this Hana he spoke of actually…?

Kurama seemed to catch on to her muted assumptions. "To answer your unasked question, yes, she's a plant. A sort of species that was first found a few years ago, called the Kuronishi." He leaned the upper half of his figure forward to whirl her torso around her to face him. There was a momentary second of eye-locking before he enfolded one arm around her once more, yanking her until she straddled his lap. "Its existence had been considered an urban legend before a subordinate of Yomi sighted it and brought it back to his domain." Her eyes grew wide in revelation and he once again discerned her hushed inquiry. "Yes, it was back when we were facing the Demon World Tournament. Bless Yomi for his graciousness for letting me be in charge of studying and taking care of it, and as you can see," A predatory grin crawled up the corners of his lips, "it works quite effectively."

It was a long time before Botan could find her voice again. And when she did, her voice trembled in time with the shaking of her lips. "Doesn't it drain a lot of your demon energy trying to keep it functioning?"

"No, not exactly," Kurama briskly replied, his words vibrating against her skin as his teeth found her collarbone. He gave the bony structure a sharp nip, reveling in the way she jumped in surprise before he placed both hands on her hips, nails digging into the plump flesh. "Think of it this way. A mother uses every ounce of her strength to push a baby out of her. But the toddler doesn't live fully depending on her and starts to gain a mind and identity of their own. It's the same as the Kuronishi." He dipped a single digit into her wetness when he glided one hand down between the crack of her buttocks and lower still between her legs, a smirk leaving him as he realized his actions had a positive effect on her when a low moan rumbled through her chest. "I gave it sufficient demon energy to spring it to life, but once it was, it's like its own person, so to speak. Consider it this way, C-class demons and lower are mostly governed by their thirst for blood and hunger for human meat, but B-class and upper have their own personality and wisdom. The same goes for my plants, weaker ones do nothing but abide by my orders without a sliver of emotion - non-living beings without a mind of their own."

Botan chewed on the inside of her cheek when he adopted a fast tempo as he rubbed vigorously against her sensitive bundle of nerves. "And," She cleared her throat, as well squashing down the lust beginning to muddle her brain, "the Kuronishi is supposed to be different?"

"Very much so." He grinned as he eyed the arch of her back, the action causing her breasts to give out a pleasant bounce against the hard contours of his chest. He slid his fingers out of her, vividly aware of the juices coating his fingers before he brought his hand to his lips, tongue darting out to take her essence. His eyes met hers and he smirked at the blush adorning her cheeks. "The Kuronishi is at another level by itself. It possesses high intellect and has its own unique persona." He leaned back against the headboard once more to scan her lovely features with an affectionate glint in his peridot irises. "Hana learned five languages in the first week of me nursing her. She stopped relying on me and started looking for more knowledge through the means of searching through countless books on my shelves. She knew how to talk the moment she sprouted a petal, and it took her only a day to assume a human form. Though she had impersonated me the first time, before I gave her a new look. Her usual appearance comprises orange hair to indicate the color of her petals and green eyes for her pretty leaves. She adapts very quickly and when I asked her to take your place, it was an easy task for her to endorse your looks."

The ferry girl found herself in a sudden pit of despair at his last sentence. Although she had presumed he would take precautionary measures to ensure that her existence at his place was not known, it was hard for her to accept everything that simply. She wanted to ask more questions - like how he would answer if his mother came by, and a lot of other things, but her voice was rendered soundless, caught in her throat as anguish began to envelop her again. She had no doubt that whatever debate she had to offer, he had planned just about everything for each scenario and possibility. He was a man of unusual talents, after all. And she was nothing but a small fly at the back of his hand.

"What about my spirit energy?" She tried one last time. "She may be smarter than me and I reckon she's also a lot more powerful, but you can't tell me that she can copy that as well."

To her horror, the edges of his lips tugged upwards into a wicked grin. "Oh, no need to worry about such a simple thing. She is very much capable of fooling everyone, I can assure you. The matter of converting her demon energy into spirit energy is of no significance to her." Freckles of gold peeked underneath dark eyelashes before the shade of his orbs reverted to their original greens. "She's like a child of mine, after all. I've taught her many things and her profound natural talent is not something to be underestimated. A master of deceit, and an expert of casting illusions. That's how I raised her."

Botan was well aware that hope was never there to begin with, but she had stubbornly clung onto it regardless in a desperate attempt to elude herself into thinking that there was a possible way out of this, but of course, there were no cracks in the darkness surrounding her. He had sealed each and every possible exit she could probably think of.

Her shoulders slouched down in defeat, but she willed herself not to cry in order to put up a courageous front. If there was anything she hated more than feeling helpless, it was to show that she was weak in front of the cause of her current torment. But he would always be able to read through her, then he would exploit everything he could to achieve his objective.

"Yusuke didn't ask anything, did he?" She pulled away, and he let her as she removed herself from him and threw her legs over the bed. She was abruptly conscious of her own nudity - or more like, the hickies all over her body - and she tugged the flannel blanket over her chest in a desperate effort to allow herself at least the minimum amount of saving grace of covering herself. She anticipated the answer even before he spoke,

"He asked. I told him that I took you home." She could almost feel his seductive grin on her. "He is indeed a man of culture. He got the message instantly."

"And Koenma?"

"Oh, he's very much confident that you're safe in my capable hands." He let out an odd burst of wholehearted laughter, the sound having an opposite on her as she felt bile coming up her throat. "For how obstinate he is, he surely does treat you like a little sister. He wanted nothing but happiness for you, even if it meant with a demon like me, and texted me not to keep you away from your job for too long."

"Of course Hana took care of that, I would assume," she spat out almost bitterly, acutely aware of the venom dripping in her voice.

"Correct." He looked up in time to see her pushing herself off the mattress, assuming a standing position. "Shower, I reckon?" he assumed, despite his all too knowing tone. She didn't answer him and went out the door, her footsteps thudding softly against the floor as she searched through the house for another bathroom - wanting to be anywhere but his room.


"How rare of you to come by," Mukuro's voice sounded curt as she gestured towards the redhead to step into her castle. Kurama gave her a polite smile, though the sinister glint in his eyes dictated something else. Mukuro did not know what it was, nor did she have any desire to.

"I apologize for the sudden intrusion," he riposted, rich timbre as impartial as always. "I felt the sudden urge to see Hiei, you see. I have… something to discuss with him."

Mukuro raised an inquisitive eyebrow at him before she decided that it was not worth prodding further into the topic. Some things were better left unknown, and though she was not as acquainted with Kurama as Hiei was, she knew enough to understand that he was a formidable foe if crossed. This was the man who had outsmarted Yomi countless times before and the fearsome demon who rendered him forever sightless. She itched for a fight, but not one where she would gain benefit from. Furthermore, though suspicious of his sudden arrival, she had detected neither a sliver of malice nor the intent for bloodlust. She trusted her sharp nose - though it felt like he was up to no good, she concluded that he was not about to cause any harm to come upon Hiei. At least not unless he wanted to be rendered without a head on his shoulders.

Kurama suddenly outlined a cryptic smirk, and Mukuro abruptly had the sudden inkling that he was probing into her thoughts. Hiei was right. He need not have a Jagan eye to comprehend the line of thoughts of others. It was infuriating to say the least. And she felt somewhat offended that her usually guarded expression was broken through so easily by the fox, but decided that he hadn't done enough to warrant a brutal battle.

She crossed her arms over her chest after a few moments of surveying Kurama's features, frustrated that she couldn't push through his composure nor see through the musings in the unfathomable depths of his head. She was no mind reader, but she knew what made people tick. Kurama, however, proved to be a hard nut to crack.

"Hiei's in the dining hall. I think you know where it is, considering the spar you once had with him broke a hole into the wall of my precious castle more times than I keep count," Mukuro uttered drily before she spun on her heels and left him once she decided he was harmless.

Kurama opted to wait for the sounds of her footsteps to disappear into thin air before he made his way towards the fire demon. He could feel Hiei's spike of energy as he drew closer, the waves of tension and apprehension radiating off his aura unmistakable.

He closed the door behind him before Hiei could flee.

"What do you want?" the Jagan master snarled at him, hands at his sides clutching into fists as he gritted his teeth dangerously at the fox's direction. "Are you still not satisfied? I didn't tell anyone about you."

The redhead shoved both hands into the pockets of his denim pants as he pulled his head back and studied the fire demon with slight disapproval. "You got me into trouble last night. I ought to repay the favor, but I do not wish to make more of a mess of the present situation." A slow smile began to spread on his countenance. "And I do miss our silly banters, Hiei. Life is a bore without your death threats."

There was a slight fracture in Hiei's stance as the anger dissipated momentarily to give way for astonishment, before he swiftly suppressed the feeling, his own ire shining through. He curbed the hint of apprehension crawling underneath his skin as he growled, the sound low and dangerous,

"Nothing is going to go back to normal, you fool. You should keep your stupid delusions to yourself. After that day, do you honestly think…" he trailed off as a sweet fragrance intruded his nostrils in a flash and braced himself for any surge of affliction.

"Hey, what did you do?" he asked, baffled when no pain came.

Kurama's smile was chilling in the hall as he observed Hiei with an oracular look in his pools of emeralds. His voice seemed to echo in Hiei's ears as he uttered, "You need not remember a thing, Hiei. It is a lot easier that way and I do not wish to hurt you."

"What the hell-" Hiei's bewilderment-tinted words fell short as his eyes grew wide, the caution slowly but steadily slipping away from the pair of crimson, his red irises a blank white before they finally regained life and color. The fire demon blinked to clear away the haze from his vision then furrowed his black brows into a frown. He felt as if something was missing, but couldn't quite put his finger on it. The feeling was something akin to waking up from a dream.

He lifted his head to see Kurama sporting a friendly smile. He caught on to the odd molten gold in the former thief's orbs but wondered if it had been his imagination as the yellow hue disappeared and gave way to vibrant green in an instant.

"Kurama," he scoffed, and pushed both hands into the pockets of his dark cloak, "you look as awfully hideous as the last time I saw you. Where is the ferry girl?"

The redhead stifled the satisfied smirk that threatened to enlarge on his visage as his lips twitched a little, succeeding when his unassuming smile did not falter even the slightest. Finally, no more pebble in his way. He relaxed his tense posture at the notion of Hiei having no more recollections of their acute interaction. If anything, the fire demon probably presumed that Kurama had finally mustered up the courage to stop beating around the bush and pursue Botan after years of pent up lust and well-suppressed yearning. No suspicions whatsoever were directed his way. Just the way he wanted it to be.

"Hiei." He nodded once in a form of added acknowledgement. The lies left his lips in a string of smooth, well-thought and articulated syllables. "She's back to ferry duties, I suppose. You're as impudent as ever I see."

"I can smell her on you," Hiei growled in disgust as he scrunched his nose weirdly in dismay. "Did you not bathe before coming here or are you deriving satisfaction from announcing to every demon you come across that you've finally staked your claim on her?"

"You know me too well, Hiei."

"You repulse me. Why did you come here anyway?"

"Hm," Kurama sounded from the back of his throat before he joined Hiei at the long, mahogany table as the Jagan master flopped himself on a wooden chair. "I guess I wanted to spar with you. I've been feeling restless lately."

Hiei's repugnance was clear in plain sight as his snide remark resonated in the hall voided by everyone but the two of them. "You already have her and yet you're still sexually frustrated."

"This is not due to primal desire, my friend," Kurama rejoined with a light smirk touching his lips as the mirth dripped heavily in his voice. "I suppose you could say that I need to let off some steam. It's been a long time since I've had a fight."

"Leave it to you to itch for blood on your fingers after you've just had sex," Hiei snorted at him, though his mouth curved into a taunting smirk. The earlier revulsion was gone now, replaced with mocking sarcasm. "You've always been quite a beast. I pity anyone who ends up on the receiving end of your sadistic pleasure."

Oh, if only you knew, Hiei. Kurama's smirk broadened ever so slightly at the thought. He briefly recalled the memory of Hiei's overwhelming scent of fear from before, the trepidation and hatred acutely apparent in his blood red orbs prior to getting his memories erased. The fox pursed his lips to prevent a howl of chortle from leaving his throat.

"Mukuro always lets you go on your little hunting endeavors," he started, placing both palms flat on his knees to stand just as the fire demon rose from his seat. "I came to see if you'd be willing to invite me on your interesting quest."

Hiei let out another disdainful scoff, but did not offer any objection. "You always like to twist your thirst for murder with pretty words like that. How annoying."


saillovelypines- Is it just me or are you always the first to read when I update this fic? Lol. It's fine though, I'm more of a perv for typing the smut out lmao. But I feel like there's no shame in admitting that you like smuts (I do, as well, a lot more when I'm the one writing them and especially when they're KB focused.) I'm glad that you think my smut is creative, been trying not to make it too 'dirty' though, if you catch my drift. ;) No worries, that's just Botan's morality speaking- I mean, she DID literally see him torture her suitor minutes before having sex with him XD. Can't say it's easy to resist Kurama for long though.

Tashio- Oh, wow. Your imagination… is a lot more explicit than mine. No worries though, there isn't going to be that kind of content in here. Rape is too extreme and morbid, even for me. And I don't condone it happening to anyone - both in fiction and in real life. Neither will other bits of your imagination will be included in this fic XD. I'm not going to make Kurama do something as graphic as that (with the exception of Chapter 9) - especially not to Botan. And I'm mostly thinking among the lines of memory-erasing than anything else if anyone does interfere. I do understand where you're coming from though, so it's perfectly alright! :)

lovelyirl- Wow, thanks. I try not to make it too explicit though but blame it on my writing style. I tend to over-elaborate everything and drag out sentences, you see. But if you're enjoying the read, then I'm perfectly happy to please! I've backed up all my stories in AO3 in case anything happens.

Nina Cole- I wouldn't write something that horrible, don't worry. I'll probably make him come across as a crazy manipulator, yes, but a rapist? No. I'm not comfortable with rape, and never will be. But I understand how such assumptions could have been made. Tbh, I don't know myself when the plant drugs come in. I'm planning on following my warnings but I've forgotten the initial plan I had for this story, you see, because I left FF for about two years, I think. I will write about it though, when the inspiration kicks in.

Guest- Not sure if I deserve the praise - in my opinion my writing skills are quite poor - but I'll take it anyways lol. Thank you again for the continuous support.

kyoandyuya- That's actually a smart idea. Thank you for the wise input. I might end up taking you up on the suggestion, but I need to think how to proceed with the story before I can. I have a vague idea, but I don't think it'll be happening until a few more chapters. I do feel like I'm going to include it in my story, but the fic needs to progress to that point first. Thanks though! :D