Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho.

Summary: Trying to forget his former life, Kurama decided to move into an old apartment to start a new one. Everything seemed perfect... except for the fact no one has lived there for more than fourteen days.

Fourteen Days

Chapter 2

Day 2

The alarm suddenly rang, abruptly snapping Kurama out of his dream. Groaning, the redhead reached a hand absent-mindedly to turn the blasted thing off. He stayed still as the annoying noise faded, only the sound of the ticking clock was heard in the room. Moments seemed like ages before he finally lifted his upper body from the bed, propping himself up on his elbows as he spared a glance at the clock. 8:00 a.m.

At the reminder that he was supposed to meet up with Hiei an hour later, Kurama lazily got off the bed. He paused for a moment as his feet landed on the floor, and fixed his gaze somewhere at the door. Last nights memories flooded into his head, making goosebumps appear, but he quickly shrugged the thoughts off. He really needed to stop hallucinating.

Kurama slowly took off his clothes, and proceeded to grab his towel from inside the cupboard.

And he also needed a shower. A cold one.


Kurama looked up as the sound of the doorbell chiming greeted his ears. He wondered who it was who was at the door at this time of day. Then, buttoning one last button of his white shirt, the redhead strolled outside his room and for the door, hair still soaked from the bath he took earlier.

Upon opening the door, Kurama almost jumped back in surprise at the unexpected visitor. The shock died down a second after though, and he cast a brief glance at the couple of bags the young woman held in each of her hands. More like, permanent visitor.

"What are you doing here?" Kurama asked, as he whipped around and walked towards the couch, taking a seat there as he reached it. He watched her place her bags on the floor.

"Hey, it's been a long time seeing you two," her voice said sarcastically. Amethyst orbs locked with his emerald ones, and he quicky looked away, whilst pondering why she was here.

Although Botan was his girlfriend, they'd been having a lot of... arguments lately, so he found it difficult to understand her true purpose of coming up to his apartment. Wasn't she the one who told him to stay away?

"I'm going to stay with you," she went on when he was unresponsive, taking a seat right beside him.

"Why?"

"Because Shiori... she... well, after her death, you haven't been quite yourself. And I thought you needed someone close to you by your side at a critical time like this."

A pause. "I think I can take care of myself, Botan."

"Kurama, please don't be stubborn," she pleaded, staring into his eyes, almost begging, "I know you're not okay. Stop trying to keep everything all bottled up."

Kurama pursed his lips. She could always read through him. Then again, he thought, that was one of the reasons he loved her.

"You keep everything bottled up too, perhaps even more so than I do," he countered.

"Maybe... but that's all the more reason for me to stay. You need me, and I need you. I..." Her hand reached to touch his. "I miss you..."

He sighed deeply at the contact. "I miss you too, Botan... but are you sure? Staying here—"

"Yes, I'm sure."

The redhead paused, seeming to consider before heaving a defeated sigh. "... Okay, if you say so."

Botan perked up, the action brightening her soft features. "Great!" she beamed, overjoyed, before standing up from the couch and dusting off her skirt. She gave him a warm smile. "Let me just put my stuff in your room... Oh, wait, I guess since we're living together now, that makes it our room... So anyway, let me just put my stuff in our room, then I'll get right back to you."

She then bent down to give him a gentle peck at the cheek, causing Kurama to blush. He was never used to the attention he earned from her. Not to say he didn't like it though.

Kurama lazily smiled back. "Right. Go ahead. It's at the end of the hallway," he called after her as she gleefully sauntered her way to his room.

The girl halted in her tracks, turning around to face him. A giggle left her. "Okay dokie!" she said in a child like manner, playfully saluting at him. Kurama's laugh followed after her as she strolled into the hallway.

He shook his head, a small smile playing at the edge of his lips. The smile wavered though as he thought of his decision to let her stay. Was it the right thing to do? Kurama didn't quite understand it himself, but he felt a rather unnerving gut feeling about this place...

His musings were cut short when a thud suddenly reached his ears. He rotated his head to the right to the source of the sound, blinking at the small picture frame on the floor, apparently it had fallen from the desk.

Standing up, Kurama walked towards it, and bent down to pick it up. He stared at it; it was a picture of him and Botan... and the glass on the picture frame had a little crack on it. He wondered for a moment if Botan brought it here, before gently dusting off the dirt on the picture frame, and putting it back on the desk.

As he was about to push himself off the floor, Kurama felt a warm breath at his neck. It smelled terrible, like rotting flesh and the redhead swiftly covered his nose, brows furrowing in discomfort. Still, it made his blood run cold, and froze him on the spot. A giggle, that was very much like a child's, sounded against his ear. Eerie. Creepy. Freaked out, Kurama instantly whipped around—

But there was no one.

The hand on his nose felled limply to his side, as he stared at the wall, at where he thought there was a person there. His heart was still beating hard and fast against his chest until a few long moments passed, before slowing down. With trembling legs, Kurama shakily stood up from the floor. By then, Botan had already entered the living room, blinking in confusion as to why he was breathing heavily.

"Are you okay?" she asked worriedly, immediately running up to him. He felt a rush of relief at her presence, and slowly, nodded his head. "You sure?"

"... Yeah." He paused, wondering what the hell happened back there. "I was probably imagining things again..." he murmured to himself, but Botan heard him quite clearly.

"Again?" she echoed, prodding.

He didn't answer, and instead, "I'm going to Hiei's. I promised to see him today," he informed her.

"Can I come with?" came her inquiry. Her voice was soft, and Kurama could tell she was still concerned about him.

He smiled weakly at her. "Sure, love. Just don't take too long," he complied.

The corners of Botan's lips curled upwards into a bright grin, revealing her pearl white teeth. Obviously, she was pleased. He rarely let her come along when it came to Hiei, as he was worried that Hiei would offend her, and she, annoy him. To put it simply, nothing good ever came whenever his girlfriend and best friend were in the same room. Nonetheless, it worried him more to leave her alone here, at the creepy apartment.

"I won't. Just gonna grab my purse," the young girl reached for her purse that was at the floor, seated nearly the couch, "and we're done," she finished, dangling the purse at him. Kurama smiled, nodded his head and went to the door. He opened it, only to stop and stare at her when he noticed her eyes were fixed at the corner of the wall.

He frowned deeply. "What's wrong?"

Kurama's voice broke Botan out of her reverie, and she turned to peer at him with a blank look. "Huh? Oh... I thought I heard something coming from over there..."

Just as she mumbled the words, a ball came rolling out from the corner of the wall, the sound attracting the couple's attentions. The two watched it continue to roll across the floor, before stopping abruptly as it hit the couch.

"Where did that come from?" Botan wondered loudly, making to walk towards the ball so she could examine it, only to be stopped by Kurama.

"Leave it there," he told her, voice stern. She lifted her gaze to look at him, surprised at the serious expression on his features.

"Why? I'm just going to look at it for a mo—"

"Just leave it there, Botan," Kurama almost roared angrily, causing the girl to flinch. The redhead seemed to notice the fear in her eyes, and immediately told himself to calm down. As he regained his composure, he tried to ignore the chills that went down his spine. Suddenly the room felt cold. "We're already in a hurry as it is," he added, making up an excuse.

Botan seemingly relaxed, and nodded her head in agreement. "Okay..." she mumbled, rubbing her forearms. Why was it chilly all of a sudden? The hairs at the back of her neck raised, and she hurriedly jogged for the door.

When they were out of the apartment, Kurama quickly closed the door, not forgetting to lock it. The couple then walked off, but as they reached the stairs, Botan spared a brief glance at the apartment door.

She wondered what could've made that ball roll off on its own.


"Why're you looking so pale, Kurama?" was Hiei's question as he and Botan finally reached his place. The short male stared weirdly at his friend. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

Kurama didn't bother to answer him.