Author's Note
I'm making this special chapter for peonyrose100. Also I wanted to apologize for not updating yet, I'm still updating my other stories right now.
Title: Botan's Past
Summary: The Rekai Tantei and the girls were curious about their lovely ferry girl's past, but the said latter don't want to tell them. So, one day all of them went to Makai to go to the magical wishing well to grant them their wish; which is invading Botan's privacy.
The Rekai Tantei and the girls were all having fun except for Hiei who was only seating at the window and was looking at the scenery infront of him. Although he's looking outside, he's listening to the others' conversation. Some would ask why would he even bother to come if he's not going to join, well he did it for his sister's sake. She wanted him to be present as well.
"Okay Botan, truth or dare?" Yusuke asked, grinning.
The blue-haired deity pondered for a moment, contemplating whether to choose dare or truth. But, in the end she have chosen truth because she doesn't trust Yusuke's dares. All of them would probably be embarrassing.
"Hmm" the half-demon thought of a good question, it would have actually been easier if it's a dare, but Botan have stated that she does not trust his dares. Oh well.
The spirit detective grinned when he thought of a perfect question. Actually, he have been questioning this at time and always wonder about it. Now it's time to ask.
"Botan, what was your life before you become a ferry girl?"
Now that caught everyone's attention even Hiei, he turn towards the others most specifically at the blue-haired deity. The others were also curious of Botan's life. Who was she when she was not a ferry girl back then?
When the question have been dropped on her, she only smile. A blank smile.
"I'm sorry Yusuke, but I prefer to have my past as a secret" she stated.
Now that made everyone quite taken back. Botan's usual cheery voice have a slight strained in it, then a tad bit of coldness in it. Botan does not voice out any words that have coldness and emptiness in it, even if it's little.
Her past must be a sensitive topic for her.
The atmosphere become tense all of a sudden as Botan just look at them with a blank look. An expression they never seen her do. She stand up and excuse herself.
There was a moment of silence before Keiko spoke up.
"Maybe we shouldn't brought up that topic again. I never seen Botan looks so tense and rigid except when there is danger. Her past isn't something she wanted remember" she sighed, feeling concern for her friend.
"We won't, but that doesn't mean I would stop from knowing her past. I feel like she's the the only one whom we don't know of too much even though she's always the closest to us. I feel mysteriousness shrouding in her" Yusuke sighed.
"I would have to agree on Urameshi" Kuwabara said.
"Botan is like a sister of mine, so therefore I would also want to get to know more about her. What if she have nightmares of her past and we didn't even know? Botan is very good at putting on a mask" Kurama whispered the last part to himself.
Putting on another cigarette on her lips, Shizuru said. "You guys seem persistent in getting to know Botan's past".
"Well she is like a sister to us" Kuwabara shrugged.
Hiei, even he wouldn't want to admit, that Botan is like a sister to him also. She always act like a caring older sister to Yukina unlike him, thus she always talk to him even though he threatened to slice her throat.
Yukina would have wish that Botan was her older sister. The blue-haired deity is always the one to console her when she have nightmares of Tarakune wanting her tear gems and inflicting pain to her dear animal friends.
In the end, all of them agreed to find out Botan's past, one way or another.
"What are we doing in Makai, Yusuke?" Keiko asked warily as they walk in the forest.
"Because Kurama said that there is a magical wishing well here" the half-demon exclaimed while pointing at the kitsune.
"It's true there's a wishing well. All we need is to wish our desire and it will grant us" the red-head said while looking up from the book he was holding.
They walk for a good few minutes when they saw a wishing well. Kuwabara and Yusuke grinned before dashing towards the well in excitement, wanting already to say their wishes, but of course Shizuru and Keiko immediately clomped their mouth before they could open it.
"Yusuke, you idiot, don't say anything yet!" the brunette scowled.
"Owwwwieee" Yusuke cried out.
Kuwabara was trying his best to get away from his sister's punches. Yukina, Hiei, and Kurama sweatdropped at the scene infront of them.
"Okay kids, let's stop the ruckus and continue on our task" Kurama said maturely.
Both girls stop assaulting the two spirit detectives and went towards the rest as if beating up the two boys is nothing. Hiei drag the two idiots towards them, pushing them towards the wishing well.
"Oi! Oi! Quit it, Hiei!"
"How can a shorty like you be able to drag me?"
Hiei smirked, "Easy. Your's just weak" he said to Kuwabara who fume in anger.
Kurama sighed. "Let's just get on with our task"
With that said, everyone face the wishing well and simultaneously said. "We wish to know about Botan's past". A bright light appeared immediately engulfing them.
••••
"Ooh" Yusuke groaned. "Where are we?" he look around as he stand up after being drop to the ground harshly. The others stand up also, looking at the scenery infront of them.
All they saw was they were in the village, a fresh river at the side of the village with growing rare flowers surrounding it. At the other side of the village was a forest, bright green leaves of the trees were swaying because of the fresh air.
"Where are we?" Keiko asked, looking around.
Then all of a sudden, humans went out of their houses, walking right passed through them and were not even giving them a glance.
"It looks like they can't see us, but where are we? If we're at Botan's past life, we must find her" Kurama said, searching for a familiar blue-haired deity.
"Botan, my dear little sister, where are you?"
That caught thew gang's attention as they turn their heads towards a handsome guy. He have a messy midnight blue hair and have the same amethyst-colored eyes just like Botan's. He's wearing a kimono that were for guys and a hakama. A dual swords were hanging at his back.
"Where is that munchkin?" the handsome guy sighed and run a hand through his hair.
"Onii-sama! Onii-sama!" a high-pitch of a voice that belongs to a kid resounded in their ears. They all turn around to see the cute and adorable, little Botan. She still have her usual light-blue hair and amethyst-colored eyes. A bright and pure smile was on her face when she saw her older brother.
"Botan is sooo cute" Keiko and Yukina gushed.
"Where did you run off to, you munchkin? I was practically looking for you everywhere" the handsome teen crossed his arm and playfully glared at his little sister.
"Wait a minute. Botan have an older brother?!" Yusuke's jaw dropped.
"Well she did call him 'onii-sama'. That stands for, older brother, right?" Shizuru said while litting up another cigarette.
"Gomen nasai, Yuu-nii-sama. I just went to the forest and played with my friend there" Botan grinned sheepishly while rubbing the back of her head.
The gang watch as the handsame guy name Yuu, have his eyes flickering a flashing glint in it. He furrowed his eyebrows at his little sister before crouching on the ground, putting both his hands on her shoulders.
"Don't go to the forest over again, some wild creatures might attack you there. You know how much I love you, right? You're my precious little sister, I can't afford anything happening to you" he smiled.
His smile in the other's point of view would be affectionate, but to the Rekai Tantei and the girls, it seems as though it seems malicious and mischievous. They couldn't pinpoint what it was, but they need to watch this guy.
"I love you too, Yuu-nii-sama. I love you very much" you could tell from Botan's eyes that those words were sincere and true. Everything in her screams, purity.
The gang smiled (even Hiei, although his was small) at Botan's honesty. They could really tell from her eyes that she really did love him.
"Now go home, imouto-chan. Our parents are probably waiting for you" he slightly ushered her towards the direction of their home.
Botan nodded and went away.
As soon as she left, Yuu rolled his eyes in annoyance in which made the gang narrowed their eyes at him.
"Tsk. It's really bothersome to show kindness in that pesky little brat. I don't even know what's gotten into my parents' minds to actually gave birth to her. She's nothing, but a disturbance to my plan" he sneered before walking away.
Hearing those words, the gang have their fist clench except for Yukina who look horrified at what she heard from Botan's older brother.
"That bastard! How dare he! How dare he says those words to Botan when she love him! I'm going to freaking beat him up!" Yusuke ranted, cursing here and there.
"Let's tear his limbs apart" Kuwabara scowled.
Kurama have felt the urge to turn into his Youko form and let that asshole taste of his deadly plants. No one, I mean no one gets alive when he heard someone insulting who was dearest to him.
Hiei might not show it, but his eyes have the look that says 'I'm-freaking-going-to-kill-you-when-I-manage-to-see-you-somehow'.
Keiko is angry, really angry. Her bestfriend, Botan, didn't even know that her own older brother was only faking! Faking his actions towards her earlier.
Shizuru have her eyes narrowed.
As they keep on ranting and cursing Botan's older brother, a bright light appeared, transferring them into another part of Botan's past life.
All of them cough when they suddenly inhaled smokes. Wait. Smokes?
Their eyes widen when they saw the beautiful looking scenery suddenly turn into chaos with fire everywhere. They saw many people getting slaughtered, tortured very slowly, and many kids getting killed also.
"What the hell?!" Yusuke cried out in shock and anger.
"Yusuke! Look!" Keiko cried out while pointing somewhere with a horrified expression.
Everyone turn around to where she was pointing, they gasped. Botan's older brother, Yuu, was holding his swords and was slaughtering many, many people. His clothes tainting with blood of many innocent people. A maniac grin was plastered on his face.
"Kill. Blood. Corpses! I want all of them dead, I want them to suffer. Kill all of them, no one must live. Everyone must died. Everyone!" he laughed evilly.
"Yuu! What have gotten into you?! Why are you doing this?!" a man with a midnight blue hair, the same with Yuu, cried out with a horrified and betrayed look. He's holding a sword in his hand and behind him was a woman with light-blue hair and light-blue eyes while holding a baby in her arms and little Botan who was standing at the side while holding her mother's kimono with wide, terrified eyes.
"Y-Yuu-nii-sama" she choked out, tears started forming in her eyes.
Yuu grinned seeing the look in his little sister's eyes. "Do you not love me anymore, Botan? Do you not love me anymore?" he pretended to be sad, but then laugh immediately like a mad man.
"Go! Escape immediately, Shimizu. Hurry!" the man ordered to the woman who look shock and scared.
"What about you?" she asked, worriedly.
"Don't worry about me. I'll hold him off while you and the girls escape. Hurry!" he ordered, looking away when he saw his wife's and Botan's cries.
"Outo-san! Outo-san, please come with us" Botan pleaded as she tugged on her father's kimono, but he swatted her away, not even looking when he heard her fallen to the ground and started crying.
Yukina and Keiko started crying, seeing Botan pleading and crying as her mother tried to drag her away from her maniac older brother and her caring father. They saw Botan's father shed a single tear before they immediately followed Botan and her mother with the baby in her arms.
Little Botan keeps on crying, calling out for her father even though she knew he would never survive. Her older brother have gone insane.
Shimizu, Botan's mother, stop dragging her daughter and turn to face her daughter with her tear-stricken face. She crouch down.
"Botan. Botan, listen to me" Shimizu said, trying to be stern as she held here daughter's face with her one hand.
"I know, I know that you're suffering, you're hurting. But, you need to be strong, a brave older sister to your new baby sister" she look down to the ground, choking in her own sobs.
The gang heard the shouts of the enemies and they look at Botan and her mother with wide and terrified eyes.
"Here. Take this with you" Shimizu took out a necklace from her neck and put it on her daughter's. "Hide here and don't come out. Don't come out until they're gone" she push her daughter into the hole of the tree and handed her new baby sister in her hands.
"Take care of her. Take her somewhere safe. Remember that me and your father always love the two of you *sobs* I love you. I love you" Shimizu hugged her daughters as she kissed them in their foreheads.
Botan held back a sob when she heards the enemies coming in closer. Her mother immediately went out as Botan peek a bit to see what her mother would do.
"Why did she went out?! She could have hide also!" Kuwabara growls.
"Baka!" Hiei exclaimed, surprising them. "Their enemies from what I have observe have a good sense of smell, the onna's mother probably knew that and was trying to distract them" they saw his hands, clenching. His form slightly trembling.
The sound of the woman's painful scream made them look at the scene infront of them. Their eyes widen in pure anger, disgust, and hatred when they saw the enemies, cutting the woman's flesh and have a crazy bloodlust in their eyes as they cackled.
Keiko screamed as she covered her eyes, seeing a disgusting scene.
The guys feel as though they wanted to throw up when they saw the enemies eating Botan's mother's inside. Bloods were everywhere and also the intestines.
Shizuru look away as Yukina immediately look towards Botan's wide and horrified face.
"Botan!" she cried out, making the others turn towards little Botan. Their eyes widened.
"Botan! Look away! Don't look" Keiko pleaded even though she knew its pointless.
"I-It's all that bastard's fault!" Yusuke screamed loudly and attempted to punch something, but it only went pass him, doubling his anger.
Kurama lowered his head, to let his bangs covered his eyes. His emerald eyes having a misty look in them.
Little Botan shook her head to make her focus, she shouldn't be weak right now, she need to find a place that have her little sister safe. She's so busy in thinking that she didn't saw one of the enemies, grinning and immediately draw out his knife.
The gang shouted for her to run away immediately. Even Hiei joined in. His eyes now terrified and misty.
Botan let out a strangle cry of pain when the enemy stab her back, she immediately held her baby sister tightly and run away as fast as her feet can. She ignored the stinging pain at her back as she tried to outrun the enemies in the now snowing night. Her blood, leaving a trail behind her.
Her eyes were getting blurry because of the loss of blood, but she continue to run until she saw a nearest village. She smile a bit when she saw a person, she immediately went towards the person. It was a woman.
The woman gasped when she saw a wounded little girl with a baby in her arms.
"Ohmy! What happened to you, little girl?" she took out a sword in her sheath and immediately went towards Botan, taking the baby when Botan thrust her to her.
"P-Please...ta-take..ca-care...o-of..her" she breathe out, her lips looking pale and so were whole body. Blood was still dripping at her back. She cough, spitting out her own blood in the white snow.
She fell to her knees and the woman immediately held her, her eyes widening in fright and concern.
"S-She...do-doesn't...ha-have a..name yet" she cough again, she shakily took her mother's necklace and put it on her baby sister's neck.
"I..lo-love her...p-please ta-take...care..of..her..for..me. She..She's my little sister" Botan draw out her last breathe as a single tear have now landed on the snow.
Her skin going pale as the woman layed her at the warm snow. The woman shed a single tear, promising that she'll take care of her little sister and protect her.
The gang were now crying, they didn't care when the bright light appeared, transferring them to Genkai's temple in which Botan was there. She was surprised when they saw them crying.
"Guys, what happened? What happened to all of you? Why were you guys crying?" she asked worriedly as she walk towards Keiko and Yukina first, comforting them. Shushing them and assuring them.
She then went towards Shizuru and Kurama, embracing them and patting their heads. Then to Yusuke and Kuwabara, doing the same and then to Hiei. Running her hand through his hair and assuring him before letting go.
"We-We're so sorry, Botan. We went to Makai to find out about your past, we're so sorry. We now know about your older brother, your father, your mother, and your little sister" Keiko look at the ground, guiltily.
Botan sighed.
"It's alright, I'm not angry but I admit I'm a bit upset though." they were still guilty.
"Yuu-nii-san have died many years ago and I'm sure Outo-san and Okaa-san were in the paradise. As for my little sister" she smiled a bit. "I know she's safe and well-protected. I don't want her to experience the pain that I have gone through. I cherish her too much"
Somewhere at Makai, a midnight blue-haired teen was seating at the field of rare flowers, wearing a plain pink kimono with a peony necklace dangling on her neck.
She smiled as she watch the fishes played at the pond.