Chapter 2: Memories Resurfacing
Kurama eyed the blue haired ferry girl quietly as she sat by herself underneath a huge cherry tree. Her eyes dull and glassy, haunted. It had been three weeks since Koenma sent her here in ningenkai to rest, but instead of being rested, it seems that she was getting worse and worse. For the first week, she was their usual bubbly, energetic ferry girl… but then things started to change and she started staring off into space more and more. Even Yusuke and Kuwabara's teasing have not moved the ferry girl…
"Have you even tried talking with her, kitsune?"
He merely shook his head. "No, I have not, Hiei. I don't think she'll let anyone know what she's thinking of anyway. Keiko, Shizuru, Yukina and even Genkai-san have tried to talk to her, yet the answer that gives them is a shake of her head and a small sad smile."
The small fire demon looked down at his friend and snorted. "Some fox you are. Why don't you try and talk to her… you're the only one who can actually help her."
The red head merely raised his eyebrow and looked at his small companion. "And you know this…?"
Hiei had the decency to flush a bit. "She remembers bits and pieces of you, kitsune." He looked at the fox demon as he walked directly to the still stoic ferry girl before smirking and disappearing in a blink of an eye.
Botan stared blankly ahead, past memories consuming her. Memories of who she was, who she think she was. Closing her eyes, she moaned and held her throbbing head. What's going on? What's happening to me? Opening her eyes, she stared numbly at the grass beneath her, removing her left hand from the side of her face and deep into her azure locks, she slowly withdrew her hand and stared at the small seed she was now holding in front of her. A plant seed? In a few moments, the small seed began to unfurl to reveal a violet leafed plant. Hands trembling, she slowly lowered her hand and placed the plant beside her, watching as it slowly imbedded itself on the soil. Breathing deeply, she continued to stare at the plant, head snapping up at the low, soothing voice above her. Kurama…
"If you feed it enough youki, you'll be able to see it's true form…" the youkai thief knelt down beside the deity, his emerald gaze fixed on the small plant before him, extending his hand he slowly touched one of the leaves, feeding it just enough youki. The plant slowly grew in front of them, the tiny bud on top of it slowly unfurling to reveal the bright red blossom of the youkai plant. He smiled enigmatically at the beautiful flower, Beautiful but deadly… his gaze watched as Botan lifted her hand and move to touch the flower. The plant, unsure of her intention turned towards her, the flower spread its petals wide revealing razor sharp spikes within, but before it could strike her, the plant kept still as her hand hovered inches of the blossom. Returning to its normal state, it let the ferry girl touch its head, the demon plant enjoying the soft petting it was receiving at the moment.
Botan lifted her amethyst orbs to meet emerald gazing softly down at her. She tilted her head at a slight angle as she continued to look at him with confusion in her gaze. Kurama merely looked at her and slowly lowered his face to her own confused ones. Lifting his hands to softly cradle her face, he continued to look deep into her eyes as he lowered his head to hers. Amethyst orbs widened then slowly lowered close when she felt his lips close onto her own. Hand dropping from the plant, her head becoming a weight in his hands, Kurama smirked deep in his head and took the kiss deeper. Releasing her a few moments later, his eyes gleamed gold with satisfaction as he gazed at her dazed half-lidded eyes. Stroking her cheek, he rubbed his nose affectionately over hers.
"Youko…"
Time stopped.
Both stared at one another.
Amber tinged with green stared at light purplish eyes.
His hands tightened its hold on her face, and with a low growl, he took her lips again in a deep searing kiss. Ignoring her startled gasp, he thrust his tongue in to partake her sweetness. Two hundred years… One of his hands drifted down to her waist and tugged her forcefully towards him, purring in contentment when her arms wrapped themselves around his neck, one slender hand fisted on his unruly red mane. Releasing her soft bruised lips, Kurama's golden hued gaze looked at the woman he had chosen as his own life-mate… two hundred years ago.
Softly gasping, Botan looked at the demon that held her in his arms, memories flashing in her head. One particular memory remained fixed… amber eyes on the face of a silver haired fox. "Youko…" she whispered then gasped as hot searing pain engulfed her body once again as it had for the past few weeks. Collapsing on the kitsune's surprised arms, the ferry girl faintly felt him wrap his arms around her, worriedly calling her name. She then felt his arms lift her slight body and hurried indoors where she dimly heard him call for Genkai-baasan and Yukina-chan. Looking up to his worried face, she let a small smile make its way to her lips. The pain was still there as well as the confusion about her past, but looking at the demon holding her protectively in his arms, she smiled happily. He will help me remember… Youko Kurama…
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"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU MEAN BY THAT?!!!!!"
Koenma flinched at Yusukes's yell. He sighed and stiffened in fear at the golden eyed glare that Kurama was giving him. He coughed and focused his eyes on the ferry girl sitting beside the kitsune, her eyes gleaming with unshed tears. In all her time working with him as his ferry girl, he had never seen her shed a tear… save one episode when she had to escort Genkai-san's spirit to Reikai. He sighed, "I'm really sorry about this Botan… but you have to remain here in Ningenkai for the time being until Enma Dioh makes his decision."
The black haired teen glared at the prince of reikai in anger. "Koenma! How can you allow that? I mean Botan is, and has been your most trusted ferry girl. Even you told us of her unwavering loyalty to Reikai… how can you just sit there and tell her that she's not allowed to step back into Reikai, for no apparent reasons?!!"
Koenma closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose to ward of the impending headache that was soon to come. "They have reasons Yusuke…." The teen merely glared at him. "What reasons?!!"
"Same reason that my father issued an extermination warrant for you back then."
At his announcement, the entire room went silent. It was Kuwabara who spoke first. "Teme, what do you mean by that?"
Koenma sighed and wearily answered, "Botan has youkai blood in her as well."
Yusuke choked. "But how? She's a reiki ferry girl! Now way she could have youkai blood in her!"
The girls, Keiko, Shizuru, Yukina and Genkai looked at Botan first, then to Koenma. Botan paled at Koenma's words. When he told her that she is not allowed to step in Reikai for the time being, she felt as is someone had kicked her in the chest… hard. But after hearing Koenma's words, a bright light engulfed her, surprising everyone in the room. When the bright light vanished, they saw a small orb forming on Botan's chest. Curious amethyst eyes looked down to her chest and tentatively tried to hold on to the orb, when her fingers touched the small orb, memories flashed back into her head, making her remember everything. When she opened her eyes, she saw that the orb was a violet crescent shaped crystal that hung on her neck as a necklace. Her eyes widened when she realized what the necklace was, her eyes turning to the fox demon beside her.
A slight smirk was plastered on the kitsune's face as he eyed the gleaming jewel on his mate's chest. He had wondered where it had gone to, wondered for a long time if someone had removed the jewel from her body. His eyes gleamed dangerously when he looked up and met her amethyst orbs and knew… the woman that was taken from him was back.
"Holy shit!!! What the hell was that?!!"
Keiko rolled her eyes and elbowed Yusuke firmly. Trust her boyfriend to ruin an exceptionally romantic moment…
Botan looked at everyone. Her eyes meeting Koenma who was staring at the necklace on her neck. "Botan… where did you get that necklace?" came the strangled voice from Koenma.
She shook her head slowly, "I'm not so sure myself…" she said softly as her eyes searched the kisune's own golden gaze
"Eh? What's so special about that necklace anyway?" Kuwabara asked as he continued to look at Koenma, Botan and Kurama and back to Koenma.
"That is the jewel of memories. A powerful crystal that can be used to store one's memories… it was kept in possession in Reikai for thousands of years…" Topaz orbs hardened as he looked at the fox demon. "It had been stolen almost two hundred and sixty years ago by Youko Kurama… but no one was able to prove that he still has it in his possession."
Kurama merely smirked and shrugged nonchalantly. "Your security has not changed ever since."
"Eh? If Kurama stole it… then how come its with Botan now?" Keiko asked them
The fox demon looked at the spirit detective's girlfriend. "I gave it to her."
"Eh? I don't…"
Everyone looked at the ferry girl who was looking at Kurama's eyes questioningly, "I don't remember you giving me a necklace."
The red head merely shook his head. "Iie… you don't…" his golden gaze turned into muted emerald has he gazed at her with sadness and regret. His hand fingered the crystal that hung around her neck. "I told your parents to bury it with your body… so that when the time comes… you'd still be able to remember…"
Crystalline tears fell from her face as she held on to his hand. "You told me you'd go on…" she whispered brokenly, Kurama merely looked at her sadly and cupped her tear streaked face gently. "I did. I continued the lifestyle that I knew even when you were gone… but I never said that I'll find another mate…" at her surprised gaze he chuckled. "Kitsune's mate for life, Botan-chan"
"Whoa… somebody explain please?" Yusuke muttered as he eyed the two lovers in front of them earning him a fierce knock to the head curtsey of Keiko and Genkai.
Botan couldn't help but chuckle at her friends antics and felt lighter than ever in the past few weeks. All her memories were now intact making her understand who she really was and who exactly the gorgeous red head sitting beside her with an arm draped possessively on her waist means to her. Her eyes was so fixed on her friends antics that only Kurama and Hiei noticed the sad, longing look that Koenma was sporting at the moment as he looked at Botan.
Hn. It seems that our reikai prince has feelings for your mate…
Kurama merely frowned and looked at his friend who was sitting quietly at the opposite end of the room. As long as he doesn't interfere with us… he will have no problem with me… Botan is mine. Came the soft answer to Hiei's telepathic comment
Hn…
"So? Are you going to explain or not?" wailed Yusuke who was currently wincing at the hold that Keiko has on his ear at the moment. At his words, everyone settled and looked expectantly at Botan and Kurama.
The blue haired ferry girl breathed deeply and looked at her friends in the room. "Has any of you have any idea as to what a youkairenji means?" At her soft inquiry, Genkai and Hiei's eyes widened while Yukina uttered a soft gasp.
"Demo, I thought the youkairenji were just a mythical clan… that they don't exist…" the ice apparition whispered in surprise.
Botan merely giggled. "I assure you Yukina-chan… they do exist. The only thing that made them so mysterious is that because none have dared to leave their sacred village… they don't do well outside of their territory." She added ruefully. "Youkairenji are as what you have heard of them. They are born as ningens, have reiki sprit and has youkai blood running in their veins. A combination of the three realms if you can say. The youkairenji's usually have balance between the three. Ningen body, and a balance in their reiki spirit and youkai blood. A slight shift only happens once in a thousand years… either one is born with an extraordinary amount of youkai blood, or reiki spirit." Her brows furrowed at her next words. "Ningen's hated the youkairenji because of their skills and abilities which they were able to use due to their youkai blood. Youkai's have hunted them down due to their ningen body and reiki spirit… and reikai… let's just say that reikai doesn't want to have anything to with them… as much as possible."
"Does that mean you're a youkairenji… Botan-chan?"
The ferry girl merely smiled and nodded at her friend. "Hai. I was born as a youkairenji… born with an extraordinary amount of reiki." At her words, Botan smiled and held the crystal that hung from her neck.
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AN: Gaaaaah!!! I know it's short… please bear with me… it's been a long time!! Reviews please….!!!
Aoi-chan