Well, I would like to personally thank my one reviewer, cool shiwase, who encouraged me to continue with my fifty short stories challenge. So continue I shall. This one will be much, much shorter than the last one.

And I take all criticism like a man, so please don't hesitate to point out mistakes.

I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho, but it would be really nice if I did.

Short Story #2: Point of View.

Genre: Romance/Friendship.

Pairing: Shizuru/Sakyo, Shizuru/Botan.

Scenario: it's a few months after Yusuke returned from the Makai, and he and his friends decide to take a summer vacation at a beach. The crew decides to go out partying one night and is shocked when Shizuru decides to stay behind to just chill out.

Song for Inspiration: Speeding Cars by Imogen Heap.


"Are you sure, sis?"

Shizuru held the phone loosely in between her ear and shoulder as an unlit cigarette dangled in between her index and middle finger. Her brother's voice was confused, which Shizuru imagined it would be after she had just declined an offer to go clubbing and party with her friends. Her crossed arms rested on the railing of the balcony, the ocean in front of her moving lazily among the shore.

"Yeah," she replied, reaching into her back pocket for a lighter. "I'm just kind of tired. I think I'll hang out here for awhile."

It wasn't as if she was lying to Kazuma- she really wasn't in the mood to go out at the moment, which was sort of a shock to her. Usually she would be the one to request that the group go out, and be the one leading the pack as they went off to drink and cause havoc among the town. But on that certain evening, Shizuru wasn't up for it. Not to mention that the view from the balcony of the girl's hotel room was absolutely gorgeous and not worth giving up to go babysit.

"It's just not like you…" was that a hint of worry in her brother's voice? Shizuru couldn't help but smile softly at her brother's concern. Sure, he was big, annoying, impatient and sometimes stupid, but the guy had a big heart and a soft spot for friends and family. And kittens.

"…Usually you would be the one to-"

"I know, I know." Shizuru interrupted her brother before he could finish telling her the obvious. "I'm alright, Kazuma. I just want some "me time". If that's alright with you." The last sentence was laced with sarcasm- both parties knew that Shizuru didn't give a damn if anyone had something against her choice of entertainment for the evening.

Kazuma sighed, and Shizuru heard the obnoxious voice of Urameshi in the background; "Is she not coming? Hell, what a shocker." She then heard Keiko's scolding and Yukina's giggling.

"I'll call you later, bro. Don't worry about me." Before her brother could get defensive and proclaim that he wasn't worried, she closed her cell phone shut and tossed it into a cushioned chair on the balcony. Maybe a vacation wasn't a bad idea.

Shortly after Yusuke came back, the group had decided to plan a summer vacation. With the "group" being Yusuke, Keiko, Kazuma, Yukina, Botan and Shizuru, there wasn't much to choose from that they all could agree on, so the beach was the best idea. Not much had changed between the friends. The only major differences were the engagement ring on Keiko's finger and the tidbit or two of maturity Yusuke had gained from being away.

God, this is gorgeous. Shizuru thought softly, bringing the cigarette to her lips and bringing her black lighter into view. After all this time the thing still worked like new, and she wondered how long it would be until the lighter grew old and no longer worked. She had planned on stowing it away after it's expiration, or maybe just carrying it around with her to keep the memory alive. But the flame was still bright and the lighter itself still had somewhat of a shiny texture. She tossed it around in her hand for awhile before sighing wistfully at the memories that came back to her- that gorgeous voice, that certain hairstyle, and that aura of wealth that blew her away when she was in his presence.

"Sakyo." She sighed his name, holding the lighter tightly in her palm. The only memory she had of the one man that meant any romantic significance to her was the black lighter that he had tossed to her moments before the building came crashing down, killing him. If Koenma hadn't held her back, she probably would have run straight for him, and the building would have killed her as well. She didn't want to replay the scene in her head, but how could she not? She really liked Sakyo, even if he was sick and twisted and probably psychologically challenged. Hell, he had saved her ass at least twice, which she was grateful for more than he ever knew.

Sakyo!

She would never admit it to God or anyone, but she was haunted by the few words he had ever said to her, and that simple smile he sported as the walls around him began to crash down and take his life. What if he had decided to live, to give one more try? Would he even want to leave with Shizuru? Probably not, but alive was better than dead. Or so Shizuru wanted to believe.

Shizuru Kuwabara was not a crier. At all. Yet she shed some heavy tears at the sight of Sakyo just before he met his death. She had promised herself that she would not cry for him ever again, because they were wasted tears and would bring no peace to her scarred heart. But she couldn't help but feel a sting of envy whenever she saw Keiko and Yusuke joyfully enjoying the other's company, or whenever they hugged or kissed or did whatever it was young couples did. Even her brother had a love now- a love that was completely oblivious. Still, Yukina was cute. And having her as an in-law would be nice, if she would actually become aware of Kazuma's love for her.

Pfft. That's two things she doesn't know. Shizuru thought coldly, inhaling sharply on her cigarette. She has a boy that is completely in love her, and she has a brother. She felt her teeth begin to grit, and her mouth felt pain. But still, it pissed her off that the dark-headed fire demon runt wouldn't just fess up. After all her searching, Yukina deserved to know by now. Damn that Hiei, the selfish bastard.

She took the cigarette from her mouth and exhaled to let off some steam. She really didn't hate Hiei, she just couldn't figure out why he wouldn't tell Yukina that he was her brother. He had stated his reasons before, but they mostly revolved around his background of crime. But Yukina was aware of his reputation, and didn't show resentment to him at all. Then again, Yukina didn't show resentment to anyone.

Hiei didn't show his face much anymore. Shizuru didn't know if that was because he was too tied up with Mukuro or if he feared discovery. She had seen him twice since Yusuke came back- once at Genkai's temple, whilst the other time she just saw a quick glance of him- a shadow moving among the night in the city around two in the morning. The first time she saw him, when he was at Genkai's, he was at Kurama's side, and didn't talk much at all unless it was a murmur or two to his red-headed partner.

Kurama, or Shuichi, as he mother and peers called him, was a mystery to Shizuru. He was gorgeous, charismatic and smart, and was quiet when he had nothing to say. But what Shizuru couldn't wrap her mind around was how someone so kind and soft-spoken could ever had been the "King of Thieves". She had seen his fox-demon alter ego before, and by god was he gorgeous, but it didn't look like Shuichi and it didn't feel like or sound like Shuichi. Was it true that two completely different people were actually mended into one, or was Kurama much more like Yoko Kurama then Shizuru had thought? It mystified her in many ways, but she chose just to enjoy the fox-demon's beauty while she still didn't know anything.

Before Shizuru could move on to a new subject, she was snapped back into reality by two arms wrapped around her shoulders, and a tiny blue head perched on her shoulder. "Wow, it's beautiful out here!"

Shizuru looked at the other woman for a second and then turned her head back to the ocean. "Yeah it is." was her vague reply.

"Why are you all alone, Shizuru?" Botan inquired in her usually peppy voice before retracting her arms and joining her friend at her side.

The much more mortal of the two just shrugged. "The rest of them went out clubbing. I decided to stay here."

Botan turned to look at her friend. "Doesn't sound like you at all. Are you alright?"

Shizuru chuckled. "I'm fine. I'm just…"

"Thinking." Botan finished her friend's sentence with a smile.

"Yeah."

"What about?"

"Well, everything."

"And what would 'everything' happen to include?"

"People."

"I see."

The two were silent for a while, but of course Botan was the one to break the silence.

"Well… are you done thinking?" she rested her head on Shizuru's shoulder sweetly, obviously bored and wanting some fun.

"Not really." Shizuru said with a smile. "I haven't gotten to you yet."

"Oh." Botan cuddled next to her best friend. "Well then we obviously are far from finished here."

Shizuru laughed in agreement. "I was thinking… about him, mostly, and about Yukina and my brother and Hiei and Kurama."

"Sakyo?"

Shizuru nodded.

"Why Hiei? I haven't seen him in a long time."

Shizuru shrugged. Her replies were wordless, but Botan still chatted on, continuing to cuddle next to Shizuru.

"How long does it take you to think about people? Yukina's cute, your brother is well, your brother, I mean come on…"

The taller girl just sighed. Botan was an understander, but not a listener. She decided to change the subject while Botan wasn't to deep into detail.

"Look," Shizuru began, "shouldn't you be out with the others?"

Botan giggled. "No, I was taking a nap. The awful smell of nicotine woke me up." With the last sentence, she shot a sarcastic glare of anger at Shizuru.

"Oh, shut up."

Botan laughed.

For being the Grim Reaper, Botan sure was a peppy little thing. Someone who was surrounded by death and ugly ogres every day some how was able to constantly be smiling. It fascinated Shizuru.

The brunette was caught off guard by a quick kiss to the cheek. "I'm off, then."

"Where are you going?" Shizuru couldn't help but notice the disappointment in her own voice.

"Catch up with the others. When you're done thinking, you can join us too."

Shizuru smiled. "You know what?" she said smiling, smushing her cigarette under her shoe. "Give me ten minutes. I'll go with you."

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Rushed Ending. As usual. Im sorry, I cant help it. I just get soo excited when I finish something. Probably will be edited.

Kthnx.