Author's Note (07.06.2009): Thank you everyone for your positive responses. I'm glad that so many of you are enjoying this story. If there are any words/phrases that you do not understand, please feel free to ask in a review or even message me/mail me. I would be more than happy to tell you the answer.

Secrets Secrets Are No Fun II
Secret IV: Relationship

And thus, my misery continues, a redhead thought while he wiped down a table. After rearranging the small flower vase and fixing the napkin holder, he pushed in the chairs and tucked the washcloth neatly in the back of his apron. He then straightened his tie and attended to one of the customers in the café. After refilling hers and her friend's cups, the young man went to the next table to clean up after leaving patrons.

"Thank you for coming," he said in farewell as the spirited girls walked past him.

"No, it was our pleasure," they blushed while quickly rushing out the door. Kurama looked down at the table and noticed a generous tip left behind by them. Even if a gratuity was already added to their checks to make his paycheck, these girls always left him a tip. Probably in hopes that I'll remember them, he sighed while sweeping the money into the front left pocket of his apron. Not like I'll have the chance to forget them since they come here every day I work.

Wanting to push those types out of his mind, Kurama set to work on clearing the table. When he heard the door bell jingle as he wiped down the table, he looked up to welcome the entering customer. "Ah, welcome to—Botan-kun, it's you." He couldn't help but to grin, a grin that every female in the café couldn't help but to notice. "Would you like to start with the usual today?"

Botan's skin prickled as she felt the intensity of twenty-some odd glares shot in her direction. Had she done something wrong? "But Syuuichi-senpai, I—"

"We've already discussed this," he sternly cut her off while leading her to her usual table. While pushing Botan forward, Kurama turned his dazzling smile towards the other customers. However, behind the sparkles rested angry intent which forced the jealous girls to look away shamefully and apologetically. Kurama had sensed their malice directed towards Botan and would not stand for any of it; and if he had to use some of his Youko "charm" to protect her, then so be it.

"You don't have to worry about anything and order whatever you want on the menu," he assured while seating the human girl. "I'll take care of it all. Just enjoy your time here and have what you want." He smiled while opening a menu for her. "And besides, I hear that tea is very good for students: clears up your blood, helps you to focus, and keeps you awake. That and it makes a very good drink to have with some cake."

I just can't resist his smile. Honestly, I'm totally powerless against him. Shyly Botan lifted her amethyst eyes and admired Syuuichi. Dressed in his work uniform, the already gorgeous Minamino Syuuichi could fulfill any school girl fantasy that dealt with a butler or manservant. He wore a crisp white shirt with a black tie and matching buttoned vest, slacks, and shoes; his apron that he wore around his waist was the same shade of jet. Syuuichi completed the serving ensemble by tying his crimson tresses back into a ponytail. But then again, who can resist him like this?

"Thank you, Syuuichi-senpai," the dark-haired girl murmured. "I'll just have some tea and strawberry cake and let you get back to work."

"As you wish," he answered while tucking her menu behind the napkin holder. "I'll put that there so you can look at it later. Just let me know if you need anything else, Botan-kun."

"Un, I will."

After delivering her order, he went to attend to other patrons, all the while keeping one eye on Botan. Not that he needed to worry: she sat quietly by herself, studying and completing her homework while enjoying her tea and cake. I never would have thought that Botan could sit still for so long, he mused. She was always energetic and moving about when we worked on cases for Spirit World.

"Ne, Minamino-kun," the manager grinned cattily when Kurama retreated to the back of the shop and into the kitchen. She expertly stacked up coffee cups and delicate dessert plates while she spoke. "Is cute little Star-chan* here by herself today too?"

"Ah, I'm afraid so."

Finishing her tasks, the manager peeked through the small window on the door. "Ne, Minamino-kun, why won't Star-chan come here with any friends? She's cute and sweet. I would think that she would be much more popular." When she returned her attention to her male employee, the manager's eyes were lit with an animalistic glint. "I was hoping that she would bring in MUCH MORE customers!"

"Manager-san, you know Botan-kun's situation," Kurama coughed, trying to hold back his laughter in reaction to his boss. He quickly straightened his face. "It's a little hard for her to make friends when she's feeling so insecure about herself right now. I'm just glad that she's becoming comfortable with the staff here."

"Ne, I guess so," the manager sighed. "It's a good thing that Star-chan is feeling comfortable here even though she still doesn't remember anything. But don't make her jealous now, you hear?"

Kurama chuckled while he collected the orders he had come to retrieve. "Jealous?" He scoffed at the farfetched idea. If only he could make Botan jealous over him! Doing so would boost his confidence greatly about her feelings for him. Unfortunately thus far, he still had made no progress at all. "That's silly, Manager-san. Why would Botan-kun be jealous?"

"Oh, come on, Minamino-kun," a fellow waitress Eiko scolded while she entered the conversation. Her break had just started, and she had hastily retreated to the kitchen. "There's only one reason why Star-chan would come to the café every day that you're working."

"Eh?"

"And honestly, why do you think our business has doubled since you've started working?" the manager sighed. She stared back out into the lively café filled with teenage girls chattering away. "They all want to see the cute new waiter that I've hired recently. I think they're hoping that you'll fall in love with one of them at first sight." She shook her head at all of them. None of those girls realized what they were messing with.

It was true: the manager of the café did know about Botan's situation. In fact, she had seen her Star-chan and Minamino-kun weeks and weeks before the redhead had started working for her. Quite a few times the pair had entered Manager-san's café and had spent hours together. At a distance, anyone could see that Minamino-kun and Star-chan had feelings for each other. From these seen interactions, Manager-san had thought that Syuuichi and Botan were dating; but when Syuuichi started working for her he had cleared up that misunderstanding.

Ha, as if they're "just friends," Manager-san scoffed when she remembered Syuuichi's explanation. They just haven't come clean with their feelings yet, that's all. And now it'll be difficult for Minamino-kun with Star-chan's memories gone. Well, that doesn't mean the rest of us can't help him a little.

"Be careful, okay Minamino-kun? Don't go and make Star-chan jealous by giving too much attention to some other girl. I don't want her getting hurt now because of something stupid you did."

"What?"

"You are trying to win her heart, aren't you?" another co-worker named Arisu demanded while entering from the back. She had just come in for her shift. "When it comes to girls, Minamino-kun, you have to be careful. Star-chan looks like the type to easily misunderstand and feel hurt."

How are they all involved in my love life? Kurama thought with an uneasy smile.

"Well, then I'm sure that Minamino-kun won't cause misunderstandings. He'll behave and become her prince, ne?" Putting a new hot cup of tea and a slice of strawberry cake on a tray, Eiko handed it to Kurama and pushed him back out into the main room. "I'm sure that Star-chan needs a refill. And I bet that she'll appreciate a snack too."

"Thank you," Kurama grinned at his boss and co-workers while he went to deliver the tea and cake. When he approached Botan, he asked her while setting down the fresh cup of tea and slice of cake, "How is your studying coming along?"

Ever so cheerful and grateful for the refills, Botan answered him, "A little slower than I had hoped, actually. I don't quite understand how to conjugate these English verbs. Koutaishi-sensei tells me that I keep mixing them up."

"Would you like a little help? Here, show me your work." Shyly Botan showed her English notebook. She held her breath as Kurama moved closer to her, the young lady able to feel the heat of his body behind her. Her ears turned pink as they felt Kurama's breath against her ear. "Ah, look right here, Botan-kun," the air puffed while the young man pointed to a spot in her notebook. "This 'loving' here should be 'loves.' Even though 'loving' is continuous, in this case it's better to say, 'He loves her,' rather than, 'He loving her.' Does that help?"

"U-un," she managed to nod while fixing her mistake. "Thank you, Syuuichi-senpai. Heh, now maybe I'll be able to get better marks in English."

"How much longer were you planning on staying here?"

I knew it, Botan thought guiltily. I'm bothering Syuuichi-senpai at work. Embarrassed, she stammered, "I-I-I don't know. I s-suppose I was going to leave soon."

"Well…would you mind staying for another hour? My shift is about to end."

Eh? "So early, Senpai?"

"Well, today it kind of changed up," he informed her while collecting her empty teacup and dessert plate. His cheeks pinked, even though he had recently asked Botan this several times. "So do you want to walk home together tonight?"

Eagerly she responded, "Ah, yes."

"Then wait for me."

"Okay."

An hour later, Kurama rushed to the back of the store and told the manager while he changed into his school uniform, "I'm ending my shift early today, Manager-san! Please have Kaori-san fill in for me!"

"Eh?" The manager looked up from her accounting and poked her head into the locker room, "Why are you leaving early, Minamino-kun?"

"I'm walking Botan-kun home," came the answer through a t-shirt.

"Star-chan, huh?" Manager-san giggled, satisfied by her waiter's reason for skipping work. She waved him off while she returned to her accounting work. "Okay, I'll tell Kaori-chan to take up the rest of your slot."

"Thank you," Kurama shouted while dashing past her and towards the exit.

"But I'll be expecting you to come in Sunday!" she quickly yelled before he completely disappeared through the door.

"Yes, yes, I'll make it up!"

Kazuma sighed, looking right and left at the nice suburban homes in the neighborhood. As a gangster and juvenile delinquent, he felt so hopelessly out-of-place in this neat, well-ordered area; honestly, he wanted to get out of here before his no-good genes began infecting the innocent, bright youth living here.

Fifteen feet away from the noble Kazuma, Yusuke finished asking a neighborhood lady some questions and politely bowed to her in thanks. "Well, it seems it's true," Yusuke murmured as he walked towards Kazuma with his hands jammed into his pockets. "According to the ladies around here, a high school girl moved into that fancy house at the end of the street: pretty, blue hair, amethyst eyes, and chipper personality."

"Sounds a lot like Botan," Kazuma muttered thoughtfully.

"Oh, it gets even better. Guess why this new girl suddenly moved here?"

"Huh?"

"People say that she moved into town to be closer to her boyfriend: the ever popular Minamino Syuuichi of Meiou High." Yusuke shook his head. "I don't get it. Why would this Bara woman attach herself to Kurama? She hates him, especially with how he's handled Botan."

"Urameshi, you're a romance clod."

"What?"

"Come on! It's all about the drama!"

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"All right, you romance-epic-fail, I'll explain it to you. Bara-sama is going after Kurama to confuse Botan. If Botan is with Kurama, as everyone suspects, then her seeing another woman with Kurama would create doubt. When she doubts his feelings for her, Botan's heart will break and she'll fall in love with Kaou-sama instead! Botan's older sister is trying to separate them through drama!"

Yusuke rubbed the back of his neck while giving Kazuma a look of disbelief. "Sometimes I wonder about you, Kuwabara." He sighed. "But if you're right, then Kurama is going to be dealing with a lot of trouble."

"We should tell him what's going on."

"No, we won't tell him anything for now."

"What? Why, Urameshi?"

"We don't know anything for sure. I don't want to do anything until we know exactly what Bara's plans are. Come on, there's another place that we have to check out."

As he walked by her side, he did not know what to say. Despite having walked with her these several days, Kurama still did not know what to talk about with Botan. Obviously he could not talk about the past; he could not risk Botan remembering her life in Spirit World and activating her robes. But if he thought about everything carefully, even if he were able to talk about the past it wouldn't have been much help. Even then, before he had learned about Botan's feelings for him, the ferry girl remained mysterious and aloof. He didn't know the simple things about her: her favorite color, her favorite flower, what she liked to do in her free time, if she ever had free time, etc. If he thought about her in those terms, he barely knew her.

And what's worse, he thought in agitation, is that she doesn't feel anything for me right now. It's a miracle that she trusts me nevertheless wanting to be near me. How in the world am I going to make her fall in love with me—again?

Botan sighed quietly. How could she interpret this walk today?

Ever since she had begun visiting Syuuichi at work, he had been walking her home whenever he had the chance. At first, Botan had been wary of the attention; she had not intentionally vied for it by going to his café. In fact, going there had nothing to do with Syuuichi—she had just been looking for a place to relax alone. But then, before she knew it, going there to study after school and then walking home with Syuuichi had become habitual, a secret ritual that only they knew and performed together. Without doubt Botan enjoyed the quiet time to herself while studying and the chance to be alone with Syuuichi during their walk home.

However, what does Syuuichi-senpai think of it? Botan couldn't help but to wonder. Does he do this for anyone or could it be…could it be something special for me?

She doubted her last selfish sentiments, having heard the many rumors fluttering about the school.

Minamino-senpai is so very kind! He helped me finish the student council work and volunteered to help with the event next week.

Minamino-kun let me use his umbrella last night when he found out that I forgot to bring one.

Syuuichi-san told me not to worry and promised that everything would be all right.

Indeed, throughout Meiou High legends formed from Syuuichi's kindness, intelligence, and great character. If he weren't so introverted, he probably would be the greatest student the high school had ever seen. But what did that mean for Botan?

What am I to him?

A crash of metal and junk jerked her from her thoughts, causing her to jump. Reflexively she scooted closer to Kurama and grabbed his arm. "It's all right, Botan-kun," her escort assured her warmly. "It was only a cat."

"Oh."

Despite his words and her embarrassment, Botan suspiciously looked left and right at the darkened alleyways. Noticing her unease, Kurama took her hand from his arm and held it tightly in his larger one. "I'll keep you safe, Botan-kun."

Feeling the warmth of his hand, she only smiled and whispered, "I know you will."

And that was all they needed.

Well, it was all that they needed until they reached the house. Rather too quickly (in Kurama's opinion), Botan dropped his hand when they walked through the doorway. Unfortunately, she did not drop his hand fast enough because Shuuichi saw them as they came in. However, he did not say anything until dinner time: that was when all hell broke loose. Throughout dinner the two brothers glared and glowered, sizing each other up. Relentless and stubborn, their fiery tension infected the entire family, making everyone uneasy. Botan excused herself early from the table while Shiori and her husband removed themselves to the living room once they finished their food.

Upset with the other for scaring Botan off, the two boys quickly finished their dinner and retreated to their shared bedroom. Once there, they let loose.

"What is your problem?"

"My problem?"

"Yeah! Why did you walk into the house holding Botan-chan's hand?"

"She was scared. It wasn't anything big, Shuuichi."

"You're lying, 'nii-chan!"

"I am not. And what's wrong with you? Why did you glare at me all dinner long? You scared Botan-kun."

"Because you took the seat beside her AND you were giving me a look!"

Both brothers grabbed the other by his shirt collar. When Kurama realized what exactly he was doing, he released his stepbrother and sighed while removing Shuuichi's hand from his collar. "Obviously, we need to establish rules about pursuing Botan-kun less we destroy our home lives as well."

"Apparently," the younger huffed while falling onto his bed. He crossed his arms and glared at his older brother.

"Then let's agree not to do anything while in the house," Kurama quickly reasoned. "The garden, the yard, and anywhere ten meters near the house outside and the insides are forbidden for relational pursuit. This way we don't make Okaa-san, Otou-san, and Botan-kun uncomfortable with our competition. Asking of any dates will be done at school or elsewhere outside of the perimeter we've set. And any and all dates will be not be ruined by the other man in any way. No following, no sabotaging in any sense of the word or meaning."

"Fine," Shuuichi agreed with a curt nod. "And whoever Botan-chan picks is final. There's no arguing about her decision."

"Fine."

The two brothers shook hands over their accord.

This is ridiculous, Kurama thought with an inner sigh. I dated Botan for a month before she lost her memories…but then again, no one knew about our relationship except for the two of us. So I don't have any real way of proving our relationship, do I? But why do I have to compete with my younger brother AND a prince of Heaven for someone who said she loved ME?

Shuuichi gave his brother a devilish grin. "I'm not going to go easy on you, 'nii-chan."

He smirked at his younger brother. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

Boys and girls watched enviously as Bara approached Syuuichi without reservation. "Ne, Syuuichi-kun," she smiled sweetly while fidgeting with her uniform's sleeves. The young man did his best to remind himself that this was the elder sister and not the younger, the one he loved, that approached him. He knew that Bara did this purposefully; he knew that she tortured him with Botan's appearance because she simply could. "Would you have some time free today? There's a place in town that I want to go to, but I'm afraid to go alone." She batted those ever alluring long-lashed amethyst eyes at Syuuichi. "Do you think you could go with me?"

Simply to infuriate her, he smiled just as saccharinely, "I apologize, Tennyo-san, but I'm busy after school. I'm afraid I won't be able to go with you."

"Oh, really?" With her smile pasted in place, Bara neared her face to Syuuichi's and whispered, "You're a bastard, you damn fox. You really do know how to piss me off." Even though she muttered such angry words, the other students only saw the beautiful new student muttering something probably sweet and seductive into Syuuichi's ears. "I'm not going to let you get away with this. Just you watch—I'll find Botan's robes and make her come back to Heaven. She'll marry Kaou 'nii-sama and forget all about you."

Ironic you should say that, Syuuichi thought blandly, since apparently she already has forgotten me.

"My, my, such foul words for a Maiden of Heaven. I can see why Botan-kun was selected as the heir instead of you. Well, you'll have to try your damn hardest, wench," Syuuichi murmured back without giving a single hint to the malice of his words. His classmates sighed as they watched his lips move in what seemed a return to Bara's affections. "I'm never letting Botan-kun go. It won't matter what you do because she's mine until the end of time."

I'll never surrender her to that damn prince.

Biting back her fury, Bara pulled a way and forced her smile in place. "I guess that's too bad then, ne Syuuichi-kun? Maybe next time I'll convince you otherwise."

Idiot. Botan and Kaou 'nii-sama are destined for each other. In the end, you'll see it's hopeless for you.

"We'll see, Tennyo-san."

Give me your best shot.

On the other side of school, at the beginning of the lunch period, another young man was having a crisis of his own. "Hey, Botan-chan," Shuuichi said, "let's go eat lunch together."

"Hoshino!" Koutaishi-sensei called out from the hallway. He motioned the student to come towards him. "I need to talk to you about your grades in my class." The sternness in his tone made everyone's spirits sink for Botan. They all pitied her, knowing that she would be scolded by the handsomest but scariest teacher in the school: if only his good looks could override his icy, intimidating aura!

"Now, preferably, Hoshino."

"Yes!" she yelped while bolting up from her desk and taking her lunch with her. Who knew how long he would keep her? Before leaving, Botan gave Shuuichi an apologetic smile and mouthed to him, "Sorry."

Damn it, young Shuuichi thought grumpily. Foiled again. He whimpered at his terrible luck and rested his head against his desk. At the rate of his fortune, he would never get to eat lunch with Botan! And it didn't help his ego or his feelings when his classmates patted him on the back or encouraged him not to give up: he still had a small chance.

Yeah, right, everyone thought collectively.

Dressed today in a sharp gray striped suit with a black button-down shirt and white tie, Koutaishi looked just as handsome as he did every day. And being the type to always wear his jacket, the snow-haired teacher maintained his sharp, professional image that made his female co-workers swoon and his female students openly drool. Already rumors were flying around Meiou that ten women had offered marriage proposals to him in passing; the number of dates asked, no one could remember that anymore.

You really don't stand a chance, class 1-C thought as they stared at Shuuichi pitifully.

Walking past one of her classmates, Botan stopped her and asked kindly, "Kotori-san, if Syuuichi-senpai comes looking for me, will you tell him I got called to the teacher's office?"

"Ah, no problem," her seatmate waved while walking back towards their class. "I'll tell him for you, Botan-chan!"

"Thank you."

"Hoshino," Koutaishi-sensei barked in warning from the other end of the hall.

"Y-yes!" Hastily saying goodbye to Kotori, Botan obediently followed her English teacher to an empty classroom.

He seems so very familiar, she thought to herself after recovering from her fright. Have I met him somewhere before? Maybe I knew someone like him, someone that resembles him. She snickered at that thought. How could I know so someone so handsome but so cold? Besides, I don't think I would be able to forget someone like him if I did.

But you forgot about Syuuichi-senpai, a voice reminded her. And he's not the type you would forget either.

Sliding the door shut, the tall man walked towards the front of the class and dropped the papers in his hands onto the teacher's desk. "Care to tell me why your grades are so terrible in my class, Hoshino?"

Botan blushed as she played with the hem of her pleated skirt. "I'm sorry, Sensei…I'm trying very hard, I promise, but it's a little difficult for me." She sighed while staring off to the side. "Even with Syuuichi-senpai helping me, it seems that I'm not very good at this subject."

"Well, I know you can do better," Koutaishi's deep voice rumbled knowingly. "I've seen your grades in your other subjects, and you seem to do perfectly fine in them. I want better work from you, understand?"

Shivers ran down Botan's spine at her teacher's command. "Yes, sir."

Relaxing against the teacher's desk, the man released a relieved sigh. The student had to hide her gasp of surprise when Koutaishi loosened his tie and ran a hand through his fair hair. Did he just put down his guard with ME? No one at Meiou had ever seen Koutaishi-sensei off-guard. So why was he relaxing with her, of all people?

Why is he acting so comfortable with me? Not that I mind…but why me? I'm sure that he doesn't like me, me doing so poorly in his class when I'm doing well in everyone else's. I mean he even noticed that and called me out—her face turned three shades of red. She could no longer look up at her teacher and instead focused on her shoes. Dear God, I'm alone in a room with a relaxed Koutaishi-sensei.

"But I'm glad to see you safe and well, Botan."

Instantaneously her head shot upward in shock. Did Koutaishi-sensei just call me by name? Her cheeks burned red at the sudden intimate switch in address. "Ah…could it possibly be that Koutaishi-sensei knew me in the past?"

What a stupid question! Botan, what are you thinking?

"Ah, yes, your mother told me you had lost your memories." He approached her and placed a gentle hand on top of her head. At the weight of it, Botan felt all of her fears and doubts flow out of her body. "You and I…we're childhood acquaintances, you could say," he said softly with a serious but gentle expression. For a second, Botan thought she saw sadness. "I've known you since the day you were born."

"Really?"

He nodded. "Yes, we've been together for that long. We even share the same birthday." Indeed, everyone nurtured your flower so that you would bloom on my 3000th birthday. They had, after all, planted your flower for the sole purpose of you growing up as my bride. Unable to read Botan's expression, Kaou gently inquired, "Do you not believe me?"

"Eh?" She shook her head. "Ah, no I believe you, I really do. I trust you, Koutaishi-sensei. You have a very familiar aura around you…In fact, I felt like I knew you."

"I see." He cupped her cheeks with both of his large hands, smiling slightly when she leaned towards his touch. "I'm just relieved to see you safe. When I had heard about what happened between you and your father, I almost murdered him myself. I was terribly worried when I didn't know where you had disappeared to."

Of course, Kon had filled in his master with the story Kurama had made to explain Botan's sudden amnesia and lack of family around her. The Spirit Prince had been surprised that the famous trickster Kurama had fabricated such an extreme story; he had been further surprised to hear that Kurama's family believed it. Upon leaving Spirit World, Kaou had decided to play along with the fox's story to give him credit for his surprising success.

Closing her candy eyes and enjoying the feeling of her teacher's hands on her face, Botan murmured, "I'm sorry that I worried you so much, Koutaishi-sen—"

"You can call me Kaou, Botan."

Her eyes flew open. "But—"

"I've known you since the day you were born," he reminded her while resting his forehead against hers. "We grew up with each other; there's nothing about you that I don't know. When we're alone, it's fine to call me by my name."

"I'm sorry that I worried you so much, Kaou 'nii-chan," she tried again. When the words rolled off her tongue, she found a smile growing on her face. It had felt natural, as if she had been calling him that for hundreds of years. "I should have called on you, but somehow I could only think of Syuuichi-senpai then. Maybe if I hadn't lost my memories, I could have—"

He pulled her into an embrace. Holding her head against him, he muttered into her ear, "I'm sorry, Botan. If it weren't for me, you could live happily with the one you love." His arms around her tightened slightly. "I promise that I'll help you through this."

She didn't quite understand the meaning of his words, but she knew his sincerity. Returning his embrace, she said with a small grin, "I believe you."

The couple did not notice seven girls walking by, all of them astonished by the tender situation inside of the classroom. Afraid of being caught staring, the group quickly scuttled away to another hallway to whisper about what they had just seen.

"Hey, wasn't that Koutaishi-sensei?"

"Yeah…and that girl that was with him…"

"It couldn't have been—"

"She was Hoshino-chan from our class!"

"What's going on between them?"

"…"

"They couldn't be dating…could they?"

*Star-chan: Botan's last name "Hoshino" translates to mean "of the stars." Therefore, Kurama's boss and co-workers have decided on that nickname for her.