Chapter 9 – Hanami
OOO
March 12th
Kurama exited his room to find the sky was clear and sunny, though its warmth had yet to thaw the chill of the morning. He rolled his shoulders and craned his neck to either side, swinging his arms across his body to loosen his waken his muscles. He listened to the distant sound from the dojo where Botan and Hiei were still training.
It was a struggle refraining from rushing to her side and put a stop to whatever she might be experiencing at the hands of Hiei. Even if it was for her benefit, the sounds of her crying out were a siren's call. The only way to resist was to remove himself from the situation.
Needing to get off of the compound, if only for an hour or two, he made his way towards the front of the temple and as he approached the stairs, found Keiko sweeping out front. He watched her for a moment in quiet reserve. Yusuke had called the woman his queen at one point and spoke so openly about how he much he loved her with no shame or question. When Keiko and Yusuke would argue the Mazoku seemed to waver under her glare, or a slap to the head would knock him down.
Something Kurama was deeply impressed by.
She was always there waiting for Yusuke and it was something the kitsune envied Yusuke for, but didn't quite understand. Friendship and familial love were things he had come to terms with, but romantic love and relationships eluded him. Perhaps it was because he'd never felt anything even remotely close to love. And until Botan, he'd never been consumed with possession for another person.
He'd had sexual partners in the past, women who had lusted after him and had offered themselves at his feet for the taking. He'd taken them, of course, but there was no sense of devotion on his part before, during, or after. With Botan, however, he wanted to pursue her.
The desire to hold her, possess her, take her, and to fucking break her was new and powerful. It was equally confusing, frightening and unfamiliar. Was it the chase he was after? The thought of conquering the unconquerable? Was it the idea of a forbidden affair between a reigen and a youkai? He thought that must be it.
"You okay?" Keiko's kind voice cut through his ruminating, brutally pulling him back to the moment.
"Ah, yes," he said, giving her an amiable smile. "Sorry, I was lost in my thoughts there."
Keiko laughed lightly, "Nothing too serious, I hope?"
"Not really," he lied. "It seems that we're in for a beautiful day."
"Yes," she hummed in agreement, glancing up at the blue sky. "Where are you off to?"
"I thought I'd pop into town for a bit," he replied.
Keiko nodded, "It's the perfect day for it."
"Indeed. Well, I should be off," he waved goodbye and began descending the steps when Keiko called out to him.
"You should take Botan with you."
He blinked in subtle surprise and faced her with a curious brow raised, "Should I?"
She shifted the broom in her hand, twisting it nervously, "Well, it's just that she's been really depressed lately."
He walked back up the stairs to stand in front of her, curiosity now shifting to concern, "Did she say something?"
Keiko shook her head, "Not exactly. But she's been really quiet lately and not her usual self. Call it woman's intuition, but I don't think she's doing so well mentally."
His emerald eyes turned towards the dojo, sensitive ears still able to pick up the sound of Botan's training efforts. "I see," he said softly. He'd noticed Botan had seemed overly tired recently, but how could he have missed her mind being off kilter.
Keiko sighed and followed his gaze, "I can't believe they're still going."
He frowned, "Do you mean they've been in the same session since last night?"
She shook her head, "This is the same training since yesterday morning." Kurama scowled and Keiko hid a small smile. "Well, I should get going. I have class here in a bit. See you later!"
"See you later," he echoed
Of course he could tell that Keiko was obviously baiting him. Everyone had been doing it lately to both him and Botan with subtle remarks, or raised eyebrows, or uncomfortable questions. But there was truth to her words as well, because there was definitely something not quite right with the deity. He fought for a moment against taking Keiko's advice, weighing that taking the blue-haired woman out while danger continued to lurk was unwise, but he recognized that if her mental health were falling, so too would Botan.
He approached the dojo door and paused when he noticed the eerie silence within. Red brows knit together tightly as he listened, hand hovering inches away from the door, when he caught a stifled groan and a sharp cry of pain. Sliding the door open quickly, he stepped inside. Botan was on the floor, tears streaming down her face, a wooden practice sword lay discarded a few feet away, and Hiei was kneeling in front of her, holding her hand.
Kurama's vision blurred red.
Body moving of its own volition, he crossed the dojo floor to stand over them. The koorime's left hand was holding Botan's, while his right hand cradled her arm just below the elbow. Her hand was twisted unnaturally inward, and the bone of her wrist jutted out in the opposite direction, stretching but not breaking through the skin.
"What happened?" Kurama's voice came out sharply, his gold lined eyes glared daggers at Hiei as he spoke. "What did you do, Hiei?"
"It was my fault," Botan said quickly to suppress the koorime's snide remark upon his lips. "I didn't feed the shield enough energy, so when Hiei struck it, his weapon went right through-"
"And shattered your wrist in the process," Kurama finished for her, kneeling to inspect the damage carefully. "You're lucky he was using a wooden sword, not an actual blade. Otherwise, you would have lost the wrist and hand completely."
She paled, "I'm going to be sick." Kurama wished he could hold her then, trace his healing hands over the dark blue veins pulsing beneath milky flesh, and soothe her. But it would have to wait.
"Can you fix it?" Hiei asked almost impatiently.
"Yes," the kitsune replied curtly. He helped Botan to her feet, "But it will take time to heal fully. Genkai was always the best at mending broken bones and this…is severe." He turned to the deity, "You'll need to rest until it's completely restored."
She could only nod as she fought a wave of nausea.
They exited the dojo, leaving Hiei free to return to Makai. Once settled into Kurama's room, he helped make her comfortable on the futon while he busied himself with making a salve. He held up a small jar of Makai herbs he'd put together that made a highly potent analgesic. He'd yet to try it on anyone other than himself, and the results of that test had at least proven the pain relief aspect correct, but also revealed a euphoric sense that was powerful for even him.
He wasn't quite sure of the effects it might have on Botan. He stole a glance at her. Her face was scrunched in a pained frown and her pink eyes stared at the ceiling, brimming with tears that had yet to fall.
He knew the herbs wouldn't kill her, but there was no telling what side effects it might cause. He reasoned that if it would ease her agony, then the benefits would outweigh whatever consequences there may be. Moving quickly, he carefully took a small pinch of the bottle to make a tea.
"Drink this," he said softly, lifting the cup to her lips after allowing it to steep a few minutes. She glanced up at him questioningly, and he smiled, "This will help with the pain. We may be here a while, and I'd rather you not be uncomfortable."
"Okay," she said softly, pausing before taking her first sip. "Is it strong like the Makai wine?"
He chuckled, "Yes. Is that a problem?"
"No," she said with a whisper of a smile. "Well…is it going to make me loopy or anything?"
There was no point in lying, "…Possibly, but its intended purpose is to aid in the pain and inflammation. You don't have to drink it if you're concerned, though."
She laughed, hissed at the ache, and sighed, "No, it's fine. I'll have it."
With that, he helped her drink, tipping the tea into her mouth until it was gone. She released a small gasp as the herbs took hold, tingling as it moved through her and took effect. Her eyes opened wide, "Wow. That's strong stuff!"
Kurama laughed and turned to set the cup aside. When he turned back, Botan was holding up her broken wrist in fascination. Her hand flopped over in a sickening display with the palm lying nearly flat against her wrist. Her eyes were glazed over, pupils dilated so wide that only a small bit of pink iris was visible.
"I can't feel a thing," she slurred, almost amused.
He grimaced and grasped her arm, "It's still broken…let's not exacerbate it."
She giggled but did as instructed and relaxed on his futon as the kitsune got to work. Inspecting it closer than before he was surprised the deity wasn't writhing in pain. Most people would, human, youkai, or reigen, and he was secretly impressed she'd had so much composure prior to receiving the pain remedy. It was possible there was nerve damage. It would take quite a lot of energy from both of them to heal the injury and a great deal of time.
The bone was going to need to be set. "Tell me if it hurts at all," he said, snapping the bones carefully back into place as best he could; a disgusting crack filled the room. He looked at her in concern but found her with a drunken smile on her face. "Are you alright?"
"Never better," she said happily.
"Somehow I doubt that," he responded with a wry chuckle, moving his hands over her skin. The warm glow of his energy filled the room.
Botan sighed pleasantly, "That feels good."
"I'm glad," he said in relief. "Get comfortable, we'll be in this position for a while."
The two of them spoke quietly as he used his energy to heal her, sharing snickers here and there when Botan would stumble over her words. She seemed to be in the mood to reminisce. She brought up a lot of their shared experiences from the past, all they'd been through over the years.
Kurama could practically see the images as she described them, like a series of movies that reflected his own memories from a different perspective. This peak into her mind only made him crave more. To avoid overwhelming her, he didn't pry any further than what she was willing to give.
It would have been easy to take advantage of her state to ask all the questions that had been plaguing him for months. It was tempting, of course, as everything about her seemed to be a lure made exclusively for him. It was a bittersweet sort of torture.
"Do you remember when you almost died?" she whispered.
He released breathy laugh, "Which time?"
She sighed, "At the Dark Tournament."
"…Again, which time?"
"Karasu," she said firmly.
"Ah," he said. "I believe I recall something about that."
"Yeah, yeah…" she groaned before her expression softened. "So much blood. That was the first I'd ever been so afraid for you. You and the others had become such an integral part of my life, plus I'd only just escorted Genkai. I thought I was going to lose you too," she confessed.
Kurama continued concentrating on her wound but thought back to those days. He'd seen Botan wandering the forest the night of Genkai's death. It was clear she'd been in pain – she'd been weeping quietly to herself, still wearing her pink kimono. Back then he had considered comforting her, but had ended up deciding against it and had passed by her without notice. Now he wondered how he could ever have been so heartless, especially considering how she'd come to his hotel room the night of the end of the tournament.
It had been quite late, they'd narrowly escaped the collapse of the stadium, and he was still seriously injured from the fight with Karasu when she had knocked lightly on his door.
He'd tried to turn down her offer to heal him, but she wouldn't heed a refusal. They'd had the room to themselves while Hiei slept outdoors, as he usually did, so they'd sat in the quiet of the night on his bed. He had lain flat, her next to him very similar to their current positon. She'd placed her soothing, healing hands upon his sore and worn flesh, using every ounce of her remaining energy to mend him. She'd concentrated on the deeper cuts, absorbed in urging the tissue back together until she was too weak to remain upright.
She'd apologized for being unable to do more and he'd done his best to reassure her concerns. While he wasn't back to 100% that night he was far better than he had been before her arrival. With her having so little strength left, he'd persuaded her to stay in his room and rest in Hiei's empty bed. Silently she'd wept with her hands over her face to muffle the sound. He couldn't ignore her cries then.
"You spent that night in my room," Kurama said quietly, spotting the feathering of pink on her cheeks and smiling.
"I was too exhausted to walk back," she replied. "I knew I would be, but I couldn't just let you lay in bed all night like that." She turned her face toward him suddenly, peering up at him with wide eyes, "That was the first time we ever really got to talk alone. And the first time we-"
Her breath hitched and the blush on her cheeks deepened. She smiled sheepishly and averted her gaze.
"The first time I'd ever held you?" He finished, receiving a nod.
Had it not been for his sensitive ears, he may not have heard her crying that night. When he'd come to her side and placed a hand on her arm, she'd shifted, startled, apology on her lips for having woken him. It hadn't taken much coaxing for her to confess the grief she was going through, the agony she'd felt when Genkai had died, and how it was an entirely new sensation for her.
Ferrying the souls of the dead had always been her job but never had she ferried someone she loved. She'd whispered that humans and their souls were supposed to be a business, as they were for most reigens, and she'd never been prepared to feel that way about anyone. She'd wondered if growing close had been a mistake.
Perhaps it was because she'd caught him at the right moment in his life, but he admitted to reciprocating the sentiment. Being Shuichi and accepting his humanity, loving his human mother so much, had never been the plan. But there was no stopping it. The people in their lives were there for a reason, even if they were not privy to that reason. They'd all been brought together and would have to enjoy the time while they had it.
He'd pulled her into a close embrace as the tears rolled quietly down her face until she'd fallen asleep. They hadn't shared a bed that night, of course. And until now, Kurama hadn't realized the significance of that moment.
During the trip home, Botan and Kurama had spent time together on the boat- just the two of them, while the others had been occupied. Out of sight of their friends, she'd provided another bout of healing energy for his injuries. Not that it would've mattered if the others were to witness Botan healing him. It was just nice to sit together alone, huddled closely.
He remembered the feeling of her hands on his sore flesh and how soothing her hands had been, the way her elegant fingers deftly redressed the wounds, and how sweet her voice had been. After she had finished and had shivered from the cold wind, he'd put his arms around her. Her face had flushed and her heart had pounded.
Her curves pressed against him had been alluring. Very alluring. Considering how close to death he'd come and how soft she'd felt, he had thought about kissing her then- if only to feel alive. The idea of feeling their bare flesh against each other, being inside of her and making her moan his name in pleasure was tempting. As a man of great control and not wishing to mar their friendship, he had refrained from acting on the impulse. At the time he'd just assumed his feelings were due to having just escaped the most traumatic event of their lives – up to that point anyway.
Time had all but erased that spell from his mind. His attraction to her had never waned. But he'd never intended to act upon his desires and he had never expected for the desire to quadruple in its intensity-nor had he anticipated her to reciprocate the desire. The changes of their circumstances, experiencing a life of peace for an extended amount of time had allowed for their relationship – as well as his longing for her - to blossom.
"That's one of my favorite memories," Botan said with a contented sigh, drawing him back to the moment. She reached with her uninjured hand to move a stray scarlet hair from his eyes. Her hand lowered to his cheek and he let his eyes drift close as he leaned into the palm of her hand. She giggled softly at his touch.
He opened his eyes to gaze at her, "One of mine too. Even though the importance of that day was lost on me then."
She shrugged and let her hand fall, not noticing the flicker of regret at the loss of her warmth that flashed across his face. "That's okay. I didn't realize it either," she said.
When the salve had been placed and her arm was wrapped in a sling, he helped her sit up. She rested her head on his shoulder and sighed, thanking him for taking care of her.
"I suppose it's just like when you took care of me after the Dark Tournament. It was my turn this time around," he lowered his lips to her hair in a silent kiss. He inhaled her sweet scent deeply; it made his skin rise into goosebumps. "You smell good."
She laughed quietly, "No I don't. I'm a sweaty, gross mess. Hiei had me in there for full day."
"Strange," he said, voice laced with mischief, "you smell like peonies to me."
"Liar," she mumbled into his shirt, skin turning red. He eased her back by the shoulders to face him and graced her her with a teasing smile.
He moved his face to the crook of her neck and sniffed again, "No, definitely peonies." She wiggled against him, shaking her head. He placed a chaste kiss on her skin and she trembled, making that desperate burn begin to rage in his blood again.
It was almost embarrassing how desperately he wanted to dart his tongue out and drag it across the pulsing vein in her throat. To hear the sound of her moaning would be his undoing. But she'd said they couldn't let it happen again. Though it pained him emotionally and physically, he would respect her wishes. He shifted his legs to alleviate the growing tightness of his pants and pulled away.
"How are you feeling overall?" Kurama asked.
"Hungry," she groaned emphatically.
Kurama nodded, "I could imagine. Training for 24 hours straight on top of becoming injured will do that. I'll finish tidying up and then we can go buy lunch."
"Mmkay," she said. "Wait, does that mean we're going to leave the compound?"
"Yes," he pulled her down as she tried to stand in her excitement. "You have to wait until I'm ready."
She blew a raspberry, "Okay, dad."
He smacked her unhurt hand smartly, earning a whimper.
"Do not call me that," he ordered sternly. It was then he hoped that the tea would make her forget the interaction. The last thing he needed was for her to realize she had a verbal weapon at her disposal to further tunnel under his skin.
She grumbling quietly, cheeks puffed out in quiet contrition, dilated eyes glaring pitifully. He tapped her nose, "Stop pouting." He gently gripped her chin, "Be a good girl."
Argument catching in her throat, mind drunk and confused, she could only shiver and nod.
OOO
They walked in the comfortable silence they'd both become accustomed to. Kurama glanced down at Botan with a soft smile, admiring the way the sunlight made her blue hair glow. He thought he should have made her wear a hat, at the very least, but she'd been through enough for the day and he felt she was safest at his side.
A breeze drifted over them cold and harsh, a reminder that winter was still upon them. She shivered and leaned in closer for his warmth. Catching his gaze she blushed, "Sorry. I feel a little helpless right now."
"Don't worry, I'm here," he assured, patting her good arm.
It occurred to him that this was their first time truly being alone since the morning after his birthday. Although she'd rejected any further sexual advances, and it had wounded his pride, he was grateful to still maintain their friendship. The ease of her presence was worth more than anything. He knew it wasn't sustainable, the draw of her flesh was too strong for him to resist forever. Even if she were to accept his advances it would only result in torment for her because he would never be able to offer her the love she deserved.
Their companionship would have to end at some point, he constantly reminded himself, but he was not yet ready to let her go.
The scent of cherry blossoms carried them away from the convenience store, bringing them to a small stone bridge overlooking a river that was lined with flowering trees.
"The trees have bloomed early this year," Kurama mused as they stopped on the bridge to take in the view.
Botan sighed, "We should bring everyone along for Hanami."
"That would be fun," he agreed. "I'm sure you and Yukina would especially enjoy it. We can speak to everyone about it later." She'd grown quiet, her eyes were a little less glossy than before, though still very dilated. "Are you feeling alright?"
"Mm-hm," she said wistfully before letting out a light laugh. "For some reason, I'm reminded of the boat ride again."
Kurama moved closer, leaning casually against the bridge to watch her. He took a lock of her hair in between his fingers, admiring its softness, "Why is that?"
A blush crept up her neck and to her ears, "Well, that day…I could have sworn you were looking at me like you wanted to swallow me whole. At one point I thought you were going to kiss me." She averted her gaze, embarrassed by her confession.
He continued to play with the tendril of hair in his hand, brows knit together in mild surprise. Usually, his expression was unreadable and to have someone guess what he was thinking was always unexpected. Absentmindedly, he dropped her hair and ran his knuckles gently over her cheek. Did she always have the ability to see right through him?
"That's embarrassing, isn't it?" She asked, her voice low and trepid.
Offering her a reassuring smile, he shook his head. "Far from it. Full transparency – I did want to kiss you that day. Well, there was more to it than just that." Kurama's smile turned sly at the sound of her sharp intake of breath. "I'm not ashamed to admit it."
His gaze lowered to the plump bottom lip she had caught between her teeth. Beneath the long blue lashes, the rose of her eyes was slowly beginning to grow, evidence that the tea was slowly wearing off. Craning his neck to rest their foreheads together he breathed in her scent again, reveling in the intimacy.
"Before we invite everyone else, let's stay here a while. Just the two of us," he suggested lowly.
"Okay," she sighed.
OOO
It took some convincing to get everyone on board for Hanami, specifically – and mostly – Hiei. The koorime's reasoning was valid. Just because the kidnappings had ceased didn't mean the danger was eradicated. If anything, they were living in even more jeopardy than before. With the last strike, all those women disappearing so suddenly and without warning, so it could happen again at any moment. Going out was risky. It had taken Yukina's soft voice stating she would love to go that finally persuaded Hiei to agree, with the condition that the group stay together at all times and that they would go on the least busy day of the week.
So the following Monday evening, which happened to fall on White Day, the former spirit detectives had agreed to visit the cherry blossoms.
Kurama had wished to take the day off, but there was a pressing meeting his stepfather was insistent he attend. Thankfully the meeting had been interesting. Some executives from a US tech company had come to discuss potential projects, trades, and the like. They'd even brought some state of the art tech for examples of what they could offer.
The thief in him wanted to take everything for himself, but there was only one thing he truly wanted.
He glanced at his coworker, Shinji, who sat across from him. Shinji raised his dark brows in question and scribbled something quickly before sliding the notepad to Kurama.
"The mobile phones?"
Kurama smirked. Shinji might not be the brightest, but he was a hard worker and perceptive, something Kurama – or Shuichi – appreciated.
"Yes. I want two." Kurama scribbled, passing the pad back over.
Shinji gave a downturned smile and a curt nod after reading. If there was one thing the human excelled at it was his charm and ability to procure the best items for their team. Shinji worked in the same department as Kurama, he was a few years older than Shuichi was supposed to be, but worked as Shuichi's subordinate. He'd proven himself to be a good ally.
Shuichi and Shinji were considered to be the fresh, young faces of the company. A formidable team that was well respected among their peers. For Kurama, it felt good to have someone around who wasn't intimidated or always trying to compete with him. It was similar to the friendship he shared with Yusuke and the others, just without the avenue of paranormal, different realms, and constant peril.
Later that afternoon, Shinji popped into Kurama's office.
"Special delivery, boss!" He quipped, setting two cell phone boxes on the desk.
"I told you not to call me that," Kurama responded dryly. "I won't ask how you managed to get these. Thank you, nonetheless."
Shinji shrugged, "No big deal! I got a date with that blonde American girl they had with them. So worth it."
"I suppose congratulation is in order, then," Kurama replied inattentively, looking over the phones with interest.
The dark-haired human laughed, "Maybe you and the love of your life can join the American and me on a double date. What are you doing tonight?"
"Hanami," Kurama said pointblank and set the phone down to stare at his coworker. "Did you say the 'love of my life'?"
"Well, isn't she? I mean, you clearly wanted those phones for you and her, right?"
"Does it matter?" Kurama scoffed, wondering why he was even entertaining the conversation. "What makes you think she's the love of my life?"
A sly twinkle lit up the human's eyes, "The way you two were looking at each other on the dance floor at the awards ceremony made it pretty evident. You two had those crazy 'do me now' eyes, you know? I guess you'd want to keep tabs on her so the phone makes sense."
Kurama frowned, "What?"
"Well, if I had a girlfriend that hot—I'd never let her out of my sight. She probably has to fend off other guys with a bat, I bet."
"It's so odd," Kurama stated, thinking of the bat Botan had once used to fend off Makai insects, "But for some reason I've grown completely tired of this conversation. You can go now."
Shinji pouted, "Noooo, don't be like that! Don't use your boss powers to kick me out!"
"Goodbye, Shinji," Kurama waved him off, chuckling lightly at Shinji's feigned sadness as he slinked out of the office. He popped back in a second later.
"Before I go, I wanted to tell you about the new media on those phones. It wasn't really discussed in the meeting – there's way more data on those phones than the previous prototypes, so texting is basically unlimited. Not completely, obviously, but the Americans said it's something they're working on fixing in the near future." Shinji wiggled his fingers as he left, yelling something obnoxious to another of their coworkers.
Rolling the phone over in his hand, Kurama wondered what Botan's reaction would be when he gave it to her.
OOO
Botan was busy in the kitchen packing bento for the cherry blossom viewing, albeit with much difficulty as her arm was still fixed into the sling. The swelling and pain was constant but she was too afraid of taking the tea again. She had to admit that losing her inhibition made it too risky when around Kurama and she didn't trust herself to keep things platonic.
"Botan, there is someone from Reikai here to see you," Yukina announced as she entered the kitchen.
The deity's brows rose in surprise as Shunjun followed behind the ice youkai. They had seen each other multiple times in passing since he'd proposed to her in the middle of the night, but they had yet to really speak to one another.
Sensing an uncomfortable air, Yukina quietly excused herself. The solder's stoic face showed the faintest hint of a smile upon seeing Botan but it fell instantaneously when he noticed her arm.
"Your arm," he said with concern, "What happened? Are you alright?"
She waved her hand, "Oh, it's no big deal. Just the aftermath of being clumsy…what brings you to Ningenkai?" She nodded her head towards the pack of folders packed under his arm.
It was clear he wished to press her further regarding the injury, but begrudgingly stopped himself and offered her the folders. "Lord Koenma sent me to deliver these."
Brows knit together in thought, she unbound one of the folders. Within it were several documents of information, including coordinates she'd previously reported as possible sources for the missing women. She gasped, "These – did someone check these places?"
"Yes," Shunjun confirmed. "I led a few expeditions to check them out. These are only half of your estimations. A few of them seemed very promising. All the reports are listed there."
"Oh my goodness," she exclaimed excitedly, "this is brilliant! Thank you so much!"
He nodded politely, and a pregnant pause filled the space between them.
"Well," he started, "I should be going now."
"Ah, wait!" She hesitated before continuing, "Would you like to stay for some tea before leaving?"
His face lit up, and a small, nervous smile lifted the corners of his mouth. "That would be lovely."
They sat at the kotatsu across from one another, sharing a pot of what seemed to be Jasmine tea. Botan had pilfered some of Kurama's "safe blends" he kept stored in the cupboard. She was sure he wouldn't mind…even if it was Shunjun drinking the tea.
"This is very good," the soldier murmured, "I don't think I've ever had something quite like this."
"Oh, yes, the herbs are from a friend's garden," she replied smiling, thinking it was best Shunjun didn't know he was drinking Kurama's tea either.
The soldier chuckled lightly to himself, "This reminds me of the old days."
The deity smiled fondly, "Those evenings after everyone's training had ended for the day."
"Indeed," he replied, his smile faded. "Do you ever think of Nie?"
She froze. A knot in her throat formed as Nie's face flashed before her eyes like a ghost, his wide smile, and the intensity of his gaze, both beautiful and frightening. She took a shaky breath, "Sometimes. I have a photo on my mantel in Reikai." She didn't wish to admit the only reason she kept the picture on display was out of respect of his memory, despite her not liking to really remember the man.
"I see," Shunjun said. "It's been so long since we talked about it him-"
"Well, to be fair, it's been some time since we spoke about anything at all," her roseate gaze moved to the open door and the garden beyond it, praying for him to accept the change of subject. Anything but Nie.
Shunjun cleared his throat, a flush gracing his pale face, "Ah, yes. I assume you're referring to…to when I-"
"It's water under the bridge, Shun," she said in what she hoped was a reassuring tone. When she faced him again, he was tugging uncomfortably at the collar of his uniform. "Everyone has been in the marrying mood as of late. It can't be helped that you fell under the spell too."
"Oh, that wasn't why I proposed to you," he quickly said. He chuckled at her confused expression, "Haven't you realized that I'm in love with you?"
"You're what?" She exclaimed, tone rising in irritation. "How can you be in love with me?"
"We were close for so long-"
"Almost 400 years ago!" The deity scoffed, laughing at the absurdity of suddenly being confessed again, "Shun…we haven't spoken in months. Before that, you barely looked my way when we were in the same space. Also – you bragged about hunting down my friend!"
"Well," Shunjun said, "you weren't friends when I did that."
She hung her head in disbelief, "God, Shun. That's not the point." Slumping over and burying her head in her arm, she heaved a weary sigh. "I just don't understand…this came out of nowhere."
He grimaced, "Have you truly never noticed?"
She could only manage a negative grunt from within the crook of her arm.
Shunjun cleared his throat before hesitantly speaking, voice lower than before so she had to raise her face to hear him properly. His shoulders sagged as he slouched in stark contrast to his normally perfect posture. The light from outside glittered off his gold earrings as he shook his head, "Since we first met you, Nie, and I…we were rivals for your affection."
Botan felt a chill run down her spine at the mention of their dead friend, her lip caught between her teeth as she bit down hard. Nie had always been aggressive with his advances, prevailing any romantic overtures from anyone else. Because of this, she'd never realized Shunjun harbored feelings for her.
"He was always quicker than me," Shunjun said resignedly. "To be honest – and I hope you will not think less of me in telling you this – when he died…I was glad."
She raised her blue brows in shock, "What a thing to say…" Though truthfully, she couldn't deny feeling the same way. Even if it was for far different reasons.
"He was obsessed with you," the soldier continued, "constantly researching ferry bylaws and loopholes, talking about marriage." He stopped speaking as his eyes fell upon the deity and found her ashen, eyes staring into the distance, a small amount of blood pooling on her lip where her teeth had sunk into. Digging his uniform, he withdrew a handkerchief and handed it to her.
"I've upset you," he said apologetically, "that wasn't my intention, I'm sorry."
She stirred with a jolt and dabbed at her bleeding lip with the offered handkerchief, "No. No, it's not that. It's Nie-I…I didn't know he had been talking about marriage and such." Shunjun grimaced as she went on, "When did he start talking about those things?"
"From the first day we met you," he admitted. "He was completely infatuated the minute he spotted you. It was as if he'd known you his whole life, so you could imagine my concern when I discovered you'd never met before."
Botan released a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding, and her hands were shaking and suddenly cold, "Can we stop talking about him?"
"O-of course," he replied shakily. The strained silence stretched between them painfully for a few moments before he cleared his throat, "Well, I should be going now."
As they stepped outside into the warm sunlight, the soldier looked around in admiration at the lovely gardens and architecture.
"This is a very beautiful place, I see now why you like to spend so much time in Ningenkai," he observed, giving her another small smile. She hummed in agreement and let another stretch of silence settle. When his gloved hand met hers, his fingers wrapped gently around hers, she looked up at him. His pale face flushed, "I am truly sorry for upsetting you. That certainly wasn't my intention."
She shook her head, "No, it's okay. You couldn't know how I felt."
He shifted uncomfortably, "I should have known. The way he died was so sudden and traumatic, of course it would be painful to discuss. I don't know that anyone could get over that – even if it has been 400 years."
Botan shook and gently slid her hand from his, bringing had fingers up to her mouth to stifle the sob threatening to spill out. She could see Nie's face in her mind just before he died, his broken body lying before her, the last words he'd spoken to her a scar on her memory.
"Hey Shunjun, ya old sonofabitch, how are ya?" Yusuke's sudden greeting tore Botan from her trance, snapping her back to reality as the Mazoku and Shunjun conversed idly. She was grateful for the distraction.
She turned her face away, closing her eyes and taking deep, calming breaths. When she opened her eyes she spotted Kuwabara and Kurama, having just arrived to the temple grounds. Kurama wore an unreadable expression, but his eyes were narrowed at Shunjun.
How long had they been standing there?
Botan smiled and waved to them, Kurama seemed to pay no mind and walked away. Something in her stomach dropped painfully. Before she could run after him, Yusuke invited Shunjun to join them that evening.
"Yeah, you've never seen Ningenkai blossoms, right? It's a blast. We all get drunk in the park! You gotta come!"
"I see," Shun replied tentatively, his lips pulled downward thoughtfully. "Yes, I suppose that would be alright."
"Hell yeah," Yusuke grinned, "Botan – we're gonna need another bento!"
OOO
Kurama and Kuwabara ascended the stairs of the temple having both stepped off the same train. Kuwabara held a bouquet of white flowers in his fist, grinning from ear to ear.
"For Yukina?" Kurama asked cheerfully, nodding at the bouquet.
"Yup," the human replied gleefully, cheeks flushing in excitement. "It's White Day, afterall! I always get her something for the occasion but she always seems surprised."
Kurama chuckled, "That's sweet."
"What about you? Didja get something for Botan?"
The kitsune nodded, "Just a white rose. I got one for all the ladies who gave me chocolate."
"Uh-huh," Kuwabara said in a disbelieving tone, "So you didn't get her anything special?"
Kurama shook his head, "Not at all. Despite what you believe, we're just friends. Nothing more."
The human stopped and pursed his lips as Kurama continued on, his dark eyes fell to the plastic bag in his friend's hands. Inside were two identical, rectangular boxes of which the word 'wireless' was clearly visible. It didn't take a genius to figure out what he was carrying. It would have been easy to continue pestering the kitsune, but the human shrugged it off.
As Kuwabara was pondering the relationship between Kurama and Botan, wondering when the two would finally realize they belonged together, he reached the top of the stairs. It took him a moment to realize the kitsune had stopped dead in his tracks. His emerald eyes were narrowed sharply and staring pointedly in one direction, his face hardened.
Kuwabara followed the line of sight and grimaced at what he witnessed.
Botan and Shunjun standing together – holding hands. However, it did seem that Botan was uncomfortable. When her hand fell from the soldier's grasp and she looked their way, while Yusuke and Shunjun spoke, she waved. Kurama remained silent and walked away.
"Hey, Kurama, where are you going?" Kuwabara called after him, "We're heading out soon!" But Kurama continued to walk away without a word towards the woods.
OOO
Later that evening, as they sat among the trees on blankets, drinking and eating, Kurama would steal glances Botan's way. Unfortunately, she was stuck sitting next to Shunjun with no room to escape while Shizuru and Keiko pestered them both with questions about Reikai. The deity smiled serenely; seemingly happy to join in the conversation, but every now and then she would turn to Kurama with an aggrieved expression.
Silently, with her eyes, she sent an SOS, "Freaking help meeee," she begged.
Kurama's lips curled into a sly smile, he was going to tease her relentlessly for this. He made to stand but he stopped when Botan's attention drew back to the conversation once more.
"I like the pink blossoms most," Keiko was saying. "What about you, Botan?"
"Oh," she said, placing a finger on her chin in thought, "My favorite would be the red blossoms in Reikai. I don't think they have quite that red in this realm."
"Red?" Yusuke asked, "Like how red are we talking?"
Botan raised her eyes, a thoughtful finger brought to her chin, "They're…red like Kurama's hair!" She smiled at the kitsune, eyes pleading once more.
"Well,"" Shunjun interjected, "They were more like dark rubies when we had our date there, right?"
A hush fell over the group as Botan stared in abject horror at Shunjun. She scowled, "That wasn't a date!"
Shunjun's cheeks reddened, "I invited you…"
"No you didn't," she retorted, "Nie invited me-ah…" The words died and suddenly she found herself lost again in the memory of the deceased soldier. She swallowed thickly, realizing everyone was looking at her with concern, and with hands shaking once again she set the bottle of beer down. Putting on her brightest, cheeriest smile she laughed, "Well, it was a while back now. Anyway!"
Thankfully the others let it slide and continued chatting and continued carrying on through the evening.
There was no escaping Kurama's perceptive eye, however. While the deity kept up a playful mask the kitsune could see her disassociating, her vision marred by memories playing out in her mind. Occasionally she would snap out of it just enough to smile, or laugh, doing her best to remain casual but would always slip back into a trance. She hadn't looked at Kurama, though he knew she was aware he'd been watching her.
As the night stretched on, people arrived in droves to sit beneath the flowered branches and the air filled with the cacophonous sound of drunken merriment. Their group was enthralled in some game and had management to drag Shunjun into it, pulling him away from Botan's side and allowing Kurama to move closer to her.
"Are you alright?" He asked, leaning close to her ear so she could hear him.
She turned her face towards him, eyes haunted, and shook her head. Kurama was the only person she would be honest with. They had grown so close that lying about her current state of mind was futile.
"Do you want to talk about it?" She shook her head. "Do you want to go back to the temple?" She frowned but nodded after a moment and he gripped her hand gently, helped her to her feet, and they began making their way back. As they passed Hiei, who had been watching the others from afar on a blanket, Kurama sent him a telepathic message.
"Let the others know we left."
"I'm not your messenger boy," Hiei barked back. His red eyes shifted to the deity's downtrodden expression and he scowled. She hadn't looked so unwell even when her wrist had been snapped, and having spent so much time together the koorime had developed somewhat of a brotherly connection with her- even if he didn't wish to acknowledge or admit it. "Looks like she needs rest. Just go."
Under normal circumstances Kurama would have taken the opportunity to tease Hiei's developing human sentimentalities, but Botan's needs were far more important.
OOO
Kurama escorted Botan to her room once they'd arrived, telling her he would be back in a few minutes with little explanation. He returned an hour later with a knock on her door and asked her to follow him. His demeanor was calm as usual as he led her through the woods. When he stopped suddenly and turned, he was smiling artfully.
"Close your eyes," she stared suspiciously at his offered hand before acquiescing and closing her eyes. He guided her gently, advising her when to watch for obstacles, for what seemed like forever before finally coming to another stop. "Open."
She blinked slowly, surprised to find light before her. When her vision came into view a gasp broke through her at the sight of strung lights among dozens of blood red cherry blossoms. Walking forward she inhaled the scent- sweeter than even the flowers in Reikai. A light breeze brought on a flurry of petals that she caught in her hand to admire. The scarlet color was deep, far darker than she'd ever seen and she squealed at its beauty.
"How did you do this? When did you do this?" She whipped towards him, finding him with a broad, satisfied smile.
He walked towards one of the trees, reaching behind it to grab a basket filled with treats and a blanket, "Well, it only took me a few minutes the first time."
"The – what? The first time?"
He chuckled, "Yes, those had been white for White Day. But after hearing the tale of your Hanami experience in Reikai I changed them. It took about an hour to kill the first trees and sprout the new ones."
Her mouth fell open in mild shock, earning another laugh.
"Don't act so surprised," he laid the blanket down with a natural flourish and knelt upon it, holding his hand out to help her sit. "It was a welcome challenge. I've never had to develop a flower I've never seen before so quickly."
Botan shook her head, "I can't believe you."
"Well, I couldn't let your only date under red blossoms be a disaster," he handed her a glass of champagne.
She rolled her eyes, "It wasn't a date." She took thoughtful sip, "Wait, do you mean that this is a date?"
He shrugged, "Sure." Patting her nose at her crestfallen expression, "Don't pout. It is a date. My thanks for the chocolate you made me."
Lips curling into a smile she accepted his answer and took another sip of her champagne. They spoke quietly, enjoying the solitude, and laughing about nothing. By the time the first bottle was empty, Botan's cheeks were pink and she was giddy but not completely without her faculties. Kurama was lying on his side, bent elbow propping up his head as he looked at her, playing with one of the long sleeves of her orange kimono. He'd never seen her wear that particular outfit. Walking his graceful fingers up her lap and over the patterns of yellow flowers, tickling along the way and earning a string of giggles, he placed his palm flat against the top of her thigh.
He stared up at her blushing face in curiosity, as if asking permission for something. She cocked her head to the side in question, raising a single brow, "What?"
Smirking, he sat up, palm still in her lap, "Nothing. Do you want to talk about what made you upset earlier?"
She heaved a sigh, "I'm not that drunk, Kurama."
"I'm only asking," he replied gently, "we don't have to ever speak about it if you'd rather."
Tilting forward she kissed his cheek in thanks, but didn't pull away. He moved his head towards her, their eyes meeting and searching. Bridging the short gap before she could pull away, he captured her lips in a chaste kiss. A salacious sigh escaped her and she leaned in, closing her eyes and taking a fistful of his shirt in her hand.
He bit sharply onto her bottom lip, making her gasp and allowing entry for their tongues to find each other. She released another moan and he pushed her back gently, resting above her to further deepen their kiss. His hands shot up to cradle her face and she moved her arm, knocking over the second bottle of champagne, spilling its contents on them.
When the cold liquid began to soak her kimono she broke their kiss and gasped, "Kurama! The champagne-"
"Whoops," he breathed, sitting them both up and moving her away from the spill. They locked eyes and began to laugh sheepishly. "I suppose that officially labels this a date…"
She snickered, "I guess so."
Wordlessly they packed up their picnic and began to make the trek back to the temple, only stopping for Kurama to show Botan the battery operated lights and shut them off. They made it back before everyone else and he walked the deity back to her room. He leaned against the doorframe, holding the top of it with one hand, trapping her between him and the closed shoji screen. She smiled dryly, the red of her cheeks visible even in the moonlight.
"I would say I'm sorry for breaking your rule," he started, lips close to her ear so that his soft breathing tickled, "but it would be a lie."
She looked up at him with a smug grin, "Yeah, yeah. I know. I'm not sorry either. But it was only because it was a date. Strictly business."
They shared a breathy laugh before ebbing into expectant silence.
"I almost forgot," Kurama reached into the basket and removed a phone and charger. "Another White Day gift."
Botan turned it over in her hands, "A mobile phone?"
"Yes, I figured this would be a good form of communication for now. You can call and text with it. My phone number is already in the contacts."
She bit her lip in excitement and thanked him before quickly standing on her toes to kiss him. "Last one," she whispered. Before she could disappear into her room, Kurama grasped her good arm. Her breath caught in her throat when she met his gold-lined gaze.
"Can we sleep together tonight?" The question came out in a deep, velvety tone - Youko's voice. Her heart hammered against her chest and that familiar pool of heat collected at her core. She wanted to say yes, but the pesky voice at the back of her mind wouldn't allow it.
"Not tonight," she replied, unsure of how to express that she didn't trust herself to push him away if they were to become tangled in each other's arms once more. She wasn't positive her willpower was strong enough. She wanted him - desperately. If she allowed him in her room…in her bed…she'd let him make her his.
He watched the battle in her mind with a sympathetic smile, knowing that if they wound up in one another's arms at that moment there would be no turning back. Placing a chaste kiss upon her forehead, he told her it was alright and they said their goodnights.
Under the covers of her futon her fingers found their way between her thighs, and she moaned his name into her pillow having no idea he was doing the same. Stroking himself and thinking of burying deep inside of her, her name fells from his lips in a hiss as he came.
OOO
A/N: Thank you as always for reading and your patience!