Author's notes: Thank you again Heartluv By the way Koenma-sama is called "Master Jericho" and Botan is "Charlene" in the Filipino dub version.

Disclaimers: I do not own YYH or any of its characters, it is own by the great Yoshihiro Togashi.

Characters that you will not recognize are not part of the original story.

To Whom We Are Really Belong Chapter 3: I listened to my heart

B-R-R-R-R-RINGGGGGGGGGG!

B-R-R-R-R-RINGGGGGGGGGG!

She groaned. The incessant ringing of the alarm clock broke her melodious snores. She's still snuggled underneath her sheet. She forced her sluggish arm to search her annoying alarm clock in her bed side table and when she had finally reached it she pressed its off button. She idly uncovered herself and groggily sit, stays in that position for a few minutes. Her eyes still closed so her hands automatically rubbed them forcing them to open. Her eyes fluttered. She opened her mouth really wide and let a long yawn escape stretching her arms simultaneously. She beamed looking at the gleaming light that illuminates her window.

"Another day to ferry souls! ," she exclaimed back to her super cheery mode. She jumped out of her bed to do her early morning exercise. Her eyes caught her reflection through her whole body mirror.

"I rather look horrid when newly awaken," she said chuckling looking at her tousled her that was hit by a catastrophic tornado. She went to her bathroom to take a quick shower and to brush her teeth. After that, she clad herself in her usual pink kimono and tied it with white obi sash. She wore her split-toe socks before she slipped her feet in a traditional footwear. As for her long blue tresses, she tied it up letting them bobbing from side to side whenever she moves. Her natural pretty face didn't need much make-up to put on so, instead she only puts face powder. Before she left, she glance once again her reflection through the mirror.

"Go Botan!", while lifting her clenched fist in the air. She bubbly headed her way skipping and whistling a song towards the cafeteria to take her early morning breakfast.

"Good Morniiiiiinngggg! ," she greeted every person she passed on. Her sauciness was truly infectious ever yone of them returns a jolly smile, much to her delight. Suddenly, her eyes caught a certain raven haired lass also clad in a kimono but its color is in contrast to her. It was dark blue tied in an obi sash. Her eyes shifted to its face. "It's Ayame-chan!," she whispered in awe. She rarely see Ayame leaving the Reikai library unless when reporting to Koenma or when on her ferry routes, all she knows is that she only make her food delivered to her office. She paused for a second thinking what she should do.

"Should I do the first step now?," she asked herself mentally. She breathed in deeply. "Okay, I'm gonna approach her and I will try to make a friendly conversation with her". She's only halfway towards Ayame when someone had reached her first. She saw a radiant smile that quickly radiates all over her usual non-chalant face. Her eyes widened in surprised.

"It's Sojiro!," a member of Enma-sama's Royal Security Forces the highest security group in Reikai.

"B-but…why?Sojiro and Ayame?! ." She looked at them in bewilderment. She saw some sort of connection between their eyes. The way they gazed each other is undeniable that there's something going on between the two of never saw Ayame smiled. She's always in her usual dignified look but, what she see right now is a very different version of her. She overheard their conversation.

"Did I keep you waiting for so long?." She heard him asking Ayame in a very worried tone. Ayame slightly giggled.

"No, I have just arrived," Ayame said sweetly eyes glowing. He grinned.

"So, what are we waiting for? Let's go and order our food. You must eat a lot , look at you you've lost so much weight you should not let yourself starved and don't you ever skip a meal again, is that clear?", he said full of concerned. Ayame chuckled snaking her arms around Sojiro's.

"Oh, yes…..father."

They both laugh not removing their eyes to each other as if they have their own world. They walked towards the counter.

Botan followed them in her eyes. She was stunned. Her feet nailed on the floor. A mixed of shock and worry feelings have crept her heart. "Shock" because she didn't know that Ayame has already a special someone and "worry" for her master whom she have served for centuries but never become vocal about "Romantic Love", just recently. And at this moment she already visioned Koenma's oppressed face and at the mere thought of it already stabbed her heart. Tears was just beginning to form around her eyes when someone called her name or rather shouted her name.

"Botaaaaaannnnn!"

She turned around and saw her fellow ferry girl scampering towards her diection. She hastily wiped some stain of tears formed in her eyes. She beamed at her.

"Rabenda!." Her kimono was red tied in a purple obi sash. Her long lavender hair that almost reached her hips was tied in a pig tail. When she had reached her they gave each other a tight hug and kiss on the cheeks.

" Its been awhile since we breakfast together, Rabenda!," she chirped.

"Yeah, thanks to reshuffling my duty is now back in the early morning shift. Rabenda is one of a few that can rivaled Botan's hyperactiveness.

"You, how's you doing these past few months? Did you already get a boyfriend? How does it feel strolling down in ningenkai together with your ningen friends? Does Koenma-sama still grouchy? Do you still receive acts of his peevishness?," she asked subsequently.

She laughed at her friend.
"Same old Rabenda," she answered it one by one.

"Of course! I'm doin VERY GOOD even if my workload almost tripled bcz of backlogs. She chuckled. No, I don't have a bf yet, no man has ever dared to commit a terrible mistake on courting me. She said frivolously. And, yes! My ningen fiends are SO nice and friendly and whenever there's a chance to get together they always take me to Ningen shopping center called mall and there, we do window shopping and sometimes we play. And as for Koenma-sama(she snickered) it's an incorrigible nature for him to become grouchy and ill-humored. She rolled her eyes. All of us working close with him has experienced his grumpiness, remember?" Her eyes slightly become blue remembering something. Good thing, Rabenda didn't notice it, if she would she will kept pestering her. She can be SOOO nosy.

Rabenda chuckled nodding her head. Hand-in-hand they walk towards the counter to order their food. They seated themselves in the long table parallel where Ayame and her boyfriend sit. While eating, Rabenda told her life stories of the ningens and youkais she ferried with matching actions and facial expressions. Botan can't help but laugh at her friend. When suddenly, their topic detoured to their master.

"You are the closest to him here in Reikai, right?

"Hmm… closest? I never thought I'm the closest to him," she said honestly. She knew they are attached but being closest to the prince never crosses her mind.

"Yes, you are! Everyone in this palace knew that," she snapped. You are the only one who can yelled at him beside his father, openly disobeyed him when you know you are right, always accompany him on his errand, and the one whom I'm sure tell his deepest secrets. She grinned evilly.

" So, what's exactly the point?," she asked although she already suspected what she wants. Rabenda leaned closer to her ear.

"Does he seeing someone? as his prospect bride? You now, his 720th birthday is coming very fast so at this moment he should get himself a girlfriend to be his fiancée," she mumbled gobbling pancakes in her mouth.

"Ye- NO!," she got back to her senses quickly.

"It was supposed to be secret and besides it'sRabenda even though were close friends she tends to be a gossiper sometimes," she thought.

"Oh?," she said looking very disappointed. If I were him I will started dating someone before Enma-sama lose all his patience. I eaves dropped him conversing his Royal Adviser and he said that he can't wait to see his son settled sown with someone else. And, you know what he can't really wait about? It's grandchildren!. She shrieked that caused a lot of head turned towards their direction.

"Ssshhh…, Botan hissed , you are making scene"

"Opps! Sorry," Rabenda said sheepishly slightly covered her mouth.

" Going back, he said that if Koenma-sama cannot find himself a girlfriend, Enma-sama will do it himself. He has a long list of well-bred ladies mostly daughter's of Reikai noblemen. And besides, there's a written law here in Reikai that if a crown prince or princess failed to find himself/herself a prospect consort the reigning monarch has a right to act as an intermediary."

Botan perched an eyebrow eyes narrowing to her friend suspiciously.

"And where did you get all that info? I hope that's not one of your tell tale."

Rabenda retorted quickly.

"Of course not! Unbeknownst to all of you I also spend an ounce time reading in Reikai library and that's where I got it!

Unconsciously she shifted her eyes to Ayame and Sojiro whom feeding each other a chocolate cake sweetly. She saw Ayame wiped some smudges on the corner mouth of Sojiro. Rabenda followed her eyes direction.

"Look at Ayame, when on duty SO SERIOUS and WORKAHOLIC. Who would ever thought that she hid something like that that she can be SOO SWEET as a honey and caressing as a cat."

" You know what Botan, many ferry girls have envied you," Rabenda suddenly revealed.

Botan promptly turned her eyes to her side giving her a questioning look.

"Me?," her forefinger pointing herself.

"Uhuh," Rabenda nodded stifling a giggled.

"But, why?," crease forming on her forehead.

"It's because… you have a big chance on Koenma-sama….. falling inlove… with you," she giggled to death.

"What?!," she hissed eyes popped remembering also what Keiko had said.

"Why? don't tell me of all those centuries you have been working SOO close and SOO near to him your feelings hasn't developed into…into something more than friends," her eyes dazzled dreamily both hands placed across her chest.

She gagged on her pancakes. A pool of blood rushed on her cheeks.

" You are really feeble-minded Rabenda! How could you stomach something like that towards our master?". Rabenda just ignored her snorting instead she moved her face closer to her only in half-inch distant .

"Hey, what are you doing?," she asked curiously. Rabenda leveled her eyes to hers seemed scanning it meticulously.

"Hmmm.. I see," she leaned back to the chair.

She looked at her friend in awe. "See what?"

Rabenda drank the last drop of her hot chocolate drink. She looked at her eye to eye in profundity.

" Why don't you try listen to your heart Botan-chan, your eyes revealed what you have really felt."

And with that Rabenda stood patting her on the back.

"I gotta go! I need to cram too many tasks for today!." She left Botan gaping deeply in thought on what her friend mean to say.

After 1 day….

She found herself standing infront of Koenma's office nervously. But, why?

She knocked.

"Come in," she heard him in a rather wretched tone. She paused. She'd rather wanted him in his usual grumpy and egotistical self, she'd rather heard his annoyed squeal giving orders to his subordinates, she'd rather received grumbled from him whenever she failed to please him. The door automatically opened. She saw him in his teenage form bereaved ,dejected ,depressed, and…. Heartbroken.

"K-k-ko-koenma-sama," she asked full of concern.

"Just put it down," he said referring to the envelope she was holding. She moved closer to his working table and placed it down neatly. He's head was slightly flexed down so she cannot fully see his facial expression but she was sure he was not okay. She's just about to open her mouth but Koenma didn't let her.

" It's Ayame…"

She gasped. "Oh no! Did he know already?" she muttered frantically.

"She's…she's already taken," his voice shattered like a glass threw from a cliff. She bitten her lips suppressing the tears threaten to escape.

"Botan?..." he's nearly inaudible but she was able to heard it.

"Y-yes, Koenma-sama?

" Can you… can you accompany me in Ningenkai?

Without a second thought she nodded. " He really needed someone," she thought. She had turned her back to him when he spoke again.

"Yes, Koenma-sama?" He was finally stood up.

" And… can you take me… I mean… can I have ride with you? in your oar?"

She was surprised. Koenma never wanted to have a ride in a ferry girl's oar,no,never ,but then she managed to smiled at him.
"Of course! As you wish Koenma-sama"

She left to change her pink kimono with ningen clothes. When she returned Koenma had also changed his outfit fitted for Ningenkai. They went to the balcony window of his office and there she summoned her oar.

Koenma ride behind her gripping his arms around her waist securing himself from falling.

" Ready?" she asked him. Koenma nodded. The oar zoomed-off and disappeared when they had rached the portal connecting Reikai to Ningenkai. A sudden gust of cold wind greeted them.

"Winter is about to begin," she thought.

The oar accelerated. Koenma tightened his grip around her waist he was almost cuddling her. She felt a chill that quickly runs through her spine. And her heart, it sounded like a thousands of percussion instruments striking simultaneously.

" Where do you want to go koenma-sama?" she asked.

" Ningen bar, I wish to intoxicate myself," he said sharply.

Botan unwarningly halted her oar in the middle of the air. Reason why Koenma fell out of balance losing his grip and almost dangled himself. She grabbed his arms quickly.

" Botan! What the hell do you think you are doing?! I almost fell," he grumbled.

"Gomen-nasai, Koenma-sama but are you sure you wanna go there?"

"Yes," he said in a very authoritative tone.

Inside, she was indignantly protested but she tried her best to keep her lips lock. In a very rare instances, she did not bother to object even if she knew he was wrong.

She wearily sighed.

" If that's what you want," she bustled her oar towards the bar that's not unfamiliar to them cause it was the same bar Shizuru treated them when she had celebrated her birthday last year. She let Koenma find a place for them. Much to her surprise, he grabbed her hand. As they headed towards the sit, some women had tried to get on their way. Koenma has caught women's attention they seem enthralled by the handsome face of the Reikai Prince. Botan thought Koenma purposely grabbed her hand because he wanted them to think that she was his girlfriend so they won't have a chance to pestered him.

Note: He was not wearing his pacifier at this moment he temporarily clasped it in a necklace.

He ordered 3 bottle of sake while Botan got herself an orange juice. Koenma closed his eyes as he felt the hot liquid passes through his throat. While Botan sat beside Koenma watching him quietly with worried eyes. She was quite strange from her usual bubbly nature at that moment. Her eyes was full of sympathy.

"Botan?"

"Hmm?"

"I-im sorry," he said apologetically.

Botan looked at him questioningly.

"For what, Koenma-sama?"

" It's because I shouldn't brought you here in the first place, I shouldn't have wasted your time watching me pathetically intoxicating myself,I-I just…. I just feel so betrayed by fate! , " he slammed the bottle down the table.

Botan slightly twitched. The sullen she saw on Koenma's eyes was different from what she saw whenever his father belittled or berated him. Her heart slowly squashed warm liquid started to fill her eyes, racing through her cheeks.

"K-k-koenma-sama…" her voice wobbled. She grabbed his hand and squeezed it with the message of no matter what happens she's there for him and will never ever leave him. He smacked his hand on his face. She could hear his whimpering. Without warning, he hugged her almost crushing her body. He buried his face on her neck sniffing like a child. She slowly raised her arms locking them around Koenma's body. Koenma pulled her much closer. Her heart beat races exuberantly. She was blinded by tears. She closed her eyes tightly letting two tear drops fell down as she listened what her heart says. And it says….

It's been a very long time, why I couldn't admit it?

Even to myself I've kept denying it

Am I afraid? Why he should be the one?

No, it's not right he couldn't

But, how many centuries should have passed?

How many centuries I would kept what I've really felt?

How many centuries I would fool myself?

How many centuries I would ignore what my heart exhaustively cried?

But ,how? Would I admit what I've really felt for him?

My heart allowed, but my mind says "No! he'd be gone and you will only hurt"

Who?! Who?! Who can help me to say the four magic words…

"I love you Koenma-sama..."

2 hours later…

Koenma has emptied the three bottle of sake. Ningen would surely intoxicated by it especially with an empty stomach but, not for the Reikai Prince. He groaned cause he still have his senses and he's really quite annoyed by it so he ordered another 4 bottle.

"Botan?"

"Why Koenma-sama?"

"Have you… have you ever been inlove?," he asked locking a gaze to her.

She paused. "Did he?!" She searched his eyes. " But he seemed not," she mentally sighed in relief.

"Y-Yes," she's almost whispering.

"And… did he return it? He asked before continuously drain the sake in his mouth. She bowed her head so he won't be able to see her eyes that could betray her.

"N-No," her voice wavering. Koenma turned his eyes to his ferry girl.

"Botan?"

She looked at him.

" May I… may I know who's the guy?" he sounded carefully weighing Botan's feelings.

She forced a weak smile as she shook her head.

" But, you knew him really well."

Koenma's brows furrowed seems pondering it but did not bother to ask again probably respecting her privacy.

" That means… were on the same shoes," he let out a cynical laugh.

"So let us treat this night as a celebration…. Celebration of losers in love," he grabbed her emptied glass and he poured a sake on it. He handed it to her and she took it from him.

" Cheers?"

The two glass made a slight clatter. Because both broken hearted they weren't aware how fast hours sped up. Koenma was finally besotted head slumped over the table.

" Koenma-sama?" she tugged his shirt but he only returned mumbling something through his breath. Something with "-me" and she was sure he was saying Ayame. She has no choice she has to take Koenma all by herself. She snaked Koenma's arms around her neck while her one arm gripped around his waist securing him from stumbling. She lifted all his weight as they headed the exit. She summoned her oar and placed Koenma in front of her. She wrapped her arms around him. His head resting peacefully on her chest . She didn't removed an eye on him while they were flying. She enjoyed watching his hair gently brush up by the wind.

Soon, when they had reached Reikai she placed Koenma on his swivel chair. Then she headed straight to his colossal room adjacent to his office. She pushed the open button of the HUGE double door. She picked up the lurching prince on the working chair securely supporting his body with ease. She slowly placed him down on his King size bed and was about to tuck him, when she suddenly stopped. She looked at his clothes grimacing.

" I should not let him sleep on this," she thought.

She looked around and saw this princely closet. She swung it open and searched for a pair of PJ's. She picked up the color blue with faces of cats printed on it. She's walking back to him smiling at the thought of he will gonna look Kawaii on it but, her step suddenly stopped, remembering something.

" Who will gonna changed his clothes? Me?" she asked herself mentally. She scratched her head.

" I can't asked anyone to do it because they will found out that Koenma-sama got himself drunken purposely and worst of all Enma-sama might got the information and would punished him." And she could not let that happen.

" I can't asked Jorge to do it because I am sure he would not stop bugging me with thousands of questions if he saw Koenma –sama drunk." She profoundly sighed.

" I have no choice I have to do it by myself," she whispered.

She started to unclothed his polo shirt and she slightly blushed when her fingers accidentally brush Koenma's skin . She squinted while putting his bottom down pajama and that made her dripping in sweat.

" Whew!" her arms wiped the sweat on her forehead looking at him satisfied. She slightly bend to tucked him underneath his sheet. He just kept moaning until he stopped. She watched him for a couple of minutes and until she was sure he was sound asleep. She gazed at him with fondness. She brushed some hair strays resting gently on his brows. Her fingers delicately lingered his cheeks. She traced his JR mark on his forehead until her eyes goes down on his lips. She gulped.

" Hey, Botan! You should go now you've done what you've must done," she commanded herself.

She was about to leave when she felt someone had grabbed her arm and pulled it. She flopped straight in the bed beside Koenma . The bed slightly bounced . She then realized he was the one who pulled her down . She tried to rise but failed realizing Koenma has clasped his arms around her waist and his legs restraining her to move.

" Maybe he thought, I was his cuddly pillow."

She slowly detangled his arm around her waist but, when she did it he only tightened it even more. She heard him groaned.

" Don't leave me yet…. Botan," he muttered

She turned to her side and gasped cause less than half inch she was about to kiss Koenma.

" If that's what you want….. Koenma-sama," she whispered eyeing his lips enticing for a kiss.

She heavily yawned. Her eyes become droopy until it closed. They nestled towards each other. She can't able to see who snuck inside the room to lit off the two lampshades at the both side of the bed. It slowly and carefully step across the room heading outside in fear of ruining the tranquility of the Crown prince of Reikai and the sunny ferry girl who both find solace on huddling each other . It slowly pulled the other door while left the other hung open. Before leaving, It gave a final glance to both of them and smiled.