Author's Note: Man, what was I ON five years ago?! More corny old school KB from the younger me of 2002. Gah.

Disclaimer: Yu Yu Hakusho is owned by Yoshihiro Togashi

Remembering Her

It was a torture.

By the time they let me go, my face was no longer just warm. They had completely trapped me when we had our "guy talk" and were even able to make me look like a schoolboy in love. Even though I tried putting up a defense, the results were bad in my favor.

I was very embarrassed from the defeat as I made my way home. It was difficult to argue with them as I found that I was also arguing with….myself. During their teasing, I realized that I might have had feelings for Botan for a while now. Once again, I found myself arguing with two sides. But throughout my constant struggle, there was a voice or feeling that I might have found something…

She has been with me through all of our troubles and she would understand my problems...

By the time I reached my house it was very early in the morning. When I finally reached my room (the haven at that point), I slumped down on my bed and found that something was lodged against my back. I tiredly pulled it from behind me and found it was yet another gift from one of my admirers. Without even thinking, I tossed it to a seat where I kept all of my 'gifts'.

They're all wasting their money. I couldn't care less for those things.

I almost fell asleep when I remembered the gift she gave me. I felt the heat return to my face. Groaning, I grabbed a pillow and covered my face with it in hopes of getting some rest but it was awhile before I sleep finally found meDespite everything though, I somehow felt that my other half was pleased.

Remembering that night, made me laugh quietly to myself. The wedding was a refreshing change in scene for our team that I would never forget. I settled back into the tree and closed my eyes. Though my teammates were teasing me, I was very fortunate to have such good friends.

Suddenly my watch alarm went off bringing me back to reality. I pulled up my sleeve and found that it was nearly five thirty. Work needed to be done at the office. My stepfather was counting on me to finish some paperwork. Once again my boundaries cut into my time and I was forced to go back to my typical day in the human world. I slowly and reluctantly began to pack up my things and headed off to work.

As I walked into the building, every person who knew my stepfather greeted me. I returned their greetings without actually caring and flashed an automatic smile at everyone I met. When I opened the door to my office, what should greet me but a mountain of paperwork along with a note telling me that I had a meeting with a certain Mr. Wada. The man was another worker in the building and he was a friend of my stepfather. I lazily walked over to his office and opened his door. He was a dumpy old man with a receding hairline. I didn't care much for the man since he's been known to dump a good amount of work on my stepfather, which would then go to me. I greeted him without much sincerity. As I entered the room, he got up and gave me a huge phony grin.

"Ah, Shuichi! Come in! Have I got a surprise for you!" he roared and pushed me into a chair. Or rather, I let him push me.

"Yes, Mr. Wada. Is there something you want to talk to me about?"

"Yes, I was thinking, how you were a handsome young man in the verge of adulthood."

I stared.

"Love is in the air and I was thinking how much you would like to go on a date with my daughter!" He declared, rather than asking. I was completely disgusted.

"No thank you, Mr. Wada I'm not interested." And with that, I stood up and made my way to the door.

"Wait, Shuichi! Are you sure? She'll really be worth your while! She told me she went to your school!" He followed me and put a hand on my shoulder. I suddenly had the urge to rip his hand off ….I turned around and narrowed my eyes.

"I'm sure."

His eyes widened and he immediately took his hand off my shoulder. "R-Right. Thank you for…. your time."

I nodded and went out of his office more annoyed than ever.

My temper is really getting out of control today.

When I walked down the hall two people thanked me for the work I had accomplished yesterday. The greetings were reciprocated and I found my way back to the office. The mundane busy work was still there and I felt more fatigued then before. The work can wait until tomorrow. If anyone says otherwise they'll have to deal with me. I gathered up my things for the fourth time that day and made my way home. My sour disposition continued as I walked down the street desperately wanting to get home. Being so caught up in my thoughts, I didn't notice someone call out my name.

"Kurama!" At first I was decided to ignore whoever it was but then I realized the person didn't call me 'Shuichi' so I looked back. Yusuke waved enthusiastically for me to come over. Seeing his grin, I relaxed. Finally I could talk to someone without letting my anger get the better of me.

"Hello," I greeted, glad to be in the company of a friend. "What are you doing?" Yusuke's face fell.

"'Hanging out' with Keiko. But I managed to escape for a second." He frowned at me. "The real question is what is wrong with you? When I saw you, there was this look on your face that I would usually wear. Scowling is not your thing Kurama."

"Nothing. Just a tough day."

"There you go again!" Yusuke said pointing at my face.

"Yusuke!" We both turned around and saw Keiko standing near an ice cream booth. She looked surprised as she noticed my presence and came over. "Hi Kurama! It's good to see you again. I'm glad you found a certain someone who conveniently left while I was buying some food," She glared over at Yusuke, who suddenly seemed very interested a particular store on the opposite side of the street.

"Aw, you know I saw Kurama and I wanted to come over and say hi." Yusuke explained, still careful to avoid eye contact.

"Well since you're here Kurama, why don't you come join us?" Keiko offered. Yusuke looked at me hopefully and hurriedly nodded his head in agreement.

"Thank you for the offer, but I must really be getting home." I declined and bade them goodbye, leaving Yusuke with his signature scowl on his face. Even though I was with them for just a moment, I felt relieved. No one can deny that they made a perfect match for each other. It was always a reassuring to see Yusuke with someone who could understand the way he lived his life.

A light wind began to blow and my senses were once again aroused. The calming signal of the day's end made the annoyances of the day insignificant if only for a second. Despite my unpleasant disposition, it had been a beautiful day. It was unfortunate that its effect weren't contagious enough to have had affected me earlier. But now it brought to my mind a get-together we had not too long ago….

"Hey guys, check out my sweet new wheels!" Yusuke called over to me, Kuwabara, Shizuru and Yukina. Yusuke had just gotten a new motorcycle and was flaunting it off every chance he got. To complete his image, he wore a black leather jacket complete with shades. As he hopped off and proceeded to greet everyone, Keiko managed to get over her paralyzed state and began to shakily remove her helmet. She was obviously shaken up after the suicidal trip with Yusuke.

"Ha! That's nothin' Urameshi. My new wheels beats the crap out of yours!" retorted Kuwabara as he pointed to his car, a new present he had just acquired. "Right Kurama?" Since he expected my support, I glanced over to his car and gave Kuwabara a smile. Truthfully, I'd have to admit that Yusuke's bike was very impressive. It stood gleaming in the sunlight and its new features were only accentuated with the blinding glare. The new redlined black coat flashed at onlookers and put much emphasis on the gold bird in the front. All in all, Kuwabara's car couldn't really compare but I wasn't about to be the one to tell him that. Yusuke raised one eyebrow and took a lazy look over at Kuwabara's car.

"That piece of junk?" scoffed Yusuke. "Oh right, how could my new and totally sweet ride compare with your hand-me-down car?" At that, I knew that there would be a fight or rather a race. It was rather predictable.

"That's it, Urameshi! Get your helmet on and prepare to eat my dust!" Shizuru, Yukina and I all simultaneously sighed at their good natured but all too competitive rivalry.

"Well, at least this will be interesting." Shizuru commented as Yusuke and Kuwabara prepared to race.

"Wish me luck Yukina!" Kuwabara called as he waved furiously at his beloved.

"It's not luck you need buddy, it's a new bike like mine!" Yusuke lauged as he revved up his engine. We were in the outskirts of town and there was a country road opened to the far side of the park where we were. So it was decided that the two would race to the end of the park.

"Yusuke, put your helmet on!" Keiko reminded. Yusuke grumbled but did as she asked.

"Hey Kurama! Can you be the judge?" Kuwabara asked from his car. I agreed as the spectators went to the end line. Throughout the walk, Kuwabara and Yusuke's threats mingled with insults, punctured the quiet atmosphere.

When we finally reached the finishing line, I could hear the engines roaring ferociously; I knew they were raring to go. I raised my hand and brought it down. And they were off. Both car and motorcycle were heading toward us pretty fast. From what I could see, both Yusuke and Kuwabara had a fierce look of determination on their faces. Kuwabara gritted his teeth while Yusuke had that signature, penetrating gleam in his eye. At the half point, it seemed that Kuwabara was ahead but Yusuke was catching up, he was never one to quit.

"Who do you think will win?" I suddenly asked casually addressing a familiar presence in the tree behind us.

"They are pathetically slow but she will." That's when my eye caught a figure in the sky. I squinted and saw it was Botan. She was speeding toward us and was slowly descending. The distance between us was rapidly closing as she sliced through the air on her oar. Remembering my job as the judge, I turned my attention back to the two other racers and saw that Yusuke was ahead and was about to win when Botan crossed the finish line and landed. She turned around to Yusuke and beamed. Yusuke looked completely horrified.

"Looks like I win Yusuke!" Botan laughed and pointed to her oar.

"That's not fair it doesn't count!" Yusuke growled. Kuwabara came up to us and laughed.

"Right Urameshi, your motorcycle can't even be beaten by an oar." He laughed and of course, the two of them began a row that was certain to last for at least ten minutes. It was always quite funny watching them fight each other with teasing blows that would have most certainly have killed any average person.

After they had settled down, we prepared to have a picnic. It was a very breezy day; the air was inviting and invigorating so I decided to take a walk later to allow my other half some much needed time alone. Hiei was still 'hiding' in that tree to keep an eye on sister. The thought made me smile as I realized everyone had reunited again after so long I had begun to prepare for the picnic when Keiko and Shizuru stopped me.

"You don't need to do that Kurama. Let those two do it." Keiko pointed to a disgruntled Yusuke and a smug Kuwabara.

"No it's all right. I don't mind." I insisted but Shizuru had already marched over there to inform them of their work.

"Yes, Kurama. I think they need something to occupy them so they won't continue their argument." Yukina said just as Yusuke awarded Kuwabara for his arrogant attitude.

"That's right." Botan smiled and nudged me away. Outnumbered, I nodded and began to take a walk when I felt her hand on my shoulder. As I turned around, she hastily pushed something into my arms. "Kurama, if you don't come back before we start, you can eat this if you're hungry."

"Thank you Botan." I said and took the bag but not before I noticed some bandages wrapped around several of her fingers. Before I could inquire about her injuries, she turned away apparently not wanting me to notice the tinge of red on her cheeks. I smiled and continued on my way down the path.

From time to time, I knew the spirit fox inside me needed his moments of solitude as well. The air felt cool and it revitalized my senses. When I headed back, I saw everyone was beginning to have a good time. Before I had a chance to settle down however, I heard a beeping sound. Botan quickly took out her communicator and seemed to quickly apologize to everyone. I was still far away so I couldn't hear what she said but I knew what that meant. She was once again being called to Reikai. She mounted her oar and flew my way.

"What's the matter Botan?" I asked as she neared me.

"Oh, you're back, Kurama."

"Yeah. You're leaving already?" I asked and felt the disappointment in me grow as she quickly produced her oar.

"I am sorry but I have to go. Koenma needs me," She nodded unhappily. "This always, always happens!"

"You can't stay for a little while longer?" I said even though I knew she couldn't. "We just started. You haven't even had anything to eat yet."

"I know but this is urgent. Well, with Koenma, I guess you could say every errand is urgent." She smiled. "Besides, I'm not that hungry." But just as those words left her mouth her stomach betrayed her. Botan's cheeks turned a little pink and she laughed. "Well, you know being in this form…." I smiled back then noticed the bag she had given me earlier.

"Here," I said and gave the bag to her. "I think you need this more than me." She held the bag and looked away from me. I suddenly saw the familiar pink tinge in her cheeks deepen. She then opened the bag and took out two rice cakes. She then stuck her nose in the air and shoved one back to me.

She grinned and said, "Well Kurama, I want you to have one. After all, I gave it to you first."

"Botan, I'm going to the picnic. I don't need it." I insisted but she had a little pout on her face. I laughed. She looked adorable with that look- wait, adorable?. When I looked back at her, the expression had changed into the unmistakable puppy dog one. I sighed. There was absolutely no way I could refuse when she looked like that. "All right Botan, let's compromise. I'll eat mine right now if you eat yours."

"All right Kurama." At that we both ate our cakes.

"Happy?" asked Botan.

"Quite." I said a little teasingly, though of course, I was being entirely honest.

"Well, thanks Kurama, but I have to go. See you later!" With that she waved and sped off. As I watched her go, I felt a little lonely, which surprised me. I found that I really wished she could have stayed. It wouldn't be the same without her. When I walked back, I found that they discovered Hiei there and thus, the teasing began. I sensed that Hiei was about to explode in a huge rage of fury when Yusuke pushed him next to Yukina. Then he stiffened up and sat perfectly still.

I approached them and acted completely surprised and delighted that Hiei was there, which he rewarded me with a frightening glare.

"It's a shame Botan couldn't stay." Yukina commented as she passed around the bento boxes Keiko had made. "I feel so sorry for her."

"Yeah, and Botan actually helped me with this picnic." Keiko said. Botan helped make the food? Keiko handed me a rice cake. "Here, these rice cakes are really something. She slaved away for hours making these!"

I never forgot that day either. I felt at ease, remembering back to our last team get together….Remembering Botan…I jerked out of my thoughts and realized that I was almost home. That was something new. I was so caught up in my thoughts that I didn't know where I was going. Why was I growing so restless lately?

My house came into view as I turned around the corner. It was the old house I lived in since I was born as a human. It gave me comfort, seeing it. Though my youko side love being in the wild, the house wasn't bad.

I went in and found it empty. For right now, that was exactly what I wanted. I walked into my room and laid down on my bed. The sun was already beginning to set and the orange glow fell into my room. What an awful day. I thought. I swear if it wasn't for my memories…

That's when it hit me.

I was moody. Moody. Whether I was Shuichi Minamino or Youko Kurama, I was never moody. Or restless for that matter. Looking back, I saw that I was irritable, angry and seemed to be fixated on the past. I groaned and grabbed a pillow and buried my face in it.

Please don't tell me I'm going through that teenage angst stage. I am way too old and mature for that. I mean I am hundreds of years older than humans.

The past…although I didn't want to admit it, my memories all focused on one person.

Botan...

Pushing the thought aside, I decided to retire early. I got ready for bed and slipped into an uneasy sleep.