A/N: I would really adore to get some reviews for this story soon, if only to know whether people are interested in the concept or not. There is a poll up in my blog, too!
It was not often that a spirit was given the chance to pass through the Between freely and accompany a reaper on their trips to the human realm. Because of that simple fact, Botan took every chance she got to have Yusuke accompany her when she left the spirit realm.
Several days after retriving the soul of one Kazuma Kuwabara, who had been sent to the next realm with no problems and no issues, the young reaper girl found herself carting Yusuke Urameshi back into the human world.
The trip through the Between was just as it should have been, the monochrome of the frozen land making her feel so much more alive than anything else. Silencing the world that she had left behind, where ogres and demons scampered about, trying to sort through spirits and control lines. Giving her a burst of silence before Botan was flung straight into the bustling land that the humans had created, where cars and machinary and people screamed and tainted the air.
And then they were outside of the school and Botan was watching for a young woman with pale skin and dark hair, waiting for the car that she would drive up in. It would be a freak accident that took the life of Evelyn Munroe. A small mistep as she got out of the car to meet her son's teacher that would send her spiraling to the ground, head making contact with cement and life ending in seconds.
A sad way to go, but far from the worse. It was painless and quick, unlike the last life that Botan ferried to the other side. Evelyn would not suffer and her son, nearly a grown man now, would eventually move on and continue on with his life. There would be no snags or loose ends to worry about.
"Hey, Botan! There's something going on down at the school!" called Yusuke, pointing in the direction of Sarayshki Jr. High.
Botan blinked, drawn out of her thoughts by the ghost's loud voice. "What are you going on about now, Yusuke?"
"I'm going on about the cop cars out there, in front of the school!" insisted Yusuke, dropping down so that he was closer to the earth. "I wonder what happened?"
No sooner had he spoken then the front doors of the main building were pushed open. Two cops walked out, side by side, each with a hand on Ikashi Owomotou's shoulders. The narrow faced teacher's arms were pulled behind his back, the shining silver links of hand-cuffs around his wrists. Several children were peering out from behind them, watching with wide-eyes as the police led their teacher towards one of the patrol cars.
"I wonder what's going on?" asked one girl, echoing Yusuke's thoughts.
Her friend shrugged. "I don't know. I heard that Mr. Ikashi is in trouble for getting someone killed. They say he's being charged with murder!"
"Woah," muttered Yusuke, crossing his legs. "I always knew that guy was a bastard, but I didn't think that he was actually capable of killing someone. You know anything about this, Botan?"
Botan's eyes softened, and she supposed that it was only right the teacher was in such trouble. When she spoke, her words were quiet. "I do, but I can't talk to you about it. The affairs of the dead need to stay seperate, Yusuke, and this was a death that was meant to happen. I just hope it doesn't affect you in any ill-way."
"Huh? How would it affect me? Was it someone I knew?" asked Yusuke.
Botan gave him a bitter smile. "It was a boy that you used to go to school with. Ikashi arranged for some other children to beat him up, but they went a little bit too far. He passed away in that tunnel beneath the bridge, before anyone even knew what had happened to him."
Silence for a moment, and then Yusuke shrugged. "It won't, no worries. I'm not friends with any of those assholes
-x-x-x-x-x
It was nearly two days later and the fire was raging. Licking at the walls of the Urameshi residence and all that they housed, including a dear friend of his by the name of Keiko.
The heat clawed at the girl, trying to force her away from the wall that she was crouched beside. Keiko curled in on herself, tears streaking down her face - and Yusuke didn't want to have to watch this, to see her die because of him.
"Can't you get her out of here, Botan?" he demanded of the reaper beside him.
Botan shook her head, fist raising to press against her lower lip. "Her death may not be scheduled but I can't stop it, Yusuke. There's nothing I can do."
"No! There has to be something that you can do! She doesn't deserve to die, not like this! Not for my mother!" cried Yusuke, flinging one hand out towards where his long-time friend was crouched.
Because, really, that was the only reason that Keiko was there that day. She had wanted to check on Atsuko, make sure that her son's trip out of state hadn't left her with any issues and that the house was still standing.
Atsuko hadn't been home but the house was a mess, as it usually was. Trash littered the floor and newspapers crowded every surface, the scent of alcohol permeating the air even through the smoke that was now filling the air.
And for a moment, Botan really feared that Yusuke was wrong and there would be no saving Keiko. But then it clicked with her that there /was/ something that could be done, even if it would be a difficult choice to make. "There is one thing, but I'm afraid you may not like it."
"I don't care what it is, just tell me!" demanded Yusuke, because the flames were licking at Keiko's shirt sleeve now.
"Take your necklace and throw it into the fire." said Botan, voice serious. "It will work as a charm to part the flames. But don't be rash, Yusuke! If you do this, there will be no bringing you back to life, no matter what Lord Koenma wants."
It didn't make sense to Yusuke right then, and it wouldn't make sense to him later. The necklace was just a simple leather rope, with a small golden coin on it. It was etched with what, to Yusuke, was just a random desgin. To Botan and the other reapers and those of the Old Times, it was so much more than that.
It was an heirloom. It was powerful. It was the sole reason that Yusuke Urameshi had not just been sent on to the after life. Without it, Koenma would have no interest in the boy.
"I don't give a shit! Just save her!" shouted Yusuke, and then the small golden medallion was being pulled from around his neck and thrown, flying through the air before he had even thought through what he was going. It hit the flames and exploded, a spray of purple light filling the house.
The fire seemed to grow cold, drawing away from Keiko and the door until a pathway had been formed. And, despite the fact that she was afraid and sore, Keiko did her best to pick up herself and head for the door. Out of the corner of his eye, Yusuke could make out someone running in to help her. Didn't bother to try and figure out who though, because his mind was suddenly reeling with the fact that he wasn't going to come back now.
-x-x-x-x-
"You let him do what?" demanded Koenma, all but jumping out of his chair. If it were anything less then a throne, it would have toppled over, gold hitting marble and no doubt chipping both. Thankfully though, it was well anchored and did not budge.
Botan pursed her lips together, folding her hands behind her back and tilting her head so that she could look up at the young lord. Everything about him seemed hassled, to the point that his face was creased and he looked far too similiar to his father. "I let him use the pendant."
"But why?" persisted Koenma, and then he shook his head, soft brown hair fluttering around him, caught up in wind that grew more wild with each passing second. "I already said that I needed him! I needed that necklace!"
And he had, several times. Botan was very much aware of how important Yusuke Urameshi was to the world of the undead. She also knew full well the sheer importance of that simple golden charm, and all the power that the symbol carved onto the coin held. Still, as far as she was concerned, this was more important.
"Lord Koenma," said Botan, giving a soft sigh. "Yusuke deserved this. We have been toying with him since before he passed on and, really, he was a good boy in life. How couldn't I help him save her?"
"Easily!" snapped Koenma, and the spirit lord rubbed at the side of his head. He was not happy, not one bit! "Do you even understand what you just lost?"
"Of course I do," countered Botan, crossing the small space between herself and Koenma. She grabbed a hold of the older spirit's dark red robes, yanking on them just slightly. "From the moment I saw it, I knew what that mark meant! But we haven't used anything of the Angel's in centuries...and he deserved that. He carried that power for years, he deserved to be the one to use it."
Because with the power of the Angel's Sigil, came the curse of the Fallen. All who held the golden charm were fated with the worst of luck, and Yusuke Urameshi had been no exception. Every last ounce of bad luck that had ever befallen him, his family, or those he met, it had all been caused by the necklace worn around his neck.
Still, Botan looked up at her lord with wide spring eyes, fingers curled in the soft fabric of his robes. "He gave his life up for her, Lord Koenma. Doesn't that mean something?"
For a moment, there was silence. Then Koenma gave a heavy sigh out through his nose, one pale hand settling on the reaper girl's shoulder. "Of course it does. I just haven't decided how much it means."
"Everything," answered Botan, without a moments hesitation. "And you know that as well as I do."
"Fine," says Koenma after a moment. Then he pulls away from the young reaper girl, waving one hand towards the door of his chamber. "Go, do what you wish for him.