Botan set the timer according to Keiko's written instructions. She now had forty-four minutes to—well, maybe not relax, but at least she didn't have to mix anything with flour again.
"How are those balloons coming, dear?" she called, wrapping the cord around the beater handle.
"Just fine," Yukina said brightly from the other room. "Kazuma will love them!"
"I think he'll be too thrilled with you being here to notice any of our efforts!" Botan said as Yukina appeared, looking hurt. Botan realized her mistake, grappling with her words to set it right.
"I think what she meant," said Kurama, entering with Hiei behind Genkai, "was that Kuwabara would be thrilled with even lackluster birthday decorations. Don't you think so, Hiei?"
Botan stifled a laugh by busying her mouth with a drop of cake batter. She watched Hiei with laughing eyes, and his only verbal response to Kurama was a grunt.
"Are you gonna clean all that crap?" Genkai said, noting the mess of the kitchen. "It was spotless before you got here."
"Oh, don't worry!" Botan said. "It'll sparkle even before the cake's done!"
Genkai sighed, pulling a Buddha statue off a table. "It better not sparkle if you know what's good for you. Set your coat on the bed, Kurama, if you won't help me move the valuables to the temple."
"I'll help you directly, Master Genkai," Kurama said, smirking at his fire-demon companion. "Hiei, you can help Yukina with these balloons."
"You can go to hell."
"Don't worry, Hiei!" said Yukina, offering him a balloon. "I'll show you how. It's fun!"
Hiei sulked for a moment, sneering at the preparations Botan and Yukina had made for Kuwabara's party. With Yukina's kind instructions, however, he quickly found a use for himself, though not without a few warning glares at the observant Botan.
Kurama returned for an urn, and Botan gestured him over. "I think you should have Hiei put his sword in a closet somewhere," she whispered. "He's fine now, but I don't want him to be armed when Kuwabara and his friends arrive."
#
Yusuke and Keiko arrived with Kuwabara and his gang, having met accidentally on the train.
"I tried to give him his present there," Yusuke told Kurama and anyone who had ears, "but he said it'd be rude to the rest of the guests. Who does that?"
"He was only being polite!" Botan pointed out.
"Yeah, but he doesn't know what I got him. It'd be way more polite for him to unwrap it in private."
Botan scoffed. "You're a pig."
"Don't worry," Keiko whispered. "He actually got him Goblin Empire."
"Oh? I didn't know Kuwabara even played the first one."
Keiko suddenly scowled. "Well I know Yusuke did, but I thought he might finally be doing something nice for Kuwabara!"
She forced a smile as Keiko left to yell at her boyfriend; Kurama took Keiko's place beside Botan.
"Komada intends to serenade you, I'm afraid," he mused, rocking the ice in his glass through its brandy.
Botan folded her arms over her chest and raised an eyebrow. "And how will he pull that off?"
Kurama drank. "He and the others bought Kuwabara a karaoke stereo."
"Please tell me you're kidding." Botan followed Kurama's nod and saw Komada, who wore a Megallica shirt. "Oh, dear."
"You'll have to stall the presents," Kurama said. "Though if the cake isn't ready, you'll need another compelling distraction."
Botan scowled up at him. "You're enjoying this too much, you know that?"
"Sorry!" he laughed. "Should I make you a drink?"
"Goodness, no. I can't afford to lose any control. I can hardly be polite when I'm sober."
"I noticed."
Botan stuck out her tongue, then remembered his aid earlier. "So thank you," she said, having reminded him of his gallantry. "But you know something, Kurama? I think you're just as awkward as I am."
"Do you?"
"Yep. You just hide it behind polite smiles and silence."
Kurama considered her for a moment, his smirk opening to a chuckle. "I suppose it's evasive of me to point out that our friends from Mushiyori City are here."
Botan turned to the window behind her, catching Yanagisawa wave at her from across the yard. "At least you can admit it," she said to Kurama, who waved back with her. "Kido and the others are here!"
"Oh, awesome!" said Kuwabara.
"Oh, great," groaned Yusuke. "He better not tempt me. I still owe that punk an ass-kicking."
Genkai grumbled and sat at her table. "Someone make tea. Botan, you're in the kitchen."
"Huh? Hey! Kurama's in here too! Why don't you make him?"
"I don't care who makes it," Genkai barked.
"Blue hair, red hair," said Hiei. "What's the difference?"
"You know, Hiei, sometimes I sympathize with Kuwabara about you," Botan said, finding the kettle.
Kurama took it from her. "Let me."
Kido, Yana, and Kaitoh finally came inside, their cheeks reddened with exertion and cold.
"Those stairs are like a trial," Yana said. "I don't know how I always forget about them."
"Urameshi," Kido greeted with a handshake.
Yukina asked Keiko who the newcomers were while they introduced themselves to Kuwabara's gang. Kaitoh adjusted his glasses and nodded once to Kurama. Once everyone had taken off their coats and settled in, Komada heaved a wrapped box to Kuwabara's side.
"Now that everyone's here," he said, looking for a moment at Botan, "we want you to open ours first."
"Well now, wait!" Botan rushed into the sitting area. "The cake isn't ready, and we can't do presents without cake. How about a game? I know a great one we could all play—"
"And why don't we make it even more fun?" said Kido, sliding a bottle of booze from his duffle bag.
Kurama set Genkai's tea before her and discreetly offered Botan a deck of cards from between two fingers.
"Alright," said Kuwabara, "but Kurama and Hiei can't play, 'cos they'd just clean me out."
Hiei stood with a sneer, following Keiko and Yukina into the kitchen as he replied, "I don't do games, fool."
"That guy's creepy," Okubo said to Miyamoto, who nodded.
"I think he'd be glad to know it," Kurama laughed. "And if you don't want me to play, Kuwabara, I'll abide."
"No offense, Kurama, I just need to save for school."
"Looks like the girls are going to decorate the cake," said Botan. "I wonder if they need hel—"
"Don't be stupid!" said Yusuke, yanking her down between him and Komada. "They'll be fine. Now what are we playing?"
#
"Everyone got a glass?" said Kido, holding his own aloft. All around the table, Yusuke, Botan, Komada, Okubo, Miyamoto, and Kuwabara held theirs up in answer, Kurama drinking his brandy silently between Kuwabara and Kido. "Great! Happy birthday, Kuwabara. One, two, three!"
When Botan set down her glass, she nearly knocked over a full one. "Yusuke," she began, "are you . . . refusing alcohol for some reason?"
Kurama watched, hoping Yusuke wouldn't be angry that she'd pointed it out.
"Well yeah." Yusuke's eyes followed every card dealt. "You think I'm gonna let a bunch of drunk idiots win? Hell no, I'll have this in the bag!"
Botan smacked her forehead. "I thought you'd have a sweet, responsible reason, maybe about your mother. Why do I ever put any faith in you?"
Kurama chuckled, watching Botan and the young man beside her. "It's lucky Master Genkai left when she did," he said. "I don't think she would have allowed her apprentice to sidestep a challenge."
"Oh, yeah," said Yusuke, looking from side to side. "Where is the old bat?"
Leaning against the wall, Kaitoh pressed his glasses up his nose. "I believe she and Yana are playing video games. If you'll excuse me."
As the card game began, Botan wondered aloud, "Why didn't Shizuru come?"
"I told her she could," said Kuwabara, sorting the cards in his hand. "She doesn't like mountain air, though, 'cos she's a smoker."
"Can you picture your sister going up those stairs?" laughed Yusuke. "She'd probably suffocate!"
"I keep telling her to quit," Kuwabara replied gravely. "But anyway, she knows when I talk about her, so let's change the subject."
Kurama drained his glass and set it beside Botan's empty shot. "I thought you weren't drinking tonight."
"Well, I didn't say . . . or, I did, but . . . in this context, it'll do the trick!"
Kurama smiled, taking Kido's bottle and refilling the table's glasses.
Miyamoto raised, and Kuwabara groaned. "Come on, man, it's my birthday!"
Kido folded, Yusuke cursed, and Botan yelped, "I thought we were playing Go Fish!"
#
All Botan had were fives; she didn't know if it was the effect of four shots or the looming decision as those around the table called or folded . . . then her eyes fell on Kurama, who must have been watching her for a long time. She looked down at her cards, but she felt his eyes on her still. When she looked up again, he winked at her.
It was her turn, now. Botan gave a weak raise, to Kurama's smile. Yusuke choked on his shot and coughed until he was somehow angrier. Komada, who'd led the most ambitious assault on Miyamoto's pile of winnings, copied Botan. Okubo was out, and Miyamoto clung to his pride.
Botan watched Kurama's expression change as each player made a call, and when her turn came again, Kurama crossed his arms and leaned back, as if cocky.
So she raised.
Komada looked impressed and struggled with his call. He folded, however, which led to Miyamoto.
"I think you're bluffing," he said to Botan, leaning forward with a grin.
"I don't know, man," said Kuwabara as Botan hid her cards from Yusuke's eyes with a growl.
Botan hiccupped. "If I'm bluffing, raise."
Yusuke laughed, Komada snorted, and Kurama smiled, locking eyes with her long enough for Komada to notice.
Miyamoto squinted, but he decided to fold, to Botan's delight. Kurama stood to refill his brandy.
#
He found Hiei in the kitchen watching Yukina, who stirred coloring into a bowl of frosting. Keiko was piping some yellow frosting along the cake's edges, so intent on her work that she seemed alone.
"Why do you sit out there?" said Hiei. "If you can't take their money, what's the point?"
Kurama refilled his glass. "It's actually fun, Hiei. Almost as fun as watching these two."
"Hn."
"Yes, I thought so." Kurama's eyes danced with mirth.
Keiko bagged Yukina's frosting and showed her how to hold her hands to pipe.
"Are you sure, Keiko?" asked the ice apparition. "I'm not very good at this."
"But it'll mean more to him if you write it," Keiko said brightly.
As Yukina worked on a birthday message on the cake's surface, Kurama complimented Keiko's strength in delegation.
"Oh, I can't take credit," said Keiko. "I couldn't be up here all day baking, so Botan really helped me out. And with Yukina helping decorate it, well . . . it took a lot of pressure off."
"Are you some kind of cook?" Hiei asked a bit gruffly.
"Uh, mhmm. My parents run a noodle shop, and I like to offer desserts when I can."
"Kuwabara told me on a few occasions that he wanted a Keiko Yukimura cake."
She grinned. "While it's still Yukimura."
"Right," smiled Yukina. "Uh, how does this look?"
"Oh, wow," Keiko said, blinking. "Professional."
"Is it time, then?" Kurama asked.
Yukina looked up at him. "We still need candles." Hiei moved so fast, it was as if the little pack fell from the ceiling. "Thank you, Hiei!"
"Yeah," said Keiko suspiciously, "thanks."
"Were you holding those all this time, Hiei?"
"Shut your mouth, Kurama."
Yukina finished placing the candles, and Keiko asked if anyone had a lighter. Hiei grinned, and out in the sitting area, Kuwabara got a tickle feeling.
#
How was it? I hope you don't mind the absence of plot in this chapter; there just weren't enough filler episodes in Yu Yu Hakusho for my taste. I wanted to see them more at home and less in the Dark Tournament. I guess I was indulging myself a bit here. Sorry!
I originally wrote this as one huge chapter, but it was almost four times the size of previous chapters, so I cut it in thirds. The next chapter will have the karaoke (prepare yourself), Kurama-Botan drama, and the presents! I personally am so excited for you all to see Yukina in the next chapter. She's so underutilized in the show, don't you think? Friggin' adorbs.
Looks like Yusuke knows about Komada's crush, eh? I imagine Kuwabara told him about it, and he laughed until he collapsed a lung.
I think Keiko probably liked to cook when Yusuke was in Demon World with Raizen; it'd bring her closer to him. So naturally, she's become a bit of a pro, even if she's baking, here.
So after that card game, how do you think Botan will thank Kurama for helping her win?
