Since this is a NaNoWriMo challenge the chapters might get a bit long. I've got about 48,000 words total so far. (Not with this chapter alone of course. I've got quite a few chapters written up already) So just, fair warning now some of the chapters might be doozies!
I will keep posting as long as I get reviews, so I hope you enjoy.
It took Kuwabara less than two weeks to get moved.
It was rather amusing to be in the know, as Kuwabara's teacher suddenly came to him proclaiming he'd found a perfect school for Kuwabara to get his experience at. Kuwabara was happy to agree of course, and accept this chance to get "some good experience towards his chosen career." Only briefly did Kuwabara wonder how Koenma managed to get the idea in his teacher's head, that Kuwabara needed to go work at a school in Tokyo. Eventually, Kuwabara shrugged it off, it was an answer he'd never get anyway.
When Kuwabara got home and explained his plans however, his sister seemed hesitant.
"It's...far Kazuma," Shizuru had said as she nervously stroked her hair. Her other arm rested around her waist, and her foot was tapping. She was making an effort not to touch Kuwabara, or place a protective grip on his shoulder.
She'd been making a real effort to stop hovering.
"Forty-five minutes really isn't that far...and forty-five is if I don't take the bullet train," Kuwabara said soothingly. He took a step forward and took her hand in both of his. Shizuru brought her free hand on top of his and looked down at Kuwabara's hands frowning. She would rather look at his hand than look him in the eye. In this way should she could hide her worry, and deep concern rather than burden him with.
Kuwabara was truly grateful for the efforts Shizuru put out for him.
"Kazu..." She started to speak, but her words faltered and her mouth closed.
"Shizuru I know you're worried. But I'm better. I've been better for months. And I'm not rushing off into something dangerous...I'm just going to work at a school," Kuwabara lied with surprising ease. "I will call you-every day if you want!" Kuwabara promised squeezing Shizuru's hand. "It'll be good for me... to do something...right?"
Shizuru immediately looked at Kuwabara, and her hand flew to his shoulder giving it a squeeze, "Yes. Yes, of course, it's good for you to do this. I don't...don't want to ever hold you back. I just like knowing where you are, and that you're home at night. But...I won't be the reason you stay in a cage." Her voice grew stronger as she spoke, and then she embraced Kuwabara wrapping her brother in a strong hug.
"I'm so proud of my annoying little brother! You'll do great!"
Kuwabara held her in his arms, only feeling mildly guilty about not telling her the full truth.
Now, two weeks later, surrounded by white walls and brown boxes in his new apartment, that guilt resurfaced ten-fold.
"I needed this," Kuwabara told himself as he tried not to think of his sister. "I didn't lie, I just didn't tell her everything." Kuwabara began to pace, guiltly twisting his hands together.
"I couldn't stay at home. I needed to leave. I need this. I need this," Kuwabara continued to mutter. But no matter what he said to himself that knot of guilt wasn't letting up. Shizuru had been so worried. She was good at acting like nothing was wrong, and that everything was okay. She had helped Kuwabara pack his things, and even padded Kuwabara's bank account so he could buy himself a couch or some other apartment necessity. All the while she'd dropped some comments about making sure he called his friends to let them know where he was.
Suddenly thinking of Yusuke, Kurama and Hiei sent another pang of guilt into Kuwabara's gut, and Kuwabara needed to sit down.
What would they do when they found out he'd moved away without a word sent to them?
Kuwabara walked to his bathroom and closed the lid of his toilet before taking a seat on the porcelain throne. Kuwabara did not have furniture yet, and the bathroom, for now, was the best place for him to sit. He would sit on the floor, but then his leg would act up, and getting up would be a pain. Kuwabara sighed, rubbing his knee as he looked around the small pale blue bathroom. The wall on his left had the vanity, and the mirror took up the rest of the room. Directly across was a pink tiled shower, and a suspiciously gray shower curtain.
"That's gotta change," Kuwabara mumbled, as he cringed to think how long that shower curtain had been there.
Kuwabara sighed and looked to his wrist examining the watch Koenma had given him. It was large, black and square. It had four little buttons along the face, and other than that was rather plain. One button was for the time, the second contacted Koenma, the third would allow Kuwabara to record sounds around him, and the fourth could play back the audio.
Kuwabara had no idea which button was which.
Koenma had, of course, told him, but Kuwabara had forgotten the directions almost immediately.
'Well...no time like the present,' Kuwabara thought and proceeded to press and fiddle with his new gadget.
After two minutes, Koenma's hyper-concerned face popped up on the little black screen, "What?! What is it!?"
Kuwabara grinned, "Ah so that's what that button does!"
Koenma's face fell, "Really? REALLY? I wrote down what the buttons did for you!"
Kuwabara shrugged, "I haven't unpacked yet!"
Koenma sighed, dropping his head in his hands. He groaned audibly, Kuwabara chuckling at him smugly.
"I guess it's good you called...I feel I should warn you," Koenma grated, his voice ending on a high note.
Kuwabara winced a sense of dread draping over his shoulders. "Warn me about what?"
As fate would have it, Kuwabara's question was immediately answered by the sound of someone pounding on his door.
Kuwabara looked out through the bathroom entryway, and out towards his front door. And then he was looking back at the screen, glaring at Koenma who could also clearly hear the knocking. Koenma's face was twisted in a mix of shame, guilt, and grim acceptance.
"What did you do?" Kuwabara hissed keeping his voice low, "Who is that?"
"I didn't do anything!" Koenma cried defensively, "You know how she is! She saw the open file I have for this case, saw your name...and she twisted the information out of me! She...maybe also got your new address too..."
As Koenma whined and tried to weasel himself out of any trouble Kuwabara might bestow on him, Botan's voice could be heard over everything, "Kuwabara! Kuwabara open this door! It's me! I've come to see you! Open the door Kuwabara!"
Kuwabara let his head drop into his chest, and he groaned. Koenma was still trying to explain himself from Kuwabara's watch and to exonerate all guilt from the situation, but Kuwabara wasn't having it. "I'll deal with you later," Kuwabara promised, before hanging up on Koenma, and returning his watch back to its incognito stare.
Bracing a hand on the bathroom sink, he hauled himself up, and trudged towards his door calling, "I'm coming Botan! Hold on, and quit shouting!"
"I'm not shouting!" Botan shouted from the other side of Kuwabara's front door.
The tall man bit his lip, but even that couldn't stop his smile. Kuwabara finally reached the door and swung it open. But he didn't even get a chance to seem they hyper, and normally chatty grim reaper, as she was immediately barging in. Placing a hand on his chest Botan pushed Kuwabara back and then against a wall, the top of her bushy blue ponytail smacking him in the face and obscuring his vision. He just managed to press her hair away from his face, when Botan was calling for someone.
"Okay fellas, bring it in!"
In a bit of stunned awe, Kuwabara watched as what looked to be Ogres in disguise began carrying large pieces of furniture into his apartment.
"Botan...what...?"
"I just found out what is going on here, and I must say I can't believe you just left! You should have talked to me, or waited! Genkai and Yukin didn't even know you left! We could have all helped you move! Yusuke, Kurama, and Hiei don't know either, and you know Yusuke would have helped you move here! Also, why didn't you demand Koenma set you up properly?! If this is a mission then he needs to make sure you're comfortable in your new abode! Well, I gave Koenma a good tongue lashing, and when I get back I'll yell at him some more!. Oh but, look Kuwabara! I got Koenma to donate old furniture from his offices! We have a couch, some nice sofa chairs, a dining set, even a few pieces of patio furniture for you! You'll be living-"
Kuwabara placed a hand over Botan's mouth, silencing the woman from her ramble. He stared at her, his head spinning as he tried to piece out everything she said. Looking into her pink eyes Kuwabara let out an exasperated sigh before he smiled, "...It's good to see you Botan."
Botan's pink eyes flooded with tears, and then the woman burst out crying before throwing her arms around Kuwabara and hugging him tightly around his neck. Kuwabara slipped an arm around Botan's waist, and picked the petite woman up, returning a strong hug.
"Kuwabara! How could you just leave and not say anything!" Botan sniffled.
"...I'm sorry Botan. I just..." Kuwabara fumbled for an excuse.
"We just treat you different," Botan answered, her voice nasely from her tears, "I know Kuwabara, I know. We're overprotective, and we hover, and I'm sorry for it all. No one is meaning to make you feel any different or upset you. It's all just been so stressful...and I just know, well at least for me, I can't stand the thought of you going somewhere and disappearing!"
Kuwabara held the crying woman tighter, the guilt he was feeling hanging around his neck like a noose. A shudder ran through him as Botan managed to describe what he was experiencing. She was very good at nailing certain problems on the head. "I should have said something. I'll call Genkai and Yukina. I'll explain what I'm doing and apologize. I'm really sorry."
Botan only clung tighter and continued to cry.
Kuwabara glanced up and saw the ogres had finished arranging the furniture. They now stood awkwardly around looking unsure of what to do next. Kuwabara used his head to gesture for them to go, and after a few nervous bows, the demons left. Kuwabara, with both arms securely around Botan's waist, half carried and half dragged Botan to the couch, and then spilled in a heap with her on the long and slightly used furniture. The pair lay in silence for a while, Kuwabara absentmindedly stroking her hair and back.
"I know you don't mean to treat me differently. I know no one means to. Part of it's my fault too... I'm different now as well," Kuwabara finally spoke, "And I love you guys. Really. Sometimes how much you all worry and care bothers me. And I just thought... you know this is a good chance for me to prove that you guys don't have to worry. They can go back to normal, like how it all used to be. With just a few... minor adjustments."
Botan sniffed, and sat up, untangling herself from Kuwabara. The pair resettled on the couch without talking, both of them facing towards one another. Botan wiped her cheek and smiled wobbly at Kuwabara, who returned the grin. Kuwabara had matured over the years, his face getting stronger, and his body even taller. He'd gotten even bulkier over the years, and made for an imposing figure now, even if there was still something youthful about his crooked over-wide smile, and the way he fumbled with his words and hands. But Botan...she still looked like the day when he first met her. Young and vibrant, and like she still belonged in high school.
Briefly, he wondered if that was to be the norm. To watch his friends remain ageless while he slowly changed.
"You know...you better not show up here too often. People might think I'm doing something inappropriate with a student!"
Botan guffawed and let out a snorting laugh, "Really Kuwabara! No one would think that!"
Kuwabara pulled Botan's cheeks and snickered, "Yeah they would. You're too babyfaced!"
The pair laughed together, Botan smacking Kuwabara's hands away from her face. The laughter was half forced, and out of tune with one another, but there was promise in their mingling chuckles. Relationships could be mended, an effort just needed to be made.
"I'm sorry Kuwabara. I didn't mean to come over here ranting and raving, and then cry and snot all over your shirt. I'm just very worried! This is your first ever solo mission, and Yusuke doesn't even know!"
Kuwabara shrugged, settling into the couch. "I mean...Yeah, I know. But it's not like I can't tell him when they all get back."
"Will you tell him?" Botan asked seriously.
Kuwabara sighed, "Yeah. Yeah, I will. Just...tell Koenma to grow some balls and make sure Urameshi doesn't come back down here to drag me back!"
Botan giggled, "He won't do that-"
"Please! Urameshi is a real mother hen!" Kuwabara snorted rolling his eyes.
Botan giggled, "He won't drag you back. He just might camp out on the floor of your apartment, and refuse to leave."
Kuwabara snorted, "Oh that's much better!"
"Have the boys contacted you at all?" Botan asked, her voice soft.
"Not too much," Kuwabara admitted, "A letter here or there, though the letter is normally a minimum of ten pages! But their last one was six weeks ago. They're really busy tracking down that human trafficker. It sounds like a horrible case. They've been finding a trail of dead humans and demons, destroyed villages, and enemies waiting for them. They're having a hard time even figuring out if this is a case of human trafficking or just outright cruelty towards humans and demons who got along."
Botan frowned as she listened to Kuwabara talk, "What do you mean?"
"Kurama suspects this isn't even a case of human trafficking. He thinks this is a group of people trying to sabotage the efforts of demons and humans living together. This is a plot to make the relationship between demon and humans strained again," Kuwabara answered with a grim shake of his head.
"Some demons already live in the human world, and quite peacefully! I just don't understand why people would do this!" Botan despaired, throwing a hand angrily in the air with a huff.
"There's no explaining why people or demons make these terrible decisions. Kurama says it's just plain hatred and racism. Stupid emotions that are as old as dirt, and just as hard to sweep away!" Kuwabara voiced with clear disgust. He let out a sigh glancing over to Botan, "Irony of all Ironies...the group that is killing the humans and demons who can get along is most likely a group comprised of human and demons."
"Disgusting!" Botan spat, crossing her arms across her waist.
"Mmm. Kurama, Hiei, and Urameshi are so busy. I get why Koenma, you, and even my sister want me to wait for them... but whose to say they'll be back in a month? What they're working on is important, and if I mention what I'm doing, even if I phrase it as just moving to another town, I fear they might just drop everything and come find me. They need to stay focused on their mission," Kuwabara let out a sigh. Clear adoration for his friends was written on his face, as well as longing.
He wished he was with them.
"What grade are you going to be working with?" Botan asked, suddenly changing the subject. Seeing the longing pained look on Kuwabara was something she hated the most. Whether he realized it or not, the longing was cut deep into the eyes. Kuwabara longed to be back in the old days with his friends. She hated to admit it, but Kuwabara was right. He needed this time away to not just build himself up, but prove he could do things on his own.
"Ninth grade... makes me nostalgic," Kuwabara said with an easy grin.
"Do you know where?" Botan pressed.
"It's just a school around the corner...want to see?" Kuwabara offered.
"Yeah, let's go! We can grab some lunch, and I want you to fill me in on exactly everything you'll be doing while you're here," Botan bubbled, standing up quickly and taking his arm.
"You said you already found out everything from Koenma!" Kuwabara pointed out, easing himself off the couch with her help.
"But I want to hear it from you! I'm making sure I know everrrrrrything!" She explained stretching out the last word in dramatic fashion.
Kuwabara rolled his eyes, and opened the door for her, "Alright, alright. If we run into anyone you're my cousin, got it?"
She snorted and stuck her lower lip out in a pout, but did not argue.
Quietly Kuwabara shut the door and led Botan towards the streets of the Juuban district.
"I'm llllaaaaatttteeee!" Usagi screeched as she tore out of her house, yellow streams of hair flying behind her, and a rather distressed Luna tucked under her arm.
"Usagi! I can't believe you slept in!" Luna hissed, claws sinking into the fabric of the teen's jacket.
"Well, you should have woken me!" Usagi snapped, staring straight ahead as she raced down the street, "Besides! Why is Rei having a meeting on Saturday!? Saturday's are meant for sleeping in!"
Luna sighed and rolled her eyes, bracing herself for the turbulent ride sure to come. Usagi, while a great and amazing sailor senshi, as well as a sweet and compassionate girl, was incredibly flakey when it came to time. Luna could scarcely believe that this girl was going to be Queen one day. Glancing at Usagi, Luna felt the blossoming of her deep affection stir, and without being able to help it began to let out a deep rumbly purr. No matter how silly Usagi was, Luna couldn't deny how happy she was able to see the Princess living a full and happy life.
It was as she thought this that Usagi tripped and fell face first into the ground, Luna just barely managing to jump away and land gracefully on a fire hydrant just before the girl's fall. Luna sighed and shook her head as Usagi began to wail.
'Despite all her faults, I'm glad my princess is happy,' Luna thought with a sigh.
"Hey is that-" Usagi's tears suddenly stopped as she sat straight up and stared across the street. Luna turned to look behind her, seeing a familiar sight of a petite person with bright blue hair, "Fish-eye?"
"No, it can't be. You said yourself Usagi that the Pegasus came-" Luna tried to dismiss Usagi's claim, but the blonde didn't seem to be listening.
Instead, the girl got to her knees, and stared across the street, her blue eyes dancing. Without warning, Usagi sprinted across the street despite Luna's shocked cry. Usagi reached out as she neared the person with the bright blue ponytail. Catching the person in a hug Usagi cried out, "Fish-eye! It's you, isn't it?!" The person in Usagi's arm stiffened and pulled away so they could turn.
"Um...I'm sorry. I think you've mistaken me for someone else..." The girl suggested nervously.
Now that Usagi looked at the girl, it clearly wasn't Fish-eye. There were a lot of similarities but this girls' eyes were bright and pink, and her face was just a bit rounder. When the gravity of Usagi's mistake hit her, the girl blushed from head to toe, and then repeatedly began to bow, "Oh I'm so sorry! You looked like... like an old friend! I'm so sorry to just grab you like that!"
The blue haired girl laughed waving a hand at Usagi, "No it's alright! No harm done, you just startled me is all! My name is Botan!"
Usagi got back up and was about to give her name when she noticed a giant of a man standing behind Botan, watching the pair of girls with an amused look. He absolutely towered over the girls.
"Ah, a giraffe!" Usagi burst out, pointing at Kuwabara in fright and shock.
Botan looked behind her at the man who gave both of them a perplexed look. Botan then threw her head back and burst into loud laughter.
"Hahaha a giraffe! Kuwabara, she called you a giraffe!"
"Well... it's better than being called a stupid ape!"
As Botan howled with laughter, the larger man seemed to accept Usagi's behavior, as if it was an almost typical occurrence. The man smiled from the blue-haired girl and locked eyes with Usagi, turning his smile to her. His eyes crinkled pleasantly as he grinned at her, and a warm feeling of nostalgia swept over the blonde, bleeding the tension from her shoulders.
"I'm Kazuma Kuwabara, my cousin and I are just exploring the town. I just moved here not too long ago for work," the giant man explained.
Remembering that she hadn't yet introduced herself, Usagi exclaimed, "My name is Usagi Tsukino! I am really sorry-for everything! I can get a bit carried away!"
"Really, no trouble at all!" Botan said wheezily, wiping a tear from her eye.
"I've never seen someone so tall! Are you an American?" Usagi asked with wide eyes.
Kuwabara laughed, "No, no, though my mother was from the United Kingdom."
Botan's eyes darted quickly to Kuwabara, and she managed to hang on to her burst of surprise. She hadn't known that bit of information, but then again she'd never questioned about Kuwabara's parentage. It just felt normal to see Shizuru and Kuwabara always together. A nagging thought in the back of her head asked a soft question that would bother her later on her way home.
Where were Kuwabara's parents?
"Wow!" Usagi exclaimed, leaning back to express her surprise. "I wish my Friend Mako was here! She's so tall, it would do her good seeing someone taller than her!"
"There's nothing wrong with being tall, my sister is my height, and when I was younger she was taller than me!" Kuwabara proclaimed, pulling out his wallet. With a sense of pride he showed a picture of his sister to Usagi, grinning as he showed the picture off.
"Wow she really is!" Usagi squealed, leaning in animatedly to look at the image.
"Is this your kitty?" Botan's voice asked.
Usagi glanced back to Botan, and saw that the girl was holding Luna in her arms, scratching her under her chin.
Grinning, Usagi burst, "Yes! That's Luna!"
Kuwabara immediately turned to see Luna and smiled, "Oh! What a good name for a cat! Her fur is like midnight!" He reached out a stroked Luna's cheek, the cat letting out the loudest purr Usagi had ever heard. Usagi had a feeling her purr was a result of his compliments to her fur color, and not commenting the crescent moon spot on her head. For some reason, Luna never liked Usagi calling it a crescent moon bald spot.
Botan handed Luna over, and Usagi was amused to see such a big man coo over a cat.
"Wow, you really like cats huh?" Usagi asked a giggle in her voice.
"Oh yeah," Kuwabara answered merrily cradling Luna in one arm, while he stroked Luna's ears and cheeks, "I love cats. I used to have a beautiful Calico..." His voice trailed off and his eyes flashed with pain. He didn't say any more on the matter, and Botan's hand went to his shoulder. Without saying further Usagi understood what had happened to Kuwabara's cat.
"Well... If I see you around again you can always pet Luna. And Maybe you can meet my friend Mina's cat!" Usagi chirped.
Kuwabara smiled, pressing his forehead to Luna's face, the cat eagerly nuzzling him in an over affectionate manner, "Oh I'd like that very much. Thank you miss Tsukino!"
"We better go Kuwabara!" Botan piped up, "It's almost one in the afternoon!"
Usagi's stomach dropped and her hands flew to her face, "Oh my God! I am SOOOOOO late! Rei will kill me!" Usagi cried sprinting past Kuwabara and Botan. Luna hesitated, but she leaped from Kuwabara's arms and began pursuit of Usagi. The blonde, however, didn't get too far, before stopping in her run and turning back to Kuwabara. She smiled radiantly and waved at the taller man, "I hope you do great at your job Mr. Kuwabara! You're really nice! Bye-bye!"
And with that said, she was off, dashing down the road and out of sight.
"Well, she has a lot of energy!" Botan giggled.
Kuwabara grinned, "She sure was. If my students are half as energetic as her, I'll have a good time!"
Botan hooked her arm through Kuwabara's and tugged gently as him, "Well come on, let's get that lunch! And I want to hear about your mother too!"
Kuwabara smiled, happy to oblige Botan's request. After meeting the highly spirited blonde, Kuwabara suddenly felt his despair and guilt fall away. He had a feeling he was really going to like this town.
End of chapter 2