Here's an update long time coming. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 4- Whispers in the Dark

I wait for my deity to come. But she does not and I fall into the arms of sleep, my dreams fevered and I awake to face the dawn alone. There is some fear in my heart that she will never return to me, yet I know she can't or won't forsake me, even though she's slowly killing me. It is a strange feeling, wanting Botan as badly as I do. I could bed any woman and they would give themselves to me freely. But Botan.. well, she wants me but won't give herself to me. The frustration is rather maddening. It would be easier to just walk away and pursue some consolation prize, feeding my neglected sexual needs. However, easy is not what I want. She is a challenge and one I will (and for my own sanity, must) win. But for today, there are more pressing matters than the whereabouts of my poison.

Koenma knows more than he's letting on about our opponent. I need to catch him off guard and press him for information. So I get dressed and head up to Spirit World, letting myself in, insisting that George the ogre take me to the toddler lord. He's rather hesitate but relents and leads me to the records room. I find Koenma high on a ladder, looking through some book. He starts to yell at George then looks down, startled at my presence. Good.

"What are you doing here, Kurama?" He asks.

"I believe you know the identity of our attacker." I begin, my voice soft but accusing. "You are with holding vital information that could help us in our case. Your nervousness indicates you're scrambling with what to do, perhaps because you believe we cannot defeat this enemy. That means you know more than we do. So who is it?"

Koenma drops his book, making a poor attempt of offense. "How dare you accuse me of such nonsense."

"But I'm right, am I not?" I continue, nonplussed by his false anger.

We continue this little game and I get him to agree to a formal meeting the next day. Satisfied he will reveal the information we need, I head back down to Ningenkai, not at all surprised that it's evening time, as my entrance to Reikai is some distance away from Koenma's palace. When I return home, there is a message for me. It's Yusuke, telling me to come over to his place right away. Seems Kuwabara was attacked by one of the seven psychics behind the opening to demon world. Not only did Kazuma manage to defeat his attacker, he also captured him, saving the enemy from dying. How very noble of him.

So I head over to his place, finding Botan there, my gaze steady on hers. She doesn't look away this time and I quirk an eyebrow at the flash of heat in her eyes as she studies me. Yusuke is saying something but I'm not really listening. I'm more interested in the "fuck me" look Botan is giving me and if Youko was in charge, he'd press her right up against the wall and take her then and there, audience be damned. The thought is rather arousing and it takes some effort to close my eyes and turn to Yusuke, but I do, chuckling inwardly at the strong wave of irritation emanating from Botan. Good. Let her feel the frustration of being denied for once.

Yusuke asks if I can do something for Kazuma's friends.

"I know a few tricks that will alleviate their memories of this event." I respond with a nod and after we learn of what happened in the fight, I erase their memories of the attack, so they will not be burdened with the knowledge that the rest of the group must live with. We agree to watch over Kuwabara and the wounded psychic with the nickname, Seaman, in shifts. Shizuru, Kuwabara's sister, takes first shift. Yusuke retires to the couch for some sleep. Genkai and the others settle down on the floor and I leave the room, catching a glimpse of Botan, heading out the sliding glass door that leads to the balcony. I follow without hesitation, noting her back is turned to me.

"You didn't come to me last night." I growl softly, noting the way her body shivered. Is it the wind or the sound of my voice that makes her tremble?

"I was being watched." She replies, leaning back into me as I come up and wrap my arms around her waist, pulling her tight to me. I can smell her arousal and sense her desire and her fear of me.

"By whom?" I manage to growl out, kissing down her neck, growing harder at her gasp and moan. It is hard to control this need of her, the frustration of wanting her and being denied is reaching a boiling point. But to force her is not what I want to do. She has to submit to me or it won't work.

"Koenma.. has become.. suspicious.." She pants out, turning in my arms to face me, her eyes as dark and needy as my own. "He thinks you're corrupting me.." She says with a smirk, her hands trailing up then down my torso, tugging at the belt to my pants, pulling me to her as she leans against the wall.

I plant my hands on each side of her head, trying to fight the urge to take her, even though all the signals are there. "Is he watching you now?" I ask, pressing against her, her moan and the way she wraps her legs around my hips making my heart pound and my cock thicken even more.

"No.." She pants out, twining her fingers into my hair, pulling me down for a bruising kiss, which I return. I groan as our tongues delve into each other's mouths, fighting for dominance. I'm losing control of myself and my senses. Botan is all there is in this moment. The sound of her sighs, the way her body writhes against mine, the way she says my name as I break off the kiss and lick down her neck, the feel of her fingers in my hair. I don't want it to end.

At the last possible second, I hear the glass slider open and I growl, pushing off the wall, blinking when Botan keeps her body wrapped against mine. Why do I feel the need to conceal what we are doing? Like I'm doing something wrong? I see a foot stretch out onto the balcony and in a rare sense of panic I leap up, taking the deity with me, using my spiritual energy to lift us up to the rooftop, undisturbed by intruding eyes.

Botan lowers her legs from my hips, standing a bit shakily and I grab her to stop her fall. "Botan.." I growl, fleck of gold in my eyes as I study the beautiful woman before me.

"Kurama.." She replies, though her voice is now subdued and missing that heat from before. "I'm sorry.. I shouldn't have.. done this.. right now.. it isn't.. right.. with everything else going on.."

I sense the change in her, the rational part of my mind in agreement and I fucking hate it. "What is going on with you, Botan?" I growl. "First you want me and now you don't. You tease me to the point I'm about the explode but you pull away and apologize." I see her flinch and look down at the accusation and I sigh, letting go of her and turning away. I am hurt all over again.

"Tell me something, Botan," I begin as I collect my emotions and calm myself. "What happened last night?"

"Last night?"

I hear the puzzlement in her voice and I turn to face her. "Last night I had a rather.. intimate and very real dream." I paused, noting the blush on her cheeks as I added. "I woke up with your scent all over me. Tell me.. was it just a dream?"

"Oh.. that.." She replies, biting her lip and I narrow my eyes.

"Explain." I command and quirk an eyebrow as she looks up at me, voice and features pleading.

"I can't."

"What do you mean you can't?" I throw back at her. "Either we had sex or we didn't. Either I dreamed it or not. So which one is it?"

"Both." She replies and now it's my turn to be surprised.

"Both?" I repeat with a frown. "How is that even possible?"

The deity looks at me and shakes her head. "I can't.. I can't tell you. It just is."

I study her in confusion, tilting my head as I try to process what I think she's saying. "So what you're saying is that you and I are somehow able to engage in activities in both conscious and unconscious ways. As if we're dreaming in the real world?"

I watch Botan's brow furrow, her voice soft. "That night.. after Yakumo's attack.. you came to my room.. and healed me." She begins and I remain silent, letting her continue. "I wanted you.. even before that.. but I was afraid of my feelings. To want you wasn't right."

She pauses, looking away. "That netherworld power was still in me.. whispering to me.. like it had found it's way into my thoughts and fantasies.. feeding them.. until my body burned and I ached for you."

The fear in her voice is palpable.

"Botan.."

She starts to shake, tears welling up in her eyes, a voice full of anguish as she cries out. "Then you were there, your hand on my wound, your voice like liquid fire, making me burn even more! I thought it was a dream! I didn't know what was happening and I didn't care! I wanted to feel you over me, in me, taking me like I dreamt about so many times before!"

I continue to listen, my heart becoming heavy as she continues.

"And now I find myself in and out of a dream state! The whispering hasn't stopped and every time I get close to you, the ache intensifies and I don't know if it's real or a dream! And I find myself in your room every night, afraid to touch you and afraid to not be touched! How messed up is that?!"

I move closer to her, reaching out to pull her to me as she breaks down, feeling her body tremble as she clings to me, crying freely and I let her. Stroking her back, I hum softly in an effort to calm her down as I think over her words. What she says is troubling. Is it possible that I missed some tendrils of netherworld power? The whispering could be some kind of side effect, triggering her desires into physical action on the conscious plane. I sigh inwardly. I have been to absorbed in my own desires. Had I focused more on her behavior I would have noticed it before now. Still, her words hurt.

"Botan…"

The deity pulls back, and I reach up, wiping her tears away, resting my forehead against hers. "There is nothing wrong with how you feel towards me. Your desires are perfectly normal."

She sniffles, the sound kind of cute as she murmurs. "They're not?"

"No. But these whispers you speak of need to be explored. If there is indeed some netherworld power still in you, we need to remove it because I can't take much more teasing and your mind can't handle the stress much longer."

The deity collapses against me, emotionally spent as she whispers. "I should have told you sooner. I feel like such a ditz."

I smile, wrapping an arm around her as I lead her to the rooftop door. "It's alright, Botan. I'm not going to give up on you. If you'll trust me, we'll get you healed up and back to normal."

She bites her lip, voice barely audible. "But I don't want to go back to normal."

I frown, opening the door, helping her down the stairs. "Your feelings won't go away, lover.." I whisper, wanting to assure her in some way. "You'll just have better control and know when it's real.. and when it's a dream.."

Botan says nothing, asleep by the time we reach the same floor as Yusuke's apartment. I cradle her in my arms, using my plants to open and close the apartment door. I settle her down onto the blankets where the others are resting, rising as I feel eyes on me. "Is something the matter, Yusuke?" I ask, turning to find the spirit detective staring at me.

"You two alright?" The boy asks, making a motion towards Botan.

"Of course." I reply softly, my mask back in place. "Botan has been under the weather lately. Feeling a bit of stress over her work." I lied smoothly.

The head detective tilts his head. "She does seem out of sorts lately. Must be some kind of hormonal thing."

I smile and stuff my hands into my pockets. "Something like that, yes.."

"Eh, whatever.. I need to take a leak. You got next shift, right?"

I nod. "I'll send Shizuru off for some sleep soon."

"Alright."

I watch him walk off towards the bathroom then look down at my deity. So many people's lives were at stake. The meeting with Koenma will go a long way in finding out what to do next. So I take over for Shizuru, keeping watch until the sun rises. Botan looks better rested, like a weight has been lifted from her shoulders. She smiles at me, wishing me good morning and I return it. We have a light breakfast then wait for the psychic, Seaman, to awaken.

Our interrogation is more like a confession for the blond, blue eyed boy named Mitarai. The mention of Chapter Black brings me to attention. I explain what it is to the group, frowning as Mitarai relates what he's seen, bringing the females in the group to tears. We leave him with Botan and Shizuru while Yusuke and I head out to the balcony.

I relay what else I know of the tape, confessing there was a time I wanted to see the provocative content, earning me a death glare from Yusuke. I chuckle and hold my hands up defensively, proclaiming I used to and that I don't now, which is true. But evil is just one facet of human nature. I tell Yusuke that Koenma knows something and that I've planned a formal meeting. When I turn around I find him screaming at the tv communicator, yelling at Koenma. Not quite what I had in mind.

When the toddler lord shows up he reveals the person behind the psychic attacks as the former spirit detective Shinobu Sensui. He tells us that this man is absolutely lethal and we will have to use all our resources to outsmart and defeat him. My back stiffens suddenly and I whirl my head to the side, finding our enemy staring down at us from the nearby building.

They attack Mitarai and I read their lips, revealing that they knew Seaman would betray them and plan to kill them along with the rest of us. That the one they needed is among us. What is he talking about? They take off and we follow, leaving Botan, Shizuru and Mitarai behind. Keiko returns from the store in the middle of the showdown. Yusuke takes the lead, attacking first and we see the strength of Sensui. A battle ensues and the bastard sends of an energy orb straight to Yusuke's apartment. Botan! My mind screams but I can't go to her. We have to go after Sensui. After a chase into the city we corner him into a building, fighting him. I use my rose whip but he dodges and flees into the crowded city streets, making it impossible for me to use my attack without harming the innocent bystanders. Merciless coward. The psychic that is with Sensui cuts me off from Yusuke and Kuwabara. Keiko shows up with information that it was Kuwabara the enemy was after. But why?

I catch up to Yusuke but it's too late, Kuwabara's been taken. Yusuke takes off after them, once again leaving me to pick up the pieces and figure out what to do next. I hurry back to the apartment, my worry for Botan driving my legs and I stop when Keiko mentions Yusuke's spirit link, Puu, fly off and I follow, finding Shizuru injured. I carry her inside, finding Botan on the ground alive but a bit dazed. When Genkai mentions Botan had a fractured back I frown, looking from her to Mitarai.

So my deity risked her life to save another. I smile at this, laying Shizuru down so the human psychic can render aid. I counter Mitarai's words about never being helped, that humans don't help others. I explain that when someone is in danger, often people will help others. I tell him I understand that after seeing what he has, that he's jaded, but to keep his eyes open to see the full truth. There are two sides to everything.

Koenma asks where Yusuke went and I explain what happened. Mitarai informs us that Kuwabara has the ability to slice through dimensions and if Sensui uses that ability, then the kikai barrier placed to keep out high ranking demons will cease to exist. If this happens then the apocalypse that madman, Sensui, has plotted for will succeed.

I can see Botan's worry and sadness over her friends and the fate of the human world and I share the sentiment but cannot express it. I have to be in control and focus. We decide to gather our remaining troops, leaving Keiko and Shizuru behind. I offer Mitarai the choice to stay or go and he chooses to join in our search for Yusuke, informing us of The Devil's Door cave where Kuwabara has been taken. We finally find Yusuke and I am glad that Hiei has returned as we will need all the help we can get.

We begin ourstrategy as the sun begins to set, and I relay the plan to bring the fight to our enemy, storming the cave, taking back Kuwabara and saving the world in the process. But we must be quick before the other psychic, Gourmet, eats Kuwabara and steals his power. Genkai sends Yusuke, Hiei, Mitarai and myself as the first wave of attack. Tonight may be the last night we are alive but we must do our duty. We start to head out when Botan runs up to me, voice soft. "Kurama."

I stop, the others heading off as I nod to them then turn to face her. "What is it, Botan?" I ask, though I know what her words will be.

"You'll.. You'll be alright, right?" She asks, biting her lip. She is worried over me and my heart beats faster in my chest. I feel love for her then. Not lust, though that is always under the surface, but love. I love her and the thought of not being with her troubles me.

"We'll be fine, Botan." I reply as calmly as I can manage, blinking when she takes my hand, pulling me back to her.

"I mean you, Kurama." She says, moving closer to me. "You will come back to me, right?"

I smile, leaning in to kiss her full on the lips then pull back, flecks of gold in them, Youko's timbre twining with my softer tone. "As long as you're waiting for me on the other side, lover, I'll come back to you."

I slowly take my hand from hers, catching up with my comrades, ready to end this nightmare created by Sensui and return to my deity.

Okay, I know it's been a long while since I've updated but when I have no motivation to write, it makes for no new chapters. Ahem, anyway, there will probably be only one, possibly two more chapters left to this story. If you liked it, give a shout out. Thank you for reading!