Just the Two of Us
Chapter Seven: A Reason to Stay
She needed to do it. She needed to tell him what she thinks is the truth, so he would stop hoping for things that may not happen, and for him to see things clearly as they are and start moving forward.
Botan knew, before telling Kurama what she thought of Yomi, that he would be mad to hear it from her. When Botan wanted to set something straight, she just has to do it right away, or it would always make her uneasy, just as if she is lying.
And so she had to tell him: "I think you should quit the patrol training."
"I'm not a quitter," was his gruff answer, thinking that she believes the training is too harsh for him.
He had just returned from patrol training. It had been a rough day for all of them— Yomi visited the site but as always, he did not even go near them: he just let their trainer make them do whatever he wanted. As everyone was aiming to be noticed, they trained non-stop until Yomi left.
"I'm not saying that you are— I mean, I'm saying that you should quit the patrol but it's just that I don't think it's the right way to achieve what you wanted. I've seen Yomi several times… those times that we saw your practice and he shows up. I'm telling you, Kurama. He looks down on everyone on patrol. I don't think he'll give any of you a chance to be on elite." She could have just stopped when his clenched his fists, and looked pointedly away, but she didn't.
"Practically, he's the master now. It's not yet formal but that's what he is. You don't really expect him to be extra friendly and—"
"You know that's not what I mean… I could see how he disregards you all. I could see the way he looks—or keeps from looking directly at all of you as if you're nothing to him. I bet he's just there because Master Yue requested him to check on you!"
Kurama took a deep breath and looked around the kitchen. "What do you want me to do, Botan?" he asked, his voice devoid of any emotion.
"I don't know, exactly… I know you really want to be a… a fighter… an elite fighter… but I just think that if your master does not believe in you—don't tell me otherwise, I could see that in his eyes—then he also won't care to see to it that you get the best training…or see who among you are giving their best. Maybe… maybe you could try to find some other way… take another training of sorts from another master…"
"Do you really believe in me, Botan?"
"I do! But I… I know you really wanted to be stronger and be part of that group but with what I see… I just… I just don't want you to be disappointed or hurt in the end!" She had to shout. She had to make her voice sound tough, even if she wanted to cry now.
"Don't." He stood up, looking away from her. "Don't try to shield me from failure, Botan. I will find my way, whatever happens."
He left her there and marched to his room.
For one whole week they did not see each other, none of them willing to be the first to say sorry. He stays in the forest for a week training himself so hard. After training hours he would head directly to the forest and kept everyone from disturbing him.
Frustrated, Botan could not sleep properly. One night she went outside to wait for him at the gate, even knowing that he would not go home that night.
"Don't worry about him so much." A voice said from behind her.
She recognized Kiyo's voice right away.
"I'm sorry…" she said with her head bowed. "I really can't help it."
Kiyo nodded. "I appreciate," he said, staring at her as if telling her to listen, "that you care for my son so much. I know that he appreciates that too. But you have to see that he is going to be a fighter… To achieve what he wants, it is natural for him to seek ways to become stronger. It was wrong of you to even suggest that he quit, whatever reason you have."
The way he said it, he did not seem to take anything against her. It was obvious that he was just telling her what he thinks. Still, Botan felt like she has just been reprimanded.
"He is smart—I am sure he could see that getting from patrol to elite is a bit farfetched. But as of now this is what he thinks is the nearest shot towards his goal… so let him do what he thinks he needs to do. Just trust in him—that is what he needs, Botan."
"I— I will."
"Kurama… I have always wanted to teach him several things… but he is best left to do what he thinks he should do. He learns better when he trains just on his own – which is what he is doing right now. Let him be, and you'll be surprised when you next see him fight."
She nodded. "I'll keep that in mind."
She thought that Kiyo will go back but instead, he remained standing beside her.
"I wonder when Koenma will return—not that I want him to take you back," he quickly corrected. "But I'm curious to know what's happening…"
Botan noted that he always called the prince by just his name- no honorifics of sort. Moreover, she is curious with how the prince knew someone from Makai and trusts him this much...
As if reading her thoughts, Kiyo said, "Once, when he was much younger, Koenma left the safety of Reikai and wandered to the forest outside this village. Some demons caught him in a trap… and he fought the, trying to escape before they find out who he is. Apparently the demons were clueless of his identity and were only interested to steal his sack of food and some odd items. They left him badly wounded… and that's how Sayaka found him."
"He was lucky that the demon who found him is your wife and not some other demon…"
"Yes, he was indeed lucky. Sayaka took him home and healed him. She didn't know who he was until I came home and recognized his mark. I thought that when he wakes up he'll ask for directions to go home."
"But he didn't?"
"He wasn't interested in going anywhere… He said he needed to learn 'the reality'… and stayed here for a month. I even got to teach him some of my fighting techniques."
"Fighting techniques? But he doesn't fight… or show any knowledge in fighting…"
"He doesn't want to. But he was a very serious student. Ah, I'm sure you noticed he still calls me 'Master'?"
"Um, yes…" She answered absently, thinking of something else. "'The reality', huh?" she whispered.
Kiyo smiled knowingly. "That kid, he is more complicated and deep than he seems."
That, she already noticed. "There are still many things I don't understand about him."
"Well, he keeps a lot of secrets… which is understandable, given his role in these worlds." He laughed. "You better go back now, Botan. Don't wait up for Kurama. He wouldn't like it if you catch a cold." He said before leaving her.
Yes, he wouldn't like that. Whatever misunderstanding they have, Kurama surely would worry for her if that happens
Botan went back to her room.
A week after, Koenma visited Botan, looking very tired. He told her how everything is now okay, that Chief Masaru is no longer a threat to them. On his last day of work it was discovered that he's been using his position to take advantage of weak officers – he was charged with bribing and extracting money from lower-class officers and from stealing from Reikai's vault. He was exiled immediately.
He assured her that Eina is fine and is staying at her mother's home in Reikai… And that Botan is still welcome to return to her job at the Spirit World Kindergarten.
"I've come to take you back to Reikai," Koenma said directly.
She stood there, dumbstruck. Why is everything happening so fast? "B-but…"
"But what?" Koenma frowned. "Shouldn't you be glad?"
"I am glad that the chief is away, but…"
"You want to stay."
She nodded vigorously. "C-can I?"
He stared at her and took his time before answering. The he asked, "…why?"
"I want to stay because... I feel at home here at the village…"
"And you think that is enough reason for me to let you stay?"
She looked down, searching herself for an answer. "M-maybe…" she whispered, but cannot continue. The sudden thought of leaving made her mind go blank.
"Tell me the real reason you would rather stay… when you know that you have to go back?"
She kept quiet. She already knew her answer, but she was reluctant to tell him.
"Botan," he taunted.
"I… I want to stay because… I think I've fallen for Kurama… and I don't want to leave him. I just want to stay by his side and support him…"
Koenma stared at her and sighed. "I know."
She blinked. "W-what? I mean, how could you have—"
He laughed, enjoying the stunned/embarrassed look on her face. "Well, it's not like you ever were good in hiding your feelings."
"Oh." Miserably, she looked away.
He turned serious. "I knew before I sent you here… in fact, I let you stay here because I knew. But still… I am reluctant to let you stay."
After a few days of camping at the forest and training hard, Kurama finally decided to go home. He's accomplished enough to satisfy himself, and decided he should reward himself a little rest.
Just as he arrived, his father informed him that Koenma visited and may be there to take Botan home.
"To take her home," he murmured, carefully placing the small satchel he was carrying on the table.
"Yes," Kiyo confirmed, not looking at him. He was fixing the window that Ryo broke when he used it as a target while playing with his new bow earlier.
"I heard that Enma-daioh has just returned from a long vacation… he left about the time you met Botan, I guess. I think this means that Koenma needs to take her back, since his father usually checks on everything that happened while he was gone after every vacation..."
"To take her home," he repeated.
Not liking the idea, Kurama rushed to the place where Kiyo said Koenma and Botan went to.
When he arrived, he saw Koenma offering a hand to Botan. This reminded him of that time when Koenma made that portal… and assumed that the two have decided to leave.
"Stop."
Surprised, Botan and Koenma stared at the newcomer. Kurama looked like a mess; his usually pristine clothes were laced with mud. Looks like he just arrived from his training…
None of them said anything. Botan just stared at Kurama. As always, she could not read his expression. He was just staring at her while trying to catch his breath.
"Just like that…" he said after a while. "You're leaving me just like that, Botan?"
She was stunned by his words. He may be good in hiding his feelings, but Botan knew that he's hurt by the idea that she will leave without telling him. She was about to explain but Koenma stopped her.
"You have something against her going back to our world?" Koenma challenged.
Kurama frowned, not looking at Koenma but at his hand. He was still holding Botan's hand, and he didn't like it. "You shouldn't go deciding things this fast. It's not right that you just appear and take Botan back. You're in my property, you know."
Koenma chuckled. "I am the prince of Reikai, and I help to rule the three worlds… If you think about it, my territory extends to this part of Makai."
The prince's reply obviously angered him. "You help rule, but that doesn't mean you own everything here. You can't just take her with you!" Kurama raised his voice, though still seemed to be in control.
Botan tried to mediate. "Hey, you two!" She waited until she got their attention. "Stop arguing… What's with both of you today?" she asked, thinking it absurd how these two are arguing like kids….
And then she realized what it was. Both of them were just really tired and drained. Koenma, from the recent struggles in Reikai. And Kurama, from training without rest for the past week. She was about to forgive them… but they started arguing again.
"He started it," Koenma said defensively.
Kurama seemed to take this more seriously than the prince. "What kind of ruler are you anyway? Botan, he can't just leave you here and take you back whenever he wants to—"
Ignoring Botan's exasperated sigh, Koenma replied, "And why is that?"
"Because she's mine. You can not to take anything that is mine away."
"Yours, huh?" Koenma braced himself and looked seriously at Kurama.
The fox demon was staring back, his stance challenging the prince to make him retract his words.
It took Botan a full minute before realizing what Kurama has just said. "Wait a minute!" she protested, her face red in embarrassment. "I'm yours? What in the worlds do you mean by that?"
Koenma finally looked at her, his face showing how bored he is. "Look, I'm going to leave. You two should settle your issues right away. I'll be back for you, Botan." He turned his back on them and produced a portal, and disappeared with it—
Not before Kurama said a final warning.
"Try me, dear prince."
To be continued. Thank you for reading :)