Chapter II
Kurama tried to make her still and ends up hugging here because she wouldn't stop struggling. Botan eventually stopped and looked at Kurama straight in the eyes. He was shocked to see that there were tears in her eyes. " Botan whats wrong?" he asked holding her at arm's length. She was shaking all over and suddenly she fainted. Kurama sensed someone standing near them and he saw Koenma in teenage form which surprised the kitsune because the prince is rarely in this form." Koenma." Kurama nodded in acknowledgment. He's waiting what the prince would say and he's quite certain that whatever is happening to Botan is something that the Koenma is aware of. "I'll take her from here Kurama." He stepped forward but stopped when he noticed that Kurama didn't move at all. "Don't worry about Botan, she's fine. I'm just going to bring her back to Reikai so she can rest."
"What's going on with her?" Kurama asked looking at Botan.
"Like I said.. she is fine Kurama. She wasn't feeling well earlier back in Reikai, that's why I almost didn't allow her to come here because she needs more rest."
Remembering that Botan mentioned earlier that she 'escaped' from the palace and that no one knows that she's in ningenkai tonight Kurama's face became expressionless. "Why lie Koenma? Botan never informed you that she's coming here today. I also saw that you used your ring to make her lose consciousness just now so before I can give her to you I would like to know what's going on." He said in a low voice unaware that his hold to the deity had gone tighter.
Koenma released a sigh as if realizing that his made up stories wont get him anywhere "It is Reikai's business but you should know I won't let anything harm Botan." The prince said in all seriousness.
Kurama decided to give her to Koenma. He carried her and walked towards the prince, handed her over but before letting her go "You should know Koenma that If anything happens to her you will have to answer to me and to the rest of the team." He said with a seriousness that shocked the prince. "Could it be that he remembers?" Koenma thought to himself. He did a mental shake of his mind and decided that it's impossible for Kurama to remember Botan from his past because only the Blood Red Peony can bring back the erased memories of Botan. He nodded and took Botan. The prince walked away and vanished as worry and annoyance filled the head of the kitsune. He hates that Koenma had to take Botan and for some reason it feels as if he is giving her up and these feelings confuses him greatly. After a few minutes of just standing there he finally decided to go home with a plan on visiting Reikai if he doesn't hear from Botan by the next day.
2 days pass and he haven't heard anything from Botan. He's quite sure that if she's ok by now she would surely give him a call and say something about what happened that night, and the fact that she hasn't called even once means that there's something really wrong with her. He is going to see her and find out what's going on. It's not only Kurama 's mind that's made up but also the Kitsune in him who never settles to being denied of anything. When he went to the Reikai Palace he went straight to Botan's room and when he was about to knock, his demon ears caught the slightly loud retort of Koenma to someone inside the room who is obviously annoying the prince. At first he thought that the prince is talking to Botan but he realized that Koenma and whoever is inside the room is actually talking about her.
"She can't be reminded of anything Koenma! It's the best for her." A male voice said in a serious tone
"I agree Kairan but how could she possibly remember without using the Blood Red-"
"Koenma." A warning came from Kairan. "Never mention it. Only few people here in Rekai knows of the existence of it! Your mother never told anyone about it until before she dies and it will remain a secret because it could be a very dangerous thing if handled by an evil being."
Koenma closed his eyes and let out a sigh "Yesterday I sent Ayame to Botan's room since I couldn't contact her. She told me that Botan is not answering to her knocking. I got worried I was thinking that something happened because she never leaves the palace without saying anything to me or to George so I went to check, maybe she tripped in her room or something and fainted..you know Botan she can be so clumsy at times.." The prince paused and looked at his sleeping friend with a sad smile on his face and then he continued his face becoming grim "She was not in her room but I noticed a jewelry box in her table. I couldn't help but be curious what's inside especially since I already suspect what it is, and I was right. It was the necklace that Youko Kurama gave her 500 years ago. I think it have something to do with the sudden re occurrence of her lost memory."
Kurama was stunned to hear his name. I gave Botan a necklace? What is Koenma talking about? Why is lying? And why is this Kairan guy talking to Koenma as if he is an equal? Too shocked to listen he didn't hear the rest of Koenma's words but before he can think more of it he suddenly heard prince's footsteps "Here Kairan bring this back to the sacred room and let no one see it." And Kurama was out of the Rekai palace's gate within minutes.
A few minutes after they left her…
Botan woke up feeling all refreshed and rested. Her long hair tumbling all around her. "Uhmmm..I feel like I had a very long dream but I can't remember.." She said stretching "Eh..what day is it?! Oh no im late!" She hurriedly took a shower, got ready and ran straight to Koenma's office. She was expecting to be scolded by the prince that's why it confused her and relieved her somehow that he didn't say anything about her being late but only asked her how she's feeling "after your high fever" as he said it and went straight on giving her instructions on going in a mission with 3 spirit warriors in Makai. "Kairan. This is Botan and she will be accompanying you and the rest of the team to go to Makai ." Botan was surprised when a young man who looks like his just older than her by a year or two answered from behind her. She knew him although they were not friends. His name is Kairan and powerful spirit warrior raised to protect the Royals and the Spiritual Treasures of Reikai. He have flowing yellow hair tied up behind his nape which goes down till his knees. His eyes are gold and he's wearing a black kimono but instead of the normal flowing hakama, he is wearing a black sashinuki hakama which is gathered at the ankles. She also noticed that he is wearing high flat boots instead of sandals. "No wonder all the girls are talking about him he's really handsome!" Botan said silently giggling. He suddenly looked at her and smiled. "It's my pleasure to meet you Botan san." He said bowing to her. " Its very nice to meet you as well." She answered bowing back. She was relief that he doesn't seem arrogant, he actually looked very polite.
"As I was saying Botan you will accompany them to Makai and help with the preparation of the palace that we just recently constructed. Once the palace is done it will be easier for us to address the problems in that realm. I will be appointing demon officials to stay there since its going to be dangerous for spirits to be the one managing the place. I will give you further instructions later. You guys will leave in a week's time so be prepared." Said the prince.
"Hai! I will do my best to assist them! Er…but why me..? Didn't you said it yourself that its dangerous for spirits to be there hah Koenma sama..?! ~.~"
"-.-' well Botan you're used to going to Makai because of your missions with the Reikai Tantei so it shouldn't be a problem." Koenma answered.
"Don't worry me and the rest of the warriors will protect you Botan san." Kairan said smiling at the deity.
"Oh hehehe thank you Kairan kun don't worry I will help out as much as I can! You can count on me!"
Meanwhile back in the human world..
Kurama was back In his apartment. He can't stop thinking what he just heard "the necklace that Youko Kurama gave her…" those words can't stop circulating through his mind. "I never gave Botan a necklace and I certainly haven't met Botan 500 hundred years ago..unless…!" his eyes grew wide as possibilities came surging through him. "What if for some reason my memory about her had been lost as well? Because of the Blood Red thing? Whatever it is he is sure that it is something hidden..and something that the old queen of Reikai had found…or made. He suddenly remembered Kairans words to Koenma "Your mother never told anyone…." no one refers to the old queen that way specially not infront of Koenma or King Enma. Who is Kairan? I need to find out what is going on and what is hidden in Botan's past that they are trying to erase so desperately." Deep in thought he walked into his window looking at the setting sun "What is my connection to your past Botan.." he whispered.
That night the Kitsune's mind was set with a single goal of finding out the truth. "Im going back to Maikai." As his red hair slowly turns silver..