Botan suddenly stopped talking while at the middle of a conversation with the three spirit warriors, and it didn't go unnoticed by them.
"Botan san are you ok?" asked the elderly Kaichou wondering what happened to the lively speech of the deity. They were all planning on visiting the nearest demon tribe as a first step to make peace with the surrounding villages and making sure that the inhabitants does not start panicking, securing a safe transfer of Reikai officials to Maikai and Botan was at the middle of saying how excited she was to actually see a demon village for the first time.
"Botan san?" Kairan repeated while Saijin watched curiously. The deity has a nervous look on her face. Suddenly Kairan felt it, the air around them felt suffocating for a moment but before he could comprehend what is was it vanished as if nothing happened. He looked at the two warriors but it seemed as if they did not feel any changes just now. Botan looked around slowly as if trying to sense something.
"Oi whats going on are you alright?" Saijin asked moving near the window and surveying the area beneath them. Within the one week he was around the deity he knew that it wasn't easy to scare or intimidate her so when he said the sudden fear in her eyes he knew something was amiss despite not sensing anything.
Botan looked at them and seeing their confused faces she wondered if it was only her who felt it. It was a stirring deep within her senses. Not a physical feeling but a warning at the back of her mind and for a moment she felt suffocated as if an invisible shadow was trying to devour her. She looked at the expression on Kairan's face and she knew that she wasn't imagining things. When did she imagine things like this anyway? Something was up but what is it? Why can't the others feel it?
"Kairan san you felt it too." It wasn't a question she knew that he felt it too from the look on his face and she could not understand when he shook his head for a no.
"Iie Botan san, we didn't feel anything. You must be tired do you want me to walk you into your room?" Kairan asked, his face showing a look of concern.
"Botan san I think it is better if you rest for the day. You have been working nonstop for the past week! Don't worry I will personally tell the brat that you have been working very hard!" Kaichou told her trying to ease her obvious tension.
Botan shook her head " N-no I'm fine, there's work to do and we need to go to the village, I must have been imagining things being too excited and nervous to be in a demon village!" she said with a laugh trying to ignore the heavy thumping of her heart. The three warriors looked at each other and nodded at her. She doesn't want to be the reason for the delay of an important mission, and if they said that they didn't feel anything then that must be it "yeah Botan you can sense things even the strongest spirit warriors couldn't detect." she thought sarcastically. She looked at Kairan trying to see his expression but he was looking down at the envelope he was holding as if it's the most interesting thing in the room. "I must have imagined it when I saw that weird look on his face..or maybe he was just worried about me.." But deep inside the nagging feeling won't go away.
It was already mid-day when they arrived at the village. It was far from what she had imagined if she will have to describe what it looks like the look and feel of it is similar to those villages from the old era. Huts littered the surrounding with the biggest one at the very end. That must be the leaders house she thought trying to see the inhabitants of the small village. I wonder what he looks like. The only ones she can see though are 5 male cat demons. They were in front of the biggest hut and were holding spears at their sides. Botan noticed that she is the middle of the three spirits. It wasn't obvious that they are shielding her but she can tell nonetheless. Kairan Is slightly in front of her and Kaichou oji chan is almost walking beside her, while Saijin is slightly lagging behind. She feels safe and grateful for their kindness and protection and she can't help but be thankful that even if she is not with the Urameshi team she still landed on good company.
The door of the hut opened and sitting inside is one of the most beautiful demoness Botan has ever seen. She has shiny orange hair cut to frame her face with curls sticking here and there elegantly, her face looks wise and friendly and her eyes are deep periwinkle sparkling with interest at their arrival but when Botan looked at her cat ears she noticed that one of them was torn and is missing a huge piece. I wondered what happened to her, but with or without ears she looks so enchanting.The thoughts of the deity were abruptly interrupted when the cat demoness walked towards them and gave them a low bow.
"Welcome to our village. My name is Rumiko." She said with her warm welcoming voice. She gives of an aura so mother like that Botan couldn't help but feel warm inside. She bowed to Rumiko and the three warriors followed swiftly.
"We are the representative of Reikai sent by King Enma. My name is Kairan, this is Kaichou, Saijin, and the representative of the Prince of Reikai, Botan sama. Botan gawked at Kairan where did that 'sama' came from? She thought to herself while blushing. The three warriors noticed this and they smiled inwardly except for Kaijin who snickered quietly but managed to suppress it quickly. Rumiko gave Botan a curious look but it was instantly replaced by a warm smile. She welcomed them and asked them to sit around a round fire pit. The floor on this part of the hut is covered in a carpet like fur except for the part where the small pit is burning. Botan touched it and was amazed by how soft it is.
"That my dear is made out of my fur, from my tail." Rumiko said noticing Botan's interest in the carpet. The deity didn't know what to answer and whether to take it seriously or not and before she could say anything Rumiko's smile vanished from her face "So tell me what does the representatives of the king doing here at the middle of the demon world?" she asked mildly.
Botan gathered her thoughts, she was a bit nervous but when she saw Rumiko's twinkling eyes she felt her self slowly relaxing "King Enma decided that it will be easier to attend to the needs of the demon world if we have a direct headquarters here. We do not plan to meddle with the everyday living of the inhabitants of Makai, however there are times when some issues are hard to ignore and the interference or Reikai is called for. However, whenever such time arises it is always too late to respond to them, also there are a lot of instances where ningens gets lost in this realm and it is dangerous for the ferry girls to look for them and have no safe place to run to when the need arises."
"And may I ask why did you decided to visit my village?" Rumiko asked. And this time it was Kairan who answered her."
"We wanted to make it clear to the demon world that there is no need to fear us. We do not intend to take over Makai."
Rumiko nodded "You're right, without explaining exactly what your purpose are there will be panicked demons who will try to eradicate you. They will feel threatened, and I must admit I myself felt unsafe when I learned that the head of the Spirit Army is coming to this village."
Botan's head snapped to Kairan's direction Head of the spirit army? Who is she talking about? As if sensing her thoughts Kairan looked at her sideways before continuing explaining to Rumiko.
"This is a rather dangerous and complicated start, that is why I had to come here myself to protect the representative, the King decided to send his top three fighters to make sure that it will be safe for our group while still remaining unnoticeable at the same time." Kairan explained.
Rumiko finally smiled "Well I guess everything is alright. Three days from now would be the 1000th year of this of this village. We will be having a celebration I would like for you to be our guest." She said with an honest hopeful tone in her voice.
"Ohhh a party! We would love to go!" Botan suddenly announced obviously excited with the idea. The three warriors laughed openly and accepted the invitation.
The sun was already setting by the time they arrived back at the castle. An orange oni came running towards them "Botan someone is here to see you!" he said panting as he had ran all the way from inside the castle to the gates as soon as he saw them.
"To see me? Who?" She asked thinking who would visit her here when nobody knows that she was currently assigned in Makai.
"He said his name is Kurama, he gives me the creeps because he reminds me of the tales of a ruthless fox demon from hundreds of years ago, and his name is Kurama too!" Botan laughed at this and tapped the shoulder of the oni who obviously felt intimidated by her friend.
"Its ok Ralph he wont bite! Where is he anyway?" the oni told her that Kurama is waiting at the garden. She looked back at her three companions and didn't noticed the uncertain look on Kairan's face.
"Ill just be meeting with my friend, he is one of the Reikai Tantei so don't worry!" she said and summoned her oar to fly towards the garden. Kaichou and Saijin smiled at how energetic the deity is and they started walking towards the castle when they noticed that Kairan.
"Oi Kairan, don't tell me you wanna follow her and guard her even from her friend?" said Saijin in a teasing voice. Kairan looked at them, he didn't notice that they were watching him. He smiled and shook his head and started following them.
Kurama hates to admit it but he feels desperate already. After one week of searching for any surviving members of his clan he realized that the one one left is Yomi, and if he could avoid it then he wouldn't go and ask for his help so he decided to talk to Botan directly. But on his way to the portal that will lead him to Reikai he smelled her scent and realized that she had been here not long ago, probably a day later after he arrived. He decided to search for her and remembering the news that Yusuke told him about Reikai building a headquarters here in Makai he formed a conclusion that it would be the best place to start searching for her. He sensed the arriving deity and looked up at her. She still had not cut her hair and it was blowing all around her face she looks..beautiful. he thought as she landed in front of him. He shifted back to his ningen form after seeing the reaction of the oni to him, he doesn't want to make Botan uncomfortable as well.
"Hey Kurama! Since when did you arrive? How did you know I'm here!" she greeted cheerfully.
"Good evening Botan san." he smiled at her, feeling suddenly lively by being around her cheerfulness. Botan noticed him watching her and felt suddenly conscious.
"ehh gomen gomen I didn't mean to greet you with questions. Good evening Kurama kun." She was embarrassed by the way she acted, she wasn't even sure if he is here for something urgent and here she is being all happy. "Ano.. Why are you here?" she tried assessing his expression but like usual he is calm and smiling politely at her.
"I was just around the area and I heard that there is a new castle here that will serve as a Reikai Headquarters so I got curious and decided to look around." He suddenly couldn't tell her the reason why he is here. For some reason he just wanted to spend time talking nicely to the deity.
"Oh do you want me to give you a tour? The castle is really nice! Come on we have another garden on the other side!" She started walking and looked at back at him "how did you know I'm here by the way Kurama?" she asked.
"Huh? Oh uhm.." he scratched his head thinking what to tell her. I smelled your scent and followed you here. Yeah great way creep her out and sound like a pervert. "Just a guess. I went to Koenma to report something and since I didn't see you there for the past couple of times I was there I figured that he must have sent you here." He lied, but he didn't sound convincing even to his own ears. I hope she doesn't ask further. Botan just nodded her head and ran towards the entrance of the main castle. She ran up the steps and faced Kurama spreading her arms as if welcoming him.
"Welcome to the new Reikai palace! This will be our hide out the next time the Reikai Tantei have a mission here in Makai!" she said with a childish laugh. Kurama's heart skipped a beat when he looked her eyes, they were focused on him and he could feel the trust and the innocence coming from those amethyst orbs. Others fear my presence and here you are laughing with me as If I am the safest person to be around with. He smiled feeling content and pleased and pointed out that the castle is too obvious to be their hideout, which earned him a pout from the deity.
"This could be our rest house then. The rooms are huge and the bed is really cozy! I even get to chose my own room when I arrived her!" Botan exclaimed animatedly. Yeah and I could make it cozier for you his Youko side couldn't help thinking. He shook his head feeling guilty for his thoughts.
"Kurama?" he found Botan looking at him inquiringly.
"Gomen Botan san but what did you say?"
Botan shook her head "Gomen Kurama kun I think Im boring you with my silly stories." Kurama moved closer to her "Iie, forgive me Botan I just suddenly remembered the old times. Why don't you show me the other garden? I'm really interested to see it." Botan looked at his smiling face and seeing the sincerity in his eyes she smiled and her lively talk resumed immediately. They were walking towards the Garden when Botan tripped from a rock and almost fell. Kurama catches her, his arm wrapping around her waist and his other hand holding her wrist. He pulled her to him and when she looked up to thank him he realized that they're face were too close. Instead of straightening up and letting her go, the hand on her back slowly pulled her towards him. He knew what he was doing but he didn't want to think at the moment, those amethyst eyes are too captivating that he feels like he is loosing all self-control that he has. He wanted to feel those lips pressed against his own. He saw how her eyes widened but she didn't push him away and he doesn't know if he would have let go even if she did. He was called back to his senses by the light footsteps coming form behind her. When he looked up he saw the yellow haired warrior looking at them with cold eyes. Kurama stopped him self just in time before a growl could pass his lips. You dare interrupt us. His face resumed a calm façade even if annoyance was filling him.He slowly let go of her, making sure that she is standing safely before pulling away. She looked around and saw Kairan, the coldness in his eyes evident.
"Oh Kairan kun! Hehe clumsy me I tripped again for the 2nd time today! Luckily Kurama caught me on time" she said laughing lightly remembering how Kaichou stopped her fall earlier that day.
"I'm glad you're alright Botan san. Please be careful, sometimes the fall it self is not the worst but the aftermath of it. " Kairan said and then looking straight at Kurama. "You've had a long visit, it's getting late. Would you like to join us for dinner as well fox?"
Kurama's dislike for the warrior is mounting up as minutes pass by, his face remained emotionless but his eyes speaks his dislike for Kairan. "Maybe some other time." He said coldly and then turned to Botan "Botan san I'll be going now. It was nice seeing you again." He smiled at her and started walking away with eyes murderously cold.
Botan was surprised to see the tension between her two friends but what surprised her more was the feeling of disappointment she felt when the kitsune said goodbye, and that whatever he was about to do a while ago was cut of by the arrival of Kairan. She watched him walk out of the gates and replayed the scene earlier. Was he about to kiss me? Her eyes widened in the realization and confusion as one hand reached up to touch her lips. No it must be something else. Beside her Kairan was watching her with a frown on his handsome features.