Together (rewrite)
Chapter 6
Botan landed softly outside Koenma's palace and took a deep breath before opening the gates. She walked towards Koenma's office acknowledging the greetings she received from the ogres and other ferry girls. She soon found herself standing outside his doors and knocked lightly and let herself in.
"Koenma sir you called for me" she said.
"Yes, hello Botan. I'm sorry I had to cut your vacation short but I need my best girl on this case."
"What do you mean case, what's going on?" she asked.
"Well I received some disturbing news; it seems there have been a series of class C demon sightings in human world. I need you to gather Yusuke and the others and find these demons and bring them here so we can question them about how they got past the barrier."
"Alright Koenma, I'll head back to human world and give them the details" and with that she left to head back to inform the detectives. All the way back to Living World she thought about what Koenma had told her and she decided to find Yusuke and Kuwabara first. She found them walking with Keiko heading towards the movie theatre. "Yusuke" Botan called out as she ran towards them.
"Hey Botan" said Kuwabara "long time no see."
"What have you been up to Botan?' asked Yusuke.
Keiko giggled and before Botan could answer she said "She's been spending a lot of time with Kurama."
"Is that so" started Yusuke but Botan cut him off "Ok, ok there will be plenty of time later to talk about that but right now I have to talk to you about a new case."
And with that the two detectives perked up while Keiko groaned. "Well before I get down to the nitty gritty we should really find Kurama and Hiei so I only have to explain this once."
Keiko said "I'll leave you guys to it then" and turned to Yusuke and gave him a quick peck on the cheek and walked away. Botan waved goodbye to her friend and the three made their way to Kurama's house. Kuwabara continued to pepper Botan with question all the way there. Finally Yusuke told him to pipe down that they would find out more information soon enough.
When they had finally arrived at Kurama's Yusuke pounded on the door and said "Hey Kurama open up" Botan just shook her head and Kuwabara said "Urameshi show some manners."
Yusuke once again raised his hand to pound on the door when it swung open. "Hello Yusuke, Kuwabara. Hello again Botan" Kurama said as he stepped aside for them to enter the house. Yusuke and Kuwabara shot looks Botan's way, she chose to ignore them.
"Let's go to the kitchen" he said as after they had all entered. The two teens started walking towards the kitchen and left Kurama standing there with Botan. He quickly grabbed her hand and gave it a quick kiss before leading her to where the others were waiting.
"Where's the shrimp?' Kuwabara asked Kurama as he stepped into the room.
"Well since I was unaware you were coming I didn't know his presence was required' Kurama replied. "Let me send him a quick message" he continued and sent Hiei a telepathic message asking him to join them at his house as soon as possible. While they waited for Hiei's arrival Kurama began to make some tea and set out some snacks. Soon there was a knock on the front door and Kurama left to answer it.
"Welcome Hiei, thanks for coming on such short notice and thanks for using the front door."
Hiei replied with a grunt. The two walked towards the kitchen. When they entered neither was surprised to see Yusuke and Kuwabara shouting insults at each other as they wrestled on the floor.
"Ningens" Hiei said as he sat down at the table.
"Gentlemen can we get back to the task at hand?" Kurama said trying to keep calm as the two detectives continued their bickering.
"Knock it off you two!" yelled Botan.
The two teens looked at her surprised and got off the floor and sat down once again at the table. Hiei and Kurama chuckled, as everyone settled in Botan began to outline the details of the case for them, she told them what Koenma had told her.
Meanwhile outside. . . . .
Unbeknownst to the Spirit Detectives there was someone watching them from the shadows. He was also listening in on their meeting. He laughed to himself and thought 'Everything is going according to plan'.
The shadow walked away content that he could continue on with his plan. He walked slowly to a deserted alleyway and bent down. Once he was sure no one was watching his eyes began to glow a darker crimson and suddenly a door appeared on the ground. He slowly opened the door and stepped into the darkness.
After Botan has finished telling the gang what she knew about the case she got quiet while the others sat around and thought about the best course of action.
Well actually Kurama thought about how they should handle the situation while Yusuke and Kuwabara once again started arguing while Hiei just sat in a corner mumbling insults under his breath. As the argument between the two teens grew more heated Kurama began to lose his concentration. He was beginning to get frustrated. Finally he had had it; he raised his voice and shouted "Enough!" as he used some plants to pull the two boys apart. Everyone just stared at him for a second; they never heard Kurama raise his voice and had never seen him loose his cool at such a thing as Yusuke and Kuwabara's fighting. The boys got up off the floor and sat back down at the table and waited for Kurama to speak again.
"Now if you two are done bickering lets come up with a plan for how we intend to round up these demons" said Kurama coolly after he had regained his composure.
"I was thinking Hiei and I could do some reconnaissance in Makai while you three round up the demons in human world and take them to Koenma" Kurama explained as he pointed to Yusuke, Kuwabara and Botan.
Everyone nodded in agreement. They sat for a while longer discussing the case and when they should get started until Yusuke saw what time it was and jumped out of his chair "Damn, sorry guys I got to go Keiko's waiting for me" and with that he rushed out the door. Kuwabara stood up and stretched and said "Yeah I better get going as well or Shizuru will kick my butt" and with that he left as well.
Botan looked expectantly at Kurama when Hiei once again cleared his throat. Kurama glared at him and said telepathically "Do you mind?"
Hiei laughed and replied "Make a move soon fox" and with that he was gone.
"Just like old times" Kurama said when they were finally alone once more. She laughed in agreement. He walked to the table and began cleaning up. She helped him and in a few minutes it was as if he hadn't had any company at all.
They headed to the living room and sat on the sofa. Instead of sitting next to each other they sat on opposite ends. They looked at each other and started to scoot closer. He reached out and took her hand and she looked him in the eyes.
'His touch feels so nice' she thought.
He reached out with his other hand and began to stroke her hand which she had neglected to put back into a ponytail. She loved the feeling of him playing with her hair. She reached out and placed a hand on his cheek and he once again pulled her so her body could rest against his. He leaned her back so her back was resting against the arm of the couch and hovered over her. He began to look at her longingly.
She whispered his name sweetly and held her breath as he moved slowly to press a tender kiss to her lips. The kiss was short and he pulled away to look at her as if to ask permission. The look in her eyes said it all. He wasted no time at all in kissing her again. The kisses were short and sweet but held a hint of desire. They continued like that until the sound of the phone ringing startled them both.
He sighed and got up to answer it. She could hear him say "yes of course" and hung up. "Botan" he said as he came back into the room "That was my mother, she wants to me to come for dinner. Would you care to join me?" he asked. She agreed and stood up so they could leave.
They couldn't help but think about how every time they seemed to have a moment alone someone or something interrupted. They both thought at the same time 'When will we finally have some time alone?'
Kurama and Botan walked out of the house and made their way to his car. He held the door for her and when she was settled he walked around and got in and started the car. They chatted idly as he drove to his mother's house. When they had arrived he waited a beat before turning off the car, he looked over and said her name and once she looked at him he said "Thank you for accompanying me tonight and remember I'm Shuichi here."
"Right" she said as she opened the door and stepped out of the car. He offered her his arm as they walked to the front door. His arm dropped to his side as he knocked and waited for an answer. The door opened to reveal a smiling Shiori "Hello Shuichi" she said as she pulled him in for a hug.
"Hello mother" he said as she released him "I hope you don't mind but I invited a friend to join us" and with that he stepped aside to reveal Botan standing behind him.
"Mother you remember Botan, don't you?" he said.
"Of course, it's good to see you again dear."
"Good to see you too Shiori-san" Botan replied.
Kurama moved aside to allow Botan to pass by him and enter the house first. They made their way to the living room to chat before dinner was ready. Shiori sat down in the chair across from them and asked "So Botan how long have you and Kurama been seeing each other?"
Kurama paled and cried "Mother!"
Botan flushed and Shiori laughed. At that moment Kurama's stepfather Kazuya entered the room and asked what was so funny.
Shiori said "Oh nothing just Shuichi being embarrassed by his mother." Then Kurama's stepbrother little Shuuichi came bounding in the room and cried "Shuichi's home!"
"Hello Shuuichi how have you been?" Kurama asked his stepbrother.
"Fine" he answered "Brother who's the pretty lady?"
Botan's cheeks once again turned red and introduced herself. She was hammered with questions for the next few minutes until Kurama's stepfather said "Shuuichi that's enough give her some room to breathe."
"Alright father" he said as he sat down on the floor.
"So Shuichi how is school going?" Kazuya asked.
"Great, I really enjoy college it's more challenging than high school but I do stay busy with homework and projects.
"So Botan what do you do? Are you a student as well?" Shiori asked. Botan was caught by surprise at the question.
"Well I. . . ." she began.
Kurama spoke up and said "Botan works full time right now, she's kind of a delivery person" and patted her hand as if to help her calm her nerves.
"Oh, sounds fun" Shiori said.
"Oh yes I enjoy it immensely. I get to travel a lot" Botan said as she grasped Kurama' s hand to keep him from removing it from hers. Shiori saw this and smiled, she was sure her son had finally found a girlfriend but was just too shy to admit it.
Shiori got up and said "Please excuse me I have to check on dinner."
When she was out of the room little Shuuichi turned to Botan once more and asked "So Botan do you and my brother kiss?"
"Shuuichi!" Kurama and Kazuya cried at the same time.
"I'm sorry Botan" said Kazuya.
"It's alright Hatanaka-san" Botan replied as she tried to stifle a grin.
Kurama couldn't be more mortified. Before little Shuuichi could embarrass Kurama further Shiori re-entered the room and announced that dinner was ready.
Everyone stood up and made their way to the dining room, Kazuya led the way followed closely by Shuuichi, then Botan and lastly Kurama who followed behind her with his hand on the small of her back. They made their way to their seats and Kurama pulled out her chair for her before he sat down. Shiori saw this and shot a glance at her husband a glance that Kurama caught 'She's up to something' he thought as he sat down.
Everyone began to pass around the food and once their plates were full they began eating. Botan said "Shiori-san this food is wonderful."
"I'm glad you like it Botan, you should come over more often" Shiori said.
"Thank you Shiori-san, I would love to" she replied.
"So Botan have you and Shuichi been spending a lot of time together?" his mother asked.
Botan glanced at Kurama before replying "Yes we have, actually he's been attempting to teach me to cook but I'm afraid I'm a miserable failure."
Kurama spoke up and said "Oh Botan you just need a little more practice."
"Well if you are willing to teach me then I will be willing to give it another try" she said and laughed as she nudged his shoulder.
Shiori and Kazuya smiled as they witnessed the affection between the two and little Shuuichi just rolled his eyes. Everyone fell silent and Kurama and Botan stopped looking at each other and realized everyone was staring at them. Dinner continued in silence for a few minutes until Kurama spoke "So father how is work?"
Kazuya answered and soon the two were engrossed in a discussion about the details of his business. "Shuichi, I could really use someone like you to help out around the office. Are you sure you won't reconsider and come and work for me?"
Kurama smiled and said politely "Thank you again for the offer but I really need to focus on my studies right now."
"Alright if you say so, but one of these days I will wear you down" Kazuya replied.
"Enough talk about business" Shiori said as she began to clear the plates seeing as everyone had finished dinner.
"Let me help you Shiori-san" Botan said as she stood up to help clear the dishes as well.
"Thank you dear" Shiori replied.
Kazuya stood up and both Shuichi's followed suit and left them alone. When the men had left the room Shiori turned to Botan and asked "So dear have you told my son how you feel about him?"
Botan almost dropped the plate she was holding and gaped at her. She shook her head in response.
"Oh dear you really should, it's obvious you two have feelings for each other. You shouldn't be scared to let them out."
Botan smiled at Shiori and said "Thanks Shiori-san I'll think about it."
In the living room the men had begun a game of Renju (a traditional Japanese board game). Kazuya waited until Kurama had made his move and said "So Shuichi have you told Botan how you feel about her?"
Kurama almost choked on his drink, he coughed and looked at his stepfather with wide eyes and said "Well no, not yet."
"Well what are you waiting for? It's obvious she feels the same for you as you do for her."
"How can you tell?" Kurama asked.
Kazuya chuckled and looked at his stepson and said "Her eyes son" and with that he turned back to the game. Kurama considered this for a moment and then turned his attention back to the game. The game continued until the women entered the room. Kazuya began to put the game away and they all started chatting again. Botan sat next to Kurama on the couch while Shiori sat in the chair and Kazuya sat on the arm with his hand on his wife's arm.
Kurama moved to put his arm around Botan's shoulders and she leaned into him without thinking. Shiori and Kazuya smiled at them. Suddenly the mood turned when Kurama felt a familiar yet alarming energy.
'He's here' he thought as his body tensed.
Botan noticed and asked him if he was alright. He nodded and said "Yes, I just realized it's getting late and I should really be getting Botan home. "
With that they stood up and moved to the front door. Shiori looked sat but got up and hugged her son and told him goodnight. Botan was surprised when Shiori hugged her and whispered "Come back anytime dear". Botan nodded and they left.
Once they were in the car Botan turned to him and asked "Is everything alright? Did something happen?"
He looked at her and reached for her hand and said "Yes everything is fine but I sensed something strange and I would rather not involve my mother."
"Oh" she said as he started the car and headed home. He started driving to his house and Botan looked at him confused and asked "Kurama aren't you going to take me back to Keiko's?"
"No" he replied.
She looked at him quizzically and he continued "Botan I would feel more comfortable if you stayed at my house tonight. This feeling I got earlier has me a little unnerved."
'If you insist" she said and turned so he couldn't see her smile.
Little did the two of them know they were being followed. The shadow pursued them all the way to his house and stayed outside watching, he continued watched them well into the night. He disappeared before sunrise laughing maniacally.