Author's Note: here's the next chapter. I'm going to try and update one chapter for each fanfic every weakend. So for those reading this note the next chapter will come out anywhere between Thursday and Sunday every week. Anywho, let me know if I forgot to fix any mistakes. RnR!
Botan flew until the features around her began to blur and time had vanished. All she cared about was getting George to safety and getting to her tantei in time to save Koenma and put an end to the chaos that was darkening the spirit world.
"Drop me off there, I have family in that cave that let me stay a lot," George pointed out, forcing Botan to compensate for the sudden lean on her oar. She then veered downwards towards the ominous black and slowly wove her way through the many trees that she could not see.
"You're lucky I know this forest like the back of my hand," Botan huffed, ignoring the sting of a stray twig that whipped against her cheek. She did not bring attention to it though, her mind far away in her hopes.
"Are you okay? You've been kind of out of it," George inquired.
"What do you mean?" Botan's lips worked on autopilot as she maneuvered her way towards a system of caves and huts.
"If you want you can leave me here, I can find my way. Besides, I'm sure you're worried about Yusuke and the others." George new he hit a nerve when he felt Botan flinch. George had known Botan for well over a thousand years and after the first five hundred he had learned to tell when she'd checked out or not. It's kind of scary how she does that, George thought, wishing more than anything that she wouldn't do it while flying.
"I couldn't," Botan answered, her consciousness slamming back to reality. She decelerated her oar in favor of coasting over the cliff face and down into the largest of the caves. She then slowly made her way through the maze that led to the Ogre village of Feonito*.
"You really should, it'll be alright. Besides, with everything going on I doubt you'd be able to find anything," George continued, tightening his good arm around Botan's waist in an awkward hug. Her body began to shake in his touch and he knew that he had won when he heard her sob. "It's okay, I'll be fine. My family worked under Quan Yin*, they're peaceful and they'll take care of me."
"But what if those people find you? What if they-"
"Don't worry, I should be healed enough to give you the crystal and my cousin's part fae, they won't be able to find me that easily," George smiled, hugging her body tighter as they slowed to a stop. "Atta' girl." Once he was sure of the distance to the ground, George daintily slid off of the smooth shaft of wood and gingerly placed his feet onto the stone ground. Already he could feel the protective magicks surging through the rock beneath his feet, coaxing him inwards to safety before it was too late.
"You should go now," Botan sniffed, fighting the tears that she knew were coming.
"Give me a sec," George requested. He then hunched over and started to dry heave, his stomach moving inwards and outwards as if to force his insides to comply too his wishes. Eventually a large crystal of gold and amber slowly eased its way up through Georges throat and out into his hands. A protective film dimmed the starlit glow and the saliva dripped down its smooth sides as if the crystal itself was shrugging it off. Peeling the film his stomach produced, George handed the stone to Botan with an apologetic smile on his face.
Botan accepted the gem without complaint and dropped it into her sleeve without another word, her mind already leaving the present and plotting the course necessary to get back to Ningenkai and into her human body.* But even though she was miles off, she still had the presence of mind to remove a compact communicator and place it into George's clawed hand. She may be leaving him here to stay amongst relatives, he may even be the safer of the two, but Botan could not shake the feeling that she and George would not be seeing each other again for a long time, if at all.
"I'll keep you posted; you go on and save us from this calamity." George smiled and gave Botan's oar a gentle shove in the direction of the nearest portal to Ningenkai.
"As if I could save the world," Botan giggled sadly. "Please be careful."
"I'm a coward, of course I'm careful." And with that, Botan soared high into the sky and away from her home. "Good bye…"
The evening was strangely cold for the approach of summer and the setting sun was bathed in blood. These are bad signs indeed, Kurama thought as he exited his school. It was his last year there and Kurama felt as if he should be happy to be done with school all together, but something felt so wrong about it. He'd spent almost all of his human life dealing with the insipid prattle of his classmates and the ignorance of his teachers for so long that he knew he was going to miss it. Why? Kurama was not sure, but he did not wish to think on it at that time.
Kurama made his way to the school gate, only to discover that Maya, a classmate that has always warranted a second glance from him, was standing alone. Against the backdrop of the setting sun, she was truly beautiful that evening. Regardless of her beauty, Kurama would not allow himself to stir for her, not when it would place her life in danger. But even so, she was standing all alone. That would not do at all, especially with the constant reports of muggings and such increasing within the area. No, he would not allow for her to remain unattended.
"Katajima-kun, what are you doing out here all by yourself?" Kurama inquired as he approached the girl. Over the years, she had let her honey brown hair grow until it now ghosted over her shoulders, the ends curling inwards in a fetching manner. Her sweet hazel eyes were always large and inquisitive. Even through the years, that has yet to change.
"Minamino-kun? Hi," she greeted, waving happily as he approached. Her smile grew once she felt his comforting presence wash over her and she sighed her relief. The coming night filled her with such dread and Shuichi always had a knack for making her feel safe. "I'm waiting for you, actually," she blushed.
"What for?" Kurama felt a sudden hesitancy at her words and part of him was unsure of her memories. It was true, that when she was attacked so long ago that he had erased her memories, but with someone as spiritually aware as she it was possible that she was starting to remember.
"Um, well, you see," Maya looked down nervously as red painted her cheeks. She peeked at him through her lashes on occasion, but it was the ground that held her attention it seemed.
Kurama smirked to himself and how foolish his worries were. She couldn't possibly remember, Kurama reprimanded himself and thought about how adorable she was, not as adorable as some of his other female companions, but adorable just the same. Now was probably the time where Maya was going to ask him out, ask for 'study sessions,' or ask that he be her boyfriend. He won't lie and say that he has not harbored feelings for her once, and part of his heart still tugs at her sweetness, but not by much in comparison to a few years ago. Since then he has met sweeter and Maya would be placed in too much danger.
"Well, I was wondering if,… if maybe you'd…You and I could…" She lifted her downturned face in order to take in Shuichi's beauty; his deep emerald eyes, flecked with gold; his impish half smile that he was probably unaware he was wearing; the long, barely tamed mane of red that seemed to bleed from his scalp; the faint, barely visible splatter of freckles high on his cheeks. He was so perfect.
Sensing that it would take a while for her to come around and ask him out, Kurama decided that interrupting her would be in their best interest since turning her down would make things awkward for her. "Why don't you tell me after I walk you home? It's getting late and the streets have become quite dangerous these past few months."
Maya wilted at her lost opportunity, but she could wait. "That would be wonderful," Maya admitted with a smile. Kurama returned the gesture before he bent over to lift up Maya's bag, not giving her the chance to do so. The two then went on their way, away from the school and the safety it offered with its many lights.
The sidewalk they traversed was lit only by the sliver of the setting sun, a curious fact to behold when the street lights always came on at exactly five o'clock in the evening. The cars that past by were sparse and far in between, all moving in one direction and not the other. With each passing car that sped by, it took longer for the next to follow until not even the light of the cars could light their path. Something is blocking the flow of traffic into the area, Kurama deduced, placing both his and Maya's bag into one hand so that he could reach his free hand to his neck and "scratch" his head. Someone's coming. As soon as the thought was formed, blue flames danced into their path and crashed into the pavement before the two students.
Maya shrieked with surprise as she fell backwards. Her hands caught her before she could make full contact with the pavement, and she was able to turn back to where the blue flames attacked to find Kurama standing in front of her protectively. She made a move to get up, but sat there frozen when she saw a giant silver-white fox trot towards Shuichi with an almost happy gait.
"Hello little brother*, did you miss me," a deep masculine voice inquired, coming directly from the fox.
Kurama paled at the words spoken, taking two steps back as the knowledge set in. "No, I killed you."
"Funny how things are never what they seem," the fox chuckled, rising to his hind legs before slowly morphing into man well over seven feet in height. His silver hair barely reached his shoulder blades and behind him, five fox tails bristled with excitement, fox fire dancing over each tip. His body was clothed in nothing but a pair of white pants, everything else was bare. "So, runt, how has your human life been? I hear you've become Reikai's pet," he sneered. "But wait; didn't you become a demon to avoid that?"
"Silence, Jinan," Kurama commanded, his brother's words giving rise to his ire.
"Um, no," Jinan grinned maliciously, "I don't think I will. I have to pay you back for all the trouble you've caused me and then, I'm going to take your soul."
"Just try it," Kurama barked, summoning his rose whip in time to deflect Jinan's fox fire. His whip ignited, but that did not deter Kurama as he lashed out again in time to block another one directed at his face. Jinan then vanished from his sight. Kurama silently cursed as he strained his ears and took deep breaths in hopes of finding the other kitsune.
"Minamino-kun…, what's going on?" Maya was finally able to crawl onto her feet, her movements slow and shaky as she fought back her rising fear.
Again, Kurama cursed. He could not fight to his fullest with Maya so close. She may be able to see and sense demons, but she was not able to handle the likes of him and his brother in full combat. He needed to get her to safety.
"Katajima-kun, I want you to run away as fast as you can," Kurama said, taking one step backwards before turning to her fully.
"But, Minamino-"
"Do as I say and run," Kurama interrupted, grabbing her wrist and running back towards the school in time to avoid an explosion of pavement. From the cracked concrete and cement vines with red flowers shot from the earth and gave chase to the two running students. The flowers howled and hissed as the vines followed close behind; slithering along the road and buildings, burrowing underground, all the while laughing with Jinan's voice.
Kurama made a sharp turn into an alleyway, pulling Maya along with him and luring the vines into the narrow passageway. He then shoved Maya ahead of him so that she was out of his way when he turned to face the demon plants. From his hair, Kurama withdrew a multitude of seeds. Each one pulsed with energy, matching Kurama's rapid heartbeat before growing into monstrous plants with dripping maws. Their roots wrapped around Kurama's arms as the bulbs and buds opened wide to roar and growl. Acid dripped from gleaming white incisors as the plants writhed with excitement to be free. Kurama stretched his arms towards the alleyway's entrance, just as his brother's vines filled the opening and began to surge towards him.
Inhuman shrieks could be heard later as the acid of Kurama's plants began to eat away at the vines, spreading to all it touched and killing the demonic plant as it went. Kurama's plants continued to devour and destroy Jinan's vines with a wild and deadly vigor, removing themselves from Kurama's arms and digging their roots into the charred remains. They grew in size and number as they continued to feed on the incoming vines before the mass they had acquired was able to block all light from entering the alley. Suddenly, all the plants burst into flame. The searing blue fire destroyed everything until there was nothing left but the ash that blew away in the wind.
"I thought you were a master thief," Jinan's voice taunted.
"I was," Kurama countered, taking a few backward steps at his brother's approach.
"But, my dear little brother, you've gone and trapped yourself," Jinan continued, his eyes alight with dark mirth.
"Have I?" Kurama's words stilled Jinan's approach, and for that one instant Jinan's mirth vanished and was replaced with doubt. Jinan's ears twitched atop his head as the faint sound of slithering met his ears. He reached into his hair and pulled a rose from the nape of his neck. He then summoned a rose whip into his hands and snapped it to his side, severing the barb from an approaching creeper. He charged towards his younger brother, killing the creepers that bombarded him as he did so. Once he was within a few feet of Kurama, he snapped his whip upward in hopes of removing the head of crimson.
Kurama leaped backwards and spun away from several more whip lashes directed at his form. He then snapped a whip of his own and struck out against his brother's. The tongues tangled, the thorns catching against each other and rendering the whips useless for the sake of the battle. Kurama was first to release his whip, since it was his intention for the two to tangle, before he ran further into the alleyway, scooping Maya into his arms as he went. He braced one foot against the brick wall nearest him and kicked off in the opposite direction. He landed on the balcony on the second story of the opposite building, where he deposited Maya onto her feet. Kurama then herded the bewildered Maya up the building's fire escape and onto the roof where there was a clear view of all around them.
"Stop running whelp!" Jinan was spotted not long after, descending upon them from high above. In his eyes there was a wild and almost insane gleam, as if this were nothing but a game of cat and mouse that was about to come to an end. In his hand a white sphere of light formed and around it energy cackled with life. "Give me your soul."
"Kurama," a familiar voice called as an even more familiar streak of pink and blue flew in from behind Jinan. Botan sharply turned, barely inches behind him and slammed the paddle of her oar against the back of his head. The force of the sharp turn and the subsequent blow knocked Botan from her oar and sent both her and Jinan downwards. Botan tensed, knowing that she didn't have enough time to summon her oar again, so instead she pulled the small pack from her shoulder and wrapped her arms around it. But instead of skidding painfully across the building's rooftop, Botan found herself safe and unharmed in the arms of Kurama. "You're okay," Botan sighed in relief.
"I should be saying that about you," Kurama smiled, grateful that he was able to keep Botan from harm.
"Well, my brother, you always were a ladies' man," Jinan spat, slowly rising from the ground, both hands glowing.
"Why are you doing this," Botan demanded, drawing Jinan's attention onto herself.
"Doing what? You'll have to be more specific," Jinan struggled to maintain his footing, the blow to his head causing more damage than he had earlier realized. He spat blood onto the ground to his side before licking his busted lip. "That really hurt," he hissed ominously.
"You're with the ones that attacked Reikai, right?"
"Oh yeah, that was fun," he grinned. "I helped orchestrate the whole thing. You don't honestly think that the runt holding you is the only one with a brain in his head, do you?"
"Why? Why did you do it," Botan continued undeterred.
"Because we wanted too, and now I'm going to do it again," Jinan made a move to attack Kurama again with the orbs that glowed around his hands.
"No, don't," Botan demanded, forcing Kurama to place her on her feet as she did so.
"Just try and stop me," Jinan dared, grinning viciously.
Raw fear surged beneath Botan's breast as a dark realization began to sink in. The magicks that circled Jinan's hands were old and near impossible to deflect. There was no avoiding it and without anything for the spheres to crash into they'll follow the target till death. There was no blocking or partially dodging this attack. One touch and it was all over. If she did nothing, then everything would be all over. But what could she do? She wasn't a fighter and Kurama was going into this fight blind to the true threat that glowed within the older kitsune's grasp.
A thought came unbidden into her mind, filling her with sorrow. She could subdue him. She had the power to do so and thus she had the power to save Kurama and get him and his friend to safety. But to do so would rob the kitsune of his free will and turn his own body against him. She could bring him to his knees at a simple utterance. She had the strength, but did she have the resolve? The weight in her sleeve and the unsure look in Kurama's eyes gave her the strength to do what was necessary; even though it was the one thing she hated to do most in the world.
"prestati pa predložiti*" Botan cried as she stood tall, placing herself firmly between the two brothers.
Kurama backed away from Botan, pale faced and heart beating a mile a minute in shock and fear. It can't be, Kurama thought in bewilderment. He watched his brother, whom wore an expression almost identical to his drop his hands and fall to his knees within mere seconds after Botan's utterance. He watched as Jinan struggled valiantly to maintain control over his body, to stand, to fight, but his limbs would not obey his commands.
"How did you," Kurama started, but he couldn't bring himself to continue. He just continued to watch as Botan, with tears in her eyes, summoned her oar and mounted it in front of him.
"We have to find the others," she said, floating low enough for Kurama to climb on behind her. "You too," Botan added, drifting closer to Maya's fear frozen form.
Maya remained frozen in place staring in awe at the witch that had swooped in and saved them. She was like one of those magical girls from one of her comics or anime. She was beautiful and brave and Shuichi had his arms all around her...
That scary witch was all over her Shuichi and that was unacceptable. Maya climbed onto the oar with resolution in her eyes, her arms wrapping securely around Shuichi's waist and she almost tugged his body away from the blue haired witch's.
"I already checked Yusuke's and Kuwabara's houses and I have no idea where to start as far as Hiei's concerned since Mukuro has no idea where he is right now. No one's answering my calls and I have no idea what to do," Botan explained to Kurama, who merely nodded at her words. The ground fell from beneath their feet as the three shot up into the air, leaving Jinan frozen to the rooftop. High into the sky they went before they were sent hurtling to Genkai's home.
Kurama stared down at the back of Botan's head, his mind reeling from the evening's events. All this time he had known Botan, all these years she had hidden such a terrifying ability from him. Kurama didn't know what to think or how to react. What he did know was that Botan was far more powerful and older than she let on. For a shikigami to be able to subdue a kitsune, even one who has fallen* is not an easy task.
"I'm scared, can you slow down? Who are you anyway?" Maya demanded fearfully, clinging to Shuichi's waist with all her might. Her eyes were squeezed shut and all she could think about was how far down the ground was and how little seating room was available to her, especially when one considered the fact that she didn't have the best sense of balance off land.
"It'll be just a little further," Botan promised, turning sharply to her right when she spotted an incoming plane. She used the neighboring clouds as cover as she started her descent into Genkai's forest, slowing only a fraction in speed due to her passenger's fears.
A familiar shriek reached their ears, followed by the powerful wing beats of a large and terrifying sounding creature.
"Puu," Botan called, recognizing the shriek and leveling her oar. She then scanned her surroundings for the giant creature. It called again and Botan was able to spot it far to their left. On his back were three figures. "Yukina? Mukuro? Oh no, Hiei!" Botan sped forward, pulling up along side Puu. She reached out her hand and placed her palm over Hiei's prone form. Her hand hovered mere millimeters over his forehead, but she could not bring herself to touch him. He was wedged securely between Yukina and Mukuro, Yukina's small hands guiding the creature in the proper direction while Mukuro made sure Hiei didn't fall from behind.
"What is going on," the powerful demoness holding him demanded. Her anger and fear was evident in her voice whereas her body and face maintained their neutrality.
"I'll explain everything when we find everyone else," Botan replied. The silence that met her was thick and ominous, as if the words they were about to say would destroy everything within her.
"Yusuke's already at Genkai's…but…" Yukina couldn't bring herself to finish her statement. She placed her right hand over Hiei's while her left reached up to caress his cheek. Her eyes were set forward, staring onwards as Genkai's temple came into view. Tears were welling up within her eyes, but she would not let them fall. She felt as if her heart had been cleaved in two as she held Hiei's body secure to her back. He was the only family she knew and all Yukina could think about is how she should be able to help him but was too weak to do so.
"Is he okay? Please tell me he's okay," Botan pleaded.
"Let us land; we won't know anything until we get an explanation." Kurama interrupted with his voice cold and devoid of emotion.
"You're right," Botan conceded, drifting downwards as the severity of their situation started to sink in.
They all touched ground a moment later and entered Genkai's temple, finding that Genkai had been waiting for them for some time.
"Mind telling me what's going on," Genkai asked, her words directed entirely at Botan. She looked so old then, her face was haggard and her voice was shaking. It was as if the world was crumbling beneath her feet and she lacked the strength to stop it. She led the large group inside, guiding them to the main room where Yusuke was laying prone on a futon that had been set up for him. Next to him lay Keiko, her arms wrapped loosely around his shoulders and her face pressed against his neck. On his stomach lay two crystals that pulsed in sync with his abnormal heartbeat.
"Not him too," Botan gasped, dropping to her knees as helpless tears beaded up into her eyes.
"You didn't answer my question. What's going on? Why hasn't Koenma told us anything?" Genkai fought to maintain control of herself, but nothing was as it should and her son, for that is what Yusuke was to her, was lying on the ground no better than dead.
Botan couldn't bring herself to look into Genkai's eyes, her heart aching for the woman that had been a maternal figure in her life. Instead, Botan reached into her sleeve and pulled out the golden amber that shone with a star-like quality. "This is all that's left of him," Botan began, refusing the meet the gazes of the shocked looks. "I have to go find Kuwabara, maybe he's okay." Botan lifted her arm and summoned her oar before mounting it. She tossed her small bag in the direction of the crystal with the same amount of haggard emotionlessness. Her mind was blank and her heart was empty, if only for a moment. Nothing was as it should be.
"I'm coming with you," Yukina announced, climbing on behind Botan and leaving no room for argument.
"I will accompany you as well," Kurama added, mounting the oar behind Yukina.
"But Minamino-kun," Maya argued, not wishing to be left alone with complete strangers; strangers that she knew from first glance were demons*.
"Wait here, I'll be back soon," Kurama didn't meet her eyes. His attention was solely on Botan and his gaze held an almost predatory and calculative gleam.
"Hang on tight," Botan said, coaxing the oar up and out of the temple before ascending into the night sky.
"Kazuma," Yukina cried startling both Botan and Kurama from their silent reveries. She pointed downwards towards a beat up red car tearing down the highway, its horn drowning out all other sounds as it wove in and out of traffic expertly.
"Are you sure? I can't sense him," Botan questioned, turning the oar in order to chase after the vehicle.
"I know his in there, we have to catch up." Botan didn't question it, she just sped up and pulled up alongside the car, not caring if anyone saw her or not.
Behind the wheel they could see a frantic Shizuru, here eyes red with tears and her lips set in a thin line. Her hair was a mess and all she wore was a bathrobe and what looked to be a night gown underneath. In the back seat lay Kuwabara's comatose body and a large bundle of feathers rested on his stomach. She looked to the right, with the intension of switching to the next lane so she could turn off of the road and onto a service road. But she wasn't all that shocked to find Botan and co. on her oar. She turned of the road and began to slow to a stop. She was out in a matter of seconds, barely putting the car in park and not even bothering to turn it off.
"What's happening? What's wrong with my brother?" Shizuru's voice cracked and a fresh stream of tears cascaded down her face. "It's like he's not there anymore."
"I'll explain everything when we get to Genkai's," Botan promised, helping Yukina into the back seat of the car. She then closed the door behind her.
Yukina began to shake Kuwabara's form, as if in an attempt to wake him. She patted his cheek and checked his pulse, but there was no response; No quickening of his blood or the silly grin that would spread across his face whenever she was around. He always reacted to her, even when unconscious, but now there was nothing. Yukina felt her broken heart shatter when realization sank in. Tears fell unhindered from her eyes, crystallizing and collecting somewhere on the flooring of the car. Yukina didn't care. She draped her body across Kuwabara's before her aura flared, creating a frigid shield around them. The windows frosted over and a cold wind shook the car for a moment before it stilled. Now, all that could be seen of the two were Yukina's glowing angry eyes.
"I'll meet you at Genkai's," Shizuru sniffed before she sat back down in the driver's seat. "I should be there in fifteen or so minutes, traffic allowing." Shizuru then slammed the door shut and pressed her foot onto the breaks.
"Wait," Botan called, pressing her palms against the front of the car and stopping Shizuru from putting the car in drive.
"What?" Shizuru didn't mean to snap, especially at Botan of all people, but her emotions were so frazzled that she could barely maintain control over herself and her actions.
Instead of answering, Botan closed her eyes and began to chant. Around her palms symbols traced in light began to appear and spread until they outlined the entire vehicle. The symbols began to grow in size and become bolder and thicker before there was no distinguishing between symbols and the car was a glowing beacon of light. Then, in a flash, the car was just a piece of junk again. "No one will be able to tell you're speeding so you won't be pulled over or anything," Botan explained before she summoned her oar again. "I should be able to clear a straight path for you from here to Genkai's so try to stay on my tail." Botan mounted her oar again and made ready to take off again, but was startled to find Kurama climbing on behind her again. She looked over her shoulder to meet his gaze, and all she saw was the frozen emerald that he reserved only for his enemies.
Botan's breath caught in her throatt and her heart began to race with both fear and sorrow. She didn't blame him though, he was, and always will be a kitsune, a spirit fox and as such she had power over him. He now knew this fact and thus he no longer trusted her. Not with his freedom on the line at least. Botan turned away from him and shot up into the air, refusing to let anyone see the glassiness in her eyes. It was only a matter of time before he found out, Botan thought bitterly. She reached into her pocket and pulled out the concentration ring and placed it around her index finger.
"Do you think you can control the plants? I've only got three shots* in me and those are for the non-organic obstacles," Botan inquired.
"Understood," Kurama agreed, letting his youki flow from then so he could have instant access to it.
The two then were catapulted forward at Botan's urging, and Kurama instantly went to work at bending the trees to his will and forcing them to move and allow room for Shizuru to speed by.
While he did so, Botan pointed her index finger ahead of her and summoned as much reiki to the tip of her finger. She then held her finger poised for a moment longer before releasing a giant orb of light ahead of them towards an abandoned building that had fallen in disrepair. It was nowhere near the size of Yusuke's spirit gun, nor did it pack as much of a punch even with the boost, but it was powerful just the same and was large enough to encompass the entirety of Shizuru's car. The spirit bullet charged forward, demolishing everything in its path as it went before diminishing several kilometers away.
No one had time to be impressed by Botan's feat of power; to preoccupied they were with getting Kuwabara back to safety at Genkai's. They continued on their way, crossing over roads, through traffic, and into forests and not once did they turn from their set path. Botan used her magic to help Kurama as best as she could before another obstacle came into their path in the form of a large collection of rocks. Botan fired another spirit gun, leaving nothing but sand in the place of the boulders and onward they sped. Botan began to sag tiredly, but the arm around her waist kept her from falling.
"Always the gentleman," Botan breathed as she struggled to maintain her speed.
Fortunately they were not to far from Genkai's to begin with and the beeline they were making was shorting the trip exponentially. All that stood in their way now was a mountain that was beginning to monopolies on their field of vision. Botan took several deep breaths and her arm again to form another spirit gun, but her strength was waning and it was taking so much out of her just to hold her arm up.
"We'll go around," Kurama said finally, seeing that the mountain may be too much for her, but she stayed the course.
Trusting Kurama to hold her up, she used her other arm to brace against her wrist. She then dug deep into her remaining energy reserves and summoned her last energy bullet, charging and aiming until the last possible moment before releasing it. At first it wavered in its trajectory, but it leveled out and sailed strait and true towards the mountain's face. Upon contact it began to eat away at the stone, digging deeper and deeper until a large and gaping hole stared at them through the mountain and the light of Botan's spirit gun began to diminish with distance. Sensing that her bullet had made it through the mountain, Botan fell back into Kurama's arms tiredly. She lacked the strength to hold herself up and the speed of her oar was affected by her depleted energy.
"Do you think you can make it to Genkai's?" Kurama seized the shaft of Botan's oar as he asked this, leaning forward so that Botan was trapped within his arms as he did so.
"I don't have a choice," Botan groaned, feeling blood drip from her nose. She lifted her sleeve to clean her face of the gore, smearing the blood across her cheek and staining the pale pink of her kimono. She then snapped her body forward, using the momentum to wrap her fingers around Kurama's and forcing her oar to return to its original speed.
When they arrived to Genkai's Yukina refused to let anyone touch Kuwabara and carried him inside all on her own. Frigid winds spiraled around her form as she walked forward, her anger building within her breast and manifesting around her. All she could think about was the cry for vengeance, the need to maim and kill all those responsible for taking her loved ones away from her. She was walking on an emotional tightrope and she was teetering between raw fury and intense sorrow. Even now she still cried, leaving a trail of hiraseki stones behind her.
They entered Genkai's temple and Yukina laid Kuwabara out next to Hiei before claiming a spot between them. Clutched in her hands were the feathers that were found with Kuwabara and even more were pinned in her hair, framing her ponytail. She didn't speak and she stared straight ahead, engulfing both Hiei and Kuwabara in her icy force field.
"Minamino-kun," Maya called, running to his side with scared and worried eyes. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Kurama nodded, dodging her fretful hands that were trying to paw at him. "An explanation is in order right about now, am I correct?" Kurama turned to Botan and waited for her response. He watched as she wilted under his gaze, her eyes misting over before she turned away from him completely. He knew that she was reacting to his treatment towards her, but he would not allow himself to care, even as his heart demanded that he comfort her in her distress.
Botan made her way to the nearest cushion and dropped herself onto it. While she gathered her thoughts, everyone claimed their places around both her and the comatose bodies of their heroes.
"I wasn't there when everything happened," Botan began. "I was ferrying souls to Hell. Then the Malebranche started to herd all the ferries out. I became concerned so I started to ask around. All that was known was that all the afterlives were being sealed up and the guardians weren't admitting anymore souls. Since I was the head shikigami under King Yama, I was charged with finding out why, so, naturally, I went to ask Koenma." Tears began to gather up within Botan's eyes as she continued her tale, her mind racing a mile a minute and finding flaw with every choice she made. "King Yama had been imprisoned and the palace had been evacuated, as per Koenma's orders. I think after that he went to the vault to protect it. George told me that…that his soul had been crystallized and broken into fragments. George and Hecaton were able to save one of the fragments, but…"
"What happened," Shizuru pressed, seeing beyond her own pain and wrapping a comforting arm around Botan's shoulders.
"George was tortured, and in the act of saving him, Hecaton had been placed in a crystal prison as well. But their assailants weren't able to get to George, who swallowed that piece to keep it safe." Botan pointed to the crystal that had been placed on the nearby coffee table by Genkai, is smooth surface shining with starlight. "That's how everything was when I got there. Nothing was stolen, just Koenma. But even so, I got George out of there and then went back to get everything out of the vault." Botan gestured to the small pink bag that rested next to the table.
It looked inconspicuous and small, barely large enough to carry a thick novel and hanging from it were two charms. One was a cute cat charm with a sprig of catnip in its mouth and the other was a magic paper talisman. The talisman gave the bag the ability to hold a dimensional pocket, allowing the bag to hold such a large quantity of artifacts of varying and impossible sizes.
"George gave me the fragment of Koemna's soul and is now in hiding with his family. After getting all the artifacts from the vault I rushed here to Ningenkai in hopes of finding and warning everyone, but all I could find was Kurama. He was being attacked by his brother, and would have suffered the same fate if…" Botan refused to finish, turning away from all, especially Kurama and closing up within herself. "I wasted so much time. This is all my fault."
"Don't you dare," Genkai barked. "You did everything right, don't you dare take the blame for something you had no control over."
"It is; I was behind in my work. If I had been on time, I would have been there to help protect Koenma. If I hadn't gone back to clear out the vault, maybe I would have been able to find and save one of the others as well. I made the wrong choices and now we're facing an enemy we don't even know, an enemy that has the power to imprison gods."
"You say that as if you could have been everywhere at once," Mukuro spoke finally, listening to Botan's tale from the edge of Yukina's barrier. She pulled out a bright purple, almost pink crystal from her pocket, the gem filling her palm and soothing her nerves. She held it close to her breast before returning her attention to Botan. "Tell me, do you know of any magic that can imprison gods and claim souls?"
"Only one way," Botan nodded. "But such magicks are from long before I became a shikigami. It's an early Ainu* spell, but in order to cast it, even in it's incomplete form like this…that kind of power doesn't exist anymore."
"As you can see, that's not the case. Whoever we're facing must be very old," Genkai sighed.
"Very, they'd have to be at least three or four thousand years old," Botan nodded. "The only living beings known to be that age are Kurama and myself, his demon mother, and his remaining litter mates. After them, only some of the gods have lived that long."
"Then you may know a thing or two about our foe," Genkai offered, turning to Kurama who was leaning against the door jam nearest to Botan.
"I wish I did, but that was about the time I'd fallen and the only time I'd spent amongst the humans was around the earliest shrines of Inari* and her maidens," Kurama explained almost shamefully. Back then he was young and impulsive. The knowledge of humans meant nothing to him then, only the lovely bodies some of their members had.
"I was a shrine maiden around that time, and I do know of the spell and how to find the signs of it being performed…but," Botan bit her lip, struggling to find the words she needed to say. "I know how to restore everyone, but in order to do so I need to find the fragments of their souls. Do you know how many there are?"
"Yusuke had six," Keiko answered, rising from her place next to her beloved. "I have two."
"I have this piece," Mukuro added.
"What about Kuwabara? Were there any pieces of his soul left behind?" Botan felt her heart sink at the sad and negative responses she received. "I can't find him without a piece of his soul."
"All that was there were those feathers," Shizuru explained.
"Feathers?" In response to Botan's inquiring tone, Shizuru pulled one of the smaller feathers found from her pocket. She then placed it into Botan's waiting palms reluctantly.
Closing her eyes, Botan searched the energy signature within the feather and smiled sadly. "His soul manifested. I've never known a human soul to do that," Botan almost laughed, a tear falling from her lashes. "This feather will be more than enough."
"Let's turn in for the night. We've had a long day and we won't be any help to anyone if we're falling asleep all over the place." Genkai suggested, rising to her feet with a parting caress to Yusuke's forehead.
"Maya, I'll take you home if you want," Botan offered tiredly.
"Minamino-kun, will you be coming too?" Maya inquired hopefully.
"If that is what you wish," Kurama smiled half heartedly.
When they arrived at Maya's house, she was more than happy to be off Botan's oar and on ground, the solid surface of her family driveway making her feel balanced and safe.
"I'm sorry for dragging you into this," Kurama apologized, already planning on coming back later that night to erase her memories.
"It's okay. It's not like you did any of this on purpose," Maya beamed shakily.
"Is your family home?" Kurama asked, not sensing any activity from within the home.
"They're away on business," she answered all too readily.
"I see," Kurama began. "Wait here, I'll make sure it's safe." Kurama then vanished within the confines of the house without the aid of a key. This left Maya alone with Botan, who was perched on her oar, floating a few feet off the ground. Both her hands were braced on either side of her as if to keep her from falling and her eyes were distant.
"So," Maya said, breaking the silence between Botan and herself. "How long have you known Minamino-kun?"
"Hm? Oh, Kurama. I've known him for a few years now," Botan replied with a small smile and a yawn.
"Are you and he… you know, dating?" Maya questioned, her gaze downward and her thumbs engaged in a war amongst themselves.
"No, nothing like that," Botan sighed, seeing that Maya harbored feelings for her companion.
"Oh, good, I thought he and you were together or something." Relief flooded Maya's heart as her entire being lit up with hope. "And you're not interested in him at all, right?"
Before Botan had the chance to answer, Kurama exited Maya's home with a charge of youki surrounding him. Without even needing to ask, Botan knew exactly what he had done and felt a sigh of relief breeze past her lips. Maya's house would be safe, if only for now, and that was all she needed to know for the night. "Are you ready to go?"
"I am. Could you take me home please? I'm sure my mother is worried about me." Botan nodded and lowered her oar a fraction so he could rejoin her side and they could be on their way.
"Minamino-kun, wait," Maya called out before throwing her arms around his neck. "Thank you, for protecting me." Maya didn't let go and Kurama did nothing to stop her. He placed one arm loosely around her back, his hand resting between her shoulder blades. Kurama could feel her body shaking within his hold, and he almost feared she'd break if he let go. Maya's fear and gratitude wrapped around her body like a cocoon, hiding the vibrant young woman she was before the day's events took place. Kurama could only hope that she'd be alright on her own.
He waited a moment longer before silently and tactfully attempting to remove himself from her hold. She would be fine, physically, especially with his plants hidden within the home around to protect her. Kurama just hoped that would be enough.
All the while Botan watched with a spark of envy. Everyone had someone, and she should feel grateful for sparing at least one person from having to lose a loved one, but part of her would not allow for her to feel any form of contentment. She had no one and now she had to watch silently as the last of her friends found a special somebody who was there for them and no other. The cold stab of jealousy pierced her heart and Botan could do nothing but watch as she was left without anyone to call her own. What am I thinking, Botan thought in reprimand. I should be happy for Kurama; he's been alone for so long…he deserves to be happy. Botan had to fight back the snort of contempt that wanted to escape her person as Maya tightened her hold around Kurama and refused to let him go.
"I must go now," Kurama said finally.
"Please be careful," Maya implored, here eyes shining with emotion.
"I will," Kurama promised before seating himself on Botan's oar. "We should go."
"Alright." Botan could only count her lucky stars when she flew in the direction of Kurama's human home. He only lived a few blocks away and even that was too far for Botan right then. The day had exhausted her and the call of duty was the only thing that kept her going.
The flight was short and silent, neither party willing to speak to the other for different reasons. Kurama was still wary of Botan, whereas she was envious of his relationship with Maya. They landed a few minutes later in front of Kurama's abode. All the lights were lit and they could faintly hear the sounds of the television through the open window.
"Mother must be waiting for me," Kurama announced. He made no move to walk towards the house he shared with his mother and her spouse. Instead he waited, his eyes set forward and his stance guarded. "How long?"
"How long, what?" Botan had hoped that he would drop the entire incident with his brother all together, but apparently that was not so.
"How long have you had the ability to subdue kitsune," Kurama clarified darkly, his fingers curling into fists.
Botan dropped to her feet and walked over to Kurama's side and, after a moment's hesitation, lifted his fist into hers. He tensed, but did not pull away from her touch. This relaxed Botan, but only a fraction. Gently, she pried his fingers loose and placed one of her hands in his, partly so he could read if she was lying and partly because she needed to feel his touch. "Look at me," she requested solemnly.
Kurama obeyed, not because of her words, but because of how hurt she had sounded.
"I'm old, well over three thousand years in age. Because of my age, and what I was before I was turned into this…slave*…I've always had the ability to subdue lesser spirits. Even those that have fallen into demons," Botan explained with shame thick in her voice as if she had committed a crime just by having the knowledge she held.
"Even me? You can subdue even me," Kurama demanded, turning to her completely as his mask began to chip away.
"It's why you were allowed your probation so easily," Botan whimpered, tears falling from her amethyst orbs as she turned away from Kurama's heated gaze. "Even though the higher ups didn't know who you were yet, they didn't trust you. So, if you were to step out of line, and since I was the oldest shikigami under their employ, I was to subdue you and bring you in for imprisonment. But I swear; I would never, ever do that to you. I hate subduing people against their will and today was the first time I've done it in over two thousand years."
"How can I believe you," Kurama pressed, tightening his hold of the wrist in his hand and grabbing the other, "All this time I've been at your mercy and you've never paid me the courtesy of telling me." He leaned forward so that he was eyelevel with Botan, his nose barely a few inches from hers, wishing to see the truth in her eyes more than her pulse.
"Because it's me; I've never done anything to hurt or endanger you and I never will." Botan replied, meeting his eyes with her watery ones.
Seeing the truth in her words, but not ready to trust her so completely again, Kurama released Botan's wrists and walked away from her a few steps. All this time and he was none the wiser to the leash that had been placed around his neck. But no more, Kurama thought darkly as he stilled his pacing. "Show me."
"What?" Botan gasped, unable to comprehend what Kurama was asking of her.
"I need to know for sure if you can subdue me. Show me," Kurama repeated, turning back to Botan and waiting for her to comply with his wishes.
"No," Botan retorted. She shook her head violently in the negative and she backed away a step from Kurama's imposing form.
"Please, Botan, I need to know." Kurama struggled to maintain his mask of control. He knew he could trust Botan, her words and actions further proving what he'd known for years. But even still, he needed to know the extent of her power over him.
"Please don't make me do that to you," Botan begged, her resolve weakening as his strengthened.
"Please." At Kurama's words, Botan's resolve shattered and her tears increased, but even so, she nodded her consent.
"Predložiti"
Author's Note: if there's anything posted that you don't understand, let me know and I'll either tell you that it will be explained later in the fic or I'll add it to the definitions/explanations I have below. Feedback is most appreciated, let me know if you want to see something happen and if I don't already have it planned (I have the entire thing mapped out) then I'll try to squeeze it in. Well, RnR.
*1 - Feonito is a village I made up from the Spanish word for ugly.
*2 - Quan Yin is the female Buddha.
*3 - In the manga, Botan doesn't shift from human to spirit being, her body is usually left in a stasis somewhere until she re-enters it. Most of my fic is based off of the anime save for this key bit of information. This is going to be important in my fic, so remember this bit of info.
*4 - Foxes give birth to litters that average at about four or five. Since Kurama's a kitsune, he was born in a litter. In my fic you actually get to meet Jinan, his second oldest brother.
*5 - Cease and Submit in Serbian, the language I'll be using for magic that will force another to do one's bidding. If I use different types of spells then they'll be in a different language chosen at random.
*6 - You are either born a demon or you become one. "Falling" is when an entity that isn't a demon slowly becomes one. Kurama, who was a spirit fox, fell in order to become a demon and, as shown in my fic, so did his brother.
*7 - Maya has heightened senses and thus has the ability to see spirits and demons that can't usually seen by the normal human eye.
*8 - In both the manga and anime it is implied that Botan has access to her spirit energy. She even says that she was willing to start blowing up walls in her search for Hiei during later episodes. I just took that information and am now using it.
*9 - Inari is the god/goddess of fertility, rice, agriculture, foxes and industry was first worshiped around the fifth century in Japan. But for the sake of my fic, they were around a lot earlier, but documentation wasn't around to prove it.
*Fun side note, Inari, or Oinari in some dialects is depicted as male, female or as androgynous. No one form is wrong and it's all in accordance to the area Inari is warshiped and the individual worshipping them.
*10 - The Ainu is the oldest civilization I could think of from around 1000 B.C.E (before common era)
*11 - Shikigami are, to my understanding, slaves to whoever controls them. They must obey their controller's every whim regardless of their wishes. I may be wrong, but that's how it goes in my fic. More on this as you read.