Author's Note: Here's the next chapter, hope you like it! Remember to RnR!
At first, Kurama felt nothing from Botan's uttered words. But then it was like gravity intensified and his limbs felt like lead had encased them. Kurama resisted the feeling with all his might, struggling valiantly to remain in control and standing on his own two feet. His knees buckled beneath the weight of the intensified gravity and he was dropped into a kneeling position. Kurama fought to stand back up, but it was as if everything inside of him was screaming for him to give up. Vaguely, Kurama registered blood dripping from is nose from the exertion and the pain in his palms from how tightly he clenched his fists.
Hands, soft and smooth, were stroking his neck and face in an attempt to sooth him, prompting him to open his eyes and fill his vision with watery amethysts.
"Just relax. You need to relax," Botan urged, trying to coax him to surrender into the command out of fear that he'll hurt himself. She wrapped her arms around his shoulder and cocked her head to the side, exposing her neck in submission to soothe his panic and offer him a semblance of control that he desperately fought for.
Teeth, almost inhumanly sharp bit the column of her throat, hard enough to hurt but not enough to break the precious skin. Kurama's arms found purchase around her body, pulling her down with him as he did so. His bite remained unmoving, his jaw locked in place even as their bodies sank to the ground. He allowed himself to succumb to Botan's subduing spell, content to know that she was as vulnerable as he.
Eventually, the spell began to wear off and with it Kurama's jaw slackened and he began to lap at her throat in a soothing fashion before he removed himself from her completely. The lingering traces of panic slowly began to dissipate, allowing him to look at Botan as she really was for the first time that night. He was still weary of her and the power she had over him, but he knew now where he stood under her thrall. The truth of the matter displeased him greatly, for he had succumbed faster than he ever had in his younger years, but he at least knew what he was up against.
Botan watched as Kurama backed away from her, taking his warmth with him and allowing the cold to seep through her clothes and into her skin, chilling her to the bone. She shivered and her body ached to reunite with Kurama's warmth, but Kurama's wary gaze held her in place. It was as if a dagger was slowly piercing through her heart and she could do nothing to still the blade, only watch as her dear friend closed himself off from her completely. There was no more warmth for her in his gaze, just a resignation that she never wished to see in anyone of her friends, let alone Kurama.
"This was a one time thing," Botan announced, breaking the silence in hopes that she could draw Kurama out from his emotional barrier. "I will never, ever do it again. You have my word," Botan vowed, rising to her feet slowly. She made no move beyond that to approach him, knowing that her closeness was the last thing Kurama wanted, even if it was something that she needed.
"I believe you," Kurama lied; far from sure of Botan's words because as she said, she was Koenma's shikigami. If Koenma commanded it, she would have no choice but to obey. "It has been a long night. I'll see you in the morning."
Botan felt her heart bleed in pain a little more as his dismissal, as well as his doubt, plunged the dagger of heartache deeper. She watched him turn his back on her and leave, his footsteps deceptively sure where she knew his mind and psyche were in a tumult. Tears welled up in her eyes as she fought to remain in control, if only long enough to see that Kurama entered his home unharmed.
Fighting her tears, Botan mounted her oar for what she hoped was the last time and flew back to Genkai's temple, the only place she could go even though it was the last place she wanted to be. As she flew, the tears slowly began to stream from her eyes, catching the light of the moon in an ephemeral display of radiance. They glimmered like gems before vanishing into the air. But it wasn't until she landed at the foot of the temple's steps when she started to sob. She drew her knees up and wrapped her arms around her knees, rocking back and forth as sob after sob broke past her lips. Eventually it became too much for her to fight. Yusuke, Hiei, Kuwabara, Koenma, everyone from her home, all of them, they were laying lifeless and she could do nothing to save them and the only friend she had left will never trust her again.
Loneliness, dark and true with a grip of ice wrapped around her as Botan wept over her fate. She had no one. She had nothing. Her life and home were crumbling around her and she was powerless to stop it. There was no one to tell her what to do or how to help. There was no one taking credit for her loss of her home and chosen family. There was no one to hold her and tell her everything was going to be alright. George was hidden away, safe with a family that loves him. Keiko was mourning the separation from her love. Yukina had surrounded herself by a barrier born from her frigid fury due to the loss of her family. Shizuru retreated within herself and her memories of better days with her baby brother. Genkai was fighting to keep her control as the only son she knew lay lifeless in a coma. I'm all alone in this…aren't I? Botan whimpered at the thought, a new wave of tears cascading down her cheeks when she realized that she will inevitably fail everyone and curse them to an existence without their loved ones.
A fox skittered from the bushes in front of her, darting across the beaten pathway and into the wilderness across the way, reminding her of Kurama and the pain she'd caused him. Even if he was still there, he wasn't there. In losing his trust she lost her only ally, and now her friends were doomed to pay the price for her failure. If only she had been stronger, smarter, anything more than she was and maybe she could have thought of a way to protect Kurama without revealing something that never needed to be known. She did not lie when she said that she would never subdue Kurama again, and if he asked, she would give him an unbreakable vow. But he didn't ask. Even if he did, she doubted he would believe her even then. What was the vow of a shikigami anyway?
Botan sat there, huddled on the bottom step, cold and alone, and made no move to better her situation. Instead she just sat there, rocking back and forth. She forced her mind to go blank as her tears sapped the last of her strength, and she did nothing to fight the slumber that crept into up her spine and clouded her mind. Her thoughts became hazy and her eyes began to lose focus as she just stared ahead of her. Sorrow and slumber both fell about her form in a shroud and she gave in to her body's need for sleep.
Ring! Ring! Ring! Ri-
Botan was jerked into awakeness by the shrill cry of her compact communicator, the small object vibrating uncomfortably in her kimono sleeve. She pulled it out quickly, careful not to jostle any of the other objects she held before flipping it open quickly. Kurama's face came into view within an instant; his eyes filled with worry and anger both. At first, Botan felt that it was directed at her, feeling as if she got off easy as far as her ability to subdue him went.
Kurama stared at her, frozen with shock and guilt. He'd never seen Botan truly cry, and now her eyes were an angry red from it and her cheeks were flushed. Her entire being wilted and her inner light dimmed. It was all his fault. Such a look should be alien to the happy and carefree Botan and yet he put it there. Kurama opened his mouth to apologize, but closed it before he could form the words. Now was not the time and he felt she deserved a more personal and heartfelt apology. Saying sorry over the communicator, even though they were technically face to face, wouldn't cut it.
"Is something wrong?" Botan sniffed, using her sleeve to wipe her face even as her voice, nasal and low, sang her sorrows as she tried to hide all other evidence.
"Maya's in danger," Kurama began, snapping out of his guilt and allowing the urgency to take its place in his being.
"What?" Botan was on her feet within an instant, summoning her oar and sliding onto it as she did so. "I'm coming to get you," she announced as she sped through the air.
"I'm already on my way to her house, I need you to head straight there and help me get her out," Kurama explained, resuming his run as he spoke.
"What happened," Botan questioned as she flew.
"I got a call from her a few moments ago, there's a woman trying to break into her house. She killed most of my plants already and it's only a matter of time before they get to her," Kurama explained.
"Understood," Botan snapped the contraption shut before dropping into the front of her kimono for easy access. She had a feeling she'd need it soon. She repositioned herself on her oar, clenching the shaft of her oar with her knees and bracing her feet against the paddle. She then leaned forward, laying herself out along her oar, thus enabling herself to reduce wind resistance and move faster.
Maya cowered low to the ground in her parents' closet, clutching a potted plant to her chest as she fought back any sound she could possibly make. She had clamped a hand over her own mouth as a scared whimper fought to escape, the woman bursting through the door as flames raced to devour everything in sight behind her.
"Come out, come out, wherever you are," she sang. Long golden blond hair fell down her back in a cascade of wild curls and waves. Her long bangs were straight and fell about her face, pinned from her eyes by floral hair pins. Around her body she wore a Kimono similar to Botan's, the snow white fabric washing out the color of her already pale skin and giving her a ghostly appearance. Various sunflowers were painted onto the silk of her kimono, fading in and out as if blanketed by fog, the richest colors dotting around the edges of her sleeves. Her obi was a deep shade of gold, and fastened in place by an emerald obijime*. Her crimson gaze was wide with crazed glee as they darted around the room, searching with her eyes and not her mind.
In her hand she held a monster of a scythe. It was twice as tall as she was and the blade rivaled the blond haired woman in both width and height. Chains hung loosely around the blade, wrapping downwards until it found its way around her wrist. She carried it as if it were nothing, swinging it low to get it through the door and slicing through the carpet. From the cut more flames rose, following the ascent of the blade before dancing outward, destroying everything in their wake.
"I know you're in here," she continued to sing, swinging her scythe downwards onto the bed and setting it ablaze. A happy little giggle escaped her lips as she did this, enjoying her role in the home's destruction as she searched for its only resident.
Maya watched in horror as her home was slowly engulfed in red, frozen with fear as the woman turned her head sharply to face the closet doors.
"I know you're in there," she said darkly, lifting her scythe slowly in preparation to cleave through the wooden doors.
Maya couldn't fight the whimper that escaped her lips, her body frozen in terror. The plant in her arms began to react to Maya's fear, writhing in place before shooting upwards. Its' roots destroyed the pot that held them just as the woman brought her scythe down. The plant grew and wove itself around the frozen Maya in a leafy shield, protecting her from harm even as the outer layer caught fire.
Maya could no longer keep silent, knowing that she had been found and it was only a matter of time before the woman got to her. She screamed her voice loud and high in hopes that someone, anyone would hear her and come to her rescue. The scythe continued to cut down the vines and roots that slithered around her in a tight ball, the flames making the heat within almost too much to bear.
"Katajima-kun," a familiar voice called to her as glass shattered.
"You," the woman's voice hissed.
"Minamino-kun, help me!" Hope swelled beneath her breast as Maya found herself clawing at the vines in a desperate attempt to get out and see her rescuer.
Kurama circled Maya's assailant with a sense of trepidation. In front of him was another shikigami, one wracked with frenzy and power. He knew not the power she held, fearing that she was as powerful as Botan and thus had the same capabilities. Slowly, Kurama reached into his hair and pulled out a single perfect red rose. His eyes never left the blonde as she repositioned her weapon, readying herself for the fight both knew was coming. With a flick of the wrist, Kurama's rose whip had been summoned.
"So you're Yoko Kurama," she began, shifting her weight and allowing a smooth leg to peek from the part in her kimono. The other stepped backwards, thus allowing her a sturdier stance. "I've read your file…and heard tales. You're brother is quite the story teller."
"I can imagine," he countered swiftly, not at all surprised that the two were connected. "What are you doing here?"
"Getting rid of your reason to live," she replied merrily. "It's easier to extract souls when they have nothing to fight for."
"What makes you think she's my reason to live," Kurama inquired, the two circling each other in a stare down.
"Why else would you protect her? You lack the personality type and the altruism to protect random people, even as you are now. The fact that you're here proves that she means something to you."
"That is where you are wrong," Kurama smirked, "I've changed a lot more than you give me credit for."
"I find that hard to believe, people as old as you don't change in so few years," she barked, finding her convictions wavering in the face of the kitsune.
"You obviously haven't been near the living long enough," Kurama chortled.
"Long enough to know that there are no such things as altruistic humans; no one helps people without selfish reasoning behind it," She growled. Kurama's words and nonchalance dug under her skin and filled her with doubt. Could Jinan be wrong about him…?
"Kurama, Maya, are you there?" Botan dove in through the window within moments of the words reaching their ears. She dropped from her oar, placing herself by Kurama's side and between the shikigami and the closet.
"Botan-sempai, what are you doing here," the shikigami gasped, jerking backwards as if part of her wanted to flee.
"Kika-chan, what's the meaning of this!" Botan demanded fiercely once she realized who it was that stood before her. Memories of the sweet and inquisitive young shikigami raced through her mind as Botan fought valiantly to figure out why someone who had been so kind would turn against them.
Regaining her composure, the blond shikigami sneered down at Botan and her eyes filled with deep contempt. "I should have figured that you'd manage to avoid trouble. You always were a slippery snake," she hissed. In an act of anger, she brought her scythe down in an attempt to cleave Botan in two, but Kurama grabbed her and pulled her close to his side before jumping away from the rising flames.
"Why are you doing this? How could you betray us all?" Botan felt a part of her chip away as memories continued to play out within her mind. What happened to the girl who would race with her around Koenma's castle? What happened to the girl that loved to listen to the stories told by the old ones? What happened to the happy and inquisitive girl that found joy in the simple things, like spiderwebs in the morning and butterflies breaking from their cocoons? Where was she? Who was this girl that stood in the place of the Kika Botan had been so fond of?
"Because I hate you," she answered simply. "I hate all of you, and I want to see you all suffer."
"But why," Botan pressed.
"Because you're all so weak and disgusting. You sully yourselves for the sake of humans when they are not worth anything, and what's worse is you make me dirty my hands with their filth. But no more. My contract no longer keeps me as Koenma's slave and now I can do whatever I want to the disgusting worms as I see fit." Kika broke into a hearty laugh upon ending her little speech, as if her words were the funniest thing in the world.
"No! I won't let you," Botan cried.
"As if you could do anything, you filthy slave, you have no power here!" Kika swung her scythe again in Botan's direction, but again Kurama pulled Botan away in time to avoid the fatal blow.
"You speak as if you're not being used as a tool yourself," Kurama interjected, placing himself between the two shikigami and backing Botan towards the closet while avoiding the scorching flames.
"At least with the fallen I know my purpose and then I'll be free to torture, maim, and kill whomever I choose," she smiled wickedly.
"What makes you think you'll survive that long?" Kurama lashed out at her then, snapping the tongue of his rose whip towards the blonde's head.
In retaliation, Kika brought up her scythe in time to deflect the blow, twisting the tongue around the shaft of her weapon in hopes of disarming Kurama. Instead, Kurama pulled back with enough force to snap the wood and send the scythe flying, the blade embedding itself deep into the wall next to the closet in which Maya hid. He paid the blade no mind, keeping his attentions solely on Kika as he lashed his whip towards her form again. She erected a barrier around herself in time to defend herself. The blade in the wall vanished in a marvelous display of light before her scythe reformed itself in her outstretched hand. The two then reengaged in their fight, their movements inhumanly fast and near impossible to keep track.
All the while, Botan took the opportunity presented to her to fight the flames away from the closet as she made her way towards Maya. She would not allow herself to lose anyone else so even as her energy reserves began to dwindle dangerously low, she kept forcing the fire back. With the adrenaline pumping through her veins, Botan could not feel the cuts slicing through her hands nor the licks of the inferno against her cheeks. All Botan could feel was the powerful beating of her heart. She grasped the metal knobs that served as the closet's handles and slid the door open, ignoring the searing pain of metal burning into her flesh before she pulled Maya out of the corner and into her arms. In doing so, Botan allowed for the flames to regain their control and enter the closet, devouring everything in its path.
Botan turned to watch the fight in hopes of finding Kurama closing in on his victory, but all she saw was Kika's maniacal smile as she surrounded Kurama was white hot flames. But even though surrounded, Kurama did not allow doubt or fear to show on his face. He faced her with a calculating gaze and a neutral expression, he had not lost yet. He knew this, and so did Kika. Botan and Maya held fast to their hope as the house began to fall apart around them.
"Is this the best you can do? I thought you were better than this, kitsune," Kika cackled.
"I am," Kurama smirked. A large section of the roof began to crack under the stress created from the fight and the heat before chunks began to rain down on them all.
Kika shrieked when a large portion clipped her arm, setting the silk of her sleeve ablaze and scalding her arm. She tried to move back and away from the flaming chunk of wood and plaster, but the wall behind her and the semi circular ring of flames around her held her trapped. She searched around her frantically, trying to dodge another piece of the ceiling that tried to burn into her leg. She began to whimper wildly when the flames rose to high for her to jump through, and still Kurama watched, keeping her trapped within the scorching ring with the constant lashes of his whip.
Even though Kika had named herself the enemy, Botan found herself trying to rush to her aid. She could not watch and do nothing when someone she knew cried in terror and burned to death. Botan placed Maya onto her feet and started to run towards Kika in an attempt to fight the flames back, but Kurama wrapped his arms around her and pulled her back. She couldn't help it; she fought against him with all her might.
"Botan-sempai, help me!" Botan struggled valiantly against Kurama's hold, Kika's plea filling her with the desperate need to save the girl Botan knew was inside the blonde still.
"Let me go," Botan shouted franticly.
"No," Kurama countered, turning his body so that Botan couldn't see Kika as she burned, the edges of her kimono catching fire. The shrieks of the blonde escalated in volume as the flames grew to engulf the majority of the room and house, forcing them back towards the window.
"Please, don't let her burn," Botan begged, turning in Kurama's arms and clinging to his clothed chest.
Kurama, in response, summoned his rose whip back into his hand and made a move to end Kika's life right then and there in an act of mercy, but before the final motion could be made, a burst of white light temporarily extinguished the flames and Kika was riding away on the back of a giant silver fox. Kurama fought back the foul expletive when he realized who was carrying her away before grabbing both Botan and Maya into his own arms and diving out the window.
"Botan, take Maya to Genkai's and then go get Yusuke's mother," Kurama commanded once he was sure no one was harmed.
"What? Why? What about you?" Botan stared at Kurama incredulously, not able to comprehend his reasoning behind this request.
"If what Kika said is true, then they'll be attacking our families and everyone else we care about next," Kurama explained. "I'll meet you at the temple."
"Understood, be careful." Botan grabbed Maya's wrist and pulled her onto her oar. The two then shot up into the air and away from the burning inferno that was once Maya's home.
Kurama felt panic and fear creeping up his spine, wrapping his heart in a vice like grip and filling his lungs with dread. His body shook and his breath was ragged. Everything was all wrong and he had only moments to set things to rights for the sake of his human family. Never before now had he truly feared for their sakes, their lives hanging by a thread with only time keeping them aloft. They were being hunted and they had no knowledge of their pursuit or the hunter hiding within the shadows. They were blind to the danger and thus defenseless against attack.
Kurama took every short cut available to him back to his home, using whatever means necessary to cleave the amount of time it took in two. He didn't care who saw him as he formed ramps and bridges with the plants, leapt onto the roofs of houses and darted across roads with inhuman speeds. All he cared about was getting to his family in time, the dread and the guilt compelling him onwards into speeds that were formerly beyond his grasp.
Rounding a corner, Kurama felt all the tension rush from his form upon realizing that his family had remained untouched and were none the wiser to the terrors that stalked them. He took several calming breaths, more for his thoughts than for his body, before approaching his home. He knew what he would have to do to protect them, but he feared it just the same. Each step he took became slower and slower as a new kind of fear took hold. How much would he have to tell them? Could he tell them? All too soon he was at the door, but he couldn't bring himself to open it.
The door opened, and there was his mother's smiling face and welcoming embrace. He could tell that she had been worried. He had received the call from Maya during his dinner with her and the rest of his family. He left without any explanation to them and it would only be expected for them to worry, especially his mother.
"Is everything all right, Shuichi," Shiori inquired releasing her son only enough for him to look down into her eyes. She could see that something was troubling him greatly, and because of that her maternal instinct screamed at her to keep him safe. But she knew, deep down, that he would not allow that. He was such a self sufficient and independent boy.
"Everything is…" Kurama paused. For what felt like the first time in his life, he didn't know what to say or how to say it. He knew that he had to get them out of the house and to the safety of Genkai's, but how could he do it? He only knew of one way and he would almost choose death over that option. "We have to leave." Words escaped his lips, his voice smooth and sure whereas inside he was in absolute turmoil.
"What do you mean? What happened?" Shiori stared at her son in shock, her heart breaking when her beloved son pulled away from her arms. It was as if he were retreating within himself, pushing her away with more than just the space between them. It was as if he was erecting a physical wall between them and Shiori didn't know how to handle that.
"Pack your things, we leave as soon as possible," Kurama said with more authority in his voice. He refused to look at the woman who raised him in the human world; the fear was too great within him to do so. "Where are Hatanaka-gifu* and little Shuichi-ototo*?"
"They're in the living room watching television. Shuichi, what's going on?"
"I'll explain everything once we leave, I promise." Kurama looked at his mother imploringly, pleading with his eyes that she do what he asked.
Something inside her told Shiori that something was seriously wrong, something that her son refused to tell her. Part of her wanted to demand that he tell her everything that very instant, but the desperate and trapped look in his eyes stilled her tongue. Shiori looked into his eyes a moment longer before she started to head up the stairs to her room. As she walked away, Shiori listened as her son coaxed his stepfamily up and away from the couch. His words were deep and forceful, leaving no room for questions or disobedience. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see little Shuichi darting up the stairs behind her and charging full throttle into his room. There was nervousness in his eyes and she could almost smell the fear as he passed her.
She paused her trek in order to keep listening to what was going on downstairs. She could hear her husband arguing with her son, his words harsh as he demanded an explanation to why Shuichi was suddenly showing disrespect. Words were dull and muffled, but the emotions behind the words were still there. Hatanaka was angry, and justifiably so, but she could tell that Shuichi had cowed him down into submission. Hatanaka stormed into her view and up the stairs towards her and the room she stood in the doorway of. His eyes were alight with rage, but he dare not say anything against her son, especially in Shiori's presence.
They all packed what was needed while older Shuichi paced around the house in agitation, his eyes darting around as if waiting for something to strike out at them. This set off warning alarms in all their heads as the family was herded into the family van. Before Hatanaka could climb into the driver's seat, older Shuichi was there, already buckled in and waiting patiently. Hatanaka made an attempt to argue and demand that Shuichi get out of the car, but he was silenced within moments. The demonic glare that met Hatanaka's gaze, emerald and gold burning with violent desires filled him with fear and self preservation, prompting him to climb into the backseat with his son.
Kurama didn't even wait for Hatanaka to fasten his seatbelt before he tore out of the driveway and into the street. Constantly, almost to a point of a nervous tic, Kurama kept glancing at the mirrors. He sped down the road, ignoring the scent of terror that wafted into his nose from the backseat as he did so. Light flashed in the corner of his eye and he could only stare at the rear view mirror and watch as his human home exploded in a violent flash of red and white. His family cried out in disdain when realization dawned and all at once Kurama could hear all their voices blurring into one as they demanded for him to give them answers. But still, Kurama remained silent.
It was a struggle for Kurama to maintain acceptable speeds as he made his way down the highway, his mind mapping out which roads to take and how fast he could go in order to get his family to safety at Genkai's. Eventually, Kurama found his way onto a familiar road and made his way onto the side road and onto the path he and Botan had made for Shizuru. From then he didn't care, accelerating the car to its limit and leaving everyone else in the car to wonder how he knew where to go and what had made the road on which they traveled.
Kurama pulled into a back road that lead to Genkai's temple, following the pathway to the garage that he knew was there. Little Shuichi had fallen asleep from the emotional exhaustion and Shiori leaned against the window tiredly, the only one who wasn't scared with Kurama's driving*. Hatanaka, once he calmed down, leered at the fiery redhead for the entirety of the drive, silently blaming him for everything that had happened that night. Kurama didn't care, as long as he saved them and could keep them safe, Kurama would bare all his fury without complaint.
Kurama parked the car to the side of the garage just as Botan, Maya and Genkai were making their way down the deer trail towards them. Botan was the first to reach them, meeting Kurama half way as he got out of the car. She grasped his cheeks in her hands and let her energy hum through his body in search of any possible injury. She had felt a violent and powerful energy from the direction of his home and had feared that she may have lost him, but seeing that he was unharmed, she calmed and dropped her hands, stepping aside for Maya, who promptly hugged him. Botan wished she could do the same, as commanded by her loving nature, but she did not know where she stood with Kurama anymore, so she did not know if her touch was welcome.
"So your fears were correct I see," Genkai started, her raspy voice filling the stagnant silence. "I am sorry to hear that Kurama. All of you follow me. You'll be safe in the temple, and I'm sure you are all looking forward to an explanation."
"We will have an explanation now," Hatanaka bellowed, at his whit's end.
Genkai just blinked at him, too tired and forlorn to care about his insolence. She glanced at the family, her heart going out for Kurama's human mother and the truth she was about to face. She blinked again before turning on her heel. "Once you've grabbed your luggage please follow me," Genkai called over her shoulder, sounding more tired with each word she spoke.
"I'll help," Botan offered, already opening the trunk and hefting the largest of the bags over her shoulders. She barely made it one step away from the van when Kurama, being the gentleman that he was, pulled the load from her shoulders and placed them onto his own. He gave her a brief smile, letting her know that he appreciated her help before he went to help his mother out of the front passenger seat. Botan watched as relief flooded through her system before claiming the smaller bags present. Once emptied, Botan slammed the trunk shut and joined Kurama and his family in their accent up the stairs.
"Botan, why don't you ferry the little one up to the temple," Genkai said suddenly, earning her several curious glances. "He looks dead on his feet and the trip will be too much for him."
Botan paused for a moment, not sure if she should obey Genkai's request given their present company. Trust won out in the end and she summoned her oar into her hand. Botan hung the luggage in her possession from the oar's paddle before she lifted little Shuichi into the cradle of her arms and hopped onto her oar. He clung to her, too terrified to scream or struggle as the kindly young woman flew him into the air and towards the temple.
"Shuichi," Hatanaka cried, unable to stop the blue haired woman from making off with his child.
"Calm down, the kid's probably safer than we are right now," Genkai barked, continuing her ascent as if nothing was out of the ordinary.
"What are you? What is she? Are you witches?" Apprehension filled his entire being, Hatanaka's eyes darting around in search of a weapon he could use in his own defense.
"Fear not," Kurama spoke, his words soothing and gentle, "Botan will not allow for anything to happen to him, and he's just up these stairs."
"How do you know these people?" Shiori, for reasons beyond her own comprehension, trusted the company her son presented her with even as fear slipped its noose around her neck.
"It's a long story that would be best told inside with some tea," Genkai interrupted.
"Would you like for me to carry you?" Kurama offered his back to his mother, seeing how the stress of the night had taken its toll on her frail form.
"You have enough to carry, dear. I'm fine," she sighed in response, touched by her son's care.
"It wouldn't be any trouble," Kurama pressed, placing a steadying arm behind her back when she wavered backwards. Out of the corner of his eye he saw pink and blue floating towards him as Botan returned to them.
"Shuichi's with Shizuru and Mukuro," Botan explained at the questioning glances. She lowered herself onto the stairway and continued towards them on foot, the oar held firmly in her grasp. "Would you like for me to carry anything else up?" Botan eyed Kurama's load and Shiori, hoping that he'd take up her offer and let her ferry them up to the temple.
"Please," Kurama requested, guiding his mother over to Botan's side.
Botan smiled happily, lowering her oar and leveling it so that she could slide back onto it. She waited till Kurama lifted Shiori off the ground and placed her behind Botan. Once Shiori's arms were wrapped securely around her waist she looked to Kurama expectantly. "You know you can give me those bags too, it won't be any trouble."
Kurama thought for a moment before giving in to Botan's hopeful gaze and hanging the bags from the paddle. He gave his mother's hands a loving squeeze before stepping back and allowing for Botan to fly his mother to safety. This made Botan so happy to know that he trusted her with someone so precious to him, making her feel as if their friendship had never been in jeopardy to begin with. She could have sung her delight as she raised high into the air and sailed ahead.
"Excuse me, miss," Shiori began after a moment of flight. Her eyes were straight ahead of her and her hold around Botan's waist was exceptionally tight.
"Is something the matter? Would you like for me to slow down?" Botan slowed regardless, turning her attention to the woman behind her.
"Thank you, but what I wanted to know was how you and my Shuichi know each other? What are you? Why did that woman call my son 'Kurama'?"
"It's not really my place to say, but Kurama and I met years ago, while you were sick in the hospital. The rest you'll have to learn from him," Botan smiled guiltily, wishing to answer her questions, but she didn't know how much to say and she doubted Kurama would appreciate it if she blabbed. She was trying to patch things up, not break them down further.
"Then can you answer me this, what's going on?"
"That will also be explained when we get inside, that way we'll only have to explain once," Botan promised as she made her way towards the front door and stilled to a halt. She then slid from her oar onto the ground and lifted Shiori off as well in an impressive display of strength*, placing her on the ground next to her. She then grabbed the bags and led Shiori into the temple.
Inside all Shiori could feel was a sorrow so palpable that it worked its way through her skin and into her psyche, filling her eyes with tears even though she had no reason for them. On the ground of the temple's main room lay three young men, all unconscious on the ground. Futons were set out beneath them and they were surrounded by women in mourning.
Against the wall was a young woman, barely older than the others, rocking back and forth with tears streaming down her face. She held in the hand of one of the young men securely in her hand, the other occasionally caressing his cheek or stroking his black hair. She wore a bright red dress and her face was made up to compliment her features. She looked as if she had planned on going clubbing, but the turn of events led her to mourn.
Lying next to the young man was another young woman about the same age as him. Her pale blue summer dress was torn and ugly bruises marred her beautiful features. Her brunette hair fanned out behind her as her face burrowed into his neck. She curled her body around his loosely, as if afraid to hurt him but at the same time needing his warmth.
Barely a few feet away were the other two more young men, closer together in comparison to the first. One, though not nearly as attractive as the others, held a certain beauty about him that could only be described as shining from within. His body lay on his side, turned over so that his head could rest on the lap of a lovely young girl. From her eyes fell gems of the utmost perfect brilliance only to be forgotten by all. She held the hand of the other boy securely, as if even the though of letting go wasn't an option.
He was dressed completely in black and his skin glared violently, burns marring his features completely. On his other side was a woman with her side facing Shiori. From what she could see, there was an odd contraption covering her eye and peeking from her sleeve was a mechanical hand. She couldn't see much else, but from Shiori could tell the woman would be a startling sight.
"Mamahaha*," little Shuichi called from the frightening woman's other side. In one hand was a small plate with a couple sandwiches and in his other was a bottle of orange ramuné*. Another woman entered into the room a moment later with a tray laden with bowls of instant ramen and several more sandwiches. "Where's Shuichi-onii-chan, and chichiue?"
"There coming," Shiori answered, trying to come to grips with her surroundings. They arrived soon after that, and with them came an end to the forlorn silence.
"Now can we get an explanation," Hatanaka demanded angrily.
"Yes, please," the woman rocking to the side of one of the young men added. Everyone in the room turned to Kurama and Botan as the two made their way to the middle of the room.
"You lead, I'll follow," Botan whispered, giving Kurama a smile meant to comfort.
Kurama returned the expression in kind, silently thanking her for her support. He closed his eyes then, debating within himself the next course of action to take. Finally, after several silent minutes of thought, Kurama came to his decision. Pulling a small capsule from his hair, Kurama tossed it into his mouth and crunched into it with his teeth. Moments later, there was a flash of bright white light and when it faded, Yoko Kurama stood in Shuichi's place*.
Author's Note: Your reviews are like oxygen, please help me to breath. Let me know if you find any errors so I can go back and fix them!
*1 - Obijime (帯締め) is a narrow ribbon or cord worn around women's obi. It is necessary to hold the popular taiko musubi in place, and doubles as a decorative element. (info from Wikipedia)
*2 - Gifu means stepfather, but I could be using it in the wrong context so if I am, let me know so I can correct it. In my fic the relationship between Kurama and Hatanaka isn't perfect since even though Kurama accepted Hatanaka as Shiori's husband, he has not accepted Hatanaka as the alpha and they tend subtly bump heads. It's a canine thing.
*3 - Ototo is little brother. Kurama and little Shuichi have an actual relationship like that of siblings so Kurama tends to refer to him as his real brother more and more so as time progresses. There bond is better than the bond between Kurama and Hatanaka, Shiori's husband.
*4 - I will let it be known now that Kurama, at least in my fic, is an expert driver. He's just a bit of a speed demon, especially when pushed into certain situations.
*5 - Botan is often reported to be very strong and has been known to carry Yusuke (after the first fight with Goki), and some of the others with ease. How else would she be able to do so much damage with blunt objects?
*6 - Mamahaha means stepmother, but like with Gifu, I could be wrong so correct me if you know for sure.
*7 - ramuné is a ridiculously good Japanese soda. I love the stuff, especially orange flavored.
*8 - The capsule has a compound made from the fruit thingy that turned him into a demon during the first tournament. Even though he threw his old life away he still took some extra measures for just in case purposes.