Author's Note: Hi, sorry about missing last week's update. I had an essay to write that took precidence over my fanfic, sorry. Anywho, I have a line art done in honor of chapter 6's cameo appearance. Just look for me on DeviantArt. I go under Animeiija. Here's a link, just get rid of the spaces and replace the 'dot' with a (.). http:/animeiija dot deviantart dot com /#/ d3327qr
Anywho, I'm having a contest of sorts. You see, I want fanart. Lots of it. And for this contest, I want for you to draw me pictures of Botan in princess dresses. Each dress will be based off of each of the tantei (Yusuke, Kuwabara, Hiei, Kurama) and one other person since I need five. Whichever dress I like the most will have their design featured in my story, so please send me all your pictures. You don't even have to be an amazing artist, just as long as I can tell what you drew. Send them quick since the chapters I'll need them for are coming up soon. ;-p
R&R!
Her lips were as soft and sweet as he had imagined, and Kurama couldn't get enough. Her body, so pliant and supple, was flush against his. Her arms, powerful and graceful, were looped around his neck and shoulders. Her hands, small and dainty, were woven into his mane of silver. Her legs, so long and smooth, were wrapped around his hips to pull him closer. But it wasn't enough. Kurama wanted, no, needed more. With their lips still locked in a passionate dance for dominance, Kurama needed more. He wrapped his arms around her slim waist and pulled her closer, crushing her breasts against the solid wall of his chest.
Botan moaned her delight wantonly, unsealing her lips from Kurama's to catch her breath and to allow his lips to latch onto her throat. Without her realizing, her hips ground against Kurama's lap, desperate for more friction. Heat coiled within her belly and she felt an increasing dampness between her legs. The more she moved her hips, the tighter the coil became, and with each motion against the hardness on Kurama's lap shots of pleasure spiked within her.
Kurama groaned his approval, laying Botan onto her back so he could explore her further.
Kurama bit his lip as a silent moan escaped them. He shifted along the cot onto his back, his breath becoming rapid and shallow. His lips parted in order to taste the scent in the room that was driving him wild with need, and he turned his head to face the cause's location. Slowly, Kurama's left hand slipped under the blanket, ghosting over his bare chest and abdomen.
No matter how close he got to her, it wasn't enough. He couldn't control himself, she was quickly becoming his world and he could do nothing to stop it. The delicious sounds of pleasure that escaped her kiss-swollen lips filled his ears, drowning out all others as he worked to increase their volume. The way she would catch her bottom lip between her teeth made him blind to his surroundings. The sultry, heady scent of paradise and her arousal filled his lungs, warming Kurama's body and throwing his thoughts into a tailspin. Everything about Botan dominated him and his senses so completely and he would do absolutely nothing to stop it.
Kurama trailed his lips down Botan's cheek, chin, and neck, spending extra time along her pulse points as he did so. Then he found her heart, beating rapidly against her chest that Kurama feared it would burst from her ribcage. He laid his lips against her breast, kissing wherever he felt the heartbeat the strongest.
"Ku-chan…" Botan gasped, arching her back in hopes of acquiring more of his heated kisses.
Kurama was more than happy to oblige.
Grasping his own hardening length, Kurama began to stroke himself in hopes of simulating the pleasurable feeling his dream tortured him with. Each sound the phantom image created prompted Kurama to stroke himself faster and harder, desperate to put an end to the torment such sounds inflicted on him. His breath deepened and his pulse quickened, but it wasn't enough. Kurama was far from his peak and the build up was tantalizingly slow. Sharp incisors pierced through his lips as Kurama bit at them to keep silent. His eyes were clenched shut, struggling valiantly to stay asleep, if only in part, and see the fantasy through to the end. Cool hands stroked at his chest, adding to Kurama's pleasure as he stroked his own growing erection with increasing speed.
Kurama awoke with a start, dropping both him and his mysterious bedmate onto the ground. Skipping the state of grogginess, Kurama glowered at Maya, completely scandalized by the fact that she had snuck into his bed while he was pleasing himself. Anger filled him soon after, blocking all other emotions from taking hold, like embarrassment and the unlikely probability of shame.* It wasn't so much that she most likely caught him in the act, but the fact that she would have the audacity try and join him without his permission that truly set him off.
"What's going on," Botan shouted tiredly in shock, turning on the lamp to see what all the commotion was about. Blinking away the black spots that danced in front of her eyes, Botan looked to Kurama and Maya in hopes of getting her answers.
Kurama sat on the floor, completely bare from the waist up. Tangled around his legs were Kurama's sheets, hiding his black pajama pants, and other things from view. Not that far from him, and also tangled in the same heap of fabric was Maya. She hadn't changed from her negligee and it had ridden up almost obscenely to display most of her torso. Both sported angry flushes across their cheeks and their eyes were glued onto one another. The cot was lying on its side, flush against Maya's back and pushing the mattress of her bed a bit askew.
"How could you," Botan hissed, unable to see Kurama's look of anger. "Couldn't you two wait until we got home, or, heavens forbid, I left the room?"
"What? Botan, you don't honestly think that I would…" Kurama was shocked into silence when he saw the look of absolute rage enter Botan's eyes. "It's not what it looks like, I swear," Kurama pressed, trying to detangle himself from the blanket so he could turn and face her.
"Oh," Botan growled darkly, sitting up from the bed and scooting away from Kurama. "Is that so? Somehow I'm unable to believe that." Botan directed her eyes downwards for a brief moment before locking her eyes onto Kurama's again in challenge.
It took a brief moment in time for Kurama to know what she was referring to, but when he did the blush returned to his cheeks. "It's not what it looks like," Kurama repeated adamantly.
"Save your lies for someone else," Botan barked before she climbed out of bed completely before storming out of the room. The moment the door was closed was the moment she fell to her knees in pain. But the pain she felt wasn't born from a physical wound, which she could ignore. The pain she felt was born from the fact that Kurama would pay her so little mind, forgetting about her so completely for the sake of Maya. It wasn't fair and it hurt so much that Botan feared that her heart would bleed. Unbeknownst to her, tears began to fall from her eyes, soaking into the fabric of her powder blue pajama pants.
Rising to her feet, Botan ignored the pain of her ankles and continued down the hall. She did not want for Kurama to see her as she was. She turned the corner just as Kurama exited the room; oblivious to the fact that Kurama was hot on her heels.
Kurama barked a fowl expletive before turning back to the hotel room. "I'll deal with you when I get back," Kurama informed darkly before sealing the door shut and following Botan's scent.
He followed the scent of death and Eden out to the hotel's fenced pool. She was sitting along the water's edge, her feet braced against the step under the pool's cool blue surface, not caring if the edges of her pants became soaked with the frigid waters. She had her arms looped around her knees and she was rocking back and forth in time with a melody only she could hear. On occasion she would reach up and push some of her hair out of her eyes, only to have it fall back in place.
"Go away, Kurama," Botan commanded solemnly, stilling her motions to peek at him through her thick lashes.
"Not until you hear me out," Kurama countered, approaching Botan and claiming spot next to her. He chose not to get to close, maintaining a meter long gap between them. He didn't dip his feet into the waters either, content with being dry. A tepid wind blue by and neither spoke, nor did they break eye contact.
"I'm waiting," Botan huffed, bracing her hands behind her and allowing her legs to sink deeper into the water. She turned away from Kurama then, not wanting to be drawn in by his pleading emeralds.
"She came into my bed while I was sleeping," Kurama explained slowly.
"Ah, I find it hard to believe that she was able to sneak into your bed and…play with you long enough to get such a reaction while you were asleep." Botan's words were laced with venom and sarcasm in a way that was so uncharacteristic of the sweet and loving Botan.
Kurama stared at her in shock, unsure how to handle this side of Botan. Were such a dark tone to come from someone else, Kurama would know how to handle it. But with Botan, Kurama was ill prepared for such a shift in her personality. "The moment she touched me was the moment I woke up…" Kurama said in his defense, hoping that Botan wouldn't press the issue farther. Even for someone as old as he, who'd partaken in many things in life, the entire situation was more than a little embarrassing.
Botan turned to face him and sighed. Even if he were lying, Botan knew she would believe him regardless. But even though she bought it, Botan was still hurt by the event. "I believe you," she sighed, looking away and focusing on her half submerged knees.
Kurama decided to risk it then, maneuvering himself to her side so he could drape an arm around her shoulders. She didn't refuse him, but she didn't lean into his hold either. Either way, Kurama didn't mind. As long as she forgave him he was fine. Her body was tense from what he could tell, and Botan was fighting the shivers born from her wet legs. Water was seeping up through the fabric of Botan's pants and had already reached her thighs.
Botan didn't want to admit it, but she really wanted to surrender herself to Kurama's touch. It was everything she wanted and needed at that very moment, but such a gift came with strings attached and those strings were bound to Maya's fingers. Why did she have to be included in all of this anyway? Botan thought enviously. But even if Maya wasn't there, Botan would still be barely Kurama's friend and she would still be his girlfriend.
Kurama decided that it was time to head back inside when Botan sneezed and sagged against him tiredly. It had been a really long day for her and she was still exhausted, that much was clear. Looping one of his arms under her knees, not caring if he got wet, Kurama lifted Botan into his arms and carried her back to the hotel room. As he moved, Botan's eyes began to drift shut, and as sleep began to claim her, she began to cuddle against him. When we get back home, I'll make this up to her, Kurama promised to himself.
When he got into the room, Maya had already climbed into her own bed. Though she was still awake, she made no move to communicate with Kurama which suited him just fine. With one final glare in her direction, Kurama sat Botan down on the empty mattress and removed her soaked pajama bottoms. Botan moved on autopilot to accommodate Kurama's actions, barely even conscious to do much else.
"G'night, Ku-chan," Botan slurred as she laid down onto her side, unaware of her words.
A flash of red, white and green flared before Kurama's eyes for an instant and along with it came the earthy scent of the forest mixed with the mouthwatering aroma of fruit, honey, and flowers. The image may have been a blur, but the scent was crisp and unhindered, as if he had been transported to another place and time for a single moment. But as fast as it came the scent vanished. Even though he knew the attempt was futile, Kurama took several deep breaths in hopes of catching the ghost scent again. But all he got in return for his actions was Botan's scent of paradise. It was so similar, but the smell of death, and… something else, that always lingered about her kept him from finding the appropriate link.
Kurama placed a hand over his rapidly beating heart, unsure to its abnormal reaction. Even though he was human in form, Kurama was demon through and through and it was only through conscious effort on his part that resulted in a "regular" heartbeat. But this is twice now that his heart sped up on its own accord, and Kurama suspected that it had something to do with Botan. What was it about her that made him react in such a way? Could the reason be because of his quickly approaching mating time*? With the constant changes in the weather, it is possible that I'm just reacting to it early…? For some reason, though extremely probable, that conclusion just didn't seem right.
He didn't realize it, but sometime while he was lost in thought Kurama had spooned himself behind Botan to still her constant shivering. Using his own back to shield her from the blowing AC, Kurama draped his arm around Botan's waist and secured the thin comforter around her. "What are you doing to me?"
As with all other times, Kurama was the first to wake that following morning. Not that he minded. He doubted having his two companions waking up to him in Botan's bed would blow over well. Without removing himself from beneath the covers, Kurama reached over to the wall unit and adjusted the dial to pump out warmer air. Only then did he get up from behind Botan so he could shower and prepare himself for the long ride home. He collecting his clothing from his bag and pulling one of the complimentary soaps from the sink. Kurama then locked himself into the bathroom in hopes of a long, stress free shower.
Unfortunately, his hopes were shattered after only five minutes under the glorious spray of steaming hot water. Maya was knocking at the door, no doubt in hopes to "apologize" for her actions last night. The thought of ignoring her bounced around within his cranium for several long moments before Maya's incessant knocks became too much for his early morning lack of patience to take. Though he was loath to do it, Kurama turned off the water and ended his begrudgingly short shower. He stepped out of the tub and began to dry himself, working through his thoughts as he did so in order to prevent any more drama from crashing into his face.
Once partially dressed with a towel hanging from his bare shoulders, Kurama undid the lock and stepped out of the steamy bathroom. Kurama worked the towel through his hair furiously in hopes of acquiring some sense of control over his situation, if only through appearance alone. But, as with all things that composed his life for the past few days, his unruly locks of red were being defiant.
Maya stared at Kurama hungrily, lost within her own desires when her eyes met Kurama's exposed chest. As if pulled by invisible hands, her eyes traveled downwards over his firm pectorals, down his defined abdomen until they found the thin trail of red and silver that trailed happily from his navel before vanishing into still-unbuttoned jeans. She didn't realize it, but Maya licked her lips before forcing her eyes back up to Kurama's face. It was a struggle for her; since all she really wanted to do that morning was yank his pants down and enjoy the sight they hid from her.
"You needed something?" Kurama had not intended for his tone to be snippy, but after the night Maya created for him and the morning plans she had shot down, Maya was on thin ice as it was. He gave up on his hair completely, removing his hands from the towel and bracing them against his hips. Instantly her eyes dropped back to Kurama's abdomen and the trail that vanished into his pants. And people say men are bad… "Maya, did you have something you wanted to speak to me about?"
"Oh!" Maya gasped, ashamed that she had allowed herself to gawk so openly. "I…I wanted to apologize for my actions last night. I should not have done that and I'm sorry for the trouble I caused between you and Botan."
Liar, Kurama thought. He could tell by Maya's almost smug tone that she was happy for the tension she had caused. What happened to that sweet and innocent girl from a few years ago? Surely she must still be in there somewhere. Kurama could not understand human females for the life of him. With demons, the females were blunt and to the point as far as interest in potential mates went. If they wanted you, you knew it. If there was competition, the two would fight, usually to the death, and be done with it. But with human women, it wasn't so easy.
Half the girls, and some boys and men as well, that wanted him wanted his body, his mind, and the high likelihood of financial stability that Kurama was bound to acquire. They would do anything in their power to appeal to him, be it through their appearance, their intellect, or the riches they possessed. The cattiness that ensued was usually a result born from the fact that one or more of the competition was prettier, smarter, or richer by comparison. Thus the various sabotages and plots were created to make themselves look more appealing to him were made. Maya fell into this group, and even though she was once one of the tamer and sweeter of Kurama's pursuers, her poison tipped claws were coming out.
The other half of Kurama's admirers only wanted him because he would make the perfect trophy. Very few people would give up the chance to lay claim to someone so many want, and that almost made this group worse. They lied, cheated, and scammed more than the first group, usually, and they tended to be far nastier when they gloated.
Was there a time when Kurama enjoyed the attentions of his classmates, when he enjoyed pitting them against each other to see what chaos would be created? Part of him wanted to say no, but there was a time when he thought it was funny. What was I thinking? I've only got one to deal with and even that's too much for me to handle. I should swear of human females all together… But then there was Botan. She was currently human, if only in form. What group did she fall under?
Kurama glanced over his shoulder to check on the still slumbering Botan. Occasionally she would shiver, and she looked only slightly pale in comparison to her usual glow. It was possible that she was coming down with a cold. But she smells healthy… Kurama was unsatisfied with his distant diagnosis, so he walked back to the bed he shared with Botan the previous night and knelt by her side. He placed a cooling hand on her cheek and was content to feel that she wasn't developing a temperature. But even so, Kurama couldn't help but think that she was getting sick.
"Botan," Kurama called gently, shaking her shoulder in hopes to rouse her from her deep slumber. Botan only hummed in response before snuggling deeper into the covers. Worry filled him as Yuri's voice echoed within Kurama's mind: "…most shikigami are vampiric by nature." There was only one way to find out. Using his abnormally long incisors, Kurama broke the skin of his wrist and held it to Botan's mouth. The reaction was almost instantaneous.
Though she did not wake, Botan's tongue darted out to lap at the pooling blood. With each swipe of her tongue, bolts of electricity were sent jolting through his system and Kurama felt deep vibrations reverberating within his chest. The sounds were echoed by Botan's purrs of delight, her hands pulling Kurama's wrist closer so she could suckle at the wound. Every now and again Kurama would feel her teeth scrape against his flesh, too blunt to break the skin in her unconscious state.
Kurama could barely control himself. With every husky moan and mewl she made, Kurama wanted to kiss her. With every suck and nip, Kurama wanted to touch her. Kurama rested his forehead against Botan's shoulder for several moments longer before removing his wrist from Botan's mouth. He could feel the loss of energy from his system, however slight, and he knew that it was only a matter of time when Botan would need more. But Kurama knew that then she'd be awake when that time came. How would he handle it then?
"I'm going to…finish my shower," Kurama announced, coming to the conclusion that it's probably for the best that Botan remained sleeping. Cold shower, here I come… Kurama grumbled mentally, trying to push away his growing lust in favor of adding that morning's information to Botan's growing file.
Maya watched him go, for once not consumed with jealousy. That harlot was a vampire, and her Shuichii was leaving her alone with it. Suddenly Maya didn't feel all that safe anymore, especially with the knowledge that Botan would turn on them. "Shuichii-kun," Maya whispered, but the sound of the shower was her only response. "Are you sure it's safe," she asked a bit louder, pressing herself against the door.
"What's safe," Kurama questioned over the sound of rushing water. Was it her, or did his voice sound deeper than usual?
"You know…Botan," Maya really didn't like the idea of being heard by the slumbering monster, so she kept sending fretful glances at her.
"I'm more of a threat to you than she'll ever be," Kurama vowed through the door, but whether or not Maya caught the light threat sent her way was yet to be seen. Kurama listened in on Maya's mutterings for a moment longer, but since none of her words were sent in his direction he paid her no more mind. Kurama sneezed before he decided that dowsing himself in icy water was no longer a necessity.
Kurama was quick to dry and dress himself after turning off the water and exiting the tub. Once again he was subject to Maya's hungry stares, but there was nothing Kurama could do to better his situation. Now if only my hair would dry… Kurama bypassed Maya in favor of sitting on the edge of Botan's bed, where he worked the towel through his mane almost violently. If it weren't useful I would have gone bald ages ago…Kurama grumbled, feeling the bed's other occupant stir into awareness.
Botan ran as fast as she could, her bare feet beating against the nonexistent ground. Faster and faster she went, but her objective just kept getting farther and farther away. His long red hair billowed in an unfelt wind and his silver ears twitched atop his head as if to listen to his surroundings. Slowly, he began to turn from her with his five tails swishing behind him, failing to acknowledge Botan's cries. He was walking away from her and no matter how loud she screamed his name, he could not, or would not hear her.
"Kurama!" Botan tripped, twisting her ankle and dropping onto the ground in a naked heap of limbs. "Please, don't leave me," she pleaded. But he did not hear her.
The faces of all the people she loved, all her friends, faded into existence with smiles on their faces and surrounded by a warm brightness; a brightness Botan craved with all her being. But none of them saw her. They welcomed Kurama with open arms and Botan watched as they laughed and joked around jovially, oblivious to Botan and her pain.
"Guys," Botan called, struggling to climb to her feet in hopes of basking in their loving glow. Again she ran, chasing after the fading image. "Guys, don't leave me all alone!"
Maya separated herself from the group, clear as day. She wrapped her arms around Kurama, and he around her. Their love shone inside their eyes with an unspeakable radiance. Slowly their lips came together in a sweet kiss, one that sang their affections and passions while maintaining its gentleness. When they parted they were all smiles, lost within their own little worlds. Only then did Kurama turn to look at Botan, his eyes devoid of emotion. There was none left for her. His heart belonged to the woman at his side and the friends at his back, but not to Botan.
Botan had no claim to Kurama, and deep down she knew she never would.
Botan stopped running then and sank to the floor in defeat. What place did she have in his world anyway? Her time in Ningenkai was limited and destined to come to an end. Soon her presence among them would no longer be needed, then it will be back to surrounding herself with the souls of the dead. Her place was in Reikai, after all. She was a shikigami. That was her fate. She was nothing else, and she would be nothing else.
Kill
It's not fair, Botan whimpered. What did I ever do to deserve this?
Kill
I don't want to be alone. I'm so tired of being alone.
Kill
Why doesn't anyone want me? What's wrong with me?
Kill
When will it be my turn to be loved?
Kill
When will it be my turn to be someone's one and only?
Kill
Botan felt anger, raw and true, fill her heart. She did nothing to deserve it; nothing but exist, that is. Her very existence deserved punishment. She was a demon after all; a demon that lead to the deaths of so many without reason.
Kill
Blood washed into her mouth, coating her tongue in a musky sweetness.
Kill
She was drenched in it, painted red with the delectable substance.
Kill
Botan wanted more. She needed more. The life energy flooded her system, siphoned from the blood and invigorating her. It made her stronger, and she could feel the influx of energy coursing through her body. She purred and moaned, licking the blood from her arms and hands hungrily. She loved it. She desired it. The blood; the life energy; everything; she had to have more of it. There was the only love she required.
Kill
She didn't need them. It was only a matter of time before they abandoned her, taking their love and friendship with them. But she didn't need them at all. She had the blood. The blood gave her everything she needed; everything she wanted. It made her stronger. It took away all the hurt. It fulfilled her. It lavished her with warmth. The blood was all she'd ever need.
KILL
Botan bolted upwards, suddenly awake with fear pumping through her veins. Her "nightmare" continued to play within her mind and all Botan wanted was to curl up and cry because of the truth her dream presented. Then there was the blood. There was so much blood. It was everywhere. It made her feel safe and warm even as the people she loved abandoned her. But the blood didn't abandon her. Deep down, Botan knew that the blood never would, and she was repulsed by it. I'm sick… Botan gulped, realizing that she wanted the warm blood's embrace.
"Good morning, did you sleep well," Kurama inquired in hopes of sparking up a conversation with her.
Red filled her mind, warming her and revitalizing her. It had been a long time since she felt so good. I'm disgusting… "Better than the past few days in fact," Botan admitted before she climbed out of bed. Since Maya had current dominion over the shower, Botan contented herself with grabbing the television's remote and surfing the channels. She crawled onto Maya's chosen bed, as far away from Kurama as she could and her eyes were focused resolutely on the screen. She did not trust herself to be so close to him in her current state. This made her so angry with herself -and him.
Something about her tone seemed cold and distant, and Kurama couldn't help but feel as if Botan was still angry with him over what had happened last night. He thought Botan had forgiven him, but it seemed that the wound still ran deep for her. "Botan, is something the matter?"
"No," she answered simply. Coldly. She knew Kurama was innocent in the entire situation from the previous night, she also knew that the dream, however true, was just that; a dream. But Botan didn't want to deal with him right then. Call her petty, but she really didn't want to forgive him for anything. She wanted to blame him for everything that was happening to her. She wanted him to be guilty, at least then she'd have a reason to feel betrayed; at least then the way she was feeling would make sense. If only he cared about her and considered her his friend, then she wouldn't find herself wanting to turn to something as vile as vampirism. Why is it that the thought of him leaving me hurts so much? Why does he make me feel this way?
It had been twelve hours. Twelve miserable, god forsaken hours since Botan had last spoken to him and Kurama was starting to get annoyed. Kurama had spent most of the morning and afternoon trying his hardest just to get her to stand near him, but the most he got from her in all that time was a five worded sentence that wasn't really directed at him to begin with: "When will the train arrive?" All other times, speech was diverted and the closest she'd get to him was an arm's distance. When they boarded the train it was worse, she almost tried to sit elsewhere simply to be as far away from him as she could and the only reason she was sitting across from Maya now was because he had trapped her. Even still, she wouldn't face him.
Kurama struggled to focus on the task at hand; locating the last piece of Hiei's soul, but all he wanted to do was touch and talk with Botan; anything to let him know that she wasn't mad at him. It was a struggle, but Kurama forced himself to return his attentions to Hiei.
"The next part of my soul is somewhere in this 'downtown Tokyo' it seems," Hiei deduced, his spirit floating over Kurama's head and peeking down at the map in said redhead's hands. One of his soul fragments, the one that was previously unsteady, was now centered above the map.
"If my memory serves, there's a new club opening up in that location," Kurama recalled from a past conversation he had with Shizuru. "Can you tell where you are right now?"
"I think it's a club," Hiei shrugged, closing his eyes in hopes of visualizing his soul fragment's location. "I can't really tell since the buffoon's soul is shining too brightly for me to see."
"Kuwabara's there as well," Kurama gasped incredulously.
"At least half of him," Hiei replied. "He tells me his soul only split in two."
"He can materialize as well?"
"Not as well as Yusuke or myself, but we can hear him just fine." Kurama didn't know if Hiei was impressed by this, or annoyed. One could never tell with Hiei.
"If that's the case, then why haven't we heard from Yusuke?"
"He's barely managing to keep his energy from being stolen; conversation with his projection isn't the best of ideas right now since he needs to focus," Hiei snorted with contempt. What he wouldn't give to have his body back and give his captors a taste of his mind.
"I see…" Kurama turned to face Botan in hopes of gaining her attention, but she was to busy to spare him a glance. Her eyes were solely for her magazine, and there was no place for him in her gaze. What did I do to make her so angry, Kurama moped. What I wouldn't give to have her talk to me right now, we could really use her help right now. Kurama added as an afterthought. But in reality, all he really wanted was to hear her voice. What was he going to have to do to get her attention?
"And here I thought you had limitless patience and she was incapable of closing her mouth," Hiei teased telepathically, finding the entire situation hysterical. In retaliation for the greatly unwanted comment, Kurama took the Hiei's soul fragments and dumped them into Maya's duffle bag. "You think a change in location will silence me," Hiei sneered, misting through the bag and claiming it as his perch.
"No, but I thought being in such close to her undergarments might still your tongue." As expected, Hiei was silent, mortified by the fact that part of his soul would forever be sullied by…panties. Since he couldn't do much about it, Hiei cursed Kurama and vanished with the intent of visiting Mukuro, who had another of his fragments. At first he didn't know why Kurama and Botan left that piece with her, but now he was grateful for the forethought.
"Stop picking on Hiei," Botan ordered, peeking over her fashion magazine in favor of leveling Kurama with a frosty leer. This shot Kurama's mood farther down into the depths of his growing sorrows. She couldn't have possibly known what they were conversing about. She couldn't have possibly known that they were conversing at all.
"Why are you so mad at me?" Kurama was at his whit's end. It would be alright to get the silent treatment if he actually did something wrong, but he was innocent damn it!
"I'm not mad," Botan lied, turning the page roughly and almost ripping it clean from the glossy booklet.
"Are you PMS-ing? I can give you a Midol if you want," Maya offered from her seat next to Kurama, entering the conversation uninvited. There was some genuine concern in her eyes, buried beneath the smugness at her small victory from the previous night. She didn't even wait for Botan to answer before she was rummaging through her purse. In seconds, Maya was dumping two pills into her hand and reaching across of Kurama in order to hand them off to Botan.
"Thanks," Botan murmured before tossing it back and taking a swig of her bottled water.
"Any time," Maya yawned while leaning against Kurama tiredly. "Wake me up when we get there please." As soon as she said it her eyes were closed and she was off into dream land.
"She must be more tired than she let on," Botan stated, eyeing Maya curiously. She fell asleep almost unnaturally fast. Mad at Kurama or not, the speed at which she left consciousness was cause for concern and Botan turned to Kurama to alert him to a probable attack. He was readjusting her and placing her against the window with a strange look in his eye and an angry twitch at the corner of his mouth. "Did you…?"
"Yeah," Kurama admitted with no shame. "I slipped her a slow acting sedative during lunch." With one last scornful look at Maya, Kurama grabbed the duffle bag and traded places with it. The sooner he and Botan got over whatever it was they were suffering, the sooner Kurama can breath easy and have everything go back to normal.
"Why would you do that," Botan questioned, scooting as far away from Kurama as possible until her back was flush against the window.
"We need to talk and get rid of whatever it is that's between us," Kurama explained, grabbing Botan's hands and forcing her to face him.
"There is nothing between us," Botan snapped, and in those few words she told him everything that was hurting her. She meant nothing to him, and it was only a matter of time before he found someone else. No matter what she wished, this temporary partnership was over the moment one of the others was brought back. No matter how much she wanted it, the relationship between her and Kurama was barely a friendship. No matter how much she desired it, she would never mean more to Kurama than Maya.
"Of course there is," Kurama countered with a gentle voice. "We're in this together, and I can't stand knowing that you're mad at me. Let me know what it is that I did wrong so I can fix it."
"You did nothing wrong," Botan sighed. "You never do anything wrong. I'm just so angry, and frustrated, and…scared. I'm not like the others. I'm not much help in a fight. I'm not smart, or witty. I'm not…"
"You're not what?"
"Tell me honestly," Botan said instead, finally looking into Kurama's eyes for the first time in twelve hours. "What use am I? What's to stop you from replacing me the first chance you get? Hiei's almost completely restored, and I'm not him. I don't have the friendship you two have, nor am I as strong as he is."
"You're right," Kurama began. "You're not like the others, but that's why we've been able to succeed. If it weren't for you, we'd all be lost. The reason they were defeated so easily is the reason you are my ideal partner right now."
"What do you mean?"
"Yusuke and Hiei lost their souls because they were cocky and didn't think, as always, and all the power in the world couldn't save them. They believed themselves to be invincible with their increasing strength, so the thought of an ambush never crossed their minds. Kuwabara lost because he didn't have the good sense to run from a fight he could never win. Were it not for you, I would have lost as well. I would have let Jinan hit me so I could come up with a strategy to defeat him. My vanity in my own abilities would have been the end of me." Kurama paused to lift the arm of the seat that served as a barrier between them.
Botan watched Kurama curiously, only to have him tenderly pull her into his arms. For what felt like the first time in a long time, Botan surrendered herself to his hold and leaned into his chest. He shuffled around her a bit, maneuvering one of his legs until it was braced against the back of the seat behind Botan and she was between them. The tension left Kurama's shoulders in a rush and Botan hummed her contentment. Everything was right in the world again, now that the two were back in each other's arms.
"You may not be able to fight," Kurama continued, resting his chin atop Botan's head, "but you have a fighter's instinct and pack quite a punch."
"But you won't train me," Botan moped.
"Not because of a lack of ability on your part. I just…fighting leads to pain and death. The thought of taking part in putting you in danger…it doesn't sit well with me. I will teach you, but only because I know I can't protect you from everything."
"Thank you," Botan smiled, warming Kurama's heart and calming the tumult in his soul.
"You may thank me now, but I'm not going to go easy on you. I've had full grown demons break down in tears under my instruction and I still forced them to continue."
"If you're trying to scare me it won't work. I wouldn't have it any other way either," Botan chuckled nervously.
"Liar," Kurama murmured contently.
The two were content to watch the scenery on the other side of the window speed by in a blur, neither needing to speak now that they were friends again. Botan nuzzled Kurama's neck and scooted farther up along his body in search of warmth, warmth that Kurama was more than happy to give. Wrapping his arms securely around Botan's waist, Kurama held her tight.
A burst of white flames startled Kurama into alertness, jerking Botan into awareness as he sat up quickly. "Sorry to interrupt your love fest," Hiya apologized once he completely materialized in front of them. "But the train is speeding up." Hiya pointed out the window, alerting the two to the blurs of imagery that painted themselves into the viewers' retinas.
"Oh no," Botan gasped, sensing a flame of life extinguish in the distance.
"What's going on?"
"I think the train's driver is dead," Botan explained as she struggled to get into the train's aisle in hopes of investigating. The vibrations in the train increased, jostling the passengers about and pitching Botan to the side. Fortunately, Kurama caught Botan before she could land on the awakening family next to them.
"Wake Maya up and get all the passengers to the last car," Kurama told her once she was steady. "Uncouple it once everyone's clear and wait for me to come back." Kurama waited for Botan to nod in understanding before he started making his way towards the front of the train.
Botan watched him leave before turning and shaking Maya roughly. As she did this, she scanned her surroundings and counted all the startled and scared faces. Botan was fortunate in that they were only the second carriage down from the train's locomotive and there were only a few passengers due to the late timing. "I need everyone to head towards the back of the train," Botan shouted with authority thick in her voice. Those that heard her, though curious and increasingly fearful, were too tired to argue and obeyed.
"Wha..? What's going on," Maya stammered, finally stirring from her slumber.
"There's been a problem. We need to get to the back of the train," Botan informed, pulling the girl up as she did so. Grabbing the few carry-on bags they had, Botan steered Maya into the aisle and got her moving with the rest of the crowd. "Everyone, go as far back as you can," she repeated before heading towards the first car to make sure no one was left behind. Seeing that the car was empty, Botan followed the heard of people into the next car.
Kurama struggled to the front of the train, shifting his equilibrium to prevent himself from being rocked off balance. When he reached the entrance to the locomotive, Kurama scanned the interior through the thin window present.
Blood was splattered onto the windshield and the interior's consol and slouched forward was the headless corpse of the driver. His head, or what was left of it, had rolled a little ways away from the body's neck. It was held in place by one of the many levers, ironically pressing an emergency button that was obviously useless in the dire situation present. Standing behind the body was a young man, barely older than the human guise Kurama wore.
His short and tussled hair shined an interesting shade of lavender under the fluorescent lighting. With his arms folded in his white haori, the man stood with his back turned to the door. From his stance, it was evident that he was bored with what was going on around him, even with the dead man barely a foot from his side. Beyond his nonchalance, the only thing linking him to the death of the train's driver was the bloodied scythe that leaned against his shoulder.
Kurama could smell the reek of death on the being, even through the sealed metal door. He was another shikigami, that much was certain, but whether or not he was affiliated with a god or if he was an average run of the mill soul collector was another issue entirely.* Regardless of what he was, Kurama knew that the creature wasn't there to help.
Yanking the door open, Kurama was quick to lash out his whip.
The shikigami turned in time, eyes a malicious black and razor sharp teeth gleaming through his grin. "I was wondering when you'd show up."
The final car was packed with little room to move, but there wasn't a soul left behind so Botan counted her blessings. But even as she did so, hysteria was building within the packed car and it was only a matter of time before panic took hold and started a riot. "I need everyone to calm down and brace yourselves," Botan shouted over the din, securing herself against one of the seats as the train began to rock violently due to the increasing velocity.
"What's going on?"
"Who are you?"
"Someone help!"
Voices sounded all at once in a blur of noise, making it impossible for Botan to focus on the task at hand. She needed to find a way to separate the car she and all the passengers were in before it was to late. I need to focus, Botan told herself in. Kurama left her with this job and she wasn't going to let him down. Stepping out onto the gangway, Botan looked around in hopes of finding a means of separating the car behind her from the one in front. Problem was she didn't know a thing about trains.
"Botan, what are you doing? Where's Shuichii-kun?" Maya stopped short of the door since she didn't want to get in the way for whatever it was that Botan was planning.
"He's busy right now," Botan answered distractedly before sending a quick glance behind her. "Stay here," Botan commanded before sealing the door shut behind her. I really hope this works… Botan summoned her imp companions and without being told they formed Botan's scythe. Please let this work! With one final prayer to whoever was listening, Botan swung the blade of her scythe in a wide arc with the use of her inhuman strength, slicing through the metal corridor with little difficulty due to the adrenaline rushing through her veins.
Botan barely had time to react, swinging her blade and hooking it through the top of the final car as it skidded and swerved once freed from its leaders. Ignoring the screams of terror from its confines, Botan hoisted herself onto the top of the carriage and struggled to maintain her balance. Once steady…ish, Botan's scythe burst into light and broke into three pieces. Each part took the shape of one of Botan's familiars before they latched onto her, hanging on for dear life.
"I don't mean to criticize you, but what now," Hiya shouted over the howl of the rushing wind and the screeching of the metal scraping against metal.
"Shut up, Hi-chan! Botan-sama's got this under control…right?" the littlest one asked, looking to Botan with her big bright hazel eyes.
"Um, yeah," Botan agreed nervously. "I'll figure this out, Kaen… Yeah… I'll…figure this out." Botan's eyes darted around as she dropped to her knees to prevent herself from being thrown off the train's car when it tipped violently to the side. With her fingers clinging to the edge, Botan willed the train to stay upright.
"Now would be nice," the blue haired Unmei wailed from his place at her neck and shoulder.
"A net," Botan exclaimed suddenly. "Form my soul catcher!*"
"Will that even work," Unmei asked.
"Does it matter?" Hiya didn't give Unmei the chance to answer, pulling him from Botan before the two grabbed little Kaen. They beat their wings as hard and as fast as they could before they touched hands with each other and Botan. The three imps spread apart, a triangular net of energy stretching between them. A chain of energy stretched from each towards Botan, merging into one. Botan held the joint end in a vice-like grip before summoning her oar and dismounting the skidding death trap.
The train car pressed against the net, tearing at some of the chords of energy. Even so, the imps held fast, struggling to stay in flight as they tried to slow it down. Botan pulled at the energy chain in her hand, picking up the slack of her imps and turning the end into an anchor of sorts. Catching the hooks onto the track itself, Botan released it in favor of rushing to the aid of her spirit aids. Botan grabbed at Kaen's corner; since she was struggling the most, and helped her companions pull. With the help of the anchor, the car slowed and stilled. The momentum lifted the back end of the car and screams could be heard from inside, but then it dropped back down and all was still.
"We have to go help Kurama," Botan panted, collecting her imps and seating them on her oar before chasing after the runaway train.
"What, no break," Hiya complained.
"No break."
Kurama lashed his whip out in hopes of catching the shikigami's oar and grounding him onto the train, or in front of it if at all possible. But the fallen shikigami avoided Kurama's attack expertly. Familiar orbs of white encircled his hands and Kurama was quick to allow the force of the wind to carry him backwards in order to avoid getting hit. Once he landed, Kurama leaned forward instantly so he could catch the edge of one of the cars.
"Aren't you a wily fox," he sneered, barrel rolling over the train and charging in Kurama's direction. At the last possible moment, he dropped most of his body from his oar all the while maintaining a firm hold on it. With the aid of his increasing momentum, the shikigami brought his knees up against Kurama's chest and sending him hurtling into the air.
"Kurama!" Reacting on instinct and trust, Kurama reached an arm out and within seconds his hand met with Botan's. To avoid dislocating his shoulder, Botan rolled around her oar and swung Kurama around it in an incomplete circle. Botan had completely flipped around the wooden pole and once Kurama was directly overhead she pulled him down, his body adjusting midair so that he would land with his feet braced against the paddle.
"Good catch," Kurama complimented, noting with some concern the growing distance between him and the speeding train. Had Botan not been there, the fall just might have killed him if he landed wrong. "Are the passengers okay?"
"They're safe. Maya's with them," Botan informed him before chasing after the speeding bullet train.
"Good," Kurama breathed a sigh of relief then, glad that no one had suffered for his presence among them. "What can you tell me about this guy?"
"His name is Ran. I can't say that I'm surprised to see him," Botan elucidated, sending the shikigami a particularly nasty look. "It is no secret in Reikai that he absolutely despises humans. He doesn't much care for demons either. He thinks they're all filthy and vile creatures and that he is their superior in all things."
"And yet he's working for a demon it seems…" Kurama concluded, trying to keep his arms secured to the shaft of Botan's oar without knocking her imps free.
"That doesn't sound like him at all," Botan frowned. "Is it possible that the leader isn't a human or a demon? We know he already has kitsune working for him, even if they have fallen into demonium." Kurama did not like how probable Botan's statement was. It opened up limitless possibilities to who their enemy could be.
"We need to finish this soon," Kurama grunted. "Try to pull up in front of the train."
"What do you plan to do," Botan inquired almost fearfully.
"We're knocking it off its track before it hits the next town. Then we're going to break both of Ran's legs and see if he talks," Kurama hissed with his eyes glowing gold.
Botan didn't say anything to this, knowing that Kurama was always serious with his threats. She made a sharp turn and sped towards the other end of the bend in the track. From there, Kurama was quick to drop his seeds onto the ground, pumping his youki into the soil even from so high up in the air. The locomotive passed before the plants were large enough and powerful enough to even phase it, but the other cars weren't so fortunate.
Two terrifying trents burst from the ground on either side of the track, reaching their wooden arms out and catching train along its middle. They yanked and pulled at it, as if engaging in some sick game of tug-of-war for giants. Like a child's toy subject to a rough toddler's antics, the train was broken in two.
"Well if isn't Koenma's favorite pet, Botan," Ran cooed from behind. "I see some of the rumors were true."*
"There you are," Kurama leaped from Botan's oar in hopes of tackling the shikigami to the ground. As expected, Ran dodged, only to have Kurama's rose whip wrap around his torso and arms. Kurama allowed for gravity to do the rest, bringing his weight down and forcing his whip's hold to tighten.
Sensing his impending doom, Ran dropped from the air and allowed himself to be pulled down onto the filthy ground. Whereas Kurama landed on his feet, Ran's back served as his fall's cushion, winding him completely. The sharp thorns of Kurama's whip pierced through his skin and coated themselves in his blood. But Ran would not accept the fate Kurama had intended for him. Ran destroyed his physical body in a burst of bright light, forcefully ejecting his soul into the atmosphere before fleeing into the sun.
"He'll be back," Botan murmured, lowering herself to the ground to check on Kurama. "He has no need of a physical body to survive."
"What will he do now?"
"He's a shikigami; a soul collector. He'll most likely feed on the ghosts of the recently deceased until he has the strength to possess another body and eventually come after us again." Botan pressed her hands onto Kurama's back and searched his body with her reiki for any possible injury. None were life threatening, but his chest was already developing a nasty bruise.
"Is there any way to kill him?" Kurama felt uncomfortable asking such a question because, in a way, he was asking how to kill Botan as well.
"He's already dead…kind of," Botan sighed, searching through her memory in hopes of finding a useful answer. "You're best bet would be to bind him to a body. When he and the body are merged completely his life energy will be completely contained within it. He'll be stronger though, since his powers will then have full access to this plane of existence. But at the same time, when you kill him, he'll be a ghost, not a shikigami… I think."
"That will take too long," Kurama deduced, reaching behind him so he could grab Botan's wrists. He then guided them around his chest in an embrace, pressing her palms over his heart. Kurama was pleased when her fingers laced with his of their own accord.
"Sorry, but unless you can destroy his soul he'll keep coming back." Botan rested her cheek against Kurama's shoulder blade, taking deep breaths of Kurama's arousing, yet soothing scent.
"It's alright. Who knows, maybe I'll come across a plant or demon that eats souls," If shikigami souls can even be devoured…
"That's one way to bind him to a body," Botan hummed.
"I see… Botan," Kurama said, turning slightly to peek over his shoulder and catch a glimpse of Botan's sky blue locks.
"Yes?"
"Let's go home."
*1 – Kurama is old enough to know that masturbation is completely natural and that the act of doing so is nothing to be ashamed of. But even though he's a bit of an exhibitionist (at least in my fic), he doesn't like it when people watch or join him without his permission.
*2 – Not all demons have "mating seasons" per say. But those that share their ancestry with animals, the mammals in particular, have them. For Kurama, as a kitsune turned Youko, his "mating season" occurs in autumn, like with all foxes. But for demons, since they are so long lived, they have their mating times once every several years. For Kurama, at least for the sake of my fic, his mating time, from his hundredth birthday on, has been roughly once every century.
*3 – Shikigami are soul collectors and, unlike Botan and Ayame, not all of them are good and most don't serve gods. Shikigami can be like the ones that Kikyo (Inuyasha) uses: the snake like thingies that collect souls for her to live off of. They can be like the little helper demons Sakura (Blue Seed) summons to her aid. They can also be soul eaters, depending on how wicked they are. Shikigami are very versatile creatures.
*4 – Botan's soul catcher is just as it sounds. It's a net to catch demon and other non-human souls that run away from her on her rounds. Unlike the ridiculously fragile human souls that can't be removed from their haunting grounds before the find closure, non human souls can be pulled from anywhere without fear of damage. This is because nonhuman souls are a lot stronger and have a higher risk value and they have a higher chance of becoming poltergeists and other malicious spirits. Thus the soul catcher is every shikigami's number one tool.
*5 – More on the rumors circling Botan as the fic progresses
Author's Note: I don't know about all the other girls/women reading my fic, but during my period I get really emotional and the bitch in me comes out at the drop of a hat sometimes. Anywho, please send me your fanart and dress ideas since updating will be really difficult without them. I hope you liked this chapter and I should have the next one up by sunday at the latest. Don't forget to review! Ciao!