Disclaimer: I don't own YYH or the characters

So, I'm a little late. Work and life stuff, the two biggest things that interfere with writing. Anyway, hope you all enjoy the chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it!

Day 3: Laughter | Innocence | Ice Cream

Botan was an emotional wreck after her universe was turned upside-down. Hiei's presence and acceptance of the situation kept her steady. She told him almost everything she could think of about the game, including the fact that she believed Atsuko Rei was really Atsuko Urameshi. Hiei did not dismiss these theories, just listened patiently, accepting as much or as little as Botan wanted to confide in him.

After she laid her cards on the table, Botan showed Hiei was she found so far on Atsuko Urameshi. "Everything I found was words. I couldn't find any pictures."

Hiei frowned. That was indeed strange. He knew for a fact that Raizen posed for pictures with Atsuko on several occasions. Someone went to a lot of effort to have the images sponged off the sites.

"Do you have any photos of her?" Hiei asked. "If you do, I will be able to confirm if this is all true."

Botan wilted and explained, "I have very few images on my phone. They were originally digital photos I took secretly."

Hiei's expression darkened. "Secretly?"

The woman nodded. "My father never liked it when I tried to take pictures of my mother, but I needed the camera for school projects, so he had to give in and buy me one. I put them on my computer and transferred them to my smartphone when I got it."

"Can I see the picture?" Botan nodded and pulled up the image on her phone. She showed the picture to Hiei. Her boyfriend closed his eyes and took a deep breath, and when he opened his eyes, he seemed like he was in pain. "It's her. That is Yusuke's mother."

Once again, Botan felt like the floor fell out from underneath her.

A few days later, Hiei arranged for Yusuke to meet up with him and Botan at the diner. His girlfriend had been very despondent since they arrived, practically traumatized from this whole ordeal. He knew that her logical side needed some time to accept all of this. She was resilient, so he knew she'd brush this off soon.

Hiei admired Botan for her bravery. When he confirmed her connection to Yusuke and Raizen, it had been a shock to her system, but she didn't fall apart. She continued on with her classes like nothing happened, but in the privacy of her apartment, he knew she was feeling all of this.

She wasn't particularly dressed up, but Hiei still found her beautiful. He kept this thought to himself, knowing it wouldn't help Botan through this process. She wore these long shorts and a comfortable shirt that exposed quite a bit of skin. He loved her style—confident and daring, but also comfortable and sweet—all qualities she embodied. It suited her.

When Yusuke arrived, he had this shit-eating grin on his face. He casually sat down across from the couple, the grin never leaving his face.

"Well, well," Yusuke greeted. "If it isn't Mr. Broody with Miss Botan Ray of Sunshine. It's great to finally meet you. My quiet friend here has told me next to nothing about you. Want to fill in the blanks?"

Yusuke was surprised when Botan remained just as silent as Hiei. He was certain from Hiei's past description that she was a bit more outgoing than his friend. "Is…everything okay? Did I walk in on some weird couple's spat?"

"You're Yusuke Urameshi, right?" Botan blurted out, despite knowing already.

Yusuke seemed very wary when she asked. "Depends on who wants to know."

Hiei's eyes met Botan's. He was about to tell Yusuke that Botan was the reason he wanted to meet up with him in the first place. At first, he broached the subject of Yusuke meeting Botan as his girlfriend, like he indicated in the past that he wanted. Hiei wanted to ease his comrade into all of this, but Botan couldn't contain herself.

Botan had shaky hands as she took out her phone and proffered it to Yusuke. The raven-haired youth eyed her strangely, especially when she showed him a picture of his mother with her and Koenma on her home screen. The blue-hared woman could see all the emotions play out on Yusuke's face before he glared at her. "What is this?"

"I…" Botan didn't know what to say. Firstly, she didn't expect anger or fury from Yusuke of all people. In the game, every one of the characters knew who she was and accepted her. Here, Yusuke's teasing demeanor change so abruptly. Maybe this was another way the game differed from her actual life. "I… I just thought you should know… She never meant to leave you."

After Botan said these words, she stood up and looked at Hiei with sad and conflicted eyes. Her shoulders shook from the tension of forcing herself not to cry. "I'm sorry; I can't. I'll call you later." She turned to Yusuke who now looked more confused rather than angry. "I am so sorry…"

Botan went to leave the restaurant and ignored Hiei's voice when he called after her. She began to walk back to her place and continued down the street alone. She couldn't erase the image of Yusuke's hurt expression. She couldn't blame him. His mother was literally kidnapped, and now his little sister just careened into and upturned his life.

The Yusuke in the game was friendly, kind, playful, and a bit of a troublemaker. Botan knew he'd be kind to her, but this was all too much. She could hardly believe this was her life.

"Botan, get down!"

Hiei's anxious shout made Botan freeze. She turned back, but the next thing she knew, she was tackled to the ground. The sound of a gunshot rang out. She looked up worriedly and saw Yusuke smiling awkwardly down at her.

"Stay down, sis," he whispered.

Botan heard more gunshots and squeezed her eyes shut. Next thing she knew, Hiei approached them, his boots tapping on the pavement. "It's clear. Let's get out of here."

It jolted Botan to her core, Hiei and Yusuke discussing the attack like it was normal. Sure, this kind of stuff happened in the game, but to experience it in real life… This wasn't a game; someone tried to kill her.

Botan was quiet the entire way back to her apartment. Her body was in complete shock, shaking. Yusuke tried to talk to her, but she could only hear a ringing in her ears. When Hiei pulled over in front of her building, Botan eyed both men distrustfully.

"What just happened…?"

Hiei and Yusuke hesitated to answer her and exchanged wary, knowing glances. Botan felt something familiar about the exchange, all the times the demons in the game exchanged secretive looks to keep her in the dark.

"What aren't you telling me?"

"Botan…" Yusuke breathed out. "I'm…not trying to keep things from you. Just, I think we should go to Dad's and talk about everything together."

Botan hesitated, her body still experiencing the shock. "I-I'm not going anywhere until someone tells me what's going on."

Her gaze fell on Hiei. He was always someone she could trust to be honest with her. He seemed uncharacteristically nervous, and Botan could tell he was conflicted. When he looked at Yusuke again, Botan knew she wouldn't get answers from her boyfriend. She felt betrayed.

"I need a minute alone."

Yusuke became alarmed. "Botan, you were just attacked. You can't—"

"I'll be fine," Botan cut him off. "We're already here and I… I don't know what to say to either of you right now."

Her eyes revealed and conveyed her hurt to Hiei, and he surrendered with a nod. "I'll come by tomorrow," he told her.

Botan didn't respond as she got out of the car. She didn't know what to say in her shock. She just wanted to get inside where it was safe.

Even though Botan suspected something like this might happen, experiencing it was something completely different. There was no way she could stay alone, and part of her thought maybe she was a bit hasty in sending Hiei and Yusuke away. Unfortunately, she couldn't look past the betrayal, the secrecy which in the game caused the princess to run off on her own and get captured.

Botan refused to let that happen.

She decided she would be safer away from her place. Still worried about being attacked and alone, she decided to call Hinageshi and asked to crash with her for a few days. Hopefully by then, someone would want to give her an answer. She just hoped it would be Hiei and that he wouldn't keep her in the dark a second time.

The next day, Hiei kept true to his promise and arrived at Botan's apartment. He reflected on the events the previous night and was completely exhausted, running over it all in his head. He tossed and turned most of the night, unable to get the look of Botan's betrayed expression out of his mind. He truly wanted to tell her everything, but he didn't think he could get into any specifics in front of Yusuke.

Yusuke, one of his childhood rivals and, dare he say, a friend. He knew exactly what his friend was going through since Hiei was once separated from his own sister. The desire to show the best of himself while concealing the worst, afraid of the rejection that could follow, and desiring the unconditional love one could feel for a sibling. Hiei knew it all well, but he knew he could never hide who he was, and he was thankful Yukina accepted him. He was certain Botan would accept Yusuke, too, but getting into everything right when she was attacked would have overwhelmed her. Her flight response was heightened after the shooting, and her uncharacteristic reaction told Hiei more information about what happened would have only made things worse.

Once Hiei made it up the stairs, he knocked on Botan's door. There was no answer, not even a sound inside. "Botan?" he called out. There was still no answer.

He tried not to worry. After all, she could be at school or out at the grocery store. It wasn't wise to be out alone, but without giving her all the information, he couldn't complain.

Hiei took out his phone and tried to call Botan. His call was sent straight to voicemail after one ring. He sighed. It never occurred to him that Botan would still be trying to avoid him after last night.

Where are you? Hiei texted her. Again, she didn't respond. I just need to know you're safe.

Finally, some life appeared that indicated she was typing. I decided to stay with Hinageshi for now with everything going on.

Hiei was relieved that Botan wasn't so completely foolish to stay alone. He knew she was safe, but he still felt for the situation. Last night was an emotional roller coaster for both Botan and Yusuke, and they did not get a chance to really talk or bond. He would hardly classify that meeting as it went well.

Hiei didn't mind Botan's avoidance of him for the time being. He knew she'd come around once they had a proper conversation. But as for Yusuke, Hiei felt loyal to his friend. He really wished Botan would have stuck around last night. She needed to know the type of guy her brother was. He wanted to be a bridge for them. Like the one he never had.

That is why Hiei made the decision to call Yusuke.

Botan was ready to leave for school for a day of studying at the library. She needed some normalcy, and that meant throwing herself into her work to avoid her conflicting thoughts. She opened the door and was surprised to see an equally stunned Yusuke, his fist hovering in the air near where the door would have been. His eyes softened and held a glint of guilt and hesitation.

"Hey," her brother awkwardly greeted, "can we talk?"

The sad tone in his voice made Botan wilt. "I sort of have plans," she voiced apprehensively.

Yusuke could sense that Botan was already wavering when she replied to him. Undeterred, he asked, "Do those plans include ice cream?"

His voice sounded more hopeful and innocent, like the figure Botan remembered from her vision. She smiled beside herself and nodded. Regardless of the scare from the night before, this was still her brother, they just found each other, and he was asking to spend time with her. "It could."

A huge grin appeared on Yusuke's face at her answer. "I know a really great place."

Yusuke took Botan to a little gelato café several blocks away from her familiar diner. It was a hole-in-the-wall place, a mom-and-pop shop. Her brother seemed friendly with the owners.

"What can I get you two?" the friendly shop owner spoke.

"Chocolate coconut please," both Yusuke and Botan said at the same time. The siblings looked at each other and shared an awkward laugh.

"I'm buying," Yusuke declared, handing his cash to the man at the register as his wife got their scoops of gelato ready for them.

Once they had their frozen treats, Botan and Yusuke took a seat at a table in the corner. They began to eat in silence, enjoying the gelato, but still unable to bridge the gap last night created. Botan thought about it all night, how she was already aware there would be a possibility she'd be attacked. Where she didn't know why it was happening in the real world as opposed to her dream, it didn't change the fact that she found her family. She could afford to let her walls down a little bit. There was time to understand what was going on later.

"The gelato is really good," Botan attempted to start a conversation.

Yusuke perked up and smiled. "Yeah. Dad and I…we've come here a lot since I was a kid. Mom would bring me for visits with him."

"Visits?" Botan questioned, but she clamped her mouth shut. "I'm sorry, that was rude of me."

"No, it's okay," Yusuke assured her. "They're your family too. It's complicated. They were married, but Dad had a lot of enemies, so there was a short time we lived apart. Then, Mom was pregnant with you, and she and Dad were talking about moving back in together. Just…someone had different ideas."

Botan felt her heart ache. She nodded in understanding. "Yeah, that."

"What was Mom like after?" Yusuke asked, his tone a bit desperate. "Was she happy?"

Blue brows shadowed Botan's face. She wished she could say that their mother was happy, but she wasn't all the time. "I don't think she ever got over being separated from your…our… I'm almost certain she was kidnapped and never wanted to leave you guys. With my father…Enma…she was never happy." Yusuke's head dropped, and there was a devastated glint in his eyes. "But…when it was just her, me, and Koenma, she was happy. When she worked in her garden, she seemed free."

Yusuke smiled and laughed bittersweetly. "Yeah, that sounds like Mom. Her plants were her everything aside from me and Dad. I'm glad to hear she never lost that."

The two continued to share stories about their mother, and shared plenty of laughs as they talked about the times they got themselves into trouble.

"I'm sure Mom wanted to take me over her knee, but there were so many people around," Yusuke thought back on the memory of one of his birthday parties. "Besides, it was my cake. If I wanted to destroy it, well, it was my birthday."

Botan covered her mouth as she reacted with mirth. "Tell me the cake wasn't expensive." Yusuke wouldn't even meet her gaze. "Now I know why she was mad at me and Koenma when we grabbed chunks out of his birthday cake."

"Oh?" Yusuke grew interested. "Do tell. What other kind of trouble did my siblings get into?"

"Now mind you, we were really young at the time, and we didn't know how much Mom's garden meant to her," Botan began.

"Oh, this is gonna be good."

Botan chuckled when Yusuke leaned forward, a teasing air about him. "So, Mom never minded when we played in her garden, but one day, Koenma and I were playing tag. It was right when Mom's flowers were beginning to bloom. Well…we sort of wrecked on of her flower beds. I think that was the first time I ever saw Mom mad at us, but her anger didn't last long."

Yusuke nodded. "She was a tough woman, but she always had a soft spot of me."

Botan grinned. "Well, Koenma and I didn't usually get into much trouble anyway, so it was probably easier for her to forgive us for accidents."

"Not me," Yusuke grinned. "Sis, you've just met trouble. I've always been a wild child."

"I had other things to worry about," Botan clipped indignantly.

Yusuke shook his head and snicked. "Yeah, I can tell you're the studious one out of the two of us. I know I caught you on your way out to study."

Botan huffed. "Did Hiei tell you that?"

"No," Yusuke assured her. "Honestly, he told me years ago that he met someone. He didn't talk about you much, but he said you were pre-med? I know you're in med school now. I kind of put it together."

"You should be a detective," Botan teased.

Yusuke shrugged, something unreadable in his eyes. "Maybe…"

"So…" Botan shifted gears. "What's our dad like?"

Her tone held an edge of nervousness. Yusuke took a moment to think of how to work it. "He's fair, and kind. He loved Mom a lot, and he was always good to me. He really loves you too. He's always hoped we'd be able to find you both."

Botan's shoulders slumped and her head dropped. She tilted her head to meet Yusuke's worried gaze. "I'm… I'm not sure if Hiei told you when we started dating, but I told him I lost my mother."

Yusuke's eyes grew sad, but he wasn't surprised. "He told me the other night when we met up, after you left. I'm still kind of processing that. Can you tell me what happened?"

Botan hesitated, but knew he deserved to know. "She died when I was ten. Enma kept her cooped up inside, hated it if she left the house. I wasn't even allowed to take pictures of her, but we sneaked a few in. Living like that takes a toll on someone's health, both physically and mentally. She got sick, and she couldn't recover." Botan grew angry. "Enma barely spoke to her or tried to help her during that time. Koenma and I… We took care of her."

Yusuke's face fell, and it broke Botan's heart. The innocent little boy he talked about in his stories hoped to see his mother again one day. Botan almost wished she hadn't needed to tell him, but she knew it wasn't realistic. She decided to try to turn this into something positive.

"But…Mom left a legacy in us," Botan spoke softly. "She gave us each other, and a little brother for both of us. Even if she's not here, she lives on through us."

Yusuke smiled sadly and decided to move forward with the conversation. "What's our brother like?"

Botan laughed lightly. "Probably your exact total opposite." Yusuke sniffed in fake affront. "But he always looks out for me and runs interference between me and our…Enma."

Even though she'd been calling the man who raised her Enma throughout the conversation, it felt so foreign to say his name. It didn't feel that uncomfortable given the way he treated her and all she knew now.

Yusuke could see an internal struggle play out over his sister's face. He knew this was all hard on her and couldn't fault her for being confused.

"Tell me more about the trouble you got into as a kid," he playfully demanded. "I want to feel like I'm not alone in this."

Botan smiled and placed her hand on his. "You're not. We're together now. That's all that matters."

Emotion flicked across Yusuke's eyes, but he played it off. "Humor me, little sis," he cheekily added.

Botan playfully rolled her eyes. "Fine, big bro." She looked off into the distance and put her finger to her chin. "Hm, let's see. There was this time I snuck out to go to a friend's sleepover…"

Yusuke looked completely enthused as he leaned in conspiratorially. "I'm all ears."

Botan returned to Hinageshi's after spending the day with Yusuke. She felt lighter than she did earlier in the day. Although she still didn't have her answers, this was a step in the right direction. At least she knew Yusuke wanted to tell her. Like he said, it was probably better to wait until she met her true father.

Raizen…

Botan felt her heart break for the man she did not yet know. She wondered if Yusuke told their father about her but didn't ask. When Yusuke dropped her off, she could only get his assurances that they would talk about what happened soon. Botan was still hesitant, even when Yusuke said, "We should wait until we're at Dad's."

At least spring break was coming up soon, a week later, the last major break before graduation.

Just one more week until I get more answers.

Botan lied down on the futon, her temporary bed for the week. She was going to text Hiei, tell him that she spent time with Yusuke, but she decided she had enough of an emotional day that she couldn't process any more information.

There's always tomorrow.

Botan tucked her phone away for the night and closed her eyes. She was so exhausted, she didn't have to wait long for sleep to consume her.