Cast Away
by Natsumi
Chapter 5
Getting to know… everything
“That’s the last straw God damn it!!” Botan shouts beginning to flare up
more.
Botan gritted her teeth as she starts throwing various objects around her at her
as usual bossy employer.
“What do you want to do now?” Koenma replied, slightly grinning inwardly.
Koenma easily and gracefully avoiding the flying twigs and rocks at him. And
manages to smile every time he perfectly dodges her every attack. Botan stopped
and looked at him. They looked at each other for a minute and Botan glances
around. Botan all got teary eyed and felt the rough interior of the cave closing
down on her. She felt mortified all of the sudden. Koenma began to inspect her.
Botan sits down, her knees up to her face. Koenma tries to move an inch towards
her slowly… praying she wouldn’t notice. Botan feels him, getting closer and
whispers something to him.
“Koenma-sama…” Botan whispers… her voice cracking up.
“Na…ni?” Koenma replied sitting in front of her. He hastingly attempted to
comfort her.
“Why do you always make me cry?” Botan asks… eyeing him with her misty
eyes.
“Uhm… I don’t know…” Koenma replied trying not to meet her piercing
gaze.
“Haven’t you noticed that even if you scold at me like that I’m always
there for you?” Botan asked back.
“I…” Koenma shrugs couldn’t pull out what he has to say that moment.
“Maybe… some time you’ll say those words again… after making me cry.”
Botan replied holding his hands tightly.
Botan motions him to get out of her way as she went outside the cave. Koenma
yells at her asking where she’s going.
“Just find me when you know what you have to say.” Botan shouts back at him.
Her cheerful voice emanated between them… yet he’s pretty sure those words
and her expressions are just her mask for everything.
Botan found a cozy place underneath a big and old tree. The tree was pretty much
covered with moss, but still it was very sturdy and gives a relaxing spot under
its big branches. Botan sat there.
“Koenma no baka…”
Botan began to recite… a memory flashes back…
^^^^^^^^^^^
“Koenma-sama!!” A little blue-haired girl shouts keeping running after a
typical brown haired boy.
The little brat-of-a-prince hurries more trying to lose her. In his hand is a
small teddy bear, the left arm was dangling ready to snap any minute. The girl
stops, exhausted in keeping up to her friend. She tries to run again only to
trip on something… her poor bear’s left arm.
The brat slows down and wonders where he left her. He backtracks. The prince ran
to his friend’s side and handed her the rest of the bear’s body. Instead,
the small girl looks up to him in her misty lavender eyes and asks him in a
voice… nearly cracking up.
“Why are you so mean to me?” She asks drying her tears.
“Because…” the snobbish prince replied trying not to meet her innocent
eyes.
“Why do you like hurting me?” She added standing up.
Their height both match each other. They just stood there silence coming in
between them.
“I… that’s what boys do stupid!!” Koenma replied his eyes slowly forming
impatience.
Botan watch him silently as she shuffles her hair, collecting it to one side.
Koenma looks at her and sighs.
“Why don’t you just give me that!” Koenma shouted, pulling the bear’s
arm from her, turns his back and runs away from her.
Botan sits down in the luscious green grass around her. Making a necklace out of
the flowers she gathered earlier.
Inside the cold castle walls, a little boy walks back and forth in front of a
young blue oni… in his early twenties.
“Hey!! Aren’t you done yet?” Koenma asked impatiently..
“Here… I’m trying to make it look brand new!! Besides, sewing takes
time!!” The blue oni replied.
The blue oni that was preferred to be called Jorju Satome, looked at the prince
in awe. Koenma manages to catch his stare and looks at him frightened.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” he asks his mouth forming a pout.
“Why? Botan looks at you like this then might as well- - -“ he was cut-off
by the little prince.
“She’s the only one that has the rights to look at me like that!!” He
exclaims, stomping his foot with annoyance.
Jorju’s eyes narrowed on him and examine him thoroughly, he then cups his chin
and makes a few paces around the irritated boy.
“You like her…” Jorju hinted his face looking suspiciously at him.
“Hah! You should know better!! I reallllly like Ayame-sempai!” the prince
proudly blurted.
“You have a crush on your 200+ older teacher…. Hmmm… everyone goes to that
stage.” Jorju pointed out as a matter-of-factly.
“Stage?! What stage?” Koenma asks puzzled.
Jorju didn’t reply and just handed out the now fixed bear.
“Here, tell her you’re sorry and will never do that again.” Jorju
inquired.
“Nah, she’ll be fine now that I’ll hand her, her stupid dirty bear!!”
Koenma replied snobbishly.
Koenma rushes to the garden to give the bear to her. Jorju bids him something
while he runs away from the blue oni.
“Ne Koenma-sama!!! When a boy likes a girl he teases her!! until…” Jorju
stops, noticing the now far little prince couldn’t hear him.
^^^^^^^^^
(Back to
present)
Koenma got startled from his deep slumber as a thunder roared. The clouds are
beginning to turn grayish, and after sometime the rain poured. Hard.
“Where could Botan be?” He asks himself going out side the cave.
Koenma looks above as rain began pouring at him. His clothes beginning to be
drenched. He began walking toward the shabby trees now searching for his lost
deity. He began walking in steady paces until he began running as fast as he
could. Turning his head left and right looking for her.
“Botan… you’re the only person I don’t wanna lose… where are you?”
He began chiding himself.
Kurama stands
outside the Reikai palace, hoping that the King himself provides good news about
the rescue of the two. The two huge doors opened and his eyes bulged at a
familiar man walking towards him the man smiled and brushes his green hair. He
met Kurama’s emerald-green stare and manages to smile at him. He went outside.
Kurama manages to get inside, and turns to face the familiar man. The man stops,
and also looks at him. The man smiled, his blank eyes narrowed on him and he
waves him good-bye. Kurama clenched his fist, the two huge doors began to close
behind him. The man on the other side continues to walk until he vanished.
“Itsuki…” Kurama whispers to himself.
Yes… the man is
Itsuki… the partner and known as Censui’s best friend. ‘What could he be
doing here?’ Kurama finds himself asking the same question over and over
again… ‘Is there something to do with the two missing?’