* * *

Koenma looked up from his stack of papers, bronze eyes warming at the sight of the blue-haired Death. "Tanoshi katta?" he asked, though the answer was obvious from Botan's glowing features.

"Un!" Botan nodded her head enthusiastically. "Ne, Koenma-sama, you should have come with us! You would have enjoyed yourself."

Koenma shook his head, chewing on his pacifier. "You know I can't afford one at the moment, with my father unavailable. Besides," he continued ruefully, "Remember what happened the last time I tried to take a vacation?"

"Demo ne, Koenma-sama, you should at least let yourself get some rest regularly. It's not healthy for you to push yourself like this," Botan reasoned, her wide rose eyes unconsciously appealing.

"Botan?" Koenma looked at his head ferrygirl in surprise. Botan had never showed this much concern for his well being before…had she? The prince thought back to his walk in the gardens and the penny he had tossed into the fountain. Could it be? Koenma nearly swallowed his pacifier fighting back laughter. Impossible. And yet…Koenma shook his head. "I can't promise anything, you know. But I'll try. Kore wa ii?"

"Un!" Botan smiled sunnily, her ponytail bobbing as she gave a nod. She was far from convinced that her boss was going to actually listen and get more rest, but from now on, she would look out for him. The ferrygirl didn't know why she felt the way she did, but she knew that it was something she had to do.

"Ne, Botan," Koenma called as the ferrygirl was leaving, "Arigatou…for caring." In his toddler form, it was difficult to see the extreme discomfort the Reikai prince felt when saying the words.

Botan's eyes widened in surprise; Koenma *never* said things like that - at least, not in all the time she'd known him. Perhaps the prince regarded her as a friend after all. Botan gave him a shy smile. "Daijoubu yo, Koenma-sama. Ja, don't overtax yourself, ne?" With that, she took her leave of the cluttered office.

* * *

(Volcano, Hawaii)

Takemi looked out of the cottage overlooking Rainbow Falls, admiring the beauty in a manner that reminded Sumireina of Kurama; it was the small things, the blond vixen decided, that 'Kemi did that was bringing her childhood friend to mind. A small smile played on Sumi's lips as she watched Takemi take in her surroundings. "Kirei ne? This is a major part of why I chose to move to Hawaii after Suren's…apprehension."

"I agree…it's very beautiful," Takemi said, turning. "Ne, Sumi, are you…okay with what happened? I mean…the Reikai and my family have disrupted your life more than anyone has a right to," she asked seriously.

"Iie!" Sumi shook her head adamantly. "Kurama-kun didn't kill Suren- niichan, no matter what he says. Oniichan was lost the moment he tried to use the ocarina. You saw what his ghost had become…" Sumi's voice trailed off, and she clutched the ocarina about her neck fiercely.

"Sumi…" Takemi murmured, unsure of what to say. The younger youkai envied the vixen's ability to see the good in everything, and to endure what life dealt her and emerge stronger for it.

The youko seemed to shake off her momentary melancholy like a cloak. "Iie! I'm happy now. Suren-niichan is back - Koenma-sama had him reincarnated. He couldn't come back as a ningen or youkai because of his actions under the ocarina's spell, so he came back as a tiger shark! That way, he can protect me and fulfill his promise," Sumi finished.

"So…you're really not angry?" Takemi fished.

Sumi smiled gently. "When you've lived as long as Kurama-kun and I, Takemi- chan, life will look different. Your actions saved my brother - his soul is safe now." Her smile grew brilliant, and Takemi could only marvel at the blond vixen's ability to survive.

"Wakatta." 'Kemi let the matter drop. She began clearing away the remnants of their dinner, stacking the dishes with her usual economic motions. Her host made to help, but Takemi waved her away. "Iie," she said firmly. "You cooked, so it's only fair that I clean." Piling the dishes into Sumi's kitchen sink, Takemi was soon up to her elbows in suds.

Sumi laughed and shook her head in disbelief. "I can't believe Kurama-kun raised you and you can't cook!" she exclaimed.

"Ano ne! It's not as if I didn't try, you know? I'm just not cut out for anything harder than instant ramen, I guess." ' Kemi dried her hands on a towel, joining Sumi on the couch, stretching luxuriously. "Ooh, that's good."

The vixen's emerald gaze sparkled mischievously. "I'd assure you that there was the perfect someone for you out there 'Kemi-chan -"

"But I'd just come back with something about *your* single status." Takemi grinned impishly, the gold flecks in her eyes glowing. "Speaking of perfect matches…do you think Koenma and Botan…? I've been noticing the signs for some time now, on Koenma's part, but I wasn't sure if it was mutual." Takemi caught Sumi's wry look. "Though after today," she acknowledged, "I think I know that answer to my question."

Sumireina toyed with the ocarina's thong, deep in thought. "Koenma-sama would never make the first move - he values Botan-chan too much professionally to jeopardize their working relationship. That leaves Botan- chan. Demo…she'd probably never tell Koenma-sama how she feels."

"Sumi," Takemi said slowly, "I don't think Botan really knows - consciously - that she's in love with Koenma. She knows that she cares about him deeply, but that could be because of centuries spent working as a team." Her brown eyes were thoughtful as 'Kemi considered the situation.

"So what are we going to do about it?" her youko friend prompted. "We can't just let them go on like this…"

"Why not?" Takemi wanted to know. "Things have been alright up until now. Let's give it some time before we start playing interfering matchmaker." She shrugged. "Who knows? Maybe they'll work things out on their own." A sly grin crossed her face, highly reminiscent of Kurama. "If not…we can always help - just a little."

The two friends looked at each other and burst into laughter; a little help, indeed.

* * *

Botan deftly wove her way through the masses of oni, each intent on his destination. When she had first begun working as a ferrygirl, the brisk, efficient atmosphere the workplace presented had intimidated her. The feeling had faded with time as she had gotten to know the staff better, however. Now, she was completely at ease.

"George-san! Koenma-sama wa?" she asked the oni, stopping him as he was leaving the prince's office.

The oni gave her an exasperated look. "As busy and grouchy as usual," he grumped, moving past her. "Botan-chan, why don't you go and talk to him? Koenma-sama likes you." With that, George hurried away, other matters already on his mind, not noticing the stunned expression on Botan's face.

"He does?" Botan wondered, entering Koenma's office. "He has a strange way of showing it." She took a moment to observe her employer, intent on his work.

"Dammit, where's that file?" Koenma muttered to himself, sifting through the stacks of folders and papers on his desk. He started as a slender hand reached out and drew the file in question out from under the clutter, handing it to him. "Botan! Ah, doumo." He set the file aside, looking at the ferrygirl curiously. "What brings you here?"

The prince's eyebrows raised as Botan flushed slightly, adjusting the two cloth-wrapped bundles in her arms. "Eto…I…brought you lunch," the kimono- clad Death admitted shyly. "I know how you sometimes forget to eat…I - I hope I'm not being too presumptuous…" she held out one of the bento to him.

"Arigatou, Botan," Koenma said, gingerly taking the lunch box. "Ano…do you…are you busy at the moment?" Botan shook her head. "Would you…that is…would you like to eat lunch together?"

Botan was hesitant. "Are you sure?" she asked. "I wouldn't want to disturb you…"

"Botan," Koenma said with a hint of his usual caustic tone, "If I didn't want you here, I'd just yell at you to get out. It's a quirk I picked up after a few centuries or so in the office."

The ferrygirl blinked, realizing the truth of Koenma's words. Usually sharp and snappy, Koenma hadn't used that particular tone of voice on her for a long time now. A shy smile lit her delicate features. "In that case, I think I would like that very much, doumo."

* * *

Takemi walked sedately through the Reikai, ignoring the looks its inhabitants threw her, opting instead to search out the one person who could fill her in on what had transpired during her stay with Sumireina. "George!"

The oni turned at the sound of the hail, breaking into a wide, toothy grin. "Ohisashiburi, 'Kemi-san!" He greeted the troubleshooter happily. "How was your trip?"

"I hate to admit it, but it did me a world of good," Takemi confessed sheepishly. "Ne, how's Koenma?" she gave the secretary a meaningful look.

George grinned elatedly. "I don't know what happened, but Botan-chan and Koenma-sama have taken to having lunch together. The prince seems happier now - and he doesn't yell as much! Botan-chan is a wonderful influence. I hope Koenma-sama knows how lucky he is."

Takemi held up her hands in a warding gesture. "Whoa! Slow down a moment, kudasai? Botan and Koenma?!" She ran a hand through her hair, her expression thunderstruck. "By Inari - they actually did it on their own!" The gold flecks sparkled in her eyes. "That's wonderful news, George. I hope things go well for them."

George nodded; he knew how lonely both Koenma and Botan got sometimes; maybe together, they could be what the other needed. The secretary was no fool, despite any impressions he gave off. Two people he cared deeply about needed…*something*; George would just have to make sure that they got it. He bowed slightly to Takemi. "I hope so too, Takemi-san…I hope so too."

***



Takemi stepped through the special Gate and into the safe confines of her own office. /Study,/ her mind corrected sharply. /You don't play emotional nursemaid to all those souls - and youkai - anymore./ 'Kemi shut the side door, effectively closing the Gate; it was very convenient, she mused, to have a Gate to the Reikai permanently anchored to the side room in her offi-study. She was grateful to Itsuki for the favor, and more still because he had never revealed its existence to anyone, not even the rogue Tantei Sensui.

Takemi sighed, putting on a pot of hot water. She owed Itsuki a lot; he was the one who had created this little pocket haven for her, after all. It was a pity, what Fate had had in store for him. Sinking down into her comfortable chair, 'Kemi began to relax; she shouldn't think such morbid thoughts, not when two good friends were so close to finding happiness. They deserved each other, she decided; both were alone, in their own way.

The slender brown youkai shook her head ruefully, glancing at the single long-stemmed rose in a vase, its petals the color of blood. "Maa maa, aniki, I must be getting soft." For a brief second, the troubleshooter could have sworn the rose laughed in agreement.

* * *