Botan's Stalker

by Reiko

Chapter 1

"Hi guys! Sorry I'm late!"    

"Hi Botan-chan!" Yusuke called out loudly upon seeing the blue-haired ferry girl making her way towards the crowded ballroom. Botan smiled with amusement upon noting the warning glare Yusuke received from Keiko.

"What?!" He asked Keiko irritably as Botan approached them.

"Can't you at least keep your voice down?" hissed the brown-haired woman in her early twenties. "For pete's sake this is a fancy function room not a stadium!" she added looking around with obvious embarrassment.

"Um… whatever." Yusuke answered carelessly. Then he turned to Botan and grinned.

"Why only now?"  

"Um… last minute work." She answered pausing to get a glass of champagne from the passing waiter. "Where's the lucky bride-to-be?"     

But before Yusuke could speak, Botan smelled the faint scent of roses getting nearer. She smiled and turned around.     

"Looking lovely as ever, Botan-chan."     

Kurama stood there with the grinning Kuwabara and the scowling Hiei at his side. She suppressed her laughter upon noting the nasty and forlorn glare Hiei sported at the same time. Nasty because Kuwabara proceeded asking Keiko about Yukina and forlorn because of the thought of spending an entire night with the crazy bunch he deemed as ningens.

"I said she went to the powder room." Keiko reiterated annoyingly. "You've been asking me that for the-- "

"Hey, hey take it easy!" Kuwabara cut in, raising his arms in surrender. "Okay, I'm sorry." He quickly added upon noting Keiko's unusual behavior. Then he grinned. "Somebody woke up in the wrong side of the bed this morning." He kidded.

"Stop it, Kuwabara." Yusuke warned. Then he turned to Keiko. "What's wrong with you?" He asked callously.

"Hmp!" Keiko walked away from them. She made her way towards the powder room leaving them looking after her with confusion. Botan turned to Yusuke only to notice the grim statement on his face.     

"What got her goat?" Kurama asked as he lifted the thin delicate glass to his lips. He paused and took a sip of his champagne.     

"I don't know." Yusuke shrugged nonchalantly, sorely pretending not to care.

"Hn." Hiei said. "This is stupid. I'm leaving." He added turning around.      "What is taking Yukina-chan so long?" whined Kuwabara. With that, Hiei stopped and glared daggers at Kuwabara. Kuwabara turned to him.     

"I thought you are leaving, shrimp?"

"Hn!"     

"You look nice, Hiei-san." Botan said appreciating the suit on Hiei's body. Hiei snorted out his annoyance.

"This is choking me!" He said his hands going up to loosen his tie. "Stupid fox! He mumbled. Obviously it was Kurama who made him wear the suit.     

"Oh and this is the thanks I get for making you look nice." Kurama said chuckling. Then he turned to Hiei. "Hiei, do you want people staring strangely at you? You don't wear a black cloak and a katana when going to an engagement party, you know."     

I don't even want to go to this stupid engagement party!" he snorted. <If not for my dear Yukina… >     

"Yeah! You are looking strange enough with your spiky hair." Seconded Kuwabara.

"Why you-- " Hiei began menacingly.   

"Glad you can make it Botan-chan!"     

They stopped upon hearing a voice approaching them. Botan turned and smiled. Upon seeing  Shizuru, she leaned and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.     

"Congratulations, Shizuru-chan. He is a lucky man." She said looking at the woman before her wearing a long baby-blue gown  that hinted out her beautiful figure. "Gosh, you look radiant!"     

Shizuru laughed, a blush teasing her cheeks.     

"No, I'm the lucky one." She said as Botan lifted her hand to examine the beautiful engagement ring on her finger.

"Yeah, considering that you are already past the marrying age." Kuwabara said grinning.

"Idiot!" She said giving his brother a not-so-playful smack on the head. Kuwabara yelped loudly causing a dozen curious eyes towards them. Then she turned once again to Botan.     

"Where's Koenma?" She asked. Botan laughed softly. Just like the rest, Shizuru never did give Koenma-sama the kind of respect he wanted.     

"Oh he is with Sayuri-san." She replied. "But I believe he'll catch up later."

"Boy, that guy is fast." Yusuke joined in. "I thought they just met?"

"Well… it's a lot different in Rei Kai, Yusuke-san." Botan replied slowly. "I think Sayuri-san is Koenma-sama's would-be fiance. I guess he is spending time with her to be able to know her better."     

"You mean like arranged marriages or something?" piped Kuwabara.     

"Hm… yes I suppose." She replied nodding her head slowly. Then she turned to Shizuru. "So, where's the husband-to-be?" She asked. Shizuru turned and instantly a tall, good-looking man appeared on her side. Botan couldn't help but marvel at the scene.

She often noticed how people in-love react against their loved ones. Just like now, a mere turn of Shizuru's head, her fiancé  immediately walked towards them and placed himself beside her. No words are needed only actions, feelings…

Just then she felt something odd. She looked around and scanned the room, her fingers tightening against the delicate crystal, her brows furrowing slightly. She felt it again, like someone  was watching her. She felt herself shiver slightly, feeling cold.     

"Are you all right, Botan?" Kurama asked shaking her gently.     

"Huh?" She replied absentmindedly. Kurama took the glass from her.     

"You've been holding this glass as if you're going to break it to pieces." He said.

"Are you feeling okay?" Shizuru asked bringing her hands to her cheek. "You look pale." She added. Then she turned to  her fiance. "Honey, see if you could arrange a room-- "     

"No, no." Botan said quickly forcing out a laugh. "I- I'm fine."     

"Are you sure?"    

"Yes." She said. How could she explain everything to them without sounding nuts?     

Just then music began fill the room. Shizuru politely excused herself as her fiancé began leading her to the dance floor. Yusuke mumbled something about finding Keiko with Kuwabara eagerly lagging behind him. Hiei snorted out again and immediately detached himself from the group, the though of dancing making him sick to his stomach. He positioned himself against a wall leaving Botan alone with Kurama.

"Would you like to dance?" Kurama asked. Botan smiled as she let herself be led towards the dance floor. Kurama took her hand and placed his other hand on her waist. When they started to move, a light laugh escaped Botan's lips.

 "What?" Kurama asked smiling.

 "If looks could kill, I would be dead by now." She answered.

"Why?" 

"There is a beautiful woman looking daggers at me right now." She whispered. With that Kurama chuckled.

 "And I'll be damned if someone will suddenly cut this dance for me." He said. Botan frowned at him strangely but before she could utter anything a cheerful voice rang in her ears. 

"May I cut in?" 

She looked around only to find Koenma grinning at them. Kurama smiled and offered his hand to the Rei Kai prince. Koenma shook it firmly. 

"Nice to see you, Koenma-san." He said slightly bowing his head. 

"Same here." He replied. Then he turned to Botan. "You look nice." He said noticing the elegant pink mandarin gown on her complimenting the soft blue waves of her hair. Instantly, Botan blushed. 

"Thank you." She said. 

"All right, she's all yours." Kurama said handing her hand to Koenma. Then he grinned at Botan, giving her a wink. "Don't worry, I'll find myself a partner."

 Botan laughed as Koenma placed his hand on her waist and began to swing her to the music.  

"I see Hiei's making nice with the wall again. Glad to see everything's normal here." He whispered a laugh teasing his eyes. "I'm mixing business with pleasure, you know."

 "Shh… don't laugh." Hissed Botan. "Actually I feel sorry for the little guy."

 "Why?"

 "Just look at him!" She replied. "He doesn't seem too happy to be here wearing a suit enough to choke the air out of him." The she frowned. "You here to check on Ningenkai?" Koenma just smiled and shook his head.

 "I suppose you're right." Koenma answered. "But he would look better if he, for once, stops scowling." He added. Botan nodded.  

"I agree with you." She said. Then she smiled at him. "You look good." She said noticing her employer's handsome features.  

She couldn't believe how time flies fast. Ten years have passed since the Makai Tournament and Yusuke, Kurama and Kuwabara are now in their twenties, each having their own stable jobs and enjoying their bachelor's freedom. Shizuru is about to get married, at long last… Hiei, on the other hand, began showing himself almost everyday here in Ningenkai, showing obvious worry for his sister. Keiko also now have a stable job, a corporate executive, while Yukina busied herself maintaining Genkai-senpai's place when she passed away just a year ago. 

Then she stared at Koenma, looking very handsome in his cream-colored slacks and in his cotton long-sleeved white polo. He didn't even bother donning up a suit but nevertheless, he looked nice. 

"Something wrong?" He asked raising an eyebrow at her.

 "I like you better  that way." She said bluntly. Koenma laughed as he twirled her in his arms.

 "What do you mean?" He asked as she landed safely in his arms.

 "I mean, it's a good thing that you don't change to your toddler self anymore." She said. "And you have decided to store your power somewhere else, that pacifier is making you look ridiculous."

Koenma chuckled."And all this time you didn't tell me that that pacifier is making me look ridiculous?" He asked. "My goodness, Botan! What ever happened  to your loyalty?!" He added with subtle exaggeration, his smile lighting up even more.  Botan frowned at his boss' sudden cheerfulness. 

"Something is going on around here." She said looking at him. Koenma twirled her again.

 "What do you mean?" He asked innocently. 

"Oh come on. Koenma-sama! You can't fool me!"

 Koenma chuckled. "Well I have to look grown-up for Sayuri's sake, you know." He said. "After all I already asked her to marry me." He added nonchalantly. With that, Botan stopped, her eyes widening. 

"What?!" She exclaimed. "You didn't! I don't believe you!" 

"Yes I did." He said nodding his head. "Just a while ago, during dinner."

 "Really?" She asked as the music ended. She smiled prettily. "I'm happy for you Koenma-sama." She added genuinely.

 Koenma only smiled as his reply. Botan stared at him and saw the strained look in his eyes. She hates to admit but the cheerfulness and happiness he had displayed earlier completely went up in smokes when the subject of his engagement was brought out.

 "What's wrong?" She asked softly. "You don't seem happy." Koenma smiled softly at her.

 "I am happy Botan." He said taking a deep breath and exhaling loudly. "Finally I could stop the old man from nagging me to get married and give him cute little grandsons." 

"You know that's not what I meant." She said. Koenma just smiled at her.

 "If you'll excuse me Botan." He began instead, looking at the radiant Shizuru. "I must congratulate the happy couple first." He said walking away from her. Botan followed his retreating figure with her eyes. If only Koenma would tell her what's really going on, she is more than willing to help but…

 She sighed. It was no use. Something is bothering him, she is sure about that. But the look Koenma gave her earlier indicated that he would much prefer it if she stayed out of his business. 

Letting out a sigh, she proceeded to walk towards the refreshment table. She was about to get herself her second glass of champagne when she felt a pair of cold eyes settling on her, piercing through her. She turned around sharply only to find no one looking at her. 

<I'm gonna get you…> 

Botan felt her body froze with fear upon hearing someone. The voice was so cold, and so sinister. She frantically looked around, desperately scanning the room but all she could see is a mass of noisy people, laughing and dancing the night away, all too busy to look at her .  

She then shook her head and immediately swallowed the contents of her glass in one gulp, drowning the noise plaguing her head. She then proceeded to get her third glass thinking that alcohol is the best way to get rid of this nasty feeling of being observed and watched.

 <I'm gonna get you…>

 "Ch!" She slurrred, draining her third glass. "I must be going crazy." She added as she tried her best ignoring the voice inside her head. But she couldn't help but feel something is bound to happen to her, something really, really bad.

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