Botan's Stalker
by Reiko
Chapter 3
Miki Hiroshi had been recruited merely because of the anticipated heavy workload.
Seventeen years of age when she passed away, she was able to keep the youthfulness of her features. Dark chocolate brown eyes, light brown
hair, a small straight feminine nose, shapely lips always set in a thin grim line… One might even deem her as pretty if she only would,
once in a while, smile.
The anticipated heavy workload for the coming century was in actuality not accurate. Koenma's restless nerves had been running
over-drive when he decided to have another ferry girl to add to the lot and so… Miki existed, doubling the usual number of ferry girls
Koenma's normally required to have. But since the anticipated heavy
workload was just anticipated >_<* Miki Hiroshi found herself doing almost… nothing productive.
She paused before Koenma's office door, her ears pressed against the wood as she strained herself to listen at the hushed voices coming
from the room. Every word sent a heavy feeling down to her stomach. When she heard the faint sounds of footsteps getting nearer, she
hastily retreated and pretended to be just passing by.
"Oh, ohayou gozaimasu Miki-chan!" Botan greeted, stepping outside of Koenma's office.
She forced a grin. "Ohayo!" Then her brown eyes wandered over to the pile of neatly arranged papers in Botan's hand. "New errand?"
"Hai! Confidential ones for Enma-sama!" Botan replied cheerfully. Miki's eyes slightly narrowed.
"Right…" She murmured nodding her head. "Top secret, ne?
Obviously Koenma-sama's going to give the errand to his No. 1 Ferry Girl."
Botan rolled her eyes. "Oh I wish!" She exclaimed with exasperation. "Ayame handles the 'morning' Koenma better than anybody
else. I just don't get it! Sunday mornings are supposed to be bright and happy and cheery but with Koenma-sama…" Her voice trailed off as
she shook his head. Then she chuckled.
"I'm being silly! Anyway, I have to get this over to Enma-sama so… ja!" She called out bounding towards Enma Daiou's office. Miki's
slight smile slowly turned to a scowl as she looked after Botan's disappearing figure.
After life sucks!
First they gave her a different name: Miki! So very different from the other ferry girl's name! And with a last name to boot! Her name
should've been after some flower or something botanical just like the others! Having a different name makes her feel inferior knowing for
the fact that her being a ferry girl wasn't really intended. Second, she's tired of playing second fiddle to-- what's her name again? Ah,
crap! To someone whom she doesn't even know or like! Well, she seldom likes anybody anyway. Three, she's more capable compared to Botan!
That girl is too cheery that it makes her sick, too happy for her own good, too bubble-headed which often leads to disaster… She can't even
see why Koenma-sama even trusts her or favors her! For her, Botan's an idiot.
"Baka ne…" She murmured as she made her way towards their quarters. /Ch! Botan even has her own chamber!/ She thought acidly.
Someday Koenma-sama will see her worth. Someday he will eventually realize how stupid Botan is. Someday everyone will notice her.
Someday, someday, someday… She won't stop until she becomes Koenma-sama's No. 1 Ferry Girl. And she will do whatever it takes to get
there.
"You'll see…" She thought smiling to herself. "You'll
see…"
"Konnichiwa!" Botan hollered as she slowly went inside Keiko's ramen store.
"Irrashaimas-- Oh Botan-chan!" Keiko smiled and slowly went outside of the counter to greet her friend. "Finally! You're late!" She
exclaimed.
Botan smiled apologetically. "Gomen ne, Keiko-chan. You know how Koenma-sama is every morning."
Keiko shook her head as she took her apron off. She hung if carefully against the wall. "How can you ever put up with someone like that
anyway?"
"I'm used to it, I guess." Botan replied shrugging. Then she smiled. "How about you? How can put up with someone like Yusuke,
hmmm?"
Instantly, a frown grazed Keiko's perfectly shaped brows. She shook her head, a sign of dismissal. "Come on. Okasan's already biting my
head off." She pulled Botan with her out of the ramen store.
Botan silently cursed herself for being tactless and decided to keep quiet. Well this is something. Keiko and Yusuke had been more than
friends since god knows when. Although they had there share of arguments and fights like normal couples do, it didn't actually last
this long.
It started during Shizuru's engagement party. Keiko walked out on Yusuke with Yusuke pretending not to care at first but then
eventually he went after her. Then at Koenma-sama's engagement party where Keiko walked out on him again and this time with tears in her
eyes and with Yusuke sulking madly that no one, even Kurama, dared asking him what happened.
"Would it be all right with Koenma-san if I return you later?" Keiko asked as she slid inside her car. Botan slid in next to her.
"I guess so… Why? Where are we going?" She asked buckling her seatbelt. Keiko inserted the key in the ignition and started the car.
"Okasan wants me to buy the noodles outside of Kyoto." She replied. "The quality's better plus its cheaper." She added her eyes
on the road.
Botan nodded her head as a comfortable silence settled over them. She looked out the passenger window while Keiko concentrated on the road
She was busy with her thoughts when Keiko spoke up.
"How's Koenma-san by the way?"
"Huh?" She started turning away from the window.
"I said how's Koenma-san by the way?"
"Oh… he's just fine." Botan forced out a chuckle. Keiko frowned as she carefully handled the wheel.
"Something's been bothering you." She said bluntly. She stopped when the lights turned red. Turning to Botan, she frowned. Botan looked
away until she felt Keiko's gentle hand on her shoulder. She slowly turned to her.
"Something the matter?" Keiko asked softly. With that, Botan debated whether to tell her everything or not. Finally she spoke.
"I-- Do you ever feel like you're being um… you know, watched, followed?" She asked uncertainly. Keiko frowned at her unsurely.
"You mean like being stalked?" She asked. Botan nodded her head.
"Something like that." She replied. "I've been having that
feeling since the news of Shizuru's engagement came out."
"So that was before her engagement party?" Keiko asked driving off when the light turned green.
"Yes." Botan answered. "I've been hearing voices… I'm gonna get
you--" Then she stopped. Shaking her head she spoke, "You must think I'm
going nuts."
"No, no." Keiko quickly answered. "I think you just need a break.
You've been working too hard compared to before."
"Well, I've been hard-pressed since Ayame-chan went away." Botan admitted thoughtfully. "You really think that's just it? I mean, I
just need a break and all?"
"Botan-chan, who would want to stalk you may I ask?" Keiko asked as they neared the Kyoto's little park. "Can you think of someone who
would want to hurt you or you know…?"
Botan frowned as a myriad of names, both friends and acquaintances, flashed inside her head. Finally, she shook her head.
"See!" Keiko exclaimed. "You just need a break that's all. And besides, who would want to hurt you? As far as I'm concerned nobody
would even think of hurting a nice person such as you."
Botan smiled, glad to get all of that out of her systems. "You really think so?"
Keiko nodded her head as she parked the car in front of a ramen store. Unbuckling her seatbelt she turned to Botan.
"Would you like to come with me or just wait in here?"
"I'll come with you." Botan replied unbuckling her seatbelt. She stepped out of the car and followed Keiko towards the store. Just
then she stopped.
"Déjà vu?" She thought upon seeing a massive tree on the far corner of the street. It was so big and just by looking at its trunk and its
branches she could tell that it was very old. She slowly walked
towards it feeling this unexplainable urge to go near it.
"Must be a hundred years old or more." She murmured running her hands against its roughened trunk. She leaned against it, closing her eyes
momentarily. She sighed as warm feelings of contentment and security
washed over her.
"Botan-chan?" Her eyes immediately snapped open only to find Keiko looking strangely at her. "What are you doing?" She asked frowning.
Botan grinned sheepishly.
"Um… I just feel like you know… um… doing this?" She leaned
against the tree and smiled at the now confused Keiko. (sweatdrop)
"Sure… Whatever you say." Keiko slowly said.
"Isn't this neat?" Botan asked suddenly getting excited.
"What? Your leaning against the tree and closing your eyes?" Keiko asked frowning.
"No. The tree itself!" Botan exclaimed running her hands against its trunk once again. "Have you noticed that this tree is so old?"
Keiko then ran her eyes over its dark, almost black trunk. She nodded her head slowly noting its gigantic edifice.
"I think so." She replied. Botan smiled.
"Just think, this tree actually lived all through those years! This is probably the only living witness to all the things that took place
in here!" She continued excitedly.
"Such as?"
"Well like, you know, maybe there has been a war or something or maybe this tree became a sort of secret meeting place for two lovers…
who knows…" She shrugged. "Only this tree knows everything."
She added.
With that, Keiko shook her head and pulled her blue-haired friend with her towards the store. "You and your romance novels." She
said. "They are making you pitifully sappy."
"What about my novels?" Botan protested. "Come to think of it, it
should be the other way around. You and your romance novels! I got them here remember. There are no such things in Rei Kai."
"Who got you hooked on them, anyway?" Keiko asked as they proceeded to enter the store.
"Um… I'm not sure if it's you or Shizuru." Botan replied helping Keiko carry her purchases.
"Shizuru's into mystery novels and while Yukina isn't that fond of reading." Keiko said thoughtfully. "Maybe it was me."
"I guess so." Botan nodded her head as Keiko arranged the things in the trunk. Then she spoke. "You know, this might sound crazy but I
feel like I've seen that tree before."
"What?" Keiko asked shutting the trunk close. "Like Déjà
vu?"
"Somewhat… yes." Botan nodded her head slowly.
"Well considering you're a deity it doesn't surprise me." Keiko answered rationally. "Maybe you stayed
somewhere near here when you are still living."
"Oh thank you for reminding me that I'm actually dead." Botan chuckled with mild sarcasm. Keiko smiled as she prepared herself to
get inside the car. Just then she stopped.
"Oh Botan before I forget." She said fishing something out of her jeans pocket. "Look what I found the other day."
Botan walked towards her only to see a ring resting on the palm of her hand. She frowned upon noting the unusual metal used for the
band. Not gold, nor silver. The stones adorning it also have its share of its strangeness but nevertheless the ring was exceptionally
made. The intricate designs clearly showed the extraordinary craftsmanship of the maker. Instantly the strong urge to have it
washed over her, much to her surprise.
"W- where did you get it?" Botan asked.
"Flea market." Keiko replied. "Actually I only got it for two dollars."
"May I have it?" The words came out of Botan's mouth before she could stop them. She quickly turned away and blushed with embarrassment.
"Why of course… if you want it." Keiko answered slowly. "It
doesn't fit me anyway." She said handing the ring to Botan. Botan, in turn,
hastily took the ring from her, almost snatching it from her hands. Upon feeling the cool metal against her skin, the annoying urge to
have it mercifully disappeared.
"Arigato." She said smiling up at her.
"Go try it on." Keiko said. Botan's smile widened as she placed the ring on her left ring finger. A perfect fit! Keiko gushed.
"It's lovely on you!"
"Thank you!" Botan beamed studying the ring against her hand.
"I don't know but it looks like that ring really does belong there, on your finger." Keiko continued.
Botan didn't say anything as she busily studied the ring, its unusual shine fascinating her. Somehow Keiko's right. It really feels like
this ring was just waiting for her. It really feels like that this ring really belongs to her… only to her.