Koenma-sama!!!"

      Heads turned slightly at the slight interruption, eyes widened with someone they didn't know. Kurama and Hiei's thoughts were shaken by the sudden assault, not expecting someone such as her to be there. Both heads watched as she shifted her lean form towards the prince, cradling him in her embrace.
     "Koenma-sama"

      Koenma tried to move against her arms, but didn't have the strength to do so. His eyes pressed together as the pain all over his body got over him. He found comfort in her arms somehow, but didn't show it, trying to remain as stern as a reikai prince should be.
      "What are you doing here?" he asked, failing in trying to make his voice hard. It sounded like a whisper, something that had shown the immense pain he was experiencing. "Koenma-sama, please stay still" she cried, shining tears beading down her cheeks.

      The other four just watched as the mysterious girl tried to comfort Koenma. The only man standing grew impatient and cried, "Baka yarou! Have you forgotten why you're like that anyway?!" he asked angrily, his face squinting because of the slight imaptience. He turned to Yui, not knowing who she was. "Who are you and what are you doing here?" his voice was the same, hard and determined. He gave her a menacing glare, letting her know it was dangerous to deal with someone like him. He watched as she noticed the golden gleam his bombs gave out as they surrounded the two of them. She could only cling to Koenma tighter, as fear and confusion filled her face. But as she felt the slight shifting there was in her arms, she knew she must make a move to be able to somehow get them out of the danger they were in. She tried to stand up, but a sudden explosion hit her in the arm.
      "Aaah!" she cried, the sudden blow on her arm penetrated through her skin. Her complexion drenched with sweat and tears, she fell on both knees on the ground, only to be met by another blow. Her screams were heard all over the cave.
      "Stop moving or you'll die!" Karasu said with a lop-sided grin. A grin that gave shivers through her body. Her brows met as she glared straightly at him.
      "A...Aya..." Koenma's attempts in trying to stop her was unclear. He tried to voice out her name, but slowly realizing his body couldn't do what he wants it to. He could only watch in horror as the girl beside him stood up and blown again, only this time, she had herself flown onto the hard stone wall of the cave. She fell limply on the ground as blood trickled down all over her.

      Feeling his own energy flow through him in an immediate force that he sat up only to see her uncoscious on the ground. "Ayame!!!"

      Botan's body felt cold. The girl was Ayame? What did it all mean? She watched as the girl's form shifted back to the Ayame she knew. Her black hair flowed freely on her shoulders and on the ground, her pale face paler than usual. Koenma tried his best to walk towards her, only to be blown by Karasu again. His body fell just beside Ayame's, but Koenma still regained his strength as he gathered her in his arms.
      "Let's see...I've beaten a kitsune, a koorime and now the prince of reikai and a ferrygirl...which leaves me with a beautiful deity just waiting for me to come to her" his voice filled up her mind as she gasped at the meaning. She clutched on Kurama's blood-covered clothes, cold sweat down her temples. She felt the slight pain in her eyes as the tears fell uncomtrollably in her cheeks. She watched as he took small steps towards her, his moves taunting her. He was like a hunter, stalking his prey. His hands clenched and unclenched as the movement of his legs started to become quite faster. In seconds he was in front of her. Placing his fingers under her chin while tilting her head to him, his eyes met hers in a slight glow.
      "Where were we a while ago?" he asked her, a malicious stare giving her the chills. He wiped her tears away, feeling the warm skin in his touch. He smiled at the feel of it, knowing she'll be his any minute now. He held her face by the chin, keeping it steady as he lowered his face to her. Her lips trembled as he got closer, her eyes slowly shutting, afraid of the sight it might behold if she kept it open. His lips slightly touched hers, only to be stopped by a sound the man between them gave out.

      "Koishii" he muttered under his breath, his chest broadening at its every breath. Karasu's eyes glistened at the interruption as he pulled his body to him, glaring at the kitsune's half-lided eyes.
      "Baka, kistune!" he yelled as he shook his form. The weight in his hands began to lighten as a sudden surge of strength gave way to him. His hands glowed, letting the girl with him know he will kill her beloved in an instant. Botan gasped and grabbed his hands, only to be pushed away and fell on the ground. "Kurama!" she cried, her voice barely heard as her throat began to constrict at the sight before her. Karasu was about to hit him with the glow, but a familiar voice blocked his attack.

      "Rei-gan!"

      Before he could make a move to dodge it, the azure beam of the boy's power unleashed itself on him. His body was thrown away from the kitsune as he hit the ground. "Baka!" he muttered as he tried to stand up. He was then face to face with the Urameshi team leader, Yusuke Urameshi. He was with Kuwabara Kazuma and probably a thousand reikai senshi behind them. Yusuke's eyes gave out a familiar glow, something that warned him he better stand back. Yusuke Urameshi is far better than the kitsune and the koorime he battled a while ago. He was stronger than the prince as well. Being one of the few class-S beings in makai, it would really be quite a challenge for him.
      "Yameru..." he muttered, his dark brows meeting in his forehead, the anger of the sight before him almost too much to watch. "Let them go"

      Karasu grinned. No sign of fear was on his face as he walked towards the ningen. Yusuke shifted his body on guard, keeping himself as ready as possible. A slight glow filled the palms of his companion as it grew into a long sword-like light in his hands. Yusuke and Kuwabara were his first opponents, knowing that the senshis behind them might attack in any minute. Karasu held out his hands as hundereds of golden lights filled the whole place. "This...is my revenge to all of you!!!"

      Koenma watched in horror as the bombs Karasu created were all over them. "No, baka! Stop it!!!" he yelled, but the lack of strength didn't let him finish his statement. The bombs might hit his pacifier which was lying on the ground. One single blow might send its stored powers uncontrollably. After all the years that passed after he last used it to Sensui, it is already strong enough to destroy a large area to bits. He could only watch as the bombs carefully blew themselves up, the cave slowly being destroyed. Rubble from the ceiling of the cave fell down as the others tried to avoid it, except Karasu. He watched as the reikai people ran towards them, carrying Ayame away and helping him out. A large rock them fell down beside Karasu, his long clothes getting caught up under it. Lacking strength to pull himself out, he tried to free himself even if he knew he couldn't. The last people to get out was Yusuke and Kuwabara as they waited for Kurama and Botan to be out.
      "Get out of range, quickly!" Koenma ordered. The other followed as they got away from the cave, about a few hundred meters away. They watched as Karasu's voice of agony filled the place. The lair exploded in an instant, bits of rocks flying in the air.

      Koenma looked around him as an immediate realization blew in his mind. He searched for everyone, his eyes widening as he saw what he was looking for. He ran away from the senshis that held him, running towards Ayame. He held her hand as her pale face gave him a sight to be worried about. Blood still trickled down her body, her face unreadable. She wasn't as strong as the others, and the blows she had might be fatal. Cradling her in his arms, he sent out all of the senshis to leave them alone and to prepare the best healer they have. He didn't mind the others watching him as he hugged her frame in his strong arms, trying not to crush her form in his embrace. Hot tears fell down his eyes. He tried to call her name, but she wasn't responding. Her body was cold, her skin pale and he could move her body in almost so lightly that you could say she was dead.

      "So you were the one who sent her" Hiei said, his face unchanging. Koenma lowered his head. He turned to face Kurama, his eyes all red with the tears. "I'm sorry" he apologized, his face full of worry and fear. He knew he'd be mad about it, trying to fool him all these times. He was surprised to see the kitsune nod slightly, his expression unreadable. "It's alright Koenma. But I never would've thought it was you" he said. Koenma's gaze fell down on the girl in his arms. "I was just trying to keep Botan away from you. Maybe you would forget about her if you find someone else" he said, taking a strand of Ayame's hair from her face. Botan's shocked expression was what he saw, but it didn't affect him. He felt Kurama's hand on his shoulder. "But you know I won't" he said, his grip tightening. "The battle between the two of us is not yet over, Koenma" he said, his voice low and stern. He saw the glint in the kitsune's eyes, the determination...and the hope. He knew he couldn't take the deity away from him. But somehow it didn't hurt him in any way. He's probably the one who lost his love for Botan instead of Kurama. He smiled, as he stood up, carrying Ayame in his arms.

      "No, Kurama...it's over" he said as he eyed the youko before him. He saw the confusion in the golden gleam of his eyes. Koenma closed his eyes with a smile. He turned back from them as he walked off. "You win"

      Kurama blinked.
      "Nani?!" he asked, his voice trembling with shock. He ran to the prince and shoved him by the shoulder. "What do you mean?" he asked. He wanted him to repeat the exact words he just said, just to convince himself that it was what he thought he heard. Koenma's eyes soften as he eyed him and shifted his gaze on the blue haired deity. "You're free, Botan. Do whatever you want to" he said with a convincing smile. "I think I know who my bride really should be" he whispered as he lowered his gaze on the girl in his arms. She still wasn't moving, but he knew what he must do to make her come back. "I'll go now, she might not last long" he said as he flew off, not even waiting for their reply. All of a sudden, he was gone.

      Yusuke grinned as he patted Kurama on the shoulder. "Well...there would be hope I might say" he teased as the kitsune blushed. Kurama averted his gaze on Yusuke, then to the only girl they're with. He smiled at her, assured that she was his. Botan's face were drenched with joyous tears that the first thing she did was to throw herself in Kurama's arms. Burying her face on his neck, she held on tighter. The others watched with wide smiles on their faces (yes! even Hiei!). Yusuke tapped Kuwabara and Hiei's shoulders, signalling them it was time to go. Yusuke grabbed Kuwabara and helped him out of Makai. Hiei glanced for the last time on the two, somehow feeling happy for them. He smirked, turned back and went off.

      "Kurama" her voice was everything to him, especially when she says his name. It gives him warmth just to know she was there. "Aishiteru, Botan" he said again, not knowing how many times he had said the exact words. He was satisfied when he heard her return the statement back. Holding her tighter, he asked, "Choose where you want to stay. In makai, you get me, in ningenkai, you get the other me" he said with a smile. A slight pause was heard. "You choose, I can't choose which one" she said with a slight giggle. Kurama grinned. "It would be better if we're near the others. I like Shuuichi better. I thought you were scared of Youko Kurama" he said, slowly pulling away to look at her face. Botan laughed. "With what just happened, I don't think so anymore" she said, "And you're as good as Shuuichi as a lover, Youko Kurama" she teased. Youko Kurama blushed. "In any way, does that mean we could go back now?" he asked her, touching the tip of her nose with his. Botan sighed with a smile. "Anything you say, koibito"

      Kurama smiled and slowly changed back to Shuuichi Minamino. Botan shifted a stray strand of hair from his cheeks, kissing him on the lips. It felt different from Youko Kurama. Shuuichi's kisses were much milder and his lips was perfect for hers. Botan closed his eyes as he held him by the back of his head, his arms slowly creeping behind the small of her back. The kiss ended after a few seconds, both pulling away from each other. Kurama held her hand and took her in his arms. "It might be easier if I'd just carry back, wouldn't it?" he asked with a laugh. Botan shifted againts him, resting her head upon his chest. Smelling the fragrance of roses after the fatal battle, she knew she was with him again. Knowing he was near, knwoing that he'll be there, she closed her eyes as she felt them slowly rise from the ground.

Aishiteru...I'll be here
I'll be safe, knowing that you're near
Aishiteru...I'm yours
You opened my heart's closed doors

Aishiteru...you're with me
Just the mere fact fills me with glee
Aishiteru...we're in love
Our hearts fit like a glove

There'll never be a goodybe
There'll never be a sight where you cry
Sayonara a word I really hate
So tell me you love me, before it's too late.

Sayonara Tadaima...aishiteru

~*~owari~*~