Yusuke, Keiko and Botan soon returned to the restaurant. The whole gang was there, even Hiei, and were waiting for them.

"Hi guys!" Kuwabara greeted them. "Why the glum faces? Did somebody die?"

Botan grimaced. "Uh, well, not exactly. Hey, where's Senkichi?"

"He left already," Kurama replied. "Said he needed to go somewhere."

"So what happened at Koenma's?" Shizuru asked curiously.

"Oh," Yusuke frowned. "Let's go for a walk. I'll tell you what happened along the way." He lead the way outside.

"Yusuke has some gossip for us," Keiko said, grinning.

"I DO NOT gossip, Keiko," Yusuke said crossly. "I'm just giving you guys information. There's a big difference."

"Heh, that's just a euphemism."

"Are you really my best friend, or what?"

Everyone sighed as the two continued to bicker. "It's as if they're already married, ne?" Shizuru commented.

"Ha," Kuwabara retorted. "As if you know how it is to be married, sis."

"Why you-"

Botan ignored the fights around her, for she was still thinking about what Ayame said earlier. Maybe there is someway I can help Koenma-sama, she thought. Oh, if only-

"Botan-san..."

Botan whirled around, and was surprised to see Senkichi behind her. "Come," the boy whispered. "I have something to tell you."

"Oh, what?"

Senkichi blushed. "It's kinda private."

"Oh, okay," Botan said cheerfully. She followed Senkichi into an alley nearby.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The others, meanwhile, had not noticed that Botan left. Kuwabara and Shizuru were still fighting, and Kurama was trying to calm them down.

Hiei grunted in frustration. Why in the world did he choose to stay with these idiotic companions of his? They were really getting on his nerves.

On the other hand, at least he would be able to protect Yukina, his sister, if he stayed there. Besides, even if he was annoyed at these people, one way or the other, he he sort of liked being there with them.

He saw Botan follow a certain black-haired guy he didn't recognize. He decided to follow her, when something else caught his eye.

It was the same guy he fell on top of earlier. The man saw that Hiei was watching him, and started to flee. Hiei quickly ran after the man.

"Hey, where is Hiei-san going?" Yukina asked innocently.

Yusuke glanced at the departing Hiei. "Looks like he's chasing someone," he stated. "Oi, wait! That guy he's chasing-seems like the one who tried to kidnap Botan this morning!"

The others stared at him in alarm. "Keiko," he ordered. "Stay here with the other girls. Kurama, Kuwabara, you could come with me if you want."

Yusuke quickly followed Hiei, with Kurama and Kuwabara right behind him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Koenma, still in his teenaged form, sat in his office silently. Suddenly, someone knocked on his door.

"Go away," Koenma said curtly. "I'm busy."

"We have news for you, Koenma-sama," a deep voice answered. "We have finally solved the case."

Koenma straightened, and said, "Come in then."

In came four burly men. They all bowed to the Rei Kai prince in respect. One of them spoke up. "Greetings, honorable prince of the Astral World. For many centuries we have-"

"Forgive me for being rude, but cut the crap," Koenma interrupted. "Get to the point."

"We have found your wife's murderer."

Koenma flinched at the word "wife". She's not my wife, Koenma thought bitterly. She could have been, but she died.

"He is a spirit-eating youkai. No one knows what he really looks like, nor does anyone know his real name. But we have been able to get hold of a picture of him. It is the disguise he assumed recently.

Koenma stared at the picture the man held in his hand. "But that's-that's-"

He stood up rapidly, and hurried out of the door, his heart beating rapidly. Botan is in grave danger, he thought frantically. I have to save her...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 They came to a stop inside a dark alley. Botan leaned on the wall, waiting for Senkichi to speak.

"Um, Botan," the young man said. "I know this may seem sudden, but... I like you, Botan."

"What?!" Botan blurted out, aghast.

Senkichi pulled her into a tight embrace. "You are such a wonderful person, Botan. That's why I admire you so."

"But Senkichi..."

"I love you, Botan."

Botan struggled to speak. "But, you see..."

"You can't wait for Koenma forever," Senkichi reproached her quietly. "Why can't you notice that there are other guys out there who like you? And I'm one of them."

Botan thought about this. What if maybe he's right? Senkichi is very nice, and I think he's a pretty good guy. What if...maybe it was wrong for me to wait for Koenma-sama? What if all Ayame said was a lie? Maybe Koenma-sama doesn't even like me at all.

Senkichi's face leaned towards hers, ready to kiss her on the lips.

An image of Koenma suddenly flashed before Botan. No, this is wrong, another part of her brain said. I have only known Senkichi for two days! And I have known Koenma-sama for centuries. And because of that, I know almost everything about him! We have gone through a lot. And even if it takes forever, I will wait for him.

At the moment when Senkichi's lips almost touched hers, she turned away.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Hiei finally caught up with the man. He tackled the man.

The stranger lost his balance, and fell onto the ground. Yusuke used the opportunity to grab the man. He rained punches on the man's head.

"You idiot!!! You no-good, cowardly, b-"

"Stop that, Yusuke," Hiei ordered. "Release him at once."

Yusuke halted in surprise. "HUH?!"

"He looks familiar to me."

"Well, okay." Yusuke released the guy reluctantly.

Hiei stepped over to the man, and pulled off his hood.

Dark blue hair was exposed from the man's head. His face was full of scars, and the man had a tough, determined expression on his face.

"Hn. It's you, Aoi."

"Hiei," the man named Aoi said. "I can't say it's good to see you again."

"What are you doing here? This is so unlike you, kidnapping a girl.

"I'm NOT kidnapping her. I was trying to protect her."

"Hn."

"Wait!" Yusuke interrupted. "Could you please explain to us lowly beings what the heck are you talking about?"

"Since I know Hiei's not good at explanations," Aoi said. "I'll tell you who I am."

"My name is Aoi."

"Yeah, we know that," Yusuke muttered under his breath.

Aoi continued. "I am from the Ma Kai, though what my powers are I shall not disclose to you. I have sworn to the graves of my parents that I would kill all evil youkais and protect the innocent."

"Sorta like Batman?" Kuwabara asked.

Aoi ignored him, just as everyone did. "I caught Hiei killing some civilians in order to steal some jewels from them. I chased him all over the Ma Kai, and I managed to battle him one day. But then he wounded me, and left me to die. But I survived."

"That still doesn't answer our question," Yusuke said, getting more impatient by the minute.

"Patience, kid," Aoi snapped. ("Kid?!" Yusuke protested indignantly, and would have hit Aoi in the face, had not Kurama stopped him.) "I am hunting this certain youkai, who likes to eat spirits. He usually seduces his victims first, and takes away their spirit with one deadly kiss. This girl Botan is his next victim. I wasn't trying to kidnap her, I was taking her away to a safe place, where the youkai can't reach her. But because you interfered, the youkai still got close to her."

"Well, who IS the youkai?!" Kuwabara exploded.

Kurama's and Hiei's eyes widened as it finally hit them. They left the others, going towards where the girls were waiting.

Yusuke and Kuwabara stared at each other, both clueless.

"Who IS the youkai?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Botan stepped out of Senkichi's embrace. "I'm sorry, Senkichi," she said sadly. "I love Koenma-sama. And I always will."

"No," Senkichi said despairingly. "This is impossible-"

"I'm really, really sorry," Botan said sympathetically. She patted him gently on the head. "Don't worry, there are other girls-"

But she never got to finish her sentence, for Senkichi suddenly leapt up, and grabbed her shoulders. "This is impossible!" the boy shouted, a nasty expression on his face. "No one has EVER resisted my charms before!"

Botan stared at Senkichi, horrified. This wasn't the Senkichi she once knew. This was a monster...

"Darn you, woman! Why can't you fall for me?" Senkichi shook her violently.

Panic rose in Botan's throat. She struggled to get free, but Senkichi pinned her to the wall.

"Well, if you can't go with me willingly," Senkichi said, a wicked grin on his face, "I'll TAKE your spirit by force. I really think you'd make a delicious meal for me."

A meal? My spirit? Botan remembered Himawari. The youkai who ate her spirit must be like Senkichi...oh, good heavens, I don't want to die yet! Instinctively, Botan brought out her paddle. With all her strength, she bashed Senkichi on the head with her oar.

The blow took him by surprise, and he staggered backwards. Botan used the opportunity to run.

Senkichi was overcome with fury. "You will not get away from me!" he yelled. He gathered some energy in his hand to make a spirit ball. He threw the ball towards Botan, and it hit its target.

With an agonized scream, Botan dropped towards the ground.

Botan felt pain all over her body. What is this? She thought. It felt as if a thousand spirits clutched to her body, screaming for help. It drained all her energy, and she could barely move.

"My power comes from the spirits which I devoured before," Senkichi said smugly. "That's why it's so darn powerful. It could even stun someone like you, who's used to dealing with spirits. But don't worry sweetheart,it'll soon be over."

Senkichi leaned over and kissed her on the lips.

Botan felt her spirit separating from body. No I can't go...I don't want to leave yet...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Koenma didn't know why he headed towards that dark alley. Was it instinct? Some sort of psychic connection? He couldn't figure it out, but he went towards it anyway. Botan is in here... Koenma thought. I know.

He was right.

Satisfied, Senkichi released Botan. Her limp body fell to the cold ground. He then saw Koenma standing there, a shocked expression on his face. "Ah. If it isn't the Rei Kai prince."

Koenma clenched his fists, his gaze fixed on Botan. "What have you done to her?"

"Oh, I just ate her spirit, that's all," Senkichi said, a wicked grin on her face. He patted his stomach. "Her spirit's right here. She'll be part of my ki soon. Hmm...she was so delicious."

Two small drops of tears fell from Koenma's eyes. "I... will... never forgive you..."

"Rei Kai ferry girls are such a delicacy to me," Senkichi went on. "I ate the spirit of another ferry girl a long time ago. She was so pretty. I still remember those lovely eyes of hers, and that smile...her soft, tender lips. I can still remember her innocent, loving eyes, and that wonderful, passionate kiss we shared..."

"You bastard!!!" Koenma spat angrily. He couldn't contain his fury anymore. He raced up to Senkichi, and delivered a swift blow to the boy's face.

Senkichi swerved to avoid the blow. He held up his hand, and formed a red spirit ball. He threw the ball to Koenma.

Koenma slammed on the wall because of the force of the spirit ball. He screamed in agony, feeling pain all over his body. Nevertheless, he forced himself to stand up.

Senkichi smiled. "Guess you're not a Rei Kai prince for nothing. You really are strong. Maybe I should increase my power then!"

He gathered more power, and threw a bigger ball at Koenma. Koenma evaded the ball, when suddenly, he was hit by another.

He slumped to the ground, the pain increasing. He tried to stand up, but couldn't.

Senkichi made another, bigger ball in his hand. "What a pity. Your beloved Botan died before you could tell her your feelings. Too bad."

This is my fault, Koenma thought in grief. I'm so sorry, Botan... I could try to defeat him, but it will never bring you back. Why was I so stupid?

Senkichi released the ball towards him.

"I can never let you win!' With this cry, Koenma popped his pacifier out of his mouth. He began to collect power from this.

"Fuumaken power!!!" He released the energy.

The two forces met at the center. Senkichi looked surprised, and he released another ball to counteract the energy coming from Koenma. But Koenma, his power strengthened by his determination to win, emerged as the victor.

His power overcame Senkichi's spirit ball, and made its way towards the spirit-eating youkai.

"NOOOOOO!!!!" was Senkichi's final cry, and he vaporized into nothingness.

Koenma managed to crawl to Botan's side, ignoring the ache in his body. He took her into his arms, and held her close to him.

"I'm sorry, Botan... I should have told you..." he wept silently. " Aishiteru, Botan...aishiteru..." But he knew that even if he said these words now, she would never even hear him, for she was now gone, forever.

"Koenma-sama..."

Koenma jerked back. Was that his imagination playing tricks on him? He looked at Botan in surprise.

Her eyes fluttered open. "Koenma-sama?"

"Botan, you're alive!!!" Koenma cried tearfully. He embraced her tenderly. "You're alive... you had me worried back there..."

"Koenma-sama!!!" Botan sobbed. "It was so horrible! My spirit felt as if it was being torn apart, I never knew such pain existed..."

Koenma tried to reassure her. "It's okay now, you're going to be fine. I'm here...with you."

Botan nodded.

Maybe it's because she hasn't been in Senkichi long enough, that's why she's still alive. Maybe she hasn't been fully digested yet, or something. Koenma winced at the thought of Botan's spirit being digested. Whatever the reason is, I'm glad she was able to get free.

"Botan, I had thought it was too late to tell you this," he said softly. "But I'm glad it's not yet too late...Aishiteru, Botan."

Botan looked at him, surprised.

"Well, maybe you don't feel the same way," Koenma said sadly. "It's okay. I would just like to have it in the open, so I could at least-"

He never got to finish, for Botan unexpectedly kissed him. "That's my answer," she said shyly. Koenma's face reddened in embarrassment, and he managed to stammer out a "Oh."

"I told you that you'll be thanking ME when you two get married!!!"

Koenma and Botan jumped. "Yusuke?!" they said in unison.

Yusuke stood there, grinning. Behind him were Kuwabara, Kurama, Hiei, Yukina, Keiko, and Shizuru.

Shizuru smacked her forehead in exasperation. "Geez, Yusuke really has such bad timings."

Yusuke grinned, for he did not hear what Shizuru said. "Let's hear it for Koenma and Botan!!!" he cheered. The others gave a happy cry. They all rushed towards the couple, giving their congratulations.

Keiko hugged Botan. "I'm so happy for you, Botan-chan!"

"Well, if they're all getting married," Kuwabara said, turning to Yukina. "What do you say we get married, Yukina-san?"

Hiei threw an icy glance at Kuwabara, which the latter did not notice, for he was busy grinning at Yukina.

Koenma smiled. Finally, this is all over.

"Good luck, Koenma-chan."

Koenma looked up, startled. Great, he was hearing things again. Or was he? He could have sworn he had heard Himawari's voice just now.

He silently bid Himawari goodbye. He could finally move on now. Perhaps a small part of him will always love her, but she was of the past, and he knew he would never see her again. He had a new life now, a life that he would live with Botan.

Yusuke and the others started to walk away, chatting happily (with the exception of Hiei, of course). Botan and Koenma glanced at each other, and they followed, holding each other, hand in hand.

Owari