Of Fluffy Tails and FLying Oars
chapter one
by buttergold
my name? + buttergold (i love butter)
email? + jelly@mokushi.net
url? (not up yet) but... + http://www.envy.nu/mashimizu
catergory? + i guess From the Heart...
the fic:
Of Fluffy Tails and Flying Oars
Chapter 1
ÒI told you not to come any nearer!Ó Botan was feeling scared; terrified, in fact. The youkai were coming nearer and nearer, their evil chuckles were becoming louder and louder. She held out her oar in front of her, closing her eyes tight, wishing that Koenma-sama would suddenly show up to save her.
Oh why had she ignored Koenma-samaÕs warning and run off to the Makai to explore? She was just too impulsive; everybody said that one day her impulsiveness would land her in trouble, and now she believed them.
Then, just as their hands were going to touch her, just as she was ready to faint, someone arrived at the scene.
ÒWhat do you think youÕre doing?Ó a deep voice sounded from behind the youkai.
The youkai turned, raising their clubs in anger for being interrupted. One of them opened his mouth to speak, then clamped it shut again when he saw who it was. The three of them froze.
In three lashes of a whip, the three youkai were sliced into halves, and the six pieces of them fell onto the floor in a bloody mess of gore. Botan, with her eyes still closed tight, trembled when she heard the footsteps coming nearer. She raised her oar weakly up. Then the footsteps stopped. She could feel the shadow fall on her.
And she couldnÕt stand it anymore.
Raising her oar, she slammed it down on anything and anyone who was in front of her. There was a slight breeze, then the same deep voice spoke into her ear.
ÒAnd what are you doing here?Ó
She screamed. Then she felt a hand clamp her mouth shut.
ÒQuiet, onna, unless you want to get killed!Ó
She opened her eyes, and the oar disappeared from her hands. She blinked at the dead bodies of the youkai who had been harrassing her.
ÒTh-theyÕre dead. . .Ó
ÒYes, theyÕre dead. IÕm glad you finally noticed,Ó
Botan turned around, and found golden eyes staring into her own lavender ones. She backed one step away. A tall, silver-haired youko stood before her, and he had a rather annoyed expression on his face.
ÒWho are you?Ó she stammered, summoning her oar again.
ÒDoesnÕt matter. Now why donÕt you go back to where you came from? Girls like you shouldnÕt be wandering around these parts.Ó
ÒReally? Why?Ó
The youko narrowed his eyes, flicking his tail irritatedly. ÒBecause something might happen to you! Something like what happened just now!Ó he put a hand to his head. ÒI never knew anyone could be so stupid.Ó
ÒHey!Ó she folded her arms across her chest. ÒAt least I wasnÕt killed.Ó
ÒBut you could have been!Ó the youko shook his head, and ran a hand through his hair. ÒAh, I wonÕt bother with onna like you anymore,Ó he turned to walk away.
ÒMatte yo!Ó Botan called after him. He stopped.
ÒWhat?Ó
ÒYou still havenÕt told me who you are!Ó
ÒI told you, you donÕt need to know.Ó he started walking again.
Botan stomped forward and grabbed his tail.
ÒI-Itai!Ó the youko stopped and spun around. ÒNani shugure?!Ó
ÒI told you to stop, didnÕt I? And if youÕre a gentleman, you would!Ó
The youko caressed his aching tail. ÒIf you were a lady, you wouldnÕt have pulled my tail!Ó
ÒAll right, gomen nasai. But the least you could do is show me how to get out of this place!Ó
ÒEh? You donÕt know how?Ó the youko kissed his tail.
Botan flushed. ÒH-Hai, I lost my way into here, you see.Ó
ÒHmph. Baka onna.Ó
ÒNani?!Ó
The youko let go of his tail, after caressing it for the thousandth time and kissing it for the hundredth. ÒAh, all right. Just to get you off my back. IÕve got things to do, you know,Ó the youko started walking. ÒCome on.Ó
ÒM-Matte yo!Ó Botan said, running after him. ÒWhatÕs your name?Ó
The youko stopped, then turned his head around. His golden eyes were flashing, his silver hair rippling out behind him. ÒYou donÕt know who I am?Ó
ÒWhat? Am I supposed to know?Ó
The youko was silent, then turned back and started walking again. ÒIie,Ó
ÒSo whatÕs your name?Ó
ÒWhatÕs yours?Ó
ÒI asked you first.Ó
ÒIf youÕre so unwilling to tell me your name, then why should I be willing to tell you my name?Ó the youko flicked his tail again.
Botan clenched her fist, but answered. ÒFine. Atashi wa Botan desu. Now whatÕs your name?Ó
ÒDo you really want to know?Ó
ÒYes!Ó
ÒOh, no you donÕt.Ó
ÒYes I do!Ó
ÒYou donÕt. Nobody ever wants to.Ó
ÒWell, I do!Ó
ÒEven if you did, I couldnÕt tell you.Ó
ÒAnd whyÕs that? YouÕve got something to hide?Ó
The youko stopped. His tail curled up between his legs. ÒYes. In fact, I do have something to hide.Ó
Botan blinked. She thought she could detect a certain sadness in his voice. ÒDo-Doushita no?Ó
ÒNothing.Ó the youko had started walking again, his tail uncurled, leading her through the twists and turns of the large cavern.
Botan stared at him for a while, then started following him again. A silence settled uncomfortably between them. Botan broke it.
ÒBut then, I guess everyone has something to hide, ne?Ó
ÒHn.Ó
ÒI have my secrets too.Ó
ÒHn.Ó
ÒAnd you have yours.Ó
ÒHn.Ó
ÒAnd your brother has red spiky hair.Ó
ÒHn.Ó
Botan hit him on the head. ÒI knew you werenÕt listening to me!Ó
ÒIte-te-te-te-te!Ó the youko rubbed his head.
ÒWell, you werenÕt listening to me!Ó
ÒAll right. Gomen ne, IÕm listening now.Ó
ÒGood.Ó They continued walking. ÒAnd IÕll respect your privacy.Ó
ÒArigatou.Ó
ÒArigatou gozaimasu to you, too.Ó Botan smiled.
ÒEh?Ó the youko stopped and turned around. ÒWhat for?Ó
ÒFor saving me,Ó
The youko returned the smile. ÒYouÕre welcome.Ó
ÒUh, does your brother really have spiky red hair, youko-chan?Ó
ÒWhat did you just call me?Ó
ÒYouko-chan.Ó
ÒDonÕt call me that!Ó
ÒYouko-chan youko-chan youko-chan youko-Ó Botan stopped when she saw his ki radiating around him. ÒHai, hai, I wonÕt.Ó
ÒThatÕs better.Ó
ÒBut does your brother have red spikey hair?Ó
Ò. . . I donÕt know.Ó
ÒWhy? Oh, you donÕt have a brother at all!Ó
ÒI may, I may not.Ó
ÒWhat sort of answer is that?Ó
ÒI donÕt know much about my family. If I ever had one.Ó
ÒYouÕre an orphan?Ó
ÒIie!Ó
ÒThen-?Ó
ÒI was separated from my mother and whatever family I had when I was very young. I donÕt have many memories about them.Ó
ÒSou ka. . . but . . . would you like one?Ó
Ò. . . Hm. I guess so. Everybody wants a bit of love, I suppose.Ó
ÒHai. Everyone.Ó
ÒHave - have you ever loved someone, Botan?Ó
ÒIie, I donÕt think so.Ó
The youko remained silent.
ÒDemo. . .Ó
ÒHm?Ó
ÒI could fall in love with you-Ó
The youko stopped walking. ÒNo, you wouldnÕt.Ó
ÒWhy do you say that?Ó
ÒNo one wants to love a youko like me, really. Only someone who knew nothing about me would.Ó
Ò... I know nothing about you.Ó Botan replied softly.
Another silence.
ÒHm, you donÕt, do you?Ó the youko chuckled quietly.
ÒWhat so funny?Ó
ÒThen youÕre the only person who could ever love me.Ó
Botan blinked. ÒYouÕre so famous?Ó
ÒIie,Ó the youko shook his head. ÒInfamous.Ó
ÒInfamous?Ó
ÒYes. IÕm infamous. You donÕt know what IÕve done, what my past was like, not even my name. You really donÕt know anything about me.Ó
Botan smiled at him. ÒYou did say before only someone who knew nothing about you would be able to love you.Ó
ÒHai.Ó
ÒSo I would be able to fall in love with you.Ó
Ò. . .Ó
ÒYouko-chan. . .Ó Botan smiled.
And this time there were no objections. Botan giggled.
Maybe she really could fall in love with him.
... after another read-through, i suddenly realize that this is very, very weird and not too nicely written. *sigh* ah well. i hope it's all right.
chapter 2 >>