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Chapter 1
Botan's Stalker
by Reiko
mosqamuerta@yahoo.com


"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 when she noted 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'd you get here only now?"

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

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, annoyed. "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 on 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 in confusion. Botan turned to Yusuke only to notice the grim expression 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 were leaving, shrimp?"

"Hn!"

"You look nice, Hiei-san." Botan said appreciating the suit on Hiei's body. Hiei snorted 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 had 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 you don't bring a katana when going to an engagement party, you know."

"I didn't even want to go to this stupid engagement party!" Hiei 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 could 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, who was wearing a long baby-blue gown that hinted 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 her brother a not-so-playful smack on the head. Kuwabara yelped loudly, causing a dozen curious eyes to look towards them. Then Shizuru turned once again to Botan.

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

"Oh, he is with Sayuri-san." Botan 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 get 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 by her side. Botan couldn't help but marvel at the scene.

She often noticed how people in love reacted to their loved ones. Just like that moment, at a mere turn of Shizuru's head, her fiancé immediately walked towards them and placed himself beside her. No words were needed, only actions, feelings...

Just then, Botan 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 were holding this glass as if you were going to break it into 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, and Kuwabara eagerly lagged behind him. Hiei snorted again and immediately detached himself from the group, the thought 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. At that, Kurama chuckled.

"And I'll be damned if someone suddenly cuts our dance short." 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, that complimented the soft blue waves of her hair. Instantly, Botan blushed.

"Thank you." She said.

"All right, she's all yours." Kurama said, handing Botan's 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 at Hiei." 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 tight enough to choke the air out of him." Then she frowned. "You're here to check on Ningenkai?" Koenma just smiled and shook his head.

"I suppose you're right about Hiei." Koenma answered. "But he would look better if he, for once, stopped 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 flew by so fast. Ten years had passed since the Makai Tournament and Yusuke, Kurama and Kuwabara were now in their twenties, each having their own stable jobs and enjoying their bachelor's freedom. Shizuru was about to get married, at long last... Hiei, on the other hand, began showing himself almost everyday in Ningenkai, showing obvious worry for his sister. Keiko also had a stable job, as a corporate executive, while Yukina busied herself maintaining Genkai-senpai's place when the old woman passed away just a year before.

Then Botan stared at Koenma, who looked very handsome in his cream-colored slacks and in his cotton, long-sleeved white polo. He didn't even bother donning 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 that you have decided to store your power somewhere else. That pacifier was making you look ridiculous." Koenma chuckled.

"And all this time you didn't tell me that my pacifier was 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 her 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. At 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 hated to admit it, but the cheerfulness and happiness he had displayed earlier had completely gone up in smoke when the subject of his engagement was brought up.

"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 can stop the old man from nagging me to get married and even 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 was really going on, she would be more than willing to help, but...

She sighed. It was no use. Something was bothering him, she was sure about that. But the look Koenma had given 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 freeze with fear upon hearing that voice. The voice was so cold, and so sinister. She frantically looked around, desperately scanning the room, but all she could see was 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 was the best way to get rid of that 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 to ignore the voice inside her head. But she couldn't help but feel something was bound to happen to her, something really, really bad.

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