"What the hell happened?!" Yusuke asked nervously, almost in a panic. Koenma was crouched down, his hands still on the ground. "She's gone" he whispered. His hands clenched tightly in a bal, pounding hard on the ground. The others watched him silently, sorrow in their eyes. "But who could have taken her?" Shizuru asked the others. Yusuke shook his head. "I don't know, but with all those bombs and explosion, I believe it was..."

      Could it be? Koenma thought, reminding himself of the man who just came. The bombs, that voice, everything made sense. It must be him. Koenma stood straightly up. "Father"
"Everybody! Gather everyone up, I want Botan to be back her immediately!" Enma Daioh shouted in an order. Koenma looked around. The place was a mess. If ever they would find who took his bride, he's going to pay really badly. Especially is he was who he think he is. By now, the only two people he has in his mind was Karasu or Kurama. And for once in a long time, he wished Botan would be with Kurama rather than the other one. But the thought still bothered him. What if she really is with Kurama? What will happen? Koenma's thought were flooded by ideas and doubts, worries and frustrations. If only it could wait, if he did have her, Kurama could still have a chance of taking her back. If only their wedding began a little bit earlier...

      What's---what's happening? Botan asked herself as she could feel herself being flown away. She dared not open her eyes, thinking that what she will see is something she wouldn't like. SHe kept her eyes close, just in case opeing them would be a threat to her life. Suddenly, she heard two familiar voices, but her mind was still blurred, she still tried to remember where she heard their voices.

"What is it with her?"

"Ssh...you'll wake her up"

"So what?"

"Hey, this was your idea"

"Well, you liked it. It was just something to cheer you up, you're pathetic kitsune"

"Hn...thanks anyway, Hiei"

      Kitsune? Hiei? Botan's heart leapt in delight when she remembered who they were. She slowly opened her eyes, hoping that what she heard weren't her imagination. She quickly flung to the one carrying her, recognizing his familiar form. "Kurama!"

      Youko Kurama felt the sudden weight that moved in his arms. The woman threw herself to him, hugging him by the neck ever so tightly. He heard a slight "hn" from his companion, but he didn't mind it. Instead, he hugged her back, savoring the warmth as they flew in the Makai skies. "I thought I'd never see you again" she sobbed in his shoulders as she held on tighter. Hearing the sweet, familiar voice sent butterflies in his stomach. This was her. He didn't have to prove it, this was really her. The girl who had said goodbye to him has finally come back in his arms, where she belongs. Kurama sighed, knowing that nothing else would be between them for now, knowing he could be with her. That goes the same way with Botan. Knowing that she was safe in this youko's strong hold was enough to make her feel a lot more comfortable.

      "Ne, where are we going?" Botan asked, realizing that they were probably a hundred feet above ground. She also recognized the place. Makai. So that means they're not in reikai anymore. "We're supposed to go back in ningenkai, but with all these racket, it's much better if we hide for a while" Hiei answered for Kurama, knowing his friend didn't want to talk just yet. Seeing the gleam in Kurama's eyes, it seemed like he had found what he was looking for. It felt good, knowing that he was there to help him all the way. "We're looking for my lair. We'll be safe there, no one has ever known that lair. Even if there were, they didn't make out alive" Youko Kurama teased. Botan looked at him with innocent, questioning eyes that had a little spark of fear in it. Being with Hiei and Youko Kurama, the two people who once were two of the most sought out thieves in reikai wasn't much like a group where you want to be with. "We could change that though" he said with a smile. Living in his past was torture enough for him. He knows that Youko Kurama scared Botan, but he mustn't only hide in Shuuichi Minamino's body, he's both. He should know how to carry himself in either form, and it would be much better for them if he was in his youko form while in makai. Shuuichi Minamino is not that strong from all the dangers that might get them into.

      "Oi, what did you say it looked like again?" Hiei's question blocked his thoughts. Kurama glanced at him. "It's really hard to find, just look for some rare plants and you'll find it" he replied. Hiei smirked. He then took his glance back down. "How about that?" he asked, pointing in a spot where some meat-eating plants grew. "No, that's too small" Youko Kurama answered, narrowing his eyes to focus way down. Botan clasped her hands behind Kurama's neck as she looked down. "There!" she said, this time pointing on a spot on the ground. Kurama looked down as his face lit up, recognizing the place. He then pulled Hiei's hand and flew swiftly down. "Hey! I thought one where rare makai plants grew" Hiei asked, trying to dodge the spiky hair getting on his face. "Exactly. Those aren't just common plants even if they did look like the others it's with. You should know these plants pretty well, if not, you won't even recognize them even if you get close" Botan said with a smile. Hiei smirked and just let Kurama pull him down. "So that's why they called you sneaky" he said, looking at his friends with another smirk. Kurama just grinned, focusing his eyes below.

      They reached the hard ground below them afterwards. Hiei looked around. "Great, so where is it?" he asked, looking at Kurama as he walked ahead and bent down. He touched the ground beneath him and the plants suddenly gave way. They parted and revieled a hidden cave under the thick leaves. Botan and Hiei just stood in awe. Kurama glanced at them with a grin. "We'll be staying here for now" he said, looking at the two people with him. He waited for them to go inside before he followed. Botan sat herself down on one side, seeing that it was soft, almost like a bed. "Hey, how come this place is still clean?" she asked, looking at Kurama. "It was covered by plants in such a long time. Even if I was here, my plants are the ones taking care of it" he replied as he sat down beside her. Botan leaned her head in his shoulders as he placed an arm around her. Holding her close once again, he pushed her to lie down. Botan chuckled. "I hope you're not going to eat me. That form of yours is most likely to eat me up in a split second" she joked. Kurama laughed. "Not if I can help it" he said, looking down at her with the most loving eyes anyone could ever imagine. This wasn't the usual Youko Kurama. Maybe it was him, but his human heart still remained. Carressing her cheek with his knuckles, he bent down to give her a kiss. A kiss he always have starved for. Right after that night, he couldn't forget a thing about her. Every corner of his mind ached from her memories. He couldn't imagine the happiness he would feel now that she's with him. He'll claim her his again, determined he will never give her up. Not to Koenma, or anyone else. She was his, and he's going to prove right this very minute.

      Hiei groaned. He knew what this would result in. The two didn't seem to mind that he was there. The whole scene disgusted him in some way, but knowing that Kurama would be happy about it, so be it. He almost hit himself right on the wall of the cave, he was getting softer by the minute. Probably because of Kurama. The old Kurama he once knew was gone. Heck, that Kurama was almost colder than he was. He sighed, shaking his head as he walked out. Even if they didn't mind him watching them, he didn't want to interfere. Afterall, such scenes didn't interest him. If that's what they do to express their so called love, whatever, that's their opinion. With another smirk, he walked out.

      "Hey, Kurama" Botan moaned, her voice soft and shallow. Kurama pulled away, stopping the kisses he was getting from her. "Don't worry, Hiei's not here" he told her reassuringly. Actually, he didn't mind if Hiei saw them, he knew he wouldn't get anything from it. But if Botan want this to be a little bit more private, theetter. Botan looked around. Hiei certainly wasn't there. "Where did he go?" she asked, glancing back at him. "He went out" he said with a chuckle. "These things make him uncomfortable" he told her. Botan blushed. So even Hiei knew about it, she thought that guy didn't have a clue about these things. Her eyes then turned soft as she looked at the golden orbs that had been watching her all these time. "Sorry for the slight interruption" she whispered as she led him closer to hers, giving him a slight kiss on the lips. Making love with a youko has not even crossed her mind. She nearly forgot Kurama had this form. She had made love with Shuuichi Minamino, now it's time to see if Youko Kurama could love her as much as Shuuichi could. "Apology accepted, but you have to make up for it" he said with a grin, giving her a challenging glare. Botan giggled again. Kurama laughed with her and went on.

      Time had passed by as Hiei sat down on one side of the lair's entrance. His body was so warm, feeling the crimson color that spread up his cheeks. He rested his forehead on two fingers as he bent his head down and groaned. The sounds those two are creating are making him more uncomfortable. He only gotten used to it after some minutes, but it didn't take the color from his face. He buried his face in his hands, totally embarrassed with the two. So that's what they call it. He wondered why they have to be so noisy about it. He chuckled and stood up. Deciding that a walk would do good for him, he made steps away from the place. They'd better off be left alone, they deserved it. It would be much better for both parties, they get their privacy and he gets his sanity back. If he lasted one more second with this, he'll drive himself mad.

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