Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Lasting Moments ❯ Chapter 2 ( Chapter 2 )

"BOTAN!"

Botan awoke with an abrupt start. The embers of the fire had long since burnt out, and Botan's face was all sooty and her clothes all black from sitting so close to it.

"Botan, you complete fool! You've overslept! Our breakfast has not been made, our clothes have not been ironed-" Sayo began, but was interrupted by a knocking on the door.

"Well?! You idiot, answer the door!" Sayo barked. Botan scampered to the door with Hari and Maya close behind.

"Is it a man?" Maya whispered to her sister.

"Maybe," Hari whispered back.

Botan rolled her eyes at her pathetic step-sisters and opened the door. She stifled a quite gasp at the richly clothed guard that stood in front of her.

"Hear ye, hear ye! The prince, His Majesty Kurama, is hosting a ball! All eligible young ladies of the land are invited to attend this grand affair! Please be there tonight at 6, and the ball will run 'til dawn. Prince Kurama and his family hope to see you there. Good day!"

With a final salute, he marched off, presumably towards the next house.

Botan stood watching him leave, before silently closing the door, dreams forming in her head.

There were a few moments of utter silence. . .

And then Maya and Hari burst into excited screams and shrill.

"Calm down, my daughters calm down!" Sayo cried excitedly. "We have much to do!"

Botan cleared her throat.

All three turned to look at her.

"Um, may I come tonight as well, stepmother?" Botan asked quietly, praying that her hope wasn't detectable in her voice; she knew that it was her "family's" desire was to eliminate all hopes of her dreams.

"Why?" Sayo sneered. "You think the prince will fall in love with you?!"

"No," Botan replied, slightly red from embarrassment, "but he *did* say all eligible young ladies are invited, and, well, I'm eligible. . ."

Hari smirked and stifled a laugh. "YOU?!"

Sayo hid a smirk of amusement. "We shall see, Botan. Now. Go and fetch Hari and Maya's best dresses, ribbons, combs, fans-"

*

Kurama sat on his window, one leg dangling outside, the other situated across the sill, as he fingered the petals of his favorite flower, the red rose.

"I wish you would stop that," Yusuke frowned. "It makes me extremely nervous and you the consequence of my insane ways…"

Kurama smirked and fingered another petal of the delicate rose.

Yusuke sighed heavily.

The prince looked outside again, leaning his head against the window with a small frown. 'Stupid ball,' he thought darkly.

"Gods, what the hell is wrong with you, kitsune?" Yusuke asked, taking out Kurama's best outfit for the night, then selecting one for him. "I don't see why you're so pissed off about this ball thing. I'd love to have a ball in my honor! All those girls crowded around me. . ." Yusuke's eyes lit up at the idea, and then the flame burnt out as he turned to face his prince, and friend.

Kurama sighed, but it wasn't a sigh of exasperation. "I just- just don't want to find a girl that way. I mean, who does? All those ladies at the ball will just be trying to get a hold on some money and some power. They don't even know ME. How am I to marry a girl that I don't even know?" Kurama had always had a problem with girls; ever since he was little, he was swarmed by so many girls that absolutely adored him. He was always angry with their gossip about him, as if he was only a toy.

"Then why not get a little friendly with her there?" Yusuke smirked, earning a rock in the face.

"HOW COULD YOU SAY THAT?" Kurama cried in exasperation, "I'M BEING SERIOUS, HERE!"

Yusuke frowned again. "You're right; please forgive me my pr- I mean, Kurama."

Kurama sighed again, and his gaze returned out the window. 'What did I ever do to deserve this?'

*

Across town, Botan was thinking the same thing.

'For the love of the gods,' she thought darkly, washing a very frilly purple dress for the fifth time, 'how many times will I have the rinse this bloody thing before it's 'worn in' enough?!'

"BOTAN!" cried Maya from another room.

"BOTAN!" cried Hari from the room next to Maya's.

"BOTAN!" cried Sayo from the room next to her daughter's.

"BOTAN!" all three screamed at the same time.

"I'm coming!" Botan called back, racing to the screaming girls.

*

"Don't we look ravishing?" Maya lavished to her mother, spinning around modeling her seafoam green dress. "Don't our dresses flow wonderfully? Our hair curl perfectly?"

'Our egos grow rapidly?' Botan thought dryly as she put the finishing touches on Sayo's hair.

"My daughters," Sayo beamed, pushing Botan off and sending her falling backwards and onto the cold floor, "this will be a night to remember! When the prince, oh, handsome Prince Kurama, chooses one of YOU to be his bride!"

"He will choose me," Hari said smugly, straightening her flowing aqua gown.

"No, me!" Maya scowled.

"It's not worth fighting about," Sayo said smoothly, standing up as her violet dress swirled around her. "You are both beautiful and intelligent, and as long as one of you are chosen, it matters not which."

"Of course, mother," both girls replied just as smoothly.

"Um. . ." Botan said, making all three girls spin to look at her, "you never answered my question. May I go to the ball?"

Sayo smirked. "But dear, what will you wear? We will be going in less then 5 minutes, and you have absolutely nothing! You're filthy, your hair isn't done . . . we would not dream of presenting YOU to the prince!"

"But-"

Hari scowled. "No buts. You're staying where you belong."

Botan bit her lip and nodded, her hopes crushed and absolutely demolishes. "Yes."

Sayo turned and beamed at her daughters. "And now, my girls, we leave to the ball!"

"To the ball!" squealed Maya, who ran out and into the carriage before her mother and elder sister. Sayo followed, but Hari stayed behind for a moment.

"Botan," she said, glaring down at the younger girl.

"Yes?" Botan said in a quiet whisper.

Hari looked down at the girl with utmost dislike. "We may be sisters, but when I am chosen for the prince's bride, don't think that I won't be taking you as my personal maid."

"Yes, sister."

Hari glared. "That is STEP sister to you."

"Yes, stepsister."

Hari eyed the girl haughtily for a moment, and then swept out quickly.

Botan stood in silence until she heard the hooves of the horse take her step family swiftly away.

Tears filled her eyes as she ran back to her little corner by the fire, trying to keep the crystal droplets in her eyes from flowing.

'Oh, what am I crying about, anyway?' Botan thought, watching the fire dance in the grate, 'it's not like I- really wanted to go. I just dreamt of going. Hoped. I knew I wasn't going to be able to. It's not like . . . it'll be . . . that special. . .' She wiped her eyes and sniffled before whispering to herself, "I wish I could go to. . ."

"What do you wish?"

Botan looked up. At the window stood the next door neighbor, her secret friend Keiko. Keiko was about a year older than Botan, with matching short brown hair and deep coffee eyes.

"Keiko . . .?"

Keiko smiled. "So what are those no good brats making you do now?"

Botan stood and walked to the window, leaning against the sill. "It's not what they're *making* me do, it's what they're not *letting* me do!" She sighed. "I want to go to the ball so bad."

"Then why don't you go?"

"How? I have no dress or horse or- anything! I wish I had magic, I could make all those things appear. . ."

Keiko frowned. "Magic isn't needed to help dreams come true. Come with me." She motioned for Botan to follow and began to walk off, back towards her house.

Curious, Botan followed quickly.

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