Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Unforgotten Love ❯ Chapter 1 ( Chapter 2 )

Thank you so much for all of the reviews. I really appreciate it a lot. Sorry about the shortness of the last chapter but this one will be longer.

Disclaimer-I own a scar on my knee.

XXX

Botan's tiny figure squeezed through the tight cluster of greenery. Twice already she had gotten her pale blue hair tangled within the twigs. Both times Kuwabara had come forward, the perfect example of chivalry gone wrong. For he believed that hacking the branches away with his spirit sword would help solve the problem. Now on the back of Botan's head, lying just under her ponytail was a bare spot, from where the sword had missed. All she wanted now was to just leave. Leave this horrid place and never look back. Forget this important mission to slay a murderous demon. After all the more he killed the better job security she had.

Seeing a hill in the distance, Botan ran. Maybe if luck was on her side she could find a clearing. A clearing from all of the plants, darkness and the strange noises.

For a week now they had been stuck in this horrid place. A place where even sunlight was too afraid to show itself. Tall ominous trees stood stretching their arms out trying their best to block all of the sunlight.

Was there even a sky? The fighters could not tell by looking up. Pale skin and dull eyes ached for natural light. Light that did not come from a demonically grown plants. Light that would tan their flesh and make them want to shed the layers of clothes.

How cold and dead it was in the dark forest. Cold winds would blow suddenly, reminding Botan of the scary movies that Keiko would watch on Halloween. Another wind came by forcing a blue coat to be wrapped tighter around. Dead twigs and bones littered the ground that they walked upon. What the bones were of could only be left to their imaginations.

To make matters worse, beings rustled in the treetops above. Sometimes deep crimson eyes would glow from under a bush sending shivers up spines. Who was watching them? Was it a harmless rabbit or was it a demon hoping for an appetizer before its meal.

Botan was tired of it all. All she wanted now was a hot bath and a hot cup of tea. `And someone to be with one the cold dark nights.' Yes, even out here in the wilds, thoughts of the elusive emotion called love still did not leave her mind or sadly her dreams.

Reaching the top of the hill, or was it a mountain, Botan fell to her knees.

`NO!!' Tears brimmed her beautiful, innocent eyes.

There was no clearing ahead. Just more trees. There were flowing rows of trees ahead no sign of them letting up.

Burying her face within her muddy hands Botan wept silently. Why had she agreed to come with them.

/Flashback/

"Botan I have an important mission for Yusuke and the gang. Grab them immediately!" Koenma shouted while stamping yet another paper that resided on his desk. To his left was an enormous stack waiting patiently for their official seal.

With a quick salute and nod of the head Botan had ran out of the office to gather four sour teens. `No,' Botan thought shaking her head while riding on her oar, `two sour teens, one sour demon and one joyous teen.' Yes Kurama was never in a sour mood. He was always ready to help out. A light blush came to Botan's face as she thought about the red head. About his long soft hair, his graceful moves, his sweet voice, the gentle touch that he had on wounds. There was not one rough part on him. Even his Youko was soft and gentle.

Blushing lightly Botan lowered her head praying that no one would notice her reddened cheeks.

A hour later Botan returned with singed blue hair and scowling slightly at the demon behind her. Right behind her walked a smirking fire demon, pleased with his masterpiece. After all he had warned the pesky ferry girl about doing one more back flip on her oar. Amazingly she had not done one more stunt after the receiving crisp ends. Actually the rest of their ride was quite peaceful.

"Here they are Koenma." Botan said, one for stating the obvious, while taking a place in the back of the room. Her checks still flushed with embarrassment from earlier that day. Those vivid thoughts were still visible when she closed her eyes.

As if on cue, one of `those thoughts' jumped out begging to be seen again. Blushing madly she turned facing the corner. Why did these thoughts come so strong? She always had control of them before so why not now.

In the background of her hurried thoughts she could faintly hear Koenma telling about the mission. She already knew a lot about it though. After all she was the one that was carrying all of the recently departed thanks to him. Already she had taken four young children and two teenagers. God only knew how many demons were being slaughtered. Maybe she would ask Cera. Cera was the ones who took the demon souls to their final resting place.

Looking over she could see the boys nod. Apparently they had been briefed and had agreed to save the tiny ruler's butt once again. That's all they seemed to do anymore. If he was not her boss she would probably join Yusuke and the others in ridiculing him.

Sighing she followed the group of boys. Koenma had already told her that she was to follow them on their mission, should they need her healing powers.

/End of Flashback/

The thick green whip fell with a slight thump behind the red headed boy. Knees bent, head down all the signs of exhaustion. All that were shown by Kurama.

But he was not only one. Yusuke was on the ground gasping for air. Kuwabara had found a job in holding up the tree that he rested against. Even Hiei, the unbeatable fire demon, was having trouble holding himself up.

The orange haired demon stood erect staring at the spirit detectives, or what was left of them. Grinning a cold grin he raised to his mouth a long silver tube. Now he would finish the task.

Taking a deep breath he pointed the tube and blew. A shrill whistle was heard as a small metal object flew through the air. It flew closer and closer. Almost to its intended target, a red headed teen. The same red head that was now trying to get off of his knees. The same one that did not see the object coming after him.

Beautiful amethyst eyes widened in fear as they watched the object fly. There was no time to shout. Fear started to build within them. Even Hiei would not be able to stop the anticipated contact.

Breath caught within her beautiful chest. Lungs began to ache and beg for air. Oh how they begged for the fresh forest air. But the rest of her would not respond to the call.

Legs began running, picking up speed. More speed then what was ever possible of a deity let alone a demon. Botan ran break neck speeds pushing her body past the limit.

None of this seemed to matter. All that ran through her mind was how she could not let Kurama be hurt. Deep within her heart Botan knew that she had would rather take a thousand bullets then see him hurt.

Arms stretched out as far as they could go. Reaching far out in front of her. Botan was inches away from the back. The back of the one she wanted to protect. Even if it meant that her life was to end.

Bending her knees the young girl jumped forward. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see a tiny glint from the shrapnel. Biting her lower lip Botan closed her big beautiful eyes. Already she could tell what was going to happen. Any fool could tell.

"Botan!" echoed within the forest, bouncing off trees.

The slender body fell lifelessly to the ground, blue hair fanning out as she fell. A tiny metal spike stood out from the side of her neck. A thin rivulet of blood seeped from the wound tickling her pale neck. Blue hair lightly covered the pale face like a veil.

"Botan. Botan can you hear me?" Forest green eyes worriedly looked at the metal spike. Already he had a pretty good idea what it was. After all Youko had been both on the receiving and giving ends of them. More then once he had snuffed out a life in its prime.

Gently shaking the deity once again Kurama tried to get an answer form her. Behind him he could hear the vile creature being killed. Never before did such a sound give the fox such pleasure.

For a third time he tried to get an answer. `Please no! Don't let her die. Please don't do this to me. Not again. I can't go through this yet again.' Gentle tears fell freely from his eyes. Kurama already knew that he could not- no he would not watch another friend die.

A raven haired boy stared, disbelief filled his eyes. It almost seemed impossible that Botan could be lying here. Crimson eyes traveled to the man that now held her. Especially when `he' was the target. The target of the demon's wrath.

Amethyst eyes gently opened a far off look upon them. Almost as if she did not see the four boys before her. Though the others were disappointed at this; Kurama knew that Botan was safe. At least for the moment.

Once. Twice. Thrice her breath faltered. Breaths became more labored and sporadic. Each minute that ticked away brought the girl closer to death's door. The same `death' that threatened to steal her precious soul.

But what could they do? It had taken them a week to get this far. Even if they ran it still would take about five days. Four if they did not sleep. Even that would be too long. Botan only had a day at the most to live. Kurama had to get out of the Makai, and back to the herbs that would save her life.

"Yusuke we have to get her out of here before the end of the day. This poison will kill the infected person within 24 hours if it is not removed." Kurama looked, almost pleadingly, for help.

Everyone stood around silently. How could they get her out of this horrid place before the end of the deadline. Would they lose a dear friend?

XXX

So how was the first real chapter? Feel free to tell me how you really feel. So that means to go ahead and flame if ya feel like it.

I know Botan's a little ooc (out of character), but just hang on and you'll see why.