Marine: Let us know when it's up.

Botan's POV

Botan opens her eyes as she feels Yukina's fingers on her lips, she tries to calm her beating heart. What is it she just said? She likes me? Botan had known she was disappointed to hear Yukina liked someone, though she hadn't been sure why. And then that kiss had brought out a whole new set of confused questions. Did she have feelings like this for the ice demon? The kiss had felt so…. Comfortable. Her emotions have always been transparent to others and she looks into Yukina's eyes and studying them. The color of wine, a deep burgundy that Botan wasn't yet ready to admit she could get drunk in. "Me?" she asks in confusion.

She blinks as Yukina giggles, sounding like the tinkle of ice on a midwinter morning. "For a while now." She responds, letting her hand drop to Botan's lap to clutch at Botan's hands.

Botan shakes her head. "I don't understand." She looks down at their hands and then back up at Yukina feeling lost. Why would Yukina like her, she isn't as strong as the boys, nor as beautiful. She certainly isn't as smart as Keiko or as observant as Shizuru. And Yukina is so perfect, why would someone like that be interested in someone like her? She is prodded from her thoughts by Yukina shifting on the blanket. The ice demon has let go of Botan's hands and is looking away, sadness emanating from her form.

"I… I'm sorry Botan-san." There is a quiver in the tiny voice. "I know I'm probably not what you're looking for, but even if I am a Koorime and a demon, would you ever be able to see me as someone you could like?" she turns back toward Botan and looks desperately at her. "You're the only one that understands me. At least, it seems that way." She stops and drops her eyes again.

Botan opens and closes her mouth trying to put everything together. "Yukina, it's not that I don't like you!" she blurts in her own clumsy way. "It's… not that." She leans over and hugs Yukina without even thinking about it. "You're such a great person and a close friend, I just hadn't ever thought of it like this!" Yukina clings to her happily, but unsure as to what that last sentence meant.

Botan sits back and looks at Yukina. "But… you know, I'm kind of ditzy sometimes and I'm not really strong or pretty or anything. Why me?"

Yukina smiles up at her. "You're honest, and energetic, and I think you're attractive. You aren't stupid though sometimes you really shouldn't let the others say you are. And you understand me more than anyone else I've ever met."

Botan blushes and is thoughtful again. "Honestly, Yukina, I don't know how I feel. I know I love you as a friend, and I've found myself drawn to you in ways I really can't describe. But I don't know." Her shoulders droop in confusion.

Yukina smiles again and leans over, nuzzling Botan's nose with her own. "Do you want to try it and see how it goes?"

Botan's cheeks turn crimson before a thought crosses her mind and her whole body stiffens and face pales. "But… um…." She can see Hiei in her mind, arm flaming as he laughs sadistically and sends his black dragon wave at her.

Yukina looks at her, nose still touching Botan's. She smiles and kisses her before patting her knee. "Don't worry about Hiei. I'll make sure he doesn't do anything to you."

Botan gawks at Yukina jaw hanging open and eyes large and shocked. "EH?!"

Yukina laughs openly this time , leaning over this time next to Botan's ear. "You're adorable when you're panicked."

Botan gulps and turns to Yukina flushing even more. "Yukina!" she remembers why she was shocked. "Do you know about Hiei?'

Yukina smiles her innocent looking smile. "I don't know a think about my brother."

Botan looks stoically at her. "You know I'll never be able to believe that smile again." She is about to add on "how did you know and how long." But is interrupted when Yukina leans up against her shoulder and wraps her arms around Botan's waist.

"I don't want you to look at me the same way again." The smile turns sneaky and she slides her fingers into the back pocket of Botan's jeans, turning her face so she can kiss Botan's neck with quick fluttery kisses.

Botan's feels dizzy for a moment, trying to take in the electric sensations running through her body and the turmoil of emotions in her heart. "Yu… Yukina…chan…" she can smell the cool scent of Yukina's shampoo and feel the warmth of her mouth against her neck and her mind seems to have decided to check-out for a moment.

The other smiles into the ferry girl's neck and licks the reddened area before speaking. "Botan, does it bother you?"

"Eh heh…" Botan tries to form a coherent thought, failing miserably.

"Botan, are you ok?" Yukina pulls away worriedly drawing her hands back up to tilt Botan's face toward her own. "Botan?"

Botan takes a moment to register then her eyes focus on the burgundy ones so close to her. "Huh? Oh! Yukina-chan! I'm ok!" she laughs nervously then apologizes. "Sorry, sort of lost it for a moment there."

Yukina smiles at her and says nothing, just enjoying watching her and all her emotions.

Botan chews her lower lip and looks back at Yukina. "I'd have to say it didn't really bother me at all." She leans down and kisses Yukina, this time parting her own lips to deepen the kiss. Yukina's tongue slides out to taste Botan's lips and the taller girl responds by sighing into Yukina's mouth, mingling spirit with flesh. When they finally pull away, both are breathing heavily and look a bit tousled.

Botan glances at her watch and nearly freaks out again. "Good Enma! We've been out here for two hours and we haven't even eaten. Genkai-shihan will worry about you!" she blinks at looks into the sky. "Eh.. he… SORRY ENMA-SAMA!!"

Yukina giggles and pulls the picnic basket over taking out the food and splitting it between the two of them. They continue to talk as they eat, Botan finally finding out how Yukina feels and how she knows about Hiei, and Yukina finding out more about Botan than the tall girl ever shared with the others. Including the original crush on

Yuusuke. The sun is beginning to send billows of oranges and pinks across the sky as the girls pack up and head back to the dojo. They make their way back along the path, laughing and talking, touching each other occasionally just to be able to feel the other, a small grasp of an arm, a light hand on a back, it doesn't matter to them. Botan is in high spirits when they exit the forest and make their way inside the dojo.

The feeling flies out the window the moment they reach Genkai's main room. Sitting on the floor facing Genkai is Hiei, looking up at the two of them with his flaming eyes that feel like they burn into her soul. She nearly drops the basket but Yukina takes it from her and smiles at the two people in the room. "Hiei-san, it's nice to see you here. I hope I wasn't too late Genkai-shihan." She sets the basket down and moves back to Botan's side.

"No not at all." Genkai says standing up and smiling at the girls. "You're back just in time, Hiei was wondering where you were."

Hiei glares at Genkai but remains silent.

"Ahhh… Yukina-chan and I went for a picnic." Botan says nervously, her voice shaking a little under Hiei's intense gaze.

Yukina smiles at Hiei. "I didn't know you were coming today, Hiei-san, I'm sorry we weren't in earlier."

Hiei shrugs. "You went on a picnic so late?"

Botan's hand clenches in a fist at her side as she strains at a smile. "We actually left around noon."

Yukina smiles up at Botan and sides her arm between Botan's arm and her body, lacing her fingers with Botan's. "It was the most fun I've had in so long." She lays her head on Botan's arm and lets her gaze rest on Hiei who for the first time in his life looks as though he's saying nothing because he really has lost his voice rather than is just in a terribly bad mood. Yukina's voice is casual but determined. "We had a chance to talk about so many things. Didn't we Botan?"

Botan looks down at Yukina with terror in her eyes. Everything about her says 'He's going to kill me right now, you won't be able to find my body because the ashes will be lost between the floorboards.' "Y… yes, it was nice."

Yukina looks mischievous and yanks Botan's arm down surprising everyone in the room as she kisses Botan roughly. She then turns her face toward Hiei who's mouth is actually hanging open much like Botan's had earlier that day. "Yu… Yukina… and …" his eyes rest on Botan for a moment before returning to his sister who's smiling like she's just won the lottery. If Botan didn't know better, she'd think Yukina was quite enjoying tormenting the fire demon. She wonders briefly if she knows better.

Genkai just shakes her head. "I guess I'm not as observant as I used to be." She smiles at them and then turns to leave the room.

Hiei by now has regained his composure and is looking at Botan as though he's about to draw his sword and skin her alive. Yukina wraps her arms around Botan's waist and looks at Hiei innocently. "Aren't you happy for us, Hiei? Botan's so wonderful, I'd just be beside myself if something happened to her."

Hiei's eyes move back to Yukina and his eyes soften a little. "Hn… I suppose if you're happy." He turns toward the door.

"Hiei-san are you leaving already?" Yukina asks next to Botan.

Botan rests her hand on Yukina's shoulder and watches Hiei uncertainly. Does this mean he won't kill me?

Hiei stops for a moment. "I just stopped in to have a word with Genkai." He is still for a moment longer as though he wants to say more, but then he is gone.

Botan slides to the floor in exhaustion. "He's so scary!" she wails tugging gently on Yukina's kimono.

Yukina smiles at her and leans down resting her forehead against Botan's. "Don't worry Botan." She smiles and leans a bit closer to kiss her quietly in the last rays of dusk. She pulls back again and kisses Botan's nose. "I love you."

Botan blushes and smiles at Yukina pulling her down to cradle in her arms. "I think I may like you too." She says as Yukina snuggles up against her and they look out the window as the first stars peek their way through the azure sky.

ARHG!! I dunno if I like this chapter as much, I liked writing in Yukina's point of view more!! My Botan is always angsty X_x Blah… Sometimes they seem so smooth and sometimes they seem contrived. I love cuddly scenes though! I really am not very particular about which characters it is as long as it's cuddly and sweet. So sue me for being a die hard romatic ^.~ I got awfully close to needing more than a PG 13 rating there … ^///^ Can you believe it? Another chapter in one day! What the crap? I should be working on Lillith. X_x