‘Yusuke, we need to talk.’

‘What about?’

‘About us.”

‘Yeah?’

“I don’t think we should see each other anymore.’

‘Why not?’

‘Because it’s not working between us.”

‘I didn’t hear you complaining last night.’

        Keiko blush at the comment. They had gone to a party last night at Kuwabara’s house. Yusuke and Keiko had made love in Kuwabara’s room and she had been completely wanton and bold.

‘Anyway Yusuke, I really don’t think we should continue this relationship.

‘Why?’

‘I told you, it’s not working.’

‘You said that already but are you sure that’s the real reason?’

        She could see that he wasn’t taking her seriously. No matter what she said, he wouldn’t listen to her. She didn’t have any other choice but to tell him the truth. She knew it’s going to hurt him but he didn’t leave her with any other choice.

‘You’re right, Yusuke. That’s not the real reason.

‘You want to tell me then?’

‘I fell in love with someone else.’

‘Oh! Okay.’

That was all he said. Of all the reactions, she had expected from him that wasn’t one of them. He just stood there gazing at an indefinable spot on the ground. His face was emotionless.

‘I’m really sorry, Yusuke.’

        Since he didn’t reply, she turned on her heels and left him standing there. Yusuke didn’t know how long he stood there. He was still trying to make sense to all that had just happen. Part of him felt so angry but the other part felt relieved. He couldn’t understand his mixed emotions.

        His reveries were interrupted by a loud noise behind him. He turned his head to see three people coming toward him. They didn’t look too friendly and he soon recognized them as the people he had beaten up this morning while going to school.

‘Urameshi, we have a score to settle.’ Said one of the trios.

‘Good, I was just looking for something to pound on.’ He replied a smirk.

Botan was sitting in her room at the apartment she used every time she stays in Ningenkai. She was feeling disheartened because the man she loves was out with another woman. She couldn’t remember exactly when she had fallen in love with him. It all started as an innocent crush but now she was hopelessly and helplessly in love with Yusuke Urameshi.

It was a good thing he didn’t know about her feelings for him or she would be making a big fool out of herself. Everyone knows that Yusuke loves Keiko. There was no way that he'll ever be interested in her. After all, she was the Deity of Death. Nobody ever fall in love with Death. It was as simple as that. She was destined to love and never be loved. Even though, she knew that he would never love her back she couldn’t help feeling jealous when she saw him with Keiko. Every time he touched her, kissed her or just being with her, Botan felt her heart crying out to him. “Oh! Yusuke. If only you knew how much I love you and want to be with you. You’re the only reason I’m here in Ningenkai. I know I can never have you but I want to be closed to you. Just seeing you is enough for me.”

A light knock on the door took her out of daydreaming. “Who could it be?” she wondered. It was almost ten o’clock at night. She went to the door and answered it. She was about to say something but stop dead on her track when she saw Yusuke blood-spattered face. He looked terrible. His clothes were tore and dirty. He looked a mess.

‘Yusuke’ she whispered. ‘Are you alright?’

‘No.’

‘What happened? You look terrible. Have been fighting again?’

        He didn’t answer her. He just stood there. She looked at his face and realizes that he was crying. Rivers of tears were flowing from his eyes. Botan fell her heart reaching to the man she loves. She hated seeing him hurt. She wanted to take away his pain and make him smile again.

        She took his hand and led him to the living room and sit with him on the couch. He was still crying but didn’t make a sound. She took him in her arms and hugged him to her. At that moment all the pain he was keeping inside were let loose. He started sobbing in her arms. His body was shaking violently. Botan didn’t know what to do. She could deal with an angry Yusuke. But a crying Yusuke, she was totally helpless. He wasn’t often that she saw him cry. Something must have happened to make him cry like that.

‘Yusuke.’ She called out softly once he calmed down. ‘Tell me what’s wrong.’

‘Keiko broke up with me.’

‘Oh! Yusuke, I’m so sorry.’

‘I got into a fight with some stupid people and the police came. My mother was furious at me.’

        Botan was wordless for a moment. That explain why he was such a mess. So, Keiko had broken up with him. Part of her feel happy that Yusuke was no longer taken but the other part couldn’t help but being angry with Keiko for hurting Yusuke.

‘Hey, Botan.’ Said Yusuke.

‘Yes, Yusuke?’

‘Do you mind if I stay here for a while. I don’t want to go home right now.’

‘Of course, you can stay here.’

‘Thanks.’

‘Would you like to take a shower and clean up?'

‘Yeah.’

‘Good, now I’ll go find something for you to wear for the night.’

        He made a move toward the room but stopped.

‘Hey! Botan?’

‘Yes.’

‘Thanks.’

‘No problem.’

        He turned and went to the bathroom. It wasn’t the first time Yusuke stay over her apartment. He would stay every time that had a mission or when he didn’t want to fight with his mom. She went and prepared the guest room for him and went to her own room to look for something he can wear. After ten minutes, she found nothing. All her clothes were too small to fit him. She decided to go to his house and get him some clothes. She produced her oar and shortly she was at her destination. “Thank goodness, Yusuke’s window is always open.” She thought. She certainly didn’t want to run into his mother. She was probably drunk after her fight with her son.

        Botan went inside the room and turns on the light. His room was a mess. She looked into his closet and finds some clean clothes. She put them in a bag she found on the floor and left just as she came.

        Yusuke was still in the shower when she got back. She put the clothes on his bed and went back to the living room to make herself a cup of tea. Yusuke came out of the bathroom a few minutes later. She heard him sit himself on the couch.

‘Would you like some tea?’ she asked her back still to him.

‘No, thanks.’

        Botan poured herself a cup of tea turn to face Yusuke. She dropped the cup the moment she saw his naked chest. It wasn’t the first time she had seen him bare-chested but seeing him sitting in the middle of the living with only sweatpants on really shocked her. The sight of him sent shiver down her spine.

‘Botan, are you okay.’ She heard Yusuke ask.

‘I’m fine. The cup was just hot. I’ll just make another one.’ She lied.

‘I’ll get it for you.’

‘No, really. I can do it.’

‘You sure?’

‘Yes, I’m sure.’

        Botan cleaned the mess she had made before making herself another cup of tea and settled in the chair opposite the couch. She tried to avoid staring at his chest.

‘Hey, Botan. Do you have any bandages?’

‘Yes, I do.’

‘Can I have one?'

‘Sure, but would you like me to heal you instead?’

‘That would be great.’

        She went over the couch and sit next to Yusuke. She was closed enough to feel his breathing on her cheek. She brought her hand to his face and healed the nasty cut on his eyebrow. Seconds later, his face was back to normal. She looked at him and sighted.

‘You’ll all set.’

‘Thanks, I think I’ll go to bed now.’

‘Sure. Goodnight, Yusuke.’

‘Goodnight, Botan.’

Yusuke went to bed and left Botan in the living room. She quickly drunk her tea and prepared herself for bed. She fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

A few hours later, Botan woke up by a weeping sound. At first, she thought that she was just dreaming but when she heard the sound again, she realized it was Yusuke. She got up from her bed and went to his room.

‘Yusuke.’ She whispered.

        He didn’t answer but cry out in his sleep again. “He must be having a nightmare or something.” Thought Botan.

        She opens the door carefully and went to him. The room was barely lit, enough for her to make out his features. He was sweating and his bed was a mess. He cried out again and Botan quickly sat by his side. She found a towel on the floor and dries his face with it all the while whispering to him, “shhh, it’s okay. I’m here.” As if he could hear, he mumbled, “don’t go.”

‘I won’t go anywhere, my love.” She answered back and kissed him on the forehead.

        She cradled his face to her and run her fingers through his hair. The action seems to calm him down. After a while, he settled back into a deep and peaceful slumber. Botan stayed with him for a while before returning to her own room and fell asleep.

        Yusuke was awakening by a wonderful aroma the next morning. He felt pretty tired. He hadn’t got much sleep last night probably because of all the nightmares he had. He went into the bathroom and brushed his teeth and took a shower. When he returned to his room, he saw the bed was already made. He dressed in jeans and a white t-shirt with his sneakers. He found Botan in the kitchen cooking breakfast. She turned around as soon as she heard him.

‘Good morning, Yusuke.’ She said in her cheerful voice. ‘Did you have a good night sleep?’

‘Yes, thank you and good morning to you, too.’

‘Would you like something to eat?’

‘Sure.’

‘Then sit down.’

        Botan put a plate of eggs, bacon, toast and homemade fries in front of him. Then she gave him some juice, fruits and yogurt before sitting down with her own breakfast. Yusuke couldn’t remember the last time he had a decent breakfast. He looked at the food in front of him then at the girl who had cooked it.

‘What?’ she asked.

‘I didn’t know you could cook. Usually when I come over, we always have Pizza or other junk food.’

‘Yeah, but that doesn’t mean I can’t cook. And besides it’s healthy to eat a home-cook meal once in a while.’

        A silence settled over them while they ate. Yusuke was still thinking about his break up with Keiko. He still couldn’t believe she had dumped him for some stupid idiot. It was true that he wasn’t around much that didn’t give any right to dump him.

        After they finished their breakfast, Botan cleaned the apartment. Yusuke was still there. He offered to help her but she refused saying that he was her guest. The rest of the morning passes by very fast. Botan and Yusuke stay at her apartment talking about everything and nothing. Despite Botan’s jovial nature and her effort to cheer him up, he was still feeling a little down.

‘Hey, Yusuke why don’t we go outside. Maybe some fresh air would cheer you up.’

‘Sure, why not.’

        They went to park. It was a beautiful summer day. People were out having picnic with their family and friends. Yusuke and Botan just walk around talking. Unbeknown to either of them, one of Keiko’s friends was watching them.

        Botan watched Yusuke walking in the park with her. He looked much better now. He was smiling again and talking like his normal self. She fell so happy that he wasn’t as sad as he was last night. She still hadn’t told him that she went in his room last night. It was her secret. One she wasn’t ready to share with anyone yet. They walked for a while longer before deciding to go back home.

To be Continued...