What went unseen through the moist eyes of Shiori Minamino did not go unseen through Kurama’s own. An instantaneous appearance of the Botan he knew, the Botan that both his mother and himself cared deeply for, had shown itself before once again vanishing as quickly as it appeared. The pain that those words caused had struck Botan beneath all of the darkness she was submerged in, causing her to break free just long enough to express regret. She wasn’t entirely lost despite the invisible affliction she carried. There was still hope. 

But now that she was compromised, what was the next move?

A frown took the place of the concern that previously marked his features, but he did nothing to stop Botan from walking off and heading to bed. Shiori did not protest it either. Instead she looked at him, eyes still damp from the emotional stress of Botan’s ongoing parental split. To have a heart of good and want to help but deep down know that you could offer very little in return was truly suffering. That was a state of mind that he shared with Shiori. Rather than let the pain of her affliction halt him, Kurama instead rose to his feet and moved beside his mother to offer her a hug she was eager to accept. 

[color=f7976a][b]“It’s a difficult time for her. She’ll talk about it when she’s ready, I’m sure of it…”[/b][/color] Kurama spoke optimistically, countering the somber tone that Botan left for the pair. He caressed her back to offer further comfort, yet there was no whimpering or moaning to be heard. Unexpectedly, she pulled away and looked upon her son with unwavering eyes.

[color=bc8dbf][b]“Shuichi,”[/b][/color] Shiori began, [color=bc8dbf][b]“It isn’t what she said that hurts. It’s knowing that I can’t possibly know how she feels, and how to talk to her about it.”[/b][/color]

[color=f7976a][b]“You can’t blame yourself for that. Neither of us could have known how strongly her situation would impact her.”[/b][/color]

[color=bc8dbf][b]“She seemed fine just recently.”[/b][/color]

[color=f7976a][b]“I thought the same. If I paid more attention, maybe this could have…”[/b][/color] Kurama’s voice trailed. He thought back to the ambush after they had left Genkai’s home. The low-class demons that attacked, and the ominous presence he felt all around them… It was so close and intense, but the more he began to think about it, the harder it was to imagine that he missed anything at all. He wasn’t out of practice. His senses should still be strong enough to detect the energy of a demon making all of this occur. So then, why did he not feel out the change in Botan’s presence fully? Even after she revealed her affliction he could sense no change. Only her snapping served as a hint. Just what sort of demon was—

[color=bc8dbf][b]“Shuichi?”[/b][/color]

Snapping back to reality, Kurama set his thoughts and feelings aside for now. Focus returned to Shiori. [color=f7976a][b]“Sorry, I was just thinking about how I could have been better prepared for a situation like this.”[/b][/color]

[color=bc8dbf][b]“If I can’t be blamed, neither can you,”[/b][/color] Shiori countered firmly, releasing her son and brushing away idle droplets beneath her eyes. [color=bc8dbf][b]“We can’t change how tonight went, or even her situation. What we can do, is not let her be alone.”[/b][/color]

[color=f7976a][b]“I don’t intend to. I’ll be there for her, even if she hates me for it.”[/b][/color] Kurama, now free to move once more, reached for Botan’s plate and his own. A loss of appetite was to be expected; he couldn’t eat with so much on his mind and wouldn’t try to. Not to mention his mother would need some time to herself as well. [color=f7976a][b]“I’ll clean up and get ready for bed. If you’re finished, I’ll take care of everything.”[/b][/color]

[color=bc8dbf][b]“Are you sure?”[/b][/color]

[color=bc8dbf][b]“I’m sure, mother. Get some rest. I’ll check in on Botan before bed, so don’t worry.”[/b][/color]

Ease wasn’t quite the word Kurama would call it, but Shiori appeared to find a little peace in his words and agreed to retire for the evening. Wishing her son goodnight, she stood up and headed to her room. Before she had even left his sight, the thoughts of this new revelation were pouring back to the forefront of his mind.

[color=f7976a][i]‘The ambush, as well as the presence I felt… it could only have been then. But why only Botan?’[/i][/color] Kurama thought, preserving Botan’s plate and finding containers for the untouched portions that remained just as mother left them. [color=f7976a][i]‘Do they know who she really is? It would certainly make more sense than just her popularity. And after revealing my strength like that, they still managed to affect her so quickly, and in such a short amount of time. They’re no ordinary opponent.’[/i][/color]

Dwelling on his failures would not aid him in finding success from this point forward. Once the last of the containers were filled, the counters wiped down, and the evidence of dinner erased from the dining table, Kurama ascended the stairs minutes after Shiori and approached Botan’s room with soft steps. Slowly, he grasped the knob and held his breath before he cracked it open and peered inside, finding the back of the reaper turned to him while her side rose and fell peacefully. He listened to her breathing for several moments to make certain that she was not pretending before shutting her door. Even with the reassurance that she was asleep, he paused in place and listened for another few moments more.

His paranoia was not rewarded. Botan’s breathing did not shift nor did any new sounds escape her room. Satisfied with this, he retired to his room for the night and proceeded to plan for tomorrow.

And tomorrow came quickly, with sleep not coming easy for him. 

He rose an hour earlier than necessary, washing up and dressing for school later in the day. Helping mother prepare breakfast was considered, but he feared for Botan’s state of mind rather than her daily percentage of vitamins being consumed. So, he chose to wait, and was eventually rewarded with the faraway sound of her dressing and eventual departure from her room. Joining her after counting an entire minute in his head, he descended the stairs after her, bag in hand, and managed to catch her gaze on him. 

Unlike yesterday, no speck of the Botan he knew was there. Regardless he smiled. [color=f7976a][b]“Good morning,”[/b][/color] he said. [color=f7976a][b]“Did you sleep well?”[/b][/color]

As expected, Botan did not reward his courtesy and chose to act as though there was not a rift between them now. She knew that he knew of her affliction, and that was enough for now. The scent of oatmeal and fruit bowls nearby were a welcome sight, but not welcome enough for Botan to even poke at them. He drew closer to the meal, noting how undisturbed both pairs looked. [color=f7976a][i]‘She won’t eat? I’m not sure whether it’s because she lost her appetite or this is an attempt to spite mother for yesterday… then again, it doesn’t really matter.’[/i][/color]

Kurama, too, walked past the meals to not leave Botan waiting for him, hoping his mother wouldn’t worry with both untouched. Leaving with her, the trek to school was slower, but because of her refusal to eat she had given them enough leeway to walk slower. He did not complain, and he did not attempt small talk. What he did do – the only thing he [i]could[/i] do for her until he figured out a plan – was stay beside her no matter how long she chose to drag her feet. Eventually they had made it with minutes to spare.

The popularity of Botan did not waver regardless of how down she appeared to be. Staying close to her helped keep boys at bay, but the girls weren’t going to be deterred by the new girl. When they approached, Kurama quickly warned them that Botan was feeling quite sick, and that he, too, was beginning to feel ill. A poor lie, but they took it. After all, Shuichi Minamino was an exemplary student, a model representative of Meioh Private Academy. He had no reason to lie to them. 

Focusing in class was not only difficult for Botan, but for him too. Whenever he could, his eyes traced to her before returning to the lecture at hand. This back and forth with monitoring her and getting work done had continued through Trigonometry and Chemistry, until finally it was time for lunch. He gathered his things and waited for Botan to gather her own, which took her until only another student and themselves were left in the room. 

Finding her second wind, Botan’s pace in gathering her things and making for the door became a respectable pace rather than that of a tortoise. Figuring it was a result of skipping breakfast he thought nothing of it until an unnatural chill brushed against him from behind. It wasn’t lethal energy, nor was it one with threatening intentions. It was just there. A warning, unmistakably from a demon. 

[color=598527][b]“Shuichi Minamino,”[/b][/color] came the voice of the unremarkable student tucked in the corner of the room. Kurama stared hard outside the door, hand grasping tightly at the knob. [color=598527][b]“Or should I just refer to you as Kurama? Or maybe just Yoko?”[/b][/color]

Kurama held his tongue and began closing the door, stopping a few inches short of shutting it entirely. His mind raced even as the rest of his body remained still. There were many questions without guarantee of an answer. [color=f7976a][b]“…The plague master, I presume?”[/b][/color]

[color=598527][b]“Plague master?”[/b][/color] The culprit chuckled. [color=598527][b]“I like that. Although I expected such a cute nickname from your friend, Koenma’s little helper.”[/b][/color]

Kurama turned, coming face-to-face with him at last…