Botan’s idea of importance in this situation had intrigued Kurama, but he remained silent despite his building curiosity. Residual spirit energy could be a part of the knife that was used to take Anabe’s life. Though he had believed he understood her reasons, it still left him wondering. The readings Botan intended to take throughout the school would be of more immediate importance, true, but the weapon may still be of some use later. They couldn’t underestimate the usefulness of a clue left behind by a careless demon. But for this demon, or demons, to get away with this not once, but twice, and entirely undetected by himself, meant that they were anything but careless. And what would they get from a weapon that may not have a clue any different from the readings at the sites of the murders? Wasted time.
“Good point.” Kurama admitted. They had the option now of continuing to get a scan of the school while it was empty. Should there be a lull in their investigation, they could always review the knife later if nothing emerges from their efforts here. Botan had the right idea.
She drew a device from her bag, technical in appearance with a small screen, and had pressed only a single button to activate it. Joining beside her, Kurama witnessed the glow of energy around her hand take form, watching as she began to work. Directing the hand in front of her, the measurements on the screen had spiked considerably. He stepped back once she did so herself, seeing that the readings gathered had dropped only a fraction. Kurama thoughtfully brought a curled finger to his chin. Certainly Botan had come to the same conclusion as himself; not only was the concern of a demonic presence confirmed, their energy readings were also surely above that of an average demon. Only now could he feel the energy for himself, without Botan’s need for the device. No more doubts could remain.
His reaper companion withdrew her first device, with the neon glow vanishing from her hand in the process, only to pull out a compass of sorts. An explanation was not necessary, as this device was one that Kurama had managed to see prior to today. Knowing how it worked and trusting Koenma and the resources he had to take a look, Kurama was left to guide Botan to the last site: The balcony that Meiko had chosen—no, possessed—to drop from and take her life.
Having done all she could to draw from Anabe’s site, Kurama had guided Botan out of the bathroom and into the hall, taking the stairs to the library a couple floors up. He didn’t show it but he was guarded, keeping his eyes peeled and his energy ready to be risen at a moment’s notice. His senses were keen enough to keep track of all disturbances and oddities in a wide radius surrounding himself. That included Botan’s fear, something he could nearly smell, not just feel. Looking over his shoulder as they continued the ascent, he heard her raise the questions they both had on their minds.
“The sad truth is that a demon does not always need a reason to do the things they do, they only need the power to do them,” Kurama spoke not only the truth, but something he had learned through much experience. This could be nothing more than a demon looking for the thrill of playing with human lives, causing pain for family and friends alike. It both sickened and angered him, causing his fist to tighten at his side. “As for how these suicides are being carried out, we’ll figure it out.” He smiled despite his previous feelings, offering her a bit of warmth in a cold and worrisome environment. “You said yourself that you were certain we’d make a formidable team. I’m confident we’ll solve this. Aren’t you?”
Kurama did not intend to see a third peer die while he was prepared to monitor all suspicious activities here, including unfamiliar and dangerous energies that would expose a demon who believed their secret well-guarded. It was possible that the culprit would pick up on their awareness eventually, and that would only mean the odds of a classmate being preyed upon would drop drastically.
He hoped so, at least.
Making it to the library, Kurama led Botan upstairs to the floor where Meiko had taken her last breath. As they climbed, Botan suddenly thrust herself against his arm at the sound of claws against a metal surface. Sensing nothing, he remained cautious, thrusting a hand into his pocket for a lone seed within, ready to transform it into a rose at any time. His eyes locked on the source of the disturbance, but he could only smile inwardly at the offender. A raven. Kurama let out a small chuckle just as Botan had taken notice. When it dove close to Botan, he shifted his body, keeping himself between Botan and the raven at all times. It had soared past the two, doing a few laps around the open space only to leave as quickly as it had appeared.
Botan parted from him, offering an apology that he waved away with his free hand. The opposite had released the seed within his pocket. “It’s no trouble. I’m as much a shield as your partner in this investigation after all.” With the raven incident quickly put behind him, Kurama had led Botan out to the balcony, standing in front of the exact spot where Meiko had chosen to leap from. “Here. This was the last place anyone had seen Meiko alive.” The rail was large enough to stop anyone from just falling over absentmindedly. Botan could see for herself that it took choice to climb atop it and jump.
Botan had taken the final readings needed, concluding their business at the school. They had returned home, welcomed by the scent of fried pork cutlets, miso soup, and rice. Announcing their return, Shiori had just finished setting the table and had come around to greet them again. After the removal of their footwear, and after guiding Botan to the sparsely used guest room to leave her bag, the three were free to be seated after washing up. Shiori was not only a wonderful woman, she was also an incredible cook. Kurama’s bias aside, everything prepared was quality. He had taken the time to praise his mother, leaving Botan to follow suite.
Shiori’s earlier excitement related to Botan had not vanished a bit. The reaper was met with a barrage of simple, easy-to-answer questions: What is your favorite and least favorite meal? No doubt to keep Botan in mind at dinner from now on. Favorite dessert? Again, simple; there was no telling when Botan was leaving, which meant Shiori wanted to keep her best interests in mind as their guest. But then, Shiori, as mothers often do, took the reasonable questions off the table, next asking something that she had to have known her son wouldn’t miss.
“Are you single?”
Kurama, who had been keeping silent and savoring his meal, paused with pork strip in the grasp of his chopstick to spare a quick, knowing glance at his mother. He should have seen this line of questioning coming, but he was never introduced to this side of her before. Shiori appeared very happy with her question, choosing either not to acknowledge Kurama’s glance or simply too absorbed in Botan’s upcoming response to be distracted now.
It wouldn’t have felt right to stop her here, or even try to. At her core Shiori was a thoughtful and compassionate woman, holding qualities that Botan also possessed despite her often depressing duties. The Dark Tournament had taken much of his time to prepare for, which meant that for a while she was without him, and likely without much company. As a student he had kept his head down, achieved excellent academic standing, and minded his business in his day-to-day activities. This left Shiori little opportunity to try and understand the people he had spent time with on these ‘trips’ he mentioned in passing. His grades were good and his work ethic was not to be underestimated, so she rarely asked anything more than when he would return. Her level of trust in him was considerable.
Kurama looked to Botan just across from him, choosing to remain silent. She was smart enough to know where this might be heading, and he trusted her to respond honestly, and kindly. A mother just wanted what was best for her son, even if it meant deciding that, only on the second meeting in a single day, the impressionable girl he brought home for the first time could become his girlfriend.
Taka
Dane
erikh