Kurama kept silent as Genkai, still as wise as she had always been despite her youthful appearance, offered her valuable opinion on Botan’s new role as his student. Genkai had seen just as he did that Botan was unlike any other student in recent memory, both hers and his. She was gentle. She did not like to hurt, nor bring hurt onto anyone else. Witnessing violence during the Dark Tournament may have opened her up to the horror of what a battle meant when it went well beyond human limits, but that did not mean that this training would be any easier to handle. Tailoring it to her strengths and her desires was always his intention. She would be the last person to start a fight, but she would learn different means of ending one, preferably without drawing blood.
The relationship Botan shared with him was definitely unusual now that he thought about it. A mentor was typically above the student in both knowledge and experience. Kurama, when it came to battle sense and tactics, fit both of those terms. But Botan had known him for some time, rendering the respect a student typically gave a mentor pointless. To him, Botan was still a good friend. He believed that she saw him the same way. To wave his superiority in front of her in the role of mentor felt counterproductive. He was doing this for her safety above all else. Perhaps as a friend he could still help her like a mentor could. Less formalities would mean less complications.
Equals—no, friends it was, then.
Kurama felt his body relax, muscles releasing built-up tension from the role he thought he must assume to better help Botan. A smile of reassurance met Botan as she voiced her feelings, showing her that he was relieved. An invisible burden on his shoulders had eased, even more so after she felt the same way he did. Teaching her as a friend was by far the smarter choice. There were no complaints to voice, no fears except the obvious, and all he must do now is create a study plan that worked to Botan’s enjoyment. Already he was beginning to come up with non-harmful ideas, with a bit of sweat-breaking here and there.
“Not to worry. I feel the same way Botan,” Kurama said before turning to Genkai. “Your guidance doesn’t serve only to benefit someone like Yusuke. You’ve been a big help to me. Thank you, Genkai.”
“If it means anything, I think it’s better that way too,” Yusuke spoke up with a mouthful, gnawing at his grilled fish greedily.
“What makes you say that, Yusuke?”
“Because—“ Yusuke swallowed the chewed up remains of fish in his mouth, “—Botan’s kind of like a cat. Just give her a lot of affection and she’ll respond well. Learning under a serious mentor isn’t something everyone can handle. Like the hag said, she isn’t exactly a fighter, but she’s got some good survival instincts. Play around that a little and she might surprise you.”
“That was the plan, yes,” Kurama looked to the meal set out before him. He reached for the breaded chicken and piled a few onto his plate. “It will be a work in progress for the both of us.”
“If anyone can do it, it’ll be you. But enough about that. Dig in!” Yusuke resumed eating with disregard for basic table manners. Genkai’s training had its way of building a fearsome appetite.
Kurama had gotten his fill along with the others and had joined them in talks unrelated to the case, resulting in laughter and smiles that he had missed bearing witness to. In time the crickets had begun emerging, joining in unison to create a natural ambience surrounding Genkai’s temple. While he would have liked to stay, there was too much to be done at home. School kept the pair busy enough already. Now they must find time to put Botan’s alternative education into action. Another night on another day, perhaps they would stay.
“Come back soon!” Yukina waved them off.
“Yeah, and if you see Kuwabara before I do, let him know I’m ready to go a few rounds when he is!” Yusuke added.
“Until next time,” Kurama gave his own farewell, offering Genkai one last appreciative nod before he disappeared with Botan below the temple’s steps, homebound.
Taka
Dane
erikh
