Story: Silver Bells

Couple: KuramaxBotan and their son, Haruko

AN: I admit I have had this idea for quite some time now and I haven't posted it because I've been too lazy to. Well, over the past couple days, I've shifted into KB mode so hopefully this will be done in a couple weeks time, after Christmas.

Disclaimer:I have never nor ever will own Yu Yu Hakusho

Chapter One: Beginnings

"Hello Mother!" a boy's voice rang out across the front of the school.

Botan looked toward the front of her son's brick school and spied her 13-year-old son waving at her, obviously happy that she was there. He ran down the steps the cool breeze blowing through his flaming red hair while shouting good byes to his friends. He slowed his pace as he reached his mother who welcomed him with open arms.

"How did your day go Haruko?" Botan asked her and Kurama's only son.

Haruko's bright blue eyes sparkled in the intensity of the bright sunlight as he told his mom of his day. "Well, Seiko, Keitaro and I passed our science tests and then we talked about getting together at our place but I told them I needed to ask you first."

Botan smiled at her son's thoughtfulness as she realized it was his father whom he took most after and was very grateful. Botan also knew that even at Haruko's young age, girls were taking notice of his handsome looks and high intelligence whenever she picked him home from school.

"What's this get-together for, if I may ask?"

"Well, mother, the choir picked the three of us to head up the choir's Christmas program in 3 months. We have a good idea of what we want so we just need to sit down and discuss the whole thing in its entirety."

Botan smiled. "Well, I think it's a good idea. Why don't you have them come over after school on Friday? It's only two days away and would give your friends enough time to receive permission."

Haruko embraced his mother tightly. "Thank you so much! Anyway, where's the car?"

"Well, I figured since you enjoy the weather so much, we could walk."

Haruko smiled. "I'd like that."

"Haruko! Haruko!" a girl's voice shouted.

Botan turned to see a girl around her son's age run up out of breath from running. She had golden hair hanging in her face from coming down from a bright red hair ribbon on the back of her head. Bright green eyes twinkled as she gave Haruko a friendly hug and said, "Thank you so much for helping me study for the science test! The teacher told me on the way out and told me I passed! I never would have done it if you hadn't helped me! I'll see you tomorrow!"

Botan raised a curious eyebrow and looked over slyly at Haruko who was blushing from the hug. "Who was that, Haruko?"

Haruko's ears proceeded to turn pink from his mother's question as he turned to look at Botan. "That wa- was o-only Amarante. She's in my science class. I ran into at the library when I went to study. We talked for a little while when she explained to me that she was afraid to take the test cause she couldn't study very well."

Botan continued to stare steadily at her son. "Is that all?"

Haruko's eyes widened at his mother's ability to see through him. "Well," he stuttered, "she is kinda pretty."

Botan laughed. "All right, let's get home so you can get to your homework."

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Haruko's nodded sleepily later that afternoon as he tried to do his homework. This is strange. I never used to be this tired but now... I get more sleep then I used to and yet... I'm continually tired.

Bang! Haruko heard the front door open signally his father's return from the plant nursery at which he worked. Haruko's feet hit the floor running to welcome his father home.

He paused when he got to the living and, after seeing his parents, backed up slowly into the hallway. His parents were kissing again as they did everyday. Haruko didn't think it was too gross, but he did think that it was private. He emerged into the living room a few moments later.

"Hello, father!" he shouted then came to an abrupt halt as he hit his leg on the side of one of the tables and went sprawling onto the floor with a soft thud.

"Haruko!" Botan gasped as she started to run over to his side.

"It's all right, mother, I'm fine." Haruko said in protest as Botan ran over to see if he was hurt.

"Well, at least let her see where you hit," Kurama said amused. "After all, once a mother's love starts, it doesn't end."

Botan watched as Haruko lifted his pant leg and gasped in shock at the site of balck and blue bruise forming. "Oh my goodness! We need to put ice on it right away!"

Haruko appreciated his mother's concern for him but he gently took her wrist and set it on the ground. "It's all right mother. I'm fine. Besides, I didn't hit it too hard." He sat up on his knees and embraced his mother in a loving hug. Kurama watched the mother-son moment before him and smiled as he was reminded of the countless times he and his own mother Shiori shared such memories.

"Haruko, I hear that you and your friends are overseeing your school's Christmas program and that you'll be getting together on Friday. How about I take you guys out to the ramen house?" Kurama spoke up.

Haruko's young eyes brightened with anticipation. "That'd be great! Thanks a ton! I'll call Sieko and Keitaro and tell them!" He stood and pulled up the sleeves on his shirt revealing more dark blemishes to his mother's watchful eye.

"Where did all those bruises come from?" she asked worriedly.

Her son shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. It seems that if I even touch myself, they appear. It's weird because they are all over my body."

"Well, promise me that you'll go with me to the doctor to get them checked out next week, all right?"

He nodded his consent then turned and began to run back to the kitchen but stopped in realization that he had other work to complete. "That is... after I finish my homework."

Kurama laughed merrily and held Botan by his side. Botan looked up her husband lovingly after Haruko left and whispered, "He's so much like you, love. Just think of when he'll be an older teenager. All the girls will be after him. They're already starting now!"

The red-haired man looked down confused "What do you mean, 'They're already starting now?'"

Botan laughed merrily. "While I was walking Haruko home from school, a girl named Amarante ran up to him and hugged him pretty tightly while thanking him for helping her study for a test."

A knowing smile appeared on the kitsune's face. "She acts a lot like you doesn't she?" he teased.

"Oh stop," she replied smacking him playfully on the shoulder.

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"Ok, Haruko, how do you think we should do this?" a brown-haired, freckle-faced boy around Haruko's age asked Friday night. The boys were seated around a circular booth waiting on their food to arrive. Kurama and Botan sat a two-person table behind them so the boys could talk with as much privacy as could be provided.

Haruko laughed. "Patience, patience Seiko. You're always getting hyped up over everything. Anyways, I don't know. I thought we could start planning out what songs to sing and whether or not to have solos, special groups, etc. What do you think Keitaro?" Haruko and Seiko's attention to the remaining person in their little group, a boy with glasses and shaggy black hair. He was the quiet one of the three and never offered his opinion until asked.

"Well... I thought that maybe, just maybe, because the three of us are also in the band, that we could include the band in a couple of songs or maybe have them do a couple selections of their own," he replied quietly while looking down at his hands that were in his lap.

"Hey! That's a great idea! I like that!" Seiko exclaimed happily.

"It is indeed," Haruko agreed. "Now, what songs should we do for the band? How about a traditional one like, 'Carol of the Bells?'" he suggested.

"You know the handbells, don't you Haruko? You could do if you taught enough other people to do it," Keitaro threw in. "We could call the program... uh... what should we call it?"

"Silver Bells."

"What was that, Seiko?" Haruko and Keitaro asked in unison.

"I said we could call the program 'Silver Bells,'" Seiko repeated.

"Call what 'Silver Bells'?" a female voice interrupted over the din of the restaurant.

All three heads turned to see Amarante standing by their table intently interested in what the boys were discussing. She stood there, green eyes twinkling, an innocent smile gracing her creamy face and her hands loosely hanging in her jacket pockets. Haruko couldn't help but notice the way his stomach flipped when he saw her.

"I don't mean to be rude and interrupt," she stated, "but I was just passing through and the name 'Silver Bells' caught my attention."

Haruko smiled a gentle smile that caused Amarante's heart to flutter. "I'm happy that you like it, Amarante. Seiko, Keitaro and I were chosen to head up the choir's Christmas program this year and we were trying to come up with a name for the actual program itself. It seems that 'Silver Bells' will get it because apparently we wren't the only ones who enjoy it." He leaned over and whispered something first to Seiko and then to Keitaro. When they nodded their agreement, Haruko addressed Amarante once again. "If you aren't doing anything, would you like to join us for a bit? The more the merrier!"

Amarente's expression turned to that of pure joy and delight. "I'd be happy to. But only for about 10 minutes or-"

She was interrupted by a lady setting various dishes on the table, the steam drifting into the air and filling the boys' senses causing their mouths to water with anticipation of the meal in front of them. "Thank you, Aunt Keiko," Haruko said thankfully.

"And you're very very welcome Haruko. Would you like me to tell Uncle Yusuke you're here?" she replied.

"Tell me who's here?" a man's voice spoke.

Keiko jumped startled by the pressence behind her. "Don't do that to me, Yusuke! What if I was holding food?"

Yusuke shrugged his shoulders. "Well... you weren't so I didn't think that would be a problem for you. Besides, I have to give you your evening medicine."

Haruko's eyes widened in shock. "What are you taking medicine for? Are you sick or something?"

Yusuke laughed merrily. "You're so much like your father, Haruko. I suppose in a way you could say Keiko was sick. Sick of me giving her attention that is." He pulled a slightly surprised women into his arms and planted a warm kiss on her lips. When they were finished, Haruko and his friends looked on wide-eyed and Keiko was laughing.

"I thought we were paid to work here, honey dearest, not gross other teenagers out," she shot heading back to the kitchen from where she came from.

"Hey, wait a minute," her husband called after her as he began following her after leaving the young teenagers laughing.

"Sit down, Amarante," Seiko encouraged. "There's enough here for the four us. Well... that is if Haruko doesn't eat it all first," he laughed.

Haruko smiled at his friend's humor as Amarante took a seat beside him. "That's all right guys. I'm not really that hungry anyway."

"Are you feeling all right?" Keitaro directed towards him. "You haven't been eating or exercising much for the past month."

"I'll be fine," he shrugged. "Besides, I'm probably only going through a stage. Now, how about we start writing down different songs for either the band or the choir to perform. Let's take about five minutes or so and write down some things off the tops of our heads and then we can go from there." He stopped and handed a piece of paper and a pen to Amarante then told her, "I want you to help as well considering you are in the choir as well."

She nodded toward him. "Consider this my thank you for helping me with science."

Seiko and Keitaro elbowed each other slightly both seeing what was going on between their two friends.

Five minutes went by and even though most of it was spent by each person satisfying their appetites, they each came up with a decent list of suggestions.

"Ok, I thought maybe 'Silent Night,' 'Rocking Around the Christmas Tree,' 'Angels We have Heard on High,' and 'Jingle Bells' for the choir and 'Carol of the Bells,' 'Joy to the World,' and 'O Holy Night' for the band," Seiko started. "What do you think, Haruko?" He looked up and to his shock he saw his friend asleep against the back of their booth.

"Um... I have to go back to where my parents are on the other side of the restaurant. Thank Haruko for me when you wake him up," Amarente said hurriedly before leaving. She smiled to herself as she left thinking about how cute he looked when he was asleep.

Keitaro meanwhile walked a couple of booths down to Kurama and Botan. "Miss Botan?" he asked.

She and Kurama looked up from their meal and, after seeing Keitaro's worried expression, she replied, "Honey, what is it?"

"Well..." he stammered, "Haruko... well... fell sound asleep no more than a couple minutes ago."

"That's strange," Kurama said standing up. His exppression became serious as he continued, "The boy hasn't been acting right for the past month. First, he never feels like eating anything, second, he has no strength or stamina to do any work or exercise, third, mysterious bruises appear on his body and last of all, he begins to fall asleep in restaurants."

"You wanted me, father?" a dazed Haruko asked walking up to the table. He was leaning on Seiko for support.

"Come on, son, I think it's time we went home now. You need to get some rest," Kurama answered sternly but with a gentle fatherly tone.

"Wait! I'm wide awake now, can we please stop by the store so I can get an organizer for the Christmas stuff?" he pleaded.

Kurama and Botan looked at each other silently discussing what to do through their expressions and eyes. Botan nodded then Kurama shrugged and turned his attention back to his son.

"All right but as soon as we get home, you're going to go to bed."

Haruko nodded then took up a position between Seiko and Keitaro behind his parents.

He didn't know what went wrong but while his parents were paying their tab, he felt light-headed. All strength in his knees gave out and he felt himself falling, falling, falling with everything around him becoming a blur and then frantic voices and finally blackness.

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Beep, beep, beep

"Do you know if he's going to wake up, doctor? He's been out of it for a couple days now," a female voice asked.

"At this point, we're not sure when he'll awaken. Please excuse me, I have to go see if the tests are in yet. Kurama, will you please come with me?"

"Will you be all right here alone, love?" he asked.

"Yes, Kurama. I'll be all right."

Voices registered in Haruko's mind as his mother and father's. It smelled different, sounded different. Where was he? He tried rolling over but didn't have the strength to. Heck with it, it was going to be a chore to open his eyelids. To him, they felt like lead weights. First he opened them a little, a little more until they were opened. He opened his mouth to speak but his mouth felt felt like paper. He tried to make a sound but nothing came out because he felt as if his throat was on fire.

He glanced down at his arms and body and saw himself covered in a white hospital gown. Wiggling his hands, he felt and saw IVs and moniters taped to him. He was lying in a hospital bed, was being monitored by various machines... What the heck is going on? he thought to himself.

He closed his eyes again straining to remember clearly what happened. He remembered eating at the the ramen shop and falling asleep. He then remembered everything turning to a blur, voices shouting his name, sirens, needles, screaming... his mother's voice. He was in a hospital but why? What had happened?

"M-mo-moth-mother..." he whispered hoarsely.

Botan, hearing her son's voice, spun around a mix of emotions appearing on her face from relief to sadness to worry. "Haruko! I was so worried!" She reached around him and held him close to her bosom. Silent tears fell moistening his head.

"What happened?" the boy asked.

"Shhh... don't try to talk," Botan answered placing her finger over his lips to silence him. "You passed out in the restaurant and when we couldn't wake you, an ambulance rushed you over here. You've been out of it for two days now. The doctors are running some blood tests now. They're... rather concerned about you." Haruko nodded in understanding and closed his eyes once more letting sleep take over his body.

Botan sat down in a chair and looked at her boy. How could he have gotten so bad so fast and she had not even noticed it?

His hair was thinning, that was obvious. His skin was pale, as pale as it had ever been. Bruises of all shapes, sizes and colors covered his body in patches, and his bones were starting through from lack of eating. The doctor also told her his spleen and liver were swollen explaining why he never felt like eating very much.

She buried her face in her hands and began crying. What kind of a mother would not pay attention to her son and let him get this way?

Sobs continued to wrack her small frame until a comforting hand placed itself on her shoulder. Looking up, she saw Kurama standing there looking down at her lovingly.

"It isn't your fault he's like this, love. As you said, he's a lot like me. He cares more for others than about himself," his voice soothed. Noticing how broken up she was, he got down on his knees and let his arms encircle her until she sobbing so loudly, a nurse came in and asked, "Is there anything wrong?"

"What's wrong with my baby, Kurama?" she whispered broken-hearted.

"I don't know dear but the doctor told me he would be in in a few minutes," her husband reassured her as he continued to stroke her hair. He suddenly stopped and tilted her head up so he could look her square in the eyes. "Listen to me, Botan. No matter what happens, we are going to get through this together." He stopped speaking and leaned into his wife and kissed her softly and sweetly on the lips reassuring her that as long as he was capable, he wasn't going to let anything happen to them. Botan broke it off and looked at Kurama with her amethyst orbs and smiled glad she was married to someone who would stick by his family.

Footsteps sounded in the room and Kurama and Botan turned to see the doctor come in wearing a grim expression indicating that bad news lay ahead.

"Mr. and Mrs. Minamino, which do want first? Good news or bad news?" he asked in a monotone voice that he was probably used to using over the years.

Kurama grasped Botan's hand in his and stated firmly, "Good first."

The doctor heaved in a breath of air then let it all out at once. "Well, good news is that your son should be able to go home in a week or two. Bad news is that he'll have to come back."

Botan's forehead wrinkled with confusion. "And why is that?"

"Mrs Minamino, I'm afraid your son has leukemia."

All that was heard was a muffled gasp before Botan passed out limp onto her husband's shoulder.

AN: Yes, an evil cliffie once again BUT I promise to update ASAP. I'm really wanting to get this story done now. If you liked, please review, if not, leave because I don't want any flames right now. Merry Christmas to all!